OOC:
I'll pop in officially once Saphirarox does.

OOC: *crashes into doorframe, trips over chair, slams into keyboard* I'm here!!!!!

Raven stretched sleepily and sat back on Oceanis's saddle. How long have we been going for? she asked her partner groggily. She rubbed her eyes as the cerulean dragoness banked to the right slightly. Down below she could see a lake coming up on the horizon. Are we going the right direction? I thought we were headed back to the Beors, they're more to the north than this. she said, frowning. Oceanis never confused her coordinates. That was one of the advantages of having a mapmaker for a Rider.

I've been going all night. You fell asleep shortly after we left the others. As for why we're going this direction instead of straight to the Beors, look down below. See anyone that looks familiar? Oceanis replied, sending the Rider a picture of who she meant. There was an unmistakable blue form swimming through the water below. The cerulean had been a few miles west when she saw her take to the air and dive into the water. The dragoness couldn't see him yet, but she knew the other dragon's Rider wouldn't be far away.

No way! Is that Ser'lla? Raven gasped in surprise. At first she was happy to see their old ally, but then she grimaced as she remembered the way they had parted a few weeks prior. Are you sure we should go over there? There will be questions, and I'm not sure I want to answer them.

Yes I'm sure. Even if we don't meet them here, we're bound to run into them somewhere. Now don't act so apprehensive. They're your friends and if they ask questions, well, they deserve an answer. They were probably very disturbed by what they saw and an answer is the least you can give them. the dragoness said. She understood Raven's hesitation, but that didn't mean she was going to let her act on it.

She roared a greeting to Ser'lla, spouting a brief jet of flames so they were easier to spot. Hello, Ser'lla! It's been awhile! she called, twisting through the air, her cerulean scales sparkling wondrously in the early morning light.

___________________

Arturos, for the record, I don't trust her. Arston grumbled, eying the sienna colored dragoness accompanying them. A few days ago Galbatorix had called them into his study with another mission. One of his spies in Surda had spotted a girl that Galbatorix was after for some reason or another. Arston and Arturos's mission? Find her, capture her, and bring her back to Uru'baen. Her dragon was to be captured as well, or killed if she could not be. Another mission that caused the bile to rise in his throat and burn his stomach. And a companion so infatuated with the Empire that he wanted to bang his head into the ground. This time we won't be able to go at it half-heartedly. Not with her here. She'd gut us in a second if she thought we were betraying her wonderful, all-powerful master. he said scornfully.

Easy Arston, she has been brainwashed just like the rest of Galbatorix's dragon corps. But you are right, we'll have to do this for real. I just hope this other Rider and dragon are strong enough to take all three of us. the green replied to his Rider. His dark green wings flashed in the dawn light as he adjusted his position so he was slightly above the dragoness.

*Walks casually to the computer, checks SF, and cries as he realizes that he has missed the starting of the RPG*

Suvana grumbled as she struggled to sleep through Freed's thunderous snoring. She checked the sun. It was still early in the morning, well, early for her anyway, and how could she get her beauty sleep when he was snoring ever so loudly? Possibly move? No, then Freed would hear and/or feel her moving and follow her, annoying her even more.

She was in the middle of thinking of an escape plan when a particularly loud grunt and snore interrupted her train of thought, stopping it in it's tracks. "Freed!" she snapped, hitting him repeatedly, despite his hard scales. "Wake up! At least stop snoring!" she yelled, and she continued beating on him. After a shift in his breathing, she sighed, satisfied that he was awake. Yes? he asked.

She sighed and shook her head, but a smile crept itself onto her face. She could never be mad at him in his ignorance. She looked behind her, and Surda lay in the distance, about two hundred meters away. She had arrived at Surda last night. She had resumed her duty of helping the Varden after she had left the Beors, and was going to ask them if they needed her for anything. As she walked towards Surda, Freed followed, and they entered the camp for the first time in a while.

After walking some distance into Surda, Freed smiled knowlingly, and said, loud enough for Suvana to here Well, look who we have here. He then pointed towards the west, and Suvana squinted, almost in disbelief as she began recognizing her previous allies. "Corido? Raven?" she asked, then she grinned in recognition. "It is you!" she yelled, and sprinted towards the duo. Freed likewise followed towards Ser'lla and Oceanis.

OOC: Can I add in a baddie as well?

Oceanis snorted at Ser'lla. I wish Raven knew how to take a break. Not long after we left you, we met up with some others and were back at it again. Oceanis said, slipping beneath the water until only her head was visible. She shook under the water, sending ripples out from her position. Mmm... This does feel good after flying through that dry Surdan air. she murmured.

Suvana? Freed? Honestly, you'd think we'd planned this meeting! Raven and I just ran into Corido and Ser'lla a few minutes ago! she called to the second pair. The cerulean latched her talons into the lakebed and pulled herself to the shore, shaking water over her Rider when she was back on dry land. You need a bath. she teased silently as Raven fumed and glared at her.

