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Scales and Honor: City of Light

Chapter 24: An Old Friend

The next day passed far too quickly for Arcturus. The entire day was like a blur as he went about it as the day before. It started with waking up with Krotos, eating breakfast, and quickly heading out into the forest to resume their search for the crimson dragon that hounded his thoughts. Like a man with an addiction he could not get the dragon out of his mind that day. They checked the river again, all through the trees that were starting to be more colorful. Lastly they checked the cave throughout the several times in fact, just in case the dragon had decided to come back at any time.

They ended the day here as well, with Arcturus collapsing into Krotos' waiting wings as he felt despair sink further into his heart. He let the soothing sound of the Krotos' chirp and soft fur wipe away his tears as the gryphon reminded him that they still had one more day before they had to leave the estate. He left his cloak inside the cave that night, an idea to test to see if the dragon was indeed coming there and avoiding them. They returned to the place when the sun had sunk below the horizon. Krotos and Arcturus settled beside fire after doing some prep work for tomorrow. He stroked the gryphon softly, crying lighting into his fur as he fell asleep. Praying to any god that would listen, to allow him to find his dragon.

* * * * * * * * * *

“Ready?" Arcturus patted Krotos' flank softly. His warm feathers a comfort to the ice that was starting to form around his heart and had been there since his awakening earlier this morning. The gryphon tensed his firm muscles below him as he lowered his haunches, wagged his lion tail, and spread his bright blue wings as wide as he could and gave them a quick test flap.

“Wait you two!" Lyndis came running over, waving her arm back and forth with Merlia right behind her struggling to keep pace with the vastly more quicker half-elf. “Focken wait I said!" Lyndis shouted out again as Krotos gave another test flap on the air.

“What is it?" Krotos sighed, folding his wings onto his back as he turned around to flash the half-elf an irritated glance. “Arcturus and I were just about to fly again..you know...find the dragon that he has sworn his heart to?"

“So yer really headin out again?" Merlia asked, pointing to the gryphon. Her brow wrinkled, and her eyes narrowed. “Even afta ya turned up squat the last few days?"

Arcturus nodded to her as he checked to make sure his sword, pouches, and backpack were all secure on him. He had gone over everything thrice this morning, just to be sure that he would be prepared the day ahead. He even left his armor laying beside the fireplace, so that when he got to Veledar and brought him home, they could quickly slip on the protective plate and quickly fly away to join the others.

“I once said I would go to the void and back to save the dragon's scaly behind. So why let a little woods stand in my way of bringing my dragon home to me? I am going to give it my everything to find him." Arcturus looked up briefly to the mountains. He could feel the dragon's lingering emotions emitting from that place with the same whirlwind mixed around in that red scaled dragon's head. Despite the last two failed attempts he was still hopeful that he would find his dragon today, and would soon be back in his arms.

“Krotos...will ya be stayin with Arcturus if dat happens?" Merlia added, looking up to Krotos with a greater look of of worry than he had ever seen on her face.

“Yes." Krotos strode over towards her carefully, and nuzzled the dwarf with his neck and beak. “I need to see this through to the end...and make sure my friend is all set up with his dragon..I do have a wedding to attend after all." Krotos chuckled, nudging the dwarf gently as she returned the gesture with a smile.

“I understand ya lovely blue ting ya is. Ya jus find da dragon and bring him home ya?" Merlia sniffed and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Jus don't for-"

“Here." Krotos silenced the dwarf by plucking one of his blue feathers with a teal striped tip and placed it gently into her red hair. “You know how much I love my feathers Merlia," he cooed, nuzzled her one more time as she clutched him tightly and laughed into his fur.

“You sweet ting you....Were going ta get ya some leather armor...with dwarven runes." She smiled in tears, clutching against the gryphon tightly.

“Arcturus?" Lyndis soft voice drew his attention from the embracing dwarf and gryphon. “I'll try to buy you some time here of course." She smirked, “Maybe steal the elf's spell book or something. I doubt she will leave without that piece...Oh..And if you two need the time to...ya know...play a little make up." Lyndis winked. “Take the time to do so. I think both of you are going to need it after the emotional stress of the last few days."

“Sure thing." He laughed weakly. He looked again to the vast mountain over looking his estate, hoping his dragon was indeed there. He shook his head at the thoughts of them passionatly kissing, their tongues intertwined ever so lovingly, and the shiver inducing soft humps that would follow. Keep your head on point Arcturus. You don't have the dragon by your side yet....But soon. “But what if I ca-."

“Don't think like that." Lyndis silenced him, by putting her palm over his mouth. “You are going to find him, and than your going to bring him home to us. So don't think like that mr. clanky." She patted him on the shoulder before giving him a brief, warm, and caring hug. “Now I'll see ya later...Cause well..I will be!" She laughed

Arcturus just nodded without a word as Krotos readied his wings once more, the girls shouted out in unison for them to be careful.

“Oh and tell that scaly bum of his that we went and fixed his mother's bloody harness. It may have taken a spell or two from Shandalar but we got the thing looking like it was brand focken new...right out of Drenedar."

“Bah!" Merlia chuckled. “If ya ask me lass ya made it too damn clean."

His eyes then went to empty air around his friends, where he was certain the others should have been. “So wheres the cleric and bard?"

“Oh Feku and Asterion?" Lyndis glance over her shoulder towards the stables. “They are practicing healing behind the stables again."

“Ya shoulda seen da way da kobold be followin him around like a love sick puppy." Merlia chuckled, making a hand puppet with her two fingers and walking it across her palm. “She seems rather fond of him by the way she started waiting on him claw and foot."

“I guess I can give him an extra chance as well." Lyndis folded her arms. “He did have his reasons and it's not an easy choice to make." She sighed , letting her shoulders rise and fall. “And we do have the black scale so that means.....one day Azzik will grace the world again with his laughter and joy."

“Come on you two!" Krotos interrupted as he strode passed Arcturus, flicking his tail so that it struck him in the torso ever so gently. “We need to get off and find the damn dragon before the elf forces us to leave! And so we can have a grand reunion!" The gryphon crouched low for him and waggled his haunches impatiently. “Come on!"

“Den we can get ta startin da next adventure!" Merlia laughed. “I tink I'll be writin a book about it! Course da dwarf in it will be more dashing...and have a very pretty gryphon by the name of Krotos."

“Is that so?" The bird cooed, momentarily distracted by her sweet words.

“Focus Krotos." Arcturus laughed, running a hand along his fur.

“Okay, ready for real this time?" Krotos asked, as he spread his wings and gave them a test flap in the air one more. Arcturus lifted himself onto the gryphons back, and settled himself into place. Almost instantly as he did this Krotos waggled his haunches again and flicked his tail.

“Yes." Arcturus replied, readying himself and tightening his grip on he gryphon's fur. He turned his attention to the vast sky that was shining the brightest blue, only broken up by the whitest fluffiest clouds that Arcturus had ever seen in his entire life. Even the breeze that was ruffling his tabard and Krotos' feathers was warmer than it had been the past few days. He actually did not need to grasp himself for warmth this time.

_ Its a sign we are going to find him....it has to be..._

“Lets go get my dragon and bring him back!" Arcturus cheered out, pumping his right fist into the air as Krotos gave his own pleased trilling noise in return.

“Than hold on tight!" The gryphon bounded into the air as he heard Merlia start up a conversation about needing a drink if they were going to the cleanest place on Sethera. Where the streets themselves were scrubbed, and made sure to look pristine. With Krotos' next wing beat the ground was far below them, and the girls but little specks as they continued with their conversation. Krotos kept on flying towards the forest until he was far away from the girls and the estate, the place that had continued to plague the good paladin. He found good handholds in Krotos' fur as the gryphon continued to pound away at the air until he spread his wings wide and let them glide along the current.

He gripped the gryphon's fur tighter with his left hand, as he extended the other one trying to sense his dragon's emotions once again. He could feel them pulling him as if on an invisible wire towards the mountain surrounded by the forest of multicolored trees.

