Part 21: Emergence
Krisr winced and gasped as he tried to sit up. The skin where the energy had struck him felt like it was burning, and his muscles were horribly sore. He blinked and lay still. It was dark, with only small points of light coming from the wall in front of him. He tried to make out where he was and what he was looking at, but his mind was still blurred from the energy hit.
The Terran Bishel Dragon nearby quickly turned at the noise and moved away from the pile of rocks blocking the exit of the crevice, her long red legs delicately picking over her bondmate until she was nearer to his head. *Krisr, are you all right?* she asked, her concern flowing through their connection.
"Yes," Krisr replied, trying to muster a smile. Raina might be able to see it with her superior eyesight, and even if she couldn't, she could certainly feel it. "Glad you are here, m'lady. I feared I was deceased for a moment. Now, what box is this I find us in?"
*After you were struck down by that mage, I dragged you to this crevice to get away from the poachers, but the mage brought on a rock slide. We're trapped... but don't worry, we called Indyana. She should be here soon.* Raina explained, trying to keep Krisr calm. Even though he said he was fine, she could distinctly sense that he was in pain, and the last time she had inspected his burns, they had looked even worse.
"There's something else, isn't there..." Krisr prompted. Raina wasn't lying, but he could tell she was trying to hide something from him.
*Dracstan,* Raina whispered. *The mage captured Dracstan. I couldn't protect the both of you.* She ducked her head sadly.
Krisr could see her silhouette and feel the air move; he reached up a hand and found her head. "We'll get him back," he promised, setting his hand on her horns. "Indyana will get here, and we'll all go and rescue him and the other creatures."
*I hope she hurries... there's no telling what that mage might do to him. Dracstan isn't very cooperative...*
Dracstan was lost. He had escaped onto the rocky slopes, where the men didn't have a chance of finding him. Unfortunately, he had no idea which way they had come from. He had been senseless for the journey to the caves, and he couldn't sense Raina Lynn or Krisr anywhere nearby. So, he did the only thing he could think to do: he climbed.
The Terran shook his soft green mane from his eyes as his sharp hooves clicked across the rocky ground. If he could get high enough, he should be able to spot the canyon where he last saw Raina Lynn and Krisr. It was broad daylight now, but the stone dragon was still in the shadow of the tall slopes to his sides. He climbed higher and higher, taking in the scents and listening carefully for any sign of pursuit. Eventually, the barriers gave way, and Dracstan found himself overlooking miles of mountain and rock. His dark eyes scanned the surfaces below, looking for the telltale break in the tops that would reveal the canyon. At last, he spotted it, nearly out of sight, tucked to one side. It wasn't very far away, but the path there would be winding and rough. Dracstan took off at a trot, his new legs carrying him safely from rock to rock, ledge to ledge.
He grunted at a particularly long jump, taking pleasure in the sharp clatter his hooves created as they landed on the boulder below. By now he was cantering, pausing only to judge distance and leap. He was made for this terrain. The canyon didn't seem so far after all. Dracstan's eyes narrowed as he thought through his next move. First, he would find Raina Lynn and Krisr. Indyana might already be there, and with the added forces to back them up, they could return to the caves before the poachers had time to move again and free those poor creatures. And the mage... he would be defeated. Dracstan's eyes glinted with an amusement that was nearly cruel. Defeated, and locked in one of his own cages.
The sun was barely starting its downward descent when a flight of dragons landed on the lee side of the canyon. It was here that Krisr had sent his emergency signal. Indyana sat on the pale golden Sunkist. Her hair was braided tightly in a long coil; she wore her tough leather arm and leg guards. Sheathed at her side was a light but deadly blade; she meant business. She looked to the others from her perch on Sunkist. Gathered around her mount was a group of defenders from the Refuge. Goldhawk, the green fire Glenn Dragon, one of her most loyal friends. By his side stood Dirn, the strong, ave-blooded hunter who had recently come to the Refuge searching for a worthy companion beast. Syberia and Bloodstone, a pair of massive, armored dragons from the Obsidian Caves stood together, the female's ice blue scales reflecting into the black hide of the male. On Syberia rode Termut, a powerful psion with eyes the color of tropical seas. Seeth, the black-sheened Carmor and his feral Faidian companion, Iladia. And finally, Ramona, upon Bloodstone's back, her red hair dancing in the mountain winds.
