Chapter CXV: War

Jaden didn't even have the chance to turn around. He was struck so hard his jaw creaked and a tooth fell instantly as he hit the ground. Yami stood motionless, unblinking, as the God Dragon rolled several feet, then scrambled for his paws and stood. He shook himself out, blinking wide eyes, and fixed his cold stare on the newcomer.

"I should have known."

"You should have," he agreed, voice oddly light and almost playful. "It's my territory, after all. I'd be hard-pressed not to know you were here."

Yami flicked his tail and studied Atem for a moment. His father stared back at Jaden unblinkingly, eyes like freshly melted gold. The God Dragons were motionless for what felt a lifetime, and Yami realized Jaden was weighing his odds against Atem. Yami was amazed Atem had stilled his paw for so long and the realization Jaden might be so frightened of him was almost laughable. Atem would leave him alone if he only ceased his aggression.

"You aren't stupid, Atem," Jaden snarled quietly. "You know he's too powerful to let live. You know he's got the same potential to turn into a monster as Dimitri. How do you propose to deal with two of them if they both turn violent?"

Atem looked over at Yami. "Do you plan to turn violent?"

Yami snorted before he could stop himself, startled, and Atem turned back.

"He's not planning to."

Jaden looked flummoxed for a split second before scowling, shaking his head sharply. "Are you kidding me, Atem?" he snapped. "What about the fact he's a second generation Gandora? Your mate's genes have ensured he goes insane later. It's ensured he'll turn violent. Why not put an end to him now and save yourself the trouble later?"

Atem stared at him for a long moment, then stepped forward. Yami's eyes flickered to the Gandora who had just landed behind him, panting. When he saw Malik the scales along his spine instantly rose into a bristle; Yami would have laughed had it not been for the way Atem stared at Jaden. Yugi turned immediately to him.

"You're okay?"

Yami blinked and nodded. "Fine. He scratched me, but they aren't deep."

"A shame I didn't draw blood," Atem muttered, stepping forward and eyeing Jaden more pointedly. "Listen, Jaden. You have a single chance to get out of here without a declaration of war. Do you understand?"

"Declaration of war?" Jaden echoed, then laughed sharply. "You propose war with me?"

"I don't recall stumbling upon my words."

Yami fought a small smile. Atem hadn't even tensed yet. He was standing leisurely, just staring at the other God Dragon as if his expression might be enough to warn him off. He wanted to laugh, but the sound wouldn't come out.

"You wouldn't survive a war with me."

"Stop quivering and I might believe you when you say that."

Jaden blinked, then snorted. "You really think you could hold your own against me?"

"I have no doubt."

"You're as senseless as a Gandora," he scoffed, then looked briefly to Yugi. "I can see you've rubbed off on him in all the wrong ways. What kind of mate instills false hope like that?"

Yugi opened his mouth, but Atem was the one to respond.

Jaden hit the ground again, rolled, sprang to his paws, shook himself out, and then looked at Atem slowly once more. "Perhaps it's not just Yami I should take care of," he said slowly, quietly. "I've always known you would be a problem. And I should have sought to end it when you first showed yourself, just as I aspired to do with your son. But perhaps I should have killed you, your little mate, and Yami. Perhaps all three of you should be eradicated from the earth. But I'll rectify the lack of foresight now, seeing as all three of you stand before me now."

Atem snorted. "You'll only have to worry about me, Jaden," he laughed. "You won't reach Yugi or Yami before I rip you to pieces."

The Prime Material Dragon smiled cruelly. "Let's see if you can hold your own as well as you'd like to pretend then, shall we?" he hissed. When he sprang, Atem narrowed his eyes and shifted his weight only slightly. When he finally moved, it was to sidestep. Atem backed up, flicked his tail, and struck him once more. The hit sent Jaden to the ground for a split second, but the God Dragon had braced himself. He surged up and sprang with his mouth wide open. Atem backed up and slashed at his face, but the blow missed.

They stood inches apart and Jaden lashed his tail, considering him.

He sprang again. Atem waited, then surged to his back paws. He hit him hard enough he sent him onto his back. Immediately he clamped his teeth into his face, shaking him. Jaden's paw struck him on the ridge of his brow and Atem snarled. The Sky Dragon dropped him and backed away, blinking blood from his eye. Yami was surprised by the streak of red; Atem wasn't trying. Why wasn't he truly fighting him yet?

