Hail, Companions!

It is currently 11:35 PM where I'm at, but guess what? It's Friday! Which means this update is technically on time!

My beloved reviewers, thank you for the time you take to even make the shortest of comments. You really keep me going.

Little Did You Know

Vvarden

Colinou

brickmaster2

canadasam101

Harkonnen28

QuiteARandomFan

Spartan10007

nightfury6598

Hawksrock 22 (Thank you, by the way!)

Ciara

and thank you as well to the anonymous Guest reviewer.

The man burst from below the surface with a loud gasp. Blinking seawater from his eyes, James looked over to see the top of one of the masts sticking up out of the water, so he swam for it, dragging his heavy basket behind him and suppressing a shiver as he climbed onto the wooden structure, rain drops pelting his skin.

When the mast had come down, he barely managed to dive out of the way, through a hole that had been blown through the deck. But the ship had sunk quickly, and it had been quite a feat for him to get back out from belowdecks and locate the basket containing his armor and sword. Fortunately, it was still resting alongside the bow of the ship, where he'd left it earlier.

"Sahko!" he bellowed, hearing nothing but the thunder of the storm above. "Sahko!"

After a few seconds, an unearthly screech sounded from high above, and relief flooded through him. The Skrill dove from the sky, swooping down to skim just above the swells before coming to hover next to where James clung to the mast.

"Am I sure glad to see you," he said, slinging the basket around his shoulders before leaping into the open air. Sahko didn't have his saddle on, but it wasn't too much trouble for James to grab hold of the spines on his head and swing into position on the dragon's neck. "What say you we find somewhere dry to wait out this storm, before we decide what to do next?"

The Skrill grumbled, and James took that as an agreement.

Aeri's tears didn't last long. She had never been one for inconvenient displays of emotion, but that didn't mean she didn't feel anything. As she and Shade flew through the rain, her resolve hardened around the ache in her chest. If what Winter had said was true, Surmata was probably already at Heimme, and the gods only knew what destruction she was wreaking upon them.

It was strange, though. How exactly had Winter known about the pirates' plans? He had been altogether too mysterious, but Aeri supposed with much regret that she would never know anything more about him than that he had been kind to her.

Now, all she could do was focus on the present, and do her best to prepare for the future. She was injured and exhausted from her experience aboard the pirate ship, but she and Shade were likely flying straight into a battle situation. Her thoughts raced as she considered what might lie in wait for them, and finally she took a deep breath. Whatever happens, happens.

Even flying as fast as he could, it still took a while for Shade to navigate the stormy skies, for the powerful wind was against them, buffeting them about effortlessly. It was late in the day when Heimme finally came back into view.

"Oh no…" The words escaped Aeri in a shocked whisper.

They could see the flames even from a distance, and tiny dark shapes spiraling in the sky, swooping over at least two dozen ships. Thunder rolled overhead as Aeri leaned low over her dragon's neck, urging him on despite their weariness.

As they approached, it became clear that the battle had been raging for some time. Many of the ships were damaged or on fire, a good number in the process of sinking. The dragons of Heimme were defending their home. But they were outmatched, facing off against a horde of bloodthirsty pirates under the command of a ruthless, sadistic captain. The ships were armed with catapults, which were still launching flaming projectiles at the island. The village was almost entirely aflame, despite the steady rain. The pirates were also heavily armed, with crossbows and other traditional weapons, and had overrun the main portion of the village, looting and slaughtering any and all they encountered.

Her heart in her throat, Aeri held on tight as Shade angled into a steep dive, the high-pitched whistle of an attacking Night Fury building with their descent. At the last second he spread his wings and pulled up, sending a series of powerful plasma blasts at several ships, which blew massive holes in their hulls and sending flaming debris everywhere. Aeri barely had a moment to witness the raiding pirates leaping into the sea to escape the wrecking of their vessels before Shade blasted forward, finally coming over land and circling the village.

They took in the sight of the swarming dragons, some with riders, but most simply raging aimlessly. The people and dragons and Heimme, in turn, noticed their return, and those airborne immediately rushed to them.

"Missti Einn!"

"Help us!"

"What do we do?"

Aeri was still dizzy from her head injury, and the bombardment of questions wasn't helping. Shade beat his wings to stay aloft, turning slowly in a circle to look at those flying around them. There weren't many riders, but those who were up looked weary and scorched. They needed direction. So where was their Chief?

"Rádgatá!"

Aeri turned with relief to see a grim Vasara riding Fern.

