Sorry for the long wait. I lost my mojo, and started focusing on one shots or shorter stories, but now I'm back. Please enjoy. I had fun writing this chapter.
The pair said nothing, only their deep breathes ringing out as they struggled to catch their breaths. Both men stared upon each other, Silas on the damp ground, Ferox leaning against the earthen wall.
"That was...uncalled for." Ferox spoke from the darkness, grunting as he got up, slightly struggling to pull himself out of the grave. Silas moved not, staring at the stars in the sky through a swollen left eye.
Ferox straightened himself, wiping the blood from his nose that continued to flow, "You will lie in that grave...if you do not defeat your demons."
With that, the blonde walked off, Silas laying within the grave for some time, breathing in pain and spitting blood passed his lips. In time, the young knight regained enough strength to sit up, teeth baring in pain. He paused for several seconds, forcing himself to rise to his feet and lift himself out, but Silas' grip had faltered, sending him backwards into the earth.
"Oh!...oh, God...damn it!" Silas hissed, his back scraping against earth and hard stone. The man paused once more, looking upon the night sky. Silas could swear he could see a dragon dancing in the moonlight, scales glimmering of pale rose crystals.
"...Ember?" Silas questioned aloud, steel eyes glancing to the earth before looking upon the dancing dragoness once more. Shaking his head, the man rose once more, sweat causing his clothes to cling as he jumped once more, pulling himself out.
Slowly, Silas grabbed the shovel and rose, using it as a crutch. By now the man could see nothing out of his left eye, the flesh swollen shut and painful, yet when he looked toward the sky he could still see her dancing. Ember was beautiful when she danced, weightless and elegant, he had to admit.
Still, her moonlight dancing could not hold his fancy for long, for he needed to return home. With mind on home, Silas stumbled back to the village into the darkness, relying upon the grave digger for guidance.
Upon arriving home, the man set the dirt stained shovel against the outer wall before pressing against the door and entering. Stumbling inside in the darkness, Silas tried to move as quietly as possible in his wounded state, pausing to listen for any sign his kin were awake. He could only hear the snoring of his father, strong and deep. Yet he could very faintly hear the sounds of soft sobbing.
Licking his cracked lips, Silas hobbled towards Berend's chamber, peeking his head in to see the cover shaking from the boy's body. Slowly, Silas moved inside, one shaky step at a time, lips parting to speak, yet his throat was dry, "You should sleep...sleep, Berend. Please...do not cry."
Berend paused, breath stilling. The boy refused to look at him, shifting, "Go away. Leave me alone."
Silas remained silent, breathing heavily as he cleared the drying blood from his throat, "...you should sleep...not cry. Sleep."
"I said go away." Berend replied weakly, voice shaking in sorrow and rage as he felt the bed give way to the man, now sitting on the edge, "I hate you."
Silas paused as he heard the words flow from his kin's lips, taking several seconds to reply, "No you do not...I am sorry."
"I do. And you aren't sorry."
"...you are not a bastard."
"Stop lying."
"Your parents loved you...they loved you...just as Carl and I love you." Silas spoke softly, a hand shaking as he reached to touch the boy, feeling the empty socket under the fur cover as the boy flinched.
"Don't touch me. You lie. I'm a freak now..."
Silas paused, exhaling in a quavering breath, head shaking, "No. I should be you right now...or dead. I do not understand. You never should have done that. You never should have pushed me out of the way. Why did you do that? Berend, why?" Silas asked, voice shaking, palms sweating. The boy paused, as if thinking of an answer.
"Because it was something you would have done."
"You are so stupid, Berend...but you make me so proud, proud, of my younger cousin. I have made...countless mistakes, and countless wrongs...and I will fight to make them right. I will fight to help you, and I know it will be hard and that I may not always be there, but you must not give up, never give up. I will fight to give you the life that I destroyed. I swear it...I swear it..." Silas replied, voice breaking, a hand covering his swollen face as he began to breathe in shallow gulps. Berend sat up, distressed, "Silas?...Are you crying?"
"Yes...yes, I am."
"Why? I never heard you cry." Berend asked, looking upon the man.
"Because I fear I cannot fix everything; I know I cannot, but I will try. I will try." Silas replied, clearing the phlegm from his throat once again. Berend looked one upon the man, crawling out of the covers before wrapping his arm around the man as best he could. It was then that Berend could smell the sweat, grime and blood that covered his kin.
