Nix stood alone. As far as the eye could see, the land was only soggy ash. Nix with the greatest of care removed the now whole corpse from his chest plate. His fire receding as he dawned his human guise.
Nix's human guise revealed he wasn't as uninjured as Zane first believed. Blood was trickling from his mouth and eyes. His left leg was like broken charcoal, blood seeping from the cracks. His arms were covered in what looked like whip marks, his stomach more bruise than flesh.
Nix fell to one knee. The corpse could have been mistaken for a sleeping man. His features were a little rough around the edges, his darker skin hiding the blood dripping from Nix.
Nix gently brushed away some of the soot on the man's face. When Nix looked up, Ru was standing over him.
Nix looked so… helpless, confused. "Ru is he dead… Ru he was killed, why didn't he call, he had my feather…" Tears mixed with blood fell. Despite all his injuries, Nix's beauty tugged at even the hardest hearts.
Ru sighed, "Would you call if someone was going to lead me into a trap?"
Nix's heartbreak was palpable, looking down at the man, Nix hugged the corpse. As the sunlight shown on their bodies, silver and red flames licked at Nix's wounds. As the blood burned away, healed flesh was revealed.
"Am I so unreliable, can I not be trusted? They keep coming after me… I don't understand why I'm hunted…" Nix whispered like a lost child.
"They want to kill you before you become a god. He… was the only one they dared kill to draw you out." Ru said as he squatted down, ruffling Nix's hair. Then he pulled a feather to drop on the corpse.
Nix looked up, tears falling like pearls. "But Ru, did I not say, did I not confirm, I had no desire to become a god?"
Ru stood up, spitting on the ground in disgust. "They don't trust you, because they themselves can't be trusted." Ru sighed as he glanced around. "It seems… battle does not become you lil chirp. This won't stop them from trying to kill you though."
Nix watched as the corpse was engulfed in a film of nearly transparent gold. "But Ru… I cannot be killed."
Ru sighed looking over the wasteland that just yesterday had been a metropolis of human and beast cohabitation. Not even a brick remained… Not a blade of grass, not a bone… only water, ash… and Nix's blood. "I know."
Zane was suddenly… looking at his teacup again.
Jantje shuddered… Nix… had crushed a gods beast core. Sure, his leg had been injured after… but mana crystals and cores were so treasured because they were considered… indestructible. It's why so many palaces used them in their construction. The stronger the core, the harder to break…
Rommel shivered, Nix… couldn't be killed. That… didn't make sense. He'd repeatedly claimed his bodies perished. Or was it because the consciousness remained, he wasn't considered dead?
Beloved was hugging Nix to her chest, wrapped in her snake's tail. Her poor Nix… his heart was so hurt… he was always getting so hurt. Just one… was it too much to ask that just one being… Love Nix enough for their heart to sing for him?
Haven coiled his body around his birds. Tucking them safely away from all prying eyes. The entire flock, comforting Nix. Haven waited… examining his feelings. Nix had drawn Beloved's attention… competition for affection… yet… Haven did not feel ill at ease.
Perhaps… Haven glanced over the land. The empire. Saturated in corrupted souls. Haven raised his body to see the constrained dragon… forced to bless the land even after death.
Sebastian watched the giant snake coil, they remained hidden for hours. He glanced at late evening sun. Just when he thought they would sleep tucked away, the coil started to unravel.
Haven decided to bribe the birds with food. They weren't as… chirpy as usual. Taking care he examined the white fire. One would think, the two sources of power would clash, circling inside his core, competing for his mana. Yet, the fire sat quietly in the middle of his core as his myriad color wind flowed around the white flame. The flame wasn't Beloved's… this tiny white flame was his.
Haven experimented with the flame, making it bigger or smaller was easy. Making it hotter… well, he would need more practice. Deciding to put Nix to use, Haven gave Nix three clay pans. Then he continued making his bribes.
