Prophecy Mulling. (Val, if you want to.)

[Draetrialis]

Drae sighed as he mulled over the prophecy written on the stone in front of him. The Deadly Hour... That's... His mind flashed back to the battle he lost. That was certainly a deadly hour. Maybe... Maybe there must be a battle at night. That would be a Deadly Hour that would enable him to rise in the night, for sure. The dragon rose, tumbling many thousands of gold pieces and other treasures into the water around his trove. Do not get a fright... Well... In my shame... I'm afraid of failing again. He sighed and descended into the water, hoping it would cool his mind. There must be a battle in the night... and I must rise and win, despite my fear of failure... But where the angel dies... It's that line that bothers me... He rammed his head into the stone wall.

He eventually rose from the water and laid in the tunnel that led to his trove, his head facing the entrance to his cave in order to dry. Ooh... I failed and I don't know if I can possibly "rise in the night" like the prophecy says. Drae muttered something and grabbed a gem before spawning a shadow out of it. "Go and spy on the Rebels. Tell me if they discover ANYTHING about a place where the angel died." The shadow, taking the form of an eagle, nodded. "Yes, sire!" Before diving into the water and heading for the Rebellion camp.

[Valerie]

OC -- Sorry it's a bit short for my usual, I didn't have much I could have her say as she just entered the cave.

IC -- This is stupid and pointless...but I imagine he does need my help, he is in a rather fried mood. Valerie mentally argued as she flew over the countryside between her chambers and Ailon lake.

She could see the green trees as she neared the clearing that surrounded the lake. I just hope he's not so much of an emotional wreck that he can at least carry a semi-intelligent conversation. She mentally rolled her eyes before turning at a slant, heading straight on for the lake.

Right before entry, she tucked her wings in, diving into the lake with very little surface disturbance. Her speed shot her in halfway before she evened out the dive angle to shoot straight into Drae's cave. I must have done this quite a few times yet this is the only time I'm not happy to see him. She pulled herself out of the water within the Shadow's cave, shaking like a dog to rid herself of excess water. After wringing out the robe and cloak she was wearing, she put the hood up over her head to keep her slightly warmer, though she wasn't cold.

"I know you are in here Drae. Do you have any news on the Prophecy?" She questioned as she padded out from the shadows next to the entrance, shrouded in darkness thanks to her cloak. "You must have figured something out in the time you've been in here. Still looking at that stone I see." She said as she referred to the tablet in his claws.

[Draetrialis]

Drae nodded. "I think I've figured it out... Except for one line." He sighed and retreated into his trove, to give Val room to really move. He still wasn't used to having anyone in his cave and he hadn't gotten around to carving a room for Valerie. Drae headwalled again. "It's the place where the angel died that has me totally stumped. It's so familiar, and yet not. I sent a shadow to spy on the Rebellion, in case they discover something. Unlikely, since they don't have any knowledge of the Prophecy, but hey... There's always that chance." He sighed and set the stone aside. "All I know is... Well... Recent events have opened the path, I believe, to finding the answer. The Deadly Hour. Think about it. The battle I lost-" He growled at that. "It was very deadly for both sides, and I could've died as well. So, I believe that the Deadly Hour is a battle that will take place where the angel died, if we ever find out where that is... but the battle will be at night and I have to rise up and win the battle despite my fear of failure."

After he explained what he thought, he crawled around his trove protectively. "I just don't know... There are still a few interpretations I need to consider, but I think that's how it is. But where the angel died... GAH! I roar with frustration at that line!" He sighed and clicked his claws against some gold coins. "I wish I knew..." He looked at Val with one eye. "How are the preparations for... your foray into the Shadowlands?" Drae needed to stop himself from saying 'our' since he knew he wouldn't be going. "Though, I still think we should build a portal or something to make travelling easier."

[Valerie]

OC -- I know the full moon has already passed but pretend it is of about a week ago when it wasn't quite full.

IC -- Valerie decided to address the question of the venture before the Prophecy and its riddles. "I'm all ready. I was going to plan the attack to be only a few days from now." She paused, thinking on how to convey the past week's work.

"I've already talked to the general of the few special forces we possess and we've arranged a night strike. It will be during a full moon, since the Rebellion have a tendency to set up camps back at the Griffin Aviaries. There is very little watch up near the border. We've never launched an attack during these camps, and we have much faith in it's success. After setting back their forces, they will be helpless for our border advancement the following day. We will not fail." She sighed, remembering all of the council sessions with this general and with the Rebellion spies. She shook her head, clearing thoughts of her mission.

"Now for this Prophecy that has given us so much headache as it has. There must be some answer." She closed her eyes, giving herself a moment of thought about this matter. Where the angel died...maybe that implies...wait! Her eyes flew open as one interpretation of the phrase came to mind.