The man groaned, returning the hug with force as he sobbed, eyes wet and muttering numerous apologies. Berend tried his best to return the hug, beginning to sob as well, "I never meant to bring up Anaya, Silas. I just got angry...I'm sorry."
"It is alright, Berend. It is fine. Shhhhh." Silas cooed, kissing his hair as he gently rocked the boy, Berend brushing the man's face, feeling the unnatural swollenness.
"Silas? You're hurt?"
"Shhhhh. It is alright, Berend. I will be fine." Silas shushed, continuing to rock the boy as he began to quiet, Berend being lulled to sleep.
"Silas?" Berend asked, breaking the silence that rained for several seconds.
"Hmmm?"
"I love you."
"I love you too, cousin." Silas answered, Berend smiling for the first time in many days, the boy slowly drifting off to death's second self. Silas stayed still, fearful of waking the boy if he moved.
Ever devoted, Silas stayed awake as long as possible through the calling of sleep and dulling pain before surrendering to rest.
Silas groaned, waking up. It was strange, he couldn't open his left eye. Why?...oh, wait. Now he remembered.
"Oh, God...this is worse than waking up with morning wood..." Silas whined to himself, rubbing his face but cursing at the pain and general swollenness. Beside him, Berend awoke with a stiffened yawn, "Huh? Sila, what's morning wood?"
"...nothing to worry about, Berend. You will find out, eventually." Silas replied, miserably getting up, body stiff and crying to just go to bed and sleep off the pain.
Berend yawned once again, trying to rub both his eyes with one hand. The boy then looked upon his kin, and stared, eyes wide.
"What?" Silas asked, the boy's eyes still white.
"Your face is ugly!" Berend blurted out, Silas twitching, "Thank you for that wonderful boost of self confidence."
"Does it hurt when I poke you?" Berend asked, pointing his finger at his swollen left eye, poking the inflamed flesh. The knight yelped in response.
"Ow! Yes, that hurts, now stop it!" Silas ordered, Berend continuing to poke the unfortunate man, laughing, "Your face looks like a stuffed squirrel...but all black and blue."
Silas growled, easily grabbing the boy's arm, "Ow! Silas that hurts!"
"Quiet, you big ninny." Silas replied, letting the boy go and getting up. Stiffly, the man walked out of the room, just happening to walk past Carl, the man doing a double take,"...do I even want to know?"
"No...is it that bad?"
"Yes. Yes, it is, son."
"Oh."
"...well...looks like you lost a fist fight with that cave bear again."
"Badly." Silas replied, nodding.
"...were you drunk, boy?"
"No, Father."
"Oh..."
"...It involved a shovel."
"I see. Well at least I know you will not be getting involved with women anytime soon, hmmm?" Carl asked, Silas looking upon the man, confused.
"What?"
"Son, your face is protection enough." Carl replied, laughing loudly and obviously enjoying making fun of his kin, smacking the younger man's shoulder.
"Ow." Silas grumbled, "Everyone is hounding me today."
The man frowned, but that caused him pain as well. In time, Silas tried his best to clean himself of blood and dirt, Berend hobbling around, the boy a bit awkward with his body off balance.
"Are you ready, Berend?"
"Hmm? For what?" Berend asked, looking at his kin in confusion.
"To go outside, of course." Silas stated, looking upon the boy, "Hey, at least you will not be the only one attracting stares."
Berend smiled slightly at his attempt, "Okay, but only for a little."
"Good boy." Silas praised, he and Berend both leaving the dwelling and entering into the early morning rays and crisp air.
"Where are we going?" Berend asked, still hobbling and looking around, uneasy. The boy had taken to using his cousin as a shield to avoid attention, terrified of being seen.
"Just for a walk. It will do you good." Silas replied, the pair heading towards the tiny market, Berend becoming more uncomfortable.
Several chickens, goats and ewes with kids dotted the street, Silas pausing upon seeing Arias and Seraphina playing with several of the kids, who playfully kicked and bah'ed at the wyrms.
"Awe, look, Silas! They're playing with the goats!" Berend spoke in excitement, pointing towards them.
"Yes, I see that." Silas replied, turning more to get a better view. It was then he had also noticed the adult dragons in the market, Ember looking at the tiny trinkets and different products the artisans provided, Spyro by her side, glancing at his chicks every so often.
Berend noticed Spyro, and the purple male had noticed the boy, the drake downcasting his eyes in shame.
"Berend, why do you not go play with the chicks?" Silas asked, pushing Berend in the general direction.
"Okay." He replied, not finding much choice. Besides, they seemed like fun.
