FSE

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formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 12

Lyyreth sat in silence on the cold, damp, stone floor that was the hiding spot below the barn. His eyes were trained on the underside of the hard wooden door that was their only protection from the prying eyes of the hunters that were looking for them. His frills twitched with every movement of feet that he heard come from the floor above. He winced as he remembered the cry of Jerry in the night. He had wanted to go out then, snarl, show his teeth and possibly breath some poisonous gas on them for daring to hurt the old man. He glanced back to the two mortals that had held stopped him. Despite his want to help the Jerry, Jaiden and James had held him back. Explained that he was in no condition to fight. The fact that his bones and joints ached from the potion did not help swallow the pill that was the farmer's misfortune. I am just as useless as ever.

He returned his gaze to the wooden door, his muscles tensing, preparing him for when he was certain that door would open. Every nerve stood on end with each passing stomp, scrape, or cough that he could hear. He lowered his breath and flicked his tail, accidentally brushing the still unconscious form of Infinity. He glanced quickly at the scars lining her scales, and the places that had been ripped open that were now healed. Although if she is recovering anything like me...she won't be fit for a fight either....Is all we can do sit here and hope they do not find us? He hung his head and let out a heavy sigh. He could even smell the fear from the humans lingering in the air.

"We have to do something." Lyyreth whispered when the sounds of the hunters started to fade away, tapping his paw softly against the stone. "I just can't sit here while they do horrible things to him." He glanced back towards Infinity as he heard her shift in her sleep.

Jaiden had taken a seat beside the black dragoness, her experienced face showing signs of worry in her eyes as she ran a hand down the length of Infinity's neck. He saw her hand tremble slightly as she traced the scales, and he wondered if the comforting gesture was for Infinity or for the woman herself. The dragoness went to stir again, but another gentle stroke from Jaiden was all it took to settle the her down.

Lyyreth snapped his snout towards the door above when he heard the sound of a latch click. His muscled tensed again as he felt himself baring his teeth. Oh no...this is it. He dug his claws into the floor below him, already imagining himself tearing into the hunters with a fury unknown to him previously. He brushed away the heavy feeling of his limbs, hopefully he would be able to suppress it through sure adrenaline when he had to fight. He thought to what Jerry had told him earlier back in the forest. I pick us. His world narrowed to that of the door and the shifting wood. He paid little mind that Infinity made a small noise and Jaiden calmed her down once again with a "Shhh." and most likely was rubbing her hand along her scales again.

His sunflower yellow eyes narrowed as the door began to open with a creak. This is it! NOW! He roared out as he pounced with his mighty legs towards the entrance. He lunged with his teeth open, ready to rip the person who had opened the door to shreds. With his pulse pounding he came to a screeching halt when he realized who it was. For standing now inches from his razor sharp teeth was Jeff, who was eyeing the dragon with a look of terror. That..... was incredibly close. He thought, taking a few deep breaths.

"Hello there chip." the man gulped, not taking his eyes away from the dragon's maw.

"S-sorry about that." Lyyreth closed his mouth and resettled his wings. "Thought you were someone else."

"Hate to see who you greet at the door like that. Although I can guess who on account of our previous guests." the man nervously chuckled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Thought I'd come to tell yall that those folks left with Jerry not too long ago." he thumbed back towards the house. "Got woken up by all the hootin and hollerin, watched the entire thing from inside the house."

"Chip." Jaiden called out from behind him with a soft yet concerned voice. "I think she's waking. Probably best if you're the first one she sees."

Lyyreth turned his snout towards the dragoness as he padded over and placed himself between her and the humans. Just to be on the safe side in case she is scared that she is somewhere else. His attention was drawn to her slightly twitching tail, and her fluttering eyelids as she shook her snout softly.

"Are you alright?" He asked, lowering his snout towards hers.

She did not reply to his words as she rose one of her front limbs to gently rub her eyes. She gave a big yawn, then finally opening her brilliant green spheres. Her face seemed to darken as she let out a long disappointed sigh. Like one you would give when you did not want a dream to end.

