Lil' bit sassy {Open!}

The light breeze caressed the dragon's cloak and sent it rippling like a calm ocean. It peered through narrowed eyes at the dragon that stood with his back to her, conversing quietly with one of his henchmen. The dragon huffed, sending an icy mist spilling out of it's nostrils and into view.


Finally, it's captor turned and approached her, claws clicking as they connected with the hard, powdery earth. "So.." his voice had a funny edge to it as he approached the cloaked reptile. "What do you have to say for yourself, stranger?" he demanded, a low growl escaping, followed by a snort that sent hot air shooting into the cloaked figure's face. Beneath the cover, the dragon grimaced.


"Your breath stinks," it replied simply, voice calm despite the fury within the dragon. The male snarled, opening his maw and shoving his face into the stranger's. "Don't you DARE talk to me like that, female!" he spat the last word as if it were venom. His saliva spilled over the rim of his jaw and splattered across the dragon's hooked wing.

He then tilted his head as a confident smirk crept onto his features. "Perhaps a little help will get you to talk." he hissed at the two males that had their flanks pressed into the dragon's sides. One, the larger and bulkier of the two, reached up and grabbed the hood, yanking it back with a short growl.



Athena glared at him and then flicked her tail, releasing a low growl at the one that had removed her hood. She then shifted her gaze to the male in front of her, eyes narrowed into thin, cat-like slits. The male, who looked incredibly pleased with himself, suddenly barked an order in a language she didn't understand. To her.. surprise, the males stepped away from her sides and walked off to her right.


The dragon, the leader of the gang, circled her, watching her like a panther stalking it's prey. Athena made no move to escape. He had henchmen in the trees, whom he thought she wasn't aware of, clearly. Finally, the male stopped in front of her. Almost nose to nose, they stared each other down like two predators preparing for a battle, which was exactly what it was.

"You're a cute lass," he commented, which made her feathers bristle beneath her cloak. "But not a good shot," he gestured lazily to the ice that now outlined the few unfortunate trees to have suffered her wrath, aka her missed attacks.

Athena raised her left brow. "Hmph." There was nothing to say. Only think on how to escape from this mess. Let's see.. she thought as her eyes darted everywhere. Hm.. about six dragons in the trees, give or take. Four on the ground. Strong trees. Big area. She licked the inside of her teeth as she returned her attention to the male, who was watching her with sadistic glee. Looking for an escape route? he chuckled as he stepped forward, lightly touching his snout off hers. Sorry, sweet cakes, he said as he stepped forward again, further pressing his face against hers. It's not going to happen.


Athena could feel his breath on her face and growled. With a snarl, she snapped at him, catching his snout in between her jaws. With a satisfying crunch, her fangs embedded in his snout and she felt blood on her fangs.


AAAAAHHHHHHH! His scream of agony was music to her ears. The male leaped back, and Athena lost her grip on him as he stumbled back, crying out as blood spilled out of the two wounds on both sides of his snout, just behind his nostrils. Two of his henchmen rushed to his side and attempted to help him, but he shoved them off with an, "Off me! Off me! I'm fine!


Athena smirked and raised a brow again as he returned his attention to her. She saw murder in his eyes. Aww, did I hurt you? she asked, pouting. I'm sorry, baby. Mummy doesn't like it when you get in her space with your bad breath, that's all.


The male roared, and leaped at her.

Storm's wings skimmed the tops of the trees. He breathed in the cool, fresh air. The sun was out and it was a very pleasant day. He looked below him and saw gently rising hills with lots of beautiful flowers everywhere, making a really amazing view. He wished that every day was like this one. It was the perfect temperature, and everything seemed to just be... Right. Like all of the evil that was in this world was put away for the day.

But, that's before he looked ahead. To Storm's alarm, he saw a cloaked dragon that seemed to be in a sticky situation against three dragons that he could see. He knew he had to see what was going on. Maybe he could help the lone cloaked figure if the others started attacking him. He couldn't just leave that one dragon to potentially die against the dragons that outnumbered him or her.

Storm glided in a part of the trees a little distance away where the dragons couldn't see him. What he didn't take into account, though, was the dragons hidden in the trees, which he didn't see until it was too late. Once he landed, they jumped on top of him and grabbed his legs so he couldn't lash out with his talons. It also didn't help that they were bigger than him.

Storm didn't fight back as he went along with the dragons that were hidden into the clearing with the cloaked figure. Better use my sleeping breath as a surprise attack. I shouldn't use it right away, he thought. They dragged him into the clearing just as the cloaked figure, now with the hood pulled back, snapped at the jaws of the lead dragon.

