Kyvren- Unexpected Company

I had seen a scouting party come in, but it was odd. They landed near the tents, dropped off someone and then left to land near the command tents. Sighing losing interest I just leaned back against the shit-shed. I had been at this for three days… it smelled horrible, but it still wasn't as bad as sitting in jail, maybe.

Most of the Dragon-men were out on patrols or scouting missions so there wasn't much demand for the bathrooms.

The sun was reaching mid-day, maybe I should sleep for a little bit. Dozing off, fast footsteps caught my attention and I jumped up expecting it to be one of that brown's cronies.

Hoping for some entertainment to distract me from all the crap, I turned to face my would-be-heckler...but they just slammed into me. If they wanted a fight that was fine with me, but why were they on the ground? The dark cloth on their head fluttered to the ground behind them exposing hair I only thought I would see once.

ARISTA! But-how! She was in such a hurry she ran right into me. And with a morning shroud?! Growing noise from the camp released my shocked body.

"A-Ah?!" my mind still couldn't reconcile what I was seeing.

"Kyvren!" she remembered my name! The look of desperation and hope on her face and tear blurred eyes told me everything. Somehow, she had been caught and taken to the camp. Now she was running and if Xethes got his dirty hands on her…no that wouldn't happen. Throwing my bucket down and grabbing her hand, she was too easy to pull to her feet.

The shroud was a good disguise. Pulling it roughly over her head we needed to leave this area, preferably somewhere I could transform and fly away. Thankfully she willingly ran after me squeezing my hand tighter.

This was to close to the camp. They would see me, and I couldn't risk an aerial battle with her on my back. Then there was the problem of burning her…

Her cold hand began to lose strength and I felt more like I was pulling her along. Glancing behind me, I stopped dead in my tracks. She looked like she was fixing to fall over. She was so pale. Her body heaved with every breath.

Crouching down in front of her, she looked at me with a raised eyebrow. She was so out of breath she couldn't even talk.

"Get on my back, I'll carry you." Her eyebrows drew together, and her mouth opened to object, but she looked behind us at the growing noise of the distant tents. Begrudgingly she hopped up on my back and I was able to go much faster with her like this.

"Where are we going?" her soft voice right next to my ears made my hair stand on end.

"To the south. I'll fly us there once we find some cover." She stiffens at this and it made me wonder what distressed her, flying? Going south? It didn't matter. I needed to make some preparations.

Veering more towards the east and towards the mountains, the search parties wouldn't think to look for us going in the direction of the main camp.

Feeling her cool arms relax a little around my neck and come more around my shoulders, her head tilted towards the back of my neck and rested on her arm. she must be so tired. I was getting tired but I couldn't stop, not yet. There was a cluster of trees near the mountains and we could rest there.

"Arista, are you awake?" no answer…well, can't say I blame her.

If I remembered correctly, there was a small pound somewhere in it as well. My hands securely holding her thighs around me, her skin was rough almost dusty. Her legs and arms were starting to peel pretty badly. She would need to rest in the water soon. Even her hair felt brittle when the wind-tossed it gently against my face. It still smelled like lake water with notes of grass that just had a spring shower fall on it.

Unfortunately, aerial patrols started sooner than I was expecting and so I had to stay on foot. What took me forty minutes of flying would take me most of the morning to cover. This reminded me of my flight's intense training for the new recruits. Anyone who failed… well, you didn't fail.

By mid-day, Arista was still asleep on me and I had slowed to a good walking pace. The trees were finally insight, none too soon either. My arms, back, and neck ached from holding her. Just a little bit longer…

Huffing and puffing, I made my way into the shade of the trees. It had been a long time since I've been this worn out. Night marches, forced night flights, and other military events came to mind.

Leaning slightly against a tree, I inhaled deeply. I could smell the main camp even at this distance, but more importantly, water. Arista's breathing was becoming shallower and her heart rate was also slowing down. That worried me. Stumbling on numb legs I made my way through the underbrush. Even when branches grazed her or pulled her hair, she didn't stir.

When the trees finally gave way to a small pool, I almost cried. Plunging right in, I let the water take my burden. Swirling around in the shoulder-deep water, her arms were already loose around me, and I easily brought her to my chest.

