A/N: I don't want you to mistake the title now- it's nothing to do with religion or cults or whatever (maybe it's just me, but I wanted to make sure you knew) Well, here it comes! Enjoy!

Winged-Knight: You bring an interesting element in regardance to the baby. I can't say at the moment if you're right though (I don't know myself after all) And...as to your other points...I only say...you can't afford to assume anything about the mind of a creator. You never know how wrong (or right I suppose) you can be. evil glint

Disclaimer: I don't own Slayers. When did I say I ever did? Never.

Ch. 7- The Draconic Savior

"Zelgadis-san..."

The ex-chimera looked up at his traveling companion. "What is it?"

"Does it seem a bit... too quiet around here?"

Zelgadis stopped, and took in their surroundings. The morning after their rest at the Rooster Inn, they had found Eldora's room empty, and a note saying to not worry- she'd catch up with them later. The duo was now walking a side path through the forest. From their map, Lina's hometown was only two or three days away. But this part of the forest, as Zel now noticed, lacked the carefree songs of birds, the calls of the wildlife- even caressing breezes were absent. Zel found himself surprised that Sylphiel had noticed it far earlier than he had. Was this another side effect of being human again?

"You're right. Something's wrong here."

Tentatively, Sylphiel whispered, "We probably should have asked someone if there were any abnormal hazards out here."

Mutely, Zelgadis nodded. He didn't like to ask for help as a chimera, when everybody who looked at him shouted that he was a monster, inhuman, destructive, a menace to society. As he thought back, he remembered that before Rezo's "help" had landed him cursed, he was still a loner who'd druther stay inside painting than play with the other kids. He'd been teased right out of school- by age seven, he had begun homeschooling and private tutoring. In any case, the thought that something he couldn't handle would be facing him, accompanied by the idea that he needed another's help, was simply inconceivable. He was a monster. He needed no allies.

Then what of Sylphiel? Of Amelia? Or even Lina and Gourry? No, he decided. They were not his allies. For the first and only time in his life, he knew they were his friends. His close, trustworthy friends.

"Zelgadis-san, do you smell that? I think it's..." She gasped in recognition. Zel stopped next to her and asked for clarification. His nose could not detect anything. Softly, she whispered, "There's an ash dragon nearby. A mother, with a child."

Zelgadis had heard of ash dragons. Though comparatively rare, the ones that lived in the wilderness were strongly protective of their young. They didn't care about pretty jewels or treasures- the ash that they were covered in like sweat and dirt on human skin always dirtied such valuables, and thus made it useless for their sparkling quality. The common rumor described ash dragons with three adjectives: protective, territorial, and intuitive. It could sense you coming for it before you even knew you were in its territory.

He gulped, his human emotions generating trepidation. With false bravado he croaked, "Should we avoid it, or give Lina a dragon to calm her snail-fried nerves?"

Sylphiel smiled wanly. "I'm afraid neither of those would work. Remember when I was traveling with Gourry-sama, Lina-san, Amelia-san, and yourself? One day in the tavern, someone came in yelling that an ash dragon had been spotted on the brink of town, and as soon as he left to warn others, Lina stood up and told us that we should get going. It was abnormal, because our food hadn't arrived yet."

Zelgadis nodded, remembering. "When we asked about it some years later, she finally admitted that her sister had used an ash dragon as a prime punishment when she was younger. Considering she's back home, she probably doesn't want to be reminded at the moment." He paused and then added, "Why can't we avoid it? I've always heard that ash dragons will stay firmly rooted to their caves with their young for the first few decades."

Grimly, Sylphiel nodded in agreement. "Yes, but how do you suppose food is gained during that time? They're not vegetarians, and we've fallen right into its trap."

At that, Zelgadis started. "What? What are you talking about?" He didn't like asking so many questions like this- it implied that the one he was asking knew more than he did, and when that person was Sylphiel, a large part of his ego was shot. Still, he had to know the answers.

"Try moving any of your limbs."

Apprehension was followed by comprehension as Zelgadis attempted to take a step forward in vain. He should have recognized this sort of trap! A certain section of earth was marked off by four equally spread spelled trees. You can tell these trees apart from the others because they remain in full bloom year-round. As it was the height of winter, the four cherry blossoms in the distance should have been a grand old hint, especially when this forest was mainly evergreens.

Like a spider's web, once the prey stepped into the field of entrapment, they were as stuck as if their feet had been walled into cement. Only when the spellcaster came could they be released, just before they were killed, eaten, or both. As far as most humans knew, there was no antidote save for the spellcaster. If they were away, the prey would soon fall to exhaustion, and then starvation. If they were alone, nine out of ten became insane before death came to them.

Luckily, Zelgadis and Sylphiel didn't have to wait that long. In fact, moments after they had stopped talking, they heard the earthshaking footsteps of the dragon spellcaster. Ash dragons were one of the few dragons that could similate human speech, and cast a few spells. They were nowhere near the level of Gold, Black, or Ancient Dragons, but they made do with what was given to them.

