Ignite

As the night becomes intensely darker, the wind begins to pick up and with it a cold breeze. Dreadtooth smirked having already settled on what he was going to do. His plan was set, or so he had thought.

"Father?", asked Fiala as she moved to be closer to her father. She looked at him with great excitement.

Dreadtooth blinked, the sound of his massive head turning was but a light shuffling sound. "My dear why are you still up?"

Fiala giggled softly as she replied, "I can't stop thinking about him!"

Dreadtooth tilted his head, his smile showed his fangs. "Oh is my sweet daughter in love?"

Fiala nodded as she shyly said, "Lesion is a great boy! Father can I please have him for my husband!"

Dreadtooth's smile disappeared, his eyes slowly shifted in his displeasure.

That was not what he wanted to hear. Jr was who he wanted. Without him, he couldn't capture the two who have fled from his grasp.

Young love was a pure thing, but the so called "young" love was merely just a crush. It didn't mean anything, only cause these youngsters were to young to fully understand what actual love was.

That was how Dreadtooth saw it.

"Fiala, I don't know about having him as a husband.", curtly replied Dreadtooth as he looked away.

Fiala pouted, "Lesion is a good choice! I like him and..."

Dreadtooth looked at her silently before saying, "You like him, you don't love him."

Fiala frowned upon her fathers words, "You don't know me or what I like! He is cute, strong, and polite!"

Dreadtooth looked away, he closed his eyes as he said. "I will go see Bloodmaw and talk with him."

Fiala blinked and she looked down as she got ready to say something did she flinch. Her fathers words were sharp as well as serious, "I'm going alone."

Fiala looked down fighting back tears, she began to sob but she jumped as her father nuzzled her smaller body.

His words were gentle and sincere, to her. "I love you, you're my little girl and I want you to have a strong husband. Please understand."

Fiala looked up at him, she some what nodded with a small smile. "I-I know, does this mean that I am to marry Jr then?"

How horrible was it to manipulate your own flesh and blood? Apparently some parents were like that, once they were blinded by the vision of power and fame nothing else matters.

"Yes, I know for a fact that he will be a good husband for you.", spoke Dreadtooth as he smiled.

Fiala looked at him with trusting eyes, she clearly trusted her father enough to know that he was making the right choice. But she looked down as she said, "I don't think that Jr likes me, I mean he is definitely a strong boy but he didn't show interest in me..."

Dreadtooth smirked, "I am sure he is just shy is all."

Fiala looked up at him with a smile, she walked away to her nest afterwards. "I am going to sleep then, I love you."

Dreadtooth watched her go with a smile, "See you in the morning."

Dreadtooth smirked as he turned to leave as he walked out of his clan with his eyes taking on the glow of the moon, he stalked alone through the dark woods toward Bloodmaw's clan.

Dreadtooth stopped once he saw the familiar camp which belonged to Bloodmaw. He walked forward, no doubt his size can be seen by whoever was on watch.

Bloodmaw blinked, his body moved to stand as he walked toward the familiar brute. Why was he here so late? Did he have the same concerns as him? Could it be possible that Dreadtooth changed his mind about the pact?

"Dreadtooth, How is the night for you?", asked Bloodmaw with a respectful smile.

Dreadtooth smirked in response, "Rather well, I came here to talk to you. It seems my daughter is in love with your boy Jr!"

Bloodmaw looked greatly puzzled, he looked back in a glance at Lesion before looking at Dreadtooth silently.

From what he saw Lesion and Fiala got along, but yet she was interested in Jr? Did he read that wrong?

Bloodmaw looked at Dreadtooth who looked greatly pleased.

Why was it that he felt funny about this?

Bloodmaw had thought about this pact long and hard, he knew how Jr felt about it as well. Jr wanted no part in it, while Lesion signed himself up for marrying Fiala.

What should he do? He didn't expect Dreadtooth to come again until a later date.

"Jr wants no part in this arrangement, he talked about it.", replied Bloodmaw honestly.

Dreadtooth smirked as he scoffed, "He doesn't like it, but didn't you agree to this pact? Besides, he can't go against you can he?"

Bloodmaw looked at him a little surprised, he was taken back by Dreadtooth and his response. "No, but..."

Dreadtooth smirked, "Then it shouldn't be no problem then! He is young and doesn't like change, he will come around! Besides, my daughter wants him and you won't ruin that for her will you?"

Bloodmaw looked at him for a very long time, his heart squeezed in his chest. He was really thinking long and hard about this.

If he were to say no, there will be no doubt that a fight will break out. Not only that but his clan was outnumbered by Dreadtooth's by a mile.

Bloodmaw closed his eyes, he honestly felt horrible. "I will uphold the pact."

Dreadtooth grinned, his fangs flicked in the moonlight. "Excellent!"

Bloodmaw looked down, his expression was twisted in pure pain. He could not believe that he did this. Jr will be furious, Lesion on the other hand will be heartbroken.

Both of his children will no doubt hate him for this.

Dreadtooth turned away as he chuckled, "My daughter will be thrilled!"

Bloodmaw closed his eyes tightly as Dreadtooth walked away and out of sight.

Bloodmaw turned away as he returned to the camp, he approached Swiftscale and Ebony with his large head down.