The dragon howled in pain, but he recovered quickly, even though his snout was all bloody. Storm looked to the dragon with the hood pulled back a few paces ahead of him. He had all white scales that shone like ice. It almost looked like Athena... He felt emotion rising up in him at the thought of the friend he has lost. Again. Or so he thought.

To Storm's surprise, the cloaked dragon started taunting the enemy. That's when his eyes went wide. He stood there in shock for a moment. I must have imagined it, since I thought that the dragon looks similar to her, he thought, trying to reason with himself. But he couldn't help himself. He had to ask. "A-Athena?" he asked, thinking that this was too much to hope for. Though he still desperately hoped that it was her.

Athena snarled as the dragon knocked into her and tackled her to the ground. His weight held her down, there was no point in trying to resist using brute force. She glared up at him, watching the smoke pour out of his nostrils. YOU SHANK! He screamed into her face, more saliva pouring out from between his fangs and dripping onto her face.

Athena snarled. "You know, I had a mate who would've kicked your tail all over this goddamn field for talking to me like that," she hissed once he had paused to catch his breath. But it looks like I'll have to do that for him.



A-Athena?



She knew that voice. Oh gosh, she knew that voice.



Athena turned her head to the side and locked gazes with a pair of brilliant green eyes. I knew it! she thought. She took a deep breath. "Stor-" A sharp slap across the face cut her off. Athena hissed at the stinging.


"LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M TALKING TO YO-" Athena kicked in between the male's legs and he released a howl fit to wake the dead. He fell to the side. "Get her! And get the pipsqueak!" someone shouted. Half darted for Athena, the other half on the ground went straight for Storm.

Storm watched as the white dragon got knocked to the ground. She turned her head. Deep blue eyes locked with his and his heart skipped a beat. It was her. Athena. He stood there, shocked, as Athena kicked the dragon on top of her. He blinked a couple times, snapping into action.

Storm heard a dragon call to get him and Athena. He launched at the person who called him that, jumping and dodging his opponent's blows as he approached. He eventually got close enough and blasted sleeping mist in the dragon's face. The dragon breathed in the mist, and after a few moments, he got sluggish and fell, unconscious, to the ground. After that, the other dragons who came after him were already trying to make a circle around him so he couldn't escape. So he took to the air.

The enemy dragons followed Storm. He counted four. A little hard, but he had faced harder things, right? The dragons tried to surround him in the air, but he was just too fast from training as a SkyWing. He dodged and struck in with practiced precision. He shot a couple of them with sleeping mist after dodging some of their attacks. Their wings got slower and slower as they started to fall toward the ground, landing with a thump. They weren't injured.

Two left. Storm moved left and right, not striking until the right moment. The enemies slashed and clawed at him, trying to get at least one hit. The two dragons started to surround him, so he would have to dodge two ways at once. He did his best to fend them off, but as he dodged an attack from the dragon in front, the one behind him struck out with his claws, the sharp points connecting with the flesh in his right flank.

Storm yowled in pain for a moment, it turning into a roar of anger a moment later. He grabbed one of the dragon who struck him's talons as he tried to claw at him again and pulled him into him, spewing sleeping mist into his face. He shoved him away with his back legs, the dragon slamming into the ground heavily.

Storm turned to the other dragon, who was already rushing at him. He dove down, barely dodging the larger dragon. They hovered a short distance away from each other, circling. He shot sleeping mist at the dragon, baiting him into dodging, where he flung his tail, slamming the other dragon in the head, sending him spiraling into the ground, knocking him out cold.

Storm dove to the ground, landing by Athena, ready to take on the next enemies with her.

Athena rolled to her feet as two of the dragons came straight for her. With the strength of a bear, one of them tackled her back to the ground, but she was ready, and rolled kicking him off her. However, the other one, a female, leaped onto her back and tried to keep her down.

Athena snarled, and rose, shoulders quivering as her body strained to remain upright. The male had recovered, and with a crazed roar, dashed for her and leaped, aiming to hit her in the side. Athena growled and shut her eyes, letting him hit her. The female fell off of her and Athena tumbled again, the male clawing at her face. With a shriek, she kicked and sent him flying into a tree with a hiss.

The male hit the trunk back first and fell. With a huff, Athena let out a grunt and rose, leaning briefly on her left wing.


