OOC:Hm, thought you would be using Ella more than Zeke in the last couple of posts. Oh well.

Daidrea replied plainly, Well enough. Afterwards he remained silent. He always did feel out of place to talking to other dragons. The only one he was ever comfortable with was his own.
Daidrea stretched out his muscles in the warm water. It has definately been a long time that he actually felt calm and just able to relax.

OOC:
Eh, sorry about that. Can't think of anything for her to do atm.

IC:
Zeke grinned wolfishly at Daidrea's lack of words. I'm glad, he replied simply, rumbling gently in his chest. Ella stirred again, and this time sat up. He pulled his wing back to allow her out so she could stretch. She stood and did just that, popping several joints in her back. He chuckled and poked her tenderly in the small of her back with his muzzle. She turned her warm sapphire eyes onto him and scratched under his jaw. His eyelids drooped and adopted a drugged gaze.

----------------------------

Ella laughed at her companions expression as she scratched under his jaw. When she pulled her hand away, he nuzzled her side with the tip of his snout. She smiled and stroked his nose, then turned and raided his saddlebags,"Good morning Daidrea." she called chirpily over to the water hole, which she kept her eyes politely away from to give him as much privacy as she could, even with the steam that rose up from the warm water. Two apples, one whole loaf of bread torn in half, and two pieces of jerky made up breakfast. She set Daidrea's portion aside and reached back inside to retreive the waterskin. She took a healthy mouthful, then corked it and placed it beside his meal. She then searched for her comb so she could attack the nest of snarls in her hair while she ate. She found it and settled down with her apple and set to work on smoothing the tangled mess that was her hair.

OOC:I was kinda hoping you would start lol.

Daidrea was silent for a moment. Then he spoke, I dont need to be hypersensitive to tell that something is bothering you. If you need to say something, spit it out. Daidrea's tone was kinda annoyed at this point.

OOC:
*grumbles* Somehow I knew you'd say that...Well, here goes. And you asked for it.

IC:
Ella swallowed, closing her eyes again. You'd be angry with me if I truly spoke my mind. she sighed. She licked her lips nervously, trying to figure out the best way of talking that wouldn't allow her voice to crack from emotion. She suddenly let out a long breath that she'd been holding subconsciencely, deciding how she would "spit it out". She hesitated briefly, remembering how he had reacted to the very same offer when she'd met him. He had refused, albeit gently. But he had to know. So, with a dry chuckle at his annoyed tone, she replied. I learned long ago that words are not enough to describe one's emotions. You would like me to "spit it out"? Very well then, I shall begin "spitting". she said bitterly, her tone like acid. She opened her mind to him, uncaring if he objected or not, and lifte way every shield around herself that she found, baring her conscienceness in a way that she had only done with Zeke. She went back to the night that Erais had been chosen by Daidrea instead of herself. She spoke as the image played over in her head.
I accepted your choice, and I still do, but that did not, does not, change he way I feel, then or now. she said, allowing the feelings of strong acceptance and dull anguish that she had felt then wash over her now. She moved on to when she had accepted that he was either gone or dead, the agony that had ripped her heart out and left her body to fend for itelf. She cringed inwardly at the memory, and quickly passed it to the next one, which was quite vivid from the recentness of it. It was when she had returned to Ellesmere to visit her sister, Felecia, and her sisters' companion, Ebony. Giván, a handsome elf around her age with bright green/yellow/hazel eyes and hair like starlight, had tried to court her. She tried to let him down gently, to explain to him that she had already receltly found and lost a love, and was not ready emotionally to try again so soon (this is after she thinks he's dead). But Giván had pushed her, following her around like a dog does its master. After a week of this devotion, she had finally cracked. She had struck at him on the shoulder with a swift backhand, possibly injuring his collarbone. Then she had run, really run, with tears streaming down her cheeks.
As the image played out, Ella again felt the crushing helplessness and feeling of utter aloneness that had consumed her; she had even blocked Zeke from her mind at that time. Outside of her consciencenees, real tears coursed down her face, dripping onto her neck or in he water. She spoke again, her "voice" choked by her mental tears. At that time the pain was too great for me to put on a brave face. To my knowledge you were dead, lying in some cold cavern or face down in the unforgiving forest, where the predators had probably picked your carcass clean by then. she managed to whisper. I considered killing myself, but Zeke stopped me everytime. You never knew, because I never built up he nerve to tell you, that it didn't matter that you chose Erais over me. It never did. And so when I thought you had gone to join the countless others in the void, I beat myself up visciously for not telling you and losing my chance to tell you forever. Ella bit her lip as a fresh wave of pain, dull from time, swept through her. Her right arm instinctively moved over to wrap around her mid-section. Her woice was even softer when she began again. On the night you chose Erais, I vowed to never come between you two. I swore that I would be no more than a friend to you, if we ever met. That oath still stands now. I will leave you alone on this mission. she vowed, clenching her jaw. She fell silent, but kept her mind open to him, allowing him full entrance. She wanted no miscomunications between them.

