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The interior of the cave wasn't much to look at. The brown shades of clay clung to the walls, occasionally speckled and covered in areas of moss and fungus. Two tunnels led inwards towards the rear of the cave, which, when given the opportunity to explore, led to a water reservoir, which quenched our thirst, and a somewhat cosy if small chamber. Before we could find that out, though, I found myself standing on the cold stone floor just inside the cave's entrance, processing everything that had happened in the last hour, if that. Lasmis, as she'd introduced herself, had bowed down as part of a more courteous greeting. The dark green kobold's tunic was slightly torn from being yanked on in my teeth previously. Through the tear I did spy a string. It wasn't uncommon for the kobolds to wear pouch slings under their tunics, though it was only usually for important items or tools. However, I still had other concerns. After I gained my breath, I turned to face Calamity to give him an overdue chastising. I shoved my snout into his own with a fair amount of force.

“Never, ever, suggest sacrificing yourself again! Do I make myself clear?" My words are sharp, undertone with a deep growl as my anger seethes for a few moments.

“Yes, my Dominion, never again my Dominion." Calamity responded meekly with a low, squirming voice. His sadness and disheartened emotions bleed into my head and mix with my own disappointment and anger, blending and gradually culminating into regret. I sigh out and nuzzle his snout to try and comfort him. I don't think I can live without him... Though it's not something I'd yet verbalise out loud, as the realisation of this fact had suddenly dawned upon me. My emotions turning to despair as I feel little response from him, knowing I've hurt him already with my words and anger, I can only hope that he feels my regret at the brash outburst and finds some semblance of comfort from my nuzzling against his snout and wordless exchange of feelings.

“I will not be bound by such obligations, my Tyrant." Inferno interjects stubbornly, feeling her determination swell inside herself. I turn to face her growling with disapproval. Her pretty green eyes held scorn. I figured my words would fall on deaf ears, but I was going to say them all the same.

“Your overbearing protection of me, although appreciated, is unnecessary. I am quite capable of taking care of myself…"

“My Tyrant!" Inferno burst out with such rage before quelling herself with a huff off to the side, embers sparking from her snout before continuing to scold me. “Although we are now mated and considered to be equals in said mateship, my priority in my duty as a fury red-hatched dragoness will always be to keep you alive whether you like it or not. The Tyrannical Bloodline is precious and sacred, to be upheld at any cost to the Fury Bloodline. My training as a dedicated, loyal dragoness of the Royal Guard demands this from me, especially considering my class type. I have to prove my worth to the Fire Clan." Tears begin to swell within her pretty eyes. A sense of pride and determination breaking through my already mixed emotions within my mind, overpowering both mine and Calamity's emotions.

I decided not to press the issue. Clearly she needed to prove something to herself. I stepped over and nuzzled her snout, accepting her desires silently. I had deduced long ago that her sire, Incinerate, leader of the Fire Clan, had put Inferno into the Royal Guard to prove her position in rank and lineage. I imagine Inferno likely had a rough upbringing, constantly in her family's shadow, having to prove and push herself harder than many others of her clan. An awkward silence filled the atmosphere for a moment, until the kobold spoke out.

“My Dragon Lords, Once again I thank you for saving my life from the Sentinel." Our attention shifted to Lasmis.

“Sentinel? Is that what that...thing was called?" Calamity asked.

“It seems so. In fact, the Sentinel only seemed to care about obtaining Lesmis. Care to explain why?" I responded, answering Calamity while finally seeking to sate the question that had been plaguing my mind since I'd come to the realisation during the fight, eyeing over the kobold, mostly towards the pouch hidden under shabby garments.

“Certainly, my Dragon Lord, I'm an apprentice in training, intended to take over the Gatekeeper's role. Other than monitoring who comes and goes from the temple and protecting the entrance, our primary duty is to protect this ring." Lesmis opens the leather pouch, revealing a silver ring imbued with a leaf emblem. “Recently the Great Gate came under siege from a group of Ancient Aztec Aventari long thought disposed of. During the assault, my master placed me in hiding. I remained hidden until my resources were depleted. Emerging to scavenge for food and while doing so, I encountered the Sentinel. I had been running since my discovery up until you found me, my Dragon Lord."

“This Sentinel just happened to give you its name?" I ask out of curiosity.

“No, my Dragon Lord, when we were first sent to establish a base at the temple, build and guard the gate, our Dragon Lord Sovereign sent us with a vague description of the Sentinel, along with what it was called. We had hoped we'd never have to encounter such a thing, but I was unlucky enough to be the one to see the construct, it seems." Lesmis answers politely. Anger began to swell inside of me.

