Fantasy The Dragon Wardens

[Red Thunder]

Kraeg

As he followed the Fire Drake in her circling, Kraeg glanced down again. The area about the Silver Lance was deceptively calm and gave no indication of the trouble he felt from his Warden below. Suddenly Feral plunged, speeding away like an arrow. Without stopping to ask why, the Earth Dragon followed, dropping as inevitably as a boulder. She alighted, impacting the ground heavily. Through their empathic connection, he felt concern for the wyrms from Hale. But Kraeg gave no heed. The half-elf, stupidly, often kept his own emotions in check to prevent Kraeg from interfering, and the Earth Dragon would not chance it happening now. If Feral was agitated, Ava was, too, and Kraeg trusted Feral as implicitly as he trusted his own strength.


If those within the inn felt the Fire Drake hit the earth outside, then the impact of Kraeg felt like a veritable earthquake. He'd not restricted his descent speed in the least, and the ground cracked with a great cloud of dirt and mud as his mighty limbs slammed down. A roar screamed in his throat to be released, but as Feral had merely landed, Kraeg restricted his vocal assault.


Hale

Hale thanked the gods for his staff. He leaned heavily upon it as the ground shook violently. Kraeg. His intervention might be necessary, should the now revealed Shadow Mage continue his evil deeds. He narrowed his eyes, felt for the earth below the wooden floor and under the hunter, and prepared himself to attack should he need to. With his free hand outstretched in supplication, he beckoned to Vorstag.


"Please, sir. It would break our mother's heart, were I to return without her."

 

[CloudyBlueDay]

Feria & Ifer

The satisfaction Feria felt as she pressed her blade against Vorstag's neck was.. well, satisfying. But what was stopping her from just slitting his throat right then and there, ending it completely? She did not know. "Sis! Get back here, please! Mother will be worried, you darting off at strangers like that!" Feria did not turn her head, she did not lose her focus, but she did growl in frustration. She wanted to yell something rather foul at the cripple, but held off. Something churned in her stomach as the oaf chuckled. Something in her brain screamed, this is not going to end well.





Suddenly, Vorstag knocked the blade away from his own neck and grabbed hold of her throat with his thick hands. Her cool demeanor disappeared as she gasped for air. And then suddenly there was a terrible pain in her throat. He must have cast something as she stumbled back and clutched at her throat, unable to speak. Maybe for the best, because she would have said quite a few things. She spat blood onto the floor and wiped her mouth. This was not over yet.


Silently, Feria raised all the liquid into the air, including the alcoholic beverages that all the customers had left when they fled. It, of course, turned to ice instantly and she broke it all into little shards, each and every single one preparing to be fired at Vorstag's face when suddenly there was a impact to the earth, to the tavern. The ground shook and Feria saw cinders flying into the oaf's eyes. Someone stealing her thunder, now were they? Hmph. Well, she still had all this ice.. so Feria fired it all anyway.


"Please, sir. It would break our mother's heart, were I to return without her." Feria wanted so very bad to yell at the stupid Warden to shut up, but she could not. All she could do was cough up more blood.


Ifer had been following very, very closely behind Feral and Kraeg. So many emotions were coming from Feria right now, it was hard to handle. Pain. Fear. Anger. Fury. When Feral and Kraeg began to swoop down, so did Ifer. He could see that both the dragons wanted to roar, why didn't they? He could already feel a battle going on inside the tavern so he decided to make his presence known by shrieking some and sent a few ice spikes flying towards no one and nowhere in particular, just a warning shot.

 

[Macaberz]

Grybil.


The ice Dragon, growling and leaping to the forefront of their little group, was paid no mind. For a Dragon likely twice his age, the ice specimen was terrifyingly immature, constantly trying to lure some violent reaction from either him or Kraeg, the slow giant. Out of the two, the large mossy earth-dragon was preferred for company, though he’d much rather just not be around either. The broken rider –Hale- was okay, but the Ice warden mirrored her Dragon in every regard, only perhaps worse.


The cave they had entered was just large enough for him and Kraeg to retreat into. Ifer, quite frankly, seemed to have no intent to hide whatsoever. Despite Olsten’s warning to just ignore the jumpy Ice dragon, Grybil couldn’t help but mold and squeeze the soil with his fore claws, trying very hard not to be irritated.


Focusing on Olsten instead, he could decipher a puddle of emotions. A healthy dose of fear, far outweighed by overconfidence and smugness, only to be swallowed whole by nervousness. Something had happened, but Grybil knew Olsten didn’t want or need his help. His young rider wasn’t the best fighter, nor very experienced, but he had a sharp enough tongue to get out trouble. And if diplomacy couldn’t safe him, Olsten was beginning to get the hang of casting fire, though he often struggled to control it.


Grybil snapped his head up, his neck craning out of the cave. A screech rented the air. The screech of a very angry Dragon. Sure enough, Kraeg responded to the call as well. A dark speck, almost invisible against the firmament, circled high above.


Without hesitation, Kraeg slammed Ifer with his tail and took off with a deafening roar. The insufferable ice dragon soon followed, leaving the smallest, and wisest of the three behind. Such disloyalty. Such stupidity. Grybil snarled at nothing in particular and dug his claws deeper into the earth.


He paced back and forth, back and forth. Nervousness quaked his bones. He could sense Olsten’s turmoil like a muffled whisper. Low, distant, but unmistakingly present.


Don’t follow me, don’t come for me, no matter what. That had been Olsten’s heartfelt request, and he had agreed. Recent events had made him understand all too well that to fly out there would spell doom for Olsten, and for himself. Minutes passed, the gigantic earth dragon was but a distant speck now, circling together with the other, foreign Dragon that had thought it necessary to warn all of creation to its presence.


Fools The young Dragon thought. Stubborn, ignorant fools!


He took off.


Olsten.


The Baladuri stopped his tale and for the briefest of moments appeared stunned. Clearly not used to being interrupted. His lungs lurched like a pair of bellows. Death’s bony fingers crawled down his spine as he met Vorstag’s gaze. His eyes shot down, flew across the blue necklace and remained stuck on the red hair –some of it had grayed- in the bull’s cloak. It was as if Vorstag had shoved a cork down his throat; he could only stand and gawk, legs turning into wet rags underneath him.


Much to his relief, Jern cut in. Not a moment too soon either, for he was certain the bounty hunter had no patience for tiny little mice. As the two spoke, Olsten caught a glance of the dark-skineed, beaten elf. Patterns, thin as ley lines, slithered all over his skin, and he wondered what they meant, and where the elf had come from. In all his years, he had heard much about the Vuaturi, but only seen very little of them.


Heading quietly for the door, Olsten soaked up the last bits of information. The Vuaturi had some device, Vorstag was trying to make a deal…all the pieces to the puzzle spun around in his head, but none of it seemed to fit. Just as he pushed through the door and set his foot outside, a scream sounded.


“YOU BASTARD!”


