The Last Infernal - Innocence of Youth

Family Sorrow (XI)

Family sorrow. (XI)

The Fire-Star rose half-way in the horizon as dawning came. Korvi was already wide awake; and very bored. She was paw smacking a small rock, chasing it around when it landed, only to smack the rock around more to help ease the boredom. She couldn’t help but be so very bored while waiting for the Fire-Star to rise a little more, as it was still slightly dark out, and mum didn’t want to wake up until it was Early-Dawn, though she couldn’t help it, she was so very eager and excited for this dawn she was told that she will be going to see her big sister again! Even though it has been a cycle long and she was only a yearling, Korvi still remembers her big sister when they first met, and now this time she could talk more and have a conversation! It was all overwhelming joy and excitement! For the past few dawns she kept asking if it was the dawn that she would see her older sister again, and was disappointed when she was told it wasn’t. But now that the dawn has finally came, it brought great anxiety and impatience to Korvi, making it hard for her to sleep, so here she has been since the Fire-Star first hinted shown its first light’s rays, she has been trying to get rid of her boredom by slapping around the rock for fun. The Fire-Star though it seemed, was enjoying tormenting poor little Korvi by its slow natural rising, more than once Korvi got annoyed from being impatient, going to the cavern entrance, facing the big bright star and saying as loud as her pitched, squeaky voice could,

“Hurries ups Staar!!”

Though further to Korvi’s annoyance it seemed as the Fire-Star ignored her, only making her growl out squeaky, her growl was not near firm steady, and then went back to kicking the paw-sized rock. As Korvi continued to smack the rock, either it was bad luck or her own fault, or even both, Korvi happened to give the rock one good paw slap but was facing in the wrong direction, hitting it at a bad angle, for the rock hit off into the area near the nesting bed where her mother slept, letting out a little squeak as she lowered her head and she heard the small clank as the rock hit the side of Fierya’s muzzle. Fierya slept near closest to the nesting bed in which Korvi should have been in sleeping, a small little bonk upon Fierya’s snout. Korvi whimpered lightly as she heard mother’s groan, as Korvi dared not move, holding her breath for a moment while listening to see if her mother was going to wake up. Fierya didn’t seem to move which was good to Korvi’s little mind, as her heart was racing from the silly worry of waking up her mother so early in the dawn. Many minutes passed as nothing happened. Believing to be in the clear, Korvi turns around, lifting a paw to start moving, only to halt, hearing,

“And what is my little one doing awake so early of dawn?”

came Fierya’s voice from behind. Korvi squeaked in surprise as she turns around to see her mum looking directly at her from where she laid, though mum didn’t seem angry at all, she had a smile upon her muzzle.

“I...I...Dawn... Sister... Can nots sleeps!”

Korvi said stuttering, trying to say a good reason even though Fierya understood her little one, smiling as she stood up, walking over to Korvi to give her gentle and loving nuzzles, replying in her usual happy tone,

“Yes my little Korvi, this is the dawn that we meet with Teralen in the meadow! I’ve missed my sweet Tera so much... We should convince her to live with us!”

Fierya giggled, as for a while now she has been wanting to convince Teralen to live with them again, as it would do both the sisters good, having said that to Korvi in a playful loving way while all the same serious.

“Yesh we shoulds mum! Yesh yesh!”

Korvi said in her high-pitched tone very cheerfully, bolstering her excitement and joy of happiness, just the mere thought of having her sister living with them was overwhelming with good feelings in her heart, thinking to herself how she’d never be bored again having her sister living with them! Fierya laughs, picking up Korvi gently with her forepaws, hugging her child close to her own soft chest, speaking soft to her,

“Then let us make that happen, we are to meet her early dawn too! But first, we need to have our early dawn feeding, and then we go out, okay my Korvi?”

Korvi chirps her agreement, giggling and paws at her mum’s nose playfully.

“Okies mum!”

