FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 8

Infinity rose her head, groggily blinking her eyes as she felt Axton slip from her embrace. Apparently it was now morning, they had slept together the entire evening. She let out a long tongue curling yawn. Despite the horrors of yesterday, last night's slumber was probably the most relaxed she had ever been inside this place. Perhaps I could steal him away and we can slumber together every night? She smiled to herself as it would make her time spent here much better, and probably would have a positive effect on Axton as well. If his complaint about loneliness in his room were to be believed. Her ears twitched as she heard him scramble to collect discarded wrappers, and stuff them into the basket with little crinkles.

"We have to hide the basket!" He exclaimed as he saw her notice him. "Or destroy it at least. So he doesn't know I sneak into the kitchens!"

Infinity tried to not show any sign of her knowledge of the lich creature, and how he had shown up yesterday while the boy was gone. She did not have the heart to tell Axton that the lich most likely knew about the kitchen adventures. "Okay." She said, "Move aside and I will destroy it." She took a deep breath as Axton moved aside. She, after all, had experience in destroying baskets. She shook the guilt from her mind as she let out a burst of intense blue flames. They wrapped the basket within their embrace, and within seconds incinerated the basket into nothing but a pile of ash. "There we go." She smiled, thumping her tail.

"Thank you." Axton said, running over to her and hugging her chest. She returned it without a word, draping her head over the lad.

"Did you two rest easy?" The voice of the wizard came from above. Infinity felt Axton suddenly leap off of her as if her scales burned him. She watched the wizard's eyes go to the pile of ash inside the enclosure, and a smile form on his mouth. Infinity felt cold as she knew that smile was not the real man, but an illusion to hide the rotted corpse of a thing glaring down at them. She moved closer to Axton, curling her tail around him protectively.

"Axton, it is time for your lessons. I hope you have learned your lesson from yesterday?" The wizard waved his hand, moments later the stone of the enclosure formed and shaped itself like amorphous clay until stairs were created from the top to the bottom. They were just wide enough for one the size of Axton to climb up, and they lacked any cracks on them. The usual sign of magical tampering.

"You're not mad?" Axton asks softly, looking to the ashes that were once the basket.

"Why would I be mad?" The wizard chuckled. "I placed you in here after all. Besides, you showed resourcefulness in getting out of the cage and retrieving food." The wizard held up his bony finger. "These are fine traits in apprentices. It shows you can think outside the box when presented with a problem." He waved his hand. "Now quickly gather your things and meet me in my study. You will find what is required of you there." He snapped his head towards Infinity with a grin. "Besides...Infinity and I have more pressing things to attend to."

Infinity fidgeted in place as her mind tried to imagine what horrors were going to be awaiting her. Especially with that evil smile he was flashing at her. She averted her gaze to see that Axton was giving her a worried look.

"Stay safe." he whispered, before he scampered up the stairs, passed the wizard, and out of sight.

Infinity sat their in silence as the thing looking like an old man just stared at her dead silent. He held his hand over his beard and was stroking it gently, as if he were contemplating some new horror to subject her to.

"So you had a swell time with my apprentice did you not? This is most curious to me. That you would be so kind to him after he inflicted such pain onto you.." He moved his hand to his chin and drummed his fingers against it. "Most fascinating Infinity....Do you think he would be just as friendly to you if I had YOU inflict pain onto him?"

No please....don't have me do that....anything but...please.. She thought, trying to keep her snout from showing any emotion as she glared at him.

He gave her an evil smile as he glided down into her enclosure as if on an invisible wire. "What say you, Infinity?"

Her eyes dropped as she lowered her head. "He is unpredictable. I would not know how he would react.

"Well you could certainly help me figure out that little question couldn't you?" He said in a disgustingly joyful tone.

"No please!" She shouted in a beg. "Have me do anything master...don't have me hurt him...please....I beg of you!" She pleaded, not even finding time to hate herself for calling him master.

"You called me master just then." He smiled, and waved his hand chuckling. "That is not why I am here today Infinity, so you can relax your little scales." He clasped his hands together. "I have a treat for you today. You get to meet another dragon!"