Olsten spun around on his heels, just in time to see Feria launch herself at Vorstag, holding a knive to the hunter’s throat. It was a slight miracle that she could even reach for his throat; she, almost six feet tall, but he decidedly taller. For a tick, Olsten was certain she had succeeded, that she had actually managed to draw blood and kill the man. For a second, he was glad to be her ally.


Then the Baladuri spun around and seized Feria by her throat. Like so many others, Olsten stumbled backwards, his heart leaping up his throat as the dark aura flooded into the ether. Hale tried to defuse the situation, but it was no use.


No more hiding.


The earth quaked, very nearly shaking the door from its hinges. The scent of moss and hazelnuts and overturned earth came wafting in. Kraeg, he realized.


Now it was truly impossible to hide. Caught between raging dragons and bloodthirsty wardens, he could neither go backwards no forwards. Throwing himself to the side, and into a wall, he cursed under his breath and bolted straight for the bar, where he had last seen the elf. Disregarding the chairs, tables, and people he bumped into along the way, Olsten shouldered his way forward. Tumblers and plates clattered to the floor as he hopped onto the bar and came down on the other side, slamming his narrow shoulder into the Kitchen door.


“…A Dragon?”


The words barely registered as Olsten half-fell, half jumped down the stairs leading into the cellar.


“He’s mine!” Olsten said breathlessly, his finger pointing sharply at the elf. Fire began to whirl around his trembling hand. “You…” he shot a desperate glance at Jern, “you have to stop him. You have to stop that man, or I’ll kill your prisoner!” The flames around his wrist flared up for emphasis, but he didn’t attack anyone just yet.


The only man capable of stopping this madness was Jern, and what Jern wanted was right in front of him, or he wouldn’t have paid a purse full of gold for it. At least, that was what Olsten desperately hoped.

 

[LadyMatsudai]

Dinyla and Erramun

​

Erramun simply snorted to Eosphelon in a gentle attempt to show him the shae was not a threat in his mind, but not before catching Dinyla as Feral took to the skies, growling as he held back a roar or bark to the dragon in the attempt to have her return. Something must be going on with her Warden if she was scared enough to take to the skies after her. Dinyla whimpered to being lightly tossed towards Erramun, gasping to feeling the wind blowing wildly through her hair to Feral taking to the skies. "Feral...wait..." she called weakly, frowning to her feeble attempt being in vain as the dragon was already long gone by the time she collected herself to speak.


"Yes...we are..." answered Dinyla honestly, shaking against Erramun's snout while he purred and kept his Warden upright. She blinked at the mention of medicine and leaving their location. Leave it? No it would cause the others to panic if they returned and were not there at their meeting spot...but they had been gone for so long too. Hearing the shae walk off a little before stressing she knew what to do, Dinyla looked over towards the two remaining dragons, her efforts focused towards Eosphelon. "What do you think we should do, Eosphelon? What would Idhrenan do?" she asked the Arcane softly.


(( OOC: I am so sorry that took so long you guys This week has been brutal with me with work ))

 

[Effervescent]

The Silver Lance

​

Dust that had nestled into the cracks and crevices of the wooden floors above the cellar loosened and fell upon the heads of Jern, Granny, and the elf. Whatever was going on upstairs was intensely ominous. For a brief moment they all looked upwards, their voices silenced as they took in the muted commotion. The cellar felt darker, and the elf turned to Jern and Granny with urgency.


"You must escape," the elf said. "That hunter is dangerous. He-"


"He's mine!"





All heads swiftly turned at the sound of Olsten's voice. The elf's brow furrowed as he was unsure of what the boy meant and why his finger was aimed towards him. Granny shook her head as Olsten continued his command and tucked the end of the elf's bandage under the rest to secure it. The Vuaturi bowed his head in thanks as Jern confronted the young Dragon Warden.


"No need to toss out threats, boy," Jern said, and then motioned over to the freed elf. "He's not our prisoner. We were aiming to let him go anyway."


"Young one," the elf interrupted, and stepped before Jern. "This man is just a Baladuri. He cannot take on such a powerful Shadow Caster."


"Eh," Jern said with a heavy sigh. "I never really liked the man, but he is revered by my patrons. I can't exactly turn him away, but I do have a plan. Come here, boy." He beckoned Olsten down from the stairs.


The Silver Lance was in a poor state on the first floor. Feral hit the ground just outside the tavern with a heavy boom that shook the foundations of the establishment. It was to serve as a distraction for Vorstag, but the hunter was well seasoned and not easily distracted. Instead, he released Feria from his grasp, a smirk curling his lips further. He hadn't even noticed Ava's attempts to blind him with cinders, for the dark aura around him consumed the small attack like a vacuum.


Every liquid in every mug and bowl lifted from their source and hardened around Vorstag's peripheral before a second impact rumbled the earth and caused even the sturdy hunter to shuffle in his footing. His smirk turned to a grin as he understood what he was feeling and hearing. Dragons. Two of them. Today was a fine day for a hunter such as he, and Vorstag briefly delighted in the prospects of a heavier purse.


But the sear of sliced skin and sound of ripped fabric cut through his interlude. Feria's ice spikes flew towards Vorstag at alarming speeds, his dark aura only able to dissipate a few into dust and nothingness. Red streamed down his left cheek as his grin pulled downward.


"Please, sir. It would break our mother's heart, were I to return without her."


"I've shut the bitch," he said to Hale in his gritty voice as he checked the holes in his cloak. "You would do well to keep your sister in check."


A third boom followed by a piercing shriek. Spikes of ice ripped through the stone and grout at high speeds. One of the Thalls found himself in the line of fire and was soon impaled through his stomach at the far end of the tavern. It wasn't enough to immediately kill the man, and he cried out in his suffering. The remaining patrons rushed to the back door to flee for their lives.


Jern rushed up the stairs and flew out from the kitchen door. "Vorstag!" the owner called out. He tried to block out the desolation and destruction of his tavern or the gurgled screams from the Thall as he slowly met his death. Vorstag turned towards Jern, a brow lofted as he waited for the owner to continue. "Savere wishes to speak with you."


Without another word or care for the troublemakers, Vorstag headed calmly towards the kitchen and his dark aura dispursed. As the hunter passed Jern, the tavern owner hung his head solemnly. It had been decades since he had faced such a terrible scene. They disappeared behind the kitchen door.

The Wayward Pine Between The Border of Baladur and Thallas



​

Eosphelon was restless, and he paced around Erramun and Dinyla. Feral had abandoned them. Idhrenan found danger. Feral shrieked and it distressed him further. He couldn't understand the other Dragon Warden. She spoke in her gibberish tongue to him, and he moaned. He couldn't just leave them, especially knowing Idhrenan would want him to protect these two. But his friend was in trouble!


The shae had heard Feral's shrill cry, her hands over her long, goat-like ears as she was crouched from the pain. "No, no, no!" As the shriek subsided, she rose and turned her head in the direction of the tavern. "Stay here, Drake Warden! I go for help. I brings the medicine and go for help!"


