Dulkrn slowly got up off of Fennyr and let go of his throat. Fennyr gasped, never more glad for air. He lay there gaping for a while, listening to the others while they talked.

"So, what can we do now?" Otner asked.

"There's only one thing we can do," Auhek said gravely. "Keep moving."

"But where can we go? And what about the others?" Grali sounded worried.

"What others?"

"Five others, Auhek." Sulak answered. "Well, four now."

"What happened to them, Dulkrn?" Azul's voice was so cold that Fennyr sat up in surprize. Azul's talons were bared and her whole body was rigid. "Answer me now, or I will destroy you. Blood oath or no."

Silence reigned. Even Dulkrn was unsure what to say. But he recovered quickly. "Well, since you asked so nicely, Sapphire-"

"DON'T call me that."

"....I don't remember much after I was knocked out. Just quick images. A campfire. A setting sun. Azul holding on to her precious brother and crying. Ah, that image brought me such joy." Azul snarled, showing her long fangs.

"You said that you weren't going to tell us what happened until we promised to protect you." Sulak spoke. "Why?"

"Because I wanted your word before I told you. Because I knew otherwise, you'd try to kill me."

"We didn't promise anything!" Otner cried defiantly.

"Your leader did. Which means if you attack me, Fennyr is obligated to attack you. For my protection."

"You can't do that!"

"Frem di Selone en'bror de frig'sin, remember? He has to do anything to keep me safe, even if the threat is his own friends."

Fennyr was shocked. He didn't mean it like this. He was only trying to protect his friends. But now the oath that he took could be his undoing. And by his claws. He stared at the ground, wishing he could will his spilled blood back into his split palm and seal the cut. But there was nothing that anyone could do, and Dulkrn knew it, his smile spreading until it look like it hurt.

"Now, on with the story. I woke up tied to a tree. I assume that was your doing, Fennyr. The dragons were pretty nice to me, I suppose. Gave me food and water when I asked. But they just wouldn't untie me. And that was their downfall. When the monsters came." Azul's eyes widened. "I didn't see them coming. Not a wingbeat. Not a clawstep. They were just... there." Her talons started to tremble. "In the battle, I was set free when a Lur'drake accidentally cut my ropes. By that time, most of them were taken up through the canopy by the monsters. They just maneuvered through the branches like snakes. So I ran." Her chin started to quiver.

Fennyr wanted to get up. To tear at Dulkrn, to destroy him so that nothing remained. But as soon as he thought this, his blood started to boil, causing terrible pain. For that was the price for even thinking about breaking the blood oath.

Dulkrn's full attention was on Azul. "But I did see one thing before I ran..." His eyes were alight with fire and his smile crept up his muzzle. His face was a portrait of perfect cruelty. "I saw the Lur'drake's tail pierce straight through your brother's heart. The heart that loved you. The heart that should have been yours."

Azul leapt at him, jaws open in an unintelligible scream. Against his own will, Fennyr stopped her in her tracks, his own blood rebelling against him. She shrieked at him, talons tearing into him while Fennyr whispered comforting words that meant nothing. And her wails of grief spiraled into the sky, intertwining with Dulkrn's laughing.

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Here, for my lateness, here's two chapters in two days. 

Love you guys! 

Grace.