Traversing Twilight Territory

[Arin]

The arachne looked to this new stranger, who was inspecting the male whom she has been interested in. When he asked if he was her mate, she tilted her head slightly, not quite sure herself. Still, the man's body seemed badly wounded, and needed some mending, and this new stranger asked that she wrap up his legs in the strongest silk that she could produce. Nodding, she started to wrap his arm up into a tightly wound silk cast, that started as an arm wrap at first, but slowly began to form into a less and less of an arm shape as she wrapped it into a bent arm pose, as instructed by the stranger, and then wrapping the cast arm close to his body, so that it couldn't move around too much and cause more damage, at least, until someone could fix him better.

Syraki looked down at Arin as Luna expressed her concerns over his condition. While he was indeed badly beat up from the explosion, he wasn't in much worse shape than Lance was, it seemed <He is unconscious, but I can tell that his lifeforce is still strong, and fighting hard to keep his light from fading. You may rest your mind at ease, dark elf, he will not die this night. But I suggest we make haste and find the cold one's friend, so we may leave this island. All of you, on my back, quickly.>

Scarlet looked around, trying to get an idea of where Dune's aura was, but she could only sense a flicker, nothing strong enough to pinpoint where he was. Clenching her sword tightly, she helped Luna lift Arin up onto Syraki's back "I will make sure that Dune is safe, but I need your help in finding him first, so that none of these shadow creatures can finish him off."

[Tetsuya]

Winter helped Luna move Arin up onto Syraki's back, doing as she instructed so as not to aggravate any potential injuries he might have.



Dune was managing to move around after a full minute of lying still. The world was spinning a lot less, but it was spinning in his eyes still. He did manage to pull himself up to stand, leaning against a tree currently on fire to keep himself stable. He had to focus his eyes to see the trail he left in the ground from his sudden flight and crash landing. Once he found the trail, he started wobbling in the direction that it led.

At one point, he saw a tree collapsed on the path, evidently having slammed through it. "Oh, so that's...why it feels...like I have a few...broken ribs in my back," he said to himself. He had to carefully climb over the tree trunk before continuing. It was lucky for him he hadn't been sent too far into the forest.

Upon first sight, it looked like he was just mildly hurt, but once someone closed the distance to him they would see blood covering half his face that poured from his head. His right ear was also leaking blood too.

[Lance]

Akatosh nodded and lifted Lance, carefully carrying him over to the Arachne and placing him on her back, using some rope to keep the airman secured to her abdomen. "Sorry miss, but time is off the essence."

The Dragonborn then climbed onto Syraki and closed his eyes, drawing what little energy he could into his body and releasing one last shout, though this was more of a whisper, his voice hissing past his lips. "Laas Yah Nir..."

Akatosh's vision were filled with flashes of color, each keyed to the mana of the person it belonged to, and there, in the distance blazed a red/orange aura, flickering like a candle's flame. "T-There!" Akatosh leaned in and pointed towards the aura, making sure Syraki could see where he was gesturing to. "H-He's there...everyone get up here now damn it!"

Luna could hear the exhaustion in the Dragonborn's voice, hauling Arin up and slinging one of his arms over her shoulders as she dragged/carried him to Syraki and clambering onto the dragon's back. "You heard him, all of you get up here!"

[Arin]

The arachne tilted her head, as the strange man tied her interest to her abdomen, looking at the pointy eared woman as she shouted for everyone to get up onto the dragon's back, repeating what the other man said after leaping on top of it before looking out into the darkness. Not quite sure of what else to do, she started to climb up the dragon's wing, and onto its back, bending her legs down to lay flat against its scaly hide.

Syraki waited until everyone was on his back, but one person didn't follow suit. Scarlet was rushing in the direction that Akatosh pointed toward, moving swifter than Lance on a good day with his wind step. She found Dune without too much trouble, using her own senses to find his aura and come to his aid. When she saw just how badly he got beat up from the blast, she began to panic internally "I've warned you time and again, but you always do this. You crazy, stubborn fool!"

Picking Dune up over her armored shoulder, she summoned forth a winged armor, and kicked off of the ground and above the trees, gliing down toward Syraki and landing on his back "I have him, let's go!" <Very well! Hold on tight!> Syraki rose up onto his hind legs and kicked upward, the momentum, and his powerful wings pushing him up into the air, and above the tree line. Within seconds, Syraki had flown past the twilight forest, and was passing over the dark kingdom. It seemed like time was still as Syraki kept flying in one direction, further away from the castle, and out toward the boat, that coasted just outside of the black aura. Eventually, Syraki landed fairly close to the ship, using his powerful legs to keep float as he let everyone using his wing to climb aboard the ship <Elf woman, watch over that boy. His actions today have piqued my interest in the bold statements he has claimed. I wish to see how his story unfolds, and I shall soon join you all in your travels, to witness it firsthand.>

[Tetsuya]

Dune nearly lost whatever dinner he had left in his stomach from the sudden jostling he was given with Scarlet hoisting him over her shoulder and gliding back over to Syraki, pressing a hand over his mouth to keep from spewing all over her back. The flight on Syraki's back wasn't much better as well, fighting with himself to keep his guts from spilling out. "Guess I deserve this," he managed to groan.

