A Change of Season

[Grieverjoe]

Arrows whistled through the air, yet they proved ineffective against his armor. They shattered into millions of tiny metal fragments upon contact. And a booming laugh filled the air.
“Come on, you bloodthirsty dogs!” he would laugh. “Is that the best you can do?”
Terrified, the village guards would then throw their spears at him, again with the same results. Not a single scratch on his hide. His eyes were full of amusement. To a Human, however, they looked like flaming embers, the stuff of nightmares.
Sharish took a deep breath and the guards gasped in unison. Then, slowly, he would exhale, sending a soft and warm breeze their way. The guards’ tension would ease, for the beast had chosen not to set them ablaze with his breath. A sly smile dawned on his battered face, followed by a flick of his massive tail. Trees, houses, rocks and bodies were effortlessly and mercilessly tossed aside. The guards would scream like the sheep he so coveted when they smashed against the cold, hard ground, a few hundred feet away. They looked like rag dolls, powerless as they glided through the air. The fools would always fall for the old trick. Sharish laughed once more as he triumphantly made his way through the small village towards the farm on the outskirts of the town, where his prize awaited. Meat. It was all for him and him alone.
A couple of the farmers tried to dissuade the beast from stealing their herds for the second time this week (he would raid some, leave a few behind, then come back for them later) by tossing themselves in front of the Coatl and begging him to spare them. Sharish would pay no mind, stomping his feet to make the fools scatter. Some of them would perish under his march.
Having finally reached the farm land, he would tease the stock by licking them, sending them into a horrified frenzy. Sometimes, he would poke them with his claws. Testing for firmness, he would say.
Having made up his mind about which ones to eat, he picked up two of the biggest sheep, one in each hand, and took to the skies. Of course, he would again leave some behind, a sure sign he would come back later when he grew hungry.
“The fools,” he would muse to himself. “To think that a Coatl raids their village week after week and, yet, they choose to remain here. Fools…every single one of them.”
Splitting the skies with his unmistakable shape and size, Sharish would swoop down low to the ground whenever he would spot a village, flap his wings and roar at the top of his lungs. It always amused him to see the villagers cry in fear and run like maddened ants at the sight of his form. He would laugh every time and never grow tired of it.
After terrorizing a few villages, he would pick up altitude, using the clouds as cover. He’d heard rumors from the others that the Tekil were on the move, no doubt looking for them. If that was the case, he would not be the prey. He would be the hunter. He’d find them and kill them all.
Clever little Tekils, disguising themselves as Humans… this brought a smile to his face. Of course they would resort to that! They dare not stand against someone his size, much less some of the older and stronger Coatls. Cowards…
Spotting a nearby mountain range, he proceeded to land on a ridge and devour his meal.
Two sheep should be enough for now, he thought.
After tearing through his prey with the minutest effort, he sat down to rest and digest his meal. Sharish lost track of time and dozed off.
It was late in the evening when he groggily opened his eyes. The setting sun waved him goodbye, giving way to a crawling darkness. He stood up on his four legs, stretching them, along with his spine, tail and wings.
Then, something curious caught his eye.
There, hanging on the darkened sky like a glimmering pendant, was a shining light. It intensified for a few seconds, and then it was gone. Curiosity got the best of him. The red dragon spread his massive wings again and took to the skies.

[Ag_Dragoon]

Korlith was still rather weak but she had gained some strength after finaly rejoining her mate. "Lance I need to get tot he den... Where I came from... The Nest is there Its still intact. I need to get things from it." She said as she looked around and found a crying deer. It seemed it had been injured while running from them. She quickly disposed of it.... eating it whole in otherwords. She looked to her mate. "I can fly to there from here but-" She winced as her bulging sides seemed to move. "It will be a slow flight." She said as they got to a clearing and she spread her wings in flight. Launching up into the air she let her wings sweep the skies as she flew to where the ruins were. She looked behind her finding Lance flying behind her and slightly under her. She didn't mind it to much only that something inside of her was moving and she needed to get the nest items.. her 'toys' for hatchlings and if she had to lay she could leave them there for now. But as she flew she only felt it move more and more.

The Flight wasn't to long slow but not to long Korlith could smell humans. Her teeth suddenly bared whens he landed as she hadn't noticed the castle. She let out a roar as she looked down at the whole she had come out of. Eyes darting back to the ruins before she was underground again. There the large cavern glowed with crystals, gold, silver, and many more things. Then out flew a large sheild... armor... two sets of armor. She had been busy before passing out. "Lance my armor... Yours too I made it out of mithril and inscribed with runes. I strengthed my armor to match yours... If my father still has the fight going I am sure the scaled will have upgraded themselves aswell?" She said before wincing and wiggling out of the hole in the ground. But the ground was moist where she followed out. The Dragoness had no idea what was happening to her through the panic of everything why was she paniced? No idea but instinct was kicking her ass. Then she heard words again. Cramps and words. She waddled over to the ruins and peered inside and she saw the old man and lion. "Who are you? What are you doing on my territory!" She demanded. Oh Korlith was grumpy. But as she was going to speak again a cry came from her one of pain."Lance.... I..." She hunched over before falling onto her side her hind legs kicking. "It hurts!" She cried her talons on her swollen stomach as the growing thing in her womb moved. Her eggs hatched inside her? Or was her body completely changed?

