The group walked through the woods until they reached the outskirts, an hour or so after dark. Bast scrambled out of Lei’s arms as they moved to rocky territory, inspecting their surroundings. “Hey… I think I know where we can pass the night…” He said, loping on ahead of them.

Lei watched Bast in silence, chuckling quietly to himself. Atleast the kankiru had been able to rest for a few hours while they walked.

Jing, following beside Bast, looked around curiously before back at her friend. “Are you feeling alright?” She asked.

“Of course I am!” He muttered, not looking at her as he inspected the cliff wall beside them. Now let me see…” He began running his hands over the rock surface.

Jing rolled as eyes as she watched Bast “Seems like you have been here before. When?” She asked, looking back at the others for a moment.

“Does it matter? At some pont in the ages I’ve spent roaming this world.” He said, moving his fingers and smiling as he found what he looked for. He sprang a hidden lever, and the mountainside shuddered and began to open, revealing a cave.

Jing blinked in shock as she saw that. “Whoa… Atleast this will be a safe place for the night.” She said before looking at Bast then away again to the others, wanting to make sure they were close behind.

Bast grinned and nodded, walking into the cave, “Best place to hide fro…” then he noticed it wasn’t dark, and that it wasn’t empty. Four sword points raised to his neck, and he raised is hands to show he held no weapon in hand, “Jing stay back.” He called.

Veldahar and the others glared at the kankiru, as Galdrias moved to stop Jing from running, or raising the alarm.

Jing twitched as she saw the weapons, bringing up her hand, ready to crush the attackers but didn’t use her powers when she heard Bast. Glaring at the others she didn’t move, ready to attack if needed.

Lei, who was behind with the others, looked up as he saw Jing and Bast standing at the enterance of the cave, but couldn’t see why they had stopped.

Lyuthi watched the two groups and bit the inside of her cheek. They didn’t look quite so evil, she thought as she felt a hot sension in her hands. She watched Veldahar then the kankiru.

“Shit, there’s more outside!” Galdrias called in a low hiss. Bast smiled slightly, looking at the tall gold draik in front of him. “Hey look… why don’t we just settle down and talk this out…” “Give me one good reason not to kill you right now.” Replied Veldahar.

“OH! THERE you are!” Grisfam pushed past the four with swords held out to Bast’s neck, and shook the kankiru’s upraised hand. “Bout time too, what took you guys so long to catch up?”  Bast looked at the old wizard in shock.

Jing glared at the others as she heard them, ready to start attacking them first but when she saw the wizard her hand fell to her side. “What the hell…. G…Grisfam?!” She said finally, still in shock.

“…How am I not surprised you know them.” She muttered with a smile, hoping this meant the others were on their side. Moving closer she looked to Jing then to Veldahar.

Veldahar, and specially Galdrias didn’t look very convinced at the old wizard’s actions, but couldn’t seem to help it as Grisfam pattered on, ushering the rest into the cave. “Come in, come in, you know it’s getting quite chilly out there, and oh so dangerous with all those draconian armies and such, there we go, sit by the fire and warm up, we’ve got food for everyone. How’s the little one?” He patted Dalit on the head with a smile, then settled down himself by the fire.

Jing was still in shock about seeing Grisfam again, looking around a little. Part of her really hoped that if Grisfam was here… so were Leria and Kinu. But seeing neither of them her eyes went back to the other group in the cave, glaring at them slightly in distrust.

“Its good to see you again Grisfam, but what exactly are you doing here? Last time we saw you was in a cave in terror mountian like… three weeks ago then you suddenly vanished.” Lei said, sitting down and watching the old wizard, wings twitching a little behind him.

Lyuthi scanned the group, smiling kindly at them all despite the distrustful look she got back. They looked like, once they got past the trust issues, they’d be good companions. It seemed Grisfam knew many people, she knew he was sharper than he acted…

Iris smiled gently at the draiks, but kept close to the others, and the small brown acara girl clung to her skirts tightly, watching the scary draiks. Silver didn’t seem at all troubled by the looks everyone was exchanging. In fact, he was already trying the food, examining a new dagger he’d just found. “Hey that’s mine!” Veldahar cried, moving over to the fire. Silver looked up as he swallowed, “Oh, really?” He said, looking at it longingly before holding it out. “You must have dropped it then, you’re lucky I found it for you!”

