FSE

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Chapter 15

"Now Cloudas!"

He sprang from behind the column, his cloak grazing over the stone with a hollow rustle, like wings of a bat beating against the night sky. One thought flashing swiftly across his mind, clearing away even the noise of his own roar.

What am I doing?

He was charging his allies, he was running straight at a group of his own people, people of Warfang with the intention to challenge them in combat, a fight of life and death.

The brief excuses his brain managed to force through were not working, he kept on looking for explanations, that this is not his fault, that he was left with no choice, pressured by the mind controlled citizens into defense, that he was cornered and if he won't decide to fight, only death awaits.

Logical thoughts, yet his conscience had none of it.

He still felt like he would be plunging a dagger in his own heart.

The people didn't seem to be bothered by their sudden counterattack, their mechanical, slow moves betrayed no sign of reflex that is present in every sentient creature. The moles were reloading their weapons, the tips constantly pointing at Cloudas, a position so uncomfortable that it should render the reloading process impossible for every archer out there, with such a strain the weapon would not remain in your grasp for long.

The cheetahs followed a similar pattern, two of them already disarmed themselves of their main weapon by hurling the spears already at him previously, with almost deadly accuracy despite their ungraceful movements.

This didn't make them any less dangerous though, it just made him shift the priority of his targets.

He reached the cheetah quickly, keeping the dagger he held close to his side, making sure that the sharp tip is pointed down, he rammed into the feline with his shoulder, pushing him back while at the same time throwing his arm up to get the spear out of the way.

Despite everything he expected a fight, yet he disarmed the cheetah with ease.

In the meantime Cloudas rammed into the two short moles, keeping his horns away he charged straight into the engineers, avoiding any deadly blows as they agreed. Experienced fighter or not, body weight alone of a sprinting dragon is enough to throw off balance almost everyone, especially those that have short legs and are known for their physical limitations.

The moles struck the ground, their crossbows clattering against the floor, both Cloudas and Hunter backed away, not before however the wind dragon kicked the distance weapons away though.

"One bolt into the shoulder is enough" the drake glanced towards the end dropped weapons, making sure that they are still there, you never know when one of the statues decides to snatch it "Now if this is over now, we can go our separate ways, this place is already creepy enough without this aggression"

No one from the group responded.

The moles laid on the floor, unmoving and stiff, with all this darkness around it was hard to tell if their chests were moving, Hunter's sensitive ears simply couldn't catch the tiniest rustle of a breath.

The three cheetahs stayed were they were all this time, the disarmed feline still had his arms in the air, fists clenched over the wood of the spear he was no longer holding. The other two had their arms rested along their flanks, not even displaying the tiniest sign of being capable and accurate fighters, which spear of one nearly ran through Hunter's throat.

They were like statues.

And this time it had nothing to do with ominous imagination.

Hunter could feel the symbol on his coat getting heavier, or simply his instinct was preparing his muscles for the inevitable confrontation as a scout traversing the wilderness, he became quite sensitive to the perspective of incoming danger that couldn't be seen at first glance.

And he wasn't wrong.

It was like new life was thrust into the cheetahs, their fur momentarily bristled, without even turning in his direction, two of the felines leapt at him swiftly, lunging forward with sharp claws at the ready as if they would be feral beasts leaping at prey.

He twisted the dagger in his hand so the tip would ran along the inside of his arm, keeping it away from the attackers. He threw his other arm in defense, sharp claws made rough cuts across the material of his clothes, some of the tips digging deep enough to draw blood.

The other feline attacked him from the side, straightening like an arrow when he leapt at him. Hunter pressed himself against the first enemy, just to avoid the majority of the incoming force, he managed to successfully do that, yet even then the claws found a grip in his flesh, it was impossible to withstand such a weight crashing against him, but due to his dodge it was enough to control the inevitable fall.

He forced a roll while still in the air, his enemy even if strong and aggressive, had his movements limited, lacking the usual spike of reflex that was a part of every living, sentient creature. He broke his arms free in seconds, immediately raising one of them in the air with a clenched fist before slamming it down, punching the cheetah below right in the cheek, the momentum empowering the blow which made his ears twitch at the shrill sound of ringing bone.

It was a strong strike, strong enough to put even the strongest in a state of vertigo.

He finished the roll on the other side of the pinned cheetah, immediately getting back up on his feet to prepare for an attack of his second enemy.

