Ryuu no Hikou, 12/?

[Goldilocks]

It has been a long, long time since I last posted a chapter, and I know it. *sheepish grin* I don't really have a good excuse, either; this chapter has been finished for a while--I just never went in and did my revisions. Hopefully, I won't have such a delay next time. I don't want to leave a terribly long delay between this chapter and the next one because...well, you'll see. ^^

Gracious thanks to everyone who has read and replied thus far! I know I've been absolutely dreadful about responding to comments, but I do read all of them, and I really appreciate everyone who has taken time to leave a comment after reading. ^_^

Ryuu no Hikou
a GW fanfic by Sara

Chapter 12

Es?rilshan was once a part of Sanq but, ever since the civil uprising many centuries ago, had been its own sovereign nation?a fact which was only grudgingly accepted by Sanq. For generations the two nations had been at assumed war; both sides assuming the other was planning. Es?rilshan always had the greater threat, and as such, the line of kings had cultivated into itself a strong vein of military prowess and skill, and was known for its warlike tendencies. This delivered a powerful message: Es?rilshan was perhaps the youngest nation, but by far not the weakest.

Despite this reputation, the nation did not carry its belligerent attitude past the defense of its borders. Es?rilshan was a beautiful, prosperous nation; a land of gently rolling plains hunching into foothills clustered at the feet of mountains tinged blue in the distance. Its people were happy and content, and very proud of their land and their king. Treize?s grandfather, King Adon had established a sophisticated highway system, which Treize took great pride in maintaining. From his perch atop Frys? back, he could see one of the neatly-groomed roadways, buffeted on each side by a patchwork of fields in green and gold.

His attention was diverted to his honor guard, who followed the road on horseback; sunlight glinting off of their helms and livery. He could faintly hear the sounds of their horses snorting, the dull thudding of hooves against the well-packed earth and the jingle of tack. Treize looked forward, shading his eyes with one hand. Just on the horizon, he could faintly see the white walls of Es City, Es?rilshan?s capital. The king was returning home.

* *

By the time the King and his honor guard reached the gates of the city, the entire population had turned out to welcome him back. Citizens, workers, merchants and peasants thronged the streets, cheering and throwing flowers. Frys walked at a stately pace toward the castle, his neck arched and his tail held high so as not to club any bystanders with his tail-spikes. The honor guard took position surrounding Frys, making sure the great dragon had enough room to move freely through the streets.

Treize?s heart swelled with pride and joy at the sight of his people and his city. Es?rilshan had prospered under his father?s rule, and had continued to flourish since Treize had ascended to the throne. His people were happy, there was little poverty, and those who were destitute were cared-for. Crime was practically unheard-of. Their military force was second to none, thanks in part to the diligent counsel of the king?s dragon. The king?s true joy, however, lay before him, as the sapphire dragon passed beneath the great archway and raised portcullis which led into the castle?s courtyard.

The group gathered to receive the King was much smaller here; in fact, it was a very intimate gathering of only Treize?s family and advisors. The advisors clustered in an anxious knot, a cloud of scribes and pages hovering at the ready. They waited with barely-concealed impatience as he dismounted but, despite their anxiety, they stepped back respectfully as the King?s queen stepped forward.

Lady Une carried herself with a quiet, regal grace. She was dressed in a gown of watered silk in a shade of dusky yellow which accentuated the paleness of her skin and made her seem to glow. Her glossy brown hair was pulled back in a tidy knot, secured with ribbons that matched the gown. She wore a circlet upon her brow which matched the King?s, when he chose to wear it. She smiled up at Treize as he approached. Treize took her hand and kissed it gently, before pulling her into his embrace.

?I have missed you, love,? he murmured in her ear.

They separated at the sound of a youthful squeal and the pounding of small feet. Treize?s face split with a wide, happy grin, and he knelt just in time to catch the small child who threw herself enthusiastically into his arms.

Mariemaia was the first princess of Es?rilshan, and Treize?s greatest pride and joy. Her flame-red hair, much brighter than that of either parent, harkened back to distant ancestors in the royal family lineage, but her large, blue eyes had been directly inherited from her father and they shone with the same intelligence. Those same eyes now sparkled with childlike enthusiasm as she babbled happily at Treize. Lady Une stepped to join her husband as he scooped their daughter into his arms. Standing, he finally turned to face his advisors.

