Leo looked at Crim and then to the column of smoke. "Are you sure you can handle it on your own?" -[@RangerOfTheRit] "What? You worried?" She smirked slightly then shook her head. "I can handle it." she grinned. "Just focus on the cities. Make sure all civilians are out of harm's way." she looked back at the smoke. -[@SaikaAnge] Leo nodded and kissed her cheek. "Good luck and stay safe . Please." He spurred his horse to the head of the column next to Alexander. "Favorstead is first on the way. Are you ready?" -[@RangerOfTheRit] Crim blushed bright red and held her cheek. Seralth swooped down and flew next to her, tilting her head in confusion. "Get him." Crim whisper and sent the dragon to get him for it. -[@SaikaAnge] Leo felt a tug on the hood of his coat and turned to see Seralth, hovering above him, biting his coat. "I'll be right back." He said to Alexander. He turned his horse back in the direction he came, riding up to rim. "Hey, what's up?" He asked. -[@RangerOfTheRit] "What was that?" she was a bit fluster and kept blushing. She didn't know how to react. -[@SaikaAnge] Leo looked away, ashamed. "I'm sorry. I was just... I wanted... I'm sorry... I didn't mean..." -[@RangerOfTheRit] Crim felt bad for asking and blushed even more. "I'm sorry, just caught me off guard. Give a girl a warning next time." she smiled then spurred off towards the smoke, away from the rest of the group. Seralth licked Leo's cheek then quickly flew her way. -[@SaikaAnge] Leo didnt know how to feel. He turned his horse away and slowly made his way back to the head of the column, staring at the horn of his saddle the whole way up. -[@RangerOfTheRit] Alexander stood there waiting for Leo. He had a small smile on his face. He drew his sword as he heard the 'Get Ready' order. Alexander readied himself, getting into a charge stance. He looked over his shoulder at Leo, waiting for him to order his Ranger. -[@jaybreezy] Leo turned and saw Nalfdir about 25 feet behind him. He raised his arm and closed his fist, signaling the Rangers. He drew his bow and nicked an arrow. "Ready." He said without looking at Alexander. -[@RangerOfTheRit] Alexander nodded and ordered his squad to charge. He saw Ironbanes going to battle with other Goldenblades, Alexander hopping into the mix. Swords hit swords, shields sent sparks and wood chips everywhere, and arrows flew from every direction. The battle was bloody and this was only the first of three. -[@jaybreezy] There was a loud roar and the ground began to shake. With earthquake like intensity, and tree shaking immensity. -[@SaikaAnge] Leo spurred forward, circling the battle and firing arrows into the fray, every on hitting and Ironbane or an Ironbane horse. He estimated about 250 Ironbanes made up the garrison, versus the Goldenblades battalion of 300 and Alexander and Leo's force of exactly 42. Leo emptied his quiver, killing 20 Ironbane soldiers and 10 horses. He leapt off his horse when he ran out of arrows, both swords drawn, engaging three Ironbane soldiers at once. He decapitated one, pierced one through the throat and slashed the last across the face. He sprinted to Alexander, standing back to back with him, when he heard a roar. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!?" Leo shouted over the sounds of battle. -[@RangerOfTheRit] Alexander was knocked off balance both from the roar scaring him and the ground rumbling. He stood there in shock for a moment not before looking at Leo. [color=63D1F4]"Dr-dragon?!" [/color]He asked with fear. All fighting stopped and everyone looked confused for a moment. -[@jaybreezy] Leo yanked his steel shortsword from an Ironbane's skull. He looked to the sky and scanned the treeline a few mile away where the dragon burnt village was. -[@RangerOfTheRit] Alexander snapped out of his stare and proceeded to execute the Ironbanes, starting the battle again. He tapped Leo to get his attention and join the bawl. -[@jaybreezy] Leo brought his elvish shortsword down on an Ironbane spearman's head, cleaving it in half. He left the blade in the Ironbane's skull, picked up his spear and hurled it at an Ironbane that was coming up behind Alexander, piercing the soldier through the heart. Leo smirked, grabbed his blade and kicked the Ironbane off of it before engaging two Ironbane captains. -[@RangerOfTheRit] Alexander stood next to Leo, killing a group of soldiers beside him. [color=63D1F4]"You fare quite well in combat, my friend~"[/color] Alexander said with a smirk, sticking his sword through the throat of his next victim. He was impressed with Leo's skill, not seeing him in combat that much. -[@jaybreezy] Leo spun and cut both Ironbane captain's throats before glancing at Alexander and elbowing gently, acknowledging his compliment. "Thank my father for that. He was a Range for the Empire and a Forester in his later life and taught me everything I know. You should see me with some hatchets." He said, laughing while slashing another Ironbane, cleaving his neck. -[@RangerOfTheRit] The sky darkened and shadow was cast across the ground. Another tremendous roar sounded and shook the land. The great dragon soared over the battle, then back over again, before landing on a cathedral, decimating it. -[@SaikaAnge] Leo shot his gaze to the cathedral and his mouth fell in awe at the massive dragon, In his distration an Ironbane slashed the gap in his armor, leaving a deep cut in his arm and a steel tipped arrow pierced his shoulder. Leo fell to the ground, kicked the swordman's legs out from under him and bashed his skull in with a fallen helmet. He drew the soldiers dagger from his belt and threw it at the archer, piercing him through the eye. He stood and looked at Alexander. -[@RangerOfTheRit] Alexander cursed under his breath. [color=63D1F4]"By the gods...it's a dragon!"