Wait....Really? She perked up, then narrowed her eyes as she was reminded who was telling her this. She stood up onto all fours, suspicion filling her.

The wizard quickly walked over to her and placed a hand onto her flank. Despite his form she could not help but feel the cold and clammy limb of the corpse he really was. "Now you will find this most interesting I imagine." He traced a circle on her scales, and uttered the world teleport in draconic.

She watched as blue energy flowed from his hand, and wrapped itself around her. Blue sparks danced around her vision as the enclosure and the wizard started to fade away into a sea of bright blues. She did not even feel panic as all of her vision was soon dominated by the color, it was relaxing in it's own way. She gave a sigh, blinked her eyes, and found she was somewhere else entirely.

She looked around to find herself in large circular room with a soft sand covered floor. She spread her wings wide, noting the room could probably hold ten of her wingspans tip to tip at the diameter. She held her head up to see the room went further up then her vision allowed her to. The light from the mana torches lining the wall simply did not reach high enough.

"Well here we are!" The wizard suddenly exclaimed, suddenly popping into existence right in front of her. She fought the urge to suddenly leap back in surprise.

Despite the dread lingering within her scales Infinity still felt a small hint of curiosity about the room. After all she had never seen much other than her cages, and a brief glimpse of the outside world. She held her head high, taking in a deep breath. The air smelled stale, with a tad hint of salt. She heard him tell her to go ahead and walk around, so she did just that. She slunk around, sniffing at the stone walls, sniffing at the sand. She tried to not glance in his direction as he watched her with his false blue eyes, his arms crossed. The thought occurred to her she was amusing him at the moment.

"Well go ahead fly around, I won't stop you!" the wizard gestured out with his arms outstretched.

She replied with a snort, and continued sniffing the stone wall. She could smell something else had been here. It smelled familiar to her, she did not know why. She tried to search once again in her memory, but it was no use. The only thing that came to her was the knowledge that this smell was another dragon.

"Well it appears I can bring a dragon to an open space, but cannot make them fly."The wizard chuckled. "I mean I could always force you to fly....But that is not why we are here." He strode over to a section of the stone wall, running a hand along it's surface tenderly. "Oh well." He stopped suddenly, then tapped on the wall three times in succession with his knuckles. With a thunderous scrape that echoed through the room, the stone wall section here fell away to reveal the towering form of a red dragon.

The dragon stood easily at nearly twice her height as it glared at her with bright green eyes.He curled it's snout to show off rows upon rows of white teeth. The dragon took a step forward, it's grey claws dragging through the sand and into the light. She could see that his underscales were dark grey, along with the scale pattern right under his eyes.

Infinity backed away slightly as her body tensed up. She gazed to the dragon's many scars, that were in similar pattern to hers. This must have been another experiment of his. She growled, baring her own teeth. She glanced to find the dragon's wing membranes had been torn to pieces. She shivered, realizing that the lich had taken this dragon's ability to fly. She silently prayed that he would never take her wings like that.

The wizard waved one of his hands, his illusion melting away to reveal the undead monster that he really is. The thing turned to the red dragon, pointing a bony finger. "You do not snarl at me beast."

The red dragon suddenly recoiled like a wounded animal, instantly bounding away from the lich like he was poked with a red hot poker. Infinity could feel that strange feeling like she had met this dragon before. But that's crazy.... She shook her snout as she swished her tail back and forth, her claws kneading the sand.

"Well say hello Infinity." The lich turned to her with a twisted smile. He strode away from the dragon to be a good distance away before crossing his arms.

Something isn't right. Her scales shivered as she started to pace in front of the red dragon, who was currently looking at her with a predatory glare. "Hello" she forced out.

The red dragon took a forceful step towards her, shaking his scales without a word. The dragon crouched, barred his teeth and let out a long drawn out hiss.

"Well I am afraid words might not be of use to him anymore." The lich chuckled. "I wanted to see how my prized Infinity stacked up against a stronger dragon."

Is this what will happen to me? She watched the red dragon's movements as she returned his crouch, and barred her own teeth. I will become some mindless beast that attacks the first dragon I see? She felt her spines flare up along her back in alarm. This dragon was bigger than her, probably stronger than her, had stronger scales if she remembered Axton telling her about them in a book. She arched her back and began circling him. She however knew that she was going to be faster than him. Plus I can fly.

