Blood roared in my ears as I pushed deeper and deeper, the dark shadows of the night cloaking me perfectly. My eyes instantly adjusted to my surroundings, my slender body weaving in between trees and leaping over massive stones with ease and grace.
Darkness had always been my friend. Growing up, I had always wished I was a lighter, more pretty attractive color, especially when I would see the way red or purple scales would glimmer in the sunlight. But my Wing Master taught me how to embrace it, love it. To become friends with the dark. Now I was, only for reasons I never could have dreamed.
The sound of fresh battle soon became nothing more than a rustle in the quiet trees, or a drop of water splashing onto the soft, moist ground.
I was alone. Completely alone.
When Kol told me to fly, I simply abandoned the idea entirely. The Frost Giants already knew the enemy was in the sky, so that would just make us targets, right? I had taken the best option, I went where they wouldn't expect! They were on my battlefield now, it was my rules, I had the upper hand.
Pine needles padded the soft ground as a slowed to a brisk walk, struggling to sort my thoughts. We were being attacked by the Frost Giants!.. Had that sunk in yet? I felt like I was dreaming, like I was in another one of my mystical dreams where I was just taking a carefree stroll in Drakinde, discovering all of it's hidden secrets.
Minutes passed. I stalked through the thick forest, my steps silent; even for my size. But this walk wasn't like all the other innumerable times I came through, carefree and happy. I was now running for, possibly, my own life. I was starting to go into shock. My planet is under attack..
...rrrR!..
A distinctive shrill call echoed off the mountains and trees. It was in Ziacan, the ancient language, and the only language a dragon could speak and understand. It was Kol!
"Kol!" My call erupted throughout the vast sky, and I found myself naturally raising my wings at the sight of the brightening stars.
Fly!
I drew in all of my energy, storing the raw power in my wings and feet. It collected more and more, all of it bouncing around and waiting to bubble over.. until... with one powerful beat of my wings and kick of my back feet, I shot forward into the air, slicing upwards like a bullet and leaving a powerful blast of wind behind, bending the trees.
Within a single minute, I was soaring up with the stars, the air thin and crisp on my lungs. From this incredible height, I could see the entire battle, raging and dark as far as the vast meadow stretched.
But then I saw it.
As I glided along the misty clouds, calling frantically for Kol, I saw it, and it nearly made me plummet down towards the dark ground and trees thousands and thousands of feet below me. There, right ahead, was an army of Frost Giants, stretching as far back as the horizon. They were marching through the trees from miles ahead, but were making good progress, charging full on as if the enemy were right in front of them.
"NOIR! We have to leave NOW! What are you doing?"
Kol coasted up to me, matching my frantic wing beats with his own as we streaked across the sky. "Do you see that! They're attacking us full on! Why?!" My heart hammered in my chest.
"I don't know! Father told me to go to Seiigen, and take you with me! We NEED to GO!"
Seiigen was a respected, old dragon, a master at magic and witchcraft. He was the one everyone turned to when in need of a spell or remedy of sorts, but he was also the only one who could send us to the other nine realms. He was our only ticket to Asguard.
Kol made a sharp left turn, using his back claws to grab my front paw and yank me in the same direction.
We streaked through the air, the smell of blood and fire penetrating my nostrils even at this great height and distance. The last sun had finally disappeared, millions of stars now dominating the sky as only faint beacons under a thick covering of smoke.
"What if he's dead? What would we do?!" I called over the howling wind.
"Father him sent to someones home a few hours ago to ensure his safety. The Giants wouldn't expect that, right? I'm sure i-its just fine."
I almost missed his stutter in the relentless gusts of wind, and in the loud beats of our wings in the black night, but I caught it just in time. But I didn't need to ask why he did. The battle was brutal, violent, and loud. Blood painted the dirt in deep reds, bodies from both sides lying motionless in mangled heaps on the hard ground.
We stayed as high an altitude as possible, my vision of the ground periodically blurred with misty clouds. "But what if he isn't there? What would we do?" I was shaking with fear, the sounds of the marching Jotunheim army behind us still thundering faintly in the distance. Kol looked over his wings at me, a blank look on his face. His eyes went dull as two stones, still reflecting the image of our kin in the gruesome battle. "We run."
I flapped my wings harder, desperate to reach this civillian's home before it was too late, before Seiigen was found. Wind and smoke stung my eyes as I tucked my wings against my sides and dove towards the shadowed battle, Kol at my side. The war raged closer and closer, the ground approaching at a breath taking speed.
