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Elessi glanced at the sky spread above her. The stars swept infinity's breadth across nearly its whole its expanse, but the western horizon was ominously blank. Occasional flashes from the tops of broad, heavy clouds refracted through the moist air, lighting the land below and causing her eyes to momentarily narrow.

It would rain tonight, and that pleased her.

Forerunner tendrils of cloud floated past now and again, though the air currents were still around her, and not even the gentlest zephyr stirred to wash across her scales. She had a few hours yet.

She hungered, but the hunting tonight would be poor; the only prey worth hunting would itself be wary, bedding down in a safe place to wait out the storms. An energy filled the night, at once still and powerful, stirring her senses and resonating within her.

The sky called to her, beckoned her to come and learn its lesson and do battle once more, a battle she could not join.

She tasted the air. It was still, but the energy grew. Energy flowed from the shifts of the balance, from the change of state, at once within her and without. The power of the storm that would soon sweep through, the power of the land arcing to meet the faces of the clouds above, trees that would roar and creak to pull down the winds and the very forces of life from them, the land that would suck them dry, and their eagerness to be drained.

Elessi spread her wings in the still night air, baring her teeth in challenge. Broad-wing, she had been known. The greatest warrior of her people, the strongest in battle and the most powerful, a leader amongst the Elech. Her place on the council had been well earned and never disputed.

She turned her head and lifted her chin, ever proud. Her wings hung torn and tattered, and the scales of her body were loose. Her bones ached in defiance of her will, and recalcitrant legs refused to bend and give her spring. Others had long since taken her place in battle, and on the council, and in the sky. Her children were many and proud, and she of them.

This would be Elessi's last cycle, and she knew she would not see the mists of morning. Though she longed to return to the sky once more, she welcomed the coming storm in peace.

She sensed a presence behind her and turned.

Eren and Brax were there, sitting like standing stones with starlight glimmering across their scales. They had not brought food this time, and that was as it should be.

"My children." Elessi's voice was warm with love and affection. "The time has passed for me when I would sense you coming, hear your arrival, feel the pressures of your air."

The two Elech did not move.

A cold wind stirred the boughs around them, and Elessi raised her head.

"It is a beautiful night. Full of change."

Still the pair did not respond. Brax blinked.

Elessi allowed her grin to fade, dipping her head respectfully.

"We shall wait until the storm lends its fury. Come, my children. Dispense with protocol and sit with me this once."

Brax peered at Eren, looking almost guilty. Eren shook his head very slightly.

"I warn you," Elessi hardened her voice slightly, "And I warn once. It is my time, and I will not run, but come at me before the storm, refuse my invitation to settle with me and talk, and I will resist you with every ounce of guile and strength I yet possess."

Brax sighed and stepped forward, ignoring a hiss from Eren.

"I'm sorry. I have never done," Brax's voice still held the harshness of youth. "But we are told to not talk."

"Yes, and that is as it should be. And when you taste my blood, you will have my whole life, and you'll understand me and know why I wished to await the storm. But I am not some songless, dreamless one. I am Broad-wing, grown wise, and you will award me this final request."

"It is forbidden," Eren growled, displeased. He circled slightly to her left.

Elessi turned, rising to her haunches and extending her claws. She was still half again the weight of Eren, and towered over him. The younger Elechen both flinched back.

"Don't, Eren. We will wait," Brax entreated, wings furled. "It is not weakness to show respect. We were chosen, and it is our discretion."

"I remember my first." Elessi was calm. She did not fear inevitability, but she was determined to die as she'd lived--on her own terms. "My first, I did not talk. He was not ready, and he ran. I hunted him down, and he begged me to spare him. He offered a taste of his blood, but begged me to let him go. What do you think I did?"

"You killed him." Eren rumbled certainly, settling a bit.

"No. I took his offer and left him to starve in the forest. And then I knew him. I dreamed him. I knew he was not yet ready, and so I took a duty to him and came to call frequently. When he was ready, only then did I take him."

"The council?"

"The council does not make the rules you think we follow. Why should our last memories be poisoned by terror and desperation? Why should we take someone who doesn't want to go? This is a kindness, bringing our beloved back in once more to the blood which spawned them and their line. It is our ultimate honor, and we should deny it to those who do not wish it, and those who are not yet ready--it is the way of the Elech. Yet thousands of years will change things, and turn our honor into a ruthless game. Once you have tasted, you will understand, my children. In two hours you will no longer be children."

"We love you, Broad-wing," Eren murmured. He sounded reluctant.

"Ever love, my mother," Brax squeezed his eyes shut. "It is hard for us to do."

"I wish it," Elessi closed her eyes briefly in gratitude. "I knew it would be tonight, but I want to feel all of this glorious energy released. One last time. Can you feel it? I wish to join with the energy and embrace the change as I embrace my own."

"Yes, my mother."

"Sit with me, my children, and settle. Over the past weeks I have felt this day come. We all know I will not heal from the crash that left me here. I am grateful for your efforts to serve me."

Brax stiffened and stared up. Elessi noticed and followed his gaze.

Two shooting stars fell together across the sky, away from the mountains and toward the sun-lit grasslands far beyond the eastern horizon. Two more followed, and two more.

"What is this?" Eren rose, alert.

"Change, young one." Elessi settled, rubbing her nose in the dirt for a moment. "It is change. Some new world. It ... is beyond my time."

Another set of stars lit the sky.

"No mother. You should come back with us to the council," Brax's voice trembled slightly. "This changes much."

"It changes nothing, young one. You will grow great. As great as me. Greater, young Brax. I dream the dream of millennia, and with that wisdom I can see your heart. And yours, Eren. I know what strength lies within the both of you. If you both stand together, none can beat you."

A stronger breeze stirred the tops of the trees, then set them sighing in the distance. In time it swept across them in a rustling roar. The clouds grew.

"My children." Elessi dug her claws into the cool loam, enjoying its touch. "It will not be long now. I have lived an age, and whatever has come, I sense you will meet it. I will be with you, behind the eyes."

They sat in silence. Even as the rumble of thunder shook the ground. Even as the breeze carried the scent of water to sensitive Elech noses. Even as the droplets began to sink into the thirsty soil.

At long last, Elessi settled her length into the grass and turned her head to the side. She closed her eyes, feeling the rain beginning to strike her form and rattle through the trees. The lightning struck close by, and in that instant both of her children moved. She heard a little sob from Brax, and could sense Eren's determination.

"It is alright. It is time," She hissed.

As she felt their jaws close around her neck, she felt a great gladness sweep through her for all her life had brought, and she remembered the kiss of the millions who had come before, including her first.