Stumbling Through Shadows (for Arie, Drake, etc.)

[Annileya]

Twisting and turning, Anni awoke with a start to find herself surrounded by pitch darkness. After a few moments of panic, her vision began to come into focus and a dim light filled her field of vision. Her whole body ached and when she tried to sit up her head immediately began to pound.

Unable to turn her head, Anni strained to look at her surroundings. Every joint in her body ached and her body felt hot. The hair around her face was stuck together with sweat, but despite her temperature and the fire crackling next to her, she shivered.

A cool breeze lifted the blanket off her shoulders and she began to cough. Grimacing, she found herself unable to bend her elbows to pull it back up. Her throat felt dry and irritated and when she tried to speak only a hoarse moaning came out.

Even though she couldn't turn her head, she knew who was beside her. Kanah seemed to be in the same state she was, and though she tried as hard as she could to communicate with him, their minds wouldn't connect. He was as sick as she was.

Coughing, Anni began to panic. Where was Kali? Everything started coming back to her in flashes...the black girffon....the evil woman....Kali unstrapping herself from Anni....Kali's small snow white hand grabbing hold of the woman's poison claws. Beginning to cough and shed some tears, Anni struggled against the many blankets piled on top of her, trying her best to call out her daughters name. The pair of distant voices didn't even register in her hears.

[drake]

(hope Arie doesn't mind if I toss her into this post ^^)

The distant voices belonged to two dragoons, one a long lost hero, the other a rather important figure amongst the dragoon race. They stood just beyond the entrance to a room in the medical ward of the dragoon capital Pharlen. Carved deep into the heart of a mountain, few members of other races had ever even seen the magnificent city. Unfortunately, the dragoon race's numbers had depleted quite rapidly over the years of war. Despite their incredible power, their race was entirely reliant on the dragon spirits which still existed in Vaenon. Earlier that day, they received quite a shocking group of visitors, one of them thought to have been killed years ago. Drake had carried both Annileya and her mount all the way from the ravine near Arkazan to the front gates of Pharlen. After quite a long explanation (which was the only way Drake could even allow the rider and griffin into the city), Drake rushed the two to the medical ward of the city. Using powerful magic, the dragoons were able to remove the poison before it could cause permanent harm to either of them.

It was around this time that the leader of the dragoons, Keuarie, had arrived at the medical ward in order to "check up" on the newcomers. Drake had never left the ward's sight, so it wasn't long until the two had encountered one another and had begun discussing the current events.

"My lady, whoever it was that attacked this poor rider and her mount was affiliated with Seraphiel, of this I am certain. Surely the dragoons know better than anyone else what exactly we are dealing with, why have I not heard of any sort of resistance on our part??"

(bleh...crappy)

[Nitsua]

"Pardon my intrusion." a voice spoke from a corner, probably drawing eyes to the shinobi. The black outfitted ninja wearing the headpiece that glowed with six dots and a red scarf flowing around him with his chakra being channeled through it. "The reason is because information gatherers are rather low. And the attacks on other major cities have made it rather difficult." Nitsua spoke.

He glanced towards Drake, someone that he had seen several times before but never got to truly know. From him he then turned his attention briefly to the queen of the dragoons. He gave her a look over and then a nod. Then to the ones who where injured, but seemed to making a hasty recovery. He then turned his attention back to the two dragoons. "My village was attacked twice. One was successfully avoided with an evacuation. However, the second assault was from someone that knew of the hidden location of the refuge. More of Seraphiel's work. Though Mizukage and Arkazan are not the only places that have fallen into the creator's control. Rahn is in ashes and Amon Zoru is in no better conditions. He attacked my village because of a secret that's there. The other three, I'm guessing, was attacked because they possesed the greatest threat. There are refugees wandering in Vaenon. Several of my elite shinobi and the lower ranked ones have managed escape. They are awaiting word from me at the moment. I believe that Orion is more than likely wandering the world as well."

Nitsua looked everyone over. Wondering what they were going to say or how they would react. He looked back towards the white headed woman. He remembered her from Battle City that was six years ago. If he remembered correctly, she was currently with someone else that participated in the tournament. He remembered her first opponent though. The dragoon that should've won but held back instead. He gave the room a quick glance and noticed the dragoon of Bahamut was not here. A question of why entered his mind, but he dismissed it immediately. He knew that the wars that a certain demonic shinobi plunged this world into had caused dramatic change to the way people where. However, he figured the warrior wasn't one to walk away when he was needed.

[Keuarie]

There are looks that pass across faces that cannot quite be named. Perhaps it was one of these looks that claimed the Queen's, for never in her life had she felt such an odd rush of different emotions. Though her mind had calmly and resourcefully separated out the dilemmas, her eyes held an iciness rival to that of a glacier. She had once convinced herself that hate was undignified and immature. That to hate someone was to show weakness and submission to their wicked acts. And yet Arie's heart betrayed the wise words that were spoken and instead made her feel an strange blood lust for the man that had done all of this.

