Wolf's PoV
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What. Did he just ask what I think he asked? Ghost's words rang, echoing in my brain.

"Why are you in the Seventh Circle?"

I hesitated, glancing down at the small heap of bloodstained bones which are the meager remains of the fox. I shifted slightly under Ghost's intense stare, which was making me uncomfortable.

The only words I could put together to fill the dead silence were, "It's a long story."

He grinned at me, seemingly unconcerned. Ghost gestured at the den, waving his wings. "We've got time," was all he said as he shrugged.

I sighed. There wasn't a way out of this. I might as well go ahead and tell him....

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4 Years ago....

"What?!" Queen Polar pounds a fisted paw on the ground and glares at Chomonix. "What do you mean, you're an animus?"

Chomonix shrugs and says, "Could I be any more clear?" 'Isn't it obvious?' she wonders. 'Or are you just dumb?'

"You're not of royal blood! How can this be?" Queen Polar doesn't wait for her question to be answered. "You must give a gift to the IceWings! So your power doesn't corrupt you! I will not have a rogue animus running around. Do you want the Royal SeaWing Massacre to happen again?!"

"The was different," Chomonix replies, a bored expression on her snout, talons drumming on the ice. "I'm not a SeaWing." 'But with a brain like yours, you could be,' she thinks.

The queen glares, tail lashing furiously. "You must! Or--or--" she cuts out, mind whirling, trying to find a suitable threat for the animus, but coming up with nothing.

"Or what?" Chomonix asks, carving patterns into the ice with a talon. "Can you make me?" She smirks, absentmindedly doodling out flying spears killing an IceWing that looks suspiciously like the queen.

Queen Polar scoffs. "I'm the queen. You'll do as I say!" 'As you should've done in the first place,' she grumbles mentally.

"Or, I can use my magic as I please or I'll use it on you," Chomonix suggests, glaring menacingly at the queen, before her gaze flicks to the narwhal spears on the walls. She reaches out with a talon towards the spears, glancing back towards the queen.

Polar steps back, eyes widening slightly in shock, bewildered that one of her subjects would suggest to use their animus manic against the law. "How dare--this is ridiculous!" she manages to choke out.

Once again, Chomonix shrugs. "Fine by me. I'll go enchant your--" 'Tongue to fall out, so you can't order me around with your ridiculous commands,' she thinks, scowling.

But the scowl turns into a small grin as she considers the idea of the queen unable to yell at her, for it to be impossible for Polar to lecture her on her magical animus powers.

The queen blurts, "Stop! I agree! On one condition."

Chomonix cocks her head. "I'm listening."

"You, your mate, and any dragonets you have will be permanently demoted to the Seventh Circle. It's that or be executed." Polar says, flicking her tail on the ice with a clatter. The icy walls of the palace around her reflect the white and blue of her scales, and her frosty glare.

Chomonix lets out a laugh, throwing back her head. When she finishes laughing, she scoffs, "Who's to say I won't just kill you first?", her eyes harder than diamonds.

Queen Polar curses under her breath. Polar bears and penguins, she was the queen! She should, could, and would not let one of her subjects threaten her, animus or not. "Must I remind you that I am your Queen, and disobeying my commands would be to disobey the law and rules of the IceWings?" she hisses, not bothering to hide the threat of frostbreath behind it.

The queen and animus enter a staring contest of sorts, seeing who could incinerate the other without turning into a pile of ashes herself. Then, with a sigh, Chomonix answers, breaking the long silence.

"Deal."

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Wolf's PoV
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Ghost was silent, he just stared at me. As I squirmed uncomfortably under his gaze, I braced myself for the angry outburst that was sure to come.

"Well?" I spoke up. "Say something!" I paused, before I added, "please."

He opened his mouth, as if he were about to say something, but closed it again. He took in a breath to begin to speak, but hesitated and shut his maw again, tail twitching.

Finally, he growled in annoyance. "What do you want me to say?! 'Oh, my best--and only--friend just so happens to be an animus and his mother is running rogue, using her magic however she pleases?'" He let out a disbelieving laugh. "No, I think not."

I glared at him, hurt and upset. "First off," I snarled, shoving a talon at his chest, "I am not an animus--" but before I could finish, I was cut off.

"Not an animus? And I suppose you won't use your magic to kill me in my sleep when you're mad at me," he scoffed, gazing at the walls as he dug his claws into the ice.

"I would never do that!" I gasped, becoming a bit angry. "Because I am NOT an animus. And second off, why would I want to harm the one dragon that is nice to me?"

He was silent, the only noise was that of the wind whistling outside. 'That's right,' I thought triumphantly. 'You don't have an answer, because there isn't one.'

Wait, why am I feeling victorious? This isn't a contest, he's my friend. Why am I feeling this way?

Ghost jolted me out of my thoughts when he sighed, air whooshing out of his nostrils. "I don't know."

I smiled, but inwardly I was terrified. Of myself. Of these unknown, foreign feelings rushing though my veins where they have no place.

Ghost's PoV
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Wolf finished his story and looks at me expectantly, like he wanted me to say something. But there wasn't anything to say. I'm stunned into silence.

My best friend is an animus. The words echoed in my brain, playing on repeat.

"Well?" he demanded, staring at me. "At something!" He hesitated before adding, "please."

I opened my mouth, trying to say something, but nothing comes out. I try again. Once more, I couldn't utter a single word. So I keep my mouth shut, trying to summon the right words.

What do I say? He could have lost his soul by now. His mother is running rampant, using her magic however she pleases, soul leeching away.

So I deal with it in the only way I know how.

I threw back my head and laughed in disbelief. "What do you want me to say?!" I snapped, annoyed that I don't know what to say and he expects me to say something when I can't. "Well, I guess I'll just go around telling others that my best friend is an animus, his mother rampaging around enchanting anything as she pleases?!" I glared at him. "No, I don't think so."

Wolf stared at me, hurt shining in his eyes, but I was too upset to care. "First off," he snarled, pointing a claw at me, "I am not an animus!"

Liar.

"Not an animus," I snapped. Yeah right. "And one day I won't wake up because you'll have lost your soul, gone mad, and murdered me in my sleep." I didn't look at him, I was too agonized.

Wolf gasped, gaping at me. "I wouldn't do that!" he protested, waving his paws. "Because I'm not an animus. And why in all of Pyrrhia would I want to kill the one dragon who's my friend?"

I paused, considering his words. I carefully watched him for his reaction, while pretending to study my talons. As I watched, a victorious smirk appeared on his snout.

He thinks he's convinced me he's not an animus. Well, it sucks to be you, you big bad Wolf, because I know you're an animus. And I won't let you corrupt yourself. You'll hate me, and I'm sorry. But I won't let my best friend kill himself while I sit by and do nothing. I can't. I won't.

*A/N: hello my dear readers!! I'm extremely sorry for the late update! I hope y'all can forgive me....anyways, if you like this story, do be sure to check out my other story 'Fire and Ice'. I'd love it if you could please vote, comment, and share! Love you guys; you're what makes my stories! ❤️❤️*