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~ Finnian ~ 03
Having a group of the queens forces attacking me physically must have given queens mage a sense of confidence.
He appeared in a clear space, on the top of the city battlements, surrounded by a ring of defensive warriors. "Silly Rookie"
Preparing to cast a high level spell on Hilde and Choas, he forgot combat rule number one, its not how hard you strike, but how quickly. I instantly cast 'magic missle', a beginners spell. But one which was guarenteed to strike and strike fast. And enhaced as mine was, was likely to seriously damange all but the most powerful mages.
But in truth the only reason it was cast was to disrupt his spell casting. It was beautiful to see, my little missiles imploding on his chest, his chain lighting spell disintegreating between his hands, as his concentration broke during the casting.
But in truth, the remaining fighters had encircled me, and seeing the defensive fire shield spell gone, were swinging their death blows. The force of any non metal weapons would be absorbed by the stoneskin spell and the ironguard spell allowed any metal weapons to pass right through me as if I were etheral. It was a very strong combination of defensive spells, I had been trying to get Battle Mages to cast for years. You can't throw fireballs if your dead.
But what I'd never told any of them, had been the way to augment the defensive set with a contingency spell. Gods' little gift to mage's. A contingency spell was cast and spell you cast now went off at a later time when a specfied event happened. In this case, when metal weapons passed though my activated iron guard spell.
The spell activated, and immediately three things happened.
1) Dimension Door spell activated, I was instantly reloacted to whatever location I was looking at, in this case the queens mage.
2) A pillar or column of fire 10' by 10' struck down on position I had just left. It virtually incinerated 4 of the remaining 8 fighters attacking me.
3) Chain lightening was cast on the position I'd just left. I loved, hell any mage loved, to see lightening rebounding back and forth between knights in armor holding swords. They represented nothing but a huge friggen lightening rod. The multiple bolts, ricocheting back and forth amonst them. Even when the remaining 4 had fallen in smoking, smoldering heaps.
Damn I loved contingencies.
The Queens Mage was shocked, his eyes large and round in surprise as I appeared in fornt of him. Forgetting all the rules about Mage battles, the form and convention of formal duals, I followed Finnian rule #1.
Win, Survive at any cost.
Which is to say, with lightening speed, I drew my Black Rune Dagger - the mage and I were immediately encased in a small dead magic zone.
No magic worked.
None.
I rammed the dagger into his gut, angling it up towards his heart, until I heard the orgin pop. I twisted the dagger hard, and ripped it back out. All in one smooth practiced, well rehearsed move.
I loved the fact that mages couldn't wear armor.
His eys reflected his surpirse and the initial denial of reality. He was already dead, he just didn't know it yet.
As I resheathed my dagger his guards screamed out in alarm and warnings to each other about my unanticipated arrival. I grabbed his rods, rings and belt pouches as they prepared to attack.
As they attacked, I cast dimension door and moved to yet another clear spot of the city wall to survey the remaining action. It was almost over. Control was being established by Hilde's forces.
Silly fools, silly unprepared fools.
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[ Edited by: Finnian on 08/25/2002 11:03:49 PM ] |
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 | Posted On: 08/22/2002 At: 10:11:29 PM | | | Reply Link |
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~Zach~
I moved through the forest with the grace and ease of a gazelle. I had learned a lot of things from the dragons, including the patterns of trees, and how to predict where they would come up at me. That's how we children were able to move so fluidly through any terrain.
It wasn't long before I came upon the town. As I approached the town, even before I heard the battle, I could smell it. I could smell the pungent stench of blood from beyond the walls. A lot had died.
Using techniques I had learned, I sneaked around in the shadows.
"THERE'S ANOTHER!!!" I heard a young girl's voice cry out.
Before I could comprehend how they'd found me. There was a pitchfork at my neck.
"Take him to the others." was the last thing I heard before I was knocked out.
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[ Edited by: Zach_Rendar on 09/27/2002 12:35:04 AM ] |
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| Posted On: 08/22/2002 At: 10:40:29 PM | | | Reply Link |
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-Hilde-
I wiped the sweat from my brow as I stood before a man cleaning my wound.
Oddly enough, there were very few men in the wounded area. For that, I was thankful.
A woman rushed up to me. "We're so sorry... our children.. they thought you were... Oh forgive us."
I smiled. "It's quite all right. Children will be children." I rubbed the bump forming on my head lightly with my knuckles.
At that moment, I heard the noise outside. "No, really, Gentlemen, I'm fine-" It was Morn's voice. Not even ten seconds after he spoke, he walked into the house, limping.
"Morn!" I said, walking to him. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'll tell you about it later." He gave me the stern look of, 'You have soldiers to take care of, get your ass out there.'
