Fifty feet in and there was zero light. It didn't bother her, she could see perfectly in pure darkness. What bothered her, however, was that the further she went the more it seemed as if the mountain had been hollowed out. How powerful a being could do such a thing? A few more feet and she froze. Before her was a wall of darkness that she could not see through, but she could sense a massive cavern just beyond. Her spacial awareness pinging like a bat's echolocation. Taking a deep breath she stepped past the wall, trying to use her other senses to get her bearings. She walked forward two steps at a time, her hands out in front of her trying to sense her surroundings. Suddenly she sensed movement, everywhere. "Sekhmet, you've finally come."
Darra froze, the voice came from everywhere. "I am not Sekhmet, that was my mother," she said cautiously. There was movement again, she sensed agitation. "Where is Sekhmet? Her scent is all over you," the creature snarled. She frowned turning in every direction, "My mother has been dead for quite some time, I am sorry." Suddenly the movement stopped causing her to freeze. The sudden silence was almost painful, she held her breath and prepared herself for a fight. Darra had a sudden flash of deja vu as something far older than the earth opened its eyes and stared at her. Her dream! The illumination from its eyes nearly lit the cavern, which was completely filled with its serpentine body. Its head and snout were mere inches away, smoke billowing out from its nostrils. The scales on its body she noted were golden tinged red. "Yes, I remember now. I felt her departure from this plain long ago. What is your name," he asked? For the first time in her life, she felt nervous. "I am Darra Eldritch, Queen of the Vampires," she announced cautiously. "Impossible," he roared. She put her hands out from her sides, palms up, "I have no reason to lie." "You wouldn't be able to lie to me child, even if you wanted to," the creature grumbled. The creature suddenly wrapped around her, lifting her completely from the floor, her arms trapped by her sides. She snarled, struggling. Her eyes turned completely gold, her crimson claws trying in vain to grab for purchase. Just as suddenly he let her go, dropping her unceremoniously to the floor. Landing on her back the taste of blood filled her mouth. She leapt up and hissed, baring her fangs at the creature.
The creature stared in shock. She was truly his daughter, of the many thoughts racing through his head the one that stood out the most was wondering why Sekhmet had lied. "My apologies child, I had to be certain," he said calmly. "Certain of what," she barked. "Certain that you are my daughter," he said sadly. Darra froze, coming to her full height. Staring in shocked silence at the creature before her. Her brow furrowed to a frown, "Who are you," she whispered. He lowered his massive head until it rested on the floor before her, his eyes watchful and wary. "I am Rthyin, the last of my kind. The last dragon, at least until now," he said. Darra stared at him in disbelief, she took an involuntary step back shaking her head. "I don't understand, why would my mother hide this from me? Why wouldn't she tell me something as important as this," she asked fighting back tears. He shook his head, "I do not know little one. I was told you had died in childbirth. All this time and I never knew you existed until your consciousness woke me from my slumber." Tears streamed down her face, pain and sadness etched in its features. "She was my best friend, all I had, I never thought she could ever lie to me," she whispered. One of his coils pressed against her back, a small show of affection. Her shoulders hunched and she leaned back against the warmth a moment as she composed herself.
"I wish we had more time," he said softly lifting his head from the floor to the height of the cavern. Darra wiped her eyes and stood tall once again, "What do you mean?" "It is time for me to move on from this plain of existence, I must be reunited with Sekhmet once more. The great love of my extremely long life. She awaits me in the after," he said sadly, "however, there is something I must give you. You are dragonkind and as such are entitled to all of its perks. Your birthright of course, which I am sorry I will not be here to teach you, and three boons you may grant any individual." He wrapped her in his coils once again bringing her eye level with himself. "And I must apologize," he said. Darra frowned, "Why?" "Because this is going to hurt," he said before opening his jaws and bathing her in golden red flames.
Phalanx paced anxiously outside of the cave, straining to hear any noise, anything at all. Suddenly a blood curdling scream echoed from inside. He froze for a split second before turning to race inside, just as suddenly the Dire alpha was there blocking his path. He slid to a stop rearing back in warning. The wolf saw the change overtake him immediately, his mane and tail burst into flame. His eyes turned completely red, and he seemed to glow from the inside out as if he'd been set ablaze internally. He also seemed to grow in stature, if that were possible because the creature had already been larger than any normal horse. What manner of creature was this? It trotted a few feet away and turned towards him at a full charge, smoke billowing from its nostrils. The wolf braced for the impact but just as they would have collided the beast seemed to phase right through him, galloping head long into the cavern. With a snarl the alpha turned and chased after it.
Once inside the cave it took Phalanx no time to get to the cavern, well aware that the Dire alpha was close behind. He skidded to a stop and stared. In the center of the cavern, floating in midair, was a large ball of golden and crimson fire. He heard the huff of the alpha as he came to a stop beside him. They both stared at the flame unsure of what to do next. He could still feel her, so she wasn't dead, but she was nowhere to be seen. Reaching out with his mind he called to her. Darra, are you alright? No answer but he felt her awareness of him as he slowly stepped further into the cave, the wolf right beside him. Suddenly there was a quick rush of hot air as the flame seemed to move and dance. As they watched the flame unfurled revealing that it was indeed Darra enveloped by a most unnatural fire. She opened her eyes and stared down at the two creatures. She could feel the slight distress from Phalanx and the pure curiosity from the dire alpha. With a sigh she completely unfurled her wings, getting used to their movements and pressure. As she floated down to them the flames that completely engulfed her subsided and seemed to retreat within her skin leaving a soft glow behind.
