FEAR [open]

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

Kyle hadn’t been prepared for the tempest of emotions that the visage of Sephira had brought on, and for a fleeting moment, the shifter believed he would drown in the sudden misery and anger that washed over him. Images of his mate; both past and present, merged into one, and he watched with unfocused eyes as Lillie was torn from his arms screaming before he was thrown into a cell and echoes of her pain and torture reverberated off the moist stone walls until he nearly tore out his own ear drums.

That intense agony that had ripped his spirit apart returned in full force, and Kyle had to clutch his chest, afraid that his broken soul would shatter, and he would break into a million pieces.

But Lillie was still here. And the child’s heart still beat like a hummingbird inside her belly.
The dragon forced his mind and spirit to return to the present, pushing all those painful reveries deep down to be replaced by fury, and bravery. He steeled himself against the odious words the sorceress flung at him like daggers, stealing confidence in the feel of his mate at his back.

His glowing azure eyes went to the male that stood with the witch, limbs radiating with some old, powerful magic, and suddenly, he realized the vision he and Lillie had shared was standing there flesh and blood. Panic tried to worm its way into his steely confidence, but the need to protect the humans struck it down like a warrior on the battlefield.

“You will both go down in flames this night.” He called out to them. “Surrender or your grave will be this retched alley!”

But the pair was far from conceding. Kyle could feel the magic the male emitted like an electric current that flowed in the air, leaving a metallic tinge on the back of his tongue. With a swift slash of Fear’s hand, he watched in dread as the veil was ripped open and those dragon’s that would not turn their back on her escaped into the human realm.

Taking a step forward and reluctantly pulling out of Lillie’s grip, he willed his large leathery wings to sprout from his back and then turned around to face the pair, his sapphire eyes finding Lil’s unfathomable sky blue ones.

“I must fight, my love.” He whispered, and went forward to press his lips to hers in a hurried, but passionate kiss. His hand went to her belly where splayed fingers seemed to speak a wordless promise to his child, and he pulled away from her lips reluctantly in order to gaze into her face once more.

“Please, go with his man and get to safety. I will hold them back as long as I can but do not look back. A moment of reluctance is a moment too long. I pray you will act for our child’s safety, and leave me to do what is necessary.”

(( You guys feel free to move the NPC dragons however you want. They’re nasty and mean, and I throw them atchoo. LOL ))

[Lillie Galleau]

((Okay, so I suck at knowing what posting order's what, but I figured that Lillie should go before Walker, so she could drag him off somewhere. I kept picturing Lillie running, holding onto him, while he flaps in the wind screaming about how confused he is...-falls over laughing- I hope you don't mind me going first, Mercy! If it don't work, I'll change the order and edit again. ^^ ))
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Oh God, oh God, it was really her! And the man from her dream! Lillie knew that she was probably in danger of snapping Kyle’s poor arm clean in half, but she continued to clutch at him, face a mask of dread and fear. The witch screeched at them, and the warrior returned with a threat of his own, but nothing compared to the yawning chasm of scaly bodies as the evil woman opened up a hole in reality.

And, in that moment, the two warring sides of the prophet’s mind became united.

With a punch in the brain, all of Madailéin’s memories, her memories became her own. Just as when Kyle had greeted their child for the first time at the plantation, two images of the notorious witch superimposed, and Lillie saw herself being torn away from the chained dragon, who fought against his bindings, calling out her name. She saw the smug smile on the witch’s face, and felt the pain of a knife on her body, her belly. She felt her throat tear, as a scream erupted from her and her hands grasped feebly at air, the life slowly draining from her, while her eyes were locked on the baby in the other woman’s grasp.

She gasped, jerking slightly under the barrage of memories, and before she could stop herself, she let loose a scream of hatred at the witch. She wanted to run at her and hurt her; take revenge for her previous life and her mate. But those temptations…God, they were just a bit on the stupid side, because what could she possibly do to Fear? Make a really cool Christmas ornament?

With a whispered ‘no,’ she shook her head in denial when Kyle forced her to release him. He was going to fight all of them? Alone? What was he, INSANE? Not that she could do anything to help him, given the fact that the most self defense she knew was ‘go for the balls.’ And Madailéin wasn’t any help either, darnnit! Her memories mainly revolved around Kyle, their baby and…oh wow, he could do that with his back? Gah, no, wrong line of thought!

Her brain was jumbled with all kinds of thoughts, images and emotions, and it took all of her energy not to throw her arms around her dragon and declare that the only way he was getting free, was after he sawed her arms off. Given the bloodthirsty look on those dragons’ faces, they didn’t really have time for colorful threats and theatrics.

”I remember everything!” She said, before he could pull away. He wanted her to go with the crazy pirate-dude? Who was going to be protecting who, in that scenario? Either way, she needed him to know, before he went to fight. ”I remember who I was, before, and you’d better come back to me alive, so you can convince me that you’re in love with Lillie Galleau, and not your dead wife. You’d better come back, Kyle Aodhagan, or I’ll find you in whatever Heaven you go to, and beat you for eternity!”

