"Come on Reik," Erais said quietly, she wanted to help relieve his pain, but something was blocking her. She looked at him, but began to feel dizzy. Everything began to spin rapidly and she felt sick, her body adapted the strangest feeling, and before she knew it, she was opening her eyes to see the stars above Farthen Dur. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the sickening feeling. Looking in her mind, she still had the connection with Reik. She sighed in relief, at least she knew they were now back at square one.

The pain faded away as Erais breathed evenly. She wasn't sure if the old Reik was back for good, or if the possessed one had dominated. Erais, Mesaraih will be up soon, I think you should tell him what happened. Arden told her as he landed next to her. No Arden, I don't want him to worry. He's got enough on his shoulders to bear. Erais told him strictly.

Erais watched the sky, it seemed to her that she was seeing more sunrises then sunsets. She stood up and headed to the Dragonhold. Arden lifted to the sky and flew ahead of her. Walking through the city, she was once again amazed at how quiet it could be. She slowly climbed her way to the Dragonhold, she walked inside and saw Mesaraih awake. "Hi," she said softly and went over to sit by him.

Erais wanted to lie to him, she didn't want him to worry, but she knew she couldn't. "Yes, but its fine. At least he's fine for now," Erais said and felt worry rise in her. She could feel the connection, but it seemed as if Reik was still out of it. "It was harder, but he fought against the curse." She told him.

"Uh...well, you see," she began still hesitant about telling him. "Well," she trailed off again. Erais took a deep breath. "I had fought him off for a while and then he just left. Long story short, the connection was broke, we nearly died, and now its reforged." She said quickly. "Oh, and he's currently unconscious, trying to decide if he wants to battle pain or the curse, when he's actually doing both right now."

"Because I didn't want you to know!" Erais said in a slightly raised voice. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. The stress from having to battle out so much felt over bearing as she tried to calm herself down. "I'm sorry Mesaraih, but there wouldn't have been a way you could have helped." She told him while breathing deeply and evenly, well, at least attempting to.

"Because this is my burden!" She said back to him, rather angrily. She glared at him for a moment, a bit of her old self showing through for a split second before her face softened. "Sorry," she muttered. Erais looked at him as he said sorry as well. "I just didn't want you to have to worry, besides, you were asleep, and if you were close by..." she trailed off, to frightened to think of what could have happened.

Erais had half a mind to slap him, but that wouldn't get them anywhere. "Well do you want to know something?" she asked him a bit harshly. "I'm glad this has happened to me. I like being around you, I like this odd connection/curse, whatever it actually is. It'll make me stronger, so don't you dare think for one second that it will just go away. Trust me, I've tried. Whether you're here or not, it will still be difficult." Erais told him sternly.

"No Mesaraih, that's not what I meant." Erais said gently. "I really don't like knowing that at any moment I could try killing you, but now that I know what the alternative is, I think I prefer this much better." She said, a shiver running down her spine at the memory. "No, I don't like having someone else apart of me, but you don't get it Mesaraih. Both Reik and I almost died because he severed the connection. We both would be dead right now if we hadn't been able to reconnect to each other. I don't know how this happened, but I do know that for now, this is how I'll be. Life will be much more difficult, but what's already happened has helped me become more strong. I know the next time Reik will be forced to attempt killing you, I can hold him off easier. Though I hope he's okay, he's still just as good as you are, but the curse is the only thing in him that is forcing him to be evil." Erais told him calmly.

Erais watched him carefully as he appeared to be glaring at a rock. She watched as flames engulfed the rock. Slowly it turned a dull gray, then finally pure white. She watched amazed as it melted into liquid. "You okay?" she asked him worriedly.

Erais felt a bit guilty. "No, I don't think I can. Though don't be surprised if I seem to zone out." Erais told him in attempts and giving the mood a lighter tone. She fell quiet, she couldn't think of anything else to say. After a few moments of silence she retreated to her mind, just trying to figure out if there was anyway the connection could be broken without resulting in death.

Erais didn't realize how long she had kept to herself until a gust of wind poured into the hold and brought some of the suns heat with it. She blinked a few times to get rid of the dazed feeling. Reik? she called tentitivally with her mind, she was worried about him. This whole time everything had been silent, she hadn't had the slightest feeling of murder, or just one that wasn't her own. It worried her, she wasn't sure if he had even woke up yet from his pain filled sleep.

For a slight moment she felt relief. Relief that he was still living and breathing, but that didn't mean everything was fine now. Are you okay? she asked him, feeling like she was asking that a lot lately. I know this sounds a bit strange, but I haven't felt anything from you at all. It almost seems like you're completely cut off, but still there. She said to him.

