Simoro walked across the desert, his feet barefoot. He stared into the sand, silently wishing for the still-familiar shadow of a dragon to envelop him. He lifted his head to the sky for a moment, but it too reminded him of Ohen. He wondered why he still lived. More and more often he wished for his own death. But he still had a quest to complete: Gallabatorix was still alive. Something inside him suddenly seemed to nudge him. He pushed the memories aside, and investigated the distubrance to the north. He couldn't really tell what it was, but - Something is about to happen. Go. said a voice from inside his head. As he changed his direction and increased his pace slightly, he thought back to the spirit, Why don't you just take me as a shade? Suddenly an energy enveloped him and he seemed to a be prisoner in his own mind. Happy, thought another voice, then the energy left him. He kept walking forward, and thought several times that he saw a figure in the distance. But even with his magic and amazing eyesight, he couldn't tell; a sandstorm was about to begin, he observed. He consequently hastened his pace a little more.

Circleing over the vast desert Aurum suddenlly noticed a huge wall of sand in the distance moving quicklly at him. He knew it was a sandstorm and decided he should turn back to avoid being burried alive. Especially in his falcon form he would be even more helpless buried under a mound of sand. Then, just as he was about to turn for home, a small figure caught his keen falcon eyes on the ground below. A man walking slowlly in the opposite direction of the storm. He knew that the man would be in big trouble if caught in the storm. He dove toward the man with all the speed his animal instincts allowed him. feet from the ground he pulled out of the dive and shifted back into his human form, infront of the stranger, glentlly falling the remaining few inches to the ground. "You are in serious trouble Stranger," was all he said.

OoC: hope this works out... its my first rpg post, so cut me some slack...

OOC: Will do.

IC:

Simoro looked curiously at the human. "One might say that at least I have feet to plant on the ground, and not wings. But I suppose you do too. Which one feels more natural? The air, the flying, or the ground, and the walking?" He kept walking in the same direction, though slower now.

"It depends on what kind of mood I am in." Aurum replied. Then remembering the problem at hand said impatientlly, "But is that really imortant right now? In case you didn't know there is a huge sand storm headed this way." He walked on beside the stranger. At the stranger's silence he became slightlly iritated and said "I saw it form the air, it is huge! What are you doing out here all alone in the desert any way? You must be out of your mind!"

As Star Gazer was sitting down in a thicket, she sniffed the air and growled a fiersome growl. "I smell another shade!" She exclaimed.
" Our link must be greater than I ever imagined. Because I was sensing it as well before you said it." Zantya answered.
" What are we going to do?" Reb asked.
" Not much we can do." Zantya answered then pat her dragon.
" How much longer am I going to be stuck in my own subconcious?" Reb asked irritated.
" For as long as it takes to restore you full life." Zantya said then got up. She wanted to meet this shade.

OCC: sorry it isn't longer, but I have major writer's block right now.

OOC: Writer's block? Remind me to use that excuse sometime.

"For you, it might be. I've seen worse. Normally I'd avoid it, or just through it if I had to, but I was really just looking for... something." said Simoro. He would have filled in the "something," but he didn't know what it was. On second thought, he did. "On second thought, I see exactly what I was looking for. Or maybe I should say it was looking for me," he added, glancing at the Stag. He spoke to it in the ancient language, "Greetings."

OCC: not an exscuse lol

OOC: I think alfakyn is gone for a while or something, but if not then I'll go out of turn anyway.

IC: Simoro nodded acknowledgment to the Stag, but said nothing, for he was too busy looking at the storm. "This is a particularly bad storm. Usually they'll just go away. This one seems... determined." He turned back towards the stag. "We - I, at least - shall follow you. But I will not ride. Nothing personal, but.. Well, I'll just say it's been a while since I rode anything. And the last thing had wings. Don't worry, I'll keep up. He uttered a quick word in the ancient language, and performed one of his favorite spells. He floated a few feet off the ground. He then looked down and looked at his legs. He wondered if they could still make it. But if they couldn't, then he could just use another spell - he had only recently noticed how much magic he was using. But then again, it wasn't exactly a problem. Preparing for a run, he nodded to the stag. "Whenever you're ready," he added in the ancient language. In the back of his mind, he felt something.. Magical. No, just magic. But then, it had flesh. So a shade.

