OOC:
Sorry I didn't answer earlier, I had to type fast. I would share my idea with you...but I forgot it. I have a vague idea of what I originally had.....bleh. Anyway, I'm going to bring in another charry.

IC:
Johdzsia pondered what Ka said. True. It is good to fear Dragonkind, as long as its a healthy fear. Even a dragon's companion may fear their soul-partner in some cases. I know Ella does. Ella is Zeke's Rider. she added as a side. She paused as a rustling broke out nearby. She sprang to her paws and stood in front of Ka, in between him and the sound. She growled threateningly at whatever it was, but had to do a double-take when the person revealed themselves. She sat on her haunches and glared playfully at the elf that had emerged from the bushes. I thought you were on a mission for the Varden. she accused, her brow furrowed into a scowl. The female elf shrugged and smiled apologetically,"Sorry Jia. And I am on a mission. It led me here." she said, then seemed to notice Ka for the first time. She twisted her hand above her sternum and touched her first two fingers to her lips. Her shocking sapphire blue eyes danced merrily as she spoke,"Kvetha fricai (Greetings friend). I'm Ella Whitefang, daughter of Kena and Rider to Zeke Blindscale." she said, bowing slightly at the waist.

- - - - - - - - - -

Zeke prummed happily and nudged his Rider in the back. Little one... he rumbled tenderly, his ice blue eyes soft with love for the other half of his essence. Ella turned and locked gazes with the amethyst. Her staggering sapphire blue eyes pierced him to the ground. He purred affectionately and nuzzled her stomach. She laughed, a pleasant, pealing sound, and wrapped her arms around his snout,"I've missed you, Z." she said, kissing his forehead right between the eyes. Her waist length blue-black hair shifted forward over one shoulder, tickling Zeke along his jaw. He snorted, blowing her hair away from his face and back, as if she were flying full speed with her hair down. His Rider chuckled, then turned and leaned against his shoulder to gaze from Jia to Ka, one eyebrow raised in curiosity.

OOC: ok, so you have 3 active characters? Wow o.o"

IC:
Ka was pulled from his thoughts when he heard a rustling sound coming from some bushes nearby. He quickly rose, and was going to step forward but Jia cut him off. He readied himself for an attack, placing his left hand behind his back and his right hand on his sword. When the elf emerged he relaxed a bit. The only thing Ka didn't like about Elves were that he didn't know much about him, other than that he had never had an experience with them. That's not to say he was totally ignorant however. Once she made the gesture, he returned it, but his knowledge of the Ancient Language wasn't good enough to make a reply, so he stayed silent for now. His face remain blank and expressionless the whole time. He sat down, since he figured he was in no immediate danger, and watched her's and Zeke's greeting. When Ella turned and looked at him and Jia curiously, he looked back wordlessly, and blank faced. He had no reason to say anything to this stranger, even if it was Zeke's Rider.

Ella's tune grew in intensity as it progressed before it leveled out into a low, sad, and melancholy melody. She opened her eyes and smiled as she hummed. The changing colors of Ka's produced flame were enchanting as they shifted through dozens of shades.

- - - - - - - - - -

Johdzsia watched with wide eyes as Ka summoned a small flame in his palm, and caused it to change color according to the pitch of Ella's hum. She smiled, her teal-aquamarine irises shining above her grin. She crooned approvingly.

Ella went on for several more bars, then let the melody die on a last, haunting note. She smiled at Ka, her sapphire eyes glittering,"A good compliment to entertainment." she said. She brought her hair over across one shoulder and absently drew her fingers through it, a habit she'd fallen into since it had grown so long.

- - - - - - - - - -

OOC:
Question; would you like Ka to be a Rider, or keep him on his own for now? I made Jia hatch wild to see if it fit her personality, but I'm still messing around with her more in depth character.

IC:
Johdzsia purred and curled her body around Ka, giving him a solid surface to lean back on.

OOC: Sure, I don't see anything wrong with it.

IC:
Ka nodded absently, not really hearing what Ella had said, he was lost in his own world right now. He felt something behind him and gently leaned back. When it didn't give he leaned back the rest of the way and continued his day dream, Ella's hum still sounding in his head.

OOC:
Okay, I have a vague idea now. Someone/something is chasing them (all four of them), they run for a few days, it finally catches up with them, big fight breaks out. For some reason that I have yet to think of, whatever is chasing them is mainly focused on Ka. Jia goes into a anger fit (something that only happens when someone she cares for is in danger) and protects Ka. Other things happen that I need to think up, Jia asks Ka after everything if he would like to be her Rider, she Marks him with the Dragon Rider mark, maybe a few more things happen after that, and then, badda-bing badda-boom, we have a finished story. What do you think?

IC:
Ella watched Ka, wondering where he had come from. From her spying, she'd heard whispers, local myths of the people who had come to Alagaësia from beyond Surda. More than that, she didn't know.

- - - - - - - - - -

Johdzsia's purr deepened as Ka leaned against her. She snuggled her head closer to his stomach, the feeling of his hand on her head strangely comforting, though the only two-leg that had ever done that was Ella.

