Scales and Honor: Swirling Storm

Chapter 25

The world seemed to spin around him as stars danced in his vision, making it seem as though the twinkling souls of dragons from above had blanketed everything. He roared out in pain as the net continued to send rippling waves of agony coursing through his body and making him feel as though he had been plunked into molten lava. I...have to get out of here...not be some defenseless pile of broken dragon on the street...Easy prey for the red hand to do away with. He grit his teeth and pushed the pain from his mind, instead focusing on the eyes of Imzel that stared at him from beyond the net. No..they will not. He cut sections of net with a sharpened claw as the shouts of mortals were drowned out by his pained gasps and growls he would make with each slight movement. With a final shiver he ripped the net from him with his talons, pushing himself to all fours and shaking as he stood proudly with his scales still burning. He let out another groan, eyes falling to the net, to find that it was covered with metal spikes that were all dripping a mixture of green and red thick ooze.

“D-Dragon's bane poison.” he groaned, stumbling as he took his next pain filled step upon the ground. Thankfully it did not appear that he broke anything in the fall. The hunters...this is how they must have gotten Fremra..Some sort...of Launcher.. He took another step shaking the weariness from his hide and any residue of the poison that was seeping into him with each passing moment.

“Get him, he's ours now!” Came a confident yell as a human adorned in full plate literally appearing out of thin air. The man charged at him with a glowing runed longsword that brightened up the street as he sliced a thin line into Ramakox's left forelimb, causing him to pull it back with a hiss.

The blue dragon weakly leaped back as the brown bearded mortal did not stop his attack, quickly trying to slice the other limb.

“On it!” Came another voice shouting in return. It came from a woman dressed in dark navy robes with a series of sea foam arcane symbols stitched into the edges of the fine looking cloth. She held up her hands and without a word summoning a swarm of bright lights to form around her. She gestured to him with a thrusted finger, causing all her bolts to sail towards him like little piranha eager for their wounded meal.

Ramakox avoided another awing from the armored man, trying to snap back at him but only finding a shield to block his angered snap. He tried to swerve to avoid the incoming wave of missiles but it was no use as he stumbled backwards. The bolts traced his every movement that he made until they collided into his scales and exploded with brilliant lights that made him roar as searing pain swept through him once more. Damn...Magic missiles.. He hissed, ripping the armored man's shield away with one of his claws. He was about to land a blow and send the man flying with his next attack but it was stopped by a large forest green vine that sprouted from the ground and swiftly wrapped itself around his limb like wiggling anaconda and forcefully pulled his limb to the ground.

He snapped his attention to a feather clad siigonis with lime green scales. The lizard held a large gnarled wooden staff, pointing it at the dragon as it glowed a faint purple light. His golden eyes were narrowed into pleased slits as Ramakox struggled to free himself from the surprisingly strong vine that bound him so.

Curse the luck. Ramakox opened his maw to fire forth his lightning at the lizard concentrating on the spell. The bolt struck a section of earth below the caster, a small explosion sending the scaled man backwards with a quick groan. The vine almost immediately faded away into nothing, the spell having been lost. The armored knight from before had not been idle, while the blue dragon had launched his attack the knight had taken advantage of the distraction and cut twice into Ramakox's other limb. Not deep enough to cut bone, but enough to cause him to release a hiss and back away with bared teeth.

“That's right ya winged devil! Hiss at me! Snarl if that's what ya got!” the man smiled, holding his shield once more aloft while he glared at Ramakox with narrowed eyes. The flames of the town reflecting in his pupils like a pool of wet ink.

You want my all knight? No little spell caster to protect you. Ramakox spread his wing and took flight with a mighty bound into the air. If he was going to fight these pesky mortals then he would do so on his own terms, not be stuck on the ground like some wounded animal ready for the slaughter. He was a dragon, and this was his domain. He gasped as his wing-beats made his limbs shiver, the lingering pain still present with each motion that he took. Will have to see Fremra about removing the poison. He briefly thought as he passed over the cursing knight below. That's right little human. I will not be fighting you on the ground this day..You can taste my lightning from the air. Ramakox arched his neck to fire another bolt of lightning, this time at the woman who had pelted his fine scales with her little angry bolts of magical energy. One good attack deserved another after all, and if she was going to mess with the dragon and try to kill him? Then he was happy to return the favor.

The woman rose a hand to summon forth a magical shield that took the brunt of his electric fury. The electricity licking the edges of her brilliant shield of pure energy. She cried out into the night as it seemed to take everything she had to not be swept away by the sheer strength of his breath.

Hmmpf...Why must there always be a spellcaster? It always makes things so...Complicated.. The blue dragon felt his wings start to weigh him down as though they were covered with heavy stones. He grit his teeth as he tried to work his way threw it, knowing that it was the damned dragon's bane poison steadily at work. He traced across the ruined streets for the launcher that had plucked him the sky so easily. He did not need it happening again after all, one large dose of that agony inducing poison was enough. His search rewarded him with his next breath as he spied two mortals standing around a large looking crossbow device made from sturdy wood and metal. It was draped with large flowing banners of dark green with the symbol of a golden lion holding a sword and shield stitched onto the regal looking surface.

I know that symbol... The lack of knowledge concerned him as he angled his wings and aimed for the launcher. It made his scales itch with his next breath as he started to pool the electricity into his glands, opening his maw and letting the lights dance around his teeth. I should definitely know that symbol...it..isn't good. He narrowed his eyes and let loose his building up bolt of fury towards the device that had plagued him and his mate so. The wood cracked and exploded as the bolt of electric vengeance struck it's surface in a near fraction of a second. The two humans that had been loading the thing with another heavy looking net were caught in the brief violent explosion of light. They were hurled to the ground with a series of wet smacks several yards away. Ramakox snorted as he passed overhead, observing with a grim satisfaction that they were no longer moving. Not even a slight twitch was present on their lifeless forms.

