The dragons came into view before they rolled through the trees. I silently bid everyone I knew farewell.

As escape plans went, the spies had not planned a very good one. They knew, and had failed to address, the Glyphian that came into town that day was a spy like them, but for their opposition. There had been too many people around when they initially realized, and in their hasty paniced escape they didn't realize he'd be in Kirsla when they left.

Arisa had read the note attached to the leg of the pigeon hours before they left town, and had been pacing in the forrest path near Aquarius for the past two hours. "Apris, please," she prayed aloud for what was not the first time that morning, "bless our troops and let them leave undetected." But Apris was not feeling kind that day.

The special forces captain checked the position of the sun again. Her breath caught in her chest. Five dragons flew ominously closer in perfect formation. Someone, she knew, was going to die that day. And it was going to be her.

As a woman, Arisa selfishly considered simply leaving then and there. There was no way only five dragons would attack the royal city; she knew they were only searching for the two spies. They were skilled enough, she thought, and at least one of them was likely to survive. But as a close advisor to the queen and proud patriot, she knew the information the two had gathered was worth far more than her own life.

The waggon rolled to a stop in front of her. She quickly entered and began to undress. Her long, milky legs were covered in ancient writings and runes. On her left, "destroy and create" ran up to her knees. On the right, "nurture and devestate." It was, as Apris wrote in her teachings, mother's curse.

The driver followed suit. Her body was absent of any writings. Adray politely averted his eyes as the women switched clothes. "Hide," Arisa commanded. The two exitted the wagon. Arisa kicked the animals pulling it into gear, and turned it around to drive it to her death.

The five dragons landed in a circle around her as soon as she pulled into a clearing. Glou Nox, as she had guessed, was among them. If she could kill him... but she knew that wasn't possible. Not alone.

"Be careful," Glou warned the men he had been able to scrap up out of Kirsla. "Aquarians are not known to surrender so easily."

Arisa had to smile to herself. He really was as perceptive as they said. She hesitated only a second when she picked up the dagger. She flung it out of the wagon towards the closest man on a dragon. As she suspected, he dodged out of the way. He was saved from the blade, but his mount was not. The dragon roared in pain and flung itsself onto the ground, rolling about and clawing at it's neck. It pulled itsself back up once it had wrestled the steel out of it's body. The rider did not.

Glou gave the command, and the remaining four riders pushed their dragons in towards the wagon. Arisa quickly exited and ran into the safety of the forrest. The dragons followed her, but were forced to split up due to their massive size and the lack of space between many of the trees Arisa was darting through. Every instinct in her demanded she run towards Arias or Aquaria, but instead she ran south. She would not lead them to her city, they would kill. Glyphians were vengeful.

She could feel a dragons breath on the back of her neck. She darted sideways. The soldier behind her attempted the same thing, but the dragon wouldn't have it. It landed, and slowly turned. Impatiently, the soldier jumped off of him and ran towards her. "Idiot." Her hands came up and fire shot out of them towards him. He shrieked, and his dragon bolted. Obviously, Arisa thought happily, these dragons aren't well trained. Another soldier came up behind her, and yet another from her side.

Glou Nox wrapped his arms around her chest, pulling her arms back. Her legs flailed, landing kicks on the second soldier's chest and neck. "Put the fire out, you idiot!" Glou hissed at him. The soldier gasped and clutched at his throat, but helped to kick dirt at his burning comrade on the ground. Arisa struggled more violently, kicking at Glou's knees and feet.

He lifted the hilt of his sword and brought the blunt of it to the back of her head. "Damnit," he grumbled. He dragged her limp body back to his dragon, his 3 remaining men following weakly behind. He knew he should have killed her. He knew his men would question his decision. But something inside of him didn't want to hurt her. The way she moved was poetry. He wanted it for himself.