A Calculated Fate

the-white-kingdom:

Delmont nodded. “I-I t-t-t-trust you…” It was getting harder to speak, the little shelter he found himself in wouldn’t last much longer as the wind tore the ‘roof’ off the little shelter he had. He huffed, just trying to relax. One fell chomp and Delmont knew his life would vanish like the evening sun. At this point, he couldn’t speak anymore, the frost having nearly sealed his lips shut as he kept close to the dragon. Inwardly, he was wondering where the beast would take him, if he was just going to be this thing’s chew toy. 

He let his mind wander in calculations. There was a chance - a fourty percent? He’d choose to go with fourty. Fourty percent that he would be eaten. But then again, he wasn’t full of nutrients. So that was less likely. Rumbling about in his mind, he believed in a sixty percent chance that the Dragon would keep to his word. He’d go with that chance, he thought, as his mind became cloudy, the cold and pangs of sleep making his eyes heavy. He kept telling himself, not here.

I don’t want to die here.

Trust me? That was a new one he thought as he picked up the little darkrai and started to move again. Many did not simply trust him, they were never give much choice and were forced to let him do what he would. He was certain that this was most surely more the case, and with that issue resolved he bounded farther ahead, making sure to keep the jolts to a minimum as not to impale the bundle in his maw but the storm was getting heavier as the ground was already starting to be covered in a blanket of white. The Pokemon growled as he squinted through the growing storm, visibility was quickly reducing as the clouds descended. 

The lord knew that the cave he picked out was near here some where. After a few moments was walking he finally caught the scent of cooking meat and he bolted ahead. He knew it was a good idea to leave that Ursaring roasting after all. Sure enough the scent wafted from a small cave that was already forming ice around it. Quickly the dragon darted into the hovel and out of the raging winds. Inside near the middle of the cavern was a small pile of pokemon and a couple logs that were currently ablaze with warm fire. On the fringes of said fire, dark purple sparks blazed and seemed to eat at the organic matter under it with glee. The dragon set the frozen little Darkrai down near the blazing fire before turning his attentions towards the entrance where ice had begun to creep in.

With a couple of deep breaths flames started to pour out of the dragons maw as he backed up a moment before releasing a steady blast of fire. The flames reached readily for the ice and quickly swallowed it up but this fire was different. Instead of a glorious yellowish orange color it was black and purple and seemed more than eager to escape the dragon. Once the ice had melted the flames lingered at the entrance burning happily as it was fed by the blistering winds and snow that entered it.

With a satisfied nod the lord circled the bonfire, shifting so that his frosted wings were facing the warm fire before settling down. Behind him lay a copule of other pokemon bodies, fresh meat that he had gathered for either food or kindling. Normally he would only eat dreams but the king had showed him that his new body craved meat.

With a small shudder the beast slowly relaxed, tucking his claws under him akin to the way a cat would and he let out a sigh.

Time passed. Delmont made no other movements than breathing and the occasional gibbering from his past. He mumbled about fire, about his home, about books subconsciously. None of it made linear sense, really, and it eventually quieted down once the storm began to die down.

After some indefinite time passed, the ice and snow melted, rushing down the sides of the mountain to fill up the water that Delmont had previously gotten his fill from. Soon, it was naught but sun and chilled winds. With a slight groan, Delmont picked himself up. He had thawed, thankfully, but he was starving. Weakly, he rubbed his eyes, practically on his knees in front of the dragon, a weak shiver running through him. He didn’t dare wake him up. It would be impolite to do so after being so brash earlier. Instead, he found himself rummaging through his bag, slowly pulling out the last little bit of bread he had. It was thankfully well-kept due to the cold last night. With a slightly mournful sigh, he began to chomp it down, taking greedy mouthfuls of the little rations he had left, swallowing it down with the crisp water he had collected yesterday.

asklorddarkrai:

darksteel-wisdom:

His fire didn’t last long when the weather turned sour. As the storm raged, the kindling died down. His bed protected him from the snow and hail, the frigid cold winds proving to be what kept him awake. Desperately, he tried to move his fingers and legs. He just needed to keep circulation going and-

“Wha- Oh.” He glanced up at the dragon. “… Yes, sir… But only b-barely…” With teeth chattering, he sighed, looking up at the dragon. The beast could see the scars around his eyes now, as well as the clouded pupils. Indeed, his words before were true - the boy was blind.

