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*Thoughts*
~Mental speaking~
"Normal speaking"
~"Mental and normal speaking"~
Songs
...(Radio static)...

AS ABOVE
SO BELOW

I do not hunger, I will not grieve.
I will not falter, I do not bleed.
I do not feel, I will not cry.
I will not fear, I. DO. NOT. DIE.

*Father, forgive me for what I must do.*

The north wind blew hard as the winter storm blotted out the last glimmer of sunlight. Darkness fell over the sky as the snow fell across the forest and all fell silent before the first flash and crack of thunder.

I flashed forward towards Velirin and struck him with an upper cut to his chin, stopping him from using his breath weapon. My attack was quickly followed by a twist kick to Velirin's neck, causing him to leap backwards.
In response, Velirin reared up on his hind legs and flapped his wings, sending a heavy gust of wind and snow towards me which launched me backwards.
I quickly recovered just in time to dodge an ice sphere from Velirin, which exploded into ice shards.

Suddenly, I heard whistling in the distance, quickly getting louder in my direction.

I leaped over a bolder and into a foxhole as an explosion shook the ground. Before I could attempt to move from my cover, rapid gun fire echoed around me as bullets pelted the ground.

Suddenly my vision flashed and I was returned from the battlefield to my fight with Velirin.
I shook my head and quickly leaped out of my cover just as Velirin shot another ice sphere at me, which exploded into ice shards. Having no way to dodge or block at the moment, I was forced to briefly enter my true wraith form, allowing the icicles to pass through me.

The ice that he was breathing wasn't just normal ice. It was magic in nature. I felt the energy quickly expand and dissipate in the area the ice sphere exploded and small remnants of the magic remained in the shards left behind.
While this magic couldn't kill me in my wraith form, it was still painful.

I grunted as the magic infused ice shards painfully passed through my form. It was like knifes slashing at my skin, but I didn't let it stop me.
I leaped towards Velirin and kicked him in the neck, causing him to roar in pain.
Velirin suddenly leaped up into the air and slammed his claws into the ground as he landed. I quickly leaped to the left as the ground beneath where I had been standing cracked and collapsed under Velirin's weight.
Not wasting my attack of opportunity, as soon as I landed again I leaped back towards Velirin and punched his side with a right and left jab.
The attack merely caused him to hop to his left and swing a claw at me, which I ducked under. I then spun around low to the ground and kicked Velirin's other leg out from under him.
He stumbled as he lost his balance and I performed a back flip kick to his chin, where I then grabbed his head mid air and pulled him down, smashing his head right into a large rock that exploded into rubble.

I watched in horror as Talion and Velirin attacked each other. Each trading powerful blows.
Thankfully, Talion has thus far relented from using his sword or any other kind of weapons against my brother, but it wasn't Talion that I feared for.
I knew what Velirin was capable of. I know that Velirin's pride will drive him to stop at nothing until he achieves victory over his opponent. But Talion isn't like anyone he has ever fought. He is not an enemy that Velirin can beat.

As far as I know, this battle was already desided. The only thing that really matters right now is how far Velirin is willing to fight and how long until he realizes what kind of man he was fighting.

I wanted desperately to stop this madness, to stop them from hurting each other. But at this point, words were beyond saving now. There was nothing I could say or do right now to stop Velirin. All I could do was wait for the right time to intervene.

My eyes widened as I witnessed Talion perform an upper cut to Velirin's chin before spinning around mid air and dropkicking him. I gasped at the sight of Velirin falling over as he grabbed his head in pain.
I don't actually know the level of strength that Talion possess, but it must be great if he is capable of bringing down my brother like that.

I continued to watch in anxiety as Talion flipped upright and away from Velirin as he pushed himself up in a daze. It seemed that those attacks that he delivered to his head had stunned him slightly.

Velirin quickly shook his head as he recovered and moved to stand up straight again. The look plastered onto his face was nothing short of being enraged as he growled at Talion.

I stood still and steadied my breathing as I waited for Velirin to reach me. Just as he swung at me, I ducked and swung a right hook into his right wrist, quickly followed by a left cross to his left elbow.
He roured in pain but was quickly silenced when I jumped and rammed my knee into forehead, followed up by another drop kick. Velirin crashed into the ground and grabbed his arm in pain.

