Misted Deceit

What Lies Behind

A scream rent the air, louder than the thundering rain.  Something ripped at Forrest's tail and he was jerked off-balance.  Landing on his shoulder, he lay there exhausted, letting the pain pass, intensified by the cold.  Squinting into the rain, he tried to make out Orchid.

She was nowhere to be seen, having disappeared in the curtain of precipitation.  Nothing could be heard from her over the thundering rain.  Forrest lay alone, having no clue which way Orchid had gone.  Everything was being washed away in the storm.  Yelling her name, he stood, stones crumbling beneath his claws.  Suddenly, the ground shifted, invisible, beneath him, and he fell into the dark.  Protrusions reached out and cut into and scraped him.  And for a panicked moment, he caught on a stalagmite before he ripped loose.  Pain bloomed across his wing as it tore and hot blood dripped down onto his back.  The pain seemed to last as long as the fall.  Forrest was beginning to think that he might continue forever when, all the sudden, he landed hard with a sickening crack.  Gasping for breath, he lay there for an unknown amount of time before he had the strength to stand up.  Once he was on his feet, he called out shakily, "Orchid?"  His voice echoed off the rock walls, even above the din of the rain beating the rock.

And if it was impossible to see outside, it was even more so in here.

Scrambling over the rocks, Forrest headed towards the voice, scared for her, for she had spoken a name he'd never heard before.  He hoped she hadn't severely injured herself.

As he went to jump over another rock, it raised its head and he realized that it was Orchid.  "What are we doing here, Forrest?" she whispered.

"We're here to find a way to get rid of Paganblood and set everything right," he nosed at her, urging her to rise,  "Let's just get out of this place first."

They followed the seemingly natural tunnel deeper under the mountains.  The darkness  thickened until they were blind.  Short spurts of fire kept them, for the most part, from tripping or falling, but still the trail was rough.  Hours passed in silence and only the company of the other kept them from going crazy.

Soon, however, it was clear that they would not be able to get out without rest.  Orchid slumped to the ground, worn out.  Forrest did the same.  Without a single word, both fell asleep immediately.

They awoke to a soft golden glow.  The tunnel suddenly lost its foreboding appearance and the prospect of reaching the end became less daunting.  Orchid and Forrest wondered at the change as the made their way to the outside world.

Half of an hour later, they reached the end.  Sunlight filled their vision, causing them to blink at the sudden brightness.  Once they had adjusted to the brightness, colors flooded back into them.  Rich greens, yellows, and reds colored the many trees and dark browns were the trunks.  A small brook babbled by, its sapphire blue waters winking at the dragons.  Tiny flowers dotted the grass, their hues like brilliant gems.  Misty mountains rose up in amongst the woods, standing tall like ancient sentries watching over their kingdom.  Orchid and Forrest stared in amazement at the small haven they had discovered, safe from the soils of war.  They savored the peaceful moment they had been given.

"We must be in the Woode-Stone Forest," he said softly. 

Orchid nodded, "I've heard tales of its beauty, but I never expected this," she explained as she began to gather water from the brook.  Forrest watched her, the water casting a rippling gleam over her scales which was, in turn, colored by the beautiful autumn hues.  She was, he realized, the most regal and elegant dragon he'd ever seen.  Looking up, she smiled just as the sun poured its light into the clearing.  Returning to his side, she gave him a playful shove, "Let's go.  I'm guessing we've got some distance to cover before you get another big inspiration."  He laughed and headed into the gently lit forest, leaving the dark mountains behind.