Chapter 15

Matilda had to be lying right? Unreal. Even Infinity knew what a demon entailed. She and Axton had read about them in numerous books about the celestials and fiends. They were creatures from the nine hells, cruel, malicious, seeking to destroy everything they found. In this case, consume the soul of a dragon and keep it forever. That was the thing lurking in his chest?

“But we had someone tell us it was a spirit! Why would they lie? Something that could be healed!" Her wings trembled with every shaky breath she took. She thrust a wing talon to the runes she'd inscribed upon Lyyreth's wings, her heart about ready to leap from her chest. “Protection from evil. I cast the spell. It…had to have worked!" She could feel the hope weight still the air , only increasing as Matilda shook her head.

“No dragon you can't dearie. Only delays the inevitable. Nutambar be blessed if it were so easy."

“Surely there must be something that can be done!" Cordenth demanded with an angry stomp of his paw, swelling his chest to hide the fear in his eyes. “I'll do anything you need. Fly to the ends of the earth, gather some weird mushrooms, plead with my head to the earth. Just tell me how I can save my little brother!"

She's have made fun of his nobility and chivalry if not for Lyyreth's horrified face. His frills were stitched tight to his head as he slowly sat down, running a claw over the blackened wound. He stared at it with a sullen look. His silence was worse than if he'd burst out crying. She could see the hopeful glint in his eye die in real time, and it was breaking her heart.

With a tentative step she closed the distance, sitting beside him and wrapping the green drake with one of her silver speckled wings. With a snort she turned to Matilda, agreeing with Cordenth as he raddled off at least a dozen more heroic things he was willing to do. “What do we need to do? Just please…No more strange fetch quests."

“What do you dragons think I'm doing?" Matilda grinned, waving them over to her bubbling pot. This one larger than she was, twice her size in fact and made of thick iron. How this woman got it over here was a mystery. Infinity suspected magical intervention. The old woman strode to Lyyreth with a confident stride and rose his snout with a wrinkling yet caring hand.

“Does this happen often?" Lyyreth whined softly, a weakened swish of his tail upon the grass.

“All the time my green friend!" She rubbed his cheek to summon a smile. “Now don't go worrying your snout. Why just had seven years ago I had to fight this demon off at a shady joint with my bare hands! Never trust warlocks green, heed my words. They are dastardly with their fingers. But always have a sugar daddy up high or down below to answer to!"

The woman rambled off scenario after scenario why they must keep their calm, each one squashing what dread lingered. Infinity herself found breaths coming easier, and the pit in her stomach fading away. This strange woman had it under control. Nothing to tremble about. Just a different problem to be solved. If so, she was quite the healer indeed.

“See here, see here." Matilda pulled out a wooden bowl filled with viscous white paste that scrunched the snout at a sniff. “Just dip your digits in and draw some runes.". She guided them with a stern yet in control tone, instructing what exact shapes they needed to draw. To infinity it looked as though they'd simply scratched their claws into the dirt, but she insisted they held power. Celestial power or whatever it was called. Infinity only prayed they could work.

Around this rune matt Matilda arranged the needed animals at opposite sides and across from the dragons. They settled without any fuss, though the bear did plop to the ground and start to sleep.

“Good." Matilda bumped Lyyreth's flank, instructing him to the middle of the circle of power.

 The green's eyes were a worried sea, snapping to Infinity and begging her to comfort him. She did so without a single word, nuzzling along his neck until she met his snout.

“It's going to be ok." She insisted, licking across his cheek. “Didn't you hear her? Does this all the time."

“Is that for me or for you?" He chuckled softly, “Cause we've heard this before. This glimmer of hope." His scales seem to shrink as he pinned his wings behind him. “I don't need it snuffed out again."

“But this time will be different." Cordenth tapped his paw, clearly putting on a brave face. “We're ready and prepared…No purple dragons to go messing everything up, no dragon hunters to wrap nets around us. This time there is nothing that's in our way!"

“And we've got all our friends here!" Matilda chuckled, gesturing to the animals that had started drifting closer and closer from the clearing. Countless sets of inquisitive eyes were upon them, like a trio of dragons was now something they couldn't miss.

Something isn't right. Infinity stared, flicking her tail as an itch crawled down her spine. Did she have some sort of control over them? Was she lying about what this demon was? She pressed closer to Lyyreth her nose mere inches from his scales. He looked well, besides the wound on his chest. Trembling with fear plain as day on his face, but okay.

