Ita did indeed miss Kyrian and he could imagine her laying on the boy's bed, tears trickling down her cheeks for a little while. Josh would comfort her and soon have her playing with the other kids. His focus right now was on his beloved and Kyrian. He couldn't imagine Verial being upset that his son was brought to him, but one never knew. He had wanted to try and at least be friends with Verial, but that seemed a long time coming. Kyrian was with them and there was no going back. Not yet anyways. He missed his children already, but knew they were safe.

Thier journey had been safe, and uneventful in the sense that no one had been injured, no dangers had presented itself to them, nor had any wildlife even so much as been spooked. Thunder and Patches hung side by side, one or the other sometimes gaining the lead, but the stallions were thrilled to be away from home for a while. They always did well when traveling through portals and doing pretty much anything asked of them.

Upon noticing the harbor, he couldn't help but realize it was beautiful. Oneiro felt as close to his own home as he could be. It's atmosphere was more peaceful it seemed, but he knew it had to have its evils as any other place did. Sorvy had told him some things about Oneiro, but surely not everything. The horses plodded along and he was content to keep an eye on his surroundings. "Seems we won't have much trouble going and coming from here." he commented quietly. "I didn't explore too much the one time I was here, but that's cause I didn't know my way about. So, lead the way darling." Next thing he knew, Kyrian was pointing at some man.

Turning to peer at the man, he noticed it wasn't Verial, and likely some local. Sorvy assured the boy they'd find his father and he knew they would; it would simply take time. Smiled to his beloved and listened as she spoke to him through thier mental link. {Aye..its been a while since he saw him last. He's older now. I wonder what his dad will think of that.} He as well had to remain confident, for if the boy saw them doubting or losing thier confidence, then he would as well.

"Come, let us find a place we can stay for a few nights. Darling, do you know of a place we would be welcomed? An inn perhaps?" he inquired. Recalled a tavern, but didn't quite remember where the inn was. And then he caught sight of the two men. Speaking, then both were running off just as he began to pick up on the very familiar scent of burning flesh, acrid air, choking and blinding smoke and the familiar sensation of something having gone very wrong. The balance of Life itself was thrown into an uproar, causing him to wince.

Ahead he looked and when he did, he gasped. What a sight...the city in flames. Jade eyes found the misty blues of his beloved and he darted his head towards the city. {Look! Up ahead.} he first warned. "The city is in flames. Something horrible as happened. Kyrian don't get off that horse, alright." There was a powerful urge to go and help and he would be remiss if he didn't go and assist or at least investigate. "Shall we go and help m'love? Perhaps they will have use for a couple more hands." he suggested. If she agreed, he would be riding beside her to go and offer any assistance he could provide.

They were here to find Verial, but this was a disaster and the pair was good at helping with disasters. "Perhaps someone could help us find Verial." It was an idea at least.

Sorvynia reached to Bansca's arm and rest her hand upon it to give a gentle and loving squeeze, "My love, we are not in Oneiro anymore, we've already passed through the Outer Gate...I do believe..." she gazed around herself a moment knowing this, but was hoping that her next words were true. "we are in Aleris now. Or, at least a harbor that is not Star Fae's. This land is alive." But the scent of smoke and burning flesh in the air filled her senses as both her body and spirit settled together in this new land. She realized something was wrong, there was a concentration of chaotic energy near."

Bansca pointed the scene out to her, and as reflex reaction would of made her charge forward, the boy sitting in the saddle in front of her made her rethink it. She looked down at Kyrian and then back to her companion as she made the decision. "Let us go forward carefully and assist any who are wounded. I will do what I can, I do not want any harm to come to the boy."

She ran her fingers over Kyrian's head and leaned down to kiss it. "Son, yer grama and grampa B are going to help those people there. We do not know what is happening yet so stay with grama and yew will be safe alright? Do as I say boy, we do not want yew getting dirty before yer papa see's yew right?"

She tried to make light of the situation so it wouldn't scare the boy, but alas, she had no idea of what they were about to encounter.

"Forward-ho" Sorvynia tightened her grip on the reigns and gave Patch's sides an urgent squeeze. For now, at least finding Verial would have to wait a few hours.

Verial was running on little or no sleep at all. What sleep he could get was useless; his thoughts being overwhelmed by plans and decisions. Verial did some packing, gathering a suitable amount of dried food in a pack and an extra cloak for Calamaya. Briefly he remembered the image that Calypso showed him in that icy orb out of an effort of persuasion. Calamaya was chained against the wall, weak and defenseless, nearly everything about her having been battered and torn. Time was weighing heavily against him and he had no extra moment to spare. It seemed that even as the minutes dwindled on, time became his enemy, as it so often was.

