What Blossoms in Darkness

The Dreamer leaves Aggy and her ward behind, and flies to the edge of the forest, where a great disturbance builds...
Amaranth leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding a crawling mass of black flame. Nightshade howled, his eyes wild from the herbs she'd been slipping him since the Wild Hunt. He had built up a startling immunity to them, despite all her knowledge and expertise. Amaranth was certain he wasn't of full mind -- else she would be getting hit with spells, not fire -- but that he could move at all was remarkable...
Amaranth: "Peace, fair shade! I am of Night!"
The dragon only snarled in return, swiping at her with a claw, which cleaved the swath of trees she left behind. She ran, away from the rising cliff, determined to keep her great uncle as far from the ritual as possible. Unfortunately, the challenge at hand not only protected the working, but was part of it, and leeched strength from her with every second that passed. She felt heavy with the loss, and her steps were clumsy. Everything had gone smoothly while the dragon slept, but now...
Things were growing dire fast.
Amaranth dived left, narrowly avoiding another gout of flame. She survived only because the plants dying around her screamed warning, allowing her weary limbs to move in time. One hand steadied her on a nearby tree, while the other searched in her satchel. Roots, leaves, tinctures... All useless while Nightshade was awake, increasing in clarity by the minute. She'd felt Mother return from the Rambling Road, but one of her other sisters must have required help, for she was weak now... And Father was preparing for his own working, to parley with Alistair. She was on her own.
Several trees wailed to her right, and Amaranth dropped to the forest floor, as the dragon's tail slammed through brush and branch. She felt every death, their slaughter at the hands of her own blood. Their screams were deafening, but Amaranth couldn't shut them out... Nightshade climbed over top of her, his razor teeth glistening as black flame built between them.
Amaranth was going to fail.
The ritual was going to fail.
Amaranth: "Stop!"
Black breath cascaded down, and Amaranth closed her eyes.
There was no pain.
She blinked, looking around, but Nightshade had moved well back, taking several more trees with him. A scaly hand reached down to calm her, and lifted her to her feet. Amaranth looked to her savior, but she couldn't place the creature. It looked like a humanoid dragon, its scales a mix of greens, blues, and browns, in simple monastery robes. There were several tools at its belt, which looked like medical devices, but none that would work for someone their size. It leaned on a spear made of green stone, with dancing dragons carved around the haft. When it spoke, its voice was definitely masculine, with an undertone like rambling gravel.
???: "It seems I'm right on time... How refreshing."
Amaranth: "Who are you?"
Hazel: "Some call me the Guildmaster. You can call me Hazel."
Amaranth gasped. She'd heard of the Order of the Dragon and their fabled dragon doctor, but their paths had never crossed. If the stories were true, he was one of the Knights of Dawn -- a champion of the Mirror of Azlant. Someone strong enough to kill the Great Old One, Ulder-Keth...
Amaranth: "How did you get into Night? Even Father couldn't break the barrier."
Hazel shrugged, never taking his eyes off of Nightshade, who was rearing up for a fight.
Hazel: "I am a very powerful gumdrop wizard."
Amaranth blinked.
Nightshade charged.
It was over in a matter of seconds. The dragon barely got three steps before Hazel whipped up the base of his spear, and a hailstorm of loose stone followed. What was once a forest clearing became a small mountain in the blink of an eye, and then Hazel was on top of it, spearhead pointed at Nightshade's eye. The dragon was entombed from the jaw down, eyes alight with anger, which were reduced to a low flame as he realized his predicament.
Hazel: "Sleep."
Nightshade growled, but then his eyes flickered, and his head rested into the stone. Amaranth struggled to overcome her shock as Hazel dusted off his hands, and returned to the base of the mountain.
Hazel: "He'll be out for at least a week. Keep giving him the roots, but avoid the leaves. It'll keep him sedated until your Mother returns with Zelophedad."
Hazel thought for a second, and added:
Hazel: "Or her contract runs out, and your Father imprisons her in Night."
Amaranth stilled herself, gaining a slowly-rising clarity. Very few outside Night knew of the marital contract.
Amaranth: "How do you know all this? How did you know I would need help, and where to be?"
Hazel clicked his tongue against his teeth, a puff of smoke escaping his lips. When he finally met her gaze, his eyes were like stones, empty of anything but his attention.
Hazel: "I didn't come here for you, Amaranth."
He took one final look at Nightshade before giving a farewell nod, and then walked behind a tree. When Amaranth followed him, another question on her lips, the Guildmaster was gone. Nightshade released a slumbering breath behind her, and Amaranth sighed. All that work, only to nearly lose it at the last second... Still, luck was its own contribution, and so Amaranth added it to the working, put her head on the forest floor, and went to sleep.
The vision fades...