[IC] [Skybreaker] Lumières Caelum [tenebrae16]

[Skybreaker]

The hydra cried out in pain as the blood fell to the ground like acidic rain. The droplets shattered once they hit the dull linoleum floor. Edge's violet eyes narrowed as he cried out. The boy's eyes darted toward the blackness that had broken his skin with horror. "Ugh!" They were getting bigger... Edge's hair was tousled, and he had a thin shirt and pair of shorts on. The scientist had seen better days. He was a young boy of about fourteen, but in the past five months, had a new problem.

He had lived here peacefully with his beloved mate, Path, for a few months now. The dragon was pregnant. That thought alone stressed Edge out. Why? Because he had gotten him pregnant... without the other's consent. While not something he was proud of, Edge had made Path into his slave and gotten him pregnant. Oh, he was a horrible person, wasn't he? But he reasoned that Path was happy now, so it was alright. Wasn't it?

Edge wouldn't want to worry his love, but recently he had been having issues with his body. Ever since he had discovered he was really a reborn hydra, his scales had been popping out. Literally breaking through his skin and he couldn't control it. It was driving him crazy. He had just been in the library with Path, but had felt a sudden pain and bolted to the bathroom. Maybe he could ask Path for help. As the scales receded, Edge blindly grabbed for the door knob and fell outside. He hoped that Path wouldn't notice...

[tenebrae16]

The moment Edge had bolted up, Path had instinctively bolted from his chair as his mate ran. The domestic life had tamed him, but done little to dull his senses. He had gotten used to the comfortable life he had with Edge, under the earth and away from all the troubles of the surface. Holding his mate close at nights after a day of learning from each other, At times, he worried, about his offspring and how long they could really last. The vaults containing enough food to last more than a year, perhaps seversl even if rationed, they always reminded Path that one day, they would run out...along with those worries, Edge had recently started running to the bathroom at random intervals, refusing to tell Path what was going on. It worried the white dragon, but he respected his mate enough not to pry. Waiting outside the door silently.

Absent mindedly, he ran a hand over his stomach, feeling the smallest bump there. He was already a few months into his pregnancy, but he barely showed at all. He had expected a live birth, but evidently it was clear his body wss preparing for eggs. It worried him slightly. Usually after laying eggs, the 'mother' fell into a hibernstion of sorts for about a few weeks or so and the 'father' would take care of everything, but Path had yet to inform Edge of this, not wanting to worry him. Such thoughts plagued him until the door opened and Edge nearly fell right into his arms.

He wrapped his arms around Edge, pulling him close and nuzzling his hair gently. Silently comforting him. He hated seeing his mate in pain. "Back to the library?" He asked softly,tail wrapping around Edge's waist. "Or to bed?"

[Skybreaker]

Edge returned his mate's embrace. He sighed, feeling safe and warm in the dragon's strong arms. Though Path had a bump on his stomach, it didn't make him any less handsome. The young male felt tears welling up in his cursed eyes. He didn't like lying to Path, but he didn't want to make him worry. Edge choked, realizing the real reason. He was a hydra.

While a year ago, Edge wouldn't know what that meant, this was not that case. He had been having dreams about his past lives. He was tortured, beheaded, and killed countless times. By the other dragons. Long, long ago, when the ocean was silver, he was the one and only. Not just the first hydra, but the first. He didn't recall if there was anyone else, but he doubted he was the first dragon. Edge's first memory was of the sky and the ocean. The sky was pink, and the ocean was grey, almost a metallic color. He wore nothing- there was no need to. And Edge recalled talking to someone. At first, he believed it was a dragon. Or maybe something extremely long-lived. But after the dreams haunted him night after night, he realized who he chatted with. It was the sky itself. The world he knew was made of infinite white rocks that clung together, some being swept away by the ocean. He didn't know what loneliness was, because all he knew was his life. Edge cried, because he knew that eventually the island he lived on was swept away and he drifted to the mainland, where he was accepted into the dragon's family. Many of them... but none of them had his strange eyes.

From there, the memories got hazy. Edge did know he did something unthinkable. Eventually, the dragons all hated him until he had nothing left but himself. Even the hydras that were his flesh harbored hate for him. Even now, Edge believed that if Path knew everything, he too would hate him. Making strange, sad noises, Edge clung like a baby to the white dragon. "Path..." No matter what, Edge would just be reborn. Path had been alive for a long time, so Edge wondered how much longer he had to spend with his beloved. He smiled at the white dragon. "Hey, I'm feeling tired. Let's just- Ahh!" Feeling his skin break, Edge suddenly screamed. He drew his arms back and hugged them close to his body, feeling the scales popping out. Why was this happening to him?? He whipped around quickly, not wanting to show Path his scales. The scales that had probably done terrible things...

