More Than a Monster (Angmor & Emma)

[Tris]

Valsta had only traveled though the spine only once before and that time was with a band of traveling gypsies, this time was different, she had heard rumors of an illusionist in a city just beyond the spine and didn’t think she would have time to wait for people to accompany her, so she set off alone thinking if she just went quickly and quietly through the forest she could make it out unscaved. And that’s how it went for a few hours at least, she made good progress but as she got farther in it got quieter and cold, she felt like the trees themselves rejected anyone who came near them. Night came far too quickly for her taste and she would have gladly traveled through the night if it hadn’t been for the peasants who had warned her about the man eating animals that came out at night, she hadn’t really believed them but she said she would rather be safer than sorry. So she lit a small fire and lay down, she lay there for a very long time listening to the creeks and groans of the forest.
Valsta woke up with a start she didn’t remember going to sleep and it was still dark, she wondered how long she had been asleep but before she could build the fire back up she heard the CRACK of a stick breaking somewhere near her, she turned around quickly and saw a flash of something black and then it was gone, she felt a shiver go though her and had a over whelming urge to get as far away from there as possible. She picked up her sack doused the fire and fled that part of the woods, she stopped running and walked for a bit jumping at every little noise now? It could have been anything you saw she thought shaking her head, but the second she thought it she heard breathing right behind her and a low hiss, she turned around and saw two eyes staring at her, she didn’t waste any time screaming she just ran and ran, but whatever it was kept up and it seemed not to tire at all and though she was running on adrenaline she started to get tired and the something seemed to guess that and ran faster. Valsta felt like she had been running forever and finally she saw a break in the trees and a valley beyond it, and the moment she got there she tripped and lay on the ground gasping, she heard the creature walking slowly toward her but before it got there a yell came from above the trees.

[Emma]

It was times like this that I adored being a Consul.

Most Riders were sent on diplomacy missions, or to school small, stupid children on their bodily functions. Some even had to have tea and cake with the nobility. I, on the other hand, got sent to deal with actual threats. Usually, it was a few Urgals that had strayed too close to Ilirea’s borders, or breaking up fights barely distinguishable from pub brawls. It seemed, however, that the Riders had made a new enemy- strange, shrieking creatures that had apparently followed the humans from Old Broddring now made nuisances of themselves in the kingdom. They killed and ate humans, were unspeakably cruel- and that was all that was known of them.

It was our duty to foray into the blistering cold of the wilderness and garner information on these creatures. How did they kill? Were they intelligent? How did magic and mindbreaking affect them? These and other questions demanded answers. As well as seeking them out in their natural habitat- the Riders didn’t even know what they looked like, as they were constantly hooded and cloaked- we were supposed to bring one back. Kicking and screaming and in a sack was preferable, but a dead one would not be turned away. I would greatly enjoy this venture. For the actual information-gathering, however, we were going to need some unusual aid.

‘What now?’ I snapped when Ikehr gave a heavy sigh.
‘The most likely outcome of the scrawny scholar is that it will become a stain on some rock for the wolves to lick up. I shall be moved to a single tear by the tragedy.’

Looking back at the puny scholar behind me, I had to secretly admit that just this once, Ikehr was right. My bastard of a dragon left droppings more impressive than this Vaoris. Covered in blankets, the tiny elf shivered in the freezing nighttime air while doing his very damnedest to not look down. Very young and prone to hiding himself in books, he was one of the weakest elves I’d ever laid eyes upon- and that said a lot. We’d met on several occasions- occasions that usually ended up with my decking him over the head with one of his precious tomes.

I supposed he had reason to be frightened now, however. After all, I’d suffered the terrors of flying long before he’d even been born. I was a creature of the sea, not of dive-bombing through clouds and getting dashed against mountainsides. It had taken me a very long time to grow accustomed to flight. Today, I could glance down at the rushing landscape without so much as blinking. Vaoris looked like he was about to drop dead of a brain stroke at any moment. Whether it was from the cold, the speed, or the thrill, I didn’t know. I just hoped he’d fall off Ikehr sooner rather than later.

Speaking of glancing down, I gazed at our surroundings for the first time in several hours. It was pitch black, probably in the wee hours of the morning, but my eyes had long grown accustomed to the darkness. I was sure the shapes beneath us were mountains. Good, so our ridiculously long trip west was finally over. These mountains were supposed to be crawling with the creatures. Ikehr banked sharply and began to descend. My ears no longer popped from the increasing pressure, so I watched in relative comfort. It gradually became warmer, and I could make out the shapes of trees below us.

Ikehr landed in a small valley that was clear of foliage. Leona Lake glistened in the moonlight directly behind us, giving me a very good idea of where we were. The small town of Kuasta was just up ahead. Once this creature hunt was over, we could relax there. Ikehr slowly lowered himself onto his belly, and I shrugged off my blankets and slid off his back with practiced ease. Vaoris struggled to replicate the movement, more or less falling out of his blankets and onto the ground below. By some miracle, he managed to land on his own two feet, albeit shakily. I raised a copper eyebrow.

“Aces. Now, you lot, let’s not do this arse over tit! We won’t run into these blaggarts all at once. Ikehr, if you see one, squish it.”
‘Charming.’
“Vaoris, if you see one, scream and leg it. You’d better be alive when-”

Heavy rustling in the brush quickly drew my attention. It couldn’t have just been made by some passing animal- I could hear branches breaking and rocks tumbling. Someone was running head on towards us. I rounded on the noise, reaching behind me for my brightsteel hammer. I was decked out in my usual nighttime gear; black leather suitable for easy movement and stealth. My bright orange hair had been tied into a braid and piled up into my felt hat. Eyeing the foliage suspiciously, I stepped closer, hammer ready.

‘I doubt it can see you, Ramsey. You are such a small target…’
“WHO THE ‘ELL ARE YOU CALLING-”
A high-pitched shriek startled me into silence, and I raised my hammer just in time to see a very anticlimactic scene- a small blonde girl falling out of the shrubbery and flat on her face. However, a second figure emerged soon after, one that was hooded and cloaked.
‘Behold, Ramsey. Your endless prattling attracts beasts like no others.’

I, however, wasn’t listening. The moment the creature appeared, I rushed it on pure instinct. It was bending over the girl, making a strange clacking hiss. I leapt up onto the rise it was standing on and swung the hammer as hard as I could- and missed. The moment the thing saw Ikehr, it shrieked again and fled, easily dodging my hammer. I staggered, and then stared around myself cautiously, but the thing appeared to have been on its own. I looked down at the girl, tilting my head. She was young, and a human.

