Beyond the horizon

[Glaeran]

The draconian man stood up and looked forward at the scene that was unfolding slowly. He saw another elf speaking to all who were there, asking for assistance in the fight with the Shade. Without thinking about his attraction to the female shade, Ertength jumped into the air and soared over on his own wings to land next to the elf. He raised his hand in acknowledgement and then spoke to them. I will aid you here, brother. We are one in race, and this scourge of the earth needs to be eradicated. He then continued in his mind to the elf. I am named Ertength and I am the first to ever be capable of fighting with dragon wings and the skin of another. What is your name friend?

[Rhaxta]

Rhaxta had just spotted a familiar trend in the foliage and layout of the land. She faced west, a slight twitching to her nose visible as she snuffled.
Yep, fresh water.

Rhaxta swallowed in anticipation, yet she still felt like she was eating sand despite the increase in saliva with her hunger-thirst. A buffeting like a gigantic drum caused the air to tremble, and Rhaxta sighed. No, she was going to drink, eat and sleep. She couldn't be doing with more excitement. The wings were no help to her darkening mood, considering how tossed about she was by Eldunari she was pretty sick of dragons.

When the hawk-like screech tore through the air Rhaxta jumped, only now taking in the darkening sky -looking ready to throw down a storm. What she saw made her really wish it had been a dragon. The shadow-spawn of a Shade hung in the air, gazing hungrily down onto the dimly lit group a ways behind her. And the woman -.. so there had been something there.

As Rhaxta tore her way back to the group - having not even thought about it- she yelped and had the air knocked out of her as a figure landed on her from the trees. Grimacing, Rhaxta remained flattened until whoever it was decided to move. Nothing stopped her from growling fiercely. She must have banged her head. She could have sworn she saw a golden dragon - the beautiful and fierce creatures image being the most wonderful in what seemed weeks. She took back what she had said of being sick of them.
It seemed there were really a lot of people around. She wasn't really looking forward t any possibility of having to explain how they all got there. Only really Uruale could point a finger at her, but she still had no certain clue as to what he would do. Or how it had all even happened, really. She'd seem a madwoman.
She murmured. She wished she had known that would happen. Could do with a few more dragons with a shade around.
Rhaxta squirmed and regretted it immediately. Until being landed on, her ribs were one of the few bones of hers not broken or chipped.
''Uh....Get. Off.'' she murmured.

[Brenton]

Winds tore at the others in the area with a gust that matched the speed of a car. It was getting colder and the clouds started to show a fine mist of rain that soon gave a sheen to all that it touched. Yet the clouds still remained full with the color darkening to that of a midnight sky with no stars. Then the clouds were ripped open by the blinding flashes of lightning that heralded the sheets of rain that soon came forth like an army prepared to take a fortress. Claps of thunder went from loud to deafening and the forest seemed to be trying to escape from all that scared the regular souls.

Bristven was ready for all of that, as she felt her hair grow straighter and suddenly start to rise around her head in a halo of hot white and blue fibers that made it look like wings were sprouting from the back of the shade's torso. The female demon of the night laughed in a smooth tone and felt her body begin to settle to the ground again. With her mind already tightened and shielded by iron walls of will created by many spirits, Bristven dropped her grip on the magic and then slumped forward and tried to make it look like she was defeated. You have me beat. I shall leave now elves and other races. As Bristven finished speaking, she fell forward and the shadow beast swooped down and grabbed the shade in its talons. Before any attacks could be launched, Bristven busted into her magic energy and cast a charm to disguise the mount and her in a cloak of invisibility that made it hard for them to be found.

[fëanàro]

Feanaro was hoping that the empire warrior would choose to stand an fight. But the elf was not surprised when uruale choose to not help but to run an fight another day, the elven warrior couldn't help but think to him self "coward!doesn't he know that tuning is futile if we don't kill this shade now. If she defeats me she will hunt and kill everyone any way. " feanaro took his gaze fro. Uruale an put it back on bri who was not even angrier if possible but he spoke to uruale one last time "fine you are well within you're right to run an fight another day.but I had to atleast ask."

