Ghost's PoV
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I sighed, resting my chin on my paws. I closed my eyes and concentrated on my feelings. Or rather, the lack thereof.

There wasn't anything inside. It was empty. I wasn't feeling anything.

The beast within paced, frustrated and bored. But even it was tired and empty. It didn't have the energy to get up, to do anything. So it paced back and forth, in circles, because at least that was better than the never-ending nothingness.

I flicked my tail, not wanting to get up. It was comfortable here. It was safe. It's not like I had the energy or determination to do anything else anyways.

I heard the crunch of snow behind me, but I payed no attention to it. I wasn't paying attention to anything.

I was seeing, but not looking. Hearing, but not listening. Touching but not feeling. I was tired, but I couldn't sleep. Hungry, but I couldn't eat.

Alive but not living.

I heard a low chuckle, but even that didn't disturb me. A hefty paw slammed down right in front of my snout, the talons scraping my nose, a puff of snow floating up my nostrils.

I sighed again, blowing the snow out. I felt nothing. Pain was nonexistent. Neither was happiness. Or sadness. There was nothing inside.

I was numb.

There was a voice, which I slowly registered it to be Kodiak's, but it was as if I was hearing it from underwater.

"Well, well. What have we here? A sad pile of walrus blubber, eh?"

Kodiak waved his paw in front of my eyes.  I didn't care. I didn't care about anything anymore. When I didn't react, he got upset.

"Hey, Two-eyes! What's wrong? Been abandoned by every dragon in your life?"

Wolverine kicked me in my ribs. I let out a slight "oomph", but other than that, nothing.

Narwhal growled under her breath. "He's not worth it. Let's go."

But then another dragon held up a paw. "Wait."

Wolf.

The familiar voice stirred something deep within, but then there was silence. Ripples in water before the surface goes still. The monster quit its pacing and turned, fangs bared. But then it went still and resumed pacing.

"Hey, Ghost. Ghost, it's me. Wolf."

I heard his voice with perfect clarity. It was crisp, clear. But it was also a voice belonging to a dragon I didn't know anymore. This voice sounded like a dragon I used to know, but that dragon was dead. In his place they sent an imposter. He looked like him, but the voice wasn't his. The voice was soft, but cold. It was foreign.

I shrugged off whatever I felt inside me, letting the darkness take over again. I didn't want anything to do with this life anymore.

Deep within, I felt something stir. It was hope. The hope that they'd beat me to death and I wouldn't have to live anymore. I didn't want to live. I didn't have a reason to anyways.

All the dragons I had loved abandoned me, leaving me to die. I couldn't seem to die. I kept living, despite everything. And now, I wanted to die. Couldn't I just be granted that one wish? Just leave in peace.

Take all the pain away.

If only.

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Wolf's PoV
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I grunted as a leg suddenly smashed into my ribs, knocking me to the ice.

"Too slow!" taunted Wolverine, leering at me. I snarled softly, staggering back to my feet, swaying a little. I shook my head, clearing it of the fog and spots dancing in my vision.

"Again!" barked Kodiak, tail twitching. "And try not to get hit this time Wolf, if it's within your capabilities."

I merely flicked my ears back before focusing on Wolverine again. He growled at me, crouching low. I mirrored his stance.

He leapt at me, talons outstretched. I threw myself to the side, tucking into a roll and spinning to face him.

I called, "Too slow!", mimicking his earlier words, grinning.

He simply snarled before rushing me. He hurtled towards me astonishly fast.

Suddenly I panicked, my mind blanking. I looked around wildly for an escape, and found none. I glanced back towards Wolverine as he bore down on me.

So I did the only thing that I could.

I launched myself upwards, my wings carrying me higher before I lighted back down.

Wolverine spun, outraged. "Cheater!" he howled, glaring at me, his tail lashing.

I licked my snout nervously and edged backwards, only to run into Kodiak, Ox, and Narwhal.

"What," growled Ox.

"Was," hissed Narwhal.

"That?!" Kodiak roared, slamming his paws down so hard that small cracks appeared in the ice. He was snout to snout with me, and I could see the fury in his eyes all too clearly.

I flinched, averting my gaze to the ice. I fidgeted under their intense stares, picking at the ice.

"Um...I....uh..." I stuttered, at a loss for words.

"That is not how IceWings fight," he snarled. "IceWings fight. Not flee. We fight."

Narwhal sneered, "Coward," a scowl etched on her face and eyes filled with disgust.

I hissed back angrily, "Or so you say. The dragons that won't pick fights with dragons their own size."

Ox laughed harshly. "And now you're a part of that group of dragons," he smirked evilly.

I winced, thinking back to Ghost. But then I shook me head, reminding myself that Ghost no longer existed.

I raised my head, glaring at him. "I am. But I don't want any part of it if you're a bunch of cowards."

Kodiak merely grinned.

"Too late."

**A/N: IM ALLLIVVVEEE!!!!! BACk FRoM thE DEaD!! (For now at least) YaYYyYyyYyyYyyYy!!!!
Sorry about disappearing on all you guys. There was finals and school and crap and I was really stressed and didn't have a lot of time for a life. Not to mention like 20 appointments a week and so many problems. But now I'm doing online schooling so I should be back on more often. Hopefully you don't hate me too much. You all are amazing. Thanks for your support! ❤️❤️ -cycriss**