Zhaiothe's Tale
By Bartan Tirix

Act 1 - The Taste Of Regret		

	The rain was heavy. First one of the spring, but it kept the air outside cold. As if the sky told everyone below that it was night. The Sun has turned in, and so shall you all. It swept the streets with its slight breeze, and the heavy rain danced on the thick dirt of the slums. Within the old wreckages where refugees tend to spend one night, and then move on. To where ever their destinations demanded.
	Within this one, there be a family. A Mother. A Father. Two sons, still too excited to sleep. And so, they demanded a story, one He'd heard a thousand different ways.
	"Alright, my boys! Under yer covers, and I'll tell you a tale. Once upon a time, there be a large dragon. This dragon ruled the entire country, all of its land. And he, as well as his beautiful mate, ruled over the land well. They protected it for many years, together in harmony, and had the respect of many folk under their wing.
	One day, the dragon saved a traveling merchant from the blades of bandits, looking to get a name for themselves. He roared and chased them back into the woods. The Merchant was grateful, and rewarded the dragon with some treasure he once plundered to the far east. But humble be the dragon, and would not accept such a gift. There was no need for a reward in his eyes, for such of the way of his mate.
	The merchant insisted! Claiming that to keep such a thing in their throne, a piece of the merchants most valued baubles, to be forever displayed in the kingdom of all kingdoms would be such an honor. Eventually, the dragon gave in, and took the treasure." ...After arguing with him for several hours about it.
	"The Treasure was indeed displayed in their home, and tried for many years for an offspring, they could not conceive." ... "So, they used that room for that treasure. But, as the days grew, the dragon began to admire that one. He would wake up in the night to gaze upon its glory and value. To think that there be more out there with such beauty, the dragon began to suggest such gifts from the kingdoms. They gladly gave the dragon what they will. But as the years passed, those Suggestions became Demands. The dragon wanted more and more, and eventually was overcome by his greed. Those who were unable to satisfy the dragons demands fell before him. And those who were, could not for very long.
	Disgusted by such a monster, his mate eventually left him. But only after cursing him! For the more he hurt people to attend to his thirst, he would be eventually become unborn. However, if he could put such a desire behind him, and become the King he was once again, the curse would be lifted, and she would return to him. The dragon paid no heed to her, as she flew away in sorrow. Yet her words came true, the more he drowned himself in such wealth, the younger he became. After hundreds of years, rumor has it he has disappeared. Others say he's in the last few years of his life, only awaiting his doom."
	It was a terrible story. Most of which was true. As the family rested their heads in the small shelter, little did they know that the Dragon from that story was actually in there with them. But he was not there to harm them, just to hide from the storm as they were.
	Hearing the tale took him back... "I do this for the benefit of you." His voice echoed through the young one's head, and he forced his muzzle shut with his small paws. Only to still find himself whimpering loudly. His voice ached his heart. But regardless, a spring in the mountain, becomes a flood in the valley. And that flood was the memory of the worst thing he'd ever done.

	It tasted like metal. But with a light, sugary sensation to it. He almost enjoyed it, because it reminded him of the nights in the spring, when they would have such relations together. They would often bite each other, lightly, out of instinct. But this one... there was something wrong. There was too much of it. Not like the minor droplets that would come out from the playful love bites... No, this was a... Gash?
	His eyes stared in horror, as his vision's blur faded. He found his mate, the silver one, on the ground holding his side. Several large wounds, made from the red one's fangs and claws. His breath became hesitant. And the Silver one looked at him, almost in acceptance. The red one collapsed into the arms of the Silver, denying such a thing could ever happen.
	"Shh... It's alright." The silver one said softly, with such strength you'd hardly ever realized he was in pain. "I vowed long ago that my life was yours to do with as you pleased." Under his hesitant breaths, the red one once again denied the reality of what he had done. The breaths turned into sobs, and eventually he could not control himself. "...You cannot keep yourself this way, Zhaiothe. Things can only get worse if you cannot control this obsession of yours-" The silver one cut away in pain. Taking a few sharp breaths to gain that strength he once had back. It was soon fading, Zhai could tell that from the fainting beats of his heart. "You must take back control of what is truly yours. You need to reclaim your life for your own, and not let this obsession overtake you. I do this for the benefit of you." Another sharp breath. "You will become unborn until you can overcome this. You will instead grow young until the day you find out what you've truly done wrong. You will not know death as I have, but unbirth, unless you can make up for what you've done. I do this for the benefit of you! I Do this for the benefit of you. I do this for the benefit of you... I do this for the benefit of you..."
	His words became whispers, and he couldn't help but count the last few heartbeats of the one he loved for four hundred years. He held onto him, crying uncontrollingly, until the warmth of his body faded. Eventually the fire in his heart grew. He became angry, and roared his pain loudly. Again and again, only to grow more and more. A Urn nearby toppled over and his fury unleashed toward the very thing that caused all of this. He grew wild and lashed at the treasures he's demanded over the century. Scraped them. Crushed them. Burned them until there was nothing left.
	Spent and sore, he staggered toward his love. Kholryik. And roared once again. This one was not full of fury though, it was instead full of entropy and mourn. Again and again and again and again, he roared until he collapsed once again on Khol.
	Back in the small shelter, the young red dragon bit himself hard in the arm to stop him from crying too loudly. But he was too loud, the father started to light a lantern, and Zhaiothe dashed out of the shelter. The cold, heavy rain stung his face, but he kept running until he was nowhere near that shelter anymore. Eventually his exhaustion gave in once again, and he found some rubble to hide underneath. To hide from the wrath of the rain.
	Even though it's been over five hundred years, he remembers those details perfectly. As he curled up into a tight little ball to keep warm, he began to taste it again. Once more, he cried himself to sleep.