OOC: i could add a bit of my own diversity to this post

IC: Wil and Lucia flew on Kagraign flew through the desert. The sandstorm was ahead of them. I love a chase! Kagraign said excitedly. The three were chasing the storm trying to find out all the sciences behind what created and dissipated a sandstorm. So far they found that small dust twisters joined together and made the wind blow faster to produce the storms. If i ever find the wizard who conjured up the idea of the desert wind i swear i'll... Wil thought. He hated the storms, but Lucia seemed to love them. Wil would've rather been in a thunderstorm, listening to the soft patter of the rain on the thatch roof and the ground outside. Instead, he was following a stupid sandstorm in the biggest stupid desert in Alagaesia. suddenly he sensed three powerful beings ahead of the storm. He sped kagraign up to try to warn them of the storm's ferocity. He saw one floating and the others, a strange falcon-like man and a stag, standing there. The storm seemed determined to rip them to shreds, but they looked to be leaving. He landed close to them and said, "Storm's pretty bad, isn't it?" He sensed Zantya close by.

Simoro felt the storm getting closer to them. He wasn't sure they could make it to the den. Suddenly, an idea struck him. Despite the stag, falcon, and rider, he stopped dead, and turned around. He looked up at the unnatural weather patterns behind him. He looked around for what was pushing the sand... Magic. Of course. No wind, just magic. He only hoped that wind could outpush magic, at least for a while. He raised a hand towards the storm, and another to the sky. He thought for a moment about what to say, but as always, the words and the power came to him. Floating in the air as he was, he felt most of the ferocity of the wind, nearly knocking him down - not a nice thought from this high. He regained his balance, and took off again in the direction of the stag, following its white brilliance. The false wind from the sandstorm still pulled some sand in, but the natural wind he had caused - out of season as it might be - had also erased their tracks completely. He never actually caught up with the stag, but he kept gaining on it slowly. He wondered if it had slowed a bit for him.

OCC: i am going to leave this rp, sorry

OOC: Umm... Great. Can't stop you but that really messes a lot of our stuff up. :/ Oh well. We'll live. I think.

OOC: That's funny. Anyway how does it mess up your stuff?

OOC: Well I have no idea about i-luv-saphira but the Shade I sensed at the end of one of my early posts was Star Gazer... so now I get to create a reason that I mysteriously sensed a shade far away.

OOC: i wouldn't worry about it. recall that one of my posts said that the Shade was creating the sandstorm, not neccessarily Zantya. it won't hurt us as long as we keep the Shade anonymous, at least from my point of view.

OOC:
Huh? I never put her in the storm But I was still planning on including her more later. Like I said, though, we'll live. I just need to stop planning ahead so much D:

OCC: Well i don't have to leave. I guess I could stay.

Aurum dismounted the stag. He would have flown or just teleported himself but he didnt know the way and the stag was very insistant, almost annoyinglly so. Aurum turned toward the great wall behinde him. He did not like being sealed into a strange place such as this, with people he didnt know.
Then he turned toward the great dragon and stared in awe. At least a hundred feet high he must have been centuries old. He had never had such respect for any man or beast. "Great Dragon" he said with gratitude, "thank you for your kindness and welcoming us into the safety of your mountain cave. I am Aurum of Ceunon. I am sorry I can not make a more formal intoduction for my traveling companion here, but we only just met before your stag showed up. Perhapse he will grace us with news of his travels, or if not him, perhapse you will grece us with your name?"

OOC: IM BACK!!! for a while at least...

Star Gazer watched the dragon greet it's guests. " Look at him. He is huge. I bet he is ages old. Not even my mother and father could be his size. Granite I am three fourths that size, it is still huge." Star Gazer said happily, mistakenly letting out a snort of gas right into the cave's entrance.
" Geeze. Calm yourself." Zantya said angrily then Star Gazer hid.