[/color] He yelled. He took a step back as he stared not the dragon's glare, his heart rate increasing. An Ironbane soldier stuck his sword straight through Alexander's armor, the sharp pain causing Alexander to yelp. He then fell to his knees, his face hitting the ground. He rolled over and stared at the sky, seeing the dragon out of the corner of his eye. -[@jaybreezy] Leo tackled the soldier that stabbed Alexander and pierced his throat with his steel shortsword. He went to Alexander and helped him up, letting him lean on Leo's shoulder. He glanced around and saw about 100 Ironbanes remained. -[@RangerOfTheRit] Crim rushed off the dragon and stared firing arrows into the remaining soldiers surrounding the two men. She whistled, calling Seralth into battle as well. The dragon tore limbs from the men as Crim drew her sword and engaged in a sword fight with one of the soldiers. Quickly ending it with a slice to the back of the neck, decapitating him. -[@SaikaAnge] Leo set Alexander up behind a large boulder, out of view from everyone else. He sprinted to Crim. "Alexander. Boulder. Heal." Was all he said before jumping into conflict again. -[@RangerOfTheRit] "You sure you can handle this with you shoulder?" Crim continued to fight in the battle, killing one Leo missed. -[@SaikaAnge] Alexander put a hand on his open wound, blood pouring out. He coughed up blood and writhed in pain. He didn't know who got him, but he was glad he was dead. [color=63D1F4]"H-help..."[/color] He muttered helplessly as he felt his vision get blurry. -[@jaybreezy] Leo snapped the arrow shat and nodded. He snarled against the pain and began killing more soldiers. -[@RangerOfTheRit] Crim heard him and rushed to his side. "Don't die without me and don't have all the fun." she called back to Leo. Rushing to Alexander's side, she began to heal him. But as she did, she felt a sharp pain in her chest. She closed her eyes and winced at the pain but continued to heal the wounded comrade as blood began to stain her armor. -[@SaikaAnge] Alexander cried out in pain, feeling the wound close up. He lost consciousness and fell limp to his side. He was breathing, but the pain got to him. -[@jaybreezy] Crim knelt with him and held him sitting upright. As she continued to heal him the pain grew immense and she herself let out a scream. -[@SaikaAnge] Leo heard Crim scream and lost focus of everything else. He ran to her, cutting soldiers down left and right. 10 fell before he reached her. He slid to his knees and braced her before she fell. Suddenly everything went silent. He looked up and saw about 40 Ironbanes still alive, all dropped their weapons and held up their hands. He scanned the field and saw all of his Rangers had survived as well as 200 of the Goldenblade troops. He looked down at a grimacing Crim and an unconscious Alexander. He looked back in the direction of their military position and saw the outrider medics, riding to the battlefield. He looked back to Crim, "Are you alri8ght? What happened." He asked. -[@RangerOfTheRit] The Goldenblades captured the Ironbanes as well as attempting to subdue the dragon unsuccessfully. A combat medic ran to Alexander, looking at Crim as well. -[@jaybreezy] "His wound, I can't heal it all the way." crim managed out as she placed her hand over where she was bleeding. She got to her feet and surveyed the surrounding areas fro Seralth. She stumbled as she walked then fell to her knees. The great dragon hissing at the soldiers. "Hush..." she coed to the enormous beast and it settled. -[@SaikaAnge] Leo picked Crim up and set her on one of the outrider horses. "I'll find Seralth. I promise." He looked at his gauntlets. They were notched from all his kills. He had 169 notches on them already and he recalled killing at least 50 today, so he added the notches as he walked to Nalfdir who was holding the reins of his horse. "Nalfdir, take the Rangers and sweep the city then take the town hall." Leo mounted his horse and rode back to Crim. -[@RangerOfTheRit] Crim shook her head at Leo. "No, I cant leave the big one. He is not safe here. I'll stay." she started to get off the horse as the great dragon whined. "Seralth..." -[@SaikaAnge] "I saw her flying about 10 minutes ago. Whistle for her." Leo said, supporting Crim. -[@RangerOfTheRit] "Dragons mourn the death of their kind. That is not a joyful sound coming from that one." she said looking around almost madly. Crim whistled but there was no screech of her dragon. "Seralth!" she shouted then ran toward the large scaly creature, ignoring the pain that filled her chest. -[@SaikaAnge] Leo mounted his horse, picked Crim up and spurred the horse to the destroyed cathedral. -[@RangerOfTheRit] She winced as he grabbed her up. "Seralth!" she shouted again. This time the great dragon let out a soft roar. "She's alive, just wounded. Help me find her, please." -[@SaikaAnge] Leo spurred his horse back to the battlefield. He saw a bit of silver wing poking out from under an Ironbane soldier, he hopped off his horse and ran to Seralth. He picked her up, seeing she had a few cuts and gashes. He carried her over to Crim and set the dragon in her lap. "Let's ride for camp." He spurred his horse forward and galloped toward their camp. -[@RangerOfTheRit]