{Day 14 Late Night in the forest}

<Snip>
Ka'Laren ran the knife through the man's throat letting a spray of blood
out over the forest floor. He let the dead man's body drop to the ground
with a thud and headed back to Jasmine.
<End Snip>

Even though Jasmine's eyesight was above normal in the dark, she didn't
have to see Ka'Laren to know something had just happened. She could
smell the fresh blood in the air even before he appeared. She had heard
the snapping twig too and had been about to climb the nearest tree when
the tattooed rider had grabbed her indicating for her to stay put, then
he silently disappeared into the darkness.  On his return Jasmine had
asked no questions of him, the young woman had a feeling she would get
no answer anyway.

It seemed lately the forest was full of a lot of strange people and this
unsettled the young woman.  Jasmine was sure something was wrong but
Ka'Laren was her friend and he would tell her if it was important.

Thoughts of her sister drifted through the young woman's mind as she
made her way to the cave.  Jasmine was beginning to feel a little guilty
about yelling at Kalena.

The familiar brambles appeared in the moonlight, heralding the entrance
to the cave. Jasmine carefully made her way through the prickly bushes
with Ka'Laren close behind.  Arriving in the cavern Jasmine noticed that
the pictures on the far wall seemed somehow brighter than normal. She
was glad that they were nicer than the ones in the tunnel, those ones
gave her the creeps. Ka'Laren came up behind her and looking down said
impatiently, "Well, show me!"

Jasmine grinned slyly, "You mean you can't see it?" The wild woman
pranced across the room and disappeared into the rock wall.   Light
hearted giggling filled the cave and Ka'Laren blinked several times.
"Jasmine!" he said sharply.

"I can see you!" the young woman answered in a sing-song voice.
Stepping back into the cavern she laughed.

Lighting two torches he walked to the woman and began to inspect the
wall. "Very clever! Very clever indeed" he muttered to himself.

Handing Jasmine one of the torches she watched as the man entered the
opening. Jasmine could barely contain her mirth as Ka'Laren's muscular
bulk almost got stuck just inside the opening.  It was obvious the
tunnel was not made for larger people.

Jasmine whispered excitedly as they moved through the narrow tunnel,
"Maybe we'll find more things! But this time you can fall down the hole,
it's not much fun!"

Ka'Laren looked back to see blue-eyed innocence in the torch light.
Shaking his head he turned back never seeing the mischievous grin that
graced the wild beauty's face.

{Tag Wil: Only if you want to! Didn't know if you planned on including
him in the treasure hunt}


Day 15 Late afternoon back at the camp

<Snip>*************
Ka'Laren looked over at Jasmine only to see her looking at the sky. He
followed her gaze and saw five
dragons appear in the sky. One descended and landed near the camp. As
Silvia slid of her dragon Sorrow,
Brona recognized the symbol on her riding leathers. It was he same as
the one that Brona's men wear.

"How dare he!" Ka'Laren growled in anger. Jasmine looked confused as to
what's going on.
<End>*************

Jasmine wasn't sure who this woman was, but she didn't like her not one
bit.  Ka'Laren was so tense she thought he was gonna explode and it made
her a little afraid to feel him so angry. Then he pushed her behind him
and she had to peek around his arm to see what was going on.

<Snip>*************
The muscular woman spoke up first," We came for the girl!"
<End>*************

Jasmine looked around confused, not realizing at first the black-haired
woman was talking about her.

<Snip>*************
"Brona is not going to use Jasmine to get me!" Ka'Laren shouted as he
stood.

Silvia let out a loud laugh." You think that is all Brona wants that
witch for?! He wants to execute her
along with her sister, Landon, Cat, and Link!"
<End>*************

The wild woman's mind raced, Jasmine wasn't sure of all the words the
woman was saying, but she knew it wasn't good. Her eyes narrowed and a
scowl adorned her face as she peeked at the group.  Hearing Landon's
name mentioned Jasmine's heart skipped a beat and wondered how this
woman knew him.  But this woman said something about a sister too.  Did
she mean Kalena?  This was when it dawned on Jasmine that the woman was
talking about her.

<Snip>*************
"You have a choice. Do you hand her over peacefully; or do we have to
take her? You have until dusk to have your dragon broadcast your
answer."

After that she hopped on her dragon and took off. She and the four other
riders disappeared.
<End>*************

"I don't I like her Ka'Laren, she doesn't seem very nice." Jasmine said
quietly.  Ka'Laren took the russet-haired beauty  by the arm and moved
her to the undergrowth.

