Back: Flight of the Silver Eagle

Part 1




Sighing quietly, the woman clutched her hands behind her back against the wall, occasionally leaning forward, then falling back against the cool stucco. Dreading the meeting scheduled to start in a few minutes, Eralie finally settled down enough to sit in one of the chairs. The table set in the middle of the one windowed room was slightly round, made of deep brown oak. She twiddled her thumbs. The other members of her team would be up shortly.

Cyrus strode through the doorway with a purpose, then hesitated. "We are not all congregated," She stated, only seeing Eralie. Her antlered mask showed only her mouth, which moved only to speak, and so it was difficult to gauge her reaction to this.

"Cyrus, welcome." Eralie actually stood, making a sweeping formal bow. The healer had a deep respect for the magi, as a user and as a person. They sacrificed greatly for the Defenders. Her hair slipped past a shoulder and relaxed in the curve of her arm as she stood again, "It is a pleasure to see you again, minding the circumstances. Please... sit."

The trinkets hanging from her antlers sang like bells as Cyrus bowed her head to Eralie, "Good blood, Eralie," She wished her in greeting. She strode across the room to a chair, her hidden feet making no sound on the cool stone floor. She sank her emaciated body into it and relaxed her long, dark fingers on the table's edge. "It is good to be in the city again."

"Was your trip taxing?" She replied in question politely, "So much has changed since your last visit." Eralie hid the twinge of jealousy at traveling well. It was at that movement that the door opened again, rather loudly and in walked the not so tall, man of average height, but the confidence in his stride was unmistakable. "Afternoon ladies." Shilo said cheerfully.

Walking in quietly after Shilo came Thyamus, with Celeste on his broad shoulder. "Good day, everyone." The master adept sat at the head of the table, while Shilo settled himself next to Cyrus. "We are missing one, but I presume them to be on their way."

"Much has changed...But much is the same," Cyrus replied to Eralie, her dark eyes following Thyamus to his seat.

Entering the room and pulling back his hood, Cael walked in and glanced around at the decor. It had been a while since he had been back. Not wanting to appear rude, he directed his attention to the other members and approached casually. "My apologies for the late arrival." he said with a gentleman-like nod.

Thyamus nodded in return, which was mirrored by both Eralie and Shilo. Studying him curiously, Eralie's gaze didn't leave him while she looked over his features and his build. The healer assumed he was some sort of scout, which would complement Cyrus' ability to track as well. The only seat that had been available was on the other side of the master adept, across from her, making it hard to alternate her gaze away from him. Thyamus cleared his throat.

"Introductions can be made later, as some of you know each other, and some of you don't. We all know, however, that a great eagle has fallen from grace." He lowered his head slightly as Celeste let out a soft cheep. "Cyrus, you have it's location?"

"Sir," She assented, smoothing the map in the center of the table with her fingertips. She brought her forefinger to her filed canine and made a small incision, letting the blood flow freely. "Last moon he made fall here," She said, a drop of blood falling to the lower half of the map, well south of the citadel. The blood rebounded and formed the small figure of the Fallen. "Fresh, but not weak. Shadows from forests, dead creatures, devouring flame of oak and pine." The blood seeped into the paper, marking the forest red. "Keep to the shadows--cover of the forest--turning to flame once they're through, turn life into power. Follow the trees up to Zelbyr in two days, Baimin a fortnight, Homestead three moons, the Citadel by summer solstice." Another drop fell and laid out the path she predicted the Fallen would take. "Plains, fields, light and air--" She gestured-- "Weakest there. Dangerous to cross, but necessary here," She turned her palm skyward and laid the back of her two fingers on the gaps between the trees, "and here."

"Lire gate offers secrecy, the cover of space. Zelbyr, faster, better placed; Fallen will know, will mass and prepare before crossing there if we hie from Zelbyr gate."

Cael had sat down properly but leaned forward when the map turned red and outlined the forest. He found magic both alluding and terrifying at the same time. Analyzing the map to himself, Cael waited for someone else to speak. Perhaps a plan was already formed?

"We attack it from behind!" Shilo said enthusiastically, "We travel through Lire! The gryphons can easily catch up with the thing before it reaches Baimin." The man snorted, as if this was the only and obvious choice.

