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Ebony looked to each of her children briefly, "You must each say your farewell to him. I know this is hard. But it is time," she told them softly. Each of them did what felt right to them, some speaking, others simply having a quiet moment.

But as they stepped back, she did what needed to be done. She covered his body with black flames, consuming his body until it was nothing but ash. Once that was done, she had her own quiet moment, silently telling Lao that she would be joining him soon, one way or another.

She looked to her children and focused on Arden, "Please, Arden, deliver the message to Sebastet then return. We have to be ready for the fight to come," she told him softly.

She finally turned to Straga and gave him a simple nod before she shifted to her dragon form and flew to the aerie she'd shared with Lao.

There, she made the preparations she needed to do deep within the cavern system she and Lao had created for their home, then returned to the main room to wait for her children to join her. While she waited, she returned to her human form and began to sharpen her weapons...

Linah breathed out softly as she glided through the area with jaded ease before landing down into a nice green area full of trees and growth next to one of the many lakes. She grunted somewhat brushing her left wing against a tree growling at the chatter of critters afterwards, folding her wings down before she slowly began to transform before finally standing there as a woman. She stretched slowly groaning softly, "my...I suppose I should've done that after waking up.." she groaned softly before popping her back a bit and stretched her arms above her head the ornate half sleeves of pink with red and golden designed edges slid down her arms. Running a hand through long thigh length black hair that shone blue in certain lights toying with one of the strands as she brushed her hand down her long calf length red skirt with golden leaves for the design on it. Ohh she was still a little sore, her bright silvery moonlight colored eyes gazing around. This place looked like a really good hunting grounds but she wasn't worried about that right now. She stretched her legs out a bit before starting to take a leisure walk through the trees running her fingers along the bark of a tree every now and again as she was exploring the area.

The skies of the islands were black, thunder rumbling about and lightning bolts lighting up the heavens. The rainfall slowed down from a torrent of water to a trickle, the droplets of water sprinkling along the rocky mountains. At the edge of the aerie that Lao and Ebony roosted in was where Straga appeared, setting down a wounded Ebony inside the mouth of their cavern. His hand hovered over her wounds, slowly closing them up at great mental strain to himself. The Brood Mother did not gift him with the healing powers that a dragon as old as himself would have, but in rare emergencies that guardian of the Twilight Graveyard was capable of keeping someone straddling the line of death to go on living. Straga sighed as her wounds finally sealed, becoming ugly bruises, scrapes, and minor cuts. The pain, however, was something she would have to bare. It was to remind her that she was alive.

Silently, the shadowy dragon turned his back to her and stared off into the vast expanses of mountains that Lao would often watch during his morning meditations. Getting down onto both knees, he bowed down and touched his head to the dirt, his lips quietly mouthing words older than language itself. A prayer to the Brood Mother spoken in the Primal Tongue , a plea that she would release his brother from his torment. The prayer was also a silent wish that the Brood Mother would finally release Straga from his own prison, and allow him live. He raised up and lifted his hands to the sky, his voice raising to a hoarse whisper as he continued to pray and chant, and his sharp eyes noticed something in the distance.

There was a break in the gloomy sky off in the mountains, a single beam of light shining down from where Lao was buried. Straga never stopped praying, his head back to the ground as he trembled a little. The storm was beginning to intensify, lightning forking from the sky and striking various mountain points. The wind had gone from a silent breeze to a full on howling, and fire began to erupt from mountains that were struck by lightning. To a regular mortal, this scene looked like the apocalypse was happening, or at least some significant event was taking place. To Straga, this was a welcoming of long lost family. As his head raised to look, he could see the beam of light reflecting of ashen blue scales in the distance, a massive form rising above the rocky craigs towards the sky. Eyes that glowed iridescent red blinked, and the mighty beast of the mountains slowly placed massive hands on the mountains to pull upwards, as if it were trying to escape the ground. The island itself seemed to rumble as a throaty roared escaped the creature, shaking the earth with a long lost fury and righteous anger that only Ebony would find familiar. Straga couldn
It looked like Lao Shan; the size, the single rocky horn on his face, the jagged spikes and ridges along his spine. But somehow, he looked so different. His scales were ashen blue, borderline grey in color, and his features were much more savage and defined. The jagged spines glinted in the sunlight like a row of swords on his back, his normally rusted and chipped scales now so defined that each scale looked like a sharp shield. As the beast stood full height, a pair of gigantic wings unfolded from its back, the dust that covered it now blocking out the sun as the beast roared once more, finally free to roam the land. It turned towards the aerie, and the flap of its wings sent wind gushing towards Ebony and Straga as the beast took to the air. As he approached the aerie, his form slowly compressed and shrunk until he was closer to a normal dragon's size, albeit still much larger. Straga only blinked once before he was face to face with his brother, the ashen dragon staring through narrowed eyes and a gruff snort. The pale and pallid dragon slowly got up and backed away, allowing a naked human male with ashen blue hair pick up Ebony and disappear into the mountain. Both needed time to heal, and until then he would go and find the children and assemble them.

