And then, to their collective horror and dread, they felt the distant quaking of the ground come closer, and then saw a giant form approach their house, blotting out the light from the distant street lamps.
But then, with one last long, mournful, terrifying bugle, it vanished.
Aldrec was the first to move. First he knelt in front of Mericlou and took her into his arms. Then slowly, painfully, he made his way to the front door, and stepped out onto the now-ruined and charred front yard. The family followed suit, and stood up from where they had been huddled together in terror for so long to join the elf outside.
All was quiet, now, save the wind, and flames that still inhabited the top boughs of burnt trees from a night of terror that remained blessedly unseen. Fortunately, dragon flame was thorough enough with human bodies that there were few to no remains: only weapons scattered haphazardly upon the masticated front lawn and deathly quiet avenue.
Aldrec knelt down beside a small figure in the street. And though everyone suspected who it would be, it did not make the experience any less traumatic when they saw it.
Krako lay dead. His body had reverted back into his childlike state, but it seemed wasted and drained. A great deal of blood flowed from his open mouth.
"His body wasn't strong enough to survive the change," Aldrec said, sensing the others' eyes upon him. His voice was broken and filled with misery as he reached out and touched the dragon's tiny face. "Dragons must learn to contain the beast within when they are young … but Krako was still so very young … he hadn't had a chance to learn how. When he saw what happened to Meri … it was too much for him."
"I have seen a baby dragon," Jenius said, looking down upon Krako's corpse, which was now fading from his brilliant flesh hues and red hair, to cold gray and black, "and I have seen the passing of one. Among elves, they are a sign of good luck. And luck he was, for had it not been for him, we probably wouldn't be alive now." He touched his fingertip to Krako's forehead. "Rest well, mighty protector."
Slowly, Krako's ruined body turned black, and then disintegrated into dust and ash, blown away by the wind, leaving Aldrec's empty hands, and an equally cold and empty feeling inside all.
"First my Tulyr," Aldrec whispered shakily, "And now Krako … and Meri was worried that I would be taken from her! What a fool I was!"