‘Let me guess…’ I realized Ikehr was broadcasting his thoughts. ‘It has ended in tragedy? Oh, lovely. It appears the mortal has survived after all. Shall we rescue yowling felines from trees, now?’

Words;; 1035
Muse;; Weirdddddddd.
Thoughts;; Don't judge! I haven't written with Nemo in MONTHS!

[Angmor]

For most scholars of the current age, quite a lot of world experience was gained through others. That being, from the pages of a book. Up until very recently, Vaoris had thought this very reasonable. A scholar’s life was dedicated to collecting and retaining knowledge, after all. It was not their role to actually be a part of the events themselves. That was best left to the heroes of their respective tales, such as the soldiers, or the Riders, or the thieves. It was their role to affect and change events, as it was a it was a scribe’s to observe and record, and a scholar’s to retain and store to enlighten future generations. However, this meant that a scholar was always somewhat… insulated from circumstances.

Flying, for example. Vaoris had read many books about flying. Although he hadn’t admitted it to anyone, he did secretly harbor hopes of becoming a Rider himself, one day. As such, he read all the material he could get his hands on. When the subject of flying came up, the writers never failed to mention the utter majesty of the experience, the grandiose splendor of being totally free among the clouds, looking down at the petty troubles of the world below. One author’s description Vaoris found especially poignant.
To sail through the sky as a ship through the sea, with wings for sails and wind for waves.
From these combined influences, he had cultivated his own mental image of what flying would be like.
He was wrong.
Flying, he realized now, was not at all like sailing. It was far more like the act of falling, suspended in terror.

Every way he thought about it, it was agonizing. It was claustrophobia, agoraphobia, and acrophobia all rolled into one, with the added possibility of freezing to death, or having his head explode from the pressure difference, or something worse that he hadn’t even thought of yet.
From the very first explosive beat of the dragon’s wings, he felt as if his innards had screamed in panic and began to hold onto his spine for dear life. Hours later, the feeling still hadn’t faded. For the first few minutes, he had been unable to open his eyes. When he finally worked up the courage to do so, it was just as amazing as he had pictured. More so, in fact. The fact had never really struck him before, but the sky huge. A magnificent, unthinkably large vaulted chamber, filled by absolutely nothing at all. He could honestly feel the emptiness pressing down on him, like a weight on his shoulders. And the heights…
He shuddered violently, a movement that was more or less lost to his uncontrollable shivering.
Best not to think about the heights. Just don’t think about it, and don’t look down. Just think about what would happen if you puked on Nemo’s hammer.

He consoled himself with the thought that it really wasn’t his fault that he was here. His plans for the next week had been perfectly innocent and above-board, involving nothing more dangerous than a mug of warm cider and a good book by the fireplace. That, however, was before Nemo Ramsey. It had been a normal day up until that event. He had been about ready to sit down with the aforementioned book when that singular event had exploded into the archives, cloak billowing, screaming his name and swearing loudly enough to echo through the entire building. His memory was rather a blur after that. Ikehr had entered his mind, and juxtaposed to Ramsey’s profanity-laden dialogue, began to lay out a situation which was now of top importance to the Riders. Apparently, there was an unknown creature near the boundaries of the Spine that was hunting and killing with impunity. Hunting and killing humans. This situation at last grew so dire that the Riders decided to act, even though Broddring would never debase themselves enough to ask. As consul of defense, Ramsey and her dragon had been tasked with hunting down at least one of these creatures and capturing it, a task with which she was well suited.
Except for one thing. Very little was known about these creatures. And what knowledge there was remained in the archives, and Nemo wasn’t exactly the type to go poring the ancient texts. And so, with full permission from Grand Master Anurin, she had decided to delegate the responsibility to a certain scholar she knew. When he had so few possessions, packing for a journey was not difficult. The main time had been taken up looking up and requisitioning all the material the Grand Library possessed on these mysterious creatures. This would have been somewhat enjoyable, if Ramsey hadn’t stood by, glaring at him the entire time. At last, with a messenger bag filled with parchment slung over his shoulder, Nemo led him to the roof of the archives, where Ikehr was waiting. Seemingly an instant later, he was in the air, barely an hour after he had been given the assignment. He wondered now if his fellow scholars even knew he had left.

Once again, it was no fault of his own that he knew Nemo Ramsey. She was just one of those people that he continually managed to run into in Ilirea. The first time had been in a tavern, where she had been spouting off disdain the Rider’s hands-off policy on the war. To this day he wasn’t sure why, but he decided to walk over, introduce himself, and proceed to shred each and every argument she deigned to put on the table. Nemo was about as logically intelligent as the mead she had been drinking. As a debate went, the outcome was never in doubt. This was why he had been understandably surprised when Ramsey had stood up, picked up the heavy anthology he had been reading and, with the utmost eloquence, smashed the back of his head with it.
The occupants of the tavern all agreed that she had won the debate.
Since then, they seemed unable to avoid each other for long. He got to know her well enough to realize that she was the most aggressive individual in all of Alagaesia; a fiery, blunt-instrument of an elf. Her dragon Ikehr however was different. He was perhaps the finest specimen of a dragon that Vaoris had ever met, apart from the constant sarcasm. He got the idea that the dragon regarded all people as objects, things unworthy of his attention or concern. He was merely a slightly more valuable object in his esteem. But still, they shared a contemplative nature, and they had partaken in enjoyable discourse a few times in the past.

Just then, his stomach seemed to fly into his throat as a sudden blast of turbulence caused them to drop what felt like several hundred feet before Ikehr’s wings found purchase again, snapping him back to the present. His teeth were chattering so badly in the cold, he could not even scream. The impassive, hammer-slung back in front of him looked totally unperturbed by this development, not even sparing him a glance. Vaoris blew out a breath in a futile attempt to steady himself, watching it crystallize in the frigid air in front of him. The season had been turning colder, and it was usual now to find a frost on the ground. High over the land, he discovered, was much, much worse. The cold was like a living thing, seeking to claw its way through clothing to pierce the feeble flesh and freeze the heart within. He had no idea how long they had been flying, nor what time it was, but his extremities where now almost entirely numb, either from the cold itself or the tight swaddling of fur blankets. He could not open his tearing eyes more than a slit, for fear of his eyeballs freezing out of his head. The effect was rather like he had been tied up and was now falling face-first down a cold, dark well, waiting to be dashed against the bottom. Thoroughly miserable, he groaned against the scarf wrapping his face. He wished fervently that he was back in the warm solidity of the archives, enjoying his book.
Not for the last time.