Shaking it off, I headed outside and into the crowds of people. There were soldiers all over.
In one fluid motion I lept onto a crate and then onto a roof. People grew silent.
It felt strange being the leader of this group... it was somewhat hard. But I put on that smile and that "We just kicked ass" look for the guys.
"Hey, how are you guys doing?!"
Lots of cheering and hollering.
"How about your head, Commander?!"
Laughter. Including mine.
I'm glad we can spend our lives fighting time after time and still be... alive with happiness and flare.
"My head is good, thanks." I raised up my arm for total silence. "We just liberated another town."
And no matter what anyone tells you, you all did a wonderful job! This town is thankful for what you soldiers did out here today. And because of it, the head Cheif, Tenmor as offered us a feast of honor."
Major cheering.
I hopped down from the roof with a grunt and headed in the opposite direction of the majority of the soldiers. After every battle, I always buried the bodies of both sides, even if we had none. Many times, however, I'm not alone. Some men who lost a freind were there to take care of bodies, and Chaos was already ahead of me.
It wasn't the sweetest thing around, and it wasn't fun. But it was truth.
There isn't a battle that goes by without someone dying.
Even if it was "just" a Knight of the former Queen.
They were human.
And I respect them for fighting at all.
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| Posted On: 08/22/2002 At: 11:01:30 PM | | | Reply Link |
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~Morn~
"Now, I want you to use these to walk." The doctor handed me a pair of wooden crutches.
"Uh, thanks." I stepped out of the wounded tent and threw the crutches on the ground. It was dark now and the sounds of revelry and eating could be heard from Tenmor's mansion. I didn't want any part of that.
Walking around the back of the tent I could here the sharp intermittant "CHINK" of shovels piercing the ground. Off in the distance in a huge field I could see the silhouettes of people digging, and lowering bodies into graves.
I hobbled through the field towards them. I picked up a shovel and began to dig a grave for James.
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| Posted On: 08/22/2002 At: 11:45:20 PM | | | Reply Link |
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<<Chaos>>
I pushed my shovel into the ground hard, and started to make a fresh grave for one of the dead soldiers.
Hilde was doing the same. There was an un-easy silence between us. Usually we talked about how the battle went when we did this. Not this time though. This time we dug in silence. It was almost eerie.
Morn joined us, and started digging as well, also doing his job in silence. We were almost done when Hilde asked me what I knew she would eventually ask, what I knew she had wanted to ask all day.
"Chaos, are you using magic?"
"What?" I looked up from my digging.
"You were faster, stronger, and almost unbeatbale out there today. That doesn't just happen. What are you doing to yourself? You using magic to do this?"
I could barely see her features in the dark, but I could tell she was frowning.
"I don't even know magic Hilde, you know that."
She stopped digging. "Then how?"
"I don't know, I told you. I'm moving faster and getting stronger, and I don't know why. I'm just as in the dark as you about this."
"Then what do you think it is?!" She said, sounding quite a bit annoyed. "These things don't just happen!"
I stared at her for a moment and my expression turned cold. "Aparently, they do."
I went back to digging the grave in silence.
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| Posted On: 08/22/2002 At: 11:57:05 PM | | | Reply Link |
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-Hilde-
Do you remember that "deadly cold stare" I mentioned earlier? Well he gave me a smaller version of it right there, and I knew he was telling the truth.
The seriousness he had at that moment made my heart stop, and for a moment I realized Morn had stopped shoveling.
Chaos is one wonderful guy, wise and most of all - honest. And when he gave me that look, I knew I had made a mistake. Never had he lied to me before, why would he now...
"Chaos..." I said, finally breaking the second silence. "I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to be so rude, but you know just as well as I that magic is a deadly tool if not in the hands of a mage... and my soldier's lives are at stake. More so importantly, your life as well."
He stopped digging now too.
"I'm sorry, I was just being over protective."
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| Posted On: 08/23/2002 At: 12:09:58 AM | | | Reply Link |
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~Morn~
I rested my arms on my shovel and looked at Chaos and Hilde. I was about to have my little say in their conversation, but on second thought, it didn't seem like such a good idea.
I finished digging Jame's grave and tossed my shovel aside. I walked over to his body, wrapped in a white sheet, and lifted it off his head. He looked peaceful, like he was at rest, and that made me feel better. It was still an emotional moment.
"I'm proud of you, James."
I covered his head back up and had one of the men help me lower his body into the grave. He agreed to finish burying him, I just couldn't do it.
I sat down in the grass and looked up at the stars, listening to Hilde speak. I just hoped they could work it out. I really hoped Chaos wasn't using magic. Deep down in my heart I didn't believe he was.
I heard light footsteps coming from behind me. I turned to see a young boy running toward us.
