FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Copyright Denver Demchuk 2007

Denver: I woke up early, the sky still dark with night, a hint of violet in the sky to the East that heralded the rising sun. The warmth of two bodies resting on and against my own made me smile for a moment as I looked down at Arosha and Iridell, the latter of the two had her head on my chest and part of her legs hanging off the end of the bed. I kissed Iridell's neck, the action making her shift slightly and turn away, placing her back to me and jostling Arosha at the same time. Arosha whined slightly and curled up upon herself slowly, giving me just enough room to get out of the bed without disturbing them further. Dressing quickly, I found a scrap piece of parchment and scribbled a note that I was going to head out for a brief walk before breakfast was served, possibly a little exercise with my sword. Strapping my weapon across my back and grabbing my small diary, I left the room as quietly as possible, heading downstairs and out the front door of the Inn, pausing a moment to breath in the chill morning air. I hadn't really been one for exercising back in my own world, yet I though it would make a difference if I started in this one, the dangers I had witnessed all too real. Ever since my...transformation, I had felt more energetic than before, my muscles feeling more toned than ever. Turning to the west, where the sky was still made from pitch, I started walking slowly, planning on taking a look at the small town before it became a hive of activity for the early risers and common folk.

Many of the shops seemed related to trade goods or storage buildings with Inns and venders spaced ever three structures or so, allowing a wide variety of goods. As I passed by the bridge my steps slowed a little as I took in the entirety of it, noting the fires atop the watchtowers were still burning as the morning approached. There were also gates that could rise and be lowered apparently at a moments notice, the other side of the river bare of buildings except for storehouses and another set of watch towers. Thoughts of the other race that lived on the opposit shore came to mind slowly as I continued on, heading out of town and to a small clearing set into the nearby outskirts of forest.

Naga, for all that I could remember from fantasy books and a few legends that I knew, were serpent people, not entirely snake like in appearance either. Some said that they had the heads of humans, while others claimed that they were a bizzar mix of both human and snake. The upper torso human like yet covered with scales and with vaguely reptillian features, the waist down consisting of a serpents tail. None of the Priests or Templar Guards that had escorted us from Olmanda Temple were very talkative, and I had learned next to nothing about them from talk around the common room.

Drawing my sword, I placed the tip upon the ground and closed my eyes for a moment, trying to push away the random thoughts floating around in an attempt to concentrate on what I was here to do. Raising my weapon vertically before me, I brought it around in a sweeping arc, turning with it and stopping half way. Across, down to the right, up again, and finally stabbing behind me, I turned and moved through other stances and actions, most of which I just knew how to do somehow. It was like how I had fought the Greevus at the Temple, the actions natural and correct, yet without the sudden surge of energy I had felt. In truth, I was beginning to feel that the Goddess and God had done more to me than I was conciously aware of. That thought made me pause again, sword raised with the point angled towards the trees to my left.

'Damn. What am I supposed to do? I didn't ask for this,' I thought angrily, sheathing my sword and sitting down on a nearby boulder set against a large trunk.

Something rustled in the nearby bushes, causing me to jump up and look around for the source of the sound. Silence followed for a few moments, broken only by my breathing then...

"Ssshikkan dubassen..."

My sword was out of its scabbard again as I whirled around, the voice followed by loud multiple hisses, the sound similar to a balloon being filled with helium, but far louder and repeated multiple times.

"Show yourselves now! I don't like being snuck up upon and will defend myself with lethal intent if I must," I shouted, watching the shadowy forms slide closer, unable to see any clear details about who was in the woods with me. Something pricked the left side of my neck hard enough to make me stagger. Slapping at it, I watched as three black objects, resembling oversized pins fell to the ground, my hand coming away with crimson smears across it. I had just enough time to think 'darts' when a numbing sensation swept through me, followed by shadows that slowly encroached upon my vision. The last thing I saw was a scaled hand reaching for me before everything vanished...

Arosha: I woke to the sounds of large bells ringing close by with an urgency that was partially confusing to me, and for a moment I thought that it was my own mind trying to berate me for the amount of wine consumed last night in the common room.

"Arosha! Wake up! Quickly!"

Wincing at that, I felt small barbs stabb into my head which confirmed my feeling, causing me to whimper as I tried pulling the pillow over my ears to block the ringing and Iridell's insistant voice...'Insistant and panicked,' I thought groggily. Panicked?

Tossing aside the pillow, I sat up quickly and felt the world and my stomach start spinning, the nausiating sensation causing me to close my eyes again until I could get a handle on both.

"What in Fendral's name is wrong, Iridell?" I growled, glaring at her as if to say that the drinks last night were her fault. Fear was painted across her features as she stood completely still, holding onto something in her hand as her eyes stared out the window towards the river. "Iridell?"

"Denver's gone....He's been captured," she whispered at last, her body shaking slightly as her eyes widened. Everything I felt was replaced with a cold knot of fear in my gut as I stood and grabbed a piece of parchment from the dragoness's hand.

'Gone out to look around and practice with my sword before breakfast.

Will be back some time after you get up.

Denver'

Looking from note to Iridell and back again, the sensation of dread grew as I noticed at last that her eyes were glazed over and not really seeing anything before her.

"Iridell, tell me what you see!" I demanded, dropping the note and moving to stand before her, being carefull not to touch her form in case it broke contact with whatever vision she was seeing.

"Shadows, darkness, confusion....Marsh and the beginnings of jungle, ruins that grow and change with each moment," she whispered, her voice struggling to maintain a sense of calm collectivness. "Scaled figures sliding through the waters, sometimes right side up, other times, their appearance is nausiating in the boneless actions taken. Hissing...loud gutterall hissing and slurred words!" Her body was shaking now as her eyes started to roll back into her head, my hand reaction before my mind to could make sense of what was happening, slapping Iridell's cheek hard. Shaking her head, I caught her gently before she could sink to the floor, her chest rising and falling quickly as she panted for breath. "The Naga....have captured Denver....I don't know where they are taking him but he seems to be relativly unharmed...Drugged though...I couldn't make much sense out of what I was seeing through his eyes..."

I followed her gaze to the window once more, noting how she was staring at the guard towers now, the sentries hurring this way and that along the tops and through the lower doorways. Still the bells sounded, though their notes had turned far darker than before to my ears...

..."Has there been any reports of Naga attacks in the last few weeks or so?" I asked at last, staring at the Falcon Commander of the local town Guards, eyes intent though my face was cold and expressionless.

"None. There have been increased sightings of their patrols along the borders of the two Kingdoms but all contact with them has been polite and friendly at best. Worst that we've had to deal with was a drunken brawl where one of the Serpent traders almost devoured a local bully. Managed to save both of their lives, though the person in question that started the fight ended up with a scar running the length of his left arm from the poison," came the reply in a calm calculated tone as his wings shook slightly. "Look we understand that you have an important task to be completed and that one of your party is missing, but until I can get authorization from the Commander of the Naga Swamp Runners, there is nothing I can do..." Growling, I looked out the window in the direction of the marshlands and jungle, frustration filling me as well as the sickening fear that something terrible was going to happen to Denver.

"This is all my fault," I whispered, my hand gripping the hilt of my sword so tightly I could hear my bones creaking in protest. A light rapping sounded at the door, soon followed by a fox lieutenant as the wooden pannel opend slowly.

