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The towering mass of vines was a domed juggernaut over 100 feet tall. Pulsing purple runes covered its domed surface.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAeSFsSTg55P
The Acolytes numbered in the thousands chanting together as the slow moving dome reached the clearing in the Sinister Forest. With in the hour the dome was at the portal, and was sucked though it.
730Please respect copyright.PENANA5rsEmALWcn
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730Please respect copyright.PENANAsOYecIuLE6
Try
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The way is clear.
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Can't you hear it?
730Please respect copyright.PENANAnJUaIE2i7H
Your spirit, she sings;
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Upon a bird's wing;
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Out of the darkness,
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The heavy heart lightens.
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####
730Please respect copyright.PENANAlVHCF6M6TX
Merryn awoke to a beast with yellow fangs close to her face. She shrieked, rolling away from it. Everything hurt. "Uhhgg." Where was everyone? She backed further. A hill? She frowned. Lighting and robes?
730Please respect copyright.PENANAVQAooyF1PI
Movement again.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAADEgEPoatt
The creature spread it's clawed paws wide and murmured. A wind blew on the chimes that grew from the branches of the silver trees. Back here again? Can't wake up just once without anxiety inducing crap happening?
730Please respect copyright.PENANAgZL7Jv6gTq
The creature moved forward. She reached behind, whipping her hand over the grass. Just twigs and grass. Slipping into her boots. They're gone!
730Please respect copyright.PENANAtmg3QpiYT5
The creature sat on its haunches. Its eyes softened and mouth moved. Growling and mewing. Was—it talking?
730Please respect copyright.PENANA6M0U5A4z3y
It coughed, clearing its throat. "I'm Leo." He touched his chest.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAXyqjqPqtnt
She blinked.
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"Merryn."
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The crea—Leo smiled, a very pointy one, but none the less a smile. She chuckled. Is this a sick dream?
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He rubbed his chin saying nothing, studying her.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAoYGbs3ryYJ
"How? Why?" She relaxed some and crossed her legs. The grass was wet and cold from the morning dew.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAAHmMUiCt2t
"I was little, you saved me. Remember?" He spaced his paws appart closing the distance between.
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Saved him? ... She rubbed her neck.
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Leo mewed and sighed.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAAHkWLUIf4Y
"Do that again." A memory tugged at the corners just out of reach.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAHrQKkCF1qw
His fuzzy ears twitched. "Mewww."
730Please respect copyright.PENANAeJu670M8t7
"You were that pup?"
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"Yes! I was too afraid to talk back then."
730Please respect copyright.PENANAHf4IPUkSp4
She moved closer. "So, why?"
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He moved slow and even to the firepit between them.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAQzKlYN5uMl
"You're all I had back then. It's silly, I guess."
730Please respect copyright.PENANAXklQNwT4GR
He placed a few logs on the fire, then touched each log with a fire stone. Nice. She held her hands out and rubbed them.
730Please respect copyright.PENANA4swB7u5M9o
A large bird feathered of orange and yellow landed behind Leo, it stretched its neck; peering, then turned to Leo.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAQe52KpyVbW
"A force is coming this way. You both need to go."
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"Who is this?" said Merryn.
730Please respect copyright.PENANArpiFcfa3th
"Call me Blaze. Little time. Go!"
730Please respect copyright.PENANA32zaq7Uwtz
She turned back around and hugged Leo with her wings, then took off into the sky. Sparks jumped between the trees that she passed.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAhL5T7XE6mj
Behind a sight that wouldn't sink in at first. Maxwell was walking toward her with Jason and a young man following.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAHQojy09AVF
She held a breath. Will he ever quit?
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"Don't bother running. I'll find you again. Come back before its too late," Maxwell said.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAbKz9gSMCzw
Turning, she ran, with Leo following. Too weak right now to fight. She stumbled, retaining balance before face met with the ground.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAtVTKVlDIGz
Blaze circled overhead diving, her beak wide open. A light within brightening her maw.
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Leo pulled her again. "Have to go faster it's going to get hot."
