Kokuryuu Flameshifter

*blushes horribly* Oh god.... -Ryuu :dragon4:

Thank you... -Ryuu :dragon4:

Yes is does. -Ryuu :dragon4:

>.:dragon4:

It came to my attention that the blood trail became thicker puddles as it went. I sped up. There was a drop in front of me, and to increase me speed I changed into a Peregrine falcon. Diving at about two hundred miles per hour, I tucked in my wings and pierced the silence with a screech. Something was ahead; I swirled and swooped out of the way. Millions of Syrrak were gathered in the hallway! What in the world… Did we find their nest, or something? No time to find answers! I had to change quickly into a bat and hung myself high on the ceiling. Sending out tiny screeches and waiting for the echo to bounce back and show me where the syrrak were, my flap-ears were able to locate the millions of the bug creatures that weren’t visible. There were billions! It reminded me of the black specks in the smoke… My heartbeat quickened when my sensitive ears caught the sounds of familiar voices. Jareena and Distarius! They were being pushes along by more Syrrak than they could possibly have seen! This wasn’t good. What am I gonna do? Oh nice time to panic Ryuu! I stopped talking to myself, a bad habit I fell into while working alone… I drooped into the mass of syrrak, they left me be, I suppose it was because they had other orders. Dodging and twirling I swept past Distarius’ ear, but he didn’t notice for at that same moment a syrrak made a grab at his ankle. I doubled back but stopped when I sensed a radiation of energy ahead of me. Again clinging to the wall ceiling, I stopped to observe. Jareena and Distarius were pushed unwittingly into a magical force field. Lovely. It’d take some work to get them out of there… I was contemplating how I was going to pull this off when something else decided to fly into the room. A four-winged demon-beast? Had to be a syrrak… Someone was riding it… RIDING! Yes, someone was definitely behind the shifting bugs. But wait… We know this man! At least I’ve seen him before. He hopped down from the monstrous thing and crossed to exchange a confusing dialogue with Jareena. I was too amazed to see such a man in a cave like this! My head was spinning—all of this was happening too fast for me. Father Berak left about as abruptly as he had come. Distarius sat down to wait; for me perhaps. Jareena was praying furiously. I changed my shaper again to the Gyrfalcon and swooped down, screeching. Both heads shot up. Distarius’ face cracked in a smile while Jareena stared at me unseeing. Apparently, such a shock had not yet registered to her. I sidled over, careful of the yellow rippling magic. That had to be from the yellow robe in the laboratory. I swayed back and fourth, wondering what to do. Distarius got up, I noticed his arm was still bleeding for the scent of blood was still heavy in the air. I clicked and rocked back from leg to leg, raptor eyes focusing on the arm. He shrugged and came to the edge of the field. “Where have you been?” He asked, his staff leading his approach. I changed into an elf so that I could speak with him normally. I glanced wearily about me; cloak still clutched around my shoulders. Good. “I haven’t a clue, Distarius. The question is, what did you do to yourself?” I pointed to his arm and gave him a querying look. He shrugged. “It’s not important. We are stuck here. Can you get us out?” “I can try, I suppose.” I encased my hand in black fire—my magic. I reached forward to try to penetrate the field and pull them out. When my hand touched the yellow, it rippled and hardened so tightly around me hand I screamed and tried to pull back. When I had finished my struggle and my hand was set free, I fell back to my knees, cradling my left hand. It was blacked and charred, as if lighting ran along it. I felt a jolt in my bones that I did not enjoy. I rocked slightly back and fourth, trying to blink swift tears from my eyes. “Are you all right?’ Distarius asked, alarmed. Even Jareena had come out of her trance and stepped over to see what had transpired. “I think I’m fine……” I uncurled my body to look at the blackened hand, which I could barely move. Cringing, I made a fist and then splayed my fingers, gingerly. They moved stiffly and the pain shooting up to my elbow was still not welcome. Ignoring my own problem, I turned back to the captured mage and knight. I slid my hand between my cloak and back—no one had seen it yet and rather than worry about me, I thought we might worry about them. “You can’t get out I don’t suppose. Well, I can’t get in. This magic is way too strong.” Jareena opened her mouth to probably comment that it wasn’t magic but Distarius started to talk first. “It doesn’t matter, what is that?” The notes had spilled from my belt and fluttered in a pile on the floor. I knelt to get them. “Oh these? Funniest thing…” I launched into all I had seen in the mages laboratory. They listened intently and by the time I came to the notes we were all seated—the tow of them on the inside and me sitting Indian style on the outside. “So, I think this mage guy is behind this. However, I can’t explain the dragon… I’ve never seen a platinum dragon before. It was totally new.” I couldn’t keep the excitement from my voice and Distarius fixed me with a glare. Jareena cocked her brows. “What?” I asked innocently. “Why don’t we read the notes and find out what’s going on,” suggested the lady knight. “Fine, fine.” I straightened out the papers as best I could, hoping I had them in order. “Well, hurry up!” The knight snapped. I glared at her intensely and my withering look made her stop talking. I flattened the notes. “They are in draconian….. Very clever. At least this guy has some sense.” I read over the notes and began to read aloud. “ On this day, the first of the month, I was contacted by a voice I had never heard before. It filled me with a terrible feeling—a thundering voice. Skraelan it called itself. He said to me that I was chosen. Me, Inrah Warrensra—chosen. It was then that I began to see my visions. The Platinum Dragon that’s what he was. He visited me and bestowed upon my weak mortal body immortality. Through me, alone he gave the light. I have the power to such magicks that no one has ever seen. Divinity runs in my veins, I am no longer a man, but a God. I have been granted the ultimate gift. With my arcane magicks, I created what I call the Skraeling. The adept shifting creatures were made of my blood and magic. The are advanced darkings—creatures made of ones very self to hear, see and touch things out of the magician’s reach. But these Skraeling are different. The light of the God shines in them. Skraelan has changed them into something more—something I alone can control. I set them upon my enemy, those fools in Crystlin. They shunned me for practicing magic. They exiled me from my own birth city because I wanted to be something more. The Skraeling will show them.” That was the end of the first, small parchment sheet. They looked to have been ripped from a book. I turned to the next page. I turned it to the two captives. The second sheet was a diagram of the bug Skraeling. There was an intake of breath in the force field. Apparently, they both understood what I did now. The Skraeling were the Syrrak…. Then next few pages were the same. Diagrams, models, drawings, and descriptions—all we had summarized from seeing the beasts. “Skraelan… that name is so familiar…” I muttered breathlessly. “Well now we know who was in the laboratory—this Inrah Warrensra. I’ll have to show him a thing or two…” I clenched the fist attached to the uninjured arm and furrowed his brow. Jareena was thinking by the look on her face and the way she scanned the ground as if reading something that was not there. “Yes, but I cannot get in there and you cannot get out. How are we to defeat him when even my magic cannot defeat his…? He is divine…” “He is not. God would not shed light on such a being. He is mad.” Jareena had a slate edge to her voice. “Right… The point is you’re stuck…Unless…” I reached to my throat were the garnet drop still held the cloak together. Flipping a piece of metal, the garnet fell into my open hand and a chain tumbled after to pool in my hand like water. The cloak fell a bit but still held by the metal casing of the brooch. I changed into a youngling of my species, a baby dragon and trilled in a very high-pitched manner. My companions clutched at their ears. The garnet burst into blood-red light and kept the steady glow as I shifted back. “Garnet—a protective gemstone.” I placed the chain about my neck and walked through the yellow radiation with my black fire dancing brilliantly around me. This time I was able to get through the field, as if it were jelly and I had to struggle through the thickness of it. Once on the other side, my brow was wet with sweat and I was weak in the knees. I beckoned to Jareena first. “Put this on. I will channel the magic, but you have to be brave enough to withstand the hurt.” I gave her the necklace and the sunburst cut beamed with light. She placed it around her neck and nodded. She stood in front of the field and stared at it a moment while she finished a silent prayer. Then, holding her gloved hands out in front of her, she squeezed through. Channeling the black flame to another was hard than when I used it myself. Jareena popped out and turned around to hand the garnet through. We met halfway and I pushed back her hand before taking the garnet fully so that she was not stung. I next did this to Distarius and practically fell to my knees in weakness. I stumbled into the field myself. The black flame flickered and danced slowly around my form. I stumbled out, but not before blue lighting crackled and danced along my skin. My body shuddered and convulsed. Now more than ever I wished there was room enough for me to shift into my dragon form. I landed with a thump outside of the field and shuddered more. “I don’t think I can walk just yet, I’m spent…” I shifter back into a Gyrfalcon and sidled over to the mage. He lowered his good arm so that I could climb up to his shoulder. Once I was settled, my two companions began to run down the corridor they were marched down. “Make it back to the main chamber of the cave and I can show where to find the laboratory…” I screeched in a rough bird. They changed their course. I swayed a bit and opened my wings to balance myself. I smacked Distarius in the head on purpose because he was making this hard. Skraelan. That kept running through my head. Skraelan, the Platinum Dragon… The only platinum dragon I knew was Draco and he was in the servitude of the Life god… We turned into the cave and I lost my balance and thudded on the ground. -Ryuu :dragon4: OOC: I'm very sorry that took so long. I've been very very very busy with school and lacrosse and stuff. Anyhow, here it is, for your enjoyment so... Enjoy!