Hitting him in the joints was the only way I could get past his thick scales to hurt him.
Even with his weight and size, he was fast. Quick to move and attack, but there wasn't much strategy to his attacks and he was leaving himself open during them.

I was about to approach him when he suddenly rolled over and leaped into the air doing a barrel role as he swung his tail around like a wipe.
The move and attack was so unexpected that I didn't react in time to dodge or duck.

I briefly screamed in pain as I was sent flying again, but this time I corrected myself mid air and landed with my feet against the side of a tree. I then launched myself off of it towards Velirin, who had just landed himself. He shook his head and turned in my direction just in time for me to deliver a very hard punch to his face.
I landed back on my feet a moment before Velirin fell over. I was breathing heavily and shaking as I watched Velirin slowly try to push himself up again.

~The air shakes at their wake. If you do not stop-~ I interrupted him.
~I didn't start this, Diaphanous! But I will finish it.~

I returned my attention to Velirin who just got up and was charging towards me again.

I quickly leaped up as Velirin swung his claws and tail at me. I stopped his claw with my left foot and kicked Velirin back with my right. We both slid backwards and Velirin breathed a stream of ice at me. Not having enough time to dodge I held my arms in front of me as I quickly entered my true wraith form, allowing the ice to pass through me.
I grit my teeth as the magic wiped and lashed out at my form, like freezing wind against my skin.
Once Velirin stopped, I returned to my semi physical form and lowered my arms to see Velirin charging at me again

He raised his claws before bringing them both down at me. I dodged to his left and he spun around to swing his tail at me in response.
I leaped over his tail and Velirin tried to hit me mid air, so I twisted my body around and surprised Velirin with an upside-down roundhouse kick to his face.
Velirin roured and attempted to retaliate with a quick attack of his own, but just as I landed, I punched his claw with my left fist and quickly followed up with a punch to his chest with my right.
Not giving Velirin a change to recover this time, I continued to force him backwards with a barrage of heavy punches until he swung both of his claws down at me again.
I leaped backwards, ducked and dodged as Velirin continued to rapidly swing at me in return. I punched an incoming claw away and leaped towards Velirin's chest to deliver another attack, when he suddenly held up a claw and grabbed my arm before I hit him.
My eyes widened as Velirin smiled before he spun around and threw me into the air. I bounced and rolled across the rocky ground until I crashed into a very large bolder, cracking it.

My vision was blurry as I began to fade farther into my wraith form. Everything around me was becoming dark and colorless, followed by a loud ringing in my ears.
I had to move. I needed to get up, but before I could even pull myself up, Velirin suddenly appeared in my vision over me. I couldn't react fast enough as he punched me through the bolder.
I soured through the air for a moment until I crashed into several trees and fell back to the ground, painfully.

The pain and ringing was starting to fade and everything was going black. As I was drifting away I heard Diaphanous's voice again.
~Death calls to us again.~

~No.~ I slowly pushed myself into a kneeling position, as I steadied my breathing.
~Never again.~

I sat up on my knees and looked up at Velirin who was standing in front of me.
"Is that all!? Stand up. Face me again!"

I slowly stood up and exhaled as my vision returned.
~"I... refuse... to fade."~

I closed my eyes and raised my fist into the air as shadows gathered around it. My eyes reignited into blue flames and I brought my fist down into the ice.
The ground beneath me cracked as the shadows around me quickly dispersed into the air, returning me to my physical form.
I looked back to Velirin and he was staring at me in shock which quickly turned back into rage as he readied to attack me again.

I ran towards Velirin and he was about to swing at me when I suddenly leaped to his side and punched him in the ribs. He roured in pain and tried to attack me again, but I had already flashed to his other side and punched him in the ribs again, causing him to stumbled and almost collapse.
Before that could happen though, Velirin reared back on his hind legs and slammed his claws into the ground, forcing me backwards. I was about to go in for another attack when Velirin reared back his head and inhaled.
Just as I was about to dodge his frost breath, Velirin instead started breathing ice onto the ground in front of him while turning around in circles. He then leaped into the air and flapped his wings while spinning around, all the while still breathing out ice.
I continued to backup as the wind began pulling me towards the tornado that Velirin was creating. I watched as Velirin tilted himself up straight and shot himself upward like an arrow before rearing his head downward and breathing ice into the small tornado he had created.