	The next morning was a warm one. Rather busy at that. The noise of the refugees woke Zhaiothe up, as well as the taste of dirt. He awoke to find himself nearly covered in it. His glossy red scales were covered in mud, and lost their once beautiful shine. Shaking his head to get himself awake, he heard a loud growl, and a pain in his gut. (Right... I didn't get anything to eat last night...) With no money, and a terrible reputation to get work, he would have to resort in stealing once again... Which means he'll only get younger. Judging by the color of his scales, he doesn't have many years left. His mind worried about what would happen again if he ran out of time, and was interrupted by a louder growl. His stomach was just as demanding as he once was. Sighing in defeat, he started to move a bit to get the kinks out of his body.
	A large shadow covered him from the bright sun. Zhaiothe lowered his head a bit and looked up to see a strange looking fellow. The guy was a giant really, In a long coat and almost looked like he was raised by wild animals. However, there was something different about him... He looked human, but didn't at the same time. The large one squatted down in front of Zhaiothe, and Zhai leaned away from him as far as he could. It wasn't uncommon for people to bully him now that he was nearly defenseless, but the large one smiled at him happily... Which honestly, creeped Zhai out more. The giant gestured a small loaf of bread toward Zhaiothe, while Zhai met his gaze. Still with that same, odd smile.
	"...I think you've got the wrong starving, homeless one."
	And again with that same smile... Perhaps a little brighter, came "Nope."
	Hesitant, Zhai got a bit closer, expecting some kind of cruel joke happening. But as he opened his jaws to take it, the giant went the extra length to give it to him. Although, not really knowing his own strength, he almost shoved the full loaf into Zhai's mouth at once. But not caring, Zhai began to devour the thing. He hadn't had any bread that wasn't stale in several weeks, let alone any meat that wasn't nearly rotted. When the bread was finished, the giant sat beside him, pulling out several other pieces of food. Cheese, some fresh meat, more breads. Once again that hesitance overcame Zhai "...Why-"
	"Ma always told me that everybody deserves a second chance. And no one should be judged for what they'd gone done in the past." That smile again. "I ain't no angel of the lord, nor one of dem there paladins who think the bad should be punished. I heard the stories about you, Little Red. And I don't think any of dem are true. Neither did Ma." Zhai couldn't take his eyes of him. Even after the giant handed him more food. 
	"Then what-" After a few more bites, Zhai was interrupted again.
	"I don't need anything from you, but from what I hear, you need all the help you can get. And that's what I'm here for." That smile was haunting him.
	With a slump of his shoulders and wings, Zhai swallowed and looked away from the giant. "It's... too late for me."
	This made that smile go flat, and the giant's eyebrows raise. After a swallow, the giant pointed his sandwich at dragon and asked: "Little Red, are you dead?" The question made Zhai's head perk up a bit. "Heh, sounds like there'd be a song in there somewhere." As the giant rambled on about how his odd song would fit together, the real question still bounced around Zhai's head. But once again, was interrupted "Hey, what's a word that rhymes with cheese?"
	"...Dead?"
	"That don't sound right. But the answer is no, you ain't dead yet." Taking another bite of his sandwich, Zhai sighed, and ate what was left of the food he was given. "And I know what you're thinking." Zhai met his gaze once again, just to see that smile. "You're too small, and you can't help anybody, right?" Just like Khol used to say... 'I know what you're thinking.' Zhai's heart felt heavy again. Then a large hand rested on his back "But when you're small, you gotta start out small. Then worry about the bigger stuff." With the other hand, the giant gave him another loaf of bread and smiled. The giant then looked across the road to see the family that was in the shelter, dividing what little food they had among each other.
	"I..." Kindness... It was the same kindness that Khol showed him. The one Zhai fell in love with. His one Achilles heel, to break down the emotional walls Zhai had tried so long to build up around others. And it came back to him in another form... "...Thank you." And he returned that smile.
	"Tong. Tongmas actually, but my Ma always called me Tong."
	"Zhaiothe." He picked up the bread from Tong's massive hand, and limped toward the family.