Ethereal Flames

Friends?

"Who are you?" Xen asked with a guarded expression.

"Pini," I answered. "Don't you recognize me?" I tilted my head.

"You are the one who wanted to hunt us." Xen replied, getting into a fighting stance.

"Not anymore." I replied, growling. "Can I join you two? I'm done with my kind. They only cause pain." I gripped my chest in pain. The aching never left.

Xen's eyes darted to the three long lines across my arm.

"What is that?" Xen asked, grinding his teeth slightly.

"Nothing." I replied quickly, hiding my arm behind my wing. "I fell on a rock."

"You are not very good at lying, are you?" Xen replied. "You cut yourself."

He already knew, so I allowed him to grab my arm, sending pain flashes as he touched the cuts gingerly.

"Alright. You can come with us." Xen finally agreed, brightening me up immediately.

"Can I carry Lilly?" I asked quietly, holding out my arms for Lilly to jump into. Lilly immediately launched herself into my arms and I held her close.

"I guess so." Xen chuckled. I took a double take. He looks so cute when he laughs. My eyes softened a bit and I felt my heart melt a little. His eyes left mine and instead darted just above my head. His smile turned to an angry scowl.

Suddenly, I was slammed into the wall by two firm hands, Lilly gone from my arms.

"Who did you kill?" Xen asked forcefully.

"I don't know what you mean." I replied, a bit of fear leaking into my voice. "Where's Lilly?"

"Don't play dumb with me!" He screamed at me, slamming me into the wall again. "The fire between your horns is lit. That means you've killed someone!"

"Woah woah woah!" I whined lightly. "It has another meaning!"

He let me go. "What meaning?"

"It also can mean that we've found our true love." I whispered so that only Xen could hear.

"How can I trust you?" He muttered crossly.

"Here." I told him, handing him one of my old claws that I used as a dagger. "It can penetrate the scales. If you can't trust me or don't want me, just kill me."

Xen looked at me sadly. "Why do you want me to kill you?"

"Because if I go back then they will." Pini answered simply. "Using the portal without a reason is cause of death. Besides that, I just now discovered that the ghosts think that the Drakons are killing them. I want to stop the pain and find an easier way to help them."