AN: I would say that this is the continuation of the Beginning of Life chapter 'Dragonic copulate' but in a way it will wrap up this saga. This story itself takes place about three months after Tamli collapsed and Mirage told Narssia that he loves her. Anyway, enjoy and please review!

Lights. Beeping. The sound of a heartbeat. The rusty, iron-like smell of blood.

Slowly Tamli opens his eyes, the back of his mouth feeling dry. His vision is cloudy, is that normal?

I see you have faired better then most with your ailment. A high-pitched female dragon snorts as Tamli finds his vision wavering. See to it that he receives another dose of Thalim.

Thalim? Tamli blinks, unsure of what he heard. Is he sick? That doesn't sound right. A sharp pain in his neck causes him to quiver and breath rapidly. What do they want from him? Dots soon appear everywhere he looks as a strange buzzing noise fills his head. The dryness of his mouth seems to get worse but by this time Tamli is unconscious, an electric current having been run through him by several pads attached to his cheeks, neck, and chest.

That went fairly well. See to it that he is placed back into his cell. The same dragoness growls as two brown dragons lift the unconscious male and drag him back to the small, steel cage that serves as home when he is not being treated.

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By the time that Tamli awakens his head is spinning. He struggles to sit up, the same sensation of vertigo passing over him. Instead of collapsing back down onto the metal slab that is supposed to be a bed, Tamli finds himself somehow twisting over and collapsing onto the stone cold floor.

When his head has stopped spinning and his breathing is toned down, Tamli looks up. Three months he has spent in this place now ever since he violently collapsed in his cave. Since that time, Finca has not been able to see him, much to their equal dislike. The same steel substance block three of the walls, the ceiling and floor grey stone. The fourth wall has three bars curved into it with an electric charge running through them.

Tamli cringes, feeling his stomach twist and turn. That drug, Thalim is it? It seems to reek havoc on his system. Tamli attempt to force himself to shallow constantly but it doesn't work. He retches violently sending a spew of reddish liquid everywhere, something not quite like his blood but close enough for the scent to be almost the same, that rusty, iron-like smell. Ever since coming here and getting injected with that Thalim daily, Tamli has found that he has detested the smell of blood. Now being fed through a complicated system of supplements to get nourishment is the price to pay to stay alive.

Tamli blinks as he hears the clicking of claws on stone, probably another dragon coming to give him another injection of that Thalim drug. The male blinks when he sees the dragon halt at the bars before his prison, its scales gleaming a vibrant white as its yellow eyes stare unblinking at the male.

Tamli? It asks in a chime-like voice, the tone exactly like Finca's.

Finca? Tamli asks, his thoughts hazy on account of the Thalim.

The white female nods, her tail brushing past the electric charges as she disarms them. Slowly she slips through, her body barely squeezing through the tight bars. Tamli attempts to stand, his movement only allowing him to sit up as Finca crosses over to him.

My mate. Finca growls as she rubs against his neck, her touch soothing Tamli's fears.

Although Tamli enjoys the contact, something about it feels unnatural, unreal almost. Tamli's eyes flicker, weariness washing over him, yet another side-effect of the drug that keeps him alive. His breathing quickens, straining as his stomach twists again, forcing another retching to take place as he leans forward and Finca jumps back. Her eyes go to her ill mate, his condition worrying. Even though Thalim is keeping him alive, his condition is getting worse.

Go. Tamli sighs as he struggles to collect himself, his body trembling violently. Finca pauses for a second which forces Tamli to repeat his statement. Go, Finca.

The white dragoness sighs as she gazes at his fragile frame one last time before turning to leave. Two growls echo from outside the cage as Finca stops, her eyes wide.

Get the intruder! After her! A large dark blue dragon roars as several small silver dragons run toward the cage.

Finca backs up, unsure of herself. Should she run or should she stay with her mate? A rich growl echoes from Tamli's throat, the male seeming stunned as he is surprised at his need to keep his mate safe even when he can't even hardly move.

Stay close my mate. Tamli quivers as he forces the words to come, his eyes on the silver dragons that approach to capture Finca.

Finca approaches Tamli, careful not to stand too close should he retch again. Tamli however, seems more at peace with this then anything that he has done in the last three months. Drawing a shaky breath, he stands as two silver dragons enter the small cage, their red eyes on Finca alone.

