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Scales and Honor: City of Light

Chapter 23: Dragon Hunter

"I need your help." Arcturus blurted out after breakfast to Krotos, who was outside stretching his blue wings in the morning sun's golden rays. The rays made his sea foam tipped wings shine as he arched his beak and splayed his ears.

"Help with what?" The gryphon asked his brown eyes glancing to him with an amused look before softening. "It's to find the dragon isn't it?" he gave a thoughtful chirp, as he started to preen his feathers carefully with his beak.

"Yes its to find the dragon....Why else would I need your help?"

"You could have needed help with that meditation thing that you do." Krotos shrugged.

"No." Arcturus sighed. He had skipped his morning meditation. After all he did not think he could preform the spells anyway. For when he tried to recite his morning oaths he found he was unable to cast out Veledar. His pleasing touch, addicting scent, and comforting presence were all laid bare in his mind. The dragon he longed to have again.

"Well you certainly came to the right gryphon." Krotos mumbled, as he continued to clean himself with quick, careful pecks with his yellow beak.

"You like to be clean huh?" he crossed his arms, internally laughing that Krotos took longer than Veledar to clean himself.

"But of course!" The gryphon stopped for a moment, to throw him a look as if the human had grown two heads. "Do you like to be utterly filthy? I know you take baths to clean yourself."

Arcturus rolled his eyes. "Yes I like to be clean..But I don't take ages to do it either."

"Than clearly you do not enjoy getting clean." Krotos flicked his tail, his own eyes just closing as he continued away at his fur. "Do you even have a plan to find your dragon? Or is it simply we hope we find him the plan?"

"Well..." Arcturus held up his finger. He did not have an exact plan per say. "I could feel the dragon come to the estate last night. He was around last night. I don't know where he was or what he was doing, but I knew he was there." Arcturus could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he held his stare at the gryphon. Like he needed to show him through his eyes how sure he was. "Veledar did come."

Krotos stopped preening suddenly. He opened his beak and let out a loud, "Awk Awk Awk!"

"Came to, not in you dirty thing.....honestly keep your mind out of the dredges,"

"Stop make it so easy than." Krotos stuck his pink tongue out at him. "What do you mean by feel him?"

"We share a magical bond that allows us to share emotions. Sometimes on purpose and other times by accident. We also can share spells with it, and apparently it has allowed me to speak and understand some draconic."

"The growly language the dragon speaks in sometimes?"

"Aye."

"This bond thing sounds like a very intimate and great thing to have!" Krotos laughed. "I can imagine mating with the big guy is very pleasurable if you both can feel each other's pleasure!"

"Right." Arcturus had not thought of that. It would be just another reason to get the dragon back after all.

"Okay, okay. So if your red scaled lover was here last night...Where did he go?"

"That's what I wanted to know." Arcturus sighed, causing Krotos to pad over and wrap a wing around him.

"It's okay Arcturus. I am sure he is just as distraught as you. He probably doesn't know how to go about apologizing to you. Dragon pride and all that." Krotos looked to the large mountain in the distance, and the fluffy clouds that hung in the area around it. "Can you feel him now?"

"Let me find out."

Arcturus closed his eyes and focused on his dragon. His tawny wings, his membranes. He pictured his glorious red scales, his cerulean eyes, his white talons, and his growly laughter. He pictured in his mind a vast grey fog. He reached out with his hand to the fog, trying to pull the emotions from his dragon from it. He felt a small tingle of emotions from within this mental fog. It was like he had felt last night in the rainstorm. The same swirling emotions of guilt, sadness, simmering anger, and lastly confusion.

_ Found him._

"I think he is still close by. At least within flying distance of the estate."

Krotos stopped his preening again to tilt his head and give him an inquisitive stare. "And your going to follow to where ever this feeling leads?"

Arcturus nodded. "Precisely..Now are you going to help me or not?"

"But of course Arcturus." The gryphon rose up onto all four limbs, and gave his wings one large stretch as he arched his back. "I am here here for you in your time of sadness like I wanted to oh so long ago."

"Wait."he gestured to Krotos to follow as he went to retrieve his cloak and sword from the kitchen. He mentally kicked himself for forgetting them by the table. He blamed the pleasant smelling bacon that Feku had procured. "You wanted to comfort me OH SO LONG AGO?" He raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me I have had a gryphon secretly pining after me?"

"No." Krotos squawked in protest. Easily keeping pace to walk beside him. "Course if you offered I would not say no. I can imagine quite some pleasurable moments we could-"

"Krotos. Focus."

"Awk,Awk,Awk." The gryphon chuckled. "I thought getting mated by the dragon would have had you more accepting of my kind."

"What gave you the impression I had a thing against gryphons?" he laughed in return. "I did fancy a gryphon or two in my youth."

"Really now?" Krotos leaned his head forward. "Males or females?"

"Both?"

The gryphon threw his head back in chirps of laughter. "You surprise me Arcturus. I thought you were some sort of prude!"

"No...Just cause you don't hear my bragging bout it or telling stories doesn't mean I am a prude!"

"Well...did you ever..you know...mate?" Krotos nudged him with his flank as they entered the kitchen.

Arcturus snatched his sword up in a flash, and attaching the scabbard to his leather belt. He tossed his cloak around his shoulders and fastened the metal clasp. "Consider my lips sealed on the matter. I am not an open book for you birdy." He laughed, and tossed Krotos a playful smirk.

"Hmmpf." Krotos ruffled up his feathers. "I bet you did...and with the male too!" Krotos' voice gave way to chirping laughter as they turned to head back outside to the morning air.

"So what did you mean you wanted to comfort me? Yesterday you seemed to do that just fine." he stopped and looked the gryphon right in his eyes, finding that within them he saw genuine concern.

"Well...I meant it was two years ago." Krotos fidgeted as he shifted his weight from side to side. "After Dreadflame There were talks about you coming to become a rider of gryphons. We figured it would only be natural if something like that were to happen again, surely the brave dragon slayer would want a gryphon companion to carry them into the sky." Krotos looked away from him, almost as if he were embarrassed. "I saw your face after the incident with your family. You looked so lost, full of pain, a hallow man." Krotos snapped his gaze back to Arcturus' own. "I wanted to be the one who helped you heal. The one to lift you out of the swamp of your sadness."

"And get in my pants I bet." Arcturus chuckled, and crossed his arms.

"That....also my have crossed my mind...but that's besides the point." the gryphon laughed. "Took after my mother I suppose, being all empathetic and such."

"Your mother?"

"Oh come now. Every living thing has a mother. So don't act surprised when I did in fact have one. Shes a healer for the gryphon flight training. She can even call on some magic to do the job...That's another topic though, back to the topic at hand." The gryphon waved a forelimb. "To my disappointment you did not get a gryphon that day, nor any day after. I considered finding you and trying to help you anyway, but things kept on coming up."

Arcturus tried to not show his surprise over the gryphon's confession. "Krotos...that is most kind of you. I would have certainly needed a friend during that time like you."

"You got me now though, so there's that." Krotos nudged him again. "This time I think your stuck with me too."

"Stuck with you? Are you a form of punishment then?"

"Nonsense! But with your love gone. It falls upon my job to look out for you!"

"Your job?" Arcturus felt his eyebrow raising once more at this.

"Yes!" Krotos exclaimed, than after a moment he hung his head and lowered his voice. "It's what Gus would have done."

"I..." Arcturus stumbled as words failed him in that moment. So he extended a hand and ran it through Krotos soft fur, making sure he was scratching him in a pleasant fashion. "Thank you Krotos...It is what he would have done."

"Arcturus!"

Arcturus turned to see Merlia, sprinting out from the estate towards them in her full gear. She stopped a few feet from them with a wrinkle on he brow and a glare. "Are ya takin Krotos here?"

"Not yet he's not." Krotos ruffled his feathers once again. "He has not asked that of me yet."

"Not that blueberry....Now if ya be takin him, what in bonnie blazes do ya expect me ta use ta scout da other patrols?"

Arcturus placed a hand to his chin and tapped his foot for a moment in thought. He thought to the royal purple thing that had carried his friends to the estate. The one with the golden tassels and the great dragon stitched onto it's surface. "How about that magical carpet of Shandalar's? You could always ask permission to use it."

