League of Improbable Riders

[Ranger of the North]

Prologue
The History of V’relden

xxxxxWhen Eloah created time, so, too, did he create the dragons, and placed them on a remote continent that he called V’relden.
xxxxxAfter six days, he created humans to live alongside the creatures in harmony.
xxxxxBut one dragon, however, rebelled, and in the dark of night, he killed a man.
xxxxxEloah was filled with sorrow at the death, and knew that great trouble would come of it, so immediately introduced his master plan that would eventually bring peace between the two tribes—for after the human was slain, the others of his kind were enraged, and attacked the dragons; soon the land was filled with a bloody war. He appointed worthy helpers to watch over the earth-dwellers, to help and guard them, and he ensured that he was ever free to spare words of advice and healing.
xxxxxThe blood-bath continued, but some beings of both sides saw the potential in the other species, and they eventually formed a loose pact. During the time of peace, a few humans grew to know the dragons intimately, and they bonded.
xxxxxThe strand that kept them from fighting was too thin, though, for dragons’ blood runs hot within them, and paper is all too easily burnt. A drunk youth swore an oath, deceived an innocent dragon with honeyed words, and brutally slew her.
xxxxxThe dragons’ natural savagery came out topmost as their hatred for humans renewed. Some, however, they trusted, for these had bonded with a dragons, and loved them as their own flesh-and-blood.
xxxxxAfter fifty long years the war was forgotten, for drought encompassed the land, and all three groups—the Commoners, the Wild Dragons, and the Bonded—were forced to work together for their own survival.
xxxxxBut one black day, when the drought was ended, a rider grew enraged and slew a Commoner on account of his sharp tongue.
xxxxxAny trust and respect the Commoners had for the Bonded immediately evaporated, and, once again, they waged war against their brethren. The Wild Dragons were separated from this dispute, yet the Commoners still killed them, assuming that they were nothing more than beasts.
xxxxxThe Wild Ones' response, was to kill the Commoners for equivalent reasons—food, self-defence, and revenge—which only convinced the Commoners that they were mere animals, predators akin to wolves and tigers—although a little different.
xxxxxAt last, out of desperation for a pointless war that resolved nothing, a Commoner by the name of Vidar braved the treacherous crags of the Deimos Alps, and there fought the Scorway Chief for three days and nights. At last, Vidar prevailed, and cast the bird down the lofty peaks, breaking his neck. Then, Vidar pricked his vein and, mingling the chief’s blood with his own, declared himself Lord of the Scorways. The great birds were filled with terror when they saw their leader slain, and readily followed Vidar, urged on by nothing but fear.
xxxxxWith his new power, Vidar easily intimidated the other Commoner chiefs and anointed himself their king.
xxxxxContenting himself with only allowing his fortress a troop of scorways, Vidar released most of the birds until he had need of them. However, he was not averse to other villages ensnaring their own birds, for he had immediately slaughtered all of the Scorway Chief’s descendants; only he and his blood-line could control the mighty birds. He decreed that whosoever captured a scorway must needs bring it before him, that he could command the bird to obey its villager captors to the death.
xxxxxThus, the Commoners finally had a fighting chance, and grew bolder, increasing in numbers.
xxxxxThe Bonded, however, grew scarce and scattered, assailed as they were by this new threat, until a rider by the name of Vorsten gathered the remnants of his people and they fled to the Cyclone Mountains. Toiling diligently, they soon excavated dwellings deep in the crags, where they flourished in relative safety, and gained dominance of the lofty peaks. After many many years, Vorsten married another rider, and they became the ancestors of Silron the Steadfast.
xxxxxThe Scorway Chief’s blood was passed on to Vidar’s descendants, until three hundred years passed and Vidar II, one of his grandsons’ grandsons’ grandson, who was as cruel, brave, and treacherous as The First became king...

[Ranger of the North]

If you're interested in any of theses dragons, you can look them up in: The Book of Dragons.

