FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 6

Their way back was happening in complete silence, even more profound than when she followed Kit around to that stupid place. The commanding tone of her uncle and now this, three people traveling together and nobody says a word. It was pissing her off, she wasn't certain what exactly, was it silence? Or the two idiots who treat her like air?

Lack of attention was infuriating.

Fuck them.

Let them worry about their own problems, If they don't want to see farther then the tips of their noses so be it. The cat didn't even look at her after their little confrontation, she didn't take him for the sensitive type. He has some nerves to defy her like that.

Can he really be blamed after what I've done?

Of course he can! It was him that declined her offer!

Fuck him.

What about my uncle? He is as indifferent as the rest of them! He didn't even leave a comment about the bloody hole in my wing, nor he cared about my ungraceful and painful flight! Not to mention that he seemed to not even notice the glimmering shitty rock stuck in my fucking chest!

Fuck him.

But...but I need him sooo badly.

Somewhere behind her uncle's burning tail Iris snorted with disgust that it almost made her throw up.

What the hell is wrong with me? What the hell are you thinking about? Iris come on! You're not like them, you're not like all those weaklings! You are not-

Desperate, I am desperate.

Her paw impulsively moved towards the medallion on her neck, her claws slid gently up and down its tarnished surface. The muscles on her paws tensing, contracting so fiercely that it hurt, moving towards the chain with the sole intention of wrapping themselves around it and hold it. Hold it and-

No!

Her paw jerked back away from the chain and dropped down, hanging and swaying limply in the air like a corpse of a hung person dangling on a tree branch.

They don't want to wait, their choice, it is their decision to resign of her glorious presence, she'll catch up with them soon enough. There's no rush, especially when she is returning back to that stinking hole the cats and other weaklings call Warfang or some shit.

For her it's just a hole.

Hunter was running faster than usual, faster even when he led Iris to the rainforest, he wasn't really certain what fueled his legs and lungs so much. The adrenaline from the recent skirmish faded away completely, he was sure of that. That happened faster than usually as well, but he could find explanation for this without a problem. He can forgive the dragon kind everything, even profound hostility, for him Iris was no different than Malefor. Perhaps it wasn't a fair comparison but he couldn't find any other, such magnificent creatures have the right to bend the rules of what is accepted and not.

He loved those creatures in his own special way and love can be blind as they say.

However he couldn't find any explanation for the constant nervous twitching of his ears. The first thought that crossed his mind was completely irrational, it was the wind that bothered his ears, but not the gusts created by his fluttering cape, those that bothered him were much stronger.

They were coming from above.

His bird felt it too, it was flying lower than usual, just above the tree lines, like it was shy or intimidated. The gusts that were irritating his ears were coming from even higher, and they were created by wings much bigger than those of a falcon.

Like draconic wings for example.

He wasn't sure whose wings were responsible for this, was it Iris or Ignus? Maybe both?

Hunter jumped over a fallen tree branch.

This is insane.

It was obvious that his instinct was playing on his nerves, especially after that fight with Iris. It was perfectly normal to expect a knife in the back, in this case a bolt of ice or a fireball, after that.

Yet something...wasn't really...something told him...something. Something was wrong, just didn't want to add up. He felt like...

...like...

...like...

...like a guy who said yes to a beautiful vampire and invited her through the doorstep of his house. Corridors of which were soon flooded with thick, red blood.

As the massive walls of Warfang rose in the horizon as he was scaling a small him a cold shiver ran through his spine that paralyzed his every muscle. His ears dropped flat on his skull underneath his hood.

The bird let out a pitiful, sorrowful cry.

"Impressive"

Hunter almost jumped at the sound of the male voice, the noise of draconic paws touching the soil behind him made him realize that he was standing in place, completely still, staring at the horizon and the growing walls of the Dragon City.

For who knows how long.

"Huh?" Hunter muttered as he turned to face the red drake. For a brief second, his still sleepy mind could swear that in front of him stands no one else than Ignitus himself, cladded in a battle armor he seen him wearing in many paintings.

