Disclaimer: I own the hair on my head and the brain that produces the imagination under that hair, but I don't own Lord of the Rings, the characters, the world, the weapons, the ideas that brought it into being and I am definitely not Tolkien or even Peter Jackson. Yeah. So in shorter terms: I own nothing.
A/N ~ Look! An update in a timely manner! You can thank NaNoWriMo. No, seriously, you can. LOL
Dracon
Amil valyi vac. = I love you.
Rûth ~ Anger
Morroch looked back at the three Anikrrn blocking the entrance tunnel. The creatures had said they could channel their songs out of the tunnel to the orcs with enough concentration. They'd been hesitant at first, but with encouragement from Morroch - well, more like frustration from Morroch - they'd agreed to try so the wolf could wake the children. The canine had already roused Gweltari, explaining that he would tell her what was going on after the other children were awake as well. She was now rousing the ones in the cells while he went to Amr and the children near the Haradrim prince. The shape-shifter and the woman soon had the entire group of children awake and Morroch found himself being stared at by many of the young eyes as they looked from him to the Anikrrn.
"You let them in..." The shock in Redaya's voice was clear and the wolf nodded, sitting calmly. "They are not enemies, but friends. They are going to help us escape." Amr and Zainaben both shot him a look, questioning, but also wary. It was not that they did not trust him, only that they did not trust this decision. How were they to know that these Anikrrn would uphold their word? What if they merely led them into a trap? The humans knew that Morroch wouldn't let them into the tunnel, so what if these creatures were here to lure them out? It was Amr who spoke up, addressing these doubts as he fiddled with another locked cell. Whether the Anikrrn helped them or not, these cells needed to be opened and the children in them free.
Morroch took a breath and started to explain, knowing many questions would come later and they didn't have that much time. "Prakash, Sohan and Keertana were not helping to take you by their own free will. They've been bound to the humans until now, but I broke the chains binding them. The Anikrrn have revealed that Seregon, the Battle Ancient from the Dragon Clan, has betrayed his own kind. He and the two human leaders are talking now which means they are not here to command the Anikrrn or to hinder us. If Keertana, Sohan and Prakash can keep singing, then the orcs will remain asleep. It is our best chance to sneak out of here."
Gweltari spoke then, her expression showing how much she wished she didn't have to say this. "That won't work. The Anikrrn are keeping the enemy as bay now while we are in two separate places, but if we leave this cave and go where the orcs are, we will fall asleep, same as the enemy." She said it with clear logic, but frustration and Morroch swore softly, standing, pacing as he tried to hold in his anger. Why hadn't he thought of that! He knew the answer was an easy one; he was sleep deprived and not thinking as clearly, but still! The shape-shifter growled low and simply stilled, his head hanging. This was hopeless...or at least it felt that way. His gold eyes looked up at a chirp of surprise and they met black eyes filled with light specks that were very familiar. The shape-shifter blinked, taking in the fact that the dragonlings were very much awake now and Talent, Freewalker's sister, was looking at him with a very serious expression. Her little voice was soft and Morroch found himself moving closer to the bars to hear the young dragonling.
"They are coming."
Gold eyes narrowed. "Who?"
Talent smiled, her small dark red-dark blue body wiggling in excitement for what she knew, what her gift told her as a knowledge dragonling. "My sister is coming. Others are coming." Morroch felt an answering smile come to his own face, wolf-like in nature, but still a smile and his ears went back quickly at a satisfied grunt from Amr. He'd gotten another lock open. It was Zainaben who came over to the wolf, though, his face mostly blank, but not in a bad way. He was just very quiet and thoughtful by nature, but Morroch knew that didn't make him any less dangerous, even at sixteen. "What did she say?"
"You know she is a female?"
The young Ranger merely nodded and Morroch wondered just how these children had been communicating with the dragonlings and what had been learned. "She said that help was coming. We are going to get out of here, Zainaben." The shape-shifter knew his actions a moment ago, his own despair hadn't been good for the young ones to see, but he'd been unable to help it. Now, though, he'd pulled it together again and was going to make sure the older children did, too, if only to help the younger ones. Zainaben regarded him for a moment, gray eyes steady and then nodded before walking away quietly. Dera, Arasell and Calenhir came over quickly after he had left, though, almost anxious to be close to the cell now that the dragonlings were awake. The shape-shifter watched in both amazement, but also amusement as three dragonlings practically stumbled and tripped over themselves to get near the three children, each going to one specific child, having eyes for not other. The fireling Spark went to Calenhir, curling up as close as he could to the bars and pressing his head into the elfling's hands, crooning. It would seem that they'd had some contact before and at least understood that they liked each other.
Desert and Arasell were a bit different. Arasell was the oldest female elfling from Eryn Lasgalen, making her the caregiver to the other Eryn Lasgalen elflings, even though she was young herself. Desert was a halfbreed dragonling with no parents. They were both slightly wary of the other, clearly drawn to one another, but preferring to watch each other from a short distance. Their eyes stayed locked, though, and Morroch was sure they were communicating by the slight winces and grimaces that crossed both their faces. Mind-speech appeared to be harder at a younger age. Perhaps this is because the brain isn't fully developed in a child, whether elfling, human or dragon.
Smoke and Dera...they were the funniest to watch as they each made noises; squeals, chirps, warbles, laughter at the sight of each other. Being only five and half, Dera was a happy little girl who easily found the excitement and joy of having a dragon that always seemed to want to see HER. Smoke, despite his older age, was just as happy to see the blue-eyed human for reasons that only he knew. Morroch wasn't about to guess, but it was a joy to watch the two and he was sure that their parents would agree. Or maybe he just hoped they would. There would be a lot of challenges even when this was all over and they were all safe.