The shae trotted off without another word. Eosphelon urged Dinyla back into the large pine with a nudge of his head. The least he could do was keep her out of sight, and he looked to Erramun hoping the earth dragon could have a better idea.

 

[Keitsumah]

:Ava and Feral:


Nightmares



​

Ava remained where she was crouched on the ground, eyes wide and hands shaking. He hadn't even been phased.


Feral remained silent, but Ava could sense the almost overpowering desire for her companion to rip through the wall and snatch her rider, as well as Hale, away to safety. Neither relaxed, nor moved, until Ava had watched the shadow mage vanish behind the kitchen door and the creak of stairs told of his passing further underground. And even though the thought of burying him -and subsequently everyone else in the basement- alive occurred, her throat was dry as a bone and her tongue refused to form words.


The trembling in her hands crawled up her arms and set her entire body quaking. If he's just a lackey... how strong is the one he works for? She looked down at her palms -scarred, calloused skin and short fingers weak with terror. Her knees thunked against the wood of the floor as her strength gave out, even already in a crouched position as she had been, and Feral whined quietly on the other side of the door.


A man screamed in the back corner, a harsh, gurgling sound that grated against her ears, and Ava hunkered lower to the ground by instinct as the sound of a dying heart pulsed in her ears. She foolishly looked over toward the source, and saw a man lying on the ground between two tables, curled about his middle as a curtain of red drenched the floor. Impaled by an ice spike.


All of this trouble, all of this terror, all of this risk just for a bag of rations. Ava trembled again and glanced back at the kitchen door, wondering how they were still all alive but for the one man who had been slain for no rhyme nor reason.


So much blood... She wondered for a moment that it all bounty hunters were like this: if they could all kill her without so much as a thought.


Could... if it could be so quick...Would it hurt?


She closed her eyes and felt something hot trickle down her face and neck. Feral rumbled, warning her against it, warning her to fight it, but the blood dreams swept over her like a tide and washed her away; sucked her down in a whirlpool of despair.

All around her was flame, death, and destruction. The screams of dragons. The screams of men, women and children. The roar of the enemy as they dove in like their swords, impaling, slicing, bleeding and leaving only agony in their wake.





Ava lay prone on the back of her dragon and kept a rag over her face to try and block out the smoke, but her lungs heaved as they passed over another burning rooftop. Arrows clattered nearby, missing but unaimed toward them to begin with. Ava's eyes watered and she almost didn't hear the distinctive whistle before it was too late.





Feral bellowed and sprang sideways, jerking Ava out of the saddle as an explosive combination of rocks and burning wood tied together by rope and tar smashed into the building several yards from them. The girl landed across the roof, rubble stabbing into her side and leg. She gasped in pain, grasping for purchase as her body threatened to slide off the edge.





"Feral!" she called.





But there was no response.

Ava only opened her eyes again when she heard an odd popping noise from behind her. And when she looked back, the fireplace was in its own definition of chaos. Yellow. Red. Even a tint of blue flame burst repeatedly in a display of just how badly the girl controlled her element. Yet the flames were not so big but in fact dying out -using up their source of energy far to quickly and scattering sparks over the floor that fizzled out in the spreading pool of an innocent's blood.





Outside, Feral urged her to stand. To run. To flee. Ava could feel her companion as she pressed her nose against the door, longing to burst through, but in their fear of drawing their predator's attention, they remained immobile. Like rabbits trapped in their own den.


Trembling, her legs almost giving out in protest, Ava struggled to stand and tore her eyes from the body of the fallen Thall, then grasped the bar counter to brace herself.


And though she opened her mouth, no sound came. So instead the girl merely stared at Hale in abject terror, hoping that the look in her eyes alone would tell him that she was more than ready to leave.

 

[Red Thunder]

Hale

The half-elf's eyes had followed Vorstag as he crossed the tavern and entered into the kitchen. The unease and abject fear that had grabbed him dissipated, leaving the Wardens quaking in its wake. Lines appeared in Hale's forehead as he glanced about, trying to understand just what had happened. So close to the fire, the ice shard that protruded from the dying patron's stomach was half gone, melted by the short lived fury of the Ava-stoked flames. The man's clothes were drenched with water and blood; left alone, he wouldn't last long. Hale thought he saw Feria near the door where Vorstag had dropped her. She looked to have gained her balance and was standing unsteadily upon her feet, but she was still coughing blood. She'd need attention as well.


Hale looked from one to the other, panic on his face. But then his glance strayed to Ava. She pled with him silently, desperately, struck dumb by the sudden horror of their circumstance. Her expression told him enough: this was all too much, and it was time to leave. It was a hard conclusion to reach. Wet gurgling from the near dead patron still filled his ears, and Hale felt the need to do for him. That's what the Wardens were, right? To save people? Be servants and helpers? But there was no time. Vorstag could be back at any moment, and his Shadow Magic with him, and the Wardens must survive.


Sorry, friend. With a last sorrowful look to the man against the wall, Hale hobbled back to his friend.


"Let's go, Avs," he whispered. "I've a feeling our rides are ready to leave."


Arm protectively around her shoulders, he began guiding the teenager to the door, pausing only briefly to help Feria maintain her balance.


@Keitsumah @CloudyBlueDay

 

[LadyMatsudai]

Dinyla and Erramun

​

Dinyla gasped to the sound of a familiar shriek in the distance, looking towards Eosphelon's general direction, hearing the dirt under his claws crumble from pacing so much. "Calm down, Eosphelon...it's alright," cooed Dinyla weakly, still leaning against Erramun's snout. The sickly Dragon Warden turned her attention to the shae, sighing with relief to the shae running off to look for help. "Let's just hope...it will be the good kind of help..." breathed Dinyla to herself, whimpering to her stomach turning so much.


Erramun kept purring towards his rider, softening to Eosphelon nudging Dinyla back towards the line, holding on to the Arcane's snout for grip. Erramun snorted to Eosphelon's idea, motioning with his head to the smaller dragon to wrap himself around Dinyla before lifting his massive wings to hit the trunks of the trees, snow falling to coat his rocky scaled skin before hovering one wing above the two to act as a makeshift cave. Erramun lowered his head once more, giant body hiding the other two while his body sunk and nestled in the wet earth beneath them.

 

[CloudyBlueDay]

Feria's jaw dropped as both Ava's hot cinders and her barrage of ice spikes simply bounced off of Vorstag's shield of sorts. At least she got a few in. His cheek was oozing red. "I've shut the bitch," he said to Hale in his gritty voice. "You would do well to keep your sister in check." Every part of Feria wanted to yell some things, to pounce on the oaf once again and truly end it all, but there was no point. She had her chance and she blew it. As he walked away, the blue necklace jumped around on his chest as he walked out of the room.


She had failed Zachary. She had been weak and foolish. There was a cry of pain from further inside of the tavern. Her head turned and looked at the man on the ground, slowly bleeding to death. Was that an ice spike lodged in his stomach? Had it been her ice spike? No. It seemed too thick, too large. Ifer? She had barely even noticed he was here, she had been so wrapped up in.. well..


