FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 11

She tried to dress herself quickly, the closet was safe, she always reminded herself of that whenever she steeped in, Fink designed and constructed it in such a way that even she, with her unnatural abilities to slip even on a speck of dust, wouldn't hurt herself.

Right now however she tried really hard to break every safety seal she insisted on placing in the first place. The mechanism moved to the same usual place, preparing her outfit in the same typical manner of stretching it accordingly.

She however just couldn't fit in it, for some unexplained reason the cloth was too tight, nothing could change it, even the knowledge of them being all the same. The pen that was mounted in the closet also seemed out of proportions, she pushed and wiggled, not able to get a proper position no matter how hard she tried.

Flare politely remained next to the closet in which his friend disappeared, he wasn't experienced with all this dressing stuff, he had no idea just how long a while takes as she said in this case. All he ever was dressed in was blood and guts of his enemies.

That's why he observed her tail closely, it was wagging and jerking in all possible directions as if blindly swatting invisible flies. The massive closet seemed also to be overly active, it was rattling and quirking in place like it would be standing on a plate through which all sorts of worms tried to pour in.

He observed this whole scene with a cocked head, strand of his fiery mane danced in between his eyes. He wasn't an expert in this things, he hardly understood what was happening, Coriza acted in all sort of different ways after what Iris had done. He was afraid that he was the reason behind this behavior as well, he was responsible for everything earlier after all.

One of his front paws landed on his other front leg, he squeezed it tightly and rubbed, he didn't know what to do with his paws, was too afraid to mess things up even more by making a sound.

He was unaware of his constant swallowing and dancing tongue who just wanted to say something but the cursed throat just didn't allow enough breath to come through to form any sorts of words.

Coriza grabbed onto the hangers, pushing her paw through the special pen created for her comfort, all she wanted to do was to rearrange the robe, nothing special, just a small tug on the edge and that would be all. Of course, simple tasks for everyone else, for her prove to be as slippery and dangerous as walk on a frozen lake.

She wasn't particularly surprised when she tripped, she stopped thinking about things like that a long time ago, it was perfectly normal in her case to hurt herself in a place that was designed with her safety in mind. Fink always told her that she would have to try really, really hard to even leave with a bump from here.

Well Fink.

Joke's on you.

You weren't aware of this talent.

She was probably the only living creature in the world that wanted to have the gift she was hatched with be stripped from her.

Her hind paws lost their footing, she didn't know how, there was hardly any room here to move, but she accomplished the feat nevertheless. She might have slipped on something she spilled, maybe perhaps her tail made one swing too strong and she lost her balance, or maybe Flare exhaled far more air than usual and slammed it into her petite frame.

The possibilities were endless.

She stopped caring about them also a long time ago.

Coriza fell forward with a whine, butt kicked in the air and upper body dropped down. Her mouth smacked into the stretched robe, pulling the material as she fell, snout heading directly at one of the railings of the special pen.

"Coriza!"

For some wonderful reason the Ancestors looked at her favorably, she was sure that she wouldn't be able to do that alone, one of her paws shot up and smacked into the railing. She protected herself, easing the fall and giving herself enough time to tilt her head to avoid breaking the nose, her small foreleg luckily was long enough to stall the situation to the appropriate limit.

Here was the moment where her luck ended.

Her other leg, the one she used to reach the robe, slipped, again she didn't know how or why, for all she knew it might be an Ancestor's vengeful spirit tugging at her limbs. The paw slid in between the bars, to make it worse it twisted to some unnatural angle and lodged itself somewhere, she got stuck.

Pain started to fill her bones, she was sure her frail bones will break soon.

Coriza whimpered loudly inside the closet, momentarily she began to thrash and grunt like a dog who stuck its head in between the bars and can't get out.

The cry and the noise she was making froze the blood in Flare's veins, he immediately moved past her flailing butt and kicking legs and tail. The lower part of her body was like a panicking horse, trying to slam its hooves, in this case sharp claws on draconic feet into someone's guts.

She cried out once more.

"Coriza!" he screamed, at the sound of her wail his heart jumped to his throat

"My paw!" she whined, her voice echoing slightly due to the material in her mouth, she was twirling her body in every direction

Her thrashing rump bumped into him, slamming him into the side of the closet. He didn't even feel it, momentarily bouncing back, blood pulsed in his temples, thudding intensifying due to his inability to spot anything. He jerked from side to side, up and down, but saw nothing, Coriza's struggling frame blocking the view, it was too tight here to move around her.

"It hurts!" her whole body twisted under the weight of the squealing wail, nearly spinning in place, she acted as if her paw would get stuck in some gears and the mechanism started moving

"I'm sorry!" he exclaimed a hurt plea and climbed on top of his friend

The scream she let out tore his soul apart.

Even if he pinned her down, she didn't stop flailing about, he could hear her bones creaking as they were forced to bend in unnatural directions.

"Stop moving!" he begged her, wincing in dread, sound reminding him of the noise dry worms make when you step on them

"It hurts so much!" the whole pen thudded like a cage holding a rabid beast, every forceful tug of the blue paw sent rattling pulses along the bars

Luckily he learned how to predict threat even among the most chaotic of battles, during the Trials you sometimes had to fight your dedicated opponent while being surrounded by all other fighters thrown into the pit that followed the same rule.. You couldn't attack anyone besides your target, when you got confused by the commotion you died, when you attacked someone else than your dedicated opponent, you died.

Keepers made sure of that.

That experience allowed him to pick out the most characteristic note among all the possible noise, in this case the paw was the culprit, what was once difficult to pinpoint, now became as visible as the biggest of worms.

He moved across the wiggling body of his friend, putting enough pressure to keep her in place, he reached her stuck paw and was surprised to find out that there was nothing blocking it, Coriza simply in her nervousness couldn't fit it through the bars because she bent it too much.

"It's okay Coriza! Just relax your leg and you'll be fine"

She didn't seem to hear him, fighting pitifully against his weight.

