Leria watched for a bit, but her wings were hurting and she could barely keep aloft, so she flew back to where Bast was, landing beside him. A band of magic appeared around Aurixel’s arms and torso, pinning his arms to his side as she let him drop on the ground, before collapsing tiredly with a soft moan of pain. “What did you do to Bast?” She demanded of her prisoner.

Aurixel didn’t seem to mind the magic, sighing quietly and sitting down. “I did what was needed for him to stop fighting. Unfortunatly he wouldn’t stop and I had to use more force then I wanted…”

Leria stared at Aurixel critically, seeing more than a normal mortal’s eye could. She sighed finally, and her form shifted into that of a bronze draikess with green markings, dressed in a flowing gown. She sat as well, wincing as pain welled from her sore body, blood welling through the gown. She paid this no heed, instead looking at Aurixel. “You realize that dragon was assigned to you just to make sure you behaved?”

“Of course. I’m not that stupid.” Aurixel muttered. He watched her for a moment, tail twitching. She might have been a ‘enemy’ atleast in the eyes of those he followed… but he hated seeing anyone hurt. “I can… treat your wounds. Atleast a little.” He offered.

Leria was surprised at this. “Why would you help me, instead of trying to kill me?”

“I don’t kill.” Aurixel argued. “I never have, and I don’t ever plan to.”

Leria raised an eyebrow, but decided to see what he would do, and flicked a hand, the band moving from his torso to his neck, becoming a tight collar instead.

Aurixel didn’t mind much about the collar. He wasn’t expecting Leria to be stupid enough to free him completely, if she had he probably would have desided not to help her. He moved a little, pulling something out from under his robes. “Its a salve with herbs used to help speed up healing, it also stops bleeding.” He explained as he moved towards Leria a little to hand it to her “If you want you can put it on your wounds yourself. If you don’t trust me at all.”

Leria took the salve and sniffed it after opening, then nodded. She flicked her hand and the robe she wore disappeared, leaving her naked in front of Aurixel.

She hesitated a bit, looking at the salve and her wounds. She thought of changing to a smaller animal form to heal quicker with the salve. But decided against it. It had already almost cost her her consciousness to shift into a strong draik from her stronger dragon form. If she turned into a smaller mammal she might die before the salve had a chance to work, and she’d be at Aurixel’s mercy. She didn’t know if he was good to his word of no killing yet after all.

Slowly she began to apply the salve to the gashes on her stomach and chest, wincing faintly as she did. “Why do they want Bast?” She asked.

Aurixel’s face went red when Leria was suddenly naked, turning away enough that he wouldn’t need to look at her, and he sat back down. He knew that the draik form wasn’t her true form… but it would still have been rude to him to stare. “The Demi…?” He said before looking towards the still unconsious Kankiru. “I havn’t been told much about why I was ordered to capture him.” He admitted.

Leria watched him intently, “Demi? Why do you call him that?” She asked curiously, a smile playing on her lips at his modesty. As a dragon, she never wore any clothing, so being naked in her other forms didn’t bother her in the slightest. She mainly wore clothing for the rest.

“Thats what he was refured to by my lord. Thats just… what I have called him since.” Aurixel explained, still not looking at Leria. He made sure not to have his back to her though, not because she was an ‘enemy’ but because it would be rude.

Leria hummed. “Demi what though? It’s like it’s missing the second half…” She held out the salve, “Can you place it on my back? I can’t really reach myself.”

Aurixel was silent for a minute, he knew he would most likely be in trouble if he told… But what little he had learned of bronze dragons (he had found some books about dragons) was that they could read minds. Sighing he stood again, taking back the salve and moving to go around Leria and sit again, all the while if he looked at her it was jsut her face. “Demi… god.” He finally answered quietly after glancing at Bast to make sure he was still unconsious.

Leria blinked at this, sitting rigid in shock. Her back was it seemed worse than her front, while the belly had been slashed, her whole back between her wings was a mass of blisters, some spots the acid had gone clean through her scales, in others the scales had melded together due to the acid. “Demi…god…” She too looked to Bast, but in wonder and amazement. How!? How had she NOT known?? “You’re not… joking are you?” She said, just to be sure.

Aurixel winced as he saw the damage on Leria’s back, starting to use the salve on it. This would probably use it all up… he would have to make more. “No I’m not joking. I was quite shocked myself. But… from what I have heard… he doesn’t know. And part of me thinks he shouldn’t.”

Leria frowned, “Why not?”

“Personally… I think knowing something like that would be to much of a shock. I don’t know him personally, so I can’t say to much.” Aurixel said with a shrug. He didn’t really know how else to explain it.

Leria was silent as he continued treating her back, biting back moans of pain when he touched the more wounded spots. “If he was one, and someone made him forget it on purpose, then perhaps he should. The curse is over, he thinks himself mortal.”

“If he knew the truth do you think he would stay here?” Aurixel asked before biting his lip and going quiet. No… Would he stay with Jing?

