Disclaimer: I own nothing except my characters. Other canon characters are owned by their respective companies.
Exclaimer: To people who don't like the story, just don't read it.
Special Thanks to Alec the Dark Angel for being my beta for this story.
Special Thanks to Strigon175 for being my beta for this story.
Chapter 26
Outburst
She sighed. "Thanks Ember."
The fire dragoness turned her head to look at her. "For what?"
"For, you know…being a good friend to me," she replied.
"Oh shucks, Latis, I'm just only doing my job. And besides, you really need a friend right now, of all times, given your current situation."
She nodded, then a question popped into her head. "By the way, you seem calm about this. Tell me; did you mate with Flame last night?"
Ember was surprised at her frankness. She looked at her, caught off guard by the question. "W-why do you ask?"
She returned her a flat stare. "You did, didn't you?"
There was an awkward silence that hung between them for the few moments they walked. The only thing that was audible was the sound of their claws hitting the stone floor. Ember glanced at Latis to find that she still was looking at her.
"Okay, fine! Stop looking at me like that!" She looked around to confirm that they were alone, before turning to her and whispering, "Yes. Okay? Yes. We did do it last night."
Latis smiled wryly at her. "Was it your first?"
"Yes, that was my first."
"Then how come you're not worried about this!?" she blurted out.
"Worried about what?"
"Being gravid! Am I the only one rationally sound about all this?" she asked her.
Ember sighed. "Listen, I'm not worried about it, and I'm not worried about you, because Flame mentioned something about the drinks and food last night having contraceptives mixed in them."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Not really. I was drunk as well last night, remember?"
Latis glared at the ground, angry at the effects of alcohol. "Do you think we can ask the Guardians about that?"
"We surely can. He mentioned that it was the Guardians that told him that."
"Okay. I'll ask Cyril later. We need to ask Zaze first before them."
"So by the way," said Ember.
"What is it?"
"How are you feeling?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Like I said, how are you feeling?" Ember repeated the question.
"Well, aside from panicky earlier from the thoughts of maybe carrying eggs, peachy."
"Peachy; do you still feel your heat?" Ember asked.
Latis thought for a moment, and sensed her body. The burning sensation that usually came and went from yesterday in her loins was still there. However, it was lesser and not a strong than it used to be.
"A little," she replied.
"Do you think you can think clearly now?"
"I…guess? Where are you going with this?" Latis asked, confused with the sudden line of questioning.
"I'm going to ask you the same question from before."
"And that is?"
"Do you have feelings for Zaze?"
"I thought I already answered that question?"
"You have."
0 = 0 = 0
"I…I don't know."
"You're confused as to what you're feeling, right?"
"Yes…" Latis nodded.
"Is this the first time this has come up?"
"Yes, I only thought of it now."
"So, to sum it up…you're confused whether, it's just your heat, or the real deal?"
"The real deal being…?"
"You've fallen in love with Zaze."
Latis eyes widened at the bluntness of Ember's words. "Oh come on Latis, its natural. Zaze is a nice guy; charming. I'm guessing this is your first time, since you're so confused?"
"…yes…" Latis replied meekly. "And I don't know what to do."
"Then do what is normally done on Courtship Week. Ask him."
Latis brow rose. "Ask him what?"
"Ask him if the feeling is mutual. You could try asking him later at the Gala. That would be the perfect time."
"I…I'm scared."
"You should be. It's normal."
"What if he says no?"
"Before I answer that, what do you think is causing these feelings?"
Latis thought for a minute, putting everything into account. She looked back at all the times she was with Zaze. She didn't have these feelings before. It only started recently, and the catalyst was the dream she had. And that dream was triggered no doubt by her heat. So maybe, it was her heat.
"I think it's being caused by my heat."
Ember nodded. "Well, in that case then, there's no problem. It's not serious."
0 = 0 = 0
"You answered that it was your heat," Ember continued. "And you didn't get to ask him back at the Gala either. So now, with your heat not in full force, I'm going to ask you again. Do you have feelings for Zaze?"
Latis looked at the ground and stopped walking for a moment. She needed to gather her thoughts. Did she have feelings for Zaze? The feeling she had for him, whatever it was, was still there. Each time she thought about him, it always made her feel giddy. Each moment they shared, she treasured. Then it dawned on her, that Zaze was the only dragon she cared for the most. That was the main reason why she was training hard; to return the favor of him saving her life, and protect him from harm. She just only realized that her main motivation was actually romantic reasons.
"Latis?"
Hearing Ember's voice brought her back to reality. She turned to look at her, feeling she just overcame a hardship.
"Ember…I do." Ember smiled at her, glad that her friend FINALLY admitted it to herself. "I do have feelings for Zaze. I can only hope he does as well."
0
"I don't," Zaze answered.
Alyssa gave him a flat stare. "Then why do you have a hangover?"
Zaze smiled sheepishly. "I guess I got kind of got carried away last night."
"Understandable. I'm surprised you came to me though."
"Huh?"
The healer walked over to one of the cabinets and began rummaging for the appropriate medication. "Latis' is an apprentice of mine. You could have asked her for some medicine for that headache of yours."
Zaze didn't answer, but instead just shrugged. Noticing the lack of response, Alyssa asked him, "Did you two have a fight or something?"
"W-what made you ask that?"
Now this really got her attention. Zaze was stuttering. Zaze was never one to stutter. Something must have happened.