At first, he thought he was imagining it. The gradual warmth seeping into his limbs was really the numbness of death. It was when his ears popped painfully that he realized that his first guess had been right; Ikehr was descending. Wherever they were going, they were almost there.
Finally, there was a noise like a wave striking the shore. He felt his guts lurch forward, and gravity seemed to return with a muted thump, followed by a complete and total silence.
Vaoris just sat, unmoving, the pounding of his pulse the only sound in his ears. After a moment, the Rider in the saddle before him quickly and efficiently extricated herself from her own blankets and straps in the saddle, dropping to the ground in a confident and practiced motion. Only then it sink in that the blessed, solid ground was a mere meter away, and only a few blankets and strips of leather separated him from it. His fingers clumsy with cold, he followed Ramsey as best he could. Finally, he loosed himself from his perch and half jumped, half slid to the ground, managing to land and stay on his feet by some miracle of balance.

He drew in a deep breath of the clear, blessedly warm air. He was sure it was bitterly cold, but the relative contrast made it feel like he was submerged in a warm pool, breathing life back into his protesting muscles. He could see very little of his surroundings, apart from the fact that he was in a wooded bay of some kind, most of the foliage blasted flat by Ikehr’s wings. Ramsey, with her dark skin and black clothing, blended almost invisibly in the predawn gloom.
“Aces.” She said, her voice just slightly too loud as usual. “Now, you lot, let’s not do this arse over tit! We won’t run into these blaggarts all at once. Ikehr, if you see one, squish it.”
A pause, probably Ikehr saying something inaudible to Vaoris. He sighed.
“Vaoris, if you see one, scream and leg it. You’d better be alive when-”
Just then, a rustle of foliage tore the silence. Instinctively, Vaoris crouched near the dragon’s steel-blue flank. His thoughts flew to his hardened yew staff, safely secured to Ikehr’s back where he couldn’t possibly access it…
The sound didn’t fade. The rustling and cracking settled into a steady rhythm, moving straight toward them. Nemo had drawn her hammer, her eyes glinting as she eyed the brush like a hawk waiting for a mouse. Vaoris was about to ask her what he should do when a piercing cry filled the air, falling on the ears like a dagger of dread. Almost immediately afterword, two figures burst from the underbrush, one light, one dark.
The word instantly didn’t quite describe the speed with which Nemo pounced, her hammer becoming a shining blur in the night. With equal immediacy, the dark figure seemed to contort itself into an impossibly bent position, neatly dodging the stroke before disappearing again into the trees, leaving silence and an aura of fear in its wake.

Vaoris lingered cautiously, wondering what to do next. What if the creature had not been on its own? What if there was another, just waiting to pounce from behind. After a few seconds of wondering, Nemo at least seemed satisfied. She strapped her hammer across her back, bending down to examine the light figure on the ground. Vaoris was almost knocked over as Ikehr lumbered a bit closer, broadcasting his speech for all to hear.
Let me guess…It has ended in tragedy? Oh, lovely. It appears the mortal has survived after all. Shall we rescue yowling felines from trees, now?
At the dragon’s words, the unmoving figure suddenly scrambled to its feet, revealing itself to be a simply-dressed human woman. Her shining eyes flicked between Ramsey and Ikehr like a hunted animal, her hands flying to something on her belt…
“Wait, hold on!” Vaoris found himself crying, stepping forward with his hands raised placatingly. “We’re friends. You’re safe here.” His voice sounded pathetic even in his own ears, but it seemed to do the trick. Perhaps, when faced with a fierce elf with a warhammer and an impassive dragon, the appearance of a scrawny scholar was incongruous enough to give the human pause.
As he stepped a bit closer, he realized that this woman was quite different then the few he had seen before. Her haughty, dirt-streaked features were still young and smooth, but her flowing, shoulder-length hair seemed to glint with a light of its own. He realized after a moment that it was a dead, silvery grey.
Glinting blue-green eyes locked on him, and he felt an involuntary shiver run up his back.
“Easy,” He said again, taking another step closer. “We’re not here to hurt you. What’s your name?”

[/blockquote]

YEAH!!!!!!

[Tris]

Valsta heard the swish of something heavy as it swung over her head, and then the crack of leafs as something ran away. Let me guess…It has ended in tragedy? Oh, lovely. It appears the mortal has survived after all. Shall we rescue yowling felines from trees, now? Said a voice inside her head. At this Valsta panicked, she hated people in her mind, especially if they didn’t have to hurt her to get through her mind buriers. So Valsta stood up quickly to find the source of the voice, and standing right in front of her was a very tiny elf and a dragon Though she didn't show it, nothing could have surprised her more. She tried to calm herself, but her scared and tired mind was so confused it only came up with a few very absurd ideas, and though her limbs groaned at the thought of running again she could think of no other way out of this situation. With this in mind she reached for the vial of powder she always kept at her waist, the powder itself was harmless but if it got in your eyes it would blind you for a few seconds, just enough time to make a run for it. But right before she got it a voice came from behind the dragon, “Wait, hold on!” the voice belonged to anther elf, “We’re friends. You’re safe here.” Valsta almost laughed, but he looked sincere so she let her hand fall to her side The elf took a step closer, seeming to study her for a moment, then said “Easy, We’re not here to hurt you. What’s your name?” Valsta took a rather annoyed breath. Does he really think I will give my name so easily? And to a elf no less. she thought, giving a gruff laugh as an answer to his question; “No, I will not give my name. Or not at least till you give yours.”

[Emma]

What I saw next was little more than a swarm of flesh crawling over the hillock.

On many occasions, Ramsey asked me how dragons- besides colour, of course- had the ability to tell each other apart. I wanted to know the exact same thing of people. Large, shapeless slugs were all I was ever able to see- and I could not be blamed. I had never prodded an elf or human that had not crumpled at the slightest touch, spilling vile liquids everywhere. It made me feel very solid, very immortal. Putrid unmentionables did not flow from me when I was injured. Digging my ivory talons into the soft ground, I lay down, eyeing the mortal carefully. Ramsey and the scholar had surrounded her. The scholar was shrieking, and the mortal- a human- appeared to be reaching for a weapon.

