Fall From Grace: Dart's Pain

Chapter 7: Decent To Darkness

Fall From Grace: Dart's Pain

Chapter 7: Decent To Darkness

Dart let out a low, rumbling growl as he tore through the thick forest underbrush, wings half-spread and talons leaving deep marks in the soil. Anger still simmered in his chest from his confrontation with Pouncer. The thoughts echoed painfully in his mind: 'they never cared.' His family's faces haunted him, the looks of pity, the way they'd smiled at Ruffrunner as if he were the only one worthy of praise since he was Heir. Dart shook his head violently, as if to scatter these memories to the wind. They had no place here, not anymore.

His breaths came sharp and shallow as he pushed deeper into the forest, moving faster now, relishing the rush of cold air slicing through his scales. It felt different here, outside the familiar confines of the Hidden World. The trees loomed taller, more twisted, like dark fingers reaching up to the sky. Their shadows stretched across the ground, long and eerie under the pale light of the moon. Here, he could be alone. Here, he didn't need to worry about living up to anyone's expectations but his own.

Eventually, Dart found a clearing on the edge of a cliff, a wide plateau jutting out over the sea. Waves crashed against the rocks far below, the roar of the ocean filling the silence of the night. For a moment, he stood still, taking it in. The sheer isolation of it all spoke to him, like a balm for his wounded pride. He wasn't in anyone's shadow here. He was powerful, and soon he would prove it to them all.

Dart paced along the cliff's edge, his talons clicking against the stone as he thought of his new life, one free from the constant doubt and disregard. This would be his territory, his domain. He would mark it as his own, a sanctuary where no one else could touch him. He spread his wings, feeling the wind rush against him, filling his chest with a fierce exhilaration. This was freedom, the taste of it sharp and wild.

He scanned the rocky terrain surrounding him, his eyes settling on a cave hidden beneath the cliffside, partially obscured by hanging moss and sharp rocks. The entrance was small, but Dart hoped it would open up inside. With a strong leap, he descended onto the narrow ledge outside the cave. Shadows cloaked the entrance, but that only made it feel more secure—no one could find him here if he didn't want them to.

Inside, the air was damp and cool, a constant drip of water echoing faintly from deeper within. He padded into the depths, finding the cave more expansive than he'd anticipated. The cavern's walls were jagged, with patches of moss clinging to the damp rock, and an underground stream ran along one side, weaving its way through the stone. The dim, echoing quiet made him feel hidden, powerful, as if the very earth were sheltering him.

Dart clenched his jaw as he surveyed his new territory, an involuntary shiver of satisfaction running through him. Here, he would grow stronger, unbound by the judgments of those who'd held him down. He'd build something formidable, a place where he could grow into the warlord he was meant to become. And when he was ready, they would all know his power. He'd make sure of it.

Without warning, a distant rumble reverberated through the cave walls, like distant thunder. Dart's ears perked, his muscles tensing, but he quickly recognized it for what it was: the sound of a landslide, far off in the mountains. The Hidden World lay beyond that, cloaked and isolated, its inhabitants blissfully ignorant of what he was planning. Dart allowed himself a small, bitter smile. They'd made a mistake, letting him leave. Soon, he would be the one to rattle their walls and shake their peace.

As the night drew on, Dart began to shape his plan, a vision born of frustration and a fierce, unyielding desire to be seen. His claws carved lines into the stone floor, marking out territories, crafting paths and domains of conquest. He was no longer just Dart, the cast-aside member of his family. Here, in his cavern, he was something greater: a figure to be reckoned with, a threat that lurked just outside the borders of the Hidden World, waiting for his moment.