"Miss Hilde, Miss Hilde. They sent me to tell you that they've capture someone. The children did. He claims he knows you. His name is, Zach."
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| Posted On: 08/23/2002 At: 12:14:25 AM | | | Reply Link |
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<<Chaos>>
My expression lightened at her words. I shook my head.
"Don't be... If I was you, I'd be doing the same thing. I know this is odd, and whether it was just adrenaline, or if something is really happening to me, only time can tell."
"I guess you're right."
We finished the rest of the graves speaking to eachother, Morn was sitting alone, looking mornfull, someone was finishing the grave he dug for him.
It seemed one of us always ended up losing someone in battle. I wondered when it would be one of us lost in battle, instead of our friends.
A boy came running up to Hilde shortly after we had finished, looking like he had something so important to say that he would be killed if he didn't blurt it out immediatly.
Miss Hilde, Miss Hilde. They sent me to tell you that they've capture someone. The children did. He claims he knows you. His name is, Zach."
Zach...
He looked at her, hoping for some sign of recognition that we he did was important.
She nodded and said thanks, making the kid grin widely and run off.
We went back to town to see Zach. A "child of the dragon", captured by children. How ironic.
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[ Edited by: Chaos on 08/23/2002 12:31:07 AM ] |
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| Posted On: 08/23/2002 At: 01:23:16 AM | | | Reply Link |
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~Zach~
When I came to there was still a pitchfork to my neck, except I had the chance to look up the long handle to find a kid holding it.
"He's awake!" he called and suddenly I was surrounded by gawking little children.
"Who are you?"
"What're you doing here?"
"Are you a knight?"
I was bombarded by questions until I shouted. "HEY!"
The questions suddenly stopped.
"In the militia, there should be a woman named Miss Hilde, tell her that Zach is here to see her."
A little boy ran off to look for Hilde, leaving me with the rest of the suspicious children.
Unfortunately, that's when my eye started to fade...
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[ Edited by: Zach_Rendar on 09/27/2002 12:36:21 AM ] |
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| Posted On: 08/23/2002 At: 04:54:25 AM | | | Reply Link |
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~ Finnian ~ 04
I sat on the hillside in quiet contemplation watching Hilde and her men digging graves.
I could have magically dug a hole big enough to bury all the dead at once, or even built a large funeral pyre.
But it wouldn't be the same. Mankind needed to bury their dead.
For most it was a way of saying good-bye, a way of rembering faithful friends and service.
For others it was honoring the enemy, and for still others it reminded them of why they were here, of the costs of what they believed in.
And for some, it gave them a reason to fight.
Mankind needed to bury their dead, so they would remain what they were. Mankind.
I'd known Hilde for some time now, and she had the warm personal magnatism the people flocked to like a warm fire on a cold night. Hers was an infectious warmth that other men and women would follow.
To the gates of hell.
I trusted her and considered her a friend, but I still didn't know if she trusted me.
'A mage', 'one who used magic'. I think she needed me more than she trusted me.
I didn't know yet, that she trusted me at all.
I contemplated many things that night, but I might as well have asked the heavens to realign the stars, because I wasn't getting any answers.
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[ Edited by: Finnian on 11/21/2002 3:39:54 PM ] |
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| Posted On: 08/23/2002 At: 05:57:22 AM | | | Reply Link |
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-Hilde-
Zach.. it had been what?
A long time... at least it seemed to me like it was an eternity.
I headed directly inside the gates, Chaos and Morn at my side. We walked not three feet inside before the children were hanging onto us like bees would honey. We somewhat followed them, and somewhat lead the way until we reached Zach-
There was only one child standing guard by him. One child took him down?
"He pulled magic on us!" a girl shouted. Her wild, honey colored eyes were wide with shock. "His eye is gone!"
I snapped my head up and bolted over to him, quickly untying him. I glanced at Chaos as if to tell him to try and control his speed and things before lifting Zach to his feet.
I couldn't help but smile. "Zach..." we embraced. "Long time no see."
"You too. How's life been treating you?"
"Ah, sort of all right... I'd like you to meet Morn."
Zach turned and gave him a smile, the smile only a dragon child can have.
Morn nodded.
"Are you hungry, Zach old friend? Because we have lots of food." I laughed, walking with the children and my commrades to the feast. "And besides, I think the soldiers are interested in hearing a few tales from one of the people who slew the Queen herself."
As we turned to walk into the feasting area, I caught Morn's gaze.
We didn't need to gesture, or to even mouth he words to understand what eachother was thinking. I've been told it's an amazing thing to watch really. We'll be sitting there, and Morn will look at me- I'll tilt my head, he'll stay the same, I'll go back to the way I was- He'll raise his eyebrows.
