Chapter LXX: Cowardice

A bloodbath was not what Yugi was expecting when they touched ground in the camp. The limestone was soaked, some of the ledges weeping red. Paw prints were smeared across some of the area. There were jagged cuts of bright red scattered across the ground. Several bodies lay spread about, broken but some still breathing. Others lay with their necks torn open. The hatchlings…lay broken in heaps, throats severed and one without a head at all. Yugi stared, mortified and unable to move. Atem, however, stepped forward and stared, eyes blank and glazed over for a long moment.

And feet away…Leviathan was struggling to his paws, panting. Jaden lay bleeding, spitting and hissing. Yusei was caught in combat with a dragon that…looked exactly like Timaeus. Yugi froze, bristling, and stiffened before he could stop himself. Yusei was thrown aside a moment later, bleeding profusely and rolling several feet from the impact. He lay there, unmoving for a split second before trying to raise his head slowly.

Jaden was thrown on his back, teeth dug into his throat. Yugi trembled, eyes wide with horror. The Prime Material Dragon clawed desperately at the other male's neck, cutting off chunks of flesh and scale in his panic. His red-orange eyes were glazed and the light fading as the seconds passed.

And then the teal male screamed.

Jaden sagged and dropped to the ground, blinking stupidly. He stared up at Atem with a mortified but thankful expression. Yugi looked to the teal male, shaking, as he stumbled a few feet away and stared at Atem with a startled expression. His eye flashed a brilliant amber, then turned bright glittering blue. He stepped away and shook himself out, and his entire body turned to a dull gold with black legs and sharp claws.

"Wow. Look who saved Jaden." The dragon grinned, teeth sharp and glittering. Yugi felt his stomach churn and he wanted to heave his breakfast. The dragon had been Timaeus…and now it looked like Seto. He bristled and stared, unable to think straight. "I wouldn't have thought you capable of it."

Atem didn't respond but to close the blades in his tail. The clicking noise made each of them blink and look around, and Yugi could have spat at him for not taking the opportunity to lash out and strike him down. Why hadn't he severed his head? He should have done it the moment he turned around to face them. Why hadn't he taken the opportunity?

He bore his teeth, smothering a snarl.

"You're…blocking me." The dragon blinked, eyes stretching wide with shock. "You know how to block me?"

"Yami had a much stronger gift than you," Atem said quietly. "I learned to block him soon after we became aware. I don't need practice to shove you away. You still scrabble as if you can't find your footing. It's pathetic."

Yugi saw the other three deities blink and glance at one another. Their eyes shot back to Atem and Seto's lookalike immediately after.

"Is that so?" he asked. He shook himself out. The gaping wound on his neck was long gone. Yugi remembered Timaeus saying they'd looked like Seto when they'd struck out, but no matter the damage inflicted the Felgrand had healed as if he'd never been hurt. "And yet he died. What a wonderful gift of mind reading and foresight and yet he couldn't save himself."

"Not everyone is meant to survive to the next day."

Seto's lookalike blinked slowly, blue eyes flashing with interest. "You don't care."

"No. It's over and done with." Atem raised his head slightly higher. "He has been dead long enough. I do not need to spend my days wondering why or how it happened."

The Felgrand stared at him in bewilderment. "Interesting."

The Slifer glanced toward the other deities for a split second before he turned back. "Am I correct in assuming you are Dimitri?" he asked slowly. He stepped forward and the Felgrand snarled, backing up. "You mimicked me when you were younger. I never forgot that ability to copy my voice."

Yugi bristled and shivered, looking between them. "Atem," he whispered, looking at the Felgrand once more. "Don't."

The red male nodded slightly in acknowledgment but did not turn to him. "Well? Am I correct?"

"And if I said you weren't?"

"I'd be amazed," Atem snapped. "I'd be amazed, because that would mean you're smarter than your actions have already led me to disbelieve. You attacked Timaeus because you assumed you could face me. And now that I'm here, you quiver like a leaf. You weak, pathetic little creature. I'm so glad the cowardice runs so damn deep in my brother that it spread to you as well."

