Hey anyone can jump in, okay.


Isabella and Nirexi had been wandering in the desert for at least three days. The scorching heat and lack of water was putting their entire mission in danger. Isabella touched Nirexi's mind, Nirexi I think we're going in circles. She heard the black dragon snort, Lost? Dragons don't get lost, Isabella. She softly pushed back, Nirexi, we've passed that same cactus 10 times already. She heard him grumble as he sat down. She decided to lean against his side, when she sat he lifted his wing so as to give her shade. She softly whispered a thank you, before drifting off into a light sleep. Minutes later she awoke to the warm touch of two beings, one on her side the other snuggling into her stomach. She felt a familiar mind touch hers, Isabella, Scout and I are back, Raill whispered quietly in her mind. As he spoke he lay beside her, his tail laying on her ankle. She nodded knowing he would see, then drifted back to sleep.

OOC: sure why not?

IC: Draco asked Rector once again, "Do you seem them anywhere?" Rector replied, "No. If the soldiers ever did rally they could be anywhere in the desert by now. We havent looked over much of it since we got word of a possible rally." Draco's first intention was to keep searching but he noticed Rector's drooping head and slowed wingbeats. He needed water and there was just enough to give Rector his usuall amount. They were going to have to ration it throughout the day and stop at another city to resupply soon. Draco said, "Rector go ahead and land. I will get you some water and then you can rest a bit before we move on." "Wait." Draco looked back forward and asked, "What is it Rector? Whats wrong?" "There is someone down there. look." With a muttered spell in the ancient language, Draco saw through Rector's eyes. And looking down on the sand there was indeed someone down there. Another dragon with a wing folded over something not clear. "Draco they look so very tired. Maybe we can give them some water before we move on." Draco at first thought it a bad idea since they were low themselves. But then again, they could resupply early. "Land then Rector." Rector put on a burst of speed and the land came soaring up at them. Rector pulled up at the last second and back winged once, landing perhaps fifteen feet away from the dragon. Now it was visible that under his protective wing, there was a human, most likely it's rider. He did not want the armor he wore to make them thing he was a servant of the king and so he tried to find the presence of the riders mind and he said in the ancient language, "I am a rider and friend."

Draco said, "I used to serve the king. When he threatened my dragon with death, I escaped from Uru'Bean in order to keep him safe." Draco reached up into his supply harness and took out a spare canteen of water. Not very cold but not to warm either. He walked cautiously up to them and opened up the canteen. "Take this." he said and held it out for Isabelle. "I could not stand to see another rider die because of a lack of water." Rector, while this happened, watched closely just in case something went amiss.

Draco knelt in front of her saying, "Your story seems a bit like ours. I had fought for the king before, attacking supply caravans for the Varden and setting up outposts in the outskirts of the desert. But like i said, when the king had threatened my dragon with death, I quit the service. The only thing i am looking for is my squad for i used to be a sergeant in the king's army. They were like my family away from Tierm." He studied the rider with a neutral eye, expressing nothing on the outside but curiosity for more detail on her story grew inside. "You say a magician freed you. I had not ever heard of other magic sources outside that of other riders." he said curiously.

Draco read the passing thoughts like a book, picturing each one through his mind until they dissapeared. He looked back at the other rider and only nodded his response. Instead he said, "Here. I would like you to meet my dragon." He waved a hand forward and Rector rose up walking in behind Draco. "This is my dragon Rector. It was strange how i came across his egg. I was out on routine patrol in the Hadarac border when i had found it nearly buried in the ground." Rector dipped his head respectfully to them all but said quietly to Draco, 'Be careful Draco. Should something go amiss . . .' 'I know Rector.' Draco said almost dissmissively.

Draco first looked at the panther noticing its unwavering gaze towards him. he dipped his head to it but could not help give a smirk as well. He looked about the others dipping his head to them all and at last to Isabella. By military instinct, he straightened up quickly and saluted. "Sergeant Draco and his dragon Rector, at your service." he paused and lowered his gauntleted hand. "You say you are looking for the Varden?" he asked.