This quick trick of mind filled him with unexplained horror.

Ignus eyed the cheetah carefully from toes to ears.

"Those are some formidable walls, ,thick, constructed from solid stone, like the structures inside. Beautifully crafted indeed" he looked at the growing walls in the distance "All of this was made by dragons and belongs to my kind?"

The cheetah swallowed, for a tiny second a thought to remain silent crossed his mind, but it faded just as quick as it appeared. The dragon's voice was filled with awe and honest surprise. There is just no reasonable explanation for this misgiving.

Or maybe Iris...betrayal of sorts had such an impact on him? His object of fascination turned against him, does a fate more tragic exist for a besotted fan?

Everything is possible.

"The city was built by the honorable moles" Hunter replied stoically and in his typical gallant manner "when Warfang was finished the moles in a sign of good faith passed all the rights to the draconic Guardians, who to this day righteously rule the city "The Guardians opened the gates for any culture and race to live peacefully behind its safe walls, to somehow repay the debt I believe"

The scout pressed his hand to his chest humbly "My kind was among the few who received this avuncular invitation, it was accepted with great respect and joy"

The dragon's eyes were constantly locked on the walls ahead "I suspect that my annoying inquisitiveness might seem suspicious to you. I'm a stranger after all, from a different time if the stories are to be believed. If somebody like this would be asking questions about my home, I would be alarmed too"

Ignus looked down at the cat and smiled reassuringly "To see all of this again..." he looked at the city in the distance once more, his eyes shimmered with awe "...it's breathtaking. A Dragon City, a true Dragon City right in front of my eyes"

Worry wrinkled Hunter's face "Were there no dragon cities in your time?"

The fire dragon nodded "Once, yes, those were some glorious times" he sighed longingly "Sadly everything changed, houses and fields we called our own were taken from us, piece by piece. Until..." he chuckled melancholically "we were reduced to this" he clenched his fist and patted fiercely the dirty and broken armor he was wearing "To the role of hermits and scavengers"

He pushed his paw down, the earth thudded underneath the massive leg, while the dragon shook his head, his tail unconsciously moving in accordance with his head. Cinders jumped from the fiery tip on his tail with each sway it made. As if empathizing his irritation.

"My enthusiasm might seem suspicious I know, but I haven't seen a thriving draconic community for years. It is especially difficult to find friends with Iris around. She has...had a special status among the dragons in our time, it got in the way of making new friends, just as much as her lack of any social skills"

He eyed the cat with a sad smile "As you are aware of already I'm afraid"

The cheetah nodded, barely registering what the drake was saying.

The longer Hunter listened to the drake's speech the faster any notion of misgiving was leaving him. The dragon seemed alright, there are people who don't make good first impressions and the dragon seems to be one of those people.

Simple as that...

...simple as that...

...simpl-

"It's my fault" Ignus continued "I've taught her to mistrust people, probably even those who she can call close family. There is so too much hate in this girl, so I preferred to hold it back from exploding on innocent people"

He looked behind his shoulder at the approaching dragoness worryingly.

"It made things even more difficult"

His head swiftly turned away from the girl, his ruby eyes once more landed on the scout. Hunter couldn't decide if the quick turn of the drake's head was caused by the lack of courage to see the results of one's plans failing or profound abhorrence.

"We need a place to rest our bones. Or more likely I do, old age is merciless to muscles. Iris however would want... demand to continue on, but since I'm probably the last living creature that has some authority over her, she'll do as I say"

Ignus eyes glimmered pleadingly "I'll never miss an opportunity to offer my niece even a tiny portion of normality. Gods know she deserves it"

"I understand" Hunter acknowledged the drake's motives with a fierce nod of his head. Whatever idiotic second thoughts he had about the whole situation were long gone by now.

"Let's go then, I'm sure that the venerable Guardians will welcome you"

The fire dragon nodded, the winglike bony plates on the back of his head seemed to flutter like a pair of additional wings.

