Maxamillian Cantacuzene
Apprentice Rider | Seventeen | Male | Mentions : Iezekiel (ind) , Desmondus

Everything seemed to flash by so quickly ; the sounds of destruction and chaos flooded his ears. He covered his ears the noises were a bit too loud for his taste - he had barely gotten to speak to Iezekiel before everything went to shit. Most of his classmates had their dragons near them, and they were already flying off when Xuejiao came to get them. He cursed slightly under his breath, he was still waiting for Desmodus - and Iezekiel was waiting for his fire dragon. He was about to say something, but then a resonating boom filled his ears - the ground shook, and he was jostled off his feet. The loose gravel tearing at his shirt, leaving a few scuff marks - he hissed as it scratched up his hands . He didn't know what has caused such a reaction, and so looking up - he found the culprit. He could see what could be described as a boulder lodged into the tall walls of the building that was their home. Even the sound of crumbling could be heard as the building continued to grow unstable. What the hell ? He thought to himself, and then before he could even register - a large piece of flaming log came in his direction. And he gave a startled yelp as he moved out of the direction - and scrambled to his feet to be able to get away. He could hear the sound of the crash as it made contact. He couldn't see what happened to Iezekiel, and he didn't need to think about that right now. The smoke was heavy ; and he began coughing a bit, and ripped off a piece of tapestry he found, and wrapped it around his face. Desmodus, where are you he strained through their link. His voice was frightened, and he thought it pitiful of him to be so afraid. He shook his head, those type of thoughts wouldn't help him now. Right now, he needed to get to his dragon . He could sense his dragon saying something through their link ; yet, it was rather indiscernible as it felt like static, and gave his head a slight ache. This was not the best situation in the slightest, he was without his dragon, the mentor's were on the move and he was alone - alone again, there was no one to hel-

That's when he heard the booming voice of his dragon, and he was relieved. He sounded close, yet so far away at the same time.

He coughed slightly and made his way to the doorway where he could hear the voice of his dragon emitting from. It was hard to do, especially in the smoke - he would've liked to crawl but the glass and things scattered on the ground due to the destruction would've been horrible to try and get through without having serious injuries. He let his hands hold against the wall for stability - the smoke was getting worse by the moment. His head was spinning and he was beginning to become slower in his steps - and he could feeling himself sagging to his knees and he began violently coughing into the makeshift mask he had made . He had was struggling to inhale , and he was doing his best to get out this fiery hell. Not to mention, his eyes were stinging in protest at the smoke in his eyes. His salty tears not making it even better, causing his vision to be blurry . It was hard to see where he was going , but he was certain that this was the direction he had heard Desmodus coming from . His heart was pounding like crazy, his anxiety spiking , and he attempted to calm his nerves, and he struggled to get himself up, his steps wobbly and slow to get up , but he managed to get himself back on his feet. As he struggled to follow the walls he could feel his body begin to sway unsteadily, and he nearly about fainted , but instead of falling into the ground - he fell into into something thick and warm. It was the smoky fur of his dragon. And he just about cried tears in relief, " Desmodus ! " he croaked, his voice hoarse and rough due to the smoke. " Let's get out of here. " he murmured, and he coughed a bit afterwards . His vocal cords stung, and he thought it best if he not used his voice too much.

As he made his way to get on the back of his dragon ; he noticed that Desmodus had an injury. You're hurt, he stated through their link, concern and worry lacing his voice through the link, - not wanting to speak verbally because of the pain and irritation. Let me help you, he spoke telepathically. He then used the rag he had to wrap around the wounded area of the thigh, and looked around and found another, much larger piece and completely secured around the wound. That should stop the bleeding for now, I'll properly tend to your wound when he get somewhere safe have supplies. We need to find Xuejiao and the others, they're heading Northwest to the Uncharted Island - I was told before they took off. He struggled to get on top his dragon, but he managed to get on. You're getting all the treats and attention after this, thank you for coming for me - you didn't have to . . .

He then leaned into Desmondus, and patted his fur softly. He was tired . . . so tired but he couldn't lose his focus quite yet. He took a slight inhale saying, Let's get out of here before it gets any worse.

