It had been so long since hir last taste of freedom..
Since hir last step out of the darkness into the public eye with hir new form.

Fleeing from the chain dungeons and fleeting up the stairs in a blood-red blur, the creature loosed a rumbling growl in hir throat as shi climbed up the walls high enough to stay within the shadows.
With hir growls echoing steadily throughout the empty halls, hot eyes burned and almost hungered for a fight as they searched for souls.
Not here... its not here I need to be...
It whined, sensing a breeze coming from a window still ajar, the beast dropped down with a loud thud and sprinted for the window. Claws skidding on the stone flooring as it stopped suddenly, someone was coming.
Growling once more the beast quickly opened the window and squeezed through the frame to the outside world. As soon as hir tail was freed from the windows grasp, the beast bounded up the giant wall and onto the other side.

Without hesitating a moment after landing on all fours, Krynn took off like the devil himself drove her on, heading to the outskirts of the small town with the supposed look of a killer on a mission. The night was surprisingly warmer than normal, thunder rumbled in the distance as the dark dreaded clouds swirled overhead.
After ten long minutes of nostop running, the hybrid stopped to a subtle walk, slowly rising to hir hind legs and stood along the edge of the cemetary. Slow steady breathing escaped hir nostrils, frilling slight hot stretches of steam..
"This is... where they buried me?"
Peering around from where shi stood, the ahuizotl shook hir head. No, it could not be where shi... well, hir other form had been buried.
"No.. it should be somewhere darkened and hidden, somewhere others could forget about how I was... back then.."
Tapered and pointed, hir ears lowered as darkened eyes closed and hir taloned feet began to move on their own. Tattered clothing fluttered roughly at a sudden breeze, clawed tail folded to look like a ball instead of something as scary.
In the back of hir mind, Krynn could still vaguely recall every crime shi had ever committed in the past.. when shi was actually heard of and feared through and through.

A beautiful night, perfect for what a lone dragoness wanted to do. She really wasn't sure where it was, even though she'd been through this graveyard a few times it almost felt like the location kept changing. In fact she was almost certain it did, her first trip it was an unmarked stone. Next few times it had a symbol or something on it, and last time it had a few partially constructed... or were they decaying... walls. Crimson carried a mixed bundle of flowers with her and every so often stopped to drop one off at a random stone. Every time she took a moment to look at the name and to say a little prayer or give thanks, whatever felt more appropriate. Everyone here was gone, but they shouldn't be forgotten.

Especially the person she wanted to visit tonight. How long had it been since that fateful night when she lost... well it was hard to describe what she lost. A friendly rival stalker killer? All words matched her at one point or another, one aspect of Krynn, but none could sum her whole life up alone. The dragoness always wanted to remember the brighter side of things especially when she was visiting the grave. Drake paid for it, Blake made the stone and apparently stopped by to do additions when he had the time. Neither of them... they didn't really express their sentiments though. And so Crimson found herself approaching a now mostly complete tomb. A simple locked wooden door in the arched entrance. She gave a brief smile as she reached up and removed the fake keystone and pulled the key from behind it, unlocking the door. "Poor Blake, so predictable with these things. Key hidden in the keystone. Bet he'll have the door end up a massive stone only dragons can hope to budge at some point."

Taking a deep breath and returning the key to its hiding place she gracefully stepped into the enclosed area and knelt by the headstone. It was always so calming here, and tonight she thought she felt the "aura" of Krynn much clearer than she'd ever felt it before. Setting the flowers down a chill ran down her spine, faintly whispering a hello to what she thought was a spirit still lingering around the grave.

It seemed to have taken forever to finally remember where the old had been buried, to get hir legs to move in the correct direction. Something in the back of hir mind told hir not to go. Yet something kept pushing hir forwards.
In more ways than could be written down in a single book, it wanted to know what the creature before looked like. It wanted to destroy it's own grave to relieve the rest who still seemed to grieve over the past.