Desperately, she kissed him again, before pulling back and grabbing hold of the pirate’s hand. Practically dragging the poor guy toward a nearby alleyway, she chanced a glance back at her dragon, and resisted the urge to change course. She had to think about their baby now, she told herself. Whether or not she wanted to kick the crap out of that evil witch, she had to think about their child.

”I hope you know how to use that gun, buddy!” She said to the pirate, shoving him into the alley, then following with one last glance. They were a few blocks away from the battlefield, and she couldn’t make herself move any farther. Dammit, why didn’t she have her cell phone? She could have called Ilani, and had all of her weirdo friends down here to help!


Back down the street, Murdoc watched as the pregnant woman fled with the annoying pirate. A pity…he would have loved to hear her screams as he bespelled her to melt. The dark angel beside him was screaming threats at the dragon, and the warlock just managed to bite back a roll of his eyes. This was no time for insults, or such bloody promises! It was time for action.

…And what action she took, he thought a few moments later, staring at the slash in reality that she’d made.

”You were the one who released me from my prison,” He said, voice a mixture of shock and awe. He didn’t even notice the dragons careening passed him, or the roar of challenge from the shifter on the street.

Before he could stop himself, or think better of it, he released the magical energy around his hands and reached the witch in two strides. He caught her around the waist, brought her up against him, ignored the warning whisper that he could possibly lose his tongue for such insolence…and kissed her. Hard.

A laugh boomed from his chest as he released her a moment later, turning to face the dragon warrior that his fellow magic user hated so. He owed the woman his life, and if she wanted that man dead…dead, he would be. Whatever restraint he’d used in his previous spell lay forgotten, as he started in on a new one. The ground beneath his feet began to quake slightly, and clouds suddenly appeared above them, lightning striking the asphalt, until it wound in hissing circles around his arms.

Only then, did he charge forward with the screaming dragons, electricity forming writhing armor around his clenched fists. It was time for the dragon to die.

[Walker de Bouff]

Monsters? Dragons? Oh my.

That sexy scary ass woman was unleashing hell, and she seemed to really be enjoying herself as Walker shook in his boots. If he liked those types he would have been trying to flirt with her, but he liked the non-aggressive ones.

The big guy didn't need to tell Walker twice to get the hell out of there and take his woman to safety. His legs were moving comically faster than the rest of his body. Before he realized it the woman that was with the big guy had grabbed him, keeping him from moving far. He was trying to go one way and she was tugging towards another direction.

He reluctantly followed her, making sure to stick with her for cover. When she spoke of using a gun, he glanced down at his pistol and pulled it out. He whipped the thing all over the place. It appeared he was not well with weapons at all, but it was quite the contrary. He was actually a great shot. "This thing?" He opened up the chamber to see if it was loaded. "That I do!"

He took a chance to look back behind them. What he saw made him scream. It looked like one of the monsters had decided to follow them instead of sticking with the crowd and attack the big guy.

His boots clunked so loudly as he started to really book it. He left the woman behind him, arms flailing, which included the pistol in his one hand. "NOOO, NOT GOOD!" He yelled, clearly not the best man to save a damsel in distress. Walker was scared of so many things. He was not very brave, nor was he the best fighter. Yet, he was a pirate, not a very good one though, which was quite obvious.

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

Fear
Fear watched the dragons pour out of the fissure and horde into the alley after the trio and a nasty smirk passed over her face. She crossed her arms over her lithe chest and let out a smug snort, thinking how uncomplicated it could be when you had an army of minion at your fingertips.
Sure, she could use her own magic, or even better, rip the human’s throats out with her bare hands, but this dress was stunning, and blood stains on it would not do.
Besides, the sorceress was quite content to watch what her power male companion could do. The fiery light that was seeping from those rippled tawny limbs was enough to pique her interest, and Sephira teased her bottom lip with her teeth wondering if he was so commanding in every aspect of his life.

Suddenly the potent male was grabbing her around the hips and drawing her body into his, and a gasp was replaced with a moan as his lips found her. She clutched his shoulders tightly, lengthening fingernails digging into the taunt skin there as he kidded her with a barely controlled intensity.

A gasp was torn from her throat when he abruptly ended the kiss, and the gasp turned into a frustrated growl. Damn that male for making her feel so vulnerable for those few short moments.

But the time to teach -him- a lesson would have to come later. For now, she had bigger fish to fry.
Like a shadow she ghosted darkly toward the deserted passageway behind another warehouse that the human female and the pirate had taken, catching one of the dragon’s by the tail.

“Ah. Ah. Ah.” She waggled her finger in negation at the huge reptile, tossing her raven head in a manner that told the creature wordlessly that those two were hers.

