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Scales and Honor: Darkened Skies

Chapter 27: Deep Fae

In not too many words, Fremra explained the multitude of dangers that might await them in the mysterious deep fae. From strange spirits that preyed on others to endless mazes of leaves and bark that one might walk for years at a time. Not to forget there were marshes and swamps that might bring ensnare you until sanity was but a fleeting memory. Chaos controlled this domain, rules of the material plane forgotten like a dried pool of rain. It sounded terrible, almost unsettling Lyndis to the core. Though it didn't matter what they had to face. Cordenth needed her right now, his green scaled behind lost to some god knows what horror. She'd be damned if she just let him linger there, trapped and alone with no one to come to his aid. How scared he must be. She'd told Fremra as much, even thrusting a finger at the inquisitive ness when she questioned the rogue's resolve. Chuckling approval was her reward from the towering teal dragoness.

The green drake had already risked himself to save her before, taking a damn sharpened harpoon to the chest. True she had already saved him from the orb of dragon kind that had threatened to swallow him, but who was counting score in that regard? She wasn't a dragon. Her stomach churned as Fremra offhandedly mentioned soul devouring bugs, mind bending plants, little fairies with moth wings that would rip teeth one at a time from her skull. Though these made her hand quiver like a scared cat she steeled herself by rubbing along Veledar's neck. Courage rippled about her fingertips, running down her arm and forming a shield around her heart. They could do this. It just needed a bit of roguish cunning and dragon like strength to pull off. Just another caper in her career.

One that holds the life of a green dragon in the balance.

So, while the dragoness and her daughter went about gathering the reagents to transport them into the unknown hell hole. Lyndis and her red dragon friend had returned to the stable in two shakes of a tail to gather their things. She'd hastily donned her armor, taking deep, soothing breaths with each clasp of the leather belts that held the armor tight. She stashed her rapier in its holder, filling her pack with potions and other things while Veledar slipped into and buckled his harness. She was amazed that he didn't even ask or tease for her help. He must have understood the unease that was lingering just below her brave face.

Or maybe he just wants to be the hero.

She smirked, tossing the grey cloak of invisibility over her shoulder and fastening the golden leaf clasp. She asked about bringing anyone else into the realm. Maybe warning Arcturus of what lay in store for the dup. To which Veledar had agreed. She climbed up when the dragon lowered himself, settling onto his harness before he took to the sky.

It was a rather short trip across the darkened city thanks to Veledar's bond, ending with the dragon landing outside an orange roofed place with the sign of a flying pig painted. "The Enchanted boar." Was drawn in cursive, highlighted with neon green paint. He, Krotos and Merlia were relaxing outside the pub, sipping frosted mugs of ale over a half-eaten meal. They waved or raised their mugs as heart laughs went about the air.

"I'm going with you." Arcturus announced, setting his drink down mere moments after they shared him their plan.. "And I won't be taking no for an answer. If you think otherwise, you're positively foolish." His care was admiring as he held Veledar's snout, looking into those cerulean eyes. "Even if you're a dragon."

"But only two can go." The dragon sighed, then went about explaining the details of the spell. 'Its just like the time in the fairy realm from before. Only two can go."

Arcturus frowned, crossing his arms across his chest. "Like hell I'd sit by and let you risk your life. "

"I know." The dragon rumbled, nuzzling the man across the cheek. "And I love you for that. But I will be fine. I am a dragon after all. It takes more to hurt me than it does to you." He nosed forward, almost knocking the man over if not for his grasping hands. "Don't forget my scales are strong, my claws are sharp, and my breath can really set flame to things."

"Oh don't ferget it stinks!" Merlia roared, "Maybe ya can git dem wit dat?"

"Or he can brag them to death." Krotos chirped happily, a drunk haze about his eyes. Veledar grumbled at them, swaying his tail and nearly striking a tied up horse by mistake.

"Never mind them." Arcturus' cut through the now cackling gryphon and dwarf, resting a palm on the underside of Veledar's jaw. "I'm still going with you to wait. Maybe I can help be one of those anchor things. Something to keep that scaled mind focusing."

"Could do." Lyndis waved him along, giving the red dragon's haunch a smack. She climbed up onto his saddle. "Guess that's he gest for choosing a stubborn mate right?"

"Hey." Arcturus climbed up, settling right behind her. "I only learned it from a certain dragon I suppose."

"Which one was that?" Veledar peaked back, narrowing his eyes. "Did Frema meet with you?"

"Its you." Lyndis rolled her eyes.

"Thanks for the obvious fact Lyndis." Veledar snorted with a coy smile. "Could you not tell when I was playing with the man?"

"Hey Arcturus, did you know it was my idea to get you, and not your wonderful mate? He would have forgotten about you. Crazy right?"