Forcing hirself to stop, the hybrid closed hir eyes and took several long, deep breaths. For some strange reason, shi was almost nervous about seeing the body decript and rotting flesh clawing for a way to continue killing hir victims of the time.
Playing in the back of hir mind, the creature still remembered that poisonous night well. Still remembering how shi left the green dragon with but a hair of life left within his destroyed body, having slightly beaten the only other dragon who actually saw hir as another normal creature.. the only thing shi actually loved before the darker side of events took control of everything else.

Upon opening hir eyes, letting hir gaze fall over the keepsake way that had been taken into measures. Those eyes beheld a figure that was all but forgotten in hir dreams, the one who still tugged at those twisted ice cold strings.
As hir entry flooded old memories back to the vicious mind, shi still managed to hear the slight, soft hello directed at hir own grave. Without thinking, a gentle, rough hello escaped hir own lips.
Bristling immediately to how stupid that was for hir to have done that, the beast quickly retreated from the entrance as quickly as shi could, though probably not unnoticed.
I'm so stupid... I'm so stupid... I'm so stupid...
Krynn bit down harshly upon her scarred forked tongue, tasting hir own bitter blood out of it.
Shi could still remember the very last time they had physically seen each other. Crimson had looked at hir with fear and disgust...
If she had done that back then, what made hir think she would be so willing to look at hir without the same fear and possibly begrudging hatred?

Hmm? Was that... was that her imagination or was that an actual... no, how could it be? "I miss you so much I think I'm hearing things." She blinked away a tear that was trying to form, wanting to stay positive. "Thought you'd like some company for a little while. And brought a few flowers for you." Oh if only she knew that the "new" Krynn was just outside and could hear every word she uttered. Crimson sat in front of the stone and gently traced the symbol Blake put on it, then did something strange. She hugged the stone, the closest she could get to still hugging Krynn as far as she knew. "Wish you were still here."

After a few minutes she stood up again, looking around the empty room and wondering if she could put something other than flowers in here that might honor the fallen. Aside from those who knew her there really wasn't anyone else that knew who was buried here. Drake had managed to get the spot without even the care taker knowing. She missed Krynn, sometimes more than she'd openly admit.

After finally coming to terms with hir own turmoiled mind, the creature stayed close to the entrance and listened to Crimson speak with the stone that had been made just for hir.
"It's understanding... I'd probably enjoy the smell of them if I was still here.."
Shi chanced to speak again as shi foolishly sat to the side of the opening and listened quietly, responded even quieter than before.
Krynn truly wanted to rush within and just take the dragoness within her arms and hold her until they both decided it was enough and they wanted to talk about everything that had happened to them both over the years. There could be a posible chance for a kiss or two to be snuck in as well, tender thoughts of comfort to soothe the toiling mind that seemed to plague hir friend so.
"Crimson... I'm so sorry..."
The creature mumbled softly. Now that shi knew exactly where hir tomb lay, it was time to go.
Though shi would love to stay and bring comforting words, something told hir there was little chance that shi would actually believe them. Peeking back inside, the monster whispered a goodbye as shi began to stand up, but falling back down as several bits of earth shifted from under hir feet.

Again she swore she heard words, actual words whispered to her. She turned around, searching for the source of the voice. Damn this little place, it was echoing all around her. The faintest whisper and it was coming from everywhere. Then more words, saying she was sorry. "No no, there's nothing to be sorry for Krynn, nothing at all. That's why I'm here for you." Another whisper, of a word she wasn't ready to hear yet. Then the sound of something else, something more tangible. Crimson ran out the entrance looking around frantically, until her eyes came to rest upon the speaker. One glance at the eyes and she knew who it was, despite a few slight physical differences. "It's you... it's really you." She could feel her heart practically leap into her throat and an irresistable urge to just throw her arms around Krynn. Somehow the dragoness managed to contain herself and avoid pouncing the stranger but she was definitely smiling.

