Equinox and Quasar flew over the great expanse of the Hadarac Desert. Throat Ripper and Eris were both riding silently on Quasar. None had spoken much since Galedrim's betray, Quasar's eggs being stolen, and Throat Rippers close encounter with death. None wanted to remind each other of what Galedrim had done. The worse affected was Eris even more than Quasar.
He always looked up to his brother and now that he had betrayed him Eris had know one to look up to. What made it worse for him was that he had to now lead their group which had for so long been Galedrim's job.
Equinox unlike the others thought it was his own fault Galedrim betrayed them The others didn't believe it. They said Equinox had done nothing wrong. Still all of them were in mourning. Quasar and Equinox angled downwards to rest for the night.
They set up camp and with few words went to sleep. Equinox stayed up for awhile clawing at the sand. He was about to drift into sleep when he heard something.
Humans... no elves,,, wait both? What are they doing here. he thought. He flew in the air and went in the direction of the noise. There he saw many elves and humans all under Crimson and possibly now Galedrim's mind control. Equinox looked around wondering where the two devils were, but they were not in sight.
He was about to fly back when he heard "A dragon in they sky! Bring it dow!"
Equinox was alarmed as he saw many arrows fly his way he dodged most of them and flew back to his own camp to warn the others. He woke them up Throat Ripper complaining about the lack of sleep.
"We should get out of here." said Eris.
No, we should stay and fight. Quasar replied.
"Why there are too many of the mQuasar we should go."
Who made you leader of this group after Galedrim betrayed us?
"I though know one cared now be quiet and go."
Equinox growled another thing he was mad about was that Eris and Quasar would argue with each other often.
An arrow flew toward them and struck Quasar in the leg. She roared and lept into the air.
"I guess we are staying then?" said Throat Ripper grabbing his axe. All of them were ready to release their anger on the mind controlled puppets of Crimson.
"Its them! Hah I can't believe they were so near us all along. Someone contact King Galbatorix, General Crimson, or General Galedrim!" ordered on of the elves.
Equinox dove right for that elf. Picking him up in his jaws and crushing him in his mouth. He flew in the air and blasted lightning down at the enemy. He recoiled as a lightning bolt was deflected up back toward him. He dove at the person but they jumped out of the way. Equinox lashed put at the man and invaded his mind. Then he killed him.

Quasar blew fire at the enemy below. She slammed a human to the ground and cracked another one's spine. She was hit in the side by a sword and clawed at the human. He jumped out of the way and made a second swipe at her. She rose in the air grabbed him then tossed his across the battle field.
Eris and Throat Ripper were back to back. Eris parried a blow to his side and swiped at the man. His blow was blocked. Throat Ripper gashed at an elves stomach killing it. He was forced to separate from Eris as the two were surrounded by many enemies.

Draco and Rector had been flying a distance behind a massive division of the king's soldiers under command of his old general Crimson fearing that the great battle between them and the Varden was soon to come. However as the night wore on and they made their own makeshift came, lights flashed off on the horizon right from where the division was that they were following. Rector looked at Draco who stood up, 'Should we see?' Draco only nodded and Rector flipped over his paw. Draco stepped onto it like a regular platform and Rector hoisted him onto his back. He took off instantly towards the flickering lights and it was not long when they saw several bolts of lightning along with a rain of fire going into the massive division. This was definately one led by Crimson. He knew this only because of the recklessness of the soldier's attacks and their carelessness for their safety. Draco looked down at the ground and ordered Rector to land behind the divisions back lines. Several of the soldiers had turned to fight him and Draco had taken out his own sword but they did not attack either by instinct or by control.

Equinox noticed a rider and dragon flew near the end of the enemy lines. Are they friend or foe. Why would a dragon serve Crimson or Galbatorix? wondered Equinox. He tried to break into a man's mind to free him, but was attacked by a fierce jab of a consciousness. He was forced to withdraw not knowing he had left himself in a vulnerable possession. Archers were firing at him. He had a few arrows in his sumac.
Just how many are there? I can't believe the extent Crimson has control over so many people. Equinox dove at an archer and tossed him aside. He blasted fire at a man then flew back into the air.

Quasar flew around blowing fire at the enemy. She didn't stray to far from Eris or Throat Ripper. She was ready to grab them incase they needed to retreat. She clawed at a soldier and shoved another one to the ground. She flew back into the air and blasted fire at more men.
Below her Eris and Throat Ripper were trying to hold off the mass of enemies. There were just so many.

