House Rh'thaou: various locales

the continuing stories of the Taratus Clan
by Neishai

Lantessama Isle | Halloween Clutch | True Chaos Clutch
Cy Dragonstake | Apocalypse Clutch

• • •

He was in his human form, which was much more agile than any other form he possessed. He was quite possibly the one exception to the rule in House Rh'thaou.

"Is he tarati?" Erloch's unblinking stare bore into the top of Tyrach's bowed head.

The elephant-shifter shook his head. "I am not sure. His features make him seem vaguely…avian."

"Don't trust him, Erloch. If he's no taratus, there's no way we can trust him."

Erloch's eyes narrowed, his face taking on a dangerous slackness that warned of an explosive bloodletting. "Silence," he said mildly, a slight rumble to his voice.

Sieban blanched and bowed his head, silently cursing his impulsiveness. "Yes, Lord."

Tyrach looked up at Erloch, who sat reclined comfortably on a hammock of vines hanging from the mossy exposed roots of a fig tree. "He reminds me of a bird, but I do not think he is. But he is very good, I almost didn't see him."

"Hmm."

While Erloch considered whether to meet with this fellow or not, his sister spoke up. "You say this…Mormont…had some kind of mount?"

Tyrach nodded. "It looked like a large, furry…almost reptilian creature. Very intelligent."

"What was your impression of this man, Tyrach?"

His eyes widened. She wanted him to use his extrasensory abilities. "Lady Caoiloch, I don't--"

"Tyrach, please. You know how much is riding on our decision. If we expose the whole House to this man, and he is our enemy…" She let her words hang. Tyrach may have been a warrior, but he was no fool. He was intelligent and rational. But he also had an unusual ability to sense things about people…

"Which is why, if I fail…" He swallowed fiercely and nodded, before Erloch could fling a retort at him. "This man has a dark heart, Lady. He has the eyes of a killer; he enjoys what he does." Tyrach's gaze flicked over to Erloch, who's expression had become calculating. "But he also has a mission. He says that beasts like his own will be hatching soon. They are evil, and must be controlled by strong men and women. He says that they would aid us in our war against House Nhonn. Not in so many words; I told him very little, for fear that he would use any information against us."

Caoiloch nodded. "I trust you, Tyrach. Go on."

"His beast is an intelligent one, supposedly on par with one of us. They can communicate with their masters telepathically, as we do. He would take those of us who are worthy, and we could have some of our own."

"What's the catch?" Erloch glared at his minion, his voice thick with suspicion.

"He said there is none, at least monetarily speaking. These beasts take several years of training before they can meet their full potential. Usually people stay at the dragonry for the entire training process, but we don't necessarily have to."

"Do you believe him, Tyrach?" Caoiloch watched him carefully, speaking softly but urgently. This could be just what they needed. The jungle served certain purposes, but since their flight, Shainon and his company had effectively disappeared. If they had found a ride from similar rider-and-beast teams, they would not even be on Earth anymore. The thought almost boggled the mind…almost.

Tyrach took a deep breath, eyes closed. When he finally opened his eyes, they were focused on the forest floor. He looked up at Caoiloch. "He speaks the truth, Lady."

Caoiloch and Erloch exchanged looks.

We should meet him, Erloch insisted, rounding on his sister.

Yes, of course, came the reply, but I don't believe it wise to show everyone at once. It could still somehow be a trap.

Erloch nodded. Gaeval, Caran, and Makon are still out patrolling. You and I should meet him directly, leaving the others spread out under cover.

We bring Tyrach as well, since he has already met with the rider.

Agreed.

The siblings turned their attention back to Tyrach. "We three will meet Mormont."

Sieban frowned. "What about--"

"The rest will stay in the shadows." When the blackbuck-tarat's frown deepened, Erloch snarled, knocking him back with the sheer force of will. "You will watch my girl, Sylnes. Do you have a problem with that?"

"No, of course not," Sieban replied nervously. He glanced back at the young gazelle shifter who stood off to the side, looking quite afraid. His confidence instantly returned when faced with protecting the one he cared for the most.

Caoiloch and Erloch both took note of this change. The latter did not see a problem, believing Sieban would never betray his orders. In a way, he trusted the young warrior, but only because Sieban understood the consequences of crossing his alphas. Caoiloch on the other hand glared. Dissention of any kind could prove fatal.

"Let's be off," Erloch grunted, hopping smoothly from the bunch of vines he had been reclining upon. The others were quick to follow.

The meeting went well. The others were to join the greeting party in the large clearing where Mormont and Lerion had… appeared. Erloch loved the man's (most certainly human, he had that smell about him) beast. He was furry and evil, and gorgeous. Caoiloch saw the potential, but Mormont told them that there were other clutches at Lantessama, the place they would be visiting. There would be a Halloween clutch, with obvious themes. There were clutches for their fairer members as well.

Sieban and Sylnes approached, the former holding gently the other's shoulders, trying to lend some strength to her. She was terrified. Tyrach came to their aid, giving Sylnes a strong, encouraging smile. "Don't worry," he whispered to her tonelessly. "Just think, soon we will be free of the wilderness. Real beds, friendly faces, normal food…" He trailed off, hoping, but not really believing, that it could all be true. Despite the truth to the search rider's words.

Sylnes nodded, biting her lip, but her posture seemed to make her double in size. She would be strong. She had to be.

"Makon and the others are on their way," Caoiloch told the rider.

"How many will there be?"

Erloch answered for her, eyeing Mormont's Lerion. "There are three more. Can Lerion carry all of us?"

Mormont shook his head. "I will have to make more than one trip."

Erloch glowered, wanting to say, "All or none," but his sister shook her head warningly.

"We will leave the others in the capable hands of Makon and Tyrach. They come later; we will explore Lantessama in the meantime."

Erloch nodded. "Fine then. You, me, and Gaeval will go first. Are four total all right?"

Mormont nodded. "Then I will send someone for the rest."

• • •

The search pair who met the rest of Rh'thaou was not the one they had been expecting. A large dragon with wings dropped between the trees. His spine and tines where wings should be were aflame with metallic light. It took a moment for the shifters to realize that it was not a trick of the fading light. He was real, his flames were real, and his dismounting rider they soon realized was a real vampire.

Sylnes and Caran cowered behind the males. The males were tempted to cower behind the females, but stood their ground. Makon, a beta in the pack, was clearly leader, put possibly one of the least capable of doing so in this situation. He had not been privy to the discussion between his alphas and the search rider from Lantessama.

However, none could have known that Lantessama Isle was not the only dragonry about to hold a dark clutch of dragon eggs.

"Do not be alarmed, I am Rakyn--" the rider began, before Makon interrupted, stepping forward to meet him.

"We know why you are here. I'm Makon, leader of this small band. For now."

The vampire stood puzzled for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Then you will come?"

Makon nodded. "We are ready."

When they had all been situated upon the undead RysHathian, Silver Sezukar took to the sky, and within moments they had left their old lives behind. And reappeared above Cy Dragonstake.

"Something does not seem right here," Tyrach muttered to himself, rubbing his chin. But he could not put his finger on it. Above the roar of the wind, none heard him, none could comment.

• • •