Ellis de Montfort || Female || 16 || Apprentice Rider || Dragon: Viscusvoréntomon || M: Viscusvoréntomon, Iris & Nalukraja

A smile flashes across the young woman’s face as she slows to a temporary halt between two columns of rising smog – shining brightly against the smoke and fire filled air before dimming down to a more mild and uncertain expression. Her eyes follow this in tandem, widening in glee before resuming their standard positions once more. The voice of her favorite dragon rolls clearly though slowly through her mind, echoing against her ears as though the two were standing in some large cathedral. It was a promise to find her, and a request for her to stay safe.

‘O-okay,’ her voice rings through the bond, riddled with uncertainty though carrying the slightest tinge of relief at the response, ‘Just be careful, alright?’

No response seemed to come from this. With a shaky sigh, the rosy eyed girl runs a hand through her smoke-littered brown hair – her gaze flickering the premises as her smile drops slowly. It was going to be okay. Viscus would find her, she knew it. She just had to. And afterwards, they would find her family and boyfriend and ensure they had the chance to escape as well… But first, she had to keep herself alive.

With some amount of determination running through her system, Ellis picks up a jogging pace and pushes forwards. She attempts to stay within the confines of the same general area while remaining on the move, making her way through billows of smoke and dust – anywhere with low visibility so she wouldn’t be spotted easily by possible ground forces. She only exited when in need of some “fresher” though-still-not-that-fresh air. The number of soaring boulders had taken a noticeable decrease, their earth-shaking performance cropping up only a few times rather than the rapid fire it was before. Still, over the course of the minutes she spent wandering the desolate lands, she counted a good few hits echoing throughout the area.

A painful screech sounds amidst the smolder and flames behind her, casting Ellis’ head towards the call. Her body freezes as it makes contact with her ears, a jolt of fear and a pang of something foreign running through her system. It was a roar, one of familiarity – not from its tone but its general composition. “Viscus,” her tone carries questioning concern. Her body turns towards the area. Has her dragon been hurt?

A distant echo of her name bounces through the fumes engulfing what was left of the courtyard, barely noticeable over the crackling of flames around her. A distant figure, one so distorted from the twisting smoke that it was unrecognizable, forms from the blackened air – somehow darker than that which surrounds her – and steadily approaches the young girl. Its shape grows larger and larger the closer it gets, looming well over the petite girl in a matter of seconds. She didn’t need to recognize the shape to know who it was.

A tsunami of joy overflows her heart at this, relief its earthquake and current. Without a second’s hesitation she bolts towards the one she knows as her companion, weaving through the flame-riddled rubble and into her awaiting antennae. Gently and swiftly, the insect-like beast picks her up whilst apologizing for grabbing her in the first place. No response comes from the girl at this remark, only a soft smile. It wasn’t like she was going to avoid this action anyway, seeing as she had practically leapt towards it.

The brown haired rider remains mostly still as the brown and green dragon maneuvers her towards her back. Only her eyes move about as she does so, watching as her form grows closer to the female’s back. It does not take her long to notice the injury along her shoulder, vicious cracks splintering across the area’s shell of a shield. Worry cuts through the cycling joy on her veins as she goes to meet her eerie black eyes.

“Are you alright,” the question rattles softly through the air as she is set down on the large beast’s back, mindful of the wound she now possessed. Gingerly, the rider wraps her arms securely around the dragon and positions herself to lay on her stomach – keeping some distance from the trauma of her shoulder.

Before anything else could be done, a rush of flames bellows towards the two – its ravenous hunger apparent in its tenacity. Her reddened eyes widen at the sight, her body quick to lean into the dragon’s while still making sure not to touch the newly formed cracks. Simultaneously, the leaf-litter colored dragon leaps away from the outburst to try and avoid its reach. However, not before its fiery claws graze Ellis’ skin.

The young rider grits her teeth at the fierce burning of her skin, trying her best not to cry out in pain. Tears well up in the corners of her eyes but not enough for them to properly fall. Another roar sounds from the insectoid she now rode, vibrating her form with its volume and proximity. A second cry courses through the sky afterwards, causing the girl to lift her head and look. Two of the mentors, Iris and Nalukraja, flew towards their location – the imposing psyche dragon dodging a spray of pellets along the way. He and his rider land not too long after, the dragon himself stumbling towards the two thanks to the rougher landing. As he goes to question Viscus, the Montfort girl turns her attention towards the human with their presence – her mind now shifting towards her second goal in this grand escape.

