Disclaimer: "Do you own Haradris": Yes. "Do you own the TMNT": No. What gave you that insane idea?
A/N: Well, apparently I hit a nerve with the last chapter and you guys are probably wanting to kill me dead for those cliffies…soo, here's the next chapter! BTW, I put up pictures of Sor, a teela, and a wolfena. But, they aren't colored. Yeah, I'm still a lazy buttocks. And also, in the beginning of this chapter, Dakari and a friend will be speaking elvish to each other. The words aren't meant to be pronounced by you, so don't try. You will only succeed in tying your tongue in a knot. Just take a look at Saesha over there. (camera pans to view Saesha trying to undo the knot in her tongue)
4.
Dakari grunted, laying Leo's limp body on the gravely ground. The rabbit samurai knelt by his side and felt along his skin for possible puncture wounds from the ambush. Finding no such things, he sighed and rubbed his forehead. He was sure to get an earful from the elves about this one, and no mistake. It gave him a monster of a headache already, just thinking about the confusing conversation in elvish. For reasons no one could understand, elves refused to speak the common language, instead keeping to their own, which was rather hard to pronounce at times. In a way, it was better than speaking common; enemies would have no idea what they were saying.
Dakari stood again and stretched, laying a hand on Watishi's muscled shoulder. The teela mooed impatiently and butted him in the chest, nearly toppling him over. "What is it now, friend?" he asked, aquamarine irises brightening. His times with the animals of this planet were by far the most treasured. "Ah, do you desire some fruit?" Watishi stared at him as if to say "you're a bit on the slow side today, aren't you?" Dakari stepped carefully over Leo's prone form and rummaged around in one of the large saddlebags, striking gold right off. Or should we say, mush? "I'm terribly sorry, Watishi," he started, chuckling uncontrollably, "but it seems your treat has bit the dust." He held up a dripping mess of purple, seedy pulp and watched the teela's face contort in disgust. "Alright, you may find something else to do if you so desire, but be quiet about it!"
Watishi shook herself, a gesture that demanded her saddle be taken off. Grumbling in mock indignation, the rabbit unbuckled her straps and set the heavy burden down. She glared at him again when he put his hands on his hips and he sighed again. "The bridle too? Honestly, how will I control you then?" But he undid the buckles anyway and observed the teela, bucking, gallop toward the lake of waterfalls and jump in, creating a large splash that spattered Dakari with cool, clean water. Grimacing, he shook himself out and plopped down beside Leo to watch her play in the water.
The rabbit sighed as the leaves rustled peacefully around him. He would love nothing more than to make this moment last a while longer than it should. Watishi groaned and bounded out of the water to shake herself off onto Dakari and then to hop right back in. Dakari squeezed out his tunic and dripping ears with a pang of annoyance. Ruefully, he wished that Watishi had been someone else's teela. Why oh why did her silly spirit have to attract him that day? The samurai checked Leo before turning back to watch his beast at play. Where were the elves? They should be here any second…
A crack disturbed him, making him whirl around to see a male elf with blonde hair slip out from behind a mammoth-trunk tree, his gray eyes flashing dangerously. "Sehr ai wurhai pyeseisein runsei aney sephr eyru phrruer yeanp hati hseiyesei, Dakari?" he asked calmly, pointing at Leo with a pale hand. (Who is this green one and why do you bring him here, Dakari?)
"Hsei ai heryewur!" (He is hurt!) Dakari shot back heatedly in elvish, tightening his grip stubbornly on Leo's carapace rim. "Iru phrruer cuannruwur eyseinphr heiti zaaiiapsei." (So you cannot deny him passage.)
The elf glided skeptically to the unconscious turtle, put his hand on his brow, and immediately drew it back. "Hsei ai an ruerwurieyseiye!" he growled accusingly. (He is an outsider!) "Phrruer hajhsei seineyanpseiyeseiey eri atiti!" (You have endangered us all!)
The rabbit samurai on the ground stiffened. "Eyru wuraksei tisei fruye a frurula?" he asked softly, irritated by the elf's stubbornness. "Ruf curuerisei ei knruse hsei ai an ruerwurieyseiye! Aney hsei ihatiti nruwur eyru eri anphr hayeti!" (Do you take me for a fool? Of course I know he is an outsider! And he shall not do us any harm!)
