Dragons of Gralfor

[cats]

Amber

IC: It wasn't long before Anoth left view. I turned to Arianna. "Ready to let loose some of that pent up stress? I for one am quite tired of having to hold my tong as a diplomat and bureaucrat."

I made a few hand gestures and summoned my suite of armor. It was a leather outfit with mythril plates covering the torso and most flat areas. It left my joints some what vulnerable, but the mythril plates could stop attacks that chain mail could not, and in total the suite was only slightly heavier then chain mail.

I strapped on the gauntlets which unlike the rest of the armor were based on chain mail. "Do you think any orcs would be fallowing him, or do we go to the main group and lure some our way on our own?"

 

[Angelus]

As Brog and the orcs ran across the desert he cursed these lands and Rorg for making him come here. He knew he had come here under the promise of riches and the destruction of humans. Since he had come to this place though nothing had gone right. Two hundred of the finest scouts and warriors had been killed by people riding dragons. Rorg had been recruited by one of them and hates the fact so much that he is willing to kill his only blood in the lands and he has been forced to march with five hundred warriors through this accursed desert.

He just hoped when he got to where ever this Dragon Knight was leading them that it would end in glory and not failure. He stopped, looked back at the rest of the warriors following him and when he saw one of them fall to the ground he moved back and picked him off his feet.
"This is no time for resting. We will rest when we have either slain every last human in these lands or we are dead."

"We cannot keep going on in this desert. If we do we will be dead."

"Do you want to go back to Rorg and tell him why we have returned? Do you want to tell him that you were too afraid to follow a human on a dragon? If you do turn around and go back to him."

The warrior opened his mouth to answer Brog but shut it and looked straight at him. Brog just smiled and ran up to the front of the group. As soon as he did he shouted for the orcs to start running faster. None of the warriors said anything as they knew what would happen if they failed.

 

[Kalika84]

It was nearing sunset the day after Cherise had left when Shar announced quite excitedly that she could see Alezal and Anoth in the distance. Cherise grinned as she felt Shar's excitement as her own.

As the sky blazed in golds and reds, Cherise's hair turned to living bloodred flame twisting and shining in the fading light. As the two pairs flew on towards each other the sunset started to to descend into twilight. Golds and reds became midnights, indigos and blacks, all of which did strange things to Shar's scales. Her scales stopped being pure ebon black and became a shifting kaleidoscope of twilight colours.

Faster Shar, we need to get to them now, I have missed my friends to much to wait. That and the faster we get to them my sweet, the faster we can have a rest, I know how tired you are, I can feel it.

Shar snorted indignantly, The day I can't fly as far as I need to is the day I am not a Knight's Dragon. With even greater sweeps of her wings they shot forward streaking through the sky like an arrow before she pulled up and with great beats of her wings held her self in place just in front of Anoth, close enough to surprise him but not so close he could not stop in time and would crash into her sending both them and their riders plummeting to the earth below.

 

[cats]

Amber

IC: It was now dusk and the sun dipped past the dunes at the edge. Off in the distance I spotted the sand trail of a running horde. I was familar with the desert on a level of intamcy few ever gained. I knew the animals, beasts, and weather of the desert, this trail was made by none of them.

"There they are, cresting the far dune. Let us take to the sky and measure their worth."

With that fire and I took skyward in a few flaps of his mighty wings. The orc had the advantage of 50 to one, and in my eagerness to scout we had lost the element of suprise, but I had no doubts of our victory each knight and dragon pair was likely worth 100 orcs, or so I felt.

"The sand dunes are parched and care not if they drink blood!" Fire snaped his head forward and let loose a lighting bolt. With an instant crack of thunder the tallest orc fell dead and those around him fell to the ground the current stuning there bodies.

I said a few draconic words and danced my fingers in the air. Then with a beat of opals wings fell a storm of 100 arrows raining down on fallen orcs making sure they didn't rejoin the fight.

The orcs in turn let loose many arrows into the sky. Fire twisted in air folding his wings and dived for a moment dodging most of the barrage but still some orcs, threw skill or luck, hit their mark tearing shallow wounds into Fire, the most grievous of which were to his left wing giving him a limp.

I spoke an ancient elvish word for spring and with a wave of my hand fixed his wing.