“Here kitty, kitty…” Fear taunted the pair, her ruby tongue snaking hungrily across her bottom lip. The female’s flesh was going to be so sweet, but not as sweet as the childs.

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Kyle

The dragon looked down into those unfathomable cerulean eyes and his heart broke at the pain that was written across his angel’s face. Within those two vast orbs he watched the prophet come to an awareness that he had begun to believe as well. Madelien and Lillian Galleau were a single soul, ripped out of one body and forced into the form of another more than a century later so the spirit could go on. It was pure, powerful, instinctual survival.

And he wasn’t going to loose her again.

Kyle inhaled sharply when she pressed her lips against his, taking in her smell, the feel of her; the sheer power that she gave him by her mere presence. His arms wrapped around her shoulders until Lillie tore away from him to flee with the male human and a curse was ripped from his throat when he had to steel legs so that he didn’t go after her.
Watching her run away was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to endure, and balling his fists tightly he willed his body to turn away, facing the coming assault head on.

With a battle cry that resounded in the night, the dragon shifter tucked his wings behind him and began running towards the warlock that was charging as well.

The mage and the half dragon collided in an explosion of pure electricity. Sparks flew as the dragon was thrown to the damp concrete, the power radiating off of them both like a tangible force field. He collected himself enough pull off the ground and then reached to grasp Murdoc about the throat, showering him with a barrage of blows to the chest and face.

The sound that was escaping his parted, panting lips was more animal than man. He didn’t even hear the sound of flapping wings as the dragon swooped down to grasp Kyle by the back with one massive taloned claw.

Kyle’s captor soared into the dark blue heavens, and the shifter snarled, writhing in protest and clawing at the talon that was tearing at his tawny, bleeding side. The night grew darker as they flew up toward the silver celestial gemstones; the concrete beneath him getting further and further away.

With a fierce rumble, the shifter willed his form to change, the scream that was spewing from his slack jaw becoming a hiss as the bones shifted to form a scale covered muzzle and the body growing too large and too heavy for the much smaller dragon which had grabbed him.

Kyle-dragon spun to get the other hand, massive wings flapping as they cascaded back towards earth in a tussle of enormous claws and snapping fangs and swinging tails.

When they landed on damp ground near where they had started, it was on the back of Sephira’s minion, and it cried out in pain as it slid across the gravely pavement.
Kyle-dragon reared back his big head and then lunged down, ripping the scaly throat open with his teeth while the enormous reptile twisted underneath him.

The writhing and hissing from under him didn’t last long as that dragon went limp, but two more flanked him, suddenly pulling Kyle off of the body of the other.

[Lillie Galleau]

Oh God, oh God, oh GOD; the mantra sang through Lillie’s head as she watched the two sides crash together. Kyle seemed strong enough to hold his own against the warlock from her dreams, but what about the couple dozen freaking dragons? How could he contend with such odds? Frustrated, she banged a fist on the alleyway wall as she poked her head around the corner, watching. Man, why couldn’t she have been some bad ass Amazon warrior in her past life? Or, better yet; some kind of dragon-lady? She wanted to help Kyle so bad, but knew that if she tried, she’d be nothing but a bag of squishy putty for those evil dragons to step on.

What she needed was help; supernatural help. She’d just HAD to go and disbelieve Ilani when the woman had told her that there was an entire community out there! AND not recharge her cell phone before she’d gone out! Shifting from side to side, she clenched her teeth to keep from making too much noise, practically moaning when she saw Kyle being dragged up into the air.

And when her pirate ‘friend’ decided to shanghai it out of Dodge, she was about ready to scream. Which she did, before she could stop herself.

”Where the hell are you going?!” She called after the fleeing pirate, a shot of fear and anger ripping through her chest. Holy guac, he’d just…no, he would certainly turn around…JESUS CHRIST!

Whirling around, Lillie scooped up a piece of metal and clutched it to her chest, placing a protective hand on her belly. Okay, so she was going to be fine. Lillie Warrior Princess was not going to get afraid about being alone, while her fiancé fought off a dozen dragons and an evil dude. She’d get back into her previous mindset about wanting to rush out there and start banging on scaly heads. Yes, that was it…

Oh, who was she kidding? Without the knowledge that someone was behind her, she was deflating quicker than a popped balloon! Gird those loins, Galleau, she mentally roared at herself. Gripping the long rounded metal like it was a baseball bat, she poked her head around the alley once again.

And proceeded to gasp in dismay. Dragons were all over Kyle, and the warlock was watching with a horrific smile on his face down below. Her dragon had shifted into his scaly form and looked like he was doing alright…but another group of bad dragons were careening towards him. He couldn’t win this alone!