"Yes, I'm fine. It only takes a few days for me to recover from... Yeah, Oceanis thinks we should take a break as well, but whenever we try, I start thinking about... You know..." she replied awkwardly, waving her hands in a helpless gesture. She turned to look as she heard something crashing through the underbrush. "Suvana and Freed? What are y'all doing here?" she asked in shock. As with Corido and Ser'lla, the last time she'd seen these two, she had been unconcious after fighting Zalda. Her heart seized a little when she though about the Shade. She felt the anger start to rise and panicked a little at the thought of losing control again, so soon after the last time.

Then a shower of water poured over her as Oceanis shook off the lakewater. "Thanks Oceanis. Just what I needed," she said sarcastically, eying the cerulean dragoness. Her pair bond gave no outward sign that she knew what had been going on, but Raven could feel her satisfaction that it had worked.

__________________
Arturos snorted at Keia. The sooner we get there, the sooner this is over. If you can't keep up, I'll go ahead and you can catch up later. he said, a little more stiffly than he had intended. Despite his words, he slowed the tempo of his wings a little bit. Inside his mind he growled and chafed at not being able to disobey Galbatorix's orders.

"We'll go as fast as we like. I know for a fact you'll have no trouble keeping up," Arston growled at the sienna dragoness. He was glowering at the horizon when he saw something sparkle next to the lake ahead of them. Arturos, I think that's them. I've only ever seen dragon-hide sparkle like that. he said silently, unsheathing his sword. The dark green blade shimmered in the sun.

"We'll come at them from this direction, Keia, you circle up and around. Try to catch them by surprise while we distract them. Take the girl and her dragon, kill the rest," he ordered, feeling like he was going to throw up.

I'll be fine. I'm much stronger than they could anticipate. the green said to Keia. The only one's we'll be taking back to Galbatorix are those fools. Inside he was raging and fighting against the bonds that forced him to do this.

Get ready, friend. Arturos said in a tight voice, angling his body into a dive. He opened his massive jaws and roared a challenge to the dragons below. Above him, Arston sent a bolt of green lightning at the female Rider with the blue dragon. Submit to the will of King Galbatorix! he roared with his mind, slamming into the cerulean colored dragoness's mind. He backwinged swiftly when he was a hundred feet from the ground and sent a scorching hot pillar of green flames at the group below.

"I am Arston, Dragon Rider of Galbatorix's legions! Submit or fall before my sword!" Arston yelled at the other Riders. He pointed his sword blade at the male Rider and another bolt of lightning ran down it's length, headed straight for his chest. Keia, where are you? Attack already! he snapped at the dragoness.

He raised his sword in preparation for the combat he knew was coming.

____________________

"I don't think any of us were expecting it Freed. Oceanis and I were flying a few miles to the west when she spotted Ser'lla diving into the lake," Raven replied, smiling at the large dragon. "And I'm fine now, Suvana. We haven't got the egg back yet, but I'm not going to give up," she vowed, hazel eyes flashing with determination. Her head snapped up as a dragon roared above them. "I don't suppose either of you know who they are?" she asked, but got her answer when a bolt of lightning came down from above and almost struck her. Oceanis, hurry! she called to her dragon, a pit forming in her stomach. She wasn't sure, but she thought these fools from the Empire might be after her.

"That fool of a king doesn't know when to give up. I don't suppose I could talk y'all into distracting them while I get Oceanis's saddle back on her?" Raven said in nonchalant tone of voice, already grabbing the massive leather saddle. She tossed it across the cerulean's shoulders and set to buckling it down without waiting for a reply.

Then perhaps he can teach Raven how- the dragoness started to reply, but stopped when a dragon roared above them. Really? Again? Oh for crying out loud. she grumbled. From the symbol of the dragon's helmet, they were from the Empire. Ser'lla, I hope you don't mind keeping this riff-raff busy for a moment or two? she called to her friend, grinning in anticipation of the fight ahead. She shifted impatiently as Raven's fingers flew across the buckles. Hurry up Raven! Oceanis said, tapping the claws on her left forepaw against the ground.

Don't hurry me! It's your scales dripping water on the buckles and making them slippery!

OOC: D'oh! Really? Censored again? *facepalm*

OOC: Lol, "babies."

"I'm not sure, but they definitely aren't high," Suvana replied in response to Corido's question. Suvana gave a small smile as Raven declared her determination to get the dragon egg back. She turned and looked at the sky as a roar shouted, and her eyes widened as a bolt of lightning nearly struck Raven.

Suvana raised a clear shield, used as a barrier as it blocked the green dragon's fire, but she dropped it once everyone was out of the way, and the remaining fire collided into the ground. Tools of Galbatorix? Why would they openly attack Surda? Suvana asked as she scrambled to climb onto Freed.

