Weakened? Xipil sneered. You are weakness itself! How can you sit here and not feel shame? Shame that you allowed yourself to be used!
Not all of us had the great Raziel to defend us, the silvery gray titanic Dragon intoned, its voice deep and sure. We were alone when the Behemoth came upon us. It started with the smallest of us first. Its gaze slid to the light purple Dragon. And the most foolish. Its gaze went to the bright yellow Dragon.
Lana was peeking around Eldoron to get a better look at the sunny head that was lifting up to see the Turquoise Dragon.
The medium-sized Dragon with orange-red scales added, We thought we were the strongest. We did not heed your call, King Raziel. These others did when the Behemoth came. But we stayed in our territories and thought we were safe.
We were not, the dark blue Dragon with white frills said and lightning crackled over its scales.
You, gray one, claim that the most foolish was taken second, but surely you see that you all were foolish, Scylla said with a trace of Esme’s waspishness. You did not just lose yourselves, but have caused death and destruction on a great scale. You have violated all of our laws.
We were used! Vozyth cried. Against our will! We did not wish to harm the mortals! Why should we?
You took their bodies for your own, Zephyra pointed out coldly. You have caused untold damage by this act!
Evren added, We only have access to the physical world because humans bond with us. It is a choice!
Xipil shocked them all by saying, You took that choice away and we have no idea what results will ripple out from this act!
The other Dragons cowered there. They had potentially put every Spirit’s chance to join with a human at risk. While the Behemoth had been capable of pushing out human souls from bodies, without its power, Raziel did not think that any other Spirit could.
Did you fight? It was surprisingly Eldoron who asked in a relatively small voice. Did you fight against the Behemoth? Did you try to stop it?
With all we had, the silvery gray Dragon sighed. But it was not enough.
That sentiment was echoed throughout the group. Raziel surveyed this sorry lot. They had once been proud Dragons. Raziel could easily imagine them ignoring his call, thinking that they were above banding together for safety and defense. Long had Raziel wanted to believe that such separateness was strength, too. Raziel believed it had needed no other than. With its human by its side, Raziel was supreme. But that wasn’t true.
I once thought as you, Raziel finally spoke. Even after my experience fighting the Behemoth together with our kind and ending a war with our united strength, I thought to be alone. My Valerius was enough. I was king and it was good.
Not just the new Dragons, but the familiar friends were listening carefully to Raziel’s words. Like between Valerius and Illarion, some things needed to be said, acknowledged and apologized for.
But without these great beings by my side, I grew blind and deaf and dumb to the Behemoth’s presence in the human realm, Raziel said.
We should have told you what we were seeing, Zephyra offered.
We missed the enormity of what was happening, because we thought it singular, Scylla added.
Mephous’ jaws cracked, but the Green Dragon didn’t say anything to what Zephyra and Scylla had offered.
I felt strife, but looked to the sea for peace, not realizing that it wasn’t the land’s fault it was unruly, but the Behemoth and the many who felt left behind by our ascent, Lana said.
These were solemn words from the Turquoise Dragon who celebrated fun over everything
If these great beings had not joined me, my Valerius would have been lost. I… might have been lost, Raziel admitted.
We need each other, Xipil said, stepping a little towards Raziel with antlered head held high. Metal--cold or hot--is not enough. We need our fellow Dragons to keep the world from falling into chaos.
Raziel nodded at Xipil, acknowledging its words, knowing how hard they were to say.
It was easy to think the deserts surrounding me kept out threats, Evren said. But they just emphasized how alone I was.
Who could survive the ages without seeing my gloriousness? Eldoron murmured. I was wrong to hide myself from you all.
We’re so honored. Xipil rolled its eyes.
Yes, as you should be, Eldoron sighed in contentment.
So far only you, Green Dragon, say nothing of the strength of togetherness, Vozyth pointed out with slitted eyes.
