Finding The Way Back From Destruction

Saihara and Azulan followed Jacob to the nesting area at the left side of the cave. "Saihara and Azulan followed Jacob to the nesting area. "Thank you, Jacob and I know this is the nesting area but I'd Thank you, Jacob and I know this is the nesting area but I'd feel more comfortable staying with Azulan." She stops and waited until Azulan came into the nesting area. Saihara looked at him, and gave him a worried look. Jacob turns around and looks at Saihara, and Azulan. "Actually, you can stay with him, milady. You can get yourself a pillow and a blanket, or you can just lay against your dragon, or however you sleep next to him." "Thank you, Jacob. I am really grateful." Jacob nodded, turned around as Azulan picks out his nest, and lays down. Jacob resumed on showing Saihara around the mountain, and looking at all of the caves until they came to the mess hall.

She smelled the food and saw it as well. She stopped, turned towards the cave, and starts to walk in. Jacob followed her in and she grabbed a bowl made out of pottery. She was amazed with the bowl, but then, she moved towards the food and grabbed different kinds of food. Jacob did the same and followed Saihara to a table next to the door and sat across from her. "This looks so good and smells good, too." Jacob laughed and watched her eat her food like she was starving.

Sienna and Ellie stayed for a short time speaking with General Tiennan, Sienna turning and frowning when she saw that Marwo had left the room, sighing.  Ellie looked to her friend with a knowing look and grinned turning back to her father, "We are going to go, Father", she said standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek, the hardened general's eyes softening as he hugged both young women.  "Stay out of trouble for once", he called out with a chuckle watching the two leave before sighing himself.  "I fear Sienna is going to give her poor father and brothers heart failure before she's mated", he mumbled to himself thinking of how he saw her look at Marwo, shaking his head.  He liked the young bear warrior.....he saw the honor in him even as the young man tried to hide it and he the general knew that Marwo could keep Sienna in check and out of trouble if he felt the same about Sienna.  Sighing again, he decided it wasn't for him to worry over.  Young people were headstrong and willful.  He would let them figure it out for themselves.  Sitting down, he went over the maps and information from the spies rubbing his eyes.  Sienna was lucky.....the lizonians were becoming braver...more organized and even her expertise would not be enough.  She was lucky Marwo and his brother came along when they did. 

Ellie followed Sienna, chuckling at watching her friend clearly look for the big bear warrior even as she was looking for his brother when a young soldier came running up grabbing Ellie and speaking quickly in her ear.  "Damn!", she turned to a shocked Sienna her own eyes filled with anger.  "Those damned Lizonians have attacked a small caravan and have them cornered in a box canyon.  I have to go, Sienna.  I'm leading the small group of riders to rescue them if there are any survivors."  She turned, walking briskly away leaving Sienna standing there, gritting her teeth at her indecision.  She knew she was injured but she too was a warrior.  A small warrior, but a warrior nonetheless.  "To hell with this...wound or no", she exclaimed heading to her chamber to collect her weapons and find a horse to follow Ellie and the others and help where she could.

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She was riding the stallion hard, keeping an eye on the flying dragons above her knowing she would hear hell once Ellie and her father knew that she'd followed, especially wounded.  Her leg burned and the wound was seeping but she also knew that caravans meant children and children were Sienna's greatest weakness.  What she came upon was something out of a nightmare. 

The canyon was indeed a box canyon.  One way in.....one way out.  Large rocks on either side with trees shooting up here and there.  A perfect place to herd a caravan where others would already be waiting.  She pulled her small bow, firing arrows at the closest Lizonians as she ran in, hearing the dragons above her.  The caravan was bigger than they'd been told.  At least thirty wagons, half of which were on fire, bodies everywhere as others tried to fight but these were not warriors.  The smell of blood and death was thick in the air when she heard her name being screamed from above, hearing Ellie's voice as she and her dragon dove down, Ellie jumping off her dragon before his feet even hit the ground, taking out two Lizonians while her dragon's tail swiped three more.  "SIENNA!!!  I SWEAR TO THE GODDESS I AM GOING TO TIE YOU TO A POST UNTIL YOU HEAL!!!!", she yelled at her best friend, whispering "If you live long enough you stupid wolf", her sword swinging, severing the head of another Lizonian.  The damned things were actually organized and fighting like an army when she saw Sienna's horse go down, Sienna flying hitting the ground hard and not moving.  "SIENNA!!!!"  She was fighting her way towards her fallen friend, seeing that her fellow riders and their own dragons were doing what they were trained to do.

Sienna had been going for a small child standing with it's mother, both frozen in fear when she watched the mother take a poison arrow and fall, leaving the child standing along and crying while a large Lizonian crept up on the small tyke, drool dripping from it's pointed teeth in anticipation of a meal.  Her small bow drawn, arrow notched she let the arrow fly, sending the lizardman to his death when her horse screamed and went down, sending her flying from his back, her head slamming against the hard ground, knocking the wind from her lungs.

Marwo and Llafn were eating a hearty meal as they watched the many guards filter out Marwo raised an eyebrow what on earth do you think these people are doing was the first thought but he tapped his fork on the meal growling as he stood up. "Come on something's not right." The two brothers slid out of their chairs and began to head for where the eagles would still be in the hangar but to thier surprise they found them missing Llafn frowned as they stood in the hangar and in the distance he saw them flying after what only could be dragons he grunted. "We need to steal some horses." Barely missing Sierra heading in the direction of the battle.

