FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Infinity pressed her small human.No she pressed her son tightly against her chest. Letting her heart fill with warmth as she could feel his little heartbeat. She could almost tap her tail to it if she listened closely. She let out a sigh, trying to resist melting in the motherly embrace she was inflicting on the human in her paws. Course now the question would be how to tell him. How do I suddenly tell him I have adopted him? Her ears suddenly perked up at the sound of a loud crack, that made her roll her eyes. Oh great...It's him.

She rose her snout to stare at the false form of the wizard as he strolled over. She felt Axton jump in surprise, but she held him firm. "Shhhhh." She whispered to him softly, hoping her tone would sooth the startled mortal. She did not shoot him a glare, but she focused on his movements tensing her muscles for any sign of attack. She did not know what she would possibly do to stop this all powerful undead monster. But gods above I will try if he dares to hurt Axton.

"Honestly Axton." The wizard crossed his arms, and wrinkled his brow. "You should expect me to pop in at a moment's notice now." He gestured to Infinity with his outstretched hands. "See she did not jump in the slightest, you should be more like her."

Infinity clutched Axton tighter, and she felt his heart start to calm. She wondered if the sound of her own steady heard was enough to do that to the human. She once again fought the urge to bare her teeth as the wizard just stared at them, letting a pregnant pause soon fill the air.

"Well I see you two have obviously been doing good." His eyes suddenly locked right onto the pearls in an instant. "What nice pearls you have Infinity..." His lips curled into a sneer.

Infinity felt her blood suddenly run cold. Her senses dulled, and she fought the urge for her eyes to widen. She knew if she gave a tell right now he would know. Then everything would be over. The escape, the plan, her meetings, everything. So she held her head high trying to look as regal as she could, and turned slightly away from the wizard. "Oh these things?" She grazed over the smooth surface with one of her talons. "Axton gave them to me as a gift...For all the hard work I had been putting in to learn to use my spells and such." She smiled wide, and gave the lich a good look at all her sharp, shining teeth. "You did say you did not want me DIMINISHED in anyway.." She tapped her tail, continuing with her confident display. "And TREASURE is a normal part of being a dragon.."

"That is true." he replied through his teeth. She laughed internally as she had just won that battle of words.

With your own words to boot! She snorted, not relenting her hold on Axton.

"Regardless." THe lich replied with a gravely voice. "Axton would you be a dear and run along. Infinity and I must have a little chat...Then we have an errand to run."

Errand? She cocked her head to the side as she resettled her wings against her back. Like to a marketplace? I hope he does not plan to use me like some sort of.....horse creature. She looked down to Axton, who had not tried to wriggle away for an instant. Her eyes met his terrified ones, before he looked back to the Lich.

"Don't worry Axton." The wizard waved. "This is not a punishment or anything. As you know both of you are my favorites at the moment.." He smiled. "Consider this a chance for a greater reward than you already have."

Greater reward? She looked to Axton. I already have my reward you walking corpse. I have won your apprentice. Something with all your magic and pain could not hope to gain. She let out an irritated snort as she wrinkled her snout. '"I do not need any rewards. I am good with how things are."

"Really now?" The lich grinned, once again waving Axton away. This time the boy obeyed, but only when he looked to Infinity and she gave him a nod as if to say it was ok. Axton nodded and quickly made his away from the pair.

Infinity ignored the Lich to make sure Axton had made it to the door. The last thing she needed was the lich hurting him some reason. Nothing else mattered to her, not even whatever words were coming out of his twisted mouth right now. She turned back as he seemed to finish talking.

"Well?"

Shit. She dipped her ears, and drooped her wings. "Could you tell me again master? The words slipped through my mind like water. I am sorry if I could not grasp onto them." She said softly, trying to play to his pride. She internally laughed as he did not yell at her, or call her stupid. She saw him smile and cross his arms. You think you have won me with little words like master. You are the stupid one Lich...Just you wait..I almost wish I could see the look on your dead face when Axton and I outsmart you....and leave you here to rot... Internally she would have ended that with a snarl, thrash of her tail, hell, maybe even blown fire at him for good measure. However in reality she just sat there, giving him a fake smile and wagging her tail like the good submissive dragon he thought her to be.