"I would have remembered! The red thrashed his tail, nearly knocking over the table Merlia was drinking. The gryphon and her made a fuss, shouting and squawking and as Veledar ignored their cries. "Are you trying to cause one of those drama filled fights between us? Cause dear girl, Arcturus and I are stronger than that."

"Nonsense you scaly butt. I was merely having a bit of fun to counter act the blinging unease settling in my.......aahhhhh!" The dragon's sudden pounce into the air wrestling free a scream from her gut. She was soon leaning forward to clutch firm at Arcturus' back as the dragon only chuckled his smug satisfaction. "You didn't need to do that you bloody dragon!"

The dragon rose and fell through the air in time with his wings, the wind caressing them all like the cold fingers of a tender lover. "Sorry about that Lyndis! It seems that you've come down with a case of the screams! I can't seem to make it out!"

"Fock you dragon!"

The red's grin poked at her like a thorn, setting his sights back for the teal's cave and carrying them to the courtyard. She let him have it when he planted his paws to the earth and she leaped off onto the ground. She smacked his scales with the palm of her hand, hard as she could muster. Granted it wasn't that much to the dragon, who just curled his head around with a smug grin.

"Something the matter princess?"

That was it. The worry burst out in the form of snappy responses. She let loose every insult that was known to her people. This continued as they set about Fremra's home till her throat was sore. The dragon though he grumbled with swishes of his tail took each one.

"Fine." He snorted, shifting uneasily from paw to paw and glancing away. "I'm even sorry for the take off."

"Thank you!" She tossed up her hands with a roll of her eyes. "I'll take it!"

"I hope you mean his apology." Fremra chuckled, spreading about a symbol of blue paint along the floor in zig zagging lines. Achaaz was helping her along, adding lines of winding aquamarine and orange ones, like multicolored shadows about the area.

"Are you not finished?" Veledar sniffed the paint.

"Are you the master of casting nature magic?" Achaaz's snout snapped quickly to Veledar, mere inches from his nose with a great tooth filled smile.

"Uh..No?" The red dragon's frills trembled uncertainly.

"Then mind keeping that snout shut about speed?" She tapped his snout, swirling around to continue about her preparations. The dragoness snatched up a few mithril bars from a wicker basket, spreading them around in an organized fashion."

"Fine." He settled onto his haunches, curling his tail around Arcturus.

Lyndis crossed her arms as Arcturus took a place beside his mate. The man stared Fremra down, inquiring why his mate was the one to risk his life and not he. The man's words carried with them much weight. So much so that Lyndis was rather moved by them. It mirrored her own thoughts on the matter for Cordenth.

Fremra regarded the man like a caring parent, flicking her tail with a sigh. She sat onto her haunches and explained that they needed Lyndis for the connection to bridge the way to Cordenth. Otherwise the entire spell wouldn't work, and the green drake would stay stuck in the deep fae with no means to escape. Though the nesses words made sense, they did little to sway the concerned look that flickered within the man's emerald pools. It only softened and eventually broke when a red scaled head nuzzled at his chest with a soothing purr.

"Damn you." The man's words came softly, nearly consumed by the red dragon's purr.

The wait was unbearable as the two nesses went about finishing off the spells by dripping nectar around the edges. Lyndis closed her eyes, practically feeling the rapidness of her heart trembling across her skin. Without words she bowed her head, silently wishing to the dragon goddess that her green dragon would be safe and that their journey would be a successful one.

"There we are." Fremra rumbled as the thick scent of vanilla rose in the air like a thick cloud. It reminded the princess of her long days passed when the royal cook would bake cookies for her during the winter. Something to help living the spirits during her all-consuming study.

Blinking her eyes, the rogue stood tall. Swallowing whatever cold lurked about her throat.

"Now place your paw on the red dragon." Fremra gestured with a shake of her neck. "When I say the word. You two are to stride into that pool of water there." The dragoness thrust a wingtip to the shimmering and rippling pool. "No running or leaping. Simple walk into it." She padded over, guiding Arcturus to the outer edges of the runes with her tail and opposite her daughter. "Now take a place here." She rumbled, "You are to sit here and meditate on your dragon. Let the bond you share try and assist him while hes gone. If all goes according to plan we shall act as a beacon for them to follow home."

"That's all then?" Lyndis crossed her arms as the dragoness spun around. It all seemed rather easy and straight forward. Just stroll about into a chaotic realm and gather her beloved. Her fingers quivered on Veledar's scales at the prospect of what they were going to do.

You have the dragon. She averted her eyes, hoping no one could gleam through her. It will be fine.

"Well...that should be it." Fremra settled onto her haunches, curling her tail around her. " This green dragon is truly blessed to have friends such as you."

"Yea." Lyndis' gaze wandered to the rippling pool, watching the torchlight twinkle across it's surface like the stars of a dark navy sky.