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Ulric and Randal were barely at the mess hall when a call to arms came for dragon riders the two helped overseer everything all the way to the hangar when suddenly Randal grinned big... "You ever wanted to join them?" Ulric raised an eyebrow at the mans words then seeing the penned eagles. "Arn't they for royal's only?" Randal gave a wink as he was clicking his fingers lightly and patting the side of one of the eagles bringing it from the pen. "Come on lad it has a double saddle." Ulric looked around frowning but the two hadn't seen a fight in some time and sliding onto the great big bird the pair took off unknowing the other eagle on instinct followed them both and began flying hard.

The battle was well underway by the time the eagles were on scene the riderless took to divebombing individual lizonians from the ground crushing skulls between talons and Ulric was quickly dropped to the ground living to his name the white wolf he drew two short swords moving between the lizonians a whirlwind of death the white wolf cloak a blur as his armour reflected the sun like a blaze only at one point helping Sienna when throwing one of the short swords to spear a Lizonian coming in behind her as she drew her bow little time to confirm who threw the blade as he drew a dagger instead his stance unchanging as Randal finally landed just as Marwo and Llafn were breaching over the hill on horses surprised at the fluid pushing back the lizonians Ulric and Randal were moving together the huge Bear warrior recognized by the brothers as an exile as the half shifted bear tore men open with his claw hands... and when the battle was over Marwo barely bloodying his two handed sword he frowned seeing the two mercenaries continuing after the Lizonians knowing the two wanted the reptiles off the mountains and back on the plains... Then Marwo saw Sienna limping across to the lone child. "Of all the people to be here?"

Saihara and Jacob got up after eating their fill, and they continue to tour the caverns. When they were done, they went back to the nesting area and sat down next to Azulan. "Thanks for showing me around the caverns today." She looked at Jacob and smiled. "Your welcome milady." Jacob got up and walked off. After he was gone, Saihara looked at Azulan and smiled. ~What's wit the smile like that?~ ~Jacob is the first boy besides Marwo that I have met and he actually looks cute.~ ~Just a hint of advice, Saihara. I may not know the humans except you, Saihara. But he is the first boy you have met, so I just want you to be careful.~ Saihara gave him a questioning look but looked away and chuckled a bit. Azulan laid his head down and fell asleep.

After an hour, Saihara got up and walked out of the nesting area. Walked to the mess hall and sat down at an empty table and sighed, thinking about what Azulan had told her. She crossed her arms on the table, lowered her head, and then, started to think about how Azulan's mom is doing.

Sienna nodded to the big man who'd thrown the spear, saving her from having her back sliced open turning with her short sword to disembowel another Lizonian coming at her.  The Lizonians were retreating finally but not without great loss to the caravan.  Most were dead, dying or wounded, the majority of the wagons burning.  Seeing the child trying to wake her mother who lay dead at her feet, Sienna wiped the blood from her temple where her head had hit the hard ground, her thigh once more soaked in her own blood yet she ignored both limping to the little girl as she sheathed her shortsword her shortbow looped over her back and shoulder with her quiver.

"Shhhh, little one.  She is at peace.....come now.  Dry those tears and show your momma the brave little girl you are", she said softly, kneeling painfully next to her.  She caught the little girl in her arms almost falling backwards when the child threw herself at her, sobbing.  Tears coursed down Sienna's own cheeks, remembering the loss of her own mother as she hugged the child to her before slowly standing, picking the four year old up.  Her leg shook from the strain but she stood strong when Ellie came storming up to her.  Sienna's own amber eyes glared back at her friend, daring her to chastise her for coming to help those in need.  That look alone stopped Ellie who turned to see Marwo looking at Sienna. 

"Maybe you can talk some sense into her about healing before charging into battle", she said to the bear warrior in a huff, turning to stomp back to her dragon.  "Once her father and brothers hear of this they will chain her to a post to keep her safe", she mumbled to herself as she walked off.

Sienna saw Marwo standing there, her amber eyes filled with pain of the memories as she held the sobbing child in her slender arms, her injured leg shaking from the effort as her head throbbed, blood flowing down the right side of her face from her temple.  "Easy little one......you will be cared for and your momma laid to rest.  The pain will ease in time.....trust me, but you will never forget her."  As she spoke her eyes remained on Marwo.  She turned from him to take a step towards another from the caravan whom came to collect the little girl when her leg buckled.  She caught herself before falling, retaining her hold on the child the elder woman quickly taking the little girl from her as she uttered a 'thank you' to Sienna who gave her a small pain filled smile.  "Gather your people and we will escort you to safety", she told the elder woman who nodded quickly carrying out Sienna's orders and gathering what was left of the caravan while riders and other soldiers who'd come began to sort through the wounded, dying and dead.

She looked around her, seeing the dead Drakonians, the children that had not escaped and tears streamed down her cheeks, her back to Marwo.  Taking another step her leg buckled again and she found herself on the ground, crying for the loss of the little ones and for the little girl whom she'd saved who would grow up without her mother as she had.

Randal slowed his push forth slowly moving back the white wolf moving on he slowly approached one of the smaller officers catching Marwo eye in the corner a faint smile on Marwo's face as he tilted his head to the bear exile not saying anything as his attention was snapped to Sienna who was in tears he slowly moved up to her back and placed his hands on both of her shoulders. "Let it all out we have a long way to escort these people even if those two push the scum back to the plains." Sighing a little kneeling down as he saw all the bloodshed it seemed just so unnecessary.

