Storm Call

The Ferret and the Dragon

Somewhere deep within Navomi's den, Azazel kept watch over his newest recruits as they trained to take on multiple attackers. On more than one occasion, he had to break up smaller groups that became too intense. Upon the fifth time he did so, he issued a challenge.

"If you really want to go all out against one person, then try it on me. I dare you," he called out coldly. The room fell silent for a time, then came the heavy clanking of Navomi's metal boots. The onlookers began staring towards the two, feeling the tension grow with every step taken.

"So you're asserting dominance over the new units? Seriously, Azazel?" he ridiculed. "Had Ender or his brother taken your place, they would've already had them far closer to where they need to be!" He shouted the last words as he drew closer to him, flinching slightly at his name.

Azazel tried to keep himself calm before speaking. "All due respect, Prince Kloudsmith, but with the weather being unfit for anything besides a painful, freezing death, this is the best I can manage." He fleetingly hoped his response would be enough, but noticed a small flame engulfing his hand.

A small chuckle escaped Navomi. "Is someone still upset about what they had to do to poor Ender? Is that what's distracting you?" He slid his tail up to Azazel's shoulder before telling him, "I'm sure he's ready to kill you, too, after your stunt in Venice. Hell, if it were me, I'd just let him. I think he deserves at least a tiny bit of revenge, don't you?" All of this was loaded with sarcasm. "Don't feel too bad, anyway, ferret, the cats will die soon enough anyway. In fact, you personally will see it through." At that point, Azazel hurriedly tried to freeze the end of his tail, and was held against the wall as a reward of his failed attempt.

"Do you honestly think… I can just imitate another spirit so easily?" he choked out, trying to claw himself free from the steel grasp. "If they… haven't figured it out… al…ready…". Azazel slumped to the ground, hardly breathing. His partner walked away, a path being made as the others backed away to avoid being hurt.

"Did anyone else want to question what I demand or how I operate?" He drew a small circle surrounding him with a string of blue flames before speaking again. "If you ever feel the need to take everything to heart like this pitiful excuse of a ferret, do tell, and pray I don't reach you before you get out of this cave. Otherwise, I suggest you get back to work." As he began his slow retreat deeper into the den, several recruits began to surround their half-conscious captain in an attempt to get him up. Within a few minutes, Azazel was standing again, leaning on one of them for support.

"Azzy, are you alright? What happened?" one of them asked, unaware of the entire altercation. She noticed a stray scale left on his neck and quickly looked away, realizing what went down.

"No, Rika, don't heal me, I'm fine," he answered, wincing slightly as he tried to move on his own. "I do need you to go find Nocha and Gana, the four of us need to talk about the mission." Noticing her reaction, he added, "You should get over it already, your wings are fine now. Besides, we all got a good laugh out of it later, didn't we?" Knowing that putting up an argument wouldn't work, she flew away without a word. Azazel began to walk towards a spare empty room, knowing that the others would soon be there. Within minutes, there was a loud knock at the door.

"Group ANGR, reporting."