She wanted to fly that was the answer. Since the fight with that Silver slayer she had barely slept, his claim she would need someone like him in the near future just annoyed her. She had never needed anyone least of all a Slayer. Unless she wished her life finished she would maybe go find one and died in a battle. But she was better with a sword then people gave her credit for. She sat on her tick bed and looked at her large windows. They were just barn doors which she had opened to let in the night air. With a sight she stood and moved to them looking down on the street. The city was celebrating tonight. The Princesses name day had caused the king to be lenient with drinking so everyone was taking advantage.

The city stunk of alcohol and bile from people who drank too much. She had to get out of the city tonight. She closed the large windows and moved down the bar stairs to her small stables where her horse was tied up. She whispered softly in Flames ear as the horse whickered in reply. Putting on her bridle she mounted up into the horse bare back and turned her form the stable. Dressed in her breached her and her shirt she kicked her horse into canter as she used the back roads to make it to the edge of the city. The further away she got the better she felt.

The wind through her hair she let a little of her glamour fall her eyes colouring more red her hair streaked with red. Breathing in the cool air as she cantered and then moved the horse into a gallop she let Flame go where she wished. Finally after what seemed like forever she pulled her horse to a stop in a huge clearing miles from any of the towns. Dismounting she moved away from her horse as not to spook her as she let go of her human form. It shimmered away in a blaze of flame and smoke.

Stretching her large dragon wings out she sighed in pleasure at being able to take her natural form. Her scales were every shade of red you could think of. Her eyes were large orbs of flames which could bore into someone’s soul and looked like she could scorch from the inside out. She snorted out deeply and shook out her large head long horns rose from her crown and back from her head to stand proud. Her wings coloured like living flame. She arched her head and beat her wings hard as her body lifted from the floor. Her body was thin and sleek she held power and that could be seen from the shape of her muscles along her back.

She climbed into the cloud line letting the small water droplet hiss when they touched her skin. She could pull the heat back in but right now it felt good to let her powers out. She had been holding them in for too long. That’s why she snapped at that Dragon Slayer, she was pent up and needed to spend sometime away from the damn humans and their pathetic ways of life. With a sigh of joy she banked to the right her wings outstretched, the Reed Mountains in the distance as she beat her wings steam rising from her body. She was possibly the oldest Red around, most were too foolish and kept getting caught. Fire charms were so popular so her people were hunted like it was going out of fashion.

She was enjoying the feeling of flying so much after so long she almost missed the scream of a child on the air. Her eyes snapped open as she sunk below the clouds so she could see what was going on. Tit did not take her eyes long to find the roaring fire of burning houses as a village was being ripped apart by what looked like 5 young mages. She snorted, she should just keep flying, just keep going, that’s right a little further and she would not be able to hear the screams…. Oh who was she kidding.

She banked hard left her body turning on a dime as she dove towards the flaming village. She could tell by the heat signature of the bodies on the floor they were dead but woman and children screamed as the 5 mages decided to try out new abilities on the populace. She dove from the sky, her body looking like it was going to slam into the floor. Her talons opened as one of the mages screamed a warning two seconds too late. It took her a sec to have two of them in her talons as she crushed the life from them without a thought. She turned sharply in the air as one threw what felt like an ice attack. She snorted she was too old for pathetic ice attacks to harm her.

She landed hard as the 3 remaining mages rushed at her. She lifted her upper body as sucked in a deep breath. They suddenly realised what she was about to do and turned to flee. Too late. She blew out a huge blast of fire. It hit them three on their backs, their screams rent the air as their smell of burning flesh joined that of the poor villagers. The flame stopped as she was face with one who had what looked like a fire charm. And not just want fire charm one against dragons breath. Smart mage. His friends were now dust on the air as she shifted down into her Drakos form.

Standing at 7ft and scaled red her wings folded up on her back she crouched down ready for his attack as he draw a glowing sword and ran at her. She easily avoided his blade as she used her tail to trip him up. Yes this mage was young, couldn’t have been more then 18 and he was acting like he had all the power. She was totally calm as he came at her again. Her talons ripped along his arm as he cried out and held it to his chest. She turned to him flicking her wings out. Pathetic, hardly a challenge.

She watched as the mage considered something then ran for it. Damn him! She jumped into the air her Drakos wings spreading. Drakos wings were not made for flying but they could glide. The mage ran into Village grabbing a small child. As she laded in the burning village the mage held the girl around her neck a blade to her throat. He was sweating the heat from the burning houses causing him to blink a lot as it rolled into his eyes. The fire did not bother her of course she stood looking like a god of old the fire licking around her.

“Get back, or she dies!”