"I...I can't!" she exhaled weakly, paw slamming against the bars two times

"Not like this, I'll help" he touched her leg, her paw was so tense that he was afraid he'll break it, as he moved it he could swear that he heard her bones creaking like rusted hinges of a door

She was fighting against his nudges, her body flattening under his weight, all the pitiful strength she had projecting to the leg.

"I can't breathe" she whined, a weak sob wrecking her voice

He swallowed, never before in his life gulping a bulge like that, the saliva felt like a ball of ice, painfully freezing his throat all the way to the stomach.

He could withstand all sorts of torture, but this, this was new, it hurt, not even the dim of his flames aches like this. He didn't know what it was, why it hurt so bad, all he wanted was to end it, save himself and his friend.

Without any concern for tenderness he grabbed her paw in both draconic hands, one catching the wrist while the other pried the blue leg open.

"Now" he commanded as he straightened the leg forcefully, tears formed in the corner of his eyes

Coriza pushed back with a tears filled whimper, the leg popped from behind the bars with ease. She didn't seem to notice, momentarily backing away from the closet, or trying to, the body that stood on top of her forced her to scratch her scales along the ground.

Her underbelly burned with irritated pulses of pain.

Flare jumped back with a gasp, turning into a bolt of flame he teleported outside the closet.

Coriza flew from inside the locker as if she was shot from a cannon. He watched as her body kicked up, for some reason her body rose up on hind legs, placing all her weight on those two paws. Not able to control her balance her upper body rose up, front paws ungluing from the floor, the moment they lifted slightly in the air her form resembled a broken twig with the lower part higher than the front one.

She made two awkward steps back and tripped over her own tail, this was the first time in his life that he saw a dragon doing something like this. All the time he thought it was impossible.

She let out a sharp gurgle, her front paws slashed at the empty air in failed attempt to look for something to hold onto, whole body making a flip across non existent line of balance.

Flare's eyes widened, body bursting with startled flames as the realization finally reached his brain and created an image of what is happening. He didn't have the best of reflex, but what he lacked in natural, physical skills, he made it up with strongly developed magic.

He dashed forward, leaving a burning trail of his form behind and momentary jumped, throwing his upper body in the air and thrusting both paws forward. They slammed into the soft, falling back, the opposite pressure he crated overpowering the incoming weight. Ignoring the stabbing itches of his friend's wings he pushed forward, walking only on two legs like a bipedal creature he straightened his friend with each made step until they were standing perfectly straight like cheetahs.

He wrapped his legs around her frame, pressing his underbelly to her back and pinning the wings and tail under his orange scales. Snout landing on her shoulder, strands of her beautiful hair tickling his nose.

"I've got you" he said, making two more small steps to steady both of them

Coriza looked around in panic, her startled, blurry eyes unable to make anything reasonable out of this. She grabbed the red paws around her chest, punching, touching, scratching and trying to pry them open, all things happening alternately unable to decide what to do.

Her eyes looked around, spotting a fiery aura surrounding her, she saw the burning feathers on the legs holding her, she saw the burning man next to her cheek. The warm and comforting flames of her companion surrounded her keeping her safe.

All she could think about was that Brill knew about this, that Ancestors knew about this. Instead of committing to her duty, she sacrificed that love to be in the paws of a boy, offering him far more time than she did the temple.

She betrayed her faith.

Brill knew that.

The Ancestors knew that.

Her fighting paws flopped down in defeat, whole body becoming numb, head dropping down and chin hitting the red legs. If not for the red paws holding her she would slide down on the floor like a corpse along a tree.

She started crying.

Flare's strong flames puffed like a fireplace after splashing a bucket of water into it, all that remained was the sparkling remnants of his magic, flickering like burned wood at the bottom of an exhausted fireplace.

The ball of ice he swallowed exploded, he felt like his soul and heart imploded from the pressure. He felt like during his first time in the cellars, pressed against the pitch black walls, afraid to flush some light into the room, all the wet, rattling noises terrifying him to the bone. In this overwhelming dread thinking that if he doesn't see the bad and the ugly, it can't touch him.

This wasn't the first tears he saw. He heard females cry before, many times he was the cause for them, tears were the things that brought him nightmares, until he finally learned how to fry the vocal cords and burn eyeballs before the moment of crying began.

He didn't know what was so troubling in crying females, but there was something extremely touching and painful in it. As he held the sobbing, shaking figure of his friend tears formed in his eyes, some already burned a trail down his cheeks.

No.

Crying females were troubling, but the sight of them wasn't so painful like the sight of crying friends.

He was in pain because Coriza was in pain.

He cried because Coriza cried.

"D-D-Don't c-c-c-cry" he begged, squeezing her tighter "P-P-Ple-e-e-ease"

"I c-c-c-can't" Coriza howled, her voice hacking with wet sobs

He couldn't stand it, before he knew it he started to sniffle, crying together with the girl in his paws. He forgot what pain feels like, there was no other way to survive otherwise, but this, this was agony he never experienced before.

Seeing his friend in pain made him feel as if he was dying, his soul taken apart piece by piece by rusted, dented dagger.

"T-T-Tell me-e-e-e, ho-o-o-o-ow to h-h-h-h-h-help" he stammered, the weeping strength he put into the words took almost all his energy

She swallowed, the bulge pulsed down her throat, fighting through the shaking of her neck.

"Y-You can't" she wept, hacking, her wet gold eyes shifted to the snout on her shoulder, in this moment of discomfort she found a space be surprised by the sight of real, fierce tears soaking the red eye sockets "W-W-Why are you c-c-crying?"

"I-I-I-I-I-" the stammer and tears took all energy from Flare, he tottered on his hind legs, making small, awkward steps in all possible directions

Coriza's eyes widened, gold orbs glistened with tears like the first glow of awoken sun. She felt the wall that held her numb body steady flail about and lose its firm power.