Thank you, Tas. Not that I like to hear someone cry, but I'm very glad you liked it so much. -Ryuu :dragon4:

I just can’t see what he sees in me. Is it something so divine to ignore the rough exterior? Is it something blindingly bright, so bright that it even blinded me? Or is it of the dark variety? A black void so enthralling and confusing that he sees too deeply into it and is caught? Is it that my wickedness has somehow charmed him to stay? How can I not be better to him? He deserves it; not that I deserve him. What am I compared to other girls? Nothing. I am no special thing. Just an accomplished liar—good enough to fool even myself. -Ryuu :dragon4:

To the one I love, I give my heart. I give to him the very core of my being. But is it enough? Are such semi-precious gifts worthy of him? Apprehension and confusion. They set my blood black and my heart to ash. Depression causes my soul to whither, Nothing is left but a quivering lump left behind high walls. To the one I love, I give these tainted gifts. The ash and cold of my heart that seems to please him. The scared, sniveling being of my soul suits his need. But can I keep it thus? The colors of my core are not bright. I am not lovely under it all, Just a cowardice shrew of a fake. The façade I build seems to fool him though. To the one I love, I owe something more. Raw bitter emotion is no longer enough. His undeserved love is overwhelming to the extreme. Can’t he see that I’m not worth such affection? Yet, he alone has the truly rare ability to see me. He sees the me that even I cannot reach. In his eyes alone shines my speck of a glittering being. He finds this acceptable, shouldn’t I? -Ryuu :dragon4:

“A thing called Love” Emotion, all so new-Love, Raw, heart-thumping feeling, Overwhelming touch, How does on deal with it all? Dams breaking, Held back tenderness, A sickening longing, The expanse is too much to bear. Empty voids, Rivulets of cool liquid, New understandings, Feeling stretched too thin, yet compressed too tightly. Confusion, fear, A giddy blood-rush, Lip-quivering emotion, I can’t hold back. The rush of it all, The hold and prolonging, Never wanting to let go, Suddenly the world stops around you. The end of a moment, Confusion, fear apprehension, Dams flood back One is left alone and cold, yet so full. -Ryuu :dragon4:

Anyways. POST AWAY! I don't mind...BUT I haven't read it yet, I'll do my best later, right now its too beautiful outside to be on here! BYE! -Ryuu :dragon4:

We have a problem. I started writing my post and I was supposed to uh..get it in there after Dis. So now my story doesn't fit with yours, but I need this to happen to fit in the information bits. I suppose I'll just post it in there anyways.... I don't know what we are going to do about that. I liked the Griffin part, BUT.. I need to slip away before the battle... I fit it in, so don't worry. I'm not going to get this done now, but I am going to post it. WAIT FOR IT!!! After falling heavily on the ground and Distarius, I figured this would be a good time to see where I was going. I reshaped my eyes to those of a true elf, seeing soft red outlines of beings and bluer ones for surroundings. I wandered through the room with my two unlikely companions. Something reached my sharply pointed ears and they pricked back a bit. The rumble intensified until both of my companions were forced to heed my warning for silence. It stung my sensitive ears and I cringed back. Syrraks surged into the cave. Turning into a Griffin, I fought them as well as I could, saving the rude and dragon-hating knight. She had time to say thank you… she just didn’t. More Syrraks poured into the hole and the scratching and clawing of their bug-like mobile structure made my ears buzz. The Syrrak shrieks hurt even more. I writhed in pain and closed my eyes tightly. The closeness of the cave made the shrieks echo and resound. I took retreating steps to the darkness of the cave, keeping close to the un-crumbled wall. I crouched close to a corner, scarcely seeing my friends battle the black tide of bug creatures. I leaned on the wall, knowing they were perfectly capable of handling themselves. Something shifted next to me, I found myself falling through the solid rock! The rocky wall shimmered and let me somehow permeate it! I tumbled, head over heal into a dark room. Trying to right myself, I flipped to my feet and crouched low to the ground, not moving to make myself unnoticeable…if I hadn’t been noticed already… I noticed no one was attacking me and uncurled myself. I stood to practically bludgeon my head on the low roof. Rubbing a small bump forming on my cranium, I advance through the room. I hadn’t noticed my eyes had changed back until I no longer saw in the elfin heat lines and had to blink to see in the dark. Then I turned my eyes on a light, blinding myself. Lovely. Not only did my head ache steadily now, but also I was half blind and stumbling in an unfamiliar area! I looked back, after blinking many times over; to see what the light was coming from. Claw-like sconces protruded from the rocky walls holding, what was that? Mage light. Balls of magical energy were clutched in the metal claws and flickering just like fire. I reached out to touch it but a humming was growing in my mind. It wasn’t that I could actually hear it, just feel it in my head and thoughts. It grew closer and I shrunk into a brown mouse. My button eyes took in what was around me. I scurried across the floor and entered another room, under the space between the floor and door. I squeezed in my rodent body and looked around. I found myself in another dimly lit room and stared around. I saw a laboratory, from what I had seen of them. There was a tall bookcase with skulls holding back Spellbooks and scrolls. One even had a candle melting down the forehead. I was fascinated with this and kept surveying the room. On a lower shelf, a jar of reptilian eyeballs was light eerily in the flickering candlelight. There, in front of the bookshelf was a desk made of ebony. Upon the smooth surface were more jars, these ones resembling potions jars. There was also a chemistry set and scrawled notes fluttered on the side, falling over in a wave of parchment. In front of that was a candleholder, a slender rod-like structure holding up a dripping candle. On the opposite side of the room were three candles, melted together and eat lit. On that table with the tri-candle was a silver, green pointed dagger. A shifting smoke caught my eye. I moved my small eyes to the middle of the small square room. There, they met a down-turned bowl-like structure that extended into a large rob which ended with an actual bowl. A carved, gold snake was bound around the rod frame and its head had slithered onto the bottom of the thing with its tongue flicked out. Its ruby encrusted eyes seemed to bore into one’s very soul, as if it were alive… My attention moved again to the smoke. It was shifting color; never the same as the last second one looked at it. In it were shadowed figures, like little ...bugs… They were swarming in the shifting smoke and they tiny black silhouettes were closely knit next to each other, always moving but never being able to break free of the smoke. The smoke had drifted from the basin with the snake. Something moved behind it, and a groan spilt the air. I looked, up flinching, ready to dash. I hadn’t been discovered but what stood there made me take a few steps back. A man hovered behind the basin, arms outstretched, palms facing the sky, parallel to the basin sides. He wore long, flowing robes of yellow and volumous sleeves encased all but his hands; skeletal, bony hands. A night blue symmetrical design laced itself on his chest and the same color formed flames at the robe’s hem and the hem of his sleeves and hood. His face was turned half way to the ceiling and was shadowed deeply under the pulled up hood. Form what limited detail I could see, her was just as skeletal looking in his facial features as his hands. A belt held up folds around his thin middle. He swayed a bit, groaning some. His brow knit together in pain, or was it concentration? He mouth tugged down in a deep frown and the candles cast ghostly shadows on his cheekbones. He was fully connected with whatever spell he was conjuring and I decided to creep over to the spilled papers and grab them. Clutching them in sharp incisors, I tugged them out under the door. Coming back under to get more, I was almost out when a fire bowl, hanging from the ceiling gleamed on something. It glittered into shape to form two purely black orbs reflected to firelight. I turned my rodent head to see something forming. It was a dragon! Platinum scales gleamed on its slim but muscular body. My eyes were dancing and my mind raced in delight. The Platinum was beautiful! Never before had I seen such a beast! I was enthralled until a booming voice filled my mind and a long, snake-like blue tongue hung out of an open jaw. Sharp, long teeth dripped with saliva and the head moved to be seen behind the mage. The voice was his and it was speaking. It said something that escaped me. The voice was like thunder right above ones head. It drown out everything around you but you couldn’t understand it. I cupped paws over my ear and flattened them against my skull. The voice made me snap out of my daze and I was compelled to scurry out under the door again, with the rest of the notes clenched in my teeth. I quickly shifted back into an elf and tidied the papers, folding them and tucking it into my belt. I ran down the hallway and noticed something I’d not seen before. In the corner was a candle, one that marked time. I’d been separated from my group for nearly a half-hour. I sprawled on the ground trying to find the magical opening. I found it quite suddenly and slipped through. Falling back over myself and then trying to right myself, I found I was alone. I re-shaped my eyes again and looked around. Taking shape of a gyrfalcon, I soared over the cave to find a trail of blood leading into a corridor. Changing into a hyena briefly, I sniffed the blood and identified it as one of my companions—Distarius. I changed back into the bird and flew down the corridor to relate my story and scan over the notes. I screeched a raptor cry and flew as fast as my gyrfalcon body could go. I HAVE MORE! I'm going to read the notes, 'kay? Post what went on while I was gone, 'cause I'm probably going to take a while in writing the rest fo this. Thank you for patience! -Ryuu :dragon4:

OOC: Just post it how you want. No need to cut mine. Just do it from when you talked to the monk dude. Its ok. doesn't matter how you do it. -Ryuu :dragon4:

OOC: I've got the whole link to the god and the evil guy all planned out! Leave it to Ryuu! "The life god? Life god..... Seems familiar. Draconic lore is very old and not so far from the truth as human history. We are a very old race. you might do to listen, human kit." I sighed and strecthed, folding my arms behind my head. "i never should have left my home set. This is not worth my time." I strode off through the library, taking it upon myself to look around for interesting books. I yawned again and ran my fingers along some book bindings. The dust that arose made me sneeze vehemently, almost falling on the floor. I felt a hand on my shoulder, snuffled and looked up. Distarius was at my elbow, looking down on me, brows knit together. "Are you alright?" I nodded, hair falling in my face to hide it. I bit my lip-- the hair thing was such a girlish HUMAN habit. I looked up and him, long lashes veiling amber-ruby eyes, chewing my lower lip. I felt a bit uncomfortable, and cracked all ten knuckles as I did when I felt this way. "I'm fine...thanks." I turned on one heal and continued down the passageway. I sigh deeply and muttered to myself. I didn't look back at the mage I left standing there, figuring he'd just go back to what he should be doing. My back felt cold as if someone was staring at me. I turned a corner quickley and got myself lost in the miles of books. I ran along side of them, scanning their names very quickly. I then leaned back on the shelves, sighing and biting a thumbnail. I crossed my arms and sighed. Staring at the ground before me I scanned the books absently. Something caught my eye--an interesting book. It had the insignia of a Great Wyrm on the binding. The book itself was night blue and the sinuous enrgaving was red with it's great jaw opened in a snarl. I knelt to pick the book up. The writing was in arcane symbols, ones I'd never seen before. I grabbed it up from where it was and raced to the nearest table. I skidded around a corner to drop the book down and sit down. I opened the cover, the curiousity of a hatchling etched in my face. I ran my fingers down a beautifully designed illustration of a silver dargon. The same arcane runes were scratched along the page. I tried to read these. Racking my brain for the memories of my learning years they came to me. I started to read aloud, but quietly under my breath. "... Silvarius Draconis... One of the first draconic lords. Believed to be one of the many that descended from Draco, the first dragon, Silvarius was slain by humans, but his sacrafice was not in vain. Through the willingness of his death, mankind was able to see the light that shown in the silver's heart-- one of truth and honor. The silvers around him at the time began to weep, somehting the men of the earth had never seen a Great Wyrm do. They agreed to unite with the ancient beasts, instead of killing off the race of creatures that had inhabited this world since long before the bipeds had arrived. Thus an alliance was raised between the most willing silver and the human knights to fight as one in the air. The mixed arcane arts and human steel to do battle against the worlds many evils." I turned to page to find a whole flight of silver dragons with knights astride on their backs wielding shinning lances. I smiled softly to see such peace and friendship between these dragons and knights and glanced back at Jareena, who was condusting a search of her own. A frown tugged at my lips and deepened when she glanced up at me as well, scowling. I went back to my book. The next page held a gold, then a bronze, then a brass. All the known metallic dragons were in the front. In between were yellows, purples, grays and tans. Then, in the chromatic section, it had the picture on the binding only larger and more complete. I read up on the Great Red Wyrm. I noticed that each color represented in this book had descended from Draco. He himself was apparently a dragon of all colors and none. I also noticed that each great wyrm was named with Draconis as well. It wasn't the same as most human kits are named--but similar in respects. If a child was born a girl their lastwould be their fathers plus "sri". If it were a boy it would end in "sra". for example if a man named Scanra had a boy his last name would become Scranrasra. It was all too complicated for my caring. Dragons now have one draconic name dna one mortal name. Simple and clean. I turned the page to find the next most chromatic dragon... a black. In an excitement as with the silver, I read it aloud in a whisper. "Sabeline Draconis... One of the many terrors of her kind, this nightshade lived among the swamps. She came from her musky mud lair to terrorize humans in their villages, plague forests with her acid breath and destroy lives with graceful strokes of her finely pointed claws and fangs. Although one might find such creatures as these chromatic dragons pure evil, one cannot deny the terrible beauty of their nature. Know to men as Sable, this black creton almost destroyed all life around her. Before being brutally slain by mortal men, this creature spawned many of her kind and they now flourish in their greedy ways all over the world." I turned th page and almost lost what meager things I'd eaten in the last few days. Instead of showing her in her prime and glory, whoever illustrated this tome decided to be tactless and draw an image of her dimise.... She was in terrible agony from the expression on her face. I stomach knotted and I felt a bit woozy. This was terrible. I could see the fear and excruciating pain and above all the anger in her eyes. The artist may have been tactless but he knew his art very well. I cringed and shut the tome as fast as I could. Dust arose again sending me into a fit of sneezing. I walked over to where the lady knight was seated, sorting through books and other compiled notes. I ahnded her the book and opened to the page with Silvarius. "You should read this, Lady Faye. It's very educational in the ways of human and draconic relationships." Sitting across from her, scanning books as well was a new knight. He was young, almost too young to be anything more than a squire. He caught me looking at him and smiled from ear to ear. His hair was a a tuft of curly red-orange hair and he had a smattering of freckles across his nose. His emerald eyes were alight with curiousity. He actually reminded me of the Lady knight seated across from him. i snuffed and began to walk away to find anything on this "Life God". the fact that it made my mind itch as if I should knwo him irritated me. "Excuse me! Um.....Eh....What was 'er name..." I turned back to see the young kingth stumbling over my name. "Ryuu." I offered and turned around. "What do you want?" I crossed my arms across my chest and tapped one foot lightly on the ground, looking very impatient. He was apparently