"Are you ok?" Lyyreth asked giving her a comforting look.

"I dunno." she grumbled sleepily. Her vibrant green eyes going from him to look at the mortals standing behind him. She did not need to say anything to show that she was concerned. Her spines on her neck began to rise and stand up.

"Don't be alarmed...we had to move you on account of the poison...These humans helped save your life."

"Mmmhmm." Infinity gently laid her head back down on the ground. She have a small snort as she settled her wings against her back. "I'm so tired." She mumbled, her eyelids starting to droop once more. "Where did I get moved to?"

"Your in the basement of an old farmer that I was staying with. It was him and his wife that managed to cure you of the wyvern poison that was threatening your life."

"Where is the old farmer?" She looked to Jaiden with a curious eye. "Is it her?"

"No.." Lyyreth hung his head. "The hunters came looking for us so we hid. Jerry bought us some time to do so, so they dragged him off. Said they were going to make him talk to someone from a tower."

Infinity averted her gaze, curling her tail towards her snout. It seemed as though she was trembling as she buried her face into a wing. "Not again." she mumbled softly.

"Damnt." Lyyreth turned away from her with a half snarl. I can't just sit here. He started to head towards the stairs once more when Jaiden stopped him by placing a hand on his shoulder. "Please move Jaiden..I have to go this time..before they drag Jerry even further away."

"We already talked bout this Chippy." She glared at him as if he were her son. "Gettin yerself killed right now because you were too stubborn don't help my husband one bit." She crossed her arms and gestured with a nod back to Infinity. "Now go back down there and lay next to your lady friend. It will help pass the time while you two heal."

Lyyreth begrudgingly nodded and flicked his tail. Just like the previous time she had made sense. But I just want to do something. Lyyreth thought as he settled down next to Infinity, and gently pressed up against her warm scales.

"Good. Glad your scaly butt decided to listen." she chuckled. "Woulda had to smack ya around some until you came to your senses." the woman strode over to him, placing a soft hand gently on his scales. "Now shush that talkative snout of yours, so that I can make sure all your wounds done healed."

"I feel fine."he lied, shifting his weight from his left forepaw to his right.

"Hogwash." She smacked him on the snout gently, causing him to wrinkle his snout. "Now stop your fussin and let me take a look. Ya'd think ya didn't like a woman's touch."

"I just don't want you to be worrying about me." Lyyreth snorted as her hands started to glide along his smooth scales. "I can handle myself."

"So your trying to be a tough guy now?" Jaiden laughed, running a hand along the bridge between his wing membranes and his scales. "No time to be tough now Chip, just relax and let me see if you need any more healin.

"Fine." he sighed, resting his weight onto Infinity, who seemed to not resist and just lean back onto him. Her snout was still on the ground, her eyes were now once again closed. He quickly looked to her chest, anxiety starting to rise in his own. Although with her next breath he let out a relieved sigh. What are you worried for? She was cured of the poison and she should be fine. He looked up towards the stairs, letting his tail flick behind him. Unlike Cordenth, who is very much in danger as we speak. "Is this better?" he asked, shifting his attention and worried thoughts from his brother to the woman who was offering him a smirk.

"Yes. quite so Chip. Now can you be a dear and raise your wings? I have to get back their and inspect all of you dear." Lyyreth did as he was told and lifted them swiftly for the woman, giving her a pleasured rumble when her hands caressed his sensitive membranes.

"These that sensitive?" she gasped, using her fingers to make circles.

"Yess......" Lyyreth closed his eyes and involuntary kicked his right paw. "Very.." It felt like all his nerves were overloading. Like it was covering him completely from snout to tip. He let out another rumble, only to sigh when she took her hands away and moved onto his tail. "Awwww." he trailed off, tapping his forepaw against the ground.

"Have to go about my job Chip, can't stay here rubbing you happy...Wait..Never you mind that." She shot back before Lyyreth could even offer her a chuckle at the innuendo.

