Waking up at the bottom of a hole, Red's first concern wasn't himself, but his sister, still up above in the cavern where he'd last seen her.
The fall hadn't been planned. During their struggle with the gel dragons, one of the creatures had latched onto him and dragged him down a hidden pit. But Red hadn't gone alone, he'd used what strength he could to command the chains he'd deployed earlier, pulling as many dragons as possible down with him in an attempt to keep Blue safe.
Now, though, there were no chains, no dragons.
The walls surrounding him were steep and offered no clear way up. The hole was deeper than he could climb. Whatever chance he had of getting back to Blue, it wouldn't be by retracing his path.
There was, however, a tunnel. Narrow and dimly lit, it extended out from the base of the hole. The light seem slightly deliberate, enough to suggest the tunnel was meant to be found.
His body ached. The adrenaline that had carried him through the fall was replaced by a spreading soreness. His shoulders throbbed, his ribs felt tight, and every step forward sent jolts through his hips. Fractures and dislocations were likely, but there wasn't much time to dwell on them.
The tunnel led into a chamber, this one broader and bathed in an odd violet glow. The light bounced off the walls in a soft, even pulse, but no visible source revealed itself. Red could see the glow, the way it illuminated the space, but not where it came from.
He paused briefly, squinting through the unnatural lighting. "What in the-"
"Red!" A voice called out from his right, urgent and familiar. He turned just in time to see the one he'd been searching for.
"Sis!"
Blue rushed to him without hesitation, throwing her arms around him in a tight embrace, as if it had been far longer than the half hour they'd been separated.
Behind her, a strange-looking gel dragon loomed in a hunched posture, its presence quiet but imposing. Red immediately tensed, instincts kicking in. He moved to push Blue behind him, his mind already preparing to act.
"Wait, I think it's alright now," Blue said quickly, catching on to his reaction.
"What?"
"Apparently this was a trial, just like you said it might be."
Red's expression stiffened as he mulled it over. After a moment of thought, he exhaled through his nose, shoulders easing slightly. "Yeah… that actually makes sense. There's no way a place like this would go unnoticed in a territory so close to headquarters," he reasoned aloud.
Still, his brows furrowed. "Even so… wasn't that a little too far for a test?" he added, finally pulling his hands away from his torso.
Blue's eyes followed the movement, and the joy on her face slowly faded. Her gaze fixed on the bruising and subtle signs of internal strain across her brother's body. The shift in her expression was immediate, soft concern replaced by cold fury as she turned toward the dragon behind them.
Without a single word, her glare demanded an explanation.
"I apologize for this blunder," the dragon spoke, its voice deep and deliberate. "My name is Ark. My directive was solely to test those who would arrive here to meet the Mother today. The young ones have had little contact with humans, only three prior individuals. It seems their excitement overwhelmed their restraint."
"The Mother?" Blue echoed, her brow tightening. No such figure had been mentioned when they accepted the mission.
Red gave a short nod toward the dragon. "And by 'young ones,' you mean that entire swarm that almost killed us?"
"Indeed," Ark replied. "After many long years, the Mother succeeded in hatching a beautiful clutch on her own. Though only a few days old, they have grown quickly. Their transformations are still unstable, but their potential is evident."
Ark's tone shifted subtly, taking on a faint warmth. "They are lively. Curious. Far too playful for their own good. But they are my adorable siblings, and I find great joy in their growth."
Though Ark seemed to momentarily lose himself in the sentiment, Red and Blue didn't interrupt. Despite the circumstances, there was something oddly endearing in his pride.
After a few quiet seconds, Ark collected himself. With a brief nod, he turned his long snout toward a large open entrance at the far end of the chamber. "What you seek is in that room," he said simply.
Red and Blue followed his gaze.
By the time they turned back, Ark had already begun to walk away, his heavy steps fading slowly into the distance as he returned the way he had come.
They nodded at each other after a moment, then made their way toward the entrance.
As they stepped inside, a strange darkness seemed to flood their senses, an overwhelming shift from the open chamber behind them. Yet it wasn't that the violet light had vanished. No, it felt instead as if the darkness had taken root in their own imaginations, as though reality had twisted into something uncertain.
Their sense of balance faltered. Even the nearness of each other felt abstract, difficult to grasp, until eyes ignited in cold violet flame opened, fixed upon their arrival.
The head rose slowly, turning with deliberate intent toward them. Two obsidian slits, devouring the ambient light around them, stared unblinking.
The form that stirred within the shadows was sleek, massive. A jet-black body unfolded from the gloom, sharp claws extending, a serpentine tail slithering behind. Its scales reflected nothing; they absorbed all. Even so, it became clear that this creature was the source of the violet glow suffusing the room.
Neither of them could move.
The aura it exuded was suffocating, a void of finality that whispered in no uncertain terms: should they move, it was the end. The weight of it forced their souls inward, made every breath feel like a stolen privilege.
In that instant, they knew.
If they ran, they would die.
If they fought, they would die.
Even the mere thought of invoking their abilities felt like inviting a brutal, absolute end.
Every proactive thought was drowned by primal instinct. Every thought… except one.
"Sis…" Red spoke, his voice trembling, teeth chattering with the effort of speech. "I can buy you some time. Maybe only a few seconds, but you've got to move—fast."
"As if." Blue offered a shivering grin. "You know I've got a better chance in a straight-up fight than you do. You'd be the better option to escape."
"Not really. I'm more banged up than you can tell. I can't run that fast anymore."
"And you seriously think you could stall anything in your condition?" Blue shot back. "Your physical state affects your abilities, just in case you forgot."
"…I'm not running, sis," Red said at last, the pause between words stretching. "I can't."
"Neither can I," Blue answered, without hesitation.
They both knew, escape was never an option. Their instincts had already decided that much.
And so, without exchanging another word, the two of them resolved, right then, to fight for their lives.
Or die trying.
All while the black dragon had yet to move beyond the simple act of sitting up.