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 Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 2:34 pm
Within moments, the square was deserted. Breathing a sigh of relief, Eclipse let go of the dragon's head and closed her own eyes. Her body began to change as a soft, black haze began to disperse from her form.
Several seconds later, the small street rat was gone, and an elegant black dragon stood in her place.
For her kind, she was small and rather dainty, but her eyes carried a look of fierce power. She was young, still a child among dragons, but she showed no vulerabilities. It was a trait she had inherited from her father, Oberon Moonwood, one of the most powerful dragons in the land.
Twisiting her serpentine neck to look around catiously, she neatly wrapped the unspiked side of her tail around the larger dragon's midsection and gripped his back in her back claws. Her bat-like wings - black with a sparkling silver underside - extended, and she took flight.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 2:38 pm
His eyes faintly fluttered open, just long enough to look up and see Eclipse above him.
Wow, what a beautiful dragon... he thought, making sure to keep it to himself.
Kolon could only wonder where she was taking him, and if those damn rifle-carrying dwarves were still after him. Undoubtedly they were, but wherever he was headed, it was safer than the city.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:01 pm
Moving at a surprisingly fast pace for something so small bearing that much weight, it wasn't long before Eclipse arrived at her destination. Gently setting the larger dragon down on a large bed of rock, she landed gracefully next to him. This is my father's territory, she told him, Slayers wouldn't dare come here. They would never be able to defeat a dragon like him. It's safe.
Coming down to all fours, she shut her silvery cat like eyes and began to change back to her human form. I can work better like this, she said, slightly embarrassed, Opposable thumbs are one of the few things that humans have going for them. Whistling once again - she played the role of the cheery thief quite easily - she moved into a nearby grove of trees and plants and pulled out one of her daggers. Neatly slicing up some herbs she had planted ages ago, she carried them back to the injured dragon. Delicately, she began to remove the arrows from his side before reaching for the spear in his spine.
So, you never told me your name, she told him, curious. I'm Eclipse. Who are you?
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:28 pm
He winced as she removed the lodged projectiles, and let out a long, draconic sigh.
Kolon Whistlewind, the beast informed her. I came from the Scalestep Mountains, a few hundred miles away from here... Hunters are relentless, I can't even begin to tell you.
His tail twitched slightly as she began to remove the spear, the pain was intense.
And I can't thank you enough, either, Eclipse... I owe you my life.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:22 pm
"It's nothing..." Eclipse said aloud, blushing in embarrassment. "I'm only doing my job." Naturally, had she said anything else, that would have made her look like a weak-hearted sentimentalist. "I recover plans and information from the slayers and hunters, and I help out my fellow dragons when possible. I answer only to Father, and I spy for dragonkind, and dragonkind alone."
Using two rocks, she crushed the plants she had found and began to spread them over Kolon's wounds. "It's nice to meet you, Kolon Whistlewind," she said automatically - her manners were practiced and perfect. She smiled. "If you were to change forms, I could stitch you up. Needle and thread don't pierce scales very well, but they work with human skin. That's probably your best bet to stop the bleeding."
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:24 pm
Cai fed everyone in her family and brought her step-mother's food into the room on a tray. When she was finally able to eat herself, she went outside and sat in the open field, staring at the sky.
Like every other day, she started daydreaming while absentmindedly ate her meal. Boring, that was the only other word she would use to describe her life. She wanted adventure, just something to get her away from this, well, this dump.
That was when she heard the crash in the town and she looked over, but couldn't see anything from where she sat. Then villagers started screaming, and she became even more intrigued. What is it? she asked herself, rushing over to the edge of her father's land. Two dragons appeared, and she followed them with her eyes where they went.
Looking back at her house, she decided, what the hell, she'd go for it. She set her plate in the grass and climbed over the fence, heading in the direction of where the dragons went.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:27 pm
Kolon nodded, and was about to begin his transformation... but something caught his nose.
Letting out a roar, he smashed his tail into the ground and glared at Cai, apparently not conceiving that she wasn't a threat to them.
A human... What is she doing on your father's land?
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:31 pm
Cai jumped backwards and hid slightly behind a tree. She had heard stories of the things they could to, but were they really all that bad? After all, they used to be welcomed in the kingdom.
Peering out from the tree, she started near them again, cautiously and saw the other girl. "Oh, hello," she said, quietly, staring at the dragon and wondering where the other one went.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:39 pm
I don't know, Eclipse replied, her voice calm as it always was, But it's just a peasant girl. Hopefully she's stupid, and won't connect me to the dragon she probably saw. There are some humans who live here, but they're all my father's subjects, of a sort. They won't do anything to us, nor will they side with the hunters, if they make it this far.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded of the girl without turning around, "This is my father's land, and you're tresspassing. What business do you have here?" Finally turning around, she locked disdainful and irritated deep blue eyes on the girl's blue-green ones.
But the more important question, Eclipse thought to herself, is 'how much did she see?'
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:44 pm
"Begging your pardon miss," she said, curtsying slightly before going to a full stand again. "I saw dragons, and I wanted to come check them out. But, I probably should just leave then." She motioned her thumb back the way she had come. The large beast in front of her was slightly unnerving, but she tried not to show it.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:46 pm
She can stay if she's not here to cause trouble, he suggested, She's clearly seen enough just from you tending to my wounds. Plus, she's unarmed... I don't smell any metal on her, at all.
He grunted, and curled his sleak, whip-like tail back around his legs, where it had been resting previously.
Ask her what her name is.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:54 pm
Fine, Eclipse replied, Don't start to get attatched if she speaks to you. Depending on circumstances, I may have to make her... dissapear.
It was odd, the amount of respect this country girl was giving the authoritative beggar and thief. After all, in her human form that was all she was. She crossed her arms after adjusting her hat. "Who are you?" she asked, her voice blunt. There were times for delicacy, times for formality, times for acting... this wasn't really one of those. She didn't care what this girl thought of her.
Check them out? she thought wryly, That's scout-speak. It's a possibility that she's with the slayer-knights. Be careful about what you say to her, if you say anything. Anything she hears might go straight back to them.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:57 pm
"Caigon Mist Devonshire miss," she stated, fiddling with the hems of her shirt nervously. "I-it won't attack me, right?" she asked, looking at the dragon's face warily.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 8:05 pm
"If you believe he'll attack you simply because he's a dragon, then you, Miss Caigon Mist Devonshire, have no place on this mountain," Eclipse said coldly, "You worthless human bigots see a dragon, and run for your lives without a second thought. You disgust me. Kolon is injured, by fault of your precious hunters. And they're doing nothing but attacking innocent dragons for gold." She spat out the last word as if it were poison. "You people are sickening. When dragons attack humans, there is always a reason. And more often than not, that reason is that you attacked first."
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 8:21 pm
Kolon gave her and odd look, and shook his head.
Don't be so hard on her, Eclipse, you sound just like them. Being stereotypical won't get anyone anywhere. Maybe she's not like the others after all?
It was in his nature to be so naive as to suggest it, but she didn't seem like someone who could cause them harm.
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