OOC:
My computer is still acting like its on crack, so I'm on my dads IPad atm.
 
IC:
Ella furrowed her brow, but kept silent. She listened to him walk over to the camp and wrustle around in his horses' bag. She overheard Daidrea talk to Zeke. She sighed, and got out of the water herself. She dryed herself off, got into clean clothes, and mounted her now saddled mount. Daidrea's horse followed beside her as she walked along by herself. Her companion had take to the air before she stated off.
-------------------------------

Zeke rumbled in understanding as Daidrea spoke to him. He waited for his Rider to begin riding before he spread his wings and took to the air. From his height he extended his mind out until he touched Ella's. He kept another tendril of thought stretched out, letting it remain open if his friend needed assistance.

-------------------------------

Ella closed her eyes and let Nuanen pick his own way through the foliage. Daidrea's stallion kept his nose anchored to her horses' hindquarters. She took a deep breath in through her nose, then exhaled completely out her mouth. Her eyelids opened, and her irises were glowing a cold silvery white light, like they would in her wolf form when she was preparing to shoot lightning from her maw. She took another deep breath, and the glow intensified. Without physically moving any faster than they had been, the forest began to sweep by much more swiftly than it had a moment before.

Ella cut off the flow of magic after they had moved two leagues in a matter of minutes. She could not sense anything ahead of them, but she had not been able to sense the changed pig beast, not even in her wolf form.

------------------------------------------------------

Zeke flew ahead of Ella by half a league; close enough for mental contact, but far enough for him to keep a lookout for danger.

OOC:
Not really that much for me to do atm.lol

Daidrea moved closer and closer towards the encampment. He surveyed the area. Counting about 70 soldiers out and about. Probably a few more in tents. There was a larger tent that caught his eye. Stealthfully he reached out his mind towards it. Luckily the soldiers were completely oblivious to Daidrea's advance as he touch the minds along the way towards the tent.
When he finally reached the boundry of the tent he halted. A dark aura surrounded the tent. He recognized it and spat on the ground. "A Shade." he whispered.
Daidrea found it peculiar that a Shade was spending his time in this area. Rather a more key point for the empire. It was almost as if something important suddenly appeared here. Whatever it was...it wasnt good news. The dwarves in the area dont need another nightmare like they had with Duzra.
He needed to be "removed".

(Want to play the Shade as a sub-character?)

OOC:
Sure.

IC:
Ella jerked at the sudden jolt of dark magic. Hannah growled darkly in her mind. She bit her tongue to keep from shouting at Nuanen for him to run to Daidrea's aide.

----------------------------------

Zeke flew up ahead to help his friend. He severed his link with Ella, leaving them both alone. He staggered through the air forbs moment, then right himself and zoomed forward. Hevsoon got close enough where he was forced the land be sighted by the camp. He crept forward until he was crouched under the tree Daidrea rested in. He extended a tendril of thought to his friend. So what's the plan? he whispered, his ice blue eyes glowing faintly to give him an idea at where the encampment was.

