Betrayed Rage of a Broken Heart

The blizzard winds struck at the crew of finely as the towering beast hissed. Its open gape of a maw bared its rows of pointed teeth as a deathly blue glow leaked into the frozen air. Each slender limb that adorned its body was accompanied by two sharp prongs for fingers, and its large wispy body whipped about like a Drakesprite’s tail.

That wasn’t the worst of the issue here though, the worst was this towering monster was once a member of the expedition. A finely like them.. or so they had thought. By now it was evident this expedition of sorts was a trap, a trick played out by the hand of this heartless siren, and now.. Here they were, atop the frozen mountain's peak, where their only option was to fight.. or perish.

Thistle's feet were frozen stiff. Not from the icy temperatures against her earthen feet, no.. frozen in fear. The once cocky and high spirited Draken was now star struck in terror at the sight of this serpentine glowing beast. She had no magic, no weapon, she was.. defenseless.

Alongside her stood the youngest of their crew. Seeing the sheer terror held on his face brought tears to the young woman’s eyes. She wasn’t only supposed to be keeping herself safe. No, her whole team was in danger now, and she had no means of making sure they’d see it down the mountain. 

Her mind skipped back to reality at the sound of Peony’s guttural scream “YOU LIAR!!!” The words seeped into the Draken’s mind as her subconscious was drawn back to the sight of the mint green Nyulop dashing into the fray.

“No!” Thistle yelped, a hand held out in a fearful attempt to reach Peony, but it was no use. Her grasp just barely missed the lop’s bright pink jacket. 

With every step the young lops heart raced with feelings of rage and betrayal. How could this person they trusted trick them..? But, then again.. this was no ‘person’, it was a monster.. and it always had been. A growl seeped past Peony’s frozen breath as tears stained her ice-cold cheeks. 

As she reached the creature the nyulop held her dagger high, pounced and stabbed the monster's head with her copper dagger as she came down. The blood of the creature spewed out as it reared its head back and hissed, shaking the mint green creature from its body.

Huffing in pain, it rubbed the fresh wound and drew its hand to sniff at its freshly leaked blood. A low rumble roared from the angered beast's lungs as its head turned to target the attacker. 

Peony stabled her grip in the snow, gritted her teeth and held her stance, reading to attack again.The creature was provoked, and there was no going back from this fight. With a heavy hiss the siren charged, moving its body in a quick jolting dash. Whipping its tail against the snow banks it dusted up the powders, covering the crew of teammates in a white wall. Blinded by the snow, none were able to make out what was happening next.

Then it was heard: the shrill screech of Peony as the monster snatched her up. Its heavy head wobbled high just before it slammed down, shaking all of the bones in her body and sinking its long dagger-like teeth deep into the fuzzy Nyulop’s leg. Every row tore deeper and deeper with each passing second, but no matter the pain she felt Peony continued to dig her dagger into the monster's flesh ruthlessly. It was all she could do. Fight, or die trying.

Lyra trembled at the sight of their fellow team member’s peril. Her breathing became jagged as her mind swam with one question, “What do we do?!” The frantic swirl of thoughts were interrupted as the nudge of a cold black snout came in contact with her leg. Glancing down her eyes caught the wind swept view of her companion Hollow. The look of determination and the will to fight burned in the creature's gaze.  

Feeling her bond’s passion burning within him caused a newly found courage to rise within her heart. Giving a nod Lyra dashed in, ready to save her friend.

Peony continued to jab at the creature as she was gripped tighter in its clasp. Slowly she felt her grip begin to grow weak, her paws began to shake as the pain rose to fully take hold. Every breath she took was uneven and ripped from her lungs, the ache in her leg burned harsher as her body grew ever weaker. The beast was draining her very soul, and her strength was fading. A striking realization of fear flashed in her mind.

..Would this be the end of her life?

All hope fled Peony as the seconds dragged on. How could she break free, with her body becoming frailer with each passing moment? Suddenly, the angered squeal of a rock stomper echoed into her ears, causing her to perk up. 

Bearing his teeth in fury Lime Thorin leaped, furiously digging his fangs into the vent of the creature. Hitting the sensitive spot was enough to cause the creature to shriek, its body reared back and shook desperately, trying to free itself from his attack only to have the creature bite down harder. In the fray Peony was let go, freed from its tight grip, and helplessly flew through the air. Only to be caught by Lyra who had already made her way to the scene. Her companion Hollow huffed and rushed to help the tiny bond in its battle with the violent siren.

