FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 3

They both felt like rats trapped in a box of some wicked experiment, a true rat however lives in the moment so to speak, it doesn't really see its existence beyond the cage, nor it is bothered by the gawking eyes of the scientists burying themselves into its flesh.

They however were truly aware of being in a trap, a rat always seeks an exit, solution and one way or the other finds one.

There was no exit for them.

Not only that, but the scientists with the faces of mindless husks were not indifferent to them they glares were like mirrors, instead of reflecting their own reflections, these particular glasses held nothing else but the lifeless images of their owners.

It wouldn't be so creepy if not for the dead expressions of the people, showing nothing else but weird, raw hunger.

They both could imagine parts of their bodies sizzling, being cooked under the many gazes, with the strength of the most potent of fires.

"W-What is going on?" Coriza whizzed, her voice barely audible, weaker even than the sound of a dying breath of the elderly

Her eyes kept darting from one person to another, from complete strangers to people she once knew, once, because right now she didn't recognize any of them. They wore familiar faces, but this was the only nudge, the only blockade that made her stop and put more attention to these people.

Without it they were all the same.

Like a colony of worms pouring from a single den.

"A moment of Ascension my dear cleric!" Capro announced proudly, puffing out his chest, people all around him swayed in the direction of his extended scales

Some older ones dropped on the floor, some even spurted out blood from underneath their crushed faces when the most unlucky broke their noses.

"We take a step, no, a stride towards conquering the Taint!" he glanced down at the two of them after his roar of joy, two at his sides flickered, flames dancing, dying and then bursting alive once one, alternately

The shadows that tried to cover it wiggled and twirled like a swarm of locust devouring a corn field.

"Or you do to be more precise" he grinned widely

Sparx shivered, for all the neat and really respectful stuff dragons are known for, that truly demand some kind of appreciation, there was one thing that quite bluntly showed that they are not some fluffy and sometimes overweight, like Spyro for instance, teddy bears.

That thing was a smile.

Not the cute and playful type, Cynder's favorite, but the smile of a beast who knows of his capabilities and is also aware of the fact that his opponents are no match for him. Add sharp teeth and razor blade fangs to that and you have an image that could keep you awake at night.

By the Ancestor's starry butts, how he wished he was dreaming right now.

Coriza gasped when another body fell limply to the ground, her whole body jerked back, one of the forelegs shot up and bent in the air as if it would step on hot coal. It was the same old lady that scratched her nose not so long ago. The mole's neck shot sharply forward, mimicking the move of the green dragon's head, her bones however were weak due to age and simply could not withstand the unexpected pressure that was way beyond their tolerance limit.

There was a quick snap, like a broken twig, it was so loud and terrifying though that it deafened even the sound of the collision with the floor.

The mole wasn't the only one on the ground, yet she was the only one that no longer showed any signs of life. The tear of sheer terror that suddenly burst inside her heart was like a drop dropped on a medical glass soon to be examined by the most intelligent of scientists.

The process that occurred inside of her would not be able to catch even by the sharpest of eyes, just when they would be a mere second from adjusting their focus, it would be all over. The terror spread inside her in an instant, faster than even a dry forest catching on fire.

The final drop that filled the glass was the sight of all these people, several were scrambling from the floor, those that were standing paid no attention to the fallen old lady, fallen dead old lady.

A person has just died in front of her eyes and the witnesses around couldn't care less, all focused on her as if she was to blame for everything.

She didn't even know when she began to scream, just like she didn't know when her legs kicked into action.

"Coriza!" Sparx yelped, extending his hand to catch her, but she was already gone, sprinting towards the massive door

He narrowed his eyes, looking around the room intently, searching for any sign of movement that would threaten his friend's life.

Nobody moved, not even Capro.

The screaming dragoness reached the main gate, ignoring the fact that on the way there her back left paw slipped into the nearby water canal and instead of landing on solid ground, it first banged against the marble bank before pulling itself up.

She didn't even notice when she began limping, her forelegs began hitting the big door, while one paw knocked the other worked on handles, neither seemed to give any effect, the door remained tightly sealed.

"HELP!" sharp crack filled the hall, a tiny bone in her paw snapped after two of the toes hit a very unlucky place with an even more unlucky indentation

"SOMEONE HELP US!" she wailed, tears filling her eyes, fueled by fear and pain.

Her rump hit the floor, she started sucking at her wounded toes, between slurps letting out more screams.

He dashed towards her, but was stopped by the rumbling sound coming out of Capro's throat, the huge dragon began mimicking Coriza's screams, his low, deep voice cracking in the temple like a wild thunder.

While it was creepy it couldn't beat the thing that happened soon after, every single person that was staring at them raised their head and started screaming, perfectly matching Capro's screams, even the people who still had their bloodied noses against the floor started screaming.

He could swear that the body of the likely dead old lady screamed as well.

The hollow thud of many voices shouting at the same time silenced Coriza in an instant, her gleaming with tears eyes scanned the area in panic, full of pain, fear and shame. Even though she stopped yelling, instinctively realizing that it won't do anything, her eyes kept on producing tears in huge streams.

Screaming turned into intimidated weeping.

Each hacked sob tore a piece of his heart, in moment's like these he wished he was a dragon just like his brother, it would change everything, he couldn't have to rely on people he would never want to keep close.

Desperate times called for desperate measures however, regret, if it comes to that, he will have to swallow later.

Luckily he had enough of cold blood in him to be able to still decide for himself what to do and not give in to dread completely.

"Brill!" he yelled at the top of his lungs "Come down please!" he directed his second call straight at the flight of stairs

With the corner of his eyes he recorded that the people around reacted to his call, whatever was going on here and no matter in what state they currently were, the name carried weight in this temple.

