"Sonata, my child. You are in danger, surrounded by a world of enemies."
718Please respect copyright.PENANAtRx5ugXb84
The dragon's stormy voice hissed like the soft yet encasing wind that blew into the cold, dark cavern as it fell upon the ears of the smaller figure dressed in green, her head pressed against her mother's scales.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAbKU0nbfR5p
"I will search out your father, but to do that, I must leave you here."
718Please respect copyright.PENANAfYDz6s0zhw
A small shiver ran up the girl's back. She tried to hide it, but she felt her core going weak. She didn't move her head from being pressed on the edge of the dragon's snout. Her face would give away her fear, and she would let her weakness slip, and if this was like any other conversation they'd had, anything she tried to say after would be promptly ignored as a tantrum.
718Please respect copyright.PENANA3wcX1Q72cg
"Do you understand, Sonata? I cannot take you along, because on this journey I cannot guarantee your safety."
718Please respect copyright.PENANA0eKrumAVqi
There it was. Sonata lifted her face, her wide, glossy eyes staring towards the dragon's blue ones as it moved away. She tried to hold on to her mother, but she moved too far away, and her feet wouldn't move when she asked them to. Her hands remained where they'd been, as though mummified around an object that was no longer there. Her cheeks were reddened by the cold.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAOoxLwJs0y5
Don't leave.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAHXdtbt2Ke1
"I need you to take care of your sister until I return."
718Please respect copyright.PENANAoexemB4pEU
No sounds came out, just wide green eyes staring upwards in a frown. An argument it wasn't her place to have, the fear seeping into her skin with the cold.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAPnut8js92E
"Do not stray far from the cave"
718Please respect copyright.PENANAculKfsF3P7
There it was.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAnaBKmW5GJG
"Do not let anyone see you, let along in your dragon form"
718Please respect copyright.PENANAtje5cKvnCW
There it was. Did she even care wether she was okay with this? Did she even that she wasn't confident at all she could survive a week in this foreign place? Fear bubbled up from sonata's stomach, but also anger. Petty anger of the moment stubborned her hands into little fists by her sides.
718Please respect copyright.PENANA5cJjUo1rZM
"Do not, under any circumstances, give out your true name."
718Please respect copyright.PENANAKyRK8hIcdx
Sonata turned her frowning face downwards. She didn't deserve her gaze if she wasn't going to acknowledge her. She could talk to the back of her head for all she cared.
718Please respect copyright.PENANA6hqu1Iper1
"Can I entrust you with this task, Sonata?"
718Please respect copyright.PENANATYZot58Yuz
Mamá, don't go. Please don't go.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAZti9GjEJ34
A shiver rattled her elbows as a droplet threatened something in her frozen chest. Sonata kept her eyes averted, her fists pressed into tight balls. But she lifted her head.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAry1MYghINX
"B-but" Her voice failed her. She cringed.
718Please respect copyright.PENANA5GckuyhU5c
"There are no 'but's' in this situation, child." The dragon's rumbling but feminine voice calmly reverberated. "It is a yes or no answer."
718Please respect copyright.PENANAiS0egpn7ci
Sonata looked up. Don't go. Mama, don't go. Please don't leave me all alone.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAtut5KZA9Bc
"Wether you answer one or the other, I depart either way."
718Please respect copyright.PENANA9Na8jQlMI1
Again, no sound came out. She was usually an outspoken ball of fire when it came to her parents.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAZtklGwD8mC
"Your answer.."
Maybe it was because of all that had happened. Maybe it was because she was scared to wake her sister, just a few yards away.
718Please respect copyright.PENANA6xI5HwPfYQ
"...merely rules..."
718Please respect copyright.PENANA0PzApeqbkk
Was it self loathing? Maybe she deserved to be left here, really. She was a terrible dragon, and in all that time all she really did was fight with her parents.
718Please respect copyright.PENANACgMqo2TPiq
"...the ease with which I do it."
718Please respect copyright.PENANAJeEisXeGm3
I'm sorry, so don't leave me. Please don't leave me.
718Please respect copyright.PENANApJW3uXpUP2
She felt tears begin to weight upon her bottom lids and cloud her vision. She could feel the cold stare of those large blue slitted eyes. If she reached up to wipe them away, would she take notice of them?
