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Chapter 6

Alex stepped away from the wall as it cracked then he stepped out of the wall well not Alex per-say more a copy or a replica, it was a golem created and shaped in his likeness by Runetide Alex had, in turn, imbued it with his personality Alex looked at his double.

'become me, look after mum and remember to do your homework, this one may take some time,' he said, then he turned ran and jumped over the balcony.

It was a five-meter drop he landed softly in the back garden in the corner of the garden where two fences met there was a shadow, it was like a normal shadow but deeper, darker and also more sinister Alex walked over to it he took a deep breath and braced for the chill and stepped in.

A massive clawed hand, one the size of a small tank reached out, grabbed Alex and pulled him into the shadow there was a brief moment of suffocating blackness and he was back in the normal world.

In an alleyway.

'So, who's doing bad things?' Alex asked Runetide, who after going through the very painful experience of compression now looked like a human.

'A dragon named Aya' Runetide replied, 'the only problem is she is very good at blending in and we don't know what she looks like well we do but not out of her dragon form, but we do know that she will be in this street at some point soon she will be a tall female and most likely look as if she owns the place.'

'So how do we find her?'

'Follow me' Runetide said her voice lowered they walked out of the ally, they were at the intersection of two main roads, there were so many cars they were in one of Archaiser's smaller towns there where shops cafes and people, the sidewalk was not full but there were a lot of humans and lycanthropes going every which way, some were walking dogs which Alex found ironic, some were eating or drinking in cafes it smelt like a typical street asphalt, coffee and cars with a side of sea salt.

How on earth are we going to find one person in this crowd Alex thought, he did like it when things were simple there was a dragon doing bad things, Runetide and himself would knock them the fuck out and put them in jail, then Alex saw someone a female tall looking both like she owned the place and like she did not want to be seen look furtively around and duck into another ally way.

'And that's our cue' Alex said, they followed what may or may not have been there target, as she made her way towards somewhere eventually, they emerged into the dock districts, Runetide and Alex looked around.

'We need to split up I'll take left you take right' Runetide said, 'standard search pattern, I'll call for backup.'

Alex nodded and they split up, searching for Aya through the docks.

Interlude 2

Arious awoke he looked around, the morning light was filtering through the trees and birds where singing he could even make out a kookaburra, he stood he loved being in his own skin and he loved his tail it was very helpful when it came to balancing he loved his muzzle, and his spines that ran down his back, he loved being himself. He sighed he was going on a date today which meant was going to have to change back into a human, from he almost regretted this but it was worth it to see Quinn and she was bringing the food as well so that was one less thing for Arious to worry about. he resolved to stay a dragon until he reached there favourite spot in the forest. As he walked Arious reached up and brushed the tops of the trees they were soft to the touch and felt like home, then as he neared the clearing where Quinn and him had first kissed which was now there meeting place, he slipped on the necklace on and felt himself return to a human shape and size, he walked into the clearing waiting for Quinn to arrive, through the trees Arious could just make out the grey wall of the dam he looked at it was sheer and imposing he looked around at the trees he close his eyes listening to the sounds of the forest, he was broken out of his revelry when he heard Quinn's approach as she walked through the trees and ferns towards him.

'Hey there Quinn,' Ash said, standing and embracing Quinn as she walked into the clearing carrying a basket of food.

'Hey there Ash,' she said hugging him back.

Then Ash herd something like a dull thump then something else, was that a cracking? Ash let go of Quinn suddenly and turned.

'What's wrong Ash?' Quinn asked concerned.

'You in my mouth now' Ash said.

'How, what' Quinn said, 'your not-'

Ash breathed in 'look he said I'm not exactly human ok, my real name is Arious'

'Ash I don't understand' Quinn said, looking concerned.

Arious ripped off his necklace dropping it to the ground he saw Quinn's expression change as he unleashed his true from the thirty-five-meter tall bipedal dragon light grey scales horns wings and all he stood towering over Quinn he flexed his hand feeling his true skin.

Quinn screamed.

'We don't have time' Arious said.

Quinn tried to run Arious grabbed her and shoved her in his mouth, then the dam wall exploded a wall of water flew towards Arious impossibly high, he would never be able to fly up in time the wall of hungry dark water his Arious he dug in bracing himself as the wall of dark hungry water came at him and the wall of dark water hit him, hit him hard it was like concrete he was lifted and thrown around like a rag dole he just made sure to keep his jaws closed but he was failing around in the water trying to grab something his knee his something hard he almost cried out in pain then his hand found something solid earth then he managed to grab something, and held on for dear life his arms burned but he just held on he didn't know how long, but eventually the water started to calm down and lower until Arious could stand and opened his jaws Quinn tumbled out into Arious's hand she was breathing heavily.

