The Dark Ages of the Synakoy; The Past Forgotten by Wolfheart (macos ebook reader .TXT) 📕

Suddenly he froze.
“No.”
Her ears cocked. She pointed her muzzle into the air to keen.
“No!” He grabbed her muzzle. “Now isn’t the time, dearest. Now isn’t the time.”
My heart aches with his death.

“I know…I know.”
Levin looked back to the other boy to see him soothing his brother. “We must hurry.”
“Your sister just hatched. We can’t go much faster.”
“Speed is everything. Have your brother carry the youngest three.”
The boy focused, and his dragon turned and allowed the youngest three to climb onto his back.
“Now go on ahead. This path is easy; it goes straight most of the way. When you see the tunnel fork, go left. Then you find the exit.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I must go slower; for my sister and these children.”
He nodded and the group left.
Levin’s vision darkened again. He stared in horror at the Gryphon who stood over the children he’d tried to save. The beast was huge, covered in their blood as well as his own.
“You are theirrrrr king.” It hissed the r. Levin could only feel terror. Suddenly, the beast lunged for him. In his attempt to run, he tripped over a huge rock and hit his head on the stone ground. Screaming in pain, he put up his arm in a futile attempt to defend himself. Then he felt a sudden, agonizing pain in his head and heart. It felt like they were being ripped from his body.
“No!!!!!!!”
He shot up, ignoring the extreme pain within him, grabbed a sharp rock and shoved into the Gryphon’s eye. It screeched in agony and pulled its talons from the heart of his sister. She fell to the ground as the beast of fur, talon and feather fled the cave, blinded and wounded beyond repair. Levin collapsed on his knees and wrapped his body around hers.
A light circled him three times, and then disappeared into his necklace. Tears in his eyes and emptiness in his heart, he remained cradling his sister’s body until he was swallowed by the world of dark emptiness.
“Levin!” It was Ky’s voice. “Levin! Snap out of it!”
He opened his eyes, sweating and quivering. The emptiness in his heart was there again, as powerful and real as Zenic. The memory that he wasn’t sure he understood was circling his mind.
“Your sister…” Ky’s eyes were wet with tears. “She isn’t dead.”
He blinked, confused.
“I was there with you, Levin. I was there with you, in your mind. I couldn’t get out in time. I was there…and I’m glad I was.”
“Why?”
“Because it helped me realize your sister isn’t dead, Levin. Your dragon, Makita, isn’t dead. You just forgot her soul…was in that stone.”
He looked down at the stone necklace that always hung from his neck. It was so hot, vividly gleaming emerald green.
“I have contacted her. She is fine. She is ready…to be reborn.”
Amazement and joy spread through him like a pine forest wildfire.
“I must leave this cave. I cannot see her rebirth. I cannot be here.”
“Why?”
“She told me it is the way of your people. I must stay with my people.”
With that, she was gone, moving more silently than a stalking cat. He watched her leave, and saw Zenic come to greet her with a huge animal carcass. Then he looked down and felt once again the focus and joy of Makita joining him.

*****

Ky felt weak and shaky as she left the cave. She was desperate to get to Zenic, who she knew was outside with prey. She could smell the meat and blood, and feel his frantic concern for her. She worried no more about Levin; he would be fine. No longer anxious about the place, the elf druid stumbled to Zenic. He dropped the prey at her feet. She didn’t even bother starting a fire, she was so hungry. As if she were a lioness, Ky simply ate the creature raw. The taste of it exploded on her tongue, making her crave it.
Go easy, child. Your kind has animal blood, and it can be dangerous. They did not eat meat because of it, but in your case it cannot be helped.

She smiled as she thought of something. “You killed something!”
He looked rather embarrassed.
“What?”
I took it from wolves. It is how I’ve been living so far…steeling food or making lucky hunts…

She forced herself to take just enough to think about something else. Then she cleaned herself off in the snow and curled up in Zenic’s warm fur.
Then Zenic changed the subject, understanding asking for hunting lessons right now wasn’t a good idea.
His suffering has come and gone. His blood is awakened.

“I know. I helped.”
That is the sorrow and frailty I feel. You used much of your Elvin and Druid magic today – not even meaning to. He may have relived those memories until his death if you hadn’t of done that.

“I…couldn’t have allowed that…”
He looked down at her and purred with amusement.
I know. Makita will understand.

Ky looked up at him. “Understand what, Zenic?”
“She will understand your feeling for him. Have no fears of her stopping you.”
Stopping me?

