Of all the things to happen

[Nalean Silverstar]

Nalean glared angrily at the sky as she rode through the twisted paths that wound through the mountains that lay below Maldragua. The storm seemed unusual and appeared to only cover the area of the mountains. She shook her head confused by how erratic the weather was. Soon after the storm had begun to brew, a thick fog appeared, causing her to become disoriented and lose her way. She turned Shadow down a path but soon had to turn around when she reached a dead end. A sense of panic was slowly starting to well up inside her. She had heard plenty of stories o f people getting lost in the mountains to know that it was the last place where she wanted to get lost. She stopped and quickly looked behind her, she could swear that she had just heard some one or something behind her. "Hello?" she called out, feeling slightly stupid when no one responded.

Nalean shook her head and squeezed Shadow, asking him to move forward again. She continued to weave through the mountain trying to travel in a downhill direction. It seemed as though everytime she did go downhill, she would end up in the same spot as before. When she reached the large rock again, she decided to go uphill just to see if then she would be able to possibly get above the fog and see where she was going. Nalean sighed with relief when the fog slowly started to disappear. She hadn't even realised that she had been holding her breath. Soon the fog had completely vanished and she decided to dismount and lead Shadow the rest of the way. As she lead him forward, Shadow suddenly shied and pulled away from Nalean. "Shh, steady boy" she said softly, confused by his sudden erratic behaviour. She looked behind her when she heard something make a noise. Shadow took advantage of the distraction and pulled free of Nalean's grasp and ran off. "Shadow!" she yelled out and ran a few steps after her horse, confused by his behaviour. She stopped after a few steps, knowing that it would be pointless. She could only hope that he would run towards their home.

She took a deep breath as she continued walking in the direction that she had been walking in. <"I've been waiting a long time for you young one."> Nalean glanced around her, confused by the voice she had suddenly heard. "Hello, is anyone out there?" she called out, confused. <"I'm right behind you silly, honestly you two leggers can be so blind sometimes."> She frowned there was the voice again. She slowly turned around and gaped at what she saw standing behind her. A massive pearly coloured dragon, that appeared to be as big as a house. She stood, frozen by shock. Of all the things that she had thought that could have been following her, a dragon had been the last thing to cross her mind. <"You can close your mouth, two legger. It's rude to stare you know"> Nalean shut her mouth and shook her head in disbelief. "I'm sorry" she said softly. <"Please speak to me in thought"> The dragon appeared to glared at her. <"I'm sorry, I didn't realise that... wait you said that you've been waiting for me. Why?"> she tilted her head with a confused expression on her face.

The dragon smiled a toothy grin. <"Because I'm going to bond with you."> A shocked expression appeared on Nalean's face. <"Wait you can't do that."> She stared at the dragon, the shock still showing in her eyes. <"Why not? Nothing's stopping me"> the dragon had what appeared to be an innocent expression on it's face. <"Because we don't even know each other and I thought that only trainee dragon riders can bond with dragons"> She frown and raised her eyebrows at the dragon. <"Oh please, that's just a silly little formality, do you really think dragon riders always did things that way? Oh and I'm Safron"> The dragon's expression appeared to become amused. <"Huh, guess not. Nalean"> she shook her head, not believing what was happening. <"Pleased to meet you Nalean, now I need to kill you"> the dragon smiled slyly at her.<"I'm sorry what..."> she didn't get to finish her sentence before everything went black.

Nalean groaned as she turned around to lie on her back. Why the hell did she have a massive headache? <"Oh good you survived"> she shifted her gaze to where the dragon was lying comfortably on her belly, with her two front claws folded over each other. <"I'm sorry you just bonded without waiting for me to give you permission and all you can say is that?"> she glared at the dragon, furious about being used by her. <"Yip, that would be correct"> the dragon had an amused toothy smile. Nalean simply sighed and stood up brushing herself off. Safron had moved her into a near-by cave and she looked around trying to get her bearings back. <"Where are we?"> she looked at Safron, still not completely trusting the dragon. <"In a cave not far from where we were, want a ride?"> the dragon appeared to look excited. <"No thanks, I haven't quite gotten used to the fact that I just bonded with a dragon. It takes some time to get used things like that and by the way what happened to my horse?">

she walked towards the entrance of the cave. <"Oh that useless ceature, I ate him"> the dragon blinked innocently. <"What? Why the hell would you do that?"> she turned towards Safron with a horrified look on her face. <"I'm kidding, I would never eat a riding horse. They're too stringy and tough"> the dragon smiled innocently. Nalean rolled her eyes and started to leave the cave, deciding that replying would be pointless. "Oi, where do you think you're going?"> the dragon hurried after her, obviously a bit irritated with her. <"Not sure yet, scared I'll leave you?"> she turned to face her dragon, raising her eyebrows. Safron simply glared at her, not answering.

[Reynald Rynsinu]

If it's Gods the game that you're playing
Well we must get more aquainted
Because it has to be so lonely to be the only one who's holy

The day had been long and troublesome. For many of those who trespassed on his land the elder rider; over half a millennia in age would strike, taking the opportunity like a viper to attack anyone that came by; be they animal, human, elf, hobbit or dwarf. They all suffered his wrath. The power of his heavy ended sword like an avenging demon as he stuck out against those who were stupid enough to go near him.

While his dragon slept the man would hunt, his age and ease of surroundings wherever he went were the what gave him the upper-hand despite being only mortal. No drop of magic in his blood prior to his being brought to life by his dragon. There was no question however of his physical power. Standing at 6ft and wielding one of the heaviest and most difficult to master swords known to the world he was a force to be reckoned with despite what anyone would claim.

After so long living alone with his Dragon as his only companion it was no surprise that the idea of death simply passed the man by, never letting him a second glance and managing to surprise him in the way the new generations simply forget the ways of old.

It was not like when he was a boy; almost 600 years ago he had once been a boy; just like any other. But with a dream to soar above the skies with the other dragon riders. In a time where they were not outcasts from society; then the dragons walked the lands of old. When his homeland of Adamar ... when it was habitual; before the great war of the dragon riders.

It was a simpler time then, where children were not afraid of what was to become of them and the riders flew free. Reynald would always remember those days when he would soar above the cities with Qatse for many nights. Never worrying about anything other than when they could return to their families. Back then riders could have families far easier; the acceptance of the majestic beasts was far from how it was now. Whenever he flew above the lands now there were many that questioned his authority. Many who had simply forgotten through age the ways of old that he knew.

But long gone was his chivalrous demeanor. After his last protegee had attempted to kill him in a rage fit of her past he knew he would never see women the same way. Many centuries had passed and his behaviors were far from changed. Women were mere objects of his desire. He would take what he pleased and be done of his; Qatse watching eagerly, wishing for a mate one day again; however impossible in her lifetime.

She had birthed the new age of dragons; all those alive could trace their genetics back to her. Pregnant during the time of the great war which destroyed almost all of their race she carried but a few eggs. Those the ones who multiplied into the dragons one could see to this day. Now a growing race depending on the safety of Qatse's eggs. The newest riders were brought into their training while the eggs were in their earliest years. They were hatched, and killed their rider within a few years. The bond for riding in a new age. Before the dragons were centuries old; able to see the world before being tired to a rider. in the newer age they were lucky to reach a century before binding themselves to a rider.

<"We shall return to your land."> The rider commanded simply; sheathing his blade and taking a single step from the edge of the great females wing before being launched onto her back. Her scales as glossy and stiff as the day she bonded with Reynald. Together the two had bred the remaining dragon riders. their very existence was completely dependent on the stupid truce with the elves. It was their stubbornness that had caused his hatred for their kind. All bar Auraya. She still remained a sore spot in his heart. A man that had loved and lost a woman so young it meant forever her image was imprinted into his brain. she was so beautiful. One of the best woman he had ever had over the years. All of them amounting to nothing more than simple prostitution; never getting their payment.

It was that option; or rape. Reynald didn't care which he got, as long as he got what he lusted for so very badly he cared not for the pleasures of others. He had caused many a great deal of pain. Only fueling his enjoyment more. He was a dangerous man. A myth to those who remember, but to many simply a long forgotten memory.

