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 Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 4:44 am
Valiant puffed out his little chest and walked over to the other boy, even he could see Briar's eyes were wide in fear. "I'm Valiant," he said proudly. "We were on a journey when this happened," he nodded his head. "There are people coming who want to take us."
"Take us?" Ronin's greedy eyes looked at the little dragon boy. "What do you mean?"
Valiant frowned a little at the older boy, "You're a stranger. You didn't tell me your name."
Ronin was about to answer when Haru got his attention. "We've got to help, come on."
He looked at the dragon, much smaller in size than she had appeared. It was weird to see how she really was, extremely weird. He wanted to ask her about it, but that could wait till later.
He looked hard at the chain, "That's very thick. We could see if there's some sort of hammer left behind or--"
"Can't you just make yourself smaller?" Ronin asked.
Briar looked at the white male with frightened eyes, "It's an illusion. I can't actually change sizes." She looked back to the female dragon, "If you can't get me free take Valiant and go. They're coming for us. And you. They're taking dragons."
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Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 4:56 am
Soren was struck speechless for a moment before he took some initiative and sat right down. "Have a sit down here, Valiant, while they work on that chain there. Don't worry: I'm about useless when it comes to that kind of thing and the best thing for guys like you and I is to keep out of the way so we don't get them muddled up."
"They're whoing what now?" asked Tasma automatically. Honestly, that was the most random and unimaginable things she'd ever heard. People couldn't hurt dragons! Dragons are big and strong and resilient! It defied logic.
But there was time for that later. "If you were to get out at all, there would need to be a way to get you out," she reasoned out loud. " She pressed one hand to her bottom lip, the other still hefting the chain and thought. "This is thick but soft. It would be hard for you to pull it apart, you'd never get the leverage alone, not without flying..." Hey eyes roved around restlessly and fell on some small boulders.
"Ah. Well," she cleared her throat. "I have an idea. I think if I could drop those boulders from high enough onto your chain, it will flatten out and we could snap it. Are you prepared for that?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:48 pm
"I don't know who exactly, just that they're coming, they got us funneled coming up this way and Valiant is too small to fly so long." She took a calming breath, "That works. Just get me out of here, I don't want to be captured if I can help it. If they get close though take him and go."
She closed her eyes a moment, her mind and pulse racing. "What do you need me to do?"
Haru watched the pink dragon, every line of her was fury and terror--yet controlled. For a dragon to be so terrified...For what she said to be true....
"We need to warn Brittania and the others," he said breathlessly. Mikuko
Ronin's eyes flickered to Haru's. He could feel his heart beating in his throat. His mother...his siblings...They were in danger. And yet, his mind couldn't help but think...We'll be bringing these two home to mother.
Valiant looked the green boy over, "Yeah. She wanted me to leave. But that's not what family does, or heroes. And I'm going to be both." He nodded his head, "I'm not afraid. I can fight."
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 12:00 am
Tasma pulled Briar Rose to the very limit of the chain. "Stay here, do not move." She turned to Ronin and Haru. "This is dangerous. Try and stop the boulders if they roll away. And check if you can snap the chains after I squash them."
Once she saw everyone in their proper places, tasma flew up and grabbed the heaviest boulder she could find. She aimed it carefully and dropped it. it went wide, but everyone flinched anyway.
Tasma frowned. She chose a smaller boulder and dropped it from lower down. The chain flattened underneath it, sending Briar offbalance, but she was unhurt. She picked the boulder up again and dropped it a second time. Eventually, it took five drops of the boulder before the chain was thin enough to respond to tearing or snapping and by that time, Tasma was collapsed in a heap, gasping.
Soren looked down at Valiant, so small and already so full of courage. it worried him. "Family is about love," said Soren. "But, sometimes, things work best when one person tells you what's best for you to do and you do it to help them." He pointed at Tasma. That's my sister. She told me to do something and I did it, to help her, and my brothers. They're both younger than I am, but I know I'm best here. You need to know how to follow orders before you make them, little soldier."