Atem shook himself out and backed away a step.

"It's amazing that you think I don't realize you're not taking this seriously," Jaden growled, thumping his tail. Atem narrowed his eyes but didn't speak. "I wonder if you'll still find this as amusing when I rip your son's hearts out. Or when I mark Yugi's corpse."

Atem stiffened for a split second, then snarled low in his throat. "Do you truly wish for war?" he asked quietly. "I can deliver, but I do not see a reason for us to fight like this. You claim Yami might turn violent, yet he healed your mate despite knowing you'd still come after him. If he can be bothered to show you mercy in ensuring Jesse survived his encounter with Dimitri, why is it you can't care enough to let him live?"

"Jesse doesn't have power that could likely get us all killed."

"I don't want to go to war with you over something as stupid as your paranoia, Jaden," Atem murmured, flicking his tail. "You wish to kill Yami because he could do a great many things. But you forget all of us have the potential to go down the wrong path. You certainly did. You slaughtered thousands—maybe millions—just because you saw a monster in every shadow you passed. You forget yourself. Potential doesn't mean that someone is locked on that path. Yami doesn't have a violent bone in his body and Dimitri chose to cause the amount of destruction he has—as you once did because of your guilt and paranoia. Perhaps you should reevaluate."

"Is this your attempt to make me see your reasoning?" Jaden sneered. "It's rather pathetic, Atem."

"You don't have to listen to me," the Sky Dragon answered coldly. "The only reason I even thought to say it to you is to justify it when I break every bone in your damned body and shed Jesse's blood when he steps in my path."

Jaden blinked, then bristled. "You would see to it you justify bloodshed even when it's your son and mate's lives that are threatened?" he scoffed, startled, before he burst out laughing. "Are you so self-righteous, Atem?"

He shook his head. "I just need to remind myself why beating you to death is the best option I have," he murmured, lashing his tail again. "Now, Jaden, tell me again that war is the only option between us."

The Prime Material Dragon blinked. "What other option is there? You wish to stand in my way when I desire to kill your son." He tilted his head. "And you've chosen to make yourself the most inconvenient of problems in the task of ridding this world of two Divines. You've made yourself an obstacle which I'll have to rid myself of, and your mate will throw himself into this fight to protect you. He's already tensed and ready to. So, as far as I see it, all three of you are to be eradicated."

Atem nodded slowly, then drew in a deep breath. When he stepped forward, he lowered his head, stretched his right paw forward, and roared.

Yami stumbled back and flattened himself to the ground, horror surging through him. Yugi flinched and arched his spine, shaking with alarm. Jaden flinched backwards, startled, and Atem's family all looked up as the air began to shake and quiver. The earth shook beneath their paws for a single second and the snow stopped briefly. Wind whipped about them in violent throes, sending flakes together to become almost the size of a deer's eye. The air thickened and rippled and the heavens seemed to roar and boom overhead as well. For a split second Yami swore he saw the clouds turn black, though they rapidly lightened and became a brilliant but horrifying silver.

Lightning burst through the clouds and struck the ground around them. Yami lifted his head and shivered. The entire sky had turned slate gray, the world dark beneath the haze of smoke-like clouds, and Yami saw a million streaks of electricity, dancing and crackling overhead. Another bolt slammed through the air, the force knocking the wind from his lungs. And then a river of them came, hitting the ground with such force it made the earth shake again. It came within inches of Atem, whose cry finally ceased as it shattered a stone beside him and bits flew about.

The snow turned harsher, somehow thickening further, and Yami felt as if he'd been struck by pellets of ice rather than flakes. The air quivered and rippled before them again, as another series of bolts punched their way through. The sky overhead turned yellow from its blackened stance, as if the sun were attempting to peak from the heavy blanket of clouds, and Yami felt sick as the sky shook overhead with echoing booms and bolts. He was amazed none of the lightning overhead struck them as they remained motionless about them, though he wondered for a split second if it was even under Atem's control any longer.