People blinked, some thrown back as if some invisible hand would pull them by the back of their clothes. His eyes lingered the longest on another of the clerics, the cheetah priest was leaning over a nearby column, looking around the temple as if trying to figure out where he was, eyes full of confusion, defeat and sadness.

With a blink however the emotions faded away, replaced by nothing else but the same, nearly moronic shade in the eyes.

Despite his cockiness and general lack of any reaction, Capro wasn't the same after the shout, the change only visible to a practiced eye like his own to notice. While the grin was still there, the posture remaining the same, he caught the shake of the corner of the green mouth, a twitch that happens whenever you see a mistake or were a witness of someone having an accident.

The dragon didn't like the sound of that name.

While his behavior betrayed that the thing that is happening here is under his control, it was clear for him that not everything goes according to the green dragon's plan. In all of this there was a drop of chaos, something that the drake couldn't control, something that could ruin everything.

Yet it was a slim possibility.

No matter how small it could be, he was not a big creature himself after all, he still clung to that short straw as if it would be everything that would keep him from drowning.

"The Seeker won't be joining us" Capro smiled, yet that didn't stop his grey eyes from making a round over the people

The same size of the smile during the examination showed that he didn't really like what he saw.

"He's... preoccupied. Matters of faith you understand"

"Yeah, right, and I have to believe that he put you in charge of the temple? You who I didn't see even on one sermon?"

"You won't find answers to your questions here little fly"

"Just like you won't find the things you're searching for big lizard"

Capro snorted, cocking his head, the smile that spread his lips only lacked blood slipping in between the teeth to visibly give away the creepy vibe the dragon was radiating.

"You know what is wonderful about chess? You can make an obvious, provocative move for your own satisfaction, outplaying and tormenting your opponent, finally I'll get the chance"

He nodded towards the crying cleric at the door.

"Our flock needs sheering my sheep!" he announced, waving at Coriza, the whole hall pulsed slightly as if the sun would just pass a small cloud

From what he remembered, the sky outside was cloudless.

"The black wool needs to be cut out!"

"NO!" Coriza wailed scuttling against the door when suddenly the people near her started to move, leg being lifted after leg in perfect unison as if pulled by invisible strings by the same hand

People didn't blink, nor did they show any signs of emotion, obediently following the given order.

Her terror filled eyes grew wide, almost ready to pop, jumping between the scary faces and the hands they commanded, looking for scissors, or whatever is that device you sheer sheep with.

"Stay away from her you creeps!" Sparx dashed in front of a cheetah who didn't even react when he appeared in front of his nose

He slapped the feline without hesitation.

Besides a quick blink there was nothing else that could in any way motivate him to continue on with the punching.

He had to deal with enough brainwashed freaks to know that aggression doesn't work for them, among the Dark Army were apes who saw nothing in front of them then the glimmer of gems, they were as brainwashed as these poor sods here, the only difference being that for the first killing was just another meaningless step they have to take to achieve their goals.

If the second group would show the same tendencies it would make things so much easier.

Capro grinned from the distance, observing the scene playing out in front of him with unhidden pleasure.

"I'm afraid their faith is strong, you are to meaningless to hinder their devotion"

"This has nothing to do with the Ancestors!" Coriza roared out her anguish when the first hand grabbed her shoulder

There was no purpose here, no will to cause harm, just a mindless fulfillment of orders.

"You won't get away with this!" Sparx pointed a threatening finger at the massive dragon, heart rumbling inside his chest

"I'm happy to announce that neither will you, but from the two of us I'll be the one to care about the burden at the end of this day"

The green mouth parted wider, momentarily out of it shot a tiny dot of a rock, the small projectile cut through the air swiftly, heading straight at his yellow chest, Sparx dodged the flying rock with ease, throwing himself against the nearby column.

He yelped when something pinched him in the back, he glanced behind his shoulder, a little roughness could be visible on the marble, a cracked edge.

Drop of his red blood glimmered on it.

Another feline appeared suddenly from behind the column latching his hands against the stone, claws sharply thrusting into the cracks, bits shattered on impact. The cheetah paid no heed to his pain, momentarily pushing his neck forward and licking off the drop of blood from the rough tip.

The yellow eyes of the cat shot wide open, corners of them bloodied.

"FOUND YOU!"

In a span of a short moment life appeared in the eyes of the cat, it was nothing else however but spark of ravenous insanity, similar to that of a starved animal that just spotted walking meat after days of not having anything in its belly.

The cheetah pushed swiftly from the column, leaping at the dragonfly, claws slashing through the air.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Coriza screamed in horror

Thanks the Ancestors for his speed, he pushed back just in time, silencing the swish of air with a gasp of surprise. If those claws would hit him, they would turn him into shreds, like slicing a glowing banana, with the difference being that instead of juice, blood would spill from the holes.

"Hey dude!" Sparx yelled at the cheetah, rising high in the air, arms raised upwards defensively "We're on the same side!"

The cheetah didn't listen, with eyes locked onto him he bent on his legs and leapt up, reaching as far as his arm allowed him to, bouncing up in an almost perfect vertical like a rock shooting from the neck of an erupting volcano.

He pushed even farther back, hanging just a few meters below the high ceiling, safe from any greedy hand of a flightless creature.

The cheetah kept on jumping, from this high he looked like a furry spring.

"What have you done to these people?" Coriza mumbled as she was lifted from the ground by two unresponsive cheetahs and a single mole, her full of tears eyes depressed, hurtful and without any sense of life in them

"I did nothing to them" Capro pressed a paw to his heart, sounding almost insulted "They have found the Grace" he royally waved at the staircase, smirking from earhole to earhole "An honor you too will receive today"

"You're not taking her anywhere you green fuck!" Sparx shouted from above

The green dragon waved his paw theatrically at the glowing dragonfly.