Quickly, Edge bolted without warning, trying to keep his arms out of sight. He ran to their bedroom, where he flung himself at their bed and hid under the covers. He didn't want to let him see. He didn't trust him. Why? It was because of the memories had been quickly resurfacing. Path was one of them- a white! They had hunted him down, killed him many times and- NO! This was Path, who he loved... Right? Edge buried his face in his pillow, and rolled off the bed. He reached underneath the bed, finally finding what he had been looking for. The headphones he has used to enslave the dragon, in the name of science. Edge laughed weakly. He was very unstable, with all his emotions swirling inside, like a chaotic dance. And his slick scales just spread, like diamonds, until his whole arm except for his fingertips were covered in the sharp things. Edge fell to his knees. He was so pathetic... He wasn't even talking to Path more than he needed to anymore. Surely the white dragon was wondering why. The hydra dreaded that Path might confront him about it...

[tenebrae16]

He held Edge close, not minding when his mate clung on tightly to him. It had taken him time to readjust to having someone around him, someone human withgolden needman reactions, thoughts and feelings. Even as uoung as Edge was, he had a great maturity, but all of it was still very human...well, not all of it. There were times...when Path watched him, when his mate got lost in a train of thought that derailed into some deep crevice..The dragon could see the unmistakable forlorn sadness blooming in Edge's violet eyes and he was reminded that his mate was not always this human. A hydra..the dragon of the ancient darkness. Even the world of dragons, as wise and blessed as they were, was not perfect. Marred with scars of the disputes that had led to fights and wars...he barely remembered anymore. He had...chosen to forget that life, forgotten it a long time ago. He would only remember the warmth of his mate, not the power and pain the Hydras bought, the happiness of being blessed with offspring, not the countless he saw die off slowly in the pollution, even the love of his mother. He would forget even that to live this life, as short as it may be....

His thoughts were cut short by Edge's loud scream and he flinched back instinctively to avoid hurting his sensitive ears. His eyes snapped open, startled golden yellow eyes met wide pained and panicked vioket ones before his arms were suddenly empty and there running footsteps to their bedroom. They had dubbed it their bedroom anyway and it definitely felt much more like theirs after they had spent countless nights pressed against each other under the sheets. Recovering from his shock, Path was quick to follow. Stopping in the doorway, he stared at the figure beneath the sheets. "Edge.,," He mumbled softly as he took slow steps towards the bed, pulling back the covers slightly so he could see the boy.

The rest of Edge's form was obscured by the sheet and Path had all his attention locked onto Edge's face anyway. His elongated white scaled ears were turned downward and his tail feebly flopped on the floor below. One could describe him as 'sad puppy like' in that moment. Carefully, he reached up, brushing against Edge's cheek, careful to avoid cutting him with his claws. His eyes searched the other's face, trying to decipher what was wrong. His hard Trailed down for Edge's check to his neck, then the roundness of his shoulder before going lower. Path's eyes never left Edge's so the hydra would have easily seen the way they widened in surprise ad shock before Path' pulled back the sheet to reveal Edge's scaled arms. He sat staring at them for a good second, the dark scales shining in the light. Then, he slowly entwined their fingers, his own scales glistening pure white looking brighter next to Edge's dark Ones. In a fluid motion, he lead back, pulling Edge with him so that the humanwas lying against his chest as they sprawled out on the bed. His eyes were still fixed as their intertwined hands as he spoke softly, Ignoring the headphones that Edge still clung onto. "Why did you... not tell me?" His voice sounded soft and almost sad.

[Skybreaker]

The look of betrayal in Path's eyes hurt Edge internally. Edge tried loosening his hand from that of the dragon's but his efforts were in vain. His mate had an iron grip. Hah. What else is to be expected from such a strong creature? This is why he was all his, and nobody else's... It didn't matter that Path had little to no mind in their 'relationship' because he was a part of Edge's hoard... That's right... Why else had he had turned Path into his slave! He had known all along what he was, hadn't he? That's why- Violet eyes widened, and he suddenly pulled away with a sudden burst of strength. With a fierce roar that would make even the bravest souls flinch, Edge hurled the headphones at the floor, smashing it to tiny bits and pieces. Edge laughed softly. He looked to Path, and pinned him to the bed, smiling darkly all the while. "Hahaha... Hmm... See those broken shards? They look just like your kind did, when I ripped their-" Edge's eyes widened and bit his tongue, drawing thick red blood.