Phina just looked at him. He was panicking. His arm was dripping blood all over the floor his sword was long forgotten on the floor back outside the village. She crossed her powerful arms over her chest. In this form she was virtually naked. Well she was naked, but scales covered everything important. Her eyes glowed with inner fire that matched the flaming village.

“Kill her and I will burn you from the inside out…..”

The mage swallowed hard he was trying desperately to think of a way out of this. She saw him back a choice as she narrowed her eyes. Suddenly the child was thrown towards one of the burning buildings. Some of her kind would have let the child die, she could not. She moved fast grabbing the child in her arms. She saw him throw something into the fire behind her as she turned her eyes picking out the fire charm he had been wearing. Oh gods he was insane. A fire charm like that could explode and take the village with it. She heard the hissing noise as she suddenly wrapped her wings around herself and the child. The mage thought he had won as he ran at her form.

Phina felt a sharp pain in her side, a burning sting; she knew she had been stabbed. Two more seconds. She had to hold on she felt another stab as the tell tail noise of the fire. The explosion rocketed outwards with a ball of flame. The mage never saw it coming. So happy was he that he was stabbing a dragon. The ball of fire enveloped her body and the mage as he cried out. She heard the small girl crying in her arms but she was safe in her arms.

When the fire ball vanished she stood up straight and put a clawed had to her side. Pulling it away she looked at the blood which coated her fingers. Damn that fucking mage. She put the girl down as she hugged tightly to Phina’s body.

“Its okay, you’re safe now…”

The small girl sobbed lightly as Phina looked around the village, half was on fire and if she left it so would the rest of it be. She sucked in a breath and sent her powers flooding out. She got control on each flame and began to extinguish it. Making fire die is very hard as all it wants to do is eat more food and burn. But as she concentrated the fires began to snuff out one by one. Letting out her breath her head pounding she felt the child let her go as she ran across the square towards a man and a woman. The woman picked the girl up and held her tightly as they walked towards her.

She tensed, humans did not take well to Dragon Kin in any form. She put her hand to the bloody wounds in her side and held it to them. She grimaced slightly as the man walked forward.

“Thank you Kin, I never thought I would thank one of your kind for anything… but you saved my daughter…. And our village, I am forever in your debt….”

Phina nodded to the man as the small girl gave her a wave. She smiled gently as she turned her attention back to the man. He held out his hand. She looked at him and blinked. Reaching forward she took his hand in her clawed one as he shook it she smiled slightly ignoring the stinging pain in her side.

“You are welcome…. Keep her safe….”

“I will Red Kin, thank you…. If ever you need anything….”

Phina nodded as the man turned and walked back to a gathering group of people. Many nodded to her some were a bit more reserved but they did not look hostile. She decided the better part of valour was getting out now before someone found something to start on her about. She spread her wings and took to the air in Drakos form. Using the wind currents she glided until she reached the tree line. Settling into her feet she shifted back to her human form her wings vanishing into her skin her skin becoming lighter and more human pink coloured. Her eyes remained flaming dragon’s eyes due to the pain in her side.

She pursed her lips and sent out a high pitched whistle as she leaned back against a tree and waited in the darkness. A crashing came through the forest as Flame trampled her way through the braches. She smiled as the horse butted into her side.

“Easy girl…. Back to the forge…. I need your eyes…”

Mounting up with a grimace and some colourful swearing she lay her body down so her chest was against Flames neck. Blood dripped from her hand covering the stab wounds. It dripped down the side of her horse as Flame trotted back to the forge as she was told. It took a while and Phina passed in and out. Over use of power and a few stab wounds some she could feel but not stop the bleeding on. When Flame stopped in her stable like she had been taught Phina groaned and slide from the horses back. She fell into the straw of the stable and just lay their. A few more minutes and she would get up.

The sellsword shouldered open the door to the small shoppe before the forge.
His sheepskin boots scuffed the floor stones as he turned to slam the wooden bracketed door behind him.
With a mutter in Borgian and a roll of his shoulders he was back at the counter.
He frowned at the lack of a tender and banged his fist down upon the countertop.

The Borgian Brown kin had come to the city two days prior to this one and taken payment for guarding a merchants caravan. His blade had been dulled during the skirmish with brigands who wanted the caravan's goods and he had no whetstone or grinding wheel.
He ran his fingers across the varnished oak of the counter top and felt the pitted surface between his fingers.
The earth screamed out to him at its abuse, building a city on such a fertile land had damaged it beyond repair and it had almost burst Ygg's head with the silent screaming.

