"Where is it?" Orosi lifted her head, breathed deep and smelled the air. A scent was upon it, an abnormal one for this area. Silently she stalked toward the source, Bow and Arrow keeping a knowing quiet behind. They were her back lookouts and had improved her tracking a hundredfold. Bow peeped softly, eyeing Arrow. They worked together well. On she stalked, hand reflexively twitching back to the dagger at her hip or the bow slung over her shoulder. (a real bow, not the copper flit)

"There!" she thought, "That smell...fires, cooking fires. Made by..." She lifted her head and sniffed the air again. "Travelers, no danger." With that, she turned and retraced her steps to the small party waiting nervously in the clearing she'd left them in. Straightening, she nodded to the frail old man sitting tremulously upon the gleaming runner. "Just travelers, my lord. No danger to us, though I reccomend we cut around them by following the trail through the woods." He nodded in assent. "Carry on."

The rest of his guard, four heavily armed knights upon runners chosen for strength not speed, made a box around their lord. Orosi trailed behind on foot, often dissappearing into the forests only to re-appear ahead of the party by many lengths. Suddenly, with a loud screech from both Bow and Arrow, something heavy and foreign flew overhead, pumping a pair of powerful bat wings. She ducked and shouted to the guard, "Into the trees with you, now!" before chasing after the beast.

Bow down, arrow slung, line taught, all this done in a matter of seconds as she ran. The two flits immediately dove ahead, able to fly faster than she could run. They steered her mentally, giving her landmarks and targets. When the beast landed she hit the ground on one knee and took aim. There was a man upon it's back, he leapt down and conversed with the travelers she'd seen earlier. "They moved faster than I thought...maybe they were waiting on him." The beast that had carried the man was blue and gazing about with a concetration she normally attributed to herself.

It came as a surprise to her that it spotted her and bugled loudly to it's rider. Before she could run, the blue was there and snatched her by the collar of her leather coat. "Put me down, you filty animal!" she screeched. Bow and Arrow pelted from the forest to defend her. "Calm down now, we're not going to hurt you." the man said as the blue beast lowered Orosi to the ground. Deciding she was a little outnumbered, she replaced her arrow into the quiver and hooked the bow across her chest. "What do you want?" she asked, narrowing her eyes at the man and his blue beast. "What we would like is for you to come with us, to the Warren. My dragon here thinks you would make an excellent candidate." "Dragon? That is no dragon, it's wings are different."

And they were. They are attached to the wrist of the dragon and were part of the beasts forelimbs, instead of being seperate appendages as were most dragon wings. "He most certainly is, and he's a little offended by your comments." The man replied, looking a little affronted himself. "You cannot make me go with you." Orosi said stubbornly. "I don't want to have to take care of some little baby hatchling, they'd get in the way." The man scowled at her, clearly re-thinking his choice. "Now, if there was a way for me to bond one that was an adult, I'd come." she commented, trying to deter him further.

To her surprise and frustration, a broad smile broke out across his face. "I have just the plan for you, milady. Please, if you will come with me." Shocked at his sudden formality and that fact that her comment had not deterred him at all, Orosi took a step back. "Now wait a minute..." but before she could finish, the blue had taken off and collected her in one swift motion. It flipped her up onto it's back to be caught by the man. Unable to help herself, Orosi screamed in terror. "Easy! We wouldn't drop ya!" he said firmly, securing her to his bond's back.

They arrived at the Warren, the man still maintaining his grip on Orosi with some difficulty. As soon as the blue set down, Bow and Arrow both set their teeth into his hands. He let out a howl and released her, she immediately darted for the forest of white-barked trees. "He won't find me now..." she thought. Forests were her favorite of all places, the deeper and darker, the better.

She wandered forever in the trees, wading silently through fallen silver leaves, all intent on reaching the most quiet section of wood and hiding until dark. But the deep forest became so dark she didn't know anymore what the outside world contained. Finally she reached a clearing, clearly man-made. Something was inhabiting it, something she didn't notice until she was practically on top of it, and it attacked.

What are you doing here!? it screeched, suddenly filling her vision with red hide and snapping teeth. It was female and firey, like a war-cry on the battle field. Leave us, human. another voice, more masculine and controlled filled her mind. This one was quietly hurt, like ragged silk. "I-I didn't know there was anyone here." she stammered, knocked back upon her rear by the owner of the first voice. You humans never consider anything but yourselves... the first voice growled, growing softer as the speaker retreated. Then Orosi got a glimpse of the two of them. One was a blue dragon, like the one who carried her here. He was settled in a nest made of soil, head on his forefeet and eyes following her with mild curiosity.

The other was a female, her hide a shade of brilliant blood-red. She continued to snarl at Orosi as she lay next to the blue. Her stance was alert, angry and ready to attack. Her eyes only followed Orosi with a look of deepest disgust. "I'm Orosi..." she said softly, not knowing why. These dragons seemed hurt, the clearing they were in was otherwise empty and cold. What makes you think we care who you are? the red spat, her voice full of contempt. Easy, Askayla. She stumbled here unknowingly, and is a guest. Treat her kindly, please. Orosi, I am Damen, this is Askayla as I said before. "P-pleased to meet you." Bow and Arrow came from the trees silently and settled upon her shoulder. Orosi was suddenly consious of how these two dragons seemed to have no humans, and of her comment earlier to the man on the blue.

"Do you not have bonds?" she asked, attempting nonchalant but unable to keep the quiver from her voice. She hated the fear in it, she was showing weakness and would have none of it! Do not speak to me of bonds! What are they good for? Nothing but leaving you, heart ripped to shreds! Askayla said angrily and turned her back on Orosi. Damen lifted his head and reguarded her with a look of interest. We are abandoned, our bonds left us...why do you ask? Do you wish to bond one of us? he asked, a lilt of hope in his smooth voice. "What if I was?" Orosi asked, her voice higher than she would have liked, chin stuck out at a defiant angle.

She stood and gave them both an apraising look. "You're certainly better than any hatchling." she sniffed, trying to appear as though she didn't care whether or not one of them bonded her. Inside, however, her guts had turned to a bizarre mix of iron and jelly. "Would they...?" she thought, heart in her throat...