" Ah, Fanir how nice to see you. You weren't quite so big the last time." She remarked then crawled into the cave. She was not to much smaller than him, but still her was huge. " How did you know it was me?" She asked.
" Quit the chit chat. I don't like being in cramped spaces." Zantya complained. But hushed by a hiss from Star Gazer.

" you forget dragon that it is I who raised Star Gazer. I love her with all my might." Zantya said then let Reb have control.
" Oh snap. Did I miss much?" Reb asked happily noticing Fanir.
" Only the introduction Fanir gave of me. Dear friend you think very highly of me." Star Gazer laughed.

Nosy?! Why would you call me nosy?! Nosy is different from concerned or all-knowing. He chuckled in his unusual fashion. Bounty hunting eh? That's a little... radical... for a Rider. But then, you are not like any other dragons. Than Faefnir thought over the Urgal army that they were tracking. Hmmmm... I think I may know where your Urgal army is.

OOC: where is osthato? he hasn't posted here in several days.

OOC: See if i can cover for going missing in action.
IC:

Simoro awoke from almost a trance-like state. Memories, both his own and of his own dragon, and not his own of this dragon, had been racing through his head. He looked straight at the great dragon. "I see time has done little to you." Catching the slight changes in the attitudes of those around him, he said (more for their sake than the dragons; the dragon would understand.) "Oh no, I didn't know you. But I do remember you. Or someone does." He continued staring in disbelief at the dragon. A thought struck him; he recited out loud the first prophetic statement he'd ever made, "To death comes new life; first to the sand, with fury's embrace, then to the ancient, reclaiming his place." He thought about it for a moment. "The ancient would be you, I suppose. And since you seem to have kept your claim for this place over the years, I take it that 'place' be closer to 'rank' or 'job.' I won't question it," he said, kneeling, "but I will offer you anything I can give."

OOC: ok. he's back. osthato, i think that will do. not much has happened so far. star gazer has joined us and aurum was going to visit his family when he found u. by the way star gazer, it's Faefnir, not Fanir.

Faefnir looked back at the fallen Rider. He had just been floating there for a whole hour, oblivious to all that had happened so far. Well, well. Welcome back, Simoro. I was starting to get a little worried. I talked to you several times, but you never responded. Faefnir was astonished as the former-Rider kneeled and offered his service. Faefnir walked closer to Simoro, until he could almost feel his breath in his hair. Faefnir put his claw onto his chin and gently got Simoro back to his feet. Simoro, you have lived through much. You are strong and wise, even though you lost one who was dreadfully dear to you. I accept your service. Now, rise, Knight of the Desert. He put his claw back down. Now, what brings you here Simoro? What is your story?

Reb listened intently to the conversation then suddenly a pain hit her stomach and she fell to the ground, and fainted. Star Gazer put her wing over Reb carefuly and then drew her to her. " Your safe." She said to Reb. This had been happining lately and Star Gazer was worried.

OOC: The best thing I can say is read - or skim, at least - the bio. Yes my dragon died, kind of, but... meh, read the bio or the post where he dies.

IC: "You know my story. I was born in secrecy, and with a newborn dragon, fled for freedom from my solitude. I travelled much, and accomplished much with my dragon.. but I was foolish and rash, and went straight for the king. Sure, I faught him. But who knew that his power was so... You've faught a shade, I take it? Ask Zantaya. He's like fighting an army of them. But my dragon and I both should have died. I suppose, however, that we both worked miracles. First, my dragon managed a magic; kind of like.. A last resort. A decoy powerful enough to take the king off of me, but my dragon died in the casting - actually, he is now a statue, in a mystic wood. We can visit him. The woman whom I met there believed there was still hope. But I don't think so. I don't think my dragon wants to come back in that form. See, I also managed a spell that should have killed me. The word I used is forgotten by all who heard it. Even me. That was the power of it. None know it. I don't even know what it is. I think.. Nevermind what I think. But I also have changed fate on several occasions. And something else.. I get taken by spirits, but not like a shade. Purely good spirits, and ones that ask my permission to come, leave when they have nothing left to do, and always leave me with bits of knowledge. Most are actually deceased riders. Some are just plain spirits, higher ranked and more powerful yet less demanding and controlling than those of a shade, and twice now... Twice its been a dragon. Both of whom you would have known." He closed his eyes and shared the dragons with Faefnir.