----------------------------------

Aritha, a red maroon haired Shade with blue maroon eyes, stepped out of her tent. She eyed the lower humans around her with disgust, her nose wrinkled at their scent. The captain of the battalion approached her, his fear washing into her and making her smile,"We are almost ready to depart, Mistress Aritha." he murmured. Her pale rose colored pulled into an even wider smile, revealing pure white, even teeth,"Good. When your men are completely ready to move, come inform me." she purred, her voice surprisingly rich and resonating, even a little seductive. But her eyes flashed a completely different message; If your men aren't ready to move out within an hour, there will be trouble. is the message her cold blue maroon eyes conveyed. The captain hastily bowed,"Of course, Mistress Aritha," he stammered, then excused himself from her presence so he could prepare. Aritha growled in exasperation at the incompetent humans she had been forced to command, and swept back into her tent, to the relief of her guards.

Zeke growled softly in objection as Daidrea told him to stay hidden. He settled down to do what he was told to do, but let a tendril of his mind move along with his friend.

------------------------------------

Athira ignored the panicked shouts outside her tent, so engrossed was she in the map of Farthen Dur she had stolen from one of the Varden's spies. She did, however, notice the entry to her tent. As she was trying to figure out who might have dared disturb her, the cold bite of steel touched her skin. She smirked, and said in that rich voice of hers,"A Shade hunter who actually knows what their doing. I'm impressed. Few can sneak up so silently on me." she commented, her tone somewhat bored,"And so with that little revelation, I'm guessing that your the fabled Shade Stalker I've heard so much about from Du Weldenvarden?" she purred, keeping her head still so the dagger didn't dig any farther into her flesh.

Daidrea squinted slightly at the female shade. Why was she so curious? What would it matter to her for? She might have a hidden purpose...
Daidrea remained silent for several minutes, unsure if he should even respond.
Finally he decided to take a chance at it. "The Shade Dragonrider, Kuja."


(Btw I dont want this to be linked to SE, so Kuja is still himself and within the Empire still.)

Not to throw you off but only Kuja, Daidrea...and people Daidrea's told should know the secret behind Kuja.
Sorry to be picky about it...
She probably shouldnt even know the relationship between the two.
Sorry! lol

OOC:
Damn......and I had a nice idea brewing from that.lololol Okay, I'll edit.

EDIT:
And it is now edited. Is this to your satisfaction?loll

Athira hissed,"My blood heritage has nothing to do with this situation. I don't care a dragons' scale if all of Alagaesia knew." she growled, but her body language shouted a disagreement. She loathed being a hybrid Shade. All the other pet Shades of Galbatorix teased her for not being "purebred" like them. She lifted her head in defiance to Shade Stalker, her blue maroon eyes flashing,"My name is Athira, daughter of elf Ritha and Shade Ledir. I am more commonly known among Alagaesians as The Black Shadow." she stated, her jaw hard.

OOC:
I'm thinking about maybe making Athira a real charry. She could be a real thorn in Daidrea's side.loll

Athira smirked again as Shade Stalker left her tent,"You wish," she muttered just loud enough for him to hear before he got out of range. She wondered why Shade Stalker was here in the first place. Had he been hired to kill her? She doubted it, or he would have plunged his daggers into her chest without asking all the questions. She pursed her lips as she shoved away from the center pole. She reached up and yanked the dagger from the top of her tent, and also the one he had jabbed through the parchment. She examined them intently. Plain weapons for such a powerful killer. She sighed and set the pair of daggers in her chest of weaponry. Then she extinguished the three torches within her tent, and retired for the rest of the day and remaining night. Just before she let sleep take her, she let a tendril of thought cascade out from her mind. Your nightmare is just beginning, Shade Stalker. she whispered, positive that he would hear her.

--------------------------

Zeke perked his head up slightly from its position on his forepaws as Daidrea returned. He sat on his haunches and extended his neck up so it hovered just under and behind his friend. The murmured words from the Shade floated into his mind, sweeping past his barriers like a hand swatted a fly. The meaning behind them made his blood boil. What purpose did the Shade have for being here? he asked quietly, attempting to reel in his temper.

(Uh-oh...I just got a crazy idea.)
Daidrea sighed said with his mind. She was going to attack Farthen Dur, but not only that... She is looking for the same thing that we are. So that probably means that the Empire isnt behind it.
Then he felt like he heard a whisper from Athira. Suddenly he felt drained of energy. Out of no where he saw a image of Aerdiad and then vanished with in an instant.
Damn... when did he?