1

xxxxxShaska strode confidently down the straight, seemingly endless hallway; her dragon—a deep-blue Jewel-flame named Taz—clacked behind her.
xxxxxShaska was second-in-command amongst the dragon riders of the Cyclone Mountains, despite her young age: she was only fourteen. She had been summoned to a private meeting with her commander—and she had suspicions why.
xxxxx“Shaska!” a call echoed suddenly down the empty hall.
xxxxxShaska and Taz turned to see the brown haired boy, Rougim, approaching them atop his camo Ripglider, Shadow.
xxxxxRogue was the only person Shaska could be herself around—not even excluding her own brother—and he was like her twin. They were even the same age—to the very day—and had known each other from when they were about a week old; Rogue’s mother had arrived outside the Mountain’s Gate heavy with child, and had died giving birth, so Shaska’s father and mother—Silron the Steadfast, who was leader of the dragon tamers, and Rilleta—had looked after the youngster.
xxxxxAfter his death, Silron’s son, Jareck, had taken his father’s place; now only he and a few elders knew who Rogue’s father was.
xxxxx“Shaska, Taz, wait up!” he called again, as Shadow leapt up and spread her wings to fly toward them. “Where are you off to?” he grinned as they thumped beside Shaska and Taz, his blue eyes sparkling.
xxxxxRougim was different, his eyes were blue, rather than the usual black or brown that the people of V’relden had; Shaska’s were a strange grey-green.
xxxxxThe girl made a face. “Meeting with Jareck.”
xxxxx“Oh. Oops.” Rougim laughed; he knew, as well, why Jareck wanted to meet with her.
xxxxx“What’re you doing here, Rogue?” Shaska asked, tilting her head at him.
xxxxx“I just wanted to see if you were free: I’ve got permission to leave, so we can go deal with a Commoner village or something.”
xxxxxShaska’s eyes sparkled, but she hesitated, “I dunno, Rogue.”
xxxxxA sudden thought struck her. “How did you manage that?” she asked suspiciously. “I can’t imagine Jareck letting us out.”
xxxxxRogue turned red; grinning slightly, “Um, I bribed the guards,” he admitted.
xxxxx“Rogue! You can’t do that!”
xxxxx“Oh, come on! It’ll be fun! You know you want to,” he teased.
xxxxxShaska sighed and gave in, “Alright, you win. I do want to.”
xxxxx“All right!” he cheered. “See you after your ‘meeting’,” he chuckled as Shadow leaped into the air and winged away.
xxxxx“This isn’t a good idea,” Taz rumbled warningly.
xxxxxTaming a dragon allowed one to understand the speech of the dragon’s type. A useful skill to have, considering that the dragons could translate the speech of other tribes.
xxxxxShaska shook her head as she stared after Shadow’s disappearing tail. “No,” she agreed with her dragon, “it’s probably not. But think of the fun we’ll have, Taz!”
xxxxxTaz sighed a gust of smoke, “Shaska.”
xxxxx“Taz,” she teased back, “stop being a party pooper!”
xxxxxThe blue dragon growled, beating both sets of his navy wings. “Well if we’re gonna go against Jareck and Fury’s wishes, we may as well get this all over with. Get on my back.”
xxxxxShaska turned and looked him in his zircon-blue eyes. “Do you really not want to do it? We won’t if you don’t.”
xxxxxTaz rumble-chuckled slightly, “I do, actually. I just can’t be bothered getting in trouble again!”
xxxxxShaska scratched his neck as she mounted into the leather saddle situated on the dragon’s back. “We’ll be fine, Taz, don’t worry.”
xxxxx“I don’t, I’m just tired of being roared at all the time, it’s aggravating.”
xxxxxShaska laughed, “Oh well, we’ll survive.
xxxxx“Let’s go!”
xxxxxTaz crouched, raising his wings, and then suddenly launched himself into the air, twisting upside down and then upright again as he rose.
xxxxx“Woo hoo!” Shaska cheered, feeling a thrill as she always did when Taz did that.

[Ranger of the North]

2

xxxxxJareck and his Angry-Attacker, Fury, glared at Shaska and Taz as they stood before them on the other side of the desk that Jareck worked at.
xxxxxShaska wasn’t daunted: Jareck looked like that a lot, while Fury always looked like that.
xxxxx“Stop harassing Borte and Rasak,” Jareck growled. “They’re valuable generals, and I can’t afford to lose them.”
xxxxxHis face grew darker as he noticed her indifferent expression.
xxxxx“Just because you’re my little sister doesn’t mean you have the right to be a brat!” he exploded, as Fury roared at Taz, lashing her long tail agitatedly. “I am the captain; I am your commander. I made you my second-in-command for a reason! You have potential to be a great leader, Shaska, but you won’t use it!
xxxxx“I made you my second, and I can take that title from you if I need to,” he continued more calmly. “We can’t win this war if Borte’s not a general, and I can’t let you drive him away. I know he can be a bit of a turd at times, but I’m commanding you to leave him alone. What would Mum and Dad think of you?”
xxxxxShaska bit her lip and hung her head; she was beginning to understand why Taz hated being growled: Jareck was getting good with his words, and Fury was probably better.
xxxxxEver since their father had died when Shaska was six—their mother had died when she was eight months old—she had been raised by Jareck, and she often felt confused as to whether he was her dad or brother.
xxxxx“Alright, I’ll try to avoid him.”
xxxxxJareck gave her a sharp look, suspecting that she would only avoid the cranky general and his dragon for her own sake, but said nothing about it.
xxxxx“Good,” he said instead. “You may leave.”
xxxxxShaska nodded and climbed up into Taz’s saddle, moments before he turned for the door.
xxxxx“Oh and, Shaska, Taz,” Jareck said as Taz nosed the door open and prepared to exit the room, “don’t let Rogue or Shadow pick on them, either.”
xxxxxShaska sighed, “Fine.
xxxxx“Come on, Taz, let’s get out of here,” she muttered.
xxxxxTaz rumbled willingly as the great doors banged shut behind his tail, then he leaped into the air and sped first north, then west; toward Rogue’s rooms.

[Ranger of the North]