"Didn't even think about it. I was a pure saint." He held a paw to his chest, and rose his head like a certain red dragon liked to do.

"Hogwash again." She ran her hands down the length of his tail, until she held his tip between two fingers. "Never thought I would see the day that I was actually touching a dragon...Not to mention acting as a glorified healer for him."

"I have not required healing."

"Yea, but I helped the....the....Darling what's your name anyway? My husband named you Spike or Spiky, and I refuse to call you that name."

"Oh I see how it is." Lyyreth rolled his eyes. "I get the name Chip, but Spike is not dignified enough for her."

"It's different Chip, this here is a lady dragon. They is to be respected and treated kindly, fairly, and nice."

"What about Blue and I? We have helped all around the farm and what not!"

"She gets more than that."

"On account of she's a girl dragon?" he replied flatly, causing her to smile again and quickly nod.

"That you can bet your scaly butt on." She waved dismissively to Lyyreth as she shifted her focus to the still groggy black dragoness who had not risen her head one inch. "Now miss..what can I call you?"

"Infinity.." she mumbled in almost a whisper.

"What did ya say? I did not hear ya."

"I..er..Night Rising." Infinity's eyes opened wide as she stretched her two front limbs out in front of her.

"Dragons and your titles." Jaiden chuckled, pausing for a moment as Lyyreth felt her mood darken. "You all make your titles larger than life." She smiled right after, her mood brightening once more. "Can I also check you over? Make sure that you're healing alright?"

"F-fine." Infinity grumbled, placing her snout onto the floor again. Clearly she did not enjoy the thought of someone touching her. "Just be careful. Although everything should be healed...why even bother?"

Jaiden's voice took on the tone of a concerned mother."As I explained to your green friend here. It may have healed but did it heal correctly? I know you think yer invincible, but things can go wrong with you dragons. Despite the armor, the firebreath, and the magic." Jaiden took a deep breath and a step towards her. She slowly raised a hand and ran it along the dragoness' scales just like she had done Lyyreth's.

Infinity snaked her head down, her eyes wide as she watched the woman's hand. Lyyreth saw fear in them, a fear like he had never quite known. The dragoness shivered and clamped her eyes shut, flinching and then shivering like a wet dog as Jaiden continued to touch her.

"It's okay." the woman said softly as she steadied her hand. "I'm not going to hurt you." She traced the scars lining the dragon's chest, than slowly worked her way to Infinity's shoulder. "Wow...you have a lot of scars....I didn't even imagine.." Jaiden said, her voice lowering and filling with horrid amazement.

Lyyreth took a step towards the dragoness as he saw all her muscles tense, and her spines droop behind her. He had thought he understood what she had been through when she had told the story, but to see her react this way to the simple act of someone touching you? What did that monster really do to you? Lyyreth frowned, wishing there was something he could say or do that could soothe the scared dragoness' spirit right this moment.

"You have to calm down dear." Jaiden sighed, rubbing Infinity's shoulder softly. "Being wound tighter den a spring ain't going ta help ya none." When she did not respond Jaiden turned towards Jeff and James, who had been watching in silence the entire time. "Go fetch me some clothes and a bucket of water. Preferably with some soap in it."

Almost instantly after the words left the woman's mouth, the two had bolted from the basement. Determination in their eyes as they climbed the stairs and headed to complete their task.

"Now listen Night Rising." Jaiden continued with a softer voice then before. "You have to try and calm yourself alright?"

Infinity nodded weakly as her body continued to shiver, and Jaiden worked her way back towards the dragoness' wings.

"Can you lift your wings?"

Infinity did as she was asked, slowly lifting her wings as they trembled.

"Well it looks like you healed all nice and well, cept the scars of course." Jaiden made her way to the front of Infinity, who had slowly opened her eyes. "Thank you Night Rising for allowing me to touch your scales and see if you was healed." She gave the dragoness a small polite bow. "I don't reckon folks gave you much choice in the past. Considering the tower and all."

Infinity nodded shakily, "Y-your welcome." she said with a hoarse voice.