Draco looked at the panther with a half curious half confused gaze but looked back at Isabella, saying, "Well information, i cannot carry for you, but i have heard of many Varden outposts in the mountains of Beor. But i know for a fact that there are several Urgal encampments near the mountains."

When the panther had passed Rector, he heard its thoughts and replied back with a low voice, 'Hard times grant you the abilitiy to be more defensive.'

Draco looked at the map with her without getting to close. "If the journey were to be made, resupply would be in order. I could always go to one of the human cities and make a couple of trips." he offered. Rector even poked his head over the map, careful not to knock anyone away or down.


OOC: short (srry)

OOC: Its fine, I'm posting rather short as well...

Isabella nodded and said, "That would be a huge help... Are you on friendly terms with the varden?" She asked this tentatively. He had mentioned ambushing some varden supply carriages when serving the king, and thought they might have held a grudge.

Draco sighed and Rector slightly tensed. "I serve not the Varden either." Draco said and tried to dismiss the subject by saying, "If we may make camp here, i can fetch supplies from the human cities. If i wear the symbol of the king i will be able to purchase from the merchants there." Rector said to Draco, 'Or we could steal some meat from the herds.' Draco gave a laugh in his mind. 'No we mustnt do that.'

"Very well." Draco said and Rector lowered himself so Draco could climb onto his back. He gave a final salute before Rector took off for the human cities.

As they flew onward, Draco plotted out in his mind which city to go to. He came up with a dangerous choice, Uru'Bean. The king could be there but it was most likely the more plentyful for supplies. Draco checked his coin shash. There was just enough for a full treck to the mountains.

OOC: should i keep going onto the resupply expadition?

OOC: Sure if you want too...

IC: Isabella sighed and leaned against Nirexi. Scout flew down to her and landed on her thigh. Isabella, are you sure we should trust them... She looked at Scout and ran her hand over his soft feathers, Scout we really don't have a choice. We must get this information to someone, even if its only another rider, though I'm beginning to think I should not tell the Varden... that would be going from one extreme to the other. His shook his head once and then sat and watched the sand.

Draco reached Uru'Bean by evening time. The city was already lighting its torches. Draco said to Rector, 'Stay hidden. It is not safe here for you.' Rector replied, 'Be careful.' He nudged Draco affectionately with his nose and Draco walked into the town. His wearing the armor of a soldier, he was immediately let into the city.

The first merchant he came by had several rather tasty looking fruits, fresh from harvest. Draco instantly thought to buy a basket of these which only drained a small part of his capital. He also bought two caskets of water but thought to himself that he should also buy a couple of cattle in order to be able to carry everything in one trip. There was a herdsman there with eight plump cows. Draco had just enough to buy two and used the rest to get a couple of loafs of fine bread and another bottle of brandy for himself.

Draco led the cattle out of the city with the harnesses attached to them. he only walked so far out into the fields to avoid the site of the city. Then with a muttered spell, he put the cattle to sleep and called Rector. When he landed, Draco said, 'I do hope you can carry all of this. If it is to much we will come back for the other things.' 'Nonsense.' Rector protested and Draco hoisted up one water casket into its place on the supply harness. He put the other on the other side to balance out the weight. He had set the fruit basket and the bread on Rectors back just behind the main saddle and Rector carried the cattle himself in his talons.

With their heavy load, they took off and away from the city, quickly to avoid a quarrel and they made their way back into the desert.

OOC: Mind if I join? I'll meet up with you first, GuardianAngel.

IC: Phalynx saw visitors in the desert. And not just the usual. These were two dragons and their riders. She had seen them using her farsight abilities, and decided to approach them in the hope of a possible ally. She came up distantly behind the black dragon and his group, still out of his sight. Laughing with exhiliration, Phal decided to show off. She knew how fast of a flyer she was; her wings were huge compared to her whole body size. Though they looked rather out of proportion, they were powerful and they enabled her to be an amazing flyer.

She flapped slowly and strongly, picking up speed. Phalynx rose up a little, and then flew down, gathering even more speed. She flew straight towards the distant group and passed them like a comet, silver scales glittering. Suddenly, she flew up and twisted around in mid-air to fly head-on towards the dragon, rider, and a panther and falcon that were accompanying them. Before she could crash into them, she stopped herself with a powerful backpedal of her wings, flying backwards in front of the dark dragon.