He said it kindly, with a hand on Valiant's shoulder. Telling kids to do things they don't want to do is hard, but it's harder sometimes when they disobey and harm themselves. This kid was too honest to disobey on a whim, but that might make him even more prone to misfortune.
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 1:15 am
Briar Rose's leg throbbed from the chaffing of the chain, her pink skin scarlet. Trying to keep the chain taut while the boulders had dropped had sapped her strength. She felt all the tension and anxiety of it, her whole body sweating there as she waited to see if it would break.
Haru got heavy rock and began to work on the chain. In the heat, he worked up a sweat quickly in his efforts. It seemed like it was taking forever, that it just might not bre--
The chain broke apart, and he saw the girl go down in the dust and struggle to get up weary. He sat down heavily knowing they couldn't rest long. They'd have to go soon.
Valiant nodded at Soren, he knew he should have listened...But he couldn't have just left her. He--she was his aunt, his bestest friend. He heard the chain snap and he took off running to her.
"Briar!" he shouted as he wrapped himself around her neck, tears starting to fill his eyes. He'd been afraid they'd make him leave, that he'd never see her again. Not that. Not that.
Ronin busied himself quickly and found a broken pot to fill with water. His skin prickled with excitement and something else. He never shirked a fight. But this time...this would be his first time bringing home dragons to mother. Would he be bringing back more? Would they really dare to follow them up the mountain?
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 1:25 am
Tasma got up and staggered over. "We have to move. We have to warn the others that trouble is coming." She didn't believe Briar Rose's story for half a minute- the poor girl was probably tired and distrought. But truly, if someone chained up a dragon, somerhing was wrong.
Soren stood as well. "I can let Lilina know," he said, pulling a battered notebook and shabby pen from his pocket. "What should I say?"
Tasma looked at Soren doubtfully. "Just... uh... get her to the mountain to send help for us," she said haltingly. She wasn't sure what was going to happen.
"So someone pick up little... Valiant," she said, the name escaping her for a moment, "and let's start walking." She didn't say that she would volunteer to fly back herself. She was too exhausted. She could barely put a foot in front of the other.
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Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 1:30 am
Lilina nodded knowingly. "Yes I do. But he's trying to make some changes and- hold on," she said as a chime started from her bag. A battered old notepad was wiggling and chiming like a bell and stopped when she held it. "Oh?"
She opened the notebook up and read out "Lilina- Trouble in the mountains. We found Tasma, and also two other dragons. They were prisoners. Send help. Trouble coming. Love Soren." Once, Lilina might have blushed at repeating Sren's love out loud, but no longer and not in this situation.
"We must get to the mountain!" Lilina said to Dalila.
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Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 12:02 am
Briar Rose stood up heavily, her whole body aching. She had to get moving. Her mind swam in confusion of all that was going on. It all made so little sense to her, how must it seem to others?
But she wasn't crazy, she wasn't. This was all real as much as she wanted it to be just nightmare. But wishing didn't change anything, she knew that.
She looked down on Valiant. She had promised to keep him safe, like her own child. Here they were on the brink of--what she didn't know.
Ronin moved forward, "I'll carry him." He picked up the frowning boy a bit awkwardly, clutching him like a jewel to his chest. He wasn't letting either of these two get out of sight, not when he could make mother happy.
Haru got back up to his feet and started walking. It would be a long walk home, and at the end would be Brittania. He didn't know how he felt about that, but he knew that he didn't want anything to happen to her.
He just...Haru let out a sigh as he picked up the pace.
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Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 12:19 am
Dalila picked up her bag quickly, her heart pounding in her throat. Something bad was coming, something terrible. Dragons? As prisoners? It made her shiver and her blood felt like ice in her veins.
"Dammit," she took off running with Lilina. "Fly on without me. I'll be right behind you." Why, why didn't she have wings?
