Kingdom of fire and ruin

D’Radoon circled up into the clouds where he waited for Mar, powerful wings beating.  I know not the way, admitted the Drake. He and Zea had traveled from a different direction.,  Lead the way to this Dwarven city, Mar.  It was good to be in the sky again, after so long waiting on a peak for Zea, even if the terms of being in the sky were a wee bit less enjoyable than the Drake would have preferred. When they sighted the white dragon, the girl notced that Leo seemed out of sorts. "Leo?" asked Zea, her first words since they had taken off. "Are you alright there?" concern coloured her words.

Adjusting his flight, the amethyst dragon, angled his wings, feeling the wind caress the flight membrane. The world stretching away from hem under their smoke haze, no sound than the swish of wings and occasional thudder as they crossed pockets of turbulence. It was peaceful and the Drake would have been able to forget about all else if it were not for the smell of dried blood on Zea’s hands. Zea acknowledged Mar’s answer, wondering about the fragility of Leo’s mind and whether she had done something wrong. She fell to brooding silence.

bastardkingofthewall started following you

She noticed the subtle change in Jon’s body language, he felt uneasy about her ability. It was fair enough, she was used to negative reactions, it didn’t help the hope that one day people wouldn’t, “Not at all” she chuckled, drawing her hand close, “A long time ago I freed a caged dragon…in our escape I took a spear to the chest. In thanks he gave me his heart..to replace my damaged one. Ever since flames have born me no harm” she knew it wasn’t the easiest tale to believe, “Magic still flows through my home land and it’s people…not me though. I just remain unburnt” she looked up at Jon, “I assume the magic of this world has dried up?”

He snorted loud. ‘Nah,’ he said, ‘Problem is that it is magic that makes the things like the White Walkers possible,’ he locked eyes with her. Staring at the woman for a while before glancing over her shoulder. ‘Seems like we are in luck,’ he pointed, ‘the storm is slowly quitening down.’ He glanced at her again. ‘If I may say, with your gift, I don’t think it’s a good idea to be here in these lands. Death by cold is Always close by.’

Leo nodded in understanding, “So it is dark magic then….shame” she looked out. and the snow was indeed thinning out. Soon they’d be able to travel without danger of getting loss. She snorted, “It’s not a good idea for me to be in any land….and I don’t have much choice. I have to wait until I hear word from my…travelling compainion, before I can do anything”

As much as she didn't want to be in the man's debt, there was no other option. She nodded anyway, "I don't like accepting free food...there's always a catch" she stood, drawing her cloak close before standing in the fire for a few moments, absorbing the heat, "Pretty good at smithing" she offered, and then she grinned, "I may be small but trust me when I say I can hold my own in a fight. Plus I'm armed to the teeth" she trailed off, "And if worse comes to worst I can just bite them"

D’Radoon circled up into the clouds where he waited for Mar, powerful wings beating.  I know not the way, admitted the Drake. He and Zea had traveled from a different direction.,  Lead the way to this Dwarven city, Mar.  It was good to be in the sky again, after so long waiting on a peak for Zea, even if the terms of being in the sky were a wee bit less enjoyable than the Drake would have preferred. When they sighted the white dragon, the girl notced that Leo seemed out of sorts. "Leo?" asked Zea, her first words since they had taken off. "Are you alright there?" concern coloured her words.

bastardkingofthewall started following you

She frowned in confusion, things that were dead…and yet they moved? “You mean like zombies? Dead that walk again? I thought those were just fairy stories” She grinned at him, sticking her hands straight into the heart of the fire, before pulling them back to show her unburnt hands, “Fire is unable to touch me” she explained, “Unfortunately my…gift…leaves me vulnerable to the cold…more so than most”

Jon sat up straight again when the woman told him that, making him touch his sword again. ‘You mean like magic?’ He asked, his eyes flickering from her to his wolf and back again. Ghost didn’t react on her in a bad way. But when she showed him her unburnt hand, he didn’t trust it. ‘You can’t get burned? At all?’ He scanned her face for her reaction. Reaching with his other hand to the wood next to him, throwing one more on the fire. He didn’t believe she meant harm. He just felt safer to have his sword close by.