The elf's eyes narrowed. "Wurhsein sehphr eyeiey wuraksei byeeip heiti wurru wurheii iacuyeseiey zalaacusei?" he growled, laying a hand on his slim elven rapier. (Then why did you bring him to this sacred place?)
"Ei eyeiey nruwur hajhsei wurhsei wureitisei wurru eyyeruza heiti ruff awur anruwurhseiye cueiwurphr," Dakari replied, standing up. His height only allowed him to stand at level with the elf's clavicles as he gazed sadly into his misunderstanding gray eyes. "Ei seai alairu bseieinp zaeryeierseiey." (I did not have the time to drop him off at another city. I was also being pursued.) The elf's eyes widened abruptly in alarm and he looked around warily, ready to lop off anybody's head. "Nruwur wurru seruyeyephr, fyeeiseiney. Sesei eyeiizaruiseiey ruf wurhseiti." (Not to worry, friend. We disposed of them.)
"Sesei?" he questioned, raising his thin eyebrows. (We?)
Dakari gestured with a finger to spread-eagled, out cold Leo. "Hsei aiieiiwurseiey tisei." (He assisted me.) Watishi waddled out of the clean lake, took one look at the foot-tapping elf, and shook herself out, showering both with water. She mooed and prowled over to Leo, flopping down beside him and laying her massive head on his rising and falling chest.
The elf crossed his dripping arms. "Alayeeiphwur, curutisei seeiwurh tisei," he muttered ruefully, thoroughly defeated verbally. "Berwur Ei cuannruwur zayerutieiisei heii iafseiwurphr runcusei hsei ai einieysei." (Alright, come with me. But I cannot promise his safety once he is inside.)
Dakari smiled and patted his shoulder with some difficulty, being his height. "Phrruer seeilala nruwur hajhsei wurru, Avialle," he assured. (You will not have to, Avialle.) Avialle looked doubtful but nodded and clapped a hand onto Dakari's shoulder.
"Sehawur ai hsei aeilatiseinwur?" he ventured slowly. (What is his ailment?)
Dakari led Avialle to Leo's side and gently pushed Watishi's head aside. The teela mooed, snorted, and laid her cranium on the turtle's arm instead. "Ei eyru bseilaeiseijhsei hsei yeeibi ayesei cuyeacukseiey." (I believe his ribs are cracked.) Avialle frowned, chewed his lip, and made 'hmming' noises. He felt along Leo's plastron, his hands a bright white glow.
"Phrseii, heii yeeibi ayesei cuyeacukseiey, berwur runsei ai cularuisei wurru byeseiakeinp," Avialle said with finality, rocking back on his heels and brushing a long bang out of his eyes. (Yes, his ribs are cracked, but one is close to breaking.)
Dakari exhaled slowly at the verdict, his tensed ears now relaxing. "Wurhawur ai bseiwurwurseiye wurhan Ei haye seiorzaseicuwurseiey." (That is better than I had expected.)
Avialle fixed his gaze on Dakari. "Tiaphrbsei," he grunted, getting up. "Sesei tieriwur pseiwur einieysei ruye sesei seeititi tieiii wurhsei tiseiseiwureinp.""(Maybe. We must get inside or we will miss the meeting.) The rabbit samurai nodded an affirmative and got up. With a whistle, he had Watishi up and yawning, showing off her flat teeth. Carefully, he settled the saddle onto her back and strapped it down, the teela groaning with annoyance.
Mike dove aside franticly as Kiara's swords came down on the dirt with a muffled thump. She recovered speedily and swung powerfully to the right, nearly taking the turtle's head off with her glinting weapons. A raucous cheer went up as the rukit darted toward Mike, who was a bit stunned from his forced duck. He had to duck another blow and kick up, catching her in the stomach. A series of 'boo's went up as he stood in the dust, shaking his head to clear the blinking dots. Arching his yellow tail as she charged once again, he slid skillfully through her legs and caught her right foot, pulling her down on her muzzle. He flipped up and bowed to a silent audience. "Shell, you guys are really one sided," he muttered disapprovingly, leaning against a wooden corral rail.