"What I was saying was...that you have grown rather attached to the boy. The way you look at him...the way you hold him...It's almost like you're his.." He smiled. "Which reminds me of today's errand!" He turned around, clasping his hands together. "How far would you go to protect him I wonder?

Anything you idiot. I would do ANYTHING to protect my son. The thoughts were coming easier to her now. She had called Axton her son, actually thought of him that way. She laughed to herself. To think that a few months ago she had been in such pain and misery, and now she had hope, a light, a son. "Anything master. If ANYTHING threatened him. I would rip them piece by piece." She said the words once again to play him, but she found it incredibly easy to say the last bit. Would she actually kill to save him? She glared back towards the door Axton had left. She imagined what her own mother would say in this situation. When she thought like that the answer came clearly to her in an instant. Yes...she would.

"Then with that rousing display of caring. I had something come to my attention that you would certainly find interesting to say the least." He turned around, his voice suddenly turning sweet. Infinity balanced on either of her legs as the uncertainty suddenly turned on once more. The pompous attitude she could put up with, but the sudden sweetness in his voice? That's what made her afraid once again. She swallowed at what possible horrible thing he was going to have her do next. And I will have to do it. He mind went to the necklace around her neck. All in the effort to stay hidden. He must NEVER know.

"Now when this task is complete you will glad to know." The wizard approached her, and stroked the side of her head. She almost snarled and snapped at him.

How dare you touch me. The thought came easier, despite the being standing right in front of her. Despite her anger she willed herself to not suddenly snap her head away and slash out at him. Stay hidden...stay hidden....stay hidden. She repeated in her mind, and thankfully this seemed to do the trick.

"That you will be given even more freedom than you now possess." He smiled at her like a father looking to child he was most proud of. It made Infinity's stomach curl at the very idea. "How would you like to be able to fly around actually outside for hours at the time?"

What? That had honestly surprised her. There was a momentary flash in her mind that told her to obey the Lich. After all, it would only be a matter of time until she was free to roam outside for the rest of her days. She just had to submit to the undead creature before her and do what he asked. Would that be so hard? Just to avoid all the pain he would put me through? Wouldn't it just be easier to just nod and say yes master? Swallow her damn pride just to give her a shot at an easier life?

She shook her head, as she remembered killing her father. She remembered the mother that must have died protecting her. She remembered all the painful cuts, all the torture. Then she remembered what he had done to Axton. No..I will never submit fully to you, you rotten pile of filth...Once I have found my way out...

"What say you dearest Infinity? Does this not sound like a good idea?"

"It certainly sounds like a good idea." She said, trying to hide her sarcastic intent. "As I said though. I am good with the way things are."

"Ah yes..." The lich wrinkled his brow as he retracted his hand slowly. His eyes filling with irritation once more at her attempt at disobedience. "Than consider this a test then. I had hoped you would come willingly on your own." He let out a sigh. "However it is clear that thought was a tad premature."

Damn right it was premature....and it always will be. She snorted, thumping her tail behind her. "Very well than master." She bowed her head. "Then I will submit myself to this test. Hopefully I will not disappoint you."

"Very good Infinity. I doubt you will fail in it." He chuckled, "Perhaps in time you will do these things willingly." He ran his hand along her neck, down her shoulder and rested it on her side. "Our errand today will take us from the tower and towards a town." She watched his face smile up at her. "We will ne...I mean you will need to negotiate my good will to the people there....be my negotiator as it were."

Negotiator? She splayed her ears. I don't like the sound of that.

The wizard closed his eyes, and uttered the word teleport in draconis. Blue magical energy swirling around them once more. Infinity watched as he vanished in a cloud of blue sparks, than soon exploded around, and consumed her as well.

Infinity blinked her eyes several times, trying to get rid of the numerous spots that clouded her vision. It was like looking at a vast sea of cheetahs,packed together, but never seeing their heads poke up from the collected mass of furred spots. She rubbed her snout, finally clearing them to find herself outside. She gazed out to the vast rolling hills laid in front of her of vibrant greens. She spied the winding path of dirt that seemed to have been broken down by the beating of hooves, and wheels of wagons. She looked around to see it snaked off in two separate directions. I wonder which way Axton's village was? She smiled. When we escape I will probably want to see it...I showed him my home after all. She arced her head back to the vast black tower that seemed to piece the sky above her. Even if it is a place of nightmares.

