OOC: Note on pronunciation â€“ System here would be pronounced as Si-es-tem<br/><br/>The Dragon Council was convened only once every thousand years, unless something of great import occurred. A sleeping dragon did not like to be woken. And the elders who sat the Council most especially.<br/><br/>Drandaw Tiausâ€™l, the big blue, the oldest dragon known to still live, watched the demon god Zhorrsh closely. The thick, blunt, aqua nails of his human form tapped the stone table in irritated boredom. He didnâ€™t trust the deity. Even less since System Serâ€™hatâ€™aild had chosen him as her mate. The old black dragoness was crafty. She was also aggressive. Worse, Zhorrsh seemed to hold her leash now.<br/><br/>Zhorrsh was a perfect specimen of lust, greed, and violence made physical. One of those creatures that humans had called incubi for centuries. And Drandaw could see why. His very presence was distracting; the gold female Iaceria Rakeesâ€™o and the white female Rhillit Quaâ€™kalâ€™aq couldnâ€™t stop watching the male who stood behind his mate with his arms crossed carelessly over his chest. He smiled in a manner that made sure everyone knew he didnâ€™t care a whit for them, with the glossy black ramâ€™s horns curling down to his jaw and making ignoring the smirk impossible. Hair like ravenâ€™s feathers framed the near-boyish face and partly veiled the deep set, serious, red slitted eyes. Fine, leathery wings enclosed his body like two, perfect parentheses and his tail twitched in mocking time to Drandawâ€™s tapping.<br/><br/>Systemâ€™s dark, supple skin reflected the low light in the Gathering Place, rippling with barely contained power. She moved effortlessly, pacing the floor in the Speaking Hollow, muscles all perfectly, fluidly, in synch. Drandaw certainly appreciated the view, at the very least. Few dragons, when among only their own, would choose to go clothed. Never the elders, who had not picked up the habit of concerning themselves with modesty like some of the young ones. A dragonâ€™s scales were the only covering he needed.<br/><br/>Aldaning Eâ€™itdar, the flashy silver and youngest of the elders would disagree, of course. Though even he didnâ€™t bother dressing himself, only donned bright, ostentatious bangles and jewels.<br/><br/>The little bronze, Zuitir Chaâ€™eni yawned hugely, still drowsy.<br/><br/>System sneered at him and stopped her pacing for a clawful of seconds. â€œKin, for far too long we have remained stagnant, allowing the world to change around us. We havenâ€™t embraced it, but slept through the long centuries, waiting. Waiting for what? For the world to come full circle? Human-kind will never return to the days when they feared the sky-shadow! Weâ€™ve let man and his shepherds push us out! And what does this council do? We let the dogs and the leeches fight over territory like mongrels at a bone! We let them ignore us! Not just us either kin. Itâ€™s the demons and celestials as wellâ€¦â€<br/><br/>Her tirade ended abruptly when the pair of giant iron doors banged open. All eyes shifted to the dragon-crested half demon and the young man he shoved in front of him. Even Rayumryn Delâ€™tanâ€™auch, the green and the copper, Midad Therâ€™oughâ€™ak roused themselves to peer at this new occurrence. â€œDamnit lizard! Stop fuckinâ€™ pushinâ€™ me!â€ Hyperion gazed at the gathered company and scowled. â€œSaid you knew where my target was, fuckinâ€™ lyinâ€™ ass lizard.â€<br/><br/>Draki ignored him entirely, addressing the council instead. â€œIt looks like a human, speaks like a human, and smells like a human.â€ Draki ran his tongue up Hyperionâ€™s neck and across his ear.<br/><br/>â€œGet the fuck off me fag!â€<br/><br/>â€œIts lust and fury even taste like a humanâ€™s. But use your other senses kin!â€ Drandaw lifted his lip in a silent snarl at being called kin by this abomination. â€œThis is not a human! And we can use it. The vampires and their gods would smell us coming in an instant. But this? This could march straight into their nest the same as any tame little doll.â€<br/><br/>Confused and curious, Hyperion finally decided to hold his tongue and stand the scrutiny of the dragons.