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Kadryn followed the pack of other Orderites as they followed Aevah to the Dovaa camp. She could tell that they wanted to attack the Oblivionites that were also approaching, but Aevah managed to maintain control and keep battle from erupting. She also, to her amusement, saw quite a few Drakeins along the cliffs and hiding amid the dunes. Apparently an all out battle calls for spectators, she thought to herself.

Walking alongside Lazuli and Maslin, she listened with astonishment at the tale woven by Marcus. A single person caused this to happen? And how could anyone be made up of many parts stitched together, wouldn't they die in the process?

"This is so weird Maslin, I don't see how anybody can be... built or stitched together without dying. It seems.. impossible." She thought for a few minutes, it may be impossible and while she really didn't want to kill a person, she felt that something that killed as wantonly as this had needed to at least be captured if not killed.

"I''m gonna go with them to capture this ..person.. creature. Thing. It's better than staying here and sealing with the war," She said to Maslin as she looked at the other people gathered around. The last time she'd seen this many of all the races had been the festival, and this had a much different feel to it. It was no happy fun time that was for sure!

~~~~~~~~~
"We stay calm and listen, or watch in your case, is what we do, Araceli. After we have learned what is actually happening, we make a decision." Toki calmly replied to Araceli's question. He felt mildly interested as he heard mentions of a brief truce. So something could get them to work together after all! What had happened to cause this?
Toki walked, with Araceli still on his back, towards where the leaders were gathered and listened in.

"Hmm, I say we follow and see what has caused this truce," Toki said softly to Araceli after the meeting had broken up and people headed back to their tents or after the 3 leaders into the desert. "I'm mainly curious and since now that I know there is no danger to my clan, I can spend time to satisfy my curiosity!"

The passing moments had been irritating, grating on Kioda's nerves. Raking her claws through the sand the large Ysali Drakein took a deep breath. She could feel the tension building from a direction off to the side. She could hear screams from the distance, unless it required them dying Kioda didn't feel the need to run in and help them. She had met only one or two friendly Magesc two leggers the rest had been awful creatures. Her torn wings were proof of that. Rolling onto her side Kioda blinked up at the Drakein beside her.

Eyes shifting wide as they narrowed on the building sand storm. "Is that normal here? That red sand seems unnatural! Like some crazy dragon is creating a disaster. Or a mass of them." Shuddering at the quick approach Kioda's wings flipped over her head. Her tail tucking close to protect herself. She had never had to survive a sand storm of this magnitude. Thanking herself for being smart enough to train briefly on Ayr.

As the storm died down. The green Drakeins eyes fell on the transformed dragon. So the Dovaa creatures had done something against the monstrous. "Hmm how many do you think perished in that? I do hope they haven't ruined the orbs." Wiggling onto her back and pawing playfully in the air.

Junjie was able to relaxed a bit only after Tilawen was out of the sand that had tried to engulf her as well, glad to see that she wasn't quite as deeply buried as he'd been. He gave her a smile before looked around there group, then in the direction that the creature had gone in with Erionda. He opened his mouth to answer Tilawent before he gave pause, starring at an odd sillohette in the distance, before he shook his head to make sure it was actually there and not just him seeing things. He couldn't quite tell what it was from here, his imagination rushing through all manner of possibilities, all of which he tried his best to stamp down. There was no reason to jump to conclusions about anything right now. Sure, some Dovaa could become dragons and some Drakein could become human but it didn't instantly mean that thing that took Rio could become a dragon or drakein just because he had pieces of them sewn on. No... it was likely something else... though what, he had no idea. Maybe just something passing by, a rocky out cropping that he mistook for something else because he was stressed out, it could be anything. If he assumed anything out loud about what it was he'd look a fool, that much he was certain of.