"Flare?" startled, gleaming eyes landed on the red snout

Flare threw both of them into an uncomfortable dance for balance, for which the two of them didn't know the choreography.

He tripped, he didn't know if that was the tail getting in his way, or perhaps the floor was slippery and wet from tears, whatever the case might have been he fell and when he saw the world tilting like a ship on a wave that was all that mattered honestly.

His back slammed into the floor, he felt like a sandwich that got squeezed too tightly by gluttonous hands. From one side the force of the impact with the ground thrust a bolt into his spine while from the other weighting probably fifty kilograms weight in the form of a petite dragonesses crushed his underbelly.

He felt his intestines sliding away in irritations to places where they shouldn't belong.

"Ancestors above!" Coriza exclaimed in horror, wiggling away from his grasp "Flare!"

He squeezed her tighter, stopping her in place. His chin slid down her soft shoulder, single, birdlike eye looking straight into glowing like the very sun orbs.

"A-A-Are you h-h-h-h-hurt?"

She choked on her own tears, the glimmer of soul she saw inside that yellow eye stopped her heart. Tears added so much more to the color of the eye, it was shining with such a ferocious yellow that she could swear that the metaphorical window was opened and she stared right at the soul of the boy holding her.

It was wounded, bleeding, the glow a beautiful and terrifying shine of fading life that with all its declining strength clung to the last slipping straw giving it hope.

Becoming evanescent.

Flare was dark, the fiery aura surrounding him barely a twinkle, it was like he consumed all that fire and directed it into his eyes.

She felt a powerful sting of duty, reminding her of her cleric life, in the temple she was also put sometimes in front of making a decision that would change someone's life.

She never however was the seal between life and death.

There were times during her moments when she offered spiritual guidance that she was bestowed with touch of enlightenment and felt that on her next answer depended the next course of action of whoever asked her for help.

It never was something serious, people always asked her as a honest and objective side for an opinion to push the fate forward.

It was her duty to guide.

She never however guided life to a decision if it's existence is worth living or not.

And this was what Flare asked of her.

She felt that on her next answer depended the very life of the dragon holding her.

A dragon invulnerable to pain, immortal many would say, about to die at the wrong flick of her tongue.

Her heart ached with pity, he was a boy that she thought betrayed her trust, maybe it was even the case, or maybe she stuck her nose where it didn't belong. There was a lot of maybes when it came to Flare, what was sure however was that he sacrificed his integrity to bond with her pain.

He offered himself to her completely.

It had a dreadful, literal meaning.

"No" she sniffled, teary eyes looking herself over, paws checking the body, most beyond herself reach, instead of feeling herself she massaged the red paws holding her "I'm not"

Flare exhaled a wavering breath, that for her wounded like a dying gasp. As his single eye shifted at her moving paws she noticed the devastation in it. He looked like an owner of a house staring at his burning to the ground home, unable to do anything.

He sobbed, the paws holding her relaxing their clench.

The glow in his eyes flickered, undecided, swaying between extinguishment and ignition.

She didn't like pain, whether it touched her or someone else didn't matter, she didn't like it, if she had the courage she would rid the world of it. She was only one dragoness though, a small, weak example of her specie, there was so little she could do in that unfair fight.

She had a good heart though, people told her that many times, a steadfast heart when it came to dealing with pain, even if the owner of it was shy and weak.

Small steps, she has to remember that it is all about small steps.

The smallest of intentions count.

She grabbed the sliding red paws, making them to lock the grip around her body.

"Hold me" she whispered, blinking away the tears as she pleadingly gazed at the birdlike eye aimed at her

Flare's eye was so wide that it nearly shot from its orbit, he momentarily squeezed her tighter. The glow disappeared from his eye, becoming naturally yellow once more.

Second later his whole body burst with bright flames, every fiery body type flaming with bright, freshly born flames.

Coriza's jaw dropped slightly, she slowly turned her head, mane scratching the orange chest under her neck. The fiery aura was beautiful beyond words, she almost felt as if she was lying on the sun and its warm rays were enveloping her.

She felt so safe and warm, she felt good and beauty.

Pain was defeated.

Brill knew that.

Ancestors knew that.

A little while longer please, every victory deserves at least a moment to cherish the triumph.

She slid her paw between the red ones, claws reaching between the toes. She clenched her fist, sending a gentle invitation.

Flare didn't hesitate even for a while, clenching his own paw in response, holding his friend's draconic hand in his own. He closed his eyes, joyful tears pushed down from the locked eyelids, never before he felt so alive.

Something he couldn't hide, the flames surrounding his body ignited brighter than ever before as he empowered the gesture by hugging his friend. Tiny sparks split from the corners of his dancing flames, slowly forming a fiery constellation of burning stars around them, circling them like a halo.

Coriza observed the wonderful sight with held breath.

She was on the sun after all.

They lied like that in silence for what felt like an eternity.

Flare in his own utopia, eyes closed, chin on soft feminine shoulder, legs wrapped around a tender body, holding paws with the creature that gave him life. Diving deeper and deeper into the wonderful, blissful sensation of being truly alive.

Coriza kept watching the burning, floating stars, devoured by awe. Head just couldn't stop moving, eventually making fluent shifts in perfect accordance with the turning sparks. Making slow arches from one side to the other, mimicking the circle of a halo. For her this was her own piece of paradise.

They continued their silent vigil for a little while longer, it was Coriza who broke the tranquility, well aware that even in cherishment there has to be a limit. Cleric duty ringing bells of alarms, reminding her that there was too much of herself in the equation that focuses on assisting others.

"I must go to work" Coriza mumbled sadly

The depression that befallen on her because of this fading moment was intensified by the puffing stars, fiery sparks popping one by one like bubbles.

