Where it all*snowballs*, After the soft song

[Heather]

Melya&Tabian
The golden noose

The sun etched itself against the mountains skyline, casting drifts of color along the snow. A soft whistle began it's descent into the air as a women quickly made her way across the barren landscape. The town she was aiming for would soon come into sight, until then a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature eased in. Locks of pale gold filtered her vision stumbling this way and that. Crimson trailing after her retreat, almost mocking the feeble attempt of safety. Just a little longer I can do this, Only a few short steps Such thoughts ate away the regret of her journey because she knew she'd make it. There was no failure when the town was just feet away now. Smoke twirling and chocking the sky, alerted of someone' cozy house fire. Laughter coating her lips, soon hastened into a grimace as a shadow overtook the glittering white. It was small enough that it shouldn't create worry, yet that it was flying at all was enough proof to move away.

“Oi, will you slow down?” the words echoed into the depth of her bones, and her feet replied into a sudden halt. The small creature barreled towards the ground making a loud thunk in a rather ungraceful fashion. “Bout time, I dare say you would have gone on forever!” the small lizards mouth twitched into what seemed a sarcastic sneer. “You shouldn’t be speaking.” The girl’s words shook but held conviction all the same. “Now Melya if that was true, I don’t think you’d hear me..?” he trailed off as the girl began to pace. “Don’t say my name, you don’t know me.” She was in trouble her fingers shaking at the thought she’d be eaten, hadn’t it already taken a snap at her?!

“It was an accident you were all jumpy I thought you needed a good waking up” the dragons silver scales seemed to dance under the suns’ gaze offering guidance. “No, don’t-answer my…head!” she was exhausted, confused and it wasn’t helping. “Let me think, just-“ then she was running trying to get past anyway she could, until her face hit powdered cold. The small creature sitting on top of her, tail twitching back and forth. “Now, why don’t we just wait for everyone else, shall we?”


Fox& Reacta
Silent venom

In a sudden sort of understanding he walked side by side with the small female dragonette by his side, her emerald skin held a soft shine to it. Sticking out in the expansive snowy world, though Fox knew he wouldn’t be hidden any better. His gaze matched the color of Reacta as the creature had put it. Why he was here, he guessed he’d find out though being here had been more a feeling. Trust your gut I was the best thing he’d ever heard. Though if his gut included having some sort of plan, or being able to figure I out in his mind. Then, it was worth chasing after.

A chuckle as Reacta galloped forward vanishing here and there when the snow revealed an air pocket beneath. Catching sight of her goal he watched a women buried under what seemed a rather large silver dog. Upon further investigation he noticed it was the same species that had decided was his new companion. What he was going to do with a dragon was it? he had naught a clue. Though it proved to be an adventure in the least, something he’d been craving for awhile now. “Hey now get’off will ya?” though his words were unheard as he watched the silver dragon blasted into the air. The fragile looking girl, now marked as slightly dangerous in his book. Sat up with a startled smile, “I-he..” without further explanation she rose dusting herself off. He noticed the twitch of her ears almost elven like before she extended her hand. “Melya.” Giving her hand a brie shake he just smiled. What on earth was he getting into?

[Alexa]

“Would you bloody well give up?”

“Does it look like I have?”

Great. Now it had a sense of humor. Andralyn rummaged around in her pack before producing a slab of cold jerky, she threw the annoying little creature a glare before snapping down on the meat.

“I don’t want a dragon. Nothing but trouble,” she mumbled, flipping her short red locks back from her normal human shaped ears. Mythological creatures were dangerous to be associated with. If a guard saw her talking to a dragon he’d murder her. The whole game in the fucked up world was to stay alive. She wouldn’t be playing to her advantage with a saphire blue bundle of muscle and teeth shinning with every bounce of light that hit him. In fact, it was a miracle she hadn’t been spotted already. She’d never make it to Sidhe with this….thing being a beacon of light spotlighting her.

“Andralyn,” his voice was strained with trying to keep patience; most people were when dealing with Andralyn. She was…feisty, to put it in a kind way. Half reckless and half independent, Andralyn made her own path in the world. “This is an honor, out of all the habitants of this world, I have chosen you to be stand beside me in the coming apocalypse,” he tried reasoning, partly not sure why he bothered. He had picked Andralyn for her strong will, knowing she wouldn’t break under the pressure. He hadn’t considered how strong will might tie in with pure defiant and headstrong qualities.

“Sorry bucko, you missed the apocalypse mark a few years ago – we’re in the fucking end of the world.” She gnashed her teeth together most defiantly and continued to pick up her pace, hoping to lose Knightly. Dear good, did she just name it? Shit. Shit. Shit. “If there are so many people dying for a chance at this honor, perhaps you should pick one of them,” she suggested tartly, her frustration rising. The damn thing couldn’t take a hint.

She was not keeping it, and she certainly was disregarding the fact she had named it.

Up ahead, she caught a strange look. Two individuals stood, one slightly to the right from her, the other approximately three feet away, had long hair and both seemed to have a creature by them. “Look, there’s a pack of you, go by them.” She grudgingly suggested, and began to trudge her way up the steady incline. One of her frail and chilled hands, the finger tips blue from the frigid wind had dipped into her pocket. The cold silver of a knife comforted her rapid fire heart beat. If they meant trouble, she would be ready.

[Alexa]

This was insanity. Tandri berated her poor traveling choices for a solid lengthy piece of time as she climbed her way up Tir Tairngire Mountain. There was a traveler’s pass, but there was a chance of being spotted. Tandri was, unfortunately, hard to forget. The woman looked timeless and elegant, even when battling a snow storm. Even with her hair messed up, a flesh wound producing minimal pain on shoulder and looking much worse than it was and her face a giant red target zone, she managed to look graceful and pretty. The curse of the elves, being so recognizable. She had wanted to pass through town, but the archers had caught the swift smell of her floral fragrance that seemed to cling to her long elf body. Well most of their arrows had been Childs play to dodge, she had been cocky and caught unprepared. Obviously. Her shoulder was not going to heal itself, so it was wiser to continue moving until she could summon magic to heal herself, or preferably find some modern convention of healing that included plenty of gauze and some disinfecting cream.

The mountain was a struggle with her right arm practically lifeless. It hung off its hinge, dangling pathetically to her joint. Every now and then she felt the arm brush against her body as dead weight; her face would be marred with a scowl. It was embarrassing, which came to the second point of not taking the safe and sane trail.