"Hmmm. Now dat be a thought lad. Although I will prob jus be takin it." He chuckled, "Easier to ask forgiveness den permission I say." She than crossed her arms, and gestured to Arcturus and the gryphon with a finger. "Are ya going ta be getting more familiar wit each other?"

"Only if-." Krotos started to say.

"No." Arcturus held his hand up over his beak to silence the bird. "We are going to find Veledar, and I need him to do that."

"Aye lad. I understand completely." Merlia nodded. "Krotos there will do ya right. He has quite the beak for that sort of thing."

"Merlia you certainly know my beak is good for most things." Krotos pulled back from Arcturus hand, and laughed.

"That be right ya dirty bird you." she thrust a finger at Krotos, and then to Arcturus. "Now be safe the both of ya. I don't want ta git word dat ya be up to ya ears in trouble. Den I have to come down and save both of yer fluff butts."

"I don't have a..." Arcturus went to mention but Merlia cut him off.

"Jus be safe lad...Now if ya excuse me..I gotta magic carpet to go St--borrow. Remember I half ta be doin some of dis "real" work that da elf be blabbin about." With a casual wave Merlia strode back over to the kitchen door and into the estate.

"Well...okay you ready to go?" He turned back to Krotos, who had returned to preening his feathers rigorously.

"I suppose...Do you have food for out little search? Or should we also be hunting for our food out there?"

"You want to hunt out there?"

"I always like to hunt! Krotos clacked his talons in and out.

"I think I have some dried meat still left in my pack, and some water...Hardly a meal at all...but it does the job I suppose."

"So I do have to hunt then. Maybe I can find us a deer to share or some rabbits."

"Focus!" He hissed, causing Krotos to chuckle.

"I will focus, I am just thinking of a side activity to do when your stomach yells at you in anger."

"Thanks for the concern, but I think finding Veledar takes priority over simple hunger. I would gladly take a day of that or a day of not eating if it allowed me to find him.

"I hope that dragon of yours realizes how lucky he is to have you." Krotos sighed, looking to the mountain and unfurling his wings. 'To have such a dedicated and determined mate." He turned back to him with a grin. "So lets get to finding your dragon so you can get to it. I have heard that make up mating among mortals can be quite pleasurable. Heck maybe the red guy will even let me join in!"

"Yea, I would not get your hopes up on that one blue bird." he laughed as Krotos looked ready to bounce on his paws at his outburst.

"Nonsense." Krotos fluffed his feathers. "The red scaled bum already told me he would pound my fluff butt into the ground."

"Oh yea?" Arcturus crossed his arms. "When did my dearest dragon offer this little deal?"

"Before you two went and confessed your love for one another...Now granted it may have changed since we last spoke of it." Krotos rolled his eyes. "Considering you have a mating thing going on now."

Arcturus shook his head at the openness that was being displayed by the gryphon. He mentally reminded himself he should not have been surprised. They were an open peoples after all. "And in this scenario that you are imagining. Am I just off to the side while you two go at it?"

"Oh no." Krotos gave a lusty growl from his throat. "I imagine you would be shared. Or join in the activities as it were." The gryphon than gave a sigh, "I will not understand the mortal way to deny yourself pleasure, and consider it odd or strange when others do."

"Well come on blue feathers, before you go into detail about having your way with me."

"I did not mean to make you angry." The gryphon turned his head away again, "We find comfort in a different way."

"By mating with them." Arcturus replied flatly.

"Only sometimes...but with another gryphon? Almost certainly, but when your friends with humans, elves, dwarves, or other two legged beings, things are a tad more complicated.

"Consider me flattered that you would want to cheer me up then. Although I could certainly do without the sexual innuendos or hints."

"That.. I am afraid is something that I cannot stop. To deny myself those things, I would cease to be the lovely blue gryphon that you see before you." Krotos opened his wings wide to show them off with a grin. "See? What do you think?"

"If your talking about your preening? Good job on keeping yourself clean. If you mean for me to compliment your wings? I will say they are nice, but they are not the most beautiful wings I have laid eyes upon.

"That's not fair." Krotos stuck his tongue out at him. "You will always pick the dragon's wings over mine."

"Tis only because in those regards his boasts ring true in my eyes." Arcturus thought to Veledar's scent that reminded him of a comforting summers fire, and his heartbeat that guided him to sleep each night. He thought to his warmth that would cast out the cold air, and his beautiful scales that might have held him awe a few more times than he would like to admit. "He is a delight to my senses Krotos, in that regard you hold no candle."

"Spoken like a true little thrall, held sway by the dragons will."

"Your just jealous." He playfully pushed the gryphon with both of his hands. Krotos just offered him a glare in response, as his crown feathers extended.

"N-nonsense!"

"Right.."

"Captain!" Shandalar called out from the third floor. She had apparently opened a window.

"Yes?" He shouted back, cupping his hands around his mouth.

"I need to see you before you head out to find that dragon on yours!"

He paused for a moment, "How did you know?"

"It's only logical! Now hurry your way up here! It will give you more time to scan the area for Crimson Sky!"

"Well you heard her." Krotos nosed him with his beak, pushing him towards the kitchen. "Lets get this over with."

"Oh and bring Krotos! He will want to hear this as well!"

"I will?" the gryphon stopped his pushing to raise his head, his crown feathers rising up again. He than wrapped a wing around the human and started dragging him inside as a quicker pace then before.

"So your into trotting now?"

"Well you heard the wizard Arcturus. "Something that I will find interesting? Do you know how often a wizard or an adventurer tells me something that I would find interesting?" He paused for a moment as Arcturus shot him a grin. "Okay don't answer that." The gryphon rolled his eyes with an irritated chirp. "Since you all have entered my life things that have interested me has risen like one thousand times more than usual."

"Bored of guard duty?"

"Ok...I wasn't exactly bored, but there were less magical beasts, flying monsters, and armies to worry about."

"You make it sound terrible!" Arcturus laughed as they made their way up the squeaky stairs.

"Well...its..more...thrilling." Krotos stopped to stare at the stairs beneath his talons. "How do these things make so much noise! They sound like a female gryphon in heat calling out her orgasms!"

Arcturus suddenly froze mid stride. "They sound like what now?" He chuckled as they resumed walking up them. "Your pulling my leg."

"How many female gryphons have you heard reach their climax?"

"Okay..you have me there..my number is...zero."

"Precisely, so trust me when I say it sounds similar or close enough to it." Krotos looked up and sighed. "Sends a shiver down my spine and makes me think of more pleasurable memories of the past."

"Blame my father then." Arcturus laughed, wondering what his father at this moment would say to the description of his stairs sounding like that. "He wanted them to be squeaky. Figured he wanted to hear people as they were coming and going up or down them."

"I think your dear old father might have had a thing for that sound I think." The gryphon laughed loudly a few times before continuing. "You mentioned having gryphon maids yes?"

"Uh..yeah?" Arcturus sighed, as he realized where this was going.

"Your father I bet partook of the help."

"No..." the human trailed off, not too sure as they passed the study. He paid it little mind as Krotos rushed by it with a scraping of talons.

"You don't sound too sure of that answer Arcturus." The gryphon grinned with his eyes closed for a moment.

"Is all you think about sex and things gryphon?" Arcturus pushed his persistent beak away with a slight pressure.

"No of course not!" Krotos swung his head back, reminding Arcturus of a certain red dragon. "But it does pass the time, and...honestly" the gryphon stopped mid stride. "Have you once thought about your troubles while I was making these comments about gryphon nethers and orgasms?"

"No..." he replied truthfully, grinning as it dawned on him. "You sly somabitch." he patted the gryphons fur again.

"See I know how to help you! Now stop staring at my ass long enough to talk to the elf!"

"I'm not staring at your ass!"

"I saw you look, trust me. They bounce as much as you think."

"Come on blue feathers. Before your flagging and asking me to relieve you." He waved for Krotos to continue along with him.

"Well.."

"Krotos!" he grabbed the gryphon gently by the ear and dragged him into the library as Krotos chuckled in his throat.

"Hah its working!"