“Can…I help you?" He pulled back shyly, frills pinning.

“Still have that echo?" When he nodded she sighed. Even if it wasn't a demon, that was peculiar and she didn't like the sound of it. She leaned in close, whispering into his ear hole. “Do you trust her?"

“What choice do we have?" He whispered back, wincing as he grabbed his chest. “It's starting to hurt and twist…I can almost feel it moving around."

The dragoness' snout wrinkled, not even wanting to imagine something like that. But the me she did, the more it persuaded her thoughts. This needed to be done, Matilda had to be at least tried. Otherwise, he didn't stand a chance.

“Don't you worry dearie. Today we cast that wretched blight out!" Matilda hobbled away, tapping the circle with an extended palm. The ground shook beneath them with a sudden power, the runes stirring to life beneath their paws. They rippled and started to glow, releasing a sauna like heat.

Then came the wind, whistling as gently as a summer's day at first, catching wing and membrane alike. But soon it grew like the tide, roaring like a lion through the air. But despite this, not a single frill stirred atop the green dragon's head. He was still as a statue, a fleeting look of despair painted on his face. Like if he moved, he'd be lost to the winds, broken into a thousand different pieces.

Infinity was left trembling, teetering on the edge of concern and joy. She bet each of her spines was standing on edge, without a sign of their going down. Either way this ritual was going to put an end to this leg of their journey.

But will it end in happiness or despair?

“Please." She whispered, eyes misting from the fierce wind, unwilling to look away.

“You must focus on helping your friend child!" Matilda's voice cut through the gale. “Think of your own strength and lend it to him! He will be needing all you have! Now be warned child, the demon might play tricks or try to deceive you. This be normal, don't listen or waver or it may sink it's talons deeper!"

“Understood!" Cordenth blurted, planting his paws down with a confident flick of his tail. Determination shown in his eyes, almost like beacon in a starless night.

Infinity nodded, doing the same with her paws. If he could do it, then so would she. “How am I to lend him my strength?" Her ears pinned; she'd never done anything like that before. Not even during the Emerald Lady's training.

“Like you were casting a spell, add your own strength to the growing power. Think of memories to drive it away. Warm ones work the best, but they don't need to be happy. Just things that make ya who you are!"

 Axton

She took a few calming breaths, her brow furring as she pictured her late son. The one who helped her in the darkest of days. The one who taught her life was more than what was in her cage. That there were things living for. Like all the times they'd done together, she'd take another step forward.

Lyyreth. Her thoughts drifted to the dance beneath the stars, the pleasing sounds the humans played on their instruments. How her heart had thrummed as she gazed upon him, a delightful glow she'd never known twisting about every scale. How she adored spending the night cuddled up close to that cute sack of green dragon. How she'd like to do that every night. How many times had he been a look to since their meeting? When everything seemed nothing but tower and continual pain? She closed her eyes and pictured them both, as a growing heat spread about her scales. She would do right by the both of them.

The runes below their paws grew white hot, like a forge had been lit. The air sizzled and cracked with ancient power the air brimming with their red-white tendrils of light. The wind's howl began to fade, replaced with a sizzling hiss.

“That's it!" Matilda cackled as Lyyreth started to groan, hiding his snout as he shook from side to side. The tendrils spread across his lower hinds, crawling like thick caterpillars up his hide. The dragon snarled at each one that touched him, wincing and recoiling as if he were burned.

“Lyyreth!" Infinity called her voice cracking as his tail thumped violently against the earth. She snapped to Matilda with a racing heart, ears pinned to her head. “Explain!"

“Its all part of the spell girl! Don't worry! The demon, it's fighting the power we wield. It's going to burn it out of him like a virus, just you watch!"

Right…I can do that. She quelled her heart, ignoring her trembling paws. The winds returned to buffet them with a vengeance, making her pin her wings and dig in her claws, lest she be swept away.

Focus. She shook her head, instead lingering on the green scales quivering before her like a drowning cat. You can do this. His maw curled into a pained snarl releasing a hiss that traveled upon the air like a knife. Was he being hurt by the spell? Would it kill him? Maybe they should stop? “Matilda-“

Up rose Lyyreth's snout as if suspended by tiny strings. It creaked to one side with a malevolent grin. Blackened coals had replaced his eyes, devoid of any hint of life. Something gurgled a laugh out his throat, with a voice deeper and clearly not his own. “Poor Infinity dragoness with blood soaked paw. Ripped and took life with her sharpened maw. Memories depart of her troubled past. Slew her own child never meant to last."