Before feanaro could act on bri's words the elf couldn't believe another dragon an rider made an apprance in the frey. Laughing to him self one time feanaro thought to himself "maby all is not lost now " with jarkore on his was the shade an her mount will have a hard tine with two dragons an two riders. The large elf was about to greet the new rider when something fean had never seen before landed next to him.

What feanaro was looking at he could not explain.this thing was not entirely human it was also half.....dragon. when it spoke to feanaro he still stood there dumbfounded as the beigns greeted him self as an allies,fean was going to blurt something out when he felt an odd presence enter his mind, it was the strange beignintroduceing himself. After a momment of letting the shock pass feanaro answered "greetings ertength I am glad to know you are an allies my name is feanaro shadeslayer an I also go by the nickname the shadow I am the rider of jarkore who is almost apon arrival here."

When feanaro came out of his mental contact with ertength he herd bri say she was outmanned thus going to leave for now. But feanaro kept his eyes on her as she spoke he knew this would not be the last he herd from this shade snitch did not look forward to the next time they cross paths.. as he stood their feanaro now wanted to know about the new rider an the dragon beigns that had arrived. He knew uruale an rhaxta did not want anything to do with him thus he decided he would deal with them later if they choose to go on their own.

[Rhaxta]

Shoving the apparently unconscious form from herself - only after a few minutes of building fury and humiliation - Rhaxta shakily stood and gradually padded back to the clearing, getting a clear view on just how crowded it was. Rhaxta blinked, standing there in shock. Shade, no shade. Eugh, she had had enough of shades, too! Burn them!

Her eyes widened as they clasped upon the rider speaking with...well, it wasn't elf or dragon, but it had shadows of both. She still throbbed, though the fear and pain was shrouded somewhat by the flame of a self-made void. She had surreptitiously tried to use magic a few times more, yet where that part of her once nestled within her was now only a great vast pulling. Something was stopping her. She felt it, but it didn't dance with her as it had before Helgrind.

She straightened, ears twitching and manic eyes focusing on something in the distance. Despite the shades departure, the weather hadn't much improved. Night was coming, besides. There were wings, the subtle buffering of air against eardrum from the distance. More than one, though not from large dragons.

Not from dragons at all.

A great cacophony of wailing shrieks and cries was carried by the tails of mist that sprouted from the mainland. Great, leathery bird-like creatures harried and swooped. Rhaxta had seen birds acting like that before- yet it wasn't as threatening as the birds the size of bulls would lead you to believe. As far as Rhaxta could tell with tired senses and aching eyes - they were under attack.

~~

A dragon's roar echoed out, carried by the mist that laced the near-twilight. Freki tore out from a cloud, deep-green scales helping her lurk in the malevolent weather. Darkness was Freki's friend. She was still looking; Vulnar, Rhaxta, or just something to kill. She was currently amusing herself with attacking the evil-looking huge birds. None rivaled her size yet she still found herself pouring blood from where she had first dove in. The huge feathered birds with dragon legs and heavy, skull heads with vicious beaks were talon- sharp and powerful. They were more numerous and vicious than she had first thought, but there were no creatures more vicious than she.

Another roar, and she released a great tongue of black-green flames, the wind curling it around and the flames tearing away, burning away the mist to reveal her surrounded and illuminated by her own fires. She dove out and immediately sank her fangs into the neck of the first creature, and with a great tug removed its head. Throwing up it's head she spiraled up and caught it in her forefeet, immediately facing another opponent coming for her own jugular. She hefted the skull of it's companion and pierced it's hide with the sharp beak.

She released another torrent, highly pleased they caught fire where dragons did not. Well, she didn't mind not catching fire, but it was very satisfying.

She roared, then her eye was caught by the movement on the islands that had appeared through the fog. There was another dragon. She could distantly feel Rhaxta through Vulnar's leash-hold. He must be down there too. Instead of approach, Freki twisted and simply began to evade the birds, roaring challenge to any dragon nearby. She wished to conserve her energy for when she needed to fight. The birds could wait.