Randal gave the loud orders for a small contingent of dragon riders they could hear the long howls in the distance as the white wolf was leading from the front of a small group of infantry it was only time before the lizonians realised they outnumbered the small force and took chase to the convoy batting his chest with a hand the men were organising Marwo shook his head. "You want to use my horse or would you rather sit on a wagon?" Llafn was already helping refugee's quickly as he organised the people while his brother was beginning to shout orders to the skeleton defence of the convoy nodding his head to Ellie as she took to her dragon.
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Ulric was throwing himself into the rearguard of Lizonians a tactic that had almost caught him off guard he slammed another blade away from his throat and pulled a quick riposte his knife in one hand slamming deep as he had to let go as he twisted it and caught in the thick flesh he flicked a Lizonian jagged sword from the floor with his foot catching it with an ease of practiced combat before he raised another howl to the air the infantry round him was beginning to lag behind dogged tired unused to the forced attack on the lizonians and suddenly Ulric called a halt whistling loud the men stopped forming a shield wall the lizonian still running Ulric couldn't help but take a straight edged Drakonian sword from a corpse as he asked for numbers, leaders and glancing over their heads he could see Randal jogging to join them with a few more infantry who were killing the wounded Lizonians as they approached the main force and he thankfully saw the dragons rising above them. "This is the narrowest part of this valley we hold to take numbers from them with the dragons then push for the vale... but I don't think unless more riders arrive we can push them into the second valley that has one of the wolf villages once resided." Randal arrived to some cheers as he moved next to Ulric with a worried look. "Lad... unless we get a miracle we should be retreating from here after the first counter wave." Ulric could only grit his teeth and sigh slowly. "Getting pushed back each time they make a move." Not liking how it sat calling someone on a horse to send a message for volunteers from the convey feeling a gut instinct that marwo and his brother would join them and maybe that pair of eagles would come along with the eagle prodigy Llafn.

Just as a rider was called to ride hard to collect volunteers a large group of over thirty Canitonians came in hard, taking out Lizonians as they plowed through them on their large steeds.  At the head was Alpha Tumerac, Sienna's father and at his side was her eldest brother, Torlief.  With them was Freed, the Bear that Marwo had sent to let her father know what had happened to her.  Still not knowing that they were riding into the box canyon she looked up at Marwo, wiping her eyes as she nodded to him, shakily getting to her feet. 

"I will ride with you.  I am not so injured that I need to ride in a wagon, Marwo", she said in a quiet voice when she heard the howls of her clan and cringed.  "Father and Torlief are here", she said with a grimace.  She looked down at her bleeding leg then lifted a hand to her bleeding temple and sighed.  She would never hear the end of it now.  She turned amber eyes up to Marwo, almost pleading with him to get her out of there before they saw her.

Ellie nodded back to Llafn giving him a small smile as she climbed into Sooner's saddle, "See you back at the caves?", she asked him before nudging Sooner to the air to assist Randal and Ulric when she heard the howls coming from Alpha Tumerac and Torlief, answering Ulric's howl.

Saihara gets up from the table, and walks out of the mess hall. She walks towards the nesting where Azulan was asleep. She walks in, sits next to his side, and leans on him. Soon, she was starting to fall asleep, but she keeps waking herself up. Feeling the rhythm if Azulan's breathing as he sleeps, making Saihara sleepier.

Sleep finally took over, and Saihara did not wake herself up. She was out cold when Azulan woke up, and he looked to his side when he felt someone was leaning on him. He saw Saihara asleep, he gave a smile, watched her sleep peacefully for a few minutes, laid his head back down, and went back to sleep.

Irin and Talon came flying in from a long patrol.  Both were tired and Irin was sorely in need of a good bathing as well as good food.  Landing gracefully, Talon nodded to the dragon caretakers as Irin dismounted from the saddle, unsheathing her short sword from it's scabbard and slinging her quiver of arrows over her back with her long bow.  She was tired and it showed.

~Go eat, bathe and rest Irin.  I will do the same then we can check on those great eagles we saw~, Talon mindspoke to her, worry in his golden eyes at the dark circles under Irin's eyes.

"Aye....eat, bathe and rest.  All of which sound good, Talon", she said looking to the caretakers, "See to it that he is well bathed and fed and fresh straw for his nest.  He deserves it."  The young man nodded to her, "I will see to it personally, Irin."  Irin smiled back at him, hugged Talon's massive head and headed to her sleeping chambers near Talon's nesting area to collect clean clothing, washing and drying cloths and her favorite soap made of precious lavender.  She was at the bathing chambers within minutes eager to wash off the two days of patrolling and let the laundress clean her battle clothing.  She would see to her leathers herself but first to get clean.

She sighed as she sank into the water fed by underground hot springs, letting the warm water ease her aching muscles.  She soaked for a short time before washing her long, auburn hair three times before she was satisfied that it was clean then did the same with her lithe body.  She dried off, dressing quickly her stomach rumbling with the need for good food the bath having made her even more tired.  She'd already heard the rumors that representatives from the great Celtian Bear clan were here as well as the exiled bear Randal and his friend Ulric, the white wolf.  She wondered why they were here then mentally shrugged her shoulders.  She would worry about it later.  Right now she wanted food.

She tied her long hair back at the sides, leaving the rest hanging down her back to her waist and exited the bathing chamber, nodding to those she passed her pupil slitted, vivid green eyes taking in everything.  The caverns were well lit with torches so her pupils were wide slits, an indication of her Felintonian blood.  She walked with the gracefulness of a cat, her slightly pointed ears hearing things normal Drakonians could not.  But it was her nose that caught the scent of food and again her stomach rumbled.  She reached the mess hall, fixing herself a bowl of hearty venison stew and grabbing a mug of honey mead to wash it down.  She sat at the back of the mess hall, preferring to be alone while she ate.  It didn't take her long to finish eating and drinking, rinsing out her bowl and mug in the rinse water and leaving it for the washers to take care of before heading to her chambers to get some much needed rest.