Lyyreth rested his head into his paws with a sigh as Jaiden turned around to look up at the silent stairs.

"Would you like a bath Night Rising? It will get rid of all that red you have smeared around your scales." She shot a look to Lyyreth, her eyes tracing along his body. "Same goes for you Chippy, although I'm not asking in your case."

"Why not?" Lyyreth replied, tilting his head to the side.

"You're not scared half to death from those hunters." She thrust a finger towards his chest. "And your covered in more blood then she is!"

Lyyreth looked down to his green scales, plastered in layers of dried blood. Has it always been on there since the fighting? He had honestly forgotten with everything else that had been going on around him. "I have had more on me." he mumbled, quickly looking up to Jaiden who had crossed her arms. "Not that I was proud of it mind you." He blurted out. "Just stating a fact."

"I figure the last time it happened it also was folks that deserved it?"

Lyyreth nodded, remembering the fort. He twitched slightly as he recalled his friends describing the conditions that had been down in the jail cells, and the horror that was the bottom floor. "They deserved it alright....Now why do we need the baths? Besides being covered in dried blood of course."

Jaiden's smile faded as she hung her head and sighed. "Truthfully? Its to keep my hands busy and I don't focus on what has happened to Jerry. I also don't want to rest in my house without him, I figure I'll just sleep out here with you two. Seems safer that way I 'suupose.

Lyyreth nodded, looking up to Infinity who had not risen her head from the ground.

"Well it looks like they arrived just in time." Jaiden smiled, just as the two she had sent out returned with a large metal bucket sloshing with frothy soapy water. "I really hope yall are like dogs and love water, and not like cats." She wrinkled her brow, "Cause I really don't want to deal with your claws."

*

Infinity's eyes went to the off-white cloth that the woman called Jaiden held in her hands. The water was slowly dripping from the fabric to the bucket of water below it. Letting out a sigh she fidgeted in place, setting her spines against her scales. "I don't mind the bath." She said softly, trying to push from her mind the growing sense that she was going to be hurt. Your safe...Your safe. She repeated in her mind as she looked to the stairs leading to the surface of this farm they had brought her too. This human Jerry....He suffers now because of me as well...How many people are going to keep on suffering because I simply came into their lives?

"Okay dear." Jaiden gave her a half smile as she brought the cloth and the bucket closer. "I know you're not meaning to flinch, but try and relax. It will be better for you. Trust me." the woman dunked the cloth in the water, and brought it to Infinity's scales.

The dragon fought the urge to shiver as the cool water graced her black armor. The liquid running down her scales and dripping to the stone floor. She let the woman work around her forepaws, tracing the fine scales there one at a time. She pulled slightly away when Jaiden curled the soft cloth around her digits, causing the woman to hold firmly onto it and continue to wash them. From her forelimbs Jaiden moved to her chest, the red paint that had graced her hide was being washed away with every dunk and spread of the water. With the next press on her scales Infinity thought of Jaiden's touch, it reminded her of the way a mother might. The gentleness the woman was showing, the soothing sounds she was making. It reminded Infinity of some she had made to Axton when he was in despair.

She looked down to her scales as the others started talking about something. She wa only half paying attention as their words soon started to sound like muffled noises that made little sense. She unclosed and closed her front claws, her eyes tracing the pads. How long ago had it been? She asked herself, turning over the limb. Since I have had my son in claws? She thought to the long weeks of travel, the tired flights, the lonely nights, the constant feeling of dread as she was being chased. She felt the woman start to work her way down her flank, causing her to wiggle from the touch. The room around her soon started to shift. The colors started to fade away in shades of grey before her eyes, as the voices all but ceased. Her mind paid it little mind though as she remembered licking Axton's face, and how her heart would warm at his wiggling.

_ I miss you so much._ The lonely feeling spread through her limbs, making all her nerves feel numb. Her scales trembled as she remembered his smile,the laughs of joy they shared together, and the warm nights snuggled close to one another. It made her heart start to feel stretched, aching in her chest to the point she thought a dagger had been plunged straight through her hide. She could feel her eyes mist as her wings trembled softly, and her limbs quivered. I wish......You were here... She kneaded the ground as she felt the wet cloth start to work it's way down her tail.