OOC: Sounds good to me...how about Emperial forces send by Galba. Like, he forced Shruikan to tell him what had happened and he found out Ka was still alive so he sent something after him? Hows that sound?

IC:Ka was slowly beginning to drift off to sleep laying against Jia's body. He felt an odd feeling that he hadn't felt in a really long while; he felt safe. He didn't understand it, and at the moment he was too drowsy to try, but he didn't want to sleep so he decided to try and talk to keep himself awake. "Ella, if you don't mind me asking, where did you come from? What Elven city I mean." He asked, stifling a yawn.

OOC:
Sounds perfect.

IC:
Ella smiled as Ka yawned,"I was born thirty-five years ago in Ellesméra, close to the inner city. Later I learned that my Mother, Kena, almost died giving birth to me." she said, eager to share. She rarely opened up to anyone. She never really had the time to anymore, except with Zeke.

OOC: The only question is what is after them?

IC:
Ka listened as best he could. He had heard of Ellesmera, but only in rumors and tales. He tried to come up with another question to avoid sleeping. "So, where you chosen to be a rider?" He asked, shifting his position against Jia so now he was laying down with his head resting against her.

OOC:
Maybe Shruikan himself, or Thorn. I have two character's inside the Empire, but I think three is enough for now. Maybe Murtagh and Thorn both can come after them.

IC:
Ella frowned slightly,"Not...exactly. After a bad encounter with a Lethrblaka, I was healing with an herbalists help. When he asked me to pick some herbs, I found Zeke's egg buried in the dirt." she said, and shrugged,"I was more lucky than anything, honestly." she added, then smiled,"Sleep, my friend. You are tired; I will answer more of your questions tomorrow." she said, then closed her own eyes to slip into the trance-like state that replaced sleep.

- - - - - - - - - -

Johdzsia purred tenderly and braced Ka's side with her head, gently lowering him to the ground. She curled around him, making sure he was against her warm belly. Her neck and tail curved around him protectively, even as she lowered her wing to cover him. She watched his face with her teal-aquamarine irises, then closed her eyelids and let sleep take her.

OOC: Any of those will work. But Thorn or Murtagh and Thorn seem the most likely since Shruikan was pretty badly beaten last time he was around us.

IC:
Ka nodded once and yawned. "Alright" He felt Jia putting him on the ground and shifting her position. He peaked an eye open and saw that she was curled around him protectively. He rolled over so his back was to her belly, and soon fell asleep

OOC:
Sweet.

IC:
Ella was the first to wake in the morning. Born of habit, she was used to getting up early. She gently tapped her companion's wing, and he lifted it automatically to reveal the day. It was pale and slightly misty. She breathed in the cool air, feeling it rejuvenate her. She glanced at Zeke, who was still dreaming deeply, then to Jia, who was only visible as a tightly curled ball of scale and membrane. She smiled, then collected her bow and arrows to hunt. She padded into the surrounding trees noiselessly, ready to aim and fire in a single motion. Her keen ears picked up a doe, just a few paces to her left. She crept forward until she could see the female deer. It was when she had just drawn back to shoot, holding the sinew at the corner of her mouth, when a young fawn stumbled up behind the doe. Ella paused, watching the duo with tender sapphire eyes. She slowly released the string back to its position and took the arrow from it. She couldn't slay a mother. She replaced the arrow in her quiver and hung her bow on her back, then twisted her hand above her sternum and touched the first two fingers of her hand to her lips,"May luck and happiness follow you and may you be shielded from misfortune." she murmured in her birth tongue, her gaze focused on the fawn. It's spots were still a bright, vivid white. Perhaps only a few weeks old. She turned, empty handed, to walk back to camp.

She padded back into the small clearing and went to Zeke's saddlebag. She did not have meat, but she had the ingredients for vegetable stew. She removed them from the bag and set next to the hole she'd dug. She filled the depression with sticks and twigs, muttering "Brisingr" to light the fire with pale amethyst flames. She erected a type of stew pot holder above the heat, filled it with water, and dumped a handful of vegetables, some fruits, and a few seasonings. She heard her companion shift behind her as she cooked. God morning, little one. he purred. She smiled tenderly, though she was not facing him. Good morning, Z. she returned. He prummed happily.

Ka had been awake for sometime, in a half sleep state where he was asleep but could still tell what was going on around him. He decided he had slept long enough and decided to get up. He didn't want to wake Jia, or Zeke and Ella if they weren't already, so he teleported out from under Jia's wing, but it was black lightning that gave off no light so he wouldn't wake up anyone. He landed a ways away from where Jia was sleeping and stumbled a bit. He stretched and yawned trying to wake himself up. When that didn't work he decided to use the method that he knew would work; free falling. He teleported high up into the sky and stalled for a moment before gravity took over. he started to fall, slowly at first then faster and faster. The wind of cold on his face, the perfect thing to wake him up. He had got himself up high enough so that he didn't have to worry about hitting the ground for some time. He looked around at the forest below him; a sea of various shades of green. He spun in the air so he was on his back and simply laid there falling. He was right above the where Jia and the others were, so he spun around to see if he could see them; he could, but barley. The cold wind didn't really effect his eyes, so he could see clearly. He could make out Zeke's large body, Jia's smaller one across from it and then someone close to Zeke doing something he couldn't tell. As he got closer he could see that it was Ella, but he still couldn't tell what she was doing. Once he reached the tree tops he saw that she was cooking, and his stomach reminded him that he hadn't eaten breakfast. He was obviously close enough to where if any of them had looked up they would have seen him. He teleported before he hit the ground and landed gently in a tree above Jia with a small thump. "Good Morning." He said to Ella and Zeke, but trying to be quiet so he didn't disturb Jia.

