"Selune...? Selune?" a voice called out from Oneiro's palace gardens. "Please, answer me."

The voice was shaking more than it usually had ever, as the fae woman bent over the fountain that stood in the middle of the garden. The water that fell from the fountain, from the folded palms of an angel statue, was usually abundant with water. But, as with other things in this hour, its life was running thin and only a trickle of water drifted out now. Somewhere, the flow of water had been stopped for it, and no doubt - the world around her that she was partially in charge of was falling apart.

Head hung low over the fountain, the fae could hear the sounds of destruction around her. It had not reached the palace yet, but she was still in shock at how it had started. Those damn white dragons summoning Verial's dragon, awakening the wrath inside the king of Oneiro. The fae did not have enough time to figure out why they had ever come, only it was too late now. The town was being rampaged by a colossal, black dragon.

Some glimmer of hope sparkled in the water and the fae could see the face of Selune fading into view. Though the ripples in the water obscured some of Selune, the fae could tell she looked more human and more like death now. Her face was sunken in, greatly marred by lines of worry and concern. Somewhere in the mountains of Oneiro, Selune hid in the last remaining sanctuary the Temple of the Moon with her adopted daughter Sorvynia Dreamer and Verial's son, Kyrian Akilara.

Hours before, Selune had gone with Angelus to the edge of Rotoria desert to fight off the first wave of nightmare creatures. They fell with the aid of the angel and Selune's army felt for once, victorious. However, this victory would not come without great defeat. A diversion from the enemy lines. They had driven their own beasts out to distract Angelus and Selune. Now, the white dragons hovered above Oneiro to awaken with song one of their brethren - the black dragon.

Seeing the looming shadows of the dragon wrecking havoc on the city, Selune departed for the sanctuary, to find Sorvynia and Kyrian. There was no way the land of Oneiro would not be consumed by darkness and fire; there was only one thing left Selune could do.

"Wish?" Selune called from behind the fountain's water. The earth shook under Wish's knees.

"There will be nothing left soon," Wish said. "However, I'm going to try and hold him off... for you. You know what you need to do."

The voice of Selune beyond the water was eerily quiet for a while then spoke, "You don't have to do this. It is... my fault. I thought the nightmare creatures had been gone and they only used my daughter to awaken themselves once again."

"This land is as much my home as it is yours," Wish spoke. Although her voice was rather timid, she added, "I will die fighting for it. You know what must be done. Break off the rest of your power to Sorvynia, so that some of Oneiro's light may live inside of her. Do not let the white dragons reach Kyrian either. They would train him to be one of their own."

"I have already requested the aid of a guardian wolf named Naime. She is too escort the young prince safely out of this land," Selune began.

"Naime?" Wish questioned being a tad skeptical over Selune having chosen the protection of a wolf for Kyrian.

But, there would be no reply from Selune. Their conversation had been cut off. The whole palace rumbled greatly now and Wish lost her balance, falling into the fountain. She watched the ceiling and pillars around her as pieces of stone fell. Wish had wanted a few more minutes, but there was no more time to spare. Verial was coming for the palace now, and she was the only one who could attempt to stop him...



Oneiro was once peaceful beyond what any of his family had ever dreamed. However, now Verial had heard his brother was fighting alongside Selune at Rotoria Desert and he was walking about the palace hallways, dressed in armor, his sword hanging at his hip. There was nothing he could do to prevent what needed to be done next. Verial, the king of Oneiro, would defend the city while his brother took the edge of the desert. Outside the city walls, people had seen more nightmare creatures making way for the palace and the white dragons were drifting above the city in the sky.,

Verial had no idea that going out to fight alongside the kingdom's army was perhaps the worst mistake he would make. It was a trap that would lay waste to the land. The king had no idea he was already being used as pawn as he moved along the hallways towards his destination. The only thing that floated through his mind was securing the safety of his family and people.