Soon the two were air-bound; the white dragon flying high above the treetops, soaring into the thick cloud that hid them from view below. So many times they had been attempted to be shot from the sky by pathetic children. Everyone around him a mere child. A youngling. Some had grown into their ripe age of eighties or nineties with the ever youthful elder rider calling them child.

Thus was what begot a man of almost six hundred years under his belt. While he soared all that he allowed in his mind was the prospect of another kill. Of which made the dragon below him growl in anticipation. She had fed earlier in the day; yet her appetite was never quenched. If she had the chance she would without guilt devour an entire city. One full of people she knew would know nothing of where to hide. Somewhere that she could have access to easily. Yet for her own reasons that reynald never questioned she was yet to eat a live human. Always waiting until he had killed them before devouring them. It was her own choice, they were her meal. Not his.

Her large horse shone in the sunlight as the two finally closed in on their destination. Every decade the two took a trip to the caves of Maldruaga; for simple territorial purposes. Making sure no offspring of hers had taken her cave. It had been theirs since the day she hatched. She had hid in it the day she killed Reynald. Taking a lazy way out and skewering him with one of her massive horns. Bringing him back only once she had decided after killing him that he would make a worthy rider. She was a fussy woman. Older than any dragon in the world. Only the oldest of elves could remember anything of what it was like before the war. When peace ruled the earth. When they had all been free.

Soon, the horrific noise of a Dragon cry could be heard below. The sound caught between a Squeal of a great bird and the roar of a bear. The cry of a Dragon older than any. Once the same noise would have struck fear into her enemies; now it was simply an alert of her arrival. <"I fear there may be one in my next."> She growled; bearing her horrifically blood stained fangs and swirling to a stop outside her cave. Any dragon who knew anything knew rumors of the ancient dragon who dwelled only once every ten years in the cave. Never staying long. Simply protecting the remaining memories of her life.

As they passed some of the other caves Reynald happened to catch sight of a rather delicious looking female. Her youthfulness intriguing and her lack of obvious training physically made her something of a target for the ancient man. A challenge at the very least. <"She will do nicely."> Dark thoughts crossed his mind as he recalled all his tricks used when pretending to court a woman or simply by means of kidnap to rape her. <"Stop there; I want to se her more closely.">

Following the orders of her rider the begrudged dragon swooped down with great speed. Coming to a stop close to the exit of the cave where the rider slid off the side of the great beast. His swords clearly on show before a small smirk touched his lips. His eyes obviously taking in the figure of the girl. Oh yes, she would do just nicely. By the looks of things ... virginal. All the better. They always put up more of a struggle.

[Nalean Silverstar]

<"Honestly Nalean, it isn't safe for you to be out in the open like this."> Safron appeared to look concerned. Nalean frowned at the expression on the dragon's face, she then shook her head not sure what Safron meant. <"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself Safron"> She continued forward not sure what to make of her dragon's behaviour. <"Please Nalean I'm begging you to come back inside the cave."> The dragon seemed scared to go any further than the mouth of the cave. <"Why? You just bonded with me, with the hope that I would survive. I never had a say in it, no warning nothing and now you expect me to just listen to you?"> She turned back and glared at the pearly coloured dragon. <"Yes I do, I'm sorry about what I did but now is not the best time for you to question my judgement. please"> The dragon looked at her pleadingly. Nalean sighed at her dragon. <"Fine">

She was about to turn around to walk back to Safron when a massive dragon swooped over head and came to a stop close to where she was standing. Nalean slowly walked backwards towards Safron, when the man, that she had missed, dismounted the dragon. A sense of aprehension rised up inside Nalean when she saw that the man was armed and smirking at her. <"Safron what do I do now?"> She attempted to to keep a calm expression on her face, not wanting to give any kind of impression to the man. <"Oh now you want my help"> The dragon shook her head, frustrated at her rider's behaviour. <"Safron, I'm being serious"> Nalean bit the inside of her cheek, uncertain of his intentions. <"Just keep backing up towards me as you're doing. I won't let any harm come to you">

Safron growled and walked forward, determined to defend her young charge. The man obviously had ill intentions and she refused to let him touch Nalean. The girl glanced back at her dragon, making sure that she kept the man in the corner of her eye. She made sure that she breathed evenly, not wanting to give away anything in her breathing or her body language. She backed up until she was standing next to Safron. The dragon was still growling, and was now baring her teeth at the man. <"Safron, I don't know if you've noticed but his dragon's a bit bigger than you."> She glanced at her dragon who was now positioning herself infront of Nalean. <"I don't care, I'm not going to let some one harm you when we haven't even been bonded for a full hour.">

[Reynald Rynsinu]

If it's Gods the game that you're playing
Well we must get more aquainted
Because it has to be so lonely to be the only one who's holy

The massive beast let out another shrieking cry aimed at she knew to be a hiding descendant within the cave. She had not mothered the newest dragons to be forgotten by the youngest of her young. It was an insult that this child not even know of the history surrounding her; its voice petulant yet thankfully understanding the size of her power through age. She could destroy these mountains if it took her wish; power came with age, not cockiness and simple practice. <"Know me child of my blood.">The dragon growled out to the other Dragon; if the child was any good at dragon riding by now there would be no need for her to translate. They all ended up in the same language. <"Your lack of history offends me. And yet you stand to insult my rider?"> The growl continued as the horned beast lowered her head; screaming into the mouth of the cave before sniggering and retreating her head from what was not her nest.

"Behave." The rider commanded simply; his face unchanging as he raised his hand flippantly toward the great towering beast. Age had not touched the man in centuries; his figure taking simply on the age of someone in his late 30's. But this girl he could tell was young; about as young as the girl he had once trained. She had an edge to her however; she had some spunk. this one looked very simple, no strings to her. "Tell me your name young one." He crooned; years of practice showing through his velvet smooth voice. Few were able to resist him in an instant. He had mastered the kind approachable face; as well as he practiced the art of sex. For his own pleasure anyway.

"Your dragons seems to distrust me. She senses only the age i bear. I bear no ill will on either of you." A lie that the dragon beside him hid from sight. She too knew the ways he worked. She neither encouraged nor discouraged his work. Only sitting and watching with interest. Human mating was far from the ways of dragons; it was a documentary to her. Yet she still felt no remorse for the poor women used by the man she had lived with for so many years. In some ways the two were like a married couple; living together yet through the years the conversation lessened while their bond grew. <"Think you could keep the baby at bay while i have the girl?"> <"what do you think?"> "I'm not going to hurt you." He chuckled; seemingly reassuring the girl. "What do they call you child?"

[Nalean Silverstar]

Safron snarled at the large dragon, she was not going to respect a dragon of her bloodlines simply for the fact of them being of the same bloodlines. She had an older brother who had shamed all the dragons of their bloodlines. <"If he comes to harm mine then I do. I would much rather see her safe and untouched than worry about insulting one of the ancient riders."> Nalean eyes drifted between the two dragons not sure what make of what was happening between the two dragons. She decided that it would better to ask what the older dragon was referring to later. It would be safer that way. She laid a hand on Safron's shoulder, attempting to reassure the young dragon. <"Safron, you know I'm strong enough to take care of myself."> She shook her head knowing that if she wasn't then the dragon wouldn't have bonded with her. <"I know, but you don't know enough yet to handle this situation by yourself"> The dragon looked at Nalean with a sad expression on her face.

Nalean frowned as she watched the man command his dragon, almost carelessly. He appeared young, but judging by the size of his dragon he was much older than his physical appearance. She eyed him suspisciously, as he crooned. It would take more than a few charms for him to gain her trust. The elvish blood that ran through her veins had powerful magic in it. She might have had the appearance of a simple girl, but her father had raised her to be more shrewd than most village girls. She folded her arms and raised her eyebrows, appearing almost disappointed at his attempt. Her work as a healer had also helped her learn to not go into a situation with the naive belief of everyone having good intentions. She refused to give him her name.

"And how can I be sure of that? You haven't given us any reason to believe otherwise" Nalean had never been trusting of strangers and this man gave her no reason to act otherwise. <"So what do you think about them Safron, can we trust them?"> She glanced at her dragon enquiringly. <"Trust them? Doubt it, something tells me we should keep our guard up"> She felt her pocket wanting to make sure her knife was there, just in case she needed it. She was not about to give up without a fight if it came to that. "They call me Addy" she said, not wanting to give the man her real name. Something inside her said that it would be dangerous for her to him her real name. She knew nothing about the man or his intentions. <"I vote we make a run for it, if he tries anything funny"> Nalean sighed at her dragon. <"We will if the need arises, but for now I think I can handle the swine"> Safron chuckled at her rider, the girl seemed totally oblivious to the amount of power she held within her. Safron refused to shift from her protective position infront of her rider.