The red dragon suddenly pounced at her like a wild animal. His first attack to try and snap at her neck with his mighty teeth.

She jerked away from him, sweeping her tail underneath of him striking his armored legs, and tripping him. She took pride as he struck the ground with a thump, but the dragon recovered. He slashed with his claws, digging into her own limbs and splattering the ground with her blood. She leaped back, glancing down the now dripping wounds. Luckily they looked like mere flesh wounds, nothing too serious. She let out a loud hiss as she took a deep breath, and dousing the red menace with her bright brilliant blue flames.

The red dragon however just stood up casually, the flames dancing across him like they are nothing to him. He let out a roar than took a great breath of his own. She heard a slight whistling noise coming from him.

Her eyes widened as she pounced into the air with a mighty flap of her wings. The red-orange torrent of flames from the red dragon, only licking at her tail. She winced as her flesh burned upon contact. She soared above him, as she circled the dragon. Who just stood there eyeing her as she moved. It confirmed what she already knew. The beast could not fly after her. Giving me the advantage.

With a tilt of her membranes she angled herself and swooped down towards him. She managed to avoid another attack of his claws as she aimed once again for his legs. She slammed her body into his, knocking them both to the ground in an entangled mess as she clawed and bit at his underside.

The dragon let out a loud pained roar, as he tried to throw her off. It only was after a brief moment he was able to do so, but not before she had inflicted numerous deep strikes into his body. He struggled to stand as blood dripped down across his body, painting the sand a deep red mess.

Infinity was on her feet in an instant, watching the red dragon's ragged breaths. He still isn't down yet? She circled him again, an idea forming to her. Perhaps If I use my heads? She tilted her neck in a way to expose it to the dragon. She let out a loud hiss, taunting him to attack. She smiled as the dragon bounded towards her, going for the kill. She felt him grab her neck within his jaws, and give a mighty yank. She winced from the pain and hoped it would sever. With a sickening rip she felt the dragon eventually teat her own neck from the base.

The red dragon stood triumphant but only for a moment, as Infinities body stood back up, with two heads. One green and the other black. She eyed him with a smug look of satisfaction on her snouts, as with one breath the red dragon was surrounded by green poisonous fumes. He backed away taking a deep breath, then coughing loudly, again and again until he collapsed onto the ground.

Infinity pressed the attack to the wounded dragon, closing the distance and slicing into his neck with her talons, he was apparently too weak to even defend himself from her assault.

"Infinity listen." the lich suddenly spoke up, and she felt her body freeze moments before she could deal the finishing blow. "I want you to kill this dragon in your grasp. Do so and you will never again live in that cage. You will be a treasured servant to me, like my apprentice. You shall even stay with him in his room."

"I-Infinity..." the red dragon gasps out around her grasp.

I could never be in that cage again. She looked to the squirming red dragon, feeling a tinge of pity for what he had become. You are far too gone. She shook her head, telling herself the words were a mere illusion by the lich to stop her. She pressed her talons into the red's neck, until with a mighty snap she broke it. She tossed his lifeless head onto the floor.

"Very good!" The lich cackled, "And using your heads to your advantage! Brilliant!" He clasped his hands together, "I am so proud of you!"

Infinity drooped her wings as she glared down at the blood covered dead dragon.He was gone...you could see that. She told herself, but that did not help the sinking pit in her stomach at having claimed his life. I don't want to go back to that cage. She shivered, shaking her head and turning away from the corpse.

"You did so wonderfully today! I think I will give you the rest of the day for yourself!" The lich continued to laugh, as he flicked his wrist and turned back into a old looking man. "More tests like this Infinity and you will be my finest creation!" He fliceds his wrist again, vaporizing the green head from her body painlessly with a green magical beam from his fingertip.

Creation he says. She flattened her ears, the feeling she knew that dragon still itching beneath her scales. It's no use now...what's done is done.

"Well I think enough of this dreary place, don't you think?" he snapped his fingers, and the world changed around them. The area faded away only to be replaced by the great outdoors.

