World of Warcraft: Dawn of the Aspects: Part III

by Richard A. Knaak

  Barely had Malygos done so than the proto-dragon spit the bone out. Even then, though, there was a desire to take it or another piece and work what fragments of meat remained off of it and into his gullet. Both Kalec and his host recoiled at the idea, yet Malygos had to fight hard to pull back from the corpse. Hunger filled him, a hunger that revolved around more than merely the eating of flesh. Malygos yearned to taste something else, something that Kalec first recognized.

  Malygos hungers for the juvenile’s lingering life essence. The blue dragon could feel the proto-dragon straining not to tear at the remnants in search of what little had not faded away.

  Stifling a roar of anger, Malygos turned and flew from the spot. At first, he simply flew as far as he could from the corpse, even though that took him in the wrong direction. Only after the wind in his face cooled Malygos enough did the proto-dragon finally arc back toward the path Coros’s band had taken.

  Their scents were strong, but both Malygos and Kalec noted something different. A hint of the wrongness that pervaded wherever Galakrond flew now tinged their spoor. It stirred the disquieting desire in Malygos again, but Kalec’s host fought it down, although the strain was greater this time.

  Malygos picked up his pace. Kalec understood that the proto-dragon still did not know what he would do, but he at least had to find out what happened when Coros made his offer to Galakrond. Images of Coros leading the other proto-dragons into a trap where Galakrond would then devour them all flashed through Malygos’s—and also Kalec’s—mind over and over.

  A flash of blue-green below caught Malygos’s attention. The sharp-eyed proto-dragon spotted movement near a small creek. While Kalec tried to make sense of what his host saw, Malygos landed a short distance away from what he had seen.

  A rasping sound echoed from ahead. Malygos crept toward it.

  Something gulped a great amount of water. Seconds later, Kalec saw through Malygos’s eyes the familiar figure of one of Coros’s family. While Kalec had no idea which of the band this was, his host recognized the male as among those most hesitant to partake of the gruesome repast.

  The other proto-dragon did not look very well. His eyes had turned a pale yellow, and his breathing was ragged. He swallowed another mouthful of water, then coughed up half of it, along with some undigested flesh.

  Malygos’s stomach churned in turn. Perhaps he made some noise or movement that neither he nor Kalec noticed, for suddenly, the other male whirled in his direction.

  With a savage hiss, the blue-green proto-dragon lunged at Malygos. The sickened male moved with a speed his condition belied, falling upon Malygos.

  Kalec’s host barely pulled back enough to keep from having his throat ripped out. His attacker fought with an almost mindless fury that more than made up for any cunning. The slavering maw seemed everywhere. How Malygos managed to avoid being slaughtered, neither Kalec nor his host could fathom, and yet the icy-blue male succeeded, if barely. Within seconds, Malygos sported a half-dozen slashes, fortunately none of them more than superficial.

  But the number of wounds and the strain of the struggle began to stir anew the throbbing where the undead had bitten Malygos. The proto-dragon’s head pounded. Kalec felt the intelligent, adaptable Malygos give way to a beast as unthinking as the one that attacked him.

  A beast that struck with more rage than the sickened male.

  Now it was Malygos who bit and tore and ripped mercilessly. His great hind claws cut deep scarlet ribbons in his opponent’s hide. His smaller forepaws clung tightly to the other male, keeping Malygos’s foe where he desired him. Even when the second male finally began to try to pull away, Malygos gave no quarter. Kalec could only watch in growing dread as his host fell upon his weakening adversary. Spittle dripped from Malygos’s jaws as he loomed over the other proto-dragon. Malygos was eager for the kill, eager for that and for something else that Kalec only now recognized but could not stop.

  With one last lunge, Malygos bit through his opponent’s throat, tearing off almost half of it in his frenzy. Yet he did not simply toss it aside, as Kalec hoped, but rather eagerly threw it above his head in order to swallow it.

  However, as he caught it in his gullet, Malygos came to his senses. Hacking, Kalec’s host disgorged the gobbet of flesh. The proto-dragon stumbled back, as dismayed as Kalec at what he had been about to do.