Ebony opened her eyes to the sound of feet, she looked up curiously. Her eyes immediately took on a hurt look once she saw Bloodmaw's face.

Swiftscale opened his eyes to Ebony's tail nudging his side. "..?"

The baryoynx looked up and got up quickly, "Hey what is wrong..?"

Bloodmaw looked to the side before walking away, "Follow me..."

Swiftscale looked after him before following, while Ebony laid near Jr with worried eyes.

Bloodmaw stopped once he was a bit away from Jr and Ebony, his expression was visibly tormented by his feelings. "Dreadtooth said that his daughter loves Jr..."

Swiftscale looked quite stunned, "Really so then...?"

Bloodmaw looked at him as he silently nodded, "I agreed to Jr getting married..."

Swiftscale looked at Jr with wide eyes before looking to where Lesion was. "God..."

Bloodmaw looked at the ground with a little nod, "..."

Swiftscale closed his eyes as he said, "I guess this means you will be training Jr then..?"

Bloodmaw shook his head, "I want you to keep training him, I will have Lesion train with you again as well."

Swiftscale looked at him as he nodded, "Okay..."

Bloodmaw looked at Jr as he sighed, "I am going to talk to him..."

Swiftscale looked at Jr, his eyes looked away very much unsure of what was going to happen.

Decisions were a hard thing to make, choices also painted you to be some kind of monster. Words and choices hurt worse than anything else on the planet, only cause words pierce your heart causing it to break into a million of pieces.

The baryoynx watched as Bloodmaw walked over to Jr, this kind of news will not sit well with him.

Ebony moved away, she did this to give them space.

While Bloodmaw began to talk to Jr, Swiftscale figured it was best to go tell Lesion. At least tell him that he didn't have to train with his father anymore.

"What...?", replied Jr in pure anger.

Bloodmaw looked away, his eyes slowly looked at his son whose eyes were sharp with great dislike. To think that this was how his son was going to look at him from now on. "Dreadtooth told me that his daughter wants you to be her husband."

Jr looked away his eyes narrowed as light tears fell from his eyes. He had mixed feelings, he knew how his brother felt, he also knew that he couldn't hate his father. So then why did he feel so unhappy? "I don't want to marry her, but I don't have a choice do I."

Bloodmaw closed his eyes, "I am sorry. Really I am."

Jr closed his eyes as he said, "I am sorry too."

Bloodmaw looked away, he honestly felt like a villain.

"Is it true...?", whimpered Lesion as he walked over.

Bloodmaw looked at him slowly, while Jr flinched.

Lesion looked at his father with tears, "Did Fiala really pick him...?"

Bloodmaw looked at him, "That is what Dreadtooth said."

This once strong family, one father and his two sons will have a broken bond. This was the worst kind of thing to ever happen.

Lesion closed his eyes as he sobbed, his eyes slowly opened as Grim walked over.

Lesion looked up at Grim before looking down, his eyes never once looked at Jr.

Jr looked at his father, his tears that fell from his eyes slowly ceasing. No matter how badly he wanted to scream his head off, it would not stop this arrangement. Jr knew that. "I will make her happy."

Bloodmaw looked at Jr in surprise, his expression took on a struggling side. It was probably cause he knew that the bond between them will never be the same. " I know you will..."

Lesion refused to look at his brother and father, his eyes were closed as many tears fell.

Life had a way of damaging once strong relationships and bonds. It was like it had fun breaking hearts and tormenting spirits.

Swiftscale looked at Ebony with concern, he didn't know what he could do to help out his leader. He obviously needed help, sadly he didn't know how too.

Perhaps it was cause he knew that he couldn't.

This arrangement was something that Bloodmaw agreed to, he also knew of the consequences. If he had turned it down, this very clan would suffer.

Things were finally looking up, but now it was undetermined if Bloodmaw and his children will ever have the same bond again.

It was not only Swiftscale or Ebony, but the whole clan would no doubt feel the same. Everyone in this clan was like a family.

Bloodmaw stalked away with his head down as he returned to his spot to keep watch.

Jr watched him go, he looked at Lesion who hadn't moved or said a thing. It was clear that his heart was torn in two.

Sure, it was young love but it was more than that.

Lesion had willingly put himself out there to be married, he did it for his father and brother. He wanted to do it to make the both of them proud. In a way, with it taken away from him he couldn't help but feel like a failure.

He knew he had a lot to learn but he wanted to work hard. Now his brother would marry Fiala while he remains here, wishing he could of done so much more.

Was Lesion jealous of his brother?

Jealousy was a normal thing to have of another sibling, but it never got so bad to where you hated them.

Lesion and Jr were very different boys, and the both of them had different personalities. But Lesion was missing a arm, while his brother had all limbs in tact.

Did Fiala chose Jr because he looked normal?

Jr was about to say something to his brother, and it surprised him when Lesion walked away as he sniffled loudly.

Grim looked after Lesion before following him, he was silent as he stalked after the youngster.

Swiftscale walked up to Jr, he frowned as Jr sobbed looking down.

As the morning slowly approaches, the clan has to get ready for the upcoming future which lay before them.

The decision was made.