Topic: The Challenge

Celeste Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-13 09:45 EST
::The massive blue dragoness dropped from the clouds and opened her wings with a loud snap, pumping her wings to hover in the air. Directly below her was the home of her son and their family. However, she did not attack. She merely glared down at the waterfall before opening her jaws and giving a thunderous roar that shook the very mountains, causing stones to become loose and tumble down the mountainside.::

"Mate to Aurthurius Shimmerscale, show yourself! I call a temporary truce so that we may speak! You have my word that i shall not attack!" ::The truce would more than likely be only temporary, but she was a dragon of her word, and she would not attack anyone on this particular visit.::

Icer1978

Date: 2008-02-13 10:08 EST
Ears flattened at the roar, and the blue moved for the entrance of the lair, eyes narrowing as she stuck her head out of the waterfall.

I swear if you wake our hatchlings.., what do you want.., sure she sounded irritable, but lack of sleep would do that to you.

Ice blue eyes remained on Celeste as she waited for an answer.

Celeste Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-13 12:45 EST
::She had the air about her of one bored of the situation, and her wings continued to flap lazily as she stared at the head hanging out of the waterfall.::

I want you, Icer Shimmerscale, to get out here now, and talk to me woman to woman. That is of course.......if you have the courage to do so."

Icer1978

Date: 2008-02-13 14:26 EST
Courage.., snorting as eyes remained narrowed on Celeste, I have plenty of courage, and hatchlings to care for.

Still she moved from the lair, taking wing to meet Celeste face to face even though she was much smaller than the other. Tell me Celeste.., tell me the reason one abandons their young, I would love to know.

Ice blue eyes met the eyes of the dragoness before her, remaining hovering nearby. Then...tell me what ye are doing around our lair.., I assured Aurthur I would give you a chance Celeste, here is your chance now, explain yourself.

Celeste Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-14 09:50 EST
"Aurthur was weak as a child, and it was both his father and I's opinion that he wouldn't live past the week, that is why we abandoned him. Imagine my surprise years later when i find that he not only survived, but killed my mate in the process!" ::She hissed loudly.:: "In my personal opinion, the easiest way to get back at him is to kill him, but that would be much to simple. No, i want him to suffer like I have!"

Icer1978

Date: 2008-02-14 10:06 EST
We both have suffered enough Celeste, eyes narrowed on the dragoness before her. I told you I would give you a chance, it would be wise not to irritate me any further, now...I suggest you either calm down, or find another cavern to stalk about.

Celeste Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-14 22:02 EST
::The dragoness laughed darkly at Icer.:: "Child, this is more than like the calmest you will ever see me. If not for my word, i would tear your wings from your body right this moment and happily watch you plummet to the ground."

Icer1978

Date: 2008-02-14 22:50 EST
I'm sure you'd enjoy that, her voice still holding the irritation, before she turned, gliding back to the well warded entrance, she had nothing more to say to Celeste, and she disappeared back inside.

She had little choice, tired and irritable as Celeste had woken her from slumber she so needed, she had to retreat, it was either that, or she was gonna snap on her mate's mother, so for now, she would rest again.

Celeste Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-14 23:13 EST
::She snarled as Icer turned her back on her, but made no moves to attack her, holding true to her word by that bond alone.:: "You will regret this day, Icer Shimmerscale! No one EVER turns their back to me, and when next we meet, i shall not be so kind to you, my son, or any of your family!" ::With that, she turned and headed off into the mountains.::

Icer1978

Date: 2008-02-15 11:26 EST
She grinned hearing the words before diving back out of the lair, circling around the pass to intercept Celeste before she had gotten far.

You are pitiful Celeste...you wake me from slumber I so need then threaten violence against my family and Kin, ::eyes narrowing as she looked the larger one back in the eye, you will do nae such things, and WILL leave us in peace.

Snowstorm

Date: 2008-02-15 11:38 EST
She had been watching from above as the whole scene unfolded, a scowl upon her ghostly muzzle at the larger dragoness's words to her daughter, and as soon as Celeste took flight toward the mountains, she would go to work.

The wind once calm and serene would stay that way around the young one as she reapproached, but would howl and batter the body of the one that gave bitter threats against family, she didn't have to show herself to protect those she loved.

Snow would add in as a blizzard surrounded the bitter hearted one, winds threatening to blow the dragoness off course into the mountains as the snow threatened to blind.

