As our dragons walked side by side I wondered how long before we reached the compound and noticing that I was looking ahead Moordryd grinned his earlier embarrassment gone.
"We'll be there in about half an hour. Hey I have a question." Moordryd told me and I looked at him curious. "Do you know who the Light Booster is?"
"Nope. All I know is that its a girl maybe my age. Why, are you interested in her?" I grinned and when he raised his eyebrow I giggled. "You know as a possible girlfriend?" I added and the confused stare I got from my friend made me laugh. "The look on your face right now."
"Very funny Rayne. No I'm just curious about how she managed to find her gauntlet. Besides is she working alongside the Dragon Booster or on her own?" He asked and I shrugged as I tried to keep the grin off my face.
"I really don't know. Maybe she wants to stop another dragon-human war." I replied and when Moordryd blinked I smiled. "I've been talking to Parmon and Artha. They told me that the Light Booster tried to help the original Dragon Booster and somehow she vanished. I wonder what happened to her?"
"Huh I've never even heard of the Light Booster. Still she did leave her gauntlet and medallion behind so its not a total loss." Moordryd said and I narrowed my eyes at him, thinking about Bianca and Hurricayne. "Just kidding." He quickly said as he noticed the look I was giving him.
"Good. So why did the Shadow Booster kidnap me anyway? I have no idea how the Light Booster found the gauntlet. Wait a second I don't have to give up Quiksilva do I since I lost the medallion?" I asked and seeing my lip quiver at the thought of losing my best friend Moordryd shook his head, worried I might start crying again and I intantly brightened. "Drac!" I said and he grinned as I smiled and Quiksilva snorted, reieved at being my dragon permenatntly.
"So I wanted to ask you something. Do you want to join my crew?" Moordryd asked me and when I blinked he stared at me.
"That would be awesome...I mean very drac." I answered and he chuckled.
But as we walked back to the Dragon Eyes compound we didn't know that we were being spied on by none other than Word Paynn.
"So Moordyd finally convinced Rayne that he's her friend? He finally did something right for a change. Now I can finally put step two of my plan into action." He said as he walked to his desk and took a small vial from the draw. "Pure black draconium. Even the smallest drop will poison any human." As he spoke he poured a single drop of it into a syringe and attaching it to one of his wraith dragons he sent it and three others to attack Rayne. In the confusion he would launch the needle at me and when I was sick enough he knew the Light Booster and even the Dragon Booster would come to my aid. Then distracted from aiding me they would fall to Word Paynn. "Go now." He told his dragons and with a roar they rushed from the citadel heading straight for us. Unaware I didn't notice the sounds of running feet until something slammed into me. With a startled cry I fell off Quiksilva who gave a roar and ended up on his side. Eyes narrowing Moordryd knew straight away what had happened.
"Wraiths. Be careful they could be anywhere." He told me as I quickly climbed to my feet and grabbed my Jack stick where it had fallen. "Focus." He said and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as he didn't know that Artha Penn aka the Dragon Booster had been training me. Though not for long enough as I soon found out.
"Where are they?" I muttered as I looked in one direction then the next trying to keep calm. When Quiksilva growled I looked at him but I wasn't sure where to look and right then I wished I could transform so I could understand my dragon. But I didn't want Moordryd to know and as I took a deep breath something appeared right in front of me. Despite my training I jumped before I heard a sound, high pitched and I cried out suddenly as something hit me near my navel. It stung and with a pained growl I pulled it from me and saw that it was a tiny syringe. Confused I stared at it until the wraith dragons suddenly raced away and we both stared.
"Why did they leave?" Moordryd asked and I shrugged as I looked at the syringe in my hand. "Hey what's that?" He asked me as he walked over and just as I handed it over I started feeling lightheaded.
"Whoa...I feel really weird." I muttered and that's when Moordryd's pale grey eyes went wide. "Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked him and he pointed to my arms. As soon as I looked at them I was shocked and pretty scared when I saw my veins go black and slipping off my gloves I saw the veins in my hands do exactly the same. Before I had time to gasp I felt myself blacking out and if Moordryd hadn't caught me I would have fallen to the pavement.