[auraya sylvian]

The large creature ascended into the open sky, and as the sun hit it, rays of red fell to the earth. Sitting below was the fine form of a young looking elf. The red danced on her skin as she lazily flicked through a leather bond book. A screech of terror rung in the ears of the dainty elf. People were such weak things. Avria, the colossal dragon, let out a chuckle of amusement at the villagers fleeing from her path. A sprang of intenseblue flame left her mouth, and she swooped down to catch a cow who had been caught in the blaze. Carrying it triumphantly off, she placed it near the dainty elf. Neither looked at each other and reamined still as though it was the most natural thing in the world. The great beast ripped the animal apart and feasted lazily in the afternoon sun. The elf glanced up, a flicker of irritaion crossed her face. The dragon huffed, picked up her kill and moved off, away from the girl. The earth trembled beneath the red dragon's giant clawed paws. A puff of smoke left the creature the size of a large palace's nostrils and the smoke drifted lazily upward in the soft breeze.

As time slowly crept past, the two did not ssem perturbed by the shadows growing longer as the day slowly died. The dragon gnawed on the cow's skull with little concern for the dainty elf who continued to read. Dry grass burnt lazily around them and on the odd occasion, the elf would look back and the flames would slow down and receed. No power seemed to imminate from the elf, but even the earth beneath her knew the enormity of her power. The shadows stratched across the darkening land and the sun flickered between the dragon's scales. Each scale was the size of a medium sized shield and each glimmered like a blood diamond. Avria yawned, exposing her large, sword like teeth, and dropped the skull she had been chewing on. She regarded the still elf with some exasperation. The dark haired elf turned, and closed her hand. The book vanished. The dragon snorted in appreciatation and moved over to the elf.
<"Come Auraya,"> the booming voice of the dragon did not even stir the smallest of creatures. Silence hung eerily in the open feild. All the creatures had fled the scene and the villages lay abandoned.

The elf slowly got to her feet and almost floated to the large dragon. The girl barely reached the dragon's knee. With little effort the rider lightly managed to climb to her position at the base of the dragon's neck. A rumble of approval escaped the dragon's throat. The great wings of the lightly built dragon stretched, and with a calculated leap, caught the air. The large expanse of wings cut through the air effortlessly and the dragon glided smoothly. The fire behind them rose unchecked by the elf's magic. The sun dipped beneath the approaching mountains. The elf's irregular length of hair decorated with many little braids whipped in the wind behind her. The small woman's red dress blended in with the deep red of the dragon's scales. The small, faint grey of the looming mountains became bigger. As the large dragon moved through the sky, its shadow caused fear and wonder throughout the villages below. The size of the dragon was reserved for myths. Auraya herself only knew of one other dragon of a similar size and she did not know if he was still alive. Reynald Rysinu.

The thought of him brought conflicting feelings into the hardened rider. Avria snorted.
<"Do not dwell on him, Auraya,"> the irritation slipped into the dragon's thoughts. <"He is not worth your concern. No human is.">
The dragon bore her teeth in annoyance, and then snapped her mighty jaw at a bird who braved coming near the mighty beast. A screech filled the air and the bird quickly swerved away. A small chuckled filled the dragon's lungs, washing away the thoughts of Reynald Rysinu, the Lone Dragon Rider. The Elder of Auraya Sylvian, Mistress of Life and Death. The man she had once loved and had once almost killed in blind rage. He had just been too close. She had not attempted to learn his fate for fear that he would find her. He was the oldest dragon rider in the world and his dragon was the oldest ridden dragon alive. There were rumours of even older free dragons deep within the mountains. Auraya had sought them out before but had not been able to delve into the depth of mountains alone.

The large beast swooped down, landing in the desolate land of Bhaktawer. The coldness of the land bit into the small woman, but it was soon expelled by the fueless fire that suddenly burst into existance.
<"Very nice,"> the dragon growled approvingly, and curled up on her side. With a small smile of satisfaction, the ancient moved across the frozen ground and curled up against the heated belly the fiery dragon. Neither of the ancients slept. Both remained dead still, watching the flicking flames with vague interest. In truth, they were both looking for any other sound of life out in the wildreness. That had seen many villagers flee before them, so she doubted any human life would be out in this area. The elf unbuckled the sheath of her two swords and lay her quivver and bow beside her. The weapons of flesh and blood held only a fraction of the power the rider had. It was in her magic that proved her to be a deadly opponent. It was because of her magic that she had managed to kill all those riders on that fateful day. Her magic had helped her kill her family and carry out her revenge. Grudgeless, the young rider had faded into the known world, never to be seen and recognised by anyone who lived to tell the tale.

The elf slowly got to her feet, taking her bow in hand. Her stomach rumbled hungrily.
<"I could have shared,"> the dragon chuckled, before laying her head on her feet. Auraya growled her annoyance to her sole companion. She crept into the dakrness, her sharp sense looking for any sign of life. All the wildlife had fled the immediate area where the dragon had landed, so Auraya found herself having to walk a great distance before she heard the call of life.
<"Don't go too far,"> the dragon called out wearily, before drifting out of Auraya's mind. She huffed her annoyance, but it was quickly stilled as a hare jumped out the bush. She strung her bow and hitched an aroow into position. Without a second thought, the arrow was released and the hare let out a cry before it fell to the ground. She moved over and picked up the bloody hare, wrenching the arrow from it. Blood pooled on her hand. The ancient could easily have killed the hare with her magic, but she enjoyed the feeling of blood.

A great shadow moved overhead, and Auraya glanced up with trepidation. Shock coarsed through her as she recognised the white underbelling of a dragon as big as her own Avria. Fully grown, she knew the dragon was too an Ancient. Reynald. A roar of anger rippled from Avria near by and in a heartbeat the crimson dragon was at her side, gently touching her nose to the rider.Terror ran through her. She had heard rumours of what her actions had driven him to do. Death, rape and destruction all whispered in the midst of his path.
<"We should leave before he sees us,"> the dragon growled.
<"No. I want to follow him,"> she replied, surprising herself. The great dragon sighed and shook her massive head.
<"I thought you would have out grown such impulsiveness,"> the dragon sighed as the rider swung into place. Soundlessly, the dragon leapt into the air and followed the scent of something that was so familiar even though it had been so long since they had encountered them.

They kept a safe distance from the two, and Auraya's mounting anxiety almost caused her to change direction. She cloaked the two of them with her magic so they passed unseen by all. Eventually the pace slowed as they reached Maldragua. She had not returned the the place of her demise in five hundred years. Fear moved through the hard woman as she remembered the leering faces of the other riders. Avria landed on a mountain overlooking the cave that Reynald had landed at. A glance down the mountain and she saw a young girl standing at the entrance of a cave. She blinked, rage building. What was he planning to do? Hatred poured through her veins for the man she had once loved. Rumours were enough for her to suspect what would happen. The young, beautiful girl backed away and she saw a small young pearl coloured dragon move out and try defend her rider. The horror was that the young dragon would not stand a chance. Growling, Avria bristled under Auraya.
<"I'm glad we've come, small one,"> the dragon growled, remembering the horror of her rider's fate. She had always had a soft spot in her heart for Reynald, until this moment. The impulsive, fesity ancient was quick to judge. Most of her killings had been of young men who had tried their luck with the elf. In truth, she had seduced them then killed them for their faults. However, as quick as she was to judge, she was slow in her actions. The white dragon seemed to take offence at something the young dragon had done or said. She could not hear what was being said, but Auraya did not need to to realise his intentions. All men were the same, and she could not think of another reason why the ancient rider would stop for the young girl.
<"I don't trust his intentions, Auraya,"> the dragon growled and the rider huffed in agreement. Her cloaking magic dissapated and the huge red dragon came into existance. The dragon emmitted a booming growl as the man made his way toward the poor girl.