Back on the street, Murdoc barked out a laugh when his blood flew, misting the air. It had been quite some time since someone had been strong enough to force him back a step, and while the fists that rained down on him didn’t leave the most pleasant feelings…he felt strangely happy for the first time in years. Where Kyle scored a few choice hits to his chest and stomach, the warlock used his electricity-tainted fists to drive an uppercut into his enemy’s jaw, before going for his kidneys.

He roared in unhappiness when the dragon took off into the air, escorted by two of his brethren. The shifter was HIS! Not theirs! And, as if to show his unhappiness, the big man aimed a hand at one of the dragons who had been holding the witch’s toy and blasted him with a bolt that had him turning to ash in the air.

”Come back down here!” He roared, gathering up more power from the elements, so it whirled around his body. Those damn scaly bastards were having all the fun, and that just wasn’t permissible.

Though…he knew how to bring Kyle back down to his level, didn’t he? Abruptly, his eyes flickered to the female hiding nearby, and as he had to the dragon who’d been holding Kyle back, he flung out a hand, a bolt of energy flying from his fingertips.

With a scream, Lillie covered her head as bricks and metal fell around her. The bolt hadn’t meant to kill the human, but rather strike the building around her. The poor female cowered, protecting her head and belly instinctually. Another nasty smile was on his face as he looked back up at the dragon warrior and beckoned him down again.

[Walker de Bouff]

A Dead end? "Oh, no, no! This is NOT GOOD!" Walker cursed and turned back the other way. He saw the pretty lady nearly get zapped or some weird mojo stuff. As much as he feared what was about to happen he couldn't leave her to fend for herself. His hand latched around the compass in his pocket, rubbing it for good luck.

"Woman!" He called for Lillie. "Stay near me. I be holdin' some good luck." She probably wouldn't trust him, but he really did have some strange luck on his side. He always seemed to go unscathed in the weirdest situations. At times it even had him raising an eyebrow. Why couldn't he have that much looking finding gold?

He reached for his pistol, which took two tries to pull it free from his belt. He pointed it at the entrance of the alleyway they were in, until he realized he was holding the barrel of the gun and pointing the handle. He nervously tossed the weapon around in the air above his hands, until he was holding it correctly.

Who was he kidding? They were probably going to die. "Where be my rum!?" He fished around in his pockets. He couldn't die without his rum!! After a moment of patting and coming up empty handed he growled. "Arrrrrrgh!!" How very damn frustrating this all was.

He looked around at the building behind them. There wasn't too many places to hide, but he did see a latter that would lead onto the roof of the building. He pointed at it and gestured for the woman to go up it.

Though, they would take their chances of dragons up there. It was a chance they would have to take. Could be there was an entrance into the building up there and throw them all off guard by doing a disappearing act.

He started for the latter, whether the woman followed or not. He was going up it to try and get inside this warehouse.

After this was over with someone would owe him rum!

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

Kyle

Kyle growled out in pain when one set of massive fangs found his collarbone, and a pair of talons grasped his side. The sound was thunderous and it reverberated loudly through the mostly deserted streets behind the buildings.
The moons silvery glow reflected in black pools of blood on the pavement; some of it that of the wicked dragons that had been unleashed from hell, some of it his own, and he was starting to feel the loss of it.

The shifters head was fuzzy from the pain, but he fought with everything he had, snapping his own massive jaw at one massive lizard, and whipping his immense tail at the other. The only thought that kept him moving was Lillie and the child that was growing inside her belly. There was no way in HELL he was going to let his baby come into a world over run with these merciless monsters. Up until now the invasion from the Other World had meant saving a realm of strangers from the evil. Now it was personal.

Another roaring snarl was torn from Kyle’s throat as he was lifted further into the air, but as if riding the sound waves of the echo left behind from it, one of the dragons exploded into ash, leaving the other to fight alone.
The remaining reptile was stunned by the sudden assault, and the shifter took advantage, grabbing the beast by the neck with a large talon and flying as swiftly as he could into the side of a tall brick building. Like before, he ravaged the dragon’s throat, holding him there until he could feel the creature’s last breath rasp out of him.

It was only then did the sound of Lillie’s scream draw his attention down below.
Curse the human male! He was supposed to have gotten her to safety. It occurred to the shifter he had never really been good at delegating anyway.

Kyle’s glowing sapphire eyes lit on the dark mage that had caused the brick and building to pour down over his mate’s head, and the simper on his face made the shifter howl in fury. The fiend was toying with him. Heaven help him, Kyle Aodhagán was not a male that enjoyed playing games.

But there were so many of them. Even as he dove downward to attack the magus, more dragons were on his tail. As well, Sephira had slipped into the shadows and the shifter prayed the sorceress was no where near them.
Kyle knew if he was going to keep his mate and baby, this war would have to wait. From his sheer anger, he could probably take them all, but not at the cost of loosing his love again.

As he flew downward toward Murdoc, he stretched his jaws wide to release a brimstone breath that lit up the night. It blazed a path of fire on the pavement that encircled the mage, and as he lunged closer to them all, it was only then did he notice the witch slithering into the alley near the bent prophet and the human male climbing up a metal ladder that led to the building top.