The Felgrand snarled softly, but his stance did not change from fearful. "Cowardice runs in your veins as well, doesn't it, Atem? You doubted yourself as a God Dragon for so long and you only believe it when it's necessary or you declare battle upon a suitor."

Atem didn't respond.

Yugi shivered. Yusei stumbled to his paws, blood dripping from his jaw and the underside of his neck. He panted and stared, blue eyes wide and dilated with pain. Leviathan shook himself out, scowling. Jaden remained laying there, watching them coldly.

"Kill him," Leviathan spat. "Damn it, Atem, kill him."

The Slifer didn't look over. "Three of your siblings lay slain. Where is the fourth?"

"I have use for him."

Atem's eyes flashed and narrowed. "Then are you Noah?" he asked slowly, tilting his head. "Two hatchlings removed from the nest. One stands before me and the other is held for use later. I still think you're Dimitri. I remember your talent for mimicry. Perhaps shape-shifting wouldn't be so far from that, hmm?"

"It doesn't matter who I am. It matters that I'm going to kill you."

"Me?" Atem mimicked softly. "You think you can kill me?"

"You're not all-powerful. You can't heal. You can't read minds. You can't do anything. The only ability you have is your intelligence, and even that is sorely lacking."

"Is it?"

"You should have struck me down when you had the chance."

"I'm not stupid, Dimitri," he said softly, stalking forward. Yugi saw him flash his teeth as the other male backed away frantically. "You want to see how I almost decapitated you a moment ago. You were only so lucky you managed to shift your weight when it happened. Had you not, your head would have tumbled from your body."

The Felgrand backed up even more rapidly, bristling fearfully.

Atem stopped after a moment. "I will not kill you now. I will do so later."

Yugi went to snap, then stopped. Atem didn't know how the hatchling learned to change forms. That was why he refused to fight him again. He didn't know if it was physical pain, bloodshed, or something else. All he knew was he could change shapes. To that extent, using fear to chase the hatchling away was his smartest tactic.

"You should realize," Atem said softly, "that I've killed thousands. And I've nearly died all of four times. You should prepare yourself. You should draw your breaths with consideration. The next time we cross paths, I'll kill you."

The Felgrand snarled, spitting and slashing at his face. Atem didn't have to move away because he was shaking too hard to make contact. The hatchling turned tail, climbing the cliff and then rushing off to take flight. Atem turned immediately to Yugi, looking him over, and then turned to the other three deities.

"What brought you here?" he asked softly, staring.

Yusei came forward a step. "Timaeus," he breathed. "We saw Timaeus."

Atem blinked and looked away. "Right."

"I'm sorry he—"

"He's fine." Atem spun on him with a snarl. "I got there in time."

Jaden struggled upright. "You…shared a heart?"

"I did." Atem stared back at him defiantly. "I shared my heart and he's alive now. I didn't bring him here for obvious reasons. But I'm more annoyed the three of you saw what happened and failed to even attempt contact with me before you came here."

"We saw Seto," Yusei hissed, glancing at Leviathan. "We saw Seto kill Timaeus and we realized it had to be your sibling. Seto couldn't have taken Timaeus, and the ability to heal so quickly…"

Atem shook his head. "He changes shapes. One form is harmed, but the next is not. I used to sometimes use my Origin Form when I was wounded in my Battle. It was easy to lessen the bloodshed this way. It wasn't the exact same method, but it was enough."

Yusei grunted. "I guess that makes sense. He seems to have that ability well under control."

"No. Not yet." Atem looked at Yugi. "He would have come after me as Timaeus again if he did. He was used to Seto before he was used to this new shape. He wouldn't come after me with the one he knew he would need because he wasn't used to it yet."

Jaden snarled softly. "Why didn't you kill him?"

"Do you think you could take him on if he could change into me?" Atem asked slowly, turning a furious glance on him. "He may be wet under the wings, but he knows enough about how to change and acquire new forms. He changed into Timaeus to slow me down. And if he could utilize Timaeus so soon, what's to say he couldn't do the same immediately after we fought?"

Yugi shivered. "Atem…" He couldn't imagine the things going on in Atem's head, but the gem on his forehead was dark gray and cloudy and his heart ached to wonder if Atem blamed himself for all of this. "Let's see who's okay and who isn't."

