Message: 4
Date: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 18:07:06 -0500
From: "Rachel Lange" <meghanlore@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [DL-C] Captured (Rated XX so read at your own risk!) - JP
Day 4 Morning -
Alania and MoonDancer flew west of Cleft into the NomadLands. They
flew for hours without stopping. By mid morning MoonDancer was
starting to get worried. They had flown over a hundred miles without
stopping. Farther than either of them had been from the warren before.
{Perhaps we should stop for a rest my rider.} MoonDancer prompted.
{We can if you are tired.} Alania offered, not wanting to hurt her
dragon in her effort to get away from the warren.
MoonDancer turned southwest and flew towards a wide river running
through the plains. There was an outcropping of rocks on the bank of
the river and the large blue dragon landed there. Alania slid from her
back and sat mournfully on the rock MoonDancer had landed on. The
dragon wasn't sure what to do as she'd never felt her rider feel this
kind of pain before. She nuzzled Alania for a moment. The woman
gently patter her nose, glad for the comfort.
{Do you want to talk about it?}
Alania just shook her head. {Not really. Go hunting. I know you want
to and I am sure that you could easily find something.}
MoonDancer nuzzled Alania once more and then lifted off the rock. She
circled and then flew off, tho not out of visual range of the rocks.
She knew that out here she was the only protection her rider had.
Not far away, hidden by the plains grasses another pair of eyes watched
the dragon fly off as well. In fact half a dozen pairs of eyes, most
focused on the dragon, were concealed within those grasses. So well
practiced were they that neither the woman on the rocks nor her dragon
were aware as they surrounded the rocks and slowly moved in.
Alania covered her face with her hands. How could she have been so
stupid? So quick to judge Andahar based on the words of a woman who
clearly hated the man. How could she not tho, with the connections she
had made with her own relationship with him. Still, asking him to set
aside his honor, for her. She knew it was to much even as the words
slipped from her mouth. She wanted to trust Andahar with all of her
heart, all of her soul. But he had children with at least three other
women, if not more. How could she trust a man who seemed to like to
share his mat with so many women. She knew he would still had she not
made him promise not to. She knew he committed to that promise only
out of his love for her. But it wasn't what he would have chosen.
She sighed as tears slipped down her cheeks. Could she change as much
as she had asked him to. Could she accept his sleeping with other
women knowing that his heart belonged to her. It made her want to be
sick, the thought of him giving pleasure to someone else. But then she
thought of Eth'n and how he made her feel. She did enjoy the time they
were together. She wondered how that would make Andahar feel, if he
knew. She lifted her gaze to the rushing river. Perhaps it didn't
matter anymore tho. She was almost sure that she had broken Andahar's
love for her. She could hear his words echoing through her mind. "You
were murad. I have never called anyone such! I loved you...." Words
spoken in the past tense. Alania's body shook with sobs and she
covered her face again, wondering how she was going to go on.
MoonDancer had focused on a small herd of plains beasts when she felt
Alania's pain. The dragon turned away from the meal, knowing that
while Alania was feeling this way she would not be able to eat. She
turned to fly back to the rock when she noticed the Nomad stand from
the grass, pointing a long thick stick in her direction. Puzzled she
was about to ask Alania when she felt a stinging sensation in her neck.
{RUN.} The world went dark as the dragon fell to the earth.
Alania gasped and jumped to her feet as she felt the panic from
MoonDancer, and then nothing. {Moon? MOONDANCER!!} She knew she was
still alive, but something was preventing her from communicating with
the dragon. She was about to leap down from the rocks when she noticed
the Nomads standing from their concealed spots all around her. She
felt the same stinging sensation in her neck and then she sagged,
falling from the rocks to the ground.
* * * * *
Day 4 Late Afternoon somewhere west of Cleft
Alania felt a pounding in her head such like she had never known
before. She groaned and tried to move her hand to her forehead, but
couldn't. She didn't understand why and it took her a few long minutes
to figure out that something was holding her arms down. She moaned
softly and then sat still for a few minutes. Slowly her eyes blinked
open. The world was dark. Panic flooded her mind for a moment before
she realized she was blindfolded. She tried to move again and then
realized her arms were tied at the wrists behind her, as were her feet
at her ankles. She was sitting with some sort of post behind her.
She took a slow deep breath and tried to contact MoonDancer. She could
feel the dragons life but she could not communicate with her. Trying
hard not to panic any more than she was Alania started to twist her
wrists, trying to escape her bonds. After a few minutes she cried out
in frustration. The ropes were cutting into her skin and she could
feel the pinpricks of pain. She took a few breaths and started to try
again when she heard voices. Her whole body froze and she strained to
listen.