I cared not. Ramsey was in no danger from one small human, and if she was, all it took was a flick of the paw to remove the pesky annoyance. The only downside would be the inevitability of being sprayed with blood if I wasn’t too careful in knocking it aside. I rested my head on the slope of the hillock, my slitted eyes looking from Ramsey to the two mortals. The scholar was attempting to make peace with the human. The human, meanwhile, stank of terror, terror that manifested itself as rage. It was only natural for mortals to respond with violence to the unknown. At the scholar’s attempted reassurances, the human laughed, and demanded our names. At this, I raised my head.

‘Quell your fears, human. We are not orcs.’
“What… what in hell does that mean?” sputtered Ramsey.
‘I suppose I shall have to make the necessary introductions…’ I yawned, stretching lazily and digging a massive groove in the hillock as I did so. ‘One would think it would be grateful to the ones that just saved its hide. My name is Ikehr, and this is my brute of a Rider, Nemo Ramsey. We together are the Consul of Defence in Ilirea. This one is a scholar, Vaoris. I can assure it that the scholar is entirely harmless. Death by book, even for a human… honestly.’ I scoffed, which came out as a snort.
“Look ‘ere, ya barmy woman, if we were ‘ere to kill ya, we’d ‘ave bloody done it already!” Ramsey snapped. “We’re after somethin’-” She stopped shouting for a moment, and slid her brightsteel hammer back into the leather strap on her back. She then showed her hands to the woman in a display of peace, which were empty save for her fingerless gloves. “We’re after that bloomin’ thing that nearly carked ya. If yer ‘urt or want protection ‘til morning, we won’t tell ya to bugger off. But if ya do, don’t go makin’ any aggro for us!”
‘In the civilized tongue, this means she doesn’t want any trouble.’
“Desist, damn you, or I’ll belt yer bloody head in!”

Within moments, there was a loud swish as Ramsey’s hammer suddenly appeared in her hands again. I watched with little interest as the weapon promptly bounced off my side. Apparently, she still hadn’t gotten it through her head that her beloved hammer could do nothing more than bruise me. Ramsey stumbled backwards from the failed attack. With several grumbled profanities that could shock a longshoreman, she slid her hammer back in its strap, the steel blue brightsteel of the head catching the silver glint of the moon. She then leaned up against my foreleg, glaring between myself, the scholar, and the human, clearly waiting for someone to speak up.

Words;; 605
Muse;; REALLY swell!
Thoughts;; I like it. I REALLY do. =D

[Angmor]

At the situation unfolding in front of him, Vaoris was unsure whether it would be better to burst out laughing or to react with deadly seriousness. As a result, his face ended up at an odd equilibrium between the two; an impassive face, but with the corners of his mouth turned just slightly upward. This was actually a very common reaction for the witnesses of Ramsey and Ikehr's constant antics. They left many citizens of Ilirea unsure whether to laugh or frown.

Even now, after a thousand years of study, the bond between Rider and dragon was a strange thing, resisting all attempts to quantify it. At last, attempts at study had mostly been given up, and the Riders had settled on the idea that 'destiny' chose new Riders, and made sure that they were bonded with the correct dragon. And most of the time, Destiny seemed to work out pretty well, matching many dragon and Rider pairs who were perfectly compatible, two halves of a single being.
Ramsey and Ikehr, however, seemed to be the exception that proved the rule.
At first glance, they seemed entirely opposite of one another; Nemo being a bundle of rage and Ikehr with his sociopathic level of indifference. They could not be more different. Only after hundreds of years of being together had they managed to hone the relationship to any working level of competence, and even then it had its rough patches.
My dragon will be different. Vaoris told himself in the deepest, most secret part of his consciousness. We will always be united in purpose. That is my destiny. Not like these two.

"Desist, damn you, or I'll belt your bloody head in!" Nemo was screaming in her flagrant vanacular. As if to provide perfect punctuation to his thought, her hammer seemed to travel instantaneously from her back to her hand, arcing through the air to slam solidly into the dragon's flank.
There was a sound that made Vaoris think of a bag of coins striking a slab of meat, and the enormous hammer bounced off Ikehr's lounging form without leaving any visible effect, sending Ramsey reeling with a stream of colorful invective, most of which Vaoris didn't even know the meaning of. After a few more seconds of this, she seemed to descend back under the thin line of her bezerker rage threshold, becoming her semi-usual state of mild anger. Vaoris felt the heat of her glare as she turned back to the rest of the tiny party, the jut of her lower jaw daring any one of them say anything.

Vaoris was suddenly very aware of all the small night-noises in the hollow around them, from the swish of the wind, to the chirping of the crickets in the brush starting their song anew after the passing of the creature’s shadow.
The silence grew longer, the tension growing with every involuntary swallow, every blink, every noisy breath.
Finally, Vaoris could stand it no longer. If he didn’t break this silence, he was sure Nemo’s glare would melt him to slag on the spot.
“Well,” He blurted, feeling his face grow red. It always did that when he was under stress, it was something he just couldn’t help. “You might as well stay with us for now,” He said, addressing the human. “You can’t travel in the dark, especially with these creatures about.” He took a deep breath, looking back to Nemo. “We should probably set up camp for the rest of the night. I could… gather firewood, or… something.” It occurred to him that he did not actually know anything about setting up a camp, except a few generalities. Or really anything else about surviving in the wild, for that matter.
Ah well. I’m sure it won’t matter. I’ll be with Ramsey the whole time.

[/blockquote]

[Tris]

I suppose I shall have to make the necessary introductions…. One would think it would be grateful to the ones that just saved its hide. My name is Ikehr, and this is my brute of a Rider, Nemo Ramsey. We together are the Consul of Defence in Ilirea. This one is a scholar, Vaoris. I can assure it that the scholar is entirely harmless. Death by book, even for a human… honestly.’ The dragon said.
“Look ‘ere, ya barmy woman, if we were ‘ere to kill ya, we’d ‘ave bloody done it already!” the one called Ramsey snapped. “We’re after somethin’-” she stopped her tirade for a moment to put her weapon on her back and then held her hands up . “We’re after that bloomin’ thing that nearly carked ya. If yer ‘urt or want protection ‘til morning, we won’t tell ya to bugger off. But if ya do, don’t go makin’ any aggro for us!.” Now this put Valsta in a very annoying position, she could either go back into the forest and take her chances ageist the creator or she could stay here with the elves whom she hated but be relatively safe. Valsta sighed softly, but she also wanted to hunt whatever it was that had chased her and this was the safest way to do it, she was broken out of her train of thought as the dragon talked again.
‘In the civilized tongue, this means she doesn’t want any trouble.’
“Desist, damn you, or I’ll belt yer bloody head in!”
In a split second Ramsey had her hammer in her hand and swung it at Ikehr, it bounced off and the dragon looked unhurt but Valsta was still a little stunned and was going it say something but when she saw Ramsey face she quickly swallowed her words. The four of them stood there for it felt like hours, each waiting for the other to speak, and finely the scholar did. “Well… You might as well stay with us for now “ he said to Valsta, “You can’t travel in the dark, especially with these creatures about.” He looked back at Ransey and said “We should probably set up camp for the rest of the night. I could… gather firewood, or… something.” The scholar looked rather comical as he said this and Valsta got the impression that he had never slept outside in his live before. But she had said that if they told her their names she would tell them hers, so she blurted, “ Valsta…” she was met with two blank stares, “ My name, its Valsta and I’l go get the fire wood.” And she left them with at.