She was so small and pale! I longed for those clear eyes to look at me. Her hair was beginning to fan around her making her look like a water spirit. Smiling to myself, she truly was. Color started to return to her face slowly. A rosy bloom crept up her cheeks and her delicate lips, once so rough and dry, become plump and the color of a pink rosebud.

I couldn't help myself; my hand gently traced her temple down the side of her face to her jawline. I should let her go and let her recover in the water…pulling her closer to me, her face was so close. Only a breath away. She was still asleep and looked so serein.

Leaning closer to her all I could see were her lips. I could breathe in her breath if I wanted. Pausing just above those half parted lips, I closed my eyes and clenched my jaw. With a heavy sigh, I let the water take her to its protective depths.

Dunking myself to wash away the sweat, I took a nap on the shore. I was starving and exhausted. I could eat later; sleep was harder to come by. Waking a few hours later, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. That was good. Stretching out my sore muscles hurt so good and I couldn't help but groan. I would need to walk a little bit to transform but that was ok.

Flying into the main camp was surprising. No one was aware of what was happening over at the Norrideen Lake camp. That was oddly suspicious. My flight was still in our tents…that was a little annoying but not too big of a deal.

Slipping into my tent, I already had a pack packed just in case we got a short notice mission. I wouldn't take much time to pack extra things for Arista.

"Kyvren? Man if the First knew you were back…" I knew the cocky voice even before I turned around to see the little ash dragon.

"Where is the First?" facing the younger Dragon-man who stood several inches shorter than me, I glared at him. He had that same insolent smile on his face. He took out one of his many daggers and started trimming his nails, still standing half in, half out of my tent. I could feel him trying to see what I was packing.

Sighing heavily and tossing my work to the other side of my cot, I took a wide stance and crossed my arms.

"What do you want?" the little Dragon-man paused smiled more genuinely and replaced his dagger taking a step into the tent.

"Nothing really, you seem like you have been busy. Anything exciting happens recently? You got to let me in. I'm wasting away here.

"Of course not, unless you call latrine duty 'exciting'. I'm tired Dexlux, and I'm not doing anything." Sitting down on my cot, the other just looked at me with raised eyebrows. His eyes asked too many questions. As he opened his mouth to protest another figure entered my tent. She was his exact copy other then her hair was longer.

"Jeylux, what are you doing here?" Dexlux looked sheepish at his twin sister.

"Every dam day Dex! Come on, I'm not going to be late again because of you." Grabbing his arm she hauled him out behind her.

"Nice seeing you Kyvren." I just waved to her back with a sigh of relief. Picking my bag back up I couldn't help but laugh and feel a little sorry for Jeylux. She had her hands full with that one.

That pair may be small but they were lethal when it came to stealth attacks.

Satisfied I had packed what I could from my tent I left the bags bundled on the cot and headed out. I needed to talk to Beldrym. If anyone would have information it was him.

Finally seeing the pale blue tents of his flight no one stopped me from entering his tent. We weren't really friends per-say, but we had a good working relationship. I came here often enough for the guard to recognize my face at least.

Beldrym was seated at his desk surrounded by papers, as someone reported to him. It was about a scouting mission on the east side of the mountains. They had found another large lake and several rivers. All of them believed to be infested.

It didn't take long for Beldrym to notice me. He looked surprised for a split second and then he was back to his normal almost disinterested glower he wore for business. It made me question if I really saw it or not. Was it really a surprise to see me?

After the Dragon-man had made his report, Beldrym dismissed everyone in the tent. This wasn't completely unusual, but I hadn't said anything yet. How would he know I wanted a private talk?

"Kyvren, have a seat." Shaking my head to his offer he leaned heavily back in his chair with a sigh.

"What do you know about how this war started?" I didn't want to waste time beating around the bush and something told it was best to get to the point. Beldrym fidgeted a bit with his pen.

"The same thing you do, the Merfolk ambushed the old Torrid's party and killed him." Beldrym was watching me for any reaction. Something was off.

"yes of course." Turning quickly on my heels I headed for the exit.