It was this determination that brought him to a closed door within the palace. The soldiers that were walking alongside of him stopped when he turned to look at the door. Verial held up a hand to them for a moment, then reached out to the door knob.

"I will return shortly," he said. "Make sure no one departs until I am back."

Entering the room, Verial shut the door softly behind him and looked around. The bedroom was rather quiet, a single candle flickering in its holder, as to not draw too much attention that some one was occupying the room. His wings shifted behind him a bit nervously, as he walked around the room and looked towards the windows where a woman stood gazing out them. Biting his lower lip, if Verial had known he would lose her for years, he would have made a better attempt at a farewell.

"I have to go now," Verial began. Beyond her figure, outside the window, Verial could see a white dragon looming about like a cloud in the night sky. Peeling his eyes away from the window, he spoke again, "Calamaya...?"

Post originally by Character_Calamaya





"I know." How long would these walls give her security? It would turn out not to be very long, but in this heartbeat she had been foolish enough to think she would remain safely here waiting for his return. The white dragon moved like smoke next to the moon. It didn't like her. Verial had moved to stand beside her by that time. She looked away from the window and allows her emerald gaze to caress the perfect features of his face. "Come back."

He didn't need to see tears, so she doesn't show him any. She turns to face him and kisses her fingertips, then lays them across his mouth. "I will not kiss you goodbye." Those words a whisper in the low light. Then she turns away from him again. He must've understood that she couldn't handle a goodbye because he left the room then. She had no idea where he went or what he did next. But she stayed by the window and watched the world she loved disappear into the grasp of the creatures. She traces a scar on the back of her hand, one she had earned from the first of the creatures to venture into Oneiro. The first screams inside the Palace did not turn her away from her morbid view.

The tears she had hidden for her King slipped silently down her pale cheeks. "Wish, help us." She whispers.

The small hand that grips her arm startles her. She looks down into the face of Rod, a small boy who she had come to love during her time living in the caves. "Lady Cally, we must run!" Her tears bring bright innocent ones into his own gaze. With wisdom beyond his years, he realized that she, the King's lady, had given up. He grips her arm harder. "I don't know where to go Lady Cally! Help me!"

His plea breaks down the shell she had nestled her mind inside. She wipes her cheeks and grabs a hold on his hand, taking a last glance around. There would be no more waiting for Verial's return in this beloved room. She wipes her cheeks with her free hand and walks over by the fireplace, pushing in a stone. A secret door beside the bed pops open. "You know the passages as well as I do, Rod. Lead us out!" The small boy grins, disappearing into the dark passageway with Cally following him.

The ominous figure of the white dragons circling outside their window only seemed to be a constant reminder of the little time they had left here in this room. While the white dragons did not like Calamaya for the light and hope she possessed, they reached out to Verial with a sort of acceptance. Strange, Verial thought, wondering what they would have wanted with him anyhow. Rejecting any thought of joining them, Verial reached a gloved hand down to hold hers as they stood by the window watching the shadows move in the forests outside. What he wouldn't give to touch her fingers, and feel their skin against each other... Verial heard a cough outside the door and looked back to it reluctantly biting his lower lip.

"Come back," Calamaya had said to him. Verial was not sure if she had meant for him to come back after this war was over or if him being here dressed in armor meant he was already gone. Odd colored eyes turned back to look at her as she placed fingers on his lips, which Verial could feel were slightly shaking. No tears fell from her eyes however, which would only make it more difficult for Verial to leave. In fact, it was Calamaya who had moved away from him now, facing the wall.

His will was not strong enough. Verial reached out and spun her around, scooping her up into an embrace. It was quite awkward with the armor and padding separating the two of them, but it was the best he could do, arms wrapping around her form and holding. Darkened wings fell around Calamaya's sides and Verial nuzzled his head against her neck, breathing in the scent of her skin and hair, anything that would remind him of her.

"I've returned to you once before, and I swear, I'll find you again - no matter what..."