[Emma]

Just as I was beginning to wonder what Vaoris’s organs would look like on the outside, he opened his trap to blurt out, “WELL… you might as well stay with us for now. You can’t travel in the dark, especially with these creatures about.” He glanced at me, almost looking for guidance. I cocked my head about ninety degrees to glare at him. “We should probably set up camp for the rest of the night. I could… gather firewood, or… something.” Obviously not knowing where to go from there, he trailed off. I stood up straight, rolling my shoulders back and preparing to give orders.
“VALSTA!” the human girl interrupted. I stared at her in blatant surprise. “My name… it’s Valsta. And I’ll go get the firewood.”

Before I could even begin to pry my mouth open, she was gone, moving with alarming speed into the trees- especially considering some foul beast had just chased her out of them minutes ago. I had to admit that I was very fond of humans, even more so than elves- after all, I’d spent well over half a century cooking for a literal boatload of them- but they could be confusing. And shy. Ikehr registered no surprise, as usual, just stretching out his massive forelegs and giving a massive yawn, blue sparks visible at the back of his throat. With a huff of smoke, he rose to all four feet, shaking himself out like a wet dog. Seeming satisfied, he fixated one of his cat eyes on the trees.

‘Think she’ll be back?’ I asked in our private mental link.
‘Mortals are an unpredictable sort. If it isn’t, I expect its soft squishiness shall be splattered upon the rocks before sunrise.’
“Right.” I clapped my hands together, rubbing my fingers. Now that I had gotten used to the ground temperature, it was markedly cooler than what could be considered comfortable. “ Valsta’s gettin’ wood. Vaoris, you can find us a proper spot for camp. I reckon you ain’t too blinkered to do that. Ikehr, go get chow.”
‘Shall I catch one of the creatures for us to snack on?’
“Not bleeding likely! And keep a link open with Vaoris. Better that Anurin don’t get brassed off over a dead scholar, then, eh?” I nudged Ikehr. At Vaoris’s horrified stare, I gave him a death glare. “Chivvy along, then! I’ll take first watch.”

Taking out my hammer, I gripped it firmly in both hands as I headed into the woods, eyes and ears peeled for one of the monsters. However, I was very nearly knocked off balance by the whipping wind as Ikehr prepared to take off, literally ripping my hat from my head. I snatched it out of the air with a curse as I heard my bastard of a dragon flapping his massive wings and leaping into the air. I watched him swoop above me and over the trees, noting how his wings were like sails caught in the early morning breeze. I inhaled deeply, almost smelling the scent of salty sea air, and decided that I was in a good mood. Humming a jaunty sailor tune, I made my way into the forest.

It was dark and threatening. Most of the trees had lost all their leaves by now, and their naked branches clawed the night air like massive talons. My hum faded away as I replaced my hat on my head, eyeing my surroundings warily. Before the clearing behind me had even fully disappeared from view, I heard a twig snap. Instinctively crouching, I moved towards where the noise had come from, hammer braced and ready to smash or disembowel any more of those creatures. Stopping, I peered over the cracked leaves of a dying bush, and let out my breath with a sigh. Somewhat anticlimactically, the sound had been made by Valsta, who was picking her way through a grove of dead trees. Removing my hat and letting my braid down, I stepped out of the bush and moved towards her.

“Just me, lass,” I said with a casual wave of the hand when she started, surprised at my appearance. “Havin’ a dekko for them buggers. Need a hand?”

Words;; 700 exactly!
Muse;; So-so.
Thoughts;; HMM. Other one was better, but this isn't bad!

[Angmor]

Valsta. Vaoris thought, watching the newly named human turn and march into the woods. Interesting name.
As far as he could tell with his knowledge of various languages and dialects, it didn’t mean anything in particular. But then, humans did tend to name their children the first thing that came to mind, without regard for meaning and significance. This was irksome to him, because it left him with no clues as to the woman’s disposition or manner. Still, from the brief interaction, He got the idea that she was rather prideful and haughty, and very much disliked having no control over the situation. She was even willing to go back into a forest that might or might not still have been infested by flesh-eating monsters in order to assert some kind of dominance.
Brave. In that illogical human sort of way. This should be an interesting opportunity for study...
"Right." Nemo said at last, clapping her hands as if to dispel the silence that Valsta left behind. "Valsta's gettin' wood. Vaoris, you can find a proper spot for camp. I reckon you're not to blinkered to do that."
Vaoris felt his teeth grinding involuntarily. Even if it was only the human tongue, he hated it when any language was mangled as horrfically as Nemo did on an hourly basis. He could barely understand half of what she said. The the parts he understood he didn't like. He didn't have the slightest idea what constituted a good campsite, nor did he have any lore with him to give it any study.
"Not bleeding likely!" Ramsey was saying as he contemplated. "And keep a link open with Vaoris. Better that Anurin don't get brassed off scholar then, eh?" At this she chuckled lightly, as if at some joke.
Vaoris suddenly felt all the skin on the back of his neck prickle with goosebumps, as if a sudden torrent of snow had blown straight down his tunic.
Ramsey's expression changed with alarming swiftness to anger at his hesitation. "Chivvy along,then! I'll take first watch." Unslinging her hammer, she turned on her heal and and left the bay.