Infinity blinked her eyes in disorientation. She gasped slightly at the moon hanging in the star filled sky, illuminating the numerous trees with it's light. It was like everything she had pictured in her mind. She kneaded the dirt beneath her paws as her breath quickened in anticipation.

"Go, fly around and be free my creation." He chuckled, "I will return for you in a few hours." He turned away from her, and with another snap he had vanished into thin air.

Creation. The word made her sick to her stomach. She buried it down to take a tentative step into her newfound freedom he had given her. For a brief moment she considered doing anything the lich wanted. Is that your plan all along? She hung her head, letting the night breeze gently caress her snout. When she rose it again, she spread her wings experimentally. She flapped her wings and took off into the night sky.

She glided across the vast expanse, her eyes falling to the greens that stretched out for miles, in every different shade imaginable. They were broken apart by darkened spots of blues and browns, making it look like a patchwork quilt from above. She tilted her head up to gaze at the bright sparkling stars in the sky she had only seen in her memories or dreams. Just like my wings. She smiled, glancing back at her wing membranes as she tilted them and entered in turn. In the back of her mind she doubted that she could actually be free at the moment. She pushed it from her mind as she remembered Axton. I can not leave without him anyway.

She swooped down to land within a clearing inside the forest. She felt the dew coat her paws in a layer of moisture when she touched down, then folded her wings against her back and let out a snort.This is just another bit of torture on your part. She snarled, thinking to the lich's evil smile. To show me freedom...but not actually have it. This has to be all fake. She snarled, tracing in the dirt with one of her talons. There is ALWAYS a catch. She circled, the rush of adrenaline wearing off and exhaustion taking its place. She laid down softly, crossing her paws and placing her head on them. Where did I know that dragon from?

She wished could have talked to him more, without the lich being there. Would he have even talked to me? Or would he have just attacked me like he did? She stared out into the dark forest, to find a pair of green eyes staring at her as it to poke at her guilt. She drooped her head. She had murdered for her own comfort, it was her choice to end his life. She let out a small whimper, as tears welled up in her eyes. She held up her eyes into the sky, feeling all the souls of dragons looking down on her right now. I'm sorry...I'm sorry...She sniffed wiping one of her tears away that had rolled down her cheek. It was for Axton. She thought, in a voice that sounded strong and brave. Now we will be there for him always, if the lich tries to hurt him.

She rose up to all fours, breathing in deep. Her ears perk at the sound of a bubbling creek. She found it easily enough, padded over to it's edge and dipped her paw into the cool liquid. Her paw suddenly hit something solid, way before she should have actually hit the bottom. She kneaded her claws and found it felt like sand.

I should have known. She growled, grinding her paw more into the feeling. The more she focused on it, the more it felt like her limb was not even wet, nor was the water really there at all. Even the sound of the water moving past had started to fade away. Infinity let out a loud angered hiss, as the illusion suddenly fragmented around her. It fell away, splintering onto the ground like shards of glass, until all that remains is the arena, and the corpse of the red dragon yards away. Her ears perked again as she heard a loud crack from her left. She did not turn to know who it was.

"Ah so i take it you did NOT enjoy your freedom then?" The wizard asked.

"What freedom is there in a mere illusion?" She replied, not expecting an answer to her rather philosophical question.

"Hmpph...Very well. Than shall you retire to your new accommodations? I can have the cooks bring up any dish that you desire."

"I am not hungry, but rest would be nice." She lets out in a sigh.

"Than let us go." The wizard walked over and placed a cold clammy hand on her flank. With the same words as before the same blue energy swirled around them both, filling her vision once again with blue sparks. Except when she blinked her eyes, this time she was in what appeared to be in a study of sorts.

The walls were lined with book cases, with books of all different colors on their shelves. They reached as high as her head, and seemed to cover each wall. While looking around she spotted a large bed in the corner with a pile of stuff thrown onto it. The black sheets were messy and very much in a pile themselves. With a sniff she could smell Axton's scent hanging in this place. This must be his room....Our room now. She chuckled silently to herself. She glanced back to the books, wishing she knew how to read. Perhaps Axton can teach me... She thumped her tail softly on the wooden floor, liking the idea.