After a few moments of preparations, Korvi and her mum shared a deer, this time though, Fierya flamed the deer in a slow careful way to heat and ‘cook’
the meat to give Korvi a different taste in a meal and as a special treat, and to Korvi when she tasted the flamed meat, it was the best feeding she ever had! After they finished and both had their fill, Fierya cleanly disposed of the deer, while Korvi playfully ran around bored and impatient.

“Cans we gos nows mum pwease??”

Fierya laughed, knowing how eager little Korvi was to get out and meet her sister, nodding and smiles.

“Yes my little one. Let us be off and meet our dear Teralen.”

Waiting for Korvi to come by her side, Fierya then leads her outside the cavern home of theirs, stepping into the open meadow.

***


As Korvi and Fierya walked through the meadow, something didn’t quite seem to feel right to Fierya... She felt a chill down her spine as the two walked.

“The birds aren’t chirping and are rather quiet this early dawn…”

Fierya says in a low tone as they walked north-west, Korvi following close, tilting her head in confusion.

“Birrds quiets??”

Korvi questioned rather loud, being outside in the open she didn’t really use her inside voice while out in the open.
Fierya nodded her head as they walked towards the oak tree outside the north-west forest, the location that was agreed upon to meet at.

“Yes my Korvi, they are very, very quiet this Early-dawn.”

When they reached the oak tree, Korvi ran ahead to go sit by the tree base, getting cozy in the soft grass warm grass, while noticing a dandelion flower next to her. Korvi started to paw at the flower gently in curiosity, being careful to not cut off the flower by mistake with her small yet sharp claws. Fierya looked around the meadow and to the tree where Korvi sat; watching her child having little bits of fun with the flower, though she herself frowned as she felt worried inside as she went to sit down near Korvi. Knowing Teralen, she would have been here before them, to be early or perhaps she would be here now at any moment, though to Fierya started to worry for she didn’t even see Teralen in the distance of the flat land of the meadow.

“Something doesn’t feel right…”

Fierya mumbles to herself as she looks towards the North-West forest, trying to hear even the smallest chirp from any of the birds, though it proved false as she didn’t even hear a squeak out of the usually very noisy birds who sung their tunes merrily. All the birds that were being this quiet for some reason brought fear to Fierya… Fear and worry.

~“Come on Teralen… Where are you…”~

She thought silently to herself. Korvi looks up from the flower to the direction of her mother, having heard her say something not being right, and something about birds? Korvi squeaked lightly as she got distracted by looking up, not paying attention to how soft she was pawing at the flower, accidentally swiping too hard, the grown flower snaps in half off its stem. Korvi felt a little silly having accidentally cut off the head of the flower, looking to her mother as if nothing happened, she then responds to her mum’s words as if she was talking to her;

“Wrongs birds are quiets??”

Fierya looked at Korvi as she spoke, giving her a nod. She has adapted to and fully accepted now having got used to how Korvi spoke words with her slight speech disorder that she seemed to have, she smiles kindly as responds to her daughter’s question.

“Yes my little one, something is wrong because the birds are too quiet… and Teralen is much late now.”

Sighing, Fierya stood up to go sit directly beside Korvi, using a wing to hug her close to her side while they waited patiently. As they waited, Fierya watched the Fire-Star while she watched around the area. It has been at least ten minutes that now passed, and still Teralen has not shown up, nor was she seen in the distance.

“Muuum… weres sister??”

Korvi asked with a very bored and impatient tone, having a short attention span and being a yearling didn’t quite enjoy just plainly sitting down waiting, for she was greatly looking so forward to see her sister again and to get to spend time together with her! Time passed slowly as Fierya sighed, lightly nudging Korvi gently to let her know to stand up, speaking with noticeable concern.

“I do not know where she is my little dear, let us go look for her. Maybe she got lost in the forest taking a walk.”

Though as much to that of getting lost, Fierya didn’t believe it true or even possible as there were so many direct paths inside and it was simple knowledge of direction to get out. Korvi glanced upon the opening to the deep forest as she and her mother stood, looking to Mum and nods her head rapidly.