Beloved cheerfully fed her Nix, then fed her big snake another egg. Fed her Nix, then her big snake. She knew both were indulging her. They should indulger her, her happiness was their happiness. Still, soon… if only Nix…
Ashton tilted his head as Beloved forcefully set down the small plate she'd been feeding him from. Staring into his eyes, uncertainly? She had no reason to be uncertain. Ashton barely blinked before the entire clearing was engulfed in her illusion.
(Hey Brother, Producer Avicii, switching vocals)
Hey, brother, there's an endless road to rediscover.
Beloved waved showing off a dirt road. The first road she'd walked on her own two feet. It had been such a novel experience, going where she wished. She'd had no idea where it would take them, but Nix had let her pick their path without hesitation.
Hey Sister, know the water's sweet, but blood is thicker.
Ashton took her hand as they fell, sliding down Haven's back. Like a spiraled slide, they faced the world, catching glimpses of their journey together.
Sometimes eating new foods, flying, walking, running, sleeping.
Oh, if the sky comes fallin down, for you
There's nothin in this world I wouldn't do
Even a few glimpses of when they were being chased. The golems were gliding, chasing Beloved and Ashton's sliding forms.
Hey, brother, do you still believe in one another?
Still holding Nix's hand, she leapt off her big snake. They fell past scene after scene of heart bearer's betrayal.
Hey, sister, Do you still believe in love I wonder?
The illusion shifted, beasts, humans, half breeds who had shown them kindness. Even Ru appeared once or twice. Until Haven's majestic form took over the illusion, encircling them.
What if I'm far from home?
Ashton asked as the illusion changed. He was alone, overlooking a vast forest.
Oh, brother, I will hear you call
What if I lose it all?
Beloved was huddled in her gilded cage. Scratches marked the seemingly endless years she'd spent alone.
Oh, sister, I will help you out
Ashton set fire to the cage, as they started to fall again. Reaching for each other as they half ran, half fell down Haven's back.
Oh, if the sky comes fallin' down, for you
There's nothin' in this world I wouldn't do
As they clasped hands, the illusion fell away. The orange sunset casting their shadows over the land.
Hey Brother, there's an endless road to rediscover
Haven was leisurely spiraling up as they continued to run down. Their human forms so miniscule in comparison, they could be mistaken for falling feathers.
Hey Sister, do you still believe in love I wonder?
They leapt off Haven's tail. Barely a heart beat passed before Haven flew into a rift of his own making, to fall beside them. Beloved had tears in her eyes as she watched her big snake, giving them space to be birds… but keeping them protected under his massive wings. Yes. She did believe in love.
Oh, if they sky comes fallin down, for you
Haven sped past them, pulling up so they landed just behind his head.
Ashton caught Beloved to his chest as they landed. Haven's crest feathers were larger than both of them combined.
What if I'm far from home?
Beloved cradled Nix's head to her chest as Haven landed. Shifting so they slid down his face, until Nix's feet were planted on the ground.
Oh, brother I will hear you call.
What if I lose it all?
Oh sister I will help you out.
Beloved stared at the Nix's current heart bearer. Her eyes slowly turning black. Filling with a darkness no human could escape.
Oh, if the sky comes fallin down for you, there's nothin in this world I wouldn't do.
Ashton was facing Haven, a heartfelt smile tugging at his lips. He lifted Beloved up, half holding her, half sitting her on Haven's nose.
Oh, if the sky comes fallin down, for you, there's nothin in this world I wouldn't do.
Haven curled his body enough to hide both birds. He'd seen the human heart bearer recoil from his Beloved. It would appear, of the three birds, only one was… vegetarian.
Neolani stared after the hidden form of Beloved… it wasn't a trick of the lights. She'd seen it, again, Beloved's eyes turning as black as ink. Not just the iris, the entire eye. That last sentence… had been a threat.
Haven settled into the tree for the flock to rest. The two largest had nested into his arms, while the rest happily settled in smaller groups in his coils. Haven glanced at the silent, yet dramatic fox pretending to claw at the base of his tree.
