Cataclysm

[serpington]

<i can't tell you exactly what i did or it'll only make things worse...but i can tell you that i made a fool of both of us and he took it personaly....it was one of his deepest hiden memories> the black dragon hid his head in shame unawear that durako was walking up behind the group. "i supose he went to you for advice?" shadow emediatly shot up and practicly ran at durako, almost running him over before stopping about a meter away. he then looked away and sturted to turn back towards tia and cerri. "wait!" shadow stoped in half turn as durako spoke, "what you did was wrong, and i'm not sure how long till i can trust you as i always have.....but i am in the wrong as much as you, i shouldn't have reacted so badly." <you've forgiven me?....for what i did?> "i had some time to cool off during the walk over here, and the local wild life was verry one sided. they agree that you shouldn't have done what you did, but i shouldn't hav acted like i did. can you forgive me?" <i already did.> the two touched their foreheads together as a sign of friendship.

[Grace.E]

Cerri and Tia merely smiled at each other, Tia rested her head on Cerri's lap, the dragon stable was big enough to fit two dragons, Cerri lazily rested her head on Tia's stomach when the stable door opened. a teenager, telling from the body size was about  fifteen. but she could not see its face.  his clothes were nice, he looked wealthy, he wore a cloak.  he sank low under the stable door, holding a dagger shakily, clearly Cerri could tell that the kid had no clue that this stable was taken.
"you okay?" she asked, the kid jumped, covering its mouth. its hood came off, revealing a teenage boy with short blond hair and bright blue eyes, he stared at Cerri for a moment, Cerri, now having a closer look new exactly who this kid was. she looked around and whispered "what is the Prince of Stormwing doing here?" the kid slightly blushed before he jumped up and covered her mouth, Cerri gave him a sour look. Tia lifted her head and growled, the Prince ignored Tia. "be quiet, I don't want anyone to know I am here..."
Cerri didn't like having her mouth covered, her emerald eyes flashed angrily, ripping his hand from him mouth "what in the world?" she snapped. for a prince who has always acted like an adult, he wasn't now. she remembered meeting him when he was about ten, she was younger at the time, they merely said hello. Tia growled again "remove your hands boy...royalty or not I will hurt you if you hurt Cerri"

[Cifero Windtail]

At that moment, Hex and Darren were walking around, trying to find Cerridwyn or anyone else that they knew from the battle.
<So should we tell Mongoose to come out now?> Darren said, speaking only to Hex.
"I don't think he should reveal himself just yet," Hex said to Darren through telepathy. "We should probably wait until we get a chance to meet the king."
<Good idea,> the young dragon said. <Are you sure you're okay? That mercenary hurt you pretty badly before he fell on Hoenir.>
(Just a brief recap: Hoenir= Hex's sword.)
Hex winced slightly as he rubbed his left shoulder. "I'll manage," he said. "I'm just glad that you were there to rescue me after I passed out. And that Hoenir got stuck in his chest."
<Yeah,> Darren said. <Hey wait! I just remembered that Cerri said that she was going to the dragon stables on the other side of town to visit Tia!>
"Well, it's about 20 minutes from here," Hex said. "Let's see if she's there."
<I hope we run into that general,> Darren said. <We still have to give him our papers.>
"Yeah," Hex said.

[Grace.E]

"hey, you can't do this!! I am the prince!!" the towns people stared in shock and horror as Cerri dragged the prince back to the palace by the ear, she was inraged by his immaturity, Tia was behind the Prince, the palace guards saw the commotion, pointing their spears at Cerri's armored chest "release the prince or we will have no choice bu to make you"
Cerri growled "I am returning the prince to his father immediately..."
"UNHAND ME YOU EVIL WITCH!" the prince cried angrily. Tia growled loudly, he stopped squirming, Cerri noticed the head of the Guard coming to greet them "let her through boys, His Majesty the King wishes to see his son immediately"
Cerri bowed her head in thanks as they marched passed. the gates closed and the Prince mumbled something, Cerri pretended not to hear. finally in the throne room, His Majesty King Varian Wyrnn was talking to war generals, almost on cue he turned around in shining, golden armor, a angry scar across his face, his long black hair in a pony tail, he stared at the sight.
"what's this, a dragon rider and my son the prince..." Cerri and Tia bowed deeply. Varian got a good look at Cerri "well, you certianly do have the striking resemblance of your parents Cerridwyn Stormseeker"
Cerri snapped her head up, then bowed it "of course your majesty"
he smiled "I have a good memory, your father is a dear and loyal friend of mine...its surprising how long he has lived well in such a cursed forest...not even Astarot would go near it"
Cerri looked at Tia, her face paled at the name, "rise" the king ordered and Cerri obeyed. the king sat in his throne "now tell me..what happened at Ironwing"

[tangletail]