She noticed the subtle change in Jon’s body language, he felt uneasy about her ability. It was fair enough, she was used to negative reactions, it didn’t help the hope that one day people wouldn’t, “Not at all” she chuckled, drawing her hand close, “A long time ago I freed a caged dragon…in our escape I took a spear to the chest. In thanks he gave me his heart..to replace my damaged one. Ever since flames have born me no harm” she knew it wasn’t the easiest tale to believe, “Magic still flows through my home land and it’s people…not me though. I just remain unburnt” she looked up at Jon, “I assume the magic of this world has dried up?”

He snorted loud. ‘Nah,’ he said, ‘Problem is that it is magic that makes the things like the White Walkers possible,’ he locked eyes with her. Staring at the woman for a while before glancing over her shoulder. ‘Seems like we are in luck,’ he pointed, ‘the storm is slowly quitening down.’ He glanced at her again. ‘If I may say, with your gift, I don’t think it’s a good idea to be here in these lands. Death by cold is Always close by.’

Leo nodded in understanding, "So it is dark magic then....shame" she looked out. and the snow was indeed thinning out. Soon they'd be able to travel without danger of getting loss. She snorted, "It's not a good idea for me to be in any land....and I don't have much choice. I have to wait until I hear word from my...travelling compainion, before I can do anything"

The girl sheathed her knife and sprinted after Leo. The blood on her hands was drying, becoming sticky and cracking in places. Leo was already with the dragons when she reached the clearing. D’Radoon lying on his belly, crushing the last of the embers and starving the flames. Zea. What did you do? asked the Drake from the far side of the clearing. He lifted himself and shook ash and coal from his underbelly. There was rage and I thought I felt blood. "Not now ‘Doon, we need to go," snapped the girl as she ran to him, but there was an air of success about her. The Drake harrumphed and turned to Mar as she climbed his foreleg.  You were alarmed about Leo? You said she was hurt? He lowered his wide snout to her. Are you hurt? Leo?

No he doesn’t breathe, Zea saw to that, rumbled D’Radoon, when she shared her memories with him. Opened his throat for him I believe. The girl had been silent since telling the dragon they needed to go. Now seated at  the base of his neck, she stared at the shiny scales coldly, not hearing or seeing the others. I suggest we leave now, while the smoke is still thick, growled the Drake. Raising his wings either side of his bulk, D’Radoon rocked back onto his haunches before kicking off of the ashy ground. A twister of grey, white and black dust swirl about his wings, as he pushed himself into the sky.

bastardkingofthewall started following you

She shook her head, “I’m really not” she chuckled, she leaned against her knees, listening to the man finding him very interesting. “So you’re like a guard?!” she concluded happily, “What are you guarding against?” she asked, her child like curiosity coming through

Jon snorted, rubbing his chin and thought about it for a few seconds. ‘I’m patrolling the lands nearest the Wall,’ he started, ‘to see if no White Walkers come through it.” Seeing she didn’t know what he was talking about, ‘White Walkers are dead,’ he just threw it out there, ‘they’re not easily killed. Although Fire helps.’ He grinned when his wolf made a snoring sound. Glancing at her hands close to the flames, he wondered. ‘You’re not getting burned?’

She frowned in confusion, things that were dead…and yet they moved? “You mean like zombies? Dead that walk again? I thought those were just fairy stories” She grinned at him, sticking her hands straight into the heart of the fire, before pulling them back to show her unburnt hands, “Fire is unable to touch me” she explained, “Unfortunately my…gift…leaves me vulnerable to the cold…more so than most”

Jon sat up straight again when the woman told him that, making him touch his sword again. ‘You mean like magic?’ He asked, his eyes flickering from her to his wolf and back again. Ghost didn’t react on her in a bad way. But when she showed him her unburnt hand, he didn’t trust it. ‘You can’t get burned? At all?’ He scanned her face for her reaction. Reaching with his other hand to the wood next to him, throwing one more on the fire. He didn’t believe she meant harm. He just felt safer to have his sword close by.

