Utopia

[Rikugurl]

It was early in the evening when Ventus came into his brother's room, having to fetch him the water since Roxas was so busy with Axel now. When he stepped in, he was shocked to see his brother up and out of bed. "Sora!?" He cried, making the brunette turn back and he quickly fell onto his bed. Blue eyes blinked when he heard his brother explain that he was concentrating on standing, still feeling so weak and that Ven had disrupted him (which was alright). "Sora, you shouldn't be doing any of that stuff when you're still so weak. You might hurt yourself even more." Ventus glanced at the mood dragon and frowned. "You make sure he stays off his feet." He chastised her too before placing the bucket down at the edge of the bed. When he dipped a metal cup in, which he had made himself, he paused, seeing Sora's feet dangling from his rags.

Slowly, he looked up, silent for a moment before he said "There is something different about you..."
'What do you mean?'
"W-well.... I mean.... you look.... lighter?" He blinked, finding his words silly. "Hehe, maybe it's just me.... could be the lighting or maybe bad dragon mea---" He paused, coughing some to hide his words from Iris. "Either way, if you're feeling better, perhaps you can serve yourself? I need to get out to the dunes. I'm trying to come up with new armor for us to wear against that Steamer." The younger walked to the window, pulling the rags away to see Verrill outside, the Fury growling his hello to Sora, his ears perked and his eyes wide. It seemed like he was happy to see the brunette looking better too.

"See ya!" He said, hopping down onto his dragon before they flew off.


"W-why aren't you.... out there h-hunting?" The redhead asked, his voice horse and drained. He was still on his back and his skin still looked irritated, blood still staining the rags. "Li----lo can do this.... everyone needs....f-f---" He was paused, feeling fingers on his lips to quiet him. He needed to save his energy and he knew that was much as the blonde. Still, all the energy he was saving wasn't amounting to much and he knew that the scraps from the raid wouldn't last forever. By now, everything they didn't take was spoiled and only the dragons could eat what meat had festered in the sun all day. Xiu had unwillingly gotten use to the blonde being in the room now, though he never welcomed the man with open arms.

As Axel hissed and gripped at the rags when skin was pulled from his back, the cold water washing over the wound so it wouldn't become infected, his eyes closed and he murmured. "Thank you.... Rox...."

[Reno]

Sora watched his brother leave then sighed in relief. "Phew that was a close one." He glanced down at the water, knowing it would be a waste to let it set and get dirty or evaporate. He scuttled over to his window, pushing his rags aside to look out at the dead world, spotting the black form getting further and further and further...

He had to wonder at it, but Ven had been very happy lately and he wasn't quite sure why, but it made his heart warm to see a bit of that old smile back. He wondered if perhaps he wanted to be a metal gatherer. Perhaps... maybe just perhaps, he could tell Ven what he was up to when he was 'better' and then ask for his assistance. Sicne he liked gathering metal so much, he could maybe take over his job, leaving Sora more time with Riku so that maybe he could figure out the secret to getting into the Promised Land.

"That makes me sound like I'm using him." Sora mumbled then shook his head and stood. Later, he would tell him later. "Come on I'!" He grabbed the bucket and straddled her back and off they flew. First down to the well to dump the water back down the hole and back to his room to leave the empty thing by his bedside, and then he lowered himself against her body as they flew out and, sure enough, Riku was waiting by the edge of the crater. When he saw the mood dragon hover in circles he left as well and they flew together back to their well room.

"You know," Sora said after he finished off the last bite of the newest tangy-sweet fruit Riku had found for him to try - a mango, he called it - He pushed up off the cavern wall and looked around. "This is sort of like our place." He smiled. "Yeah, our Secret Place." The silverette watched him curiously as he went looking around by the hole in the ground.
'What are you looking for?'
"A drawing rock." Sora responded with a smiled. "When I was kid and my family used to drill the wells, some of the rocks that came up had this special property to them which allows us to write on the surfaces of other rocks. Dad would bring me and my brothers handfuls of them to play with. I thought they were magic." He admitted with a blush. "Anyways - ah!"