?I have returned, for a time,? he said. ?I have much to report to all of you about the goings-on in Sanq. I regret that my return shall be brief. There is much being set into motion, and I fear that it is inevitable that Es?rilshan will be pulled into this, whether we ally ourselves with Sanq, or not.?

Treize set Mariemaia down, turning her over to the care of her nanny, who had been hovering at attention near the family since the young girl had entered the courtyard. When he turned again to face his advisors, his expression was grim.

?We do not have much time,? he murmured as soon as the princess was out of earshot. ?The enemy is moving quickly, much more quickly than I had anticipated. Further, the Sanq of today is not the military force of the past. They are going to be caught woefully unprepared, I fear.

?I have sensed it, as has Frys. We have analyzed their attack patterns, and both of us fear that the enemy will be making a push for a very aggressive assault, very soon. We must be prepared to amass a military force, and to attack when called upon by Sanq.?

?Must we ally ourselves with Sanq?? asked one advisor. ?It could be a dangerous political move, opening ourselves up to attack from Sanq?s enemy. We may be vulnerable to later attacks from Sanq, as well.?

Treize sighed. ?Sanq as it is today poses no threat to us,? he replied. ?I fear that this unknown enemy will not stop, once Sanq has been conquered. We must protect ourselves and our interests. Also, we stand to gain much by allying ourselves with Sanq, by way of permanently dispelling the animosity between our nations.

?However, now is not the time for discussions of such things. We must prepare to fight, and we must do so quickly. Time is running short. If we are caught off-guard, the results could be devastating.?

* * *

Ri Shin's capital city was situated in the middle of a vast, ancient forest. The walled city encompassed some of the forest, with the densest growth of trees having been designated as the site of the ancestors' shrine. The city and home of the duke had been circled by a high stone wall, both as a defensive measure against marauders and a way to keep wild animals out of the city. A border guard was kept on constant patrol, day and night.

Segren tapped the butt of his spear against the ground, as a signal to his companion that all was well. His companion, Enmer, returned the gesture sleepily. There was little need for vigilance. Sanq had enjoyed an extended time of peace, and there was little to fear by way of intruders or anything else. Even when monsters had begun mysteriously appearing across the nation, Ri Shin had not been overly troubled; the only creature that had come close enough to pose a threat had been easily dispatched by Ri Shin's own military force. They had not needed to summon the dragon-riders; the duke himself had chosen not to send a missive to warn Calon Gaer that there had been a monster at all.

Still, the gates were guarded around the clock, so there was no worry of the city being caught off-guard by an attack. /Particularly with the Duke so concerned about the health of his daughter...the poor girl. The physicians still have not been able to revive her.../

So accustomed was he to the regular drone of night-watch, that at first, Segren did not notice anything amiss. Slowly, however, his attention was dragged back to uneasy alertness, and he stood to his full height, holding his spear in a defensive pose.

The forest had gone dead silent.

The constant drone of insects, the calls of night-birds, the occasional noises of a forest alive at night...all were gone. Nothing moved and the silence descended, thick and stifling, upon the two guards at the gate.

Segren twisted his spear, causing the ceremonial ornaments near the spearhead to clack against the shaft in the signal that meant, "alert, danger," but there was no need to rouse his companion. Enmer was already at attention, his posture telegraphing his own unease. The silence thickened, and the hairs on the back of Segren's neck rose, along with the suffocating feeling that he was being watched by...something.

It was almost a relief when the attack came, happening so fast that even had Segren been given more warning, there was little he could have done to prevent it. Their assailant waited until Segren had turned his back to Enmer to survey the forest flanking his left, when Enmer uttered a gurgling scream. Segren whirled, spear at the ready, and only the years of ingrained battle training kept him from dropping his weapon in fright and bolting.

It was not the size of the beast, or the sight of the massive jaws coated in the blood of his companion, or the size of its claws. It was not the sight of Enmer, lying in such a way that left no doubt in Segren's mind that he was dead. What frightened Segren beyond words was the fact that the creature had made no sound during its attack.