  The bite from the undead pounded harder than ever. Malygos glared at it, then stared wide-eyed. Within, Kalec also realized what had overcome his host. The bite had infected Malygos, urged him toward the same foul course that Galakrond followed, the same course that Coros now also desired to pursue.

  And although Malygos continued to fight the desire, it remained strong. The nearby body, still fresh, radiated traces of the victim’s life essence, which continuously enticed the proto-dragon.

  With an anxious hiss, Malygos launched himself after Coros again. The proto-dragon concentrated as hard as he could on his rival and the expected encounter with Galakrond. Malygos dared not think of anything else.

  But Kalec was thinking long and hard, making a further connection that his host had not. A single bite had nearly driven Malygos beyond saving.

  How many other proto-dragons had been bitten? How many others would be?

  And how many of those bitten would fail to fight off the effects as Malygos had done so far, paving the way for a tableau of horror even greater than Coros’s betrayal portended?

  TWO

  THE BETRAYERS

  Time had come to have little meaning for Kalec anymore—at least, the more he remained caught up in the past. Indeed, as things progressed here, he felt less inclined to return to his own era. Even though he was but an unnoticed, incorporeal companion to the young Malygos, Kalec could not help but feel as if, in some ways, he now had more purpose here. He experienced all Malygos did—both good or ill—and the two progressively appeared in harmony when it came to the proto-dragon’s course of action.

  We are becoming one, Kalec finally decided, as Galakrond’s growing stench gave every evidence of the gargantuan beast’s nearing presence.

  Not at all disturbed by the esoteric path his thoughts were taking, Kalec urged Malygos to use greater speed, and Malygos did just that. Yet with Kalec’s increasing satisfaction at his growing part in these visions, there also came the determination that Galakrond and the corruption he spread had to be stopped. Kalec no longer felt certain just how the future was supposed to turn out; it was possible that the Azeroth he knew was only a delusion of his own mind.

  Galakrond must be stopped, Kalec kept insisting to himself, that mission more real to him at the moment than his own life. Galakrond . . . and Coros.

  Malygos suddenly dived for the ground. At the same time, through his eyes, Kalec caught a glimpse of Coros and the others rising higher into the sky just ahead. Kalec could only assume that the band had paused for some reason before continuing on.

  And even though Malygos reacted quickly, the female with Coros turned her head back as if sensing something. Belatedly, both Kalec and his host realized that she looked for the missing member of their party. Unfortunately, instead, she had discovered their lone pursuer.

  There was no need to hear the sharp cry to know that she warned Coros and the rest. Malygos continued to descend until he was just feet above the ground. The tips of his wings scraped the rough soil more than once as he sought out some cover. He darted through a narrow pass, gaze constantly judging which of the various pathways ahead might be the best. He veered through one after another, risking a glance back and above whenever it was safe for even a moment to do so.

  And so he did not see Coros come at him from around the next bend.

  The other proto-dragon rammed into Malygos. The pair crashed into one of the rock walls. Malygos gasped as the air was forced from his lungs. He tried to regain his breath, but Coros shoved his hind paws deep, keeping Kalec’s host from inhaling.

  A second attacker—the female—dropped down on Malygos, push
ing him to the ground. She and Coros sought his throat.

  The land shook. Rock and earth tumbled down on the three. Malygos, nearly on his back, received the brunt of the collapse. Coros and the female thrust themselves away, vanishing behind the falling debris.

  A heavy rock pinned Malygos’s wing. He struggled at first, then swung his body over the trapped appendage. The pain in twisting shook Kalec and his host hard, but it enabled the proto-dragon finally to slide the rock off despite the continued deluge.

  It seemed forever before Malygos managed to draw a breath, even if it was filled with dust that made him choke. Malygos immediately exhaled, sending a strong wave of frost above him. It slowed the collapse, giving him a few vital seconds to cover himself better with his wings and take another breath.

