Beloved held Nix close as they sat under the stars. She lightly scratched at Nix's slender back, this would be their last song for the night.
I know you've got the best intentions, (You don't know, Katelyn Tarver: nightcore cover.)
Beloved let herself sink deep into Nix's fire. Where only they could see, red and white mixed, merged, teased, purged.
If this isn't good for me, well, I don't wanna know.
Just for today, just for the night, let her wallow in self-pity, she'd leave it behind, leave it come dawn.
You Don't know what it's like.
Ashton felt Beloved's soul fire withdrawal. Without a word he stood up, silver fire sprouting up like a fountain with every step to his nest.
Caius watched, half worried as his Little's Snack's feet touched the corrupted ground. Give it a few years and this land would be uninhabitable for the miasma that would slowly encroach, drawn to the taint. However, with each step the dark earth caught fire… and the taint was burned away. Caius sat up, watching his Little Snack pass through was like watching flowers bloom through ash.
Talvi looked through papa bird's flesh, to his soul fire… it was… brighter… while the female had been singing, she could not see past either's flesh. So… the female had been up to something… the real question… where had the taint in those tears come from? Her hundreds of years of imprisonment… or elsewhere.
Jakub watched the couple… something was off about that girl… not just physically… there was something missing. Jakub almost lashed out when something touched his shoulder. "Curses Novak! I told you to let me be!" He growled.
Novak didn't flinch at the raspy condemnation, "You were about to walk right into the… tainted ground." They had experimented earlier, anything that so much as touched the darkened earth had started to rot, smaller items melted as if they had been dipped in acid. Fallen leaves, sticks, throwing blades, arrows, enchanted boots… Even the Foxes hadn't dared touch the ground when the twin tail's fire was neatly extinguished.
Jakub glanced at where his foot was about to land. Shaking Novak off he retreated a few steps. "There is something o-" Suddenly he felt as if a mountain had fallen on him.
Novak drew his blades, jumping in front of Jakub, Ashton, Young Song, Nix. Was staring past him to the now kneeling Jakub.
Ashton paused to look over his shoulder, eyeing the necromancer… how negligent he'd been… letting a mage who dabbled in souls examine his Beloved. Ashton watched dispassionately as the mage struggled to breathe. Ahh, at best it was speculation… he'd left no survivors…
Jakub gasped as he clutched his throat. Dragging in ragged gulps of air.
Novak didn't turn his back on Nix, even as he leapt up into his nest, female still clinging like a koala. When the pair were no longer visible, Novak knelt down to help Jakub up. "What happened?" Novak asked under his breath as he backed them away, Nix's reaction had been telling…
Jakub took several moments to regain his wits. Glancing toward the nest hesitantly, he continued, "The female… something is missing. I can't tell what."
Novak nodded slowly, "Do you know what manner of beast she is? Or if they're the same?"
Jakub shook his head, "He's unique. I dare say, one of a kind. She may also be one of a kind… but she's a soul beast of some kind. My mana reacts to her like seeing a spirit I want to tame."
Novak narrowed his eyes, "I say we pay the imperials a visit." The flames where Nix had stepped were now spreading, reaching out to engulf the darkened earth, restoring it, the taint now gone like a fleeting dream. While the earth was bare, it was like freshly tilled soil.
Jakub shook his head as he glanced toward the sky. "Not tonight," some conversations were dangerous in the dark.
Payton clasped his hands behind his back as he watched the fire heal the earth. So, they were birds of a feather… Lady Glimmora had hidden herself the moment the first tear fell. Until Lord Nix had stood she had remained hiding in Princess Hazel's skirt, now her vines were reaching out.
Howe kissed his flower relic, "Beast Gods above bless and protect us." Even with Lady Glimmora's full protection, they had felt the sunlight burn away unsavory thoughts that had been creeping in. Several Smyrnaean guards and servants had been rounded up for interrogations. This could be the beginning of an all out war of beasts… Young Song was slowly exposing all the traces of Alaina's plots.
Payton shared a somber glance with Howe. If there was war, there had to be a victor. If Alaina continued to reign Lady Glimmora would be forced to submit… or possibly perish. Lord Nix… appeared the better option. Payton sighed, time, time was needed.
Hazel sat under the stars, writing in the journal Lord Nix had gifted her. Soon her mother responded, mother had informed father, so now Gippsi was now shoring up their defenses. After there were no more responses, Hazel turned to a page of a bestiary she had ripped out… Lord Nix was not a Caladrius, but the female… she peeked from behind her bangs at the tent Prince Zane and the others were in.
Monroe tossed in his bed, not sure what had woken him. He'd been having a rather strange dream… but… now he couldn't remember what it had been about. It must have been a good dream because he had an urge to give Jaxon good news… Monroe used his stub to roll over, there wasn't any light coming from the window.
It couldn't be dawn yet, it was too dark. It… was dark, Monroe stilled… had the candles not been replaced? Had they simply gone out? … A slight breeze had goosebumps spreading along his skin… he was certain the window had been closed when Jaxon left his room last night. Monroe slowly opened his eyes after a stronger breeze ruffled his hair. A creak at the foot of his bed had him so tense he thought he might turn to stone. Monroe was facing the open window, he slowly turned his head to look at whatever had made the sound. Then… a quiet hum sounded in the room… whatever was in the room with him… was humming a delighted, yet eerie melody.