A final rush of lightning came, the bolts so thick they were almost twice the size of Yami's own body. They were brilliant and blinding, golden in color like liquid sunlight, and surged one after the other in a waterfall from one side of Atem to the other. The God Dragon was motionless as the light began to slowly fade and Jaden looked up as the heavens boomed again with yet another roar of thunder.

Yami looked to his father again, stiffening.

The gem on his forehead had turned brilliant white to mirror the snow scattered about.

Jaden had scrambled for his paws again, looking to Atem in shock. "How…?"

"You wished for war," Atem said slowly, voice crackling and splitting as if he were speaking through a lightning bolt himself. He stepped forward and raised his head, eyeing Jaden as if he were a piece of prey. "And now you have it."

The Fire Dragon snorted and shook his head sharply. "Flashing lights and thunder won't save you."

Atem hummed. "I don't need saving."

He lunged forward. Jaden dodged and spun around to face him. Atem lashed his tail and shook himself out. The Fire Dragon rushed forward. Atem stood motionless, then swept a paw forward. He knocked Jaden onto his back paws. The Prime Material Dragon sprang to keep his balance and Atem launched himself. His teeth clamped on his throat and his claws hooked in his shoulders. Jaden spat, startled, and kicked at his face.

Atem shook him violently, slamming him into the ground several times, and Jaden sputtered. Abruptly he released him and backed away again, studying him expressionlessly.

Yami looked between them slowly. Yugi stood motionless nearby, watching them uncertainly. They locked eyes for a single second and Yami wondered at the expression he saw there. Yugi was anxious, but also furious. And Yami couldn't tell where the emotion stemmed from, but for the fact Jaden was even laying a paw on Atem.

Yugi turned away again almost immediately. Yami glanced back.

Jaden had gotten to his paws again. He looked surprised. Atem was still standing aside, watching him. The Fire Dragon stared at him for a long moment, then shifted his weight. Atem didn't move, but Yugi tightened his muscles and bunched his hindquarters as if he might spring.

Jaden lunged again. His teeth missed Atem narrowly. The Sky Dragon moved just enough to dodge him, then lunged as well. He hit him full force in the face, biting into his forehead, and threw him to the ground. Jaden kicked but Atem drew back before he could make contact.

Yami watched the smallest bead of blood leak into Atem's eye, but his father didn't even blink. He stared at Jaden, waiting as he had before, and didn't move again.

Jaden stepped forward, snarling, "Are you toying with me?" as Atem failed to respond. The Sky Dragon didn't move even when Jaden launched himself again. Atem jumped and caught him by the back leg with his claws, twisting. Jaden was thrown into the air, spinning, and hit the ground with a sickening crack.

Atem landed expertly on his paws, flicking his tail once more, and glanced up. Yami raised his eyes then as well. Leviathan, Yusei, Timaeus and Jesse were all winging rapidly toward them. Atem watched them for a moment, then looked sideways. Yugi was snarling and spitting, spine arched, wings tucked to shield his sides, and tail thumping into the snow.

Timaeus stopped feet away, looking at Atem with wide eyes. The two other God Dragons didn't so much as pause as they landed, Yusei spitting at Yugi fiercely enough it startled him out of the lunge he'd prepared. The Gandora huffed and opened his mouth, but Yusei spun on Jaden, snarling, "What in the name of Paradise are you doing? You made Atem declare war?"

Jaden ignored him, facing Atem once more. The Sky Dragon was watching all three of them now, as motionless as ever, but studying each of their movements. Yami could see the shadows moving about behind his eyes as he considered his next course of action.

Yusei stepped forward. Atem lunged. The Ice Dragon spun on him, snarling with surprise. Atem knocked him across the shoulders. Yusei twisted to catch himself, and Atem slammed him down with a slash to the face. The resounding noise of his body dropping made Jaden flinch in surprise.

Leviathan stood staring, eyes wide and burning into Atem's. The Sky Dragon looked back lazily, watching. Yugi glanced between them frantically, eyes wide, and turned to Atem. His mate looked over after a moment, silent and statuesque. They studied each other before Atem turned away again.

Yusei stumbled for his paws, jaw slack for a moment before it crunched as he shook himself out. Yami shivered and Yugi snarled softly, startled rather than angry. Timaeus looked sick as Yusei flexed his jaw and stared at Atem in shock. Jaden crept forward a step and Yugi raced for him.