"Sir," He said, saluting the Avian first before pulling out a wad of cloth from a poutch attached to his belt. "We found the site of what must have been a struggle not far from the West edge of town. One set of human tracks and an unknown number of Naga tracks as well coming out from the trees covering the banks of the river. This was left on a boulder and we found three darts as well. Honey Weed from what we can determin from the scent of them." Opening the cloth wrapped bundle slowly, the mentioned darts were there as well as three stone tokens, and a small envelope. The parchment quality was far better than anything I had seen before except perhapse that which a library or the lords sometimes used when I was asked to deliver messages to distant places. Tokens were of jade stone, crafted to resemble curled serpents holding a disc of gold with a small moon stone set in half of the finly wrought metal.

"Escort passes to the Empire?" Captain Olden chirped, picking one up and tilting his head slightly. "This is most strange...." He was about to reach for the envelope when Iridell plucked it out of his grasp and carefully removed it's contents.

"'To respected Envoy heading to the city Ryodan. We regret delaying you in your journey, however, certain things have come to our attention that must be explained before we can allow you to continue. We will not keep you from moving on to Ryoden by any means of force which may harm or kill one of your party. Instead, we have taken one of your members to Ku'tarass, to speak with our Lord, King Sevran, and his Lady, Queen Ysanna. It is our Sire's wish that you also come to Ku'tarass of your own free will so that He may speak with you as well.

It is in our understanding that there is a Seer amongst your party as well as one other that may be gravely concerned for the young human we have taken. Two of the tokens are for them and will allow safe passage to the Jade Throan. The last token may be for whomever you wish to accompany you. Our appologies for any inconvenience we may have caused you.

Githrain Seddama,

Commander of the Phantom Scales,

Keeper of the keys to the Jade Throan.'"

"Why those sorry excuses for Greevus shit," I snarled, grabbing the note and ripping it to shreds before tossing it in a nearby brazier. "If I ever meet that bastard, I'll skin him alive and use his balls for bolas!"

"Oh shut up, Arosha!" Iridell snapped, her tail knocking me none too gently into a nearby chair as her silver eyes regarded me sternly. "If you spent a few more of your stops reading of the world instead of just drinking and finding nights of pleasure-" I felt my hackles rise at that comment as she stopped suddenly and backed off, giving a sigh. "Sorry. I'm worried about Denver too, just that I'm trying not to let my emotions get the best of me..."

"Failing that miserably, Iridell," I told her none too kindly.

"You're not the only one worried about Denver," she said again, stepping closer and kneeling on the ground beside my chair. "May the Gods damn me for saying this, but he's grown to mean a lot to me as well. I can't explain why, but if we let our emotions get the best of us, we may fail in bringing warning to Ryodan and His Majesty, Quel'thalsed."

"Well, whatever it is that you two do, I don't believe that violence will help at all either," Olden remarked, picking up one of the darts and dabbing it on his toung slightly, only to shak his head and place both scaled hands on the desk as his wings unfurled even more for a brief moment. "Definitly Honey Weed. It's a common enough herb around here, and some hunters use it to get live game for some of the lords and ladies that have a taste for hunting or fresh meats. Boiled and mixed with any alchohol, it's a powerful sedative but doesn't deliver as sharp a shock as some of the others in it's kind can. Makes sure to keep prey alive and healthy with little worry as to overdosing. This wasn't done as an act of War or anything close to that and the note is more than a little believeable."

"Considdering that it was used on the Royal messangers near the end of the War between Ryodan and Ku'tarass in order to help start the peace process," Iridell murmured, taking one of the other Jade figures. "I wonder...I'm going to accept the invitation in the same spirit it was given and hope that I can catch up with Denver and whatever group is currently bearing him to Ku'tarass. The rest of the envoy will have to continue on to the next town and wait for us until this is dealt with."

"I'm going as well," I added, taking the thrid token and looking at Olden.

"Do you wish for me to send one of my Guards with you?" he inquired, setting down the one he had been holding and looking from Iridell to me then back again.

"No. There won't be any need for that," Iridell said suddenly, moving to the window and looking down at the bridge. Moving over to stand beside the dragoness, I looked down and saw a Gypsy wagon rolling over it and onto the streets of Carborough, a scaled face just barely visable from beneath a shimmering hood of silks...

..."So you want me to do what again?" asked the Naga trade woman as she carefully held the jade token up to the light of the window. It had taken an hour to convince Odessa to listen to us and almost half an hour to explain just enough of our need without going too far in depth of the reason. She had listened quietly, looking from Iridell to me then back again intently, her serpentine form curled up beside the table. Yellowish scales painted her throat and down the front of her form as the emerald green stood out in stark contrast to the dark blues and violets of her traveling dress. Multiple chains hung round her throat and arms were covered with an assortment of braceletts. Gold eyes blinked rarely at some of the things we said but otherwise stared at us unnervingly.

"We need someone to guide us to the Naga kingdom. Someone that we can trust in order to reach Ku'tarass safely and get our companion back," Iridell said gently, trying not to fiddget in her chair.

"Someone that knows the customs and their way around the...'streets' so to speak?" Odessa remarked, raising a scaled eyebrow.

"Yes," I said, trying not to look frustrated and keeping my temper on a short leash.

"I cannot do as you ask," she said at last, placing the token carefully upon the table top.

"Someones life is in danger and you refuse to help us?" I growled, starting to draw my sword.

Her cold eyes turned to me and a thin smile appeared on her lips.

"Yes. I have just come from Ku'tarass on a trades run and to go back now would make such a trip pointless for me and my family. One life compared to theirs is nothing. I'm sorry..." She said, rising slightly and turning for the entrance.

"We can pay for your time and more than enough to cover the expenses of the trip," Iridell said finally, rising and lightly placing a hand on Odessa's shoulder.

"You will pay, or the Temple will?" She asked, stopping but not bothering to turn around to face Iridell.

"I will pay..."

Denver: The world around me twisted and turned in an agonizing nightmare that I could only see in brief glimpses before passing out again. Sleep was dreamless, dark and brought a promised comfort from the twisted horrors I saw with open eyes. Many times, I could feel whatever was carrying me stop and turn me around to be carefully laid on the ground. Something bitterly sweet would be forced past my lips, followed by something that smelled and tasted like dried meat in small pieces. Darkness always came after and I would wake to find the nightmares continuing. The sound of hissing was constant, growing louder sometimes, or fading off for a brief moment. I felt warm, moist water sometimes, others, the splashing of ice cold liquide over my form that sent shivers throughout my body. Time held no meaning for me, and eventually, I looked forward to the darkness, not wishing to bear witness to the grotesque images that accompanied my waking moments...

...Silence....cesation of motion...warmth...soft ground that felt as if I could sink into it with the slightest motion. The scent of...lavander...jasmin....Silence....

..."-swear that you're starting to become obsessed with that human," commented a female sounding voice somewhere in the place I was in. Pleasant...almost soft and chiding in a sense...also with a hint of the age the speaker had.

"And you aren't?" said a second, honey sweet and teasing, the notes of mischief playing in her tone. "You've been here with him more times than I have and claim innocence for it."

"Father asked me to watch over him, so he is in my care and a guest," said the other, sounding slightly testy at the comments made. "After the Honey Weed that was used to keep him drugged, he'll need someone around to help him get over the effects...Don't you dare!" The covers over my waist had been lifted slightly, then dropped back down hurridly.

"I was just checking to see if the rumors of his kind were true!" replied the younger voice innocently.

"Don't you do that enough with the suitors that come calling for you," the elder hissed gently.

"Wha-You take that back!" said the other angrily. I opened my eyes slowly to find myself in a well lit room of gentle peaceful colors that allowed me time to focus. The bed I rested upon was incredibly comfortable, and most of my body was covered with a light quilt patterend with whirls and zig zags of symbols unfamiliar to me. Other furniature consisted of large seated chairs and broad dressors at either end of the room. The doorway was round, the wooden pannels polished to an almost mirror like shean with silver serpentine handles. Seated, or rather coiled at one of the dressors was a Naga, lightly garbed in shimmering crimson and gold silks, a small book open before her. Silver scaled with piercing blue eyes, I found her face and upper torso far more appealing than I would have thought her people would be. A pleasant blend of human and serpentine aspects was presented, neither overpowering the other in one way or another.