Celeste Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-18 11:36 EST
::The large dragoness hissed in outrage as she was blindsided by another, dropping low and evasively heading into the forest nearby. How a dragon of her size could get in without damage was anyones guess, but not only did she manage it, she also seemed to disappear altogether, though her voice was unmistakable, and quite clearly heard.:: "It is YOU who is the pitiful one, dragoness! You cannot even fight me woman to woman, you depend on the help of others to take me down! Not that i blame you. Your too small and weak to take me on your own. No matter.......You can hunt me all you want, bring as many allies as you would like......because i have my own allies, Shimmerscale! And some of them are just dying for a chance to get back at you....or rather i should say.......have already died and are just waiting!" ::There was a dark cackle from the woods before her voice disappeared, floating away on the winds.::

Icer1978

Date: 2008-02-18 15:43 EST
At least I'm not a pitiful thing with a black withered heart Celeste, she sat and grinned, watching as the larger seemed to retreat into the forest.

Your not worth the time or effort to battle anyway, I've better things to do, perhaps she was taunting.

She knew what she was doing though, sitting there, waiting, a glance given to the wingpouch she wore, calling out to the bitter Elder. , can't catch me!

She then took wing, flying through the forest, not looking back behind her, she knew Celeste would take the bait, twisting and turning, she flew over and under, weaving her way through the thicker forested area, she knew if Celeste followed, the larger would have a time getting through the thick forest growth without getting her wings tangled, size would be an advantage.

Celeste Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-18 20:31 EST
::The sound of trees cracking and snapping signaled that the bait had indeed been taken, followed by an earthshaking roar. Celeste was in hot pursuit of the dragoness, and if she had her way, this forest would be her burial ground. However, this was not to be. The trees confined her to the ground, and a dragon run was not near as fast as flying. She couldn't keep pace, and she had no room to extend her gigantic wings.

Being the prideful beast that she was, she refused to shrink in size, and instead took to burning sections of the forest. When a large enough section was cleared, she took flight, following in Icer's wake. However, as she rounded a bend, she was caught off guard as she slammed to a sudden halt. Two massive trees had appeared from seemingly nowhere, and she was stuck! She thrashed her body and her tail, but it was no use, she wasn't going anywhere!:: "When i get my hands on you, you little brat, you'll wish you had never hatched!!!!"

Darkmere Alcar

Date: 2008-02-18 21:00 EST
And in a blur of shadows, that seemed to seep from the darkness. A cloaked form appeared a few feet in front of the trapped dragoness. Golden hues peering out of the hood, as he watched her thrashing around. He mused to himself mentally, about not being able to put her down. Finally he spoke.

"Can't allow that to happen. I give you this choice once. Think carefully before answering." The words coming out in a chilling tone of being a one time offer. He waited a moment, for those words to sink in. Then continued, using the same final tone in his voice.

"If you want your sone back...You will listen to my words. Your son is happy with his mate, and with his family. If you wish to have anything to do with him. You will accpet that fact. Do it not, and you will find out what real suffering is. What do you say?" A slow devilish smirk crossed his lips as he would wait for an answer. Golden hues peering darkly into the eyes of the trapped dragon.

Celeste Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-18 21:12 EST
::As the form appeared in front of her, she snapped her jaws at it, but listen she did, and she hissed, spitting.:: "I shall find out what real suffering is....." From you? ::She laughed darkly, her eyes boring into his.:: "Once i get unstuck from these trees, the only ones who are going to suffer are that dragoness and my son. Leave now, and i will spare you the agony that they will endure. Their children are innocents and shall be left alone. Now stand away, lest you wish to feel the heat of my flames on your flesh!"

Darkmere Alcar

Date: 2008-02-18 21:21 EST
He chuckled to her words, before going silent. "No. The only one to suffer will be you, unless you wish to be trapped within your own mind. Think carefully. If you kill your son and his mate. You will place their hatchlings..in the same place your son was once in." He smirked slowly, as he tilted his head slightly.

"Is that what you want' To make those innocent hatchlings suffer, because of your pittifull vengence? If that is so..then you will leave me no choice but to make you suffer." He seemed to want that, as those shadows started to dance around his form. Wanting to be let loose against the dragon in front of him.

