We are the Dragonhearted: Rekindle the Flame

Chapter I: Under the Radar

Andor

The hum of the tires of Andor’s truck stayed as an everlasting noise always in the background over the slow country music playing in the cab of his semi truck. In the passenger seat beside him, Thorborne was curled up in his border collie form, just snoozing away to the hum of the road and the rhythm of the wheels. Outside trees blurred past as they headed down the mountain on I-57 northbound to Skyrock. Andor kept one hand on the wheel and the other rubbing through Thorborne’s soft fur. At this time of night, everything was calm and silent on the roads. He better hurry down this mountain though, the blood riders were known to frequent these mountains looking for dragonhearted.

Up ahead Andor spotted a road block with black vans and cars with crimson designs in them. Black armored men in military grade armour and military grade guns were standing outside, presumably checking ID’s and passengers. But out here on the interstate? They must be pretty desperate to catch those dragonhearted. Exactly what he didn’t want to see.

Andor pressed down on the brakes and gently rolled closer to the roadblock. He couldn’t be discovered. His fake ID still had some inconsistencies in it, and ever since King Dacheus had passed that law to require citizenship on the driver’s license, things had gotten a lot more complicated. He knew the blood riders; they always took the smallest issue seriously. If they ran his ID Andor would certainly be discovered. He needed a distraction. Andor shook Thorborne and the dragon groaned and sat up, asking what was happening.

“Blood riders looking for us, I need you to distract them so I can get through.” Andor said to the dragon. They didn’t know about Thorborne, so he could easily slip away. The dragon barked in his canine form and then transformed. As his body grew smaller, his black fur turned to feathers and two wings came from his ribs. His snout narrowed into a beak and he squealed at Andor to leave.

“Got it, I'll fly out and distract them.” He said to Andor. Andor rolled down his window for the dragon and Thorborne quietly slipped out into the night. With his black feathers he was nowhere to be seen. Like many times before, Andor just had to trust that Thorborne had his back. They both knew what the blood riders did to captured dragons.

Andor’s 18 wheeler rolled up to two of the soldiers and the soldier motioned for Andor to cut his power’ the engine was too loud. Andor cut the power and the soldier asked for his identification. Andor reluctantly reached into the center console of his truck and took out his ID. The soldier took it from him and swiped it down a tablet. The ID caused a red blink, and so the soldier ran it again. A red blink. On the tablet the screen showed an enlarged version of Andor’s ID. On it were some strips of information that were highlighted in red and blinking. The soldier furled his brow and looked back at Andor with suspicion.

“Mr. Anderson, can you tell me where you come from? Your ID says you were born in Greenfield county, but I’m getting an inconsistency in that.” The soldier said accusingly to Andor. Andor smiled at the soldier and explained the lie to him.

“Well sir I was born in Carrin county but I just moved to greenfield county. The workers at the DMV must have made a mistake making my new ID. As you are well aware there have been new orders in place that decree any move longer than 6 months requires a new ID specific to that location. And frankly this new citizenship feature is a bit buggy.” Andor stated to the soldier. The soldier handed him back his fake ID and rolled his eyes. Andor smiled at the soldier, knowing the soldier was frustrated from having Andor turn the system’s own rules against him. Ever since Andor and his friends had started that dragonhearted uprising a few years ago, the dictator of 2nd Desle had tightened domestic security by tenfold. Of course that uprising had been squashed, but the dragonhearted “terrorists,” were still out there, hiding amongst the regular folk. That’s what they got for actually resisting the system and almost exposing their plan.

“Well as you are well aware Carrin county used to be home of the last dragonhearted stronghold before we finally got through and scattered the roaches.” The soldier said with a sly smile. Andor’s face hardened and his eyes narrowed but he couldn’t slip up now, not when he was so close to finding another.

“Where you headed?” The soldier asked him. Andor chuckled, and gave him only what he required. Andor was no fool in the eyes of the law, even enforcers of the law. Andor pointed behind him, and then ahead.

“Came from back there, headed up over yonder.”

The soldier’s gaze drifted up to the smokestacks of Andor’s truck, where 2 flags blew in the howling wind of the mountain. One flag was the flag of 2nd Desle. The other flag had the symbol of the dragonhearted on it; a golden silhouette of a dragon with it’s wings stretched and a crossed sword and spear behind it and 18 stars to represent the 18 dragonhearted cities. At least the 18 that had existed. The soldier chuckled once and asked Andor about the flags.

