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Erionda turned absently at the sound of her name. Caught totally off guard as Kilian pulled her close to him. Was he ever going to get used to this? Get used to how much he seemed to touch her. Hug or hold her. It was like he came out of no where. She didn't even have the desire to fight against his embrace. "I-I'm ok." Erionda managed, images of a body wrapped in head to toe fluttered across her mind at Kilians question.

"It's just a scratch. It will heal fine enough. It's really nothing compared to your arm." Erionda sighed as her vision blurred. She staggered forward a bit before her vision was able to clear. Clearing her throat Erionda moved to step forward and move down the next tunnel. She had suffered worse injuries when learning from Aquon. He was a ruthless fighter so she had to learn quickly to withstand any injuries she sustained.

The dragon in front of her was not what she had expected. She closed her eyes with a sigh. Leaning against the cavern walls. She was really starting to get weaker. With the amount of time they had been fighting her muscles were starting to hurt. Her body ached from bruises sustained while fighting the dragons. Sighing she wondered just how many more there were had they back tracked somewhere along the way? "Kilian I can't." Erionda muttered as she stared at the dragon. She needed to rest before moving on. Her body slumped to the floor as she leaned her head against the ice cold walls.

The ice felt welcome against her burning body. Lowering her core body temperature Erionda let out a sigh and closed her eyes.

Erionda opened her eyes sluggishly. Her body screamed as if she had been fighting for days on end. Time felt that way too. Giving Kilian a swift nod she moved to stand. Wobbling a bit as her arms reached out. She braced herself against his body. "You and Amadia sure have grown close since you first met." Erionda chuckled. Feeling Uassae's head rub up against her. Shifting to cling onto the Aeduan Drakein as he lowered himself to the ground.

The hybrid pulled herself onto the large Drakeins back. "You didn't seem to like her much when we first met. I'm really glad to see how close you two have grown." She felt a pang of jealousy at the swiftness he took to checking on his Keindred. Mentally kicking herself for feeling that way. She was just his friend after all. And the bond between he and Amadia was bound to be much tighter.

Patting Uassae's side as the pair moved into the next set of tunnels. "Thank you Uassae, you are a great help in times like this."

"Your own fault." The large Drakein muttered. "You weren't being careful enough AND challenging a dragon far stronger than you isn't the smartest thing."

Erionda laughed at Uassae's response, glancing back to see if Kilian was still there. She really should be checking up on his arm. Making sure that it wasn't getting worse with him using it. Perhaps they should give up and start heading back.

As they walked through the tunnels Erionda reached down to pull out a flask of water. It was cold enough now in the tunnels that even the water was effected without her assistance. The water was cool and felt sweet as it rushed over her lips. Her whole body felt like it was waking up with new energy, as if her organs were swelling with sudden water they had been craving for so long. Tilting her head back as the water continued to drain into her mouth and down her throat.

A stray ribbon trickled down the side of her neck. Once she had finished emptying the container of water Erionda let out a satisfied sigh of relief. The water had been just what she needed. Swallowing the last mouthful Erionda capped the flask and flicked her hand over her neck to remove the water. Turning her head and shifting her elbow away from her body to get a better look at the wound. Frowning at the dried red and yellow color, parts of it still glistened in what little remained of the light in the cave.

Turning her eyes at the strange sound in front of her. Kilian was kicking his way through a wall of dirt. The hybrids miss matched eyes watched the Oblivionite move. Even with an injured arm he appeared skillful, and swift in his moments. Swinging her leg up and over Uassae, Erionda quickly dismounted. Giving her companion a pat on the neck as thanks. "He's really something the way he moves like that." Erionda whispered. Only to gain a snort of disgust from the Drakein.

"Thank you." Erionda whispered taking the orb she was given and placing it in Lanzecki's pack. "I think we should continue. If you're able."

Erionda had noticed him turn away from her briefly. Was he trying to hide something? Had he been injured in another way while fighting the previous dragon. She wanted to reach out, to ask, but new her concerns were not wanted. Not now. Looking deeper into the cavern system Erionda gave a nod with a up lifting sound. " Is if physically possible for this system to carry on much longer anyway?"

Stepping back Kilian Erionda moved down the tunnel, pausing to look back nervously. Was he really alright? Not wanting to push the subject Erionda turned and continued on. It's colder down here Rio Lanzecki whispered across the bond. Mentally letting Erionda know he was starting to shiver from the cold. He was used to the warmer temperature and had never known anything different.

The orbs on you should help keep you warmer. Erionda commented looking towards Uassae. Will you help me kill this one?

Uassae nodded as both Drakein and Hybrid took off in a tight run. She had to dispatch the dragon before Kilian arrived, in case his injuries were worse than she had first anticipated. Maybe she hadn't cleaned them well enough and infection had happened. Or worse, Aquon was right and her touch really was toxic to pure blood Magescians.

Uassae and Erionda took turns with their strikes. First her sword would swing out. Pausing to let Uassae leap ahead and slash with his claws, followed by a barrage of ice crystal spikes. Then Uassae's teeth. It was an endless assault until the dragon collapsed on the ground. The orbs appearing around it.

Kilian reached out and brushed her fingers against the uninjured part of his injured arm. Her eyes searched it briefly scanning for any signs of infection or further injury. Her eyes rose to his with a blaze behind them. Her hand flicked out subconsciously moving one of his dreads. Her eyes searching his face with a faint blush to her cheeks. "To be honest with you Kilian. I feel most at home when I'm killing dragons. It's like, a release of all the tension."