"Pull up! PULL UP!" Kol screamed over the ongoing battle, his own wings bursting outwards and catching him instantly in a abrupt halt mid-air. I tried to unfold my wings as I went from a dive to a fall, heart leaping in my chest. "HELP!" I screamed, realization of my situation thrusting me into a panic.
My wings were literally frozen at my sides.
Large painful ice chunks pinned my wings against my sides, more of them appearing out of the thin air. "KOL!" I screeched into the open night, my body spinning until the world was just a blur of stars and fire. The sounds of booming chaos below me rang in my ears with the force of thunder, leaving my ears painfully ringing. I tried desperately to claw the ice off, at no prevail, instead I continued to fall faster and closer to the fighting below.
Suddenly, my body slammed into something hard, and I caught glimpses of a scaly tail and foot as I dragged it down with me. Another dragon.. it's wings smacking me right over my face and covering my eyes as we both plummeted into the center of chaos. With one violent crash, we both slammed into the ground, crushing the dragon and throwing random people off to the sides upon impact.
I was tossed into the air and slammed into the thickest of the fight, swallowed whole by the sheer thickness of the black crowd. Giants and Dragons alike trampled over me like garbage, ignoring me like the dead, empty shell they thought I was. I couldn't see a thing, or pinpoint Kol with the overpowering stench of metallic blood and sweat filling my senses entirely.
"KOL!"
My voice was completely lost into the screaming war, so loud I could feel it in my chest, combined with the faint deep bellow of the battle horns still blowing on. My ears became useless, ringing the only thing I heard as I pushed myself onto shaky legs. A Frost Giant leaped onto me from behind, a distant roar barley heard to me over my ringing ears. I was pinned, ice swallowing my back in painful clusters. Struggling, and kicking my way foreword, I finally grabbed the giant with my claws and chucked it off, instantly bolting into the field and not looking back. I pushed through the tight crowd of sweaty bodies, getting shoved, clawed and trampled this way and that the entire time.
"KOL, HELP!"
I attacked an unsuspecting Frost Giant, throwing him into another one and leaping over their heads, back into the thick bloody battle. What was I going to do now?! I needed to get out of here, that much was obvious, and impossible! I dodged and jumped over what could've been fatal blows, unaware of the massive dragon charging right at me, until the air was knocked right out of my lungs. I crumpled to dark ground, hundreds of black blurry shapes above me representing the merciless dragons and giants. Taking several deep breaths, I regained my strength, and, on shaky legs, attempted to lift myself again, only to get trampled and shoved to the dark ground. I'm gonna die right here if I can't even get up..
With one last throbbing effort, I thrust my weight onto my legs, but this time, my luck wore off completely. The minute my head cleared, and my surroundings became more than just fuzzy shapes, I looked to my side only to be instantly slammed in the face with a metal club, warm with the blood of other victims. The world seemed to move in slow motion. I watched the menacing Frost Giant stand over me like I was some prize, a bloodthirsty look evident on its face. He lifted the club over his head, and the fire from behind me... burning the castle as it seemed.. reflected in his eyes. I struggled to move, but ice had already swallowed my limbs. I tried to blow fire, but the spark never ignited.
I turned my head to the side, red fire swallowing the castle I once called home in big, angry bursts of flame. The fire had already started on the city in Drakinde Forest, smoke billowing in massive plumes just out of sight in the shelter of the trees, showing me that the army had reached it. Soon they would emerge from the trees, ready to finish slaughtering my people, and burning my castle. Tears spilled out of my eyes as I waited for my life to end...
Nothing.
I catiously looked to the Giant, my eyes landing upon a long, white claw protruding out of its gut, dripping with thick blood. The giant directly stared me, the life slowly draining from his red eyes until he slumped over, the claw slipping back out of his stomach with ease. He fell to the side, revealing his killer as..
"Father!"
Father grabbed me by the back of my neck, dragging me to my feet. "What are you doing here?!" He screamed over the battle, frantically gesturing for me to follow his retreating form. We fled the scene, throwing ourselves over bloody masses of bodies, most of them Ziacans. I left his question unanswered, already too distracted with the horrifying images of war. "We need to fly!" Father screamed, leaping into the air and disappearing with one powerful flap of his wings. I followed quickly, frantically flapping after him as we ascended into the smokey sky.
Father sliced through the air, steadily making his way towards the burning city in the trees. The city of Azal. It was the biggest city on Ziac, mainly consisting of elaborate tree houses, and cottages built right into the side of hills.
They attacked it full on! What does this mean for the kingdom? Have we lost?