With a sickened chill about the air, Axton's last words slithered upon the wind. They pressed down her ears, chewed upon her heart, and shook every paw. It swiveled her friend's head like a slippery eel, flaring out his frills.

“Served the lich like a loyal pet. Slew each woman and child she met. Blood she loved and blood she craved; such was the mind so depraved."

“I was forced!" She tried to scream, but found her voice stuck in her throat as images sprung from the ground of the maimed and broken corpses she'd left in her wake. The smell of burning hair hung thick in the air, as the charred bodies reached out with broken hands, begging for the reason why. She shrunk away from their pained cries, rearing up with flared wings. “I didn't mean to! He made me do it! Please! I'm sorry!"

“Don't listen Infinity! It's a trick!" Cordenth's voice was but a tiny whisper, lost to the terrible words still crawling their way from Lyyreth's maw.

“But dear dragoness. I don't speak of your near present. Those that haunt the ground are from even further back. When you served oh so…willingly. They call me a monster upon these realms, but from my position it looks like you loved tearing apart, setting on fire. You made a game of it. See how long they could live or scream, wrapped lovingly in your cerulean flames."

“No! Stop it! That's not true! Shut up!" Her head thrashed, averting her eyes as the thing using Lyyreth slipped closer. It couldn't reach her but pressed it's snout to an invisible barrier separating them, an evil yet pleased glint in its blackened eye. “That isn't true!"

“But is it?" Lyyreth smirked, scratching a talon along the barrier. “Do you know for certain? Why don't we ask yourself?" He opened his maw, and her voice instead came out. “Axton…You must help me kill him. You know how he got me. What he did to my family. This all ends now, don't stand in my way as well."

When did I say that? She froze, a fearful chill grabbing her heart with icy tendrils. Is that the truth? She wanted to discount it, but the longer she stared, the more she believed it. Deep down she always knew she was a monster. Maybe that's why it was hidden. I didn't want to face what I'd done.

“INFINITY!" Cordenth's screamed, finally drawing her attention. Pulling her back from the blackened chasm she was being drawn int, but only for a fleeting moment. “DON"T LISTEN."

“She knows the truth dragon." It cackled, throwing back its head, and to Infinity's horror, using Lyyreth's voice. “You can see it in her emerald eyes. Murderous eyes, a blackened heart. No wonder everything she touches withers away into nothing. The thought of destroying the world's beauty comes as natural to her as breathing!"

How can he come back from this? Infinity trembled, unable to tear her eyes away. When it can use his body and voice so freely?

“Restrain him!" Matilda screamed as Lyyreth lunged with teeth barred. Whatever barrier remained was gone, but the old bones hurried out of the way. The green dragon only tasted air.

“Oh Infinity. I must thank you!" Lyyreth snapped to her, teeth on full display in a mocking smile. His tongue slithered out, running along the sharpened points. “For serving me such a divine soul on a platter. The emperor's progeny? Who would have thought?" He inched closer with a growly chuckle.

All my fault? She found herself parlayed.

“Get the hell out of my brother!" Cordenth pounced upon his brother's back, slamming them both to the ground. Claws met claws as they batted against one another in a series of thrashing tails and savage hisses.

Shaking off her cold, Infinity leaped right in after. Like hell she was going to let him take all the credit. Besides, if he got hurt, she'd never hear the end of his whining. She smacked Lyyreth's snout, pinning it to the ground. She had to press hard upon his neck when he took a deep breath, fearful it'd use his poison. She didn't wish to hurt him, but the constant clawing at her scales was making it difficult.

“You'll never win dragons." Lyyreth cackled as Cordenth pinned his limbs against the runes. “His soul will be mine, and you will weep for all eternity!"

“Knock him out!" Matilda screamed. “This must be a big one, we have weaken it's grip on him!"

“You'll never Infinity! He's mine. Just like your son. Better off alone. Why keep trying to have a normal life? You'll only bring devastation and misery to all those you befriend."

“Stop using his tongue!" She couldn't take it anymore. She repeatedly smacked him across the snout almost as hard as she could. Tears streaming from her eyes as she screamed out her frustration, again and again until he ceased moving. The green dragon slumped to the ground as she panted her victory, ignoring the hollow feeling in her chest.