"You willing to risk the people of that town if we don't each it in time?" Eralie argued softly, "We need them fresh to face up against it, we need to balance each choice in itself, and decide what is best. Cyrus, you have just returned from a journey, is your gryphon rested enough?" She peered at her friend with wide bronze eyes, "And you, grey, what is the status of your gryphon?" The healer uttered these words with thinly disguised jealousy.

"Cael. Uhm...miss." he chimed, not really wanting his status to replace his name. "She is drinking in the stables at the moment but isn't weary at all." Again, he only spoke when he had to or was addressed. 

"Not ideal," Cyrus replied, wiping her finger on the ruby embedded in her chest, "But prepared if necessary." Setting her hand back on the edge of the table, the small wound on her finger was completely healed over.

Eralie turned back to her cousin, "See what I mean?" She turned back to Thyamus, as if wondering why he wanted Shilo to go. Then, the grandmaster adept smiled at her, "You are always keeping the health of the gryphons in mind, Eralie. If you all ride light, with Shilo's Raisu running pillion with you my dear, I think they will be just fine."

Her back stiffened at his mention of her lack of gryphon.

Cyrus regarded Eralie through narrow wooden slits. Even for a healer as adept as she, the loss of a gryphon to a rider like her was something she would never truly recover from. The movement, the words that would help her old ally in this moment escaped her. She returned her gaze to the map, the trinkets chiming softly. "From Lire gate, time is short. Fallen gathers strength, gathers souls as we speak. From Lire to Landfall must be doubled. Strength conserved. Strike quickly and destroy while young." She turned her gaze to Thyamus. "If we leave within the hour, is possible."

Cael couldn't help but stare up and down at Cyrus. This person was so decked out with body modifications and odd clothing that it was difficult to tear his eyes away to look at the grandmaster. He began to feel a tenseness in his gut and hoped it wouldn't grumble in the mist of all this serious talk. He hadn't eaten breakfast at all and it was catching up with him. Cael hoped he would be able to grab something before they all headed back out.

Thyamus nodded to Cyrus, "Yes, I believe that is the best course of action. You have one hour." He stood, Celeste opening her wings slightly to remain balanced, everyone standing with him. "I cannot stress enough the importance of this mission, as it holds the lives of everyone in its success. I wish you the best of luck, and pray that you keep each other safe." His gaze went to Eralie, who was flushing slightly and had kept her head tilted downwards. "You are dismissed."

Shilo, who had puffed out his chest a little bit slapped a fist to his heart and bowed mightily to the master adept, then swept out of the room.

Cyrus rose and inclined her head. "Good blood, Thyamus." With that, she turned and padded silently out of the room to the stables.

Cael stood from his seat and pushed in the chair. That was the fastest meeting he'd ever been in...and there weren't any refreshments. Finally his stomach let out a loud growl. Cael's eyes widened, but he kept his hands swiftly behind his back. He hoped no one heard that.

Looking over at him, Eralie snorted, having just been about to leave when she heard the rumble. "Cael was it?" She bowed lightly, "I am Eralie, healer and shield guardian." Her amber eyes looked him over again, "Will you join me in the commons? I have need of some brief breakfast."

Cael took her hand and bowed his head. "Pleased to meet you, madam." He gave her knuckles a gentle kiss. Cael didn't like doing this. He knew it was proper etiquette, but it always made him blush. He released her and stood straight, "I would love to join you."

She took her hand back, rolling her eyes slightly and pushed her head to the door, "Shall we?" They exited, walking down the white marbled halls and headed towards the dining wing, a large room with long tables and benches. Eralie hoped they would still have some of the cherry pastries that she loved, but they were only served during breakfast.

Cael was quiet and reserved as he looked around the dining hall. Since they were a bit pressed for time, he quickly made his way over to a buffet line. Without reading what the food was, he piled it onto his plate. He even made sure to grab a few extra bagels for the road.

She was a bit more conserved. Unlike the others, she did not need to prep her gryphon or pack supplies. Eralie already had her medical bag ready and with Shilo, and focused on taking a few pastries and some eggs, adding a final glass of orange juice. They took a table by the door so they could leave once they were finished. "What is your gryphon's name?" She asked him in between mouthfuls.