He put on a sleepy look as Kiara charged feverishly again. Her sword connected with hard wood, not flesh, because as a form of mockery, Mike had slid down as though he had suddenly dropped off to sleep. Somebody guffawed as he crawled under her again, grinning like a naughty child with the jar of cookies in his hand. Kiara slashed down abruptly and bit his tail with the sharp metal, causing him to jump up, still underneath her, and literally launch the rukit into the air. "Gosh, guys, don't you respect any body parts?" Mike pulled up his bleeding tail and grimaced. The tip had been chopped off. There it lay, writhing in the dirt. "Ouch."
He put his maimed tail down and started twirling his weapons, growling, "Alright, no more Mr. Nice Turtle." He bolted for her, hopped over her head when she attempted to cut him down, and brought his heel down between her shoulder blades. The blow caused her to fall forward and roll, stirring up a cloud of billowing dust. Mike smirked evilly as the roiling cloud overtook him, hiding him from Kiara's flashing swords. He stalked around in the brown cloud until he was directly behind her, then planted a powerful kick right on her rump. She let out a strangled yell before whirling around and missing Mike's throat with her swords by inches. "Yikes!"
"Hold it!" a small voice bellowed. Powerful gales blew Mike's cover away, revealing him as a literal dust bunny, dirty brown and coughing. Kiyo landed lightly in the center of the corral, bristling angrily, his wings flared to the sides and his tail straight up in the air. "And just who gave you the order to fight, missy?" he growled dangerously, the question directed at Kiara. "Speak!" he barked, lashing his tail. "My patience dwindles quickly!"
The rukit, clearly dumbstruck by the little reptile's shameless show of aggression, said nothing, but scuffed her foot paw in the dirt. She muttered something incoherent before sheathing her swords, dashing for the gate, jumping the rails and disappearing into the surrounding forest. Thunderstruck, Mikey watched as Kiyo stalked toward him, green eyes glowing.
Huena, a dark brown rukit covered from throat to waist in armor and mail, snarled from the sidelines, "Back off, dragon! This is none of your concern!"
Kiyo whirled and spat a crackling green ball of flames at him. "And I'm telling you to hush, you overly haughty pup!" he roared, instilling fear into even the most scarred of the warriors. Huena turned bright red.
Mike scratched his head in confusion. "Uh, guys? You're kinda making a scene here," he whispered, jabbing his thumb at the dead silent audience. "And I've never even seen you come close to being this mad, Kiyo. What's your problem?"
"The problem," Kiyo said, clearly trying very hard to control his rage, "is that this fight was never ordered by the general or anyone else!" Huena held up a fist but Kiyo silenced him with one icy glare. "You, sir, do not qualify to be in your rank after this!"
"He never did," Sor muttered rudely from the sidelines.
Like an avenging white angel, Aireilei came down and landed with a heavy thud in the middle of the corral, looking as peeved as Kiyo was. "I've seen teelas with more honor than you, slime ball!" she bellowed angrily at Huena, nostrils billowing black smoke. "What kind of a rebel officer authorizes a fight to the death for entertainment?" She gestured at the stunned, wide-eyed warriors. "They may get bored, but they've already seen their fair share of blood shed in their lifetime! You are acting," she finished with a snarl of contempt, "like a bored and spoilt child." Dumbstruck, Huena flushed hot red with anger. "And don't you talk back to me, son!" The rukit growled and pushed aside his comrades to stomp away from the fighting corral.
A sting from Mike's bloody tail brought him back to the present. He clutched it mournfully in his hand, wincing again. Aireilei's angry mood quelled instantly. "Mike, you clumsy turtle," she scolded, "I thought you were a ninja."
He grinned cheekily and rubbed his head. "I was having fun with her, alright?"
"'Fun' is not getting your tail chopped off. You listen to me, Mikey; that tail's the only one you're ever going to get," the white dragon muttered, grabbing his injured appendage. He squeaked and by reflex, jerked it nearly out of her hand. "Hold still, wimp." She glowed briefly and Mike's pain stopped. "There, another battle wound for you, Michelangelo." He moved the yellow tail and frowned. It hadn't grown back. "What do you expect? You're not a salamander."