Looking for the other who had spoken, I found her to my left, seated upon one of the chairs with a hand resting on the edge of the bed. Silver and emeralds decorated her form, a large hood had spread from behind her neck to either side at the implied insult of the other, allowing me to see that she was partially cobra in heritage with dark brown/black scales. Amber eyes were still locked upon the other in the room.

"Where am I?" I croaked, voice painful to use. My mouth felt dry and it was all I could do to speak without wincing greatly, the rest of my body almost numb and heavy with the desire to continue resting. A startled hiss came from the female beside me as she quickly slid off the chair, backing away a few feet and breathing rapidly as if I had startled her. The other smiled slightly and came forward after pouring a goblet of water from a nearby pitcher.

"You're in Ku'tarass, city of the Naga which was built over two thousand generations ago," she replied, helping me sit up carefully and tilting the edge of the cup against my lips. The water was chill and helped wash away the pain and foul taste that had started to make itself known to me. I drank deeply, welcoming the taste and feeling of shivers going through my body. "You'll need to rest for a little longer. Honey Weed has a way of sitting in the body for a bit before being drained completely from your system. The Hunters that brought you were only directed to make sure that you arrived in one piece."

"Who are you, if I may ask?" I said, voice a little clearer as my mind fought to wake up completely. A think smile spread over her scaled lips as I noticed the other female come closer.

"Lesanna, First hatched of King Sevran and Queen Udell's second clutch," she replied, easing me back onto the bed. "My sister is Eslenn, third hatched of the second clutch." I nodded slowly in understanding before closing my eyes, hoping on gathering my thoughts, only to find the darkness waiting for me again...

...I awoke what felt like only a few moments later, but knew that it was probably closer to hours. That was the funny thing about drugs of any kind. Time had little meaning and even if it did, the chances of any being paying attention was slim to none. Eslenn was gone, but Lesanna was still in the room, probably just come back from some kind of duties, yet she wasn't alone. Three Naga hatchlings were with her and playing upon the smooth tiled floor with colored pieces of ceramic. Sitting up slowly, I watched them as they played, noting that every now and then one of them would shout "Ji-sang!" in a raspy voice. All three of them were brightly colored and only wore sashes around their waists, making it hard to determin their sex by appearance. Scent was another matter however, two of them were males, while the last one was female, and much larger than her brothers.

"Who's winning?" I asked after a moment, carefully swinging my legs over the edge of the mattress. I was still a little stiff and sore, but not as much as when I had woken up the first time. Lesanna looked up from where she sat and smiled, even as small hisses of surprise broke out from the children who quickly hid behind her chair and peeked out at me from the edges.

"Good evening," she said, rising and moving towards me slowly. "I can't really say who is winning at this point, but it seems that each of the children has the same amout of points...How are you feeling?"

"Better than before," I replied with a wry smile, absently gathering the quilt around my waist to keep my legs warm. It wasn't exactly cold, but the difference between the warmth of the bed and that of the room was noticable. "Though a little sore and hungry." She nodded and rang a small gong by the bedside. Within moments, another Naga arrived, though slimmer and dressed in pure white cloth, head crowned with a small silver skullcap.

"Meal for four and a dinner of outlander food for our guest," Lesanna said, before giving a dismissive gesture. The servant bowed slightly and left, closing the door behind him. "We should have something for you within a short while. My father has a taste for outlander food as he calls it. Usually has it prepared for special feasts or other occasions when he desires it. It's a little bland for my taste, yet some of the spices are desirable."

"My thanks to you, Lady Lesanna," I replied, giving a slight bow in return for her kindness. "Though I would like to know why I was taken from the envoy heading to Ryoden..."

"That I cannot tell you, though I wish I knew. All that is known is that a message came to my mother nearly two weeks ago and it was at that point that my sisters and brothers were informed a guest would be arriving. As eldest of the second clutch of eggs, I was placed as your...companion you could say. You are my responsibility while you live and are in Ku'tarass," she told me.

"I see," I said, looking to a nearby window and seeing a vast jungle of emeralds andblues streatching out into the horizon. By the sunlight present, it was late evening, the sun setting behind the building I was in and giving a shimmering quality to the river that cut through the forest and beyond. Something shifted on the mattress and I looked down to find the young female hatchling gazing up at me with curiosity. I smiled at her, being careful not to show my teeth since I wasn't sure how she'd react. She giggled and pointed to my hair as she turned to Lesanna.

"Silver man funny looking," the child rasped, giving a broad snake like grin.

"Ti'sen! That's not a very nice thing to say," Lesanna replied, hissing with dissaproval.

"But he is funny looking. No eyes, no eyes, no eyes!" the youngling said, starting a chant with which the others joined in after getting a good look at my face.

"Blighted eyes,

can still see,

Scales and tooth,

the will of thee,

Judge not others,

by appearance alone,

Or possible friend,

will leave you alone," I said, grinning as they stopped to listen to me speak, their eyes going wider than before.

"Interesting words," Lesanna commented, looking to the children. "And very true ones as well. What if he wished to be your friend and the three of you offended him with your 'No eyes' chanting? Hmmm?" There were an assortment of protests given by the children before they apologiezed to me. I accepted their words and bowed to each one in respect before their elder sister sent them back to play their game.

"Thank you for forgiving them. Children...well...can be foolish," she said to me, coiling herself on one end of the bed.

"They can be, but sometimes, they see more than those who are older, and without as much confusion," I commented, watching them.

"True," Lesanna said, nodding in agreement. After a moment, I felt her touch my arm gently and saw that she was still holding onto the book she had been reading earlier. It was the diary I had started the day after I had arrived in this strange world. The naga female seemed to hesitate for a moment before holding it out to me and turning her gaze to look into my eyes unflinchingly.

"I haven't shown anyone else that since you arrived, not even my Father. Not everything that you have written makes sense, yet, you write as a scribe would. With feeling and contemplation on the subject you are trying to understand," Lesanna told me, bowing her head a little. "I would like you to help me understand. Understand who you are and the place you come from...Please..." I stayed silent for a long moment, returning her gaze before I looked down at the book I held in my hands. A thing that could help me keep my sanity, or destroy me if anyone afraid of what I was found it and claimed it to be a thing of darkness.

"I can help you understand the first, Lady Lesanna," I said at last, shaking my head slightly. "As for where I come from...I have neither the right nor ability to tell you in a way that you could understand. It would be like trying to show an insect how to weild a sword that is many times greater than it's own body, and expect it to understand. I mean no insult to you or your intelligence...Just...I don't have the words..." She nodded slowly after searching my face and lightly reached up to caress my right cheek with her hand...

***

Iridell: Odessa proved to be a worthy guide, well worth the amount she had requested, though it had come from my own personal hord gathered over the years and inherited from a distant relative identified only by the magick's of draconic blood lines. That had been years ago, and the amount of treasure recieved had been more than I could have ever imagined. Being a Seer though, had made maintaining it difficult since it was forbidden to keep monetary possessions in the Temple at all. The result was a small cavern in the nearby hills, protected by nature and the magick invoked by myself every five years to keep the needed barriers active.

