Kali’s eyes snapped open at the sound of movement. At first, she saw only darkness. Her breathing accelerated, nearly lashing out at the nearest object before she realized the lights were simply turned off.

“Oh, you’re awake!” A hissing, yet kind, voice greeted her.

She turned her head so fast that the barbs on her neck and head nearly smacked her in the face. What stood before her was so strange – nothing that she had seen before. It walked on two legs like another species she knew. Weird clothing; was it clothing? Seemed more like battle armor. Was she a prisoner of war?!

“It’s okay,” the bipedal lizard-like being placed down a bowl, flicking on a dim light. Kali’s eyes burned under it regardless. “Too bright? I’m sorry. Do you want me to turn it off?”

“No.” Kali snapped. She was surprised at two things, now that she spoke. One, that she did. Two, that she could understand this purple being.

“I honestly didn’t expect you to awaken so soon.” The lizard continued to drone on. “Expected you to be out for at least a week after that crash. What happened?”

“Crash?” Kali blinked. “What crash?” She leaped to her claws, nearly ruining the bedding.

At this height, she could make out that she was in some sort of medical wing. Higher technology than she expected. Did she land in the future? Impossible! Everything seemed to be made of…actually ,she had no idea what it was made of. All she knew was that there was a device that was powered by…steam?

Kali found herself wincing, the chatter of those outside the room she previously lay loud and intrusive. Banging in her mind like a hammer against steel. But no one spoke from what she saw. How was this possible?

“Yeah, you fell from the sky,” the lizard said. “I’m surprised you survived. Kyrik says you’re an alien, but you look like a dragon to me.” She tilted her head. “Although, not like any I have seen.”

“Kyrik? Alien?” Kali whipped her head around again. The tip of her tail - an orb-like ornament - began to rattle slightly. “Where am I?!”

“Oh!” The lizard blinked. “I’m sorry, I get carried away a lot.” Kali narrowed her gaze. “Right, my name is Methir. I look after Kyrik – a dragon, like yourself – and we found you while walking in the woods. Landed right in front of us!”

Kali focused hard on Methir. She didn’t feel any hostile intent from her. Kali looked at herself, calming a bit. Her black scales were laced with green runes; earth element today. If she crashed into the ground as Methir said, it made sense.

Come to think of it, her head did hurt. As did her everything.

“Whoops,” Methir was there to stabilize her as she wobbled. “You should probably lay back down. Spent the past two hours trying to reduce the swelling in your head; all I could do not to make it a severe concussion.”

“What...are you?” Kali couldn’t help but ask.

“Wow, you must really be an alien! Either that or the damage is worse than I thought!” Methir let out a giggle. “I’m a shriker, dear.”

“What?”

“And I thought Kyrik asked silly questions,” Methir muttered. “Tell you what, when he comes back, I’ll explain more. I’m sure he’ll try and rattle your head off, so its best if I introduced him in doses. Between you and I, he can get exhausting.”

Kali honestly had no idea what to think of any of this, instead thumping her head back into her pillow. An act she regretted immediately.

“Now, when you meet Kyrik, try not to get too irritated by him.” Methir said hushly. “Like I said, he can get exhausting.”

“How so?” Kali questioned.

“Those with the electric element have crystals on their body that they charge from,” Methir indicated to the ones on her shoulders. Hollow and translucent, Kali observed. “If you don’t know the theory of how these are bone that were turned to crystal, he’ll tell you. In intimate detail.”

“Oh, that type of exhausting.”

“Whelp is as smart as a whip, yet he’s never going to survive in the real world.” Methir added sadly. “It’s why he has me. No survival skills and a bit too…invested in his interests. Doubt he’ll hear a bomb go off next to him if he starts up. Never fit in with the rest of the students here, either. One on one was the only way we got progress.”

“I don’t mean to be rude, but why are you telling me this?”

“Because, until we find a way to send you home, you’ll have to stay with us.” Methir’s voice turned grave. “And like him, you don’t a clue how things work here. You two may be able to keep each other safe long enough to learn a thing or two.”

***

Kali wondered if Azulia was punishing her by having her go this way.