"Eara." Cael said, lifting his glass and taking a drink. "She's a sweetheart. What about you?" he asked, feeling like he had to. Cael brought the glass up and took a gulp.

Eralie stopped a fork full of eggs halfway to her mouth, her face expressionless. Then after a few moments, "Zer... my gryphon was killed last year."

Cael nearly choked. "Oh...sorry." Well this was awkward. Quiet for a moment, Cael had to say something, "Would you be riding passenger then?"

"On Shilo's Raisu, yes. He is the largest gryphon they have breed yet, and my weight will be nothing for him." She looked away and finished eating in silence, the food tasting dry in her mouth. "Ready?"

Not quite. "Yes madam." Cael replied, getting up from his seat. He took one last sip of his drink before turning towards the door. Adjusting the tie that held his hood, Cael waited for her.

She let him lead the way to the stables, walking into the familiar atmosphere of gryphon musk and the smell of hay. Beyond the wooden stables was the immense courtyard, where they were allowed to roam. A giant gryphon, a mix of brown, rust red and white looked over with blue eyes as they approached, his beak opening as he rushed to them, pushing his head against Eralie's chest for a scratch. A thin smile on her lips, she obliged him.

Scarza slept stretched out in the midday sun nearby. Her long, thin body made a mottled white line across the field. Her head was nestled in a leather hood. Under the shade of the stables, Cyrus gazed at the map in silent meditation.

Cael broke off from the healer he had just met to go to his own gryphon, whom was still drinking. Eara was mainly a black but had patterned rows of white feathers around her neck and face. She seemed to be as thirsty as Cael was hungry. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out one of the many bagels that he had taken from the dining hall. Cael let out a low whistle and Eara perked up to look at her master. Seeing the little treat, she pranced over quickly. Placing a hand on her forehead, Cael held out the treat and she promptly ate it.

Raisu couldn't help but watch her little hindquarters move as she went to Cael, and nibbled on Eralie's ear gently before puffing out his chest. Much like his owner, the large stud began walking over to her nice and slow, his step showing off his muscles. The healer suppressed a giggle at his motions.

Cyrus crossed the field, blue cloth streaming behind her. She leaned her back against Scarza's gaunt ribcage and watched Raisu flirt with Eara with a small amount of amusement.

Eara didn't notice the male heading her way until she swallowed the bagel. When he was in her proximity, Eara's ears perked and she leaned her head forward, sniffing. Cael lifted an odd brow at Raisu, then looked towards the healer he had met only recently.

Shrugging, "Animals will be animals." Eralie said, before walking over to Cyrus. Raisu continued to strut, puffing his chest out even more with his ears high in the air. He really was quite impressive for gryphon standards. His owner, Shilo came also strutting down the stairs from a neighboring building, drinking some coffee. "Like defender, like gryphon," Muttered Eralie to her friend.

"Uh huh..." Cael said, unamused. He went to the storage unit on his gryphon's hips. Pulling out his longbow, he slung it around his shoulder with the wire across his chest. Next, Cael took his quiver and slung it over his other shoulder. Eara followed her nose, curious to meet this other gryphon. Playfully, she moved over to Raisu, sniffing all the while she circled him. Her tail wagged happily, wanting to play. She was quite young after all. Barely an adult gryphon.

"Hello ladies," Shilo murmured, a light bow following his words. He, like both of them watched to gryphons.

Raisu snorted and lifted his head higher, not falling into the temptation of sniffing her, instead brought up one foreleg to his ribs, pushing his legs out in the proud position and letting her circle him. His tail was arched over his back, the small tuft at the end twitching at his shoulders.

Eara stopped sniffing and jumped back excitedly. She bowed her front down and lifted her rear in the air. Wagging her tail gleefully, Eara encouraged Raisu to play with her, perhaps run around the courtyard?

Cyrus nodded solemnly to Shilo. "Quite a specimen," She said; whether she regarded Shilo or his gryphon in this comment, and what she meant by it was lost in the subtle monotone of her voice.

Cael allowed his mount to play around with the other gryphon. She never saw others her type very often. Cael instead leaned his back against a stable post, waiting until summoned to leave. He grabbed the rim of his hood and lifted it over his head, putting his face in a shadow. Reaching towards his belt, Cael took out a silver flask and unscrewed the cap. Taking a quick gulp, he put it away as quickly as he had taken it out.

