::All had been quiet around the Shimmerscale lair for some time, so Aurthur had since decided to lessen the guards around the lair, the their great relief. Most of them had families of their own that they had little seen.

It was a nice, warm day, and Aurthur decided to take a stroll down to the Shimmerscale graveyard, where their kin were buried. He had a grave that he had meant to pay a visit to recently, and had just not found the time to do so.

The headstone read simply 'Alexander Lasair', his mate's adoptive father, and his own friend and mentor. Alex had chosen to be buried here, at the Shimmerscale lair, so that he may hear the voices and laughter of the children, even in his place in the afterlife.

"Hello my friend, I know that I am overdue in my visit, and I apologize, for things have been very hectic as of late. I am sure that you know of the events that have occurred, after all, you do watch over us from your place above.

I do miss you, my friend, and there have been many times that I could have used your council, and your wisdom. But I have been doing well enough, I suppose." *He laid an iceflower upon the grave, one of the flowers that grew in abundance near the lair. He stood there for longer, in silence, just looking at the grave, and wishing to fly with his mentor once more.*

*It was on his way to the lair entrance that he happened upon a small, dirty child. The same that he had seen at the Inn, and given the directions to the lair to. It seemed that she had followed his advice after all, and after the bath, no one could complain of her stench.

So with that in mind, he picked the child up in his forearms, and he took her towards the entrance of the lair. The wards suddenly gave a warning, and for what, Aurthur couldn't guess. Perhaps they needed to be restored once again? It was just a child, after all, and he paid it no mind, passing through with the child in his arms.

He took her to one of the empty rooms and laid her in the clean bed, so that she may rest comfortably. They had never turned aside a child in need before, and he saw no reason they should do so now. Once the child was tucked in, he closed the door behind him, and headed to he and his mate's personal chambers.*

*He had been deep in thought about that very question, when he looked up at only the last moment to avoid running his mate over, and he gave a small shrug, making his wings flutter a bit.*

I'm not sure, my dear, the only thing I can come up with is that they are starting to get old and faulty. It may be getting to that time where we have to replace or restore the wards. All I did was bring in another lost child......You remember the one from the Inn, right' The one that stunk to high heaven? I found her outside, she apparently decided to take my advice and come here, for she was sleeping outside.

*It still didn't make any sense to him though, there was no reason that the wards should have gone off. Even in the beginning stages, when the wards were at their weakest, they very rarely had a false alarm, such as this one. Once again, he could only shrug, thinking of nothing else.*

I don't see that there is any reason for concern dear, so I'll get on restoring the wards to full strength, and that should be the end of it.

S/he was in. S/he had slept a while, but had soon roused, not really needing sleep but having done so to pass time and appear as a truly tired child. S/he slipped from the bed, bunny in hand and wandered around the cave, eyes going wide when she 'stumbled' upon the dragons. S/he fidgeted and stared, digging a toe into the ground nervously. "uhm, hello.." Was all she uttered.

I suppose, love...I wonder how Icewing is doing. Ice blue gaze then fell upon the child that stood before them.

She kept quiet as her mate spoke, silently studying the child. She too remembered the bath, it wasn't something she'd forget.

Why, certainly, young one. We have plenty of food here for you to eat. We raise most of our own food. My mate here is much better with the produce than I, but I do well with the cattle, and I have started up a wyvern breeding ground as well. I don't think that you'll want any of that though, that's more of a dragon food than anything else......But before we get you anything to eat, might you tell us your name?

Woe Betide" *Aurthur wrinkled his snout in disgust at that.* I think we may have to think of a new name for you, that is just not a good name at all. Though, it does seem a little fitting, as to the circumstances that you have been living in, and how we found you. But don't worry, you won't have to deal with that anymore. Now, I'll will go get you a good healthy meal made up, so we can get some more weight on you. It looks as though you have went weeks without eating.

*With that, Aurthur moved off towards the food storage area, leaving his mate alone with the child. How exactly did one get the name Woe Betide, and what kind of parents could she previously have had, to have given her such a name" So many questions to this puzzle of a child, and not nearly enough answers.*

"My mommy put me in the trash and told me the monsters would eat me because she didn't want me anymore. She had a lot of men she stayed with and was always putting funny things in her arms and acting sick. I didn't like the men very much either, they were always mean to me and would hit me and mommy never stopped them. She said I was bad and deserved it. Once one of the men broke my arm and mommy told me it was because I was bad. But I didn't like him and he tried to take my bunny away." She eyed the dragoness. "You wont take my bunny, will you?"

"He's afraid of drownding." Nodding vehemently, eyes wide. "Do you promise not to drownded him?" Just raping grammar in the manner of an uneducated urchin. Appearances must be kept up, after all. She clutched the filthy thing tightly to her skinny chest and peeeered up blinking.

Why would I drown him' There was a smile to the child, naturally that of a mother. Not a toothy grin like she had been known to give others.

Watching her mate then as he arrived, she would move out of the way.

I'm sure there is something around my love.

She might have stared. Just for a moment before moving to claim the bunny.

She'd not get rid of it. No, instead it would be taken to be washed. Returning after having snuck the rabbit out of sight, she shook her horned head as she watched the child shovelling food into her mouth.

Easy there.., she had no idea what to name the child. Woe just wasn't fitting. Slow down a little, we don't want any sick bellies.

*Out at the Shimmerscale cemetery*

*Aurthur was once more out at the twin oaks, the are that had been set for the Shimmerscale cemetery. His voice was quiet, and there were tears in his eyes as he sat near the grave of his 'father' and mentor, Alexander Lasair.*

Father......I need you now more than ever. The lair is expanding, and we are trying our very best. But I am not the smartest or the strongest, not like you. I need your guidance. I wish you were still here with us......I remember.....The times that we had together. I remember when you and I would take flights alone, and you would impart your wisdom unto me."

*Aurthur bowed his head and kissed the gravestone of his 'father', showing the utmost respect* "I miss you father......I miss you, and I wish you had not been taken from us. But.....I will do my best. You are the only true father that I have ever had, and I swear upon my honor as a dragon, I will make you proud."

The time had come. S/he had successfully infiltrated the shimmerscale lair, and become endeared to them. Fools. All it took was a pair of big eyes and a child's face and he was in. The time to cast off his skin would be soon indeed but not just yet. First he needed to do something, something that involved following Aurthur to the famed Alex's gravesite. S/he had lurked undetected in the shadows a good distance away from Aurthur, listening as he himself verified who was buried there. It could not have gone any more smoothly. The fool had led Oziendis right to the very instrument of his own destruction.

After Aurthur had gone, s/he crept from his hiding place and dared exert a portion of his own magic to exhume the deceased dragon's remains. A ghastly, maggot riddled, stinking mockery of what the proud beast had once been. S/he drew a circle around the dead creature, pausing at intervals to carve demonic runes into the earth, each one burning with vile hatred and the stench of vengeance. As the circle was completed he began to chant, as he slit the throat of a rabbit and sprayed the still hot blood upon the dead dragon's remains.

"Rise up, my slave! Rise up and obey your lord and master!"

The carcass shuddered horrifically as magic surged through it, animating dead, deteriorating tissue. Bones crackled beneath the weight of decomposing muscle, weakened from lying in the earth so very long. This was momentary only as the animating spell gave the beast renewed strength and vigor. The ghastly roar of the newly risen creature permeated the air with a foul stench before it bowed down before the little 'waif' eyes glowing crimson as it awaited it's orders.

"You will wait until the morrow, when I bring Aurthur here to you." S/he commanded with grim pleasure. "And when I do, you shall dominate him like the chattel he is. Until he submits to me"

With a laugh s/he moved away toward the lair. "Until then remain unseen." Came the final command. The darkness that swallowed them that night fell heavy and oddly silent, the very birds in the trees to terrified to sound their evening calls.

"Poppa Aurthur, Poppa Aurthur!" The child was up early, fairly bouncing on the huge beat to try and rouse him. "Can we go see the sunrise" Pleeaaaase" You said we could, and it's nice out." S/he gave him the biggest most soulful doe-eyes s/he could muster as s/he peered up at the dragon. "Poppa Aurthuuurrrr!" Came the insistent voice. "Come on, you said!" S/he bounced up and in the way of children did a lap around the cavern in apparent childish glee, a good chance at perhaps rousing Icer too, s/he wasn't exactly being quiet.

"I wanna go by the big tree with the funny rock. you can see everythingthere." S/he clapped cute hands together girlishly, already making for the entrance stopping every few steps and running back once or twice to encourage him to get up and go with. "I wanna see the pretty colors in the sky!" And the look of shock on your ugly face when you meet your beloved 'father'. he thought, though there was no indication of this on that bright child's face. "Come on!" Ah the seeming innocence of the allegedly young......

*Aurthur was, of course, less than pleased to have been awakened so early, especially since it was one of the few nights he had gotten to sleep with his mate. The wyvern farm had taken up much of his time lately, and he hadn't remembered making any promises to the young child......But he was known to be forgetful, and he hated the thought of breaking a promise to a child. So with a soft grunt, he got to his feet, making sure to kiss his mate before he left, and heading on after little Woe.* Alright, we'll go watch the sunrise, but then it's right back to bed for me.

*Aurthur was more than asleep on the way through the lair. It was more than likely only his familiarity with his surroundings that kept him from making his way through without taking a wrong turn, or running into a wall. But as they exited outside, he came to be more awake with each step they took, and with each stop Woe took to point something out woke him even further. It was a beautiful morning that held much promise......Or so he thought.

When they came to his father's grave, Aurthur could only stand numbly in horror, looking at the hole where his father was once buried, his nostril closing in rebellion to the horrible stench that lingered in the air, the stench of death.* Wha......Who has done this"!! What grave robber would dare dig up a dragon King"!! And where is his body, oh why on earth would someone steal it?! *He began to search frantically around the gravesite for footsteps, something, anything that would give an indication of where the culprits had gone.*

Stepping through the forest, the woman had been searching for herbs. Mints especially. The kind that grew wild.

Herbs helped season the meats she sold. She had just run out of mint, and had stumbled across a small patch, when the sound of a battle nearby drew her curiousity.

Hiding behind the tree that sheltered the very herbs she had been looking for, green eyes watched the battle between what was obvious two dragons.

Though one stank to high heavens. Holding her nose, she still peeked around the tree.

Perhaps this could end up to her advantage.

Letting go of her nose, she dared to creep a little closer. It was obvious now what the source of the stench was. The one dragon was actually rotting, a lich.

Green eyes followed the continuing battle as she leaned against another tree.

She had no idea just what the battle was over, but the smaller didn't seem to be faring well. Perhaps she stumbled into the right place at the right time.

She was sleeping soundly at the lair. Oblivious to the battle that raged on between her mate and father.

Oblivious to the demon that had infiltrated their very lair, though she had no worries. The wards helped to keep out any wishing them harm.

Taking care of the little ones while her mate had been out with the herds had helped to wear out momma.

Still she slept on. Curled within the room that served as their chamber.

Aurthur had simply gone for a walk with Woe.

There were no tingling senses that would warn her that her mate was in danger. No warnings at all. The bond they shared between them whole and strong.

And somehow hiding the truth.

*Aurthur was in pain, he hadn't been in this kind of pain in so very long.....Not since his mercenary days. He couldn't fight his father, both because of his morals, but not only that, he was expending too much energy. His breathing was labored, his blood was flowing freely from his breast. He was concentrating very hard, trying to keep the bond between he and his mate a secret, so that she would not feel his pain, would be completely oblivious to everything that was happening to him. He felt a tear coursing down his cheek. He didn't want to die, and he was even more regretful that his mate would have no idea what had happened to him. But it was better this way......He wouldn't take her to the grave with him.

His head jerked up as in his mind, he heard someone taunting him......And it was Woe! They had been tricked, a scheme was made to assassinate him, and his mate. He felt anger rise up within him, but by the time he had gathered the strength to try and do anything about it, he exhaled in a great gust as his father's horned, bony skull slammed into his breast, staining the white skull with his blood. He flew through the air for some distance, slamming into the ground making him cry out in pain as his wings snapped like twigs. As he rolled across the ground he thought he caught a glimpse of someone else in the woods, but he couldn't be sure.

His breathing was ragged, he felt his strength draining away from him little by little. There was no fight left in him. There was nothing for him to do, he couldn't even stand up. His life was done, and now images of his life flashed before his eyes. His mercenary days, the images of his fights with other dragons and bands of raiders. The first days of when he had met his beloved mate, their mateship flight, their first clutch of eggs...........So many happy memories. He watched his father approach, and closed his eyes, awaiting the death that was sure to come, sorry only that he couldn't tell his mate and family goodbye, and tell them how much he loved them.......

*Alex's head whipped around at the sound of the voice so near, exhaling a fetid breath right in the direction of the voice. His hollow eye sockets seemed to burn with a dancing flame. His foreleg slowly came to earth once more, and a deep growl emitted from the fleshless throat.*

"This piece of sketh' I plan to grind him into the soil so that the trees and worms may have something to feast upon. He has absolutely no importance to me, for he cannot give me what I want. What concern is it of yours, anyhow" Do you really care so much for this insignificant whelp" If he is one of yours, I may have a quarrel with you, as well. Why do you not show yourself" Are you a coward" Or are you just terrified of me?" The Drakolich gave a dry chuckle that made his bones rattle.* "Please tell me that it is because you fear me, for I love it when others fear and cower before me."

*Alex wrapped his massive claw around the downed dragons throat and picked him up off the ground, eying the newcomer speculatively. She didn't seem afraid, which was a shame. But it gave him enjoyment to hear the rasping breath of his victim near to his ear. He could easily choke the life out of the whelp, but that wouldn't be much fun at all, it would be over too quickly. Besides, it seemed as though he had found himself a bargaining chip of sorts.*

"You want him, do you? I don't see why, unless you are some type of wizard or sorcerer.......But looks can be deceiving. Very well........The one who rose me from my grave wanted him dead. What do you want with him, and more importantly, what?s in it for me if I hand him over to you?"

*There was a hoarse chuckle from the decaying dragon as he cocked his head slightly to look at the woman.* "You see me standing before you in this state, and you ask me what I desire? What a foolish question for you to ask......There is only one thing that I want, though if you be not a wizard or sorcerer, I highly doubt that you can give it to me.

In this state of rot and decay, of traveling the borders of life and death, I want my life back. But more importantly than my life, I want my soul returned to me. My flesh can easily be mended and put back on my bones, and it can be called life, but it would be a false one without my soul returned from the realm beyond life. If it can be done, I would gladly hand this whelp over, and a thousand more of him besides!"

"Will my handling of him have an effect on another" In which way are you speaking" If he is a member a family, I imagine that there will be devastating effect that ripples through the entire family when he's gone." *Lifting the dragon up higher, he gave a brief squeeze of it's throat before slamming it down upon the ground, grinning in pleasure as he heard a few more bones snap, and the dragon coughed up a mouthful of blood.*

"I am well aware that a soul is a lot to ask for, but it is the only thing that I do not have that I desire. If my soul can be returned to me, and my flesh can be mended, then I will happily turn him over to you. If you cannot supply me with that which I desire or at least point me in the right direction, I'll just end his meaningless existence now.....Although I do so love drawing out his suffering."

Ears had twitched and as always, the wards had flared to life as Woe had neared them and passed.

Moving towards the child that was collapsed upon the floor before her, an eyeridge arched. Perhaps where he had gone was busy?

She would slip a little closer, looking over the bites and scratches, finally lowering her ice cold snout to one.

I'm sure he's fine, and he will find his way home. She had not felt anything that would warn her otherwise.

Now she'd carefully tend to the child, as she did to the rest of her brood.

*Aurthur was bordering on unconsciousness. He had taken the beating of a lifetime, and should probably already be dead after his injuries, but unfortunately, he wasn't, he was stuck dealing with the pain. He almost wished that he would die, but knew that he had to hang on. He didn't know the woman or her voice. He probably wouldn't have recognized her anyways, with the blood running into his eyes.

When his dead father picked him up by the throat, he didn't even bother to struggle. In life, he may have been able to get away by causing pain to his father in some fashion, but in death, it was useless. Now when he was thrown down upon the ground, Aurthur gave a weak cry as several of his ribs snapped, further deepening his pain. He concentrated on staying awake, staying alive, by listening to the conversation between his father and the woman.

She wanted him alive" Well, that was much better than dying at the claws of his own father......But why did she want him alive" It didn't make any sense, but he wasn't about to complain. If his father handed him over to her, perhaps he could find some way to escape at a later time......

The screams outside had told her enough, a smile slipping a bit, before she moved towards the door to answer it.

The soul that the lich had so asked for, lay in a faintly glowing sphere held within her hand.

It had taken some bargaining of course, but what was another millenia or two?

"Hello there" a pleasant enough smile to the dracolich then at the door. "I'd invite you in.., but as you can see.." A sweep of her hand would show the limited area within.

There were cases of meats and cheeses, and a set of swinging doors that led to who knows where. Green eyes then falling upon the whelp in the lich's grasp.

"I see you brought company."