Leaving the castle presented Verial with yet another distraction on his way back to Oneiro. Under any normal circumstance, he would have loved to be detained from stepping foot back into his fallen lands. But this was different. At first, when Verial left the palace gates heading down the walkway, there was not much to notice. Once in the city, the feeling of hopelessness and destruction had overwhelmed him. Verial was not far off from where the catastrophe had started, so the wave of smoke stung his eyes to a certain degree. Pushing his way through, Verial coughed trying to find the source of this mess.

Not soon after, the view of a dragon's mammoth body came into view, lifeless and spent laying across roads and against buildings in Aleris. People hardly noticed he was there; many were desperately working to put the fires out. Those who knew magic conjured what weak water spells they could in comparison to the flames lapping at the buildings. Others borrowed buckets of water from the ocean, hurrying as fast as they could without spilling any precious drops of the liquid. People were being taken away, either dead or wounded, to recover from the airship crash.

There was not much Verial could do to help these people. His healing he inherited from his mother had died a long time ago within him, so he could not help care for the wounded. Verial was about to continue on his journey to Oneiro; he had to be honest with himself in that these people and their grand city were not as important to him as Calamaya was. That was, until a man tugged on his shirt begging for Verial to assist. Damn it. He grabbed up one of the free buckets and started taking water from the harbor like many other people. From the far side of Aleris, a few airships from another port had finally got to the city, looming above the burning buildings. Hoses were gathered up from their decks and water started to spray down onto the unruly flames.

It was on his seventh bucket that Verial had looked up and saw the woman advancing towards the deceased dragon. Seemingly out of nowhere, the woman's face wore predatorily grin. Verial narrowed his eyes and tried to follow the path she plotted. It seemed she was going for a set of two eggs, still cradled in the dragon's arms. Verial was far enough away that he could not stop her from reaching the eggs. However, there were people still running all over the place trying to control the situation. Verial rose an arm and pointed, hoping his voice would be enough to break through the crowd.

"Stop her!" Verial called.

There was no way Verial could prove she was definitely the source of the destruction or that she was up to any ill intent really. Nevertheless the woman, who ever she was, was the only one amongst the crowd who looked like she fed off the destruction at hand. She was the only one who seemed delighted that the dragon was dead. And having the same kin inside of himself, there was no way Verial was going to let the woman go unnoticed.

Patch, knickered and charged forward. He was not her horse, he belonged to Joshua. Sorvynia did not have a mare of her own, for she was a winged creature and really had no need to keep an equine beast of her own. But when the use of an equine beast was favorable, neither Joshua nor Patch minded the borrow.

Patch had seen her through many adventures so far with Bansca and his steed Thunder. They were fine beasts with courageous spirits and stamina. You really could not ask for better. Sorvynia did not ride side-saddle, because she did not ride for leisure or games. She could keep pace with any fellow, but most did not expect that she was far tougher than her soft exterior let on.

But Bansca knew.

"I swear, they must of known we were coming. Hurry everyone, lets have the sky fall and crisis break out....Bansca and Sorvy are in town!"

She couldn't help herself, it just came out. In a yell above the thunder of pounding hooves.

When the source of the commotion, fires and chaos came into obvious view she could not believe the sight that met her eyes. A fell dragon, a splintered structure that upon further examination appeared to be one of those great flying airships. She slowed Patch down at a safe distance from the scrambling mobs, and withdrew a scarf to tie around Kyrian's face to help filter the smoky air from his lungs. She quickly dismounted and left Kyrian in the saddle, giving him the reigns.

"Stay 'ere son, Patch is a good boy, he will keep yew safe up 'ere. I will not be far..just over there."

She did not waste anytime going to the aid of the first of the injured she saw.

Post originally by Character_Antonio



Yeah..the new Grand Duke. Pretty title--ugly expectations. Fucking ambition would be the death of him, he'd always known that. The truth was he was a slave to "more", a servant to trial and expectation. If it couldn't be done he'd be the first in line to try. When the opportunity came his way he accepted it without thought. No matter what was expected of him he would go above and beyond the call. But. That didn't mean he had to be joyous about it. Then again asking a demon to be joyous about anything was a hefty request.