Erais thought that Reik sounded a bit distant. What's the matter? she asked him, knowing that something had to be up. She cleared her mind, allowing herself to become aware of anything that might slip to her. She felt indecision and still felt that pain. She began to wonder why he was hesitating over some sort of decision.

Erais left him alone, but kept her mind clear so she could feel what was going on. She was a little irked with what she could tell about what was going on, but she kept to herself. How could he even consider that? He already knows what it's like. She thought to herself as she sensed he was leaning towards the wrong path. It was more of choosing the right path over the easy path now, she just hoped he'd choose the right one. Erais knew now she was perfectly capable of holding him off, but she'd rather not have to. Pick wisely, she muttered to him quietly.

Erais felt an electrical jolt pulse through her brain and it shocked her like nothing else had. She opened her eyes and was struggling to move, it felt like her mind had been disconnected from her body momentarily. She struggled against the weird feeling she had, it was difficult to think of anything as her mind was still trying to recover from the shock of the pulse. She moved her neck sideways, trying to figure out if she could still move it. Her hands and feet started to tingle slightly and slowly began to grow numb. What in the world is going on? she asked herself, too disconnected with her mind to think of anything at all.

I- I'm not...sure. Erais struggled to speak, her whole body was shaking slightly. She was still trying to figure out what had happened, but her mind still seemed a little disconnected from her body. She struggled to move into a position other then sitting like a stiff board. I-its t-o hard to d-do anyt-thing. Erais stuttered while trying to speak.

Erais was wondering the same thing herself, though more slowly and not as deeply as she wished, she skimmed the thought because she just didn't have the strength to delve to far into her mind. But what does this all mean? she found herself screaming at herself. She attempted to move, but with Reik trying with her, it seemed to only make her even more immobile. Its not working, she was able to tell him with less stuttering then before. How is this all connected? she asked him very slowly, to help reduce anything breaks in her question.

Erais struggled with herself, trying to think of something. I think I felt some sort of feeling that I had made a decision, I'm assuming it came from you, either way the next thing I knew, I'm partly disconnected from my head. At least that's what I can remember right now without much pain. Erais told him more easily, the longer she spoke to him, the less she had to struggle for words.

Erais looked down at her hands, they were shaking as though she was in a cold storm, but she was just fine. She tightened them as best she could to help reduce the shaking that seemed to grow more and more as she tried to stop it. "Mesaraih?" she croaked out, she felt a jolt pass through her body again. Talking verbally was much harder then with her mind, it sounded like she hadn't had water in weeks.

Erais looked up at him, the shaking had calmed down considerably and she was grateful for it. "Can you help me stand?" she asked him carefully so as not to do much more damage to her voice. Sitting down for so long made her stiff and she didn't want to be sitting anymore.

Erais smilede in thanks as he helped her stand, it was much more comfortable then sitting down. "Yes, thank you." She thanked him. "I just don't get it, everything seems to connect, but it doesn't fit together." She told him as a light breeze brushed past them. "Thanks," she told him quietly.

Erais looked at him and nearly slapped herself in the head, but couldn't exactly do it anyway. "Sorry, I should explain." Erais said a bit sheepishly. "I felt as though I had made a decision, I hadn't so I guessed it had come from Reik, but the moment the decision was made, a pulse reverberated through my head. Whatever it was has disconnected my mind and body from each other by a huge amount." She explained slowly as she had to put more of her weight on him, she didn't like doing it, but otherwise she'd pull him to the ground with her.

"No, I don't. I have to say this is the strangest thing that has ever happened to me though, well one of them at least." Erais said while making attempts at reconnecting herself. "It most likely has something to do with the connection thing, and there is a chance that something happened right before I was disconnected that I simply cannot remember." Erais was trying to think of anything that she could have forgot that might play a part in this odd disconnection.

You should try and sleep this off Erais. Arden's voice broke her train of thought. She thought about it for a minute and decided that maybe that was all she needed, besides, sleep couldn't possibly hurt her, right? She hated having to rely on Mesaraih at the current moment, but she really didn't have a choice, at least not yet. "Arden thinks that I should sleep it off," Erais laughed weakly. "Sometimes I wonder if that's his answer for everything." She smiled at the thought. "Either way, sleep won't hurt. You wouldn't mind helping me laying down, would you?" she asked him with an apologetic look.