Draco stared at those who stared at him with the same glances. Rector said to him quietly, "These are not your old friends. They look like they could attack at any moment." Draco grasped the pommel of his sword more tightly and said, "I am sure my old general wouldnt mind looseing a few puppets. It would set these poor souls free of his mind control." With this, Rector took to the sky and rained fire down on the back lines while Draco entered the group slashing away. He swung his sword with a left slash and spun around, twirling the sword twice over his head to bring it back down on another soldier. He blocked an attack from a third and jabbed quickly twice with his clawed guantlet to stun him for a brief moment. Then he brought the pommel of his sword down hard on the head of the soldier. He looked up to make sure Rector was safe and then he brought his sword down with a twirl onto a fifth soldier.

Equinox was surprised to see the dragon and rider helping. He thought they were with Crimson, but he guessed not. He looked back at Quasar, Eris, and Throat Ripper. They seemed to be handling things well so he flew up farther to shoot more lightning at the enemies on the ground. He swooped down and clawed one man and picked another one up.; He tossed him into the distance. Not knowingly he placed himself closer to the dragon and rider. He decided to fly back near Quasar, if he was once a soldier of Crimson, then he may still turn Equinox in to his rider.

Quasar rained down fire after fire at the enemy. He plan worked out well until he wings stopped and she fell to the ground. She at first thought it was Crimson knowing that the spell was an old favorite for him at brining dragons to the ground. She was surprised to see it was only an elven mage. Before she could get to him though. Throat Ripper already had his axe in his head.

Draco felt a gust of wind as another dragon, not Rector, hovered rather close to him. He almost let it distract him until he saw another advancing soldier. He only barely blocked his attack before kicking him in the stomach, sending him back. More troops were surrounding him however. Draco lowered his sword for a moment, looking ready to surrender. But then with a quiet muttered word in the ancient language, a blue aura surrounded him and several bolts of energy flew into the air and came down, striking several soldiers to clear a way for him. There was a tingling in his head that soon swelled into a minor pain. He uselessly grabbed his helmet where his head was hurting but the pain quickly subsided and he jumped over another soldier, striking the one behind him.

Rector hovered over the fight for a moment until he heard a thud behind him. He looked down below and was shocked to see one of the dragons brought down from the sky suddenly, now being surrounded by soldiers. He swooped down, quickly as his wings would carry him and he stopped, hovering right over the downed dragon. He opened up his maw and released a torrent of fire off to the dragons left side to clear a path for it.

Equinox flew around striking enemy after enemy. Once he reduced the number down drasticlly he would consider trying to free them from mind control. Though without Galedrim it was hard for anyof them to over power Crimson's mind control.

Quasar lifted her head off the ground as she saw a much younger dragon above her blast fire at soldiers around her. She knew that he must be the other riders dragon.
Who are you? Are you with the Varden? she asked thinking it would be odd because they did not receive any report of a new rider amoung their ranks. She tried to get back into the air, but one of her wings were broken. She landed on it when she fell. Eris and Throat Ripper ran toward her to help fightning off soldiers.

Draco saw Rector up ahead and not to many more troops stood between them. He plunged into the ranks once more cutting down two at once and eventually made his way into the fiery clearing Rector had made. The heat was intense at first but it was forgotten when Draco engaged a soldier who had followed him through his clearing.

Rector looked down at the dragon who adressed him. "I am afraid it is a bit hard to explain at the moment. Are you okay?" he asked with a hint of concern.

I'm fine I just broke my wing when I fell because of the magic. Don't worry though I should be fine. Quasar replied.
Eris fought threw another two soldiers while Throat Ripper killed another one. They both headed toward Quasar when the noticed the other dragon and human.
"Who are you two?" asked Eris. Trying to sound somewhat intiminating, but was unsussecful due to the recent events.

Equinox disspatched the last of the soldiers he could see then notcied the seen that was taking place. He saw Quasar was on the ground Are you ok? he asked.
Yeah, but my wing is broke. she replied to Equinox.

OOC: are the baddys are gone now?

OOC: yes

OOC: alright just making sure. yah.

IC: Draco looked at the one who had asked him the question, not liking his tone of voice. He kept his gauntleted hand on the pommel of his sword, not sheathing it and said calmly, "I serve no side. Do not mistake me for a servant of the king only because i wear the armor of a king's soldier. I used to be a sergeant of a squad. Friends of mine actually. When the king threatened my Rector with death, we left the service of the king and my old general Crimson . . . for now. That is something we have not decided amongst ourselves yet."

Rector landed behind Draco and asked the group, "You wouldnt happen to know that name Crimson by any chance would you?"

Equinox growled Crimson, yay we know him. He was the one that made out lives a living hell. Mine since I hatched Throat Rippers since hi joined them. And Quasar and Eric for about 100 years. You served him, I bet he told you about me saying that he wished me dead. Hah I want to see my riders blood drip. however before Equinox could continue his rant Quasar interupted him.
Yes we know him. Sorry for Equinox's temper Crimson is his rider and ever since he hatch Crimson has hated him. Also to make it work one of our greatest friends and one of my two riders has betrayed us.

