CHAPTER 2
The pair traveled through the ever growing hills, heading deeper into the western mountains. As they began scaling the auburn mountains, climbing higher in elevation, the air started to grow hotter rather than become colder. 
After several days, they finally reached the large city of HaiKhan. Built into the side of an active volcano, its inhabitants were mostly reptiles and a few sparse dragons with the occasional traveling merchants that took a settling in the city. Many of the buildings were built of stone and wood, a long line of houses looked as if they were carved straight from the side of the mountain.
The pair looked around at all the bustling bazaar, eventually coming across a wagon stacked with clothes, armor, robes and a large selection of accessories. Sakari looked down at the little mountain lion, who was excitedly turning his head around in all directions, trying to take in so much of the busy street. She looked up at the horned lizard that sitting behind the cart. “Do you have anything his size?” she pointed down at Ferain.
The lizard had to stand up to see Ferain over a pile of clothes, his eyebrows lifting slightly in slight wonderment of the boy's size. “I might. Lets see,” He took another good look over the cougar before sitting down, digging around inside the cart. After a few short minutes, he came up, holding up a short tunic, a green vest and a pair of leather leggings. “They might be big, I can have them cut to his size.” He handed them to Sakari.
After getting Ferain to put on the clothes, he let the Horned lizard cut away the materials until they finally fit the mountain lion comfortably, leaving him with his the leather leggings coming up just above his knees, the waist hidden under the tunic's hem that stopped at the top of his thigh. The sleeves just barely shown from under the shoulders of the vest, the only unaltered piece of clothing. Thanking them merchant and paying their fee, the freshly clothed feline and wolfess continued deeper into the bazaar and stopped at a stand; smoke, steam and strong scents of spice billowing from the the small shop. At that moment, Ferain's belly grumbled, making him blush as Sakari chuckled at him.
The two sat down at the stand, a cobra taking their their orders and served them only a few minutes later. They were in the middle of eating when a pair of leopard geckos walked into the stall. “Did you see that dragon? Talk about tall, dark and handsome.” She hissed with a wide smile on her face. “Hope that sword wasn't compensating for anything.” She sat down a few seats from Sakari. 
“W-What’s he look like?” Sakari asked suddenly, standing up and leaving her plate. “What kind of sword did he have?”
The reptile blinked at the sudden intrusion. “W-Well he was about this tall.” She said, lifting her hand almost a foot above her head. “Black scales and a blue cloak, his sword looked like it was made out of bone.” She curled her lip to expose her teeth. “He was walking out of town, up to Mount Volaine.” She was barely able to finish her sentence before Sakari dashed off up the street. “Uh, you're welcome!” The lizard called hissing and watched as Ferain followed after her.
They quickly made their up the mountain path, carved into the mountain side. The further they climbed up the path, the more it vanished, erased by landslides and hardened lava that covered the path. Coming up a hill, Sakari panted and wiped her brow “Damn, who in their right mind would build a shire at the top of a volcano.” She growled and looked up. The mountain stood tall over them, dark smoke billowing out of the top. About half way up, she could see the top of the building that Sakari guessed was the shrine. 
The feline hopped off a rock with a grunt. “They probably were able to climb it easier. Like a home advantage.” He looked up before starting to climb another slope. He climbed over a dam of rocks , his long feline tail waving around. “That and these rocks are just wrecking the path.” He added.
“Be careful, Ferain, I have a bad feeling about this place...” The wolf stood back, sniffing the air.
“It's a volcano, of course you've got a bad feeling. Mew!” Ferain yelped as he felt the rocks shift as he tried to climb over them. Slipping on the smooth rocks, he tried to grab onto them again, but fell back, free-falling through the air now.
Sakari gasped and stepped back as the rocks lifted up, grabbing the young feline out of the air. Ferain's look of confusion quickly was replaced by a mask of terror as the rocks held him and squeezed his small form. All at once the rocks shifted, growing tall as they joined together and created a gigantic golem, standing a good fifteen meters high. The rocks took on a light blue aura as it moved forward towards Sakari, holding the feline tight in its hand. She drew her sword and launched herself at the creature, her blade sparking uselessly against the solid stone. Her heart stopped as the hand tightened around Ferain and he gave a piercing scream. “Ferain! Hold on!” She attacked again, aiming for the rocks that surrounded the boy, once again having the sword deflect. She landed at the golem's feet and growled.
Swinging its other arm, it brought it down as Sakari leap out of the way, leaving it to smash a hole into the ground where the wolfess had jut been.
