The World of Drakonia--Dragons and Riders

After a short break and quenching their thirst Shiloh, RainStorm, and Sampson moved on, heading further west, not knowing that Miranda and three guards were tracking her or that four Red Lizonians were hot on their trail. Souse and Seamus had moved on ahead, keeping Shiloh's scent in their nostrils as they moved quickly, moving ahead of Shiloh.

Night was falling and it was growing colder when Shiloh decided to stop for the night, making camp along with a small fire. She'd pushed RainStorm to his limits today and he was exhausted and deserved a good rest. After rubbing him down and feeding him, Shiloh then took care of her and Sampson. One good thing about it being chilly was that the Lizonians would not be moving as quickly. Once she'd eaten some dried meat and fed some to Sampson, she checked on RainStorm again and bedded down for the night, relying on Sampson to warn her of danger. As she lay down on her bedroll, Shiloh thought of Erik and whether or not he was okay. Was he laying somewhere injured? Was Mina injured and they were unable to return? Why hadn't they heard anything from any of them? She finally drifted off to sleep, her mind still worried about Erik.

Miranda and the three guards with her had also made camp, knowing that they were closing in on Shiloh from the looks of the trail she was leaving. Miranda's green eyes flashed fire every time she thought of the wayward girl and the danger she was putting herself and them in just to find Erik and make sure he was okay. Every time her eyes flashed, Anthony, Simon, and Jake would find other things to do to steer clear of her. They'd learned ealier that day that a red head with green eyes meant a temper of fire.

Once everything was ready and bellies had been filled, they all bedded down for the night, Miranda still seething over Shiloh and knowing that when Erik found out, he was going to be fit to tied. That thought brought her some pleasure.

*******************************

The following morning, Shiloh was up early and after taking care of herself and the animals, she saddled RainStorm and headed out again, still going west. At the same time, Miranda and the others had also risen and already headed out, resuming their search for Shiloh. They weren't far behind her and knew that they would catch up with her by that afternoon.

The Red Lizonians had also risen and were each drinking a few drops from vials Serena had given them to warm their blood quicker so that they would be able to move long before the sun's rays had warmed them. Souse and Seamus resumed their jaunt to put themselves in front of Shiloh while Baxim and Pax prepared to get rid of the three guards traveling with Miranda.

Shiloh had made it to another stream and was looking around her when Sampson let out a growl, looking at something across the water. Shiloh looked, but saw nothing. Kneeling down, she drank as RainStorm did the same, enjoying the cool water as it ran down their parched throats. She took a rag and after wetting it, she wiped the grime off of her face and neck. Still, Sampson growled deep in his throat and again, Shiloh saw nothing. Looking up, she saw a dragon and rider, but one she didn't recognize. She didn't know all of the riders and their dragons anyway, so she wasn't surprised when she didn't recognize this one. She hoped she was getting closer to where Erik and Mina were for she was growing uneasy as were RainStorm and Sampson, that was when she heard the stick breaking behind her and heard the rustling of bushes across the stream. Standing slowly, she drew her sword, moving closer to RainStorm so that she could get into her saddle quickly if needed.


Seven miles back, Miranda and the three guards were in the middle of a battle of their own. Baxim and Pax had run into what they thought were eight nomads, only to find out that they were Red Lizonians and after a quick assessment on what they were doing and who they worked for, the 'nomads' agreed to help them take out Anthony, Jake, and Simon.

Miranda, Anthony, Jake, and Simon fought valiantly but there were too many and Anthony and Jake fell first, their horses taking off in fear, running blindly. Miranda and Simon were still mounted, but for how long they didn't know. They had only taken out 4 of the 13 Red Lizonians and it was now nine to two. Not good odds.

"Miranda, you need to find Shiloh and return her to the compound. I'll hold them off for as long as I can. Just GO!!"

"I can't leave you, Simon! We stick together! Take out the two to your left and I'll take out the two at my right, creating a hole. Then we can bolt."

Simon didn't like the idea, but he did as she said, expertly moving his war horse strategically to slice into Lizonian flesh, beheading one before taking the arm of the other when he felt teeth sink into his leg from the armless one. Stabbing his sword down into the creature's head, killing him, he turned in the saddle to see how Miranda was faring.

