Crossed lands

Chapter 1 – Extraction

"HOLD ON KEYS!" Clover shouted through the heavy down-pour

"iM HoLDiNG oN" Ke-Apho replied weakly through his mask, hands on his chest

"Delta where was the last RV point?" she asked the white beast which was battling against the over-head storm that they were in

I'll be there soon mistress, how is the yautja? said Delta through mind

"Just keep flying and tell Thunder and Striker… we need to go down fast Keys might burst?"

yes will do… Thunder can you hear me?

ahhh, this is so fun, don't you think Delta?

listen to me Thunder, the yautja is critical from the alien attack, I'm moving down just follow… no tricks

yes yes yes, Delta no tricks… but this is so fun don't you think, Thunder was a large, 1 year old, black female storm dragon carrying Tip.

Striker, Striker do you hear me?

yes yes young Delta, what is the matter?

Striker, I'm going down soon, the yautja is getting worse Clover says...as your following Thunder I'd keep close 'cause she is in a playful mood

yes, dreadful weather, I can hardly see an inch in front, but I am doing fine… Striker out, Striker is a young green earthen dragon with military precision, carrying String.

Delta had spotted mountains over the vast expanse of land they were flying over and had in her sights a large cave, in the first of the ring of them. Telling Clover she spiralled down with Thunder and Striker following. The weather was getting no better, and as soon as she landed in front of the cave entrance the first lightning struck the dead trees around them, sending rotten bark splintering all over the place.

In-side the cave it was dark and stone cold, but as soon as String lit some lamps the main chamber, of the series of the tunnels was glowing with the warmth of its lodgers.

Conveniently there were three passage ways, one leading out-side and the other two paralleling each other to smaller caves, each dragon had positioned themselves at the cragged arch-way, Thunder at the entrance, Delta on the left and Striker on the right.

Ke-Apho was resting on a stalagmite protruding from the stone hard floor, breathing deeply and staring into space. After tending to a very wet Delta, Clover rushed over to him,

"Keys don't worry I'll try to…" she was cut mid sentence.

"Do WHaT... THaT FaCeHuGGeR GoT aHoLD oF Me "he stated pounding his chest with fury, Clover stood there blankly then Striker came from his arch-way and suggested

"If you don't mind me interrupting erm… my lady do the serpent's kin live inside the chest… w-where the ribs are situated?"

"Yes Striker why?" Clover asked turning to the young dragon,

"w-well, erm… are they most vulnerable then?" he went on,

"yeS of CouRSe THey aRe" Ke-Apho said taking interest of the dragons words.

"Then it would kill it if we disturbed its slumber by well… lets say dousing it in a metallic substance?" he said smiling when Clover looked at him when the penny dropped

"Ahhh… this will work… thanks Striker arh man this is so great!"Clover shouted making String jump from her nap,

"BuT Clover…? HoW WouLD it Be DoNe?" Ke-Apho asked shrugging his broad shoulders,

"Well…" she said excitedly and went over and whispered on the side of his helmet so the others couldn't hear.

"oHHHH!" He said turning to her, then looking back to the others, who were puzzled by what they had not heard and rubbing his hand on the back of his head.

While Clover was stuffing her face full of metal, Tip was slumped with his back resting on the wall of the cave carefully cutting, buffing and shining his recent victory. An Alien skull, that he had killed himself (with the help of Striker's acid proof skin) when they where attacked. String was drying herself with a warm towel, and was lead down with Delta's tail curled around her cold body contracting and relaxing to her deep heart-beat as she was asleep. Thunder was at the cave entrance out-side in the thrashing rain also snoozing, her black and rainbow scales glistened like new beetle wing cases in the darkness.

"Right I need you kneeling for this Keys" Clover said swallowing the last of the liquid metal,

"yeS… And what SHouLD i Do… JuST STay STiLL?" Ke-Apho asked detaching his helmet

"Yes just stay still… now…" Clover clopped towards him, stood over and whispered "this wont hurt I promise", she then folded her wings over them so none of the others could see.

"Oooooh… Keys are you ready for some lovin'?" Tip said annoyingly, Clover then produced her middle finger out from under her wing membrane, and quickly slide it back under.

The procedure had to be precise, because if Clover directed the liquid metal into the wrong pipe thing … whatever, the consequences could be fatal.

Everyone around them both was watching with anticipation, Striker was clicking his claws out of nervousness, Tip sat there taking no interest in the matter what so ever, and was still buffing up his Alien skull, Delta smiled when she saw Ke-Apho's toes curl and nudged String to look, who was still drying her black feet, distantly watching them as if she was day-dreaming. Clovers tails started to curl around continuously and she faded gently to a dark or deep purple, her wing membranes went a dark turquoise.

Tip looked up from seeing the movement and let out an

"Oyyyyy…" and rolled his eyes