"We're much obliged, I understand that this decision wasn't easy for you. It is clear how much the city and its people matter to you"

"Warfang grows on you, in time this city will be constantly on your lips"

"I certainly hope so"

*

Warfang's gates were opened, as they arrived caravans were leaving the city through the main and only trade route. The merchants exchanged polite nods and fleeting glances with the group of three that crossed the invisible line and entered the Draconic City.

The two new, or perhaps one, arrivals that found their way to the city with Hunter's help didn't raise any alarm, in fact the people behaved like the two freshly arrived dragons were a part of their community for years now.

The scout didn't like what he was seeing.

Hunter swiftly reached to his side, grabbing the arm of one of his passing-by kinsmen.

"Has Spyro returned yet?"

The cheetah looked alarmed at the hand that was holding him, seconds later his gaze focused on Hunter's eyes and his face brightened up instantly.

"I haven't seen him. Sorry" the feline's eyes impulsively scanned the scout's features, taking mental notes of swaying in the wind strands of Hunter's clothes and bloody cuts hiding underneath.

"Rough day?"

The scout let go off the furry arm gently "Not even close" he retorted calmly

Hunter nodded thankfully and threw a quick glance behind his shoulder.

"This way" with that he darted forward, towards the nearby stairs

Ignus followed the cheetah unhesitatingly.

"I'm not going there"

The fire dragon straightened up and froze at the sound of the female whine from behind him. His lips wavered, as if forming a snarl, an opening for the quiet growl rumbling inside his throat. However it seemed that this was just an illusion since the only thing that came out of the drake's throat was a tired and sad sigh.

"Not now Iris"

"Yes, now!" the dragoness snarled

"You're coming with me. End of discussion"

"You want to chat with Brick and his gang of clowns, be my guest, but leave me out of it"

Ignus turned towards her, furiously narrowing his eyes on the young female "We're not going to have this conversation now, do you understand?"

"Don't act like you're my father"

The dragon stomped with his paw, if the floor of the city was made of poor marble cracks would surely appear on its surface after such ferocious thud.

"For once can you do something I ask you to do without whining? I'm not your father, but I'm your late mother's brother and I promised her to take care of you. For her sake, please, do as I say"

The female snorted, it was a peculiar, crude sound, like she wanted to sneer at the beginning but then quickly changed her mind. She said nothing, she was scratching her chin ungracefully, like her claws wanted to reach the dangling, tarnished golden chain on her neck but at the same time were pushed away from it, just like the medallion was blazing hot.

Ignus nodded indifferently, the cold relationship that developed between him and his niece accepted silence as the best way of agreement. He turned his attention forward, their feline guide was standing ahead, his back facing them. From his posture it was obvious that he wanted to stay out of the argument as best as he could but his pointy, sensitive ears just didn't allow it.

"Apologize" the drake muttered shamefully "When I was younger I could fight with my niece for the whole day, but my old age not only shortened my life but also my patience"

"No need to apologize" Hunter replied while renewing his walk "Your family matters are no business of mine"

Eventually they reached the first staircase, than the second and third until they found themselves in front of the characteristic fountain. From that spot the destination of their journey through the city came into view. The experienced adult dragon didn't know what they were looking for exactly, but the moment the City Hall appeared in front of his eyes all doubts were cleared.

The door ahead are their destination, a couple more steps and they will reach them and as soon as they cross through the doorstep everything will change.

When the characteristic door swung opened, pushed gently by Hunter's hands a familiar thudding sound echoed throughout the whole interior that always filled the scout with that exciting intimidation.

The light they let in when the door opened drew the attention of everyone that was currently inside towards them. Besides the usual three draconic residents the City Hall welcomed three more people. Amela the healer, a female mole who runs a library in the city and a draconic guard.

Hunter moved to the side and with a wave of his hand presented the two dragons behind him.

"Guardians" he announced with a slight bow "allow me to introduce-"

"Hunter!"

