Death to a Ghost

Characters:

[2019/05/16 16:18] Lord Sir Souboku:

[RP Title]: Returning to Normality
[Character]: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RpqsYrFbme967_8Cwih2BKqSdzufC-egkNsMNqvx944/edit?usp=sharing

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Soulcarver was trying to get some much needed sleep, having spent the past few days training and working towards his previous levels of performance, having seen them dip due to his captivity. It was coming up to midday, by his calculations, which made sleeping awkward as every single dragon was training or talking. He was tired enough that he could cope though, or so he thought.

Barely half and hour later he growled, still awake, as a fourth set of talon steps thundered past the cave. He had no idea if he still had an apprentice, no one had informed him, so he wasn't expecting anyone to barge in, but it was still annoyingly loud.

[2019/05/16 16:35] Mystrick:

Asleep in her nest, keeping an ear pricked toward her eggs, was Carina. Nothing in her schedule had changed. She had lied so, so much to protect them, that now protecting them was just second nature. Like she was meant to.
She was, after all. Though considering the origin, she wasn't sure if she was meant to feel this protective of them. She wasn't going to let them die, after all, but... she cared.
She flicked another ear toward the talon steps, curling closer around her eggs in her peaceful rest. For once.

[2019/05/16 17:43] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

Before too long the telltale pitterpatter of tiny feet began to echo slightly in the still air and a light red dragonet who was not quite as small as she used to be trotted by the entrance to the cave only to stop outside and begin sniffing the air. There was a smell here that she hadn't smelled in a very long time. One that belonged to a certain biiig dragone who knew how to speak funny.

[2019/05/16 18:46] Lord Sir Souboku:

Soulcarver had given up trying to sleep at this point, his attention drifting between the door, in case anyone came in, and Carina who was curled around the eggs that she had supposedly got from some NightWing in the Sand Kingdom. Soul didn't exactly believe her story, but with nothing else to go on he couldn't exactly accuse her of anything else.

He pulled out his new sword, a huge claymore, as long as his entire arm. Since losing his previous weapons, he had switched to this larger, heavier sword. Even had it enchanted by some SandWing hermit to make it easier to use. He inspected it carefully, checking for any deformations, not that there would be any. It was enchanted to be incredibly durable.

[2019/05/16 18:53] Mystrick:

Carina blinked awake, flicking her ears forward and gently nuzzling one of her eggs, sighing sadly. Moons, she wished this was easier.
She glanced over at Soulcarver, her ears flicking back. She didn't realize he was in there. She felt a bit nervous around him regardless of if he knew the truth or not.
No one did. There was nothing out there to support it.

[2019/05/16 18:59] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

Pyre watched as the big dragon pulled put a big sword and saw someone else move off to the side. It was Mama! She hadn't seen Mama in a while and Papa hadn't been very happy lately. Pyre didn't know why that was but hadn't thought that she had done anything wrong. "Mama! Nocturtle!" She cried out, racing into the cave happily.

[2019/05/16 19:03] Lord Sir Souboku:

Soulcarver sighed, recognising the voice all too well, as well as the unholy pronunciation of his name. He watched Pyre practically sprint into the cave, hoping that she'd be more preoccupied with her adoptive mother than him. After 3 days awake, he wasn't particularly in the best mood to be dealing with dragonets beside his daughter.

He sheathed his sword, resting his head on his talons, with his eyes closed. Hopefully Pyre had that choker thing on, otherwise things would be getting uncomfortably warm soon.

[2019/05/16 19:09] Mystrick:

Carina's head shot up, and suddenly, the dragoness seemed... happy. She was happy to see Pyre.
"Hey, Py-Py," Carina purred, leaning a bit so she could see Pyre better. And Pyre ~~Pure~~ could probably see her eggs as well. She'd probably think they were her siblings.
Carina didn't mind that.

[2019/05/16 19:29] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

Pyre squealed happily and flapped up into the air with an almost effortless hop upwards. She had been practicing a lot lately and was so good at this now! "Mama why have you been in here so much?" She asked as she settled herself down on the ledge next to her adoptive mother.

[2019/05/16 19:32] Mystrick:

"Oh... uh..." Carina didn't know how to explain it. She had a bad feeling of what Pyre would say or do, with her childish way of seeing the world for the time being.
Hopeful.
"These," Carina replied, moving her wing a bit more and beckoning toward her eggs. The strong, black shells were safely protecting the dragonets inside.

[2019/05/16 19:37] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

"Ooh. What are they?" Pyre asked, stepping over to where the eggs were resting against Mama's side. She laid down next to them and snuggled up against her warm belly, happy that she could do this. Mama was here and so was she.

[2019/05/16 19:39] Mystrick:

"Eggs. All dragonets come out of eggs, kiddo," Carina said, curling her tail around her eggs and Pyre, curling her dragonet toward her a bit more. "But these ones are mine. I guess you'll be an older sister, won't you?"
Carina nudged Pyre playfully, happy to have her dragonet with her again.

[2019/05/16 19:52] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

"I came out of this?" Pyra asked, enjoying the feeling of Mama's tail curling her close to the warm wall of her belly. She wasn't entirely clear about the concept of being a sister yet, but so long as she got to snuggle with and be with Mama she didn't really mind it.

[2019/05/16 19:53] Mystrick:

"Yes. All dragonets do. There's... two or three in these two combined, depends on if one holds twins. This big one might," Carina explained, placing a small, motherly kiss on top of Pyre's head. She wanted to actually be a mother.
She didn't want to be just another assassin trainer. She wanted to care like a mother did.
Like hers should have.

[2019/05/16 19:58] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

"Where did they come from?" She asked, shuffling her wings and wrapping her arms around the big tail and purring contentedly as Mama explained everything to her. This was one thing she had really missed while Mama had almost vanished, getting to cuddle and talk.

[2019/05/16 19:59] Lord Sir Souboku:

~~OOOOOOOH NOOOOOOOOOO~~

[2019/05/16 20:00] Mystrick:

"Let's uh... not explain that right now. A bit too much for you at this age," Carina said, not sure if she meant how EGGS came to be, or how THESE eggs came to be. She hoped Pyre didn't have any ideas. "But their father is another NightWing. Not hybrid eggs, though I think a sister of mine has hybrid eggs. They won't be pure black like this."

[2019/05/16 20:16] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

Pyre tilted her head quizzically and tapped one of the shells with a talon, considering this new information and trying to match it up with what she already knew. How many other NightWings did she know? Nocturtle, Papa, that one scary lady she never learned the name of... not too many. "Is he Papa?" She asked, figuring that from everything she had seen from him and Mama that they were together.

[2019/05/16 20:17] Mystrick:

"No."
Carina had to keep that thought out of her head. If anyone learned these were Victoryclaimer's eggs... she wasn't sure what would happen then. Not to her, her dragonets, or to Victoryclaimer.
She hadn't seen him in so long... despite it all, she still loved him. She missed him.
"It isn't... it wasn't a dragon I wanted eggs with, but here they are, I guess."

[2019/05/16 20:20] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

"Oh." Pyre said, frowning and dissapointed without really knowing why. She looked at the eggs again and then back up at Carina, another question bubbling up in her mind. "If you didn't want to then why did you do it?"

[2019/05/16 20:22] Mystrick:

"I... didn't choose to, Pyre."
Suddenly, Carina hated her lie. She hated everything about it because here was Pyre, her dragonet, and she was lying to her. She couldn't take it.
She glanced back at her eggs, curling around them and Pyre again. "I don't wish to speak of it, Pyre, if that's okay with you."

[2019/05/16 20:30] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

"Okay, Mama." Pyre said softly, looking down again and hugging her Mama's tail tighter. She didn't understand why she wasn't wanting to talk about this but she knew enough now to stop talking. She was still very young and innocent, but Pyre was slowly wizening up to the world.

[2019/05/16 20:32] Mystrick:

"Thank you," Carina said, purring as she pulled Pyre close to her chest, snuggling her into her scales. "But I want you to treat these dragonets like they're your own siblings through and through, got it?"
Pyre was going to be upset to know her mother lied. That'd hurt. But in the end she didn't know what else to do. Pyre wouldn't know how to keep a secret. Or why it was one.