Back in the tent, the daggers that were put away in the chest began to pulsate silently. Outside the chest a shadow massed over it and finally a shape of a person appeared. Aerdiad was leaning against the chest with his arms crossed. He smiled with his fang-like teeth and hummed deep-like-laugh through his teeth.
"You will need more than threats."

(Oh boy.lol and just to clear up so I know I'm not confused....did Aerdiad just take over Daidrea's body and is now in Athira's tent?)
Athira shot upright from her cot and grabbed her Shade sword. Her pale rose red lips pulled back into a snarl. She ignored the man's jibe,"Who are you?" she demanded, her blue maroon eyes enraged. Only another Shade could startle her like that, but this man was definitely not a Shade...of sorts.

------------------------

Zeke furrowed his brow as he felt a drain of energy in Daidrea through their mental link. What was that? he murmured, lighting his eyes dimly so he could see his friend.

EDITED

No no no. Aerdiad slipped some of his energy into the daggers Daidrea used. Daidrea is still next to Zeke. An image/avatar of Aerdiad is in the tent right now.
So just adjust to that quick.

OOC:
Kay, I edited that little bit out.

Athira cringed slightly, knowing that Shade Stalker was not fooling around. She swallowed, then took Galileo's reins and led him behind her as she followed Shade Stalker's retreating back.

----------------------------

Ella stirred lethargically and yawned. She opened her eyes and rubbed the sleep from them. Zeke still breathed deeply behind her, his body relaxed and lucid. She smiled tenderly and leaned back against her companion's warm side. She gently poked him. His wing automatically moved up and folded against his back, but he did not wake. She noticed then that Daidrea was not in camp. She wondered where he had gone.

Athira paused at the edge of the clearing, sure that they would want to discuss her joining the party. She assumed she was right when Shade Stalker sat on a log and called for the two others to wake up. Her inhanced eyesight focused on the elf maiden's face; angular like the rest of her race, piercing sapphire eyes set her apart from others. Raven black hair with suttle navy blue highlights cascaded down her back to her waist. Her assessment of the female elf completed, she moved on to the dragon...and caught her breath. Beautiful with shifting shades of amethyst, the male had his ice blue eyes open now. Blind, then. How could a blind dragon see things others could not? But she kept Aerdiad's warning in her mind, and told herself to be careful around this magnifiscent beast. A pale white scar trailed from the bottom of his left jaw to just above his left shoulder. She shuddered, wondering if he had any other scars.

---------------------------

Zeke grumbled sleepily. Don't you know not to wake up a sleeping dragon? he complained, his jaws opening in a gigantic yawn. He settled his head back down, his ice blue eyes open and glowing just barely. Okay, I'm up. What is it? he asked.

---------------------------

Ella grinned as her companion complained about being woken up. But she sensed that he had already forgiven Daidrea. She trained her sapphire eyes on her friend's face, which seemed tight for a reason unknown to her. Maybe this party meeting would explain why he looked so stressed.

Daidrea put a hand over his face and rubbed his forehead. "Well if you would look over my right shoulder you would know what I am speaking of."
Short....

Zeke raised an eyeridge, but did as Daidrea suggested. What he saw made his head shoot up in alarm. His eyes glowed at his friend. What is she doing here? And what are you thinking bringing her here? She's a Shade! he growled, adding the last part to Daidrea alone.

----------------------

Ella, sitting down on the ground as she was, only had to shift her eyes to the side. Her sapphire eyes hardened. At Zeke's outburst she slapped his shoulder sharply,"Be nice Zeke. Let Daidrea explain." she scolded. He huffed and lowered his head back down reluctantly.

----------------------

Athira winced as the dragon noticibly became irritated after he saw her. His eyes were piercing, even from this distance. And they glowed. She shuddered. There was definitely more to that dragon than met the eye.

Zeke growled softly in distrust. Making deals with Shades is never a good idea, but... he paused here, and sighed. I guess we have little choice. We cannot protect Farthen Dur as well as investigate the heated earth. What does she want in return for her services? he asked, knowing there was something that the Shade would want. He gestured with a foreclaw for her to come forward.