"Call Vandira to come with you!"

The dark green dragon followed obediently as the man and her rider
disappeared into the undergrowth. Once they were out of sight of the
riders Jasmine stopped.

"What is happening Ka'Laren, something's wrong, isn't it? Tell me!" the
young woman asked pulling away.

The dark rider took her arm more gently, "Jasmine, listen to me there
are......"

"NO! You tell me what x..x...a..cot means!" the woman demanded, having a
hard time pronouncing the foreign words, "An..And what is a w..witch!"

"Jasmine you don't need to worry yourself, I will take care....." he
answered firmly.

"No! You tell me, I don't understand!"  Jasmine pleaded, searching the
face of her friend in the pale light.

Seeing his face soften and a little smile cross his lips, Ka'Laren
gently caressed her cheek, "You are so innocent Little One. I wish I
could protect from the evil in this world. But I can't!"

Jasmine's eyes were bright with confusion as she stared at the dark
rider. He inhaled deeply, then said, "Execute means to kill someone."

Jasmine gasped in horror, "Oh no! They want to hurt Landon! Why?
And..and when she said sister she meant Kalena too, didn't she, and the
others."  Grabbing her spear Jasmine started to run off, but Ka'Laren
grabbed her tightly, almost jerking her off her feet.

Struggling, Jasmine hissed at the man. Kicking him hard in the shins she
heard him grunt in pain, "Let go! Let got! I have to help! I won't let
them hurt Landon!"

"Damnit Jasmine!  Stop it! Right now!" Ka'Laren demanded roughly.
Jasmine continued to struggle and had almost freed herself from the
man's grip when he got her by the shoulders.  He shook her so hard her
teeth rattled. "Stop it and listen to me!"

"I won't let them hurt Landon, I won't!" she cried out. In her frenzy
she didn't see the look of hatred cross the dark rider's  face overtime
she mentioned the archer's name. Jasmine's words came out in a sob, "And
Kalena, I left Kalena, where is she? It's all my fault! I should have
never run away!"

Ka'Laren pulled her to him holding her tightly.  He stoked her long hair
until she ceased her struggling.  Quietly he spoke, "Jasmine do you
trust me?"

"Yes!" came the answer, muffled by his chest.

"Will you stop fighting me and listen?" came the question edged with
something almost akin to caring. A few minutes passed and Jasmine sighed
nodding her head.

Holding her away, Ka'Laren brought his face close to hers, "Jasmine, I
need you to go to the cave with Vandira and stay there." Placing his
hand over her lips when she started to interrupt, he continued. "The
forest is full of bad people that want to hurt you!" Staring hard into
her eyes he said, "I will take care of this, but I need to know you are
safe."

"I can fight too!" she blustered. "I..I don't understand why they want
to hurt me Ka'Laren, I didn't do anything!"

"Little One, I know you can fight, and quite well too!  But there's too
many of them, even for you. They are just bad people and you can't do
anything about it.  I am going to get my friends to help.  We will take
care of this, but you must promise me you will stay in the cave until I
come for you. If you got hurt I......," his voice cracked slightly as it
trailed off.

Jasmine finally nodded, "Ok, I will!"  The young woman followed the dark
rider docilely as he led her through the maze of undergrowth. Luckily
Vandira was still small enough that they could pull the brambles back
enough for her to enter the cave.

<Snip>
As the grass and scrubs before the wall of flame burnt and crumbled, the
intense heat bore down on Silvia's Twilight Squad. Ka'Laren began to
laugh as several of the mounting riders burst into flame across the
backs of their burning dragons.

The screams of the dragons fell deaf on the merciless band of rogues
known as the Dark Riders.
<End Snip>

Jasmine was lying prone next to the pool using her fingers to make
circles in the clear water. She was terribly worried about Ka'Laren,
what if he needed her help. She was a good hunter anyway, but he had
taught her how to do better with her spear and sword.  And now she had
her very own sword and dagger thanks to the human without skin.

Vandira was lying next to her with her large head resting on Jasmine's
hip when the green and burgundy dragon tensed and a sorrow as no other
filled her young dragon heart.  A low rumble starting deep in her chest
erupted from the draconian lips.  The mournful sound vibrated through
the cavern and beyond.

The young woman sat up quickly feeling dragons pain, "Vandi what is it?"