"Thank the gods you're alive! We need your help," she pleaded. Aeri looked at her numbly, and the blacksmith seemed to notice that her face was bruised, and her hair matted with dried blood. "What happened to you?"

"Pirates," she said unhelpfully, but Vasara just nodded.

"We seem to be facing a similar predicament."

"Vasara, where is—"

"Look out!" someone shouted, and immediately all of the dragons scattered as a massive ball of flames sailed through their midst. The remaining pirates had noticed their gathering and were aiming their projectiles accordingly. The dragons regrouped, their riders' faces filled with despair.

Closing her eyes, Aeri took a deep breath. When she opened them, she was focused, and collected. "Are there still people in the village?" she asked.

"We don't know," replied Vasara. "Most of the men and women who stayed on the ground… they didn't stand a chance," she choked. "We sent all of the children and elders into the forest with Maara and Mika, but…"

"But what?"

The blonde woman's eyes filled with tears, and Aeri felt as though she had been struck.

"All of them?" she whispered, thinking of young Luvia, but Vasara quickly shook her head.

"I don't think so. We cut off the pirates who were trying to follow them, and Haku and Kova went in a while ago to round everyone up and keep them safe."

"Well, we need to find and protect the survivors in the village. We also need to disable and if possible sink these ships."

"What do we do with the sailors?"

Aeri knew what had to be done. That didn't mean she had to like it. "Take no prisoners. Show no mercy, for you shall receive none."

The other villagers nodded their understanding.

"No one goes alone! I want all of you to go through the village with your dragons, take out any pirate you see, rescue anyone who is in danger and get them to safety. I will take the rest of the dragons and finish off these ships. Now go!" she shouted, just in time, as another flaming projectile soared in their direction. All of the riders quickly began their descent, leaving the rest of the dragons waiting expectantly, and Aeri leaned over Shade's neck.

"Alright, bud. They're looking to you."

Shade, for his part, was filled with a grim determination. There were about a hundred dragons, and they were counting on him to lead them, to turn the tide and win the day.

"All right!" he shouted at them all. "Form groups of ten or so. Each group will take a ship. If you see any pirates, do not hesitate to kill them. They are armed and they will take you down if you give them the opportunity. Aim for the catapults and the masts, they are easily destroyed, and once they fall, the ship is as good as sunk. Who is leading them?" he asked, and several dragons pointed claws in the direction of a massive ship with black sails, floating apart from the rest.

"Okay. Aeri and I will take that ship. I need ten of you to come with me. The rest of you, divide, and conquer them!" he finished on a roar, and each dragon returned the cry, their energy renewed and hope restored.

Shade tucked in his wings and dove, knowing that the rest of the dragons were following him into the fray.

Surmata was becoming frustrated. This was not going as well as she had hoped. Pacing on the deck of her pride and joy, the Tuhoavat, she considered the battle. The village was as good as destroyed, her men had seen to that. She doubted there would be any survivors there, although she anticipated heavy casualties within her own forces. The gods-damned dragons were proving to be tougher foes than she had figured.

The problem, she reasoned, was that even with the village razed to the ground, and all of its people massacred, the dragons wouldn't simply turn tail and flee. Why, she did not know. In her experience, dragons were rather cowardly creatures, but today had thrown that idea to the wind. They were sinking her ships! Perhaps she had made a slight tactical error in assuming she could take the island. But Surmata's pride had demanded that she not just capture the girl, but destroy all she knew for the trouble she and her dragon had caused her.

"Captain!" A harsh voice tore through her thoughts.

"What is it?" she turned, ignoring the thread of irritation that wound through her at being disturbed.

The burly man just pointed, and it took Surmata a moment to register what she was seeing.

The dragons had all grouped together, no longer flying around or attacking, just hovering high in the air. But what truly confounded her was…

"What is that?" she asked softly.

"What is what, Captain?"

"What they are gathering around. What does it look like to you?"

"Uh…" he swallowed nervously, and she smiled slightly under her mask. "It looks like another dragon, Captain."

"Why is that dragon up there?"

"Uh… I don't know, Captain. Because it can fly?"

"No, you imbecile. I'm asking you why that specific dragon is up there."

The enormous thug's nervousness was quickly spiraling into fear. "I don't—"

In a flash Surmata had drawn her sword and plunged it into his chest, twisting the blade. Shocked, he looked down at the weapon, then back up at her, before blood began to trickle from the corner of his mouth and he collapsed to his knees. Surmata placed her boot next to the blade, pushing his body all the way to the deck with a thump as she yanked her sword free.

