OCC: This one is just for me and DS4. If anyone else is interested in joining though, please PM me. But keep in mind that I'm not looking for any epic battles or hardcore bad guys and whatnot in this one.

IC.

Fletcher felt like the luckiest gryphon in the world. Only a week ago, he had beat the odds and defeated the gryphon king, Iaras, in a duel for Sevena's freedom. Fletcher had met many people during his life but none had captured his heart the way Sevena had. He had spent the past week recovering from the brutal fight which had left him batterd and bloodied. It had been worth it though. He was in love with the gryphon of his dreams and someday hoped that she would bare his children. The gryphon was lying in the courtyard outside the dragon keep, sunning himself in the warm morning sun after his morning hunt. Fletcher looked toward the mountains to the east, wondering what lay beyond. Ever since arriving in Danthuania a couple months ago, all Fletcher had seen was the jungle and the Amber Mountains. There was so much more and if he was going to live here, Fletcher wanted to explore the land. Perhaps Sevena would come with him. After all, this land was her home as well. He knew it would be difficult to explore once they had children to care for. Now would be the perfect time. It was autumn in Dnathuania, though one would not know it because the temperature remained warm year-round. However, the weather was usually calm this time of year and with the recent decline of the Vanquishers, the land was now much safer to explore.

Sevena relaxed into sleep. Her dreams were pleasant that night. When she woke, she saw the barest hint of dawn in the sky. She looked to the side and saw Fletcher still asleep. She smiled. He looked so handsome and peaceful while he rested, it made her heart warm just watching him.

OOC:
Short, sorry. >.<

OCC: Ooh, I just got an interesting idea. Muhahahaha!

IC
That evening everyone returned to the palace. Fletcher had enjoyed the tour of the city but he was ready to see more of the countryside. He curled up next to his mate and prepared for a good night's rest.

It will take us at least a couple of days to get to the southern coast. Rest well, friends. You will need every bit of your strength.

Fletcher laid his head down and lowered a wing over Sevena and held her close to him. He hummed happily and nuzzled her shoulder.

OOC:
Oh no...

IC:
Sevena followed her mate back to the palace and laid beside him. She chirped gratefully to Violeta, then curled contentedly into Fletcher underneath his wing. She purred at him, her eyes half-closed, as he nuzzled her shoulder. She lowered her head down beside his, still purring, and rubbed her curved beak against his face. Sleep well, love. she murmured affectionately.

OOC:
Btw, if you want, Fletcher can call Sevena by her pet name, Seva. I don't mind.

OCC: I thought about that. I wasn't sure though because Iaras called her that too.

IC:
Violeta and the gryphons departed early the next morning. After a quick meal, they headed to the south and into unfamiliar territory. As they flew along, Fletcher suddenly began feeling lightheaded and dizzy.

The gryphon tried to ignore it but the feeling was getting worse and worse until Fletcher was sure he could not fly anymore. He was afraid that maybe something had done this to him. He did not even have time to tell the others what was going on. He simply could no longer remain aloft. Fletcher landed awkwardly on the ground, just barely keeping his balance. The world around him was spinning. Then the next thing he knew, Fletcher collapsed on his side and blacked out.

Violeta quickly landed and rushed to his side. He was lying motionless with his eyes closed and Violeta could see that he wasn't breathing. Pressing the side of her head to Fletcher's check, a look of horror crossed Violeta's face when she heard no heartbeat. It was as if he had simply collapsed and died for no apparent reason.
-----------------------------------------------------------

Fletcher found himself surrounded by a grey mist. As he looked around three figures wearing white robes emerged from the mist. Their faces and skin were as pale as the robes they wore.

"Who are you? Where am I" The gryphon demanded.

Peace, youngling." said the figure on the left, a female.

The figure in the center explained, "We are the Guardans of the Spirit Realm. We have brought you here because we are in need of your assistance."

Fletcher looked around and then asked, "Where are Sevena and Violeta?"

"They are back in the world of the living." the figure on the right explained. "Only the souls of the dead may enter the Spirit Realm. Technically you are dead right now."

"WHAT?!" Fletcher shrieked, panic evident in his voice.

"Peace, gryphon!" the female Guardian shouted. "We shall restore you to the world of the living if you agree to help us. We can even offer you a reward."

"What is it that you want?" Fletcher asked, his voice shaky. He was afraid for Sevena and would do anything to get back to her.

Sevena stayed close to her mate, her keen eyes watching for Vanquishers. If any got past Fletcher it didn't get past her.

OOC:
Short, sorry, not much I can do at the moment, honestly.

Sevena panted with her head down, her beak open so she could breathe easier. She nodded to Fletcher as he finished smashing the other Hearts, then turned and followed him out. She hissed and fluttered her wings uneasily as she ran.

Watch yourself, love. My feathers are bristling. she said to her mate warily, glancing from side to side.

That feeling that she'd had yesterday when she'd fallen asleep, of foreboding and trepidation, were coursing through her tenfold at the moment. She didn't like it, not one bit. The hallway was much too quiet for her taste. Aside from the combined sound of her breathing and Fletcher's, it was silent. She felt a prickle go up her spine.

OOC:
There should be only two left, I think, out of the six, including the one Violeta just roasted...I think. >.<

IC:
Sevena released the beast she'd been struggling with and let her mate deal with it. She panted hard, trying to catch her breath. her shoulder burned savagely with pain and her wing felt bruised. She felt blood dripping down her hindlegs and glanced back at her flanks; her creamy-white-gold fur was covered with shallow slashes and slick with blood, and her salt-and-pepper feathers were matted with crimson where her injury was at her shoulder.