[Dragons burning Jazz-a-mean, dying horribly!] The small dragon began to
shake with the terrible feelings rippling through her.

"Oh Vandi!" Jasmine cried out hugging her scaly friend.  Vandira's pain
was felt sharply by the young woman and the two females huddled together
and wept.


[..] In the cavern after Ka'Laren's run in with Silvia.

"Little One!" Ka'Laren said.  Thinking she was asleep he lightly touched
the woman's shoulder . Jasmine looked up with tear-stained eyes. "Oh
Ka'Laren! It's terrible! Vandi is sad, some dragons got........", the
blue eyes widened in horror at the sight of the man. Ka'Laren was
covered with blood.

"Ka'Laren you're hurt!" Jumping up she began checking him over,
forgetting her own pain.  He made as if to protest, but Jasmine insisted
grabbing some rags she had stuffed in Vandira's saddle bags, then
dragging the big man over to the water she began to clean his wounds.

"Jasmine, I'm fine! It's just a few scratches!" The painted man said,
almost grinning at the frantic girl.

Jasmine pushed him down so he was sitting on a rock and Ka'Laren
protested half-heartedly, not totally adverse to the young woman's
gentle ministrations.  The heat of battle with Brona's lackey's was
still fresh and his blood burned with energy.  And the wild beauty's
hands moving over his chest and stomach wasn't helping to calm the fire.

"Ka'Laren, some of these look sorta deep," Jasmine said worriedly, as
she soaked the rags and kept wiping the wounds free of blood.  She felt
him tense at her touch, mistaking his reaction for pain she softened her
movements, then said, "I'm sorry Ka'Laren, I don't mean to hurt you."

Jasmine had no concept of what the heat of battle could do to the
opposite sex.  She was surprised when  the tattooed rider grabbed her
forcefully, pulling her onto his lap.  His rising need was plainly
evident to the young woman.  Jasmine tried to pull away but Ka'Laren
held her tightly. His lips found hers, his tongue forced her lips apart,
probing deeply until Jasmine moaned despite herself. His warm hands
forced themselves inside the tight leather vest, his thumb flipping open
the buttons easily.  His hand kneaded the soft skin as it moved upwards.

Jasmine gasped at the contact, the sensual manipulation igniting a fire
within.  The vest fell open as her hands slid up around Ka'Laren's neck.
Pulling him deeper into the kiss the curves of her full breasts pressed
against his bare chest causing the man to groan in delicious agony.

"Ka'Laren!" Amlan's deep voice broke the silence of the cavern making
the couple jump. Seeing his leader in such an interesting position, he
smiled slyly,  "It is time!"

"I'll be right there!" Ka'Laren replied, his voice husky with unspent
desire.  Pulling her upright to face him he stared into the blue eyes
now bright with lust.  His breathing was still uneven, his finger's
traced her jawbone, "Sweet, sweet Jasmine! Soon.....very soon, you will
be completely mine."

Jasmine shivered as she felt his hands close over her breasts teasing
the sensitive nipples. Her lips parted slightly as she leaned towards
the wonderful sensation.  Ka'Laren chuckled, "Oh Little One, you are a
tasty morsel and those tempting lips of yours are making it very hard to
leave." Moving her off his lap he said, "But I have to go, Amlan has
found more bad people."

The young woman's breathing was still ragged as she choked out, "I want
to help!" Pulling her vest closed  she stood up quickly.  Her legs were
shaky and Jasmine staggered slightly. Ka'Laren gently pushed her back
down. "Remember what I told you Jasmine!  In here, I know you are safe!"

"Play with Vandira, I will be back soon," he said in a tone that brooked
no argument.  Kissing her quickly, he started to leave before she could
protest further .

He was almost into the tunnel when Jasmine called after him, "Ka'Laren!
You won't let the bad people hurt Landon, will you?  Kalena and the
others too!"

With her own emotions at a high, Jasmine didn't feel, nor did she see
the rage that flashed across the painted man's eyes at the mention of
the Norwall rider. "No Jasmine, I personally, will make sure they don't
hurt Landon!"

Jasmine was puzzled at the odd tone in Ka'Laren's voice as he walked out
but she shrugged it off and went back to Vandi.

{Tag: Wil-if you want to add anything.}

Respectfully submitted,
Jasmine and Vandira
aka
Tree Deutscher
treedr@yelmtel.com

"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons - you are crunchy and taste
good with ketchup!"





 

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