My eyes widened as the vortex began shooting icicles in every direction. So I quickly pulled out my sword and twirled it around me to deflect the incoming ice spikes.
I could hardly believe what Velirin was doing was even possible. He hadn't been flying nearly fast enough to create enough draft in the wind.

After a few seconds of dodging and blocking, Velirin folded his wings inward and dropped through the tornado, but before he reached the ground, Velirin reopened his wings and flapped them downward, causing the tornado to rapidly expand outwards towards me.
I had just enough time to stab my sword into the ground and brace myself as the powerful burst of wind sent snow and plants flying around, temporarily blinding me.
Just as soon as the wind ceased and I opened my eyes again, Velirin lunged at me, so I had to quickly dodge but Velirin merely spun around and swung his tail at me. I ducked and it struck a nearby tree, shattering the stump.
Thinking quickly, I leaped into the air and used the falling tree to boost myself higher above Velirin and performed a hard drop kick to his back at the base of his neck and shoulders. He fell to the ground with a loud thud as I quickly leaped off him and backed away.

"Stand down, Velirin. It doesn't have to be this way... Don't make me put you down." I told him.

Velirin scoffed at me as he pushed himself up.
"Put me down? That will not happen."

I pointed my sword at him in anger.
"Are you!? Perhaps a dragon without empathy or honor! Like those of the dead mountains who forsook themselves and the rest of their kin, just as you did with Anya!"

Frankly, I was quite surprised that Velirin was still able to stand up after the beating I gave him.

I shook my head at him.
"You just don't get it, do you boy? You can't kill me. No one, man or beast can kill me... Nothing can."

"Lies! I don't believe you!" He shouted before spitting blood onto the snow.
"You are strong, I admit, but you bleed just as I do and you will die just the same."

It was my turn to scoff at him.
"I wonder which will out last the other. Your strength and blood or your arrogance and pride."

He smirked at me as he got back into a fighting stance.
"I have faced my limits more times than I can count, Talion. And every time I failed, I ran around the entire mountain of Aríth Ithalaíd until not even shame could keep up with me. I will not stop and I will not fail."

I sighed and closed my eyes.
"You have already failed, Velirin. What only matters now is how much blood you're willing to spend." I looked back to him with glowing eyes.
~"I. DO. NOT. DIE."~ I raised my sword again and readied myself to attack.
~"But you will."~

Before either of us could make a move, an ice sphere shot down between us both and exploded.

"Velirin, Talion, stop!" Anya shouted at us as she landed to my left.
"Enough of this!"

"You've taken the side of an outsider over mine after everything I've done for you and your telling me to stop!?" He asked her.

He shook his head and looked back to her.
"You were right, Anya. I should have been there for you. I should have fought for you when you needed me... But it's too late now."

"No, Velirin. It's not too late. Please stop this. We don't have to fight." Anya pleaded.

Velirin stared at her in sadness for a moment before looking back to me. His rage slowly returning.
"No."

He glared at her.
"I have sacrificed everything for you Anya. I have given up far to much to stop now... Until I'm dead or he is, I will not stop."

"We shall see." Velirin said and crouched close to the ground as he slowly approached us.

Anya moved to my side and looked down at me.
"That is not true, Talion. You more than anyone knows we all have a choice. You taught me how to forgive. Please... do the same for me now."

At that moment I stopped and looked up at Anya. At that moment I realized what I was doing to her. I saw her worry and fear for me and her brother.
I had ignored her. I had pushed her aside and attacked her own brother. Her family.

"You must promise me, Talion. Promise me zhat you vill fight for peace and to save lives... Alvays."

I looked down at my hands.
^{"I promise Lorentz. Always."} I whispered and looked down at my brothers dog tags.
^{"My God... What have I done?"}

I looked back up to her for a moment before turning towards Velirin.
*Father forgive me for what I must do.*

I took in a long breath and slowly approached Velirin.
He took a defensive stance and readied himself for an attack, but I made no such move. He tilted his head slightly but remained alert as I continued to walk towards him.