“You a patriotic one?” He asked sarcastically. Alatar cursed him under his breath but reassured the soldier with a pleasant smile.

“You know what they say, be proud of where you come from.” Andor said to the soldier. The soldier nodded and then his face turned serious. Andor’s cover would soon be blown if Thorborne didn’t do anything.

The soldier picked up his radio and spoke into it, calling for backup.

“Hey dispatch I’ve got a 10-22 coming in for questioning, poss-”

The soldier was cut off though when a crackling white bolt of lightning struck a nearby tree in the forest, followed by a roar as loud as thunder. That was Thor alright.

“Dispatch we have a 10-99 repeat a 10-99. A dragon has been found.” The soldier said. The rest of the soldiers got in the vans, but the last one stayed to warn Andor. He pointed his finger at him.

“Get that ID fixed Mr. Anderson.” He said to him before running to the van. Both vehicles skirted into the southbound interstate and headed up into the west wind mountains to find the source of that roar. Andor muttered under his breath and turned his truck back on. The engine roared to life and the 46 ton rolling steel carpet carried Andor back along the road. Andor looked in his rear view mirror and saw another flash of lightning light up the sky. He watched another black armored truck with a mounted machine gun zoom past him on the southbound side. He hoped that Thorborne could handle it.

Andor turned the radio back up to drown out his thoughts about what had just happened. The blood riders were everywhere now. Best to ignore them and go about his day like any normal person would. Andor started tapping his steering wheel and singing along to some music again and braced for the pain of whatever Thor was going to fight. Andor gritted his teeth as the burning feeling on his skin would have rendered any normal person temporarily incapacitated, but pain was just a part of life for his kind, and double the chances with their bond. A crow tapped on the window a few minutes later, so Andor quickly rolled down the window to let him in, and Thorborne immediately shifted into the form of a fox and curled up in the seat. He was panting and some of his fur was singed and smoking. He must have had a rough time.

“Thorborne buddy, how’d it go?” Andor asked him.

“They have-” He said between breaths. “A new type…of weapon. Chemical, it stopped my electricity. Brought it out as soon as they- saw the lightning.” Thorborne lay his paw on Andor’s shoulder and looked at him. Andor could see the worry in his eyes.

“Then that must have disrupted the current from your electrogland.” Andor said back, returning Thor’s look with horrific realization. If It disrupted the electrogland, his and Thor’s greatest strength would be gone. He needed something else to occupy him, as the doubt was already creeping in.

As if on cue, the low fuel light came on on the dash, telling him he needed to stop for some more diesel. Andor looked ahead for any kind of stop, but the sign on the interstate stated that the nearest fillup was in 20 miles. Hopefully his rig had enough fuel to last that.

20 miles and a few songs later, the exit ramp came up. Andor turned on his blinker and rode his semi down into a large clearing in the valley that the interstate passed over. In the valley there was a gas station and a small diner. Andor got to the intersection of the ramp and on the other side of the bridge there was a small town. This place seemed…familiar.

Andor drove his semi into the gas station and pulled into one of the diesel pumps. Andor let Thorborne out as the black border collie ran around and did his business. Andor put in his cash and started pumping his fuel. He crossed his arms and looked at the amount of fuel going up disproportionately more than the money. The pump stopped with a full tank, but it had bled Andor of a significantly larger amount of money than it had cost him in the past. Andor sighed and put the nozzle away, driving his truck into one of the semi parking spaces. His money wasn’t going as far anymore. No one’s money was going as far anymore. This war on dragonhearted had inflated the price of everything from the amount of resources needed to take down the “terrorists.” Still though, the citizens of these kingdoms stayed blind to the real issues, opting instead to hunt him and his kind.

