{Day 15 Mid-evening in the cavern}

[Jazz-a-mean please! Quit pacing, you are making me crazy!]

*I coulda helped!"

[You heard the female rider, they want to hurt you! Nostragus's rider is
only trying to protect you!]

Sitting on the edge of the pool she swirled her hand through the water
making shapes with her fingers.  Sighing to herself, "I know!"

[The painted one likes you a lot!]

Sighing again, Jasmine answered, *I know!*

[It doesn't feel the same though, I like Vlad's rider better! You get
all sorts of tingling like!]

Jasmine stared into the water and Landon's silhouette appeared before
her. The young woman reached out to touch the handsome face she had come
to know so well.  Jasmine frowned slapping the water to dispel the
image, *It doesn't matter, Vlad's rider doesn't like me better!  If he
did he wouldn't have tricked me like he did! Ka'Laren was right, if
Landon cared he wouldn't treat me like a baby! He would've come!*

Vandira sighed, [I know, but I wish.....well....I wish we could go back
Jazz-a-mean!] The small dragon's thoughts took on a whining tone, [I
don't like living in the forest. It's cold and Nostragus doesn't like to
cuddle much and sometimes he's mean and yells at me. I want our cave! I
want to cuddle with Vlad!]

The green dragon softened her tone, adding a little hopefully, [If we go
back, you don't have to cuddle with Vlad's rider, do you?]

Jasmine hung her head, her lower lip trembling, she rubbed her eyes
trying to fight back the tears that threatened. *But I want to!* she
answered sadly.  Jasmine slumped against her scaly friend.

*At least Kalena came, even though she's always mad at me for something.
Vandi I was so mean, I told her to go away and I left her all alone.
She's not a very good hunter, all she caught was a rabbit.*

[Eewww yuck! Maybe she went back! Maybe if we go back you can teach her
to hunt better!]

Jasmine continued as if she hadn't heard the small dragon, *But that
lady said they were gonna x..x.a," Jasmine said stumbling over the word.
"She said they were gonna hurt her!  Oh Vandi, it's all my fault! I
shouldn't have left her like that!"

Pacing, Jasmine said aloud frantically, "I gotta do something?!

[Oh Jazz-a-mean! I hope you're not thinking, what I know you're
thinking!] the green dragon groaned helplessly.

Jasmine strapped on the dagger and sword, then grabbing her spear she
looked at her green friend, "You stay here, I can move faster by
myself!"

[Oh-Oh! I just knew you were gonna do something foolish! Nostragus's
rider said to stay here!  Those were very bad people today! I didn't
like them at all.! I don't want you to be hurt Jazz-a-mean!]

*I won't be! I'm a good hunter and a good fighter.*  Hooking the
necklace thing on the saddle Jasmine was in the tunnel moving rapidly
towards the cave entrance before Vandi could object further.

[Ooohhh! We're gonna be in so much trouble! Nostragus is gonna yell at
me again!" The green dragon whined more to herself than her rider.
[Jazz-a-mean, all I gotta say is you'd better hurry up and get back here
quick!]

Jasmine moved stealthily through the dense forest canopy.  Stopping to
get her bearings she sniffed the night air, the smell of smoke drifted
up to her.  Dropping easily to the ground she headed in that direction.

[..] At Brona's campsite

The siege on Norwall had begun, and an uneasy silence hung over Brona's
camp.  Only a handful of guards stood watch over the prisoners.  With
both in a semi-comatose state there was no need for anymore than that.

Jasmine crept silently around the camp's perimeter.  Her movements were
catlike through the underbrush as she checked the area.  Before she had
even gotten in sight of the camp,  the strong smells from the area had
overwhelmed her.  This was a bad place, sweat and blood hung in the air
and then there was fear, a fear such as she had never felt before spread
over the camp. The feeling was intense and overwhelming, swirling in the
air like a dense fog seeping into everything it touched.

Jasmine fought off the unreasoning emotion, holding it in check the best
she could.  Shutting her eyes for a moment she took a deep breath and
exhaled slowly allowing the forest to once again take hold of her.  Age
old instincts asserted themselves and with each step the young woman
became less human. With each breath, her rearing brought forth the power
of the dragon, embracing the child within.

