Ash and smoke flooded the air as a ferocious, thundering explosion hit the ground. Dirt. Rocks. Pebbles. Everything in the area was hurled through the air, including pieces of that building that just got blown up- that was the Academy. A large dragon plummeted to the ground, bleeding. She couldn't tell who it was through the distant smoke.

Scales from dragons glimmered in the nighttime sky, enlightened by the distant fire. Roaring, screeching, panicking dragons. Something was really wrong here. Iris shrank away from the fire, slowly creeping into the forest behind her. She could see many more explosions going off now, some sending dragons flying through the air from the force of it.

A furious sounding Raj echoed in her mind, the sound of flapping wings behind her. She turned to him, but was quickly snagged by him before she could. "Thanks." Was all she could say. This attack came all just so fast. She couldn't handle the sudden shock. Nalukraja gently rose her up towards the saddle, so she began to climb up onto his back.

Settling into the saddle, her hands gripped onto it tightly. An enraged, yet maybe overwhelmed Raj hissed, his face twisted in anger. Then, he softened at the sight of something, so Iris peeked to look at what he saw. "Oh.. Headmaster Androcles and Jarogniew.." Jarogniew looked maimed, covered in scratches and bruises. "They'll be fine." She quickly inserted in at the sound of Raj's tone changing to a quieter, dread-filled tone.

Peering down where the two headmasters just took off, she saw the frames of the squad leaders, Renzana and Draiochlach. "Yeah. Probably." She replied to Raj, staring at the two, slightly examining them for wounds from a distance. "Should we ask them?"

Marina West

Apprentice Rider | Female | Dragon: Amhuluk | Mentions: Adamos, Amhuluk, Anais (ind), Renzana (ind), Draiochtach (ind)

Marina's leg bounced with nerves as she stared into the flickering flames of the small fire. Everyone was too nervous to go back to bed after Anais had showed up, so Marina sat restlessly with Adamos. She had never talked with the boy much, but he seemed like a good friend to have. She could tell by his absent facial expression that he was thinking. It was the opposite with her. She didn't want to think. She would only think about the what ifs, and she didn't have time for that. So she started talking. She was probably babbling, and she couldn't even remember what she was saying.

"So what do we do-" She started. Her sentence was cut off as a giant explosion sent rock and debris flying everywhere.

Marina didn't even have time to process it before she was knocked out of her seat and to the ground. She covered her head with her arms as debris from the explosion rained down.

Marina lifted her head as chaos descended on the academy. She stood as soon as Adamos's weight was off of her, brushing herself off as she stared, horrified, into the night sky. She didn't object as Adamos motioned for her to follow.

"Amhuluk, where are you?" She called down the bond. The giant sea lizard needed to get his ass down here now. He would be one of the most useful weapons for putting out the fires.

Her attention was once again turned to the sky as a giant dragon knocked over at least half of the barracks before crashing to the ground. Moments later an ear shattering roar ripped through the sky, just as the Head Mast and his dragon rose into the sky and disappeared.

Adamos opened his mouth to speak as another roar echoed through the sky. She saw Renzana climbing onto the back of her venom dragon, Draiochtach. She locked eyes with Adamos as he spoke, pointing in the direction of the squad leaders. Questions churned in her mind as she tried to make a rational decision.

"Let's wait for our dragons, they'll know what to do." Hopefully. She didn't speak the last word as she searched the skies for a blue dragon.

"Any day now, Amhuluk!" She shouted down the bond. He had to be somewhere around here. She fought her rising fear as she quickly tied her hair back, looking around frantically for any of her other squad members. She had only been here for a few weeks, but she had already grown attached to some of them.

A crash in the distance, followed by a long, tragic war cry sounded by a quite familiar roar. Desmodus' wings spread open, his talons opening as well from shock. He quickly plummeted to the ground, catching himself before he got a concussion from hitting the forest floor. Confusion swirled through his mind, as he stood, his wings spread out with only his two small feet to support his weight. What happened now? A gruff hissing came from Desmodus, his tone laced with irritation.

The smell of fire made Desmodus change from irritated to alert. His ears upturned and his glowing scarlet eyes opened and his pupils dilated as he examined the surrounding area. Over the trees, he could see the faint outline of fire. Lots of fire. More thunderous explosions and screeching dragons began to sound in the distance, immediately making Desmodus' sensitive eardrums burn in pain.

