Chapter 10

The two dragons ran in the direction Runetide had sensed the magic surge. 

'What made you change sides?'

'You did' Runetide said simply, 'your compassion for Farren after Anna' Runetide stopped, 'and he lied to me that to, he is letting Aborwrath through that's a key point.'

'well I'm glad you finally saw sense it would have been annoying to fight you as well' Serafin smiled sardonically, 'I mean imagine if I had to spend time fighting you instead Mr bisected black over there and his silent twins.'

Runetide shook her head in mock disappointment, 'yea just imagine, I have decided we should have stayed in contact' she stopped suddenly putting a hand on Serafin's chest.

'We are near' she said, whispering closing her eyes.

'what do you see' Serafin asked.

'nothing there blocking me.'

'ok then' Serafin said, 'we're going in blind.'

'let's do it' Runetide said with determination.

They both took the literal plunge they burst out of the forest and leapt over the cliff they hit the water in combat stances crouched low side by side claws outstretched, they were standing in the middle of the lake, the water lapping at their shins

The twins stood there impassively 'it is too late' they said at some time, in the same monotone voice.

Serafin stood up straight, 'look you would not believe the number of times I have heard that please could you just surrender?'

One of the twins smiled, 'you and I both know that's not going to happen.'

'Ok' Serafin said, 'it was worth a try and for what it's worth I'm not going to enjoy this.'

'In two minutes, it won't matter' the second twin said.

'Ok' Serafin said she nodded at Runetide, 'you ready?'

'Ready' Runetide said.

They both charged roaring, the twins stayed still.

Serafin felt the burn of lactic acid as she charged at the twins this is going to be one hell of a fight she thought, she slammed into the first twin.

Runetide went to swipe at the second twin but it ducked under leapt forward Runetide felt an elbow impact her side she brought hers down and was rewarded with a howl of pain she brought a solid slab of water into the second twin's jaw, the twin backed up bleeding from her nose she growled. 

Serafin was not having a good time the first twin lifted her up and slammed Serafin to the cliff face.

Alex felt the ground tremble and heard a raw of pain Farren was beginning to stir now, he made a snap decision he stood up.

'Farren stay here' he said leaving Farren sitting up and looking slightly dazed, Alex started running towards the sounds of fighting.

The first twin smashed he fist into Serafin 's ribs, Serafin roared in pain she definitely had some broken ribs, the twin drew back her fist again but Serafin was ready as she brought it down Serafin caught it and pushed back with all the strength she could muster, then using her shoulder she slammed into the first twin and the first twin overbalanced and fell crating a fifteen-meter tall wave as it hit the water.

Runetide took a punch to the shoulder she grabbed the twins arm then she heard the impact of a dragon hitting the water, the twin herd it to and was distracted Runetide wrenched the arm she was holding the twin stunned was pulled forward into Runetide's elbow its windpipe was crushed.

Runetide grabbed the dragon's jaw and wrenched it up and to the left, there was the unmistakable sound of crunching vertebrae Runetide dropped the limp body, it hit the water she looked over to Serafin.

Serafin howled in pain as a fist crunched into her already damaged ribs, she tried to claw at the twin's face, but it just jumped out of range Serafin's arms and legs were burning.

'go' Serafin said, 'disable the portal' she shouldn't have done that it was barely a second, but it was the twin needed.

She felt a white-hot pain as its claws dug under her scales and swept up cleaving through scale and flesh Serafin almost passed out, she fell back hitting the cliff that surrounded the lake she was bleeding freely she tried to stop the bleeding but the blood was gushing out the ragged hole in her side, and through her fingers, the twin was holding something a curved bone she raised it up.

Runetide rushed forward to the centre of the lake, there it was the circle of runes she frowned as they began to work on them they were for creating a beacon, she frowned then how did she through then the realization hit her like a sledgehammer, they didn't create a portal from another planet this was a beacon Aborwrath had changed her strategy which meant shit- Runetide cut thru the master rune disabling the beacon.