 

[Angelus]

As Alezal and Anoth flew towards the ruling city they could not help but let their thoughts wander. They were both thinking of the knights that were still facing the orcs, the rogue dragon and the person they were flying towards. Cherise was the person Alezal could get along with the most as they were the closest in age and shared somewhat the same sense of humor. Sometimes though Cherise was a different person and even though Alezal knew the reason he would never approach her with it. He would wait until she came to him to talk.

He watched as the light began to fade as the sun disappeared to his right and hoped that he would reach Cherise before it was too dark to see either of them. It was then that he saw a very distinctive shape in the sky, moving towards them. At first Alezal wondered if it was the rogue dragon that he was meant to keep his eyes on. He knew that if it was then he was going to have to chase it down. It was the last thing that he wanted to do, given that fact that he was out here to meet with Cherise. He knew though that if it was the rogue he would have to find out where it had come from, whether or not there was someone flying on it and what they were doing.

He then saw the ever changing colors of the dragons scales and rememberd that there was only one dragon whose scales did that when there was little to no light. As soon as he spied Cherise sitting on top of the dragon he felt the joy flow him and Anoth at the same time. Anoth then flew towards her with a flap of his wings and said, If you will permit me I wish to do something with Shar and Cherise.

Alezal knew that he could tell Anoth not to do anything but he wanted to see what he had in mind and told him to go right ahead.

Anoth watched as Shar slowed in front of them but did not slow down himself. Alezal was about to ask what he was doing but then he realized and just told him to go right ahead. With a mighty flap of his wings Anoth shot forward, barely missing Shar by the barest fraction before flying behind her, turning in the air and flying to the other side of Shar. Once they were flying side by side Anoth looked over at Shar just as Alezal looked over at Cherise. He could not help but have a smile on his face as he looked at her.

He could not help himself. It has been the longest time since he has seen the two of you. Then again I probably did give him a little encouragement. Now, what is it you wish to do right now. Do you want us to fly back to where Ari and Amber are or do you wish to camp for the night?

 

[Kalika84]

Cherise watched in horror as Anoth headed straight for them at full speed. What on earth was he...oh. As she watched the pair shoot past them Cherise held her belly and laughed so hard she nearly fell off Shar.

Shar let out a playful growl and nipped at Anoths shoulder.Having fun are we?

Cherise looked over at Alezal. "I would suggest camp my friend. Shar, though she wont admit it is tired, I am sure you and Anoth are and myself? While I wouldn't mind chain exploding a few orcs we will be better on top of our game if we rest....besides...There should be some good hunting below."

With that Shar tucked her wings in at Cherise's mental command and began to dive down to the earth, flying low trying to find a good campsite.

Shar sent a thought to both Alezal and Anoth, I dont suppose either of you saw somewhere suitable?

 

[Angelus]

Alezal could not help but laugh himself. It felt good to hear Cherise's laugh once more. It had been such a long time since the two of them had been together that he seriously could not remember the last thing they had talked about. He hated the fact that their duties kept everyone apart because Alezal was truly happiest when he was with the rest of the Knight's, either talking, joking or just flying along with their dragons. Twenty or so years was too long a time to have seen any of them and he did not like the fact that it had been an army of orcs razing Kergal to the ground that had brought them together.

He looked over at Cherise as she told him about landing and resting. He laughed when she told him about exploding a few orcs and wished that he could do that but he knew that right now he wanted to rest. He ran his fingers slowly over the scales of Anoth's neck and knew, even though Anoth would not admit it that he was tired as well.

He watched as Shar flew towards the ground before asking Anoth to do the same. As they neared the ground he heard Cherise ask both of them whether or not they had seen a decent campsite. He was about to tell her that he had not seen anything. Before he could though Anoth jumped in and told her to follow him.

Anoth flew as close to the top of the trees as he could and looked for the site he had seen earlier. When he spied it he slowly down and flew towards the ground, bringing his legs forward for a soft landing. When he landed with a soft thump and a lot of dust Alezal got down from the saddle and waited for Shar and Cherise to land.

I'm glad one of us was taking notice of the land below us Alezal said to Anoth as Cherise got down from Shar.