Path would probably be confused, or even angered by his mate's behavior. Edge pushed himself away from the dragon, the scales spreading to his neck and chest, as well as his legs and feet. They were like tiny black feathers, as sharp as could be. "Path! Stay away from me!" He shouted fiercely, standing up on the bed. Then, gaze softening, he spoke softly. "I... I don't really know what's going on myself, Love. But I... I don't want you to get hurt!" Feeling sudden chest pain, Edge cried out and slumped over, falling onto the broken machine. The pieces of metal and glass dug into his back, which lacked any scale growth. He shouted once more, in shock more than pain. Breathing heavily, Edge felt his skin returning, and the cursed scales sinking into his skin. Edge paused for only a moment. "Path..." He choked out, tears beginning to well up. He hopped onto their bed and shot himself at the white dragon, careful not to hit his stomach where a medium-sized lump had formed. "I'll t-tell you everything, because if we're going to be together for a long time, we need to be h-honest, don't we...?" Meeting no objection, Edge buried his face into the dragon's shoulder. He cleared his throat.

"Well... You do recall that I'm a reborn hydra. This means... That biologically, I'm a human. At least, I thought I was. My blood is red, and I've gotten sick before. But you saw the scales, huh? I didn't want to worry you. You're already pregnant, you know..." He sobbed, interrupting his speech. "It's not just that. My scales... they're... evil... But that isn't the worst part. You see, I'm hearing voices." Edge's black hair shook as he shook his head. "It's like I have another person inside of me, and I don't know what to do...!" Suddenly, an idea struck him. It was crazy, and selfish, and... just... unpredictable, but what other choice did he have at the moment?

"Path, do you know what to do?" Edge held his breath, he knew Path didn't remember a lot about his past. Including the fact that he had enslaved him. "I love you. But..." Path was bound to find out, wasn't he? Edge had better be the one to explain. But not yet. He had shocked the dragon enough for now.

[tenebrae16]

He held Edge firm, but gently at the same time, not allowing his mate to squirm away..He was worried now, staring at his mate intently. He waited silently, hoping for an answer of any sort or a sign, a twitch, a change in breathing..anything but the cold silence he was faced with now as Edge tried to pull away. He knew his mate was still thinking, could practically see the cogs and gears turning in his head. He knew not to interrupt when he was thinking, so he wouldn't derail Edge's thoughts. So he held on and waited. Watching him, he barely had a chance to react as Edge wrenched away from him, the sound of glass and metal shattering made him flinch and he attempted to reach for Edge again when his own wrist was grabbed and he was thrown back onto the bed. Edge towered over him, blocking out the light above, all Path saw was a dark shadow staring down at him with twinkling violet eyes as Edge spoke.

His eyes widened at his words and unconsciously he bore his teeth and growled. Protect his offspring and mate. His instincts chorused. Even more so when Edge didnt smell like his mate anymore. The scent of his shiny new scales, slippery..sulfuric. .but rational thought took over and Path knew this was still Edge, his mate and soon to be father of his children..his gaze softened as Edge let him go. Sitting up, he watched him, still a little frozen after what had happened. He furrowed his eyebrows, not sure what to do. Danger. It flashed in his mind. Even with Edge warning him to stay away. So he didnt move, as painful as it was to watch Edge cry out in pain. It didnt last too long thankfully, before he was knocked back again and Edge was clutching onto him, crying. He numbly held him, feeling smooth skin instead of scales...He pulled Edge closer, rocked them both in silence as Edge sobbed. Silent when he spoke. Resting his head on thd other's shoulders. Thoughts completely in a disarray. Edge was....not okay. And that worried him, especially if he were to go to a week long sleep leaving the eggs in care of his mate. It wasn't that he didn't trust Edge, but from whst had just happened...he clenched his hands and held Edge closer.

"...I never learned much of the Hydras...what I know..it may not work,.even then, I do not know if such things still hold truth.." He murmured softly, avoiding tears. He wasnt gonna cry over this, "You wont me...I kniw you will not..."

[Skybreaker]

Edge's eyes visibly softened, and he cupped the dragon's cheek and smiled, despite of everything. His own issues weren't anything to worry about right now. Their offspring were supposed to be his priority. What was he thinking, anyways?

"Path, I'm sorry for asking. Don't worry about it! I'm pretty tough, remember? I should be taking care of you!" Though one could hear the tears in his voice, they weren't visible. He rubbed the dragon's back lovingly. The boy breathed out heavily, suppressing a hiss. "I love you, Path-Path! And I always will! Even if..." Edge's arm twitched, and he slowly let it fall onto the mattress. "If I remember what my past lives were like, I'll still write them off as ancient history. All that matters to me right now is us." The boy confided charmingly, placing a single hands behind Path's neck and massages it firmly. With his other hand, he quickly ran it over Path's stomach. "And our future. So you just focus on keeping the baby healthy, okay?" He winked.