It took her a few moments to realize that the two people speaking were
men, and that they were speaking some form of Nomad. The were talking
much to quickly for her to make out any of their words. She heard the
wisp of fabric and then the footsteps of someone approaching. She
fought back panic as then were seconds of silence. Then she felt a
hand stroke her cheek. She flinched and pulled back as best she could.
She heard a soft deep chuckled directly in front of her and the man
spoke a few soft words she could not understand. There was another
second of silence and then suddenly she felt lips on hers. She gasped
and shook her head back and forth, her whole body straining against her
bonds. Then she felt the man's hands on her head, holding it still as
he again attempted to kiss her. Not knowing what else to do she bit
the man on the lip. She heard him say something loudly in Nomad and
then cried out as she felt a sharp slap to her cheek. Tears stung at
her eyes and she heard the second man behind her laugh.
The man in front of her stood, grumbling in Nomad, and the two walked
out. With tears running down her cheeks Alania tried frantically to
lose her bonds. She cried out as she felt the ropes cutting into her
skin, but she did not stop. Suddenly she heard someone approach her
again. She felt strong hands grasp both her arms from the front as
another set of hands untied the rope on her wrists. She struggled to
escape but the hands holding her arms were stronger than she by far.
Those hands carried her kicking and screaming out of the tent she was
in and to another. They continued to hold her as she felt someone try
to push some sort of powder into her mouth. Her mouth clamped shut.
She heard laughter and was surprised that it was a woman's. Then she
felt her nose being pinched closed. It took only a moment and she
gasped for air. At the same time she choked as a powder of some sort
was dumped down her throat.
The strong hands continued to hold her and she struggled in vain. It
took a few minutes and Alania started to feel strange. Her head felt
heavy as did her arms and legs. The strong hands loosened and her mind
screamed for her to run away, but her body would not comply. She felt
hands pulling her clothes off of her body and then some sort of dress
was dropped over her head. She felt as the fabric slid down, brushing
the tops of her feet. It was soft and light. She felt the same hands
untie the rope around her ankles and then she was placed on a soft pile
of what she thought was pillows. She felt fingers brush her cheeks and
then the blindfold was pulled away. She winced against the harsh
sunlight that invaded her eyes, quickly shutting them. When she was
able to open them again her gaze darted around. She was alone.
She looked around more slowly. She was in a tent of some kind. The
floor was covered with mats and there were piles of pillows in various
places. She could see the shadow of two large men standing by the door
to the tent. She willed her body to move, to stand and run. But she
had no control over anything but her mind. Who were these Nomads and
what did they want with her? Why had they brought her here and what,
she thought with greater fear, were they going to do with her?
Many hours passed as she sat in the tent alone. She knew it was
nearing dusk by the way the light was fading. She could hear people
outside, mostly men, but no one entered the tent. She felt herself
drifting to sleep and shook her head to try and keep alert. Then,
after what seemed like an eternity a hand pushed back the tent door and
a woman stepped in. She was Nomad and looked to be about Alania's age.
She had a tray with various pieces of food on it and also a cup. She
was dressed in a grey sleeveless dress much, Alania realized, like the
one she was wearing. The woman moved near to Alania, her eyes on the
floor and never once looking at the dragon rider. She placed the tray
down and then quickly turned to leave. The last thing Alania noticed
was the collar around her neck.
Shortly after the woman left a man entered the tent. Alania watched
him as he stooped down near the platter next to her and took some food
and the cup. Then he moved to another pile of pillows and dropped onto
them, eating. He didn't look at Alania. She could tell by the way he
was dressed that he was likely the leader of this group. He had an
elaborate headband on and leather straps on his forearms decorated with
beads and feathers.
The man lounged for a long time after he finished his food. It was
dark by the time he finally stood and looked over at Alania. There was
a slight glow cast on the tent from a fire outside of it and Alania
watched as he moved over to the pile of pillows where she was. He
squat down and ran his finger over her cheek. Alania knew by his gaze
alone what this man had in store for her. She began anew her attempts
to move, but could not.
