Happy’s Damnation

Chapter 1 - Flames of change

As Crimson Eclipse soared through the darkening skies above her homeland she looked down over the sister peaks of Mount Vurdusk a nearly dormant volcano, One had within it the cavernous city that she and several other thestral clans called home, and the other that was still relatively active had at its crater a temple built to honor the two founding houses one which she happened to be a part of, House Crimson though sadly had been on a steep decline with it’s only remaining members being her father and herself, the other, house ebony had thrived and currently had near complete control in the governing of the city but Eclipse had other things on her mind she was about to go through her coming of age ceremony although much to her disappoint it would be held within the city palace instead of the temple where it would be held generally the scholars said the magical lay line that runs under the active peak had been surging with a worrying amount of magical energies worse yet it was mixing with the molten rock of the magma chamber causing the lava at the lip to be volatile and pour over the crater where it would normally rest as a burning lake.

As she gazed over the flowing lava she could see her target the temple hung suspended over the massive crater by eight huge and ancient yet nearly indestructible chains attached two each to four landing platforms. Landing on the basalt brick temple with practiced grace she trotted forward into the heart of the sacred structure she had been here often being basically royalty she was expected to oversee the ceremony with her father and the head of house Ebony and her two twin daughters. although never once was it this quiet almost unnervingly so.

The air shimmered with residue magic and heat were it not for the enchanted jewelry she had hanging from her neck she was sure her fur would burn off as she was literally cooked alive but thankfully that shouldn't happen, as she entered the main chamber she greeted the two bronze statues looking too the rightmost of the two she bowed and greeted her ancestor’s representation “greetings great ancestor I bid you well and apologize for the ceremony not taking place where you could have presided over it I will do my utmost to mitigate this slight against you.”

She reached out her right hoof and caressed the wing blades that rested on the statue's outstretched wings “Who could imagine such a beautiful and ornate weapon could have fallen so many.” She knew of course as she had been taught by her father that its owner had a taste for an eccentric flair and a love of enchantments yes Crimson Rune had enchanted her blades to be harder and sharper than the finest iron blade truly the work of a master and that she was not only of rune smithing but the art of war her name alone would instill the sense of fear into the hearts of those that faced her, A deadly general and a deadly combatant.

As she went to move her hoof back a great force rocked the temple on its chains throwing Eclipse to the floor with a startled batlike shriek, she landed hard fortunate to have not suffered any injury but misfortunately damaged her enchanted necklace it was still partially functioning but she could feel her body heating up fast from the ambient heat in the air she knew it would likely mean her death she made to leave quickly trotting out of the temple to one of the four exits as she neared the exit she extended her wings prepping to depart as soon as she was able.

When she breached the stone portal a bubble of superheated gas popped and sent a rush of lava over the rails and onto her body searing her large wings and back thrashing violently to the floor she managed to dislodge the molten rock but the damage was done there would be no chance of an aerial escape now her only hope would be attempting an escape over the great chains that held the temple.

She felt the air vibrate with magical energy and started to doubt if escape was still an option as she looked up in desperation she could see the unmistakable figure of her father attempting to fly to her rescue but being stopped by his guards preventing him from flying into his death as well as numerous others brought over from the commotion only able to watch in horror as she was burned alive. she was not upset at them though as she could understand that it was too dangerous to approach.

As she closed her eyes making a silent prayer accepting what was to come she was nearly blinded by an intense light as the magic humming in the crater reached an apex and faded just as quickly. She blinked away the sunspots in her eyes and could slowly see a figure standing before her nothing like she had ever seen but before she could ponder the creature's existence further she fell to the floor for the third time this night as her body collapsed due to the pain and intense heat.

Seeing the creature as her last chance of survival she desperately reached a hoof out and begged threw a burning and dry throat “Please he-lp me” It looked at her shocked and stumbled forward it was close to her but it seemed unsure placing her hoof against the creatures leg she looked into its small beady eyes and pleadingly whimpered “please” assumedly making up its mind it bent down and wrapped it’s long appendages around her body raising to its full height it stumbled forward once more heading towards the great chain It stepped over the lip of the platform and on to the first link and slowly made its way across to the next and so on.

She could tell it was in worse shape than she was with her still being partially protected from the heat its hair was mostly gone and its exposed flesh was starting to bubble and discolor its movements had started to gradually slow, Approaching the edge of the crater there was a sudden yell.

“ECLIPSE!” her father yelled she looked up to see him breaking free from his guards and flying towards them the creature looked up only to be blinded by a jet of heat-infused magic as he lost his footing and fell over the edge of the last link onto the ash covered slope of the volcano her rescuer holding her in a death grip rolled and tumbled down the mountain coming to an eventual stop on a small plateau as it rolled to a stop she was tossed from its grip laying prone on the cold stone would feel like heaven if she hadn't been in such intense pain she heard a series of rapid clacks against the stone when her father landed and rushed to her side quickly bringing a flask to her lips with his wing she recognized the substance instantly by its heavy iron taste and thick consistency.

Being a pureblooded thestral allowed her to consume the blood of others to enhance her species's already fast healing ability quickly fixing any minor injury yet the burn on her right wing and back would heal fast but would take much longer and would most likely scar. In significantly less pain than she had been mere moments ago scanning the plateau, she watched as several guards and commoners landed and slowly started to encircle the prone body of the strange beast. Less than gracefully rising to her hoofs she moved to make her way to the creature's side her father quickly followed behind as she moved she thought about how to best handle this dreadful situation although immensely grateful for the rescue.

It had inadvertently made her look weak something with her family's current dwindling authority she just couldn't let stand she decided as she reached the creature and ordered a gourd to turn it over that it would have to be subjugated in order to make the appearance that she was these things, master, and that it had acted on her order to rescue her.

“Guards! Bring my familiar back to my family manor put it in the dungeon and send for a healer” she commanded looking over its burned and abused body moving her gaze up toward its head caused her to nearly vomit “And tell our blacksmith to make something to cover what is left of its face”

As the guards collected its body one would think it was dead by just how it had looked but when standing closer she had seen the slow rise and fall of its chest she was honor-bound to save whatever it is and so she would.

she cared little if death would have been a mercy.

She had an image to uphold.