Get yourself together. She breathed in deep, trying to quell her heart. to her surprise it was Veledar's snout that curled around her, brushing aside her hair with a snort.

"Don't worry Lyndis. You were here since the start of my adventure. We shall be here for you now." He rumbled, meeting her eyes with her own.

Of course, he had to be this caring at this moment. "Thanks scale head." She held his snout, squeezing at his cheeks. "Watch my back okay?"

"Agreed."

With courage bubbling in her belly Lyndis turned to face their waiting portal, as the twin dragonesses started their hissing and chanting that chatted around them like joyous birds. The water that had seemed to calm had started to bubble. Large bursts of air unleashed a soft grey mist. With a humm they started to glow a brilliant golden light. The water rose with tendrils, slowly snaking its way towards them, seemingly guided by Fremra's paws.

"Here goes nothing yea?" Her voice cracked as fingers dug into Veledar's scales. She was thankful when he pushed closer, a protective wing getting extending like a shield. He said something that was lost the nerve-wracking clatter. Though whatever it was she knew it to be comforting.

As if a puppet, strung along by a silent conductor her body cautiously stepped forward towards the numerous pseudopods of glowing water. It coiled before her like a whip, then shot out to wrap around one of her arms and guide her towards the awaiting pool. She took a deep breath, sinking down into the ice cold waters. It lapped at her clothes, bit at her skin and ground it's way to the marrow of her bones.Even Veledar shook violently from the cold. Her heart jumped from her chest as his scales slipped out from under her. Then she fell.

The lights all faded as the darkness of the water consumed her. For one moment there was no up down. Light had vanished, and sound was a distant memory. It was like she was lost in a black and inky void from which there was no escape. One that drained all sense of reality away.She closed her eyes, trying to remind herself everything was going to be fine.

You have the dragon here for you.

"Why did you leave?" The voice of her mother flickered across the air, un muffled and filled with an anger Lyndis had never known within her. "Do you know what that did to your father and I?" She almost opened her eyes.

Its not real. Just count backwards from ten. She clenched her eyes, whispering anything to rid her mind of the sword of guilt plunging into her chest.

"Thanks to you they killed your father! If only you'd stayed. But no, you had to go off and have an adventure didn't you? We all pay for the choices of Lyndis. When will it be your turn?"

They can't be real. Her lips quivered as the words dragged knives across her heart. The accusations got even worse, listing off the many ways her people had suffered thanks to her. Weights pulled at her limbs as her resolve started to crumble as the murmuring whispers chittered around her.

Count to ten. She did so as her lungs began to burn. Bit by bit the cold began to fade away, replaced with a comforting warmth and familiar feel of the water caressing her features.She flung open her eyes she was paddling along in a lavender colored body of water. There were thick strands of curling plant life dangling below the surface high above like little blackened snakes. Lavender light shown down, guiding the princess like a beacon to the sweet promise of air. Something stirred below her feet as she kicked, though she didn't dare look.

Its Veledar right? She certainly hoped it was. She kicked ever harder, more demertmined than ever to taste the air. Like a fish she burst free, scatting the strange purple water inn all directions as she sucked in deep the rotten egg smelling water. Even though she gagged and coughed she happily took each breath with a glint of satisfaction. At least she wouldn't drown. Now she just had to figure out where she was. Wiping the dripping strands of hair from her eyes she began to scan around at the bizarre wild-life around her. She was in a swamp. Or at least nothing like a swamp she had seen before.

The trees were made of slowly crawling back, onyx in color and looked to have been chipped away by the sharpened blades of foresters. Branches hung down towards the waters with thick yellow leaves that ended in thin waxy bulbs. Others rose up towards the cloud laden lavender sky, grasping softly to the wind in their wooden fingers. Grass and moss seemed to cling to every surface, even dipping into the water to make it run thick with strange flora. She padded around in the water as the dull sound of insects hummed in the air, broken up by the strange dog like bark of a nearby leathery skinned bird with bright yellow eyes. The creatures waddled back and forth through the branches, watching the waters with their ever strange eyes.

"Well this is certainly new." Veledar's snout rose suddenly from the water, shaking free water as she shrieked in surprise. "Smells worse than the damned horses too."

"What the focken hell!" She splashed water at him, taking deep breaths to calm her sudden nerves. "Thought you were going to be some sort of spirit croc! Do you know how scary you can bloody be?"

"Really?" He chuckled in the back of his throat, swimming right up to her with a smirk. "I can't decide if I am pleased you were startled or annoyed that you could mistake a dull creature as a croc for me." The dragon swam around her. Though he was grinning at her with his amused sort of way, she could him tilt his head and occasionally check the canopy for any signs of movement.

"Please" She rested a hand on his wet scales as the weight around her heart grew. "Just focus ok. I'm a bloody wreck." Staring out at the thick landscape it seemed a tall order. They had no idea where he was, and better yet, where to start. "He's stuck out there."

