The dragon being chased crashed through the an opening in the treetops. Exploded winced sympathetically – he could imagine the number of cuts which the dragon suffered.

But he was shocked when the same dragon collided with a stone set into the ground, then disappeared into the earth.

Exploded then realized that there must be some sort of large, empty space concealed beneath the stone – large enough for a dragon, at any rate. Exploded wondered at this – who had need of a secret, underground hollow when any secret, faraway cave would do except for a single dragon who had committed such a crime that he knew he would be searched for to such a degree that this was the only option?

Exploded could imagine no circumstance where this became necessary; what kind of a crime would that be?

But the sound of branches breaking caught his attention as the long-scarred dragon broke through the forest ceiling, and followed the first dragon into the underground cave.

A loud, thunderous sound resonated through the air as the very ground collapsed. Several dragon-lengths square of land crumbled inwards, falling for several yards before they crashed into a stop. Dust and dirt rocketed outwards, coloring the air a hazy brown.

An immense force slammed into Exploded, and he was thrown violently against the treetops. Pain flashed through his body, branches ensnaring him, sharp twigs tearing at his scales.

He blinked open his eyes, gritting his teeth against the pain. And realized he was staring directly into where the ground had collapsed – the very ground containing… the stone entranceway to the underground hollow!

His second thought was of the dragons inside. Both would suffer broken bones and numerous cuts, but no fatal injury.

He peered through the dust, but could see nothing through the haze. So, he attempted to make himself slightly more comfortable (a process which, ironically, caused him more pain) and settled down to wait.

When the dust cleared, Exploded saw only one dragon – the one being chased, he thought. He watched as this dragon methodically searched the rubble. He threw aside pieces of dirt and rock, quickly searching through the once-existent ceiling – for what? The answer came to Exploded as the dragon discarded an especially large piece – the long-scarred dragon!

The relationship between the two dragons occurred to Exploded with two possibilities – first, that the two dragons were friends, or that they were enemies. Based on their actions, each possibility was equally likely. So, Exploded resumed his watch, eager to have his question answered.

The first dragon pressed his claws against the other dragons’s neck. Pinpricks of blood slid from the incision to the rubble below, and the dragon with a long scar’s features twisted with the final fear – the fear of death.

Exploded averted his eyes and flew, but not before he heard the sound of death for the first time in his life.

Exploded couldn’t feel. He was devoid of emotion. A great darkness gnawed at his insides, and he allowed his wings to direct theirselves where they would – he’d sunk deep into his thoughts, a maelstrom of confusion. WHY?