Atem shot forward. Jaden spun on Yugi. The Gandora launched himself, claws braced. Atem slammed into Jaden, wing braced to shield his face. Yugi hit the appendage and immediately stopped short, startled. Atem flicked his wing and Yugi fell backwards, rolling from the force.

Jaden had caught Atem's face in his mouth. He had clamped down hard enough to draw blood. Atem had his entire upper body off the ground, claws braced in Jaden's shoulders. Blood welled and dripped from the open wounds. They hit the ground on their sides. Atem kicked and twisted his hindquarters and Jaden missed eviscerating him by a whole heartbeat. The red male turned his head, dragged his claws rapidly toward himself so that he tunneled through Jaden's flesh, and rolled. Jaden let go of him and sprang for his paws, startled, as Atem stood again.

"Jaden, enough of this," Yusei snarled, and Atem's head snapped toward him. The Ice Dragon shot him an extremely uneasy look, bristling and slowly lowering himself to the ground, speaking to Jaden with a sidelong glare. "You have to stop. I know you're scared because Dimitri got to Jesse before you could deal with him, but this is madness. Yami isn't a threat and picking a fight with Atem is a death sentence."

"Is that so? So far he's done nothing but play with me."

Yami shifted his weight. Immediately Atem's head snapped toward him. The gem on his forehead was still white, brilliant and blinding like the snow, and he could see for the first time what he hadn't before. He saw the thing Timaeus had feared so often when he'd pushed too hard with Atem when he was younger, when his temper was closer to the surface from the abuse before he'd learned to control it better.

Father.

Atem looked quickly back when Leviathan stepped forward. Yami didn't have the chance to warn him. The Sky Dragon shot forward so fast Leviathan could only turn his head in time. Atem slammed into him. Leviathan twisted halfway, spitting and snarling, to try to catch him with his claws. Atem caught him by the face and shoulders as he had Jaden, throwing him to the ground and rolling. Blood flew in arches and Leviathan snarled and spat. His back legs kicked and scrabbled but Atem twisted and rolled, avoiding them expertly.

Jaden turned to him then. Yusei stared with huge eyes as Leviathan grappled to kick Atem off. The Sky Dragon clawed and tore muscle, biting and ripping, and Jaden lunged, jaws opened wide to clamp into his throat. Yami didn't move, frozen, but both Yugi and Atem came forward. Jaden's teeth missed him by an inch.

Yugi had slammed into him hard enough to send him rolling. The Gandora stood snarling and bristling, but was knocked to the ground when Timaeus shot forward. The Knight Dragon pinned him, spitting, "Don't move."

Yugi froze out of surprise rather than instruction, eyes wide with alarm. Yami looked in the direction Timaeus was watching in his peripheral. Atem had stopped short a few feet back, tail flicking, eyes trained on them as if he were trying to figure out which of them might be threats. He was frozen, soaked in blood, breathing low and steady, and watched them with burning golden eyes.

Father.

The God Dragon tilted his head toward him but didn't answer. Yami risked a glance past him. Leviathan had climbed shakily to his paws, face twisted with agony, and Yami spotted what looked like sludge of some kind on his scales. He would have assumed it was mud were it not thick and black and slimy. He smelled rotting flesh before he realized he recognized it and after a moment his head spun. Every breath seemed to make Leviathan's body shake and his legs looked like twigs in high winds, threatening to collapse at any moment.

"You have poison?" Yusei blurted, then quickly ducked his head and looked away when Atem whipped around to face him. Yami remembered Atem biting Leviathan and coming back with a mouthful of sludge, using his lightning breath to blast through it when it sealed his mouth shut. Leviathan had laughed that he couldn't bite if he couldn't open his mouths and Atem had calmed just enough to snarl at Jaden to leave the territory.

Yami scrambled forward. Atem whipped around to face him.

"Yami," Timaeus snarled, "stop."

He ignored him, stopping inches away. "Father," he managed to breathe out, and the Sky Dragon narrowed his eyes, "please stop. Don't. You made a promise to me."

"They are not dead," Atem answered, voice cold and calculating. His eyes flickered past Yami's shoulder. "Although one of them deserves nothing less."