--------------------

Ella pursed her lips in thought, her sapphire eyes sliding back to the Shade as she did so. Blue maroon eyes and red maroon hair that shimmered to her waist with pale, healthy looking skin, she looked slightly elven. Her ears were hidden, so she did not know,"Zeke cannot carry three." she pointed out before the Shade was close enough to hear.

--------------------

Athira hesitated, then ground-tied Galileo. She walked forward until the dragon held up one sharp-tipped talon for her to halt. She did so, her head bowed. What is your name? asked a deep voice. Think your answers and I will hear. added the dragon. She swallowed. My name is Athira. she said. The dragon shifted on his belly, so he could more comfortably look at her without over stretching his neck. Why have you offered to help us? he quiered. She had to scramble for a answer, but she got one. To keep my heart intact. she responded. He seemed satisfied with that, and turned his lightly glowing eyes to Shade Stalker.

--------------------

Zeke did not sense any traitory within Athira's words, but Shades were very good liars. He looked at Daidrea and let his eyes' glow intensify slightly. Would you like me to seek her and see if she really is telling the truth? he asked his friend alone.

Zeke growled inaudibly. Very well. But I warn you that if she slips up once and tries to harm either you or Ella...there will not be much left of her heart for you to pierce with your blade. he said to Daidrea, meaning every word. He laid his head back down, one ice blue iris on his Rider and the male elf, the other on Athira.

--------------------

Ella pursed her lips slightly in thought. She did not want to voice her opinion with the Shade so close, so she touched a tendril of thought to Daidrea's mind. I guess she can join. We could use the help, and Farthen Dur can't afford another attack like the last one. We don't really have a choice, when you think about it. she said, and then retreated some, but not enough that she couldn't hear him if he responded.

--------------------

Athira waited with a pounding heart. Sweat dewed on the nape of her neck, but she couldn't move to wipe it away. What if Aerdiad was mistaken, and instead of allowing her to aid them, they killed her on the spot? With Shade Stalker and a Dragon Rider pair, she was good as dead in a full out battle. She swallowed, suddenly dry-mouthed at the thought.

Zeke snorted softly but otherwise kept quiet. The only Shades he wholeheartedly trusted were Hannah and Zana. This one would have to make miracles occur for the prospect of trust to even enter his mind as a thought.

------------------------

Ella breathed out a sigh and closed her sapphire eyes. She leaned her head back against Zeke side. He rumbled tenderly and placed his head on her leg. She absently extended a hand to scratch beneath the scales on his jaw.

------------------------

Athira sighed inaudibly in relief. She nodded at Shade Stalker, and disappeared in a cloud of black smoke. She materialized inside her tent, where she grabbed her normal assortment of weaponry and also changed her clothing to something more appropriate to long distance travel on horseback. She stared at the two daggers that Shade Stalker had left behind for a long moment before she took them and placed them under her belt. Her stave she placed in the harness on her back, her Shade sword in its scabbard, and her own two jeweled daggers in their sheaths. She grabbed a cloak of deep blue lined with silver and eased it on, positioning it so she could still affectively grab all of her weapons and not be hindered. She looked around in case she forgot something, and then snapped her fingers. She reappeared a moment later in the clearing. her blue maroon eyes blinked with disorientation before she caught her bearings. She wasn't used to teleporting so often and so close together. She cleared her throat and took Shade Stalker's daggers from her belt. She offered them to him hilt first, bowed at the waist,"I believe these belong to you, Shade Stalker." she murmured, ignoring the elf when she raised a single eyebrow above her closed eye.

Daidrea raised an eyebrow slightly. He slowly reached for the daggers and took them. Turning, he reached for his bag and placed them in. Then he glanced back at Athira.
Suddenly an aroma hit his nose that he hadnt noticed before. It seemed to be coming from Athira. He didnt know what it was but it was oddly appealing to him.
He turned away so he didnt stay focused on it.



(Kinda hatched this idea. Remembered when that one elf...uh.. Blodher..? I cant remember spelling. Anyways that one elf that was sent to protect Eragon had a certan scent about him that attracted the opposite sex or something like that.)

(I remember. Blohdgarm or something like that.lol)

Ella ground her teeth in frustration at the situation. She kept her eyes closed as she asked,"Well, that's taken care of. Now, should we rest for a few more hours, or am I going to have to be persuaded to get back in the saddle for another long day of riding?" with a small twist of humor at the end. She felt Zeke's side shake with his invisible laughter, and she allowed a dry chuckle to slip from her own lips.