What he didn't expect was the figure of the opponent growing before her eyes, the cheetah sprang from the floor so swiftly that it looked as if a blow of wind would lift him up.

In a moment's notice the two cats were upon him once more.

Cloudas didn't have it any easier, the one sprinting feline towards him was making him nervous enough, situation turned worse though when the two short moles were also pulling themselves up.

He rose on his hind legs, throwing his front paws up, pulling his head back with a wince. His legs smacked against the chest, the cheetah collided so fiercely with his extended legs that he could hear some of the ribs cracking, the impact powerful enough to make him slide back.

Claws of the cat latched onto his extended forelegs, head bouncing up and down like a spring, mouth clamping regularly, fangs thirsting for a bite.

The hurt shoulder burned vigorously, annoyed by the stress in the muscles. The cheetah had enough of empty snaps of teeth, he directed his maw towards his right leg and bit into it fiercely as if the pulsing in effort veins would be the only source that could sustain his life.

Cloudas roared, clenching his free paw into a fist he punched the feline in the head, it didn't work, the fangs kept chewing on his flesh.

Then the moles came, thrusting daggers into his thigh and waist, again and again.

Pain.

He hated pain.

There was enough of it in his life.

He screamed, the fist unclenched itself, claws glistened under the dim light of the hall, they fell down on top of the nose that kept biting his leg, single claw slipped under the lip, slicing it like a tomato on the way. He grunted and pulled, prying the maw off the scales,.

His muscles bulged, claws sank deeper, getting a proper grip.

Another several stabs.

He blared out in anguish, his legs shaking under the pain, this was too much of a strain, but he won't give up, he didn't run for so long just to give up now.

He pulled with all his might.

Warrior or not, battlefield experience played no role in situations of great stress, especially when adrenaline kicks in.

Cracks and noises of tearing filled the air.

Blood gushed from the cheetah's nose, the teeth that so fervently bit stopped their chewing lips cracked at the edges as if there would be a knife cutting them from the inside.

Snap.

The upper part of the cheetah's mouth broke, Cloudas' claws dug even deeper, cracking bone as his adrenaline infused strength basically tore off the feline's upper part of the jaw. The lower dislodged itself from his flesh with one punch.

He shoved the body away, immediately spinning and clamping his fangs over the arm of one of the moles who just prepared himself to make another stab.

Blood filled his mouth, noise of crushed bone rumbled inside his throat.

He gagged.

The discomfort didn't stop him however, the power of his maw lifted the small creature off his legs, he jerked his head fiercely, slamming the held mole into the other rodent who just sunk his dagger into his waist.

A strong pulse of pain shot through his body.

He screamed, releasing the held body, both moles were sent flying across the hall.

His hind legs shivered, butt dropping onto the ground, blood dripped from the wounds freely.

"Cloudas!" Hunter blared, it was hard to tell if he was condescending him for breaking the truce so quickly or if he was worried about him

Probably a little of both.

He didn't care.

Hunter ducked under horizontally slashing claws, his legs carrying him forward.

It was over.

The wish for all of this end without bloodshed was torn to shreds, even if he wasn't on the receiving end of it, seeing his allies, his people, bleeding and dying hurt him just as much. He understood the rules of survival, nevertheless honor dictated certain rules, one such rule demanded total respect of one's allies.

Breaking that rule was the first step to damnation, no matter the circumstances.

They might survive the battle, yes, but it doesn't mean they will win, after this nothing will feel like victory again.

Hands of a betrayer never stop bleeding.

He dived, throwing his head down, wrapping his arms around the waist of one of his enemies. He sprang forward, empowering the leap with momentum, the feline's claws dug into his back shallowly before he managed to finally topple him over, the tiles of the floor shook slightly under the slamming weight.

Despite everything he still fought for his conscience, pushing the arms away he punched the cheetah straight into the nose, blood gushed from the nostrils when it cracked. This time it had to work, everyone would need a short break after this, a blow like that would open anyone's eyes to reality.

The cheetah's eyes didn't even fill with tears.

Remaining as mechanical as his movements.

It is over. There is nothing that can be done.

The other feline unsheathed some kind of weapon, some sort of a short sword judging from the noise. The one below him jerked his head forward, pumping with the neck up and down, teeth biting vigorously, he could feel the quick spasms of breath they interrupted upon the fur on his neck.

The eyes were empty, there was no soul in them.

It was consumed.