Talon was also bathed, dried and well fed while two other dragon caretakers cleaned his nest and laid out fresh straw for him so sleep in.  He walked to his nest, thanking his caretakers when he saw the new dragon and it's rider sleeping against it.  Tilting his head, he pondered on the newcomers and why she was sleeping with her dragon.  ~Irin, we have a new rider and dragon it seems~, he mindspoke to his rider sending her the images of the dragon with his sleeping rider.  ~We will check into them as well after we rest, Talon.  Til then, let's not worrying overmuch about it my friend~, Irin sent back to him. 

Both laid down, Talon in his next next to Azulan and Saihara and Irin in her own bed.  It only took seconds before both were heavily asleep.

Marwo gave a slow nod. "Aye back at the caves." helping Sienna to settle comfortably in the saddle as they both rode to the head of the column knowing she didn't want to be tortured by her own folks as much as they would be concerned for her. Llafn was slowly moving off the wagon whistling loud an eagle came to him easy enough clicking its beak as he climbed into the saddle of the eagle he winked to Ellie as they took off together to help the soldiers.

Marwo kept his well trained eye across the mountains as the convoy began to move to get out of the canyons and back to the caves pressing his hand on the wound on Sienna's leg applying an even pressure as she mumbled about her relatives explaining why she didn't want to be grounded and other ramblings he could only talk calmly to her till they could treat her again. "You think you will rest?
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Ulric slowly whistled and the men gathered themselves dropping formation for a staggered charge Ulric breathing heavy but he till ran to the front lines Randal more conservative moved amongst the middle to see where fighting was thickest but the Lizonians had no fight againt dragons, mounted warriors and the infantry well trained under the pair vigilence as they culled the last of this attacking group Ulric was found at the end spitting blood where a club had caught his jaw causing him to bite his tongue and he was prying the armour off for a surgeon calmly waiting to stitch the multitude of cuts that had pierced his defence. Randal was practically unscathed nothing having stepped in his clawed reach he observed the reinforcements checking for wounded enemy or friend dealing swift mercy or help he couldn't help but whisper a thanks to whoever watched over them to have the Canitonians appear at this moment. "I wonder if we can push out this last canyon to the plains?" The idle thought was running in Ulric's head as he could feel the sting of the needle. "Maybe the Drakonians can go home by the end of this year." Laughing as they both knew by reports from the Bear Clan landings Drakonias capital was a nesting of 'evil' dragons and resting place of dark magicians supposedly who held the hub of anything on this mainland.

Sienna leaned back into Marwo upon the horse, rambling on about what her father and brother would do if they saw her injured as she was.  They would drag her back to the pack and all but tie her to a post to keep her there.  She groaned at the pressure from his hand on the wound to her leg but that was the only sound she made regarding it knowing that the bleeding needed to be stopped.  She heard the howls again and winced.  They were looking for her.  She could only hope that Ellie would tell them that she was okay and on her way back to the caves.  But her friend was upset with her for charging into the fray of things when she was barely healed so what she would tell her father and brother she didn't know.  But at least the extra forces would drive the Lizonians back so that they could get the convoy to the safety of the caves.

She looked back seeing the convoy moving behind them as Marwo was in the lead, leading them back to safety.  She thought about the little girl and sighed wishing she could have saved her mother as well, feeling guilt at not drawing her bow sooner.  Yet she knew that the girl's mother was just one of many casualties to the war against the sorcerers and their followers.

Soon the hidden entrance to the caves was ahead as they entered, healers and aides waiting as a scout had been sent ahead to tell them of the caravan and wounded.

Mikhail had gathered his warriors after Freed had come to him, telling him of his daughter, Sienna and her injury.  He made sure to leave plenty of protection for his own pack, taking fifty of his warriors and his eldest son, Torlief with him as he knew he wouldn't stay behind knowing his little sister was injured and with a male he didn't know, let alone a Celtian Bear. 
 
They rode fast and hard, coming into the fray as Randal and Ulric were trying to drive the Lizonians back from the caravan they'd decimated and he saw that the were vastly outnumbered.  Calling out the battle howl, he and his warriors charged in, cutting through the enemy swiftly and cruelly.  He recognized Ulric, the white wolf nodding to him before dismounting his steed to face the Lizonians, taking the leg off one and the head of another.  In the distance his keen eyesight caught a glimpse of his daughter riding in front of a large man on a horse.  He also smelled her blood, looking at Torlief.   The look in his son's eyes told him that he too had seen and smelled her blood, his dark eyes angry and filled with worry as he fought like a beserker, leaving pieces of Lizonians everywhere, seeing the exiled bear and white wolf also cutting down the enemy as he tried to make a path towards his sister even as he knew he wouldn't reach her before she was back at the caves, his eyes narrowing onto the back of the large man holding her on the horse.

Saihara wakes up, looks around and spots a new dragon in the nesting area, and stares at the dragon, as she nudged at Azulan's side, waking him up. ~Who is that? I have never seen him before.~ She pointed the now full nest. ~I have never seen him before, either, Saihara.~ Saihara gets up, walks outside of the nesting area, and heads to the hot springs to take a bath. She walks in to the hot springs cavern, strips down, gets into the water, and relaxes a little bit before washing her hair. After a bit, she washes her hair, her body, and then got out to dry off. When she got done drying off, she put her clothes back on, walks out of the hot springs cavern, and heads down to the mess hall. She finds an empty table, and goes to it and sits down.

Marwo only gave a single glance back knowing the men were fighting hard beyond the convoy he gave a chuckle. "You know sneaking you away will make me look like the bad guy." Not minding as he reached a hand up rubbing at the sewed over eyelid as he brought them into the caves and the medics and support rushed out to give aid to the caravans unloading everything he noticed people cataloguing as well he turned slowly looking back only seeing the silhouettes of the great dragons flying above what could only be the battle.