'A-Ash is that you?'

Arious nodded slowly, 'this is not the way I would have chosen to show you, but well I didn't have much of a choice.'

'Ash, sorry Arious could you put me down please?'

'Yes, sorry I just' Arious gently lowered his hand, 'I'm sorry I just.'

'Didn't know how to tell me you were a dragon and part of a ring of terrorists?'

'Hey' he said, 'not all of us are trying to put dragons into the place they do not deserve ok' he sat down the ground was a mess wet dirt and bits of dam and trees broken and washed away, and not a blade of grass to be seen 'dam it' he said 'everything is going to shit, you know I'm a dragon Aya is trying to kill me' Arious fell sideways the ground shook he closed his eyes 'why, why me can't someone else do this.'

Arious fell to his surprise Quinn's hand on his snout, 'you're a dragon Ash and do you know what? I don't give a rat's ass, you're still the same person, just a little taller.'

Arious felt a warm sensation flood through him he looked at Quinn she was so small now he moved his head so he could see her better.

'Thanks for understanding' he said then he snorted, 'look I'm sorry I didn't tell you; dragons don't exactly have a good rep and I thought that you would I duno.'

'Hate you?' Quinn said, 'no, no, no Ash, no sorry Arious, no I would never hate you yes this was a surprise and you might have mentioned it once in the last eight years but Arious, I'm sure you're just a much a kitten now as you were five minutes ago.'

'Wanna scratch me under the chin and find out?'

Quinn obliged smiling and scratched Arious's light grey scales under his chin, she stifled a laugh when he did indeed purr.

They both laughed and sat down for a while under the sun then Arious sat up 'would you like a ride home? It may be quite a walk'

'Sure' Quinn said, 'so long as I don't have to ride in your mouth again.'

'I make no promises' Arious said smiling as he picked up Quinn, 'you know I cannot understate how amazing to feels to be in my true form' he said as he walked Quinn home, 'I spent so long wondering what you would say how you would react and then you just accept me.'

Quinn gently stroked Arious's palm, 'you're so cute when your nervous you talk a lot.'

They arrived outside Quinn's house a two-story brick building her room was on the top floor so Arious carefully made his way up the slope luckily the water had not reached the top of the valley, he hunkered down and held his hand out just in front of Quinn's bedroom window she opened the window and clambered inside blowing him a kiss as she closed the window, Arious turned and looked over at the devastation caused by the dams destruction, almost all of the forest was gone washed away and it was all just churned up mud and Quinn knew he was a dragon, his parents were going to kill him.

But first with Quinn safe he had to confront Aya then he needed his mum, then he would find Aya and they would arrest her then Arious and more importantly Quinn would be safe, then there was a voice from behind him Aya stood there.

'You are annoyingly hard to kill' she said but she wasn't angry she seemed genuinely sad, 'I didn't want to have to kill you I think you're a nice guy but I can't have you telling people, and yes Quinn will also have to go.'

Arious growled low the spines on his back rising.

Aya looked genuinely sad, 'I'm so sorry about this but I would have thought you would have accepted.'

'Quinn' Arious cried, 'get out of here take your mum and go now.'

Quinn looked out the window and watched Arious and Aya collided both roaring they both rolled down the hill Quinn's mum opened the door.

'Did you see the flood-'

'you need to go now' Quinn said before her mum could say anything more, 'Arious will buy you time.'

'Who's?'

'No time.'

They both ran down the stairs.

Quinn picked up something throwable as she ran out the door

'Get in the car mum' Quinn said, 'drive to Arious sorry Ashe's home and call for his mum tell her Aya is trying to kill her son.'

'What about you?"

Quinn hefted the vase, 'be right back'

'You can't just they will kill you'

'No' Quinn said, 'Aya will try now JUST GO.'

Quinn stated down the hill She heard the car start behind her.

Arious collided with Aya, most of his body protesting against physical action they both landed with a wet squelch in the mud Arious pushed away and scrambled to his feet, already covered in mud his legs hurt and his knee was throbbing from where he had hit it and his arms where burning and still he raised his fists.

'I'm so sorry' Aya said, 'I don't want to kill you-'

'Shut up' Arious roared, 'and fight me.'