"Amr's gotten the last lock off." It was Gweltari, pulling him away from his thoughts and the shape-shifter nodded, moving away from the dragonling cell. "Have him get this one. We need to talk to the Anikrrn." He started toward the creatures - still singing - and both Gweltari and Zainaben came after him, each moving silently and skillfully just as they had been taught to from the Rangers. Sohan was the first to notice them as they came forward and Morroch noted that the blue Anikrrn's fur was damp, his legs trembling, but what really alarmed the wolf was how many chips were in the creature's horn. Something was wrong and Sohan provided him with the answer without prompt. "We are tiring. In our homeland this would not be so hard, but here, this place, being underground, it drains us, Morroch. We cannot do this for much longer. I am sorry."
The shape-shifter nodded and his gold eyes caught green-gray and gray before looking toward where Amr worked on the dragonling cell. As soon as it was open...they were leaving. One way or another, they were leaving. They'd gone too far to consider anything else at this point.
The small auburn bird flew toward the large cave opening, small enough to be noticed but for no one - the orcs and men outside - to care about its presence. The sparrow would have smirked had it been able to as its flight into the cave went unmolested and the bird flew deeper underground, pushing away the rising panic that instinct alone brought from being underground. It looked curiously at the sleeping orcs and men lying about, wondering about the haunting melody it heard, but kept going, looking, scanning with small green eyes. The sparrow searched each cave opening quickly, but it wasn't until it started to get closer to the source of the song that the bird saw evidence of what it was here for. Dragonfire scorch marks were on the wall, darkening it and the sparrow trilled in triumph, flying right over the heads of the strangely colored creatures with horns and antlers.
The purple one looked over as the bird landed, but made no move toward the small creature. The black wolf further in the room did, his expression puzzled, like he was trying to figure out why this bird seemed familiar...when it really shouldn't have. Maybe it was the coloring... The sparrow trilled again and the canine stepped back as it started to change, grow. Tigeki sat there a moment later, naked as the day she was born and Gweltari, startled, came forward and wrapped her long jacket about the girl as the fourteen year old stood, grinning. "Surprise. It be good to see you, Morroch."
The shape-shifter stared at the child for a moment before shaking his head. He'd ask later. "How did you find us, Tigeki?" The other children leaned in close to listen. Tigeki had been with them before she escaped and they were both dying to know where she'd been and how in the world she'd changed her form like the dragon could do. Only the older children reasoned out in their minds that Tigeki might not be human at all and a dragon. The auburn-haired girl smiled mischievously and shrugged. "Skyfang be followin' his Rishten here an' the other dragons went with him. Emerald an' me, we bring the chillren's parents, followin' Skyfang's tracks an' we leave the humans a safe distance away. Skyfang an' the other dragons are with these flyin cats called Tsubasa and some humans an' elves, too."
It took some carefully listening to clearly make out what Tigeki was saying, but Morroch grinned widely, his tail wagging when he did. Now THIS was something they could work with. "How close are the other dragons, humans and elves?"
"They be watchin the caves now. They just be sendin me to talk to you. I be speakin to Emerald and she be speakin to them what you be sayin." Morroch nodded slowly, thinking. So Skyfang and the other dragons had gotten out of the Great Cavern and found where they were. They'd apparently met up with winged-cats(?) and more humans and elves. How the humans and elves had gotten involved or even what kingdoms they were from didn't matter so long as they could help these children escape. They were probably here for the children anyway. Now all he had to figure out was what to do and what kind of talents they had in here and out there on the outside. Gold eyes looked around and at the faces looking back at him. His gaze settled on Gweltari, Zainaben, Amr, Redaya, Beridhren and Heled. Out of all the children here, they were the oldest, ranging from twenty-three to around fourteen years in looks and maturity. "We will need any talent you can provide and the little ones will need your guidance and protection once we are outside." Morroch knew that this wouldn't be easy. The orcs in the cavern might be asleep, but the ones outdoors would not be...and there were a lot of them. And then there was Seregon and the...other dragons that the Anikrrn had mentioned. The shape-shifter wasn't sure what to make of that and looked at Tigeki. He was almost amazed that she was being so quiet, even if she WAS trying to figure out how to button Gweltari's coat.
"Tig, the Anikrrn said something about dragons visiting the humans. You should warn the other dragons of this."
"They be knowin' already. Emerald calls em' Dark Dragons an' the other dragons know 'bout them, too. We already be seein some of 'em." She didn't sound overly concerned, but Morroch saw that she wasn't relaxed either. This was going to a battle and they all knew it...or were quickly coming to realize it. Gweltari, Amr and Zainaben seemed the most attuned and they each gave him an understanding nod when his eyes met theirs.
"Emeraldsong be tellin me to tell you that they be waitin for yur signal to do anythin'."
"What!" Emeraldsong, the Treasure Ancient, the dragoness that wanted him gone, didn't like him...was waiting for HIS command? It was unfathomable to the shape-shifter, but green eyes just looked at him in amusement, a brow raised. "What be yur orders, Tyshayn?"
Emeraldsong's eyes cleared as Tigeki's voice quieted in her head and the dragoness found herself looking at a bigger and stranger group of individuals then she'd ever imagined seeing in her lifetime...and dragons have long lives. Elves, humans, Tsubasa and dragons all waited for her to speak, some still keeping an eye on the camp below them in the canyon and the rest merely watching her as they had been since Tigeki left. Most of the young dragons had been surprised by her presence when she and Tigeki had arrived with the treasure dragoness' back loaded with humans from the village, but the Treasure Ancient had made it very clear, very fast that she did not desire the reigns to this operation, but nor did she plan on hindering it. The dragons had been skeptic at first, but Emeraldsong had done no more then help and do what was asked of her. It greatly startled the other dragons, something that secretly amused the large dragoness.
At first no one had really known what to do and it was awkward and frustrating. The elves knew what they would have done if it had been just them or even they and the Rangers planning this rescue, but there were more then just two-legs here. How did the Tsubasa fit into this and the dragons? Apparently there were Dark Dragons on the enemy's side. They were something the Rangers and elves could not effectively fight, at least not with their small numbers. Everyone was going to be needed. They just had to figure out how to work together, how to use every strength and be willing to disclose weaknesses in order to have them shielded by someone with strength in that area. And they had a very limited amount of time in which to do it.