718Please respect copyright.PENANA4JTGuj0bo7
Her feet moved until her hands reached midnight black scales, her straight white hair falling over her face like the vines of a willow tree.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAoEwbZVyxZp
"Má..."She felt herself being cut off before anything even happened. But if she could only speak, she might prevent what was to come. If she was only stronger, her words might be heard before it was too late. If she was only loved, she might have been noticed for how paralyzed and trembling her body was.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAm0gvFOPJ86
Please, please don't leave me here. I'm scared. I don't want to be alone. I'll go with you, I can be strong if you're there with me.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAtctazTs2Au
She felt a small nudge against her chin. The little dragon's eyes were squeezed shut.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAgB70TJL667
"Do you remember that time when you were small? You told me you would defend your baby sister from the entirety of royal court, if you had to. Where has all that courage gone now?"
718Please respect copyright.PENANAjSlGvRHY0U
Sonata stared blankly as the dragon once again pulled away, towering over her with an expectant gaze. Her open hand receded into a weakened clasp in the chilly summer air. Her head slowly fell with her arm into a weakened nod.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAICQLjsn4AF
"How long will you be gone?" The girl's detached voice nearly whispered.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAnJkrzquuxw
The dragon sighed. Sonata felt warm smoke tickle her cheeks and pinched her nose shut as the wave of black clouds engulfed and left her.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAcLqghcAixn
"I do not know, Sonata. It took a long time to come here, and it will take a long time to go back. When I find your father and all is safe, I will come for you."
718Please respect copyright.PENANAIBCwUuIR3V
Sonata's head darker up with an alarmed frown. That was hardly a time range. How could she know if that meant weeks or months, if she didn't find father at all and just didn't come back. If her mother got hurt and never returned? What if she died?
718Please respect copyright.PENANAzfbxgNfhJU
Sonata held out her arm, her light brown cloak fluttering in the aftermath of the the sudden, abrupt movement.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAplyjqLEPJB
"Pinky promise. You have to pinky promise you'll come back safely." Sonata urged. Her voice was a little broken, but her eyes were fixed into a determined glare.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAV4hEDTHjZm
The looming dragoness cocked her head. "...Strange child. You fear not for your own, but your parent's safety?"
718Please respect copyright.PENANA1livIXW9zZ
"If you break the promise you have to swallow a hun...fifty swords"
718Please respect copyright.PENANADvQYA5IRYI
The dragon blinked.
"And how do you expect to make me do that if you aren't present to see?"
718Please respect copyright.PENANAdVjqy9EtpB
"You'll give your word so you have to."
718Please respect copyright.PENANAiWfuUPk7WC
"...Very well, I will accept those terms."
718Please respect copyright.PENANAziHV6RRZgL
The dragon sat up, it's towering head nearly hitting the top of the cave. But then it shoot its' head, black scales unfurling into curls undoing into the form of a giant woman in a silky blue dress the same color as her dark, icy eyes, a night colored coat lined with white fur clasped across her shoulders. The queen's cold expression remained, her face pinched into a chilling smirk, as though she was above it all.
718Please respect copyright.PENANACZIeXgptGg
That wasn't what phased Sonata, though. She looked from her mother's much larger hand to her little pinky, imagining how easy it would be to snap the tiny digit, and almost pulled it away.
718Please respect copyright.PENANApsy47zIsaK
Hestia tilted her head, her long, composed curls trickling onto her shoulder. "Is this good enough for your 'pinky promise,' or do you require a smaller form?"
718Please respect copyright.PENANAdIn6chmQlm
The larger figure's voice was a little scarier now, almost as though it were toying with her. She was terrifying at this size, she always was. How could there be such a lack of sympathy from someone who'd been as small as Sonata was some time ago? Well, that was a couple hundred years ago, so perhaps she truly didn't know.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAcNyFC1KrFE
"Um, smaller please." Sonata craned her neck in an attempt to make eye contact and avoid her mother's wrath.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAiXso2oc80p
The dragoness shrunk a little more, rested her head on her palm as she leaned over the smaller figure. "Hm. How about this, then?" She toyed, holding out her pinkie, her hand still almost the size of Sonata's entire body.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAprlTdVcg9E
Sonata blinked, looked down at her hand, and then looked up again. "You're only supposed to lose a pinky if you break your promise. I don't want to risk losing an entire arm for nothing." She cringed, thought about it, then looked up. "Mamá, do a me-sized—please!"