"Here I am today, a powerful elf who should be the second most powerful being in the world - I forgot to say, I seem to have absorbed all of my dragons power, and the spirits will restore it for me without it taking any time at all - but I find that I don't have.. it's not courage that I lack... more simply the will to rule. I prefer the subtle, unseen role that, in effect, has more of an influence than the generals, or the front lines."

OOC: haven't been on in two days. i missed a lot. i'm dead tired but i'll try.

IC: Wil looked at Lucia and Kagraign. He didn't understand everything that was going down. His group were just harmless mercenaries who were chasing the rogue sandstorm. He didn't think he'd get this close to so many magical creatures at once. The aura was overwhelming. Especially the great Dragon's aura. He was confused and bored. He started amusing himself by drawing small droplets of water from his flask and trying to stick them to something without them bursting. He was successful until one burst on the back of Reb's neck.

OOC: I'm confused... are Wil and Lucia the humans you speak of? because they were shown as friends before. Wil didn't mean to make Reb double over or whatever happened. He was just bored. And you cant forget Kagraign, Wil's dragon.

" Wil?" Star Gazer asked confused. " What are you doing here?" She added and then looked at him for an answer. Reb woke. She sat up and was still a little drowsy.
" Hey Wil. Since when have you been here?" She asked and then hobbled and fell over Star Gazer's foreleg.
OCC: Wil isn't causing the pain. It is a side effect from a shade but not Zantya. It is Leth Zantya's sis.

OOC: o sorry guys. i didn't mean to make everyone confused. let's jsut work with it and see where it leads us.

OOC: they are complete strangers to us and they are friends to Star gazer. that is our relationship with them.

"Something told me I should follow. I was chasing the sandstorm out there and I found the were-falcon, the other Rider, and the stag. They took off into the forest and I had the impulse to follow them. I ended up here." Wil said. He then turned and faced the strangers, unsheathing Mor'ranr. The deadly blade held a menacing glow. "Who are you?" he asked. He wasn't taking any chances. Reb wasn't well, and these strangers were most likely the cause. He heard the soft sound of Lucia's blade being drawn. He saw her stand next to him out of the corner of his eye. He waited for the strangers' answer.

OOC:Wait, i thought it wasnt Wil and Lucia who were the strangers?!?

IC: Wil looked around as Kagraign stalked in. He was confused. He didn't know what was going on at all. Kagraign bowed to Faefnir. Greetings, Old One. It is so good to meet another of my kin. I was beginning to think that Star and I were the last of the pure dragons. Most of them that we meet have been corrupted. Kagraign said. He stomped up beside Wil. "We were flying through the desert when we heard a scream. We landed and saw a woman crying on the hot desert sand, at least a league away from the closest town. She managed to choke out the words, 'I-it took my baby!' before the heat stroke took her unconscious. We looked to the direction she pointed and saw the sandstorm. We chased it, and that's when we met Faefnir's stag and Simoro and the falcon-kin. The stag sent the message to follow and we did. That's when this whole situation erupted. I swear on my life as a Rider, I will not harm you. Eka aí friai un Shur'tugal." Wil said.

" If I may be so bold, all of you shut up!" Reb screamed. A headache tore across her head making her fall back from her standing position. " They are here and that is that. They are good friends and mean to harm." She added, indicating Wil, Karigan and the girl.
" Stop talking." Star Gazer warned. Reb listened as she fainted again. Star Gazer let no one near her.

