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#### 626Please respect copyright.PENANA1v6SB7GOP9
626Please respect copyright.PENANAXf7Ay8RjcK
The towering mass of vines was a domed juggernaut over 100 feet tall. Pulsing purple runes covered its domed surface.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAbXGSwBjhqX
The Acolytes numbered in the thousands chanting together as the slow moving dome reached the clearing in the Sinister Forest. With in the hour the dome was at the portal, and was sucked though it.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAbc0XNRuu0H
####
626Please respect copyright.PENANAiiM6gfy04h
Try
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The way is clear.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAMysUv6k4ru
Can't you hear it?
626Please respect copyright.PENANAtOzGDFimrj
Your spirit, she sings;
626Please respect copyright.PENANAq0I1XoGtIG
Upon a bird's wing;
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Out of the darkness,
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The heavy heart lightens.
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####
626Please respect copyright.PENANAgKGyihw3iG
Merryn awoke to a beast with yellow fangs close to her face. She shrieked, rolling away from it. Everything hurt. "Uhhgg." Where was everyone? She backed further. A hill? She frowned. Lighting and robes?
626Please respect copyright.PENANAlVDJqrQ2k4
Movement again.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAA7W6suAEjt
The creature spread it's clawed paws wide and murmured. A wind blew on the chimes that grew from the branches of the silver trees. Back here again? Can't wake up just once without anxiety inducing crap happening?
626Please respect copyright.PENANApZg3Wf8IPa
The creature moved forward. She reached behind, whipping her hand over the grass. Just twigs and grass. Slipping into her boots. They're gone!
626Please respect copyright.PENANAx85wiOxwfL
The creature sat on its haunches. Its eyes softened and mouth moved. Growling and mewing. Was—it talking?
626Please respect copyright.PENANAqJtwnrUKaR
It coughed, clearing its throat. "I'm Leo." He touched his chest.
626Please respect copyright.PENANA6cotUkQ5dU
She blinked.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAqE2JkJYJtf
"Merryn."
626Please respect copyright.PENANAYd9UMT3Jcb
The crea—Leo smiled, a very pointy one, but none the less a smile. She chuckled. Is this a sick dream?
626Please respect copyright.PENANAIg86dCI94W
He rubbed his chin saying nothing, studying her.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAtf81ZF8dKJ
"How? Why?" She relaxed some and crossed her legs. The grass was wet and cold from the morning dew.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAAYoUY5SFq7
"I was little, you saved me. Remember?" He spaced his paws appart closing the distance between.
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Saved him? ... She rubbed her neck.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAalTNA8a0nz
Leo mewed and sighed.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAqvMmubQoyt
"Do that again." A memory tugged at the corners just out of reach.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAOWODdL2B5W
His fuzzy ears twitched. "Mewww."
626Please respect copyright.PENANAmlzWcJcJP8
"You were that pup?"
626Please respect copyright.PENANA5iR1YHi0Se
"Yes! I was too afraid to talk back then."
626Please respect copyright.PENANAUCoYzgQoqq
She moved closer. "So, why?"
626Please respect copyright.PENANAt8FdS0daGk
He moved slow and even to the firepit between them.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAkp9fNMxC6I
"You're all I had back then. It's silly, I guess."
626Please respect copyright.PENANAvCypBg5elj
He placed a few logs on the fire, then touched each log with a fire stone. Nice. She held her hands out and rubbed them.
626Please respect copyright.PENANA2BTB6I4RQE
A large bird feathered of orange and yellow landed behind Leo, it stretched its neck; peering, then turned to Leo.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAY0UGvhXcOZ
"A force is coming this way. You both need to go."
626Please respect copyright.PENANA443NzxiiYL
"Who is this?" said Merryn.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAEHxVUxop7t
"Call me Blaze. Little time. Go!"
626Please respect copyright.PENANAt5zs3TVtdY
She turned back around and hugged Leo with her wings, then took off into the sky. Sparks jumped between the trees that she passed.
626Please respect copyright.PENANA68t2vilL52
Behind a sight that wouldn't sink in at first. Maxwell was walking toward her with Jason and a young man following.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAEPAtk1SjYR
She held a breath. Will he ever quit?
626Please respect copyright.PENANAf3WWfBEL26
"Don't bother running. I'll find you again. Come back before its too late," Maxwell said.