Cyrus mounted Scarza bareback and took off her leather hood. "Energy to court, energy to ride. "

Nodding, Eralie agreed.

Cael winced a bit as the alcohol burned down his throat. It was a little pick me up, a start at least. He tightened the strap on his quiver whilst leaning against the stable door.

Raisu could only stand her wiggling hindquarters for so long and made a slow walk around her, then proceeded to lift himself over her. Mounting her, the male gryphon gripped one of her ears in a nibble.

"CHRIST!" Cael gasped, slipping his bow off of his shoulder. The last thing he needed was for his ride to get knocked up. Running over before the two could go at it. In one full motion, Cael whacked his bow into the ass of the male.

He let out a light yelp and retreated, running across the grass a little before tilting his head, annoyed at Cael. Shilo laughed heartily, "I totally agree, Raisu, but we have other matters at hand." He whistled the big guy over, slipping on the saddle and the pinion that Eralie would ride.

Cael was even more annoyed. How embarrassing.... He couldn't help but scowl at Shilo from the shadow of his hood. If this wasn't bad enough, the women were watching the whole time. Turning his back to everyone, he rested the bow back on his shoulder. Snapping his fingers sharply, Eara bent her front down, allowing Cael to get on. Mounted, he kept his head aimed down, shielding his embarrassment.

The healer gripped the saddle edge and lifted herself onto Raisu, who had obediently laid down, his body up to their shoulders still. her cousin climbed up after her, them both looking tiny compared to the large male.

Thyamus was over to the right of the field, next to a tall arch of stones, all inscribed with words of power. He was talking to a mage, and had not noticed the commotion. When he saw them all mounted, the master adept waved them over.

Cyrus was riding well ahead of the others, Scarza's long body loping easily. Her fingers were buried between the old gryphon's wings. "Lord," She greeted Thyamus. "We are prepared."

He nodded to her, Celeste winging around to land on his shoulder.

Cael composed himself and directed his gryphon to head over to Thymus. Eara started in a casual walk but picked up speed to a slow trot. He stayed silent, waiting for everyone else to gather around.

Tossing his head proudly, Raisu came up along the others, a light bounce in his step. While they were standing there, he boldly leaned over and nibbled on Eara's ear again, his large blue eye on Cael while he did so. Shilo ignored this, while Eralie gave Cael an apologetic look. "To Lire," Spoke Thyamus gravely, "May the silver eagles lend you their speed and grace. Keep each other safe. Goodluck." The mage next to him touched the gate, its innards sparking with power as a wall of white erupted between the stones.

Eara's ear flickered away from Raisu's nibbles, being caught off guard from them. She shook her head out, ruffling her fur and feathers. Cael lifted an annoyed brow and ignored Shilo's gryphon's tactics. He looked to Thyamus and bowed his head respectfully. He would do his best.

Scarza watched the two younger gryphons with amusement. With a sharp nail, Cyrus reopened a pattern of scars on her chest below the ornamented ruby. "Strong blood, swift hunt, fat spoils," She said. The blood seeped up her neck into her wooden mask, staining it with warpaint patterns. She then pushed her hands into the white fur between the gryphon's wings and urged her on through the gate with a leap.

Raisu and Eara jumped after her instantly, disappearing into the whiteness. They arrived in an area covered in woods, however they appeared in a clearing so they would have not collided with any plants. Eralie looked around, on edge, "Cyrus? Direction?" They knew the Lire would be close, but they needed to get on the Fallen's tracks immediately and could not spare a few moments of wildly looking at a map.

Cyrus quickly carved a rune into her palm with a sharp fingernail and held it up to the sharp morning air. "Southeast," She said, and urged Scarza into a dead run.

As he usually did, Cael kept his thoughts to himself concerning Cyrus. He didn't know if she was fascinating or down right freakish. Running along with the others, Eara was able to keep a good pace despite her size.

They leapt over streams and some creeks, making their way across short spurts of plains and grasses. Shilo raised his head at something to their right, had Raisu signal to Scarza, who was out and ahead. "I saw something! I think it is a house!" Eralie chewed her lip when she saw it too, "Have we passed the Fallen's drop point yet?"

Cyrus slowed and shook her head. "The land is alive here." She turned to face Shilo. "What sort?"