[Nepherion]

Uruale stared at Rhaxta's apparent blunder. He could barely believe that he could possibly be stuck with her and rest of them idiots on a island for gods knows when. Well he wouldn't waste any more time, he had a duty and a vow to uphold with Kvisa. He wouldn't risk that shades' wrath on him , atleast not until he felt more up to the challenge.

Uruale walked over to Rhaxta and clamped his hand over her wrist. " We don't have time for this. We're leaving. No- " His words froze in his mouth as the familiar sounds of wing beating the wind echoed again. He looked towards the sound, worry in his eyes. It was relatively familiar to a dragon's but they smaller than the ones he was use to hearing. Still, he would rather not take any chances without Flare with him. Uruale's jaws tightened. What to do ? What to do ? he asked himself frantically. His stone gaze observed the others and his surroundings, looking for a way out of the mess he was in. Than he grabbed Rhaxta by her shoulders. " Can you use that magic freely ? " he asked, knowing that his low reserves wouldn't be enough to fend off those beasts. His stone eyes looked into Rhaxta's hoping to find atleast the smallest amount of hope.

[NatharTheRustler]

Nathar strutted out from the grouping of trees he had stood near, holding an abundance of sticks in his arms. He held himself proudly. He had a wide smirk upon his face. As he stepped forward, he opened his eyes, hearing the beating of wings. He watched a dragon and several large bird-like creatures. He turned around quickly, marching off slightly deeper into the thicker brush, where he supposed the flying creatures could not reach him. He called out to the group behind him, one, simple word.
"Nope!"
Meanwhile, his grand, golden dragon puffed smoke and small amounts of bright fire unto a group of sticks, working to spark a fire for him and Nathar, and maybe all the others, if they ever decided to stop battling the world's evils of monstrous shades, and birds.
Bralek hated birds.
Not even 'evil' birds, like the ones the others were combating now.
No, just birds.

[Brenton]

ARLORVEN

Arlorven felt a strange pride within himself as he saw all of the other Rocs flying with him and Scout, who was also of a great size. The Grey Folk warrior, or as close to a warrior as possible, stood tall as Scout landed and placed his taloned feet on the ground. They were only a couple miles away from the actual area that all the other Rocs were flying to but Arlorven felt a fear within himself that signified an enemy. Yes he had a weapon, but he did not like to use the large knife that was strapped to his thigh. So the man jumped down and spoke to Scout through images. The images were those of him running toward the hill where he could tell there was a camp while Scout flew up in the mist and stayed hidden so that he didn't give away his presence.

When the images were done showing, Scout gave a shriek and shot into the air to swirl around the island in hiding. Arlorven took off for the hill and then dove into the trees. He had seen the giant shadow bird take off and knew that it was a family member of the eagles. Arlorven continued forward until he saw fire. The flames showed a strange creature that looked like a dragon he had seen in a history book of a land called Alagaesia. Apparently the land was a good ways away and there had been some people who had fled to the islands. One of them had dropped the book in the wilderness and that was where Arlorven found it. The Grey Folk man crouched and stalked around so that he was behind the man that was with the beast. His hand immediately went to his large knife and he knew that he would fight if provoked.

NIGHTSHADE

A growl emanated from the throat of the beast that was being stalked. That was interesting, since he was the stalker and he was a werewolf, one of the strongest and deadliest of the islands inhabitants. He could smell the smoke and the humans that were there. Nightshade slowly stalked forward and then attacked the smaller mountain lion that was trying to flee. His jaws sank into his prey and he started in on his kill.