One target down..Now I should regroup...get healed..find Fremra...Scold myself for getting pulled away like some hot headed whelp fresh from the cave. I should have known it was a trap..Curse that Ironwing for playing me...Thankfully I did not go down like you thought I would little gryphon. He looked out to his scales still dripping with blood. Although you nearly damn got me. He smiled as he traced his eyes to the tavern that seemed to be flashing a whole assortment of colors as spell after spell was being flung outside it's sturdy doors. Above the place also seemed to be alive with lights, as brightly shining golden eagles sailed overhead and were ripping into cultists without mercy. Their brilliant talons carving into cultist flesh like a turkey ready for the evening meal. Among all the carnage he spied Fremra with snarling teeth and lashing claws all coated in crimson.

Hold on everyone...The Swirling Storm is...”Graaaaah!” Ramakox roared into the night as he felt a large sharp object suddenly be forced down through the joint of his wing mid flap. There was a resounding crash soon after, like a lighting bolt had just shot down inches from his head. He shuttered and shook as he began to fall, not able to move the limb in the slightest as it lit up in intense, eye clenching agony. He arched his neck with a snarl to find out what had done such a grievous wound to him,only to find the form of a human woman standing on his back. How he could not feel her boots against his scales he did not know, but here she was. She held a hammer in one hand that glew with several runes, clearly the device she had used to drive whatever it was into his wing. She glared back at him with brilliant green eyes as her shoulder length hair flapped in the wind with her dark green cloak that was wrapped around her neck. He tried to snap at her, make her pay for such a wound dealt to him, but she casually flipped away, his jaws just missing her dark leather armored body as it hardly made a sound.

“Grraaah!” he shouted, trying to unfold his wing and correct his flight path. The joint lit up in a quaking pain as the spike lodged inside of him denied any movement. He plummeted towards one of many buildings with no way to correct his altitude. He felt the mortal leap off of him as he tried to spin around and drag her down with him, his claws only licking her cloak as she passed right through them. What a stupid thing to do to me little mortal. While I might survive a fall from this height...You surely will not..and you will only fall right back into my waiting claws..

Suddenly out of thin air a black gryphon popped into existence, her scaled limb quickly snatching the jumping woman with ease as her white speckled wings carried the pair up away from the plummeting dragon.

Damn't...of course.. He tried to angle his wings one last time as the building before him got dangerously close, but it was no use. The hunter had disabled his joint thoroughly. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, readying himself for the pain that was sure to follow. He crashed into the roof of the sturdy building, causing it to crack and splinter beneath his hefty bulk. His body lit up in pain as he crashed through floor after floor to the orchestra of cracking wood and shattering glass. He couldn't hear as his head throbbed, smashing hard into the floor with a loud resounding smack. He saw stars as he came to a stop at the bottom floor, more of the building collapsing onto his battered form and forcing a groan to pass through his teeth. Get up...Got..to get up. His mind snarled to him as his next breath brought a crackling pain. The building around him whined and groaned as the compromised structure started to collapse, intent it seemed to bury the blue dragon with it.

Ramakox coughed hard as smoke filled his lungs, making him thrash and scatter debris violently away from him. He clenched his eyes as his lungs burned along side the feeling of his injured wing. He could feel that the metal spike was still firmly lodged in his tender flesh. Lund the thought passed through his mind as he started to push himself to all fours, his limbs wobbling as another beam, collapsed and struck him right on the head with a dull thud and splintering of wood. Lund...The gods damned Lunds...How could I have been so dense? How could I have missed the symbol for the greatest dragon hunters that have ever lived? I even had warnings this night at their arrival....Ugh.. He gasped out, the rippling pain from his wing making him twitch. Stop....Focus...Panicking will do you no good. He pulled his bulk through a wall, breaking apart the structure like it was nothing. He winced as more of the structure above collapsed onto him, threatening to drag him down and have this place become his tomb. You have a knight...two casters....two gryphons...and that Lund hunter....A whole gods damned group of adventurers out to kill you... He broke through the final wall, the building finally whining and collapsing on itself. Loud cracks and groans filled the air as the burning thing finally passed from this world with a plume of dust rising into the rain filled skies.

The blue dragon gasped and choked on the night air, trying to push the smoke from his lungs as stars began to dot his vision. His limbs felt heavy and his wings like they had been dipped into a forge's fire. With each gasp of air he wondered how he would get out of this predicament. He peeked back to his wing, dreading the sight that awaited him of his crippled limb. His eyes traced the metal rod that was sticking slightly out of him like a grey needle that was smeared in a dark red paint. He tried to flex that wing but all he got in return was intense pain that made him snarl and thrash his tail angrily against the stone with a thump. He gasped out into the night as the rain pelted against his snout,a small relief to the lingering sensation that was lighting his nerves on fire. He kneaded the stone, accepting that he would have to get it out later, the horrid pain inducing thing was simply too deep for him to grasp with his claws and pull out. He once more longed for the ability to change his size as he stumbled with his next step. I must....press on for now.. He snarled, narrowing his eyes as he took another trembling step,

“Hes over here! I saw him go down into that building!” Came a loud male shout from nearby, the voice lined with youth and confidence. “I think the bastard died from the fall!”

“Don't get yer hopes up lad! You know that dragons are hard ta kill at times. Keep yer blasted eyes peeled for the blue scaled bastard!” Came the gruff, loud voice of what sounded like an older man.

Damn the luck. He cursed to himself, trying to shake the ache from his bones. That hunter and her friends will be on me shortly...I need...help.. Cursing himself he opened his maw, throwing his head back and let out the loudest pained roar that he had ever mustered. It shook the very air around him as his lungs lit up on fire in defiance at such an act. It echoed through the night, filling every corner of the town with his wounded cry. He was left gasping for air as it came to an end. His nerves were all tingling as he once more had his vision covered in stars.