Llafn was riding the eagle calmly darting between dragons breathing the fresh air as he saw the battle was coming to a close he had to whistle soft at the efficiency of the 'Wolf' Warriors noticing that a perfect path of blood as if a hurricaine had passed through the lizonians showed prominent warriors he smiled when he recognized Sienna father with his sharp eyes and... freed sitting amongst a small circle of Lizonians the other riderless eagle was hopping across to him.

Ulric and Randal were leaning against each other laughing a little though many of the soldiers could see what was so funny as the two took deep breaths before Ulric pushed himself off his friend moving towards the 'King' he saluted the man with an almost smirk ironic they were fighting side by side again. "The throne treating you well, Mikhail?"

Randal watched as a majority of the dragon riders slipped back to the caves Ellie landing to greet the life long friends Ulric making his age old introductions he glanced at the sky the lone eagle circling he couldn't help but feel a smile edge onto his lips knowing it was Llafn at the ease of the eagles circles till it gave a single long piercing cry and he noticed the wing drop to bring it low back to the mountain.... "Dragon?" Noticing a set of what could have been the biggest wingspan of a dragon heading somewhat swiftly towards the canyon... but the rider wasn't holding a traditional weapon his sharp eyes seeing a glowing staff he gave a Harsh cry. "Sorcerer!"

Irin woke feeling better if not a little sore and hungry again.  She got up, dressed and brushed out her long hair, her feline eyes looking back at her from the small mirror.  She'd been told that she was pretty but she didn't see it.

She left her room then, heading towards the mess hall smiling a greeting to others she passed by stepping into the mess hall, smelling the food her stomach grumbling.  She'd only slept a few hours so it was still light outside as she gathered her food and turned to go sit down seeing a newcomer sitting in the back of the room eating.  She was a young thing and looked a little out of place.  For some reason, Irin found herself heading towards her, reaching her table.

"Hello.  You are new here aren't you?  I am Irin, one of the dragon riders.  May I join you?"



Sienna sighed seeing the healers and support rushing about, a young boy running up to the horse so that Marwo could dismount, helping her as well.  She swayed as she stood on her injured leg, still unnoticed by the healers looking up at Marwo.

"They have their hands full, Marwo......if you are okay with it, why don't you rebandage my leg like you did in the woods.  The caravan is more important than I am right now."  She leaned against the big bear, her head throbbing almost as bad as her leg.

Saihara looked up at the woman that had walked to her table, nodded at her, and went back to looking at the table. "I am a newcomer here and a dragon rider. My name is Saihara and my dragon'a name is Asulan." She paused, got up, went to the kitchen, got herself some food, and sat back down at the same table eating. "What is your name, anyway?"

Azulan woke up and yawned a little, looking around a bit as he stretched his wings. He sat up as his eyes locked on to the same dragon laying the nest next to him. He stared at the dragon until he looked away. He stood up and walked to the entrance and turned around and walked back to his nest and sat back down. He was unsure what to do at the moment except sit there and wait until the the dragon woke up to ask him who he is and who his rider is.

Mikhail heard someone cry 'SORCERER!' and looked up to see the evil being on his dragon, pointing his glowing staff at the soldiers and Caninites. 

"SCATTER!!!", he hollered out to his pack, "ARCHERS!! PREPARE....FIRE AT WILL!!!"  He watched as his archers notched arrows, aiming and firing at the sorcerer and his dragon but didn't see if any hit their mark, his eyes searching for his son, Torlief.


Torlief also heard the cry then his father calling the archers and looked up seeing what everyone else saw.  He looked around for Sienna, praying that the Bear man had gotten her to safety cause the Goddess only knew that Sienna would charge into the fray of things even injured. 

His eyes found his father's and he spurred his horse over to him, "How do we fight him while he's on his dragon?  All we have are the archers", he asked his father knowing that Mikhail, many years ago, had fought a sorcerer and lived.


There was a call to arms throughout the caves for all dragon riders, Irin's head lifting from her meal as she stood looking down at Saihara, her slitted green eyes narrowing.

"If you and your dragon are skilled in fighting we could use you", she said to her before leaving the mess hall to run to her chambers, changing into her battle clothing and grabbing her long bow and quiver of arrows before rushing to the dragon nests.

She found Talon already saddled and ready, standing next to Saihara's dragon, Azulan.  She climbed onto his back, wondering if Saihara would join them but at the same time hoping she didn't if she and her dragon weren't skilled in battle.  Leaving the nesting chambers, she and Talon took to the skies, flying hard to reach the battle, seeing the sorcerer on his dragon.  Her green eyes filled with hate as she notched an arrow, aiming for the sorcerer, mentally instructing Talon to tell other dragons to keep the sorcerer focused on them while they came up behind him.  All she could do was hold her breath and hope his dragon didn't sense them coming up behind them.


Sienna was heading to her chambers with Marwo when the cry to arms came through the caves, stopping a young rider as he ran towards the nesting areas, "What is going on?", she asked him.

"A sorcerer is attacking our people and the wolf clan that came to give aid!", he exclaimed Sienna's breath catching in her chest.  "Father", she whispered to herself putting her leg and head to the back of her mind along with the pain as she turned to make her way to the stables, wondering if Marwo would try to stop her or follow her. 


Ellie and Sooner were dodging the blasts from the sorcerer's staff, Ellie firing her crossbow while Sooner shot fire at the sorcerer and his dragon.  She looked for Llafn, trying to catch a glimpse of him and his eagle to make sure he was okay when the blast hit her, knocking her from Sooner's saddle.  She fell like a rag doll, unconscious as Sooner gave a loud roar, diving for her, talons outstretched to try to catch her but the blast had stunned for a few precious seconds.

