Wow, what was I thinking when I was speaking as the author in that last chapter. And where the hell did some of that humor come from? Must've been half asleep. Oh well, here's another chapter.

Oh, did some clearing house on my other stories. Don't worry about it, I was just clearing out author's notes to something shorter.


It took some time, but after a fairly heated argument, it was agreed that Solon and Tarhsun would follow from the ground, Omega and Silonya would take the Skurvywing, and Faream would fly with Ember to the next destination. The final point was what had produced the most contention, since Ember was a prisoner, which Solon and Faream reacted with annoyance. It was not the fact she was a prisoner that they were annoyed with, but the fact that she was taken as a prisoner because of an act of vengeance in what Solon called 'the equivalent of a bandit raid' rather than in a war on the field of battle. Eventually, an agreement was reached that Ember would be able to fly rather than be carried on the Skurvywing, tied up, but Faream would have to watch her and make sure she wouldn't leave. Faream mildly grumbled at this to Solon, but the dwarf replied with, "We've already pissed off the country we are in. Why add the one group we currently have...non-hostile relations with to that list for now."


Solon and Tarhsun hid in the underbrush as another patrol passed by.

Tarhsun whispered, "That skurvy' could have held us both, in addition to the human and vulpine, but you just had to insist on going by land."

Solon whispered back as the patrol began to clear, "Dwarves aren't too good with heights. You didn't have to come."

"I was asked to, to make sure that you weren't going to try to get good standing with the Avalar Nation," replied Tarhsun as the final soldier of the patrol cleared past them.

"'Girl needs to be less paranoid," Solon said as the patrol cleared the nearby hill and the two continued onward. "'Kid could probably take care of himself if she wasn't trying to do everything for him all the time. Hell, I've seen children less than six take on their whole village with a single knife before!"

"Remember, this is a different world than the one you are used to." The cheetah heard another patrol coming soon, and tapped Solon's shoulder, and both got down in more underbrush in order to hide from the next patrol.

"Right about that. Everyone here's too coddled for their own good. What does it take to get Armok working his magic around here."

The Cheetah was confused. "Who's Armok?"

"I've said many things, but this is one of the most important: If you even suspect Armok has influence in something, be very scared and, if possible, run away fast."

"Have you done that before?"

"Nope."

"Why?"

"I originally lied and called it searching for glory. In reality, I'm too stubborn for my own good."


"They can't be that bad, Sil'."

Silonya glanced back, mildly annoyed. "How do you know that?"

"They managed to get me away from the encampment."

"Which by their own admission they only did so because you were the only one they hadn't killed yet."

"Well, Discharge did threaten the h-dwarf, and the dragon is closely allied with him."

Silonya glared, before returning to directing the Skurvywing. "While that is true, the only thing keeping them allied with us is the fact that we are the only ones that aren't after them right now. The instant we come acro-"

"Who?"

Silonya glared again, "What do you mean by, 'Who'?"

Omega shrugged. "They didn't agree to how we captured Ember, and that is only one being. All the other people I can think of do much worse than capture one single person, and that dwarf isn't welcome anywhere due to looking so much like a human, so I ask, who? Who will they go to?"

Silonya was silent for a while, Omega eventually said, "You know I am right don't you."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you trust them so much?"

"They are the greatest source of knowledge of humans I have. Even though they might be from another world, their knowledge could tell me a lot about humans. Plus, they know a lot about combat. It could prove useful for me to learn a bit from them."

"Your mother taught you and she went through a war."

"And she was still amazed by the power the dragons had. Saying that if a dragon ever attacked, don't try to fight it. Wait for the crew to assist. But these two...they landed a blow on him within half a second, and the Dragon barely registered that blow by the time they had killed him, then they took out over half the guard, that was trained to the point that they could hold back dragons long enough for the rest of a force to immobilize them, within a few seconds. Account however much of it to surprise as you want, they made it look as if it was easy. Like they had done it many, many times before. Either they are exceptionally lucky, or they have skills beyond anyone on this planet."


"Get away from me!" Ember shouted as Faream blocked her path again.

She moved in another direction to escape and Faream blocked that way again. Sorry, can't I have to honor the deal.

"Why!? You could significantly help our race, but you are helping these...these..."

Bandits? Murderers? Right now I don't care. They are the only ones who haven't opened with a threat towards Solon.

"Why do you help him!? He's a human! Don't you kno-"

He's a dwarf. Why are you people so blind to that fact.

"What is the difference!"

Frankly, a lot. Humans live above ground and are devoutly religious. Dwarves live underground and frequently drink alcohol so they can fight terrors like forgotten eldrich beasts, goblins, demons, and, the worst of them all, their own nobility.

"Who...wait. Their own nobility? That explains...a lot, really."

Oh don't think it's some rebellious shit. Nobility instantly goes to their heads and they order a table constructed. Then when it expires, they send a hammerer out with instructions to kill...the fort's brewer.

"Why would...what...how does that..."

Dwarves.

"Why would you help one of them if they act like that!"

Simple. Solon was the only sane noble, and they tried executing him for it. I was in the same batch, though.

Ember shied away, and asked, nervously, "What did you do?"

Nothing, they didn't want me to infect anyone.

"Infect anyone?"

I was a mutant. These dwarves raised dragons as pets-

"WHAT!?"

Quiet down, will you please.

Ember's face turned to one of fury. "Why. were they. Enslaving. Dragons. And why. Are you. So okay. With that."

Simple. First question: Dragons had no method of communication so they were considered to be little more than beasts. Second question: They were dumbasses that insulted me near every day to the point where I wanted to commit suicide just because I didn't have red scales and my fire was weak.

Ember became confused. "Why did they bully you over having non-red scales and not being able to breathe fire? Lots of dragon's don't breathe fire."

Where I come from, dragons are only red, only breathe fire, and are a bunch of pride pricks. You may have it differently, but that is just your world. Mine is a lot different. Speaking of which lay off the crystals.

Ember became suspicious. "Why? They are my best bet of getting out of here. If I find some of the blues so my power gets just a little stronger..."

Where I come, dragons don't have those and live for tens of thousands of years. Here, where you have them, dragons only live for a few hundred. Also, while it only takes me a month, month and a half, to recharge to full, it takes your kind several months to recharge even a fraction of your power. Those crystals don't make you stronger. They kill you.

Faream saw the Skurvywing angle towards a cave. He followed it, and Ember followed him in stunned silence. Shortly after dark, Solon and Tarhsun arrived, and the group rested for the night.


Review if possible. Don't care about whether you flame or not, though I do prefer advice. Or you know, just a review in general. It's good to know effort is not wasted.