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Blaze breathed down a tourch of flame at Maxwell and troupe.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAc2p0D16TeE
The trees instantly set ablaze, waves of heat singed her body.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAXumCgfXY7h
"Run!"
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Taking his paw she shouted out a prayer for haste. Her body thrummed, a heat spreading through, this passed over to Leo. He tried to talk, but the loud wind whistled overriding his voice.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAK0mMOTwS9h
The trees on the right sparked with lighting, the metal glowing and some melted down to a lump of slag. Maxwell now along side not more then twenty feet away turned. The sharp look ate across the distance.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAIG5NBU3oqs
Her heart tightened. She pushed on going faster, pulling Leo with.
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Leo gestured straight ahead.
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Nodding, she weaved between the trees, leggs and arms burning. The prayer spell is wearing off, have to get away now!
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Leo pointed down.
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A short ledge with a lake below, jumping she pulled him with. Getting caught by him again, can't bear it. After emerging from the cover of the water the night lit up.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAG4FwtRjbSP
Blaze truly a creature of fire was set against the night sky with her wings spread out as a halo over her head. Her shrill edged cry, directed at Maxwell.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAieefGMvyqF
Past Maxwell the half grown chicks huddled together shivering. Maxwell's lighting bolts hit only a hands spread away.
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"My babies! Die!"
730Please respect copyright.PENANAMmXFngAz6a
She breathed in her throat glowing, then breathed out a swirling tourch that grew taking on the shape of a fanged dragon, this bolted at Maxwell.
730Please respect copyright.PENANA1jvc2NcaYs
A bright bolt of lightning snaked up from the forest it hit Blaze's chest. Her yelp of pain ecoed throughout the forest.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAOdhGgQqHbp
Leo stood there mute, shaking. His furied face contorted one of pure rage. Fat tears rolled down his face leaving wet tracks.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAL3Z8sjDrJA
Blaze lurched mid flight flapping franticly as she spun falling at an angle toward Maxwell.
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"We have to go. I'm sorry." She pulled on Leo's arm.
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"They will be," he said. His tone harsh and cold.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAXqS4RsNpq5
They both ran for the rest of that night; stopping only to catch their breath.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAKDcVrooCQg
An earth cracking squawk filled the forest near dusk, then a thump.
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His ears perked up, swiveling behind.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAsKhwVftA5w
"She's tough."
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His face relaxed some and smiled a little.
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"Yes."
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####
730Please respect copyright.PENANAmJmD4z3AeK
On a grassy hillside south of the forest a thudding vibration jolted through the soles of her boots.
730Please respect copyright.PENANA9TLejZLiPg
I need you to get on a ship; now that it's impossible to go back, thanks to that pizz of a bird!
730Please respect copyright.PENANAB3J2cAX91X
She startled, Unnameds thoughts loud.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAtDtIdkT8rn
What are you talking about?
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A port town is ahead at the bottom of the hill, go to it.
730Please respect copyright.PENANArMQqC2tCA9
No.
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Then I'll make you.
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The prayer for the haste spell tumbled out. She ran off ahead, leaving Leo behind.
730Please respect copyright.PENANA7lT657iqUg
"Hey! Wait!"
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Her mouth clamped shut before she could speek.
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We will go further Southwest the port isn't far.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAEUdNd33rM5
She ran down the grassy hill.
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"Merryn?" Leo yelled her name repeatedly.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAJz9cSA22R3
A few minutes later and his shouts faded.
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####
730Please respect copyright.PENANAMW3HKljRIm
A day later exhausted, Unnamed still pushed her to speed walk, her legs burned and her feet hurt. Sweat drenched her back.
730Please respect copyright.PENANACkfL74F6At
Just let me rest.
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After, keep going. Unnamed's thoughts were faint.
730Please respect copyright.PENANADHpFNOvm1E
Guess it wore him out too, good.
730Please respect copyright.PENANA4KIMG335AZ
Screeching of Sealarks filled her ears, a warm breeze carried with it the briney salt of the ocean. The ocean sucked even more then usual. The sea was calm this day.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAQy2I2F2VFF
Off ahead a long line of workers carried barrels of goods. Further down past was a bustling port harbor with several ships tied to the long docks.