 

[Kalika84]

Shar and Cherise followed Anoth to the campsite. With a very feminine snort Shar gently lowered herself to the ground and looked at Anoth with a haughty grin when she did not create as much dust as he did.

Cherise laughed and slid down to the ground. Show off. This thought was followed by a warm loving tone that caused Shar to rumble a purr.

Walking over to Alezal she threw an arm around his shoulders. "So comrade. How shall we split the creating camp duties mmm?" With her other hand she rubbed Anoth's snout. How has my other favourite dragon been doing hey?

Shar spoke to Cherise, ensuring only Cherise could hear her. Cherise...he is oblivious either be very obvious or leave him be. He does not understand why you seem to be two different people with him. With a look at Alezal to show who the *he* was that she was talking about she spoke to Anoth. I am going hunting...want to join me? We shall bring back meat for you two as well.

"Wait Shar." gathering some stoned and wood very quickly Cherise formed them into a camp fire. "Please?" Shar rolled her eyes and snuffed a wisp of flame into the wood which burned ot immediate life.

With that she launched herself into the air and waited for Anoth's response before going on her hunt.

 

[Angelus]

Anoth stood and looked at Alezal. Is it alright if I go hunting with Shar?

As Anoth spoke Alezal could feel the excitement that flowed from him and he knew in no way he could say no. He knew that above everything else Anoth wanted to be alone with Shar. As soon as he nodded his head Anoth looked at Shar and once she had lit the fire for Cherise they both lifted off from the ground and flew out of sight, leaving Alezal and Cherise in the camp site. He then remembered what she had said before Anoth had interrupted her and looked at her.

As he did a question popped into his head but he did not know how to ask it. Instead he looked down at the ground, took a deep breath then raised his head again.

"Well. You could gather some firewood, unless you would rather I do that. We don't have to worry about the food; unless Anoth and Shar get hungry on the way back that is. I could go around and put up some defenses. After that we can just sit in front of the fire and wait for Anoth and Shar to get back. We can sit and talk, something we haven't done face to face for far too long."

 

[Kalika84]

Watching the two dragons fly off into the darkness Cherise could feel the happiness flowing through Shar at the thought of catching up with Anoth and hunting fresh meat, something that was in short supply back in the capital. In Shar's opinion everything was just too....civilized.

As Alezal turned to her and started somewhat awkwardly it seemed to suggest what they could do to make camp. ' Well, we should both gather firewood it will make the time pass faster." Smiling she added quietly, "Yes catching up would be good I haven't seen you....I mean...seen any of you for so long now." Turning to hide her awkward, embarrasing blush she blurted out "So, lets get that firewood..."

Bumbling, hairbrained, awkward...oh great and she had forgotten the mind shield Nicolas had spent forever drumming into her. Throwing up her barriers which would block her thoughts from others she sauntered off into the darkening brush to find some wood for the fire.

After gathering a few armloads of sturdy branches she decided she had done her share and sat down on the ground close to the fire while she waited for Alezal and the dragons to return.

 

[Angelus]

Alezal felt something flow from Cherise that made him stop and look at her. He wanted to ask her what she was thinking about but he wondered if he had got everything wrong and knew that if he asked Cherise she would either deny it or ask him why he was snooping around in her head. He knew the last thing he wanted was for her to be angry at him and did not say a thing.

As they went through the woods to gather the firewood he could not help but think of what he gotten from her. Every time she came close he wanted to ask her why she had been thinking and feeling what she had but still kept quiet. She was one of his closest friends and even though he wanted something more, even though he could not deny the attraction he felt towards her he did not want to act on it, just in case he did something wrong. He did not want to ruin the friendship they had, even if it meant denying his feeling for as long as he lived. He just hated the fact that that could be a very long time.

Once they had taken the firewood back to the center of the camp Alezal made the excuse of setting up some defensive barriers. The truth was that he wanted to clear his head. As he went through the spells and set up enough barriers to stop anything from getting through his thoughts kept going back to Cherise. He wanted to tell her exactly how he felt but he did not know if he could. At that point he wanted to stand there and shout. He knew that Cherise would come and see why he had done so though and kept his mouth quiet.