*Are they here, Sunkist?* Indyana asked her bondmate. The female snorted before sniffing the air curiously and throwing out the tendrils of her perception.
*They are there,* interrupted Termut, directing everyone's attention to the canyon. *They are trapped, and the boy is injured.*
Sunkist tossed her head and spared Termut and annoyed glance. Indyana, meanwhile, saw Ramona go pale. "Let's go. Stay low; we don't want to attract attention."
The flight rose to the edge of the canyon and skimmed over it before dropping quickly into the grassy valley beyond. There were signs that a camp had been made below, but whoever had been there had left nothing but a few ashes behind. The dragons glided across the valley, to the far wall. A small patch of the wall had recently fallen in a rock slide, and it was there that the voice of Raina Lynn emanated from when she sensed their approach.
*Here!* she cried, rushing to the wall of rock blocking the crevice. *Krisr, they're here," she added to her bondmate, who couldn't sense the arriving dragons.
Krisr cracked a smile and tried to prop himself onto his elbows; the smile became a grimace as his injuries protested, but he still managed a witty remark. "Finally... next time we order a flight of dragons, we're trying a different merchant..."
There were assorted shuffling noises outside as their rescuers drew nearer. "Get as far back as you can," Indyana's voice called, muffled by the thick material between them. Krisr croaked slightly as he dragged himself farther back into the crevice. Raina ducked her head under her bondmate's shoulder and tried her best to help; however, there was only so much room in the crevice, and eventually, the human and Bishen simply curled back and prayed that the ceiling wouldn't fall in on them.
The rocks began moving, and dust filled the crevice. Raina Lynn coughed and tried to cover Krisr as best she could, but the gritty cloud was everywhere. Outside, Termut held a hand to the rocks, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he shifted the massive load away from the entrance. Light poured into the space as the rocks receded, but Raina and Krisr kept their heads down. Finally, Termut lowered his hand and dumped the debris to the left of the crevice, breathing deeply after the exertion. Sunkist reared up and flapped her sparkling wings, driving the dust away from the space. She settled her front legs to the ground once more, and after a nearly silent moment, Raina Lynn emerged from the crevice.
Her red hide was caked with dust, but she was all right. She shook her head and squinted in the bright light. *Krisr has been hurt.* Ramona reacted by rushing toward the crevice, and Indyana followed, bringing a satchel with a few medical supplies.
"Krisr!" Ramona exclaimed when she saw her beau lying on the rocky floor. She quickly knelt down to examine him.
"My fair Ramona, how lovely to see you. Forgive me for not standing," Krisr drawled, flinching as she lifted his shirt and observed the burns below.
"Those are fairly deep burns. What happened?" Indyana asked as she joined Ramona by Krisr and opened the bag she carried. Her hands quickly found a jar of pale yellow salve, which she opened and handed to Ramona.
"They had a mage," Krisr stated, sucking in a breath of air sharply as Ramona began covering the burns on his torso with the ointment.
"How did they find you? Start from the beginning," Indyana corrected, still rummaging through the satchel.
"Well, I was in Plativa, wor—" Krisr began.
"Krisr," snapped Ramona, her eyebrows darting downward in aggravation. This was no time for joking, as far as she was concerned.
Krisr looked up in a way that said, 'Well, you asked...', but he then launched into the correct story. "After we messaged you with the crystal, it became apparent that our ruthless friends were about to depart from the canyon. Fearing that you wouldn't arrive in time, we descended to the camp after all the fires had gone out and attempted to free the creatures they held captive. Unfortunately, the cages were magicked shut, and we were discovered before we could complete our mission. There was a fight, which I only saw part of before the mage blasted me with an energy bolt..." He trailed off and turned his gaze to Raina Lynn.
*After which I dragged him in here to protect him from the poachers. My powers weren't very effective against the mage, although ice was more useful than fire. He collapsed the entrance and sealed us inside. Meanwhile, Dracstan has been captured by them. I can't tell you which way they left.* The Red ducked her head apologetically. Ramona glanced at Indyana, who seemed lost in thought; she took the roll of cloth bandaging that Indyana was loosely holding.