Silas smiled slightly, or tried to, approaching the pair, "Hello, Spyro. Hello, Ember."
Spyro turned towards the human, frowning slightly upon seeing his face, but quickly smiled, "Hello, Silas."
Ember, however, grinned largely upon hearing his voice, and chirped, "Hi, Si-Ancestors, what happened to your face!?" Ember screeched, Silas flinching and Spyro nudging her in sold, "Ember!"
"I...I'm so sorry, Silas, it's just...you look...very bad." Ember stuttered, embarrassed as she cried to correct her outburst.
"I know, Ember. It is alright." Silas replied, Spyro staining his neck to see his children, but alas, they were not in his sight.
"Excuse me, but I need to keep an eye on my wandering terrors." Spyro chuckled, Ember rolling her eyes, "When the babies are with Auntie Ember they stick to me like they were dragonflies."
"That's because I don't have your alluring charisma, Ember." Spyro replied, smiling as he walked off, Ember returning the gesture.
Spyro looked for his offspring, no doubt causing trouble with the kids, chicks and children roaming about. He followed the sounds of laughter that had led the purple male to his chicks, Berend doing his best to cradle Seraphina in his arm. Arias was running around, chasing the kids. Some of the young goats would even head but the drakeling in play, causing him to squeak.
"You don't judge me, hmm? That's good. Everyone here judges me."
Once more Spyro's eyes fell downcast, head low. He did not know if he had the courage to face a boy whose life he ruined. Still, the purple drake knew what he had to do, approaching-if hesitant.
Spyro paused in his stride, almost beside the boy, though the young human made no attempt to even acknowledge the dragon. Unable to take the silence-for the boy surely much have heard the dragon coming with his weight-Spyro spoke, "So….are you having fun?"
Berend did not even bother to look at the purple male with a golden hue, nor was he eager to answer, "A bit, yes."
"Do you….remember me?" Spyro asked, the boy still not bothering to looked upon the older dragon, but instead focusing upon the chick in his arm, "You attacked the army and killed many good men. How can I not forget?"
Spyro sighed deeping, briefly looking off to the side before refocusing upon the boy, "I'm sorry. I know it will never be enough, but I am. I want to….I want to help, if I can, though I'm not sure how much a dragon can help around here."
At this, Berend turned around, face slightly flushed, "No, it will never be enough. You killed so many of those men that had families, wives, children, and now they will never be coming home when they might have had a chance to come back if it weren't for you. You took my arm, you changed the way people view me, you took my life away and I will never have my old one back. But you know what? I can forgive that. I can forgive that because I'm still alive, even though it's hard. I survived, and I'm one of the lucky ones. No, what I can't forgive about you is that you destroyed so many others. You even tried to kill Silas. I may be a kid, but I know right from wrong, and you robbed many people of their lives and futures that night, maybe even more for all I know."
Spyro remained silent, knowing the boy was true, eyes crestfallen, "You're right. It will never be enough, and I regret what I did. I was only angry at your cousin-I only wanted him, but in the process I killed many others."
"But you're not angry anymore?"
"No….I've forgiven him." The purple wyrm exhaled deeply, breath shaky, "Can I ask you something? Why did you do it? Why push him out of the way?"
"Why?" Berend echoed, as if the answer was obvious, "Because Silas would have done the same for me. We're family. That's what you do."
Once more, Spyro paused, digesting the words, "That's very brave of you. I'm sorry for causing all this pain to you, for what it's worth."
Berend looked upon the male, shrugging, "With one life destroyed I've gained another. Who knows? Maybe it will make me stronger?"
"I hope so." Spyro replied, watching both the boy and his children before glancing over at the talking pair.
"So…...what happened to your face?" Ember asked, curious.
"It is a long story."
"It looks painful." She grimaced.
"It is." Silas nodded, "Facial expressions hurt the most."
Ember looked at the man before waving her paw in front of his swollen eye, Silas confused, "Ember? What are you doing?"
"Can you see my paw?" She asked, waving.
"No. Only with my right eye."
"Awe, you poor baby! You're half blind!" Ember exclaimed, worry in her voice, though she couldn't help but laugh.
"And here I thought I was made of steel….." Silas commented sarcastically, Ember giggling, "How's your stabbity, stab wound?"
"Well, my guts are not trailing behind me, so it could be worse. What are you doing in the market? I thought you would never be here." The knight asked, curious.
"Oh, I was looking at the cute, little trinkets. Humans are so funny with all their fragile little keepsakes." Ember replied, smiling as the man raised a brow, "Really? I thought you would be looking at the food."