“So...is he going to be jealous that I cuddled you?" Suddenly came the gryphon's question after several more minutes of just gliding along the currents. The only sound had been the wind as it flew by Arcturus' ears. “Cause I would hate to find myself suddenly yelled at..or roared at for comforting you." Krotos' voice than brightened, “Oooo do you think he'll..." Krotos gave out a small rumbling purr from his throat as his eyes seemed to gloss over like he was watching something most pleasurable. It made the paladin laugh out loud in amusement as they continued to glide.

“Looking forward to a forceful Veledar Krotos?"

“So what if I am?" The gryphon turned to look at him for a moment face filled with a smirk. “You have your fantasies, let me have mine....Clearly your fantasy was to fly with a blue gryphon whose bountiful balls you could not stop fondling with your eyes. “

“Oh cut it out blue feathers. Your starting to sound desperate for me, and that is certainly not attractive." He chuckled, continuing to run his hand through the fur and bracing himself when he felt Krotos begin to turn.

“Hey your good at this flying thing for someone who has never rode with a gryphon before the last few days!" Krotos squawked as he righted himself. “Merlia doesn't even do that. Shes as stiff as my cock at times and such. Heck even Gus was better at this than she is!"

“Oh give her time to develop her sky legs. I am sure with some training and bonding time you two will be flying circles around Veledar and I in no time. You will even be flying in perfect harmony, and be able to predict each others moments.

Arcturus held his arms out wide, catching the wind beneath them like they were wings. There was a smile that came to his face as he closed his eyes and pictured himself as a dragon flying high above the clouds with his own wings beating the air as he carried himself across the sky.

And Veledar will be right there with me the entire time.

“So where to first o amazed human?"

Arcturus opened hie eyes as he felt his face heat up as he noticed the gryphon was staring right at him. The human coughed and pointed out a patch of trees that seemed to be the source of the feeling for the dragon. The leaves here, rather than be the mix of colors spread out through the forest, we instead mostly crimson red.

_ How fitting that is._

“So what were you thinking about?" Krotos' voice snapped him from the beautiful sight to the bird's teasing glare. “You looked like Gweneth for a moment. A little chick on my back"

“I was....picturing myself as a dragon if you must know." He paused, looking to the gryphon's coy smile as he continued to stare at him. “Look there is nothing wrong with it. For gods sake I spend most of my time now adays with him than I do mortals!" Arcturus dismissed him with a wave as Krotos beat his wings a few more times before returning to his carefully calm glide once more."

“Understandable actually." said the gryphon calmly. “Gwen used to imagined herself a gryphon sometimes...Flying free in the sky with me..." The bird then chuckled weakly. “Hopefully she still gets that chance someday." Krotos' voice started to get lower, as Arcturus could see his mood shifting on his beak. “I wonder what they are doing since I left them.."

“Hey." Arcturus patted the gryphon's side softly in assurance. “You did what you thought was right. No one expects anything less. Trust me, I had to leave Geoffery, and Selina at home while I went out thinking I was keeping them safe. Sometimes I would have rather face an entire army alone than say my good byes to those two." He thought back to their faces full of tears and sadness as they begged him not to go. He could almost hear Geoffery's loud cries in the wind begging him not to leave. Especially on the night he had gone to retrieve the red orb. He wiped his eyes as they began to mist.

“Yeah.." Krotos trailed off as Arcturus continued to stroke his fur tenderly. It eventually caused the gryphon to chirp and purr softly to his ministrations. “Your.....really....good...at this.." Krotos groaned with the next pass of his hand along the fur. Krotos tilted his wings slightly and began their descent towards the ground below.

“Yea so you told me." Arcturus replied, stopping his stroking to hang on as the wing-beats got faster as Krotos prepared for their landing.

Leaves smacked against his face as Krotos brought them through a thin enough area of the canopy that he could head through. The gryphon landed with a soft bump upon his hinds, before lowering his forelimbs to the ground, crackling some of the fallen leaves as he did so. Arcturus looked around to see that they had landed in an area littered with dull green vegetation that already bore the signs of the cold on them. With little parts pale and lighter green the rest. It reminded Arcturus as he frowned, that they too only had a limited time before they were forced to leave the dragon behind.

_ Where are you Veledar?_ His thoughts called out as he spun his head back and forth, his eyes looking for the red scaled form of the dragon he loved. However no matter where he looked there was nothing that could have been mistaken for a dragon. No log twisted at an odd angle, or a tree that had branches like horns. Not a single damn thing to look like his dragon.

Damn it.

Arcturus cursed to himself and clenched his fists until his knuckles had turned white from the effort. He looked up to the red canopy of leaves they had come flying through, than back to the stretch of land before them. Trees seemed to be scattered along the forest floor, with speckles of green dotting this part of the forest that was littered with multicolored leaves every now and then. Besides the bright red crimson canopy that he had seen much more clearly from the air, this part of the forest looked hardly any different than other parts of the forest he and Krotos had checked the days earlier.

_ Damnt Damnt Damnt!_

He closed his eyes and strained his ears to listen. If his eyes were not going to help him find his dragon he would desperately try to use his ears. He took a deep breath getting a whiff of pine mixed with an earth smell that clung to the air. He had to fight the urge to smile as the smells brought reminders of when he used to roll around the autumn leaves as a boy, laughing the entire time in glee.

_ Come on Veledar.._ He even stopped his breath so that he could focus on the sounds around him. All he could focus on was the faint sound of birds chirping in the distance, and the rustling of leaves from a nearby squirrel as it looked for a morning meal. For a moment the thought crossed his mind if Krotos could understand those birds that were chirping away like they were having a conversation across the tree branches.

He opened his eyes, leaping off the gryphon. His next breath was filled with Krotos' own smell, which reminded him of birds, and cats. Which he gave a shrug, that was normal for gryphons after all. His hand brushed the hilt of his sword with the next rustling of leaves, it was instinct at this point. Who knew what could be waiting out here for them? He closed his eyes once again as Krotos brushed himself along side him. His scent filled his nose and he found it soothing. Like the swirling sadness he could feel within his heart was stopped for just a moment.

“Krotos..." He said softly, causing the gryphon to stop. “Please stay here, against me..It's helping me focus."

“As you wish. I always knew you would fall for me." Krotos pressed himself up against the paladin softly, his scent making his heart calm and beat slower.

“Never you mind that..it's calming."

“I know." the bird chirped. Arcturus imagined his eyes were full of concern, staring at him protectively. “Can...can you feel him?"

“Let me focus." He replied, imagining the dragon's radiant red scales, his soft and loving touch, his affectionate nuzzles and licks that made his heart beat faster and his skin tingle. He thought to his fond cerulean gaze, that made him want to get lost with them for all eternity. He rubbed his chest softly as his heart throbbed a dull pain. He pushed through the longing and focused. He focused on his tawny membranes that would block the sun, the rain, and warm him when the cold wind stabbed at his skin. His next breath was filled with the alluring scent of Veledar, like a mid-summer's fire.

_ Come on Veledar._ He thought, reaching out into the mind fog to pinpoint the dragon's location.

“Could you do this before? You know...before our arrival at the estate?" Krotos asked softly, causing Arcturus to shrug his shoulders and let out a sigh.

“Do what before?" Arcturus started to walk around, keeping his hand on the gryphon who was walking beside him. No doubt looking out for his soft, mindful steps.

“Feel his emotions...To locate him."

“Only slightly when we were within the city." Arcturus thought back to the first day they had entered and he had flashes of the dragon's affections for him. Although at the time he did not know where they were coming from.

Wait.

He thought back to even earlier, when they had first gone flying together. He remembered spreading his arms and feeling like he could almost feel the wind beneath Veledar's wings. “Well..I guess it started even earlier than that.." Arcturus caught himself from slipping by falling onto Krotos.

“Perhaps you should..."

Arcturus opened his eyes before the bird could finish his words. “Thanks for the catch...and the concern." He felt his face grow red at having slipped like that. How dignified.

“No problem."

“Well I guess it started right when we went flying with each other for the first time...but it has never been this powerful before. It used to be little flashes of emotions..Never where I could sense him from miles away and pinpoint his location."