The monster raised its head, peering at Segren through tiny eyes. The man swallowed his fear, knowing that he would not survive this attack, but he was determined to go down fighting. /Grant me safe passage to the halls of my ancestors as a warrior felled honorably in battle,/ he prayed silently, readying his spear as the beast moved to attack.

Segren felt the impact of his spear as it hit, felt the spear?s shaft snap as it bounced off the monster's thick hide. Pain ripped the scream from his throat before blessed darkness rushed up to engulf him.

* * *

After confiding in Noin, Relena had decided that she would seek out the elusive dragon-rider, and have him hear her out. She pushed aside the feeling of haughtiness that threatened to overwhelm her common sense; he would grant her an audience. She would be able to speak with him, and then....

And then what? For a moment, she almost lost her resolve. She could force him to spend time in her company, perhaps, but she could not force him to love her. Had not she lamented the very same situation to Noin? She could not, in all fairness, force upon another that which she dreaded so greatly for herself.

/But if I just talk to him.../ she mused inwardly. Yes, if she could talk to him, that would be different. She could not yet place into words her reasoning for wanting so badly to speak with him; she could only acknowledge that the reasons existed. If she could get him alone...if she could only have a time in which to talk to him privately...perhaps that would be the deciding factor.

As it turned out, Heero sought her before she could formulate her own plans to seek him.

Relena did not get much time alone, but relished what time she had. She had once been told that her late mother favored the palace rose gardens; Relena tended to spend a great deal of time there, lost in thought among the roses. The gardens gave her a sense of peace; even in the dead of winter, when the bushes were swaddled in thick blankets of straw and wool to protect them from the cold, she would walk there. She liked winter in the gardens most of all; practically every other inhabitant of the palace avoided the outdoors entirely during the winter, because of the cold. This meant that Relena could wander through the gardens carelessly, and not have to worry about stumbling upon the hidden bower of a trysting couple.

But it was not winter now. Summer was just beginning to wane; the shorter days were still hot, but the nights held a slight chill, crisp with the barest hint of the autumn to come. In the gardens, the roses were giving their last hurrah before going dormant for the winter. Relena had just stooped down to examine one particular rose, its crimson petals fading to a deep, reddish-violet at its center; when she looked up, her eyes locked with another set of eyes in a shade of blue so intense that Relena was certain the goddess of flora could never duplicate it.

She was startled, but not scared and, for a moment, allowed herself to lose herself in the depths of his eyes, not caring if she were ever found. She only came back to herself when he blinked, breaking eye contact. She blushed, quickly returning her gaze to the roses, completely forgetting every decision she had made with regard to speaking with the dragon-rider.

"Greetings, Your Highness," he said, giving her a formal bow from the waist. She smiled and returned the gesture, a demure curtsey meant to convey a sense of innocent interest in the gestures of a suitor. If he noted the gesture, however, he made no mention of it. He offered his arm to her silently and she stepped around the rosebush, slipping her hand in the crook of his elbow.

For a time, they walked in silence. When he finally spoke his voice was quiet, as though he only wished for her to hear what he had to say. "You...seek me as a suitor," he said. It was not a question but a statement, his voice almost emotionless, but not quite.

"Do you wish it otherwise?" Relena could not hide the note of shocked hurt in her voice.

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "You have many suitors. They all offer you more than I could, politically. Much more than I could," he repeated in a murmur, almost too quiet for her to hear. "You would do well to consider one of them."

Relena stared straight ahead, her form rigid as she grew stubborn in her determination. "I am well aware of my options, Heero Yuy of Ka'legeth. I am also capable of making my own choices. Were I interested in a 'political alliance', then I would choose a suitor as such. However, such a liaison does not interest me."

Heero did not have an answer for this, and continued staring straight ahead, as though deep in thought. His eyes closed. With more courage than she thought she possessed, Relena drew a breath and continued.

"In fact, when I do marry, for I know that I must...when I do, I want it to be for love."

This caused Heero to stop in his tracks. He turned to face her, placing his hands on her shoulders without realizing his actions. "Love?" he echoed, staring at her as though confused.