Cael and Eara were picking up the rear. Overhearing the others, he turned his head towards the suggested direction. This 'house'....was it of any significance?

"I think it is a farmhouse..." Eralie replied to Cyrus, "Could the Fallen have stopped here?" Are they still alive? The healer shook her head slowly. They were near where it had arrived, maybe they should check this out in case there were people in need.

Cael, having a keen eye, looked on to the farm house through the wilderness. He sat up on his mount and squinted, trying to see if anything was suspicious.

"Yes," Cyrus replied. "Quietly," she ordered, turning Scarza to approach the farmhouse on silent paws.

Eara followed suit. Drawing his bow, Cael loaded an arrow and aimed it downward. He still didn't see any movement...not sure if that was a good thing or not.

Raisu was last, his eyes narrowed. As they got closer, there was a splatter of blood against the wall, beneath the crumbled form of a peasant. The body was cold, and the blood dark. This had to be where the Fallen had taken its first soul. "Keep an eye out for its slaves." Eralie muttered quietly. She was unsure who here had seen one before, besides her and Cyrus.

Cael guided his mount around the backside of the cottage. He raised himself on his stirrups and raised his arrow, ready in case there was any danger there.

Cyrus had cast some sort of spell that silenced the charms of her antlers. She dismounted and moved quickly to the blood spatter, taking a fingertipful and pressing it into her tongue before spitting. "Bad blood," she mouthed soundlessly, activating a rune hidden in the scars on her wrists. The black stain twisted and steamed as she pulled the blood from the wall and from the body. It wriggled like a wild animal around her arm until she threw it against the long grass, where it quieted and settled.

Ceal's eyes pulsated wide at what he saw around the corner of the house. He relaxed his bow and frowned. Curling his lower lip in, he whistled for the others to see. By a tire swing in the back yard were two little children, girls...about 5 and 8 years old. Their summer dresses were smeared with violent blood and their corpses lay slumped in the dirt.

Having slid off Raisu, Eralie hurried to Cael's side, withholding a sharp gasp of anger. "These are indeed the first victims of the Fallen." The healer muttered with great sorrow, kneeling slightly to close the eyes of the elder child. "Their enslaved ghosts are probably close, keep an eye out for them." Eralie stood to look around further, then paused. "Do you know what they look like?"

Cael relaxed his hands on his bow and arrow. "You do?" he asked, trying not to look at the poor little corpses on the lawn. Instead, he glanced around, scouting for anything else out of the ordinary.

Eralie muttered something rude, "Cyrus and I were a part of the team that took on the last Fallen six years ago. I was very young, Cyrus even younger. By a gryphon's eggshells, she was barely 16. But we both had needed talent." Shrugging, the healer shook her head then turned back to the matter at hand. "A Fallen takes their ghosts and enslaves them. They are an army of gray green ghosts, capable of sucking out your will and life if they touch you. However they cannot move that quickly, but are more dangerous in windy places, as they can be swept along and accidentally brush you if you are not careful. You kill them with an arrow to the eye, or where their eyes would be or a sword slash across the chest. That enough is sufficient to cause their fragile existence to shatter, releasing them."

Cael listened closely. "Sounds easy enough." he said, half sarcastic. "So I have to shoot in the eye of two little girls?" He lifted his brows, knowing that he won't enjoy doing that...then again, it was the only way to release their spirits so he had to do it. Holding his bow and arrow on one hand, he reached back with his other hand and pulled out another arrow.

"Not their bodies," Eralie replied, anger in her frame, "Their ghosts. They haven't appeared yet, but they are out here, somewhere."

"I know." Cael said in a calm voice. "It probably won't be as disturbing too." He turned away from the corpses and hoped off of Eara to walk near an open window.

"That which does not bleed cannot be trusted," Cyrus hissed. She moved over the children, reached up, took a small vial from her antlers, and drew a drop from each from the pools around them. She placed the burdened vial inside one of the charms.

Eralie watched her closely, old memories passing through her vision before she shook them free. "We should check inside, in case one of the ghosts couldn't pull away from life. Might be able to get some valuable information." Her cousin, coming up behind her on Raisu nodded, adjusting his armor before dismounting. "Come on Cael, let's check it out."

