Valkun: He tossed Alces to the ground like a ragdoll, the impact cracking the roots beneath him. Dragonoid soldiers flanked the room in silence, molten eyes locked forward, waiting for the command to incinerate everything in sight. "I am allowing you to walk away from this unharmed. Do not make me do something I don't want to do." His voice rumbled through the air like the growl of a collapsing volcano.
Alces: He coughed, thick black sludge spilling from his mouth and staining the mossy floor. The natural glow of the great tree flickered faintly behind him as he tried to steady his voice. "I told you... I do not know where they are going!" His body trembled, yet his tone carried a desperate defiance.
Valkun: "LIAR!" He roared, the sound shaking the forest canopy. He slammed his heel into Alces' chest, the crack of ribs echoing through the chamber. Alces wheezed, barely drawing breath as the dragonoids stepped forward instinctively, then froze when Valkun raised a hand. "We saw that Wiliaquo sent you a transmission to meet on his home world."
Alces: He gasped for air, pushing against the scorched soil until he was on his hands and knees. "That was before you BLEW IT UP!" His voice cracked, pain and rage spilling through the words. "I do not know what he originally wanted to discuss." He spat blood onto the glowing roots and struggled to rise.
Valkun: In a blur of motion, he forcefully kicked Alces into the massive base of the nature tree. Bark splintered and light dimmed as Valkun loomed over him, his molten aura flaring hotter with every breath. "Did I say you could stand?!" His claws dug into the ground, heat radiating outward in angry waves.
Alces: He staggered back to his feet, bark and blood dripping from the cracks in his skin. "I am telling you, I do not know where he went..." His tone was broken, but defiant.
Valkun: He stared him down for a long, heavy moment, the molten glow in his eyes dimming to a simmer. A faint sigh escaped him. "You just had to be difficult." With a flick of his wrist, two of the towering dragonoid soldiers stepped forward, grabbing Alces by the arms and forcing him down. The earth cracked beneath his knees.
Alces: He struggled against their grip, panic rising in his chest. "You can't kill me or the tree, that will kill you too!" His voice wavered, both fear and fury breaking through the pain.
Valkun: He tilted his head, a thin smile forming. "I know. I won't be killing you." His gaze drifted toward a trembling bush nearby, where faint glowing eyes peered out, smaller wendigos, kin of Alces, watching helplessly.
Alces: His breath caught, eyes widening in horror as he looked between Valkun and the bush. "No... no, no, stop! Please don't touch them! I don't know, I DO NOT KNOW WHERE HE IS!!!"
Valkun: "...I believe you." Fire circled his fingertips.
Alces: His expression softened for a brief moment. "I am telling you the truth..."
Valkun: He nodded slowly, "I know, but I don't care." His hands engulfed the bush in flames, and the children screamed out in agony. Alces screamed out towards his kin, tears streaming down his face.
Alces: "HOW DARE YOU!!!" His jaw was grabbed and held shut by the other dragons.
Valkun: "That was for standing up when I told you to kneel. Next time, I will not be so merciful. You are right, by the way, I can not kill you. But maybe torturing you for a couple of eons might teach you a lesson not to disobey me." With a wave of his hand, they dragged Alces toward the gateway, and his children could only watch in horror as their father was dragged away.
"This is the beginning of my war..." He followed them, "I know exactly who to contact to find them."