It wouldn’t surprise her, if she were honest. The looks the queen was giving her these days, it was like she wanted her gone. Granted, they never really saw eye to eye. But if Kyrik trusted her, then Kali could tolerate her. Today however, something was off with all of them, and she felt like she was the only one who noticed.

At least the courtyard was a sight to behold. Snow had fallen upon the garden, covering it in a dreary yet beautiful silvery-white blanket. Blue bushes glowed under the snow. The fire deep inside her scales kept her warm, but she could still feel the biting chill as she walked along the paths.

What was she supposed to be looking for, again? Sure, she knew it was a ‘hunter’, but what did they look like? Was there a garb they wore or did they blend in? Or was it a species? A picture would have been nice. Then again, Azulia and her champions would have likely just destroyed the hunters before the thought entered their minds.

For the first time, Kali understood fully why Azulia was so feared. Sure, she knew her power was immense and that she commanded the respect, but before now, she never saw the depth. Kali never scared easily, but there was something about Azulia that shook her. An animalistic instinct deep inside Kali’s mind that warned of danger.

The young dreamtender picked a green flower. Somehow, the plant could survive the frigid blanket. The way the petals seemed to churn and swirl…it reminded her of home. Her eyes drifted to the sky as a feeling of loss gently caressed her. She remembered little of it, but small things like this were familiar. But she was lonely here, like she didn’t fully belong. Kyrik was very pleasant company and she loved being around him, but it was the difference between a close friend and being around family.

The snapping of vines drew her attention. A large, plant-like growth had formed itself. About half her size in height, the bulbous shape opened slightly to reveal a pair of beady eyes. Curiosity danced along in them, watching her intently.

She recognized it to be a Mandrake. Rare and shy creatures, Kyrik had babbled, they were harmless to bigger creatures like dragons. Fed off smaller mammals and insects.

Paying it little mind, she found a few more creatures had made their home out here. The giant tree in the center was anything but; something called a…Barkling? Sentient trees, all she knew. Gentle giants from what Kyrik had described.

The beautiful flower-like Alurie drifted through the sky, whose vines could entangle a dragon her size trailing behind it. Thankfully, much like the Mandrake, they didn’t seek to eat them. Rather, they were quite playful. At least, that’s what she understood.

All other details faded when she approached the Barkling. The last time she had come here, it had turned to her with curiosity. She remembered its face etched into the wood and how emotionless yet expressional it was. It didn’t speak any language, but she could understand it in a way.

If those memories were of any indication, then it was in a lot of pain. Kali noted a patch of black, dead bark around its root-like legs. Almost unnoticeable in the night, she could feel the dark energy emanating from it. Cautiously, as to not startle it, she moved away some of the snow around it.

The grass had completely withered along with the very soil. Kali didn’t dare touch it without protection, but the sick-green color was a strong indicator. It was something that Kyrik or a necromancer might accidently leave behind when preforming dark magic. Kali had never seen it so potent!

“What happened?” Kali asked more to herself.

To her great surprise, one of the branches extended to a balcony. Reassuring the creature that she would return, Kali flew over and landed upon the checkered tiles. Part of it was in the moonlight while the parts that lead into the castle were pitch black. Deep down, she knew something was in there watching her.

Unnatural fire licked her mouth as she walked in. Unlike most of the elements she had seen on this world, hers was hazy and unfocused. Dream-like it had been described as.

Stepping inside, she found that there was indeed someone here. The details were hard to make out, it was certainly a shriker. As the figure approached, bone armor attached to a bulky brown bio-suit began to glow. Her eyes flew open at the sight.

“Impossible,” Kali whispered. “You’re dead!”

“Am I?” The voice was masked, like talking through a filter. “I wasn’t told that.”

“Kyrik killed you! I watched it!”

“Kyrik…he’s the reaper, right?” The shriker turned around, staring at her through a pair of tiny green glass circles. The eye color was impossible to see. “That must make you Kali.”

“You know who I am, Methir.” Kali snarled. There was a wrongness from her that Kali couldn’t put a finger on, but something felt different. Like this Methir was different. Despite everything she’d done, Kali remembered her fondly.

