Role

Chapter 2

He gazed down at the rune covered egg, now black as pitch, the runes pulsing
with sickly, malevolent light, like a demonic heartbeat, fast and erratic.
All the evil, selfish, dark thoughts of his tribesmen were encased in this
single being. A sole sacrifice for the purity of the many, that they may live
in peace and tranquility in worship of the Sra.

He had to be quick now. The concentrated Weh would attract all manner of vile
creatures that feed on dark energy. He ran to the river as fast as his old
weary legs would carry him. The ritual was draining, but he had strength
enough for this.

Reaching the muddy banks, he looked down at the egg once again, whispered his
sincere apologies to the life that would never be, and lifted his arm to hurl
it into the rushing waters. But with a flash of black and a spray of red, the
elder found himself unable to complete the motion.

It was a moment before the agony of his arm having been torn from him
registered in the old saurian's mind. The first thing to hit him was the
overwhelming fear and dread of the creature materializing before him. The
unmistakable form of a black dragon, not quite an adult, and beautiful in its
malevolent presence.

The dragon shook off the muck and reeds that covered it. It had been having
such pleasant, crimson dreams. But it had heard the whispers, and an even
more enticing distraction presented itself.

The elder's arm was in its mouth, egg still gripped in the quickly slackening
claw. With a quick jerk, egg and arm both disappeared down its fleshy throat,
swallowed whole.

It burped contentedly.

Then the two burning orbs of malicious intent turned onto the elder.