Grumbling, he sat down on the ground, long ears pinned to his skull. Sor hopped over the railing, nearly catching his foot on it and falling flat on his face. "Er, sorry about that, Michelangelo," he sighed apologetically, keeping one eye on Aireilei, who had crossed her arms in suspicion. "But Huena means well, he's just a…well, a teela hole sometimes." Aireilei snorted with contempt.
"And what have you to say, gunghir?" she asked, narrowing her flashing periwinkle eyes.
"Uh, only that I'm sort of ashamed to be in your presence milady," he murmured sheepishly, blushing a bright red and rubbing his head with a finger.
"Milady?" Mike burst out, raising his head. "I thought you were a warrior, not a princess!"
She thwacked him on the skull with her whip-like tail. "I'm not a princess, idiot. I'm a dragon, and dragons don't rule. We simply protect when we feel like it and never take sides unless opinion says so," she said as he clapped a hand to his head and 'ow'ed a number of times. Sor stifled a chuckle with his right wing.
"No, but she's a bit of a legend around here. The older gunghir have ancestors that were around when she was."
Aireilei seemed distant for a moment. "What is your maiden name, Sor?" she asked.
"Um, Lightblade, I believe," Sor murmured, scratching his head again and disturbing his long pony tail.
Aireilei nodded thoughtfully. "Ah. A worthy family. I trust you still hold your great grandfather in high esteem?"
"What, Tor?" The gunghir grinned. "Yep. He's pretty spry for his age. Can still swing a sword. He hates being ordered around and refuses to bed down for more than eight hours."
"That sounds like the Tor I knew. Though I am surprised he's managed to cling to life so easily."
"Hah," Sor snorted in amusement. "You can thank the eyasen flower for that. He found one, I'm told, when he was nearly a century old. Ate it and has been pretty much immortal since then."
"Bloody claw, those things are still around?" she asked in shock.
"The flowers? Yeah."
"Fascinating," the white dragon whispered.
"Xetyphaes ate the last few," Sor grumbled in disgust, cracking his index finger. "That's why he's still around, leeching off our land and resources."
The warriors around the arena began to dissipate with a medley of grumbles, and soon there was no one left. "Finally! I was beginning to tire of being scrutinized by those shady characters!" Kiyo bounded up to Mike and pounced onto his shoulder, Iwansi following behind, hot on his tail.
"Hey, get off him, you dope!" she growled playfully, tackling the green dragon off Mike's shoulder and pinning him in the dirt. They brawled in the dust for a bit before scampering out of the corral, still nipping at each other. Sor seemed perturbed and a bit perplexed by their behavior.
"Are they…hatchlings?" he ventured hesitantly, not sure if the white dragon would bite off his head or not.
Aireilei wrinkled her snout and shook her head. "No, they're almost as old as I am." Sor fell over in surprise as she continued. "However, they are like that for two reasons: one, because they hardly got to live out their childhood, and two, they have not witnessed battles and blood yet." Aireilei's armored stomach area gave off a thunderous growl as she flushed underneath her scales, turning pink. "Ah, have you any dinner here? I'm rather famished," she explained.
Sor nodded and got up. "Yeah, you should see the cooking fires somewhere near the general's tent."
"Gotcha. Thanks." Aireilei spread her massive wings and with a single down beat, was in the air. Sor and Mikey watched her disappear in a mess of tents.
"Soo, mind telling me what this merry little gathering is all about?" Mike asked wryly, nudging Sor in the ribs.
The gunghir seemed apprehensive. "Actually, we're waiting for Xetyphaes' troops to arrive."
"You're WHAT?"
Sor nodded grimly and looked out to the west, where the sun was setting as a red ball of fire. "That's right. Our scouts spotted a massive army not two days march from here. We plan to ambush them…if they haven't heard of us yet. We're all that remains of the rebel forces and we're dwindling fast. Deserters are what kills us." The gunghir clenched his jaw angrily. "They leave to fight for the Empire."
Mike rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "And just how'd you get dragged into it? You don't look too battle hardened to me."