And then we can recite what eachother was thinking.
I'm beginning to be able to do that with Chaos a little now too- but he's a lot better than I am because he can just.... read people.
My thoughts and secrets stand no chance against him.
Morn's gaze told me he needed a word with me, all thought it wasn't an emergancy, he would like to speak to me personally sometime soon. My eyes told him that he could pull me aside anytime he was ready, I'm sure.
I wonder what was on his mind?
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| Posted On: 08/23/2002 At: 11:58:55 AM | | | Reply Link |
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~Zach~
"Are you hungry, Zach old friend? Because we have lots of food, and besides, I think the soldiers are interested in hearing a few tales from one of the people who slew the Queen herself."
At these words, the very children who had captured me, swarmed around me, begging me to tell the story of how I did it.
Ah, kids...
"Well children, it all started long ago, when I was called in to execute a child of the dragon..."
The children stared at me the entire time, hanging on every word of my story, fascinated with what I told them. They were a wonderful audience. They gasped in all the right places, dropped their jaws at the part where I had fought the King for Nicci's rescue, and one girl started crying when I told her about when I was caught in the walls of the castle.
"...and the poker went flying through the air and SSSSSSSSSSS!!!" I jabbed two fingers into my now empty socket. "My eye was gone, but that's when I lost it. I hurled myself upon the Queen, she struggled but I held her down until she was dying... dying... dead."
The children cheered and rapidly dispersed themselves. It was then I realized I talked through all of dinner. That's when Hilde came up to me, a look of poorly hidden distress on her on her face.
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<<Chaos>>
As we went to the feast, Zach immediatly went with the children and sat by them, to tell them the story of what we had all lived through.
It was a long time ago... But it was never forgotten. That story was what brought us here, to where we were.
I sat at the far end of the table, eating graciously. We didn't usually get feasts after we liberated towns, just a thank you ceremony and whatnot.
Not that I didn't like them, but having well cooked food instead of rations was a welcome change.
We finished eating, just as Zach finished his story.
I stood up, looking at Zach for a moment as he finished his story, pleasing all the children.
Hilde approached Zach to speak with him about something...
Morn looked like he had something on his mind. What I couldn't tell, but he wanted to discuss it with Hilde. I knew it had to be something of importance, it showed on his face throughout the meal.
Whatever it was, it didn't concern me. I stretched a little, and sighed. The wind was blowing in lightly from the windows, causing a cool breeze to fill the room. It was quite fitting with the scenario of a warmly lit room, a meal just finished, and a star filled sky outside.
I left the room and went out into the night. The breeze was quite a bit stronger out here and picked up my clothes, red bandana, and red spiked hair in the wind.
I pulled out my sword and began to practise my techniques, moving quickly, fighting invisible enemies. My speed hadn't decreased at all, meaning it couldn't have been adreniline that was causing my preformance on the battlefield to be so good that day.
I stopped practising and stabbed my sword lightly into the ground, so that it stood straight up, the ripped piece of dark blue material tied to the end wavering in the wind.
I sat by it on a hill, staring up at the sky, thinking about everything that had happened that day. Somehow I knew I wouldn't be able to get any sleep.
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[ Edited by: Chaos on 08/23/2002 6:03:56 PM ] |
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-Hilde-
I was very proud of Zach has he told his story through out dinner. He didn't only capture the attention of the children, but some of the soldiers were listening too.
After we finished, Chaos rose and left.
I wanted to follow him to make sure he was okay, and I wanted to talk to Morn as well- but I needed to fill my social obligation as Commander and hang with the villagers before it was time for lights out and sleep.
"Zach..." I mumbled into his ear. "I'm going to ask you a favor..."
He nodded, already heading out, my hands automatically moving to pick up the dishes.
A woman came up to me and put her hand on my arm. "Please, it would be our honor..."
I couldn't help but stamor and remain a bit stunned. But I could tell by the look on her face that now was not the time to argue; best let her do what she desired, or it would be a matter of insult rather than pride.
"I'd like to talk to you... if you can spare the time."
In an instant, we were outside, walking through the city. Alone.
"Zach, why exactly did you come to us?"
He placed a hand on his scimitar. "Well, actually... it was getting boring for me."
I bit back a laugh. "All right, well... I'm going to ask you for you aid."
"In what?"
I stopped walking and turned to him. "I want you to come with us."
He smiled that smile of a dragon child. "Why, Hilde... that's why I came."
Perfect.
Zach and I, after brief moments of conversation parted, him to go off to bed, me to head up to the city wall.
I leapt up to the wall and stood for a moment, looking out over the last area of green I would see in a while.
Sitting down, I looked up at the stars for some comfort and then back out to land.