I floated beside the wagon, keeping up with it's driver and Arosha who had sullenly accepted a seat besides the Naga woman. Conversation was short and to the point even at the best of times, usually sticking to the customs of Ku'tarass, what to do and not to do, the proper respect to be shown to royal parties and Lords/Ladies alike. The woodland trail had turned spongy under the Droven herd beasts feet just as we reached a small outpost. Odessa bartered and switched animals, the herd beasts traded in for a land wurm instead. The creature resembled a large serpent with spines and horns covering it's body from snout to scaled tip, azure blue eyes with golden pupils, and a loud hissing that reminded me of smith's billows for forge fires. Wheels were removed in favor of sled skies, and large bladders that had been cured and water proofed were inflated with air.

"These are to make sure we don't sink in any of the bogs along the way or need to worry about changing the wheels ever fifteen feet," Odessa hissed, slapping the reins lightly across the Wurms back and making the wagon slide forward over the grass with ease. "The floats are blessed with extra fortification to keep them from tearing on any debre that might want to cut short our trip."

"What are they made from?" Arosha sked hesitantly, pulling her hand back quickly after touching one of the bladders.

"Crokus. River Lords," she replied, almost reverantly.

"Crokus?"

"Yes. Pray that you don't find out what they are, else your friend will be staying where he is," Odessa said, giving a thin smile...

We made fairly good time through the swamp, all things considdered, and with little incident. Every now and then, a Naga patrol would seem to emerge from out of no where, demanding to know our destination and the purpose of our business once there. Twice I had to stop Arosha from answering hastily, leaving most of the conversation to Odessa except when it became nescissary for me to speak. As a priestess and Seer, they gave their respect to me freely and did not question the short answers I told them, though more than once, I felt as if they would like nothing better than to make up an excuse to keep us from proceeding.

Camping at night gave me time to reflect upon things that had happened during the days of travel and the words of our Naga companion. I had an uneasy feeling about her, but it wasn't due to anything that she had done or said so far. In fact, it was what she hadn't done or said that concerned me. Each time I had ventured to ask her questions of her family or King Sevran, she refused to speak about them. Washing clothing, dishes and other small chores also seemed to be beneath her as Arosha ended up doing them more often than not. More than once, I had heard the wolfess complain in low growling tones, saying things that shocked me with the range of tavern words she used. Shaking my head after one such moment of evesdropping, I returned to the camp fire by which Odessa had coiled herself, amathyst eyes staring into the flames intently.

"How much farther to Ku'tarass?" I asked, sitting across from her and pulling out one of the few books I had brought with me, along with an enchanted quill. It was something akin to a diary, though meant more for placing stray thoughts, which I would meditate on later.

"Another three days, as the crow flys, though there are paths created to make things easier on travelers," Odessa replied, looking up and giving another thin smile. "This is the easy part, Priestess Iridell. Getting an audiance with His Majesty will be far more difficult, as will finding anything out about your friend." Silence fell for a brief moment as I started my entries, keeping in mind her words.

"What do you know of Githrain Saddama?" I said at last, looking up from my book. Her gaze flicked up sharply and for a brief moment, I sensed uncertanty and anger, then it was gone from her mind.

"He is a royal assasin...a ghost that King Sevran commands at will. They say that he commands a group of warriors trained in his art and uses them to help the Kingdom remain intact for the most part. His Majesty has always made sure to be extremely careful about what he asks Githrain to do, at least, from what I have heard," She told me, expression grave. "If anyone could have captured the young human from your envoy, it would have been Githrain. Not many trust him to begin with, yet, there is no reason not to."

"Why is that?"

"It...is not something I can say...I'll turn in for the night now," Odessa said with a finality that meant the conversation was over. I watched her slither just out of range of the firelight and pull a heavy quilt over her body.

'What secrets are you hiding from us?' I thought silently, staring at her for a long time before continuing to write...

***

Four days later, we arrived at Ku'Tarass, city of serpents and home of the Jade Throan. Even that bit of information hadn't prepared me for the size and immensity of the structures we saw. Buildings rose seventeen stories into the air before stopping, each one connected to others by wide sloaping pathways that led from the streets or from other arches suspended in the air. Despite the swamp and jungle that surrounded them, the city was relativly dry except for pools and river crossings that were open to the public. Every color of the jungle was displayed here, from the bright feathers to the dark emeralds and saphires of trees and waterways alike. Odessa guided her team up a trade river that had considerable traffic from others in her profession, most of them using Wurms to pull larger river boats up and downstream to the waiting docks. Our guid gestured to a point around a bend in the river and said, "The Crystal Towers of Ku'tarass." I looked at her questioningly but soon found myself staring in awe at King Sevran's Palace.

The largest gem stones I had ever seen had been polished and facited to smooth twisting spires that challanged the mountain behind for height and magesty. Four of the towers rose above the others. Ruby, Saphire, Diamond, and Tiger Eye gleamed in the mid day sun, sending rainbow colors across the city. In the center of the four, an enourmus Emerald rested, shaped like the blade of a sword, I could feel the arcane and divine magicks that resided in them and it made me shiver with excitement.

"Impossible..." Arosha breathed, taking hold of the side of the floating wagon and standing up in her seat. "There's not enough jewels in the entire world to create something like this..."

"No...there aren't," Odessa confirmed, nodding gravely at the palace. "Legend says that the first King of the Naga's prayed to the Gods for a symbol that the people would believe in, one that would mark him as their king under the Heavens. Thirty days and nights he prayed, and the Gods finally answered him. His spirit was used to summon the Elementals of the four compass points. Earth, Frie, Wind, and Water. With his spirit, he bade them to create towers of their elements that would stand the test of time and also allow his decendants to call upon them for aid. In return, he promised that all of his people would honor them and trust their judgement. They agreed and it is said that his Spirit keeps the towers whole to this day. At the cost of his life though, the Kingship fell to his next of kin and down his family line since then."

"The Elementals themselves answered?" I said in a whisper, trying to imagine what a sight like that must have been like. Only a silent nod was given in reply...

***

Denver: Sitting on the rail of a balconey overlooking the city, I sighed, unsure what was going to happen now or what I should do. Leaving Ku'tarass was out of the question until I met with King Sevran and even then I might not be allowed to leave. Lesanna hadn't been able to find out why I had been brought here from any of her brothers, sisters, or her mother, Queen Tasqueeve. I had met her a few days after I was well enough to walk around and had been surprised to find out that she was actually a doe and not a Naga.

Kind and gentle, she never the less radiated a strength of will that was hard not to notice. She explained that after her parents had been slain in the war between Ku'tarass and Ryoden, embassedors had been dispatched by her brother and the royal advisors to try and find a way to end the conflict. King Sevran which was still a youth in his own right at the time had also sent emessaries to try and speak with Quel'thalsed, who was not King of Ryoden. An agreement had been made and a treaty signed between the two Kingdoms. There was a price though. Since Kings had already been crowned, a daughter from each royal family would wed the new kings. Quel'thalsed had been reluctant to accept this part of the treaty, but Ysanna understood that if it wasn't done, war could break out again between the two peoples. She was the only female that her parents had concieved so the choice feel to her in the end. King Sevran allowed Quel'thalsed to choose from his nine sisters to be his consort and Queen. The youngest daughter, Assedo had been chosen.

"I feel sorry for you in a way," I said at one point, staring into a chalice of mead for a few moments.

"How so?" Ysanna said with a slight smile, tilting her head a bit as she regarded me with bright brown eyes. Her form was athletic and lightly tan in color with a milky white throat and belly. She favored the silks and jewelery that I had seen on Lessana, except choosing crimsons and silvers to accent her features. Most of the fabric was pointless, being nearly transparent and hiding next to nothing.

"The fact that you will never have children of your own from this union," I said, trying to word my response carefully. "At least...I haven't seen any children here that share your features, Queen Ysanna."

