Thanatos

Thanatos

“I believe the cause was poisoning.” the coatl explained dryly, claws folded across his chest. He’d finished with his autopsy of the departed pearlcatcher that had found himself on Thantos’ examining table. With his findings, he’d gone to his clan’s leader and reported them. The leader rubbed at his face from the news.

“Any leads?”

“I am a mortician, sir. Not a detective.” the leader chuckled.

“Right. Any idea what kind of poisoning?” The coatl nodded.

“A shade touched root normally used for tooth pain seems to be the culprit.” he answered. “The late pearlcatcher must have not been paying attention when gathering herbs.”

The business of death was not meant for most. It took an iron stomach, the ability to distance oneself, and in some cases a morbid curiosity. Thanatos was in possession of all three. He did his job well, so well that the leader of their clan requested him within his services. Thanatos of course did not object. Ever since he was young the coatl had been fascinated with death, had studied dead animals found in the woods and peered into the physician’s morgue whenever he could. The physician had taken Thanatos as a pupil when the young coatl had shown promise, and so far was not disappointing. Though he studied anatomy and the ways to cure and help with ailments, it was the dead that he wanted to truly work with. For most, this would be off putting. He found most dragons in the clan were not quite fond of his company, despite his attempts at wooing a few of them, both male and female. Despite his interests in death, Thanatos was also a helpless romantic.

She was the clan leader’s younger sister, and unwed. The skydancer was beautiful and witty, both two things that ignited desire in Thanatos. He wooed her in secret, knowing full well that he would be in terrible trouble if he was found out. Together he and his lover kept their secret from the clan leader, and for a time he was happy.

“Your feathers look dull today, my dear. Have you been eating properly?” his claw reached out and stroked at her cheek. Her name was Sunspire, and she was as gorgeous as the sun’s rays were warm.

“I’ve been a bit under the weather, I’m afraid.” she hummed. “I can’t seem to keep anything down except for a broth one of my maids makes me.” Thanatos frowned gently, leaning up and pecking a kiss onto her cheek. He took her paw into his own, stroking gently at the tops.

“Let me make you a tincture. It’ll hopefully help with your appetite and let you get some nutrients.” he murmured. She looked him and smiled softly, nodding.

It was the last time he saw her happy. It was the last time he would see her not in pain, barely clinging to her life as her ailments wracked her body and weakened her further.

“Are you there, my love?” she rasped. Thanatos approached, clasping her paw in his own while pressing a cold compress to her feverish face.

“I am my sweet.” The clan leader had learned of their secret love when she grew ill, but whether he cared it was unsure. “You must rest.”

“I fear I will not wake if I do.” she murmured. Thanatos bowed his head and pressed it to her own. He knew immediately that it wasn’t a contagious illness. He didn’t have to. He was well aware of a sickness that was not caught but given through offending powders or liquids. And that was exactly the cause of her pain.

She did not live through the night.

Thanatos stared down at his love, gone far too early. She was still as beautiful in life as she was in death, though for the first time in his career he found it hard to keep back the tears that suddenly flowed from him. Wiping them away, he steeled himself, and went to work. Through his labors, through his pain, Thanatos found the cause.

“Poisoning, sir.” he spoke solemnly to the clan leader, still mourning the loss of his sister.

“Are you certain?”

“As certain as I ever have.”

“Who?” Thanatos stared at him for a moment. He knew what he meant. Which one of them had caused this.

“She… spoke of being unable to eat anything but broth a maid would serve her. I believe that the maid is in part, if not fully responsible.” The leader nodded, sending one of his guards to see to it. A long pause fell before them before anyone spoke.

“You are relieved of your duties to me, Thanatos.”

“Sir?” the leader looked up at him.

“This place will feel like a mausoleum to your pain if you should remain,” the leader spoke. “Besides, a murder plot may be on our hands and you’ve uncovered it. Let me do my sister a service and keep you safe.”

Thanatos did not argue with him. He knew how dangerous of a game this type of thing was and wanted no part in it after losing his love. He packed up and begun to travel, putting it all behind him. His travels brought him to Clan Embellished, where his skills with won him favor after the clan’s last mortician retired. It was the first time where he felt at ease since leaving his old clan. Thanatos fell into an even rhythm within the clan, working and partaking in what he could. Clan Embellished was a bit more lenient than the clan he had come from. The dragons there were also a bit more open, not shying away from the mortician at sight. It just felt… safer. Thanatos knew that Sunspire had sent him there, to a place far better than her old home.

All of his conquests since entering the clan were full of passion, fueled by desire and excitement, though lacking in heartfelt love. Thanatos found it hard to love like he had with Sunspire, though that was not to say he did not care for his lovers Velveteen and Claudius. Both dragons incited care and warmth within the coatl, though none sparked him like his departed lover from long ago.