“Hmmm,” The dragon hummed a moment as he tried to keep a smile from spreading across his scaly lips. He could leave this little wretch here to freeze to death, after all he had done the dragon a great rudeness at their first encounter but as he stared down at the shivering hybrid he couldn’t help but feel something inside. Something darker within, a beautiful little taint that he hadn’t noticed before. Perhaps there was more to this kid than met the eye, aside from the armor which was now partially viable.

In fact from the look of things this kid held quite a bit of difference from the normal darkrai, he thought he had felt something strange that first time but it hadn’t registered. After mulling it over a little more, the wind becoming ever harsher casing frost to travel up the legends arm and form icicles on his mane and wings. 

Finally with a small nod be reached his neck down intending to pick up the small darkrai in his jaws, “Hold still, I do not trust you do hold on to me.” He muttered as his teeth gently clamped around Delmont. It wasn’t piercing it was just firm enough to grasp him.

Delmont nodded. “I-I t-t-t-trust you…” It was getting harder to speak, the little shelter he found himself in wouldn’t last much longer as the wind tore the ‘roof’ off the little shelter he had. He huffed, just trying to relax. One fell chomp and Delmont knew his life would vanish like the evening sun. At this point, he couldn’t speak anymore, the frost having nearly sealed his lips shut as he kept close to the dragon. Inwardly, he was wondering where the beast would take him, if he was just going to be this thing’s chew toy. 

He let his mind wander in calculations. There was a chance - a fourty percent? He’d choose to go with fourty. Fourty percent that he would be eaten. But then again, he wasn’t full of nutrients. So that was less likely. Rumbling about in his mind, he believed in a sixty percent chance that the Dragon would keep to his word. He’d go with that chance, he thought, as his mind became cloudy, the cold and pangs of sleep making his eyes heavy. He kept telling himself, not here.

The hybrid stared at the new figure approaching. He was calculating in his mind, running thousands of strategies. “… I have just enough energy to fire off one Shadow Ball strong enough to render somebody unconscious. Even if I am for the foot, the shock will take you out. I… Don’t want to resort to cannibalism, but I’ll eat what I must to live!” He grunted. He was explaining himself without really needing to. “… Why are you here? I thought I was alone…” He didn’t let down his guard for a moment, sliding his glasses back up again. 

When the skies became blotted out by the shape of some gigantic creature, Delmont quickly tried to remain calm. It was likely a dragon had come for him, though what type, and of what nature, he could not say. Quietly, he thought it best to try avoid any interaction with something larger than himself for now. He was just too weak for any head-on confrontation, skirting around the outsides of the mountain, picking berries he knew were safe to eat and finding a small pond of fresh water. He quickly took his fill. It would make him last at least that little while longer. “Perfect…” He sighed happily, his words echoing slightly due to the clearing he was in. He propped himself under the shade of a tree, and quietly shut his eyes to get some well-deserved rest.

Her observant eyes initially caught not a trace of any viable prey. This mountainside seemed only home to small creatures - none of which could ever provide an adequate meal for the Dragon. Her dramatic arrival must have spooked them off. A lowly sigh bellowed from the beast - she had all the time in the world to throw away, but she couldn’t stand any second of it. She was gifted this new body and she has done near nothing.

The dragon remained there for a while, still scouring the distant mountainsides. She had begun to give up hope and move on with her evening, but when the idea had crossed her mind - her eyes picked up the faintest sign of movement. A berry bush in the distance had been rustled by a creature of sufficient size, a fanged grin slowly formed upon her face. Finally she had found herself a potential feast.

“Oh… Me?” He chuckled quietly at her concern. “No, no, I mean… You shouldn’t trouble yourself with me.” He was starving, and parched. He had practically less than a day’s worth of food before he’d totally starve out. It mattered not to him. Dignity and decency - and a clear mind. That’s all he needed. Though a nip of food would help… “… Though if you could spare some food or water… I’d love that…”

He had an astute, learned tone to him, yet was quite young in his mental age and physical age, though was practically hollow due to the lack of any good, protein-based food. He almost looked like a ghost.