OOC: so who will play the part of the hunters?

OOC:
I'll have Thorn and Murtagh come in my next post.

IC:
Ella's ears pricked at a small thump, and she looked up. She chuckled,"Good morning, Ka." she said, smiling. She dished up two wooden bowls for herself and him with a pair of eating utensils. His she set on the ground for him to take, while she leaned back against Zeke and began eating her own. Jia stirred lethargically, though she didn't fully wake up. She curled up even tighter. Five more minutes, Z. she complained, her mental voice heavy from sleep. The female elf's smile widened as the gold-amethyst hatchling then uncoiled her body and lifted her head. Her teal-aquamarine eyes were unfocused still. Jia yawned, flashing her tiny needle-sharp teeth, then got up and stretched like a cat. She laid back down and lowered her head onto her paws, still half-asleep. What did I miss? she asked groggily. Ella smiled,"Not much, my dear." she assured.

OOC: alrighty then

IC:
Ka hopped out of the tree and walked over to where Ella had set his food. He sat down and started eating, it was gone in a matter of seconds. He sighed contently and laid back in the grass. "Thank you Ella." He said looking over at the elf. Ka rolled over when he heard Jia moving around behind him."Morning sleepy he said teasingly. He grinned at her question. "No, nothing much..." He said to her, and sent her a picture of his wake-up routine while he was still high above the ground.

Ella smiled at Ka, her sapphire eyes glittering. She took both bowls and cleaned them, then put all of her supplies away in Zeke's saddlebags. She was finishing up when she heard a faraway roar. Her companions head shot up, his ice blue eyes narrowed with intensity. Get on my back, Ella. he said flatly, giving no explanation. He nudged Jia sharply with his tail tip. Get up precious one. We need to move. he said urgently. Instantly Jia was on her paws beside Ka. Ella was in the saddle with her legs strapped down, her blade drawn and gleaming in the sunlight. Ka, get on Jia's back. I have a bad feeling that Galbatorix forced Shruikan to tell about you, and has now sent someone else after you to finish the job. he said quickly. The amethyst waited impatiently, his wings fluttering now and then, for Ka to settle. Once the two-leg was, he allowed his sister to spring up onto his back with Ka. He crouched down and was air-borne in a moment. Jia jumped from his back and spread her wings, letting the wind push against her wing membrane.

- - - - - - - - - -

Johdzsia was seething right now. Not at Shruikan for telling, at Galbatorix for insisting on killing Ka. She would make sure he was safe if it killed her. She paused in her rage and wondered why the protective fits she went through were amplified for this two-leg. She actually wanted to kill whatever was chasing them, to protect him. She growled under her breath, swallowed her rage, and looked back to check that Ka was still with her. Are you-, she started to ask, but was cut off by a challenging roar in the distance, followed by a magically magnified voice,"You are shielding a dangerous man, my friends. I suggest you hand him over so I'm not forced to use violence." it said, and Jia recognized it as Murtagh. The cry must have been Thorn's. The gold-amethyst snarled. And then what, you'll kill us anyway? No deal! Come and get him yourself if you want him so badly! she roared in reply with her thoughts.

OOC: Just wondering, but where do you live? Timezone wise I mean.

IC:
Ka sat bolt upright when Zeke said someone might be after him. He quickly jumped up and got onto Jia's back and gripped the spike in front of him. His grip tightened when she jumped onto her brother. He tensed when Zeke took off and when Jia jumped off his back and into the air. He held out a hand and made the outer ring of a hell seal, ready to use when needed. he saw Jia turn around and ask him something, but a distant roar cut her off. He turned around and looked behind them, there he saw the red dragon Thorn and his Rider Murtagh. He didn't know much about them, other than they were the last two things he wanted to see right now. When Murtagh's voice sounded, Ka couldn't help but retort. He changed the seal in his hand to a heaven seal to magnify his own voice. "Dangerous only to you and the Black Alter king you serve!" If Ka had said this insult to another Reaper, he would have likely started a blood-feud right there. Being said to serve the Black Alter is like being called a traitor, slime, worse-than-maggot- feces, murderer, and heretic; but much worse and all at the same time. He turned back around and said to Jia, Zeke and Ella, "I'm going to try and distract them, if I seem to disappear, don't worry, just keep going. Do not turn around, understand? Just trust me and keep going." He didn't care if Murtagh was after him, he knew that if his friends where caught they would die, and that was not something he was just going to let happen. He disappeared in a flash of white lightning from Jia's back and reappeared behind Thorn and Murtagh; Thorn was bigger close up. "Aye, here I am, now leave my friend be." He was standing in the air on a red, 10 ring seal.