[Lance]

Akatosh slumped against Syraki's body, looking half ready to pass out, which given his heavy armor and the fact that they were in a lake dozens of feet deep, falling off of the great dragon would be a death Sentence.

Luna looked at Akatosh, her brows knitted with concern. "What happened to you? You look like you've been fighting for weeks."

The Dragonborn took a deep breath, trying to straighten up so he didn't fall. "Thu'um, Dragon Shouts. For a dragon it is when one imbues their words with mana, giving them the power to cast powerful spells that few could hope to match. But for me, who's body is merely mortal, even if my soul is just as unending as the most powerful Dovah...the cost is higher. A dragon's body does not age, they possess a bottomless well of natural vigor, they can be slain, but they do not die. I am mortal, and while I will live for close to 3000 years if I remain healthy, my body can only be nourished by my immortal soul for so long. Shouts drain my body of strength, to say nothing of using them at full power like I did with my flames. I will recover with rest and food, but I am incredibly weak right now, child..."

Luna sighed and looked down at Arin, cursing herself silently. "Why am I the only one who is unhurt? Did I accomplish anything?" The dark elf grit her teeth angrily, her fists clenched as she looked at Arin, at Lance and then at Akatosh, to say nothing of Dune and the others. She'd stayed back and hid, picking at threats with a bow and arrow while her beloved nearly died several times over. She felt like a coward, a weakling, and it ate at her tremendously.

[Arin]

Scarlet was silent as Dune was groaning about his motion sickness, among other, more concerning physical ailments, sighing softly "No you don't. But I will be sure to scold you later for your recklessness later, once you've rested."

Syraki listened to Luna as she began to get upset about what happened to everyone on the island, and how she felt like she didnt do anything to help <That is not my place to say, but if you doubt your own strength, then you must train yourself to be a capable fighter, so that you may defeat any foe in your path.>

[Tetsuya]

Dune could only manage a single chuckle, before letting himself go limp while Scarlet held him up. "I barely heard that in my right ear. I don't know if that's going to heal," he mumbled, "You might need to shout that lecture in my left." As she carried him on to the boat, he was having trouble staying awake. He was pretty sure falling asleep with a concussion would be bad.

Winter looked around after sitting down on the wooden deck, exhaustion persistent after the spell he unleashed at the lake. After hearing Scarlet threatening Dune with a lecture about his recklessness, he said, "With how reckless Dune is, I doubt it will stick, Scarlet."

[Lance]

Luna nodded silently, looking at the battered members of their group, Akatosh was tending to Celeste, who was finally waking up after her blackout due to mana overuse, and Lance was in the arms of the Arachne, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth as his breaths came in reedy, wet sounding gasps. "We were lucky to survive that...Akatosh, I need a healing potion for Lance, are there any left?"

The Dragonborn looked at Luna and nodded, "My belt Satchel, third pouch from the right, give him both phials. Celeste is all right you three, she'll need bed rest and some nourishment, but she'll recover, good as new."

The Dark Elf grabbed the two healing potions...only to hesitate and look at Dune, who was in nasty shape as well. "I don't know how potent these are. will they be enough if they each only get one?"

The Dragonborn nodded. "It won't completely undo the damage, but they'll be stable enough to get proper treatment on the ship or in port, provided they don't get into more fights. Just pour it down their throats and let it work, I made them myself, so I'd know."

Luna nodded and handed a potion to Winter. "Here, give him this, I'll give mine to help Lance." She carefully moved closer to Lance, stopping to give the Arachne a calm look, knowing well how territorial they were with other females. "He's not my mate...mine's over there recuperating." She nodded at Arin not even sure if this spider woman could understand her. "I just need to give him this medicine, it'll help him okay?"

Luna raised the bottle and shook it, showing the Arachne what she was referring to, and after a tense moment of waiting, she popped the cork and gently poured the medicine into Lance's mouth, holding his jaw shut to make him swallow.

The airman coughed and spluttered, his armor had repaired itself, pulling the sharp metal edges from his skin, which had began to heal thanks to the potion. His bones could be heard popping and cracking as a few of his rips unbroke themselves thanks to the concoction, it wasn't perfect, but judging by the slowly returning color to his face, Lance's lung was no longer punctured at the very least.