Once he was sure that nothing was going to disturb them while they slept Alezal made his way back to the camp. Once he reached there he was surprised to find Cherise sitting in front of the fire. He opened his mouth to say something but found that he could not say a thing. It was as his voice had been stripped away so he just sat down beside her and looked into the fire. As he sat there he felt the silence between them as though it were an oppresive shroud that was choking them. He looked at her and wanted to say something. Once again he found he could not say a thing and balled up his hand into a fist.

Just talk to her. She has known you for the past two hundred years. Nothing has changed with her or the way you feel about her. Just talk to her.

He took a deep breath and looked at her once more.
"Cherise.... I'm sorry. I did not mean to hear your thoughts or feel what you were feeling. I did not intrude on purpose. I- I just want to tell you that I have feelings for you. I know that it comes as a shock. I just had to tell you though."

He took a deep breath and hoped that he had not done something to damage their friendship.

 

[Kalika84]

Cherise had lost herself in the dancing flames of the fire, just thinking and planing tomorrows attack.

Shar's voice rumbled through her head. We will be at camp soon Cherise, I brought you a deer. This was accompanied by such a mental exuberance it was almost akin to a puppy wagging its tail for praise.

Well done Shar, we will cook it when you get back. Cherise heard fading words from Shar as she closed the connection, Burning food. Blech. So much better raw. Anoth, can you believe.... the connection was closed. Cherise started to giggle until she saw Alezal coming back and stopped.

Oh goody. More awkwardness to get her through the night. Just what she needed. Only, he seemed oncomfortable too, he kept clenching his fist and jaw. Taking up the long stick she had found she poked at the fire only too hear him speak for the first time since he got back.

"Cherise.... I'm sorry. I did not mean to hear your thoughts or feel what you were feeling. I did not intrude on purpose. I- I just want to tell you that I have feelings for you. I know that it comes as a shock. I just had to tell you though."

The stick stopped poking. Its end was buried in the flames as Cherise sat in shock. He what now? Swallowing she raised her gaze to his. Something inside her just clicked. This was it. Now or never.

"We are a pair of fools you and I. I am certain that Shar and Anoth would be laughing their draconian tails off right now." Sighing she continued to watch his face and blurted out. "I have had feelings for you since we started training together." Blushing a bright red Cherise fell silent.

Suddenly she realised he said he had felt her emotions...which shouldn't be possible. She jumped to her feet, walked over and stood infront of Alezal and demanded, "How in the hell did you even 'accidentally' feel or read my emotions? I was blocking!" Completely forgetting her thoughts had been 'uncovered' for a short period of time in her shock that Alezal felt the same way she did.

She narrowed her eyes at him and sat down next to him on the ground. Come to think of it every now and then she sometimes felt a slight 'push' when she was blocking but she never really thought about it. Could it have been...? surely not, but she voiced it anyway. "You can get in my head, even when I am blocking can't you?"

 

[Wolfsister]

Before Ari could come up with an appropriate plan to put into place, Amber and Fire were up and away, investigating the large plume of dust that was now approaching them. Ari settled for clambering onto Rhea and raising into the air, hovering over their position. She didn't want to cramp Fire's style and knew that she was close enough to help should it come to that.

As she waited in the air, feeling the rush of the desert winds sigh across her face, she listened to the steady whump whump of Rhea's wings. She surveyed the horizon and was quiet for a time, Rhea content to join in the silence. They both watched Fire and Amber wing their way towards the dust cloud and as soon as Fire unleashed his first attack, they were swiftly on their way to join their comrades.

Rhea's scales shone a brilliant crimson as she shot towards the other Knight. She growled low into her throat, watching as Fire danced through the sky, trying to avoid a flurry of arrows. She bellowed in anger as Fire was hit - relief flooding through Ari and Rhea's mental connection when Fire's wing was healed.

Well done, Little One! But now its our turn! roared Rhea as she shot past Fire, her most recent nickname for him ringing in his mind like a bell on a clear day. Arianna whooped and grinned, flashing a smile at Amber as she joined the fray. It had been so long since they had had the chance to truly use their abilities - to fight something!

A small band of orcs came into view and Rhea flew straight for them.
Rhea roared and a spout of crimson flame came howling out of her mouth. The orcs beneath her assault either ducked or got burned, her liquid fire sticking to their green hides and refusing to be doused. Arianna laughed along with Rhea and lifted her hands into the sky.