Lyuthi blinked at Silver but couldn’t help but giggle. She felt like she had to pay attention to all of those around her but instead just looked to Veldahar with a smile. “Lively bunch?” She said with a grin.

Grisfam smiled, “Why, just tagging along, looking for you lot! You go and get lost and I can’t find you. Hiding eh? You can’t hide forever from me!”

Veldahar took his dagger back and replaced it in it’s HIDDEN sheathe, securing it, eyes on the short statured rodent, who was now rifling through another draik’s possessions while said Draik was tending the stew. “Yeah, you could say that…” He mumbled. “I don’t trust them. I don’t trust the old ixi either.”

Jing watched Silver, chuckling quietly as she watched the Jerboa, but her expression went back quickly to showing the distrust she had for strangers. She glanced at Bast who she was sitting beside. “Your not serious about staying here with these guys right? I don’t care if Grisfam was with them.” She said quietly to her friend.

Lei chuckled as he heard that, ignoring the others for the moment. He didn’t mind being around strangers, he was use to that back home. “Really? I don’t think we were hiding. Your the one who vanished one night. But how were your journey’s after that?”

Lyuthi poked his arm. “Well see? They don’t trust us either.” She said with a laugh. “What a funny bunch…” She mumbled with a smile towards the others.

Veldahar nodded, eyes on Bast, who seemed to be the leader of the bunch. Gladrias was talking to Iris, who smiled and nodded, moving over to the injured Draik. Her staff glowed blue as she kneeled by him, and began healing his wounds. Veldahar blinked as he saw the blue glow, “They have a healer!”

“Oh, pretty good, I’d say. I met this old grumpy tonu a week ago, said he was heading to Pax Tharken too, but he went on ahead, something about trading goods or somesort.” Grisfam prattled. Veldahar turned sharply to look at the wizard in surprise.

Bast shrugged, “Why not? They’re Silvan Draiks, not a very trusting lot, but they’re not our enemies. I’d say we have an enemy in common if anything.”

Lyuthi laughed at Veldahar’s exclaimation and turned to look at Grisfam. What did he say that made Veldahar so…surprised. Scooting past the others she smiled to Lei, seemed he was the only one that would be civil.

“Really? That sounds interesting? But don’t you think that might be dangerous on his own? And what place was he going?” Lei asked, not reconizing the name at all.

“Never heard of them.” Jing muttered quietly. “Arn’t you wondering why they were in here? And they could have killed you.”

Bast shrugged, and got to his feet again, moving over to Veldahar, whom he thought was the leader. “I’m Sebastion, but just call me Bast, my friends here are Jing, Lei, Iris, Rena and S…Silver get out of there…” He moved over, pulling the jerboa from out of one of the draik’s travel bags. “Oh… sorry, I kinda fell inside!” He said, wide-eyed innocence. Veldahar narrowed his eyes at the rodent. “Enchanted.” He said dryly.

Galdrias walked over with Iris and smiled slightly. “I’m Galdrias, this is Veldahar, and Lyuthi there.” He nodded to the female draik, then introduced the others of the draik group. Finally he looked to Bast and his group again. “What brings you here?”

Grisfam smiled as Lyuthi approached them, patting the ground between Lei and himself. “Come to join the chatter?’ He said, “What do you know of Pax Thorken, Lyuthi?”

Lyuthi waved to the group and smiled to Grisfam as she sat. “…Nothing.” She said smiling brightly. “I don’t remember a thing about it.”

“You have been there?” Lei asked, though realized questioning about it would be pointless. Insted he brought a hand to Lyuthi. “I know my friend already introduced me but I prefure doing so myself. Its nice to meet you Miss Lyuthi.”

Jing twitched as she heard Bast introduce her, muttering that she didn’t like the idea of strangers knowing her name. Besides that though she just looked at everyone in the cave, chuckling quietly at Silver again.

Bast didn’t seem inclined to reply, but finally shrugged, “We were travelling to Altador in an airship when red dragons took us down.” He said, “We wound up coming this way since the other way was rather blocked by an army.” He said. Veldahar twitched at the word ‘dragon’. “There is no such thing as dragons.” He said flatly.

Dalit looked up at this, from where he’d fallen asleep in Lei’s lap. He frowned quietly.