He didn't know, did not want to know, how exactly the cheetah below him functions, he reminded him of a person who didn't drink for a very long time, shrunk to the very bone, unnaturally alive.

This warrior was being fed upon, for a very long time.

His eyes, as if on purpose to torment his soul further, caught a detail on the feline's shoulder, the fur there was shaved, on the visible patch of skin a tattoo could be seen depicting a small symbol of a half closed eye.

The most devoted and faithful caretakers who dedicated their lives to the temple received brandings like that, representing their stature as one of the most loyal servants of the Ancestors, extensions of their will. People like this were second to the Seeker only.

This cheetah was a priest.

It was depressing to realize that all this faith you cherished, putting it up as a shield from the world did not protect well enough. It made him wonder what determination is worth when everything that is required is a surprising, strong turn of events to shatter it all.

We all are so frail.

The cheetah below thrashed, trying to bite, he would take any sign, even a bad one, like rabies for instance, as a symbol of hope. Anything to realize that life below is tainted and as wilderness taught him, there is always a way to counter poison if you act fast enough.

There was nothing.

The cheetah's gloom, brown eyes were like glass, he could see only his own reflection there, Danox had similar eyes, but in the drake's case you could spot signs of life, something he seems to purposefully hide.

The wiggling feline underneath was entirely honest, without any control over anything.

He was dead.

This existence was torture.

May the Ancestors forgive me.

He flipped the dagger, tip catching the glint of the nearby brazier, it blinded him for a second despite the dark aura of this place. It was like the fire would give him a triumphant, mocking smirk.

"I'm sorry" he thrust the dagger right into the side of the cheetah's neck, the sound of cracking flesh sent down a shiver down his spine

Warm drop of blood trickled upon his hand.

He pushed off the feline that immediately ceased his struggling, throwing his body into a spin, just in time catching the perfect moment to dodge the incoming swing which only sliced off a piece of his cloak.

He slammed his arm into the extended one of his enemy, kicking the sword out of the hand for safety measures, before snatching the fur on the neck and pulling the head back, exposing the throat.

The dead eyes of the other attacker stared back at him.

He saw his own reflection in them, for a second catching his own shade in the orbs, in a different posture though, standing straight with arms folded over the chest.

It was his conscience.

And it was shaking its head in disapproval.

The dagger popped into the flesh, he hissed when drops of blood touched his hand again as if they would be tears of some vicious acid.

The body collapsed on the floor, mind losing connection with the knee, the hole in the neck spilling out blood right after the wet smack of flesh like a squeezed pipe finally bellowing held back steam.

He stood over the corpses with the dagger in hand, chest heaving, the blade crying red tears from the tip. Head fell limply down, fur on the chin crashing against the clothes he looked down upon his hands, both of them were gripping his own head by the tuft of fur between the ears.

Both were bleeding and looking right back at him.

The right one was frozen in a peaceful expression, the left grimaced by signs of torture. Both of them didn't make him feel better.

Both of them led to death.

"You will have blood on your hands Hunter, just like I will have on my paws" the draconic guardian said as he turned his body towards the city

It is mystifying how many warnings and clues about one's purpose we find in simple conversations.

Too bad they mostly get ignored.

Perhaps then he wouldn't stand over the corpses of his own kind. He plagued his honor.

With a growl he snatched the medallion on his coat, it burned his fingers, as if it grew spines to defend itself.

"Why did you let it happen? Where were you?"

Strange buzzing noises filled his head, to the point that he barely could feel the rest of his body.

He intensified the grip, veins on his wrist thickening, the burn became more intense.

The buzzing intensified, head becoming heavy.

"Don't do it!" he felt a terrified, female scream upon the inside of his hand

He gasped, ears perking up, muscles relaxing, the dagger he held clatter on the floor, the ring it created blasting him from his stupor as if freezing water would crash against his face when he would be sleeping.

He unclenched his fist, eyes widening when he gazed upon the medallion, over its whole round surface there was blood. Eyes looked at his hand that instantly began to shake wildly as if terrified of his gaze. Across his fingers, right at the surface of flexion ran a thin red line like a claw would cut them shallowly.

It wasn't however the thing that surprised him the most.

It was the smell.

His hand smelled of nature, home and young, sweet feminine fur.

The buzzing seemed like a figment of his imagination now.

He stared there, frozen, gazing on his opened palm like it would be his personal Pool of Vision, ready to tell him the future at any moment now.