“I uh… What do you eat?” Faleen was reaching into her basket, looking for an herb. “I might be able to give you something to stave off hunger until I’m able to fetch you what you need.” Faleen suddenly gives a loud trill and pulls out a tangy smelling herb out of her bag. It’s leaves curled up into it’s base as little white hairs came from it’s roots. “This is holliander. It’s not something I would normally use to help with hunger but it might fill your belly a little and give you some energy.” 

abysmal-dwellers:

darksteel-wisdom:

Delmont quietly shut the book, sighing, looking at his surroundings. He was in some sort of mountain, presumably one that lead to a clearing (or at least he hoped it would). Unsteadily, he resumed his journey, walking along with an ashen-grey satchel bag hanging from one shoulder where he kept his last few books, some water, and tiny bits of food. His supplies would run out in exactly two hours, at which point, he would last a further three days before his body would die due to malnourishment, assuming no beast appeared from the clearing and mauled him, which would kill him instantly, and other gory details he opted to not think about. He trudged out into the forest, taking in the pure, wet air, sighing with a shiver. He took another little sip of water, listening to the last little portion of it dribble to the bottom of the flask.

He then heard some rustling around him. He readied his fragile form for combat. He was not alone. “Whomever you are… Show thyself!” Delmont hissed, readying a weak shadow ball. It was the most he could manage right now.

“Relax, friend.”  Gluttony was ducked down a bit as he appeared from the shadows nearby.  His body heat was high out of nervousness as he knew that shadow ball would still hurt for someone like himself.  “I’m not here to hurt you.”

The demon Anti’s voice had cracked making him clear his throat as he slowly lowered his hands to look more at Delmont.

Delmont looked on the new figure with a bit of curiousity. He slowly lowered his arm, the shadow ball dissipating in his fingers. “… Who… Are you?” He asked quietly, looking at the newcomer. The Darkrai was a frail thing, having suffered from malnutrition and undernourishment. “I feel like I’ve seen you before. Something in the back of my skull is telling me so.” There was a faint British accent that lingered in the Darkrai’s hollow voice, the beast taking a swig from his flask.

Delmont felt the cold breeze and shivered. He watched as the small white dots of snow began to fall, quickly darting about and collecting some supplies. Twigs, leaves, small logs, rocks… Anything he could. Frostbite would easily spell the end of him, seeing as he had so little energy. Using his old knowledge, he built a small campfire. It would be hard to get it going in the cold, so he went more into the forest, setting it up on a particularly quiet area, beginning the small fire. “Th-There… That should keep me…”

It didn’t quite occur to him, though, that he was still occupying the same area as some gigantic dragon, hearing the trudging footsteps nearby, hoping his meager fire would last any sudden liftoff or tail swipe. He sat close to it and tried to keep his body warm, yet was still so afraid of that fickle friend of fire. He idly poked at it now and then with a large, thick stick that wouldn’t catch fire easily, just making sure that the fire could keep raging.

Eventually, he built a makeshift shelter, just something to keep him from the snow. It was akin to a cocoon - a hammock underside and a flat top. He kept near the fire, hoping that the sudden chill would end soon - and praying that this wouldn’t be his end.

The snow storm picked up quickly as the wind started to howl like the spirits of the damned. The inky black clouds were becoming thicker as they descended on the mountain range and then the hail started to come. Little balls of ice that started to strike the earth and those unfortunate enough to be caught in it. The dragonic lord was still looking for more supplies for his hoard when a large chunck of ice fell and smacked him in the wing. 

Even through his touch scales his wings were sensitive and he let out small roar of rage towards the sky. He may have been a dragon and had far better defenses than before but now he was a far bigger target. He needed to get into the small cave but he wanted another body to add to the flames. A tyrannitar or some other dark type. He already had two stored away but he did not know how long he would be stuck there, the storm had already proven that attempting to fly through it in this state would prove deadly and the lord was unwilling to throw his life away on some fool hardy escape attempt.

darksteel-wisdom:

Delmont quietly shut the book, sighing, looking at his surroundings. He was in some sort of mountain, presumably one that lead to a clearing (or at least he hoped it would). Unsteadily, he resumed his journey, walking along with an ashen-grey satchel bag hanging from one shoulder where he kept his last few books, some water, and tiny bits of food. His supplies would run out in exactly two hours, at which point, he would last a further three days before his body would die due to malnourishment, assuming no beast appeared from the clearing and mauled him, which would kill him instantly, and other gory details he opted to not think about. He trudged out into the forest, taking in the pure, wet air, sighing with a shiver. He took another little sip of water, listening to the last little portion of it dribble to the bottom of the flask.