Arcturus gazed up from the amused gryphon to see Shandalar standing at the same table as before. She was still wrapped up in her brown robes, but now the areas that had been gold were now a bright royal purple. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a dark green cloth by one of the book cases with four candles, one on each of it's edges. Shandalar meanwhile was currently speaking to Lyndis, who was standing beside her with crossed arms and a blank face. She still was wearing her blackshirt, and charcoal colored leggings.

"Are you sure?" the half-elf asked, her amber eyes full of curiosity.

Shandalar gave her a quick nod. "Quite."

"Sure about what?" Arcturus spoke loudly as he let go of Krotos, whom gave him a soft amused chirp in his ear.

"Sure that the gryphon there does not have a single bloody clean thought in his bird brain." Lyndis laughed, gesturing to Krotos with a wave of her hand.

"Hey, lets take it easy on the name calling Lyndis. I have a most talented tongue."

"I bet." Lyndis rolled her eyes.

"At rebuttals, get your mind out of the swamp Lyndis. Awk Awk Awk."

"See what I'm dealing with?" Arcturus gestured to the gryphon by holding out both of his arms wide. Krotos just puffed out his feathers and stood proudly as he did this.

"No." Shandalar looked to Lyndis. "I was telling Lyndis here about what I have uncovered in the scrolls we found in the laboratory."

"And." He gestured to her, with his heart starting to beat faster in curiosity. After all, he needed to know what all the suffering they had endured was for.

_ Please let whatever Gus died and Veledar's book burned for be worth it._

"Well." Shandalar placed a rolled up scroll and spread it on the table after moving aside the mass of paperwork. "Sorry for the mess Arcturus I will of course pick up before we leave your estate."

Arcturus did not reply and simply dismissed that statement with a wave of his hands as he stared intently at the words on the parchment. Most of it was in what the wizard had called "ancient" draconic. She pointed to a large section of scratchings.

"It mentions those crystals being completed with the "Source". Which as I thought this source is of course the source of all the mana crystals powers. You see with that large golden one around, it powers up all the little ones, allows them to function, and without it." She held up her fist and opened it quickly to mime an explosion. "All the mana crystals would cease to function."

"And...Gus' soul would be set free?" Krotos blurted out loudly, causing his voice to crack. "I c-can put him to rest?"

Shandalar stopped talking as if to think about the birds words. She held a hand to her chin, gazing to the gryphon before her eyes sunk and she let out a large drawn out sigh. "I don't know if someones soul is trapped within the crystals but it would certainly put an end to the advantage that Lumara has over it's enemies." The elf crossed her arms, a smile emerging on her face. "I daresay it would end the war right in it's tracks...Or at least pave the way for the defeat of the nation."

"That's...amazing." Arcturus gasped, looking to the picture of the large crystal. Although where Lumara would go about keeping such a large crystal was a mystery to him. Suspicion lurked with his mind though as he stared at the page. One crystal that powers them all? That was pretty convenient to fall into their lap. "So what about the other crystals? The five that were circling the larger one in another picture you showed me?"

"Ah yes, excellent question." She beamed, pulling out another piece of parchment and spreading it onto the table before his eyes. This section had drawings of all five crystals with scribbles that must have been in the elves handwriting. Arcturus chuckled, for someone so proud and proper, her hand writing was hardly legible, and looked more like the ancient draconic than anything else.

"The five crystals act as some sort of key." She frowned. "There is little information on what they do exactly, but they seem connected to the large one that powers the smaller crystals." She thrust a finger to point to the large crystal. "It's my belief that these five crystals can be put together to fracture this "Source" crystal, and put it to an end. Thus once again crippling Lumara, and allowing us to achieve victory after all these years of war."

"Where are the other crystals?" Arcturus asked, running a finger around the smooth parchment. "Is there some sort of map located on this thing?" This was all a little hard to take in. Lumara taken down by some ancient ritual? It seemed only fitting in his mind it seemed. To have your nation built upon by ancient dragon magic, might as well have it torn down by it as well.

"That is the last thing I was discussing with Lyndis here." Shandalar gestured to Lyndis again with a tilt of her head.

"We need to head to Drenedar." Lyndis turned speaking clearly and calmly. "She said somewhere close to the port city of Struport..right?' She turned to Shandalar as she asked the final bit.

"Yes. That is what I could decipher from the text, and that city seems close enough to the location of the next crystal."

_ Okay so we have a destination._

"Anything else? That's one crystal located, but what about the other three?" Arcturus thought to the one Merlia held within her pack. The small thing that had almost sucked in the dragon Cordenth. Would each one of those crystals pack even more dangerous traps?

"That is the only bit I could not uncover at the moment." Shandalar sighed. "I can spend some more time trying to figure out where to go next for the others, there is a chance the locations can be found in the scrolls I suppose." She looked up to him with her eyes filled with pity. "I think we should leave as soon as possible, maybe even tomorrow."

"We can't!' Arcturus shouted out along side Krotos and Lyndis. He quickly looked to his left and right afterwords, finding his friends looking to him with smiles. I'm glad to have you.

"I take it this has to do with the missing dragon?" Shandalar raised her eyebrow.

Arcturus nodded quickly, "We can't leave...Not yet anyway, not while he is missing." He gestured to the window. "Crimson Sky is out there, and I cannot leave him."

"I offered to help him!" Krotos squawked loudly, wrapping a wing around him and pulling Arcturus against his fur. "I can't very well go about letting friends down!"

Shandalar looked unmoved as she gazed at Lyndis. "And what may I ask is your excuse Lyndis? What words do you have to blurt in the face of logic?"

"Hell ya we can't bloody leave." Lyndis thumbed her chest. "Ya don't leave your bleedin family behind."

"Family?" The elf chuckled.

"Not literally you iceburg."

"Were staying." Arcturus said flatly, ignoring the two woman. "At least long enough to find Crimson Sky.

"Arcturus." Shandalar sighed once more, placing two fingers on the bridge of her nose and closing her eyes as she shook her head from side to side. "I know you care about the dragon deeply, but if we are caught...You understand this could be very well be our only chance to stop Lumara?

Arcturus swallowed the lump forming in his throat. He had thought of that, but it did not matter. Veledar was important to him, and he was not going to leave the dragon alone and confused in the world. "Fine...Than you stay as long as you can Shandalar, than leave when you declare it illogical to stay."

"Yea, and give Arcturus and I a chance to find the red scaled bastard!" Krotos protested with another squawk and ruffling of his feathers.

"Fine!" Shandalar through up her hands in surrender. Than almost instantly after pointed a finger at each of them harshly. "We have until two days from now to find Crimson Sky, than..." She refolded her arms. "Regardless of personal feelings, we will have to leave Arcturus..or we risk losing the war over your affections for a dragon. Surely your dragon is not worth that?"

"I'll hold you to your word to stay then." He shot back, returning her thrusting finger. "Come on Krotos." He gestured to the bird, and took him and Lyndis out to the hallway. He thought to what the elf had said. Her words of course made sense, and her logic was sound. How much was Veledar worth, could it even be described in value of coin or money? Would he give up everything at a chance to find the red scaled beast?" His eyes narrowed as the words ran through his mind and the answer came to him almost instantly and in a full shout.

Hell yes.

"Arcturus! One more moment, before you go searching for the dragon!"

_ Damnt._

"Its okay." He said to the others quickly with a smile. "Go practice or something. I'll see what the wizard wants for a moment longer.

"Okay." Krotos snapped his beak to Lyndis and cocked it to the side. "But what should we practice then?"

"How about maneuvers?" Lyndis shrugged, as she started to lead Krotos down the hallway.

"Maneuvers? I'll let you know I am certainly nimble Lyndis! I was almost able to catch even you yesterday!"

"Only because I was going easy on you blue boy, bet you can't do it again."

"Oh yea?" He heard Krotos voice fade as they rounded the corner and out of sight.

Arcturus turned back around and strode back into the library. He fully expected to get another earful about the mistake it was to stay until they found the dragon he loved. However when he looked to Shandalar she just stood their with a wrinkled brow.

"Sorry about that captain.....I did not mean for it to sound so.....harsh." She spoke softly, her face softening as she did so.