Running a hand through black hair, Edge giggled. He then leaned in close and gave Path a soft peck on one of his porcelain cheeks. "I'm gonna go clean up so we can cuddle later, okay?" He informed the white dragon a little too cheerily before gracefully sliding off the bed and walking toward the door, letting his hand trail on the doorframe as he left. He was careful not to expose his back, though Path might have caught the drops of rose red blood.

Once out of Path's line of sight, Edge moaned silently and bolted to the bathroom to get a better look at his back. He grimaced. There were pieces of glass, metal, and wire embedded into his flesh. Edge knew it was bad, but not this bad. Biting his lip, the scientist wondered what to do. It had taken everything he had to conceal what he was feeling, but he was forced to. Path didn't need to worry about him when he had bigger things to worry about! Bracing himself, the boy began plucking the shards out like they were berries from a bush. Everytime he took one out, more blood leaked out. It was all very scary to look at.

Once they were all out, Edge stripped and stepped into the metal tub, flicking the faucet on. Pretty soon, the green gloop began to fall out. Edge waited until it was up to his knees, then turned it off. He then bathed in the green liquid, liking the sensation. As he laid there, Ede began to drift off. The pieces he had taken out shone as the artificial light shone on them.

"That's right." Was this his voice? Who in the world was he talking to? "When a normal dragon is born, they have their ancestor's memories. However, they usually only get what is deemed useful." There was silence.

"Oh, thanks, Edge!" Who was this? A male, but one with a rough voice!

Violet eyes fluttered open as their owner yawned.

[tenebrae16]

He closed his eyes, leaning into Edge's touch. He was still worried, for both Edge and their Offspring. Even with his assurances, he couldn't help, but feel like Edge wasn't being completely truthful to him, that not everything was actually okay. Yet, he had easily and willingly forgotten bad thing nearly instantaneously before, but to forget this... Not possible with Edge still around. Opening his eyes, he forced an annoyed smile at Edge's stupid endearing nickname. He gave a soft whine as Edge's had moved away, but controlled himself '"Edgy... " He muttered back, looking into his violet eyes, "I trust you."

With that, he forced himself to not flinch away or tense when Edge massaged along his neck and touched his stomach. This was Edge his mate. There was nothing to be fearful or Cautious of... ''I'll keep our children safe...They will grow up healthy and strong like both their parents.." He whisper softly to himself though Edge would have heard as well. Opening his eyes just as Edge left, he let out a Sigh. He could smell it, the seat of blood. Edge shouldn't have underestimated his senses...He may have known the dragon's mind, but Path was willing to bet he knew more about Edge's body than the scientist himself. still, there wasn't much he could get out of confronting his lover about it, knowing how much Edge didn't want to worry him especially while he carried. 'stress is bad for pregnant mothers ' He would constantly be told off when he started to express his doubts or anything. Edge would always soothe his fears and everything would be fine after that, though he doubted it would go that way this time.

Discarding the shards at metal and gears left on the floor, he flopped at their bed, resolving to heal Edge's wounds later. His lover would most likely protest against it, but a few drops of blood was hardly something path would hesitate to trade in return for healing his mate. It didn't count as sacrifice if Edge was asleep anyway. Running a hard unconsciousIy against his stomach, he struggled not to fall asleep before Edge returned. One problem of being pregnant was how vulnerable he was when he slept , and sleep he did a lot. It used to take a few hours before he fell into deep sleep and even then the slightest noise had him as his feet, alert and ready for a fight. Now, he Only needed to touch a pillow and it was like he had fallen into a coma. Edge must have been worried when he didn't respond to his calls the first few mornings.. Usually, his mate was meant t be on guard during these periods, but given that Edge still mostly human, they were lucky to rest in an undeground fully stocked facility that was mostly cutoff from the surface.

"One more week," He reminded himself, counting off the days till 'Egg birth'. He had expected live young, but perhaps it was for the best that they didn't start nursing so Soon..What would Edge think if their child had violet eyes? Path knew Edge was not very fond of that colour.. Violet, in his opinion was a beautiful colour though.. and he drifted off thinking of it..

[Skybreaker]

After getting dressed in furs, Edge took his time getting back to their bedroom. He was thinking. Being with Path like this was amazing. He loved the peace and company. And Path was very knowledgeable company. Though Edge was technically 'older' he didn't act like he was the elder in their relationship. However, no matter how much he wanted to, he couldn't fight that he wasn't always a human. And that hurt a lot.