"Rayne! Hey wake up!" Moordryd yelled as he not so gently shook my shoulder and getting no response he frowned looking really worried. For a moment he stared at the syringe then his eyes narrowed as he realized that I'd been delibrately targeted. Without a word he carried me to Decepshun just as Quiksilva rushed over. "If you mag her she'll just fall off your back." Moordryd told the silver and black dragon and he let out a mournful cry, looking from me to Moordryd. "Look just follow us, okay? I know of someone who can help your rider. If he agrees to anyway." He added before Decepshun magged us and wrapping one around my middle so I didn't fall he gripped the saddle before Decepshun started running with Quiksilva keeping pace behind him. The only person that Moordryd knew that could cure me was Connor Penn but even then he wasn't so sure that he would help but as Decepshun raced along I groaned still deeply unconcious and he sighed.
By the time he reached Penn Stables he saw Artha and Parmon talking about an upcoming race and once they saw Moordryd they stopped and Artha actually glared.
"What are you doing here, Paynn?" Artha asked as Moordryd carefully climbed down but his anger vanished once he saw me lying unconcious. "What did you do to Rayne?" He asked as he hurried over and as he caught sight of my black and cleary visble veins he stared.
"I didn't do this. My father did." Moordryd muttered as Quiksilva hurried over and gently nudged me, trying to wake me. "He's...gone too far this time." He whispered and Artha was pretty shocked to hear a note of despair in his voice.
"Bring her into the stable and I'll get Connor." Parmon offered before he rushed away and as he did Lance and Kitt walked over having heard the commotion.
"Whoa what happened to Rayne?" Lance asked as he walked over and seeing the black veins spreading across my face he cringed. "Eww." He muttered as he moved back a step and Moordryd actually glared at the ten year old before he caught himself.
"She's sick." Kitt said and Moordyd really wanted to growl at the pair of them but then I groaned and my eyes flickered open.
"Where...am I?" I muttered trying to sit up until Moordryd tightened his grip on me forcing me to lay back. "Why are you..." I mumbled before my eyes rolled up into my head as I passed out again. Lifting me into his arms Moordryd carried me into the stables despite Artha offering to help. When Moordryd narrowed his eyes Artha just shrugged before he followed grabbing a blanket that had been left on the ground. Once he reached the back of the stable he spread it out and stood back. Giving Artha a nod Moordryd carefully lowered me onto it.
"Why are her veins like that?" Lance asked as he appreared in the doorway and giving up Moordryd waved him over.
"She's been poisoned and whatever it is...its making her really sick." Moordryd answered his eyes never leaving my face as I groaned. "Where's your dad?" He asked Artha but that's right when Connor showed up. Quickly Moordryd took the syringe out of his jacket and handed it to Artha's father. With a single glance Connor knew what it was.
"Its pure black draconium." Connor told them and Moordryd's eyes narrowed as he realized what that meant. "It's slowly killing her and if we don't give her the cure soon..." He trailed off as everyone stared.
"Then where's the cure? Tell me and I'll bring it back." Moordryd said as he hurried towards Decepshun but that's when Connor shook his head and he glared. "Why not? You think I'll leave and never come back?" He asked with a sneer on his face and Connor shook his head.
"No that's not it at all. I want you to stay here and look after Rayne. She's sicker than you realize and she needs someone to stay by her side." Connor sighed and after spending a few minutes trying to figure out if the elder Penn was telling the truth Moordryd sighed and walked back over to me. "The cure is a rare flower that only grows in the wastelands of Lowm. Artha, I need you and Parmon to find it and bring it back here as fast as you can. "
"I'm on it, dad." Artha said before Beau magged him and as he hurried out of the stables and into the city closely followed by Parmon on Cyrano, I mumbled something and shifted.
"Huh what did you say?" Lance asked as he knelt beside me and as he did everyone heard me speak.