Aya shrugged and charged at Arious the mud seemed to cling to Arious's feet he struggled to move to block her punches her kicks. Aya hit Arious with an uppercut then her foot slammed into his chest, Arious hit the ground the earth trembled, Aya put one foot on Arious's chest his light grey scales turned brown by the mud she lifted her foot up but then something struck her leg. Both Arious and Aya looked and saw Quinn sanding there definitely.

'Insolent little' bug she spat turning to face Quinn, 'how your race is so weak how did you even manage to dominate this planet?'

'Because we're smart.'

Arious tried to get up then Aya's tail wiped out and smashed into Quinn, she was lifted off her feet and thrown several meters she landed in a heap.

Rage flowed through Arious he raked his claws along the back of Aya's leg she howled in pain. Arious in one smooth movement smashed the back of Aya's legs and then he stood, taken by surprise Aya didn't move for a second, Arious lashed a kick into her side something gave way and Aya curled up into a ball with a roar of pain.

Arious turned and ran over to Quinn he scooped her up she wasn't moving her chest was still her eyes closed, her hair, her beautiful light brown hair spread around her, Arious began to cry and held Quinn to his chest his wings folded around himself sheltering Quinn's body. His tears began to flow in earnest and two dragons gathered around him one of them holding manacles the other grabbed Aya and led her off somewhere the strange dragon skinned had a human riding on her shoulder, but Arious wasn't paying attention.

Quinn sat up it was dark she didn't know where she was but it was warm then gradually her senses came back she was most definitely not dead, but it was dark Quinn looked around it was dark then there was a flash of grey and gold then Quinn sat up sucking in a breath and feeling the warm scales below her fingers.

'Arious?' She asked she felt the scales shift below her and suddenly she was looking into Arious's brilliant blue eyes, she was sitting in his hand she could see the tears in his eyes.

'You're alive.'

'Yep,' Quinn said, 'Not a very smart thing to do.'

Arious lifted Quinn up and gently nuzzled her.

'I cannot believe your still alive.'

Quinn hugged him back and then Arious held Quinn to his chest she could feel his heartbeat, 'don't you ever leave me again' he murmured.

'I won't' Quinn said 'ever.'

She fell asleep there in Arious's hand he stood Quinn's mother was due home soon so Arious sat there his legs crossed his tail wound around them and his wings folded in things could only get better from here on out except for his mum why had she told Aya? He was going to find out but first, he looked down at Quinn as a car approached, he gently licked her she sired.

'Uptime sleepy head' he said.

'I hate you' Quinn said, 'I was having a nice dream.'

'Thanks' Arious snorted 'I love you too.'

Chapter 6 continued

Runetide pick Alex up after they dropped of Aya to a prison and made sure all the restraints were in order no one wanted her growing to full size in the middle of yard time, or just punching threw the cell wall, then when Alex asked Runetide here they were going she said they were going to save everyone, she dropped Alex off with instructions on were to meet her tomorrow, they were going to do something illegal it turns out that was going to be on a big cargo carrier, but with no cargo weird Alex thought as he looked around the deck then he did a double-take Runetide's head was floating out of the deck, weirder mostly because her head was not attached to the rest of her body it was just there.

'Hi,' she said.

'Hi, there' Alex said.

Alex looked at the floating head of the blue-skinned dragon.

'Nice trick.'

'Yes, it is thank you' she was grinning.

'So how did you do this one' Alex was intrigued as actually to how Runetide had managed this one.

'Well, I basically turned the metal into a liquid.'

'You sound rather smug about the whole thing.'

'That's because I am, observe' she closed, her eyes concentrating.

Before Alex could work out what she had said the metal around his feet liquefied below his feet and he dropped through the metal deck of the boat, Runetide caught him before he hit the hull of the ship.

'Can you not do that' Alex was a little peeved Runetide sat down on the hull of the ship Alex In her hand, Runetide just smiled and gently placed Alex down and then sat down herself.

Alex and Runetide where on a cargo ship headed for Archericon there Runetide was going to meet up with an old friend and in Runetide's words, something big was about to go down. Alex and Runetide were going to bring back the dragons.

Alex sat feeling the bottom of the ship's hull it hummed gently so 'when are we going to get there' Alex asked.

'In about ten hours' Runetide said, she didn't look up from lying down position 'I'll be like killed on sight remember? I paid a lot of money for this trip and so the crew would stay silent, then tell the nearest official to look very far away for where we actually are, and we will jump ship before they reach port this is going to take time.'