'What have we here? Two delectable bites today, is it not? Delicious, scrumptious. Faulkner, isn't this grand? It's no feast to be sure, but this just may be enough to last us a week, what do you say?'

'Can I have the female, Mother? Can I?'

'I don't see why not. Now then, let us take them back to clean and cook them.'

It happened very quickly in the eyes of the humans. They came, they saw, they grabbed, they went home. Zelgadis realized, or rather remembered, that while smart and fairly strong, a full grown ash dragon was only about fifteen feet tall- small in the world of dragons. However, they were still big enough to have humans as food.

The cave was perhaps seventy yards from where they had been trapped, the tunnels flowing smoothly and ending quickly. At the last cavern, there lay a huge cauldron, with a fire already boiling the water. Upon seeing this Sylphiel protested to the baby dragon that held her, "Oh kind sir, please don't do this. We really aren't that good to eat."

To which he growled back, 'Humans always taste good, once they've been cleaned.'

Suddenly having a burst of inspiration, Sylphiel replied, "Oh, but we two can never truly be cleansed. We were magicked into golems and demons."

Zelgadis snapped his head up.

The baby dragon shifted his weight. 'You're lying. You look human to me.'

Catching the ploy, Zelgadis continued, adding onto it. "We usually keep them in check, but if you really try to eat us, we'll unleash them and do several unmentionables to our tormentors."

It should also be said that ash dragons are rather fearful when it comes to demons. Also, their teeth are not meant for stone bearings such as golems. Even the mother was becoming edgy.

Sylphiel smiled in Zelgadis' direction momentarily before going back to the baby dragon holding her captive. "We may feel like tender human flesh to you now, sir, but it won't last. Underneath the human skin, we're really golems turned half-demons."

'Hah!' The mother dragon cried triumphantly. 'Then we have a way to test you! Even we ash dragons know that demons don't bleed. If what you are saying is true, then if we bite off an arm, you won't bleed.'

Though Zelgadis could see the truth in this prediction, he decided to modify the explanation. "There is a breed of demons that still bleed human blood. Those are half-demons, produced from a demonic and human interaction. We are of that breed." He paused, and then added, "And biting off a key limb will still reenact the curse. If you like, we'll adminster self cuts to show you."

The dragons exchanged glances, but eventually set both humans on the ground between them. Zelgadis and Sylphiel smiled, both knowing that when the cut was made, they only had to cut themselves in a place that healed itself, as all demons had that ability, half or all. As it so happens, there is a delicate band on every sorcerer or sorceress' left arm that will always heal no matter how harsh the cut (short of being sliced through). It had been the final test for white magic in every magic school, and both of them knew it.

So, simultaneously, they drew their swords, uncovered the band (it was invisible, but they needed to see the area to cut it), and made a neat, perhaps three inch long cut. When they removed their weapons, they turned to their respective captors and showed them that though blood was gushing down their limbs, the cut itself was already starting to close up. Within ten minutes, all that was left was a blood drenched limb. There was no opening to suggest where it had come from.

The dragons backed up a little, wearily, before the baby dragon came across another nick in their explanation. 'If you are a golem underneath it all, why did your sword ever break your skin? Golems are natorious for their hard skin.'

Luckily, Zelgadis had worked this detail out in his head. "Our swords are magicked also, to cut anything it touches. Even we are not immune to our weapons."

Finally put off, the mother dragon growled, 'So be it. We do not wish ill of demon lineage, especially one that we cannot eat. Leave in peace, but if you return, we'll be sure to throw you in the pot, cursed or no.'

Sylphiel and Zelgadis shared a gratified smile. On pure instinct, they bowed to the dragons and thanked them. In case they were being tricked, they walked backward towards the cavern opening, watching their would-be predators. Once they were out of sight, they turned and flew out into the open. Still flying, they decided to travel as far as they could before the sun set.

Initially, Zelgadis had been surprised he could keep himself in the air, but he supposed that practice was all he'd needed before. After that passed, his mind traveled to the mode of their escape. It burdened his conscience, to be saved from the belief that he was still a demon and golem as well as human inside. As if it were better to be cursed.

Not to mention the other part of the deal- the fact that Sylphiel had come up with the plan that had saved them. He was both envious and surprised. Upon considering it a bit more carefully, Zelgadis realized that he had never been one to think of instantaneous plans. It was all planned out strategies for him. To think that Sylphiel had outsmarted dragons... he found an underlying sense of change in the air. It was almost as if, in the time where his magic was weakest, Sylphiel's mind and magic had increased significantly. Which brought to question...

"Sylphiel? How did you cast those spells when we faced the bandits before? They weren't your normal size."

Surprisingly, she laughed it off. Turning to look at him, she answered, "I really don't know."

In the distance, a familiar voice chirruped, "I do, I do!"

A/N: And thus ends the seventh chapter. If you think you can figure out the main point of this story, I wouldn't be surprised. For all the mystery, it's surprisingly simple. It comes from being a simpleton for half my brain. Well, review as you will.