“Do you know who managed to flee? My mother and sister are here, as well as my boyfriend. Please tell me you’ve seen them, I need to know if they’re alright!”

Xuejiao Tsasanşuurga
Mentor Dragon | Ice Dragon | Female | Mentions : Laika , Nalukraja & Iris, Renzana & Draiochtach , Adamos & Azarimous , Marina & Amhuluk , Maximillian & Desmondous,

As the female led the group away, she could feel the heaviness of the air sag as they flew further from the epicenter of chaos. The scent of smoke was fading away, being replaced by the crisp air of late night, bordering early morning. She looked to see that most of the young ones were behind her in an orderly fashion - she didn't see her mate or his rider. Which caused her a slight hint of worry, she sighed to herself. He could take care of himself, he wasn't some weakling - her mate was strong and capable. Yet, Kikimora was too, a darker part of her mind supplied. And she blinked in surprise at her malignant thought, she couldn't imagine what Draíochtach was feeling right now. Her mate was dead, and she wouldn't never see them again. Xuejiao knew that if anything happened to her beloved, that there would be an eternal blizzard wherever the bastard who hurt him roamed. And anyone who assisted, would be punished accordingly - she would wreak havoc on anyone who hurt him or attempted to hurt him. The female knew that her mate was a weak point, one that would make her do things she knew she was capable of, but rather not to. Because she wouldn't lie, she would take great pleasure in drowning the soul that killed her mate. No, death wasn't even good enough for them ; she would kill their family and terrorize their village and then let them live. Yes, let them live with the knowledge of how what they've done affected those closet to them. But to lose such an important person, that was gut-wrenching and could very well cloud a person's judgement or drive them insane. She gave a trill of her own at the sound of the leader, and she slows her pace to fly beside the female. It was good to see the female was still with them.

" I gathered who I could , I believe we still are missing just a few m- " the female began to speak, but her frills flared at the sound of wings approaching them. And she could see it to be what appeared to be the last of the missing students who were following Iris and her mate. She released a breath of relief . It seems everyone was gathering together . And yet at the same time she felt guilty ,her mate was here but her comrade had lost. She wish to offer words of comfort, but that would be a bit premature, and so she'd rather be a force to aide her leader when needed. She had anger towards the invaders, but she had to move past that - they needed to focus on the task at hand - guiding these students to the Uncharted Island, and that would definitely would not be smooth sailing as they would constantly have to watch their back. She could feel the bubbling anger of her rider, and heard her low hiss of anger as she vowed vengeance. A low rumble of agreement came from her. I , too , do wish to avenge my fallen comrades, she spoke through their link, her own anger bubbling through, and she gave a soft sigh, but anger would cloud our minds and judgment. Besides we need to focus on the youth, they are the future of our fallen Kingdom - if we ever wish to reclaim it. They must learn all we know, and train hard. This hardship will mold them into fine warriors ; I wish it wasn't under such dire circumstances, but it seems that time has decided to be a harsh mistress. Her words were solem, yet held hope within them. This isn't the last those bastards will see of us. They took the cowards way out, ambushing us in the night ; separating dragons from riders - there was no honor in that fight, then again honor doesn't always win things. But mark my words, once we gather ourselves - we eventually will take our home back, no matter how long it takes, our home will be won again. She spoke confidently to her rider through their link.

She then refocused her attention on the venom dragon, " It seems that all have been gathered ; what's the next steps Madam ? " she spoke, addressing the Venom Dragoness, after all - they needed to have a plan . She couldn't remember how far the island was, but it was definitely a good flight away from home, and she had to figure most of these dragons and riders were already low on energy, and were possibly dazed, confused and unsure of what the next move was, they were just following orders. Eventually they would have to rest and assess the needs of the group, but right now they needed to get as far away from the Kingdom as they could. They couldn't afford to be caught slipping - and she looked around, and she noticed that it was a rather cloudy night. " Should we head for cloud cover ? It would do us good, especially if the enemy has ground units watching the skies. " she said pointing her muzzle to the cloud cover that she spoke , offering a suggestion.