Alex groaned Runetide groaned.

'I'm so bored' Alex said.

Runetide rolled onto her back and brushed her hair out of her eyes.

'Just entertain yourself' she said.

'But I'm borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd' Alex said.

Runetide lashed out grabbed Alex and through him straight up, he sailed through the deck over the railing and hit the water Alex's head broke the water just in time to see Runetide leap up and over the railing. The boat rocked and she hit the water and Alex went under, He thought about the runes on his collar bone and felt the burning on his neck he looked around now able to breathe under the water.

He looked around the water was still he was only three or so meters under the water and light filtered through the water before being swallowed by the murky depths it was so serene, Alex blinked and there she was floating there her hair around her head.

I felt her conciseness next to mine and let her into my mind.

So, shall we?

yes, Runetide dived straight down disappearing into the abyss.

I followed her down, hey I thought we were supposed to be meeting your friends.

Runetide sighed which was an achievement over a psychic link, I know but oh I just love it in the water.

We went swimming in cradle mountain last week.

Alex couldn't see now it was pitch black he looked around it was cold down here he could barely see his outstretched hand, he closed his eyes and concentrated he felt a tingling in his hand and there was a glowing orb floating in his hand.

Runetide where are you?

Oh, you know around.

Cool so what are your friends going to do to bring back the dragons.

Runetide hesitated it's well complicated then she materialized out of the darkness below Alex upside-down kicking her legs gently she drifted up towards Alex, looking up at him, in the weak sunlight her skin glistened.

So? Alex asked.

Runetide shrugged and closed her eyes, basically, our breed dragons are all but extinct, the ones not native some of them want to break off from Aborwrath and were going to bring them here.

'And then what?' Alex asked.

Runetide shrugged then I suppose they assume human personas and slowly and help the growth of the human race, and if Aborwrath shows up they help us fight her.

Alex gently Started to rise to the surface his head broke the surface he pushed his hair out of his eye's, Runetide's head broke the surface next to him she brushed her hair out of her eyes and tucked it behind her horns.

'So, shall we meet everyone?' Runetide asked.

Alex was hesitant 'ok.'

'What?'

'It just seems too good to be true.'

'I know but this will work I promise.'

Alex stole himself he breathed in 'ok' he said, 'let's go.'

Battlezone six outer western Archasia

Dante, Luna, Sol and Uriel made their way back to camp which was rather a lot of tents surrounded by a barbed-wire fence, their designation was L-3 they were the only Lycanthrope team in there division ready to fight and die for the Archasian government, they hadn't been told why just to go here and kill these guys, turns out they were perimeter guards for an insurgent base witch everyone else had stormed they had been held as a back up and called in one a dragon was confirmed, why they had stormed it instead of bombing the shit out of it Dante had on idea nor did anyone else when he asked Dante just got orders from higher up Dante guessed they wanted prisoners, but he could not be sure, he jumped over the fence around the forward base with the rest of his team beside him they sat in there corner the area called the wolf pen they all sat down.

'so' Uriel asked, 'no damage or injuries from anyone today?'

'Nope' Dante, Luna, and Sol replied in unison.

'Well, then I will be off to bed see you all tomorrow.'

Uriel seemed to be trying to cheer everyone up and they all appreciated it but the overall mood was sombre after the chat, they all had on the way back here they all lay down together because that was how they did things together always and forever.

As the rest of them fell asleep Sol stayed up the insurgency had shown up three years ago they were supposed to be fighting for the freedom of dragons the funny thing was most dragons wanted nothing to do with it, they were content to just walk around at the size of humans they understood that having a twenty-meter tall dragon just walking around outside of designated areas of living or work was dangerous, they seemed to just be stirring up trouble for people and also killing people for no definable reason. Yes, some dragons were on their side Sol had helped kill one today but what did they hope to achieve? she thought back to the battle to what the dragon had said before Sol blew its head apart

'She's coming, none of you can stop her.'

It was a very strange thing to say and why establish bases that gave Archasia a target? it just didn't make sense but then again neither did panting bombs on trains and killing civilians in the name for draconic freedom, and with these happy thoughts in her head Sol eventually drifted off to sleep.

They all awoke the next day to a sound a familiar sound the four lycanthropes got slowly to their feet guns in hands, there was a dragon in these woods with them the sound of scaled feet on soft earth.

The insurgents sent a dragon to destroy their camp Date called out a warning then everything went very strange.