The familiar admonishing and worried female shout made him cringe with his ears resting on his skull like they wanted to be invisible and melt into his fur.

"Do you always have to get into trouble boy?!" Amela blurted out with caring fury as she strode towards the scout "What happened?"

Hunter flinched once more as he observed the approaching female, his hands impulsively traveled across his whole body, pulling the dangling strands of cloth together, trying to make the cuts and wounds as discreet as possible.

"Nothing serious" the cat replied bashfully "Hazard of my profession"

"I give you hazard!" she placed her hands firmly on his crossed arms "Show me this" with one fierce motion she pulled Hunter's arms to the sides, his pitiful defense was no match for the healer's determination.

Amela craned her neck forward and examined his chest closely "Those aren't scratches but cuts, small ones but those are still cuts. You scrambled out from a sack of needles?"

Hunter didn't really have the time to answer since momentarily the healer yanked his arms straight up and began examining them from top to bottom. She gasped faintly when her eyes landed on his wounded forearm.

"What is this?!" she exclaimed in horror "Those are teeth marks! By the size of them I would say that..." her face turned sour and unpleasant in a blink of an eye "Who did this to you?"

The female hissed and looked past the cheetah, her eyes located the big red dragon first, yet it wasn't him that she was looking for. She realized that the moment her pupils caught the glimpse of white feathers. Her focus shifted on the satin blue dragoness entering the building. Especially when her gaze located the reddish stain on her white feathered wing everything became clear. The experienced eye of a healer can tell many things about an injury just by looking at the wound, for Amela the way the blood sprayed on the dragonesses wing was enough to tell that the wound was made by an arrowhead.

The healer shoved Hunter out of her way gently.

"You" she muttered with obvious disgust "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to ask the same question" the guard added "Didn't you get the hint what would happen if you come back here?"

Iris narrowed her cold gaze on the dragon "Didn't you get the hint what would happen if you touch me?"

The guard growled "You might not respect me, but you'll show respect to the law. Criminals like you have to be taught a lesson" he moved towards the dragoness with determined step "You'll coming with me"

The sickle on Ignus' tail burst out flames, making the guard stop and others look his way.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you"

The drake eyed the fire dragon bitterly "Threats again. I see from where she got her attitude"

"This is not a threat but a warning. My niece doesn't take orders lightly"

"She'll have much time to reconsider that behavior while in a cell" the drake renewed his step

Iris bent on her paws and growled aggressively.

"That's ENOUGH!" a loud baritone roar rumbled within the hall.

All eyes of everyone that is not a Guardian settled on the old, yet muscular earth dragon. Either out of intimidation, curiosity or simple boredom.

"No fights will take place in this hall, we had enough of those for a while now. This is a place of dispute, but only of verbal ones. We'll settle matters peacefully and without bloodshed, just like the law demands it"

Terrador focused on the draconic guard "What the girl is accused of?"

The dragon straightened up and flexed his muscles, adopting a respectful pose when speaking to someone of higher authority than his.

"She devastated a building in the northern quadrant Sir. I have witnesses who can vouch for my words, since she committed the act of vandalism in a crowded street, during broad daylight"

The Guardian nodded "I see" he aimed his gaze at the entrance "Step forward girl"

Iris remained in place.

Awkward silence.

"I won't repeat myself" Terrador added with last ounces of patience

Ignus swallowed seeing the ancient drake's reaction, he turned his head towards his niece and narrowed his gaze on her meaningfully.

The young dragoness didn't bend under her uncle's glare and challenged it with her own.

Hunter wriggled his shoulders uneasily.

"Right. Now" the fire dragon's lips moved, pronouncing each word slowly and harshly. A whisper that only the girl could hear.

A growl rumbled within Iris' throat, for a second it seemed like she wanted to spit in his snout but then, unexpectedly she moved, advancing in front of him with proud and arrogant steps.