She heard running claw steps and instinctively ducked. The female FireScale sailed over her head and landed gracefully on her other side. Skidding around, she hissed and released a blast of fire that barrelled towards Athena at an astonishing pace. With a snarl, Athena raised a wing, growling at the pain. Her tail lashed out and wrapped around the female's leg. With a growl, she yanked, and the female fell with a yelp, promptly closing her mouth.


Stepping over to her, Athena clamped down on her neck and then proceeded to slam her head into the ground. She then lifted her, and twisted around, tossing her at the male that was trying to get up. They collided with a series of growls and snarls, and didn't get up.



Athena heard something land behind her and looked over her shoulder to see Storm standing with her as more dragons poured in from the shadows.


"They overreacted," she remarked as they began to circle her and her friend. "Just letting you know. Not my fault, " she then cast a grin over her shoulder at him.


Athena looked back at the group that snarled and hissed like snakes, and smirked.



The dragons pounced.

Storm watched as even more dragons poured from the shadows. He would have bolted right there if Athy wasn't there by his side. He could out fly these dragons easily. But he knew that Athena would probably just want to attack. He breathed heavily as he listened to her remark as the dragons circled him. "Oh, sure, because it's not like you have ever gotten yourself in any situations like this before," he replied sarcastically. He gave a small smile as a reply to Athy's grin. She was a little too relaxed in this situation it seemed. But he was just glad he was by Athena again. "Make a fly for it, or fight it out?" he asked a little anxiously.

// Sorry if it seems rushed, I wrote this one in a hurry, since I was leaving for somewhere.

(It's cool xD)


Athena's eyes darted everywhere as the enemy burst out of the shadows and surrounded them like wolves a herd of buffalo. "Shush," she said at his sarcastic comment, not taking her eyes off the face of the male whose snout was now bleeding profusely, red staining his once emerald green scales. Her wing ached and burned, still smouldering from the flames that had licked at her scales, which were now blackened. Smoke drifted from the wound and into her face. She could smell it clear as day.


Storm asked the million dollar question, inquiring about their game plan. Fight or flight? A simple choice. Black or white. No grey in between. Athena tilted her head and allowed herself another smirk. "Dearest," she drawled. Have you ever known me to run with my tail between my legs?" she lashed her tail, bringing it to her front leg and sliding it along the grass.



With that, the dragons pounced and she sprung into action.

Immediately, she twisted around as a male leaped over Storm's head and attempted to tackle her from behind, her back leg catching him in the ribs. With an 'oof!' he fell to the side, tumbled, rolled, and didn't get up. By then she was already turning to blast a torrent of blue, freezing cold 'fire' at the next dragon that sprung at her. A moment later another leaped into her side and made a vicious attack on her face. Strong claws dug into her neck and tore, and Athena threw back her head and shrieked.

Storm's fear went up a little when he heard that Athena wanted to fight it out. But that wasn't really a surprise. One day she's going to get herself killed. Again, he thought. He stood there as they circled them, waiting for them to make the first move. Then a dragon jumped in front of him and he ducked, letting him leap over his head, where Athena kicked him, sending him sprawling.

Another dragon leaped at Storm from the side, trying to his him to the ground. He braced himself and got slammed to the ground, not having enough time to dodge. The much larger dragon pinned his front talons on the ground so he couldn't move. So he spewed sleeping mist right in his face. He fell asleep on top of him.

It took Storm a few moments to get out from under the large dragon. By this time, a couple more dragons were surrounding him. He was about to strike out at one, but then he heard a vicious yowl. Athena! He jumped out of the way as one dragon lunged at him, and flew through the opening before the other could attack him. He flew towards Athena at full speed, bowling into the dragon that leaped on Athena with his full weight.

The impact knocked the wind out of Storm, but it knocked the other dragon off of Athena. They both fell to the ground. He scrambled back up quickly, the other dragon seemed confused on the ground as he tried to get back up. Storm spun around, using his tail to slam the opponent in the head, knocking him out cold.

Though he wasn't prepared as another dragon leaped on him. Storm got pinned down once again, though this dragon was smart and grabbed his mouth too, snapping it shut, not letting him use his sleeping mist. He struggled in vain, unable to get out of the other dragon's grip. He tried to scratch at him and kick him with his back talons, but the enemy was too big and strong.

Sleeping mist seeped through Storm's closed mouth as he glared up at who had pinned him. It was a large FireScale. The dragon smiled wickedly. He opened his mouth wide as he was about to release a large jet of some of the hottest dragon fire on Ellesmera.