“What happened?" Cordenth snarled as the runes died with the wind. “What in the nine hells was that? Ease you said. No problem you promised." He flapped his wings to his unconscious brother. “Does that look like it's in control? You told us you knew what to do!"

While the brother snarled and barked his concerns, Infinity sat staring at her paws, it was as the demon hissed. It was her fault.

“If not for me this would have worked." She said solemnly, her spines drooping. She'd failed him as she'd failed Axton, failed her father. Maybe the demon didn't utter such lies.

“No time for that! If that be the case, then we must hurry!" Matilda quickly snapped her fingers at both of their noses. “We need both of drops of your blood. Right now."

She gave the woman a queer look, snout half tilted. “Why?"

“If we're to save him. We need love and protection. Dragon blood always does wonders. Hear that the lot of you?" Matilda spun around, planting her feet in an angry huff. “Thanks for the assist by the way. He nearly bit off my head!"

The chasm in her belly stirred as she sighed. She was in no mood for this crazy woman's antics. Not after seeing that demon puppet Lyyreth so. “Matilda." She slowly stared back at Lyyreth, shivering at those blackened eyes “Why are you even asking the animals?"

“Animals? Is that what you think they is?" The woman held her stomach, laughing away. “You're mistaken. They're dragons of course." She snapped her fingers as the animals grew closer. “Though they seem pretty tight snout on the subject now! Even when we be needing their help! Didn't you see what the green drake did? Don't make me start chastising the lot of you!"

One by one the animals shifted and changed, thick lavender smoke billowing from dozens of little paws and hooves. To her amazement at least emerged from the growing fog, cast away with many fluffing of wings. Green, black, and even a stray red or two were found in their number. Some as large as the green brothers, some larger, and clearly a few wrymlings looking on with ever widening eyes. Frills rippled as one in interest, as all their gazes fell onto them. Now she felt small. So many draconic eyes on their scales? Though they were her kin it troubled her bones. Even Cordenth curled around his brother like a city wall.

“You seemed rather fine." A red dragon twice as Infinity spoke, nodding his onyx horned head down at the green dragon. “Next time you should go asking for our help. We had faith in you."

“Next time just intervene! I won't be mad!" The woman pressed her fists to her hips. “At least not that mad."

A troubled murmur broke out among the dragons. One that spoke of fear, unease, and dwindling hope of what could be done. Infinity's head spun as they bickered at what to do. Bindings, banishments, even chaining, at least a dozen spells were suggested in a manner of minutes.

“Please." Infinity finally found her voice, pawing at the ground. Already she could feel her heart throbbing painfully in her chest. The dragons silenced, dozen's of concerned eyes stared back at her. “He needs your help. Just get what we need, and we'll be on our way. Just…" Her head drooped with her spines. “I don't want to lose another friend today."

“We know child." A black male said from the crowd, with less spines and armored scales. Orange warmth radiated from this stranger's pools. “We're trying to decide the best course of action…And not maim him of course."

“Will another protection of evil spell help?" Cordenth chimed in, tapping at the mark.

“I can do it again if it helps!" Infinity chimed in.

“I'm afraid not." Matilda sighed, kneeling beside Lyyreth with her palms on his wound. “The spell was broken with mine. His condition has grown more dire. The demon proved stronger than even I imagined. If we are to save him a a stronger spell must be placed before we can try again." She turned to the dragons, planting her cane like a sword. “I suggest a seal of blood around his heart, you know the metaphor for the soul. It will buy him some time. Hopefully long enough for the next part of their journey."

“Next part?" Infinity shifted nervously from paw to paw. This wasn't going to be the end? They couldn't help him? “Are you going to come?" Her worried eyes traveled to the field of dragons, pleading for them to go. “We could use all the help we can use!"

Each one in turn shook their head as Matilda did the same. “No child. That path is for you to walk." She looked up, pity painted on her wisened face. “You must venture to the deep fae. Only there can you find the avatar of Nutambar and they will cure your friend."

Another trip? Deep fae? She glanced to Cordenth, who was silently studying the softly breathing form of his brother. She asked his opinion and he only nodded.

“If it needs to be done. I've heard tales of this fairy realm by a red friend…And they all sounded terrible." He said softly. “Though I don't wish to lose him more."

Of course. We can do this. Calming breaths settled her racing heart as she repeated the same words to herself.