"Akru" Iris hissed as she gave the fire dragon one last proud glance before turning her head arrogantly towards the three old dragons ahead. Her voice was surprisingly rich and lacked the strange accent, this time it sounded like the typical language of the moles yet with a dose of peculiar melody to it

"Do you plead yourself guilty?" The Earth Guardian asked forthrightly

The dragoness rolled her eyes "What a farce"

The accent returned.

"I've asked you a question about the vandalism, not your opinion"

She licked her lips, calming her boiling nerves as best as she could.

"Yes" she finally replied, not even bothering to hide her annoyance

"Such an act cannot go unpunished, since you admitted committing the crime I sentence you for two days in prison"

A puff of ice wafted from her nostrils as she glared at the earth dragon "I'm not going back to that stinking hole"

"It's settled then" the guard announced "You heard the Guardian, the verdict is clear"

Click of draconic claws reverberated across the floor. It took Iris a second to locate the source and the direction from where the tremors were originating. She faced the approaching dragon with blunt, yet held back aggression.

"I AM NOT GOING BACK TO THAT CELL" she pronounced each word slowly, if her tongue was literally toxic, venom would be trickling down the corners of her mouth

"Criminals don't have any privileges" he kept advancing towards the female confidently

Iris snarled, her tail was swinging from side to side, almost as it wanted to rip itself from her body and throw itself at the dragon. The icy spike on her tail tip emitted a cold, icy light. The temperature in the room dropped considerably.

"if I may!..." a feminine, squeaky shout echoed throughout the hall

Everyone stopped at hearing the unexpected noise, impulsively the eyes of everyone present shifted towards the direction from which the sound came.

It was the mole librarian, he had one of her claws risen vertically in the air as if trying to make herself higher than she actually is. The moment she felt all of those eyes focusing on her, the arm that was risen in the air dropped down swiftly to the mole's side with an unwanted slap.

The female cringed when her hand sent burning pulses of pain across her right flank as it slapped into her body. Wanting to hide her embarrassment the female cringed and crossed her arms across her body in a display of complete shyness and submission. Taking advantage of the pose she put herself into, she began impulsively and gently massaging her sore flank.

"Might...ummm...I propose a different solution for this problem?"

Cyril snorted disdainfully "Yes let's make a librarian our head judge. What next? A cook commanding a whole squad of soldiers?"

The drake chuckled, the sound made the mole wince in shame.

"Cyril" Terrador admonished his friend strictly

"People, please" the Ice Guardian sighed irritated "We are the Guardians, dragons with thousand years of life behind them. Who else has bigger experience regarding rulership and law than us?"

"Cognizance Cyril with truth known by actual observation, adoptedrules and rubrics fromstudy, investigation,general eruditionand effectivewisdom annexedfrom what we had observed, encountered and withstood doesn't fabricate us as pansophical beings. Procured behavior sequences customarilyfollowed untilthey had becomealmost unpremeditated make apprehending by means of the senses or of the mind bleary. Everything hankers refreshment"

Terrador nodded, clearly supporting Volteer's speech.

"Exactly, opinion from the outside might be invaluable" he turned towards the female mole "Please Mora, continue"

Cyril rolled his eyes, annoyed beyond imagination.

The librarian began to pick at her claws "Well...from what I gather our friend over there spent some time in prison already"

"And she hasn't learned anything from her stay there!" the dragon guard growled angrily "She devastated a building the same day she left her cell. Troublemakers like her should stay in a prison until they think over their actions"

"Yes I agree, but it didn't work the first time so I doubt it will work the second"

The drake shook his head in disbelief "Then what do you propose?"

"It's obvious that solitude doesn't work well for her..." she looked over the Guardians and with a shrug cleared her throat "My library is a mess, the explosion wrecked it, it requires some cleaning. She damaged something correct? Let her make amends by repairing something. There is already a nice boy there sorting things out. She'll have someone to talk to"

Iris snorted disdainfully.

