YCH from the talented  diaszoom, also featuring  chirontheascendant's Seraphina! Special thanks to Chiron for entrusting me with writing something up for his character, too!

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There was an intense sadness in the air. It was not the sharp anguish that might come with the loss of a loved one, but the thick, creeping melancholy that came from knowing that all would soon be lost and nothing could be done about it. Seraphina brushed past a sagging tree limb, deeper into the heart of the forest. The sounds of life that had been all around her at the forest's edge had all but dimmed to nothing, replaced only by some faint moaning, likely of the wind through the creaking wood. Had the forest's creatures left this place behind entirely, or simply lost the will to sing and frolic? She couldn't blame them. The unnatural gloom that hung thick in the air enveloped her, but she would not let it break through. She clutched at the golden pendant that hung at her chest. A part of her believed that the pendant's magical protection was all that stood between her and the insidious enchantment that enveloped the forest. Of course, that couldn't be the whole truth. She was all too aware of the magic surrounding her, so she could not succumb to it. She would be safe. Still, without her dear Tharon around, a little additional protection was welcome.

But Tharon could not be far. It was so unlike him to let her out of his sight in such dangerous territory. Not that the forest was so dangerous, even despite the bleak atmosphere. Even at the edge of the forest where there were abundant signs of life, none of it was hostile. Here, where there was only a vague, weak enchantment and that low moan, she knew she was safe. But Tharon would have had none of it. She could almost hear him telling her to avoid every branch and watch every shadow, his hand never setting down his axe. It would have been just like -

"Tharon!" There, through the sagging foliage, she caught a glimpse of red scales and metal. Ignoring the warnings of the Tharon voice she imagined, she pushed aside leaf and branch and ran to her partner's side. "How did you get...Tharon?"

Only when she drew close did she realise that this was not the dragon she thought he was. He had the same red scales, the same yellow-tan wings as him, and was even clad in armour like he would have been. But his horns were all the wrong shape, one jutting straight back and one with the top half broken off, nothing like Tharon's elegantly curved crown of horns. He seemed larger than she remembered Tharon being, and where her beloved preferred only a few patches of armour here and there, this dragon was clad head to toe in steel. He was sat upon the ground, his head sagging into his chest. His hand rested by his side, barely holding a gleaming sword. As she approached, he looked up at her with dull, green eyes. He otherwise barely acknowledged her presence.

"Hello," she said, smiling at him. She kneeled beside him and gently laid a hand upon his knee. "I'm Seraphina."
The fallen warrior gave a muffled "Mhm" in response.
"Is something the matter?" she said, though she suspected she already knew.
He responded with a slight shake of his head.
"It's just the forest's enchantment," she went on. Her hand begun to glow with ethereal light as she worked her magic over him. She could break the spell, at least. "Can't you feel it? Don't let it get to you. You'll be okay."

The light around her hand flickered, and died out. The armoured dragon made no further movements. The moaning sound was more distinct now. She looked over her shoulder. Was that movement in the shadows? Perhaps there was some wisdom to Tharon's protectiveness. She looked back down at the sword under the red dragon's hand, then back into his eyes. He was looking at the ground, as though she were not even there. Taking a deep breath, she again tried to dispel the bleak aura surrounding him. He didn't respond. The enchantment was all around, reaching far greater than her own meager power. The moaning grew louder now, a discordant dirge that surrounded them. It was useless. Her magic reserves were not nearly enough to pierce the spell.

She looked down at the golden pendant. The enchantment would not break her. She was almost sure of it. And yet, it had gotten past this warrior's defences, clutching at his heart. Was she truly stronger?

She lifted the pendant from her neck and looped it around the red dragon's. "Here," she whispered. She felt the enchantment stronger than ever. But she did not let it in. She wouldn't. She looked back to his hand. Ever so slowly, his fingers closed around the sword's hilt.

The moaning sound grew, ringing through her head, and she yelped and jumped back just as a shadowy limb swiped at where she had been. She saw them now. Shades, creatures of shadow with piercing white eyes. Everywhere, all around. She grabbed up her staff and stood, summoning the last reserves of her magic. But there were so many of them. Everywhere she looked, those piercing eyes. Her hand trembled. The staff drooped in her grasp. If even such a large, armoured dragon had fallen to them...

There was a tremendous roar from behind her. The red dragon leapt up, and his sword came cleaving down through the shadowy creature. It vanished in a cloud of thick, dark smoke, but manifested itself against a few feet away. The warrior followed through with a swipe of his blade, driving the creature further back still. He then backed up and stood close to her, growling a warning at the dark beasts surrounding them.
"Don't let them grab you," he growled, his voice deep but comforting in the darkness.

Seraphina looked down at the glow of magic in her hand. Perhaps her little remaining power would not be enough to drive away the creatures, at least not on its own. Simple steel could not harm them either. But neither weapon was working alone. She brushed her hand against the warrior's arm, and his sword begun to glow with that same ethereal light.

Standing back to back, they readied themselves for the onslaught of darkness.