She returned her gaze passed the fields, past the large grey tors, and than to the vast mountains beyond. She could even make out the mounds of white snow that seemed to have dipped the mountain's peaks in. She shivered slightly in her scales imaging the cool blanket of snow on her scales. She wondered what they would exactly feel like, than she thought to the things she could do in the snow. Axton had mentioned something called snow dragons...Than were was building a snow golem...Or was it snow man? She tilted her head to the side as she stayed focused on the mountain for perhaps longer than she should have. No it was definitely a snow golem. She nodded and then looked to the wizard, who had his arms crossed and was tossing her an amused look on his fake face.

"You are really fascinating sometimes. I wish I could peer into your mind and see what you are thinking." He said, looking to join her gaze towards the mountain. "Now the place we are going...I wish to arrive by dragon." The lich turned, and gestured for her to crouch with his hands.

She almost snarled at him as she crouched low for the undead monster. She flicked her tail as he forced himself onto her back. The wanted to rip him off of her, cast him down and burn his body to oblivion. Only one had earned the right to sit on her back, and bask in the joys of flight with her. And it was not you monster. She stared out to the horizon, imagining it was the lich. She narrowed her eyes and gave the serene blue sky daggers. She let the seething anger that was spreading through her fade away with several deep breaths, letting them out through her nose.

"Now fly westward." The lich pointed out in a direction, that Infinity figured must be west.

She bounded into the sky with a flap of her mighty wings. She pounded against the air again and again until they were high above the beautiful fields. From this height they looked like a patchwork quilt of every green she could think of. Sometimes broken up with splotches of crimson, yellow, and even the misshaped blues of lakes and rivers. She breathed in the fresh air that battered against her snout. It felt so right to be here up here in the sky, even the sun's rays felt better than the illusion room. How she had missed this after all these years. She flicked her tail with the next flap of her wings and almost forgot she had an evil undead monster riding on her back. Oh right. She scowled, fighting the urge to just flip over and drop the bastard from his height. She was curious about what he we be about to do about it. With my luck the pile of bones will sprout wings or something.

"So my dear." The wizard finally speaks up after they had passed beyond the mountains. "Where did Axton get the pearls? They are not something I would just hand out willy nilly to my apprentice on a whim...The boy snatched them from somewhere didn't he?"

She brushed them lightly with one of her talons while she bit the underside of her jaw. She had to remain silent. "I do not know." She finally said. "He honestly did not tell me master."

"Should I punish the boy for stealing from me?"The wizard patted her scales when she shivered at that sentence. "Don't worry Infinity, you can keep the pearls. It was not your fault he gave them to you.

Infinity said nothing and let her anger swirl up around her. If not for the whole act she was supposed to be putting on right now she would have yelled at him, snapped, and started to try and attack him again. However with another deep breath she let those thought loose from her body into the skies above. You need to play the long game Infinity...Don't let him win.

"That will be up to you master...I am rather biased on the subject." She spat out.

"I don't think the boy will go punished." the lich finally said after a long minute of silence a she continued to flap her wings. "He showed determination and cunning to be able to sneak in and get these things." The wizard laughed. "It is almost like the boy was destined to be a thief of some kind instead of a wizard. Although someone needs to be punished..." The wizard suddenly held up one of his bony fingers with a cackle of joy. "I know it will be the guards that I punish. After all they are there to stop this sort of thing from happening after all!"

She flapped her wings, a small village appearing in the distance. It looked to be a collection of wooden housed strung together with what Infinity figured was some sort of string. They were scattered around rather than looking like there was a uniform way they were bunched. They had thatched roofs, and some bore windows for the mortals to look out of. Infinity could see the little specks that must have been them going about their normal routines. Shopping, working, building things. She smiled thinking to herself at one point she would have to stop and watch some of them work, curious about how they did it. How they even functioned without being a dragon.