It seems to be a night for that... He thought absently to himself, watching her go. Maybe I should try it...
Would it mind freeing me of the baggage? Ikehr said, breaking in on his thought. I would rather not have to lug around your paraphernalia on the hunt.
"Of course." He answered automatically, trying to rouse his limbs from their stupor. Turning to the dragon, he gathered his strength and leaped, landing just slightly awkwardly on Ikehr's broad back.
"A quick question," He said, taking off his gloves to set to work on the knots. "How does one choose an ideal campsite?" If anyone knew, he figured, Ikehr would. After all, he had been Ramsey's bondmate for over a hundred years, and had probably witnessed many campsites chosen. Finally, the bags fell from either side of the saddle, freeing the supplies. Voaris smiled, looking up...
And jumped, nearly falling from his perch. As he had worked, Ikehr had craned his neck around to fix him with one impassive eye. Finally, after what seemed a very long time, he answered.
How should I know?

Vaoris blinked. "Er... right." Feeling his face redden, he looked away, beginning his climb back to earth. "Sorry, stupid question.
Indeed. The dragon agreed, unfurling his wings with a sound like snapping cloth and leaping into the sky. Vaoris was knocked cleanly onto his back from the downdraft, leaving him lying amid a short-lived whirlwind, then utter silence.

For a moment, he stayed where he was, gazing up into the starry vault of the sky, obscured at intervals with the fog of his breath. His limbs ached with fatigue. He wasn't sure how hours and hours of sitting had managed to tire him out, but it had. The cold seeping out of the ground seemed to travel straight to his head, making his eyelids grow heavier...
Just then, a shadow flashed across him. Vaoris woke with a start, his mind gripped with vivid imaginings of that thing that had chased Valsta into their company. He cast around looking for his staff, for the threat, for somewhere to hide...
At that moment, a strain of music pierced the silence, stopping his panic. Somewhere off to his left, Nemo was whistling a lively sailor's reel, a sound of jovial defiance against the dark that somehow seemed to rally his senses back to reason.
You're fine. Nemo's nearby, you scared off the creature, you're safe. But not for much longer, if you don't find a campsite before she gets back.
Blowing out a breath, he stood up, shouldering his pack. Thus prepared, he stepped from the pool of light into the shadowed gloom of the trees.

Now, Vaoris had slept outside before. Twice, in fact. Trouble was, when he had traveled before, it had been with a large caravan. The responsibility of picking a campsite had always fallen to someone that he hadn't even met. And he hadn't cared where the tent was pitched, so long as it wasn't over a patch of brambles.
Alright, just think tactically. What would I need in a campsite? He paused, leaning against a tree to think. Well, something essential to life was water. Come to think of it, his two previous campsites had been near streams. But no, that wasn’t a requirement. The canteens they had brought with them were still full. Same went with food.
Fine, they didn’t need food or water. What else made a good habitation?
Habitat.
At that, he instantly recalled a book on basic biology he had read. It stated that the things any animal needed in a habitat was food and water, shelter from the elements, and protection from predators.
Well, that gives me some parameters to look for, at least…
Just then, a sharp buzz filled his mind, something he had come to know as the mental version of clearing one’s throat.
I would ask a question, if it would indulge me.
Vaoris stopped in the shadow of a large pine, his light boots making no sound on the needles. He still hadn’t quite mastered the art of communicating mentally and maneuvering at the same time.
Of course, ebrithil. He answered respectfully. Dragons were to be treated with deference and politeness, after all…
Very well. How does it plan to survive out here, seeing as it is nothing but a steaming bag of flesh?

At first, Vaoris thought he had heard wrong. This however was impossible. Mental communication, under most circumstances, was the most reliable form of exchanging ideas ever devised. It was meaning trickled directly into the brain, almost entirely free of barriers. Ikehr, in his usual lack of tact, meant every word. After thinking about it, it was even a perfectly fair question.
Er… I haven’t really had a lot of time to think about it. I had thought that I would be kept far away from any action, serving as strategic support. I suppose I should have figured Consul Ramsey wouldn’t be so kind.
It should have. Ikehr snorted. But the question still stands.
Despite the fact that they were communicating over what was possibly a huge distance, Vaoris suddenly got the uncomfortable feeling that the dragon was right next to him, scrutinizing his soul as if it was a particularly interesting puzzle. It was entirely too intimate an experience, and he didn’t like it.
Well… He said finally. The Consul’s strategy seems pretty sound to me now. How did she say it? If I encounter one of the creatures, I am to ‘scream and leg it.’
He thought that would be the end of it. However, the feeling of scrutiny only grew more intense, as if Ikehr had taken a step closer.
And if that fails?
Vaoris felt himself squirm despite himself. What could he possibly say to that?
I… Well, if that fails, I suppose… Subconsciously, he reached over his shoulder to touch the staff strapped securely to the side of his knapsack. It was his preferred weapon, the one he had carried on all his journeys…
As he drew it from his place, he fumbled it in his gloved hands, dropping it ignominiously to the ground.
…And the tool with which he was, apart from a few defensive forms memorized years ago, he was entirely useless.
At first, he could not identify the feeling in his mind. If he was to translate it into a sound, it would be a large berg of ice breaking apart on a rocky coastline.
Only after a few moments did he comprehend that it was the sound of Ikehr’s laughter.

[/blockquote]

[Tris]

Valsta was practically blowing steam out of her ears, she was VERY unhappy with her situation and in being so she blamed it on the elves, but a small part of her being reminded her that they had saved her life and that she should be grateful. So instead of saying something she would regret she stormed off into the woods and tried to get a hold of her temper, it only took her a moment to get her thoughts in order but then she saw just how stupid her idea had really been, because know she was alone in the woods she had just franticly come from. Valsta shivered as if for the first time realizing just how cold it was, she shook herself once to get her blood moving and then threw all her mental and fiscal capacity into finding wood to keep her mind off the creeks and cracks coming from the dark forest beyond. Soon she found a grove of dead trees and started to gather as much wood as she could, but there was no way she could gather quietly as she would have like, and she was sure that every creature from a mile around could hear her.
“Just me, lass,” at this voice Valsta jumped a mile and dropped all the wood she was carrying, she quickly picked it up again and scolded herself for being so jumpy. “Havin’ a dekko for them buggers. Need a hand?”, she faced the short elf, Valsta wasn’t exactly sure how to treat her, she was an elf but she was also a rider and Valsta had never had any encounters with them to know how they felt about humans, but of course she knew that the riders clamed to protected all humans and elves the same, so she sighed and said ” Thank you, your help would be much appreciated.” in a cold but sivel tone, Nemo looked annoyed at the coldness of how it was said but said nothing and filled her arms up with wood. The walk to the camp was torturing Valsta, she hated to be nice to people but she was grateful to the elf so she said," Thank you Miss Ramsey for saving my life." It was simple and a little to formal but she hoped she put enough warmth in it. "So is there so little know about these creatures that the riders had to send you to study them?" Valsta asked.

