Despite repeated attempts to wake me, Moordryd could only watch as I lay limp in his arms. After another failed attempt Moordryd sighed, looking down into my unconscious face.
"You know even when you're out cold, you're still beautiful." He muttered as he reached down and wrapped an arm around my legs. Seconds later my head was leaning against his chest and he grinned as I unconsciously snuggled against him, now resting in his arms. Focused on me Moordryd didn't even notice as Artha and Lance approached, though when both let out a snigger he looked up. "Don't even say it, stablebrats." He grumbled, embarrassed at being caught.
"Come on, my father wants you to bring Rayne to the stable. He needs to take a closer look at that gear." Artha said and trying to ignore the grins Moordryd followed. As he walked through the doorway of an empty stable, Moordryd saw that Connor was already laying out a sleeping mat for me and as he walked over, the younger Paynn gave Artha's father a grateful nod.
Gently setting me down on the mat, Moordryd stood before Connor who knelt and examined the gear currently fused to my head. After a few minutes he went to touch it, only for Moordryd to shake his head.
"Rayne tried that and it almost fired her." Moordryd told the elder Penn who gave him a nod before he straightened. "Can you remove it?" He asked as Connor stared down at me.
"If what you say is true then I can't remove it. Word created it so only he knows how to remove it. I'm sorry Moordryd." Connor said when Moordryd sighed, kneeling beside me and gently stroking my forehead. "You need to sneak into his citadel and find the device keeping this gear armed. When its destroyed it will be safe to remove this."
"Then I'm going in and forcing my father to tell me where it is." Moordryd growled, standing and walking towards the doorway.
"You can't force your father. Look we just need to sneak in and find whatever's armed this gear. We destroy that and Rayne's fine." Artha said and Moordryd stopped in his tracks, whirling around and glaring at his rival. "You know I'm going to help you whether you want my help or not. Rayne's my friend too."
"Just don't get in my way, stablebrat." Moordryd told him and Artha rolled his eyes before he walked over. "Let's go then." Giving him a nod, Artha followed. After keeping watch over me for a few more minutes, Connor headed for the house deciding to find me a blanket and since he was no longer present he didn't hear me groan. Less than a minute passed before my eyes slowly opened, confused and in some pain from my earlier shock.
"Moordryd...anyone?" I called out weakly and getting no response I sighed, sitting up and wincing from the ache in my body. "Guess they left me here. I wonder where they went."
Deciding to look for them was a bad idea when I tried to stand, only for my legs to shake and after ending up on my rear for a second time I growled. And that's when someone echoed my growl, sticking their head through the doorway only a few moments later and I managed a grin.
"Quiksilva." I called and he immediately rushed over, giving my head a gentle nuzzle. "Am I glad to see you. Hey do you know where Moordryd went?" I asked and he snorted, moving his head towards the doorway and I grinned at him, climbing to my feet using his body to steady me.
Not so sure I should be moving, Quiksilva nudged me and when I stared at him he moved his head towards the sleeping mat.
"Yeah I know but I need to stop Word...if he really did do something to my mind. Besides I was ordered to keep an eye on Moordryd and I always follow through with an order." I told him and Quiksilva frowned, clearly not happy though he did mag me to his back. As he made his way outisde I pressed an open palm against my forehead, trying to ignore the pain that surged through it. I wasn't feeling very strong but I wanted to learn the truth so I decided to rest later, too impatient to wait any longer. As soon as we cleared the doorway, Quiksilva picked up speed and a few seconds later we were clear of the Penn Stables just before Connor emerged from the house, looking on in surprise as we raced past him.
"Rayne!" He yelled but I ignored him, more focused on catching up to the Paynn and Penn brats then worrying what someone else wanted. Though as Quiksilva sped up, his feet a blur I shook my head when I felt the slightest hint of guilt before I saw Decepshun and Beau just ahead. Instantly I narrowed my eyes and concentrated to catching up and as my dragon, as I had subconciously called him, easily overtook both dragons. I was having a blast and as we rushed past I stuck out my tongue, not very mature but it just seemed like a good idea especailly when Moordryd and Artha both blinked at me.
Really that was more to do with me being awake and looking a lot better but I didn't really take any notice as we rushed into Word's citatdel. Of course we hadn't gotten too far inside when I realized that I couldn't just burst in and attack him, not the man I worked for.
