Young Writers Society

Haven


Haven laughed to himself, "Yes GENERAL!"

They flew off; well the general and her dragon thought they did, that is. Once they were out of sight Ley laughed, "We're"not leaving right?"

Haven nodded, "Of course, they proably don't think we can sense the other dragons. So we'll have to do somehing about this underestimating."

Ley nodded and reared up, "Let's hope your magic doesn't fail now."

When they flew away and landed inconspicously in a shadow and sat quietly; both were listening intently. Hiding their scent they were surprised to smell that the two dragons were the two wolves.

Haven thought, Shape-shifters!!

Ari asked, "What's your name, sir?"

Haven kept in a laugh, SIR!?!?

Ley lips twitched upwards; they both shared a humourous thought before listening again.

Ciru

"Sir?" Ciru turned, seeing a private standing nearby holding a scroll, no doubt detailing his next set of orders. Ciru reached out to take it from him, barely acknowledging the boy's presence. The private cleared his throat, "Sir, the Captain also requests your presence."

The Sergeant Major nodded, "Very well then." He walked past the soldier, noting the slight flinch at the sight of his scars, before entering the captain's tent, "You wanted to see me, sir?"

The captain was studying a map of their immediate surroundings, marking the nearby capital of Damali at the edge. He'd marked out a nearby point that appeared to have no significance to Ciru. "Yes...you are aware of our role in this area, Sergeant Major?"

"Reconnaissance, sir. Observation of the Saviours' movements in preparation for the main attack."

"That role has just expanded. There is a dragon rider in the area."

"With all due respect, the Saviours' headquarters is in the city. It is understan-"

The captain shot him a glare, "I meant a new rider. Not one of us, not one of them. I want you to take a platoon to make contact with him," The captain indicated the point he'd marked, "We believe him to be here."

Ciru nodded. He wasn't the best candidate for diplomacy, but a show of force would discourage the Saviours, and no doubt all the rider needed was a cause to fight for. He gestured to a nearby lieutenant, "Get your men together, there's a new rider around here somewhere." He then looked to the nearby mountains, where the dragons were resting, Otraol. You heard everything?

The dragon's shadow detached itself from the cave, swooping low over the camp towards him, Perhaps it would be better that we simply left without the platoon...

Ciru gritted his teeth, I have yet to decide on that matter. The coup aside, the enemy has taken much from me. I will make sure this rider does not lose his soul, though.

Azrayel-

He smiled at the elf girl, it was nice to talk with other elves, but once they realised he was a half blood they almost always treated him like he was a disease. "So we got caught huh? My name is Azrayel, Ray for short. And I'm only seventeen so "Sir" is a little much. And these brats." He nudged the dragons who were looking at the white one. "Are my twin dragons Taiou and Yoru. So, what do you want with the three of us?"

Ray watched the girl carefully. It had been years since he had spent any length of time with people, but he still remembered how the politics of the tribes played a constant part in daily life. People rarely said what they meant, and even then their was an ulterior motive.

Ari smiled. "Nice to meet you, Ray. We need to talk."

Gautier looked over the two wolves. They look fairly healthy and strong. They can become very useful to us. He put his nose up to the red wolf and gave a toothy grin.

"Do you have time for a drink?" Ariadne asked.

*One thing Taiou is more orange-gold in color I've got their dragon pictures now too. Taiou looks like this. http://khazaa.deviantart.com/art/the-go ... n-65064787 , His brother looks just like him only blue in color. And yes their tail's are ridiculously long, keep in mind they're still young so they're still in the tall gangly phase. Barely large enough to carry Ray.*

Azrayel-

"Sure why not." Ray shifted and followed the girl to a nearby tavern. The white dragon took off and flew in wide circles above. Taiou and Yoru followed Ray into the bar. Snapping when people tried to stop the wolves from entering. They grabbed a corner table and sat down to talk. Ray leaned back in his chair waiting for the girl to start.

Ari leaned back in her chair, folding her hands in her lap and putting on a lazy smile. Taiou and Yoru curled up by Ray's feet, keeping one eye open, on alert.

"I don't think I've introduced myself. I'm Ariadne; you can call me Ari for short. I'm General of the Dragon Riders. You've heard of the Dragon Riders, right?"

Ray nodded.


"Good. Have you ever thought of joining? We could use someone like you and your dragons. Having two dragons is very rare, and we could use it to our advantage. Depending on where you've come from, you need to make your decision quickly."

Ray looked at Ari with curiosity. "Why?" Taiou and Yoru's ears perked up, listening intently.

Ari's smile faded into something more serious as she leaned in. "You've heard of the Dark Knights, right?" she asked in a hushed tone. "They more than likely know you and your dragons exist. They're going to want you on their side; They're not good people, or dragons. You're going to have to choose."

