Some Fall By Virtue

Chapter Nine: sit back and enjoy the show

The rules of conversation when it came to dragons were rather simple: never refuse to answer any of their questions outright – that was a gateway to a messy, fiery death – and never tell them your name or other vital information. One had to speak in riddles when facing a dragon, and preferably avoid looking them in their cold, reptilian eyes which could ensnare those weak of heart so very easily. They could tell truth from lie, though they never lied themselves, whenever they felt generous enough to share information with others.

"You lead them closer..." the rumbling voice filled the air around her, and Sakura felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up on end at the rush of warm air at her back. A fire-breather indeed. "Yet you do not succumb to the temptations. Tell me, who might you be to wield such strength?"

Her eyes narrowed, and she didn't dare to turn around. Not even as every single instinct screamed at her to turn and keep the being who could kill her all too easily in that form before she could even shift. It didn't help that her flesh itself roiled. Shivers rolled down over her skin, part of her very own nature calling her to simply let go of her inhibitions and take to the skies once more wearing those inky black scales of hers again. "A creature who has walked through temptations once before, and a being with many names and faces," she answered slowly, chakra pulsing through her ears as she sought any sound of movement outside the little bubble of her and her fellow dragon.

Silently, she prayed Lindion had made it back to camp a little ways away and had alerted them as to the danger. She prayed they were on their way to rescue her. Why would they? that snide voice sounded once more. You're a monster, a dragon... why would they come to save you from your kin? Sakura ground her teeth together, hating the voice as she felt herself being continually prodded and examined for weakness. She could hear the siren's song, begging her to succumb and let go of her worries. To forget about her past. To forget about everything.

"Curious," the dragon spoke, voice reminiscent of a rumbling purr, and Sakura frowned at the dragon's curiosity. Truly, she would have preferred to encounter a more prideful number of her kin. Those were slightly easier to distract with compliments. Instead, though, she was stuck with a curious dragon who had been intrigued by her and her abilities. Sakura almost huffed out loud. Such a young dragon... Much more carefree than she had been at that age in her second incarnation. Her first incarnation in that world. Though their so called master was no longer there, so perhaps there was more freedom to be found amongst her kin. Not that any of them, unlike her, would attempt to walk the path of good. They were bound to his will. Sakura had only escaped that fate by having her soul itself stolen from another place. A world beyond Arda. "Tell me then, being of many names and faces, why do you lead the elves? You are greater than them, are you not?"

Sakura felt herself stiffen, wrapping layers of concealment over herself, hiding the horrific mess which was her soul that much deeper within herself. She would never bare it to anyone, especially not another dragon. "Oh mighty dragon," she said then, inclining her head. "You overestimate me so. I am but a being of trickery and deception too, and such a being would hardly be suited to lead the Firstborn."

"You do not deny being greater than them, I notice," the rumbling voice continued, and Sakura didn't even dare to shift on her feet like she wanted to. It made her so very antsy to have a fire-breathing dragon at her back. Though she could hardly turn around and look it in the eye. It would know from her eyes exactly what she was, and there were elves and a single man hopefully creeping towards their location. It wouldn't do for the dragon to figure out she was its kin. Because otherwise it would likely hint towards her nature. She would deserve the hatred then directed her way, she knew. She was just too much of a coward to face it. Sakura wasn't ready. She still wanted to be loved.