OOC:The topic's kinda confusing but ill try to fit in.
IC:Eriel and Emrhyst flew overhead, they were miles from home and enjoying the freedom of the Hadarac Desert. They saw a woman being attacked and then something being taken from her. It was not untill they got close enough that they saw it was a baby. They tried to rescue the baby but the urgals, besides being out of range, were too far for magic or dragon fire. "Land emrhyst, we mght be able to help her" Before Emrhyst landed, Eriel jumped off and killed a remaining urgal, suppossedly there to steal something else. Eriel whipped out her longbow and shot him dead. She found out that she was still alive upon examining her, but despite all her training as a magician, there was no way for her to heal a such a wound. Not long after that, Eriel's ears picked up the sound of an dragon, as she strained her ears, she could vaguely here a stag approuching, the stag approuched with great speed and within seconds, its footfalls were loud enough for even Emrhyst to hear. The stag took the body and went back to wherever it came from. Not wanting to invite trouble, Eriel and Emrhyst hid themselves while this happened, when they were sure the stag couldn't hear them, Eriel mounted Emrhyst and followed the stag.

OOC: fantastic! let's just hope people will return after this post.
Faefnir could see Emerhyst approaching the cave. He suddenly had an idea. He established a mental link with the dragon. Emerhyst, I am Faefnir, greatest of dragonkind. I ned you to do something for me. I want you to follow the sandstorm and find an Urgal camp that is more than likely in the center of the storm. If it doesn't move, please tell me. Faefnir hoped this could save the lives of many people in the desert if Emerhyst succeeded.

Star Gazer didn't answer, she only watched Reb's chest fall and rise with her breaths. " No one is to come near." She said out loud then lay her head down next to her rider and let out a snort of discontempt. She didn't like waiting for the pain to subside. Her rider had described it as being run over by a stampede of imaginary horses, which wasn't far from the truth. When the pain started, she had been kicked in the gut by Songar. But the pain wasn't from a measly horse kick. It was much bigger than that.

IC: Emrhyst heard a voice in her head, telling her to find an urgal camp. Her puzzlement and suspicion crossed both her mental links, one with her rider, and one with Faefnir. "I noticed you called me 'Emerhyst', my name, is 'Emrhyst' and i hope you'll remember that." "Emrhyst... Be polite!" Eriel retorted."C'mon, it can't be too dangerous, we've braved far worse dangers than this"
OOC: You called me 'Emerhyst' lol

OOC: sorry. i guess i'm still bound by the rules of language.
IC: Forgive me, Emrhyst. I didn't realize names were so important to you. Faefnir chuckled lightly. But in all seriousness, I need you two to scout the storm. Fly above it so you can be safe. I need you to find an Urgal army that I believe is working for the Shade that's causing this storm. Be swift about it. The knowledge could save hundreds of lives

Faefnir suddenly came back into it. He realized Aurum was saying something, but he didn't even hear it. Forgive me, High-flyer. I found a Rider and dragon out in the desert. I'm getting them to clear this mystery up. Then I will be able to tell you what we must do.
OOC: sorry it isn't longer.

IC:" Well, ok then." They sped off into the air. After hours of searching, they found a bonfire burning. Eriel contacted Faefnir "I've spotted a bonfire and dozens of tents. All very crudely made. There are afew organisms running on the ground" She wrinkled her nose as the wind came, " Smells like urgals, ugh! I'll be returning soon, see you guys at night fall" With that, she turned away and started making her return trip.

OOC: Sorry its so short, writers block. XD

OOC: That's fine. It's perfect.
IC:Faefnir took this news with much glee. Terrific. Now we can make up a plan. He projected his thoughts so all could hear him. OK. Here is what we are going to do. The Urgals are behind the sandstorm. They are clearly working for the Shade. Here is what we need to do. Aurum, fly above the storm and locate where the Shade is. Search deep and close to the center. This is a dangerous assignment for you. It's possible that your falcon eyes may not be able to see through the storm. So you may need to descend into the storm. Emrhyst, continue scouting the Urgals path. It will give us a clue to where the storm is headed. Star gazer, I know this is hard for you, but I need you to go out and destroy the Shade when Aurum finds him. Simoro shall look after Reb for you. I will deal with the Urgals personally. Does that plan sound agreeable to everyone?

" NO!" Star Gazer roared. " I do not kill shades and I do not leave my rider." Star Gazer added with a snarl creeping into her voice. Reb was in no shape to be left alone. " And plus, Zantya is in need to kill Leth. No one else."Star Gazer said angrily.