If she smelled the scent of the dracolich before her, she didn't show it. Raising the orb so that the bone dragon could see.

"Yes you have fulfilled your end, and so shall I." There may have been a wicked little smile as she looked back over the whelp that was left to her "care".

"Leave him where you may. I do not believe he will be getting very far. Especially as he is.." She looked over the broken wings, and body of the small drake, finally handing the orb over.

It held no use for her. The drake on the other hand...

She had waited, and watched as the lich finally left with his prize. Hers sat before her.

Another study of the Drake before she lifted him from where he had been dumped. Carrying the broken creature inside. She would let the door close behind as she settled the broken creature first onto a scale.

Weight was important in business. Not quite. the broken creature needed a few more pounds upon that broken frame.

Soon she haulled him over to a pen. Comfort would not be an option, but there would be a dish of scrap meat placed before the crippled creature.

A few pounds would of course make the difference between a tender, juicy creature, or a scrawny bony thing.

"I'm sure he is fine, Woe. I'd know otherwise. But I suppose a walk would be alright."

It was a bit stuffy in the lair after all, and her sister could watch over the brood while she and the child went looking.

"Where shall we look first?"

Ice blue eyes widened a bit and muscles tensed. It felt as if nearly every bone in her body throbbed as the link between herself and mate finally flared with pain and fear.

Something was wrong. She needed to find him. But where? The territory as vast, and there were many unexplored trails.

With Woe or not, momma would take off, charging down one of the forested pathways.

Time it seemed was of the essense.

Woe had jumped on and clung to her back as she raced down the pathway, this of course was one of the unexplored.

"Where?!" Blue eyes searching for any sight of a tree by a stone. There had to have been hundreds.

Momma of course would push herself until she was nearly exhausted. That little glimpse had told her enough.

Aurthur was in trouble.

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *Aurthur awoke, still in the cramped confines of his pen. He didn't move, so that he could be noticed. Only his eyes moved around, looking for a way out.*

Milicent: ::She had cleaned and disinfected the surface from the other day, moving to the swinging door and out to check upon her prize.::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He heard the door and instantly closed his eyes. Maybe if he pretended to sleep the woman would go away.......*

Milicent: ::Leaning down she would set another bit of food within his trough, before disappearing back within the swinging doors.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *The food......The delicious, fattening food. He could starve himself to death, but that wouldn't be much help. He had to escape, and be free, get back to his family. So he had to eat......and so he did, until the food was gone*

Milicent: ::She would whistle as she filled the sink with nice warm water, leaving the broken little creature to his meal.::

Milicent: ::Finally when the sink was filled, the swinging door opened again as the red haired woman slid over to the fat little creature's pen.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He couldn't help it.....He licked his foreclaws clean after finishing the meal. He could feel that he had gained some weight already. But with his wings broken, as well as his spirit, there was nothing he could do. Even if his wings were fine, he was too young to use them. When the whistling woman came to his pen, he backed himself into a corner and hissed fiercly, baring tiny fangs.*

Milicent: ::There was a smile as the broken little creature hissed. and doing what she could to avoid those fangs, she would reach down to pluck up the fat little thing.

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He squirmed and snapped, lashing out with his tiny claws and trying his best to bite the woman.*

Milicent: ::He of course would catch her arm, but she didn't seem too worried. carrying him first over to tuck the weighty little beast back onto the scale.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *His tail slapped out, and he squirmed hard, trying to get away. But his nearly quadrupled weight made that very difficult.*

Milicent: ::A smile as she saw the number had grown substantually since last he had been weighed. Careful of snapping jaws, and that thrashing tail, she would scoop him up again. Heading for the swinging door, and what lay beyond.::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: (PUT ME DOWN!!!) *He screamed and cursed at her with his mind, but all that came out of his jaws were screeches and growls*

Milicent: ::He would be put down of course, into that sink full of warm water. Lifting up a stiff brush, she would start to scrub what dirt and debris was left within those damaged scales.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *A bath' He felt the urge to arch his back and thrumm.......It had been so long since he had a proper bath.*

Milicent: ::She would continue to scrub the little creature, from snout to tail.::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He stared up at the woman, his eyes and his mind pleading to be let go. If only she let him go, he wouldn't even return for revenge when the spell wore off.*

Milicent: ::She just smiled down at the fat, broken creature, before lifting him out and settling the beastie in a towel to be patted dry.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He gave a soft cry of pleading*

Milicent: ::Pat pat pat, rolling the towel around the beast and starting to pat the other side.::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He took a deep breath. The opening was small, but he had to try. He tried to jump down and bolt, even with his new weight.*

Milicent: "Uhuh" She would try and scoop up the beast as he tried bolting.::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He was panting for breath already, just from the initial leap and dash, his eyes scanning frantically for a way out. If he couldn't find one fast, he would be caught again.*

Milicent: ::She had missed, and now was following the fat little creature. Though maybe he'd wear himself out first.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *A low shelf! While not an escape route, it was a hiding place. He tried to dive under.......and got stuck. His small, bulky body just wouldn't let him fit, no matter how much he squirmed.*

Milicent: ::Lips pressed into a smile as the dragonling had helped to make his recapture easy. One hand eased around the base of the creature's neck, as the other slid beneath his belly.::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He sighed and stopped fighting, his breathing still hard and erratic from the escape attempt. It was hopeless, and he probably wouldn't get another shot anyways.*

Milicent: "Thats better" she soothed as she slid the bulk of the beast back out, carrying him over to the great butcherblock work surface.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He saw where he was going, and his squirming and thrashing began anew. He didn't want to go there! Lives ended on that surface!*

Milicent: ::Settling the bulk of the creature upon that high table, she would move off again to select the right utensil. Those scales were in rough shape.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He started to quiver and shake. What on earth was he to do' He couldn't fight, he couldn't run......*

Milicent: ::Returning after having sharpened the knife, she eased her fingers beneath a loose scale. Soon the edge of the blade was settled into that little nook where her finger had been, and carefully, she would hold the creature with her other hand.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *His efforts redoubled when he feel the cool touch of that steel beneath his scales and touching his actual flesh.*

Milicent: ::She would apply a little more pressure with her hand, as she felt the creature start to thrash again.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He tried everything to get loose, but in the end, all that ended up happening was he ripped that scale out himself.*

Milicent: ::Left hand pressing the creature, her right carefully worked the knife between scales and skin. Starting at the back base of the beasty's neck and working her way toward his tail.:;

Milicent: ::Of course the creature had helped her with one.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *She was taking his scales off! He screamed in fear and tried still harder to get away. He had never felt naked in his life, but he was starting to feel more naked by the second, as more scales were removed.*

Milicent: ::Humming as she worked, leaving the skin intact, but a small pile of blue on the surface, she would ease him onto his right side, continuing her task at hand.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *There was no more fight in him, nothing more that he could do.......he laid there and let it happen. He wished she would just slit his throat and be done with it.*

Milicent: ::Onto his back, she would carefully scrape the weaker belly scales. continuing until all the blue lay in a pile, save for his head and neck.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He was almost entirely unprotected now. He may as well have been, for even with head and neck scales, they did him very little good defensively.*

Milicent: ::A piece of cloth would then brush against the creature, wiping him off. She would smile as she whispered words into the beast's ear. Stretching out his hind legs then, she moved off again.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *Cold.....he was cold, truely cold for the first time in his life. He shivered softly, trying to hide his modesty with his broken, tattered wings, eliciting a squeak of pain after moving the injured limbs.*

Milicent: ::Returning soon with a length of cord, it would be wound around the creature's hind ankles and tail. Knotted to secure the limbs.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *She had him trussed before he could even think about fighting it. He lowered his head and bit at the cord, using his forelegs to try and cut through it as well.*

Milicent: ::The scales would be brushed into a bucket. Even damaged they might fetch a decent price. She would then brush the plump creature's snout with her hand, before lifting him again, and heading out back. a small shack waited out there, simple in design. with a chimney. She would carry the fat little thing to this shack, opening the door.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *Where was he now" When the woman opened the door, oh, the rich scents that assaulted his senses! Smokey scent, such as he had smelled on some of the meats inside the shop........Oh NO! His squirming started anew, as he realized that HE was to become the next smoked piece of meat.*

Milicent: ::Reaching up even as he squirmed and writhed in her grasp, she would attatch the cord to one of the hooks there. Easing the creature over the coals.:;

Milicent: ::A handful of soaked woodchips were scattered over the coals, sending the sweet scent of applewood drifting upwards to swirl and surround the creature, until the smoke finally drifted out of the chimney in a haze. Easing the door closed, she would return to her other duties.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *With no scales, he could feel the heat on his bared skin. He screamed a hatchling scream in alarm, hoping beyond hope that someone out there would hear him and come to free him. This was inhumane! Surely there had to be dragon protection laws!*

Milicent: ::Cleaning the surfaces and disinfecting them. Soon she would gather up a styrofoam meat tray, settling it onto the butcher block.::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He swung back and forth, slowly at first, over the coals. The cooling air away from the fire felt great against his naked flesh. If he could just break that cord, he stood a chance.*

Milicent: ::No one came to the creature's aid, many people now where used to the sounds that came from the shop. Inside she looked towards a small water clock. Timing it.::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He was giving it everything that he had to get free. He was swinging so hard that he could nearly touch the far wall. He was hoping that the swinging, combined with his weight, would part the cord, hopefully not while he was above the coals.*

Milicent: ::Inside the shack, the applewood smoke still drifted upwards, even as the little creature tried his hardest to get free.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *SNAP! The cord finally parted, while in a full forward swing, and he smashed face first into the far wall, causing quite a commotion as he fell to the floor. Partly free! Ignoring the pain, he chewed the rest of the cord from his legs, and started running around wildly, looking for any kind of crack to get out of.*

Milicent: ::He might have found a small hole, much too small for a ponderous bulk. It had been at least fifteen minutes by the water clock.:;

Milicent: ::Moving back out to the shed, she had heard the bang, and now stood by the door, a bag in hand.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He stuck his snout out of the hole, inhaling the fresh(er) air of the outside of the shack. He couldn't get out this hole, but maybe......Oh no! She was coming back! He scrabbled at the hole, trying to enlarge the hole like his life depended on it. (Which it really did.)

Milicent: ::Spotting the snout that poked out of the hole, she shook her head. Lips pressed into another smile as she eased the canvas bag into place. Slowly then she would inch the door open.:

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *As soon as that door opened, he squealed and pushed through the hole with all of his strength.......right into the canvas bag. And all his thrashing and fighting only served to ensnare him furthur.*

Milicent: ::Drawing up the bag, she would carry it over her shoulder, back into the shop even as it writhed and thrashed.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *It was so dark.....and he had so throughly absorbed the smell of smoke, that it was practically smothering him in the bag.*

Milicent: ::Back towards the butcher block that held the tray and plastic wrap. She would keep the little beast within the bag a little bit longer. Swinging it up onto the work surface.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He was back on a hard surface that he could stand on, but in the darkness of the bag, he had no idea which way to run. Where on earth was he supposed to go"*

Milicent: ::Waiting a little longer, the sweet scent of applewood coming from within. Leaving him a few moments longer would let the smoke perfume him a little bit more.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He tore a small hole in the bag, and his nostril poked out to take in air*

Milicent: ::Finally reaching inside, she would carefully remove the fattened, smoky creature, holding on tight.::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He reared his head back, and clamped his jaws down hard on the first piece of flesh he could get ahold of.*

Milicent: ::That of course was a finger, but she wouldn't let the creature get the best of her. Instead she would settle him belly first onto the tray before them. Tucking his tail around so it would fit.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He held tight and thrashed his head, much like a croc might, to try and rip the finger right off. His life was going to be bought hard, if he had his say.*

Milicent: ::Grunting finally as he opened a small gash, she would swat him with her other hand, before once again pressing down. Green eyes sought out something that could replace her finger in those sharp little jaws.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *The taste of her blood tasted magnificent, and embued him with new life......Then he got swatted. He roared a hatchlings roar in outrage, jaws snapping for more flesh while she held him down.*

Milicent: ::Aha! While he roared, she had freed her finger from the hatchling's jaws, reaching for the apple that sat nearby.::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *His tail snapped out and whipped the hand reaching for the apple, and he glared hard, daring her with his eyes.*

Milicent: ::Green eyes narrowed back as she caught the creature's glare, and once, only once her disguise may have slipped. Green hued pupils of her eyes slitting, before returning to that of a human's.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He stared, he saw, and he couldn't believe it. He couldn't make himself believe it......She.....murdered her own kin? He backed away, whimpering, once more pleading with his eyes for mercy.*

Milicent: ::One of her fingers held a clue, a small, simple scale. Crimson red in hue. That challenge still remaining in her own eyes as she again reached for the apple.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *Small and fat as he was, he couldn't back down. He couldn't give up. He narrowed his eyes once more, and he leapt, jaws agape, going for her hand. If she slaughtered her own kind, she was not his kin!*

Milicent: ::A grin as he leapt, she would try and catch him again, apple this time clutched within the fingers of the hand that he had went for.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *That was a miscalculation on his part, he had momentarily forgotten the broken, scaleless body that he was in. He squawked indignantly as he was caught in her hand.*

Milicent: ::Settling the beast back onto the tray, she would hold the apple out in front of his jaws. It might have been a little more enticing thanks to the scent of her own blood that he had snagged.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He smelled her blood, and he went for her hand, but he got nothing but a mouthful of apple. He squeaked around the apple as the juices flooded his mouth, almost making him choke.*

Milicent: ::Wiping her hand off with a towel after the creature caught the apple, she smiled as she patted his head, Picking up the plastic wrap, she first would again settle the tail around his bulky little form.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He tried very hard to keep his tail working, because his teeth were so buried in the apple he couldn't open his mouth to bite.*

Milicent: ::Lifting the back of the tray, she would settle a piece of the plastic wrap beneath, measuring the creature with her eyes, she would tuck that tail in again. Tugging a little more of the wrap free.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He opened his jaws, and spoke the first words of a hatchling, and none of them were complimentary......actually, most all were dragon curse words.*

Milicent: ::Smirking as she heard such language from one so young, tucking the dragonling in, and making sure the apple wouldn't slip. She did like her fingers.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *Now he was being trapped by plastic wrap......Something he would have laughed at in adult form, but as a fat, broken hatchling, he was helpless.*

Milicent: ::Smoothing the plastic over the broken creature's form, she continued tucking him in, before rolling the entire tray over on the work surface. Tucking the end of the wrap against the tray, she would carefully seal the package with a sticker, bearing the name of her shop. <B>Millie's Meats.</B>::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He crunched down hard and bit through the apple, spitting seeds at her.* You.....will.....pay......

Milicent: ::The seeds of course would hit the plastic, and she rolled the entire package back over, admiring her work.::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He hissed savagely, trying to move even the slightest bit, which was now impossible.*

Milicent: "Of course" ::Patting the packaged creature before her, then picking him up and moving back towards the swinging door.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *When he got free, she would pay, and dearly. There was nothing that he could do now, but he would find a way, and then he would taste the blood of her still beating heart.*

Milicent: ::Over to the display case. The package was set on the counter as she slid the door to the chilled display open.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: Die.....You die.....soon......watch......witch........evil dragon

Milicent: ::Picking up the swaddled dragonling, she tucked him inside the case, right in the front, between the hams and cheeses.::

Milicent: ::Closing the case then, all there was left was now to wait.:

Sleep was a fleeting thing, taunting the trapped dragoness. Just when it seemed to be in reach, something always would wake her.

Half lidded eyes peered out of the prison she was kept within. She'd tried every bar, every chain, every shackle. Even the muzzle would not budge.

They'd been specially reinforced, just for her.

Wings flapped and fluttered, trying to stretch out as much as her cage allowed.

Sleep would not come. Instead, she would study her surroundings. They'd left her in a cavern. Stalactites and stalagmites rose from the floor, and hung from the ceiling.

Off in the distance there was a steady dripping sound. Most likely some water source. The cavern was nothing like her lair.

A musty dampness hung about, tickling her nostrils. There were other tunnels, each leading to who knew where.

She was sure she didn't want to find out where they ended up.

Muscles twitched as she tried shifting her bulk. The one thing her prison did not provide was comfort. Then again, wasn't that what prisons were for?

Hissing sharply as one of the shackles rubbed at the older mark around her ankles. They matched up almost perfectly. She was conserving her energy, most likely, she'd need it later.

Horned head sinking to the floor of her cage. Finally, the slumber that had eluded her for so long would claim her.

Rings, bracelets, necklaces oh my! Millie had left him such lovely scales. Each would be plucked from the bucket and spread out on his work table.

Each would be studied, each having it's own color variation or flaw. Shades of blue ran from pale on the scales that most likely were about to be shed from the rather unfortunant creature. To the deepest of blues.

He had a lot of work ahead of him. Picking out a nearly sapphire hued piece, he would hold it up to the light. Studying the way the light would affect the scale.

Rings and bracelets and necklaces lay out nearby upon the table, each awaiting a setting that would make each piece unique.

Setting the scale back upon the cloth, he would carefully make the necessary cuts, until one scale was hewn down to five equal pieces.