"Quiksilva, stop!" I called out and he slowed, giving me a curious look and I shook my head. "We can't just burst in and attack Master Paynn. But then how do I get him to remove this infernal device?" Leaping down once Quiksilva had stopped I lent against him, wondering what to do next. So lost in thought I didn't heard something creeping up towards me until it was almost on me and to my shock I felt a hand clamp over my mouth. At the same time someone yanked me into the shadows just as a wraith wandered past, sniffing the spot I'd just vacated. Thankfully Quiksilva had hidden himself nearby, watching with a glare as the dragon walked past still searching for us. As soon as the danger passed, Moordryd let go of my mouth, giving me a raised eyebrow as I glared at him.
"I just saved you from being caught again. Don't give me that look." Moordryd whispered as I grasped his arm and tugged it from my waist, letting out a snort as he stared at me.
"Maybe that's what I wanted." I shot back and he shook his head at me, biting back a sarcastic remark. "Anyway what do you want?"
"I came here to stop you from doing something stupid. Turns out I was just in time." Moordryd said giving me a slight grin and I shook my head before I started to walk further in, only for the younger Paynn to grab my arm and I narrowed my eyes. "Before you get mad my father's office is this way." He added, pointing towards a door I hadn't even noticed and I stared at him for a moment, unsure if I should trust him. "Or you could go that way and run into the citadel's defenses. Your choice." He added and I growled before I nodded, fully intending to get back at him at some later date. After telling his dragon and Quiksilva to meet him just outside, I watched as Moordryd headed further in and after a slight pause I followed. It wasn't long until we reached Word's office and as soon as I noticed it was empty I just pushed past him and strolled right towards the computer.
"Now let's find that controller and get this stupid thing off." I grumbled as I searched the room, ignoring Moordryd who seemed to be giving me a really worried look.
"Rayne stay still." He called out but I just kept on seraching the room, not notiicng a tall figure step out of the shadow. "Oh...scales." Moordryd muttered just as he saw what looked very silmilar to a wraith controller, except it was smaller and jet black, in the palm of his father's hand and as he grimaced Word pressed the glowing button on it.
As the massive jolt of energy shot through my system I let out a scream, immediately falling to one knee. Moordryd wanted to rush to my aid but his father blocked the way, a frown on his face as he strolled forward.
"Rayne what is the meaning of this? Why did you burst into my citadel unannounced?" Word asked as I knelt on the cold floor, gasping at the pain flowing through my body and especially my head. "Though I suppose you did keep track of my son like I ordered. I guess I shuld thank you." He added before he pressed that same button again and I let out a cry, collapsing to the floor and hunching over. "Though I won't allow anyone in my citadel without permission."
"Stop it!" Moordryd yelled, rushing forward to help me only for a wraith to apear and block him. As it screeched he growled, not sure how to get past the dragon. Fortunately the Dragon Booster chose that moment to make his big entrance, Beau letting out a roar that shock the room.
"Am I too late?" Dragon Booster asked and I would have laughed if I wasn't shuddering from the repeated shocks to my system. "What did you do to Rayne?" He growled as Beau advanced on Word, making the elder Paynn take a step back before he caught himself.
"If you take one more step you'll regret it, Dragon Booster." He said as he held his finger over the button, daring the heroes to attack. Artha wanted to help as did Beau but if they even took a tiny step forward, well not Beau for obvious reasons, they'd risk me getting hurt again. "Smart move. I have an offer for you. Hand over the dragon of legend and I'll let Rayne go free."
"No...way. That's just...dumb." I groaned, willing my body to move and as I struggled to my feet everyone stared. "Don't listen...to him...Dragon Booster. Fire a mag blast...at the controller." I growled, fighting the urge to throw up as the pain in my head became almost too much to bare. "Please..." I whispered as I swayed on my feet, wanting so badly to pass out and forget about the pain.
"But you'll get hurt." Dragon Booster said and I growled at him, anger flashing across my eyes as I glared at him. "Beau, do it. I just hope we don't regret this." He added before Beau readied a mag burst. Before they could act Word pressed the button again and I roared this time, unable to do anything else but scream as the worse pain I'd ever felt ripped through me. In agony my scream sounded impossibly loud and in response I heard the distance sound of footsteps. When my eyes rolled up and my vision began to fade I let out a sigh, grateful that I wouldn't feel anything more though as I fell towards the floor I heard a familar roar. Then my head struck the cold floor and everything went black.