It had been just over a two days since I'd been back home and checked in with Kohl. I knew he and his dragon, together, could handle themselves but I still worried. _{How couldn't a mother worry?} It seemed like it had been a week, yet only yesterday. No matter the days, it was time for me, well, for US to travel home. Searching the skies, I can't seem to find Niklaus and can only assume he is playing games with me.. again. Shaking my head, I call to him through my thoughts, knowing he can hear me no matter how far he could be.
'Aren't you getting tired of this, old man? We're not here to play around like children. It's time to go.'
'You not only take the fun out of everything, but you're also blind. You'd make a terrible dragon.'
I laugh as I snatch up my pack and begin walking out into the clearing and away from the forest line with my staff in hand. The tall grass is nearly up to my mid-section, and I can feel it creeping up through my shirt, tickling my sides every few steps I take. From behind me, I hear Niklaus bellow loudly as he swoops past me, nearly ramming into me as he flies by.
'Reckless.'
I glare at his back, watching him come full circle and land just a few feet infront of me, flattening a large area in the tall grass and shaking the ground beneath me. "We need to go. It's getting late, and we have to be back by morning. Got a lot of ground to cover." Without hesitation, I quickly climb up onto Niklaus's back by pulling myself up using my staff, looping the hook around the 'saddle' and hoisting myself up the rest of the way. I keep the staff hooked in place, clicking my tongue at Niklaus playfully as if encouraging a horse to move forward. Niklaus turns his great head to stare at me on his back, narrowing his eyes as he lets out a huff through his nostrils and immediately takes off. I stand firm, holding onto Klaus by the handle of his saddle as he soars through the thick clouds, breaking through at the top to see the sun barely beginning to set over the mountaintops ahead.

I sat down atop the lowest tree branch as Quake ate his third deer. He looked up at me and pushed one of the legs towards me. I laughed and shook a hand at him.
I told you I already ate.
I feel fat with you just watching me. Plus you've hardly ate.
I shake my head and slide off the branch and land softly on my feet.
You are fat you big oaf, and I did eat almost a whole deer leg, thats alot for one person. Hurry up and finish up, I wanna be at the mountains within the hour. I hate being stuck in this damn forest without being able to see anything approaching
He grunted and quickly swallowed up the deer and stood up, spitting out bone. He knelt down and offered to help me up onto his back. I slid myself onto his saddle and leaned back, taking his reins and wrapping it once around my hand.
Do what you do best bud.
Eat or Kill?
Ignoring the question I hit his scales with my gauntlet and let the sound echo as he took off running. He lazily pushed past trees, the weaker ones buckled under his weight and fell, while the larger ones only swayed like a gust of wind hit them. As the trees slowly became scarcer and scarcer until they were gone.
Thank the gods
I thought quietly too myself as it opened up into a small grasslands.
You could thank me
For a moment I forgot we both had our minds linked. I patted his side appreciatively as he picked up speed, everything starting to become a blur. His massive claws quickly started to pound on rocks as he traveled up the mountain side, and he quickly came to a stop, his claws scrapping the rocks and sending a small avalanche down the slope they climbed.
Why we stopping?
There is another dragon near by.
Oh boy I muttered inside my mind and drew my spear into my hand. Sliding off Quake, he looked towards me, wanting to know how to approach it.
Go ahead and burrow. If its wild and attacks, I'll call you. Maybe we will be lucky and it'll mind its own business.
He nodded and started away at the rock, quickly making a tunnel that he could fit in before slashing the top of his cave behind him, closing the hole up behind him. I gripped my spear nervously and listened for the scaled beast that would surely be in the sky.

'Did you hear that Lev?'
'Yeah. Yeah, I did.. but Kohl, we are two very small beings for our kind. We need to stay near the den.'
'Well, you can stay here. I'm going to investigate.'
Levy sat back looking at Kohl as his little future rider walked off down the tunnel hallway and towards the mouth of the cave with bow and quiver draped over his shoulder and a small, child-sized axe in his hand. Kohl ventured off down the small trail, only big enough to barely fit a single full-grown man on, along the side of the mountain till he reached the bottom and came to a slow stop. Levy followed closely behind, making sure he stayed close to Kohl.
'There's something going on beneath our feet. Maybe it's just earth tremors, Kohl. We need to get back. If Freya finds us down here, she'll be really mad at not just you, but-'
Kohl held up his hand and craned his neck out slightly, listening carefully to anything his ears could pick up while his eyes simultaneously scanned the forest for any sudden movements. Levy, knowing all too well he was an easy target with his white hide, climbed into a fairly large bush and hunkered down just to be sure if there was anything out here, he wouldnt draw attention but would be able to easily jump out to help Kohl if trouble arose. Kohl inhales deeply and calls out, "If you're out there, show yourself!!"
'SHHHHH!!! Don't draw attention, Kohl! All I've got are teeth and claws, and as far as sizes of dragons go, I'm a snack! Please, let's just go back!'
'No, Levy. I'm the rider, and I say we stay.'
'We can't even ride, yet. Neither of us are ready..'
'Shut it.'
Levy glared at the back of Kohl's head for a second before continuing to look towards the treeline about 100yds away.