After a day he had gotten used to the constant background noise of not only the earth but of the city. When arriving to Acathia, he was nearly deafened by the roar of the streets.
He had guested a tavern on the edge of the Market square and been directed to this place by the tender.
Now the curious Northman was waiting.
Ten long minutes went by but he was a patient man, being Kin, he had learnt to be. Only fourty, he was considered a youngling but he was no less fierce than a broody Redkin.

Then temper got the better of him and he called out in his thick voice.

" If ye be in the back there, would ye care to service a man! Me blades struck a rut an' I be needin' it fast like. "

Flame reared up at the noise in the smithy a crashing sound like barrels and bits of metal falling around. The noise was loud and should alert any anyone to someone else being back here. It depended on the person. So would take it as a sign they were not welcome others would come around to see what the noise was. With a groan Phina rolled to her good side and pushed herself up. Great customers at this point in the blood morning. She had no idea it was near the 5th hour and people were getting ready for a days work. She grabbed hold of the stable door and pulled herself to her feet. She had been enjoying the very warm straw which was a bad thing given she needed to tend her wound so she did not die.

She had no idea how long she had been down there but the straw was covered in red blood. She grabbed a cloth from the side and pressed it to the wound. A leather belt was next to hold the cloth in place. She swore as she tightened the belt around her. She saw black spots in her vision. She would actually have to thank this customer without his shouting she would have probably remained there and bled out. Stumbling to the back door to her forge she leaned against the door frame and looked at the man behind the counter.

She was sweating and extremely pale. Her eyes usually holding an almost glowing rig of red were dim as she looked at the man. If she could have smelt anything but blood she would have known he was a Brown Kin but right now blood was all she could smell. Her voice was strained filled with pain.

“Help... you?”

Stubborn Red Kin that she was she would not inform anyone she required help that was too much for her. She was sure she would be fine, which was totally stupid and had she been thinking clearly she probably would have asked for help. Her vision was blurry her head felt light. She made a mental note not to get stabbed again as her knees gave way and she crashed to the floor. If she could remain awake long enough she could close the wounds by cauterizing them but that require energy she did not have.

If this guy was a mage she was in for it, a dragon slayer even worse. Actually stop that reverse and twist it around least a dragon slayer would out right kill you. Who knows what a mage would do to you first.

Yggdrasil was a loud man when drunk, brash and daring when fighting but usually quite when not intoxicated or engaged in combat.
However when she stumbled into the shoppe front he exclaimed aloud in a rather inventive curse.

" Son o' a pig lover! What in the name o' Seven Hells happen' to ye? "

He took two steps forward and pushed the long warrior braid from his shoulder.
He placed his calloused hands upon the counter, weather beaten and scarred.
The hints of tattoo's disapearing beneath his fur lined vambraces.

" Look's like ye 'ad a misunderstanding with another Ruby? "

He could smell the Red in her blood, he couldn't do much about healing wounds, he wasn't a Purple, but he knew about binding and treating them. He'd damn well try if she let him, he hadn't found a competent smith yet.

Phina groaned and opened her eyes. Her side was burning as she focused and looked around. She was in bed, how on earth had she ended up in bed. Last thing she remembered was being on the floor. She could remember a deep voice shouting something, not idea what he had been saying. She put her hand to her side and found she was bound up tight. Looking down at her side and frowned in confusion. Who had bound her wounds? How on earth had she got to her room and into bed? With a swear word or two of her own she sat up her hand on her side.

Dragons recovered from wounds fairly fast but even a dragon could bleed out. She looked around her room which sat over the main forge. Who ever had found her and bound her wound and put her to bed did not seem to be in the room right now. She swung her legs from her tick and looked around the room. The fire was stocked and there was a leather beaker of water beside her bed. She was not about to argue with who ever had helped her. She leant down gritting her teeth against the pain. Picking up the water she downed it and panted after finishing it.

She remembered she had been flying then heard screams, she had killed a set of mage youngsters setting fire to a village. She had killed them hadn’t she? She remembered the child hugging her and the man saying thank you. She frowned as she got to her feet. She was still dressed in her breached but her breasts were covered by the large bandaged which went around her to hold the cloth to the wound. It was itching which mean it was slowly healing.

She used the table beside her bed to help her stand as she moved to the bucket of cold water beside the well door and dipped the cup in getting another full one before downing it. Who had done this? She could not remember. She was not overly disturbed by the fact someone had seen her half naked. She closed her eyes trying to remember a face, all she could remember was the smell of wet rock. Which was really odd in a forge. Her hand held to her side she moved towards the large panel window. She opened it and looked at the sky. It was dusk, she must have been out all day? A whole day’s work waist, great she was going to have to pull an all-nighter to catch up.