Sweeping her hands around and then tucking them under breasts, she focused all of her energy and then forced her spirit to sink into the earth below. The ground swelled beneath the orcs, the sands shifting under their feet. The outlines of a face swelled in the sands, a sandy maw opening and coming up to swallow several of the running orcs. Rhea kept up her steady stream of fire - scattering the small party.

Ari sent her spirit further into the earth and pulled on the deep magical presence there. She politely requested what she sought and after a slight hesitation as she communicated with the essence of the Earth, was granted her request. The face outline in the sand steadily grew, sand piling up on itself to form a small mound.

From that mound was born a creature of mud and sand. It looked vaguely human but was easily seven foot tall. Its muscular appearance suggested a bulk of at least 250 lbs and it only had vague, rudimentory facial features. It was unmistakeably male.

Casting around, finding itself directly in the mass of running orcs, the Golem looked up to Arianna in the sky above it. She made a small motion, smiling down at her creation - her skin paling somewhat - and it immediately began to tear at the nearest orcs to it, tearing them limb from limb.

Arrows chipped away at its sandstone shell, but it paid them no heed. The Golem neither felt pain or anger. It simply had a job to do, and that was that.

In the confusion, the orcs did not know where to strike. Whether at the monster in their midst, or the monster in the sky - some took shots at Rhea with their arrows, a few bouncing off of her blood red scales - but they did not concern her. Ari kept her hands in their position, keeping the channel of power from the Earth to feed the Golem's, only deviating to give him signals when he needed more instructions.

When he was done, the orcs around him decimated, he looked up at Ari for permission and when she gave it, sunk silently back into the earth, dissipating into sand once again. Ari stopped the flow of energy and gave a shuddering breath. She looked around and nodded to herself, then leaned her forehead against Rhea's cool red scales. She was paler than before, but none the worse for wear.

There were more orcs though and they were coming fast - at least another 100 of them.

Rhea snaked her head to look back at Fire and gave him a draconic grin. Without a word, she bellowed a triumphant note and began to fly towards the oncoming orcs, her tail beckoning Fire to follow and join her.

 

[cats]

Amber

IC: As the golem tore the troops bellow many of the orcs scattered fleeing from lighting, fire, and stone fists. Before long we had reduced there number to half leaving a portly 100 troops.

Fire flew close behind Rhea as per her instructions. The pair booth reared back there heads and let loose the pride of all dragons the joint breath weapons of fire and lighting both with as much power as they could muster. The result was a fearsome and spectacular display, but left them unable to use there breath weapons for several minutes.

A green fire storm landed like the force of nature it was, the orc cought in it dissolved into black skeletons, the white sand turned to black glass. The victims didn't even have a chance to scream.

From Fire's mouth came a torrent of soft white energy across the black sky. The line splintered and fell in all directions free of any control save its own, all points hitting the ground in unison and then came the flash of lighting, the electricity rushing skyward. A deafening crack of thunder stunned the orcs bellow and the ground sizzled briefly.

I gestured once summoning a simple steel spear and leaped from Fires back to the ground bellow. The lance tip pointed down and connected with an orcs shoulder softening my fall.

I quickly drew Adamant and swung it at the nearest orc cleaving its armor and the orc in two with one hand. I reached back to the lance placed on foot on the dead orc and pulled it free throwing it at a distant orc. The lance hit the orcs skull killing instantly while my hand grabbed the bottom of adamant for additional leverage.

I then slashed at three near by orcs killing two and dodging the thirds counter. "Come on down, the orcs are just fine!" I shouted upward unsure if Arianna would here me.

 

[Wolfsister]

Rhea flew directly towards the horde running at them. She bellowed with battle glee, arching her neck back and issuing sticky crimson flames in unison with Fire's lightning arcs. She turned her head and blinked at him, grinning with euphoria, That was fun! Let's do it again! She hadn't minded the temporary loss of her breath. It had exhilirated her more than anything - but just then Amber leapt off Fire's back and put herself directly into Rhea's line for fire. So Rhea pulled up and away, taking Arianna away with her.

Arianna tapped her on her shoulder and she snaked her head back to look at her. Speaking into their mental connection, her tone was irritated when she spoke, And what do you want?

