Foolish Consequences

[Aria Wurud]

Aria drifted over the land, catching the wind currents here and there letting them carry her over the land. Arias dragon form may have been smaller to most dragon species but it was defiantly build for speed. Everything about her body was streamlined, her wings and appendages on her tail made for sharp maneuvers at high speeds. Fallowing the winding river below them she continued west. Occasionally she would drop down close to the current dipping a wing in the water here and there; even catching a fish in large jaws as it made the unfortunate mistake of arching out of the water.



She would smack on up over her shoulder at the girl; if she was able to catch it mid flight great if not her loss. Not once did the epic journey pause as they flew through Heavens pass. A feat few could say they finished in so little time, but that was the luxury of being on a dragons back.



The sun began to set the landscape had changed from green to brown to hills of sand. It was when the sun set that the large lizard descended. Landing with a spray of sand as she belly slid down a large dune of sand. The sand was still warm but the temperature would be dropping significantly. There was nothing around as far as the eye could see. Suddenly there was a sound like a buzz that slowly increased in sound. An blue glow gathered around the dragons jaws before a blast was let loose. A large explosion of sand erupted as the blast hit. It sounded as though an avalanche of rocks hit solid ground. But what it left was a section of super heated sand that left a glossy side. It radiated heat it would provide enough warmth for a good few hours before the process would have to be repeated.



They would spend the night here, until morning or at least someone found them. In the morning there adventure would continue.

[Ilta Kveld]

It’s better than travelling on foot. Ilta wanted to go south, but this change of plans was fine by her. Eastward to… well, not too much out there, but she’d find something. Besides, it’s not every day someone rides to Oroun on the back of dragon. She wouldn’t take this moment for granted.

She watches as the dragon grabs a few fish. But she’s unprepared for the dragon to throw on at her. It hits her in the arm, and she fumbles with it for a few moments before getting a good grip on the wriggling thing. There’s a cracking sound as she breaks the things neck, and it goes still. “I guess I’ve eaten worse,” she says looking at the thing.


The deserts sands are new to Ilta. She’d been surrounded by forest her entire life. It wasn’t anything like Shoals either. When the dragon lands, she gets off and kicks around the sand a little. It’s fairly clear that hasn’t seen much like this before.

She jumps a little as the dragon breaths fire, and looks at the new superheated area. Well, I guess this means they were done for today. She wraps her travelling cloak around her and uses her pack a pillow as she lies down. “Thanks for the ride… and please don’t leave without me.”

[Aria Wurud]

A deep rolling whine fallowed by chortle came from the great dragon's throat in response to leaving. A burst of hot air came from her nostrils aimed at the young Dragonkin. The large dragon flopped on her back and stretched out and wiggled. Her large clawed feet hanging in the air; an amusing site for something so large. They would settle for the night here; it was a good as place as any, and the sand made for a soft bed.

Hours would pass and a breeze began to pick up; it increased in strength to the point where it caused the young dragon to crack open an eye. The gill like appendages twitched on her head, one of them raised high in the air become a bit more alert. She heard a sleepy voice stir in her head; curious to what had stirred her from her sleep. Truth was she didn't know what had woken her only that her nerves hummed with a primal instinct.

She stomped over to the girl and nudged her awake, something told her it was time to move. When she did get the girl up the object of her concerns could be seen over the horizon. A large cloud of dust was barreling towards them. It formed a massive wall; in that storm Aria new would be harsh winds and the danger of suffocating due to the vast amount of dust was high. She urged the girl to get on her back.

[Ilta Kveld]

The desert sand is unfamiliar to Ilta. The dark green hues of the forest and woods had surrounded her for her entire life. Needless to say, this vast barren landscape was a big change, and not one she could quickly adjust to. Even the winds weren’t the same with dry air running moving across this part of the globe. She feels a little uneasy despite it being warm and soft. It takes her awhile to fall asleep, tossing and turning to feel comfortable. Damn, if she wasn’t a long very way from home. However, hadn’t this been what she wanted? With the memory of more vibrant locations, she eventually falls asleep.


Suddenly, Ilta found herself being pushed on her side as her face met hot sand. “Ughhh… why?” she says groggily. It was hardly like she got any sleep at all. She blinks a few times but then catches sight of the storm. Nothing instantly wakes you up like rapidly approaching danger. She jumps on the dragon’s back, saying, “Alright, I’m ready to go!”