"It's okay." He waved it off. "I understand that everyone, including you are on edge. Hell while we are all dealing with emotional problems,you have the hope of your entire nation, everyone on your shoulders. That would be stressful for anyone...even a gifted elf like yourself."

Shandalar sighed as she reached around in one of her pockets. Her face brightening when she seemed to clasp something inside of it. With a clenched fist she rose her hand from the pouch.

"Was it just for the apology that you called me back for?" He asked, pointing to her outstretched hand. "Or was there something that you wanted to show me?"

"Okay Arcturus." she said softly. "I want you to have an open mind here."

"Why?" He could feel a small feeling of uncertainty find it's way into his nerves. His eyes locked onto her hands, and although curiosity burned within him, it was mixed with a small bit of dread in what she was holding. He wondered what it could possibly be that she was clutching so tightly, and why she was acting so strange. No..it cant be...could it?

"Now I need you to remain calm. For what I have in my hand." She opened her fist to reveal a blood red crystal that was attached to a golden plate complete with a small chain of the same color.

_ No_

"Is that?" he stammered, ice filling his heart as he pictured Gus in pain, his flesh melting like wax, his ear piercing scream... He shook his head to thankfully pull himself from the nightmare. "Is...that?" He asked again, swallowing the lump that was building in his throat. "G-Gus?"

"Yes." Shandalar said softly, "I retrieved it during the battle.. I figured we should hold onto it...use it.."

"Shandalar...He was killed, destroyed!" He thrust a finger towards that little crimson reminder of his friend's death. "That...abomination is what is left of my friend.."

"You do not seem so against using the other crystals littered around the house to power the torches, the lanterns, and even the bath. What makes this one any different?"

That was certainly true. He froze at that realization as Shandalar just maintained her stare. He thought for a minute before letting out a deep sigh, "Those crystals are not anyone I knew. Those other crystals are not Gus." He glared to the stone that was being held gently within her outstretched palm. It was hard to look at it without feeling anger well up inside him. The nation he had served, protected, lived in all these years. They were doing this to people, turning them into these things, even doing it to innocent people.

"What I hold in my palm is an amulet made from the stone that was crafted from your friend." She winced as she said the final words, her elven ears splaying slightly. "Now it seems the stronger you are in using magic,the stronger the mana crystal that is created." She pointed to the amulet. "This amulet is used for protection." She held it out as if for him to take it from her. "I can also put it into one of the energy crossbows if we wished it."

"I don't want to use him as a weapon." Arcturus thought to Veledar's snarls, and hisses as the dragon he loved cursed his name. "I am tired of vengeance and pain."

_ Could I even use my once friend? Would that be so wrong?_

He grasped the amulet with his hands, to his surprise the thing was not cool, but warm to the touch. He ran a finger along the pristine surface, finding it had no faults. "What did you say it did?" He asked, turning the thing over in his hands.

"That particular amulet is used for defense." She spoke like she was describing yet another lesson to a group of her students. With the same matter of factually voice. "If you think of it, the amulet will shield the user with a magical field that is in strength equal to a coat of chainmail wrapping around you. It will persist for only a short amount of time though, so best only to use it in dire emergencies."

"How short of a time?" He turned the amulet over again, his brow wrinkling at just how red the crystal was. It looked almost exactly like the fresh blood spilled from his friend.

"Only about six seconds of time I believe."

"Six seconds!" He exclaimed, "That's hardly enough time in a battle for most things!"

"That is why I said only to use it in dire circumstances. I will most likely only be good to deflect maybe one of two attacks before that defensive shield is used up."

Arcturus tossed the amulet into the air, and then snatched it before returning it to be close to his eyes. He tried to picture Gus within the blood red stone. Maybe he was even still conscious in there, stuck within the stones confines. Would destroying you set your soul free Gus? Are you even still in there? He stared at the stone for a minute or two in silence, with only the sound of his breathing to grace his ears. With a heavy sigh he placed the amulet into his pouch. "Thanks for the effort, but I don't know if I am comfortable using the amulet, knowing who it was created from."

"Than find someone to use the amulet." Shandalar frowned as she placed a hand around his shoulder and began to guide him gently towards the door. "I would hate for that thing to go unused simply because you are being a tad close minded."

"Shandalar....I will think on it okay?...Its just hard." He stared into her eyes, and gulping down the knot in his throat once more.

She just nodded to him, "I understand Arcturus." She patted him on the shoulder as she turned to shut the door behind him. "Now run along and go find your dragon."

"I will." Arcturus replied, turning and making his way down the hallways of the estate. He pulled out the amulet again as he rounded the corner, holding it aloft by it's chain so he could stare once again into the blood red crystal at it's center.

_ What would you say Gus?_ The thought came slow to him as he pushed aside the hurt that came along with it. Would you want me to use it, knowing it cost you your life? He sighed, running a finger over the crystal's surface once more. What would you think of me my friend? That I was so conflicted over this trinket that could be used to save a life? He closed his hand around the amulet as he bounded down the squeaky stairs. He fought the grin that came to his face as he remembered Krotos' words about the particular sound that they made. He even had to fight off the mental image of a male stud gryphon mounting a willing female, and fertilizing her clutch.

Curse you Krotos. He laughed internally until he finally came to the end of the stairs, and started to make his way towards the kitchen and ultimately outside. He stopped only for a moment as he remembered Gus one more. He closed his eyes, placing his hands to his head. It's hard to believe that you and Veledar are gone.

"Gods Damnt" He cursed aloud as he tried to search through his mind on what Gus would have done in his shoes right now. "Why is this so damned hard?" he opened his eyes with a sigh. "Would I even be this conflicted if the stone in question did not come from you my friend?" He looked up towards the ceiling to imagine Gus scowling at him with his arms crossed.

"Don't be stupid mate. If I can help you save lives than do it." Gus' words came to his mind clear as day.

"Gods damnt." He cursed again, as he stashed the amulet violently back into his pouch. He had sort of hoped the mental image of Gus would have agreed with him. He pushed open the outside door as squawks of irritation pulled his mind from his somber thoughts of his dead friend.

"Why....can't I....touch you!" Krotos shouted out as he pounced towards Lyndis, who side stepped away in the grass with a great laugh.

"What did I say bird boy? You only got me yesterday because I allowed you to touch me."

"So..you wanted me to touch you?" Krotos laughed as he lashed out with a talon to grab the slippery rogue. She simply avoided his attack by jumping backwards with a fake yawn. She ended the movement by smacking his beak with a finger before darting away.

"Grah!" Krotos backed away from her clutching his beak. "Stand still you little mink! And don't hit the beak! It's sensitive!"

"Than don't suggest I want you to touch me." Lyndis shot back with a chuckle, as she stood proudly with a smirk on her face. "Although I do have to hand it to you Krotos. I do love your feathers, they do ever so remind me of home. Should I pluck some to keep as trophies if you misbehave again?"

"You...wouldn't....dare." Krotos squawked, pouncing at her once again. Only for Lyndis to leap over him with a flip.

"You have to be quicker than that Krotos!"

"Graaaaah!" The gryphon twirled around almost instantly to lash out at the air yet again, but only tasting air as Lyndis dashed away with a burst of laughter. "Damn....you fast!"

"Is that what you tell all the gryphons you can't catch?" Lyndis avoided him again, tapping him on the beak before flipping away from him. However as she did so Krotos struck with his talon like lightning, managing to knick the half-elf on her boot.

"Oh my gods Lyndis!" Krotos shrieked in surprise as it looked like he had thrown off her flip enough to cause her harm. He moved quickly to try and catch her.

Lyndis however showed no sign of worry as she recovered from that little hiccup. She landed on all fours with a smirk and her head up. "Okay you finally nicked me!" She rose up to offer him a smile and a thumbs up. "You did slightly better than the first time...You still lost though."

"Well...it was hardly fair when you have the fastest reflexes I have seen. Even faster than the most agile of gryphons I have seen." Krotos ruffled his feathers and just glared at her. Showing off a slight bit of irritation that she had beaten him so thoroughly.

"Been trained that way dearest gryphon." she laughed, brushing her hair from her eyes as the wind blew it against her face."

