Mythospective 2: DEED Chap 10

Chapter 10: Drake's Days of Desert


Darren Toprak knew there was a problem before he even reached the plateau.

For one, Goliath's mental connection with him had suddenly disappeared. Although he was too young to be able to use his psychic sense with accuracy, he was painfully aware something was missing, and he could guess what that was.

Second, he was nearly at the top, yet no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't distinguish the sand cloud that Vortex was supposed to be at the moment. It had been there mere seconds earlier, although oscillating in a hectic fashion, and was gone a moment later.

Holding onto a ledge a couple meters below the top, he frowned and clenched his teeth. He didn't understand what was happening, but had an idea who might be behind it.

Quartz... isn't he the one who made prophecies that guided millions of creatures, some of them human? Why is he trying to debunk one of them? Who would be willing to spend effort, time, and even lives... to stop a positive event that they predicted?

He punched the rock, knocking down a few tiny pebbles that rolled down into the canyon.


Spearbone had said Quartz's motives were similar to, but slightly different from, the undead dragon's own before the curse. Toprak had heard various versions of Spearbone's story, all built around the same idea of wanting to "fight fire with fire" - trying to get rid of "dark" forces by destroying their wielders, with no regard for their possible wisdom and the powers' more constructive uses.

This time, however, it was about preventing official contact between the Realms, something that would no doubt benefit them both. If Quartz had legitimate reasons to think this would cause big trouble, why didn't he simply voice his concerns? It would certainly be a clearer message than being absent from all Council meetings, sending out minions and mercenaries to assassinate people instead.

Unless... unless Quartz suspected some harm would come from it, and had good reason not to warn the Council?

Only one way to know... if I survive it, of course.

The idea that such an old, respected dragon might have legitimate suspicions about his peers sent chills down Toprak's spine. He shook it off and, with no other option, pulled himself up-

...then met Vortex's pained, apologetic stare. From inside an Airtight bubble, next to the human wizard sitting in anticipation.

The female wyvern (messenger and scout, rescuer of two Elite werewolves) crouched to the young male's right -- between him and the cavern. Growling, apparently pleased to see him, she spread her wings and menacingly lowered her head.

"Hello darlin'," she purred. "Good to see you finally made it!"

"Poisoneye," he simply replied at first. She was acting out of character, he thought.

He decided to play along and added: "Sorry about the improvised visit, by the way."

"Sorry about your friends," she tossed back without emotion. "But my Boss doesn't exactly like meddlers."

"Meddlers!" Forgetting his persona, Toprak coiled his still-gloved hands into fists and rose up to his feet. "We're here to stop HIM from messing with the Realms!" He almost fell when lifting his tail to point at the cavern.

"Too bad he's not there, honey." Lillie was still crouched. "I guess you'll have to leave a message, I can take it to him. That's what I do, you know."

"You could," he corrected, clumsily walking towards her. "Or you could go to the next Council of Higher Authorities meeting and tell them what it is that got him so worri-"

The male was interrupted by an impact to his chest.


Poisoneye was no longer crouching - she was in the air over Darren, her two legs hitting his torso in unison. The Eastern instinctively recoiled and threw himself sideways as the talons on her wings whizzed past his ear.

Springing onto his feet, he held up his hands with the leather gloves and diamond claws. "Poisoneye, what are y-"

But she lunged at him again, so he lowered himself and swung a diamond-clawed hand... above her head, since she had come in low this time. He heard a sickening crunch followed by searing pain from his muzzle, and knew his upper jaw must be broken. The impact was hard enough to send him down onto his back.

"Why," he tried to utter, but the shock and pain made him scream it. He just lay there, frozen with his back fins against the warm sand, trying to make sense out of the events.

"Why not?" the female hissed, putting a foot on his neck and pushing down with her talon. "Why be the instrument of a prediction when you can turn it right round and surprise fate?"

Darren was unable to respond, only hold his blood-covered muzzle and make a garbling sound. That sentence made no sense, he still had no idea what Quartz or Poisoneye were up to. He just knew he'd be done for as soon as he made any other movement or sound.

Worse still, the wyvern hadn't only broken his jaw. He also saw bite marks on his nose, oozing blood and a pink fluid. Her venom!


Vortex was following the fight from his transparent prison, trying to face the fact that he could've saved the dragon simply by not reverting to hound form right there, coming back down to transform instead. There was also hope -really small indeed, but nevertheless present- that his Master might come to their rescue, after which he would demand a report from the wolfhound.

Right now though, he didn't believe Blacksnow or anyone else would be on time to save Toprak's life.

So, he watched - the only thing he could do right now.


As if on cue, Quartz's lifesign reappeared - Vortex whipped his head around to look at the giant. Darren, too, saw the grey silhouette through the tears invading his eyes.

The hydra emerged from the desert's portal, looking nonchalant. He stretched as if waking up to a beautiful, normal day, took in the scene before him, nodded his approval at Poisoneye...

"Finish it," he said in a neutral tone.

Toprak tried to scratch his attacker's face and slip away, but Poisoneye was faster; her cheeks were merely grazed by the diamonds as she shot her head forward. Unforgiving jaws clamped down on a shoulder of the helpless Eastern dragon, who then felt liquid being pumped into his vessels. He knew it sometimes took several, most certainly agonizing minutes for the toxin to take full effect.

The wyvern released him. "Sorry sweetie," she spat as the groaning male rolled onto his stomach. "But I couldn't let you inform the Council about my Boss wanting to be the next Light King."

Slowly turning his head around, Toprak stared blankly at her. He was trembling, gasping in pain, panting with terror. Spearbone once wanted the same thing, in a way... He almost started a terrible genocide for it!

His already blurry vision now obscuring, he tried to ask her for more, but only a grunt escaped his crippled mouth. Darkness then fell upon him, followed by nightmares full of scorching sunlight that burned everything he knew.

* * * * *

The human and Quartz watched Toprak collapse on his underside with satisfaction. Poisoneye was a little confused, as if asking herself if she had actually done that. Vortex didn't quite know what to think anymore; but he truly wished this was all a bad dream, so he could wake up to a reality where everything was back to normal.

There was absolutely no waking up though. The bubble with a Muffler spell around him, enemies everywhere, Ambassador Toprak dying before he could even walk in his mother's steps and unite worlds... everything was still there.

Shaking violently, the wolfhound suddenly realized his duty -- to hide everything he knew from these enemies. He would do his best to discreetly gather as much information about them as possible, until maybe (oh, just a frustratingly small flicker of hope) someone came to save him.

He mentally reached out, seeking contact with his Master. He should've done so way earlier, he knew, but he forced the guilt aside for now.