"My paws are right here" he announced with glee

The three people holding Coriza started to move, gently dragging the terrified dragoness in between them.

"The Seeker said I'm not ready" she mumbled weakly

"He has changed his mind"

"Let him say it!" Sparx pressed both hands to his mouth, creating a tunnel for his voice "BRILL!" the voice echoed throughout the temple with the force of a thunder, the blare he let out was so strong that the natural glow he was giving away flickered due to exertion

The call for the single name that carried any weight here didn't go without a response once more, clearly visible thanks to the rabid cheetah that tried to attack him. The frantic jumping ceased, the feline remained crouched, the hand that he used to slash at the air slammed against the head right between the ears, fur bristling and puffing bits of dust when the cat began scratching himself fervently as if trying to reach his own brain.

The people holding Coriza stopped, they all looked at her in the same time, heart pounding heart nearly stopped in its track, the sharp pain that burst from inside her ribcage threatened to completely obliterate her chest. She believed that by now she reached the limit when it comes to fear and tears.

But a short glance over each pair of these eyes proved her wrong.

Every single one of these people were more scared than her, not only that, but between the veil of confusion she could see them begging her for help.

And she was defenseless, whether against the aggressors or victims, she couldn't facy any of them.

She was useless.

More tears flowed from the eyes, to the point that she felt that her eyeballs are at the brink of melting under the waves.

"Get him!" Capro snarled, pointing a claw at the dragonfly, directing his gaze at one of the nearby dragons

The whole room flickered again, the shadowy hand passing through the walls once more. Among all this tricks of light the visible corner of Capro's right eye was completely white.

He didn't need draconic magical sensitivity to know what's at play here, the question was however how an earth dragon possessed such power, it looked like nothing he had ever seen before, not to mention that single elemental dragons should be incapable of wielding anything besides the element they were hatched with.

What exactly this power is has to wait for now, besides, he had a feeling that he will find answers for both these questions in the same time anyway.

Everything returned to normal again, the cheetah started bouncing and people began escorting Coriza. This brief moments of clarity were infuriating the hulking dragon, whatever these people were going through was affecting him as well, differently, but that didn't change the fact that finding Brill was they key, the damn mole has to be here somewhere, he almost never leaves the temple.

He really wanted to call the mole again, there was a possibility that perhaps if he would continue on with the calls, the breaks of clarity would stop being temporary and would finally become permanent. There was also however the possibility that the damn dragon would get infuriated and do something really crazy, or the name would simply lose its power.

It was better not to risk it, he might need those pauses later and it was better not to piss off the dragon, he looked like he liked control and making him lose this ground would make things dangerous, not for him, but for Coriza.

It was heartbreaking to see her in tears as it is, if something happened to her he would never forgive himself.

The feather is still in his hands.

Zapir took to the air, the young drake ripped his robe on the nearby column when the material caught the edge of a brazier.

This move took him by surprise, he should have seen that coming, but he was so fixated on Coriza and that other dragon that he completely forgot that there were any other drakes around. Luckily for him Zapir had the same clerical issue, he lacked physical coordination.

He ducked under the flying drake easily, tips of his quickly fluttering wings grazing over the floating robe covering the underbelly, there was absolutely no chance for the drake to catch him, his experience in the field kicked in while his opponent had most likely none.

"Zapir! Stop! Please!" Coriza begged from below

Surprisingly, her call ignited a reaction, the young dragon tottered in the air as if he would receive an unexpected, strong blow of wind to his wings. The drake outstretched his paws, just in time grab a hold of a nearby column and slow down before he smashed his nose on the marble, instead he touched his forehead to the cold stone.

"This isn't right" the forehead knocked at the marble "This isn't right"

Capro snarled, instead however of focusing his irritation on the young drake, his grey eyes landed on Coriza, the miserable state she was in made the dragon wrinkle his nose in disgust.

"Move those paws cleric!" he blared out, pupils traveling to the edges of the eyes, giving the dragon in the air a short glance, a dragon who was still clinging to the column like his dear life mattered on it.

He wasn't that far from the truth.

"We don't have all day" he pointed at the staircase, move so swift that a bone cracked in the extended leg "Get her up there this instant!"

The gentle leading morphed into pulling.

"Friends, please" the dragged dragoness pleaded through tears, hacking on them as some streams flew right into her mouth as she tried to unceremoniously shake them off " This action is against everything the Ancestors stand for. This is not their way. They speak only to the Seeker"

The people around her slowed their pace, while this time they didn't look her way, it was clear that they have heard her, one way or the other.

"This is-"

"Shut up finally!" Capro roared right in the direction of the dragoness, making her shrink, strands of her ruined her flopped down as if in shame "Respect the silence of this sacred house and keep your tongue behind your teeth!"

"The Ancestors you worship are probably deaf" Sparx punched his head several times with the palm of his hand "I mean, I still hear your cry ringing inside my skull"

Capro ignored the dragonfly, rubbing his fangs against the lower lip impatiently.

"Keep on talking Cor" he encouraged his friend with a circular shake of the fist

Grey eyes glared towards the dragonfly, eyelids flipping like a swinging fly swatter.

"Careful, Ancestors can be also wrathful"

"If they would, a lightning bolt would already strike me from that hole in the ceiling"

"Magic is not needed to smite the sinners" Capro flexed his muscles, they bulged from underneath his scales, increasing his already formidable frame "When I am at the disposal"

"Sparx, please stop" Coriza begged, her wide, wet eyes observing the huge dragon, even more intimidating than ever

She just knew if Sparx provokes him he will be in big trouble, this is not Zapir, or any other male serving in the temple for that matter. Her friend would not be able to avoid all that powerful wrath.