If you're out there, show yourself!!
I heard suddenly as a slowly stepped into a thin line of trees. I froze before realizing the voice was pretty young, no older than ten by the sound of it. I relaxed some and headed towards the voice.
Just a kid. Might have a family around, and hopefully a town for trading
Just because he is young doesn't mean his family isn't dangerous. Be careful.
I acknowledged Quake with a quick will do before peering through the treeline at the boy. He had blonde hair, was an average built and despite having slightly dirty clothes, seemed well off. I was ready to break the tree line and try and talk to him, when the snap of twigs and Orcish grunts made me tighten my spear. A group of Orc's, no more than seven, seemed to hear the boy as well.
Slavers
I could tell by the gear they carried, and more often then not the gray skinned mountain orcs were either raiders or slavers. They hadn't spotted me yet, though their leader had his eyes set on the boy.
Orcs
I murmured aloud, letting Quake know to ready for battle. I took a step towards the trees and stepped on a twig snapping it in two. The orcs turned their attention towards me and grunted before giving a battle cry and charging.
Oh hell
I broke the tree line running, and arrow slamming against the tree next to me.
Say the word
The boy raised his bow at first, probably thinking I was charging him, but his eyes grew wide as he spotted the orc party behind me.
I'd back up kid, it's about to get alittle rocky
I called out to him about ten yards away. Looking over my shoulder, they were about fifteen yards behind me. Perfect. I planted a foot and turned quickly, thinking. As I turned, one of them released and arrow.
Now.

Quake erupted from the ground, sending a shower of rocks and dirt into the air, falling onto my armor with small thuds. He gave a ferocious rawr, sweeping his tail out infront of him, catching one of the orcs at the end of it and tossing him up in the air. As he attacked, the arrow connected with my shoulder, barely puncturing my armor.
The remaining orcs skitted to a stop, and turned tail and ran. I smirked and chuckled slightly as I made eye contact with the leader of the Orc band of soldiers.
You better run, you bastards.

He disappeared back into the tree line, and I turned my attention back to the boy, who had seemed to find himself a small white dragon. I broke the arrow in my shoulder and swore in pain, tossing the shaft aside I put pressure on my wound. The dragon moved in front of the boy, and stood defensively between me and him. I raised up my free hand in greeting.
Uh hello. I'm Jet. That's Quake.

Suddenly Kohl's heart dropped slightly when he caught the eyes of the man standing just behind the treeline, quickly sheathing his axe to replace it with his bow and a fresh arrow. Pulling his arrow back, Kohl sat there for what seemed like a few minutes, but was only a couple moments before his eyes landed on the group of Orcs marching his way, the leader grinning grimly at the boy as he made his way over. Dropping his aim from the man, Kohl turned his attention on the real issue.
"I'd back up, kid. It's about to get a little rocky."
Kohl glanced the man's way before letting an arrow loose towards the group of Orcs before a loud explosion of rock and dirt erupted from where the Orcs stood, sending a couple of them on their asses a few yards away. A huge, armor-plated dragon stood where the eruption was birthed from, the great brute sending an Orc flying with a firm swing of his tail. The ones that had been thrown by the dragon bursting from beneath them ran off with the others who had already began their retreat. The leader, however, stood tall at the treeline to give the strange man one final look at him as if he was saying 'this wasn't over', and turned to join his cowardly companions.
Levy moved out from the brush he'd been hiding in that whole while as the man made his way over, standing in front of Kohl with a manacing baring of teeth. Levy knew he wasn't any match for this man and the much larger dragon, but he'd die trying. if he had to, to protect his little rider. Both Levy and Kohl watched as the man closed in on them, Kohl having an arrow trained on the man's head until he raises his hands weaponless, slowly dropping his arrow respectively. Kohl was taught to never quarrel with a defenseless man.
'He's not defenseless, Kohl. That other dragon is just on standby. He can easily tell his companion over there to make a snack and an appetizer out of the two of us.'
"Uh, hello. I'm Jet, that's Quake." The man motioned behind him towards the large dragon. Ignoring Levy's thoughts, Kohl shoulders his bow but stays standing behind him. "Hello, sirs." Kohl frowns slightly, not knowing if he should reveal their names or not. Levy grumbles softly and lowers his head a bit to stare through his brow at the two standing before them. "My name's Kohl, and this here is Levy." A momentary pause passes before Kohl adds, "Where are you headed, sir?"

So the kid was a rider? Meeting another rider was rare enough, but especially one this young? I nodded towards the young dragon, and a stubborn Quake growled inside my head.
I don't the way the young one stares at you.
Relax big guy, he just defending his rider.

Where you heading sir?

The question caught me off guard slightly. I wasn't quite sure where I was going, just letting the gods guide my path back to my family. Perhaps those Orcs would have a lead, I made a mental note to myself before answering the young boy.

Hopefully the closest settlement to stock up on some gear. You got a village nearby? Or family if you're living all the way out here.
You need to get your wound checked out Jet. I don't like seeing you all bloody.
Quake spoke in my head as he was walking up beside me, laying down like a dog beside his master.
And some bandages, if you have any to spare. I added motioning to my bloodied shoulder.