“No, no, no. This will not do.” The voice did not approve of her actions, Tandri could tell that already. Its deep vocal chimed out in a very protective and disproving manner. “You couldn’t have planned a better suicide.”

Where? Tandri looked around, bewildered. She pulled out a long rapier with her good arm, and went into a defensive stance. Her elf eyes flickered around, checking out her surroundings. “Whoever is there, I pass in peace. Attack and you will rue it,” she warned, holding her ground. It wasn’t the first time she had to fight for her life with a handicap, unfortunately. She’d just have to hold her own with or without lady luck on her side (Tandri had stopped believing in luck a long time ago).

“Put that pig sticker down and be rational, it’s why I chose you,” the voice hummed, Tandri could sense the amusement rolling of f him in waves. The creature was huge, and even then that was an understatement as it he toddled his way up to her looking as regal and dignified as a new born dragon could. “I waited for you, waited for years in fact and you come to me practically dismembered?” he could only shake his head in dismay. “For all your cleverness and bright ideas Tandri, this rates one of the worst.”

“How do you know me?” she stunned speechless, to find another magical being such as herself out in the untamed lands. Surely Kala had murdered off every dragon possible. To think of how long he had hid in exile, it nearly brought tears to her eyes thinking of how the creature had been punished into isolation. She knew a bit of how that felt like though, it had been nearly five years since she had spotted another elf. “How did you choose me?” she bit down on her lip with the last fragment.

His eyes sparkled with more amusement, sitting on his haunches and allowing the female elf to connect the dots herself. She wasn’t ignorant to dragon lore; it cut time having her already know the answers she was seeking. As knowledge pooled into her mind, Tandri’s green eyes lit to life. He was beautiful, the snow mixing right in with his crystal appearance, every color bounded off his luminous clear scales. “I think…” she paused, “I’ve been waiting all my life for you too…Calder.” She reached out, and brushed her long elegant fingers along his back side, a smile tore across her face. “We’re in for a rough life you and me,” she whispered, wishing for a time of peace instead of darkness.

The two made great time, struggling to fight the bitter mountain bent on bringing them to their knees. As time stretched on, Tandri felt her mind waver and when she first spotted figures in the distance; she believed it to a play on her mind. For an instant, she wondered if insanity was hereditary, maybe old genetics had caught up with her under the right conditions. As they continued to cross the leagues of snow, she began to accept that the man and two females were no illusion. At first, she was ready to fight with tooth and nail for her life. As they continued to approach though, with each person having a dragon…how could they possibly be enemies? “Hello? Come on Calder,” Tandri shouted with a little more enthusiasm than necessary, she had been alone for so long. Her body yearned for company of another person as she quickened her pace, speeding up to meet the fellow travelers.

[Alexa]

Wiping the sweat of his brow, Xan considered the sweet idea of a rest. His partner in traveling however would not have it. “We must hurry Xanithel,” his dragonet warned, her voice thickened with the unpleasant idea of being caught. Her creamy pink scales glittered beautiful in the sunlight.

“Of course Rosalind,” he mumbled, fighting against the soreness in his legs to continue pressing at the quick pace the two had been traveling for hours now. Rosalind had been a shock to him, but Xanithel was very good at accepting the unreal. As a child he had had a very playful and broad imagination. Through the years his acceptance for things others would normally shun had expanded. Now was no time to be concerned with stepping out of a person’s safety zones, nothing was sacred. Rosalind had ran right to him, tackling him in the snow and causing the precipitation to fly everywhere. Together they created one hell of a snow angel. Her eyes had twinkled in pleasure at finally, finally meeting her partner, her true counterpart. All of Xan’s life, he had felt as if part of him had been missing, a single jig saw piece that created a void in his life. When Rosalind had pranced onto his lap, that piece had been returned.

It was a funny thing, meeting your destiny. To some it came in ominous and bleak forms. Xanithel couldn’t help but see the positive in Rosalind. Up until this point in his life, he had had very little to be optimistic about. To say the least, his past was unforgiveable, the pain he had experienced well might of made him a stronger person, also made him a tad on the bitter side. But, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. With perseverance and a strong sense of survival, Xanithel had pulled himself out of a pit others found their death in.

He was alive.

He had Rosalind.

And for the first time, he had hope.

It was a wonderful and magnificent thing, hope. When a man lies down to die, it was hope that might have a different man in the same circumstances barring his teeth and fighting like a wild animal. Many people had deserted hope, but when did you hear of hope deserting a person? Exactly. Never. Rosalind was just in time to save him for an unavailing defeat he had been self-destruct fully headed towards. The two made their way up the sunny side of the mountain in perfect rhythm, each ones heart beat in sync to the other heart beat. It was as if they joined to make one functioning organism.

“Ahead Xanithel, do you see them?” Rosalind suddenly questioned, her musical voice went into a higher active as her excitement grew. “You must see them, even your poor human eyes can’t miss this grand site. Our destiny awaits Xan, and it starts with one little meeting…a gathering if you will,” swiftly, she bounded forward – forcing Xan to stretch into a run if he wanted to keep up with her.

“Rosalind…wait….for…me…” he gasped as she stretched out his stride and caught up a she halted to a stop in front of multiple strangers. Xan had to rest his hands on his knees as he bended over, gasping for breath. Rosalind gave a slight apologetic look, “I guess you don’t have my endurance,” she murmured, so barely anyone could hear her.

“Indeed,” Xan managed to gasp as he threw her an awkward look before glancing around curiously at the other strangers. His golden orbs traced the faces, and he sensed a similar look everyone shared. The look of survival.

[Heather]

Kai&Airea
Shattered butterfly;Spread your wings

Gracefully dislodged from time the women chose each step carefuly, every movement planned out first. Yet as the obilisc shadow of an animal watched her it all matched smoothly, not a single second taken for the action. Well aware of every way she could move, most of her limits it wasn't too hard. "Come on now Airea will be late." she whispered, voice silken even with the gust of air shang her core. "Don't rush me." a graveled voice from under the snow, she'd learned her lesson not to laugh-the poor thing couldn't even be seen the snow was too deep for him. "I could carry you?" she asked sweetly enough but was matched with a hiss full of seething ego. "Very well." her lips played at a smile as she more or less glided over the ground.

It had taken her some time to figure out where they were going, time wasted as they went in circles. Not a hunting dog the dragon had quiped. By the time her body started to shake and quiver he accepted the lift and was curled into her arms pressed tightly against her chest. Her hair just a deep and rich in color as the dragons was frazzeled and tossed into her face. Deep crimson gaze closed to the brightness of the ground;a bit too much to take in at once. Though besides her hair, she blened into the milky swirl of light. "For something so beautiful it's deadly, isn't it?" she was talking to herself the dragon humming with energy as they drew close.