“My Sire knew about the Sentinel and didn't bother to inform me! I tire of his games!" I snarl. I began to pace, my mind racing with thoughts, overthinking and overanalysing the variables and outcomes of withholding such important information. Perhaps my Sire was not expecting this Sentinel to appear before we'd managed to retrieve the Life Relic? My mates try to calm me down with little success. “What is the purpose of the ring?" I asked, snapping a little in my unchecked annoyance.

"The ring opens the entrance to the Totem Temple, my lord." Lesmis answered.

“What else can you tell us?" I ask as I sit myself down again, not realising I'd stood forwards and begun to loom over the kobold who'd shrunk back a little. Focusing on listening and calming myself.

“I believe the Aventari have somehow infiltrated the Totem Temple, though I am uncertain how exactly without the ring. They probably have captured my village too." Lesmis says in dismay. “I don't really know, considering I was hidden away during the initial attack on the Great Gate, but they would have had to go through Orion Village to get to the Great Gate. I fear for my family..."

“Alright, enough!" I said, her whining beginning to irritate me. “Nothing we can do for them now anyway."

“You insensitive brute!" Inferno roars out, becoming angry with me. I meet Inferno's raging eyes and am struck across the right side of my face with the palm of her paw. She paused to reconcile her mind's feelings. I presumed she was struggling with the flared emotions the three of us were spilling over into each other. “I can feel those cold, heartless emotions of yours entering my mind. My Tyrant, are you really void of empathy?" I don't answer or retaliate for my stinging cheek, simply stare back at her. Tears form upon the side of her face.

“Forgive me, my dear Inferno." Were the only words I could muster. How foolish of me to forget the Fire Tribe's motto. Conserve, protect and cherish life, for we are the fury that enforces the survival of our fellow dragonkin. I let out a sigh and allow Inferno to brood.

Turning back to face the Lesmis, I commanded the kobold to place the ring over one of Calamity's horns as we required it now. As she did so, I turned my attention to check the green dragon's wing injury. The wound looked sore and needed cleaning. In fact, we all did. Bits of leaves, bark and dirt were caught in between our scales amidst an overbearing acrid scent of the rain that downpoured over us. Our moods were sour at best. The four of us had nothing better to do with the acid rain still pouring outside, so we took our time to clean ourselves and check ourselves over for injuries. Lesmis helped out wherever able to satisfy her dragon lords. Never underestimate a kobold's loyalty to their dragons.

Afterwards our stomachs grumbled. I sent Calamity out to hunt, as he was the only one able to journey out into acid rain. After the green dragon had left, I confronted Inferno, whose disappointed feelings had entered my mind. I imagined her pride's integrity was being questioned over in her own thoughts. Sitting beside her, I wrapped a wing around the beautiful, rubyesque dragoness who was sulking at the back of the cave.

“I may lack a sense of morality and struggle to empathise. However, my pride goes towards the survival and continuous development of our dragonkin. Even though I see most of our dragonkin to be rather foolish in their idealism. I take our extraction very seriously and will never allow for failure. Our future depends on our success. Even though I have no idea what bringing the Life Relic back will achieve, it matters not, for every extraction we dragons venture upon is just as important as the last." I say gently, trying to brighten her mood. I kiss her on the snout and in return, she nuzzles mine back with a slight smile.

“I understand all too well, my Tyrant, just as you will understand that no matter what the situation or your own desires may be, my own obligation is keeping my Tyrant of our domain alive and well. Hence, I will sacrifice myself to protect you without a second thought. Life is scarred to our tribe to the preservation of our dragonkin. I believe you know considering your position." Inferno replies, licking along my neck.

“Indeed I do, although it may have slipped my mind as I got caught up in being free from my Sire and mating with the pair of you." I reply in honesty, sharing in building affections. Pressing myself up against her in a sort of cuddle, nuzzling and licking at her snout, jaw and down her neck.

Soon enough, Calamity returned with three timber wolves. They'd been weakened by the acid rain and hadn't needed much finishing. The rain had eaten through the poor beasts, revealing muscle tissue and making the meal less than appetising. Thankfully, after Inferno's generous flames, the meat was all the more palatable. The four of us ate the food until our stomachs filled. Tired after the conflict with the Sentinel and escaping from Quetzalcoatl's constant attacks, the four of us retired to the second cosy chamber in the back of the cave. I settle down to sleep only to notice my mates staring at me with protective intensity.

“Surely I am well protected inside this cave." I say startled as they both bapped my snout and moved in to curl their bodies around me, two wings thrown over me. I lacked the energy to prevent them from placing me in between them. However, with Lesmis sleeping beside us, they kept the formation clean. Although outside in the open apparently was totally appropriate, of course. My understanding of such situations drifted away as I purred happily into a deep, secure sleep.