Yggdrasil shouldered the bedroom door open.
He was washing off soot and grime from his tattoed forearms with a white cloth.
He smiled seeing his patient awake.
The somewhat grounded warrior stepped in under the door frame and leant against the slightly sloped wall.
He was a hard faced man, robust jawline and over creased brows that gave off the impression he was frowning constantly.
He had removed all his armour and furs, they were downstairs in the palour kitchen. He was stood, rubbing his hands, in his sleeveless tunic, brown leather breeches and deer skin boots.

He sniffed before stepping forward to get a better look at her, as her back was turned he let his eyes again take a sneak of her body. Gods, she was a fine specimen.
Then he spoke up, his gravelled voice husky, the accent thick.

" Ye won' be alreet fer awhile yet Ruby, I seen te yer the best I could. "

He stepped up a small two step to the bed and looked at her, they were the same height, but his build was stocky and packed full of rock like muscle.
He took a sniff again, the sulphur like smell she gave off may have been irritating to a human, but to a Dragon like himself, it was bliss.

Phina turned to face the door as her savoir entered and she could not help the slight smile on her lips. She knew it, a Brown. She watched him move, she had only met a few in her time. They were generally found roaming the mountain ranger and very rarely did they come down to human cities. They did not like what the humans did to the world. Hell she didn’t but she could at least use her powers to make a living in this world. And being in it had curbed her temper amazingly. If she had remained with her village their would have been daily, and hourly fights of Red on Red trying to out do one another. She would not live like that.

His voice boomed through the room as she regarded his fine muscled form. He was a brown through and through. From the hard rock like muscles which graced his form, to the scent of wet rock and hard granite. He had a clear 2-3 days growth of stubble on his chin and a face which said he did not take fools lightly.

Ye won' be alreet fer awhile yet Ruby, I seen te yer the best I could.

He evidently knew what she was by calling her Ruby, it was a uplanders name for the Red Kin. She smiled slightly and sat down on the bed. The wound was burning and not in a good way. Give her an hour she would be able to heal the wound and get one with her job. She looked up at him with a smile and nodded.

“I thank you good sir… no doubt I would have expired had you not come along…

You’re a Brown uplander? What are you doing in the city? I did not believe the Rock Lords enjoyed the human buildings”

She moved to put the cup back down but gritted her teeth against the pain. Her muscles were screaming at her and the burn was constant. The pain did not bother her it was the fact it should be well on its way to healing right now and it seemed as new as it was when it was first made. Protecting a human child, she must have lost her mind. She should have just kept flying it was not like the humans had ever done anything good to her or her kind. But she could not let a child die regardless of who they had as parents.

He laughed.
It was a low gruff rumble as he moved up to the window and gazed at the city spread before them.
He shivered slightly and leant against the white washed wall.
He threw the long cloth up over his shoulder and folded his heavily tatoo'ed arms across his thick chest. The bear heads snarling as the skin stretched over muscle.

" Aye, ye would be deader than a wee bern caught in the snow. "

He let the chuckle die, then turned to gaze back out the window, his mucky brown eyes seemed alive with something deep inside of them.
He took another sniff of the air.

" She screams ye know? The earth, she screams at what these wee things do te her. "

He shrugged his shoulders and turned back to look at her. He lifted his hand and scratched at his chin growth avidly. His warrior braid rested upon his shoulder, his short cropped hair shining healthily in the low light.

" I'm a young pup, lived no longer than most of the humans scurring 'bout out there. Figured I'd see the world, live by sword and stomach. "

He threw a roguish grin forward with the sentence.

She watched him as she tried to make her powers close the wound she was not having much luck. She knew something was defiantly off. Her powers were retuning fast and she should have been able to close the wound. Yeah it would scar but she did not care too much. She held her hand to her side as she gritted her teeth getting to her feet. She was a dragon so the fact he has seen one of her forms naked did not bother her in the least. She walked over and joined him next to the window.

The city was spread for miles small chimneys sending out swirls of wood and coal smoke. The voices of people, shouting and laughing filling the air. The air itself was filled with human scent. She was so used to it now, but if she thought about it, she could smell their stink. She put her other hand on the window frame and watched as a pair of whores walked and flirted down the street.

“I know she does… but I hear metal… not rock… I take the metal the humans rip from her body and give it a purpose… it no longer screams when I forge it… it seems happy to be formed….

My name is Seraphina, of Red Clan Blaise…

Thank you… for saving my life… last time I save humans”

She pulled her hand away from the wound to find blood has seeped through to the bandage. She sighed and lifted her arm with a swear word in the Southlands language. She would have to change the dressing later. Right now she needed to find out why this Brown was in her forge in the first place.