Saihara got up, ran out of the mess hall, and to the nesting area. She got her chaps on, got her bow and quiver, and climbed on to Azulan, ordering him to go to the skies, as he took off, they saw what the commotion was about. She remembered what Azulan's mom told him to tell her. She ordered Azulan to straight towards the sorceror while he was distracted. Azulan had his talons outstretched and grabbed a hold of the sorcerer's dragon, talons digging in to it.

Saihara ordered Azulan to let go of the dragon and to dive and fly around him as she knocks two of her arrows and aimed them at the sorceror and released them at him.

Ulric was barely finishing his line to Mikhail when Randal roared that something was coming he frowned as he looked to Randal. "We need to do a spread retreat." it was bitter to say having pushed so far this day to have it all taken Randal organising the drakonian Freed by the other Eagle watched Llafn keep his space waiting for the moment.

Randal roaring his orders the men giving a scattered formation they were considering a fallback when freed told them to hold Randal giving him a critical eye wondering what they could do arrows bouncing off the thick hide it seemed almost hopeless seeing Freed hop onto the Eagle and he knew deep down where he was heading, then a mighty roar was pitched to the air of the huge dragon.

Llafn had been circling the beast at high altitude the other dragon came charging at this sorcerer who simply twisted and evaded them like a leaf in a breeze great rends of fire scything the air from the great dragon the sorcerer visually silent not even ordering his mount in any vocal manner unnerving Llafn but he knew normally a rider shared a link. Moments passed observing the patterns of attack till Ellie made the mistake of facing the beast head on as a distraction. The crossbow bolt was deflected with a martial ease from the sorcerer with a twist of his staff the bolt ping into the air, the fireblast was practically reflected off the scales of the beast as it exposed its side on purpose the blast of super heated air slid of its wing and totally unaware as she looked around Ellie was pitched from her saddle

Llafn seeing this brought his Eagle in a swift arc backwards looping into a dive as the sorcerer kept his gaze on the diving dragon an almost sinister laugh watching the talons trying to close round the fragile form of the falling human Llafn's eagle was diving hard for the sorcerer when unnerving was the slightest tilt of the wings bringing a roll from the dragon the Eagle practically hitting a solid wall Llafn's eyes going wide as the crunch of the hallow bones of the eagle brought him bouncing into a wild spiral towards the ground.

while upside down the Sorcerer gripping to a long spine of the dragon with a ease magic obviously at work but then it was Azulan who attack the exposed belly the sorcerer barking a curse at the sheer amount of the dragon riders he let go on purpose his dragon beginning to twist wildly the sorcerer in midflight falling he couldn't block both arrows with the glowing staff. One bouncing off the staff the other barely tapped on the flights it redirected from his heart to slam into his shoulder flipping him to face the ground as he focused his fall for Sooner

Freed having left the battle quickly on the second Eagle was heading back to the mountains at a breakneck pace twisting between the emerging rides to drop for the secret entrance near the stable hoping to find Marwo finding him stuggling to stop Sienna heavily wounded from mounting a horse to head to the battle Freed whistling hard Marwo practically carrying Sienna across to freed he shrugged his shoulders. "You think we can borrow her one more time." Freed sighing as he placed the goggles to his forehead tilting his head from one side to the other much as a bird would before he slid free from the saddle. "No suicidal dives now." Marwo laughing as this time he helped Sienna into the riding seat grabbing onto the back of the somewhat flimsy saddle.

Sooner's talon's wrapped around Ellie's unconscious, falling form then leveled out, taking to the skies again when he felt the jolt of someone or something landing on his back.  Turning his massive head he saw the sorcerer and bared rows of sharp teeth, swinging his head around to snap at him, trying to dislodge him, from his back without losing his grip on Ellie.

~ELLIE!!!  ELLIE!! WAKE UP, CHILD!!!!  WAKE UP!!~, Sooner mind spoke to his rider, trying to pull her from her unconscious state, hearing her groan as he swung his head around again, snapping his huge jaws at the sorcerer.  Ellie was slow to wake, shaking her head as she looked around, hearing Sooner's voice in her head.  She looked up, seeing the sorcerer's robes on Sooner's back and gasped.  She withdrew her shortsword, mind speaking to Sooner on a maneuver they'd practiced and achieved many times before. 

Releasing Ellie from on claw, Sooner loosened his grip on the other, allowing Ellie to move about, gripping his thick leg as her rough soled boots helped her balance on his huge claw.  Sooner lifted his claw, bringing Ellie closer to the sorcerer her sword drawn as she swung at his legs, trying to take them out.



Sienna struggled with Marwo as he tried to keep her from mounting the horse when Freed flew in on his eagle, stopping both of them with Sienna having one foot in the stirrup and one on the floor of the cave, Marwo's large hands spanning her waist, trying to keep her from getting on the animal without causing her further harm. 

She felt Marwo lift her from the stirrup only to deposit her on the eagle's saddle, with him climbing up behind her.  They took off, flying toward the battle when she saw the sorcerer on Sooner's back, Ellie swinging her sword at his legs while balancing on Sooner's thick claw, the dragon having lifted her up while he too tried to throw the sorcerer from his back.

"Marwo...look!!", she cried out, pointing to her friend and her dragon.  She heard Marwo telling her what his plan was and turned to look at him like he was totally crazy, her amber eyes filled with worry for him but seeing the determination in his one eye she reluctantly nodded to him.


Irin watched her arrows fly, the sorcerer deflecting each of them only to leap from his dragon.  She instructed Talon to follow him, while making sure they knew where the sorcerer's dragon was only to gasp when she saw him land deftly on another dragon's back, the rider being held in the dragon's claws clearly unconscious. 

Irin and Talon stayed close to the sorcerer, moving with the dragon so as not to accidentally hit the dragon, focusing on the sorcerer when she saw the rider moving, balancing on her dragon's leg as he lifted her, swinging her shortsword at the sorcerer's legs.  Seeing their chance, she had Talon dive the sorcerer, claws outstretched for his body, trying to pluck him from the dragon's back.