She scaled a nearby tree easily and perched on a limb above the camp,
watching.  The patch on the men's clothing was the same one the woman
was wearing earlier. As she watched them a deadly calm came over
Jasmine. This was her domain and these men were intruders, they brought
evil to her forest, there would be no mercy.

One of the men standing by the fire poured himself a cup of coffee.
Laughing to his friend he walked towards a tree and kicked something
lying on the ground. Her sharp hearing picked up a gasp of pain.
Earlier, she had noticed something in the shadows, but thought it had
been an animal tied to the tree.  The sound identified it as human.

"Hey Cal, you wanna have some fun!" Orin said staring down at his
victim.

The other man came over and did the same thing and laughed.  The sound
chilled Jasmine to the bone. The forest had grown quiet and the low
growl that rumbled in her throat carried on the night air.

"What was that!" Cal asked quickly. Calling out to the two perimeter
guards, he waited till the men showed themselves.  Questioning them they
shook their heads in answer.

Slapping Cal on the shoulder Orin laughed, "You're hearing things!
Probably just some dumb animal!"

The other two men joined them joined them by the fire and the four began
taunting the person on the ground. From the way the men talked Jasmine
was sure it was a man. But who?  She wished she could see more clearly,
but the man was covered with so much blood it was hard to tell anything,
other then he was alive.

The young woman glanced at her hand, then slowly moving her fingers as
to count her enemies.  The odds were against her and she still hadn't
found Kalena. But bad odds had never stopped her before and  Jasmine was
sure she had picked up her sister's scent earlier, unfortunately there
were so many other smells in the air now, she couldn't distinguish it.

The four men stood around the fire laughing and joking and kept pointing
to one of the tents.  One of the guards shook his head and disappeared
back into the bush.  Following him to his lookout point she waited. Blue
eyes watched for the right moment then like a phantom of the night she
appeared,  plunging her dragon's tooth deep into the man's chest. The
gasping sound he made as his life force slipped away was all that was
heard as the woman disappeared into the darkness.  Hurrying back to her
place in the tree Jasmine was just in time to see Kalena dragged roughly
from the tent.

Anger filled the wild woman seeing her sister like this.  It was obvious
they had hurt Kalena, one cheek was swollen and purple.  Silently
reaching out to the tiny woman Jasmine started slightly.  There was
nothing, she felt nothing from Kalena. *Maybe I'm too far away!* Jasmine
thought.

The men were focused on taunting their new victim so Jasmine moved
gingerly through the leafy canopy to another more closer perch.  From
her new vantage point she could hear the men much better.

"Aye, tame as a lamb she be. This one's broken for sure.  I would sure
like to meet that sister of hers though," the man snickered slyly.

Cal returned the laugh, "Me too!  I hear tell she be a wild one."

The man laughed at Cal and Orin, "I thought for sure Brona was gonna
split a gut when that maniac Ka'Laren told him he had the wrong girl."

Cal and Orin both looked rather sheepish, Brona had not been too happy
with them bringing the wrong sister.  But thankfully their leader saw
the benefit of having both and didn't take their heads, as they thought
he might.

Jasmine listened intently and anger consumed her. *They hurt Kalena
cause they thought Kalena was her!  But how did they get her, where was
Doni?*

A groan of pain came from the one tied to the tree, drawing her
attention. Unfortunately, it also drew the attention of the men.

Orin grabbed a heavy stick, and walking over to the person began hitting
him with it. "You and your kind will soon be gone from this land, then
normal people can live in peace."

Cal grabbed the stick away, "Leave him alone Orin, he's half dead
already! Brona wants him alive for the execution.  Bending down he
grinned maliciously at the prisoner, "Tonight we purge Norwall of the
likes you and your kind!  Monsters, all of you!" Glancing over at the
woman he grinned, "But nothing says we can't have a little fun first."
Grabbing a fist full of hair he jerked the battered face upright. "And
as our honored guest, you can have a front row seat!"

Jasmine strained to see who it was, but the one called Cal blocked her
way. *Purge Norwall, what did that mean? It didn't sound good, whatever
it was.*

Turning her attention back to her sister Jasmine grew worried.
Something about Kalena was all wrong, Jasmine still couldn't feel
anything from the small woman. No fear, no pain, nothing. It was as if
Kalena was not even there.

