Scales and Talons

Chapter 6

A stillness hung in the air. No sound but the dripping of some water echoed through the dark underground halls. It was a peaceful quiet for once. 

The silence nursed the pounding headache Sarah woke up with. She was not yet ready to open her eyes or move a muscle for all that matter. She was exhausted, too weak to even comprehend where she was. 

Her breath left her nostrils in hot puffs, blowing smoke into the dark air around her. And as she lay there, flashbacks from the past played themselves before her eyes. Only they were not her memories, but those of a certain blue dragon.

"If you think you can betray me, I'll show you what betrayal is." Violet eyes flashed before her, bringing terror.

"Farren! What have you done?" A dragoness screamed in fear, backing away from Sarah as she felt her body held by numerous claws. A heavy weight pressed down on her back.

"No! Not my nest! They have nothing to do with this." The words left her throat as she saw a young dragon, the size of a lamb, torn in half. His blood splattered across the snow beneath her; lifeless eyes haunted her as both halves of his body fell before her. This had been her youngest son.

"Farren, do something!" She heard a panicked roar as she saw numerous dragons being slaughtered by other dragons while she struggled to free herself from the claws that held her.

"You make a fair judgement, Farren. Your nest is fortunate to have you as its leader. I will bring word to my king." The land was quiet again as she stood before a large green dragon, almost as powerful as she was. But he was from a civilized civilization and not as rough and wild as she was. Instead, it was elegant. Its green scales glistened with health.

Then she saw the panicked form of the green dragon. "Farren, flee! Forgive me." The dragon roared in warning as it disappeared into the mountains. She had failed. And she knew that her nest would soon die.

A faint voice spoke in her mind, waking her from the vivid dreams. She heard it clear as day, as if someone was speaking to her while sitting right next to her.

"Avenge my nest. I have failed them, but promise me that you will bring justice to my family. Promise me, for my light is dying."

Sarah's eyes flew open, only to be greeted by an empty space. Had she imagined the voice?

"Punish those who have the blood of my sons and daughters on their claws. Bring justice."

No, she heard the voice again, but still found herself alone.

"You are not alone."

The voice grew softer, but was still there. Sarah lifted her head from her hands as the voice was heard for the last time.

"I beg you..." 

While Sarah was still comprehending where the voice came from a sensation took over. As the last words sounded trough the empty cave a candle had gone out deep inside her. A candle in her heart, but it had not really been a part of her. Emptiness followed.

 Sarah let out a pained cry, not understanding what she had felt, but still understanding the loss of it. It was as if she was suddenly truly alone. Whoever had just spoken to her was no longer there. 

A coldness gripped her heart. And slowly Sarah began to really wake up and look around. She did not have time to linger on the voice for too long before she noticed something strange. No not just one something, multiple things were verry off.

Sarah's eyes had wandered down to find her hands, or at least what were supposed to be her hands. Instead, she found herself staring at large and blue claws, and a web of red vines had grown over them. With unbelieve she tried to move them, but froze the minute these claws indeed responded as if it were her own.