“Thor, I’m going to go around and pull back into a parking spot.” Andor yelled to the dog running around before climbing back into the cab. Andor pulled around to park but the turn was a bit too tight for his turning radius, and so he pulled into the parking spot a bit crooked. Even though his semi was straight, his trailer protruded into the spot beside him. About to reverse for a better angle, a black SUV parked along the curb behind him, so if he backed up he might hit them. Andor sighed, time to do it the ole fashioned way. He got out of the truck and walked to the back of the trailer, taking a deep breath, casually deadlifting the back of the trailer, and moving the entire 46 ton box on wheels. When walking back to the cab he glanced back at the black SUV behind him, and noticed two men in regular street clothes, but each with an earpiece in their ears and one with a camera, who quickly put it down. Even while in the cab, Andor could hear them talking to someone.

“...is agent Kolar H and Plemora T, we have a problem.” One said. Andor grabbed his pistol and stuffed it in his waistband, just in case. He was being watched, or perhaps they were watching someone else and he had just so happened to show up. Either way, he couldn’t leave. He had to find whoever was hiding here and get them to come with him, and he knew the blood rider’s protocol of the agents they had.

Andor’s stomach rumbled once again. Perhaps it was time to get some food after a long day on the road. He had been driving since 0400. Andor whistled at Thorborne running around and barking happily.

“Thorborne here boy!” He yelled to him Thorborne came bounding back to Andor complaining. Andor told him it was too public.

“Come on Andor I need to stretch my wings again you know they cramp up.”

Andor shook his head at Thorborne and pet him. He knew he hated it but Andor had to make Thorborne look like a normal dog in case anyone saw.

“Come on Andor you know I hate that.” The dragon said. He and Andor walked up to the little diner and stepped inside. Just before they stepped in Thorborne shapeshifted into a beautiful black wolf. The wolf, though, brought many eyes and unwanted glares. Andor glanced down at him and scratched him behind an ear.

“Too much?” Thorborne said. Andor nodded to him and sucked in his lips.

“Too much.”

At sunset, the diner wasn’t terribly busy yet, although Andor knew that would change once Skarlagenrod and Vann went down too. Last sunset was now the standard for the end of the workday in 2nd Desle, but as a trucker Andor had his own work schedule. There were plenty of booths and tables open, but Andor purposely chose the corner. Having at least one wall to his back and a good view of much of any room made him feel safer. The corner was dimly lit too by a flickering argon light.

Andor took a seat, groaning as he set his weary bones and sore muscles to rest. Trucking was exactly the kind of job he needed right now, as no one would expect a dragonhearted to be cooped up inside the cab of a truck. Thorborne crawled under the table and curled up at Andor’s feet. Andor took out his journal, a map, and several other items from his backpack. On the map was the highlighted locations of each dragonhearted city, various strongholds, and other places of significance, as well as the golden symbol of the dragonhearted. A red X was over each fallen city. There were 17 X’s on the map.

Don’t act suspicious, but there are some agents here. Andor said to Thor below. The dog climbed up into the seat and looked around, trying to spot them. They’d be hard to see, but that was the point of undercover agents.

Where, why can’t we leave then? Thor replied.

Black SUV, behind the truck, they know we are here, but their prodical gives us time.

Thor looked back to his friend with confusion and doubt. But once reinforcements arrive, it might be too late. We should leave now.

Andor rolled his eyes and told Thor to get under the table before someone saw him.

Relax, we can take a few blood riders, and we need to find who is hiding here, and bring them back. Plus, I’m just famished, aren’t you? Andor stated with a slight high note.

A waitress dressed in red and white striped attire and a plaid ankle length skirt came up to his table. Andor sat up in his seat and quickly covered the map and symbol with some other papers. Ah, here we go. Andor thought. The waitress handed Andor a menu and smiled a big bright beautiful smile at him.

“Can I get you something to drink and-ahh.” She exclaimed when she spotted Thorborne below and ran away to the kitchen. The large wolf must have scarred her. Another waitress approached, wearing this time long wavy golden hair and dazzling blue eyes. There was a softness to her face, and she held a kind caring presence that Andor felt like he knew. She smiled at him too, and when she spoke he recognized her voice.

“Sorry about her, she's a bit skittish.” The woman said. Andor could see something glinting off her shoulder. Now he knew for certain who this was.

“My name is Aunie. So what can I get started for you? Need any drinks first?” The waitress asked. The woman paused and looked at Andor strangely, until he realized that he was blankly staring at her shoulder. The woman let out a strained laugh and fixed the strap of her bra. Her shoulder stopped glinting. Perhaps this wasn’t who he thought she was.