When I finally stepped in front of Velirin, who was still holding his stance, I stopped and raised my arms to my side.

"It doesn't matter anymore, Velirin. I don't want to fight you... I'm not going to fight you." I told him and he stared at me in shock again.

Velirin was in a state of shock, confusion and anger as he stared at me.
"Wha-... You..."

I moved closer to Velirin.
"I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt anyone... I'm sorry Velirin... I'm sorry."

For a long moment, Velirin was silent. Neither of us moving or making a sound as we stared at each other. After what felt like an eternity of silence, Velirin finally moved and slowly approached until he stood over me.
Suddenly without warning, Velirin struck me with a claw. I briefly screamed in pain before I crashed against a large pine tree.

Velirin ignored her and walked towards me in anger.
"Do you really believe that your words are enough to detour me? You who has taken away from my family."

I sat up against the tree in pain as he approached me.
"I only wanted to protect Anya... from myself. It is her decision, not ours... Forgive me."

Velirin grabbed me and lifted me to his eye level.
"You did this to us! You have driven Anya away from me, our family and our home! For the pain you have caused me, I don't want your apology! I want your death!"

I looked him in the eyes without hatred or fear as I spoke.
"Then kill me." Velirin's eyes widened in shock as I continued.
"If it is my death that you desire, if it will bring you happiness, then finish this... and let it end... with my death... What's one more death?"

Velirin stared at me motionless and said nothing as he still held me.
After a moment of silence, Velirin started to shake as he lifted me a little higher, when suddenly a flash of light shown behind him and he roured in pain.
I grunted as Velirin suddenly dropped me and stumbled backwards in pain.

I looked up and saw Anya's eyes glowing with blue fire as she glared at Velirin in rage.
He stared at her in shock as she approached him.

"Anya, what-" She interrupted him.
"Enough, Velirin! I will hear no more from you."

Velirin returned her glare.
"What is Talion to you that you would attack your own brother, Anya?"

Anya stood up to Velirin.
"And what is he to you that you would attack your own sister, Velirin!? He is my mate! If you seek Talion's death, then you seek mine."

I stood up and watched as Anya continued.
"But you... You are no longer my brother... You who forsook me, threatened and attacked me. Talion offered you forgiveness, I offered you forgiveness and you attacked us... You are no brother of mine."

Velirin almost stumbled as he backed away from us. I saw the pain in his eyes as he stared at Anya in sorrow and regret. But there was nothing he could say or do that could change what he has said and done.

Anya moved to stand next to me as she finished.
"Mae gen i gywilydd o fod yn berthynas i chi, Velirin."
("I am ashamed to be your kin, Velirin.")
"Leave me... Leave and never seek after me, for I never want to see you again."

Velirin backed away from Anya as he stared at her and she stared back, unmoving.

Slowly, Velirin turned away and looked down in shame.
"Chi hefyd, Anya?"
("You too, Anya?") Velirin stood still for a moment before looking towards the mountains.
"Nawr rydw i heb anrhydedd, nhad ... Nawr rydw i heb obaith."
("Now I am without honor, father... Now I am without hope.")

For the first time in knowing Velirin, I felt pity for him.
I looked down in shame as well. I had not realized his reasonings for wanting Anya back and his rage towards me when he was denied, until now.
I don't know or understand what he's been or still going through, but now it would seem that he is alone. And I did this to him.

Velirin turned his head to look at Anya one last time.
"Maddeuwch imi ... Anya ... am yr hyn rydw i wedi'i wneud ... Edrychwch i'm gweld dim mwy."
("Forgive me... Anya... for what I have done... Look to see me no more.")

With that, Velirin slowly began walking away from us with his head held low.
Anya watched him walk away for a moment before she looked down as tears filled her eyes.
I moved closer to her and placed a hand on her side in comfort as she begun to cry.
I had done this to her. I have hurt her and Velirin by driving them apart. I have torn a family apart, again.