[2019/05/16 20:41] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

"Okay." She answered, wrapping her arms around two of Mama's claws as she was snuggled up into the older dragon's chest. She had grown big enough now that she couldn't quite fit into her mother's palm like she used to be able to, but she could still easily be scooped up with both of her Mama's claws.

[2019/05/16 20:43] Mystrick:

"I want you to also help me teach them how things work around here for the dragonets. After all, you're one of the oldest dragonets here," Carina purred, keeping Pyre and herself close to the eggs. She didn't want to leave them cold.

[2019/05/16 21:14] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

Pyre let out a small content sound as Mama continued to hold her and began to settle into a soothed calmness. This was nice, the warmth and feeling of Carina's scales on Pyre's made her happy and feel safe, and the dragonet soon let out a small yawn.

[2019/05/16 22:00] Mystrick:

"If you want you can sleep. I'm not leaving anytime soon," Carina assured Pyre, curling up one last time until she was basically a circle.
She had forgotten Soulcarver was in the room. Listening.

[2019/05/16 22:18] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

Pyre nodded and curled herself up into a ball, her mother's belly pressing up against her on one side and her talons cradling her on the other. She carefully snuggled up in just the right way that her head was resting on one of Carina's fingers and closed her eyes. Within minutes she was completely asleep, quiet, still, and not at all listening to anything that was going on around her.

[2019/05/16 22:33] Lord Sir Souboku:

Soulcarver had been loosely paying attention to Carina and Pyre, although had tried his best not to pry too much. Admittedly, he had been paying attention when Carina had talked about the eggs, but hadn't been able to glean anything to support his suspicions as to who the father was. Still, it had quietened down somewhat now, probably due to it being close to lunch time, which meant he might actually be able to get to sleep.

[2019/05/17 01:50] Mystrick:

Carina hummed quietly, looking over at Soulcarver and snorting.
"Got her from messing with you, hmm?" Carina teased, snickering as she gently stroked Pyre's scales. Her dragonet. The words were sweet and hopeful.
Hope was a big thing for her, considering every single lie she was telling.

[2019/05/17 02:59] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

Pyre remained still and completely silent as Carina gently stroked her head. She was completely asleep and content, obviously ready to slumber for hours if undisturbed.

[2019/05/17 03:16] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

Victoryclaimer woke up alone, quite surprised that he actually woke up in the first place.
He was in the High Assassin cave. It was surprisingly dark, but he could tell he had been thrashing in his sleep, as the blanket under him had been shredded to threads. Either he had been in another nightmare, as he had been getting these past months, or Malicewhisper had already tried to strangle him and he somehow lived through it.
Almost in a daze, the High Assassin moved to his talons, wheezing as if he had already been struck. In his stunned state, he even glanced down to make sure he wasn't a ghost standing above his own corpse. Finding nothing below him but his own talons, he let out a breath.
I'm giving you one month. The words rattled around in his mind, feeling him with overflowing dread. He had counted the days.

[2019/05/17 03:16] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

He and Hazemaker were to die today, according to the vicious words of Malicewhisper. He couldn't stop it. You couldn't kill a ghost. Even if it weren't going to happen today, she could lie in wait for forever. A sense of urgency fell over him and he shook his head, feeling disturbed. He had to find Carina. He had to find her before Malice decided to kill him. He had to let her know, one way or another that he didn't hate her. He was still acting, after all this time. He'd be loyal to the very end.
His heart pounded in his chest as he quickly strode out of the room. His mind was buzzing, his talons trembled, but he continued.
Crawling through the void of death. His mind murmured, trying to remember what that young hybrid had told him as she tensed up, young voice replaced by something not her own. The dragon waits unseen. He had written down the words, reading them everyday because he knew they were important. They were important to his ill-fated demise.
Brought down by his kin's wrath,
He waits to enter the scene. Yes, he knew then that he remembered them, as much as he did the dragonet's face as she told him. Her fearful gaze had melted, replaced by a steely resolve.
Seeing the past the present and the future,
He knows how to bring the light.
But to bare the sun means to end the creature,
And prevent the everlasting night.
Covered in blood his brother will rise,
Completely different within.
For if they do not kill the gheist,
The malice will surely win."

[2019/05/17 03:17] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

She had fainted at that part, Victoryclaimer knew. The young snake-like hybrid had collapsed in a heap of scales, similarly to what had happened to his brother everytime the fool had scryed the future for the both of them.
A sudden feeling of nostalgia filled his veins as the thought flitted through his mind, unobstructed by his mental walls. He foretold so much for us. So much for me. But yet, did he not see my death? You said there would be light ahead. He mentally cursed Originseer, before feeling a horrible remorse fill himself.
Carina. I picked you instead of Hazemaker and myself. I picked you over Lifestringer. I picked you over everything. Perhaps someday you will see that... when I'm gone.
He almost tripped over his own talons as he sped up even more, practically rushing through the Talons of Blood's dim halls.
Please Malice. Wait just a bit longer. Please...
Give me a few more moments at least. Let me see her one last time.
...
Before I have to see him again.

[2019/05/17 03:25] Mystrick:

Carina kept stroking Pyre's scales, curling herself up again and waiting for any response from Soulcarver. Another uneventful, quiet day. She didn't really like quiet. She was use to being loud, being out and about.
Not cooped up in the Endbringer's cave. She hated it, even if it felt right.

[2019/05/17 03:48] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

(oof I forgot Dream)

Dreamkiller quietly slunk into the Endbringer cave, tired talons carrying her as she seemed to not even be fully there. She had been hunting, then had gone to the training cave to 'practice' tossing daggers at a soft training dummy, boredom written across her features. Really though, the prey she had found had been quicker than she had anticipated. And after a fleeing deer had fallen into the nearby river she had chased it down the rapid currents for awhile. She had only returned when clouds overhead started to darken with the hint of an oncoming storm.
She hated storms.
The NightWing dragoness shook her head, before raising it to peer around the cave cautiously. She noticed Carina first, and gave the other dragoness a friendly nod as she walked around the perimeter of the cave. Approaching Soulcarver, she slowly sank to the ground next to him. "Good afternoon, my dearest." She purred, amusement evident as she nestled closer to his side. She raised a talon, rubbing the top of his dark head with a few claws. "Sleeping in today?"

[2019/05/17 06:56] Lord Sir Souboku:

In his half asleep state, Soulcarver opted not to answer Carina, partly because he had no idea what she had said to him, or even if she had talked to him in the first place. He had actually almost managed to get to sleep when an all too familiar, and much welcomed, voice snapped him back into wakefulness. He sighed contently, leaning into her affectionate petting. "I wish I was," he replied, slowly trying to shift into a more alert state of mind. "But I'd have to be asleep first. A commodity that has seemed to evade me these past few days." Admittedly, it wasn't like he couldn't run on this little sleep, it was just not preferable. He found that often his reaction time took a blow and he tired out faster. "I'm perfectly fine, of course. This is hardly the worst I've gone through."

[2019/05/17 16:20] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

The tiny dragonet purred happily in her sleep as Carina continued to stroke her scales, the comforting sensation lulling her into a progressively deeper slumber the longer it went on. "Ornge." She muttered happily, her tongue momentarily flicking out like a snake.

[2019/05/17 18:58] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

Dreamkiller made a sound of amusement. "Then sleep. I don't want you dragging your tail around half awake today." She continued petting his head, purring quietly as she laid her own on him. "I could use some sleep as well." She murmured, closing her blue eyes as she leaned into him.

Victoryclaimer continued onwards, progressively getting more tense the further he walked. Either she was stalking him at this point, or paranoia was getting to him. The High Assassin swore he could feel someone watching him.
Perhaps I could save them both. Perhaps there's still time. If I were killed and Hazemaker either left or slayed that kid of her's, then perhaps there would be no other way for Malice to get to her. He grinded his teeth together, suddenly feeling very stupid. No. That wouldn't work. Carina's eggs would hatch with or without her. The children have Malice's blood in them. She'd just wait for them to grow up, then she'd kill whoever she pleased... including Hazemaker. His head started to pound, stabbing pain shocking his senses each time he took a step. For Hazemaker to not be killed, for me to not be blamed, I'd have to kill even more children before Malice could end my own life. It wouldn't work. She'd see what was going on.
I can't save my own daughter.
I can't save myself.
But I can save Carina.