“Don't give yourself too much credit just yet." Krotos chuckled. “You have yet to find the dragon you keep saying you know his location." Krotos looked to the canopy with a sigh as he refolded his wings against his back. “Has it occurred to you that perhaps these feelings are not there, and are a product of your mind?" The gryphon looked to him with splayed ears. “If these powers were even real?"

Arcturus stopped mid thought. It had never occurred to him that these were a figment of his mind. No...It had...has to be real. He placed a hand on his head, thinking to all the times in the city. All the emotions that he had felt from Veledar. No...It was real.. “Call it faith if you like Krotos. It feels like magic so I'm going to keep on following it as long as it feels like my dragon."

“I hope your right for both our sakes then."

“Both our sakes?"

“Yes! I was not joking when I said that I would stay by your side until we found that dragon of yours!" Krotos ruffled his feathers and flicked his tail. “Gryphons...especially me do not take those kind of debts lightly."

Arcturus turned to the gryphon, offering him a soft smile. He thought to how lucky he was to have Krotos here to help him on this leg of the journey. “Thanks...Loyal aren't you?"

“Oh..yes..very loyal." the bird puffed out his chest and turned his head to the side. “So...what made this bond of yours grow do you think? Was it when Shandalar cast that magic of hers in the courtyard?"

Arcturus rose his hand to his chin, thinking back to that night. The snaps of energy crossbows ringing in the air. The smell of burning flesh, and the ever present dread lurking in all his friends as they fought for their lives. “No..I called out to him. I never felt him like I do now." He raked his brain for when it had felt truly felt different. The first time it started to feel different was....the morning after Veledar bred me and knotted me.

“Oh gods." Arcturus laughed weakly, holding himself up against a tree as he clutched his sides.

“What has you turning into a cackling fool?" the gryphon tilted his head to the side.

“I think...our bond...bwahahah...got stronger after the dragon bred and knotted me like a female dragon!"

“Y-you think so?" the mischievous gryphon grinned. “That's an amazing thing if true. Maybe dragon seed is magical and has more properties than even you or I know about."

Arcturus' laugh turned into a slight chuckle. Our bond grew stronger after our passionate lovemaking my dragon.

“Do you think if Veledar made love to me, that I would gain some of these traits you speak so highly of?" Krotos growled lustfully from his throat as his crown feathers extended slightly. The gryphon most likely imagining the dragon over him, pounding his fluff butt into the ground.

“Who knows." Arcturus shrugged as he kicked aside some dirt. There was no sign of his dragon being here at all. Than why were there feelings that dragged me here? He closed his eyes once more to pull at the feelings within the mind fog. This time they were coming from the direction that he knew the river was in. “Come on." Arcturus patted the gryphon on his flank, while the bird continued to stare off into the trees, his maleness poking out of his blue sheath. It was bright red, and had a tapered head, that appeared as if Arcturus could fit his palm around it. It was slowly dripping a clear liquid onto the ground below, that made Arcturus think to how Veledar's own maleness did the exact same thing. He turned to look away as he struck the gryphon harder on his flank with a smack. This seemed to draw the gryphon from his lust induced haze.

“Wha..." Krotos shook his head with a groan, placing a talon around his beak. “Sorry..got lost in a powerful thought there for a moment."

“I can certainly tell." Arcturus laughed, still not looking back to the surely still dripping maleness of his friend. “You are sprouting forth from your bloody sheath gryphon!"

“Oh..." Krotos stepped into his view, his ears splayed. “Well...you could always...."

“Let's fly out of here before you seriously have a conversation about me revealing you of your burdens on the forest floor."

“I'd prefer to release my burdens in you mo-"

“Krotos!" He interrupted the laughing gryphon as he swung himself up around the blue birds neck.

“Or in your ar-"

“Krotos I swear I will do what Lyndis did to your precious eggs." He smacked the gryphon on his neck lightly. “ I am not Merlia."

“Oh come now..You enjoyed the free showing of my proud maleness." Krotos chirped as he spread his wings and gave them a test flap, scattering loose leaves in any direction in a strong gust.

“I've seen prouder ones." Arcturus chuckled, thinking to Veledar. “So you should probably quit this line of thinking."

“Oh come now..I bet one day you and your dragon will be playing around with me. When that day comes I bet my less prouder maleness and you will get better acquainted. Awk Awk awk!" Krotos' words devolved into squawking laughter making Arcturus strike him harder with a laugh of his own.

“Focus!" He rolled his eyes as the gryphon continued to cackle, thinking himself so clever with his lewd words. “Now focus on helping me find my dragon...instead of your bloody cock!"

“I can do both!" the gryphon continued with his wing twitching laughter as he wiggled his haunches before bounding into the air accompanied with a flap of his wings. “And it always passes the time for me!"

“I bet." Arcturus pulled the gryphon's fur tighter as Krotos carried them above the trees quickly. It seemed like the bird had accomplished it in hardly two beats of his multicolored wings. Arcturus was left staring at the treetops as they passed below the steady wing beats of his friend.

“Where to?" the gryphon called out as he tilted his wings and entered a glide among the currents.

“Towards the river we've been visiting! I got the next feeling from there!"

“Hopefully your right! I could always use a drink of water though. All this talk abut dragon mating and you taking my cock into your mouth has me parched beyond belief!"

“Hey! What did I bloody say?" He shouted as Krotos laughed again louder than before.

“Can't very well reach my eggs from there can you? So you have to listen to my lewd thoughts human!"

Arcturus frowned and clutched the gryphon's fur. “I can pull your fur tightly! That ought to sting!"

“Oh good idea! You can do that while I'm breeding you!"

Arcturus struck the gryphon right on the side of his face with an open palm. Causing Krotos to let out another round of cackles. “Knock it off you perverted offspring of a cat and bird!"

“Oh my.. Are you learning insults from Merlia now? Krotos peaked back with a grin. “Or do you have dwarven blood in you? I suppose not as you don't have the impressive growth of fur on your face like their males do."

“It's called a beard." Arcturus closed his eyes and shook his head. “ Now please..just carry me to the river before I have to yank you there myself."

“Yank me? Is that an invitation for you to spill my se-"

“Krotos....please...stop." Arcturus groaned, placing his fingers to the bridge of his nose, breathing in deeply.

“I....Sorry Arcturus..I was only trying to..." The gryphon shut his beak as they descended towards the river. Arcturus was surprised, he had not been paying close attention. He had figured the gryphon had just been goofing off during the entire exchange.

“Its..." Arcturus sighed. “Okay Krotos...I know your just fooling around..but...I..just want to find Veledar right now...save your lewd jokes and suggestive stuff for later ya?"

“I can try to do this." Krotos replied softly. “Sorry." The gryphon splaying his ears as his hinds touched the forest floor softly. Giving a pleased chirp as his talons touched down soon after. Krotos strode a few paces, before crouching low and allowing Arcturus to jump off.

The human's gaze instantly went to the trees as Krotos padded over towards the river's edge, dipping his beak into the running water with a slight twitch of his tail, and started to drink some of the refreshing liquid with loud gulps. Arcturus took out his own water skin from his pack, swishing the thing around to hear the water moving inside. He uncorked the top and pressed the round opening to his lips and took a large swig of the life giving water.

“Gahh" He wiped his mouth with his sleeve before plugging the thing and stuffing it back into his pack. “Nothing better than a nice refreshing drink of water."

“Oh yes..." Krotos rose his beak from the water, the liquid running down the yellow thing, and dripping back into the river below. “I of course prefer wine."

“Of course you would you drunk!" Arcturus laughed as he traced some more tree trunks with his fingers, and looked upon their bark with his eyes.

“I am not a drunk!" Krotos protested with a chirp. “I am a wine enthusiast!"

“Sure..sure.." Arcturus spied the same markings from the other day, and looked to the sky above. He wondered where the dragon had gone, and why he was getting readings from these places but never finding the dragon he cared most about. He turned his gaze to the forest at the edge of his vision. His thoughts once again found their way to the pleasing form of his dragon. How he wished that Veledar was standing in the distance and watching them.

