(Zairyn POV)

My mind could vaguely register the beauty of the passing clouds and other air-beasts as I made my way to the kingdom that reigned over these lands: Alinvelle. My thoughts were scattered and unfinished, the whole thing seeming like a strange fever dream.

Prince. Prince took sister. Get sister back…

Then, a thought that would have done more than disturb me if I had full control over my mental faculties popped into the forefront of my mind: 

Kill Prince. Kill Prince, get sister back.

Once that idea had thoroughly made its rounds in my head, it settled down, and became all I could think of. It was flawless logic at that moment: Get rid of the person causing the problem, get rid of the problem.

I could feel myself dodging flocks of birds and some particularly tall hills, but it was never conscious movement. When I wasn't thinking about killing the Prince, I was thinking about my sister. Just random things about her; her smile, her leather dresses, her strong arms, her metal, sweat, and fruity scent that was more comforting than a homemade broth, her rough chuckle that held nothing but warmth and gentleness that didn't seem possible out of a woman with her physique. I would have started crying again if I wasn't so out of it. But the sadness quickly fled my soul as soon as I thought about the Prince with his arms dragging Lynn away, and his guards' swords glancing off my scales, before they hit their mark.

My leg and wing started throbbing again when I remembered that, but I ignored it. I probably shouldn't have though. I would need new bandages around my leg at least, the last ones already soaked through with the deep maroon of my blood, and my wing burned every time I moved it through the air.

Another small thought drifted through my mind;

Lynn will kill me if I get an infection because of this.

It was a reflection that was both comforting to my sanity, but also quickly drowned out by the more murderous intentions that were now common in my mind.

Another moment of faint lucidity passed over me and I could smell the strange and new scents that belonged solely to the skies. A crisp, clear smell, tainted slightly by smoke and meats from the villages I flew over, and a musk from the other air-beasts that I could slowly start to pick apart before I lost myself in emotion again. The smaller seabirds were a bit salty smelling, while larger birds of prey smelled like grass and snow, and other winged creatures had their own odors that I would have loved to identify, but I was then swept up in another haze of raw anger and hatred.

I didn’t know why this was happening. Was it a Dragon thing? Was it a me thing? Was this even normal? I knew that some Otherkin had very strong protective urges, but this seemed a bit more… intense than that. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good. Even I could tell that in my barely conscious state. But I couldn’t stop myself. It was impossible. I could rage against my own mind, my own body, I actually did, but it didn’t change a thing.

‘It’s because you’re weak', a voice in my head snarled. The unhelpful voice had returned. Being even more unhelpful than usual. ‘Your sister is in danger because of you. Again. You want her back- WE want her back! Kill this Prince, and then we can go home. We can go home. We want to go home…’ the voice tapered off into a small, child-like whimper.

My emotions were flinging back and forth between anger and sorrow, and I was so done with it. I yelled, I screamed, I growled and roared into the sky, hoping that no one and everyone would hear me. Then a sight that filled me with dread and sick elation entered my view.

Alinvelle.

I had flown through the night and into the next morning, and finally, the kingdom was in my sights.

Which meant the Prince and Lynn were too. I pushed on harder, faster, speeding my way through the morning light to reach the castle as soon as I could.

The first fully completed and non-malicious monologue in over a day entered my mind.