“I assume you came for some metal work done…. I will see what I can do… it may take me a while… if you will keep a watch out for me I won’t have to use the forge….”

Ygg laughed heartily and turned from the window, ever restless unlike his elders, so content to sit on their rocks for days discussing matters of magicks. He on the other hand, preffered to run through the valleys and strike sword on sword with the worst the world had to offer, then get pissed.

He tucked his thumbs into his thick kidney belt, all manner of rabbit feet and strips of tattered fox fur clinging to it.

" Ye'll not be doin' n'thing fer a few days lass. Ye be restin' up, or do I have to ground ye myself with a pair of granite slippers? "

He gave a wry chuckle and fiddled with a brass buckle, his deep swirling brown eyes took in everything in the room.

" Me blade turned a trick in me 'ands and had an argument with another sword. Just needs a wee bit of smackin' an it'll be sorted. "

She chuckled at him, not many people ordered her around but then again she was not in the state to argue back. Besides did he not know Reds very well? She did not need a forge sharpen metal she cold run her fingers down a blade and it would sharper then anything a smithy could do on a wheel. She moved back to the bed with a few eloquent swear words for her trouble and looked at him.

He was defiantly not what she would suspect a Brown to be like. They were usually the wise thinkers who would take hours pondering over a simple decision thinking on all out comes. This one seemed a little more at odds with that way of things.

She lay down and looked at the roof of her home. If she had just stayed away from that village she would not be in this mess right now. But her soul and her conscience would not allow her to just fly away without trying to help it had been her way all her life. She wanted to go back home but she enjoyed helping the street kids much to the hatred of the well off bred people in the city.

She turned her head and looked at him. She wanted to do something for him. He had saved her life after all. Keeping her hand on her side she smiled. If she had been home one of her kin would have made him a fire charm or something.

It wasn’t in a Reds nature to owe anybody anything but she was not your usual Red. Having lived among humans for the last 200 years she had lear4ned to take help, kind of. And to give it where it was needed.

“Give me your swords… I don’t need a wet wheel to sharpen them… I specialise in metal work… you will see…. And I promise it will not be a strain on me…. I have to do something to thank you for saving my life…”

Ygg watched her.
She was a curious being, he had met two Redkin in his time.
Two twins by the name of Orgrath and Advengar, both with the temprement of Volcanoes.
He shuddered remembering the singed hair.

Ygg was somewhat of a progeny among his kind, the mating of his parents produced such a strong bond of blood his powers bloomed early.
He could manipulate rock to his will but controlling the very essence of the earth was another matter. He couldn't do the whole rock melding and earth shaking his kind could do, yet. He could just work rock like many worked metal or glass.

Yggdrasil nodded at her request and stepped from the room, he could be heard making his way down to the forge room, whistling a ditty from his clanlands.
When he returned he was carrying a thick belt strap with a bear fur wrap attatched to it.
He lifted the flap and set the sword upon the bedside table top.

He drew the longsword from the sheath and held his blade aloft.
His fine blue steel blade was beautiful, plated with copper blood runs and an intricate copper bear head pommel. Double edged and damn keen. The only blemish on this fine weapon was the dull patch upon the left side running five inches of the blade and several small cracks in the metal.
He handed the blade over revenantly.

" Here, tis me blade. Work ye wonders Ruby and I might make ye summin' fer ye forge. "

She watched him go with a smile. She did not spend much time around her own kind these days mostly because the longer they were hunted the hard the attitudes became. That Silver she had meat only days before had taking up hunting his own kind. But she was not sure any more, he wanted his blade to shatter maybe that was why, maybe he did not kill them? She could not be sure he had left with cryptic words about her future. She hated Silvers, always so pompous and foolhardy to believe their futures were set. Nothing was set she knew this for a fact. You could no predict something as changeable and as untamable of Time.

She waited until he returned and took the blade slowly in her good hand. It was a gorgeous piece of craftsmanship. Well made and well weighted. She held it in two hands one on the blade the other the pommel as she sucked in a slow breath and let it out just as slowly. No flame came from her mouth but the blade became to shift color to a more red-hot looking. It looked like it had been in a hot forged for an hour and that was with one delicate breath from Phinas lungs.

Her hand was on the red hot metal and it was not effected by the heat at all as she looked at the cracks on the metal word took her hand and ran her fingers over them. Then she blew on the metal again and repeated the procedure. She did this two more times on both sides of the blade before she was satisfied that the cracks were all gone and would not compromise the blade strength.