" I'm ok with that, i'm just worried about Stargazer's rider though, She's in a bad shape." "She's right Faefnir, if what i heard outside the gate was true, there seems to be someone after her, and there's no one better than her dragon to protect her." After afew hours, Emrhyst spoke again " Eriel, i need to rest, I've been tracking them for hours!" "I agree, c'mon lets land and get provisions." They landed in a small oasis. They filled themselves with the fruits from teh tree and quenched their thrist with the water in the stream. Then, they set off again, not before packing provisions for the rest of the journey though.

Wil looked to the dragon. "What are the three of us supposed to do?" he asked, motioning toward Lucia and Kagraign.

OOC: sorry its so short.

OOC: I think this is okay.
IC:After afew hours of flying, Eriel's eyes finally spied the urgals. Projecting her thoughts, she said,"Ok, ive found them 45 leagues as the crow flies, due west of your location." They got closer to the group, the sun beating down on them, all Eriel heard was the wind rushing past her head and the strong beat of Emrhyst's wings. " Eriel, They don't look like urgals... in fact, their almost too big to be urgals" Just then, a javelin came speeding towards them. Eriel quickly countered it. "uh-oh, turn back Emrhyst, they've spotted us. Go south west, it may be longer but it will throw them of course." " Feafnir, those aren't urgals we're after, their kull, and they seem to have a magician with them, theres no way a javelin, no matter how well built, can travel 45 leagues without the aid of magic. We're turning back. Expect us back by dawn, we won't take the same route. Don't tell us to continue following them, they seem to be heading for the empire."

Star Gazer's head shot around. She sensed magic. Then all of a suden Leth apeared. " I think the shade would be me." She said and touched Reb and Star Gazer, then they all three disapeared. Star Gazer tried to fight but a restraint was around her neck and feet when she woke. Reb was no where in sight. She roared loudly from the castle dungeon.

Wil looked at Aurum. "We've got to stop him! If we don't, the entire Urgal race will be destroyed! It's not their fault! They're under the control of Leth and Galbatorix. They don't deserve to die for what Leth did!" With that, Wil jumped on Kagraign's back and sped toward Skurmalath. Wil! What about me? Lucia asked. Wil had forgotten about her. I don't know, wait there or run all the way out here, through the desert. Wil said. I'll wait. She replied, a hint of disgust flowing through the link. Wil came in sight of Skurmalath. Even from this high up, Wil could see the great golden dragon's rampage. He'd already destroyed a small section of the desert city. Wil turned Kagraign toward the ground. "Malthinae Skulblaka!" he shouted. He hoped his and Kagraign's combined strength were enough to hold the great dragon from his rampage. He then looked to the urgal soldiers that were advancing. "Kaz jtierl trazhid!" he shouted, using the Urgal native tongue. They stopped. Wil could tell a hint of surprise at his ability to speak Urgal. Then, he as he hopped off of Kagraign, Wil saw a Shade, not Leth, but another appear in front of him. "Who are you?" he asked.

OOC: anyone can be the shade or if you dont want to be then I guess i could come up with one.

Star Gazer could feel the battle between faefnir and Karigan some how, and she screamed out into their minds. " Stop! They were only trying to stop you from killing the innocent." Then her energy ran out.