However, she keeps her eyes on the storm. Again, something she’d never seen before. She heard the winds could whip up the sands like this, but it was far different seeing it in person. It was like a giant cloud threatening to consume them both. How did people live in a place like this?

[Aria Wurud]

Aria watched on as the storm was fast approaching; it was moving across the desert at a terrifying pace. The cloud would be upon them in less than a minute at the rate it was going. As the girl clamored on her back she lifted a wing and slid her on faster. With one leap, two leap, three leap and she was up in the air. The strong gust of wind was almost enough to make her wings buckle underneath her. She sped across the land but the storm was slowly creeping up behind. They would be overtaken but Aria hoped to get ahead of the worse of it.



The storm was upon them faster than one would expect, the winds were strong causing her wings to ache as they were jerked back and forth. She had flown in storms before but none with wind conditions like this, nor with a burden on her back. However the desert had wind currents that were foreign to her. So she was at a high disadvantage.



The storm was bearing upon them her large almond shaped eyes scanned the desert ground. Cracks formed in the dry ground, she needed to find a large one. The cracks began to deepen and the storm was almost upon them. And that was it they were out of time.



There an opening! Aria dove as the storm consumed them. The force of wind hit her hard, the harsh sand ripping at the soft membrane of her wing she felt her muscles tear as she lost control of her flight. She spun around pulling the girl on her back to her front, her body curled around her before they met impact wit the ground. They hit the ground hard and slid into the small ravine where they hit the bottom about ten feet down. Down in the ravine they were protected from the worse of the storm, Aria uncurled from around the girl and let her slid to the ground. Aria then rolled off her back, her eyes scrunching up as her injured wing protested. It hung limply at her side while the other was folded neatly.



If Ilta were to look around, she would see the that the earth down here was cracked and dry. Lizards hid in deeper crevices. In one of those crevices a piece of paper stuck out; it would seem it was placed there long ago.

[Ilta Kveld]

Ilta is sure this is how she’s going to die when she sees the dragon’s wings begin to buckle. There were worse ways, she guesses. She got to ride a dragon. She got to the see the West. What did it matter if she disappeared under tons of sand? The other option was dying quietly working a blacksmith shop. At least, she went out in an adventurous way.

The dragon suddenly ducks into a crevice, and it takes all of Ilta’s strength to keep hold onto the flying lizard and not get lost to the raging winds. Honestly, this seemed equally as dangerous and flying from the sandstorm. And because the gods decided they hated her today, the dragon begins to lose control. Stoneskin, stoneskin, stoneskin, she chants in her mind. The dragon however takes the brunt of the impact, but she stills gets whipped around a little Breathing a sigh of relief, she skin returns to normal, and sits up, trying to reorient herself.

She looks across to her dragon companion, and frowns to see the broken wing. There was nothing either of them could do about that though. “Alright, we’re definitely not taking off anytime soon. I’m guessing you’re ok besides that though. Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about first aid though.”

Getting up, she realizes once the adrenaline wears off, she’s going to ache after that impact. Already, her muscles were beginning to feel sore. “I’ll go see what else is down here. Maybe some water if we’re lucky.” It seemed like the water that caused this ravine dried up ages ago unfortunately.

The piece of paper catches her eye though. She’s careful not to rip it as she pulls it out, and just as careful to unfold it. Who in the world had been down here?

[Beasts]

As the piece of parchment was unfolded an image shimmered into place.



'SCHRREEEEEEEEEAAACH'



A few minutes had passed from the moment the parchment was removed. The ground began to have small tremors and once more the schreach was sounded. The sound was like no other and cut high above the sound of the storm that raged above them. Something was coming.

[NPC]

There was ancient magic at work here and it had abruptly awoken the soul embedded within the sword hidden on Arias back. The sword seem to hum and vibrate at a low rate. Something was coming and it wasn't natural.

" I evael joy enola roof neves srouhs dna ev'uoy ydaerla detcartta elbuort? Llew staht a wen drocer rof joy." A sarcastic voice went off in Aria's head.

Then the screech. What ever it was, it had been attracted by the magic embedded within that parchment. A piece of paper that seemed so, so familiar. However, no matter how much the spirit within the sword tried to remember, the memory would draw up blank.