It had been Tigeki, to the shock of most, especially the two-legs, that had been the voice of reason and pushiness. First, she'd said, they needed to figure out where they children were, where Morroch was and how they could possible get out, the escape routes. They needed someone inside and she was willing to do it. It had taken some convincing and sheer stubbornness on her part and Emeraldsong's reluctant acceptance for the girl to be allowed to go, but once the plan was in place everyone felt better for it.
The dragons now hung back in the trees, moving around as little as possible as to attract no attention and it was the Tsubasa who were doing most of the guarding and scouting on the edge of their 'camp' so there was no possibility of ambush by the orcs. They were at the top of a canyon, looking down on their enemies, but that didn't mean they were safe, especially from the air and the Dark Dragons that might be there. The humans and the elves were the ones closest to the canyon drop-off, watching the enemy below. They were small and the humans and orcs down below were not expecting any sort of two-leg attack. Why would they? The nearest humans were the villagers! The thought of those humans attacking was hilarious at most. No, the enemy knew they had nothing to fear.
Emeraldsong smiled a bit at the different races in front of her, speaking in Westron for everyone's benefit. "Dagoryn says he will relay instruction to us soon, but for us to be looking at any sort of advantage or talent we can use." Her yellow eyes glazed slightly and the dragoness snorted quietly against a laugh. "He also says that there should be enough different races here for us to come up with something at least having a chance of working as planned...if we don't kill each other arguing first."
Dashheart was hard-pressed not to laugh or bounce in sheer amusement. Sharpmist merely grinned and Firespirit shook his head. Edonar, standing close to Mirwind, let a smile through. "As long as I have known Morroch, he's always had a way with words." The Rohirrim received many smiles, but a curious look from Freewalker. The dragoness didn't speak to him, though, instead looking out past the trees and down at what she could see of the enemy camp. They were all talking softly, but the possibility of detection was great. "Dag is right. There is much talent among us. We should be able to use it and do so wisely." Her black eyes met human, elf, Tsubasa and dragon. "Tell us what you can do."
The dragons all looked at each other and many smirked. They all knew each others talents easily enough, but perhaps they would actually be able to use them. It could be fun. Maethin spoke up, knowing each and every talent the dragons here possessed. "Firespirit's gift is fire. He can easily scorch e..enemies and melt rock if his temper gets hot enough. Sunwing i..is immune to fire, but her talent is with light. She g..glows and can control many forms of light. Freewalker and I merely know things a..as our gifts show them to us. We are information gatherers. Mirwind has control o..over the wind, a gift that allows her to thicken and thin the air around her and c..create invisible objects with it. Skyfang controls lightening. It is one of the less-seen t..talents in sky dragons and goes well with his battle instincts. It is nearly impossible for him to pull lightning out of the s..sky without a natural storm already taking place, though. Sharpmist has battle fury, a gift that allows her t..to see the enemy's moves at a slower pace then they would actually occur. This gives her time to strike and b..battle fury also keeps pain at bay. Dashheart...is bouncy." Maethin grinned at his friend as smiles broke out on many faces. Dashheart himself merely warbled quietly and resisted the urge to bounce exactly as the halfbreed had said.
"I am fast, a good flyer."
"You are the Sanitanaas, the Light-Runner, D..Dashheart. You are more then fast. We may need your speed before the d..day is over." The messenger dragon merely nodded, not accepting or deny the title given to him and the dragons turned their attention to their two-legged companions. The Rangers and the elves were very simple in their talents, but they would be useful. Archers, swordsmen, trackers, stealth, quick reflexes...each would be used by the end of this and everyone was grateful for the help that had come unexpectedly. The Tsubasa were a mystery to everyone and the winged-cats merely stated that they would help where they were needed. It would have to be enough.
Heads of every race snapped toward the enemy camp at an owl's hoot. It was a signal and Edonar, Glorfindel and Isao crept quietly toward the ledge. Dashheart, after a moments hesitation, went after them, much to the alarm of all. The messenger dragon kept a tight control over his energetic body, though, and remained crouched low and still beside the other look-outs. As the smallest dragon, he was no representing his kind in gather information. The Ranger who was watching beckoned them over and each peeked over the ledge to see a red dragon of great size walking along with two humans from the deeper parts of the mountains. Orcs trailed after the, each holding a chain. And at the end of that chain...were dragonlings. Dashheart gave a slight hiss between his teeth, recognizing them all. There was one, though, that made his blood grow cold with anger. Runner. His little brother. Dashheart's black eyes grew even darker as he took in Seregon.
This was revenge. It had to be. Seregon was taking dragonlings most important to the Clan, mixing them here and there with ones of lesser attention. Runner was Quickscale's son, as was Dashheart, and the Messenger Ancient and the Battle Ancient had never gotten along. Seregon was a traitor. Pure and simple. The rest of the dragonlings, the messenger Kinwa identified with ease. Jewel, a treasureling and Thunder, a skyling. The last two made the white-green dragon want to hurl in disgust, though. Fang and Silent! Battlelings! Seregon was taking his own type of dragon. It was worse then traitorous, it was sick.
He backed up slowly, not even processing what the others were saying as he sprinted back to his kin. They had to tell Dagoryn and the Tyshayn would have to make a decision sooner then he might have liked.
Tigeki looked almost startled, as if she heard something they did not and Morroch sprang over to her quickly. He'd been talking with Gweltari, Amr and Zainaben, the three oldest in the cave. They needed to keep the children in groups, explain to them what was going on. It was going to be difficult. They had twelve two-leg little ones ranging between the ages thirteen and four in maturity - seeing as how the elflings were much older then the human children, but still behaved as young as the humans - not to mention seven dragonlings, all very young to try and get safely past an untold number of orcs and men. The older children would have to help the younger, would have to meet up with a dragon or an elf or human or winged-cat...or someone who could take them to safety. It was risky and dangerous and insane, but it had had to be done.