[Cilik]

Cilik approached the border to the Dragon's territory alone. He hired no mercenary, no bodyguard, no guide, for this journey was a personnel one. He traveled throughout the world amusing himself with fine cuisine, stout drinks, and sugary snacks, all which were a front to hide the fact that he was truly incomplete without his love. Ultimately he wanted to re unite with her, to hold her again in his arms but as the days lingered into months and those passed on into years he resigned the fact that any big of information would do.

Gathering his things within his long overcoat he turned to his ghostly servant and nodded. "I'll be alright. Make sure the mansion is kept well for I will be returning. If I need something I will summon you." The image of an ethereal elderly gentleman looked at Cilik with an emotionless expression and disappeared into thin air. Cilik turned from where the servant crossed the plain and looked towards the territory of the Dragons. His eyes scanned the nearby trees of a small forest he stood infront for any signs of warning or atleast something that read "Beware Dragons!". He admitted to himself in earnest that he did know a lot about the world except for the Dragons. He had not met one before, he did not know their language and finding out the borders of their territory was the toughest task of all.

It took him a long time back tracking through different shifty locals to find the information he needed about the Dragons. The city officials and politicians would not give out any information no matter how much gold he threw at them. The thieves, beggars and drunks of the bars asked for too much gold for the little information he knew. Eventually Cilik had to go through a list of former friends and contacts to find the information he desired and even that wasn't very helpful. Finally a trader in the outskirts of city provided the knowledge he craved after holding his neck under his fangs.

Cilik looked over his shoulder and then back towards the border of the Dragon's land. Once again his issues with self doubt began to settle in over his conscience. He could not sleep for weeks if not months in the past as he doubted if he would ever find Misty again. He could be with many women if he wanted but would never truly love them. Would he ever truly find her? His second thoughts locked his feet in place and prevented them from moving. He wanted to turn back and brood in his mansion alone content that if she would never return to him than she wasn't worth it.

He shook his head clearing his mind of those thoughts that betrayed their love. It was already decided a long time ago and he reminded himself that he would find her again. He had to. Without a moment to look back he closed his overcoat around him and held the medallion in his hand as it dangled around his neck and crossed the border to travel deep into the territory of the Dragons.

[Myuuchan]

As relieved as Lance had been to see Korlith, what little cheer had collected drained away quite quickly, when they landed. Of all the places she could have possibly chosen to hibernate, why did it have to be here? Right where he'd taken the Knights-in-training? Under normal circumstances she would have been perfectly fine around humans. They both would have taken their human forms and blended right in. But now?
Aveil and Lion would recognize him, he wasn't worried about that. But what about whoever had sent them the message they were investigating? The last thing he wanted was to have his wings shot full of arrows as soon as he landed.

Lance shifted uneasily as he waited for Korlith to make her way back out from the burrow. He was sure it wasn't big enough for both of them, and while he wouldn't admit it, he was vain enough that he didn't really care to get his pale-blue feathers muddy on the way down. His head poked down the hole once or twice, peeking inside, though he pulled back quickly, feathers ruffled down his chest and neck when the shield and armor nearly impacted his nose. "Hey," he growled, snorting and peering down at it scornfully. It could have chipped a tooth, even! "Watch where you're throwing stuff, you almost nailed me with that shield." But scorn aside, he gently pawed at the armor, drawing the plates back from the entrance of Korlith's burrow.
"I haven't seen any of the scaled ones, now that you mention them." There was a certain disdain that echoed in Lance's voice. He'd never been especially proud of being what he was, but he still felt the uncanny dislike for the scaly brutes that had apparently driven his kind from his home valley. But who could blame him? It was an entire way of life that had been left behind, because of them. He snorted at the very thought, bending down to whuff thoughtfully at the glistening armor plates that Korlith had pitched from her den.

He didn't notice until it was too late that she had caught the scent of the humans. Confound it all, he should have said something!! "Korlith, wait-"
But it was already too late, and through the narrow slit of a window, Lance could hear a sharp, ear-piercing shriek.
The scream warbled on for a long moment, before Korlith was suddenly laying on the ground, seeming to writhe. "You're telling me," he growled, lifting one clawed forepaw to gingerly touch at the tuft of feathers that hid his eardrum.
But she kept wallowing. Lance hesitated, confused. She hadn't meant the screaming?

Inside the ruins of the castle, one couldn't really be sure if it was Aveil that had screamed, or the frail old man- Who now lay on the floor in a heap, sobbing and shielding the back of his head with his gnarled hands.
Aveil was little better, clinging to the doorframe and trembling violently. "What was THAT?!" She almost whimpered, her eyes darting from the window to Lion in a most panicked way. "Where'd that guy go? Are the dragons gonna eat us?!"

Outside, through the cooling night-time air, a low, keening cry rippled across the landscape.
Lance froze, though his wings twitched, and he slowly hunkered down. "Korlith," he hissed, almost urgently. "Be quiet." He struggled to hear the remainder of the call, but he couldn't judge how many miles the sound had traveled.
Somewhere else, across the valley, another echoing cry replied.

It looked like the screaming had brought exactly the kind of attention that they did not want.