Ianeil

I shifted my gaze to the base when Otraol lifted into flight. And without orders...? What was going on?

"Shyen," I called. She sprang to her feet in an instant, and I lunged onto her shoulders, ready to fly. "Something's up. They're moving without orders."

She shifted beneath me as she easily leapt into flight. There are dragons nearby. Young and mature, alike.

"Oh, really? This makes it all so interesting..."

We landed outside the smaller camp. I was greeted with hesitant salutes as I stepped down onto the ground. It took me a moment to remember: I was the General, now, and I was among the most respected and feared Dark Knights.

"Captain! Sergeant Major!" I called, striding into the tent. How ironic that I was the General, yet I was stationed with the battallion... I brushed that aside. "What's got Otraol flying?"

~Bella~

I stroked Qiira's back as we crossed over the Desert of Athanasia. I wonder where Ari is, Qiira said.

I had been wondering the same thing. Can you find Gautier?, thought.

They seem to be in Fenta Tavern, she mused.

I have never admired Ari's taste for alcohol, I sniffed mentally.

Do you want to go? She seems to be meeting with another dragon rider.

Another dragon rider? It seems curious. Let's go, I thought.

When we finally arrived, it was pouring down rain. Qiira, who loved rain, stayed outside. I went into the tavern.

I saw Ari sitting across from an unfamiliar--but handsome--man. He had two wolves curled at his feet.

"Ari!" I called over the ruckus in the bar.

She turned around. "Bella!" She motioned for me to come and sit down. I obliged.

"Ray, this is Colonel Bella, my second in command, Bella, this is Azrayel and his dragons, Taiou and Yoru. We were just having a discussion about choosing sides. He hasn't yet."

I nodded. "Have the Dark Knights tried to recruit him yet?" I asked Ariadne.

She shook her head. "Not yet, but it's not long before they do."

"Only a matter of days. You really should choose soon, and do so wisely. The Dark Knights wait for no one once they have you cornered. It's them, or--" I made a cutthroat gesture.

Ray grimaced. I wondered which way he would go.

"You don't have to choose this very second, Azrayel," Ari assured him. "Sleep on it, and get back to me. Let's go."

Ari led the way out. But, at the door, one of Ray's wolves wouldn't budge any further.

"It's Taiou," Ray explained. "He's terrified of the rain."

I smiled. "I can take care of it." I swept my hand through the air. The skies cleared immediately.

"She's Elemental," Ari said.

Qiira popped up beside the entrance looking crestfallen. "There are other days for rain," I comforted her.

I replaited my hair before climbing back onto Qiira.

"I'll see you at the counsel meeting tomorrow, Ari. And, Ray, not to be biased, but Dark Knighthood truly makes you evil. To the core."

"Bye, Bella!" Ari called as Qiira swept away impatiently.

Qiira executed a corkscrew--she was still ticked off at me.

"You ass."

Ciru

Otraol landed close by just as the General approached them. Ciru swung himself onto the dragon's shoulders, saluting Ianeil as he waited for the forty something soldiers he was flying with. The captain turned to him, "There's a new dragon rider nearby, sir. We must make contact with them as soon as possible."

The general nodded, "Agreed, though the Saviours have probably already found him."

"That is why I'm sending the Sergeant Major and a platoon to find them," The caaptain turned back to Ciru, "You are ready?"

He nodded, Otraol lifting gradually into the air, "Have they been found yet, sir?"

The captain grimaced, "They're in the city, possibly in the company of Saviours. You may have a fight on your hands."

Ciru's lone eye narrowed, "Good." And with that, the forty-five Dark Knights swept towards the city.

Haven


Haven followed them into the Tavern and sat down in a seat, just behind them.

He listened to them talk for a while then suddenly realised something, How did he manage to stay away from the Dark Riders?

No one seemed to ask this; as if they thought he had edvaded them. He couldn't have, he just said he GOT them dargons, WHAT IF HE WAS WORKING FOR THE DARK RIDERS?!?!?

No, surely General would sense this, but she seemed sort of into him, so she could have been biased.

Why had no one questioned him? Was this a power of his?

Haven smiled outward his eyes blazing red, "So the interesting stuff begins."

Bella (he had caught her name when Ari had welcomed her), General and Azrayel walked out of the Inn, then stopped. One of the wolves wouldn't move. Bella did something and the clouds cleared, Elemental? That would make her . . . Corpral Bella?

Haven followed them out and Bella flew off. They corkscrewed, Corprals aura didn't seem very happy at the moment.

Haven was still tracking the possible imposter. He stopped for a moment, They'll recognize me if I still look like this and they'll catch me. Hmm time for a bit of a LIE

He said outloud, "I am Chris, Private of Knight Riders. I have blonde hair and blue eyes, I am wearing a robe marked with tribal swirls. My dragons name is Krill and we have known each other for 3 years. He is a yellowy gold dragon. I am 18 and he is 3. We have just enrolled."