718Please respect copyright.PENANALNU84tkk7A
"Do a me sized?" Hestia's voice darkened do disappointment. "That is not how you speak to royalty, Sonata."
718Please respect copyright.PENANAV4A0p06tgW
Sonata curled her hands around fabric of her woolen overdress, beneath the cloak. "Could you shrink down to my size, please?" She corrected herself.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAwicIN50yq6
"Yes, I shall."
718Please respect copyright.PENANASnssHDfcyl
She was suddenly closer, the afterimage of her larger form still blinking in and out of Sonata's vision. Hestia held out her little finger, and sonata followed.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAzb05TO1JLu
"I promise to safely return for my children once I find Romano and the coast is clear."
718Please respect copyright.PENANACm3cj62WKs
"I promise to stay here and take care of my sister until Mamá comes back."
718Please respect copyright.PENANAjQjLbzCKyi
Their fingers intertwined, then rocked up and down three times, and were separated.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAEK8HIqICu7
Before she knew it, a warm, heavy cloak was wrapped around her body.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAX78KWpG2pl
"Keep this. It will keep you safe."
718Please respect copyright.PENANAjJpZ353hT4
Hestia's forehead was pressed against Sonata's. She couldn't decide if it was affection or playfulness. If she loved her, why was she leaving her behind?
718Please respect copyright.PENANApgmCHf8Vah
Don't go. Please don't go.
718Please respect copyright.PENANA9abSaA8rYa
"....You smell like pine."
718Please respect copyright.PENANA3f10qLoig1
Sonata stared blankly at the figure before her. Would it be okay to scream and cry right now that she didn't want to be left alone? Would she be taken seriously if she said she was scared to be left alone in a strange place?
718Please respect copyright.PENANAAZI7qauFbN
"..You smell like a lot of perfume." Sonata huffed out from her nose, trying to clear her palette of that harsh intrusion. "Perfume and stress."
718Please respect copyright.PENANAMCdKAYb9UV
"Heh."
718Please respect copyright.PENANAZOr5xHKlhU
The hands she hadn't even noticed wrapping around her were gone, and Hestia was standing up. Her small fingers weakly weaves into the fabric of her dress, and felt it slip away like sand.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAwwfFXgVPHO
The woman stared down at her one final time, and slightly truck out her flattened tongue in a gesture of endearment.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAUNIXuzOsBm
Staring longingly as Hestia resumed her prior form, Sonata did it back.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAXHLhIKP2Yg
And then she was alone.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAr4AagMmnU5
718Please respect copyright.PENANA4rxn7UH1MZ
The crackling of fire in the distance was the loudest thing in the eerie cavern. Sonata's eyes were glued to the spot where her mother had disappeared to for some time, her hands clutching the heavy cloak, the soft draft wind tickling her wispy hair.
718Please respect copyright.PENANA2nyta5kOqf
SLIIP
718Please respect copyright.PENANAHMHL5r4q4U
The cloak slipped and dropped. Sonata tore her eyes away, wiping her face as she walked towards the fire, dragging the cloak behind her as she went.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAbQellwD55j
"Hah" The smallest of gasps caught her ears. Sonata barely caught the blond haired child tuck her face back into the sheets, the crackling fire illuminating her curly hair.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAzyHCgCbtxB
Sonata sighed.