If you're against the king, which I'm pretty sure you are, then you can call yourselves my friend. My name is Phalynx, she said, friendliness and energy ringing in her voice. She watched the group with interest. The golden stripe in her otherwise green right eye flashed as she briefly scanned the group with her infrared vision.

OOC: I don't mind at all.

IC: If Isabella had been taken aback by the odd dragon that came swooping at them, then she was most certainly shaken by the disgruntled fellow, he was apparently a rider, who had just rolled down a dune and was demanding their names. She sat staring surprisedly between the two characters. When she spoke, it was in a soft voice, barely louder than a whisper, " I'm Isabella, this is my dragon, Nirexi, the panther is, Raill, and the falcon is Scout. And you are?" She finished with her gaze flickering between the two, telling them both to answer.

Draco and Rector had flown back into the desert as quickly as possible and when they came back to the group, they noticed a larger group. Draco laughed nervously to himself. "Hm. I think we should have gotten more supplies." Rector asked, 'Should we land?' "Of course we will land. i just hope we dont run into tensions when we get there."
They landed in front of the group and Draco said to Isabella, "Perhaps i should have gotten some more supplies."

OOC: Let's keep this order, don't you all agree? Yes, I quite agree, Draco. Very well then, Draco, this order it is. WOAH!! Major lightning! (sorry about the rambling, I'll shut up now. lol. )

IC: Phalynx watched as a familiar figure approached. Hey! Mesaraih! Fenerixes! How are you guys doing? Oh, by the way, I'm Phalynx, to you two, she said happily, addressing the two newcomers at the end.

Phal twirled cheerfully in the air and landed a little ways off from Mesaraih. Before settling down, she briefly scanned the area with her special infrared and magic visions, her eyes glowing with gold light in the process. As she finished, asuring herself that all was well, her eyes settled back to bright green (though her right one still had the stripe) and she sat in the warm sand, allowing the sun to heat her body comfortably.

OOC: lol, redshurtugal, Phal's one of the "everyone you meet here".

OOC: What color is Phal?

IC: Isabella looked at Draco and Rector, smiling softly, "Yes maybe you should have." She said in the same quiet voice. "So, what is everyone else doing in this cursed desert?" She asked this more wanting to know why they approached her, and to know what exactly they were doing. Raill stood and went over to Rector, touching his nose to the dragons leg, Are these souls friend or foe? You seem to know them. He sat in front of the dragon expectantly, purring slightly.

OOC:Phalynx is silver. My text color is kind of random. And just to clarify, she has bright green eyes, and the right one has a stripe of gold in it.

OOC: Oh okay I wasn't exactly sure.... thanks.

OOC: i do believe it is my turn correct?


IC: Rector dipped his head respectfully to the silver dragon though he did not say a word. Draco saluted the dragon and introduced himself, saying, "Sergeant Draco and his dragon Rector at your service."

Rector looked more closely at the silver dragon and noticed an awkward gold stripe in her right eye and, filled with curiosity, he could not help but ask her, 'Phalynx, did you know you have a gold stripe in your right eye? it does seem a bit out of place."

Rector replied, 'Tens of thousands of years? That does seem like an awfully long time to wait to hatch. I know i would not be able to wait that long.'

Draco told his part of the story to the group. "My story is quite like Isabella's. I used to be in the service of the king myself until he threatened my dragon with death. Every since then i have left the service of the empire but . . . i have not gone to the Varden for "sanctuary" as they would call it. It is a hard decision to make for me. After all i served the king since i was nineteen years of age."

OOC: Of course I don't mind Silver. But we still have to wait for dracoaestas....

OOC: Sorry I haven't posted. School just started and I've been very busy.

IC: Phalynx lowered her head to Isabella. Sure, she said, sensing that the girl was trustworthy. I'm not sure why I waited so long, I just did, she said in reply to Rector. She then listened to Draco speak with concern. I think you made the right decision, Draco. There aren't very many dragons left, so it was good of you to decide to keep Rector safe. I have many friends, and I'm sure they would welcome you as an ally. Not just the Varden are opposed to the King, you know, she said, hoping Draco and Rector would decide to join their cause.

