Home.. at last

[Deleted]

He would not let go of her hand, his own steps quickening to match her pace, letting her excitement touch him and a smile forms on his face.

He didn't count how long it took before they could see sunlight, but that smile grew across his face as he picked up his pace. He knew he was faster than Reldai, and chuckles as he turns and tosses her over his shoulder, giving her ass a slap as he moves faster towards the sunlight and the sound of the waves. Laughing the whole way.

As they near the edge he is about to jump into the water, but stops, nearly sending Reldai off his shoulder, but his strength holds her down and he pauses.. "Wow" their laughter dying brings the sound of rapids. Not right by them, but nearby. He sets Reldai down and runs along the inside of the cove towards it's entrance. He could still hear the sound, the water was nearer. As they came out of the cove he could see a river an flat land, then looking up along the land he could see huts built up along the wide river, high enough that any resident was kept dry, then farther up the sound of waterfalls touched his ears. He smiles.. They couldn't be.. he looks to her, "Wanna ride to see what's inland?" he knew she could hear the sound as well. As he glances around he could tell they were on the southern side of this.. village.. he thought it was a village anyway.. or rather.. a city.

He suddenly realizes too whatever kept them from communicating with the others was gone.. ::Ash Galventh.. we are safe. We have made it to the city of waterfalls:: ((if you google the city of Jajce you get an idea of what I mean, just not landlocked but on the coast))

---

Galventh and Arlianth knew the village they were going to was just a camp. She had seen through his eyes the structure of the village. Galventh also knew that farther south was another village, well it was more a small city with it's size. It had been one of the coastal cities that the others had built when they invaded this land. it had been beautiful and at his last visit there, it still was. It was big enough to hold 3 or 4 villages the size of Reldai's with room left over and it had been built around a waterfall. It was truly beautiful. Did Reldai know of this?

Then he felt Je'raith's presence on the link again, a smile forms as he gives Arlianth's hand a squeeze. He hears his message through the link and says softly, "They are safe.. and near by. On the south end of the city"

He thought on that a moment, they must have moved almost parallel with each other for most of the journey. He would ask Je'raith when he saw him next.

[Reldai]

She'd kept up the laughter until they left the caverns. Her mirth and joy at being with J'raith stilled as she felt the air, the fresh water and the sea so near by.

It was all she could do to say, "Yes, I know you want to stretch your wings" Even as she spoke tears began to stream down her cheeks. The emotion so deeply felt it nearly overwhelmed her, but she held steady, looking...searching, beyond the water and into the sounds.

"Ash.." she clasped her hand to her chest. He was resting, this was good." It was only when she saw the size of the village did she stop. "How did they?" she began to question. This size, was it filled with people? Was it waiting? Blindly, she reached out to take his hand.

"I want to see Ash and you can take some time that you need?" She looked at him before burying her face against his shoulder, trembling.

[Deleted]

He smiles as the emotion rises within her. his hand holds hers tightly and he nods, he did want to stretch his wings and fly, he wanted to find a nice lava field to sit in for a few days too. He takes a breath and he could feel Ash resting also, nodding to her and wrapping his around her as she buries her face into his shoulder.

He would tell the story of this village later, but for now. He nods to her words of wanting to see Ash, drawing back slightly to lift her chin and press a soft long kiss to them. "I will tell you the tales I know of about this village later. you go to Ash. The others will arrive shortly. They are not far from the village to the north. I will see you soon my Love" he kisses her again, smiling and hugging her tightly before releasing her to let her run to the village.

As he watches her go he shifts to his dragon form, a big ole smile spreads wide on his maw, then as she disappears into the village he turns and rises into the air, flying a distance out into the great sea. He knew exactly where he was going. He wouldn't be long though. It would give her time to rest, to see that everything functioned fine without her, though he knew her leadership was missed greatly.

---

Galventh watched a red dragon leave the nearby village and smiled. They had indeed made it out. He chuckles as he realizes where the young dragon was headed. Arlianth grinning as well. "We are almost there" He calls ahead and picks up the pace a little. That news alone gave the tired and sick a little extra energy. The others villagers had indeed already made it there. They would be established, even if they were only there a few days.

He and Arlianth went along side a few of the sick and elderly and helped them along, Galventh carrying one woman while her son launched himself to his back. He chuckles as the woman is about to protest and he waves her off, "I can carry him for the short distance" Arlianth taking the woman's daughter into her arms.