[Emma]

Now that I appeared to have been freed of the mortals, I rose from the hillock, stretching my legs and shaking myself out, unfolding my wings. As I did, though, I was aware of the light weight and thick constraints of the saddlebags. Irritated, I shook myself. Ramsey had always been fond of tying the restraints just a little too tightly for comfort. However, she was now gone, as was the small and angry human. That left the scholar. Unfortunately, due to having a slightly larger brain mass than most of its kind, it was very weak to make up for it. However, beggars could not be choosers, as Anurin was fond of saying. I stomped over to the scholar, leaning down again.

‘Ahem.’ It jumped. ‘Would it mind freeing me of the baggage? I would rather not have to lug around its paraphernalia on the hunt.’
“Of course,” said the scholar as it bumbled to its feet, and then made a surprisingly agile leap onto my back. I settled down, ready for the moaning dread of the slow release of saddlebags. And, sadly, the scholar was feeling chatty.
“A quick question,” it said. “How does one choose an ideal campsite?”
Wondering if it was serious, I turned around to look at the scholar and its enormous smile. Perhaps the high altitude had made it ill? Perhaps it was insane?
‘How does it expect me to know?’
“Er... right. Sorry, stupid question.”
I watched it make its descent, along with the grievous saddlebags. Its face had turned a putrid shade of pale pink, as mortals’ did when they felt shamed. ‘Indeed.’

Shaking myself out once more, I craned my neck to the sky and spread my wings open. Now that I didn’t have the saddlebags to irritate me, I stretched myself to my full length. The breeze was light, only faintly noticeable against the membranes of my wings. No longer paying any more attention to the scholar, I beat them once, then twice, and lifted easily into the night with the same motions I had used for a hundred years. I rose above the trees, angling my tail to rise slightly to the northeast, where I could scent a herd of deer. Catching a low air current, I rode it, gliding effortlessly across the sky. Though my primal instincts were awakened by the musk of deer, I couldn’t help but think.

I had grown up with Ramsey, and despite her oft-blinding temper and tendency to never think things through, she was definitely someone who could hold her own in a dangerous wilderness setting- and probably one of the people left standing on her own two feet after an apocalypse. The new human that we had encountered, though it had yet to impress me, could obviously handle itself in the Spine- otherwise, it would not have clambered up there by itself and still be breathing. But the scholar? Useful for an intellectual debate and to murder the constant bore of attending Rider duties, yes. And Ramsey and I were to serve as his protectors. But surely, Anurin could have picked someone… physically competent?

I decided to question the soft flesh creature itself on the matter.

‘I have a question, if it would indulge me.’
‘Of course, ebrithil!’ Mortals were always so quick to humble themselves. Still, I enjoyed the attention.
‘Very well. How does it plan to survive out here, seeing as it is naught but a steaming bag of flesh?’
‘Er…’ Silence. I had never understood the way mortals ‘beat about the bush’ in dialogue. Especially in matters concerning sexual activities. Disgusting. ‘I haven’t really had a lot of time to think about it. I had thought that I would be kept far away from any action, serving as strategic support. I suppose I should have figured Consul Ramsey wouldn’t be so kind.’
‘It should have. But the question still stands.’
‘Well… The Consul’s strategy seems pretty sound to me now. How did she say it? If I encounter one of the creatures, I am to ‘scream and leg it.’
Apparently, fleeing was this creature’s one sound survival method. Such simplicity. I prodded on. ‘And if that fails?’
‘I… Well, if that fails, I suppose…’
I coughed. Giggled. Then started snickering. Then it turned into full-out laughter. The elf’s shame was very blatant, even through our mere dialogue link. I forced my laughter down. ‘Fear not, fleshling. It amuses me to see its consternation. Should it be assaulted, I shall merely crush the monster’s head like a grape. SQUISH.’
‘Good… to know,’ came the scholar’s voice, now weaker.

After that, I did not respond again, because I had now come upon the herd of deer. The amount of animals was enormous, likely due to the coming winter, with a wide variety of meals for me to pick from. I avoided the young and the sick, instead focussing on the larger, stronger stags and does. They all raised their heads to the sky, letting out small shrieks of fear, and began to canter away at full speed- a speed easily maintainable by me. I swept down on one section of the group, pondering. One deer, or two?

I would leave one deer for Ramsey and the human. Vaoris could eat leaves.

The actual killing was quick and painless- not because I felt mercy for creatures even below mortals, but simply because the squeals irritated me. One chomp and it was done. Settling down to enjoy my dinner in peace and quiet, I left my mind slightly open to be aware of Ramsey and Vaoris. Currently, I paid attention to Ramsey, as she appeared to have caught up with the human. I could read her thoughts, clear as day- subtlety was not one of Ramsey’s strong points. Being very fond of humans, and seeing as we would be spending some time with this one, she wished to get to know it. However, at the same time she sensed that it was very closed off, especially to elves- unsurprising, what with the very sticky Blue Divide. But that wasn’t going to stop her trying.

“Thank you, your help would be much appreciated.” The voice was about as warm as an icicle, with all the sharpness, but it did not invite any hostility. Ramsey seemed to realize this, so she just bent down and began poring over the pile, picking up the driest pieces of wood. After a pause, the human said, “Thank you, Miss Ramsey, for saving my life.”

This was a major improvement. Gratitude was not something often directed at a Rider, and no one ever, ever, referred to Ramsey as ‘Miss’. Most people were known to call her ‘a higher class of midget’, ‘vertically challenged’, or some other remark about her height shortly before their lives were cut short. She stood straight, arms now filled with dried strips and logs of wood, and beamed across at the human. Were her arms not full of wood, she would have probably reached over and punched the human on the arm. She usually meant this type of obviously violent physical contact as a sign of friendliness. Why or how, I didn’t have the slightest idea. My personal response to such a thing would be to crush the perpetrator’s head, no matter how ineffective the attack.

“Bugger it,” she said cheerily. “I’m easy.”
Another pause, then, “So is there so little known about these creatures that the riders had to send you to study them?”
“That’s the egghead’s job.” Ramsey, despite having an armful of wood, somehow jabbed her thumb in the direction of the campsite. “Ikehr and I are here to kill ’em all. For sport, innit.” The human stared. Ramsey laughed. “Jokes, love. Got enough wood on you? Brill. Let’s get back. Where were you heading, again?”