undaunted. He pelted me with a stream of questions. "Are you really an elf? Jareena says your not, but I can't believe her anymore! Are you a dragon, like she said? What kind are you? Are you evil or good? I always wanted to be a dragonrider! I wanted to join those ranks but my father said I had to remain here, well in Crystlin that is. Anyway, can I see you shape-shift? she also said you do that, but I won't be convinced until I see it!" He finally stopped talking. My head was throbbing with the tumult of talk. " I am a dragon. A sivler and black one. I am not evil or good. I shape-shift but I'm not up to demonstrations. Good day, kit." "I'm not a kit.... What's that? Hey! Wait!" I'd started to walk away. " I just wanted to say Hello! I think its neat to be both of something yet nothing... By the way, my name is Korrin." Something about waht he said made me spin around. I muttered under my breath in a daze,"...To be both of something yet nothing...." It dawned on me waht that god was. "Jareena! Distarius! I know the life god!" I had spoken too loudly and got a reproachful glare from Jareena, but both of them came over to me with earger look in their eyes. "Well...." Jareena coaxed. "The life god... he is niether life nor death but both. You've Korrin to thank for getting me to remember that"--The boy's eyes grew wide and sparkled as he puffed out his chest in pride--" This god is one of the Higher, more ancient gods. Worshiped by my ancestor and the first of all dragons--Draco. He was the dealer of life and death but had to work through vessel on this world to do his business. That is why dragons were created. The Metallic and Neutrals and Chromatics all dealt soemthing. The metallics were the life-bringers, defending the innocent and helpless and learning healing spells to save the dying righteous. Neutrals ballanced the good and evil. They mostly dealt judgement but did not carry out such deeds. The Chromatics were mostly lawful and everyone in their view as righteous, honrable and otherwise "good" were put to a quick death by these Wyrms. This life god used the dragons as his tools--immortal vessels. Well, we were wrongly name immortals because we live forever unless slain or killed accidentally. I s'pose we are immortal compared to common mortals such as humans, but we aren't as divine as gods. I'm getting off track now... This god was revered among men as a just god and he was worshiped and temples were put in place for him. But soon he lost control of his dragons that were not in the divine realms with him. Some became unruly and isolated and others meddled too much in mortal affairs, killing for the joy of the hunt instead of just reasoning. It was then these great wyrms in the tome I handed Jareena became legendary." I shuddered at the thought of the pictures in the black's section. I took a deep breath, eyes flashing crimson. "Why are you asking, Jareena?" I looked at her with a querying gaze. "I saw a flash of white light over in the cliffs, in a cave. I checked on a map"--she produced the tattereed yellowed map--" It was called Zoe Theos, life god in ancient greek. " "Is it possible that this cave was an old temple to the god?" Distarius asked, having been silently absorbing the information the whole time. I look at him for a moment, considering. "Yes...It very well could be." Jareena said. "There is only one way to find out!" I pointed out with a wolfish grin. I tunred to find my packs that had a magical enchantment on them and appeared when the right words were spoken. With and shrug from Distarius and a sigh from Jareena, both agreed my way was the only way to trully find out. I spoke the magicked words and traced a rune in the air with a glowing finger. My pouches glittered into existance and I searched through for suitable clothing to change into. "Where can I go to change?" I asked the Lady Knight, who only gave me a glare as if she thought it was a jest. I sighed and rolled my eyes and turned to Korrin. He stood near me, eyes glittering, smile wide and flashing. I grinned to see such boyishness in the teenager's eyes. "Do you know where I might find some private, closed quarters?" He nodded and began to trot off. I followed with quick strides, retracing the rune to make my pack disappear. Now dressed in black breeches and boots, a long black tunic with silver trim over a silver silk shirt, I re-entered to library to find Jareena in full armor and Distarius in new robes. I had a cloak folded over my arm and Korrin tailed me into the room. I shook it out and swirled it over my shoulders. It was a long black fabric heavy cloak. I fastened it with a brooch in the shape of a bloodbdrop. The garnet in the brooch was set in silver and was cut in a sunburst fasion making it seem like a sun of blood red. "Shall we?" I asked, pulling on leather gloves. We all started to walk to the stables where Nuimair, Brezza and a random horse for Distarius could be tacked and ready. I stopped half way there. "Well this is pointless. Why don't I just fly us there? Horses might be killed by the Syrraks for being too slow but I can cloak myself and fly faster than they run." Jareena was apprehensive but I pressed the matter. She finally caved in. Outside now, I shifted into my full dragon form. The two of them seated themselve between my shoulder blades and I looked back to the Lady knight. "You'd best hold on tight. I try my best to make the ride smooth for you, but sometimes I forget I have riders." I smiled wickedly and took off, the jolt of wind and surge of my body made Jareena clutch tightly with her knees and hug close to the mage, who was accustomed to my flying. I laughed and put a cloak on us, trying to be quiet. The claoking spell may make us invisible but sound and movement could be detected by other means.~ -Ryuu :dragon4: OOC: Other means could be bat hearing--since they use sound to make pictures in their mind or anything that can see heat---kind of like elf vision!

I padded over to Deleo and looked up at him. "What's wrong?" I asked, actually soudning sympathetic. I wasn't exactly interesting in his feelings--just that the claw marks on his sides intrested me. "Carriose is dead." He stated, holding down the excitement and anxiety in his voice. "I went out on a short fly around the canyon and I came across the White." I got up and paced nervously. "Carriose Ciruscloud..Dead? This is not good, not good at all. You've removed one evil to have it replaced with another. The Whites will now have to find a new leader of their clan. Not to mention Siralatus, the Lead Blue on the move. I heard from one of your kind that he was causing trouble in the north and his mate, Fareezia was helping to terrorize the east. This is not good at all. Blues are......." I turned my ears up. I shifted in a black flame burst into a hyena. I turned my nose to the air and snuffed, dragging in tingling smells. "What is it?" Deleo was alert now. My ears flattened and I bared bone-crushing teeth. My wiry mane stood on end. "Something is there...."