"Okay, what happened?" she asked, turning around to face her. In her paws was the medication for Zaze's headache. He tried to reach for it, but Alyssa pulled it away from him.
"No," she said sternly. "Tell me what happened first."
"What?" Zaze said, looking at her incredulously. "Nothing happened. What are you talking about?"
Alyssa looked at him, and then finally decided to hand over the medicine. Zaze gratefully took the medicine and drank it. The taste felt odd, but immediately he noticed the effects. His overall feeling felt a lot better as pain began to ebb way. He breathed a sigh of relief as he finally felt comfort.
"Better?" Alyssa asked.
"Much better; thanks Alyssa."
"You're welcome."
And with that, the healer left him to attend to her duties. Zaze wasn't the only one with a headache that reported into the infirmary. Other dragons were there, groaning in pain, much like him. He quietly excused himself, as Alyssa attended to the other dragons. Walking outside, he could finally think clearly again. The headache was gone, so he was free to indulge again in his thoughts. And as he did so, one thing bothered him; it was last night. Immediately, the smile on his face disappeared and was left with a concerned look. He was so deep in thought, he didn't notice someone walking in front of him.
"Oof!"
"I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"
The dragoness—Zaze could tell from the voice—helped him up. "I'm fine. I wasn't looking where I was going."
"I wasn't either," she replied.
Zaze looked up and that was when he recognized who he bumped into. It was that dragoness from the other day. The one Cyril was talking too; the one that was looking for Terrador. This time, he managed to get a good look at her. She had bright blue eyes, beige colored underbelly, slightly dark yellow scales, a somewhat curvy but plump figure, and her horns were slightly curved back and her tail spade was in the shape of a lightning bolt; a fine adult electric dragoness.
"Say, can you help me? You look like the helpful type."
Zaze smiled. That was an understatement. "I try to be. What is it?"
"Can you direct me to where the Guardians' Room is? I'm looking for someone."
"Terrador, right?" Zaze asked.
The dragoness blinked. "How did you—"
"I saw you, yesterday. You were talking to Cyril."
"I see. Well, in any case, can you?"
"Sure. Follow me."
The dragoness chuckled as they walked. "What is it?"
"Here I am, asking someone for help when I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Decibele, nice to meet you…"
"Zaze; nice to meet you too, Decibele."
His curiosity getting the better of him, he braved himself to ask her, "So…why are you looking for Terrador?" He wondered briefly if he was getting too nosy.
"It's something rather private."
Maybe he was.
"Hey, Zaze?"
"Yes?"
"Are you close?"
"What do you mean?"
"Close to Terrador, I mean."
Zaze thought for a moment. If she had asked if he was close to Volteer, then it was a relative yes. But Terrador? "Hmm…not really."
"I see."
"What made you ask that?"
"I saw you two yesterday; at the balcony talking to each other. Terrador talking to someone is a relatively rare sight."
Zaze decided to use this opportunity to try and get some more information. "You seem to know a lot about him."
"I do. He wasn't always like that though."
The two rounded around the corner, and sadly, Zaze's chances of fishing for information was over. He gently knocked on the door.
"Coming." At the sound of the voice, Decibele immediately perked up. It was Terrador's. The door creaked open, and standing at the doorway was the Earth Guardian.
"Oh, Zaze, what is it do you…" His tone changed when he happened to see the dragoness standing beside the electric dragon. "…want?"
"She said she was looking for you," Zaze answered.
Terrador's expression was unfathomable. The practiced stoic face he always bore. "You may go now. Thank you," he answered, not looking at him and instead locking eyes with the dragoness.
Sensing the rather tense atmosphere that could have been cut with a butter knife, Zaze followed him obediently. With wary eyes, he excused himself. But the curiosity of the dragon was getting the better of him. As soon as he rounded around the corner, he pressed himself against the wall and listened in. He was basically eavesdropping.
"What do you want?" Terrador asked darkly.
"I came here to apologize."
"Apologize; about what? What you and your friends did?"
"'Your' friends? What are you talking about Terry? They were your friends too! We're all friends!"
"Don't call me that," he replied sternly. "And I never had any friends."
"But Terry—"
"I SAID DON'T CALL ME THAT!"
Zaze's spine shook. He had never heard Terrador shout before, and now that he did, it was terrifying.
"YOU WERE NOTHING BUT A NUISANCE TO ME. ALL OF YOU! I NEVER HAD ANY FRIENDS," he shouted. "AND EVEN IF I DID, I WOULD NEVER EVER HAVE YOU AS A FRIEND."
And with that loud outburst, Zaze heard the door slam shut.
He carefully peaked from the corner, and saw Decibele standing there, in shock, tears running down her face.
Author's Notes:
And thus, begins the Terrador Social Arc. Better prepare yourselves, my dear readers, cause this is one is going to be a doozy. It'll definitely change your perspective on the quiet Earth Guardian.
Credit where it's due, I would to announce that the main idea for this social arc did not come from me, but from a reader of mine at DA named "Sicarius19". Without him, this social arc wouldn't be possible. So yeah. Kudos to this guy, he truly deserves it!
Please take some time to R&R.
And favorite it, along with the author!
The OC "Pyrus" belongs to Alec the Dark Angel.
The OCs "Manuel" and "Alyssa" belong to SpyroonEarth.
The OCs "Decibele" belongs to Sicarius19