Without any more arguments, a consensus was had. The spell would be cast, and blessings be issued. Matilda had drawn a ceremonial knife from her house and made every dragon in attendance issue out their claws. They'd slice one at a time, dripping blood into a pot placed by Lyyreth's claws. She hadn't expected the dragons to help, especially with them being complete strangers. She guessed Grozo and Emerald lady were not the greatest impressions of dragon kind. She thanked the strangers after giving a drop of her own blood to the growing pool of red.

“Now come and help apply it." Matilda guided Infinity's finger into the pot of dragon's blood. “We shield his soul from this unspeakable evil." Matilda curled Infinity's digit around the center point of Lyyreth's trembling chest, where his heart ought to be. She trembled as the green shifted, her throat growing tight. Would he awaken and be that thing again?

“Focus." Matilda's tone was tight, cupping Infinity's chin. “We can't afford any more distractions."

“But what do you want us to draw? You haven't said."

“Just need to be focused on by someone who cares. It matters little."

“What about me?" Cordenth flicked his tail. “I'm his brother."

The old lady smirked, patting at Infinity's scales. “But the spell is stronger with females."

Only fitting. Infinity's ears pinned to her head. It should be me anyway. I'm the reason it happened both times.She nodded her head as Matilda instructed her to follow along, repeating what came out of the old woman's lips. “Focus on a good memory. A cheery one you adore. Demons hate those."

“Got one?" It wasn't Matilda, but Cordenth who asked the question. Worried reflections of herself stared back to her as he watched with an impatient tail. “Tell me if you have this." His frills twitched nervously as his gaze traveled back to his brother's unconscious face. “Please tell me you do."

Axton.

She nodded, closing her eyes to focus on the spell. Times she'd spent rolling in the fields, the warmth of the fake sun on her scales. The food they'd shared the many days of their time together. Nights spent reading along, learning a whole manner of information and stories. Then she recalled them flying together, almost bonded as one. If only Lyyreth had seen them. He would have been the greatest addition Despite her aching heart she pictured them clearly, glad she had them. “I got it." She said, chest swelling as she kneaded the ground.

Matilda tapped her chest. “Then draw whatever you like. Remember the spell doesn't really care. Long as it has heart somewhere in it."

Heart is what she had. She placed a paw to Lyyreth's chest. It was hot, almost like a furnace was lit beneath his onyx scales. Was that the demon? The woman began chanting before she could contemplate further, joined by a near choir of growls and draconic hisses. Like their combined might would stave off any demon willing to show it's corrupted face.

Be strong. She dragged her paw to form a ring around Lyyreth's chest, drawing little branches spreading out to form a second ring. Once there she drew many walls like a fortress, each one she poured more her warmth, her love, and nearly every thought she could muster. Don't mess this up.

The air rippled with power, as if lightning were about to burst from the heavens. It tickled Infinity's scales something awful, heading deeper into her spine. Again, and again she dipped her talon into the blood, spreading the draconic protection with every chant. Like a dancer she was captivated by the sounds, guided as if by instinct. Then everything came rushing back, the grass rippled, and the heat died below her moving claws. His breath stopped for a frightening second, but she held her ground.

An eerie silence fell like a thick fog, weaving around them all. Infinity's ears splayed, trying to ignore the racing of her heart. Matilda stood unmoving, paralyzed and wide eyed. Cold swept over Infinity as Cordenth opened and closed his maw, unable to find the words. But she found the actions. She surged over with an inquisitive nose, applying one last dab of blood to his chest. “Return to me…please." She whispered in his ear, not realizing how much she trembled.

Please.

For a heart-breaking matter of seconds, she just prayed, staring silently at his frozen chest. Dread crawled up her paws, inch by inch until burrowing deep into her marrow. She repeated her plead, tail hesitantly flicking. She'd done all she could do.

“Now call to him." Matilda's voice was soft. “He may be buried deep. The demon never letting him awake. Call him home. Let your voice be the guiding shepherd to this sheep through the field of wolves."

“Lyyreth…" She said shaking, heart trembling. “You have to come back…"

The dragon stirred, his paw moving weakly.

“Go on!" Matilda hissed, waving her arms.

“Lyyreth. You aren't done here yet. You can't give up. You can do this. Cordenth is waiting on you…" She swallowed, heart throbbing and tail flicking, “I'm waiting on you..So bring that cute face back."