Monroe had to tug on the blanket before he could see the giant creature perched at the foot of his bed. Cast in shadows Monroe thought he'd lost his soul… giant folded wings hid what looked like a human face with long dangling hair. The figure had to stand over ten feet, the horrendous combination of human and bird parts stilled the very air he breathed as it tilted his head. Then… even through the hair and shadows… he saw it open its mouth in a monstrous imitation of a smile.
Jaxon didn't even think as he heard Monroe scream from across the hall. Grabbing his sword he threw himself into Monroe's room with just enough time to see Monroe being thrown out the window, followed by white feathers. "MONROE!!!!!" Jaxon roared as he chased after them. Leaping out the window to see Monroe dangling by his shirt as the tiny female bird flew away!
Sebastian jolted awake as he heard Jaxon's bellow, cursing under his breath as he threw his window open. Calix a step behind as he stumbled from his bed. Sebastian saw, Duke Darnings racing across the ground while…. Monroe was tossed up, and caught by Lord Reece's female as she circled over the nest. Monroe ungracefully landed on his stomach, his legs dangling as he attempted to find leverage. Before Sebastian could gasp, the white bird changed to her human form, sitting on his back.
Ashton blinked at the panicked Monroe who was trying to find the breath that had been knocked out of him with his hard landing. Then Ashton tilted his head as his Beloved sat on the youth, looking for all the world as if she were awaiting praise.
"Look at what I found!!!! See? See?" Beloved chirped excitedly as she lifted its head for Nix to see. Nix only blinked at her.
"Ah, yes, you found it. What will you do with it?" Ashton asked as Jaxon caught up, sword in hand, glancing between himself, his Beloved, and his brother.
Beloved pouted as she picked her prize up under its arms, then let it fall into the nest. She leapt in after it, foot on its stomach, "Look! Your flame awakened its dragon heart!" She announced happily as she bent down, one knee on its chest, then placed both her hands over its heart. White flames showing the tiny, almost negligible change in its mana core.
Ashton sat up, crossing his arms as he nodded, "Indeed, but, its still tainted with greed." Ashton pointed out.
Jaxon stilled, he didn't dare attack the girl or Ashton… and the news the Monroe's dragon heart awakened… was not a pleasant thought… what if the priests… beast gods above… what did that mean for Monroe? Out of the corner of his eye he saw Lucian running out, sword also in hand, while Devlin came stumbling after.
Beloved stuck out her tongue, "I know silly Nix! But! I can clean out the traces of greed, you pour in more fire, repeat enough times, and it will become what I aspire!"
Ashton tilted his head, "That is an option, one to consider, Yes we could clean it, then definitely heal it, but… dragons take forever to mature… it would be more than a hundred years before you could even converse…" Ashton reminded reaching to poke the exposed core. Hardly bigger than a grain of sand… it would take a lot of effort to ascend, then still need time to train…
"A hundred years long, to protect and to train, it might be worth the effort, but a hundred years to ensure its not slain." Ashton added retracting his hand with a dubious glance.
Beloved frowned as she released her fire. With a huff of displeasure, she sat back crossing her arms, "Ohh, darn… hmmm," Beloved glanced around, her sights landing on the slightly bigger male.
Jaxon's shivered as she looked him over, then she leapt up, and he could hear feathers ruffling as she landed… on his shoulder. It had happened so fast he couldn't even react. He thought she'd be heavier… but she felt no heavier than his boot. Jaxon didn't dare move as she paced from side to side, looking at him. He looked up into her slightly glowing eyes.
"What about this one? Do you think it'd resist? it's a bit bigger, but its heart is amiss." Beloved called still holding the male's gaze. It would be more effort to stimulate its heart, but… its mind was a bit sturdier.
Ashton glanced over Jaxon, "Perhaps a bit smarter, easier to train, but without concessions, no loyalty will you gain."
Beloved pouted as she leapt off its shoulder and back onto the nest to look at the mutilated one. "Oh what a pity, the greed a great bane, I guess it was lucky, freed of the strain."
Ashton shrugged, "Now that it's useless, no need to influence. But why want a dragon? What was the point? Did you have a reason, or just for show?" Ashton asked as he tossed Monroe by his collar to Jaxon.
Beloved pouted as she fell into Nix's lap with a great sigh, "Well, I need a protector, figured a dragon just might due." Beloved giggled when Nix scrunched up his face with distaste. Then sighed as if in concession.
"Well they are sturdy, and usually stubborn, but can you imagine? The face of Ru? I don't mean to be biased, not to be rude… but dragons are troublesome, think that they rule. Would you submit… to keep it by you?" Ashton asked face still scrunched at the idea.
Beloved kicked her feet a few times, "I mean, better a dragon, so I could lay eggs, than some kind of mammal, a body growing, the red…" She shuddered glancing over all the humans that had gathered round. Just… eew!