Holding the blade by the hilt she held it before her rubbed her thrum and forefinger together then ran them along the edges of the blade. It continued to glow red hot while she did this holding its heat. Her thumb on the top edge her forefinger on the bottom and what was left behind as she ran her fingers along the edge could only be described as a glowing line. She augmented the steel combination inside the metal hardening it to diamond hardness and making it sharper then any other sword a normal smithy could make.

She spent extra time on the blunt edge but soon the sword looked like a phantom glowing red with white lines running down both edges. She lifted her leather cup of water and poured it over the blade. It hissed and steam rose from the blade as she then ran the remained water along the sharpened edges. She smiled pleased her word was perfect as unusual. But she had lot track of time, 2-3 hours had nearly passed and she had hardly noticed.

She offered the blade back to him hilt first and smiled when he took it. She turned and lay herself back down on the bed with a grimace. Her side was tight and still not healing. She was sure it would, eventually. If not she would go find a purple. She closed her eyes to ease the pain in her side and lower back. Then turned her head to the side she needed to know if he liked it before she could rest.

He watched her work, his tongue held to his teeth as he watched her handle his blade.
He felt uneasy, another touching his sword, even if she was a Dragon, a damn good looking one at that.
Still it was his sword, his namesake and his fathers before him.
It was Yggdrasil much like himself, meaning, Dragon who Eats.

He blinked when she molded the metal and watched awe struck. His mouth coming open to hang as she did.
He accepted the blade gratefully, and swung it along the back of his hand, grabbing the blade and swishing the air with it.
He made three consecutive slashes in a fine motion.
It felt better wieghted than before.

" Stripe me Ruby, ye done a ken job on this'un i'll tell ye! "

The joy evident in his face as his muddy brown eyes lit up.

Phina chuckled at his evident joy at what she had done with the blade. It had been weight too far forward and she had moved the main weight back slightly. It now sat more in the hilt making the tang almost the full length.

It should also prevent shattering of the metal like before with the blade having more flexibility. She smiled and grimaced as she hissed in a breath and lay back on the bed. Her hand to her bad side she swallowed back bile rising in her throat at the wave of pain which had rolled over her.

She turned her hair and regarded him with pain filled eyes.

“You’re welcome…. Least I can do for the man who save my life…..”

She reached down and grabbed a cloth from the side of the bed dripping it into the bucket of water she then placed the wet cloth over the bandage which covered the stab wounds.

Hissing as heat from the wound started to evaporate the water on the cloth. She frowned. Okay that meant there had been something nasty on that blade and her body was trying to fight it off. No wonder she felt like shit.

“Not a good sign…. I can only hope that my body fights it off… what ever it is…. You’re welcome to stay…

There is a second room down stairs…. Or I can make a pallet up in here?”

Ygg grinned broadly and stowed away his blade in its bear skin sheath.
He patted the bronzed handle tenderly and then clutched it like a father holding a child.
This was his sword. No one elses.
He propped it against the wall and regarded the Red sat before him.

She was bleeding again.
He narrowed his eyes, that mage must have used a pretty nasty weapon to keep the wound weeping.
He would have to make up a better poultice and probaly a broth for her.

" Ye ken rest ye liddle heed on tha pillow there Miss, i'll make ye up a wicked brew that'll have ye righ' as rain in no time. "

He moved over and began to wet a cloth in the pail of water he'd left beside the bed.
He knelt down beside her and began to clean away the blood that seeped down through the bandage.

" I seen ye starker's afore so i'll kip up here on the floor, i'll make the pallet. Ye need ta rest yeself, need to ken an eye on ye. "

She hissed as he put the wet cloth over the wound and wiped away the blood. She was not used to having someone helping her. Lifting her arm she grit her teeth again the pain. If she hadn’t watched that blasted maze fry she would be hunting him down. Little sod, she was going to be ill for a while she could feel infection burning in her blood. Sighing slightly she closed her eyes as the cloth moved over her heated skin. She was a red her skin was generally hotter then most other dragons. When she was angry some humans could not even touch her without getting burned.

She chuckled at his words and stopped as pain lanced her side. A smile on her face.

“Ow.. ow… no laughing… laughing bad….

Well you saved my life, you’re more then welcome here…. Even if your allowed to keep your eyes for seeing me naked….

You still haven’t told me your name…”

She lay back down and looked at the rough man before her. Heat was causing her vision to blur she was not well at all. She hoped once her body got on top of the infection she would start to get better. She would pay him back for his kindness one day. She would make him a sword or something. Something no human or other dragon could rival. She had repaired and sharpened his blade but she could make him one as light as silk and has sharp as dragon fangs, hard as dragon scales and as beautiful as a dragon glistening in the sun.