I was going to stand watch tonight.
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~ Nicci ~
Nearly an hour after Zach left, I'd put my curiosity to rest and decided to follow him. It goes without say that Galadin refused to be left behind, but there was no way I was about to take him with me.
If it were Hilde, she'd have soldiers with her. The last thing we need is for them to mistake his moronic and playful actions for a vicious front. And even if they did like him, I wasn't about to risk it.
So I had told him to stay behind, and when he refused again, I demanded it. Which is why part of me wasn't suprised when I'd heard him take off after I left. He was following me, weather or not I liked it.
Zach's path was relatively simple to follow, though I was in no hurry to reach the city they had been in. Besides, even when I did reach the city, I would have to keep an eye on the dragon that didn't have enough common sense to stay behind. It was like baby sitting only...He was definetly not a baby.
A soft light caught my eyes as you could hear the revelries of a feast slowly come to a hault. Part of me had been hoping that no archers were stargazing tonight. Had they been, they would have seen the stars blacked out by Galadin's form, and the last thing either of us needed was to cause a widespread panic.
Without warning, a small child had appeared infront of me, a pitchfork held by tiny hands raised defensively in my direction. The child was staring as it prodded me softly with the farmer's tool.
I smirked lightly, "I'm no expert at raising children, but isn't it past your bedtime, little boy?"
He opened his mouth as though to scream something, but I slowly raised a hand and shook my finger, "That would not be such a good idea."
There was a rustle in the tree's behind me, before the giant scaled beast pushed his head out, playfully flicking his tounge in the child's direction.
The child dropped his pitchfork.
And Screamed.
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<<Chaos>>
I thought for a long time about what had happened that day. About everything. I had a lot of time on my hands.
I could barely make out the figures of two people walking away from the feast as I sat and watched the sky. They parted shortly after speaking, and one left towards the camp, the other headed towards the walls of the town.
I stood and started to practise my physical fighting moves. Something about the night was calming, and made me want to improve my skills for the days ahead... It was the perfect time to train and think.
I tried to smoothen out my punches and kicks so that I'd be more effective in the battles I knew that would come.
But during all this, I was thinking about why Zach had come, and that damn battle. I couldn't get it off my mind no matter how hard I tried. Everytime I sat down, or had a moment to myself I thought of the battle and what had happened.
Hilde's theory made sense. What if it was magic? What if someone had cast it on me, and if they did, why wouldn't they tell me?
It didn't make sense, but I already knew that... Hell, everyone did. I wondered if anyone else had even noticed it...
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~Morn~
As I walked quietly toward the city wall, I gazed at the silhouette of Hilde, plastered against the moon. I put my hands on the wall and pulled myself up, settling myself next to her.
"Nice night." She said, her eyes not moving from the stars.
"Indeed." I joined her in looking to the sky.
"What did you want to talk to me about?"
I smirked. Right to the point, how typical. "I was thinking about our journey into the Forgotten."
I felt her eyes on me. "What about it?"
"Well, we both know it's dangerous. I was thinking it would be pointless to drag the entire army through that hell. It's my opinion that you should choose a select party to follow you on your journey there." I looked at her. "No use sustaining more casualties than necessary."
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-Hilde-
"Well, we both know it's dangerous. I was thinking it would be pointless to drag the entire army through that hell. It's my opinion that you should choose a select party to follow you on your journey there." He looked to me. "No use sustaining more casualties than necessary."
For a moment I was silent, then I returned my gaze to the sky. "You know, you're right..." I trailed off. Something was blocking the stars from my view.
"Son of a..." I stared at the moving black spot for a moment.
Morn snapped his head to follow my gaze and we both leapt up.
"What the hell is that?" I asked.
Morn and I remained crouched slightly, our hands on the hilt of our swords. I'm sure to anyone watching, it looked just slightly strange, but we were focused on the image.
After a moment, we lost it in the darkness and found ourselves trying to follow it to-
"Dragon." Morn stated. "It was flying and now landing."
I blinked. "You think it's going to attack?"
Morn shook his head. "They usually don't. Because of what the Queen did to them, they stay secluded."
A scream errupted in the distance. If we hadn't been on the wall, we wouldn't have heard it.
Our eyes met at the same time, we both drew our blades and leapt over the wall.
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~ Nicci ~
I leaned over and picked up a small stone, then proceeded to right myself, turn around and pelt the dragon upside the head with it, "I told you to stay put."
My head snapped up as I could hear the sound of swords being drawn. Two of them. The child was just standing there infront of me, staring first at the dragon, then at me.
I arched an eyebrow, casting my gaze down at him. The puddle that had formed by his feet made it pretty apparent that the runt was terrified. What he was right now was nothing compared to what he would be if Galadin got upset.