Auraya may have hardened her mind against people over her lifetime and cruelty was all that she remembered, she could not let a fellow woman fall prey to the predator of man and their primal desires. The ancient herself allowed a growl of annoyance to touch her lips. Wordlessly, the two decided on a plan of action. The red dragon tucked her wings to her side and swooped down and landed near Reynald and his dragon. Avria screamed a challange to the white dragon who was a fraction bigger, with a few decades on her. Avria was not related to the large white dragon, and had decended from one of the dragons who had died in the the first war. Wings stretched out, the red dragon appeared much larger than she actally was.
<"Get your rider to me, little one,"> the old dragon turned her sharp gaze to the young dragon, before she turned her snapping jaw back to the ancient white beast. Auraya remained still on her dragon's back.
"Reynald," her voice boomed across the plain. "The great fall the furthest. I see you are no exception."
A smirk touched her lips. Her eyes wandered across the well shaped figure of the man. He truly had not changed a bit. He still looked the man she had loved, but she knew not to trust that. He had changed and more importantly, she had changed her view of him. He had not rescued her from her fate and for that, she held a grudge against him.

[Reynald Rynsinu]

If it's Gods the game that you're playing
Well we must get more aquainted
Because it has to be so lonely to be the only one who's holy

<Insolent child!"> The giant beast shrieked; stamping her front paw in anger as she bared her fangs. Stained indefinitely by the blood of billions. Her breath was like death;a stench the rider had grown to appreciate in his old age. Whether it be through choice or not the idea of having to live with death was one that anyone could learn to adapt to. The bodily system growing used to the smell and the growing number of bodies on its hands. After half a millennium the man of age could kill without guilt. He did so to survive; to keep himself and his dragon alive. He kept her well fed, she kept him safe. The massive horns on her head at times made it more difficult to catch the smaller of her prey. Children were always the ones she favored. So untainted by life, fresh and pure. It could definitely be tasted in their blood.

<"You should worship me. It was my choice alone to lay the eggs that would be your forefathers. I could easily have killed them on birth. I would have been the most powerful dragon. One of the last few remaining. But through the kindness of my rider we brought your ungrateful generation into existence simply so that the world would not lose the dragon riders."> She hissed, one of her great thorns thrashing against the cave mouth; small rocks breaking from its edge and crumpling to the ground. "Be calm" Reynald commanded again; turning his head to look at the old girl that had been his life for the past six hundred years." <"Don't scare away my evening entertainment."> He growled to the giant beast. <"If it so pleases you; you may feed on her once i am finished. I'll even keep her alive, let you have a bit of sport."> He smirked at the beast and watched it huff angrily. Steam stemming from it's nostrils as it retreated but a step.

Stepping forward the man dipped gracefully with an air of an age long forgotten by the man of today. "Forgive her. She is protective of my own well-being; and not one to take lightly to being offended."> With a wink the man chuckled, stepping toward the dragon inside the cave. Observing the size of an obviously newly hatched young one. New by less than a century, younger than he. "Bear no ill grudge against her. Age has made her stubborn and far less kindly to strangers." Still, he watched as the dragon remained silent. Obviously it was far less trusting than he had anticipated. Woman were becoming far less easy to snare as in the old days. That didn't mean he had less fun however. Reynald always loved a challenge.

"I do say the name Addy is far more suited to someone with less a figure of beauty such as yourself. Lest it be said I am not a gentleman. I am but a mere human after all." He nodded in affirmation of her lied information. One could always tell a lie at his age. Eyes always shifted to the side, never holding contact with the person they were lying to.

Yet his thought did not last long. Before he knew what had happened the sense of another approaching dragon thundered through the mind of Qatse; instantly transferred to the human who made no movement. If he shifted it may end badly on his part. Suspicion almost always lead to harm for at least one person. But it couldn't be. the recognition in the mind of his dragon had the man turning on his heels and exiting to her side; a hand gently touching her large side. Dwarfing him with ease. It couldn't be who she had identified. Not after so long; he had assumed she perished. The last time he saw her ... she had tried to kill him.

Not moments after the thought crossed his mind the figure of the mighty red dragon landed not far from where he stood. All the while he stayed motionless, his face hardened as a disappointed and angered parents after their child broke curfew. But she wasn't his child. She had been the lover he hated to lose. the one who had always had a definite place in his heart. And the one who he vowed never to trust again. Still; her address of him made his scowl. his voice cold and solid. Face darkening; showing through his eyes every one of the years he suffered at the memory of her actions. "Do not disrespect me little one. I have not wronged you; or lest you forget what actions against me, so unprovoked you granted."

The voice was low, almost a growl at the girl on the massive red beast. Qatse herself shrieking, matching the challenge while she extended her wings. her massive horns poised in a threatening attack position. She would not be ousted by a beast younger than her. Even just by some few decades. <"It has been a long time Avira. What misfortune does your rider once more seek to inflict upon mine."> She growled, teeth bared as she reared up, with no rider to throw off she stood taller than most of the caves with ease. Her age shown purly in size.

[Nalean Silverstar]

<You would have been the only dragon though, what’s the point of being the most powerful dragon if you have no other dragons to lord over”> Safron smirked, she had never had much respect for those who demanded to be worshipped by others. <If there weren’t any other dragons how would you prove your power? Skirmish with some cows?”> She knew she was playing with fire, but Safron would rather die than see her rider come to any harm. Nalean rolled her eyes, guessing that her dragon was attempting to irritate the much larger and older dragon. <”Honestly Safron, do you want to get us killed?”> She glanced at her dragon raising her eyebrows. Safron snorted and shook her head in reply; she still needed to tell the girl the true reason for her bonding with her. Nalean watched the man command his dragon and the dragon retreated back by a step.

“I will forgive her when she forgives Donna for doing the same” Nalean said, still keeping her guard up. She heard a soft rumble behind her as Safron growled softly at the man. “If you don’t want your dragon’s fears to come to pass then I suggest you keep your distance, Donna can get quite protective over me” she added when the man moved closer towards them. “Age isn’t the only thing that makes one less kindly to strangers. These are times where trusting a stranger could cost you your life or worse.” She said, keeping a steady gaze. This man seemed to have dark intentions with her and her dragon. She was not sure of his intentions, but she was sure that they did not involve him helping her to get out of the mountains. That much was clear to her.

“Twisted compliments won’t get you anywhere, only humans would think otherwise,” she said, knowing that there was a good chance that he thought she was a human and the thought of her being a half-elf had not even occurred to him. Nalean frowned to herself, hoping that the man had believed her lie, but judging from his comment he didn’t. “Addy is short for Adanessa,” she added, knowing that giving her second name was technically not lying but at the same time it was not telling the truth.

Nalean frowned and glanced up to the sky when a massive shadow appeared. What the hell was it with her and dragons today? She almost had the urge to sniff her clothes to see if maybe it was her scent that was attracting them. <”What the hell is it with me and dragons today”> she wanted her dragon’s opinion on this. Safron chuckled softly at her rider. <”It seems that you are wanted by a number of dragons and their riders, although what they want with you I cannot tell,”> she smiled apologetically at her rider. The poor girl knew next to nothing about being a dragon rider and already she was confronted by two of the oldest living riders. Safron sighed softly to herself, she had to bond with the one two legger that appeared to be a magnet for trouble.

As the red dragon landed and spoke to Safron, Nalean was distracted by the interaction that was occurring between the two riders. She jumped in surprise when Safron nudged her. <”Come, we must get to the red dragon. We’ll be safer there”> Nalean nodded at her dragon’s words. Safron was right that they would be safer by the newcomer. They slowly edged around the large white dragon, to where the red dragon was standing. Nalean noted that the woman stayed mounted. <”They appear to know one another”> she frowned watching the rather hostile interaction that was occurring between the two. <”But not on friendly terms it seems”> Safron was watching the interaction, obviously fascinated by these two being interact. <”How old are you Safron?”> Nalean kept her gaze on the two ancient dragons. <”About 30, I’m considered quite large for my age”> Nalean raised her eyebrows, amused at her dragons answer. <”I thought dragons bond soon after they hatch”> Safron smirk. <”30 is considered to be soon after hatching”>.