718Please respect copyright.PENANAodmxbftQ09
718Please respect copyright.PENANAl9RFv2G4XS
718Please respect copyright.PENANATCXZUnASdH
718Please respect copyright.PENANAAuOPTZ2f6b
718Please respect copyright.PENANAmD3WkIVudo
718Please respect copyright.PENANAS3YrmLq44r
718Please respect copyright.PENANA5HPfphJU3E
718Please respect copyright.PENANAUXBzO0eSv3
718Please respect copyright.PENANAFMbckEITuP
718Please respect copyright.PENANAcnM0iNuYxC
718Please respect copyright.PENANAzLmiwUB9td
718Please respect copyright.PENANAzBo9oTrdWg
718Please respect copyright.PENANAJR82l96Gu5
718Please respect copyright.PENANAz5vuGIuhOD
718Please respect copyright.PENANAHXHfbmr8Qd
718Please respect copyright.PENANARcgjX8GvP4
718Please respect copyright.PENANAlYb12dsUbq
718Please respect copyright.PENANAOKh0RMFTVn
718Please respect copyright.PENANAUu5G80nimH
718Please respect copyright.PENANABAKx9JGrY1
718Please respect copyright.PENANApNEonrTrUq
718Please respect copyright.PENANAKo4bQFR1kK
718Please respect copyright.PENANAwznKSg7hj2
718Please respect copyright.PENANAmBzltV2Sln
718Please respect copyright.PENANAIKuugmD4tl
718Please respect copyright.PENANAxVHSCLx1FS
718Please respect copyright.PENANAbTQPNgCPkI
718Please respect copyright.PENANAaB27oQiszw
718Please respect copyright.PENANAcREV0wKeT3
718Please respect copyright.PENANAnhloWh4ZQ1
718Please respect copyright.PENANAMRfu93ru48
718Please respect copyright.PENANAdZfOHKyo8R
718Please respect copyright.PENANAxRxx8OQ7t7
718Please respect copyright.PENANAfuwyfYM0ql
718Please respect copyright.PENANA9NBAo8gR8u
718Please respect copyright.PENANAml0ZarSZvy
718Please respect copyright.PENANAGLbvIgKHvL
718Please respect copyright.PENANA3cCeOiSbcN
718Please respect copyright.PENANAUCD9QCPeRf
718Please respect copyright.PENANA8s7tQlpwxq
718Please respect copyright.PENANAsue1ZhWYr6
718Please respect copyright.PENANASwLA87gPOe
718Please respect copyright.PENANAc09l5e5ujV
718Please respect copyright.PENANA6yBCFR94O3
718Please respect copyright.PENANAeIz8Zi80Ux
718Please respect copyright.PENANAbpY83jQPvS
718Please respect copyright.PENANAYlxulq6jcE
718Please respect copyright.PENANAm8o0yt1ddJ
718Please respect copyright.PENANA41UDf9Thpd
718Please respect copyright.PENANAy0DBqDlaOv
718Please respect copyright.PENANAuBcIke9Ruu
718Please respect copyright.PENANAyxDzIkS9cm
718Please respect copyright.PENANAMKRHSv6GNq
718Please respect copyright.PENANAPIapKb0tOD
718Please respect copyright.PENANA1EfBLC0vPc
718Please respect copyright.PENANAxDySzVPsmw
718Please respect copyright.PENANAwdNnwZgcLo
718Please respect copyright.PENANAzKtl5WjpY3
718Please respect copyright.PENANAUDMZ5LqCCz
718Please respect copyright.PENANAbx2RgWgVjI
718Please respect copyright.PENANA5bepeYnXcQ
718Please respect copyright.PENANASRUZB85knl
718Please respect copyright.PENANAXz2jlYqkNA
718Please respect copyright.PENANAA7dNmIRwvU
718Please respect copyright.PENANAbJINPL9aGu
718Please respect copyright.PENANArGq3mEbPj9
718Please respect copyright.PENANAc9CKyKEV0U
718Please respect copyright.PENANAX4u5wDdcAF
718Please respect copyright.PENANA8by0h8XPIg
718Please respect copyright.PENANAysSSyh3oqj
718Please respect copyright.PENANAbTjcCtQyCw
718Please respect copyright.PENANAAVrasullej
718Please respect copyright.PENANAC0fTF45aRC
718Please respect copyright.PENANAfyBhumkxhC
718Please respect copyright.PENANAiZ2J4DRz6s
718Please respect copyright.PENANAXbNd7yMgEi
718Please respect copyright.PENANAwMl26cQLNT
718Please respect copyright.PENANA1ObsiHGviO
718Please respect copyright.PENANAc64FjjWQqL
718Please respect copyright.PENANA9v4DIZYSH5
718Please respect copyright.PENANA82nlk1Lo4H
718Please respect copyright.PENANAha7C4JDTb4
718Please respect copyright.PENANAgeGGIElesy
