Achaius

Cold, and darkness. Those were the last things he remembered. But also the first things. The pain came soon after, and the shriek that issued from his mouth caused stones to clatter down around him. When he regained his senses some time later, Achaius looked around. The darkness was still there, but the cold had long since vanished. As his eyes adjusted he saw that the ground around him was wet, and there was still a lingering chill in the air. He blinked a few moments later as he realized that the cave he was in was beginning to glow, and that it seemed to be coming from him. He looked down at his claws as warmth bloomed in his chest and the glow illuminated the surrounding cave. His tail erupted in flames with a soft hiss as he caught sight of a large block of ice. It looked like there was something frozen within it, and as he walked over to it the surface of the ice started to glisten with melt water. By the time he reached the block and touched it with one of his claws, it had shrunk in size and he could see more clearly the shadowy figure within. He drew back his claws as memories slammed into him, causing him to stagger back as he sank to his knees.

She had been the only one to see past his demons, the only one who had stood with him in his blaze. As punishment when he was defeated, they had both been locked away here in this cave. She'd been punished simply for loving him.

They would pay. He opened his eyes, anguish escaping in a cry as he got to his feet once more. He knew the dragon in the ice was his mate, his beautiful Cloudy. The fires within him burned hotter, threatening to burn away his remaining mortal flesh. Until he saw the Coatl before him stir. Her movements caused relief to pour through him and quench the hottest of his flames. He wrapped her in his warmth, folding his arms and wings around her as she took her first gasping breath in millennia.

~~

She didn't recognize him. He could see it in her eyes when she'd looked at him that first time. But she hadn't run from him, either. Maybe this would work out in the end, afterall. He'd followed her out of the cave, hope burning within him. As she stepped into the light of the Ashfall Wastes, he felt his heart stop for a few moments. Her beautiful colours had faded into ashen greys, in their time locked in the ice. He felt a small pang at the loss of her colours as he admired the regal beauty of her new ones. They'd have to find her something warm to wear, once they found a place for themselves. He followed her into the Wastes, willing to give her whatever time she needed in order to remember him.

~~

Her memories never returned, after we were free of the ice. Mine continued to come back in bits and pieces. The love we had shared, before our curse... I had been hopeful that her memories would return with time, at the start. But as the days turned into moons and the seasons passed, that hope has faded. The coatl who I had fallen in love with, who had fought by my side and stood with me as we stood before Judgement, is gone. The coatl in her place is similar in many ways, but different in so many others. She's never turned away from me, though, and for that I thank the Goddess herself. Perhaps this is another form which my punishment takes, and I will lose her all over again in the future, but for now... For now, I will cherish these new memories that we make together.