Never piss off a dragon.
His emerald scales came out in to the open as I could see two forms readily approaching. And still, the kid stood there. "Kid, are you in shock or just plain stupid?" I said as I shook my head.
"D-d-d...DRAGON!" The kid screamed.
"No ****." I replied as I crossed my arms over my chest, placing myself between the on commers and Gal. Why this dragon loved making life difficult, I'll never understand.
One of the two ran to the child, the other kept the sword in my direction, though more in threat to the beast behind me than myself.
"Come now Hilde, let's not play with sharp things." I said as Galadin clicked his tounge on the roof of his sensor, causing a spark. Just enough light for her to get a good look at me.
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[ Edited by: Nicci on 08/23/2002 9:07:20 PM ] |
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I saw a large, dark shadow sail past the stars. It was a dragon... I knew it right away, the form gave it away.
I took my weapon from where it stood in the ground and held it tightly, running towards where the dragon was headed.
It swooped down and landed softly in the shadows of the forest, and shortly after I heard the scream of a child.
I moved quickly, drawing nearer every second.
When I got there, I saw someone I recognised... Three people actually. Morn, Hilde, and Nicci.
I walked over cautiously, well aware of the dragon that now stood right behind Nicci, a stupid grin on it's face.
The grin faded immediatly as I approached. It turned it's head and glared at me, causing all eyes to fall upon me.
It let out a loud call and started to breath flames up into the air, lashing around wildly.
I backed up quickly, my sword held tightly.
It started to call loudly again and again, lighting up the sky with its dangerous breath.
It moved forward to attack me. My emerald green eyes flared with the will to fight this thing.
As soon as I got my sword ready, it started to back off, but glared at me, ready to strike at any second, as if waiting until I wasn't paying any attention.
I had a feeling there would be a lot of questions I'd have to answer about this, very soon. I turned to find all three of my friends staring at me.
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~ Nicci ~
I spun around when Galadin let his frantic cry ring out into the air. He sparked, a stream of fire roaring from his mouth as he lashed about.
My head turned to the side to see the source of his distress only to see Chaos standing there with his sword drawn.
Chaos.
Galadin threw his head back once more, letting his fierce cry fill the air before he sent more fire fourth into the night.
That was enough, through my bond with the dragon, he could sense the familiar feeling you get when you see and old friend and started to calm. The dragon had been giving me a warning by continuing his fit up till now.
He sat back on his haunces, his eyes fixated on Chaos. As I had been staring at him as well.
We all were.
My eyes turned up to the dragon, as I could tell he was ignoring me. Which he hadn't done since he was a hatchling.
Something about Chaos had made him feel threatened. Galadin shifted uneasily. I turned my eyes back over to the man who had set him off. I didn't need my bond to the dragon to tell there was something different about him.
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[ Edited by: Nicci on 08/23/2002 9:30:23 PM ] |
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-Hilde-
There wasn't even enough time for me to greet Nicci, before her dragon friend lunged forward, calling out.
When a dragon roars, it's so loud, you're almost brought to you knees.
Nicci of course, was unaffected, but Morn and I were on our knees. I looked up to see what was wrong.
Chaos was there, holding his sword firmly.
Why wasn't he affected?
The dragon lifted its head, flames errupted from its mouth and his stare became fixed on Chaos.
I lunged forward without thinking, ready to defend but found myself suddenly unmoving.
"Don't be stupid..." Morn whispered, having tackled me. "You wouldn't stand a chance.."
"So you'll just let him-"
I was cut short by the dragon backing down, standing infront of Nicci, ready to leap at Chaos at any moment.
And then we had an akward moment.
"Um... nice to see you too?" I offered.
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~Zach~
I heard the familiar whoosh and rustle of dragon wings landing... but there was no way one would travel this far.
I checked a small mirror nearby, my eye was back.
So there WAS a dragon...
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[ Edited by: Zach_Rendar on 08/23/2002 9:39:46 PM ] |
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<<Chaos>>
"Um... Nice to see you too?" Hilde said awkwardly
I backed up a few more steps, holding my sword so tightly my knuckles were white.
"Did you train it to attack me or something...?" I asked Nicci, glaring at her for a moment.
She offered no responce, just stared at me. My eyes moved back to the dragon. I said nothing and started to back further away. I couldn't stay here with that thing watching me the whole time, like it was ready to kill me.
I turned and ran back to my perch on the hill, but when I sat down this time, my sword lay in my lap, my hand squeezed tightly around the hilt.
I needed to get some sleep...
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~Zach~
I made my way up the hill, to where the obvious form of the dragon lay.
Nicci just HAD to follow me.
I came to the peak of the hill, winded.