“Well, yes. Caught me there.” The shriker shrugged. “What tipped you off?”

“You have to be her unless you are extremely good at pretending.”

“So you admit it’s a possibility?” The shriker asked. Kali didn’t answer. “Thought so. Honestly, I’m not sure why I took this job. Payment’s nice, but this place is so dreary!”

“Who paid you to-?”

“Ah, questions that will be answered in due time!” Methir paced around her. “But, I was a tad bit curious as to why the bone armor.” A claw ran along one of them. “Really, they’re just for show. Quite cumbersome. Then I saw that reaper’s face and I knew why. Kind of.”

“So, you’re tormenting him?!” Kali shrieked.

“I do what I’m paid to do, dear.” The shriker shrugged again. “You aren’t my target. Yet, anyway. As such, I have a question before I go.”

“As if I’d let you go.”

“I know of the event that ripped apart Accurn.” The shriker raised a talon. “Didn’t really click until the reaper’s face, as I said. But my question is…outside of the two of us and Kyrik, who else really knows what happened?”

Kali narrowed her eyes. “Only a few.”

“So why this? Why would someone pay me to wear this?” A claw was raised to the face mask. “Unless…do you think that someone is trying to torment Kyrik? Why? What would they gain from such a thing?”

Kali went dark for a moment, already knowing the answer.

“Ah! See, you’re smart. So, I leave you with this.” A small, azure crystal was tossed to her. She caught it easily. “When you are alone, stroke it three times.”

“What is it?” Kali regarded it suspiciously.

“A memory crystal. I’m sure you’ll find what’s inside to be very intriguing.” The shriker began to back away, starting to fade into the shadows. “Oh, and as a gesture of good will…”

At the snap of her fingers, the shriker vanished. Below, she heard the creaking of wood. Looking out, the Barkling began to move again. Landing before it, she saw the corruption patch largely cleared. The soil was still dead, but it was no longer infecting the roots.

Taking the moment to pause, she reflected on what happened. That shriker’s appearance, the way it talked…it was just like what happened to Methir, minus the insane rambling. The only ones, outside of the three, that knew about said event where Jirmen and…

…and Azulia; as expected. Kali knew that the queen was a bitch, but to go down that route was monstrous. Just what did she have to gain for Kyrik to be unstable? Well, no, Kali had a few ideas. But which of them was the end goal? Kyrik was a powerful, and very naïve, individual. There were many…uses, for him.

She glanced down at the crystal. That shriker was as trustworthy as leaving Kyrik alone in a library and telling him not to read anything. Yet, it was the only option she really had right now. It could very well be a trap, but if it meant protecting Kyrik, then it was time to throw caution to the wind.

Only problem was she had no idea how to get to the throne room.

With a dissatisfied harrumph, she trudged off to the left of the courtyard. It appeared to lead into some sort of mess hall, where the servants would eat. Taking a peak, she saw that they were all mostly species she hadn’t seen.

For all her faults, Kali did have to give Azulia one thing; she did provide a home for those where nowhere to go. For example, she couldn’t see a Lykanthrope working in a kitchen in the outside world. Lykantheropes were lycon who’s form was twice the size of normal, with sharper claws and fangs. Rare disorder. Fitting that it would be a butcher; one way to get out the feral bloodlust that consumed them.

Somehow, Kali didn’t think that the queen would allow them in out of the goodness of her hearts. That was assuming she had them, anyway. The more she looked upon them, the more she began to realize that this was not just a home for the damned, but rather a perfect place to build an army.

It made more sense the more she thought about it. At a whim, Azulia could simply point at a town and have it wiped off the map with a small force. Her eyes drifted to the sharp claws of the Lykanthrope, who could slice the meat of a large creature with ease. It wasn’t hard to imagine what she could do if she instigated them against the outside world.

More and more, Kali began to realize how small and powerless she was against their queen. Not even Kyrik could put a stop to her alone if she got in the mood. And if she could transform…

Despite the odds, Kali didn’t intend to go down easily if it came to that.