Tiamat was bitter. The dragon had seen every battle and every war, and though things had been horrid and deadly, never had she seen a man with this much raging ambition. He would indeed get his wish if he was not stopped. The dragon had roared her fury within her lady's heart, her spirit calling to that of all dragons as a rebellion was formed in secret. It was only a few days prior that such a rebellion had been mentioned to Arie. Apparently the anthromorphs had decided to be brave...led by a female anthro by the name of Ashara, the rogues abandoned their city and joined with allies to build upon an opposing group to Seraphiel's tyranny. The idea of a rebellion within the last surviving cities and open country was actually something Arie had been happy to hear.

So their hearts had not been ripped and torn after all... it was true then, that some people can never quite give up what they know to be right and treasured. Those who protected and defended their rights, beliefs, and people until the day that they died...those were warriors and heroes. Apparently, Vaenon was filled with quite a lot of them. Keuarie Nightlily sighed, casting her mismatching gaze upon the woman that occupied one of the many hospital ward's bed. A piece of her life had been stolen from her. Arie would get it back. It was her duty as a leader and her responsibility as a friend. Tiamat offered her silent agreement.

She turned her head to where the shinobi leader, Nitsua, entered the room as swift as a shadow. Only a few days ago he had arrived and brought the news with him. Though the dragoon leader had known of the attacks Seraphiel committed, she had not been aware of a secret within Mizukage. Of course, there had always been suspicions...that something powerful was hidden there... And yet Pharlen had secrets too...it had never been a well-thought out idea to investigate in another city or villages affairs. The Queen had never looked into it. Now, almost regretfully, she wished she would have known ahead of time.

"Might I introduce to you, Nitsua...Hokage of the village known as Mizukage. Nitsua, I do believe you know Drake. The young woman with him is called Annileya. If I am correct, the woman that attacked you is one of the well-known followers of Seraphiel. She's stronger than she looks and has been in charge of watching over Arkazan for awhile now. My sources tell me, however, that she has not returned. I suspect that your encounter with her led to this..." Keuarie's voice was even and thoughtful, holding the note of someone with authority. She was thinking things over carefully and coming to decisions that she would share with her advisers.

She turned to Drake next, referring back to the question he had proposed before. Her tone had become somewhat stale and emotionless. Her eyes held his gaze with a strange precision. "The dragoons have not been attacked yet for a reason. Seraphiel has waited...specifically to gather as many followers as possible...he will attack Pharlen last, when he is most prepared. It will be more than a simple battle. A war will be fought here. During the time you debated about what to do, a group has been forming. They say they are the Rebellion, and I have come to believe that we will need them desperately. I would like to seek them out, and I would like the city of Pharlen to join them. We cannot win this unless we join together. Alone, all our efforts will be futile against his growing power...with what is left of Vaenon...with what is left of those who have no given up just yet...we can stop him, even if it is at a great cost."

It was Keuarie Nightlily speaking. Not Tiamat. Not her father. Only little Arie, the girl that few thought would ever be able to fill her father's shoes. There was something inside her, alive and rearing to the position of a leader. She wanted to gain the acceptance of others and she wanted them to look upon her with trust. In this time of chaos, destruction, and ever-present darkness...Keuarie did not want to be viewed as the leader that let her people down. She knew that Nitsua would want to protect his village, or what was left of it. The two would have to bond with all other rebels... It was time that the real Rebellion began.

[drake]

Even though their numbers were few, Drake knew that the dragoons had power that if coordinated well enough, it could tip the scales in the resistance's favor. So why had they not launched a counter-assault yet? Even though Pharlen had not been attacked, it would be eventually, plus there was the disturbing fact that even while they were standing here doing nothing, cities were falling to Seraphiel's rule. Drake's ice-blue gaze fell upon Keuarie, his former leader from so long ago. He hated labeling people, but no matter what excuse the woman would give, Drake's faith in her was as shattered as the day he left his own race to pursue a life of solitude.

Suddenly, a voice from the shadows caused Drake's hand to instinctively move to his sword. Looking to where the source came from, the water dragoon was shocked to see a figure straight out of the past. Nitsua, the mysterious shinobi that had helped fight against the tyrant Diedriel in the World tournament years ago. After Drake had left that battle to return home with his beloved Marina, he'd heard awhile later that the shinobi was responsible for finally ending the madman's bloodthirsty reign of terror. What he didn't know was that Nitsua was now the sole leader of his own race. Had he known this, Drake might have gone up and punched the ninja in the gut for not being in his own village to protect his people from Seraphiel's assaults. How kind of Keuarie to fill those blanks in for him...