Miranda was cut up pretty good from Lizonian claws as she had no armor, but she'd taken out her two, gave Simon a look and they both bolted through the hole they'd created, still heading west.

Baxim and Pax grinned evilly, conversing with the remaining 'nomads' convincing them to travel with them. The 'nomads' left 2 of their comrades behind to butcher the two dead guards and prepare the meat for travel and then catch up to them.

By the time Miranda had made it to where Shiloh was, she'd left Simon's body behind, the Red Lizonian's poison working quicker than the normal Lizonian's poison. She had taken the time to remove Simon's horse's bridle and sent him back to the compound, knowing that if he didn't become Lizonian food, he would find his way back to his home stables.

As the sun started to crest over the horizon, Miranda heard the sounds of battle up ahead and heard Sampson's growling and Shiloh yelling. Kicking Jax in his sides, she came onto the scene of Shiloh, Sampson, and RainStorm battling Red Lizonians. The horse and the dog were bloodied, Lizonian claws having left deep gashes in them. Shiloh's armor was covered in blood but from the bodies of the Red Lizonians lying around, it was their's. At least she hoped it was. She let out a shrill war cry, startling the beasts enough that she was able to leap off Jax's back and into the fray. That was when she noticed that some of the blood on Shiloh was her own, the Lizonians knowing where to strike....in the joints of the armor as well as her head. Shiloh did not have on her helmet and blood was streaming down into her eyes and covered the left side of her face.

"You had a party and didn't bother to invite me, Shiloh. And here I thought you liked me."

Shiloh chuckled at Miranda as they stood back to back, with Sampson and RainStorm at their sides, watching the remaining Red Lizonians.

"Yea, well...you didn't seem like the partying type, Miranda. Sun's rising again. These guys seem to warm up sooner and quicker than the others. Some of them didn't slow down at all throughout the night."

Miranda's gaze grew worried at this news, but she was more concerned with staying on her feet. None of them were in good shape and Miranda could only hope that they could survive until either help came or something drew the Lizonians away.

Shiloh was a mess and more cut up then Miranda could see. The damned lizards knew exactly to strike with their knives and claws and her armor was lighter in weight and bulk than Erik's so was not as sturdy. A couple of the dead Lizonians had figured out that if they struck with thick, heavy tree limbs then they would hurt her through the armor. Her ribs were cracked, making breathing painful and she had deep slices through the armor joints at her hips and shoulders. She was relieved when Miranda showed up, but how long they would last, she didn't know.

They didn’t have to wonder too long. Shadows obscured the growing light overhead causing the Red Lizonians to take note. Two fo them were struck down immediately with bolts through their heads before the others realized what was happening and sending them scattering into the four winds.

Two dragons and riders took off after the scattering Lizonians while a third landed nearby. Mina stood guard while Erik slid quickly from her back. There was deep concern etched on his face and the fear he felt was clearly reflected in his blue eyes.

”SHILOH! What the hell are you doing here???!!!”

Seeing the amount of blood she sported, he felt his worse fears come true and felt his knees grow weak. Glancing at Miranda, he nodded to her then looked back to Shiloh.

”Quick. You two get on Mina now. Savash and Killian will hold off the others for just a few minutes longer.”

Shiloh began to protest saying something about RainStorm and Samson when Erik pinned her to the spot she stood on with an icy glare. Speaking to her through clenched teeth, he let her know she wasn’t about to win this argument.

”Don’t argue with me, woman. Get on Mina NOW! NOW!”

As Shiloh and Miranda made their way towards Mina, Erik had his cross bow loaded and ready to fire at anything that moved. Backing up towards Mina, he made sure the two females were protected from this angle. As soon as he heard Mina’s voice telling him the two women were set, he turned and slid easily onto Mina’s back before Shiloh.

There was no time to lose. As soon as Erik was set, Mina launched into the air and circled for a few minutes. Savash and Killian came into sight then and Erik had Mina head back to the compound. As they approached, Kryton was pacing back and forth. By the time he landed he was practically screeching at Shiloh for her actions.