"AYE!" she nearly droped him as he began hopping inthe snow, lack of dignity stricking him for a second or two before he crawled up her leg and slipped back into the shelter of her body. "Them, are you sure?" she squinted attempting to pick everyone out. "So many..?" her gut twisted she was nervous, this had all been a risk and she didn't want to let Airea down. So she mached forward only to stop. Her eyes taking everyone in and hitting on Tandri, her polite smile hit a frown. "You! Bloody well almos got me killed!" her voice raised fom silk to a heated boil.

-----------------------

A sea of blues seemed beside themself at the small gathering begging, 'Oh my well at least you weren't lying!" The fear of the cold melted at the sight of more approaching. The girl could never be harsh or abrasive around anyone, it was a shock that she was always so geniune. "Oh! My are you alright." rushing forward she glanced at Tandri's arm lips turned into a sad frown. "What happened?"

Meanwhile Tabin was burying himself deeper into the snow where it had grown wamer, a small flash of scales annocened he was there but nothing else. Fox raised an eyebrow at the growing number of people,"You started a party without us?" his laughter seemed at ease at the injury on the womens shoulder. He'd seen people survive far worse, and until someone was screaming for help he was sure they knew their own limits. "Well i'm Fox." he annocned as if it might help some. Melya lifting her head from being a busybody at the elven women's side. "Melya." she piped in.

----------------
Brody&Shella

"About damn time" he'd been there for hours even before the Melya girl had made her way there. He was native to this area so it hadn't taken long for the orange dragonette to find him and drag him towards the gathering. Hazel eyes glittered in his face as brown locks hoovered infront of them. Only to swiftly be brushed away once more, the dragonette was silent unlike most of them.

She was too busy taking everything in, eyes glancing this way and that, 'Come then everyone settle down will you!" she finaly spoke and her voice was larger then the body she inhabited. Brody took everyone in slower then she had, catagorizing everything in his mind. Everyone seemed off to him, then again everything was off either way. Dragns should be extint. "Looks like an odd batch. I'm Vrody." adding his name to the slight shouts of the other two. He caught a flicker of movement as Kai closed her eyes taking a deep breath. The girl seemed to be penting something up for the moment. "Kailzya, just..Kai please."

So this is how it would all start? Ah let the fun and games begin.

[Alexa]

Standing rigidly on the edge of a sharp decline, Cian held in the beauty of a winter wonderland. Although his skin was prickling, nearly searing in pain from the cold – he could still appreciate the beauty of the mountains offered. Beside him a golden dragonet breathed in the fresh air and sighed contently next to him. Callista was a strange being, in Cian’s short life span he had never seen something as extraordinary as she was. Even the finest bred stallion was put to shame next to her gold scales that glittered like a thousand treasures beneath the sun light. What she saw in him, he wasn’t quite sure.

Callista seemed confident of her choice though as she tugged on his pants line before snaking around to head east. She turned back once, her dark eyes glittering in all the sun and waited patiently for him. She rarely spoke, unless she had something to say. Cian rather enjoyed that fact about her. He heard some dragons were quite the chatter boxes. The morning stretched into afternoon as they hiked up the desolated area; there were no worries, no one to run into. Cian had been assured that when Callista refused to take any path except the eastern path. Only a fool tried to negotiate with a dragon. From the beginning it was obvious Callista would be the silent dominate one in the relationship, mostly relining on Cian to speak for her. Either she was shy or felt it pointless for her to speak unless to Cian, he wasn’t sure which one.

“This way,” she purred, going through a sketchy rock formation, Cian knotted his eye brows but dutifully followed his scaly friend into the cracks of the mountain. Inside the darkness, he was fascinated by how her scales still rippled and casted off light, acting as a lantern. It seemed eternity had come and gone by the time his eyes saw the sun light again, he moaned out in protest at the bright lights and firmly shut his eyes at the painful rays. Slowly, his eyes adjusted to the light and they were standing only twenty feet away from more travelers.

Cian jumped in protest at first, his hand steady as he lifted his broad sword.

“Friends,” she purred again in her bell-like voice, and began to slowly make her way over to them. Cian debated, but soon enough ended up dashing through the snow in order to catch up to her. He looked over the fellow people with worried and tired eyes, only a fool trusted strangers and that fool usually ended up a dead fool. They were playing what seemed to be an ice breaker, introducing their names.

“What is this?” he mumbled, starring around in wonder and worry at all the gathering dragons and dragonets. He desperately wondered what his dragonet had gotten himself into. Most of them seemed to be human, yet he could see two elf’s standing out of the crowd, both seemed to orbit around each other. He imagined he’d be the same way if it was years before he saw another human. One was hurt, and the other seemed to be tending him. Then there was one that stood in a hostile position, he edged away from her, he was too tired for a serious brawl. Another female looked plain pissed off, he had an inkling her dragon hadn’t left her with much of a person choice. Then two males stood, he felt they seemed to be the most emotionally stable (Women were always about on something thing ) and another male who was gasping and catching his breath.

They made quite a group.

“Cian,” he mumbled, and then spoke up, “I am Cian…and this is Callista,”.

[Alexa]

“Yeah, what did happen?” Andralyn left her dragon’s side to poke around at Tandri’s arm, giving it a good poke and watching it still swing around life less.

“It’s not something gawk at,” she snapped, pulling her injured arm to cradle into her chest, a small frown working it’s way onto her lips.

“It could have been tipped with poison, it was irresponsible to let it go treated,” Andralyn was always quick to judge, she pointed it out rather bluntly before retreating back to Knightly side. She still refused to admit that he was her dragon. There were a lot of people here though, maybe if this was a group effort she could commit herself to a suicidal cause. At least she’d die and people would know her name. There was always an upside to life.

“Obviously the blood is dried, there for I’ve had this wound for hours and the poison would have spread through my veins and killed me, making it nearly impossible to speak to you as I am now,” Tandri replied, finding her question rather silly, “As much as I would have loved the convenience of walking into the town to have a medical man look at my arm, I believe the whole point of raining down arrows on me was to keep me out.”

“Are you being a smart ass?”

