"Dad!"

Olympus blinked in surprise as Pevvele tackled him, a laugh escaping his jaws. "Pevvele! My little dove! I have your favorite: Mountain Goat!" Pevvele beamed, prancing around her adoptive father. He nuzzled her; turning and pawing the goat towards her. It had been two years since he found Pevvele; and hadn't yet had the courage to tell her the truth.

I can't tell her, it'd ruin my soul, and cut our relationship.
He tore the goat in half; ripping the flesh from the animals bones. Pevvele took longer, since she wasn't even half his size. What if I fail her as a parent? As a father? When will she question why she doesn't have a mother? More importantly, will I actually be able to tell her the truth? Her heart is fragile, and yet, mine is broken.

He grimaced; holding his paws to his temples as memories overloaded his mind. His closest friend, Vallaire, being taken over by Lord Skaaari, his mother, Arae, his father, Silllai, his brother, Anubis. All killed in cold blood.

"Dad? A-are you okay?"

He snapped from his thoughts; taking a deep breath. His voice broke as he responded. "Y-yes. I'm fine, little dove..." His heart broke at the thought of lying to his daughter. Pevvele rested her paw on his chest. He hugged her; afraid that if he let her go, her flame would burn out. He had lost so much already. He didn't think he could handle one more heartbreak.

He forced a smile, forcing a cheerful tone.
"It's time I taught you to fly, Pevvele."
"Yay! I wanna fly like you, dad! Teach me to do some tricks, like that one...Uh—Loop-de-loop one!" Olympus chuckled, his yellow gaze lit with love for his adoptive daughter.

"Okay, okay! Calm down first! You're not ready for tricks!" Pevvele immediately sat down, her tail wagging behind her. "Okay, dad! Teach me! Please?"

"Follow me." He gestured with his nose; trotting outside, Pevvele at his side.

"Watch my wings." He raised his wings; beating his wings as he rose into the air. Pevvele copying him; getting air for a moment, before falling on her face. She sat up, bursting into laughter. "Again." Olympus sat behind her, offering pointers. "That's it, my Little Do—" his eyes widened as she flapped towards the cliff. "I'm doing it, dad! I'm doing I—" she screeched as she plummeted downward, and Olympus scrambled to the edge, his breathing hitched.

"PEVVELE!" He shot after her; wrapping his wings around the white and pink dragon protectively, before grabbing her in his claws. His jaws parted, a look of fear creeping across his face. Then a puff of smoke escaped his jaws, eyes narrowed in determination. Lightning crackled around his body as he shot downwards; his wings snapping open as lightning hit the ground, singeing the grass. Pevvele gasped with excitement, her gaze full of wonder as she looked at her father. He soared upwards; dropping her gently on the outcropping. He landed nearby; looking at Pevvele. "Dad! I-I'm sorry! I should've been more careful..." she looked genuinely crestfallen; running to her father and hugging him.

"It's okay, my little Dove. It wasn't your fault." He sighed, returning the gesture.

* * *

"You always attack from the back, son..." Silas spun around at his father's chilling voice; claws clacking against stone like the clatter of bones. "Let me show you how a true warrior fights!" The grey dragon stalked towards the two year old, whom watched with fear.

"Father; I-I don't want to hurt anyone..." Silas started nervously; his tail tucked firmly between his legs. His green eyes were widened, pupils thin slits as his father crouched.

"Son, this is part of us, fight back!" Skaaari swung a hefty paw; his empty eyes void of any warmth whatsoever. Silas jumped back; whimpering as he struck his nose.

"Dad, please! I don't want to hurt you!" His father glared at him, sneering. "You're weak, pathetic; how will you protect your partner if you can't fight? How about your tribe?" Silas narrowed his eyes; digging his claws into his father's wing as his teeth sunk into his forearm; swinging as the large dragon snorted with amusement.

"Pathetic."

Silas let out a muffled snarl; swinging his tail around as he bit down harder; his teeth meeting bone. Skaaari paused; prying the little dragon off his arm; and licked his lips. "How amusing...We'll work on that, child." Silas snarled louder; backing against the stone cave as his father stalked past; slamming him against the wall harshly.

I didn't want to. I didn't have a choice, did I?

He looked down; wiping his nose with a paw; and staring at the crimson droplets on his claws. The sour tang of blood coated his tongue; and he spat crossly.