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Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 12:20 am
Lilina flew into the mountain stronghold. She looked around and wondered if she would have to convince these people to believe her, but the terrifying Brittania immediately stepped up to her and lead her inside.
Apparently, Brittania was still grateful for Lilina's aid and, more than that, had heard to her relationship with Soren. Brittania read Soren's note and summoned her family to the mountain overlook by touching a large metal bell on the side of the carvern. The bell did not make a sound, but light rippled away from it along the walls following a metal strip embedded inside.
The metal strip appeared to be fitted into every room as every resident of the family was summoned quickly, even Eerinna, Zared and Tundra. These last three apparently had a beacon of the same invention which pulsed when the larger mechanism was triggered.
Brittania mobilised her family like troops. Jin, Rahar, Vesuvia and Oriahull were sent to find the party while the rest prepared for their arrival.
--
Tasma got her strength back to fly ahead some way after a while and she did, trusting her brothers with Briar and Valiant's safety. She had seen dragons flying above her and hoped they had been sent after Soren's message was received and they were not leaving for some more sinister reason. She flew ahead in stops and starts and achieved the mountain long before the others.
She was able to explain to her mother that people were coming and needed help before being coaxed into a bed and a warm pack. She was so tired...
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Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 2:09 am
Mikuko had just set down her things when the bell summoned them for dinner. Everyone would be so happy and suprised she was home.
She hurried along to the meeting place and almost ran into Dalila, who was breathless and sweaty.
"Mikuko," Dalila was drenched in sweat and breathing hard. "What....doing here?"
"What's wrong?," Mikuko took in her appearance. "Are you okay?"
"Let's get to the summons," she sad with more breath. "Walk and talk," she started off toward where Brittania would be. "There's some dragons or something that were taken prisoner. People, someone or something coming. I don't' know, I didn't see them."
"How do you know?" Mikuko's heart was racing.
"Message from Soren, he and the boys found a dragon, two I think?"
The boys.
Haru.
She stopped moving, standing absolutely still. Haru was coming, he was probably in trouble or in danger's way. She reached for feelings that weren't there anymore. She did care for him, but she did not love him anymore.
But oh! Oh! Oh...
She was pregnant and he was the last person she'd want to tell it to right now.
"Are you coming or not?" Dalila stared at her.
"Of course, let's find Brittania." She started walking again. The fluttering in her stomach made her queasy, all the adrenaline making her sick.
She breathed deeply through her nose and out through her mouth only once. Her head felt clearer already. Lexar had taught her how to defend herself, how to defend those she loved. He'd also given her more than that.
Her hoof went to her stomach, touching the tight skin there. She'd be showing soon. She'd realized two days after she and Lexar had parted. Mikuko had thought to go after him, he deserved to know--but she didn't know where to look. This wasn't mean to be a family or a recurrence, they hadn't' exchanged directions.
The only thing she could do, was go home to her Mothers--to Shoubu and Brittania and her father. But Shoubu was down the mountain, she'd have to visit her later after stopping by her dad's and mum Brittania. But now something was coming, and if she had to fight then she would.
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Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 3:05 am
Briar's muscles ached, the tendons in her leg felt stretched to breaking. Her leg was so skint. She was tired of running, but she wouldn't even consent to rest. It was imperative that they make it to this place--this safehold.
Safe. Would they be safe there? She'd seen whole village run. Valiant walked along beside her and she cursed under her breath. She picked up her speed, she wouldn't hold them back.
Ronin was grumbling more than a little by the time they reached the top of the incline. It'd been a hard long trek, and Valiant had scratched up his leg good when he decided it was time for him to walk.
Ungrateful little brat. But mother would have more dragon, she'd be happy. He'd be helping to grow the herd, helping to make the mountains better. He never even once considered that they might not want to stay.