The dragon guard chuckled wryly "You can't be serious, this-"

"I like the idea" Terrador chimed in

"By the Ancestors..." Cyril sighed depressed

Both the guard and the librarian looked at the Earth Guardian. The guard's mouth was hanging open and his eyes grew to an immense size, he just didn't seem to believe what he was hearing. The mole on the other paw was smiling from ear to ear and beaming with practically palpable joy.

"Mora has a point and I support it, there is nothing else to add" he turned towards the young dragoness narrowing her eyes on her "Mora will show you the way while our friend over there will escort you. If you cause trouble again the future won't look bright to you. Mark my words"

Iris seemed just as much surprised like the guard, her eyes were jumping from the mole to the Guardians, then the other way around.

"I want to get back in that cell" she announced finally

"Your wishes are of no interest to us" Terrador commented bluntly and nodded towards the door "Show her away and don't leave her out of your sight until she gets to the library"

The draconic guard nodded respectfully "Yes sir"

Mora approached the dragoness and aimed her open palm at the door "This way" she went first

The moment her back was turned towards the young female a cold shiver of terror ran through her spine. For a brief second she imagined sharp draconic claws plunging themselves in her back and ripping her apart.

Nothing like that happened however, to her and most likely everyone's surprise the dragoness followed her without a word. It was hard to decide if she accepted the decision or simply didn't care where she goes as long as she's not heading for the prison. But then again, she said...

Mora impulsively looked behind her shoulder and noticed the girl looking at the big fire dragon. She was glad that he stood there, the glare the dragoness was giving the drake could end lives if that was possible.

It was clear that the two spent much time together and could understand what the other is thinking by just looking at each other. She didn't understand any of this.

And she was glad for it.

The door to the City Hall closed.

A meaningful silence befallen on the room.

*

Amela having lived on this world for many years was sensitive to such invisible currents of mood and knew when her presence is welcome but bothersome at the same time.

She wrapped her arm around Hunter's shoulder and led him towards the entrance to the long corridor at the side of the room.

"Come, we need to take care of those wounds"

"There was an explosion?" Hunter whispered in her ear worryingly "What happened?"

The female's ears flattened on her skull "It's a tragedy, a whole mole family and their friends died, their house just exploded. Nobody knows for certain how this happened, the most likely explanation is that someone didn't secure the crates in which the explosives were kept. Someone lit up a torch and the catastrophic result is ready"

"Mole family? I can hardly believe that moles were satisfied with the verdict. We're talking about natural engineers here"

Amela picked at her earing anxiously "Accidents happen, unfortunately"

"Even you don't believe it"

"What's your opinion?"

Hunter rubbed the yin-yang symbol just below his neck "I hope this was an accident, but something tells me that this is not just an unfortunate turn of events. This city has changed, there's a different smell to it, too much is happening in a very short time. I have a feeling that one of Brill's people set it up, fear is a powerful force after all"

"No, he might be blind and zealous but he would never sacrifice his own people. He needs them on his side"

The scout sighed "I don't know"

The healer patted his shoulder "Let's leave it for now, there's just too many question marks. Time has a way of getting rid of them. Who is that dragon you brought here?"

"His name is Ignus, he's Iris' uncle"

Amela gasped faintly in sudden realization "That explains why she listens to him. Still her return doesn't bode well"

"She's alright"

The female giggled "She scratched you, bled you and wanted to kill you. What it would take to change your view on dragons?"

Hunter smiled "Nothing I suppose"

"Not even when one of them would mortally wound you?"

"If I would be dying I think I wouldn't care if it was my fascination that led me to Death's door"

She chuckled "True enough"

"They have the power to change things, if someone like me would stand in their way they have all the right to remove me. Creatures like them deserve some privileges"

"All of them have that kind of power?"

"Mostly. All I need is a glimpse"

"Does Ignus have the power to rule over lives?"

Hunter impulsively looked behind his shoulder, as he glanced at the old fire drake he saw the door to his home creaking open, a vampire was stepping through the doorstep, the life stealing fangs gleaming ominously under the light of the moon.