The sapphire hue always complimented silver. Especially sterling of the highest quality.

Each piece lovingly buffed would then receive the proper mounting within a delicate woman's bracelet.

Opening up his case, the bauble would be set upon a cloth of darkest black, to let the beauty of the piece shine through.

Paler scales were set into rings and earrings, each chosen carefully, and lovingly crafted.

*Alex's body recovered beautifully in his temporary home, a comfortable little cave that was inaccessible to all but another dragon tucked halfway up a mountainside. His scales had regained their robust ruby red color, and his breast and belly scales once more shone a brilliant golden. He looked young and healthy again, and the best part, as far as he was concerned, he had both of his eyes again!

However, all was not yet right in his world. While his body healed as quickly as any wounded dragons, his mind was very slow in recovering his lost memories. He didn't know how long it would take. Some days, he would regain a handful of memories. Other days, he would be lucky to regain even one of them. But he was slowly starting to piece his life back together again.*

Akindrah uth Delure: ::Quickly, so as not to be followed...she slipped inside the cavern and made her way through the dark tunnels toward Icer's cell::: Pssst.....Here kitty kitty.....::She called out toward the Blue:::

Icer1978: ::A snarl through muzzled jaws. Ice blue eyes falling upon the black that now approached.::

Akindrah uth Delure: :::She chuckled softly as she approached Icer::: I sssupposse you're hungry mmm"

Icer1978: :;A hiss through her bound jaws, though her stomach answered for her. Slugs were not the tastiest of creatures.:: Let me go! ::Shrieking.::

Akindrah uth Delure: Ah ah ahhh....You are not my captive to let loossse.....:::a slight pause, then::: I do have sssomething for you though....

Icer1978: ::Horned head arched back from the cage bars as she continued to eye the black, jealous perhaps that she was free to come and go.:: What is it, Hissed out.::

Akindrah uth Delure: ::She left the room without another word. It was a while before she would return again...When she returned, she was lugging in a half eaten deer. It was quite a struggle in human form to carry the carcass within, but changing into her other form was not something she intended to do just yet. She could not risk Icer's captor walking in on her when she was ill prepared to divulge her secret:::

Icer1978: ::The carcass actually made her mouth water, normally she prefered fresher kills, but she was in no condition to be picky.:;

Akindrah uth Delure: ::She shrugged slightly and leaned against the wall, having dumped the carcass on the floor in front of the cage:: I wasssn't too hungry....Hafta keep my sshape and all....::She winked at Icer and grinned:::

Icer1978: ::Moving closer to the bars of her prison, the shackles clanking and restricting too much movement. Horned head then eyed the kill and soon she tried to get her snout through the bars.::

Akindrah uth Delure: Now ::She rubbed her hands together::: This does possse a bit of a problem doesssn't it' ::She eyed the carcass carefully::: I am unable to ssstuff this whole thing within and I have nothing to cut it with ssso.....::She shoved the body forward with a booted foot::: You'll have to make do... Akindrah uth Delure: ::She fell back agains the wall, so as not to be on the recieving end of Icer's manic hunger. She was well aware how vulnerable she was in this form::

Icer1978: ::Eying the black, then the carcass as it was pushed her way. She was forced to take the smallest of pieces.:: Icer1978: :;Still, she was gorging herself, swallowing the tiniest of bites before tugging and rending what was left of the deer, blood coating her muzzle and snout.::

Akindrah uth Delure: ::She watched the Blue thoughtfully:::

Icer1978: ::It was obvious that momma was young herself, nostrils flaring as she sniffed the carcass, bumping it with her blood soaked muzzle.:: Icer1978: ::Tugging back on the carcass, she would try to drag what remained within her already crowded prison. Managing to get a leg and a bit of haunch through the bars.:;

Akindrah uth Delure: ::She laughed a little as she watched the Blue's struggle::: What' Doesss your captor not feed you at all" Akindrah uth Delure: Where isss he anyway" Akindrah uth Delure: ((she I guess))

Icer1978: Does it look like he does...::Hissing again as she crouched over the bit she managed to get through her prison bars.:: I do nae know. I have nae seen him for days now.

Akindrah uth Delure: NOw now....no need to get upssset... Akindrah uth Delure: ::She grinned and twirled a finger throug her long, dark locks::: Akindrah uth Delure: Well....I sssuppose you are mine by default then.....that iss....if he does not return.

Icer1978: ::Wings tried once more to spread to their full extent. How would you like it if you were in my place..

Akindrah uth Delure: ::She pushed off of the wall and started pacing, walking through the blood and mess with ease....At the Blue's words, she threw her head back and laughed::: Ooo...but that iss what you don't get.....I would not BE in your placce... Akindrah uth Delure: You have put your faith and trussst in thossse that you have no bussinesss trussting... Akindrah uth Delure: You are not even a dragon....You are a sshameful sshadow of what you should be... Akindrah uth Delure: ::She stopped pacing and stood facing Icer::: You are pathetic.

Icer1978: ::Snorting as she heard the black claim her if the demon did not return.:: I am so...:;Wings flaring again as she snorted a bit.::

Akindrah uth Delure: Bah....::She waved her hand dismissively.....She paused for a moment in thought. For a brief period, she considered what would happen if she took the Blue on as a project.....What would happen if she molded the poor, broken thing into something she should have been, had the Blue not taken such a wrong turn. She could not help but think upon some of her adversaries who were of Icer's ilk....They were respectable....that much was true.. Akindrah uth Delure: Perhaps she could mold Icer into becoming stronger...a more suitable form of prey.....It would be all that much more satisfying to take her down that way wouldn't it' :::: Akindrah uth Delure: ::She cocked her head to the side, considering this....::::

Icer1978: ::Horned head came to rest again on the floor of her prison.:: He is tricky..

Akindrah uth Delure: ::Dark eyes slid over the broken Blue....her lips pursed for a moment.::: Akindrah uth Delure: :::She had heard Icer's words.....but as quick as a snake striking, she had thrown a small dagger with lightening speed and precision....having torn through the Blue's wings she stood back to assess the damage...and the Blue's reaction:::

Icer1978: ::She hissed as the dagger tore her wing, tail and neck snapping up and a hiss given, before she eyed the sharp object now pinning her.:;

Akindrah uth Delure: ::This was not an act severely built upon impulse, violence or menace....She had her reasons....Perhaps the Blue would find out later. Akindrah was ....well....clipping her wings. For if her captor did not show up in a few days, Akindrah had the full intention upon taking the Blue for herself.....whether she would "reform" the dragon or not. Either way....she could not have the Blue escaping::: Akindrah uth Delure: Now....::She narrowed her eyes at the Blue:: Tell me about thisss.....Oz.

Icer1978: ::What about him.., ::hissing as she was starting to work the dagger free.:; Icer1978: ::The dagger would be settled beside her haunch, maybe, just maybe she could try and use it on the chains.:;

Akindrah uth Delure: ::She watched with little interest.....the dagger was a spare....she had more....Perhaps Icer could make use of it later....She didn't care. If Icer had made an escape away from Akindrah's presence, it was no matter....In Akindrah's dragon form, it wouldn't take long to hunt and track the wounded dragon. The black leather that encase her legs squeaked slightly as she moved to stand opposite the cage.::: I want to know it all... Akindrah uth Delure: I cannot asssume that thisss....child is what it ssseemss.....The damage ...."it" afflicted upon you could not have been caussed by a mere child....Thisss much I know.

Icer1978: ::Snorting then:; He is nae a child, but a demon. Who has been after me since my arrival. I was little then. :;Eying the black.:;

Akindrah uth Delure: ::Her brows furrowed, as she listened:: And he takess the form of a child to presssume an innocent facade, I assssume. Then, why wass he after *you*" ::In her mind she could have answered this....perhaps it was because the Blue was so damn trusting....she had really never seen anything like it in her kind before....Yet, she kept quiet and let the Blue answer her in turn::

Icer1978: We adopted children, and he took the form to get to me, ::grunting then.:; It seems to have worked. As to why' I think he wanted me as his pet.

Akindrah uth Delure: ::Akindrah snorted::: Humansss.....::Anger grew in her voice as she spoke:: Asss time growss on, our kind getss weaker....and humansss begin to ssee uss ass pets....they want to ride usss and pet usss and .....and.....::Her dark eyes flashed dangerously and her fangs seemed to grow....the smell of sulfur in the air grew thick and her skin even seemed to darken:::

Icer1978: I escaped from him once before. I suppose that is why he has me on lockdown. :;Folding her wounded wing tight against her side.:

Akindrah uth Delure: ::She turned, with fury upon Icer::: You are a FOOL!! ::Her appearance would have been quite alarming if it had been another human seeing her...She looked like a demon from hell. Her mouth twitched in her fury and she strode away without a word, not looking back at Icer...footsteps seemed to diminish as she walked back toward the entrance:::

Icer1978: ::She would hiss, then sent the dagger flying with a flick of her tail.::

Akindrah uth Delure: ::Akindrah was impulsive and unpredictable....She was quick to anger and unforgiving. The situation angered her and she could bare to hear no more of the dragon's silly mistakes. She stood for a moment at the entrance, her breath finally beginning to slow and her appearance once again turning into a calmer state...yet her dark eyes still flashed in anger.:::

Icer1978: ::Desciding it best to let the black cool off, she would return to the task of trying to drag the rest of the carcass through the bars.: Icer1978: I was...taken from the nest when I was but a hatchling. ::Peering to the entrance.:;

Akindrah uth Delure: ::: Her mind began to clear and she had decided it was best if she worked out a plan. She would need to have her wits about her....It seemed as if this child/demon was cunning. She would need to be careful and play along like a good sheep. Well....she did have a bit of an upper hand anyway, as the child/demon hadn't seemed to sense her "otherness". Her lips curled into a pleased smile and upon surveying the landscape for any intruders, she was about to step out when she heard Icer's voice....:: Akindrah uth Delure: ::She nodded once and then called out to the Blue::: I will return...

Icer1978: ::Most of the carcass now rested within her prison, well at least she had food now. Wings stretching and a flap of her damaged one.:: I am 53 years...:;Murmurred.:;

Akindrah uth Delure: ::As Akindrah stepped out, she was careful to be sure all of the magics, curses, coverings, etc. were well in place. She could not afford to fail at her job now after all. With a satisfied last sweep, she stood alone in the dark night and leaned her head back to breathe in the night air:::: Mmmmm.... Akindrah uth Delure: ::Her eyes adjusted quickly to the night, as she looked around for predator or prey. Suddenly, she felt more alive, more aware of her surroundings. The more she stood there, the more clarity she received.....Perhaps she would pry the Blue from the child/demon's grip after all....The Blue seemed quite....palpable and Akindrah was ever so good at molding wasn't she? The Blue would be like putty in her hands. She stood there, planning her next step:::

Milicent: ::Turning the key in the lock, Millie pushed the door to the butcher shop open. Turning the sign to open before she slipped inside.:;

Milicent: ::Picking up a bottle and a rag along the way, the door would swing closed as she moved to wash the front counter, peeking inside to check upon all the goods, especially the newest aquisition.::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *The shivering, scaleless hatchling stared back, putting as much rage into the stare as he could.*

Milicent: ::She smiled of course, using the spray then to clean the specks and prints off the counter, wiping it down with a rag. It wouldn't do of course to have customers come into a dirty shop.::

Milicent: ::Finishing up the task, she would step behind the counter, readying for another day.:;

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::The demon in sheep's clothing wandered through the market, always on the lookout for new and interesting tools of his trade, and one never knew when or where such a thing was to be found. S/he caught a glimpse of the raggedy girl's reflection in one of the shop windows, admiring his own cleverness a moment. Really stealing the orphaan's body had been a stroke of genius. As he stared at the little waif's reflection his focus was drawn to a display case inside and 'her' eyes widened in surprise as his lost prize was spied nestled between a ham and some cheese. Eagerly s/he pushed the door of the meat shop open and entered::

Milicent: "Good morning, how may I help you?" She eyed the waif with a smile. It wasn't new for a child to enter inside her shop, many did the shopping for their parents.::

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::Oziendis paused, and decided keeping up appearances might be best in this case.:: My momma sent me to get some fresh meat for poppa's supper. ::Offering up a bright, innocent smile to the woman behind the counter:: She said preferably alive, if you have it. ::Charm just oozing off 'her'::

Milicent: ::The child's smile was charming of course, and she brushed the case with her fingers.:: What is it that you would like"

Oziendis Nightstalker: Well, poppa's favorite is dragon.......::Trailing off as 'she' looked around then pointed to Aurthur:: Is that one for sale" He looks yummy. ::Bright smile::

Milicent: "It is, little thing was dropped off just a couple of days ago." :;Opening the case, fingers would grasp the edge of the packaged dragonling and she would pull him out, setting the creature upon the counter for inspection.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *If Aurthur had had any food in him at all, he would have loosed his bowels at that moment. The one that he and his mate had taken in, the one that had risen his father from the grave, the one that wanted him dead! He curled himself up as small as possible against the ham in a sad attempt to hide.*

Milicent: ::Already she was fetching the white paper as she let the child study the little creature.::

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::Poke poke pokes the little fattened hatchling:: Oh he's all fat! ::Beams:: Poppa would love him. Momma gave me this many, is this enough' ::Keeping up the childish facade as s/he offerred up a handful of large gleaming gold coins after digging in a pocket::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He let a hatchlings growl and tried to bite the poking, prodding finger*

Milicent: "He was kept well fed." :;A pleasant enough smile to the child as she nodded:;"That is more then enough." ::Lifting the package, she would then carefully set it upside down upon the white wrapping.:;

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::A quick yank avoided that attempted nip:: Oh goodie! Momma will be so happy! ::Watching eagerly as the hatchling was wrapped up::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He of course squirmed and thrashed with tail, legs, and broken wings, doing his best to keep from being wrapped up.*

Milicent: ::Of course as the little thing thrashed, she lifted her hand and brought it don upon the tray bearing the creature, her other hand pulling one side of the wrapping over, long side first.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *His eyes burned with hatred. Anyone who was wise enough could see that his eye's said* "I'll kill you.....I'll kill you both for this!"

Milicent: ::Pulling the one side taught, she would lift her fingers enough to hold the paper. Soon doing the same to the other side.:; "Could you bring me a piece of tape?" ::Offering to let the child give her a hand.:;

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::Oz was well aware of the hateful glare of the little beast and he had plans to further that hate soon enough. This was just too much fun. S/he nodded and looked about for the tape:: Uh, where is it"

Milicent: "Over on the counter there." Holding down the thrashing little thing as best that she could.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *As one final revenge, he sighed and loosed his bladder, soiling countertop and the paper, to make it easier to thrash through.* Oziendis Nightstalker: Ohhhhh grosss! He peed!!!!

Milicent: It seems he did...::Fetching a cloth she would carry the creature back to the sink, slipping him inside.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *In the sink he went, and then he tried to leap right back out! If he could get down, maybe he'd be too slippery to catch, and he could go right out the door!*

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::Looking about s/he spied a large hard summer sausage the size of a bat. Quickly s/he grabbed it and took a well aimed hard swing at the hatchling, trying to stop his escape::

Milicent: ::She kept a tight grip upon the little creature, scrubbing it with the cloth.:

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::All that did was help. Millie's grip kept the little beast right where the sausage's path was::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *The thought of escape had barely coursed through his mind when.....WHAP!! Stars blurred his vision as a large, hard piece of meat beaned him right between the eyes.*

Milicent: ::A side glance to the child, giving a chuckle, why had she not thought of that' ::She would then lift the little creature out of the sink and hand him down to the girl. "Could you help me by drying him off?"

Oziendis Nightstalker: Sure! ::A towel was located and promptly brought to her and offered up:: Here y'go! Oh, uhm I'll buy that sausage too....

Milicent: "If you could hold him while I clean up the counter." :;Offering the beaned beasty to the child with the towel.:;

Oziendis Nightstalker: Okay! ::Starts towling him off, thinking about how fun it had been to clock him with meat. Goes to show, you never know where you'll find a good weapon::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *He was subdued now, thanks to the blow. All energy had fled his body, and all will to fight. He'd have to be patient. As long as he breathed, there was still a chance to escape.*

Milicent: ::Cleaning up the counter with soap and water, soon it would be dried and another piece of white wrapping would be settled into place.:;

Oziendis Nightstalker: All dry! ::Smiling as the towel was set aside::

Milicent: :;Disappearing behind the swinging door, soon she returned with a few lengths of butcher's twine, moving back to the child and beast.:;

Milicent: "Bring him here." ::Patting the counter with a free hand.:;

Oziendis Nightstalker: Okay! ::Picking the hatchling up none too gently and plopping him down on the counter. If he hit his head it would be because he went headfirst::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *That little brat was purposely trying to brain him now! He defied gravity and tucked into a roll across the counter, panting with exertion,*

Milicent: ::She would grin, and then reach out to tuck the hatchling back onto the wrapping, one piece of twine eased beneath his jaws and brought up to be tied.::

Oziendis Nightstalker: Should I hit him again so he stops squirming? ::A little too brightly::

Milicent: Its up to you.

