Lament of Sarreneth

A local myth from the people of the Land of Aginrese. It tells the tale of the last Sky Sovereign, their partner Dragonsinger, and how it all ended. The people of the Aginrese believe that this event played a part in the creation of the Shimmering Fields.
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The story begins with illness, the ranks of the Sky Sovereigns were decimated by a plague. It was called Scale Rot. Their Dragonsingers did all they could but their partners still perished. This sickness infected the ground, the plants, and humans, so the Sky Sovereigns left to protect their partners. This plague starting a time of instability and scarcity. It is in this time that Sarreneth and their partner Dragonsinger lived.
Good fortune had spared Sarreneth and their partner. They had not caught the dreaded sickness. As the Sovereigns diminished, the duties of the remaining grew larger. The two had to step up into responsibilities they weren't exactly trained for. They were the protectors for a great region. To care for the land, people, and creatures.
An ill wind had been blowing for a few days. The closest fire mountain had been spitting ash and rock into the sky. It was on one of these days that an echoing roar was heard. The sky turned a dark red. A layer of haze descended from the mountain encompassing and blanketing the foot.
Worried, the duo went to scout it out. As they flew, eventually they could make out a large shadow, darker than the haze moving through it. Flickers of bright red appeared here and there around the shape. They flew closer and Sarreneth blew an opening in the haze with their wings.
The creature was large in size with four legs. It was covered in rocky plates and had spikes protruding off of its body. Lava ran in rivulets over it, dripping down to the ground. It turned to face them revealing a large maw with fangs the size of a human head. The most unnerving aspect was the web of dark purple lines on its skin, its veins they realized, with black splotches here and there. It was plague infected. It had come from the fire mountain. Sarreneth could see the frenzy in its eyes. They were the only Sovereign and Singer pair left.
They had to stop it. No matter what.
The creature gave a screeching roar and rushed towards them. Sarreneth obliged in kind. The pair swooped down and attacked. Quickly rising whilst dodging any retaliation. They had to use their flight to their advantage. They knew one hit would be lethal. The fight continued thusly for awhile. Then, it happened.
The duo had grown complacent, thinking themselves safe in the sky. The creature showed them otherwise. It sprang from downed trees, to rocks, to the air, where it lunged for Sarreneth, claws outstretched. Sarreneth, tired from overwork, couldn't dodge in time. The creature sank it's claws and fangs into their neck, wing shoulders, and abdomen. Blood splattered on the ground. They all went down in a tangle of limbs.
Sarreneth lashed out with their fangs, tearing a large wound in the creature. Their claws scored deep gouges along its sides. The creature jumped back and eyed them warily. The duo tried to regain their composure. They both knew what came next. Sarreneth told their partner to leave. Their partner, furious and already grieving, refused. Desperate tears pooled in their eyes. Sarreneth just repeated their plea adding, "You alone hold the history of our peoples, of Aginrese. I do not wish the legacy of the Sovereigns and Singers scattered and forgotten. At least, with this, the final act of the Sky Sovereigns will be a righteous one."
In the face of this, their partner grimly complied. The creature saw the human running and tried to pounce. Sarreneth slammed into it, sending it tumbling. They pulled themselves up to their full height and flared their wings. They snapping them to gain lift and dove. Sarreneth's roar echoed all the way to the village.
The two fought for a long while. A fever started to rise in Sarreneth. Their vision started to go in and out of focus. The twos wounds worsened and blood spilled in showers across the ground. Sarreneth eventually caught the creature by its throat. They wrenched and tore. Finally, the creature lay still. Sarrenth landed with a mighty thump. The dragon gathered the last of their strength and raised their head toward the sky. A long triumphant roar loud enough to rattle the ground sounded. It was and would be the last one.
Their partner stayed until Sarreneth gave their final breathes. Stood there for a time after. Just breathing and watching the sunset.
Then, they turned and limped back. Victorious. For what it was worth.