"Thank you" Flare smiled blissfully, toes that held his friend's paw wiggled gently as if making sure that what they are holding is real

"Me?" the dragonesses snickered "If not for me nothing of this would have happened"

"I'm happy it did"

She looked down her underbelly, looking at their intertwined paws, this was the first time in her life she ever held a boy's paw. It was very comforting.

She repaid his gentle poking by reassuring him that she is here, spreading her toes to give him more wiggle room before clenching her claws.

He immediately caught her paw into his embrace.

She smiled.

"I'm glad to see it. I have to apologize for my outburst, it was very unbecoming of me, I never intended to cause such commotion. I'm afraid you got a glimpse of my other side that I only allow to venture into the open when I'm alone or with people I'm comfortable around. Without Sparx though that emotional side of mine has an ugly shade I'm afraid"

"It's okay, I like you no matter what. I don't really understand why you cried though"

"May I ask you something before we go? I don't want to change the topic I swear. To answer your query I need to tread on an uncomfortable, perhaps personal ground. To proceed I need your permission"

Flare chuckled.

Coriza frowned in surprise.

"What is so glee worthy?"

"This" he grinned at her "I really like your style of speech. You always talk like a Guardian, so boss-like, using all those fancy words and weird sentences. It's so cool"

She smiled shyly.

"And yeah, you can ask me anything. Do what you want with me, I'm all yours"

"Oh my" she squeaked, tilting her head away to the other side, away from Flare's sight, fierce blush momentarily flushed her cheeks

"What?"

"Divine stars" she let out a deep, admonishing exhale, if she had any free paw right now she would slap herself across the head for her stupidity

She always forgets with who she is talking to.

Flare doesn't understand the nuances of tact and metaphors, he is simply voicing his thoughts in the most straightforward, honest manner like usual. It was her who made those words so much more than they actually are.

Being pressed against a warm, male body, wrapped in a hug while holding paws really shifted her understanding of the situation.

She felt dirty.

And comforted, it was very nice to lie on a blanket of male scale, literally warming her with its aura. As an ice dragonesses, the temperature of her body is slightly lower than that of other dragons, which makes her that much more sensitive to heat. Tingles of warmth for her were like no other, almost like butterflies she felt in her stomach once when she was young and was attracted to a certain boy living in the next village.

"Coriza?" he nudged her neck with his nose, poking her tenderly like a hunter checks with a stick if the body on the ground is dead or not

Whether he intended it or not his nose made small rubbing motions against her mane.

"I'm a fool" she found herself purring, head rising and neck straining, having her hair ruffled felt very pleasant

Flare gasped faintly when he felt the soft paw he was holding empowering its clench, nearly crushing his own.

"Don't tax your thoughts with it. The question I was about to ask concerns you in great degree. I'm sure you're familiar with Cynder's reputation, but are you familiar with your own? You arrived in our world in a place of death, that fact alone combined with your sweet innocence when it comes to displaying your affections created an image for the souls of the wounded people. An image scarring you greatly, are you aware of the reserve surrounding people treat you with?"

He cringed, thinking really hard on the question instead of an answer, there were no fancy words there, no idioms or whatever. Usually when it came to understanding Coriza he focused on the question mark in her monolog, the first one, all the rest of the words sounded nice spoken with her silvery voice, but they were just confusing him. In this particular case however he didn't know what to say, he wasn't familiar with the concept of reputation, life taught him not to focus on stories and rumors, being afraid and doubting yourself because of some stories was a willing death sentence.

He cringed, pressing his snout to the nicely smelling hair of his friend, trying to disappear in it. Usually it didn't bother him that he didn't understand things, when it came to Coriza though, he felt like an idiot whenever he didn't know the answer and wanted some clarification.

He didn't want to look stupid to her.

He couldn't lie though, his friend didn't like that.

Being stupid it is.

"I don't understand. S-Sorry"

She smiled comfortingly, displaying fully her uneven teeth, well aware that he can't see her now.

"There's no need for apology, I'm happy to clarify. What I mean is, do you know that people don't like you very much?"

"Oh yeah!" Flare straightened his head, exclaiming triumphantly, despite the sad fact, by which he didn't seem to be bothered much "I know that, but I have my friends like you and it's all cool"

"Very well. Before I continue I need you to understand that you are not responsible for anything and you play no personal role in my troubles. Can you not hold yourself accountable? Can you do that for me?"

"Yeah!"

Coriza nodded, expecting such an answer, deep down feeling the dark, arrogant tendril of control that tried to slither its way to her soul, poison it. Instinct telling her that Flare would do anything for her if she only made the request personal.

"I follow a certain faith, praying to the Ancestors, it's doctrines and principles pursuit good, in the history of our belief we had many prophets, charismatic individuals who spoke with the voice of the Ancestors, they passed the will of the Divines to us, faithful servants. Our recent prophet is Brill who focuses most of his attention on the task of fighting and freeing us from the Taint according to the recent Will, there will be no peace without cleansing"

She licked her lips, she didn't want to turn her head but she felt it would be dishonorable if she wouldn't keep eye contact, especially with the things she was about to say.

Flare observed her patiently.

"You are the Taint Flare, being considered as Cynder's companion you were condemned to the role of the culprit. Darkness is no longer spiritual, it takes physical form. According to my faith you are a creature deserving of cleansing and lost to darkness. As a priestess of the light my duty is to protect people from you and fight you if it comes to that"

Flare gulped, fear visibly crawled into his eyes, the flames his body was giving away visibly dimmed.

She blinked, squeezing his paw and giving him a priestly, comforting look full of confidence.

"Not accountable" she pleaded with her charming voice

He momentarily forgot about doubt and fear, burning again with full force. He wondered if Coriza knew just how charismatic she is. Simple words and confident, warm look, it was all that was needed to make him believe in her words.