The men started grabbing and pulling at her clothing, and laughing. It
was a terrible vicious laughter that sent chills up the wild woman's
spine. The sound rang through Jasmine's head causing stabbing pains,
bright flashes of light filled her mind.  Shaking her head Jasmine tried
to focus.

The one called Cal slapped Kalena hard then pushed her onto the ground
and began pulling her clothes away.  In that instant the two sister's
locked eyes and what Jasmine saw there sent her reeling.  Staggering
back along the limb she dropped to the ground, her legs gave way and the
young woman fell to her knees.  Memories of a time long past flooded her
mind.  The eyes, the same eyes as before, empty and forbidding. *Run
Jilli, run! Run away as fast as you can!*

Jasmine grabbed her head trying to blot out the pictures invading her
mind.  The eyes, the voice, *Nana! Don't make me g.....*  Jasmine held
her head rocking forward into the cold ground.  *Jilli run! Run baby,
don't look back, just run! Hide yourself*  The pain in her mind blotted
out all else  *Nana! Monsters are coming! I can see them Nana! Run
Jilli!* The door to Jasmine's mind closed as swiftly as it had opened.
The young woman lay still, silent and unmoving, the cold ground pressed
against her cheek.  Laughter from the camp drifted to her bringing her
to her senses.

Primal rage seared the young woman, the inhuman scream that tore from
her throat rippled across the forest sending the animals scurrying for
their burrows, for the animals knew that sound all to well.  It was the
sound of death stalking their home.

The spear came out of the darkness piercing Orin through the chest.  He
was so surprised, a stupid grin spread across his face as he fell to the
ground. The other man instantly drew his sword ready for battle.  The
dragon's tooth pierced him in the back of the neck, the point of the
dagger shining red in the firelight under his chin.  He made a gurgling
sound as he fell face first into the fire.

Cal rolled off of Kalena and grabbing his sword was on his feet.  All
was silent as he turned in circles. Glancing at the fallen men, sweat
ran down his face.  The smell of burning hair and flesh permeated the
air making him gag.  Staggering slightly, he grabbed the dead man by the
leg and pulled him out of the fire. The snapping of a twig made him
swing around, then another and another until he was almost dizzy.

His voice was filled with panic when he called out, "Show yourself!"  He
was answered only with silence. Glancing at Kalena he noticed she was
staring at him, the blue eyes were eerily vacant.  Feeling a presence
behind him the hairs stood up on the back of his neck and he froze.

"I'm Jasmine! I hear you wanted to meet me!"

Cal was still staring at Kalena's blank face, he noticed at the sound of
the feminine voice a hint of a smile appeared on the little woman's
face. Preparing himself he tensed, then swung around his sword ready,
only to find no one there.

Slightly relieved, he exhaled deeply, turning back, pain seared through
his sword arm as his hand was sliced from the wrist. Screaming in agony
he tried to stem the flow of blood and at the same time grab his sword
with his good hand. The blade made no sound as again it sliced through
the air, just as neatly taking off the other hand. Blood spurted from
the ends of his arms and the man screeched in pain.

"You hurt Kalena! You won't ever hurt anyone again!"  Jasmine said
softly.  The words came to the man more as a statement of fact rather
then a threat.

He looked cautiously towards his tormentor trying to stem the flow of
blood from his arms.  Cal's eyes grew huge as his they fell on the
unholy apparition before him. Brona had been right, the woman was the
spawn of the devil himself.

Jasmine was standing near the fire, not realizing how she appeared, nor
really caring.  The long russet-colored hair swirled wildly around her
tanned body.  The shiny tresses reflected the firelight surrounding the
young woman with a fiery glow.  She stood ready for battle, the jeweled
sword swinging lightly in her hand. The blue gems on the sword shone
brightly in the firelight winking like huge eyes to torment him and the
blade was red with blood.

Cal, weak from loss of blood, fell to his knees babbling, begging for
mercy. The she-demon stood before him like a pagan warrior queen ready
to claim her due.

Jasmine, having no idea what the man was babbling about advanced towards
him.  All she knew was that this man and the others, would never do to
another, what they had done to her sister.