Celeste Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-18 21:30 EST
::bracing her talons into the ground for leverage, she tried to pull herself free from the trees, and when she couldn't, instead tried to lunge forward, snapping her jaws at the figure in front of her.:: "Aurthur was weak before he even left the shell, that is why his father and I left him! We didnt figure he would last the day, let alone years! His children are within an orphanage, and even if those two are dead, someone will take their place!"

::She hissed loud and long, narrowing her eyes.:: "You keep telling me that im going to suffer if i do this or that, but i think it's YOU who is going to suffer once i break free of these blasted trees! Besides, your nothing to me, and there is nothing that you could possibly do to make me suffer! I fear you no more than i fear the worms beneath the soil!"

Darkmere Alcar

Date: 2008-02-18 21:41 EST
"So be it then." He stepped back from the snapping jaws, as he lifted his right hand. Those shadows shot forward, aimming to wrap around her. Their intent would be to bring up the deepest and darkest memories. Not the pleasent ones either. The memories that would show up. Would be the ones of Celeste's past, and the things she had suffered.

Yet they would seemed to be trapped on a loop. Always repeating, but there was more added into it now. The suffering of Aurthur and Icer's hatchlings to losing their parents. Granted, it hadn't happened just yet. But it was a small glimpse into their furture. "This will be your fate, should you continue this path. If you were wish...You would heed my words. Unless you care nothing for your son."

Celeste Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-18 21:49 EST
::The memories spun in an endless movie of sorts, shifting through her head until she clenched her eyes shut and placed her claws over her ears, gritting her teeth in an attempt to get it all to go away. The decision to leave Aurthur's egg, the death of her husband at her own son's claws, everything that she had suffered, all of the pain was coming back to her in one large lump. Her hind legs clawed at the ground, and her tail thrashed violently.:: "STOP IT! STOP IT RIGHT NOW! This ISN'T real! This isn't happening again!" ::She roared out in agony, in frustration, in loss, in pain as the torture continued.::

Darkmere Alcar

Date: 2008-02-18 21:58 EST
He lowered his hand now, calling off the memories. His once golden hues were now pitch black. He was done being resonable now. "Like I said. That will be your fate for all time. They are my family, and if I must. I will go against your son's wishes. He won't let anyone kill you. I am offering you the chance..to be apart of his life." His tone was emotionless now. Once again, he waitted for that to sink in.

"If you continue to wish Aurthur and Icer harm...You will face a fate worse than that. And trust me when I say this...I would prefer that, but I wish to honor your son's request. Let go of your vengence towards him. He has every right to do what he done." Oh he fully understand Authur's choice. Seeing how he had one point in his life done the same.

"If you truelly love your son. You will stop this, before more suffer. What is your choice" To stop or to continue?" His tone once again holding that aura of this being a final choice.

Celeste Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-18 22:06 EST
::The huge dragoness fell absolutely limp as the memories came to a halt at last. She panted for breath as though she had just flown around the world twice in a day, her great sides heaving and her scales were considerably dulled with her fatigue at trying to fight the memories. All that she had seen, her own pain and misery, mixed with that of literally dozens upon dozens of children.......was almost more than even she could bear. She had suffered much since the death of her mate, and yet, seeing all of what Aurthur had suffered throughout his life growing up alone, and seeing the pain and suffering that she herself would inflict by killing not only him but his mate......Her pain was obsolete. She couldn't do it......even if they were both standing before her right at this moment, she couldn't kill them, either one of them.::

"Aurthur would not want me in his life.......only now do i understand why he did what he has done. Leave me, for i will persue him and his mate no longer........When i am stronger, i will free myself from the trees and go on my way."

Darkmere Alcar

Date: 2008-02-18 22:17 EST
He watched her laying there a moment, taking note to the change in her actions and of her color being much duller. Part of him was glad nothing more seemed to be needed at the moment. After a few long silent moments, he spoke again. "I will hold you to your vow that you will not harm them, or try to harm them again. If you do so...My vow to your son is off. " His form started to disappear now.

In an act of fate, the trees that had trapped her. Started to bend, allowing her to free herself. Dark knew this could be risky, but it showed he was trusting her to hold true to her word.

Celeste Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-18 22:43 EST
::She backed herself out of the trees, but she said nothing to him, she simply curled up there on the ground once she had been freed. She made no aggressive moves towards him, just curled herself up in a ball on the forest floor. She did not cry, nor did she shiver or shake......she just laid there, thinking.:: "What have i done.....?"