" Hctaw ti rig! uoY tog ynapmoc, kciuq evom, evom, EVOM! NOW! " Core yelled within Aria's skull, finally able to pronounce one word in the current language.

[Aria Wurud]

Aria shook her head, her eyes scanning to see if her charge was alright. She seemed alright, so she began to take inventory of her injuries. Her scales had protected her from any scrapes, the membranes of her wings had holes but they would heal up. She would even still be able to fly, although it would sting. However the sharp ache in one of her wings told her it had been pulled from the socket. That was trouble in itself; she wouldn't be able to transform back fully unless that was popped back in properly...and one couldn't really pop a wing back in without help. A large sigh escaped her, tendrils of smoke coming from her nostrils.



A voice sounded in her head; the great dragon shook her head and thought back to her ever present companion ' Yllacinhcet I deppandik reh a elttil erom nath na rouh retfa joy dekcehc tou.' Her tone had a teasing quality to it. She had come to accept talking to the man in this language, after a while the argument on who was talking backwards grew old.



She turned her attention back to her charge, she had noticed the girl go to pick up something. Slowly she padded on over to peer over the girls shoulder, the wing dragging along the ground; it hurt but there was nothing she could do about it ...so might as well be distracted by curiosity. She blinked as she gazed at the paper, and odd clue if any. But it was just that a clue...Perhaps they should go pay the girlaphob a visit, he could solve two problems that posed her trouble. One the wing, and two someone she could pass off as her owner so miss dragonkin her didn't get any ideas of wanting a new pet dragon. That and he might know something about this odd clue...it was a place to start.



The gill like flaps shot up when the screech sounded, fallowed by the rant of her mentor in her head to get moving. Amusment flinted across her mind 'kool s'ohw ginklat sdrawkcab won'. The high pitched whine began to build up in the large dragons throat. A charge was forming before KABOOM a blue beam was shot out hitting the ravine wall a couple of yards away from them. Stones crumbled blocking the way that whatever company they had was coming. She grabbed the girl by the hem of her shirt and began to drag her away.

[Ilta Kveld]

A cryptic message placed in a creepy place. Ilta stares at the parchment for a few moments trying to figure out exactly what this is referring to. However, the high pitched scream breaks her from her thoughts. That noise was terrible familiar. Not good… not good at all. She stuffs the parchment down her shirt for the time being.

The tremors frighten her, but she tries to not let it show. Fang was at her hip, but she wonders if that sword will be enough to get her out of this situation. She draws it, expecting to have to cut through a horde of dusk. There was no way she could possibly outrun them. She survived last time though, right?

However, she finds herself being dragged away by the tunic. She chokes a little before she manages to grab hold of the dragon and pull herself up on to it. “I’m just going to hope you can outrun and outmaneuver them.” She holds her longsword tight and looks behind them, “And I guess I’ll have your back if you need it.”

[Beasts]

The tremors only increased; the cause was a large being over six feet. Calloused ash colored skin stretched over a bony hide. Large red stones jutted out of skin like some demented form of acne. Its head swung back and forth on an extended neck; eyeless sockets staring out into space. Slit like nostrils flared in and out taking in the scents of its prey. A long pointed tongue hung out of large hinge like jaws; jaws that were filled with rows of teeth. Lean arms hung down past its knees; it's back arched over in a hump. Black claws protruded from its bare gnarled feet and crooked fingers. The smell coming from it was almost as putrid as its looks.



'SCHREEEAAACHHHH'



It had run into the crumpled wall of the ravine. Its Prey was getting away. A deep clicking guttural noise came from its throat.



'SCHREEEE SCREEEEE SCHREEEAACH'



An answering call came from the direction the two souls were running to. A bony head darted out around the corner. This creatures head was almost flat like a disk, sharp fangs jutted out of its jaws. It looked like a venus fly trap with two holes on the top of its skull for smelling. The whole head was bone, armoring the same kind of ash like skin. Sharp bone like spikes covered its back, while the rest of its features were more humanoid.

[Ilta Kveld]

Ilta’s eyes widen quite a bit as the dusk comes into view. There were only one, but that was one too many for her. Her right shoulder aches with the memory of her last encounter with the beasts. However, rock’s crumble, blocking its path. She feels relieved as the two of them leave the one duck behind. Now, they could just focus on getting to a safe place.

