Siblings of Corruption - Prologue 1-3
#1 of Siblings of Corruption
Siblings of Corruption Prologue Part One - Raining Blood
Walking out of the Dragon Temple, Siiar had been surprised at the sight just outside the room. Bodies everywhere, both Mole and Dragon alike, were scattered all over the ground. A coating of blood covered the ground with a single young black dragon standing in the center of it all. "Why are you doing this?! Killing your own kind?! What is wrong with you?!"
As she watched the drake turn his attention to her, Siiar at first let out a low growl as he seemed to step closer to her, but then heard a yell from the side and the drake quickly turned towards that. Siiar watched as a single Mole ran up from the side with a spear in hand, trying to defend what little dignity Warfang had left from the surprise attack. She was about ready to yell out to the Mole to stop, but it was too late. The black drake jumped forward and swung its tail-blade ahead, completely severing the head off the creature before it even came close. Siiar let out a loud roar after the Mole's death and rushed forward herself, in attempt to catch the small dragon off guard.
She was only a foot away when the drake had jumped back and tried to counter her quick slash with his own claws, barring them together against her large form. She began to push him forward and eventually knocked him to the ground with a quick tail swipe of her own. Once he was on the ground, Siiar tried to pin him to the ground to stop his madness, but he was too quick and was able to roll to the side before she could get on top of him. Before she could move again, the black dragon was already on the attack and had jumped into the air, swinging his tail-blade down and cutting Siiar deep in her back, forcing a cry of pain to escape her.
The dragon had landed on the ground again a few feet behind Siiar and was quick to rush back up to her, attempting to get another hit in, but the dragoness quickly avoided the swipe of his claws and watched as he stumbled on the ground. With the only opportunity in her grasp, Siiar had to grab and hold onto the boy's paws under hers, then pressing her massive weight under his smaller form below. She glared at the boy angrily, who only struggled in his grasp. "Tell me why the hell you are helping the Dark Master?! What's in it for you?!"
The male drake below her stopped struggling and soon only gave a small chuckle. "I'm just a mercenary. I was paid to help destroy the eggs you've got inside there, but it seems like someone beat me to my job."
"...What?!" Turning her attention back to the doors behind her, Siiar gazed at the horror inside the room. Eggs were being smashed left and right by a mass pile of Apes inside, not a single dragon in sight to defend them. No... There's no way...
She was about to rush off the boy and go defend the eggs in the room, but as soon as she loosened her weight of him, the black dragon had quickly jumped up and tackled her back into the wall behind, her head hitting the hard stone and leaving her in a daze for a moment. She watched as a large Ape came up to the drake she faced with a single egg in hand.
"The Dark Master will reward you personally for helping us... We shall see you there, Keith."
Siiar gave them a glare as she tried to push herself forward, but was stopped by a sudden pain in her leg, feeling as the drake's claws began to pierce her scales.
"Tell Malefor I will be eagerly waiting for it." The black dragon 'Keith' had said, getting a nod from the creature as it ran off with the lonely egg in hand.
"You bastard... Selling us all out, killing your own kind... You're a monster!"
Keith had begun to turn back to Siiar and was greeted with a smack in his face from the blue dragoness' tail, knocking the boy to the ground. She then quickly positioned herself on top of the dragon again, this time giving him a quick swipe with her claws and cutting him deep in his right eye before speaking. "For all the creatures you killed this night, I should put you through hell for it!" Watching as the distant ape carried the egg, she then let out a low growl. "...But I've got one I need to save! I will not let this young one become like you!"
Siiar jumped off Keith and began to chase after the ape that had escaped, but ever since she was attacked the first time by the boy, she had begun to feel sluggish and couldn't move as fast as she normally could. Her mind was almost in a daze as she slowly followed the running ape, almost collapsing a couple of times as she walked. What's wrong with me...? It's almost as if... taking a quick look at the open wound on her front leg, she cringed as she saw a bubbling green fluid up over her scales. ...Poison. No... I can't be... As she was getting ready to continue the chase, Siiar was soon paralyzed in place, a rush of pain filling her body as she felt something freezing cold pierce deep into her side just below her lungs, causing her to collapse onto the ground.
Feeling as Keith's claws pierced through her, Siiar could feel her life slipping away. She could only gaze down at the ground, not with hate, but with sorrow. "...Keith... You're a fool to believe the Dark Master... He'll kill you just like you did me, if not worse... Tell me... Who will look after my family now...?"
Listening as the dragoness struggled to breathe at this point, Keith couldn't take his gaze from the female's eyes as he held his cold grip in her body. "...I just did my job, that's-"
"Just doing your job will get you killed... I almost guarantee that once you go back with the blasted apes... They'll kill you on the spot."
"You're lying! Just like any other client before him, he'll pay his dues!"
"...Heh... So young and naive... You'll see for yourself what's in store for you once you return... In the meantime, you shall see what you took away from me this night..."
Keith let out a gasp as he began to feel his mind being invaded. He tried to fight the sudden pressure in his mind, but the force was just too strong. His mind began to twist and turn in ways he never thought existed, but soon it was over and he was standing inside of a cave, looking at the same blue dragoness along with a male gold dragon to her side. From the mouth of the cave entered a pair of very young dragons, one with gold and blue scales and the other silver. They came into the cave with a rush of energy, soon hopping all over their parents and wanting to play.