"If he wanted me really dead, he would already spit earth at me" Sparx recited, perfectly hiding the waver of his throat, experience or not, he knew that he had no chance against a pissed dragon

"He is walking on thin ice, whatever he is doing here, he doesn't want to get his stinky paws dirty personally"

Claws on the green front paws curled, scratching the floor, digging deep into the marble that sparks started to flicker all around as the blades left deep marks on the ground. The grey eyes shrunk down, squinting so much that it looked like as if the dragon was aiming and is about to shoot something from them.

Sparx could feel cold fingers of dread trailing the length of his spine, knocking at each tiny bone as if it would be a drum.

If looks could kill, he would be dead already, with his corpse mangled in between draconic fangs just for good measure.

Despite everything he felt a delicate nudge of pride, he had struck the dragon where it hurt, for some reason he was taking a reserved approach, as stupid as it may sound considering the basically hypnotized people around them.

"You are right" Capro admitted, relaxing his posture, the smile that stretched his lips was almost warm "It is not me that stands in your way, It's just seem that all these people really want you to celebrate the Ascension with them. I'm just a normal messenger and an observer"

"Start talking Cor" Sparx squinted his eyes on the green dragon

Her gaze jumped between her friend in the air and the scary dragon, she didn't believe he will just let go, sooner or later he has to act and Sparx is just provoking it to happen sooner. Whether it was good or bad she couldn't tell, fear gripped her heart too strong to form any cohesive thoughts, in the end however she preferred to put trust into her friend than just a random throw of fate.

"Have you ascended friends? Do you feel the power of good in you?" for the first time during this whole mess, or perhaps her entire life she put acted against the will of someone and fought against the will of other

She slowed down her pace, putting gentle pressure in the opposite direction her escort was tugging at her robes.

To her surprise her companions slowed down together with her, offering no resistance in fact, acting with her as a single organism. Momentarily their eyes focused on her and another bolt of shock ran through her when in every single orb she saw the answers to her questions.

Both answers were negative.

However the looks weren't without purpose, while the people didn't find anything else in themselves, they have found the thing she asked them about in someone else.

In her.

The realization stopped her heart, for some unexplainable reason these people counted on her.

"I've changed my mind" Capro dashed forward with a snarl, instead of directing himself at Sparx, he reached for Coriza

His big paw pushed through the people, shoving them away like ragdolls, the green paw clenched the robed shoulder tightly, claws digging in deeply that blood colored the material.

Coriza screamed in pain, more tears filling her eyes.

"She doesn't heal well you stupid bitch!" Sparx darted towards the green snout, punching with all his might one of the grey eyes

He attacked so swiftly that Capro didn't manage to react, the fist sinking into the gluttonous flesh without issue. The sharp pain that flared up the nerves made the big dragon thrash and growl.

"GET HIM!" the room went dark with the roar, the struggling braziers devoured by the dark tendrils, puffing out one by one

All of the people balked, white lines passed over each single eye and in the next moment, cheetah, mole and dragon threw themselves at Sparx, didn't matter they could reach him or not.

He glared at the crying dragoness, the stare he gave her making her weep even more.

By the Ancestors, his eyes were white.

"We go" he jerked his leg, hurling the small dragoness at the stairs, making her crash into the steps, the rumbling echo rippled the water in the canals

Her crying ended, turning into a grunt, she hit the stairs with her chest, the strong throw kicking the breath out of her lungs when her ribs flared up with pain, clearly unhappy that they had been crushed.

"Get up!" Capro growled, striding towards the small dragoness

"I caaaan't" Coriza cried out, instead of getting up she curled into a ball, clenching her aching belly, tears flowed steadily, getting into her gaping maw, choking her, forcing her to hack between labored, painful breaths

"Leave her alone!" Sparx blared, trying to get to the malachite dragon, yet he was stopped by another draconic priest that dashed through the air with the intention to catch him

He dodged the dragon with ease, however going down meant getting close to the jumping people below, he avoided the greedy, furry fingers just by some centimeters. Blunt side of a single claw managed to graze his abdomen though, kicking him off balance.

He was flying straight into another palm, thanks to his special, quick wings only he managed to dive as he hit the extended arm, changing direction just when he was about to touch the ground, flying straight along the floor and between the legs of the people.

It was going fairly easy until these crazy guys decided to catch him no matter what, jumping right at him, not bothered by the fact that they toppled other people on the way. Bodies started to fall over, making it very difficult to maneuver through the maze of flying limbs, he was small enough though that there was always space for him.

Even when the dragons started crashing into the people, falling from the sky like stars.

One of the cheetahs got crushed under the weight of one of the dragons, it was an elder, he hit the ground right in front of him, his brittle bones unable to withstand the pressure, neck snapping at impact, milky eyes stared right at him.

He had seen death, much of it, yet the experience didn't build any resistance in his soul, he absolutely despised the sight of life fading from a dying person, there was something blood freezing in it, no matter who that person was, if he wasn't a total asshole, he felt sad for him.

It was even more horrible that death happened here, right in this place that was supposed to be considered as holy, where no harm can befall on you.

Coriza screamed at the top of her lungs as she was being dragged forcefully up the stairs by the big dragon. Death and blood, in her home, in this sacred halls, mixing itself with the pure water. She wanted to run, she wanted to faint, she wanted to close her eyes and erase everything, treat it as a nightmare.