“GET DOWN!”
In a flash, a crescent of fire was flying through the air, slicing the golem's arm that held Ferain. The rocks fell to the ground, leaving the mountain lion to fall on top of them before he managed to scramble over to the wolfess just moments before an explosion of ice froze the living rocks instantly. A bolt of lightning soon followed, shattering it violently, sending shrapnel over the entire mountain side. As silence fell, Sakari stood up and looked around “Who's there!?” She called, holding her sword tighter still.
From behind the bend in the path, a large bodied crocodile. He was wearing a dark red robe with lines of brown and black over the front. In his hands was a wooden staff, a curl at the top held a large and beautiful ruby. “Are you alright?”
“We're fine.” She looked down at the trembling Ferain, who nodded. “Who are you?”
“I am Nempus, high mage of HaiKhan.” He bowed his head lightly. “I'm sorry you got caught up with that, The Thardaus don't usually act like that.”
Sakari sheathed her katana and nodded. “We'll have to take your word for it. I'm Sakari, and this is Ferain. We're looking for....a friend of ours. A black dragon, you wouldn't have happened to see him, would you?” 
Nempus cocked his head to the side for a moment before nodding, a smile growing on his snout. “I have actually. He was walking up to the shrine.” he nudged his staff up towards the top of the volcano.
“Good. We've still got some time.” She said and passed the crocodile.
“Time? For what?” The reptile turned to face her back. “What are you talking about?”
“Zerataph. He's gathering the dragons just like the king of the legend. He's already gotten Heirtol's dragon. So I've got to stop him here.” she started walking up the mountain again. 
“T-The dragons? There's no way anyone could control them in this day and age.” Nempus said and started walking up with her, Ferain bringing up the rear.
They reached the entrance to the shrine. The antechamber was build against the side of the mountain, the open arch gave them an undisturbed view of the interior. Rows of stone benches lined either side of an aisle, much like the other shrines had been. Against the back wall was a giant pool of lava, being filled by a cascading fall of lava from deeper within the volcano. Standing in the center of the alter just in front of the pool was the shadowy form of Zerataph.
Treading on his shadow cast by the lava, they made it half way before a low rumbling shook the entire temple and made them come to a standstill. Just seconds after the rumbling stopped, the snout of something large from the cascading lava. But in just seconds a dragon was standing in the pool, the lava dripping off of its hindquarters. The dragon stood an astonishing twelve meters tall at the shoulders and almost sixteen meters in length. It had bright red and yellow scales, looking very much like the lava that poured over it. Starting with a single black horn on its nose, two rows ran up the top of its maw and grew longer as they neared the top of its head. The spines on the top of its head were pitch black like the rest, and curled back following the shape of the jaw until they pointed forward once more. From there the smaller horns joined back into one row and followed down the length of its spine. The wings were folded against its body, but Sakari guessed they were at least thirteen meters tip to tip. It opened its mouth and roared, making them clamp their paws over their ears as the whole mountain seemed to shake.
Just as soon as the roar had started, it began to fade. Sakari looked up to watch as the dragon start to disappear, only a large red orb of energy remaining. Though that didn't stay for long either as it seemingly sucked into the tall dragon morph standing in front of them. “Zerataph!” She called out and got up again, her tail fur poofing out in agitation. “You've got to stop this!”
The form turned around and walked towards them “Oh Sakari, It's so good to see you again.” He grinned. He stepped into the light from the doorway, exposing his from. More or less, he looked the same. His body didn't change all that much, and the gi pants and cloak he wore had several more rips and tears. The thing that did change about him, was his underbelly. Once purely silver now had stripes of color going across it. Brown, Green and Red were added to the silver. And his eyes had gained the same colors, added to the colorless iris. “Why should I stop when I’m so close to finishing my collection?” He grinned. “I see you've been as busy as I have.” Zerataph chuckled as he eyed Ferain and Nempus.
“C-Collecting!?” She asked and drew her sword.
He raised his free hand and from his palm, three small orbs emerged, hovering in circles over the hand. The orbs were colored red, brown and green. And in the glowing center was the head of the dragons that each one represented. “What do you think? I've almost got the full set.” He grinned malevolently. 
“Y-You're a monster!” Nempus hissed sharply. “Release their spirits now!” He lifted his shaft, the ruby glowed a dull blue, a spike of ice formed in the air above the curl. Swinging it down, the ice shot towards the dragon in a flash.