"Yes" he rasped

Both cheetahs disappeared around the corner.

*

"it's an honor to meet you" Ignus mumbled respectfully and raised his gaze from the floor and aimed it at the three dragons ahead. Introductions are over, that is usually a good start.

"Before we continue I would want with all painful honesty apologize for my niece. I try my best to control her, alas she's a strong character and resists my attempts however she can"

"You must understand that we have enough problems of our own, another one is not welcome" Cyril commented icily

The fire drake bowed with unchanging respect "Of course, for my defense I can say that she wasn't always like this. She was a lovely girl once" he snarled "humans changed that, their cities and petty wars for domination. Always finding a pretty name for their act of aggression" his snout twisted in abhorrence "Purge, Crystal Wyrm-"

"The vocable once more! This terminology tantalizes tomy emotions and faculties by which I espystimuli originatingfrom outside or inside the body. Those locutions held my engrossment by their idiosyncratic innature pulchritude"

Volteer chimed in with his typical friendly, excited and sound sizzling speech.

Ignus stared at the Electric Guardian with wide eyes.

Terrador smiled "What our friend is trying to say is that he's really curious what the titles you mentioned mean"

"Precisely!"

"I understood what he tried to say...more or less" the fire drake mumbled in shock, just to shake his head seconds later and free himself from the state of bewilderment "Anyway, the Purge is a pretty word for genocide of any nonhuman specie"

All three Guardians straightened up after hearing the dragon's words.

"I surmise that humans had the capacity for moral decisions and were therefore culpable?" Volteer asked with a tone of a well learned professor

"Yes"

"How could you let some lesser creatures overpower you? We are dragons! There is no one stronger than us!" Cyril growled furiously

All those holes appearing throughout the world with enemies deadlier than the last one hiding behind them and when they finally get a battle hardened dragon he turns out to be a weakling just like most of Warfang's people.

Ignus looked at the Ice Guardian calmly, not bother or offended by his outburst "I didn't make myself clear. The Purge touched every race, ours as well, but we weren't wiped like the rest. Fate worse than death befallen on us"

All three Guardians listened with great interest.

The fire drake sighed, it was a breath full of sadness and shame "We were reduced to the role of brainwashed mounts. Mankind captured our young, turned them into wild animals, bred and branded us like cattle"

"Dear Ancestors" Terrador gasped

Not because he felt terrible about the fate of dragons from whatever time the drake came from, but because the story triggered his military awareness, some kind of automatic scaling of survival chances if mankind would find a way through the Veil. In current circumstances the chance of victory for the Realms wavered somewhere between twenty and thirty percent in his opinion.

Not much, but also not depressingly low.

That is if they count the three portals they already know of.

But the world is huge.

Ignus nodded glumly "We still might consider ourselves lucky, some of us fled and avoided the horrible fate. The same thing cannot be said about the other races, those that survived are nothing more than pets for humans"

"Interesting" Volteer huffed with palpable awe "Our animalistic complexion isn't an explanation generally not apparent. Scientifically propounding we are just reptiles palpated by a more exuberant aggrandizement. This is an imminent autonomous portion of something thatunavoidably supervenes on existence of every young hatchling. The act of utilizing natural order as a devicefor use in strife is thought provoking"

"INTERESTING?!" Cyril roared furiously "Dragons dominated by some fucking....fucking...whatever! How is that possible?! How could you let it happen?! With our strength at your disposal and magic and intelligence and cunning and-"

"Arrogance" Ignus cut Cyril off

The Ice Guardian jerked his head back and puffed a mist of freezing ice through his nostrils.

"Arrogance was our downfall. We believed to be unstoppable, we ignored all the lesser creatures as you called them, humans belonged to that group back then. We ignored their wars and other petty squabbles, why should we care? Such little beings are no threat to us after all"

He sighed "Time passed and they grew strong while we became more complacent and prideful. Before we knew it the world was filled with adventurers, bounty hunters, knights, alchemists, mages and dragon hunters. They began killing us not because we were a threat to their domination, they were killing us out of greed. All this bloodshed for a couple of gems, can you believe it?"