"Skylark and Sleipnir..." Edge murmured absently. Path told him there were two babies growing inside of him. Edge wondered if they would like him, or if they would be able to sense that he was a hydra at one point... Then again, they were going to be his own flesh and blood. The boy's violet eyes narrowed as he thought. He was only fourteen, and was in no position to raise a child, let alone two children! Humans had to totally take care of their offspring, but many animals fended for themselves. While Edge had no ideas not to try and raise his own children, he couldn't deny he was no father. Edge's studies were ecological, not biological. His best bet was either asking Path about it, or trying to remember his past lives...

But the hydras were born in their prime. They never knew of infancy or of true family. Sighing, Edge stepped into their bedroom to find his mate fast asleep. The boy smiled. Though his dragon was pregnant, he seemed to be just the same as he always was. Edge was a little scared to get near his mate when he was sleeping. When Path couldn't see him, it was dangerous to get close. Path was really strong. One time, Path had almost cut his head clean off. Of course, they had a heart-to-heart conversation afterwards. What was Path's reason? Parental instinct. What did that mean? That Edge wasn't a recognizable parent...?

Edge sat on the edge of the bed, staring at his mate blankly. He was so handsome. However, Edge soon got cold. He slowly crawled over to where the sleeping dragon lay, tail still out. Though it was risky, he wanted to be close to the one he loved. Tenderly, Edge wrapped his arms around Path in a hug and laid his head on the other's chest, careful not to touch the other's stomach.

[tenebrae16]

The dragon barely shifted in his sleep, though his tail flickered slightly nearer to Edge's leg. His breathing evened and he sighed. Eventually, he did slowly open his eyes just a peek, taking a moment to regain his senses. He felt so...sluggish. Tired though by how far Edge had shifted away from him, about a few centimeters, he knew he had slept for at least three hours. He hadn't even remebered falling asleep though, only waiting in bed for Edge, planning to...his gaze shifted to his sleeping mate. Careful not to wake his mate, Path sat up and reached behind Edge, carefully pulling up his shirt to reveal the mess of healing wounds. He bit his lip, thinking about how they would leave scars if left untreated. Humans...so fragile. It was easy to forget Edge was one. Only when he hugged him too tight, got too rough in love making or put too much teeth into a kiss...he was reminded of it. Another worrying thing....he pushed the thoughts aside for now.

Licking his lips, he bit down hard, drawing a bead of bright blue blood upon his lip. Edge never noticed those wounds... leaning down, he pressed a light kiss against his wounds. Lingering to let the blood seep in. He moved onto the other wounds, drawing more blood whenever his wound healed. It didnt hurt him as long as it helped his mate.

Licking up the rest of his blood, he-his eyes widened and he lurched forward, cradling his stomach and biting back a whine. Squeezing his eyes shut, contractions werent meant to come this early. It was atleast one more week before he had to change forms...right? It had only been 5 months...after...after he had known he was pregnant! That meant..he had underestimated the timing! Pain seared through his abdomen and stomach, sharp and intense. Shaking with pain, he dragged himself off the bed, his legs unable to hold him up. Falling to his knees, he cried out and began to slowly crawl to the empty room he had cleared out for just this exact purpose. He didn't care if he woke Edge up mow, getting to the room was all that mattered....it seemed so far away though...and his strength was ebbing away quickly, the pain actually numbing at this point. It would be so much easier... to just give up and go to sleep. "Edge..." He called softly, when did his voice become so soft and dry? "Edge...room....S..."

[Skybreaker]

Sleep was Edge's best friend. Well, it used to be. After working long hours, being able to drift off into the dream world was his paradise. He was always alone. A prodigy. He was a genius. But that was all a lie. Edge may have been a human in this body, but he was still a hydra at heart. Maybe he wasn't a prodigy, but had reserves of knowledge he could tap into? At any rate, learning that everything he had thought he was was a lie had broken him.

Though he had drifted into a slumber, Edge heard Path's voice washing over him. He remembered when they had first met. Path hated him. And with good reason, too. Edge was being attacked by one of the mutant spiders. Above all else, he didn't want to die! But he began to wonder what would have happened if he had been killed. Would he have been reborn in front of the dragon? What would his fate have been?

Edge began to drift out of slumber. He hated the feeling of waking from a dream. More then anything! However, his eyes widened when he saw Path. "What?? Room S?!?" Suddenly, the scientist sprang into action, putting his mate's arm over his shoulder. "Ah! Is this for real??" There were so many emotions were swirling in his body, he was numb.

[tenebrae16]

Black spots swarmed his vision and everything was starting to blur. He...couldnt...didnt want to move, it was just easier to..fall asleep and he wondered what was stopping him from doing so. It was just better..almost like the time he had been playing all day with his fellow kin...then his mother...his mother had..sang him to sleep. He could almost hear her voice as his eyes began to close. It was not a second more before he was jerked awake by Edge's frantic voice and being pulled up. Right. Right. His offspring! How could he forget so easily? "Edge...Edge...." He whined softly, choked up by the streaks of pain in his stomach and waist. Tears actually forming at the corner of his golden eyes. It was one thing for him to cry out of sadness, but Path had never once shed a tear over physical pain...