“No, just using a very small effort of my brain,” Tandri retorted, resisting the urge to roll her eyes at the insolent child. She couldn’t stay irritated for long though, Tandri didn’t want to seem arrogant; she was a tad on the agitated side from traveling so many leagues well loosing blood though. Her temper was diminished by the fact there was another elf here. It had been too long since she had seen another being of her kind, the aspect of it was very exciting. Being here, and being able to talk to others was even more exciting. She was tired of living alone, cowering in the shadows and always on the constant move to survive. “I am Tandri, if I haven’t mentioned it,” as she was perfectly sure she hadn’t. Before she had a chance to introduce her dragon, Calder took the lead and stood tall, “As I am Calder,” the way he said it, made you know he would under no questions accept any cute pet names.

Xan shuffled his feet and looked to Rosalind. Instantly she brightened her scales and in her chirpiest voice literally sung out, “This is Xanithel, and I am Rosalind. We are so very happy to be here. I truly think this is the beginning of a better age that’s ahead of us,” oh, she knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it would be worth it. Rosalind could taste the success on her tongue as she eyed up each individual. She turned her attention to the outrage of the raven haired girl though, feeling the hostility begin to arise. Her hopes diminished, but only slightly.

“Excuse me?” Tandri raised an eye brow, she starred intensely at Kai for the longest time, “No…sorry, it must have escaped my memo-“she stopped, her face frozen and then anger leapt into her eyes. “Oh, please tell me you are jesting. I believe it was my life that you endangered with your silly pestering, you couldn’t leave me damn enough alone.” It was the last time she had been to a big city since that incident where she had ran into the raven haired girl, who just happened to see Tandri didn’t exactly fit in with the rest of the humans. Meanwhile, Andralyn took the opportune moment to interfere.

“Great, you two know each other. I’m sure there was equal stupidity in the act…now, can we talk about getting out of the bloody cold? You two can bat it out with each other later, I’d very much enjoy not freezing to death,” ha, that would be a good rebellion story. The first chance to come up for Zheir to be free of Kala and the warriors end up freezing to death. “By the way,” she grinned, “I’m Andralyn..I suppose,” she sighed, looking down at Nightly. It was like she was sealing her fate, “This is Knightly, now what’s the fastest way off this god forsaken mountain?”

[Heather]

She stifled a laugh but managed to put a few feet between the two women. Her thoughts trying to keep up with all that was occuring, "Will catch our death out here." her hand finding a spot on Tabion's back for courage around the grup. "I think Tabion said something about a keep right?" doing her best to speak loud enough to distract the oncoming cat fight. Yet Tabions joke caused a spinter of laughter to produce I bet they fight worse then cats Melly His body slinking around her legs in a protective manner, should anything get out of hand. "Come now then children." he huffed.

His charming smile lit onto the two women, "Now, such beautiful marvels as yourselves shouldn't waste time on past feuds should you?" Fox's eyes lit matching the oh-so-convincing smile though he more reguarded Tandri then anything. Lop-sided grin made his features sprint to life as he raised his hands defensively infron of him, "Of course should you need someone to attack, by all means my fair lady. I'd be happy to voulenter Tandri, was it?" wide swept bow before standing, giving a faked shiver. "Or warmth is an option." a casuall wink and he turned towards the rest of this little troop.

Melya beemed at Fox happily nodding her head in a bobble-head fashion quick to agree. Cold didn't register as well with her, but her hand was numb from the bite she'd recived earlier. Already healed it didn't draw too much attention stuffed into the pocket of her pants. She muttered as Brody stood too quite for her as he stepped forward, hands folded behind his back head tilted to the side taking it all in. "We look like a master piece alright." clasping a hand against Melya's shoulder she nearly jumped out of her skin.

She had to swallow the hatred boiling over like an over-cooked stew, burying it for the moment. "Very wise." Airea's whisper further comforted her as she nodded somewhat. "Well then, whatever you say." a managed smile as she strode forward a slight defiance echoed every hard felled step. do you have any clue which way you should be going his mocking voice tasted like an acidic reminder she needed to behave. She glanced over er shoulder at anyone and sighed. "So then, how do we get there?" her words carefully articulated and harmless enough.

Tabion was giddy beyond himself as he jumped round and round at everyones feet already forgetting the could have been fight. "OH just walk, and it'll find you" he seemed to even giggle and silver sparkled into the sky. Melya blushed at his outbursts chuckling into her injured hand. "More walking?" Fox raised an eyebrow slightly deciding if anyone really understood anything going on here. Not that it mattered too much. The chill in the air wasn't as bad as the tension of uncertaintiy, walking and talking might ease some of it off. "Well i'm glad to have finally met you all at least." cheery despite the circumstances.

[Alexa]

The cold air numbed the senses, making each step painful and physically demanding on the body. All four of the travelers had that in common, both elf and human felt exhausted from the trip up the mountains, and they weren’t done yet. It seemed their story had barely begun and already they would have to fight tooth and nail for their life if they wanted to make it down the mountain into the smaller towns alive. A bonding experience, life and death experiences usually tied people together in strange ways. In a normal and sane world, death distanced people, creating rifts through the underworld. In today’s society, where insanity roamed the streets it was death that could be the ultimate strengthener between two strangers. The easiest way to gain trust was to lay your life down for another human being, to forfeit your heartbeat so someone else’s can continue to pulse.

Xanithel considered this idea as he looked out to the south, the ice caps hung menacingly, vicious enough to tear a full grown man in two. A tremble ran through his veins and it wasn’t from the cold. He peered down at Rosalind, who began to stare at the same ice caps that had begun to shake and stir in their place. “Would you all keep it down?” he finally snapped in a low voice, his sound coming out more like a gruff, “Or we’ll have a real catastrophe on our hands. Kala and her goons will be the last of our worries.” The hair on his neck stood on end as he watched the glistening snow, now harmless, threaten to tumble and roar down the mountain side. They’d be smashed and suffocated to death.

Rosalind seemed to share his fears as she looked around, everywhere they stepped it seemed if any move was too rough they risked certain death. Even Andralyn remained quiet for once, biting her lip and looking around with concerned eyes. “Well hot damn,” she mumbled, fear beginning to set in. “We couldn’t have picked a better fucking meeting, or should I say joint suicide?” it seemed the end of the line was where they had barely begun. Tandri only snorted, giving a roll of her good shoulder and flickering a careless glance at her other bloody torn arm. “No one’s going to die. Not if we think this through,” she muttered, her mind already calculating, thinking ahead.

No, they were probably screwed.

