"Sonata, my child. You are in danger, surrounded by a world of enemies."
471Please respect copyright.PENANAXfwAPdgpei
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAEkBlDoRWk3
"I will search out your father, but to do that, I must leave you here."
471Please respect copyright.PENANAHfmRu25KTe
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAebi9LRLEAs
"Do you understand, Sonata? I cannot take you along, because on this journey I cannot guarantee your safety."
471Please respect copyright.PENANAEItELGgcUj
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAvqhHpy1dZ6
Don't leave.
471Please respect copyright.PENANALmM4IMsJ6s
"I need you to take care of your sister until I return."
471Please respect copyright.PENANABfU2vT1qNC
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAm2QSOlo2Ae
"Do not stray far from the cave"
471Please respect copyright.PENANAmkzAPvqjQY
There it was.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAEvUbOHg6Yt
"Do not let anyone see you, let along in your dragon form"
471Please respect copyright.PENANAYyzhaEHcVd
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAwyqaZE06xm
"Do not, under any circumstances, give out your true name."
471Please respect copyright.PENANAEe8bwtuhG9
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANApq9BfMo7y5
"Can I entrust you with this task, Sonata?"
471Please respect copyright.PENANAsZeIffetSY
Mamá, don't go. Please don't go.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAjW1RXUF4iZ
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANA3X7HBBmgti
"B-but" Her voice failed her. She cringed.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAkFowfriUR9
"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."
471Please respect copyright.PENANAQMEufPhN96
Sonata looked up. Don't go. Mama, don't go. Please don't leave me all alone.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAJSwzAudjLx
"Wether you answer one or the other, I depart either way."
471Please respect copyright.PENANACPkHFLXMk1
Again, no sound came out. She was usually an outspoken ball of fire when it came to her parents.
471Please respect copyright.PENANALg85XLJ08r
"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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAaLDpqJ4Kvq
"...merely rules..."
471Please respect copyright.PENANAbSGRYUEYan
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAQX1Osk41OX
"...the ease with which I do it."
471Please respect copyright.PENANAFpCp5QED0t
I'm sorry, so don't leave me. Please don't leave me.
471Please respect copyright.PENANA3FKFNiD0XN
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?
471Please respect copyright.PENANAcgY2n1ulmw
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAFKpldrzau6
"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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANA2K4yrhNXxQ
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANA8qLWq0ll5h
She felt a small nudge against her chin. The little dragon's eyes were squeezed shut.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAln2Iyijvrr
"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?"
471Please respect copyright.PENANAMXFq9NjaeO
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAzrBV7HAZqX
"How long will you be gone?" The girl's detached voice nearly whispered.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAbxkKAafMl4
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAVgcvR81ITs
"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."
471Please respect copyright.PENANADh0UOZbEiw
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?
471Please respect copyright.PENANAOHn1uMTS96
Sonata held out her arm, her light brown cloak fluttering in the aftermath of the the sudden, abrupt movement.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAmsTqPx7sFS
"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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANA1Ov1fnGlW3
The looming dragoness cocked her head. "...Strange child. You fear not for your own, but your parent's safety?"
471Please respect copyright.PENANAnRZkFXih5y
"If you break the promise you have to swallow a hun...fifty swords"
471Please respect copyright.PENANAQjApUcnHQE
The dragon blinked.
"And how do you expect to make me do that if you aren't present to see?"
471Please respect copyright.PENANAdxQBY1Ovc2
"You'll give your word so you have to."
471Please respect copyright.PENANA6We3CImNxE
"...Very well, I will accept those terms."
471Please respect copyright.PENANAmyrdOkR3n7
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAVkMZUIiHYW
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAFQXqRHS6Wf
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?"
471Please respect copyright.PENANAhme5Bfs8yO
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANA5r7w7N2Sgh
"Um, smaller please." Sonata craned her neck in an attempt to make eye contact and avoid her mother's wrath.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAYzE4HDUsFt
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAs2wE8sm4Zp
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!"
471Please respect copyright.PENANAIg1nJUVosC
"Do a me sized?" Hestia's voice darkened do disappointment. "That is not how you speak to royalty, Sonata."
471Please respect copyright.PENANAbvfQf7kqUK
Sonata curled her hands around fabric of her woolen overdress, beneath the cloak. "Could you shrink down to my size, please?" She corrected herself.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAGAajChEd6Q
"Yes, I shall."
471Please respect copyright.PENANAGOpsoYL2Fx
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAO4zHBPcM4R
"I promise to safely return for my children once I find Romano and the coast is clear."
471Please respect copyright.PENANAtOhLyLalgK
"I promise to stay here and take care of my sister until Mamá comes back."
471Please respect copyright.PENANAdUFyLKcQ7i
Their fingers intertwined, then rocked up and down three times, and were separated.
471Please respect copyright.PENANASyUMLfNWTO
Before she knew it, a warm, heavy cloak was wrapped around her body.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAZPlIAyf2Qs
"Keep this. It will keep you safe."
471Please respect copyright.PENANAoAprugwCZd
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?
471Please respect copyright.PENANAGMgEeHbOpm
Don't go. Please don't go.