She wasn't allowed any of those things, the powerful grip ruining every chance of peace, stealing away the possibilities of leaving all of it behind. Pushing her towards the hall she never had the opportunity to visit, it was dark like the abyss, scary even from here and smelled like the inside of a Death Hound's maw which feasted on flesh not so long ago.

She couldn't recognize where she was, even though the steps below her paws felt familiar. She could feel that they were on the level of the corridor that leads to the Caretakers Quarters. Despite that familiarity however she didn't dare look, she really desired comfort, yet she sensed that none could be found there.

The shuffling sounds coming from the quarters hardly proved that there were sentient people living inside.

Where are the Ancestors?

It cannot be their will.

Sparx' shouts echoed from the hall below as he struggled to push through the horde of people that for reasons unknown to her dedicated their lives to grasping him.

With another shove she was thrown into the corridor connecting this level of the temple with the path to Grace.

This had nothing to do with Ascension.

The corridor was barely lit, the torches on the walls giving barely any light, not even strong enough to properly illuminate the wall they were attached to.

There was also the stench.

If not for the paw squeezing her shoulder she would lose her consciousness right here and now, the smell of rot was overwhelming, it was clear that it was originating from here, the source hiding right in this place.

Place where the Seeker lives.

Where he communes with the Ancestors.

Place where the touch of the Sacred is the strongest.

She didn't want to go any farther.

"Please" she managed to mumble only this single word, it was enough to project however all the emotion weighting on her soul. The depression and freight clenching her heart was so strong that she pushed back, pressing her rump against the big, green hind leg, wrapping her tail around its frame tightly, gluing herself to the scale like to a pole hanging over a bottomless pit, fragile and unsteady, but the only thing she got now

"I'm doing you a favor girl" Capro smiled as he moved forward, the pressure that he felt on his hind leg embroidered the smile with a hint of satisfaction, even more so when he heard the claws on the blue paws scratching the floor with each made step

"Isn't it a honor for a priest to be able to touch the Grace?"

"Seeker forbade-"

"So what? This was your destiny nevertheless, isn't it wonderful to reach it faster than later?"

Despite her better judgment Coriza inhaled deeply, the stench turned her stomach around.

She gagged through wet tears.

"Why me?"

"I will be honest with you sister, after all honesty is our greatest value" he looked down, meeting the pretty, golden gaze only for a brief moment since the eyes quickly turned away, running away from his sight, even the feminine eyelashes went into hiding, disappearing underneath the mane of the matted hair

Smile vanished from his snout, sadness overtaking his expression, missing the pure innocence in the yellow eyes already. It reminded him of youth.

"I don't want to do it and didn't plan on involving you in any other way than being a motivational push, the target I aimed for lied on your glowing companion" he reached for the blue chin, when his claw touched the soft, wet chin Coriza let out a pitiful whine

He turned her head in his direction, eyes covered behind the hair which he tenderly split apart, revealing the gleaming with tears and dread beautiful eyes to him.

A dagger pierced his heart, he could feel a part of it splitting apart, rolling down the abyss that was his soul like the head of his mother when it was severed from the neck.

Such loving power.

This time it was him that averted his gaze.

"You proved to be too dangerous however, besides that, you will still serve my purpose nevertheless, most of the times pawns need to be eliminated as well to win the game"

I'm a pawn.

That single thought shot through her head like a magic projectile from a draconic mouth, she never harmed anyone, always avoided danger, always tried to be neutral and yet she has to be eliminated. She was aware that she wouldn't live for long, nature has a way of eliminating weakness, but being a victim of murder or something, perhaps, even worse?

It is unfair.

"Yes, it is" Capro admitted sullenly

In any other situation she would probably be surprised by the fact that he seemed to hear her thoughts, but right now, it didn't matter.

She felt empty.

They continued down the dark corridor, the darkness surrounding this area seemed to devour even the sound itself, everything went quiet, even her own sobs, it didn't matter that her throat hacked and nose wiggled, here everything became unimportant.

They took a turn to the right on the nearest interconnection, they didn't walk far, the road back should be easy to find, yet she knew that she won't make it back, the dragon didn't even have to stop her.

Something else would.

She had this weird feeling that there was no turning back from here, if you arrive on this level you will be digested, allowed only a breath of fresh air during sleeping periods of this parasite that clearly fed on the temple.

Sparx might have troubles below, but she was glad his road was blocked, there was a chance he would land on the platter as well, the hope that the parasite had a taste it didn't like was a faint one.

Before her eyes adjusted themselves to the change of direction she managed to notice that the corridor which they left behind wasn't empty, there was someone, or something slithering in the shadows, the stretch of darkness clearly visible in the faint light.

She hoped that it were people.

She hoped that Capro took a turn because there was no other way of getting to the point he wants to go and not because he wanted to avoid whatever was hiding in the darkness.

What a stupid, pointless way of finding comfort.

The Seeker was right, the Taint has found its way into the temple.

Now she's going to pay for bringing it here, this has to be penance.

But Ancestors aren't wrathful.

It's all a mess, she couldn't think straight any longer.

The passages they were walking through looked all the same to her, hope of ever getting back from here was a faint one, now it was completely gone, there was no chance she would find her way back, she had a feeling that Capro would have the same problem.

Heart jumped to her throat when suddenly there was a short, unexpected sound of door creaking and shutting from behind them.

Moments later footsteps echoed in the corridor, for each they took, the shadows behind them followed.

She didn't have the courage to glance backwards.

Another creak, another slam, more shuffling sounds.

Then another rumble followed, this time though she could clearly see door slamming open right in front of them.

Capro growled.