The shape-shifter knew that right now, though, any information from the outside was of the utmost importance and Tigeki looked like she might know something. She turned uncertain green eyes on him and the emotion there was enough to let Morroch know that something was wrong with Emeraldsong and therefore, probably the other dragons as well. "Emerald says Seregon be a traitor an' he be havin five more dragonlings with him. They be comin' to the caves."
Morroch's gold eyes widened and he swore, gaining the childrens' attention. The shape-shifter thought furiously for a moment. They couldn't get out of the cave with the orcs blocking the exit. The Anikrrn couldn't channel their song away from the children if they left the cave - and the creatures were almost about to fall over from exhaustion anyway - so as soon as they stopped their song, the orcs and men were going to wake. Help from the outside would be impossible, not with all the orcs, men and dragons guarding the entrance. The enemy would have to be dealt with out there before anyone could get inside the caves. By then it might be too late. But they couldn't have Seregon and the humans realize something was wrong in here and take up a greater guard. The time to act was NOW.
It only there was another exit... The wolf's head snapped up and he looked at Tigeki. "Ask Emeraldsong if there is an earth dragon there! Any at all!" He prayed there would be. At this point, it was there only hope. And time was running out swiftly.
Emeraldsong's eyes narrowed at the relay from Tigeki and she looked around, though, logically she knew there was no earth dragon here. Tigeki's voice had been urgent, though, and the dragoness was almost as desperate as she knew her bonded and Dagoryn were. Was there a way to get an earth dragon here so quickly? She knew there wasn't. The frustration must have shown on her face because Freewalker's voice snapped the treasure dragoness out of her thoughts.
"What is wrong?" The knowledge dragoness was not about to be left in the dark about anything. She had two siblings and her mate in those caves and she was going to get them out. Emeraldsong shook her great head. "He needs an earth dragon. We don't have one."
"What does he need one for? Maybe we can substitute."
The answer was quick in coming. "Tunnels. He needs an earth dragon because they can create tunnels in the ground by controlling the rock and soil." It made sense and the Treasure Ancient spoke with a type of awed respect, but it didn't change the fact that they had no earth dragon available. A small, indignant voice startled both dragoness and they looked down to see a green and yellow dragonling with violet eyes at their feet. Leaf glared up at them both, but didn't speak any further then to get their attention. "I am an earth dragon." The two females stared at her, thrown for a loop and it was only slowly that hope blossomed in them. Edonar's voice came quietly to both their ears.
"Alagos said that she would lead us here and he was right. He calls her Sakina." The Rohirrim wasn't entirely sure what this meant, but he did know that Alagos said it in the same way as Leaf said Talikan. It was with respect, an equal feeling between the two and almost affectionate as if they shared something no one else did. And perhaps that was true. Edonar thought that perhaps Leaf had more power then the other dragons knew...or maybe that they just didn't realized she'd grown into it. Sakalthor, his arms suddenly around his dragonling, grinned. "Leaf can make the trees move. See?" He pointed up and sure enough, a tree branch was bending, curving down to touch his finger gently. The three adults, dragon and human blinked. Emeraldsong quickly contacted Tigeki. It took a few more minutes and the questions of Glorfindel, Thalos and Isao before a plan was made, a shaky one, but a plan nonetheless.
The adults looked at Leaf with mixed expressions. Some doubted that the dragonling could do something like this. Was she even strong enough? Could a child so small really accomplish something so big? It seemed impossible. Others, mostly the Rangers and even some of the elves, however, looked at Leaf, at the task before her and were reminded of a very brave, very small hobbit named Frodo Baggins who had saved not only his home, but all of Arda. Many had considered the task too hard for him, too. They looked at Leaf and hoped for a miracle.
The small dragonling, now coming up to Sakal's head - a few inches taller then she had been yesterday - moved toward the ledge that looked down into the enemy camp. She didn't try to go unseen and the dragons, elves, men and Tsubasa that followed her didn't hide either. As soon as Leaf did this, they would be discovered. Perhaps it would be better to strike first. Many eyes were on the Sakina as the vines and trees around them begin to move, to groan and speak with many creaking voices. A tremble set into the stone, but it soon moved down the cliff-side, rolling the earth as it reached soil instead of rock. The orcs and men below started to shout, not yet looking up as the ground beneath them bucked and rolled. Leaf's gift was searching, communicating. Where did this tunnel need to be?
Sakalthor was beside his dragonling, his own eyes glazed as he kept his hand on her scales. The boy trembled, but when his father made to touch him, he instinctively moved away, closer to the earthling. Abrazan watched his child in concern, but didn't try to pull the boy away again. Some things, no matter how you didn't like them, were not your choices to make. Sakalthor was only six and a half, but in this...his father could not make a decision for him. It was hard. He turned his gaze down below to see the earth suddenly shatter, scattering the orcs and men near the hole that had formed in the ground. Seregon and the two leaders had now looked up, realizing what was going on. The battle dragon let out a furious roar and the dragons on the cliff responded, their combined roars forming into one, one furious, outraged creature that struck a cord of fear in their enemies.
Dragons with men upon their backs, Tsubasa carrying elves swooped down from the cliff, leaving Leaf, Sakal and a Tsubasa up on the cliff-side to continue their work. Dragons and Tsubasa landed, their comrades jumping from their backs with drawn swords and bows. Orc clashed with men and men with elves. Dragons snapped at the enemy left and right, looking up into the sky and into the distance as black shapes started to appear, faint roars. The battle had started.
Morroch prayed with everything in him that this would work. Prakash, Keertana and Sohan had stopped singing, too tired to do so anymore. Whether this plan worked or not, they could not rely on the Anikrrn to buy them more time. The shape-shifter looked over at the groups of children - elfling, human and dragonling - assembled. Gweltari's group - Heled, Saath, Cadi, Talent, Scribe and Aduial - would leave first, following the Anikrrn out. The creatures insisted on being the first to face the enemy while Morroch held them off at the tunnel. Gweltari was going to join the battle after they exited the new tunnel Leaf was creating and so Heled was in her group to lead the children after the older woman's departure. Gweltari's group would be met by a red Tsubasa who would guide them.