He reached down, picking up a a small sized white rock then he walked over, kneeling down by Riku to show it to him. "See?" He grinned then held the rock out to the wall and started scraping it and before Riku's very eyes it left a white trial behind.

He grinned then continued to draw with it, sticking his tongue out cutely as he worked, Riku watching him. "There we go!" He said as he pulled away, revealing the half-oval shape.
"What is it?"
"A door!" Sora announced. "Our door to our place." He held out the rock, "Wanna try?"



"You're welcome," Roxas said softly back, smiling some as he brushed back the other's stubborn hair that, even if Axel didn't move, always ended up in his face somehow. He knew he really should be doing his duty to his people, but somehow, he felt his one to Axel was... more important. Never mind that when Axel was completely better he'd probably spit fire himself and burn him to a crisp for being 'an immature child' or something of the sort. At least he had the excuse that he technically wasn't a man yet. "You should get some more rest, Axel."

The other mumbled something, something that took Roxas a few moments to decipher but then he sighed softly. Of course Axel was in too much pain to sleep. He wasn't exactly helping matter either. As he finished his work, he lent back on his knees. "Alright... let me try something. Shut your eyes and focus on my voice and only my voice. Try to block out everything else."

He shut his own eyes as well, feeling a tremble of fear work it's way up his throat. Come on it's for Axel. He took a deep breath then blew it out slowly, and started to say - no sing softly.
"♪They said you wouldn't make it so far uh-uh
And ever since they saaaaid it, it's been hard
But nevermind the nights you had to cry
Cause you have never let it go insiiiide
You worked real haaard
And you know ex-actly what you want and need
So belieeeve and you can neveeeer give up
You can reach your goals
Just talk to your soul and saaaay…
I believe I can
I believe I will
I believe I know my dreams are real
I believe I'll stand
I believe I'll dance
I believe I'll grow real sooooon and
That is what IIIII doooo belieeeeve♪"

[Rikugurl]

Riku looked down at the rock as it was handed to him and took it gently, like he did most everything. Even if he lived in the 'Promise Land' he was very delicate with everything he did. That was what Sora called 'Divine's Grace'. The silverette stood and looked around the empty cave before going to the other side and tested the rock with a simple line. He smiled when he saw that the magic worked for him too and started to draw something large and square.
"What is it?"
"Our window for our place." Riku said with a happy grin. He passed the stone to the brunette and together, they started to draw all sorts of things on the walls.

"What is it?"
"Our table for our place."
"What is it?"
"Our other window for our place."
"What is it?"
"Our fireplace for our place."
"What is it?"
"Our bed to our place."

When Riku handed the drawing rock back to Sora, he paused, seeing the deep red blush on the boy's cheeks.
The silverette blinked, looking back at the bed he had just drawn, wondering what was wrong with it. "You don't like it? Should I change it or...?"


Axel sighed, wondering how he could forget about the pain so easily but when the blonde started to sing, he closed his eyes and just listened. Roxas, he knew obviously, was a Dragon siren, able to make a dragon do anything from calming down to putting asleep. What he didn't know was that he could put humans to sleep too. Even an Unbroken.
By the end of the last line, Roxas could hear the redhead snoring, a funny and slightly annoying sound that only Axel made when he was sleeping.


"TERRA!! TERRAA!!" A yell came down the hallway just outside the brunette's den, the Murderous dragon already walking down the tunnel with the brunette on his back. "HEY! DON'T YOU IGNORE ME!" Another man, accompanied by his own Stealth dragon, followed quickly after. "Where the hell are you going!? You do realize that you're suppose to be HELPING with the tunnel now that Hayner is gone, right!? I've been killing myself down there because I'm the only one working on it! ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME!?"

