Drekkan

DREKKAN

I groan myself into consciousness. Pain rushes in as my mind sparks to life. Not only does my head hurt, but my leg and hip do. They burn at me in a way which cannot be healthy. As I stretch out, it sears through me like my flesh is being sliced open.

With some difficulty, I open my eyes. It doesn’t help much, I have no idea where I am, but I can see in the dim light the pulsar injury. My scales are black around it, and as I attempt to move, I nearly pass out again. I’m curled into somewhere far too small to shift, and if I want to heal, I’m going to have to get free.

I poke at the hole where the light filters in and the barrier crumbles. With an effort I shouldn’t have to put in, I slowly break through until I can shove my head through the gap and gulp down the sharp, cold air. My flight lungs seem dull, and I have no accelerant—even a cough and a belch doesn’t produce anything.

None of this is good. My memory of what happened is hazy. The mayor removed my collar. I was drinking somewhere and then…

Nothing. I can’t scent my sweet mate and I don’t know where I am. Something I don’t like at all. With what feels like a final effort, I shove the rest of my body out of the hole and find myself sliding down a snowy slope with no way of stopping.

Finally, I come to rest in a bank of soft snow. I’m not sure if I have much energy, and without accelerant, I’m struggling in the cold. I could try to shift, or I could get up and go find my mate.

Wondering at what point I divested myself of all my clothing, I roll over with a groan onto my hands and knees, then I stumble to my feet.

I’m on a small bluff behind the settlement, looking down over the dwellings. In the far distance is my old lair. The mystery as to why I’m here deepens, but until I go looking for answers and find my Jade, I’m getting nowhere. I shake off as much snow as I can, wrap my arms around myself for warmth, and head along the edge in order to get down to the nearest dwelling.

Snow is falling as I push through the pain in my leg and come across something half buried. It’s my pants. Turns out I’m a rather lucky Sarkarnii after all, so I pull them on and, despite them being out presumably all night, they’re not too wet and give me a semblance of warmth as I descend.

Probably the first time in my life I’m thankful for pants.

As I reach Kitchik, I’m aware something is wrong. The streets should be buzzing with life, with light, with the inhabitants getting ready for their solstice celebrations, but instead the place is quiet and empty. I pass by one door and it slams shut.

I’m limping badly as I continue on through the town, wanting to get to Jade as soon as I can, to explain, somehow, where I’ve been and to see if someone can look at my leg. I probably should shift, but I don’t have the energy.

I need Jade and food, in that order, and maybe a mating too.

“Pssst!” I whirl around at the strange noise and my leg gives way, causing me to fall into the snow. “What are you doing?” Qrow says in my ear.

“I’m trying to get to Jade and get my leg fixed,” I growl at him.

“You don’t want to go any farther.” Qrow helps me back up, and I put my hand on his head to balance myself.

“Why? I want to see my mate.”

“Because you stole the power transformer, and the mayor is out for your blood.”

“Nev!” I stumble and have to hang on to Qrow to keep my balance. “I swear to you, I haven’t touched the power transformer. I wouldn’t. The mayor removed my collar, see?” I point to my throat. “Someone else must have done it.”

“Who would take a power transformer and ruin the solstice celebrations?” Qrow asks as a nearby door opens up and a couple peer out at us.

“I should go. Maybe I can find it,” I say to him. “Maybe if I get it back, I can prove it wasn’t me.”

More pain spikes through my leg and I can hardly stand. Qrow pushes me across the street to the open door.

“Take him,” he urges the couple. “He needs food and rest, then he needs his mate.”

“He stole the power transformer,” the female says. “Why should we help him?”

“Do I look like I stole anything?” I reply, shoving myself back from them. “I need to get to my mate. I have to get to her.”

Darkness is closing in on me again, and I fight it as hard as I can. The last thing to go is my hearing.

“He’s right, my dear. He doesn’t look like a male who has stolen anything, but it seems the female has taken his heart.”