Gone. The room was empty now with only Calamaya and the flickering candle. Outside the window, the beginning of war loomed over them and Verial went to meet it. As the door shut behind Verial, he had to drag his feet away from running back in. What he wouldn't give to just go to sleep with Calamaya right now. Not soon after, Verial would hear the footsteps of Rod rushing down the hallway to meet Calamaya. There, the chancellor of Oneiro Calamaya Everness, would lead whatever people she could to safety.



"Wish, help us."

She had heard the voices of them all, in death and birth, ever since she had stepped foot in Oneiro. Now the sound of death greatly outweighed the sound of life, and she went to meet the black destruction that was the source of it. Oh, how could any of them have known that Verial, their King, would have been the one to be possessed? The dragon seemed to have been laid to rest inside of him for the longest time, but now the beast was awoken.

Wish stood away from the fountain and exited a portion of the gardens which led to the town. Outside she was met with people screaming and running in all directions trying to find some place safe from the fire and demise of everything. They barely had time to notice one of their goddesses were there.

"I need help too," Wish muttered to herself. Braving up whatever courage she had, she clasped her hands together and prayed. The stars above her seemed to glow and sparkle in the dark hours of the night more so than they had before. Waves of soft blue light washed over her and surrounded her body. This would lessen some of the damage she was about to consume.

The fae knew what fate awaited her. And yet, she felt herself not afraid anymore. At least she knew, for the most part, she had for once in her many years belonged to something. Just like Selune, going off to face Verial, she felt more human than she ever had. She felt vulnerable and weak, but accomplished.

All of this thinking greatly distracted her and before she knew it, she had morphed into her silvery, blue dragon form. It was not nearly as great as Verial's, but it was an even match nonetheless. Unlike the possessed king that wrecked havoc on his city, she avoided people as she stepped towards them. Olive eyes glowering at Verial who was only steps ahead of her now, she spoke out at him to get his attention.

"Hey, Verial, pick on some one your own size."

This seemed to work. He turned directly towards her, and Wish swore she saw the beast flash a grin. This only brought anger into her even more. However, she had no time to let that overwhelm her. Verial had already accepted her challenge and charged at Wish. She caught him as he dug talons into her scales, and she clung back onto him. The force of his charge drove her back against one of the palace towers, stone, wood, and shingles from the roof falling around them. Wish pushed off with her wings and hind legs, throwing him forwards as much as she could. Verial's claws had pierced Wish's scales and she was bleeding, but she didn't seem to do much damage in turn to Verial.

Verial shook off Wish pushing him away like it was nothing and dived at her again. She reacted quickly this time despite the pain, and instead of letting him soar into her, she flashed into her fae form and dove under Verial's large mass. Her plan seemed to half work however. His tail had caught her, and she toppled over, trying to gain concentration quick enough to change back into her dragon. Once Wish had transformed, she slashed her talons and claws into his back, trying to sink them in-between his wings.

While Wish was distracted by these attacks, she did not even notice the white dragon behind her. The thing latched onto the goddess, cutting a wound across her belly, and threw Wish in front of Verial. How could she have forgotten... how could she have let her guard down so easily? They had summoned him! They would protect Verial just as much as she would defend against him!

A thin layer of ice was all she could manage to protect herself against Verial's column of flame that roared forth. It melted away quickly and she felt her scales burning. Wish tried to shield herself with her wings, but this did no good either. At what seemed minutes, the fire ceased and she barely had any time to move. In fact, it was as if her body did not allow her to move at all.

Verial took this time to stamp a clawed foot down onto her form and push - hard. Wish heard bones snap and swore he was digging a hole into the ground with her. The city would be her graveyard. However, none of this seemed to matter now, as she closed her eyes. She grew smaller and smaller beneath the pressure of his foot that stamped her into the ground. Unable to resume the form of a dragon any longer, Wish let herself go.