There was only thing to do. May the stars forgive him, but for now, he would have to flee.
Swooping over Fear’s head he grasped Lillie as gently as he could with one talon, and held her against his scaly chest as he flew upwards and grabbed the pirate with the other, haphazardly dangling him as he soared toward the stars.

The time for fighting would come, and soon, but not while his innocent woman and child were in the path of harm.

Casting one fiery glance back down at his enemies, he left them there to escape into the night with the humans. Some of the dragons had forgone the fight to rain terror on the city, while the others remained to circle where their master stood in rage.

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Fear

The sorceress should have had one thing on her mind-- getting the human woman and making the dragon shifter pay for his millennia of defiance. Of course, that was easier said than done when her pretty, pretty new playmate was making all kinds of magic happen in the alley behind her.

One minute it seemed like the shifter had the upper hand; after a collision of epic proportions Kyle had the magus on the ground raining blows on him. But that ascendancy was short lived as Murdoc seemed to attack him in turn with electrified fists. The witch could have sworn that as one of her dragon minions lifted him into the air, Aodhagán was flickering with the remnants of that electric magic.

Sephira’s reptilian slit eyes glanced back to the alley where the human’s had fled as she refocused on her main concern, but not before the mage sent a lightening bolt to break the brick edifice above the female’s head. Fear scowled and crossed her arms across her lithe chest, deciding that no matter how pretty, if the male wounded the human before she had a chance to, he was definitely going to pay.
The sorceress realized this was not the mage’s intention as she heard the anger-filled roar from the dragon-shifter, and watched as he took out another one of her minions before plunging toward them to set the ground ablaze.

Damn dragons and their brimstone!

“Nooooo!” The witch’s curse echoed through the back alleyway as Kyle soared down to seize both the female -and- the pirate, and she ordered the closest minion to pursue them lest he get away. If he escaped this night, it may be a hundred more before she could find him again.
Uttering an ancient hex her father, the sorcerer, had taught her, Sephira sent a wave of black energy toward the fleeing shifter. Immediately the shadows that surrounded them seemed to come alive; shifting to consume the dragon, the female, and the pirate whole.

But it was uttered a moment too late. The dragon seemed to disappear in the clouds before the gloom could devour the trio, and the magic died away in a downpour of an oily, black substance.
Hands held over her head as the shadows fell back to earth as an onyx rain, the witch turned back toward the mage. Perhaps he had something else up his sleeve.

[Lillie Galleau]

With a snarl of pleasure, a smile lit the wizard’s face as he watched his enemy descend. So, it seemed that the dragon had a weak spot; that puny little human in the alleyway down the street. It would be useful to know…and even more fun to exploit. Would he scream, when the life faded from his woman’s eyes? Would he beg, when a knife was held to that precious throat?

He couldn’t wait to find out. But, oh, pity, the witch looked like she had the same idea. How…stimulating.

Readying himself for a slash of talons or the hard snap of a toothy jaw, Murdoc held himself in a defensive crouch, electric arms held at the ready. The dragon was coming closer, closer, the witch’s minions close on his heels, and he would be ready…DAMN!

A spell came bursting from his lips when Kyle’s scaly chest expanded and a river of fire erupted, shooting straight down at him. A burst of power slithered out of the wizards skin, and putting one hand up, palm facing the flames, he commanded it to form around him. It took some effort, as he hadn’t had to use such a spell in a long while, and his skin burned from the heat, but he managed to give himself a nice circle of untouched ground around his feet, while the fire burned around him.

And then, the cowardly dragon decided to flee. Flee! As if this were a game that he could cry out of! Another roar escaped the warlock as he whispered the words of yet another spell, a ball of energy forming in his hands. The dragon rose up, up, the human woman and pirate in his claws, and on a yell, the last word of Atlantian had the missile launching at the little group.

Fists clenching, he watched as the ball- dark energy that would eat a hole in that scaly hide, if hit- surge toward its target, a look of irritation on his face.
“Your friend does not know how to die gracefully,” He said darkly, never taking his eyes off of the neon green ball as it disappeared into the clouds after the dragon. He knew the witch was near; he could feel that hard gaze on him. ”But we will teach him now. Call your dogs; if that hit him, we will find him bleeding in the grass soon enough.”


Pieces of brick and cement nicked her exposed neck and shoulders, but she ignored the little stings. Her eyes were glued to the battle above, and a sob tore itself from her throat as two of the evil dragons bore down on Kyle. God, she wanted to do something! Why wasn’t any of his ‘Council’ coming to the rescue? Surely, they would know about the fight, given that the bursts of electricity from the wizard and roaring from the dragons had to have most of the freaking STATE awake and panicking! Brushing soot from her eyes, she clutched the building in front of her.

All the while, completely unaware of the witch slithering her way.