⋆༺𓆩☣𓆪༻⋆⋆༺𓆩☣𓆪༻⋆

Draíochtach

| Venom Dragon | Female | Squad Leader’s Dragon | Mentions: Renzana

Indirectly: Mentors, Rookies

⋆༺𓆩☣𓆪༻⋆⋆༺𓆩☣𓆪༻⋆

Draíochtach’s mind and body were on autopilot, not bothering to even reply to the mentor dragoness. She let Renzana respond and move her forward, leading the group to the Outpost. Everything felt like it was happening in slow motion as they flew. The world around her seemed distant and surreal, each flap of her wings a mechanical motion. Draíochtach barely responded when Renzana pointed to the small island where all new riders completed their first ride. She let her rider guide her, her wings flapping smoothly, slicing through the air without her usual vigor or intent.

Draíochtach landed hard, dust puffing up beside her. She barely registered Renzana climbing off her back. Her eyes were unfocused, staring off into the distance, her normally brightly colored yellow-green scales now dull and lifeless. Each moment replayed in her mind, the scene of Kikimora’s fall etched into her memory with painful clarity. Her once vibrant eyes were now glazed and hollow, filled with the haunting echoes of her loss.

She felt Renzana pull away, instructing those around them with a sense of control. What was the point? Draíochtach felt a rage beyond belief simmering beneath her sorrow. It took every ounce of her strength to stop herself from leaving and flying back to her mate as she forced herself to follow Renzana and the rest of the mentors. The only thing that kept her grounded was the promise of revenge. Draíochtach was a wrathful dragoness, one who held even the smallest of grudges. The thought of making those responsible pay for their actions gave her a grim sense of purpose.

Her eyes flickered with a sudden, intense light as the name Nex Drishti was spoken, watching her rider flinch at saying the words. The Seer dragon had always been a source of irritation for her, a presence she neither trusted nor respected. As the name reverberated in her mind, her lips curled into a silent snarl of disgust, her fangs exposed in a grimace.

The mere thought of Nex Drishti and the role she might play in finding the Outpost only made the fires of her anger further, sharpening her focus and determination. Draíochtach didn’t care how crucial the help might be; the idea of stooping to ask this dragoness for aid was anathema to her. Her pride and the burning need for retribution overshadowed any practical considerations.

“Nex Drishti,” Draíochtach’s voice was feral and cold, the name coming out in a low, venomous hiss. The sound was laced with a bitter disdain that seemed to chill the air around her. Her gaze hardened, and the tension in her body was coiled, ready to fight. Draíochtach felt a wave of disappointment wash over her as she stared at Renzana, her rider’s practicality starkly contrasting with Draíochtach’s seething rage. The thought of seeking help from Nex Drishti felt like a betrayal.

Thankfully, Draíochtach had always been known for her fiery temper. Her rage was legendary among her peers, but it had never diminished her leadership abilities. If anything, her intense passion and uncompromising nature had forged a reputation for her as a respected leader. Her anger, while fierce and often overwhelming, was directed towards a single goal: ensuring the survival and success of her comrades.

She knew Renzana didn’t like the idea of involving the Seer dragoness either. However, the urgency of their situation seemed to have overridden Renzana’s reservations. Well, not completely overriding them—Draíochtach could see Renzana’s tense body and the disapproval etched on her face. Despite Draíochtach’s wall, she could still feel Renzana’s inner conflict, a turbulent mix of frustration and reluctance that mirrored her own.

“Approaching her means she’ll most likely want something in return,” Draíochtach seethed, her voice strained with controlled anger. She paused, her eyes flashing with a cold, silent wrath as she continued, “We have nothing to give. She won’t offer help out of the goodness of her heart.” The thought of being indebted to Nex Drishti, or worse, being manipulated by her, stoked the flames of her wrath even further. She didn’t want any of the rookies near this dragoness, they were too new to know how dangerous she was.

Draíochtach took a deep breath, trying to rein in the surge of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her. “We need to find another way,” she growled, her voice low and resolute. “There must be another solution that doesn’t involve bartering with her.”