She cocked her head quizzically. "Is that such a difficult thing to believe? Or understand, for that matter?" She inclined her head, looking up at him. "I know what I feel, in my heart. I know that even when I must doubt all other things, that I must trust my heart. Is that so wrong?"

Heero looked down at her, and she locked eyes with him once more. He seemed to lean toward her with the barest of gestures...suddenly he looked up, and his expression hardened. He dropped his hands from her shoulders and took a step backward, his glare steely and cold. Confused, she took a step toward Heero, and was rewarded with a slightly softer gaze in her direction.

"We shall continue our...discussion...later, Princess," he said, his voice curt. "I must take my leave. I apologize for my haste." With that he turned on his heel and strode from the garden without a backward glance.

Relena was confused, and more than a little hurt. Perhaps she had been too forward, too outgoing? Perhaps she had overstepped, or worse, misread the young man? She blinked, surprised at the tears that lingered at the corners of her eyes. How could this be? Had she really let her heart go so far as to have more than simple feelings for this man, when she had no guarantee he held feelings for her in return? Yet he had said they would continue their conversation....

A small, scuffling noise behind Relena startled her out of her reverie, and she turned to locate the sound of the noise...only to nearly run headlong into a person who, had he not been related to her, would have been seriously pushing the standards of proper decorum by standing so close.

She gasped in shock, a hand flying up to her mouth. "Milliardo!" Her eyes widened in sudden realization, and she looked back in the direction that Heero had gone, then back to her brother. So it was he who had chased the dragon-rider off so badly! But...why? What did Heero have to fear from Milliardo? They were equals, in a sense, and he was certainly no challenger for Relena's hand. Was there something between the two dragon-riders of which she was unaware?

He stepped forward, and Relena was momentarily startled by how tall he had grown. True, she had been a very young girl, when he had left, but...She looked up at his face, half obscured by that odd mask. She caught a glimpse of his eyes through the mask, and they were eagle-keen, their hard gaze focused in the direction in which the dragon-rider had departed. Suddenly, a streak of something very much like anger lanced through her chest, and before she knew what she was doing, she whirled so that her back faced her brother. "I daresay that I would not be stepping outside of my authority if I were to have you dragged off to the dungeons for this action, Milliardo," she huffed. Irritation roiled about her like a cloak. If not for him...then perhaps...perhaps...

She heard a soft sigh behind her and immediately felt contrite.

?I apologize, Your Highness,? he murmured. ?It seems that my?timing was not well-planned.? She turned to face him again, and he was looking at her. What she could see of his expression was earnest. ?I seem to have interrupted what must have been a rather important discussion, based on your reactions.?

The set of his lips made Relena acutely aware that he might ask questions she was not prepared to answer. She dropped her gaze, then remembered herself and stood up straight, allowing her hands to clasp casually against the front of her skirts. ?You wished to speak with me, Milliardo??

He seemed surprised by her forthrightness, then chuckled. ?Yes,? he replied, ?if only so that I may become reacquainted with my baby sister, whom I have not seen for a very long time.?

Relena drew up short at this comment, staring at Milliardo with unabashed, open-mouthed shock. She regained her composure, but continued to stare at him. ?You speak as though you were forced to go. You left. Most have branded you a deserter, a traitor. Your name has been all but stricken from the history of Sanq. The things said about you in your absence were not kind. Most people do not recognize you, but when and if they do, you can rest assured you will not receive a hero?s welcome. How am I expected to react to such a request from you??

Milliardo winced at her words, as though each were physical blows. ?What you say is true,? he murmured in reply, ?except that I did not have a choice in the matter. I could either renounce my claim to the throne and join the ranks of the dragon-riders, and be no better than a commoner, or I could follow the destiny laid out for me as heir to the throne?but the price was that I had to kill Hrynne, were I to do so. They would not let me rule, not with a dragon.?

?You left,? Relena repeated flatly.

?I had no choice!?

?You did have a choice, and you made the decision to betray your nation.?