[auraya sylvian]

Avria’s giant, red jaws snapped in annoyance at the arrogance of the white dragon. The two had once got along, but had been separated by their rider’s differences. Avria was lithe for the colossal size of her body, unlike Qaste. It was quite simple to see that they were of two different lines and personalities. Wisdom of the ages echoed in Avria’s eyes, rather than pure malice. Auraya sat stonily quiet at Reynald’s address of her. While she had not believed that he would welcome her into the folds of his tender arms, she did not believe that he would have changed so much from what she had once known. The ignorance of his claim sent a flash of anger through her. How dare he say he did no wrong to her? After everything she had been through only to find that he had not come to her rescue. She could barely remember what had happened that night. Caught in blind rage, she had killed everyone in sight, with Avria cowering behind her, uncertain of her rider’s change in personality. How she had ended up on Reynald’s doorstep was anyone’s guess. It did not make sense to her to return home at the time. At home was another man, another cruel heartless man.

“You’re caught in the past, my Elder,” she glowered. “I am not your little one anymore. I have changed beyond your wildest imagination since we’ve been apart.”
Hurt and spite laced her words, and she almost leapt from the safety of her dragon’s back to face him. Bitterness twisted itself onto her features, as the hurt and anger of so many years pumped through her veins. Avria turned a beady eye to watch the young one edge closer. A sigh of smoke escaped her nostrils at the pace they were going. She had seen many younger dragons move much faster than this one. Perhaps she was arrogant enough to believe Qaste would not lash out at them. Avria bared her teeth at the white dragon as the young one edged closer.
“Unprovoked then perhaps. Yet, your reputation precedes you, dark one,” she growled, surprising herself at the level of anger that still remained after so many long years of silence. The darkness of her hatred had been taken out on many young men, and still it brewed in the cauldron of her revenge.
“You did wrong me. Is it not true that Elders are supposed to protect their protégé?” her voice remained mild, but she knew that Reynald had known her well enough to pick up the subtle traces of anger and hurt.

Avria regarded the dragon’s challenge with a smirk of amusement. The expression itself was highly amusing poised on the face of the reptile.
< “Always so over dramatic Qaste. Don’t you ever tire of it?”> she laughed, allowing her voice to be heard by all present. After all, it was highly rude to exclude others from a rather public conversation. Auraya bit back her own wry grin at her companion’s words.
< “No misfortune,” > she continued for all to hear. < “She only wishes to stop misfortune befalling this young rider and her dragon. Something your rider neglected to do.”>
Triumphant at her words, the red dragon let out a snarling laugh. Auraya could not help but roll her eyes at the dragon. The smallest perceived victory sent the dragon into a giddy state of triumph.
< “Save your victory laughs for later, if we actually win,”> she commanded. The dragon, annoyed at her rider bursting her state of happiness snorted out a jet of blue flame that charred the ground below them.

“Stay away from the girl, Reynald and I will have no quarrel with you,” her voice softened to be less of a challenge and became rather a statement. While she could not bear the thought of another falling prey to Auray’s own fate, she was not about to invite the girl to be great friends of the ancient sorceress. Auraya then turned her attention to the girl.
“I’m not doing this for you,” she growled, making sure the girl understood that this did not make them friends or even on good terms. Auraya had no friends and wanted none. She lived in her own world, away from the whims and desires of other people. Avria glared at the young dragon.
< “You should take better care of your rider, young one,”> she growled. The poor girl really could not win today. The great dragon swished her giant ruby tail, taking out a small tree in the process.

[Reynald Rynsinu]

If it's Gods the game that you're playing
Well we must get more aquainted
Because it has to be so lonely to be the only one who's holy

<"You can not imagine the power a single dragon can have over the other races. Humans and elves would have feared my wrath; my rider would become the most powerful man alive. It would have been beautiful."> The dragon mused, her voice caught in the anger of a life that had never been. through age she grew tired of others of her kind; they were so young. The old ones seemingly lost in the world and others simply killed in battles that were not their own. It was a dangerous life that of a dragons. <"And do not think simply because i am an old one I cannot destroy you faster than you could even believe. My rider has been trained with me to destroy any in our midst. Dragon or not."> The growled warning was followed simply by the upright straightening of her back.

Nodding his head in politeness - faux as it was - the rider turned to the opalesque beast and in a most gentlemanly way that had been lost through time bowed evenly at the dragon. The name was so human it had to have been as fake as the false identity given to him by the rider. Never the less he would find out things sooner or later. He had forever to find her when she matured enough to understand the wonders he could give her as a man of experience. "To you great beast I offer humbly, the acceptance of your apology on behave of my dragon." Rising once more he caught eye of his dragon, indicating for her to move; only to receive the stubbornness that he had lived with for the past five hundred and seventy years.

He laughed at her words; she was very apt for such a young age. "I applaud your bluntness young one. you are correct; one so young as yourself should not trust strangers older almost than time itself it seems. As I am sure your dragon now knows; we are the last of the original riders. Sole surviving rider and dragon of a great war. but i am sure your elder will tell you such stories that could chill your bones to ice." He chuckled again, clapping his hands once in amusement. Oh yes, she would make for a very entertaining evening. <"Perhaps put a longer timeline on this young one. She seems to be wise for the age."> <"You spoil my fun Reynald. You may have to settle for a local woman. Age is of no consequence is it?"> She mocked; her tone something close to teasing. She knew her rider by now. And with every night he planned she ended up with a meal. So was their life.

Turning back to his little one still mounted on her beast; he listened with aged amusement. So she was angry at him? For what he wondered. Was it he that left him close to death in a pool of his own blood? Swimming within his own home during the night when he had been asleep; dreaming of the very same woman who attacked him. For that he never forgave her. For her own cowardice as to simply run from her mistakes; something he had thought he had drilled out of her, he never forgave the only woman he believed he loved. "You will always be my little one. Was that not the last thing I called you during our last meeting? Or did you forget that also, my little Auraya." The rider said coldly, the only warmth hinted in the words when he spoke of his pet name for her. It had been his way of telling her during practice that he adored her far more than his other riders.

Still; his eyes remained cold as he listened to her. Her anger and hurt something he knew well enough to predict even before she opened her mouth. Those lips had not changed in over five hundred years. Still as supple and delicate as the last time he had kissed them. The last time they had laid together had been one of magic far surpassing anything the tiny woman had learned from her own kind. The elves had been welcoming enough of his being human, but none came to him the way the spunky girl had the first time he saw her. instantly he saw her potential, watching her during her childhood. Preparing himself for steeling himself away from Her. Still, even after she had refused all his advanced during her training the two had eventually become lovers. Every second of it he cherished as a beautiful thing.

Even to this day the rising sense of lust behind his eyes; always noted by the slight shift in his eyebrows arose. Why after so long a hatred he did not know. Perhaps it was just hurt at the loss of a lover. It did not mean he would let her in so easily. She had done him a great deal of harm that night. Of which the scars on his skin remained to tell the tale. He would not let her be seen to have an upper hand over him. "It was. And I failed as your elder." He said coldly, his eyes still hiding the cold lust, yet something else glimmering behind it.

something most definitely not defeat. <"I had not anticipated their attack on you little one. Did it ever dwell on you that my fucking humanity would not allow me the senses that you elves obviously neglect to inform me of before expecting my return?"> He growled, opening the channel toward her, something that with age became an ease. <"Reynald, be calm rider. Do not let her enter your thoughts. I have warned you."> Qatse said in as much of a soothing tone into her riders head as she could. Still her gruffness remained, there was no mistaking that age had changed her thoughts from that of a spritely young dragon willing to save the world; to a hardened and cold hearted fiend.

Still, her old friend in the red dragon made the creature laugh once. Qatse had no qualms against Avira, only her rider. <"We are bound by our duties old friend. He lives his life away from how I live mine. I do not appreciate the audience of your rider either. I was only here for what seemed to be an evening snack."> Bowing her horned head very slightly at the red dragon Qatse backed down, lowering herself to the ground with an almighty crash. Not enough to break the mountain; yet enough to send a small avalanche somewhere further down the caves. <"What my rider does is of his own choice. I have no power over him. You should know that by now.">

Reynald had for once stayed out of the head of his dragon. He cared not for her alliances with other beasts. As long as she did not interfere in his actions then he would be a happy man. "From my darling young acquaintance? Why little one you shame me I have done naught but introduce myself to her. She is new you know ... and her dragon is young. Younger than ours were when they bonded with us." He said with a curt nod. His voice lightening very slightly in the indication toward the lying girl. Lies always angered him, he was always just the best at hiding his anger. Slowly however, he watched as the young girl was moved with her beast toward Avira. A move obviously intended to get her away from the aged man. No matter. No matter at all. He would find her again, she would need to stay near the caves to continue her training.