The man moved to settle onto the pillows beside Alania. His hand
stroked down her neck and over her breast. His eyes stayed locked on
her face. He said something softly in Nomad and leaned close. For a
second Alania hoped he would try and kiss her. She would bite him all
the harder than she had the first man. He did kiss her, but not on her
lips. As if he could read her thoughts he instead kissed her cheek,
holding her head firm with one hand. Then down to her neck. He
nuzzled there as if he was her lover and Alania fought back the tears
that were building.
He moved away for a second and Alania glanced at him. He began to
remove his clothes and she closed her eyes and turned her gaze away.
She kept her eyes closed as she felt him tug at her dress, pulling it
up. He moved her to sit up and held her with one hand as he pulled her
dress off. Then he lowered her back to the pillows. She could feel
him looming over her even without looking at him. Her eyes squeezed
shut as she felt him caressing her. He kissed her neck and then down
to her breast. He spent a long time just kissing and caressing her.
Alania found herself wishing he would simply take her and be done with
it. Instead he was gentle and slow.
He moved to kiss her neck again and she felt his hands on her legs. He
slipped them under and then lifted her so that her legs rested on his
forearms. He spoke something softly in Nomad and then pushed into her,
groaning. Alania could hold back her tears no longer and then slipped
down the slides of her face. This, as with everything else, he did
slowly and gently. She felt him lean in, folding her as his lips
sucked on her breast. She heard his moans of pleasure but it was if
she had detached from herself and was watching from afar. He began to
push faster and harder, his groans becoming grunts. It happened
quickly then. A few sharp deep thrusts and he emptied inside her. He
pulled back, dropping her legs to the pillows. With his hand he turned
her face to him and kissed her lips hard. Alania didn't have the will
to bite him now.
He had moved away to another pile of pillows. Alania hear him speak
something sharply and then she looked over as another man entered the
tent. The man moved quickly over to her and she caught a quick glimpse
of his lip which was swollen. It gave her the smallest amount of
satisfaction. The feeling disappeared as the man flipped Alania over
onto her stomach and lifted her hips roughly. He spoke harshly in
Nomad and then she felt him push into her from behind.
Unlike the first his movement were rough and fast. Just when Alania
thought it could not get worse she felt the stinging slap of a whip on
her back. She cried out in pain and her tears began anew. The man
behind her laughed and whipped her again. It when on like that for
many long minutes. Then he dropped the whip and she felt as he grasped
her hips with both hands and began a series of strong and fast thrusts.
She heard him cry out in pleasure as she felt him empty into her.
He dropped her to the pillows and stood. She hear them exchange words
but at that point she didn't care. The words were hollow and far away
sounding. Alania felt herself fall into a deep and restless sleep.
Day 5 Morning
The sunlight poured in through the open tent flap causing Alania to
groan as she came awake. She was lying on a mound of pillows. Her
whole body ached as she pushed herself to a sitting position. As the
room came into focus she noticed a few other women sitting around her.
Some were talking quietly to one another and one was doing sewing of
some kind. They all seemed to notice as Alania stirred, watching her
curiously.
Alania pushed to her feet and started to move forward when she felt
the tug at her neck. She raised her hands to find the collar still
snug around her neck. Looking back she saw that she was securely
chained to one of the tent poles. With a sigh she dropped back to sit
on the pillows.
After about an hour a young man entered the tent. He was no more than
a boy really. He was handsome and wore no clothes save a simple loin
cloth. He carried a tray which he brought to Alania. It held fruit
and water. Alania smiled gratefully to the boy, but his expression
never changed. He stood again and left. Alania peered at the food for
a moment and then set about eating. She needed to keep her strength if
she was ever going to get out of this hell.
Outside the tent she could hears men's voices and every so often one
would pass by in front, but for most of the morning the women were left
alone. Alania didn't attempt to talk to any of the others as she
wouldn't have been able to understand them, nor them her. Instead she
sat and thought of the various ways she might escape back to Cleft.
More frustrating than anything to her was that she could not talk to
MoonDancer. Alania knew that the dragon was still alive, she could
feel Moon's life force within her. But there was something blocking
their ability to speak to each other. Alania hoped that the dragon was
ok and would be able to get back to the warren for help and then figure
out where she was.
Around mid day a man appeared at the entrance to the tent. He moved
for one of the other women, taking her chain and then turned to Alania,
taking hers as well. The other woman dutifully stood to follow the
man. Alania did not. The nomad headed out of the tent, not breaking
his stride as he pulled Alania to her knees. She stumbled forward to
gain her footing and follow the other two.
