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“The kids are all out hunting.”

Kadryn looked up from her reading to see Kirosh lounging against the door jam with a half smile on his face. She smiled and closed her book.
“It’s nice to have the house to ourselves again.”

“True… but I was thinking… we should go hunting again. Just us. Several days out in the wild.” He grinned; “We haven’t gone camping in a while... we should also leave Chu Lin behind to guard the house.”

What? And not be able to annoy him? Never!

Kadryn giggled as she heard Chu Lin’s mental response from where he lay dozing by the fireplace. It did have a certain lure ….

“Hmm…. I may need some convincing! It’s chilly out there.”

“Mmm, convincing is it? That should be fun.” Kirosh said as he pushed off the wall and saunter over to kiss his wife.

Ugh.. you two! I’m outta here… You should go leave and let me have a few days of peace!

“Chu Lin wants us to leave, give him some peace.” Kadryn said after the kiss as Kirosh slid down to join her on the couch. “I’d love a trip with just us! You never did show me some of those sights you promised.”

“Kids.” He said with a grin, pulling her into his arms. “And since they’re both gone… it’s a perfect time. Maybe I can catch a Rajsha while we are at it!”

“Mmm..” Kadryn nuzzled his neck. “The pack moved off already. I was gong to try and capture one for Tarlen to make him feel better about Peralian’s growing stash of orbs.”

“Not for me?”

“You can get your own, big boy! My baby needs it more. Besides, your Hastars would not appreciate it!”

“Such cruel words.” He sighed mournfully before laughing and picking her up. “Come on, let’s go pack and leave now. I feel the urge to go wander the dark misty coridors of Ayr during the Blood Moon! Maybe we can run into spooks!”

Kadryn laughed and looked at Chu Lin; “You’re in charge Lin till we get back!”

Call if you need help. Chu Lin looked at her and winked. I can be there in an instant… perks of being a spirit! No need to leave warm house and wander the cold with you!

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The ride to the valley was quiet; unusually so. The closer they got, the less sounds of wildlife there was. The sounds of far off birds could faintly be heard, as could the cry of a hunting rajsha… but that was it. Kirosh and Kadryn both loosened their weapons; for the land to be this quiet was trouble. Kadryn sat up and slid off to the Hastar. It was more than just the silence; Ayr was always quiet compared to others, it was a feeling in the air. Stillness, like the land was holding its breath, afraid to alert something. Kirosh and Kadryn paused at the opening to the valley.

“Should we leave the Hastars here?” Kadryn asked. They were acting skittish and obviously did not want to go any further.

“May be best.” He tied up the reins and grabbed his pack. Pointing further down he gave the order for them to wait. The relief that steamed off of them made Kadryn smile.

“What’s down there you think?” Her voice was quiet, a soft whisper that was dampened by the thick mists swirling about.

“Magic.” Kirosh answered just as softly with a wry smile. “No wind is blowing here and yet the mist stirs.”

“Not exactly the place for a camping trip.” Kadryn grinned as she took half the gear and stashed it in her pack. “Fun though!”

Kirosh chuckled; fun indeed! They’d have to go find a different place to camp; but that was a minor thing. Right now there was a mystery to explore! And maybe something to fight… which would make Kadryn happy.
“True enough. I wonder if it has anything to do with the Blood Moon.”

“Mmm… I bet.” Kadryn sighed as they entered the thick fog that hid the valley. “I know I’ve run across quite a few things that wake up during this time.”

“There is a ruin. Wonder if it’s a place of a battle?”

“Why a battle?” Kadryn asked as she walked next to Kirosh, her mace out and resting on her shoulder.

“Places of violence are where the Draugur and Wisps linger about. Blood magic mixes with the earth and causes the animation of plants and bone.” Kirosh answered as he unsheathed his rapier. He grinned in response to Kadryn’s raised eyebrow. “Not going to be able to get a good shot off in this thick fog, love. And by the time we notice something it’ll be too close for bows.”

“Haven’t really seen you ever fight with a blade before.”

“That’s cause normally you’re too preoccupied with your own fights or hog all the melee!”

Kadryn smiled and paused as a mournful shriek echoed through the fog.

“Draugur.” Kirosh said. “Odd… normally they aren’t found outside of Soudul.”

“What is a Draugur?” Kadryn asked as her eyes scanned the dense fog around her. It didn’t slink and writhe like the mists, it sat and slowly billowed about like a thick soup, sometimes revealing shadowy shapes before covering it in the grey white cloud. The sound hadn’t been too close, but she was prepared for a fight none the less.