Eris walked up to Quasar and said in the ancient language "Mend the broken wing." When it was complet he turned toward the others. "So what do you plan on doing then." he asked.

Draco looked at the ground for a moment and then at Rector. In the presence of the current group he thought it unwise to mention that he may return to the service of the king. But then again he only wanted to find his squad members. "Ever since i left the king's service, I have been spying in. I fear that the king may make another attempt to attack the Varden. I also fear that i may return and fight for the king." At this he stopped and by instinct, he raised his sword only a little bit, fearing that a fight could break loose at any moment.

OOC: oooh suspense. lol

OOC: lol Oooohhhh

IC: Before anyone could speak Quasar told them to be quiet. She wondered if it were true he was a spy. She didn't doubt he may rejoin them though. If you are a spy will you tell what the elf Galedrim did and where he has hidden four dragons eggs. One is teal, one silver, one black, and one red. she asked.
"Why should we trust you. If you say you may return to servise then why don't we just capture you!" demanded Throat Ripper.
Eris shook his head, "Urglas, even though your on our side you can not change the ancient habits of your race can you? He is right though how can we trust you."

Equinox nodded. He wasn't sure what to do. He considered anyone who was in leage of Crimson whould be killed. But if they betrayed them... he still wasn't quit sure.

Before Draco could say anything, Rector growled and lowered his head to stare straight at the Urgal. "Because you would die before you laid a hand upon him." he said, putting a foreleg in front of his rider protectively. Draco elbowed his foreleg gently to move it. 'Rector be calm. We mustnt take hostile action unless nessacary.' he said through mind contact looking up at him. He looked back at the Urgal. "Apologies Urgal." he said quickly. He turned to the dragon who adressed him and said, "There are several outposts and military installations in the desert that have been placed before and after i was in the service. If i were to know anything about four dragon eggs, then they would most likely be in one of those outposts." Then he continued adressing Eris, "As for the question of trust, I do not know. How you can trust me is for you to decide."

Throat Ripper grunted and swung his axe into the sand. "First my name is Throat Ripper. And second I guess I will apaligize I am still angry about that traitor."
Then we may have to find them. I will not let them hatch for GAlbatorix. said Quasar.
"Nor will you have to we will find them." said Eris putting his hand on his dragon's side.
"We can figure that out. As Quasar said we will be looking for the eggs. Will you stay with us or not?"

Equinox didn't talk he only listened. He was wondering if Crimson were nearby. If some of his puppets were there was a chance he was also. Still he doubted it. His leg didn't pain him like it normally did if his rider were present.

Rector kept his gaze fixed on the Urgal as he nudged Draco's back. 'If we go with them, we could find your friends.' he said through mind contact. 'Perhaps.' Draco replied. 'I am not sure about this group. They think it easy but if the king is low on dragon riders, who knows how heavily they will be defended.' 'What then shall we do?' Rector asked finally looking down at him and away from the Urgal. Draco turned away from Rector and said, "For now, we will go with you on your new trek. However i recommend that we sleep tonight. You know not what you get yourselves into."

Alright, out camp isn't too far away just over here. replied Equinox as he led them back.
What about Frazer do you think he is there after all it was him who... well you know. said Equinox.
Yeah, he probably is, not nessacrily though. replied Quasar. Equinox could tell she was sad, but was unable to come up withanything. She was always the most bravest and out gaining of the group.
"Don't worry. We know a little of what the place may be like. Not much though. We should probably discuss how to get into it tommorow." said ERis.

"Very well." Draco said as Rector landed him in their makeshift campsite. "I will take first watch. I am sure i have not had nearly as many hardships as you have." Rector settled down on the sand and Draco leaned against his side, sword at his side.

OOC: short post. (sorry)

Equinox laid back on the ground as if no battle had happened. He was just about to go to sleep when he saw Eris was still up What's wrong? he asked.
"Nothing, well its just that what if Galedrim expects us to come. It will be very easy for him and Crimson to kill us all in one go. And with Frazer... you know that you and Quasar are know match for him." said Eris.
Yes, but we can only hope. Galedrim might think we will just wait. He may not exoect us to do anything right away after he betrayed us. replied Equinox.
"Yeah, but remember him, Quasar, and I still share a mental link."
You have been shielding your mind right? Then you have nothing to fear. replied Equinox as he went back to sleep. Unknow to Eris he was dreading meeting Galedrim or Crimson again.