"...Are you implying something?" Ember asked, Silas shrugging, "You do eat like a cow. In fact, I think you are a cow in disguise to protect yourself from the butcher's knife."
Ember chuckled, "Oh, no! You found out my secret! That is what I get for mooing while in flight! Mooooo! Ops!" She then laughed, Silas chuckling, "Slipped again!"
"But seriously, you do like to eat cattle." Silas stated, recovering.
"And deer! Yum!" Ember piped up, tongue sticking out almost stupidly, causing the man to snort, "Speaking of venison, did you ever try salted meat?" Silas asked, Ember shaking her head.
"No. What is it?"
"...you never had any kind of salted meat?" Silas asked, Ember's crests creasing in slight worry, "No, why?"
"Because you have not lived until you tried salted meat!" Silas exclaimed like it was the best thing in the world, ready to go up to a vender.
"But what is it?"
"Just meat with salt. Usually smoked, too." Silas replied, walking towards a vender with venison, Ember watching in slight confusion as he traded coins for the meat, the man swiftly approaching, jerky in hand, "Here."
Ember stared at the strip of meat in his hand, sniffing it in curiosity, eyes lighting up at the scent. She began to drool, gently biting the dried flesh and just letting it sit in her mouth, smiling in an almost dopy way.
"What do you think?" Silas asked, Ember nodding, tail wagging, "t's 'ood."
"Anaya and I used to get them all the time. It was just one of those little things we did." Silas replied, Ember pausing to swallow, "Huh...you did a lot of things with her?"
"Yes, mostly extremely stupid things, but it was how we had fun. We used to 'barrow' barrels and roll each other down the hills when we were younger. Course, there is only small slopes around here, but we made due with what we had."
"That sounds like fun. What else would you two do?"
"Well….one time I threw a ball at her...and hit her right in the face. At first I thought she was crying, but she was actually laughing. Then she waited for me to get close enough and kicked me in the shin for revenge. We laughed, more that I think appropriate. But she loved to dance, and sing. She would dance by herself or with a broom for practise. Sometimes slow, sometimes fast. Speaking of which, do you dance when you fly?"
"Dance when I fly? Yes, I like to think so. Why?" Ember asked, curious.
"Were you dancing last night with the moon? I thought I saw you." Silas asked, Ember's snout flushing a deeper shade of red, "Err, yes. I try to, but I'm not that gifted of a flyer as some other dragons."
"It looked graceful to me, from what I could see. Remember, you have scales of rose crystals." Silas smiled, but stopped abruptly from the pain as the dragoness flushed gently, smiling softly as her tail wagged, "Why, thank you."
"You are welcome."
"What other kinds of foods do humans have?" Ember asked curiously, Silas blurting the first thing that came to his mind, "Butter."
"Butter?"
"Oh, no! Butter is awesome! And when I say something is awesome, it is awesome!" Silas blurted once more.
"But...what is it?"
"Butter is a type of thick cream made from the milk of cows. We use it for almost everything here. Because butter is awesome." Silas briefly explained, Ember still curious.
"So, how awesome is butter?"
"Awesome enough to use for almost everything." Silas stated, "You need to try butter! I know I said this with the salted meat, but you truly have not lived until you tried butter!"
"Okay….so where do we get butter?" Ember asked, Silas snorting, "If you want it that bad you can come for supper. We always have a supply in the larder."
"Ohhh, that sounds like fun. I never had a human dinner before. What food is there?"
"Bread, a number of vegetables and meat. A bit bland, but butter makes everything better."
"Are you obsessed with butter?" Ember asked, giggling. The man chuckled in response, "Perhaps. I just realized I have not had a good meal in a few months. Something to fantasize over."
"Well, I suppose I should leave you to your little trinkets. Feel free to come by at dusk." Silas attempted to smile, Ember's tail wagging, "I will! Bye-bye! I hope you get better soon!"
The knight waved, beckoning Berend as the boy swiftly followed, the pair returning home, "Did you have fun with the chicks?"
"Yeah. They were cute. I talked to Spyro a bit."
"Ah, really? How did that go?" Silas asked, looking down at the boy.
"He told me why he was after you." Berend replied softly, Silas casting his gaze elsewhere, "I am sorry if you think differently of me."
"I don't. You were doing what you do best: surviving."
"No. That is what we do best." Silas replied, ruffling the boy's hair.
The moral of this chapter? Butter is awesome. And family comes first. Thank you for reading and supporting! :)