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Sain sat at the end of the Blessed path, where all possibilities and futures converged. The manifested as mere light, for the shifting realm of what would be moved too fast to truly create images. But the pale-haired creature knew what to look for and after a moment he reached out and twirled a couple strands of gold around his fingers, like thread. These were the things that had passed and were already set in stone. Things had changed and the intervention of the Blessed Path was only slight. However, that in turn had changed some other things. Sain's face was, like usual, emotionless.

Shadine's work had been noted, briefly, and the Ascended had not stayed in Genyiel long. Just to ensure that all the young dragons she had sent on the rescue mission were returned home by the Knights. Then she had taken her departure with barely a word to Master Lierce. The Fallen had also retreated and the mass destruction of the human lands that would have resulted in another war was averted. Instead, it fell to merely hit and runs that Baroness Yvette was used to. She sent out her dragon hunters in retaliation and the Borderlands was in a state of turmoil. Avalene was easy to lose in it all and would remain hidden until she was needed again.

Sain let go of those strands. Yvette's plans were stalled for now. The stolen eggs had hatched and it would be hard for her to obtain any new ones with the Borderlands in such a state of unrest. Even the Fallen could be useful.

He took hold of a couple other strands and studied them for a moment. They were like mist in his fingers but they were the strongest of all the paths the future could take.

A power in the south growing, hidden between Fallen territory and Fairy land. Turned inward on itself, like a coiled snake, hoping to remain hidden.

Black wings to contrast the golden threads of the Blessed Path. Sain hissed, showing real emotion and let that thread slide away.

The Prophet had a thread of his own - strange. It was far too unstable for him to discern anything.

Tarketh was too concerned with his own affairs to be important now. His thread was dull compared to the rest.

Genyiel still burned, as it always did, and Sain spared it a glance. Hammand had survived - good - and the Knights were defending what they could without an outright confrontation between dragon and dragon.

Yvette's strand changed too quickly and Sain frowned. It seemed for a moment the black wings touched it, briefly. That would do to be watched... perhaps Risen needed a task.

Or perhaps the dragon should be left to find his own duty.

Sain closed his eyes, blocking out the sights of the future. Too many possibilities.

And elsewhere in the world, the future didn't matter, just what was here and now.

((this is set months ahead of Heritage. It's to tie up some loose ends with some characters - if you're not sure if your character fits, ask in the shop. I'll answer.))

It had been a long time since Risen had set foot on the mountains that he had once called home and now that he had managed to return there it no longer felt like the comforting place it use to be. With every step he could see possible futures and long forgotten pasts that touched the Blessed path which he had sought for so fervently. He was slowly learning to read what it had to tell him and what direction it wanted him to go. He had avoided other dragons as he walked. He felt that he didn't belong with them any longer. At times he used his human form and had gotten comfortable with switching between that and his dragon form. It would be important he felt. For now he was resting on a high rock in dragon form feeling the pulls of the threads of fate. One definitely was pulling him down to the human lands where violence was common and those that he had traveled with before roamed still out of the wolves' jaws. Another told him to seek out others like himself to learn of himself better.

The ranger stood up upon the presence of the newcomer, brushing off the stray grass from her knees as she did so.

"G'day, fellow traveler," she said as turned toward the man. "Is there someway that I may be of service? The water's clear and safe for drinking if you be looking for a spot for your horses to rest."

Her stance was casual, though her thoughts were wary. The fellow had said nary a word on his approach which put her at slight unease. Though she caught a sight at a sheathed blade at his hip, she was unsure if the scabbard was worn due to age or more possibly use from the brief look she got.

"Yes, sir. I be she."

Even though it hadn't been much of a question she felt obligated to acknowledge, bowing to the speaker before her though deeper than what he had for her. He was known to her from past travels to the keep, but she had not met the fellow in person. The quality of the horses with him backed what he said along with his manners.

"I do appreciate the Lady's generosity and will come, post haste. I assure you though, my own horse will not slow our travels and may be of assistance if you are in need of my services," the ranger said as she moved to the side of Dulcimer and hopped up to the saddle.

Though she had her suspicions, no matter what sort of call this might be, it would be bad taste to turn down such a meeting without hearing the offer.

The ranger remained obviously silent in regards to leaving her horse behind. If she needed to make a stand about it, it would happen when it would need to - and with four days hard ride, it just might happen. The man had said he was looking for speed, not stamina. That is what he really meant. There was a difference. She would have to pace Dulcimer if she was going to keep up with this man.

She had not been expecting the Head Guard to bring up Avalene though.

"Yes," she answered simply and was about to continue when there words in her head that were not her own interrupting her thoughts. She looked at the man not far ahead of her with a slight look of confusion before shrugging it off as something she must have misheard.

When the voices happened again, with an even more ominous message than before, she pulled straight back on the reigns disregarding the pace Caleb had set and looked around the road. There was only one time in the past that she had ever heard voices speak to her in her mind that were not her own. If Caleb wished to keep going, that was his business, but if there was tainted around...

But it was daylight yet. Not a time for vampires and their ilk to be about. A serious look set on the ranger's face as she first scanned the sky and then the woods to the side for some sort of place something could hide in darkness.

The buzzing of the voice was back in her head, but she still had no being to pin it to. There had been an interesting offer made by the voice... and it was tempting to listen to it just to see where it would lead, but now was not the time to wonder about the promises from a disembodied messenger with no name. In the past, one had nearly lead her off a cliff while requesting her 'assistance' in killing someone.

"We're being followed," she answered, nudging Dulcimer to near one side of the road as she looked farther into the side. She looked back to Caleb with a steel look. "I do know who you are, but have you fought Tainted before?" Interestingly enough her hand was not going for either her sword or bow.

Tarketh slid into the narrow opening, holding his breath and clutching the plants close to his chest. They were wrapped in watertight leather and would not touch his scales or the exposed skin around his hands. It wasn't that they'd kill him... the effects would just be unpleasant. After a moment of half-swimming, half-plodding in the narrow swamp water he scraped through into bedrock and up into open air. He took a couple deep breaths.

It was a nice arrangement. The caves above looked like his home. When he had visitors it was his home. And he'd found it ransacked before by Lamia and her ilk. Of course, in order for there to be caves in a swamp there had to be something holding them up and keeping the swamp water at bay.

Lucky him had found the entrance to the bedrock and after years of work with claw and magic he'd carved out these tunnels. Subtle vents led up to the surface so that the air did not become suffocating and his true work area would not contaminate those inside it with the toxins.

Well, as long as he wanted it that way. Smiling to himself, the dragon shook himself and slid through the narrow hallways until he reached his work room. Beakers, boxes, and all sorts of things from the eastern trade routes resided on stout wooden tables and carved rock shelves. He placed the herbs on a flat raised stone to dry and raised his head.

Further back in the darkness of his dwelling was his cave, a bowl where he slept. There was also a pit, dug into the belly of the bedrock, far too deep for a human to climb out of. Smiling softly, Tarketh made his way for it.

-From his head spinning to open his eyes from darkness to just greet darkness was not something he enjoyed. Ashley looked around at the rock and heard the rubble move and looked straight up and stayed silent as he went to reach for his sword out of old habit to only find it was not by his side.-
'Dam..' -he stated in a silent scowling tone, though it didn't matter who really was listening cause the event replied in his mind remember the seconds of that day.-
-He then thought momentarily of Ashlynn and how she was at least safe if she listen and knowing the dragon would take good care of her. Then his thoughts went to how was he going to get out of this situation after all he wasn't going to give this one up to easily.-