Amr's group was next and it consisted of Actreo, Acwyn - the twins rarely leaving the prince's side - Calenhir, Spark and Lhoson. They would be met by Skyfang at Morroch's request. The shape-shifter wouldn't tell the halfbreed dragon why it had to be him, but Skyfang would do as his Tyshayn wanted if all went well. Zainaben, Malek, Desert, Earth, Niluphel, Madoc and Arasell would be next and they were to meet an elf and Zainaben's father for guidance to safety. The young ranger had been surprised his father was here at all, but now was looking forward more then ever to getting out of this cave and to freedom. Beridhren and Redaya, both being around fifteen, would lead the last group out before Morroch took up the rear. They had Dera, Maazin, Smoke, Sun and Tigeki to look after, though, Tigeki would be leaving them soon after to find Emeraldsong, of this no one had any doubts. Redaya, Dera, Maazin, Smoke, Sun and Beridhren would be taken to safety by Maethin. This would give the halfbreed dragon a chance to try out his claws, but also get away from the battle quickly. He was not suited for that sort of thing.
They all waited in baited silence and anxiousness as the earth above them rumbled and groaned. Faint sounds of battle, roars and screams could be heard and Morroch's attuned ears picked up the sound of pounding feet coming near the tunnel. He moved swiftly toward the entrance just in time for the wall behind him to explode inward. The shape-shifter blinked in pure surprise, but then gave a brief howl to stop some of the younger childrens' screams. "Out! Go!" Leaf had made a way. Now it was time to use it. Gweltari reacted fast, Aduial on her hip as she made her way up the uneven, rough, but freedom-giving tunnel of dirt and rock, the two dragonlings following close at her heels. Saath followed behind them, his sister Heled bringing up the rear as she held Cadi's hand.
Morroch turned back to the entrance tunnel when he saw the other groups moving forward as well, ignoring the worry he felt and the sounds of battle that were now much easier to hear in favor of spouting a stream of flame at the orcs pressing into the tunnel. He had his part to play to keep the little ones safe and he was going to do it.
Mirwind raked her claws across an orc, effectively gutting it before looking up and blasting another with a gust of wind. Her gaze flickered up the sky and she winced at the growing shapes that were starting to gain some detail. Enough detail for her to see her brother was among the Dark Dragons. He was alive and the thought brought her no comfort. The Sky Ancient roared a warning to her allies, knowing it was her duty to do so. No matter how much she had loved her brother, he was the enemy. She saw him look at her and their eyes met for a brief moment, brown and dark blue. The brown eyes of the dragoness were filled with regret, sorrow and love. The eyes of the male were much different. There was great intelligence there, but it was the kind that made a person shudder. A crazy light lurked in those dark blue eyes and some twisted form of love mixed with hate. Mirwind had not seen her brother in more then two hundred years, but she had never forgotten that look.
Nothing had changed but for the fact that the twisted love had grown to tremendous hate, leaving all affection behind to rot. The sky dragoness was not surprised when the dark blue dragon shrieked and dove for her. She leaped into the air and they collided. She wasn't going to leave this responsibility to any other. Her brother was not going to hurt anyone, but she couldn't bear the thought of anyone else hurting him either. This was the only solution.
They ripped and tore at each other, scratches and gaping wounds opening on both their scales. The only thing that easily harmed a dragon was another dragon's teeth and claws. They were their own worst enemy. Mirwind fought with no reservations. Years ago, she would have hesitated, possibly costing the dragoness her life, but now...she'd come to terms with the simple truth that nothing she had done had made her brother what he was today. They had come from the same mother, been raised in the same way, grown up with the same lessons...and he had gone insane while she had thrived. It was nothing that had been done, only something in the mind that could not be fixed. At least it could not be fixed by any known remedy thus far created. No one had ever bonded to a Dark Dragon and the dragon race as a whole thought it impossible.
Her breathing became labored, but Mirwind was satisfied to hear her brother's do the same. She was bleeding freely now, her wings burning with the shreds in them, but her brother was worse off. Dark Dragons were not know for their care of themselves. Her brother was malnourished and terribly weak for a dragon. The only thing that drove him was hate and his own insane ideas. Mirwind saw the opening as if through a fog and she hated herself at that moment as she instinctively went for it. She'd convinced herself this was an enemy as she had to and it was only as she bit into his throat did her heart cry out that he was her brother, too.
Sharpmist hadn't paused before throwing herself into the battle. She was a battle dragon! This was her purpose in life! The bloodlust, the battle fury, the clear sight and smell, the reflexes and instincts to attack had flooded her veins without delay and the battle dragoness reveled in the feeling. She was indestructible and she knew it. The enemy would soon know it as well. Time slowed and the orcs' movements were clumsy, barely challenging at all. The men, well, there was a better challenge, but not nearly enough to satisfy Sharpmist. She already dripped with blood, none of it her own. Battle dragons were not clean fighter or hunters. They liked blood, the smell, the taste and they loved the fight and chase that led up to it. Many thought battle dragons to be echos of evil dragons in ages past and maybe that was true, but the battle dragons knew that they were only evil if they chose to do what was wrong.
Attacking an enemy with zeal or even with a love to kill didn't make them evil. It was who they attacked and who they fought against or beside that made them good or bad. Sharpmist chose to fight for causes that were right. Seregon, however... The battle dragoness' dark, blood-red eyes searched the battle-field for the traitorous dragon, her Ancient, the leader of her species of dragon and she found him. No warning was given, no roar sounded as she struck him, bowling the much bigger dragon over with sheer rage and determination alone. Battle dragons come in many shapes and sizes, sometimes being almost as large as a fire dragon or as small as a a sky dragon. Sharpmist was definitely on the small side, being only a little bigger then Mirwind and Skyfang. What she lacked in size, though, she made up for in skill. Seregon was a lazy fighter and she knew it.