Red Gypsy

Lao had remained quiet for some time, staying near Ebony but not touching her. She was still in the woes of the Frenzy, her senses unreliable and unstable. Slowly getting to his feet, he stood at his full figure and slowly approached his wife, his eyes intensely focusing on her. She wouldn't believe he was real with just Lao's say so; she needed much more to be convinced. Taking one of her shaky hands in his, he placed it over his heart, letting her fingers feel the pulsating beat. His breathing steadied as he neared still, taking her other hand and placing it on his chest, letting her use her touch, nose and eyes to make sense that he was real. At no point did he speak, not yet anyways. Kneeling down, he locked eyes with Ebony before his lips locked with hers, allowing her to taste him now. The kiss lingered for a few moments before Lao got to his feet with a smile.

Standing before her, ashen blue scales began to form around his forearms, legs, and chest. More and more his body got scaly, and soon spikes started jutting out along his elbows, knees, and spine. How strange that Lao presented himself much like he did the first time he offered himself to her, yet now he was different? He smelt of a thunderstorm, yet radiated a fire's warmth. He gait flowed like water, his stance sturdier than a rock; Lao had truly become something more. But to reveal himself like this to her, to unveil his true soul to her: he would show her how real he truly was.

Lao let out a pleased growl, and he slowly began to approach her, making Ebony back away to the mouth of the cave. This was but another step in their mating dance, each step forward that he took was one back for her. Though the Mating Ritual was ultimately up to the female to decide, it was for the male to take the lead. The reborn dragon matched her intense gaze with his own, his unblinking eyes glowing with power as he smooth gait seemed to flawless place him in whatever escape path she may have chosen. He was a predator, hunting down his favored prey, chasing her like an old, cherished memory. The dragon's smile widened as they had reached the mouth of the cave, and his form began to change into his draconic form, growing large as scaly wings unfurled from his back.

"Fly, my black angel. Cut the sky with your grace, and I will show you how the heavens and the earth will rejoice in our union" Lao stated, now in full dragon shape. His ashen scales melded so well with the earthen tones of their cave, his eyes alight with power as he stared at his mate. It was time to begin their dance anew, a waltz he had not done in such a long time.

The ashen dragon watched Ebony take flight in the air, his eyes glued to her dark form slicing through the sky like a well honed knife. Taking a deep breath, Lao let loosed a powerful roar, one that shook the sky itself. The heavens began to rumble, and the clouds grew grey and angry as his wings spread wide. Lao walked to the ledge of their lair, and with a mighty swoop he was off. With mere seconds he was careening towards Ebony, but not with the usual clunky flapping of before. While nowhere near as graceful as Ebony, his flying was more technical and smooth now. When she would swoop to another direction, Lao would make sharp banking turns after her. The air seemed to flow with him, coming to his aid as he methodically chased her. Strangely, when she would look back or to her sides to find him, he would disappear into the clouds, his scales aiding him in staying hidden among the stormclouds.

At times his roar was near, and at other times it was far. Sometimes she would catch a glimpse of his form from the lightning in the sky, swooping after her. However, he never came out directly at Ebony, instead tailing her from her favorite spot: the shadows.

Lao watched her dive out of the sky, emerging from a nearby cloud as she splashed into the water. He was not very pleased with her choice, though no scowl or frown was on his face. Instead, a smile was on his lips as he slowly floated down after her, allowing Ebony to think she may have had the upper hand. The storm around them began to intensify, the wind howling about in a frenzy as rain began to shower the land, and still Lao did not seem distraught or bothered. Instead, he hovered a few feet above the water, his eyes narrowing as they scanned for signs of his prey. The water was deep, and the storm did well to keep her hidden. His chest began to expand as he breathed deep, his soul speaking the words of the Thu'Um to his mind, and then to his mouth. With a mighty shout, he forced the body of water to part, splitting the lake in half before landing into the wet sand, having exposed where Ebony was hiding.


"The elements bend to my will, and they fear my voice. You too shall learn to bend to my will." Lao taunted, slowly walking towards her with the proud gait of a champion coming to claim his prize. " I will make you crave my command Ebony. I will make you sing my praise to the world, and it will join you in rapturous chorus."

Lao watched her fly away, a large smile upon his lips. She was beautiful, her slim and lithe figure illuminated by the moonlight. His eyes marveled at the sight of her, and his chest swelled with both pride and want. It had been a very long time since she made him work for this, to make him truly want this. His wings spread out as well, and with a mighty flap he was up in the air and slowly flying towards her. before, Lao would hunt with speed, trying to end the chase quickly. This time, he was careful and poised, each beat of his wings filled with purpose as he steadily closed in upon her position. In just a breath, he let loose a whisper, and Lao was before Ebony, his eyes locking onto her before his claws snagged her in his powerful grip. She would struggle, but he kept her close to his chest and wrapped his wings around them, the two dragons locked in embrace before they started to fall from the sky. Even in their free fall, Lao did not once let her go, his eyes remaining locked on hers as the earth was drawing ever closer to her.

Within feet from the ground his mighty wings unfurled like a cloak, the wind picking up beneath them and letting him soar. The air rushed past them as he slowed their pace down, and Lao came to a full stop and pinned Ebony to the ground. "Now you are mine.... and the world will know that I have claimed you Ebony." He growled, his claws keeping Ebony's back to the ground. His size was slowly decreasing as he began to resume his human form, and she would soon do the same so that they could finish their ritual.