"I've only been in the army for three months," he said, crossing his wings. "They were enlisting at our treetop village in the Darian Mountain forest and saw me. Normally, I'd run off because I'm usually pretty scared of any guys who look like they're drafting, which is pretty sad because I'm eighteen." Mike snickered. "But anyway, I carry this big sword around with me because I'm part of the hunting party and use it to do the killing with. However, I usually run off because it's just an impulse gunghir have right off the bat. We gunghir are very solitary creatures. We never like mixing with other species of Haradrians, which is often the downfall of our other relatives. A gunghir would rather fight on his own an army of orc than unite and fight a single orc." He shrugged and blew a bang out of his maroon eyes. "So I got enlisted and met Kiara. I was positively frightened when I met her. Those two swords she carries are usually what makes the enemy bite the dust." Sor wrinkled his nose in disgust. "But a month after I enlisted, Huena, who was still an infantry man, took an arrow for her and got promoted. That blew his head right up to super size and he's thrown his weight around ever since." He grinned with pleasure. "I'm actually happy that…his name's Kiyo, right?" Mikey nodded an affirmative. "I'm happy that Huena got ordered around by a midget, because if it were me I'd be a pulp by now."
"Don't let Kiyo hear you say that," Mikey warned. "He's usually mellow as a feather, but the word midget sets him off fuming. I wouldn't insult his size if I were you."
Bima came galloping toward the corral, yelling like a banshee and in a panic. "We're gonna die, we're gonna die," she gasped, ducking the bottom rail before continuing, "we're gonna die, we're gonna die, we're gonna die, we're gonna die—" Sor wrapped his two fingers around her muzzle when she arrived, silencing her monotonous wail.
"Will you get a hold of yourself, dragon?" he growled crossly, releasing her.
"Mikey, Mikey, they're here!" she gasped, collapsing in the dirt. "Oh, we're gonna die!" she wailed.
"Who's here, Bima?" Mikey calmly asked the silver-blue dragon.
"Some really ugly dudes with jagged swords, ugly griffins, big bows with nasty arrows…oh, and a deformed idiot's leading them."
Sor's eyes widened in alarm. "They're here? Already? The scouts said they were two days away!" he cried, jumping up and down.
"Apparently not, sword boy. They've come to skin us alive, I'll bet."
"How do you know this?" he inquired, gritting his teeth.
"Saw 'em with my own two eyes. I was flying around the plains, checking out the scenery (rather boring; grass in all directions) when I saw this black mass of ugliness. Being the curious, cute little dragon that I am—" Mikey made a 'pfff' at this and she glared. "—I went to see what they were. First of all, there's this really ugly wrinkled guy riding on the largest griffin I'd ever seen, then behind him…ugh, too many to count." Bima shuddered.
"Jhadie!" Sor cursed fervently, looking positively enraged.
"I say, what would your mother comment on that?" Bima retorted, raising a paw and waggling it at the gunghir. "But anyway, to move your buttocks! Aireilei sent me over here to get you lazy bums. The General's having a meeting and Sor, you're included." He stopped his rampage, turned pale, and let his jaw hang wide open with surprise. "Kiara ought to be there too, although I've no clue where she could be."
"Well, let's get going then! Lord of the Rings has got nothing on this world!" Mikey declared cheerily, stuffing his 'chuks away and bounding toward the rails. "Comin', Sor the Bore?"
The gunghir recovered his brown color and scowled fiercely. "Sor the Bore? Oh, I'm coming alright!" Sor raised his wings, flapped down once, and was airborne. He caught up with the laughing turtle in no time flat, passing him up as he navigated the network of tents on his own. Bima, who was flying beside Sor, grinned and chuckled maniacally.
"He doesn't know where the bloody claw he's going, does he?" she asked wryly.
"Nope." The two winged creatures arrived at the general's tent, recognizable by the large red crest on the side. "In you go, dragon." He pretended to boot her inside through the door but she beat him to it, leaping right through the flap. Mikey, who was panting like a racehorse, clapped a hand on Sor's shoulder.
"Man," he grunted, gulping air. "Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to get into a dead end in there?" The turtle pointed back to the tents and was rewarded with a noncommittal "Nope" from Sor, who immediately entered the tent door as Mike squeaked indignantly outside.
Ukeera led them through a large wooden door. Inside the room was a massive library, filled to the brim with thick books, small books, books of all sizes. The rukit grinned at Don's dumbstruck gape. "Well, where else did you think we got our culture, Donatello?" she asked, flicking his beak.