Nix… wanted a mate. Haven looked over the young fox. He was… attractive. Unlike Nix and Beloved's erratic playfulness, the fox… Caius. Was more chaotic. Haven wasn't sure chaos and control would make a good pair… still the choice was Nix's.
Seeing both birds settling in neatly, Haven dropped his tail to gather up the young fox.
Caius blinked as he found himself dangling from the snake's tail. The snake's eyes were peering into his soul! Aiya! He hadn't even left a mark on the tree! Aiya! He was so neglected by his Little Snack! Now he was going to be eaten!!!! Aiya! Where was the justice?!
Haven silently snorted, ignoring the fox's false tears. Without preamble he settled the fox on his coils. Closer to the small birds.
Caius blinked… glanced around to make sure he was still alive, in a tree… well. It was a good thing he'd stayed cool, calm, and collected. Smoothing out his, ahem, unruffled fur, he slowly settled into the giant coils. Aiya, so musky! He was going to smell like snake for days!
Haven glanced over the fox.
Caius's fur bristled feeling the eyes of a predator. Ahem, what a… good smell to have. Very safe. Who wouldn't want to smell like snake? Humans dawned all kinds of scents! Perfume! Yes! Snake perfume! Very good for the fur…
Haven pulled his robe open, settling his Beloved inside. As he raised a brow, two fox tails reached to cover Nix, nestled into his other side.
Caius curled up, he was so high up… he'd… well, actually yes, he'd slept in trees before. But… never with a snake… aiya, snakes are good, snakes are great, snakes give chances, to woo his birdy mate! Caius continued to brainwash himself. Aiya, one pretty birdie, two pretty birdies… if he was asleep, he might acclimate to the snake musk easier.
Haven opened one eye as the fox fell asleep. This young fox put much faith in Nix. To fall asleep in his coils… Well, trust was good.
Haven watched the stars, the moon, counted the passing breezes. A flock… a flock of birds. His flock of birds. The idea… was appealing. The tree was big enough, even if they grew, making their own little nests.
They were easily tempted, easily cajoled, easily distracted… his Beloved was also still very young. For a beast that could, theoretically, liv forever. She had not even lived half a millennia, to now be mated. For all eternity… and it would be for all eternity.
Haven carefully ran his fingers through her hair. Even in her sleep, soft hums escaped. She must be having pleasant dreams to be smiling so…
Her happiness seemed easily within reach. A family, babies. She did seem to like babies. Haven closed his eyes as he leaned back. His breed did not raise their young. As soon as they hatched, they were independent. Not that he'd seen any of his kind in thousands of years.
They would be competition… and unlike the birds, Haven wasn't so sure he would tolerate snakes hunting in his territory. A threat to his future progeny. Keeping a… protector around would be helpful in many ways. Not to mention…
Haven glanced at the sleeping birds curled up on either side of himself. Beloved wanted Nix to go with her. With them. The only problem, was his oaths to the dragonkin.
Haven felt the passing breeze touch all corners of the empire. Nix would not leave unless the oath was broken… or the taint removed from the empire. Haven wasn't exactly sure what oaths held Nix to the dragonkin, but the taint… or more precisely, the bound dragon. He could do something about that.
Haven searched himself, simply slaying the dragon wouldn't be enough. It could take… a decade to fully remove all the taint. Well, if the current occupants were to survive. More likely, it would take longer to root out anyone who continued to taint the land.
A decade… no more than three. In the grand scheme of eternity, three decades to keep Nix, and the rest of the flock was a worthwhile trade. Ru on the other hand.
Haven sighed, if Ru became a permanent fixture in their lives. Well, no family was perfect. Of course, Ru would have to reframe from eating his kin. Family, not just a mate, not just progeny.
Haven let a smile escape, yes. Now that he'd been accepted into the flock, they would not be so easily rid of him. If anyone should be aggrieved, surely it would be Ru, knowing both his siblings had brought a snake into their nest. Sharing their abilities, their secrets.
Yes, Ru had half lost a sister. Haven, gained a mate, the chance for progeny, half of Nix, ten small bird companions, a piece of the sun. There was truly, nothing unwon.