Or so Xan thought without voicing it. “I don’t think we need to worry about attackers at least,” he raised an eye brow, and grinned over at Fox, “I’m sure you can play the gallant hero another day…if we can get ourselves out of this mess,” he doubted Fox’s warmth would do any good when they were layered under several feet of snow. He might not have noticed, but Tandri’s cheeks flushed at the whole conversation, and it wasn’t from the cold as she swiftly turned to face the other way. Of course Xan didn’t notice, he flickered over to Kai, and gave a cheeky grin, “Fox might to be on to something, maybe we should all huddle together, conserve warmth…it works best without…”

“Okay, agreed we need to keep moving then,” Tandri stumbled over her words, shooting a furious glance. Her nose tipped red with cold and her arm more numb than ever from the chills more so than the pain.

“How? Where?” Cian finally spoke, until then he had remained silently in the background. “We can’t just tip toe our way out…and we certainly can’t go back the other way. We need to get down the mountain, to a safe house somewhere…preferably not in boxes,” he glanced down ward, standing where the drop off of the mountain began. “We could climb down…”

Because falling to your death was so much better than being smashed and suffocated. Xan shook his head immediately, “We don’t have the necessary supplies,” he glanced down at Rosalind, “Any chance of you being able to fly any time soon?” at her disgruntled look, his smile was instantly wiped off his face. “ I guess not…” he mumbled, sorry he had ever suggested the idea with her obviously insulted.

Huffing a bit, Tandri glanced around once again, observing the surroundings. “No, we certainly can’t go back. What about this keep? I’d sure hate to die this early in the game,” she had been quite excited at the idea of sticking it to Kala. When the mountain side seemed to groan from the wind, her hand tightened on her rapier, the cold metal brought her a sense of comfort…even if her better arm was currently on the disabled list. Andralyn groaned a bit, Knightly seemed to be just as furious with the idea they had come to a dead end. “Well we can’t just stand here until we freeze to death,” she grumbled half heartedly.

[Heather]

(I hope this idea is alright, but if it's not i'll change it. Idk it just sorta flowed in my head)

Melya's face flushed red at the conversation before it crest-falled in hopelessness. "We need to do anything." she whispered her words shaked forward as fear roked her. "I don't much like any of the options so far. Do we get choice Z?" whimpering at the images flashing in her mind, none needed to be voiced. It wasn't anything that could muster any source of hope. "Brody you live around here don't you? Don't you have anyway around all of this..something?" though his look didn't help her moral any. "I'm sorry but we're stuck here unless any of you scaled buddies aren't sharing something?" he grimaced at his situation, at being trapped in his own enviornment.

Still keeping his boyish grin his shoulders rolled into a shrug, "We get lost/" his eyes twinkled as he began to walk rather casually in a circle."How did we all know, here was the spot?" reciving a blank look from Melya urged him to go on. "Well if the dragon keep is our 'hideout' or what not.""It's not a childs treehouse." Airea flashed a bitter smile, though catchng on with Fox's idea. "We keep going till we crash through the earth hope what brought us here, will bring us 'home'" he seemed rather confident in his idea, so much so he was wearing a path into the spot he stood.

The grin that touched her lips was hard to mask with the impending doom hanging like smog in the air. She had chosen not to respond to the earlier comment though it helped ease a smile onto her face. "You want us, to try and fall through? Attempt to get lost..Correct?" she hadn';t moved reminding one of a timeless statue, marble gloss catching the sun's gaze. Fox held a far too happy smile to be considered sane. "You bet darling."

"This is sheer insanity!" Melya screeched in a horse whisper, moving a few steps back she let out a screch as the ground gave way revealing the loose earth belo that carrened down to a soon approaching death. Tabion was diving fter her, teeth trying to catch anything it could but not making purchase. She vanished from view faster then should have been reality. Kai's face watched where a body had just been, incing forward before Airea gripped her arm with claws or protest. "Anyone moves and we're all going down.

It was too late though Brody had gone for her hand and felt the light snow reveal nothing but frigid extintion. Fox didn't even try to stop it giving a salut as he slid himself into the small hole that had been created. "No, no no" her head shook wondering if it'd lead anywhere or if she'd die, if it was worth it to find out. If there was any chance at all, it wasn't as if options were likely, but she couldn't move an inch. Her body frozen with fear as the two dragons followed their owners without a thought, merely faith.

Why couldn't she have enough to jump, that was her problem jumping when it truly mattered. The ground quaked at the disturbance and she knew, this jump had no choice. With one fleeting glance to open air she felt the earyh give way, her hand reaching out under Airea grasping for earth, land anything fathomabl. Airea had merely managed to get ahold of something solid when he was tugged under. He had the image of his riders fear etched in his mind, her scream echoed in his throat. He had failed she was terriofied, there was no dignity in death.

---

Then everything grew warm and the ground felt smooth like stone, someone was laughing. Another crying quietly but alive all the same, though he saw kai sitting arms wrapped around her knees eyes closed as if she was still in descent. Apon a joke from Fox she smiled somewhat and hid the shock deep below. All waiting to see what would happen to the rest, who would jump, who would fall. Kai had fallen and it bugged some part deep inside of her. She forced herself to stand going over to Melya wrapping a comforting arm around the shaking elf, "There, see Fox was right." Melya had been the first to fall, she wasn't even given warning like the rest. She was just gone.

[Alexa]

Was he insane?

The fellow travelers seemed to all consider the same thought as Fox began to tread a circle in the snow. “Well,” Andralyn mumbled grudgingly, “We could all jump off the cliff, at least with the impact we’ll die quickly,” that or it would become her death defiance. Imagine, telling a story about how you fell down a two thousand peak mountain. Oh sure, maybe it really was only about a thousand feet – but it was her death defiance, she could lie if she wanted too. Cian seemed to feel similar as he raised an eye brow at Fox, “Well, the pressure is quite high up here, I suppose,” he mumbled, wondering just how long Fox had been up on the mountain. He reached down to heave Callista up; she was quite big for her age. Her scales shimmered under the bright glow of the sun. With Cian’s sarcastic remarks, she puffs out of a jet of smoke. “Of course, I pick a human with a sense of humor,” she grumbled, running her tail along her backside, protecting herself from harsh winds.

Tandri felt herself go on the edge of desperation herself, “It’s something,” she murmured. “Besides, if it doesn’t work, I’d rather die trying than sit and allow death to come to me,” she’d fight her way out to live. It was the Bellevue way; her kind didn’t give up so easily. They certainly didn’t lie down and wait to accept death. If there was a chance of survival, no matter how minimal, she’d take it.