“Oh shite! He's bloody right here!” Shouted a clean shaven human clad in earth brown leathers with small metallic studs embedded into it's surface as he rounded the corned on a lithe looking white stallion covered with a saddle full of pouches, little trinkets sticking out of every pocket.

“Quick den! We have to slow him down for Lund!” Shouted a second man that had the gruff voice from before, as a second horse rounded the corner with the older looking stern man. The human pulled a javelin from his back with his strong looking hands, and willed his horse to break into a gallop towards the dragon. “For Lund!” The large bearded man roared from his lungs as he narrowed his fierce looking amber eyes towards the stumbling, wounded blue dragon before him.

Ramakox limped forward as the two mortals bravely charged at him, the younger looking male having also pulled a spear that had been wrapped around him with a leather belt. Once more a thin wand was drawn into the older looking male's hand, raising it into the air and sending off another brilliant flare like the one from before. Good...That will let Fremra and the others find me as well...He glared at the men that were getting ever closer on their swift horses. He could hear the courage that was resounding from their battle cries, as if that would improve their chances against the wounded dragon. You think that I am easier prey? That I will simply collapse onto the earth and let you have your way with me? He snarled with his next limping movement and patiently waited for the men to get closer. He could feel the weight return to his limbs, threatening to drag him down to the ground with each beat of his heart against his chest. He struggled and pushed, saving the last bit of energy just for these unlucky mortals. The older mortal was the first to attack, tossing a javelin with a snarl straight for the dragon's head. It looked as though the man had practiced this for years upon, years, and it might have connected if Ramakox had not been ready for him. With a groan he avoided the spear and bolted towards the man with a grit of his teeth. The surprised human hardly got out a cry as he was struck from his horse with a powerful strike, lifting the mortal right out of his saddle and causing him to fly straight through a a ruined wall across the way. There was a sickening crack as the man folded in on himself, the building swallowing him up like a tasty little morsel.

One down. He turned to the other man, who had thrown a javelin of his own. The thing flew at him and struck a hardened scale of his, bouncing off to clatter uselessly against the ground as the blue dragon closed the distance between the two with another pained leap. The man whipped out a sword, the blade leaving the sheath with a hiss. His upward swing caught the side of Ramakox's neck, the desperate strike and only leaving a shallow cut. With his blood oozing down the side of his scales the blue dragon chomped down onto the mortal, his teeth sinking into the man's torso with a gut wrenching schlick. The mortal went limp as he ground his teeth, the dragon spitting him to the stone with a quick snort. He felt the weight grow ever stronger with his next step, causing him to stumble and curse the dragon's bane coursing through his veins. He collapsed onto the street, his head falling into the blood puddle that had started to form beneath the once live hunter.

“Found the blue dragon!” came a shout from behind him that sounded like it came from the human female. Her voice sounded strong and powerful, the confidence lingering in her words. He was not entirely sure it was from the hunter or the mage as he gasped his breaths, but he imagined it was the green eyed warrior that had brought him down. More fitting if it is her to kill me...In a gruesome sort of way.. He groaned, stirring in defiance as he tried to pick himself up. It was of no use however, his limbs trembled like a terrified cat before he collapsed onto the ground with a pained grunt.

“Damn...The gods...I told them not to engage the dragon..The poison takes longer to effect blues..Shadowwing..To me..We best not be too careless..He could still have a trick or two up his scales.”

“As you say.” Came a quick feminine chip. Ramakox heard the hiss once more of a blade leaving the confines of it's sheath, no doubt the final thing to end his life. He had known that was a preferred way of hunters to dispose of a bound and wounded dragon. One sword plunge straight through the eye and into his brain. One clean motion to dispose of such a glorious creature such as himself. He grumbled unintelligible words as let out another groan as pain continued to lick away at his nerves.

“Look out Tana! Get down!” Came the gryphon's cry as a roar sounded through the night. Ramakox smirked to himself as he knew that intimidating sound that was causing the two hunters quickly to start uttering commands. For that was his mate coming to save his wounded hide, and nothing would stand in her way.

“Quickly..Take cover!” Cried the female hunter. “Ready your weapons...Savesh what spells have you got left? It looks as though she was healed since our last encounter!”

The worry ever present in their voices brought warmth to his heart as he dragged his talons against the stone and tried to push himself once more to all fours. Fremra will not arrive to my corpse...I will live.. He told himself, fighting against the poison that brought such strength sapping effects into his bones. Just need to survive for the next few moments...

“Whoa, Whoa, Whoa. You won't be getting away that easily Swirling Storm.” The woman called Tana muttered, striding around him with a wicked looking blade at the ready. Her eyes were narrowed as she stood before him, her green cloak billowing with the next gust of wind that brushed against his scales and brought with a quickened pace of rain. “Bring her down with a grasping hand!” The Lund called out, “Then we pepper her with arrows and vines...Teals are not known to have breaths..So Mara..Keep a counter spell handy for when she tries to do anything funny. I don't intend for anyone else to end up like poor Richard and Elric here...The poor bastards..” The fierce woman let out sigh as she returned her attention to him as he let out a mumble that was slurred and unintelligible.

“Oh yes..the poison..Can't really have a final chat if it's working so well on your system....Pity..” She let out another sigh and shrugged her shoulders. “You are quite the specimen Swirling Storm..Able to take flight and kill those two after such a heavy dose of dragon's bane? I'd almost thought you were immune to the stuff somehow.” She gave him a quick bow as she continued to eye him, seemingly not letting her guard down for a single moment. “Wish you could talk right now...Tell me your name before I kill you and all...”

“Tana! The other dragon swiftly approaches, cease your talk with the blue and put an end to him!” Came the concerned cry of her gryphon companion, no doubt preparing herself to rip into Fremra's hide.