“Yesh let gos find hers!”

Then she stood up, walking over to her mum’s side standing beside her, as Fierya silently then walked with Korvi towards the forest.

***

Walking inside the forest upon the main path that was walked on, they passed many trees and bushes inside, leaves crushed under both Fierya’s and Korvi’s paws while they walked through the gentle grass. There was no other noise heard anywhere around them while they walked deeper inside the forest. Fierya gazed around with her sharp watchful eyes, concern was easily noticed within her cyan blue eyes, spotting many birds in the trees though they kept completely quiet, they seemed to just stare at both Korvi and Fierya, making Fierya feel uncomfortable, now very worried as these birds here were usually loud and constant in their chirps and noises. Fierya called out loud and with worry as they walked.

“Teralen! Where are you?!”

She went quiet hoping for a reply, though she heard no response. Korvi followed close beside, though as they walked, Korvi noticed paw prints about the size of large paws in the grass that veered off the main path, which seemed to be a rough path that was hardly noticed that she just discovered! Korvi being young and curious while wanting to find her sister, she veers off into the side, following the roughly made path and paw prints, running off on her own to curiously explore and search.

It was a few minutes too late as Fierya turned around to ask Korvi how she liked the woods and forest,
only to find and see that she wasn’t there! Fierya calls out loud as she now feels sick inside having to search for both her children, deep fear growing inside.

“Korvia!! Teralen!!”

***

Korvi didn’t hear her mother as she was running down the crude path that was defiantly walked on. As she got further down the trail of a path, she began to smell something she knew, but also didn’t know… it smelled like blood of some kind, yet she didn’t think that any deer around here was recently eaten within the forest. As Korvi neared the end of the path, the smell got stronger in the air and for the first time this dawn, some of the birds in the trees near watching Korvi, started to chirp at her loudly, making Korvi scared… Why were they being loud to her here? She had no idea why. While walking down to the end of the hidden path way, she came upon an opening, a large clearing with a small lake at the back. The smell of blood was strongest here. Korvi wandered into the clearing looking around, seeing that it was a beautiful place... And then Korvi saw her sister. Her sister she found, who was facing backside to Korvi, her wing arm was limped and slumped over her, her head was down with her eyes closed. To Korvi... her sister was just asleep, despite that Teralen was lying amid in a pool of blood surrounded of her body, nor did Korvi see the front-side yet of where she was wounded...

"Sister!! Founds yous! Missed yous much..!!"

Korvi said in her happy high-pitched tone, rushing to her big sister who lay perfectly still where she was.
Upon reaching her sister... she stepped in the still wet-fresh blood around her, as infernal blood was thick and strong type of blood that doesn't dry up fast and right away. Blinking in confusion as she lifts her paw to see the wet sticky blood upon her, feeling a little weird... Then goes to give Teralen's neck a light nudge and nuzzle, only to find her body wasn't warm at all... Nor was Teralen responding to Korvi. She once more looks at the blood and squeaks, remembering how bloody eating a deer usually was... and how still and limp the deer was... What was the word mum used to call the deer as it was still..? Then she remembered the word...

Dead.

She shook her head... She only thought deer’s could be dead! Korvi started to whimper, sniffling as she squeaks out in a light choked sob,

"S...sisteer..? Pw...pwease wakes ups...yous nu deer! Yous can nu be dead! Nu nu nu yous nu deer!!"

She says to the body of her sister, which didn't respond, her eyes were closed and curled slightly to herself. Korvi felt her eyes starting to water... The deer that was 'dead' never came back, and now was sad and scared, placing her little paws upon Teralen's back, and gives little shakes as best she could, wanting to spend time with her, crying out;

"S..sister..! WAKES UPS WAKES UP PWEASEEE I Missed yous! Yous nu deads nu nots deads Wakes ups..!"