"Just Ysanna, even in public audiances please," she said for the fifth time, chuckling a little. "Actually, I have had many children already, and you have met some of them. Lesanna is one of my daughters." I sat upright in shock, my mind racing until I had to shake my head and close my eyes.

"There's no point in asking my next question is there," I commented at last, looking at her with an uncertain expression.

"How is it that I can have children with my Love and Lord?" She said, grinning broadly with amusement. "Like this..." Her form shimmered and shifted, body darkening and elongating to almost grotesque proportions until a soft glow enveloped her. Where the doe had been sitting, a Naga now rested, Obsidian scaled and with bright brown eyes that still gleamed with amusement at my open mouthed reaction. "There is a pool here, what we call the Pool of Elements, in the most sacred part of the Crystal Spires. It has the ability to grant any being an alternative form if their reason is just and true, the need for such a change, great and honest. Mostly, it has granted the Naga people the ability to shift their lower bodies from serpentine to two legs with a tail, making it easier for them to get around in the Ryodan kingdom while on trade missions. For me, once Sevran won my love and trust, it granted me the ability to become a Naga at will. I have clutched four times since my marriage to him." She changed back and took a sip from her own chalice before looking me over. "From your own appearance, I'd say that you have also been in a Pool of Elements or have had something similar happen."

"No," I said after a moment. "Something far different but also leading to a change."

"What happened then, if I may ask?" She said, voice almost motherly, not pushing the subject, but also knowing that something was bothering me in a sense as well...

...I had told her everything from the dream to the night I had fallen asleep in the Githmourn Castle ruins. She in turn had been left speechless and surprised. When I left Ysanna alone that day, she was lost deep in thought, her mind slightly troubled by something I couldn't account for. Now in the light of the evening sun, I watched the streets light up with torches and windows from shops and markets still open to patrons they served. I heard someone slithering up behind me and I turned slightly, smiling as Lesanna emerged from the door way to my chambers.

"Hello," I said, giving a wry smile and turning to look back out over the city.

"How do you feel?" She asked, coming up beside me and touching my shoulder.

"Physically, fine. Other than that...Too many thoughts and I feel almost as if I'm trapped. Unsure where I should go or what I should be doing."

"Sorry to hear that, Denver...."

I chuckled and shook my head a moment, turning once more to regard her.

"So, what brings you to see me today?" I asked, greatful to have someone to break the silence I had listened to for most of the day.

"There are a few people here to see you," Lesanna told me, gently taking my arm and leading me back into the room...

***

Arosha: Odessa was right about one thing, it wasn't easy trying to find out what had happened to Denver. We stopped at nearly every street vendor, allowing Odessa to speak with them to see if anyone had noticed a group of guards bearing a human to the Crystal Towers. Most shook their heads and went on to the next customer, blatantly ignoring us as we tried to speak with them further. Other traders had heard rumors about a human being carried upriver in the dead of night but nothing more than that, and none of them would say who had started such a rumor.

"This is getting us nowhere," Iridell said at last, as we left another tavern and stood beneath a pillar holding four flickering torches.

"I could have told you that from the beginning," I growled, crossing my arms and glaring at the serpents that seemed to come too close to our little group as we stood talking.

"What would you suggest then?" Odessa asked calmly, a thin smile upon her lips agian.

"As a Priestess and Seer, I should be able to request an audiance with Sevran or at least ask if there is a human guest residing within the palace," the dragoness replied, looking at the gem towers almost whistfully.

"Are you willing to wait a month for permission?" inquired the Naga, shaking her head. "King Sevran will only see someone if there is a threat to his family, the kingdom or a large scale war that could threaten both."

"Fuck! Haven't you listened to a word we've said you scaled bitch!" I snarled, reaching out and grabbing a handfull of her silk blouse, pulling her closer to me. "That's why we are trying to find Denver! He is a mark of a coming war!"

"So you say, yet I have seen little evidence with which I should believe you," Odessa replied calmly, wretching herself from my grasp.

"I have seen the evidence and have no reason to lie to you, Odessa," Iridell said firmly, expression grave. "Being what I am and having the abilities I do, there is no doubt in my mind that Denver has been chosen by the Goddess and God to fight in the coming war. He is the only chance we have to stand against the gathering darkness. Arosha and I are going to do everything we can to find him. Even if it means demanding an audiance with King Sevrans royal assasin." With that Iridell turned and I followed, giving Odessa one final glare. We had not gone more than twenty steps when we heard Odessa shout, "There is a faster way..."

Leading us quickly through the streets, we arrived at the front gates of the Crystal Towers, guarded by four powerful looking Naga with a quiver of javalins at their sides and holding large bladed spears in their hands. They moved to block our path until Odessa pulled out her token as well as a large jade pendant that had been kept hidden from view. The instant the guards saw it, they moved back and called out in their hissing language. Two servans, with legs instead of serpentine bodies quickly ran from the main hall and bowd low to us. This startled me until I realized that Odessa had also lost her serpent body, the lower torso replaced with two long scaled legs with a whip like tail trailing behind her. "Take us to Queen Ysanna immediately. Send word ahead that Queen Assedo has arrived to speak with her," Odessa told one of the servants curtly before waving her hand to dismiss him. He bowed deeply again and raced off up the steps and vanished as his companion stayed behind to guide us to our destination. I stared at Odessa in shock, not quite believing what I had just heard. Queen Assedo. Queen of Ryodan and wife of Quel'thalsed. Nearly stumbling, I shook my head and forced myself to concentrate on what was taking place around me rather than the feelings of betrayal and anger that were rising at the charade the naga female had pulled.

Within moments, we were talking with Queen Ysanna and explaining the reason we had come to Ku'tarass. She listened and nodded gravely, saying that she knew the one we sought and that she would take us to him herself. The doe sent a naga that she called daughter to go tell Denver that some guests had arrived to see him. I felt my stomach knot slightly and tired to keep pace with Iridell and Ysanna, noticing that Iridell was just barely containing her emotions as well, her eyes bright and almost fertive. Arriving at a chamber that was almost as grand as Ysanna's, she held up a hand for us to wait as we listened to muffled words being spoken out upon the balconey. Shadows moved on the other side of the glass panes and then...

"DENVER!"

Denver: I heard my name being shouted and briefly had time to register two people leaping at me before being knocked flat on my ass and embraced fiercly by Arosha and Iridell. Both of them were in tears, trying to speak at once between the sobbs that sometimes chokked off their voices. I sat there, bewildered and confused as a flurry of emotions found release within me, each one attempting to gain control. Kissing both of them, I held onto the lupine and dragoness tightly, my world suddenly seeming a little more under control than it had just a few moments before. Pushing them back slightly after a few moments I asked how they had known I was here?

"It seems that Githrain Seddama left them a message after his men captured you," replied a naga female that was smiling with amusement, tail swaying behind her legs as she regarded us. Rising with the help of Arosha and Iridell, I raised an eyebrow slightly.

"So this was planned then? My kidnapp was just to get them here?" I said.

"You as well. My Sister by marriage sent me a letter that she had recieved nearly two weeks ago along with her own, telling me that an envoy was heading for Ryoden. An envoy that had a Seer, as well as a young human that the Temple believed was a sign that a war was approaching," The new female informed me, looking at Ysanna momentarily before returning her searching gaze to me. "I was on my way through the secret paths in order to try and make it in time to see if such a man did exist and hope to have a chance to speak with him before heading back to my mate, Quel'thalsed."

"Queen Assedo," I said, smiling a little and nodding in understanding as everything came together. "Someone from the Temple told you both that the envoy was heading to Ryoden and where it would be stopping along the way..." Assedo nodded, as did Ysanna, both of who looked slightly surprised at this. "It makes sense..."