  The collapse at last ended. Malygos struggled to free himself but at first could barely breathe, much less move. The frost he had exhaled had begun to break up, and more rock threatened to come down. It was clear to both that they needed to push free fast.

  While Malygos’s forepaws were small in comparison with the hind ones, they still had strength enough to help him claw forward until his larger appendages could better push him on. With his snout, the proto-dragon shoved the rocks ahead. The stones shifted around him.

  He managed to shove another rock aside, and a puff of air touched his nostrils. With more effort, Malygos kicked himself toward the small gap. His head thrust through, and for a moment, he hesitated, certain that Coros was waiting for just this to happen.

  But when his rival did not snap his head off, Malygos dug himself out the rest of the way. His wing now vied with his leg for which pained him more, but a short test proved the former was still functional.

  The collapse had left his hearing all but gone for the time being. He could not make any sense of what was happening except for what he saw and felt—which was more than enough, considering the second tremor that forced him to retreat from his location.

  As Malygos paused again, his hearing slowly returned. Both he and Kalec heard what sounded like either thunder or another tremor beginning, only to realize that, instead, they were hearing the wary rumble of a very large creature. It was then that Kalec and his host understood that what they had both taken for the shifting of the ground had been the simple landing of Galakrond.

  With the utmost caution, Malygos wended his way up. He could hear another voice then, the voice of Coros.

  “Many will be there! All waiting like grazers to be eaten!”

  “So very many . . .” Each word Galakrond spoke reverberated in Malygos’s still-tender ears. It was doubtful to both him and Kalec that Galakrond could speak at anything less than a roar.

  “We will feast well!” Coros assured him. “We will grow strong!”

  Malygos carefully poked his head over the edge. Coros obviously assumed that he was buried beneath tons of rubble, but the icy-blue proto-dragon remained wary of sentinels arranged just in case some other foolish creature dared spy on Galakrond. Indeed, through his host, Kalec observed at least one of Coros’s band clearly acting as a lookout, although, fortunately, not glancing Malygos’s way at that moment.

  Coros and the female hovered before Galakrond, who appeared larger than ever to Malygos and Kalec. Even more disturbing was that the various protuberances pockmarking the behemoth’s skin were more distinct than before. Full limbs dangled everywhere. There were even wings that fruitlessly flapped, as if seeking to lift Galakrond in the air.

  But most disturbing were the eyes. Scattered about, the singular orbs stared with the same malevolent intent as the two original ones now fixed upon Coros and the female. The scores of extra eyes blinked randomly, as if each was from an individual and not part of the same beast.

  One of the nearest turned its baleful gaze toward Malygos.

  He ducked immediately. The icy-blue male held his breath and waited. There was no outcry from Galakrond, though. The only sounds were the voices of Coros and the female.

  Still full of trepidation, Malygos raised his head again. The eye now looked past him to the small band facing the gargantuan fiend.

  “Great Galakrond will lead us!” Coros continued almost gleefully. “Great Galakrond will rule all!”

  This Coros is mad! Kalec thought, well aware that Malygos thought the same of his rival. Still, they both saw that Galakrond listened with interest to the words.

  “Where will they gather?” Galakrond finally asked Coros.

  “The jagged valley! Soon!”

  Although Kalec did not recognize the description, Malygos evidently did. His low hiss marked the truth of Coros’s words and the depths of the other proto-dragon’s betrayal.

  “I know this place,” Galakrond remarked, his gaze looking inward. “Hunted there when I was small . . . when I was nothing. . . .”

  “But you are great now!” said the female, the others adding their agreement with a chorus of hisses.

  Some of the vestigial limbs twitched, paws snatching as if seeking prey. Several more of the eyes followed Galakrond’s gaze.

  “Great I am,” the gigantic fiend rumbled. He studied Coros in particular. “You would be great, too.”

  “Not so great as Galakrond!” Malygos’s rival immediately replied, as the female swiftly nodded her agreement. “Not so great as Galakrond!”

