Storm spent another hour going over the many terms and conditions the new deal would be regulated under. The traders were expecting to return at the tail end of Spring.
Which would give Storm and his people time to prepare for their arrival and for the facilities to be constructed. Once that was resolved, the traders departed and Storm was finally able to inspect the garrison stores, while Aurora took Orian on a sightseeing tour.
After ensuring that the supplies were sufficient to last the winter, And after creating contingency plans in the event that the winter weather took longer to fade, he left to find his family again.
He took Orian to the grave moulds where those who died during the siege were laid to rest.
The garrison commander had constructed a small monument marking the event and together he, Aurora and Orian paid respects to those who's fight was over.
Storm also took his family to the ruins of Green Springs, the elven settlement Storm had visited on the day his clan was attacked.
They camped there for the night and his father shared stories of some of his exploits with his son until late into the night.
Early the next morning, they were back into the air and on the way towards the Hatching grounds. By late afternoon, their destination came into view.
As most of the inhabitants of the hidden base had moved to Sanctuary after he occupied it.
The small village in front of the caves had been disassembled.
Only a few dragons and griffins were currently staying here. Keeping the place ready should the war go poorly and his people needed to hide.
Storm met with the dragon in charge.
An elder dragon from the Wyrm Tooth mountains clan who agreed to watch over the place in Storm's stead.
Together they ensured that the few families currently staying here had enough to eat for the winter.
"Actually, while you are here. Could you look into something for me, Storm?" Asked the elder.
The elder continued to explain that a few weeks ago, his people staying here had encountered signs of 'tainted lands' close to the hatching grounds.
Tainted lands came into being after a terrible tragedy or dark deed was committed in a location. It produced an effect similar to a corrupted haven, but on a much smaller scale.
Causing local spirits and animals to become violent and for the dead to stir.
It also produced a feeling of anxiety and restlessness for people living close to such a mark.
"What could have caused it? There wasn't anything here when we were here last?" Asked Storm.
"Are you certain, Storm? The people who stayed here before reporting feeling anxiety while doing so?" Stated the Elder.
"Storm didn't need reminding, because he felt it to at the time. He believed that it was just nerves, and unpleasant memories that were playing tricks on his mind.
But could he have been wrong? Was the tainted ground responsible?
"Can you look into this for us? I fear what could happen if the radius of the tainted ground reached the hatching grounds.
There may still be the souls of restless dragons in the area, and they may turn hostile. " said the elder
Storm nodded his head.
"I'll do what I can." Stated Storm.
Orian was not pleased at all to hear that his father was setting off on a mission. "
"No!!! You promised!!! No work!!" Cried Orian.
His mother tried to smooth things over.
"Orian!! The people need his help!! We can't just..." started Aurora.
"I don't care!!" Cried Orian.
Storm embraced his child as he wept.
"You promised that we will be together no matter what! So if you must do this, then let us go together!!" Exclaimed Orian.
"It's too dangerous, Orian!! The..." started Aurora.
"I've been training!! I can defend myself if I have to!!" Exclaimed Orian.
"Playing 'pounce' with your friends doesn't count as training, Orian. " stated Storm.
Storm looked helplessly at Aurora, hoping she had a way to solve his predicament.
She didn't.
Leaving Storm to either keep his word and put his son at risk. Or to break his word, along with his son's heart. Storm made a decision he hoped he wouldn't regret later.
"If we do this, then I expect you to follow every order I give, Orian!!" Stated Storm.
His son nodded his head.
"I'm serious!! If I give you the order to run!!
You do so without question!! And you do not leave your mother's side!! Is that clear!?" Stated his father.
Orian nodded his head.
"Promise me!!" Ordered Storm.
"I promise. " stated Orian without question.
With assurances given, the family of dragons set of together in the direction of the elder had stated the corruption could be found.
It didn't take them long until they came across the first signs. The grass and trees were covered in a strange black substance. Clear signs that the area had been tainted.
"Ewwww!!!! It's sticky!!!" Cried Orian.
He desperately tried to wipe of the black tar like substance that was clinging to his scales off on the nearest tree.
Only to find that the tree was covered in it as well.
"It smells!!" Complained Orian.
He retched from the smell.
"You can return to the settlement if you want?" Stated Storm in amusement.
"N-no!! I'm fine!!" Said Orian.
They continued onward deeper into the forest.
The area around them was unnaturally dark and silent. Storm kept thinking he saw movement along the edges of his vision, but when he looked, it was gone.
Eventually they came across an altar made of bone. A curved bone dagger was planted on top of it, and a draconic skull rested beside it.
"We've seen something similar to this before?
Back at the abandoned town while I was traveling back from Northburg with Leyocan?
Omen was responsible for the massacre there.
Could she have had a hand in this tragedy as well?" Asked Storm.
As he stepped closer he noticed something troubling about the dagger. The blade was made from the tooth of a dragon. Based on the size, it was an elder one.
"Orian!! I need you to go with your mother now!!" Yelled Storm.
His son gave no reply.