Shifter

[Battle]

[Xander]

A flash of white light came from above the wiveryn, as Marion's body floated down from the sky towards the rider atop it. Before the demon rider could maneuver, she unsheathed the swords across her back, and in one swift movement the rider's head tumbled off, falling to the ground below.

Within a heartbeat, she plunged one of her swords into the side of the wiveryn. It screeched as she used her weight to drag it down, gutting it, before kicking off of it's body, her sword in hand. As she continued to fall through the air, she aimed towards another rider focused on the conflict below, oblivious to the threat hurtling at him from the sky.

This time she landed farther back on the wiveryn, alerting the rider to her presence. The demon rider stood up from his mount to face her, flashing his sharp teeth. She flashed hers back, hurtling towards him. Marion deflected his first blow with the sword in her right hand, and landed a blow to his side with the sword in her left. The rider shrieked as she jerked the sword up his side, his face still crinkled with shock when she pushed his leaking body off the wiveryn.

She stepped off the edge of the wiveryn, and began freefalling again to the ground below, before another flash of white light streaked through the sky. Her large black wings beat against the wind, leveling her out above those still dueling below. Her powerful wings pounded, taking her higher and higher into the clouds. A loud roar pierced the sky, and the remaining wiveryn only had a second to take in the menacing black dragon before she opened her mouth and white hot lightning streaked out, crackling into them. The wyverns' crisped bodies slowly fell to the earth, making a thud that was only faintly heard from where Xander sat in the sky.

Varin let out a low whistle. "Damn. Why did they even need us here if they have her?"

Xander couldn't take his eyes away from the black dragon, as she swept down to the ground, towards the fighters killing off the last of the dark creatures.

"They didn't. They wanted to show us what we will face, should we choose to continue our fighting after our momentary peace treaty."

Xander guided his dragon back down to the world below.

...

[Marion]

"That one looks like he wants to kill you." Brilah snorted, gesturing to Xander, who currently gave her a death glare from across the dining hall. "And that one looks at you like he wants his face between your thighs." She gestured to Varin, staring at her with wide, dreamy eyes.

Marion almost spit out her drink, choking on the liquid.

"Or maybe they both do?" A smirk formed across Brilah's face, as Marion coughed, trying to catch her breath. "Not a bad problem to have, eh?" Brilah let out a laugh, slapping Marion on the back.

Xander's frown settled even further as she glanced towards him. Her face began to heat at the thought of his face, his tongue on her thighs. 

She picked up her mug from the table and stood, facing Brilah fully.

"As if a Dargon would even deserve the honor of suffocating between my thighs." Marion drawled loudly, swirling her drink. Brilah's laughter filled the air with hollers across the room from her clan.

This time when she glanced back to Xander, he and Varin were gone.

...

Marion knew she'd find Lilith on the terrace, hungrily observing the sparring ring below. It seemed to be her favorite activity since her fuck buddy got sent to a different camp a few weeks back. She focused her mind on the area right behind Lilith, and she winnowed with a smirk tugging at her lips.

"You might want to wipe the drool off your face." Marion whispered into Lilith's ear.

Lilith let out a squeal, and spun around sharply.

"Dammit Marion! You know that scares the shit out of me." She squawked, her voice straining to keep a whisper.

Marion let out a quiet laugh. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone your secret, you little pervert." She winked, and stepped out on the terrace to see the sparring ring below.

Marion stood there frozen, unable to tear her gaze away from the two men sparring in the center ring. Good Gods.

"I know." Lilith whispered giddily.

Below, she saw Xander and Varin, shirtless in the ring. Their solid bodies, slick with sweat, moved in almost a dance, as they exchanged blow for blow. But she couldn't take her eyes off of Xander, the way his muscles rippled with every precise movement. As he moved, she got short glimpses of the sharp planes of his back and chest, honed to perfection. She'd never seen a more perfect body, like it was sculpted by the Gods themselves. Suddenly it felt too hot, like her clothes were suffocating her. Even still, she couldn't tear her gaze.

"Why don't you step in, Marion?" She heard the captain yell from below, across the ring.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

"I've trained enough for one day." Marion yelled across the space, flicking a non-existent speck of dirt from her nails. She looked towards the other side of the ring, feigning disinterest in the glistening men, whose attention now locked on to her.

The Captain clicked his tongue "Since when has the great Marion backed down from a fight? I wouldn't think you a coward, especially not with a duel against a Dargon."

She growled. The Captain knew exactly how to get under her skin. The Captain's returning smile showed he knew as much too. If she didn't spar, they'd say she was no better than Lilith, drooling over the men below. But if she did spar, at least she could lie and say she was there gathering intel, sussing out the Dargon's weaknesses in combat. The bonus being that she could get down there and get a closer look.

"Fine." She winnowed from the terrace down to the sparring ring. "I want that one." She snapped, her finger at Xander.

The Captain nodded, a smile still plastered on his face.

"No magic in the ring. No weapons."

She nodded to the Captain, as Varin cautiously stepped out of the ring.

She could see Xander's muscles tense as she placed both of her feet inside the ring.

Rolling her shoulders, she let a cocky smile form on her lips.

"Show me what you've got, pretty boy."