Goddess, I am SO, SO sorry for not updating sooner. I've had a lot of family stuff going on for the past...two weeks. So, now that I'm finally updating, I'm not going to force you to listen to my rambling of appology. Read on and forget what I said!

After the bloody battle that claimed both Claudane, and Wilbert's lives, the group retires for a well deserved rest. And to grieve for the

loss of two caring and light-hearted friends. But the dark vaikal won't let them keep that opportunity for long...

"Cl-Claudane...I'm...s-so sorry..." Tarra sobbed relentlessly. "Please...try not to worry." Lilith said, putting a hand on her shoulder as an

act of comfort. "Tha-thank you..." She said quietly. Lilith managed a weak smile. "I'm sure that, wherever he is...he's looking down on us

and laughing at us for being so...depressed." Claudane's mother nodded slightly. "Yes. He was smiling untill the last." Rex stood up and

pointed to the window. "Gee...I'd hate to break up this heart-warming moment. But...I think you should look out the window." Even

before they could see what he was pointing at, both Zaphair and Flores let out a shocked cry.

"What's wrong you two!" Alos asked, startled by the sudden outburst. "Those cursed dark ones. They've come back!" Flores swore.

"D'ya think they're after Zaphair?" Bolman asked. Flores shook her head in confusion. "I don't know...maybe. But I can sense their

malicious intent. They've not come here to make friends." Soon after she said that, Maronis and Pella entered the room. "It seems that we

must fight again..." Maronis said seriously.

The group shuffled into the open to see the vaikal circling even lower. "I...didn't expect them to arrive so quickly..." Pella admitted. Alos

nodded. "Surely they would've waited a few days to gain strength before going back into battle?" He questioned. "But they did not do

much of the fighting. Most left the battle unscathed..." Tarra pointed out. Maronis nodded. "It doesn't matter. We must protect the

emblem...as well as the king and queen."

Up in the skies above, a dark vaikal soldier once again approached the grey, orange-eyed vaikal. "Lord Ozurion...They have come to

engage in combat. Shall we meet them?" Ozurion nodded. "Yes. We must retrieve the emblem. But do not harm the blonde-haired girl.

Or...my sister. They are required for the release of dragons." His orange eyes glinted with an evil light. "By your leave." The vaikal soldier

flew off to give the orders. "Soon...soon all of you filthy halflings and weaklings shall perish at the hands of our bretheren..."

"They're all forming into one group..." Lily said, pointing. "They must be preparing to attack..." Alos growled. "We've gotta protect

Zaphair, nya. They're after her nya?" Narina asked. He nodded. "That's correct. Protect Zaphair!" He shouted. "They must not be

allowed to capture her!"

The vaikal shrieked their war cries before speeding towards the ground, hoping to catch them off guard. Flores roared, with Bolman on

her back and snapped at the oncoming vaikal's face. Startled, the vaikal lunged backwards; hitting all of the others behind it. "Now's our

chance!" Alos shouted. Lily, Lilith, Narina and Tarra stayed back to make sure Zaphair stayed safe. She was ready to transform into a

wyvern to keep from getting injured. The rest jumped into the fray.

Rotten, useless curs, all of you!" Ozurion growled at his vaikal unit. "Perhaps I can be of some assistance?" An ominous voice sounded

from behind him. "Ah, the legendary dark moon. It is rumored that you are the most powerful of the dark vaikal tribe...Perhaps you

would like to prove your title, eh?" He asked the jet black wyvern next to him. Dark moon's violet eyes glowed with an ethereal light. "...I

would..."

Flores left Bolman to fight on the ground, claiming that it would be to dangerous the way she would be fighting. He had to agree as she

took flight to go after the vaikal that was just flying in. Bolman jumped after a vaikal that was trying to fly away by slinging a javelin at it's

throat. "You won't be going after my wife!" He growled.

Flores let out a jet of fire at the oncoming vaikal, and had to admit she was impressed at his evassive aerial manouvers. "You are much

tougher than these hatchlings down here." She commented. "And you have some nerve to be talking to me like that. Perhaps you do not

know who exactly I am..?" Flores laughed. "Perhaps I do...But enlighten me to your 'divinity' anyways." Dark Moon snorted at her

disdainfuly. "I am the Dark Moon. The most powerful and cunning member of the dark vaikal tribe." Flores was unmoved by this. "You

look a bit scrawny to me..." Dark Moon growled. "Perhaps you would tell me YOUR claim to fame?" Flores nodded. "I am the Burning

Sun. The most skillful and magicaly adept member of the flame vaikal clan. I am also cousin to the empress of the sun." Dark Moon

grinned. "Then let you show me your...'skill.'" Flores growled at flew at him, a spiral of flames jeting out of her mouth.

Zaphair could see Flores in fierce combat with the vaikal. Jets of flames and shadow energy were bursting in the sky like fireworks.

"Flores...Ahh!" She let out a startled cry when an orange eyed vaikal appeared before them. "Br-Brother!" She asked. "Oh, dearest

Zaphair. I'm afraid you have to come with me. I'm bringing your little wall-flower friend as well..." Before either of them could react, both

lilith, and Zaphair in her human form were in his talons. Narina tried to leap up at him, but everyone was knocked back by the gale-force

winds as he soared upwards. Lily hurried after Narina to heal her wounds.

Flores growled as Dark Moon started to fly away. "Where do you think you're going!" Dark Moon turned around and laughed. "I'm

sorry my dear, but it looks as though my friends are leaving. Maybe next time...we'll both be at our best!" Flores saw that with her injuries

and the number of vaikal around him, it would be futile to give chase; so she growled again before landing near everyone else.

"Th-They've taken Lilith AND Zaphair!" Narina cried. "Blast it!" Alos swore. "I-I'm sorry...I should have tried harder..." Tarra said

regretfuly. Lily shook her head. "You've done nothing wrong dear. We'll get them back." "We shall tell the king and queen imediately!"

Maronis declaired.

With both Lilith and Zaphair captured, the group is hard pressed to get them back. It was time once again for them to seek the king and

queen's advice...

Wheee! Another chapter finished, and another chapter closer to the end! Well, there's my late fourth of july gift to all. I'm going to take a

break for the rest of the day. It's only my second day home, so...ciao.