The problem with titles that don't really mean anything in and of themselves is that you're only ever called on when the proverbial other shoe had dropped. For celebrations and rituals, moments of joyous rapture..yeah, they called on the King and whoever else could fit up his ass. After all, have to keep up appearances. When things went south though, it was people with meaningless labels like "Grand Duke" this and "Arch Bishop" that. The politics about it didn't interest him. All he was after was his own personal sense of accomplishment. If he could have that than let someone else wear the silk and fake the smile.

Since he wasn't needed in the city directly, he'd decided to remain at the villa. Unfortunately that didn't mean he hadn't told anyone where to find him; and it all started with a messenger at the door...

"Grand Duke Desiderio, you're needed in Aleris. There's been a..it's awful."

There he stood, in a pair of slacks and nothing else, leaning against the front door with a less than enthusiastic look on his face, and Rain standing beside him. But something about the messengers attitude told him that they had more invested in what was happening back in Aleris than the simple passing of a message. That made him curious enough to actually say something.

"What's awful? Don't talk to me like a messenger, talk to me like a person. What's going on?"

The man reached up and removed the hat which he assumed the messengers wore. After that the man slumped against the door way opposite Antonio, the forced, stoic look on the messengers face becoming a much more emotionally torn one.

"An airship's crashed in the city, sir. It collided with a dragon, they fell, everything is burning. My brother was on the ship, I was going there to see if he was all right when I was caught by one of the guards and told to come here and notify you. That's all I know."

His brother was in the crash yet he had been sent here? Ironic that humans would show so little humanity. But it was a truth about them he'd come face to face with more than once. Fortunately, though he was a demon, he'd had humanity around him many times, which is why no matter what his blood born instinct told him to feel..he was able to defy it. He'd heard all he needed to hear, and turning his eyes to Rain, he spoke.

"I've got to do something about this. You stay here, just in case Kisa returns before I do she'll know what's going on..."

Looking to the messenger he gestured his hand for the man to follow.

"You come with me. I have a gate between here and Aleris's square. It'll get you back there faster."

Those ambitious "wheels" had been thrown into motion and the change was immediate. The moment the messenger walked inside he closed the door, turning and beginning to walk away. But just before he bypassed Rain his right hand eased out and curled around her neck. The kiss that followed was brief but intense, and as he drew away a smile was offered to her along with a caress of his fingertips down her skin.

"I'll be back as soon as I can."

Slipping his hand from her he again proceeded on, moving to the staircase and disappearing up it. The stop at his chambers was altogether brief, only long enough to throw on a t-shirt and his dark green overcoat that looked as if it'd been official military at one point. After a pair of boots were slipped on and he'd grabbed hold of his cigarettes along with several various vials, all a different color, it was just a short little walk to the hidden room next door. A wave of his hand over what looked like just another wall opened the magically barred way. Entering first, the messenger followed behind him, haste being the key issue at the moment. He walked to the center of the room, reaching inside his coat pocket and drawing out a match.

"...You ready?"

The messenger nodded as Antonio put a cigarette between his lips. Striking the match on the stone floor, the ground instantly caught fire. As he lit the cancer stick the flames on the floor quickly circled around both he and the messenger, seeming to burn the floor away in an instant and causing them both to fall through. The floor of the room would return to normal once they'd left, but to those gathered in the midst of a burning town, they would seem to just "fall" from out of thin air, heralded only by a sudden cloud of ash and burnt tinder. The messenger quickly nodded his head in thanks, taking off with a slight stumble, not steadying himself before running off to find his brother.

Shaking out the match he nodded his head to the departing man, taking a deep drag as the spent match was tossed to the ground. After that he turned his attentions to what was actually happening. Trying to awe a demon with fire, no matter the size, just wasn't impossible. So rather than get the wide eyed, panic stare most had seemed to adapt, he walked to where the largest gathering of people were. Reaching inside his coat with his free hand he drew out 4 vials. Battle magic was his specialty, and he could command fire, but something of this scale would take time..time nobody had. Alchemy was what would work best now, and looking to the people, he handed a vial to the 4 standing closest him.

"A drop on every bit of fire you can reach..no more, no less. Do it fast, and don't fuck up."

After that the crowd separated as they went off to do as instructed. A few seconds of silence followed by cheering would show the vials were having the desired effect in extinguishing the blaze. Now that there was a way to actually do something, maybe save some lives, people were moving fast. It was probably because of all the hustle that he hadn't noticed the woman standing so calmly amidst the chaos. Feeling the lifeforce of others was something all mages learned to do, usually as a way of gauging the strength of an enemy. What he felt from the woman told him what she was; A Goddess. Where he had appeared would've put him in a dozen ft of her or so, and to reach further on he had to walked passed her. Why didn't the image of a God just standing around, doing nothing surprise him?