The Sorcerer easily hopped out of reach of the sword standing on the saddle he was easily viewable he felt the razor sharp dragons claw scrape his shoulder jabbing out with the glowing staff it close around the staff but the enclosing claws could not snap the unknown material as he let Talon pull him free of Sooner's back, the laughing issues from the metal mask he was wearing echoing out as he enjoyed what could be an acrobatic act.

Llafn's Eagle was still spiralling out its wings beating uselessly a miracle it neck unbroken unable to right himself it wasn't long for the grounds embrace to jar them both the eagle gave one last cry under him as he was sent flying from the saddle.

The great black dragon was twisting not even seemingly communicating with his master as he dived for Ellie's dragon when everyone expected it to charge Talon for his master thier coupling felt emotionless between these two as great big talons scythed forward barely missing the eyes of Sooner as he scraped on by the tail whipping out in a second attempt to bowl Ellie free from her dragon to buy him time, his master was dropped his other hand to his belt drawing a sword with some difficulty cackling Talon wondering what the toothpick could do when the runes blazed along its length in liquid blue stabbing up the claw reflexly let go easily seeing the Sorcerer dropping to his own dragon again as it was twisting to face Sooner

Marwo was smiling softly as she was shaking her head at the mad idea Marwo scanning the battle he gritted his teeth the Sorcerer was running circles around the riders outnumbered and the bass laughing reached them as Marwo let out a breath and told Sienna to take care... he followed the sorcerer example launching himself into space the whipping wind as he aimed free falling the huge sword on his back like a pressure downwards as he hurtled much faster in full armor for the sorcerer in midair... Sienna had missed him sliding the dagger carefully over the stitches on his eyelid the golden slitted eye beneath reading the airflow and eddies as his cloak was buffeted behind him

Saihara ordered Azulan to go after the sorcerer and he dove for the black dragon. Azulan opened his talons and angles himself for Saihara to take another shot of her bow and arrows. Saihara saw Marwo free falling from the eagle. She knocked her bow with two arrows again but wasn't aiming for the wizard, instead she aimed for a spot in the sky where he will fall into them. She released the arrows as Azulan was coming close to the black.

He dug his talons into the black dragon moving him as Saihara ordered him to make sure that Marwo can land on Azulan. Saihara knocked another arrow and aimed for the eyes of the dragon hoping that if she can hit one of his eyes just it may kill him. She released the arrow for the black dragon but misses and tried to knock another arrow when Azulan had to let go again because he was losing his grip so she ordered Azulan to go near Irin and Talon.

Sienna gasped, holding her breath while watching Marwo leap from the eagle's back, as he free fell towards Ellie and Sooner when she heard her father cry out to his pack, taking handfulls of feathers, telling the eagle to take her down then rejoin Marwo to give him aid.

She leaped from the eagle's back just as his feet touched the ground, biting her lip til it bled to keep from crying out in pain as she jarred her leg, hitting the ground running as she looked back quickly to make sure the eagle was going back to Marwo then rushed to help her father, brother and her pack, drawing her sword.  She didn't have long to wait, the coming of the sorcerer giving new purpose to the Lizonians as they fought with renewed purpose.

She had two coming at her, their own blades drawn as she swung while ducking their swings, feeling her sword sink into a belly, the smell of their acrid blood fouling the air, making her gag as she ducked and rolled, coming deftly to her feet to block the other Lizonian's blade with her own, the blow jarring her arm as their fight ensued viciously, the Lizonian determined to kill her.  She saw him notice her leg too late as he swiped around with his tail, knocking her off of her feet with a loud cry of pain as blood from her newly opened wound flowed.

She watched as he lunged in for the kill when she heard deep growling, seeing her brother leaping over her, his blue eyes glowing as his sword came down, removing the Lizonian's head.


Torlief watched as his little sister charged in to battle, leaping from the great eagle's back, clearly in pain from the paleness of her face, taking on two Lizonians at once.  He was impressed with her fighting skill until she went down, the Lizonian's tail swiping her injured leg from under her, lunging in for the kill.  He was already charging through the foray of Lizonians to reach her when she went down, growling loud and deep as he leaped through the air swinging his sword, removing the Lizonian's head.

Turning, his blue gaze found Sienna's pain filled one as he knelt down next to her to examine her thigh, ignoring her cry of pain as he ripped off a piece of his tunic to tie it tightly around her thigh, only to look up to see the dried blood still at her temple, gently touching it. 

"What are we to do with you, little sister?  Even injured you rush in regardless.  Have you no common sense to allow yourself to heal first or do you wish to turn me and father gray before our time?", he scolded her.  A few of his own men having followed him, surrounding the two in a ring of protection while Torlief bandaged her leg to move her, looking up to see his father rushing to them.  "You have much to explain, Sienna.  About this man of the bears especially."


Mikhail was fighting alongside Ulric and Randal, shouting to his pack to hold the lines.  They couldn't lead them back to the caves....even though the entrances were hidden if they knew exactly what mountain range they were in the sorcerers would eventually find the hidden entrances and the rebellion would be lost.  It was then he saw his son rushing towards a small fighter fighting two Lizonians when he recognized his daughter, growling out deep when he watched her go down, breathing a sigh of relief when Torlief reached her in time, he and his men surrounding both of them as he fought his way towards them, yelling at Ulric, "DO NOT LEAD THEM BACK TO THE MOUNTAINS......KEEP THEM FROM THE MOUNTAINS!!!"


Irin and Talon didn't leave Sooner or Ellie, even when the sorcerer leaped to his black dragon's back again, facing Sooner with Ellie climbing back into the saddle.  She turned to see Saihara and Azulan joining them, nodding to the young rider.