Ramakox formed a growl in the back of his throat as the Lund waved her sword back and forth before resting it inches from his left eye.

“Names Tana Lund. Figure you should know it before I send you to the afterlife dragon..It was....An honor taking your life from you.”

“Ramakox!” Fremra roared out through the night as the blue dragon heard their wizard start to chant for the grasping hand spell that would pluck his teal mate from the sky like she was a wafting leaf ready to be snatched.

Ramakox let out a heavy sigh as the hunter gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. He could already feel the blade piercing through his tender eye as he narrowed them before her. Do it then you vile thing..I will not be begging you for my life. He flicked his tail weakly in defiance, but with the next moment something happened that surprised even him. From the ground appeared a thick murky white cloud of fog that blanketed everything in sight. It rolled along the ground, so thick that Ramakox could not even see a foot in front of his eyes. Instead he was forced to feel the sensations of the ground around him, the smell of worry rising in Tana's chest, and the sound of the mortal's worried cries.

“Get this fog out of here!” Tana cried from the top of her lungs, Ramakox felt her pull the weapon she held back as she prepared to plunge that sword right through his eye.

This is it..Move! He gave the last of his dwindling strength to suddenly push forward and down so that the human woman's blade struck against an armored portion of his neck. The sudden forced blow caused the Lund to loose her grip on the sword, the metal stick clattering to the stone. Ramakox weakly lashed out with a claw, forcing the hunter to easily avoid it like she had a sixth sense on the matter.

“I thought you were on the counter spells?”

“I am on them Tana!” came the mage's snappy reply as another roar from Fremra resounded through the air.

“Then what dare I ask is this? Are you telling me the fog suddenly sprouted from the earth?” Tana snapped back, Ramakox could sense her slowly backing away from him, no doubt looking for another weapon that was not currently under one of his claws.

“Perhaps big blue was the one to cast it? Tana forget the dragon, he's wounded! Focus on the live one we have breathing down out necks!”

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“Never leave a quarry unattended! He could recover from the poison that has him so drained! Then were would we be eh? Set against by two dragons. Aster foolishly lost the other half of our little group, we don't really have the supplies for two dragons at once!”

Ramakox heard the hiss of another weapon that the hunter pulled from a sheath. He let out a quick snort, trying to adjust himself slowly away from her, scraping his claws weakly against the stone.

“So...Swirling Storm. I bet you think this is going to go all right for you now...That the other dragon has come for your rescue...”

“Tana!” The mage screamed again as Fremra's thunderous roar was almost on top of them now. Ramakox could even hear the sound of the dragon's quickened wing beats, her usual stealthiness now traded for speed it seemed.

“I....In fact do.” he smirked weakly, the force required to push the words from his mouth making his throat sore and ache. He let loose a feeble groan, his tail shivering as he tried to not focus on the pain. “You...best flee now before we tear into you hunter. Your group can walk away...They have not killed anyone and I have no quarrel with you in particular. But if you force my claw to defend myself I will kill all those that try to take my life.”

“Ah...Honorable to the last...But I am a Lund dearest dragon. I never turn down a job, and I never fail to take out my targets. The chance that I give you up is the same as one of my kin eventually falling head over heals for one of you scaly brutes and announcing their love for you for all to hear.”

“Never say never.” The blue dragon chuckled in a growly sort of way. “While not to my tastes...I have heard of stranger things happening in the world.” He started to bare his teeth as his voice suddenly grew sharp and shifted into a growl. “So choose now hunter...My mate is almost with us...and she is less forgiving than I.”

“She's got those weird water things again!” Screamed the mage once more as the sound of something metal struck the street. “She tossed Harold! Harold are you okay?”

“Ramakox!” Fremra roared, drowning out the other hunters little cries for help as he heard her stampede towards him, no doubt smacking aside two gryphons by the sound of their two separate pained squawks.

“Choose now Tana!” Ramakox roared, sensing the hesitation apparent in the Lund. He felt her go to thrust once more as she advanced on him with a tentative step. To end his existence with one firm stroke, but he moved once more at the last moment and caused the hunter to plunge the blade painfully into his neck. It made him grit his teeth as he felt his flesh part in the blade's wake but he was still alive. Besides a wound like that could be healed with a simple spell. “You....fail.” he gurgled as blood came to his snout and coated his tongue with the taste of iron.

“Get away from him!” Fremra snarled, leaping through the fog with a powerful bound and smacking aside the Lund with an angry slash of her claws. Tana moved with the blow, no doubt lessening the impact as she dissipated with a loud crack, Her boots touching the ground several yards behind the blue dragon. It was as if she had briefly teleported away. “Did they get you with poison?” Fremra snarled, circling around his wounded form and spreading her wings with a loud swoosh.

“I said clear the fog Savesh! Use the damned whirlwind spell if you have to!” Tana shouted out, her voice starting to crack.

“They...did.” He replied, his eyelids starting to feel heavier with each beat of his heart. Even his words were starting to fade back down into silence.

“It was reckless of you to go off like that...You could have gotten yourself killed.” the dragoness scolded, all amusement missing from her voice as she smacked him with a paw. “But...I'm glad you're safe.” She held a claw against him firmly, slowly kneading the scales as her touch started to turn icy and the phrase “govey viidoste” left her lips. The effect was almost instantaneous the moment the words were spoken. The cold sensation that made his tail twitch began to spread from her claws to the rest of his body like a rippling wave of ocean water. It swept away the lingering pain from the poison, causing him to gasp his relief as the weight that had been tormenting him faded away into nothing. For a brief moment he felt as light as a feather, and sprung to all fours with excitement building in his chest. With a quick stretch he felt all that good feeling evaporate away as the spike in his wing reminded him that it still existed. He let out a pained gasp, recoiling on himself as his scales twitched.