"This is the reason for my tears" the priestess continued "My faith demands from me to stand against the Taint and I'm here with you, lying in your paws and when I turn off my sense of faith I feel perfectly content with it. I cannot shut it off entirely, I love my faith and it brings us to this moral dilemma of mine. Sacrificing most of my time on my social life with you neglects my duties as a priestess. On you, who is the symbol of the Taint, this is betrayal and it makes me feel terrible. I don't want to lose the Ancestors"

"It hurts even more when I learned that the Seeker most likely knows about my escapades, he is the voice of the Ancestors and he is disappointed with me. Many temple caretakers would run to the temple at that sign, I probably would do too if not for you. I want to go to work, but I feel so nice with you around and I'm also aware that the temple can take care of itself without me there. Priesthood is not a standard profession you need to commit to every day for the same amount of hours, everything is based on free will, you work, you get paid accordingly"

"I mention this because besides my love towards faith and the comfort I feel around people that the temple considers as heretics there is also cold logic that shapes my identity. That logic tells me that faith which's core principle is peace shouldn't include words like fighting and cleansing in its doctrine. The same logic implies that you cannot condemn someone to be evil without first getting to know that someone a little. There is also the aura, that..."

Coriza took a deep, wavering breath, the orange underbelly below her followed her every move, staying true to its role of a loyal bed.

"This is very silly when said out loud. I just don't know what I'm doing from the looks of it" she looked down at her chest, observing her bruised paw with a sad look "It always hurts though"

Flare craned his neck forward gently, squeezing his lips into the form of a tiny hole he began blowing air tenderly on her bruised paw. The warmth of his breath on her irritated scales was extremely relaxing.

Her whole body shook, she stretched on top of him, allowing a little bliss to touch her soul.

"This is very nice, thank you and sorry for my rant. It was not my intention to trouble you so. I get a little cranky when I don't wear even a tiny bit of make-up"

"You know I love listening to you" Flare said, blowing another stream of warm air at the hurt paw, the feminine leg that was holding his own squeezed his red paw gratefully "Your voice is so soothing that I no longer need sleep to start dreaming. There is nothing silly about you, you are one of the most wonderful creatures I've ever met. After everything I've done you still are here, letting me hug you, you give life Coriza, you give me life"

He nuzzled her, rubbing his nose tenderly across her cheek.

Coriza's eyes widened, toes on her hind paws curled and heart lodged itself in her throat. She stiffened like a log.

"You're a muse" he whispered, breath bouncing off the blue scales, tendrils of flames stretching from his wings, reaching towards the bruised paw

The tentacles of flames wrapped themselves around the leg, stroking it gently, massaging the sore leg with all the loving care a magical feather was capable of.

Despite the overwhelming tension that strained her body, her throat managed to rattle, emitting a soft purr.

Her heart was the first thing that woke up from the shock, thudding in her chest so fiercely that it kicked the breath out of her lungs.

Her whole body burned from the inside.

What she felt right now was a familiar feeling of romantic attachment, one she felt when she arrived in the temple for the very first time.

Was it love she felt?

Or was it a mere, grateful affection?

Whatever it was, it scared her to the bone, attachment of any sorts meant commitment, and commitment meant choosing, in the end betraying the side that drew the shorter straw.

She didn't want to betray anyone, love is subjective, maybe even arrogant, it doesn't want to share, forcing it to do so splits its power. It has to be in full force to be genuine, splitting the attraction between two or more is a lie and a fake.

She didn't like to lie.

Joining the temple meant purity, in soul and in body. The rules weren't set in stone, there are caretakers that have partners and they seem to be happy.

But they don't have partners that are the embodiment of Darkness itself.

She feels attracted to all of them.

Flare, Sparx, Cynder, Spyro, she liked them all, could love them all.

Or perhaps she already did.

Brill knew that.

Ancestors knew that.

She shut her eyes tightly, holding back tears.

There is no reason to cry, she didn't split her love yet. Besides, by joining the temple she chose to love her faith and the Ancestors.

There is no more room left in her heart.

Then why Flare's closeness was so attractive?

She dangerously reached beyond her comfort zone, she knew that, could feel it in the cold shakes of her body despite the warmth surrounding her. Could feel it in the painful pulses in her temples.

Run.

She needs to run.

"F-Flare. M-May I go t-to work?" she put her strongest weapon on the line

Plea.

He jerked his head away from her sweet cheek momentarily, already familiar with the signs that cause her pain. Tentacles of flame surrounding her leg pushed back into the dancing tendrils of his wings, sucked like a noodle by a hungry mouth.

He released her paw, a sad whine leaving his throat impulsively, he never held paws with a girl before, he knew already he's going to miss it.

He unwrapped his legs with a depressed sigh, holding on to the moment as long as he could, instead of throwing his paws straight to the sides he slid them down the soft, gold chest until they hit the floor on their own. Imprinting the memory of this hug on the palms of his draconic hands.

Coriza rolled over, with fours paws landing on the ground she pushed herself up, giving the boy on the floor a shy, warm, toothless smile.

"Thank you for listening and for keeping me company. Accept my sincere apologies for every discomfort I caused"

"Can I come with you?" Flare tucked his paws below his chin, adopting a pose of a begging dog

She couldn't say no even if she wanted to.

"Naturally, but could I ask you to not walk with me? Just follow me and enter the temple after a while so we're not seen together? I am not ashamed of you, I'm happy to be your acquaintance, I would like to avoid giving the Seeker more evidence supporting his claim of my negligence though"

"O-"

"I'm aware that this is an uncommon request" Coriza continued, twirling a strand of hair in her claw nervously, not even realizing that she cut her friend off "It is really important for me though. I understand that you might feel cast aside, that is why I won't be hurt if you disagree. Making you feel worthless is not my intention, I-"

"Coriza!" Flare laughed

The priestess balked, mouth shutting with an audible clap.

"It's okay. I'll do anything for you"

She gulped.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I'm still going to keep my promise of watching you if I stay a little behind. It's not going to be as cool as having you by my side, but it's doable"

The popular, warm smile in the form of a line stretched her lips.

"Thank you"

Flare shook his head, grinning happily.