Kohl smiles slightly and tilts his head just. "We don't exactly have extra gear, and there's only me and me mother. You'd have to talk to her. She can most definitely bandage you up, though. Mom's great at it. She used to be a doctor, of sorts, at our old camp before it was taken over." Levy eases his posture, getting slightly more relaxed. Suddenly a squirrel catches his eye and he darts off after it, having not eaten all morning. Kohl half laughs before returning his gaze back to Jet, then looking up into the skies with widened eyes as a loud roar errupts from above them. "Speaking of her.."





Niklaus dives down into the clearing, landing quite roughly right in front of Kohl with a menacing baring of his teeth. Kohl smacks Niklaus' wing from out in front of him and ducks under, standing between Jet and Nik. Kohl shouts up at the beastly dragon, "No, Niklaus, no! He's friendly! Don't!" Niklaus readjusts his stance before glancing down at the child, returning his gaze back to the man and then off about a hundred feet behind the man and his own dragon where Freya breaks the treeline on horseback.



Coming into the clearing, I spot a man with a fairly large dragon beside him laying down. I stop Stoick between my son and the man, dismounting my horse. Staring back at Kohl, I raise my eyebrow and hold out Stoick's reins. "Take him. I'll deal with you later." Kohl nods quickly and mutters a quick 'yes ma'am' before grabbing Stoick's reins, running off towards the trail leading up towards their hideout. I watch him for a few seconds before returning my gaze to the armored man, noting his shoulder and arm are covered in a decent amount of blood. Giving the man a once over, I raise my head a bit before speaking. "I see you've made friends with my son. Kohl can be quite the troublemaker. I hope he's not the one responsible for your injuries." On the way in, I had remembered spotting a couple of downed orc carcases, raising an eyebrow slightly. "If he's not the guilty party, though, I suppose you're the one who took down those orcs back there?" Niklaus stays a short distance away, keeping to his feet with an uneasy stare at the two newcomers even though there seemed to be no threat. 'There's always a threat.' I look back at Niklaus, giving him an appreciative nod before turning back to the man and his dragon.

Another dragon rider? Today is just full of excitement.
Quake mused in my head as I looked up at the dragon riding mother as her dragon dove down. The dragon landed with a crash and growled lowly, baring his teeth. Quake was up in front of me just as fast, ready to defend me at a moments notice. I laid a hand on his scales to calm him as the young boy calmed his mothers dragon.

I listened to the woman and nodded.

Your sons a fine lad, and would've help with the orcs if they had the stupidity to face a dragon.
Quake uneasily match the winged dragons stare, and muttered quietly to himself in our conjoined thoughts.
Just wish I could've finished them all off.
I added nodding to the bodies behind me.

She seems nice enough.
Doesn't mean she won't gut you. Times are tough, especially in the mountains.
You're over thinking things.

The conversation in our mind was over as fast as it started, and I quickly asked the woman.
Your son said you're a good doctor. Could you patch me up? I paused and motioned to my shoulder.
I have some things I could trade for it.

"Your son said you're a good doctor. Could you patch me up?" He paused and motioned to his bloodied shoulder.
"I have some things I could trade for it."
A small smile reached my lips as well as my eyes at his offer, shaking my head. "No, I don't think that will be necessary. I'd be glad to fix up your shoulder." My eyes catch the fresh dirt scattered around massive holes not far from where we were standing, looking back at his dragon with a smirk. "Long as your guy doesn't burrow through our mountain. There's another way for him to get to our base. It's a back route, he can get to it underground. It's on the backside of the mountain and it's large enough to fit him through without having to dig his way in. It's also where we keep the horses, so Kohl should be there to lead him in." My eyes meet Jet's once more where they hold for a few moments before turning around to walk to Niklaus, calling over my shoulder whilst I start taking out my sword and multiple knives from off of me, "I'll even relieve myself of my weapons, so your dragon doesn't worry himself about your safety with a stranger." I strap my sword down and toss my knives into the small bag on Niklaus's saddle, giving him a couple pats on the shoulder before heading towards the base of the mountainside where the trail led up to our camp. "This way. In my thoughts, I hear Niklaus speaking to me.
'So his dragon doesn't worry, what about me, Freya? You know I can't be of any help. I can't fit on the path either. I'd have no way of saving you before it's too late.'
I keep my expression cool and my emotions calm, but answer back with a quickly. 'I know. I'm still not sure if it's necessary or not, at this point. The man seems friendly enough. It's rare we run into people like him, but we've run into far too many who put on a show. I only said yes to bandaging him up because if he's genuine, I don't want to ruin our name.'
Niklaus responds, 'You always try being the peace keeper, Freya, but it doesn't always work this way..'
By now, we've reached the base and I stop in my tracks to turn to the three of them with my hands clasped tightly behind my back, waiting patiently. Niklaus extends his large wings and with a short huff of breath immediately takes off for the top. I yell at him telepathically,
'If not me, who else will?' but I don't hear a reply. _{He knows I'm right.} When the dirt settles from Niklaus's exit, I glance back at Jet and half smile. "I don't bite, I promise." I call out teasingly.