I finished the last of my meal then, and licked my talons clean of blood. Then, picking up the one doe I had left for the rest of my party, I took off into the air again, hoping the scholar had not been claimed by one of the creatures. His mind was at ease, for now, but all the same I eyed the forest beneath me warily. I saw small creatures fleeing my shadow, glimmering ponds in glades, but I did not once see any-

‘Ikehr!’ screamed the scholar into my mind.
Well, damn.
‘Help! It’s-’
‘Ramsey,’ I announced into my Rider’s mind when he broke off, ‘mind you return to the camp. I suspect I will not arrive until after the scholar has been converted into a fountain of blood.’

Words;; 1435
Muse;; Better than yesterday, but still ehh.
Thoughts;; Well, not my best work, but hopefully this should keep things interesting. XD

[Angmor]

As he stared down at the fallen staff, Vaoris felt his cheeks burn, banishing all sensation of cold from his face. He had been laughed at among his peers because of his lack of physical prowess before, and while it still hurt, he had more or less gotten used to it. For some reason, it felt much worse being laughed at by a dragon, especially when that dragon was most likely miles away.
What am I doing here?
The question ambushed him before he could stop it. How did this happen to him? What had he done to deserve this cruel hijacking of his peaceful and productive life? He blinked back a sudden rush of hot tears, feeling a profound sense of loneliness rising from the pit of his stomach to clamp around his throat with invisible fingers. A sudden vision of the near future rose up before him, bleak and menacing as the Spine itself.
I’m going to die here. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shake the thought. Eighty years, and now I’m going to die alone on this damnable pile of rock at the whims of a madwoman and a sociopathic lizard. Why didn’t I just refuse? Why didn’t I get them one of the more capable scholars?
The possibilities were endless. But he hadn’t done any of them, and now he was here, with no way of escape. He could hardly walk back to Ilirea, could he?
Fear not, fleshling. Came Ikehr’s voice, the creaking of his mirth dying to a dull hiss. It amuses me to see its consternation. Should it be assaulted, I shall merely crush the monster’s head like a grape. Vaoris was treated to a vividly imagined image as to exactly what said event would look like, complete with bulging eyes and orange fluids. SQUISH.
Voaris blinked, hastily dismissing the image from his mind. Good… to know. He responded with an effort, not feeling the slightest bit better. Somehow, the thought of relying on Ikehr’s timely response to a cry for help was not comforting in the least.
With that, the dragon’s consciousness drew away, leaving him physically, figuratively, and emphatically alone.

For several moments, Vaoris stood where he was, staring down at his staff without really seeing it, pondering what to do next, wrestling with the welter of feelings inside him. Eventually, he stooped carefully to pick up the staff, taking comfort its solid, just slightly flexible length. It was true, though he might have been one step above useless against an actual opponent with it, it truly was a joy to whirl around. He tried an experimental figure-eight pattern, reveling in the feeling of the fast moving wood in his hands. He listened to the swoosh of displaced air as he sped up the pattern, faster and faster, his staff becoming an indistinct butterfly-shaped blur. Finally, he stopped the pattern, moving his hand down the length to feel the wood smack sounding against his gloved palm. He sighed deeply. No, his death here wasn’t certain. After all, what was he so worried about? It would take more than a few creatures to keep Nemo down. Ikehr was just toying with him. And even if he wasn’t, Vaoris resolved that if he was to die, then this apprentice scholar would not go down without a fight.
His mind made up, he started forward, his staff firmly in hand as he ventured further into the woods.
Besides, if he didn’t find that campsite, the creatures would be the least of his worries.

Before long, he found what he was looking for. About two hundred yards away from the spot where they had landed, there stood a fairly short cliff-face, forming the sides of the valley they were currently occupying. At the base of this cliff was a large indentation, as if a giant hand had scooped out the rock, leaving an imprint that wasn’t quite a cave and wasn’t quite an overhang. There was plenty of room for all three of them, although Ikehr would have to negotiate. It was closed enough to shelter from the wind and possibility of precipitation, but open enough that the campfire smoke would not asphyxiate them all as they slept. It also did not go very far back, thankfully. Vaoris remembered reading in several places that caves in the mountains were usually occupied beforehand, often by something hungry. In fact, the only objecting he foresaw from Nemo would be the hard, lumpy earth that made up the floor of the hollow would not provide the most comfortable sleep. Still, he decided, surveying his handiwork, it was the best spot he was likely to find before the sun came up. Yes, it would serve. Nemo would find something to complain about even if he had managed to find a hidden inn with a full bar and equipped with feather beds, anyway. Nodding once, he set about removing his satchel and bag full of parchment, dropping them to the hollow’s floor with a sigh of relief. After sitting with them on his back for so long, he hadn’t realized just how cramped his muscles were starting to get. Rolling his shoulders to ease the protestations of his body, he turned away, picking out a more direct path back to the landing site in order to retrieve the rest of the luggage. He weaved through the dark trees, sighing to himself. He was beginning to think the only reason Nemo brought him along was because she liked the idea of having a porter.
Why yes ma’am, I’ll find that campsite right away, ma’am. Fetch the baggage? Or course ma’am, consider it done. Perhaps you’d like a foot massage next…
It took him a moment to realize just how dark it was under the trees, now shadowed from the moonlight in a small grove of evergreens. It was only when he barked his shin on something hard that he stopped to concentrate on nailing down his stubbornly elusive hold over magic. Finally, he pierced that barrier in his mind, letting the magic flow through. Taking a deep breath, he uttered a quick spell, conjuring a golden werelight to hover just above his hand.
Right. Baggage. He nodded once, looking up…
Straight into a pair of empty, staring eyes, ringed all about with a bleached whiteness.

For a fraction of a second, he was frozen in place. This, however, was just to allow time for a strangled scream to be born at the base of his stomach and claw its way up his trachea before finally bursting through his lips and ripping through the mountain silence. On a rush of adrenaline, he suddenly remembered Ikehr’s advice, opening his mind and reaching along the dragon’s link…
Ikehr! Help! It’s-
As he said this, he began backpedalling as fast as he could, doing whatever he could to get away from that horrible, grinning visage. Not watching where he was going, his feet tangled in the underbrush, tripping him backwards before he could stop himself and depositing him on his back on something hard and yet strangely yielding. He found himself looking into yet another fleshless face, the glow of his werelight making the shadows dance inside the hollow eye sockets.
He had literally stumbled into a pile of human bones.

[/blockquote]