“Veledar!" Arcturus called out after a minute of squinting his eyes, desperately looking for anything that looked like his dragon.

“Veledar!" he yelled again louder this time, cupping his mouth as did so. He waited for a response from the mostly quiet forest. The only sound to grace his ears were the sounds of his thumping heart.

“Veledar!" he yelled out louder than the previous times, his throat became sore as he continued to shout his dragon's name again and again into the forest air. His voice soon began to crack from the strain of so many loud shouts coming from his mouth. When he could not shout any longer he let his arms fall to his side. He could feel the cold cloak of despair wrap itself around him, until Krotos quickly bound towards him and wrapped him up in a nice warm hug of gryphon fur. That cast out the cold.

“Its okay Arcturus." the gryphon hushed silently. “We still have all day to find him."

Arcturus suddenly felt the gryphon freeze up and his muscles tense.

“A-Arcturus we ha-" Krotos was suddenly silenced as two earth brown gryphons tackled him to the ground with a flurry of talons and feathers.

“Stop your squirming blue boy! Your under arrest for the death of the king!" Squawked one of the pair, clearly a female by the sound of her voice.

“Nrrrrgaaaah! Arcturus!" Krotos shouted out, continuing his struggle despite the female's demand.

“Krotos!" He managed to cry out in that split second before two more gryphons seemed to emerge from the very ground to try and tackle him as well. He did not even get a second to reach for his sword as his snowy white and black attackers slammed him into the ground. He released a pained grunt as the impact radiated from his side. They must have been using a camouflage spell of some kind! He was forcibly pinned against the ground by the snow white one with his arms spread wide, and held down by his scaly forelimbs.

Arcturus looked up the orange beak of his assailant, which was filled with a smug look of satisfaction. He gave a grunt, as he tried to pull himself free from his larger foe, but it was no use. No matter how much he pulled he could not get free, his struggles only causing his conqueror let out an amused chirp.

“Cease your struggles human. You are under arrest for the murder of the king." the black gryphon spoke loudly as Arcturus continued his struggles.

_ NO! I cannot be stopped now! Not while I am looking for Veledar!_ “Strength Activate!" he shouted out in a bellowing voice, fighting the urge to not return the white gryphon's smug smile right back at him. He took a deep breath as a heat radiated through his body and he felt the magical band fill him with the strength of a flame giant.

“Swwccrraawwww!" The white gryphon managed to shout as Arcturus easily maneuvered his arms and pushed the surprised bird right off of him. The gryphon was sent flying back onto the ground, tumbling as he did so. Finally coming to a stop on his back with a groan of pain.

“Not today I think!" Arcturus shouted out, pushing himself to all fours as the black gryphon backed away in surprise at his new strength. He quickly glanced around to see that Krotos had managed to slip free and was rolling away from the two other gryphon's who were following him with extended talons as they tried to pin the slippery blue bird.

Arcturus went to draw his sword. He figured that combined with his strength would make short work of this team of gryphons. He hated the thought of it coming to blood so quickly, but what choice did he have? No armor, no shield, no dragon, outnumbered by his attackers. He had to level the playing field lest he be taken back to the capital in chains. Where no doubt his execution would be waiting for him. He grasped the hilt firmly, but as he went to pull it forth he was tacked once again to the ground by a gryphon he had not seen.

“Gah!" he was slammed onto the ground by his shoulder. Pain lit up his arm that made him grit his teeth as his dark red feathered attacker tried to pin him like his friend had done. “GET OFF!" He kicked the gryphon in the bird's lower half. His enhanced strength sent the gryphon off of him with a screech of pain. He breathed relief for just a moment as he avoided the sharp talons of the black gryphon as she tried to claw him with her sharpened points. He had to get off the ground, even with his enhanced strength it was a dangerous place to be. All it would take would be a gryphon or team of them to pin areas of him that he would not have the ability to use his strength. He finished his roll, going to stand up once more and grab his sword. Only for yet another gryphon to tackle him in the side. The bird's orange scaled forelimbs grabbed him around his torso and dragged him to the ground.

_ OH COME ON!_ His mind screamed at him as he yet again had failed to draw his weapon and ended up on the forest floor.

“Got him!" The gryphon that had latched onto him shouted from his black beak. His eyes filling with joy at having surprised him so.

Arcturus felt the gryphon press down on him with all his weight. He was about to throw the bird off when another one bound in to help his comrade and take hold of Arcturus' other limb. NO!

“You...are...under...arrest!" the second earth brown gryphon shouted, struggling to hold Arcturus' limb to the earth. “We need....more..help!"

Arcturus grit his teeth and pulled his limbs up slowly. He felt his legs suddenly get bound by a third gryphon as the two above him pressed down harder. “Grrrrrraaaahhh!" He closed his eyes and inch by forceful inch he lifted the two gryphons off of him. They were strong, but not strong enough for his magical enhanced strength.

“WE NEED MORE!" The first gryphon cried out.

“NO!" Arcturus was pressed to the ground hard as two more gryphons pinned his arms. He looked to his left and then to his right. He would be impressed at the strength of his magic item, that it took two gryphons per limb to hold him down, but now was not the time for praise. “I can't..." He shouted, with a forceful yank pulling his right arm free.

_ I am sorry for this._

He balled his hand into a fist and punched a gryphon holding his left arm as hard as he could. The flesh collided with fur, and send the gryphon flying off of him with a pained squawk. Arcturus was almost certain he heard something crack when he pulled back his arm and then punched the other gryphon holding the same limb in the chest. That bird went flying backwards, and only stopping when it had struck a tree. The gryphon slumped to the ground with a groan, still alive.

He swerved away from the two that had been holding his right arm, dragging the gryphon who was holding his legs along for the ride. That gryphon smashed into his two companions and made all three get tangled up in a mass of fur and feathers. However when he went to tug his feet away he found the gryphon still had a grip on him despite being tangled up in the others limbs. His talons scratching through his pants and drawing blood.

“You....won't get away from me!" The gryphon squawked with struggled filled breaths.

Arcturus pulled back one foot free from the gryphon holding him. The bird just latched onto the other one with his limbs. You only give me one option here bird......To kick you off....hard as I can. He prepared himself for the pained expression from the gryphon, and blood that was sure to follow from the all out kick from a giant to the face. I am truly sorry...I wont be taken. He smashed his boot down onto the gryphon's beak only for there to be a smack. No pained gasp, no blood, no horrible crack. It appeared as though his enhanced strength had simply vanished into thin air.

“Not so strong are you now!" The gryphon shouted in relief, as he quickly scrambled to latch onto Arcturus' other leg with his forelimbs.

_ Whats going on?_ Arcturus mind panicked as the gryphon latched on, and his wing-mates moved in to help restrain the now weakened human before them. The spell is supposed to last for five minutes...There is no way it has been that long already! “Strength activate!" he shouted out as twin gryphons grabbed his arms and forcefully pushed them to the ground. Without his strength they easily pinned him beneath their feral strength.

NO! Why is this NOT working? He looked around past the gryphons for any answer on why he was unable to activate his magical band. Thankfully he did not have to look far. For hovering above the gryphons pinning him to the ground was a white feathered female with her talons outstretched. They were glowing a soft purple magic, that looked almost like water leaking down from her limbs. SHE MUST BE SUPRESSING THE MAGIC! He strained, grunted, and wiggled to try and free himself from his captors might. NO...PLEASE..NO!!

“You are under arrest for the murder of the king!" came one of the gryphon's voices, but he knew not which one as he hardly listened. Instead continuing his struggle against their iron like grip on his body.

“I....didn't.....kill the king!" Arcturus shouted out. His mind spiraled in thought. The king was dead? Who did it? What's going on?

“Submit!" Screeched another gryphon, loud enough for him to close his eyes in pain.

Arcturus went limp as they pressed down harder onto his body. It was over, there was no way he was going to escape from this flock of gryphons. He had been beat, and caught. This is where it ends. His mind grasped at straws for anything, anyone that could stop this right now. Lacking Veledar he could think of no one. How stupid we were....for not hiding our scent...for heading back to the same areas....I'm sorry Veledar... His heart sank lower than it could possibly have been. He would never again see his dragon, never hold him in his arms, never hear his heartbeat.