Quasar laid on the ground not to far from her Throat Ripper went to sleep. She could feel someone trying to enter her mind. She blocked it, it was probably Galedrim trying to spy on them. Then she relized it was Equinox.
What? Quasar asked.
Keep an eye out on those two. Don't ket them know we are. I'll take first watch you second, but don't move. said Equinox.
Wow Equinox you said something wise. Alright wake me up once your done.

Rector did not fall asleep so easily. He was still defensive about their conversation back at the other part of the desert but he could not help but glance at Quasar. 'Draco?' he asked through mind contact. 'Yes Rector?' 'That dragon there looks different than i do. I mean in shape and form. She is sleeker and a little thinner than i. I thought that all dragons looked very much the same.' Draco gave a short laugh in his mind. 'Well not really. Dragons definately vary in size but the main reason why she looks so different is because she is a female of your species.' 'Oh. I had once thought when you told me that my egg was found partially buried, that dragons came out of the ground.' 'Heavens no Rector.' Draco said with more humor, amused. 'I should not like to go much in depth but female dragons are . . . the source, you could say, of dragon eggs.' Rector did not push him on but instead asked, 'Do humans also come from eggs?' Draco instantly reached into one of the supply packs on Rector's harness, taking out a small bottle of brandy. 'I feel i need a drink of brandy to fortify myself against this conversation.'

OOC: lol hmmmm I wonder where you got that from. lol.

IC: Equinox soon began to drift asleep. He tried to keep awake, but was unable to fufill his promis to Quasar. He soon went to sleep after hearing her say in his mind,
Fine, I'll do the secret watch now. But she too fell asleep.

OOC: Short.

OOC: yeah me too. lol

Draco looked about the camp noticing everyone was asleep. He sighed wishing he could do the same. He knew that he had to gain their trust and so he stayed awake, practicing with his blade, slashing at shadows, or simply strolling about the camp's perimeter. Rector fell asleep still thinking about what he and Draco had just discussed. It was all only a confusing topic for him but he took one last glance at Quasar before he too fell into a comfortable sleep.

Equinox woke up snorting out sand that blew into his nostrols. He looked around and saw Eric cooking some food. Throat Ripper was talking with him and Quasar was still asleep. She would get up soon though.
What are the plans? Equinox asked.
"I'm not sure right now. Quasar may have thought of an idea though. Wait until she gets up. Equinox how is your leg?"
Fine, I don't think Crimson is near.
"That didn't work out to well last time remember. Though it is the best thing we have." said Throat Ripper tearing int oa peice of jerky.
"Save the rest of the food. Throat Ripper. Equinox if you don't mind will you and Quasar finish the remains of the ox?" asked Eris.
Sure. replied Equinox. He dug into his part of the ox leaving the rest for Quasar.

Quasar woke up with a strange felling she couldn't quit figure out. She shrugged and went to eat the rest of the ox. She and Equinox didn't say anything. For some reason after Galedrim's betryol they havn't been able to talk much to eachother.

Draco had not slept much that night but did not feel tired at all. Rector had asked him if he could go hunting in the fields nearest the desert. He had said he could but to be careful. Draco had taken his breakfast off of the supply saddle Rector had carried, an apple and a medium slice of salt meat. Not a very large breakfast but a suitable one. As he ate he overlooked the blades of his two broadswords, careful not to touch them while he ate so as to keep their shine.

Equinox looked up as his old master flew down next to their camp. He bit off a last peice of food and he and Quasar went toward Faefnir. Equinox wondered what he wanted.
Thank you. We don't know why he did betray us though. Except for saying he fights for the stronger side. Master, what do you want? asked Equinox.

Eris saw Faefnir fly toward Equinox and Quasar. He knew better than try and interfere. He and Throat Ripper finished their breakfast. "Should we wait for them?" asked Throat Ripper.
"Yes, we should." replied Eris. Both of them watched the dragons. They heard from Equinox that Faefnir was the son of the Great Dragon so they both payed him respect.

Draco was alarmed at first of the entrance of yet another dragon. But when he saw the three conversing and not fighting, his tensions eased quickly. He called out to Rector, 'Rector, we have another visitor in the camp. Pray come back.' Rector quickly responded, 'I am done hunting anyway. I have eaten well.' Rector himself was not far off and arrived back in only a few moments but when he landed back next to Draco, he froze. He knew this new visitor by his possesion of ancestral knowledge in the shell. 'Draco, that is the descendant of the Great Dragon himself.' Rector said quietly. Draco looked up at Rector, 'How do you know this?' Rector said, 'Only by the knowledge that i posses when i was still in the egg. The great dragon is also the father of the dragon race itself.' Rector walked in only a little closer to the three others and bowed his head to the new dragon. Draco only looked at the dragon with a part curious, part bemused, and part plain expression only shown in his eyes.