”No, I can’t leave him!” She shook her head as the pirate man pointed toward an empty building. She knew that she had to protect their child, but she just couldn’t make her legs work right…unless she was ready to start running into the fray.

But really, what could she do but become some really tasty dragon chow? Frustration made itself known again, as she watched the battle before her. She should leave, as Kyle had said…but GOD, she couldn’t move!

…Not that she really needed to. After one dragon poofed to ash and Dragon-Kyle shot a nice stream of fire at him, she found herself being scooped up in a scaly claw. Ignoring the noise from below- the screams of protest, the roars of challenge, and…was that screaming? Strange…- she clutched the warm leg and pressed her lips to the sooty scales. Just let them get away, just let them get away safe. She cringed when a roar split the air, close behind them.

Looking up at the dense scales above her, the prophet gasped when she saw a dense river of blood dripping off of the dragon’s shoulder as he flew. ”Kyle, we should land!” She called out, knowing he could hear her. ”You’re hurt! We should—“

Breaking off, Lillie turned her head as a twinkling light caught her eye. Turning, she squinted at…what was that thing? A star? They weren’t THAT high, but…whatever it was, it seemed to be getting closer. Frowning, she continued to stare, then recoiled when the brightness roiled and surged in her vision. That definitely wasn’t a star!

Pointing at it, she yelled Kyle’s name, gripping his leg with her free arm.


((Hehe, Murdoc couldn't help but give Kyle a parting present. Dodge or hit; he just wanted to send over a heat seeking missile to say 'I love you!' XD If it don't work, lemme know.))

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[Walker de Bouff]

One moment Walker was trying to be useful and help this woman up the ladder to get into the abandoned building. It was a good plan, he thought, but he was all for getting out of the way of these beasts path. The only problem was the woman was giving him a hard time about going up the ladder and getting out of harms way.

He was about to leave her. Okay, maybe he wouldn't leave her. He'll drag her up the ladder if he has to. So he thought he was about to do that, until one of the dragons scooped down towards them to scoop him and the woman up.

The pirate hung perilously from the dragon's claw and he screamed and screamed and screamed. His arms and legs flailed around comically, well, probably comically to those that weren't in such a horrible predicament.

"THIS IS NOT GOOD! NOT GOOD!" He yelled out over the loud flapping coming from the dragons beat of his wings.

As his arms and legs continued to flail his clothing twisted in the claw and pointed the pirate out behind them. That was when he saw a light that was gradually getting bigger and heading right for them. "AAAAHH!" He couldn't form any words, just point and scream towards the thing that was headed towards them.

In the back of his mind he thought that flying was definitely not his thing. He was meant to be a captain of a ship and battle the seas, not the skies full of beasts. He liked to have complete control of the situation. This was not complete control.

His eyes drifted down below and he let loose another scream. Everything looked so small. He wondered if he was dropped if that would kill him. He wasn't ready to find that out either.

[Kyle Aodhagán †]

The moon’s light was his beacon, and the ancient shape shifter rose toward it, ignoring the pain that was surging through his massive scaled body in powerful currents like acid through his veins. The only thing he could focus on was the intertwining of that particular moment in time; clutching Lillie to his rough chest -now- as he ascended toward the stars and the reverie of the woman being ripped from his arms on a night much like this very one but centuries ago.

Up and up and up they rose; soaring over the city until the twinkling lights of the largest buildings seemed like nothing more than fireflies on a lazy summer evening. The dragons that Sephira had summoned were lost in the darkness below, no doubt causing mayhem through New Orleans, but that was not the shifter’s concern at the moment.
An innocent child grew inside his female’s belly, and this one would not be ripped from his mother’s womb like the last. To think of such steeled the dragon’s intent on getting her as far away from the danger as possible, despite his duty to the human world as a Council member.

The human male flailing wildly in his grasp was barely a distraction, but the sound of Lillie’s panicked cry drew his attention downward to gaze at her with radiant cerulean eyes.
Blood. Yes, there was blood. Pain. There was a lot of it. None of that mattered when the lives of his child and woman were threatened. Kyle wished he could comfort her despite the fact that -he- was the one wounded, but when he opened his mouth and only a reptilian hiss came out, he knew the words of reassurance would have to wait.

Hoping the prophet could read the softening in those reptilian eyes, Kyle turned his attention back to the heavens and their get-away, never hearing the neon ball of energy sizzling as it burned the atmosphere on a path toward them.

Suddenly the pain that could easily be ignored turned into something much, much worse.

The glowing sphere hit the dragon’s lower back and immediately agony was his whole world. Pain crackled in every one of the shifter’s nerve-endings as the magic fire continued to smolder, peeling back the black-blue scales to reveal electrified muscle underneath.
Letting out an agonizing scream, the shifter drew Lillie tightly against his scaly chest and clutched the male tighter as he began to descend, turning over as they approached the ground so that he skidded on his back against the stretch of deserted highway.

