ragnok looked down at the bodies. "you can start by offering me some of these tasty morsels." and before darthul could say anything against it, ragnok ate them both. he gave out a mighty roar. "i have not had human flesh in ages! since the war started the adventurers have ceased coming to my domain." he turned and looked down towards etos."i must have more!" and with that, ragnok flew down towards etos, determined to eat more human flesh. his crazed roar could be heard from miles away.
Darthul lowered his head in disappointment. The dragons was indeed a symbol of strength, which Ragnok did not doubt to show. However, what Ragnok clearly lacked was the second strength of a dragon: wisdom.
Darthul spread his wings and took his head back, before launching his head forth and creating a fireball that he sent flying as a warning, having it pass Ragnok with only a few inches from his neck. Darthul remained put where he stood tall, looking down at Ragnok.
"The humans have enough conflicts and should NOT be intercepted by our kin. I ask you not to feast on humans. There is a whole world out there with beasts, plenty of them"
A shrill whinny woke Aliera from the half sleeping state that had set in as she closed her eyes without worry for the first time in what seemed to be years, though she knew in reality it had been around two or three days. Cool, humid air thick with the dew it promised to scatter across the land grazed her face, serving to rouse her more and more each passing moment. As she blinked all traces of sleep from her eyes her mouth fell open slightly. Past Mottise who was tossing his head and dipping in the sky, she took in the breathtaking hues of fiery orange and pink and pale, serene yellow as the sun rose determinedly over mountains in the not so far off distance.
For weeks she had used her power to keep a cloud cover over the camps, to deter enemies. It seemed the sun blazed with arrogance and spite at Aliera's ignorance. The warm rays that illuminated her pale face rendered it's forgiveness. For the first time in months, Aliera smiled.
Picking up on the at least momentary assurance his mistress felt, Mottise whinnied once more, and eyed the ground below, ducking through a few low hanging clouds. At Aliera's signal he outstretched his forlegs, and lifted his wings upward and nearly vertically. His back legs tucked in, He stared intently as the ground got closer and closer. Finally his hooves slammed into the ground. Immediately his back legs absorbed the shock, and forced the strong, muscular body forward at a gallop. He pinned his wings to his side, tossing his head and enjoying the feeling of four powerful hooves on the ground, before coming to a stop beside a river, where, after Aliera slid off of him carefully, he lowered his head to drink.
Aliera patted her steed's neck as he drank thirstily, and rested her hea don his powerful, muscular neck. He lifted his nose to nuzzle her, showering her with droplets of water as he breathed out. A soft, content breathe escaped her throat. Aliera knew their fight was not over, but they had taken the first step.
Mottise's ears pricked suddenly, swiveling to and fro. Aliera stood and placed a hand on her dagger.
Someone is here...
Séverine could see a small firethrew the trees. It was only a small walk away. And the faint smell of food had filled the air. She didnt know who this fire belonged to but she know that it was the wrong side of the river for the Army of the Union. She leaned against a tree not knowing what to do. If she approached them they could be soldiers from her army and what explantion would she give them for leaving camp in the middle of the night. She decided that she would need to get closer to have a better look.
If they were guards she would turn back, if not she woud approach them.
Siegfried stood quickly, Ariana at the ready. He had been sleeping, for how long, he could not know, and suddenly heard the sound of footsteps snapping nearby twigs and leaves around the border of the clearing. He cursed himself for letting his guard down, circling the inner part of the camp as though it would somehow help him to presume from which direction they were coming.
You imbecile! Now you've done it. You've let yourself get caught! The voice echoed throughout his skull, piercing every inch of his soul with its abrasive nature.
Yes, you've been found. Now what to do? Where to go? They'll see you hang for your post deserting. This one, more shrill than the first, was perhaps the most annoying of the three he'd been contending with since the incident. He found the high pitch always brought him a headache afterward, and he was growing moreso annoyed with them as time passed.
The footsteps grew nearer, and he could not focus, his head splitting in two as the voices continued their reprimands, neither clearer than the other, until they became naught but the empty echo of screaming, piercing the innermost sanctum of his mind with a proverbial sword and twisting until pain pressed throughout and he could take no more.
"ENOUGH!!!" He jumped as they stopped suddenly, his own voice seeming to carry through the woods surrounding him. If he hadn't been found yet, that outburst would have done it. Thoroughly annoyed with the fact that he now had no place to make base until he was able to figure out his grand scheme, Siegfried gathered his supplies and sat, sword next to him, pondering what to do next. If someone found him before he relocated, then he would just have to deal with them in whatever manner was deemed necessary.