“Sure there are.” Lyuthi said turning to look at Veldahar. “I’ve seen plenty in my time.” She said with a smile, though little did she know about her own forms. “Don’t be such a downer.” She said with a grin before smiling at Lei. “Pleasure to meet you Lei.”

Lei has a glare on his face, “Dragons are real.” He muttered befure looking at Lyuthi, desiding to completely ignor the gold draik. “Thank you very much. What is your group doing here exactly? Where are you headed?” He asked, placing a gental hand on Dalit’s head.

Jing ignored Veldahar for the moment, looking at Bast with a small frown. Why was he telling these people all that?!

Veldahar turned to Lyuthi and scowled, “Your time? You can’t remember anything and now you’re saying you’ve seen dragons? There IS NO SUCH THING as dragons! Just draiks… and that’s it! Sure some draiks are pretty big but that’s all they are.”

Bast was rather taken aback by Veldart’s reaction to dragons, and wondered why he so vehemently opposed their existence. “Whatever, I’m sure you’ll see some soon enough at this rate…” He muttered, “So what are YOU lot doing in this cave?”

Lyuthi flinched at his angry(and rather unnessacary) outburst on dragons. She was growing tired of his outbursts, especially the ones directed at her. It always seemed his outbursts towards her were meant to hurt so she’d shut up, and this time she did.(fucker) Turning away from him she sighed looking to Lei. “He can be really paranoid and angry, forgive him.” She said trying to not take his words personally.

Lei sighed, a small cloud of cold air coming from his mouth as if it had been cold out, though with the fire the cave was warm. It was an obvious sign of the draik’s annoyance. “Seems quite closed minded to me. No reason to grow angery for someone’s lack of knowledge though.” He said, smiling at Lyuthi. “Though I am glad to see one atleast with their mind in the right place.”

Jing shook her head when she heard Veldahar, but smiled a tiny bit when she heard Lei. Looking around the group she waitied in silence for an explination, eyes stoping on the gold colored draik.

Dalit whimpered at Veldahar’s outburst, leaning into Lei’s arms further, peering at Lyuthi as Veldahar turned back to Bast. The small dragon smiled timidly.

Veldahar considered the kankiru, then sighed, “We’re going to Pax Thorken. To free the slaves that are being held there by the draconians.”

Lyuthi sighed, he really needed to calm down. What the hell did he know of what she remembered?? It came back in bursts and just because he had paraniod thoughts about the stupidest things didn’t mean he had to take it out on her!, she thought trying to no scowl as she looked to Dalit. “Yeah I don’t what is wrong with him. He likes to be mean for no reason sometimes.” She said with a sigh.

Lei listened quietly, though when he heard Veldahar he turned his head in suprise. “Slaves…?” He asked, remembering the mines in terror mountian. “Are they just people from around here?” He added, wondering if the people from his home might have been brought to that place.

Veldahar shrugged, “We don’t know, but we’re going to try and save them anyways.” He said. Bast laughed, “That fortress is impregnable! How does your small group plan to pull that off? There’s an army of a good five thousand troops stationed there last we saw!”

Veldahar frowned darkly, “The troops have left the fortress to attack our people.” He said, “We’ll have some time to infiltrate the fortress.” And cause a commotion by liberating the slaves big enough to force that army to come running back and give his people time to escape.

“Sounds like a suicide attempt to me. The troops might not be there… but there will be atleast one dragon. A Red dragon. And I think you would be lucky if there was only one.” Jing said, watching Veldahar. There was probably more then that, since they had seen what was it… ten when the ship was attacked? She looked over at Bast, hoping he would see this groups madness as much as she did.

Veldahar scowled, “There is no red dragons, or dragons of any color! Just troops and maybe mages. We’ll deal with it.” He turned away, “Besides, it’s not your concern what WE do.”

Jing rolled her eyes “I’m starting to wonder if you would still doubt the existance of dragons even as the red’s fire was burning away your flesh.” She said with a shake of her head. “Stuborn idiot you are. And obviously lacking any kind of brain.”

Lei looked at Jing for a moment, shaking his head. It was odd to listen to Jing say that then look at her, after all she looked like some kid around 12 or 13 in age, even though he already knew better. Looking back at Lyuthi he smiled sadly. “I hope your group remain’s safe on your journey.”