From outside the capital a feline anthro was walking in the distance closely followed by a dyed black vulture. He was a tall and sleek serval holding a half eaten green apple. The feline stopped with a sigh, and asked his companion vulture with his very peculiar accent in an annoyed tone looking over his shoulder. “Is that giant spider still following us?”
The vulture let out a squawk and landed next to him. It looked to the cat narrowing its eyes and turning its head to the village <No, he won’t bother us anymore. You should be more concerned with the task at hand instead of eating apples you pig.>
“Oh? I beg your pardon but last time I checked you and I do not share the same diet.” Leo groaned taking another bite out of the apple he was carrying.
<You just ate half an hour ago. How you remain agile I do not understand.> The vulture squawked to him in a retort.
“Oh yes, a human corpse is a delightful meal. I may have developed an immunity but that’s certainly not normal for a Serval. Can I not just enjoy my kind’s food for once without you acting as my caretaker.” Leo sighed finishing the apple, he tossed it to the side and glanced back to the city. He slowly started to walk again gradually picking up speed into a light jog, staying under the trees to prevent himself from being seen.
“<As you wish, but remember why we are here.> the vulture squawked once more before taking flight high in the air <I will be watching you from up here.>

When the anthro finally reached the outer wall he planted his foot on the edge and quickly ran up a small distance before grabbing hold of the bottom of the flag. Clinging from quite a distance from the ground, he started to pull himself up hand over hand before hopping to the side grabbing hold of a ledge. He would hang there for a second and looked both directions to be sure a guard was not near before pulling himself over and onto the wall. He wasted no time in hopping over the other portion of the wall into the civilian area.
“Ok…. Now for the target…”

[Alice The Necrofox]

Jonathan stood at the gate of Stormwing, his armor musty from the long trek. Behind him a ragged line of refugees from Ironwing made thier ways to the door. Jonathan took his heavy fist and banged on the door.
"Guards of Stormwing, this is the Captain of the guard from Ironwing. Our Kingdom has fallen to an evil more terrible than the likes of which we have ever seen before. Please, open the gates and let my survivors inside."
The gate opened slightly and a tall elf walked out to meet him.
"Jonathan. It has been a while. It must have been quite a terror indeed if it caused the mighty Jonathan to flee." the elf mused.
"This isn't the time for jokes, Ith'lan. We have to get my people safe now. I have quite a tale to tell."
The elf ranger nodded. Jonathan started inside then paused.
"Pray, have a few dragon riders made thier way here recently?"
"Yes, they are causing quite a stir inside. Why?"
Jonathan grimaced. "The master of the academy there vanished when the fighting broke out. i am leading the people and I take it these Dragon riders are under my responsibility." he sighed. "Direct me to the commotion."
The elf laughed.
"That female was fighting with the Prince, and she is now in council with the King."
Jonathan grimaced again. "Direct me to the royal chambers. Stormwing has changed much since i was last here.


Jonathan walked into the throne room, two of his most trusted lieutenants, Mograd and Dugard, a dwarf and and a Human, in plate armor as well, but not quite so large as Jonathans. He came in just as the king asked "what happened at Ironwing."
"Sir, I believe you will be wanting to talk to me in this case, since Jereth has vanished. I am leading what remains of the forces and dragon riders in his absence."

[tangletail]

Leo grinned to himself as he overheard Ironwings destruction, but quickly discarded it to fit in with the populace. He idly walked through the streets, finding himself a bit lost he stopped with a sigh and looked around at his surroundings. Seeing a shadow on the ground, he took a short glace up to see Terror circling. She would then cut off her path and slowly glide in another direction before circling a new area, then flying off.

Leos eyes followed the birds flight and then began his trek in the direction of the birds signal. In a bit of time the feline found himself in a slightly more guarded area, and quite a distance from his target, the dragon stables. He would quickly crouch done and spin off to a shadowed corner and check over his gear. "Three bottles of poison... and a flint and steel," he sighed silently shaking his head "that’s an accident waiting to happen"

He stood up and pressed his back against the wall and peeked around the corner "Hm...I could afford one casualty or two..." he commented to himself. He would slowly pull his head back from the corner and crouch down next to a box. He pulled from his pockets the flint and steel and struck it a few times, causing the box to ignite before he pulled around the building, avoiding the guard as he went to investigate, with the cat quite easily sneaking closer to stables from behind.

As a shadow came into view he slowly increased his pace until another guard came into view.
The man pointed to him as Leo came running towards him. Before the man could say anything, the cat was somehow immediately upon him in a single hop covering his mouth and pressing him to the wall. The guard tried to grab push him off tearing a bit of fur from Leo's shoulder, however he didn't budge. Instead he quickly pulled a dagger out and dragged it through the guards throat. Ending his life, and spilling his blood to the ground.

After letting the body drop, he quickly pulled one of the poison bottles from his vest and tossed it through the stable's doors and leaving the scene in a sprint.. The moment the glass broke a green toxic gas was emitted from the mess filling the room.