The palm was silent though, never ready to speak.

He moved his nose closer, taking a whiff, ears flattened on his skull.

The smell.

The smell was still there.

"What is happening with this city?" he mumbled, petting his palm with his nose, not even aware that his lips moved

"Seems to me that the city has nothing to do with it. I would say that you have some mental health issues after a fight. It's really disturbing to be honest"

His eyes snapped open, breath sucked itself back into his throat, ears jumped back at full attention. Cheeks on his face burned, blush pushing out, he felt as if he was caught with his pants down in a moment of intimacy that should remain private.

Eyes shifted at the dragon who was sitting on his hocks, expression sour and lips twisted in an unending groan of irritation. Dragon or not the wounds looked really bad.

"Will you be alright?" Hunter asked, crouching to pick up the bloodied dagger, fingers curling in shock the moment they grazed over the handle as if it would be made of slime

He grumbled, forcing himself to pick up the weapon, he tucked it into the sheath on his belt, unable to shake off the sensation of being tainted.

He never before felt so dirty.

"I'm not dying yet" Cloudas gazed at the corpses, his expression empty "Contrary to these guys, seems like being a dragon with sharp claws and fangs make up for any lack of fighting experience"

"It's good to hear, also your approach to the situation is worthy of notice. You are extremely calm after breaking free from the corrupting illusion"

The drake snorted.

"I'm far from calm, wished I would be somewhere else now, had enough of troubles following me around for a lifetime" he shrugged, hissing in pain when he moved the wounded shoulder he forgot that was injured "People don't scare me, insane or otherwise, in my world we fight with creatures many consider to be demons incarnate"

"Fair enough" Hunter rearranged his clothes, squinting his eyes to better pierce the darkness hanging over this place "Recover while you can, our knowledge is greatly limited about the events here, we don't know what might unfold"

Eyes dropped back at the corpses, ears flattening on the skull, while it was impossible to spot it from here, his wounded imagination kept projecting the images of the holy tattoo. He couldn't know for certain, nevertheless he could feel that every body here carried the same mark.

They murdered priests.

There had to be a way to change their fates, to help them and let them continue living their young lives without ending them so abruptly.

The idea that he betrayed them and failed to do so will haunt him for the rest of the days.

Did they even knew what was happening? What if they were there, unable to control their bodies but seeing everything through the dead eyes that could be just an illusion like the statues? Beating at the unnatural glass, screaming at him to stop, begging to be heard, pleading for safety?

By the Ancestors.

They were there, he can feel it, he destroyed them, how simple it is to sacrifice someone else for your own sake.

"You're thinking Hunter"

One of the feline's ears rose up in attention.

"Don't is my advice. What is done is done, live on, if you think you fucked up then do better next time, the end. It's over, beating yourself with your actions won't do you any good and will throw you in a pit of trauma, desperation is a very bad advisor. Keep your senses or you'll end up like me, it took me a while to pick myself together and yet I'm still not recovered and probably never will now. Not worth it"

"Forgive me friend, I appreciate your advice, but you don't look like someone who had to carry a burden of betrayal"

Cloudas sighed, wrapping the string of his toy medallion around his bloodied claw.

"You don't even know what it means to betray someone. Some random folks don't begin the path of a betrayer, especially if you didn't promise them anything. I might look normal, but as you know I'm a dragon, a dragon who can't wield magic. I can't even explain how it feels, a total mess, like some sort of illness would eat up me from the inside, just to wait for my organs to recover to start the process again. Pretty shitty"

Hunter narrowed his eyes, observing the dragon intently. His open minded speech about betrayal made him worried, dragon or not, he didn't want to have a assassin walking behind his back, pretending to be an ally.

"Why you wield no more magic?" he whispered, tail making a flick, sharp eyes looking for any sign of nervousness, a tick of a spy realizing that his cover was blown

Cloudas gazed at the star hanging from his neck, the feathers on his entire body seemed to drop down in sadness, leaning down like withered leaves.

"Because I know what betrayal and desperation means. They don't make for good pals, you will do good to stay away from them if you know what's good for you"

"This doesn't answer the question"

Cloudas frowned, something was odd l, Hunter seemed on edge, yes, but there was something different to it than the standard shock of fading battle adrenaline.

