AN: This starts on page 500 of The Dragon Sanctuary, after Gavin kills Dougan. However, in this, Gavin did not kill Mara. Yes, this is a Kendravin fic. And yes, Gavin is rather OC. But otherwise I couldn't conceive this oneshot. And, this is my first fanfic. Please review with that in mind.
Disclaimer: All content belongs to Brandon Mull. I do not own any of these characters.
Kendra huddled in the dark passage, staring along the flashlight beam. From far away, she watched as the dragon-Gavin transformed back into a human near the entrance to Sidestep Cleft. The transformation back was amazing. It was like watching a noodle disappear down someone's throat as his dragon head and neck shrunk back down to his human shoulders. As soon as he turned back, he disappeared, shrinking out of the beam. Kendra toyed with the notion of staying here but her curiosity overcame her. She had to know what had happened, why Gavin had killed Dougan. She cautiously approached him, sidestepping through the narrow passageway.
As she got closer and closer to where Gavin had transformed, she heard a strange sound. It sounded like…sobbing. The harsh noises rang through the rocky, narrow, tunnel. As she approached, she still could not make out where he was. Perhaps he was hiding, ready to spring when she drew near. Suddenly, her flashlight illuminated a huddled form on the ground. It was Gavin. His neck was bleeding, blood running on to the floor. "Oh Jesus, why, why," he moaned.
"Gavin?" Kendra asked. "Who are you?"
"Guess," Gavin spat out venomously.
The answer had been staring her in the face, but it still pained her to admit it. "Navarog."
"Yes," he answered, the word sounding like a surrender.
She only had one word to say. "Why?"
He sighed, or more likely moaned. "I thought by transforming I could protect you. I thought I could save everyone. In my mind it was my only choice. I though I could control him," he spat out. "I'm so sorry. I thought I could stop my instincts. I thought I could keep Navarog bottled up. You know how dragon's feelings are different? I thought I could master the pure evilness of Navarog. I thought I could tame the hurricane. And for my foolishness, a good man had to die."
"But why did you lie to us? Why did you deceive us all?"
"I was trying to reverse my nature. After I saved you on Lost Mesa, I felt… good. It took me weeks to think about that. But I decided I liked being good. After centuries of burning and pillaging, being good was an exciting change. So I wanted to build a new identity. That's why I lied. That's why I deceived you all." Gavin's shut his eyes at this. "I'm so sorry. So sorry…" Gavin choked up, dissolving into sobs. Kendra, sat down next to him, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"Shh ..It's okay, it's all going to be okay."
As they sat there, Kendra began to sing, a lullaby her mother used to sing. And even though the wind was howling through Sidestep cleft, Gavin closed his eyes, falling asleep. Looking at him, asleep, red eyes closed, Kendra felt at peace. As the rain lashed and thunder boomed, Kendra shut her eyes, falling asleep, her arm still around Gavin, the boy she loved no matter what.