Tatsuko...It is your time. (Open, but note Zen is not here anymore xD)

Tatsuko closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. She was getting old, and she didn't like that. Her joints where stiff and her neck was sore. She was so busy sighing she did not notice the jaguar. The black creature stepped silently, not even breathing. It sat down and emited a low hiss. "Tatsuko, you remember me do you not?" The elderly dragon turned her head and her heart nearly stopped as she saw the monster she had cared for. "Zen..." Tatsuko gulped, backing away. "Do not try to run. I am death remember?" He dissapeared through the floor and reapeard behind Tatsuko. "You are a danger to my mission. It is your taime anyway." In one swift movement his cut through the she-dragon's tough scales. In another he delivered the fatal blow. He gave a satisfied grunt, wiped the blood on the dragon's back then dissapeared, leaving no trace. The only thing that showed he had been there was Tatsuko, slowly dieing and the blood on her back, that had formed a Z with a long tail, that ended in a kind of mallet. Tatsuko gave a cry of pain. ANy dragon with ears would be able to hear her, before her head hit the ground.

Shinju had heard they cry. She trotted over to the elder, eyes wide as she neared. "T-Tatsuko? Wh...what....?"

Tatsuko's eyes looked in the direction of Shinju, but they seemed to pass streight through her. Her mouth opened but the only noise that came out from it was a soft scream, hitting the highest note possible to a dragon. It was long and when it died down the dragon was able to speak. "Shadow..Jaguar.......Blood...." She started to shudder vilontley.

Shinju was frozen to the spot. "Wh-what? Shadow?"

Tatsuko swallowed and found her voice. "Listen to me youngling. There is a great evil awakening in the forest. This creature who has slain me is not the only danger in this world. He is a great one, but there are greater ones." She paused. Every breath was becoming harder to take. "Zen awakening is the sign that there is danger. There will be countless deaths, of this I am sure."

"Evil? D-anger?" countless deaths? "Tatsuko, don't die! Talulie will help you!" she turned and called for the healer. "Talulie! Come quick!"

"Do not waste your breath Youngling." Tatsuko growled softy, wincing as her neck burnt. She closed her eyes. Her breathing became quicker, shorter. She was dieing, but she was not affraid.