Yusei shook himself out. "Usually that would be Jaden's job."

"If he wasn't worse off than everyone else," Leviathan scoffed.

Jaden glared but turned away again. "Just…find me food," he snapped when Yugi looked over. He scowled at the Divine Serpent. "Stupid snake."

Atem snorted from where he stood, shaking his head and turning to Yugi. He moved past the dead hatchlings without a second glance and led the way toward the nursery. Yugi hesitated, considering him a moment, and looked over his shoulder toward the entrance. Why would he want to go there? Seto's nest had been the only one in the nursery any longer…unless Atem knew something he didn't.

"Atem?"

He shook his head and padded into the nursery as if someone had called his name. Yugi hesitated a moment longer, then rushed forward to follow. His stomach lurched as they continued forward. The nursery stank of blood, fresh and dried. He could smell six sets of it, and for a split second his hearts raced and his bones quaked beneath his flesh. His wings trembled as they pressed into his sides. Atem did not glance back toward him, nor did he pause. Instead the red male came forward a few more steps, then murmured, "Nice of you to remain within the safety of this destroyed den rather than come to see what is left of your nest."

Yugi tilted his head and strained his neck to peer past Atem's legs. Seto looked back at them with burning blue eyes, but Kisara refused to uncurl from the ball she'd formed. Her wings were folded as if to form an egg shell and Yugi could just barely see her breathing from the way they shifted with each inhale.

"Noah is missing alongside Dimitri," Atem said quietly. "I do not know which is the one to have done this. I have suspicions, but it could be either."

Seto blinked up at him but did not respond. Kisara did not move. Yugi watched them both for a moment, then looked away. He didn't know what to say. The defiant, loathsome look on Seto's face was all too familiar. Atem had worn that look more than once when he had mentioned Yami. He'd closed himself off and refused discussion unless the topic was changed after. He recognized the feeling of loss and terror Seto and Kisara both suffered at the moment. He understood it and he sympathized, but he couldn't fathom not responding to the sound of either name or asking for more information.

Had he been in their place, he would have been desperate to hear more. He would have demanded more information, even if it was a blind pursuit and the ending couldn't be happy. If someone had just dangled the tiniest sliver of knowledge in front of his beak, Yugi would have done anything for it.

He'd followed every rumor and whisper and hiss and whimper when he'd come to find Atem. Had he had even an inkling of Yami being alive, he would have followed it, too. Had this been his nest, just the mention that two of them were still alive would have spurred him into action.

Maybe it would have led nowhere, but it would have inspired a reaction, at least.

"Get up. The least you can do is help us to find out who was wounded and who wasn't. I know the injuries can't be short."

Yugi looked at Atem again. Then he risked a glance at Seto. The Felgrand looked as if he wanted to vomit, as if the world had swallowed him whole. He lowered his eyes after a moment, the blue irises flashing brilliantly like lightning. Yugi couldn't imagine then what he would have done had Yami caused such damage. Had Yami lashed out so terribly, what would they have done?

He thought of Sartorius and Jaden for a split second.

He thought of Atem telling Jaden he'd kill Yami himself, of Yami agreeing that it was his right before it was anyone else's. His hearts squeezed until they threatened to pop and exhaustion tugged at his senses.

The anger that had come over him before at the thought was nonexistent.

Yami was dead and there was only grief to swell through him now.

"Atem," he hissed when the red male almost stepped forward and raised a paw as if to strike. The God Dragon stopped short and looked over his shoulder, blinking, and Yugi realized immediately he wasn't going to lash out. He didn't know what he'd meant to do, but it was not to harm his brother. He felt a sting of guilt lance through him before he looked away, shaking his head. "Let's go. We need to check on who else might have been hurt. Don't waste the time dealing with him here."

Atem blinked once, long and slow, and then lowered his paw. He seemed as if he wanted to argue, but he nodded after a moment and jerked his beak toward the entrance behind Yugi's shoulder. The Gandora relaxed slightly, relieved despite himself, and hurried to turn and lead the way. He glanced back as he got out, hearts racing when he saw Atem behind him once more.