"Now you see that building on the outskirts of town but clearly visible to everyone on top of the hill?" The wizard pointed to a small building that looked like the rest, except it was on top of the hill and had a small fenced in area around it. Inside the area were these white fluffy creature frolicing away. "I would like you to burn that house down...Let's make a statement before we arrive. It will let the.....locals we are meaning business."

I do this for you Axton...for our freedom. She descended towards the building like the great predator she knew she was. With a deep breath that swelled her grey scales out, she let loose a torrent of brilliant blue flames that lit the building on fire as she passed by. She winced as she heard screams ring out from the house, followed by the loud chorus of voices from further into the small town.

"DRAGON!"

"BLACK DRAGON!"

"LOOK AT THE SIZE OF HIM!"

"Land please dear." The wizard says, his voice calm but with a hint of coldness in it.

"GET THE GUARDS SOMEONE!" yelled another voice from the collection of scattering peasants.

Infinity did as she was told, dipping a wing to circle a good place she picked out to land among the mortals. She grimly trusted the lich to not have her come to too much pain. She back-winged, sending mortals scattering to hide behind anything they could fit behind. She stood there before the mortals who had gone dead quiet. She flicked her tail to a collection of gasps and screams. She heard some horses and even rear up in fright.This is is how it is in your stories Axton...

"Dearest commoners." The lich says with a loud and pleasant voice to the crowd of once again speechless mortals before him. "Would anyone point me in the direction of the lovely woman Marae?" He stopped suddenly, and patted Infinity on her neck. "Oh and this here is Infinity."

Infinity watched as the collection of human eyes, looked to the wizard, than looked to her. She could not see which one they were more frightened of in this moment. She took in a breath to smell the fear lingering in the air. It was so thick she was sure she could raise one of her talons and slice into it.

"We don't know where the woman got off to!" Shouted a man with a cracking voice as he emerged from behind a pile of hay.

The wizard placed two fingers to the bridge of his nose, as he ran them down the length and let out a long drawn out sigh. "Infinity....please jog their memory....burn something else...I care not what."

I am so sorry mortals...please... She bared her teeth and spat flames at the closet mortal's feet. Enough to scare them away with shrieks, but not enough to engulf them with her beautiful flames.

"That works too." The wizard said, disappointment lingering in his voice. Although she saw him look around to the terrified mortals, and a grin form on his wicked face. "Now let us try this again! Where...IS....MARAE? And I promise MY dragon's flames next time will start claiming lives."

"I know where the bitch is!" Suddenly shouts a man from the huddled mass of people.

"Don't you dare tell them Vern!" shouts an elderly woman, waving a gnarled cane towards the man.

'No!" The man called Vern spits back. "I will not see anyone die over the mistake she made!"

"Grow some backbone you son of a wyvern! You got to stand up to folks like this!" She twirled her cane to point directly at the wizard.

"Vern was it?" The wizard dismounted Infinity. However instead of just gliding down, he hovered over towards Vern as if he were suspended by a thin wire. There was a collection of gasps around the mortals as the wizard stopped, and crossed his arms before the man. "Just go ahead and tell me where I can find Marae, and I can leave this little." the wizard looked around, looking to the houses with a face of disgust. "Lovely town you have here."

Just tell him mortal....Just tell him. Infinity looked slightly away, afraid of what was going to happen.

The man called Vern looked to the woman with the cane, gulped and then looked to the wizard, and shook his head side to side.

"Ah...I see." The wizard whirled around, pointing to the woman with one of his bony fingers. "Infinity...Kill the woman..and some others for good measure."

I'm....sorry mortals...please if there is someone above...I am so sorry... She narrowed her eyes and swallowed her guilt as the crowd erupted into a chorus of terrified screams of the monster before them. She held up a claw, and threw lighting towards the woman. It struck her flesh, and not just her, but everyone three of her wingspans in length that had been standing behind her. Infinity could almost feel the shame of the other dragons above looking down on her as a total of five bodies twitched, spasmed, and then collapsed smoking to the dirt.

