Out of the Ashes
(Sequel to Fire and Ashes)
I decided to WILD this afternoon since I didn't have anything else to do.
I became lucid and recreated the scene where I was on the edge of the cliff with the dead dragon, this is what happened. (Sorry its so long, I decided to put in alot of detail I didn't in the first one.)
The bitter cold wind sweeped up countless flakes of snow as I stood on the edge of the cliff for the longest time. A single act of aggression towards the Drages would lead to one of two things, my death, or their destruction. I would have to try to know for sure which one would happen, but I wasn't sure if that was a risk I was willing to take. Instead, I purposed to scour the globe to confirm the validity of DeathBringers statements. A feeling inside me began to stir, one unknown to me since long ago. What was it? The same thing that lingered in the memory of the girl in that bunker. . .Hope. Finally, I had found some hope. With renewed strength I mounted the air currents on my wings. The pure whiteness didn't provide provide a very good view for the next few hours. "(How can such beauty exist with no one to enjoy it? No, I don't believe that these creatures could comprehend such things. Humans still existed, they had to. For things of beauty aren't beautiful unless there are people to acknowledge its beauty.") Again my wound began to hamper my flying ability. So I decided to land, and take shelter to rest for a short spell. And so, I dived towards the stark whiteness below me. Spreading my wings to slow my decent, my feline eyes caught movement in the distance. A smile spread across my face. It wasn't a friend, but it was the next best thing . . . dinner. (At this point I can use my elemental abilities) I formed an ice shelter. After sniffing out the trail of dinner, I saw the small coney sitting in a bush with it's family. Pressing itself against the shelter that served as its only home, and letting its family gather together to feel what little body heat they produced. I slowly crept towards them. I could see the fear in their eyes, taste their fear in the air. It was intoxicating to me feline half, and disgusting to my human half. I laid down in the snow less than two feet from them. The female rabbit stood in front of her offspring, the male in front of her. For what seemed like years I sat fighting with myself, and my hunger, eventually my human side prevailed. I lifted my body up on my elbows. "Ya know, for something smaller than my fist your pretty brave."
The fear in the fathers eyes was immediately replaced with confusion. It wasn't sure what I was doing, and didn't know what to do. I reached out to them, they recoiled, I pulled my hand back. *sigh*, I tryed once more, this time the father rabbit bit my hand. "Argh, You know, I could eat your whole family in two mouthfuls and yet you strike at me like I was nothing more that a mouse. Be at peace, for I would sooner break a stain glass window than kill a creature as brave as you. I only hope that I can hold on with such ferosity when death is staring me in the face. Farewell." I walked back to my makeshift ice cave pondering what had just happened. That night, the emotional strain of the situation hit me like a tsunami. "I am about to take on an entire race of powerful creatures, and I can't even kill a rabbit. No, that was different, he didn't deserve to die, the drages do. Well, I can't generalize the entire race into one group, perhaps there were some that disagreed. Perhaps there ARE some that disagree. Maybe, just maybe, But if thats the case, then they would be in exile. Which means they would be in hiding. And the best place to hide would be. . .No, they couldn't survive there. or could they?)" providing some of the dragons resisted, they would hiding in the bowels of the planet. Where dragons do not go, because they cannot fly there, and the air is very thick for them to breathe. So I rolled over and went to sleep. (which involved me closing my eyes, then opening them and the night had passed)
I awoke in the morning only to find out the cave had caved in. For a brief second I was worried up suffication, then I realised that this was nothing, I would just dig myself out. When I found that I had already began to run out of oxygen, and any further attempts at physical work would only serve to complicate my situation. The only thing I could do is lie back down and try to build up enough strength. I felt the air growing thinner as I tryed to build up as much Oxygen in my blood as possible. I was about to start working when I feel a stream of cold air rushing in, the cold winter air filled the cave with fresh life sustaining oxygen, and I once again breathed easily. "(I'm either really lucky, or some one likes me.)" I enlarged the whole to facilitate my escape and hopped out onto the cold snow. There, sitting right next to me was the coney I hadn't eaten the night before. No, he was smaller and his fur was a different color, he was one of the children. I chuckled as I thought how close I came to death over something as menial as dinner and thanked the small rodent for his services. And started to walk away, when he squiked and ran after me. I turned to see what he wanted, only to find he wasn't behind me. I turned again to go on my way. "Whoa! watch it there fellow, my foot almost made mince meat out of you." I crouched down and stared him strait in the eyes. His speckled fur dotted with snow and ice. I knew what he was saying. He wanted to go with me. It was then I realized that it is impossible to extinguish all sentient life, because that would mean obliterating every living creature in the planet. I saw in the small animals eyes the same tenasity and ferosity his father had, and the same hope and kindness that girl had. Far be it from me to turn him down, I offered him a spot in my satchel. He gladly hopped in, and gave a squeel of approval. Wings again burst out of my back and I labored to get my body up to a high enough altitude to ride the thermals. When I accomplished that I began planning my next move. I would go to the place called Forbidden and see if the Drages had taken refuge there. All activity in my head ceased when the sun broke over the horizen. It seemed to be in fast forward as it rapidly rose over the hills. Splashes of orange and purple spread across the sky like streams of ink. the blue sky glowed with pride as yet another breath taking sunrise was born. I could have watched it for hours, but it only lasted minutes, as I then had to continue on my journey.