[serpington]

durako and shadpw both turned when they heard a small bottle shater. they saw the toxic cloud moving closer ahd emediatly dashed out of the stables, grbbing anyone that was still inside on their way out. they did their best to seal up the large hall before any of the poison escaped. "so, they want to play like that." shadow, lets go see the king, he could be in danger." <yes, we should go right away> the two of them took off towards the throne room. <so how are we going to get in?> "i have an idea....."

[Grace.E]

The king thought for a moment before he stood up "seems as though our ancient enemy has decided to return..." he looked out the window "Alexstrazea will not want to hear such news"
Cerri bowed her head breifly " I know your royal majesty..." Tia then spoke "neither will Cree" the room suddenly became very dark..even tense and scary, a cold chill seemed to creep. the kind turned towards Tia " Young Dragon...as you may know, not a even such a warrior such as I will even venture several inches into that forest, even our greatest enemy will hesitate to venture into that forest, the most cocky of men will bravely march in and never to return.."
Cerri nodded, the prince frowned at his father's word "then how come she survived?" Cerri spoke before the king did. "I was born in its heart, my family resides there, the forest only cares for its sons and daughters, I am the first human ever to actually live and thrive..I know the forest as it it was the back of my own hand" suddenly an Idea came to her
"your majesty...what would the chances be if we lured Astarot to Cree?"
the king turned to face her, his eyes glowed with curiosity and intent "go on"
Cerri coughed before she spoke "legends and rumor tells that Astarot and Cree were once friends...when Cree had a physical form, she was betrayed by him...I have seen dragons, who were the members of the black dragon flight, powerful ones...devoured by the tree's alone"
the kings and princes eyes widen with horror "the trees.."
"yes...they alive...they eat flesh and photosynthesize" as ludicrous as it sounded...it was true. hoard armies alone did not venture far.  the kind approached her "you know..you have given me an idea I could never think of..but the tree's can burn?"
Cerri grinned wickedly "they are magical tree's..." was all she said

[Haxor]

As Atlas continued to find his way out of the castle to his dragon, and then to the market to finally get something to eat, he walked by 2 large doors that he assumed was the kings throne room. He immediately knew he wasn't in the right place, and decided to ask the nearest guard who pointed him in the right direction. He walked by 2 other guards who seemed to making there way towards the throne room, but decided to pay no attention to them. Atlas finally made it to the castle steps, he asked a guard for directions to dragon stable, and immediately started to walk faster before he passed out again.

[Cifero Windtail]

Having recieved permission to enter the castle, Hex and Darren made their way to the throne room, where Cerri was talking to the king about something.

"Excuse me," Hex said, walking into the room with Darren by his side. "First of all, one of the Hoard's hunters just dropped a bottle of poison in another area of the castle. And secondly..."

He reached into a pocket in his cloak and pulled out a freaky looking amulet.

"We have to introduce you to someone."

The rider touched the center of the amulet and set it on the floor. The strange object glowed turqoise and emitted a large cloud of smoke.
This vapor formed itself into a six-foot tall pillar of smoke, and started to grow arms, legs, and a tail. When the process was complete, a white tiger, in full battle armor, stood- no, FLOATED- in the place of the column of smoke. He smiled and looked around the room, then locked his fierce amber eyes on the king. A sly smile spread across the tiger's face.

"Hello, Varian."  

[Grace.E]

((wait...where are you?))

[Cifero Windtail]

(The throne room of Stormwing. Where Cerri and Tia are.)

(I'm finally bringing Mongoose into the story....)

[tangletail]

Leo cursed to himself as he saw someone from down the corridor grab the poison bottle. He was about to head after him to prevent him from spreading the alert of his presence, however he stopped. His ear flicked under the bandana that was over his head at a small sound of a gentle footstep. Slowly, the cat turned his head seeing a young servant, close to his age holding a tray.
“Can I help you sir?”
With a smile Leo responded “Maybe I can help you.” He chuckled as he walked towards him. Before the man had time to react Leo quickly jumped upon him and bringing him down the ground. The cat quickly covered the mans mouth so his scream was muffled before slicing his throat. He grinned as the man laid there dead, who was quickly stripped of his clothing and lobbed out of the window.
The cat didn’t quite bother with removing his own gear, instead he wore the servants apparel over them, witch fit loosely enough to hide his equipment.
The feline checked over himself in the mirror to make sure he was proper and combed his hair, before picking up a nearby tray and tossed a bottle of poison out of the window. Instead of a shattering sound, there was a swoop as if something picked it up as he went to the throne room. He gave the door a few gentle knocks before heading inside addressing the king with the tray of water. “Sir… someone addressed me that you required refreshments? I have brought you something to drink…..” he trailed off looking around the room a bit hesitantly “I am sorry… I didn’t know there were others.”

[Cifero Windtail]

<Hex! It's him! I remember his scent!> Darren said.
"Uh, majesty," Hex said. "I don't think you should drink that... you know, considering that it's most likely poisoned and that THAT MAN DOESN'T WORK HERE!"