Feria felt a tiny bit of guilt. Why should she? This man was a Thall. An enemy of her people. He had probably killed, or helped in the deaths of many. I am sorry. She thought to herself, and a little ways away she felt Ifer's surprise. It was unknown the sincerity of this apology as she turned away towards Ifer, but she stopped at the doorway to cough again. Hale was coddling that stupid girl and he stopped to look at her. Instead of taking the help, Feria shoved him away, wiping her sleeve on her mouth and storming out. It was just her throat. Certainly not her pride.


Ifer stared at her as she walked outside. He let out a small grumble of concern, and she put a hand to his snout. Why did you kill that man? All concern disappeared as he growled and turned his head away. She frowned and climbed on his back.


@Red Thunder @Keitsumah (sorta)

 

[Effervescent]

Inside The Silver Lance

​

Tears streamed down Granny's cheeks as she exited the kitchen and rushed for her room. The dying Thall gurgled his last breath before falling still in a heap. Idhrenan sorted through the range of emotions she had just experienced. She feared for the lives of everyone present after such a display of power. At the same time, he was just one Shadow Caster against what looked to be four Dragon Wardens. The odds could be in their favor, especially with a few dragons to lend aid. She debated on making a stand, and she looked towards the kitchen door briefly.


The boy had gone in there. She looked back towards Ava and Hale as the half-elf guided her towards the exit. The Ice Caster followed soon after leaving the Emasari inside a silent tavern. Removing her cap, she let her red locks cascade down past her shoulders before running a hand through her hair in exasperation. Everything felt so fast paced and dangerous. Having her hair free from the restraints of a knit cap felt somewhat relieving, providing her with a bit of solace to plan her next move.


Quietly, Idhrenan made for the kitchen to gather her own supplies while the others were occupied elsewhere.


Jern and Vorstag did not converse as they descended the staircase into the cool, dry cellar. The communications device hummed softly at the other end just past the row of ale kegs. The elf looked up from the device towards his captor, the ambient blue glow from the focusing crystal casting a dim light across his bruised cheek. He stepped away from the table, giving Vorstag a wide birth as he walked towards Jern. The hunter glared at the elf as he passed, the blood upon his cheek still fresh enough to refract the soft blue glow.


"He requested it be private," Jern said. "We will leave you to your business."


"Bind the elf when you are upstairs," Vorstag commanded as he clasped a round microphone in his large hands. He eyed over the panel of switches and buttons, taking note of various lights before his eyes wandered to read over the row of numbers. 45-6823-91. It seemed satisfactory to him, and his free hand hovered over the button in the middle as he waited to hear Jern and the elf remove themselves from the cellar.


Jern completely ascended the stairs, though the elf lingered in slow ascension.


@Macaberz

Outside The Silver Lance

​

Distress caused the horses before the large cart to whinny and rear. The dragons had made a grand entrance and spooked the creatures immensely to where they struggled against their reins. Finally, as the two lead horses began their struggled charge, the six behind them followed suit sending the cart further down the road towards Baladur. Without control, the wheels would be put under considerable stress as they hit every bump and rock at high speeds. The horses, following the road, turned sharply, sending the cart skidding across the dirt and into a line of trees. This allowed them to break free and continue down the road more freely. The cart lay within the ditch in a mess of wood and cotton covering.


@Keitsumah @CloudyBlueDay @Red Thunder

The Wayward Pine Between The Border of Baladur and Thallas



​

The forest had hushed as the trio had been left at the pine. The shae had taken her sudden leave after making such a big fuss. Eosphelon was grateful the shae decided to leave. His body was wrapped around Dinyla protectively as they waited for Ava, Feral, and Idhrenan to return. What started out as stalwart focus soon dwindled to boredom within the dragon's mind. He knew he was doing a good thing, but he could still sense distress within Idhrenan and his job didn't have a very nice view. Slowly, his slender tongue slipped out from behind his teeth to lick one of Erramun's earthly scales curiously.


Just as he did, the shae returned carrying a satchel. "Drake charmer? Warden? Are yous still on my propertay?"


@LadyMatsudai

 

[LadyMatsudai]

Dinyla and Erramun

​

Dinyla felt Eosphelon curl up around her, pawing a little at his scales as she curled up into his warmth, whimpering from her stomach flipping a few times before it finally settled down. Eosphelon seemed tense for some reason, probably something to do with his Warden. They had been gone for so long. She could only imagine the people were being difficult to haggle with at the Inn to try and gather supplies...or something went wrong keeping the others stuck at the inn. She prayed they would be safe and they could continue on their way...may there be no one wanting to hunt for Wardens in the Inn. Erramun's body sunk in enough into the earth to make his rocky scaled body appear to be one with the surroundings before he snorted to Eosphelon licking at his scale, glaring at him from a side glance.


Shaking her head from the daze, Dinyla panted and waved her hand a little in front of her in the hopes the shae would see her. "Yes...yes I...I am here...with the dragons," called out Dinyla weakly, Erramun lifting his head to indicate to the shae where they were.

 

[Macaberz]

Olsten.


As quick as the fire had sparked into existence, it was snuffed out. Olsten let his hands drop to his side and obeyed Jern's request like a lamb. The steps creaked as he shuffled down the stair, never letting his eyes leave the odd trio and maintaining a few feet of space between them and himself.


It was hard to tell whose side the elf, Granny, and Jern were on, but at least everyone in the cellar despised Vorstag, and for now that was enough. Jern took only a few moments to explain his plan and Olsten, still quivering from all the sudden violence, nodded quietly. If Jern wanted to harm me, he would've done so by now, he tried to comfort himself. But there was little comfort to be found in Jern's plan. It seemed simple enough: lure the big man down here and overwhelm him with a surprise attack. Who better to kill such a vicious hunter than a skilled, seasoned Dragon Warden?


Except, he knew he wasn't that skilled. Not with knives, or fists, or swords. Just with his bow, but Vorstag would undoubtedly need more than one arrow in his body before he would crumble to the ground. Nor was he experienced. As much as he had liked to brag about his talent for magic, there was little confidence left in his bones now.


Yet, this was what he'd been born to do, among many other things of course. But whereas some Wardens, like Feria, seemed to relish in violence, Olsten did not. The thought of confronting Vorstag all on his own, even if the man was distracted, even if the giant had his back turned to him... He bit his lip. "I will do what I can, but this place might not hold." Fire didn't just burn flesh after all. He briefly considered how on earth he was supposed to get out of this alive. Improvise. Even in the semi-dark he could make out Jern's pained look. The barkeep knew all too well that in order to be rid of Vorstag, a sacrifice would have to be made. He shot a nervous glance at Granny and the elf, his throat tightening in preparation of what was to come. Thannel remained, but Granny went up and out to gather her belongings.


Jern soon followed, but just before he reached the top of the stairs, Olsten spoke. "There are Dragons out there. Mine will know not to harm you, but the others...I can't be sure."