"But who would do so?" Arosha murmured, looking at Iridell in confusion.

"Furanin Light-talon," Iridell and I said at the same time, the dragoness jumping slightly as her gaze was drawn to me. "He's the only one that realized that there would need to be unity in order to face whatever war is approaching. The others in the Council felt as if they'd rather worry about Ryoden and the surrounding towns before the Naga. No one I asked about them would tell me anything, it was as if it was a taboo or forbidden," I said, explaining my thoughts. "He also told me of his encounter with a Naga female a long time ago. A female that had turned out to be part of the royal family..." Assedo nodded gravely, rubbing her right arm slightly through the braceletts she wore.

"Now that you know how you came to be here, it is time for the reason why you are here," Said a deep, thickly accented voice from the doorway behind Ysanna and Assedo. Powerfully built, The naga that entered had shifted to his two legged form and stood close to eight feet tall, scales of deep forest green streaked with neon blue. His face was angular and blunt, the features enhanced by the rough jeweled crown that rested on his scaled head. A sash of crimson covered part of his chest, vanishing into a pitch black loincloth where two saphire serpents lay entwined, the head facing a crystal of gold silk. "I am King Sevran..."

***

The feast was incredible, and mouth watering at the same time. Each of the dishes specially prepared with great care as to who was going to be present. Various meats, herbs and stewed plants rested in silver dishes or bowels with a few platters of cheeses, breads, and also some chilled fruits. Opting once again for water rather than the wine that had been offered, I listened to the conversation that passed amongst Arosha, Iridell, Assedo, Ysanna, Lesanna, and Sevran, most of it to help everyone get a better understanding of each other's values. I kept silent for the most part, not really sure what to say, though I found more than a few things amusing from time to time. Once everything had been cleared away, I felt the mood in the room change almost instantly. Seated as I was across from King Sevran, his gaze quickly fell upon me as he swirled the contents of his goblet around slightly.

"I must apologize to you, Denver and your companions for what I did in order to bring you here, but I couldn't see any other way of getting you to come to Ku'tarass," he said at last, raising a hand as I opened my mouth to speak. "The Temples are respected even here, but we have tried asking envoys on their ways to distant locations to come here at my request, and recieved apologies that they were unable to do so. Not only that, but someone such as yourself, Denver, would not be allowed to stray from such a destination willingly if it the journey was felt to be as important as your's is."

"Perhapse, King Sevran, yet, I walk my own path and to the beat of my own song. It is better to ask than it is to force," I told him, inclining my head slightly. "If you had guarenteed that I would make it to my destination in good time after coming to see you in your beautiful city, I would have agreed to meet with you."

"Ahhh...if only more thought as you did, but I fear that the war my family started so long ago has left the Krydonian kingdom too scarred for it's people to believe such words," he remarked sadle, giving a great sigh.

"War always leaves scars, on boths sides regardless of who wins," I added. "Why is it that you wished to meet with me and my friends?"

"The letter my Queen recieved from this Furanin Light-talon was shown to me after she had read through it. We of the Naga also know the prophecy, yet there is another verse that we have never shared with the Cepheran Temples," The naga said, then cleared his throat before intoning, "'...the mark of Death which will mean life for him eternal. To be found in a pool of primal powers in his own dark hour. Acceptance of the four shall gain the help of the rest. A scaled daughter with which The chosen shall rest...'"

"That last part of the Prophecy..." I murmured, looking at Iridell and seeing her scales growing incredibly light in color. "You saw this in some part of the vision, didn't you, Iridell?" She nodded gravely, looking at the table with her hands in her lap.

"More than once, a man has come, feeling drawn to this place as desiring to take the test that will mark him as the Chosen One. Sometimes not for hundreds of years at a time, others have come within months of each other," King Sevran said in a low voice that none the less carried through the room. "We know who the 'Four' are that the prophecy speaks of. The twoers were created by them as was the palace itself. The elementals of each race, Earth, Fire, Wind, Water are meant to test the Chosen one, which will lead to his Death. But how they can grant Life eternal...That is something even I cannot speculate upon." Silence reigned in the dining room, with most of those seated at the table staring at King Sevran, or looking at me after a long moment.

"When can I take this test?"

***

Iridell: "What in the Gods name are you thinking, Denver?" Arosha shouted at him once we were in his room, the wolfess standing over him as he sat in one of the few chairs in the room. "Do you want to die?!"

"About as much as a newborn wishes to have it's throat ripped out for making too much noise," he said quietly, face expressionless, features pale. If anything Denver looked drained by everything he had heard at dinner. Who could blame him? I sat on the edge of the bed, hands in my lap as I watched both of them with sorrow and frustration.

"Then don't do it!"

"I don't have a choice!" Denver shouted back, standing up suddenly, face twisting in frustration, eyes full of fear. "I don't have a fucking choice! I need to know if I am what everyone else thinks I may be or if the Gods have made some kind of mistake. I didn't ask to take on the role of this worlds saviour, or have this blasted glove on my hand, Arosha. The most that I hoped to ever do was write stories of such things and give them to people to read. I never asked for any of this!" Silence... "Listen, I don't want to die, but I need to know the truth. You heard King Sevran at dinner. More than once, a person has come here to take the test to find out if they are the Chosen One. I may just be another one of those people."

"You are not one of them," I said almost acidly, standing up and moving over to him. "Don't you dare say that you are. I know you are different, that you have been chosen by the God and Goddess for this. You are the One." His face was partially blurred by tears as I tried to believe in the words that I told him. Even with the visions I had seen, doubt was still creeping into my mind with the threat of loosing him so near. 'God's I really do love him,' I thought with a slight amount of shock.

"I pray that you are right, Iridell," Denver said softly, turning to face me before embracing Arosha as she broke down in tears. "I don't want to loose either of you..." I hugged him as well and soon was no better than Arosha, crying into Denvers shirt as I tightened my embrace. I felt so drained....

***

Sunlight shattered as it passed through the panes of glass on the balconey doors, slanting across the room and into my closed eyes. I muttered and turned, reaching out for Denver and finding Arosha instead.

"Denver....?" I said, opening my eyes and looking around the room, sitting up slightly. He was gone and a piece of parchment lay on the dresser along with what appeared to be a small tome. Getting up to read the note, I felt cold fear knot my stomach and maoned as I sank to the floor, the sound waking Arosha and causing her to approach me. She stared at the note, swearing loudly before grabbing her sword and heading for the door.

Iridell, Arosha,

I need to know the truth. I'm sorry...

Love Denver...

***

Denver: I had woken an hour before sunrise as agreed with King Sevran late last night after Arosha and Iridell had fallen asleep. Sorrow and understanding had been within his eyes even though his face had remained grave. I would take the test in the morning as soon as possible and before sunrise which would ensure that most of the palace would still be asleep. Now it was just after sunrise and the first parts of the ritual preparations had been completed. I had my sword which Sevran had said I would need, implying that I would be fighting something in order to prove myself worthy. What I would be facing, he would not say. Now the priests ended their chants and gestured for me to approached the double Obsidian doors etched with silver runes. King Sevran was there as well as Assedo, Ysanna, and Lessana to watch the test take place.

"You may still turn back if you wish," King Sevran said, placing a hand on my shoulder briefly.

"I can't. If I do...I'll never know the truth," I told him, suddenly giving a wry smile. He nodded and the obsidian doors opened. Unsheathing my sword, I took a deep breath and entered. Something screamed behind me and I turned in time to see Arosha and Iridell come running into the room before the doors slamned shut with a sickening finality...