Ari crossed her arms, matching her actions to her words. Oh come now, Rhea. Amber has invited me to the fray. Land and lay waste with tooth and claw. You'll get more satisfaction that way. She gave the large dragon a warning glance, And don't you give me that tone, either.

Rhea grunted deep in her chest and flew around back towards the battle. She supposed that getting blood on her claws would be worth the exhiliaration she would feel as she rended the troublesome green skins limb from limb.

She banked and Ari slid off of her back, using the air around her like a cushioning pocket to float towards the ground. Once on her two feet, she flashed a grin at Rhea, her emotions streaking through their bond as she whooped with pleasure while drawing her twin scimitars.

She danced forwards on the balls of her feet, slashing a nearby orc across the thick artery in his neck. She left him to bleed to death and went to meet her next opponent. A cudgel the size of her leg came crashing down towards her but she deftly blocked it, her sword enchanted to never rust, break, chip or dullen. She swiped under with her other sword and slashed upwards through the orc's groin, splitting him in two.

Two more rushed her, each brandishing their weapons. She swept into the inside of them and lunged forwards, pushing FireWing into the warm, gooey depths of one orc's lung. Calling forth her power, she channeled power along her arm and down her blade, igniting it inside the orc. He screamed and howled in pain as she pulled her blade free, still flaming and lopped off the head of the other orc.

She headed towards Amber and when they were back to back, her maniacal laughter rose from her throat, "Ah you were right!"

 

[Angelus]

Alezal simply nodded. There were no words that he could say other than what he already had. He just sat there looking up at her and the only thing he could think was Say something you idiot. You at least owe her that much.

He took a deep breath as he looked at her, "I- I don't know how to explain it but I have this rare ability to talk to you and sense what you are thinking even when you are blocking everyone out. I thought you would have noticed by now but when you never said anything I did not say anything to you."

He grabbed a long stick from the edge of the fire and started to poke the fire with it, trying to think of anything to say. He knew that he should say anything to her and the feeling that they had for each other but he could not think of a thing to say. He felt as though he were a boy asking a girl to dance with him for the first time. It felt as though every word was stuck in his throat. He took a deep breath to clear his throat before he looked back up at Cherise.

"I'm sorry Cherise for going into your thoughts. I will try not to do it again. I have to speak to you about what we said earlier. We have never talked about the feelings we obviously have for each other for which I am sorry. I should have told you how I felt since I first felt them so now I will. I have feelings for you Cherise; from the first day I saw you I have had feelings for you. I wish I could have told you from that first day but I never knew how you felt about me and I regret never telling you."

As the words left him Alezal wished that he could get to his feet and take Cherise in his arms. He sat there though and looked at her because for the first time he did not know what she was feeling or what thoughts were running through her head.

 

[Kalika84]

Cherise looked over at Alezal as he explained. "I suppose it speaks volumes about our feelings for each other if you can get through my blocks. I appreciate you trying not too, but I do not know how well that will work." this last was said with a soft laugh.

"I am glad we can be honest with each other. I feel very strongly for you too," she smiled as she could sense he was restraining himself and took his hand in hers and drew lines on his palm with her nail. "Apparently I am not so shy now that I know you feel the same. But, I do not want this to affect us in battle or our Knight duties. I also do not know how the others would take it. Somehow I think Shar is going to throw a party however."

Speaking of Shar she could hear the twin beats of wings and soon thereafter the dragons landed before them and dropped a deer haunch on the dirt. I see you two finally got your act together. Shar dropped the skinned deer haunch on the burning embers.

Cherise just smiled at Shar and had completely forgotten she was still holding Alezal's hand in hers.

 

[Angelus]

The moment Anoth landed he knew that something was different. He could feel it in the air and when he looked at Alezal and Cherise he knew that something had happened between the two of them. It was then that he saw Cherise holding Alezal's hand.

What took you too so long to say something? I swear that if you did not have the lives you did that you would not have said anything. Humans.

He looked over at Shar and could instantly tell that she was thinking the exact same thing. He wanted to ask her how long she had known but he knew that it had been for a while.

Alezal just smiled at Anoth. As he sat there with his hand in Cherise's he knew it was the only place he wanted to be. He slowly began to run his fingers over the back of her hand, all thoughts of food, sleep and battles forgotten.