  “No . . . never so great as me. . . .” Galakrond stretched his wings, which quickly shadowed the land for some distance. One forepaw—small in comparison with the rest of him but far larger than the full form of any normal proto-dragon—scraped at the hard ground, ripping through stone as if it were sand. “There can be only one me. . . .”

  An unsettled expression fell over the lookout’s countenance. He suddenly took to the sky. Malygos and Kalec both believed that they had been discovered, but instead, the lookout continued higher and higher as fast as he could. There was no doubt now that he was abandoning the others. The fleeing proto-dragon raced off, vanishing into the distance.

  And at the same time, Galakrond roared and rose into the air just above Coros and the rest of his band. Coros and the female leapt back as the darkness that Galakrond’s vast shape created now enshrouded them.

  The remaining two members of Coros’s band sought escape but in doing so only drew Galakrond’s attention to them. Despite the speed with which they flew, it was easy for the behemoth to catch up to them. The smaller proto-dragons separated, but even that was not good enough. As Galakrond banked toward one, he brought his wing around. The massive appendage swept up the second of Coros’s followers.

  Coros and the female took flight, heading over where Malygos hid. In their haste, they did not notice Malygos, who remained flattened against the shielding ground.

  Shrieks filled the air. Malygos dared to peer over. The proto-dragon caught up in Galakrond’s wing had now been tossed up before him. With an eager roar, Galakrond swallowed his victim.

  The monstrous proto-dragon’s remaining prey used his comrade’s doom to try to slip past the leviathan. He darted to the left side of Galakrond’s head and continued to the shoulder.

  One of the extra limbs seized the fleeing proto-dragon’s wing. The male let out a frightened squawk as the paw held him.

  Galakrond shook, letting the paw toss its victim forward.

  The shrieking male vanished down Galakrond’s gullet.

  Barely had the monster finished when he veered toward Malygos. Kalec felt the urge to seek escape fill his host, but somehow Malygos kept his position. The wisdom of that decision revealed itself a moment later, as Galakrond soared over and past him.

  The ease with which the gigantic proto-dragon had taken his other prey meant that neither Coros nor the female had gotten very far. Kalec and his host could still make out both tinier proto-dragons desperately trying to keep the gap between Galakrond and them from closing. However, a few flaps of Galakrond’s wings brought him right behind the pair.

  Without warning, Coros rammed the female in the side. She los
t control, her speed faltering in the process.

  He’s sacrificing her for his own hide! Kalec realized, both he and Malygos stunned at the betrayal.

  The female righted herself just in time to see Galakrond almost upon her. In desperation, she exhaled. However, what worked well against a foe the size of Malygos only futilely draped one of the behemoth’s huge yellowed fangs.

  Galakrond swallowed her without even slowing in his pursuit of Coros.

  Malygos’s rival strained to keep ahead, but even his treachery with his own family could not keep him from Galakrond’s endless hunger. The mighty jaws opened wider.

  In what seemed madness to the onlookers, Coros abruptly turned directly toward the gaping maw. But before the jaws could shut, Coros darted up and attacked the underside of Galakrond’s mouth. Claws tore at the softer, unprotected flesh.

  Galakrond reared back. Neither Malygos nor Kalec believed that Coros had actually hurt Galakrond, but the attack had certainly caught him by surprise.

  Coros used that surprise to begin his flight anew. With a swiftness that even Malygos could not have matched, the blue-green dived toward the ground, where he maintained his tremendous velocity despite having to navigate one change in terrain after another.

  Galakrond pursued. Malygos finally rose from his hiding place, which gave him one last glimpse of hunter and prey.

  And in that moment, he and Kalec both saw that despite Coros’s cunning, Malygos’s rival could not escape. Keeping low briefly kept Galakrond from easily snapping him up, but a rise in the land finally forced the speeding Coros to overestimate his path. Momentum sent him high above the security of the ground, and the leviathan swallowed him whole.

  The abruptness with which Malygos’s rival perished did not in the least disturb Kalec’s host. Both had seen that all that mattered to Coros in the end was his own existence, not even that of those closest to him. Malygos’s only concern was that Galakrond would suddenly turn about and spot him before he could make his escape.