[Reno]

Amazingly, the brunette shook his head, smiling shyly as he looked at their bed, wishing it were real, that they could just cuddle up into it together, share their good nights, kiss, have se-
Okay! Time to think of something else!

He looked at the rock, humming some, then walked over to one of the windows, drawing something rather elaborate. When he was done, he pointed, "Our view to our place."
Fruit trees, of course, and a circle around them that might be a lake.
He handed the drawing rock back to Riku and was only half surprised when he saw him draw sand dunes in the other window. Their other view. He looked between the two windows that showed two worlds, and wondered what it would be like if only they only could be combined so easily.
"Hmm... what else do we need?" Sora asked as he was given back the rock. There was a chirp behind him as Iris came up and stole the rock from his hand with her teeth, looking quite offended before she walked over the their 'door' and drew a second, much bigger door, around it, having to flutter her wings up to curve it almost to the top of the cave. Sora tilted his head, then chuckled with a big smile, "The dragon's door, of course."


There was a soft chuckle, Roxas leaning over the other carefully, murmuring, under the snores "Good night," His lips pressed against the skin of his cheek, for just a moment before pulling away.


A tail swung out, just barely missing the nose of the Stealth, hearing the Murderous give a dangerous, bone-shaking growl. Most dragons knew better than to tangle with the deadly beast since most couldn't even put up a fight with them.
"I'm listening." Terra said not even looking back, "Now be wise, uncle, and stay the fuck out of my way."

[Rikugurl]

Riku chuckled as well, seeing the large door which would be much too big for Iris herself or Yue who was patiently waiting outside of the cavern, keeping watch. Perhaps one of Sora's brothers had a larger dragon that would need the space. Which reminded him...
"Sora?" He asked, catching the brunette's attention. "Did your brother's question your health?" The brunette explained that he (happily) rolled around in the sand when he got home, dirtying himself up again. Ventus said he thought there was a change but shrugged it off, too distracted about finding metal. He explained how happy his slightly long haired brother had been since he started taking over his job.

Instead of a smile, Riku frowned at this. Why would he be happy with a different job? Surly he could do the same thing if he wanted to. He knew, through Sora, that Ven was the metalworker of their people. He made amazing inventions that helped their people survive and stay as healthy as possible with what they had to work with. He was skilled and talented, and if it wasn't for some of the things he made, including 'weapons', they would have all been dead years ago.

"Why do you think he's happy? It sounds to me like he doesn't want to stay home much. I don't blame him though... it's nice getting away.... even from 'paradise'."


Xiu raised an scaly eyebrow when he saw the young hunter plant something sweet on his master's cheek. He gave a whine, making the blonde look back only to see the bored look on the dragon's face, his narrow, wicked eyes glancing from the redhead back to Roxas.


Xigbar growled, watching his nephew head off down the tunnel before whipping around, stomping back in the direction he had come from, his Stealth walking after him. The man made his way through the mud and slosh, watching his head from the caved in areas around their home due to the raid, the repairs on them going slow. Even if one only had to follow the warmth to find the leader's den, Xig knew the way by heart, having to attend there quite frequently. When he did climb up the small hill to reach it, he eye was furious and his sharp canines clenched. He was Ida first and then his brother. "HATORI!" He snapped, not feeling like being anywhere near polite. "We're not getting anywhere with the reconstructions of the tunnels nor getting very far with our new one because the only 'WE' is me! Your brat of a child hasn't lifted one finger since Ienzo or the others died and if I can't get any help soon, more tunnels are going to collapse for good and we're never going to get to the crater!"


OOC: I will get on tonight before I go to bed just to see what you'd like me to pick up tomorrow. If I don't see you, please send me a list (via pm through here since LJ is being a bitch) and I'll check if first thing tomorrow!