"Okay! Okay! Okay!" Vern screamed out, falling to his knees as if in prayer before the wizard. "I'll tell you! Just stop.." Vern hung his head, as the wizard strolled over with a smirk. Grabbed the man's chin and made him look up at him. Vern raised a hand, pointing towards another collection of housed not but two hundred yards away. They looked almost identical to the other buildings. "She...is in that house over there!"

"See...Was that really all that hard?" the fake wizard smiled, patting the man's face. However when he did so there was a flash of red light. Vern let out a horrified scream as his skin began to wither and blacken. He trashed and spasmed, as it looked like all the water in his body was being sucked out of him. Infinity looked away from the man, wincing with his screams.In a matter of six seconds the man called Vern's screams died and he was nothing more than a shriveled corpse on the ground.The mortals screamed again, as they sprinted for their lives.

"RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"

"EVERYONE FOR THEMSELVES!"

"WHERE ARE THE FOCKEN GUARDS?"

"Well are you coming Infinity?"The wizard laughed, waving her over as he began to walk towards the building Vern had pointed out with a confident smile filled strut. Infinity spies several men and women in chainmail with spears and shields. However with one look to the wizard, than to Infinity they dared not approach. They seemed content to just stand there, quivering in their boots, as the pair passed them. The wizard did not grant them a reprieve, but instead waved merrily to them as he passed by. "Lovely day for some fresh air would you not say?" When he did not get a reply, he growled in the back of his throat and held a hand out towards the small house. With a twist of his hand, a large fireball flew from it. Through the air it soared towards the thatch door of the house. Until it impacted with a thunderous explosion, that embraced the structure with flames and smoke. There was a woman that came bolting from one of the windows,wearing a simple brown dress. She collapsed onto the street, a look of dread on her face. She rose from the ground, and sprinted with her black hair flowing behind her.

"They always make this harder than it has to be." The wizard sighed. "Infinity...Bring her to me...but do not kill her...yet."

With another apology to the gods, and whoever was watching Infinity bounded towards the woman. She easily overtook her and spread herself out, blocking her path. She watched the woman's icy blue eyes widen in surprise as she let out a loud shriek of surprise, and fell back onto the ground. She quickly buried her head into her soft hands, beginning to sob into them. Infinity wanted to comfort this woman, fly away with her, protect her from the lich right now..But it would put Axton at risk. She stood there, hoping the woman would not look her in the eyes, for she knew she would not be able to keep the gaze.

"Now...Now...Now." The lich chuckled, walking ever so slowly towards the woman. Infinity guessed he was only doing it to prolong the woman's suffering, her dread. She figured he liked to play with his toys before he killed them. The woman did not reply and just sat there quivering like a soaked cat, continuing to let out loud wails.

"You thought yourself so clever and hiring them.." He rose a hand and snapped his fingers. From the street appeared the forms of four individuals that Infinity had not seen.They were tied up with rope, and had rags stuffed into their mouths. There was a male dwarf, a female elf, a human male, and a halfling woman. They all worse tattered brown clothes, and each one of them bore the scars that Infinity knew all too well. The lich had tortured these people. Infinity looked briefly away from their squirming. They appeared to be trying to yell, shout, or no doubt curse the Lich. However with their gags in place, all they managed was to turn their faces red.

"You hired adventurers to kill me." The lich snarled, grabbing the woman's chin.

"I had to!" the woman shrieked, her voice cracking.

"Infinity...Kill them." The lich snarled.

Infinity hung her head, trying to fight off the tears she knew were going to come. She held out a talon, and let the bolt of lightning she had known to love strike all four in an instant. She winced her eyes as they tried to scream in pain but could not. With another bout of thrashing all four limped to the ground, and were left smoking corpses on the ground. I'm....a monster...

"Well that is what they get after all." The lich rose his eyes to look Infinity in the eye. "Besides Infinity, they were trying to do away with my apprentice as well."

She felt a rolling tide of anger suddenly well up inside of her, as he guilt suddenly packed itself down. She glared at their smoking corpses. How dare they try to hurt Axton. She twitched her tail, kneading her claws, and forgetting who had just said that.

"All I wanted was to get my son.." The woman sobbed into her hands, dropping even lower towards the dirt.