OOC: OK, I have a great post going but I don't have time to finish it! Pwease don't post yet! -Ryuu :dragon4:

Welcome, J'F. It doesn't matter if you're accepted or not, though I KNOW you will be--Just keep posting on the Rpg. -Ryuu :dragon4:

Nuimair's nature seemed to only become more tense and frantic. The frothy sweat gathered at his whithers had mostly evaporated or dripped off when he shook. He was standing now by the fire, which was little more than a pile of sparks. He'd sepnt the early morning wandering in and out of the cave, not wanting to leave his charge but disliking the crampled and damp air of the cave. He watched them handle the elf, but he had no way of telling if it was helping or not. Well, not until now. She was sable at least. He could sense it. He tossed his head now to try and rid himself of the tack. Stomping muddy fletlocks clean he proceded to picks burrs and swigs from his tail and to try and rub off the saddle on a rock piece. He bit at his flanks and whither to clean them of branch-induced knicks and cuts. He tossed he head and sent his black mane and forlock into a banner of night. He walked over to the elf, head lowered so he could lip her clothing. The gelding couldn't understand how she could sleep so much. He'd only spent about a half hour of dozing in the cave enterance for his rest. He snorted softly, cool vapor rising in a cloud to the air. He bent his forelegs to sit beside her, then the hindleg to lie down, not something completely comfortable for a horse in full battle tack. He was a runner mostly, not used for his true calling as a war horse. His old master would use him to stand at the side of an enemy confrontation to bark orders and run along the outskirts of the battle. Thus, he didn't wear any heavy metal-plaited pieces and he had freedom to move with ease. Often times he was called Rebel in the stables, but the name meant nothign to him and he found that Nuimair was much more suitable; meaning 'nightmare' in some sort of elven language, if he understood correctly. His first master was a coward, this one was not. He arched his neck over to sniff her inert face, smelling blood mixed with tears. He flared his nostrils and sneezed, off to the side, not in her face. Shaking his head again he nickered and got up to graze instead. She would be fine he'd heard the humans say, so he wasn't quite as worried now. He heaved his lank body up and sauntered out of the cave to find some lush grass to nibble, though he had to work it around his bit. ~¤~ I felt myself slip back into my body. It was the strangest feeling to be so close to death. Terribly frightening, but at the same time intrigueing and exciting. Now was obviously not my time to go though. I realized I'd not gone to another plane when a furry muzzle scented with hay pressed against my cheek. It tickled and my skin tingled with the soft hairs. I didn't move though. It was a precaution I'd learned from being captured before. Always check your surroundings before getting up. I opened one amber-ruby eye to see Nuimair trudging off out of what seemed to be a cave mouth. Where am I? I asked him. His head shot up. He pranced back over as I slowly lifted myself from where I was. I was met with a butting nosing in my chestt. I was knocked back a bit but the pain of my wounds was numbed. He nuzzled his narrow face into me and I stroked his velvety cheek. His bosy was warm against mine. My head was still aching I opted to speak aloud to him. "Well, a fond hello to you too!" I laughed and stroked his neck, finding that he still had on his tack. "Honestly, they can tend to me, but a horse is just another toll to them." I grumbled and used the rock wall to stand up. I laughed as his put his head over my shoulder and nickered again, loudly. I began to unbuckle his bridle only to find part of it was ripped and torn. Ah well, so I'd have to find bareback. I lifted his saddle with some effort and dropped it down with a thud on the ground. His freedom was well earned. I found a piece of cloth to rub him down, it was a crude cleansing but what was I to do? I still didn't even know where I was! I blinked a few times and looked around the cave. I saw what used to be a fire and noticed the air was chilly. I knelt down to the charred spot on the floor and began to chant. Magic was a harrying thing when one has been unconcious for gods know how long. I swayed a bit and closed my eyes, never brekaing the chant. Flames licked up to the roff of the cave, shimmering first from light blue to a darker cobalt tha to purple and black. I smiled at my handy work and turned again to see what else could be done. My eyes truned to a form sleeping not to far from where I was, huddled against the wall. That couldn't have been too comfortable. Leaving the horse to go back to grazing, I walked over and blinked to find it was Distarius. He'd found me! Nuimair! He got my message through! I now loved the horse more than ever. I knelt next to the slumbering mage and went to lightly touch his shoulder. The peaceful look on his face made me stop. He must have been awake a long time. Instead I sat down next to him to wait. I hadn't realized how very tired I still was. I was soon sleeping curled up next to him. -Ryuu :dragon4:

OOC: I'm going to do this in third person for a while, otay? Shadows shrouded the valley. Fog encased the ground and tappered off into the cold night air. Something was curled at the base of a thick oak trunk. The lank form shivered in the night cold, being that it's scant clothing was thin yet it burned with fever. A taller bulkier figure shied and pranced toward it, nudging and nosing it. The horse snorted, soft clouds of vapor rising from the steamy breath into the cool night. He pranced, hooves muffled on the dirt floor. He snorted again and lowered his long neck to ruffle the dark figure's hair. It stirred and mummbled, tossing it's head to one side. A deep wound dug into its neck, caked and oozing with silver-black blood. The horse went livid and reared. He must find help. He was frantic and shied away, preparing to run. The whites showed all around his eyes and he bolted in the direction of the smell of smoke. The form relaxed and unfolded. She sprawled her legs and arms and panted. The fever was worsening and sweat trickled down her temples. She breathed heavily and tried to stand up, but her eyes fluttered and she fell back against the tree. He back stung, it-- like every other part of her body-- was covered in scratches and gashes. She sighed heavily and called out with her magic. ~¤~ ¤Someone...........¤ The word was faint, almost inaudible. I tried again, taping into my wild magic. ¤HELP.¤ I hoped the words had reached someone. I laced in the emotion of dire pain and urgency into every letter. My head lolled. I was coated in blood. I couldn't move for the pain it would envoke. I twitched involuntarily and began to shiver. Please find Distarius, Nuimair....... I sent the horse an image of my human friend and blacked out, leaving him with the message. ~¤~ The horse balked away form Syrrak bodies and the devoured horse carcass. He wanted very much for his new rider to live, racing along in the woods. he was sure the fire would be where people were and he bolted to it. He only hoped the white figure would be there as well. He had no other way of telling the humans what he wanted. Jumping over a fallen log, he felt the dragon fading. The use of her strong Wild Magic had opened his mind to unthought thigs and his mind organized. He was able to broaded his spark of imaination and thought. He cantered faster and came upon a cave, hidden away form view but he knew the terrain well. He galloped over, frothing and panting. His sides heaved and the froth dripped. He came upon one who looked like his image but not exactly. He trotted over and lipped the man's shirt. The white clad human male ooked up, surprised to see the horse. He butted his shoulder with his muzzle and neighed loudly. He pranced and tossed his head to the entrance. Again he lipped his shirt collar until the man stood up. A woman Nuimair had ignored until now looked up and blinked, wide-eyed, shuffling closer to the slumbering human kit. Nuimair snorted loudly and now bit the mans elbow, pulling slightly. He stood and dusted himself off, trying to communicate with the frantic horse. Nuimair pulled a bit of black clothh off his black leather saddle. He thrust the cloth hard into the mans chest and snorted, shying and arching his neck. The cloth tasted of blood... The man sniffed it, puzzled with his brows furrowed. Then recongition crossed his facce as sulphur and flmae scents lifted from the cloth. The horse bucked and side-stepped into the human, beckoning that he ride him there. He said quick words to the female and her kit and started to climb onto the saddle. Nuimair vaulted forward without letting Distarius climb on fully. He raced with all his strength to the fading immortal...~~ OOC: I seem to always be the one that gets hurt here!! -Ryuu :dragon4:

My eyes fluttered open. I shook my throbbing head and sweat droplets formed on my brow. My vision blurred and I had to drop my head back and breath deep breaths to regain control of myself. I felt sick to my stomach and head. The sickness ebbed away as I soon remembered where I was. Not safe in a bed in some in or curled as a cat in someones lap, but leaning against my new friend in some mortal-reeking cave. The cave was a reminder of something long ago. Unexpectedly I lapsed into my memory of a time LONG LONG ago.... Above me craned the neck of a glittering being. Silver crystals formed over her sinuous body, ending in a tail that wrapped lovingly around my tiny fragile form. Another head moved in my short-ranged view. It was dark, barely discernable form the rocky overhang above them. I moved off my tiny-spiked back adn chirped a high note. Two muzzles came down to me and nestled close. I felt warm and my yet primitive scenses caught the aroma of sulphur, acid and flame. The smells tickled my nose and I sneezed, black puffs of flame and acid spurting out and licking my father figure in the snout. He seemed to chuckle, his obsidian colored scales unscathed by the fireball I hiccuped out. The silver figure came back into view and licked my forehead, I cooed and snuggled up close, tumbling out of my shell-bed. I fell onto her narrow snout and she lifted me high in the air. I chirped again and spoke in the language of hsses and snorts and chirps ad whistles all dargosn kits are born knowing. I couldn't yet converse with my parents any other way. Days went by and I learned their names. My Sire was Cronoss, a high-ranking black male. My dam was Khinstha, the kit of a silver warrior, one who worked with human knights. I loved them both. Being that they were cross-breeding chromatic and metalic, something that was never done, i was the only one of my litter. They raised me alone, deep in that cave, away from where others might harm me. I grew strong the first year or so; dragons don't grow very fast but my mixed blood somehow altered my lifestyle. I was soon big enough to venture on my own. I was out one day hunting when i returned to find the cave collapsed. My parents were gone, killed.... destroyed... My world of solitude was shattered. I figured humans would do this, i never knew what my kindred were like. I didn't know there were more of us. I was alone with nowhere to go. I lived alone in a forest of animals, learnign their ways and their abilities. I was soon able to adapt myself to their fomrs and shapes--becoming them. Mortals assailed me and lost their lives from my sneeky ways. Many many years passed, the world changed yet I stayed isolated from humanity, never trusting but always doubting. I learned dragon law quickly, finding a small band of travelling yellows. I was an outsider to their clan but still their curious and sentimental ways brouhgt out the silver in me and made me thirst for more knowledge. I was soon walking among humans and elves and dwarves, still not trustung them but findign them... amusing. I climbed up in the dragon ranks to become the Flameshifter of the Conclave. Until one day I met a most peculiar man. He was just about as curious as I was, though he wore all white, whereas I prefered black. We became eventual friends. Distarius and I..... I snapped back. I'd dozed off again. I didn't want to sleep because of the unsettling dreams it envoked. I realized now that Distarius had yet to return. I looked around.. Only Brezza and Jareena were visible. I stood up, wounds aching but caked with silvery-black blood. I found Nuimair already awake and waiting for me. He butted my shoulder and urged me to ride. I found that tears were streaking down my face. Good thing no one saw. I grabbed up the unstrung long bow and easily strung it with the string coiled in my belt. I mounted the night black gelding and launched out of the gates to riade as the embodiment of shadow, moving unnoticed in the night. Tears still stung my eyes and the winds blew them back. i tried to blink them away but the slanted elven eyes still poured out moisture. I was intent on findin my friend and not losing yet another life close to mine.~ -Ryuu :dragon4: OOC: Excuse the shortness but I had little time to do this and I was talking to a certain two people during the time I was typing.... ::ahem::

I could have killed it. If only it fought with a shread of honor, taking me one on one. Nasty things. I ran through the woods to the Stronghold in the mountain pass. A thick mass of gold-brown hair streamed out behind me like a lion's mane. Blood rained back as well from my legs; now tanned elven skin. The gashes that covered my sides and shoulders, back and appendages soaked through my tattered black clothing. Normally, an elf would where clothign with some semblance to their surroundings, but my clothes chifting was not currently up to par. I ran along as fast as my aching muscules would carry me, crashing through bush and brush and anything in my way. More scratches accumulated on my tan skin. My ears flickered around at every woodland noise, mostly the swarms of syrraks above me. What would normally be brown breeches, were now a ripped mess of black cloth fluttering around my thighs. A tattered black velvet tunic clung around one shoulder, the other had fallen down, almost ripped to shred. The strings at the neck were loose and flapped against me as a ran. Every now and again I'd look up to see where the swarms were flying. They were always pulsing in one direction, to the hold fo Bakurus. They surged forward with mimiced wings. I could take their form and join ranks but it was more likely that they sniff out my unfamiliar scent and attack before a well formed plan came into my head. I urged myself to run faster. I could be a wolf or a horse right now but I felt that a humanoid being would more easily fit in with a human army. My well-shaped pointed ears caught the sound of hoofbeats and the cries of human kits. My scent also picked up blood and death, my head spun with the unfavorable scents. Slanted eyes took in the carnage as a group of foolhardy youngsters stopped and tried to use their bows against the beasts. One equally young syrrak broke ranks and swooped to kill the offenders. All were killed. I came up upon the blood bath and spat upon the syrrak. My nose wrinkled in their disgusting odor. The youths unstrung bow lay near his inert hand. I grabbed it up and collected their arrows and stuffed them into a quiver. I slung it over my back and set to fitting the string on the long bow. My arm muscles screamed with the gashes on them gushing. I ignored the pain only knwoing that I had to find my companion and help stop these forces. I began to run again, bow in hand, an arrow being fitted. I came upon a group of stragling soldiers, reigning back their horses to search for others. I stopped to ask for an extra mount. "We have one, there! He is a wild stallion, I hope you--" I nodded and didn't let the knight finish his sentance. The night-black stallion reared and shied away, his rider must have been very daring to use such a mount. I grabbed at the black leather saddle and tack and vaulted onto his back. He reared and snapped back his head to bite at me. I squeazed in my knees to make him run. A ran a soothing hand down his sweat-soaked neck to calm him and coax him into cooperation. Talking in a soft voice in his ear he sprang forward into action. A war cry split the air as the horses instincts kicked in for the kill. His ear flattened back and his eye's flared a rich brown color. Adrenaline rushed into his body and he arched his neck, nostrils flared, cantering full speed. He was a fine mount, completely black; he suited me well. He mane flew wildly, matching his spirit and streaming around me, entwining with my own mane. His ride was smooth and swift, like a wind crossing a plain. I'd have to ask the name of this horse, I would love to take him on as a temporary mount. Our spirits intertwined and we were one. My wild magic and his own battlelust gave us a kinship and we were one. I let go of the reigns, trusting him already to do the running on his own. I lifted the long bow and strung down a few syrraks with well-placed arrows. The horse and I were an embodiment of shadows and my amber eyes flicked over the sky line only to see the millions of Syrrak forces. How could one race breed so many of their kind without being noticed until now? The shear reasoing was dumbfounding! I raced into a pack of humans, weaving the horse in and out of the wagons and other equuines. I grabbed the flapping reigns and stood in the stirrups to find the Lord Mayor at the head of the surging civilians. I sat back down and with a "HE-YA!" I urged forward again. ¤Bring me up to the man in the robes, please.¤ I asked the horse. He whinnied joyously and was a flash of blackness streaking around his fellows. His hooves beat soflty on the ground and I swayed in the saddle, body now drenching me and dripping down to his glossy black coat. His sides pumped and his came galloping to a stop next to the Lord Mayor. The pudgy man looked at me questioningly. "Lord Mayor, where has Distarius gone?" he realized who I was by my voice. He sighed and shrugged. My vision blurred and I swayed again. Shaking my head I then asked," I saw your daughter, where did she go?" "Right here. Who are you?" Jareena Faye trotted up to us. Brezza whinnied and buuted my back. I pat his muzzle, he'd heard my talking to the black horse and knew who I was. "Greetings, Lady Knight. You do not remember a friend?" I asked, a delicate brow quirking. She seemed to remember who I was now. "Where is the mage?" I asked urgently. I felt I shoudl probably know where he was since he and I were in this together. "I saw him back there, on the outskirts of the village. Where did you get this horse?" "Found 'im. Does he belong to anyone you know?" "Yes, an officer. I suppose he is gone now." Her voice and expression were grim. "Does he have a name? He's a fine beast." I patted the horse's shoudler and grinned to him. He snorted and shied, ready for the battle that was obviously not here. "No. Come now, we must defend the people!" She gave Brezza a kick and the two of them shot forward. Defend the people. When did I become so mortal loving? I asked myself. With a shrug I sprang forward with my own horse, bow once again out and an arrow fitted to the string. "You've the will of a dragon my friend!" I exclaimed to the horse, whose bloodlust carried him to Brezza and ahead. He whinnied and boomed another war cry. And you are no elf! He told me. Well at least I could hear his words in my mind. The wild magic linking all creature enabled me to interperate what he wanted to be said. I laughed, the first laugh since this battle started. Jareena shot me a confused look as if to say, How can you laugh at a time like this? The horse snorted in a mean-spirited way. I realized he didn't have a very nice temperment but as long as I could talk to him, we'd be fine. Have you a name, hoof-friend? I asked back. He flung his head in a negative manner. Than let me find you one. I thought. Nuimair. With another toss of his head and a buck he agreed and ran faser.~ -Ryuu :dragon4:

OOC: J'F!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Heya! I didn't know you weer going to join.. Are you going to apply? I don't mind if you write and Dis said to ask me so go right ahead! Anyhow, I hope to see this RPG more lively now. See ya! -Ryuu :dragon4:

Blood streamed from my neck. All I could see were swarms and swarms of the creatures, flying, diving, swooping, attacking, clawing, scratching, hissing, biting. They were endless. Distarius felled a few but hundreds poured out of the sewer hole and immediately took flight. Changing into the winged replicas of my kindred, they flew in flocks around my head. I was definately a threat to there existance and like killer bees, they'd die trying to defend their hive. I tucked in my wings close to my body, one of them was stuck in the delicate batlike structures. I fanned it out as best as I could to knock the thing free. They clung like bats to a cave and I did a plethera of techniques from diving headfirst at the ground to spiralling into something. I rubbed my lank body along a ridge in the mountains but they still persisted. I swooped low over the mage, curving up my graceful neck to bring up my body up and scrape it along the wood. I felt pieces of splintered wood drive into my wounded, scaleless midsection, but pain was no bother. i could rest after this little adventure. Not once in my life from fighting my own kin to fighting hordes of mortals, I'd never once contemplated how I might die. Seeing the vast amounts of blood spilled from my body, I began to think this might be my last little adventure. A very cheerful people I once knew had a saying that Death was only Life's greatest adventure: Never knwoing what will come next and no one there to tell you. That seemed reasonable and I was now at peace if I were to die this day. I swung out a wing, fully extended now to brush it along trees and I watched the creatures rain off. I then doubled back to torch the trees where they now clung. Acidic fire of night black shades danced into the woods and the trees burst out in flame, crackling and hissing. I turned on my other side to scratch off the rest and drop them into the inferno. it acted as a giant fireplace. A considerabling large creature assaulted me next, once I'd gotten back to the city. The population of creatures had a vast amount of their army burned, clawed, shot down or otherwise dead from other means of attack. The assumed leader was brimming with ferocity that send a tingle down my spiked spine. I flinched as it grew wings and launched itself. I attacked prematurely and cost myself the needed advantage of already having wings sprouted. He dodged my out-thrust claws and vaulted at my wounded neck. I moved my head in the way butting him back, blood-red eyes flaring. He struck again, faster, adapting to my fighting techniques. I lost track of the mage bellow me, but I figured he was holding his own againt the lesser shifters. It was all I could do to keep in flight and fight this terror, not to mention having to watch my wings for mountain cliffs or large trees. I spiraled onto my back and had to fly backwards and upside down to safely watch my wounded underside and neck. He rose up, blocking out the sun but postioning himself so that if I were to look at him, I'd blind myself. Squinting, I tried to turn over but was struck sharply in the side. I righted my flight, making a safe landing outside of Crystlin. The lord city had evacuated with amazing speed once my form shimmered from the sewer system. The Lord Mayor must have been ready. I shrugged off the thought that I might endanger mortal lives besides Distarius'. It was an itching in the back of my mind induced by my silver heritage. I tried to forget it, to coax out the black and turn my thoughts toward the glory of the kill. Speaking of which, he made another pass at me, now that I had landed. I dodged to the side and he pulled up his stocky neck before breaking it on the ground. He dogged me and made a vicious snap at my underarm. I dug my claws near his eyes, trying to gain a sight advantage. I raked a silver-white claw down his eye and blue-black puss oozed out. I recoiled as a horrific odor hit hard in my delicate nostrils. He screamed in fury but his mind could not compute failure or retreat. I made a pass at his muzzle now, trying to drag down the thrashing beast. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a white flutter on a roof top and the blast of magic sent into the air. ¤Do I have to do everything?¤ I broadcasted. ¤I've got their leader here in my grips but I don't think I can hold him for long. His race doesn't know fear or cowardice. They only attack and keep attacking, even if it means their live. But I'm sure someone of your knowledge caught onto that already.¤ I sent a jesting tone along with the speech. While I was sending my thoughts to Distarius I pinned the flailing arms of the creature and wrestled it still. I blasted it hard in the face with black fire again and tried to hold off the clawing hind legs and lashing, weaponed tail.~