"You were right, Talion." She looked down at me in sadness.
"I never knew what I had... until it was lost... I wanted so much to be free with you, Talion. So much that I fell in love with you." She closed her eyes as she finished.
"Now I am free... but it cost me my brother."

I looked up abruptly as I felt a sudden wave of energy wash over me for a brief moment. A few seconds later, I felt it again. It was stronger than the last.
I jerked my head towards Velirin's direction as a third more powerful wave of energy surged through the air around me.

"Talion, wha-" Anya was cut short when a forth wave vibrated around us. This time she could feel it. Velirin too.

Velirin slowly looked up just when a fifth wave shook the ground as the air in front of him started to ripple like water and light up from an unknown source.

"Velirin!" I shouted to him a moment before a final wave of magical energy erupted outward and threw all of us backwards.

I landed on my back and rolled a few times before flipping myself upright onto my feet. Anya managed to land back on her claws but Velirin wasn't so quick to recover as he landed on his back before rolling into the base of a large pine tree.

I shook my head and looked over to Anya.
"Anya, are you- AHHHHH!" I screamed as pain suddenly erupted throughout my body and a bright light shown around me.
Anya and Velirin also roured in pain from what I could only assume was the same reason.

I tried to turn and move, but my body wasn't responding to my commands. I felt heavy and strained. The air was vibrating and the pressure around me was increasing as if I was sinking deep in the ocean.
It got to the point where I was forced to the ground as the pressure became overbearing. But I managed to turn my head a little to see Anya also falling to the ground.

My body was becoming extremely stiff and there was a burning sensation rapidly increasing throughout my muscles.
Not waiting any longer, I managed to focus my mind enough to change into my wraith form, but even in this form I could still feel the immense amount of energy surrounding me. It was almost overwhelming.

Looking up, I saw what looked like a large transparent bubble of purple light over all of us. I don't know what it was, but I knew it is what's forcing us down.

I looked over and saw her crouched down in clear agony from the pressure of this magical sphere. Velirin as well.
Not wasting any time, I pulled out my sword and rushed towards the edge of this bubble. I could only hope that this would work.

I thrusted the blade straight into the bubble, expecting it to brake but instead my sword was mearly deflected off. Like hitting a rubber tire with a sledge hammer.
I recoiled for a moment before attempting a second and third time, ending with the same result.
While I continued to assult the bubble, I heard both Velirin and Anya collapse to the ground behind me.

I turned around and saw both of them lying on the ground as they screamed and cried in pain.
I was helpless to help them.

Anger erupted through me and my eyes burst into blue flames as I roured in rage.
I turned back around and lifted my sword in both hands as I imbued it with my will, causing the whole blade to glow blue and begin vibrating in my grasp.

"Begone!" I shouted and in a single swift motion, I thrusted my sword forward into the bubble and this time, it passed through.

There was a sound of cracking glass followed by what sounded like a loud hum before ending in a low deep boom as the entire magical sphere quickly dispersed outward and vanished.
I was a little surprised that I was able to break through it.

Behind me, I heard Anya and Velirin breathing in relief as the pressure was lifted from them. I sighed in relief as well and turned to them as I relaxed. They were both attempting to stand up but had to take it slow as they were both still shaking from whatever that magical sphere was.
I was just about to walk towards them when they both suddenly gasped in shock and horror.

In that single moment, I felt something that I have never felt before. Something I could only describe as absolute power. And it was standing right over me.
I slowly turned back around and looked up in complete shock and dread at what I was beholding.

Standing at over thirty feet tall was a giant massive behemoth of a bear with deep blue colored fur that looked like a cloudless star filled night sky.
It's eyes were a brilliant gold and amber while it's claws and teeth were like the purest white on snow. Lastly there was a bluish vapor like mist radiating off of it's entire body. Like steam from boiling hot water.
This magnificent and terrifying creature was radiating in absolute power and strength. Something to truly be respected and feared. And it was smiling right at me.

I slowly took a few steps back as I stared up in utter dread at the Ursa Minor. It was truly massive and there was no way of telling just how much power was behind it. But however much it wielded, there was one truth I knew about this creature.
This is not an enemy that even I could ever hope to defeat. There was only one thing I could do.