Erais looked up at him with a slight smile, "yes, thank you so much." She told him while shutting her eyes tiredly. After a few moments she felt exhaustion wash over her and she was out quickly. I doubt the sleep will return everything to normal, but it should help. I know this is highly dangerous, but maybe you should try to contact Reik and see if he knows anything at all. Arden told to Mesaraih.

OOC-Aren't they too far away to contact each other?

Ooc - Yes, that's why he said you should try. There are other ways for contact other then through mind.

OOC-so are you saying I should look for him, or just some other kind of contact?

Ooc - some sort of contact.

Arden grumbled at what Mesaraih said. That darn fool can fight harder, he thought to himself. It seemed that for now the only relatively calm way they could speak with Reik was if Erais was speaking to him. He sighed, trying to think of some other way to get information from Reik. Erais obviously couldn't give much since she was asleep, so maybe he'd have better luck talking with Reik. Do you have any idea what's going on Reik? he asked in a calm manner, hopefully Reik wouldn't take it the wrong way.

Arden quickly broke away. Irritable, he grumbled while retreating into his thoughts. It took a while, but he finally figured out one of the possible solutions for help. Maybe the elves can help us, I think they are our best bet for now. I don't expect you to come, but I think Erais would want you to come. Arden told Mesaraih while calculating how long it would take to travel to the elves.

We'll tell her when she wakes, Arden said before lifting off to the sky again. He soared above the city for a long time, doing circle after circle, trying to clear his head. Back in the Dragonhold, Erais wasn't doing as well as she could be.
The pain ran through her body, causing her to wake. She opened her eyes and squinted, she gasped quietly, but kept still otherwise. She saw Mesaraih, he looked worried. I hate this, Erais said while shutting her eyes, trying to go back to sleep, but her body had other plans.

Erais cracked her eyes open and looked at him. "Oh really? Where?" she asked him with a raised eyebrow. She felt much better and more 'connected' with herself. Though she still felt pain pulse through her body every once in a while. "I don't think I can, and if I should, then you should be resting as well." Erais told him.

Erais studied his face for a moment and thought it over. "Fine," she said shortly before shutting her eyes. She tried searching for some way to find any amount of tiredness, but nothing. I never said I'd sleep. She thought stubbornly and just let her thoughts wander.

Erais turned on her side, so her back was facing Mesaraih and he couldn't see her open her eyes. She looked at the stone wall, letting her mind go blank. Thinking right now was too much of a hassle, she just wanted to let go for now. She saw the sky start to darken. Traveling while its dark will be safer. She thought to herself.

The light started to dim into nothingness as dark washed over the valley. Erais turned back over and looked at the black ceiling. Arden landed at the entrance quietly. I think it was time we left. It would be better that no one knows where we are or headed, it will keep us further out of harms way that way. Arden spoke while scanning the city. It was dark and few torches were lit outside. Erais agreed, better safe then sorry.

Erais slowly sat up, the feeling still lingered and it took a while to remember how to work her limbs. Arden was extremely worried about her, he felt mixed emotions and feelings coming from her. He walked over to her so she could use him as a support to get on her feet. I'm starting to think that memory loss would be better for her, Arden spoke to Mesaraih. I don't like what she's thinking, but none of its solid, so I suppose its nothing to worry about- He stopped and glanced at Erais who was struggling with standing, let alone trying to mount him. Yet, the word echoed in his mind as worry encased him.

Erais felt frustration start to build up in her as it was eating her energy away at just trying to stand up on her own. She began to blame Reik for this, and numerous other factors that flooded her mind, but she instantly felt regret and sighed. Slowly she gripped Arden tightly and slowly began to haul herself onto his back. At the end she was gasping for breath and her body ached from the hard earned success. Let's go. Arden said not even bothering to chide Erais, knowing it wouldn't help.

Erais faded in and out, most of her wanted sleep, but the rest was rushing with exhileration of flying. Arden was a very good flyer, his body was uniquely built for air travel whereas other dragons bodies were adapted for other things. It was as if his body sliced through the air like a knife. I'm fine, Erais lied. It would be a few days journey, and in that time she was going to try and build a facade that wouldn't give anything away. Her thoughts were troublesome and she was sure Arden could hear them, but when he didn't say anything, it caused her some doubt about it.

Arden was finally to tired with Erais' thoughts and immediately took any energy had left so she'd just go to sleep. Within moments of him doing that, Erais had fallen asleep against his neck and he knew he'd have to fly more carefully for the moment. There is going to be a very strong wind tunnel up ahead. Arden quickly spoke to Fenixeres. He began to have fears of Erais falling from him, so he came up with a quick plan. I hope you don't mind flying below me while we pass through it. I don't want to lose Erais, at least not that way. I personally think she'd rather die in battle then falling from her dragons back. Arden said with a chuckle.

