Dan'enda Struggle

Chapter Two: The Sacrifices

By the time we had arrived at the nests, Ivy's scales had become gray and dead, like ashes. Tolyx, now his full-grownsize to keep up, and I landed in front of the gates of the nesting building and we were greeted by one of the nurses. "Hello, Princess. How are you doing-" She stopped midstep when her eyes reached the sight of Ivy.

"Help me, please! My sister blew some type of dark flame and Ivy shielded me. I don't know what is wrong with her! I can't let anything happen to her!"

The nurse looked up at me. "She used dark magic. She is heading down a dangerous path. We cannot save Ivy alone. You must take her to the center of the fire in the field and breathe your shared life through her."

I watched her, confused. "What do you mean? What are you talking about?"

"When you are in the fire, look at her and think of her. Your instincts, no doubt, will save you both. I will inform the guides and they will help with the flow of your bond. Go, now, Princess, or it will be too late," she said as she looked down at Ivy's fading scales.

I did not question her further as I took off with my wings. I flew over the building and to a field with a blazing fire in the center. The buildings around us burst alive as guides rushed out onto the balconies and patios. None were supposed to enter the octagonal field but those who it was intended for, those who needed it. It became apparent we were meant to use it.

I landed three feet from the great fire and left my wings unfurled. I walked into the center of the fire, hoping through all odds that Ivy would be alright. I kissed her head, my cheeks wet, as I began to burn. I wrapped my wings around us, screaming. "Ivy, don't you dare leave me. I need you!" I held her close to me, to my heart, and my hand cupped her head and my thumb stroked her brow. Her scales began to crumble and flake away at my touch. I screamed even more. I spoke in Draghan, "Ivy, through all of our years, you have been my best friend. I can't expect my life to continue without you here by my side. You are my soul." I cried and closed my eyes. I had lost all acknowledgement of the world outside my wings, out of her body's presence. I had thought that she was lost to me forever.

A few short moments passed before I spoke again, my eyes still closed, "I don't care what happens to myself, but I will not allow you to die." I drew a breath and blew a kiss towards her soft, frail body in my arms. I felt a warmth course through my body and out through my lips as I blew. When I opened my eyes, Ivy's scales were returning to their green color. She opened her eyes and nuzzled into my arms. I cried and hugged her as I walked out of the fire. The head nurse met us at the edge of the field, with a somber look on her face.

"Princess, we were able to help you two through this, but at a cost. You see, many of us are Drogul, Lost Souls, because we have lost our Sparks. We have trained very hard over many years to be able to do what we can without our Life Fire burning between us. However, we cannot do much. There are a number of us who have just collapsed because of the strength required to take away the darkness."

The look on my face changed as I looked around and realized what she was saying. Before I could apologize, she smiled at me. "Princess, I knew from the day I watched you and Ivy connect on your birthday that you were destined for greatness. We all knew. We all felt it that day. That is why we are so willing to sacrifice ourselves for you two to be together. It is what our Sparks would have wanted us to do. You are how we will live through our Sparks again. We will heal." She grabbed something from a bag at her hip, and I saw that it was a bone from the claw of a very old dragon. She gripped the knuckle of the claw and drew the end across my forehead, then Ivy's. There wasn't any blood on the claw when she drew it away, but I felt as if it was important, like it left a mark. She put the claw back in the bag, not elaborating. "Now, Tolyx is waiting for you in the entrance hall to the nesting grounds. I do believe he needs saving from the children," she chuckled as she nudged me towards the building.

When we walked through the doors to the main hall, however, I saw my mother, her Spark Jade, and my father. A now small Tolyx flew from the chair at my father's side to my shoulder, whispering in my ear to head back to the castle while they spoke with the nurse. As I walked out, I heard the nurse say that a few Guides had died. Tolyx rushed me out faster.

I flew home and rushed to my bedroom, shutting the door before Tolyx could follow me through. I lay Ivy down on the green cushion on my bed and grabbed some of the meat jerky from the platter from that morning. I gave Ivy a piece to bring back some of her strength but she wasn't very hungry. She ate that piece then asked to rest. I agreed and laid down beside her. She fell asleep and I eventually followed.

We woke up many hours later and it was dark outside. The fireplace in my room had been lit and burning for at least a couple of hours. Ivy felt better and sat on my shoulder as I lit my candle with the flames and walked out of the room. My parents were home. I knew because the lights to their chambers were lit and Jade and Tolyx were by one of the many windows down the hallway. Tolyx flew down the open hallway to my parents' room while Jade watched me walk closer. She looked very upset and so I asked her what was wrong in Draghan. Before she could respond, she whipped her head back to the conjoining hallway as my father ran out.

"Nydia, it's your mother. She collapsed at the nesting grounds. The news about your sister was too much for her. We have healers trying to help her, but we do not know what is going to happen." My father looked at Jade, an apologetic somber look devouring all of his usually cheery features. "I am sorry for how I acted. Please go up to my wife."

Jade nodded quickly, looked at me, then took off.

"Father? Is she going to be alright?" I was scared that I might lose my mother, as well as my sister.

"We do not know," he said after a moment of pause. His voice had cracked. He took a deep breath. "Come on. Let's go see her." I followed him down the hall and into their bedroom. My mother was barely conscious on their bed with Jade next to her head. "Adilae," my father called, "Nydia is awake."

She opened her eyes more to look at me and held out her hand. I sat by her side on the bed and held her hand as I comforted Jade. "Momma, what's wrong?"

"My heart is dying, Nydia. Your sister has left us. I don't know what will happen to her, or even if she'll come back. I fear you may be in danger." She spoke slowly. "You, you need to be protected."

"We have to find Syrena! She's my sister! She is every bit as good as I am! Why did I have to be the first-born? Why was I born? Why?" The questions flew from my mouth before I could stop them.

My mother cried. "Don't talk like that, Nydia. You are her big sister. She wouldn't be anything without you. She will realize that soon enough. I want you to help her. She is lost and struggling right now. You need to be there for her when I am gone. I love you all." My mother's breath grew weaker and she closed her eyes.

"No!" I screamed. "You're not going anywhere! Don't leave me!"

Jade screeched at my mother. "You will not go anywhere, yet. You will live for our family!" She grew to match the size of my mother and wrapped her wings around her, knocking me off of the bed. I saw light and felt warmth as I realized my mother's Spark was sacrificing herself, all of her very last flame, to save my mother. I was helped up and sheltered by my father. We were all crying. When the light disappeared, there was nothing left but Jade's bones lying across my mother's body. I broke free of my father's arms as he sank to the ground. I rushed back up to my mother's side. I put my ear to her chest. Her heart was beating just fine, and there was an extra bit of warmth seeping from her. My mother opened her eyes and hugged me. Then I pulled back and she sat up, her gaze resting on the bones. She cried. She gathered the bones and held them to her. My father got up and came to us and stood by her side.

He watched his love for a moment then looked at me. "Nydia, go tell Tolyx and the healers what just happened. I'll be out soon."

I nodded and left the room. I met Tolyx and he showed me to where the healers waited in the main entrance room of the castle. I told them about the incident, said my mother now seemed fine, and that my father will discuss it more shortly. I went to the throne room, just past the room where the healers waited, and sat with Ivy on the ground as Tolyx flew back to the room. What felt like a long time later, I heard footsteps and a voice called out to me. I looked up to see a few members of the regular uniformed Royal Guard coming through another entrance, led by a lady with white hair and not much older than I was. After her came a guy with black hair. I recognized him from school, from before I started seeing the tutors. She called out to me again. I thought I then knew why they were there.