Erik slid off Mina’s back and helped Shiloh and Miranda from Mina’s back as well. He didn’t bother to look at Shiloh let alone say anything to her. With a tight lipped look on his face, he merely escorted both women to the infirmary for them to get medical attention for their injuries.

Once the healers came out and started working on both women, he turned on his heel, once more not saying a word to Shiloh and leaving the infirmary. As he was leaving, Kryton was on his way in looking like a mad man in the middle of a frothing rage.

”SHILOH! Have you lost you damn mind?! You actually LEFT this compound to find Erik???!!! What? Do you think he’s not a big enough boy that he can’t take care of himself?! He’s a sworn and sanctioned Dragon Rider, for Gods sake! If that didn’t convince you he could take care of himself then I don’t know what will!”

His whole body trembled with pent up anger and relief at seeing her alive. Injured but alive.

”You not only put yourself in danger, but you placed Miranda and some of my guards in danger looking for you as you went on a fools errand! This, young lady, isn’t a ride in flower covered meadows! This is life and death, in case you haven’t figured that out by now! Pull your head out of y our ass and look around you! There’s more to this life than you’re little corner of it and I’m responsible for making sure all of the people in my command, INCLUDING YOU, can keep their little corner of this messed up world!”

Kryton’s hands curled into tight fists as he tried hard to control his temper, finding it impossible to do so.

”This sort of behavior ends TODAY! Do you hear me!? TODAY! You’re confined to the infirmary until further orders!”

With that said, Kryton stormed out, making sure the door of the infirmary slammed with such force that the entire building seemed to rattle from the force of it. Storming across the compound Kryton saw Erik unsaddling Mina. As he approached he saw the look on the young man’s face.

”She’s confined to the infirmary until I say otherwise.”

Erik snorted and glared at Kryton.

”And you think that will stop her? Isn’t it obvious she is as stubborn as a mule ox and will do what ever she damn well pleases? Trying to keep her in this compound is like trying to hold the wind captive.”

Kryton nodded in agreement.

”What the hell am I supposed to do with her?”

Erik paused what he was doing and gave Kryton a pointed look. Kryton shook his head.

”That wouldn’t work, lad. She’d find a way back to you come hell or high water. Besides, she knows that vision of hers is gospel. Can’t fight fate.”

Erik looked down, sighed heavily and shook his head as he ran his hand through his dirty, matted hair.

”So we take the risk of her doing something like this again?”

Kryton shook his head.

”Nope. From now on, you make sure she is within spitting distance of you each and every time you leave this place.”

Erik snapped his head up and glared at Kryton, who glared right back.

”That glare may work on others, lad, but it ain’t gonna work on me. There’s no other way around it.”

Erik continued to glare.

”So we’re rewarding her bad behavior. Pardon me if I see any benefit to that what so ever.”

Kryton actually smiled then.

”You think yo’re the best person to be around when that temper of your’s is finally set free?”

Kryton let out a hardy chuckle then and gently slapped Erik’s cheek.

”My boy…..you have no idea just how scary that thought makes ME.”

Kryton walked off then leaving Erik to his own thoughts. Glancing over at the infirmary, Erik furrowed his brows then uttered a curse and kicked the ground sending pebbles and dirt flying. It was going to be quite interesting the next few days around here.

By the time Kryton got done with Shiloh she was barely holding it together. Erik hadn't spoken to her since he'd gotten her and Miranda back to the compound and knowing that SHE was responsible for the death of three guards weighed heavily on her. Once Kryton left, she heard some of the healers commenting on his behavior, saying something about there must be something between the him and Shiloh in order for him to react like that....for he'd never come so unglued before over an aid's antics. That was when Miranda turned her own glare onto her, her green eyes flashing.

"I should knock the shit out of you, girl. You and you alone are responsible for the deaths of three guards. From what I've seen and heard, you've been nothing but trouble for Erik and Kryton since you arrived. You had better get your ass in gear before you cost someone else, maybe Erik, their life."

Miranda laid back down, allowing the healers to continue their work. Her voice had been low, but there was a vicious undertone to it and one that got Shiloh's attention.

Shiloh's eyes were shining with unshed tears and when the healer's came to her to give her something for the pain before they stitched up a couple of her wounds and wrapped her ribs, she refused it. When they tried again, she slapped the vial out of their hands and it shattered on the floor.

