ah, sorry its been like 3 weeks, but im about to go on vacation for spring break, so i figured i should post this b4 i go so that you dont all try to kill me for not updating or something :P

claimer: i own everything that is not familiar to u, :D

a diamond-hunting i go! -excellent...

51.-Alliance

The world flew from beneath us as we ran, with me now being able to keep up with the dark wolf beside me, with the help of my newly acquired elf/wolf speed aiding me of course. We traveled for half of the day, making a journey that would have taken many weeks normally in only a couple of hours.

The Beor Mountains loomed above us and in a matter of mere minutes we were at the lake that contained a waterfall that acted as a thick curtain of cascading water hiding one of the entrances to the Varden.

I'd rather not go in that way again, the very thought of all those soldiers behind the rock alone is making my hair stand on end. Do you mind if we just go through the dragon hold, that way we might be able to avoid all the madness and fear that our arrivals always seem to bring, I asked Dorran, feeling slightly ashamed to admitting a weakness in front of him. He brushed his muzzle against mine comfortingly, reading my emotions as clearly as I was now able to read his.

Whatever makes you happy, he replied, sounding sincere and not mocking in the slightest. We shifted forms and flew up the rocky, tree-covered mountainside to the hollowed-out peak of one of the large mounds, soaring so high that any other creature would have difficulty breathing from the altitude.

We angled our wings in union and dipped into the marble-lined interior, the numerous caves whisking by as we dropped. Our talons scraped at the dirt on the ground underneath the huge circular hole that connected the tunnels to the hold above. Dorran morphed into his human form beside me and my form shrank as well, my bare feet scraping against the hard compressed earth beneath us, feeling solid and secure and giving me a little reassurance as the claustrophobia of the tunnels over came me.

This time the feeling was worse though, stronger, more nerve wracking. I needed to get out right then, visions of the dirt walls constricting around me, chocking, suffocating, cascaded into my head and I couldn't stand it. Sweat broke out on my forehead and my breaths came in short pants. The tunnels were surprisingly empty and all I could hear was the pounding of our feet on the ground and my gasping breaths. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Dorran glance at me, his face full of concern and his brow wrinkling in confusion. Why wasn't he afraid and hyperventilating like I was? Was he more in control with himself, having been a werewolf longer, or did he just not freak out as easily as I did? Which was probably the reason if I thought about it. Or maybe, just maybe, it was because the animal souls inside of me were overcoming my human one, giving way to animalistic senses and fears. Maybe.

I felt a warm and hard hand slip into mine and I glanced at Dorran's tanned face with gratitude. I could feel his control, his power, seeping through our link, making me stronger and calming me until I was able to breathe normally and concentrate on what we were looking for.

I flashed him a grateful smile and closed my eyes, sighing with relief as the built-in map displayed itself in my head once again. It was still a complete mystery how I was able to do that, but I would dwell on that later. I thought of Angela's room, the earthy smells of mushrooms and candle wax, the dim green-hued light, the sapphire-eyed serpent on the door handle. A map and a marked route filled my vision and I smiled at Dorran, reassuring him if he thought I'd finally gone mentally insane because he was no doubt looking into my head and seeing what I was at that moment.

He started to speak but I held my finger to my lips and continued walking in the direction that the map told me to go, kind of like an in-built compass or something.

Wherever we went the tunnels were empty, no human life existed in the underground labyrinth, strange.

I stopped in front of a door that I recognized instantly, the now familiar snake-handle glared up at me, a new hint of malice and hate in the depths of its gleaming sapphire eyes. The same strange magnetic pull emitted from the door and I turned the knob once again, the cold metal surface glacial against my already cold skin. Dorran hissed beside me and I entered into the doorway, my sensitive nose almost being knocked off my face from the mixture of different aromas that drifted up my nostrils. The damp-smelling air seed to cling to our very essence as we made our way into the room, our keen eyes picking out details we had missed on our previous visit, our sight had obviously improved since the last time we were here, or it could have just been the fact that we saw things from each other's perspective now, with four eyes in stead of two.

I saw a flicker of movement in the shadows and my eyes trained on it automatically, senses going on high alert, then relaxing as a pair of crimson eyes flashed at us reproachfully, but still familiar even in the hostile atmosphere.

I smiled, "Solembum, greetings, it seems a lifetime since I last spoke with you." I told him, my voice breaking the peaceful silence that had settled around us.

The sleek-coated form slunk out of the darkness and into the soft glow of a candle, his blood-colored eyes reflecting back rubies.

Ay, but maybe it has been, it seems that you have changed a vast amount in a mere few months. Tell me, what great folly brings you here to our humble abode? The were-cat thought to us, his voice sounding old and rasping, his feline eyes never leaving mine as he spoke.

"A few…complications, as well as the impending war that I am sure even you, stuck down here many miles under the earths surface, have caught wind of. So naturally I am in need of my sword, and preferably the egg too, if you haven't sold them to a traveler or something for a few rare mushrooms." I smiled, showing that I was joking, but I secretly hoped that he hadn't done something as far-fetched as that and that both items were safe.

The cat grinned, baring his fangs at the same time, Do not fret, your children of profitable value are safe. Remember that you do owe me for my services though, three months is an impossibly long period of time to look after something. But nevertheless they have not been harmed, Angela awaits you in her chamber, she has your items and also some information, but asks for some answers in return. Havefun. He grinned, and melted back into the shadows. I looked at Dorran who just shrugged and led the way into the back of the store towards a thick and rusted oak door, which was accompanied again with the snake-handle. We entered into a small circular room similar to the one we had just been in but smaller in size, the same creepers and wild mushrooms growing abundantly on the ceiling and out of the walls. The candle light amplified the sinister atmosphere, making the shadows of the vines stand out and entwine around the dank and exotic room.

Angela sat off to the side on a cot next to another girl that I vaguely remembered was called Cadara, the girls golden hair almost black in the dark. They both smiled up at us but there was a slight edge to the way their lips curled upwards, as if they were hiding something.

My eyes narrowed and Dorran's muscles tensed besides me, his jaw taking on a hard edge and his onyx eyes staring unblinking.

"Angela, it is nice to see you again. You too Cadara, what is it that you want to tell us?" I asked, my voice unemotional and giving nothing away.

"Only that Nasuada has moved the remaining members of the Varden to Surda and they await your return so that they might prepare you for war, which is scheduled to commence in a little less that a week." Angela replied, her old voice croaking with age.

I nodded, I had expected as much, "If you do not mind, we have a few questions for you." I told her, undoing the bottle that was tied to my belt that I had forgotten until just then. "First of all, do you know what this is?" I asked her, handing her the bottle. Her wrinkled had touched the smooth glass and with a yelp she whipped her hand back as if she had been burned.

"That is a Shifter's mixture, something that was created by a secret organization of humans that lacked a magical ability but still wished to become Shifters. They were greatly skilled in the art of mixing herbs and creating potions of great value. How is it you have come across such a thing? For it has not been made for over two hundred years, and if in the wrong hands could be disastrous for us all."

hope u enjoyed it, wont be able to update for a week but hopefully ill get to be able to write while chillin' on a beach somewhere, :D

ciao 4 now..

PLEASE REVIEW!-it would be nice to read a bunch when i come back seeing as i wont have a computer for a freakin' week... ugh

-Firesilk:D