"Run." Velirin and Anya were shaken out of their shock as I shouted at them both.
"Run!"

In instant, Velirin and Anya quickly turned around and bolted at full speed away from the Ursa Minor. The giant bear looked towards the fleeing pair and snarled before rearing it's head back.
I grabbed my head and pressed my hands over my ears as the Ursa let out a deafening roar. It was so loud and powerful that even the ground trembled.

A shock wave pulsed outwards towards Velirin and Anya, knocking them over and carrying them a short distance as they crashed and tumbled across the ground.
Stones and trees were uprooted and sent flying through the air followed by the hills of snow. What was left was a long empty clearing that stretched out like a forest path.

"No!" I shouted as I lifted my sword and leaped towards the Ursa's chest. But just as I was about to thrust my blade forward, the bear raised one of it's claws and grabbed me faster than I could react.
It was shocking to say the least. To be grabbed mid flight at the speed I had been traveling.

I struggled in the Ursa's grasp as it raised me to it's eye level, still giving me a wicked smile.
"You are powerful... and dangerous."

My struggling stopped as I fell silent and my eyes widened in fear when the Ursa spoke in menacing, booming voice.

"The echo of a soul. Only pain brings it back.... Such pain... So much pain." The Ursa raised it's other claw towards me.
"Show me."

The Ursa's claws started glowing with a dim transparent purple vapor, quickly getting brighter. Before I could attempt to escape from it's grasp, the Ursa's eyes glowed brightly and I felt an overwhelming psychic presence assult my mind.

"No! NO!" I screamed in agony as I felt my mental barriers crumble under the unstoppable onslaught of a greater mind.

It was all over. There was nothing I could do to stop it. My secrets were lost. It finally ends here. I failed my mission.
Like a river breaking through a collapsing dam, the Ursa's will flowed into my mind and for the first time in years, I actually feared for my life.

I closed my eyes as a single tear fell.
*Father forgive me... for I have failed you... again.*

Suddenly, like a shield deflecting an arrow, a shining wall of light appeared in the darkness of my mind and the Ursa's psychic onslaught was halted.

My eyes shot open and the pain stopped as I felt a familiar presence in my mind.
The Ursa's own eyes widened as it's will was stopped from entering farther into my mind.

The Ursa frowned as it attempted to press on farther.
~Who are you that would deny me?~

~One side of two. A fractured visage once whole. His pain is not yours, power of mine, uncontained and unleashed. Begone from us.~ Diaphanous responded and the Ursa's mind was pushed back.

It's grip tightened around me as it's anger grew.
~This is not your body. This is not your mind. Give him to me or I will destroy this circle of two.~ The Ursa demanded.

I felt the pain return as the Ursa drove it's will into my mind like a spear. But it did not last as I felt Diaphanous's calming presence wash over my entire being.

~Fight with me, Talion and cast out our enemies.~ Diaphanous called out to me.

I struggled to comprehend what was happening to me as the psychic battle ragged in my mind. But hearing Diaphanous's voice calmed me enough to grasp my own will away from the Ursa and regain control over my own thoughts.

Diaphanous smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder.
~Let us cast out this invader from our mind, Talion. Together.~

I opened my eyes and smiled as our minds merged into an unassailable fortress of unyielding will.
Diaphanous mentally laughed as the Ursa recoiled in surprise.
~You are not welcome here, Ursa. Talion. Is. MINE!~

Together as one our will unleashed a massive wave of psychic power that blasted out the Ursa from our mind in one stroke.
The Ursa dropped me as it was thrown backwards from the attack and roured as he grabbed his head in pain while trying to remain standing.

I coughed and held my head as I rolled over to stand up. My head was pounding and vibrating from the psychic energy that had passed through me. But I managed to steady myself as I stood up and turned back to face the Ursa who was shaking it's own head.

"What manner of unholy power could create such a creature?" I asked as I backed away.

~The Ursa Minor. Celestial ancient. A powerful and dangerous predator possessing a vast well of true magic from it's realm. Powerful enough to move a mountain and throw it into the ocean.~ Diaphanous explained.

"I cannot defeat this enemy, Diaphanous. Not even I am physically capable of such a feat." I responded.