She remembered this village, she has not been here in years. It is a beautiful place and the waterfall would benefit these greatly.

As they reached the village they began to help Nycia and Tavaen get everyone settled into their own homes .

[Reldai]

She watched as he flew away. Though he had not complained, she knew he needed to fly and tend to himself as much as he knew she needed for herself.

She felt every stroke of his wings as he few, feeling as if the strength of his wings gave strength to her legs and propelled her along as she ran. The small huts were some distance away, yet she felt re-energized as she came upon them. As she saw the oceans waves rolling to the shore.

Hahna exited one of the huts, peering out to Reldai. She waved, crossing her arms above her head excitedly. Reldai smiled and waved back as she ran to the other woman.

"Hahna, how is Ash?"

"Come" Hahna grabbed Reldais hand and led her into the hut. "He's resting now, but he's much better. He's eaten and bathed in the ocean. Airard said he has been deprived of the water for too long."

"Airard?"

"Yes?" came a voice from behind them. The tall man entered, ducking under the doorway.

"I am Reldai." she offered a thanking smile, glancing to Ash. "You have helped with Ash,"

"Yes, are there many as bad?" He moved to Ash, gently stroking his hand against the boys forehead. "It has been a long time since i have seen any as bad. Why was he being starved?"

"Starved?' Reldai asked, glancing from Airard to Ash and back again. "We didn't....."

[Deleted]

He flew at a steady pace and didn't go too high but enjoyed the ocean breeze on his face as he flew towards The Fire Mountains. He thought of Reldai and smiled. His thoughts turned to these last few weeks and suddenly he thought of Aer'alyn. He wondered how she was, what had happened to her. He tries to reach out through the link, but she is unreachable and that causes him to pause. He needed to recharge so to speak. As Reldai needed water, he needed fire. That paradox made him chuckle.

He reaches the Islands and moves in search of the fields of fire. When he finds them he notices they have changed. They were hotter and they had spread. This was strange indeed.

He rose up then dove into them with a splash of molten fire he buried himself in them, closing his eyes he rests. He could feel his scales strengthening and growing harder in the heat and there was a shiver that went through him, the same feeling he felt from Reldai when she swam. He chuckles inwardly.

---

Galventh and Arlianth move about the village making sure everyone is ok and those that need rest are resting. Others they notice were moving to the pools at the top of the water falls, some of the younger men were diving over the falls into the deep pools below. They grin as they watch. it was like watching a weyrling fly for the third time. About the time when they got their wings under them and had control and were now able to enjoy it. They could taste the joy.

They sought out Reldai, moving along until he found the hut that Ash was in. He heard some of the conversation.. starving? an interesting choice of words used by the other. He steps in, speaking, "you make it sound like the water was intentionally withheld from him. Which was not the case and there is more than you might know. The bond he shares with his sister has done alot of damage. He has felt the brunt of her temper tantrums, usually without a word. We have muted the bond but it cannot hold for too long of a time. There has to be another way."

In a way he wished one of the true elders where here. More knowledgeable than he in matters like these.

[The Storyteller]

"No...no, we need to make sure they stay there.." she said firmly as she motioned to the smaller set of houses. She smiled slightly as she gently rested her hand upon his shoulder.

At his look of consternation, she gently touched his shoulder in a 'never mind' manner. "I will tend to it..."

She'd heard of the arrivals, having sent Airard when the boy had arrived. His report had troubled her and she decided until more was known about these newcomers, they would stay at the campsite.

She hummed softly as she meandered up the path and towards the shoreline row of huts. The best way to observe was to listen. This she did as she neared the hut, hearing as she stepped closer....

...."withheld from him. Which was not the case and there is more than you might know. The bond he shares with his sister has done alot of damage. He has felt the brunt of her temper tantrums, usually without a word. We have muted the bond but it cannot hold for too long of a time. There has to be another way"....

"I am sure there is..." she said as she entered. Her gaze took in the group gathered around the boy. "I will take care of it Airard, thank you." She smiled at him as he bowed to her before leaving the hut. Waiting until he left, she gently touched Ash's forehead, letting her fingers trail down his neck to touch at the pulse of blood within his veins.

"I am Fairuza" She cast a glance at Reldai, waiting.

"I'm Reldai...this is.."