Athena's face was twisted into a grimace, her eyes frozen over as the dragon dug his fangs into her neck with a soft growl. As he did this, he jumped up and attempted to press her to the ground. Athena hissed and bucked, sending him off balance, but she lost her own orientation and fell, leaning on her left side as she inclined her head, snarling as she fought the pain and tried to get up. His claw came crashing down on her back and raked down it, opening a new wound along her spine.


Suddenly, the heavy weight was taken off her and Athena gasped, feeling as if she was suddenly able to breath better. She rolled onto her other side and stood up, just in time to see Storm hit the male in the head and knock him out cold.

Someone pounced on her from behind and Athena bucked, snarled, and performed a flip, stretching her wings to get herself upside down. She slammed into the earth and heard a satisfying series of cracks and a yowl of agony from beneath her, before she scrambled to her talons-


Just as Storm was tackled.


Suddenly, the world darkened, and there was just him, her best friend, and that damned dragon as he clamped down on Storm's maw and snapped it shut. Smart, but infuriating.


Time.. it seemed to slow, to hold it's breath, as Storm was making a valiant but futile attempt to break free of this male's hold. She saw the throat of the red dragon beginning to glow.



Something twisted inside of her. It was like a fire, but cold and hot at the same time, reaching into her mind and fueling it with something she had rarely experienced in her lifetime, not since she had left Nebula and the children.



The urge to protect.



Her roar vibrated the air and seemed to shake the earth as Athena rushed forward, flapping her wings and flying into the male's side. The world tilted and became an array of flashing colours as they tumbled, Athena slashing and tearing as hard as she could.


When she got a hold of the useless reptile's head, she started to slam it repeatedly into a tree.


"GET. OFF. OF. HIM. YOU SICK. BA-' the last word was censored by the final thud of the dragon. She let go, but he didn't get up or even move.


She stood there, quivering. Shaking. Trembling. Her eyes wide and twitching. Gone was the warmth Storm knew, now replaced with a cold anger that could only be quenched by the taste of blood. The blood of the one who had hurt Storm.


She didn't turn around. She didn't move. Just stood over the dead male and gasped for air.

Storm closed his eyes and braced himself for the torrent of fire that he thought was going to envelope him. The next few seconds seemed slow. Suddenly his mouth wasn't clamped and the FireScale was off of him. He looked up to see Athena slamming his head into the tree. She let go of him and he crumpled to the ground. He watched Athena wide eyed as he got up. The other enemy dragons just stood there in shock. He ran over to Athena. "Are you okay?" he asked, looking from her wounds on her neck to her rage filled eyes.

She was numb. So numb. Numb of the knowledge she had just killed someone. She had murdered so many another life taken wasn't a bother to her now.


No, no, that wasn't true.. was it? Athena hadn't killed in a long while, she wasn't sure what she thought of it anymore. Regret? Guilt? No. Not this time. This dragon was going to kill her friend without a second thought, all because she had leaped in to save that snivelling female who had gotten herself into trouble with this gang.


Athena flicked her tail and blinked, baring her fangs. Storm's voice broke through her wall of livid thoughts, of the fury that enveloped her soul and brought her to commit this act.


"Are you okay?" He asked, concern lacing his words as he looked at her wounds, which bled profusely. Streaks of red stained her scales a deep crimson red, both along her back and along her neck. New scars. New memories. Although this was one she'd rather forget.


Athena didn't respond. She turned around and looked at the group. The look on her face would have sent a hatchling bursting into tears. Her eyes burned an icy fire that was now ignited by the rage of her friend's near death.


She stomped towards the leader of the gang, who stepped back. Without a word, a hiss or a snarl, she grabbed him by the throat with a wing and brought her face close to his.


"Get out," her voice, barely above a whisper, held something frightening in it as she let out a deep growl.




(you can decide his reaction xD)

Storm felt concern as Athena just ignored him and stomped over to the dragon with the bloodied face. He swallowed hard as she grabbed the dragon by the throat and told him to leave. He had seen Athena mad before, but not this mad. She's changed, he thought, and she really cares about me that much to get so angry. She doesn't want to lose me again.

The leader of the enemies tried to look fierce, but you could see the glint of fear in his eyes. "FINE," he spat, a putrid mix of blood and saliva. He yanked out of Athena's grasp and ran away into the trees, the other dragons following his lead. "YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF US! We will meet again, and next time you won't be so lucky!" He disappeared out of sight.

Storm walked in front of Athena, tears in his eyes. "I thought I'd never see you again," he said, running into her and wrapping his wings around her tightly. "Don't ever leave me again."

