Dragon Riders

Zara:

I grinned at the boy who had follow my dragon back down. Roshan moved around behind me and sat down, digging her claws into the ground. Clearly, she wasn't happy about having lightning flung her way.

"Well," I said and got up, dusting off my skirt. "I'm off."

With that, I climbed up onto Roshan's back and we flew off, leaving the new boy talking to Manarian and Reitsprea. I didn't look back.

Manarian and Reitsprea

Adaer was sitting impatiently on his dragon’s back. Manarian, slightly annoyed by the now dirt-spattered condition of his clothes, took a moment to dust off his shirt.

“The Elders,” he said, after he had finished, “have called everyone together. We’re to go to the meeting hall at once.” And with that, sure now that everyone had heard him, he climbed onto Reitsprea’s back and they headed towards the meeting hall.

Alice:

I hated that I loved to kill. But I loved that I hated it. We headed for the mountains and when we reached a good enough clearing the smell of blood was overwhelming. I threw myself off Ash before she even landed and dumped water onto my hand.

The dried blood came off stubbornly but it came off. I sat to breathe and gain back my self control. Natas came over and I stood "What now?"

Natas-
We wnt back to our clearing and Alice bolted, hopefully heading for the showers. Her smell was making my stomach turn.
I walked over to the logs with the others, sitting down. I picked up a stick and started drawing pictures in the dirt.
" So," I started," the plan is we wait until Eight gets notice that she's new Queen, and then there will be one of us ruling the thorne." Eight shook out her hair and kicked at the empty fire pit.
" Excatly," she said, smiling slightly. Toser threw a rock into the forest, laughing loudly. I shook my head at them and smiled.
" This is bound to be interesting," I said while standing up. " We should celebrate! I'll be back with Alice and our dragons, a nice visit to the villiage should make for good time."--- I walked to the showers where I was sure I'd catch Alice.
" What now," she said when I finially reached her. The dragons were already flying off towards their masters, only Ash and Shadow were still following me.
" We'rw going to the village for some fun, surely you're coming." I walked over to Shadow and got on his back, starting back to where the others were, Alice was flying behind me soon.

Brystianne

She was almost positive that the news the new riders giving Adaer wasn't good. So she and Nuk waited up in the clouds. Adaer looked shocked as the rider rode off and Nuk took Bree down, as if she could read her mind.

"What's going on?" Bree asked.

"The Elders...they've called everyone together," he said, getting ready to ride.

Bree sighed. "Well let's go then," she replied.

Zara & Roshan:

Roshan landed outside the meeting hall. I slipped off her back and looked up to see Manarian and Reitsprea coming in to land as well.

I shook out my hair and walked into the meeting hall. Almost everyone else was there. I sat down beside the other kid with a fire dragon and looked towards the elders. I was very shocked when Manarian came in and sat down next to me.

Fire and Water don't mix, Zara! I reminded myself.

Be calm, little one, Roshan whispered to me. I smiled a little and then wiped it off my face when one of the elders cleared their throat.

"Where are the last two?" the elder asked just as they walked through the door. "Ah, let us begin."

I sighed and settled down for a long meeting.

Adaer

A pair of guards opened the massive doors, specifically designed to allow the dragons to attend the meetings between their riders and the elders. Somewhat dejectedly, Lupria plodded through them, Adaer sharing her expression. Clearly, they would rather have been out flying, especially in the storm that was cracking the skies apart above their heads. Almost as if it were taunting her.

Nuk and Bree entered the hall alongside them, Nuk swinging his head to glower at one of the elder dragons. The two young storm dragons looked like a pair of sulky children, and Adaer doubted that he and Bree did anything to help the picture. But he hardly cared - he wanted to make it very clear to those washed out old riders who called themselves their leaders that he did not want to be there.

"Ah, let us begin." The elder said, his raspy voice carrying a sardonic tone.

Adaer waved a dismissive hand and dropped into his chair. He glanced sidelong at Bree, and suddenly smiled. As the elder began to speak, Adaer leaned in a little. "Maybe if this is so important, they'll keep it short so they can get us all flying in a minute."

Toser

So, the village to celebrate Eighth's imminent coronation. How nice. Laughing, he tossed a stone into the forest - he had seen a flicker of movement there moments ago, and he smiled to himself at the squak of a bird being clipped on the wing. "Chalk up one for me." He muttered.

But, even as he strutted about, crowing about their victory over that little kingdom, and plotting silently about how it could be twisted to benefit him, he cast a wary glance at Eighth. He was far from sure about her. She had, after all, dispatched her own father and shown not a hint of remorse.

Would she be able to do that with Natas, or Alice? Easily, he did not doubt that for a second. And what about me? He glanced across the clearing at her again, seeing her nudging the dead embers of the fire pit with one foot.

Without a doubt. Malachite told him. She'd kill you without giving it a second thought. Probably wouldn't even bother waiting for you to open your eyes, like she did for her father.

