Will Not Be Erased

*Title taken from the S. J. Tucker song 'Not The Villain'*

Characters: Calliandra, Redwood, Genesis

Calliandra sat quietly, staring at the large painted cavern wall. She had been known before the Scorching. They all had, and now the stories about the necromancers were fading. She'd been a goddess of war, and now she had been forgotten.

“Oh. I didn’t think anyone else knew about this place.” A voice from behind her surprised Calli, and she had to quickly throw a disguise up. She turned to the other dragon, and lowered the hood of her cloak. He didn’t seem surprised, and was holding a couple scrolls. He looked friendly, and Calli felt like she could relax. He wasn't a threat.

“Oh, right. I'm Redwood.” He said, shifting his scrolls around to offer Calli his talon. He looked like a hybrid, maybe NightWing and LeafWing. Calli accepted it, briefly shaking his talon. Redwood smiled at her, and put down his scrolls to start going through his pouch.

“Brimstone.” Calli said, using the name she'd given to her LeafWing/SilkWing appearance. “What's all this about?” She asked, curious. Redwood looked up at her, and his face lit up. He pointed to one of the scrolls he'd unrolled on the ground, at a rather inaccurate drawing of Genesis. He held up another one, to show her the similarities between the art on the scroll and on the wall.

“See these murals? They're from stories from before the Scorching. I want to learn more, so I've been studying them.” Redwood said excitedly. Calli almost laughed, but she had to stay disguised. He had no idea he was talking to one of those stories, and he probably never would.

“That's fascinating. What have you found so far?” Calli asked, wanting to see Redwood get excited again. It worked, and he jumped to his feet, pulling her over to one wall. He was talking so fast, and she had trouble keeping up with him. Fortunately, Calli knew most of the stories that had been told about her, so it wasn't difficult to keep asking him questions.

“Oh, moons.” Redwood said suddenly. “It's almost dark. I should go. Maybe we'll see each other again?” Calli nodded quickly, and he packed up his things and left. She stood there until after the sun went down, trying to figure out why she was feeling this way about some random mortal. It was strange, but she did want to see him again.

“Genesis, please. You’re overreacting.” Calliandra sighed, shaking her head. Genesis hissed in response.

“Then why are Siren and Pyro missing, Calli? I’m telling you, it has something to do with Paradox.” Genesis insisted, her eyes narrowing. Calli took a careful step back, avoiding the plants that were reacting to Genesis’ outburst.

“Why would she do that?” Calli said. “She has no reason to get rid of any of us. They’re probably just busy somewhere.” Siren had mentioned an ongoing war, something about the IceWings and NightWings bickering again.

“For eight years?” Genesis said, giving Calli a look. “Don’t be absurd.” Calli had to admit that she was right, and it was odd for either necromancer to be gone for that long. Even though they were immortal, and time didn’t matter to them as much, it was still unlike them.

“They haven’t been replaced yet. So they’re probably still alive.” Calli said, hopeful. It was unlikely, but she wanted it to be true. Paradox wouldn’t hurt any of them, she was just there to help. Take some of the pressure off the others. After all, it made sense to have a fifth. There were ten tribes now, and it was easier to only have to take care of two tribes each.

“Sure.” Genesis snorted. “We’ll see what you think when you’re the next to disappear.” Calli looked at her, confused.

“What does that mean?” Calli asked.

“That you’re too trusting. If either of us go, it’s going to be you.” Genesis snorted, turning and stalking away, leaving Calliandra on her own to think about Genesis’ warning.

*‘Calliandra’*
Calli froze, looking around. It had been a long time since she'd heard that name.

“Who's there?” She asked, flaring her long, feathered wings. It wasn't someone from the nearby town, they all knew her as Brimstone. It wasn't Paradox, either, she'd recognize the other necromancer's voice.

“Oh, Calli.” The voice hissed. It sounded rough and strained, like the speaker was struggling with their words. “You don't remember me?”

Calli stared at the dragon who emerged from the shadows. She was a soft green, but it was hard to see her scales through the vines that seemed to be growing out of her. The sight of her stirred a deeply buried memory in Calli's mind.

“Genesis.” She said, stepping towards her oldest friend. “What happened to you?”

Genesis laughed, although it sounded like she was choking on the noise.

“What do you think, Calliandra? Paradox happened.” She spat, and Calli had to look away.

“She did this to you, too.” Genesis said, and Calli looked at her again, stunned.

“Did what?” She asked. Paradox had only trapped her here because she'd lost control. Attacked the others. She'd lost her powers, even though she was back to normal now.

“Messed with your mind. Stole your memories. Locked your powers away.” Genesis growled. “Got you out of the way without killing you.”

Calli shook her head. “No, Paradox would never do that.” But now she had two sets of memories filling her mind. The ones where Paradox was just protecting them, and where Paradox had attacked her, erasing her mind and changing her. She didn't know what to believe anymore.

“See, Calli? Paradox can't be trusted.” Genesis said, looking smug. Calli sunk her claws into the soft undergrowth. Which of her lives were real? Were either of them?