"I do not know if my interpretation of the location of the angel's death is correct, but I do have one interpretation. Some early records of the humans before we improved upon their system of living state that they saw 'Creatures of light that bore feathers sprouting like a bird's from their backs as well as silvery voices that often heralded their arrival. These majestic creatures often came to the aid of us in time of peril and we thus dubbed them our saviors from heaven. The angels.'" She had recited the paragraph perfectly, though it was from her days of school training when she learned out of books and from teachers. After pinching the bridge of her nose at the thought of her early life, she continued.

"You see, they would see their 'angels' take off from the Aviaries and would think their guardians were taking to heaven, after passing from their mortal bodies. This could be the location of the 'angel's' death' that the Prophecy speaks of. Especially since the Prophecy is obviously very old, it is likely the writer wanted to use ancient times to give the answer more mystery and puzzle."

She strode into the room farther, wanting to hear her beloved's answer to her interpretation. But before she could think, the importance and connections hit. Her steps faltered as she realized what she was going to do.

"Night, full moon, Aviaries, war." An ice-cold chill ran through her whole body. "What have I done? It's too late to cancel the attack, for the full moon is tonight." She clenched her jaw, realizing exactly what was going to happen.

This is a disaster, if I'm not there to lead the suicide party, all of the party are going to be wiped out. But if I go, I can just tell already that something much, much worse than death is going to occur. Unless we can take Drae with us without certain death for him, the non-chosen ones are going to face a torture worse than death.

[Draetrialis]

Drae rose, wincing slightly. "Then I have to go..." He went to the cabinet Val got him and opened it, revealing his four most precious gems. With a snarl, he drained them all into gems scattered throughout the trove and he dug around, sending a lot of gold tumbling down the sides as he got them and set them into his armor. "My only hope... Is that Ceana is there so I can burn her feathers off." He grit his teeth. "Val... If this ends up being a suicide mission and no good comes out of it... I don't know... I should just stay in exile here. I won't have anyone killed and have this just be a puzzle by the ancients that has no value at all." He finally accepted the fact that this could all be a pointless venture and he fit his armor on. "I won't fight though. Not in general. Unless Ceana shows up, I'm not fighting unless challenged directly."

Drae looked at Val, eyes soft. "I can't just sit here while you go on a potential suicide mission. I'm just not going to allow it." He drew closer to his love and gave her a quick lick. "Come on. We have planning to do." He let a faint smile grace his lips before diving into the water and heading for the surface.

[Valerie]

OCC: Yea I know I mentioned Darryn, but I figured since night isn't playing him now, we can't just ignore him.

IC: Valerie, still in shock of what she had just seen in the glimpse she had gotten, stood there, too mortified to move. It was only when Drae had dove into the water that the sound had broken through her shock. There is no way I'm letting him go while I just stand back. I've trained for this sort of thing, this'll be easy...I hope. She grit her teeth at the reminder of the 'war to come'. But why was I stupid enough to mention it out loud. He's going to get himself killed. She spun, still in a rage at herself, and dove into the water and back up to the surface.

She crawled out of the lake, shaking herself moderately dry before taking to the air, to sit in on the battle preparation meetings that she was already late to. Maybe I can set up something complicated enough that the Rebellion won't see it coming. If we conduct a facade, we should be able to send in a more elite force to silently wipe out the cheering Rebellion...and keep more of our side alive... She thought grimly. Either way though, I have to get to that meeting.

Folding her wings as she came to land, she had done so a little too early but had managed to land with a forward roll. Using that momentum she stood up, now in her human form, and brushed off her garments before setting off at a brisk pace to the battle room.

But what she had walked into was far from what she had expected. She had walked right into a huge arguement. This is going over well. She thought wryly. "Commanders, everyone, please stop arguing. Save it for the battle. I have some ideas on what we can do." She strode in, having not stopped in the first place, and took the only empty chair, right next to the high General.

"What news do you bring, Valerie?" Someone to her right asked.

"Well, after much consideration, I have thought of what I hope is a decent plan. If we conduct a facade where our troops are retreating, we may be able to send in our elite troops, myself including, where we can cut the Rebellion off from any retreats. Once they are enclosed, we strike with full force." She rested her hands neatly on her lap, not wanting to betray her nervous feeling of the battle at all. After all, if a troop has no morale, that troop is a dead man.

"While that is a good plan, there are some faults in it. As such, what about the Griffins? They will simply fly back to the Aviary and gather more forces." A new person spoke, at the end of the table, and Valerie recognised him as the chief of the Gargoyle unit (though somewhat few in numbers).

"Yes, they are and will always be a problem. But I figure if we got a few more Dragons to fight for us, there would be no issues. After all, the Shadow is coming. If he sees the Griffin that nearly killed him, he will fight them. And she is most likely no asset they are to leave behind. Plus with myself, I can take position up behind as an aerial blockade for the Griffin's escape."