“I don’t know him all that well, but I believe he’d keep doing what he’s been doing thusfar.” She nodded, and produced some bandages to wrap around her wounds. “He’ll be wanting to go after Jing as soon as he wakes up… probably after killing you.”

Aurixel shrugged a little “For telling you about him and treating you as I have. I might be in for worse after returning to my lord.” He admitted, starting to wrap up the wounds.

Leria laughed slightly, “No, for getting Jing in trouble.” She said. “That white is going to kill her… torture Jing as much as she likes. After all, Jing won’t die permanently.”

Aurixel twitched as he heard that, hands going into fists. “I think they… want her for something too. Why else would Taksis lure her out and send a white to grab her…? I don’t understand… it was my own request to take her… it wasn’t part of my orders…”

Leria would have shrugged but decided against it. “You’re working for the league of shadows and deceit, boy. They will use you, your feelings and your weaknesses.”

Aurixel sighed, finishing with the bandages and moving back a little “Guess I should be use to that after what happened on the island…”

Leria began to stand, then sat back down hard. “…maybe you should switch bands…”

Aurixel shook his head “I can’t… If I did they would probably want my head…”

Leria shrugged, “Your head never meant much to them in the first place. And if you decided to work with us, you’d find us rather fiercely protective of our own.” She smirked. Bast moaned as he began to wake.

Aurixel couldn’t help but chuckle, “Yes I have noticed it. But I don’t think they could ever trust me. And… part of me can’t betray my lord. Even though I know… our teachings were false. Blame the years of all we were told.”

Leria turned to face him, clothing reappearing on her body to cover her nudeness. “You love Jing, don’t you?”

Aurixel was surprised by the question, sighing he looked at the ground. “I do… and have for years. But…” He shook his head a little.

Leria chuckled slightly. “She won’t take too kindly to you hurting her like this, Aurixel.” She said. “She’s a Dragon Lord… of a silver dragon. A dragon that now lays on the brink of death. Should that white kill her again…” Leria sighed, shaking her head and looking at the ground. “I don’t think Kinu will survive.” She said quietly.

“What!?” Bast had woken and sat bolt upright as he heard Leria. “Wait… what are you doing here?”

“I don’t expect her to ever forgive me for what I’ve done. And I’m not going to ask for it.” Aurixel muttered before looking towards Bast. Seemed like he was alright now atleast.

Bast was on his feet and over beside Leria, glancing over her bandages then at Aurixel with a growl. “What happened?” Leria sighed, “I fought his black dragon. Don’t worry, I won, but it took a lot more out of me than I expected. I need to sleep…” “Where’s Jing? We have to save her!”

“The white is taking her to the island. Where I had been ordered to take you as well.” Aurixel explained, looking at Bast calmly.

Bast twitched, turning to Leria. “Let’s go then… you can sleep later.” Leria shook her head. “Bast, I want to save her too, but I can’t fly.” She said softly. “If I can sleep, I’ll be able to heal quicker.”

“The salve I gave her will quicken the healing. And the white will probably have to stop half way there to rest before crossing the ocean.” Aurixel told the two before sighing quietly.

Bast looked at Aurixel suspiciously. “Why are you helping us?” He asked warily.

“Do I have a reason not to?” He asked back, looking at Bast.

“You’re the enemy! You’ve been trying to capture us. Why suddenly start helping?” Bast insisted. “What are you going after? Trying to get on our good side so we let you go?”

Aurixel couldn’t help but laugh as he heard Bast. “Far from it. But I’m not as evil as you assume. I was ordered by my lord to capture you. so I do that. The one who was sent with me to keep me in line is dead as well now.”

Bast raised an eyebrow, but glanced at Leria, who nodded. She sighed, “He isn’t evil, just misguided.” She assured him.

Aurixel said nothing else, just closing his eyes. He didn’t want to explain himself anymore.

Bast sighed, “Okay then, sleep. I’ll look after this guy in the meantime.” He said at last. Leria smiled, and moved to lay down on the ground.

Aurixel chuckled a little but said nothing. Bast didn’t have to do that, he wasn’t going to try anything. He needed rest too… unfortunatly his salve had been used up and he had been going to use some on his again hurt sholder. Atleast the bleeding had stopped on its own.

Bast sat on a rock close to Aurixel, watching him warily. “You were Jing’s frined… some time ago, right?” He said.

Aurixel glanced over at Bast and nodded a little. “I was… before she…” He grew quiet and shook his head.

“Before she spoke up about how stupid your people’s beliefs were?” He asked.

“Before she was banished.” Aurixel corrected, looking at Bast seriously. “I don’t care about what she said. She was ten at the time, I… and our other friends all questioned things when we were kids! She didn’t deserve the banishment or curse!”

“So you just decided to hate her for being pushed out? For being unfairly cursed?” He shot back, “Allying with the brute who did that to her? All for the sake of a stupid prophecy?”

“I never said I hated her. So don’t assume those things.” Aurixel said, glaring at Bast. “I belived that if I brought Jing with me, she might be able to get back to my lord’s good side, and possibly even have the curse lifted. Thats why I requested to capture her, insted of just you and the cleric.”

