Skybound Volume 1: The Girl Who Flew.

Chapter 4: Pandæmonium

 Skylar found herself deep in thought as she continued walking forward, she took in a breath before looking at her right hand.

Afraid.

That was the word that came into her mind when she thought about herself.

She stopped suddenly, her eyes flashing before turning a bright crimson, a voice then spoke to her as the area around her vanished.

She stood in darkness, a complete black, all-consuming in nautre, "Mortal... How is it that you find yourself connected to our consciousness?"

A voice called out booming and powerful, unrelenting, it was enough to make Skylar tremble.

In the darkness crimson eyes stared downward, they were reptilian in nature, "SPEAK!"

Skylar took a fearful step backward, this thing... it wasn't like anything she's ever seen before.

"W-What... are you...?" she questioned trying to regain her thoughts.

"You would answer my question with one of your own...? You forget your place in this world insect." Fire burst to life around Skylar illuminating the area, straight ahead she saw the face of this beast.

A dragon with pure red scales, towering over her.

"Hm? A human... but that is impossible..." The beast spoke out loud musing on its thoughts, before speaking once more "Your name. Speak it."

Fear. Complete and overwhelming fear, this dragon was strong.

Skylar could tell that much, with one strike it could end her life.

And so seeing no other options she spoke, "Skylar... Shadewalker."

The dragon's eyes lit up then, slowly it rose its head staring down at Skylar, "...Shadewalker...?" He growled, "You are unlike him, yet you would claim to be his kin? Arrogance befits you naught human."

"Arrogance? ...But all I did was tell you my name." Skylar muttered before taking a step forward she took in a breath, "M-More importantly, you said I was connected to your consciousness? What exactly does that mean?!"

The dragon let out a huff slowly standing tall on all fours, "You speak as if you are deserving of answers, perhaps you think there is common ground with us? No. There is no such thing between us, kinslayer."

Skylar suddenly grits her teeth slamming her foot into the dark ground, "I would no-"

"YOU ARE BORN FROM THE FLESH OF MAN, WITH THE STRENGTH OF GODS! YOU STAND BEFORE ME AS AN EXECUTIONER DO YOU NOT!?"

Skylar flinched at those words glancing to the ground, "I- I don't know... what I am..." she responded.

For a moment this beast's gaze softened, and it huffed, turning around, "If you don't know even that much, then you will die in this place."

The area began to grow brighter and Skylar had to lift her own arm up to shield her eyes.

"Skylar! Skylar stay with me!"

She blinked then and though she was still disoriented, she recognized the cave hallway nearly instantly, she was clutching the sides of her head she wasn't even sure when she started doing that, and Tetra was in front of her grasping her shoulders a look of concern riddled his face.

Slowly Skylar stood up taking in a shaky breath, "That... was horrifying."

Tetra frowned, letting go of Skylar's shoulder, and extending his right hand he said, "Can you stand?" Skylar blinked looking at that hand before grabbing it, in that instant, Tetra helped her up without so much as a single complaint.