[Rhaxta]

Her eyes were filled with thick, roiling clouds. Mottled black and grey, seething and malevolent as it rolled back into the space where the dragon's fire had burned it off. It seemed almost alive, almost intent on consuming the dragon and it's feathered prey. As the black-green dragon fire burned away Rhaxta's eyes widened. The storm clouds had burned back, yes. But the seemingly sentient, carnivorous fog remained. At first it seemed to roll in to smother the flying creatures - yet it stopped a mile short and carried on to the horizon north and south. Rhaxta gaped. It was a barrier around the small cluster of islands. The omnipotent force that had rued her for what seemed years wasn't in her head. It was everywhere.

Without even realizing she was speaking aloud, Rhaxta murmured.
''They're close...''

Her eyes snapped up to Uruale a moment later as he snatched her wrist, she had not even noticed him moving. Grimacing at the reminder at how far she had fallen, being weakened as she was now. Back in the forests around the Beor mountains, she was at her hunting peak. Nothing escaped her and nothing caught her. She sighed, for all her years of solitude and longing for companionship - she wanted to be back in the wild away from bipeds of all descriptions, especially humans. At least there was some sort of order there..and some civility. You wouldn't find a wolf leashing a fox before devouring it. Eat, or be eaten. Life and death all around but it being a part of the cycle of time. Nothing so sinister as this.

''I don't think I can...but...'' Rhaxta realized what she had spoken moments ago. She didn't think she could get away with pretending she hadn't spotted the fog...barrier, for want of a better word. Deciding she wouldn't risk him having heard and lying, or gods above he should know when she lied through the collar. The short woman frowned, almost appearing meek for the first time. Her usually forest green eyes darkened to pitch in the low light and her ghost-pale complexion. The paleness of them was almost hiding the full bow shape of her lips as it tried to match the skin surrounding.

''I don't think they can get past...that.'' Rhaxta gestured meaningfully, arm sweeping high to compensate for her shortness, the fog was what made it seem almost night. It covered them - and sealed around the cluster of islands to the west.
''Please don't ask me to explain, I can't.''

She really hoped it could stop them. Him knowing she couldn't use magic right now was the only thing that could make it worse

Rhaxta jerked as a 'nope' rang over them, loud noises seemed to roll with the fog. Straining to see with the brightness of the flames... and the beautiful gold dragon reflected in them. Seriously, a dragon managed to sneak up on her?

The fire and the casualness of the pair pulled her. She didn't care what Uruale did right now, or wanted her to do. She couldn't track anything the way she was. She expected him to understand that - she felt like death, and almost definitely looked it.

Turning back to approach the man, barely walking steady enough not to fall on her face - before stopping. A glint of something behind the man who had shouted. It took a moment for her to register, but something felt... familiar. She had retained the skill at feeling her surroundings, at least. Speaking over loud, she hoped to deter and quell any fight before it started - hoping that any nearby and sneaking may catch it. She would go and bury herself it another fight broke out.

''My calling is Rhaxta. As you see I am worse for wear, might I join you by the fire and sit a while?'' she was desperate, and tactless. She raised her voice the slightest bit. 'I am tired of exterminating large and powerful creatures with my brain. I'd sit and have a drink with an
Empire rider right now just for a rest. I vouch for my companions that none shall be harmed, that goes for all three of you.'' My god, she was being tactless. She really was knackered. Realizing what she had said, she gave a sidelong glance and a grin toward Uruale. She guessed now would be the time she found out if Uruale was the particularly touchy type. This whole farce parade wouldn't be as bad if the man had a sense of humor.

Rhaxta twitched as she felt a life nearby exterminated. A predator nearby. Ah, life. Give and take.
Rhaxta was almost ready to beg for some give

[Nepherion]

Uruale look disappointed for moment, his brows furrowed and his mouth curved down. Her answer wasn't exactly one he had understood but for now it would have to do. He still held her wrist in his grip though not as hard as seconds earlier. Her skin was soft against his own. " We need away out of this craziness. " he whispered to her, looking around at the others; unsure of their motives..

A echoing "Nope" sounded through the group and Uruale out of instinct gripped Reona's hilt. He felt helpless without his magic and surrounded by so many anomalies. All he had left was his swordsmanship, but he wasn't sure if that would be enough with his current reservoirs. Another strike of despair hit him as the scales of a golden dragon reflected off the flames inside the trees. He clenched his jaws in anger. How was he suppose to protect Rhaxta like this ?