"Please—"

Yami barely had a moment to recognize what was happening. He heard the movement behind him and saw Atem shoot forward. The hatchling flinched back and flattened himself. The two God Dragons slammed into each other. Atem twisted in the air and landed easily, dodging another evisceration attempt, and Jaden went sailing to the ground yards away. He hit it, rolled, and then scrambled for his paws again.

Atem shot for him again. Jaden jumped to avoid his teeth and Atem shoved upward with his wings. The blow winded Jaden, who sputtered in the midst of his snarl, and Atem reared up. His front claws dug into his flesh and tore through his underbelly. Yami heard a sickening crunch as they hooked on his ribcage and then he was catapulted through the air once more. Atem whipped around as Jaden landed. The Fire Dragon had healed himself, but took a moment to stand.

He was panting, eyes bright with pain, and his head snapped around as he considered Atem. The two of them eyed each other. Yusei snarled with frustration, and Atem snapped his teeth at him without looking away from Jaden. Leviathan licked the worst of his wounds and peered at them coldly.

Jaden rushed him a second later. Atem crouched, lashing his tail, and bristled as he got closer. The Fire Dragon reared up, claws braced, entire body bright with live flames, and Atem lashed his tail again. He reared back, throwing himself sideways, as Jaden made contact. They rolled, spitting and snarling, and blood sprayed the air. The flames on Jaden's scales crackled and hissed as they came into contact with Atem's slippery flesh. The two of them rolled several feet, kicking and grappling. And then they separated. Jaden dropped backwards, bleeding profusely, the flames extinguished along his body, and Atem stood back.

The red male looked unscathed but for a tiny smudge of blood, mud, and soot on his left side. He stood so easily Yami would have thought he was a mere onlooker had he not known what was happening.

Jesse blurted, "Jaden? Jaden!" and raced forward when he didn't get up. Atem stared, eyes sharpening with annoyance, but made no move to come forward. Yami risked a glance at Yugi and Timaeus. Both of them had been frozen, though Yugi now squirmed out from beneath Timaeus's paws and rushed forward. Atem whipped around to look at him, and Timaeus hissed for him to come back. Yami faltered at the cold, dead stare Atem leveled on them for a brief second before it flickered back to Jesse.

"Yami!" Jesse all but screeched, whipping around. "Help him!"

"Did you just summon my son to heal Jaden?" Atem asked, voice incredulous with shock. His eyes shot to Yugi as the Gandora got closer. Yugi slowed and tilted his head, whispering his name, and the God Dragon blinked at him before looking at Jaden. Yami realized with a sickening feeling that the Fire Dragon was barely breathing.

"Father," he hissed, coming forward, and Atem looked to him immediately, "remember yourself. You have to stop this. You can't kill them. You can't kill Jaden."

Atem bore his teeth and snarled softly. "He's still breathing. It's not my fault if he stops." He flexed his claws angrily, hissing and lashing his tail. "He went for my throat. What was I supposed to do? Let him bleed me by the jugular?"

Yami shivered. "Atem…"

Leviathan shifted his weight. Atem whipped around to stare at him, bristling and arching his spine. Yusei had climbed to his paws as well, and they both stood facing him. Yami hurtled forward, but wasn't fast enough. Atem launched himself at Yusei, catching him by the face. He spun in the air, using his wings to drive them toward the ground as his front paws locked on his shoulders. After a split second he twisted and his back paws braced against the ground. His front released and he unclenched his jaw. Yusei spun, flipping, and slammed into Leviathan with enough force to send them both to the ground.

Atem stood shaking now, snarling low in his throat and bristling. His tail lashed and slammed into the ground and he flexed his claws restlessly. Yugi stood frozen, staring at the blood splattering from Yusei's wound, as the two God Dragons hissed with pain and tried sloppily to untangle themselves. Yami opened and closed his mouth, stunned, as Jesse gaped at Atem, sputtering, "Stop! You've won! Stop!"

The Sky Dragon snarled and shook harder, and Yami heard his tail click as he struggled to regain his senses. He snarled louder, slammed his tail into the snow, lashing it, sheathed and unsheathed the blades, and flexed his claws. The scales along his spine split into barbs, then slowly folded back, split and folded, and his wings tucked forcefully into his sides.