I'm not very sure, but we shouldn't let the Varden try to handle it. This is a fierce battle, and our opponents are dragons. he replied and immediately launched into the air, ready to lock combat with the green dragon. Suvana drew her sword as Arston drew his, and sent a jab-like mental attack at the Rider's mind before engaging him in battle.

Salzarar drew his sword and sprinted towards the Rider with red hair, and lunged as he drew close, slashing his sword with a jarring strength.

OOC: Oops, forgot to drop it in last post. Yeah, it's down.

Raven was thrown to the side as a sienna-colored dragonness slammed into Oceanis's side, she screamed in pain as she felt Oceanis's wing snap. "Get off her, you mangy dog!" she yelled when her senses returned. The Rider raised her left hand, Gedwey Ignasia glowing threateningly. Just as she was about to use a death spell on the enemy dragon, a man came out of nowhere and attacked Corido, who just barely managed to block his attack.

Raven snarled in frustration, then shouted, "Kveykva!"

Without waiting for her magical attack to hit the stranger, she drew her father's sword and lunged at the dragoness on top of Oceanis. She saw Ser'lla slam her thick tail into the other dragon's face, and then she was in the middle of it, jamming Kveykva into the dragon's side as far as it would go. Red blood spurted from the wound, coating the blue blade. Raven twisted the blade cruelly, desperate to dislodge her.

As Ser'lla hit the dragon with her tail and Raven stabbed with Kveykva, Oceanis managed to get her feet back under her. She almost passed out from the pain in her wing, but managed to retain consciousness. She twisted her head around and spat a ball of blistering cerulean fire in the sienna's face, then gripped her foreleg in her razor sharp teeth and pulled her off. Who are you and what do you want? she screamed, ramming into the dragoness's mind with all her might. She looked away as Freed took off after the green male, Suvana brandishing her sword.

Oceanis looked at Raven just as the Rider wrenched her sword savagely from the other dragon's side. From what she could see of it, the wound was deep and painful. As if on cue, her own wing flared with pain and she groaned in agony. Raven, my wing is broken. Heal me, then you and Ser'lla go help Corido. I will keep this one busy. she said, grinding her teeth into the dragoness's leg and yanking sharply to prove her point.

Without pausing to debate with the cerulean dragoness, Raven tenderly placed her left palm against the break and murmured in the Ancient Language. In a few moments the wing was good as new. Stay safe, my heart. she said to the cerulean, saluting her pair bond with her sword.

__________________

Arston cursed as a mental ray of considerable strength rammed into his defenses. He attacked with his own mind, sharpening his mental probe to a point to cause more concentrated damage. I trained with Galbatorix himself, you cannot hope to best me! he growled at his opponent, a female Rider astride a white dragon. Arturos, dive at the white, I'm going to try and either injure him or his Rider! he said to his partner, blue-green eyes burning beneath his helm.

Arturos hissed at the white runt that dared to challenge him. The green male was vaguely aware of Keia under attack by the rest of the group and someone else attacking the male Rider, but his attention was for the most part on the dragon that rose up to challenge him. From what he could see, the dragon looked to be a worthy opponent. While their Riders pitted mind-against-mind, Arturos cautiously opened his mind to the other dragon and spoke, I am Arturos, son of none. You have two choices, submit now and come back with your Rider as a prisoner of the King, or die!

Green flames flickered in his mouth as he prepared to attack. He ignored Arston's command. At this height it would be to dangerous to dive at the opponent. He would wait and when they were at a proper height...

OOC:
Please excuse spelling mistakes, I'm on my iPod at the moment.

IC:
Keia roared as she was smacked powerfully across the face by a tail, though she held on strong to the cerulean female. She grunted and winced as the Rider plunged her sword into her side and twisted it almost cruely. Galbatorix had done much worse, but it still hurt. She felt the cerulean get her feet under her, then jaws latched around her foreleg and dragged her off. She allowed herself to bellow in pain, though she didn't answer the ceruleans question. Not yet. She waited patiently for the Rider to leave, growling softly at the wrench on her leg and the grinding of teeth. Once the Rider had healed the dragon's wing and had left, she peeled back her lips and snarled, flames licking at her teeth and fangs. My name is Autarkeia Fincayra Vera, the Empire's Shadow Snake of Death. she hissed, and then jerked away. Flesh and scale was torn from her leg, but she ignored the pain. Once free she opened her maw and spat her keep-fire-burning-hot-oil all over the cerulean's chest, neck, and side, then took a deep breath and bellowed her sienna colored flames. The oil caught on fire and spread rapidly over the cerulean. Once she was bathed in flame Keia stood back, crouched, and sprang forward. She thrust her weight into the blue dragoness, while at the same time latching her jaws around the females neck near the base of her head. She bit down powerfully, holding the blue's head securely in her jaws and also cutting off her air so she would pass out soon. If they could subdue the dragon, then capturing the Rider would be easy. She growled and dug her talons harshly unto the blue's shoulders and stomach, biting down harder on her neck.