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *Well, Aurthur certainly knew who he was going to kill first now.*

Oziendis Nightstalker: Goodie! ::Picking the sausage up again and taking a swing at him. It was a good hard two handed swing.::

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *What the heck was he supposed to do, he was being held! Once more, stars exploded, and he dropped limply on the counter with a groan. He still held all his memories, so with the last ounce of strength before he passed out, he flipped the child off.*

Oziendis Nightstalker: This is fun! ::Taking a final crack at him to make damn sure he was out::

Milicent: :;There might have been a bit of surprise at the strength of the child. As the little creature went limp, she would tuck the paper over, one side, then the other, taping it shut.:;

Aurthur Shimmerscale: *Yup, he was out cold, now.*

Milicent: :;Turning the package, she would fold up first the right side, making sure it was taut before adding a long piece of tape. The same would be done to the other side, and she'd roll the package over, handing it to the child.:;

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::Takes the package and the sausage (for later beatings) and beams:: Thank you, miss!

Milicent: ::Nodding to the child, for all the hatchling had done, she would not charge the child.:

Milicent: "I do hope they enjoy him" :;Waving.::

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::The money was left anyway, it was worth all the fun for beating him with a sausage of all things, and turned for the door humming merrily. A turn and the seeming child was trotting to the glen::

She had tried to extinguish the flames, but they had proven too hot. Ice blue eyes were wide as Oziendis had bound her mate, her love to the spit.

She had tried, and failed to save his life. The look on his face was ingrained into her mind, that he failed her, he loved her, and would wait for her.

Oziendis would not let that happen. She'd been right there as Aurthur's very soul was trapped away within a stone that Oz now carried around.

The lesser demons cackled with glee as they had gathered the remains of the dragonling from the spit. Disappearing down one of the dimly lit passageways.

She could hear their cackling still. Though she wouldn't move now, coiled within the prison.

In her mind, she still heard Oziendis's words, it was because she had misbehaved. It would ring in her ears and all through her dreams.

No, not her dreams. Her nightmares.

Maybe this was all that was, a terrible, terrible nightmare. When she opened her eyes, she would be safe at home.

Ice blue eyes opened.., and the bars remained. The cackles had died down no as the vile creatures took her love further and further away.

She needed to break free, to get loose, but right now, her heart ached too much. So she would remained coiled and docile. Locked away where no light would reach.

In what nightmares she would have, she would still hear his squealing.

Life surprises you in the strangest of ways. One moment, she was staring into the face of an angry dragon. The next, she was flying with him. Her own wings had not been stretched in so long.

Now the red was soaring through the sky, leaving all she knew behind. Back at the market, the butcher shop where she once made her meager living was now closed. Her customers would mourn, but they would move on.

Now she was too. Flying wing tip to wing tip with Alexander as they sought out the perfect home.

A home where they could raise a family.

A family of her own. She had cast aside the human guise which she had used, taking a chance. She knew there was a chance she could have been killed.

What she hadn't planned was falling in love. Now they flew through the sky, heading deeper and deeper into the mountains.

She was staring vacantly at the floor of her prison, until she heard the black's words. Ice blue eyes lifting a moment to her prison guard.

There were traces of tears, though they had long since dried. Her voice finally came, not shakilly, but sharp. "It is none of your concern."

She was in no mood to speak of what had transpired, and she tugged back again upon her bindings, before recoiling within the prison.

Her mate's time was up, and hers, she knew was coming.

She needed to get free, but it still hurt too much yet.

It was the little ones now that kept her going. She had to survive. If not for herself, for them.

What a fine mess she was in. Not only had the little dragoness lost her mate.., but now her voice was gone as well.

It had been stolen away by the demon, with but a few drops from a vial of liquid so foul.

She had been "prepared" for the administration of this "medicine". No longer would the shackles dig into her ankles, they had been lined with leather padding.

But to ensure that she couldn't thrash around, her chains had been shortened, leaving only enough slack to move each foot an inch off the ground.

A thick, heavy chain was attatched then to her muzzle, and hauled up, leaving her staring at the ceiling. Oziendis then had altered the muzzle so that the liquid would drip into her jaws, ensuring that the little dragon would not be able to regurgitate the foul stuff.

They had left her that way then, her serpentine neck arched as the chains still held onto the muzzle around her jaws.

This ensured she would not be able to lay comfortably. Even her tail had been restrained, Each and every one of the chains reinforced.

She had been called a beast...and now with no voice, save the growls and roars left behind, it seemed more so then before.

Horned head arched back upon her serpentine neck, and once more she would roar.

Not the proud call of a dragon in flight, but the forlorn call of a creature in distress.

Nostrils flared, sucking in the stagnant air. Thrashing she learned did no good against bindings that were created especially for her.

The silence was deafening. Oziendis had not returned yet to his captive and it may have worried her. Just what was he planning?

He'd kept her alive. Yet imprisoned. Muscles ached as they strained against the chains, denying her even the smallest movement towards the bars.

She tried to twist her neck to reach the remnants of the deer carcass, and grunted as the chain proved too short.

Jaws snapped in minor irritation as she would try again, and again. Always ending with the same results.

With her muzzle still attached to the heavy chain, she couldn't get her head low enough to the carcass.

Saliva dripped from her muzzle as she eyed the meal she was so close to, yet so far from.

Wings worked their way out to spread upon the floor. Already dust and dirt had started to settle upon her scales. This always happened when one couldn't take a bath.

Ice blue eyes half lidded now stared out of her prison, towards the silent stillness of the hallways. The lesser demons having returned to whatever it was they took care of for Oz.

Most likely they were doing something wretched with whatever was left over from her mate.

Another half hearted tug against her bindings, and the silence again would be broken by her roars.

"Aunty Storm! Aunty Storm!" The black was usually grouchy.., especially when woken. One green eye snapped open, then the other as if she had expected to be woken by her sister's brood.

These were not her sister's..."Aunty Storm!, Aunty Storm! mommy said we were having a sleepover!"

She eyed Soleil first, then Harrow. Did ssshe now.." Teasing the twins as she nudged them with her snout.

Come along then. Leading her niece and nephew towards one of the playrooms. What ssshall we play"

"We want a fire, we want a fire.., pleeeease? The pair of hatchlings bouncing excitedly. This was of course their first sleepover.

"Perhapsss later. And a walk through the gardenss, your aunt hasss made them all pretty, and there may be a few sweetsss.

While they were there, Aunty might as well spoil them.

Icer1978: ::She was slumbering, the chains that kept her neck uncomfortably arched rattling.:;

Akindrah uth Delure: :::It had been a while since she had returned to the Blue. She had much to do.....and frankly, the Blue was a bit of an afterthought. As Oz had returned, it had foiled her plans....but only slightly. She had to regroup and figure out her next step. She walked deeper into the tunnels and made a loud banging noise against the walls that echoed as she spotted the sleeping Blue:: Wakey Wakey....

Icer1978: ::Grunting as she stirred, thanks to the loud banging from her warden.::

Icer1978: ::Ice blue eyes narrowed on the black and she gave an irritable growl, tugging against her binds.:;

Akindrah uth Delure: Oooo....are we in a mood today?? ::She let her eyes graze every inch of the Blue, to assess whether any new wounds had surfaced:::

Icer1978: :;There were no new wounds yet, but the shackles were digging in, nostrils flaring as she gave another angry screech.:;

Akindrah uth Delure: Hm....You know Blue....I feel that thisss hass gone on for too long. I have planss for you that musst be...... expedited. I will be sspeaking with your captor ssson about releassing you into my cusstody....::Long pause:: Or I will take you mysself...

Icer1978: :;A deep rumble, wings flaring out as she eyed Akindrah, she didn't want to be released into custody! She wanted to be free!:;

Akindrah uth Delure: ::As if guessing what the Blue was thinking, she shook her head slightly and laughed::: Ooo dear....you are sssuch a sssilly young thing. If I let you to your own devicess.....you would be recaptured in no time at all. No.....if you were mine, I could teach you how to become the dragon that you are. None of thisss relying on humanss and ssuch. You would be made sssstrong.....and then of coursse....you would be mine to hunt....It would almossst be.....unfair if I took you asss you were now.

Icer1978: ::Ice blue eyes narrowed and another shriek, wings flapping as she thrashed around in her prison, icefire threatening to leak out of her nostrils.:; Akindrah uth Delure: (sm) You will thank me later. Icer1978: ::A tug of her head against the bindings, and a growl that may have said I think not.:; Akindrah uth Delure: Well....we ssshall see. :::Without another word, she left:::: Icer1978: ::Snorting, before trying again to find that somewhat comfortable position.

The pain from her lashings prevented the dragon from getting much slumber. Laying on her left side, serpentine neck still arched uncomfortably, she stared out of her prison at the bucket laying on it's side.

She could manage without food for days. Water.., was a different matter.

Stretching carefully, she would try to get her muzzle close enough to the bars and flick her tongue out towards the bucket.

A little bit of water had been left behind, and while not enough to wet a whistle. It might just be enough to keep her from dehydration.

Sides heaved as the pain tore through her hide and every muscle beneath, but still she stretched, until she could reach.

Drawing the remaining water back through her muzzle, and down her throat, she then twisted her neck, setting the binds to clanking.

Ice blue eyes fell upon the tunnel Oziendis had once more disappeared down. He knew now.

He knew she'd had a visitor, and thanks to that horrible sparkly dust, he knew exactly who.

Horned head sank back to the floor of her cage as she ran ideas through her mind. She had to warn her father....but how?

The black was gone again, seeking out her captor. Her neck burned and throbbed from where the large needle had met it the night before, the tranquilizer still coursing through her blood and keeping her sedated.

She was stirring now, still groggy due to the large dose that had been administered. Ice blue eyes blearilly drifted open, and imediately the scent hit her nostrils.

Blood, meat. The black had left her with a pile of rabbits. Trying to shake off the sleepy feeling, she snapped out at the nearest corpse. Bits of rabbit flesh soon disappeared down her maw. Filling her stomach. There were plenty more, but as she had done before with the deer, she would save them.

There was no fighting left. The shackles and chains remained firm, as did the muzzle. The tranquilizer still running it's course. A weak throaty rumble, or call. Someone had to be out there somewhere.

Someone besides Oziendis and the black. Nostrils twitched and flared as she lay upon her left side, staring at the ceiling of her prison.

If Akindrah had her way, she might be free soon. But the price of freedom was high. Sure the black had promised to teach her.., to make her strong.

All so she could be hunted. The dark dragon's prey. She rather would take her chances with the demon.

Sated from her meal, finally the little dragon would slip soundlessly back into a dreamless slumber.

Lost. Foresaken. Forgotten. It was the last that might have frightened her the most. There was no way of knowing they were coming for her. No way of knowing how much they cared.

Forgotten. It imbedded itself deep within her mind."Beast." The demon's words played over and over, and over again.

Forgotten. The longer she stayed imprisonned, the deeper it became ingrained.

"They forgot about you. Otherwise they would have been here by now."

It was her own mind now that taunted her, driving her mad. The loss of her mate did not help in matters. The bond they shared was broken. she couldn't feel it now.

Just like she couldn't feel it when he'd been killed...Right before her own eyes.

A low mournful rumble as she eyed the cage across from her own that had once housed her hatchling sized mate. The rumble ending in a pained shriek.

She strained again. Trying to twist her bindings. to break free. But as before the chains held firm.

She couldn't give up. She wouldn't. For not only the sake of their remaining kin. But of her own.

Torn wings beat, but she knew the truth. She had been clipped. She'd never fly again.

Just to be able to feel the breeze again would be a treat. The chill of water against her scales. Things one took for granted. Until they too were gone. Out of reach.

A bath. Fresh water. clean air, sunlight. Not the dank, dark tunnels of Oziendis's cavern. She missed all of these things. Her voice.

Her voice that had cruelly been taken from her, torn away. Leaving her more like a beast than before. She missed her voice, just as she missed all the other things.

Despair. Not even the demon thralls had returned. None. No one.

She was left alone, and going mad. Carcasses littered her cage. meals she still picked at.

Many of the rabbits held little meat left. Most now were bones.

Survival. That was all there was left. One had to eat to survive. Blood coated the end of her snout, and muzzle. Blood from her most recent meal.

The black had again left it for her. She wanted to hunt, but was reduced to scavenging. picking the bits from the carcasses. Meals were few, and far between.

Never once would she reduce herself to digging up the haunch of her mate. She still lay coiled upon the makeshift grave, looking out. Watching and waiting, and hoping.

Hoping someone would come, and hoping that her fear would not be realized.

The hope was all she had left. Hope that she wasn't forgotten.

"Pretty beasty" The thralls had finally returned, checking up on their master's pet. She had been sleeping when they had come. Ears twitched to the sound of the voices, and a rumble welled up in her throat.

"Pet is thirsty yes..." The pair of thralls cackled again. One bore a bucket filled with water. Water which was cruelly set before her prison. Just beyond reach.

Dusky eyes glittered as the demons watched the dragon, lips twisted upward in a cruel smirk. "So very, very close.."

Nostrils flared as she eyed the pair outside her prison, tattered wings beating as she stretched. Straining against the shackles and chains that reminded her they were still there with the echoing rattles and the pain.

Her ankles nearly had been rubbed raw.

Still cackling the thralls vanished once more down one of the tunnels, leaving her alone.

Blue eyes flicked from the tunnel, to the bucket outside. If she were just a little larger..

Serpentine neck stretched and arched, as she strained to get at the bucket. She was close, so close a few times. Finally reaching it upon the sixth try.

Her muzzled snout buried in the bucket, jaws parted as wide as they were allowed.

She would let the water flow into her jaws and down her throat. She finally had to abandon the remaining water as her serpentine neck started to cramp up.

Pulling her head and neck back into the cage, she would rest again on the floor. Letting the cramp work itself out.

She would have to try again later. Ice blue eyes held a baleful look as she again eyed the ceiling of her prison. There was no way out.

Horned head resting on the makeshift grave of her mate, she stared back out at the tunnels. The black would return soon. Hopefully. And hopefully with something to eat.

Her stomach reminded her that it was time to eat. But there was little left. The deer carcass and most of the rabbits had been pulled clean.

Eying one of the remaining carcasses, she would dare to lift her head only to pull the rabbit close. She didn't need to strain her neck any more than what she had.

Bumping her muzzle against the bones, she would tug off what little meat remained.

Eventually she might even eat the bones. But for now, they continued to litter the floor of her cage.

Horned head coming back to rest upon the grave, she again would eye the tunnels. Jaws parting to let out a roar. A reminder perhaps to her captor that she was still there.

Or maybe, just maybe it was a reminder to herself.

New scents assualted the dragoness's nostrils as she stirred. Not the scents of the spit or the cavern floor.

No, the sickly sweet scent of fresh straw, mixed with a slightly bitter medicinal salve.

Nostrils flared as she opened her eyes to get her bearings. No longer was she caged. Shackles were still clamped on each ankle, but not as tightly. And the sickly sweet scents were coming from the stall.

Laying on a bed of hay, she bumped her snout against the shackles. that was where the salve's scent had come from. Her ankles had been slathered.

It tingled as the iron rubbed, but didn't cause much more discomfort. Mostly protecting her sores from becoming infected.

The demon thralls' eyes glittered from somewhere down the way, before disappearing. It had been on Oziendis's orders that they had moved her.

For good behavior. The collar clamped around her neck no doubt helped with her behavior. Oziendis had placed it on her, but hadn't activated it.

She still had control.

Stretching out, she moved to her feet, shaking off the straw that clung to her scales. Someone had given her a bath as well.

Ice blue eyes narrowed suspiciously as she eyed the larger area. She had been given more room to stretch out now, and exercise. Though she still remained locked away.

A trough lay in one of the corners, filled halfway with water, and bars were set securely upon the door and walls of the stall.

She could almost reach them. The shackles reminded her as they rubbed again, that she was still a captive.

Serpentine neck arched, stretching out as she slid her snout between the bars of her new "home" Nostrils flaring still. The lingering scents of Oziendis and the thralls remained behind, but she'd not caught the scent from the black.

She'd been locked inside. Giving a snort, she pulled her snout back inside, and started to explore.

Talons and snout started to dig up and move straw aside. She wasn't sure what she was looking for yet.

Maybe a way out. Maybe a bit of meat, or maybe she was just exploring because she was curious.

Oziendis had offered Akindrah his company for the evening, offered for her to dine with him and indeed no trouble had been spared. The dining chamber had seemed to appear from nowhere, an indicator his lair exhibiting a mysteriousness that belied it's openess for despite his allowing her free rein there, this room had not been there before. The chamber was expansive, with alcoves dotting the polished stone walls flickering with candle light that reflected through the chamber like starlight. The ceiling itself was a great sapphire geode that reflected the candlight beautifully. The table was a great oak affair polished as the walls and ornately carved with matching chairs embellished with plush cushions.