He led them across the camp to the larger tent Alania had been in the
night before. Once inside Alania was chained to another tent pole and
given a pillow to sit on. As she glanced around the tent she could not
believe what was going on. Various pairs of people were on mounds of
pillows, some even a group of three. The woman who had come with them
was led to a pillow where a man waited for her. Alania watched as he
quickly undressed her from the little bit of clothing she wore and bent
her over the pile of pillows, swiftly taking her form behind.
Alania winced and tore her gaze from the woman. At that same moment
the boy who had brought her the food entered the tent. She watched him
walk across the tent to the man that seemed to be the leader of the
group. The man ran the back of his hand across the boy's cheek before
pushing him to his knees. Alania couldn't see the boy then, but she
did see the intense look of pleasure that crossed the man's face. He
gave her a leering smile and she turned her head, closing her eyes.
Tears burned her cheeks and she curled up, not wanting to watch them
anymore. She wished that she could shut out the noises of the men, and
women around her.
Alania sat that way for a long time before she felt a tug on her collar
and she was lifted to her feet. She barely had time to open her eyes
before there were lips on hers, and hands roughly caressing her. She
struggled, but the nomad held her tightly to him. He ripped her dress
as she struggled back away from him, and he laughed. He dropped the
ruined material of her dress and motioned to the young man who was
standing behind him. Alania could not bare to look in the eyes of the
young man, so emotionless and empty. The larger nomad pulled Alania to
him and then turned and said something to the boy. Alania could not
understand the words but the look of shock on the boy's face did
nothing to settle her uncertainty.
The nomad boy reached for Alania's chain, looking uncertainly at the
older man once more. The nomad nodded and stepped away, going to a
woman draped over a pile of pillows. The boy looked back to Alania and
then led her from the tent. Alania protested at first as she had no
clothes on. But the young nomad boy gave her no notice and simply
pulled her along. As they walked she noticed the sun dropping down
towards the horizon. Almost a whole day had passed. Where were the
people from Cleft? Was no one worried about her? A sob caught in her
throat and her gaze fell to the ground in front of her.
For the rest of the late afternoon and into the early evening Alania
was made to follow the boy around. She watched as he went about his
duties and sometimes he pressed her to help when it was something he
could easily show her without having to explain.
Most of those in the small tribe seemed to know their places and what
was expected of them. She noticed as they went from job to job that
there were a few other young men whose purpose it was simply to serve
in one way or another. Often she had to look away and close her eyes.
A few of the men had gone hunting and had returned, dropping the dead
animals for the women to clean. They joined the leader and the other
men that had remained behind, lounging about or giving orders to those
who served them. It had obviously been a poor hunt and the men were in
a foul mood. The slaves were quick to do their bidding but some were
not quick enough, receiving slaps or kicks for their insufficient
service. Everyone moved as if waiting for the axe to fall, and
eventually one unlucky boy was not quick enough to serve and was
rewarded with a severe beating.
Alania sobbed as she was forced to watch, trying to understand the look
of relief and almost pleasure on the faces of the other slaves as they
watched. Then it dawned on her -- they were only glad that it was him
and not them.
Still naked, she was pulled around by the boy and was subjected to
intimate touches and looks as they passed by any of the men of the
tribe. The boy for his part tried to ignore her nakedness and focus on
the tasks he had to accomplish. She stayed with him as he helped cook
dinner for the camp and as he served it to the men. Alania found
herself growing faint from hunger, having had nothing at all to eat
during the day. But she was offered nothing to eat, and she noticed
that all of the women waited until all the men and then the boys had
been fed. The women who were pregnant were next. There was much
jealousy from the other women directed toward them, for the two
pregnant women were given a tent of their own and were not forced to do
any of the heavy chores. One of them was obviously close to bearing,
and for the first time Alania realized that one of the things missing
from the tribe was the sound of children. Did they not have any here?
She was glad that there were no children to witness this horror and
humiliation, and she idly wondered if that child born into this would
even think anything of the abuse.
After darkness had settled over the camp the boy led Alania to a tent
right next to the largest tent they had been in earlier that day. She
could hear the sounds coming from the larger tent and was glad she was
not being brought back there. Once inside the boy chained her to the
tent pole nearest to a large pile of pillows. With one hand on her
shoulder he pushed her to sit. Alania was surprised at his strength.
She looked over as the nomad leader slipped into the tent. She steeled
herself for what she was sure would come and was surprised as the man
moved to sit away from them, just watching.