Rhaxta's voice was the next thing he heard as she overshadowed everyone elses. Her voice was soothing in the midst of Uruale's startled soul, as she was still trying to be " happy " in her current situation. The darkness in the sky had begun to be pierced by what seemed like a firework of white light, but who could tell with the dense fog surrounding them. Uruale loosened up as Rhaxta spoke, he had ignored her comment. by folding his arms over his chest. He took a step forwards and spoke so that all could here him. " My companion is right. No one will draw a weapon. Cause if they do, they will sure pay for it. " he said, trying to sound as powerful as he once was. His clothes were tattered at best and his cloak was torn in half practically. He obviously hadn't looked the part he was trying to play. Than his mind felt something familiar, something he had been craving since he had gotten to that god forsaken island. The touch of his partner, the sound of her voice, and her thoughts running through his. A call rang out in his mind. " Uruale ! " And it sent a quiver down his body. " F-Flare is that you ? Where are you ? " he called back.



A burst of light tore through a space above the islands, followed by a despair drive roar that vibrated the air. Flare's large wings bashed the sky as the mind of her Rider touched hers again. Her slanted pupils returned to normal and her rampage had been ended by. " Uruale ! " she yelled in the mental. She flapped her wings sparsely, feeling the damage she had done to herself in her draconian rage. She felt Uruale's thoughts blocked off by a force, one that had been strong enough to intercept the bond. Flare dove down from the clouds, her rose scales being splatter by the droplets inside them. She swooped down and headed towards the islands covered in fog, paying little mind to the fire burned birds.

She found herself looking down at a string of islands covered in unusual fog andt she knew that was where Uruale was, she could feel him, sense his mind, and sense his soul. Flare braced herself as she dove from out the sky and towards the island, her shaky feelings warning her that her act wouldn't end well. She crashed into the fog roughly and the invisible force bounced her back. The pain in her chest had rolled down to her paws and she snapped her jaw in anger. Her spiked head growled loudly before she released a maw of rose flames at the fog. She roared viciously as she battered it, hoping to somehow break it and enter to Uruale.

[Rhaxta]

((Sorry for failing - Nepherion would you like us to continue with this thread? Moving off somewhere so others could rejoin as they came back? I just had the thought that dragons being blocked by the barrier wouldn't make sense...as it is made mostly by dragons and for them :x Sorry I hadn't thought that one through))

[Nepherion]

Sure, Rhaxta.

[Rhaxta]

The sharp and rumbling keen of the dragon tore at Rhaxta. It was enough to rouse her, instantly pulling her attention. Although she had managed to feign awareness when Uruale seemed to stiffen, the thought hadn't congealed until she heard Flare. She straightened, padding from under the tree cover, where she could see the strange barrier.

Rhaxta closed her eyes, her brain trying to snatch awareness away, aching for sleep. She resisted, instead casing her tired focus out and forward. Progress was slow, she kept seeming to skip from one thing to another as her focus shifted. Gurning, she tried to concentrate, stomach growling.

A look of surprise and faint alarm fell over Rhaxta's face, her eyes still shut behind pale lids.
''Oh...'' Rhaxta mumbled. She paused for a moment, then began to laugh weakly. Her mind heaved, returning to behind her eyes and with it some of her sense of self preservation.

''Don't kill me for laughing, please. Just a bit shocked at the state of my mind, right now. The barrier stops at the water. I hope she doesn't mind getting her wings wet, she should be fine swimming under but I cannot tell how thick it is. Oh...and when she's under could you ask her to see what the fish situation is like down there?vThere's definitely one...I just wanna know how tasty it looks.''