Johdzsia spun on her wingtip as Ka disappeared from her back, her teal-aquamarine eyes wild with freight. Ka! she roared, nearly overwhelmed with concern for him. It didn't matter that he'd said not to worry. Zeke grabbed her from the air with his hind paws, holding her wings pinned to her sides so she couldn't get away. He'll be fine, precious one. He's more powerful than you think. soothed her brother. She bit and clawed every piece of flesh she saw, a crimson red haze taking over her vision. He'd be even more powerful with me! she shouted back at him. She continued to wriggle and squirm, slowly slipping her way out of Zeke's hold.

- - - - - - - - - -

Murtagh sneered,"Not likely, unless your willing to die right this instant without a fight, or will let me take you to Uru'baen. Otherwise I'll snuff there lives out like flies. And I know I can, with a single uttered word. Your choice." he leered, brandishing the crimson red blade of Zar'roc. Thorn lifted his lip and snarled for emphasis, showing rows of razor sharp teeth.

Jia only slightly lessened her struggles when Zeke passed on the message to her. The whites of her eyes were visible in her terror. Her vision was still hazed with crimson, pulsing with the beat of her heart. She only squirmed halfheartedly now, worry for Ka turning her blood to ice. Her gaze was riveted on Ka, never leaving his face. She released a high pitch keen that changed to a mournful cry of longing. She broke off in a whimper, every muscle straining toward Ka. She'd never felt the protection instinct so vividly, so powerfully. She crooned, a low, disparate sound. Her consciousness reached out toward the two-leg, bypassing around the minds of Murtagh and Thorn to join with Ka's. She couldn't protect him physically, but she could give his strength a boost. She surged into his mind like warm water, soothing and relaxing. Here; take my energy to make it even stronger. she whispered to Ka, ceasing her struggles entirely to conserve strength. She flowed around his consciousness, shielding him from mental attacks so he could deal with the physical ones.

- - - - - - - - - -

Murtagh snorted,"Please. Your a single man, while I have my dragon and several more power sources at my command to defeat you." his eyes narrowed, and his lips pulled back into a grimace,"If you simply breath on my companion I'll make sure you suffer a thousand times worse than Galbatorix would make you." he threatened, his tone dark and menacing. He stabbed at Ka's mind, only to find it very well protected with an iron strong shield that was completely seamless. His brow furrowed, then he twisted in the saddle and, barking "Brisingr", sent a large writhing mass of flames hurtling straight for the retreating party. But the fireball was too low to hit Zeke fully. It was aimed directly at Jia.

Ka had to hold back a laugh. "A single man yes, but as you said, I've very dangerous." When Ka felt Jia's energy pour into him, he directed it directly to the massive inferno that was growing under Thorn. Ka sneered in reply to Murtagh's comment. "I see that you seem to care about him. So if I were to gut him like a fish and make you watch, would that tear you up inside?" He grinned cockily. "And as if you could make a scratch on me, your nothing without your over grown red lizard." He winced when he felt Murtagh's mind try and slam into his own, but found that it was protected by Jia's. The blaze beneath them had grown to a size that, even from the height they were at, was hard to ignore. It was at least 100 times bigger than the one Ka had shown Jia and Zeke before, thanks to Jia's added energy. It had just reached the breaking point when Murtagh fired at his friends. He saw the fireball hit Zeke, but noticed that Murtagh's aim had been at Jia. Ka's cockiness disappeared, his sneer was replaced with a snarl, and his eyes flashed with instant rage. He stomped on the seal under him, causing several of the runes to change. down below, the fireball flattened out into a flat plain and turned a dark black; it was known to Reapers at black fire was at least 50 times hotter than white fire, the heat from it could now be felt all the way up in the air. "I warned you not to attack my friends, didn't I?" He disappeared in a flash of red lightning just as the plain of fire erupted into a massive spiraling torrent of black flame straight up. The heat wave that came from it would be able to be felt leagues away, but nothing was burned unless it was touching the fire itself. He reappeared a few stepped behind where he had just been, the lightning from his teleport had been the catalyst to set off the Seals. He watched the writhing mass of black flame, hoping that Murtagh's very soul burned with his body.

OOC: obviously it isn't undodgable because, well what fun would that be? I wasn't sure where to put it in the RP but, there was a few seconds as the fire traveled upward before it would make contact with thorn and Murtagh, but they would have to be fast to get away.

Johdzsia growled to herself when she felt the stab, and tightened her secure blanket-like shield that enveloped Ka's mind. She barely noticed it when Ella was just able to divert the fireball that Murtagh had sent toward her. Being connected with Ka like she was, she could, in a sense, see through his eyes. She watched the black fire rush up and completely engulf Murtagh and his companion, feeling a sharp rush of sympathy for them. But she subdued it, telling herself that the pair would have killed her or Zeke or Ella without blinking an eye. That did it. She bared her teeth and snarled, knowing Ka would feel it through their link.