Clear crisp waterfalls, solemn rock formations, beautiful lush plains--all seen on my path to The Forbidden Place. When after I had seen all that beauty, it seems to melt away just as frost melts in the morning sun, with one difference. It was replaced with barren hills and dry lifeless plains. A single mountain seemed to be unaturally jutting out of the landscape--this was Forbidden. The ground continuelly sloped downhill towards the mountain. Stony protrusions decorated the formation like a death omen to all those who would seek to enter. I slowed down and retrieved Rico out of my satchel. "Well Rico, thats it, The Forbidden Place. Its the worst location on the earth, and we happen to be headed right at it. Still want to come along?" He blinked solemnly, then seemed to smile a "yes" and squeeked to let me know he wanted to got back into his home. I put him away, then continued my decent towards the mountain. A rush of cold wind hit me, not cold in temperture, but in the way it felt--evil, dark, and cold. I landed on the backside of the the place, I knew how to get in--I had been there before.....
**FLASHBACK**
A group of old men sit in a semi-circle. All looking at one young boy. who stands in chains. His head bowed, his hair unruly, his clothes tattered. "You, Rtex, are sentenced to life in exile, to be served out in the Forbidden mountain. If you ever try to escape, you will be hunted until you are caught or killed. This is the ruling of the council as punishment for youe crimes against society and mankind. Please read the charges: Killing an innocent victim, Killing multiple enforcers of peace. . ." she was cut off, "They were nothing more than thugs hired to bring me in! How can you accuse me of anything other than self defence?" Rtex barked. "Quiet! you will speak when you have permission to!" replied the chancellor. "But!" a guard swiftly delivered a blow to Rtex's back with his Quarterstaff. Rtex fell to the floor and began to sob. "please continure reading the charges." "Killing multiple enforcers of the peace, ..............
I snapped out of the trance. "(Wha? Was that my past?)" I tryed searching for any memories before or after that inccident but I came up with nothing. So I entered the cavern through the back. The air was thick, even for me, and the heat was almost oppressive. I walked into the expanding space. and called out, "Drages! if you are here! I seek peace!" and low murmer was the only reply. I continued on into the darkness. A faint light eminated from the hallway further along. When out of no where, a small Dragon appeared. The very sight of him made me draw my swords. Rico, not wanting to miss anything, poked his head out of the satchel and blinked at the Dragon.
The Drage chuckled, "I think you forget to eat your dinner before you came." he said glancing at Rico
"Believe it or not, this small creature saved my life." I replied plainly the dragons mouth literally dropped open, he caught himself and the ushered me into the main hallway. The "Great Cavern" as he called it was light by giant torches mounting the walls. A few drages were coming and going, but one great Dragon sat in the center. He reared back onto his hind quarters, sitting up.
In a booming voice that reverberated in my very being he said, " Who are you?"
"No one of consequence." I said in reply.
"What business do you have here?" He persisted.
"I have come because the last of the known humans have been slaughtered by your evil counterparts. I'm here to see if you know anythign different." I commented.
For a long time we stared at each other. It was all I could do not to turn away. His huge eyes were full of so much--so much wisdom, so much knowledge, so much pain, so much suffering, so much agony, so much love, and so much hate. but eventually he said, "It is not as he has said, Which Dragon did you talk to?"
"He called himself 'DeathBringer'" Instead of replying the Drage cocked his head a began roaring with laughter. A deep thorough laugh that shook the entire mountain it seemed.
"DeathBringer is a pawn, controlled by Dragons with more authority than he. That doesn't mean he isn't powerful himself. but he is uninformed. You did well not to believe him." said the Dragon
"What is your name?" I asked.
"Why, Aasire, do you expect me to give you my name, when you aren't willing to do the same?" he questioned. It bugged me, but I knew he was right.
"I'm Rtex. and my friend is Rico." Rico squeeked a hello and returned to his slumber.
"Terrick is my name, I am leader of this society. we have hidden a small number of humans here with us until we figure out a plan to reinsert them into the world. But with the destruction reeked by the other Dragons, they must live here until the time is right."
"Terrick, I will kill them, all of them if I have to, this planet belongs to the humans, and everyone else, one race can't reign supreme."
"You are very brave standing here talking to me, but do your words carry enough weight to accomplish your task?"
"I WILL, You don't have to worry about that, Just tell me where their leader is."
"Cloud City, But Rtex you are not strong enough to defeat him alone, and I cannot spare any of my Dragons to help you."
