Emperor

Image by Anemia

Bio by Scream

The imperial grinned.

There were far too many teeth in that grin. Idris shuddered a little. Maybe he didn't want to know whether black dragons with red wings were bad omens after all, he thought.

The grin relaxed. It still showed about as many teeth, but somehow conveyed significantly less menace. As easily distractable as he was, Idris couldn't look away.

He couldn't remember when he did look away. He must have, because the imperial was gone, and Hecate was chiding him on an entire afternoon wasted.


Hecate, on the other hand, had grown tired of the imperial. He rarely spoke, but followed the other dragons. Always looking over their shoulders, as silent as a shadow. And when confronted, that grin.

She couldn't put her claw on why it was so bothersome. It wasn't the teeth themselves--no, they were as large and pointy as any other imperial's teeth. It was unsettling nonetheless, so she sent him away. Far south. Her command was essentially banishment and exile without using those words.

If Idris had been one to remember these things, he would have been able to tell Hecate exactly why the imperial's grin was so disconcerting.

It was the fact that he could never tell the intent behind it. The same grin that the imperial bore while on hunting excursions was used to greet the other dragons in the clan. It was a lure, yes. Any dragon who grinned in response and let his or her guard down would find himself ripped apart like any other wild beast.

If Idris had remembered, he would have been glad that he hadn't looked away.