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Deep within the bowels of Haldanuru’s realm time had raced ahead, though racing was not how it seemed to An’Thaya D’Riel Alcarin. During the two weeks that passed for the others, three months of Whispin time had passed here … ninety forty-eight hour days that felt like a year each in their entirety. The stronger, physically, of the two, Agaru had taken to protecting the Amazon as her strength gradually ebbed. At first Tay had fought her on it, but as time progressed, she lost the ability to do so.
When the God was absent, the Amazon was tucked away within the Dragon. Here she found false peace, a place to forget, a place to heal, and to deal with what she had done to them both. Guilt was a restless bed partner.
The Crimson was sleeping, the long hours had finally taken their toll and even she could not always keep up her guard. Exhaustion had seeped in, dulled sharp senses and fogged her mind. Even at her best she stood no chance against a God, and when crept up on when sleeping…
An agonized draconic bellow shook the depths of the Hells, pain snapping Agaru out of a deep slumber. Instinctively she reared up, smacking her massive head off the ceiling and rocking back onto her rear legs. A heavily spiked tail lashed out, striking at Haldanuru who merely grabbed the offending appendage and yanked, setting her further off balance and driving the spear he had impaled her with deeper into the Crimson’s body, caught at a monstrous collar bone.
Wings snapped open, beating heavily as she yowled in pain, then snapped at the Horned God with razor sharp teeth.
“Did you think,” Halda snarled, releasing her tail and slugging the Dragon in the muzzle, “that you could hide from me in this form? That you could stop me from taking what I want? I can cause you the greatest of agonies… no matter the guise you display my dear.”
Stunned for a moment the female wobbled, shaking her head and splattering blood across the dais. A faceted eye focused on her tormentor, rage and fear intermingling.
“Hiding, just makes me angry,” he continued, “so… I shall just have to do as much damage to this form as I have to the other. Don’t you think?”
The spear tore loose, tearing through muscle and blood vessels to reveal a wickedly hooked end that was just as effective as a club, evidenced when he cracked the lunging Crimson along side her skull. A roar of frustration sent a torrent of billowing flame raging over the God, his laughter bringing the Dragon to the point of snapping. Without thinking she shot forward, only to rear back again as Halda reappeared behind her and hooked the delicate tissues of a red wing, hauling back and rending a massive hole in the leathery expanse.
Stop it!
Jewel like scales started to recede as the Amazon awakened and fought Agaru, forcing her to stand down. The Dragon resisted, her massive form writhing, as it seemed to cave in on itself, twisting horribly until the horribly frail form of An’Thaya Alcarin was left behind.
“Stop,” she gasped out from the floor, curled in the fetal position, arms that were much to thin tossed in feeble protection over her head, “Please… stop hurting her. This is between you and me, Agaru has nothing to do with it.”
“Is that so?” Halda’s voice plucked at her nerves like a discordant note, “Me? I think it is the same thing. Now, what was the last game we were playing? Obviously I’ve given you way to much time on your own.”
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