She noticed the subtle change in Jon's body language, he felt uneasy about her ability. It was fair enough, she was used to negative reactions, it didn't help the hope that one day people wouldn't, "Not at all" she chuckled, drawing her hand close, "A long time ago I freed a caged dragon...in our escape I took a spear to the chest. In thanks he gave me his heart..to replace my damaged one. Ever since flames have born me no harm" she knew it wasn't the easiest tale to believe, "Magic still flows through my home land and it's people...not me though. I just remain unburnt" she looked up at Jon, "I assume the magic of this world has dried up?"

bastardkingofthewall started following you

Leo shuffled closer to the fire, so close the flames were almost licking her skin, it was better than nothing, she smiled softly, “Trust me when I saw burning is not an issue for for” Pulling off her thick gloves she stuck her hands closer to the flame, “That is if we don’t get snowed in…which I’m guessing is completely possible” After a few minutes she felt warmth begin to flood through her veins, “So what were you doing before you stumbled upon my lovely self…if I may ask?”

'Watch duty,' he answered shortly, seeing the frown on her face, he sighed, 'you're really not from around her huh?' He sat up straight, poking the fire again. 'I'm one from the Night's Watch. You're close by the Wall,' he said. Seeing the thick snow flakes around them. 'We guard and patrol the Northern Borders to make sure nothing passes over it.' He grinned, showing her he was dressed in all black. 'I took the black 2 years ago.'

She shook her head, “I’m really not” she chuckled, she leaned against her knees, listening to the man finding him very interesting. “So you’re like a guard?!” she concluded happily, “What are you guarding against?” she asked, her child like curiosity coming through

Jon snorted, rubbing his chin and thought about it for a few seconds. ‘I’m patrolling the lands nearest the Wall,’ he started, ‘to see if no White Walkers come through it.” Seeing she didn’t know what he was talking about, ‘White Walkers are dead,’ he just threw it out there, ‘they’re not easily killed. Although Fire helps.’ He grinned when his wolf made a snoring sound. Glancing at her hands close to the flames, he wondered. ‘You’re not getting burned?’

She frowned in confusion, things that were dead...and yet they moved? "You mean like zombies? Dead that walk again? I thought those were just fairy stories" She grinned at him, sticking her hands straight into the heart of the fire, before pulling them back to show her unburnt hands, "Fire is unable to touch me" she explained, "Unfortunately my...gift...leaves me vulnerable to the cold...more so than most"

bastardkingofthewall started following you

Ghost made a small growling sound but left her alone. Sitting down before her, the wolf wiggled his tail and Jon grinned. ‘Ah, he likes you,’ and that made Jon trust her in that same moment. Getting the fire going after a few minutes, he sat back. Casting his eyes on her, he moved her to get closer to the flames. ‘Not too close, don’t wanna get burned,’ he said. Casting his eyes on Ghost, his wolf went to lie down before the fire too. Closing his red eyes. ‘Bloody storm,’ he murmered, ‘I think we can travel in a few hours again.’

Leo shuffled closer to the fire, so close the flames were almost licking her skin, it was better than nothing, she smiled softly, “Trust me when I saw burning is not an issue for for” Pulling off her thick gloves she stuck her hands closer to the flame, “That is if we don’t get snowed in…which I’m guessing is completely possible” After a few minutes she felt warmth begin to flood through her veins, “So what were you doing before you stumbled upon my lovely self…if I may ask?”

'Watch duty,' he answered shortly, seeing the frown on her face, he sighed, 'you're really not from around her huh?' He sat up straight, poking the fire again. 'I'm one from the Night's Watch. You're close by the Wall,' he said. Seeing the thick snow flakes around them. 'We guard and patrol the Northern Borders to make sure nothing passes over it.' He grinned, showing her he was dressed in all black. 'I took the black 2 years ago.'

She shook her head, "I'm really not" she chuckled, she leaned against her knees, listening to the man finding him very interesting. "So you're like a guard?!" she concluded happily, "What are you guarding against?" she asked, her child like curiosity coming through

bastardkingofthewall started following you

Jon clicked his tongue, rubbing the snow out of his stuble and from the rest from his face. ‘He is my wolf. And he’s loyal to me as I am to him,’ was all he said. ‘His name is Ghost and if he does not trust you, you’ll know.’ He turned away from her. ‘What creatures are you talking about?’ He had seen his fair of strange things, from giants beyond the wall to the white walkers who weren’t easy to kill. The wind started howling harder, bringing even more cold to them. ‘We need to find shelter soon,’ he murmered, ‘the storm is getting heavier.’