“Are you okay?” Fremra's concerned voice wormed it's way into him, parting the sea of pain long enough to focus on her.

“Hunter...drove a spike through my wing.” he winced, already picturing the teeth being bared by the ness he loved.

“The woman? The one with the dark green cloak?” Fremra hissed, scraping a talon hard enough against the stone so that he heard the sound. “I'll kill her.”

“What..about Jandar...the tavern...What of the mortals?” He gasped, taking his movements slower now as the mortals once more began to shout to one another through the fog. “Are they safe?”

“I would not have left them if they were not my Radiant Sapphire. Even as we speak there are several that came with me to save you. I think that dwarven man Stonebeard, this elven archer named Milaady, and Jandar.”

“And where are they now?”

“My wings can carry me very swiftly if I so wish it. They fell behind in my wake.” She ran a claw over his scaled neck, her touch tender and warm. “Now stay still..We can sort all this other stuff later.” It felt like water was streaming steadily from her claws as they began to glow a soft green through the fog. “vokras ahraane” she uttered softly, like a mother would do to sooth the troubles of a sweet and innocent hatchling.

Just like the one you failed all those years ago. His mind snarled as the warmth from her touch radiated from her claws to bring life and good feeling to his limbs. It was as if he had been laying down in the sun on a warm summer's day in the month of Friin Suun. The heat made him want to close his eyes and drift off into a pleasure induced slumber. Even the pain from his injured wing was forgotten as Fremra stroked his hardened scales.

“Ready?” Came the cry of the female Lund as the siigonis man started chanting in a hiss filled voice.

“I think she is asking if you are ready to strike back at them.” Fremra turned to his back, her tail flicking past him as her voice started to get lower and fill with murderous intent.

“That she may be.” he growled, lowering himself against the ground and baring his teeth. With a snort of air he readied himself for the fighting that was sure to follow. The twin dragons sprung from their positions the moment a large gust of wind suddenly swept through the street. The magical gale force wind easily casting away the fog that had been summoned forth.

Fremra let out an intimidating roar as she pounced at the siigonis man who was holding his gnarled staff at the dragons. Her membranes started to glow faintly in the night like smoldering flames as she sliced out at the scaled male, making him duck and weave lest he have his head severed from his shoulders.

Ramakox saw the first target that drew his focus. The human mage from before. She had already taken cover behind a turned over wooden cart. He pushed through the sudden pain of his wing and scraped at the earth with his talons as he practically galloped right for her. The woman flicked a wrist at him, summoning forth a large yellow disembodied hand in the air. It sped through the street straight for him, it's digits clenching in and out as if eager to wrap themselves around his mighty body.

No you don't. He bound away from the hand towards the human knight clad in full plate who was currently charging him with clanking plates and a roar of courage. He leaped over the little man like he was nothing and exposed his teeth for the woman to show what was in store. He started to focus on the cool sensation of the deep sea within his chest, the one that Fremra had taught him as he had to hastily avoid the grasping hand as it shifted direction and followed him. Each time that he had thought he would be able to get to the human mage, the hand always managed to get in the way and block his access. It was a clever ploy to buy herself time as he heard the sounds of combat ring from behind him, and the hunters start to focus on the ness he cared for. “mahfiil gramaane” he uttered, already feeling the flames start to sprout from his vision as he focused on the powerful spell. He hardly ever used such things because of the amount of magic that is used, often using up all of it for the day. But this was no such time to hold back. If he did not end this fight as quickly as it could things would certainly not go as they should. The clouds overhead seemed to open up to reveal the form of several flaming boulders that arched through the night sky towards them. Their bright flames like a sign from the gods as they sped towards the human mage that had not thankfully looked up in all her concentration.

The first flaming rock crashed right beside her, exploding with a brilliant flash of light and thunderous quake that made the dragon's ears sting. The flash licked at her robes and burned away the cloth to blackened cinders as she let out a pained scream. It was only silenced by the sound of the second projectile landing right in front of her, that explosion causing the woman to go flying backwards as her blackened and burned body hit and ground and rolled and rolled until she came to a complete stop. Plumes of smoke started to rise from her non moving body.

“Damnt!” Lund shouted from the top her lungs, pulling out a bow and loosing arrows close enough to Ramakox's eyes to give him pause looking to her. He only got a moment to think before two gryphons pressed their attack with sharpened beaks and talons. The one called Shadowwing hit high at his snout with a forceful strike, while Ironwing went to his side quick as a flash. Ramakox sluggishly tried to avoid their quickened strikes but the pain struck him from his wing and slowed him down for them to land their blows. Ironwing struck first, his adamantium tipped claws ripping past several scales and made him snarl. Shadowwing was not as quick, striking instead with great force so powerful that it felt like he was getting smacked by a creature three times the gryphons size. He was sent crashing to the ground with a pained roar, his wing smashing hard against the stone and making his entire body tremble and shake with pain as it radiated through him. His head struck the stone with a loud smack, stars instantly bursting to his eyes and blinding him of everything else.

Damn the hunter. His mind screamed as he struggled to fend off the quick gryphons that instantly leapt back to him, not giving him a second of reprieve. He saw Fremra bound passed, getting struck by several arrows that exploded into a shower of sparks upon impact. The brilliant blue light bringing a flash of quick illumination to the fire lit streets. The teal broke into a pained roar as sections of earth from the ground rose up and smacked hard against her chest with a dull thud. Ramakox watched in horror as she was lifted up and sent flying into the side of a building from the attack, the force so great that the entire building collapsed onto her with a thunderous crack and a sudden explosion of dust and ash.

“Fremra!” he screamed out, his claws striking the black gryphon right on his shoulders. His sharpened talons easily ripping open the bird's flesh and splattering the stone a shade of crimson beneath his trembling paws.