"Should we split up?" he asked shakily, for a split second hopeful he would tell him no, but Atem glanced around slowly, considering, and mumbled, "Yes. They're gone. They would have attacked again and tried to finish Jaden off by now. Yusei is the only one with him and he's too wounded to hold his own for long. You take this section of dens. I'll take across the camp and see to that cluster of dens."

And then he was gone.

Yugi watched him leap from the ledge and hurry across the camp toward the other set of dens. He saw him leap upon the ledge across him and disappear into one. He turned away, glancing back toward the nursery, and then headed into the next closest him.

He slipped inside the narrow den entrance, trailing along the tunnel which dipped downward and then up. His wings and spine scraped the top of the burrow and his stomach lurched. He could smell blood but he also heard whispers. Someone had heard him approaching but they didn't recognize him. He hesitated a few feet from where he could hear them. The stone dug into his wings, pressing firmly upon his body, and for a split second he felt both relieved and flustered.

He still hated the occasional reminder of just how incompatible he and Atem truly were. This was the nest he should have been at home in, underground and cool to desert heat. He should have been in a den that encompassed all four sides and kept his body temperature slightly lower during the nighttime. Atem couldn't have survived in a den like that. He would have felt as if the world were closing in on him and he had no room to even move or breathe.

"Are you okay?" he asked, shuffling forward just enough to poke his head over the dip that pronounced a ledge. He blinked when he saw five other dragons pressed to the ground, staring at him with huge eyes. "Anyone hurt?"

The female closest him bore her teeth. "Who are you?"

"Yugi." He paused. "Atem and I came to see what was going on."

Another huffed. "All four deities are here and yet no one managed to contain that monster?"

Yugi tilted his head and shuffled forward just enough to look them over. They were all unharmed. No one had gotten so much as scratched. He blinked and considered the female closest him, then shivered. She was going to lay her clutch within the next moon. The other near her would take longer, and the one in the back was likely newly expectant. He looked at the two males guarding them, standing as if to lash out at him, and turned away.

"Stay here."

He left them without another glance, rushing to the entrance and shaking himself out. He hated how for a split second his instincts said he should turn back and burrow inside once more.

Atem had already gotten ahead of him, four dens investigated and several wounded drawn out. A few stood aside, watching him as he entered the fifth den lining that ledge and a couple others looked about as if to search for a way to help as well.

Yugi whipped around and hurried into the next handful of dens, but only one had another dragon inside and they were dead. He came from the last with a small shake of his head, watching as Atem approached Yusei and Leviathan. Jaden was chewing on something that Yugi couldn't quite identify at the moment. He rushed forward to get to Atem's side, suppressing a shiver.

"Where can we find herbs?" Atem asked quietly, looking at Jaden. "Unless you feel so inclined as to heal everyone."

The Prime Material Dragon shot him a furious look. "I'm unable."

Atem turned away. "Well?"

"When did you learn to make poultices?" Yusei commented wryly.

"I didn't. Yugi did." He turned away and Yugi could see him staring at Akunadin. "Do you have herbs?"

Akunadin blinked and shook himself out. He had a wound along his side that looked rather superficial, as if he had been merely scratched. He eyed Atem for a long moment. "This area doesn't grow herbs well enough to have a stash or a garden. Unlike your own territory, we don't have humans to maintain a garden for us."

Atem tilted his head. "Very well." He turned to Yugi. "Do you think you'd be able to get some from our territory and bring them here?"

Yugi hesitated a moment. "Are you sure you want me to leave you alone with them?" he asked softly, so low in tone he almost feared Atem couldn't hear him. But the red male blinked and narrowed his eyes slightly. Yugi tipped his head slightly toward the God Dragons and then some of the surrounding Clan members as well. There were a great many threats to take into consideration. "It could wait…"

Atem shook his head. "Don't worry," he said just as quietly, then raised his head. "Do you remember where the garden is with the herbs?"

Yugi wanted to argue that he wouldn't leave. But even he knew he smelled too much blood to ignore that they needed attention. "Yes." He nodded and turned around, glancing briefly toward Yusei and Leviathan. Jaden was still on the ground eating, unmoving from his spot. He turned back. "I'll be back."