"Atem," Jesse breathed, eyes huge with shock.

Yugi stopped a yard away from the God Dragon, flattening himself to the ground when Atem whipped his head around to glare at him. "Dear heart," he muttered, "it's over. Stop. Please. Jaden needs help. You have to let Yami help him."

Timaeus shifted his weight restlessly. "Yugi, don't."

Father. Atem's eyes flickered to his. He was still hunched there, shaking as if he couldn't control his limbs. His tail lashed and sent snow flying, and Yami wondered for a split second if he'd heard the blades sheathe or not. He stepped forward slowly, standing as straight as he could despite the terror that made his spine slick with ice. Listen to me. Sever the link.

Atem didn't answer, staring and shaking harder. He snarled louder, bunching his shoulders and hindquarters as if to spring.

Sever it. You know how. He tilted his head and flicked his tail. You can do this. Just remember.

It was strange, how lacking Atem's thoughts were. He couldn't sense any but for the strangest sense of panic that swelled through him. His instincts said the other three deities would see them dead, and the Gandora and Knight Dragon were unlikely to harm him. But the Uria was a mixture—there was affection of some kind, but mostly fear and outrage as memories threatened to wash to the surface. Atem was…barely there.

Yami blinked. Remember your oath to me, Father, he whispered, searching his face. He kept his voice low and soothing, gentle yet somehow firm. Remember what you swore to me.

He's not dead, came Atem's fragmented thoughts, crackling and terrible. It was as if he were speaking through his lightning breath, and Yami fought a shiver. He's alive. All three of them are alive.

Yami nodded and stepped closer. Atem lashed his tail and spat at him, but didn't move to strike. He was shaking harder, however, and Yami wondered if it was cruel to be so close. But the God Dragon had focused on him singularly now, eyes burning and sharp as they caught with his.

Listen, Atem, he murmured, voice growing fond despite himself. Close it, please. You did it before. Do it now.

Atem lowered his head, spitting. I can't.

You can. He didn't move any closer, though he did lower himself to slowly lay down before him. Their eyes remained locked and Atem studied him with an almost wild, feverish look that bordered desperation and exhausted fear. You did it when you fought the Uria. You did it then. Do it again, Father.

H-how?

Yami struggled for a moment. Atem's thoughts had turned frenzied. His limbs were shaking harder and he was just barely kept in place. Sheer willpower held him there, even as instinct said to slaughter the five of them and wait until this anger passed. His abilities didn't differentiate him as friend or foe, but rather saw him as a pest there before him. He was a threat because of his memories, but he was not acting out, so he was nothing more than a brief problem.

Severing his head was an instant solution.

Yami shivered. It was wrong of me, he said slowly, to rely so solely on you. I knew how afraid you were of this happening. I knew how scared you were when you realized what your abilities were. I knew you'd struggle and I…I didn't do anything then to stop it. And I should have.

Atem blinked and narrowed his eyes, spitting when he inched slightly closer.

But you know how to sever the link. I've seen you do it. I've watched in your memories and I've witnessed it when you fought Dimitri before. He searched his face. And I need you to do it now.

He lashed his tail. His eyes flickered briefly away from Yami and off to the side. Yami risked a glance and found Yugi coming forward. The Gandora stood inches away, head tilted, eyeing him with surprise and curiosity. After a moment he hurried forward, and Atem jolted back, but the Gandora launched himself. He landed atop the Sky Dragon and licked him even when he snarled and spat at him in surprise.

Yami blinked, startled, and almost burst out laughing.

He was an idiot. Yugi had closed the link before without trying, without ever even knowing he was doing it. The Gandora was Atem's north star and the focal point of much of his time and energy. It made sense just his presence could snap him out of it.

Yami turned quickly and hurried to Jaden's side. He was amazed the Fire Dragon was even still alive. His breathing was almost nonexistent and shallow and the cold had eaten at the open gore of his nearly severed neck. Yami lay beside him, pressing firmly into his side, and focused on drawing the wound from him, the bleeding stopping and the muscle knitting together. He imagined it coming back to its original shape, the wound closing until there was nothing left, and even then he couldn't take his eyes off his parents.