[Nepherion]

Uruale snapped his gaze towards the elven woman he had been stranded with. The sticky sweat dried on his face felt uncomfortable but he tried his best to ignore it with the delighted news of Flare's arrival. He turned to Rhaxta with a serious glare on his gray eyes. " This better not be a farce, or i'll cut you down where you stand. " He had been loyal to the elven shade so far, but if Flare was to be injured due to this woman's sneaky ways then he'd just as quickly end her life, as he would fall into despair.

He looked off towards the fog, Flare's roars were piercing and louder in that direction as well. " Flare, dive under the water. I think its open there. " he told her. A bit of doubt rested within his mind but for the most part he was confident that Rhaxta was not dumb enough to mislead him. He would have to wait in anticipation to see if it was true.

A moment later in Flare's shimmering pink scales had slowly raised from out the water boarding the small beach. Her large body soon padded onto the beach and Uruale had wasted no time in hurrying over to her. He held Reona in his hand while jogging through the small group of people and towards her quickly approaching figure. " Uruale ! " she shouted, her voice filled with what had to be bliss. " Flare.. " he responded, his personality not allowing the full force of his joy to be heard in his voice. Flare had stopped a yard from him, he figured it was because she had not wanted to run him over.

Uruale came to a halt in front of her before reaching his hand up to her lower jowl. The bulk of her scales were dripping water to the sandy ground and had muddied it from the pure volume of it all. A small smirk lifted his lips as he felt her strength and the bond flowing through him. " It feels good to be near you again. " she told him through the mental link. He could hear her purring affectionately, it was a nostalgic sound that he greatly missed in her small absence. " Likewise my dear partner.. "

After a moment to themselves the two were soon stepping through the others again. Her figure was tense under his torn-gloved hand and he knew it was due to the other dragons and species around. " Rhaxta, " Uruale called out sternly as he approached. " How did you know about the underwater passage ? " His hand tightened around Reona's hilt and he made sure that she had seen the magical shiver that ran down its alluring, pink blade by tilting it a bit forward. He attempted to keep his expression as blank as possible but he knew a bit of his anger would scowl his brows at the least. It was a bit infuriating to have to continually interrogate her.

[Rhaxta]

''Yet everything is a farce with me. You really can't say the fates have to loose a hold on me, can you? Two shades interested or infatuated with me is quite enough without them handing out those.... Her wet, angry eyes fell on Uruale's wrist, still somewhat pink from the barb the shade put into it. ''I don't even know how much of me it has torn away, yet. Eugh, just.. Trust me, I'm on the losing side of that one every time, I am not in the business of making lives difficult.''

Rhaxta stood sketchily as Flare emerged unharmed. ''Ahh..good.''. It was a relief. Rhaxta was vulnerable enough. She was sure she had blown it by now and he knew she couldn't use magic..did that make her useless to him? Her life was on a tender line now..and it was wrapped around Uruale's wrist. Her usefulness wouldn't matter if he thought she intended to harm Flare, or if he even thought she was planning to.
She was beyond concealing things now, finding it difficult to stay where she sat even, her vision being hazy, her tired mind really starting to feel dejected and careless.

''There are living things down there, passing through quite happily. Big somethings, in some cases. I can..'' she paused, never having had to explain this before and really not being in the state to even understand it herself.
''It's a hunting technique now a days..but I was trained by a Varden captain..magician..well, he was an entity of his own, even before he became a shade. '' Rhaxta paused and rubbed her eyes, then blinked, face falling. ''He taught me how to detect magic users with it, but it has its uses. Scouting for one.''
'
'Then again, you probably knew all that. Sorry, tangent, Auugh. This thing is...tiring.''

''Besides, wouldn't make sense for dragons not to get through...We're fairly near whatever she wanted. There are dragons within the barrier...I'm pretty sure they're dragons, anyway. They're not like you, Flare.'' Rhaxta said, addressing Flare.

''It's pretty pointless to hide that I can't use magic right now. I don't know why..it may be tiredness but it feels...I've never been unable to feel it...at all before. I''m sure I can find a way if you're insistent on the deranged shades plan...I'm sure..but I need time adjusting to this thing.'' Rhaxta gave the collar about her throat an angry tug. In the moment she lurched, falling to the earth with pain lancing through her body. It set her teeth on edge and her eyes watering. Panting, she muttered, half growl, half whimper.