"We must stick together......it would seem that the sorcerer has his sight set on Ellie and Sooner.  Together maybe we can drive him off or better yet, kill him!"

She mind spoke to Talon, telling him to one side of the sorcerer, pointing to Saihara and Azulan to get to the other side, making a triangle of her, Ellie and Saihara with their dragons around the sorcerer.  She drew her long bow, notching an arrow when she realized that to shoot would mean possibly hitting Ellie or Saihara, and withdrew her sword instead.  She mind spoke to Talon to tell her of her plan so that he could tell Azulan and Sooner.

~If we maneuver correctly, stagger our attacks we can do this.  Two keep him occupied while the third strikes from behind then one of you attack while we draw his attention to us and so on~, he mentally sent to the other dragons to tell their riders.


Ellie was angry, frustrated.  She didn't get one blow on the sorcerer when he jumped from Sooner's back and back to his black dragon, seeing Irin and Talon and then Saihara and Azulan, wondering briefly who the new rider was before turning back to their foe when they surrounded him, Irin's plan coming through to her through Sooner and she did as instructed, thinking it was a good plan.

She hoped Saihara was with her when she swooped in to get the sorcerer's attention as well as his dragon, Sooner blasting fire balls at the dragons underbelly.  Seeing her chance, Irin and Talon rushed in.  Standing in her saddle, her feet in special loops to keep her balanced she swung her sword as Talon flew in close to the black dragon and his rider, going for the sorcerer himself.

Ulric bellowed to the men what they probably didn't need to hear but it was a rouser to make them fight to the last man. "Death or Eternal Glory lads, give them nothing!" Some of the men around Ulric groaned recognizing his mercenary line it was exactly why Randal and him were the only ones left of their troup. "Archers move flanking left onto the highground and pepper any leaving the trees your not doing anything to the dragon." He did a quick scan of the battle seeing its ebb and flow smiling at how the Wolf clan forced a wedge towards what seemed a downed fighter he took the tactical decision. "Spearman right side and slowly wheel backwards and left bring thier front in a circle to deform their line.... "All swordsmen to the Wolves we going to split this army in half and encompass it!" The orders given his men acting Randal patted his arm and went to assist the spears afterall men walking backwards in a battle lost morale fast.

The sorcerer was smiling and as the arrows flew he seemed more ready for the multiple batting one aside with the staff his other hand swinging the sword timed to split the arrow perfectly in half as he barely twisted at the last moment landing weightlessly on his dragon, Seeing the women surround him the sorcerer made for the back running along the back with an ease his dragon belching torrents of fire that enveloped the fireballs and simply added to the inferno from its mouth.

The dragon was faced with two dragons from the sides more the front as it directed its head one way twisting its body to brings its claws to bare on the other as blasts of fire scorched the underside of his wings seemingly not phased by this as he let his wings beat to bring himself below before clashing, the sorcerer at the tail facing the rear at Talon he smiled behind his mask raising the staff ebbs of great energy flowing around the crystal he pointed his sword with the other hand with each twist of his hand like the turning of a key a blue fireballs licked across the blade gaining size to leave the blade to block and hamper anything the dragon had for him looking to the rider with her sword drawn she saw what were both green slitted eyes wink to her as he tapped his staff down onto his own dragons back releasing the magic at Irin a wave of darkness seemed to envelop the sky feeling the connection lost to Talon she was alone... without the rider Talon simply froze he turned knowing she would have to fight her own fears with the spell he had cast his breath wheezing slightly the arrow still jutting from his shoulder

Marwo dropped from Azulan with a smile as the black dragon took a gamble of flying beneath them in a semi twist claws brushing his wings but it was Marwo turn dropping easily onto the wide back of the dragon he saw the Sorcerer finish his work their eyes meeting. "You are crazy to have attacked here alone." The deep cackles from the sorcerer were unnerving he found his balance on the bare scales of the dragon dragging the weight of his sword free closing the silver eye leaving only the deep amber eye its slit shrinking to a bare line as he began to walk no haste the two dragons left wondering what had happened to the Talons desperate calls for it's rider.

Irin and Talon felt the spell engulf them, their connection broken, the mind speak gone.  The great dragon was instantly worried about his rider yet could do nothing with their connection gone, sensing that the worst was yet to come.

Irin gasped at the spell engulfing her, feeling a sharp tingle over her whole body when she looked down to see thousands of spiders covering her body.  She screamed, beating at herself, her sword falling from her grasp to drop to the ground below.  She was mindless to where she was sitting on Talon's back, literally beating the imaginary spiders off of herself when she looked up to find that now she was in total darkness yet could still feel the spiders crawling all over her.  She cried out in pure terror, toppling from Talon's back, still hitting herself as she fell, Talon diving for her.

His claws caught her struggling body, bellowing in anger that he couldn't connect with her to calm her, knowing what her fears were and what she was going through.  He all but dropped her to the ground, close to the battle but not in the thick of it, staying by her as she kept crying out that she couldn't see and that spiders were attacking her.  Her cat green eyes were glowing and wide with the terror she was feeling, the slitted pupils dialated with fear.  He saw the exiled bear and white wolf and bellowed again, knowing he needed help when Irin jumped to her feet, one hand stretched out in front of her while the other kept beating at her arms and legs as she attempted to run from the invisible spiders, not getting far before she tripped over a rock, hitting the ground, Talon's claw covering her prone body gently yet firmly to keep her from rising again so she wouldn't cause herself more harm. 

Feeling herself now being held down only added to her fears and she began to fight in earnest at the great clawed foot covering her, blindly reaching for her dagger to unsheath it and try to stab at his foot, cutting herself in the process.