The pain was excruciating, but all the shifter could think about was Lillie. How could he keep her safe if he gave into the darkness that pressed down upon him and willed his body to shut down? No. He could not…he would not…

But the pain was too great. Rolling over the ground, the dragon’s talons loosened so that the humans were thrown a few feet from him. The large beast finally came to a stop, bleeding profusely from rips and burns that seemed lethal in their intensity.

The dragon began to shrink then; the dark scales replaced with blood covered tawny skin and the talon limbs replaced by the arms and legs of a man.
The transformation took mere moments and laying there upon the black expanse of road was the human form of Kyle Aodhagan; barely breathing, a deep gash on his shoulder blade pouring blood, and his lower back and half of his thighs covered in second and third degree burns.

He tried to move, but he found his body would not. He tried to open his eyes, but the lids weighed more than he had the strength the lift. He wanted to speak, to call out to them, but when he did all that issued was a ragged moan, and then nothing.

The world was black.

(( I kinda figured we were coming to a good place to end this thread soon. It just seems to be taking forever and I know its really my fault, cause I'm taking so long to tag, but its just been forever since we've been writing it and I'd love to move on...

So-- Fear's dragon minions are on a rampage in the city now. Y'all skip her and I'll tag her next go around.
Kyle is out and wont be coming to until the next thread-- I figure if you want you can kinda phase out with him and say like, y'all flagged down help or something? ))

[Lillie Galleau]

((Looooong. XD Okay, closing time! I figure Kyle can reply in either the Council, or Lil's house, ('cause that's where Ilani would have had him brought) as a fast forward thing. Just waking up, or later in the Council meeting; either sounds good to me. And if you're gonna reply for Fear, Kyle, go ahead! Murdoc could always kiss her some more. ;p ))
---


Her scream echoed through the air as time slowed down. It was always like that, wasn’t it; everything screeching to a halt when something bad was about to happen. It was as if God were giving her the chance to see what she’d done wrong, so that she could never repeat such a silly mistake again. Why hadn’t she noticed the glowing ball earlier, and shouted for her lover to dodge it? Why hadn’t she seen it coming, or felt some kind of spidey-sense tingle that something bad was on the way? She’d known that the muscled man in the street was a sorcerer; why hadn’t she thought of such an airborne attack?

But none of those questions mattered, when the glowing orb hit the dragon square in the back, and a roar of pain escaped him. Lillie cried out when they began their descent, holding onto the large leg that curled so protectively around her. Her stomach flew into her throat as time sped back up, and she let loose another scream when they hit the ground.

The air was forced from her lungs as she was thrown from Kyle’s clawed grasp. She rolled and skidded on the rough asphalt, until finally, she stopped; lying on her belly. It took her a minute to remember how to move, how to breathe, and when she did, she gasped in pain. The skin of her cheek, arms and legs were scratched up quite nicely, and her dress was pretty much torn to ribbons. Every joint in her body ached from the impact, and her head pounded with the myriad of stings, aches and burns.

But none of that mattered when she realized how she was lying. Though it hurt to do so, she shoved herself onto her hands and knees, then gently slid herself onto her side, her arm going around her belly. She stayed there for a moment, curling herself around the sleeping life inside her, hoping like hell that their baby hadn’t been harmed—

Her head snapped up. Their baby. Oh God, Kyle!

Another hoarse cry escaped her, when she spotted his still form lying prone down the road. She scrabbled to her feet, one arm still wrapped protectively around her belly, and she half ran, half limped to the fallen shifter. Somewhere in the distance, the pirate was probably stirring, but she couldn’t bring herself to go anywhere but to her fallen lover.

“Kyle? Kyle, baby, please, open your eyes for me. Oh God…” She fell to her knees beside him and choked on a sob when she saw the blood pooling around him. Her hands hovered over him, afraid to cause him pain with a simple touch. What was she supposed to do? God…there was so much blood! They needed a doctor, a healer, SOMEONE with some kind of medical training! Frantically, she looked up and down the highway around them, growling in frustration when she saw nothing.

Of course, when they needed help, New Orleans traffic would disappear!

’What, you can’t handle a little blood?’ A voice whispered in her head, cutting through the panic. ’Think, Lillian. What could you do? If you freak out, Kyle dies. Now THINK.’

Lillie, Xena Princess, she thought suddenly, a frantic laugh escaping her. Okay, she could do that.

Her dress, that’s it. Ripping some of the tattered pieces of her dress apart, she wadded them up and gently rolled him over, moaning when she saw the wounds on his back, thighs and shoulder. “Oh, God, Kyle…” She turned her head, pressing her cheek to her shoulder to keep from crying. What could she do. Think, THINK!