Snapped out of his happy moment, the turtle grumbled resentfully and rubbed his beak. "I assumed you were no more than cave folk." Raph nodded soberly in agreement.
"You calling us stupid?" Kyrunir accused as they skirted a massive table stacked with papers, scrolls, and the like.
"No," Don muttered. "I just thought you were—" His jaw clapped shut once again and he joined his brother in muteness.
Saesha glared icily. "One more peep out of you two, and I daresay we'll have to lock you both up." Ukeera snickered as Kyrunir whispered some snide comment into her huge ear.
Rijinn grinned. "That does describe them perfectly! I salute you!" He proceeded to do so, nearly falling off his perch in the process. Raph nudged Don, making a motion with his hands that clearly said, May I clobber one of them? His brother shook his head, had an 'aha' moment, and gestured, They'll get their dues sometime or other, Raph.
"There you kids are! I was wondering if you'd gotten lost again!"
Kyrunir looked positively insulted. "Us, Elder? What d'ya take us for, idiots?" he growled.
"You sure fooled me when you were born!"
"Hey…that's not nice. It's not fair to blame me for falling on my head. Mother didn't have a good grip!" he pouted.
A gray rukit appeared at the far end of the library, a walking stick clutched in his hand. His ears were notched and he had a sort of sarcastic air about him that simply socked you in the face looking at him. His eyes were a dark yellow. "Brought your little friends, have you now?" he grunted, limping over. Raph, clearly insulted with being called little, growled and punched into his open hand. "And I see that you, sir, have still not learned your lesson. Though the silence is a bonus."
"My pleasure," Saesha muttered, throwing both turtles a glare that would've killed a cow.
"What exactly did you want of us, Maha?" Ukeera asked politely.
Maha snorted. "It's a wonder you haven't asked already!" He scrutinized Don carefully with squinting eyes before continuing. "Your friends here have caused quite a ruckus, dropping out of nowhere," he started, poking Raph in the plastron with his stick. "And the inhabitants of this merry little cave aren't happy with them being here."
"Are you saying…they'll have to leave?" she asked in horror, almost reaching up to grab Saesha and hold her tightly.
"No, I'm saying that they have to explain themselves!" Suddenly, Don felt extremely uncomfortable under Maha's withering gaze. "Well, speak up, son!" Don pointed to his closed mouth and shrugged.
Kyrunir sighed. "You have to let them talk now, Saesha."
Rijinn did the dragon equivalent of snapping his fingers. "Rats." The purple dragon took her spell off reluctantly.
"Saesha, if you do that one more time, I swear, I'm gonna skin ya alive," Raph threatened darkly, rubbing his jaw.
"Ahem!" Maha interrupted, poking Raph again.
"Geez, now we gotta tell the whole Origin story again! Thanks a lot!"
Don elbowed his brother nervously. "I think he just wants the 'how we got here' segment, Raph." He grumbled and grudgingly obliged. For the next ten minutes he was explaining their predicament to Maha, who frequently inserted snide comments and rude phrases. Ukeera glanced thoughtfully at the stone floor, scratching her white belly fur with a vengeance. Kyrunir went wide-eyed a couple of times and even gasped once or twice. By the time Raph had finished, Maha was rubbing his chin furiously.
"So, your siblings have now been separated eh? And Aireilei had returned! I was wondering why you dragons had come back! Now I understand!" He let out a childish whoop and slapped his thigh. "You guys have come to beat Xetyphaes' butt off!"
Don blinked with confusion and sighed in frustration. "Um, all I really wanted to do was get back home, but seeing as how we normally get dragged into these things…"
"We'll help if we get to kick some baddie butt," Rijinn burst out.
"My thoughts exactly," Raph said with a smirk, groping for his Sais. "Hey, where are my—"
"What, them forks?" Maha scoffed. "I daresay they don't compare to my sword, but you may have them back." He pulled them out of nowhere and tossed them to the red clad turtle, who promptly began spinning them. Don looked a bit forlorn until Maha gave in with a sigh and grabbed his Bo from under the table.
(cough) Er, sorry about the briefness of Don and Raph's part, but it couldn't be helped. I just decided to give more attention to Mikey and Leo for now. Nothing important to announce, 'cept I love reviews and well...I'd love it if you gave me one...(pouts)
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