Then she hears another screech sounding from up ahead. While this wasn’t as hard, it’s blackened visage still sends chills up her spine. They just needed to survive this encounter, and then they could find someplace safe to wait out the storm. Swallowing her fear, she climbs further up the dragon. Holding her sword up high like a noble chevalier, she says, “Alright. Looks we’re charging this thing.” As they get closer, she readies a blow to hit the creature in the head. Fang would never break, so she just needed to hit.

[Aria Wurud]

Aria's armored scales bristled; that noise was one that could run chills up anything's spine. The smell hit her nose first; it smelt like Zeppy's room before Creo had cleaned up a bit. Something that smelled of death that strongly should not be walking around and terrorizing the living. Worse they continued to roam even while being riddle with corrupted manna. ' Ti dluow mees elcnu Zeppy si ylbirroh gniliaf ta sih boj fo gintcelloc eseht sgniht; hguoht neht niaga t'nerew ereht egrog sdnuoh nwod ni eht tnemesab fo mood atros ekil siht? ' It would look like a trip to Zepon may hold some answers to what these things were....after all Zeppy failing at killing something didn't seem like it should be in the same sentence. ' Core tahw od uoy ekam fo eseht sgniht? Sti a tib ddo taht yeht dluow wohs pu ereh fo lla secalp dna retfa taht eceip fo repap saw dehcuot?'

The first dusk came into view; it kinda looked like and over blown gorge hound mixed with a bull. It certainly was a nasty piece of work. 'Ecnis I tsol George od uoy kniht I nac peek taht eno? S'ti etuc ni a detnemed ylgu tros fo yaw.' Her blast however took out the wall and blocked the things way, but not for long.

Aria took off at a faster pace as soon as her charge had clamored upon her back. A low whine catching in her throat as her more damaged wing was jostled. Sooner they got out of here the better; or not. Her claws dug into the ground as she skidded to a halt as pain in the ass number two revealed itself. She blinked as the girl moved up further upon her back. Really they were charging this thing? Wasn't there a smarter way to go about this? She snorted and smoke poured out of her nostrils as she showed her discontent for this plan. She started up again at a run charging the thing like the girl wished, a few well blast of fire jutting out of her mouth near its feet. Hopefully distracting it enough for the girl to get a well placed stab.

[NPC]

Core didn't say much as the Corrupted beast finally made his appearance and now was staring them down. Well there goes the idea of hiding. Core sighed, he had warned Aria to run. At least she could of hidden from plan sight! " Tahw dnik fo feiht era uoy, niaga? tsuj gniksa...." Core asked, a chuckle escaping out of amusement. If only he had his body back... Then there would be no way in hell he would be just standing here. At least not out in the open so obviously.

Out of spite he didn't answer Aria after that. In fact he just remained silent as eventually both Dusk's came into view. Now the situation was getting dangerous. One if Aria were to die here, then he would be trapped out here in the wilderness with possibly no hopes of being picked up again. So letting his host die was not apart of his agenda today. However, he wasn't expecting for her to charge the Dusk either.

The armor on the beast was outrageous, like a bull decked out in armor with a bad attitude. However, the blast of fire at its feet allowed Core to catch a glimpse at it's underbelly. There was the weak spot he had been looking for. The underside of the creature was exposed, including the back of the legs.

" Aria, eht yllebrednu fo eht erutaerc seod ton evah romra. taht tsum eb erehw ti's kaew stops ta." Core pointed out to Aria.

[Beasts]

The flat head dusk hissed as the dragon came charging at it; instinctively the creature dropped to all fours and rolled up into a ball. The spikes protruding from its back like a large pincushion. However the amore did little for the searing heat the charged blasts of the dragons breath had brought. It unrolled and scuttled backwards. Eventually being forced back up on its own two feet to avoid the scattered shots; its eyes narrowed as it once again hissed at the oncoming duo.

The sword hit bone; a grinding noise erupted as the blade slide across the smooth flat surface of the beasts face. Its jaws jerked open as it lunged for the sword wielders hand. Its long claws out stretched to attack the more exposed girl.

Meanwhile there was a loud crash behind the two; the other beast was ramming the wall. It wouldn't be long until it to was upon them.