Beyond the Bones of Verateus

There weren't always dragons in the Valley.

Ripp's dying words were sent forth like dust upon the wind. I watched as the pouch of gizzard gems upon his chest was slowly freed of his hold, then liberated evermore. But before I could bring myself to retrieve it, I was overcome by a flood of tears, and could do nothing but lay my head down beside it, and weep.

The others stood silently around us, nary a breath breaking the ruminative still. Artemius remained nestled up against Ripp's neck, a bundle of fur holding as much unspeakable mystery as Death itself.

A gauntlet fell upon my shoulder and gestured mirthlessly for me to rise. As the minutes stretched forth, it's owner held steadfast. When the time came to heed the call, with a fated surrender I met Ripp's absent gaze one final time, and turned away. I found Zen'ya behind me, her face fallen.

I gently lifted her hand from my shoulder and held it. I eyed her for some time, but she did not move. I gently caressed her cheek, then stood up. "Come," I said to the rest. "Let us find suitable burial for him." We turned as one, leaving Zen'ya and Artemius to fulfill their last respects.

*****X

We spent the remainder of that sour afternoon digging, using hand and weapon alike to make our way as deep into the compacted Verateus as we could. As the sky fell swifter into the grasp of deepening purple, we returned for the fallen Ripp. Artemius lay asleep in Zen'ya's lap as she rested against a nearby tree, gazing up into the burgeoning night. If not for the slightest inflections, she would have appeared lifeless herself.

I approached her and knelt down. I stared into her eyes, biding my words. My own face fell, and I breathed deeply. I sighed, then lifted it again. "It's time."

She continued to stare, any reaction to my words imperceptible. Then, slowly, she turned to me. As we held contact, I could see the cold fire in her eyes suddenly igniting into a blaze. She flitted her attention toward his corpse, then shut her eyes. A single tear blossomed and spilled like dew. She lifted Artemius to her chest and hugged him tightly. He nuzzled himself into her hurt embrace. Whether he did so consciously was beyond me.

Max belted his cutlass and approached Ripp's upper end. I took up his lower and together we lifted him. Pontus widened the way with his machete as we headed forth through the thicket once more.

Night had fallen like a blanket as we eased his body into the hole. We set about to make a fire before gathering in a hemisphere before the pit, like the rising half of the setting sun.

Then, one by one, we laid our humanly bonds to rest with a token. Each forsaken keepsake was glimpsed by none other than its giver, Ripp's corpse, and those heavenly Spirits watching from above.

As we were bound by blood, I was the last to leave. With a heavy heart I squeezed the pendant within my grasp, caring not as its sharp points spilled their charge. With shaky knees I bent forth to kneel, bowing and spilling secret tears upon it.

I placed the pendant upon his chest, then rose, with all the grace I could muster. I grasped the pouch of gems, now hanging like a cursed weight from my belt, and drove the mortal ichor deep within its hide.

I could sense their collective cries just beyond my touch. No doubt the final kill was close at hand.