Serafin roared in pain, Runetide looked up she watched the twin raze one of Serafin 's horns aiming for the heart she stood but she wasn't going to make it in time, but then Alex leapt from the top of the cliff and using his sword he stabbed the twin in the eye.

It screamed in pain dropping the horn, its hand flew to it eye but too late Alex sliced down there was an explosion the Aqueous humor burst out then Alex dropped, he placed his sword the twins throat and slit it, blood gushed out in a fountain Alex leapt from the dragons shoulder has it fell gasping for air, Runetide caught him mid-air before he hit the red-stained water.

Blood was running freely from the gaping hole in her side

'Alex' Runetide said he leapt from her hand to her shoulder holding onto her hair, 'there's not much I can do' Alex said 'healing that plus helping you earlier he shook his head. 

Serafin smiled, 'didn't think I'd go you this way' her grip in the wound weakened Runetide put a hand to Serafin's wound 

'I'm sorry' Serafin she said.

Serafin nodded smiling, 'it's ok I have accepted my fate.'

I stood on the edge of the cliff, 'right' I said I could feel the tears welling in my eyes, 'well I haven't.'  

Serafin looked up at me her eyes widened, 'How are you' she said weekly.

'Awake' I answer I shrugged 'no idea but that I can tell you is that you're not dying today.'

The colour was fading from Serafin's scales now her grip one the wound was loosening further.

'Runetide' I said haltingly 'could you' she nodded scooped me up and held me near the gaping hole in Serafin's side I place my hand on hers her scales feel cold. 

'I will not let you die' I said gritting my teeth not today I felt it deep down the will to save Serafin and came to me again the shimmering golden form I told it what to do, I willed to save Serafin fix the wound it nodded a small segment of the creature broke off I opened my eyes and there it was a shimmering white orb it passed from me to Serafin through her hands everyone gasped Runetide almost dropped me.

'How did you do that?' Serafin said awe in her voice

She took her hands away I watched fascinated as fresh formed over the bones and then skin flowed over and then scales grew over the raw red skin a little colour had returned to Serafin's scales.

'I think' Runetide said almost trembling, 'I think he just gave you some of his power like a fragment or shard of his soul I don't know.'

Serafin chuckled weekly, 'in all my considerable years I have never seen someone do that' she held out her hand 'come here you.'

I hoped from Runetide's had to Serafin's and she lowered herself gently into the water until it was lapping at her abdomen, she put me on her chest and rested her head against the cliff wall.

'Would you two likes to be left alone for a bit' Runetide said smiling.

Serafin still with her eyes closed flipped Runetide the bird.

She laughed, 'I will take that as a yes, come on Alex, let's go and get something to eat.'

I lay down suddenly feeling very tired Serafin's scales where warm and inviting I laid down on her chest she gently placed a hand over me and slowly, I began to drift off.

There are just some things that bring people together, common interests, spontaneous meetings at parks but for me and Serafin, it was a near-death experience.                          

Serafin dropped me at home later that night, mum was asleep when I got home so I went to bed again that was one hell of a Sunday when I woke up the next morning I put on my school uniform and snuck out making sure not to wake my sister, I ran to get the early bus to school I had a fill-in teacher to see I found her outside the staff offers 'Runetide' I said.

'Yes, Farren' she answered.

'What are you and Alex going to do?' I asked.

She smiled, 'were going to head back to Archasia.'

My face fell, 'hay remember you can come and see us any time and I will be visiting you both.'

'Awesome' I said smiling hugged Runetide around the waist, what with her being two meters tall, it was very hard to hug anything else.

'Thanks for not murdering me and Serafin and saving Serafin's life'

Runetide raised an eyebrow, 'you and I both know that it was you that saved Serafin, now run along to class now young Farren I will see you when I see you next' I nodded and ran to my next class.

'Also tell Alex I forgive for being a jack ass to me.'

Runetide watched Farren run off to his next class the smiled. 

This time she thought, this time it will be different. 

She remembered what she had to tell Alex she turned and opened the door to the staff room, ducking under the door frame.

At the end of the day after school, I had not been very good at concentrating today I got home and said a quick hello to Mum and my sister I said something about a friend's house for a sleepover.