His wings outstretched, his legs thrusting him into the nighttime sky. His fur was great for camouflage; hopefully none of the attackers would be able to see or find him. A telepathy echoed in his head, his rider's voice alerting him of something- but he couldn't tell since it sounded like static electricity. "Don't worry. I'm coming to get you. I couldn't quite catch what you said, so tell me when I arrive."

Weaving through a few stone pillars, he gracefully, yet aggressively flew straight towards the direction where the weak link between him and Max was leading him. The sound of explosions nearing was making his mind scream to just leave Max and find Esen- but he couldn't do that. Esen can handle herself for now. Max probably can't.

Light flashed, a loud crackling bomb smashing into a pillar next to him, a trail of flame headed from it. Fire engulfed the area the moment it hit the pillar, the force of it flinging Desmodus. Pain surged through his thigh when a large rock crashed into him, causing the rock to break into smaller pieces. He spiraled to the ground, crashing headfirst into the dirt. He tumbled across the ground, dirt flying from his fur and from the ground.

When he managed to get a grip on something and stop himself, Desmodus hauled himself back to his feet, ignoring the burning pain in his thigh. He took flight immediately, as he couldn't spare a second. If he hadn't gotten hit by the explosion, he would've been there already, since he could see the building not too far away. "Max!" He called, his voice rang through the surrounding area, laced with a commanding tone.

Desmodus landed in front of the doorway, his claws digging into the ground, leaving scratch marks through the dirt mixed with a trickle of blood from his thigh. He couldn't exactly fit inside there entirely, so he just reached his arm in there, his wing folded so he could actually shove his arm in there. "Maaaxx-" He hissed, tapping his uninjured hind paw on the dirt impatiently.

Azarimous

Apprentice Dragon | Male | Rider: Adamos | Mentions: Adamos, Marina, Amhuluk

Azarimous paced back and forth in the rookerie, trying to make himself go back to sleep. He hadn't been able to rest since the academy students had awoken, becoming restless as well. He had been tempted to contact Adamos and check in on him, but he restrained. It was odd being attached to another thing. He hadn't depended on anything this much since he was a dragonet, but he was slowly becoming accustomed to it. He also wasn't prepared for the mood change that would come with it. He had nearly ripped another dragon's leg off for nearly stepping on Adamos a few weeks back. Luckily the dragon was from a different squad.

Azar's head whipped in the direction of the courtyard as an explosion sounded, the flare of fire casting everything in an orange glow he knew all to well. He was just about to reach out for Adamos before his frantic statement echoed down the bond. A fear unlike anything he had ever known consumed he chest, but he pushed it down. Adamos had to be on his back before he started worrying about other things.

"On my way." He said hurriedly before launching into the skies. The cool night air rushed over his dark scales, not doing anything to cool is boiling blood.

He swept over the courtyard, trying to find a place to land through the fray of dragons and explosions.

He spotted Adamos on the ground with the rider of the sea serpent. He would make sure to reprimand Adamos for that later. He didn't need the sea beast ruining his rider. He didn't hesitate to land when he saw the chance, making eye contact with Adamos.

"Mount, now." He ordered, a low growl rumbling up his throat at anyone that got near him or his rider. Azar dipped his shoulder for Adamos to climb on. His chest glowed amber along with the tips of his horns, warning everyone that he would hesitate to end anyone that got in his way.

"Is your friend okay?" Azar asked mentally. He hated asking, but he knew Amhuluk would skin him alive if something happened to his rider when Azar was present. Or he would try too. He braced himself to take off, but waiting until Adamos answered.

Laika Herriman || Mentor || M: Xue, Renzana, Draiochtach, Iris, Nalukraja, Amhuluk and Marina and Azarimous and Adamos (Ind)

It had happened so suddenly. A suspenseful but quiet evening had erupted into an onslaught of fire and brimstone raining down from the heavens; stone shattered on stone and smoke was beginning to pour out of windows and rise up from the ground. Laika now saw that the missing dragoness and her injured rider has been their warning that something was coming, and now it was too late. Worry was written over her features as she dodged boulders and patches of flames, seeking the radiant ice dragoness that was her bond. Xue wasn't too far; she knew that much. As she was about to call out for her, Laika felt the soothing murmur of the dragon's presence in her mind. She couldn't sense any pain or terror, though if Xuejiao was at all uncomfortable, she could hide it incredibly well -- even from Laika.

It wasn't long before she caught sight of ombré purple scales glistening in the firelight, and she raised a hand to Xue to signal her position despite having already been located. It was a courtesy thing. Laika was plucked up and situated herself ahead of Xue's wings, but not before noticing one icy wing's new shape. With a somewhat dismayed tone, she groaned, "Xue..."

