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Fabricio, a black dragon, alone in the world, decides to seek shelter in a group of dragons, over time he swears loyalty to them. But what did not expect was a war that is being fought by two realms, and soon reach the territory. The duty it is to protect at all costs their blood brothers.

A dull ache and rumble made Fabricio growl in annoyance. It had been three days since he'd eaten and the hunger pangs were getting the better of him. Roaming the world alone wasn't usually so bad but unfamiliar territory sometimes meant not finding food for a while especially when one doesn't know where the good hunt is.

As a black dragon, scales as dark as the night and wings smoky white as the clouds, he preferred hunting at night. A rare breed his coloration was perfect for the midnight predator, but desperation was settling in and he had to take any opportunity he could. Walking aimlessly through a hilly forest he lifted his snout and tasted the air, and to his surprise a faint musky odor wafted by. It was a familiar scent and definitely potential food.

Periodically testing the air he almost thought he lost it until a breeze blew by and the scent was stronger than ever, and it came with the tang of blood. Stepping lightly he kept to the shadows of the trees, his stomach panging him as the prospect of food grew closer until finally he saw it. A doe lay dead beside a tree, its foreleg nearly severed and an iron contraption firmly holding onto what remained of the rest of the leg.

Normally he'd have been skeptical, or noticed the other scents, but his mind was clouded with hunger and a meal so easily available he lost himself and rushed to the carcass quickly going for the gut and devouring as much as he could as fast as he could. He didn't even hear them until a rush of fire and agonizing pain seared right through his side and in his gut. Roaring in the most pain he had ever felt he turned on the attacker and made to lunge only to flop on his wounded side, his leg wouldn't work and any movement sent pain rushing through to his side where he noticed blood was flowing freely.

He paid the wound little attention and gave another attempt at lunging for the attacker. The two legged creature had a long stick pointed with iron, and the fore-half glistened with the crimson of his blood. The two legger side-stepped easily and made for a second attack only to have a tail crashing into the side of his head and dropping to the ground. A flurry of yelling and the rest of the attackers fled, the one struck lay lifeless, and Fabricio's side and belly burned with a new fury. The ground was soaking with his blood and his vision was starting to blur. A flash of fire caught his attention and wings close above him but it mattered little as he collapsed and darkness took him.

A nauseating and agonizing pain in his side was his world. Occasionally something cool and wet rubbed along his muzzle and then everything would disappear back in the wonderful void of sleep. Time meant nothing until finally the pain was back and sleep wouldn't return, and the pain flashed suddenly making him growl in agony and a soft voice calmed him.

"It's over, it's over, everything will be fine just relax."

Finally opening his eyes everything was brown and hazy. Torches carved in the walls lit the place in an orange glow and he could tell it was a cave. A boulder carved into a flat pedestal held a variety of plants and powders, some mixed in fluid. He then realized he lay on something soft and very very comfortable and made to get up until a flash of pain caused him to quickly give up with a pained whine.

"Wha.......what happened?

The soft voice returned and a shuffling of scales and flash of dark blue caught his attention before disappearing behind him. He was too weak to even follow the thing with his head still but judging by the scent and the voice it was a female dragon.

"You fell for a trap laid by humans and you were wounded badly. You've lost a lot of your life's blood and something inside you is still not right but it seems the patrol found you in time."

He took a moment to think and the female gave him his time not wanting to intrude on his thoughts or be rude. He remembered he was hungry, starving actually, and he found a deer dead by a tree, and then a flash of the most pain he had ever experienced and then everything was black. He should have died then.

"You saved me?"

The female came back in view and started doing something with the plants and water on the table before walking back on three legs holding a bowl in a free paw and putting it to his muzzle.

"Well my brother heard your screams and killed the humans. The rest of the Guard flew you back here and I tended to your wounds, now drink. This will help the healing inside you and dull the pain."

Fabricio took a sniff at the contents of the bowl and fought the urge to use what little strength he had to smack it away. It was the most horrendous bitter and foul smelling oder he had ever had the displeasure of smelling and the female this time was not so kind in her tone.