Hokage!? Isnt that the term the shinobi use for their leader?

Azure grumbled out a reply mentally to Drake, obviously sensing his partner's confusion and frustration which only grew as he found out more about what was going on. Azure was calm despite the situation, trusting in whatever Tiamat was advising. In the time of the Creators, she had lead the dragons against an army of Seraphiels, and had it not been for the awesome power of the Creators' weapons, the dragons might have been victorious.

Yes, it is Drake. Now calm yourself, Im sure Nitsua has his reasons for being here in person. Just be patient a little while longer. Besides, I think Keuarie is about to explain herself.

Drake let out an audible sigh, obviously having a difficult time "calming himself" at a time like this. Still, he kept his mouth shut and listened to what Keuarie had to say. Her answers did little to comfort him though, for it still did not explain why the dragoons had been so...reluctant to go up against Seraphiel directly. Was he really that powerful? What good would it do to wait for the Creator to come to them? Was he not growing stronger by the day? Perhaps the only good news was the mention of the Resistance group. At least someone out there was doing their part to keep Seraphiel from taking over all of Vaenon. He looked away from both Nitsua and Keuarie once she had finished speaking, his gaze falling briefly upon the griffin rider he had 'saved'. He knew she was in much more pain than what her wounds were showing. She had lost her daughter, and Drake had done little to nothing in order to save her. Still...there was the tracking device he'd left on the black griffin...

"Well that's all well and good, I agree that the only way to fight this bastard is to join forces. Still, I can't say that I'm a bit disappointed that the dragoons, myself included, have done little to nothing to try and stop Seraphiel. Once we meet up with this Resistance group, I say we go in, head on, to the source of all this. I may have been a bit of a coward by not acting soon enough myself, but at least I have a good idea of where Seraphiel's main base is..."

With that, Drake closed his eyes and began to concentrate. Water molecules fused and grew in midair, forming a watery mirror of sorts. In this mirror, black wings could be seen beating up and down in the corners, while straight ahead a sight which few not aligned with Seraphiel had seen yet. It was a crystal castle of sorts, floating thousands of feet from the ground. Drake let the image sink in a bit before he dispersed the spell, not wanting to be detected. He opened his eyes and turned to look at his "leader", crossing his arms and speaking calmer than he had before.

"...So there you have it. Now are we going to stop chatting and actually go do something?"

[Nitsua]

Something wasn't sitting right with Nitsua. Even though he was here, he felt that there was a bit of hostility towards him from Drake. Indeed, Nitsua wasn't at his own village, but he knew when the time came that the true strength of Mizukage would reveal itself and overthrow this current rule that was forced upon them. Now was simply a time for them to gather themselves together and to be prepared for it. The elites and ANBU knew what their orders are and would carry them without spilling out any information. However, the fact that it was a shinobi that had lead the force against them might make it a bit difficult to act at the very moment.

Nitsua listened to everything that was spoken while gazing back through a near by window. It seemed to be unnaturally dark and such things in Vaenon usually meant bad news. The world itself heavily affected by magic and when events such as this happened usually meant that another hope was snuffed out or currently unavailable. A knot formed in his insides from certain thoughts. Listening to the dragoons speaking to one another and then rearranging the pieces to the large puzzle that was Seraphiel's master plan. A unique trait that all shinobi posses, some better than others. Nitsua being the Hokage was one of the betters. However, Seraphiel's plan was very complex in a very simplistic way.

Some pieces went together perfectly, but many others were missing. He attacked Mizukage in an attempt to retrieve his weapon of choice. Amon Zaru was attacked because of the shear numbers of the anthromorphs. Arkazan was taken over because the ancient magics between rider and griffon making them a threat almost on par with that of the dragoons. And Rahn was destroyed because it was the humans that caused his downfall last time. However, it was other two cities that weren't attacked. Pharlen was still untouched when it posed a very large threat to the creator's attempt to cleanse this world. And the samurai capital was also untainted, probably because he wasn't worried about them.

Pharlen...was something that Nitsua's mind kept coming back to. When he gazed at the scrying mirror that Drake had conjured, he saw the same unnatural dark skies there, though they seemed to be darker. Obviously, because that was where Seraphiel's base was at, but there had to be something else. The shinobi's brain was working it's heart out, trying to find a reasonable cause to everything. Why was Pharlen not being attacked? Why was it not one of the first targets? Why is...

"Where is the king?" Nitsua spoke outloud with the sudden thought that had just entered his mind. He looked towards Keuarie and then at Drake as if expecting some sort of answer. More than likely he would hear the response that there is no king over Pharlen, so he decided to rephrase the question. "Where is the king of dragons?"