My dreams were haunted by creatures of darkness as burning poison coursed through my veins. The pain was unlike anything I had ever felt before, and I was left helpless against it. When my body tried to thrash in discomfort, I did not move. When a scream tried to break free of my lungs, it was only silence which deafened me. It was as if I had turned to stone and been left unable to move, speak, or hear.

It felt like hours before the pain finally subsided, leaving me in control of my movements once more. Cracking open my eyelids, I immediately spotted Kazlar engaged in conversation, obviously a heated one from their gradually raising voices, and he spotted me not a moment later.

Rushing to my side with the worry apparent in his eyes he asked, "Are you ok? You had me worried sick!"

"What happened?" I asked groggily, "Where am I? The last thing I remember is the final Trial."

"We carried you here, to the healers cave, as quickly as we could once you passed out. You've been in and out for the past hour. As for what happened, well, you'll see for yourself soon enough."

Not liking the mystique I frowned, "I'm pretty sure I have a right to know after all that."

"Oh, don't worry, you'll know in a moment." With that he backed away a few steps, shot a glare at the dragon he was arguing with just a moment ago, and then asked me, "Feeling good enough to stand?"

With a grin and a nod, I stood to join him. Normally the healers made me wait in here forever after an injury before I could leave.

That's strange...Not that I'm arguing but that means whatever happened can't be that bad, right?

I was wrong. Very wrong. We stood in front of an ornately crafted mirror, gifted to a dragon who now resides here from an elf a long time ago, for reasons unknown to us. It was rarely used, but now it was perfect for examining the black stripes decorating my once plain maroon scales.

This means that I have my element now...and that I'm a hybrid.

Kazlar stood to the side grinning like a maniac, a stark contrast to my now somber mood. Sure, I had my element now, but in the process I had lost what little of my past I thought I had understood. Ryzinthins don't get stripes, and no dragons get black stripes besides the Farralyns. That could only mean one thing: one of my parents is a Ryzinthin, the other a Farralyn.

I guess everyone was right for calling me a Hybrid, even if I'm not an elemental one.

For years after I had been rescued, the other hatchlings had mocked me, using the gossip they eavesdropped from their parents to do so. The main basis for all the rumors was the Prophecy, which I had first learnt of at five years old. Even now, for reasons unbeknownst to me, the words remain imprinted into my mind.

15 years ago...

Perfectly chiseled stone walls surrounded me, encasing me beneath the surface like a tomb. The monotone gray walls were colored only with the flickering fires from the torches which were lit every twenty paces. Shadows engulfed the areas the flames could not reach, creating an unnerving inability to see due to your eyes constantly adjusting to the changes. I reached one such area, and crept forward as stealthily as possible. Attracting attention only lead to humiliation from the others, and I had no inclination to, once again, be the target of their ridicule.

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Voices echoed from up ahead, reaching my sensitive ears, but just barely. Curious, I continued to creep forward even as my instincts screamed at me to run and hide. Defying their pleas, I allowed myself to sink into even further darkness, pausing only when I could go no further for fear of the light reaching my scales.

I do not know for how long I laid there, my tiny body scrunched up against the wall and concealed by the shadows, but the conversing voices remained for just as long. It was hard to tell whom each voice belonged, but I knew Trizinth and Pyrstean were amongst them.

One day those two will get what's coming for them, and on that day it will be I who decides their fate!

Distracted by my thoughts, I heard only a snippet of their next sentence.

"-says the Prophecy is about the Hybrids."

Intrigued, I perked up, straining to grasp every word that I could.

"Like Rylar?" An all to familiar voice asked.

I bared my teeth in silent rage. I am a Ryzinthin, not some filthy Hybrid!

"No, Trizinth. She means the elemental hybrids belonging to Nytheri." A deep, older-sounding voice established before continuing, "What does the Prophecy say anyway? Not that it matters, I heard that the last true Prophecy happened hundreds of years ago which predicted the fall of the Dwarven Empire. All the prophecies since have just been hoaxes; I'd garner this one's just another in the long list of fakes."

"It is not fake! My parents said it was real! See, here it is, take a look for yourself!"

"Not all of us can read, Pyrstean." Trizinth said, sounding annoyed, "Read it. Quickly, we will have to return to Instruction soon."

The crinkle of parchment followed the release of an exaggerated sigh that likely belonged to Pyrstean, before she intoned:

"Of dark and fire.

Of black and red.

Our fate is dire,

And may soon be dead.

One flees the dark,

The other the light.

They leave no mark,

For they fear our bite.

Rage will not wane

Until crushed be all the scum;

Calm shall reign.

Soon the day will come."

Silence filled the corridors, broken only by the soft rasping of my own breath. Had I not known this specific corridor so well I would have thought they had left, but I knew that to be impossible.

The oppressing silence was finally broken by an unfamiliar voice. "So...what does that mean? Sounds like a bunch of gibberish to me." A chorus of murmurs agreed with her statement, leading to Pyrstean's interjection. "You are all so daft sometimes! Obviously it means the Hybrids are going to-"

Gong, gong, gonggg!

Silence fell once more, before Pyrstean let out a small huff, saying, "I'll just have to tell you guys later. Who knows, maybe you'll learn to think and figure it out on your own for once."

The clicking of talons followed a moment later, growing closer with every breath. Once she passed the others followed shortly behind and I remained pressed against the wall with my eyes squeezed shut throughout their passing. Once I heard the last hatchling pass by I opened my eyes, spotting someone's white scales for a moment before the dragon passed out of my range of sight.

Gong, gonggg!

I shook my head once, attempting to clear the thoughts all crowding the forefront of my mind, before taking the same route the other hatchlings had taken.

I need to hurry, else I will be late to Instruction.

Present Day…

I suppose it's not to bad. At least I know why my mother felt the need to abandon me now.

"You okay, Rylar?" Kazlar questioned, finally catching on to my mood.

"I'm fine, just a little shocked is all." I flashed him a grin that didn't quite reach my eyes, but it seemed to appease him because he turned his suspicious glance off of me a moment later.

I think now is a good time to clear my head.

Upon communicating my intentions to Kazlar, he gave me a nod of approval and a nudge in the back, encouraging me onwards. With a real grin this time, I climbed into the sky before dropping into a steep dive and breaking through the cloud cover for the very first time.

Sprawling forests and fields of the purest green lay at the foot of the mountain, a paradise for hunter and prey alike. A wolfish smirk etched itself on my face as I imagined my first hunt, playing through the different scenarios that could happen, all of which were based on Kazlar's stories of his own easy hunts in this valley.

This will be fun.