"You can either drink it on your own or I'm going to force it down your muzzle the way I've been doing the past three nights. Either way you will drink it."

This female had kept him alive this long and the foul smelling liquid must have been working so made to lick it up only the female poured it in his mouth all at once making him cough and gag wanting to vomit, all causing his side and belly to burn painfully until he swallowed. Soon though his stomach felt fuzzy and the feeling spread throughout his body as the female spoke.

"I'm sorry, I had to do it or you would've spat it out right away. It's called bitterwort for a reason but it works."

Quickly he started feeling sleepy and he did his best to stay awake, he needed to know where he was, and he wanted to know this female more and she could tell he was fighting the sleep.

"Rest, the herb will do its work while you sleep. I'll be back tomorrow to tend your wounds and we'll see about some food."

The last of her words faded into nothingness and the painless world of sleep wrapped him in its embrace. He didn't remember much of the next day. The blue female was there and at one time was talking to a male. They talked for a long time but about what he couldn't remember, it sounded sad though. He definitely remembered eating near rotten meat, or at least that's how it tasted. Actually it tasted a lot like that bitterwort. It wasn't till the next day that he awoke to the pain returning with a fury and he couldn't contain the cry of agony. This time though it wasn't the female's caring touch to calm him but rough paws grabbing ahold of his muzzle forcing him to look into the fiery golden eyes of a bronze male and a deep commanding voice almost literally forcing him still.

"You will hold just as you did against the humans who failed to kill you. I saw what they did to you, a lesser dragon would have given in to the pain and died there. You held your ground, and you will hold your ground here and now!"

Something was inside his side and it burned horrible making his muscles clench and spasm uncontrollably but he could not break the male's gaze. It was a challenge, a challenge for him to give up on life and refused to do that. The pain started to procede out of him and then his hide kept getting poked and pulled. Tears streamed down his muzzle but the bronze male wouldn't let go no matter how bad he wanted to. Eventually the pain stopped and was replaced by a horrible throbbing. He wanted to look at his wound but the bronze pulled his head back to face him.

"Don't look."

Fabricio struggled to speak through the pain and he shuddered not knowing how bad it was.

"How bad is it?"

"You were bleeding inside and Selina had to open your wound to close your inside wound. I don't want you to sleep for a while."

"I won't wake up?"

"We're not going to take the chance for now."

"Who are you and who is Selina?"

"Selina is my daughter, she saved your life, and my name is Rorick."

Fabricio knew that name from somewhere and then the weight hit him almost as hard as that spear in his gut did. Rorick was the only dragon to bring other dragons together in peace and heralded as the king of dragons. Rorick saw the realization dawn on Fabricio's face.

"Yes, the Rorick. Call me sire or lord and I'll have Selina make a female out of you."

Fabricio's ears drew back and he looked back this time Rorock allowing him to at Selina and she just winked back at him. The ruler of all dragons and now he was getting scolded.

"Cheer up son. You're going to be fine and tomorrow Selina will take you out for some exercise and fresh water. We'll see about some more permanent living accommodations later."

The healing process was long and painful. Even simple bodily functions were unpleasent for a while but as the moons passed his body healed and Fabricio learned that hundreds of dragons in the area not just counting the score that lived in the immense natural cave system left by long past volcanic activity swore their lives not to Rorick but to all dragons and creatures that needed their help. Everything required balance and even their prey was in danger of being overhunted by these humans. There were bigger problems though.

"SELINA HELP!"

More cries of help were heard at the entrance to the caves. Fabricio rushed to help only to stop dead in his tracks at the entrance. Outside was three dragons laying bloodied, only one seemed to be moving.

Selina rushed out to help nearly toppling Fabricio over. It was a futile effort though. They made it home and that was it. Selina roared a pained cry to the world and whoever had done this to her friends and Rorick sat beside Fabricio, ears drawn back and a tear streaking down his snout.