"Wait…Kyvren, I doubt you came all this way just to ask me that." His tone stopped me in my tracks. Turning back around I could see the open threat on his face.

"No, but I was in such a rush to report I forgot my papers. Allow me to report properly once I have gathered everything for you, Beldrym." He could force me to make a report, but this was obviously not time-sensitive and so didn't have any real reason to do it. I could see his jaw grinding as he waved his hand to dismiss me. I wanted to be as far from him and his flight as soon as possible. Halfway back to my tent, I could see one tailing me…shit.

Darting into my tent, my flight leader was sitting on my cot, arms crossed.

"You have really gone and done it now haven't you?" he sounded exhausted.

"First, you never saw me." Picking up my bags he grabbed my arm in a tight vice. He waited to talk till I looked him in his bright orange eyes.

"You always have been reckless, but this?"

"What do you mean?"

"Xethes has accused you of killing his second." I froze. What?! Me killing someone so below me? It made me want to laugh.

"What? When did I supposedly do this?" Eimur was closely watching me and he seemed satisfied.

"I'm not sure myself, but I have orders to capture you. There is to be a trial." He scratched the back of his neck seeming done with it all. "I know we have never been very close, but I know you well enough to not do something like this. As your First and flight leader, I can't let you face that farce of a trial.

"But could you at least tell me what is going on?" he let go of my arm and picked up the other bag.

"I am being followed right now; I can't stay. Let's just say… I have doubts about the last Torrid's death. You can't trust Beldrym." Eimur paled a little as he grasped my words. The older Dragon-man had grown up with the old torrid, they were clutch mates. His large hand raked through his orange hair that was turning a little gray.

"Will you trust me enough to meet up with you later?" the question surprised me.

"Yes, by the dried riverbed, with the large stone, say midnight?" He nodded and handed me the bag. Saluting him, with my right hand in a fist over my insignia I left.

Running into the forest I tossed my bags behind a tree and quickly climbed up the one next to it. My pursuer was quicker than I was expecting but I was able to get into position in time. I couldn't really see who it was, it didn't matter. Pulling a small dagger from my boot I readied myself to jump on top of them.

They spotted my bags and approached slowly, cautiously. Seeing my tracks going off further in they lost interest in the bags and started to follow the tracks right under my tree.

Falling the few feet on top of them, my dagger was already biting into their neck.

"Wait! KYVREN ITS ME! Dexlux!" pausing before I did any real damage I had to laugh.

Getting off his back I slapped him hardback down when he tried to stand.

"Crazy bastard, why were you following me?"

"Well, you wouldn't let me join you. I'm so bored in camp, please. Plus, I already took care of the guy from Beldrym's flight that was tailing you. I was so surprised; I was expecting him to be together." He was on his feet now and brushing off the dirt and leaf litter.

"Do I really have a choice?"

"Sure you do." He was looking at the blood from his neck wound with a smile.

Sighing I tossed one of the bags at him and started running back to the pond.

"Just remember you asked for this." He was beaming at me and started asking questions.

"I'll answer you when we get to the pound."

"Pound? Why? What's there?"

Rolling my eyes, as I pushed myself to go faster. I wanted to be sure to get to the pound first. Arista may be awake, and I didn't want her to be scared at seeing Dexlux.

To my surprise not only was she awake but she was resting on the shore eating something long and green. The sun was setting and in the dim light, I could still see the spark of her silver-white eyes. She froze seeing me plunge out of the trees with Dexlux.

Hearing blades being unsheathed I quickly turned on Dexlux grabbing him by the neck and slamming him into a tree. He had his favored long daggers already in hand.

"If you even think of hurting her, I will end you were you stand." Dexlux dropped his daggers and held up his hands. His face was already turning purple from my grip and I threw him to the ground. He started coughing a fit, getting his air back. I wasn't expecting him to immediately go on the offense. But then again, I should have given him some warning. All well, this was probably better anyway.

Looking back at Arista she was so shocked I felt a little embarrassed.

"Arista, this is Dexlux. Don't trust him." She knitted her eyebrows at me.

"If you can't trust him, why did you bring him?"

"I can trust him, can't I Dex?" he nodded his head still catching his breath.