The image of the room cracked away before her eyes, like shards of glass falling to the floor each piece shattered. In their place rose the image of her old room with Axton, the book cases rising up like great trees. The familiar smell of vellum and ink wafting into her nose as she took her next breath. The soft glow of the mana lanterns filled the room with their light, but not too bright as to hurt her eyes. She gasped and smiled when she saw the large door crack open, and Axton came bounding in with a smile on his face like he usually did when he saw her. She knew it wasn't real, that this was all a mental illusion to her. However with her next breath she did not care. Everything but him faded away, nothing but the warm feeling in her heart.

My Son. Her mind whispered to her as he kicked off his boots and ran towards her, dropping his backpack onto the floor. She wrapped him with a forelimb, and pulled the cheerful human against her chest as she sighed in contentment. She listened intently as he spoke on and on about magic that he learned, or the world that they were going to see. With how his eyes would light up, she could feel the spark of hope within her growing, almost making her forget the tower that they were trapped in.

She flicked her tail softly against the sheets of the bed when he buried his face into her scales, and she curled her head around him.

"I love you mom." he said, the words music to her ears and made her heart soar.

"And I love you too son." she replied, hoping the affection in her voice could be felt within his heart as she pulled him closer than before.

"Infinity?" she heard Lyyreth's voice break through the scene unfolding before her. Making her shake her head softly, the room starting to melt away before her very eyes.

Infinity let out a sigh, nuzzling Axton one last time, as the brief moment of warmth she had thought had started to vanish. From it's place came the cold feeling of loneliness, and like there was now a gaping hole in her chest. "Yes?" she turned her head towards the green dragon. She ignored that Jaiden had moved to her other side and was still cleaning her scales.

"Are you alright?" he gave her a look of concern.

"Oh course." she lied, looking to the stairs. "Why would you think differently?"

"Because you crying." Lyyreth pointed to her cheeks that were dripping the warm tears from her eyes.

Was I crying the entire time? She turned towards the dragon, wiping her cheeks with a claw. "Is that so wrong?" she asked softly, blinking her eyes and letting a fresh wave replace them. "I miss him so much..." she hung her head and let out a small sob. One she tried to hide.

"Shhh..It's okay." Jaiden mumbled as she continued to work, her touch soothing to say the least. Infinity could feel everything just getting washed away with each circle of her cloth.

"Thank you." she mumbled to the woman, splaying her ears. "For the healing...the the wash..for everything."

"Hush now dear...you've been through what would cripple or destroy most. Your a strong girl, you just close your eyes and rest away all the pain. I'll move on to your boyfriend over there, and when the sun comes up you can head out.

"He's not my boyfriend." she chuckled softly, remembering Axton's words on the subject.

"Imagine if it were one of Emerald Ladies sons?" the at the time black dragon had chuckled, wiggling in the grass before her eyes.

Infinity closed her spheres and could almost feel Axton running his hand along the top of her snout. She let out a small snort of air as he would trace around her eyes with his soft and warm hands. "First thing."she said, thinking about the warm sun that would be hanging in the air.

"I agree." Lyyreth said, she could hear him settle down onto his belly once more with a sigh. "First thing in the morning we head out, take wing, and get Jerry back."

"And get rid of those hunters." Infinity growled in the back of her throat, picturing the lich from her nightmares. "They won't get a chance to tell him where I was, or who I saw." "Thank you both." Jaiden softly, the relief present in her voice as she padded over to Lyyreth. "Can't have asked for two better dragons to grace our farm. World needs more folks like you, dragons and otherwise."

Infinity's thoughts went from the faceless image of the hunter to Axton. His face came to the forefront of her mind smiling at her, his icy blue eyes filled with happiness. She gazed at him just like she had done all the times before, her heart filling now with a mixture of sorrow for his death, but warmth for his image. I will be free...for you.