[2019/05/17 19:20] Mystrick:

Carina remained curled up with Pyre, laughing lightly at her small burble of speech. She sounded younger when she talked in her sleep, it seemed.
She tried to ignore Dreamkiller and Soulcarver. It hurt a bit, that Dream got her mate back and Carina couldn't even be in love again.
Unless it was Fastlearner. But he wasn't what she wanted. He was odd, but he was a good friend still.
She sighed. This wasn't a good time for her.

[2019/05/17 23:18] Lord Sir Souboku:

Soulcarver wrapped his wing over his mate, more alert and awake now than he had been before. "Get some sleep then. You know I'd never let anyone harm you," he whispered, quite happy to be her cushion while she slept. All that was missing was Rumour. Still, Dreamkiller was more than enough to keep him happy for now, and having her cuddled up against him reassured him that she was safe.

[2019/05/21 17:01] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

Dreamkiller hummed in response to Soulcarver's words. She was a bit worried as to where Fatetempter was, but knew her dragonet was wise enough to not leave the cave system, or get herself into dangerous situations.
She snuggled closer to her mate, her purring only stopping as she noticed a faint noise. Talonsteps? Her ears strained to pick it up again, and when focused on the noise she realized it was getting closer. Fast.

Without warning, Victoryclaimer practically exploded into the room. Stress was written across every inch of him, and he seemed almost haggard in appearance.
He whipped his head around, scanning the room quickly. Relief stung him, the two he wanted to find were there. He shook his head slightly, horror lighting his carmine eyes.

Dreamkiller's ears flicked back and a deep growl escaped her jaws almost immediately when she saw her father. The spines along her neck stood on end as she shrank against Soul's side. "Get out." Something about her father was off. He wasn't aloof like normal.

[2019/05/21 17:01] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

Victoryclaimer snarled, ignoring her words as if they hadn't been spoken. He glanced between Carina and Dream, as if he didn't know which to speak to. "I need...-" He finally forcefully moved his stare to Hazemaker, curling his lip slightly. "Malice." He finally said, feeling hate bubble from within him. "She wants-"
He cut off, hissing as a sound similar to a weapon being unsheathed echoed around the room. In the same moment, a terrible gouge ripped itself across Victoryclaimer's neck, crimson blood splattering across the room. A horrible gurgling escaped his open jaws as he stumbled a few steps forward, eyes growing wide with shock.
He hadn't prepared himself for such a gruesome death. He had always imagined Malice at least killing him in a nicer way.
He should stop assuming things about the ghost.

As Victoryclaimer finally crumpled to the floor, talons instinctively pressing to the large tear in his neck, the air above him shimmered. Much like that of a disguised RainWing changing colors, Malicewhisper seemingly stepped out of the shadows. Her ghostly eyes glowed in the dim lighting as she bared her exposed teeth in a grim smirk.
As she seemingly grew more solid, she placed her other talon on Victory's head, shoving it roughly against the stone ground as he convulsed. One down. One to go, isn't that right, Victoryclaimer? Her eyes grew brighter at her own words.
Slowly, the ghost moved her attention from the dragon below her to the group in front of her. Her eyes narrowed as she gazed at Dreamkiller, madness clearly evident on her ghostly face.

[2019/05/21 17:03] Lord Sir Souboku:

<:diamondarting:547416564241268739>

[2019/05/21 17:04] Mystrick:

Carina looked up.
And then screamed.
NO. NO NO NO, she thought, her eyes widened as she backed away from the body of Victoryclaimer. He was still alive. He was... he...
"VYATAN!"
She curled her wings around her eggs and Pyre, growling loudly as she stared at the body. Moons, she wasn't sure what she was feeling. Moons... she couldn't lose anymore dragons in her life. Mindbender, her sisters, Fastlearner.
Not the dragon she loved.
Not him too.

[2019/05/21 17:17] Lord Sir Souboku:

Soulcarver was suddenly glad that he hadn't fallen asleep. If he had, the momentary lapse of alertness and reaction would have been enough to lead to the deaths of all 4 of them. As it was, Victory, whom Soul had been prepared to fight out of the room, was crumpled on the floor, his talons trying to stem the flow of blood pooling from his neck. A ghostly figure that was certainly not welcome near his family stood over him, talon pressing his head to the floor, before Malice's attention swivelled to Dreamkiller. Either incredibly brave, or incredibly stupid, Soulcarver planted himself between the two.

"You will not harm a single scale on her body," he snarled, trying to figure out a way to stall for time. Carina had shouted for Vyatan. Now, he needed to stall Malice until the animus got here. Which meant tricking her into thinking that he could harm her. A task easier said than done.

Even so, he drew his enchanted sword, holding it in a loose, 1 handed grip. Despite being able to shear scales, flesh, bone and pretty much any other solid material, the enchantment placed on it didn't extend the same courtesy to ghosts, which meant that it would be quite useless. He just had to hope Malice didn't know this. "You think I didn't expect you to show your foul face again?" he snarled, glancing at Carina and her egg. Malice probably wouldn't hesitate to kill them as well, and while he still lived he would not see another egg smashed on the ground. "I had this sword enchanted just so it could deal with you. It'll cut whatever you're made of just as easily as it'll cut through a living dragon." A bluff... Would she call him on it?

[2019/05/21 18:00] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

At Carina's scream Pyre was suddenly torn from the calm blanket of sleep and the first thing she saw when her blue eyes opened up again was the broken form of Victoryclaimer, her Papa, laying on the ground with blood pouring out of his neck. Pyre may have been small and innocent, but she knew well enough from hunting that when the red stuff came out of something, particularly its neck, then it was going to die. "Papa!" She shrieked, desperately wiggling out of her Mama's grasp and leaping down to rush over to his massive nose. The tiny firescales dragonet hadn't seen the ghost yet, she was far too focused on the tragedy at hand. "Papa get up!"

[2019/05/21 23:02] Blu/Remy:

Pinto had been not that far from the scene, eating some papaya. But the screams had interrupted him and his snack and he went to the source of the commotion, curious.
But that was a mistake. As soon as he entered, he saw Victory on the ground, bleeding heavily from his wound, Pyre near his nose, and Carina around her eggs, protecting him. Unkowingly turning his scales from a deep blue to pale white, he moved back towards the entrance, calling out to Pyre while running toward her. Py get up! He need help!"

[2019/05/21 23:21] Ellie the Gremlin:

Qiell was walking through the tunnels when Victoryclaimer stormed by her, not even noticing her. Something was wrong, she could see it on his face. She stood and watched as he practically ran into the Endbringer cave. She turned to continue on her way, but froze as she suddenly heard shrieks from behind her. What?? She turned in time to see Pinto enter. She dashed to the door, freezing again as she was met with a horrifying sight; The High Assassin on the floor in a quickly growing pool of blood, and something materializing above him. What do I do? The High Assasin was dying. Get Victoryclaimer out so we can save him. Except he was massive, there was no way she would ever be able to move him on her own. Then she saw the dragonet in the floor beside Victoryclaimer's snout. She dashed over, pulling Pyre away and thrusting her towards Pinto and the door. "Get Monkshood and Vyatan!" she urged. "Victory needs help!"

[2019/05/21 23:33] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

Pyre completely ignored Pinto as he dashed into the room, all of her attention on her Papa who was not doing what she said and getting back up. She had begun to ignore Qiell too, but when the older dragon pulled her away Pyre let out a terrible cry and hissed with a kind of fury and rage that very few could match. She reached up around her neck and undid the choker that contained the fire flowing through her veins. That was the only way she could think of to keep herself from being torn away from her Papa, and at she darted back over to him she glared at everyone with crazed eyes, daring them to try and remove her.

[2019/05/22 00:32] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

Dreamkiller scrambled to her talons, hissing loudly as her father collapsed and Malicewhisper appeared. Soulcarver, like the handsome fool he was, stood in front of her, keeping her away from Malice.
Why.. Why was she here? Did she finally snap? Dreamkiller bared her teeth, suddenly glad that Fatetempter wasn't in the room. Malice. Does she want to kill both of us? Why? If she kills us she'll only have two descendants. She can't really think killing us is the right idea? She tore her gaze away from Malice's murderous one, looking toward her father. He's dying. Relief and joy softened her mind, only for fear to strike like a whip. Malice planned this. The strongest dragon I've ever known... taken down by a single talon.
She watched Pyre silently, numbly wondering how Fate would react if Malice fulfilled whatever the plan of her's was... if she were killed as well.