"Come on Uln! You're a wolf. You're supposed to be able to find food and water," Ukral hissed harshly. "Stupid mutt" He tugged on the rope hard and continued to walk through the forest. Uln's ears raised suddenly and he started to growl. "Rabbit!" Ukral whispered. He released the rope and Uln ran off after it.
Severine turned around and faced Cali! 'The same as what would happen to you, I noticed that you also left camp too. Anyway I'm done with fighting an with an army that has lost its true meaning. They aint looking to find peace, just to take over as much as the land of the Vials as they can. I wish we could all just live in peace and harmony with each other.' She looked at Cali and sighed. 'I am trying to get over there' Severine said pointing across the ocean. I heard that Etos is the opposite to Teos. I even heard its so peacful there. And the humans have taken so may refugees in. '
Severine stepped back a little and said, 'Will you join me or turn against me. Its time to make a stand Cali!'
Cali was about to answer when an arrow flew past her face. She was still for a moment, starring at the end of the arrow just a few inches away from her nose. Then she stubbled back and looked at the light of the fire. "Oh my... Oh my... That almost... Oh goodness..." She stood up and dusted herself off, then started walking towards the fire with the arrow in clenched in her fist. "I'm going with you... If I don't.. Thing's like this will happen to you."
Cali sneered and threw the arrow at his feet, the head imbedding into the ground between his feet. "You're laughing?! You almost kill us and you're lauging?! I think not! We will not sit down! Not when you nearly take my nose off!" Severine had yet to show herself, maybe they'd think there were more than two out there... Maybe a whole army for all they know.
Aliera closed her eyes and focused all her attention to her ears. Mottise's own, sensitive ears flicked cautiously. Placing a hand on his muzzle, Aliera gave him a nod, and placed a single delicate finger to her thin, pink lips. Her eyes were deep and purposeful, never blinking as she moved forward steadily, trying to step on as little twigs and dry, crackling leaves as possible. She closed her eyes a few times and steadied her hearbeat as she crept on. Finally, she neared a clearing where deffinate noises ould be detected. Her heart raced.
A sudden, low, feirce cry startled the vial, but she kept her distance held. Unfortunatly her steed was startled too, and immediatly deffensive. With a shrill whinny he came crashing through the underbrush which Aliera had slinked through earlier. He positioned himself in front of her, just into the clearing, and reared up onto his strung hind legs, slashing with his deadly forhooves at the space that lay between him and someone unknown. Aliera placed a hand on his shoulder and stepped forward as well, trying to calm him as she readied her hand on her dagger, noticing for the first time the cool sweat that blanketed her hand and fingers.
Normally she would not have been worried at all in a situation like this...Many times those of the other faction had ambushed her. Even unwarned, she slaughtered them near efortlessly, or at least easily enough. Even four at once, at times. So why now, was she so nervous? The answer was clear in her mind. Because she was a criminal. She wold be tried and hanged in the most brutal of ways, before people who would shake their heads and comment on how much she had amounted up to over time.
The sudden thought aggrivated her and she felt provoked to speak to the man who stood before her, a large sword in hand. He was one like she had never seen before, and Aliera was filled with curiosity.
" State your alliance! "
The general lifted her dagger slightly as she spoke.
Siegfried turned, slowly gathering that perhaps he had been followed. He cursed those voices, the bane of his existence in this day and age. The steed had given her away, and he had gathered Ariana before she had managed to come into the clearing, standing at the ready. He sat back down, noting her nerves were on edge. She may be daring, but she was still green, as far as he was concerned. He stuck his sword in the ground, a sign that he wanted no unnecessary confrontation, if possible.
"Currently? None of your concern. I think you're a bit too nervous with that little knife of yours, and should watch where you're pointing it, however. No doubt if I choose to name an alliance, it would spur most disagreeable circumstances now, owing to the difference in people's opinions as of late, though I think we both agree that it is most predominate that the war end rather than the people of Teos join factions that would shroud the eyes of their followers. Then again, we may not."
He sensed her angst, the dagger she held still pointed at him, no doubt, though there was no threat. He'd fought less threatening than this, though something about her held an air of mystique... It would beuseful to have her along if he ran into a larger bout of trouble beyond his control, though it rarely happened. And despite the fact that he would rather lose his sword than work with someone, it would be nice to have an extra set of eyes around since he was being hunted.
"You can drop the kitchen utensil, girl. I'm in no mood to fight you. Besides, judging from your nerves, you're just as bad off as I right now. Sit, take a rest. Civility would be most welcome, considering my circumstances."
He had said enough, or so he thought. If he let slip that he was on the run, this Vial could very easily make life a literal Hell for him. Perhaps, though, he could pass himself off as some form of mercenary? He would have to see what occurred in the forthcoming moments...