“Shadowwing!” Tana cried out, her voice cracking as she knocked two arrows almost in sync with Ironwing pressing his attack further to cover the black gryph's retreat.

Ramakox preformed a quick claw gesture, pushing the pain through his body as he backed away from the ferocious gryphon. From the ground rose a section of stone that snared the gryphon's hinds, causing Ironwing to let out a surprised squawk as he suddenly fell forward trying to bound away. The blue dragon let out a snort, taking the opportunity at the gryphon being so exposed in such a critical juncture and sank his teeth into the back of the gryphon who had tormented him so. He almost took pleasure as the white feathered thing let out a loud pain filled shriek into the air. He only got to savor his success for a moment before a loud, resounding roar echoed through the night, and drew his attention to loud stomps that soon followed and shook the very street.

He only got a second before a giant reptilian creature with sickly scales of earthen brown smashed into him with such strength that he was sent flying back and into a burning building. The dying corpse of a thing collapsed behind him as he pushed himself to all fours. He hissed and panted as pain coursed through his body again as he stared down the apparent sharp toothed, small armed dinosaur before him. Tyrannosaurus. He growled in the back of his throat, knowing such creatures existed far to the south. It was something the siigonis man must have seen in his travels, druids often being able to shape shift into any animal that they had seen before. Just...an overgrown animal..Nothing compared to a dragon. He opened his maw and blasted the angry snarling lizard with a bolt of lightning as it let loose another primal roar that rang through the air and made the dragon's scales twitch. The once druid ripped up the cobblestone and charged right towards him, the electricity not even slowing him down in the slightest as it struck the thing's chest dead on and rippled outward. Ramakox willed himself to meet the large creature head on, their two bodies colliding together as they lashed out at each other with sharpened claws and gleaming teeth.

First blood went to the shape shifted druid, the creature's fangs sinking down into Ramakox's neck with a ferocious snarl. Thankfully he had his scales to protect him, otherwise the lizard would have had a much stronger grip than what he had currently. The dragon lashed out at the lizard with his claws, the druid's hide not doing a thing to protect him. The blackened talons glided right through the thing's flesh, causing the beast to let go and retreat before Ramakox ripped the thing to ribbons. He was not done however. With a trembling gasp he leapt at the reptile, toppling it over into a building as his own attack sounded off with sickening sounds of flesh being ripped away.

The T-Rex roared in agony as Ramakox tore again again and again into it's weaker then scaled hide. The large reptile was simply no match to the superiority that was held by dragon kind. The druid was not alone however as Ramakox was reminded, the sharp claws of Ironwing slicing into his wing and lighting up his body in a trembling pain that left him weak. He let go of the T-Rex, blood oozing from his teeth as he snarled into the night and snapped at the annoying gryphon. He blinked his eyes as pain coursed through him, evidence that Fremra had not quite healed him to 100%. Lightning flashed in the distance, bringing light to the dark sky as his two attackers repositioned themselves. The T-Rex was back to it's feet, panting as the rain splattered against it's bleeding body and washing away the blood oozing from it's numerous gaping wounds. Beside the thing was a familiar face, the gryphon Ironwing from before, looking almost pristine despite the ruffled feathers and fur.

The strangest thing that Ramakox spied as he pulled himself back to all fours was that the gryphon was almost his height and size, practically twelve feet to the head of the dragon if he had to guess. “Looks like..You got a spell cast on you.” The blue dragon gasped as the thunder followed the lightning from before

“Let the hunters deal with your teal mate.” the gryphon snarled, ruffling his feathers as he crouched low into a hunting stance. He looked like a lion that had set his eyes on a weakened gazelle, easy for the hunt. “And leave you to me.”

“Just to you?”he snorted, returning the gesture with a lowered snout and sharp hiss as he watched the two creatures before him. “Looks like you have help from this scaly thing of all things...Honestly...Makes me...flattered little siigonis...But your chosen form pales in comparison to a dragon.”

The T-Rex did not reply, it's golden eyes just glaring at him in murderous intent as it snapped it's jaws several times with a resounding glomp.

“If you wish to avenge your wing-mate gryphon...Here is your chance.” he snarled, letting electricity built up around his teeth. If they were going to let him stand there and prattle on he was going to make them pay for each passing moment. The lightning bolt he spat at them seemed only fitting as he gave a thrash of his tail against the cobblestone.

Ironwing was no fool however. He quickly avoided the bolt with a quick side winged bound, leaping from a building with a practiced grace before speeding towards the blue dragon with a flap of his wings.

Ramakox snarled, avoiding the gryphon's front sharpened strike, swerving to the side and snapping his teeth at empty air. He felt a cart go flying when his tail swept and struck it as they scrambled and maneuvered around one another. Each of them was looking for an opening to capitalize on. They clashed several times with angry squawks and ferocious roars, the stone beneath them cracking as their talons dragged against it with loud scraping sounds that hurt the ear. The blue dragon smacked the gryphon away, irritation building with each moment that the gryphon pressed him. The clever bird was keeping him on his claws, and preventing him from being able to preform the right movements for spells. The blue was holding his own despite his injury to his wing, something he was reminded of each time he saw an opening that he could have taken advantage of if he only had his wings. Instead he was forced to play the gryphon's game as he heard Fremra roar into the night, a relief to his adrenaline fueled mind. He snarled and smacked Ironwing again, feeling the worry for his mate mixing with the good news that she drew breath. For he knew that while he was dealing with the enlarged gryphon, she no doubt was beset by problems of her very own. Most likely it being the rest of the hunters that had given Ironwing the sole reward of challenging him.'

“Enough of this little bird!” Ramakox roared, his claws slicing deep into the gryphon's shoulder as the angry gryph returned the favor with his talons and clack of his beak.

“I think you need your eyes adjusted dragon...I am anything but small.”