“Stop struggling blue bird!" Squawked the female that had been after Krotos. “Before I accidentally cut your neck you idiot!"

“Stand him up." Came a loud and forceful voice that Arcturus remembered from his time in Rothdell, and the voice that had seen him on the snowy mountains with Veledar. It was the commanding voice of Skywing, the leader it seemed of this particular flight of gryphons.

Arcturus was forced to stand by the gryphons, and made to face their snow white leader standing before him. The gryphon puffed out his white and black furred chest, as the bird took several steps towards him, his tiger tail flicking behind him casually. The snowy white gryphon's turquoise eyes glared at him in disgust. Like Arcturus was the worst thing he had ever laid eyes on, and Arcturus felt a small bit of shame. There was a time long ago that Skywing had been a trusted ally during his time in the war.

“Arcturus Lund." The gryphon spoke clearly, folding his wings onto his back as he took a forceful step towards the human. “I did not think to find you here...or again actually." Skywing held his beak up towards the multicolored canopy. “I expected to find the dragon here...along with the Rothdell agents that killed the king with their accursed flying ship they stole from us."

“Sky." Arcturus found himself using the informal way of talking to his once ally with a soft voice. “Let Crimson Sky go....Everything against him is a lie!"

“Funny you should say that dragon slayer of Lumara." Skywing stepped closer so that his eyes were almost flush with Arcturus' own. “How about the agents that killed our king? Do you know if they are innocent as well?"

“I don't know about that Sky, please! We did not kill the king!" He looked to the gryphon's eyes. They were inquisitive to be sure, but it was like he wanted to be convinced of something. Arcturus could feel it in his bones as they continued their staring contest. It ended when Skywing turned around quickly, his tiger tail smacking against Arcturus' face gently. For a moment he thought the damn flight leader had decided to flash him his balls like Krotos had jokingly did. Although with their time spent together in the war he would not be surprised if he had done that on purpose. “What is this business about the king being dead? We did not do this.."

“You do not know?" Skywing turned with a raised eyebrow. “Few days ago out king was killed within his panic room. He was turned to ash."

No way....."Sky...We did not kill the king..we were elsewhere!"

“That so?" Skywing shut his beak quickly, looking up to the sky with a sigh. “Now....answer some of my questions Arcturus..I want to hear about this innocent dragon of yours."

“Whatever you want Sky, if it helps Crimson Sky's case."

“Firstly." Skywing returned his penetrating gaze to him. “You are a man of honor, your heroics through the war with me have been told to my wing-mates many times over. We were in engagements together where our lives depended on each other. Your knights saved my gryphs countless times during those years. We all supported each other like one mighty flock." Skywing raised his eyebrow. “We helped each other cope during those horrid times as well." The larger gryphon sighed, his eyes softening for a moment. “So tell me why...why did you free the dragon in the hold of that ship? What madness befell you to defy your king and throw everything away? What was so important?" The gryphon's voice got louder with each question as he stepped nearer and nearer.

_ Hes looking for the truth._ Arcturus maintained his non-blinking contest with Skywing. He really wants to know...."H-He was innocent Sky." Arcturus finally said after a moment of silence.

“Innocent?" Skywing chuckled, “You have said this before. Tell me HOW you knew this when you set him free."

“I spoke with people from the reports Sky...I spoke to him..I stared into his eyes and found my answer." Arcturus thought back to Veledar bound up in the bottom of the ship. How everything would have been different if he had followed that accursed order. “I saw kindness in his eyes Sky. I saw truth. I saw something more than a beast born of destruction and hate. He was none of that,and so I trusted him." Arcturus did not blink as he maintained his stare into the flight leaders eyes.

“So you betrayed your king over words? You did not put trust in our majesty?" Skywing puffed out his chest and thrashed his tail. “ Did it not occur to you that we might have a traitor in our midst so the king could not share every exact detail of the plan with you?"

“He ordered me to kill him on the way back Sky.." Arcturus glared at the gryphon with as much strength as he could manage. “I took an oath to protect all innocent life. To uphold the weak! In that moment Crimson Sky met both of those requirements!" Arcturus started to shout now as he strained against his two captors forceful grips. “Our king ordered my to slay an innocent being, that to my knowledge had done no such fitting crimes! To kill a dragon that had not slain a single man or woman sent to capture him! What was I supposed to do Sky? Shut off my brain like a puppet and carry out the vile deed for king and country?"

“Is that so?" Skywing said softly. His intimidating posture fading away as he took a step forward, his tails wagging back and forth. “Your dragon neither killed any of my gryphons sent to apprehend him. It was....surprising to me. I find it hard to believe that a creature such as he did any of those crimes listed on the paperwork against him." Skywing gestured to the gryphons holding Arcturus. “Release him..I wish to talk."

The gryphons released Arcturus with a chirp. He rubbed where they had been holding him. “Thank you." he turned to each one, offering a nod of his head. “Thank you Sky." He said at last turning towards the white gryphon.

“Please Arcturus...tell me in your own words what happened since we parted ways in the mountain..." The gryphon's eyes filled with concern, worry, and sorrow. “I need to know your side of the story..please..Leave nothing out.."

“One moment." Arcturus looked to the gryphons who were still on the ground, clutching their wounded forms. He went to each one, and thought to Bahamut, and the need to heal them. Sure enough with some glowing white magic, a brief touch of their soft fur, and a quick thanks from them, each gryphon was back onto all fours good as new.

“So....you really do have magic now." Skywing's eyes widened in surprise. “Very useful thing to have that." The gryphon strode over to him, so that he was within an arms reach.

“Not as good as the cleric we got, but it gets the job done." Arcturus chuckled, turning to the flight leader with a grin.

“Indeed it does." Skywing gestured with a arch of his neck towards the woods. “So lets go have that discussion of what has happened. I wish to know everything that has transpired."

“Are you sure that is wise?" came the voice of a gryphon from behind them. Their voice high pitched voice filled with concern.

“Yes I am sure. Did you not miss the part where he healed your wing-mates?" Skywing chuckled, “If the paladin here tries anything, he will have to deal with me." The white gryphon turned and guided Arcturus with his wing. “And let the blue one go. No sense in him being pinned to the ground while you wait for my return."

“You heard Skywing." came the black winged gryphon. “Let this one go."

“Finally!" Krotos cried out. “I thought you were going to starting to get frisky!"

Skywing chuckled as there was a loud smack, which was no doubt the female smacking Krotos across his beak. “Come on Arcturus." he said softly as he led the human further into the woods.

“Sky." Arcturus said after a few minutes of quiet walking. He looked back to see that they had put quite the distance between themselves and the other gryphons. Who seemed to be talking it up with Krotos if it was any indication. “We don't have a lot of time..my friends...they plan to leave tonight...We need to find the dragon."

“Hey now." Skywing turned around to glare into his eyes. “I have not let you go yet. I want to hear about what happened. You owe an old friend that much." The gryphon turned his head to the side, moving his beak a bit closer.

“Hey...." Arcturus thought to the mountaintop where he had charged at him. “Sorry for..er...knocking you out." He rubbed the back of his neck as Skywing thankfully just splayed his ears.

“Sorry for attacking you then. I was just in the mindset you had betrayed everyone." The gryphon lowered his head for the moment. “Accept my dearest apology." He bowed slightly by dipping his forelimbs.

“It's ok Sky." Arcturus placed his hand below the gryphons beak softly and gently rose it until he was looking once more into his eyes. “It is I that should be asking your forgiveness."

“Since we both have just offered forgiveness." Skywing padded his way carefully over towards a large rock jutting up from the ground. He settled onto his side on top of the rough worn grey surface. “I would like to hear about your travel."

“You would not believe it." Arcturus smiled, sitting next to the gryphon. “Even crazier than the stuff we got up to in Rothdell."

“All we got up to in Rothdell?" The gryphon raised an eyebrow with an amused chirp escaping his beak.