The feast itself was lavish, featuring almost every dish one might desire, suitable for tastes both common and exotic. Oziendis' thralls were scurrying here and there setting the places and putting the finishing touches on the repast now offered to Akindrah. Oziendis himself would pull her chair out for her in a most gentlemanly manner before sitting himself. Throughout the evening the thralls would wait on the both of them hand and foot should they so desire.

((Open for Akindrah to respond))

*His father-in-law set a frenzied pace, but time was of the essence. He fought to keep pace, when Alexander suddenly dropped back. Apollo rolled an eye to catch a glimpse of him as he fell back, and suddenly realized that, having come back from the dead, he didn't have ample time to retrain his body for such exertions. That, combined with the seriousness of the situation and the shortage of their time to save Icer didn't help him any. The large dragon had fallen behind he and his mate to rest, so he edged over to fly wingtip to wingtip with his mate.*

"Love, I think we need to come up with some kind of plan. We know that this holding area is beneath the ground, so we either need to flush this captor out, of take him by surprise in his own hold. But with the three of us under the ground.....I don't think that there will be any room for us to fight. Perhaps we should....." *That was the moment when Alexander roared to prepare, and Apollo swung up in front of him, hovering to block the path.*

"Stop! We cannot just go in there without some kind of plan of action! If we do that, not only do we condemn ourselves to death, but Icer as well! Icer and Aurthur were both strong dragons, and look what happened to them......To rush right in is suicide. Let us land, and come up with a plan. I know that time is of the essence, but surely a few more minutes to plan properly won't cost us too much."

*Alex followed the mated couple to the ground and landed lightly, his eyes narrowed at having his recklessness pointed out. But as the subject of tapping the ground to find the layout of the underground, he puffed himself up smugly, a slight smiling touching his muzzle.* "For one thing, if you tapped all over the ground trying to find the chambers of this underground lair, and he happened to be down there, he would hear you, thus giving us away. For a second, I don't need to go through that anyhow, because i've already been down there. I KNOW the layout of the underground prison." *He took a few moments to describe to them the chambers he had seen while he was there trying to comfort his daughter.*

"You are right, I was reckless in my desire to save my.....our, daughter. I'm sure you can understand, even as foolish as it was. Now, I suggest that perhaps when we all go under the ground, we move to different chambers. That way, when her captor shows up, we can advance and close in on him from three different directions. Of course, if we are able to get Icer free, we can completely box him in and take care of him. Against this family of dragons, it is wise not to cross us. We could be a blight upon the land, if we chose to be, but we are peaceable......And this, this is how we are repaid. Our kin are kidnapped and murdered.......It is no wonder that i was able to be awakened from the dead with evil beating in my breast so easily."

*His talons dug furrows in the ground while he ground his teeth in anger. He was in a hurry to get underground. Icer was still captive, and every moment that they wasted up here, was another moment that she spent in misery. He had failed her in failing to protect Aurthur. He wouldn't fail to free her, even if it meant he had to die again.*

She was pacing her stall. Stopping only to sniff the water in the trough. She didn't need to end up being poisoned as well.

It had proven clear, so she dipped her snout inside. taking only a swallow full. She had to make it last.

Talons scraped and dug at the straw and floor, even though in her previous exploring, she'd found nothing.

It wasn't looking good. But she still couldn't give up. She wouldn't.

It was her turn to puff up now. giving Alex a look of satisfaction as Apollo sided with her. She was a shrewd, keen minded dragon and had many years experience with war and tactics, and knowing your enemy was always the first thing to keep in mind. "Th' old sayin' goes, 'know yer enemy'. " She stated simply to Alex before turning her silver gaze to Apollo. "First an' foremose we need tae check fer traps, an' magical sensors tha' may tell 'im we're 'ere, an' iffin we find ana 'o 'em, disable 'em, so iffen 'e returns while we be in, 'e'll 'ave naethin tae alert 'im tae us right off. Second, once we be in, we must nae disturb anathin' so all appears as th' bastard left it. Meanin' be careful an dinnae touch anathin'. We want Icer, nae ah fiasco. Knowin' Oziendis 'e'll likely 'ave Aurthur's soul stone on 'im, an' we cannae do anathin' about it as 'o now. We'll 'ave tae come back fer it later or attack 'im in th' open on our terms. Shoul' 'e return while we be down there ah c'n 'old 'im off ah bit." She looked at Alex.

Ah'm smaller than ye an ye'll need brute force tae break th' locks ah'm sure. Ah'll flood th' tunnel wit' lightnin' tae buy time. Apollo, yer magic feelin' a'right' We''l need ye ready as well should ah fail." She hated to concede the fact Alex had her in size and strength, and she had no idea of his magical capabilities, but she knew her own were formidable as it was. "Ah'll listen tae suggestions iffin either 'o ye 'ave ana..." Waiting now to hear our what either of them might say.

Akindrah was quite intrigued by Oz. She could help but respect him, even though his ways were a little more....well..intense than her own. And as time went on, she started to believe that they might have the same intentions for Icer, however different in their approach.

She looked around the room. If he was trying to impress her....he had succeeded and then some. She was quite pleased. Perhaps they would be able to work together to satisfy each other's plans.

The time had come to figure out just what those plans were. "Well then.....if you were trying to impress me....Well done. If you've dessired my resspect....you have it. Now...jusst what are your planss for our mutual friend?"

((during dinner, before the outside activity, sorry it's disjointed, hooray third shift))

Oziendis smiled to Akindra's question. "Precisely as I said. To encourage her to become a proper dragon. My methodology is rarely understood or approved of, yes, but this bothers me not at all. It is the attainment of the goal by any means I have interest in and I tend to fast track things with rather intense lessons. Once our friend has properly been brought into her own I intend to release her and restore her pitiful mate as well, a project that is already under weigh." Here he paused, to produce the soulstone Aurthur's soul resided in. A fist-sized gem the same blue of Aurthur's scales that glimmered and swirled with the spirit within.

"And you, my beauty have been of far more help than I would have imagined in this endeavor. I have been well aware of your activities with her, and thus far have had no objections. In fact I must say I highly approve as it has seemed to further her progress. Then again I would expect nothing less from one of your....qualities." His smile broadened somewhat as he held his gaze steady upon her. "Although I must ask, my dear, what is it that prompts you to assist me, and ultimately her. I know my own mind but alas I cannot say I know yours and much prefer to ask you rather than resort to more forceful methods. I have more respect than that for one such as you. One who I must admit I find so very ....intriguing. One, I might be inclined to even offer a place by my side." This last spoken with a surprising gentility.

Stirring from slumber, she would wake to the same. The scent of fresh straw bedding, and darkness. Though this time there was something extra.

The sharp coppery undertone of blood.

Chains rattled as the dragon moved to her feet. Ruined wings unfurled, stretching themselves out. She was on the move again. Following the coppery tang.

The bunnies still lay in the corner. No, this had more meat to it. Crouching over her kill from the previous night, the dragon would resume feasting.

Thralls it turned out not only had more meat, but were also quite tasty. Talons dug into the fallen demon's flesh as she tugged her head and neck back. Effectively tearing off large bites which were swallowed whole.

Blood trickled down her snout as her ice blue gaze returned to the door of her stall. A deep throaty rumble would warn any others away. She was not about to give up her meal to anyone.

Everything would end up eaten eventually, bones, teeth, claws. Nothing was wasted. Not when meals were few and far between.

He smiled beguilingly and nodded. "She is coming along nicely, as evidenced by the arm I found in her stall. Apparently one of my thralls was ignorant enough to get too close and was not so regrettably eaten. Something she would not have dared before." He had no pity for the thrall, if it was ignorant enough to get itself eaten it had no use to him alive anyhow as it would surely have made some larger blunder that might have required more effort on Oz's part to....rectify. "As for her cache, I personally have no interest in that as my own stores are well taken care of." A sweeping gesture to the lavish surroundings. "As you might well see."

The soulstone was tucked back in a pouch on his hip and his gaze became more steady. "Also I have heard rumors of our darling pet projecting herself outside of this lair and would like your input on how best to deal with this little hitch. And, there is another thing......" He paused meaningfully. "Your particular talents might be extremely useful, should you so choose to exert them. You seem to be intimately familiar in the ways of dragons and might provide me some insight when re-weaving her mate. You see I cannot simply create a body and must start from scratch. While the process will be accelerated I need magic I do not possess.......Magic I have an inkling you might be able to...procure." He did not outright say he was suspicious of her true nature, though indeed he was. But took the subtle route, in order to leave her her pride and what secrets she may wish to keep.

When and if she so desire to openly speak it to him he was certain she would. "I find you quite valuable, both in your expert dealings with our charge and.." Here he smiled somewhat. "I admit a certain...fondness for you. Something I must say surprises even myself. What say you? Will you aid me in the re-weaving of this soul's corporeal form?" Letting the topic fall back to more 'mundane' endeavors.

She chuckled and nodded. "I feel that your methods are proving quite effective indeed." The *cache* Akindrah spoke of was nothing of monetary value...but that of young hatchlings. However, there was no need to let on just yet of her full intentions.

Akindrah tapped a finger thoughtfully on her chin. "I have seen her in 'orb form' and I'm uncertain at the moment, how to deal with this mysself. But surely it musst be corrected asss soon as posssible....for she will ssurely bring many down upon us in ressponse."

"As far ass the re-weaving process.....I would be more than delighted to assissst you in any way that I can." Black dragons were oh so receptive to ego stroking...

She had been turned over to the black. This most likely would be the last night she'd sleep in her stall. and even the last night she would eat fresh thralls.

Laying on her side, she would slumber peacefully, her chest rising and falling with each breath. The latest thrall that had the misfortune of wandering into her stall to clean it lay not far away.

Well what was left of him, which wasn't much. With a belly full of flesh, she would sleep through the night. Surrounded by the scents and sounds that she'd grown used to.

Left to her own devices, the dragon would explore her newest area. Hunger drove her further back into the open area of the underground lair.

She would tear a leg from the deer carcass there, dragging it over to the corner she claimed for herself.

Ice blue eyes fell back upon the tunnel that led back to the surface, but she would not use it. not tonight.

She would eat, then rest, regaining her strength. Akindrah had promised her she'd need it in the coming days.

Saving up part of the leg torn from the carcass, the blue would soon fall back into a sound slumber.

Akindrah had been known to disappear for lengths of time. She worked alone for the most part.....and was not accustomed to answering to anything or anyone....It was perfect, therefore, for Akindrah to leave Icer here....where she would be more than capable of taking care of herself for periods of time. The added bonus, was that Icer would become predator once again....Her natural instincts would be forced to take over....and the swamp was remote enough, where no one would even think to look for her.

Akindrah returned during the middle of the night....She was well pleased, when she had seen Icer's little horde. Improvement. Well done. Icer would soon be ready to move to the next step.

She would sit in a corner, watching the Blue until she awoke...

Twenty four hours had come and gone. Twenty four hours of freedom. The dragoness had returned to the swamp, moving first through the forest on the well known path.

From the path she would disappear amongst the trees and into the swamp, wading through the water to return to the black's hidden lair.

She would pause only to drink, slaking her thirst, before crawling down the tunnel that led to the chamber. Surely she wasn't late..

She was welcomed with no sign of the black. The lair was empty as it normally was when Akindrah left to hunt.

Snorting, she would move back over toward her small horde of food in the corner, coiling around it.

*Alexander stalked around the perimeter of where the entrance to the secret hold was, sniffing, his eyes alert for the most minute sign of a crest, a ward, anything that might identify a trap. After a half hour of this, the dragon had grown irritated and finally had enough. There were no traps here! He had come and gone, undetected (so far as he knew) the first time, so why should this one be any different"

With this logic in mind, he stalked back to where the mated pair were, and snorted loudly with his irritation.* "To hell with both of you and your caution! I've searched everywhere, and not a single bloody trap! All you've managed to do is waste precious time!"

*He stomped a clawed foot hard, opening the entrance just as he had the first time, and he slithered his considerable bulk down a passage that looked as though it couldn't possibly allow it. He didn't wait for the other two, but went straight to where his daughter had been the last time he had seen her. The two dragons waiting above would easily be able to hear his roar of anger and anguish, as it shook the very ground beneath their feet. He crawled back up the hole, his crimson eyes glowing with rage.*

"You see what you have done"!! By wasting too much time, we are too late! She is gone! Now, not ONLY do we not know if she is still alive, even if she was, we have no idea where she is now! We can't trace her, there is no trail to follow!" *He stared directly at Moon, his eyes narrowed to slits with rage. Perhaps she would forgive him one day, or perhaps she even understood what he was feeling at that moment. But the words that passed his lips came without thought.* "I place this squarely upon your shoulders. This is all your fault! If we had done what I had proposed, we could have gotten to her in time........Now I have to start fresh with no trail to follow, but from now on, I'm doing things MY way."

*Apollo watched calmly, up until the point his mate had raised her tail. Looking at his mentor Alex, he saw that his muscles were bunched, as if he were ready to pounce, and he had had enough. He roared loudly and spat a gout of flame between the two.* "ENOUGH!!!!!! Where do you two think that we are going to get by fighting amongst ourselves, hmmm"! Is that going to help us find Icer any faster"! BOTH of you, stop acting like hatchlings! This is probably exactly what that damn demon wants! The more time we waste by all this useless squabbling, the farther and farther he gets Icer away!"

*He sat down on his haunches and took a deep breath.* "Now, let's all take a deep breath and relax. Instead of fighting, let's put together the information we have. Icer was here, obviously, because you saw her yourself, Alex. Now, however, she has been moved to another location, and I suspect that she is still alive, because had she been killed, we would have smelled death, and probably even found her corpse down there, which we did not. So, we can safely assume that she has been transferred to another remote location.......But to what purpose? These are the kinds of things we need to be asking ourselves, because if we can find an answer, it is very likely that we may end up with an idea on where to start looking."

*Keeping his temper in control as best as he could, he merely snorted.* "I never said that I did not believe you, and seeing as how my judgment is apparently clouded, I will have to rely on someone else's, now won't I? However, a very important clue has been provided here. A black, and a swamp.....But that doesn't make our search any easier. There are more than a dozen swamps scattered across the whole of Rhydin. Finding the right one could take forever........Unless we were to split into teams and get more help, and I think I know where to start. My son, King Drake of Alexandria, should be able to provide some assistance, and I have not seen him in.......A long time."

Alexander Lasair: *That little quip was one step over the line, and Alex gave no warning what-so-ever. One moment he was sitting there trying to reign in his temper, the next, his claw balled into a fist and struck without mercy into Moon's jaw. He would give her no chance to recover, he came rushing with a furious roar.* HOW DARE YOU"!!!

Moon Lyght: ::The blow knocked her back, it had been a surprise to some extent, and welcome in another. She wanted nothing more than to do as much bodily harm to him as she could. As he rushed her she clamped those (now sore) jaws onto his foreleg and clamped down with all her might, and lightning crackled as she spread her wings. She was charging and the sky darkened in response to her elemental command. As soon as Alex barreled into her she wrapped her wings around his body the best she could to deliver a devistating shock::

Alexander Lasair: *The shock was recieved with a roar of pain, Though rather than stop his charge, he threw all his bulk into it. He was larger and heavier than her, and his full weight slammed down on her as they slid across the ground.*

Icer1978: ::She had snuck out again, crossing over the thresh hold of the swamp only to hunt for food. She'd been trailing a stag when the sound of a battle drew curiousity, and she crept closer to the tree line, watching from a distance.:;

Moon Lyght: ::He might have been bigger, and hes was certainly heavier, but she was a skilled fighter having grown up with drow and she was not about to relent. she charged again, and as they tumbled and slid she dug her talons into his backside to keep him in close contact. her wings were still in full contact when she jolted him again, electrocuting him a second time. As the shock hit, her tail whipped around and over Alex's back to crack the back of his skull::

Alexander Lasair: *The electrical attack this time served only to drive his rage higher, the strike to his skull, however, made stars explode before his eyes. However, he had been in many, many battles before, and unlike his previous life, he did not have the weakness of having only one eye. His talons dug into her flesh, drawing her blood, and the scent drove him mad.......Until the sting hit, making him snarl. He had forgotten her acidic nature, but it was too late. He could have easily clamped his jaws around her throat, but that would have served only to kill him again.*

Icer1978: ::Muscles twitched as she watched the fray, a rumble welling in her throat, it sounded from the treeline as of course the stag was clearly forgotten.::

Moon Lyght: ::She roared in pain as he drew first blood but it was rage that drove her. She knew her blood was strong enough to burn and kill and she used this to her advantage, twisting around to smear as much on him as possible, getting a good deal on his underbelly in the process. she snarled savagely and bit at his shoulder bringing her tail around for another stike to his head::

Icer1978: ::Finally the rumble welled into a roar.::

Alexander Lasair: *He was smart enough to know that the acid ate slowly through dragonscale, and so rolled off of her to drag his underbelly through the grass, wiping the offending acid off to keep from deadly damage to him. However, as he did so, he whipped his head around, and his jaws parted, sending a massive gout of white hot flame to engulf the offending dragoness. He knew it wouldn't kill her, as dragon scale was also resistant to fire, but it might serve to make her think twice about tangling with him.*

Moon Lyght: ::The spout of flame hurt like all hell and she returned the favor in kind. Her own stream of flame just as hot and just as fierce. She paused, not because she regretted fighting but because she heard a familiar roar. Icer! Her baby!! Her head jerked up and around seeking the source::

Icer1978: ::The tree line was the source of course, and she had snorted as she realized that she had lost yet another meal. The stag she'd been tracking long gone by now.::

Alexander Lasair: *Alex's element was that of fire, and her flame did nothing more than mar his scale with soot, but he certainly admired her effort. He heard the roar as well, lifting his head, casting his gaze about.* "Daughter"! Are you there"! Where are you?!"