"Why are you so sus-" he raised his head, meeting the cheetah's intent gaze

He immediately recognized it, his parents looked at him like that when they found out what he had done, it was his rant that led them to this conclusion, just like now his rant caused Hunter to be alert. Wounded psyche and the general choking danger of this place would make anyone suspicious, especially if you speak so openly about betrayal without being long-time friends with your companion that knew how to use a blade.

This time though he was really innocent.

"Now wait a second there!" he sprang up on all three legs, thrusting one paw forward, directing the opened palm at the feline in a sign of a defensive gesture, heart beginning to race inside the ribcage

He might not be afraid of people, but that didn't mean they didn't make him nervous, especially those that knew how to fight.

"I'm on your side here, remember? I wouldn't hurt you even if I wanted to!" he spun, presenting every side of his body to him, toes pointing at the bleeding wounds occasionally "Look what beating I got from some standard guys! You think I would be stupid enough to go against you when I got my ass handled to me by two short rats and a drugged cat?"

"Moles" Hunter grumbled

He cocked his head, one of the paws pointing at his rump froze in the air.

"What?"

"People that attacked you. Those were moles and cheetahs" the feline scout sounded rough and stern, but in his tone he caught the thing he hated the most

Pain.

And pain was dangerous.

"Yes! Of course!" he harshly slammed the paw against his chest, exactly where the heart was, the blow making him cough as he kicked the air out of his lungs "I..." he cleared his throat, letting out a few more coughs" I'm sorry! I'm stupid!"

Hunter's gaze remained fixed on him for a while, long enough to make him even more uncomfortable than he already was, unable to bare the scrutinizing gaze for long, he turned his head away from the sour face of his companion.

For a second the darkness around seemed more welcoming than the real presence of the scout.

The frown disappeared from Hunter's face the moment Cloudas turned away from him, his guilt tainted soul started to burn fiercely, in its howl of agony he could hear it cursing his name.

Where was any fairness and logic here?

How he can take out his personal frustrations on someone who accompanied him all this way and out of all the people around was the most loyal? Blaming Cloudas for lack of respect and absolutely no connection to the people he killed was unjust, he really had nothing to do with these people.

Survival comes first.

This is what Nature taught him and it was not like the Queen of the Realms didn't test him to check if he mastered the lesson.

He sighed deeply, running a hand over his head, pinning the ears and disheveling the already dirty fur even more. Due to the amount of grime his left ear didn't spring back up completely.

"My apologies my friend. I should not create more horrors, there is enough we are facing now for any sane mind to bare"

Cloudas looked upon the bodies, the cheetahs and moles were not Hunter's family, but the first looked similar enough to be taken as such. Years wiped away the shock, but the remnants of it were still buried deep in his soul, this is why he didn't blame Hunter for his behavior, seeing the corpses of your family is not easy and very, very heavy burden to wear on the shoulders.

Especially when you are the one in the end that made the killing blow.

"We should not linger" Hunter's boots clicked against the floor, eyelids giving the fallen people the last, respectful bow

"Sorry for pestering, not the best of times I know" Cloudas bit his lip, twirling the strands of feathers on his shoulder "But did you notice how calm it is here? I mean the attack was bad and all, but these guys are REAL, you know what I mean? No illusion, no magic, nothing, whatever happened to these guys, it happened in REALITY. This thing what we're up against is really scary if it can twist the mind like that, why it isn't trying to do the same with us? Or did it with those statues and the people outside? If so, how come you managed to break yourself and then me from the illusion?"

He looked himself over, besides having feathers, green claws and star filled pattern to his body coloration there was nothing else special about him. For Hurricane's howling blare, if he wouldn't meet the Shapers and laid eyes on several dragons in this city he would never consider himself to be different than any of them.

This can't however have anything to do with his heritage, he comes from a city where only wind dragons live and they are as standard as they can be.

Questions, questions, questions, damn curiosity, it already made his life miserable and yet he still listens to it. Whoever said that you learn from your mistakes should be thrown into the Pit to hang with the Wretched cause he was a damn liar.

Hunter stopped in his tracks, tail making an uneasy, hectic bounce as if someone would jerk the invisible line it was connected to. Cloudas made a very precise and important point. One of his hands immediately clenched over the symbol on his coat as his mind was thrown into a whirl of thoughts and probable explanations.

The fur on his clenched into a fist hand pulsed with warmth.