- - - - - - - - - -

Thorn tried to evade the rush of flames, but was too slow to avoid it. The pair screamed in unison. No, shrieked would have been a better description. Murtagh couldn't think straight to even articulate a spell to shield them from the flames. The agony streaking through him, and doubled by his connection with Thorn, gagged him. But only in one sense. His voice and Thorn's rose higher together, if that were impossible.

Thorn simply whimpered as the flames ended. His throat was hoarse from shrieking at such a high tone. He fell limply onto something solid. What he didn't know, but he knew that when he touched it, the pain receded some so he could think clearly. His Rider was slumped over on his back, unconscious. The red male tried to lift his head and speak, but his body trembled so bad that he gave it up quickly. He cleared his throat and tried again. We only meant...to threaten your friend...We knew that the fire....would be diverted. he just managed to croak before his body was wracked with a severe coughing fit.

- - - - - - - - - -

Johdzsia continued a low growl deep in her chest, but pity again swelled within her at the sight of the dragon. His scales looked more like burned coals than glittering blood red. His wings resembled skeletons; there wasn't an inch of membrane left on his slender flight fingers or mainstay. She shivered, trying to keep the thought of him hurting her or her friends firmly planted in the forefront of her mind. Tell that scale-deprived worm that a threat is one threat too many. she hissed venomously. Her shield around his consciousness rippled with her emotions, and she had to fight herself to stay somewhat calm and keep the protection around Ka's mind solid.

Johdzsia curled her lip and growled, her eyes flashing in rhythm with Ka's. She hissed softly as Ka asked her a question. They were only following orders... she trailed off, her anger dissipating slightly. She sighed then. No, no objections. They were merely doing what they were told. In their position, I would have done the same. she murmured to Ka. She gently twisted free of Zeke's grip and flared her wings to catch herself. She flew leisurely back to Ka until she hovered merely a few yards behind him, ready to swoop forward and snatch him away from danger if needed.

- - - - - - - - - -

Thorn growled softly as Ka slapped his Rider across the face, though it came out as barely a whisper. He couldn't do much, so he just laid there, hoping that Ka would spare them. Or if not him, then Murtagh.

Ella pursed her lips, her mind whizzing around. She sighed again,"I can teach you what you need to know so you don't kill yourself. For a new Rider, its very easy to use too much magic and they pass into the void. I had no one to tutor me, but you will. Like Eragon with Oromis, you will train faster than any Rider before you." she said firmly. Zeke stepped up behind her and nudged her in the back. Little one, slow down. I've taught Jia everything I know, which in turn I learned from you. I doubt Ka will need any other Master beside his companion. The only thing you would need to pass on to him are the more minute details, such as the Riders' history and how they came to be. he said.

- - - - - - - - - -

Zeke lifted his gaze to Ka's, rumbling tenderly in his chest. You do not need mentoring from me, young one. Everything I know I've passed on to Jia, and she can in turn pass it to you. You only have one Master for now. he said and grinned.

- - - - - - - - - -

Johdzsia dipped her head toward her brother. Thank you, Master. she murmured, deferring to the traditional way of mentor and student. She looked to Ella, curious. I know that the original Eragon found a white dragon egg and when it hatched named it Bid'daum. That ended Du Fyrn Skulblaka, The Dragon War. That's all I know really. she thought aloud. Her eyes snapped to Ella's. Master, she added hastily, mentally chiding herself for the lapse in attention.

- - - - - - - - - -

Ella pursed her lips,"That's all anyone knows, truth be told. There's not much more to add to that, beside what began Du Fyrn Skulblaka in the first place, and of course, the Fall." she said, smiling warmly at Jia,"Well done, Johdzsia. My companion taught you well." she praised. The gold-amethyst ducked her head modestly. Thank you, Master Ella. she murmured. She turned to Ka,"How much do you know about Alagaësia as a whole?" she asked, raising one eyebrow.

"Very plausible. Perhaps that is how it was meant to be, and not what we intended." she said, her expression thoughtful. At Ka's question, she pursed her lips,"A good query, Ka. To be honest, I don't know. I would mentor you, as I said, but I can not teach you as a full Rider. That will have to wait." she furrowed her brow,"Most Rider's, once Chosen, would be sent to Ilirea, an elven city, for further training. Ilirea is now Urû'baen." she added quickly, then shook her head sadly,"I'm sorry I can't give that to you, Ka." she said sorrowfully.

- - - - - - - - - -

Johdzsia crooned comfortingly, and nudged her head against Ka's back, looked at Ella, then at Zeke. The Rider's survived before the Fall, and they have even managed to survive during and after it. We can and will endure. she said firmly, her teal-aquamarine irises glittering. We will find a way to train Ka and myself in Rider Lore, though it may take some time. she said, and snorted for emphasis.