Without warning, the city suddenly burst into view. I was left thoroughly dumbfounded as burning houses zoomed underneath me in blistering flame, the heat blasting my underbelly as it was licked with the tips of the burning fire. Blinding light consumed the entire city in angry flames, swallowing everything I had ever known with bursts of red and orange. Color and smoke illuminated the night sky, but I was too numb with pain and sorrow to even function. Shock completely swallowed me in pulses, all the feelings of helplessness and sorrow catching up to me like a slap to the face.
My entire planet is under attack.. I was just running for my life in the depths of battle...
"NOIR, LOOK OUT!" Fathers scrambled words tumbled into my muted ears, their sharp, screeching tone sending me into a delayed panic.
"WH-" My words were choked to an instant halt as an iron grip chopped my air supply short with just a few fingers lazily gripping my throat. I was yanked to a halt by my invisible captor, embers stinging my eyes and throat as I was thrust backwards directly into the raging fire.
I wanted to scream to the stars as the flames exploded into my view, blocking the rest of the world from sight. My breath was frozen in my chest, the cold grip tightening around my throat.
Help me!
With one ground shattering crash, I was finally slammed onto the unforgiving forest floor, alive with the roaring and crackling of fire. Instantly, my captor let my limp neck slip through his fingers. I was numbly aware of his dark form standing over me, swallowing my limp body in shadow. "There you are!" a deep voice yelled at my coughing, sputtering form. "I was beginning to worry!" I could barely make out his words against the roaring and crackling of the burning forest, and when I finally looked up with stinging eyes, all I saw was bright orange flame.
I tried to confront the stranger, but all that left my mouth was another loud gag. His deep laugh rang in my ear. "Oh just look at you! And here I thought you had a little more fight. Shame." He then circled me, like a wild cat circles it's prey, his tall shadow dancing about on the forest floor.
The world was drowning in fire. Blinding light and sweltering heat fueled my anger as I rolled onto my stomach and growled.
"..leave.. me.. alone.." I gasped.
Laughing again, he grabbed my throbbing arm and yanked me upwards, forcing me to crash into his broad chest. I knew at that point exactly who I was dealing with, as much as it pained me to admit. 'He' was Talon. "Why? Am I bothering you?" He chuckled deeply again, his stunning amber eyes observing my attempt to kick him like it was the most humorous act he had ever seen. "What in the name of Abalon are you even trying to do? You're attempts are futile, Noir."
Without warning, I was thrust backward with lightning speed, sailing through the air and crashing onto a pile of burning, crumbling hay. Embers exploded outward in all directions, stirring in the still air and announcing my abrupt arrival with their luminous red glow. Grumbling in ferocious anger and fear, I rolled out of the singeing pile.
"Just look at you," Talon sneered somewhere behind me. "A beacon in the darkness! You're clumsy ways are enough to make a mindless sheep crack into a large fit of endless laughter."
I scrambled forward on the warm soil as every ounce of fear I could muster slowly crawled into my brain, leaving a trail of scattered panic as it emerged. I will not die.. The sound and feeling of skin slapping on my bare ankle sent my sudden train of thought crashing down, all hope of escaping simmering down to nothing. I was dragged backwards like a sack of sand, my arms flailing for something, anything to grab. Talon gripped my sides and flung me over his shoulder, the billowing smoke hovering in the air finally snuffing down my weak air supply.
"Stop!" I screeched over the roaring flames, my cries billowing up into the silent stars, no one there to listen. Father was nowhere to be seen, and as my struggling persisted, my hope drained completely. Raging fire caressed my face, smoke stung my eyes and throat, embers stuck to my hair and clothes, but I continued to scream and squirm against Talons iron grip. "FATHER!" desperation ate away at my insides, but nothing.. no one, answered. Talons mocking laugh barely met my ears against the sound of the burning city. "Oh, my. Your situation is worse than I thought! Calling for daddy, are we?"
We plunged onward, all the while my screams drowning in and blending with the roaring red of flames. I could barely make out the houses, shops and temples of the magnificent city through my stinging, teary eyes as I was hauled by, only sloppy shapes and structures outlined in burning orange fire, faintly resembling what once was against a black forest backdrop. Another thing that irked me? The dead silence. No screaming, no running, no panic. No shadows of dragons carving the sky in fear, no Frost Giants.. nothing.
Where is everyone?