He threw up his hands in disgust. ?You could not understand! How could you understand? You are not a dragon-rider. How could I destroy the bond created from her hatching? She is a part of me. Had I killed her, a part of me would have died, as well!? He began pacing, arms crossed across his chest. ?The advisors were fools. They are still fools today. Father was a fool. All of them, fools. What sort of nation wants a king who will kill a creature with whom he shares a life-bond, simply to protect his claim to the throne?! They would have rather had an amoral, heartless ruler on the throne than a dragon-rider. I could not live with that knowledge. I had no choice but to leave.?

Relena?s jaw was set stubbornly, but she said nothing.

?I did not expect you to understand,? he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.

Something in his voice broke through the swirling emotions of anger and betrayal in Relena?s mind, and she recalled quite vividly the many lessons that Weyridge had given her about dealing with people in difficult situations. She tried to imagine what it must have been like for her brother. He had been quite young when he left; old enough to make his own decisions, but young nonetheless. Despite herself, despite all that she had been told from a young age, her heart softened.

She turned again so that her back was to her brother. ?I cannot say that I can forgive you so easily,? she began, her voice hesitant, ?and there are many hurts that must be healed. But?? now she turned to face him, ?perhaps I have been?wrong, in my understanding of things. Perhaps I need to re-think my position.?

The smile that graced her brother?s face somehow began to erase the long years of hurt and betrayal. ?It will not happen immediately,? she cautioned. ?Remember that it has been many years since you left Sanq. I will need time, time to heal, time to grow reacquainted, and you will need to be patient with me. Just give me time.?

/Time,/ thought Relena, /For once, we have plenty of time./

* * *

The sight of messenger-hawks coming from and going to the castle had become a common sight. It was rarely remarked upon any more; it had become to be expected, and all would only sigh with resignation and assume the worst.

"Nearly two months have passed, and still we do not know who is behind these attacks!" scowled Duo one afternoon. "There is never any evidence to connect these attacks with anyone--just more monsters!"

Trowa shrugged, though it was obvious that he was as vexed as Duo. "All we can do is watch and wait," he replied. "Sooner or later, our enemy will reveal itself. We just have to be patient. No one can hide their identity forever. And we will be prepared, when they do show themselves."

After the lull in the attacks, monsters had begun resurfacing around Sanq. Though their numbers were not as large as the initial attack, there were more than enough to keep Sanq's defensive forces busy. Soon, the dragon-riders did not have to coerce Weyridge into letting them fight; he had no choice but to order them into battle.

Now, the dragons and their riders relaxed outside on the green, soaking up the late summer sun to soothe over-taxed muscles in a rare moment of inactivity. Some dragons and their riders exercised to keep muscles limber during the pause; others took the opportunity as a moment to rest.

Idle conversation slowed to a lull as silent inactivity was savored. Duo rested his head against his dragon's flank, idly watching the clouds drift overhead. He felt Faohr's muscles tense, and turned to watch the dragon's neck swivel as he stared at something in the sky.

"What do you see, buddy?" grunted Duo, too sleepy to really react. "Is it another hawk?"

"Ithinkitisanotherhawk," repeated the dragon. The others turned heads in lazy pursuit to track the bird's progress, not bothering to get excited.

The hawk drew closer, its features becoming more clear, and Nataku jumped to her feet with a sharp intake of breath. "Wufei--! That hawk, its crest--!"

Wufei stood, shading his eyes as he tracked the bird's flight. Suddenly he dropped his arm and broke into a dead run, pelting toward the castle. Nataku hastened after him.

The other riders remained behind, confusion etched into their faces. "I wonder what it was about that hawk that made Wufei react so strongly?" commented Quatre as he joined the others.

"I think I might know why," said Heero, shading his own eyes with one of his hands. "The hawk is bearing the crest of Ri Shin. It is a message from Wufei's home."

* * *

Wufei was already pacing the length of the room by the time the other riders reached the hawk tower. Weyridge was also present, standing next to a rather harried-looking falconer.

"Repeating your request does not make it any more acceptable!" Weyridge was nearly yelling. "It is simply too dangerous!"

"And so you suggest that we leave my people, my family, to die?!" shouted Wufei. "I cannot accept that!"

"We will send the army." Weyridge's voice brooked no argument. "I cannot risk the lives of our protectors on an unknown enemy!"