Athena stared into the dragon's eyes with the ferocity of an angry wolf. Her back legs' talons dug into the powdery dirt and formed holes in it.

She said nothing, just glowered at the leader until he had turned and fled with his henchmen. At his words, Athena growled. "Bring it on," she mumbled, before she lashed her tail, narrowing her eyes. "Go near him again and I'll kill you all." Her words held something dark, something dangerous, within them. Barely detectable, but it was there. One could call it borderline madness.


A familiar purple dragon appeared in front of her and Athena took her eyes off the woods and focused on Storm. It was then she saw the way his eyes glistened with tears. He spoke, and then hugged her tight. Athena sighed, before returning his embrace, enveloping him in her wings. "I won't. That's a promise.


When she finally pulled away, she craned her neck to look down at him with a sigh. "What happened? How'd you get here? The same way as me?" she asked, checking him over with her eyes for any wounds, any scratches.


Suddenly, her own injuries gave her a painful reminder they were there and Athena's lower jaw twitched. A low hiss escaped her and she grunted, closing her eyes. She cursed under her breath and pulled away completely from the hug. Crap. I need to sit down.

Storm shivered at the danger in Athena's voice. He could detect it, no matter how subtle. He was just glad that she was on his side. He felt her wings wrap around him and he felt so much happier. As they finally let go, which he didn't want to do, Athena asked him a bunch of questions. Before he could answer, she hissed in pain and pulled away. He looked at her worriedly. Now that the battle was over, he remembered the deep scratches in his right side. He sat down and sighed.

He looked over at his wound and saw a steady trickle of blood oozing out and dripping on to the lush green grass below, staining it crimson. He was also very tired after the battle. "I'll answer your questions one at a time. How did I get here? I don't know if it is the same way you did, but I'll tell you what happened to me." He started to explain what happened that whole year ago.

Sadness clouded Storm's vision as his mind replayed everything that had happened. "That one day... When you stumbled across my cabin in the mountains," he started. "The day I found out that you were in fact not dead. That's when it all started. During the middle of the night, I woke up suddenly, as if I had had a bad dream, or if something had scared me. I looked around the room, and everything seemed normal... But something was just... Off. My heart was pounding wildly, and I didn't know why. So I got up to check on you and Sarah," a tear streaked down his face at the mention of his daughter She meant everything in to him.

Storm stopped for a second and looked down at the ground, trying to contain his sadness. "And before I reached the door," he started again, this time slower and more deliberate, "what seemed like a black hole opened up below my talons. I fell in. Darkness enveloped me. I landed on a cold hard floor far below and the wind got knocked out of me. I sat there and I yelled for you guys. I thought I was just having a nightmare at this point... But it felt so real.

I ran and flew trying to get somewhere. Anywhere. But it was just blackness and the cold smooth surface below my feet. After a while I just collapsed and started crying. I had been running for what seemed like an eternity... I couldn't lose everything again..." At this point tears were flowing down Storm's face. "And eventually I fell asleep from exhaustion. Next thing I knew, I woke up here in Ellesmera. On a grassy hill with flowers all around. I don't know how this happened..." Having concluded his story, he sat there looking at his talons.

Storm had thought it too much to hope for for either Athena or Sarah to ever see him again, now that he was in a completely different world. But now Athena was here. Could Sarah be here too? Oh, his beautiful daughter. How he missed her. He remembered the day that he met her.  How she told him that she didn't have a home. He had opened his home up to Sarah and that night he asked if she would like to live with him and for him to adopt her. She had emotionally said yes and Storm and Sarah fell asleep by the fireplace that night, snuggled together on the couch. That was when Sarah was only a very little dragonet. She had grown up a lot before he had disappeared.

After a few minutes, Storm looked up. "So that's my story," he stated plainly. "Now how did you get here?"

Athena settled onto her haunches, her tail stretching out and resting on the grass, the flat side of her 'blade' resting on the ground. Her blue eyes darted around the area briefly, to make sure the gang hadn't doubled back to surprise them, before looking back at her friend. Blood seeped from the deep scratches on his side and fell to the grass that rain from the clouds, staining the emerald grass a crimson red. Somehow that only made the whole situation a lot creepier.


Storm opened his mouth and began speaking, telling his story with sadness, grief, in his eyes. She listened attentively, giving a slight nod every so often. That's what happened to me, she realized with a start. Storm mentioned Sarah and Athena closed her eyes, letting out a silent sigh. Sarah. So bright, so intelligent, so mature. She was a fine young female. Storm had raised her from the newt to a dragon, something many parents failed to do in this age.

