The grass was knee high as he stomped trough it. He hacked at it, like a man hacking through the thick vines of a jungle with a machete. A purple tail wiggling about just above the grass is the only sign of his companion; Fierce.

Although they hadn't found what they were looking for, the boy was not down-trodden. Quite the contrary. He had seen many wonderful things along this quest. He giggles a bit as he thought about the blue dragon and the black dragon he had seen in the same day. And the lady in the woods seemed nice, though often easily distracted.

He continued on, walking through the valley. Sooner or later, he'd find that which he'd been searching for. Sooner or later, he'd also find her.

Pashen stretched long and hard, it felt so good after her confinement. People take movement for granted, she never would again. Sitting on the rocky edge outside their bedroom, Pashen's indigo eyes flashed with a strange golden light as she focused her eyes on the water swirling around her legs.

Speaking her husband's name quietly, his image soon formed on the surface of the rippling pool. He was within Rainbow Woods, she could see Tradarien's massive trunk behind him as he tightened his sword belt. Indigo eyes darkened to a deep violet as she watched his fluid movements, she hoped this child within her would be the daughter he so desired.

A rueful smile curved her lips when she struggled to her feet, only for him would she go through the awkwardness of pregnancy completely without aid of magic. Looking back down at her swollen abdomen she shook her head, violet eyes swam with green stars of light. She did find the pregnant form naturally beautiful ...... on someone else.

She dallied long enough it was time to join the world of the living again. "I will join you soon, beloved husband." She murmured, her quiet voice didn't reach the other side of the small pool and though the woods were a hundred or more miles away, Thayne answered her, "Aye, I will be here."

Another strange golden flash of her eyes accompanied her disappearance from Spirit's Sanctuary. Appearing before Litharien, not far from Thayne's Tradarien she rapped on the bark. A moment later a door shimmered into view and Pashen disappeared inside. The meeting with Darestique was not a pleasant experience but informative, she exited the arien via the door and walked the short distance to Tradarien.

She paused to watch Thayne moving gracefully with his swords, man and weapons one in a lethal dance. The look of concentration etched into his haggard features reminded Pashen that the scars would take time to heal, crimson stained her eyes but before the glow could attract his attention she disappeared to reappear on the first branch of Tradarien. Forcing the experience and her son's words from her mind by focusing on the rolled up documents given to her by Dare, Pashen dived into the numerous reports.

As the shadows lengthened, she finished catching up on the news of Haven, the progress of the Dark Alliance's army, news of her children and various other tidbits of information while Thayne continued to practice. Pashen knew he was doing more than preparing, he was distracting his mind, picturing a select couple meeting the doom of his swords.

Lavender clashed with black on a backdrop of glowing crimson in her stormy eyes. Dragging her gaze from the sweat glistening on his broad shoulders, Pashen looked to the last pieces of parchment. It was the information she'd requested from the Mages Guild, information she hoped would shed some light on one that was trying to direct young Luche's life. Eyes finally settled into a steely gray as she scanned the introductory letter quickly.

Pashen paled beneath the golden sun-kissed tan she sported. Not believing what she just read she reread it. The contents didn't change, this would-be protector could prove to be her biggest enemy here. He must not know what she is, what blood coursed through her veins.. or he did and it was yet another game of cat and mouse. Somehow she didn't think so, she'd only encountered him that one time. It was the boy..
What was it about Luche that had not just one but two ancient evils fighting for possession of him?

Thinking of her own strange childhood she drew parallels while carefully rolling up the pieces of parchment. A golden flash of her gray eyes sent the scrolls away to rest on her desk within the stone walls of her mountain retreat. A grunt from Thayne pulled her to the present, gray eyes darkened with concern. He'd stumbled, he was near exhaustion but still he continued on. She'd tell him later, he didn't need anything else on his mind at the moment. Things will get back to normal after the baby comes, she told herself. She ignored the mocking laughter of her son that filled her head and her own tiny voice that spoke of the chaos that was her life, did she really think it was going to change because of one birth?

It had been several days since the pair had seen anyone. They continued to make their way east. Late one afternoon, as the two were eating berries and nuts for lunch, the boy thought of something.

"Fierce, I think we forgot something. The lady in the dream had mentioned a ring I would need to find to help slay the dragon. She said it was several miles east of the town. We should almost be there."

Fierce stared at the boy, flicking his tongue in reply. Luche knew his friend would stand by him no matter what, and he was glad for it. It would be a lonely trip without his best friend Fierce.

Feeling his spirits lifted, the boy and his companion set out. Things were starting to look up. First they'd get the ring, then things would fall into place.

The bat dipped and arced, zigzagging a crazy path through the treetops. She had not seen the Lady of the Woods or her consort for weeks now. It had been difficult to avoid not just one Master but two, somehow she'd managed to do it. During the day she slept deep within the bowels of the white castle, she felt safer there than within the sandy stronghold that was her other choice.
It wasn't her fault that Pashen and Thayne had simply vanished, still she took measures to avoid Master Baal because of this. Even on the streets of Ravnglade where information could be had for a price there had been no current news, not even rumors of where they might be.
Therefore Zephyr was rather surprised to see the couple within the woods, Pashen lounging on a thick branch of the accursed tree-thing that had trapped her previously within it. Thayne stood at the trunk, Zephyr dived towards the ground about to shift form into that of the girl they both should recognize when a dark haired man arrived.
Circling around the base of the tree, she shot upwards over Thayne's head, past Pashen high up into the branches of the vibrantly colored tree.
Clinging upside down she remained close enough to hear their converstation, wings wrapped tightly around herself. For hours she stayed doing as she had been instructed. Cameril was the name of the dark-haired man, claiming to be from another planet.
Later, two staff-bearing men arrived, one with a long white beard and floppy hat, the other cloaked completely up, a tingle of fear had the spikey hairs on her back sticking upwards. Mages, and one seemed to want to fight the other. Before a show of power could begin the old one took his leave.
Leilana, who turned out to be her look-a-like sister, Mya, appeared about the time that Baal's brother, Ragutaral arrived. Zephyr listened to the conversations, watched the changing expressions chase across the faces of those present and felt the tension that built from time to time.
In the end, Zephyr did not give herself away, had no idea where Pashen and Thayne had been for the past few weeks and the only information she gained was that the Lady of the Woods was going to have a baby soon. But anyone with eyes in their head could see that.
After everyone left Zephyr let go of the branch, tiny wings snapped open to guide her effortlessly towards the ground. Now use to changing forms she shifted into her human one at the precise moment to make a smooth landing. Shoving her hands deep into the pockets of her trousers, Zephyr thought about the one piece of news he might find of interest. Using the ring given to her by him, she disappeared from Haven with still enough time to hunt before the first golden rays of the dawn she'd never witness again. One day she'd find Darkanian that stole her life from her. She had only one word for him. Why?