Up went the green's chest with a wheezing breath, exhaled in a violent cough that shook his whole body. His tail thwacked the ground gasped his breaths, frills twitching in and out as he coughed. His eyes fluttered open, dancing around in a panic before settling onto her. “Infinity? Is that you?"

“Lyyreth!" She nuzzled his cheek, relief filling every breath. Her wings wrapped him tight, pulling him close against her scales. He didn't return it.

“Is this real?"

“Of course, it's stupid." She laughed, nearly crying through blurry eyes. Around them the roaring approval of dragons shook the trees, drowning out anything else for miles around. But not one to join them, Lyyreth stared into her eyes with more fear than she'd ever seen.

“I..was lost..bewildered…Like a stranger in my own soul. I couldn't find me way." He pulled her close as he gulped, closing his eyes as if in pain. “It was like dying. I was alone in the dark, in the deep,deep dark, and I knew clear as day that I didn't exist, that no one would ever see me again…and then.." He paused, visibly shivering in her grasp.

“And what then?" She asked softly, nudging at his scales.

He started sobbing, loud raspy breaths. “Then I heard your voice. I heard you calling, and….and I followed it. It was all I had in the darkness. It was the only thing I could find. Just you. Nothing else. What the hell do I do with that?"

“I'm not sure." She pulled him tighter. “But we're going to help." She nodded to Cordenth, who'd crept tentatively closer. “To the ends of this world. It's not going to get you." She rolled her eyes and chuckled to ease the tension. “Cause I'm not sure if you knew this…But I care about you a lot you dolt."

Lyyreth fell silent, tears streaming down his cheeks as his wings pulled her close. “I'm not even a real person anymore. I got this thing in me; my chances are getting better is getting smaller all the time." His neck found hers, his wings wrapped around her. Silently they stayed, locked within the other's embrace. Even Cordenth padded away, letting them have their breather. Eventually Lyyreth wiped his eyes, turned to her with a smile, his face brightening. “I'm lucky I met you."

“I could say the same to you." She leaned in, licking him across the snout. Her tail thumped happily as he blushed and returned the favor. But eventually this momentary reprieve had to be ended, as Cordenth asked the question on all their minds.

“What needs to be done…To rid my brother of this…" The green dragon snorted, his paw shifting nervously on the dirt. “Demon that has it's talons in him."

Matilda shooed the other dragon's snouts away, who'd all taken steps forwards to curb their growing curiosity. The woman's voice was soft but shaking as she stroked Lyyreth's nose and chin. “Something far more powerful than us. I mentioned the avatar of Nutambar, and the Deep Fae in which they reside. A place hidden within the fairy realm, and possess much peril."

“Peril? Even more?" Infinity's ears pinned to her head. “What could be even worse than a demon wrapped around his heart?" She instinctively pulled Lyyreth closer against her.

“I fearfully think so." Matilda leaned on her staff. “Such things don't come easy. Especially when we're dealing with a demon this powerful. Dragon's blood or such magic usually does the trick…To see one this strong." The cheerful woman drooped, seemingly tired for the first time since their arrival. She sighed, “This is going to take quite amount of hoping and guidance."

With an aching heart Infinity glanced to the quivering sack of scales against her. His snout fell to the grass, groaning as he kneaded with his claws. What hope he once had was nothing but a dwindling light, and somehow that hurt more than knowing what awaited him. With a lick to his snout she held her head high, folding her wings and proclaiming they'd do anything to help him.

“Even if it means going deeper into the fairy realm." Cordenth flicked his tail. “And I've heard horrible stories about the normal level of it. But how do we get there?" He nosed around with a chuckle. “I see not a fairy we can use."

Infinity asked about this fairy realm, getting a rather brief explanation. One realm inhabited by the fey, that shaped itself to their own perception. For it was too bizarre and strange to make sense to them without going mad. Memories played out before your eyes, spirits haunted you, one could easily get lost forever if you were not careful.

“Even for dragons?" She said softly, as the coming dread curled in her gut.

Matilda nodded and only made the dread squeeze tighter. This place sounded terrible, unhospitable, and very likely to end them both. They needed to go deeper? Infinity found courage by catching sigh of Lyyreth's twitching tail, and hearing his sickening groan. She couldn't leave him like this. Not just because he'd die, but that delightful feeling in her heart she had while having him close. But before she could utter another word, stars burst around her vision. Everything felt like it was swirling as what energy she had left her. The next thing she knew her voice was echoed from all those around, and her head fell to the soft grass.

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