718Please respect copyright.PENANAWfHfO5zjQ9
718Please respect copyright.PENANAc21kzAiueZ
718Please respect copyright.PENANA6dNrPq0ekN
718Please respect copyright.PENANAO5OmYiQDOL
718Please respect copyright.PENANAvRHyhaqZsU
718Please respect copyright.PENANAaakN4XCvou
718Please respect copyright.PENANAGeDNgMfgHt
718Please respect copyright.PENANAoXRgAGwboC
718Please respect copyright.PENANA5P8SN3N3RN
718Please respect copyright.PENANALIV4OJma4A
718Please respect copyright.PENANAxPIBl56b5F
718Please respect copyright.PENANAovc5TbTrBC
718Please respect copyright.PENANAESYY2vwFcC
718Please respect copyright.PENANAytgBwOmxe2
718Please respect copyright.PENANAqJidtbyBSL
718Please respect copyright.PENANASzJz02ZraQ
718Please respect copyright.PENANAAtIV4oes9V
718Please respect copyright.PENANA7hlzAY6wGi
718Please respect copyright.PENANAMJU8yFm1MC
718Please respect copyright.PENANAeQ0bUC4pJz
718Please respect copyright.PENANATODpaIKGLk
718Please respect copyright.PENANAqUdu43NQ6a
718Please respect copyright.PENANApUShpT7LBa
718Please respect copyright.PENANApi0NW2acYJ
718Please respect copyright.PENANAOJPsQg8vmu
718Please respect copyright.PENANAuXiQdQdnk4
718Please respect copyright.PENANAwfhnIKJ83A
718Please respect copyright.PENANABpu9EV8DmQ
718Please respect copyright.PENANAPU1DGT5xbt
718Please respect copyright.PENANAj6jlcS3d7Y
718Please respect copyright.PENANA7XYXbJak3J
718Please respect copyright.PENANAXFavLgtgjT
718Please respect copyright.PENANA7FPaFEU40g
718Please respect copyright.PENANArJIZUh0Wb9
718Please respect copyright.PENANAwdYOKcNqhn
718Please respect copyright.PENANAcmMUveQltu
718Please respect copyright.PENANAaDexMqQqCu
718Please respect copyright.PENANADZM04r19iy
718Please respect copyright.PENANAePyCLq1iSo
718Please respect copyright.PENANA9Z4t4PuvVi
718Please respect copyright.PENANAy01CKQBs8J
718Please respect copyright.PENANAvGTjfNGPTN
718Please respect copyright.PENANAABEeXyVQiw
718Please respect copyright.PENANAO1OuRH3GXq
718Please respect copyright.PENANA9HUgsjt1BG
718Please respect copyright.PENANAsJyJhmfw2e
718Please respect copyright.PENANAC1XJqA6bID
718Please respect copyright.PENANAf747tkoIGj
718Please respect copyright.PENANAnsQuStc2rq
718Please respect copyright.PENANAP2SOEndnKe
718Please respect copyright.PENANAZlcXjHtz5B
718Please respect copyright.PENANABx0kyvhtFx
718Please respect copyright.PENANAqEtkoTDLdH
718Please respect copyright.PENANADPoMQuXlyI
718Please respect copyright.PENANAZYr5yRpZua
718Please respect copyright.PENANA6T97JbOIYa
718Please respect copyright.PENANAdlh5GOfPZD
718Please respect copyright.PENANAntN798G05p
718Please respect copyright.PENANAES6Q3iz0IM
718Please respect copyright.PENANAlnJkpOTEcN
718Please respect copyright.PENANADFtNnk21XR
718Please respect copyright.PENANA0Rv2egddIX
718Please respect copyright.PENANA5EHGjAZx4h
718Please respect copyright.PENANARiCxwZvukJ
718Please respect copyright.PENANAsbhu0npq9z
718Please respect copyright.PENANAyBIEKsVuoy
718Please respect copyright.PENANA8pu7llktRg
718Please respect copyright.PENANAzS87K9env8
718Please respect copyright.PENANAXWuTrTufTt
718Please respect copyright.PENANAUwD8mjzplG
718Please respect copyright.PENANAA6IpdHg0zx
718Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4Uvqnr2I2
718Please respect copyright.PENANAW2iQcbD6wf
718Please respect copyright.PENANAMVYeAmQCm0
718Please respect copyright.PENANAcPo02oCLzd
She dragged the cloak the rest of the way, rubbing her eyes, and dropped it over both of them as she curled up besides the smaller figure. She felt a shift in the sheets as the smaller one looked up again, those same green eyes teeming with questions. Sonata pushed it back from where it'd come, barely mumbling "G...sleep...m..ning..."
ns3.128.94.150da2