He then heard some rustling around him. He readied his fragile form for combat. He was not alone. “Whomever you are… Show thyself!” Delmont hissed, readying a weak shadow ball. It was the most he could manage right now.

“Relax, friend.”  Gluttony was ducked down a bit as he appeared from the shadows nearby.  His body heat was high out of nervousness as he knew that shadow ball would still hurt for someone like himself.  “I’m not here to hurt you.”

The demon Anti’s voice had cracked making him clear his throat as he slowly lowered his hands to look more at Delmont.

asklorddarkrai:

the-white-kingdom:

“…” He quietly lowered his arm and hopped off the head of the dragon. “… I apologize for disturbing your rest, sir, and for threatening you. It was a rash action caused by my own paranoia and lack of energy.” He grunted. His voice went near monotone, adjusting his glasses. “I’ll leave you be. Good day.” Fixing his satchel bag, he moved away from the dragon now, sighing. Personally… He felt that there was a ninety-nine-point-nine-nine percent chance that this dragon would lead to bad news.

He wandered north, away from the dragon, hoping he wasn’t going to be followed, finding a stream, which made his eyes light up. He quickly knelt down and took a few handfuls of water. It was fresh mountain water - it had melted from the snow-capped tops and ran across the mountain side, filling it up at a basin. He quickly took his flask, filling it up and drinking to his heart’s content. It would at least clear his mind now.

The dragon snorted, small embers flickering from his nostrils as he watched the other go with slight disdain. He should not let off impudent brats like that so easily but he would consider it a mercy. Is one good deed for the next millennium. With another yawn he curled up, his soft bushy tail curling around his scaly form, his wings tucking in. Flying really took it out of you when you have to cross various seas and cities. 

Alas once again as the lord was about to drift off the glorious darkness of sleep reaching his mind he felt a cool breeze rush through his mane. With a bitter growl he curled himself closer together but the rush of wind blew once more finally causing the dragons head ot snap up. What was it about this day that the gods deemed was fine to torment him with these little annoyances?

He enjoyed the cold truth be told, but the random fits of pulsing, inconstant wind was distracting. Finally he got up and wandered a bit till he could see the bright sky, and see the snow starting to fall from the inky clouds above. With a snarl of disgust he vaguely remembered another time caught in a blizzard on a mountain and he gave a bitter shutter of defiance. So the gods saw fit to keep him within the confines of the mountain eh? Well that was fine. He would made due, perhaps there were a couple of pokemon ripe for roasting roaming aorund.

Delmont felt the cold breeze and shivered. He watched as the small white dots of snow began to fall, quickly darting about and collecting some supplies. Twigs, leaves, small logs, rocks… Anything he could. Frostbite would easily spell the end of him, seeing as he had so little energy. Using his old knowledge, he built a small campfire. It would be hard to get it going in the cold, so he went more into the forest, setting it up on a particularly quiet area, beginning the small fire. “Th-There… That should keep me…”

It didn’t quite occur to him, though, that he was still occupying the same area as some gigantic dragon, hearing the trudging footsteps nearby, hoping his meager fire would last any sudden liftoff or tail swipe. He sat close to it and tried to keep his body warm, yet was still so afraid of that fickle friend of fire. He idly poked at it now and then with a large, thick stick that wouldn’t catch fire easily, just making sure that the fire could keep raging.

darksteel-wisdom:

Delmont quietly shut the book, sighing, looking at his surroundings. He was in some sort of mountain, presumably one that lead to a clearing (or at least he hoped it would). Unsteadily, he resumed his journey, walking along with an ashen-grey satchel bag hanging from one shoulder where he kept his last few books, some water, and tiny bits of food. His supplies would run out in exactly two hours, at which point, he would last a further three days before his body would die due to malnourishment, assuming no beast appeared from the clearing and mauled him, which would kill him instantly, and other gory details he opted to not think about. He trudged out into the forest, taking in the pure, wet air, sighing with a shiver. He took another little sip of water, listening to the last little portion of it dribble to the bottom of the flask.

He then heard some rustling around him. He readied his fragile form for combat. He was not alone. “Whomever you are… Show thyself!” Delmont hissed, readying a weak shadow ball. It was the most he could manage right now.

The Lord’s return could have gone far better. The initial surprise of his arrival wore off quickly, they had their bout of fun with a poor soul and then the Lord immediately ventured off. He may have left on his own prerogative, but to finally meet with him only to avoid her like a walking plague was at the very least antagonizing. 