Victoryclaimer began to gag, blood bubbling up from his throat and dripping from his open maw. His talon, still clamped to his neck, slackened slightly, before tightening once more. He distantly heard the scream of Carina, then the higher pitched shriek of Pyre.
He blinked as a shape entered his line of sight, though blurry from his wavering vision and from what he could assume were tears. Pyre. His mind felt numb, as if a peaceful blanket had been placed over him. He blinked again as he tried to focus, to not slip. In his state though, it only caused his vision to blur even more. He could make out the sound of dragons entering the cave, one dragging away the familiar form of the FireScales. A small protest fizzled in him, making him sad. Don't take her too.. His mind distantly murmured under the pounding in his ears.

[2019/05/22 00:32] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

Sure you did~ Malicewhisper practically purred, stepping off of Victoryclaimer with silent steps. Long talons pressed into the stone floor as she stalked toward the NightWing pair. It matters not. She lazily raised her talon, the very one she had used to deal the blow to Victory. With it, she pointed to her throat. See this? It is a reminder of what I had gone through long ago, a wound that would put anything you've ever felt to shame. And with this blow, I was gifted my ability. An eerie grim split her face as both her green and her white eyes flickered. I cannot die, no matter how many times you try and cut me. What way is there to kill me? My neck is gone, my eyes ghostly crevices, and my lifeblood spilled on ancient stones. She chuckled, a deep rasping sound. Prove you can harm me. She continued stalking forward, though something about the way she moved showed an underlying urgency.

Ah. Victoryclaimer blinked, the only thing showing he was still conscious other than the twitching of his body and his shaky and very shallow breaths. The shape of Pyre had scrambled to him once more, and he felt content now that she was there again. Something about her felt different though, until his mind dimly reminded him of her firescales.
His eyelids fluttered slightly, before narrowing his eyes to mere slits. He felt warm and content, and the awful feeling of drowsiness began to claw at him. Still, he remained awake.

[2019/05/22 00:32] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

.
Vyatan had been quietly writing a note when the first scream echoed down the halls of the cave system. He had jumped, dropping his pen as he accidentally knocked over his inkwell, spilling the black liquid across his paper. Cursing, he didn't even have time to grab the saturated paper before Carina's yell split the air. At first, his mind quickly assumed that something must have happened to the large dragoness's eggs, and that was horror in of itself. He didn't want to deal with a sad mom. I can't save dead and crumbled eggs you ins- Then, a high pitched screech echoed, followed by what sounded like a struggle... or maybe other talonsteps. That must have been Pyre. Nothing terrified that kid except for angry parents and the idea of death, so Vyatan automatically knew that something else.. Or something much worse was going on.
The young SeaWing prince quickly clambered out of his chair, pushing it aside with a whip of his thick tail. Almost as if his mother was screaming for him, he booked it down the hall, wondering just what had all the dragons' collective tail in a twist.

[2019/05/22 00:35] Mystrick:

Carina shook, her eggs covered by her wings.
Vyatan was an animus. Moons, she wished her father had passed it down to her. She could deal with this ghost here and now if she did. Carina let out a barking sound, slightly raspy, more dragon-like than a coyote's. She held her ground, refusing to leave her eggs. Not to comfort Pyre, try and save Victory or anything.
She couldn't leave them. Not after all she had gone through. She had to stay with them.
"Hurry, you blasted Prince," she whispered.

[2019/05/22 01:49] Ellie the Gremlin:

Crap. Qiell flinched away from Pyre as the firescales undid her choker, barely avoiding being burned. I can't get her to safety now. She turned her attention to the High Assassin, pushing her talons down on the ugly gash on his neck, hoping to slow the bleeding. He just had to live long enough for Vyatan to get there. Don't you dare die.

[2019/05/22 01:58] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

"Papa..." Pyre was crying now, her tears vaporizing into little clouds of steam that drifted up above her head and dissipated into the air. She didn't want Papa Victyclammer to die, not now and not ever. She didn't know what had happened to make him get hurt like this, but she wanted to fix it and the fact that she didn't know how felt like a vise crushing her heart like a rotten orange. "Papa, don't go!" The tiny dragonet pleaded, her little shoulders shaking with the force of her terror and grief.

[2019/05/22 02:02] Blu/Remy:

Running out, Pinto almost crashed into the ghost, just thinking it was another dragons but not bothering to say sorry like he always did when almost running into someone. The tiny venomscales dashed outside, running into the Tempersoother Cave, looking for Monkshood, not knowing if he was there or not, just screaming into the cave. "MONKSHOULD! BLOOD! VICTORY IS DYING C'MON HURRY!"

[2019/05/22 11:29] Lord Sir Souboku:

Soulcarver growled quietly. She had called his bluff, and now he was in a difficult position. If he attacked, it would leave both himself and Dreamkiller open for an attack. He was caught out far quicker than he would have liked. Hissing, he sheathed his sword, staying directly between Dreamkiller and Malice. At the very least, she'd have to go through him first which would slow her down. "Something wrong, grandmother," he snarled, referring to the fact that he was, now at least, related to Malice if only due to being mated to Dream. "You seem to be in a bit of a hurry, so what's the urgency?" he hoped she didn't know about Fatetempter, although that in itself was unlikely. Malice seemed to know everything about their family.

Monkshood was sorting through herbs when the patter of tiny talons reached his cave, followed by an unholy screech from the little RainWing standing just in front of the entrance. Monkshood winced, padding into the main area of the cave. Pinto... The venomscales... He looked confused for a moment, before the words clicked in his mind. Victory was dying? The only dragon Monkshood knew would be capable of such a feat was Soulcarver. Had the NightWing finally snapped and attacked their leader? "Where?" he demanded, grabbing as many herbs and tools as he could carry.

[2019/06/01 05:39] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

(bear with me I gotta write all these separately because computer is a big piece of shiz)
Are you trying to buy time, or are you this much of a pathetic rat? Malicewhisper murmured, baring her teeth and drawing a wispy dagger from a sheath on her side. Even in death she was armed. Victoryclaimer is dying due to his own choice, and every second he grows closer to his long awaited demise, I grow weaker. I fear if he does not get help, I may not have enough time to kill your precious Dreamkiller. She spat out the alias as if it were a rotten piece of flesh. "Aren't you glad then? That your people have grown attached to him. They won't let him die. And because of that, I have more time to rid myself of my other problems. She chuckled, stepping closer to him. I'll kill you. Then I'll kill Hazemaker. Then I'll have all the time in the world to restart, starting with your daughter.

[2019/06/01 06:20] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

(angst time)
Victoryclaimer's mind began to drift, eyes staring in Pyre's direction, though he didn't seem to be staring at her. Instead, his cloudy eyes seemed to be watching something beyond her, as if she wasn't there. Perhaps it was all a hallucination... not real, but something in his mind made him see the silhouette of a grey dragon, though in his blurry vision it may have been nothing but a shadow of another standing outside of his vision. But in his stupor, flickers of light shone from the silhouettes eyes, resembling yellow torches.
Victory seemed to visibly relax, eyes closing as his mind seemed to slip down a frayed rope of consciousness, barely gripping onto the end of the string of life. As he began to slip, he noticed a light. Beautiful, peaceful. Something about it was calm. It wasn't filled with death, like his life had been for all these years. If he just... let go. He'd be free.
The future is bright... like Originseer said.