He gave a curt nod, before squeezing his frame between the racks of barrels. He almost wished he hadn't devoured Jern's meal like a rabid wolf, for he could only just squeeze through and clamber into hiding. Had he been stronger, he would've simply lifted the barrels to clear a path to the back of the cellar. But he wasn't strong, and he didn't have much time.


With his heart beating so loudly he feared it would betray him, he nimbly opened the faucets of Jern's homebrew beer. A thin stream of piss-yellow splattered onto the floor. Hopefully Vorstag would attribute the sound to a leak in one of the barrels and not think too much of it. Soon enough the bulwark of a man came down, commanding the other to leave.


Holding his breath, Olsten peeked through the stacked barrels. Sure enough, Vorstag prepared the device to contact Savere. Whether the man's overlord would answer the call remained to be seen. Thannel was stalling, but Vorstag wouldn't continue without being certain that he was alone. It was a risk to be left completely alone, but if there was a chance he could learn anything about Savere, anything at all, then it was a risk worth taking. And so, Olsten silently motioned for Thannel to continue up the stairs and crouched behind the barrels, listening intently to whatever conversation would follow.

 

[Red Thunder]

Kraeg

Hale's dragon was rumbling to himself about the rash behavior of his fellow. Blasted Ice Dragon. You'd think Ifer was a Fire Drake from his passionate and ill-conceived breath attack. From the Silver Lance, Kraeg could feelthe turmoil his Warden was experiencing, likely due in part to that ice. It was a good thing the emotion wasn't more palpable: any stronger and the Earth Dragon would have already been inside, rampaging.


The wooden inn door creaked as it swung open, and Kraeg chuffed happily at the sight of Hale. But suddenly he recognized the young woman beside the half-elf, and his huge head impacted the ground at her feet, a stupid dragonish grin on his wide face. The leaves and flowers on his horns rustled as he breathed the air about her in and out quickly in a display of his relief and joy. Hale laughed and looked down at her.


"See? We're both glad to see you." He seemed to catch sight of Ava's dragon, and he saluted Feral with his staff. "And you, too! I've missed you, you ol' fireball."


@Keitsumah

 

[Keitsumah]

:Ava and Feral:


Reunion



​

At the sight of Kraeg, some of the shock seemed to go out of Ava's eyes and she smiled a bit. Though Feral was quick to nuzzle her rider and drape a protective wing over the pair. The girl reached out a hand to touch the giant earth dragon's muzzle. "Thank you for taking care of Hale for me, friend." she said, and Feral hummed before brushing the back of Hale's head with her muzzle, sending a plume of hot breath over his face when she exhaled.


However, that moment was short lived, as Feral sniffed again, then turned her head toward where the wagon had been before the horses had charged. Something smelled off. Confused, Ava glanced at her companion as the red dragon began to pad in the direction of the ditch. Feral waved her tail at her rider -indicating she should stay with Hale and Kraeg, and that she'd only be gone for a minute.


"She smells something." Ava said quietly, moving over to Kraeg's side and prepared to jump on if the situation turned worse than it already was.


Hurry, Feral. We need to get out of here... She thought grimly, fear crawling up her spine as she cast a worried glance at the door. Idhrenan still hadn't come out.


Feral prowled over to where the wagon lay lopsided in the ditch, sniffing at the damp and muddied cloth. Something about it drew recognition from her, but the rank stench of Shadow magic made her nostrils itch. Spines quivering, she wondered briefly if there was another shadow mage inside like the one that had terrified her rider.


Growling, the dragon sank her teeth into the cloth and pulled, trying to free whatever was trapped underneath.

 

[Effervescent]

Inside The Silver Lance

​

The Vuaturi dipped his head in a nod, recognizing Olsten's command as he continued up the stairs. He spared a glance towards the bounty hunter who turned to watch the elf go with apparent impatience. It wasn't until he heard the elf's light footsteps patting above him that he pressed the center button and spoke into the device.


"All feared is within ignorance," he rasped, and his finger released from the button and hovered in waiting. Five seconds passed before the Baladuri's large fingers opened the channel once again to repeat himself. "All feared is within ignorance!"


Granny, Jern, and the elf gathered in the kitchen only to halt with uncertainty at the thief within. Idhrenan looked at the trio with wide eyes as she was caught, her shirt clearly stuffed unevenly with food and supplies. Jern's brow furrowed sternly. He was never fond of thieves, but now wasn't the time for prosecution. His hand grabbed hold of her upper arm with a tight grip as he forced her out of the kitchen. The others followed.


"My apologies, sir," she said. "I had paid-"


"Just take the damned food," Granny called as she trotted out after them. On her back was a sack of her belongings and in her arms the collected supplies as paid for by the Dragon Warden. Jern promptly plucked the satchel of supplies and shoved it into Idhrenan's arms.


"This is what you paid for," he stated.


@Macaberz

Outside the Silver Lance

​

As Feral lifted the cloth from over the heap in the ditch, another dragon was revealed. The ice dragon was weak and groaned in pain as she barely moved. One of her wings looked broken and stuck out at an odd angle against her spiked form. Splinters of wood from the broken cart had pierced through her body in various places causing a pool of red to collect beneath her. Along her ice-blue scales were traces of a dark taint that snaked through the crevices and distorted her voice. The origin of the taint appeared to start upon her forehead as a black spot pulsing with a purple glow.


If Feria or Ifer were to see the dragon, they would immediately recognize it as Liola.


@CloudyBlueDay @Keitsumah @Red Thunder

The Wayward Pine Between The Border of Baladur and Thallas

​

The shae still carried a perturbed disposition, a low and constant grumble escaping her lips as she moved about. There was still no concern towards the dragons, and she walked past them and around them as if they were inanimate. She carried with her a simple bag embroidered with colorful threads that depicted a treeline against a sunset. The old shae sat herself upon Eosphelon's tail and the dragon yelped.


"No moving, drake," she commanded, and did not move from her spot as she pilfered through the bag. "I has a friend. Alchemy he does. His ass is good to looksee, yes." She pulls out a few vials and reads over the lables. "What's it yous feel, Drake Warden?" Eosphelon grumbled and huffed a sigh as he debated on whether or not he wanted to knock the pest off of him.


@LadyMatsudai

 

[CloudyBlueDay]

Feria & Ifer

Feria did not care what the others were thinking to themselves about her or her dragon right now. She didn't care anyway, this wasn't a special thing. Feria cared for herself and for her dragon. She trusted no one else and if she did not trust them they were not worth her time. The fire mage might have attempted to help her by flinging cinders in Vorstag's eyes, or maybe she was just protecting herself. The cripple was either trying to help her to get out alive by passing her off as insane, or trying to help himself. There were always two ways that everything could go. Feria believed that if the oaf had wanted them dead, they'd be dead already.