"Now Infinity...Kill her."

Infinity narrowed her eyes, and took a deep breath that swelled her chest and clinked her scales. She thought she heard the woman apologize to someone, but she pushed the words from her mind. NO ONE HURTS MY AXTON. She opened her maw, and bathed the woman in her flames, reducing her to ash in a matter of moments. However Infinity continued with her flames, bathing the house, dousing the corpses. She was left gasping for breath as she watched the building collapse. They're...all dead...no one left to hurt Axton....She turned back towards the wizard, hating every fiber in his body more than she could think possible. Now I just have to protect him from you....you monster.

"Wonderful Infinity...I think we made our point." He led her away from the building with a deep chuckle from his throat. "You did excellent today Infinity! Better than I could have even imagined!" She stared ahead, ignoring his words. With but a word he had her crouch, and had her flying back towards the tower.

Infinity was lost in thought as she flew in silence the entire way. She could not get the looks of all the mortals faces from her mind. She managed to fight off the tears however.Not in front of him. She reminded herself. And it was for Axton. However despite that phrase repeated in her mind it gave her little comfort. She flapped her wings and ignored the continual praises the wizard was tossing around at her. She desired none of what he was dealing out. Even if she had dealt with threats to Axton's life. This was nothing worth celebrating over. She had hardly known they were back home until she had landed on the grass outside the wicked tower she called her home.

"Would you rather hunt or have your food brought to you?" The wizard asks, jumping off of her with a grunt.

"I would rather hunt." she spat out, looking up at the tower. She shivered in her scales as she thought to Axton. How do I tell him I just murdered at least ten mortals. Five of which were trying to kill him?" She shook her head, realizing she was not ready to face yet.

"And about the reward? You have deserved it my wonderful dragon. Are you sure I cannot change your mind?"

"No." She said flatly, flicking her tail as they walked towards the vast door.

"Very well." He sighed, "Well you know the way to the illusion room. You can hunt for your meal there as always." He brought her inside, the doors slamming behind her. "I will of course be meeting with my apprentice. I have much news to share with him." he placed a hand to his chin and his face darkened. "Such terrible news indeed." The wizard turned around, and briskly walked away with his robes flowing.

Infinity just nodded absentmindedly as she began to stroll down the hallways, her body guiding her towards the room of illusions. Her mind struggled to try and remember what the woman had tried to say. Before you incinerated her with your flames. She shook her head, certain she had tried to say something. She was so deep in thought about it she nearly bumped into several walls along her path.

Once inside the illusion room she finds her hunt to be successful. She easily caught a buck this time with hardly any effort. She ripped into her meal, it not bringing her the satisfaction it had done in the past. She burned the corpse away with her mind still on that village. The screams of the people whispering into her ears, the look on their faces burning into her eyes, and that sobbing woman. Was she really out to hurt Axton? The thought made her scales shiver at what she had done. She did not seem the type.. She seemed like a woman defeated... Infinity felt her heart ache for a moment as she felt pity for her. The lich lied to me again.. She scowled angrily stomping towards the door.He used my protection of Axton to try and get me to be okay with what I did.....and it worked. She stopped before the door, her body twitching. I will have to explain...I was tricked...forced to.. She wrinkled her muzzle, not looking forward to the look of disappointment she knew Axton was going to give her. With a sigh she pushed open the door, and made her way back towards Axton and her room.

She rounded the final hallway, the large door of their room a welcome sight against all that had happened today. However with her next step she felt a pit start to grow in her stomach. It swirled around within her and filled with uneasiness. She was practically touching the door now when she felt an icy grip take hold of her heart, as all her limbs suddenly felt numb. It reminded her of how she felt when she had found out she had taken her father's life. She reached out to push the door open, and it felt like a dagger was suddenly plunged into her heart. She gasped in pain, clutching the phantom wound as her eyesight suddenly got blurry. She collapsed with a grunt to the floor, tears already starting to well up in her eyes. What is this? Her mind screamed, as she forced herself up off of the floor. She watched the liquid drip down from her face and splatter against the stone. She let out a sniff as it felt like a literal whole was not left in her heart. Her eyes widened as she realized this feeling of dread, this cold, this sadness. It was coming from within the room beyond the door. The feeling was coming from Axton.