Moon Lyght: Icer"!"! Baby where be ye' ::Frantic to find her daughter and finally spying her at the tree line. She bolted, shaking Alex off like it was nothing::

Icer1978: :;Obviously hunting wasn't her forte', first because of a fish, she'd lost a boar the night before, and now, she lost the stag, snorting and shaking her horned head. It most likely would be turtles again for breakfast. Eying both her mother and father from where the trees partially hid her from full view.:;

Alexander Lasair: She has to be around here somewhere.......I think we are both in agreement that our dispute can wait for now......There are more important things at claw, like finding our daughter. *He was very firm with the emphasis on 'our'.*

Moon Lyght: Dinnae dare speak as iffin' ah mated ye, ye bastard! She be MY daughter. ::Moving now toward the treeline::

Alexander Lasair: *Growling low in his throat.* As if I would EVER settle for someone like YOU.

Icer1978: :;Another roar sounded.:;

Moon Lyght: ::She wasn't THAT far off and her tail cracked him in the face before she moved out of range:: Ye WISH ye coul' mount me, ye slag. ::An imperious twitch of her tail and she was moving again::

Alexander Lasair: Hit me with that tail ONE more time, and not only am I going to bite it off, I'm going to send a fireball up your tailvent.

Moon Lyght: ::She paused:: Try it an ah'll kill ye where ye stand. Ye <I>vith </I>::Slipping into drow. Still moving toward Icer::

Alexander Lasair: *He shouldered past Moon, intent on reaching his daughter first.* Call me that again, and I'll vith YOU!

Moon Lyght: ::She stopped dead in her tracks and just....gaped::

Alexander Lasair: *He stopped and smirked* You heard me........*And through the treeline he went.*

Icer1978: :;Snorting and growling, she had moved back toward a small stream, using her snout to dig up the bottom. there had to be something edible there...::

Moon Lyght: Lu'oh kuuv dos telanth dos orn vith uns'aa. Dos xuat inbal vel'bol ol plynnen lu' Apollo orn'la waess dos dos tonaik l'thi ::speaking drow with a vile tone in her voice but there were more important things now. HER daughter::

Alexander Lasair: "Vel'bol's l' selg'tarn" Stre Dorn belbau ol ulu dos alur taga uk rin'ov gumash?" *Once through the treeline, he spotted his daughter.* "Icer! We've found you at last!"

Icer1978: ::A twitch of an ear and a rumble, still digging of course. Shellfish...another growl, and soon she was snapping at a few minnows.:;

Moon Lyght: ::She reached Icer:: What has happened"

Moon Lyght: Dos dalharuk d' natha elg'caress dos gumash naut plynn uns'aa. Usstan bet dos shlu'ta naut tangis' inbau ol phor, dos kitrye elghinyrr fa'la zatoast

Alexander Lasair: "Dos orn'la saph talinth nindel, orn'la naut dos" Drill Usstan bet nindel Usstan shlu'ta morfeth dos ul'nusst ji bran l' Phraktos phor orn nym'uer dos kaztirth d' ssrigg'tul." *This rumbled from the corner of his mouth as he increased his pace, waving his wings to attract his daughter's attention.*

Moon Lyght: dos daewl ::Finally drawing close enough to her daughter to be fully seen flicking her tail threateningly at Alex::

Icer1978: ::Wings rustled and a low growl sounded as breakfast was interupted. Still minnows weren't quite enough anyways.::

Alexander Lasair: Lu' DOS daewl, whol l' mayar ulu ragar doeb. Zhah nindel ssinssrin Usstan gow.....Xor zhah ol treemma?" *He took to the air, his wings beating hard. There was no way his daughter could miss him now.*

Icer1978: ::Her hackles might have risen, just a bit, as it was their fighting that had frightened away her breakfast.:;

Moon Lyght: ::She snorted:: ol zhah dosst usstzigh! ::She looked at Icer, worridly:: Are ye 'urt, baby"

Icer1978: ::She wasn't hurt, but she also wasn't as heavy as she had been, a few unsuccessful hunts helping there.;;

Alexander Lasair: *Landing with a thump next to Moon, responding snidely* "Usstan xunus naut zhaun ussta usstzigh doerrus dal tu'fyr dosst da'uren." *He rumbled softly, searching his daughter over for wounds.*

Icer1978: ::The old scars where there, but nothing recent.:;

Alexander Lasair: *Satisfied with his search, he nodded.* She needs food, good food. Her blood is growing thin from malnutrition. I can't imagine much good food coming from a swamp.......We should bring her a something that won't draw too much suspicion.

Moon Lyght: Aye.....::ignoring his previous remarks::

Icer1978: :;There was a pile of shellfish untouched at her feet, there wasn't enough meat in any of those shells, to even be worth cracking them open.;

Icer1978: :;She eyed both her mother and father, opening her jaws and rumbling.:;

Alexander Lasair: My dearest daughter, what is wrong" Can you not speak"

Icer1978: :;A click of her jaws, then a growl.:;

Moon Lyght: Ah dinnae think she can....::Mournfully::

Icer1978: :;Eying momma and rumbling.::

*Days Later*

*Time had passed, his daughter was, in part, free from her captors, safe in his lair that only he, his daughter, and his mate to be Milicent knew the location of. Stepping out of this lair in early dawn, his eyes surveyed the valley below. Leaping from the ledge, he extended his wings and took of, flying away from the lair. Moon was still searching and scouting for Oz, and he had a promise to keep. He had promised his daughter that he would find Oz, and get the soulstone that contained the spirit of her mate back, and he would stop at nothing to fulfill this promise.

His crimson eyes scanned the ground below, his great eyesight (He was so glad to have both of his eyes back!) allowed him to see most any movement below. If he just had some idea of where to search! Without any sort of hint, the demon would remain hidden. Alex grinned to himself though, for he had made his daughter another promise. He had promised her that, upon his capture, that she would be allowed to torture her former captor, until the stone was recovered, and the collar removed.*

He had been formulating a way to resurrect the dragon he had slain, without the help of His dear Akindrah. He assumed she had other tasks at hand, namely, Icer. He had no way to know Icer was loose having been rescued or something close to it. Had he known the collar would have been activated to bring her back. Ignorance was bliss.....for them at least.

He mused, brooding over the soulstone, in a new location, knowing by now his last lair had likely been discovered and raided. It was no longer safe there, not for what he had in store. There were many aspects to consider, how to get a dragon's egg, and the complicated magics involved in transferring the soul to the egg. His musings were suddenly jarred when the stone flared up, sending a massive but extremely brief burst of energy outward. His eyes widened.

This was unheard of! In hundreds of thousands of years never had he seen a captive soul manage so much as a flicker, but this.....He swore under his breath in daespeak, a word so vile the potted plants began to smoke, their leaves curling and smoldering. He knew this location too, would likely be compromised if he didn't move soon. He stood, irritated as the glow died away. Unaware it was still sending weak signals, he decided to risk another day. He needed to gather some things for the transfer......

*Alex had been slumbering peacefully near his daughter when he was startled awake by a sharp jolt of pain that traveled from his tail through his entire body. He fought the urge to swear profusely, his eyes clenched tightly shut, when a thought hit him. When his daughter slept, she slept very deeply......In all the time that she had stayed with him, when she slept, she had never awakened, and this alone made him control his voice, and keep his eyes closed, like he was still asleep.

He waited until his daughter had gone, and heard her wings open. Only then did he arise, running to the lair's entrance. If only he could get in contact with Moon! But he had no idea where she was, and there was no time to seek her out. He sensed that something big was happening, that perhaps his daughter had found a trail of some sort, and he would be damned if they would lose it now. So he would follow his daughter, and pray that they found that cursed demon, and made him pay for what he had done.*

*He kept a discreet distance away from his daughter, careful so that she didn't notice his shadow. She was definitely on a trail of some sort, this he knew because she was not just moving in a random direction, she was moving with purpose. How he wished he had a way to alert the others, to get all the help they would need. He and Icer alone couldn't handle the demon......They needed help, and plenty of it.*

She had seen the pain firsthand. The pain that she had helped to cause. Yet the blue, the small one had forgiven her, just as she had forgiven her father.

They were family now, or close to it. Pacing the lair she shared with Alexander, her mate to be, Milicent was trying to find a way to make amends.

To make things right. That would involve finding the one the broken male had been sold to.

She would need help with this. Surely the young one had kin around. She would have to find them.

Pushing off the ledge, red wings lifted her into the sky, and off. She didn't know the way, but that would not stop her. She needed to do this. not only for herself to atone for her sin.

But also for the family which she was now part of.

She had been making time, until the voice called out from behind her. Turning, she would hover,facing the young male and the wing.

"If you are speaking of the little blue, she has been staying with us, up in the mountains."

*At the Shimmerscale Orphanage*

*Apollo was doing his part in the search for Oz by looking in on the children of Icer. He had no idea where to begin looking, so instead he was at the orphanage with Icer's other kin. Playing with the children and keeping them oblivious to what had happened in their family. Apollo loved children, after all so he didn't mind a bit. When the time had come that someone had found the bastard that had destroyed the family, they would come for him, and he would be ready.*

She flew with all haste toward the orphanage, wings practically a blur as she shot through the sky. She shifted in mid-air to her draconic form, knowing she would be able to rouse her mate from a greater distance that way. The landscape below was a mesh of color that seemed to melt beneath her as she sped as fast as she could fly to where her mate awaited her word.

As the orphanage hove into view at long last she parted her jaws and trumpeted a bellow that reverberated through the air and shook the earth itself. She roared again, the urgency clear in the blast of sound she emitted. As she closed in, she folded her wings close to her body, streaking earthward to land less than gracefully. Now was not the time to worry about appearance but a time for all haste. "Apollo! Apollo! Ah've found th' bastard! Come, we've got tae find Icer an' Alex!" She paced outside, tail lashing in a mixture of excitement and rage.

*His heart leapt when he heard the voice of Moon, saying that she had found the demon. "Come on everyone! He's been found! We can go take down that bastard at long last!"

She had meerly been resting. Now though, the dragoness stirred and moved deeper into the forest. Nostrils flaring out.

Still picking her way amongst branches, it would not do to alert one's quarry that they were about.

She was being careful as well, the demon's collar still sealed about her serpentine neck.

The last thing she'd want would be for the demon to know she was loose.

For then the collar would be reactivated, and she'd be a captive again.

Moon flew with Apollo to Alex's location, not hard to do with so many dragons milling about and making noise. When Alex began giving orders, Moon didn't question Alex, though she knew as much as he, and was nearly as old. The last thing they needed was dissension in the ranks and she well knew it. She grunted softly in agreement as she listened to the commands given and spoke to her mate. "Ye c'n come wit' me iffin tis a'right wit Alex 'ere." Giving a look to the old ruby dragon. "Ye mind? Apollo an ah are ah good team an know each other enough tae fight side by side without speakin'."

She hovered in place eyeing the dragons that flew in loose formation around them, as they organized themselves for the upcoming assault on the bastard. She hoped she found him first, having a score to settle herself. "As far as th' stone, Ah've seen 'em 'afore. Ah soulstone be what yer lookin' fer, an they be about th' size o' ah 'uman fist. An' they be fragile tae boot, so take care nae tae break it!" Emphasizing Alex's earlier command.

She now awaited permission to have her mate be her battle partner, and watched Alex intently. "Tis yer call....Alex." There was a quiet respect underlying the rumble of her voice now, and some guilt over having almost killed him. It was time to atone.

"Aye,'tis agreeable." Without hesitation she turned her head to look at her options "Ye, wit th' gold, what?s ye an ye mate's names?" The gold dragon responded immediately in a deep baritone rumble. "Orthos, and my mate is Mileena, my lady." Moon nodded. As she turned her attention to a deep blue and purple female she found herself being addressed without having to prompt information. The dragoness spoke with a respectful ferocity. "I'm Daphne and My mate here is Firenze." She offered indicating a brilliant Orange male. The two pairs who had been speaking with Moon turned to their king and flew closer.

Orthos spoke first. "My lord we are requesting permission to fly with the Lady Moon." The other three were in agreement and nodded, looking to their leader for his permission. They knew good leadership when they saw it and were curious as to what this female could do. Her confidence and presence was overwhelmingly powerful and she had charisma that piqued their curiosity further. Moon waited to hear the males response, watching, wings working strongly as she stayed in place mid-air.

The night before..

Icer1978: ::Slipping into the frigid waters,she would submerge most of herself, letting only her snout show. The fish would be safe for now since she'd already eaten, eyes half lidded.:;

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::The demon was about, up to no good surely strolling casually through the shadows, or so it would seem::

Icer1978: ::Oblivious to the demon's presence, the dragonness was soaking.::

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::He seemed to melt out of the shadows, just behind her out of her line of sight. his voice came smooth and silky soft:: Enjoying yourself, darling" ::He purred to her::

Icer1978: ::A twitch of an ear, then a grunt, sinking a bit deeper into the water.:;

Oziendis Nightstalker: Oh come, now, not going to say hello' Tsk, such bad manners. And here I thought you were improving. I suppose this is what happens when a rose is left to ramble wild.

Azzure-Starlight: Luna...had escaped from the Lair, and moved down the path towards the lake, quietly. Mama...Had been at it again with dressing the girl up. Bows and frills and dress...That's all she was, clothing wise, and she didn't look to happy about it.

Icer1978: ::A few bubbles, and a snort, Maybe if she couldn't see him..::

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::Sighing dramatically:: Must I activate the collar again? I really prefer not to but if you insist on being such an ill mannered creature...::He trailed off meaningfully::

Icer1978: ::Surfacing with a bit of a growl.:; I'd rather be caged.

Azzure-Starlight: As she neared the Lake....she spotted Icer....then....the one that she was talking to....Moments passed, before she didn't care if she was being rude or not. "Aunty!" Wave. Bounce.

Oziendis Nightstalker: I can most certainly arrange that, my pet. Now all I ask is a civil hello. Is it really so much' Or perhaps some prompting is in order"

Icer1978: Hello. ::Blinking then as she heard Aunty! and a bit of a groan.::

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::Dark eyes flicked to the new female, narrowing slightly:: It seems ill manners run in the family.

Icer1978: ::She would float there, rumbling a bit before starting to submerge again.:: I said hello...Nicely.

Azzure-Starlight: She..Stopped a few feet from the edge of the lake, and peered towards Aunty, before the other's words made her frown. Bright blue hues turned towards him. "Now what would make you say that?" she asked with a huff.

Oziendis Nightstalker: thank you, darling but I meant your...niece. ::Black eyes ticking back to the girl:: Because you rudely inturrupted a conversation. ::His tone was flat and cold now::

Azzure-Starlight: "Nuh-uh. Not really. I didn't hear ya talkin' about anything." she said softly, before she tilted her head back so that she could stare up at the man.

Icer1978: ::Back beneath the water she would slide, using her tail to propel herself.::

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::He shifted his position to stare down at the girl, eyes boring into her:: Perhaps were your mouth not befuddling your ears you might have heard

Azzure-Starlight: She....held his stare for a moment longer....before she dropped her eyes from his face, and let them Move towards Aunty. "Maybe...Maybe not."

Icer1978: ::Aunty was gliding beneath the waters, enjoying the chill of the water uponher scales.:;

Azzure-Starlight: Then...Maybe she didn't see aunty.

Oziendis Nightstalker: Hmpf. ::Snorting lightly in derision. He looked to where Icer had sunk herself, arching a brow:: So rude to just ...pop off. ::A light 'nudge' from that collar might remind her::

Icer1978: ::The nudge of course made her surface and float there again.::

Oziendis Nightstalker: Better. ::Murmured::

Azzure-Starlight: After....not spotting Aunty, her gaze returned to the man. "Who are you? I've never ever seen you around here before."

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::He smiled, a frightning thing, thin and cruel:: You know me, my dear. Just another body, another face, but I assure you if you are one of hers. ::Gesturing to Icer:: You know me

Icer1978: ::Perhaps a bit of a grumble, though she would not sink out of sight again.:;

Azzure-Starlight: ....Her face should tell him that she was drawing a blank..."No. I've never seen you before...Or ever heard...of someone that took on another body." she mumbled softly, before she frowned

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::He laughed softly:: Perhaps better for you then, small one. ::His gaze flicked back to Icer:: I know what you have been up to, by the by, my dear. And I have spoken at length with this Brian of yours. Charming fellow

Icer1978: Have you now...::Arching an eyeridge.:;

Oziendis Nightstalker: Indeed I have

Azzure-Starlight: The frown...on her face, accented with the bows in her hair, made her look like a spoiled child who had just been told no. "Better for me" Does that mean you've bad intent?"