Sakari blinked, falling back to avoid the shaft. When she looked up at Zerataph, she saw that he dragon had caught the giant piece of ice. She blinked again, staring in disbelief at what she saw. 
Zerataph had the spike not in his own claw. But around it was a much larger claw of energy. The dark brown-black color very obvious over the pale blue ice. “Nice try, old man.” He hissed venom and threw the giant piece of ice back at Nempus.
The crocodile flew backwards, skidding to a stop near the entrance of the shrine. 
“No!” Sakari cried. She stared while Zerataph laughed coldly behind her. Turning, she launched herself at the dragon. Grunting loudly as he sword came to a stop, the energy grabbing a hold of the energy. He lifted her, leaving her to dangle from the sword. “I-I'll stop you, Zerataph, even if I have to kill you.”
“I'd like to see you try.” He growled, his face twisting from one of pleasure to anger. The dragon swung her around and threw her heavily into a stalactite.
Her yelp rang in the hall as she hit the solid rock before falling to the ground. The wolfess coughed, blood spattering the ground. She looked up, arms shaking to hold her weight. Zerataph's smile returned to his maw. The same energy formed behind him and took the shape of two massive wings. She stood up shakily, only to be knocked down as the wings flapped strongly, sending him shooting out of the open mountain top into the blue sky.
Sakari spun around to look over at Ferain bent over Nempus. She crawled over to them. “N-Nempus.” She felt her body freeze up upon looking at his injury. The ice had pierced his middle, blood dripping slowly and soaking into his tattered robe. Ferain's hands were lightly placed at the edge of his wound, feebly glowing white. “I-Is he going to be okay?”
“I-I don't. I don't know. I-I'm trying.” he whimpered, his whole body shuddering terribly.
The crocodile lifted a hand and wrapped it around the smaller male's “It's O-Okay, Ferain.” Nempus breathed out. “ Don't wear yourselves out. J-Just stop him, I can't tell you how. But I know...know that you're the only ones who can stop him.”
“D-Don't say that. You'll make, and we'll all stop him.” Sakari shook. 
Nempus only smiled before his hand fell limp onto the warm rock, his dark eyes staring blankly up at the stone ceiling. 
Sakari looked away, growling lowly. “Damn him. Zerataph...” She stood up suddenly. Grabbing her sword, she dashed out the entrance. “Come one. We can't lose him now!”
“W-We can't leave him!” Ferain mewed sharply. “Please Sakari! Not here!”
“We don't have time. He's getting away!” 
“F-Fine! Then go alone!” The mountain lion screamed at her and turned back to Nempus' body. He held onto the crocodile's hand and tried to pull, not moving the large male an inch. He fell to his knees and cried loudly, tears dripping onto the ground, steaming as they hit the warm stone.
Sakari watched Ferain for a moment, her ears falling back against her skull. “Ferain. I'm sorry...” She looked at her paws “I've just been haunted by this for so long. And now that I've found him again, I thought that I...I'm sorry.” She walked over to the pair and lifted Nempus over her shoulder, grunting with the extra weight. She walked outside and gently set him back down on the ground, beginning to dig in a soft patch of earth using her claws and rocks to make a fairly deep hole.
The two were completely silent, only the sound of the mountains and scratching of rocks filled their ears. Gently laying his body in the grave, she piled the dirt back over him, adding rocks gingerly. “Rest in peace, Nempus. I'm so sorry.” She whispered as Ferain gently sunk his staff into the ground to mark his grave. They stood together for a little while, calming down from the fight and the small funeral. 
They bid him one last prayer before turning to the north, and began following another trail. Near dusk, they found a hot spring, its water unbelievably clear. She looked into the pool. “We'll stop here for the night. Get washed up.” She said looking at him, seeing his fur had been covered in soot, making him look like a black panther now. Walking around the spring, she found a small dip in the mountains, dried trees standing dead in the valley. She brought up several arm loads before making a fire and stripping her armor and gi to wash her own fur. The air was still heavy with sadness and anger. She was so close. After all this time, she almost had him and yet felt like she was further than ever. Her mind reeled over what happened in the shrine, making tears fill her eyes again. 
She stepped back and sat by the fire to dry her fur. Once Ferain joined her, she gave him a portion of their food, eating in silence before laying down for the night. The moon beginning to rise above the horizon, Sakari watched it until it was fully over the mountain tops. Her heart stopped as she saw a flicker of black flying across it. Whimpering, she rolled over and closed her eyes tightly, falling into a restless sleep.