Arosha: "Open the doors!" I shouted, turning to Sevran and the priests. "Open them or I swear-"

"He is doing this of hiw own free will," King Sevran said, as two guard appeared out of nowhere and disarmed me. "I can not and will not stop him. Once the doors to the Pool of Elements is shut, the only way they will open is if the person has passed the test, the Gods have answered their prayers to change their forms, or death has claimedwhoever has entered. Not even our priests can open the doors before that time has come. I screamed, I howled for the guard to let me go, my heart aching and fearing the worst was going to happen. Iridell toook me from the guards and held me close, trying to give what comfort she could as King Sevran watched us, his own face clearly torn with emotion. "Come with us. At least you will be able to watch him...if it is his last day amongst the living," He told us, heading for a nearby staircase.

It ended in a balconey overlooking a pool of water with a path of sand leading to it and a cave directly opposit to the path. White stone seemed suspended in darkness, holding everything in place but not hinting at the vastness of the chamber. Soon we saw something moving on the path and I whimpered, recognizing Denver as he came into the light, back bare and wearing only his breeches...

***

Denver: Sand was warm beneath my feet and strangely comforting as I approached the pool of water and the opening on the other side of this...void. There was no wind, and my breaths barely echoed in this chamber. I could see no walls, only the twisting, almost bone like sides that supported pool and path alike, the light to see by coming from no source I could readily see. I was scared shitless, but it was ridiculous, there was nothing here, and to be afraid of that seemed to be far worse than it was to see the Greevus coming for me on that night that seemed so far away from now. Stopping at the edge of the pool, I waited, still hearing nothing but my own breaths...my own heartbeat...

"I'm here!" I shouted at last, raising my sword. The words shot through the darkness echoing loudly and I winced slightly until they had faded. Silence...A roar unlike anything I had heard erupted from the cave before me, echoing and growing louder with each reverberation. It was like three Jurrasic park T-rex's bellowing at once only a hundred times louder than the theaters had portrayed them. Multiple saphire eyes glowed in the dark cave and I could hear heavy foot steps approaching, added to with smaller roars that were never the less terrifying. I watched, frozen as first one, two, then a dozen serpentine heads emerged before a wingless draconic body.

Each head was six feet long and brandished a wicked set of teeth and fance, the eyes regarded me with amusement and hunger as each head writhed on thirty foot long spiked necks. The body was slim, cat like, hinting at speed, not that it would be needed in such a closed space. An acrid smell hit my nose and shocked me enough that I regained my senses and coughed slightly. Part of my mind registered the green bile dripping from a few of the mouths, each drop hitting the sand with a hiss and causing small sink holes. Acid...just great. The heads reared back and I ran, trying to get out of the way before the Hydra exhailed, energy surging through me, unbidden but welcome none the less. I leapt into the air as the head shot forward, a noxious stream of green acid spraying all over the spot I had just been standing. My sword flashed at the closest head and screams of anger and pain filled the chamber as the top of it's skull flew into the darkness, the brain dying instantly and leaving the neck useless. I landed, spinning around and dodging another stream of acid, this one just missing me. A head shot forward, jaws wide, only to split apart from the force of my slash, the halves twitching as they fell to the ground, coloring the water black as acid mixed with blood. As lon as I didn't sever the heads from the necks, I was fine. That was all I could think of, there was time for nothing else. Jumping again, something slamned into me from behind, knocking my weapon from my hand as I hit the sand hard. I got up and turned just in time to see a wave of bile heading in my direction and thought, 'Now I die...' Pain! Agoney that I had never imagined possible hit me as I closed my eyes, the sensation overwhelming as I dropped to my knees. I opened my eye lids even as I felt them being eaten away by the acid and stared at my hand as skin bubbled and peeled back, muscles snapping off bones and dropping to the ground to quiver like jelly. I tried to scream but no longer had the ability to, air rushing thorough lungs that were already melting from the fumes I was breathing. My head was beating like mad, striving to keep me alive as my body screamed for release. 'No! I will not be defeated!' I howled silently, feeling my soul burst into flame as I demanded the power, the ability to slay my enemy. I rose, the Hydra backing off uncertanly at seeing it's prey rise as it was melted at the same time. Grabbing my sword, I willed every ounce of energy I had left into the blade. 'I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED!' I screamed. I brought it around in a sweeping arc from left to right, feeling my arm tear away as soon as I had done so, but not before a blast of energy lashed out and hit the beast full in the body. It roared, the heads writhing, trying to escape the attack that was tearing it limb from limb with thousands of tiny crystal daggers, until not even the bones remained.

I staggered, my other arm falling off as my knees hit the water, the pain numbing my senses as the entire world was swallowed by darkness. 'I'm not the one...'

Iridell: As Denver fell I screamed, my guts clenching as every muscle in my body tried to react at once. Arosha was pounding at the glass with her fists, desperately trying to get to him though not a single crack answered her desire. "He can't be dead!" I screamed, placing my hands to the window and sobbing, trying to desperately think of some way I could save him. I could still see parts of his body moving, some of his organs continuing to act though I knew his brain had to be dead by now. "He just can't be..." I whispered, deneying what I had just witnessed.

"It's time, Lesanna," King Sevran said gravely. His daughter nodded and left as I turned a tear stained face to look at him, my mind slowly going numb from the shock of watching Denver die. I beleatedly watched as she appeared on the pathway leading to the pool, in her two legged aspect and kneel beside the young human, being ever so careful to turn him over so that he was staring sightlessly at the invisible ceiling.

"It can't be..." Sevran breathed without warning, his eyes growing wide as I looked at him in confusion. He was staring raptly at the pool and I looked back, my own breath catching in my throat. The pile of ash that had been the remains of the Hydra was gone, now replaced by four shimmering orbs of light that danced around the edge of the platform. Sometimes they doubled, then merged again only to double once more. Red, gold, white, and blue performed the dance twice more before each came to rest at an even point along the edge of the pool. Forms became visable and within moments I gasped upon recognising who and what they figures were.

A demonic hound of fire with six sleek black horns appeared from one of the red orbs, flames racing along it's back and legs, eyes bright embers as smoke issued from it's fanged mouth. Beside it was a woman of fire, voluptuous, eyes obsidian, hair od blue fire, body of molden stone with yellow orange flames for clothing.

Out of the white came a large bird of prey, ghostly form of blue whifting with violet eyes, lightning racing across it's back and the trailing tailfeathers that seemed to move with a life of their own behind it. Next to it was another woman, long white hair, pale faced with storm grey eyes, her clothing mist which rippled as if in a stong wind and almost as tall as the bird beside her.

Gold coaleced into a brilliant jeweld dragon, eyes emerald, golden scales set with every gem imaginable with the spines diamond shards many feet in length. Wings streatched as if it would covere the sight before it from the woman of stone by it's forelegs. She was of jade with saphire hair and topaz eyes, her dress of garnets, rubies, jet, and silver.

Blue became a giant Kracken arms writhing slowly in the darkness as crimson eyes regarded the body and naga before it. Mermaid of blue tinged skin and seafoam green hair sat upon the head plate of the natalus's shell, her eyes a vibrant blue, tail that of a rainbow with a belt of silver laced coral and pearls.

Lesanna: I stared at them with awe and wonder as I cradled Denver's remains, ignoring the pain as the left over acid slowly ate away the scales of my palms and knees.

"So, it is agreed?" said a harsh barking voice behind me. I looked and found the hound hand moved closer, eyes staring at what was left of the human. I could feel the heat from the flames on it's back and shivered slightly in fear.

"It is," replied an airy voice that came from the white haired female.