''I am going to kill her for this.''

[Nepherion]

Uruale's eyes staid on Rhaxta's as she spoke. She was a enigma to him and because of that he felt like he couldn't trust any word she said. But he'd be jesting if he said a part of him didn't already know that she was telling the whole and complete truth. How could a person like her, one that was both kindhearted and free-spirited devise a plot so sly. For a moment he was force to think his actions over and in the end he shoved the small glimmer of Reona's body back in it's hilt. A sigh left him and a stream of released emotions was transferred to Flare. She in-return shifted her coral-pink eyes over to Rhaxta's frame and bombarded Uruale with wondering thoughts; most of them inquiring on his relationship with the elven woman. He ignored her and reminded her that they were in front of others.

He walked over to Rhaxta,his clothes tattered to the point that the half-torn sleeve on his right arm was expected from him. When he thought about it, she had been drugged behind him like some dead puppy. He was treating her like some..some.. slave.

All at once the memories of his life as a slave engulf his eyes, from the beatings, to the runaways, to the death of his first love. Those very memories was the main reason he had joined the Empire and held the life that he had today. He stopped about two feet in front of her, his grey eyes grim with thought and contemplation. Her final words had passed by his ears long ago and now only silence had filled the void. He wanted to apologize, to say sorry for the way he was treating her; but the hurt and battered boy inside had the up-most trouble finding the words.

His glare had contorted multiple times as he thought.Then suddenly he walked pass her, only stopping when he was a good arm's distance from her. His back was too her's and was barely covered by the rip cloak that usually offered nobility to his appearance. " Y-You're no longer in shackles by my will but that Shade's magic is too strong for me to break. You.. will be free by a lesser definition, but never fully. " He reached to the back of his head and rub the locks of his dark-brown hair carelessly. " Flare, now that your here we can think of building a shelter. " he told her stoically. While looking towards the treeline boarding the wrecked beach.

" She said that the Dragon's are not like me, what do you suppose she meant ? "

Uruale looked over his shoulder, looking pass Rhaxta and towards the tower Flare behind them. " We'll find out when the time comes. We build shelter for now. " he told her aloud.

[Rhaxta]

Rhaxta had been fighting for some time. To stay awake, mostly, yet there was something else. Being unable to use magic, she could feel her subconscious clutching at the vacant space behind her eyes. That place where she would usually barb her consciousness with that beautiful, seething power, that reserve within herself. She knew some of that power must remain within, for she would surely be dead without it. She just couldn't reach it.

Something in her was opening, reaching outward instead of in. Like a blind man, Rhaxta's other senses seemed to open and..overwhelm. She felt a warm torrent, not against her skin but with this other flowering sense of things. It was her ability to sense the energy of living souls - tree, plant, animal, dragon, man...- that she used in her magic. But she could almost feel the pulse now, see where the energy came from and where it was going.

Rhaxta quivered, unable to handle the overhaul of information. She was able, in times of meditation and solitude, broaden her awareness to such a wide and detailed net. But she had never remained herself, in her own body during. She felt herself being drawn, almost like leaving her body as her mind tried to see everything.

She opened her eyes and could ...feel the passing turmoil that was Flare's and Uruale's connection. The feeling was given truth as she saw the expressions. Feeling shaken; Rhaxta found looking at Uruale's face, the glint of Flare's beautiful eyes boring into her brought her back to herself a little more. She came around, managing to push herself back against the rock. She felt like she had fought the strangeness in her mind for hours, but it had only been a few seconds from what she could gather.

"Flare, you have gorgeous eyes." she slurred.

Soon managing to put two thoughts together, Rhaxta paled. So that strangeness wasn't purely the eldunari's fault. Rhaxta shivered at the implications. What the hell was she doing now? The more and more she learned of herself, the less she liked. She was powerful, though she showed restraint with it. She feared going mad, losing control. She had seen it happen all too many times.