Andralyn wasn’t quite so excepting. “Oh come of it, did you ever consider this could all be coincidence? All we are doing is sealing our fate quicker,” she nearly stomped her foot at the idea of welcoming death. It all seemed very risky to her, hoping that by some possible chance maybe they might by random luck be magically transported to a safe hold. This wasn’t a dream, didn’t they realize how easy it would be to die? There was no waking up after the big bad snow storm hit them.

“Sorry mate, that does sound a bit off,” Xanithel mumbled, pointing to Melya who proclaimed vividly on the insanity of the idea. “We’re possibly risking the fate of the world on a slim to nothing chance…” he felt guilty for saying it though. “I…I want it to happen though; We can all agree on that I think, something needs to be occur. I can’t believe we’d all meet here just to die,” he whispered the last word, doubting that anyone really heard him. Even quiet Cian was nodding though, a grim look set in his eyes. Tandri was the only one who blew impatiently, “At least it’s something,” she moaned softly, her voice held a tremble and she shook as if to seem she was shaking from the cold.

Her shoulder was really beginning to hurt though. It felt as if the flesh was on fire.

It seemed the heavens opened up when the ground did. “We can’t go anywhere else…” Cian mumbled, and rolled his shoulders, “Might as well go down,” and very much like Fox, he dove into the cracked earth. Callista formed a satisfied smirk before jumping behind him, her claws grabbed onto his back jacket and when they thumped onto the soft ground, she made the impact softer by flapping her wings, slowing their fall. “Not so bad,” she purred, hooking herself under his right arm. “Not so bad at all,” he agreed, looking up to a magnificent site. “This sure as hell beats my last place.”

With the courage Cian had displayed, Andralyn was not about to be one upped, not that she had much of a chance. Her feet flung out from under her and she was suddenly free falling. A giddy laugh escaped her lips as the Andralyn rushed through her system. Knightly followed his rider through the whole and she took a firm hand onto his body while they seemed to hand in mid-air until she went through the clouds and hit the earth, a last laugh escaped her lips. “That was fun!” she exclaimed with wide set bright eyes. As she stood up and brushed her red locks, it seemed apparent how young she really was compared to the rest of the riders, barely turning seventeen. “Can we do that again?”

Noticing the fear in Kai’s eyes, Xan gave a light hearted smile. “C’mon, we’ll plunge to our death together,” he said in a rather blunt manner. As the earth slid behinth their feet he grabbed onto her hand and felt the sensation of free falling. The wind rushed to his face, causing him to go cold except for the hand that held kai’s hand. As they fell, he noticed how close she was to the wall, in an effort to move her closer to the middle, his own body crashed against rock and from the surprise of pain he let go of her hand. When he landed on the ground, he was even more surprised to find the lack of damage. In fact, he was completely fine except for a small bruise. He flashed a quick grin, “This beats the mountains,” he wasn’t very fond of snow, truth be told.

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Tandri glanced over at Calder, who waited for her to take the jump. Xanithel had already plunged to what she suspected was his doom. “There is no logical reasoning why this should work…” she bit her lip, could she trust in her magic? It had nearly failed her with all the arrows flying down at her hours ago. It caused her to doubt a lot of things, including her own abilities. Calder was patient though; he rubbed his forehead against her palm and looked to the earth. “Everyone else jumped…” he reminded her, though it was a poor reasoning, her lips cracked into a grin, “haven’t you ever heard the phrase Calder? Just because your friends jump off a bridge doesn’t mean you have to too.” What made her decision was hearing the angry roar of the mountain; if she didn’t jump it would come down on her. “Guess that answers that question,” she mumbled and took a graceful dive into the earth. She felt the gravity fight against her body, but the falling won out and soon her body landed with a ‘thud’ onto the ground. “Oh, for merlin’s sake,” she cried out, wrapping a hand against her shoulder that had banged against the earth’s hard ground. “This damn injury will be the end of me,” without the cold to numb her pain, she was very much alive and feeling.

In a disgusting paradox, she sort of missed the comfort the freezing chilled wind had brought to the fire on her shoulder.

[Heather]

Quickly hiding evidence of the water crawling over her cheek with the back of her arm before glancing around. It was beautiful and there was no doubt they were in the dragon keep. Its halls seemed to glide on forever perfectly carved into the mountains core with looks of little or no effort. Not even a tool mark could be distinguished from the rest of smooth marbling blending seamlessly from ceiling to wall to floor. Well that was fun." righting up her composure as she began to spoke, Tabion already was bounding around the room like he finally got to a long lost home at last. Then again, she guessed maybe it was like that to him.

"Everyone’s all accounted for?" she glanced around nodding at the eight of them gathered in what seemed the entrance hall. "Funny we fall in here...” she glanced up no sign of how they entered was evident. It made her bones turn to jelly at the feeling she wasn't going to land anywhere, she would have kept falling..."We should get a bit settled in!" Tabion cried antsy to see what the rooms looked like to intune with the riders.

Meanwhile Fox had that 'I told you so' smile as he moved towards Tandri withdrawing a small balm of ointment. "Now hold still this could put the shine outta any girl, but a tough one like you should do just fine." he spread the strong smelling oil onto the wound careful to trace around the edges knowing everywhere he laced it would burn worse than hell for a brief second or two. Though as it did he smoothed hi other hand down the length of her arm, "This will clean it up, stop the pain. Get rid of it mostly, but I figure you can patch it up better afterwards. Just thought something to give you an option to do so later would be in order." removing his hand his side long smile created itself again. "'Course if you ever need someone to check it out. I'd be happy to be at your service." he'd happen upon a few nasty wounds here and there. None his fault of course...well...most.

Brody still looked thrilled the excitement Tabion was showing emitted itself to shine through his gaze as he looked around. "Amazing, this is so unreal." he murmured the faint scent of food hitting his senses. "Seriously?" he raised an eyebrow towards Shella and she seemed to shrug it off. "It provides for the riders when they most need it. I doubt it'll always supply food but for now it wants you warm welcome and happily fed, so yes that is real chili and soup and fresh bread you smell." Brody all but jogged towards the scent the hall turned into a great dining area, its ceilings even higher than those of the hall itself. "Guys you've gotta see this." his dragonette followed with easy steps as if it came to no surprise of her. Tabion however was overjoyed at the steaks waiting at a few of the larger dishes arranged near more humanness food. For the steaks were rare at best.