She was done with this group. The cripple and the hot head seemed to be best friends, they could handle themselves and whoever they chose to trust. But Feria was not interested in them any longer. She turned her back to them and signaled to Ifer that it was alright to lift off. Ifer dug his claws into the ground, preparing to launch, and then the Fire Mage spoke. "She smells something." Ifer froze. Feria growled. Why had he stopped? Great. The fire dragon smelled something. Fantastic. Why did they need to stay for it? Ifer turned towards Feral with a curiosity in his eyes that Feria hadn't seen in a long time. He snorted and stepped closer to the cart that Feral was sniffing at. Feria jumped off, seething with anger but he was silent as Feral chomped on the cloth and ripped it right off.


Feria's eyes widened at the sight. It couldn't be. It couldn't possibly be. "Liola.." Feria croaked, just barely audible, as she rushed towards the cart. She wanted to hug the dragon, but she seemed so weak, so fragile. Vorstag had had Zachary's necklace. Had he taken Liola captive? For what reason? To show her off, to bend her loyalty to him? Feria gently reached a hand towards the injured dragon and placed it on her snout. That was when Feria noticed the taint on her forehead. The dark taint. For sure, it had to be Vorstag. Feria touched her own throat, which continued to sting awfully. He had hurt Liola, he had killed Zachary.. I should have killed him when I had the chance.





@Red Thunder @Keitsumah @Effervescent

 

[Keitsumah]

:Ava and Feral:


Sworn to Destroy



​

Ava froze as the information flooded her head. "Another dragon..." She sprang off of Kraeg's side and ran toward Feral, taking in the injuries through their link before she arrived.


Dropping down into the ditch on the other side of the dragon, Ava hissed as she took in the dragon's wounds for herself. Feral turned her head and barked at Kraeg. They'd need to move the smaller dragon out of the ditch and he might be the only one capable of such feats of strength besides Erramun.


Erramun.... if we are to even hope of getting this girl out of here we'll likely need both to carry her if we have to fly. And that's if we can fly at all... Kneeling beside the ice dragon, Ava glanced at Ifer and then Feria. For once neither of them seemed out for blood.





"Hale -there's an injured dragon here. Her wing's broken and she's been punctured in several places." she called back. "I don't think you'd have enough materials to try and patch her up. What if we cauterize the punctures and you set the wing with some sticks?" But as she spoke, she realized that could only happen if they either did it quickly and risked being caught, or had killed the Shadow Mage first to eliminate the threat.


Or, if they did neither, they'd have to leave her behind...


Her troubled glance landed on Feria. The girl looked pale -shocked and terrified as she held the injured dragon's muzzle. Ava's swords rasped when they came out of their sheaths, and the girl stood. She'd made up her mind. Her amber gaze was aflame.





Though her body went weak at the idea of taking Vorstag on, she knew that it was the only option risky enough that might save them all. And she couldn't live with herself if she let another Dragon, or Warden, die.

"I thank you for your warning. And I thank you for the letter. Should you need it, we can provide you flight to where you need to go. Or at least as far as is safe for us. But should we come across enemies, we will take our chances." she said lowly. Feral growled in agreement, padding forward until she stood behind her partner. "We saw too much to not feel the urge to slaughter and maim everyone we can. Would you not, as well, if you saw children murdered heedlessly? Children who had dreamed of becoming the great heroes of legend." Ava's eyes narrowed. "I was one. And now am not. My only purpose from now on is to wreak vengeance for the dead."

Her hands clenched around the hilts until her knuckles turned white. "I have sworn. And so I shall do." she muttered quietly, her lips curling back to expose her fangs. With stiff movements, she sprang back to the edge of the ditch and directed Feral to help them with the other dragon.


"Feral will help you cauterize the wounds should you choose to do so Hale." she said, her voice low, commanding. A small part of her winced that she'd never used such a tone with him before, but she had a duty to fulfill. She had sworn. And now she must act. Should have acted even to begin with.


Before this day was out, she knew even more blood would spill over the floorboards of the tavern. Whether hers, or the Shadow Mage's, she didn't know.


She only knew that she was out for blood.


@Red Thunder @CloudyBlueDay @Effervescent

 

[Macaberz]

Olsten


“All feared is within ignorance!”


All hopes of eavesdropping a conversation with Savere were shattered. His stomach tied into a knot. Vorstag would have to be dealt with. Now was the time to strike. He glanced down at his feet, the steady stream of ale had merely formed a shallow puddle. It would not suffice.


He needed more time. Fingers wrapped around the cold faucet and pulled it wide open. It wouldn’t do, but there was no time left. Vorstag knew he wasn’t alone. He had to know by now. I need more time... Olsten squeezed himself between the racks and faced Vorstag.


Trapped inside the dark, confined space the hunter appeared even larger than before. Hands the size of shovels could snap his neck like a twig. Yet he remained. “You should have let me pass,” he said through clenched teeth. A blinding flash lit up the room like lightning. Whooshing like a stormy wind, a large, orange flame hovered above his right palm. “You will burn for what you did.” With every passing heartbeat the hot tongues tightened until they were mere red-hot cords. “Monster.”


Fire whipped the puddle of ale. Wines, whiskies, ports, rums…all beverages Jern had stored in the cellar joined in the inferno. The Silver Lance would be reduced to mere ashes as Olsten broke his focus and let the wildfire stream in raging torrents from his hands. He had only enough control to keep the flickering blue flames from eating him up, but it wouldn’t last forever. Grybil will never forgive me, he thought bitterly as his grip on the raging magic slipped away. It didn't matter. He couldn't tear his bleary eyes from the flame-engulfed giant before him. Vorstag had to die.

 

[Red Thunder]

Hale

The half-elf knelt where he'd hurried over, examining the Ice Dragon's condition. Concern swept his face as his fingers gently probed the injured creature, and every so often his eyes would stray to the Shadow's influence, distrustful.


"Feral will help you cauterize the wounds should you choose to do so Hale."


Stern. Unquestionable. Unrelenting. Like an Emasari to a subordinate. Hale stared at her, a look of pain in his eyes, and perhaps sorrow, too. He nodded, understanding their circumstance but hurt all the same.


"Aye. Kraeg! The bags."


The Earth Dragon was already in motion. They were lifted off his back with his teeth, carefully so as to avoid booting through the leather, and the worn sacks were soon at Hale's feet. With little more to do, he began searching through them for what he needed, all but ignoring the others save for a last word.


"Kraeg'zech will accompany you, Ava. He wills it, and to stand against the desire of an Earth Dragon is foolish indeed."


Behind him, Kraeg had already turned toward the Silver Lance. With a great effort he sat up on his hind legs. Then, like a mountain falling, he leaned forward and stomped with his forelegs, blasting the tavern with a challenging roar that drowned all other noise for its duration. Satisfied, he looked to the small Fire Warden beside him, as if to say, Well? Are you ready?


@Keitsumah

 

[Unwavering Knight]

Tronje and Eelikas


Eyes darting up, nostrils flaring as a deep breath is taken.


"Quite nothing like Shadow Caster in the morn." Tronje gave a laugh, voice easily drowned out by the drafts as Eelikas did nothing to halt her speed, even though past experience allowed her to easily foretell what the next course of action would be.


