The Dragons Mark

Chapter 20: What's to be

                                            Teal spent that evening cuddled in her mates arms as they frantically tried to explain, Teal just remained silent and stared at the floor. The staff had rearranged the nesting area, moving Xerus's nest to the vast loft space and reinforcing the floor just in case. That gave them an opportunity to do something different with the entry area. They knocked a hole in the wall and created a balcony with windows. They expanded the trough and feeding area and left the rest of the space open for Xerus to decide what to do with. Teal slept in her bed, Xerus in his nest right by her side in his nest but within range of playing with her hair as she slept. By the time the sun was starting to rise Xerus and Nyala were desperate to get her to speak but Teal wasn't ready to talk. In a fit of annoyance, she turned and snapped at them both "What's to be of me, can you answer that yet" they shook their heads no "then drop it." They both noticed that something inside her seemed to have broken, the spark wasn't in her eyes and her real smile was hiding.

                                          When morning broke and the day was creeping towards the noon hour the staff was running panicked. The war reignited then escalated overnight as the fight for territory grew aggressive. The Dragons had responded to the threat not as expected, this time they launched an attack. The decision had come swiftly from the true royals of the Dragon species. Nyala and Xerus had unanimously agreed. "No more!" Nyala's words still echoed in Teals mind. She sat in the rocker in her room worrying. Every Zoo had been taken over by the Dragons and had been transformed into a residence with the staff staying on to act as their servants and for a change, the place was opened up to allow movement everywhere. They still accepted visitors however, the price of admission went way up as that now there was a chance you could talk face to face with a Dragon.

                                         "When are we going to admit that only the royal court was captured?" Xerus asked Nyala as they came into the room.

                                            "Not now, Xerus." Nyala rubbed her forehead "I still have to review all the battle plans, approve the removal of the former government and what to do with the leaders of it." She sighed as she sat down next to Teal. "I am just overwhelmed."

                                             "So maybe we should divide and conquer." Xerus shrugged

                                            "What?" Nyala rolled her eyes, she was on the brink of kicking his ass again, for the third time that day, but this time it wouldn't lead to sex.

                                            "Let me eat them, problem solved."

                                            "Xerus" she rubbed the bridge of her nose "not helping."

                                            Teal sighed "he means, you deal only with the war and everything that it entails." She took a breath trying to get rid of the bubbling panic "I suggest you let Knifejaw deal with everything that is involved with security" she turned to look at Xerus who was frowning "sorry, but he is far more terrifying and that is what is needed."

                                           "I want to eat someone." He pouted