"The same humans. Their wounds are the same as yours."

Anger started to fill Fabricio. How could anyone do this to creatures of order and balance? Dragons never terrorized or murdered other creatures like this it was for food and balance, but this? This wasn't right and something had to be done.

"I want to help."

Rorick looked over at Fabricio and let out a sigh, his wings and tail low and still a further sign of sadness and guilt.

"I can't ask this of you."

"You don't have to, I'm asking you. Nobody deserves this and it's obvious these humans are not going to stop. It's going to get worse."

Rorick raised an eyebrow confused.

"How do you know this?"

Fabricio looked up at Rorick staring him directly in the eyes this time, flames of vengence and hate flashing in his eyes as well as a deep hidden pain. Rorick knew the answer then.

"Humans did this to my home. We were not so many though, and during the cold season at night they came and slaughtered everyone like it was a game. I was but a hatchling I couldn't even fly yet, but they did not see me and as quickly as they came they left. I won't let this happen again."

"Then what do you suggest?"

Fabricio was confused at first and Rorick interjected his thoughts before he could say anything.

"I need the help of all my warriors and if you know something then we need to know."

Realization that he was accepted hit him and his pride showed. He knew where the villages and the city were, but the heart of the problem was the camps that he had flown over. He had always dismissed them as just the two leggers being two leggers but now he knew they were humans and what their purpose was.

"The humans have poor eyes at night, without their torches their blind. And I remember places they were grouped up before I was attacked."

"They've long since moved and in our direction. You're the only one with scale as black as the night. There are a couple grays that may blend with the night as well but not as you can. There are a series of camps not far from here. Those three dead were sent to wipe out one of those camps. This time you'll do it in the night."

"Wait......you're sending me to kill? I thought your people were about balance?"

Rorick stared down Fabricio and a different fire glowed in his eyes this time, and he felt it in his heart as well but was afraid of it as well. Like a fire that could burn the whole forest down and consume his entire heart with it.

"They kill ours, so we will take theirs. Balance, and then we'll drive them out bringing balance back to these lands."

Everything else that day passed in a haze. He was still wounded, but by now Selina had taken out the stitching but that didn't mean his inside wounds were well. Before he realized it a gray male and female were almost had to yell to get his attention.

"Fabricio! Come on it's time"

Fabricio looked the gray pair over, and minus the scent and slight differences in body tone they were identical. The female had a plain view of his wound and her expression changed from one determined to one of skepticism. He noticed and was somewhat annoyed and his tone showed it.

"I'll be fine, are you twins? I've never heard of male and female twins."

This time the male spoke, he sounded a bit young for his size. Younger than he was himself it seemed. His voice was soft spoken and reminiscent of his sister's.

"I apologize for the lack of introduction. I'm Heskaris and my sister's name is Ailia. We hatched of the same egg."

"I'm Fabricio, last of my family. What's the plan?"

Ailia this time interjected and she definitely had the more commanding tone.

"We know where the human camp is that attacked you. We've been tracking them since you came here, other than that neither of us are familiar with hunting at night. We'll lead you there and circle above to get a view of their camp, after that we'll follow your lead."

Uncertainty clawed at Fabricio just under his black scales, but this was his chance to be part of something bigger than himself, and then something else clawed at his mind. Ailia seemed confident though, he just hoped they knew how to land in the dark.

"Then let's go.."

The three dragons made their way to the entrance of the cavern and the grays took off first. Fabricio spread his wings and felt the air once again. The muscles in his side felt tight, no longer painful but still reminding him of his wounds. A couple experimental flaps of his wings and this time everything felt right. There was no better time to test out flying once again but on his first mission.

Crouching low he lept into the air and beat his wings against the restricting ground. He wanted to roar to the world his return to the skies but he was on a hunt, and this prey knew how to bite back.

The grays kept a slow pace for him to catch up and they flew towards the horizon. The sun had just disappeared below the mountains leaving the world in a red haze quickly fading into darkness. Night would be set by the time they reached the camp and hopefully they'll have large fires. Large fires made the rest of the night all the more darker and they'd need that extra concealment.