“Is everything alright?” The woman asked. Andor stopped staring and went back to looking at the menu.

“Yeah sorry everything is fine, I’ll just have some coffee. Decalf would probably be best.”

Thorborne however did know who this woman was. He came out from under the table and happily barked at the woman, jumping on his hind legs for her. The woman laughed and played with the wolf for a moment, surprised and joyed at his burst of energy to her.

“Wow he must like you Aunie.” Andor said with a chuckle. Thorborne barked again and then Aunie’s face got more serious and confused. Andor ordered Thorborne back down. Aunie looked at the wolf with a puzzled smile. Thorborne hadn’t been speaking to Andor, but he knew that he had tried to say something to the woman, and apparently the woman had understood. Scaletongue, the language of dragons, a language that no mortal could understand but dragonhearted.

“I’m sorry what?” Aunie accidentally said aloud to the dragon in disguise. Andor leaned back in his seat a bit. Now Andor knew for sure but this woman didn’t know that he knew. This woman in fact had no idea who Andor was. She would have to know though, when the time was right. Andor looked back at the menu in his hand and after going over the options, he ordered.

“I’ll just have two double westerns, and a well done steak for Thorborne.” Andor told her. A bit much for most people to eat in one sitting, but both Andor and Thorborne’s metabolism were huge, and as such they both needed a lot of calories per day. Aunie nodded and them and shook her head, as if trying to rid herself of a certain thought. She smiled and Andor and took his menu.

“Alright I’ll be back with that as soon as I can. Not very busy today so the cook should get your order done in a timely fashion.” She said. The waitress started to walk away and as she turned Andor could see the same thing as before glinting off of her shoulder. It was much too obvious for her not to know that he knew, and if this woman, “Aunie,” was who he thought she was, he needed her to come back.

“Hey Aunie, your makeup is rubbing off, I’d go fix that right away.”

The woman paused her walk and glanced down to the scale showing through on her shoulder. She tried to act as if she hadn’t noticed, but Andor thought otherwise.

“I’ll uh, get that fixed.” She said before walking off into the back. Andor let out a deep sigh and ruffled Thorborne’s fur. He had seen it, and now Andor saw it. She was one of them. After months of searching for another, they had stumbled upon exactly who they had been looking for.

Amora

Amora immediately ran to the break room once leaving the view of that mysterious man with the wolf and grabbed her purse. Amora glanced down to her shoulder, and sure enough there was a blue and purple scale reflecting light from the LED’s. After so long staying hidden, her cover couldn’t be blown now.

A meow came from under one of the tables and Refraction walked out in her feline form as a beautiful gray and white cat. Amora glanced over to her and gave the hidden dragon a quick pet, but nothing more.

“Not now Refraction there is a dragon here! Someone has come for me!” Amora said as she urgently opened her purse and rummaged around for her makeup, but it wasn’t there. She took a scan of the room, and in her squabble she hadn’t noticed how long she was gone. A loud yell came from the boss out in the kitchen.

“Amora, what’s his order? I'm waiting!” He said. Amora looked back through the windows to the kitchen, where the boss stood by the grill in his apron and holding a spatula. Amora peeked her head out the door and gave him the mysterious man’s order. The boss grumbled and got to cooking. Amora covered her shoulder again as he yelled at her again.

“Amora, go see if he needs some coffee or something.”

Amora then heard another voice in her head, a voice she had become very fond of years ago, and a voice that had come to her only a minute ago. The voice was of no man though.

“Remember, black.” The voice said. She shivered and opened the back door, walking to her car. She had forgotten her makeup in her car, and there was something else. Amora had a silver buick. It wasn’t anything fancy but that was the point, it attracted less attention. Plus she could only afford so much. Amora opened the passenger door and grabbed her makeup kit. She put her fingers under the seat and debated lifting the cushion for her weapon, and after a moment of hesitation she grabbed the pen and clipped it to her shirt. Refraction came out to see what her bond partner was doing, now in her german shepherd form. Refraction had sensed it too. Another dragonhearted pair was here, and it was unknown if he was with the resistance or the blood riders.