[2019/06/01 06:20] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

Something about those thoughts didn't seem.. correct to him however.
No...
"Victoryclaimer. I only see darkness. I'm going to die. I know it. It isn't an if anymore, but only a when." A memory struck him, words tearing at his soul almost as horribly as Malice's claws had against his neck. Originseer. His brother laying upon the floor, eyes darkened by dread and urgency. "Let go of that hope. The darkness is all consuming. Even if there is a dash of light that allows me to live, I will still die to your talons, or Calamity's."
If death was bright... and welcoming. Why did Origin say it was dark?
"Listen, Victory. You still have a dazzling brilliance of a destiny. You still have a future. If you remain beside me for any longer, you too will catch it, you..."
Death was beautiful...
"Victory.. I want to live. I really do. But I want you to live more now. You are my life, and we are brothers to the end. We failed. We aren't winning. We lost. We lost to time. We lost..."
That memory struck him. They truly lost. There was no way to win against Malice now... no way for his brother or him to live. They were both dead. Both dead and buried. No one would remember them, comfort them, love them.

[2019/06/01 06:20] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

"Death isn't bright. Those brought to it however can see something else. Not white... not black. Tell me, is it light that you see, or are your eyes playing tricks on you? If one stares at the sun, do they not see darkness in its place afterwards? The light is darkness." Was that his own thoughts... or was someone speaking to him? Or was it a memory of something he had forgotten? Victoryclaimer couldn't tell anymore. "I see light in your future. Darkness blocks it, and it hides in every corner, but there is still light."
"Seek the light."
The light looked less interesting now, and though it would be easier just to let go, he began to climb the rope. He'd hang on... for as long as he could.
For if he died... Origin would too. And a life without his brother was agony he couldn't bare.
He'd do anything for him.
He'd exist for him.
He'd live a life for him.
Even if that life threw hurt after hurt at him.
At least it was for him.

[2019/06/01 06:36] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

Vyatan stumbled to a stop, practically falling over his talons when he entered the cave and saw just what had everyone freaked out. The SeaWing prince gasped, shock freezing him to the spot as his heart practically melted out of his body.
No... not him. "Victoryclaimer!" He shouted desperately, forcing his legs to move as he scrambled into the cavern, reaching out to the large NightWing, not even wincing as he stepped into the growing puddle of blood that had gathered around him. "Don't die on us! D-don't die on me! I'll... I'll-"

Dreamkiller staggered forward, still just behind Soulcarver as she roared. "Don't save him! Let him die! Kill him! If he lives Malicewhisper will remain! KILL HIM!" It was simple... so very simple. If he died, they'd have time to think of a plan. They would have extra time to think of a way to get around Malicewhisper's arrangement. They could think of a way to get rid of her, without the death of Dreamkiller herself as well.

Vyatan glanced at her, eyes wide with fear and shock, before looking back down at his leader in front of him. Qiell was helping with slowing the bleeding, though the blood was still seeping out undeterred. "But... But.." Fury settled across his face. "I'M NOT LETTING SOMEONE ELSE DIE!" He roared, shaking fiercely as he pressed a talon to the High Assassin's face. No enchantment escaped his open mouth however.
He didn't know what to do... and that terrified him.

[2019/06/01 06:38] Mystrick:

"Vyatan, just... heal his wound, and..."
Carina's words began to stumble as she felt her emotions start to crash in on her. She glared at Dreamkiller, curling her lip as she looked down at her eggs.
She wanted to help. She wanted to go to Victory and protect him.
But she couldn't. And it was killing her.
"Oh moons," Carina mumbled, curling up a bit as she choked back her emotions. He was going to die.
He couldn't die.
Not now.
"HEAL HIM NOW BEFORE I KILL YOU."

[2019/06/01 12:19] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

Pyre's heart began to painfully throb in her chest as Victyclammer's eyes stopped focusing on her and began to get a horrible cloudy look to them. She frantically looked around for something, anything that could help her papa. Her gaze fell on Vytan as he came in, and she rushed over to her magic brother with tears vanishing into puffs of steam as they hit her burning cheeks. "Vytan help him!" She cried out desperately, "help Papa with your magic!" The tiny firescales didn't understand how her adoptive brother's strange power to rework the world around him worked, but she was positive that he could do something to help make Papa stop dying.

[2019/06/01 18:30] Ellie the Gremlin:

Qiell's mind was a hurricane, trying to figure out what to do. Vyatan was here, but he seemed shocked, frenzied, unable to think straight Animus magic is only as good as the mind that uses it. She forced herself to think about what Vyatan needed to do, to say. What do we need right now? The High Assassin needed to be healed, and they needed a way to hurt the ghost. Which one first? Soulcarver and Dreamkiller were in immediate danger, and Soul wasn't going to be able to stall for much longer But we don't know how long Victoryclaimer has. The loss of blood had slowed somewhat under the pressure of her talons, but it wasn't making much of a difference. He needed to be healed now.
"Enchant something to heal Victoryclaimer's wound and replace his lost blood," she said to Vyatan, no longer caring if the ghost heard her. The ghost almost certainly knew of their efforts already, what with all the yelling. She glanced at the murderous spectre. Will she attack us or stay focused on Dreamkiller?

[2019/06/03 16:05] Lord Sir Souboku:

Monkshood burst into the gave, taking in the scene. Pyre, Qiell and Vyatan surrounded a bleeding Victory. Soulcarver was confronting some odd looking dragon, protecting Dreamkiller from the looks of it, and Carina was with her eggs. Obviously. He ran over to Victory, standing next to Qiell. Despite being just 5 years old, he was, in his eyes, the most experienced and highly ranked Tempersoother. One look at the wound and he knew it would need stitches. That amount of bloodloss wasn't healthy either, but Victory was a large dragon. It wasn't a lethal amount yet. "Vyatan, either enchant that wound shut or get the hell off him so I can sort it," he ordered, really not in the mood for arguments.

[2019/06/16 05:15] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

"STOP TALKING, ALL OF YOU!" Vyatan roared, tearing his talons away from his horrified face and placed them on his leader's ebony scales. Pressing his eyes shut, he hissed quickly. "I enchant Victoryclaimer of the NightWings' wound to heal and mend." He let out a breath, shaking where he stood as he growled out once more. "Quickly. Let it heal quickly." Stumbling back, he sank to the ground, trembling horribly as he clenched his talons. The SeaWing was still muttering under his breath, almost looking as if he was consoling himself about something, attention focused on the floor below him as he shook.

"You damn fool!" Dreamkiller roared from the other side of the room, her teeth bared. "You should have killed him!" She whipped her head around to look back toward Malicewhisper, who had been steadily stalking toward both her and Soulcarver. Shying away, she staggered toward the back wall. No.. No.. She silently begged, panic rising. Don't kill Soulcarver. Don't hurt him. Don't hurt me... No. She could already imagine poor Fatetempter, all alone because of her ancestor's wrath. Would she grasp death? Or would she cry and wait for the day her parents would return, only to realize over time that they weren't coming back? There's so much I still have to do. This can't be the end... it can't. It's not fair.

Malicewhisper cackled, before suddenly lunging toward Soulcarver. Her ghostly body shimmered in the air, growing semi-solid as she drove her ruby dagger forward, all her fury directing it toward his chest. "You're in my way... Prince Nocturnal."

Victoryclaimer was practically dead to the world, unnmoving other than his faint breathing and the rippling of his flesh as his wound began to repair itself on its own. His eyes hadn't reopened since he had closed them, and it seemed as if he was either unconscious.. Or on the verge of it.

[2019/06/16 11:17] Mystrick:

Carina flared her wings, snarling at Malicewhisper.
Something clicked. She blinked, turning toward Vyatan and, after a second, moving from her nest.
"That ghost will kill them both again if we don't figure out how to weaken her," she whispered, quiet as she tried to calm the SeaWing Prince a bit. She glanced at Victory, taking a deep breath.
"Do you think you can find out how we can stop this?" Carina asked quietly, keeping her attention on him, her eggs, Malice and Victory.
The world was crashing. Even if they won, she wouldn't be okay.

[2019/06/16 16:44] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

"Papa!" Pyre cried out, picking up her choker and dashing over to Victoryclaimer's nose. She put the piece of jewelry that would quench her flames back on and hugged the tip of his nose as hard as she could, crying quietly as she tried to convince herself that it was going to be okay.

[2019/06/19 17:07] Lord Sir Souboku:

Nocturnal did the natural thing. He punched Malice. In the face. It didn't occur to him, at that moment, that she was a ghost and such physical attacks would be completely ineffectual, he had merely seen someone trying to attack him. That, in turn, had led to him throwing a punch.