Yugi had pinned Atem to the ground, slathering him in licks, and Atem was squirming but not quite struggling to get away. He closed an eye as Yugi continued his rigorous display of affection, and laughed when Yugi lay across his stomach and said, "You're so cute when you're covered in someone else's blood."

Even Yusei snorted, a surprised noise, and Yugi shot him a dirty look though it quickly turned apologetic. The Ice Dragon climbed to his paws and stretched, bones popping, and Yami rose to a stand as Jaden grunted and managed to crack an eye. He turned to him after a moment, eyeing him, and lashed his tail as the Fire Dragon struggled to roll over.

"What…? Who…?" His head snapped toward him, teeth bared, and Yami eyed him for a moment. Atem had stiffened and Yugi was staring intently, tensed to spring. Jaden blinked and narrowed his eyes, opening his mouth as if to bite him, and Yami sprang forward.

Jesse let out a short cry of alarm as Yami forced Jaden's head to the ground with the force of his bite. He barely nicked the skin on his skull, but he felt it. They both felt the momentary surge of electricity and the split second of power that came from the impact. Memories and thoughts and shadows half-forgotten rose to the surface and twisted, merging and growing for that single moment.

Yami drew back, then hurried to Yusei and Leviathan. He touched beaks, forcing as much energy as he could through them both, and then turned to Atem. "I have something to do, but I'll be back by the end of the day. I'll meet you at the den."

Atem blinked and slowly nodded, rising to his paws. "Okay."

Yami was gone before he finished speaking. Atem watched for a moment before turning back. Jaden had climbed to his paws and Jesse was sniffing and inspecting him as if to find some minor wounds Yami might have overlooked. Yusei was watching him cautiously, and Leviathan just looked annoyed. Timaeus was watching them with an expression he couldn't quite read, as if he were struggling to process what he'd just seen.

Yugi, however, was glowing with pride. He had raised his chin high and stood upright with his tail raised and curled in a hook formation, as if he were struggling not to tremble with excitement. Atem considered him curiously for a long moment, then snorted. Of course he was proud. He had just seen what Yami had been saying for years.

He'd just witnessed Atem hold his own against all three God Dragons…

"Funny. I smell blood, gore, and rot, and yet I see nothing except what's on the snow," a voice commented wryly. Atem looked over in surprise, eyes stretching wide, and Aki considered the other three with the coldest look he'd ever seen. Her mouth curled backwards into a hideous smirk. "Mostly Jaden. Did he almost kill you? Shame he didn't follow through."

Yusei looked exhausted, but his eyes lit up when he saw her. He looked as if he wanted so badly to get closer to her yet knew better. Atem wondered if that was what Yugi had felt when he'd found out about Yami. If he'd wanted so badly to get closer but knew better for fear Atem would become even more furious with him.

Guilt lanced through him, but it was smothered almost immediately.

The war cry, he realized, almost shaking again. He looked up. Honda, Obsidian, and Akunadin, Seto, and Kisara were all winging toward them from different directions. Atem fought a shiver and rose to his paws.

"What in the name of Paradise was that?" Honda blurted, landing and shaking himself out. He was almost immediately covered in snow again and Atem felt worse for the fact that the cry had twisted the weather and manipulated the sky so much. He'd never considered before then what his cry alone could do. The Tyrant turned and snapped his teeth at Jaden, making the God Dragon snort and flick his tongue at him.

"A war cry," Aki answered with a sneer, and Atem was surprised to see she was snickering when Honda shot her an annoyed look. They looked like friends, as if they'd interacted before. "Never heard one before?"

"You saw the lightning, right?"

"It was pretty hard to miss."

"Great. Shut up then." Honda turned to them again and Yugi burst out laughing, clearly startled. Atem couldn't help but snort, surprised, even as he glanced over Aki's shoulder toward Chazz. The two Wind Dragons were looking at him solely now. "Atem."

He blinked and turned back. "I…" I wasn't expecting anyone to respond… Even after the first wave of dragons had responded to the original cry he'd released, he had not expected them to come. He hadn't even considered it…

His silence made Seto burst forward, snarling, "You did a war cry. What happened?" He shot the other three a disdainful look and curled his lip at Jesse. "And why aren't they dead?"