"Thirsty..."I mumbled as I shifted again on the blanket. Instantly Moordyd stood and wandered over to a hose then finding an empty bucket he filled it and walked back to my side. As he knelt down he gently shook my shoulder and as I opened my eyes I saw him looking down at me with the strangest look in his pale grey eyes. It was almost like he was afraid and I knew that Moordryd Paynn wasn't afraid of anything. Holding the bucket close to my mouth I finally understood and as I took a few sips not caring about drinking from a bucket he kept an arm wrapped around my shoulders, keeping me steady. When I'd had enough I weakly pushed the bucket away and setting in down nearby Moordryd asked me how I was feeling."Not feeling...well. Burning...inside." I mumbled, my eyes overly bright and unfocused as I panted. Pretty soon I closed my eyes and this time I slept not even noticing when Quiksilva, my best friend in the whole of Dragon City, lay beside me and rested his head against mine.
"Artha better get back here soon." Moordryd muttered though the threat fell flat as everyone could see, just for a split second, the worry in his pale grey eyes. As they waited for Artha and Parmon to return Lance tried to help as much as he could and even though Moordryd thought the youngest member of the Penn Racing stables was just in the way he couldn't help being a little happy that someone else wanted to help.
"Is she going to be okay?" Lance asked jarring Moordryd out of his thoughts and when he looked up Lance was looking down at my sleeping face.
"Yeah she'll be fine. She's tougher than she looks." Moordryd replied though as he watched me sleep I twitched from time to time and he sighed, not believing his own words.
"Why is she breathing like that?" Lance asked and that's when Connor appeared in the doorway. Once he knelt and rested a hand on my throat for a few seconds he frowned and Moordryd stared at him.
"It means that she's getting worse. The black draconian's spread to her lungs and that's why she's panting. Once it spread's to her heart... " He said and Moordryd couldn't stop his eyes from going wide in horror. All of a sudden I gasped and my eyes shot open. "Whoa take it easy." Moordryd said as I started to tremble and he rested his arm on my shoulder.
"I can't...seem to...catch my breath. What's...wrong...with me?" I mumbled as my friends watched on.
"My father poisoned you with black draconium. If Artha and Parmon don't get here soon with the cure..." Moordryd suddenly trailed off then unwilling to meet my eyes and I instantly knew.
"I'm...gonna...die?" I whispered, my body shaking from both my illness and shock and that's when I felt tears running down my face. To everyone's surprise Moordryd pulled me against his chest giving me an awkward hug. Grateful I wrapped my arms around his back and held onto him for dear life as I began to gasp. It was agony just taking each breath and for a few seconds I thought I was going to pass out. But I willed myself to stay awake because I was scared that if I went to sleep I might never wake up again. Feeling me shake Moordryd held me tighter . As the sun began to go down and Artha and Parmon still hadn't returned my breathing became weaker and as I struggled to take each breath Moordryd stayed beside me.
"Just hang on, okay? They'll be back soon." Moordryd told me and seeing the fear clear in his pale face I managed a weak smile. "What's so funny?"
"You...look so scared...right now. Never thought you'd...be scared of anything...Moordryd Paynn." I whispered and he managed a grin before he reached down and gently took my hand in his.
"Its going to be okay. I won't let you die." He muttered and that's when he swallowed trying desperately not to show just how terrified he was as he watched me dying in front of him. "Don't stop fighting."
"I won't." I whispered as I struggled to sit up and despite feeling like my whole body was burning up from the inside I reached up and Moordryd's eyes went wide as I reached up with a shaking hand and cupped his chin in one hand. Before he could form a single word I kissed him on the lips. Shocked he sat there for a few seconds before he reached over and pulling me closer he returned the kiss, his lips almost crushing mine and if I wasn't already having trouble breathing that kiss would have left me breathless. When we broke apart Moordryd grinned.
"That...was pretty drac." He said and that's when we both heard laughter coming from the doorway. As we both looked up we saw Kitt laughing at us while Lance gagged. Though he did look pretty happy that I was looking a litle better.
"Eww gross!" He grumbled and I started to giggle which just made me start coughing all over again. As my friends hurried over I covered my mouth with my hand, still coughing and that's when Artha and Parmon finally arrived. As soon as they rushed in Moordryd gave them each a glare and muttered something about taking their time.
"For your information..." Artha started to say until I started gasping again and he quickly handed over a small black rose. As Connor rushed away with it towards the house I continued to gasp and Moordryd put a hand on my back trying to help me. Seeing this kinder side to him made me feel a little better but I found myself unable to get enough air into my lungs and I was soon on the verge of passing out, black spots appearing as I gasped.