"Missions that my Queen and the Varden leader give me. A Rider's job is never finished. I was on a mission currently when I felt my companion." she said tenderly, and laid a hand upon Zeke's brow. He prummed and nudged her leg gently. Ella smiled, then looked at Ka,"The longer you are with your life partner, the more attuned to her you will be." she said softly, then her expression turned sober,"But it will make it harder to be apart from each other. There's no way to describe it, other than when you are away from your companion....it feels like a part of yourself has left you. Your consciousness, your heart, your soul...half gone." she murmured, scratching idly under one of Zeke's scales. Her companion rumbled in his chest.

- - - - - - - - - -

Johdzsia prummed happily at Ka's touch. At Ella's words, she snorted, then glanced at her brother. Would it be wise, Master? she asked, raising an eyeridge. She knew that he would understand. His eyes glittered, then he sighed. That, little one, is up to you. he said. Jia huffed and pressed her head closer to Ka's hand.

Ella pursed her lips,"He killed five soldiers, all loyal and well trained. The families of each soldier are awarding one hundred gold pieces for the recovery and execution of the rogue." she said, crossing her arms. She appraised Ka carefully,"If you help me, I would split the reward 250/250 with you." she offered,"One Rider on their own is not very threatening, but two Dragon Rider's and their companions is a formidable group." she said.

- - - - - - - - - -

Johdzsia rustled her wings. I'll help. she chirped, shifting from paw to paw impatiently. What does he look like? she asked. Ella blew out her breath, puffing out her cheeks,"Long brown hair, slightly past the shoulders, flat earth brown eyes. About 6"1' with a hunch in his back. Physically strong, well learned with the sword and bow, and can defend himself well, even without weapons." she said, squinting.

When Ella told him how much the man was worth, he gagged a little. "500 gold pieces for one man? I would hate to do him." Ka thought for a moment, although taking all 500 for himself would be nice, it wasn't his mission, and Ella didn't have to split it with him if he helped; 250 was better than nothing. "I'll help too." Ka said, making a mental image of the man in his head.

OOC: Sorry if my replys seem to fail a bit tonight, I don't know why I'm not as creative as I noramally am xP

Ella shook her head and smiled,"For a first time, that is very good. Soon you will be able to feel leagues away from yourself, if you work hard. Zeke found something peculiar when he extended out, so for now we will mount up and go toward that." she said, stepping onto Zeke's offered foreleg as she spoke. She sat on the saddle and smiled, as if a great pain had been eased. She caressed the scales of her companion's neck tenderly,"Lead the way, Z" she murmured, tightening her legs around his thick neck. He bunched his muscles and bounded away, toward the direction the spark had been in.

- - - - - - - - - -

Johdzsia eagerly crouched down for Ka to mount, then quickly caught up with her brother. She bounded just on his heels, running on his right flank so his tail didn't hit her.

Johdzsia felt Ka shift on her back, and, unsure what he was doing, slowed her pace slightly. She winced when a small branch slapped him in the face, feeling her own scales sting because of their link. She noticed that her brother had slowed, and halted herself just behind him. Zeke was peering through the brush, watching something she could not see. He gestured discreetly with the tip of his tail, and she instantly moved away to the right, circling around the area. Now she could feel the mind of another. It felt harsh and cunning.

- - - - - - - - - -

Zeke waited until his sister was directly opposite him, then melded his mind completely with Ella's to such a degree that they were more one mind than two. He stepped forward into the light, revealing his head, and snarled, baring his fangs. The man, who had crouched down to search for something in his pack, froze. He vaguely felt Ella-or was it himself?-dismounting and walking forward to stand in front of him,"You are a hard one to catch, Veldenir." she said in a strange echo of her voice and Zeke's.

- - - - - - - - - -

The man didn't move for a moment. Then he whirled and flung something at them; a dagger. His Rider lifted her hand,"Skölir!" she barked, and the sharp weapon halted in mid-air and dropped to the ground with a dull clatter. Following his first assault the man jumped directly at her, drawing his sword. Ella waited until he was almost upon her then, using her elven strength and agility, leaped ten feet into the air, somersaulted once, and landed back on her feet facing the direction she'd started from. Wyrda was in her hand and ready for use, but her eyes widened suddenly. She looked down, surprised to see the hilt of the man's sword embedded in her abdomen. He was faster than she had expected. He stepped back with a hard expression as she staggered forward a step, then collapsed onto the ground face first. Pain was low on the priority list, mainly shock. She hadn't felt the bite of steel in nearly two years.

- - - - - - - - - -

Zeke was struck dumb as the pain of his Rider's injury traveled across their link and affected him. Then his eyes glinted angrily, and he roared, springing forward. The man spun in time to block the amethyst's claws with another sword. He shoved back, then retreated. Unknowingly, his back was to Jia and Ka.