She opened the door after a quick sniff along the base, just to make sure he was in fact in there. She carefully placed paw after paw into the room, feeling rather exposed as she did so. Her limbs quivered nervously as she looked around the room, eyes desperately looking for her son. She spies the trays of food that had been placed on a desk. They still had food on them, and looked like the boy had not even attempted to touch them. She found him sitting on his bed, his hands pressed into his face, slumped over. She could hear him sobbing to himself.

"A-axton?" She asked, hesitantly. She felt her heart sank further when he did not reply and simply waved for her to come over with his next stifled cry. She padded over with uncertainty practically leaking off her scales.She lowered her snout low enough to see the large tears streaming down his face.

"Can you wrap around me?" He asks without looking up. "You're the only one I have left."

What? Her mind recoiled in confusion. She however did what he asked, quickly wrapping herself around her son. She immediately started fussing over him with her tongue. She licked and caressed him in her paws, as much trying to comfort the rising dread in her own chest as his own.

"I t-thought when w-we got free." Axton hugged her tighter then before, closing his eyes tightly. "W-we would have..." He pressed his cheek tighter against her, almost as if he were trying to merge with her. "Taken her with us."

"Who?" she asked gently, her voice but a whisper.

"Say you won't ever leave me."

"I won't." She snorted, "I promise." She held him tighter as his lip began to quiver, and he threw himself into her chest once again with another round of deep, soul crushing sobs.

"I-I don't know what to do without you Infinity." He cried deeply. "Master told me my mother was killed today. He said some bandits came in and burned the town.Said he saw it with his own eyes." Axton lowered his voice. "Said he was too late to save her."

Infinity froze in mid lick. Her entire body very still. She stayed like this for a moment before resuming her comforting licks. She could feel that dread rising up again within her chest, threatening to take her. "I'm sorry." she murmured.

"He said they had this fire breathing monster with them..and Incinerated her." Axton barely finished the words before once again he is pressed tightly within her grasp.

Infinity wrapped them both within her wings, draping her head over him so that they were both cut off from the world around them. Away from the tower, away from the lich. It may not have been perfect, but it was something for the moment. She felt her mind whirl around as she hugged Axton and listened to his painful cries. Each one was like a needle jabbed right into her, as tears dripped down her face. The felt them fall off of her face and onto her wing membranes. She went back to fussing over Axton with her tongue, desperately trying to fight off what she knew. What did I do?..Why oh why was I such an Idiot?...Did I EVEN have a choice?..Axton..am I even worthy to be your mother when I have done something so horrid...so terrible...She let out a sob of her own to join the humans own. We need to leave....Now..

"Infinity...are you feeling anxious? I think I can feel your emotions."

"We need to leave this place Axton." she sniffed, wiping her eyes. "I noticed that too."

"What..did you do with the master today?"

"For awhile...he took me outside."

"Did you go to the village my mother was in?"

"Yes.." She felt her heart sink even lower, and she hated herself. "But I was told to stay at the outskirts."

"Oh.." Axton dropped his head. "Maybe...if you'd gone.." Axton returned his head to it's place firmly squeezed against Infinitie's chest. "Sh-shed still be alive....It's not fair Infinity.."

"Maybe she would be." She replied, hating her guts even more. Maybe I could have saved her from me.

"I-it's not fair to you...or to me.."

Fire breathing monster sounds about right. "No..it isnt. This is the hard way to learn that Axton."

"Infinity."

"Yes?" she asked, starting to feel her heart aching again.

"Please...please just hold me...and don't let go."

She nodded, and curled around him tighter. She placed her head around his body and gave another small sniff. She listened to the sound of his heartbeat as he gave a small sigh, and fell asleep in her embrace. We need to leave... She thought as she gazed at him. He is not safe here

"Mom..I love you.." he murmured softly with his eyes closed.

And I am only doing more harm than good here. She felt choked up, and nuzzled the top of his head lightly. With small sigh she resettled her snout next to him, and closed her eyes.