3

xxxxx“What? We can’t pick on Borte and Rasak anymore? You’re joking, right?”
xxxxxShaska shook her head.
xxxxx“Unfair!” Rogue was mildly annoyed.
xxxxx“I know, right,” She agreed, swinging her legs as she sat atop the boy’s desk, “what’d we do to deserve this? I mean, we only dropped one or two slimy minnows down his shirt; nothing much, really.”
xxxxx“Remember his face!”
xxxxxThe two delinquents howled with laughter as they re-lived their many pranks on the poor general; the dragons looked on, sharing their own memories.
xxxxx“Oh well,” Rogue sighed after a bit, “we can at least go overrun Gordean.” He grinned and leapt astride Shadow’s back.
xxxxxShaska cheered and clambered onto Taz’s back as the deep-blue dragon followed the camo through the many corridors and passage-ways, until they swooped down to land in front of thick stone doors that were only just big enough for full-grown dragons to squeeze through.
xxxxx“Where’re the guards?” Shaska asked, twisting to look around at the empty hall.
xxxxx“I told you; I bribed them.”
xxxxx“But this gate needs defending,” she protested, “it’s the closest one to the commoners; this’s too risky, Rogue.”
xxxxx“It’s fine. They’re only gone for half-an-hour, and then they’ll return until we get back,” Rogue assured her. “Now come on, let’s go.”
xxxxxWith the combined strength of both Taz and Shadow, they managed to squeeze out the door and into the world that lay outside and the dragons leaped into the air, soaring high over a steep precipice that dove down from the middle of the mountain to its stony foot.
xxxxxShaska held tightly to the spike before her as a crisp wind buffeted her, attempting to blow her off of Taz’s back. She was already wearing a thick sheep-skin coat and wool-padded jeans, but she wished she had another jacket; the wind was cold, and since the safest place for dragon riders was inside the mountains, she was unused to outside air.
xxxxxShaska looked down at the nearby Shadow gliding on a currant of air. “Do you even know where Gordean is?” she yelled at Rogue, gasping slightly as the wind whipped her breath away.
xxxxx“Um, no,” the boy called back sheepishly, “only that it’s the closest village to us. I just figured you’d know.” He grinned up at her.
Shaska sighed as Taz chuckled deep in his throat. “Come on, Taz,” she said, “I guess it’s up to us to make sure this adventure succeeds.”
xxxxxTaz flicked his tail and beat his wings, propelling himself forward, and flew around the mountain, Shadow close behind.
xxxxxAfter they had cleared the line of mountains Taz stopped and growled: “I’ve never actually been to Gordean, where is it?”
xxxxxShaska sighed in exasperation. “It’s a straight flight from the gate that we exited by, over the tree-line, and past the Roaring River.”
xxxxx“Oh. So we’re actually going the wrong way?”
xxxxx“Uh, yeah.”
xxxxxTaz tilted his two right wings, spinning them round to face the other direction, and shot forward, flapping swiftly now that he knew where to go.

# # # # # # # # # # # # #

xxxxxTaz started underneath Shaska. “There it is!” he said.
xxxxxShaska stood in the saddle, peering forward, then spotted a few roof-tops popping up from the earth ahead and grinned, “Enemy village ahead!” she called back to their two comrades.
xxxxxRogue whooped in response.
xxxxxShaska re-seated herself; excitement freeing the butterflies in her stomach, and felt Taz straining as he beat his wings harder, eager for battle. With a sudden start Shaska remembered that she hadn’t strapped herself in and bent down to tie her legs into the saddle, ensuring that she wouldn’t get thrown out when her dragon twisted to avoid arrows.
xxxxxAs they soared over the town Taz roared, proclaiming his arrival, and many faces looked sky-ward; many voices shrieked in fear.
xxxxxTaz waited for Shadow to catch up before dropping like a stone toward the doomed village, spouting blue fire as he went.
xxxxxSeveral houses went up in flames, crackling with a blinding blue heat.
xxxxxLanding on the roof of a stone building, Taz turned a semi-circle, burning, burning, burning. Burning everything within reach.
xxxxxShaska cheered as a hut collapsed into rubble, then, seeing armed men running toward them from behind, whipped her bow off of her back, loaded an arrow, and fired, killing or wounding two of the men.
xxxxx“Taz! Behind us!” she yelled, and Taz whirled, snarling threateningly.
xxxxxShaska ducked suddenly as an arrow whizzed toward her, and it struck the dragon’s tail. Clattering harmlessly to the cobblestone street, the dart did nothing but enrage Taz and he roared, lashing his tail and unintentionally swiping the roof off of a nearby building. With a loud bellow he leapt toward the unlucky men, claws outstretched to maim and kill.
xxxxxHe dove into their midst, burning and biting, beating off their attacks with his four powerful wings, and soon laid them all to the ground.
xxxxxShaska looked at the prone bodies and dry-retched. “Let’s move on, eh?”
xxxxxTaz growled in answer and took to the skies, the wind from his wing-beats fanning the fires. He flew on as the light of the fire reflected dully off of the blood on his body and brilliantly from his deep blue scales.
xxxxxThe area around Rogue and Shadow was in similar dis-array, destroyed and lifeless.
xxxxxTaz landed next to them and fanned his wings as he roared, eager for battle.
xxxxxShaska stared at the dead bodies, slightly horrified. “It’s fun fighting, but I hate killing—no offense, Taz and Shadow: you’re dragons.”
xxxxx“Mmm,” Rogue agreed, “look at all these people we’ve slain who had family, friends, and lives still to live. I try to only kill in self-defence—then it’s a case of me or them—but I still don’t like it.”
xxxxx“Enough talk,” Taz rumbled, and Shadow growled in agreement, licking her lips, “what’s done is done; we will let as many citizens survive as they themselves will allow, but when we’re at war, sometimes we have to kill. Don’t worry, you kill them, and they would just as willingly kill you. Don’t let yourself enjoy killing as much as dragons and you’ll be fine.”
xxxxxShaska nodded. “Thanks.”
xxxxx“What did he say?” Rogue couldn’t understand Jewel-flame speech.
xxxxx“Enough talk,” Shaska told him, “this village isn’t ours, yet.” Most of Taz’s words were for her.
xxxxxThe two dragons took flight and worked their way to the centre of the village, razing it to the ground.
xxxxx“Uh, Shaska,” Rogue yelled over suddenly, “should we be, like, trying not to destroy this place, so Jareck can use it for barracks, or something?”
xxxxxTaz snapped his jaws shut, cutting off the flow of flames streaming from his mouth. “Oops.”
xxxxxCocking her head Shaska thought for a minute or two. “Naah,” she decided finally, a mischievous grin creeping across her face, “I don’t think he really needs it.”
xxxxx“That’s good enough for me!”
xxxxxOnce again the dragons dove.