I felt Diaphanous's concern.
~If you flee, he will follow us. We have been marked by his power. He will never stop hunting us.~

~The Ursa is a predator, Talion. He is out for the hunt and he has made you his prey.~ He replied.

Diaphanous mentally sighed as he answered.
~They feed off of energy. Particularly psychological energy caused by emotions... He has felt your pain, Talion. He hungers for it.~

My eyes widened a little in realization.
"The Ursa was hunting Velirin for his pain... But now he hunts me... for mine."

I was so focused on my battle with Velirin and bent on defeating him that I hadn't even gave thought to the possibility of me attracting other creatures to us.
Diaphanous tried to warn me. I am responsible for bringing the Ursa here.

~Mirror the Ursa. You have already acknowledged that he cannot be defeated by any means you physically possess. So let it perceive the same of us. If it believes that we are as unbeatable as itself, then it will cease aggression and flee.~ Diaphanous explained.

~An Ursa Major will always fight to the death. While a Minor, when met with an equal power, will always flee when it is clear that it cannot win. The Minor will only hunt what it knows it can defeat and what it deems powerful enough to consume. ~ Diaphanous explained.

~Make no mistake, Talion. He is watching us. Only go so far as to drive away the Ursa Minor, else we incurre the wrath of the Major.~ He said.

"And what if I can't drive the Ursa away, Diaphanous? What if I fail?" I asked him.

Diaphanous smirked.
~Then I will show this Minor where his place is. Leave him to me.~

Diaphanous was silent for a moment before replying.
~Old friends turned enemies. Trust and loyalty once renowned, now forsaken for power. They will not forgive me... and neither will I.~

I closed my eyes and sighed.
~It seems... we are truly the same, Diaphanous... A circle of two cursed souls.~

I closed my eyes and tightened my grip on my sword.
"No Diaphanous. You tried to warn me and I ignored you... This was my doing."

My own eyes lit up as well and I raised my sword again.
~"Then let us finish this, together."~

I pushed myself up and shook my head before attempting to stand again. I was still shaking from the shock and fear of being in the presence of one of dragonkind's oldest and terrible enemies.
But I couldn't stay here. I had to move and get Anya out of here to safety.

My body was in pain. Much of my energy had been spent in my fight with Talion.
With great effort, I managed to stand up and keep myself balanced enough so I could look around. Instantly, I saw Anya attempting to stand up on her own but failing to do so.

I moved as fast as I could to Anya's side and helped her up.
"Are you alright, Anya?"

She shook her head and steadied herself on shaking legs before replying.
"Yes, but, Talion-" Her eyes widened and she quickly turned towards the Ursa Minor.
"Talion!"

My own eyes widened and the feeling of dread washed over me as I looked and saw my rival, Talion, being held in the Ursa's grasp.
The Ursa's claws were glowing with true magic and it's eyes were shinning brightly like the stars imbued into it's fur.

Anya was about to run over to them but I quickly reached over and grabbed her shoulder.
"Anya, don't!"

"We can't battle an Ursa and live, Anya! No dragon can! We must flee and alert father and mother that our enemies have returned." I reasoned.

"No!" Anya pulled away and turned to face me completely.
"I have ran and hidden myself away from the world for far too long, Velirin! I will not stand idle any longer and watch my home burn again!"

I was shocked and fearful for my sister. She was willing to go to her death to try and save Talion. I just didn't understand who Talion was to Anya and what he has done to her.

Anya looked shocked at me for a moment before reverting to anger.
"HOW DARE YOU!" Anya slashed a claw across my face in rage and I withdrew in shock from the sudden blow.
"Save me!? SAVE ME!? After what you've done to me and everything you've put me through!? You can't even save yourself!" She got up in my face.
"You think you've been through hell, Velirin!? You who has taken away everything I have ever wanted and hoped for! EVERYTHING! You will not take Talion from me."

I stared at Anya in shame and guilt. I was completely speechless by her words. They had hurt me more than any injury or broken bone I have ever received. They were all true.

