AN: So begins the next story arc.

Chapter 36.1: The Hope of Darkness

It was something desperately needed, the feel of flesh being torn by his fangs and claws. It had only been a scant few days since he had died and been reborn. Since that time Blackthorne had not been able to increase his skills or levels. Various things had happened, and even hunting for the purposes of loot gathering had been delayed.

Since the events of earlier that day, he had been unsettled. Things with the girls were complicated, difficult. He tried his best to just go with the flow, and strangely by doing so he had both hurt and comforted them. It was strange that he actually cared about such a thing. Before the dream, he probably would not have given much of a damn about cute girls crying. They had certainly never cried for him. No one had.

Blackthorne leapt straight into the air. His jump propelled him over a charging leaper and allowed him a perfect opportunity to lash his tail across the creature's face in the process.

Leapers were not particularly challenging opponents for him anymore, at least not in the deep grass. Blackthorne liked it that way. He had frustrations to work out prior to heading back to the waking world.

A full day and night, that was how much time he had in the dream before they were to head off and loot the store again. He intended to spend it hunting in the wilderness. He knew no better place, or at least no better place that he could actually get to without a guide, than the deep grass beyond Argent.

The little dragon had been delighted when he had discovered that if he fell asleep on Earth, he still returned to his normal location in the dream world. He had not learned what would happen if he fell asleep in the dream world with his Earth body, and had not thought to ask Shara until he had fallen asleep.

The leaper was stunned briefly by his insulting attack. It was all the time that Blackthorne needed to capitalize on the momentum of battle. He leapt atop the staggered leaper and ruthlessly bit into its neck. The creature died not long after and Blackthorne was left to enjoy a tasty meal.

Recently, he had begun to become increasingly hungry whenever he was in his dragon form. It was a strange sensation, a constant insatiable craving for meat that he had mostly ignored in favor of his human form.

Blackthorne rubbed his face against the grass after he finished his meal then began scenting the air in a predatory manner. His hunger demanded meat, and his heart demanded time without the sound and scent of a woman.

Relationships were strange for him, but the feeling he had when he raced through the tall grass was something far less complex, primal. He let out a might Graa-aaaw! and raced into the grass. It was time to hunt again.

**

While the littlest lord of darkness went about his adorable murder spree in the tall grass, there was another tiny little dragon in need of answers deep in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains.

"Big sis! Tell me a story." asked the little faerie dragon as she fluttered around Melisandre. Big sister Melisandre had come to visit the little ones as was her custom whenever she could escape the tyranny of her master.

"Of course, dear heart. What would you like to know?" asked the older dragon before reaching out and lightly cupping the tiny dragon girl in her forepaws.

"Can you tell me about him again?" asked the pinky-sized faerie dragon.

Melisandre smiled a dragon's smile. It was both sweet and terrifying in its fanged manner. "What would you like to know? I only know a little about him as it is."

The faerie dragon raised one of her tiny claws to her little draconic lips then made a thoughtful sound. Her overly large eyes blinked and she cutely said, "Everything?"

Melisandre laughed warmly at the darling little girl. She adored each of the children, but even so there was a special place in her heart for the littlest dragon. Even before the plague the faerie dragons were rare, but well-loved due to their innocence and whimsy.

"Dear heart, he is a hatchling at present but already far larger than any of your brothers and sisters. Some day he will be a truly magnificent lord." said Melisandre.

The faerie dragon closed her eyes and made a soft buzzing sound. "Is he pretty?"

"He is glorious child." said Melisandre in a whimsical tone of voice.

The faerie dragon giggled cutely then sat up. "Big sis sounds funny."

Melisandre narrowed her eyes slightly but maintained her strangely human expression. "Do I?"

The little dragon acquired a cute, but crafty look, "Do you want to mate with him?"

"Child... Who told you about such a thing?" asked Melisandre softly. There was no reproach or anger in her voice. She would never want to frighten such a sweet child.

"Gygram said his father used to talk about it all the time." said the tiny little thing.

Melisandre pursed her draconic lips to one side. "Gygram, I see." Gygram was one of the older dragon siblings, and often spoke of things he did not truly understand.

The little dragon tilted her head to the side and looked up at Melisandre with one eye. "Soooo."