Looking around, she noted that all motion had stopped on the deck, and that all her men were gaping fearfully at her.

"Would anyone—" she wiped the blood from her sword on the dead pirate's grimy tunic, "care to tell me—" she moved to the top of the stairs "why that girl and her dragon are here and NOT CHAINED AND BOUND AND SUBDUED ON THE OTTA?" she finished with a harsh shriek.

No one dared answer her, and she turned to see that the dragons in the sky were dispersing. Now what? She didn't have to wait long to find out. The dragons were dividing, coordinating their attacks to systematically destroy all her ships. Within moments everything was thrown into chaos as the dragons aimed their fire at the masts, disabling any hope of retreat. They also went for the catapults, leaving the very much earthbound men onboard shaking only their personal weapons with outrage and fear. At first, they only attacked the main cluster of ships, but it was only a matter of seconds before about a dozen of them turned in the direction of the Tuhoavat, led by none other than the girl and her black dragon.

"What are you all waiting for?" Surmata hissed. "Shoot. Them. DOWN!" Immediately the deck burst into a flurry of activity as her men rushed to prepare the catapults, pulling out crossbows and spears. The pirate queen turned and strode towards the helm. "Turn us around! We're getting out of here."

Fortunately, the storm was picking up, and the massive black sails filled with a powerful wind. Surmata smiled grimly as thunder boomed right overhead, and streaks of lightning lit the black clouds. It would soon be too dark and too dangerous for the dragons to fly in the storm, and they'd have to return to land, allowing the Tuhoavat to escape. They'd survive, but not unscathed. She had to leap out of the way as a row of spikes embedded themselves in the deck where she had been standing. The dragons were swarming around the ship now. One by one, the catapults disappeared in balls of flame, sending screaming men overboard. Her beautiful ship was on fire, but it would still sail, provided the dragons didn't—

A blue light exploded just behind Surmata, and she was thrown forward. Head pounding, she rolled onto her back and stared up in disbelief. With a loud crack, the mizzen-mast slowly tilted, then fell sideways, smashing through the top of the wooden deck. Screaming told her that at least one man was trapped beneath it.

Then, like a demon risen, a shadow fell over her, and she looked up to see the black dragon hovering just off the side of the ship, staring at her with hate-filled eyes. Its deep snarling could be heard over the sounds of the storm and the battle.

All of her hard work and preparation. All of the favors she had called in. Everything had led to this moment… this moment of defeat.

She had thought that they might escape, but this was the end. And so she laughed, a raucous, maniacal sound, shaking her fist up at the beast she had sought for so long. Sought, possessed, then lost.

"Well, dragon?" she called out harshly. "Finish it!"

The growling intensified, and its blue eyes narrowed. Then a head appeared, an expressionless face. The girl. Surmata's twisted amusement faded as she appeared to speak to the beast, and its expression became one of fury. But it did not strike.

Around them, the battle raged, and the darkening sky opened up, pouring a cold, stinging rain on them all. Surmata could hear her men dying, could feel in her heart the destruction of her ships, and she became frustrated. Her entire body ached from being thrown so hard, and she coughed angrily, unable to restrain the wracking sound from escaping her lips. Tasting blood, she figured she must have at least a few broken ribs.

"What are you waiting for?! Kill me!"

The dragon smirked, but the girl just looked at her blankly. All of a sudden, the beast shot towards her, mouth open, and instinctively Surmata's eyes shut as she was enveloped in a deafening roar.

After a few moments, one eye opened, then another, then Surmata slowly sat up, her body screaming in protest. The dragon and the girl were nowhere in sight. In fact, there were no dragons at all. Looking around, she saw countless bodies, the deck still smoking in places, but the storm had extinguished the flames, and her ship was still afloat, sailing strong through the rough swells.

"Captain!" A desperate voice caught her attention, and slowly she turned her head to see a group of her men, bloodied and scorched, making their way towards her. Squinting through the rain, Surmata could see that someone had taken up the helm.

They had made it. They were alive.

Well, some of them. She pushed herself onto her hands and knees as quickly as she dared, then stumbled to her feet, pulse pounding in her ears.

"Captain, what do we do?"

Surmata tried to respond, but her torso seized up in another series of coughs, and she fell back to her knees, much to the alarm of her crew. The last thing she heard was frantic shouting, then everything went black.

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