"This is what friends are for"

*

She arrived at the temple very quickly, the next dress up try turned out to be successful and went without any troubles. Even the closet looked perfect, not even a scratch visible anywhere, as if her small panic attack didn't happen at all.

She had to throw out the robe that she got entangled in though, it was too stretched and had small holes at the sleeves. Two robes destroyed in such a quick notice, it was very saddening, especially if back in the days the worst thing that happened was a stain from a misplaced dye.

Dear Ancestors how she wanted to paint her claws right now, or just recolor some less conspicuous scales a little, the ones in between the elbow and upper arm would do nicely.

Make-up always gave her that special wave of fresh air, made her happy and added a spark of courage, something she really needed right now.

She had no time even for the quickest of sessions, maybe if she wouldn't live alone, but with another girl she might have made it, it would speed things up immensely. Flare was there, but he was a boy, a sensitive one, but a boy nonetheless and boys have no idea about colors and grace.

Still she had no regrets, excluding that crying episode she had a wonderful time in general.

She really wanted to look behind her shoulder, to offer a grateful smile to the boy that made it possible, it was probably a bit naive to believe that the period with Iris meant nothing, but she was willing to risk it. After everything she saw and felt, she was willing to risk it.

She had no regrets about that either.

She quenched the urge by rearranging the hair pin, anything just to preoccupy her mind with something else and not allow her neck to succumb to the first, instinctive nudge.

"Ancestors guide you"

Coriza balked, surprised by the sound, eyes momentarily landed on the source of the sound, it sounded like an echo of a singing chorus.

A group of elderly people was just leaving the temple, three moles and two cheetahs. Holding each other by the arms, with one of the feline hands on a mole shoulder they walked down the marble path from the beautifully adorned door of the temple.

All of them were giving her warm, kind smiles.

"Ancestors guide you" she replied, feeling a pleasurable wave washing over her heart, she didn't know how much she needed to be reminded of her spiritual purpose

This was a small thing, but this is what she was living for.

She entered the temple.

She took a deep, very deep breath, chest puffing out from underneath the robe. The world swirled before her eyes, becoming dizzy from all the air she inhaled.

She absolutely loved the smell of candles and had no idea just how much she missed it.

She opened her dreamy eyes, the temple was having quite the movement today, as far as she knew there was no sermon planned for today, yet the caretakers, priests and all the people in the temple were indulged in their spiritual matters, praying and whispering.

She noticed one particular mole lady trudging around the temple, her gaze moving all around the place with no noteworthy goal. Moving around the columns she avoided the gaze of many people.

Guilt momentarily filled her heart, she could only wonder just how many people like this lady were needing assistance when she wasn't here. How many she could help and spare them the moments of loneliness and loss.

Such sights were common in the temple, especially the most devout and elderly are susceptible to these kind of after effects after a period of intense praying.

Not many can handle loneliness as well as her.

She approached the mole without hesitation, a welcoming smile on the snout and kind glimmer in the eye. All of this was shook away when her whole body was thrown back as if she would hit an invisible wall. The moment she approached the lady, her nostrils, or even her whole soul was invaded by a sensation of rot.

Or dirt.

As if the lady didn't wash herself for quite some time.

Clearing her throat, getting rid of the impolite wince that she felt was crunching her snout she made a couple more, small steps towards the mole, bearing through the repelling scent.

"Madame?" she put up her priestly smile "May I be of assistance?"

The mole lady turned around, her eyes were glassy, she was basically blind. It only added more to the feeling of guilt when she realized that this elderly lady had no one helping her around.

Something she might have made up for if she wouldn't be so late.

The mole extended her hand, withered claws traced lines on her scaly nose.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Coriza ma'am, I'm a priestess of this temple"

The claws tapped and scraped at her nose from every possible side, she had to close her eyes in fear of getting her eyes poked out.

"I don't recognize you"

She gulped, she could feel the drop of saliva as it landed in her stomach resonating in her hind paws. Usually it was normal that people don't recognize her, she wasn't a priest for long, there are people out there she never saw on her eyes, elderly ones included. Even she was an unknown for some, even if she was a dragon priestess.

Still those words left a mark, or perhaps she was the one who believed it to be more than in actually is. It was like the temple wanted to remind her of her neglect in every way possible.

"I hope to change that by lending my support" she rasped, depressingly glad that the mole had as many years as she had, that way she couldn't hear the pain in her voice

Shriveled claws stopped moving, curling on her nose, tips stretching the soft flesh.

"I don't feel you" the hand cut down sharply

"Eeeek!" Coriza squeaked, jerking her head to the side, paw slamming against the nose, she rubbed her scales fiercely

She looked at her paw, spotting two little smears of blood on the tips of two toes.

The mole scratched her nose.

She hurtfully gazed at the mole through her still hanging in the air claws, just in time to forget about the disgrace and frown in surprise as she noticed the mole sucking on her claws, she saw at least on one a drop of her blood.

"I didn't find you" the old mole's eyes widened, Coriza noticed a strange, white light flashing across the glassy eyes

"Ma-"

"You are foul" the lady cut the dragoness off, swiping with her arms and smacking the draconic, blue leg away

Coriza was too shocked, too terrified to even feel the burn of the slap on her scales. She impulsively started to shiver, big, pleading eyes aimed at the mole.

"You are foul!" the rodent blared out, slashing with her arms again

The priestess yelped when the hands fell on her nose, slapping it down.

"You are foul!" another strike, hitting a blue cheek this time

"Madame, please!" Coriza cried out, covering her snout behind her paw and limping back, away from the mole's reach

Her lack of grace didn't allow her to move far.

"You are foul!" she smacked the snout

"You are foul!" again

"Help!" Coriza howled, tears glistening in her eyes

Tears of pain, guilt and shame, there weren't many dragons in the world that couldn't defend themselves from a mole attacking them.

It was easy to point out those special individuals.