[Reno]

"I don't know. Just a few weeks ago, before the raid he was upset as can be." Sora said, remembering the words Ven said to him even right before it - that he needed to 'grow up', then sighed, glancing at the silverette. "Ven has always been a bit... mmm stubborn I guess you could say. If he doesn't want to tell someone something, you better believe you won't hear a peep from him until he's ready. I wonder if maybe he found something amazing out there."
He glanced out towards the entrance, to where the sands were shifting far and beyond, "I mean, after all, I found you out there." He smiled. "Or maybe he just likes flying out there. Since he does most of the inventing, usually he's cooped up inside and he hardly ever gets out. He has a Night Fury, they're amazing dragons to fly on."
Iris gave a squawk and bumped her horn against his leg. How rude!
"Oh you know I love flying with you!" Sora laughed, seeing the jealous green her scales had become, and pat her on the head. "You're so silly Rissy."


"Do you want one too?" Roxas teased and the dragon snorted and looked away, making him chuckle. What a strange creature...


Annoyed red eyes turned towards Xigbar, that only turned more narrow at what the other had to say. He glanced at Ida, saying testily, "I thought you spoke with him about this." When she said she had, his eyes narrowed even more and he snarled. "Where is that fucker?" He snapped to his brother.

[Rikugurl]

"Mmm, I would like to meet all your brother's dragons someday, and all your brothers... and parents and entire group. They all sound like wonderful people. I wish there was some way to convince mother to let you in. I really can't stand seeing something so.... so sweet as you to live here like a delicate flower, wilting in the sun's heat." He paused, his own cheeks becoming pink when he realized what he had just said. "Ummm.... well......" He coughed, seeing Iris turn another shade of pink. My, this was becoming complicated.
"A-anyway... maybe you can come back to the crater tomorrow night? I want to show you something else that I can't really bring outside. I know you'll love it. It might be, besides the nutrition part, even better than the fruits I've been having you sample. These things... they're called flowers and... they smell perfect. So sweet and colorful, their fragrance carried over the land."

He slowly sat down on a nearby rock, giving the brunette a smile. "Mother told us that in ancient times, people would pull the flowers from the ground and give them to people they care about, to spread their beauty to others to make them happy or feel better. The flowers die though... so I don't want to pick them but I do want to show them to you."


"I don't know. He headed down the west tunnel towards the old drill hive. I highly doubt he's looking for any stray drillers since nothing's there but a huge gap to the surface now..." Xigbar hissed, then watched his brother storm off. The golden eye man glared out at Ida before he too left, retiring from the hard day of work... in which he did ALL BY HIMSELF.

[Reno]

"I'd love to," Sora agreed with a big smile, wondering what these flowers must be if Riku was comparing him to them. That's seemed a bit silly to him really, he was nothing compared to the divine, but appreciated the compliment all the same. "Tomorrow then."


Hatori looked for his son that night but wherever he had gone he had left already and was no where to be found so he was even out of range of the alarms. He tried his roo several times over the course of many hours, but his son never showed up.

It never occurred to him to look in Atteris' den, where Terra was spending most of his time these days. none of them ever went there because, often when the dragon caught a meal, his choice thing to do was turn it into a 'work of art' he called it. It was a bloody, gruesome thing to behold, not to mention the smell was enough to empty one's stomach. It wasn't worth losing your food for a bit of curiosity.

How Terra could stand it was beyond them all.


The next day came and went. Roxas was humming softly as he carried the water bucket down the hall towards Axel's room, but was stopped unexpectedly when his mother intercepted him with Lilo. "Roxas, Lilo can tend to Axel today."
Roxas felt his heart stutter to a stop, before it sped up fast, making his blood rush. "But-"
"Your father wishes to speak with you."
His fingers trembled a little, holding the bucket tighter. "But-"
"Now."
He opened his mouth, trying to protest again, but his voice died in his throat. He looked down then shoved the pail to the younger girl. "Fine." He trudged back down the hall, a black cloud of doom seeming to hover over him as he headed to his father's quarters. He hesitated in front of the rags, swallowing hard knowing what he was about to get thrashed through, and steeled his courage as he pulled open the rags. "Dad... you wanted to see me?"


