Leo was quick to leap up and scoop Skylark up, cradling him against his chest and rocking him. Murmuring soft soothing comforts to him. Rubbing circles on the small of his back while Sleipnir dug his claws into this leg and stared up at his crying twin. Tears sparkling in the little toddler's own purple eyes. He knew Skylark didn't mean what he was saying. He knew that they both couldn't hate Daddy or Father for what had happened. He remembered a time when they had all curled up on the couch and Daddy would hold them close and read them stories, feed them, bathe them, tell them that everything would be alright. A time when Father played with them and told them about the sky. He recalled Father used to pray, not often, but he did. Closing his eyes, the toddler clasped his hands together, praying softly that one day they would find a home they could stay in forever, that one day Daddy and Father would at least love them if not each other. One day, they would have to worry about anything and that the sky would be blue enough for them to fly. He prayed someone would hear his prayers and grant his wishes. And he wished so very far. Opening his eyes, something small and near dismissal floated down infront of him. Sparkling in the dim light, it landed on the tip of his nose and tickled him. Prompting him to giggle, "Daddy..." He muttered softly at the familiar feeling of warmth and love. The tears overflowing and spilling down his cheeks. He turned and reached up towards his brother once more, "Sky..." He cried out, trying to send the same feeling to him. "It's gonna be alright I know." He cried out through his tears, voice watery. He just knew that...it couldn't get any worse, right? So it just had to get better. --- He watched the boy struggle, stepping back when he tried to reach out to him. Watching him mutilate his own chest and rip apart his skin, as he spasmed and screamed. Calling out to him in needlessly desperation. Crying out for him. Then slowly as his struggles ceased and his screams silenced themselves. No more begging or pleading, just a soft whisper to himself. And the power, he felt it crackle around him in the air. Overwhelming, burning. A part of him hungered deeply for it. Reached out, uncaring if it burned him. And another part just stood there, witness to the death of a hydra. The very epitome of agony and the very beginning of a peaceful ending. His eyebrows knitting as he saw a smile stretch across his the Hydra's face. Soft, beautiful upon the unspoilt skin. Taking a step forward, he flinched back away as the body exploded on a white hot burst of light. How stupid, how cheesy...that idiot. "Typical of him to leave you again." He whispered softly to himself, staring down at a mess that was no longer there. And to only his eyes, his shadow danced away and stroked his hair gently, an ugly mirror of himself, "That's how it is though, isn't it Relin? They always leave you, those you hate, those you love. All your friends are gone, mother is gone, your children are gone and even your temporary mate has left you over and over again. What a pathetic sight you are." "Yeah..." "Grounded. Scarred....My favorite survivor. My undying dragon, haven't you gotten all you wished?" "......" "Or perhaps you wish to go back to sleep. It is the closest you get, isn't it? No tears, no joy. Peace..:" "I'm tired of sleeping. So tired." "Then do you wish me to go?" "....." "Do you?" "No." He cried out loud, voice hoarse, "You can't leave me. You're all..." "All you have left?" The dragon clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. Edge had cursed him. Cursed him with an undying love. A painful eternity. His whole body ached, burned and throbbed. Things had been torn and stretched to the limit, wings....he couldn't feel them anymore. Cursed to such an existence. Without his young, the untrusting bunch of elders, hydras who would blame him for the death of their king. "I hate you. I hate you so much." He growled, kneeling onto the floor, banging his fists against the floor. His body trembled, "I hate you! I hate you!" He cried out, but if he hadn't cried in such a long time why would he cry now? Why bother taking back his body? Even his shadows would leave him once more. So very softly, he crawled back into the darker recesses of his mind. Clutching at broken memories, he imagined that this was all a very bad dreams. Weaving together the strands if a new dream. One where nobody died. Where his mother sang him to sleep with her ancient lullabies and the next day he would learn to hunt with his friends. And maybe one day, he would stumble into a dragon with lilac eyes and gleaming black scales, one who had nothing to do with a hydra. One that would look at him the same way as the first time. One who would court him slowly, holding him closely and ask for his mother's blessing. "I hate you so much." He whispered to a dream and the dream whispered back, "I hate you too." And enveloped him. ----- "My beautiful king...I suppose, it is my kingdom now."