The only good things that might have come out of it were that the attack would be completely unexpected by Malice, and as such he might have surprised her even all little. The motion also allowed for him to avoid the knife she had tried to stab him with, as he twisted slightly to get more power behind his punch.

All in all, it was a devastating hit. A dragon his size and build was capable of cracking skulls with a punch like this. Malice, unfortunately, had no skull. Or nerves. Or a physical body...

[2019/07/10 09:13] Ellie the Gremlin:

Qiell pulled her talons off as Victoryclaimer's wound began to heal. She didn't want her talons to get in the way of the process. Now to deal with the ghost. I can't do anything. Vyatan was the only one who could take any effective action at the moment. Qiell's eyes flicked to Carina curled around the eggs, trying to keep Vyatan calm. "Can you enchant the ghost?" she asked Vyatan, hoping to make him move to action. Please do something.

[2019/07/17 05:40] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

It took Vyatan a few long moments to control his shaking. He looked up slowly, eyes covered with shadow as he stared in the direction of Qiell, then Carina. "I'm not sure." He murmured. "She has to be enchanted somehow... and because of that I'm not sure if the enchantment can be taken off." He lashed his tail angrily, flashing his scales dimly.

Malicewhisper let out a rasping roar as Soulcarver's closed fist plunged into the space that contained her ghostly skull. No matter how gaseous her body was, it was still uncomfortable to have another thing taking up the space she was in.
She cackled loudly as her talons sank into the flesh of the NightWing Prince, basically hanging from the larger dragon's body. "Ungrateful whelp. You should thank me. All of this. The Talons.. were my idea. If it wasn't for me, your life would have no meaning. You'd have never met Hazemaker. You'd never become a failure and a weakling who loved too much." She bared her teeth in an eerie grin. "You and your worthless mate should have listened to me sooner. Perhaps then I'd have never had _him-" She motioned with practically her entire body toward Victoryclaimer's unmoving form. "destroy everything you loved for me... But it doesn't matter now. Not when I finish you three."

[2019/07/17 05:43] Mystrick:

"Then... then enchant something to be able to take her out," Carina suggested, frowning and lowering herself to look at Vyatan. "Right now, a lot of dragons are in danger. It's better to either try and change her enchantment or enchant something or someone to be able to kill her. We can't hesitate much longer, or else... Dreamkiller, Soulcarver, and Victoryclaimer die. They all die, and we won't be able to bring them back. Can you... can you try?" Carina asked, desperate as she moved a bit closer to Victoryclaimer's body, gently bushing her talon against his head as she moved. It was an invisible gesture to anyone but herself.

[2019/07/17 05:53] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

As Nocturtle's punch shot through Malice's head and the evil ghost started speaking once again, it finally clicked in Pyre's mind that the thing that had hurt her Papa and was scaring Mama was this big, floating, see through dragon. The tiny SkyWing was young, not stupid, and she recognized that everyone in the room that she knew was afraid of or angry at the ghost; throwing aside her choker once again, Pyre launched herself at Malice with a roar that was as furious as she could possibly muster. "You hurt Papa!" The dragonet screamed, smoke pouring out of her nose and drifting up from her wings as she tried to latch onto Malice and set her on fire like a tree.

[2019/07/17 23:04] Lord Sir Souboku:

Soulcarver hissed as Malice's talons hooked under his scales, drawing prick of blood. He didn't know how it was possible for her to hurt him, when he could do nothing to her. It certainly wasn't fair, but at least he had her attention. "I. Am. Not. A. WEAKLING!" he roared, shaking himself to try and dislodge the ghost. His fury only ignited further as she casually mentioned Victory. "And you are finishing no one today, Malice."

He looked up, watching in time to see Pyre launch herself at him and Malice. Fear gripped him briefly. Pyre didn't know she couldn't touch Malice, although she could touch him, a fact that was evident for the searing heat that washed over him as she approached.

"Get off me," he growled, trying to avoid Pyre while getting trying to dislodge Malice. He glanced at Vyatan, who seemed to be in thought. "VYATAN, STOP GAWKING LIKE A BEACHED WHALE AND HELP ME.."

[2019/08/06 01:51] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

Vyatan's expression morphed into one of horror as Pyre bolted across the room toward Malicewhisper and Soulcarver. He jumped to his talons and tried to reach for her but by that time she had already flung herself far enough away from him that he could not reach. "Pyre!"

Malicewhisper twisted around on Soulcarver's back, her muscles bunching up as she prepared to lunge at the red dragonet rushing her. Just as she swiped her talons downward toward Pyre, there was a flash of black scales. Dreamkiller leapt forward, letting out a snarl as she dived toward the little FireScales, protecting her from the spirit. Wickedly sharp talons scored deep furrows into the ex-Motherclaw's side as Dream scooped up the burning dragonet with one talon and practically threw the FireScales across the room toward the other dragons as best as she could. She couldn't suppress her howl of pain as blood began to seep from her wound and her talon burned from Pyre's fire.

As Dreamkiller staggered away, Malicewhisper leapt from Soulcarver's back, torn wings spread wide as she collided into the ex-Motherclaw, rolling the two of them across the floor. "I'll kill you!" Malicewhisper screeched as she pulled herself atop her descendant, rising to her full height as she prepared herself to strike down the younger dragoness with her claws.

[2019/08/06 02:05] Mystrick:

Carina hissed, shaking Vyatan.
"If you're not going to be able to think up of one, just... try this. Attach her spirit to something. Do something similar to how Darkstalker put all of his magic into a scroll. Give her a physical form so we can destroy her. Something like that. Please, we don't have anymore time."
Carina looked around, her talons shaking. She didn't know what to do.
But she had to try. She looked at Vyatan, nodding slowly as she turned toward Malicewhisper, her wings bunched at her side.
She didn't like Soulcarver punching her. Distraction, Carina thought, bounding forward and swiping as close to Malicewhisper's eyes as she could
She'd take a blow to save all of them.

[2019/08/06 02:31] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

Pyre's diminutive roar was interrupted by a surprised yelp as a huge talon suddenly blocked out her vision and sent her flying across the room away from the bad ghosty she had been trying to set ablaze. The dragonet flared out her wings and managed to slow herself enough that when she did hit the side of the cave it didn't hurt too badly and instead sent her bouncing off towards the ground where she sat still, dazed from the impact. "Mama." The SkyWing whispered, looking up a little as Carina bounded forwards into the fray.

[2019/08/06 03:52] Ellie the Gremlin:

What do I do what do I do?? There was so much going on. Is Pyre okay? She was still conscious, meaning she didn't need immediate attention. Carina had attacked the ghost, leaving her eggs unprotected No, not an attack, a distraction. That was smart. Except now her eggs were unprotected in a room full of fighting dragons. They could easily be smashed, even by accident, by a tumbling body or a misstep. But if she did nothing they might have died anyway
Why am I even here?
Why am I trying to save these dragons?
I don't want to be here, I don't want to be in the Talons.
And if these dragons died I might be able to leave. I could escape and figure out what happened to Sadiq. I could be free!
But the eggs were there. Small creatures, not even born yet. They weren't killers, even though they would probably grow up to be.
Qiell dashed to Carina's eggs, putting herself between them and the fighting dragons. If Dreamkiller died, if Soul or Victory or anyone else in the room died, there wouldn't have been anything she could do. She couldn't fight a ghost, not unless Vyatan could get his act together.
These eggs have a mom that loves them. They need a chance to experience that.

[2019/08/09 22:58] Lord Sir Souboku:

Soulcarver felt the heat approach, and prepared for Pyre to collide with him, when a flash of black scales passed in front of him. The howl from Dreamkiller, as Malice's talon raked down her body, filled him with rage. Rage and anger and fury unimaginable. Even as Malice jumped off him, screeching at Dreamkiller.

It wasn't even a choice, really. Time slowed down around him, he ignored Pyre. Ignored Vyatan. Ignored Carina, who was making her way towards Malice.

Malice... Standing atop his mate, preparing to deliver a lethal blow. The decision was made instantly. Rumour needed Dreamkiller more than him. He had no regrets as he dove between Malice and Dream, snarling angrily. Maybe his death would buy them enough time for Vyatan to get rid of her. Maybe then his death would be worth something.