As the pure dragon started to become frantic in wanting to find a way to reach hir, Krynn attempted to scramble up off the ground and hide. Yet it was almost too late as the ground kept giving way and Crimson rounded the corner even faster.
Not now... not yet!!
The creature cried inwardly to hirself.
In all honesty it was much too soon for Krynn to face Crimson with a straight face and not feel like shi was being looked down on. One could say this beast still had two sides of the same face- One side being saddened and regretful of the terrible acts of cruelty in the past, the other confident, cocky and incredibly dangerous in a foul temper.

For now though, Krynn had the safer face of which Crimson could probably remember as if not a day passed by. Seeing Crimson now, it brought back the vague memories that had often hir in the spirit bridge and the darkness that shi had been reformed in. Sure, this time there would be less chance of hir killing mere innocents, but the look of a killer still glinted in those eyes.
Getting up at surprisingly fast rate and not even trying to act like shi had heard Crimson's cry to hir, Krynn ran. One look in her beautiful eyes was enough to shock Krynn into running away. It was confusing to such emotion there still after the horrible things shi had done then.
And like a coward the monster ran.
I can't face her... not after everything... oh Crimson why did you have to be here...
Krynn's inner voice whined silently as the ahuizotl ran.

Crimson was no more prepared than Krynn at the sudden meeting. She never thought she'd get to see her in the flesh like this, heck she didn't even expect to see her spirit. All the memories of what they'd been through flashed through her mind in an instant and she saw her running away. The dragoness simply stood there for a moment wondering which would be better, to run after her or to wait here for her to possibly come back on her own terms. Krynn was always one to want things to go at her pace and her way, but was she still like that? Maybe she wanted to be chased, just to see if there was still some sort of connection between them?

And the longer she stood there thinking about What Ifs the further away Krynn would get. She made her decision, locking up the tomb and starting out after her. If only she could say how glad she was, how wonderful it was, and not creep the hybrid out. Maybe that was it, Krynn was worried her return from the grave would creep Crimson out and make things worse between them. As she was running the dragoness realized just how far behind she was getting, spreading her wings and taking a quick flight to gain some ground.

After having bounded off on all fours and taking advantage of the many dark shadows, the beast was quickly running out of steam. Despite how new and fresh this body was, it was not cut out for long term running and evading. It had been much too long since shi had a host body of hir own. The creature was now wondering if shi should have chosen a more fit body than the one shi openly chose.
Slowing and gasping for air once shi dodged down into a dark section of a wooded patch.
Looking back to make sure shi had lost the pursuer, the monstrosity hunkered behind a tree and covered hir face with hir massively clawed hands.
"I'm so stupid... I should of stayed away... I almost wish shi didn't recognize me at all.."
Soft hybrid whines escaped hir throat.
Shi felt bad for running away like shi had done, but it was more than just confusing face someone shi had cared so much about and yet had hurt so terribly bad.

Crimson wondered if anyone else knew about this. Probably... and they probably just didn't want to worry her or anything. What was there to worry about though? Maybe Verdy could be afraid, but she really wasn't as bothered by the whole kidnapping as some thought. She came out of the whole situation relatively fine and the biggest loss for her was seeing her friend cut down. Flying around the area she tried to look for the shadowy places. It was harder than she thought, searching for places you wouldn't be able to see... but now that she took a moment to say that to herself she had to smile a little. Of course it'd be hard, but it was too late to try and do any tracking and all she had to rely on were her senses. Being near a cemetary didn't help either. Usually all the animal life would go silent in Krynn's general area but there wasn't much wildlife to begin with. There, a few trees, maybe she was hiding in that area. Coming down to land the dragoness looked around with a sigh. "Krynn... I want to see you, I want to catch up with you." Probably talking to nobody but honestly if her old friend didn't want to be found and put effort into it she could hide in plain sight for hours with no trouble and days if she had cover to use.