Wufei opened his mouth to protest, but Heero cut him off. "What word from Ri Shin?"

The advisor turned to face him. "Some manner of creature threatens Ri Shin," he said gravely. "They cannot tell us what it is; just that it is a beast they have never encountered before. Nor can they effectively neutralize it. It attacked suddenly a fortnight ago, slaughtering the two guardsmen set to watch. It is a small miracle that the gate itself was not breached; the message indicates there was severe damage to the gate. Several people, along with a great many of Ri Shin's personal guard, have already died. The duke has declared a state of emergency, and has commanded all to stay housebound as their military force attempts to hold off the beast, but they do not know how long they will be able to withstand the onslaught. The beast is simply too strong and, what is worse, they suspect there may be more than one."

Heero pursed his lips. "We go," he said, and turned to leave the tower.

Weyridge groaned in dismay. "I can barely keep the prince of Ri Shin from running to his nation's aid, and now I must stop you, too?!"

"We are needed. It is not a matter of options or choice."

"Has it not occurred to you that perhaps this is a trap?!"

"That is a risk we must take!" Wufei stepped in again. "I will not allow my people to die to some nameless monster! Let us fight!"

"And what of your duty to Calon Gaer, and to Sanq? This could very well be a trap, and is most likely not the threat that the Oracle called you forth to combat! What happens if you are overcome in this battle? Sanq will be lost!"

"This is my home, my family!" cried Wufei. "Honor requires--nay, _demands_ that I fight! You would not force me to hold back, dishonoring my ancestors by taking the coward's way out!" His eyes narrowed, and his voice grew dangerously quiet. "You could not force me to stay!"

The glare that Weyridge leveled at the young prince was equally as cold. "Do not presume that because you were allowed to break the Pact once, that a repeat offense will be allowed," he snapped. "It is by the grace of the gods and the will of the Princess that you were not cast out before! To assume that this will always be the way of things is folly." The threat hung in the air between them, choking all into silence.

Quatre finally spoke, his voice hesitant. "Weyridge...it is his family...surely you do not expect--"

"Do not presume that you are able to read my mind, Quatre of Qa'nirvenye," snapped Weyridge. "Do you think I do not know of honor? Of wanting to protect one's family? Of the sense of loyalty that comes along with caring for the two? Do you truly think I do not understand the pain of being forced to stand back and watch one?s family suffer? Of course I understand. Do you truly believe that I was planning on sitting back and not taking action against this menace? How little you understand."

Wufei countered in spite of himself. "You could not understand," he said bitterly. "What challenges could you have faced, during the long time in which the Oracle has been silent?"

"Just because this is the first time you have faced such hardship in your young life, do not assume that it means that your elders have never faced the same in the past! Never make such assumptions." Weyridge's voice held contempt.

"What do you expect us to do? Sit back and let Wufei watch his home be destroyed? How can you expect that of us?!" Duo's voice was incredulous. "If it were any of us, any of our homes, we would all react the same way." The others nodded in assent.

Weyridge's eyes narrowed. "Do you truly believe I would leave them to die? That I ever planned to leave them to fend for themselves?" He received no answer. Weyridge sighed. "I am trying to teach you patience, to appreciate strategy, and to learn how to use it. Sometimes, rushing in immediately on the offensive is a good plan, but it does not always work. Sometimes, it can be a severe liability. What good, what help would you be, were you all to be killed because you rushed into battle unprepared?"

The messenger hawk flapped its wings and mewled. The noise broke the spell in the room. Wufei was pacing. "What should we do? You will not let us attack, yet we cannot afford to stand back and let my family fend for themselves!" He seemed on the verge of tears.

Weyridge sighed again, and turned to the hawker. "Send word back to Ri Shin," he said quietly. "Tell them we send the dragon-riders at once, and code the message, lest it fall into unfriendly hands before reaching its destination."

A ripple of anticipation rolled through those assembled. "You are...letting us go?" Wufei's eyes shone with the hope he did not dare voice.

"I am," Weyridge responded. His voice sounded very tired. "It occurs to me that this may serve a more potent lesson than any I could attempt to give. Now go. Give the hawk enough time to reach its destination, then fly."