[2019/08/10 01:13] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

Just as Carina's talon tore through the space that Malicewhisper's head was, the violent spirit slashed downwards at Dreamkiller below her, only for her sharp claws to meet the glossy scales of Soulcarver's back. The sickle-like claws tore into his flesh like it were paper, ripping a horrible gouge through his side as Malice roared, the screech echoing eerily throughout the cave system.. Almost like a ghostly wolf howl.
Moving like a flickering shadow, the phantom NightWing flared her tattered wings and launched herself away from the trio of NightWings, whipping around with a hiss not unlike a crocodile escaping from her parted jaws. Instead of jumping back into the fray, she raised to her full height, wings spread as she seemed to breathe in deeply. Madness tinged her glowing eyes, as wraithlike blue fire seeped from her scarred stomach, quickly pouring through her torn neck and bursting forth from Malicewhisper's jaws. The room lit up as the azure flames licked across the cave, clogging up the air with smoke and fire as the mad dragoness continued her hellish attack.

Dreamkiller lurched away from the flickering blue fire, her eyes narrowing as her mind spun for a way to stop this. Blood still continued its unrelenting flow from her wound, but it wasn't her crimson gore that she was worried about. Soulcarver was injured. He was hurt. The dragon she cared about most in the world was bleeding out because of her.

[2019/08/10 01:13] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

Vyatan was shaking uncontrollably. Blue fire flickered around his talons as it burned into his scales. Go away. His eyes darted up to Victoryclaimer's body, the spreading flames posing a threat to him. Get away from him. As if the fire had its mind of its own, it slowly retreated from the dragons watching the fight, the fallen High Assassin, and Carina's brittle eggs.
"We are the same then. Both thrown out by family. By the kin who should've remained on our side. By those who wouldn't care if we disappeared." Vyatan wasn't watching the fight anymore, but Victory's unmoving body. The High Assassin had told him that when they had first met. But it wasn't true anymore. Each of them had a new family with the Talons of Blood, no matter how twisted and upside down the family was.
If Dreamkiller was killed, then Victoryclaimer would be next.. No matter how long it took. Prince Livyatan had lost his own mother and father years ago, and now... he couldn't let the closest thing to a father figure to him be murdered in front of him. He would care if Victory disappeared.
"We are stronger than them. They forget about anger, vengeance, hate. I could help you, if you help me. We could both get revenge." He had told Victoryclaimer that. But now, with madness in each corner of his mind, he thought better.
Vyatan would leave his own past behind. He wouldn't hurt his family to get back at them. But Victoryclaimer? The past he was trying to kill had been following him. He was quite unable to get revenge... to stop the wheel. Malicewhisper was her family's past, and Victory's past could not be left behind.

[2019/08/10 01:14] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

The SeaWing suddenly felt really stupid. He had been doing nothing this entire time. He was stuck. When everyone else could not help themselves.. Not be the solution to their problems, he had ignored them? He had the power to end it all in his talons, and he had been frozen stiff.
Victoryclaimer and Dreamkiller couldn't get rid of their own demons.
He would have to do it.
"I've had enough of this!" Vyatan jumped to his talons, a snarl written across his face. "I won't let you hurt them anymore!" He had carried the eggs that Soulcarver had shattered in his own talons once. And while he had believed Victoryclaimer was correct in getting revenge, he now realized it would only be an unending cycle of pain much like that day if Malicewhisper stayed alive. If she had never existed, he bet that Victory would have never been an assassin.. Perhaps he would have had a happy family. There would have been no reason for Dreamkiller to hurt him, and in return no reason for him to despise her.
He'd do them a favor.
"I enchant Malicewhisper of the NightWings to freeze!"

[2019/08/10 01:22] Mystrick:

Carina backed up, closing her eyes.
And it stopped. She blinked, looking over at Vyatan with what could only be described as the most thankful smile she could muster. She was proud of him. She was so, so proud of him.
"Thank you," she whispered, turning her gaze to look at Malicewhisper once more. She took a breath, looking up.
"Pyre, are you okay?" she called. She was able to think again. Even for a moment, she could think. She looked toward her nest, relaxing once more as she saw the dragoness protecting her eggs. She gave Qiell a nod, slowly making her way toward Victory.
You better not die, bastard, she thought. Vyatan better have managed to save you, or when I die I'm killing you myself.

[2019/08/10 02:00] Ellie the Gremlin:

Qiell curled around the eggs as blue fire erupted from the ghost. She could think of no other way to protect them, as the cave filled with smoke and flames. She closed her eyes as heat seared her scales Yep, I'm going to die. I'm going to be killed getting in between a murderous ghost and slightly less murderous assassins.

And I'll never see Sadiq again.

The heat lessened, and she opened her eyes. She heard Vyatan's spell, and looked up, seeing the ghost stop. Everything stopped. Qiell stared, blankly at the frozen ghost, feeling like her mind had been frozen as well.
Carina's voice seemed to ring through her brain, snapping her out of the daze. She nodded in return, before carefully standing up and examining the eggs for any damage, of which there appeared to be none.

[2019/08/10 08:06] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

Pyre looked up at Carina as the older dragon spoke to her for the first time since she had walked in on the mess of ghostly fury. "I'm okay, Mama." She replied softly, a tad dazed from both the physical and emotional impact she had suffered.

[2019/08/12 18:37] Lord Sir Souboku:

Nocturnal cried out as Malice's razor sharp talons tore into his back and flank, pain flaring through his entire being as he sank down to his knees. The last time he had suffered a wound like this... Would have been against Victory when he first appeared.

He vaguely noted Malice moving away, although was too dazed to properly register it. Blood was steadily forming in a pool below his talons, bright red... His back was stained in it, as were his flanks, and he could feel the deep chasms caused by Malice's claws.

Injured as he was, Soulcarver was completely unprepared for the ghostly blue flames that engulfed much of the cave. He could barely move as it was, and as the bright blue heat filled his vision, he flinched back, waiting for the fire and flames to engulf him completely.

If he didn't die to the flames, blood loss was going to take him. The pool of blood was only growing larger, and he couldn't tell how bad the lacerations were, although the profuse bleeding was a good indicator.

[2019/08/12 18:38] Mystrick:

[I'm gonna leave the RP for a while. Sorry]

[2019/08/22 01:00] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

The moment Dreamkiller realized Malicewhisper wasn't moving any longer and the fire was slowly dispersing, she scrambled to Soulcarver. "You idiot!" She growled, though her voice wasn't filled any bitterness, only distress. "Why do you always try to sacrifice yourself for me?" She whipped her head around to survey the room, glaring at Malicewhisper with more malice then even her could ever dream of, before looking toward Vyatan. "Heal him or I'll rip all your bones from your body and make you even more spineless than you were before!"

Vyatan glanced at Carina as Dreamkiller spoke, knowing full well what she'd yell at him if he ignored another dying NightWing. He muttered something under his breath, a few scales flashing along his tail as he did so. "Do you really have to be so crude about it?" He asked offhandedly, only to be rewarded with a murderous glare as he finally looked toward the Ex-Motherclaw. "Fiiiiinneeeee. I enchant Soulcarver of the NightWing's wounds to mend quickly." He huffed. "You owe me now."

[2019/08/22 01:00] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

Now that he was finally free from his duties as a false healer, he could finally focus on the violent ghost in the room, who was basically exuding a homicidal aura as she stood frozen. The SeaWing prince casually strolled toward the ghoul, stopping in front of her. Smoke seeped from Malice's jaws as she stared down the young animus, curling around her scarred face.
"I enchant Malicewhisper to be able to speak once more, however she is still frozen to her spot, and cannot breath fire."
Almost immediately Malicewhisper snapped her jaws at Vyatan, causing him to lurch back. "You sniveling, rat-bitten son of a-!"
"Three moons.." As the ghost continued spitting curses at everyone and their mother in the room, Vyatan walked away from her. Storming over to the side of the room that the azure fire hadn't reached earlier, he quickly scoured the stacks of boxes, barrels, and ledges there for a paper. Finding nothing but a scroll with some sort of story written on it, he sighed and took it back with him to Malicewhisper. "I enchant this paper to have the name of the animus, if any, that enchanted Malicewhisper of the NightWings to appear as if written on it."
The scroll seemed to shimmer for a second, before a name began to be written out in clear, delicate strokes, as if a ghost were writing. Putik
Malicewhisper seemed to become infinitely more enraged as she watched the word be written out, a continuous growl rumbling in her nonexistent throat.