“Birds of a sort. They actually live all over soudul, but are normally very shy and quiet. When the Blood Moon comes out it’s their mating season… so they’re much more aggressive and don’t hide as much. They need more nutrients during this time so they’ll attack creatures and people they normally don’t go near.”

“That completely ruins their image!” Kadryn giggled. “And here I was thinking they were shadowy spirits!”

He grinned and shook his head; “The Blood Moon’s power gives them strength to stand the sun, which is why they come out during the day. Other wise you’ll never see them outside of the dark. They’re really just nocturnal birds with some shadow magic to help them hide! Still dangerous though.”

“Birds the size of us? Definitely!” Kadryn heard the shriek echo once more. It was definitely getting closer. “I’ve never seen one before.. think its coming this way?”

Kirosh nodded and paused, a frown on his face as the fog began to light up.
“They’re not alone either.”

“Wisps.” Kadryn agreed as she concentrated and bound a bit more of her innate magic into her mace. These she had met before; and they were very ethereal and didn’t die as easily to her mace… but the light magic of her people on the other hand! That was very effective! Probably will also be of use against the

Flickering lights soon illuminated the fog eerily in blue and green, the skulls of the Wisps reflected and twisted into huge shadows dancing in the lights. Darker shadows flickered in the light, faint images of claws and feathers darkening then vanishing. The haunting shriek pierced the silence and Kadryn’s mace came off her shoulder as a Draugur emerged from the shadows. A gaping beak and large claws reached towards her as the long flowing form of the Draugur fluttered like a cloak in the wind; it’s long shadowy feathers almost shapeless in the flickering light of the wisps.

Her mace shattered its beak, ending the shriek with a bloody crunch. Her mace glowed in its own pale blue light, it’s gilded form channeling the divine magic of the Orderites. Kiorsh was no master of the blade, but he knew how to fight. His blade was enchanted with fire; the blade etched with faintly simmering runes.
He was fast and a lot stealthier than Kadryn, so he stepped back into the fog and let it cloak him while the wisps and Draugur started to swarm Kadryn over. He knew she fought best when surrounded, and kept out her reach so she would not need to worry about hitting him. Instead he attacked from behind, his blade piercing the shadowy form of another Draugur. Its shrieked turned from predatory to pained and he slashed upwards to end its misery. Kadryn’s mace lashed out to crush a wisp that floated towards her, spinning on her feet to meet it. She grinned as the fire of the will-o-wisp turned to smoke that wafted away from her glowing mace.
Two more floating skulls in their colored fire flew at her, a soft susurrus of words whispering barely understandable madness drifting through the fog. She laughed at the words, ignoring them as she dashed forward to lash out in a mighty blow; dispersing the unnatural fire into smoke that faded away.

She looked at Kirosh and smiled before stiffening and going into a protective stance at the chill that spread out. Something big moved through the fog nearby; something that set her senses afire. Kirosh too felt it and slid his rapier away to string his bow. He knew this sense, could feel the call of darkness that radiated out from it.

“Diabi.” He whispered as he stepped closer to Kadryn. Her eyes scanned the fog looking for the sign that meant something was stirring it with movement.

A roar shattered the silence and the fog burst aside as huge horned head erupted from it, mouth gaping wide with rows of sharp fangs glistening. Kirosh and Kadryn dove out of the way, Kirosh firing his arrow as he did so. Kadryn skidded to a halt and gave into the berserk call; her blood bounded and vising went red. There was no fear; there was only the call to kill. She laughed as it blew a cloud of smoke at her; she flew upwards and dove down at it, glowing mace crashing into the pitch-black scales with a bloody crunch.
It hissed in annoyance and turned to snap at her, only to receive a barrage of arrows that hissed with acid to its side. Kadryn climbed up the neck, her mace leaving a bloody trail of desolated scales streaming dark blood down to splatter onto the ground. Kirosh continuously moved, always firing arrows that glowed with power; fire, ice, light, acid, he had them all and used them all. This was the greatest of the dragons; to hold back anything was to risk death.

Kadryn rode the dragon’s head as it whipped back and forth, slamming into the ground trying to get he painful bug off. Finally she reached its head and grabbed ahold of the horn, using it to stabilize herself as she readied her final blow. The maces, spiked and reinforced with magic, slammed down into the eye with a disgusting pop and dove into the brain.
The Dragon shuddered and slowly dissolved as death claimed it.


Kirosh gave a hoarse chuckle; “You really like going for the eyes don’t you?”

Kadryn gave him a tired smile. “Easiest way! Otherwise it’s a much longer more painful battle!”


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