730Please respect copyright.PENANATEh2sFxzCD
A bell clanged bong-dong, and the workers stopped what they were doing. They all went and stood in line at a booth, a skinny man handed them each a pouch, after they went into town.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAty0aJo7IJh
Unnamed held her locked in a walk, until the last one left the docks. Legs pumping he pushed her into a sprint to the largest ship. On its side it read: cloudy sphere.
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Unnamed had her wisper to Kage, the shadows flowed over.
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Too sunny out, it's going to break in a few seconds.
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More then enough time.
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The shadows broke just as feet touched a slanted plank that went up to the ship. It looked empty. She checked from bow to stern; empty.
730Please respect copyright.PENANA0rrWjJZ8Ir
The entrance to the hold was next to the captains room under the helm. This was all at the back of the ship. Unnamed had her sit right on the deck.
730Please respect copyright.PENANA1K9I33jU4y
Now you wait.
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Do I even want to know?
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Yelling and screaming from down the docks and footfalls nearby.
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Leo walked up.
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"Get up! Come on!"
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Reaching out with a paw he tapped her shoulder.
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"Our master is growing week, don't muck this up."
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Leo snapped around and turned back, crouching down. He started to speak, but fell over his fur smoking.
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Poor Leo, should have kept going.
730Please respect copyright.PENANALRP1doxtfp
"Toss it into the brig, it may have uses later."
730Please respect copyright.PENANAedzYt7letM
"Now, how to get you to behave?"
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Swinging his staff in an angle. She closed her eyes and tried to bear down before it hit. Seconds passed buy, she peeked.
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Kar walked up the plank, and stood beside Maxwell.
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"Interesting, why don't you move?" said Maxwell.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAaiuwr4EILL
Kar went to Leo pushing him onto his side.
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"Monster, why do you interfere?" He let out a heavy breath. I've had enough problems this week dealing with that infernal overgrown chicken." Kar shook his sholder. Leo's eyes rolled back in his head.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAnLpSelD6Uk
"You didn't have to kill it Max."
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"Its not dead."
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He snapped his fingers and and several Acolytes scampered up onto the ship beside him.
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"Go, and inform Nukpana that we are here, and to finish with her preparations."
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"It will be done." They scurried off the ship.
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He blocked two of them from leaving with an outstretched arm.
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"Drag the bugbear to the brig like I said."
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"Yes Sir!"
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There was much huffing and puffing as they dragged him to an open area leftside of the captain's room. His arms floped and it was dreadful how his head thumped as they dragged him down the stairs.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAaHxXFPL0Ul
Maxwell bent down touching her shoulder. She couldn't even flinch as Unnamed still held her ridged.
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He took out a tiny purple paper lamp and lit it; he blew the smoke on her face, and then circled around her making several rings of smoke. These rings closed and then dispersed.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAD0dzGgQiF9
"Unamed is asleep now, but it won't do so for long. Get up, don't do anything stupid or I'll execute the beast."
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He touched her nose with his pointer finger. "Savvy?"
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"Yes."
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She stood rubbing her stiff neck. How to get out of here? Why did Unnamed do this? Leo ...
730Please respect copyright.PENANAc4DbXPAXLz
Kar moved to the port side of the ship and looked out to the sparkling ocean. The others immediately tended to different jobs. Some checked the lines while others checked the Main sail. After they were done, they stood ready.
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Maxwell went to the middle of the deck.
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"Hoist the sails! And watch that boom!"
730Please respect copyright.PENANAytyDc7h3oz
He flashed her a look; it really was a flash that blinded. Her eyes watered and squeezed out the sides of her eyes. He clasped her arm and pulled her forward, then pushed from behind.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAmjVgjcZ0X1
"Hey!"
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"Move."
730Please respect copyright.PENANAktxzGnsJtI
"Do I look like a rag doll to you? I'm going–"
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He pushed her to the captains quarters, closed the door and locked it.
730Please respect copyright.PENANAYqRd8tqKby
The sway of the boat almost put her to sleep, she rolled up into a ball with her head tucked up to her knees. Is it over?