When she opened her eyes, Storm was talking about how a sort of black 'vortex' had opened up beneath his talons, and how he had fallen through. Athena's eyes widened slightly as he described the endless running and flying through the untouched darkness. She felt a small piece of her heart break when he described himself crying after he had collapsed in despair. Oh, Arkhor, he's crying...

Athena slowly put forward a wing -well, the hook at the end of her wing- and placed it on Storm's talon in an effort to comfort him, not taking her eyes off his face.


Storm concluded his story with him waking up in this strange land, Ellesemera, and Athena nodded. After a few moments, Storm inquired about how she had gotten here.

"The same as you," she responded leaning back a bit. "Woke up, felt something was wrong, went to get up and check on you guys, and beat the living crap out of anything that was about, and suddenly I fell through some voodoo black hole, and.. well, same thing, basically. " The IceWing, or well, IceClaw now, tilted her head and flicked her tail, her feathers pricking at an idea. "Maybe Sarah is here, somewhere, and we just have to find her. She could be anywhere, so it looks like we'll have to start exploring."

She then remembered Storm's wounds and chose to explain how she had gotten into the predicament with the gang. "If you're wondering how I got them to hate me," she added, referring to his wounds. "They were 'picking on' a young female, about your age, actually. Threatened to kill her if she didn't pay them back for something or other. The thing was sobbing, crying her eyes out on the ground. So.. well, maternal instincts kicked in and I leaped in, nearly shredded a guy's face in half, and they got me." she then sat back.

"We need to get you cleaned up before those wounds get infected," she said, standing up and flicking her tail. "There's a river within flying distance. Think you can do it?" she asked.

// Actually, Athena would be an IceScale now, not an IceClaw XD But I actually do like the idea of having it as "claw" at the end...

Storm smiled a little when Athena put one wing-talon, if that is what you would call it, on his talon. It comforted him to know that she was there for him. He had lost Athena twice. But never again. No matter what happened, he would make sure that he didn't lose his best friend. They had each other's backs.

Storm listened to Athena's story intently. The same thing had happened to her on the very same night. Strange. Though it gave him hope that maybe Sarah was indeed out there somewhere... Hope that he lost months ago... Though he was reluctant to hope that he could find her.

"I had thought that you were still in Ellesmera, where I know you would have taken care of Sarah. But now that you are here, that makes me worried and brings up a lot of questions. I don't know if I should hope to find her, since I would just be in more despair if I don't," he explained, tons of emotions flooding him.

It took Storm a moment to realize what Athena was saying about his wounds, since he was trying to think of possible scenarios where Sarah could have ended up. "Hm? Oh, my wounds. Yes, I must clean them. You need to clean yours too. They look pretty bad," he said, looking at her wounds a little worriedly. "But yes, I can fly there. I also passed the river before I saw you. Follow me." And with that, he took off towards the river, making sure that Athena was with him.

As Storm reached the river, he didn't even land on the ground first. He just dove in. The water was refreshingly cool and clear. The scratches stung, but he could feel them being cleaned. He stayed down in the water for a few seconds before popping back up, spraying water droplets everywhere. He stayed on the surface of the water. "The water is nice and cool," he told Athena, tiny streams of water running down his face.

(ehh, smarty pants xD)


Athena seen Storm's smile, and returned it with a small twitch of the corners of her maw. She closed her eyes once she had told her tale, and sighed. How did this happen? she wondered. And how are we involved? there was a nagging fear at the back of her mind, but she pushed it to the side in an effort to conceal her worry from Storm, who was as weary as she was if not more.

She tilted her head. "We WILL find her," she said, narrowing her eyes. "One way or another. No matter how long it takes." She knew what it was like, to lose a child. Or in her case, lose your children. Guilt reared it's ugly head and Athena swallowed. Her children.. her sweetlings.. she was a mother, and she had abandoned them.

For their protection, an inner voice gently reminded her.

Athena nodded as Storm agreed with her, relief washing over her like water over a beach as Storm confirmed he was able to fly. As if it were nothing, he took off, and Athena followed with a beat of her wings.



Soaring over the trees, the cold wind brushed over her wounds and stung them, but she ignored the pain. She was okay with minor things like that. It was the actual INFLICTING of wounds that hurt like hell. Obviously.


Storm reached the river and practically fell in, and Athena followed, but pulled up and slowly landed. The water came up to her knees and she waded in, ducking her head under and then bringing it back up. "Yeah," she agreed, before leaning to one side to let her neck dip in the water. She watched him out of the corner of one eye, and kept the other looking for eels.