"So Nicci, not only did you decide to follow me but you HAD to bring Gal along? What were you thinking?"
I was a bit pissed to say the least. Not only was Gal in great danger, but he'd freak out the townspeople as well.
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[ Edited by: Zach_Rendar on 08/23/2002 9:50:02 PM ] |
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| Posted On: 08/23/2002 At: 10:15:52 PM | | | Reply Link |
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~ Nicci ~
Hilde had spoken in the awkward silence that followed Galadin's fit, by saying it was nice to see me too. Unfortunatly, Galadin had spoiled my mood for pleasentries.
Then came Chaos's comment, to which, I had no desire to dignify with a response. It went pretty well without say that he was being sarcastic.
"So Nicci, not only did you decide to follow me but you HAD to bring Gal along? What were you thinking?" Zach growled, winded from his march.
What he'd hoped to accomplish by yelling at me, I'll never know. I had a nice reply to that written out inside my head, one I was about to put to voice- but I stopped myself. He had his points. Following him was an immature thing to get fussy about, seeing as how he knows damn well I sense things as well -if not better, because I'm female- than he can.
The part about Galadin, though false held it's truths as well. So I did what better judgement told me to and kept my mouth shut to that one.
Gal had laid down, his eyes off in the direction Chaos was in as I simply sat with my back pressed against his neck. Galadin would always be harmless in my mind's eye. You tend to get that image when you raise something.
Town's people stood a way off, which was about as close as they'd come to get a look at him. Gal didn't mind. He loved people. He enjoyed being watched with awe and wonder, he liked the attention.
But he was too distracted to care this time. I had tried to ask him what was wrong, but he brushed me off. Ignoring me as though I were some insignificant bug buzzing at his ear.
No use in telling him to go back now. His attention was here, and so here he would remain.
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| Posted On: 08/23/2002 At: 11:59:06 PM | | | Reply Link |
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~Zach~
I was mad, worried, and depressed at the same time. Nicci had obviously thought I couldn't handle a journey by myself, Galadin was in danger away from the other dragons, and now the townspeople would think that I couldn't handle myself!
I sighed and looked up at Galadin, he was sending out a happy blue, enjoying all the attention.
A little girl had come in from the circle and approached Galadin.
If she startled him...
"Becca!" A mother darted out from the crowd and picked up the girl.
The shouted made Galadin snort, a small jet of flame coming out of his mouth.
I glared at Nicci. "Get him out of here before he hurts somebody!"
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| Posted On: 08/24/2002 At: 12:59:30 AM | | | Reply Link |
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~ Nicci ~
Galadin had finally bent, chaning the subject if you will by changing the color of his images to a bright blue. A small girl approached, boldly stepping up to the beast, and prepared to touch him when her mother made a stupid move.
"Becca!" She screeched as she ran out of the crowd and hooked an arm around the child's waist, carting her off.
I wonder if anyone but me saw the look of sadness in her eyes. Other than Galadin that is.
Galadin -being a hunter- for one, didn't like the sound of the woman's voice comming unexpectedly, not to mention sudden movements were pretty stupid around a reptile that could easily kill you.
To express his distaste at the woman's action -because he had seen that the child wanted to touch him, and he had wanted her to- he snorted, a short breath of fire comming from his lips.
"Get him out of here before he hurts somebody!" Zach glared.
That comment, I ignored.
If Galadin wanted to hurt someone -Other than Chaos- he would have done it already. Zach knows that.
To further prove my point, I stood up. My motion cause Gal to pick his head up to he could follow me with his gaze. I walked the path the mother had taken as she stormed back into the crowd and looked at her for a moment.
She had seen my eyes, the endless depth that the dragon's magic seemed to place in them, and was mesmerized. While she was so, I reached down and picked Becca up.
Mind you- the entire time, Galadin was silently sitting where he was, watching my every move.
The girl was smiling now, as she'd been crying moment's before. Eyes were on me, but I didn't care. They didn't have to believe Galadin wouldn't hurt anyone, as long as this little girl wouldn't cry, I would be content.
So I carried her over and stopped a few paces short of Gal, who arched his neck down towards us. The little girl was horrified for a moment when his teeth passed, but then she saw his eyes and giggled.
Becca reached her hand out as the people held their breath. What, did they expect him to bite her hand off? She touched his scales before running her hand down inbetween his eyes, and throughout, He was silent.
His lower jaw dropped a bit and his tounge came out, only for it to sneak it's way up and lick the child on her cheek. Dragons, like dogs...have a tendancy to show affection by licking.
I set the child down on the ground, from there she giggled and climbed atop of one of Gal's feet, making herself comfortable there. One by one, children's heads began poking out from their parent's sides and looking at the dragon curiously.