Phal suddenly noticed something out of the corner of her eye. With a quick infrared examination, she saw an approaching draconic figure, trailed by a hominid one. Someone's coming, and they don't look friendly, Phal said as her eye flashed. Without another word, Phal was in the air, her powerful wings propelling her immediately to the dragon, whom she soon realized that she had met before.

Brujole, she said cautiously, uncertain of the unpredictable dragon's reaction. We are not a threat, there is no reason to attack, she said, hoping to deter him. Phal noticed Aviva not far away, and glanced in her direction.

Draco said to the dragon, 'I hope i did. I lost my previous life in making that decision. I know i am not going to be the most welcome sight when we reach the sanctuary of the Varden. And yes i do know that the Varden is not the only group that opposes the empire. I have fought other groups with the same resistance when i served the empire.'

Draco and Rector looked to their left. Rector tensed at the sight of approaching newcomers and Draco gripped the pommel of his sword. 'I do hope they wish not to fight.' Rector said low. Draco only stared watching and waiting.

OOC Please tell me if this is out of order. I'm acting on my instincts and by the fact that Red posted above me in my first one...

IC

Brujole snorted when he noticed Phalynx. So perhaps these weren't enemies? He eyed the rest of them, not really recognizing anyone else.
Greetings Phalynx. I was sure all these were enemies. He said this only to Phalynx, no one else hearing except Aviva and Philo. . .

Philo was completely quiet. Brujole might be able to trust one or two of these dragons, but she made an oath to herself not to trust anyone. She eyed the pathetic little elf that was standing right behind her, blinking at everyone else in worry. She seemed to want to stay out of sight ...

OOC: I don't remember the order. Did we have one? Oh well, I'll just take my turn after Silver. (btw, I don't think Phal and Philo have met yet. Correct me if I'm wrong.)

IC: Phal relaxed when she heard Brujole's reply. Greetings to you as well. None of these dragons or riders are alligned with the Empire, or any other evil faction that I know about. Do you want to meet them, or are you going to continue with whatever you were doing? she asked in a more friendly tone, somewhat curious about the group's purpose here in the desert. Phal looked beyond Brujole at Aviva, and noticed another dragon there as well, her scales shining like a firelit night. Phal nodded in acknowledgment in her direction before turning to watch Fenirexes and Mesaraih's approach.

This is Brujole, and that is Aviva, in case you haven't met, Phal told them, I'm not sure who the other dragon is. I know Aviva and Brujole are not enemies, though it might take a while before you gain their trust. Phal knew that the pair were relatively secretive, and she still didn't know them very well.

OOC: Give me a minute... I'll remember... Me, Pomfret, red, Silver, and then you, dracoaestas.
IC: Well now, Nirexi said into Isabella's mind, If Phalynx knows them maybe we can trust them. Though I still wish you would let me protect you. Isabella turned her eyes before the newcomers, Indeed. Nirexi? Is it just me or has today been oddly... good, to you? He turned a single gray eye towards her, Good? What do you mean by good? She sighed and leaned against his front leg. What I mean is that it has been to good to be true. Nirexi flicked his tongue out to catch her cheek, As long as your still alive, I'm happy. She smiled, if only slightly, then turned her gaze back to the dragon and rider.

OOC: this is going to be short. School has been taking the strength to think of stuff for RPG's right out of me. Jebus.


IC: Draco and Rector both eased away from the thought of a fight. Draco sheathed his sword and said, "Before anyone else assumes that i serve the empire I do not anymore. Lest i would not be here." he chuckled at the last part. He turned to Isabella and asked, "When will we journey to the mountains?"

OOC: Behold, my first post as a mod!

Faefnir landed behind his sister and snorted to get the group's attention. If you want to go to the mountains, I want to come as well. I have heard news that Rimfax is plotting to attack the Dragon Fortress, and I need to make sure they are not true. Do you mind if I join you, sister?

OOC: Ugh, too short. I could have done better than this. Oh well.

OOC: It's your turn, Silver.