Amora came out of the break room with a hand on her shoulder and her makeup kit in the other hand. She quickly walked into the women’s restroom and looked at herself in the mirror. She was breathing too fast, and her eyes were wide. One of the other waitresses slowly walked in with a look of concern on her face.

“Amora are you ok?” She asked her. Amora began putting on her makeup to cover the scales showing on her shoulder and glanced over to her. She smiled at Oka, but it wasn’t genuine. She could tell there was something wrong.

“Oka, can you take my customer’s order for me?” Amora asked. She took a handful of water and splashed her face in the sink. She couldn’t do this right now. She had almost been found by a bloodrider last week. Oka patted her back and nodded.

“Yeah I can take your customer Amora, just calm down alright.” Oka said, and then Amora hugged her. Oka was a bit taken aback by Amora’s sudden outburst, but gently squeezed her back. Amora pressed her body to Oka’s warm body, but no tears came from her watery eyes. She had to be strong, else she’d change her mind.

Oka left the restroom and let Amora finish her makeup and eventually calm down. She had made up her mind. Amora couldn’t be discovered here, so she would leave. Amora put away her makeup and walked out to the diner, putting her nametag on the front desk, and not stopping.

“I quit.” She said on her way to the break room. Her boss threw up his arms in confusion, but got back to work like it was whatever. Amora opened her locker and grabbed her purse, the white feline form of Refraction coming out from the corner. She could sense that something was going on.

Where will we go? There’s nowhere to go. She stated. Amora nodded and took out a coin buried at the bottom of her purse. It was a golden coin, with the symbol of the dragonhearted on one side, and the symbol of the Island in the Sky- the dragonhearted stronghold of 2nd Delse- on the other. She clutched it in her fist and her thoughts turned to anger. She glanced at Refraction and told her to follow. Right now, anywhere is better than 2nd Desle.

I don’t know, but we have to leave. She said. Refraction shifted into a white great dane form, and just as she did so, Oka came barging in through the break room doors.

“Amora you quit?” She asked in surprise. She noticed the new border collie form of Refraction and pointed at her.

“Didn’t you have a cat?” She said. Amora glanced at Refraction in fear that Oka might put the pieces together, but instead Oka put a hand on Amora’s shoulder, and looked into her eyes. Amora usually wore contacts that hid her rainbow irises, but now she didn’t need them anymore. Amora sighed and ripped off some of the makeup on her cheek. Oka gasped in realization at what Amora was.

“I can’t stay here Oka, it’s too dangerous for us.” Amora said. She looked confused.

“Us?”

Refraction shifted forms again into a colorful green, red, and blue parrot.

“Squawk, dragonhearted.” She said, and perched herself on Oka’s shoulder. Oka looked at the bird in astonishment, and Amora gently turned Oka’s perfect face back to hers. Oka began to softly cry, realizing what was going to have to happen, but Amora wiped away her tears. She held her hand and a thin stand of soft and warm flamesilk came from her wrist, which Oka held to her cheek.

“I’ll be ok Oka. I love you.” Amora told her, and then they touched their foreheads. Oka put her arms around Amora’s neck and they slowly slid off as Amora walked out the door to her car. Amora opened the door and leaned against it, sighing in exhaustion. The bloodriders, this war on Dragonhearted, she and all her kind had been chased to the ends of the earth. There was nowhere safe for her, and likely wouldn’t be for a long time. Amora started to weep and cry to herself, when Oka burst out of the back of the diner and wrapped her arms around Amora, squeezing her as tight as she could. Amora pressed her own lips to Oka’s and practically pulled her face in as hard as she could. Their kiss lasted almost 30 seconds, until Amora finally broke down and cried into Oka’s arms. How could she ever leave someone who made her safespace. Amora wanted so badly for Oka to come with, but Refraction reminded her why she couldn’t.

“Squawk, no life for mortal, squawk, no life for mortal.”

Amora glanced at Refraction in the passenger seat, and then there grips on each other got tighter as they both jumped at a voice in the darkness, practically right next to them.

“She’s right, you know. My life, our lives, the life of a dragonhearted, is not for the mortal to suffer.”

Right now, her car was facing towards the back of the diner, and whoever had spoken, was hidden by shadow. Amora made a motion and Oka got behind her car, while Amora unclipped her pen and approached the darkness.