The dragonlings he'd been keeping captured froze, looking petrified...well, three of them did. Silent and Fang both looked thrilled and excited to be in their first battle, but that was the difference between dragonlings of the other species and battlelings. Sharpmist snarled at them, voice harsh and only the battlelings understood her, but it was enough. "Go find a Tsubasa!" She knew if they found one then they would be safe. She could only hope they found a winged-cat soon and before they were killed. She didn't have time to worry about it right now as her attention came back to Seregon. The Battle Ancient snarled as he lunged for her and their bodies shook the ground near them as they tumbled, clawing and biting like large, enraged cats. The dragoness' gift was thrilled at this point. Now HERE was an opponent worth fighting! Seregon's gift against hers. Which would be faster? Which would draw more blood? Which would kill faster?
Battle dragons are not quiet in their fights by any stretch of the imagination. Each dragon roared, snarled and shrieked at one another as they looked for an advantage. Clubbed tails struck scaled sides, cracking ribs, creating instant dark, black bruises. Sharp teeth pierce scales, met tender flesh beneath. Fire blinded and wicked claws snagged and held to cause damage. Horns and spikes broke off as they made contact with the other dragon. Blood made the ground slick and each dragon refused to give ground despite the pain or the difficulty. Only one of them would come out of this alive and each was determined to be that one.
Skyfang didn't understand why he had to be one of the guides for the children that were emerging from the tunnel Leaf had created, but he wasn't complaining. His bonded was here. He could feel it with every beat of his hear, every breath he drew, with every step he took. His bonded was HERE! The light blue dragon snapped and struck the enemy, protecting the tunnel as three strange creatures exited, immediately leaping away for the forest before anyone could hinder them. Skyfang didn't bother paying them much mind as one group of children appeared at the opening. The dragon was relieved to see two dragonlings among the two-legs. A young woman with curly hair was leading them all and the halfbreed watched as she broke off from the small group, squeezing another girl's shoulder before running into the battle with an orc-sword. Sora, the red Tsubasa, greeted the other children quickly and started to lead them away from the battle by the quickest escape route - something that was decided upon when one looked around and saw an opening that looked safe. Skyfang watched them go briefly before bringing his attention back to the battle at hand.
He couldn't move very far away from the tunnel, but he could strike any enemy that came near and there were many foolish enough that did. He wasn't the only one guarding the escape route, an elf named Henan, the Ranger Erthor and Maethin were with him as well and together they kept the passage safe for the children. The next group came up and Skyfang felt his breath still and an electric current run through his body when the oldest boy looked up. Black eyes met gray and the Haradrim froze as well, four elven children and one dragonling behind him doing the same as they tried to figure out what was going on, scared and frightened of the screams and roars, the clashing of blades around them. One elven child held on to the dragonling tight and somewhere in the back of his mind, the light blue dragon knew that the two were Rishten, together. Skyfang knew without a doubt that he was looking at his bonded right now, too, the one the Rishten had drawn him to and as the boy gave him a slow smile of understanding, the dragon's heart leaped with happiness. He and the Haradrim sprang into action together, almost flawless as the teen grabbed two elven children and lifted them onto the light blue dragon's back on at a time - one of the elven boys clutching the dragonling the whole time - holding the other two's hands as they ran for safety.
The Haradrim had just manage to get the two elven boys and the dragonling off Skyfang's back and running to three elves - who already had two human girls, two dragonlings, one human boy and a female elfling in their keeping - when the forest to their left suddenly started pouring orcs. Reinforcements for the enemy had come. Skyfang didn't act swiftly enough before his human had been struck a blow to the ribs from an orc fist, bringing him to his knees. Both the elven children with the Haradrim screamed when the older boy raised his arm to block a blow from a sword, having no weapon of his own. A dragon tail swept the enemy aside and Skyfang roared his rage at the enemy, stepping protectively beside his human, his body instinctively curling slightly to keep the teen safe. Nothing was going to touch his bonded again.
The Haradrim looked up at him in shock, but why, Skyfang couldn't figure out. Was he surprised that he was helping the boy? The teen's expression cleared, a small grin coming to his face before it was gone with a flash of pain. Skyfang kept the orcs at bay, watching his human with worry as the Haradrim stood and lifted an elfling with some difficulty onto his scaled back and then the other. The boy climbed on last and didn't so much sit as simply cling to the dragon. The light blue halfbreed gave a roar that scattered the orcs back, a gust of wind accompanying the sound before he sprang away into the woods. The enemy hesitated, but in the end, did not follow. Orcs aren't smart and these ones simply wanted an easy fight. They didn't care that their masters' captives were getting away.
Morroch saw the last group of children run up the tunnel out of the corner of his eye and waited, counting to fifty in his head before blasting one more fireball at the orcs before he sprang away, running toward the exit tunnel. With the children gone, it would not be guarded or kept safe from orcs flooding IN and he was NOT going to be trapped in the middle of two enemies. The canine sprang at the first orc who entered the tunnel as he came out and the creature died swiftly. The shape-shifter leaped out of the narrow exit and on to stable, flat ground before more of the evil creatures could come flooding in. His gold eyes scanned the battle quickly, noting where they were losing and where they were winning., Adrenaline pulsed through his body and Morroch wasn't surprised when wing snapped open from his back and the black dragon roared, joining the fray and confusion. The new sound caught his ally's ears and they looked up, looked over. A new hope bloomed in their eyes, seeing their leader safe, sound and free, fighting alongside them and they renewed their efforts.