He tried to gain control back over his feet, but ended up having to lean on Edge for full support. His human had to drag him...heavy as he was with his tail listless behind him, why hadnt he seen this coming sooner? "Edg....S-Sorry." He murmured, feeling a new wave of exhaustion wash over him. This form was much to weak to allow the eggs any more growth...giving up now would be disastrous for both mother and children so...Path couldn't stop fighting. He'd had to change now..but slow it down till they reached the proper room that could hold his form. White shiny scales overtook smooth pale skin and he closed his eyes feeling his mouth start to elongate into a snout. Breathing heavily as if he was already in labour. It was tiresome to restrain his full form.

The moment the room was in sight, he used the last reserve of his strength and launched himself into it. Lying on the floor, writhing and gasping, he gave Edge a fogged over look, one that told him to stay out of the way. With a shout transcending into a roar, a shaky white dragon replaced Path in the room, its wings held close to its body it would have more space. With a great sigh, it lay its head down near the door, one tired golden eye staring over at Edge as the dragon lay down, limbs curled close to its body.

[Skybreaker]

Edge's cursed eyes widened when he saw Path start to tear up. Was Path crying out of pain...? He had never, ever seen this before. It hurt, seeing him like this. Edge quickly blinked the sleep out of his eyes. "R-Right! Leggo... Love... I'll get you... Yay!" Edge stammered, trying to get his words in order. It didn't help that he was still drowsy. However, he wouldn't be stopped from helping his mate!

Though Path wasn't too big, he was pretty toned and was fairly heavy. But Edge wouldn't dare stop! He was frantic. "Don't worry, Path... I'll get you there if it kills me!" The smaller male choked out, dragging the dragon. They had selected a room just for this purpose. Why they called it the S room was a little unknown to him. Maybe it was because Skylark and Sleipnir both started with an S? At any rate, Edge decided he did want offspring. Especially since they were fast learners. There was nothing like an emergency to spark your hidden passions...

When they were in range of the room, Edge let out a shout as Path suddenly propelled himself at the open doorway and began to transform almost immediately. Edge ran to follow, but didn't walk inside. The look Path shot him was enough. "Path! What can I do...?" Edge asked the now giant dragon in a lost voice. He was so... unsure. He had never had any experience with this, at all. The scientist began to breathe deeply.

[tenebrae16]

The tired eye stared at him for a moment longer before it focused on what was behind him, taking on a more guarded look. He couldn't help his instincts, even if he knew no real danger was about. Only him and..Edge..and suddenly a pang of fear ran through him at the thought. No other kin to call to his aid nor anywhere to rhn should the human turn on him. Off course, just as a human, Edge was nothing compared to Path's strength now, but could he face off a full grown Hydra while in such a state? Such thoughts...should be irrational, unimaginable and nothing but paranoia, but..his eyes slide back to Edge, more alert now. More wary. Right now, keeping his offspring safe mattered the most, he would just have to talk it out with Edge later. With a soft snort, his tail gently flicked the door close, locking Edge out. It was Path's supposed way of saying "Leave me alone."

The next few weeks, Path remained rather anti-social. Watching Edge with unmistakable scrutiny and a guarded look everytime the human came in sight. Refusing to eat the food he was brought until Edge was out of the room and always remaining on alert. Should the human try to sneak to his dragon's side at night, he woukd find a pair of glowing golden eyes glaring at him. Being this cold didnt just take a toll on their relationship, however, Path was tired. By right, he was meant to relax and let his mate take care of everything else, yet instinct had sunk in and he was paranoid, afriad..unsure. He couldnt even imagine how Edge must be feeling on the opposite end..he could hear him panicking some nights right outside his door and that of course worried Path further.

It probably wasnt good for either of them to be this stressed out...not for physical, mental health nor the sake of their children. Path forced himself to relax as the day came closer...letting Edge stay when he ate, even sometimes resting his head near his mate...and then findjng himself having unwillingly fallen asleep. Everything at least got more relaxed as the day approached though Path still worried...

[Skybreaker]

The teen smiled hopefully at Path from the outside, but was met only with disappointment as the door slammed shut. His violet eyes flickered to the ground as he fell to his hands and knees, a blank expression on his face. Forcing a cheery tone, Edge attempted to talk to Path through the door. "You don't want me inside with you? Oh... Okay..." The human said as happily as he could. 'He doesn't trust you. He's hiding something!' A voice shouted at him from inside his mind. "I'm here for you, Path. I'll always be here for you..." As Edge rose to his feet, the voice continued to chorus... 'Kill him.' As He crawled back under the covers, he couldn't help but think how cold and empty it felt. But Edge had spent countless nights alone in his own bed, after a long day of work. Not to mention, in his past lives...

