Lost Rider- Book 2

Fourteen

Charm is in the picture.

Lorelie broke out of the trees, into a clearing. And half-way into the middle of that clearing, was a large boulder. Runes were carved into the face of the large stone, and as the dragon-rider moved closer, she became aware of what was written.

Before she was able to fully interpret the words, a small knife spun past her ear landing dead centre in the stone. Which Lorelie now recognised as a headstone, a grave. Another, larger, knife flew past her ribcage, slicing the fabric of her clothing and cutting across her pale skin.

She cried out in surprise, spinning around to find the attacker. A young boy, no older than Maylanth. He was hiding in the shadows. Lorelie's skin marking was now visible to the world, the White Dragon wrapped around the intricately designed dreamcatcher. A thin line of red stretched across it. 'That little bastard scarred my marking. He made me bleed' Lorelie thought, gritting her teeth as she wiped the blood off her side with her sleeve.

As if by coincidence, rain began to fall, making the current situation more dramatic and dark. In an instant, a figure stood in front of Lorelie. Her cloaked back facing the dragon rider, she discarded her cloak. Revealing a flexible back, with her body curved in a strange way. Her hair was long, and platinum, braided down her back. Two large hunting knives were strapped to her lower back in a Criss-cross fashion. She wore tight, brown, deerskin hunting pants. A short halter-neck top covered her chest, shoulder blades, and a small part of her back. Her outfit was complete with knee-high, soft-soled boots, a bracer-like-glove on her left hand, the leather straps she had buckled around her right arm, and the bow that she held, an arrow nocked.

"Get lost. Grave robber" the blonde growled, the boy didn't move. A warning arrow was fired, thudding into the tree next to the grave robber. He flinched, but stayed put. The blonde werewolf took another arrow out of the quiver at her belt, she drew it back on the drawstring. This time though, the sharp arrow was aimed at the boy, he squeaked and ran like a coward.

Thunder rumbled and lightening split the sky, the archer lowered her bow. She slipped the arrow back into the leather quiver, where it sat contently with the others. When the woman had first stood in front of Lorelie, the ginger had stumbled and fell to the ground. She now stood up and shivered as the cold rain reached her skin through her clothes, and the cool breeze hit the exposed area of her ribcage.

Thinking of how wet her clothes were getting, the dragon-rider was reminded that she had to find some comfortable travel clothes. Her current outfit was covered in dried blood from her arm injury, and also the blood of dark creatures, and dragon hunters, and Maylanth's blood. Mud, dirt, sweat, and grime were also smothered over the fabric and leather of her battle clothes. The grazes on her knuckles had started to heal, and the ring she wore on one of her fingers was clogged with filth. She would have to get some new clothes from the next town.

The mysterious blonde turned around to face Lorelie, her blue eyes strikingly familiar to the half-Nightgale. A claw-mark scar was etched into the left side of her gorgeous face, water was running tracks down her cheeks, as well as dripping off the end of her braid.

Realisation hit Lorelie "Charm?" She asked, not entirely believing her own question.

Charm smiled, "Lory" she breathed, "Atta's looking for you"

"I'm well aware of that, now shut up and hug me" Lorelie snapped playfully, her childhood friend smiled again, tears filled the werewolf's eyes as she walked into Lorelie's arms, wrapping her own around the ginger.

The rain began to fall heavier, and voices echoed throughout the forest, "if she keeps running off like that, I swear to Barnock..." Maylanth was muttering under his breath, his usual high voice tinged with a deep Dragonese accent.

"Shut your fire breathin' jaws! Ye' giant lizard" Harold scolded, "I don't breath fire" Maylanth muttered again. "Both of you! Shut the hell up!" Ky shouted, barging his way into the clearing. The reins of Iglendar were clutched in his hand, Harold held tightly to Lilly's. While Magnum walked quietly behind them, A wet fox curled up in his saddle.

Ky stopped and stood in silence as he watched Lorelie crouch down in front of a headstone, she pulled the knife, the one the boy threw, out of the stone. Revealing the deep gauge the blade had left in the middle of the inscription. So far, Charm and Lorelie took no notice of his entry. But, their presence became known when a loud 'Thud' sounded behind the mercenaries.

Maylanth, lay in a tangled heap of limbs. He had tripped over a particularly large tree root while entering the clearing, and his claws had gotten tangled, resulting in him falling forward with his leg crushed under his body.

Charm and Lorelie snapped their heads towards the noise. Lorelie smirked, while Charm just burst out laughing at the sight of Maylanth attempting to untangle his large body from the vines, roots, and brambles.

He clumsily swayed his tail around, hitting Harold in the back of the head. The older man gave him a glare, before rubbing at the spot where the tough-skinned tail had whacked him. When Maylanth finally stood on his four feet again, he cleared his throat awkwardly before exclaiming, "I probably should of came over the trees"

With the rain still tumbling down, Lorelie created a magic fire, using a very ancient magic trick passed down to her through her mother's bloodline. Fire witches, very rare casters in the current time. Because the flame was magical, it wasn't extinguished by the pouring rain.

The miserable group huddled around the flames, sitting on blankets that got drenched in no time at all. Maylanth, curled around the circle of human-like creatures, he lifted his left wing out, and held it above them, keeping his wing extended. A sort of roof, or shade-sail, or even a giant umbrella. Whatever they thought of it as, just shelter. Temporary shelter provided by the dragon they travelled with.

Throughout the night, stories were told, names were given, information was shared, and the group around the flame was sheltered. Covered by the strong, feathered wing above them. The horses stood, asleep, in the shelter of the trees. Ronyo curled up contently on his owner's lap. He yawned, tucking his head into his laws and dozing off.