A figure stepped out in front of them, a small creature, its hand blindly felt around the darkness until it eventually extended to the side, palm pressing against the wall right under the weak source of light.

The torch flared up with brighter flames, making both of them squint, eyes already forgot what it meant to be in the light. The darkness moved away from the torch, spreading around like school of fish around a shark.

The light revealed that the figure in front of them was no one else but the Seeker.

At first great relief overwhelmed her, limbs demanding that she moves and embraces the mole, beg him to release her from this torment, her and everyone else. Beg him to bring salvation and the power of the Ancestors.

But the moment passed, when her eyes finally settled on the lone figure she realized that he won't be able to do any such thing. The sight would break her heart if it wouldn't be shattered already.

The Seeker was old, right now however he looked ancient, his brittle body bent in every possible direction as if the bones couldn't tell where each of them goes and what they were supposed to do. What he lacked in body, he made up with the soul, the eyes of the Seeker were always full of purpose and determination, full of life.

Whether that determination was misguided or not didn't matter.

That life was gone.

The eyes had nothing to do with the eyes of the spiritual leader she knew, those were the eyes of someone sick, very weak and depressed who gave up on life and just wants everything to finally end.

The obscured by darkness figures behind them moved backwards.

The Seeker was looking at them, but he either didn't recognize them, or his even more weaker mole eyes just no longer could discern what is in front of them. He looked at them as if they were ghosts.

"Move" Capro hissed through clenched teeth, kicking her away from the mole, moving against the wall to avoid contact.

The mole's head remained in the same position.

Her terrified soul just couldn't remain idle.

"Seeker?" she let out a pleading, quiet whisper

The mole's head snapped in her direction, old neck turning with the energy of a young flesh.

Capro slammed his body against the wall as if an invisible hand would shove him.

The thud echoed down the corridor, the whole temple seemed to shake to its very foundations. Every torch they passed flared up with their natural flames, she could hear the darkness hissing as it was devoured by the light.

The quivering lasted only a moment it was enough though to lit the whole corridor, before she realized it she stood in a normally illuminated hall, with every visible crevice, door, and a big window at the far end of the hall.

She immediately felt better as if someone would lift the burden of her shoulders. The light giving her enough courage to look behind, wondering if the people that followed them felt the same kind of relief when the embrace of shadows was broken from around their waists.

Her eyes widened when she looked behind her shoulder.

There was no one there.

Fear took another solid bite at her soul.

"My daughter" Brill smiled warmly, it was a smile full of radiant love

Love that sent shivers down Capro's leg.

Life returned to the eyes of the old mole.

"What are you doing here?" Brill straightened up, standing surprisingly steady without the support of his staff, he neatly rearranged his robe, straightening it to the point that it looked almost like new

If not for the dried blood on the bottom.

She didn't know what force commanded her, probably cowardice, but for some stupid reason she looked for assistance in Capro, for guidance what she should say.

Grey eyes were looking down at her, giving her a stern signal.

Not a word.

"Coriza? Are you well my child?"

She was in a trap.

For all the relief the Seeker brought her she didn't believe in his good intentions, even if she was scared to the bone, her mind was still making logical calculations and that brief moment of respite was enough for it to produce results.

Results that showed that the Seeker is acting weird, there is no way he couldn't notice what was going on. Results also showed that she can't remain neutral, she needs to pick a side for the very first time in her life or she will be crushed.

The choice however was easy, because the options represented two sides of the same coin, no matter what she chooses, she won't win.

Right now though she preferred to stomp the side with a draconic snout engraved on it.

"The temple is cursed Seeker!" she blurted out, springing away from the green leg "The Taint is here, possessing people! Demons walk the halls, hiding from the light! Observing us through the cracks! Manipulating, confusing, me, you, being guided by him!" she pointed a claw at Capro, his head reared back as if he was slapped "A false prophet! A mask of evil!"

Coriza panted audibly, putting out all of her energy into the blare, draining her of all the boiling frustrations. Her muscles wobbled, she felt as if she will fall over soon, she didn't know if all this shouting had any point, but it felt wonderful to get it all from her chest, feel defenseless, free.

After all, after this nothing else is in her paws now, not even hope and her own life. If this fails there was no more point to struggle.

The smile disappeared from the mole's face, he looked like someone who got slapped in the cheek, the cheeks were even adopting the same color that a striking hand would leave behind. The priest blinked, eyes sparkling with a hard to discern light, he also seemed like someone who realized that everything here is a mess, that he was in a trap.

He then scratched his head, fervently, expression taking the form of blame, aimed at no one else, but himself.

"The signs, I have seen the signs" he mumbled, scratching harder and harder, old, weak coat fell to the ground in cut strands

He gazed up at Capro who despite his big frame looked smaller than usual.

"I don't know what she is talking about, this is why I thought it would be better that she consults with the Ancestors"

"Ancestors?" Brill's eyes sparkled with glee, mouth stretching out into a wide smile, he almost began to laugh but old lungs reminded the mole of their age and turned the explosion of joy into a fit of ragged coughs

For some reason that attempt at contemptuous laughter was the most scary thing that happened to her today.

"Seeker forbade me from seeing them" she mumbled without certainty in her voice

"I did?" Brill lifted his eyes up, giving the young dragoness a shrug, his blood smeared robes drew small red lines on the ground "It doesn't matter"

He reached out, gently squeezing her shoulder, ignorant to the fact that droplets of fresh blood matted his fingers when he squeezed the flesh that claws sunk into not so long ago.

Coriza shut her eyes with a whine, it wasn't because of pain though, but abhorrence.

"You do" the mole mumbled lovingly "Come with me child, I have an idea"

"Where Seeker?"