“Who said that?” She asked whoever was there. Amora heard a loud squawk come from the passenger door, and Refraction shifted into a white cat again and gingerly approached the shadows. As she came closer, she saw a black paw come out from the darkness, which touched paws with Refraction.

“I was hoping you knew who I am.” The voice said, clearly male. Amora tossed her pen in the air and she caught a dagger, thrusting towards the source of the voice. However, the strike was blocked and she felt a foot hit her chest, kicking her back behind her car. Oka was shocked to see that her girlfriend could fight, but was quick to help her up.

“Amora what was that?” She asked. Amora shook her head and cursed.

“A bloodrider, they’ve found me.” She said. Amora took her dagger again and threw it at the darkness. However, a black left hand reached out and the dagger bounced harmlessly off the man’s open palm, having been thrown so forcefully that it made a spark in the darkness and she saw his face. Now that the light was on him as he walked out, she could see who it was. It was the same customer she had served before, now here. But if this was a bloodrider, how could he not be in uniform? And then she saw on his palm where the dagger had scraped, was a small spec of black. Amora immediately extended her wrists at the man, shooting flamesilk from pores in her wrists and covering the man’s left arm. The flamesilk burned away the paint and makeup, revealing the black dragon scales beneath. The black creature from the shadows joined him, and both her and Oka gasped when Amora recognized who it was.

“Been a long time cousin.”

Andor

Andor gestured to the woman behind Amora, holding onto Amora tightly.

“Girlfriend?” He asked her. The woman behind her nodded nervously and spoke up.

“I-I’m Dai-Oka.” She said, Andor gave her a little encouraging smile. He put his hand on his left pec and gestured to Amora as well.

“I’m Andor. Listen, I’m sorry but I need your girlfriend.”

Oka took a shocked step back, and brought Amora with her.

“What, why?” They both said. Andor ordered Thorborne to fetch something from his truck, and when the dragon returned, Andor held up a packet of papers. Although she didn’t know what they meant, Andor did. He had been searching for an opportunity like this one, and now it was here.

“Because Lyla may still be alive.” Andor stated.

All 3 of them now sat on a picnic table, Andor on one side, Oka and Amora on the other, and Refraction and Thorborn played nearby. On the table, there lay some papers, a map, and their breakfast. The sun reflected brightly off of Amora’s exposed purple and blue iridescent scales, and the scattered silver scales on Andor’s body. Despite being out in the open day without any makeup or something to hide the scales, this hill was high enough that no one would see their scales from the ground. It was chilly this morning, but Amora had graciously woven a heated flamesilk blanket for herself and Oka, and one for Andor.

“Do we have to be out here at this hour, it’s so cold.” Oka complained. Andor rubbed his hands together for warmth and glanced at the rising suns to the east, then to the setting moons in the west.

“Amora you still read ancient kaandailain do you not?” Andor asked. His cousin nodded and cuddled closer to Oka.

“Moon runes can only be read by the light of the exact phase, and name of the moon when it was written. These were written by the light of Vann reflected off of the waning crescent moon of Tithor. Fate is with us, that same moon shines on us now.” Andor said, and almost on cue, the blue sun of Vann rose over the horizon, sending its light to Tithor, and illuminating the hidden symbols on the paper. Amora picked it up and read.

“My will is not enough yet. I can feel her fighting me. We must break her King Dacheus.” She said. She looked at the words and Andor in confusion.

“What does that mean?” Oka asked. Andor smiled wide and leaned over the table.

“I stole this from an armored truck on route from Blackrock to 2nd Desle. This has classified information from Arescet directly to King Dacheus. Arescet is calling for more raids, more hunts, more public executions. He needs to break the will of his host.” Andor said. Amora leaned back and stroked her hair in deep thought.

“Lyla.” She said. Andor and Amora both stared at the report and lingered on the name as if everyone should know it, but Oka looked between them and the papers in confusion.

“Lyla, who is Lyla?” She asked. Both Andor and Amora paused as the memories of her sweet face came back to him. Amora opened her mouth to say something, but Andor stopped her by slamming a palm on the table and drooping his head, making Oka jump in surprise as if she had done something wrong. Andor could even sense Thorborne stop playing at the mention.