He wrapped his paw around her.
No. I will not stop you either.

At first, she didn’t understand. She was absolutely bewildered. Then she blushed when she realized what he was talking about.
Don’t try to pretend you have no attraction to him, now. It’s very obvious. I don’t like it when you try to confuse me.

“I’m not. I don’t like him that way.”
He looked at her.
Oh really? What would you do if Levin decided he wanted to stay with Makita instead of staying with you? What if she asked Levin to rebuild the dragon people?

A mixture of sorrow and anger rose in her. “She couldn’t do that!”
It’s his duty. He could do it with you, but eventually he’d leave with her.

The very idea made her miss him. Suddenly, she was anxious for him to come out and tell her he would stay with her.
See? You do love him that way.

Ky rose and paced the entrance, wondering what was happening with the place most sacred to the man she had once called kin.

****

Makita stood before him in full glory. Instead of the pale white of the newborn, with useless wings and tiny horns, she was the color of the setting sun. Her eyes were still the same sapphire blue of her birth, but her horns stretched upward and then curled inward in a half-spiral that reminded him of a malamute’s tail. Instead of membranes, her wings were leather. They stretched the cave’s ceiling, with patterns that reminded him of a kindling flame in a mountain forest. Her tail swept him onto his sore feet. The deadly spikes at the end spread for a moment to form a steel flower.
The agony of her absence was replaced by the unbridled love and joy of her return. The beauty of a full grown dragon sang to his very soul. Their eye met. His mind forged with hers, and their souls merged once again.
They were together. Yet…they were so…alone.
We would have never found one another without Kiyoshi. The Elven Druid is a miracle to our kind.
“She is amazing, isn’t she?” He asked, relieved. He knew Makita understood how he felt about her.
If my memory from the spirit world serves me right, she is the last of her race as well. Not one other awaits her return.
“None? Not even a male of mixed blood?”
Elves never mixed blood. Druids rarely found another to love, being so close to nature. She was doomed to this fate the moment her mother fell in battle.
Sorrow was an odd feeling after such joy.
We have the love of siblings. That is our bond. Our souls are one. You love her the way you love a mate. I support this. The child will be born with the power of the dragon and the elf. Kiyoshi is a good choice. I approve.
She leaned down and muzzled him. While scratching her nose, Levin thought about something.
She does love you, Levin. Do not mistake her hesitation with a cold heart. Have you not considered how confused she is? Ky’s only home and family were ripped away from her. Everything she knew was shattered in the blink of an eye. And the tides of fate have made her the leader of a group of people who are suffering and changing on a daily basis, in a world she cannot comprehend. The last piece of home died when Tempest drew his last breath. And now she understands that you will not be returning home with her, if she ever does.
“What do you mean?”
Amusement gleamed in her gaze.
You must remain here and rebuild our nation. You are the last Drake and of royal blood. As the king, it is your duty. As the last soul, it is your meaning – your purpose. It burns in your blood. Have you not often dreamed of a baby bundled in your arms? One that you will be proud of and raise with the woman you love?
“Y-yes. But every animal has a point in their lives where a baby is desired.”
Kiyoshi doesn’t want children, though, does she?
He shrugged. “I have no idea. I’ve never asked.”
She doesn’t have time or patience for a child. You must time things with her. And you may stay with her only if she will bear you a child and raise it. It will be Elven and Drake. The Druid in its blood will only make it more powerful and one with this world. She cannot leave and be your mate. We are rebuilding more than one race…and in doing that, creating a new one altogether. It will be more powerful than ever before. It will be prepared for the darkness ahead of our kind.
“There is darkness ahead of the Synakoy?”
Levin wondered how he knew that word, and what it meant. Then he realized Makita knew it, and therefore he did.
Yes. Humans rage war against the people of the land with the blood of magic. Drakes, Dragons, Gryphons, Vampires, Shapeshifters, Elves, and many, many more will be removed from the face of this earth. We are dying. And only you four can stop it.
He turned to the entrance of the cave and felt Ky peering in with a sick heart.
She longs for you.
“We must tell her everything. Then we must decide. We must decide together.”
No, my brother; she must decide. She is the leader of your group. She must decide to fight for or against the humans. She must make this decision on her own. Her actions will be the actions of Ivory and Kai. Your path was forged when Ky awake my soul to merge with your again.
“I must at least tell her.”
In time,