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Friendship Stolen Away {DragonSong}

Started by Kalak8538, June 09, 2016, 03:15:47 PM

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Kalak8538

Shortsword in hand, the second of the two men quickly maneuvered through the crowd towards the square. He came to a halting stop as the dragon came down. It was her dragon. They had been warned about this, and were smart enough to know not to challenge the woman once the dragon showed up. He scrambled backwards away from it, hoping the dragonrider had not identified him before. Even if she had, the man hoped that he had not exposed himself long enough for her to identify him. He retreated, clumsily barreling through the chaos as quick as he was able.

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They had been moving for  while now. Trying to free himself had been in vain, and succeeded only to tire the Zerdani out. In desperation, Eihmo'tei resorted to body slamming the sides of the giant  wooden box. This only warranted pounding from outside, as the driver became annoyed with his captive's antics. The Zerdani became fatigued, but continued regardless. Over time, the thumping from inside died down more and more.

DragonSong

Kit wasn't looking for the man- he scented for the Zerdani, sifting through all the human scents to find Eihmo'tei.

With a sudden snarl he lunged forward, bounding through the streets on the trail of the scent.

Kalak8538

The man's scrambling became less and less coordinated as the dragon got closer. He began tripping over himself, increasingly desperate to get away from it. He truly believed that it was chasing him. What he did not realize was that he had gotten the Zerdani's scent on himself whilst restraining and carrying him.

The chaos had reached the ears of the local authorities. Fully armed soldiers surged forward to find, and eliminate, the cause of the disturbance. Everything changed when one called

"DRAGON!"

It was apparent that the guards were not prepared against such a threat. At least, not yet.

DragonSong

Oh great.

The guards.

Kiar raised her hands as Kit bounded over a group of them and called, "We're not here to hurt anyone, we're just looking for our friend!"

Kalak8538

The line of armored men recoiled as the dragon leaped over them. A commander was on the scene now, and responded to her in his loudest voice.

"Command your beast to halt, and dismount with your hands up!"

His tone was strict, and had an annoyed tone. More soldiers armed with spears were swarming around, trying (most likely in vain) to surround and entrap the dragon.

The force of the dragon hitting the ground again shook the earth. The man, already having a poor center of gravity, was toppled to the ground. With nothing else he could do, he scrambled for his shortsword, trying to draw it before the colossal creature was upon him.

DragonSong

Kit snarled and simply veered to the side.

Kiara laughed, making sure her body blocked Perryn from danger. "Or what?" she challenged. "Look, the sooner we find our friend, the sooner we're out of your city, alright?"

Kalak8538

The commander saw the child, cursing under his breath that he had not seen them before. The situation just became more... delicate. He would not risk harming the child, but neither was he about to let this madness continue. Al least the dragon stopped charging through the streets...

"Miss, this is Cirenis! We have ways of taking down a dragon!" he called.

It was obvious from his tone that this man did not respond well to challenges of his authority.

"This chaos ends now! You and the kid come down here now. We will discuss this "friend" situation once your beast has left my town!"

The sound of wooden wheels could be heard approaching. Three wagon-mounted ballistae, as well as their crews, rolled up from three separate directions. Already loaded, the tips of the bolts were tipped with steel bodkins. It was obvious what they were for...

DragonSong

Kiara's eyes narrowed, snapping fire. She lifted a hand and a flame flickered to life in her palm.

"I'm not interested in involving the whole damn town, but if you don't let me pass, I will start burning things."

Kalak8538

Every civilian had fled by now, leaving only guards in the clearing.

The ballistae rolled into the square, flanking the dragon on three sides. The crews got to work adjusting them, setting the sights on the black scaled dragon. Spears formed a wall that surrounded the trio. The commander slowly and confidently raised an open hand in the air.

"Archers!"

At his command, several men armed with longbows emerged from the alleyways. They stood on either side of their commander and knocked their weapons.

"Last chance!" he cried.

DragonSong

Kit growled and Kiara wrapped her arms around Perryn. "Hold onto his spikes, okay?" she whispered.

A soft tap of her heels and Kit launched himself into the air, soaring easily a hundred feet into the air with one massive beat of his wings.

Kalak8538

The spearmen were sent flying backwards from the sheer force of the wind. Those who were left standing watched in both fear and awe as the dragon took to the air. The crews on the ballistae were at a loss on how to proceed. When one man asked, his commander cried out,

"Keep an eye on them men! Fire only if they mean to come back!"

The kidnapper got the distance he needed. He rose, sheathed his sword, and disappeared into the town. He could blend easily amongst the still-frantic townspeople that ran for the safety of their homes.

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Eihmo'tei woke up, still bound and trapped inside the wagon. He rose slowly. Dizziness from constant movement flooded over him. He fell back down on his rear in response. It took a few minutes, but the Zerdani was able to recollect himself. Standing up again, he looked around for anything he could use to see outside.

Light was penetrating from only a single crack in the wooden box. A tiny slit, between two planks. Pressing his face up against it with some difficulty, Eihmo'tei was able to see outside. There was no longer any town left. Stone floors, human dwellings, even other humans were all gone. Now, there was only grass and trees.

The Zerdani panicked, listening around desperately for any sign that Kiara or Kit were close. Tears formed when he heard nothing. He scrambled around, unable to think clearly through the panic. He clumsily and haphazardly threw himself into the sides. All that happened was a mix of angry words and banging coming from the other side of the front wall. Eihmo'tei collapsed to the floor, weeping with hopelessness...

DragonSong

Once they were far enough away from the town Kiara urge Kit to land, pulling Perryn to the ground when she could to check the child for injury.

"We need to figure something out," she said to her dragon once she was satisfied he was none the worse for wear. "A plan."

Kalak8538

Cerenis was far behind now. The wagon containing the Zerdani converged with the three others of its trade caravan. With the four-wagon train united again, they began on their journey back to Essyrn.

A man came galloping up to join them. At his side was the shortsword he thought he needed back in town.

"There you are!" the driver called out, once he saw his comrade. "What happened to Omar?"

"Dead, I imagine. He stood in the dragonrider's way to buy us time." the rider responded with a sullen tone.

Eihmo'tei lay on the floor of the wagon, up against one of its walls. There was nothing he could do. His bindings were too tight, and Kiara was gone. All he could do was weep as they went along. The Zerdani had no idea where they were taking him, or what they would do to him once they got there...

DragonSong

They couldn't find him.

They'd searched for days. And they couldn't find them. Kiara was crushed, but she brought Perryn back to his home, and then she and Kit continued their search of Serenity.

A futile search.

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