Cael moved away from the window having not seen anything...yet. He nodded and moved quickly around the house to the front door. He kept his bow loaded and stood in front of the door, waiting for someone else to open it.

Shilo opened the door cautiously, seeing that it had not been locked and strode inside while keeping his eyes pealed. Within the small entry way was the body of the wife, her apron bloody as the Fallen had torn out her belly, showing an unborn fetus barely within. Shilo growled low, angry, but stepped over her to continue their search.

Cael winced away from the women and unborn child when he saw them. What a terrible loss...but he had to keep his mind clear and focused. Cael kept his two loaded arrows pointed down to the floor in front of him as he and Shilo looked around.

There was a sound in a room that made Shilo freeze, straining to listen further. He entered very slowly, stepping with hidden grace silently through till he reached the kitchen. Another sound, a form scuttling across the floor and into a cupboard. Shilo made a calming sound to Cael. Eralie had been right, as the Fallen's first victims were always the least likely to accept death and release their soul to it. Gently opening the cupboard, Shilo stiffened at the sight of the spirit, one of the girls from outside. She was transparent, a light greenish blue with black orbs for eyes. She had been crying and was curled tightly into a ball. "She can't hurt us," He told Cael.

Cael wasn't enjoying all of this magic, ghost mumbo-jumbo. He was an assassin, dammit- not a witch doctor. He pulled back his bow, the string making a high, stretching sound against his fingers. Aiming at her eyes, he waited for Shilo's signal. To be honest, Cael wasn't all positive of what he had to do other then just hit her in the eye.

Stopping him, Shilo muttered, "Get Eralie."

Eralie rushed in, stopping at the sight of the mourning child. Shilo and Cael stood behind her as she knelt before the spirit carefully, if they weren't paying attention, they wouldn't notice the slight breeze and the tingle of the flesh as she drew a shield around them. "Hey..." Reaching out, she wiped the tear from her cheek, smiling softly and projecting calm. The little girl sniffled and rubbed her nose against her sleeve, the eyes unreadable. "Am I really dead?" The healer hesitated, then nodded. "Do you remember when this happened?" She asked softly, touching her hair and smoothing it down, ignoring the blood hardened streaks.

The girl nodded, sniffling again. "At dawn, we were playing... then blackness took us." She began to cry again. "Everything is in shadows, why can I not see!" Sobbing, the spirit of the girl pushed herself into the waiting healers arms. The shield dropped almost right after that, as she posed absolutely no threat.

Cyrus approached the tiny spirit, allowing her charms to chime and jingle. She crouched and summoned her blood from its vial, forming designs with it in the air above the spirit's head. She murmured low incantations; as she chanted, the caked blood in the spirit's hair began to disintegrate as if being burned off. She was taking off the Fallen's influence over the spirit.

Cael lowered his weapon and stepped back to make room for Cyrus' antlers. He watched, not sure what to think about this. As the blood disintegrated her being, he made an unforgettable face. Did I already mention that Cael doesn't like magic?

Now that the girl had been purified, the green sheen slowly faded, replaced with silver light. Her eyes lost the darkness, and instead were filled with innocence. "Hi..." She breathed, as if seeing them for the first time. "I can hear my mom... calling for me..." Her form wavered, and Eralie smiled, unshed tears shimmering in her eyes. "Go to her, child."

Cyrus stood and watched the spirit fade until it had vanished. She put one hand on Eralie's shoulder, her head bowed to her. After a moment she turned. "The other child," She said, looking around the room. If she didn't get to her quickly, the little girl would not be as lucky.

"Cyrus, are you able to tell where they are?" Cael asked, having that be the longest thing he has said on the whole trip.

Cyrus summoned the girl's blood from the vial and spun it in her fingers. "The well," she said, and bolted outside.

Running after them, Raisu startled outside when the four of them rushed past.

Cael made haste right behind Cyrus. Damn, she sure was a good addition to this team.

The young female gryphon, Eara jumped back from Raisu's chain reaction. Her ears perked up and she followed as well.

The blood around Cyrus's fingers began to curdle and blacken. She rushed to the edge of the well and looked inside. The spirit of the baby, the youngest and most defenseless against the Fallen's taint, had devoured the mother and was sucking in the life of the young girl. "NO!" she shouted, stretching her bloody hand down and chanting quickly. The blood shot down and tied around the girl's arm like ropes, trying to pull her away from the blackened soul.