Every day. Edge would knock on the door, to no avail. He would always wonder if he would just wake up one day and find that this was all a dream, but of course it would never happen. Though being isolated from Path hurt, Edge found a bigger problem- the voices kept Speaking to him!
"Kill him."
"Crush the eggs."
"Be the one to slice off his head!"
"Kill him before he kills you!"
"He doesn't love you, you know. You tricked him."

After a while, these voices wore him down, and edge began to lose himself. All he wanted was to cuddle with Path. Or maybe just forget. It was easier to forget. Edge's hair was out of order, and his eyes had a crazed, bloodshot look. He couldn't help but wonder if their kids would have violet eyes. Having that would be awful. Passing his curse down to his offspring... Sometimes, Edge would lose it and bang on the door, begging to at least see his mate. But this had no result. Sometimes he would ask, inquire, interrogate. But he would never get more than a grunt or snort in response. Edge didn't understand why this was happening to them, why Path couldn't trust him. Was it possible he knew? That he had enslaved him and... and... No! It wasn't possible. Was it?

Edge's scales stopped coming out. Unfortunately, his voices only got louder, until Edge began to recognize them for what they truly were- his thoughts. This was why Path couldn't -didn't- trust him. After a week, Edge reverted back to his seemingly normal self. He read at the library, took naps, did some research, and left plates of food outside the dragon's room.
After two weeks, Edge had enough. The mental stress was... too much. To fight for someone you couldn't even interact with was infuriating. Eventually, Edge gave into his darker nature. He began to sleep more, drinking in exactly what he could do as a hydra, even in this reduced state.

Edge walked to the outside of the dragon's room. He still loved the dragon, but was rather irritated. "Path-Path..." Edge sang. "You know..." He giggled insanely. "I've had enough of your foolishness!" He said in a chipper tone. "So, I'm coming in. It's alright..." He began, eyes beginning to darken. "You don't have to let me in..." As Edge spoke, a mist began to appear around him. It was dark and slipped under the door. It was a mental impairment serum. Over the course of a week, Edge had relearned most of his basic skills. He learned he fought using a near-unavoidable mist that contained toxins, depending on what he willed. While Noire's use of the mist to enslave humans was impressive, her ability paled in comparison to Edge's. As the first hydra, the original, he had much stronger poisons.

After a few minutes, Edge sang, "Open the door, love..." Though His poison was strong, so was Path. There was a chance this wouldn't be successful.

[tenebrae16]

Sometimes, he imagined he was back on the surface, wandering along the waste lands. It would be raining diwn heavily, but there was no sign of any shelter anyway and he couldnt remember where his shelters were. Despite being completely alone and sensing no one else around...he felt a deep sense of anxiety, bordering towards paranoia when he kept turning around, eyes scanning the horizon for something that wasn't there. Listening for whispers on the wind, chilling his blood. Gently, he rubbed his swollen stomach, feeling the slightest bit better as he thought of his offspring...He had to..protect them, from what though..? He closed his eyes, sighing. Then suddenly a roar broke through the heavy silence, making his startle and turn around trying to seek the source of it. The noise reverberated around him, echoing confusingly off nothing, getting louder and louder..until he stood completely still, a presence lurking directly behind him, a soft voice spoke, "Off with your head, white one..."

He awoke with a start banging his head on the ceiling. Dazed, it took him a while before he realized that he was bleeding. Blue blood trickling down his thigh, pooling on the floor. The pain started slower, comjng in short sharp contractions. His first reaction was to call for Edge, roaring softly, with holding his whine of pain. He was stopped though by Edge banging on the door, calling for him and he would have let him in, except...the way he sounded. That insane lauggter so much like the voice in his dream and Path backed away from the door, curling up in the corner of the room. Vision slowly blurring over, he watched the dark mist seep tgrough the cracks, diffusing into the whole room. He held his breath, wondering hiw long he could go without breathing. A sharp pain below made him gasp though and he coughed as he inhaled the mist. It made him dizzy, reacting badly with the antibodies he was naturally trying to produce. It didnt have a compkete effect, but it made him dizzy and the world fuzzy as he tried to focus. On shaky legs, he clawed desperately at the wall, leaving deep marks before he remembered he was underground. No fresh air there...that meant...

