The Flames of Revenge: Ch 2

Lessa found Diane crouched in the hallway. “Is she ok?” she asked coming up behind her. She had a bad feeling.

“No.”

Lessa winced. She had done all she could as far as healing went but there was just too much blood-loss. Not to mention the pesky enzyme in the Leeches saliva that prevented the blood from clotting. Since the Dragonet herself wasn't much bigger than a cattle-dog, it was a wonder she wasn't just sucked dry.

The Fey shook her head in pity as Diane slowly stood up; Anger blazed in waves from the grief-stricken Dreya. There would be blood to pay and Lessa was going to be the last person to get in her way. However, she was certainly going to be the first to help her friend in whatever way she could.

Still clutching her bundle, Diane walked silently looking only straght ahead. Damn Human form, she sniffled and cursed. Dragons could only cry when their human form allowed it and right now it was the last thing she wanted to do. She didn't want to cry... she wanted to rend and tear! Destroy those that dare prey upon the young of her kin! Yet there they were streaming against her will down her reddening cheeks.

Lessa followed solemnly behind at a respectful distance. She was confident that she wouldn't be the target to Diane’s urge to kill but… that didn't mean it wasn't impossible. Just because the bear looks cuddly doesn't mean you should hug it.

The city was glowing when they finally left the building. Making sure that the body was sufficiently covered they started walking off towards the direction of Oakenwood National Forest where the kind of many creatures sought its protective boughs. There was a small population of Dragons that lived deep within the deep, mysterious woods. Faintly, the eerie death keen, signifying the death of one of their kind, echoed into the night audible to anything but human ears.

Diane longed to join them. She hurried her pace to an inhumanly swift run. Luckily the woods were nearby and when she saw the welcoming branches she Changed.

Wings bursting forth, she started gaining altitude before the Change was finished but it wasn't long before the rest of her caught up leaving her clothes to float in shredded ribbons to the road below. Finally free, the blue Dragon let her own cry meld with the others in their song of death as she flew over the woodland.

         For hours she flew, not really knowing or caring where she was heading. The last note of the Dragon cries faded into the wind. It was just as well, Diane wasn’t in the mood to grieve, she wanted to kill. As she wheeled around to find a place to lay her bundle to rest she noticed she was not the only Dragon in the skies that night.

The other Dragon called out a wary greeting. Diane, recognizing the voice called back. Instantly the dragon turned to land in a large clearing on the shores of a large lake hidden in the forest’s protective boughs and Diane followed.

Both Dragons landed at about the same time facing each other. The other Dragon, a red Dreya, looked curiously at Diane as she carefully landed trying to avoid crushing the Dragonet’s body.  It did not escape Diane’s notice that the other Dreya’s ears went back in alarm and her tail twitched in agitation at the sight of the body.

:: So this is what all the noise has been about?:: the red Dreya asked indicating with her snout.

Diane’s tail swished with her friends. :: Yes. Damn them, Razalin! :: She stamped the ground with her right fore-paw, spraying soft earth around them. She really needed to kill something.

Razalin looked hard at Diane. :: You know who did this?::

:: If you looked closely, you would too :: She snapped unintentionally.

Taking her up on her suggestion, Razalin nosed around the tiny body. After much snuffing, turning and even a tiny lick on the green faded scales,  her head came up fast with a look of distaste stamped on her elegant muzzle when she recognized the assailant’s signature. She shook her head and scraped her tongue on the roof of her mouth.  :: I see. :: Razalin narrowed her amber eyes.  :: So, now what? ::

::Now, :: Diane said slowly, :: we let her rest and THEN… I have a very strong urge to rend something into pieces. :: Diane growled impatiently digging around the ground.

:: Of course. Let’s get to firmer ground then shall we?:: Razalin gently took the Dragonet into her mouth and carried her  away from the still mushy ground around the shores of the lake. Diane obediently followed ducking under thick branches. It wasn’t long before they came to a layer of bedrock protruding from the earth like a hunched over giant. After a bit of searching, Razalin found what she was looking for; a small craggy opening just big enough for the Dragonet’s body. 

Placing the body in the opening they both stepped back. Nothing was said but they waited in silence for a minute or two. :: You better do it. You found her after all. :: Razalin said breaking into the silence.

         Diane decided to not correct her at this moment and tell her exactly who found her but instead nodded and stepped forward. With as much control and care to not turn the rest of the forest into char, she spat as small of a flame as she could. The towels that were still wrapped around the body caught instantly. Together they added a few small branches and other small flammable things into the little crevice.

         They watched awhile as all the ashes mixed together. After about an hour, the flames turned to embers and all you could tell was maybe a bone here or there but nothing that would distinguish her for what she was. Finally they looked around until they found a small boulder that as suitable to seal the little one’s tomb.

         Diane looked up at the dark sky. The scent of snow hung sharp in the air and it wasn’t long before the first frosty flake landed on her blue scales. The delicate crystals danced around the trees as the wind carried them through the dark forest.  She turned back to the tomb and without even thinking scratched out on the stone, Snowbreeze in Drakkin.

          Razalin looked quizzically at the blue Dreya. :: Why Snowbreeze? ::

         :: It seemed wrong to release her spirit without even a name. :: Diane tilted her horned head in a shrug. Razalin nodded understanding.

         The red Dreya turned to go but stopped and craned her neck around to look back at Diane, :: Before I go, I think you should know that there is a high possibility that there are more like her. Worse, there have been reports of missing eggs. I know that there are some Dreya’s that couldn’t protect their own noses, let alone eggs but even those who are particularly diligent about  their eggs are finding them missing. I don’t know much more than that but if I hear anything more, I’ll tell you. I know where to find you, ::

         Before Diane could ask questions Razalin flapped her wings once, jumped into the air and flew off into the distance. She watched the snow drift down where Razalin made her exit above the rocks and then turned away with a ferocious need.  It was time to hunt.