The Guardians were speechless, the three old friends were exchanging meaningful glances between each other. Perhaps that world is no different from theirs, with that slight difference hanging in the air however. The Dragon Realms, the current ones at least, were more lucky.

"Our leaders led us to many victories but it wasn't enough. Our arrogance blinded us and when we opened our eyes it was already too late. We were losing more and more of our most experienced fighters who had any charisma and royal blood in them. Only one managed to prevail long enough to give us any shred of hope"

Ignus unconsciously scratched the lump that was once his horn "The Crystal Wyrm" he announced with odd reverence in his voice "Iris' mother and my dear, dear sister. If we would all be like her, nobody would even dare to look into our eyes"

Cyril slapped Volteer's hind leg with his tail to gain his attention "You hear that? Ice dragon that was respected and brilliant. Consider updating your library" he grinned arrogantly

The fire drake swallowed bitterly "When she...fell everything changed. It..."his voice trailed off and he cleared his throat "It's a tragic story and I feel that I'm not the one who should be telling it"

He raised his gaze at the Guardians, a fierce glimmer crossed his fiery eyes. His look was stern and lacked any sign of defeat. It was like he was paying his respects with that glance, that was the least he could do.

"Enough of my whining we didn't come here to seek pity or mercy. I offer a trade, our knowledge about the enemy if it comes to that and trust me, it will. If we found a way through to this realm mankind will certainly do too. We also add ourselves under your service"

Terrador narrowed his gaze on the drake, his offer was tempting considering the circumstances, however there is always a but when something seems to be too good to be true.

"We met your niece, somehow I doubt she will listen to orders"

"Iris is so much like her mother but I knew my sister and her temper. I can influence my niece, she'll freeze her foes without blinking, you just need to point her in the right direction"

"I don't thi-"

"Your niece's aid will be most welcome" Cyril chimed in sternly, cutting Volteer off

The two Guardians threw the drake surprised and somewhat irritated glances. Cyril met their stares confidently, it was either the conceitedness or pride gleaming in his eyes. Whatever it was his two friends looked away, silently acknowledging his plan of keeping some aces under their sleeve. Recognizing the unspoken prophecy or the sight of the future in the ice drake's orbs.

The exchange of glances lasted maybe a second or two.

"As for me" Ignus continued "I can offer much tactical insight and some other dirty tricks if necessary when the situation will demand it. What I learned from fighting with humans is that cunning sometimes triumphs over brute strength"

Terrador nodded approvingly "Judging from the look of your armor you know what battle means"

"And I have scars to prove that" the fire dragon announced somewhat proudly while tilting his head down, presenting his maimed head "Alas I can't offer you my crude warrior's fighting experience, age took that away from me. I'm no longer as capable as I used to be"

The Earth Guardian nodded once again, familiar with the sadness in the fire dragon's voice. Getting pushed away from the battlefield by age makes you feel so worthless.

"And what do you want in return?" Cyril asked

"A place where we could return to rest our bones in moderate peace"

"Mind that we are going currently through some rough times. This city is not as it used to be"

Ignus shrugged "A little thrill will keep us sharp"

"I cannot sojourn in the state of quietude for too long. From your narrative that particularizes the details of another race delineates mankind as a ruthless and prepossessing specie. Is there more to them I excogitate curiously"

The ice dragon smirked "One of the minuses of staying here is that you will have to bare Volteer's jabbering"

Cyril was surprised how fast his attitude towards the fire drake changed. He had a highborn blood in his veins, a true, not fictional one. This at least earns him the benefit of the doubt and maybe later they will find out that their new guest isn't as bad as first impression made him to be.

Ignus bowed respectfully "Gladly"

"Its settled then" Terrador announced with a smile "Welcome in our humble city. I hope you and your niece will bring new freshness into our midst. Play smart and avoid trouble"

"I intend on doing just that"