"We'll find him." Veledar's snout snapped to the sprawling bog. "Just might take a bit is all."

"Lets get out of the icky water though." She padded her way towards the shore, towards the thick and winding green bits of grass. "With my luck there's going to be moss growin in every crack." She stuck out her tongue. "How'd you two manage it before?"

"Never did the water before." The dragon wiggled his tail as they swam to the shore. "This is..." His snout wrinkled. "New."

"Really? None of this looks familiar?"

"Yea." Veledar nosed at her bottom when she tried to crawl her way up and onto the shore through the slippery, yellow tinted grass. He lifted her up until she was plopped onto the ground. This section of the swamp was strange. Despite being next to the bog, it was oddly very dry. It seemed to soak up the water from her palms the moment they touched the dirt. Before her eyes the green grass shifted to various colors, even a dark orange before changing back.

"It..it.." She sprung up, flipping her arms over to make sure what she'd seen was true. She was dry. Not even a tiny drop of water remaining. Even her clothes were dry! She hastily spun around, checking this out to be true. To her surprise it was. She dropped into a combat stance, warryly eyeing a swaying tree that giggled like a happy child.

"Focken creepy place." She hissed.

"Place smells awful too. I wonder if the dwarf's smell this bad in their cramped quarters." The dragon grunted, pulling himself onto the shore and striding over her. Water dripped from him in copious amounts, returning her to a drenched state"Leave it to your boy dragon to get lost out here." He shook his body, scales sending water in all directions. "Smells just like him."

"He smells like pine you dolt!" She shouted, wiping the water from her face. "And can you not get the water everywhere? I just got dried by this strange grass here!"

"You should..." His head suddenly tilted to the side, frills fluttering in and out. "You're not soaked."

"Yea I know." She pointed to her fingers as she demonstrated once more the grasses power. "See?" She wiggled her hand back and forth. "What the bloody hell is that you think? Water that gets drunk off ya like it's a god damn straw?"

"Something awfully convenient." Veledar trotted over, curling around her as he set his watchful eyes to the surrounding trees. "Never trust this place. It can look all nice at first. Then in the next moment try to kill you."

"What happened to all that dragon strength? Just evaporated like the water?"

"It didn't go away." He fluffed up his wings with an irritated snort. "Just this fairy magic is odd. It sends a trickle of queasiness through my scales. Never quite sure what it's capable of. What personal things it wishes to slip against you."

"Remind me to learn it. Then perhaps you'll behave." She smirked, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"You wish." He scanned the trees, brushing off her calming comment. He suddenly froze, tail flicking across the ground as he narrowed his eyes. "Have you sensed that green lover of yours yet?" I get the feeling that we're being watched."

His senses are that good? She would have asked him if he was certain but the way his muscles tensed, and his tail was hardly moving. To his teeth were primed and ready to rip into anything. He was certain. That only fed the pit curling around her stomach.

Lyndis pulled out the green scale, dangling it about as Veledar continued his protective patrol. She closed her eyes and focused on that pine smelling dragon. The long nights spent next to him gazing up at the stars. "Please." She whispered to herself, "Let me find him." Then just like that like a rising of the morning sun a faint warmth spread its way from her skull and to the toes of her feet. It guided her along a few steps, practically tugging the amulet in the direction towards a thicket of green ferns that were meowing like little cats.

"Lyndis." Cordenth's voice a barely audible whisper, a sense of foreboding weighing heavily on her. "It's so dark."

"Found him!" She blurted, thrusting out the amulet and quickly walking in that direction.

"Hey!" Veledar scampered after her, "Wait up, we don't know what lurks out here!"

"Surprised your not offering to fly us." She stepped over a root below, wiggling like a bark covered worm.

"Was told by a fairy to not fly around. Implied we'd get more lost within this place." Veledar caught up, ducking below the many branches that seemed eager to reach out and drag along his scales. "And what do you mean you found him?"

"The sense! I heard his voice this way. Unless you have any better ideas?"

"No." His snout wrinkled, eyes rolling to the scale and then to the green fauna clad path before them. "Just trying to be careful." His concern was etched across his red, pebbly snout, pooling in his eyes like waves of worry in a cerulean sea.

"Thanks for the concern."

"Hmmpf."

"What's the matter?" She tapped his scales just as they passed below a gnarled and twisted tree that sported numerous scorch marks along it's broken maroon bark.

"Its not that." The dragon hesitantly moved aside a fuzzy looking bush that was covered in many flower's that had tiny reptilian eyes. "Its just that this place is an enigma. Arcturus and I were nearly lost within it. I don't like the idea that Cordenth has been stuck out here for any length of time. I can't fathom what horrors he would have had to face out here." The dragon closed his eyes for a brief time, shivering. "Has it crossed your mind what state you think he'll be in when we find him?"