IC: Eriel saw Faefnir take off, she saw him rampaging through the town, killing all who stood before him. Then, she saw Will, Kagraign and Aurum. They were trying to immobalize Faefnir, It didn't seem to work as he started charging at them. " Faefnir! Stop this madness!" Faefnir turned one golden eye towards them, behind his eyes were hatred and the look of someone betrayed. He ignored them and started to attack Kagraign. Eriel and Emrhyst were shocked by his actions, they couldn't do anything as Faefnir pinned the trio to the ground, he got ready to kill. Eriel felt something break within her, she melded her mind with Emrhyst's, they were so close they could no longer tell who was rider and dragon. As Eriel opened her mouth to utter a spell, she thought to herself, " This is suicide." She did not care though, she reached deeper into the mental barriers separating her mind from magic, her dragon twitched with anticipation, "Letta orya skulblaka!" The voice that came out did not seem like her own, for a moment it seemed like her dragon's rawr, another moment it was her own, she blinked at the sudden loss of energy. Faefnir roared as his head hit invisible bariers, he looked at Eriel and Emrhyst with hate and anger. " Traitor! I'll kill you for that!" He launched himself at Eriel and Emrhyst, barring his teeth and releasing jets off flame in their direction, He managed to slip past Emrhyst and knocked Eriel off the saddle, she hit the ground with a loud 'Thud.' Emrhyst roared as the pain travelled across their mental link, she looked at Faefnir, her eyes bore the impression of one hurt physically and emotionally, all turned black and she plumeted to the ground, right beside her rider.

OOC: Oh Yes!! Make up a shade please! oh and make it a male XD

IC:Emrhyst opened her eyes, above her was Faefnir, she was about to lunge at him when she noticed his eyes, full of regret and sorrow. She seemed to sense what was coming and said " It's okay, go check on kagraign." Instantly, he shot off into the air to find him. " Eriel! Eriel!" Emrhyst nudged her with her muzzle. There was no reply. She reached into her mind and to her horror found her life quickly draining, she wondered why she was as strong as she would be after a good sleep, then, she realised that it was probably Faefnir who had drawn her out of her coma. Emrhyst stayed at her side for what seemed like an eternity, then, she heard her groan. Through a tear in Eriel's thigh plate, Emrhyst saw her scar glowing. Eriel jolted upright, her eyes were watering, her heart fluttered with fear, her whole body trembled with anticipation. She said nothing to Emrhyst, but Emrhyst knew enough, with her mind Eriel told Emrhyst, "He is here."

The shape of the gigantic dragon suddenly disapeared, Eriel scanned the ground and saw a near-naked man, being dragged away by the urgals. "Emrhyst is that?" Eriel asked, her voice betraying only her anger with the urgals and the shade. "What dark sorcerry{sp} is this?? Faefnir has been transformed into a human! And if i'm right, so has Star. I think they're in that castle over there. " She said, looking at the fortress, complete with guards, towers, walls and crenalations{sp}. With unspoken consent, Eriel climbed onto Emrhyst's back and flew off in the direction of the castle, Eriel shuddered as they passed through a cloud, she marvelled at the height. They landed in the courtyard and saw Faefnir and Stargazer climbing up a wall. The courtyard was strangely silent. "This this almost too silent...this is perfect for an-" "Ambush!" Emrhyst shouted aloud, her voice penetrated Faefnir's mental barriers and awoke the magic within him. The urgals closed in, both of them blocked and parried, not able to strike back. They started to tire, within their minds they gave each other words of encourage, but deep within themselves, they knew that they would fall that day if no one came to their aid.

OOC: unfortunately, it's not my turn. even more unfortunate, i'm gonna have to leave for a week early tomorrow morning. so Star, can you take over for me until i return? just be sure not to kill me or the Stag, otherwise, do anything you want.

"Emrhyst," Eriel said between breaths, "I think, i hear Reb," She stopped to parry a sword a counter attacked, slitting the urgal's throat. "In the dungeon." She stopped again and tripped an urgal,"Being tortured. Hear her screams." " I know little one." Emrhyst finished off an urgal with a quick tail swipe. " What about letting ourselves get captured? That way, we might be taken to the torture chamber." "Okay then..." Eriel dropped her guard and allowed an urgal to slice her thigh. She grimaced in pain as the blade found home. She dropped to her knees and allowed the urgals to carry her off into the dungeon. Emrhyst did likewise, she allowed the urgals to bind her and transform her into an elf. They carried them off to a dark, damp, cell. As soon as the guards shut the door, both of them started planning their excape. Suddenly, the door opened, an urgal spoke to eriel and then knocked her out and carried her to the torture chamber. Emrhyst shouted curses in the dragon tongue, but it was to no avail, she could do nothing, she was a prisoner. Eriel awoke next to Reb who was being tortured with knives, urgal style. Eriel winced as she felt, rather than saw, the knife penetrating Reb's flesh, the shaman there healing the wound, and stabbing her again. Eriel tried to put numbing wards around the areas about to be wounded but in her weakened state, she could not even move. Then, an urgal came in, fully armed with cruel torture equipments. Eriel winced as the knife pierced her limbs, pinning her to the wooden board. Then, the knife pierced her shoulder. In the ancient language, she screamed in pain. Her torturer healed the wound and then dealt the next blow. This time, in the center of her chest. She grimaced as the knife was pulled out. And then, she let out a scream of agony as the blade pierced the scar on her thigh.