The force ruling over Warfang seemed to influence the people, the Fear taking control of their senses, as it tried doing with them. One could only guess what the consequences of being under its influence for too long would have on them, they could only wonder what purpose this statue illusion had. If this force wanted them dead there were simpler ways of doing that.

Sending the corrupted citizens was one such way.

But it's not like everyone wanted to kill them, the moment they entered the city, people on the streets acted normally, relatively normally considering the situation, not to mention the fact that at first glance nothing seemed out of place in Warfang.

People outside were acting differently than the group that attacked them here, this could only mean one thing. This strange corruption needs time to entirely devour one's soul.

Perhaps he was wrong when he said that it is dangerous outside, now with Cloudas' point of view in play he believed they would be safer outside.

Here was the problem though.

They would be safer.

What about the people?

The grip perhaps wasn't so strong on the citizens in the streets, but the guards were clearly showing that they were not thinking clearly, it was hard to say what provoking them would bring. This force ordered the people to escort them here, either afraid that they might wake up the population some way, or simply wanting them to share into the fate of insanity.

The Force wanted them here, but he was quite certain now that its original plan failed. They were thrown from the board it turned Warfang into and now it felt like a struggle without any rules just to bring the opponent into submission.

No rules.

Then why send only a small group instead of the entire city after them?

Because he believed that his explanation was correct, these people here differed from the one's outside. Why?

Where was the difference?

"You guys like tattoos?" Cloudas' voice interrupted his train of thought "We also have them in our timeline, I'm not a fan, already having all the stars and all on my body. Though, even if I wanted to, I'm not sure I would take an eye, seems boring"

Eye.

It was the Eye.

They murdered priests.

This wound was festering for far longer than their absence in another dimension.

There were signs.

The girl that Flare mentioned once in the hospital, the moles that attacked Iris.

The infection was there, they were just too blind to see it.

They also didn't pay attention to the bodies, not finding the connection.

He was sure now that at least one of these people had a tattooed eye, all of them though for certain being loyal, devoted believers who visited the temple often.

This Corruption was feasting on the priests and followers of the Ancestors who treated the temple as their second home. This is where the corruption spread from, this is where they are going to find the source.

Will they survive it now that it is in full force?

The experience here gave them hope, after all, somehow, they managed to withstand its influence, it would be nice to know how exactly they managed to do that, but on the other hand answering that question would bring limitations.

Would make them aware of their weakness.

For the sake of the people they were not allowed to give up.

These deaths have to mean something.

"What's wrong?" Cloudas whispered, noticing Hunter's intimidating posture, he bent on his legs automatically, eyes fervently scanning the obscured in shadows surroundings for any sign of movement

"We must reach the temple. This is where we will find the source of this disease" the cheetah announced, his voice hollow, devoid of any emotion like that of a person who accepted that he cannot change the incoming fate

"You can't be serious" the dragon balked, hissing like a taunted viper

One of the feline's ears flattened on the skull.

"The temple is the place where we will end it"

"Where it will end US you mean" Cloudas snapped, pointing at his wounded body "Look at me, what do you think we will be able to do? Tickle it? We stand no chance against it, shit, we won't even reach the source of this magic since I'm pretty sure the temple is full of people, many of them maybe even dragons. You think I will be able to protect myself from an adult dragon without magic? Or you for instance? And I'm speaking about one, our chances of survival are lower than zero if we bump into several, not to mention all of the other people out there who I'm sure won't just stand and watch. We can get lucky once, twice, but not all the time. No way I'm going there, this is suicide and I'm not planning on throwing my life away just when I started a new life basically, away from that shitty world of mine"

Hunter's eyes began to burn, lips moving up and shaking, revealing gleaming fangs underneath. Usually protests never really bothered him, but now, among these bodies, people who perished by their hand, people that demanded justice and fair treatment, innocent victims, they deserved respect.

Not cowardice.

"I won't be staying idle Cloudas!" the cheetah roared, striding towards the young dragon, his fur bristled, a claw shot forward, pointing right between the green eyes "This is dishonorable! Not the way you pay your debts!"

"I owe nothing to this people!" Cloudas stomped with his front leg, using the other one to smack the furry hand away "And neither do you!"

The cheetah growled, his hands clenching into fists, so tightly that they both could hear the echo of his knuckles snapping.

"Your sense of duty is blinding you!" he pressed the tip of his claw against the scout's outfit "I told you not to listen to desperation!"

With last strands of will he was holding himself from breaking that paw.

