Aureus

Aureus was really unsure about this dragon. There was reason this SandWing was nicknamed 'Junkie Barren', and for a good reason at that. Yes, he was a junkie, but half the time, if he wasn't on scorpion venom, he was picking at his scales, laughing like a maniac, or doing moons know what.

Junkie Barren was shaking and twitching like a trembling leaf, his eyes crazy and having a 'not fully there' shine. Smoke came from his nostrils as he seemed to wait for Spider to join them.

Aureus saw his father's cold expression, glancing over to Eve with a skeptical look. "No, he's not. If he was, he would have came here himself, Barren," he growled.

Eve nodded, her jewelry gently clinking as she moved. Her body was still in welts and sores, but they were getting smaller, and her eyes seemed to be getting a more lively shine to them.

Junkie Barren seemed a bit taken back, before letting out another laugh, beginning to scratch his scales. "Yes, he is! -- Hehe-- he is sick too, and doesn't -- HAHA! -- doesn't want to get you and your wife si-- hehe -- sick."

Aureus felt a shiver go down his scales. He looked to Roadrunner, the larger dragonet grumbling under his breath. Something about Barren looking like a heat stroked, flea infested coyote.

"Unlikely story, but to check to see if you're lying," he then snapped his claws, two guards stepping forward, "they will go look."

The two guards looked a bit nervous, but nodded, and left the room, leaving the crazed dragon with the family and Hare. Honestly, they should get more then just two guards for a meeting, but Spider only allowed a few selected members in. Adobe was allowed to join, but he had to leave to go tend to a client near the mountains.

The only real one who could now protect then was Hare. Spider's missing leg hindered him from fighting as much as he would like too, Eve and Roadrunner were sick and sore still, and he... well Aureus knew he couldn't do much.

The room was swept into silence, well, as quiet as it could be with Barren's small giggles and neck popping twitches. Aureus was even confused at how a dragon could even live after a few of the more ungodly cracks. It felt like it went on forever, no dragon made a move, as an awkward aura seemed to fill the room.

The gold statues didn't feel all the scary now, even seemed a bit uncomfortable as Aureus was. Their jewels for eyes glistening with confusion as to what was taking the two guards so long. More time past, Aureus going a bit worried. He glanced to Hare, the albinic was still facing forward, staring at their guest.

The pale mustard dragon looked back to the sunny yellow SandWing. His head a lowered a bit, and giggling softly to himself, before throwing his head back, ear splitting laughter suddenly filling the room. Aureus jumped a little, gulping nervously as he tried to regain his composure.

Hare seemed to move too, he noticed her flexing her claws as her wings twitched slightly. It looked like the smallest thing could easily set her off. Now that he thought about it, Aureus was curious of how well Hare could handle the junkie.

Suddenly, a feeling of dread swiftly settled in his stomach. Barren stared at him, as though he was ready to jump and claw at him. His dark eyes glistened more, like a realization came to him.

"You! -- Haha! -- you're from the Cr- -- Hehe -- Cresent Night Festival!"

All eyes felt like they were on him in nanoseconds. Anxiety and fear suddenly sprang to his mind, he felt his heart begin to hammer in her chest.

He could already feel his father's talons that would soon go into his scales, maybe even rip his wings so he couldn't fly off.

Small anxious tears came to his eyes. The thought of the pain, the stab of his barb, maybe in his eyes. Maybe his father would grab him by his snout, and crush it in his hands. Maybe he-

Aureus felt the air get knocked out of him, white flashing in his eyes. There was a scream- why was there a scream?

Why was there sudden pressure on his chest?

Why couldn't he move?

Reality swirled past him as sudden loud laugher filled his ears, ringing over, and over, and over, and over, louder, and louder.

It was the only noise he heard, before the bone chilling noise of scales and skin being sliced.

The laughter stopped, soon followed by a thud, then heavy breathing. Aureus felt frozen, before blinking himself into reality. His dark hazel eyes looked over to what happened.

Hare stood over a frozen, dead Barren. Her eyes were wide as she withdrew her tail, breathing heavily. She looked to him, before looking up to Camel Spider and Eve. The albinic suddenly bowed, her body twitching.

What happened? Roadrunner looked at her with wide eyes, his jaws slightly open, like the sudden deal of shock immobilized him. Camel Spider seemed a bit surprised, Aureus realized, his wings were frozen mid shot out, awkwardly stayed in place. Eve looked like she went to cover her eyes, her talons soon going to her mouth instead to hide her gasp.

Aureus looked back to Hare, her claws and arms were bloody, some splashing onto her cheeks, neck, and belly. Was she shocked because she just killed a dragon, or because of her own ability to move so quickly?