She’s fought valiantly to gain the Lord’s trust, but now it was all seemingly betrayed. Alze’t could not sit still, laying and waiting in the mess of a throne room - she had spent agonizing hours just wasting away while waiting for him. She could go thrashing about on another dragon fit, but doing so would only rouse that intrepid Driffworr again.

So here she found herself, doing the same as she had done in her first month of service. Aimlessly exploring this unfamiliar earth. Her endeavors would eventually bring her to this foreboding mountainside, something about it’s sheer spectacle rang something in the Dragon’s mind. She found herself naturally gravitated to this stone pillar.

The Dragon would eventually settle in the clearing ahead, the earth rumbled as the hulking body landed just ahead. She stood tall, observing the mountain range from this viewpoint. Perhaps hunting a sorry lout would be enough to occupy her time, she had never pondered upon it until now - but she had become quite famished. The long flight must have worn her down..

the-white-kingdom:

The other Darkrai slowly lowered his arm, looking a touch embarrassed. “O-Oh! Dear me, milady, I did not mean to frighten thee!” He apologized quickly, moving to her side. He at least had the decency to apologize for his sudden lashing. He looked very thin and weak, as if he had been without much sustenance. “Here, let me assist you with those…” He pulled out his flask, the last little splash of water cleaning off any dirt or gunk from the herbs, yet at the price of the last bit of water. Chivalry got him so far. It was a miscalculated move, he thought to himself, saving the last drop for himself. “Th-There… I do apologize again…”

He quietly re-assessed his situation, cursing in his mind for making such an irrational decision. This thing that looked like him… He just wasted his last water on her! He quietly tucked his flask away, sighing. Now I barely have three days… I’m finished… 

Faleen watches in surprise as he cleaned off her herbs. The female felt a slight burning sensation in her cheeks feeling embarrassed that he would make a gesture like that towards her. She quickly dips her head towards him and gathers up her herbs into her basket. “I uh… T-Thank you.” She stammers as she slips her basket over her wrist.  For the first time she realizes exactly how think the poor creature was. She swishes her tail uneasily as she looks him over from head to toe. “I uh… You look like your starving.” She mutters quietly as she tips her head at him. “Are you ill? Not eating well?” She was a herbalist and a healer after all, it was natural for her to ask these kinds of questions. Even if they were total strangers. “I can get you something to eat if you’re hungry and a little bit of medicine if that what you need. You’re quite awfully thin….” 

“Oh... Me?” He chuckled quietly at her concern. “No, no, I mean... You shouldn’t trouble yourself with me.” He was starving, and parched. He had practically less than a day’s worth of food before he’d totally starve out. It mattered not to him. Dignity and decency - and a clear mind. That’s all he needed. Though a nip of food would help... “... Though if you could spare some food or water... I’d love that...”

asklorddarkrai:

darksteel-wisdom:

There came an unsteady gulp from the young Darkrai. “… I… I could kill you. Considering your armour, there’s a twenty percent chance it could work. One in five. I could also go for your mouth, and fire it through your mouth when you go to breathe - a thirty-three percent chance. Or… I could stop my attack, conserve my energy, and use the crown of your head to escape. There’s a gigantic fifty-six percent chance in that working. Or… I could just stop and talk, betting on the chance you aren’t hostile. There’s a one percent chance in that happening.” He gulped. He was thinking over his options more and more. From the feel of his body, he wouldn’t last any direct assault. He was thinking hard about his numbers, yet carrying them out would be the problem. “… I meant not to disturb you. In fact, I was here five point three seconds before you.” Again, his numbers checked out. Everything was to-the-letter. “I mean not to threat, but to defend. I came so far. I’m not going to die here.”

The dragon gave out a bored yawn as the young darkrai was speaking about his statistics and what not. He had really wanted that nap. He did not often get sleep in his true form and in this dragon form he was finally able to attain some semblance of peaceful rest. Besides, this little insignificant pest was behaving rather appallingly. Such disrespect, if he wasn’t set on that nap to rest his wings he would take sometime to teach this runt a few things about manners.

“If you did not wish to disturb, then leave me be.” The lord began, rather irritated that this young man was so dense. “You are the one who formed an attack first, you are the one who sprung with means to harm. As far as I can see from this situation, you are the villain harming a would be innocent victim simply searching for some real estate. An unprovoked murderer who would slay a mighty beast whose kingdom would fall into ruin. That is a lot of guilt to have weigh on your shoulders if you have a conscious.” 