Mainly her and maybe a dozen of recently hatched hatchlings.

She was too busy to feel pride from this spectacular feat.

"You are foul!" smack

"What is going on here?!" a caretaker appeared from between the pillars, a young draconic boy followed by a couple of too curious temple visitors

"You are foul!" smack

People gasped and murmured, it was hard to tell if they were shocked by the aggressive stance of the old mole lady or that a dragon is getting beaten up by a creature that has trouble seeing past a chair.

"Miss Tempel!"

Everything went silent after the disciplinary shout, even the old mole who attacked the dragoness froze in place.

Coriza was also infected, her sobbing nose took a deep whiff that made her cough, she nearly choked on the thick, ugly scent that clouded this place and seemed to get so much more potent.

The surprising thing was that it no longer came from the old mole, her waving hands left no trace of dirt.

Brill appeared on scene, wearing respectfully embroidered with gold motives white robe of his Seeker status. The main priest looked around, it was enough for his gaze to merely pass across people to make them realize who is reaching past the boundary of what is considered a good taste of curiosity.

All the people that accompanied the male caretaker disappeared in a blink of an eye, momentarily finding something better to do.

"Miss Tempel" there was so much warmth in the mole's voice that it was almost burning

Something the old lady undoubtedly felt since she momentarily wrapped her arms around her body and shivered.

Brill reached out to her, embracing the elder mole into a kind hug, wrapping one arm across the line of her shoulders and pulling her closer to his chest. Stretched hand rubbing the far arm comfortingly.

"We must respect the sacred heaven, Ancestors are watching us vigilantly"

The mole lady clung to the robe, feeling it fervently as if it was a board on which her life depended on.

"I didn't feel it, empty Seeker, it was so empty"

"Shhh. We talked about this, we all are specks of dust in comparison to the Ancestors. We are simple beings, it is beyond our ability to truly comprehend the divine"

Tempel clung to the priest, thrusting her nose into his chest, claws curled tightly against the robe.

"I feel them in you Seeker I feel them"

"The Ancestors decide through who they desire to bestow their grace upon us. We must understand that they are in every one of us, their spark might be small, but they watch over all of us, over everyone who keeps the Taint away"

"The Ancestors love is infinite, we mortal creations are limited however, unable to keep with the power of the divine. In our existence there has to be a space for ourselves, remembering the teachings of the Sacred we must carry on with our lives, if we remain connected with the grace of the Ancestors for our whole daily lives it might to confusion"

"I need the Ancestors Seeker" the elderly female began to cry

Brill stroked the mole's head lovingly.

"I understand that, we all need the Ancestors in our lives, we cannot become greedy however. The Ancestors know what we need, it is not in our privilege to demand more of them. Striking the draconic servant of the Holy who represents the Divine not only in spirit but also flesh is a sign of greed Miss Tempel"

The mole's crying intensified, becoming basically hysterical.

"I'm sorry Seeker! I don't want to lose the Ancestors. I love them!"

The head priest embraced the weeping lady into a protective hug, both began swaying gently from side to side, locked in an comforting dance.

"And they love you too" he whispered, placing a soft kiss on top of the feminine head "Remember about the space Miss Tempel" he looked up, at the male draconic caretaker "Hotin my boy, would you be so kind as to escort Miss Tempel to her home and make sure she has all the necessities?"

The fire dragon nodded nearly automatically.

"Naturally Seeker"

Brill gently pushed away from the hug.

"Miss Tempel. This young, kind boy here will take you home" he gestured at Hotin "Please go with him and rest, it was a long day"

The old lady sniffled.

"Rest, yes"

"Hotin?"

"Allow me Miss Tempel" the drake approached the two moles, offering his wing as support, the old lady gratefully accepted the offer "We'll go on a little walk, we have a wonderful day today"

"Ancestors guide you" Brill smiled, watching the duo leave

"Ancestors guide you"

"Coriza"

The priestess balked, bowing her head in respect, paw glued to the snout.

"Seeker"

"Show it to me child"

"It is nothing Excellency"

"Please"

Coriza cringed, it was a simple plea, but for her as a temple servant, the plea coming from the mouth of someone like Brill who is her superior sounded like an order.

She uncovered her recently tormented snout.

Brill slid one of his hands under her chin, propping her head, beautiful gold eyes looked at him. Unceremoniously he reached under his robe, removing a small tissue, he began to clean her snout, starting from wiping the tears from her left cheek and eye.

"It is quite often that age is not openly welcomed, sometimes it cripples the mind as well as the body" the tissue moved to the other eye "Miss Tempel is such a case unfortunately, her condition deteriorated greatly over the past few moons. Her faith is as strong as the pressure of age on her life"

He flipped the tissue to the other side, folding it into a neat cube before pressing it to the scratches on the blue nose.

Coriza squeaked.

Brill lifted the tissue, blowing a warm stream of air on the irritated cut, calming down the burn before touching the wound again. He began to clean it tenderly.

"We must never forget about the Ancestors however, they work in mysterious ways, as loving and merciful they are, they are also divine creatures that know how to inflict punishment if it's necessary to set someone on the correct path. I believe they are more demanding towards us, their direct servants who made an oath to assist them. What might be just a unfortunate circumstance of fate might be the Ancestors will"

He looked straight into the draconic, sun-like orbs.

Coriza gulped, she was intelligent enough to understand the hint.

Brill was aware of that.

He kissed her gently, directly on the recently cleaned scratches on the nose.

"I worry about you my child"

Again the same line.

She coughed, at least she hoped it sounded like a cough, because the burst that grew in her throat was nothing else, but a gag. The stench she felt hanging in the temple crept into every possible space in her body, she was filled with it and nearly choked in it.

She didn't remember the temple stinking like that ever before.

Either she was gone for so long that her nostrils forgot the smell, or she was making all of it up, since none of the people here seemed to be bothered like it.