What will I become? I don't want to be like my father; a murderer, evil, feared? I want to be a warrior, noble, merciful, respected.

Pevvele followed her father gleefully; she was going fishing, finally!

"Now, watch carefully, Pevvele. This takes technique." He turned his head to glance back at her; and she smiled. "Okay, dad! Lets go!" Pevvele spun so she was flying beside him, and he chuckled; tucking his wings as he landed on the river's embankment, a soft thump behind him proved Pevvele had followed.

He shifted so he was parallel with the water; one paw raised as his amber gaze narrowed.

He had learned this from watching the Storm Fury and her boy. Keeping his shadow off the water was vital to not scare off the fish, and it needed his upmost attention. Several small fish swam by, and he didn't move, his ear twitching as Pevvele muttered in confusion. Suddenly, he shot his paw into the liquid, impaling a decent sized silver fish; which squirmed desperately. It failed to escape his grasp. Once it stopped fighting; he handed it to Pevvele. She ate it, licking her lips.

"Dad, I wanna try!" Pevvele exclaimed. Olympus nodded, a small smirk on his face. "You did watch, right?" Pevvele nodded, sitting on the edge of the water; suddenly, she plunged her paw in, falling over the edge with a squeal. Her pink tinted tail slipping over the edge as Olympus moved forward; pacing along the bank fearfully.

I'm fish brained! Why did I—She wasn't ready! I could've prevented! He spun around; yanking a branch in his jaws as he ran along the bank, his gaze turned to a determined expression; electricity once more sparkling along his scales. With a yelp, he plunged into the rivers grasp; still gripping the branch. His paws made quick work of the water; he was desperate to get to Pevvele. I'm coming, Pevvele.

Eventually; he had to turn around, collapsing on the bank. I failed.

I failed Pevvele, I failed my tribe...

* * *

Pevvele coughed as she was spun around in the current; she had lost sight of her father, and the rivers bank. Suddenly, she was yanked free from the current; staring upwards and into a dark red dragons eyes, white pupils staring into her eyes.

"Who are you? Why do you smell like him?" The red dragon seemed curious, although reserved; she noticed with a start how he had similar features to her father. "You're not a Demon Fury, yes?" Pevvele looked confused; blinking. "I don't know what that is?" She stared down at her pink tinted paws; slowly meeting his gaze once more. "Like me; for example." He began listing the abilities, and histories of his tribe, Pevvele listened intently; looking at her own scales.

Why don't I have those? My tail isn't arrow-ish shaped. I can't spit black goo, or produce Lightning...I can't change my scales. If I'm not a Demon Fury, then...What am I?

She was set down; and she looked up at the Demon Fury uncertainly, Olympus wouldn't lie to me, would he?

"That's not true, my father wouldn't lie to me!" She met his gaze, ignoring the sympathetic look he shot her.

* * *

"Who is your father, if I may ask?" He tilted his head, wrapping his tail around his paws.

"Olympus. Olympus is my father..."

The Demon Furies eyes widened; and he pressed his talons to his face. "Not possible, little one. He was killed, long, long ago."

Pevvele shook her head; narrowing her red eyes.

"No, he's alive. My father is alive."
The Demon Fury was taken aback, finally finding his voice.

"Olympus, he was...A friend of mine, young'n. I watched him be executed! He couldn't have—he couldn't have survived...You must be in shock, little one. Come, I have shelter."

Pevvele nodded, following the red dragon into the underbrush.

* * *

"Go for the neck, son!" Skaaari snarled; watching the fight with a cold expression; the tribe had gathered around to watch Silas and Veggero, fight to the death. Silas threw himself onto Veggero's back; teeth bared. The red dragon snarled; sinking his teeth into Silas' foreleg, before they both fell apart; Silas pinning them down with a foreleg raised. He looked to his father, who gave him a nod. He wanted his father to be proud of him, but he didn't want to kill any dragon.

After a moment of hesitation; he lunged down, sinking his teeth into his fellow dragons neck with a loud snap, the scream of the other dragon immediately cut off to a soft gurgling, before he went still.

The clearing erupted in cheering, and Silas released the corpse. Stepping back, he licked the blood from his muzzle, a grin spreading across his face. He won. He made his father proud.

Perhaps now, his father would love him.
He longed to be loved, he longed to be respected.

But not in this way.

Not by death.