The burns on his legs were bleeding, but she knew from tv that they had to be dealt with, with a special damp dressing. Pressing a cloth over it would break the skin and cause more bleeding. She would leave those alone for now, and steeling her spine, she pressed the wadded pieces of her dress against the hole in his shoulder. She cringed when he stirred, moaning in pain, and with soft, soothing whispers, she did her best to slow the bleeding.

Now, what they really needed was some back up. Oh, why didn’t she have a phone! Pirate-boy over there didn’t look like he had one back in the alleyway, unless it was made out of booze, and there was no one around to call for help—

Lillie paused, eyes going wide. Or was there?

Living in New Orleans for most of her life, she’d met a lot of strange, quirky people. Some liked to read tarot cards, others liked to dress in black and haunt the cemeteries…and others claimed to be able to speak to the dead. The dead that, or so she claimed, were everywhere.

Even on deserted highways.

“Please, let this work… Ghosts!” She called out, eyes looking frantically at the darkness around them. “Anyone listening! If you know Ilani Moonblood, at The Pit, tell her that we’re here; that Lillie needs her help! Please, please tell her. She’ll help you with your final business! I swear to God, she’ll help you, if you could help us! Please!”

She fell silent, straining to hear anything; a moan, a shake of a chain, a whisper…but there was nothing. With a sob, she curled herself around the shifter, tearing off more of her dress to use as a stopper in his shoulder. Gently, she sifted her fingers through his hair, placing a kiss on the curve of his neck.

“You’d better not die, Kyle Aodhagan,” She whispered in his ear. “Remember your promise? You’re not supposed to leave us alone. So you’d better hang on, or the next time we’re both reincarnated, I’m going to find you and beat you so bad…”

Time slowed once again, as she did her best to staunch the flow of blood. There was so much in the human body, she absently thought, and it seemed that all of it was gracing the asphalt beneath them. What was she going to do, if she lost him? She’d traveled through time and beyond to find him again, only to lose him? No, she thought vehemently. No!

Whatever God, Gods or Whoever was listening could take that destiny crap and shove it up there what’s-it’s! She couldn’t lose him…not again. Please, God, don’t let him die—

“Well, honey, I ain’t God, but I’ll sure as hell answer that prayer,” A voice cut through the darkness, and with a gasp, Lillie’s head snapped up. Ilani dropped to the asphalt across from her, a grin on her face. Behind her, the prophet could hear voices and the low growl of an engine.

Dazed, Lillie could only blink at her friend. “How…You…”

“Baby, there’s one thing that no ghost can resist,” Ilani replied with a laugh. “And that’s the promise of help from a psychic. Now, move over, honey, and let the professionals take over. Julian, get that fine ass over here and see that my girl’s boyfriend doesn’t bleed out? Joey, be a dear and give me your jacket? There are parts of Kyle that I REALLY don’t need flopping around in front of my face. And Pat; be useful and make sure your sister doesn’t pass out, kay? She’s looking a bit pale.”

The psychic’s voice grew a bit distant, as she moved off to the pirate. Idly, the bar owner knelt down to give Walker a little shake, eyes skimming over him, looking for blood. “Wakey, wakey, buddy. The cavalry’s here.”

Lillie couldn’t help but sag back into the waiting arms of her brother as relief surged through her. A coat was draped over Kyle’s abdomen as an unfamiliar man- a doctor, she later found out- eased himself next to her, proceeding to take care of the shifter’s wounds. Soon after, she was sitting in the bed of Ilani’s truck, clutching a blanket around her as she knelt beside her shifter.

Thank you, Whoever, she thought, sliding her fingers through Kyle’s.

In the back of her mind, a voice answered.
You're welcome.

Everything was going to be alright.

[Walker de Bouff]

As the ball of light got closer and closer Walker brought his hands to his eyes and covered them. He heard a shriek then a scream with the sounds of something exploding, and he wasn't quite certain but he thought he was the one that shrieked. Then, he felt the steady decline as his belly felt strange as they glided back down to the ground below.

They hit and slid then Walker flopped all over the place after the dragon had let him go. He flopped until everything went black.

It sounded like hours later when he heard a voice call out to him. At first it sounded distant, but it grew gradually louder. "Cavalry?" He said in a slow slur, which could have been from waking up or the pronounced slur he generally always had.

The world was swimming around him. He pushed up to try and stand, speaking of some nonsense. "My ship has sailed!" He babbled on, obviously out of his mind. "Ahoy, maties!" He yelled out to his non existent crew.

The pirate smiled, flashing his horrible teeth before he started to sing out. "Fifteen men on a dead man's chest. Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum. Drink and the devil had done for the rest. Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum." For an always drunk sounding pirate, he didn't sound like such a horrible singer.

If he could get up without falling back down he would have danced while he sang, but as it was, all he had left in him was to stare at the spinning sky and sing like a drunken pirate that's lying on his back on his ship, even if there was a pretty lady to ogle at. It was the woman that had woken him up. He flashed a special smile for her.