"It will not affect anything between us or the other knights Cherise. Just because we care for each other I will protect the others with my life. I gave my word on that when I became a knight. As for how it might affect the other knights, it.... shouldn't."

It was then that he thought about Amber and how she would react when she found out. He wondered how everyone would react when they found out. As he thought about it more he found that he did not worry. He was with the one person that he wanted to be with, the one person who meant more to him than he could ever put into words. He felt truly happy.

With that he turned and kissed Cherise softly on the lips.

 

[Kalika84]

"It will not affect anything between us or the other knights Cherise. Just because we care for each other I will protect the others with my life. I gave my word on that when I became a knight. As for how it might affect the other knights, it.... shouldn't."

Cherise could not wipe the smile off her face. She was glad it would not affect their 'working' relationship. However she did not think Amber would be unaffected by it. She might possibly get quite upset. Cherise was never sure with Amber.

But then Cherise stopped thinking altogether. Oh. Alezals warm lips touched hers and her mind ground to halt. Well accept for the mental cheering Shar was whooping up. Smiling against Alezals mouth she closed her eyes and tipped her forehead against his.

"We really should rest. We have many orcs to kill tomorrow."

She really did hope the others took it as well as Alezal hoped.

 

[Angelus]

As soon as they moved apart Cherise said something about getting some rest as they had some orcs to kill the next day. There was something else he could feel though. She was worried about something. He wanted to ask her what she was worried about but he knew that she would tell him when she wanted to. He looked at her as she smiled at him and felt a mental push from Anoth telling him to kiss her again. He knew that he wanted to above everything else. He stopped himself though and just smiled at her.

"I think you are right. We should get some rest. I think that tomorrow is going to be a very interesting day. There is one more thing though."

He moved over the fire, a knife in his hand and cut a large piece from the still cooking deer. Once he had cut off enough he moved back towards Cherise and sat down next to her. As he held the steaming deep in his hands he looked at her with a smile.

"Would you like some?"

Is that all you can think about right now? Your stomach and what you can put into it? Anoth said.

No. I have other thoughts. It is just that I cannot think of them right now.

That brought forth a laugh from Anoth.

 

[cats]

Amber

IC: The tempest had landed and it wasn't long before she lit her swords aflame. I smiled remembering old times. Old times... It is funny how things changed last she and I fought side by side no one else was against a small town militia some 170ish years ago. A minor uprising against the knights, the dragons, and the elves; people don't like change and I was no exception. At the time my new life as combatant and leader was not wanted by me in the least. So when Arianna asked me to quell the armed rebels with her I nearly begged she pick some one else. She told me that she herself did not wish to go but must, however we would try diplomacy. I reluctantly went along hoping diplomacy may work.

In the end she and I found ourselves fighting for our lives rather then peace. Aparently killing us was the only way to reverse the change forced on this human militia. It was in that place that Arianna and I became as sisters united by the strong bonds of growth. That day we both realized battle is somtimes unavoidable.

Now many years later I stood with Arianna again. The pair of us in battle and neither one of us seemed to disapointed at the need for blood shed. How things have changed.

The orcs were advancing on my position and I smiled. "Red rover, red rover, Send Fire right over!" Then with a crash Fire Opal came down crushing two orcs beneath his talons. He grabbed a third in his mouth then turn sweeping the ground with his tail and letting lose the one his mouth which flew a great distance away.

With Arianna on one side of me and Fire Opal at my back I could focus on one direction of the battle. I swaped Adamant to my right hand and cleaved threw the axe of one orc and into his flesh. I geastured with my left and said a single word summoning a rake under the foot of another, the rake poped up and hit the orc in the face breaking its nose. I then skillfully removed its head with another swing.

 

[Wolfsister]

Rhea roared as she soared above the heads of the dissarrayed orcs below her. She reveled in the chance to sink her claws and teeth into some flesh and bone. It had been too long, much too long, since she had been able to unleash her wilder side. Her true inner dragon.

She roared again spied a group of five orcs directly below her. She landed a few feet away, taking a running leap back towards them and snaking her head forward to snap up a tasty morsel in her teeth. The orc went down screaming.