She hadn't thought of that. Silence found her as she strolled along, trying to ignore the growing sense of gnawing fear. What if Cordenth had gone mad? That was what the dream was for? Was he going to end up some tyrant? She shook her head as that cold that had been fought back was slowly slinking back through the cracks. "Doesn't matter." She breathed in, flicking her fingers. "Even if it feels like this place is reaching for us, we got to find him." She held out the scale firmly, letting it guide them through a thick path that Veledar had to keep clearly with his paws. It stood no chance against his strength.

This continued until they stopped against the water. The path seemingly haven changed to slow them. Though the purple liquid seemed able to be swam across, there had been bubbles that rose from the darkened waters to burst and reveal floating eyes. After seeing that any thoughts of swimming had been driven from them. Even Veledar hadn't chastised her on that decision, nor did he say anything when they ducked behind a giant tree, avoiding the form of an anthromorphic frog like creature that towered over the bog with glowing stripes of green and blue across its moist body. Though she wasn't sure that it was hostile, they didn't want to take any chances, especially when it looked like it could eat Veledar in a single gulp if it wanted. When it passed they continued on, getting glimpses of many other strange spirit animals.

Birds fluttered overhead with three sets of multicolored wings and heads like dragon flies, bears with the lower half of fish, and floating orbs with spine covered tendrils. Though she made a comment about how strange they were, Veledar had countered that they traveled with a creature that looked as though a bird and cat got too lewd. She had smacked his nose, laughing at the only good cheer that could be found. Then a nearby tree with blackened bark had reached down, trying to grab at them with its thin finger like branches. The dragon had reared up, torching it with flames and slicing away its branches like tiny insects. After that Veledar had been silent, too focused on watching the path before them to joke around. The good cheer had died. She too had even taken out her rapier, never trusting anything that looked too weird. The red dragon burned any plant that got even within a few arm's reach of their continued trek.

Eventually their path had broken away from the bog, fluorescent rocks and harder ground had been their reward. Still the scale tugged her along, past the dust covered ground. "This way." She pulled Veledar's snout along as a series of rocks had sprouted out of nowhere, covered in thick vines. It was this way the amulet pulled, and with another whisper from her dragon there was no doubt in her mind to not continue. It drove her legs and fought back any lingering doubt. "Hes got to be bloody close. I can feel it." That was true, her heart was pounding ever faster with each step, and soon enough even the smell of pine was teasing at her nostrils.

"Are you certain?" Veledar cautiously stepped over the moss sprinkled roots at their feet, extending a wing to get her to stop. He stared at the clearing ahead, eyes narrowing into slits. "This place is old...." The dragon shook, flicking his tail across the grass. "And sends a shiver up my spine." He puffed his wings out, taking a wiff of the air. His snout wrinkled as a quietness seemed to permeate the area. No signs of life could be seen around them. Veledar gagged, dropping to the ground and covering his snout with both paws. She'd never seen him do that. Even when they had the horses.

"Whats the matter?" She surged over to him, dropping to her knees and holding his horned head.

"Human, elf, dwarf." I can smell them all in here. They are mixed with rot." He grumbled, pushing himself to all fours with a groan. "It reeks of death."

"Death?" She spun around, holding her rapier out in a threatening fashion. If he smelled death that wasn't good. What was Cordenth even doing here? "Where though?" She scanned around the root covered ground, eyes glossing over the yellow flowers that were sprinkled across the clearing like leaves during the autumn. "Where though? All I see are vines, flowers and bushes."

The dragon curled back his lips, exposing his teeth as he pawed at the ground.

"Have you gone mental?" Her knuckles around her rapier went white. "Kinda hoping you have."

"As sure are you are that your love is here." The dragon unfolded his wings, predatory eyes scanning the trees. "We need to get out of here. Even the strange creatures avoid this place. Something is rotten in this place."

"Not until we find..." Her eyes found something through the roots and flowers. Something that she had overlooked. It was a darkened shape of rotten green that looked at first to be the stem of the flowers. She nearly gagged when she realized what it was. It was the head of some humanoid that was rotted away, their eyes missing and replaced by thick off-white bulbous mushrooms creeping from the sockets. Their mouth was wrenched open, jaw missing and letting out a groan that filled the air with a cloud of yellow pollen. It was alive. All around them the flowers preformed the same horrid sounds, a cacophony of misery washing over them. "Oh..god." Her sword wavered.

Panic stabbed at her chest as her head darted back and forth. Each flower across the clearing was a person, hundreds of them laid out before her. Each one covered in mushrooms, buried up to their heads, and somehow still alive. "V...Veledar." She rose a hand, summoning a ball of fire as the grip on her rapier tightened..."The flowers."

The dragon snorted, curling around her with a growl. "I don't see the green drake here."