"Don't, Velirin. It is over. There is nothing more to say. I have tried to forgive you even when you have hurt me. I wanted nothing more than to be forgiven in return. But it is clear to me now that you never forgave me." She turned away from me as she finished.
"I am changed, Velirin. I am not the same dragoness you once knew. I have seen and faced things that are far more terrible and frightening than you will ever know. And it is Talion who led me through them." She paused to look back at me.
"He saved me, Velirin. I owe him my life and so much more... And that is something you will truly never understand."

Anya spread her wings and readied herself to lift off.
I shook myself and quickly rushed over to her again.

"No Anya, don't! You'll die!" I shouted, but she snapped her teeth at me, causing me to take a step back.

"I don't care!" She shouted back at me.
"Even if it is so, even if there is no chance of survival or victory, Talion is my mate. I will fight and die with him to whatever end... Because it is enough for me just to hope."

With that, Anya leaped into the air and flew towards the Ursa, who had released Talion and was now readying to attack him again.

"Anya!" I called out to her but stopped when I saw a bright light suddenly emit outwards from her.
"No... It can't be... True magic."

Anya's eyes were ablaze with blue fire and her whole body shined with brilliant radiant light as she unleashed a beam of blue fire at the Ursa Minor.

I unleashed my frost fire breath onto the Ursa Minor as I flew towards him. He roared in pain and I took the opportunity to target his head with my breath weapon.
In response, the Ursa reared back on his hind legs and attempted to swing both of his claws at me, but I quickly folded my wings and dropped down next to Talion as I unleashed another jet of frost fire onto the Ursa's now unprotected underside.
I then quickly grabbed a hold of Talion with my tail before leaping backwards with him away from the Ursa just as he brought both claws down, causing the ground to explode where we had been.

An Ursa's strength was so great that it could easily cut through even an elder dragon's hardest scales. I had to take care and be vigilant as to avoid any strike.

As I landed away from the Ursa and set Talion back down, I was able to see the effect of my breath weapon on him.
The blue and white flames burned away the Ursa's fur, leaving behind a layer of ice over his frost bitten skin.
The Ursa was shaking himself and growling in pain and anger before directing his attention towards me.

I smiled a little to myself. I felt no more fear nor dread from this terrible enemy of mine, because now I had a power that it did not. A power that could hurt him.

It truly was something magnificent. My fight against the frost worm with Talion had been a great achievement. I never once thought it possible to defeat that kind of enemy alone. But thanks to my mate, I now have access to my kind's once lost and forgotten True Magic.
Talion had saved me and unleashed my true power. And now I would use it to save him, again.

"Anya." Talion called to me and I turned to him.
"The Ursa hunts me. You need to leave before he targets you."

"Anya-" I cut him off before he could try to convince me to leave.
"You never once left me, Talion. Do not ask me to leave you. Not now or ever."
~You are my mate, Talion. I will fight and die by your side to what ever end. Always.~

He looked up at me for a short moment before smiling at me and nodding.
I smiled back at him and we both returned our attention towards the Ursa, mirroring his circling path.

Even though I no longer feared the Ursa, he was still an intimidating creature to be in the presence of. His size, strength and power, but what really added to the intimidation was the Ursa's booming voice. It felt powerful enough to command a mountain to move.

"You are not my prey anymore, little dragoness. But your essence will be mine as his will."

I raised my own voice to match the Ursa's.
"We are not your prey anymore, Ursa! This time we are stronger!"

The Ursa stopped and turned to face us with a smile.
"Yesss. Gather your strength. Soon we will take it."

Talion and I also stopped and turned to face the Ursa fully.
"If you feed on pain, then I welcome you to the feast!" Talion shouted as he pointed his sword at him.

The Ursa growled and roared as he charged towards us both. Talion held his sword with both hands and flashed towards the Ursa while I launched myself into the air.

Darkness had covered the whole valley and ash fell across the land like black snow. The thunder grew distant and silent before all fell still and quiet. Only brief flashes of light from silent thunder lit up the Dead Mountains for a short moment before even they were blotted out from the smoke, clouds and ash.

The ground shakes, the mountains tremble, the wind flees, for even they fear the ever oncoming storm of war and death.

~They are coming.~

Unearthed: Curse Of The Undying

by Talion The DARKandBRIGHT

Chapter 16: Bad company: Part I