She flicked her tail around and speared two orcs in a row, their limp bodies hanging from the sharp barb she sported on her scaly appendage. Rhea gave another roar and shifted her body around when a few spears bounced off her scales. One lodged painfully between her wing and her back and she bellowed with the pain. Arianna wincing and crying out a few feet away.

The orc that had landed the painful blow grinned, waving his axe above his head in triumph. His look of pleasure however was soon replaced with a shocked expression. Rhea gave him a toothy grin as he looked down and saw the sparkling silver tip of FireWing protruding from his chest. A minute later, all thought vanished as DaggerClaw lopped off his head.

My Sweet! Are you alright? Ari's concerned voice rang inside Rhea's head and the dragon gave a snort of derision.

It will take much more than this to stop me, Dear One. As if to prove her point, she suddenly swung her tail around and its barbed tip speared through the head of an orc that had been coming around to take Arianna from behind. She gave another snort as she picked the dead orc off her tail and promptly swallowed him. Again she tried to shift around, orcs coming at her from all sides. She winced though and Arianna gave a gasp of pain.

Rhea snaked her head backwards and briefly inspected her wound. The spear was still stuck inbetween her scales, its metal tip grating against her tender muscles. She grimaced, baring her teeth and curling her head back around to blink at her Knight. Well, perhaps you should at least take the thing out.... she grumbled and tried not to shift too much as Arianna scrambled onto her back and worked the spear free.

A few words from her Knight's mouth and Rhea could suddenly move and flex her wing again. She gave a roar and tried to avoid the admonishing look from Ari. Thank you, dear one.

Hrumph, so you should be. Then Ari was running off and throwing herself into the fray, once again protecting her friend Amber's back.

 

[Kalika84]

Cherise smiled at Alezal and accepted some of the deer. "Thankyou..." She decided not to use an endearment yet, "Alezal. I am so hungry I could eat a horse...or deer as the case may be." She smiled and laughed with him.

A soft snoring had Cherise looking over at Shar who had passed out next to Anoth. The two dragons forming a v with their bodies. Their rumps together, tails entwined and wings resting on eachother to make a canopy for the humans to sleep under.

Finishing off her meat Cherise rose and looked down at Alezal. "Well. Bed now I suppose. I um...you can pick your sleeping place first, and next time you can owe me." Smiling at him she held her hand out to help him up.

Walking over to the sleeping dragons she waiting while Alezal decided where he wanted to sleep. "Besides, the sooner we sleep, the sooner we get to kill some orcs. Just what I always wanted." Laughing softly again Cherise idly stroked Shar's scales.

 

[Angelus]

Alezal accepted help from Cherise and got to his feet before moving towards where Anoth and Shar slept. Part of him did not want to sleep at this moment as he wanted to spend as much time with Cherise as he could. He knew though that if he did he would be not good to anyone, especially his fellow nights in the battle to come. As he looked at the two dragons he wondered what it was going to be like the next day. He wanted to go into battle sitting on top of Anoth but he also wanted to be here with Cherise.

Alezal moved towards where Anoth lay, ran his fingers over his scales and smiled. He loved being with Anoth more than anything; more than life itself. It was then that he looked at Cherise and was surprised to feel just how much he felt for her. She meant as much to him as anything else in this world. He slowly lay down on the ground and as he did he kept his eyes on Cherise. He wanted to lay with her more than he could find the right words to say.

"I guess that I have picked where I am going to sleep. Now it is time for you to pick your place. Next time though you will have the first choice."

 

[Kalika84]

Cherise smiled at Alezal and laid down next to him. Curling in towards his body heat she closed her eyes, sighed and fell into a deep sleep. This had never been a problem for her...and while she was not ready for too much intimacy she knew that she wanted to sleep beside him.

Shar's approval washed over the both of them as she curled her neck around to help enclose where they lay, also helping keep the heat in. Speaking to both of them even though Cherise had already fallen asleep she said, Sleep now little ones. We will watch over you.

Speaking only to Alezal she murmured, I will wake you at dawns light. And i would be remiss in my duties if I did not mention that if you break her heart, I will not be responsible for my actions Dragon Knight. Her warm tone however assured him she still liked even cared for him and was only saying these things out of her love for Cherise.

Sleep.