Kiara quickly dodged Arefe, yelling to Raven to get the bracelet. Kiara had so many secrets, one was that she had not killed her father’s murderer. Try as she might, she had never found the little bug who had created the Grous, conquered lands, killed her parents and now was controlling her friend. Years ago, this monster had created three bracelets. Each would kill the wearer after some painful spasms. The parasite had hidden one of these bracelets with him in the cave Raven had found, Raven found the bracelet and had given it to Kiara, who stashed it away for this very moment.

“I’m sorry, Arefe. I have to do this!” She cried out as he sliced her wing. Her green feathers turned red. Raven popped out of the house, carrying the bracelet. The only way to save the town. Kiara grabbed the bracelet from Raven and commanded him to find any remaining guards. He darted away while Kiara and Arefe faced off.

“You won’t destroy me!” The voice of the parasite was sickening. She shook her head and returned her eyes to Arefe’s

“Arefe! Come back! This isn’t you. Please! Trust me.” She tried to call him into his right mind over and over again. Nothing worked. Sighing, she slid the bracelet out of its bag and lunged at her friend. Kiara never thought she would do this. Every time her claws ripped out bloody feathers, she went slightly mad. Kiara pinned Arefe’s tail down, careful to immobilize the writhing crystals on the end of his tail. As planned, he reached out with his front talons to push her off. When his talon was close enough, she snatched it and shoved the bracelet on before he could register what happened. She stepped away from the writhing body. As she turned to leave, Arefe’s tail came smashing down, ripping through the scales along her back. Kiara cried out as pain spread down her back. She stumbled towards the ground.

“NO! KIARA!” it was Raven. “WAKE UP! You can’t die NOW! It isn’t RIGHT! You should have lived longer than this!” he screamed, his tears mixing with the blood running down her side. I’m sorry, Raven! she thought. Kiara heaved in another breath, using all her strength Kiara said her last words.

“I love you, brother. . .” Kiara’s voice trailed off as she gasped for her last breath, blood sputtering out of her mouth. Raven leaned down and rested her head in his arms, wailing. She looked at her brother for the last time, her beloved brother. Her life slipped away from the grief-stricken dragon. Her essence, her life faded like the moon, but unlike the moon, she would never come back.