Kodiak's PoV
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How amusing.

He thought he could escape.

After everything. We had finally lured him in, and now he wanted out?

That wouldn't be happening.

Not on my watch.

It was all a game. We were the hunters and he was the prey. There was no escape.

I advanced, slowly, menacingly. I made sure to take my time as I stalked predatorily towards him, head low and eyes narrowed.

Realizing his mistake, he shuffled back, until he suddenly stopped, letting out a small growl.

To my slight surprise (and his credit) he shifted himself and changed stances so he was standing, legs slightly bent, talons splayed.

In other words, ready for a battle.

He rushed me and I spun out of the way, attempting to trip him with my tail. Unfortunately, he saw the move coming and jumped over it. As he leapt up, he spread his wings, flying away.

I shook my head in disgust, watching him go. Disappointed was not the word I was looking for.

"That little...." Wolverine's snarl
was cut short by Narwhal.

"Well? Should we go after him?" she asked, an ugly scowl on her snout.

I merely shook my head, sitting down and placidly watching the sky. On the outside I was calm, perhaps even bored. But on the inside, I was an avalanche about to slide. Ready to rampage and let all hell break loose.

"No. Let him flee. We'll find him eventually. Besides, what fun is a hunt without a little chase?"

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Ghost's PoV
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I sighed for what seemed like the millionth time that day, and laid my head on my feet.

I was alone. I liked being alone. Alone meant there was no dragon to bother me. No dragon beating me up. No dragon harassing me.

But I was also lonely. A giant, gaping hole inside, that was longing to be filled. But I couldn't fill it. I didn't know how. I hated being lonely.

I had found myself with more time alone, and I relished it. But a lot of the time I was also lonely, no one for company. And that ruined the aloneness.

'I want to die,' a voice rang out in my head.

Growling, I mentally snarled, 'Who's there? Who said that?' It had gotten to the point where I couldn't tell if the voices in my head were real or just my conscience.

Two voices rang out in perfect harmony, blending and sounding as one. Melting out of the dark fog in my brain, a figure appeared.

'You,' it replied simply. Echoing in my mind at the same time sounded 'Me.' Indeed, it looked like me. But it was very different at the same time.

Scales shiny and clean, with not a single speck of dust on them. Talons sharp and deadly. Rows of sparkling fangs. It was....too perfect.

Not me.

I was anything but perfect.

I was a screw up. I couldn't do anything right. Everything I did was wrong. Nothing was perfect. At least, not for me.

'You're not me,' I pointed out.

It grinned, displaying its vicious teeth, sharpened to perfect points.

'I am and I am not,' it said, staring straight into my eyes, one of its eyes a frigid blue, the other a molten gold.

'That doesn't make sense.' I shrugged, confused.

'It will make sense later,' it nodded approvingly.

Suddenly, there was a burst of light, casting an enormous shadow of the figure. Of me.

The shadow swelled, growing larger and larger. As I watched, it sprang to life. Yawning, long, pointed fangs gaped from its maw. A tail lashed, and eerie glowing eyes glared at me.

'What are you?' I asked, terrified and wary of this new creature.

It laughed, the harsh sound echoing horribly around my mind.

'I'm you,' it said, smirking.

'No,' I shook my head. I can't be that thing. 'Impossible.'

It continued to grin unsettlingly, gesturing to the light. 'You cannot see me all the time, but I am here. Always and forever. You cannot escape me.'

I shook my head again, confused. 'No. What do you mean?'

It sighed. 'You ask far too many questions.'

Without warning, it suddenly shrank, disappearing as the light was blocked out by the fog once more.

I looked at me, and me I. I was utterly astounded when the other me began to shake.

A deep inky blackness had sprung up between scales, creating a haunting look. Then, the black began to spread, crackling across scales like a web. As it spread, blisters appeared, popping and hissing.

Eventually the other me was swallowed whole, completely covered by it.

Its eyes closed, but when they opened again, they were a vibrant blood red, a shocking contradiction to the darkness.

Letting lose a chilling roar, it turned to face me, leering.

'I'm you!' It howled with delight, crimson eyes burning with malicious glee. Jagged teeth glinting an ugly yellow, the depths of its jaws an abyss. I shrunk back, frightened by....whatever that thing was. It was the shadow creature, but it had taken over the other me.

'Oh yes!' It smirked, obviously seeing the terror on my snout.

'You ask where these thoughts come from. You want to know what's wrong with you. You feel you don't want to die, yet those same dreadful words echo around your head, day after day.'

I slowly nodded my head in confirmation. I didn't like this, but I had a feeling that this thing might give me answers. And I wanted--needed--answers. Desperately.

'How do you know that you don't want to die?' it asked, circling me in a predatory way. 'How do you know that you're not the one lying to yourself? How do you know that when you hear these things, it's not you? How do you know?'

'You don't.'

'You see....' it trailed off, and I watched as parts of the dark mass receded, until half of it was clean with polished scales. The other half was still covered by blackness.

'We are one,' the two voices said, blending and mixing in harmony as one.

'And we are also you.'

Then it vanished, the fog surging forwards and obscuring it from view.

I opened my eyes, lifting my head. I could still her their words ringing in my ears. How did I know that it wasn't real? How do I know that it wasn't right?

Simple.

I didn't.

**A/N: AHHHHH IM SO SORRY YOU GUYS FOR SUCH A LATE UPDATE!!! Life has been busy and I've been struggling with some family and friend issues and I had training this past weekend and so much stuff. Yeah. Thank you for being so patient and supportive. You are all so amazing and I love you guys. I wouldn't be here without you. Love you! Stay awesome my lil bread rolls ❤️❤️ -cycriss**