"I barely know him, dear heart." said Melisandre gently.

"I'm not hearing no." said the wee dragon.

Melisandre sighed then slowly shook her great draconic head. "Dear one, it would be unseemly. I am but a storm dragon... "

"Oh... So, he would not like you?" asked the little one.

The blue dragon chuckled softly. "I do not know, but it would not be proper. His station is far above mine."

"That's so sad. I know we pray to the great celestial dragons, and thank them for what they have done for us in the past, but..."

"Dear heart, do not finish that sentence." said Melisandre in a soft but authoritative tone.

"Why not? If he thinks you aren't good enough for him--!"

"That's not it at all. His kind are not natured in such a manner." said Melisandre.

The faerie dragon tilted her head to the side. She was a little confused now. "What are they like?"

Melisandre breathed in a mighty breath then slowly exhaled. The little dragon giggled as the warm, sweet-scented, wind blew against her. Big sister smelled wonderful, like a spring meadow after a storm.

"The celestial dragons of darkness are... Well, they are hope incarnate dear heart." said Melisandre.

"Hope incarnate? What do you mean big sis." She batted her eyelids gently and then gazed upon Melisandre with her overly large and innocent eyes.

"The three celestial dragons are part of a trinity. We pray to them to be reminded of hope, wisdom, and justice. However, they do not simple epitomize one thing." said Melisandre.

The faerie dragon was still confused. Melisandre smiled at her and elaborated. "We pray for the dragons of light to gift us with the warmth of hope. We pray to the dragons of twilight to gift up with their luminous wisdom. We pray to the dragons of darkness for swift and terrible justice when we are wronged."

"Yes, of course. So, wouldn't the dragons of light be the incarnation of hope?"

"They are each capable of hope, wisdom, and justice. However, we pray to our celestial elders for the gift that would take the least from them so that they will always have their greatest power in abundance." said Melisandre.

The faerie dragon acquired yet another confused expression. "Why?"

Melisandre laughed gently at the inquisitive child. "It is an old legend and warning sweet one. Take not more than the elders have to give, for in their shadow we have to live."

"What does that mean, though?" asked the little one.

Big sis Melisandre closed her eyes. "Well, it is a bit of a mystery. However, it is said that each of the ancient celestial dragon races is paired and tempered in their nature. Dragons of light have hope tempered with wisdom. Dragons of twilight have much wisdom but it is tempered with a righteous heart."

"What about the dragons of darkness?"

Melisandre sweetly replied. "Their righteous hearts are filled and tempered by the light of hope. So long as it burns brightly within them they will be an unstoppable force for good."

"Unstoppable? They can't be killed?" asked the little one.

"Well, their body can be slain, but as long as they have hope in their heart they will always rise again to set the wrong things right. That is why we do not pray that they give us their hope as they need it to protect the innocent from the evils of this world." said Melisandre.

"What sorts of evils?" asked the faerie dragon curiously.

Melisandre smiled at her little one. "Well, they do not like to take the life of a true sentient unless it is warranted by wicked actions. They also absolutely abhor theft and needless suffering."

"They don't like people who steal and hurt others?" asked the faerie dragon.

"Indeed not, dear heart. They have a respect for law and for well-ordered society. They wish all people to live in peace. The hope that burns within them is founded in a desire to see others thrive." said Melisandre

"It is?" asked the little dragon.

"Oh yes, dear one. That desire is born out in ways that allow them to protect the innocent from those who would take from them unjustly. Protecting the innocent and ensuring the peace is their greatest joy."

The little dragon nodded. She began to understand things a little. "What happens if they lose all of their hope, big sis?"

Melisandre drew back a little then looked away for a moment. Slowly she regained her composure then looked back to her sweet child. "That... Dear heart, we never dwell on that."

"Why?" she asked innocently.

"It... Sweet one, nothing good can come from asking about such a terrible thing." said Melisandre, a hint of worry in her tone.

The little dragon sat up and looked up at her big sis with her overly large and innocent eyes. "Does he have enough hope? Can I give him some of mine?"

Melisandre closed her eyes for a moment and their rims began to brim with tears. "Dear heart, you are such a sweet child."

The faerie dragon looked up at her big sis, a look of confusion on her face. Had she said something wrong?