“Actually...sort of." laughed Arcturus, thinking back to the nights in Rothdell, when it was a worry if they would live or die the next day. He remembered chatting it up with the gryphon wing-leader. They both reassuring the other that they would be fine. Singing away into the night with good ale, drink, and good cheer.

“Hah!" Skywing laughed, thumping his tail onto the stone. “Is it the blue one there?"

“Krotos?" Arcturus' gaze went to the collection of gryphons once more.

“Oh a non military gryph huh?" Skywing turned back towards Krotos, his eyes glaring at the blue one. “Not really the best fighter. Our two worst combatants managed to pin him."

“Well no one is you in that regards." Arcturus shot back. “Best flight to have at our side."

“Flattery..even at a time like this." Skywing gave him a coy grin, tapping his front talon onto the stone with a clack. “When you very well know your knights saved our fluffy tails on numerous occasions. Now I noticed you avoided my question." Skywing snapped his beak back towards him. “Please...tell me." His voice lowered. “I just need to know why my trusted ally did what he did."

Arcturus sighed and told his friend everything that had happened when they parted. Their journey into the forest of despair, and everything they had done inside that place. He told him about the fight with the mercenaries, and how they had been forced to slaughter the lot of them. He told him how the mercs had been killing and stealing people from their homes from within the Emerald Ladies town.

“I always hated that man." Skywing growled in the back of his throat. “Did you know he wanted money to rescue you?" the white gryphon ruffled his feathers. “I went free of charge when I knew you were captive by the dragon."

“That...was nice of you." Arcturus placed a hand on the gryphon's neck. “You did not have to do that. The dragon certainly did not have me captive, mind controlled, or anything else. I went with him out of my own volition."

“Must have been quite the honesty that moved you then." Skywing leaned into his touch. “And you say that Garroth was capturing people?" Skywing sighed. “I cant say I blame the bastard. I saw that Emerald Lady snatch two of my wing-mates from me. Luckily I got them back during the attack."

Arcturus turned his head to the side in surprise. “How did you manage that?"

“While she was distracted I found her temple. I brought a team in and confronted the green dragoness." Skywing thumped his tail. “She would have killed us all, but she looked to me like she knew me."

“Wait...what do you mean?" He ran his hand along the gryphon's neck onto his shoulders, causing him to release a pleased quick coo.

“She said....I reminded her of someone she knew. She asked about my father, and I told her his name." Skywing's voice lowered, “Than she let me make a request of her. I asked for my wing-mates and she gave them back. She had had them turned to stone in front of her lair."

“She...gave them back?....No strings attached?" That was truthfully surprising. Arcturus had known she had nuzzled the green dragons in front of him, but he would have never of had her pegged for any nice bone in her green scaled body.

“No." Skywing said, his voice flat. “If I did not know any better I would have thought she looked sad to see me go."

Arcturus moved a tad closer as his hands went from Skywing's shoulders to his wings. His fingers starting to trace the soft feathers of black and white. Emerald Lady kind enough to let someone go without any strings attached? Arcturus shook his head. It seemed unreal, like someone was lying. However when he looked into the eyes of the gryphon in his hand, he knew he was telling the truth. “I have no love in my heart for her, but that does seem very generous of her. I would watch out for any string she might have added."

Skywing just nodded,and asked him to continue with the story as he refolded his wings against his back, his wings shivered slightly under Arcturus' scratches. “Your still good at that."

“What at scratching a gryphon's?" Arcturus laughed, pulling his hand back and scratching the snow white gryphon's chest.

“Yes..." Skywing's leg twitched softly, as he let out a soft pleased trilling noise. “How...did you get even better?"

“Dragon likes being scratched too. Despite his scales and all."

“So..after the forest battle." Skywing leaned away from him, and looked to him again. “Time for scratches later. I have to know of course."

Arcturus nodded and told him all about the fort they had to go destroy next, and what they found inside. The human told him all about the blood soaked rooms, the tortured people, and the unforgiving commander who seemed glad to be putting people down. His words spoke with the hatred he had always shown for that place, as his mind pictured the reason for all the blood. He imagined there were all people in there just like Gus...Each one melting away until they too were mana crystals to fuel the war machine of Entis.

“My gods.." Skywing gasped. “This...is....a huge thing." He stared right into his eyes. “And you were certain?" His beak fell slightly, his eyes looking to Arcturus with concern.

“Yes...it was horrible there Sky."

“I...can imagine. I might have torn into them if that was what I had seen." Skying draped a wing around him comfortingly, than pulled him close. “Nothing like when we were over there fighting the bad guys huh?" He asked with a chirp.

“Lot less complicated...everything is so....complicated now." sighed Arcturus, as he felt his heart ache once more. Thankfully the gryphon's warm wing fought off the cold that threatened creep into his nerves.

“You can say that again." Skywing returned his sigh and turned to the others. “If you can." The gryphon gave him a concerned chirp as he nuzzled him with his beak and face, causing Arcturus to involuntarily clutch at the gryphon's head and run his hands through his fur in an awkward hug.

“Please continue.."

Arcturus than spoke of their travel to Entis. He explained to the laughing gryphon how Veledar had complained the entire time about being human. “Should have seen him start fondling himself. It was so awkward!"

“I can imagine it must have been a shock to the red bastard. Although you think he would have been more appreciative. You human's have nice soft bodies." The gryphon smiled with his ears splayed."How I would have killed to see that ferocious beast turned into a complaining pile of human skin."

Arcturus just laughed and explained the rest of their journey. The pleasant time with Gus, which Arcturus had to stop and swallow a lump in his throat as he saved that sour pill for later. He spoke of the many eyed, the infiltration of the castle, and finally to the act where Gus was turned into a mana crystal. His eyes misted for a moment, and he had to stop talking as he lowered his head. The image of his friend melting before his eyes too much to cast out.

“No....." Skywing said softly. “That's....No..." he continued in disbelief. “That's....horrible."

“Yes...I saw it with my own eyes."

“Arcturus...look to me."

So he did, staring right into those turquoise eyes. “It happened."

The gryphon held his gaze for a moment or two. His own eyes trying to pierce right into his mind it seemed, as they fidgeted slightly without blinking. “I believe you." Skywing finally said after a minute of silence. He than pulled Arcturus in for a tight, warm, comforting hug, which the human returned. Pressing his face into his soft fur.

“No one...deserves to see that happen to a friend." The gryphon chirped softly, draping his head over his shoulder and pulling him tighter with his talons.

“No...he didn't deserve it." Arcturus continued with his story as he told Skywing the tale about the large metal dragon that had followed him of the castle, and destroyed the ship they were flying on. He ended the tale with the beasts destruction by his own hand, as he cast the damned thing to the earth below with one slash of his sword upon it's injured body."

“This dragon if yours sounds important to you Arcturus." Skywing moved his beak close to look at him once more. “If I didn't know any better it sounds like..."

“I love him." Arcturus blurted out suddenly.

“Oh really?" the bird gave a pleased croon as his crown feathers extended. “You love the red bastard?"

“Yes," He said again, his heart beating a tad faster. “It's why I am searching the damned forest for him. There was some drama that happened about my family history.."

“Dragon Slayers." Skywing mumbled with a low growl in his throat, “That would put a hamper on things."

“Yes...It would."

“You have been so honest with me.." Skywing chuckled. “Answer my next question just as honestly if you would." The gryphon raised an eyebrow. “Why do you smell like he mated you?"

Arcturus turned a bright shade of red as he thought of what to tell the gryphon. Why shy away from it? He was in love with the damned dragon, and here was a person from his old days that would understand. “Cause he did. Quite passionately I might add."

“Ooooooo. That is interesting. So...how was he than? Did you enjoy it?" Skywing poked his chest teasingly with a black talon, and gave him a smirk.

“Sky...come on. I have told you the bastard mated me. That surely is enough for your questions?...and Yes I enjoyed it." Arcturus folded his arms as the gryphon just clacked his beak together several times.

“If only I could have been there to witness that moment." Skywing chuckled. “To see the dragon slayer Arcturus Lund proclaim his love for a dragon. Which was supposed to be his most hated foe." The gryphon tapped him again with his talon, his voice growing soft. “It's like a damned fantasy story I imagine."