I bounced like a dead fish on Talons back, taking in the horrific scene as it passed by. Now we were in the very heart of the city, only it wasn't as I remembered it. A fallen tree crushed a burning tavern, it's rubble spreading far out upon the dirty, main cobblestone path. All the little market stands spread throughout the streets of Azal were toppled over, fruits, vegetables, meats, fine jewelry, all crunched under Talon's feet. He had obvious disrespect for his own people.. here he was in the heart of of his culture!
Furious, scared, and numb, I spit on Talon's heels as his step sped to a trot .. but what came next was unnecessary, uncalled for.. and would surely scar me for the rest of my long life. Instead of my satisfying spray hitting Talon's heel, it hit something entirely different.
There, suddenly perfectly in my view, lay the body of a young boy. He was no older than seven or so, his long black hair was mangled and dirty, but up toward the scalp it was completely ripped out of the skin, blood pooling down his filthy forehead. His body sat tangled in a broken, bloody heap, arms and legs twisted and mangled in ways that would have anyone screaming to the heavens. Bones penetrated through his young skin..he was doused in his own blood.. out here on the cold, burning streets. His glossy hazel eyes, filled with pain, were frozen.. looking straight up, straight at me. A silver knife stuck right between his eyes, the blood sending red trails sprawling out on his face like the legs of a spider.
I screamed.
I screamed in fear at first..then in agony. My eyes desperately searched the boys face as I forced myself to accept he was dead. I knew him once, he was the son of a trusted blacksmith. His name was Liem.
"...oh my.. NOO! LIEM!" I screeched in Talon's ear, more and more bodies appearing under his feet as he walked. I pounded his back with my curled fists until my knuckles turned white, hot tears cascading down my neck.
Bodies were everywhere.
Eventually, the only cobblestone visible was stained with the scarlet blood of my innocent kin. Bodies covered the rest of the streets thoroughly, all of them just as mangled, broken, and bloodied as Liem, faces flickering in the orange light of the fire. The night was silent., apart from my loud sobs and the roaring flames eating at my beautiful city.
"Oh I wish you would just calm down. You didn't even know them. There faceless, strangers. Just little flecks in the vast diversity of li-" I swung my fist as hard as I could possibly swing, hearing a satisfying crack under my knuckle.
Talon yelped and ripped me off his back, making me crash into the flat's main water fountain. I plunged into the freezing cold water, letting my self sink to it's shallow bottom. Ziacans could hold their breath for up to an hour at any depth, but all I wanted to do was curl into a ball and stay submerged forever.
Maybe he'll just leave me..
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a muted splash above me. A dark shape crept towards me in the water through a cloud of bubbles, and as an automatic reaction, I spun in the water and burst in the opposite direction. There wasn't much room here in this crowded golden fountain, but I didn't care. I burst upwards and broke the surface of the salty water, flailing my arms and scrambling to the lip of the fountain. Adrenaline pumped me on as I rolled over the edge and thumped onto the hard ground.
Shift! Fly! But I didn't even have time to think before strong arms engulfed me into a false hug.
"STOP! GO away.."
Talon dragged back toward the fountain and tossed me back into the black water, my confused thoughts still swirling within my head. To me, it was only a matter of time before I was dead. I didn't care about how I risked my life at this point, how I carelessly just threw risky moves here and there that may or may not even work..
Talon dove after me with ease, bubbles engulfing the two of us in a temporary cacoon. He then grabbed my arm with a crushing force, and glared at me with his glowing amber eyes. The world was still. It was as if someone just hit pause on my enire life, knowing I was going to die and granting me a moment to pause and think about my short life. All the things I wanted to do. All the life I still had to live. All the thoughts I had would never be enough to fill that one moment, that one minuscule moment that may or may not have even exsisted. Talons hair stopped swaying and dancing in the water like seaweed, the fire casting light behind us stopped flickering with life, and eventually stopped penetrating the water all together. Light faded to darkness.
What..?
Purple light softly interrupted the dark water, leaking out in the shape of a small seed, then exploding in my vision. I screeched and covered my face with my arms in a defensive state. It was like I could feel the world around me collapsing and shrinking, until all that remained was me. A feeling of being..pulled..yanked.. towards something, overwhelmed me until I, too, was sucked away in a sudden slap of darkness.
***
THIS WAS A LONG CHAPTER
Hope you like this story, but until further notice I'm taking a writers break for the holidays. soo.. Merry Christmas!
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE MARVEL CHARACTERS, ANY OTHER LOCATION CREATED BY MARVEL/STAN LEE, OR ANY PICTURES I SHOW. I DO OWN THE PLOT, NOIR, KOL, TALON, THE REALM ZIAC AND ALL CHARACTERS DEPICTED TO BE ON ZIAC.