Sethera nodded before resting his cheek against the top of her head. "I am happy," he muttered as he watched Styx crouch down to lick her paw. Her barbed tongue flicked over the black scales. Curling her tail around her back legs, she glanced at Sethera and exhaled a puff of black smoke that was the same colour as her scales. He flashed a small smile.

Sethera was a about to answer when Styx let out a sudden hiss before contacting him; Something dark lies on the distant horizon. Something that blots out all happiness for the future. Then agonizing pain blossomed at the bottom of his skull and he ground his teeth together in an attempted not to cry out. The pain also showed in his yellow eyes.

"Sethera!" Taylor screamed as Sethera was overwhelmed by pain. She grabbed his head with her strong hands and pulled him closer. His yellow eyes were shadowed with a horrifying pain. Taylor looked at Shard and he at her. I don't know what's happening, but I am going to sever the connection. The pain is coming from Styx, not Sethera. He said quickly before taylor's thoughts were her own again. She watched as Shard's eyes grew larger and his roar of pain filled the air. He collapsed on his front legs as he dug his head into his paws, trying to block out the pain in his mind.

Taylor watched helpless, as more dragons were affected by this dark magic. Taylor watched solemnly as the dragon's cries rang through the air. Her face was almost a mask of stone as she guarded her thoughts as best she could. She closed her eyes. She could not bear to see Sethera in pain. Could not bear to know she was powerless against his pain. Could not bear the agony around her, but she couldn't let go of him. she wouldn't "I'm here." She said and gently rubbed his back.

Sethera set his head on her shoulder and ground his teeth. Styx could not seperate the connection while she was in pain. He would just have to endure it the best he could. Wrapping his arms around Taylor, he hugged her close and tried concentrating on her instead of the mounting pain at the back of his skull.

Styx's maw was open in a soundless cry as pain raked her system. Her talons dug deeper into the earth and her tail lashed out. Her wings were quivering while she closed her mouth. The pain pulsed from every corner of her body and rebounded across the mental link she could not disconnect. She noticed Sethera tighten his hold around Shard's bonded human.

"Sh." She whispered. "It's okay. It's going to be okay." She said and felt silent tears slide down her cheeks. Sethera, Styx, and Shard had to be okay. She wondered exactly how lethal this pain could be. She made the mistake of looking down at Sethera and saw his tortured ex
pression. This was bad. Her tears slid down like a river down her cheeks, staining Sethera's shirt.

--

Shard tore at the earth with his talons as the pain grew more immense. It felt as if a great pressure had worked itself into his mind and was trying to squeeze the life out of him. His body felt like it was on fire and he felt as if his ice, his beautiful ice were melting within him. He lashed his tail out, missing Taylor's head by inches.

Through his blinding pain, Sethera could see that Taylor was crying. He desprately wanted to comfort her, but he couldn't while he was in pain. Then, he felt the pain start to fade from his system. He blinked once, disconnected the mental link with Styx before his vision went black.

--

Styx drew Sethera's pain into her body, allowing her bond to rest. As the mental link was severed, she let out an agonized roar that ended in a great plume of white and black flames that licked the sky desperatly. Her jaws closed with a loud snap as she closed her eyes.

Taylor's eyes flashed open as she felt Sethera go limp in her arms. She burst into heart-breaking sobs before she looked down at his face. Her vision was blurry, but when she blinked back tears she could see the soft rise and fall of his chest. Releif flared in her and her cries began again. She pulled his head from her neck and laid him gently on the ground. Styx collapsed beside them and fiery heat scorched Taylor's skin, giving them painful burns. She gritted her teeth, knowing it couldn't be half as bad as what the two went through just a moment before. She waited patiently for Sethera to wake up, giving him what little time he had to rest and to heal. She tore her gaze away from his face and watched the sun dissappear behind the horizon and a shadowy darkness cover the valley.

--

Shard's pain seemed to ball into itself, sucking the agonizing heat from his body, and leaving his scales as cool as they were before. The pain seemed to implode in itself and dissappeared from his system entirely. He sighed with releif before collapsing on his side, breath coming in shallow pants. He did not dare re-establish the link with Taylor.

At last the pain within Styx faded, leaving as a prickle to her scales. Giving a great sigh of relief, she layed down on her belly and let for forelegs sprawl out before her. Her head resting inbetween her legs. With her wings drooping, she opened her eyes and glanced at Taylor and Sethera. Sighing again, she closed her eyes again.

--

Sethera's breathing came in shallow pants and his eyes flickered beneath their lids. Soon, the shallow panting became deep breaths as his body relaxed. But he did not wake yet.

Styx opened one crimson eye at Taylor's question. Hesitantly, she connected with Taylor's mind and said the same words she said to Sethera before withdrawing the connection. The tone she used to speak to Taylor was full of exhuastion and dispair.

Something dark lies on the distant horizon. Something that blots out all happiness for the future.

The solemn words filled Taylor's mind. "That doesn't make any sense." She said, frustrated. She left Styx to rest and began to walk toward Shard. It was no use, he was already fast asleep. She stumbled toward Sethera, her eyes useless in the dark and she lay next to him and watched his peaceful face as he slept.

Styx sighed at Taylor's frusterated words before sinking into a deep sleep.

Sethera rolled to his side and faced Taylor as he slept. Deep, peaceful breathing came out of a slightly opened mouth.

Sethera stirred as dawn broke over the horizon. His eyes fluttered open to see Taylor on the ground next to him. Wondering how he got there, memories surged of the previous evening. Oh yea... He black out because of the ending pain. Moving to an elbow, he looked around as his stomach growled with hunger. He noticed Styx fast asleep to his right. The black she-dragon was had somehow rolled onto her back with her wings curled around her limbs. He chuckled softly at the sight.

When he heard Taylor's raspy tone, he frown as concern started to show in his eyes. "Yes, but are you?" he asked. "It sounds like you haven't slept at all last night."

Feeling guilty, Sethera brushed back a strand of her hair. "I am truly sorry for making you worry," he said. Leaning towards her, he gently laid a kiss on her forehead. His lips feathery soft against her skin.