"fine Terrick, I didn't expect you to help anyway, but now I have something to fight for." I turned and started to walk out when Terrick called after me.
"Hear me Rtex! You are not an animal that was created by nature. No, You are different. Rtex! in the natural world, there is not such thing as boundless slaughter. The path you walk has no end! Each step you take will be marked by the corpses of your enemies!" with his great voice booming in my ear I once again took flight. This time, I knew my destination, and I knew what it was going to take. Seventeen hours later Cloud City came into view. As did the swarms of Dragons. What looked like millions of these terrible beasts, all swirling around a city that floats in the air, so only those who can fly can reach it. Immediately some of the scouts spotted me, half swooped towards the city, half towards me. With multiple enemies to deal with I knew that fighting wouldn't be an option, I raced towards the city, dipping, diving, dodging, and halting in a dance to avoid being hit by claws, teeth and flames. Finally I made it inside the city. Where buildings and structures provided a complicated web of directions for me to chose from. I banked left only to find three more Dragons in my path, I dropped strait down, they followed. I now had 30 or more dragons following me. And even more ahead. I slowed to let those behind get close to me, then at the last second I ducked into a vent and the Dragons collided with each. Knocking many unconcious, and creating a confusion suffient for me to slip away undetected. I made my way to the Palace, and snuck in with being spotted. There were millions of eyes searching from the ground and the air. And me being incognito would not last for very much longer. I retracted my wings and sprinted along the palace floors. Two small guard dragons spotted me, one started calling for help. with a quick flick of my wrist he had a poisen dagger in his neck. The other readied for a fight, and flew into the air to get more momentum. I drew my sword to parry the blow, but he had so much force behind it, I was knocked backwards. I slammed the doors, locking him in the next room, but also locking me into the main hall, where a Giant Dragon was lying on the floor in the huge room. he opened one eye, then lunged at me. I deflected his teeth, but lost one of my swords in the process. I jumped onto his back, only to get thwacked to the ground by his tail. "Ah!, who are you?!"
Inbetween chomps of his jaws he mananged, "I am Merrick, did that fool of my brother, Terrick, send you?" he slashed threw my cloak with his claws. Then clapped his wings and sent me spiraling into the wall. He once again brought his claw towards me. I jumped, clapped my wings and banked to the left. Shards of brick and stone shot from the powerful strike he delivered to the wall. I dug my talons into his arm. He recoiled in pain. I saw my opening, and rushed his neck and jumped. Mid-air his powerful talons caught me and slammed me to the ground. my freshly healed wound reopened and the familiar rush of pain spread through me. I once again stabbed his hand with my talons and he drew his hand back in pain. I jumped up and lunged at his chest. This time my sword found its mark, and it sunk deeply into his side. He jumped twenty feet back, stumbled, then collapsed. I drew my dagger, and began walking toward him. An arrow whistled through the air and pierced my back, it protruded from my chest like an omen of death. I stared at it for a long moment, then the Dragon Laughed hideously. I slowly turned to see my murderer, and to my shock and horror, I saw . . . the same woman that had bandaged me at the Fire proof structure. The same who had given me hope. I stared in disbelief as her face contorted in an evil smile. She laughed with the Dragon. And then the Drage spoke.
"You poor fool. You still believe that Terrick is hiding away the last of humanity and that your fighting to liberate it?" I could do nothing but sit and listen. my worst fears were being realized. "We never wiped out the human race. At least, not the smart humans, those who understood our goals we allowed to join us. Those who resisted, well, you know what happened to Jay and Dave. They didn't exist either, that was all fabricated. Thats Right Rtex, This whole quest your on was planned from the beginning." he said maliciously.
"What?!?"
"You didn't think you made it this far on your own did you? Haha!, I knew that you were the one person who could threaten my reign. So I had my brother establish that 'society' because I knew thats exactly where you would look. So I had him direct you to me. where I would finish you myself." Once again from pain my vision began to blur. When I heard a familiar squeek. Rico jumped out in anger. He knew what was happening. He ran at the Dragon and all Berrick did was laugh at him. He jumped and began clawing his left eye. Surpised, Berrick screamed in pain an grabbed Rico in between his claws. And threw him to the ground. "Your pathetic friends insulance has cost him his life. he raised his hand, and poised it to crush him. Rico, paralyzed, looked up at me, his eyes pleading for me to do something. I tryed with every ounce of strength I had left. But still could not move. Time seemed to freeze. . .Then Berrick's hand fell, and with a tiny crunch, hit the floor. Blood began to seep out from under his hand. Images of Rico flashed before my eyes--when he saved me, when he asked to go with me, when he gave his life in defiance of what I fought against. Rico's face was the last thing I saw.
And then I opened my eyes, awake. Before this, I wanted to finish out my first dream, Fire and Ashes. but now that I know what happens. I wish I had had left it how it was. No, I'm glad that it is done, But I am sad about how it turned out. And Btw, there ARE good Dragons, just not in this dream apparently.
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