He paused when 3ft away or so, flicking the ashes off of his cigarette. It looked in his eyes as though he wanted to say something, and at that moment he could think of a hundred different things. Sure she could've put out the fires, she could've done many things, but she didn't. He was sure it had something to do with the need for chaos and discord, or maybe something more indifferent about not interfering in the trials of mortals. That didn't change the fact that right now she was a child with a magnifying glass, just watching the ant-hill burn. Taking one final drag off his cigarette he blew the smoke just above her head before dropping the cig and snuffing it out under foot.

"If you don't plan on doing anything, watch from a cloud or something, you're in the way."

After that he just stepped around her and began to move on, assessing the damage and what was the best course of action to take. The fires could be handled but the wounded and dead were coming faster than help could. Focusing so intently was what caused him to miss the soft voice calling to him over his shoulder. It wasn't until he felt a sudden nudge to the back of his head that he even knew anything was behind him. Once he turned though, his attention shifted completely to what he saw. Floating beads of light, the same that always seemed to be following Kisa around.

"Kisa is trapped! Fire everywhere! Come with us!"

His eyes widened than narrowed, and a glance he sent over his shoulder toward Calypso would defy not only the differences between the two, but the balance between her divinity and his own hellish origins. The look told her that if Kisa died, it wouldn't be just another death..not for her, and not for her sister. They could abuse their own flock all they wanted, he'd do his best to pick up the pieces. But to toy with parts of -his- world..that wasn't acceptable. Tearing his eyes away he immediately tapped into the magical "trail" left by the sprites as they teleported away. Like following a rabbit hole he simply adapted his own magic to the pattern created by theirs and followed them to where the "hole" ended, right in front of the Chronicle building.

"What the Hell is sh..."

The what's why's and how's didn't matter, all that mattered was her. The building was only two stories but the fire had taken over most of it. Debry had blocked off the front entrance and already he was moving toward the smoldering construct.

"Top! Kisa is on top!"

The second floor. Immediately he headed to the front of the building, his hands coming together as if in prayer than pulling away quickly from one another. The debry before him was thrown aside as he walked through the flames, the movement of his hands seeming to chase the fires back and ending them at their source, leaving a path of smolder in his wake. The fires had destroyed the staircase so he had to find another way up. It occurred to him to just level whatever was in his way but any type of intense force might cause the building to collapse. He could feel her presence but reaching her wasn't so simply done, and that just began to frustrate him as he stood amongst a pile of ash, searching all around for other means to reach her.

In a moment of demonic rage his eyes fell to the ground and his hands began to twitch. Moments like this were few and far between but they happened. Ambition drove him, but to put him in a situation where will and determination weren't the way, something more akin to his race took over. The magical energy produced from the intense feeling of anger began to radiate, but soon it was being focused into his hands. With the 2 limbs set a foot or so apart in front of him he let himself -feel- the fire, feel it between his hands. The flames of the building began to drawn inward, slowly creeping inside the building like shadows wavering beneath the raising sun. Upstairs the fires would look as if they were a single mass, "draining" down to the first floor of the building. His fingers began to approach each other, bringing the flames with them, pulling them from the building and toward himself. As if a living entity the fires ran across the floor, in through the windows, meeting within the gap between his hands. In minutes there existed only a burned out building, and a single orb of fire burning like a minor-sun in his hands. With a sudden clap of palm to palm the burning sphere disappearing, leaving only a puff of smoke in its place.

No tragedy or goddess would be taking the life of his woman today. He looked up to the burnt ceiling, using the energy the sidhe omitted to show him where she was. When he had her position locked onto with his eyes he knew there would only be one chance to attempt what he was doing to do. From where he stood his heel dug in to the ground and he took off in a sprint for the wall, hopefully it could support his weight. Leaping from the floor his feet touched against the wood for but a moment as his right hand thrust down and sent a raw blast of magical energy into it. The concussive force threw him upward toward the ceiling, and quickly his left hand swung upward, again flinging an arch of formless energy ahead of him. The ceiling above exploded, opening a large hole for him to emerge from. Landing to his feet he could hear the building already beginning to give way, not sparing a moment he rushed forward. No hello's, no are you all right's, just his arms latching around her as he quickly ducked into the office closest to them. With her smaller frame cradled to his with his left arm he ran toward the window, thrusting out his right hand as the wall before them would explode outward, raining burnt wood and glass into the street as he dove out with her. Landing on the ground with her in his arms, a loud creak followed by the echoing collapse of the building would come from behind them. Instead of paying attention to all of that though, instead he smiled to her while raising up to his feet and letting hers touch the ground;

"So..you're a writer, huh? That sounds like fun."

