In about a week, almost all the younglings had hatched, causing a huge racket, tumbling on each other and accidentally blasting the walls of the cave some times. The oldest one even flapped his wings into a small hover time to time, shrieking with glee when he did so. The mother dragon would look at them so lovingly, licking their dirty faces and cuddling them under her wing. But not the father dragon. He was cautious, alert for any sign of danger. He wasn't in the cave often, usually out to hunt for his family, but at night, he would stay up and investigate the caves. The female would warble at him to get back to sleep, but he wasn't letting his guard down easily. Daddy, why can't you stay and play with us like Mommy? The children would ask. The father would always stare at them with his intense green eyes, and said: We are not welcomed here. This place isn't safe. The little ones were confused with this. This was their home! Nonetheless, they all listened to the father, because they knew he never lied. This remained for a month, and all was safe. But it couldn't last any longer.

The firstborn woke up at Midnight. A soft, eerie whispering noise reached his small ears, stirring him from his sleep. He perked up in interest, first thinking of alerting his mother. But this little dragon had the taste of adventure. He wanted to find the origin of the noise by himself. Now that would be a good story to tell his litter mates. He began stumbling into the dark tunnels, his big green eyes illuminating the darkness. He walked. And walked. Every now and then, he would perk up, and change directions. But he couldn't see anything.

Phmph. Nothing. That's dull. The Night fury grumbled and turned back to go to his cave. Then he realized he wasn't near the cave anymore. He sniffed the air. No scent of his family. Panic overwhelmed him. Where was he? He let out a large whimper of fear, kneading his paws. The tunnels suddenly seemed much longer than they were when he had walked by them. He let out a pitiful yowl again, pleading for somebody to hear him. The sounds around him seemed louder now. The dripping of the water off the walls, the swooshing of the air that traveled through the tunnels…. The whispering noise was the loudest of them all. The little dragon could almost hear what the whispering was about.

Poor little hatchling...All alone in this lonely darkness...Where is your dear family?

A soft, singsong voice echoed through the darkness. The youngling hissed in alarm and whirled around, but he couldn't see anything. The whispering noise was getting louder. The ground seemed to rumble and shake.

Perhaps you have lost your home, just like me? Perhaps I could help you. I know these tunnels far and wide. After all, it is I who made them. But before I help you…How about I make a little offer?

The youngling was scared of this voice, of course, and his father had told him not to talk with any strangers. But he had to go home. He puffed out his small chest, trying to look brave.

What's…what's your offer?

He asked quietly, trying not to tremble. There was silence for a moment, then deep chuckling. The laughter gave shivers down the young dragon's body. The ground began to shake and tremble, and the Night fury lost his footing with a yelp and fell to the ground, dazed. The cavern shook like it was in the middle of an earthquake, rocks and debris falling from the walls. The youngling shrieked and ducked down, sure of his doom. The whispering noise grew immensely louder, and a something burst from the ground beneath. When the dust cleared, the Night Fury found himself face to face with a huge, ugly dragon. It had pale, unfocused eyes like the moon, sharp spines all over it's body, a huge, gaping mouth lined with rows of sharp teeth. There was a gruesome scar on the side of the dragon, still scabbed on the edges. The little dragon froze on the spot with fear.

I am the Whispering Death.

It said in that familiar singsong voice. It circled the little dragon like a lion prowling around its prey, it's pale dead eyes looking hungry.

Come closer, little one, and I will tell you what I need….


A/N: Is this a cliffhanger? Dunno!