Lifting a hand to tug on one of the braids in his hair as he thought Junjie tried to thing on the question that Tilawen had asked of them, now what were they supposed to do? He gave a sighing sound and then a half shrug, "I... I don't know but we can't just give up, right? We need to try to catch up with them, figure out where they are going and where Erionda is. We can't let him..." He trailed off, they had no idea what he was going to do with her but he could only guess that it was bad. What if he wanted to make a meal of her? A terrifying notition and not one that he wanted to give another thought to, "I think that we need to follow, hope that if we keep going in that direction that we find another clue as to where they went." He said, lifting a the hand that wasn't holding his 'walking stick' to point toward where he'd seen the odd shadow. While it was very well possible that he'd just been seeing there what if he hadn't? What if that was the only clue that they had to go off of? He couldn't just ignore it, right? He hated to risk his friends going toward something that may or may not exist but since another of their friends might very well be in that direction... well, it was all they had to go off.

It really wasn't the best plan, was it? But at least it was something resembling a plan... man he hated having to pretend that he was in charge, the idea of leading people was frightening, but they had to do something, right? Standing around covered in sand was accomplishing little. He was about to turn to head in the direction he'd pointed when he heard a voice calling out his name, something that caused him to give pause, turn, and looked back the way that they had come... only to spot Kilian coming toward him with his Drakein, Amadia, as well as Uassae, Lanzecki, and... Abellio... he sighed a little seeing the Ysali Keindred rushing along with the others. He didn't want him coming along, didn't want him hurt, but given that Erionda's Drakein were coming he wasn't all that shocked that the little Ysali had come as well. He was unlikely to want to sit still when the other Drakein were allowed to go. He lifted a hand, motioning to him, and the cloak wearing Keindred rushed over to him, nuzzling against his hand.

"Jun! Jun! I missed you so much! Never leave me again!" Abellio crooned to him across their link, making it seem as though Junjie had been gone years instead of just a short time. Something that had the hybrid petting him that much more in an attempt to make him feel better aboug been left alone for 'so long' as the Keidred was making it out to be.

Once Junjie was done petting on the Ysali he looked around between those in the group... and found himself feeling a bit like the odd man out for a moment. Five Drakein, three with Oblivionite blood, and himself. It was a bit odd but he couldn't say that he really minded, not when he liked everyone here. He couldn't pick a better search group, "Hello, Kilian." He said, then looked in the direction we were going, "We are trying to track the thing that snatched up Erionda, I think he is in that direction." He said, "But... I'm not positive, so I understand if none of you want to follow me." He said, lifting a hand to scratch it against the back of his head in an embarrassed manner, "I don't want to make you all follow my lead when it's nothing more then a hunch." He'd feel bad leading them astray after all but it was the best that he could do at the moment given that the sand storm had wiped out any other potential leads like tracks. He would leave it up to everyone else if they followed after him he decided as he turned to start in the direction where he'd seen that odd shadow.

Pursuing the strange monster further the group would eventually find a set of wooden doors leading into some sort of structure built into the mountainside, not dissimilar to the opening to a mineshaft. On either side of the doors were a set of broken Crystal statues. Aevah frowned upon spotting them and muttered something about illusion amplifiers.

Past the doors was a long and tall, rock walled tunnel; lanterns filled with magefire hung from the ceiling, spaced in such a way as to provide the maximum amount of light with a minimal need for such fixtures. The tunnel would support two people or a full-sized drakein walking side by side but little more than that.

"This way everyone. Move at a steady pace but don't push and for Abronaxus' sake don't kill each other." Marcus had wedged his way to the front of the pack and began to march his way down the tunnel. This fight was not over. There were unwarranted deaths that needed avenging but that could wait. What the ancient dovaa had seen required his full attention right now.

Aevah and Draco followed the dovaa leader, walking shoulder to should and eyeing each other nastily. If the opportunity came to stab the other in the back with their goddess granted weapons they surely would.

Upon reaching the end of the tunnel Draco let out a low whistle of appreciation. He had not seen a setup quite like this before. The tunnel itself had opened up into a massive underground cavern with nearly a dozen tunnels branching out in all directions leading to unknown other sections of the underground facility.

Carved into the walls of the cavern were runes and the walls themselves had a faint glow that indicated the power that both emanated from and was contained within the room.

Along one section of wall were a series of floor to ceiling cages and pacing inside them were creatures that were clearly the subject of experimentation. An amalgamation of limbs of magescans and beasts stitched together for undoubtedly macabre purposes.