“She…was my wife.” He said solemnly. Oka still looked confused for some reason, but now there was a concern in her eyes.

“Was? What happened to her?” She asked him. Thorborn slowly padded up to Andor and lay his head on his lap while Andor pet him. He debated telling her a truth or a lie, but neither one would help her understand anything. So instead Amora answered.

“The dark lord Arescet took her body as a host to return to the physical. Diamonddust was Lyla’s dragonhearted bond, and just like she was Andor’s wife, Diamonddust was Thorborne’s mate.”

Oka scratched her head and they continued discussing it.

“Get it Amora, she might still be alive, my wife is still in there!” He said with excitement. He smiled at them both for a few moments, but Andor’s smile faded as he noticed Amora didn’t smile. He leaned over the papers and put a hand on her shoulder. Meanwhile Amora was busy looking at the map of the entire world. Andor tracked her gaze, which was on Letal.

“Amora, Lyla was your best friend. You can’t go there now. I need you.” He softly said. Amora suddenly stood up and slammed her fist on the table, making both him and Oka jump in surprise at her sudden aggression.

“Why not? Why can’t I?” She screamed at him. Andor told her to shush it as it might draw attention, but Amora didn’t care. Refraction shifted into a great horned owl and perched on her shoulder.

“I never asked for this. I never asked to be born a dragonhearted. I never wanted to live in fear every single day from persecution because of some ancient magic. I never asked to be cooped up inside some mighty fortress, sealed off from the outside world.” She yelled. Andor nervously looked back down to the parking lot and streets below, where people were starting to look at them and notice.

“Amora, please stop it.” He said. Still though, she didn’t listen.

“I never asked to be forced out of hiding, only to live every day on the run, wondering how tight the noose would constrict. I never wanted to be part of some “freedom fighting rebellion,” only because I just so happened to survive the genocide of my people. I never wanted to be forced into leaving my friends and family because I was different.”

People down below now were getting more curious, and a few were even walking up the hill. One on the ground took out a pair of binoculars and looked right at them. From his sensitive dragon hearing, Andor could hear the man dial 911 and call it in. Shit, bloodriders would be arriving soon.

Thorborne, stop them. Andor told the dragon. He shifted into a jet black panther form and growled at the men approaching them. Dragonhearted, all of them, were a kill on sight deal.

“And you Andor, why did I decide to follow you into that tower? It was all your fault, your failure. I lost friends, colleagues. And Lyla, I loved her like a sister. I lost my best friend that day, you can’t possibly imagine how that feels!” She yelled. Andor lost it at the last one and stormed towards his cousin.

“I know exactly how that feels!” He yelled, breathing hard for a few moments in silence. “I had to watch her die! Arescet turned Lyla into the very thing I swore to destroy, my wife, is the dark lord! If I can’t save her, I have to kill her!”

Andor and Amora stood in confrontational silence for a few moments before Oka pointed up as the roar of a helicopter filled the air. Bloodriders. Andor and Amora both looked at their respective dragons.

Thorborne, go! Andor told him. Thorborne barked and planted himself firmly. His body began to grow bigger and longer. His fur turned into black dragon scales, with a few silver ones speckled throughout. He got taller and the claws on his paws turned into razor sharp dragon claws. Wings sprouted from his sides and got bigger and bigger until he was nearly 30 feet wing tip to wing tip. His tail got much longer and two small wings grew on the end. His neck got taller and longer, black horns grew, his eyes turned purple, and when he roared, it was as loud as thunder, the shockwave knocking back the two citizens that had come to investigate, and knocking back the helicopter for a moment.

Andor looked at his semi in the parking lot, but he would never get to his truck in time. The helicopter hovered a few feet from the ground, and dropped 7 well armed bloodriders, decked out in military grade guns and armour. When the helicopter rose again, aimed, and fired at Thorborne, he took to the skies. Refraction also joined in her colorful Sericome dragon form. But there was something else in the chopper, some long barreled cannon that the soldiers inside stuffed with a small cylinder of white gel and loaded it to the bottom of the barrel with a ram rod. Andor held his ground as the soldiers ran towards them, and Amora turned to Oka and hugged her.

“I love you Oka and-ah.” She screamed as a bullet just grazed her skin. Andor turned to Oka, this was much too dangerous a situation for a mortal to be in.