626Please respect copyright.PENANApCqSCk5LXw
Turning, she ran, with Leo following. Too weak right now to fight. She stumbled, retaining balance before face met with the ground.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAOtEbrQti4j
Blaze circled overhead diving, her beak wide open. A light within brightening her maw.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAGzPmuvRQhf
Leo pulled her again. "Have to go faster it's going to get hot."
626Please respect copyright.PENANAK320RAu7Hd
Blaze breathed down a tourch of flame at Maxwell and troupe.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAoVVhZSYFcM
The trees instantly set ablaze, waves of heat singed her body.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAEtQS2C3h3p
"Run!"
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Taking his paw she shouted out a prayer for haste. Her body thrummed, a heat spreading through, this passed over to Leo. He tried to talk, but the loud wind whistled overriding his voice.
626Please respect copyright.PENANA1k1jZBdmEo
The trees on the right sparked with lighting, the metal glowing and some melted down to a lump of slag. Maxwell now along side not more then twenty feet away turned. The sharp look ate across the distance.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAywrrl4F8jd
Her heart tightened. She pushed on going faster, pulling Leo with.
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Leo gestured straight ahead.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAiGtf5Piibn
Nodding, she weaved between the trees, leggs and arms burning. The prayer spell is wearing off, have to get away now!
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Leo pointed down.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAOKFdUjH1XD
A short ledge with a lake below, jumping she pulled him with. Getting caught by him again, can't bear it. After emerging from the cover of the water the night lit up.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAlwDEtHO7X7
Blaze truly a creature of fire was set against the night sky with her wings spread out as a halo over her head. Her shrill edged cry, directed at Maxwell.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAHbgAQUMzZk
Past Maxwell the half grown chicks huddled together shivering. Maxwell's lighting bolts hit only a hands spread away.
626Please respect copyright.PENANA2LK9CZNaxW
"My babies! Die!"
626Please respect copyright.PENANAd7cmYxPoF8
She breathed in her throat glowing, then breathed out a swirling tourch that grew taking on the shape of a fanged dragon, this bolted at Maxwell.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAl1xg62ya5z
A bright bolt of lightning snaked up from the forest it hit Blaze's chest. Her yelp of pain ecoed throughout the forest.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAj3xxbT4Uzn
Leo stood there mute, shaking. His furied face contorted one of pure rage. Fat tears rolled down his face leaving wet tracks.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAe0XjCAwsYV
Blaze lurched mid flight flapping franticly as she spun falling at an angle toward Maxwell.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAEOEKvddRVG
"We have to go. I'm sorry." She pulled on Leo's arm.
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"They will be," he said. His tone harsh and cold.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAJD04YtU3eh
They both ran for the rest of that night; stopping only to catch their breath.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAcjoiehvZmw
An earth cracking squawk filled the forest near dusk, then a thump.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAIn4TXWISpe
His ears perked up, swiveling behind.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAmEAqrVQkGq
"She's tough."
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His face relaxed some and smiled a little.
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"Yes."
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####
626Please respect copyright.PENANAJSpOkiksQT
On a grassy hillside south of the forest a thudding vibration jolted through the soles of her boots.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAw5yFiXRNGI
I need you to get on a ship; now that it's impossible to go back, thanks to that pizz of a bird!
626Please respect copyright.PENANAHBW2TS3VXJ
She startled, Unnameds thoughts loud.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAB35uCJByMt
What are you talking about?
626Please respect copyright.PENANAehf6IPrmfl
A port town is ahead at the bottom of the hill, go to it.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAF93OOO0zhE
No.
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Then I'll make you.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAlrpArPbxQ6
The prayer for the haste spell tumbled out. She ran off ahead, leaving Leo behind.
626Please respect copyright.PENANA3ykTXoIXzY
"Hey! Wait!"
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Her mouth clamped shut before she could speek.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAyauwxI7Qvy
We will go further Southwest the port isn't far.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAdLgt0iVXCp
She ran down the grassy hill.
626Please respect copyright.PENANA95Bxf65eLQ
"Merryn?" Leo yelled her name repeatedly.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAq5Y8P2VTmP
A few minutes later and his shouts faded.
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####
626Please respect copyright.PENANAtb5bYaZK9V
A day later exhausted, Unnamed still pushed her to speed walk, her legs burned and her feet hurt. Sweat drenched her back.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAfxfnzqQsTP
Just let me rest.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAFt3PZTAJCe
After, keep going. Unnamed's thoughts were faint.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAROKEFrcOlk
Guess it wore him out too, good.