Inside one of the larger cages was a smaller cage, the sort that seemed for transportation more than habitation. Cramped inside of it was Erionda.


The opposite wall housed a long row of glass structures with a difficult to decipher series of runes etched into them. What was clear however was that they contained some sort of alchemical formula and things were..growing inside of them.

Adding to the disturbing and concerning atmosphere were the half dozen bodies that littered the floor, blood pooling around them. Each of the dead appeared to be a hybrid, although ones of natural origin.

Kilian’s mind raced with ideas about what he’d do once he found Erionda. there were so many things to tell her. For them to do. He was bound and determined, now more than ever, to break down her barriers. He wouldn’t lose her. He couldn’t. He was beginning to fully realize the feelings he had for her and while they were scary, he wouldn’t turn away from them. A part of him feared rejection, though. She wasn’t tainted by Oblivionite blood. She had goodness in her with both the Orderite side of her and the Dovaa side of her. So why would she want to be associated, in that way, with an Oblivionite?

He clenched his fists and cursed as the group ran through the desert, doing their best to catch up with the mysterious being that had interrupted things so terribly in the camp earlier. Kilian’s legs were beginning to cramp, not being use to running so much through the sand. His footing was terrible, his feet sinking into the soft sand as he ran, making it that much harder on his already aching muscles. Kilian’s thoughts and attention wasn't on the group or his sore muscles, though. He was solely focused on making it to Erionda.

“Look!” Amadia squeaked aloud as the view of the surrounding mountains became larger. Kilian slowed his run down and surveyed the surrounding area. His gaze finally falling onto what Amadia had seen first. Trees surrounded the mountain side and past them, Kilian saw an opening in the side of a mountain. “A cave?” He muttered. Could it be so easy to find the place? Kilian watched as Uassae and Lanzecki left the group behind and ran off into the mountain side. His eyes wandered around the surroundings, taking in everything. They widened at the sight of blood on the ground. His heart began to thud loudly in his chest. Was that Erionda’s blood?

Kilian shook his head, willing himself to ignore those thoughts. Surely the two drakeins would be able to find her. So he set off, following them into the opening. They seemed quicker than him, though, and soon he lost sight of them. “She’s got to be in here.” Kilian mumbled to himself as he stopped in his tracks. “Amadia...” He began as he looked around for his companion. “Try to sniff her out, please?” After losing sight of the two Drakeins it was the only thing he could think of doing. In here, the storm might not have been able to erase all traces of her and her kidnappers. He watched as Amadia shifted around the opening and then deeper into the cave like entrance. “She’s here. I smell her.” Amadia said as her head shot up and she looked deeper into the cave.

Kilian shot off deeper into the cave, not being able to stay still knowing Erionda was close. Amadia bounded off in front of him, leading the way on her scent alone. “Erionda!” He called out as he burst into a large room. His sockets widened at the sight before him and he felt sick. As an Oblivionite, he did not have a soul. To most Magescians, this meant that he had no feelings or that things like this did not affect him in the way it might others. However, at this very moment he could attest to that not being true. His stomach churned at the sight before him. Body parts littered the room, splatters of blood covered the walls and floors. And cages. Lots of cages lined the room’s walls. He felt sick at the thought of Erionda being in a place like this. His gaze searched the room and finally fell upon a dual cage with a figure curled up inside of it.

“Erionda...” Kilian whispered as he took in the condition of her prison. It was so small, she almost couldn’t move in it. She was unmoving too. Kilian’s heart flip flopped in his chest and felt like it dropped into his stomach. Were they too late? He rushed over to the cage and bent down. Kilian didn’t care about the rest of the group and where they were. He didn’t even care about the creature that had taken Erionda. The others could deal with it if it came into the room. For now, his attention was fully on Erionda. “Erionda...Erionda wake up. Please.” He pleaded with her as he made his way around the cage, looking for a way to free her.

“Ah.” A lock. A simple one at that too. He looked around for something to use to pick the locks when he heard Lanzecki’s voice and looked over. “Lanzecki...” Kilian looked at where he pointed with his wing. They weren’t the ideal tools to use but they’d work. “Yes, I can. Thanks.” He said as he grabbed the tools and crouched back down. Picking locks was a skill he had picked up when younger. One his master had been adamant he learn and one that Kilian had been adamant he wouldn’t.