“So your asking about my dragon." Arcturus poked the gryphon's beak with his finger gently, causing the bird to go nearly cross-eyed. “What has happened to skywing? Does he have a mate? Does he have little chicks to call his own? Scampering around calling out daddy whenever they flap their little wings in joy?"

“Oh..nothing like that." Skywing laughed softly. “Although that is a most pleasing image you have concocted there. Almost makes me wish I had settled down with that hen I met two years back and filled her with a clutch."

“What stopped you?" Arcturus asked, his touch moving to the gryphon's flank. His scratches sent another trilling noise from the gryphon's beak as his hind leg twitched from his touch.

“Things always kept coming up...Graaah...mmmmm." Skywing smiled, splaying his ears. “You know..You keep this up and I will obligated to return the favor Arcturus, just like old times." the white gryphon chuckled. “I just never found the time..and then I heard about Dreadflame." The gryphon's eyes filled with the same concern from before. “And made me think about what would happen if I did lose her...How would I go on?...I'm sorry for not going to you and comforting you."

You to? Arcturus internally chuckled. This was the second gryphon these past few days that had wished to comfort him during his time of grief over his dead wife. “Hey." Arcturus patted the gryphon on his face, moving away from his flank. “You don't have to apologize for that. No one does." He smiled as the gryphon just splayed his ears under his touch. “So what happens now?"

Skywing looked back to the others, who seemed to be playing around with Krotos. They were smacking each other and laughing with their wings flapping slightly in the air. “I think I will tell command where you are."

“Wha-" Arcturus spat out in disbelief. Things had been going so well!

“In two days.." Skywing finished with a grin, causing Arcturus to let outa sigh of relief. “That should give you ample time to find this lover of yours and get out of here and far away from Lumara."

“What about you?" Arcturus asked, fighting off the relief and good cheer that was spreading through his body with a warm glow. “I don't want you to get injured because of my group and I."

“Don't worry about us." Skywing puffed out his chest. “I got more wing-mates to gather before we head out of Lumara."

“Wait..." Arcturus gasped in surprise. “Your going to leave as well? Just like that?"

“Arcturus." Skywing turned to look at him, his beak so close to his face. “You saved our lives countless times. Your knights helped us through the dark times. You comforted me in my darkest times over there."Sky wing nuzzled him with his neck. “And I will never forget that. So when you tell me with the most truth I have ever seen in your eyes...I don't need anything else." He pulled away, and smirked. “Although it makes me wish we had been assigned together as flight partners, I can imagine things would have gotten even more serious then they did." The gryphon gave him an aroused growl in the back of his throat, reminding Arcturus just what activities he was remembering.

“Thanks...for letting us go." Arcturus hugged the gryphon tighter than last time. He felt Skywing wrap a forelimb around his back and press him close his chest tightly.“

“It is good to see you again Arcturus...It had been far too long."

“What about the mountain?" he laughed.

“Let's not count that time shall we?" The gryphon laughed with him, his wings ruffling.

They stayed like that for a moment before pulling away with laughter. “You know it's starting to feel like being out there again." Arcturus thumbed behind him.

“Oh don't get me started about that. Besides you have your red scaled dragon lover to run to." Skywing held his beak high with a chirp. For a moment it almost looked like the gryphon was pouting in disappointment.

Out of the corner of his eye he spotted that the white gryphon had a light layer of dirt on his paw pads. “Hey..Your damn pads are dirty." Arcturus moved over towards the gryphon's hinds, as the bird just gave him a smirk, and his ears splaying.

“Well they do get dirty when I land...The ground tends to do that." Skywing laughed, curling on himself and pushing his hinds closer towards the human's outstretched hands at this point. “Are you going to clean them like you used to?" He asked with a soft croon.

“Oh like you don't enjoy it." Arcturus rolled his eyes. “You always used to complain about getting dirty, just like that damn blue gryphon back there. Except he is like one thousand times worse.!

“How so?" Skywing laughed as Arcturus ran a hand along the soft fur of his paw. His finger tracing the closest digit. The gryphon tried to pull his hind away but the human grasped on and held it firmly.

“Still ticklish there I see."

“Always." Skywing replied, continuing to try and pull his soft paws away. “Mmmmm...still a fair touch you have." the gryphon sighed, relaxing in his grip. “Definitely owe you a massage." the gryphon said softly, ending his words with a pleased chirp.

“Than the dragon and you share something in common." Arcturus laughed, tracing his way down to the pads and brushing them off lightly. He had remembered each and every other time had had done it over in Rothdell the birds has insisted to sing. He just hoped he did not decide to do it now.

“Back to that Krotos runt, and how he is worse than me at liking being clean?" Skywing tilted his head to the side,his eyes narrowing in amusement.

“Runt? That will be a fun one to share with him." Arcturus laughed as he imagined Krotos' pained expression and gasp as he called him such. He might even squawk in protest and flare his wings out behind him.

“Well he is smaller than me." Skywing chuckled deep in his throat, “I bet in more areas than one."

“Oh look at you, taking the first chance to one up your fellow gryphon kind." Arcturus traced another digit,and went back to cleaning the other paw now. The gryphon tried to pull away but Arcturus once again held tight onto the soft fur. “No getting away Sky. What will your gryphons think about their leader is defeated so thoroughly by little tickles on his hind paws?"

“Oh they are all ticklish on their paws...scccraaawww..Don't believe a gryphon that says..gaaaahhh..otherwise. Now... the blue gryphon..Tell me!.Tell me!" Skywing thumped his tail impatiently like Veledar would have done in this situation. “Howwww is he worse?"

“He takes forever to preen himself. Like if he gets dirty for a moment he will spend close to an hour getting clean. You see him work the feathers with the little pecks of his beak, even funnier when my friends ruffle his feathers on purpose to reset his work!"

“An hour?" Skywing laughed. “Must have a nail lose or something in his head to do that." The gryphon rolled his eyes. “I would only take half the time of course." Skywing moved a black scaly forelimb to his chest.

“Oh I certainly remember seeing you doing that."The human chuckled.

“You never seemed to be concerned with how clean I was." Skywing smirked as he drew his beak closer with an amused chirping sound. “I think that's how you first met me to."

Arcturus remembered his first night over in Rothdell, as he and his knights settled in for the night. He had been assigned to bunk with the gryphon leader. Command had insisted it good for unit cohesion, that he and the flight leader learn each others strategies, tactics, strengths, and weakness. He had walked into the tent with his pack slung over his shoulder to find this large white gryphon just chirping away as he picked at his feathers with gusto, complaining through murmering about how he would never get clean.

Arcturus pulled his hands away from the gryphon, and dusted them off on each other. “There done. Your hinds are clean as you like them." He playfully pushed the gryphon who moved in to hug and nuzzle him like he had done numerous times before. It was like the years apart had not happened, and he was holding the gryphon from that time long ago. He returned the hug that was offered, patting the gryphon's fur gently.

“Thank you..for everything" Skywing pulled away and rose onto all fours, stretching himself as he did so with a groan. “Well we best be off and enact out plan to buy you more time." the gryphon flared his wings wide, as he let out a large yawn.

“Hopefully we see each other again." Arcturus replied, falling beside the gryphon as the bird began to walk back towards the laughing group of gryphons. “Be a shame to never see you again friend...That number has dwindled oh so much in the past."

“Oh I am sure we will see each other again. I imagine your heading to Drenedar next?" The gryphon turned to him, eyes full of curiosity. How could he resist telling him?

“Yes." He replied without hesitation, as he looked to the color filled canopy. “But we have to find my dragon first."

“Ah yes..the dragon." Skywing strode to be in front of him, and than embraced him with another gryphon hug, complete with wings. It was warm, much warmer than Krotos' own hug had been. It was not as warm as his dragon's own of course, but it was comforting in all the right ways and reminded him of the days passed. “Now take care and watch after yourself." the white gryphon turned to the others. “Come on flight...we are moving out of here."