Right before the last crush of Verial's foot, Wish fell into her fae form. There might have been a split second where she could have escaped, but she was too badly surrounded in pain and the screams of the townspeople around her.

"Selune!" Wish shouted hoping somewhere the goddess of the moon would hear her. "The realm is falling... Send your daughter away... Now!"

When the taloned foot came down for the last time, Wish was already gone. She did not feel her bones and body being crushed and broken into pieces. After Verial lifted his foot, the dust and dirt layered over where once a goddess had been - defeated in her attempts to save the realm of Oneiro. Wish had held Verial off long enough for the others to escape; now it was up to them...

Head tilted towards the sky, Verial roared out in triumph at the white dragons that circled the city of StarFae. The goddess of the stars was dead and all the hope that remained within its walls. Lowering his head, Verial turned back to the already ruined palace and began to demolish the last of it. After the palace would fall, the nightmare creatures could completely consume this land. They had already begun to filter in through the front gates. Soon the people who remained to fight would be dead and everything else would catch in flames...

Post originally by Character_Calamaya




Looking back, she couldn't actually remember her journey through the secret passages to reach outside the Palace. Rod had never released her hand and pulled her along with a quickness that only the exuberance of youth can create. And when they burst through the hidden door in the garden, they are instantly met with the haunting melody that the white dragons sing above their heads. Both she and the child fall to the ground, Cally cradling him against her body while covering her own ears at the same time. At one point, she realizes that she is screaming against their song.

Then the dragons silence themselves. Cally instantly bounds to her feet, jerking Rod up beside her as they join the rest of those fleeing the palace. But instead of turning and heading either toward the ocean or the forest as the others, she grabs Rod out of the stream of people and ducks into the royal stables. Most had disregarded the horses because the dragons had the animals so spooked that they could not be commanded. But Verial's stallion knew her, and would be more accustomed to a draconic presence. She runs to the horse's stall, breathing out a great big sigh of relief when she finds that Verial has not came for him. "Quickly, on his back Rod."

"The horse is mean, Lady Cally!" Cally watches as the stallion huffs, blowing out his nostrils at her familiar scent. "He knows me." She practically throws the wiry 10 year old boy up on the animal's back. She grabs the horse's halter and pulls its face close, "You will listen to me." The animal grows instantly still, not even flicking his tail. "You will run for me, the one who loves your master. And you will not be afraid." Her voice is soft, yet vibrates through the air around the muscular beast. Rod blinks a few times at her, but has no time to ask questions as Cally swings up behind him and presses her knees into the horse's sides. The stallion bursts out of his stall, not slowing as he exits the stables. She turns him in the direction of the mountains and lets the horse have his head, holding Rod and herself tightly down against the horse's neck.

The stallion eats up the distance quickly. Yet when a large figure flies across the sky, its shadow passing across the fleeing trio, the horse does finally throw up its head and let out a whinny. Cally glances up, fear paling her face. She slides off of the horses back and scrambles to the edge of the elevated road that the horse had been taking them up. Rod stays on the horse, calling for her to come back.

But her emerald gaze is fixed upon Verial flying in the sky. Yes, she knew it was him. Even in his dragon form, she knew it was he. "Verial!!!" Her scream pierces across the battle scarred landscape. "No!!" She drops to her knees. The tears she had only somewhat contained before now roll without hesitation down her cheeks. "Oh... no no no no," she pleads uselessly with the black beast that flies before her. He could not be doing this, destroying the home that he loved. Killing the ones that had served him faithfully. What destruction he had already done she had no idea. The death of Wish would bring her much heartache later, especially that it was at Verial's own hand. She sobs aloud, covering her face in her hands. At Rod's timid touch, she groans and pushes the child back. "No.. no. Verial, come to me... don't listen to them. Come to me."

The hand that grabs her this time is not that of young Rod. It is a rough grip that jerks her to her feet and whirls her around. Her water filled gaze finds the now teenage face of Dreyzn. She instantly lets out another sob. The main memory she had of Dreyzn was him coming to her rescue before, with Verial being his cavalry.