Dragons belonged in the grave. Extinct but for some reason the creatures bred faster than the population of Magesc could kill them. Only furthering Erionda's assumption that when dragons died they only ended up spawning somewhere else. Swallowing as she realized how close she was Erionda took a step back to give him his space. Turning to gaze down the next tunnel. What could possibly be in the caves ahead. And just how much further did they go?

Erionda started down the tunnel. Turning to look back at Kilian before she slowed her step to walk directly beside him. Her hands clenched and unclenched as she struggled internally. When they had fist entered the cave she had her hand in his. A welcome sensation flooded through her body at the reminder. Glancing at him from the corner of her eyes Erionda slowly extended her hand. Her fingers lightly touching his palm. As if she were silently asking the question if it was ok.

Erionda's head bowed when he accepted her hand. Heat flashing through her body when he gave it a gentle squeeze. He was so gentle with her. No one had ever been so kind before. Her hair partially covering her face as she smiled. With his acceptance Erionda wasn't as afraid of him. It was like a solidifying gesture to her.

What she saw when the stopped at the edge of the dragons lair sent shivers along her spine. Was that? Kilian had answered her question long before she could form her words enough to ask. She was going to need all the help she could get in taking it down. At least for the time being, it seemed to be snoring soundlessly in the center of the opening.

Giving Kilian an almost pleading look Erionda turned to look back towards the Dragon. Then to her Drakein. They would need to help, and use their full speed. Sliding her hand away from Kilians. Erionda moved towards Uassae and Lanzecki. Removing their full bags from their backs before she turned towards the dragon. Slowly pulling her sword out, careful not to make any noise. Erionda darted forward. Lanzecki on one side Uassae covered the other.

Once they had reached the dragon Erionda and Lanzecki turned to dart to the right While Uassae moved to the left. Lanzecki moved ahead of Erionda his tail swishing as if he were trying to bring his magic into action.

With each footstep that touched the ground a snowflake pattern appeared. When her foot left contact with the pattern sharp pillars of ice slowly began to rise from the ground. This continued until Erionda had completed a full circle around the stirring creature. Finding herself in front of it, with her drakein behind. Erionda's mismatched eyes glanced between Lanzecki and Uassae. As if on a silent signal all three lept in for the attack. Lanzecki's wind attempted to slow down the dragon while Erionda's sword and Uassae's teeth cut into it's hide over and over again.

When that didn't succeed in killing the dragon, Erionda stepped back. The ice she had created shook before flying to strike the dragon. Surprised at the tenacity of the beast Erionda burst forward again. The spikes of ice were like a staircase leading up to the dragons head. Swinging her sword once again Erionda severed it's head.

Erionda gave a shy smile. It was flattering the way Kilian spoke to her. Her eyes were captured by the brilliance of the Aeduan orb. Giving Kilians hand a pat with hers and squeezing back Erionda pulled it away. Thanking him for bringing her packs to her. Lifting and retying them to her Drakein she turned back to Kilian. Slipping her hand back into his. The tightness in his grip wasn't something she was used to but she accepted it all the same.

Erionda waited and moved with the group down the next set of tunnels. Gasping at the heat that was slowly coming back. This wasn't good. Heat didn't do well with her body. It slowed her down. Made her hurt her magic was much less effective in the heat. The moisture only made the temperature worse. Entering the room Erionda stared ahead at the Gaili. Almost doubling over from the temperature. Uassae gave a growling command to Lanzecki and Amadia. Lanzecki snorted and obeyed without question. Erionda's eyebrows stitched together as she watched her Drakein move swiftly forward.

A Gaili was proving to be little trouble for the Drakein as they attacked without mercy. Her hand remained in Kilians as she looked over towards him. Was everything ok? Clearing her throat Erionda stepped forward when the Dragon died. Bending over to scoop up the orbs. "That was really easy. Maybe they start getting weaker from here? Do you think maybe we are starting to head towards the surface or outside again? I know it sounds silly but this heat feels like the surface of Eowyn." Rio questioned.

"That sounds amazing. I hope you're right Kilian." Erionda mused as they moved towards the next tunnel. Her muscles ached. She reached out to take one of the Gaili orbs, staring at it as if lost in a trance. "How many people can actually say they have gathered this many orbs in one hunt?" Erionda asked, shoving the orb into one of the bags on her hip. There was no more room for orbs in her Drakeins packs. It started to make her worry. She didn't want to leave the cave system unfinished if there were chances for more orbs. At the same time, how could she return and continue later. They would never likely get this far again. They had been very lucky.

Entering the next cave Erionda's eyes grew wide as they fell on a dark dragon. A Diabi. The complete opposite of the Aeduan they had faced a couple of dragons back. They had been lucky the Aeduan had been asleep letting her set up an attack. This time, the creature was awake. She let go of Kilians hand as she reached towards her back. Pulling her shield onto her arm and her sword into her hand.

Her feet scuffed along the moist ground. The steam of air swirled around her creating a strange swirling effect. Her cold body mixed with the air added a light smoke to the world around her. But had a double edged effect, she could not see the dragon any better than it could see her. Leaping forward to attack Erionda was struck in the middle by the beasts claws. The sound of tearing fabric filled the cave. Followed by Erionda's scream.

Her body flew backwards connecting with the back wall. Knocking the air from her lungs. Slumping to the ground Erionda was unable to get up. Her mouth opened and closed with the effort to pull air into her lungs. The world around her spinning into a dark haze.

Uassae and Lanzecki took no time before they lept into action. Both moving before their fallen companion with warning growls. The Diabi raised it claws to attack as Uassae lunged forward. His jaws snapping towards the Dragons jugular.