"All right then, where did you bring us this time?" Minaeya asked her dark green Bond as they appeared over the glaring white snow of the tundra. You ask me that like I know, laughed Auspexeth as she soared, first in a circle and then out to the east. "Well, don't you?" Indeed I don't. I thought we were going to the skies above the hatching sands...and unless Jeyann did some remolding while we were gone, this isn't it. Min sighed, then clapped her hands quickly. "Yay! Gotta love the influence of the Nexxus!" she giggled in sarcastic glee, sighing once more and adding a headshake. Auspexeth glanced back at her rider, giving a dragonic smile and her own headshake. Well? I know you were looking forward to getting home after the let down at that Hold... "There must be a candidate around here somewhere that needs to be at the Flurry...why else would we be brought here?" And Min leaned forward against the broad neck of her Night Green, peering over her head. "I see smoke ahead." Looks like...a burning building. Shall we? Min closed her eyes for a moment, then nodded and sat up like a royal queen. "Fly on, my dear Dragon. Let us see what these snowy plains hold for us." Auspexeth laughed, then glided on. As you command, dear Bond. The scene watching for them over the snow dunes was horrific. Dead forms of these...creatures. Everywhere. Blood and gore, crying survivors who sat by the bodies or walked around, lost and confused. At times there would be a burst of a fight...but the combatents were often too worn from whatever war had gone on during the night to continue much past a few attacks. "We should land...our candidate may be down there," Min muttered, though half heartedly. No...I feel some, but they're dead. Or dying. And it's not safe. I feel anger down there, tremendous anger.. Min sighed, and nodded. "I can see it. Their auras radiate it....but they're strange though. Like the anthros we've seen...but not. They're overshadowed by something...like, this magic almost." Auspexeth looked through her Rider's eyes...and gave a rather dog like tilt of her head. It is like magic. How interesting... "Do you think the candidate survived this?" They must have...we were still brought here, weren't we? Min nodded, and turned away from the wreckage as Auspexeth flew on. They traveled until the sun was well to their backs, and almost setting. "This is discouraging, Auspexeth...we've been traveling for almost an entire day..." Two if you count the Hold. Min nodded. "Two days...and nothing. Just the dying flickers of these...creatures." Auspexeth gave a low rumble, her sigh, glancing to her bond. I'd try transporting back to Ryslen...but I have a feeling if the Nexxus wanted us here, it won't let us go home until we find this candidate. "I know," she sighed, leaning forward against her dragon's neck again. It's out there somewhere, Minaeya. You know as well as I do that it has to be. "I know. I know." Minaeya! Up ahead! IMin sat up from her half sleep with a jerk, and there in the shadow of the setting sun, the dark form of a creature was seen on the snow. Pushing her great wings onward, Auspexeth powered on, creating tiny whirlwinds in her wake. Like a buzzard of the sky she circled the body, and Minaeya peered down as her dragon descended. The aura was so faded and gray, Min couldn't make out a distinct color, but it was there. This was the candidate they'd been looking for. "She's so weak..." But she's alive. Auspexeth had barely touched down before Min jumped from the straps, crunching through the layer of ice on the snow and stumbling to the side of the blue creature. The size of a very large dog, the sharp spikes of fur that covered the lanky frame heaved with each desperate breath inhaled. Dark eyes had rolled back into the skull, but swiveled to look at the human woman as she approached. For a moment, the panic was rampant in those tired eyes... "Shh...easy. We're here to help you..." Min comforted, kneeling by the animals side. The beast looked at her, then to the dragon...and passed out. |
| Text (c) Jennifer, yr. 2003 & beyond Characters of Faidia (c) M. Janda. Minaeya and Auspexeth (c) Ryslen Weyr. |