<br/><br/>Alaning pounded the table, his bangles clashing together discordantly. â€œWhy should we kill vampires? Why should we kill even one? Weâ€™ve held truce with them since the beginning! We shouldnâ€™t break it because one loud mouthed whelp and his demon father say so!â€<br/><br/>â€œI say so too Eâ€™itdar,â€ System interjected. It was her right. Since none of them had asked for a place in the Hollow, it was Alaning and Draki who were out of line. â€œThe vampires have gone mad, and the wolves are selfish! They should all be slain or subdued!â€<br/><br/>â€œAnd our son has the answer, I believe.â€<br/><br/>Draki inclined his head politely to Zhorrsh and stepped onto the small carved dais beside the demon god. â€œMy pets have found both the godsâ€™ children, and they tell me that one is fully human now. It is well within our rights to kill humans. And well within his to kill a god.â€ He gestured to Hyperion, who bared his teeth in something like a grin. â€œWe kill them both, and their society cannot stand! Theyâ€™ll turn against each other, just as they always do, and the wolves will tear them apart. Without a common enemy, the wolves will fall to infighting just the same. Neither of the bestial races can stand together without a threat from the outside.â€<br/><br/>â€œThen we lead the new race,â€ System purred. â€œThe only three that remain will grow stronger when we stop with this pureblood nonsense. Look at Drakiâ€™kinyer! There is not one dragon his age that can surpass his power! Nor one demon! Imagine what our children could do with the blood of an angel!â€<br/><br/>â€œWhat are you System,â€ Rhillit broke in, interrupting the black dragoness before she could pick up speed again. â€œIâ€™m beginning to hear the talk of a demon puppet from you.â€<br/><br/>â€œThis council meeting is no longer public!â€ Clydrver Lorayshâ€™e shouted, normally a solemn and soft spoken red dragon. â€œYou and your son are dismissed demon. Now leave before I drag you out! And take that thing with you!â€<br/><br/>â€œYou are not the presiding elder here, Clydrver. I will stay until Drandaw objects to my presence.â€<br/><br/>â€œHeâ€™s right Zhorrsh. The Meeting Place is closed to you now, for private debate. We will send for you once a decision is reached.â€<br/><br/>The demon god, angry and impatient, swept from the room and Draki followed, with Hyperion in tow. â€œWhat was that?â€ He demanded of the two, who glowered silently.<br/><br/>â€œThat was a failure, and youâ€™ll probably be dead by the time those old lizards decide on anything.â€ Unlike the rest of the world, dragons couldnâ€™t solve their debates in hours, days, or even weeks. It would take them years to agree on any one subject. System could speak ferociously and Drandaw could argue passionately, but the rest would take their time to come to a conclusion.<br/><br/>â€œNot a failure, boy. Tell me what your shades see, and weâ€™ll make our own decision. This need not involve the dragons at all.â€<br/><br/>â€œButâ€¦ motherâ€¦â€<br/><br/>â€œSheâ€™s a tool, Draki. If I cannot use her to bring the rest of the council in line, then we do this without her.â€<br/><br/>Hyperion only shook his head, not caring for the demons and their plans. â€œYou are gonna pay me though, right?â€<br/><br/>â€œOf course little whats-it!â€ Zhorrsh laughed. â€œMore than your current employer to kill the target instead of capturing herâ€¦ The male with her too.â€<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">--------</div><br/><br/>Kalab was silent on hearing what Ellon had done. He picked himself up off the floor and merely nodded his assent, so that she would know he was listening. And even though she only wanted to push him away, he reveled in her touch. Finally he let out a long breath that he hadnâ€™t for a second noticed he was holding. â€œOf course. If you would like to kill him yourself, I wouldnâ€™t dream of stopping you, or stealing the pleasure away from you.<br/><br/>But let me make you strongerâ€¦â€ He turned from her to arm himself with the collection of weaponry. He chose only four small knives, which he could easily conceal and a short sword, which he did not bother to hide. â€œYou are free to leave now. Iâ€™ll keep my promise. I would like for you to come home, for the priests to change you, but if that is not what you wish at this point, I will follow you wherever you decide to go.â€