"W-would you be willing to show...Me how to move like that?" The gryphon resettled his wings against his back and tilted his head to the side.

"I don't know how much it would translate over to you." Lyndis gestured to Krotos' limbs. "Not being bipedal and all...But I would be willing to try and show you some movements. Maybe get ya better at dodging things.

"Well good...and..." Krotos opened his beak a few times as he shifted his weight from talon to talon. "Sorry about grabbing your ass yesterday...I may have been in error.."

"Water under the bridge!" Lyndis laughed, nudging him playfully. "Just ask permission next time before you focken go grabbing things. Although I think you might have learned your lesson after going cross-eyed and rolling around on the ground like you did." she giggled.

Arcturus stifled a laugh with his hand as he pictured the blue gryphon rolling around on the ground clutching his balls like he had the other day.

"And you Arcturus?" Krotos turned to him with a hurt look on his face. "Even after you offered to touch me and make me feel better?"

"I offered to use lay on hands! Stop making it sound lewd!" he pointed a finger at the now grinning gryphon, as Lyndis had placed a hand to her chin and just loudly let out a "hmmm."

"So if we are don't talking about me touching the gryphon's balls.."

"Awk Awk Awk."

"I need to go find my dragon before we need to leave this place."

Lyndis' eyes suddenly widened as she looked to Krotos. "Am I not...." She smacked her palm against her forehead gently. "Damn I forgot your too small Krotos."

"Too small? I will have you know I am a healthy size for a gryphon my age! It was my sister Urania that was the runt of the clutch! And if your talking about the other size, I am plenty big down there as well!"

"Calm down there Krotos." Arcturus laughed, patting the upset bird's fur. "I think she just means you won't be able to carry the both of us while we look for the dragon."

"Oh.....right." Krotos splayed his ears, and dipped his beak in embarrassment. "Course that;s what you meant..silly me." the gryphon trailed off into a chuckle as Lyndis just laughed.

"Guess I will just go grab that magic carpet then and join you two in the search!" She thumbed back towards the estate with a smile.

_ Uh-oh _ Arcturus watched her smile fade away as she must have seen the frown on his face.

"Merlia took it didn't she?"

"Yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck gently. "She was grabbing it while we were talking to Shandalar up in the library."

"Blood Hell." Lyndis sighed. "Guess I can go see what Feku is up to. Maybe I can get to work fixing that damn dragon's harness. I saw that there was a broken cord on it from when you guys fought the metal dragon on the ship."

"What about Asterion?"

"What about him?" Lyndis rolled her eyes.

Right. Arcturus offered her a wave before turning around to Krotos. "Ready to go then?"

"Always ready Arcturus.." The bird flared his wings wide before him. "Ever flown with a gryphon before?" Krotos raised an eyebrow, curiosity present in his voice.

"No." Arcturus replied as he swung his leg around the gryphon's neck as he crouched for him.

"Well hold onto me than. I think you will have a most interesting time!" Krotos squawked in laughter as he wiggled his haunches, and tensed his muscles. "Have fun Lyndis!" Krotos shouted to the half-elf as she was just about ready to head inside. "AND DON"T DO STARNG AT MY BACKSIDE! UNLESS YOUR INTERESTED!" the gryphon bounded into the air seconds after that left his beak. Arcturus clutched his warm fur tightly with his hands as Krotos beat his wings against the air and carried them swiftly high above the estate.

"Than don't flash them everywhere!" came Lyndis faint voice from below, as Krotos carried them ever higher into air, much swifter than Veledar ever did.

Despite it not being Veledar that was carrying him into the air he still felt the familiar feeling of joy fill his heart with each of the gryphon's wing beats. I guess it was as Veledar said...I was destined to fly.

He looked out to the vast fields of vibrant green that stretched out for miles below him. Passed that to the winding road near by that looked like a dragon's tail, complete with patches of brown for spikes. To the towering mountain in the distance surrounded by a vast forest that bore touches of every color imaginable.

"So where do Arcturus?" Krotos yelled back to him, as the gryphon extended his brightly cerulean wings and entering a glide that carried them through the currents.

"Let me feel for him!" Arcturus shouted back over the wind that was battering against his face. With his next calming breath he closed his eyes gently, and trying to push everything else from his mind, so all that remained was the dragon that he loved. The crisp air slightly stinging his nose with each breath, the cold wind brushing his cheek as they sailed across the sky, and feeling of joy within his heart of flight, and the warm gryphon between his legs. He felt each one slide away from his thoughts until all that remained was the great dull fog within his mind.

He pictured reaching out into the sea of grey, trying to sense the dragon that he loved within the vast cloud. Come on Veledar....where are you? He thought as he tried for a minute or two of searching for the dragon within the swirling fog. Then he felt a slight feeling of emotions, like a quiet voice from far away he could sense them. He focused on that feeling, imagining it was like a thread, and pulling on the string of it. He guided the feeling like a shepherd would his flock to him, until it suddenly came rushing to him like a stream. All at once the flood of emotions hit his body full force, and spreading to every nerve within him. It radiated out into his limbs and made him twitch, gasp, and clutch Krotos tighter out of reflex.

He could feel more than just the sadness that was lurking within Veledar's heart, he could feel the guilt, the anger, confusion, and the great sense of loss. Found him! Arcturus opened his eyes as Krotos next few wing beats brought them, above the great patchwork quilt of colors that was the forest below. His gaze was pulled to a section of the forest he knew as a boy. It was a river there that he used to go to and skip rocks as a child.

"There!" he pointed out to the gryphon, making sure he could see his guiding finger. "There will be a river right there, he might be there. The scaled bum of his likes to be clean."

Krotos peaked to him slightly before dipping his wings and starting their gliding descent towards the treetops, and than when passed them, to the ground below. With his next flap they were over the river, the water rushing along the collection of stones that could be clearly seen from even up in the air as they were. The gryphon circled a small path large enough for them to land, his next few wing beats pounding the air to slow their landing so that there was only a small bump when his limbs touched down onto the forest floor.

"Well here were are, another great flight." Krotos chirped happily as he crouched low for Arcturus to dismount.

Arcturus immediately swung his legs around to leap off of the gryphon. His boots impacting the ground with a soft thud. He tried to focus on the feelings still swirling around within him, pull some sort of direction to go. However this time he felt nothing as he breathed in and out slowly. Come on...come on..._He pleaded inside his head as he continued desperately to sense for his dragon. _Where are you my dragon? The sound of a twig snapping caused his eyes to bold open, and whirl around out of instinct. He grabbed the hilt of his sword firmly and unleashed it into the air with a hiss.

Krotos was frozen in mid stride to the river bed. His talon was on said broken twig, "Er...Sorry about that." Krotos' splayed his ears as Arcturus lowered his weapon.

"Yea..just jumpy is all." he sheathed his sword and strode after the gryphon towards the river. Who had his beak close to the ground while he was taking deep sniffs of the air, which reminded Arcturus of hunting hounds that did the same exact thing. "You look more like a dog when you do that you know." He pointed out to the gryphon with a playful smirk.

"Probably, but I bet I look much better than those mutts your thinking of." Krotos snapped back, wiggling his haunches and flicking his tail. "Also I am much better at this than those dog creatures."

"Yes, Yes Krotos you got me there." His eyes scanned the brown earth with scattered multicolored leaves that had fallen from the trees above. He looked up to gaze to the canopy of reds, golds, and oranges. The trees were even more beautiful when observed up close. With a sigh, and shrug of his shoulders he took careful steps until he was standing but an arms length from the babbling river. The crystal clear waters allowing him to see every small smooth stone at the river's bottom.

"Any smell of the dragon?" He turned back towards the gryphon, whose beak was still practically hugging the ground.

Krotos rose his head, his sniffs intensifying as he neared with tentative steps. "Besides you of course." He chuckled.

"Still?" Arcturus grabbed at his clothes, and pulling his shirt tight. "I took a bath and its been several days!"

"What can I say Arcturus?" Krotos chuckled deep in his throat. "Perhaps dragon seed sinks into your pores and permanently marks you as his?" Krotos resettled his wings again as he returned his beak to the ground.