"I said no. Just do what you need to do and then get away from me."

An hour later, pale and shaking, Shiloh was wrapped and stitched. Miranda was sleeping from the sedative the healers had given her, but Shiloh was wide awake. As the healer's went to check on other patients, Shiloh rose from the bed and made her way to the rear of the building where she slipped out the back. She headed for the stable to see if RainStorm or Sampson were there. She spotted Erik still standing with Mina, looking as pissed as she'd ever seen him and knew that she was to blame. Just as she was to blame for the deaths of three men. She quickly slipped into the stable and was relieved to see RainStorm in his stable and Sampson laying on a soft bundle of hay outside his stable door. Once she reached them both, she hugged Sampson tight enough to cause him to whimper in protest as well as her own ribs. Standing, she opened the stable door and went inside, Sampson following. Stroking RainStorm's neck, she let the tears fall silently. Never had she been so confused before, felt so alone, and like a total and complete failure. She remembered watching her mother sink into a dark hole once after fellow aids had been killed. She hadn't understood until now, just what her mother was feeling.

"We will leave soon, RainStorm. I got three men killed and for what? Just because I was worried about Erik. Kryton was right. I should have trusted the fact that Erik can take care of himself. I have lost all sense since meeting Erik and it needs to end."

"Well..well. I thought you were confined to the infirmary, Shiloh? And here you are, once again disobeying orders."

Shiloh turned and saw five fellow aids standing in the stables, glaring at her. One of them was Roxy...an aid who had given her trouble before.

You know, I finally got to be with Killian out in the open and you go and do the most stupidest thing yet. You are not going to screw this up for the rest of us with you idiotic antics."

Sampson began to growl then whined when Shiloh stepped out of RainStorm's stall and quickly closed the door, latched it, locking Sampson inside. Shiloh could feel what was coming and didn't want Sampson caught in the middle.

"Yea, I know Roxy. I messed up big this time.....you don't have to tell me twice."

"Apparantly I do, Shi. You see...we all like the fact that we can be with the riders of our choice out in the open now and we are not going to let you mess it up. So, the way we see it...vision or not...it's time for you to leave. Besides, we saw Erik's reaction when he brought you back. He can't even look at you. He probably sees his three friends lying dead somewhere everytime he looks at you."

Shiloh knew that Roxy was probably right on both accounts. That this was what Erik saw when he looked at her and that she should leave. Before she knew what was going on, the five women had her backed into an empty stall and Roxy, who was bigger than Shiloh had her pinned to the wall, her arm at her throat, cutting off her air and pressing against her cracked ribs.

Be gone by tomorrow afternoon, Shiloh, or we'll make you wish you'd never come here. Go back to whatever little village you came from. You are a disgrace to all aids, especially your own mother."

Roxy didn't think about the fact that Shiloh wouldn't be able to get out of the compound any time soon, but to be quite honest, she wouldn't have cared anyway.

Roxy's last comment hit home with Shiloh and the pain showed in her gray eyes before she lowered them. As the five left her there, she sank to the floor.

~Why wait? I should leave now, only I can't get out of here.~

She rose a little while later, her ribs making it hard to breath, and let Sampson out of the stall, told RainStorm good-bye and gave Sampson a pat on the head. She walked out the front of the stables, knowing that Erik would see her, but no longer caring. She ignored him and made her way back to the infirmary, her head bowed, shoulders slumped. As she went inside, the head healer was waiting for her.

"Do you care for noone but yourself, young lady?! Kryton will have my head if he finds out that you left the infirmary!! Are that selfish?!"

Shiloh said nothing to him, instead, she headed straight to her bed, laid down and even though it was painful to her ribs, she lay on her side, curled up and stared at the wall. She would take whatever punishment Kryton and Erik would dish out for she knew it was what she deserved. And as she wouldn't be gone by tomorrow afternoon, she would take whatever Roxy and the others would dish out as well. When she sensed Erik coming in and standing next to her bed she didn't move. Roxy's words were playing over and over in her head. She was tired of feeling so out of control with her emotions where Erik was concerned and was working on closing herself off to everyone. She would train...she would learn...she would no longer allow her emotions to override her common sense.