Eels. Just the thought of them made her shiver. Disgusting creatures.

// XD

Storm felt confidence come to him when Athena assured him that they would find Sarah, no matter what it took. "Thank you so much," he replied genuinely. "You are the best friend a dragon could have." He said that completely truthfully. Him and Athy had been through so much together.

Storm watched Athena get into the water and agree with what he had said. Though she seemed distracted. It took him a moment to realize why. Eels, he thought, forcing back a mischievous, playful smile. He went out to where it was a bit deeper in the river and put his head in, making it appear that he was only washing his head off. He looked around and dug quickly at the dirt and rocks below his talons.

There! A snake-like creature slithered out from between to rocks and, with a little trouble, Storm grabbed it, with it wriggling in his talons. He made sure that his back was turned to Athena so that she couldn't see. Then, extremely quickly, he swiveled around and threw the eel at her, it sprawling and wriggling through the air.

// Storm is being such a trouble maker XD

Athena shook her head at Storm's thanks. "Don't thank me. That's what I'm here for." Then, he went on to call her 'the best friend a dragon could have.' This made her pause, if briefly. She said nothing.

Athena sighed and leaned onto her left side, before rolling over. Her back met the rocks and she hissed as they scraped off her wounds, but the water cooled and numbed them. Stretching her wings, Athena kept her head from going under by using them as buoyancy. Flicking her tail, she glanced at Storm and saw he had his back to her, amethyst scales shimmering in the daylight. Speaking of daylight..

She shifted her gaze to the sky. The sun was at it's peek, shining down with enough heat to be 'moderate,' but not enough to bother her. Being an IceScale, temperature was rather important to her, as it affected her ability to use her fangs. Heat sapped her strength.


Returning her gaze to her friend, Athena opened her mouth to speak, and then noticed Storm still hadn't turned around, his head dunked in the water like an ostrich in sand. She narrowed her eyes as she noticed dust floating up from where he was. What in Astaria's name is he doing? she wondered as he finally brought his head up.


She sighed and rolled her eyes, switching her attention to her wounds. Rolling over, she righted herself and planted her talons in the rocks, standing up with little trouble-

She caught movement in the corner of her eye and turned, catching the thing in her jaws with ease. Something she was proud of. Her reflexes. As fine as they always were.

Athena couldn't see what it was, but it was oddly snake-like in it's attempts of wiggling and worming it's way out of her tight grip.


Wait.. snake?


Athena let out a shriek and spat out the eel, where it landed on the bank of the river. With a flap of her wings and a few panicked steps, she was at the shore, screaming like a girl. Spotting the dazed creature, she snarled and shot at it. It was frozen instantly and broke into pieces.


She backed away from it, breathing heavily. Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, ew! She hated them! Hated them hated them hated them! Snakes she had no problem with, it was the eels she loathed. The way they squirmed and wiggled through the water.. ugh. Water snakes were a bit of a different matter, but they weren't as bad.


Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew, ew- Storm.


She snapped her head in his direction, narrowing her eyes into feline-resembling slits. If murder was an expression, it was on her face.


"You- Why did you do that?!" she exclaimed, glowering at him, unable to really express her fury at the little 'prank.' Why? Well, if she did, she wouldn't have her friend anymore- because he'd be bits. Literally.

Athena stomped the earth before snarling half heartedly at him, before casting a look of utmost hatred at the dead eel. "Ew," she muttered. She then looked at him. "Never do that again," she said quietly, before sighing and rubbing her forehead with a wing, sitting down slowly.


(XD Indeed, and Athena ain't happy xD)

// I find it funny how Athena just rolled his eyes at him when his head was under the water, like that it's something he would totally do. XD

Storm watched and was surprised when Athena's lightning quick reflexes allowed her to snap the eel in her jaws. She then shrieked and started screaming like a little hatchling, before shooting a blast of ice at the poor creature, killing it instantly.

Storm couldn't contain himself anymore. He burst into hysterical laughter. It was the first time he genuinely laughed in the past year. It felt amazing. He felt more himself than he had in a long time.

Then Athena stomped over to him.

She scolded him for it and told him to never to it again. Storm forced down most of his laughter, but he couldn't help but grin, and a few stray giggles came up from time to time. "Okay, okay, I won't do it again," he promised, still smiling giddily. "But as for why I did that," he explained, "is because of that time when you sneezed all over me soon after we first met. Remember that? You were allergic to the poppy seeds that we were giving Nihlus to help him get to sleep, and you had the disgusting idea to spray all of your "nasal stuff," as you called it, all over me. And I told you that I would get you back for it. When you didn't expect it," he recalled. "And from what I remember, you said that I won't be able to surprise you. Look who I proved wrong." He started laughing a little bit more.