Icer1978

Date: 2008-02-19 00:43 EST
She had been watching from a safe spot, until she had seen the change in Celeste's demeaner. Slowly, she moved toward her brother and her mate's mother, easing over to the larger one's side, giving her a careful nudge.

Come on Celeste, lets get you to the lair before you catch a chill, her tone not at all angery, almost seeming to try and soothe the large female ,and showing that she actually did care.

SnowPearl

Date: 2008-02-19 00:47 EST
Clicking her talons she moved over to help her mother with her father's mother. Weary she nudged up the dragoness and sighed," Yes come, please, so we can help..." Closing her eyes she folded her wings as she gave the dragoness support.

Celeste Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-19 09:33 EST
::The large dragoness did not refuse the help of the other two, nor did she make any move at all that could be considered violent. In fact, she could almost be called docile now. After the images that she had seen, her spirit had been broken, and the was no more will to fight. But she was not just dead weight, she did support herself to her feet, and she was able to fly, but a small part of her was thankful for the support, though she deserved it not.::

Michael

Date: 2008-02-20 12:25 EST
He was woken up again. "I wonder how the hatchling sleep through this, I need to soundproof myself in sleep one day." He had heard threats and he was tired and now annoyed. "I am taking a guess, Father's Mother." HE knew he wouldn't be answered but he would wait till he could talk to Mother or Father.

Icer1978

Date: 2008-02-21 10:47 EST
Come on Celeste, lets get you home. Her word were not bitter in the least as she helped support the larger dragoness on one side, slowly, carefully leading the way from the pair of ancient oaks from which she had led the elder.

Looking over to her daughter, she nodded, then gave a smile to Celeste as she kept a leisurely pace, she had heard the words from her mate's mother to her brother, and was satisfied, plus, the elder was Kin.

Even if she didn't think she deserved it.

Coming to a stop a moment as they approached the lake, she grinned and called out to her beloved. I am home love....We are home.

Michael

Date: 2008-02-25 11:01 EST
The seventeen year old appeared next to Mother. "Whats going on?" He asked skeptical of the new dragon. He had his sheathed katana in hand.

Celeste Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-25 11:51 EST
::The elder dragoness let herself be led, yet her eyes remained down, not seeing anything, not hearing. She was off in her own world, lost in her thoughts of what she had seen, what she had heard when that magic had been used upon her. Back then, she had thought she had done what was best for her child.....rather than he be born and suffer, she left his egg, thinking it would never hatch, and he would never know pain. Instead, she had caused him more pain, and then when he had sought retribution, she blamed him and sought to kill him. She was no mother, nor did she deserve to be.::

Aurthur Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-25 11:53 EST
::Aurthur had heard his mate's call, but for the first time, he did not answer her, nor did he go to her. He knew that his mother was there, and he did not want to see her this close, for he didn't know how he would react. It would be a long time, if ever, that he grew to have feelings for his mother again. He stayed in their bedchambers with the new hatchlings, and he waited for her. He knew that one thing was certain; he would never call her mother again.::

Icer1978

Date: 2008-02-25 19:00 EST
She led Celeste further into the lair, and into one of the spare guest rooms, waiting for the Elder dragoness to get comfortable.

A light nudge to the Elder, along with a smile, before she turned, looking back. If you need anything Celeste, just ask me.

Nudging the door closed carefully, she then slid toward their room, and her mate, moving to gently nuzzle him.

Aurthur Shimmerscale

Date: 2008-02-26 07:58 EST
::He nuzzled her in return as she came to him, and he settled his wing over her and the hatchlings.:: I do not feel comfortable with her here, love. How can we be certain that she has changed? That dragoness is not my mother, nor has she ever been. She could very well be trying to get at me again.

Michael

Date: 2008-02-26 12:43 EST
When they got back to the lair he watched as the elder dragon settled and then moved to his room without a word. He slowly closed the door. "Hmm..."

Icer1978

Date: 2008-02-28 18:37 EST
Snuggling into her mate's wing and stealing a kiss., I do my love, whatever my brother spoke to her about seems to have changed her demeanor.

Not once after they spoke, did she try to attack me, nor even when I helped her here, and she is still Kin, even though what she did long ago was wrong.

She is welcome here as long as she wishes, and that room is hers.