"We. Brought. You. With. Us. Cloudas" he growled through clenched teeth, each word sounding like rocks grating against each other

The drake noticed the cheetah's nearly bloodthirsty stare, it made him gasp and immediately pull back the paw away, rising it high, once more opening it in a sign of a defensive gesture.

"And I thank you for that. I will repay this debt, I promise, but I won't be able to do that if I will be a rotting corpse and a coffin is where you are leading us"

"We won't hide"

Yeah.

He knew that already.

He would really like to hide and wait it out though. But he also knew that if he would admit that, things would turn drastic very quick.

One thing was certain, he won't make it alone.

Leave me alone troubles!

"I'm not saying anything about hiding" he looked away, pretending to be lost in thoughts, while in truth only wanting to make sure that Hunter won't spot his true wishes

"But how about we focus on the living? We can't help the dead, the ones that breathe need our help more. What is done is done, all we can do now is to make sure it won't happen again. We won't do that if our bones will be rattling in some rat's maw"

Hunter kept glaring at the young dragon, fingers hurting and fists shaking from the tension in his hands. Perhaps he was blinded, perhaps he was stupid yet luckily for him no matter how bad the situation looked like the fascination for dragons was still there and it was probably the only thing that made him consider Cloudas' words, this fascination made him listen. While this might be an obsession, this time though it proved to be useful.

It made him hear that Cloudas was speaking about Hope.

The dead can't benefit from its touch no longer, the living however, they still can.

He relaxed his hands, deep, unable to control breath left his throat as if his entire body would push out the stress through his mouth.

"What do you propose then? How can we fight this disease?"

Cloudas shut his eyes, opening his mouth already to voice out the roughest of truths-ignorance.

Disease.

His eyes snapped open when that single word rumbled inside his skull.

This was it.

We broke from the Corruption's game, a method that proved to be effective against most of the population, but it didn't understand a simple process of evolution, of laws of Nature.

Things mutate and adapt.

They are the mutation.

"What if we already are?" he mumbled, his voice a whisper like a muffled squeal of a joyful girl

Hunter's head jerked back, expression frowning, signaling deep focus.

"What if we are a disease?" green head snapped back towards the feline, mouth parted open, displaying wet with saliva teeth, green eyes glowing like true gems, radiating a powerful aura of excitement and triumph

All of this made Hunter's head back away even farther, to the point that his neck began to hurt.

"Just think!" the drake yelped, pulling at the feathers in between his horns "This thing tried to pull the same trick on us while we got here, but we broke through. And now instead of trying again it sends real people against us. This is REAL like I said! It didn't want us here, we weren't allow to be here and yet we managed to stick to reality like a virus"

He grinned, sharp teeth glistening under the faint light.

"Like an unknown virus"

The cheetah's eyes began to widen, tail standing at an end. The young dragon might be right.

By the Ancestors he might be right.

His hand slammed against the symbol on the coat, grasping it lovingly, its warmth filling his palm.

"I'm sorry I doubted you" he whispered reverently, eyes never leaving the excited stare of the young dragon, who empowered with this smile would turn around even the most lost in despair soul

"If you get sick, you pop all sorts of medicine, only then you find out it doesn't work. Magic failed, treatment failed, its only way was to operate and cut us out so it send the already lost people against us, those that cannot be saved and it will send many more"

The fluffy tail started to make wild swings, the feathery tip kicking dust from the floor and the columns.

"But we won't be here anymore because we are a disease, an infection and infections spread"

"We broke through" Hunter added in breathlessly "If we did it, then with luck we can help wake up the others"

Cloudas nodded fervently, the feathery mane bouncing up and down with each nod.

"We heal one, then that one will heal others and so on and so on. We catch a big enough fish though..."

"And it will infect the whole shoal" the feline finished for the drake

The two companions stared at each other in silence, all four eyes burning and mouths stretching into wide, predatory grins. In the darkness their expression were nearly demonic, to the point that even the shadows began to fear them, the hall seemed to get brighter.

"We are already in the City Hall, where the Guardians reside, they rule Warfang" he winked at the drake

All of Cloudas' feathers stood on end.

"We won't be saving this city my friend, we won't be defeating the Darkness" he placed a hand on the scaly shoulder, gripping it tightly, a manly display of gratitude and respect

Green eyes flared up, a mixture of passion, joy and unimaginable relief fused with determination.

Sense of feeling worthy.

"We will be saving its people"