“Oka, get out of here. If they find you, they will question you, and then they will kill you.” He yelled at her. She tried to speak in the howling wind of the helicopter, but all he could make out was that she was going to stay, as this was her girlfriend. Andor nodded to her, and Amora kissed her quickly.

“Ok, follow my lead.” He said. Andor slowly put his hands above his head and turned around. Amora looked confused, but followed. Oka was confused, but the cousins simply nodded at each other. They knew what to do.

As the soldiers ran towards them with guns pointed, Andor relaxed himself, for he knew that this would work out exactly as he had planned.

“Get on the ground!” One yelled. They continued yelling and repeating orders to them as all 3 dropped to their knees and laid on the ground. Oka looked terrified. He was not. As one administered the handcuffs to Andor and was getting ready to handcuff Amora, he gave her a quick hand signal. Strands of regular silk and burning flamesilk shot out from her wrists in all directions, distracting the soldiers long enough for Andor and Amora to jump to their feet. The first to fight was the first to fall as Adnor quickly grappled one of the soldiers and placed him in front of him as a shield as a bearded soldier fired multiple rounds. He then threw the soldier’s body at that bearded one and got into some CQB with the one with the mustache. Both Andor and the soldier threw puches, but Andor dodged them all and took him down with a butterfly kick to the face. One started shooting at Amora but she was able to fire silk at each bullet so precisely and so strong that she spun around and sent the bullets back at the shooter, the impacts on his armor knocking him down, which she then sprayed sticky silk on his shooting hand and the gun. Oka ducked for cover and covered her ears on the side. The bearded soldier got a shot off that hit Amora in the arm, and so she sprayed and wrapped silk around his ankles, then pulled him towards her, moving out of the way so Andor could punch him in the face, knocking him out cold. 4 down, 3 to go.

Andor put a hand out as one of the soldiers fired, and the bullet deflected off into a tree. He fired several more times, but Andor dodged them all until he was on top of him. The soldier drew a combat knife and started slicing and stabbing at Andor, managing to get several contacts, but only where Andor let him. Finally, he came down for a stab and Andor grabbed the blade in his fist, and crumpled it like paper, then punching the soldier away and knocking him out with a crumpled knife to the head. Andor dodged a few more shots from another and jumped over him. Amora shot silk at his hands and ankles, restraining him long enough for Andor to punch him in the face and throw his taser baton hard enough at the last one to knock him out. Bullets flew in the air as Refraction and Thornorne fought against the helicopter, with Thorborne finally just ramming himself straight into the rotor. The blade shattered on impact, and the helicopter fell to the ground in one final explosion. Oka slowly lowered her hands and stood up.

“Is it over?” She asked. Amora smiled at her and approached her girlfriend, then two loud bangs sounded from behind Andor as 2 bullets hit his cousin in the upper left shoulder and over her heart. The impact knocked her out and sent her to the ground. Oka screamed and Andor turned around and approached the final soldier. His main AK was still stuck to the ground, but he had shot his left with a pistol. He shot at Andor as he approached, but Andor only let him hit his chest. He grunted in pain, but refused to go down. The man fired until his gun was empty, but Andor blocked every shot with his hand, grabbing the last crumpled bullet and dropping it on the soldier, who was white with fear, and he kicked him until he was out cold. That helmet should protect him just fine, but he’d have a killer headache when he woke.

Oka was holding Amora’s limp body up, but right now there was no time to explain she wasn’t dead. He held out his arms and Oka set her lover in them, and they started running towards his semi. Once they were in, the dragons joined them by flying in as birds. Andor quickly took out his medpack and gave it to Oka in the back.

“Keep the pressure on.” Andor said, and got back in the driver’s seat. Andor hit some switches to unlock the 5th wheel and told Thorborn to tear off the trailer. He nodded and went out the door, when the screeching of shearing metal pierced the air before coming back 15 seconds later with considerably less weight. They didn't have anything to slow them down, but they needed to get a new ride ASAP. People now knew this truck.

“Where do we go now?” Oka asked him. Andor smiled as they left the truckstop and got back onto the highway. While there may not be an active organized resistance anymore, he knew who to look for to make one.

“I’ve got a few friends around.” Andor stated.