Morroch took his frustration of the last two days, the last few weeks out on the enemy at last. There wasn't an orc that was safe with him nearby, but it wasn't orcs that caught his eyes. No, it was a human, untouched by elves or men, too easily blending in for the dragons to pay him special heed that gained Morroch's attention and caused a snarl to well in his throat. It was one of the leaders, one of the masterminds behind the capture of so many children and he was just pulling his sword out of the side of a winged-cat. The black dragon roared a challenge and the man looked up, smirking. The shape-shifter growled back, his teeth baring. He restrained his fire, though, more then eager to face this opponent without it. Teeth, tail and claws would do just fine.
The man was fast as Morroch leaped for him, darting to the side, but the shape-shifter's tail was faster, clipping the man in the ribs, hearing a satisfying crunch followed by a short scream. The dragon whirled around, quite a feat for his size and snarled once more at the man, watching as fear entered those eyes. It pleased the black dragon and a small voice in his head warned him that it shouldn't. He was letting his instincts, his anger and hate get the best of him, but the shape-shifter was too far gone to fully heed the warning. He struck like a snake, merely snapping and breaking an arm before retreating again. The man was terrified now, but Morroch merely watched impassively. He started to move forward again when a flash of color, a strong pull in his mind brought his attention away from the human.
It was Freewalker and the look of horror on her face was a blow to his heart. The shape-shifter looked at the man, suddenly fully aware of what he'd been doing. It made the dragon's stomach roll and it was with a swift swing of his tail that he snapped the enemy's neck, looking away. The battle raged on around them, but gold eyes locked with black and none of it mattered. Freewalker came toward him and her scent, the feel of her scaled face against his washed the anger away, leaving only a weariness and a sorrow behind. They were not out of danger yet, so no relief came, but having his mate near brought a sort of peace and remorse.
"I forgive you, Dag. Battle rage is a dangerous tool only meant for battle dragons." she whispered to him and the shape-shifter took a shuddering breath, nodding. He didn't want to think about what he'd been doing, trying to gain revenge, but he didn't want to forget it either. He wanted to learn from it. The black dragon moved his head back to look at the female, breathing into her nose. "I missed you. Amil valyi vac."
"And I you."
They separated as a roar, both angry and pain-filled split the air. Morroch looked at Sharpmist and his blood boiled. She was covered in blood, barely even white anymore and Seregon was standing over her, clearly gloating. The shape-shifter didn't think before he snapped a command to his mate. "Find Dashheart. Get him to Leaf and tell her to call her kin. We need back-up." He didn't wait for a reply, leaping into the air and heading for Seregon. The battle dragon didn't hear him until it was too late and Morroch's significantly smaller body slammed into the red dragon's. Sharpmist's sides heaved for breath, having been restricted by the Battle Ancient's great clawed feet, as the larger dragon was pushed away from her. It only took the dragoness a minute, a minute in which Morroch kept Seregon busy, darting in and out, never letting the other dragon use sheer strength against him, for the battle dragoness to gain her feet, furious. Together they fought the larger dragon, wearing him out, drawing life-give blood and finally Sharpmist struck the killing blow. Her clubbed tail hit Seregon's exposed throat, crushing his windpipe. The larger dragon collapsed, choking on blood before Morroch simply slashed his throat open. The light dimmed in the battle dragon, the traitor's eyes.
Freewalker looked after her mate in love, frustration and worry, but did as he said, searching the battle for Dashheart. A good thing about dragons in fights is that they are big. The biggest orc only comes up to their chest - on the smallest of dragons anyway. Dragons are easy to spot and Freewalker saw Dashheart right away. He was the only one knocking over orcs with the sheer speed at which he moved. It was almost funny, really. The dragoness made her way quickly to him, cursing the fact that she could not fly for fear of attracting attention. There was an sky-battle going on between Mirwind, Emeraldsong, Firespirit, Sunwing and the Dark Dragons or whom there were seven. It was a hard fight, the 'good' dragons quickly tiring and the knowledge dragoness knew why Dagoryn wanted reinforcements.
She reached Dashheart's side and spoke quickly before he darted away. "The Tyshayn says to find Leaf! Tell her that she needs to call her kin!" The messenger dragon nodded his understanding and darted for the cliff-side. Freewalker watched him go before turning her attention back to the battle at hand. Her black eyes clouded with white specks of light for a moment as she struck a man down and the dragoness looked to her left at her gift's prompting to see five dragonlings huddling near the body of a silver Tsubasa. The creature had been their guide, their safety, but he'd been struck down protecting them. The knowledge dragoness hurried to them, crooning softly to them, noting that three out of the five looked terrified and beyond response. The dragoness butted them with her nose gently, herding them away from the rougher patches of fighting.
She looked up gratefully as two pairs of slender arms scooped the smallest dragonlings up - Jewel and Thunder - to see green eyes and green-gray eyes looking out from Tigeki's face and another woman she did not know. The two two-legs smiled at her briefly before helping Freewalker to move the dragonlings into the woods where two Tsubasa took them from there, freeing the three females to fight again.
Freewalker watched the woman and girl sprint away before looking at the sky. She took a deep breath of courage before leaping into the air. It wasn't long before she clashed with a female Dark Dragons, probably a fire dragon by the looks of the creature. The red eyes gave it away, too, but this fire dragon was nothing like the well-groomed, healthy ones that she had known. No, this creature was pure evil and as the other female shrieked, Freewalker found that she didn't need courage. All she needed was the thought of Dagoryn trapped underground or the scared dragonlings she'd just rescued, or the many faces of elven and human children she'd seen to bring the anger she needed bubbling forth. The Dark Dragon would regret tangling with the knowledge dragoness.
Leaf was startled by Dashheart's sudden appearance, but Sakal was not for some reason and this reassured the dragonling. He relayed his strange message and left, leaving the young Sakina to wonder what exactly she was supposed to do. Leaf was smart, very gifted for her age and even a know-it-all on occasion, but she was still a young child, not fully aware of all her abilities even when her gift knew exactly what to do. The Talikan knew how that felt, when your power acted without consent, without explanation and it was only later that you understood why it had done what it had. He understood better then most, but others did not.