- - - - - - - - - -

Johdzsia was shell-shocked for a few moments, then she snarled, the sound fierce and menacing, and leaped forward with an angry bellow. She landed a few feet behind the man, giving him no escape. She eyed Ella worriedly from the corner of her eye; the Rider was breathing fast and shallow. She might have merely been trying to catch her breath, but the sword blade sticking out from her back ended that notion as quick as it began. Jia growled again, her anger reignited at the sight of her brother's companion. She swiped forward with her talons. Without even turning the man spun his sword behind him, as if just switching hands, to block her blow.

Ella's senses vaguely registered that she was being picked up and moved. The pain from her wound flared at the movement before she was again on the ground. She heard a voice say he was going to need to remove something to heal...what? Who was that? Her glazed sapphire irises roved around, searching for the owner of the voice. She found a man with gentle red eyes. The next moment it felt like a white hot branding iron was being pulled through her wound. She gasped at the intensity of it, then grunted as she finally caught up with what was going on. The man she was hunting had injured her. Ka had taken her away a safe distance to heal her. She tried to pick up her head to thank him, but his voice cut her off,"Heaven Seal: Waise Hiell," she heard him murmur. The pain eased to only a dull throb, and a few moments later even that vanished. She was opening her mouth to thank him, but he disappeared before she could utter a sound. She closed her eyes and curled into a loose fetal position, regaining energy.

- - - - - - - - - -

Johdzsia, being much smaller than her brother, could dart forward to attack the man and retreat before he could deal a serious blow. She had several short, shallow slices along her face, neck, chest, and forelegs. Despite their size, they stung savagely. She tried to hide the pain from Ka, unwilling to let her new Rider share in her pain. She noted that the man hesitated slightly before using his sword, and went about trying to figure out why. Her eyes landed on a thick red scar that curled around his right arm in a spiral down to his wrist. The hand that was holding the sword. Her pupils narrowed, and she instantly sprang. Her claws sliced through his flesh just as his blade sank into her right shoulder, grinding on the bone. She howled and leaped away, limping heavily on that leg. Her grimace of pain turned into a mask of shock and disgust as the man brought the metal to his lips, tasting her blood. He smiled,"You are very young; I've only ever had grown adult dragon meat. You will be a lot more tender than tough over there." he said, gesturing idly to her brother. She was too shocked to move.

Johdzsia could feel Ka taking her pain and, though she disagreed with it, didn't resist. She relaxed slightly, but only just. Veldenir snorted,"And then you'll kill me? I'm not stupid. She's my ticket to staying alive. No deal." he growled. He twisted the dagger in her neck, barely a half an inch to the left, but it felt like a white hot branding iron had been set into her flesh. She grunted, acknowledging the pain but not surrendering to it.

OOC:
(I'll conclude this little argument in my next post.lol)

OOC: lol, I was gonna conclude it in this post

IC:
Ka was growing tired of this back and forth, especialy when he twisted his dagger further into Jia's neck. Ka took her pain and made it his own, he didn't realize how high Jia's pain tolerance was. He was grateful he wasn't in his normal form, he probably wouldn't be able to take it. "Did you forget that I could kill you anyways, I'm giving you a chance to live. Now, remove your dagger!" The seal around the man's neck throbbed with a warning. If he made even the slightest attempt to harm Jia further, Ka was going to have the seal eat his head.

OOC:
lol

IC:
Johdzsia growled softly at Veldenir, but stopped when the dagger twisted even deeper. She was startled to feel a rush of air, then she felt the man freeze. Even his breathing halted,"Let her go, or I will slit your throat and let you die a long, slow death." said a musical voice, and Jia felt her spirits rise. Ella had jumped back into the game. The gold-amethyst saw the man from the corner of her eye. His lips were pursed, deep in thought. In the next moment, the dagger had been pushed a full two inches deeper, then he was gone, flung onto the ground by Ella. It seemed like he couldn't move up, like he was bound to the earth beneath him. She saw Ella standing at his feet with her hand extended straight out, and realized why. Jia wished she could move to give him a piece of her mind, but she dared not.

Ooc: apperently its bed time fpr me, so im gonna be on my itouch for the next few replies...

Ic:
Ka winced when he saw where Jia stabbed the man. He knew it hurt, as that was indeed a sensitive area. Once she finished he walked over to the man and crouch beside him. He spoke to Jia as if he were talking about the weather, "you know...I was actually trained in torture. Did you know that you can remove most of a persons organs without killing them or causeing them to go into shock? Its true, watch." Ka took out one of his throwing knves and cut open the man shirt. He then cut the man from collar to pelvis on both sides of his bodyand then cut a line connecting them at the top. He then reached in and pulled back the mans skin like a flap, exposing his chest and inards. "Ew....now lets see what we can play with" a sadistic smile began to creep across Ka's face as he removed the man's nonessential organs, like his stomach , a kidney, his intestines, and other body parts that the man wouldn't be needing. The result was a mostly empty, but still alive, man. "Now... Should we finish him off, or does someone else want a go?" Personaly, Ka could have amused himself for hours with the man, but he didn't want to scar anyone, if he hadn't already.

OOC:
Don't get in trouble.

IC:
Johdzsia winced, but did not otherwise show emotion. She growled and shook her head. I'm happy watching you. she chirped, and essentially she was. His enjoyment of what he was doing traveled across their link, affecting her as well.