She swallowed and turned back to the fight. Her head spun from loss of blood and the amount of pain she felt. She'd been in worse condition than this before, but the combination of the two was draining her badly. She shook her head and tried to get back into the fight, but couldn't seem to concentrate enough.

Her wingbeats faltered. She shook her head again, trying to clear it. A tortured screech sounded above her, and she looked up. A bedraggled shape was hurtling toward her, and it registered too late that it was going to slam into her back, and force her toward the lava.

It impacted, breaking a rib and bruising several others. She screeched in pain and flailed her wings desperately to catch some air. She somersaulted forward, but the beast had sunk its talons into her shoulders and flanks to hold on.

She eyed the rocks that were beside the lava lake and dove for them. She landed haphazardly - by the great gryphon god it was hot - and slammed her side into any rocks she could find to try and dislodge the creature. She was tiring though, and the beast knew it.

Sevena took a deep breath once the beast had been taken off her back. Her legs shook from fatigue, and she could barely register in her mind that Fletcher had landed beside her. She swayed a bit on her feet, blinking her eyes in an attempt to clear her vision. She did however hear her mate tell Violeta to heal her first, and she did indeed try to protest, but as her beak opened, the violet dragoness placed a paw on her and healed her. And her protests turned into a sigh of relief. She was still shaky and a bit unsteady from blood loss, not to mention still covered in blood, but at least she could function now. She looked over Fletcher worriedly until Violeta healed him, though then she transferred her concern to the dragoness, who appeared to be very drained. The female gryphon spread her wings and jumped into the air, her ears flicking back and forth alertly. Fletcher, if you had to, do you think you could carry Violeta with your telekinesis? She looks ready to collapse. she murmured to her mate privately, glancing at the dragoness. They needed to get far away from this place, eat, and recover their strength, especially the lightning female.

Sevena snorted lightly at his reply. She yawned widely as he suggested they get some rest, and purred softly in agreement. She curled up under his wing and lowered her head to the ground, her eyes feeling heavy. She closed them and let sleep take over.

Sometime during the night she felt Fletcher shift beside her, and she stirred a bit in response, though didn't actually wake. Her subconscious mind made a note to ask him what had happened in the morning.

When Sevena woke it was late morning, probably approaching noon. She glanced to the side at her mate to make sure he was still asleep and resting. She purred at the sight of him, relaxed and at peace. She smiled, then carefully slipped out from underneath his wing.

She flared her wings to full length a stretched, a wide yawn assaulting her. She felt luxuriously limber, though a bit stiff, afterward. She walked to the edge of the cave and peered out cautiously. Nothing seemed amiss, so she spread her wings and flew off in search of food.

When she finally returned to the cave roughly two and a half hours later she had two deer clutched precariously in her forefeet and three piled onto her back. She landed at the edge of the cave and carefully set the two she held first, then twisted and let the three on her back fall to the ground.

Come on, Fletcher, Violeta. I got us some food. Then maybe once we've eaten we can all take a brief swim to clean the blood from our bodies. she said, and grimaced. She hated getting her plumage wet, even if she was a mess like she was right now.

OOC:
Would Fletcher mind too terribly if Sevena called him Fletch? Like how he calls her Seva.

OCC: He probably wouldn't mind.

IC:

After a long rest, Fletcher awoke to find that Sevena had gone out, presumably to hunt. He patiently awaited her return and when she came back, she had brought food for all of them.

Both Fletcher and Violeta thanked her and dug in. None of them had eaten since the previous day so they were all very hungry.

After Fletcher finished eating, he said, "Those beings contacted me in my sleep. They told me that my sister is in the Boer Mountains but they would not tell me where."

There was a hint of anger in his voice as he said it.

Well at least you don't have to look all over Alagaesia for her. Violeta said, finishing one of the deer and stating on another.

OCC: Hurricane might be able to help them in their search. He grew up in the Boer Mountains and knows them very well.

IC:

It took them a whole two days to return to the monastery. Upon finally arriving home, Fletcher cleaned himself thoroughly. It felt good to be back safely at the monastery. Fletcher spent his time resting, preening his feathers, and recounting what had happened to Samantha and Natagath.

"Violeta is in no condition to travel and Galbatorix has a price on both our heads. If you go to Alagaesia, I'm afraid you and Sevena are on your own. I wish we could come with you but after everything Violeta and I have been through, we can't risk going back unless we absolutely must."

Fletcher nodded in understanding and curled returned to the dragon keep to rest.

Sevena nodded and tilted her wings to follow her mate behind the waterfall. She didn't see the entrance until she was almost on top of it. She folded her wings slightly and banked into the tunnel. She blinked at the darkness, and then light came to her a moment later.

She backwinged a bit to slow her pace once she was inside the cave, and looked around in surprise. She'd thought it would be smaller. The space was huge. She smiled at Sam. I like your home. she said. The sea-green smiled in return.

Sevena yawned and curled up beside her mate, laying her head down on her forefeet. She silently sent Fletcher a thought of agreement of his mention of when they would leave, and then she was asleep.

- - - - - - - - - -

Sam smiled at Fletcher, her iridescent-pearl-blue eyes glittering. Perhaps I can go with you inland. she said quietly, meeting his gaze.

I'm a dragon, am I not? I could give you my Heart, and then if you needed my strength or support you could use it. she glanced away and back again.

It would be up to you, of course, if you want me to. I've already thought it over while we flew here, and I'm willing. It would also let me see the rest of Alagaësia, in a way.