“…” He quietly lowered his arm and hopped off the head of the dragon. “… I apologize for disturbing your rest, sir, and for threatening you. It was a rash action caused by my own paranoia and lack of energy.” He grunted. His voice went near monotone, adjusting his glasses. “I’ll leave you be. Good day.” Fixing his satchel bag, he moved away from the dragon now, sighing. Personally… He felt that there was a ninety-nine-point-nine-nine percent chance that this dragon would lead to bad news.

darksteel-wisdom:

A sharp turn here. He’ll underestimate my youth. 

There was a snap of a twig. He had shifted directions now and was making a beeline for the side of the dragon’s maw, before springing up into the air, and landing on the crown of the dragon’s head, a shadow ball aimed straight for the brain. At a far distance, it would’ve caused barely a scratch. This close? It would result in brain damage at the weakest. Even if he was in a hindered form… This little thing was an excellent planner. He had counted on everything. “Don’t m-move.” He said, his breath steady and his body calm. He had killed before - he’d do it again if necessary. 

The lord raised an eye brow at the young pokemon. He had clearly never faced a dragon before. That little attack was not enough to pierce his thick hide or his skull for certain. The lord merely glanced up at the pokemon before laughing, “You threaten me little one?” 

“As one who stumbled upon me first, disturbing my desired slumber, you are behaving quite rudely. Young men should know how to treat elders better.” The dragon chided. The truth was he hadn’t moved much the whole time, his tail which hadn’t halted its motion had begun to tick like a metronome, an almost hypnotic gesture. He allowed the little darkrai to preform his little maneuver seeing as he so desperately seemed to want to show off. 

“Tell me just what is it you are planning on doing now? You are atop the head of a great beast, a lord even, or did you not have a plan once here?”

The Green One emerged from the foliage, glowing bright green and focusing his attentions on the other’s Shadow Ball

“You have been traveling a long way, haven’t you…? It is plainly obvious, you look like you may collapse at any moment sir. And yet…”

He drifted closer to the traveler, his single exposed eye reading his aura

“You charge what precious little energy you have to attack one who’s intentions are unknown to you. Perhaps you should try asking why I have crossed your path before you get injured”

The lord raised an eye brow as he waited for more to come from the young darkrai but it seemed, that the poorly constructed come back was all the little one was willing to offer. But the dragon waited staring at the young one, his tail starting to lash back and forth as he lounged on the cool stones of the cavern floor. 

When the young one made his move all the lord did was follow the creatures movements, what was it he was thinking? He was not attacking was he? That would be foolish but the kid has said he was blind and weather he was simply agreeing to his own stupidity for the lords sake or was indeed visually hindered so he might not have been able to see the massive hulking form of the great beast in front of him. 

With an annoyed sigh the dragonic lord let out a sigh, “Young people these days…”

A sharp turn here. He’ll underestimate my youth. 

Delmont quietly shut the book, sighing, looking at his surroundings. He was in some sort of mountain, presumably one that lead to a clearing (or at least he hoped it would). Unsteadily, he resumed his journey, walking along with an ashen-grey satchel bag hanging from one shoulder where he kept his last few books, some water, and tiny bits of food. His supplies would run out in exactly two hours, at which point, he would last a further three days before his body would die due to malnourishment, assuming no beast appeared from the clearing and mauled him, which would kill him instantly, and other gory details he opted to not think about. He trudged out into the forest, taking in the pure, wet air, sighing with a shiver. He took another little sip of water, listening to the last little portion of it dribble to the bottom of the flask.

Being drawing closer he had found a way inside, sniffing out the pokemon that currently resided within its caverns, they were strong, full of potential. Excellent specimens for experimentation. The dragon lumbered through the stalactite filled corridors, his fluffy tail gently brushing against the sides of the stone walls.

Soon he had come to a clearing and the lord rumbled in delight, surely it was here that he had found a place to move. It was far from most and yet close enough for everyone to be within reach. A natural fortress of sorts. As if to mark the mountain for his own the lord pawed at the ground, his own energy starting ot infuse within the rocks before he hunkered down to take a well deserved nap in what was soon to be his new domain but just as unconsciousness pricked at his mind he heard a voice call out weakly from the darkness.