Peacock spent a long time staring at Viseral’s empty cage, trying without success to decide how he felt about it. Viseral had started as an asshole. Still, he’d kept to himself since they’d ended up in Zenith Flight. He was the last connection Peacock had with his dragon family, and however short his time with them had been, it had been paradise compared to his new reality.

The screams of plant-folk echoed in his head, Viseral’s quick obedience spelling their disaster. Peacock’s stomach lurched. No, perhaps it was best he wasn’t around anymore.

***

“Get up.”

Peacock woke to Nex’s command, the timeless oblivion of sleep cracking into harsh truth. He stood without thought and stepped out of his cage.

“Wait! Take me with you.”

Alainn’s voice cut through Peacock. What was she doing? Speaking out of turn was just as much an unspoken sin as sharing or helping. Was she mad? Peacock looked back at her and snarled, shaking his head.

“Is that so?” Nex said, his eyes narrowing.

Peacock whipped around in surprise. Why was there no anger in his voice? Maybe the last punishment had thoroughly scrambled his brain. That was the only way any of this made sense.

“Yes. I was the only dragon to do as you asked yesterday. Shouldn’t I start the next part of training?”

Peacock’s jaw went slack. She really had gone crazy. Who volunteered for that?

Nex looked between the two adolescents and chuckled. “Very well, Thirty-One. Come.”

Alainn did so readily. Peacock stared at her as they made the long trek to the outside. She walked tall, neck straight and eyes forward, like a willing little soldier. Hell, maybe she was. But then why share food? If Nex caught her, he’d punish her. She apparently didn’t need his favor to get what she wanted, so why? Peacock frowned. None of it made sense.

Alainn kept up her stoic appearance as they reached the giant disc anchored to the chasm wall and lined up in front of the cages.

The front-most cages stood empty; the surrounding area cleaned of their old occupant’s remnants. The vague scent of pine and rain still lingered in the air. Six as-of-yet whole plant-folk stood rigid in the other cages, awaiting their turn to die. Peacock’s mouth went dry.

A giant watering can appeared in Nex’s hand as he watered their next target. A deep green plant-folk covered in mossy fur creaked to life and moved toward Peacock. To his surprise, the watering can vanished, leaving two trainees with one plant-folk.

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“Two. I trust you have learned well from your past mistakes.” Nex’s words held an unmistakable undercurrent of warning. “Show Thirty-One how I expect this to go. Remove the left hand.”

Out of the corner of his vision, Peacock saw Alainn shiver as she turned to watch with wide eyes.

That’s right. Whatever fantasy you held about how this would play out is wrong. There’s nothing but hell for anyone in this cave. Peacock bared his teeth at his prey. He had to do this. Yesterday had taught him that. Just do it quick. His body stiffened. He didn’t want to, didn’t want to become what Nex wanted him to be.

Nex struck. It came so quick, Peacock barely registered he’d moved before Alainn flew past them. She collided with his target, tumbling and skidding across the smooth rock, her cries mixing with the shrieks of the plant-folk. Nex moved in front of Peacock, craning his neck down until Peacock could see the anger burning in his eyes. “Your little rebellions are pointless, Two. You can’t escape. She can’t escape. Do as I say, or watch your new friend suffer.”

Peacock trembled. Shit, he knows. He knows she helped me! Even with the truth ringing in his head, Peacock did something he knew better than to try. He tried to lie. “Friend? I don’t….”

“Silence!” The force of Nex’s roar pushed him back a few steps. “Do you think I’m not aware? She gave what wasn’t hers to give, and you took it. You are both guilty and you will both pay unless you do as I say.”

Nex shifted aside, revealing Alainn. She’d untangled herself from the fallen plant-folk, and now stood with her head low and fear on her face. No, not fear. Confusion rose at the steely gaze of the red-pointed dragon. Nex had hit her like a cat hitting a mouse, and she looked ready to fight. She’s insane.

“The left hand, Two, or I’ll remove hers.”

Peacock took a step toward the crumpled body of moss and limbs. He gauged the space between them, trying and failing to distract himself from the task ahead. It was only ten steps at most. I have to do this. Peacock flicked his gaze between Alainn and his target.

Nine steps.

Or do I?

Eight steps.

Of course I do. The plant-folk will die whether or not I do it.

Seven steps.

We can’t die. Nex won’t let us. But we can suffer.

Six steps.

Alainn still mantled, eyes locked on Nex. In a reality of pain and hopelessness, she stood defiant.

Five steps.

It was crazy. It was also amazing. There wasn’t a place for such an attitude, as Nex would say.

Three steps.

Which made Peacock want to protect it all the more.

Two steps.

A warmth blossomed in Peacock’s chest, born of the fire in Alainn, a fire he would protect with every fiber of his being. Even if it meant doing the unthinkable. He turned his attention to his prey and stopped. Something wasn’t right. The plant-folk lay on its back, as still as a fallen log. A large crack split its wooden face and ran down the length of its neck, leaving broken, frayed vines in its wake. Its steel-gray eyes stared blankly at the sky.

Nex appeared beside Peacock and scoffed. “Such a minor fall, and it’s dead. The creatures truly are detritus. Don’t you see, Two? These things don’t deserve our consideration as anything more than target practice. They’re a castaway race created for pathetic souls who barely met the cut-off for Rebirth. If anything, they should be proud to help their betters. It gives some meaning to their worthless existence.”

“The only worthless existence I see here is yours.”

Peacock’s heart dropped at Alainn’s outburst. He watched as Nex bristled, his tail pulling back. No, no, no. Peacock pivoted, shoving Alainn aside as spines sunk into his body, driving him into hell yet again.