"To Change, you will bring it. I have failed, put my trust into things that were fake"

Capro stepped forward, blocking the mole.

"W-What are you trying to do Seeker?" nothing remained of the arrogance in the voice, completely shifting into a meek substitute of submission

"Nothing that concerns you boy. Let the old worry and the young enjoy life"

"I can help"

"You've done enough" Brill glared at the green dragon, despite the immense size differences Capro recoiled back, moving into the corner and freeing the path, clenching his chest as if he was punched

He landed under a burning torch, which in revenge spat tinder after hot tinder on his green nose.

She didn't want to go with the mole, but seeing the dragon getting struck after everything he has done was enough motivation to follow the Seeker.

It was surprising how lack of any escape route pushes you into action, even the most futile one.

She followed her leader obediently, sometimes having troubles keeping up with his live pace, too much of a live pace. She didn't want to minimize anyone's effect of good health, but this walk seemed too cheerful for a creature of the Seeker's age.

Brill opened the door in the far corner, right at the end of the corridor, they creaked ominously, the stench that wafted from them nearly killed her on the spot.

She retched unconsciously, the ugly smell was still there, but there was much more to it now, it stunk with palpable decay. Smell of decomposing meat was overtaxing her senses.

"Join me daughter" he entered the room with the same happy pace, unbothered by the smell as if it didn't exist for him

It didn't exist for Sparx as well, maybe she was the one being crazy.

She carefully approached the door, instead of getting inside automatically she instead pressed her body against the wall, sliding along it she pushed her neck forward, keeping her snout away from the doorstep, only turning her head to see what's inside.

Her eyes widened.

Breath froze in her throat.

Time stopped its flow.

It was a small room, no bigger than a prison cell, no windows, light only supported by the torches on the walls. It was an empty room, nothing hung on the walls, a very depressing interior for a temple that supposed to be the bridge between the mortal and the holy.

Right in the middle was a pedestal, by the ruined look it had it seemed like it wasn't build, but rather found somewhere and inserted into the floor, patched with enough material to prevent it from crumbling.

On top of it stood a black crystal.

However this was not what took her attention, it was the bodies strewn about in the corners, decomposing, eaten bodies of mostly moles, with the addition of several cheetahs. Flies feasted on the rotting remains, every expression locked on the image of bliss, despite the holes torn out by teeth.

The Seeker stood among the carnage as if he would stand in the middle of a field of flowers. Carefree.

She couldn't utter a single word, hell she couldn't utter a single breath, all the courage she had that drove her to making a choice evaporated, snout locked in a expression of utter horror. She unconsciously began to back away, as if the door would be a portal that turns your childish dreams into reality.

After a single step she found resistance.

Scales.

Capro.

Before she could react he already grasped her and threw her inside the room, locking the door behind her.

"I'm glad that you didn't change your mind" the Seeker announced proudly, his back turned to her

She was speechless, she was in a room full of death, with a priest who lost his mind, a priest who lived in his own world.

"Approach child"

She couldn't move, she shut her eyes, praying that this can't be real.

"Maybe they hear us, but they don't act" the mole dropped his hand down his right flank, opening the palm in a welcoming gesture "Come closer, there is no turning back now"

His hand started to shake.

"Not anymore. Not after my failure"

She opened her eyes, whole frame trembling, orbs locked on the floor. She began to shuffle forward, for all the insanity radiating from the Seeker, he was right about one thing, there was no turning back.

She stopped when her head leveled itself with his right leg the hand that was there just a moment ago lifted itself up to allow her entrance and then dropped down onto her hair, tenderly combing it.

If she had anything else in her stomach she would support the sobbing whimpers with a puke, right now though the floor had to satisfy its craving with her tears only.

"Gaze upon the Grace" the command was full of contempt

Her eyes traveled up, despite the horror boiling her blood, her sight locked itself on the beautiful in its disgust image in front of her.

It was a black crystal, with the cracks running around it looked like a veiny, black heart. The stench she felt was radiating directly from it, it was the source. Only when she was so close she realized that the scent she felt wasn't just a normal smell, it was her crippled essence that took it for what it was, mind and soul making the most basic of connections.

It was magic.

This crystal was a Spirt Gem.

These crystals made her sick, while the other ones didn't really emit any kind of smell, they still served their purpose, poison, she could feel their magic only when she was close.

The reason why she felt this particular crystal from so far away could only mean one thing.

The magic locked inside was powerful.

Powerful black magic.

Her eyes widened when a realization struck her.

She had never seen, nor experienced it before, but she knew deep inside her soul, that the rot she sensed festering the temple was nothing else, but Corruption. This vile magic brought here to this temple, spreading its influence, and she felt it, she who has no connection to elemental energy felt the blackness spreading through the walls.

And as always she did nothing, but ran away when it started to bother her.

"Greet the Ancestors with me child" he clenched his hand on her hair, head dropping down respectfully, lips mumbling a silent prayer

Ancestors.

This is what the Seeker was hearing all the time? Was this crystal whispering to him?

This is what she was praying to for all this time?

This was the man who blamed her for supporting darkness when he was the one who had his mind twisted by darkness?

She was right.

Her heart was right.

If there were Ancestors anywhere, offering their guidance, they had to speak through her, otherwise what's the point of letting someone like her live?

If there is Evil, there is Good too, and as arrogant as it may sound, she felt that the Good speaks through her. The Ancestors wouldn't have brought her here if their intention was to sacrifice her. Everything has a reason and she was far from fulfilling her own.

For the first time in her life she ordered her body to stop shivering and for the very first time it listened.

She was still afraid, still crying, but this time these emotions weren't the cause of defenseless, but pure, true concern. A dagger was thrust into the heart of Faith and her weak paws are the only thing grasping the handle.