Soft fingers rested on his arm and a second later his head turned so he could see his beloved. His right hand rose to rest on hers as he listened to her, his jade gaze falling on her hand first, then her misty pale blue eyes. "I believe your right. I was captivated by the scenery." Winked and then looked back to the harbor, the smell of the water inviting. It'd been a while since he's been for a swim, but it wasn't summer yet. He couldn't wait to take the younger kids down to the beach. There would be time for sight-seeing later, they were here to find her son. The chaotic energy in the air had him worried and concerned. -Something- was quite wrong, he could feel it intensely due his connection with Nature.

Watched her reaction and knew she wanted to bolt ahead, but didn't because of Kyrian being there with them. As she spoke to Kyrian, he watched the smoke and wondered what had caused the fires. A very familiar tug yanked at his heart and he hoped he wasn't feeling what he thought he was feeling. Looking to his beloved, he nodded upon hearing her decision, one he was already prepared to make. "Kit and Angel will stay with you as well to protect you. People already in a state of panic, worry, and fear don't need a panther amongst them." Cast a glance to the female panther trodding along with them. "Sorry darling, no offense, but you have to protect Kyrian and the horses."

Kit flicked her tail and perked her ears. {Aye, I was gonna do it anyways.} she thought to him. Kit was quite intelligent, she'd been a gift from Terra. Sorvy had been wise in mentioning they didn't know what was going on and she was right, they could only see the city ablaze, buildings in danger of falling down. The acrid smoke was climbing high into the sky and covering it in a black cloud that almost appeared as stormclouds.

"Also, if anyone assumes your alone, call for one of us." He had even allowed two of thier dogs to accompany them. Daisy and Harper. He needed them to be guardians for a while if they had to camp out. He couldn't help chuckling at Sorvy's 'Forward Ho', but after Patches took about three strides, Thunder was catching up with him and the pair of riders were coming upon the city cautiously. Anyone spotting them would wonder who they were, but there would be time for meeting the people later.

Right now, they had to reach those in need of healing. And all involved were doing thier own parts to help those in need in the midst of the disaster.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (TBC)

Somewhere in the crowd she thought she heard Verial's voice calling out. At first she thought it was perhaps just because she was looking for him in every other face just as Kyrian had been. She was on her knees hovering over a badly burned male, she could hardly tell his age. He appeared as if his face and torso had met an explosion at close range. He had large splinters of wood stuck in his abdomen like a pin cushion. There were so many screams and cries for help it was overwhelming to her spirit. She thrust her hands down upon the suffering man's head at either side as she leaned her mouth down over his bloody forehead. She quietly began to concentrate the power of healing and life so that it passed through her and into every fiber of the person's being. It was always a miraculous sight to behold for any onlooker.

Every foreign object was forced out where it had been embedded in flesh. Every laceration and inch of charred flesh had been repaired as like new born. She put the man under as if anesthetized, so that he would sleep and wake up forgetting the trauma of pain he had endured. He was one of many that Sorvynia would rescue and drag to a safer place in an area that had become a make shift triage.

The thought that Verial had been caught up in this crossed her mind and she kept her eyes open for a young man that looked like her but with his father's odd eyes and elven ears. After wandering about sifting through the walking and fatally wounded she came upon the area that seemed to be the center source of all the chaos. Teams of citizens were desperately attempting to control fires that threatened to burn the city down. Air ships cast their shadows below, blocking out the light like passing clouds. The sight before her stole her breath from her lungs as she saw a fell dragon...a fell dragon laying motionless, still holding her clutch within her great talons. It was evident the Dragon was dead, but perhaps the eggs could be saved.

Such a sight was enough to force Sorvynia to mourn for days, for she had a special reverence for the great beasts of deep magic. "Oh my gods" she cried out, knowing that she was too late to even try to heal her. As the scene played out before her, people were scrambling around as if in slow motioned. She walked, as if dragging weights, but it was only her heavy heart. It was then that she saw Verial and a woman he was screaming at to stop. She couldn't understand why at first, until she saw the woman's face and read the ill intentions in her eyes.

There was a reason Verial was yelling for the woman to be stopped and it was good enough for her to inject herself in the situation. Not only had she found Verial, but she found trouble as well.

As usual.