Arden grunted in thanks and steadied himself more so when they hit the wind tunnel, it wouldn't be so bad. Here it comes, Arden had enough time to say it before they were smacked with a torrent of air. The pressure and sheer force of it caused Arden to tumble in the air slightly. He flapped his wings hard, trying to gain some ground against the forceful wind, and for now it was working. Even though he could eventually pass through the wind tunnel, he hoped a swift change wouldn't knock Erais from his back.

Arden had to dip and dive, trying to swerve out of the strongest areas of the currents. It was extremely hard though, seeing as how the current changed in a random order. This couldn't possibly get any harder, can it? he asked sarcastically. Instantly he regretted what he had said and wanted to take back his words as a crack of thunder split the sky open and it seemed as it the gods were dumping the ocean on them. He knew that it made his scales more slick and Erais had a higher chance of falling off, let alone it was too dangerous to fly in a lightening storm. Any suggestions? he asked both Mesaraih and Fenixeres.

Are you honestly asking that question? Arden asked him. If he was dry, it meant that the risk of Erais plumeting to her death was reduced greatly. By all means, please, he said while having to pump his wings harder. The storm was still raging, and it looked like it stretched on for a very, very long time. The strange thing, that certainly off balanced Arden, was at one point he was instantly out of the wind tunnel and in calm air, despite the rain and lightening. The instant change was to quick and he didn't have enough time to slow down, in a way he tripped on air. Arden stumbled forward and Erais had slid into a position where she was barely on his back. Arden panicked as she slipped from his grasp. Fenixeres! he shouted, while trying to become stable enough to dive after her.

Arden felt as though his heart was about to give way as he quickly turned in the air. The experiance had shaken him as he came to fly up next to Fenixeres. We're landing, we shouldn't try travel like that again. Arden thought, more grateful to Mesaraih then ever that he had caught her. I can never thank you enough for all the times you've saved Erais. Arden told Mesaraih as he descended to the ground.

Arden felt relief as he landed on solid ground, yes he loved the sky, but it was always nice to come back to something solid. Her thoughts were turning sour, I put her to sleep, hoping that she'll think that it was a dream. I doubt it though, he explained, knowing that the fall would've normally woke anyone else up. There was a thicket close by that was thick enough to keep the ground dry naturally. Arden walked over to the dry ground and laid down, ready for sleep.

Erais was the first one to wake up. Looking around she was rather confused as to how she had even come to be there. The ground she was on was completely dry, but looking beyond the trees, the ground was water logged. After a few moments of stretching out the stiffness in her body, she saw that Arden, Mesaraih, and Fenixeres were all asleep. She was curious as to how they got there, but they all looked exhausted even while sleeping, so she decided to just sit and wait for one of them to wake up.

Erais looked over at Mesaraih when he spoke. "Well I'm functioning much better now, though some movements if done to quickly freeze my body up momentarily." She was feeling good, much better then she had. "How did we end up here anyway?" she asked him, glad she could talk to someone else then just her thoughts.

"Oh," was all she said. She definately didn't remember that, and wondered why. "Did I hit my head or something?" she asked him. That last thing she could remember was...wow, what was the last thing she remembered. It took a little bit of concentration, but she remembered up until struggling to get onto Ardens back. Surely I couldn't have slept through it, only Arden could if he wanted to. She thought really confused now.

Erais sat for a moment while piecing it together. "Makes sense I suppose," she said while looking at Arden. Arden took that exact moment to lash one of his back legs into a tree, the sound was almost like thunder and the poor tree was cracked in two. From the sheer sound of the tree splitting, Arden was brought out of his sleep. He looked around confusedly at what had happened. Wait, isn't there rain in a storm? Arden asked then looked up at the sky, shouldn't there be clouds if there's thunder? he asked even more confused.

Erais was giggling like mad while Arden was still trying to comprehend what had happened. She was certainly glad he had a rather odd streak in him that wasn't too common for a dragon to possess. Huh? he merely asked, very confused while staring at the poor tree which never had a chance. Oops, Arden felt a bit guilty after realizing what he had done. Sorry for startling you. He quickly apologized feeling a bit embarrassed.

Erais was finally able to calm her fit of giggles as Arden put his head back on the ground. Within seconds he was fast asleep again, which sent Erais into small laughs. "I'm really glad he never grew out of some things, makes life easier," she said with a chuckle. She definately felt so much better now. She couldn't ever remember the last time she had laughed. Erais glanced over at Mesaraih with a soft smile.