Ven deposited the water to Sora, who almost told him that day, but held back his tongue because he appeared to be in not as happy of a mood today. When he asked why, Ven frowned and told him Roxas was getting a lecture from their father. This shocked the brunette, knowing his serious twin never got in trouble. And when he learned why, that he had been taking care of Axel, he only became more amazed.
"Really, Axel?" Sora repeated, more full of wonder than anger like Ven was. "But... he seemed to hate him. Even time after a lesson he came back practically spitting fire over him and cursing him to a hell worse than this one." If such a thing were possible.

Ven barked that that wasn't the point - the point was he was being lazy and immature and should be looking out for all of them not just one hopeless case. Sora gave the blonde a frown at that, tutting him, "Don't say such horrible things. Until he is actually gone, you have no idea what Divine will do with him."


"We need to capture him soon." Atteris said as they slithered onto the ground and took flight to their spot where they always spotted their prey from, the hours almost marked perfectly that Terra could practically see him leaving the moment he left. With Atteris bound to him, he could adopt his skills, his sense of bloodlust, his methods without even trying and, more dangerously, without even fully noticing. Right now he didn't mind it because he was 'hunting' like a true beast of the wild. When in battle, he was a warrior, untouchable, invincible. And when he would torture this blond... well he knew who would be whispering the tips in his ears the entire time.

[Rikugurl]

"Roxas..." The man, whose hair was so long that it dragged across the floor when it wasn't done up, turned to him. His eye were a cold but soft blue, not chilling or frightening at all. Some said in secret that he was much too kind to be a Leader but it was his kindness that won the people's hearts. "What are you doing, tending to Axel's wounds? The rules are, the men fight to protect the women and in return, it is their job to tend our wounds. That's how it's been and always will be until we somehow are able to obtain more females to secure our survival. Son, you are a hunter now, whether you feel up to par yet or not. You have skills now that no one else has and we're running out of food. You were trained to find our food while Lilo was trained to tend wounds. You need to do your jobs so everything works out."

He stopped them, watching his son fume and nearly bubble over. Before he barked though, Jet added, "I know he's your master now, Roxas but I am positive he wouldn't want you to be the one taking care of him after all the lessons he's given you. Hunters are strong people. If one goes down, the other must continued for him and his people. We didn't lose Axel, thank Divine, but his healing is very slow and we cannot wait until he's back on his feet to find us food. For all we know... he might never be the same and might not be able to hunt for us anymore..."


The blonde was careful as he landed in the Well Room, getting use to coming down here now, though it was Roxas who pretty much owned the area. He had to wonder, with their jobs, how Roxas obtained two. Being a hunter was a great honor but really... what was Van's job? To sit around and be fucking evi---
Just as the bucket splashed into the water below, he felt hands on his hips, making him gasp and lose the rope. Before he could call out for help, a tanned hand wrapped around his mouth, the feeling all too familiar. He knew who it was and only wished that it was a Landchaser who found him and was about to kill him. He wasn't that lucky, feeling a hot breath against his ear instead.
"I thought you were smarter than this, brother. Trying to find a way to avoid me? You know that you'll never, ever, be that smart... I love you too much to let you get away."

The blonde shivered when he felt the wet tongue run over his ear and he was shoved down against the cold bricks of the well, his rags ripped away.

"FUCK DIVINE!" Ventus suddenly yelled, his pure anger showing again, the one that had withered away since the raid was now back. "Knock it off with the fucking dragon tales, Sora, and GROW UP! Last time I checked, we weren't 'worthy' of Divine so why the SHIT would she watch over us!? If she was, Seifer wouldn't have died, Lilo's parents would be here and oh yea, WE WOULDN'T BE SUFFERING IN THIS SHIT HOLE! We'd be in that crater and be living a good life like those fucking 'Divine Children'. There are shields up to prevent us from entering. Face it Sora, all Divine wants from us is to die and we're doing a great job at doing that because we think Divine has our back. She doesn't and she never will! Once you and Roxas get that through your thick, childish skulls and become men, you'll realize that the only thing helping us are the people and dragons you see everyday and that's IT!"