'Wow that was quick' mum said.

'I know right socializing, I'm good at that.' I say smiling.

'Have fun' my sister said. 

'I will' I call back down the hallway, shrugging off my uniform and putting on my favourite jacket and jeans 

I ran into the forest I traced the familiar path to the glade, where I and Serafin met six days ago It felt like so much longer and there she was Serafin lying down fast asleep. 

I gently nudged her finger, 'Serafin' I called gently she didn't move. 

She just lay there her chest rising slowly her breathing rhythmic and slow I gave up trying to wake her and instead clambered up on to her chest she was beautiful asleep, her face was calm her eyes closed, she looked at peace and I didn't want to wake her so instead I lay down on her chest feeling her heartbeat my under her scales witch emanated warmth I was tired, my eyes slowly closed.

I woke up slowly rising from slowly from sleeps embrace Serafin must have woken up some point she had placed a hand gently over me but now she sound asleep again, I lay there processing what had happened yesterday l looked up at Serafin her eyes closed her head resting on her chest I slowly and carefully wormed my way out from under her hand, she was breathing deeply and slowly I gently stroked her snout and ran my hand over jaws she scales soothing and warm always warm there was a strand of hair over her eyelid I gently moved it tucking it behind her ear, Serafin's eyes gently fluttered open.

'There you are, awake at last' she yawned, stretching her arms out slowly.

'Here I am' I say.

Serafin opened her jaws and licked me, her tongue was rough like a cats tongue.

'Ah' I exclaimed, 'what did you do that for?'

'It was a kiss' Serafin said, 'for saving my life.'

I blushed and sat down on Serafin's shoulder, I reached out and slowly and stroked her hair it was long and silky smooth.

'So' Serafin sighed contentedly, 'what do we do now?'

'I don't know' I said looking into her eyes, 'whatever you want I suppose.'

'Let's just lay here for a bit more shall we?' Serafin asked.

I laid down again gently stroking Serafin's snout Serafin slowly drifted back to sleep, I lay there watching the sunrise slowly wondering, what am I going to do now, it's not like many people have dragons for friends or anyone on this continent if they find out I don't know what I'm going to do. Then it came to me as I sat there I gently nudged Serafin 

'hay' I whispered, 'you're going to miss the sunrise' she leaned her head to the side, so we were touching.

I felt Serafin's heart beating and I sighed contentedly, and we watched the sunrise.

Epilogue

Aborwrath was not happy she was quite the opposite, in fact, the ritual had not been complete witch meant it was going to take more time, she squeezed the green-scaled throat tighter with her own dark grey hand until he stopped breathing she let his corps fall to the ground, she looked down at her ex-adviser with her green eyes.

'Sorry about that' she said, she turned to address the rest of the assembled dragons and humans her silvery-white hair still in the humid air. 

'sorry lads it does appear that will have to wait for the ritual was interrupted on the other side, so you will all have to wait a little longer and yes this means extra time with the humans, some among you will have to teach them our sacred art.'

Aborwrath had assembled one hundred of her best draconic fighters and three hundred human fighters, with three massive hover transports she looked at the dragons. 

'well it looks like we will have to wait a little longer and I don't know about you but I'm feeling a little hungry, and these ones don't very educatable.'

The humans started to look nervous and rightly so, truth be told it was a little suspect that Aborwrath had chosen to bring along only the draconic and human parts of her army.

'Kill them' she said impassively, 'but do try to leave the transports unharmed.'

The humans tried to run Aborwrath heard sporadic firing, they didn't make it far most where crushed blood flowed freely and the ground was covered in gore, she could hear the screams of the dying and see mashed but still alive humans and some the unlucky ones were snatched up to suffer a much worse fate then their comrades, Aborwrath heard three such humans, they were clever to see what going to happen they had tried to hide the Aborwrath could smell them they tried to run It would have been funny if it had not been so pathetic, she crushed the first beneath her foot, the rest ran she grabbed them and now she had selected the first one, she was screaming, begging for mercy Aborwrath opened her jaws wide and let the human fall screaming. 

End of part one