[Ranger of the North]

4

xxxxx“Um, maybe we shouldn’t’ve destroyed it that much,” Shaska said a couple hours later as she looked down at the blackened earth that showed almost no sign of a village having been there.
xxxxx“Yeah...” Rogue replied slowly. “Oh well, at least it was your idea!”
xxxxx“What? No it wasn’t!”
xxxxx“Kidding,” he grinned. “Sheesh, Shaska, calm down; it’s like you think we’ll get in trouble, or something.”
xxxxxShe laughed nervously. “Maybe we should head back.”
xxxxx“Good plan.”
xxxxxShadow and Taz both chuckled, then wheeled around and raced back toward their mountain refuge.

#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx #xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#

xxxxx“Let’s go find Jareck, and tell him of our victory!” Shaska suggested as the four of them walked the hall that eventually led to her brother’s meeting-room.
xxxxx“Race you there!” Rogue leapt into a sprint and dashed forward.
xxxxxShaska chuckled—she always beat him, no matter what he tried—and sped after him.
xxxxx“What do you think?” Taz asked, swinging his head to look at the other dragon.
xxxxx“I could beat them without even trying,” Shadow answered, tossing her head. “And you,” she grinned a toothy grin, “you can eat my smoke.” She flicked him with her tail and charged down the hall; Taz close behind.

#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#xxxxx#

xxxxxThe meeting hall was chaotic. Shaska dashed inside without looking and nearly bowled someone over.
xxxxxHe cursed and glared at her as he used his dragon to steady himself.
xxxxxIgnoring him, Shaska took a deep breath to calm herself and tried to make her way through the crush of humans and dragons; but to no avail, so tried struggling out, but found that to be just as hopeless, and began to panic: she was claustrophobic, and could only occasionally keep her fear under control. Now her mind began to fill with images of being crushed; but then something hooked under her coat and she was raised into the air, with her feet dangling into the mess of people.
xxxxx“Thanks, Taz,” she said in relief, and he grunted in response: his mouth was full of sheepskin jacket.
xxxxxTwisting his neck back, the dragon gently placed the girl on his back before carefully wading through the moving maze of bodies.
xxxxxShaska sighed as she surveyed the room, being in a small space terrified her for some strange reason. Good thing Taz knew that.
xxxxxShe watched the heads struggling past her knees and squinted: nurses and doctors were rushing past carrying critically wounded riders in stretchers.
xxxxxWhat happened? She thought. Were we attacked while I was gone?
xxxxxThey finally approached Jareck’s desk—or the splintered, stepped-on wood that used to be the desk. Fury stood grimly by, Jareck seated on her back.
xxxxx“What happened?” Shaska asked as they drew near. “What’s going on?”
xxxxx“The Commoners attacked,” her brother replied, “and they brought fifty scorways.”
xxxxxShaska gulped.
xxxxxScorways were enormous, fire-resistant, razor-clawed birds that could take on dragons. They lived in small groups, and even one was hard for a dragon to defeat. But since the birds were crafty—very crafty, in fact—they often ganged up on the dragons ten to one.
xxxxxShe shuddered, and suddenly realized that they were idiots to have flown out alone to take on a Commoner village. She was thankful that the people of Gordean hadn’t yet captured one of the birds.
xxxxxTwo medics struggled through the crowd toward them, bearing a beautiful young woman on a stretcher and Shaska caught her breath. Alisha, she thought in dread and sadness, oh no.
xxxxxAlisha was Jareck’s beloved fiancé.
xxxxxJareck saw the woman and his face darkened. Fury roared, while he did, too, “Everyone out except my warlords!”
xxxxxShaska obeyed, staying where she was, but she signalled Shadow and Rougim to stay put, as Jareck commanded the medics to remain.
xxxxxThe room finally emptied of all but a few, and Shaska was able to dismount from Taz’s back. She ran to Alisha’s side and knelt, placing her hand on the older girl’s forehead. She was no doctor, though, and could only determine what was going to happen. Few riders had the gift.
xxxxx“Is she alright?” Jareck demanded gruffly.
xxxxxShaska shook her head, not wanting to meet his eyes, “Sorry, but... she’s going to die.”
xxxxxA still silence filled the room.
xxxxxShaska stood and turned to the medics. “What’s wrong with her?” she asked. “She doesn’t bear even a scratch.”
xxxxx“Raden was killed,” one answered, naming Alisha’s dragon. “And her back was shredded by a scorway’s talons.”
xxxxx“She needs something,” Shaska fretted. “She needs something, but I don’t know what.”
xxxxx“Alisha has lost too much blood,” a battle scarred general told them gently, “there is nothing we can do.”
xxxxxJareck turned away, and Fury nudged his arm, crooning softly. “Take her away,” he told the doctors in a strange voice, “take her to the healing rooms and do everything you can for her.”
xxxxxThey obeyed and removed the girl in silence.
xxxxxAs the door banged shut behind them, Jareck faced the warlords, his eyes were tearless but he wore a haunted expression that gave Shaska chills and made her want to hug him at the same time.
xxxxx“This has to stop,” he said hoarsely, “we need to end this war. Rougim, run, bring me my map of the surrounding lands.”
xxxxxRougim nodded and ran for the door, but as he approached it a dark, cloaked and hooded figure advanced out of the shadows nearby and held his arm with a grip of steel.
xxxxx“Stop,” the figure commanded. “Lead me to Jareck.”
xxxxxRogue grinned and shot a look at Jareck, barely fifty metres away, but did as the man said, guiding him before his leader.
xxxxxSensing that Jareck was near, the figure threw back his hood to reveal his aged head. Snowy white hair rippled down his head, and his eyes were glazed.
xxxxxBlind Shoreck... Shaska thought.
xxxxx“Last night I had a dream,” Shoreck’s voice was strong and clear, “and I stood in this very room. A man approached me; he wore
young age like a cloak, but I knew he was as old as time itself; and he spoke these words:

“’If you want the war to leave,
These four young kids you must not grieve,

“’The first; a girl, with eyes of grey,
Born to save; her life down she’ll lay,

“’Second a boy, who’ll take your dare,
His strange blue eyes will ne’er show fear,

“’Next, unlikely but nevertheless,
Green eyes. Where? You’ll never guess,

“’If you want the war to end,
These four children you must send,
To pave the way,
To make a day,
When the killing,
Will be gone always,’.”

xxxxxA stunned silence reigned, and Jareck stared.
xxxxx“Grey eyes,” he murmured, “Shaska, that must be you.”
xxxxxShaska started, “What? Me! But I—“
xxxxxHe ignored her. “Blue eyes will be you, Rogue.”
xxxxxFor once, the boy’s face showed no trace of a smile.
xxxxx“But green eyes? No-one has green eyes.
xxxxx“Unlikely... Who’s not likely to be in a prophecy?”
xxxxx“Me,” Rogue broke into the conversation, “and Shaska.” He grinned slightly.
xxxxx[/color“Wait!” Shaska had been thinking hard. “We’re not even sure if it is us, I mean, it never mentions our dragons, and out of the two of us, Taz is more likely to stop the war.” Taz nosed her shoulder gently and she continued, scratching his scaly chin. “The people it talks about could be Commoners. ‘These four young kids you must not grieve’,” she quoted. “As in: be nice, they’re enemies; they might decide to destroy you.”
[color=transparent]xxxxxAn old warlord’s dragon stirred and blew a plume of smoke, then growled, and her rider translated, “Serelah says no. She, too, had a similar dream, and in it an ancient dragon approached her, saying:

“’To stop the deadly, hopeless battles,
Where we fight like so much cattle,

“’Seek, then, for a blue Jewel-flame,
And his rider’s well-known name,

“’Next a Ripglider of camo colour,
She and rider have no father,

“’The last unknown, for you to find,
They are unique amongst their kinds,

“’These will stop the Commoners,
From killing dragons and their riders,’.”

xxxxx“That settles it,” Jareck said determinedly, “you two—four— will be the ones to destroy the Commoners.
xxxxx“I only wonder why you didn’t reveal your dream before.” He addressed the dragon pointedly.
xxxxxSerelah rumbled and her rider again translated, “It slipped our minds, Sir. Our apologies.” He bowed.
xxxxxShaska fell silent as she reviewed the two prophecies, trying to disprove them: she didn’t want to kill every Commoner, the only difference between them was that they couldn’t bond with a dragon and she could. Blue Jewel-flame—that could be any dragon.
Well-known name—great. Definitely me and Taz, she groaned to herself.
xxxxxShe continued through the prophecies, hoping against hope that, for their sakes, Shadow and Rougim wouldn’t need to help. Camo Ripglider—that’s pretty rare.
xxxxxNeither Shadow nor Rogue know who their fathers were, but someone else might be in the same situation. Then she remembered the ‘strange blue eyes’.
xxxxxDarn it.
xxxxx“General Alfsten and Teradun,” Jareck addressed a middle aged man with a kindly but stern face and his brown Mystic, “you will train the chosen ones to overrun the Commoners.
xxxxx“Borte, Rasak, scour our ranks for any and every green-eyed youngsters.”
xxxxx“Wait!” Shaska cried. “The prophecy only details three people!”
xxxxxEveryone froze.
xxxxx“Oh... dear...” Rogue said slowly.
xxxxxJareck frowned. “Well,” he began uncertainly, “I guess all we can do, until we’ve got more information to work with, is find the third person.
xxxxx“We must do all we possibly can to ready the eight of you for obliterating the Commoners.”
xxxxx“The prophecies don’t actually say we’ll have to kill everyone, though,” Rogue foolishly pointed out without thinking, then stopped as Jareck and Fury turned the full force of their glares upon him. Shadow growled at their animosity.
xxxxxIf looks could kill, Rogue would be dead, Shaska thought grimly, and wondered at the change in her brother. Jareck had never killed unless he absolutely had to, and now he was going to force them to wipe out every last human who couldn’t tame a dragon! And he had never been hostile toward Rogue. Grumpy when he was mischievous, yes, but not hostile. Something inside him had snapped when he heard that Alisha was dying. Shaska wished badly that she had lied, but she knew that it wouldn’t’ve done any good. Nothing could help Alisha except maybe her dragon; her best friend.
xxxxxHer best friend...
xxxxx“Jareck,” she blurted suddenly, “Alisha’s greatest hurt was the death of Raden. Go to her! You might be able to save her! It’s a slim chance, I know, but it’s a chance! Go, Jareck!”
xxxxxHe turned on her and laughed bitterly, “I? I’m not a medic—which you know well. Don’t taunt me, Shaska, she will die.”
xxxxx“But, please,” Shaska pleaded desperately; she hated necessary death, let alone unnecessary, “she just lost her best friend but another might revive her! Please, Jareck, you can’t just let her die!”
xxxxx“No!” Jareck exploded, he’d had enough. “It’s a false hope. It won’t work. I know; I couldn’t save Mother.
xxxxx“Stop, Shaska.” He ended sadly.
xxxxx“But—”
xxxxx“I said no! Out! Your training with Alfsten and Teradun begins now.
xxxxx“Everyone leave me.”
xxxxxShaska ground her teeth angrily, but mounted Taz and did as he commanded. “You’ll regret this, Jareck,” she said as she left. “And that’s not a threat: I know.”