"Surely that is far fetched." He laughed, following the gryphon with his eyes. He did this for a moment or two before padding over to the running water. He scanned the trees, looking for anything out of place that could be a sign of his dragon, besides the obvious tracks. He figured there could be signs of slashed trees, knocked over stumps, or torn up earth by claws. Arcturus laughed internally as he pictured Veledar slipping and cursing out in a string of curses, then devolving into angry hisses as he righted himself to all fours.

Arcturus looked to some of the smooth stones jutting up from the waters surface, like little islands surrounded by a rough sea. He recalled jumping to each one in his youth with Gus, or even by himself against his parents wishes. "Dangerous" he mumbled as he recalled their chastising words. AS if hunting dragons was any less dangerous. He crossed his arms at the memory. Although look how that turned out. He pictured the dragon standing beside him, possibly lapping at the water while he looked all beautiful in the suns golden rays streaming through the canopy and lit up his scales. Arcturus leaned against a tree, running his hand along the uneven rough bark. His fingers found rough slashes into them most likely left by claws.

_ Veledar._

His eyes widened as he moved around the tree like he was dancing with it, careful to not slip over the moist roots. Sure enough there were slashes in the trees trunk that bore the exact similarity to the ones the dragon had ripped into the studies door. He traced the four lines with another finger. Why did you do this my love? "Krotos!" he called out for the gryphon, who came bounding over in a flash.

The gryphon was soon on his hinds, with his talons grasping the tree. He lowered his beak to be able to inspect the slash marks torn into bark with his own talons and eyes.

"Can you smell him from this?"

"Well.." Krotos put his eye closer, inspecting the mark carefully. "These certainly look like the marks from our dragon friend." The gryphon than gave an amused sound from his throat. "Looks very much like the door to your study."

"I know that, That's what I thought as well, but please answer me. Can you track him?"

"From this?" Krotos breathed in deeply before resettling his wings, and blinking his eyes. "No." his voice sounding full of regret. "The dragon did something to hide his scent maybe." The gryphon lowered his beak as he settled down onto all fours once again. "Sorry I cannot be more help."

Discouraged as he might have been Arcturus patted the gryphon's beak gently, then offered him a quick tight hug around his neck. "I know your trying, you don't have to be sorry. I did not really expect to find him in the first place we went to anyway. Things just don't seem, to happen like that." he chuckled weakly. He broke the hug and gestured to the forest around them with his arms spread wide as he spun around. "We have all this to search for him anyway. We have to eventually find him,he can only go so long before a clumsy bolder reveals his position to us." He put his hands to his hips, smiling at the thought of seeing his dragon again.

"But will he slip up in time before we are forced to leave the estate?" Krotos asked softly, causing Arcturus mood to darken at the thought.

_ Right..We have a time limit placed upon us._

"I don't know." he let out after a heavy sigh. He returned his gaze to the river beside them. It only stayed their briefly before he returned to walking along the forest floor, moving aside any fallen branches, and brushing aside leaves that were in his way. He stopped several times to listen for any sound out of the ordinary, although each time he only could hear Krotos not too far away doing the exact same things he was doing, plus sniffing the air for the dragon's scent. They continued to do this for quite some time before Arcturus kicked the dirt with a scowl.

"I think we have used up this well." He called out to Krotos, who came trotting over to him with a proud look on his beak. For within it was form of two limp rabbits. With a plop the gryphon spat them onto the ground.

"Look what I caught us for lunch! Rabbits!" Krotos exclaimed in excitement, his voice an almost high pitched thing.

"Wonderful of you." Arcturus pointed to the critters blood mattered brown fur with a finger. "And what will I be eating them with? In fact...what will I be cooking them with? I cannot eat the damned things raw."

"You could clean them with your sharp stick there." Krotos pointed to his scabbard with a smirk. "You could than built a fire with wood and you could roast them up! Easy right?"

"No." Arcturus sighed, "Plus it takes too much time..You just help yourself to the rabbits..I'll.." He thought to the dried meat in his pouches. He reached into one and pulled out two strips. "Manage with these!" he waved the two piece of meat from side to side, which made Krotos follow them with his beak like under some form of trance. Realizing his error Arcturus pulled the meat away before the bird snapped out of instinct for his only food.

"Very well. I guess......I will suffer by eating both of these rabbits."

"Oh you poor thing." Arcturus took a bite of the toughened meat. It was not the most flavor filled piece of food he had eaten, but it did the job of fighting of his growing hunger in his belly. He tried to focus on his own chewing of food, and not the sounds of Krotos tearing and ripping into the flesh of his catch. Thankfully the gryphon seemed to enjoy his meal as much as dragons did, since the gobbling of both of the rabbits was over in a matter of minutes. He turned to see the bird licking his bloodied talons with long strokes of his tongue.

"Did you even enjoy your meal in the slightest?" he laughed as Krotos strode over towards the river with a bounce in his paws, and his tail swishing back and forth. He tried to look away as the gryphon's balls flashed and bounced in time with his steps.

"I certainly did enjoy them...I just did it fast." Krotos turned back to him, there was a slight painting of red along his beak.

"You got a little." Arcturus pointed to his face, and gestured to the gryphon's beak.

"I know Arcturus." Krotos rolled his eyes. "That's why I was going to go clean up in the river...and don't think I did not see you check out my bouncing balls." Krotos gave him a wink. "See something you like dearest human?"

"I did not try to have a blasted peak of your balls Krotos!" He laughed loudly. "You keep flashing the damned things proudly with every bouncing step you take!"

"So you did get a long look then." Krotos squawked in laughter as he bounded over towards the river. He dipped his beak softly into the water, and rubbed it with his talon to clean the blood from it. He rose his dripping beak from the water as some of the excess liquid dripped down back into the river below. "If you wanted to touch them you just have to but ask!"

"You very well know that I don't."

"I know Arcturus." Krotos smiled as he trotted back over towards him, with his tail wagging behind him. "But this game is always fun to play, whoever it is I am playing it with."

"Flashing your balls to people is a game you horrible thing?" He raised an eyebrow. "Your trying to distract me again aren't you? So that I don't feel saddened that we did not find my dragon.

"Was I?" Krotos tilted his head with a smile. "Or was I genuinely making a pass at a human I have a crush on in hopes that he will roll around in the grass with me while we have some fun?"

"I am certain it is being a good friend."

"Drat, you caught on!"The gryphon splayed his ears and stuck his tongue out. Once that was done Krotos waggled his haunches and spread his wings wide. "Now hop on me, do your searching thing and we'll be back to finding your dragon....If you don't fall in love with me instead, and we end up mating passionately."

"I'm sure that won't happen there blue boy." He patted the soft fur of the gryphon as he remounted him with ease. He had a second to adjust himself to get comfortable on the bird before he was clutching Krotos' neck as he leaped into the air.

"Hah! Much better than your dragon eh?" Krotos peaked back with a grin, as his wings pounded against the air and brought them above the canopy of different colors once again.

"Not really." Arcturus let go as the gryphon spread his wings and began to glide softly along the currents. "Just because your faster does not make you better by default." the human chuckled as he gazed out to the mountain and the rough worn rocks leading to it's base. "I would describe flying like lovemaking. You need to go at just the right pace, otherwise you drop out of the sky, or it's too fast to be enjoyable."

"When your doing the lovemaking with me, its always a rough and fast ride. That usually leave my current partner breathless, and filled with my essence."

"Not by the sounds of Merlia." Arcturus remembered her soft moans as he and Veledar had snuck down the hallway. "To me it sounded like you were a soft and gentle lover."

"Oh so now your listening to my lovemaking?" The gryphon tilted his wings and slightly adjusted his glide.

"Only when I walk by and I can hear you two going at it."

"Hmmphhh..Well I hope you enjoyed your listen then."

Arcturus closed his eyes as he ran a finger along the soft fur of the gryphon beneath him. He clutched with his other hand as he tried to reach out into the mind fog and locate his dragon once again. Veledar...Why are you hiding from us?...Don't you know we are looking for you my dragon?.....Please... he once again pulled from the mist the same whirlwind of emotions he had pulled from it before. This time it was towards the bade of the mountain.