Seeing her move towards him Cal jumped up staggering as he tried to run.

The loosely swinging sword snapped into place, a deadly projection of
the slim hand.  The blade swung low coming from beneath catching Cal in
the groin, it was jerked upward with such force the man was split open
to his chest.  Staring into his terrified eyes, Ka'Laren's words filled
her mind.  *Mercy is for the weak at heart!" Jasmine snarled as she
ripped the sword free.

The man's pathetic screams...

filled the night air....

then slowly...

died...

as the man known as Cal...was no more.

Jasmine looked around her,  the blue eyes took in every detail of the
bloody carnage. A change came over the hushed forest. It was as if the
animals of the forest knew that the bringer of death had been fulfilled
and the night sounds slowly returned.

Quickly retrieving her weapons, she wiped them clean of blood on the
dead men's clothing. Then stripping the corpses of theirs she dropped
them into a pile, her thought being to take the weapons with her.

A movement from Kalena got her attention and she moved quickly to her
sister. Helping the small woman sit up Jasmine grabbed the clothes and
tried her best to help Kalena dress.  The human side of Jasmine began to
return  and the young woman began to babble.

"Kalena, I'm so sorry this is all my fault! I shouldn't have run away,
but you're always mad at me and Landon...and Landon well he......"
Sighing she stared into the vacant eyes.  "Oh Kalena, please be mad at
me, anything!" A sob escaped her lips, "I can't feel anything! Laugh!
Yell at me! Tell me I'm bad!  Just do something!"

A swirling wind hit Jasmine's back and she looked up to see Doni land
haphazardly.  The lavender dragon walked as if she'd had too much of
Mentorn's wine.

"Doni, are you ok?" Jasmine asked concerned.  The dragon let out a loud
angry roar in answer.  She staggered to the two women and began to sniff
and nudge her rider with her nose.

"Doni, I don't know what to do!" Jasmine cried, "I can't feel her, can
you?"

Huge pink eyes looked forlornly at her rider's clutchmate.

Jasmine watched the dragon closely as she continued to nudge her rider
and Doni's frustrated came through full force.

"We've got to get her back to camp, Doni. I don't think you should fly
right now. You'll have to follow me."

A muffled sound snapped Jasmine to attention. She was on her feet in an
instant her sword in hand.  Jasmine's eyes narrowed as she looked around
the camp but saw nothing. Sniffing the night air was useless as the
odors of the kill blotted out everything else.

The sound came again only this she realized someone was calling her
name. Remembering the other prisoner Jasmine moved cautiously towards
the bloody mass.

'Jasmine," came the voice but it was so weak that it was barely audible.

Kneeling next to the prisoner Jasmine stared into the mangled face, her
mouth fell open as recognition hit her.  "Link! Link! What are you doing
here?" Following the chains that bound him Jasmine tried unsuccessfully
to break the lock.

Shouts came from the distance, moving in their direction.

"Go!" Link muttered, "Get away!"

"I can't leave you!" the young woman said frantically beating on the
chain.

"Jasmine, take Kalena and go!" his voice came more firmer this time.

Jasmine looked around the camp. Kalena was still sitting half dressed
with Doni sadly nudging her.

"Go!"

"I'll come back!"

"No! Take care of your sister!"

Torn, Jasmine was at a loss, but the shouts were getting louder. Rising
she looked down at the man then started for her sister.  Stopping by the
pile of weapons she grabbed a knife then ran back to the rider and slide
it down into the backside of his boot out of sight.  Patting the boot
she looked at him, the man nodded and Jasmine ran back to the pile of
weapons and slid them into Doni's saddle. Looking back she noticed Link
had moved so that the knife could not be seen.

She grabbed the rest of the clothing and pulled Kalena to her feet.
Looking at the saddle she exhaled in frustrated as the shouts continued
to come closer.

"C'mon Doni!" Jasmine said pulling Kalena along. Several times Jasmine
stopped and listen then went back and covered the trail and the trio
disappeared into the forest.

{Tag: Dianne - Hope this works for you!}
{Tag: Link - Hope I didn't screw things up but she just couldn't leave
him without helping somehow}

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!"

Special thanks to Josh for help with my bad grammar!
































































 

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