“What about those two?" a brown gryphon asked, pointing to Arcturus and then Krotos with a talon. Confusion was apparent on her beak as it was left open for all to see.

“We are leaving them here." Skywing replied, flicking his tail and giving the brown gryphon and an amused chirp.

“Sir?" she asked, her head to the side.

“You heard me. I can explain on the way. But just know." Skywing turned to Arcturus with a soft smile. “I trust this man with my life. If he says he did not kill the king I believe him."

“Bu-"

“Now lets us go....and Arcturus...I hope to see you out there again." Skywing growled in the back of his throat. “For various reasons of course."

“Of course." Arcturus waved as all the gryphons took flight without another word. Their multicolored forms passing through the canopy with ease, although not without tearing leaves from their branches and letting more rays of light strafe their way down to the forest floor and the confused Krotos. Who was standing their with a sly grin and his head tilted to the side.

“You had sex with their leader!" The bird finally shouted out, his voice cracking. “That's why they let us go right?"

“We were companions during our time in Rothdell." Arcturus laughed. “What we did or did not do to pass the time and relieve stress is none of your god damned business Krotos."

“Hmppphhhh." Krotos ruffled his feathers, “I bet you did.."

“Really? That is more believable to you rather than us reaching an understanding based on trust and honesty? You would rather think I slept my way out of the problem?" Arcturus crossed his arms. “Did I suddenly sprout blue and teal feathers and change my name to Krotos?"

“I...." The gryphon clacked his beak several times, words seemingly lost as he ruffled his feathers, and reset his wings against his back. “I....just..." Krotos narrowed his eyes, and lowered his limbs, “Get on Arcturus, before you insult me further."

“Thin hide Krotos?"

“Just get on."

Without another word Arcturus hopped onto the gryphon's back, adjusting himself, and wrapping his limbs around the soft fur. “Okay." Arcturus racked his brain for where to head next. They had searched the river, been to that clearing. He closed his eyes as Krotos brought them above the canopy with several beats of his wings. He once more reached out for the dragon that he loved, praying to the gods that he would find him this one time. From the cloud in his mind he pulled the feelings into him again, letting them fill his senses. He could feel the lurking feelings radiating from the mountain itself.

_ The cave. _ “Bring me to the cave Krotos. I think he can be found there."

“Are you certain? We have already tried their twice and he has not been there each time." Krotos peaked back to him, his eye full of concern. “We can check other places...Maybe this power of yours is not that accurate."

_ No._ Arcturus narrowed his eyes at the large mountain. “Bring me their please, I have a feeling in my gut." He ran his hand through Krotos' soft fur, “Please Krotos...One last time if need be."

“Okay." Krotos tilted his wings and brought them towards the mountain. His wing beats steadying as he entered a glide. “So...What are you going to do when we find Veledar?"

Arcturus smirked to himself, picturing the dragon hugging him tight. Pressing his face against his scaled chest, feeling his warmth. “I can think of a few things. We will need him for the next part of the quest that I am certain."

“I think people were traveling without dragons for quite sometime before that red one of yours graced your presence." Krotos tilted a wing and followed the currents, carrying them across the treetops.

“I meant me...I will need him.." Arcturus' voice grew softer as his grip on Krotos tightened. “You understand right Krotos? Its scary...this feeling lurking in my heart....But he parts the encroaching darkness of despair that threatens to swallow me."

“I...understand completely." Krotos dipped his wing and started his descent. “I..don't see him."

Arcturus braced himself as the gryphon below him beat his wings faster a few times, extended his hinds, and landed with a soft bump right before the cave they had been visiting. Arcturus leaped off the gryphon, taking note of one thing. That the branch they had left open from the night before had been undone. The cave was once again covered by the tree's thick leaves.

Arcturus moved the branch slowly with bated breath. It meant the dragon he had been longing to see had moved it. Or someone else did this. He shook that negative thought from his head with his next careful step, locking the branch behind the stone. He once again let the sun shine in to illuminate the dark cave from his youth. His eyes widened as they fell onto his cloak he had left on the cavern floor. It had been moved several feet away from where he had left it. He padded over to the article of clothing, and crouching beside it without a word. The only sounds filling his ears were the breaths that he was taking, and then soft clack of Krotos' talons on the stone.

“Veledar." He whispered quietly as he ran a hand along the soft cloth. He plucked it up, and gave the fabric a smell. The scent that clung to it was unmistakably his dragon. Like a calming summer fire, he felt his senses relax and his mind drift to crimson scales. He pulled the cloak away to look around the cave, almost expecting his dragon to be there waiting for him. “Why...?" He closed his eyes and focused on the dragon once again, finding that the emotions were swirling all around him now. It was like the dragon was right on top of him and he could not see what was right in front of his face. Hes invisible. The thought came suddenly, and he realized it was the simple explanation. But why is he avoiding me? Arcturus looked back to Krotos, who was inspecting the cavern wall with small little chirps. Did you want to avoid Krotos being here?

Arcturus looked down to the cloak in his hands, than towards the painting of Veledar's mother. He gave a long drawn out sigh as he looked to her red scales, and her teal underbelly. “Krotos." Arcturus said softly as the gryphon padded over to him, and sat down onto his haunches beside him. “I think I need you to leave me for a time."

“Why do you say that?" The gryphon moved himself closer. “Do you need an embrace?"

“No." He brushed the comforting wings away. “I think Crimson Sky is here....just being shy as it were."

“Shy?" Krotos laughed. “That certainly does not sound like the same dragon I know!"

“I know it seems odd to me as well." Arcturus looked back towards the entrance. “But trust me on this...I can do this." He ran a hand through Krotos fur gently, fingernails finding his hide beneath the fur. “So leave me for a few hours here. Come back for me before you head back towards the estate." He turned to look Krotos right in his brown eyes. “Can you do that for me?"

“I can do that." the gryphon replied softly. “Are you sure you will be fine? What if he does not show up?"

“Then you heard Sky." Arcturus chuckled, “We have two more days before they come looking for us."

“I imagine Shandalar will press the issue to leave before that." Krotos rolled his eyes, and flicked his tail softly onto behind him. “Say something about not being able to trust the white kittybird."

“To hell with her than." Arcturus dismissed her. “I am staying as long as it takes to find Veledar....No matter what."

“Same as me." Krotos pushed out his chest. “I will return for you in a few hours." The gryphon stood up, and strode over towards the entrance with Arcturus right behind him. “Hope your gut feeling is correct." The gryphon glanced back at him with a concerned look on his furred face. “But I will be here for you in case it does not."

Arcturus just gave the gryphon a smile and patted his fur one last time. “Thanks."

“No problem." Krotos spread his wings the second he stepped out of the cave. “Well I will keep on looking around the mountain. Who knows?" The gryphon shrugged and gave his wings a test flap. “Maybe I will find your dragon first? If I do I will be sure to bring your lover right back to you."

“You do that." He waved as Krotos bounded into the air with a great pounce. Then with wing-beats fast as lighting the gryphon was high above his head and soaring away with a loud squawk on the wind. Arcturus stood there for a moment longer, watching the clouds pass slowly overhead. He almost expected Veledar to come flying right out of a large white one, his glorious wings parting the fluffy white surface as he opened his maw and expressed his happiness with a roar that would sound for miles around. He turned back towards the cave after a silent minute. When he did he saw something he did not expect to see. His eyes widened, as his heart felt weak. His eyes began to mist as he froze in place. For Standing right over his cloak was Veledar.

The red dragon's scales shined in the sun's rays that were streaking into the cave, his eyes shimmered just as brightly. He was a beauty to behold as he swished his tail back and forth, sitting down on his haunches as he looked to him. The dragon did not have a look of anger on his snout, nor did he look particularly angry. All he could see when he gasped was the dragon he loved, waiting for him like he knew he would be. Veledar refolded his wings against his back after stretching them wide, than gave a large tooth filled yawn. The dragon composed himself and seemed to sit up straight before the human, trying to regain a sense of regalness.

“Hello Arcturus." Veledar spoke clearly, his voice low, almost a whisper to Arcturus' ears. “I....have been expecting you."