Now, though, he was very glad his master had insisted on the lesson. He would be forever grateful to the old man. Kilian began working on the outer lock, making fast work of it. Soon, the lock fell to the ground and he swung the doors to the outer cage open. Cursing, he began fumbling with the second lock. He was so focused on what he was doing that he didn’t notice the voices coming from the tunnel. His hands were shaking and his jaws were beginning to hurt from him grinding his teeth together. The second lock took a little longer, his shaking hands making it hard for him to concentrate and get the picks into the right position. Finally, though, the clang the second lock made on the floor broke him out of the trance he’d gone into while picking it. “Rio!” He said on a whispered exclamation as he swung the second cage’s door open.

It took all that Kilian had not to grab her and drag her into his arms. “Erionda...” He reached his hand out tentatively, wondering if she’d let him touch her. He let out a deep breath as he gently pushed her hair out of her face. “Erionda, Rio...” He murmured as he fingers trailed down to check the pulse at her neck. “Please...” His voice cracked as he pleaded with her to respond to his voice.
Word Count: 1077

Akilae

The trek across the desert had not been comfortable but the things Akilae had learned listening to people speak were more than worth the effort. However that strange hybrid was and who or whatever had made him was definitely something worth investigating. The rescue mission the were also on was an interesting one even if by all accounts it was an aiskala dovaa that needed rescuing. The hybrid man would have felt a little more urgency had she been Ysali but either way he had no problem lending what help he could.


Upon making his way into the cave system, somewhere in the middle of the group Akilae did his best to keep stock of what he was seeing, trying to count all of the laterns he passed under. If the tunnel got twisty or branched off in a maze like pattern he'd like to be able to navigate his way back to the surface. If nothing else it put the lessons on memory and focus that the order of the onyx had drilled into him to good use.

Once he'd entered the massive cavern that the tunnel opened into Akilae immediately frowned. What in the same of Soudana was this? There were signs of magic he didn't understand everywhere, cages creatures and beings of origins that were clearly not natural and a sprinkling of corpses on the floor. Corpses that all appeared to be hybrids if he was reading their features right. It made the young man shiver uncomfortably. He was not pleased with his own lack of pure blood but his mixed heritage offered him a unique chance to help the Oblivionite people and to earn forgiveness for the Ysali.

Akilae had a soft spot for other hybrids and to see others laying dead about him, with not the most basic care given for their bodies , it made bile rise in his throat. Swallowing the vile tasting acid the young man moved toward where he spotted a familiar figure. " Jun, why are you here?" The words came out a little raspy and filled with more than a little confusion. Jun did not seem the type to have been drawn out to the battlefields.

Green eye sparks glanced at the pink haired girl whom Jun, another and some drakein seemed focused on. She was the aiskala dovaa girl? She was clearly a Hybrid! If he had know that he would have tried to get to her faster. As it was he would offer to help but Ysali or not his healing skills were limited. Akilae was much better at inflicting wounds than fixing the damage of ones done to someone else.

Kadryn followed the large group across the desert and towards a cave, spotting an old acquaintance she hadn't seen in years, Killian. He looked real worried and anxious so she decided not to call out to him, but wondered what it was that had his so worried. She also saw quite a bit of hybrids about the place, perhaps the battle and chance at proving themselves equal to their pure blooded cousins had drawn them. She stayed with Maslin as they entered a cave, a quiver of excitement in her blood. So much tension in the air, would there be a battle soon?

The excitement fled once she saw the cages, bodies, and experiments. Rage began to fill her instead, how dare they cage and trap creatures and people to experiment on! A soft growl escaped and her hand grasped her mace. Who ever had doe this needed to be taught a lesson! She spotted a hybrid in a cage and saw Killian free her. Good, so that was over, not to seek out the perpetrators...
Her eye's narrowed as she spotted a blood trail and she stalked along its trail, anger simmering and longing to bash tie heads in on the disgusting people who'd done this.

(Going to Meta Battle A!)