"Towards the mountain!" he blurted out, making sure to point passed the gryphon's eyes to a large grey rock that was jutting up from the rising forest floor.

"Right!" Krotos gave a loud chirp. "We'll be there faster than you can shake your dragon's tail!" The gryphon beat his wings and carried them almost instantly to the location.

Arcturus felt a small bit of jealousy for the gryphon's speed. It would be strange to going back to Veledar flying after this. But then he remembered his steady heart, his soothing heat, and his joyous growling laughter. No it won't be.

"So why would he go to a rock?" Krotos chirped as he angled his wings and circled that large worn stone like he was some great predator and the stone was his prey. "It's just a rock!...Well I guess that;s what he fills his head with..."

"Hey!" Arcturus snapped back. "Be mindful of the insults to my dragon." He playfully smacked Krotos' side, causing the gryphon to laugh. "I still love him you blue dolt."

"I could drop you you know. So don't go smacking me."

"Than stop insulting my dragon!"

"Okay....fair enough...but only because your cute when you admit your feelings for me!"

"Krotos!"

"What?" Give it time Arcturus, I am sure you will warm up to the idea."

Arcturus rolled his eyes as the gryphon was reduced to squawking laughs. "Besides!" Arcturus glanced down to a makeshift force made of old sticks and stones. He remembered making it when he was just a boy with Gus. They stacked the uneven stones and pretended it was a castle, and that they were it's brave guardians. They would scamper around with wooden sticks for swords and start fights over nothing in particular. The joyous laughter the only thing you would have been able to hear. "We're there!" he pointed to the fort, as he felt the feeling that he could only guess was Veledar coming from the fort.

"That makeshift pile of rocks and sticks?" The gryphon peaked back at him, glancing up and then down. "Why is that?'

"It was a fort Gus and I made when we were but boys!" He thrust his finger towards it again. "Perhaps Veledar found my old paintings there!:

"Okay, landing then!" Krotos flapped his wings to slow their descent as they grew closer to the makeshift fort.

Arcturus wrinkled his brow at the realization that is was small. In his mind he had always remembered it as being much larger. With a sigh he chocked it up to nostalgia blinding his facts.

"Brace yourself Arc!" Krotos extended his hinds and talons as Arcturus held on tight.

"You mean Arcturus! Lest I start calling you Kro!"

"Okay...fine..won't call you Arc then." Krotos landed with a bump that made Arcturus lurch forward, his fingers digging into the gryphon's hide beneath his fur. "I think I rather like you clutching my fur! It reminds me of.."

"It's cause you lack a proper saddle!" He cut the gryphon off before he could finish his lewd thought, and playfully smacked him on the flank.

"Fine, but I will simply have to share that story over drinks. Than maybe you will set your hands on my-"

"Focus on finding the dragon!" he grinned, and dismounted the gryphon. "And stop thinking with your cock for once!"

"Only for you Arcturus."

The human dismissed the now cackling gryphon, who began sniffing around the worn ground littered with stones of all colors, shapes, and sizes. Arcturus was reminded of scattered coins on the ground by the way the sunlight was striking their surface. Golds, silvers, and bronze shades shining through the darkened grey of the stone. He pushed a large branch that was waist high. He remembered this particular branch was the "door." . He pulled himself up and over the stones that Gus and himself had seen as the "wall" . He remembered when he and Gus had to climb up on the stones instead of simply walking over them. He easily took his next few steps into the forts with the sound of a cracking twig to grace his arrival.

Arcturus ran a hand along the stones that acted as the wall for the place. Smooth and worn with age, they were not unpleasant to the touch. Some bore scratches on their surface as the boys has smashed rocks against them long ago, delighting in their exploding destruction.

"Why would you make this?" Krotos bound over the wall in a single leap, his hinds landing softly with a thump, followed by the clacking of his claws.

"It was a game." He pointed to the walls. "This was our castle."

"You pretended to be kings?" Krotos tilted his head a his tail swished from side to side.

"Sometimes." Arcturus strode further into the imaginary fortress of his youth, to where he remembered the painting was going to be. He figured it there were any place that Veledar could be here, it would be there. "We also played knights and dragons."

"Was their ever a game where you played as gryphons?"

"Not that I am aware of." He laughed, "Jealous are we?"

"A little bit yes!" Krotos fluffed up his feathers. "That none of your hatchlings want to be gryphons!"

"I suppose it might be because your so mundane in Entis." Arcturus shrugged, "People see your kind all the time there. While kings, dragons, and knights are more rare."

"Are you calling me common?" Krotos flared his wings, as if to show off their blue radiance in protest at that statement. His wings were not as glorious as the dragon he loved, but they were beautiful in their own way. "Nonsense." he waved the bird off. He did not want to hurt Krotos' feelings after all. "You are anything but common Krotos." he grinned as he grabbed hold of a bush, and pulled it away from a large cave entrance. "Honestly can say that I have never met a gryphon like you in all my life."

"See that's better!" Krotos strutted over, his tail bashing against the stone with small gently flicks.

"Are you sure your not a dragon in disguise? Because you seem to have the vanity of a certain red dragon I know."

"Just cause I like the way I look does not mean I am that dragon you are so fond of." Krotos stuck his tongue out at him.

"Only slightly then." Arcturus gestured to the gryphon with a wave, and then to the cave. He hooked the bush onto a section of rock that jutted from the stone, just like he had done all those years ago when he had painted in his secret spot. Safe from his father or prying eyes, and safe from anyone wishing to get rid of it. With the branch gone he could actually see into the place as the sun's rays came streaming into the darkened hole in the stone. It was made from rough stone, with smaller ones lining the cavern walls. He took a step in, the damn smell coming to his senses just like long ago. It brought fresh memories of painting on this cavern wall after particular hard days, and how relaxing the experience had been. Along the far wall of stone was an old painting of his that had started to wear away with age. With each step he could feel his heart pounding as he gazed at the painting. For it was the same dragon that the head belonged to in the study. The head that had caused his friend so much pain. It was Radiant Flame soaring high in a cloud filled sky, complete with the sun to bring life to her crimson scales that shown with the same beauty of her sons'. Her maw was open in a smile as she was no doubt roaring her happiness to the very earth beyond.

He ran his finger along the dried paint slowly, as he remembered the brush strokes that had brought this to life. He thought to the day he had completed this, and remembering that he had been so proud of himself for something so nice. Than he remembered the tournament where he was forced to kill his first dragon, and he frowned.

"That is a beautiful painting." Krotos said softly. "It kinda looks like-"

"It's his mother." He finished as he felt his throat go sore. "He title was Radiant Flame."

"Oh." Krotos splayed his ears. "A-are you okay Arcturus?" The gryphon snapped his beak to gaze at him with eyes filled with concern.

"Yeah." Arcturus gulped as he thought back to how Veledar had roared at him with such fury. The anger that he had flashed to him in those eyes that had been filled with such love the night before. "It's the past, and I can't change it...No matter how much I would want to...for his sake.." He let his arms fall to his side as he turned away from the painting to find Krotos was practically on top of him for a hug.

"I'm fine." He held out his hand to stop the gryphon by his soft chest.

"Are you sure?"

He nodded in response as his eyes fell to the cavern floor. "Hold on." he brushed Krotos aside as he crouched low to look at the worn stone that had been illuminated by the golden rays. "Hold on. "Scratched in the surface of the stone floor were fresh marks of claws. He pressed a finger to the cuts. They look like dragon claw marks. He looked up towards the entrance to the cave,imagining Veledar here and finding the painting. What would you think my dragon? He hung his head as tears started to come again. I'm sorry things worked out the way they did. I'm sorry for your mother.

"Shhhh." Krotos grabbed him and pulled the human tightly against his furred chest. "It's okay."

"Krotos...what if we don't..."

"No." Krotos replied sternly. "We will find him Arcturus. Than you can go back to mating and moaning each other's names."

Arcturus laughed as Krotos pulled him tighter, and he wiped his tears onto the soft, warm fur. "I'm sorry about your fur."

"It's fine, I had to preen them when we got back to your nest anyway."

