#### 825Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqzAo0B9H8

The towering mass of vines was a domed juggernaut over 100 feet tall. Pulsing purple runes covered its domed surface. 

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.

####

Try

The way is clear.

Can't you hear it?

Your spirit, she sings;

Upon a bird's wing;

Out of the darkness,

The heavy heart lightens.

####

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? 

Movement again. 

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? 

The creature moved forward. She reached behind, whipping her hand over the grass. Just twigs and grass. Slipping into her boots. They're gone! 

The creature sat on its haunches. Its eyes softened and mouth moved. Growling and mewing. Was—it talking? 

It coughed, clearing its throat. "I'm Leo." He touched his chest. 

She blinked.

"Merryn." 

The crea—Leo smiled, a very pointy one, but none the less a smile. She chuckled. Is this a sick dream? 

He rubbed his chin saying nothing, studying her.

"How? Why?" She relaxed some and crossed her legs. The grass was wet and cold from the morning dew. 

"I was little, you saved me. Remember?" He spaced his paws appart closing the distance between. 

Saved him? ... She rubbed her neck.

Leo mewed and sighed. 

"Do that again." A memory tugged at the corners just out of reach.

His fuzzy ears twitched. "Mewww."

"You were that pup?" 

"Yes! I was too afraid to talk back then."

She moved closer. "So, why?"

He moved slow and even to the firepit between them. 

"You're all I had back then. It's silly, I guess." 

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.

A large bird feathered of orange and yellow landed behind Leo, it stretched its neck; peering, then turned to Leo.

"A force is coming this way. You both need to go."

"Who is this?" said Merryn.

"Call me Blaze. Little time. Go!"

She turned back around and hugged Leo with her wings, then took off into the sky. Sparks jumped between the trees that she passed.

Behind a sight that wouldn't sink in at first. Maxwell was walking toward her with Jason and a young man following. 

She held a breath. Will he ever quit?

"Don't bother running. I'll find you again. Come back before its too late," Maxwell said.

Turning, she ran, with Leo following. Too weak right now to fight. She stumbled, retaining balance before face met with the ground.

Blaze circled overhead diving, her beak wide open. A light within brightening her maw. 

Leo pulled her again. "Have to go faster it's going to get hot."

Blaze breathed down a tourch of flame at Maxwell and troupe. 

The trees instantly set ablaze, waves of heat singed her body.

"Run!"

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.

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. 

Her heart tightened. She pushed on going faster, pulling Leo with.

Leo gestured straight ahead.

Nodding, she weaved between the trees, leggs and arms burning. The prayer spell is wearing off, have to get away now! 

Leo pointed down. 

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. 

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.

Past Maxwell the half grown chicks huddled together shivering. Maxwell's lighting bolts hit only a hands spread away.

"My babies! Die!" 

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.

A bright bolt of lightning snaked up from the forest it hit Blaze's chest. Her yelp of pain ecoed throughout the forest.

Leo stood there mute, shaking. His furied face contorted one of pure rage. Fat tears rolled down his face leaving wet tracks.

Blaze lurched mid flight flapping franticly as she spun falling at an angle toward Maxwell.

"We have to go. I'm sorry." She pulled on Leo's arm. 

"They will be," he said. His tone harsh and cold.

They both ran for the rest of that night; stopping only to catch their breath. 

An earth cracking squawk filled the forest near dusk, then a thump.

His ears perked up, swiveling behind. 

"She's tough."

His face relaxed some and smiled a little. 

"Yes."

####

On a grassy hillside south of the forest a thudding vibration jolted through the soles of her boots. 

I need you to get on a ship; now that it's impossible to go back, thanks to that pizz of a bird!

She startled, Unnameds thoughts loud. 

What are you talking about? 

A port town is ahead at the bottom of the hill, go to it. 

No.

Then I'll make you. 

The prayer for the haste spell tumbled out. She ran off ahead, leaving Leo behind.

"Hey! Wait!"

Her mouth clamped shut before she could speek.

We will go further Southwest the port isn't far.

She ran down the grassy hill.

"Merryn?" Leo yelled her name repeatedly. 

A few minutes later and his shouts faded.

####

A day later exhausted, Unnamed still pushed her to speed walk, her legs burned and her feet hurt. Sweat drenched her back. 

Just let me rest.

After, keep going. Unnamed's thoughts were faint. 

Guess it wore him out too, good.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

Unnamed had her wisper to Kage, the shadows flowed over. 

Too sunny out, it's going to break in a few seconds. 

More then enough time.

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. 

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.

Now you wait.

Do I even want to know? 

Yelling and screaming from down the docks and footfalls nearby. 

Leo walked up.

"Get up! Come on!"

Reaching out with a paw he tapped her shoulder.

"Our master is growing week, don't muck this up."

Leo snapped around and turned back, crouching down. He started to speak, but fell over his fur smoking. 

Poor Leo, should have kept going.

"Toss it into the brig, it may have uses later."

"Now, how to get you to behave?"

Swinging his staff in an angle. She closed her eyes and tried to bear down before it hit. Seconds passed buy, she peeked.

Kar walked up the plank, and stood beside Maxwell. 

"Interesting, why don't you move?" said Maxwell.

Kar went to Leo pushing him onto his side.

"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. 

"You didn't have to kill it Max."

"Its not dead."

He snapped his fingers and and several Acolytes scampered up onto the ship beside him.

"Go, and inform Nukpana that we are here, and to finish with her preparations."

"It will be done." They scurried off the ship.

He blocked two of them from leaving with an outstretched arm.

"Drag the bugbear to the brig like I said."

"Yes Sir!"

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. 

Maxwell bent down touching her shoulder. She couldn't even flinch as Unnamed still held her ridged. 

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. 

"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." 

He touched her nose with his pointer finger. "Savvy?"

"Yes."

She stood rubbing her stiff neck. How to get out of here? Why did Unnamed do this? Leo ...

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.

Maxwell went to the middle of the deck.

"Hoist the sails! And watch that boom!"

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.

"Hey!"

"Move."

"Do I look like a rag doll to you? I'm going–"

He pushed her to the captains quarters, closed the door and locked it.

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?