Ventus was only an inch away from kicking the bucket of water, quickly remembering that Sora needed it so kicked something else, which was the Sand Shifter. It flew across the room and slid outside, a growl being heard when the thing bonked into Verrill who was waiting outside.

Ventus was panting now and couldn't bring himself to look at his eldest brother's face, only seeing him, and left like a tornado, pulling the rags away and jumping down onto Verrill. He didn't bother to go grab the shifter that had fallen, just giving the Fury the orders to get out of there.
He just needed to get away...


OOC: We had another tornado up here...

[Reno]

Fingers gripped hard on the rags of the door, Roxas looked resolutely at the floor rather than at his father now. He knew he was right, probably on all accounts including the one about Axel not wanting him to be the one caring for him. Yet... even still... how could he leave Axel? What if he thought he abandoned him?
For a moment he was tempted to say, 'I saved your life, you should give me whatever I want' - but that would really be foolish and childish. He shut his eyes and nodded. "Alright." Without another word he turned and left, the rags rustling behind him and not even bothering to wait for a dismissal, trying just to clear his mind as he reached the great room.

Instead of turning to the left like he had been for days now, he went to the right, his head hung low. He was in his room before he knew it, hearing a dual whine from his dragons at seeing him so early. He sighed, kicking aside a rock that skittered across the floor, over the many cracks and tapped off the wall only to skim the ground in some other direction in a jubilee of taps. He walked to the far side of the room, picking up Oathkeeper, the metal gleaming back in his eyes as he gazed at it, sighing.

What if he caught something?
...He had wanted Axel to see it...
He shook away that thought, picking up the reigns and things, his disappointment thick over his heart as he strapped his dragons up. In minutes they were out into the sky, but rather then immediately going out to find food, he gripped the reigns and pulled them around towards Axel's tower flying around it in restless circles. He pulled them up to hover by a window, and he reached out, pulling a rag aside just a few inches to peek inside.


As the storm departed, it left nothing but a wreck in it's wake, the silent brunette looking down at his rags. Iris gave a low whine of concern and her claws clicked on the floor as she walked over to him, licking away the salt on his face. Sora sniffed, reaching out and patting her on her solemn blue head. "It's alright Rissy..."


"Let's capture him today then." Terra said, "He's coming now." And just as he said it, a black form came flying out of the ruins. Their was a purr of pride and contentment from his dragon. Very good.

[Rikugurl]

What Roxas saw inside wasn't anything different from what he had seen for the last few days. Axel was on his stomach, his back looking better though the area that gave Roxas the hardest time, the skin becoming black and necrotic still looked the same. He knew that it should come off but when he had tried to cut or peel it away, the hunter's cry of agony stopped him every time. Lilo was carefully changing the wounds and paused when she heard a mumble. It sounded much like Roxas's name...
She spoke softly to him but his head turned away, not interested in the least. The young woman gave a sigh but continued her work, shaving off the dead skin and apply new, clean rags.

As she did so, Roxas's view was suddenly blocked by a large, narrow, golden eye. Xiu sniffed the rags that separated him and the blonde, the dragon giving a whine.
"Xiu, what is it?"
The Nightmare whipped his head around and huffed at the girl, giving her a growl. He was no very use to her at all.


"Uuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..." Verrill whined, flapping his wings to pull his master away from the ruins. He could tell by Ven's voice that something bad happened again. Something really bad because he had never heard the blonde yell at his eldest before. Not like that. In his blind dash, he ignored the sense of something bigger coming from the west, a feeling he had for a few nights now. If it never amounted into something, he figured it never would. So, he continued to fly their same route, his eyes becoming sad when he felt warm drops fall against his black scales.