Korvi felt her heart in her body throb with deep pain and sadness... a sorrow she could never imagine, such a feeling of... loss... her tears streamed down her small snout…and dripped upon her sister's dead cold body. Teralen’s body was cold and even stiff. Korvi has never seen death like this before, and seeing her own big sister like this, was the hardest thing she’s seen so far in her life. She moves around from the back to Teralen’s front, wanting to believe she was just only sleeping, that Teralen would wake up and be happy… Then the wound itself was seen. Korvi gasped in shock, seeing on her body deep in her belly was the wound, three claw marks slashed through her belly to her lower chest, seeing that it was there that the blood came out from, the wound was crackled and dry though the pool of blood wasn’t due to how thick and great the loss of the blood was, Teralen’s flesh inside from the slashed belly was exposed and seen… It has then just hit her hard in realizing, that her sister was dead… dead! Gone! She whines out then cries out loud deeply hurt, figuring the cold sad truth…

“S…SISTERR…!”

***

Hearing the crying just up ahead, Fierya hopes and prays that her little Korvi was alright… moving herself into a short sprint, as she never heard her little Korvi cry before like this! Coming upon the open clearing, looking around frantically, She then gasps, feeling her heart just lurched, skipped a few beats, then taken a direct hammer blow as there in front of her was her first born child and beloved daughter… It didn’t take Fierya long at all to realize her child has died and passed away, for the pool of blood itself said enough… walking up slowly, feeling tears brim her eyes, her heart racing and pounding, clashing with each beat…

“T… Teralen… My beautiful child…”

Korvi was curled against Teralen’s neck, whimpering sad while crying,

“Sister… gooones…”

Korvi said in a long sob. Looking upon Teralen’s body, Great sorrow filled Fierya, though once she noticed Teralen’s belly, which obvious seen to Fierya were claw marks of the deep fatal slash by another, she growled out deeply as it comes to her hard.

“She… was murdered…”

She says softly, then roars out loud, long and mourning, mixed with deep rage.

“SHE WAS MURDERED AND KILLED!!”

Korvi looked to her mum, sniffling, asking pitifully to try understanding the word her mother said,

“M…mu...urdered…?”

Fierya’s body trembled with rage and sorrow, breathing heavy as she answers to Korvi,

“She… she was killed by another dragon, murder is killing another, making them dead.”

Korvi growls as she sobs, someone did this to HER sister?! She didn’t like that… getting up; her small body was drenched in the blood she laid in. Fierya having seeing this… goes to examine the blood, then snarls loudly,

“Recent..! Come Korvi! We are going home… We need to bring Tera’s body with us, to prepare to give her a proper rest.”

With that said Fierya carefully picks up and carries Teralen’s upper body, lightly dragging her body out. Korvi close behind as they head on the path leading to out of the forest. Out of the forest in the open meadow, a small crowd of other Infernals gathered. All of them were curious as well as worried why they heard a loud lament of a roar within the forest. As Fierya came out dragging the body of Teralen, looking cold and emotionless in her expression, they all watched in shock… Seeing that the Highborne Dragonqueen herself has just lost a child, gathering around Fierya and Korvi,
Korvi was hiding close to her mother, under the wing and side so she wasn’t directly seen by the other Infernals. The small crowd gave them open space to cross through as Fierya dragged along the body of her fallen child. One of the dragons in the crowd was Tranras, whom acted surprised and shocked, speaking out seemingly greatly hurt to see the body of his love;

“What has happened to my beloved Teralen?! She’s… she’s dead..?”

He says out sounding very sad and over caring. For how hurt in emotion Fierya was in currently with her deep loss of her child, she stopped for a moment, halting in her movement, looking to Tranras as she gives him a cold hard look as she did to all around, replying to him and loud enough so the crowd heard,

“She was murdered and killed by one of our own kin! Recent and cruel by slashing her belly and gut open! When I find out who did this to my daughter, they shall be severely punished! Now leave me be!”

The other Infernals backed away in shock of this situation; Tranras lowered his head, stepping aside to her and Korvi through as they head to their cavern home, grim as they went home.