“You want vengeance as though I have done you wrong!” Ramakox sliced again through the gryphon's hide, sending him flying back to the ground with a squawk. “When it was you and your group that harmed me first...I cannot wait to end this squabble.”

“That.....I can agree on.” Ironwing pushed himself to all fours quick as a flash, a bright light flashing from his chest as several wounds seemed to reseal and stitch themselves back together, a sure sign of healing magic. He and Ramakox met in a clash as he and the blue dragon held claws against one another, trying to avoid the other's beak or sharp teeth. “Savash!” Ironwing chirped out as he began to struggle against the dragon, and arched his neck slightly with concern on his beak.

Good Ramakox bit into the distracted gryphon, his teeth finding purchase in that white feathered bird, and coating his fur in a dark crimson. There...now I can.. A roar sounded that lingered in the air as the T-Rex suddenly charged at him, seemingly not willing to let his teammate die in front of his eyes. Oh hell. Ramakox was head butted on his side with the force like a thousand war-hammers. The air was suddenly driven from his lungs as he was lifted up by that strong lizard's attack, and sent topping to the street and tumbling over debris that prodded him like little annoying thorns. Damn...Druid.. Ramakox groaned as he once again found himself on his back with body trembling in pain. The rain splattered against him, making him wrinkle his snout as lightning arched across the dark sky, the coming thunder drowned out by Fremra's roar of pain.

“Got her!” Came a victorious cry from the female gryphon Shadowwing. “I just knew you could do it Tana!” The gryphon's words as sharp as an admantium tipped spear, and plunged into the blue dragon's heart.

Ramakox felt the coldness that came with the words and wrapped itself around him like a icy cloak. It only lasted for a moment as the realization sank in that he could very well lose his mate this evening. Just another added to the list of victims of the red hand that had plagued him so. At least.....At least Jandar is safe from them....They only hunt dragons. The thought was a bitter pill to swallow that made him sick to his stomach. He flicked his tail weakly across the ground as he gasped for breath, moments before Ironwing leaped onto him, talons pressing straight to his throat. Ramakox thrashed as his breaths came in ragged gasps as he lashed back with weakening effort at his feathered attacker.

“I knew this is how it would end dragon.” Ironwing mocked with a smug grin plastered on his beak. “You beneath my talons, as I watch the life drain from your eyes.”

“Grrrrahhh.” Ramakox choked. Stars already starting to burst in his eyes as the strong gryphon held his head back and forcefully to the ground. Each struggle earned him a piercing pain through his neck, even casting away the one that was still presently aching in his wing.

“Get away from her!” Came Jandar's cry, followed by a mighty roar of what sounded like an army of mortals that had helped them from the tavern. That fact alone brought a brief feeling of warmth to the dragon's heart as he continued his desperate struggles against Ironwing's iron like grip.

“Don't make me kill you Jandar! This is between us and the dragons!” Spat the Lund as the sounds of combat started to fill the air and drown out the shouts of the two opponents.

“Help da dragon out! Get that blasted white git off of him!” Stonebeard shouted into the night. His cry almost like a sign from the god's as a volley of arrows suddenly flew into the side of Ironwing's head, narrowly missing his good eye and causing the bird to quickly close his own.

Ramakox snarled, pushing up against the momentarily distracted gryphon once more. He lifted the thing up slowly and allowing a sweet intake of air to fill his burning lungs, that brought with it strength.

“Now you die!” The bird's talons suddenly started to glow a bright blue as the force of his weight suddenly doubled and Ramakox felt the bird's sharpened talons claw against his scales and cut off the much needed supply of air to his throbbing lungs.

“Get off of the dragon ya feathery twit! I seen much stronger tings from a goat!” Stonebeard thrust his spear towards the gryphon, another volley soon following in the wake of a sudden burst of white light magic by the bird's head. The arrows once more stuck into the strong gryphon, but did not cease his downward force that had the blue dragon wriggling with his life depending on it,

Must...Push...him off. He thrashed beneath the magically enchanted gryphon, brushing aside loose debris and broken wood with his pained movements. The sounds of swords clashing drew his attention but only briefly as he saw Jandar and the female Lund crossing blades. Their weapons clashed several times creating sparks to fly from their weapons at such ferocity.

“I thought you were a bleeding sorcerer Jandar? When did you learn how to wield a sword?” Tana spat out, avoiding one of his son's attacks and pressing hers with practiced grace.

“You will find that I am a man of many talents.” The half dragon smirked, leaping back to avoid the woman's attack and force her away with his own thrust, clearly the better swordsman of the pair.

Ramakox would have felt pride lingering in his chest if it were not for the gryphon currently strangling him like a simple prey animal.

“As long as I draw breath you will not take these dragons from this earth!” Jandar pushed the woman back once more, she avoiding him,parrying his blow. “Do you not care that they are our protectors?”

“I care not for their titles little boy. It was my job to kill them. Now remove yourself and your little adventurer friends before my allies dispose of them all. She gestured to the snarling T-Rex, that took another step and let out another roar as it eyed down the defiant half-dragon.

Ramakox struggled to snarl, pushing up on the gryphon again with quivering limbs at the effort. He once more pushed Ironwing just enough up so that he could take another raspy gasp. He even got the chance to slash against the gryphon's torso and cut lines into his hide. The blue dragon heard Fremra roar out suddenly before the T-Rex let out a pained cry seconds before a loud cracking of wood filled the air. Ramakox quickly looked to see that his mate had leaped onto the T-Rex that had stomped its way closer to Jandar. Her sharpened claws were making short work of the beast's hide and ripping gruesome chucks with each of her near blinding attacks. He could hear the sound of combat intensify as Lund's allies seemed to be worrying as they shouted in concern to their dwindling ground.

“Come on ya blasted dress wearin girls! Take care of da giant cat bird before da dragon is dead! Give er all shes got!” Came the cry of Stonebeard as arrows seemed to fly into the gryphon at a near constant pace, almost like it was raining arrows from the side.