"What focken is that even?" She fought back the bile building in her throat as some of the blinded mortals released an ear twitching sound that struck her to the core. One that sounded like a click, mixed with guttural screams. Something that no one should have made.

"How should I know?" Veledar took a careful step back, his head lowering to guide her along. "Let's leave before we get added to this garden."

"How long do you think they've been there?" The dragon gestured to a nearby elven head, one that had been eaten half-way by the mushrooms. His skin was all greyed, looking to be practically ancient by their standards. There were even wrinkles among the parts of his skin that had not been consumed by the fungi.

Her stomach lurched as ideas bubbled to her head, one worse than the next. "I think in this rare outcome I'd rather not find out. Rather stay in my sense of ignorant bliss."

"Should we save them? Arcturus would have wanted to save them."

"Well he isn't here." She whispered, scanning the remaining trees. "And I don't think it would do them any good. Look at them. I'm not sure if they could even be saved." She glanced up, seeing a flicker of doubt run across his cerulean slits. "Scared?"

The dragon peaked back to her, and somehow, she thought he might hear the shakiness of her heart.

"Won't tell anyone. Thieves honor."

"Honor of a thief." He snored with a roll of his eyes. They were just about to back out of the clearing when the space between the trees suddenly closed with a blackened bark like substance. It then grew larger, taller than the trees and thicker than a gate. In the blink of an eye they were tapped in the root and flower covered prison.

"What is this?" Veledar snarled, whirling around to claw at the waxy substance with his talons. It broke apart in sharpened splinters as the dragon savagely continued.

"Well what did you do?" She curled a hand, flicking a ball of fire that exploded against the surface but doing little else. "Well shite." She whirled around, her heart leaping from her chest. Trained eyed traveled about the area, seeking an exit. The canopy above was clear, Veledar could fly them out.

Good luck spirit realm. We have a dragon's wings. "Can you get us out of her?" She smacked the red on his haunches and thrusting a finger to the sky.

"Course I can!" He rumbled, spreading out his wings and lowering himself. "Hop on!"

He didn't need to tell her twice. Careful hands grabbed hold his scales and hoisted herself onto his saddle. "Remind me to kiss you!" She would have stashed her weapons, but her vice like grip seemed to deny her.

"Another time perhaps!" Veledar bound upwards with a mighty leap and great flap of his wings. Together they soared upwards, only for a section of the wall to break free into a large, thin pseudopod that struck the dragon with the force of a herd of bulls. The dragon roared out in pain, helpless to stay in the air. Together they fell out of control towards the hard earth.

Terror would have spread about anyone else in the situation. They would surely die from this height. At least she would. Though with a flick of her wrist and the utterance of the activation word, the spell feather fall wrapped around her and the red dragon. They crashed not into the hardened ground, but one that felt as though it was made of nothing but the softest pillows. They impacted with a grunt, rolling to a stop.

"Thanks." Veledar shook his head, pushing himself to all fours. He thrashed his tail, sending layers of dirt in each directions.

"Don't mention it." She padded his neck as the area above them started to dwindle. "Best spell I could have thought of...Course.." She gulped. "I think we have worse problems to think about."

"Yea I see them!" Veledar growled, backing up as waxy black pseudopods rose from the ground covered in bulbous spines. He took a deep breath, letting out a billowing wave of red-orange flames that made them wither and die before him. "Why is it always vines and tentacles?"

"Yea? What are the focken chances?" She shouted, lashing out with her rapier when one went for her instead. Her blade cleaved through the blackened thing, coating the dragon's scales with a thick green goo.

"A million?" He roared, bounding away from the vines with a ferocious snarl. He managed to stay out of their grasp, no matter how many came after them. He would slice them with his claws, snap them with his teeth, or burn them away with his fire. Still they came like an unrelenting tide.

"Any plans red boy?" She waved out her fingers, burning away a series of vines with a cone of fire of her own. "We could fly...again." She glanced briefly to the almost closed sky. The trap for them was almost complete. "I can even try making us invisible!"

"I have no better idea!" Veledar leapt up, slashing aside some vines with his tail. "And I don't intend to stay here!" With a curl of his forepaw, the dragon started to fade beneath her, just in time with the magical cloak around her neck. Both were now invisible. Though as they neared the surface, it closed quicker than before, slamming shut mere moments before they got there. Veledar was forced to swerve away to avoid striking the waxy dome.

"For once! Once I'd like a break!" Veledar landed onto the ground ,laying waste to the area with a fireball and cone of his brilliant flames. Thankfully both could see in the near pitch black that hung about the air, so they weren't hindered in the slightest as they were forced to defend themselves from the encroaching pseudopods.

"Agreed!" She cried, slapping away a vine as a larger structure started to unearth itself from the center of the clearing. It was three times larger than Veledar, shaped like the leaf of a venus fly trap, had long and waxy grey teeth and whose surface was covered in numerous closed eyes.