----------------------

Zeke grinned at his Rider's dry humor. He cast his thoughts into the open, so that the Shade, too, could hear him. I say we- but he cut himself off with a massive yawn. He had been planning to say that they should move out. -should stay and rest longer. he finished.

----------------------

Athira, though she knew that she was now part of the "team", she didn't know if she had any voting rights, so she just stood back in silence, a small smile on her face. She hadn't noticed how Shade Stalker had reacted to her scent.

Ella got to her feet and stretched. She checked her weapons over before strapping them on. Her arrows were low. If she had to attack from the air, she would have to use more magic than she usually did. She looked over her stallion; his strawberry roan coat gleamed with health. He trotted over and butted her arm with his forehead, demanding a treat. She smiled and gave him a piece of apple, then saddled him up.

-------------------------

Athira signaled Galileo to come forward. With a tender whicker, his velvet soft muzzle bumped her shoulder. She smiled and stroked nose.

-------------------------

Zeke yawned again, but got to his paws and shook himself roughly. I can go on. he grumbled.

Ella followed behind and to the left of Daidrea, the Shade woman Athira to the right. It was a very quiet, awkward ride.

After several hours of continual riding, her eyelids began to droop. The afternoon sun felt amazingly comfortable and warm on her skin.

-----------------------

Zeke glided from air pocket to air pocket. He began to count how many times he could fly in a circle before his traveling companions moved any significant distance. The hightest he got to was fifty-five.

-----------------------

Athira scanned the surroundings with alert blue maroon eyes. She was the only one that was fully awake. She began to notice that all three stallions were walking very gingerly. She pulled Galileo to a halt and nimbly sprang from his tall back. She kneeled down on one knee and pressed the back of her hand to the ground. A half second later she swore loudly and jerked her arm up. She examined the new glistening red burn blisters on the back of her hand. She absently climbed back on her mount, deep in thought. She nudged Galileo to a steady trot until she caught back up with Ella and Shade Stalker. She again took up her position. Her mind was puzzled, though. Thorn and Murtagh had reported the sundered earth being much further in, unless...it was spreading. The blisters on the back of her hand proved that much. She mulled over whether or not to tell her companions. She decided to wait a while and see what they encountered ahead of them, in case her information was incorrect and that patch of earth was just extremely heated by the sun. But the horses....she shook her head to cast the thought aside.

Wasnt really planning on encountering this so early lol.

Daidrea slowly opened his eyes when he thought he heard some one yell out. He wasnt really sure if it was a dream or not. Placing his hand over his face, he wiped out his eyes.
He looked around to see where he was. They were still going down the path in the Beors.
Daidrea looked behind him. Ella seemed to be dozed off, Athira however was wide awake. She also seemed somewhat troubled. Despite the circumstances...he decided to ask, "You alright?"

OOC:
Pass...Not really much for me to do...my brain is dry...

(Pass atm. You gonna do anything with Ella?)

(I'm working up on it.)

Ella stirred lethargically and sat up, blinking her sapphire eyes to clear her blurry vision. She yawned and stretched. She was surprised to see that the full moon was in the sky. Her eyes popped open in chagrin as she realized that she had slept nearly the entire day away, leaving him to guide her horse in where to go. She swung down from Nuanen-damn she was stiff-and tried to keep from walking bow-leggedly as she waddled/marched up to her friend. She planted her hands on her hips with her legs spread apart and glared down at him with pursed lips. She didn't particularly care if he was dozing, though she did feel slightly guilty for being the one to disturb the tranquil peace that was on his face,"And for what reason did you find it necessary to let me sleep the day away? Which is pretty much what I did?" she demanded, hardly giving a second glance to the Shade woman. Let her hear how they bantered back and forth. It didn't matter to the elf.

He smiled slightly but kept his eyes closed. "Im sure Zeke doesnt mind the silence once in a while either." That time he teased back.
Eh, pass...

Ella threw back her head and laughed,"I sure you do too." she tossed back at him, her sapphire eyes twinkling.

(Short. Sigh.)