The Ember of Life

Chapter 10

"Here," Misery had said. "I want you to have this."

Dertharion opened his mouth automatically to turn the Mindhide's offer down, but the Yellow was already pressing a cool object into his claw. The Poisonhide glanced down at what appeared to be a metal necklace composed of miniscule little wires woven together into an appealing pattern.

"Why?" Dertharion asked, glancing up at Misery, confusion evident in his eyes. "You've already given me your hospitality..." 

Not that I asked for it, he finished in his mind.

The Yellow looked solemn. "You told me you would help my daughter, a dragon you don't even know. What a task! What an undertaking. This trinket that has been passed down in my family for generations will help you in it." He gave the Green a smile. "It's a token of my thanks."

Dertharion looked somewhat doubtfully at the necklace, as if it would suddenly spring at him and bite him. "...Thank you."

"It...disguises the wearer. While it can't obscure details such as your horns and facial spikes, its magic is powerful enough to change your scale color. When...when Saliss sent his men to seize Joy, we were so taken by surprise we forgot the old thing. By the time I remembered it, it was too late and she was already barred from me by the stones of the castle." Misery looked down, shuffling his claws in the dust. "Maybe you can use it better than I."

Guilt stung Dertharion. He had never really intended to seek out Joy when he met with Saliss, but this act of generosity cut him to the core. The Green could not remember the last time he had given anyone anything. Was there something wrong with him? He placed the necklace in his pouch, and resolved to not think of it or Joy again until he was at the castle. It was easier that way. It hurt less. "I'll do whatever I can to find her and save her," he lied boldly. "This will help a lot. Thanks."

Misery gave him his widest smile, and the Green tried not to shudder from guilt.

-----

"Is something the matter? You're lagging behind." Zendrayus stopped short and hovered, raising a brow at the Poisonhide. "Surely you're not tired already?"

Dertharion started. He had been flying slowly, lost in his thoughts. "No, no, I'm fine." He flapped vigorously, joining the White above a small clearing.

"Don't hesitate to ask for a rest," Zendrayus said. He stroked his jaw thoughtfully with a withered claw. "I do not possess the capability to become exhausted anymore, so I may have been setting an overly swift pace."

The Green shook his head. "It's not too fast. I was just...thinking."

"Musing on your coming wealth and power?" the White inquired, a sly smile creeping onto his jaws.

"Yes," Dertharion said brazenly. He powered on past the emaciated dragon, branches snapping as he rushed into them.

An expression of surprise and could it be...disappointment? appeared and then swiftly vanished from the Plaguehide's face. Quietly, he followed the Green.

............................................................

Ebony's shoulders burned from exertion, but the erstwhile leader of the Charred spurred himself onward. He knew Dertharion had to be near. He knew it. He had found a half-eaten deer, and, as he did not know of any villages nearby, it had to have been the meal of the runaway Poisonhide. Stubbornly, he shut his eyes to any other possibilities. If believing that the deer belonged to Dertharion kept him going, he would believe it until he collapsed from exhaustion.

He had always been what Jet would laughingly call "forceful," or "determined," and what others would call "obstinate." It was probably the personality trait of his that Obsidian complained the most about.