[Reno]

"Now!"


A small smile fell onto Roxas' face, at the sound of Xiu's growl, a hand slipping in-between the rags and reaching for the nightmare. And then he heard a horrible screech that made his hand jerk back - but it wasn't Lilo or the red-head in agony that made the noise. It was a sound across the desert that chilled Roxas' soul.
And then he felt it, exploding inside of him like his dragons' fireburst, panic and fear like nothing else. He didn't pause to think about it as he gave the order to his team to move forward - and off they went.


The source of the noise was that of the night fury. It happened so suddenly, neither of them were prepared for it as something shot through the sky with a whistle that made Ven's head turn. He only saw the glint of metal catching the moon before all the air in his lungs was violently pushed out as a chain caught him, wrapping around him in tangles and the force through him off of his steed.

A black shadow fell over the Fury, hideous claws finding it's wings, gripping on and tearing right through them. With a quick slicing motion, they were ripped through like they were as delicate as clouds and the Fury plummeted. As did the dangerous dragon, who forced himself into a mad dive after the falling blonde. He opened his mouth and CHOMP, he ate him whole before he ever even reached the ground. A thump sounded nearby, and gold eyes quickly found the dragon, grinning rather maliciously as he stalked over, teeth chomping around it's tail and dragged it to the nearest hole in the ground.

Roxas got there just in time to see the night fury being dragged under. His eyes widened in realization at what dragon it was... and screamed, "NO!!!" He tried to fly after them at first, put pulled up as they disappeared down the hole before he even got close. Maybe... Maybe he wasn't on him. Maybe... he was on the ground! "VEN?! VEN!" He tugged Lux and Nyx around, circling the sand restlessly. "VENTUUUUUS?!!?!?"


Little trials of blood led the way to the dark dragon's lair, The whimpering Night Fury never standing a chance as it was thrown atop a pile of bones as if it were some makeshift throne. A skull was just in it's line of sight, one of a Gronckle that made the lizard shiver.

And then someone jumped down from his back, giving an order, "Alright, spit him up."
The dragon opened it's jaw, a long tongue unrolling out like a wheel, and depositing a saliva-coated blonde onto the dirty, blood-stained floor. All in one-piece and completely unharmed, though still tied up.
For now.

[Rikugurl]

Black ear-like horns rose the second he saw his master being spewed out from the Murderous, alive, breathing and all in one piece. The blonde panted and gagged, his body trembling and heavy from the amount of saliva covering him. His blue eyes looked up through his blonde, soaking locks and widened the moment he saw a familiar man standing before him. The rider of the Murderous Dragon....!? "A-AAH! ON! OON!! "Etg....etg waya romf em!!" He cried, trying to roll away from the brunette the best he could but got nowhere fast as a foot came down on his side instantly. Now with Ven alive and well though, they forgot about the dragon that still had some punch in him. A sudden spark of blue light shot out through the den, hitting the Murderous straight in the back of his head.

The loud roar shook Ven down to the bone. "VERRILL!! HET HASTERC! HOOTS IMH!" The Fury growled and his teeth retracted from his gums, a blue light forming in his throat before his gaze turned to the tanned man. Before Verrill could even think about shooting the attack, a tail came from nowhere, smacking the beast in the throat, knocking the air out of it and the attack back fired. Literally. A glow came from the Fury's stomach and he coughed, smoke arising from his mouth and nose.
"VERRILL!" The blonde cried again, struggling against the chains.


"Please cheer up Sora, I am sure he didn't mean it..." A silvertte smiled, his pale hand reaching out to wipe away some of the tears. "Mother can sense when we're crying, only a tear has to fall on the ground and she will know. I thought she knew everything but you just being here proves that wrong." Riku chuckled, guiding the brunette through the dense woods and paused. "Now, close your eyes.. No peeking." He chuckled, seeing the Skyflyer do as he was asked. When he waved his hand in front of the brunette's and didn't get a reaction, he smile and lead the brunette through the outskirts of the forest and stopped him when they reached the middle of the open field.