People stared at him talking to himself, but they didn't notice as his LIE took effect. His eyes became blue, his hair blonde, he aged by a few years and his clothes changed to robes.

He smiled and laughed; his voice had also changed, Come on "Krill", let's go on pursuit.

"Krill" laughed and followed above head, his shape and colour changed completely even his thought voice.

"Let's see if they can guess."

Ciru

The dragons flew high over the city - high enough to avoid being identified as Dark Knights by anyone on the ground, yet low enough to see their quarry. In the company of two Saviours. Ciru drew his longsword, testing it for a moment as he heard the rest of the riders arming themselves.

The platoon increased their speed a little, before backing off as a Dark Knight rose in pursuit of them. Ciru turned to the lieutenant, "Is he one of us?"

The other rider shook his head, "I don't think so. At least, he's not part of our platoon."

Ciru nodded, "I didn't think so - I don't recognise him as part of our company. Do we have any spies in the city?"

"None that keep their dragons with them. So then how is he here?"

One of the other soldiers cleared his throat, "Sir, perhaps he is a Saviour?"

Ciru frowned, "Why would he be disguising himself as one of us, then? Could it be that there are dissenters among their ranks as well? I find it unlikely, and yet there is this." He shook his head, "No matter, our role here remains the same. We make contact with the boy. Act as a rogue group initially, offering to join the enemy. If we are discovered, however, the boy takes priority over combat."

The dragons banked as one and descended towards the four other riders.

Ianeil

Shyen hovered in the clouds, watching the scene below. I could feel her desire for combat and to be with her fellows, but I knew what the result would become. People would recognize Shyen, being a forty-foot maroon dragoness, and therefore recognize me. The appearance of the Dark Knight's General would only spark panic and lead to combat.

But that was the order. Fight and take the cities around the capital.

I sighed, changing the direction of my knees against her neck. She made a gradual dive, slowly sinking closer to the ground, closer to the battallion. I noticed Ciru watching a new rider, one that looked like a Dark Knight. But then...to the side...was that same rider. The real one.

Ian! That's a stranger! The dragon's scent is different than Mortega's!

I nodded, tensing as I slipped fingers around a scimitar sheathed to my back. Of course. It was the new rider, probably a Saviour just playing pranks or trying to provoke us.

"Alert Otraol. Have him relay an order to Ciru," I told her quickly, calmly.

Like?

"To make no sudden moves, but wait for my signal. There are indeed Saviours in the area, and we have no way of knowing if this imposter is one or not."

Fine.

I guided Shyen closer to the imposter as she carried the message to Otraol.

Ciru

The general says to make no sudden moves. There are Saviours nearby.

Ciru growled a little, I know. I'm looking at a definite two and another two that might be.

Otraol slowed nonetheless, and so did the other dragons. The disguised one is a definite, but I think the general means aside from them. He says to wait for his signal.

Ciru sighed. They'd been so close, too... He shook himself a little, the general was with them? He looked up to see Shyen further overhead. "Tell the general that every moment we waste is another that the Saviours will spend convincing the new rider that theirs is the better side to join."

Otraol was silent as he relayed the message back to Shyen. No doubt the general wouldn't like his orders being challenged, but Ciru thought it necessary. The dragons began increasing their speed once more, and Ciru fixed his eye on the imposter. Whether or not the man was aware of their presence, he would learn quickly that the Dark Knights were not a force to be mocked.

Azrayel-

Ray stretched his arms over his head yawning. Yoru lifted his head, testing the air. "We are being followed."

"I know. Several of them. Dragon Riders are rare enough, young and malleable ones even more so." Taiou barked a laugh at the thought of Ray being easily influenced. "So are you going to believe what those girls said about the other faction?"

Shrugging Ray turned a corner and walked down one of the main streets. "Hard to say. Both sides seem pretty biased against each other. That aside, isn't annoying you guys?" Taiou and Yoru glanced at him as Ray picked up the pace. "They THINK we're an easy mark."

Yoru shook his head. "Insults like that just won't do." Taiou rolled his eyes glaring at the mischievous pair. "We're ridiculously outnumbered. You two need to stop being so reckless. If we were in the desert I'd suggest losing them. But we're NOT on our home turf here."

Laughing Ray leaned down and rubbed Taiou's head. "I know Taiou. I just prefer to be the hunter rather than the hunted."

Ianeil

I clenched a fist against my thigh as Shyen swooped down, next to Otraol. I waved at Ciru.

Shyen, tell his dragon to go down. Since Ciru is impatient for action, he will be accompanying me. Now. The others can wait in the canyons and caves.

She nodded and stared at the other dragon, a faint snarl echoing the one in my own head. He wanted to get close, to waste no time. He got it.