[Arin]

Scarlet sighed and rolled her eyes, looking to Winter as she noticed Dune starting to fall asleep, which could get bad "Winter, keep a cold breeze around Dune, we need to keep him awake, until we can heal him."

As Celeste started to come to, and overheard that multiple people wee badly wounded from the trip to the island. Shakily, she rose up to her feet "Nngh...If Dune's badly hurt...I should help him...I have a healing spell that can help...It isn't powerful, but I can stabilize him..."

The arachne tensed up when the elf woman approached her, trying to act unthreatening. She explained that she wasn't this man's mate, and that hers was in fact the boy with the spiky hair over on the other side of the deck of this ship. When she explained she needed to give him medicine, to help with his injuries, she was apprehensive, but cautiously nodded. She let the woman come closer and pour the medicine down his throat, but watched her carefully, still on the defensive.

When the man coughed and sputtered, she started to get hostile toward the woman, baring her claws and fangs at the woman in defense. But when she noticed him getting quiet, and even starting to show color in his face, she began to visibly relax, and turned to the woman, nodding in acknowledgement as she realized she was speaking the truth.

[Tetsuya]

Winter took the potion from Luna when she offered to him, managing to stand under his own power at least. He then turned his attention to Celeste as he walked over to Dune and Scarlet. "No, you rest, Celeste. It's plain to see you're not in any shape to be casting spells right now. Don't go trying to overdo it just because you're worried about Dune," he said softly.

When he reached Dune, he placed a cold hand on his head to shock him awake. "Ah, that's too cold, freaking ice-hole!" Dune complained. Winter responded by uncorking the bottle of health potion, and then shoving the lid and neck into Dune's mouth. "Stop complaining and drink up, Fire Breath."

[Lance]

Luna almost began reaching for her sword when the Arachne started to get hostile, only to still when the spider-woman calmed down upon seeing Lance's recovery. The Dark-Elf relaxed herself, looking at Lance for a moment before turning her attention to Arin once more. "When you wake up, I don't know whether to kiss you for saving us or slap you upside the head for hurting yourself in the process..."

Akatosh coughed and laughed at that, his expression amused. "You remind me of my Mother...the only woman in all of creation with the spirit to "tame" a dragon as powerful as my father. I do hope she's alright, I haven't spoken to her in close to a year."

Luna looked at the Dragonborn, her expression deadpan. "If she can endure coupling with a dragon, I'm sure that anything stupid enough to try and do her harm would be quickly dealt with, even if Alduin didn't roast them to charcoal."

Akatosh smirked at that, leaning against Syraki's scaled neck and chuckling softly. "True...though knowing her. being burned to ash would be the merciful option in all honesty.~"

[Arin]

Scarlet gave Dune a stern look when he started to complain about the cool touch of the healing potion, a dark shadow looming over her eyes as she glared menacingly at him, the slight glint of a white light piercing through the shadows of her eyes as her glare intensified "...Stop your bickering! Drink the potion and get better..."

Celeste, still exhausted, looked to Dune, and reluctantly nodded when Winter told her to rest, shakily walking to her chambers to get some much needed sleep. As she walked past Luna and Akatosh, she noticed the unconscious Arin, and couldn't help but offer her assistance "...Is...There anything I can do...to help him get better? I have some energy left...for a healing spell...If you want."

The arachne studied the elf woman and the odd dragon man, listening to them as they talked about something that she did not quite understand. She simply stood there, protectively carrying the boy on her abdomen as he was resting.

[Tetsuya]

Dune shook from the intensity of Scarlet's glare as he nodded, and drank down what was in the bottle. Winter took the bottle before Dune had the chance to spit it out of his mouth. It took a moment for the effect to kick in, but Dune's vision slowly cleared up while the bleeding from his head stopped. He could feel his ribs in his back reset to mend. "Not to complain, but why do red potions always taste like every red fruit mixed into one?" he asked.

Winter just shrugged his shoulders, clearly not knowing the answer. "Maybe the original taste is just that bad. Who knows, and who really cares," he replied.

[Lance]

Akatosh scoffed at Dune's remark. "You should taste the strong healing potions..." The Dragonborn actually stifled a disgusted sound, apparently he HAD tasted them before.

Luna looked at Celeste and shook her head. "You look fit to collapse yourself...just lie down and rest, maybe these fucking sailors will notice the giant lizard floating RIGHT NEXT TO THE FUCKING SHIP YOU ASSHOLES!" Luna's sudden yelling actually made Akatosh flinch and look at the dark elf with a surprised expression.

"Well...she's certainly upset."

Luna glared at Akatosh, non-verbally  telling him to shut it.