“There should be salted beef in the cool room…. Might have some stew left over from last night…. Help yourself”

Ygg looked up at her as he bathed her side.
His forehead creased as he tilted his head at her, a faint smile playing on her lips.
He brushed away the blood and fished about in his belt pouch for a fresh roll of bandage.
He stuck the end between his teeth.
Threw a glance up at her and gave a roguish wink before he undressed the bloodied wrap from her body, letting her breasts see the world again.
He chucked the bloodied rag over his shoulder and took the corner of the bandage from his lips.
He began to wrap around her body, making her lift her arm so he could work.

" I'll make ye tha broth an' ye ken sleep a wee bit on it. I would ne chance eatin' till the morrer. "

He tucked the lip of the bandage in and made sure it was comfortably tight before he stood, rubbing life back into his knees.

" The names Yggdrasil, Ygg to you Ruby. "

She chuckled softly, Ruby was he going to insist on calling her that? She had held back the pain while he wrapped her side. The two wounds had looked red and very angry. Weeping blood which was a little too dark to be healthy. She watched him not modest about her naked chest before him.

She was a dragon after all, being naked was a human term and something they worried about. This was just a glamour she worse. Her real skin was a mix of reds and deep burgundy. She looked forward to the time when she could remain in her true form and not have to worry about being hunted for her blood.

“Thank you Ygg, please call me Phina….”

She waited until he was done before she lay back down grimacing in pain for a second before she settled herself on her back. She looked up at the ceiling and sighed softly. She was actually sweating a cold sweat. She needed heat, her body did to fight the infection.

“Would you please… build the fire… my body needs the heat…. To heal…”

She pulled a blanket up and around her shivering form as she watched him move around the room. Hell if she had been well she would have been admiring his body. He was well muscled and she could tell by the way he moved he was an accomplished swords man. Well she was admiring him to be honest but she was too ill to let herself pay that much attention, yeah she could keep telling herself that.

He was an earth dragon, lord of mountains and rocks. And fire dragons like herself were always attracted to the more stable because of their own instability. Closing her eyes against a wave of pain she just watched him move in silence.

Ygg clapped his hands on his knees and stood up.
He began to whistle a small tune to himself as he bustled over to the hearth.
He kicked the logs over so the fresh side burnt first.
He knelt down and drew a few coals out from a small coal pit beside the fire and struck flint to his belt dagger.
He soon had tinder stuck in the logs and a fire began to crackle into life.

He stood up, smoothed an ache out of his back and toddled off into an adjoining room to grab some extra linens and a small plump pillow for his floor-bed.

" Thar ye go Ruby, i'll be back up in a mo' wit ye brew. "

He turned on his heel and clapped the doorframe as he slipped through it.
He found himself in the kitchen, he hauled his travel pack up onto the counter and began to sort though for the herbs he needed.
He set a copper kettle to boil and began to sing to himself.
His voice was rough but easy enough to listen to.

" I'll take ye to the ends of the world,
I'll give ye the sun te hold,
I'll give ye the clouds to dry ye eyes,
Catch sunlight an ye'll be alrigh'
Crosses, so long, silence inside ye, waitn' to come forward'
The darkness will sing, an' i'll be there to hold ye. "

He stirred the last of the rosehip into the broth and took a sniff.
Honey, Lemonspur, Foxfoot, Rosehip and Ygg's special make-ye-better herbs.

He tottered back up the stairs and sat down upon the lip of the bed, whistling softly to alert her to his presence as he set the broth down on the bedside table.

" There ye be Phina', that'll have ye righ as rain in a tick. "

She let her body rest as the heat rolled through the room. She closed her eyes and began to drift into a light sleep. She could hear him moving around. And usually for her she was relaxed around a male of her species. She let the sleep roll over her mind as the heat seeped into her skin. She could feel it heating her blood and helping her healing along. Then she could hear a low voice, rumbling through from downstairs. She smiled slightly as she let his low timber of a voice roll through the room.

" I'll take ye to the ends of the world,
I'll give ye the sun te hold,
I'll give ye the clouds to dry ye eyes,
Catch sunlight an ye'll be alrigh'
Crosses, so long, silence inside ye, waitn' to come forward'
The darkness will sing, an' i'll be there to hold ye. "

She felt herself drift off finally the heat emanating from her skin. The next thing she heard was a soft whistle and the smell of herbs in the air. She rolled over with a groan and opened her eyes. She let her glamour roll off her body. She could not hold the energy to keep her human form. Being in Drakos was a lot easier.

The shimmering over her body was her skin turned into a marbled of reds and burgundy’s. She let out a breath and pushed herself into a sitting position. Her nails were now talons as she looked down at her red body. She was not used to being in Drakos in front of others. It had been so long since she had done it. Well other then the other night saving those people.

