She had remained near her post, even as she had heard voices. One was recognizable, knowing it belonged to her owner, her master.Another belonged to his girl Eillani. The third though was unrecognizable to the tamed dragon.

She could not make out much of what as said.The collar holding her in thrall yet.

The longer the bauble remained around her neck, the more she seemed to obey, and the deeper the voice in her own head seemed to be buried, forgotten.

They never called her name.Not once. Denying her the title. Names held power, and were used by those who cared.

In the dragon's addled mind, she was nameless.

Eillani stood beside her lord with a mouse from the rubble on her shoulder. Long fingers scritching the mouse as she spoke with her lord. "Lord..The mice request a boon. Apparently your dragon is parked in someone's nest."

Travanix nodded."Bring her into the compound. Apologize to your spies for me. Would not want to make them angry after all the intel they have provided."

Words had been spoken to the other, before Eillani gave a graceful bow and moved to collect her.

Muscles naturally twitched and ice blue eyes flicked toward the one drawing near. The woman spoke in a deadly soft coo to her. "Pretty little dragon..though you barely deserve the name."

Eillani reached for her halter. "Your over indulged rump is crushing my friends. I'm afraid you'll have to move."

The woman twisted her fingers into the halter, giving a sharp tug.Leading the dragon away.She followed obediately, not once fighting against the one leading her, though a rumble had been given at the sharp tug.

"You really should learn to hold your temper. You look more the fool trussed like a turkey than that one over there. She had nodded to the one still speaking with Travanix. "Looks when she speaks of my loyalty to my Lord."

Ice blue eyes remained on the ruined cobbles as she followed, chewing on her bit, ears twitching at the woman's words.

The mice has swarmed around her scaley feet after she had been moved, putting right what had been crushed." Eillani continued her whispered words to the dragonling she was leading.

"Personally.. I find the sight of you trussed so fitting.. you have no more spirit than a broken old mule after all.

A fanlike crest flicked this time, though otherwise the dragon remained silent, even as she was parked somewhere else this time, where no damage could be done.

Eillani then moved back to her lord. Serpentine neck was arched then, down toward the ruined cobblestones, she would wait there, making not a sound.

Words between the trio were still lost to the dragon's addled mind, though she lifted her gaze toward Eillani and the unknown one a moment before easing to her knees from her standing position.

Anyanka spoke still with Lani."Then by all means, my burdened pet, go and perform them... I shall spend my leisure time as I see fit, as I'm sure you will." The woman had spread her arm sweeping it outward in a bow.

""Will you be taking that with you?"

Eillani looked to the sky, guaging the weather, then over to the dragon. "I suppose I should.."

She had snorted a bit before Lani stepped back over, yanking upon her halter."I suppose I should feed it too."

Grunting as her halter was yanked sharply again, she moved back onto her feet.

"Lazy beast that it is." the woman shook her head, then led the dragon back towards the compound.



*Thanks to Eillani, Travanix and Etherealdream.

Days came and went, the moons rose and fell. Still she slept, waking only with a snort when buzzed by a fly. Nostrils flared out as she stomped her feet. Trying to get feeling back into them.

She never dared sink to her knees again, lest she was needed, but as the sun rose, and fell on another day, it seemed she was destined to remain a captive, a prisoner of her own mind.

Ice blue eyes squinted, clearing the sleep that had accumulated.Quietly as she was able, she shuffled to the trough, jaws parting enough to let the warm water past.

It didn't slake her thirst, but it was better then nothing. Lani had left food for her, snout then dipping to the dish that held what may have passed as gruel.

A snort as she swallowed, dipping her snout back into the trough, trying to chase the taste away.

Ice blue eyes flicked toward the door as wings fluttered eager against her sides. What would she have payed to feel the wind again ?

Still it wasn't to be. Gaze flicked back to the floor as she chewed upon her bit.

Muscles tensed and quivered beneath the saddle, each day the sore spots growing. Finally she slid onto all four knees, daring to give her feet a break, serpentine neck stretched upon the floor.

Time for another nap.