Hush

Jack: Out of Requirden and into Enchanten

It took Jack a few seconds to realise the noose that had strangled him out of existence had freed him from its hold. He panted breathlessly and sat up, still disoriented, he allowed his eyes to roam his surroundings, and when he followed the shadow that cast across his feet, his eyes roamed up the blackened scales of Nygn, he choked on a gasp as he began to shuffle back.

'It is okay.' Hush touched his arm sending a sense of serenity through his body. 'This is Nygn, and he's going to help us.'

Jack looked from Hush to Nygn and back again, fear clear in his eyes as he struggled to say anything. His throat felt tight and when he swallowed the feeling down his windpipe was like that of what he imagined swallowing sand would be like. He cringed as his hand went once more to his neck and he tried to speak, only able to utter one word.

'Dragon.' He looked up into Nygn's eyes and blinked away the horrifying visuals that came to his mind, shuddering under the beasts scrutinising gaze.

'Nine guns?' He croaked out again, wincing and trying to force a cough to assist his voice to return, instantly regretting it as a searing pain raked at his throat.

Hush frowned, without comprehension. 'We have no guns here Jack, we are in Requirden. You fell-'

Jack shook his head stopping Hush from explaining, he pointed to the dragon. 'His name.' He rasped.

'Nygn.' Hush repeated. 'Sounds like nine gun but abbreviated I suppose.' He shrugged. 'It is a pretty weird name.' He was rambling in relief, Jack noticed.

Nygn snorted his annoyance. 'IT MATTERS NOT.' He retorted bluntly, his loud voice making Jack startle and cover his ears as it bounced around the cave.

Nygn dipped his head low so he was face to body with Jack and only a few inches from his face, as Jack's eyes met his one large honey coloured gaze he heard the dragon's voice in his mind instead, quieter but just as direct and blunt.

'You have cheated death, a deal is a deal. But know this, if you ever return back to your world you will be forever hunted by your true fate, every step could lead to tragedy, and any food could be your last.'

Jack nodded in understanding. He wasn't sure how Hush had done it but he was grateful, it would be a story he would ask about later.

'Good.' Nygn replied.

He lifted his face from the boy and turned his attention to Hush, realising how loud his dragon voice was he channelled his communication through thought. 'I am not sure how you come by such magic, wield it carefully, for such power can disturb the balance of the universe.'

Hush felt himself shrink in size, either just through feeling small when facing off the giant beast or through lack of energy he wasn't sure. He too nodded at Nygn, taking a silent moment to collect his jumbled thoughts.

'How will we find the puppet, and even more importantly, how do we get out of here?' He let his eyes dart around the huge cave.

'The same way you got down.' Nygn answered simply. 'The one who dances with the dark will not be here. This place is my home. The Reapers Chambers, each wall you put your hands and paws on, is a piece of bone of someone who once lived, be it man or beast. The Reapers Chamber is no place for fools to play, we dragons are tired and cranky.'

'We?' Hush asked, he looked to one of the tunnels. 'There are more?'

Nygn snorted in what seemed like a laugh. 'We dragons are many, one reaper is not practical.'

'Where are they?' Hush asked glancing to Jack who had struggled to his feed and brushed down his trousers, his clothes still stinking and caked in whatever had been in the bog.