"After all, I am on the look out for a new Protegee. My last one did not end pleasantly." He said; directing his words at the young rider and putting on a face most honest. He was on the look out for another rider to train. the newer ones were far too weak for his liking. With enough ... training she could become very promising.

[Nalean Silverstar]

<”I really cannot believe a thing like that would be beautiful,”> Safron frowned, a world ruled by a dragon and rider like this would have been a very dark world indeed. <”I never was making that assumption, I do understand that the older we get the more powerful we become. But don’t forget that sometimes it is the weak who overcome the powerful. Power is not everything,”> She mused, with a small smile on her face. Surely such an old dragon would realize that the most powerful were often the one’s to have the greatest falls. She growled back at the older dragon. If this dragon thought that she would back down to her based on her age, then she was sorely mistaken. She had been taught since she was a hatchling that defending her rider was the most important part of her life. <”Do you honestly believe that your bloodline is the only one that runs through the veins of the dragons of the dragon riders? There are plenty of free dragons that have added to our bloodlines to prove otherwise,”> surely this dragon was not so narrow minded that she believed that all dragons alive were her descendants.

Nalean frowned at the man’s attempt of being polite towards Safron. <”So what do you think?”> she glanced at her dragon with a small smirk on her face. <He’s up to something, no one acts like that anymore. Well at least the Dragon riders don’t,”> she stated, not sure what to make of the man’s behavior. <”Well do you accept his apology on behalf of his dragon or not,”> she raised her eyebrows at the strong-willed dragon. <”Well I suppose I do as long as he doesn’t try anything funny and keeps his dragon under control. I have never met such a bad tempered beast before,”> Nalean smiled at her dragon’s comment. <”Well tell him yourself then,”> Safron rolled her eyes at her rider. <”I accept your apology, for now,”> she seemed to be telling the rider this grudgingly. <”Is it really so hard to accept some one’s apology,”> Nalean was amused by her dragon’s stubbornness. <”With a man like that, yes it is,”> Safron glared at her rider, as if she was offended that Nalean dare to ask such a question.

Nalean shrugged at his words. “It takes a lot to impress my dragon, so I doubt she’ll be impressed with much” she stated as she folded her arms. “Although she does seem to find interesting ways of getting into trouble” Nalean added, shooting a teasing glare at Safron. <”Don’t you Safron,”> The dragon shook her head at her rider’s words. <”Honestly, if I had known this would have caused so much trouble I would have bonded with another person,”> Nalean laugh softly to herself at her dragon’s words. They both knew that wasn’t true, they appeared to gel to well for Safron to bond with another person. <”Yes, I’m sure the mountains are crawling with people looking for a dragon. Speaking of which why didn’t you try and bond with a trainee?”> Now that she thought of it, it would have made more sense for Safron to bond with a trainee. <”Me bond with one of those brats? You must be joking?!> Safron huffed indignantly at her young rider’s words, she would never bond with any of the current trainees.

Nalean and Safron watched the interaction of the two ancient riders with fascination. Their age, obvious by the argument that they were having. <”So how old would they be?”> Nalean asked Safron, knowing that the dragon would know more about the history of the dragon riders than she did. <”Probably about 500 years old, if not older,”> the dragon mused, certain that both riders were older than 500 years old.

Nalean almost sighed as the argument continued. <”They sound like an old married couple,”> she mused, frustrated by the duration of this argument. Safron chuckled softly at her rider’s words. <”They do seem to have a few unresolved issues,”> the dragon smiled, showing her teeth slightly. <”You think?”> Nalean raised her eyebrows at Safron, they seemed to have more than just a few unresolved issues. She was not sure what the issues were, but they had obviously been boiling up for quite a few years, judging by the coldness that the two treated each other with.


Nalean was not about to interrupt the man, she sensed that if she did he may realize that she had no elder and was in fact not even a student of the dragon riders. She was not even offended by the girl’s words that were directed towards her. As much had become apparent from the woman’s interaction with the man that seemed offended by their clear mistrust of his intentions. Nalean still wondered what he was doing out in the mountains. According to her knowledge, Gwyndar was the only dragon rider that resided outside the keep of the dragon riders. Few of them ever left the city save for the odd sighting of one every now and again in the distance. Nalean raised her eyebrows at the man’s words, that he obviously directed at her. She didn’t want him to know how little she knew about being a dragon rider. <”It sounds to me as if he’s offering to train you young one,”>Safron mused, obviously surprised by his words. <”Nevermind that, I don’t trust him enough to train with him,”> Nalean glared at Safron. <”You don’t have to trust or like him to train with him,”> Safron pointed out in a gentle voice. <”But if I do train with him, he’ll realize soon enough I never trained with the dragon riders,”> she simply stated shaking her head. She was ready to leave these two alone to fight their own little battle and head home. She still had to make sense of everything that had happened to her that day.

[auraya sylvian]

The chill of his words hit her mind like she had been physically slapped. Only the slightest tremble of her lips betrayed the rush of emotions that moved through her body. It was the most Auraya had ever shown in her entire existence. She learnt early not to howl or cry, or even laugh over zealously. Emotions brought no changed. They were useless, and brought nothing but further consequences. No, Auraya did not show strong emotion, but when she had been with Reynald he had come to know even the slightest betrayal of emotion. She could only hope he was too far away to be handed the weapon of knowing he still had a profound effect on her. Avria shifted uncomfortably underneath her rider, and huffed so a steam of smoke left her nostrils. The great dragon eyed the ancient man up with annoyance and a protective hatred. Snapping her great jaw at the man, she warned him to cease his little games. Auraya stuck out her chin definitely and looked down at the man who had caused her so much... joy.

A shuddering realisation moved through her. She would always be his little one, as much as she hated the thought of it. His words had comforted her through her dragon training when she was competing against stronger, bigger trainees. He had also whispered the words against her skin in nights that were sacred only to them. Even though his voice was dangerously cold, the slightest hint of warmth is her name echoed in her mind. Avria growled, utterly annoyed by her rider’s sudden disarming. Reynald had always known how to render her defenceless.
<”Snap out of it!”> roared her dragon within only Auraya’s mind. Suddenly pulled from her trance she replaced her growing emotion with indifference. What did his words truly matter? Five hundred long years had passed and now only echoed in the unfathomable depth of time. She owed no emotion to him, not even anger.
“I did not forget,” she responded stiffly, a shadow of concealed truth flickering across her eyes. How could she forget? “Time has erased the shallow meaning of those words.”

Yet why did her emotion pull in contradiction of her words. Her eyes quickly danced over his body. He had not changed, except perhaps become a little more defined. Time had not touched him, so little that she almost dared to believe that he was an elf. However, she could not allow herself to fall into his trap. He was a master of seduction, the whispers spoke. She had never been far from him in all these years. Time after time, she went in search of him and only found whispers and traces of him. Yet, even those whispers had dissolved into a darker him. That is why she had never fully sought him out. Fearing his wrath she ran until the desire to run had left her and only cooled hate remained pool in the bottom of her mind. Hatred that he had not taken her away from her family on the first day he laid eyes on her, and then proceeded to allow her to befall the same fate at the hands of other, jealous riders. After so many years, the whispered lessened. She heard of someone like him once in a hundred years, once two hundred. Even the riders themselves believed he had fallen into the shadowy pit of death. Auraya knew better. She believed that if he died, she would know, deep in her very being she would know.

A rush of surprise ran through her as she noted such a recognisable trace of emotion on his face. Her sharp eye sight noted the look that had always echoed on his face during their time together; their nights of bliss. It could not be. Perhaps she was merely imagining it. After all, he had provoked some emotions she had neglected to feel for him for many years. She would be lying to herself if she had not imagined his embrace on the coldest of nights when she refused to light a fire or lie close to Avria. Nostalgic nights had echoed the last few centuries, but they had never driven her to seek out her Reynald.
<”Not yours,”> Avria corrected, helping her rider keep the strange emotions that had not plague her in many years at bay. Auraya’s mouth opened in surprise at his words, and her anger fell flat. However, she knew him well enough not to concede his words as being defeat. He had another plan, but what, Auraya was not sure. She pursed her lips, regarding him very carefully. Distrust was written all over her.