A warning hiss from Tamli diverts their attention to the shaky male beside their target. A few clicks between the two and they leap toward Tamli, knowing they can beat him down quickly. Tamli, however, is more experienced then the two and he smirks slightly at their attempt before letting a raging blast of light roast them. After the initial spark of energy that fueled his attack has died away Tamli staggers and collapses to the floor, his vision threatening to go to black.

Finca looks around for a second, her mind racing. True her mate just saved her but yet he may be weakened by this. Slowly she grabs the back of his neck and lifts him up, straining herself in the process, as she starts to drag him over to the raised metal slab that serves as the bed. Halfway there, Finca drops him, panting heavily. Who knew Tamli weighted that much that even his mate couldn't carry him?

Tamli looks up at Finca. Even though he has passed through the Dragonic copulate and didn't die, thank to the first Thalim injection, he still has had the urge to mate with her. A gentle growl echoes from his throat as Tamli speaks his mind with their kind's natural tongue. Finca snorts, growling to make sure of her mate's request. Tamli repeats the growl, nodding his head slightly.

Fine. Finca snorts, rolling him over and starting to lick his belly, her tongue soothing to the male.

Tamli grabs her wrist with his clawed hands and sighs, his scent washing over Finca more strongly then in their mating season. The female snorts, bringing her head up to look at him. Slowly Tamli leans in and licks her cheek with his tongue, reminding her that they are mates. Finca nods as Tamli draws back to let her nibble the scales on his neck. Tamli smirks, suddenly flipping them over so that he is on top. Finca blinks, looking down for a moment and then bringing her eyes up slowly. Tamli's hind claws lock with Finca's as they bring themselves together becoming almost joined from the chest down. This lasts only for a second as Tamli lets go, rolling off Finca. He lands with his chest pointed toward the stone ceiling, his chest heaving as the rush of actually completing a ground mating reaches through his mind.

Fantastic. Finca chuckles as she rolls over to gaze at her mate. I am sorry.

For what?

For not being there when you have needed me.Finca sighs as she looks down.

Don't be.Tamli chuckles softly. I wasn't there to help you hunt for Rados, Silver, and Szara after they hatched so we can call it even.

The clicking of more claws forces both dragons to look up, their gaze held on one dragon as it enters the room and smashes the burnt bones of the two silver dragons.

So the rumors are true. The great Tamli enters our presence after coming back from the dead with his former dragon. The dragon snorts.

If Tamli hadn't have been so worn out from the mating he might have spoken up in his defense.

What's wrong? You have nothing to say? The dragon chuckles asFinca growls, her eyes blazing with hate for this new dragon that has entered their space.

The dragon looks at Finca for a moment, its eyes inspecting her. The dragon's gaze turns to Tamli, who it grabs by the neck. Tamli groans as he stares blankly at it.

You should be dead because of the trouble you've caused. The dragon roars as it throws Tamli to the ground, the male convulsing as if an electric charge just went through his entire body.

Finca roars, angered by this display and dominance over her mate.

Seize the female. Get her out of here and as for the male, prepare another Thalim injection. The dragon says as it motions for another dragon to take Finca away.

Finca turns and looks worryingly at Tamli who has recovered slightly. His eyes are a little bit cloudy but he seems alright. The second dragon seizes Finca by her hind legs and begins to drag her out. Finca digs into the stone floor with every ounce of strength in her.

Tamli, our minds are one and the same. Never apart and never together. We exist as one . . .

Tamli blinks, recalling the same exact thing that Finca said from the night that they became mates.

Finca, our minds are one and the same. Never apart and never together. We exist as one being, full and yet separate. Tamli growls, finishing and repeating his mate's words as Finca nods before being torn from the room.

Tamli roars, feeling anger toward the one who took his mate from him. His eyes go to the dragon that remains in the room as he stands.

Bring her back. Tamli growls as anger washes over him, the emotion filling him with strength.

The dragon seems surprised slightly that Tamli can stand. From his actions earlier in the day, it would have seemed like he was unable to do anything. Tamli growls, his eyes narrowing to slits as rage washes over him as he request still isn't fulfilled.

When the dragon before him does nothing, Tamli spring forward only to get shot in the neck by one of the needles that carry the Thalim drug. He crashes to the floor, his emotions calming down as the drug forces his emotions to become almost nonexistent.

That's better. We don't want you getting so worked up that you end up convulsing on us when we do another shock treatment tomorrow now do we? The dragon chuckles as it turns and steps out of the room, no doubt going to check on the situation with Finca.

Images of Finca come to Tamli's mind as his vision fades to black. She will be fine. She can defend herself. She practically stopped Makiar from killing him when he was a human. She will be fine . . .