"I greatly appreciate your concern Seeker, but there is no need to waste your energy on me. I carry the Ancestors in my heart"

Brill gently moved his cane, inconspicuously pointing at something behind her.

"Our hearts need all the space to store the Ancestor's grace, letting someone else inside casts them away"

With her head still lowered down in respectful bow, she glanced behind her, eyes widened and tail made a wild flick when she saw Flare entering the temple.

The Seeker implied what she feared the most, she loved her faith though, she loved it still. She couldn't have cast the Ancestors away.

"You are mistaken Seeker! I love the Ancestors"

"Denial child is the first evidence of the tentacles of Taint slithering around your heart"

"I-"

Her voice died abruptly, she felt as if a whole pile of bugs would fly directly into her throat. Instead of voicing her thoughts she merely hacked.

Dread in its raw form squeezed her throat.

This was the first time when she openly accused someone of being wrong, no, not openly, this was the first time in her entire life when she denied someone's words.

First time in her life when she fought.

With no one else but the embodiment of the will of the Ancestors.

Her mouth froze in place, gaping like that of a panting Hound.

This was not the first time. It was just that the scale of the offense changed.

First time was Flare when she pulled his tail to prevent him from going inside the towers of this place of tranquility.

This was exactly the pattern with which evil works, subtly pushing you beyond the boundaries of your own morality, making sure you are as comfortable as possible when you cross the line.

She never felt so empty before.

"Ascend with me priestess" Brill spoke, he didn't seem to be moved by her reaction, immediately turning around and making his way to the staircase, notifying each beaten step by a tap of cane against the flight of stairs

She followed the mole blindly, automatically, like a slave depraved of every spark of will to live.

Back in the hall of the temple Flare growled, swinging, burning tail making fiery dashes in the air, he was unmoved by the murmurs of the people surrounding him, focusing solely at the old mole who was leading his friend to the den of worms. The king of bugs, slithering all over his friend.

Sparks burned within his eyes.

The only thing holding him back was Sparx' words about the dirt and how all of it would fall on the heads on his friends when he would chase the worms away.

He wasn't sure however if he will remember those words if the disgusting bug takes his friend away.

Without a word she followed the priest, each step taking a heavier toll on her. Her felt as if it was about to explode, pressurized by two strong currents. One being the instinct, warning her that Flare is watching and reminding her of his last reaction when he learned about Brill and the promise he made to Sparx about keeping an eye on her.

The other thing was the ugly stench that just seemed to grow in strength the higher she went, she was forced to hold her breath, feeling already that her scales were turning green from the pollution.

"Are you feeling well my child?"

She balked, looking up, surprised to see the Seeker already at the top, ready to disappear into the shadows of the towers while she was hardly in the middle

She didn't even realize when she stopped.

She whined through clenched lips, cheeks puffed out from all the accumulated air inside the mouth, her snout taking a darker shade of blue.

She wasn't feeling well.

"You need help cleric. Taint has no place in this sacred halls. Fortunately the wisdom of the Ancestors is unfathomable and their vigil unending. Taint is desperate and it knows its strength is of no importance against the grace of the Divines. Attempts to pollute the sacred veins that run through this place and your body prove that the Darkness fears defeat, it knows that defeat is coming"

Brill took a deep, invigorating breath.

Thinking alone about people obliviously breathing this abhorrent scent was bad enough, seeing someone inhaling it purposely, taking a swig of it so deep as if it was a breath of life after a long dive turned her stomach around. She could taste the bile of her stomach on her tongue.

The Seeker looked down the steps, catching the whole temple in his sight and all of its current visitors. Including Flare.

"The Ancestors watch us, they see everything, I see everything"

His eyes landed on the young cleric.

"Remember this young priestess. I know of your affiliations, your inability to beat these stairs only proves that, the burning creature below proves that. The Ancestors are merciful, so am I, your ascension awaits to join the flock. Many did before you"

"The Ancestors granted you mercy because they love you child" eyes rose to glance at Flare who was as tense as an assassin who is about to leap at his prey

"You are of divine heritage, because of that your hesitation is accepted, your acquaintances tolerated, don't think however that your actions go unnoticed. As an living example of the Ancestors you are given the privilege of choice"

Eyes turned back at the cleric, who seemed to be at the brink of fainting.

"You are too special to go unnoticed, you might not see it but hanging in the middle of two forces doesn't make you invisible. You are far more than a shadow child, can you not feel it?"

He stepped down, grabbing a blue paw in both of his hands, squeezing it with the comforting power of a grandfather.

"Taint always corrupts the exceptional, don't forget that. There is however much Light in you young cleric, you can be the next Seeker if you just believe in yourself and accept the Grace. It awaits you on top of the stairs"

He placed a soft kiss on the dragoness' cheek, observing the burning dragon at the bottom of the stairs. He was burning fiercely, angry flames cracking from the wings.

"Explore Coriza, you still have time, I hope you make the right decision. You must decide child, there is no middle ground. You are too precious, ascend when you will be alone and I'll show you everything. Carry on with your life for now, see what the Taint has to offer, I will pray you will have enough strength after that to push through. Remember that Darkness doesn't want you to reach the Light, it wants us to fight, we are better than that"

"This is why I bar you entrance to the quarters, this tower is forbidden to you" the mole jerked his head back, cupping the blue snout in both his hands and looking at the hurt, tears filled eyes.

"Alone child, lull the Taint, it won't make us fight each other, not when our souls still belong to us. You are allowed to carry on with your duties as a cleric, you will get paid for your services, the lower level is the limit however. This is necessary to keep the Taint from spreading beyond control"

"Remember two things child. Darkness is in you and it won't let go, it will surround you, pretend to be your friend, protect you. It is up to you to see through the ruse, as an Ancestors conduit you must expel the Taint alone"

"The other thing to never forget is that Ancestors are always watching"

He placed a warm kiss on the nose, seeing the dragon below nearly exploding with jealous fury.

"I am always watching"