The Forsaken Hero

I opened my eyes, staring up at the dull, black sky. It was distant and blurry, yet...strange. Dark, regular cracks broke it into a grid pattern, and none of the plumes or swirls of smoke were moving. It was as if time stood still. It was quiet, too. The only sound was gentle, rasping breathing. My breathing.

I willed myself upward to get a vantage of my surroundings, but the vision didn’t break apart. I felt unnaturally heavy and lethargic like I did under the full power of the dragons’ auras. I couldn’t even turn my head, and trying to force it caused a sharp pain in my neck.

I whimpered, blinking away tears. Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong. Had I seen too many visions? Was the Oracle of Eternity broken?

A large, furry face appeared above me. It took me a few seconds to recognize Fable’s golden eyes staring down at me, thick with concern.

"F-Fable?" My voice cracked. It felt like someone had poured a glass of sand down my throat.

Fable’s ears perked, and he licked my cheek, whining softly.

A shiver ran down my spine. He wasn’t supposed to be able to hear me. No matter how many times I’d screamed his name, he’d always died without reacting. That was the nature of Fate.

My arm didn’t want to move, but I ignored the sharp bite of stiffness and touched his cheek. His fur rand brushed between my fingers, warm and soft. Real. My tail started to twitch.

"Fable?" A hint of panic entered my voice. "What’s happening? Why can you hear me? Where are the dragons?"

A wave of calmness rose within our bond, tempering my confusion. Fable climbed atop the bed, wrapping around me and nuzzling my face with his cheek. The bed creaked beneath his weight.