[Uni Mustache]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ranger of the North]

5

xxxxxKanah snuck through Dragomare Forest, just outside his home village of Leanon; spear in hand and his younger twin sister, Keera, close behind.
xxxxxThey were Commoners, and since it was their fourteenth birthday they each had to kill a dragon to be considered adults. They were given a month where they were allowed to go home for supplies but the village wouldn’t acknowledge them; if they still hadn’t killed one after the month was up, they were either dead or excluded from the village.
xxxxxKanah was confident that they would find one; they had been combat training from birth, while most people only started when they turned ten. That was one of the advantages of their father being a close companion to the Chief.
xxxxx“With any luck,” Kanah began in a whisper, “we’ll all be feasting on dragon steaks before the day is out!” He wasn’t joking.
xxxxxA loud clang and a roar rang out suddenly. “That way!” Kanah and Keera cried at the same time as they pointed in two different directions.
xxxxxKeera looked puzzled. “What—” but Kanah cut her off.
xxxxx“You search that way,” he commanded. “And I’ll go this way.”
xxxxxKeera nodded, her green eyes glinting, and ran off.
xxxxxKanah snuck through the woods as a slight breeze tousled his blond hair and waved through the leaves.
xxxxxFinally, after a few minutes he slipped behind a tree, peered around, and saw a wild Cinder Blaster; its wing held in the cruel jaws of a trap.
xxxxxKanah’s breathing quickened and he tightened his grip on the spear, debating on what to do: the beast was trapped; yes, and killing a trapped beast was cowardly, but only its wing was pinned, so it could still fight. In that case, killing it wasn’t cowardly. But still, it would be more impressive if he released it before he killed it.
xxxxxOh well, he thought with a shrug, I’d rather be not-so-impressive than dead.
xxxxxKanah stepped around the tree on high alert, and ducked as the dragon shot at him. The entire tree behind him collapsed in a pile of glowing embers and he gulped nervously.
xxxxxWith a jump and a roll he dodged another plasma blast and got a little nearer to the deadly animal, badly wanting to throw his spear, but he knew the dragon would blow it out of the air and then he would be defenceless. No. He had to get close enough to somehow plunge the spear into the enormous black body.
xxxxxSuddenly deciding on a plan, he lunged forward, dodging another blast, and at the same time he snatched a stick off of the leaf-strewn ground and threw it at the beast. And then, as the dragon was distracted with the ‘spear’, dashed forward, leapt onto its back, and held on for dear life as the enraged animal struggled desperately to throw him off.
xxxxxAn electric tingle ran through his body as he made contact with the feral creature.
xxxxxIgnoring it, he clutched a spike in one hand and his spear in another, before plunging the end of his weapon between two scales and deep into the dragon’s hide.
xxxxxFor some reason, the dragon’s agonized roar cut him to the heart, and, not thinking, he yanked the spear out of the beast’s flesh and was immediately thrown to the ground; knocked off by its desperate jerks.
xxxxxKanah landed hard and the jolt woke him up. What am I thinking? He snarled at himself. It’s an animal, for crying out loud! I should’ve killed it while I had the chance. He struggled to his feet and gritted his teeth as he adjusted his grip on his weapon, readying himself for the killing lunge.
xxxxxAs he approached the great creature it just sat, looking at him calmly but still with a hint of pained rage in its eyes, and it occurred to him to wonder why he was still alive: he had been helpless when it threw him off. With one shot of its plasma, the dragon’s enemy would have been a small pile of cinders. Why hadn’t it fired?
xxxxxKanah brushed the thought from his mind and raised the spear. It; or me, he told himself stubbornly.
xxxxxBut then the dragon gave him an almost crafty look and it shifted slightly, causing sunlight from a break in the trees to filter down and hit its scales.
xxxxxKanah’s eyes widened in shock. The Cinder Blaster is—green! he thought in confusion.
xxxxxHe looked the dragon in the eye and it winked, moments before it flicked its tail around and slammed him in the gut.

[Ranger of the North]