"Hare," spoke Spider, "go clean yourself up, then return here once you're done."

Aureus saw the look of hesitation in her eyes, before she nodded, still slightly shaking. She turned and went to leave. When she reached the doorway, a gang messager ran inside, slamming into her, and nearly trampled on her. She curled up, talons over her head, smearing some blood.

"Lord Camel Spider, Lady Eve, the guards, Flare and Hiss, they're dead. We believe the Wings of Tyranny are trying to assassinate you two and Master Roadrunner and Master Aureus."

Aureus pushed himself up, looking to the messager, before realizing something. His father realized something too.

"I have no members by those names," Camel Spider growled. Aureus looked behind the messanger, seeing Hare tumbling up. She still seemed shocked, but once on her feet, she lowered her stance.

"What?" the messanger looked taken back.

Camel Spider growled, before letting out a mighty roar. "Spy!"

It was like something in Hare clicked, Aureus noticed. Before the messanger could even raise his tail, Hare jumped on top of him, her jaws suddenly clamping around the back of his neck as her claws dug and ripped into his scales. He saw her tail swing over her shoulder and stab him in the neck.

Aureus was frozen again, watching the other dragonet kill the spy. Said spy toppled over, bleeding out until his body was frozen stiff. Hare let go, and looked back up to the family.

Aureus didn't know what to think. Two times! Two times this newbie had rescued them! Camel Spider gave her a nod, before looking over her, ears perked. Aureus heard it too, talonsteps.

The two guards that had been sent out appeared, panting heavily. "Princess Vile, she's sent a spy, Ma-" suddenly the guard stopped, seeing the two dead bodies in the room.

The heir's eyes traveled to the albinic. She still glistened with blood, but seemed just as uncomfortable as him. Until now, Aureus didn't realize his tears from earlier was going down his cheeks already.

'She's scared, isn't she? Is she's scared because of what is happening, or...?'

Hare suddenly turned and left the room as mindless talk began to occur. Something about finding Adobe and sending a scroll to the Queen and other gangs. Whatever it was, it didn't matter to him. The meetings were cut short, and as soon as Camel Spider dismissed them, Aureus ran off to look for her.

He went through the hallways, and finally came to her room. He didn't bother knocking, nearly pushing in the door as his talon spent maybe a second on the nob.

"Hare?" he looked, seeing her on her bed, curled up, her scales now clean. She laid there with the blanket he had given her, before jumping up at his sudden intrusion. She let out a small breath, before her face blanked.

"Master Aureus, is something the matter?" she asked, ready to get up. The heir quickly shook his head, coming over to her. "No, no, I'm... I'm fine, everything is fine, Hare. Are you? You looked a bit shaken," he asked.

Hare looked at him a bit confused, before nodding. "I'm fine as well, Master Aureus." Aureus closed the door, coming over to her, and rested himself on her bed, which was very difficult thanks to the room being so small.

The albinic looked at him, her eyes still slightly shiny, maybe from tears. Aureus took a deep breath. "Hare," he spoke, "how did you go that back there?"

Aureus mentally cursed himself, seeing her flinch. He didn't mean to make her uncomfortable. She got up and shook her head.

"Just... old muscle memories, that's all."

"You use to attack other dragons?"

"What? No! It ..." Hare sighed softly, "my father... taught me."

Aureus saw how much of a fresh wound it was to her, seeing her flinch and slightly tear up at the statement. He had to choose his words carefully.

"Was he... a soldier?" he asked. Hare shook her head, taking a moment, nervously darting her eyes, her wings seeming to shake for a moment.

"He... he was an assassin, he taught me all sorts of fighting moves so I had a chance in this world, since my eyes are basically useless thanks to how sensitive they are."

Aureus gave a small nod. He didn't want to push her, he knew by the way she was acting something happened to him. Something bad.

He knew what it was like to lose someone... Ivory was like a big sister to him, like the sibling he never got. Someone patient, kind, willing to listen to him, even if she didn't hear him.

His ears flicked as he suddenly heard soft sobbing. He looked back up to Hare, tears streaming down her cheeks, her wings covering her in a self hug. He felt his brain flicker for a moment, like it had stopped working for just a second.

He found himself reaching out, gently pulling her closer to him, hugging her. He rested his chin on her shoulder, feeling her press her head to his chest. He heard her sob silently against him, letting her cry on him. He never had someone to cry to when he watched Ivory fly away from his life, so made sure he was there for Hare.

'I'll look after her, like she's looking after me. I know no one in the dump is going to, so I will. I promise, Hare.'