“Well this was meant to be a suicide mission anyway. I just sort of left the castle to chase Veldahar. I’m the silvain draik’s princess supposedly.” She said with a shrug but stood to face Veldahar. “You need to calm down. Your paranoia about the exsistence of dragons isn’t helping the situation at all! And don’t even try to spin this on me this time. You are the one who is freaking out over something you wish didn’t exisit! Well they do so you need to get a grip!”

Veldahar twitched at Lyuthi’s outburst, and he watched her, then turned, stomping off into the darkness of the cave, leaving them all behind. Bast whistled low. “He’s got serious issues there.” He said. “Well, best luck to you guys, we’re heading out tomorrow, we just needed a safe place to spend the night. He sat down beside Jing, and took some food from Silver, who’d already acquainted himself with everyone else… and their belongings.

Jing watched in silence as the drama continued, looking at Bast with a smirk. “Suddenly our group doesn’t look so bad.” She joked before nibbling on the food.

Lei made sure Dalit had some food first before eating as well, looking at Lyuthi “Are you alright Miss?” He asked, wanting to make sure.

Lyuthi threw her hands in the air with a sigh. That was the best reaction he could give!? “Yep.” She said sitting, smiling as if nothing had happened. “He has strange issues.” She said scowling for a moment. “Who is this tiny one?” She asked focusing on Dalit rather than Veldahar.

Dalit smiled at her as he ate, ‘My name’s Dalit.’ She could hear the child’s voice in her mind.

Bast chuckled, “Well, we’ve got a lot backing us up, and a lot at stake. At least all of OUR group believe in dragons now.” He grinned at Lei.

Jing nodded as she heard that “Very true.” She said, chuckling. “Though it didn’t take to much for Lei to realize the truth.” Except being a prisoner of a black dragon, she added silently in her mind. “So what do you think we should do? How far is this… Pax place from here? I’m guessing its the place those reds flew towards yesterday?”

Lei chuckled quietly, watching Dalit and Lyuthi, silent.

Lyuthi gently pat Dalit on the head. “Such a talented child.” She said then sighed looking to where Veldahar went, cursing herself for being worried. “..I should really go check on him..” She said standing. “Pleasure to meet you all.” She said bowing slightly before navigating her way towards where Veldahar went.

Galdrias sighed, “You know… I kinda prefer Veldahar WITHOUT Lyuthi attached. He’s a lot more mature.” He grumbled. He looked to the group, “Is it true you saw dragons nearby?” Bast nodded, “Bout a dozen of them, heading to Pax Thorken, but that was a day ago. If that army is heading south again, perhaps they’ve left with it. I’m afraid your people are in real danger, that flight of dragons can raze the forest pretty quickly.” The prince winced, looking into the fire. “more the reason to hurry up ourselves then.” He muttered.

Veldahar had gone further into the cave and stopped at a fork, two tunnels leading in separate directions. He frowned, glancing at each in turn, and shivering.

Jing looked at Galdrias, “Are you guys seriously going there? You’ll just end up dieing. Even if there is only one red there right now.” She said with a sigh, remembering her past experiences with reds. Going agenst them was just suicide!

Lyuthi didn’t have to go /too/ far until she saw Veldahar and soon was by his side. “You trying to figure out which way to go hm? How to get away from the group the fastest?”

Galdrias shrugged, “Like Lyuthi said, we are prepared to die. As long as we manage a commotion large enough to make that army and those dragons come for us instead of my people…” Bast frowned at this, “You’re going to use the slave escape as a distraction!?”

Veldahar sighed, shaking his head. “I don’t know, I just needed some space… time to think. Look I’m… sorry for yelling at you.” He said, turning slightly from the tunnels, but not giving his back to them. A cold wind came from one side, and a sense of dread creeped up their spines.

Lei looked over at Galdrias in shock “Willing to risk your own lifes is one thing, but the lifes of so many others? How can you belive an option like that is possible?!”

Jing just glared at him, hoping that morning would come quicker then normal. She was tired of being around these scum.

Lyuthi shrugged with a smirk. “Guess I am getting used to it” She said putting a hand on his arm. She shivered at the wind and pulled on his arm gently. “…I don’t control when I remember things. Sorry for not being sensitive to your aversion to dragons…” She hoped he wouldn’t blow up at her for saying the word ‘dragon’.