She'd have to drag the female to the infirmary when all this was over, but now was not the time. Xue could obviously still fly, and it wasn't a devastating wound. Of course the calm, stoic dragoness had kept it to herself. Laika let it rest as Xuejiao changed her trajectory and headed for the squad leaders. Draiochtech's venomous frame loomed against the angry flames in the academy, and the air around them was grave. Laika said nothing as they approached the other pair and instead gave a slight nod after her own dragon's words. Laika could see Nalukraja and Iris land out of the corner of her eye, and she sent a quick, tense smile to them before focusing on Renzana's orders. Find the rookies.

Immediately, her eyes scanned the nearby area. She found two pairs rather quickly, and she couldn't hide her relief that they were together. Who knew how freshly bonded dragons would react? Some were temperamental for months after bonding; they could be dealing with friendly fire tonight just as much as enemy fire. However, it seemed that the water and fire dragons were being extra protective of their respective riders -- perhaps because of each other, actually. Oh, what were their names...?

"Xue, there's two pairs headed our way. We can grab them, find one or two more pairs, and escape out along the lake. The water will keep away the flames, at least," she suggested. Laika didn't dare say the quiet part out loud: her dragon would not fare well against this blaze for long, especially with the moisture already being zapped from the air. Their attackers wouldn't stand a chance as soon as Xue reached a good water source -- but their orders were to run. The safety of the new dragons and riders came first, and Laika would haul them out herself if she had to. Now was not the time to play hero.

Esen || New Dragon || Air || M: Laban, Desmodus (Ind), Random NPC

Panic was not an emotion the creature was used to. Despite the growing light of the flames, Esen's pupils were dilated to take up nearly half of her purple-blue irises; normally, she could keep a level head, but this bond stuff was so new, and now she had a little human to protect. That, and Desmodus was out there somewhere doing who knew what. Hopefully surviving. The female wouldn't be able to live with herself if something happened to either of them due to her own negligence -- speaking of which, she needed to start doing something. She snapped out of her shell-shocked reverie and began twisting through the air, bending the upset air currents to propel herself forward more speedily.

"Laban! I'm coming. Don't stay too close to the buildings," she whirred, praying the mental link would work. She couldn't think of a reason why it wouldn't, but she had also never expected the academy to be attacked so brazenly. Who knew what nasty cards were about to be pulled on them all? She winced with every collapsing wall and pillar. Her bond had not snapped, so she knew her little human was alive, but for how long?

Her worries distracted her, and she released a shriek as a large stone fell into her neck and chest, sending her crashing unceremoniously to the ground. Esen twisted and rolled to her feet, stumbling away from the rock and huffing at the spatters of silvery-purple blood that followed her. Her body was throbbing now, but the wounds were all superficial, like the ones hatchlings garnered from their first flight attempts. She would be fine, just embarrassed. Shaking herself out, Esen pulled back up into the air and continued her search for the young man. Where could he-? There!

Esen dove past another section of crumbling architecture and splayed out her front talons, releasing a warbling call to signal her approach to the human. She picked him up, only to realize that it was not, in fact, Laban. The boy was a little older, she thought, or maybe he just looked older. He was smaller, now that she got a good look at him, but terrified nonetheless. While she scanned the area for her actual rider, she asked, "Who is your dragon? Do you know where they are?"

A violently trembling hand was raised to point in the direction of the academy, and a battered earth dragon slithered up to them. The newcomer pulled the boy from Esen and wailed, "We need to hide! Follow me!"

Esen's eyes widened as she watched the dragon and her rider move back towards the buildings. Another cry erupted from her as the earth dragon moved to burrow beneath the stone at the same time the building closest to them caved. The sound was cut short as the structure buried the pair with a sickening crunch. Esen was going to be sick. Her stomach was doing somersaults, her heart stopped, and her vision clouded. Staggering away from the scene, she blindly forged forward, weakly calling through the bond, "Laban... Laban... Laban..."

The somewhat traumatized female nearly ran right into him, and with a relieved whine pulled the real Laban close. Trying to stifle her own shaking, she cleared her throat and rasped, "We need to get away from the buildings. Climb on; we'll try and find a mentor."

Esen hated conflict, and yet here she was in the middle of one. People were dying, and that infuriated her. But could she really risk bringing her brand new rider into a dicy fight? She couldn't even see who was attacking yet. The rage and fear that were building up got pressed down with a growl. First thing's first, she needed to get to the sky, away from falling rocks and dead bodies.