The tiny woman could not help but gasp as she felt a channel of communication rip open; a channel that she had spent many years sealing. Her magic had created a vault where she had stored everything that she deemed belonged to him. She closed her eyes and quickly tried to push him from her mind, but his words sauntered in before she could seal herself against them. Memories rushed into her mind, through her, down to him. Their connection had been very intimate, and the two had lapsed into a silence filled with noise. The first time she had seen him, wounded from the battle. The young Auraya walked up to him, placing her own bloody hand on his. Each treasured night together, intertwined, rushed through her mind. The noise of that fateful night echoed sinisterly through her mind. Her anguish, fear and anger rippled into her memories. Even the touches of unwelcome hands rang clearly through her mind as their ghosts relived the moment. Blood, a lot of blood... In the shadows of her mind, she had seen him as an attacker too. Rage filled Auraya filled her mind, as she remembered her frantic panic as she recognised the body beneath her. In a desperate attempt she had tried to heal him but her healing was underdeveloped at the time. She had thought of him to be dead, kissed him a final time and fled.
<”No,”> she roared, pushing him out and quickly caging the memories again. Breathing heavily, she regarded the man below her with a twisted rage. She knew he had seen it. < “Stay out of my mind!”>
Her thoughts were deadly quiet, before she attempted to reseal the passage between them. She had heard little of what he had said. Anger pulsated through her body. He knew that reopening such a connection would be foolish. Auraya had trusted no one but him to forge the depth of their old connection.


Avria nodded at Qaste’s words. They had been friends before and just because their riders had unresolved issues, Avria could not accept turning on an old friend. Riders were at most times inconveniences, even though they were adored by their dragons.
< “Perhaps we should leave them be together, and find ourselves some satisfying evening entertainment. I fear your snack here is being compromised,”> the red dragon snapped her jaw in amusement as the white dragon relieved herself of her offensive position. Avria too folded her wings and regarded the situation with a wry amusement. Auraya, far too annoyed to open her mind to anyone, ignored her dragon’s conversation.
< “We have succumbed to pitiful creatures, Qaste,”> she teased, tongue lolling like a large dog. The red dragon moved its great maw over to the smaller dragon. Sniffing the pearl coloured dragon in greeting, the red dragon then curled her tail protectively around the two.
< “It’s is quite wrong to wish to eat another’s dragon’s rider,”> the red dragon thought reproachfully. < “You know we would not survive the loss of our own riders.”>
Deep amber eyes inspected her old friend. The great beast had changed.

“And I am to trust your words? I am hardly naive, Reynald,” she glared at him reproachfully. “I’m sure you introduced yourself to a great number of your victims before you... pleased yourself with them.”
A stubborn, feisty retort was quiet common from Auraya, though it had dwindled over the centuries. She had very few people to speak to. The tiny ancient eyed the girl up curiously. What were a newly bonded girl and her dragon doing without their elder?

His next words sparked great jealousy within the woman; a jealousy she thought was irrational to possess. She looked at the young girl, her lips taunt. Would she too become his little one? She looked back at Reynald, her jealousy brimming. Little care crossed her mind at the thought of him knowing how she felt.
“Now now Reynald, it’s selfish to keep all potential protégé to yourself. After all, she will need a far more feminine and elvish touch if she truly wants to exceed expectations.”
Auraya had considered taking on a younger rider before, but due to her location and own desire for knowledge, she had pushed the thought from her mind. It would be rather selfish to remove a young rider from an environment where they could interact with other trainees and be part of the dragon rider community. It had been the only place Auraya had felt at home.

[Reynald Rynsinu]

If it's Gods the game that you're playing
Well we must get more aquainted
Because it has to be so lonely to be the only one who's holy

"For you perhaps." The elder mused to his last trained rider; if she no longer held any connection to the name so be it; he would use it far more if that was the case. After all, it caused her no meaning; who was she to object. "But your name, little one; as you well know means a far greater amount to someone old as we are." He smirked, nodding his head in an annoyingly curd way. If there had been something he was remembered for it was his stubbornness to remain within his own time warp. Never changing as the years passed him by; taking each day as it was and never planning anything longer than a few yours away. It always made the days go by faster.

Walking ever so slowly toward the opalesque dragon he put his hands on his sides; sizing up the beast that was just a hatchling. The things this dragon did not even know about caused the rider to chuckle once in his stomach. a short huff more than anything. He probably knew more about her own history than probably she did; a sad thought. Yet hatchlings did bond far too early now, they never had much of a life before they were trapped within the bonds of a rider that would for e
an eternity be in main control of her life. She was big for her age it could be said; but still being dwarfed by the two massive ancient dragons.

Yes; if he could train these two children they could be so very powerful. Could walk as a strong dragon and rider. <"I could make you strong with your rider."> He offered to the beast in front of him; knowing that for one reason or another every dragon wanted power. revenge; self assurance or simply the power to be in control. They all needed strength to have enough respect to pull it of. <"Tell me; do you wish to seek power. Strength? What drives you to bond so young little dragon."> His voice was annoyingly calm; as assured as the rest of him. As an aged rider talking to dragons and riders was far simpler. Slowly, he smirked at the great beast. Sidling away from her and standing once more in the middle of the situation.

Having felt himself being pushed from his little ones head he felt himself smirking once again. So she had grown powerful in that sense. Good for her. "Well done Auraya." He clapped praising the protegee he wished hadn't fled from him. Who he wished had not attacked him. "I see you have not neglected your training little one." There was a softer edge to his voice, oh yes he was no fool. If there was just one thing that he could use to get to her; he would. He had no remorse, no guilt against manipulating the world around him. <"Just remember rider; she is no longer yours. She is nothing more than an inconvenience. She will leave her once more, deserting you. I remember very well how dark her mind could be."> Qatse warned. Her voice low and followed very simply with a growl from her, a small plume of smoke coming from her like that of a smoker.

<"She will always be mine. Even when she didn't think she was; she was mine. She'll never escape me; even when she ran from me she was my little one."> He chuckled darkly, keeping his face sternly still. There was no change in his expression and no indication that he had spoken to his dragon at all.

With a small huff Qatse let her teeth show in what was her way a grin. <"Perhaps Avira. But I fear if we leave our rider we will come back to find only one."> She laughed, throwing her head back to chuckle. Wrong to eat another's rider. <"The bond is new; there have been many before and many even after we are gone. He promised me a meal; you know I think with my stomach."> She huffed; keeping her smirk visible while she spoke with her old friend. Once the dragons had been closer than the riders; now they were separated. it had at first been difficult for Qatse to
adapt to not being with the dragon; one who like her was from a generation lost. But time had healed that wound, or at least had patched over it.

Smirking at Auraya the elder rider just nodded once at her description. "A man of my years has certain needs that must be addressed. Would you commit me celibate simply because you leave?" He said, keeping his eyes level to her. "You never struck me as the jealous one centuries ago little one. But i guess time changed everyone." He stated simply, shrugging his shoulders once and keeping the corner of his eyes on the woman who he wished to return to a life together wit. Someone who; even after all these years had him yearning for a night of passion and release. He was not one to forget who gave him the best of the world of passion.

"So what be your answer young one." He asked the blonde gently; twisting the pet name he had for his past girl, only slightly. Showing how the words were so easy to roll off his tongue. "Take this rider of which I trained myself; leaving before i relinquished her training and grown hard over the years. Or someone who has experienced the training of countless riders before you. someone who knows how to train and who was a sole surviving rider of the war between riders and elves?" He asked, dipping from the chest in a gesture long lost in time. One arm out while the other held over his front. A very gentlemanly motion that had been lost with chivalry. <"Remember the power I can give you ..."> He reminded the dragon, giving her a look that promised the world and everything in it. If they were smart; they would choose power and experience over hot headedness.