"Thank you." he pulled himself tighter as they sat there for quite some time on that spot of stone. Arcturus looked up as Krotos comforted him the entire time. He spotted more scratches, and even some scorch marks that had been recently added to stone's surface. Veledar was here. They sat there and waited for at least an hour in silence, pressed tightly against one another.

"I...don't think hes coming." Arcturus finally said with a sigh.

"We should definitely check here tomorrow though." Krotos replied, taking a long deep breath. "It smells strongly of your dragon....he has been here....or has been staying here.... or is currently staying here."

_ So you did stay nearby._

The thought brought some hope to the paladin, as he wiped his tears for the final time. "Krotos...I almost forgot!" His eyes widened as he remembered the amulet currently in his pouches. He reached into the pocket, and quickly extracted the golden chained thing. He had finally figured out what he was going to do with it. "I may not want this thing, but I know who it should go with if it goes with anyone." He held the amulet aloft in front of the gryphon's eyes, whose widened as he stared at the blood red crystal.

"I-is t-that?" Krotos stammered.

"This is the crystal that contains Gus." He said softly as Krotos held out a talon to take it. The gryphon's eyes instantly filled with pain as he held it in his talons.

"It's....so...small." the gryphon held his head for a moment as he stared at the thing that had taken his riders life. After a moment of dead silence he looked up with his eyes misting. "Why?"

"Shandalar turned it into an amulet that can cast a shield spell. That with a mere thought it can summon up a magical shield that will protect you from harm. Although it only lasts for about six seconds each time so be sure to only use it for emergencies. I want you to have it Krotos, you as I said deserve it over anyone else."

Krotos held it closer to his eyes as he continued to inspect it, tears starting to roll down his blue cheeks. "It's like he will always be with me...looking out for me.." Krotos dropped his talon and grabbed Arcturus in a great big hug that threatened to push the air from his lungs it was so tight. "Thank you..." the bird said softly, as he draped his head over Arcturus back with a sniff.

"Don't mention it." he laughed, patting and caressing the gryphon who was pulling him even tighter against him. He continued with the hug until when he brushed his fur he peaked down to see Krotos' maleness peaking out from the sea of blue fur. Oh gods "Krotos...is that your?"

"Shhh.." The gryphon laughed, not relenting the hug. "Pay it no mind. It has a mind of it's own. I already explained how gryphons comfort one another yes?"

Arcturus just rolled his eyes and continued to pat the gryphon's fur as Krotos continue to cry on his shoulder. They then stayed in the cave for several more hours after that. The gryphon took a nap curling around him, and placing his head into his lap. The human leaned back and used the warm bird as a chair. The entire time his gaze did not leave the cave entrance, as he swore that any moment his beautiful dragon would come bounding in, and they could finally talk things out. And I'll bring him home. With a final sigh he tapped Krotos awake as the sun started to dip below the horizon.

"Did he come?" The gryphon asked groggily as he stood up onto all fours, and stretching all his limbs one by one.

"No." Arcturus grumbled as his spirits sank. "He must have avoided this place if he has been staying here."

"We still have two days left." Krotos continued to stretch, arching his back and giving a long yawn. "And consider me your company for the next two days...Or until we find him that is."

"Are you sure?" Arcturus asked, as he guided the gryphon towards the cavern exit.

"Certain of it, I will be by your side until the end." Krotos turned and nuzzled him with his head, as Arcturus just smiled and hugged him back.

"Thanks friend...Krotos...I wish I had met you earlier." He said softly, stroking under the gryphon's chin, causing him to purr softly.

"There is always time to make up for lost time then!" The bird laughed, devolving into loud squawks. "Now hop onto my back so we can get back to that nest of yours and have a meal, warm our behinds, and rest until tomorrow's light."

"Aye." Arcturus smiled, hopping onto the gryphon's back, who took them into the sky with a pounce and a beating of his wings.

* * * * * * * * * *

Arcturus sat on the couch by the raging fire in the den. The crackling wood was music to his ears as it's warmth cast away the chill in his bones and brought comfort to his nerves. His feet were propped up on a comfortable foot-stool, his boots resting by the fire to keep them warm. He sank back onto the gryphon that was curled behind him, with his furred head resting in his lap while the human stroked his fur softly. He sighed in content as he watched the dancing orange flames flicker in the fireplace before his eyes.

On his next stroke of the gryphon's head it was clear he was not asleep, as he gave off a small pur and his leg twitched softly. They had spoken little in the past few hours while they had been here at the estate. In fact he was sure they had been in this room for a few hours more simply relaxing and enjoying the fire's warmth.

He looked up from the purring gryphon to the surrounding furniture of the den. Lyndis was passed out on the other couch with her arms crossed against her chest. Feku was snuggled up against her, with her arms around the half-elf, her snout pressed to her clothes, and her tail wagging softly over the edge of the cushions. He turned from Lyndis to Merlia, who was sitting by the fire with a poker right beside her. She was whistling softly as she went about the activity.

Arcturus moved his stroking of Krotos so that he was instead scratching behind the bird's splayed ears. He chuckled as Krotos let out a small groan and pressed himself further into his lap, his tail thumping the cushions softly. He looked to the amulet he had given the gryphon, now bound around his left forelimb. They had switched the chain around with a spare one they found, so it would stay around his limb without causing him discomfort.

He looked up to the ceiling, imagining his room was all dark and cold. He frowned, knowing it was a place he did not want to go to right now. He thought about grabbing the sheets and bringing them down here to the den so he could drift asleep to the scent of his dragon, but with a shake of his head he promised himself that he would not do so until he had the real Veledar to hold, caress, and smell. Besides with the next scratch behind the gryphon's ear, he decided to stay where he was. He had thought Merlia would be a tad annoyed that the gryphon that had been paying her so much attention was now cuddling against him and falling asleep in his lap.

However the dwarf had simply waved it off with a grin. She had just said it was the reason why she liked the blue bird. That he was a caring, empathetic, and oh so adorable. "You are kind of adorable." Arcturus whispered, running a hand back along Krotos' spine. His hand passed easily along the fur, that was yielding to the touch. For a moment he imagined if he did not think about crimson scales, cerulean eyes, tawny wings, and the scent of a summers fire, he might have like gryphons. He perked his head up when he saw Asterion open the door, and walk inside with a quiet snort.

Feku bounded up from her position around Lyndis to pad her way to the bull, her tail swaying behind her. She stopped in her tracks when she came to the bull who was shifting his weight side to side. Asterion looked down to her, his eyes filling with concern and worry.

"Yes Feku?"

"I was wonderin...what is it you needed to do your resurrect spell of yours? What else do you need besides diamonds?"

The bull fidgeted some more as he crouched down to her level. "A small portion of the person wanting to be revived, even a bone, lock of hair, or pile of skin will do." He hung his head in shame before the kobold, who grabbed his muzzle with her smaller claw and made him look her in the eyes.

"I forgive you for not bringing Azzik back. I know you fear you deatherin." She fidgeted as her frills twitched. "I saw the same fear in your eyes as Azzik had the night he tried to save Lyndis....Now...I don't want your life in my claws....and I will not order you around like I be your master...." She tapped his nose with a talon. "But on one condition."

"What would that be little Feku? You just have to speak the words and I shall do it."

"Promise me." She fidgeted, her eyes starting to mist over as her claws traced a brown pouch around her waist. She dug into it quickly, and pulled out a closed claw. She brought it up as Asterion watched it the entire time. When she opened it, Arcturus saw his eyes widen. "When you resurrect your village...r-resurrect Azzik too." Tears came down her pebbly cheeks as Asterion picked up a small black scale in his hands, and held it like it was the most valuable thing he had ever held.

"I can do that my friend....I am..."

Feku bounded into the bulls arms, holding him tightly against her as she started to cry into his chest. "Forgivin Forgivin....Thanking you...thanking you."

The bull just hugged her without another word. His normal stern face was soft and caring as he held the kobold tight, and he closed his eyes with a small snort and flick of his tail.

Arcturus smiled as he saw them embrace, and felt his own eyes start to droop and threaten to close. "Good night Krotos." he mumbled softly.

"You too Arcturus, may your dreams be pleasant and filled with your dragon." The bird replied just as quietly.