Held tight in Lyra’s arms Peony groaned, thankful to be freed but still.. her anger continued to burn without end. Turning to view the fight between beast and bond she yelled, “Let me go! This isn’t over yet, I can still fight! That thing has to DIE!!” 

But as she tried to stand the agony of her wound sparked through her body, causing her to collapse with a yelp of pain. Thistle-with Piloque in hand-came side by side with the Nyulops. “It's over now, let yourself rest..” Thistle hushed, placing a hand on the other’s back hoping desperately she’d listen and stay. 

It was over, for now.. even if it was a moment or longer, Peony needed rest.. she had no strength left to continue fighting

—————

The tiny crew of Finley held clumped together in the snow as Lyra tended quickly to Peony's wounded leg. Tearing a piece of cloth from her fuzzy jacket she pressed it against the red flesh in an attempt to stop as much of the bleeding as possible. As deep as the wound was, it was gonna be near impossible to get it clotted enough for her to walk on, but she had to try. They couldn’t stay here. 

All the while Thistle's eyes stayed steady on the fight between the bonds and the siren. Watching intently for any potential serious damage to be dealt to either of the smaller animals. This was not a fight meant for them, but if nothing else they kept the creature busy long enough for them to mend their friend's injury. 

Her mind was so set on the battle she forgot their young friend Piloque was hunkered close to her. His oval eyes a pin sized dot as he watched in horror, holding close to the Squoon in his grip. What was that thing? How did their guide just simply become a monster..? 

So many questions swam in his head.

He had barely become a fully fledged Draken, and now he was faced with this trial. So much for a carefree adventure with friends right? 

Watching as Lime Thorin and Hollow struck at the monster, it drew Barcas’s attention, causing something to stir in the little Squoon’s heart. Watching his fellow bonds protecting their little band of Finley, it lit a flame that burned in his chest. Without noise the Squoon leapt from Piloque’s arms, and began dashing towards the monster, he too was going to do his part.

In a panic the young draken rose to his feet and followed after his bond. Thistle’s eyes caught the movement, and with a gasp shouted “Stay back! What are you doing?!” 

Piloque didn’t hear her shout though, all he was focused on was saving his bond from the gaping maw of the siren. Before the black and white animal could deal a single blow to monster, he was suddenly scooped back up into the young one’s arms 

“Gotcha!” Piloque squeaked, a moment of relief washed over him as he turned to make his way back over to his fellow draken. 

Little did he know the creature had picked up on his presence, and had now set its sights on the smaller Draken. Giving a heavy hiss the beast tossed both bonds back behind it, the two smaller animals slung into the ground, and the snow around them fell in. Trapping them in a powdery prison.

Giving a horrid howl the creature lunged at the turquoise draken. Its large maw snapped down, digging into the young one’s tail.

In a shout of pain Piloque screamed. His heart pounded in his chest as he dropped the Squoon in the snow, and was swiftly drug away with one yank of the monster's strength.

Thistle's heart skipped a beat as she stood to her feet. Oh heck what was she gonna do?! Peony was the only one with a blade and was injured, Lyra was trying her best to mend the other Nyulop’s leg with what medical knowledge she knew, and the two bonds were still digging out from their frozen prison of snow.

The earthen Draken’s heart pulsed in her chest as her mind spun out of control, watching the horror of their youngest member snapped up by the beast and shaken about like a corn husk doll.

Once again Piloque screeched in pain. Tears streamed down his teal face as his paws dug at the snow in an attempt to pull away from the beast's jaws. Only to have the beast bite back harder, sinking its teeth deeper, and releasing the blood of the young one that was held in its jaw, staining the snow underneath.

The deep red liquid seeped down the creature's jaws as it readied to grab the defenseless young draken up in its grip, and perhaps even swallow him whole. The mere thought was enough to jump start Thistle’s muscles. One quick spring and she started to run. Her mind screamed “This is stupid, this is stupid, this is stupid” but her heart pulsed back “I can’t stand by and watch him die!” 