Ramakox felt the gryphon's grip weaken in that moment before a spear struck the side of his white feathered head and exploded with enough force to cause the bird to unleash a pained screech into the night, and the smell of burning fur fill the air. The blue dragon seized the opportunity, possibly the last chance that he was going to get. He forced his claws once more into his distracted opponent, ripping into his flesh and causing blood to drool down onto his cerulean scales like water.

“Then draw breath no longer.” Tana suddenly snarled, leaping away from the better swordsman with a puff of smoke. In one clean motion she pulled the bow that was wrapped around her back, and loosed twin arrows as quick as lighting. The twin sticks of death flew straight into Jandar's chest and right through the mortal's leather like it was not even there.

The half-dragon's eyes widened in surprise as he let out a gasp, blood already starting to form at the edge of his snout as he collapsed onto the street. His sword fell from his grasp and clattered useless against the cobblestone street.

Time suddenly seemed to slow down for the blue dragon as he felt his mind start to shatter and crumble away. He watched the mortal he loved clutch at the arrows lodged in his chest almost in disbelief. Behind Jandar he saw Fremra was knocked back by the T-Rex, only to have the beast sink it's teeth firmly into her less protected neck and clamp down. The dragoness letting out a pained cry into the night as blood dripped down from the beast's maw.

Ramakox felt the pain that had plagued his wing fade away with the jumbled mess of sounds that seemed to be growing more silent with each passing second he watched his family get wounded. He felt his nerves all go numb for a moment, before a snarl found it's way to his snout as he bared his teeth. How...dare they. His mind screamed as he let out a fierce resounding roar to the very heavens, lifting Ironwing from him as if he was nothing. Another spear was tossed into the gryphon's head and exploding with a loud noise and light that left Ramakox's mind ringing. It allowed him to grab forcefully to the bird's head and slam it hard as he could against the cobblestone with a sickening smack, and a pained groan.

Everything seemed to shift and change around the dragon. For in his claws he was no longer holding the gryphon that had plagued his life, but with each smack against the ground it became the Lich that had taken Infinity all those years ago. “I am through with monsters such as you coming into my life.” he snarled, smashing Ironwing's head against the stone ever harder and paying no mind to the gryphon's shiver of pain. “And taking those that are dear to me!” He pulled the gryphon up, his face still dripping blood as his beak had been chipped. The dragon only let out a brief snort before smashing Ironwing against the stone and shattering the bird's beak with a sickening crack.

“Tana! Use the black arrow!” Ironwing screamed out with cracking voice, desperately trying to avoid being smashed into the ground once more. “Do it before we lose our chance!” The T-Rex was suddenly sent passed the blue dragon's vision, the thing's head having been bent at an odd angle as it's scales had been ripped open and most of it's organs being put on a grisly display. “Do it now Tan-”

Ramakox smashed the gryphon again against the stone if only to silence his grating voice. He turned his attention to the woman that Ironwing had been shouting to, the mortal that had wounded his son. He narrowed his eyes as the image replayed in his mind once more. She was no longer on the ground like she had been before, but was not standing on top of one of the roof tops opposite of him and holding her bow taught. The wind blew once, flapping her cloak violently as a bolt of lightning arched in the sky behind her. The blue dragon went to bound towards her with a snarl and make that horrible hunter pay for hurting his son, however he went crashing to the ground with a loud oomfff as the impact rattled his teeth. He glanced back to see that the bloodied and beaten gryphon was now holding onto his hinds with his talons, sinking the sharpened things deep into his limb.

“Do it!” The gryphon roared, just as Ramakox yanked his leg free with one violent pull. He made sure to lash back at Ironwing, his claws ripping into the gryphon's throat and spraying the street with blood. He gave a satisfied snort as the gryphon's over sized body began to slump to the ground and return slowly to his original form.

And now for the hunter. He snapped his attention back to the human hunter, that had already drawn her blackened arrow from her quiver and was holding it knocked in her bow. Not even Fremra's roar made the stern looking woman flinch as Shadowwing passed by.

“Come on we have to go!” the gryph shouted, sweeping her gaze to the hunters who were already retreating with the horns sounding out from the red hand.

Ramakox pounced towards the human, already imaging his teeth sinking into her flesh and thrashing her body until she no longer moved. It was not meant to be as she let go of that blackened thing, the projectile flying out from the bow quick as a flash. It left a thin trail in the air of a darkened shade, almost as if it were trying to suck all the light that was dwindling from the fires that were slowing being extinguished by the rain. It struck his chest like every other arrow before it had, no pain even coming as it stuck out of him and Tana's eyes widened in fear. Her body visible trembled as she turned to bolt away and back towards her gryphon companion.

Oh no you don't...You're not going to get awa- Ramakox suddenly felt a small explosion ripple through his scales. He felt as if all the warmth from the world was suddenly sucked away to be replaced with the biting cold of the fiercest of winters. He felt his claws slip with his next step on the stone, collapsing with a weakened groan escaping his maw. He gasped for air as it seemed he was able to get less and less with each intake of breath. He tried to scream or roar but found that was even denied him as he recoiled on himself and clutched at his chest. His body trembled for a moment as he peeked down to the apparent wound, a black patch forming on his scales like little tributaries of water that dotted the mountains around his home. The edge of his vision started to get fuzzy as colors soon stared to mute and eventually fade away into nothing but blacks and greys. With a final choke he felt the last of his air leave his lungs, and no matter how hard he tried nothing seemed to come as he struggled and thrashed away against the stone. His vision started to turn black as his claws clenched and unclenched, and the pain that had been plaguing him started to fade away.

“Ramakox!” He heard Fremra scream, her voice cracking as his head hit the stone with a dull smack and allowing darkness to take him.