"No need." she gave her token words of resistance, wings increasing their beat in reinforcement of her defiance.


"Awww, girl." the Warden cheerfully patted her scale-covered back "We could do it your way, allow us to get entangled in a conversational romp of fine arguments as I attempt to peacefully explain my points bit by bit while you gradually increase in speed, hoping that by the time I am finished, we will be far and beyond without my notice."


An annoyed, bestial grunt.


"Or-" the Emasari continued without care "- we can skip that due to the fact that my attention-span tends to be longer than that of a lad at prized opportunities such as this." he gave another laugh.


The dragon in turn roared, before begrudgingly changing directions with a bit of excessive force, causing Tronje to need to hold on for dear life and - most importantly - hat, one hand grasping tight the saddle-rein, the other pressed onto his second-most-prized possession, the most elegant head-gear a man of the world could possibly wish for.


His laughter increased in volume as he was shaken to the core, wind screeching in his ears "That's my girl! Hard, fast, furious!", his cheerful voice bellowed far and beyond the painful drafts.


Soon enough, the site came into view, forest beneath them thick with greenery, one of those taverns located near the border, making a living off merchants traveling to and fro, the 'Silver Lance', he recalled.


Though that quickly became a secondary concern when the dragons openly milling about near the building came into view from above, smaller frames close to them, possibly their Wardens.


"Ohoho, now you've done it, girl." Tronje smiled with gleeful expectation as he stared down at gathered onlookers.


Eelikas reacted first with confused blankness, before slowly a growing terror crawled up her throat as realisation dawned on her.


"Oh yessssss." his grin broadened.


Bestial screeching of exasperation and sheer fury.


"Oh come now, girl! You know how much I adore it!"


Finally, a flat "NO!"


"Hey now, girl, don't be like that! It makes your pretty face look old!"


An annoyed grunt, reinforcement of denial.


"Come on!" he continued to plead, letting go of the reins to slowly crawl up her spine without a care in the world for the danger, temple pressed against her horned head as he looked her into the eye from above "For me, girl!"


A groan, a sigh, speed lowering in allowance of defeat.


"Love you~" he sang, patting one of her horns before sliding back down into the saddle as the ground rapidly approached, the Warden's muscles tensing in anticipation of the act of greatness he was about to fulfill, while the dragon replied with a sigh of annoyance at her incoming accompliceship and resulting lessening of her dignity.


Outstretched claws striking the ground, the dragon's descent resulting in a hard impact, throwing up the dirt to produce a cloud of dust, hiding the creature and the Warden from sight as the earth cushioning the landing is quickly stacked up to a small mound.


A thundering roar and a mighty flapping of wings disperses the cloud, giving view of the small Warden perfectly positioned on top of the mound, arms outstretched, flowing hair fluttering in the wind, immaculately-brushed teeth exposed as he set on his most charming of smiles.


He cheated a bit, imposing the slightest of illusions on the onlookers, the humanoid ones to be precise,


to make his hair appear just a bit shinier, his grin just a bit more dazzling, well-practiced, well-hidden.


"No fear!" he yelled with cheer "Tronje is here!"


Standing still, like a priest addressing supplicants, it was all Tronje could do not to twitch in excitement, only allowing himself to close his eyes for but a moment as he congratulated himself on a performance perfectly-executed.


Allowing the audience, two dragons, one of flame, one of ice, maybe a third from the looks of what was in that cart, and two humanoids, probably the Wardens, a girl, a boy, to bask in his radiance for just a few seconds longer, the Emasari had to decide with a heavy heart that cruelty was sometimes a necessity of his position. Thus, breaking picturesque pose, he strode down the mound with the slightest hint of a dance in his step.


Eelikas wanted to bury her head in the ground in shame.


"Careful, girl." he called with a chuckle "One might mistake you as part of a comedic duo."


An enraged hiss.


"Thought so~" he sang.


Affixing his view - rather, gracing them with his vision - alternately on either of the two, the Emasari addressed them with his ever-unchanging cheer and a tap on his hat "Hail all of you, I see you've got one casualty." he indicated towards the cart "What's the situation? How many of you made it here?"

 

[Keitsumah]

:Ava and Feral:


EverBurn



​

Ava considered the massive Earth dragon beside her and nodded. Many would be intimidated by the beast after what he had just done, but she'd been around him enough to know just how much damage he could do, as well as just how protective he was of his rider and close friends.


"Let's go and slay a monster, Kraeg." she said quietly, then sprang up onto the dragon's lowered head and positioned herself standing between his horns. She kept her thoughts focused well on Feral, though, in case anything happened. If anything happens to me... I want you to take care of them okay?


She instantly felt her dragon's disapproval of such thoughts, but pushed them away and turned her focus to the inn. Then her eyes narrowed she she noticed smoke laking from around the base.


"Hurry, Kraeg." she said, pointing toward a small group that had just exited what may have been the kitchen door. And among them she recognized Idhrenan. Maybe she knew what was going on.


Feral watched her rider leave with Kraeg for a moment before directing her attention to the injured dragon again. There was a lot of blood, and she instinctively knew that such wounds would not close easily. Where earth dragons had dense hides to protect them, fire dragons, as well as all the others, could still take major wounds.


Lowering her head, Feral raised one claw and let a focused plume of golden flame lick across her talons. Her high immunity to heat allowed her to make her claws rise to dangerously high temperatures. Hot enough to melt flesh, or knit it back together.


Turning her head to glance at Hale, then at Ifer, she barked for the other ice dragon to prepare hold the female down. She may be weak and otherwise unable to move, but even a weak dragon could still thrash unintentionally when in pain. And they couldn't afford to burn any more flesh than was necessary. The female would be extremely lucky to recover from this ordeal, if at all.


Feral only noticed the presence of another, new dragon and rider when they impacted the ground. Whirling on the dust cloud that had suddenly formed behind them, the skin of her neck and the end of her tail flattened and expanded, making her spikes bristle and stand on end. Spreading her wings wide to shield Hale, Feria, and the others, she kept her head low as the other dragon roared and flapped her wings, revealing a strange, small human male with shiny teeth.


And one thing about teeth with dragons is that they take they're exposure as a threat. Widening her stance, the broken wood of the cart creaking in protest where her hind-legs landed, she raised her head high and opened her jaws wide.


The resulting scream was loud enough, and high enough in frequency, to crack the glass windows of the inn, drowning out whatever the man attempted to say. It was a direct warning to the other dragon to stand down. A mother's scream of protection for her drakelings.


Come one step closer, I dare you. Her expression warned.


@Red Thunder @CloudyBlueDay @Effervescent @Unwavering Knight

 

[LadyMatsudai]

Dinyla and Erramun

​

Feeling the warm snout of Erramun rise from the soil to assist her to stand up, Dinyla finally managed to stand on her own two feet, not daring to let go of her dragon out of fear she might fall over again from the fatigue overwhelming her body. The muscles of her legs screaming, twitching horribly to the added stress of having to stand as her body demanded to rest flat on the ground or at least against the warm scales of her dragon's body. She gasped to the sudden yelp of surprise from Eosphelon, Erramun helping her to turn slowly to face the general direction of the shae, his golden eye fixed on the small goat-like creature.