Leo shivered more violently, unable to keep the cold out and the warmth in, “Oh all sorts. I’ve had fay, lake dwellers and beasts of all sizes try and take chunks out of me” she said through chattering teeth, “Wolves as big as bears, cats as big as wolves…though to this day the worst creature I’ve even encountered is slavers” She pulled her hood down in an attempt to keep the cold out, “If we don’t find a fire soon then I’m afraid you’ll be stuck on your own” Of all the times she was without Mar, it had to be when she was caught in the middle of a storm,  “I think I see a rock outcrop just ahead!”

Scanning her face with his dark eyes, he noticed the blue around her lips. ‘We need to build a fire.’ He follewed her stare and saw what she meant. ‘You go there,’ he commanded, walking passed her, ‘I’m going to look for some firewood.’ Glancing over his shoulder. ‘Try to keep warm, i’ll be back as soon as I can,’ he added, a bit of worry crossed his face. ‘You’re gonna be alright?’

She nodded shakily, “If we can get a fire going I’ll be fine” she smiled through her hood, “I’m not a creature of the cold” her teeth chattered, “I was built for hot weather, deserts and forest fires. Not snow” She started towards the rocky outcrop jogging a bit to try and raise her body temperature. When she got to the outcrop, she searched for a bit before finding a shallow pit, Moving rocks aside to make it more comfortable, she found herself a soft corner and pressed herself into it

He watched her run and kept watching to make sure she was safe. ‘Ghost,’ he called and the wolf emerged from the snow. Never leaving his side while Jon found some wood nearby. ‘Seven hells,’ he cursed. ‘It’s all wet.’ But it would have to do. Finding his way back to Leo, he settled himself down. Ghost next to him. His white wolf carefully strut towards the woman. He was as large as she was sitting down and he stared at her with his red eyes. ‘He won’t do anything,’ Jon stated, dropping the wood. ‘He’s just trying to read you.”

She stared wide eyed at the wolf, she was used to large creatures and being dwarfed. But the white wolf’s red eyes unnerved her, wolves were not meant to look so intelligent. Other creatures sure, but not wolves. She rose an eyebrow at the white wolf, “That’s good to know. I wouldn’t taste too good anyway, I’m half frozen as it is” she turned her attention back to the wolf, “You don’t try and eat me and I won’t try and eat you…deal?”

Ghost made a small growling sound but left her alone. Sitting down before her, the wolf wiggled his tail and Jon grinned. ‘Ah, he likes you,’ and that made Jon trust her in that same moment. Getting the fire going after a few minutes, he sat back. Casting his eyes on her, he moved her to get closer to the flames. ‘Not too close, don’t wanna get burned,’ he said. Casting his eyes on Ghost, his wolf went to lie down before the fire too. Closing his red eyes. ‘Bloody storm,’ he murmered, ‘I think we can travel in a few hours again.’

Leo shuffled closer to the fire, so close the flames were almost licking her skin, it was better than nothing, she smiled softly, "Trust me when I saw burning is not an issue for for" Pulling off her thick gloves she stuck her hands closer to the flame, "That is if we don't get snowed in...which I'm guessing is completely possible" After a few minutes she felt warmth begin to flood through her veins, "So what were you doing before you stumbled upon my lovely self...if I may ask?"

The girl sheathed her knife and sprinted after Leo. The blood on her hands was drying, becoming sticky and cracking in places. Leo was already with the dragons when she reached the clearing. D’Radoon lying on his belly, crushing the last of the embers and starving the flames. Zea. What did you do? asked the Drake from the far side of the clearing. He lifted himself and shook ash and coal from his underbelly. There was rage and I thought I felt blood. "Not now ‘Doon, we need to go," snapped the girl as she ran to him, but there was an air of success about her. The Drake harrumphed and turned to Mar as she climbed his foreleg.  You were alarmed about Leo? You said she was hurt? He lowered his wide snout to her. Are you hurt? Leo?

bastardkingofthewall started following you

Jon clicked his tongue, rubbing the snow out of his stuble and from the rest from his face. ‘He is my wolf. And he’s loyal to me as I am to him,’ was all he said. ‘His name is Ghost and if he does not trust you, you’ll know.’ He turned away from her. ‘What creatures are you talking about?’ He had seen his fair of strange things, from giants beyond the wall to the white walkers who weren’t easy to kill. The wind started howling harder, bringing even more cold to them. ‘We need to find shelter soon,’ he murmered, ‘the storm is getting heavier.’

