ORIGIN

Not often did Asimona leave her nest in Pisces but she had to now. Because back home was worry and anxiety for her children, who seemed to drift farther and farther from the nest every day. They were full grown now, but that didn't stop Asimona from thinking of them as the little babies that she loved so dearly. But she could feel tinges of mania edging into the corners of her mind, obsession for their well-being almost taking over her every thought and action. And clarity burst in one day, telling her one thing: leave.

Not forever, of course, but just leave. Go to the other side of the caves. Go where it is warm and not cold, stretch her wings and do some good hunting.

And this is what brought the usually reclusive dragon to Monoceros, a cave so far from her own and far too warm for her tastes that she rarely ever visited it. She soared on top of the winds, making her way to the most ferocious part of the room. She wanted to brave the twister. She was an incredibly good flier and sometimes she found just drifting through the caves far too easy. This would be a challenge, a very dangerous one. Something to stir her soul and awaken her nerves.

And awaken they did. Her heart was beating out of control and adrenaline was rushing through her veins. Her mind crossed through so many different results of this practice, many of which ended with her death, and she changed her mind so many times in such a short amount of time that she actually stopped in mid-air, terrified. Without really thinking about it, she looked down and found herself staring at the strange white and black blob that was moving around against the sandy color of Monoceros's stones. Curiosity, perhaps, or just an excuse not to throw herself into the tornado immediately had her angling towards the blob and carefully setting herself down not far away. "Hey there," she greeted, casually, trying to keep the nervousness out of her tone. But she found her mouth go a little dry and her words stuck in her throat. This is so stupid.

She cleared her throat and looked up towards the tornado, deciding, all of a sudden, fuck it, she'd just ask. "Have you ever been in the twister? Or known anyone that has?" She blinked. "Just, uh, out of curiosity."

Asimona nodded, not really listening that much to Cloudberry, a little too focused on her plan. The more time that passed the less and less sure she was going to do this. Why did she want to do this again? Because it was a challenge? Because it was new? She should just turn around and go back to her children.

"I'm Asimona," she responded, but something stuck in her mind. She blinked, her head tilting a bit and she rewound her memory a bit. She hadn't really been paying attention, but after a moment she realized what was sticking. Her eyes widened with shock at the name. Cloudberry.

She had heard that Blackberry had been killed, that the family that terrorized the cave had scattered and most had been defeated, captured, or killed. The threat of Blackberry's family had terrified the dragon, more so then most, considering how her encounter with them before had went. Not for her, but for her children. If she ever saw the goose or her accursed spawn again, she would tear them apart before they even got close.

She whipped around, eyes burning, the twister flying to the back of her mind. "Cloudberry...you're one of them!" It wasn't a question. Who else would have a name like that? She snarled low, her head snaking down to glare at the smaller creature. "You are a monster. You and your whole damn family. Horrible, terrible, despicable creatures." She didn't often grow so angry, nor so hateful, but seeing one of them in front of her reminded her that, even though Blackberry might be dead, she had a very large family. And they were still a very real threat.

She should wipe them out before they could get close to her children.

The dragon's tail lashed behind her, slamming against rocks and throwing them into the twister as she glared down at Cloudberry. She stared at the thing, at its pointed face, the large feathered tail, the wings, the hooves...definitely one of Blackberry and Blueberry's spawn. She looked ready to fly so Asimona focused on the area around her feet. She wanted to freeze them in place so she couldn't escape and terrorize more creatures around the caves, but no magic came to her beyond her rage. No matter. If she flew, Asimona would pursue.

"I don't believe you," she snarled. "I once saved your mother and how did she repay me?" Asimona tilted her neck back and pointed at the scars that dotted her neck. "She had her brute gore me with his antlers. You are all liars and murderers and you will never hurt anyone ever again." She wanted to attack, but she had lost her chance and something still told her, despite knowing that she was facing a monster that would soon be dead or too defeated to ever hurt anyone else, she could not bring herself to just. Attack in cold blood. It was a strange and annoying thing that kept her from doing anything but opening her jaws and letting out a colossal roar that sent the pebbles around them clattering and dust fall from the ceiling.

As soon as Cloudberry took flight, Asimona's tensed wings flooded outwards and she leaped into the air right behind her. She didn't hesitate this time. She would not be getting away. Cold magic flooded up her throat and her jaws opened wide. Another roar burst from her mouth, but this one was followed by a magical burst of freezing air and chunks of ice, directed straight at Azure.

She would beat her in a chase, easily - she was much bigger then the hybrid, but only in open air. The way she was headed, Asimona would quickly lose her in the rocks. Her massive wings were much more suited for open airs flying and stability, rather then sharp turns and agility. If she was going to fight her, then she needed to bring her down first. The breath was cold enough to freeze her feathers and make it more difficult, if not impossible to fly. And then she'd make it quick.

Asimona watched with satisfaction as the ice spread, freezing the hybrid's every feather, spreading in a beautiful, terrible pattern and she watched as they twisted around. She prepared for them to fight her, fight back against her coming death, but all the dragon saw on her face was horror. Terror. And for a moment Asimona wondered if she saw confusion. Why?

And then the winds took a hold of the hybrid and flung her away. Shocked, Asimona wings opened wide, pushing her away from the winds before they could even touch her. She smoothly glided back down to the rocks at the edge of the twister and looked down. Far below she could see something glimmering blue. A chrysalis. That was quick.
It hit her a moment later. She had killed someone. Broken their body to the point that it could no longer work and had to repair itself. With a single breath she had sent someone plummeting to their death. She told herself that they deserved it, that they were a monster, that she was protecting her children...but was that really true?

She hadn't seemed bad. She had changed her name, after all. Azure, not Cloudberry. And she claimed not to be a part of the family's terribleness. And the look of fear...nobody was that good an actor.

She stepped away from the edge, the challenge to jump into the Twister now a sickening, terrible concept. She needed to go home before the sight of the chrysalis covering what was probably Azure's horribly mangled body drove her mad. She opened her wings and leaped off, heading towards the exit of the room. It would be worse later.