471Please respect copyright.PENANARZPBFtfolb
"....You smell like pine."
471Please respect copyright.PENANAfue4TZ81at
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?
471Please respect copyright.PENANAHziTvGIqUH
"..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."
471Please respect copyright.PENANADBOltjsxOb
"Heh."
471Please respect copyright.PENANA3FNRrWUpiD
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAYL2aPR015o
The woman stared down at her one final time, and slightly truck out her flattened tongue in a gesture of endearment.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAIGnZwCuV6W
Staring longingly as Hestia resumed her prior form, Sonata did it back.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAmp11DkJBrg
And then she was alone.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAHlevWuez56
471Please respect copyright.PENANAFJYBnYaGJN
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAfKTn2jtuEV
SLIIP
471Please respect copyright.PENANALv6tGbtSpA
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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANADLDNMqZRLL
"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.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAfvvulgFbSI
Sonata sighed.
471Please respect copyright.PENANAeaM5fy38rZ
471Please respect copyright.PENANADyidvucwHT
471Please respect copyright.PENANAJnecBRz3gx
471Please respect copyright.PENANAVgQPC6ueFF
471Please respect copyright.PENANAXMv1L9Qztr
471Please respect copyright.PENANAoVYqVFVx60
471Please respect copyright.PENANAnZLLRIuEg3
471Please respect copyright.PENANA5JSC4jvPSY
471Please respect copyright.PENANAnWDxEInTr4
471Please respect copyright.PENANAM1CQ0zDKfH
471Please respect copyright.PENANAfdQFfhHHSS
471Please respect copyright.PENANAWWHujXZChf
471Please respect copyright.PENANAAHHze9KkV2
471Please respect copyright.PENANAjLJ6hwnwaU
471Please respect copyright.PENANAqEnm9IWbGC
471Please respect copyright.PENANA0PV9Q0FRsa
471Please respect copyright.PENANAvF44gxyA95
471Please respect copyright.PENANAzuv8GMFoVQ
471Please respect copyright.PENANAdYWFzrRD0i
471Please respect copyright.PENANAdbLJQjG4Qq
471Please respect copyright.PENANAPR8sboTTiv
471Please respect copyright.PENANA9rOgWnmTQr
471Please respect copyright.PENANAzCQWzcT2Xk
471Please respect copyright.PENANAD6JnDTlzIM
471Please respect copyright.PENANAMN4Z3dqfh1
471Please respect copyright.PENANAUbydLiDS1I
471Please respect copyright.PENANABafsD8aSQh
471Please respect copyright.PENANAmp8LODzB9e
471Please respect copyright.PENANAYoSY2n4TVb
471Please respect copyright.PENANA9fklzg7YNH
471Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7rR3ZUnLo
471Please respect copyright.PENANAmiLDu6AnPA
471Please respect copyright.PENANA4PyGBaWyej
471Please respect copyright.PENANAJkn6UMWkYA
471Please respect copyright.PENANAe6H1pwG8rH
471Please respect copyright.PENANAu53n5fcEfh
471Please respect copyright.PENANAiDcpYSwod2
471Please respect copyright.PENANAWFOmiXTpB8
471Please respect copyright.PENANAQtj82yJaJC
471Please respect copyright.PENANAuIzPbrrZAj
471Please respect copyright.PENANA3HB1ofXftP
471Please respect copyright.PENANALF0Q5O90hI
471Please respect copyright.PENANATzDFdMxYIb
471Please respect copyright.PENANAdC4pUo22xP
471Please respect copyright.PENANAN5KujxlVPz
471Please respect copyright.PENANAz6JYpSj9Eh
471Please respect copyright.PENANAtZ7hxeeffw
471Please respect copyright.PENANAk23EuACtvs
471Please respect copyright.PENANAKy7XPCi3YA
471Please respect copyright.PENANAmZVRqGVax6
471Please respect copyright.PENANA8HmMbT4f3z
471Please respect copyright.PENANAzoxU3NxzcM
471Please respect copyright.PENANALPi6zhEEWm
471Please respect copyright.PENANAwq8hXO3HNi
471Please respect copyright.PENANAphMYQlJSSK
471Please respect copyright.PENANAVFfbdcjVJ6
471Please respect copyright.PENANAKXo88GTvvZ
471Please respect copyright.PENANAm3zpP0fNsX
471Please respect copyright.PENANAFgGWSvUZ9d
471Please respect copyright.PENANAUP671SGKR0
471Please respect copyright.PENANAUiksRpu8Sy
471Please respect copyright.PENANAxi3mjaXyQC
471Please respect copyright.PENANAVQhN2ei3M4
471Please respect copyright.PENANA5RzLdtj5sl
471Please respect copyright.PENANAXnvO6FQT32
471Please respect copyright.PENANAGBkPih6mxC
