In retrospect the dragonkin would not be able to say what she had expected to find in the pit, probably something more akin to Laurel and herself rather than two small Elementals. Because that's what the fire-bright little creature ascending like an ember on the wind had to be. A thing that Drache had only found vague references to in moldy books and fading scrolls. She watched with divided attention, curious about the creature but unable to forget that danger was all around them. The smaller water elementals were lurking, and the huge serpent was barreling around in the depths of the temple, its destruction causing the ground to shiver under her talons. 

It was only in her distraction that the little creature was able to get so close. He absorbed the fire encasing her fist and swelled with renewed strength and Drachiathoryx had no more regrets about feeding him than she would have about scattering loose grains for a hungry chicken. 

[color=ed1c24]"Here you go, Laurel! I've found you not just one fire spirit, but two!" [/color] 

But then the first one sort of swelled and began to cover her body like a veil of fire, and this was something the half-dragon did not expect. At first she jumped back from the edge of the pit, shaking her arm a bit. When that didn't work she tried to scratch it off with her claws, a startled noise of dismay snorting out of her nostrils. He lifted one foot and tried to shake that as well, turning in circles. Few creatures approached a half-dragon willingly. She'd never even had a cat rub itself against her legs! Assuming that the creature meant harm, it took her longer than it should have to relax.

He spoke, and in listening, her ear-frills twitching madly as she peered through the firey aura around her at the orb floating over her flat belly, she realized that his presence felt...good. It was comforting, like wine after a bad day. [i]What I wouldn't do for a cup of wine right about now...[/i] Her magic was nearly spent, but with this little creature wrapped completely over her she felt like she might have a little bit more to give.

The delicate pattern of scales all over Drache's body began to glow, turning the scales dark in comparison. [color=ed1c24]"You'll find that I don't relish the idea of giving you control, little Cinder. You'd [i]better[/i] not disappoint me." [/color]

With the fire sprite making her glow like a bonfire, Drache turned just as Laurel went leaping out over the abyss and sank down into the darkness. Possessed with a much stronger sense of self-preservation than all that, the half-dragon tilted her horned head and spread her wings, the motion showering fire-red wisps towards the stone floor. She paused, sensing that "her" flame sprite didn't want her to jump, and also because through some connection that hadn't existed a moment ago, she had an inkling of what Laurel was doing down there anyways.

[color=ed1c24]"She's coming back,"[/color] the half-dragon muttered, more to herself than anything. Her tail lashed back and forth as she turned away from the pit. Her eyes were red-white, pupils lost against the glare. Behind her she could feel Laurel coming as the rising heat of a volcanic eruption. A simmering wave of furnace-like heat came rushing noisily from the darkness, following closely by the red glow. [color=ed1c24]"Kraven! [i]Run![/i]"[/color]

Drache was not a terribly trusting sort of person. Even amongst these kvaren who had treated her so well, there was a certain amount of reserve that never seemed to fade. But the presence of the little sprite permeated more than her scales, and she decided to trust. [color=ed1c24]"Let'sss make that lassst heartbeat count for sssomething and sshow thisss ssslimy watery worm what a missstake it was to take up residenccce in a fire temple."[/color]

Her anger mixed with the sprite's sadness and she let what was left of her power build. She'd been practicing with Laurel long enough that when the alufiend's power joined with hers she barely felt the change. Only the rising heat and unquestionable might. There was ecstacy in her anger. Fury in her euphoria. It was intoxicating. And just when she thought the inferno might consume her completely, she lifted her snout to stare into the eyes of the serpent and gave control to the little spirit that had turned her entire body into a corruscating pyre.

[b][color=ed1c24]"Die."[/color][/b]