This chapter of Miasma contains fictional dieties/religious elements and mentions of pain. It was tall, and silver, and thin. Chills ran down Mango's spine as they approached the building on the tallest mountain peak, high above the clouds. They had been flying for nearly half an hour. "Morpho?" he whispered softly, but loud enough for xem to hear him over the battering rain. "Where are we?" "Mango, you can't tell anyone about this," Morpho said firmly. "This is a strict secret. Most DRAGONS don't even know about this place." "I won't but..." Mango pressed. "Morpho, what is it?" "The Temple," xey said. "Some of the higher ranked dragons are allowed to come here to worship." "Worship... who?" "You'll see. Now shh." Mango clamped his jaw shut as they landed and followed Morpho inside. Mango nearly remarked on how beautiful xey were, but stopped himself. There was a time and place for that, and this definitely wasn't it. They walked through a pair of columns engraved with swirls of clouds and jagged lightning, and a huge statue came into view. It was definitely a dragon on four legs, carved neatly out of diamond, but nearly twice the size of a normal dragon It was standing tall with its tail curled around its feet. It held something out in front of it that looked like a storm cloud. "Stay back," Morpho said, lifting into the air. Xey flew up to the face of the statue, and gently placed xir talon on its nose. A cyan glow spread across the crystal. Morpho dove back down quickly. Cracks spread across the statue. With an earsplitting "SMASH", it shattered. Mango covered his head, but no bits of diamond fell across his wings, and no needles of pain smashed into him. Instead he heard a booming voice stretch across the room. "WHO DARES SUMMON MIASMA, GODDESS OF LIFE AND DEATH? WHO DARES WAKE ME FROM MY- Oh, hey Morpho!" Mango looked up and saw a dark pink dragon in place of the statue, reaching out and hugging Morpho. "Wha-?" "Oh, right," Morpho said, pulling himself away from the dragon. "This is Miasma. She's the goddess we worship. Miasma, this is my... friend. His name is Mango." "Good to meet you, Mango!" Miasma said, her voice no longer booming, but still high and commanding. She reached out a massive talon to shake Mango's paw. "Say, Morpho, why did you summon me?" "Mango's in danger," Morpho said. "And his whole colony, as well. Veneen is trying to capture them to stop the dragons from starving." Miasma let out a low growl and lashed out her tail, nearly knocking over a nearby column. "That's a very Veneen thing to do. Are Kral and Ranee just going to LET him do that? They're smarter than that, and they know it." "The king and queen don't know yet," Morpho said, flinching. "Or at least, they only just found out. I think they're going to get him in BIG trouble. But it might not happen in time." "Wait, what?" Mango cried. "Veneen's not the king?! And the real rulers don't even KNOW about me?! WHAT?!" Morpho winced again. "I told you he's not!" "I have an idea," Miasma said slyly. "Buuuut you're not gonna like it, Morpho. And neither is Mango. But hear me out." Morpho and Mango exchanged glances. "I think Mango should come stay with me." This story is collaborative with . if they don't get some follows real soon, everyone's blankets will permanently be slightly damp! >:3