Galadin tilted his head up, his large jaws parting as he sucked in a yawn, letting it out in a huff of smoke before laying his head back down on the ground.
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| Posted On: 08/24/2002 At: 04:04:10 AM | | | Reply Link |
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~Zach~
I let out a small sigh of relief, I had no idea how Galadin would react to the kids touching him. He seemed to be having a grand time, the little ones climbing on him, the shy ones content to just watch. I felt a tug on my tunic, the little girl, Becca, was looking at me with a look of questioning, "Mister Zach? Do you and Missis Nicci live with the dra-" she cut off right there. "Where'd you're eye come from? It's back."
Great, just what I needed, Nicci to overhear some little kid assuming that we were married.
"Well, uh, Becca, Nicci and I are not, and never will be, married. Also, we do live with the dragons, but we're sort of on a vacation now."
"But Mister Zach, what about your eye?"
I sat down next to the inquisitive little girl. Somehow, she reminded me of myself when I was her age, new and exploring the world, but how to explain it...
"You see Becca, Miss Nicci and I are very very special friends of the dragons. When we came back, they offered us one thing we could've ever wanted, and I asked for my eye back so I could be an archer again."
"So why did your eye go away when we found you?"
"Well, when Miss Nicci and I are away from the dragons too long, their magic starts to fade, this eye is completely fake and can only last a few hours away from the dragons."
"Wow... and Mister Zach?"
Geez... did this kid ever run out of questions?
"Yeah?"
"What did Missis-"
"Miss"
"Miss Nicci get from the dragons?"
I paused for a moment, what DID Nicci get from the dragons?
Before I could answer, a soldier came up to me.
"Hey kid, Hilde wants to talk to you. Wrap it up with the girl okay?"
I nodded and turned to Becca, "I'll talk to you later, okay?"
She nodded grudgingly and went back to her mother, who gave me a piercing look of rage, it reminded me that some people still thought we children were evil...
I stood up to look for Hilde, somewhere in this crowd...
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| Posted On: 08/24/2002 At: 04:39:55 AM | | | Reply Link |
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-Hilde-
Without a moment's hesitation, I gave Morn a look that said, "You're following me. Now." and I took off for Chaos. The crowd of people was large, and because of
it, we were able to slip away.
I gripped hard onto Chaos's arm, and he let me pull him.
Note the word yet. Let me stress it for you. You just don't grab Chaos and drag him somewhere.
You have to actually have his unspoken permission.
I guess he wasn't too angry with me, because he let me drag him into the woods, Morn looking to see if anyone followed.
"What the hell was that?!" I gasped when we were safe. "He was going to attack you!"
He sheathed his sword. "I know..."
Morn shook his head, looked at Chaos, and automatically placed his hand gently on my arm to stop it from shaking.
I thought Chaos was going to die.
"How can someone say that dragon wasn't going to attack anyone?"
... I sucked in a breath. "Because it wouldn't. But it would attack magic."
Chaos's eyes met mine for a brief instant.
"You really think someone has a spell cast on me?"
Morn squeezed a pressure point in my elbow and my arm stopped twitching. Chaos took notice. "You saw what happened... Something must be cast on you, it's the only way to explain it."
There was shuffling in the woods.
"Hello?"
"Hilde, you needed to talk to me?"
I wasted no time. "What the hell was that?"
Morn let go of my arm. "Why did the dragon do that?"
"I honestly have no idea..." Zach answered, his new eye glistening in the moonlight. It was kind of eerie.
"Well, I've had enough problems for one night..." I muttered. "Let's just sleep on it."
Everyone seemed to agree with that, yet we still stood there in akward silence. It was like... "Uh, we still have something to say, but nobody is willing to say it."
I looked towards the city and once again caught Chaos's gaze.
The look in his eyes, I honestly couldn't tell.
I would say it was a mix between uncertainty and fear.
Two things I've never seen in his face before.
... Morn started walking first, sort of breaking the silent akward moment.
"Zach, where are you sleeping?"
He rested his hand on his scimitar, as I was beginning to realize was usual for him. "I'm not sure."
"I believe you can sleep with us in the inn. We're cramming the Commanding officers in the second room of the inn." Morn offered.
"That would be nice... a bed. Not a hard cold cave floor."
I laughed, a genuine one, and smiled to myself as we made small talk until we hit the inn everyone once and a while, stealing a glance at Morn who was either watching Chaos with a sympathetic look, or smiling like nothing had happened, talking with Zach.
When I stole a glance at Chaos, his eyes were focused on his feet...
... and he had that look on his face that he gets whenever I spill my guts to him and he's about ready to answer. Letting it sink in I guess.
Letting today sink in.
... All of it... sink in...
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