Hybrids of Hope or Hell

Chapter Three : Anemone

Trying to jump back, transparent starry wings flashed outwards as Cuckoowasp tried to prevent their descent. Unfortunately, their reaction time was too slow and their insectoid wings barely managed to open. Eclipse fell through the hole, landing in the dark space with a grunt. The green hivewing soon followed, their wings catching the air beneath them and slowing their fall.

Landing with a thump on harsh cold gravel, the air was eerily still. Pitch black strangled the two dragon's vision, Eclipse's strained voice calling out, "where in the dark are we?".

"I don't know but I think it's best we fly up and out of here before we-" before Cuckoowasp could continue speaking, more ground started to pour onto the pair as the dirt continued to fill the cavity. Before long, the two frightened dragons would be too buried to move, and they would suffocate.

A frustrated and panicked hiss escaped Eclipse as more rocks and dust cascaded in upon them, "dammit!" she cried, beating her wings violently in an attempt to rise from her certain grave. "We're going to be crushed down here!" Watching hopelessly as heaps of dirt crashed onto Eclipse's starry wings, throwing her dark body to the ground. It seemed impossible to escape this death trap. Dark blue and green flashed as Cuckoowasp flicked their striped tail in panic, looking around for any kind of exit. Eclipse let out a pained groan, her body hitting the unforgiving jagged ground. Helplessly struggling against the onslaught of dirt, but no matter what she did, it just kept piling on. More and more dirt landed on the two small dragons, burying them deeper and deeper underground.

Frantic grey-green eyes scanned the blurred surroundings, barely able to make out a yawning hole of a door on the far side of the cavern.

"Quick this way!" Cuckoowasp called out to the terrified nightwing, grabbing her by the talons and bounding towards the exit. Eclipse didn't speak, her labored breathing and horrified gasps telling enough. She stumbled and tripped on a few cascading stones, being pulled along by the determined hivewing. Running as fast as Cuckoowasp possibly could, twisting, and contorting to avoid blinding pain clawing at their joints as they moved faster than they should. "Almost there!" They cried over the thunderous chaos of the dirt hitting the cavern's floors.

Making a final effort, beautiful night sky like wings flapped weakly several times. The outline of silver on Eclipse's otherwise jet black wings was almost distracting as it framed it movement of her wings. Gravel and bits of sticks painfully caught in between foot talons, the sharp debris scratching angry red lines over the two dragon's scales.

Solid, unmoving rock was welcomed underfoot as the pair managed to scramble through the agonised looking opening. Collapsing to the cruelly cold floor, Eclipse's grey tongue loosely hanging as she panted, out of breath. Cuckoowasp on the other hand was eagerly sitting on a boulder, rubbing their hips and knees in an effort to soothe them.

The thought of just peeling off of their hard scales and absorbing into the ground occurred to Cuckoowasp as they spoke, "Eclipse, are you okay?"

Her dark chest heaving with exhaustion stilled for a few rugged seconds as she rasped out her answer, "just... just need... a moment...". Dust and dirt rose around her as she began to breathe heavily again, the organic material created a glow of earthy tones around her. It almost resembled a divine halo, Cuckoowasp thought.

"Take as long as you need. I'm not in any rush." They replied before staring up at the dizzying high rock ceiling. They were relieved that they were no longer destined to be buried alive, but now Cuckoowasp was in a strange place with a very strange dragon. Light iris' scanned the vast open space, dread slowly taking over as the green dragon had no idea where they were, nor how to leave.

The cold merciless walls of the cave mocked the two trapped dragons as they looked around. Nothing but dark shadows and ragged terrain could be observed.

Wait...

Was that a light?

Cuckoowasp stepped towards the low illumination as the pain in their body screamed at them to stop. Sure enough, a single torch, glowing with a bright yellow light came into view as they rounded the corner. It was embedded into the wall, casting odd shapes around the pair.

Blue worried eyes noticed Cuckoowasp's gaze on the fiery light source. Turning her head, she frowned in confusion, "why is that here? If it's still lit then that means someone is down here..."

"At least that means there's a way out."

"Hopefully, or they're just stuck down here like us. I don't know why anyone would even want to come here." Eclipse replied, she could sense something off about the cave. Something about it's vastness held an impossible emptiness, everything was devoid of blemishes despite the harsh environment. Maybe it was how the shadows were too dark, too sharp around the edges. Maybe it was-

A snarl came from behind them.

"Don't move."