It was time to start tugging.

"These aren't the Ancestors Seeker!" she exploded, throwing herself back, tearing strands of her hair as she broke from the grip of the hand that still remained in the same place, clutching the remains of her hair

The mole solid as stone.

"Pray child" the Seeker commanded

"This thing is not our gods! It is Evil! We have to stop it from spreading!"

Brill shook his head.

"You don't hear the whispers child, touch the stone, feel the Grace"

"No!" she shook her head widely, hair thrown about from side to side, tears flickering in every corner "We must shatter it, shatter it!"

"Touch the stone child"

With a rapidly beating heart she reached out for the staff that was strapped to Brill all this time, she removed it with one solid jerk, tears splattered on the wood as she twirled it in her paws.

"I'm sorry Seeker, but no"

The mole's head snapped in her direction so swiftly that a bone cracked in the old neck somewhere.

"Touch the stone!" his eyes flashed white, voice deep and otherworldly, the hand that flopped at his side shot in her direction, grasping her by the foreleg and pulled

The strength was immense, not possible for a mole to have, the jerk forced their intertwined legs to touch the black crystal, scale and fur brushing against the ragged surface.

Brill was thrown back, landing on his knees, hands dropping numbly down he looked like a marionette which got its strings severed.

She felt absolutely nothing, remaining there with her paw against the crystal.

Only when she heard a crack, she jumped back.

A small crevice appeared on the surface of the black gem.

And then black smoke pushed from the hole, stretching out like a tentacle of some monster, the whole room going dark in an instant, bodies in the corners started to rattle, as if electrocuted.

The tendril reached for her immediately, slapping her forearm, the cold touch was blood freezing, it stole the breath from her lungs.

And then it pushed back, stretching out in the air, twirling above as if drunk.

The weird feeling passed away as quickly as it appeared.

The tendril pulsed, growing in size, the crystal cracked a little bit more, releasing more of the shadow into the air, growing the already thickening mass in size.

The bodies near the walls moved, their chests bending upwards, creating a straight angle between the chest and legs, the snapping of bones was deafening as they achieved an impossible level of a crunch.

"Let me feed!" the bodies roared, voices hoarse from the blood clogging the throats, parts of which were spat out after the blares

"It can't touch you" Brill mumbled, his head still hanging low, despite the weakness in the voice it was clear that it was happy "You are salvation"

The thick darkness slapped her again, once more recoiling in disgust.

"Hollowborn!" the bodies threw their arms, wiggling them in the air like flags, their blares full of sorrow

The whole room began to pulse, light fighting with darkness for dominance, torches flaring up and dimming alternately.

The bodies kept on roaring, some of the rotten hands that were already eaten by flies fell off.

The door behind burst open, Capro jumped into the room.

"What is going on here?" he exclaimed, scared, big eyes landing on the tentacle of darkness, just to jump down onto the dragoness who met his gaze, her eyes as surprised as his

"Let me feed!" the otherworldly voice roared again, tendril growing in size once more

Grey eyes fell from the live, yellow eyes onto the staff the priest was holding, just to jump back again.

Coriza noticed the sparkle of fear in the malachite dragon's orbs.

She clenched the rod tighter. She knew what she had to do.

"What are you?" green lips barely uttered the words

The shadow exploded, sending projectiles of darkness all around the room, they struck both the mole and green dragon, throwing the first on the ground, while slamming the other against the frame of the door.

The small floating shadows avoided her like the plague.

She spun around, taking the opportunity, she swung the staff at the crystal, deciding to break it with the staff. The magic didn't want to touch her, for some reason she was poisonous for it, but she also knew that she couldn't touch it with naked paws, the cold touch she felt was nothing else but the graze of Death's scythe across her soul. Exposure to this magic would be deadly to her.

A furry hand stopped the swing, making her gasp.

Brill jumped from the ground, eyes white, he blocked the staff with hand and body, stopping it in its tracks. He leaned over the rod separating them, pushing his snout right in front of hers, making their noses touch.

"Blasphemer! Traitor!" he roared at the top of his lungs, his spit splattering against her snout

"Blasphemer! Traitor!" the bodies mimicked the roars

"No!" Coriza cried out, feeling the staff being ripped from her grasp "Please Seeker! Help me! For the Ancestors!"

Brill's head jerked back, a torrent of blood exploded from his nose, eyes returning to normal, weak in physical shape, but strong in determination

"Ancestors" he whispered

The room lightened up, darkness vanishing, bodies in the corners toppling down, the dark smoke sinking back into the crystal.

"Save us my cleric" the mole begged

"No!" Capro roared, swinging his tail

Coriza grunted when the thick scaly tail wrapped itself around her body, squeezing her tightly.

The staff clattered onto the ground and the Seeker together with it.

She was lifted from the ground, dragged by the tail outside the room and before she recorded what was happening she was hurled across the remaining length of the corridor, right through the window at the end.

Glass shattered, cutting her body, in a moment wind began beating against her scales, instinctively she spread her wings, trying to find balance and halt herself in the air. Lack of experience however kicked in, all she managed to do was to slow down her body a little.

She still collided with the tree that grew in the temple's park. The agony that shot throughout her body blurred the world, yet before she fell down she noticed the top level of the temple flaring up with darkness again, thriving when the seed that poisoned it was removed.

She was that seed.

She hit the ground with a hollow thud, the deafening wail she released into the air was both a scream of agony and a broken heart.

Her blurry vision was made of nothing but black splotches.

Taint.

Even in the glowing light that was coming her way, calling her name in worry.

There was Taint there too.

Taint was everywhere.