"Can't breathe..." I managed to gasp but before I could pass out Moordryd reached back and whacked my back with his open palm. With an almightly cough and then a gasp I took a breath and I started to breathe better I stopped feeling faint. "Thank...you." I gasped and Moordryd shrugged like it wasn't a big deal.
"Where's dad?" Lance asked and I lifted my head just as Connor returned with something in his hand. Quickly he hurried to my side and handed a small tube of a light brown liquid to Moordryd.
"Rayne drink that. Its the antidote." Connor told me and as Moordryd held it out I tilted my head back. As he poured the antidote down my throat I resisted the urge to cough and once I swallowed I grimchaed at the taste. For a few seconds nothing happened and as I watched Connor grabbed the bucket and quickly emptied it a few feet away before he set it down beside me. I stared at him for a moment, not sure what the bucket was for then I suddenly gagged feeling something rise from my stomach into my throat. The bucket was instantly thrust into my hands and I quickly buried my face inside it making a nasty coughing noise. It was pretty quiet in the stables for the next few minutes well other than the noise I made as I coughed up the contents of my stomach which looked as dark as the draconium that had poisoned me. As I coughed I felt an arm wrap around my middle keeping me upright and once I stopped throwing up I set the bucket down and immediately someone moved it as far away as possible. Not that I blamed them.
"Feel better?" Artha asked and I lifted my head still coughing a little though the black veins had begun to recede.
"Chest...really hurts. Feels worse than...the poison." I whispered and Connor chuckled. "Why did...I...ugh." I mumbled as a sudden wave of lightheadedness hit me.
"That antidote cleared your body of the poison the fastest way possible. You're in pain because...the poison almost destroyed you. Now you need to rest and let yourself heal." Connor explained and I gave him a weak nod trying not to faceplant on the ground.
"Okay...yeah...kinda tired." I muttered and stifling a laugh Lance and Connor left us. Of course Artha, Parmon and Kitt stayed behind for a few minutes more asking how I was until Moordryd growled wanting them to go and leave us in peace. Knowing that the leader of the Dragon Eyes was more worried about me then he let on Artha left with Kitt and Parmon. The moment they left Moordryd realized he was still holding me but as he went to let go of my arm I gripped his arm and he raised an eyebrow at me.
"Could you stay behind? Just for a little while? You...don't have to...if you don't want." I sighed as I tried to keep my eyes open a little while longer.
"Well...I suppose I could stay for a few minutes. Then I have to go or Cain'll send out a search party." Moordryd told me and I instantly brightened despite being exhausted from my illness. Giving him a weak smile I lay down. "I haven't been very...nice to you have I?" He asked suddenly and that surprised me.
"Its fine...I still like you despite you being a jerk 80% of the time." I replied and he raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"80%? What about 60-40?" He asked as he sat beside me and squeezed my hand as I slowly closed my eyes. When he realized I was sound asleep he grinned at the peaceful smile on my face. Sometime passed as I lay fast asleep, occasionally shifting as I made myself comfortable and as I slowly recovered from my brush with death I thought I heard someone moving around in the stable. When I finally woke it was early morning and as I yawned and sat up slowly I found that despite an ache in my chest I was feeling a lot better. Hearing me stir Quiksilva walked over having been getting a drink and when he saw I was awake he gave a happy growl rushing over and almost knocking me backwards. Giggling as he licked my face I heard voices and when I saw who it was I grinned.
"Wow that was a fast recovery." Parmon said as he and Artha walked over.
"Yeah well I'm stronger than I look. Just a minute where's Moordryd? He left me when I was sick?" I suddenly said not able to hide the hurt that could be heard in my voice but as I felt my lip start to quiver another voice spoke.
"He left five minutes ago." Connor answered as he walked into the stable. "The thng is he's been here the whole time you were sick."
"Wait so he didn't leave me?" I asked and Connor shook his head. "So...maybe he isn't as bad as everyone makes him out to be. Maybe...he does care."
"Well I wouldn't go that far but he is a nice guy when he tries to be. At least now we know." Artha said and I raised an eyebrow not sure what he meant. "That he likes you." He added and everyone laughed as I blushed.