//Yep xD She doesn't expect much from that tiny brain of his xD Nah, I'm kidding//

Athena watched as Storm stifled his laughter, -with some difficulty- and then tried to look her in the face, something which was clearly proving difficult due to the barely contained smile smile that portrayed his humorous outlook on the situation.

Athena pretended to be mad, -well, she was- but Storm's laugh was something she hadn't heard in a long time. The idea that he was laughing and smiling again was something that warmed her on the inside, warmed her heart just that small bit.. I'm going soft, she scoffed inwardly.

Storm promised he 'wouldn't do it again,' but Athena gave him the narrowed eye look, something the told him she didn't believe him. She then turned her head forward to listen to him as he spoke again, explaining why he had chosen to commit such a despicable act.

Athena couldn't help it, she snorted when he reminded her of that event. She then shot him a playful 'warning look' when he mentioned that he had proved her wrong. "Hmph. You win this time, lieutenant." She then flicked her tail.

"But be warned, I enjoy a game of revenge."

She then twitched her feathers and waded back to the bank, standing up on the small strip of sand. There, she opened her maw and yawned, exposing her fangs for all to see. Licking the inside of her teeth, she turned and smirked. "Hungry? I can go hunt for us." Her wounds, painful as they were, did little to render her flying abilities, so she was more then happy to hunt for Storm if he wasn't able.

Elora watched as the two laughed and teased each other from a distance,safely hidden between branches and leaves. She has been hunting in a near by wood, when she heard the shrieks of a dragon whom she now knew was called Athena. In amusement she watched as the two friends smiled and continued to play. All the time wishing somehow she could get in on the fun! Even if it envolved eels. But Elora knew she better get back to her hunting. So she turned and crept back into the woods in search of prey.

Storm smiled as he watched Athena try to keep herself mad, which she was doing badly at. She narrowed his eyes at him and called him lieutenant. He look of a little surprise went on his face. Not because she called him that, she had before, but he hadn't been called that by anyone since he was lieutenant back with the SkyWings. It felt like a distant memory and it brought back a lot of memories for a moment. He shook his head, clearing his mind for a moment.

Storm almost didn't hear Athy's next words asking if he wanted her to go hunting. He was about to say that he would go with her, since he missed hunting with her, when he suddenly heard a small sound from the forest close to them. He put a claw to his mouth for quiet. It was probably just an animal, but it was better to be safe than sorry. And if it was an animal, it could be possible prey.

Taking to the sky, Storm hovered right above the treetops. He quickly dove down where he predicted the sound to be. To his surprise, he landed square onto a dragon. He basically fell on top of him or her from surprise from his initial pounce. He scrambled off quickly and got to his talons. He looked at who he pounced on.

To Storm's surprise, he realized that it was a female. She was ivory with perhaps a tint of auburn. She had small ears in place of horns with no spikes or anything running down her back. He looked at her eyes. They were a light lavender, almost white. She had a rock hanging around her neck with a leather strap.

His cheeks turning a reddish purple in embarrassment at possibly hurting a female, Storm started apologizing. "I- I'm sorry- I didn't mean- I just-" He had always treated females with extra respect, so he was even more embarrassed. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to get a handle on his words. "I'm sorry," he started again. He walked over to her and put a talon out to help her back up to her talons. "I didn't expect to land on you. I just heard a noise in the forest and thought maybe you were something I could hunt for prey," he explained, still embarrassed.

Elora got up again with the help of his talons. And started to apologize herself as she brushed off a bit. "Oh no, don't be sorry. I am the one that startled you. I'm truly sorry. Please accept my apology. I heard your dragon friend cry out so I rushed over thinking someone was hurt. But it looks like it was just a prank"[/color] she let out a small giggle.

She glimpsed up at the dragons eyes and shied a few inches back at the sight of their deep emerald tone. A light blush swept over her face and she didn't notice his embarrassment because she was too busy trying to cover up her own.

She started to stammer that she should be getting back to her hunting because that was her initial intention in the forest and not to get tackled out of nowhere. And with that she apologized once more and asked for his name. Elora's mind was to boggled to remember hearing him being called Storm.

//sorry didn't remember to change the color when she is speaking. I will be sure to do that next time//