With outstretched wings, Sorvynia ascended and raced towards the woman and dead dragon with intrepid speed to close the distance. She too was commanding the woman to stop as she skid to a stop upon landing, careful to not kick dust up in her own eyes. Dark ruined wings were still fully outstretched, and were useful for intimidation. She was no less than three yards from the woman...a safe distance for both advancing and retreating if need be. Sorvynia never underestimated others.

"Woman, he said -stop-. Please." Depending on what the woman would say or do, Sorvynia would adjust her response accordingly. Hopefully whatever Verial wanted with the woman wouldn't be something Sorvy would be sorry for getting involved in. She wanted to just embrace her son and hold him, but proper hellos were on hold. "What has happened 'ere?!"

With Kyrian safely protected by his menagerie of animal companions, he dove into the fray of disaster, literally. Leaving his cloak draped over Thunder's saddle, he lept from the horses' back; as soon as his feet touched the ground, he was on the move, quickly crossing over to where a young woman was bent over a small boy, struggling to put some flames out on him. Drawing out the staff that was slung across his back, he hovered the head of the staff over the boy's body.

The carved staff with the head of Terra upon it, the former Goddess of Elements in Mystra Amor, had been carved by his first wife, Kylie aka Toxic. The staff had been useful on many occasion and he was glad to have it, especially now. No incantations, evocations, words of magic or anything like that needed to be said, he only had to focus on the sole element of Fire and get it under control. Yes, he had been burned by HellFire and the flames of Hell were something he wasn't sure he could control, but he's never had a desire to try those particular flames. He'd nearly died from them, and it had taken him a while to get used to normal flames again.

All that aside, his focus was on the flames ravaging the boy's body. The staff began glowing with a deep inner light of its own, appearing as if flames were housed within the staff itself. Coupled with the power of Wind, he began sucking the oxygen from the flames while at the same time sucking the very flames into the staff. The boy's woman, who he assumed was the mother since she was in hysterics, stared in awe at the Druid as he began to take control of the flames. What he didn't know was that Antonio was taking care of them elsewhere.

Watching the flames become absorbed into his staff, he let out a small sigh of relief and then knelt down to spend the next few moments healing the boy with his healing powers. He was still getting used to them, and to heal another, he found that it was draining, but so very rewarding. A hand touched the boy's head, the other rested over his solar plexus. A gentle golden light encompassed the boy and as he focused, he watched the nasty wounds begin to heal. The boy would be fine, and he made sure to erase the boy's memories of the pain. He knew how it felt to be burnt and he wanted no one to experience the agony of nightmares as he did.

The Druid/Ranger was still quite pale from his own experience with HellFire, but he should tan with the help of the sun in due time. Looking down on the boy, who couldn't be more than maybe 10, he smiled seeing he was stirring a bit. "Take him to the triage, let him rest there. When he's awake, give him plenty to eat and drink. He won't remember anything of his accident, and its best you don't tell him. You might when he's older if you wish, but right now, help your neighbors." The woman nodded and had stopped crying long enough to listen to him and he took a extra moment to calm her a bit before moving on to the next person.

And so it would be, heal and move on to the next person, comfort the loved ones of those who had died, say a few prayers over the souls of the departed, and send those with minor wounds to the triage. Everyone he healed was put into a deep sleep while he worked on them. Anyone who had loved ones, or concerned folks with them were told to take the recently healed to the triage tents, while those with no one attending them were carried there personally by himself.

In the confusion, he thought that he too heard Verial, and like his beloved, thought he was hearing things. {Could it be him?} he wondered to himself. The innumerable calls for help was indeed overwhelming and he was still wondering if he had felt a Dragon dieing in the area. Having had a few die near him before, he knew what it felt like. He was hoping that it wouldn't be true, but when he felt his beloved's despair as she cried out, he knew something was wrong. Moving to her quickly, he gently maneuvered people out of the way, pushing them either to his right or left, wedging himself between people just to break up the crowd to reach her. The stench of smoke was overpowering, but he pulled a bandana out and tied it behind his head so it covered his nose and mouth. The crowd was almost impenetrable, but he made it through, until he was just behind her. "Noooo.." he whispered upon seeing the carnage.

The deceased Dragon clutching her eggs, the fallen airships, the whole scene jerked at his heartstrings. He would be mourning later, but for the moment, he was determined to reach the fallen Dragon. His beloved was already moving to deal with some woman, and he cast a glance towards the two, knowing if his beloved needed him, she'd call. Discovering that Verial was here was a relief; they wouldn't have to search high and low for him, though that's what they'd intended to do.