"Well here we are." The wizard said, gesturing to a large oversized door to the place. Infinity took note it seemed to made for someone at least twice her height. There however was a smaller door built into the vast wooden door that would most likely allow her through if she ducked her head. "You can rest here. Axton is most likely still busy with the tasks I asked of him."

Infinity did not reply as she laid down in her usual curl.

"You did well today my creation." He said one more time with a grin, before opening the door and walking through it.

She looked away as she heard the door close behind him. The bed was the focus of her attention. She stood up softly and padded her way over to the place that her little human slept every night. She spied little piece of parchment scattered all around the sheets. Her eyes softened as she realized they were all drawings of her. They were all of different poses of her. One in flight above a vast green expanse, another with her sitting up maw open with musical notes coming out, to one with her curled up with eyes closed with little Zs rising from her. The last one had her standing proudly atop a mound of golden treasure. She smiled to herself as she took a step onto his large bed. She flopped onto the thing, and rolled around.IT'S SOOOO SOFT. She smiled, spreading her wings out, and accidently knocking the books and papers onto the floor. Whoops. She gave a pleased snort as she closed her eyes and started to sink softly into the mattress. Why does a human need such a large bed that it fits me easily? Her eyes widened at the thought. Warryily she crawled out of the large bed, eyes carefully staring at it.

Infinity turned to face the door, and laid down in her curl. If this room did belong to Axton, he could explain the bed. She lowered her head and gave a soft sigh, as she watched, and waitied. She let out a tongue curling yawn. She kept herself busy thinking about all the things within the room that could keep her occupied as she imagined reading with Axton. She could not wait to see his little surprised face as he saw the dragon he had spent so many nights within his room.

Hours later the door finally opened, just as she was about to drift off to sleep herself. In came a very tired looking Axton, as he dragged his feet slowly across the floor. He dropped his backpack heavily onto the ground, as he looked out to the books. He did not seem to see the dragon clearly in his room.

"Why hello there Axton!" She exclaimed, standing up and saying with a brassy voice.

His eyes light up instantly, and a smile sprung to his face. "NIGHT RISING!" He ran over to her, diving to give her a hug. "What are you doing here? Did you escape?"

"No." She said flatly. "He apparently said I passed a test, and allowed me to stay here with you."

"Thats......Surprising....And wonderful!"

Infinity continued to hold the little human close to her, wrapping her wings around them.

"Wait....is there a catch?" He asks softly, his voice full of worry.

"I don't think so this time." she lied, the words passing through her snout disgustingly easy.

"Ok good." He says, nuzzling his face into her scales. "No more cold hard ground for you!" He raises his head, and looks to his bed. "My bed...IT'S HUGE!"

"I think he made it for both of us now." She nuzzled him, electing another "hey!"

"Uh.....Did you see the pictures?" He asks, face growing red.

"Yes...I liked them." She smiled, tail swishing. I really liked the one with the musical notes."

"Thanks!" He smiles, "I'm sorry I did not ask permission to draw you...I was just doodling."

'Don't worry Axton..." She grinned showing off her teeth. "I LOVE them."

"Wait...You're going to sleep in the bed with me?"

"I guess." She glanced to the bed with him. "I mean he did make it bigger...."

"Am I going to be your stuffed animal from now ?" He placed his left hand on his waist.

"No." She smirked, than nosed him with her snout.

"Oh!" His eyes light up once again, as he started to wriggle in her grasp. "I almost forgot!" He wiggled free, and bolted over to his pack. He unlatches it, quickly grabs a dull blue book, and runs back over with a smile. "I found something during my studies today!" He waves his hand slightly. "Just illusions and other boring stuff..anyway, I found this journal.... It was weird though..It was just lying around...Like he wanted it to be found.."

"Hmm?" She tilted her head to the side. Well that was certainly strange.

"I think there is another dragon here!" He opened the book to a certain page, and pointed to it with his finger."Look it says here, the date 123 years ago. "Captured red dragon and offspring. Than it goes on to describe a black dragon. I think that was you!" Axton smiled up at her. "I think your father is here Night Rising!"

Infinity froze, her emotions going dead as it felt like she had gone numb. Her eyes widened in horrid realization.No....D-Did I really?