Draegor walked with Bella following close behind. The base of the mountains could now just barely be made out through the trees. As they got closer, they could hear various noises coming from either the wind in the trees or the chatter of the animals. But one noise was rather distinct; the distant sounds of a dragon's roar. According to the townsfolk that talked to Bella before they left, it was said that although dragons were not very common in the Earth Country, it would be rare to not at least see one if you were to travel right through the mountains.

"So what's your plan to get us through?" Bella huffed.

"In order to pass over efficiently, you must be in possession of a dragon." Draegor said calmly.

"And you're saying you have one?" Bella crossed her arms in disbelief.

"As a matter of fact, I do." Draegor smiled and walked towards the base of the mountains into a clearing. "This will suffice. Summon: 'Blackland Fire Dragon'!" He chanted. Bella watched as Draegor's shadow began to shift, then a summoning circle formed and from it flew out a large, green dragon with golden horns and claws. The creature landed on the ground before Draegor with a heavy impact.

Bella looked at the dragon with fear in her eyes. This was the closest she had ever been to these terrifying rulers of the skies. "So," She breathed, "You do have a dragon. It's not the strongest one I've ever seen, but I guess it's impressive in its own way." Bella tried to sound unimpressed and hide her fear.

"You would be right. There are other dragons out there that would put this one to shame, however, this wonderful creature will serve us well." Draegor chuckled as he walked over and pet his dragon gently. The beast snorted a puff of smoke from its nostrils and gave a low, gentle growl. "Now then, let us be on our way." He said as he mounted the dragon.

Bella cautiously walked up to the creature, ready to run at any sudden movement. Then the dragon's tail swished around and knocked against her back. In a panicked state, she sprinted painfully for a nearby tree to hide behind.

Draegor sighed. "If you want to climb the mountain yourself, then I will go on without you, and I will wait on the other side." He warned.

"You wouldn't dare!" She shouted from behind the tree.

"Suit yourself." Draegor patted his dragon, signaling for it to take off. In no time the dragon was airborne and flying away.

"H-Hey! Wait for me!" Bella ran back into the clearing, flailing her arms in vain to get their attention. "You think this is funny?!" She shouted into the clouds that Draegor and his dragon had disappeared into. "I swear when I find you I'll-ahhhhh!" Before Bella could finish her threat, she was suddenly grabbed from behind by something and was now flying higher and higher into the sky.

As the elder elf panicked and squirmed with all her might, when she looked up she saw that it was the 'Blackland Fire Dragon'.

"Perhaps next time you will get on by yourself." She could hear Draegor call down to her from atop the dragon.

"You're crazy! You know that?! Crazy!" Bella shouted. The dragon adjusted its hold on the elf and raised her so she could climb up and behind Draegor.

"Call me what you will. It matters not. At this rate we will make it to the other side of the mountains in no time." Draegor declared as Bella reluctantly wrapped her arms around him so she wouldn't fall off.

After a short amount of time had passed, Bella was surprised to actually see that Draegor's claim of time was true. She could already see the flatlands on the other side. Before long the dragon had landed as the base of the mountains and when they dismounted the beast, Draegor called it off, causing it to disappear.

"Simple enough." He said as he adjusted his cloak a bit.

"Hm." Bella huffed as she crossed her arms. She was still upset about the abduction.

"You lead the way from here, Miss Bella." Draegor outstretched his hand.

"We need to go to the capital. It's at the southernmost point, the house we lived in." Bella explained.

Just then, something whizzed past Bella and Draegor, landing behind and in between the two. Bella jumped out of fright. It was an arrow.

"What do we have here?" Draegor pulled the arrow from the ground and inspected it, then he turned in the direction it was fired. In the distance, he could see two figures standing there. "Impressive aim." He said, and started walking towards the attackers.

"What are you doing?" Bella panicked.

"To see what they want. I suspect that was merely a warning shot." He answered calmly.

"What makes you think that?"

"It would seem we have ourselves a welcoming party and we should not be so rude as to ignore an invitation." Draegor's voice turned dark and cold. Bella was frozen for a moment and didn't dare move after hearing him say that.

As Draegor walked closer, he could quickly make out that the two figures were both young men. He could easily assume that they were high-ranked warriors based on how their armor looked.

The masked man stopped about ten meters from them. "I believe this is yours." He said as he tossed the arrow to the ground before them. The supposed owner of the arrow picked it up and returned it to his quiver without saying a word. Draegor watched their movements carefully. They were obviously suspicious of him. Perhaps word of their escape had already reached here, he wondered.

"State your business." One of them demanded.

"My name is Draegor, and I am here on behalf of an elder elf who wishes to reunite with a lost member of her family. According to her, the last place she saw them was within your capital. We simply wish to see if they are still there, and if not at least find clues as to where they may have gone." He explained.

"A sound story, however, we know who you really are, Demon." They proclaimed. Just then Bella came running up.

"Were you having doubts back there?" Draegor asked her when she caught up.

"Shut up." Bella snapped.

"You must be one of the hostages. Fear not Miss. We'll save you from the Demon's claws." One of the men declared.

"Demon? Save me? What are you boys ranting about?" Bella questioned with a strong tone.

"We understand if you need to act against your will around this fiend, but your wounds tell us everything. Rest assured we will save you."

"You boys have it all wrong. I-" Bella was about to explain when Draegor raised his hand to quiet her.

"You have yet to tell me your names." He stated.

"I am Carder. Carder Tsume." The warrior drew his double-bladed spear from his back.

"And I'm Seravis. Seravis Truem." The other said as he unsheathed his sword.

Then in unison they spoke, "And we will destroy you."