Misted Deceit

Insubordination

Forrest stared at the dragon.  He knew him.  But from where, and when?  Something inside told him that he needed to know.

"I know you!" he exclaimed,  "Just barely, but I remember."

Paganblood gaped at him, a look of genuine surprise on his face, "But, how ... What?" he stammered.

"It's a memory that keeps slipping out of reach."

The LongClaw continued to stare.  Zanzi coughed, "Sir, pardon me for being rude, but you must have summoned us here for a reason."

Immediately, he regained his composure and cool aura.  "Yes, yes, about that.  I have heard the rumors about what happened yesterday.  Tragic, quite tragic.  However, there is no time to mourn our loss.  You though, I do believe, may have too much time to do so.  Yes, as you most likely know, the three of you, Colonel, Captain, and Potion master, strayed from your military duties.  You decided to help save a dying comrade when you could have helped to defeat the Hydranian army, which, by the way, escaped.  As a result of your insubordination, I am planning on having you discharged, all four of you.  Solar Night, you chose not to fight at a crucial moment.  Zaganzerinah, you spent too much time slaving over a lost cause, resulting in several of our finest warriors' deaths!  Orchid, you were technically the pervious LongClaw's 'right-claw dragon'; you could have assumed his duties after he fell, but you didn't!  And you, Forrest, I never want to see your face here again!"

The four dragons stared at him in shock.

"Dying comrade?  Lost cause!?"  Orchid hissed, anger dripping from her voice,  "How could you talk about someone like that?  What if he was your friend or partner?  Would you say those things then?"

"Orchid!" Zanzi cried, aghast,  "Remember who you are addressing!"

"Zanzi, I'm sorry, but I don't care.  He can't be doing this to Ta...Forrest.  It is not right."

"And for you, my lady," Paganblood said, staring right at her,  "I do believe that Ashsnow will be pleased to have you back in his custody.  You do know how it is with fathers and daughters."

Orchid paled visibly;  Forrest didn't know why, but he felt an urge to protect her from this Ashsnow.  "No.  I won't let you," he said suddenly.

"Oh-ho.  And what would you know about this matter, Lieutenant?" Paganblood practically spit the last word out.

"Nothing," he replied honestly,  "But I do know that I will not stand for anything that you plan on doing to her, and I will do anything I can to prevent whatever from happening.  I don't know why, but we are connected and I will preserve that connection!"

Forrest heard Orchid gasp quietly and felt the eyes of both Zanzi and Solar Night staring at him.  Zanzi stepped forward, "I am in the same opinion as him, though I do not know either of them that well.  However, I will stand beside them no matter what.  And, Paganblood, I did not save a lost cause, but a new hope."

Chuckling, the LongClaw commented, "Well, well, well.  What wonderful speeches, but they fall on deaf ears.  I care not for connections or hope or whatever else you have to say.  Though ... Captain, you have said naught since you entered my tent.  Is there a problem?"

Solar Night gave him a cold glare, but remained silent.

"Very well.  Now that that is over with, I have a choice for you to make.  As I mentioned previously, you won't be welcome here anymore.  But," Paganblood raised a talon,  "you can either admit you did wrong and be discharged peacefully, or you can refuse to and be labeled as an outcast throughout all of Pyrrain..  I am giving you two days to decide.  Choose wisely; I doubt you want a ruined reputation.  I know I wouldn't.  Now go.  Leave me," he waved them to the entrance,  "The choice is yours."

Stepping out into the sunlight, Forrest sighed.  He never wanted this.  He had just been kicked out of the one place he felt at home in.  And in that process, his new friends lost their jobs because of him.

"This is all my fault," he whispered, downcast.

"No, it is not," Solar spoke for the first time, "We made our choices; we chose to help you."  He stalked off, wandering back to camp.

Forrest glance at Zanzi and Orchid, "Was it something I said?"

"No.  He's always been like that.  I guess you could call him a loner.  Doesn't really listen to anyone unless they are giving orders.  There is nothing you can do," Orchid explained, walking in the same direction Solar had gone.  Forrest followed her, still blaming himself.  Whatever happened to put him in this state ... he needed to know.  Something told him that it was no accident that he was where he was now.  And the look on Paganblood's face when he saw him; it was almost as if the LongClaw had assumed that he was dead.  Forrest's eyes suddenly widened.  Paganblood had specifically told everyone else what they did wrong.  He had mentioned nothing about Forrest's 'act' of insubordination.  Why was that?

He then realized that he'd never find the answers to any of his questions here in the camp.  He needed to leave, and soon.