One by one, the eyes opened ominously, glowing all various colors of neon. It was mezmoring how it unwound itself, it's maw opening and drooling a thick green substance. Somehow Lyndis doubted this thing just wanted to talk.

"How peculiar. Another dragon awakes me." The creature's voice came like the buzzing of a swarm of flies. "It's not often that meals wander so easily into my midst."

"Really?" She found herself shouting as more and more vines sprouted from the ground. It was like with each one they cut, three more were there to take their place. Only thanks to Veledar's movements and flames were they not wrapped up and being strangled. "Can you tell us where to find the other dragon so we can bloody leave? Then you can go back to whatever focken party this was!"

The things hide if you could call it that rippled and radiated with a glowing sapphire light. One that soothed the heart and let those know everything was going to be alright. If not for the fear in her heart and determination to find Cordenth, Lyndis could feel how it would draw her in. Disable her defenses and set her up to be eaten, like the angler fish. They needed a plan to get out of here. While Veledar could protect them for a time, the dragon wasn't infallible. In her gut she kinda figured how those flower people had gotten that way.

"To have flesh sacks like yourself so soon is quite odd. Though not unwelcome. They always seem to want things from me though."

"What kind of things could they want from you?" Veledar snarled.

"Always they want to be let go. Please! They beg, numerous promises have been made. But who am I to neglect an offering from the mortal realm? What could they offer me that is sweeter than your very being?"

"Yea fock that!" Lyndis snapped, eyes darting to the dome above. Fire hadn't worked on it, maybe another element would work?

"Grah!" Veledar roared, flailing backwards as one tendril curled around his hind leg and pulled taught. He went to grab at it, but another found him. Soon the dragon was bound, others reaching for his snapping teeth.

"How bothersome. The other one didn't have fire."

Lyndis swirled around, burning away several of the tendrils holding Veledar and allowing him to briefly free himself with a roar. "Yea! Thankfully we have plenty of it you focken tosser!"

"What she said!"

"You struggle against the inevitable. Eventually you will tire. Then I will have you like all the others." The creature seemed to grin, content to watch as they fought for their very lives. Though as the dragon bounded around it became very clear, the area they were moving in was getting smaller and smaller. It would not be long before Veledar had no more room to maneuver, and they would be caught and turned into whatever those flower things were.

"If you relax it will be easier flesh creature. You can take pride in that you will becoming part of something greater than yourself. So why struggle?"

"Been down that road before you stupid plant!" Lyndis leaped off Veledar as a mass of vines wrapped around him. Her rapier plunged deep into the central thing's hide, coating her hands in vile goo as the thing unleashed an unholy screech. She fell with the blade, cutting a single line in the twisted thing from it's top all the way to it's stem. Whatever she had done it seemed to work, as the vines holding Veledar let him go.

"Sounds like that bloody stung didn't it?" She backed away as the creature flailed. Honestly, she was surprised a mere cut of her blade had hurt it so much. Gasping, she thanked to whatever gods above that it had worked. She took a step towards the thing, and it swam through the dirt away from her.

"Get away from me." It hissed, tendrils raising from the ground to prevent her approach. Lyndis avoided them with her trained reflexes, cutting those that got in her way.

"Dragon's fire you're fine with. His claws and my sword. But the mere touch from me makes you recoil and burn?" She ducked from a spike covered pseudopod aimed at her head. "What focken sense does that make? Cause I'm warning you now. I can get pretty handsy!" She side stepped a final tendril, trapping the thing between her and Veledar. The dragon snorted threateningly, thrashing his tail as a plume of smoke left his nostrils.

The plant shook as she wiggled her fingers at it menacingly. Why it was scared she didn't know, but this might be her only chip to get out of here.

"I'd start talking if I were you. Or I'm going to start touching you all over."

"Your touch stings!" The thing hissed in the air.

"She gets that a lot. It's why the green dragon ran away."

"Veledar!" She snapped, "WE established it stings. But what I want to know is why."

Both she and the red stared at the quivering plant as its numerous eyes locked onto her fingers. "Within you beats the spirit of the other. The green dragon that came before.

The bond! "So, what happened then? I noticed that he isn't exactly here." She waved her blade across the field of slashed up tendrils and roots. "

"The golden wraiths took the green dragon."

"Golden wraiths?" Lyndis's curiosity rose her brow. "What the hell are those things? You better not be lying to us!"

"Creatures that were warped by the emperors demands. Servants that still do his bidding. They easily carved me open, took the dragon from me. Such a fine feast lost to their demands." The creature seemed to wilt as the black, bark dome started to recede back into the earth. "So be gone. I wish not to cross their paths again."

"So that's it? You're letting us go." She chuckled weakly in disbelief. "There has to be a focken catch."