"They probably moved farther away from the Creature Refuge," Indyana informed. "This isn't an area poachers can stay in long without being discovered, even with the canyon walls. Only caves can protect from the eyes of dragons."
"Krisr," Ramona instructed, "you're going to have to sit up so I can wrap that burn." Between her and Raina Lynn, they managed to prop Krisr into a sitting position; Ramona began winding the ribbon of cloth around his torso, covering the coated, blistered skin. She glanced at Indyana. "Do you think these poachers could be connected to the problems we've been having at the Refuge?"
Indyana frowned pensively. "Several culprits have been apprehended for other incidents, including another mage and several pirates."
"By 'apprehended', she means crushed by rocks and burnt to a crisp," Ramona added under her breath for Krisr to hear. He smiled grimly as she tightened the wrappings.
"But these poachers, so close to the Refuge borders, could still be involved... or have been planning something," Indyana continued, choosing to ignore the comment. "Although I'm close to finding a solution to the problem, until we get a guardian for the Isier River system, we'll always be vulnerable. That area near the Shrivik Mountains is the one weakness in the Refuge boundaries. Seeth, Iladia, and Kirochka do an excellent job, but they can't be everywhere at once. It is unfortunate that the gap in our security is so close to Bishen Realm as well."
Raina Lynn turned to Indyana. *What is so difficult about the Shrivik Mountain border?*
Ramona claimed the reply. "The cliffs around most of the Refuge are sheer and regular. There are not many caves or passes. The two exceptions are the areas near the Shrivik Mountains and the Obsidian Cave system.
"The Obsidian Sea and its caves have been thoroughly explored, and they do not lead to the outside of the Refuge. The mountains above the Obsidian Sea are treacherous and blocked from the outside by the same cliffs that border the rest of the Refuge. The Shrivik Mountains, however, are different. The cliffs there are not nearly as solid, and there are many caves and lower passes where climbing is possible. Although most of the surface has been blocked by magical barriers and is patrolled by the Guardians, the caves are still unmapped and are a constant source of new threats and breaches." She concluding by giving the knots on Krisr's wraps a last tug to ensure their strength. "Done."
Krisr gingerly pulled his tunic back down over the finished bandages. "Hmm, and here we were thinking that the Creature Refuge was the last safe place for dragons in the world."
*It is safer than the outside,* Raina defended, rising to her feet.
Ramona held Krisr's arm and peered into his face. "Can you walk?"
"I can manage," he grunted, trying to get his legs underneath himself. Ramona tightened her grip and took on some of his weight, and the managed to stand. Krisr leaned on her for a moment before his balance returned. "You see, not a problem."
"Good." Indyana closed the bag and led the way from the crevice. "You and Raina Lynn can ride on Goldhawk with Ramona. We need to determine the location of the poachers. Sunkist, Dirn, and I w—" She was interrupted by Bloodstone and Syberia's twin trumpets of alarm. "Quiet!" she barked at the dragons.
Syberia ducked her head in a remorseful bob before swinging it toward the eastern side of the canyon, where Bloodstone's eyes were glued. The group turned toward the faint sound of hoof beats as a small gray creature tore down the pass into the canyon. It was headed directly toward them. As it drew nearer, it became apparent that it was a dragon. It moved on four cloven hooves, but the green, grassy mane and rocky hide were familiar.
Raina's eyes widened in disbelief. *Dracstan?*
The Bishel Dragon, now a powerful shrape, slowed to a trot once he got within projecting range. He did not waste a moment in explaining the situation. *The poachers are in caves, back the way I came. They're in the process of selling their prisoners. We have to be swift.*
"Get Krisr and Raina Lynn onto Goldhawk," Indyana told Ramona, "and then help Dracstan onto Bloodstone." She ran to mount Sunkist, while Termut and Iladia quickly clambered onto the backs of Syberia and Seeth. Dirn flapped his massive, gray wings in preparation for flight.
When all parties were set, Indyana nodded and the dragons and Dirn lifted into the air. Once airborne, they formed a loose triangle in the sky and streaked low over the mountains, with Dracstan as their guide.
Background from Absolute Background Textures Archive. Storyline, characters, text, and graphics created by and copyright © Rachel "Indyana" Gratis, 2002-2006. Dragons from Bishen Realm and Ferreus Caves.