He took the bowl from him the smell of the herbs rising with the steam. Taking the wooden spoon from him she sipped the broth and smiled to her guest and new friend. The broth was hot and tasty and it made her feel better at least.

“Thank you, this is wonderful….”

Ygg watched her, his eyes widened in suprise when she shifted.
He'd only ever seen himself and other Browns in that state.
He'd never seen another of his kind shift into Drakos.
He himself having ever only done it twice.
He spent too much time around humans.

" I ken see ye beauty passes on te ye gribbly form, eh? I jus look like a moss suffering pebble. "

He let a cheeky grin encompass his lips before he scratched at the shadow lining his chin.

" Tis en old family brew, helps with everyting. From a wee runny nose to a full on split heed. "

She tried not to laugh at his words. Moss suffering pebble. She would never be able to look at his Drakos form and no laugh now. She held her side as she chuckled softly trying not to laugh. Which made it worse of course. She took another mouthful of the tasty broth and looked at him.

“A moss suffering pebble? I am sure you have more power in Drakos… but even in your human form, you display impressive physic and tone….

And this broth is wonderful, making me feel better already..”

She didn’t mean the wound as such. Just inside she was feeling more lighter and in less pain at least. Less pain was good. Until she could finally heal this wound she was going to be stuck with the pain. But she could easily put up with the nurse, he was pleasant to be around. Even if to understand his accent you needed an intricate decoder system and knowledge in local tongues.

“Why are you in the human realm… I did not think the mountain dragons ventured into the human world…

I have never seen one…. I saw a silver the other day… male dragon slayer… blood carrion feeder… living off killing his own kind….”

She hissed as she caught her side while trying to sit up. Taking another spoon full of the broth and sipped it and looked at him. There was something it this to make her sleep she could smell it. But right now she didn’t care as long as she would have the chance to sleep without pain it would be worth it. And she may have just met this male but she trusted him. He had saved her life and looked after her while she slept before. he deserved trust.

Ygg laughed with her, his voice like gravel.
He shrugged his massive shoulders and slipped his hands into his pockets.
He turned and plopped his arse down upon the edge of the bed.
He turned to look at her, his skin could feel the heat radiating from her Drakos form.
He could pick out the curvy lust of her form even through the scales and knew he'd found a good hearted friend with a good body.

He looked on out the window as the sun began to settle.

" Don'ne know really. I'm young, real young, got bored sittin' amongst the rocks an' things. In the Borgia's people and the Kin live in harmony, hence why ye never see a Borgia in the mainlands. "

He took a deep breath of the air, letting the familiar smell of the broth enter his stony lungs.

" I guess I miss me ma an' pa, but I canne sit on a rock an' natter on aboot tha world allday. I'm too fidigty, need to be out there doin' summin, ye ken? "

She listened to him as she put the bowl on a crate which acted as her bedside table. Her chest felt less tight and warmth was spreading through her body. He had been a wonderfully lucky find. The fates had been kind to her this day.

The male had found her near death and had been looking after her since. She smiled feeling the herbs working through her blood making her drowsy. She knew she needed sleep in order for her body to heal fully. Turning to look at him she smiled at his last words. She knew how he felt that’s what she left the Southlands as a child.

She still remembered her home, a mountain range filled with red of all colours with all powers which ranged from fire to molten rock manipulation. She had been one of the few who wanted more then just sitting around a cave waiting for some male who caught her fancy.

“I understand… I was worn in the Southlands… couldn’t stand being one of hundreds of Red Kin all just… just sitting around….

I needed to do something with myself… with my talent for metal… so I came here… hid myself…. I do not regret it…

I see sometimes the humans changing getting worse hating that which they do not understand…. But I also see those who try and help us…. Who get their lives ripped from them for it…”

She lay her head down on the straw pillow and closed her eyes. The pain was lessening but she figured it was mainly down to this broth sending her to sleep.

Ygg listened to her,
He watched the stars begin to twinkle outside in the blanket of indigo.
He smiled to himself.
His father had always said each one of those was a Borgia Dragon, dead and gone, but watching down and guiding each of his steps.
Part of him believed it,
Call him superstisious, but he was a Dragon.

He turned to look at her when the words stopped and she was having the comings of a light sleep.
He lifted himself from the bed and busied making his pallet.

When he laid his head upon the lumpy pillow he fell into a quick sleep.
It came with being a Brown Kin, sleep was something that was easier than breathing was.

When she would wake, he would still be abed.
Sprawled face first upon the broad beams, short stumped wings limp across his stone scaled back, the muscles thick and moss coloured. His lizard face ridged and thorny, spiked with stone curls and horns.