"Alchemy?" repeated Dinyla a little surprised, wondering who this stranger might have been to be able to practice alchemy so freely without anyone to watch over them. She sighed a little to the mention of how his physical features were not that hard to stare at either, putting the thought to the side. "I feel...nauseous...fatigue...light-headedness...general weakness..." she panted as Erramun snorted towards Eosphelon to indicate to him to keep a calm head.

 

[Red Thunder]

Hale

At Feral's questioning glance, Hale nodded, solemn. "It'll hurt, but the blood is flowing too freely. Cauterization is the best thing we can do right now, though it'll leave scars." He turned to the saddlebags to retrieve the herbs he'd need.


Suddenly Feral screamed, and Hale winced at the near proximity of the high pitched warning. Glancing up, the half-elf frowned at the ridiculously flamboyant man that had appeared before him, noting from the man's serpentine companion that he was a Warden. Everything about his get up made the young half-elf question just how he had earned the trust of a dragon. Pausing only briefly to consider how to answer, Hale turned back to his work. This fellow was not worth his notice at the moment; other things were more pressing. As he did so, he placed a hand on Feral's flank.


"Concentrate. I need you now."


Kraeg

At Ava's prompting, the massive dragon looked toward the door. Good; it seemed the innocents were out. Wait, no; Olsten wasn't with them. Which meant the young boy was alone with the Shadow Mage. Kraeg sniffed. And in a burning building, at that. With a roar of desperation, hoping that Ava was secure between his horns, he leapt forward.


A charging bear has always been a striking example of the fury of nature, and the thought alone leaves anyone facing down such a creature with trembling legs and no courage. The charge of a Wyrm is ten times the terrible sight. Claws ripping stone and earth like paper in an effort to gain traction, maw still releasing a shockwave of angry bass percussion, Kraeg sprinted at the inn. The distance, short enough to begin with, was closed in mere seconds. Turning his head to protect his friend, Kraeg impacted the tavern wall in a rock slide of power and weight. The wooden slates stood no chance, giving little more resistance than the very air, and they gave way immediately. Backing up a step, Kraeg stuck his head within the smoky main room and bellowed yet again, his challenge drowning out the raging inferno within the basement.

 

[Keitsumah]

:Feral:


Blood and Bone



​

At Hale's hand upon her flank, Feral turned away from the new Warden and dragon with a hesitant growl. She didn't like turning her back on someone she didn't know.


But there was a dragon bleeding out right between her claws, and so help it Feral would keep her alive. Tapping the side of Ifer's neck with her muzzle, Feral rumbled, asking him to hold the ice dragon down lest she struggle while she burned her flesh back together, as well as casting a wary glance at the other dragon. Ifer could face them while she worked and make sure they didn't do anything funny.


Raising one fore-claw to blow fire over it again, Feral waited until even she felt mildly uncomfortable from the heat. Then, trying to move quickly enough so that the female ice dragon didn't have much time to react, she grasped one of the wooden fragments between her teeth, pulled, and pinched together the skin with her one free paw, using her "thumb" as a means of gripping, while pressing her other, heated claw against the dragon's exposed skin. If the other dragon didn't squirm too much, she aimed to burn an "x" with her claw to double seal each wound as she worked.

:Ava:


Crash and Burn
​

Ava hung on tight as Kraeg surged forward, bracing the side of her body against one horn just in time to feel the impact of his body bowling over a good portion of the building. The jarring stop bruised her ribs and left her hands stinging, but she was little the worse for wear. Instead, her gaze was focused on the now-exposed floorboards of the main room. Smoke slithered up from tiny gaps in the slat work, and she realized with growing alarm that she hadn't seen the boy Hale had called Olsten outside with the others.





He must be trying to take on the shadow mage on his own! Rapping the armored top of Kraeg's head to get his attention, she pointed to the floor just in front of them and yelled over the crackling of flames:


"Pull the floor up! Don't let anything drop down!" She remembered all too well how it felt to be trapped, with fire all around. Nowhere to go but to run and flee the destruction, hoping that by some miracle you escaped with your life.


Gritting her teeth and fighting back the seething rage that threatened to make the already raging inferno turn into a fireshow, Ava forced herself to focus and braced herself in two of the branches of Kraeg's horns. Her gaze narrowed, and her own small, yet deadly flames began to flicker around her shoulders, ready to spread. If Kraeg could lift the floor, one of three things could happen.


One: they would pull up the floor just above the boy's head and be able to snatch him out.


Two: they would find no one, and Ava would have to go down and search for him, then call Kraeg to pull them out.


Three: if things went the worst, they would instead find the shadow mage.


Ava gripped her swords tighter at the thought, praying they wouldn't, but aware that they might. And if they did, she would have to destroy him as quickly as possible.

 

[Unwavering Knight]

Tronje and Eelikas


The challenging cry of the red dragon was answered by a malicious hiss, scaled head jerking forward, jaws full of razor-sharp teeth snapping together once, twice, thrice in rythm as clawed feet slowly began to advance the gargantuan form, eyes blazing with the anticipation of one about to dissect a butterfly.


Tronje gave a sigh, smile turning from simple cheerfulness to apology "Excuse me, miss." he called up to Feral, who already had lost interest in the spectacle.


Such a waste of a good performance.


Turning around, he casually strode into the path of Eelikas without a hint of worry, one hand stretching out, beckoning for the dragon's attention as he spoke "Girl, you know exactly the tone of our policy about the whole 'kill everything and everyone that might be a potential ally ever'-thing."


Stopping in her tracks, the arcane dragon's head snaked down, coming to level with Tronje's face, hot breath and grinding of fangs wafting into him. Annoyed denial.


Tronje's hand shot forward, grabbing hold of one of Eelikas's horns, eliciting an angry hiss but little resistance as he forced her head closer, smile gone from his face, replaced by a cold, domineering mask, the man's voice matching his icy glare "What's yours is mine, what's mine is yours. Don't tell me you forgot."


Her head gave a twitch, jaws opening and closing without words, eyes emitting conflicting emotions ranging from anger, to doubt, to regret, to self-loathing as she allowed herself to be toyed with like a ragdoll.


Another hiss, giving way. The Warden let go of the horn.


"They might need us." Tronje insisted, face and voice softening to give way to tired resignation as he released her "That's quite enough for me. Even if they lack any sort of common courtesy. Or appreciation for effort."


Taking a deep breath, it took him a bit to force the edges of his mouth upwards into a grin again. Drawing out his trusty crossbow, he began his way over to the tavern, Eelikas following with quiet glower.


It appeared the earth dragon was planning to tear open the floor boards, though the fact that they didn't just crush the entire construct on top of the Shadow Caster implied that someone else - perhaps a hostage of sorts - was down there.


For now, the two would open the path. Eelikas and Tronje would stand ready in case assistance was necessary.