Desreal: I can feel it all start slipping; ERA

Only a daughter could recognize Kurai now.

The day he became a Legend, the day he become the Nightmare, Kurai changed. He grew several inches. His satin-black fur was replaced with metal, shimmering mercury scales. Enormous torn, dragon wings sprouted at his sides.

This is Nachtmere, the essence of the Nightmare – now, the epitome of dragon-storm; disturbingly beautiful, and still those pale eyes remain the same.

He recognizes Era, though. The opposite of Baraqel – Kurai hisses softly at the thought – in every way. Kurai, isolated from all emotion by the icy, calculated menace of his mind, is as fond of her as he is going to be of anyone. Certainly he understands pride, and so perhaps this is what he feels for the filly who will be great. He knows this. He knows that she has in her the initiative to do what he perhaps will never be able to do, because of his horrible dragon-splendor. The average horse does not appreciate seeing a giant thing with wings and scales prancing into its territory to kill someone.

She mentions Ethereal, and he only gives a little half-smirk and a shake of his reptilian head. “There are now more limits on where I can go myself, for obvious reasons. You need siblings, who will be less disgraceful than the Vipers’ pet Baraqel.”

She’ll be glad to know that her father isn’t careless about who he chooses to sleep with. Generally he prefers murder.

“She’s the daughter of the Vipers’ general. I watched her birth, several years ago.” he remembers that night, and the odd brilliance that he saw in the childrens’ futures. “The child will be an excellent playmate for you. You should be pleased.”

He smells traces of the Wolves on her; this is mildly irritating, as he’d prefer to have her in Desreal with him, but she’s too old for that to be allowed. He knows she won’t become an Andarin slave, so he’s not unduly concerned. “You’re a Wolf now, then?” he asks, and he sees something of himself in those pale blue eyes.