Fabricio had plenty of time to reflect. The pain in his side quickly became a dull haze lost among his thoughts, and eventually he became so lost that he found himself alone for a moment in flight. A quick glance back reminded him of where and what he was about to do. It almost sickened him to kill, but the fire began to build again. A revenge not just for what he'd lost but for something much bigger than himself too, and these dragons treated him like kin so he swore to himself he'd give them the same.

The scent of burning wood and food came downwind long before the sight and he was surprised he hadn't noticed it earlier, silently cursing himself for getting so lost in his own head he returned his attention to the task at hand. The scent was too easy to follow, and it made him feel uneasy. He'd never seen these so called humans make their fires so obvious. The two grays followed him with absolute trust it seemed. The amber light of flame lit up a clearing like a miniature sun had landed itself in the forest. He made sure they kept a high altitude and circled, scanning the camp.

They made this too easy, humans made everything so simple. Where else were they going to sleep than the series of white skins lined in rows and columns. Fires were lit in front of every tent, but why would every one of them have a fire and make such a light if they were all going to sleep? More and more about this seemed off and it even make Fabricio's wound twinge. Nothing about this felt right. He could see humans but only standing at corners of the entire camp, and a few standing around a bigger fire next to a tent by itself. No meandering, no cheers or songs.

Fabricio banked in the opposite and found the nearest clearing and circled it for a time scanning the ground before he was comfortable to land. He took his time making sure to not agitate his wound and set down easy enough, the wound gave him no complaint. Little could be said about the two grays that set down beside him.

"We're supposed to be attacking them what's the problem?"

The tone of that voice alone set Fabricio on edge. It wasn't enough this whole plan seemed off and to add on he's being antagonized....

"The problem is they're not there."

Ailia's tail twitched in a combination of annoyance and anticipation. She sniffed at the air a couple times and paused, then sniffed again and her eyes went large.

"They're attacking our home......"

Fabricio didn't bother to let the pieces fall into place, something had to be done now and it was obvious he was the one in charge.

"Ailia go and warn everybody, Heskaris you're with me. Go now!"

Fabricio took off and for a while they flew together until Ailia branched off and headed back to the cave they left. Fabricio and Hekaris followed the now obvious tracks left by rows of humans sulking from tree to tree. He doubted the gray could see as he could but Fabricio could see it now and it wasn't long till a foul stench carried through the winds caught his senses and then he could see them. Darting from tree to tree thinking themselves so sneaky.

Fabricio found a tight place to land and set down as quietly as he could. These creatures were so loud with their scurrying they'd scared off all the prey, it just mean they'd never hear their own death coming.

The first human was a quick silent kill. Fabricio ran between the trees as black death and bit down on the man's head as he hid behind a tree waiting to move. Not a sound was made and the taste was foul. It reeked of lack of bathing and some foul bitter thing that if lingered on too long would make his head spin. Heskaris followed in his lead and did the same, his expression was cold and calculated and move on to the next.

The humans were running in a pattern all too easy to follow. One by one the numbers dwindled even though there seemed to be too many to count. It only took minutes though for them to realize something was wrong and all of them stopped moving. The forest took an eerie silence, and Fabricio was the terror in the night.

A scream tore through the silence and Fabricio swore he'd been spotted but then some humans ran to the source only to find a mangled corpse. Heskaris was playing their fear and Fabricio gave a wicked grin. Minutes passed as the two went from one to the other as the humans struggled to group together but it seemed that finally they had the last of them grouped up like cattle.

Off in the distance fire blew and more screams of men tore through the night. It became a song of victory. Fabricio watched in the shadows a moment as the humans fled and knew the fight was one. It was no fight but a warning. This was our home, and Fabricio felt it in his heart then, it was his home too. His home to keep and these dragons would forever be his friends and he'd do everything in his power to protect his home and give his life for it if he had to.