With a heavy push off from the snow Thistle jumped, landing a headbutt into the siren's jaw. The vibration that came from her horns meeting its maw was enough to knock it back, just long enough to pull its head away from its claws. In the turmoil though Piloque was swung about once more, and another scream ensued as a tearing pain rang through his spinal cord. 

Landing back on her feet Thistle dashed back, grabbing a hold of Piloque by the hands and pulling him in a panic. The young one cried as the pain from the tear grew larger. “Stop, my tail!” he yelped in pain. Thistle stopped for only a moment, opening her teary eyes as she saw the beast begin to raise its head again. 

No! If she let him go there would be no saving him. Quietly her eyes met the boy’s. The subtle knowing of what would come next was written all over her face. 

 “I’m sorry,” Thistle whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek. With a quick pull she managed to free Piloque from the creature's jaws, dragging him down with her, and flopping in the snow. He was safe, but not without a cost. Pulling her weary body from the frozen ground, she stood and drug the young adult back to the others. While wobbling on her feet, her eyes caught the red glint that rested a few feet from her.

The aftermath of her actions laid motionless in the powder. The brown and teal severed tip of his tail sitting in a pool of blood. A tail lost… for a kid's life.. it was a smaller price to pay, but still a price, and it caused a rage to boil under Thistle’s skin.

Two of her companions had now succumbed to bloody battered wounds by this trickster.. and as long as she was breathing, she was not gonna let anything else happen to them.

Her eyes met the monster's maw, and with a shout she charged. Snatching a broken branch from the snow she made her way and slammed it against the monster's side. The creature hissed and howled with every beating that came to its body. 

Her muscles burned with adrenaline as she kept moving. Jumping over the swift limbs of the white creature, her arms slamming down and sending another blow into its side. All the while she burned with an unyielding rage. What she was dealing to it wasn't gonna be a lot, it was hardly anything really, but at least it kept it busy. 

Finally the bonds had drug themselves out of their icy prisons, and seeing the pale green draken attempting to keep the beast at bay, they gave each other an understanding nod and ran in to add support. It had many a limb, but it couldn’t target all of them at once. 

Piloque lifted his pained body from the snow as a soft paw of a lop met his head. It was Lyra. Handing the boy a scrap of material she ordered “Hold this on your wound now!” 

Panicked and stunned by the earlier fall, Piloque took the material and readied to place it over his tail. His breath was lost as he noticed the tragedy that had befallen him. His tail tip… it was gone, completely gone. His body froze at the sight, and with an unsettled growl Lyra nudged him “Stop the bleeding, now”

Nudged back to reality, Piloque went straight to work. Curling his now even smaller tail around him and wrapping the makeshift bandage around the wound he whimpered, shaking from the shock and pain, but still managed to mend the bleeding mess of a tail. 

A heavy growl accompanied by a shout bellowed out into the surrounding area as Thistle hissed and spat at the towering monster. Her hand stung from the pain of gripping the rugged wood, stickers dug deep adding to the ache but nonetheless her onslaught of attacks continued to come.

Alongside the help of Lime Thorin and Hollow, and now Baracas, the small troop of defenders kept the monster on the move. The siren was now even further enraged, and with a heavy anger let out an ear piercing roar that stunned the green finely for only a moment, long enough to be able to land a tail wap against her. Thistle flew backwards from the attack, taking a tumble in the snow before she forced her body up again. 

Her brown eyes shone with a painful shame as she glared back at the crew, “You three get out of here! Find safety! We will catch up when we can!” She commanded “There will be no defeating this on our own!” she shouted again just before dashing back, giving little to no time for a response. Her feet met the arena just in time to block the attack of the beast as it targeted the Squoon. With her tail she scooped the tiny animal up and tossed it to the side, just barely in time for the strike of the beast to meet her wooden weapon.

Lyra got the others to their feet, making sure to give extra support to Peony. Her leg was still messed up pretty badly, but there was no more time to wait. As for Piloque…she was relieved that he at least could still use all of his limbs. Quietly the star scattered brown lop motioned for Piloque to continue, asking him to forage a path ahead so she could lead Peony down the mountain. 

Piloque agreed, but hesitated a moment.. taking one small look back to make sure his Squoon and the others were ok, his eyes spotted something in the snow.. his bloody severed tail, just laying there. His eyes shrunk as his heart pounded. Without another thought he nudged the snow back and began to make a way for the wounded Nyulop and her carrier.