"Lady Calamaya, I know you love our King. But that is not him. He has no idea who you are." She nods through her tears, but is unable to say anything else. Dreyzn pulls her into a gruff hug with the awkward movements of a teenager. Then he scoops her up in his arms and puts her back up on the stallion's back. He mounts behind her and sets the animal off at a run once more. Cally turns, looking over Drey's shoulder at the giant black dragon that hovers in the air, his head turned in their direction… and preys that Verial doesn't decide to kill the woman who his heart once loved.

Part of Verial had almost heard Calamaya's voice as she shouted at him from the edge of the mountainside road. Somewhere inside him, something twisted against his heart, and he stopped his destruction of the palace for a brief moment. His eyes narrowed towards the mountains, wings and movements silent. Who was that who tried to call him back...? Tried to call him home, to stop this insanity...? If only he could reach that part of him inside his soul that was buried under all the grief and hate that destroyed the place he once loved. Then, he heard the haunting melody from the white dragons, the one that originally consumed him and started this rampage. Verial's eyes were peeled away from the mountainside - nothing of interest was there to him.

The dragon's muscles flexed and ached under the power that laid waste to the palace. Oneiro's castle was stronger than he had anticipated and took longer to take the stone building down. Verial was powerful beyond belief in this form, but he had his own limits and he was starting to break down. The exhaustion pushed him to the limits; the song over him was starting to wear off. The white dragons were sensing his descent into his normal form, but they had gotten what they wanted.

The castle demolished, homes and shops burning ablaze until turned to ash, and the city of StarFae laid to waste. The remaining people who had died in fights or were on the edge of death, were being consumed as food for the nightmare creatures that tread into the city. Screams had filled the air, until the last one rang like a temple bell signaling the end. Then there was silence, except the slurping, grunts, and cheering sounds of the nightmare beasts; the remaining villains having stayed behind to feast and celebrate. Victory over Selune and her children had come for them, and slowly Verial was starting to transform back, his mind weakened and dizzied, unaware of the events that had transpired.



Calamaya, Dreyzn, and Rod would take the path up the mountain, perhaps going to find Sorvynia. There was nothing Calamaya could do to stop Verial from his descent into madness. Dreyzn had known this and pulled her away from running back into the fray of war. Together, the three of them riding on the back of Verial's horse, climbed up the mountain. The Temple of the Moon laid somewhere along this road, but they were being followed.

A great black shadow flew above them, but not one belonging to Verial. One of the white dragons had caught sight of them, but did not stop in front of Calamaya and the boys. Instead, it flew past and landed on the Temple of the Moon, perching on the roof. The beast let out a throaty roar into the sky and started pounding its taloned feet into the top of the roof. But something was holding it back from entering... Selune? Did Kyrian already leave with Naime? What would happen if the roof did give in...?

The realm of Oneiro was unearthly quiet, despite the sounds of destruction. Far from their home and all that they knew, the group that fled up the mountains would not hear cheerful song, the jovial shouting of vendors on the city streets, or their own loved ones any longer. What they had left would be their final hope to cling to, yet nothing seemed to bring anyone out of the darkness that fell over Oneiro.



Verial clutched his head in his hands as he stumbled forward. His darkened wings didn't catch him falling into his human-like form. Verial had no idea what was going on, only that the air was hot and not filled with the familiar sound of a city he once loved. His head pounded and he felt weak, yet he couldn't remember anything that had went on.

Raising his head, Verial's lips parted at the sight around him and he whispered out a feeble, pleading, "No..." All around him the city had died, and he hadn't even been there to protect it. Where had he been?! Verial shook his head fast, closing his eyes, a wounded growl coming from his throat. Who did this? Who did this?!

It was you, of course, the white dragons sang to him. Don't worry... You've done beautiful things for us...