Bast laughed, “Yeah it’ll lift…” He said, looking away with a frown. “The prophecy requires one of the royal house who denied her beliefs to be killed to open the portal for the Goddess of Evil to come into this world.”

Aurixel blinked a couple times, obviously confused. “What are you talking about?”

Bast sighed, looking at the mage. “You weren’t told it seems. Figures, you might just have not done as said.” He shook his head, “But I still don’t get it. They require ME to kill her… and I’ll die before I’d ever hurt her.”

Aurixel was shocked at what he heard. “W…What? I don’t understand. How do you know this?! And… it doesn’t make sense!”

Bast sighed, “Why do you think *I* was banished?” He said, “I was an acolyte of the church with a penchant for… questioning my superiors. I found that prophesy… a few days before I found the green dragon. Or should I say… your GOD.” He laughed at that.

“I know he isn’t a god.” Aurixel muttered. “I don’t understand though… Jing she…” He grew quiet and shaking his head.

“That white is taking her to the island… and you were meant to take me. They need us both, wether they told you that or not. And only one of us would live through their plans.” He watched Aurixel. “How much do you care for Jing?”

Aurixel was very confused, and his anger was growing inside of him. “I… care for Jing a lot.” He finally said, looking back at the Kankiru.

Bast smirked, “So… will you help us, or help those who want to kill her to bring the essence of Evil into the world?”

Aurixel was silent, hands going into fists. “I… I want to…. but… I can’t…” He finally said with a sigh, his nails digging deeply into his palms, drawing blood.

“Why not?” Bast asked, “They haven’t tied you down. And your dragon is dead.”

“Its hard to explain… I know he is no god but… part of me can’t betray him. Maybe it was how I was raised… maybe part of it… was caused by that nightmare…” Aurixel muttered, looking down at his hands.

Bast twitched, “Nightmare?”

Aurixel nodded “A darkness has overtaken the island.  Everyone and everything has been drawn into a consent nightmare… which corrupts the mind and body. The island… is no longer the place it once was. I had been trapped in there like everyone else. It was my lord who brought me out of it… the nightmare had already begun to corrupt me.” He explained, spiked tail twitching behind him.

Bast’s face darkened. “That… bastard!” He snarled. Now he really wanted to go. “I won’t let him do that! He can’t use those people as he wants!”

Aurixel didn’t say anything else. He was angry with what had happened to the island as well, after all his own family and friends were trapped there. But as he had said, there was something holding him back and keeping him from fighting back.

Bast shook his head. “I’m going… I’m going to that island and I’m killing that bastard! I’ll break that nightmare…” He stood, pacing impatiently.

“You’ll end up getting killed. Don’t be stupid.” Aurixel said with a sigh. “Listen… you are going to save Jing… so you should rest atleast a little… pacing will do nothing but waste energy.”

Bast’s hands curled into fists. “I won’t… I’ll kill that bastard! I have Leria now, he can’t stop me!”

“You have one bronze dragon. He has many followers and… you would have to face an army. And more then just one cromatic dragon.” Aurixel warned. “Going there as you are… your partner would be killed and you would be captured just as they want.”

Bast frowned, but said nothing for a while. He sat, back to a rock, to rest. Or try to. “Why… do they call me Demi?”

Aurixel sighed quietly as he heard that question, he still belived Bast knowing was a bad idea. “Listen… personally I belive its better you don’t know. I told Leria why… and once she is awake she can tell you if she belives you should know. If not… I’ll tell you once Jing is rescued.”

Bast frowned, “Why? Why shouldn’t I know?”

Aurixel was quiet, part of him not even wanting to answer that “Because… I don’t know you. Since I don’t know you… I belive that you knowing the truth would result in you leaving those you know and those who care about you. Including Jing…”

Bast’s frown turned to an angry scowl. “How dare you say that! I would never abandon my friends, nor Jing! I… I…” He looked away, flushed. “I care about her a lot…”

“I’m sorry if I insulted you. But again, I don’t know you.” Aurixel explained, looking at Bast closely “I’ve noticed. I’ve also noticed… how she is begining to feel about you.”

Bast blushed deeper. “She’s young… and has had many hardhships you cannot even begin to understand.”

“I know. You are the only one in this world who understand what she has gone through in the slightest. Just as she is probably the only one who understands what you have been through even a little.” Aurixel said with a small nod. “Part of me was very happy to learn she had found friends… and though I felt very angry when I first saw you with her…” He admitted.

“I really don’t understand you.” Bast sighed, looking down at his feet.

Aurixel chuckled a little, closing his eyes. “I don’t really expect you too. Listen, just get some rest. You will need it. You and your partner will have to catch up to the white, before she reaches the island. If she does get there with Jing… you will have lost her. Trying to get her from the island would be useless.”

Bast sighed but nodded, and tried to relax as he lay on the floor, back to the boulder. He watched Leria sleep with worry. They would have to battle another white dragon… He hoped Jing was okay.

Aurixel just closed his eyes, trying to relax. He knew he wouldn’t sleep, but there was nothing to do but wait.