"So mote it be," they all said at once, the mixture of voices and tones deafening. Deep chanting rose from the hound and his companion, flaming runes bursting to life in the sand around the pool and I gasped as the same flames appeared on Denver's body, yet didn't burn him or me. The pain in my hands lessened and I watched in amazement as the chanting grew louder, the woman and Zephyr adding their own voices. More runes appeared, spinning in the air and bringing with it wind, Denvers lungs filling with air as he started breathing again. Crystals grew and shaped themselves as the dragon and stone woman also started speaking, the gems glowing beneath the water with an almost eerie light. Flesh knit itself back together as the basic structure of the young humans body was made whole once more, though his flesh was still cool to the touch. Deep rhythmic humming and song from the Water elements added to the overall sound of the chant, the feeling of elation hitting me as the water rose from the pool to engulf Denvaer and lift his body from my lap. I was too stunned to do anything, watching as the chant became faster, the runes moving and growing ever closer to Denver's form as he was held aloft in a pillar of shimmering water. Two more voices joined in and I became aware that someone else had appeared. Standing on the water directly beside the water pillar, was a human woman with raven black hair, her form shifting to an old crone, then a young girl before my eyes. She also changed into other Goddesses as I watched, then people, some of them I knew, others that I didn't. She became Iridell, Arosha, Ysanna, Assedo, and...with a start, she became me, but all held the same expression of peace and joy at what was taking place. Across from her was her consort, the White Stag, his arms raised and singing with a deep voice as the leaves in his horns bore flowers, then fruit that died and regrew, all in a matter of seconds.

FLASH!

I was blinded as a thunderous crash sounded, followed almost instantly by shockwaves that knocked me back and sent waves of water racing for the shore to break over my body. Gasping for breath as I blinked water from my eyes, I looked at the pool and found that the Elementals, as well as the Goddess and God had vanished without a trace. Something floated in the shallows and I waded as quickly as I could towards the object, lifting it up and finding Denver, whole and alive coughing slightly, his face pale with exhaustion. Pulling him to shore, I sat down again, holding him against my lap as I waited for someone to come and help me, lightly brushing strands of hair out of his face.

"You are the One," I whispered, joy filling me even as I cried for it, unsure what else to do. "You are the One..."

***

Darkness: I listened to my spy and smiled slightly, eyes focused on nothing yet still looking out across the still stone audiance chamber I sat in. Sending it away, I rose from the wodden throan which was carved to resemble naked women in chains holding up or reaching for clouds. Spirits of Wise women and brothel girls whispered promises of secrets or other worldly pleasures if I released them from their torment. I knew that if I did so, they would try to kill me. Would have, could have, can't. Death would have been welcome, but not for someone like me who was beyond it. Wall sconces flickered with black flames laced with violet that gave off light, yet not the kind that my servants feared or hated. Beasts of nightmares and plague dreams feasted in the main hall upon the captives from a recently captured caravan from the desert lands, saving the women for their pleasures and only devouring them when their desires became out of control. Turning for the battlements, I looked over the barren landscape then up at the Moon, full and crimson as a virgin flower before she is taken by her first man. Looking at the polished black stone, I smiled at the face I saw. Dark brown hair, shoulder length, with emerald green eyes and strong clean shaven face, I couldn't have found a better host if I had planned it. "So...It's time," I whispered, turning and walking back into my black castle. Laughter escaped my throat, hollow of all emotion except the darkest of joy....

***

Denver: I woke up to find Arosha and Iridell sitting on the bed beside me, both staring at me intently only to hug me as soon as I gave a wry smile. Their embraces were tight and filled with emotion, both of which I returned, silently crying as I remembered what I had done and what had happened to me. Kissing both of them to keep either one from talking about it, I felt the urge to make love to them like never before. Laying Arosha back upon the mattress, I kissed her neck, whispering to her trying to tell her how much she meant to me as Iridell watched, my hands caressing and touching all the points that helped increase sensation. I could feel her, smeel the growing desire within her as I quickly removed the robe she had been wearing, moving to kneel between her legs, kissing and fondling her breasts continually. I entered her, driving myself home with a single thrust that made her bark with pleasure, her hands holding me close as her claws dug into my back. Thrusting slowly at first, I kissed her passionately, letting her tell me how she wanted this to be, her answers coming from the motion of her furred form beneath my body, her sex tightening around my shaft like a vice as she took me in eagerly. Arosha bucked against me, whimpering as I stretched her wide, the tip of my member thundering against her cervix as I lost myself to desire, thrusting as hard and fast as I could, feeling both of our climaxes rising quickly. Iridell rubbed my back and kissed my neck, whispering encouragement as I felt her tail snake between my legs and wrap around the base of my shaft, her desire to make this moment last only heightening my arousal. Arosha bit my neck, whining before arching back and letting out a howling moan of pleasure as she climaxe, my face contorting in pain and pleasure as I felt my own release peak but was denied. Iridell kissed her friend fiercly, her tail releasing me at the same time and I gasped, hips shaking as I thrust hard and fast, sending my seed deep into Arosha's womb, her pussy gripping and milking me for everything I had. We slowed then stopped, pausing to catch our breaths as I slowly pulled out of the lupine female, kissing her passionately as I did so. Looking at Iridell with glazed eyes I smiled, beleatedly noticing that I was still hard and desiring more.

She knew what I wanted but had somewhat different plans. Pulling me to the edge of the bed, Iridell climbed onto my lap, her knees resting upon the mattress to either side of me as she pressed her brests to my lips. Hugging her tightly, I nuzzled her breasts gently before starting to suckle upon one of them, my hands rubbing her back, reaching down from time to time to squeeze her ass. She crooned, her eyes closing as her face filled with love and desire, her fingers running through my hair and pressing me closer against her breasts. I felt her reach down and lightly massage my shaft with her other hand, making me shiver and give a deep groan against her nipple, the action making her moan in return. Without warning, She impaled herself on my member, making me go rigid with pleasure as my blood boiled to new heights. She whispered, slightly sliding herself back and forth in my lap until there was more room to move as I turned my head to suckle upon her other nipple, right hand reaching up to her shoulder to hold her down onto me. We burned with desire, her moans and my gasps of pleasure soon matching each other for intensity. Iridell rode me slowly, the dragoness's scales sliding against my skin and nearly burning hot to the touch, her sex even hotter, coaxing me closer to release as she flexed her hip muscles. I lay back, eyes closing as I let myself become lost in a sea of bliss, hands sliding up from her waist to the breasts and massaging them as I thrust up as well as I was able to from my position. Increasing her pace quickly, I soon found myself writhing beneath her, trying everything I could think of to hold back and finding my hold slowly diminishing. Sitting up, I stared at her with wide eyes as I climaxed first, my breath torn from me in a deep groan that was stifled by her fierce kiss as she slamned onto me one last time hard, her body shaking before she broke the kiss to cry out loudly, head back, hands grabbing handfulls of cloth to try and keep herself from falling over. I fell back shaking all over as my essance was milked by her hungry sex, panting as hard as Arosha had been. My mind was a whirlwind of sensation and desire though my body cried out for rest. Pulling herself off of me, Iridell smiled and lay down next to me, hugging me tightly as Arosha crawled over, quickly sliding me into her still throbbing sex and making me groan loudly. Leaning down over me she whispered, "Next time you pull a stunt like this, we're tying you to the bed and making sure that you don't have the strength or desire to get up for a very long time." With that I lost myself again to her pleasures, my eyes closing.

"I'm sorry...But Gods I love you both," I said, feeling real fear as well as deep love for both of them, more so than what I had felt for anyone before.

"We know, Denver. We know," Iridell said, kissing me before helping Arosha to make sure I knew that the emotion was being returned by both of them...