[2019/08/22 01:08] Mystrick:

Carina remained quiet, taking deep breaths as she tried to comprehend what they were going to do.
"Is there any way we can just kill her? She's a ghost... killing her would mean either severing her ties to the living plane to go... wherever... or completely destroying her. I personally vote completely destroying her," Carina snarled softly, glaring daggers at Malicewhisper. She quietly thanked Vyatan.
Without him they'd all be dead.

[2019/08/22 13:39] Ellie the Gremlin:

Qiell stood next to the eggs, wondering if she should leave now that everything seemed under control. She couldn't help but consider the problem of the ghost, though. What if it's a simple answer? Instead of trying to figure out the exact enchantment and counteracting it, the answer could be something much easier. "What if you said something like 'I enchant Malicewhisper to cease to exist.' Would that get rid of her?" She realized once the words were out of her mouth, that she was one of the lowest ranking whelps, and they might not listen to her. Perhaps I should go.

[2019/08/22 23:02] Lord Sir Souboku:

The spell washed over him repairing his cuts, burns and other injuries, and even going so far as to somewhat fade the scars coving his body. Soul leaned against Dreamkiller, still a bit lightheaded and dazed from the assault from the ghost. He wasn't used to being so outmatched in a fight and, usually, would have fleed. "I'd die to protect you and Rumour, Dream. Your Rumour's mother; she'll be closer to you that she ever will to me, and I can't allow someone to take you away from her." His talon brushed against her cheek, and he pressed his forehead against hers. Both of them were alive, that was all that mattered.

There was, however, still Malice to deal with. Vyatan had frozen her in place, which was nice. To his disappointment, though, he still couldn't touch her. A few of the dragons were bombarding Vyatan with enchantments while others, like Monkshood, were helping Victory and the other injured dragons. "That's too quick," he hissed, as one of the whelps suggested merely making the ghost not exist. "I think we bind her to a physical body, and let the whelps have a training day. Or put her soul into a Chicken and feed it to someone. That should be funny."

[2019/08/22 23:51] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

"Momma why can't I make her burny?" Pyre called out from a position right next to Malice where she had taken up trying to swipe her small, deadly hot talons through the mean dragon who had hurt Papa and Nocturtle. Unfortunately for the dragonet, her best efforts to set the ghost ablaze were foiled by the way that her tiny claws passed harmlessly through the incorporeal scales and smacked down against the floor. Overall, Pyre seemed to be perfectly fine physically from the whole ordeal; although she was still so angry with the spirit that her horns were wreathed in smoke so thick that you couldn't even see the twin spikes of bone.

[2019/09/18 02:27] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

"I'm not sure those ideas will work. Animus magic is finicky, and the animus- Putik's enchantment and my own may not work together. We don't want a bigger mess." Vyatan glanced back up at Malicewhisper, his face scrunching up for a moment. "I enchant this paper to write out all of Putik's enchantments that he placed on Malicewhisper of the NightWings." Once again, letters began to write themselves, and Vyatan quickly read over the words. I enchant this dragon to feel all the pain she has ever dealt on others, and to live out the punishment. To never have peace! To never have love! To never have anything she tore from Heron and I!
Just what did Malicewhisper do? Vyatan began to grow curious just what had happened to make a dragoness into such a monster. Perhaps he could ask Victoryclaimer... when he was awake.
He decided to push the distracting thoughts away. He wasn't here to study the ghoul, but kill her.
"I enchant Malicewhisper's wounds to heal." The SeaWing Prince suddenly spoke once more, his eyes mere shadows as he gazed toward the NightWing spirit with a hooded gaze.

[2019/09/18 02:28] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

The translucent scales around Malicewhisper's gaping neck wound seemed to bubble, the practically invisible skin and tendons trying to knit themselves back together, only to be ripped apart by an unseeable force. The ghost let out a burst of smoke from between her teeth as her body seemed to vibrate in place. Perhaps she would have thrashed if she hadn't been restrained where she stood. "You cursed Animus! Holding your power over my head! I hope that someday it ruins you! I will laugh over your pathetic corpse just you wait you sniveling-" Malicewhisper suddenly grew quiet, shock flitting across her scarred face as the invisible force that had kept her wound open for so long cease to exist... and the gouges along her neck closed.

[2019/09/18 02:28] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

Vyatan seemed to look slightly relieved for a moment, taking a swift glance back at everyone else in the room. "I removed the original enchantment that was placed on her, as well as my own. I didn't know a good way to word it... so I hope a jumbled up mental enchantment did the work. However...-" He bared his teeth and lashed his tail. "She still remains, even after the curse that kept her here has dissipated."

"YOU DID WH-"

"Don't talk to me." He didn't mean it as an enchantment, but that quickly shut up Malicewhisper, though orange sparks sprang from her closed jaws.
.... orange.
Not blue.
Was she mortal now?

[2019/09/18 02:35] Mystrick:

Carina was about to reply to Pyre, but she flicked her ear at Vyatan's words. The orange...
Carina stepped forward, curling her claws before suddenly slashing at Malicewhisper's flank. She had to see. She had to see just what had been done, and if it'd be any use to them.

[2019/09/18 16:14] Lord Sir Souboku:

Much like Carina, Nocturnal had spotted the different coloured sparks and, also much like Carina, swung at Malice with as much force as he could muster. A closed fisted strike square at her jaw.

He didn't understand why Vyatan would heal her, but he was more than happy to inflict worse on the dragon that had almost ruined his mate's life.

[2019/09/18 21:06] Joshinator "Amazing Fren":

Seeing everyone else around her move into action led Pyre to think that maybe something had changed. The tiny firescales leapt up at the ghosty dragon once again and pressed as much of her body as she possibly could against the NightWing's leg.

[2019/09/18 23:32] Ellie the Gremlin:

Qiell hung back, staying near the eggs. The ghost wasn't her problem, and she didn't need to be involved now that it seemed that no one was in danger. Let them have their vengeance.

[2020/04/07 01:49] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

Malicewhisper howled as Carina tore into her. New blood bled from the fierce gouges torn into her pale scales. The NightWing dragoness reeled back, fortunately out of the way of the horrid prince's closed fist as she flared her wings. Then another terrible pain struck her leg, and the dragoness realized the little Firescales rat had clung onto her leg. Malicewhisper screeched, whipping her leg into the air, before stomping on the dragonet. It burned awfully, but if she could kill the skywing then she could at least leave the place feeling successful in her business.

In no time, Dreamkiller was in the fray. She let out a booming roar, and the venomous expression on her face was one she had lacked since the day her eggs had been smashed. Dream was here to kill, and to kill she could do.
The ex-Motherclaw leaped at Malicewhisper, talons slashing into the ghost's side and chest as she tried to grapple the ancient dragon.

Malicewhisper flailed, fire bursting forth from her jaws as she twisted and turned, trying to avoid attacks while striking back if she could. Dreamkiller's attack forced another howl out of Malice's throat, and she turned on the dragoness, swiping her sharp claws at the ex-leader's neck.

[2020/04/07 01:50] Lady Ma'am Lagi:

Vyatan slowly stepped away from the battle, sitting down on the floor next to Victoryclaimer's body. He had done enough. The chill in his talons was almost unbearable.
He allowed himself a small smile. He had saved Victory, and that was good enough. It was good enough..
"I hope that someday it ruins you!"
Vyatan winced as the screaming and yowling in the cave got louder. He lowered his head, staring at Victoryclaimer's slack face. Malice had struck his fears, and her forcing him to use his powers so much in this fight wasn't helping. His powers could ruin him. Vyatan knew it. The figurative hourglass containing his sanity was running out on his end.
"It doesn't matter." Tears rolled down his face as he shook uncontrollably. "It doesn't matter." He muttered, glancing back up at Victory from his own trembling talons.
"Nothing really matters... except it does. Many things matter to certain dragons.. Victoryclaimer wake up."

and then it was never finished lmao