Of course the creature wanted to catch up with the other as well, but the past was holding hir back from doing so. It was like an unwitting habit of playing hide and seek, almost as if shi were playing with a new toy of choice. And yet it was not.
Shi longed to want to be close to that red dragoness again, but shi did not want to have to lock up the beast again just to stay close for a little while longer. This creature did not want to risk hurting her again, only this time it could end up being deadly.
"Crimson... I can't... I can't trust myself anymore..."
The ahuizotl hybrid whispered softly clinging to a tree on the darker side to stay out of Crimson's vision but where she could remain in hir's.
There was a chance that Krynn could seriously hurt Crimson this time, and no one would ever know. Krynn knew more than anyone, shi wanted desperately to just go right up and hold onto hir old friend. But still it was too dangerous. It truly was heartbreaking ignore the natural response for running up to the other female.

Crimson was kind of tired of everyone thinking she couldn't protect herself. She wasn't a fan of violence but lately the dragoness had been getting back in the habit of dealing with her own problems. Blake and Drake had usually insisted on taking care of whatever came up, or someone else in the area that knew her really well like Rook. Krynn hadn't really tried to hurt her much when she had been kidnapped but it was a bit of a wake up call. There would be times when she couldn't rely on everyone else even if she wasn't a fan of fighting, but she could still be good at it.

Looking around she lost any possible trace of Krynn, but she wasn't trying her best yet. It was important to her to find the hybrid, she tried using her other senses but it wasn't easy. The scent was different, not the same familiar Krynn she knew so well. Nothing to hear either, maybe a whisper now and then but nothing that could really show her which way to go. "I'm not giving up. I want to see you again Krynn."

Why!? Why didn't she just give up and leave like she used to do in the past? Back then when hir game was played, the end result was often Krynn being left alone and disappearing often for weeks at a time.
Cropped, pointed ears twitched as shi listened to every little sound that Crimson made. Whether it was to come closer to the specific hiding spot of hir's or moving further away in search of wanting to find hir.

"Crimson go. I don't want to hurt you again..."
The demon spoke a little louder than shi had previously. It was obvious Krynn really was playing around, but shi wanted to keep hir distance as well.
Many knew that when Krynn played, at least to most of the victims, it usually involved a game of spinning and tagging. Often times leaving marks to create a portal to end them whenever shi grew hungry for fresh meat, or mark them continuously until shi would grow tired of hir own game.
"Please Crimson, go back..."
The demon protested again as shi disppeared from one spot into another to keep from being spotted too easily.

This time she was able to hear the whispers, smiling softly to herself. "Thanks for your concern but the only way you're hurting me is if I have to know you're alive and I never get to see you." This was the sort of game that Krynn played, and Crimson was used to it. She knew all the rules, sneaking through shadows to surprise someone, but she was betting that if there had been any real desire to hurt her she would never have made it out of the tomb. "I won't go back until I get to see you, get a chance to talk with you face to face." The dragoness could stay out all night if she had to and just wait for the sun to help eliminate most of the hybrid's hiding places. Then it wouldn't be too hard to close in on her, as long as Krynn knew it wasn't to hunt her down but just to see her she was pretty sure it'd be okay.

It was hard not to just run and leave Crimson wandering in the graveyard for a little while until she would realize that the beast was gone.
"Even if the sight of me scared you? Could you even look at me the same as you once did? Or would it be a mutual thing now after so long?"
As shi spoke, the beast slowly crept out of the shadows. Up to slowly come behind Crimson, speaking softly muzzle just inches from Crimson's ears.
Being so close her, it was intoxicating as it had before. The hybrid could still smell the sweet fragrance of the kitchens of her restaurant, could still smell other vague scents of times before. Though it had been nearly six years since hir walk among the living, Krynn could still trace some of the smells back to the good ole days.
Hesitating, Krynn lifted a taloned hand to touch Crimson, but it slowly dropped as shi waited for the other female to turn around and look at hir first. Shi wanted to be looked at for the monster that shi truly was.