[Nalean Silverstar]

Safron tensed when the man slowly walked towards her and stood in front of her sizing her up. She didn’t like the way he looked at her, almost as if he was measuring her up against his dragon. She tilted her head at the man’s question, she wasn’t sure how to answer it as she first needed to tell Nalean her reason’s for bonding with her. <Let’s just say it’s a matter of pride and leave it at that”> she answered curtly, determined to speak to Nalean alone. Away from all prying eyes and ears. She had to admit one reason for her bonding with Nalean was the girl’s strength and the fact that she was totally different from all the dragon riders that Safron had come across so far. She huffed at the man out of irritation, he seemed to believe he knew everything there was to know about dragons. Nalean frowned as the man stood infront of her dragon, <”Matter of pride?”> she asked looking at her dragon curiously. <”I’ll tell you later”> was the only reply she got.

Nalean wasn’t sure what happened, but suddenly the man was praising the woman. Whatever he was praising her for must have been a form of mental communication. <”Don’t worry, you’ll soon learn how to see into the minds of others”> Safron looked at her with a gentle look in her eyes. <”Isn’t that a bit invasive, entering another person’s mind”> she had a look of confusion on her face. <”Sometimes, but usually it isn’t”> Safron was now smiling, knowing that there was so much her young rider needed to learn about being a rider and the power that came with it.

Nalean cringed at the man’s words as he spoke about her, as if she wasn’t even there. She raised her eyebrows. “In case you two didn’t notice I’m still here and no that will never ever happen, sorry to disappoint you” she said, her tone of voice giving away the fact that she was in fact not sorry. Just because she came from a small village that didn’t mean that she couldn’t think for herself. <”Ugh, typical men”> she had a fairly irritated expression on her face. <”Not all are like that, as disgusting as him”> Safron smiled softly and nudged her rider’s arm. <”I know, but sometimes it seems as though there are more bad than good,”> she was really not in the mood for this.

Nalean bit her lip as she almost responded with a rude response, reminding herself that she needed help with becoming a rider. The woman’s offer, though was also tempting. She obviously knew more about elvish magic specifically. <”I don’t know what to do”> she frowned, trying to decide between the two. <”Take on both their offers,”> Safron attempted an encouraging look. <”Are you mad? They don’t look as though they’ll be impressed with that,”> Safron was staring at the man with a thoughtful expression look on her face. <”Just trust me on this, please,”> she seemed to almost be pleading with Nalean. “And how much do you know about elvish magic, specifically controlling it?” she asked, directing her question at both. She now realised that this was her one opportunity to gain true control over her powers and not just bits and pieces of it. Safron frowned, not sure of her rider’s intent with asking her question. She knew that the girl needed someone to teach her control over her powers, but she also needed someone who was experienced at training riders.

[auraya sylvian]

Tensing at his words, Auraya regarded her former elder with suspicion. She had never known his to submit with such words, but instead push on with his argument. The stubbornness she had once found attractive suddenly became an annoyance. It was the same stubbornness that had caused him to persist with his pursuit of her, even after she had refused his advances time and time again. She had of course, found resisting his charm rather challenging, but refused to allow him to persuade her this time. Soon after he had spoken, she needed to wonder no more about his persistence. His words provoked a knowing smirk from the woman. Filtering his words, she managed to ignore him. She refused to admit how much the simple utterance of her former name affected her. Perhaps it was merely the surprise of hearing it once again after so many centuries. She would resign herself to believing that.

As the ancient man moved closer to the small, pearl dragon, Avria growled in warning. Trust did not come easily to the great beast and she was far from trusting the man’s intentions. While the battle for power raged between the two, Avria found the exercise pointless. Auraya was not foolish enough to take on a young rider when there were greater things to be achieved, the ancient dragon concluded. Perhaps it would be better if they left the man to fulfil his desires, whatever they may be. After all, it was little concern of the rider and dragon, so bent on the quest for magical knowledge. Based on magic alone, Auraya was a formidable enemy and all those with wisdom would flee at her presence.

Auraya herself regarded the man’s encroaching upon the invisible boundary between them. What he was saying to the dragon she was not sure, but she knew him well enough to assume he was trying to win her over by some bargaining. Anger rippled through the ancient being, as she glared dangerously at the man below. He was foolish to step into the range of Avria’s teeth. However, she knew they would probably never be able to kill each other. Although, it was his turn to try. Avria snorted in satisfaction as the man moved away, back to the middle of the potential battle field.
<”Don’t listen to what he says,”> she warned the young dragon, although she was not sure what the man had said. However, she did not trust him. Avria let a jet of blue fire from her mouth, which licked the ground near Reynald’s feet. It was a warning for him to stay away.

Auraya glared at him coldly as he praised her. What had he expected? He had not been able to train her in the art of magic, which he lacked. Thus, she had sought it out on her own, travelling to the very birth place of the old magic. Even the softness of his voice invoked nothing but anger in the rider.
“I have abandoned much of my former training, Elder. I have replaced it with something far more satisfying,” she growled, quickly breaking off any perceived bond he thought they may share. Most of her search for knowledge had revolved around learning the secrets of the old magic, the magic that resided in only a select few. Making sure her mind connection was firmly sealed off; she built a new passage, for if he attempted to penetrate her mind again. Next time, she’d be ready. Grudgingly glowering at him, she kept herself weary for his attack. It was a foreign feeling keeping him from her mind. In a world, which seemed so far away at this present moment, she had welcomed the touch of his mind, and the words he uttered no one else could hear.

< “I doubt that. For all their unresolved issues, they would probably rather each other lived. Even if it was only so because they wished to make the other’s existence utterly unbearable,”> the dragon speculated. A humph of annoyance left the red dragon’s mouth. Avria respected the bond between rider and dragon, no matter how new. In her eyes, the people Auraya had killed deserved death. Senseless killings were tasteless in both their eyes. Avria herself had not developed the taste for human flesh. It was far too gamey and stringy.
< “Each to their own, I suppose,”> Avria spoke noncommittal, eyeing up her own friend with less of a fond regard. While they were from the same generation, Avria had long forgotten the bond of friendship they had had. Instead she had too devoted herself to the quest for knowledge. For a few years she had even left Auraya to search for the ancient dragons that had hidden themselves in the mountains. Alas, her search had been fruitless.

A growl of annoyance touched her lips his words. She resisted the urge to flinch at his words. The man had become vile.
“Of course not,” she replied sweetly. She tilted her head and smiled at him. What he did to pleasure himself was truly none of her concern. She managed to calm the raging jealousy, reminding herself that he no longer belonged to her. “Oh what a fool you are then.”
She laughed lightly. He had never given her any reason to be jealous. Her laughter was cut short by the girl’s words. A small smile of triumph touched the ancient’s lips.
“Oh my, your luck is low today indeed, Reynald. You chose a far to wise girl to lay your charms upon,” she smirked, her eyes glimmering in a strange form of glee.

The pet name he gave her had little effect on Auraya, knowing the sassy girl’s ability to resist the beautiful man. She smirked at his words. If the girl was smart, she would turn down his offer. At the girl’s question, a smile grew. She slipped down from the dragon. Avria huffed and moved away, and lay down, her head on her great paws. Her size became rather apparent a few steps away from her former elder and the reason for her name was clear. The elf was dwarfed by him and the blonde haired girl, who was only a fraction shorter than Reynald. Her icy blue eyes scanned the height of the young girl and a small sigh left her lips. Outweighing her in age, but the elf was made to look like a young girl in the presence of her larger counterparts.
“I know very much more about that than my dearest Elder,” she replied sharply. To demonstrate the elf outstretched her hand.
“Kelj fel teremtménye éjszaka,” the rider spoke, her voice darkening. A bright light entered her eyes and a ragged creature pulled itself from the earth.

Skin roughly covered the skeleton of the hellhound. Growling it advanced upon the tall man, eyes bent with fire. A dark smirk touched Auraya’s eyes as she watched the creature of darkness move toward her former teacher. This, however, was not taught by him. When she had learnt the secret of life and death it had been in the deepest place of the world, were magic ran untamed. Just as the beast closed in, Auraya’s sharp voice echoed through the mountains.
“Megszűnik!”
The beast dissolved into fine ash and drifted into the soft breeze. She smirked at Reynald.
<”I have learnt much without your guidance. I know you never would have released me from my training,”> she spoke lightly through the connection, guarding her thoughts and memories from him. He would, however, be able to speak back.

“I can offer you more than you’ve ever dreamed of in the realm of magic,” Auraya spoke lightly, keeping her gaze firmly on Reynald.