1x1 Coffee Dragon

[DragonDream]

✴Phlegethon✴

"But, you wouldn't be in this mess had I not been here. None of this is right. Even if I somehow get home, nothing will be the same." Clutching his arms close to his sides he closed his eyes. "Do you really think I will ever make it back? Truly?"

[ColorCoffee]

||Seraphine||

She got up and walked over to him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Absolutely. Magic may have gotten you here, but science will get you back. Science hasn't failed me yet. All I need to do is figure out how they got you here, than I can work on a formula to reverse the spell and then we'll have you back home in no time. Things may not be the same, but sometimes change is good. You're father is the celestial of nature right? Nature is full of change, all the time, and it's considered good. I'm sure things will be fine once you get used to this change."

[DragonDream]

✴Phlegethon✴

Phleg wasn't fully convinced himself, but if Seraphine believed, it would have to do for the time being. "Okay," he nodded, a tired resolve on his face.

[ColorCoffee]

||Seraphine||

Seraphine left him and went back to her side of the fire. "Well, we better get some sleep. We have a lot of ground to catch up on."
-----
The three awoke early the next morning, just before the sun came over the horizon. The next town was closer than Seraphine had originally thought. They didn't spend too much time there. Just long enough to stock up on supplies and buy new clothes for Phleg since he out grew the other pair. Seraphine could only hope that they had enough to keep them alive in Krogestede. They wouldn't be going in to far, just far enough to where no one would follow them. She only planned to stay there for three days. Surely they could make it that long.

Soon enough they made it out onto the main road again. By about noon, the road ended. "Well, this is the start of going into uncharted territory. Are you ready?" She looked over to Phleg.

[DragonDream]

✴Phlegethon✴

Phleg spoke little, still feeling drained and weary even after getting enough rest. He could only guess that his growth was adding to the stress that his body was undergoing already. Part of him wondered if he could just shape shift to be older. After all, his father took on many forms. This felt like it was out of his control though, and he wasn't about to risk trying anything as tired as he was, especially since his powers were so volatile and mysterious. Questions of that nature occupied his mind to distract him from all that had happened, but there would be moments where he would thing about the attack and feel ill again. When Seraphine spoke he nodded, looking out ahead of them. "I'm ready."

[ColorCoffee]

||Seraphine||

Hours had past and the temperature had dropped drastically. When they stopped to eat, Seraphine made Phleg put on another two layers of clothes, along with herself. She even put a little something on Gnash for good measure.

She took out her map and looked at the surrounding area. "Well, I think it is safe to say, we've made it to the border. Stay alert, there is no telling what kinds of animals live out here, if there are any. They'd have to be unbelievably strong to survive these conditions." As she looked up she noticed snowflakes falling. She also noticed a dark cloud off in the distance. "Must be a snow storm. We should be fine." she pointed to the mountains. "We'll head that way and search for a cave. I think that would be our best bet for hiding out." Without waiting for any sort of response she began to walk off.

The mountains were farther away than she had thought. It was nearly sundown and they were only about half way there. They couldn't stop though. She new they wouldn't survive a night out in the open like this. She stopped and looked back. It was too far to head back to the woods. She sighed. She really hoped that they would be safe after all this. Surely the group wouldn't think she'd be stupid enough to go this far. She could only hope that reverse psychology was on her side. She looked up again and noticed the dark cloud had come closer. It was only a matter of time before the snow storm would be upon them.

A few more hours passed and the sun was just at the horizon. They had made good progress, but they definitely wouldn't be at the mountains before the sun completely disappeared. Seraphine was beginning to get worried. She knew coming into Krogestede would be dangerous, but she thought she could make it past the first day at least. She stopped and took the bag off her back. They would be needing light soon, so she make a makeshift torch. Once it was properly lit, she put the bag back on her back and looked to Phleg, "We should be there soon. I think I can already make out a cave opening from here." She turned back around and began to start walking again, but before she could even get a step in she heard Gnash let out a whimper. She quickly turned around and saw him limp on the ground. "GNASH!" she cried in horror. What had been so quick to attack them without them noticing? She didn't notice any blood, but before she could check on him, she felt a sting in the back of her neck. She instinctively reached back and felt something. She pulled it out and looked at it in the light of her torch. "A dart?" She turned to look at Phleg, but as she did she felt light headed and her vision went blurry, she fell to the ground. Before she went down she noticed the dart that had landed in Phlegs neck. She tried to call out to him but before she could, her vision went black.
-----

Seraphine's head was pounding, the sound of muffled voices woke her. It was hard to make out what was being said. She struggled to open her eyes. When she finally managed she was very disoriented. Nothing looked quite right, though it was hard to tell because everything was being lit by a single torch. It appeared that everything was...upside down? She tried to move, but couldn't. She looked up and discovered that she was being suspended in the air by her feet. Her hands had also been bound behind her back. Panic ensued. "PHLEG!" she cried out, "PHLEG WHERE ARE YOU?" She looked around and just happened to spot him on the opposite side of the room. He was not suspended upside down, but appeared to be more bound up then she was. "Phleg, can you hear me?"

[DragonDream]

✴Phlegethon✴

Slowly blinking the overwhelming grogginess from his eyes Phleg tensed, confused as to why he couldn't move. The last thing he remembered was watching Seraphine make a torch... Straining to move his eyes began to adjust to his surroundings. His immediate reaction was to panic when he realized that he was tied up. Struggling against the binds that seemed to be holding him from every possible angle he soon tired out, head swimming. In the dim light he could see that across the room Seraphine was dangling from the ceiling. For a while things were quiet, and at rough intervals he attempted to slip from his bindings, but to no avail. Eventually her screams startled him and almost caused him to fall over from his already precarious position. "Yes," he croaked miserably as she called out to him.

[ColorCoffee]

||Seraphine||

She let out a sigh of relief. Thankful that he was still alive. Below her, Gnash let out a sad whimper. "Oh good. You're ok Gnash." knowing the two of them were alive calmed her down a little. "I'm going to figure out how to get us out of here." As she said that the muffled voices stopped and a light appeared in the distance. She could hear foot steps coming closer. They seemed to echo, making them sound even louder.

A large figure stopped at the entrance of whatever room they were in. With the added light source it appeared that they were in a room made of rock.

"Identify yourself." the low voice boomed and made Seraphine's head pound. "I said Identify yourself now."

With out much thought she cried out, "Seraphine, my name is Seraphine."

"Where did you come from?"

She didn't say anything.

"I said..."

"Yes, I know what you said, it's hard to think or even speak when I'm being suspended upside down. Cut me down first then I'll answer your question."

The man looked behind him, nodded his head in understanding then took his spear and cut the rope holding Seraphine up. She hit the ground with a heavy thud. She let out a cry of pain.

"Now, where did you come from?"

"Darma." she said wincing. She looked up at the man, "What do you want with us?"

He didn't say anything, he just walked off. Before leaving the room he turned to another figure who had been standing at the entrance the entire time. The second figure nodded. The large man turned back to Seraphine, "The silver chief will be in soon to decide your fate."

"Wait!"

He just kept walking

[DragonDream]

✴Phlegethon✴

When another person walked into the room he tensed, looking to Seraphine with wide eyes. As she was cut down his stomach lurched as he watched her hit the ground, the urge to start fighting his bindings rising. When the man walked away Phleg watched the dark space where they had come from. "What does this mean? Seraphine who are these people?"

[ColorCoffee]

||Seraphine||

"I...I Don't know." she said voice shaking. "I don't recognize the accent or the clothing."