Leaving mother and son to deal with the woman, he hurried to the fallen Dragon, knowing there was nothing he could do for her. As for the eggs, he intended to save them if he could. The folks in the crowd didn't seem to notice anything wrong, but he raced to the eggs, throwing himself in front of them. Just as he reaching the Dragoness, there was a woman reaching for the eggs. It was probably the same woman Sorvy and Verial were trying to stop. His beloved could be quite intimidating when she wished to be and he kept his attention on the eggs. He didn't move them, but he did stare at them, beginning immediately to check them for damages on what portions of them he could see.

The Dragoness' massive paws cradled them well and he had to climb upon the forearms to get a better look at the eggs. He didn't look back towards Sorvy, Verial, or even the crowd, but his voice rose above the clammer of the crowd. "COME NO CLOSER! This Dragoness' body and her clutch are now under Druidic protection!" Anyone seeking to try and take the hide of the Dragoness or her clutch would be dealt with. He knew that people would want boots, armor, and whatever else they could get out of a Dragon's hide and bones. Most had no idea of Dragon society. They would have to get the Dragoness' body cleared out of town, but first, he might have to commune with Dragoness' spirit.

If it was possible for him to commune with the spirit of the Dragoness, he could determine what had caused her demise and what she wished done with her babies. If the spirit of the Dragoness beat him to communication, well, he was as ready as one could be for such an event. He knew how powerful Dragons were, for one was like a brother to him. A Bronze Dragon was one of his dearest friends and allies. He had no idea if the Dragoness had more than the two eggs, but he knew one thing, if Dragons were involved in anything, it was complex!

His heart ached for the deceased Dragon, for the hatchlings that would never get to see their mother, or perhaps even their father. Closing his eyes, he rested a hand on each egg and sighed softly, holding his breath as he steeled himself for whatever discovery he would find. Lowering his head to the first egg, he listened for signs of life. Movement, a heartbeat, anything at all. If the unborn hatchlings had survived, it would be a miracle.

Thankfully, the fires were starting to die down all around the city. With Antonio's help and the actions of the other Alerian citizens, the flames were now flickering to a stop. Their deadly path of destruction was being halted and no more lives continued to be taken in the event. What has transpired was starting to come to an end.

However, there were some loose ends to tie up at the end of the catastrophe. Nothing could be done about the lives lost and the fires that had ravaged homes and historical buildings. But what about the dragon and its clutch of eggs? Would people turn an eye to the scene of a potential fight that was growing?


Two days ago...

"They're becoming very warm. Each day, I can feel new life fluttering inside them," the priestess said and for a moment she leaned down and embraced the dragon eggs. Her lanky arms wrapped around the shell and her ear met the oval top of the egg. She tried to listen for sounds of life breathing within, waiting to emerge into the world.

Near the priestess, the mother dragon guarding her twin eggs watched not feeling at all threatened by the presence of the two humans in her lair. In fact, a fanged smile seemed to grow on the dragon's content face as she watched the priestess stroke one of the eggs with a tender hand. Despite the soon parting of her eggs, the dragon was sure they would soon enough be in good hands once more, protected by the two goddesses of Aleris.

A priest walked over towards the priestess and tapped her lightly on the shoulder. She stood away from the eggs and nodded knowing the urgency. A sign of warming eggs meant the dragons were soon to hatch and that they needed to reach their birth place shortly. The temple the small clergy resided in was not far from the city, but carrying a clutch of eggs that was nearing hatching time was risky. Either the baby dragons would make it to the Temples of Light and Dark safely, or they would hatch and fall from the sky during flight, a mess of untrained and inexperienced wings.

The mother dragon began to stand in the high vaulted ceiling of the temple. The large muscles in her legs and arms stretched out and she pinned her wings against her back until she was away from the temple's ceiling and walls. The priest and priestess each leaned over an egg and blessed them in the same motion; a soothing hand swept over the outer shell of the egg and for a moment, a glowing aura of green flickered around the eggs.

The temple the clergy led was neither one of light or darkness, but a small temple worshipping the element of the Earth. There was no goddess within the house of Earth and the clergy held very few people. Most of them had been deemed as heretics for not following either the path of light or darkness. It was not in previous alignment with either Larisa or Calypso - until now.

Alerion as a gift to his sisters and peace treaty to the temple, contacted the small clergy of the Earthen temple. In was an agreement; the twin eggs would be brought to the Temples of Light and Darkness as a sort of guardian, one for each temple. It was a sign that the Earth, the world everyone lived on, was connected both throughout light and darkness. Just as Alerion was connected to his sisters, in the middle of their opposing forces, so was the land in which the Alerians lived on.

