Bubonic

History

Four years. Four long, grueling years spent tracking this egg snatcher through the Boneyard. Hardly any food. What water they could find was murky and still.

Sumac hardly wanted to eat as it was. Getting her to eat what few insects he could find was a labor of love, but he refused to let her give up. Everyday he roused her gently, and then they continued through the wastes. Everyday, he felt her weight lessen and her energy dwindle. Bubonic felt himself growing weaker but he wouldn't give up. He was running on determination and pure hatred.

The egg snatcher, a wildclaw with dark shadowy eyes, ran for his life. Bubonic had tracked him through the Tangled Wood, chased him from his shaded hiding place into the Scarred Wasteland. Bubonic had been so sure they were close to having the coward in their claws. But that had been four years ago.

And, even as Sumac died a little more each day, Bubonic chased on, deluding himself into believing that if the wild claw was captured, everything would be okay again. Justice would be theirs, revenge would be had, and they could finally forget about the lost eggs. Four years of glimpses of the wildclaw's wings, four years of close calls from traps and snares, and four years of surprise skirmishes and grazing blows only to watch the wildclaw flee had left Bubonic in manic state of chase and kill. He would not stop. And as the Rotrock Rim came into view, Bubonic's hysteria grew.

He saw the wildclaw's purple hide sticking out like a sore claw against the reds and browns of the Rim. Bubonic charged, galloping past curious clans of plague dragons that peaked their heads out of their lairs as Bubonic let out a bellowing roar, startling Sumac into a drowsy, feeble consciousness.

Bubonic roared again, and felt Sumac's coils tighten around his neck. The mates watched as the wildclaw hopped up the Rim, narrowly missing whipping tendrils and gushing pustules. Spreading his wings, Bubonic found the strength to fly for the first time in years. He soared along the Rim, steadily gaining on the egg snatcher. He could feel Sumac's claws clinging to his scales. Her coils undulated with excitement. She was coming back to life. Bubonic felt her heart beating and it became the wind beneath his wings, lifting him higher up the Rim.

The wildclaw never stopped, except for a moment when he reached the top. He looked down at Bubonic for just a second before disappearing over the edge. Another ground shaking bellow left Bubonic's maw. He gnashed his teeth and lashed his tail as he landed on the edge of the Rim and looked down into the churning, pustule lake of the Wyrmwound. The wildclaw was running for the bubbling, diseased waters.

"This is it," Sumac murmured. "It's finally done."

Bubonic clenched his jaw. "It's not done until I have his neck between my jaws," he growled hoarsley.

"He's going for the lake!" Sumac snapped, exasperated and exhausted. "Let the plague kill him and let's be done with this chase, Bubonic, please!" Her desperate pleas barely registered as Bubonic watched the egg snatcher draw closer and closer to the lake.

"Let the plague kill him," he muttered under his breath. The phrase echoed in his head. "Plaguebringer, give me strength." He bent his long neck and grabbed Sumac in his jaws. He shook her from his neck before tossing her down the Rim, away from the wound and back towards the Wastes. "I AM the plague, Sumac!" he called after her as he watched her weak body tumble down the Rim. Tears filled his eyes. "Forgive me..." he whispered, turning away. "I love you." And then he charged toward the lake.

Continued.