626Please respect copyright.PENANA2EzhPAMLIr
Screeching of Sealarks filled her ears, a warm breeze carried with it the briney salt of the ocean. The ocean sucked even more then usual. The sea was calm this day.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAWLXSYqhSed
Off ahead a long line of workers carried barrels of goods. Further down past was a bustling port harbor with several ships tied to the long docks.
626Please respect copyright.PENANABbIPFaHCOY
A bell clanged bong-dong, and the workers stopped what they were doing. They all went and stood in line at a booth, a skinny man handed them each a pouch, after they went into town.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAt5DSaY4UVK
Unnamed held her locked in a walk, until the last one left the docks. Legs pumping he pushed her into a sprint to the largest ship. On its side it read: cloudy sphere.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAe5LJgdKoue
Unnamed had her wisper to Kage, the shadows flowed over.
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Too sunny out, it's going to break in a few seconds.
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More then enough time.
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The shadows broke just as feet touched a slanted plank that went up to the ship. It looked empty. She checked from bow to stern; empty.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAQ4FL9sQ581
The entrance to the hold was next to the captains room under the helm. This was all at the back of the ship. Unnamed had her sit right on the deck.
626Please respect copyright.PENANA3dp8DcQwdx
Now you wait.
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Do I even want to know?
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Yelling and screaming from down the docks and footfalls nearby.
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Leo walked up.
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"Get up! Come on!"
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Reaching out with a paw he tapped her shoulder.
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"Our master is growing week, don't muck this up."
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Leo snapped around and turned back, crouching down. He started to speak, but fell over his fur smoking.
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Poor Leo, should have kept going.
626Please respect copyright.PENANA87WETiH0hw
"Toss it into the brig, it may have uses later."
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"Now, how to get you to behave?"
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Swinging his staff in an angle. She closed her eyes and tried to bear down before it hit. Seconds passed buy, she peeked.
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Kar walked up the plank, and stood beside Maxwell.
626Please respect copyright.PENANA3l0rIyM4yb
"Interesting, why don't you move?" said Maxwell.
626Please respect copyright.PENANA8AZYaHgL02
Kar went to Leo pushing him onto his side.
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"Monster, why do you interfere?" He let out a heavy breath. I've had enough problems this week dealing with that infernal overgrown chicken." Kar shook his sholder. Leo's eyes rolled back in his head.
626Please respect copyright.PENANAog55k4rNFL
"You didn't have to kill it Max."
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"Its not dead."
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He snapped his fingers and and several Acolytes scampered up onto the ship beside him.
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"Go, and inform Nukpana that we are here, and to finish with her preparations."
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"It will be done." They scurried off the ship.
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He blocked two of them from leaving with an outstretched arm.
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"Drag the bugbear to the brig like I said."
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"Yes Sir!"
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There was much huffing and puffing as they dragged him to an open area leftside of the captain's room. His arms floped and it was dreadful how his head thumped as they dragged him down the stairs.
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Maxwell bent down touching her shoulder. She couldn't even flinch as Unnamed still held her ridged.
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He took out a tiny purple paper lamp and lit it; he blew the smoke on her face, and then circled around her making several rings of smoke. These rings closed and then dispersed.
626Please respect copyright.PENANArVXL1P4cqp
"Unamed is asleep now, but it won't do so for long. Get up, don't do anything stupid or I'll execute the beast."
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He touched her nose with his pointer finger. "Savvy?"
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"Yes."
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She stood rubbing her stiff neck. How to get out of here? Why did Unnamed do this? Leo ...
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Kar moved to the port side of the ship and looked out to the sparkling ocean. The others immediately tended to different jobs. Some checked the lines while others checked the Main sail. After they were done, they stood ready.
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Maxwell went to the middle of the deck.
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"Hoist the sails! And watch that boom!"
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He flashed her a look; it really was a flash that blinded. Her eyes watered and squeezed out the sides of her eyes. He clasped her arm and pulled her forward, then pushed from behind.
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"Hey!"
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"Move."
626Please respect copyright.PENANAUmPDMCl9UW
"Do I look like a rag doll to you? I'm going–"
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He pushed her to the captains quarters, closed the door and locked it.
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The sway of the boat almost put her to sleep, she rolled up into a ball with her head tucked up to her knees. Is it over?