Her hand still felt warm as she ran it along her arm making sure all her limbs were intact and that Airea hadn't cut into her earlier. The sense of falling was far better then getting ready to. She could at least say that much, a warm smile was granted towards Xan, "Thank you." though biting slightly at the corner f her lip she suppressed a laugh. "Yeah but the whole need for huddling for warmth seems unneeded now...” she trailed off Airea slipping between her feet tail coiling over her ankle. "You should eat something." he reminded though was more eyeing up the food himself and didn't want to leave her by herself. It had taken so long to find her, when he finally got her to agree to travel it was hard to think of looking away for a second. Kai had a habit of being gone when you looked back.

"Food sounds really good right now actually...” she glanced over her shoulder and nodded heading towards the table. Her hand clenched into half a fist before stretching her fingers out, unsure of what to make of the warmth that had spilled into it a few moments ago. Melya however still seemed to be a bit shaken as everyone seemed to be gathering themselves back into the reality of the situation. Her fingertips trembled slightly whenever she was able to brush his skull as he trotted by every now and then. She mentally noted to be a bit stronger like everyone else was. There wasn't a need for any weak links here; she'd just have to get better at it.

[Alexa]

“Whoa…”

Andralyn said it, but it was obvious that the rest of the travelers were thinking it. She picked her body off of the ground and was instantly flying to the doors, peering in and seeing their new home away from home. “Did you ever dream of something like this?” she whispered, looking down at Knightly. “It’s magnificent, I…” she nearly cried out at the prospect of a home. “It’s so warm, not just a house…” a home, her home. She felt right here, as if she had finally found her own skin. Running a hand through her red locks, her lips split into a typical Andralyn grin. “I wish mum could see this and Brooky would love it,” she could visualize her little sister running around the castle, acting like a princess. Of course that idea was silly.

Death had touched nearly everyone in the age of Kala.

Xan ran his hands through his lightly caramel colored hair, his eyes wide in awe. “I suppose, it beats the streets…” stretching out the muscle in his shoulders, he followed behind the rest of the group. His attention was quickly caught by all the pictures on the wall, scenes of the time of the dragons and prosperous time before Kala. “We’ll be safe here…that’s what counts,” with all the glamour and glitz the castle offered, Xan refused to let it go to his head. This was just another stage in his life, there was no guarantee they’d be allowed to stay here for long. As fantasy and dream-like this place was, that’s exactly what it was reserved for, nights when they were asleep. Nothing this perfect lasted. Hadn’t time again and again proven that in his past?

“We should know all the exits…” Tandri began, not enjoying the idea of being caught in a corner, although she too, was having a hard time not being swept up in all the fantasy. “Ow,” she hissed and nearly recoiled at the ointment touching her skin, it seared and burned. The only thing that kept her from jumping back was Fox’s relaxing free hand soothing down her arm. “Next time, please, offer a warning. I wasn’t expecting that,” a nice count to three would have been helpful for her to compose herself. Off in the distance she heard Andralyn give a snort of impatience. “I’m not a bloody masochist,” she huffed; her emerald eyes turned on Andralyn and glared. Calder puffed out his crystal chest and snarled before slithering down the corridor, “Hurry up,” he mumbled and continued to hustle down the corridor without waiting for them. He was far more impatient than the rest. Tandri just ran a slim finger down her once injured shoulder and gave a polite smile, “Thank you, I think.” It hadn’t exactly been pleasant but she was grateful for the healing.

Cian followed close to the lead, Callista running by his feet. Xan likewise held Rosalind and was pacing the ground next to him. As they followed Melya down the corridor, As they walked, Xan looked behind and gave a polite duck of his head, “Well gosh ma’am, it’s all my pleasure,” and winked when she said her thank you. He held a cheeky grin as he turned around a felt a sudden intense look coming from the man next to him. “Do you really think now is the time for that?” Cian hushed into a whisper. Xan seemed to just wave him off, “Why not…” he began, and looked a bit sullen.

“We’re only guaranteed time to live in the moment.”

[Heather]

Love is drowning
In a deep well
All the secrets
And no one to tell
Take the money
Honey
Blindness

Love is blindness
I dont want to see
Wont you wrap the night
Around me
Oh my love
Blindness.

“Come on then already!” Tabion’s words rushed behind toward’s Melya as she walked slowly almost afraid of some hidden trap within the floors. Overly cautious; but better safe than sorry was far better than the latter. “It smells so wonderful in here.” Her voice hushed as she slipped into a seat not even managing to disturb the table cloth. Like she held no mass or life to anything that wasn’t in direct relation to her thoughts at the moment. Before her was a rather large steak, however cooked well enough a trace of pink could be seen in the meat. It seemed each rider’s plate held what would be most appealing to them at the time, her small form hardly looked like it could eat even half of what had been offered. Folding her hands into her lap she waited politely for everyone else that warm genuine smile always flashed into her eyes. She could do this, otherwise she wouldn’t be here…right?

Her thoughts were startled as Brody almost toppled over his own seat having been racing Tabion to the chair. His own dragonette already poised with a far bigger air of dignity then that of her rider, yet the amused smile as he sat beside Shella gave the man hope. “So I think we should attempt to get to know each other a little better huh? As I said I’m Brody just turned 20, what last month I think…?” giving a solemn nod he agreed with himself. His own food was home cooked stew, filled with what seemed common placed ingredients. You half expected a mother was in the back whipping up his meals, it seemed careful cooked and he savored his first bite. “And-“speaking in between bites of food, “I study herbology, nobody laugh.” He pointed with his fork but his eyes held all the humility in the world. “You’d be amazed what can survive on that mountain and what can survive there, gets an extra kick too it.” Shella nodded towards his statement lapping at the gravy decorating her meal of some sort of vegetable.

He’d managed to hold back the lick of laughter at Tandri’s response, “I’ll be sure to let you know, jus’ try not to need it anytime soon though l‘right” he followed the rest of the men raising an eyebrow at the food his own plate had gravy mashed potatoes and what seemed pork chops, dropping into his seat. ‘Well I’m Fox, renowned theif, which you know because you’ve never heard of me.” He proclaimed voice and posture at ease as if he’d been living there all his life. He was proud of the life he lived and the sheer skill and tenacity to survive it all. He didn’t eat however respecting his own odd code of chivilary, watching Tandri for a few moments more. If asked he had the excuse of wondering if her arm truly was ok; if not asked she seemed to command his attention, her eyes drowning him now and then. A woman like that was worth more than cheap tricks and flattery, no he’d have to chose his words a bit more carefully. She was battle-worthy, strong independent all of this he knew just from the way she spoke. He’d never met a girl like her, maybe in the thieving guilds, but even then they paled.