"yes.....hmmm.. you may stay' she said briefly interrupting. "You may go." She looked at Galventh and at Arlianth by the door. "You as well," she looked at Hahna before turning her attention to Ash as she waited for them to leave.

[Deleted]

Fire and water - mates. It made him wonder. Such opposites, yet.. it was meant to be. He had felt that even before they had gotten lost in the caverns, before they found the drawings. Such strange drawings they were. He still wondered how they got there.

Oh the heat was wonderful. More than wonderful. He knew he could not wait to so long to return to them again. He would be stronger when he returned to her.

Yet.. They had spread. In 4 hundred years they remain one size, then in 8 moons they double. It was strange. Things were changing, but he did not understand them. Something was going to happen. The way the earth was changing it was like.. It was angry. But to what end.

For now he rests in the molten fires. He needed it as much as she needed the water.

---

Arlianth wanted to object, but Galventh touches her arm and draws her out, nodding to the woman who spoke with obvious authority. He wondered what was going on, what had happened. He had grown to care for the young boy and thought of him as a his child. His eyes would convey it to the woman as he turns away, taking his mate outside, "Come my One, let us leave to their ways. If they need us they will call for us" He wraps his arms around her waist and takes her along the village path towards the falls. There they would wait, watching the other children as they played in the water.

~Do you feel it?~ she looks to him, and he nods but does not reply. Many were the prophecies of old, many were lost in the war or just forgotten. He remembered a few and some of the things he'd seen made him remember, but he chose for now to not speak of them.

[Reldai]

Fairuza gently tended to Ash, relieving Reldai's anxiety in the matter. She could see the woman was highly skilled, even as she held economy of movement and voice. Reldai watched silently, wanting to ask many questions, but not wishing to disturb Fairuza's examination. In those few minutes, it was clear Fairuza did not speak unless she had something to say. ~Not one for idle chatter,~ she thought to herself.

Fairuza, with Ash's hand in her own, turned a querying glance to Reldai. "No, I am not." she said in clipped but not unkind tones.

Reldai blushed he rosy hue of a young girl as Fairuza stepped to the door. "Airard, I need these," she handed him a quickly written note. Airard, taking it, bowed to Fairuza as he spoke, "At once Fairuza."

Fairuza closed the door, glanced again at Reldai, then gestured to the small table. "Please, sit and tell me of the boy...." and you... came the unspoken command.

Reldai, discomfitted with the obviously demand in tone....this was new to her... sat, and looked at Fairuza eye to eye.

"Ash, came into my care several weeks ago. His sister, Rikki, have been fending for themselves because of....difficulties in their home village. I know only a little of what happened to them, but it was enough to send them running away."

Fairuza cast a contemplative look at Reldai as she listened. A shake of her head. "no, There is more. It is one thing to be starved, it is another to be.....disabled by another's ire...."

"We did not starve him," Reldai began, her temper...mild as it was...beginning to rise. "I, myself, have fed him my own portion."

"You really do not know." Fairuza said with quiet astonishment. The astonishment faded as quickly as it arrived. It was clear, much had been lost to Reldai and her group. A sadness hit her eyes and her tone moderated gently. "He is one of the old souls. ...have you never heard of this?"

Reldai shook her head, feeling a chill across her skin. Why did the words seem to strike a stab of fear in her. Was it the unknowing again?

"You know....yes, we are not of this world?" Fairuza asked, sitting back relieved as Reldai nodded. ~good...this is one less explanation I need make....~ she thought to herself.

"I agree," Reldai answered as if hearing the woman's voice as her own.

"Ash...and possibly,...Rikki....herself, is an old soul. He holds the memories of what was our home. Our ancestors. Where they lived, how they came....and how they developed to survive." A soft tap at the door interrupted Fairuza and she moved to the door, taking a small package and steaming bowl from Airard. "Thank you Airard."

She handed the package to Reldai, "take this, crumble it into small bits and add it to this broth. I will tell you more as you feed Ash."

Reldai took the package, automatically looking at Ash as he still slept. "Well, I think I'll wait for him to awaken."

"But he is, do you not see." As Fairuza spoke, Reldai glanced from her and back to Ash, her own eyes widening in astonishment as Ash awoke as if gently shaken to awareness.

"You only need listen, Reldai, and you can hear many things." Fairuza said softly, an involuntary smile as she saw the stir in the other woman. She knew, no matter how it played out now.... time had shifted and the world would crumble around them.