With one swipe, the door flew open and Path reared his head trying tk breathe above the mist. Gasping almost as he struggled to concentrate on laying their precious offspring

[Skybreaker]

Edge sang a song in a language he didn't realize he knew as he waited for his poison to soak in.

Eventually, the door flew off and the human smirked, whistling as he skipped inside and threw himself at the dragon. He embraced him. However, smiles soon turned to tears as Edge realized how much he had missed his mate, some of the bitterness fading away. Path really did have a positive effect on him. His tears stopped abruptly as he saw the blue blood, however. "....!" Edge was speechless, shocked, and ashamed. The poison he expelled, was, no doubt, dangerous for Path and their kids. Panicking, the boy suddenly let go and put both hands on his stomach. He then tilted his head up and took a deep intake of breath, effectively swallowing and dispelling the rest of the remaining mist.

"Path.. I'm so sorry.... I just, I wanted to see you..." He mumbled stupidly. There was nothing he could do, other than cleanse the air. And he had already done that. Edge had lost his mind, but felt like he had found it once again. There was no time to explain how he could breathe poison.

[tenebrae16]

He Coughed, feeling the mist slowly expel from his lungs. Off all the dragons, his kind was meant to have more immunity to this sort of thing, but the pregnancy had left him weak. He only hoped that Meant the young ones were stronger to this sort of thing. His breathing evened and his heavy head came to rest near Edge. Half closed golden eyes peering at him tired, behind the glazed light, was the slightest feeling of fear and betrayal. But there was no time to fully express these feelings. He groaned softly, nuzzling his back gently. With a sigh, he lay his head down and closed his eyes. Collapsing Onto the ground. For a second, it seemed like the dragon was completely ready to hibernate, but it was not more than a few seconds later did he open his eyes and stand. No resting, he couldn't. No, not his precious vulnerable offspring, not with.. not with a Hydra.

He was wary about changing back for a Second, but even in his human state he should be stronger than Edge and it would help him conserve More energy to stay awake. The dragon shrink down, and the boy crawled over to where two dark coloured eggs rested. His tail curled around them, pressing his body against it. He wiped the blood off messily with his hand. It was... so easy to just fall asleep after what he had gone through. but... no don't... he had to. protect ...

SI

[Skybreaker]

Edge could see it in his mate's eyes. The golden eyes that he loved so much. They were different than his own cursed eyes, he recalled. They had superior abilities.

Edge could see the pain, and understood that Path wanted him to keep away. Breathing out sharply, Edge's violet eyes flickered with something. But with what? Anger? Sorrow? No. Edge hated it, but he knew exactly what was in his eyes. This was why Path didn't trust him. Could the white dragon see it in his eyes? He was envious of his children. In Path's eyes, they were worth more than him. Round, wet tears rolled down Edge's cheeks as he saw Path transform back into a human.

Edge knew better than to get closer. All he did was let himself tear up. He wanted to smash those eggs. He wanted to hurl them at the sky and watch them fall back onto the Earth with a sickening crack! At this, he cried. He knew that once he was alone with the eggs, he could get rid of them. Then he would tell Path he was attacked. It was perfect. But Path suspected him, didn't he...?

The human cried out, the sound ripping through his gut and out into the underground air. What was he thinking? "Path-Path! I'm so sorry..." Edge choked out. Path was being awfully cold to him. Was it possible he knew what he had done to him? Made him his slave? No, that was ridiculous. "Please..." Edge said, getting a little closer to his family. "Let me... Let me feel them... I want to hold them... I want to hold my kids..." The male whispered.

[tenebrae16]

His vision cleared up a little and he kept himself tense to keep from falling asleep. He considered turning his hypnotic gaze onto himself to forget such exhaustion, but he doubted it would do much good if his body was going to constantly remind him of the pain and Overwhelming process he had just been through. He stroked the outer shell of his offspring, feeling how smooth and cold they were. No good. He focused on keeping them warm with his own body heat. For a second that was all he focused on, nearly forgetting that Edge was still standing there. He only had so much strength left to concentrate on one thing. It was only when Edge's hallowed cry reached his ears, did he look up at his tearful mate.

He doesn't even have the energy to flinch as Edge takes a step closer, though instinct makes his tail curl tighter around the eggs careful to still be gentle. (like young in a womb, Path believed they could still sense what went on around them.) It takes him a moment before he recognises Edge. Remembers that he was entitled to their offspring as much as Path was. It takes another moment before his tail sweeps away and he loosens his grip on the eggs very slightly. He is wary, On guard and still cautious, but what right did he have to deny Edge holding his young. After all, he had gone through all this pain.. partly for Edge. It was their children. Made from both of them. He extended his hand towards Edge.

''Look.. " He said softly, ''It is our children, it is Sleipnir and skylark"