Looking a little blank-eyed with exhaustion, Rhaxta sharpened as Uruale's face contorted. ''Uruale?'' Her brows furrowed slightly, even through her exhaustion concern blooming on her features, albeit a weak expression.

Uruale strode past Rhaxta without responding, so she shifted to drunkenly turn her gaze to Flare, who was still staring. ''Is he...okay?'' Though she knew she had felt something pass between them..she had no clue what. She did eye Flare somewhat cautiously, fearing that was the last straw snapping.

Then indeed, something did snap. As Uruale spoke, Rhaxta felt a..lessening. The pressure around her neck and mind eased slightly. She had no idea if it was something the rider had done consciously, or it was some of the Shade's mad magic.

The hair on Rhaxta's neck rose. ''That was...odd. No, I'm sorry. This- this day has been harder to put into words than my first Beltine, and that was something. I need a drink..'' she fumbled. '' I mean...I thank you, truly. For your trust, know I'll never harm you and yours..'' she paused, gathering her words, a strange look growing on her face. She needed to word this carefully. She was lacking her usual vigilance and she could be very poor at explaining herself.

'' and..in the coming times, I will take what measures I can to...help counter any repercussions for you that may come of it. I don't want to alarm anyone, but I think the shade literally has her hand on my lead...and to some extent, yours. She felt that...loosen. I know I felt something but it seemed to go...further. Although on the bright side, I'm fairly confident I could, if not entirely stop her sensing where we are, at least mislead her.''

As Uruale and Flare began discussing a shelter, Rhaxta lurched to her feet, feeling no less wrung-out but a bit lighter. She let her mind flood out, keeping it on a very tight rein less she begin to slide again.

''Hmm, small fuzzy, most likely tasty things ..that way.'' she turned on a heel, seemingly letting her nose lead with her eyes closed. Her eyes opened as she walked only a short distance, still well within talking distance, and tapped her foot on a patch of dry moss and clay earth. It made an odd noise, as if it were hollow. ''Wha-''. A cork of earth shot up with an audible 'pop', and a wide-cheeked, small eyed rodent peeked from the perfectly circular hole left on the ground.

''Ooo..'' Rhaxta arched down, part crouching but ready to move. Her head tilted as she eyed the rodent- it mimicking her action in turn.
After looking at the creature for a moment she noticed more evidence of creatures like it. Either this was a very old ...burrow - for lack of a better word. Or there were hundreds of the small, long creatures. She strode away from the creature, following a path that obviously held a lot of critter traffic. She followed it to a brush, the foliage bent and cracked from passage. Arching over the low brush, her eyes caught speckles of intense, light blue spattering the plants that looked just like hugely enlarged blades of grass. Leaning further, careful not to touch anything, she saw..

''Fruit?'' She looked to the tree directly above. Fruit adorned its branches, like skull-sized, powder-blue blueberries.

''I can see us having that drink.. And a meal. I am no way fast enough to catch any game. But I can make a good drink of anything.'' Rhaxta picked her way, picking up some of the intact, fallen huge-berries. Some were too far gone, but most looked good. A few bumps to the tree made it lessen a little of it's less ripe load. It was still good to eat, though. Not hard enough to knock Rhaxta unconscious when it landed on her, so it must be edible now.


At least in the ripeness of it. Laying her horde out on leaves, she inspected one. Mind and by opening it. Small seeds, pretty colours but nothing that rang the alarm bells of 'poisonous fruit'. A few sniffs and a delve told her that no, they wouldn't die from eating them. The ones that had fallen however..may get them rascally drunk if they weren't very careful.

Bringing back her prize, Rhaxta slumped nearby but remained out of the way of any potential shelter sites. There were a few good ones nearby. She actually began to see her surroundings, on a larger scale than rock and tree. It was very windy, and the buffs of the sea told her they only be on a small islet.

''Flare, what could you see of this place from your vantage point? Could you see anything telling about this place? Any landmarks? Where we might go next?''