471Please respect copyright.PENANAjeovwAhgu7
471Please respect copyright.PENANAEOqcgZ1pxy
471Please respect copyright.PENANASSCT6oJpXf
471Please respect copyright.PENANAQmUTkmaJAB
471Please respect copyright.PENANA07DJ3l9JD2
471Please respect copyright.PENANAZdHEmSAzfZ
471Please respect copyright.PENANAbyTIGOQ1GN
471Please respect copyright.PENANAspseruMlcB
471Please respect copyright.PENANAr2he44G9yu
471Please respect copyright.PENANAGzyoMAXgpN
471Please respect copyright.PENANABXgtXsHQAP
471Please respect copyright.PENANAHwE3pAp6nn
471Please respect copyright.PENANAnxbTYG5FhK
471Please respect copyright.PENANAgEw4oyBOmS
471Please respect copyright.PENANAYLuXsEZTME
471Please respect copyright.PENANA8SYFglcbMP
471Please respect copyright.PENANAsCbYxdQ9yL
471Please respect copyright.PENANAyHeiBgH6MO
471Please respect copyright.PENANAyU0JGHTlVJ
471Please respect copyright.PENANATGLe6zB7LW
471Please respect copyright.PENANAzVOLQndHex
471Please respect copyright.PENANAcjDGGuvaGT
471Please respect copyright.PENANAW105Mev9MW
471Please respect copyright.PENANAo6PV5I3Kr1
471Please respect copyright.PENANAswyNJeHi0R
471Please respect copyright.PENANA8KE1cZWALt
471Please respect copyright.PENANAiUYoIYVllZ
471Please respect copyright.PENANAc4Zdi89XIM
471Please respect copyright.PENANA30x1BtGzH2
471Please respect copyright.PENANAhf5eZtHmio
471Please respect copyright.PENANAYankKfTeAB
471Please respect copyright.PENANAMxMStygVhS
471Please respect copyright.PENANAlmeLtXVDwc
471Please respect copyright.PENANA7GMBKnN48f
471Please respect copyright.PENANArceKQmr3hL
471Please respect copyright.PENANAup652LXIja
471Please respect copyright.PENANAl83cshIbzG
471Please respect copyright.PENANAzCGXB43Ora
471Please respect copyright.PENANAJjEBLEXxUB
471Please respect copyright.PENANAe0p4yR5stz
471Please respect copyright.PENANAQFIqpcun4T
471Please respect copyright.PENANAGwy9DOS8cU
471Please respect copyright.PENANA8FxfQQdf0m
471Please respect copyright.PENANA3L9h4D98Hc
471Please respect copyright.PENANAaDbFcR0Fyj
471Please respect copyright.PENANAVVu10PcT9i
471Please respect copyright.PENANAhp0KeWOhj5
471Please respect copyright.PENANAIOhfSBIQyS
471Please respect copyright.PENANABvETkcsBK7
471Please respect copyright.PENANAHgfw4TSg1d
471Please respect copyright.PENANAxxDRBK3scg
471Please respect copyright.PENANALgNeHaZO4f
471Please respect copyright.PENANAXj6zLLk374
471Please respect copyright.PENANAqNcU7kfWc7
471Please respect copyright.PENANA1z4XLcmEOf
471Please respect copyright.PENANAE7FTHIzZkM
471Please respect copyright.PENANAn32MTHv43e
471Please respect copyright.PENANAmvRRffqEqs
471Please respect copyright.PENANApK9RsUj5Ok
471Please respect copyright.PENANAbHasCKhgei
471Please respect copyright.PENANAYJTvLjna90
471Please respect copyright.PENANAgfbbooP7mr
471Please respect copyright.PENANACXT2FU1qKM
471Please respect copyright.PENANAkgpaKQaVx5
471Please respect copyright.PENANAUD0qkIEPGJ
471Please respect copyright.PENANAt3d5g22meO
471Please respect copyright.PENANAzuawczL1EF
471Please respect copyright.PENANAQTGbR9wznN
471Please respect copyright.PENANAU7ldOBaALt
471Please respect copyright.PENANAKKapwRvvPJ
471Please respect copyright.PENANAr3UzsdbaFe
471Please respect copyright.PENANAJqXdnZs5gj
471Please respect copyright.PENANAZfA0GG8Bw7
471Please respect copyright.PENANAXo5sPyzJ3b
471Please respect copyright.PENANAMUkQBsU3WP
471Please respect copyright.PENANAD5RHbWazSx
471Please respect copyright.PENANAqmCb5jv7Bf
471Please respect copyright.PENANAUeKgznfX44
471Please respect copyright.PENANAZcyS4mI775
471Please respect copyright.PENANAUTcP9WcFCS
471Please respect copyright.PENANAoOJntCVbtz
471Please respect copyright.PENANAalLmbZ3Cp5
471Please respect copyright.PENANArp2mIjmO8S
471Please respect copyright.PENANAdGK46zHEyi
471Please respect copyright.PENANAOMltGxWqVR
471Please respect copyright.PENANAiPpGZnZEG9
471Please respect copyright.PENANAAoElTaYlmA
471Please respect copyright.PENANAxcv1ZoaxmK
471Please respect copyright.PENANAMudlv6Yzf0
471Please respect copyright.PENANAUCY5CcnbYZ
471Please respect copyright.PENANAcsOdi6njtR
471Please respect copyright.PENANAj9XHTfZih2
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..."
ns 172.71.254.162da2