- - - - - - - - - -

Ella smiled grimly,"It would be easier for me to keep the binding spell going if I don't move. And don't worry about our stomachs. Both myself and Zeke have seen our share of torture. Even Jia has." she said, and grimaced. Not at the subject of torture, but at Jia having seen it. The gold-amethyst snorted. I'm fine. If I can take apart a deer carcass I think I can handle this. she grumbled discontentedly.

OOC: bleh, I got in trouble for being hard to wake up...

IC:
Ka nodded. "Alright, if you're sure" He moved down to the man's legs and began cutting them open, revealing the muscles underneath. Ka then proceeded to cut and slice his leg muscles, sometimes hitting bone. Blood covered Ka up to his elbows now, and was making his knife hard to grip. He laid his knife down, picked up a few small rocks and put them in the man's legs and where his organs should have been. He then tossed his organs back in, in no particular order, and closed the flap of skin and healed it shut. He healed the man's legs shut too, leaving the muscles inside cut up. "There...no when he walks the rocks will remind him of us. I wish I had some salt, that would have been better, but oh well." He smiled at the man, and kicked him where the rocks were in hid abdomen. "Well, I'm finished..." He sounded content, as if he had just eaten a good meal.

OOC:
I warned you.

IC:
Johdzsia prummed, happy that Ka was happy. She turned to look at Ella. What do we do now? she asked, raising an eyeridge in question.

- - - - - - - - - -

Ella allowed her arm to drop to her side,"Now, I will take back to the Varden." she said in response. Zeke nudged her sharply. She means, we will take him back. he corrected, humming in his chest. The female elf smiled and stroked his snout, then looked a Ka,"Nasuada will want to know about you. Would you come with me, with Jia, of course, to show yourself to her?" she queried.

OOC:
Do you want to end this, or keep it going for a few more pages?

OOC: doesn't matter to me, if you want to keep it going so Ka can meet Nasuada I'm fine with that.

IC:
Ka looked at Ella questioningly. "Why would she want to see me? I'm no one important." Ka said, confused. He didn't see himself as someone anyone would want to see, but more than that. He didn't want to see anyone else, large crowds of people made him uncomfortable, and people with power worried him. If he went to the leader of the Varden, it was likely he would be near both.

OOC:
Hmm....I think Nasuada would want to know about him, so yeah. We'll go that far and probably end it there.

IC:
"Your a Rider, Ka. All Rider's are important." she said simply, shrugging. She could see the hesitation and apprehension in his eyes, and her face softened,"You wouldn't be going in alone. Jia herself has never met Nasuada, let alone the Varden. She would be right at your side, every step of the way." she soothed.

- - - - - - - - - -

Johdzsia snorted firmly in agreement, her teal-aquamarine irises glittering with determination. Every step. she murmured, pushing her snout into his shoulder and crooning gently.

Ella nodded and extended her hand out again, mouthing a short spell. Veldenir lifted into the air and was plopped harshly onto Zeke back, wedged between the front of the saddle and a spike. He grunted in pain but refused to cry out. Ella picked up his supplies and added it to her own, then mounted up behind him. She waited until Ka was settled on Jia and the gold-amethyst had jumped onto Zeke's back to slap her companion's neck,"Fly up, my love!" she cried, tightening her legs as he crouched and sprang into the air.

- - - - - - - - - -

Johdzsia opened her wings and, instead of actually jumping from her brother's back, simply let the wind carry off. She floated beside Zeke, occasionally flapping to keep up with him. Ella put the man to sleep so he couldn't overhear conversation, then said. I might as well try to teach you as much as I can in the small amount of time we have. It will take us only a day and a half to reach the Varden if we push ourselves. All right, I'll start with a subject that is needed for Rider's to know. Jia, you listen too. I know you probably already know this, but it never hurts to hear it more than once. she said, using mind contact so she wouldn't have to shout above the wind. I want to know what you know already. I'll quiz you about certain things, then once I know what your level of knowledge is, you can ask any questions to me that you want about the Rider's, Galbatorix, or anything pertaining to Alagaësia. she said, then added. What do you know about dragons? Anything will suffice as an answer.

Ka mounted Jia and hung on as she lifted off into the sky, and he felt a familier sinking feeling that he figured would never go away. He was just starting to enjoy the wind in his hair when Ella spoke to him. He had figured she would try and teach him on the way, but secretly hoped to fly in peace. He thought about her question carefully before answering. [i]" well i know to not try and get between a dragon and something it wants, i know that dragons have an extreamly long history, that they can be feirce fighters and...thats about it"[i] Ka really didnt know much about dragona because he had done his best to avoid them in his travels.

Ka listened intently, he had no idea that the dragons had once been separated as separate states or kingdoms. He wanted to hear more, but knew they were a bit pressed for time. He could only think of a few questions that he would like to know, " yes... What if the best way to defend yourself if you are attacked by a dragon on the ground?" he fiured he ahould only ask questions that would help him live longer in a fight