Listen, And The Stars Shall Speak

The Third Task Will Cost You

A/N: Don't kill me please....Oh who am I kidding, I'm dead.

"Nope." Coal announced, breaking the silence that had settled over them. He shook his head, "Nope. Not happening."

"Oh, it's already happened." Drought replied smugly. Coal glared at him with enough force to kill Darkstalker, speaking his next words oddly calmly. 

"Shut your freaking mouth, you filthy pile of donkey shit." 

"Dad." Dawn insisted. "It's okay." She looking at her father desperately, hoping he would understand. 

"No, its not!" Coal's gaze whipped towards Dawn, but he stopped as he noted the look on her face.

"Dawn...." Dusk said softly. "How could you betray us like this?"

"No." Cypress shook her head frantically. "I don't believe you." Anaconda touched her shoulder gently, trying to be comforting while shooting powerful glares in Dawn's direction.

"Why?" Shore demanded, looking confused. 

"At least give us an explanation!" Orange demanded. "You owe us that much."

"You BITCH!" Haze yelled. "I taught you to fight, and THIS is how you repay me? By teaming up wit the bastards that slaughtered my mother and have abused your father for years?!" She lunged forward, but Boysen caught her.

"Don't." Boysen breathed. "She's not worth it."

"Like hell she isn't!" Haze objected.

Dawn could feel her stomach churning with guilt. Coal just stared at her. Didn't say a word. Just stared right into her very soul.

And somehow, that hurt the worst.

"It's time for the third task," Drought whispered in her ear, so that the others couldn't hear. They were too riled up and furious to pay attention anyways.

"What could you POSSIBLY want me to do now?" Dawn asked, her voice wavering slightly.

"The third test proves your ultimate loyalty to the gang," Drought explained, not even caring he wasn't holding up his peaceful charade. "You must take out a non-believer. Someone who is against us and all we stand for."

Dawn didn't move. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Take out?" she repeated, hoping Drought didn't mean what she expected.

"Kill." he confirmed. "Someone not too important that would raise questions, but someone strong enough to prove that you're worthy." Quietly, Drought slipped her a dagger, the other being too distracted to notice.

Both of them eyed the group before them.

Drought gave a half-smirk, eyeing the group. His plan was working beautifully. If all went according to plan, Dawn would stab and kill either Coal, her brother, or that obnoxious Haze who had killed his father. Any way, it was a win-win situation, and Drought would take out whoever she left alive.

The two princes of the group would raise questions, he knew, but he and Prince Wade had an arrangement in the past. The Mudwings didn't care about princes. It shouldn't be too hard to cover up his death as an accident. Prince Shore, on the other hand, would be much more difficult. Perhaps if they hid the body well enough, they'd just say he was missing.

No, Drought gritted his teeth. Shore was a loyal little pest. He would have told his sisters where he was going. They'd point out the Sting immediately. Perhaps he'd have to take a trip back to JMA when this was over. Clean up all the loose ends- like that aggravating little Mudwing from his Winglet. She definitely knew too much.

Dawn was also eyeing the group, the handle of the dagger digging into her hand. Drought's owrds rung loud in her head. "Someone not too important that would raise questions, but someone strong enough to prove that you're worthy." She repeated them over and over, staring at each member of the group individually.

"She didn't want to kill anyone, let alone someone she was close to or her own family!  But she also knew she didn't have another choice.

Someone not too important.... Well, that ruled out Shore and Anaconda instantly. 

Someone strong enough.... As much as Dawn wouldn't want to pick a fight with any of the dragons that stood before her, Boysen did seem like the weakest.

She knew who Drought wanted her to kill. He wanted Coal out of the picture more then anyone else. But Dawn was not, no matter what Drought said, she was NOT going to kill her family.

But that only left her with a few options. Trying to kill Haze was a suicide mission. Dawn would be dead in under a minute, no matter how close she and Haze were.

But that only left one.

Dawn bit her lip, knowing that if there was still a turning back point, this would shatter it completely. She'd never NEVER be forgiven for this. 

She stepped forward, knowing that she had to do this right. 

There was no other choice.

The whole group stood before her, her father still watching her closely.

"I'm sorry." Dawn whispered to him, looking him in the eye before turning,

"No!" Someone screamed, knowing what was about to happen.

But it was too late.

In one slick motion, Dawn turned, and thrust the dagger straight into Orange's chest.