Veldahar flinched at the word. “No… I… I just…” He sighed, shaking his head, looking down at the ground, mind in turmoil. “My… mother always said I was half dragon. She said glorious things about my father and what powers I would posess. She was mad… crazy and broken from whoever that bastard was that used her!” His voice had grown louder as he spoke. He looked up at the tunnel, glaring at it as if his father would suddenly appear. “I don’t believe in dragons…”

Galdrias shrugged faintly, “With our help they’ll have a small chance of escape. Otherwise they will remain slaves until their use is over, then they will die.” He said. “At least we’ll try to liberate them.”

“But you will still be going up agenst atleast one red dragon.” Lei said, sounding a little worried, he then just shook his head. “Well… I hope you all make it out of there alive atleast.”

Jing shook her head a little, still thinking it was crazy.

Lyuthi watched him, listening with sympathy. “…Wait, you don’t believe in dragons because your father abandoned you mother?” She asked trying to grasp his reasoning. “…Why do you insist they do no exist? I think dragons are beautiful, and if you are part dragon then that makes me so envious of you. Father or no father.” She said softly. She still didn’t quite graspp why he had such an aversion to them but smiled anyway. “You are not your father. Okay?”
 
Veldahar sighed, turning fro her. “My father was no dragon. He was a drunkkard rapist who hurt my mother so much that she made up fantasies to cover her shame.” He growled. “I’m not part dragon, there is no such thing as dragons but in my mother’s imaginings.” He shook his head and looked to the ground.

Bast sighed, “Maybe we should help them…”

Jing looked at Bast in shock “Are you crazy?!” She asked, atleast hoping he was making some kind of joke.

Lei looked at Bast, also a little unsure. It was more of the danger it would put the children of their group in. But part of him wanted to know if people from the mountians had been brought here.

Lyuthi grabbed his arm and moved so she could look at his face. “..I’m sorry.” She said not wanting to try and convince him he was wrong. “Just ignore the others when they speak of dragons then. No reason for you to get angry..okay?” She said softly, tilting her head a bit so she could catch his gaze.

Veldahar looked up as she tried to catch his gaze, and looked at her, sighing faintly. “Very well… I’ll try.” He said softly. “I just don’t like being reminded of those stoies of hers.”

Bast shrugged, “Well, if timed right, and these guys must have SOME plan, we could possibly help those trapped, and cause problems for the Dragon armies.”

Jing still didn’t like the idea “I don’t want to go anywhere near where any red dragon is. Even if it means messing with their army.”

“And what about Rena and Dalit?” Lei pointed out. “I personally don’t want to put them in any more danger then they have faced.” He said, putting a hand on the silver dragon’s back.

“I wish I could say I know how you feel.” She said with a small smile. “..But you know..I’ll always be here, so you can vent or yell at me anytime.” It was times like now that she wished she could comfort him with her own stories of her family, but alas she could not remember any. “I have faith in you Veldahar, I know you won’t let those stories affect who YOU are.”

Veldahar laughed lightly, “You’re… really strange. Thanks, Lyuthi.”

Dalit looked up and smiled faintly. Bast sighed and nodded, “That is true, the kids shouldn’t be put in danger.” He grinned, patting Jing’s head, “Right Jing?”

Jing twitched as she heard that, moving to punch Bast in the arm. “How many times do I have to tell you I’m not a kid so don’t treat me like one!!!” She said angerly.

Lei couldn’t help but laugh “To many sixteen is still a kid Jing. But who I met were Dalit and Rena.” He explained.

Lyuthi did her best to hide the flinch when he called her strange, and smiled brightly. “Your welcome Veldahar.” She said looping her arm with his. “Shall we go back?”

Bast laughed, “Ow! I was joking! But that doesn’t mean I don’t wanna see YOU in danger either.” He added, rubbing his arm. Galddrias shrugged, “We don’t need your help nor would we ask for it, I ask of no one to risk their lives like this. We all volunteered.”

Jing sighed a little, looking seriously at Bast “I don’t want to see you in danger either, mister no longer allowed to play hero.”

Lei sighed quietly, looking at Bast and the others. “I kinda agree with Bast’s suggestion. Part of me wants to know if the people from my home were brought here from the mountians. But the safty of my friends comes first.”

Veldahar sighed, looking back towards the light of the fire, and those around it. “I don’t… hey, wasn’t there a small rodent with them?” He said, scanning the group again. Silvertongue was nowhere in sight.