"N-no...!" Verial said his hands running up into his raven hair. On his knees, Verial tried to reject any clues that pointed to him being the culprit. But the white dragons were feeding him visions of what had happened.

Verial felt his body slump forward more, wings falling around his sides, and forehead meeting the ground. Around him, the nightmare creatures surrounded the fallen king, hungry looks on their faces. Verial was dimly aware of them circling him like a pack of wolves, their sharp claws and talons extended. Everything was so real; there was so much truth in front of him that he had torn Oneiro to nothing with his own hands, yet he wanted to reject every idea.

He is not supper, the white dragons croaked at the nightmare creatures. We will need him again - after he is stronger...

Verial's head turned in the dirt, looking to the side past his curtain of raven hair that covered his cheek. Just beyond the gigantic feet of one demon was a sword still stained with the rusted color of blood. If he could just make it over there...

"Never," Verial told them his voice quite strong, despite the shaking in it. "You'll never have me again."

Post originally by Character_Calamaya





A strong arm wraps around her bare waist, settling her back against the warm strong curve of his body. Silken sheets rustle in the moonlit silence as she tilts her head back to give him a sleepy smile. "Why are you awake, Cally?" The sound sweeps across her skin, then inward to settle in her heart. His voice. Verial's voice. She stretches, pressing her small figure back into his broad one. He quietly laughs, his fingers trailing up her thigh to grasp at her hip bone. "Time to wake up."

"But I am awake." She replies, turning her face to smile at him again. But she cannot bring his features in focus.

"Calamaya…" And it is no longer his voice. She frowns, panicking as she flips over and grasps at his face, trying to hold onto him for just a moment longer. "Lady Calamaya!" It was such a sweet memory, and to lose that happiness just breaks her heart all over again.

Awareness finally takes a firm hold on her mind. Her green gaze finds her hands grasping the young face of Drezyn, his confusion written plainly across his features. She pushes away and to her feet, stalking deeper into the moist darkness of the caves, ignoring the young boy as he calls her name one more time.

These caves had been her home with many others for many months once before. It had been a natural choice to return again. She knew the enchantments on the single entrance still held. There was still water and dried food stuffs stored here that they could use, though they would have to forage for fresh game eventually. If any would still exist come sunrise.

They would only be here a couple of days. Even if they were safe from their enemy in this network of caves, the land was no longer theirs to inhabit. Their King had turned his own hand against them.

Before she had fallen asleep, she and some of the villagers that had saw her and followed sat up and discussed their options. There were 25 of them in all: 9 men, 7 women, 3 teenagers (2 boys and a girl), and 6 children. One of the men had a large cargo vessel in the docks. It was decided that between all of the adults and the two teenage boys, they would be able to form a crew to leave this place.

And they did. Some days later, they had rallied together and snuck down to the water's edge. The docks where patrolled, so they had been forced to swim through the frigid water to the boat that would soon become their home. As they had finally cast off in the predawn light, she had stood at the stern. The wind cut into her already chilled skin. Her shivering had become uncontrollable even when one of the women wrapped a heavy wool blanket around her. The men were silent as they worked to make the boat sail.

Her moist emerald gaze had remained focus on the image of her battle torn home growing smaller and smaller. The palace was practically in shambles. She had lived there since the first day she had arrived, so as her gaze sweeps across it, the tears begin to fall freely.

Verial was still there somewhere. Did he know what he did? Did he feel the sorrow of his people? She sobs, knowing that he probably thinks she is dead. There was no way to notify him though. Not a single soul remained that would relay him a message, and to remain herself... it would be suicide. She knew that, knew that the white dragons knew who she was and hated her for it. And so she stands there despite the fact that she can longer feel most of her extremities. I'm here Verial... I lived.

The sun had almost completely risen as they moved out to sea. She stayed at the stern until the last visible piece of Onerio disappears below the horizon. Then soundlessly, the Chancellor collapses to a heap onto the deck, blonde hair fanning out across the harsh plank floor.