Icer1978: He has told me such. ::Bobbing in the waves, glancing between Oz and her niece.:;

Oziendis Nightstalker: He finds your....eating habbits amusing. ::Eyes flicking to the girl:: I would suggest, small one you mind your manners and hold your tongue, lest you find it removed.

Icer1978: ::Another snort, before starting to sink again.:: No thanks tae you.

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::He chuckled coldly to Icer:: Going somewhere"

Icer1978: Now why would I be going anywhere"..

Azzure-Starlight: "But...I just asked a question. It's not like I'm being mean." she retorted, before her arms crossed over her chest.

Oziendis Nightstalker: Indeed, why would you. after all I have something you want. ::A frown as his attention was diverted again:: Your speaking tires me and I find you irritating. I suggest you silence yourself or I will indulge in the great pleasure or ripping out your tongue and feeding it to you::

Azzure-Starlight: "But...I ah..." she started.....before she fell quiet....and with wide eyes, skittered back a few steps. He....sounded like he'd follow through on that threat.

Icer1978: Aye, you do, and I intend tae get it back.

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::Oh yes with relish.:: I don't see it happening anytime soon, not with that lovely bauble you wear.

Icer1978: This little old thing":;Grinning as she tapped the band around her neck, sinking further from view again.::

Oziendis Nightstalker: Oh yes, that 'little old thing' as you call it. ::His smile nothing short of sinister::

Azzure-Starlight: She....had to resist the question that her mouth wanted her to blurt out. Her lower lip was bitten down on, before her eyes moved between the Man and Aunty.

Icer1978: You enjoy this..,I can tell.

Oziendis Nightstalker: Oh indeed I do, my dear ::He purred:: I never do anything I do not enjoy

Icer1978: Of course...::Gliding backwards in the lake, maybe th current could carry her.::

Azzure-Starlight: ....Does that mean Aunty....would leave her there with him"

Icer1978: ::Aunty was just trying to distance herself.:;

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::He smirked:: Trying to sneak away, dearest' You'll never learn anything that way.

Icer1978: I am nae. No. ::Bobbing in the water.;:

Azzure-Starlight: She's still biting her lip....keeping quiet.

Oziendis Nightstalker: Uh huh. I'm sure.......::Shrugging:: Then you might be interested to know the gem is not on my person, so your little hunting party will not be as successful as you hope. ::Sneering slightly:: Oh yes I am well aware of what you and your kin have been up to

Icer1978: ::Snorting and perhaps even a draconic curse was loosed.::

Oziendis Nightstalker: Now now, such rudeness. ::Frowning:: We talked about that. ::The collar would give her a bit of a jolt::

Icer1978: ::A twitch of an eye as she was jolted, and she would glide towards the ledge.::

Azzure-Starlight: "Wha.." And she cut her self off again, and took another step back. She had to remember to be quiet.

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::He turned away, eyes on the girl:: Now this one might have potential. she listens. ::Staring down at her a moment:: Well, I do hate to cut this little visit short, but I have things to prepare. A welcoming party if you will

Icer1978: You will nae get away with it..

Azzure-Starlight: Welcoming party' What did he mean by that' She...was confused....obviously by his words....but she wasn't going to say anything.

Oziendis Nightstalker: Says you. ::His eyes flashed and the collar activated:: You will return to your kin and speak nothing of this meeting to them. you will direct them to a location outside the great northern swampland and tell them I have moved my lair there. do you understand me"

Icer1978: ::With the collar activated there was little choice in the matter.::

Oziendis Nightstalker: If you do not you will suffer more than you can imagine. tell me you understand and will obey

Icer1978: I understand, completely.

Oziendis Nightstalker: In the meantime ::He suddenly reached out to grip the young girl's arm:: I will be taking this one as insurance.

Icer1978: ::A snarl as she started to move for Oz.;;

Azzure-Starlight: Her eyes moved back to Aunty, before she felt the man's fingers wrap around her arm. "Ah...Uh...HEY! Lemme go!" she squeaked, before she pulled against his grip.

Oziendis Nightstalker: Down! ::commanded sternly:: You will not attack me or she dies. Icer1978: ::A rumble, and she was down as commanded.::

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::He jerked the girl violently to him:: You will do as you are told or I will not hesitate to kill you and feed you to my thralls. ::Wings were suddenly splayed wide and he clutched the girl to him firmly, hauling her up into the sky with him::

Azzure-Starlight: She was yanked foward....and stumbled, before a soft whimper was emmited...Then she was being dragged up into the air" She squeezed her eyes tight, and clung to him in response. She didn't want to fall

Icer1978: ::Soon she had disappeared, back into the forest to do as she'd been ordered.:;





She had woke to find that her mother and father and company had moved on. She had to let them know they were moving the wrong direction.

Thats what the dreams had told her,no not a dream, a nightmare. Though dreams were not often right. And nightmares doubly so.

Taking wing, she would follow her parent's scents, soon catching up to them. Momma, daddy, thats the wrong way.

Closing her eyes,she pictured what the dreams had told her. There is a patch of land outside of the great northern swamp. That is where his most recent lair should lie.

Perhaps we can catch him by surprise. Feeling the tug of the bond in her heart again, Aurthur was pulling her a different way. They way they had been travelling.

A blink, and a snort, though it was her heart now that was guiding them, not her mind. No. He's telling me it's this way..

She knew the price of disobedience to the collar, and to the one that owned it.

But she was already suffering. What was a little more"

*Alex sat down and waited to see who was flying with who, when a large black scaled brute with breast scales the color of ashen grey approached him.* "My name is AuSirrath, sir. My mate Pirotess and I will fly with you, if you would have us." *The black motioned to his mate, A smaller jade scaled beauty. Though she was smaller than her mate, her eyes burned with a fierce determination that Alex admired, and he gave a nod of his head.*

"I would be happy to have you fly with me, as I would gladly have anyone. I would not ask anyone to follow me, if they did not wish to do so willingly."

"Then we will fly with you as well, sir." *This came from the smallest female of the group. She was a light blue in color, with slashes of black along her back and tail.* My name is Ishtara, and my mate is AuRel. *The male was a ruddy red in color so dark as to almost be brown, and he was just as small as his mate. Though both were small, they were lean and lithe.*

"Then welcome to you both, Ishtara and Aurel, as well. Now, King Drake, I would also like to request that Icer join my wing as well. I made a promise to her, and I want her to be at my side. Are the groups acceptable, or should we switch them up?"

He held the young girl firmly as he flew swiftly back to his lair in the swamp. The great tree split in twain opening into a gaping hole he dove straight into, the young girl surely terrified as they plunged into darkness. As the chamber opened into a great underground cavern, the walls began to glow with dim light, enough for him to navigate by as he threaded through winding tunnels. Luna would be unceremoniously deposited in a small cavern with a small pool of water and a barred door which he shut and locked. "You will wait here." He said nothing else and turned, leaving her in the gloom to wait.

He strode to the main hall, barking for his thralls to heed him and several scurried in hastily, scraping and grovelling. "What news on the Shimmerscales?" A portly imp with wings like pitch stepped forward. "My lord, they rally dragons at least twelve strong, and the Icer-beast leads them. I saw them as I lurked in a nearby cave hedge on a nearby cliff. She has disobeyed your excellencies orders." The creature cowered, expecting to be struck, but no blow came. Oziendis considered this. "Even with her niece in my possession she disobeys" She is a greater fool than I thought. I will simply have to prepare the welcoming party to be held here." The imp heaved a sigh of relief, glad his master had not beaten him for bearing bad news. A beating would have been far better. Oziendis crooked a finger and the creature swelled grotesquely before exploding in a shower of innards, blood and gore.

The other thralls cowered in terror as he turned on them. "Bring me the soulstone, and be careful with it. If it is damaged your fates will be worse than his." The remaining three hurried off to do their master's bidding. Oziendis took the stone and inspected it. No damage, and there was the faint swirling of the soul trapped within visible. He had planned to resurrect the beast under his own control but he now had no time, and had not procured a dragon's egg required for the magic to work. He pocketed it and turned. It was time to prepare. "Summon my forces, the imps, goblins and cave wurms. Those dragons will have more than they expected on their hands when they arrive. As for Icer......." His eyes flashed, as the collar activated, and even from this distance, would instill a sudden jolt of horrendous pain, that would recur every time she attempted to lead the others in the right direction. This should give his reinforcements time to gather.

There was something close to a frightened cry, from her when they were plunged into darkness, and her grip on the man increased. The darkness terrified her, and the gloom of the underground cavern didn't help much. She was dumped into a smaller cavern, tumbling, before she finally came to a stop.

By the time she finally sat up, her dress was dirty, and the bow in her hair off centered, and half falling out.....And she was greeted with the sound of the door being locked. A soft hiccup of a sob was given, before she moved to her feet, and stumbled towards the door. Once she reached the door, she let her fists thump against it.

"Lemme go, Please, I didn't do anythin' wrong!"

Her words were accented with thumps, before she finally gave up, and slumped against the door, and let more hiccupy sobs take over.

Reinforcements had finally been gathered, all the dark, twisted creatures that existed for one thing - to bring about suffering. Cave wurms, goblins, trolls, and even a few harpies were among the ranks. Oziendis briefed them quickly as they arrived, and set up sentries around the gnarled tree that was the secret entrance to his lair. So it was when Icer arrived, he knew. He now knew too, the collar had been removed. He dismissed the goblin who had brought him the news, and the foul twisted creature scuttled off, thankful he'd not been killed. Oziendis had a reputation even among the darker creatures of being particularly ruthless. It seemed the Game was about to begin.

Icer1978: ::Nostrils twitched, then flared as the dragoness was following a scent. ice blue eyes narrowing.:;

Icer1978: ::Deeper, and deeper into the forest she would go. Leaves and twigs crunching underfoot.::

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::The demon's lair was well fortified by this time, Harpies circled in the sky, dirty feathers ruffling in the wind. Cave wurms gaurded in creveses, Goblins lurked in bushes and in caves while the demon himself waited deep in his lair. The soulstone had been hidden in a chamber deep in the bowels of the dungeon::

Icer1978: :;She was closing in of course, following not only the pull of her mate's bond, but also the demon stink.:;

Alexander Lasair: *Alex and the rest of his wing followed close behind Icer, watching her carefully. Although soon, they didn't need her to lead the way......The retinue of the demon's defense showed clear from some distance away.* "This is it, everyone! Don't let your fear hold you back. For kith and kin!

Moon Lyght: ::She nodded to the two pairs with her, turning to face them as well as her own mate.:: Orthos, Mileena, Ah want ye on th' left flank, Daphne, firenze, th' right. Apollo, ye mind flyin' center wit' me" Ah'll be providin' cloud cover so twill be 'arder fer th' bastard tae spot us afore we're on 'im. ::Gesturing to the sky with her great horned head, eyes flashing with the anticipation of battle. it had been a long time...::

Prince Drake: *Drake surveyed the situation with a critical eye, and caught the dragonelle Moon's words from behind. Having an idea of her plan gave him one of his own.* Shadowcatch, Stireth, we are going to circle around to the left flank and preform a sweeping wall of cover fire. I have my suspicions about that big red one, and if I'm right, and he does what I think he's going to do, then this could all be over in a matter of moments."

Icer1978: ::Ice blue gaze studied the forest as she moved, nostrils flaring, if anything got in her way...::

Apollo Mournefire: I'm thinking perhaps we should have laid out a plan before we got here, so everyone was clear. Seems to me that everyone is just going to do their own thing.....I would hate to catch a blast of fire up my tailvent from one of my own allies.

Moon Lyght: ::She chuckled:: Dinnae worry, yer tailvent be perfectly safe, love. ::She nodded to the other two pair in their wing and launched herself up into the sky witch surprising swiftness and stealth. The sky, already dark with the promise of foul weather darkened further as she shot high into the dark clouds hanging over the swamp. She stopped once she reached the perfect altitude and spread her wings wide, lightning shooting across them as she summoned even darker cloud cover to converge on the dragons who were close behind her. She concentrated, using an extra effort to charm the eyes of every dragon present, that they would be able to clearly see through the darkness and thunder that now sounded as a means to hide the sounds of their wingbeats::

Icer1978: ::One would not take to the air, no, one was strictly for battle on the ground, and the closer she drew to the demon's lair, the more eager she became.::

Alexander Lasair: *He was used to fighting with wings that he had trained or trained with personally, so that he would only have to shout a given command, and know that it was going to be followed perfectly. However, in this situation, he was fighting with people he had only met hours before.* Alright, were going to use a maneuver that I call Wingstorm. Ausirrath, Pirotess, Ishtara, and Aurel, your going to have to split formation and cover each north, south, east, and west points to surround them. Then do nothing more than hover and beat your wings to create a cover of dust, to shield our allies so that they may attack. My daughter and I will charge from the front."

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::He knew they were close, his sentinels having reported in as having seen dragons in large number. He gave the command for the goblins to ready themselves on the ground and the cave wurms to be ready to burrow the ground from beneath any who approached on foot, and cause a collapse. The harpies would handle aerial combat. there was nothing now but to wait for the inevitable clash::

Prince Drake: *He heard various commands being shouted across from dragon to dragon, but he kept his eyes ahead. He was the Dragon King here, and as such, he had duties and responsibilites to every dragon present.....Like keeping them alive. Still, it was largely out of his claws. There was only one thing he could do.....* "Shadowcatch, Stireth! Now, engage them! Strike at the harpies first!"

Icer1978: ::A roar sounded as she charged then, towards the goblins. Ice blue eyes flashing crimson hued.:;

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::The harpies would meet the dragons midair with bloodcurdling screeches as dirty talons and filthy wings beat, scratched and tore at the attackers. Goblins would swarm over the ground through muck for Icer as the wurms cleverly burrowed beneath creating long cavers below the surface, weakening it's integrity::

Moon Lyght: ::Black clouds swirled and created a huge funnel as she led her wing in a swift circle, directing air currents into a storm that had it's eye set on the huge tree itself. The branches were whipped violently, wood splintering and creating shrapnel that impaled several goblins as they charged. They then dove, and she gave the command to fire. In unison five dragons opened their jaws to exhale gouts of flame. she trusted Apollo would do the same unless he had a better idea. She knew he was clever and very well might::

Icer1978: ::Jaws and tail snapped out at any goblins that got close, and nostrils flared as a few were trampled underfoot.:;

Apollo Mournefire: *His mate seemed to have things well in hand, but the wurms in the ground bothered him. They were closing fast towards Icer, largely unhindered. It was almost as though they had been forgotten.....Except by him. He folded his wings and fell in a steep dive, right towards a cluster of the beasts, and at the last second opened his wings. The impact was bone jarring, but with his weight, he heard the dying screeches of several of them. Though thanks to his little maneuver, it would be some time before he was able to rejoin the fight.*

Alexander Lasair: COME OUT, DEMON!! *He roared in anger as he and his wing hurried to the fray. His dragons split off and hovered as directed, beating their wings hard to further blind their enemies, while he rushed in to aid his daughter with the goblins on the ground.*

Icer1978: ::A taloned foot broke through the ground, into one of those caves, and she snarled as she went down, thrashing. Tail and jaws still snapping, and icefire sent towards the horde of goblins rushing her way.:;

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::Goblins were chomped (and tasted fouler than foul) and killed while the wurms were crushed to death. Harpies were losing numbers as well, as the sky battle raged and bodies fell in droves hitting the ground with sickening thuds. Finally the demon himself came out fromthe void that split the great tree with a mighty shudder, exploding into the air, bat-like wings thrashing the air as he flew. He passed through the flames spewed by Moon and her dragons with little damage to show for it, besides having been a little scorched:: FOOLS! You dare think you can engage the likes of me"! You will all die this day!! ::His laughter was punctuated by a blast of sickening green light that engulfed him and managed to catch the smaller female flying with Moon. she had flown just low enough to be in range and now fell with a screech as her scales melted. She was still alive when she crashed to the ground, crushing yet more wurms, but she would be unable to fight further due to not staying in tight formation as directed. Oz laughed as he watched his first victim fall::

Icer1978: ::Serpentine neck swung out as well, and oh how foul those goblins tasted, now it was raining harpy bodies as well, and snarling, she managed to free her foot from the hole it had sunk into, eyes blazing as she watched as Oziendis took to the air.:;

Alexander Lasair: *At long last! The moment he had been waiting for! He shot up into the air and hovered, his crimson eyes glowing deeply in rage.* "Your biggest mistake was not messing with the Shimmerscale family.....Oh no, a big mistake, but not the biggest one. The biggest mistake you made was rising me from the grave, because on this day, in this battle.....I will be the death of you."