6

xxxxxKeera charged through the woods; intentionally being as loud as possible—snapping branches and rustling leaves—slightly glad to be rid of her know-it-all twin. She loved her brother, but he was annoying.
xxxxx“‘We need to sneak through the forest, Keera,’” she mocked, “’the dragons will either find us or run away.’ Well we want the dragons to come! We need the dragons to come”
xxxxxShe sighed, annoyed, as she crashed through the trees, and brushed her long blond hair out of her face before tying it back with a strip of treated dragon skin.
xxxxxHer hand suddenly shot to the hilt of her sword and drew it part-way out of its sheath as a growl sounded nearby and she froze, hardly daring to breathe. “Maybe I don’t want the dragons to come,” she murmured as she spun around. But there wasn’t a dragon in sight.
xxxxxHuh? she thought as she scanned her surroundings. And then she saw the rope. With a grin Keera sheathed her weapon and followed the string to a net encompassed dragon.
xxxxxShe wondered why the stupid creature didn’t just burn through the rope, and then noticed the wire covering its snout and realized it had, but luckily the net was reinforced with Blackwire.
xxxxxDrawing her sword for safety she paced around the glaring animal, inspecting it curiously. Strange, she thought, a silver Fire-thrower with white wings. Aren’t they usually the other way around? She decided to ask Kanah about it later.
xxxxxShe stopped her pacing and approached the dragon’s head, hesitantly slipping her hand through the net to touch the animal. A jolt travelled through her body and she jumped back, surprised. She couldn’t remember reading that Fire-throwers had small bursts of lightning, but that’s definitely what it felt like.
xxxxxShe shrugged the find off and placed her sword on the dragon’s head where, with one lunge, she would pierce its brain.
xxxxxBut something had changed after she touched it, revulsion was steadily growing inside her, staying her hand and making her brain search for any excuse to not kill it.
xxxxx“Ah ha!” Keera grinned suddenly. She had to let it go. It was cowardly to kill a defenceless dragon, but first she had better wound it to make it fight, rather than flee when she released it.
xxxxxStriding around to its leg she readied her sword, poised to strike, but then the dragon struggled and managed to twist its head around to face her.
xxxxx“You might not want to do that,” it growled.

[Ranger of the North]

7

xxxxxKanah slowly blinked awake and groaned at the pressure on his chest. A dark form loomed above him and he groaned again. Then he gasped as his vision cleared, and froze, heart racing wildly: the Cinder Blaster sat leering down at him, its heavy feet and sharp claws planted firmly on his ribs.
xxxxxKanah panted uncontrollably as the dragon opened his toothy mouth to fire and closed his eyes.
xxxxx“Just do it,” he gasped, although he felt stupid for talking to an animal. “Kill me quickly. Please.” Sweat broke out on his face, he felt sick and demented.
xxxxxBut instead he heard deep laughter and a voice spoke as something hard tapped his forehead. “You’re weird.”
xxxxxKanah hesitantly cracked his eyes open as the dragon cocked his head at him, studying him intently. “You can—talk!” he gasped in shock. “But, how? You’re an animal!”
xxxxxThe pressure on his chest increased slightly as the creature growled. “I’m as much an animal as you are, human,” he rumbled angrily.
xxxxx“Sorry, sorry, no offense meant.”
xxxxxThe dragon gave him a slightly puzzled look, “Aren’t you a—Commoner?” he asked uncertainly.
xxxxxKanah nodded, “But who cares about that? How are you talking?”
xxxxxThe dragon gave him a strange look. “Well, this is awkward.”
xxxxx“What is?”
xxxxx“Uh, we seem to have bonded.”
xxxxxKanah stared blankly for a few moments before bursting into hysterical, terrified laughter. “That’s insane! You don’t know what you’re saying, I’m a Commoner we can’t do that!”
xxxxx“I know,” the dragon complained, finally removing himself from the boy’s chest. “This is outrageous! You guys are dragon killers!”
xxxxx“Well,” Kanah struggled wearily to his feet, too worn out to make anymore fuss, “I’ve never actually killed a dragon before; only eaten them.” His face paled as he realized what he’d just said and the dragon snarled threateningly.
xxxxx“I mean—that is—”
xxxxxThe dragon shifted dismissively, “Meh. Sorry I growled at you, ‘cause on second thoughts I’ve eaten plenty of humans. It’s all the same, I guess: you’ve eaten my kind; I’ve eaten your kind.”
xxxxxKanah breathed a sigh of relief, but he felt odd at the same time. “I still don’t believe you’re my dragon, though. It’s impossible!”
xxxxxThe Cinder Blaster didn’t respond, only started and pricked his ears; fear plain in his eyes. “Here’s a test to see if you are my rider,” he began hurriedly, “the hunters of your village are coming. If you’re not my rider, you’ll be able to leave. Now go!”
xxxxxKanah chuckled and took to his heals, sprinting for the safety of hiding. But as he peered gleefully over his shoulder, his gaze landed once more on the dragon. And, to his surprise, he looked scared—terrified, in fact—and something made him stop.
xxxxxKanah stood, warring with himself; unsure of what to do; then, with a curse he spun around and dashed back to the dragon, who saw him coming and his eyes filled with hope.
xxxxxKanah ran straight past the creature and knelt next to the trap, pulling out the Blackwire pegs that held it all together to release the wounded wing.
xxxxxThe dragon pulled the limb out with a relieved jerk and pulled it in front of his snout, inspecting it with narrowed eyes.
The membrane was torn in several places, and blood oozed out of the gashes.
xxxxx“I can still fly,” he said, as even Kanah began to hear the marching boots of dragon killers. “Quick! Climb onto my back!” He stretched out his good wing and Kanah clumsily scrambled up it; wincing as he came into contact with the gash that he had made in the creature’s back; and seated himself where two spikes were absent at the base of the dragon’s neck, holding tightly with both hands.
xxxxxThe dragon quickly drove his wings down and soared into the air before swooping and snatching Kanah’s spear off of the ground and taking proper flight, soaring above the trees.
xxxxxHe flew for only about two kilometres while Kanah sat, staring into space and not daring to look down, trying not to lose his lunch; then landed heavily in a nearby clearing.
xxxxxKanah tumbled off and vomited; the jolt had unnerved him, and he was already terrified of heights.
xxxxx“Are you okay?” the dragon asked uncertainly. “I haven’t had much experience with humans. Is doing… that, normal?” he said as he flicked his forest green tail awkwardly.
xxxxxKanah laughed breathlessly, “No, throwing-up’s not normal. But yeah, I’m sorta fine.”
xxxxxA thought struck him suddenly as he staggered back and slumped against a tree. “What’s your name?” He already liked the dragon, feeling a certain connection with him.
xxxxx“I don’t have a human one,” the dragon replied. “That’s up for us to decide. What’s yours?”
xxxxx“Kanah.
xxxxx“How do we name you?” he asked curiously.
xxxxxThe dragon shrugged his wings.
xxxxx“What about Coal, then?”
xxxxxThe dragon tilted his head, considering, “I’m not black, though… I know! What about Ember?” he suggested.
xxxxxKanah made a face. “It’s a bit girly, isn’t it?”
xxxxx“So? If I’m obviously not a girl then what does it matter?”
xxxxxKanah tried, but he couldn’t come up with a reply so he nodded. “I like it.”
xxxxxHe tensed suddenly as the sound of snapping branches met his ears. “Something’s coming!” he cried. “Why didn’t you warn me?”
xxxxx“Because it’s someone who smells and looks like you,” Ember replied. “See?” He raised his front foot off the ground and pointed with one claw.
xxxxxKanah turned with wide, scared eyes, then relaxed as Keera came bounding out of the bushes.
xxxxxHer expression, as she noticed them, was first terror, then surprise and relief.
xxxxx“Kanah!” she said. “You’re a dragon rider?”
xxxxxHe nodded, ashamed for some reason. “But, please, Keera,” he said frantically, “don’t tell anyone. It’s not my fault,” Ember growled slightly and stirred, “and we’ll probably both be killed.”
xxxxxKeera grinned reassuringly, “I won’t, see?” She put her fingers to her lips and gave an ear-piercing whistle, and, a few minutes
later, a silver Fire-thrower flew down out of the clouds.
xxxxxKanah stared, mouth open and eyes wide. “You’re a rider too,” he breathed.
xxxxx“I know,” Keera frowned as the second dragon landed next to them with a thud. “How’d we manage that?”
xxxxxKanah barely noticed her question, he was distracted gazing from one dragon to another, wonder plain on his face. “We’re Commoners,” he murmured, “and we’re somehow dragon riders. And our dragons are unique. How does that even happen?”
xxxxxKeera hadn’t heard his words, and was speaking again, as he hadn’t answered her question. “What’s yours’ name?”
xxxxx“Ember.”
xxxxx“Ember? But isn’t that a girl’s—” Both of the dragons growled at her.
xxxxxKanah laughed. “Apparently not. What’s her name?”
xxxxxKeera grinned, “Launch.”