Being well enough careful to avoid any speculation on his thoughts he managed to avert his eyes to the dragon perching on the table, unwilling to have a seat anywhere else. She startled as Airea moved past, he had managed to get his tail wrapped around an empty chair without realizing. His ego had been deflated enough times in one day to send him crawling back into Kai’s lap when she finally had her seat. She kept her mouth shut for the most part her plate holding a mixture of steak cut up and applesauce on her plate. She blushed somewhat at how childish her plate seemed but didn’t complain about it’s contents. “I’m Kai.” She pondered for but a second what to say, and had little of what to offer without being asked. “I’m a dancer?” she ended up adding glancing toward Melya, the girl was even quieter then even Kai could manage around all these people

She risked a glance at Xan contimplating whatever was going on in her own head with whatever he was getting at. She was clueless for one at what he could want from her, if he did, didn't. Men were normally easy, one thing and that was it. She was trying though, for reasons beyond her comprehension, not to write him off as one of them. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear she sighed, playing with her fork to make the applesauce spill into a smiley face on her plate.

Love is blindness I don't wanna see.
Death without Mourning
No call
And no warning
Baby...a dangerous idea
That almost makes sense

Melya shifted uncomfortably in her seat fidgeting now and then. There wasn’t much she could say about herself, save the secrets she had kept but her life was to be trusted with these people. If their were any secrets now…it could cost someone their life later. “I’m Melya as you’ve already well know.” She glanced down at Tabion how nodded slightly, a weak smile and she looked up. “I’m a half breed.” She swallowed her heart back into her stomach. “Elf and were wolf..more wolf morph...thing., don’t ask about details, none of it is pretty.” There see nothing too it. Quickly shoveling some scraps of her food into the mouth now drier then the bones left on Airea’s plate. Kai opened her mouth but only smiled somewhat. Fox didn’t even seem to react as if it were a big surprise, meanwhile Brody was gawking slightly until he was hit by Shela’s tail. He cleared his throat, 'I think we should ask everyone two questions each, everyone gets to ask two. hat way will all figure something out. Better then being TOTAL strangers" he didn't like the fact that they were considered stangers maybe if they played some silly game of questions everyone could get a glimpse of a real person.

Love is clockworks
And cold steel
Fingers to numb to feel
Squeeze the handle
Blow out the candle
Love is blindness

[Alexa]

Taking a comfy chair, Cian’s eyes slowly warmed up to hold a lighter expression than his usual serious and matter-of-the fact look he always carried in his eyes. Hard rigid lines tensed in the muscles of his face, whatever his previous life had been…it hadn’t been pleasant. Then again, who could say they lived a comfy life style in this day and age? He’d challenge any of them to stand up and say they were truly happy with how the world was running, how their life was heading. He felt it was all rather important to get working on what they should do, but the plate of pasta was far too tempting. He was already half-way digging in, having one monster of an appetite. A man like Cian knew how to put away his food. His mother used to chide him as a child for having a hollow leg. As delicious as the food was, Cian did take important notice on what the others were saying, Callista approved. “Well,” he finally interrupted a slow silence that had sneaked into the room. “As I mentioned once before, I’m Cian…Cian Marcello Wolfe – but the name holds no real importance,” it held all the importance in the world. “I worked for the government of Sidhe, and for now that’s all I can speak of on that matter,” he mumbled the last few words, and popped in another heaping forkful of his pasta.

Why the bloody hell would he leave? Xanithel stared at Cian with the strangest look. Was he forced out? A shiver ran down his spine as he wondered who exactly this man was. He had a feeling he wouldn’t receive any answers any time soon and Xanithel hated not knowing a good mystery. He himself was quite the puzzle. “My name’s Xanithel…Please, it’s a mouthful so call me Xan,” he paused for a brief second, churning thoughts in his head, “I’ve got an average story, I was unfortunately born in Falias, and struggled most of my life to escape the city. I did, and after years of traveling and never really finding a place I was comfy enough to call home, I’m quite happy to be here,” Rosalind, however, wasn’t just satisfied with that answer. “Xan has been to each of the lands here, except for Sidhe of course,” no one found Sidhe and left, or at least that had been what Xan thought until he met Cian.

Really though, Sidhe was paradise! Why would someone leave?

Andralyn shared similar believes, “You fucking left? Did they kick you out?” she demanded, fire in her eyes. The man screamed danger to her, and Andralyn had fought against danger for half of her life. “Oh fine, keep your answers,” she spat when he didn’t make a single notion to speak. If anything he tipped his hat to her and smirked. She’d very well keep her own secrets then. Andralyn bit into the cooked salmon without reservation before speaking. “They call me Andralyn Marbella Adair, no – not the fancy rich ones on Kala’s court, they’re distant cousins and could give a rats ass about us. I was an apprentice at Murias Academy of Magic,” she gave a wide grin, “Fire was my specialty,…” she snapped her index finger against her thumb, and a small flame flickered on the end of her finger tip, which she quickly put out. From somewhere a snort and ‘childs play’ was murmured, but Andralyn couldn’t identify the source.

Her stomach nearly lurched at the smell of the meat. Tandri herself was quite content to nibble at the fresh cut vegetables thrown into a toss salad herself. As an elf, she really didn’t eat much and she certainly didn’t eat animals. It was practically a crime in her race – which was why she had nearly raised an eye brow at Melya. Of course she couldn’t expect for long lost traditions to be remembered, the race of elves was practically extinct. “I’m just elf,” she suddenly snapped, glaring quite viciously at Andralyn, her body tensed. “Stop your foolish you gawking, I’m not about to grow fur where I sit and neither will she,” and she continued to mumble a few choice words of rudeness before taking a snap at her salad. “Tandri, I doubt you need to know more than my name. I can barely remember my history myself; it’s long enough to remember life before Kala. I’d be honored to help bring that era back alive.” Her bones felt old, her legs tired of running and her heart tired of hiding.

Was it ever going to end?

No, of course not. Everyone at that table knew they were in for a long ride. With the idea of two questions, Tandri began to shake her head. “That would take quite a long time, perhaps we should all consider ten questions we need answering, and then we all answer them person by person? We have more questions and we’ll find out about each other quicker,” it seemed like a faster game. “Of course,” she looked up, a bit mysteriously and curious. “We could always shorten even that up. With our dragons and magic, I’m sure we could all connect, allowing every member at this table access into every memory and every though we’ve ever had. I have nothing to hide,” but did anyone else feel so comfortable as opening up their safe zone?

That, was a question she was very curious about.