There was a mighty roar trumpeted as a shadow passed over the parade ground of the compound. Temeraire circled the compound twice loosing altitude with each pass until she spread her mighty wings and flaired she hovered for a moment and uncerimoniously dropped three severed heads of Red Lizonians to the ground she then flapped her wigns, circled flaired again and stepped softly down on the ground. As she lowered herself to lie upon the ground, Braum slid out of the saddle and began untieing three shrouded bodies from behind his saddle. Slowly and reverently he lowered them to the gound, laying them side by side. Kneeling next to the bodies he sadi a silent prayer, then stood and turned, his face dirty and grim. Anger flashed in his eyes as he glared across the compound. He turned and untide a leather backpack for his saddle and laid it on the ground next to the bodies. Opening the backpack Braum removed three dragon claws, laying each beside each of the three bodies.

Braum stood glaring across the parade ground towards Kryton's office. "General Kryton!" Braum yelled. "Where is that fool with rocks in her head instead of brains, Shilo? And her rider Erik?"

Shiloh heard Braum's bellows and strangely enough, she felt calm. She knew the second Erik had left and again, she was mildly surprised that she was able to bury what she felt. Her mother had told her that the rider she rode with could bury his feelings so deep that one didn't have a clue to what he was feeling.

"One day, Shiloh, I will be able to what he does, but never with you, my sweet girl. But, I will be able to bury what I feel and do my job perfectly."

This had come after her mother had watched her fellow aides die and her mother, after weeks of not talking, had come home after a hard patrol with Kryton. He had caught Eleanor crying over the aides' death when they had camped and had chastised her for it for it made them vunerable to attack, her grief making her less observant to her surroundings.

On the day Eleanor had died in Shiloh's arms, she passed on the secret that had taken her so long to learn. How to become numb....how to bury your emotions so that you did not endanger yourself nor anyone else. They were the last words Shiloh heard from her mother. Little did Shiloh know, but Eleanor and Kryton had argued horribly that day...Kryton trying to break through the barrier Eleanor had put up around herself.

Shiloh....listen to me. Find a place......deep inside.....a dark place and lock away your emotions....inside that dark room. Don't let anyone in......and don't let the emotions out.......gasp........but be careful to let them out every now and then when you are alone.........so that you don't.......so that they don't fester inside of you. And, never....never fall in love with your rider....I love you, Shi."

Shiloh was doing exactly that just now. She'd found that dark room deep within herself and was burying her love for Erik and every other emotion she had as deep within that room as she could. She knew that she was to blame for the guards' deaths because of her fear for Erik and she wasn't going to allow it to happen again......ever. Especially to Erik.

Miranda groaned upon hearing Braum bellowing for Kryton and then Shiloh. When she heard his boots stomping into the healer's building, she gingerly raised herself up, peering through the slit in the dividing curtain.

"Braum......BRAUM!!!! Come here."

She waited until he entered her little space behind the curtain and she smiled slightly when she saw him give her a quick once over, making sure she would live. It was rather comforting, knowing that in his own gruff way, he just might care a little.

"Would you mind toning it down a bit? Some of us in here are trying to heal so that we can go chasing after wayward little girls again."

She laid back down, and as she did so, he would see the bandages criss-crossing her body as she had no armor to wear and was sliced up good.

"And, would you mind sending Kryton in here. I need his answer and I need it.....no, I demand it now."

Miranda could almost feel Braum's glare burning her skin and she hid her smile, knowing that she was aggravating him to no end, but oh, he made it so much fun. Besides, she was still angry with him and figured that right now anyway, it was tit for tat.

Serena was furious!! She watched as Erik had flown in on his dragon with his aide and Miranda. Her Red Lizonians had failed! How?! Gnash was smart enough to give his mistress some room as he didn't want to be on the receiving end of one of her spells.

"Come, Gnash! We need to go back to the caves and figure out what we are going to do next."

A vicious sound came from Serena's throat as she watched Braum come flying in only to drop Red Lizonian heads, two of which were hers.

"We also need to figure out how to get rid of that imbecile!!"

Turning in a flurry, she grabbed Gnash's hand, mumbled a few words and they both disappeared, leaving behind a cloud of red smoke.