He closed his eyes for a few moments. Well, maybe it would be better to avoid a confrontation. Allies can be valuable, and Eighth is clearly a force to be reckoned with. He hesitated, Though the question is, why would she, of all people, want an accomplice? I can't recall a time when she's ever wanted another person to help her.

When Toser opened his eyes, Eighth was staring straight at him, smiling in a way that was as threatening as it was wry. "What's on your mind, Toser?"

He smiled back at her, tapping a finger on the hilt of his sword. "Just thinking about how well suited you'll be to running this kingdom." He said, "I really can't think of anyone who might oppose you, as reassuringly sycophantic as that sounds." He glanced over his shoulder to where the dragons were resting, then back to her, smiling sarcastically. "Of course, there's still the matter of those weaklings who call themselves riders. I wonder, how many of them could... any lone one of us really handle?"

Kallo

I rushed into the hall, Avena following sullenly behind. Somehow we'd managed to get here on time - and there appeared to be more seats for riders who were still missing. Woop, not last!
Well, when Avena actually got off her tail and flew, she flew. Probably from practise in chasing potential food sources. I rolled my eyes, then sat down next to another guy with a water dragon. Seemed like a safe option.
As I sat down, Avena immediately curled up, and I kicked her subtly. She glared, sitting up slightly to look at the front where an Elder was standing, giving all the new riders an impatient look. Two more riders and dragons scuttled past before he began.
"I am certain you have all heard of the Ones of Shadow," he rumbled.
I sighed, leaning back slightly. This was going to be a thrilling meet.

Alice:

Of course I was coming. I wouldn't miss it. It's not every day I can just go and provoke the townsfolk. I hopped on Ash and we were off. After several short minutes of riding Ash finally landed in what I assumed to be the center of the town. All of the people stared at us with open mouths and wide eyes.

Eighth-

As Toser spoke, I put my hand to the hilt of my sword, just in case. However, I had a strange sense that his intentions were not bad.
"Of course, there's still the matter of those weaklings who call themselves riders. I wonder, how many of them could... any lone one of us really handle?" He asked. I laughed.
"I can't say. I could handle about five. Perhaps. That would depend on their training, their elements, their toughness. I'd say the same goes for most Royal Enemies. You Shadows? I can't quite say. For the weaker of you, two at most. You, Toser? I would keep you close by. I'd say two wouldn't be a problem at all for you, maybe even three or four if they were young. Older ones... I cannot say." I said.
Phobos wasn't much of a talker, but I could hear him in my mind now. "Become his ally. Perhaps he will prove to be powerful. If not, he would be simple to eliminate."
I smiled. Phobos was right.
"So, Toser... how would you like to be my right-hand man?" I asked.

Toser

The shadow rider smiked to himself as she spoke. Well, at last he was being given the respect he deserved from his companions, at least by one of them. He glanced off into the forest for a short while, as if he was considering her proposition. But the fact that his eyes were open was a clear indication that he was just stringing things out, he had already made his decision. Or he was not giving it much thought, in any case. His comrades would all have been able to see that, and Eighth was no exception.

"Your right-hand man..." He mused, then looked back to her. "Very well. I accept."

Just as he answered, the sky darkened over them for a moment. They both looked up, seeing the dark form of Ash's body go gliding over them. A few seconds later, Shadow followed. Toser raised an eyebrow. "Well, well. It appears our friends can't wait for us." He began walking to Malachite, "I suppose it would be best to catch up with them as soon as possible. Who knows, the village may have found themselves a worthy champion." He gave a sarcastic laugh.

Eighth-
Toser seemed as though he would be loyal. I did not want him to turn against me, so I took my father's-my dead father's- old advice- "Keep your enemies close/" Toser wasn't quite an enemy, but he had been a mild threat. I needed all of my Shadows to be loyal. Now, I didn't believe Toser would make a move. I was giving him respect, and I knew he valued that. I was giving him power over his peers. However, if he proved to be weak or disloyal to me,he would be dead before giving an explanation.

Manarian and Reitsprea

"I am certain you have all heard of the Ones of Shadow," said the Elder at the front of the hall. Manarian heard several sighs and some shifting from the younger riders. They all knew, of course. The Ones of Shadow were practically the first thing they told you about, when you became a rider.

The Elder continued. “It is commonly known that they wish to take over the kingdom of Sharlohw, and would go to almost any length to achieve this. They have now gone to those lengths.” The Elder gazed solemnly around the hall. It had gone very quiet.

“They have murdered their King,” he said. A slight murmuring echoed around the crowded hall. Reitsprea shook her head quietly.

The fool. He never had enough protection. It was only a matter of time.

Yes, Manarian thought back to her, he was rather naive. But, where does this leave us?

I suppose we must do something, she mused.

I suppose.

The Elder, meanwhile, waited for the silent conversations that he knew were taking place to end.

*coughs* actually, we murdered the king of the neighboring kingdom and one of us (me) will take the throne....

Whoops. *Runs off to edit*

All Edited!