Cael made his decision. Pulling the bow back, he shot the two arrows. They made a sharp 'tsuu~' before instantly getting stuck in each the infants blackened eyes. A liquid much like oil shot and then bubbled out. It hissed on the baby's exterior like acid. It then gurgled and let out a drowning scream.

Eralie cringed and hid her face against Shilo, murmuring a prayer to the silver eagles to carry the baby's soul to the skies. When the wailing stopped she looked below again, saddened by the loss of the life force within. "Is the other girl safe?" She couldn't have been older then four.

Eara was curious to what the humans were doing and walked in closer. When the painful screams from the fetus hit her ears, she jolted back behind the young male gryphon and the elder.

Scarza's claws dug deep into the earth as she watched. Her tail moved around to protect Eara.

Cyrus pulled the child up, chanting furiously. The ghost hovered above her, twisting and contorting against the blood that held it, screaming. She was infected more deeply, and the Fallen was putting up a fight.

Eralie's eyes were locked onto the ghost, as some power reflected off the polluted light in bursts, protecting them. None of them had seen the healer touch her hand to Cyrus's shoulder, to add her strength to the purge.

The ghost steamed as the taint disintegrated from its form. "Go in peace," Cyrus ordered. In a flash of white light it was cleansed, and quickly faded, its strength drained. Had Eralie not been touching her shoulder she would not have noticed her trembling as she lowered her hand.

Cael stepped back from the scene, nearer to the gryphons. Behind the others' eyes, he pulled out a small leather flask and took a deep swig.

Sagging slightly against her cousin, Eralie let out a sigh, "Its been killing all morning... stronger then we originally thought." And they had to do this, if they could not dispose of them correctly every time. Shilo swallowed and guided Eralie to Raisu.

Upon noticing Eralie and Shilo heading over, Cael stuffed his flask back into his clocked area of belt. He swallowed hard and stifled a cough.

Cyrus returned to Scarza. "In the towns it will be much worse." She mounted the white gryphon. "We must hurry."

Cael went to the startled Eara and put her beak. "Shhshh..." he cooed, getting up in his saddle.

Having drained herself, Shilo actually had to lift her into the saddle, with the large gryphon helping him, then mounted up in front of her. "Make sure you hold on, Eralie." In response she barely lifted her arms to his waist. They continued at a cautious trot, still making good time, but the sun still rose behind them. A few hours passed as they neared a small town on the outskirts of Zelbyr.

Cael had to admit that his rump was getting a bit tired of traveling. Nevertheless, he moved on with the group. Every hour or so, he would take a swig from his flask.

As they approached, they could hear screams rising from the town. In the sky there was a trail of black smoke. Cyrus drew a breath between her teeth, "Too late!" She hissed. Scarza bolted between the trees into the town.

Raisu barreled in after her, his beak open in a cry of alarm. The large gryphon halted so fast that Shilo was launched forward, Eralie barely managing to cling to his saddle. In mid air Shilo flipped himself over, but he could not stop his line of arch, as he was headed straight into a servant of the Fallen that was in the middle of killing an elder woman. His cousin gasped, then drew her hands up and began to form archaic symbols. He hit the spirit hard in the chest, colliding and pushing it back. He wouldn't have hit it, just gone through it if Eralie's shields hadn't been in place around him.

When Eara jolted forward with the others, Cael almost threw up the booze in his gut. He irked and steered his gryphon where to go. As Eara ran alongside of the building, Cael stood on her back. In a ninja-like fashion, he jumped up and ran on the roof. With his bow already out and loaded, he wasted no time and shot creature after creature. This was more like it. As always, each shot was nearly perfect in accuracy. Cael kept his sprint and lept onto a higher roof, giving him a better view of the situation. It wasn't good... but he kept shooting. The streets were drenched in fresh blood.

Some of the villagers were still alive, and Shilo pushed past them, nearly throwing behind him in his rush to protect the living. Eralie weaved her spells, protecting him, while Cael watched his back from above. Behind Raisu sat the survivors, weeping, and waiting for them to be safe.