"There is no catch half-elf. It's not worth the trouble to gather a meal only to be injured and have it removed."

"Well that's focken great." She stashed her rapier, climbing up onto Veledar. "Though, one final demand though.Or I'll instruct this fine specimen of a dragon here to start burning your flock.

The dragon grinned, flicking his tail with a rumble. "I'd listen to her."

She took a deep breath, eyes wandering from flower to flower. "Let all those people here go. They've suffered more than enough at your tendrils."

"That's robbery!" The creature bellowed, slinking beneath a tree to shield itself from the purple sun. "You ask of me to give up meals that have wandered to me fair and square! They will die without me now. Their bodies cannot function on their own. You doom them to a rapid death flesh creature."

That face slithered beneath her skin and ran a cool blade across her heart. She stared at one of the slack jawed mortals, sympathy tugging at the base of her skull as she gripped Veledar's neck firmly. "Better than living thousands of years in agony."

"You expect me to comply? I don't come to the material realm to feast upon you! Perhaps you need to open your mind to different ways of thinking."

"Now that's the crazy bit." Veledar snorted. How about you comply with her demands before I start bathing you in fire? Maybe we go talk to these golden wraiths and have them finish off your sorry hide? Maybe you have even more souls that they wish freed?" The dragon stomped harshly, letting out an ear ringing roar.

"Well do we have an accord?" She crossed her arms. "I don't think anything I can add is quite as potent as that roar." Lyndis smirked as Veledar didn't even glance back to her with a wink. The resplendent dragon was staring daggers at the cowering plant, almost igniting the very air with his fiery gaze. Only the dull hum of the forest around them sounded as the plant considered it's choices. It was beat it knew that. It was only a matter of time.

"Well?" She tapped her foot, glancing to the snarling dragon. She hoped it was working. She pet he back of his neck, a mischievous grin forming on her lips at the thought of this thing being put down. How many more lives would they save?" "What say you? Shall we be on our way or shall this red flame thrower start a burning?"

"Fiiiine flesh creature. You had your fun." The plant slunk outwards, its words slithering from it's drooling jaws. "Follow the swamp towards the sun. It will break into rolling mountains. Ones that bend and shift at angles surely strange to ones such as yourselves. It is there at the top rests an old bastion of stone that the wraiths had built when they were among the flesh and blood. Though now that place is a relic of a long past time and claimed by them.

Well that sounded dreadful. She smacked the back of Veledar's scales with a hearty chuckle. "Sounds like a good time. Leave it up to Cordy to get mixed up with some strange ancient beings right?" She shifted as Veledar spread his wings, lowered his body and wiggled. He was readying them to fly with a test flap of his wings. "I thought you were against flying?"

"We're already lost in here." He hissed. "I'm tired of all this walking anyway. What's the worst that can happen?"

"Don't jinx it!' She scolded, "Don't tell me you haven't heard the old wolves tale about that?"

"You seek your deaths." The plant slunk back to the tree line with a low voice. "The wraiths will drain you of everything you are. That green dragon is theirs now. Go back to your own realm or seek your death."

Lyndis just rolled her eyes at the things threat. "That's convenient then. Just happens that we're a team of death seekers. Love laughing when they can't catch us right?" She rubbed the dragon's neck, getting a rumbling pleased sound.

"Remember this day spirit creature. You fought Crimson Sky and his minion, and lost!" Veledar pounced into the air, spiraling upwards into the lavender sky.

Soon they were floating above the expanse of purple and twisted trees, the sun wavering steady in the air. Despite the time that had passed it had never moved. Perhaps it had no meaning here? Lyndis held right the dragon's saddle, ignoring how the winds didn't chill her. In fact, if anything she felt even warmer than on the ground. From the haze of purples and reds that were splattered against the sky, rose a towering and twisted mountain in the distance. It appeared softly at first, slowly appearing as if summoned by a great spell. It rose and fell at angles too steep for material things. Some sections even taller the further it went up, while others curled into strange shapes like thin lines for miles. Some peaks were circular, having large holes within the rock. Some circled like hairs while others grew like spiny little branches covered in red rocks that looked eerily looked like eyes.

Every surface was covered in debris of other rocks, granite, clay, coal, sandstone. It all mixed together into a patchwork section of rocks that were barely holding together.

"It's like it was smashed together like clay." Veledar growled in the back of his throat. The dragon swayed his head, scanning the rock covered countryside below them writing with strange life. "It would appear as though fate carves our path."

"Should we be grateful or worried?" She chuckled, hoping she sounded more confident than she was. Though with the plant behind them, what ever bravado she had was slowly wearing thin. Once more they were left in the unknown, with the life of her dragon hanging in the balance.

"Don't worry Cordenth." She whispered as Veledar curled through the air, raising ever higher. "We're coming for you."