IC:Eriel looked at the urgal, her eyes radiating anger and pain. "You just made the greatest mistake of your life urgal!" She thought to herself," strong but frayed ropes... definately enchanted... stay still.. flick the wrist and.. tear through the knives.... this is suicide, but i don't have a choise so..."She snapped the bonds with a quick flick on her wrist, tore right through the knives and within a second had the urgal under her.She thought she could hear her dragon roaring in pain felt across their mental link but it didn't matter, because it would all be over in a second. "Reb, stay still, the magic only works if you're moving." She took one of the knives from the table and hurled it at Reb's bonds. Her aim was true, it cut right through and landed an inch away from Reb's face. She quickly healed her limbs and faced the urgals, all trembling in fear. "Now, you die." As she got ready to throw a knife she felt someone stay her hand

OOC: Err... star, im not a human....lol...

OOC: Why is'nt any1 replying??

OCC: I can't. It isn't mine, or Faefnir's turn.

OOC: Its either Osthato or alfakyn {sp?}. grrrr...if we dont get a reply tomorrow, im so going on without them.

OOC: Well, im going on without them.
IC: Eriel whipped her head around and saw nothing. "Perhaps it was just my imagination." She thought. Then, with deadly accuratecy, she threw the knife at the first urgal who tortured Reb, and the took another knife and killed her torturer. "Well... that's over. C'com, lets get out of here."

Emrhyst wasn't idle during the torturing though, she was clawing her way through the door and was just about to get out. She screamed, rather than roared, in pain everytime a splinter got stuck within her nail and her flesh. In the end, she gave up, her fingers all bloodied, and decided to wait for Eriel to come.

OOC:SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY SORRY!!!!
IC: Aurum had followed the group to the urgl city. He fought along side Emrhyst and Eriel. He did not have his sword, a mistake he swore never to make again, but had taken one from a dead urgl, fallen by Aurums dagger. When he saw Eriel and his dragon fall he only fought harder. But now he was alone in the middle of an urgl army. Everyone else had been captured and he had no idea where they had been taken. He blocked an attack by an urgl to his left, then spun to deffend his back. He knew he couldnt possiblly defeat the hundreds of urgls that kept surging forward, more and more by the second. He ducked a swipe at his head, plunging his sword into the urgl's belly. As he pulled out the sword and stood, blocking a stab at his right side, he had an idea. He thrust his sword throuhg the chest of a urgl. Then grabbed him by the sholders and flipped over him, shifting his form half way over. He caught the air in his wings as he began to come down. He gained altitude faster than he ever had in his life, so as to get out of range of urgl archers. He speed back to the cave and found the stag there. "We need some serious help!" he exclaimed, panting...

OOC: My turn?

Faefnir gently carried Star out of the torture chamber and in another direction. He heard the human screams, so he headed towards that direction. When he found the source of the screams, he found a room with about 50 humans inside. He kicked the door in, then addressed the people. "Humans, escape now! There is a Rider and were-falcon outside the fortress and they need your help!" He directed his attention at a man who carried himself like a doctor. "You there, stay with me." He tossed the doctor a sword that he found in the hallway. "I will need your help to heal her." He then carried the still unconscious Star to a clean room that appeared to serve as a healing wing. "Work on her. Find me when she is conscious." Faefnir then continued down the hall until he found the chamber Reb was in. She was up the same way he and Star were. He tried to come up with some way to get her down.