Cyrus stood on Scarza's back, balancing like a circus acrobat as she summoned as much of the blood as she could. While the others attacked the spirits, she took on the wounded---the sickest souls she treated first, drawing more power from the spilled blood of the dead.

Cael kept himself in a run along the rooftops. Who knew he could move like that? He prioritized to kill the fallen nearest to villagers first. Cael would have to jump down sooner or later...he will run out of arrows soon.

While Cael snipped, and Shilo bludgeoned, Eralie moved her eyes to Cyrus, hoping she would have enough time to unleash her deadly blood magi attacks. They were making their way to the center of the town, where more of the spirits awaited them.

Saving the infected was proving to be an uphill battle and one Cyrus was losing. By the time she saved one, two had passed the threshold. Having had enough of that, she siphoned the blood from their infected bodies and tantalized them with cuts and gashes, standing on Scarza's back while running full gallop towards the center of town. The blood coated her shoulder horns and flowed behind her like a massive cape as she lashed out with crimson blades, killing Fallen left and right. Still they amassed behind her, and more awaited before her, but that suited her just fine; she had a bomb to drop.

Cael's mount, Eara was doing her share as well. She bounded towards the scared townspeople, putting herself between them and the fallen. She was small, but made up for it with determination.

Slowly their numbers began to be whittled down, a harsh screech met their ears. At the center of the town, crouched on the broken fountain hung a shadow. Light glinted off its long claws, capable of shredding a large man in a few swipes, glinting off that mask that all Fallen had in common. It was protected from arrows. It let out another screech, a hollow shell of what it had used to be, now filled with blackness and anger.

Cyrus had amassed quite a bit of blood at this point and was crouched on Scarza's back across from the massive Fallen. She could take it down--but the spell required time. She took a vial from her antlers and tapped black powder into one scarred palm. "Keep it off me!" She yelled to her companions, and Scarza set off in a gallop around the square. Cyrus anchored a leg around her wings and leaned off the side, drawing two gutters of blood in a wide circle--the beginning of a diagram.

Cael shot a few arrows at the massive beast from a rooftop. When he noticed that the arrows did nothing against it, he went on to protect Cyrus. If his shots were useless against this beast, magic would probably be the best bet. The only other weapon he had were some poisons and a dagger.


Grimacing, Shilo stayed back, wary to get close while holding onto Eralie to keep her safe. Meanwhile the shield healer stood still, whispering under her breath as her hands drew around her, clasping onto the air as if it were fabric. She folded itself over, and kept doing so until the air shimmered around the Fallen. It screeched its defiance, turning to leave, but slamming into a sudden wall of air.

Cyrus finished the diagram and summoned all the blood that had been shed on the battlefield. She cut neat lines along the veins in her wrists and began the spell. Hot, black oil bubbled from underneath the huge Fallen, sucking its feet into the earth. The crimson diagram glowed and steamed as the blood magus raised her hand and stabbed her fingers forward like a blade. Red spears thrust into the Fallen's body, worming through its torso and closing around its eyes. Cyrus opened her hand and clutched at something in the air. The Fallen thrashed and bellowed as she pulled it apart from the inside. In one final pull, the beast shattered into mist, flowing into the magus's palm, along with the blood that created the diagram. What remained of the Fallen was a hard, black lump, glowing like a star. She closed her fist around it.

Cael had to admit that he was quite impressed with Cyrus' handiwork. Backing a few steps away from her, he looked around the area. He hoped that this would be the last time his arrows were ineffective against their targets. Readying himself, Cael loaded his bow while keeping a sharp eye on his and Cyrus' perimeter.

"It's not dead," Cyrus said, putting the core in a narrow-necked jar. It trailed a fine mist of black ash independent of the wind. "It returns to its master."

"We must be on the move," Eralie muttered, "-it will regain its form as it runs to create its army again. It was defeated, yes. But we have not a moment to lose."

Cael wasn't at all pleased to hear this. The only thing successful about their fighting just now was that the villagers were save for the time being. He lifted his hand to his lips and whistled loudly. Eara's paws could be heard on the other side of a house until quickly coming into view around the corner. Cael mounted her and lifted his hood up, tieing is under his neck. He guided Eara over to a few nearby fallen that he had shot. Reaching down, he yanked out his arrows and stuffed them back into his quiver. After gathering all he could, Cael returned to the group, ready to leave.