[Ranger of the North]

8

xxxxxShaska sighed as she walked down the hall, Taz clattering behind her, and Shadow with Rogue tagging along after. Why hadn’t her brother listened? Because of his foolishness, Alisha was now dead. True, visiting her might not have been enough to save her, but then again, it might have.
xxxxxAll of a sudden, a horrifying thought hit her and she ran back past Taz to Shadow, the hood on her jacket thumping against her back.
xxxxx“Rogue!” she exclaimed agitatedly. “When we went to Gordean, the guards left and we were attacked! Is it—did Alisha—”
xxxxxRogue’s face paled and Shadow moaned, fear and sadness in her eyes. “What have we done?” the boy murmured.
xxxxxTaz sensed something was wrong and turned back, nosing Shaska’s coat. “What’s up?”
xxxxxShaska rubbed his head and looked him in the eye. “We may’ve let the Commoners in: the guards were gone.”
xxxxxTaz drew back, shocked, and beat his navy-blue wings in distress. “Oh no!” he groaned, then crouched. “Quick! Get on my back!”
xxxxxShaska did so; wondering what he was planning as dread and guilt coiled in her stomach, and Taz leaped into the air. They flew the rest of the way to the training grounds where they were meeting with Alfsten and Teradun, and Taz explained what he was doing as he beat his wings with desperate speed.
xxxxx“The Commoners might not’ve attack through the Precipice Gate,” he said. “I need to find out, and Teradun and Alfsten will know. I so hope we didn’t cause Alisha’s death.”
xxxxxShaska patted him reassuringly but said nothing.
xxxxxThey touched down with a thump outside a pair of thick stone doors that blocked out the sounds of clashing metal, humming bows, and the solid thunk of spears and darts hitting targets.
xxxxxTaz nosed the door open and made his way inside the large room full of dragons, riders, and weapons. The room was crowded, but there were little walkways cutting between each group, so Shaska’s claustrophobia wouldn’t be a problem, here.
xxxxxEach training ground was dug a few metres into the rock, and Blackwire nets ran up the sides and extended into the air to protect people from stray arrows and clumsily thrown spears.
xxxxxShaska looked around as she and Taz moved forward, and spotted Alfsten and Teradun alone in one of the training grounds. “Over there,” she said, pointing.
xxxxxTaz rumbled his thanks.
xxxxx“Welcome,” Alfsten called as they approached. “You’ve finally arrived.” He smiled slightly.
xxxxxShaska didn’t respond; she wasn’t comfortable being herself around any humans except Rogue, and she was distracted with her guilt.
xxxxx“Alfsten,” she said urgently as she dismounted from Taz’s back, “where did the Commoners attack?”
xxxxx“The Southern Wall,” he replied, and Shaska clutched Taz in relief: they had only left the Precipice Gate undefended.
xxxxx“Now,” the older man said as Shadow finally bounded to a stop beside them, Rogue situated atop her back, “your training begins.”