"Just a little futher," Haru called to Briar Rose who was lagging behind her. Her back leg was chaffed and raw which made her move slower. His mind drifted ahead of them to home, he felt a swell of pride for the place. It'd been where he'd grown up, where he had fallen in lo--
He shook the thought from his mind. He needed to stop thinking like that. His eyes went up to the sky, and he saw faint shapes. Dragons. But he'd notice them anywhere, the way they flew. They were his family.
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Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 3:27 am
Jin lead the descent when he saw the exhausted group of flyers. He landed in front of them and smiled. "Fancy meeting you here!" he said cheerfully. If you thought he wasn't taking it seriously from the way he spoke, you would be dead wrong. He took careful note of everything- if his boys looked tired, it was nothing to how this sprout and his companion, maybe his mother, looked.
He smiled and walked up to her and the child and was about to introduce himself when he saw her leg and the shackle still dragging a length of chain. "What the hell?" he said reflexively before glancing at the child and amending, "Don't tell their mother I said that. I see you've met my boys!" he said, his smile fixed. "I'm Jin Kyoshi, these are my daughters Vesuvia and Oriahull and son Rahar and we will get you fixed up right away."
he leaned down to Briar's leg and said, at Valiant's level, "excuse me, sir, do you mind if I have a look at your mother's leg?"
Oriahull laughed at her dopey father and his dad jokes.
Rahar turned to his brothers. "What is this?" he asked. "Your message said..." he trailed off, unable to complete the question, it was so outlandish. "What is going on?"
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Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 2:58 am
Briar looked at silvery dragon male as he looked down at her foot. Valiant was studying him cautiously. His little voice didn't sound quite so little anymore, "She's my aunt. And as long as you don't hurt her."
"Please," she asked looking at him and the rest of his children. Dragons. And they were coming for them. She caught some of the words that the boys were saying, but gave up on the rest turning her attention to Jin. "I cannot thank you and yours enough for helping us. But we bring nothing but trouble behind us."
***
Ronin sulked as Haru started talking animatedly, "Well, we were looking for Tasma and Soren found some blips. Ronin insisted on checking it out, then told Tasma." Ronin glared at Haru, "So when we did. There was this illusion. Then something flickered and we saw a huge dragon and a smaller one with guards. Then that flickered away again, and it was these two. The girl was chained up. She says they're coming for dragon blood, that we're in danger."
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Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 3:14 am
"I beg your pardon," said Jin in reply. "A lovely lady like your aunt ought to have such a stalwart protector." He took the metal in his claws and peered at it. "Blech," he said with uncharacteristic venom. "Magical. No excuse to creating metal when it's all around in the earth." He hooked his claws into the manacle, pinching Briar slightly. "Apologies," he said in response and the the metal sank down in his claws, like a tire being deflated. Jin stood up tall and held the metal. It changed again into a round ball, of no danger to anyone.
"Trouble?" he repeated absent mindedly. "Everyone brings trouble. You just have to figure out whose trouble is worth it."
Soren stayed out of Haru's explanation. It seemed right enough.
"Dragon blood?" asked Oriahull.
"From dragons?" asked Rahar. "They only want the blood? Or do they want actual dragons?"
Vesuvia made a small worried sound. Her babies were at home, without her...
Oriahull glanced at Vesuvia and was overcome with a sudden urge to be home and safe. "Talk about it at home," she announced. "Shall I take you, Soren?"
"What?" asked Soren blankly.
"We're flying, of course," said Oriahull. "I am smallest, you should come with me."
"What about Valiant?" asked Soren. "He's the smallest!"
"Valiant?" asked Oriahull. "Oh, the dragonling? Perhaps Dad will take him and his aunt together."
With no other recourse, Soren submitted to letting his baby sister pick him up as though he were a baby and they flew towards the mountain. He liked flying... usually. Maybe not today.
Vesuvia almost made a grab for Haru with her anxiety to be home, but she stopped herself. She needed permission. She stared at him with sad, almost wretched eyes.
Rahar scratched his green cheek in embarrassment. "Well, are you ready to go up?" he asked Ronin.
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