The dragonlings now looked at the raging battle below and trembled, unsure what to do. Sakal's hand on her neck made her violet eyes meet his and the ground stopped shaking beneath her clawed feet. She hadn't been trembling at all, the earth had. Something about looking at the little boy, talking with him made her feel better, stronger and more in control. Neither Leaf nor Sakal understood why, but it didn't matter. They belonged to each other and that much they did understand. It didn't matter what fancy words for it the adults used. It was what it was and that was enough for them.
"Maybe you should send them a message. Maybe that is what the dragon meant."
"I'm scared to. I don't know what to do."
The child smiled. "I will be with you. We can do it together."
Leaf nodded, leaning into his body, enjoying the scratch he gave to her head before she simply let go of her power. It was hard to hold it sometimes, but she'd learned to do it very early in life. Now, though, she didn't know what to do at all and so letting it go to do what it wanted was probably the only thing she could do. Leaf gave a scared squeal as her vision went dark and then green, seeing nothing but floating mist. And then she saw Sakalthor. The boy had followed her, just like he said he would and now looked around curiously. Both children jumped when a large voice spoke to them.
"Who are you?"
She recognized that voice... "Father? Father!" Leaf's shriek of delight seemed to stun the presence both children could feel, but a laugh, a relieved sound came to them and Forestwalker, Leaf's father, spoke again. "Leaf! Where are you?"
The dragonling suddenly remembered her purpose in doing this - whatever she was doing - and she spoke clearly and with some authority that would do her good in her older years. "I am to the east, father, with humans and elves and dragons and Tsubasa. We are fighting bad dragons, orcs and men. Dagoryn says we need help." She felt the lovely green world begin to fade and her father's next words didn't come through as both Leaf and Sakalthor woke on the ledge, the battle still raging on below them.
Emeraldsong was growing tired. She wasn't as young as she used to be and hadn't fought in years, but looking down at her bonded, seeing Tigeki take down orcs bigger then she was, thinking about her human's past, the treasure dragoness kept fighting. She was bloodied and sore, her wing-beats slowly, but hope and energy kindled in her heart and limbs when she managed to glance to the west.
Dragons! There were three dragons coming! How or why she didn't care and Emeraldsong gave her roar of greeting, unique to a Treasure Ancient, to them as they arrived. They were earth dragons. Usually gentle giants, they now slammed into the Dark Dragons with fury and vengeance. Forestwalker, Dawnflower and the Ancient Rosclaw were most vicious, their children having been taken from them by the enemy. They used sheer strength and size to defeat their enemies, but dealing with malnourished dragons such as these, that was a good tactic for fighting this time around.
The Treasure Ancient finally glided toward the ground, knowing that the battle was nearing an end. She landed a bit less then grateful and looked around, blinking at the vines, trees, plants and dirt she saw attacking orcs and evil men. It would appear that having so many earth dragons in one place was an advantage. Emeraldsong felt a laugh bubble up in her and it only came out as Tigeki popped up, grinning from ear to ear as she climbed up the dragon's face without so much as a request. The laughter spilled out and the green-white dragoness headed toward the woods, swiping at stray orcs and humans as she went. Perhaps she'd be more useful keeping any eye on the children now...
Wait. Their parents. Emeraldsong smiled and sprang into the air. Yes, her task was to go get the village parents and reunite them with their children. The dragoness ignored Tigeki's sudden complaining about how boring the job was.
Gweltari wasn't sure how she'd gotten herself backed up into this situation...oh wait, yes she did. She'd backed up when she should have held her ground. Now the woman found herself against the canyon wall, blocked to both sides by large rocks that had fallen down years ago, the enemy before her. A mixture of men and orc to make it all the more complicated. One or the other would have been easier to deal with, but together, there weren't many strategies or tactics she could use that the other species wouldn't have a solution to. The ranger woman kept her sword at the ready, wishing for her own weapon desperately. Still, this one would do in a pinch. And she was most definitely in a pinch.
Her hair flew in dirty ringlets around her face as she struck out at an advancing orc, whirling on another that took this advantage to come forward as well. Gweltari was tiring, getting more clumsy and less observant as the minutes passed and she knew it. The woman danced and twirled away from blades as she fought to stay alive, this deadly dance draining her as she struck down her enemies. Gweltari never saw the club coming, though, as it flew through the air and struck her raised arm with enough force to cause a sickening crunch. She screamed in pain and shock, her sword clattering to the ground with a ringing sound that spoke of finality.
Green-gray eyes stared at the blade for a moment, even as she cradled her broken arm and the woman looked up slowly to see a sword raised against her. How had she ended up on her knees? The thought was a strange one along with many others as she waited for the blade to descend, almost numb but for the fiery pain going through her arm and up her shoulder. The blade never fell though and the streak of white that flooded her vision was such a surprise that it jolted Gweltari back into the real world of noise and pain and fear and emotion. She watched with wide eyes as a white creature fought for her, gleaming fangs snapping on anything that moved. Orcs went flying, seemingly thrown by invisible hands and it was only when the fighting stopped that she realized just what or maybe WHO the animal was.
It was a white wolf, her bonded and as she watched, the canine gave one last snarl to the dead body by its feet before turning its head to look at her, almost reluctantly. Green-gray eyes met amber and Gweltari felt she couldn't breathe. She'd been hit in the stomach, how could she do something as painful as breathing? Anger, such smoldering anger was in those eyes. It was almost a tangible thing, something she could feel, taste and it was directed at her, at the world, at this place, at the enemy. She could almost understand it, grasp the reason. It was there, she just had to find the key. And then suddenly it shut off, the emotion was just gone making her suck in air in both surprise and loss, for in the place of anger was now a blankness that left her cold.
This was her bonded and it would appear he was not interested in being such.
Heheheheheheheheeheheeeeee...now we get to the GOOD stuff! Hope you liked it, Stabby! I shall be posting another update here and then going to Arienel's story. She and Morroch will soon be reunited, I promise! Please, please, please, please review!