Whispers errupted around the table as soon as she had mentioned Drae. But the same voice that had first spoken up protested again. "Well, if the Shadow is coming, we have to get him to fight." Cheers of agreement broke out at that comment

Val pinched her the bridge of her nose, wondering why they always assume that Draetrialis was the best fighter they ever had. But she straightened, recovering her composure as she addressed the comment, intentions of correcting it. "Well, he is still weak from his last fight. He learned a lesson from when the lightening struck him. He will not fight unless challenged directly. As well as another thing, why do you people automatically assume that Draetrialis is the most elite warrior you have? I nearly killed him once, as well as beat him in a fair contest another time. The Elementally trained Masters do have much power and as such, are great fighters. I will go now to find them and to recruit them to our battle, we need to push back this border. With our plan, we cannot lose." She pushed away from the table and turned to stride out the room. I hope... She could not help herself from mentally adding to her last statement.

Shaking her head clear, she took off at a fast pace to set off to where she hoped she would find Lin and the other Masters. On the way there, she found Darryn, Master of Fire, and he had agreed to fight with her. After speaking with the Master of Earth, she had convinced him to come to the war as well. So the hatred of this fued does run deep. Most of them are probably going with the hopes to finally end the war...I can only hope that is how it turns out. She thought as she turned and walked down yet another corridor, off to find Lin. I hope she agrees to come. If not, I'm not sure only three Masters will be enough to hold off the Griffins for long.

[Lin]

ooc: I suggest we put Darryn up for adoption.


Yelling, arguing, and more yelling, those were the only things that could be heard from the roof where the chimney stood. The military meeting had been going on for quite a while now and the military council had not come to a conclusion as to what their next move was. Draetrialis’s injury had caused chaos among the military commanders since their precious trump card had fallen in battle. Truly it was a mystery as to how the rebellion had not won this war already since Ammon’s military relied so much on one dragon. Lin sat near a chimney that led down to the meeting room with one leg stretched out while the other was pulled in. One arm was wrapped around her knee as she listened carefully to what they were planning. A normal person would think it would be easier to just sit in at the meeting, however the military commanders were always suspicious of Lin or trying to get her to join them and “crush the rebel scum.”

A new powerful voice entered the cacophony; it was Valerie. Lin prayed silently that she would heed her advice and not go into battle. Alas, Valerie seemed to have no intention of stopping the upcoming battle. Sub-consciously Lin’s grip tightened around her knee, this battle would be a mistake. The meeting no longer seemed important, after all it seemed that the decision was made. Suddenly Lin heard Draetrialis’s name being brought up. Valerie wasn’t actually considering letting him go was she? The cheers from the commanders seemed to answer that question. Lin closed her eyes; truly this battle would bring nothing but trouble to everyone. Then Valerie made another statement that Lin wished she didn’t say. The battlefield was not the place Lin wanted to go to. If she did it would be a betrayal to her parents’ cause.

The meeting came to an end and Lin stood up and faced the direction of the villages of Ammon. Without thinking twice Lin ran down the slanted roof of the castle and leapt off the edge. She shifted into her dragon form and flared out her wings. The large garden was the perfect place to be at the moment. It was empty so Lin landed in a large leafy tree and shifted back into human form. A tree wasn’t her first choice to be, but at the moment all Lin wanted to do was be concealed from unwanted eyes. She walked towards the large trunk of the tree. Leaning against the tree, Lin slid down into a sitting position and just waited there. Hopefully Valerie already knew that she would not agree to going into battle.

[Draetrialis]

Drae had followed Val, fear creeping into the edge of his mind. He didn't enter the meeting, though he listened and agreed with Val silently. He was glad that the commanders still thought he was the best and wondered if he should fight properly. No. You'll only be killed. his common sense cried. But my home needs me! cried his loyal side. He changed to human form, wearing a smaller version of his regular armor. A couple commanders came out and they saluted him. Drae returned the salute and asked for them to gather the other commanders.

They obeyed him quickly and Drae stood in front of them all. "As you know, I'm not fighting until challenged directly. Th reason I am not is because... my confidence has take a beating these past few weeks. If this victory is secured, I am hoping I can get over a newfound fear of failure. So, let us secure a victory and bring the Rebellion to its knees!" The commanders cheered and dispersed and Drae noticed Lin and followed. He soon found her and cringed. "Lin. I'm going on this mission for two reasons. I can't let Val lead a suicide mission and we think the key to the Prophecy is within this fight. Scold me for being an idiot, if you want. I probably am. But I have to do this. Mostly for Val's sake." He stood there, waiting for Val to show up, as she is apt to do when she is needed.