I didn't want to look back but I knew I had to. There he was, Distarius running after me, the Bugs close on his heals. I look back to where I was running aimlessly. This was getting ridiculous. We had to be faster. The Bugs were used to moving around in water and they swam at Distarius and Myself with surprising ease and agility. I saw a little in the top part of the sewage pipe. A manhole most likely, but it was too far away and the Bugs were gaining on us too quickly. There was really only one way to help the situation really, I decided. Leaping forward, I landed on four black paws and slowed down ever so slighlty to broadcast to the mage behind me. ¤GET ON! IT'S FASTER!!¤ I sent to him. i slowed down and felt myself falling back near him. I stopped for a split second and once I felt his hand grab my shoulders I launched forward again. He flung himself onto my back and leaned in close as to not hit the roofing. I was a considerable size for a panther, being that I could carry a grown human on my back with ease. I propelled myself forward as fast as my muscles would allow. I slipped and slid on the slimy sewer floor but by releasing and retracting my claws I was able to stay on my feet. I ran as fast as I could but somehow the Bugs ran faster, and I found my tail clamped between one of their jaws. I roared in pain and almost fell back to attack but that might be certain death. My tail curled up around my side, stinging in a numbing pain. They'd pay for that I growled with an oath. Tears shimmered in my view and I tried to blink them away to no avail. I reached where the light poured through. There was a grid above me! I couldn't very well shift to get through without leaving the mage behind! I wasn't abou the do that. Thinking swiftly and pivoting around on my paws, I turned myself around, spraying sewage into the Creature's eyes and shrugging the mage off. I had no time to relay the plan and I started to shift as a giant claw thrust down at me. It met with hard scales as my body became longer, lankier and covered in black, silver-glowing scales. I felt my sinewing neck smash up against the sewer roof and I hoped that no one was above me-- otherwise they were in for quite a surprise. Wings sprouted from my back and I tucked them in close to my body. I now stood on clawed paws and my injured tail became very long and thin. It was covered in rich blood, I noted. My arching neck broke through the stone work of the sewers and I thrust upwards with my hindlegs. Distarius was behind me and hopefully out of the way of raining bricks. I propelled myself upward, diverting the bug's attention from the mage and I hovered in the air, pumping my fifty-foot spanning batlike wings. My scales shimmered blindingly silver in the sunlight. I Was about sixty-two feet from the ground, being that was how long my body was, head to tail tip. I dove back down and suck my thin muzzle into the hole, nostrils quivering from the horrid scent of sewage. The bugs latched to my nose. I roared, smoke billowing out and blinding them temporarily as I located my companion. He had fallen back but seemed uninjured. As I clawed and swatted at the bugs clinging to my nose, I lashed my tail end down to Distarius. I beckoned him to climb on so I could lift him out of the sewer tunnel. I winced in pain as he latched onto my scales of the bleeding and injured tail. I hoped he didn't impale himself on my hide's razor-sharp edges. Once the mage was running to safety, I burst up into the air, the bugs dropping like the flies they resembled and plummeting to the ground. I pumped my wings once and tucked them back into my sides. I glanced a blood-red eye down to see where the creaures would assault next. To my undying surprise, they were flying up to me, as .....SILVER DRAGONS! Tinier than myself but just as deadly in the group they were in-- 6 in all-- they spiraled up to me and it was all I could do to miss their spurts of quicksilver aimed at my being. I released my deadly black fire breath at them, the thick scent of the acidic quality to my breath was heavy in the air. I swiveled in the air, dodging and swooping, doing all i could to swat and scratch at the smaller, but more annoying dragons. I couldn't save myself from being tackled; quicksilver shooting up and down my sides, claws digging into my black scales, trying to gain advantage over my size. i looked down to see what I might hit, if i should fall...

I streaked across Distarius' view as a black panther, driving my foreclaws and fangs deep into one of the creature's chitinous hides. My fangs got caught, and my eyes flared red as I was flung about, stuck to where the creature would have its throat. i TRIED TO SINK IN MY CLAWS BUT FOUND NO PURCHASE AS THE CREATURE REARED AND FLUNG HIS HEAD. (just ignore that....) Long and deep gauges appears where my futile attempts had been. Finally I was flung loose, but not gracefully. I found myself flying without wings and landing as well as the feline body could, twisted upside down. I may be a cat but I am certainly not as well adapted to langing on my feet. I slammed hard into a wall, the wind being knocked from my lungs. With a growl that was cut off, I sunk to the only ground that was left--a splintered mess of wood. I hopped to my feet, close to Distarius, who was now fighting a new foe. The bug I'd left my mark on was closing back in while the last one ate happily. It was oblivious to its fellows being killed. I sprang at the one pushing Distarius back, crashing inot it with only my shoulder. I fell ontop of the mage accidently and purred contentedly, trying to grin and the cursing mage. I stood up and hissing and spitting I swatted at the advancing foe. My ears lay flat against my head and my back arched, fur bristling and standing on end. I crouched back, cornered and made my move, pouncing on it's head, avoiding the jaws and prancing across its back. It ended up clawing at itself to reach me. Then my paws found that they were not longer padding across a chitinous body but a furry one... Where the creature once stood was now anoth panther. Bigger and more careless of it's health the panther lept qat my lank self. I dodged, finding that I was quicker though it may be larger. I wrapped my jaws around its burly neck and tried clawing at its eyes to disable it. The mage felled another beats and started on the last. He'd found his staff apparenlty, for it shot a bolt of lighting at the bug-thing. I growled deeply and changed my form again into that of a griffon. I had to be small to accomodate the inn's size and the span of my wings. My sharp beak and lightning fast reflexes caused me to cut deeply into the panther's body and easily discontinue it's life. Blood spattered over the soft feather of my eagle head. I padded over to Distarius, again as a panther. My fur was caked with the creature's body and my own. I licked my muzzle and whiskers clean and sheathed my silver-white claws. Licking blood from my fangs I sat next to him. His last opponent had been to cowardly to fight and left through the floor. We were alone at the Inn of the Silver Dragon. "It's going to inform the other's of it's kind of the resistance." The mage said quietly, his brows furrowed. I purred again, a deep rumble in my throat. I turned to survey the aftermath and foudn that the bodies of the creatures disappeared! ¤Dis..........Distariius.......¤ I mumbled in thought speech, being that the panther body was not equipped with needed parts to talk. ¤They're gone!!¤ The purr left my body and I sat, dumbfounded. No trace of them was left. Nothing to study, nothing to say that they were even there. Just the blood on our clothes and bodies. The bodies of the victums were there too, and their blood was spattered upon us as well. Somehow we'd all come in contact with eachother during the fray. The creature's blood was the same shade and consistancy as the humans. "You know what this looks like don't you..." Distarius said, his voice quavering slightly. I nodded. ¤Let's go, now.¤ I said and rubbed against his leg, trying to push him towards the dorr.~

"So what does the city have to offer us before the sun goes down?" He asked. I simply crossed my arms in the back of my head and yawned. " I don't know. I'm pretty tired. Let's find an in or something." I stretched. "One with irrigation." I added with a grin. "How about this one?" Distarius asked, pointing to a quaint, wooden building. A sign swung on one hinge over the door displaying a flowing pitcure of silver and white, under it was the inn's name. "Silver Dragon Inn. I like it. Let's see if we can get two rooms." I stepped up the stairs to the enterance, only to have to move out of the way as a drunkard was tossed from the doorway. I watched the man scramble to his feet and stagger out of the way of Distarius. The man smelled heavily of Ogre Killer-- The strongest kind of alcohol on the markets. I exchanged look with Distarius and entered. Inside was a lot like the outside. The place was shoddily made with wood and a stone structured fireplace. Tables and chairs were scattered throughout the room. One was vacant and set right next to the fire. I went over to the table and sat down, leaving the socializing to the mage. I paced across the room, taking in the surroundings. Drunkards and more drunkards. Oh well. I sat down as close to the fire as I could. I looked over at the mage and the innkeep through my slanted, almound-shaped eyes. Yawning, I leaned back in the chair and stared into the fire. "Only one room vacant." Distarius informed me upon his return. "No problem. A cat doesn't need to pay does she?" I grinned again. He nodded and shrugged. "Well. We might as well...." Something shook the floor. no one else noticed because they were all drunken out of their minds. I stood up and looked around the ground for the source of the vibration. "What's that?" Distarius asked. "I believe we are experiencing the enterance of our job....." The floor split and four tiny shapes moved in. I took a step back and the floor heaved again. I lost my footing and slammed back into a wall. Four bug-like creatures shimmered into view adn immediately began to hew down men. I watched wide-eyed too surprised to act just yet.~