~*~

?It is like a village of ghosts,? murmured Trowa.

The dragons and their riders had landed outside the gates of Ri Shin. The gate was locked tight, and no guards could be seen anywhere. The entire city was silent and still.

?Are we too late?? said Quatre, anxiety tingeing his voice.

?I do not think so,? murmured Sandrock. ?I can still smell people, and I do not think the gates would be locked if the monster had gotten inside.?

?I am surprised that it has not gotten inside,? commented Duo as he examined the damaged gate. ?Look at the size of those gouges! Whatever made them must be huge.?

Wing scented the air, and snorted violently. ?I smell fear,? he said, his voice short. ?And anger. And?death.? He growled low in his throat. ?We must speak with someone from the city, if only to get a description of the beast so that we can seek it out. We??

?Quiet,? interrupted Heero. ?Listen to the forest. It has gone silent.?

The dragon-riders and their beasts dropped into uneasy alertness, all craning their heads to try and locate the monster before an attack was made. No attack came. Instead, the creature choose to saunter with arrogance into the clearing, as if it was so confident in its abilities that it did not feel a sneak attack was even necessary.

The appearance of the creature forced all of the riders to pull up short. Faohr actually retreated a bit as his rider shouted. "Goddess! What IS that thing?!"

The monster had stopped its advance and was now waiting, almost casually, as though it expected them to make the first move. It was the oddest-looking creature any of them had ever seen. It was about half the size of a dragon, and its six limbs ended in paws with heavy claws that suspiciously resembled those of the giant badger they had fought months ago. Its shoulders, back and hips were covered in a series of interlocking bony plates, and its head was very oddly-shaped, all teeth and hardly anything else. Its body ended in a short, heavy tail.

"It looks like a patchwork of different animals. What the heck IS this thing?!" exclaimed Quatre.

"I do not know, but there is no doubt in my mind that this is our quarry." Wufei's voice was dangerously quiet. "I now know why my people were so easily defeated." He pivoted in his seat to regard the other riders. "Waiting for the army would be futile. This monstrosity is far too powerful for them to handle...unless, perhaps, we wear it down, first."

For a change, Duo was reluctant. "I do not know...that thing might be more than WE can handle."

"So you suggest we wait? That somehow human fighters have greater strengths than a dragon?! And you call yourself a dragon-rider!" Wufei's dragon now turned to face the others, her expression as haughty as that of her rider. "We are MUCH stronger than mere humans! We are gifted with the strength of the mightiest of beasts! An army of humans is a pittance compared to that. We--"

The monster took its chance and attacked.

Lun had foolishly turned her back to the beast. With lightning-fast speed, it attacked her flank, claws digging into her haunch. Lun shrieked and shied violently, and had to struggle to keep from collapsing. Blood streamed from a set of gashes the beast's claws had opened.

Faohr shrilled a battle cry in response, launching into the air and pelting at the creature. The mercury dragon was too fast for the monster to catch, though more than a few blows came dangerously close to landing. Faohr tried time and again to slash at the beast with his claws, but its armor was just too strong. Faohr circled the beast, trying to find an opening...and was distracted enough to leave an opening, himself. The beast suddenly lunged and caught Faohr's tail in its teeth, yanking back hard. The dragon let out a startled yip and crashed to the ground. Immediately the beast was upon him.

The battle had begun.

~*~

TBC

As always, C&C is greatly loved and appreciated. ^_^

[Morrighan]

What a cliffie! Geez! Heero and Relena were SO close to an understanding when Zechs showed up. *scowl* Darn it all. That man has the worst timing.

Can't wait to see more!

[C.G]

Yuck, one review after all this time for a great fic. Well, this makes it 2

[epyon]

yes, great fic i can't wait for more

[Primus2021]

That is so sweet, & I no longer hate Treize, Because He is married to Lady Anna Une & their doughter is Mariemaia (NOT Treize's & Ms. Barton's, this is excalent).

"DAMN YOU ZECHS!!!!!!!" That is what Heero was thinking, & Relena was thinking the same thing!

HOLLY SHIT the beast is a Genetic Nightmare, & a Genetisists Dream come true, How will Heero & the gang fare agenest this new beasty?