Leo shivered more violently, unable to keep the cold out and the warmth in, “Oh all sorts. I’ve had fay, lake dwellers and beasts of all sizes try and take chunks out of me” she said through chattering teeth, “Wolves as big as bears, cats as big as wolves…though to this day the worst creature I’ve even encountered is slavers” She pulled her hood down in an attempt to keep the cold out, “If we don’t find a fire soon then I’m afraid you’ll be stuck on your own” Of all the times she was without Mar, it had to be when she was caught in the middle of a storm,  “I think I see a rock outcrop just ahead!”

Scanning her face with his dark eyes, he noticed the blue around her lips. ‘We need to build a fire.’ He follewed her stare and saw what she meant. ‘You go there,’ he commanded, walking passed her, ‘I’m going to look for some firewood.’ Glancing over his shoulder. ‘Try to keep warm, i’ll be back as soon as I can,’ he added, a bit of worry crossed his face. ‘You’re gonna be alright?’

She nodded shakily, “If we can get a fire going I’ll be fine” she smiled through her hood, “I’m not a creature of the cold” her teeth chattered, “I was built for hot weather, deserts and forest fires. Not snow” She started towards the rocky outcrop jogging a bit to try and raise her body temperature. When she got to the outcrop, she searched for a bit before finding a shallow pit, Moving rocks aside to make it more comfortable, she found herself a soft corner and pressed herself into it

He watched her run and kept watching to make sure she was safe. ‘Ghost,’ he called and the wolf emerged from the snow. Never leaving his side while Jon found some wood nearby. ‘Seven hells,’ he cursed. ‘It’s all wet.’ But it would have to do. Finding his way back to Leo, he settled himself down. Ghost next to him. His white wolf carefully strut towards the woman. He was as large as she was sitting down and he stared at her with his red eyes. ‘He won’t do anything,’ Jon stated, dropping the wood. ‘He’s just trying to read you.”

She stared wide eyed at the wolf, she was used to large creatures and being dwarfed. But the white wolf's red eyes unnerved her, wolves were not meant to look so intelligent. Other creatures sure, but not wolves. She rose an eyebrow at the white wolf, "That's good to know. I wouldn't taste too good anyway, I'm half frozen as it is" she turned her attention back to the wolf, "You don't try and eat me and I won't try and eat you...deal?"

Zea followed suit, smearing herself with ash.  "Go," she whispered to ‘Doon. The Drake obliged her with a vast torrent of white-violet fire, echoing Mar’s blast. Their flames devoured the green trees, sending volumes of smoke rolling up in thick clouds. Zea followed Leo into the torched trees, till they reached the travelling company.  "Run!!" she screeched, eyes mad.  The soldiers balked at the two women howling like banshee’s, eyes wild, clothes ripped. Seeing the smoke, they halted in their march. "How did it start?" Asked a bearded mercenary, sweating in the heat of dragonfire.

The soldiers turned as one and marched in unison to the forest edge, soon lost from sight. The hefty leader closed one hand around Leo’s upper arm, intending to sheppard them away. He already smelt of smoke and sweat. The second his meaty hand touched Leo’s skin. Zea launched her self at him, grappling him to the ground, and straddling his chest. Whipping out a dagger, she leaned forward and pressed it against his flabby throat. "You battalion! What ‘s the name of your company?!" she screamed into his face, red hair spilling into the man’s flushed face. What’s going on over there? asked D’Radoon, feeling her sudden rage.

Zea followed suit, smearing herself with ash.  "Go," she whispered to ‘Doon. The Drake obliged her with a vast torrent of white-violet fire, echoing Mar’s blast. Their flames devoured the green trees, sending volumes of smoke rolling up in thick clouds. Zea followed Leo into the torched trees, till they reached the travelling company.  "Run!!" she screeched, eyes mad.  The soldiers balked at the two women howling like banshee’s, eyes wild, clothes ripped. Seeing the smoke, they halted in their march. "How did it start?" Asked a bearded mercenary, sweating in the heat of dragonfire.