Icer1978: Daddy...see to her. ::Murmurred as she glanced to the fallen dragoness. Wings snapped open, sending a few more goblins flying, their bodies landing with sickening thumps and crunches against trees.::

Moon Lyght: Mileena! ::Screeched as the female fell. She swore, she should have stayed tight, and had dropped too low in her attack. Orthos roared as his mate fell, and redoubled his efforts in a rage, charging the demon head-on. The resounding crash from the force of the collision shook the very air and he snarled, his fangs finding demon flesh. His jaws closed on Oz's wing, and snapped it in twain, the two of them fell in a grand spiral to crash violently down. She couldn't believe this. Hotheads! She was commanding hotheads!:: Damn!!!::She swooped down and forcibly snatched Orthos off the demon just as he was going to do the same to him as he had his mate::

Icer1978: ::Though maybe...maybe...::A glance up towards the dragons in mid air. if daddy could keep Oz busy...::She charged through the remnants of the horde, receiving minor scrapes and bruises.:;

Prince Drake: Alright Stireth and Shadowcatch, this is our chance. His wing is wounded, so he'll have less manueverability in the air. On my mark.....One, two, NOW!" *The three charged after the wounded demon in a straight line, flying nearly wingtip to wingtip* (Oz) ::He laughed though he just missed Orthos, and turned his attention on the three. Stone erupted from the ground jutting violently up in front of him, spewing fire:: (Drake) *His eyes widened in surprise and fear as the stone errupted from the ground. The three of them were going to die, and he knew it.....Until he was shoved from the air. Well, not so much a shove as a nudge, to knock his wing, and his flight path, off course. Whether it was accidental or intentional, he would never know. He could only cry out in sorrow as he watched Shadowcatch and Stireth disappear into the flames, never to be seen again.*

Icer1978: ::If she could get behind the demon...nostrils flaring as she was crushing anything that got in her path, harpy bodies that had fallen from the sky, some still smouldering, goblins and broken cave wyrms. she needed to be stealthy.:;

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::There were only a handful of harpies left and they knew they were outmatched. Cowards that they were, they turned and fled to vanish on the horizon. Goblin and harpy bodies littered the ground, and beneath it there were only four wurms left living, stull burrowing and getting ready to strike the supports causing a cave in and collapse of the ground above them. Oz no longer able to fly was assaulting anything that got close with bursts of that sickly green light that could melt dragon scale:: NOW!!!!! ::With that shouted command the wurms struck the supports and the ground began cracking and crumbling beneath them all::

Icer1978: ::Closer, closer, using the trees for cover..::

Icer1978: ::The ground shuddered, and started to crumble, and a snarl sounded as her wings couldn't snap open. there were too many trees in the way.::

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::The fact that most of their bretheren had been killed would be the dragon's saving grace. the collapse stopped, the tunnels had not been dug large or deep enough to create more than a glorified ditch::

Icer1978: ::The ground had stopped shaking, and she shook out her head, crimson tinged eyes on the sky and the remaining dragons, there, before she lunged from her tree cover, straight for the demon herself, horns lowered.:;

Alexander Lasair: *Alex turned his head, to look at each of the dragon's of his wing. He spoke to them telepathically, of what they must do. He was asking alot of them, a huge sacrifice. But they bowed their heads in understanding. They rushed the demon, surrounding him on all sides. Alex flew above the demon, blocking off his every escape route.* Daughter, do it now! Get what we came here for, so we can put this demon out of our misery once and for all!

Moon Lyght: ::Daphne and Firenze swooped in low at Moon's command to aid Alex. Orthos was covering Mileena's body with his own, shielding her and speaking softy to her as the battle raged around them. Mileena still lived, but would be scarred for life. Lightning jumped from her wings and shot down to Alex's dragons to dance over them. while well controlled by Moon, it would not harm the dragons, but to Oz it was yet another barrier to his escape. He was now trapped::

Oziendis Nightstalker: @#$%@!!!!! ::The demon swore, finding himself surrounded. If that damned Orthos had not broken his wing he would not now be trapped in this ring of seriously pissed off dragons. He knew he was beat but still he laughed:: Go ahead and kill me. You still won't find the stone! Hahahahahaha!!!!

Icer1978: ::A darkened grin as jaws snapped down upon the demon's broken wing, and she started to drag Oziendis towards the tree he had burst forth from. If she had to beat it out of him herself she would!:;

Alexander Lasair: *He smirked down at the demon, gradually losing altitude. When the time came, it would be he, who had the last laugh.* "That's what you think, demon.....You see, we were led here by my daughter.....and her bond to her mate, a bond that still exists that lead her here, to this place. So while WE may not be able to find it, SHE can, no matter where you have it hidden."

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::He shrieked in rage and pain as Icer snapped down on his wing and began dragging him. He kept laughing though, maddened laughter even as he reached up to sever his own wing, freeing himself. Blood spurted in dark gouts, hissing as it ruined the plant life it landed on, poisoning it with the putrid essence of his hate and evil.:: You think so, do you? ::Laughing:: Even if you find it, you'll never revive him! You have no vessel and I doubt very much you'd kill one of your own to use for his new body!!! Hahaha!!

Icer1978: ::Turning, she would step down upon the demon, snarling, talons digging into his flesh.:: I have killed ye before... ::Murmurring into the demon's ear.:;

Alexander Lasair: Oh, don't go killing him yet daughter.....I haven't had MY fun yet.......

Prince Drake: Nor have I had mine.....He has lives to answer for, both those still alive that he has scarred for life, and those that are dead and gone.....I am the Dragon King, and I will see justice done!

Icer1978: ::A grin to daddy, jaws sinking then into his other wing. She would then continue to drag him towards the tree, or what was left of it, aiming to snag that wing of his onto a large branch.::

Moon Lyght: ::She landed with Daphne and Firenze right behind her, growling:: Aye an' ah personally woul' like tae watch 'im suffer long an' 'orribly.

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::He roared again as his other wing was bitten. But if he could sever one wing, he could sever the other and did so now. A body, after all was only a body. there were always more to be had.:: What, do you plan to kill me and use my body as his vessel" ::Smirking as he bled:: Is that it, Icer you wish me to bed you?

Icer1978: :;Snag, impail whichever came first. a grin still dark upon her snout.:; I do owe him too, for the....pleasure...of his company.

Icer1978: You wish...:;Tail slamming into the now unwinged demon as she started to disappear down into the depths.:;

Alexander Lasair: *His eyes flared deep crimson, and that long agile tail snapped out, catching the demon clean across the gut after his daughter's initial shove. Looming over the demon, pinned the demon on the ground beneath his heavy claw, talons extended, his eerie gaze looming down.* My how the mighty have fallen......Do you wish for death now, as I did as a dracolich"

Icer1978: ::A pause looking back up.:; Perhaps some time in the wyvern grotto would change his tune..

Oziendis Nightstalker: You would know...::Gasping under the mighty weight of that claw:: We all...fall...down.....King Alex. ::Gasping a laugh as he coughed up blood, his bones beginning to be crushed, his internal organs being punctured and squished::

Alexander Lasair: *He jerked his paw up in surprise, staring down at the demon.* I should kill you now.....But my daughter has other plans for you......

Prince Drake: *His head whipped around to stare at the big red holding down the demon.* "King.....Alex" No, you can't be, he must be mistaken. My father has been dead for some time, so that can't be him!"

Oziendis Nightstalker: Stupid...::cough:: Animal....::Hack:: Are you so...very foolish ...to think I might have ...power to bring forth Aurthur as my slave....::Coughing up gouts of blood:: And not your dead, putrid father's corpse" ::Laughing til he chokes::

Icer1978: ::She had disappeared down into the depths again, following the bond as she sought out the stone.:;

Prince Drake: *He stalked forward and lowered his head to the demon.* My father only had one eye, and this dragon has two, so your clearly a liar......That's what demons do, is they lie." *Turning and stalking off.* "Moon and Alex here seem to have it under control.....Those of you that can, follow me back to the Shimmersca le Orphanage......We'll take our rest there."

Oziendis Nightstalker: ::He sputtered and choked on his own blood and as his body died yet again it began to dissolve into thick black ichor soaking into the earth and steaming::

Moon Lyght: ::She snorted in disgust:: 'Ell be back..'E always is....fer now there be naethin' more we c'n do...::Daphne and Firenze nodded and followed King Drake to the orphanage:: A'll 'andle Orthos an' Mileena.....They'll need 'ealin'.....::Turning to the grounded pair and moving to them. The three of them began to shimmer and vanished as Moon transported them to the Orphanage for medical care::

Icer1978: :;Nostrils twitched and flared until she found what she had sought.:;

Apollo Mournefire: *Wordlessly, Apollo nodded to Alex and headed off with his mate and the others.*

Alexander Lasair: *When all the others had left, (Or in the demon's case, died) only then did Alex make his way into the tunnel his daughter had disappeared down.* Daughter" Have you found it"

Icer1978: :;The stone clutched carefully between her jaws, the little dragon picked her way back through the maze of tunnels, and back up to the surface, blinking as she eyed daddy.:;

Alexander Lasair: *He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw the stone in his daughter's jaws* It's safe.....Your safe......We lost only two dragons today, and I will make a monument for them to honor their bravery.

Icer1978: ::A nod to her father, wiggling her snout as she eyed the putrid goo of what only could have been Oz.:;

Icer1978: In the cemetery, daddy...:;Murmured, stepping over the dead harpies and goblins now. eventually the forest would reclaim the bodies, but until then, they would lay broken amongst the trees.:;

Alexander Lasair: I think I got a little carried away by stepping on him.......But at least he wont be bothering us for awhile.

Icer1978: :;A grin as she leaned against her father, resting her head.:; Perhaps one of my books has a spell..

Alexander Lasair: *Nodding* Yes, but we still need an egg for the spell to work. And I think I know where to get one.

Icer1978: Oh, where" :;still leaning. Her ankle was sore from where she had fallen through the ground.:;

Alexander Lasair: That is my little secret, my daughter. But I can assure you that I'll have an egg for you in no time.

Icer1978: That is good. Perhaps we should head towards home" :;Eying the remains.:: It's starting tae stink again..

Alexander Lasair: *Nodding* Would you like to ride on my back? You don't want to injure that ankle further.

Icer1978: ::A nod to her father, still clutching that stone carefully in her jaws.:;

Alexander Lasair: *Helping his daughter onto his back, he would fly them back towards the orphanage.* So I guess my secret is out, thanks to that demon......Drake is in denial.

Icer1978: ::She would cling to her father's back as he flew them homeward.:: He has not seen you in so long, daddy. :;Muffled.:;

Icer1978: He missed you, daddy. We all did.

Alexander Lasair: Im sure it's a big shock, and I should have went and seen him sooner......

Icer1978: It was not your fault. :;SNuggling against her father, then eying her ankle again, it felt like she had twisted it.:;

Alexander Lasair: Everything will be sorted out in time......*The orphange was coming into view.* Right now, I think all of us need a good rest after the battle.

Icer1978: Resting would be nice...I have nae had the chance in so very long.

Alexander Lasair: *Nodding* And with that gem, you should sleep alot more soundly. *Landing on the entrance ledge, helping her down.* I'll sleep in the library, more room there.

Icer1978: ::A nod as she was helped down, favoring the leg with the twisted ankle.::

Icer1978: :;Soon she would disappear within the entrance, and off to check up on the other dragons there.:

Alexander Lasair: *Splitting off from his daughter, off to the library he went to sleep away his fatigue.*

The demon was gone. For now. Now was the time to rest, and recover. Still there was much to do around the lair. Not only tending to the little ones, but also to those who had been wounded in the battle.

She owed them of course, and she would make sure they were as comfortable as they could be. Without waking her father, she would slip down one of the passage ways to check up on Mileena. Orthos her mate remained at her side, and both seemed to be sleeping.

Next she would visit Daphne and Firenze. They too were resting from their bout. A peek in towards her mother and Apollo as she passed by. And soon she would stop to see if her brother had stayed. It was a long trek back to Alexandria.

Drake? She would lean a bit against the wall as she checked in with her brother. Still resting her ankle.

It didn't hurt, but she still didn't want to aggrivate it further. Soon she would have to check up on the memorial, but not quite yet. She and brother needed to talk.

When he did not open the door, she pushed her way in. Horned head canting. She had not known the mated pair that had made the ultimate sacrifice, but they had done so for her family.

Drake" Moving closer to the red who lay on the floor with his head on his forelegs.

Did you not hear me" She wasn't accusing him. Not at all. Settling nearby as she watched him. There was probably a lot upon his mind.

She was lost in thought, in her own lair now with Apollo. The children were home again, and playing innocently in the nursery. Talons scratched at stone as she dug into the floor of an antechamber. In five days....five days and Aurthur would have a way to be brought back. She paused in her work, already she had begun to swell, the magic of acceleration working. They would have their egg. It was a sacrifice she knew was hers alone to make, and she had come to the decision to make it. She had spoken with Apollo and he had agreed with her, there was no other way, short of raiding the nest of another dragon, and none of them could ever commit such a heinous act.

She shook her head and resumed, the nest must be ready. She must remember why she was doing this. Icer. Her daughter. And who knew" Perhaps some of her own traits might carry over, after all she now carried the egg that would be Aurthur's salvation. She tried to keep her mind on positive thoughts, making herself focus on the good that could come from this. After all, she loved her daughter, and what could she do but offer her a way to have her own love brought back" Apollo was out hunting for her again. Her appetite had become monstrous and he now was working twice as hard to keep her satisfied while she prepared.

I think that if you would, it would be for the best......My father named you as the ruler, before me, and yet you stepped down. I am not mated, but were you to come as a Queen Consort.....I and the kingdom would be more than happy.

I know how important the family is to you, and I would never dream of taking you away from your home. Alexandria is my home, not yours, just as this is your home and not mine. By acting as Queen Consort, you would merely be at my side throughout the memorial service to oversee it. The longest that you would be gone is a day, two at the most if you take a few stops during the trip there and back.

Stireth and Shadowcatch gave their lives for me, and for that I am truely grateful. They saved not only me, but in the end, Aurthur as well. They were hotheaded young males, but they were loyal, and they were my friends......Two of the very few true friends that I had. I would like to have them rest in peace, knowing that their great sacrifice has touched many lives, and that they will be remembered for it.

The five days were up and the nest well prepared. Moon secluded herself in the nesting chamber, so the children would not be exposed to the natural process so young in life. Apollo had taken them on an outing to make double sure there would be no accidental observance while Moon conducted the business of laying the single egg. The egg that would house Aurthur's soul, in a body partially of her making.

When the arduous task was done she shifted form, to the half-dragon half-elven form that was her true nature. She bit her lip as she gingerly lifted the egg, praying it was indeed fertile. She lifted it to the light....

http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/3377/dragonegg.jpg

......It was time to summon Icer. They needed the soulstone.

"Aye lass. Ye've th stone?" Looking at her intently. "Bring it near an' place it next tae th' egg..." She would watch, the magic was simple enough and as soon as the stone was brought near it would glow, before merging with the egg....

*The egg began to rock shortly after the stone had been laid next to the egg, and the glow from the stone had faded. Cracks formed along the smooth milky surface of the egg, and at last a chunk fell away. A blue snout poked from the hole in the egg, taking in its first lungfuls of air.

Then the egg shook more violently, pieces chipping and falling away from the egg. After moments that seemed to last a lifetime, a blue hatchling rested in the bottom of the nest. This was certainly Aurthur, but there were changes. Several wicked looking spines were now along his back, where before there had been none. These spines were also located on the tip of his tail, dripping a viscous fluid. When he gave a hiccup, a small green cloud of venom came from his muzzle. He looked between the two females, back and forth, his eyes roaming from Moon to Icer and back. Then his eyes settled on Icer.....And the hatchling waddled forward and bumped Icer's paw with his muzzle. It was clear that he knew who his mate was.....Through everything, he had retained his memory.*

She was more than a little surprised when Aurthur broke free of the creamy shell. Spines...he hadn't had those before. Nor had he been able to breathe poisonous gas. She couldn't help but chuckle. it seemed she had contributed more than she thought she would to his new incarnation. Idly she wondered how quickly he would grow, watching as he nosed Icer awake. She rumbled to him and nuzzled the newly hatched tyke lovingly. "Welcome 'ome, love. We missed ye." Finally the family was whole once more and all was right in their world.

If a dragon could flush she would have right there. The toothy grin almost sheepish. "Ach...we eh..we 'ad tae 'ave an egg, love an' we couldnae verra well 'ave ye mate carry it..'twould 'ave tainted th' bloodlines iffin ye'd ever 'ad ana more 'atchlin's...So....." She swallowed and looked at him directly. "Ah carried th' egg an ye seem tae 'ave in'erited some 'o mah traits...." She nuzzled him again. "Tis nae so verra bad, ye'll get used tae it, an 'asides, ye'll be even more th' hunter then ye were 'afore." Sincerely hoping he would forgive her for making him this new creature laced with poison and spines.

She couldn't help but chuckle as her mate whipped that tail back and forth. It did not matter to her that he had spines, or could breath poisonous venom.

All that mattered to her was that he was home, and safe, and of course she was not going to let him go off alone for a long, long time.

Settling at his side, she purred softly, nuzzling him as carefully as she could.