The man placed a finger over his lips when he saw Iris start to turn different colors, telling her silently not to chirp to give anything away. "Now.... open you eyes." When the spiral eyes opened, all he could see around him were strange objects scattered all about. These objects 'arms' were a deep black and crowded together in several layers. Towards the center though the tips of the 'arms' started to turn a deep rouge shade, and the center itself was a soft green. "These are called Samirsa Daisies." Riku finally broke the awe in the air. "They only bloom during the night. I wanted to show you these first because one, most other flowers close during the night and two.... well.... they kind of remind me of us in a way. The night is a time that our ancestors use to fear. Darkness and the unknown... but there is beauty to it. I think our meeting in the night reflects that..."

[Reno]

For a moment, Terra hesitated, seeing those wide, terrified eyes and his cries of fear for something he loved. And then he remembered those long nights slept with Ienzo in his arms, those many hours spent bending over books and sounding out letters until they formed words, a kiss always ready to be given when he did something right, those last moments, watching him go down, blood everywhere...
A foot stomped down onto Ven's head, holding it down on the ground but making sure he was facing towards the two dragons. Terra snarled not caring if the skyflier knew what he was saying or not, "Let's see how you like watching something you love die." His eyes darted up and he gave a nod and a short command, "Atteris, kill. Slowly."

A malicious grin fell on the terrible dragon's face as the stalked forward to the winded and injured dragon and took no mercy or time in throwing himself into the other, pinning him down to the ground. Claws dived, pounced into the tough hide of his stomach until they punctured a very part of any dragon's anatomy - the fire sac. Blood welled over his claws and over the floor. He pulled them out and while the creature was still withering in pain from one attack, another came.

Even Terra hard to flinch as the Night Fury screeched when claws punctured both of his eyes.



"O-Oh..." Sora gasped, his eyes wide and alight with wonder and surprise. The atmosphere around was so different - something in the air that was like the fruit he ate. A taste he never experienced, a smell he never knew. It was stunning. He reached out, gripping onto Riku's arm, whispering, "And these are flowers?" When the other said yes, he looked up at him tentatively and completely innocent as he murmured, "Do you eat them?"
When the other laughed and said no, he smiled, "Good, because I think it would be tragic to eat something so beautiful." He laughed then, the first happy sound from him all night. "Can we play in them?"

[Rikugurl]

"NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!" The blonde screamed as he felt pressure against his head. Tear started to stain his eyes just as the saliva from the dragon was drying. That was when he heard it, the horrible screeching from the Fury. His eyes went wide, seeing the massive claws rip through his gentle beast as if it was a hot stick through metal. "VERRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILL!!!!" His voice cracked and his eyes closed tight, not able nor willing to watch what was going to happen next. He continued to struggle, knowing that he too was bound to have the same fate and why he struggled when he knew there was no escaping when caught by a Landchaser, especially not the Murderous.

Verrill gave another shrill cry of pain when both eyes were clawed out, trying with all his might to get some fire started but failed. Still, he clawed at the Murder's scales, only making small marks as it was no match against the harder, rougher scales. He wouldn't die without a fight, he needed to at least try. His senses were good, he didn't need his eye---
"RRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-----ggggggggch....." Another roar of pain filled the large den, decorated in bones and blood, guts and flesh, before a single claw punctured the smaller dragon's neck.
"Oooooooooooooooooooooon, tops ti.......leasep oooooonnn....OOOOOOOOOOON!!!! ONSTERM!!!"


"Hehehe, sure, if it would make you happy." Riku smiled then looked out, chuckling more when he saw Yue already roll around on the grass. "We'll just have to try to be a little careful, I'm sure they don't enjoy being ran through." Just as Sora agreed and about to dash out, Riku wrapped a hand around his arm. "Before we go, we're bound to get dirty so promise me you will take another swim with me before you leave?"