It was this agreement that fueled the dragon's flight toward the city of Aleris - for the promise of a better land for everyone. The dragon eggs were ultimately a gift to Alerion's sisters from the king and an offering to the Alerians. The dragon and clergy stepped fourth from the temple that was surrounded in one of the lush green forests nearby Aleris. Here the dragon could fully fold out her wings and get ready to take flight into the sky. Three times her wings flapped leaving a strong gust that circled the priest and priestess. Then she sprung into the air with one flawless bound from muscled legs. The priestess and priestess watched as the mother dragon took flight into the sky. After she was nothing more than a dot in the sky, they turned around and went back into the sanctuary of the temple. Their work, for the most part, was done.

However, they had not been unwatched by the woman slayer - the hunter of dragons.


Under Druidic protection? The estranged woman threw up her head and heartily laughed despite the chaos. What was a druid's protection like in a new land, a land which he had never stepped foot upon? Utterly useless. The woman did not doubt her foes, but she knew the elf was from far away from his true home and that his powers of the earth would not be totally recognizable here in Aleris. Not yet anyway...

The eggs were but a few steps away, but before her destination stood two winged people, a man and a woman on either side, and then the Druid past them. She would tear through them all if need be. The woman considered the eggs she had fought for as a prize. Nevermind the dragon hide that lay seemingly rotting on the city's soil; she wanted the eggs.

The dragon hide if taken off properly could provide strong armor and the teeth or tusks were perfect for building deadly weapons. Nevertheless, it was the eggs she so desperately desired, for a cause of war against the Alerian goddesses. The eggs lay unscratched and unharmed behind Bansca, their shells strong and durable despite all the bumping and falling of an uneasy flight. But would the three be enough to stop her?

The woman's eyes narrowed from beneath her hood and with near perfect movement, her arm swept outward bringing with it a sword from under the folds of her heavy cape. She was going to get through to her goal no matter what; even if it meant bringing those in her path down as well. She did not care for whom the people were that stood against her, only that they were in the way of her and the eggs.

She brought the sword up above her head and then in one swift motion, it came crashing down towards the ground. The blade stuck the earth and the soil erupted, a shockwave running in jagged streaks towards the dragon and Bansca. Cobblestones paving the streets of Oneiro were unhinged from their previous resting place on the street, dust and soil flying to both the left and the right as the tremor ran its course. The strength of it would have sent both Sorvynia and Verial tumbling backwards, the ground shaking around the perimeter of the shockwave. Such a blast of energy would literally shred Bansca in two without a second thought.

And then... Bansca would feel nothing but the wind settling. Something had blocked the shockwave from advancing any further. A large leather like wing that was previously folded over Bansca had started to lift once the blast subsided. Like a curtain rising to the Druid's eyes, looming above him now guarding the eggs was a dragon much larger than the mother that lie motionless behind them. The eggs were still undisturbed, partially shielded behind Bansca and the male dragon. Yet the woman, upon seeing the towering beast ahead of her now, did not advance. Instead, in some sort of attempt to retreat she took a step backwards.

The dragon saw the slayer try to flee and her single footstep made the beast spring into action. A large taloned foot came slamming down onto her body and trapped her. Bones snapped and crushed beneath the toenails. Though the male dragon had pressed down firmly, nearly smothering her into the ground, he did not kill her. She was in enough pain and there were many parts of her body which were otherwise broken and unable to move. Fighting for her prize, for the eggs, was no longer an option. The only thing she could manage to do was whimper out a terrible cry of pain over her shattered body.

As the dragon lifted his foot away, sure the woman would be going nowhere fast or nowhere at all, the magnificent beast took a step backwards towards the dead female. Carrying a dragon out of a city was an incredible feat; one that no Alerian could ever imagine themselves doing. However, before departing, the male dragon looked with a glaring and yet strangely pleading eye to anyone who was listening and spoke quite calmly, "Please make sure King Alerion receives the eggs as he was supposed to."

After all was said, the male dragon turned foot, and in one swooping action, lifted the female dragon into his clutches and ascended into the sky with powerful wings.

When a male and female dragon mated, most of their species did not practice monogomay; they were a mystical yet dying breed and so had no time to hold onto each other. Nevertheless, although the female was beyond any life now, he had come back for her. Besides the blood soaking the ground, there would be no clean up of dragon on the Aleris streets. There would be no scavengers ripping apart the hide for armor of weapons. In time, everything would be washed away and it would be yet another story to tell.