He could only stare at the vision dumbfounded, feeling the hole in his heart begin to eat away at him. I never had a life like this... Why should I care what happens to them...? He continued to watch, keeping his eye on the large golden dragon. He seemed to be acting a little weird, almost staggering at moments. It wasn't long before the large figure collapsed on his side, the blue dragoness quick to his side, but tears soon began to roll down her eyes. ...He's dead? Just like that?
"... Like my beautiful Drak before me, I too will die because of poison in my veins... That was less than a week ago..."
Keith heard the dragoness' voice and felt a tear run down his cheek. Wait... These kids can't live the life I did... They're too young, they won't survive!
"...Those were not your thoughts before we fought, though, were they...?"
...This isn't fair! How the hell was I supposed to know?!
"...I do not fault your ignorance, nor do I hate you for doing what you did... I forgive you, Keith..."
He felt as his mind phased back to the bloody dragoness on the streets before him and felt sick for a moment, feeling his paw inside her flesh from stabbing her in the side with an Icicle Claw attack. He began to pull it out and almost gagged at the sucking sound, hearing a whine from the dying girl before him, hardly even having strength to breathe at this point. Tears began streaming down his cheeks as he remembered growing up with no parents. Every day was a fight for survival. They don't even know magic yet... I at least had that luxury... What the hell have I done...?!
"...Keith..."
His ears perking up, Keith rushed up to the blue dragoness' head and tried to listen to her weak words.
"...My children will soon know of my death... Please make sure... they're happy... Give them my necklace... They'll know what to do..."
Watching as he head fell to the ground, Keith couldn't hold back the tears anymore. ...I'm done, I'm through with killing! He watched his tears hit the ground, dripping in the crimson liquid that already soaked his paws. With a daze in his eyes, he unclipped the bloody necklace from her and watched as the size of the jewelry shrunk down in his grasp. He decided just to put it on, looking down at the blue gem attached to it a moment. There was then a loud bang to his side and he swiftly turned towards it, seeing a large red dragon quickly enter the room. He looked at the several bodies on the ground, then at him and his bloody form and the large body next to him.
"...Siiar! Oh Ancestors, no!" He began to rush up to them, flames building in his mouth as he charged. Before the fire dragon could even get close, Keith began to run away and jumped into the air, taking flight away from the city. With a grunt, Ignitus looked down at the dead Guardian before him and let out a small sigh. "...First your husband and then you. We should have never called you away from Xale and Lenai if I would have known..." He then turned towards the gaping door before him and stepped inside the room, looking at the destruction caused by the apes. Every egg there looked destroyed. Turning back out to where the cold body of Siiar lay, Ignitus bowed his head in shame. At least one survived... The purple dragon of legend will live on alone in the world, just as those two do now... The only thing we can do is pray for them...
"Wow! Did you see that one, Xale?!"
"Yeah! That almost hit us!"
"It was so pretty, though! I wonder where it landed!"
Giving a smile, Xale was gazing into the dark night sky with Lenai, watching the meteor shower overhead. There has been a few over the past week, just dropping rocks down from the skies above over the Valley they lived by. "It's getting late, Mommy would yell at us for being out here."
The silver dragoness at his side gave him a small push. "Awe, come on! She's not even here! We can stay out as late as we want!"
Xale gave her a smile, but soon noticed a small glow on his sister's chest. "Hey, what's that?"
Lenai looked at him confused for a moment, but hen looked down at the small chain around her neck. "It's coming from Mommy's key..." She reached her paw up and poked it with the tip of her claw. Once it made contact, there was a sudden bright flash, the entire area around them turning a bright white, blinding them both momentarily.
Xale took his paw away from his eyes and looked ahead, looking at the large blue dragoness before him. He gave a wide smile and heard Lenai give a little cheer, but Xale's smile soon faded as he looked at his mother's eyes. "Mom... What's wrong...? Why do you look so sad?"
"...My beautiful children... If you are watching this memory... I have gone off with your father to meet the rest of our Ancestors..."
Xale felt his heart drop. "...NO! You can't!"
Lenai stayed silent, but Xale could hear her crying to his side. He couldn't hold back his tears either, nor could he hold back his thoughts. "You can't go Mommy! We need you here!"
"...Xale. You're strong. You're heart has always been in the right place and you have been so caring... Please... Promise me that you will protect your sister and that key around her neck... That key will be your guide to true happiness that you deserve.."
"But Mom... All we need is you to be happy! Please!"
"My sweet little Lenai. You have a bright power inside of you as well... Use its light to help you to live on. Help your brother along the way and take care of him."
"...Yes Mommy..." She said lightly, letting out little whimpers. She only let out a few whimpers and kept her gaze on their mother's now dark purple eyes, seeing that she was fighting back her tears as well.
"Remember to cherish every memory of our short time together in this world... Just remember, your father and I love you very much. We will be together again when it's your time too..."
Xale's body tensed up when he saw the form of his mother slowly disappearing. "...I love you! Please wait for us with Daddy!"
"Stay strong, keep your faith, and never let go of hope. You will live to survive the times ahead. I believe in you both... Take care of yourselves."
As the light faded around them, Lenai moved up close and lay on the ground next to Xale, who quickly collapsed and was lost in his grief.
The two didn't say a word to each other the rest of the night. They just lay there, underneath the flaming shower of rock in the clear sky, unable to control their emotions. It wasn't long before fatigue finally set in and Lenai had fallen asleep in her tears, Xale close to the same. ...What are we going to do...?