The nomad boy looked over at the man and spoke softly. The man simply
nodded and reclined back, still watching. Alania then looked up in
surprise as the boy loomed over her and kneeled, pushing her back. She
struggled against him, but he was much stronger than she. She pounded
her fists to his chest as she felt him grab her thighs and part them.
She looked up into his face, pleading with him words that he did not
understand. But he was not looking at her. He leaned down on top of
her and pushed into her with a grunt.
The nomad leader watched with a grin of satisfaction as one slave took
another. His intent was to groom the boy to eventually be in charge of
the slaves. One of the benefits of that position, he had explained
earlier, was being allowed sex with the women slaves whenever it was
offered to him. Tonight he was having the first experience of that. It
didn't take long for the boy's thrusts to become rapid and his grunts
to become growls. He thrust hard into Alania one last time before
pulling away. Sweat covered his body and he stood and turned, bowing
low to the other man in the tent. They shared a few words and the boy
left.
The man then moved to Alania, looking down at her. She glared at him
in angry defiance and he laughed before dropping to his knees. His
fingers stroked over the skin of her thigh and she winced away. He
continued to touch and stroke her tho, his hands not leaving a single
part of her body untouched. Eventually he parted her legs and lay over
her, pushing into her with a quick and hard thrust.
The night went by in a blur. Alania quickly fell emotionally away from
the place where she was. Many of the nomad men came into the tent that
night. The nomad boy returned at some point, with another man. They
spent many hours in the tent, not always using Alania, but always
making sure she watched them.
The sunlight was just starting to brighten the tent when Alania finally
fell asleep.
Day 6 Morning
The morning sun was blazing down on the dark blue dragon when she
finally began to stir.
{Alania..} MoonDancer was still groggy from the drug and it took her
some moments to realize that her human was not around. When the
realization did finally hit her, her movements became much quicker.
MoonDancer quickly took to the air, searching frantically.
{Alania!? Lana where are you???} MoonDancer could feel that Alania was
still alive but she could not communicate with her. It was as if there
was a black cloud preventing her from finding her rider.
So logically her next step would be to go to the dragon she was closest
to. MoonDancer made a wide arch and headed back towards Cleft.
* * *
Alania sat on a pillow in the large tent. She was dressed, barely, in
a sheer silk dress. It covered only the smallest bits on her body and
she kept pulling at it to try and cover more of herself. Around her in
the tent sat five other women. They all looked much more content that
Alania, and they all wore golden collars as Alania did.
A young man carried in a platter with fruits and the other women all
ran to get some food. But Alania did not move. She was broken, empty.
Emotionally she could not cope with being in that place in time, so she
simply shut down. In her mind she knew there was a man that she loved,
that would come and save her. But he was so far away from her that she
could barely remember his name.
The other women tried to get her to eat, but she wouldn't. She pushed
them all away. They simply gave up and went back to their little games
and things. Occupying themselves until they were called on. The boy
with the tray left and soon after a man entered the tent. All the
women looked to him, some even seeming pleased that he was there.
Alania did not look up.
The man walked to her and linked a long golden rope to her collar.
Only because of his tugging did she move. Silently she stood. Head
lowered, the life gone from her eyes, she followed him. Outside she
dared to look to the skies for a glint of light reflecting off her
saving grace. But it did not come. She was led into another larger
tent. She felt the hands touching her, the lips kissing, but she was
not aware of them. She once again slipped away from herself.
* * *
As Cleft came into sight MoonDancer faltered. The lingering effects of
the drug and her fast flight along with her fears for Alania were to
much. She glided to land.
{Bohoc! Bohoc I need you and your rider. Alania! Alania is gone!!}
Bohoc had been sitting with a lamenting Trissana when he heard
MoonDancer's frantic call.
<Trissana, I'm sorry, but I must leave you. My rider and MoonDancer's
rider needs me!> Bohoc apologized to the sick female.
<tag John - how unhappy will Triss be now J>
Bohoc knew that his rider had been avoiding thinking about the
quartermaster, and was still aching over their separation. He had
heard through the other dragons that MoonDancer had taken her rider
away. They were speculating that she had returned to her home warren,
since no one had been able to contact the blue dragon.
<MoonDancer? Where have you been? I thought you were in Keldarra?
What do you mean your rider is gone?> Bohoc asked as he left Trissana
and went to the green to look for the distraught blue female.
{We flew..she wanted to get away to think. I was hunting and something
hurt me.oh hurry Bohoc, get your rider. Something terrible has
happened to her I know. I can not hear her. Why can't I hear her??}
It was obvious that MoonDancer was near hysterics.
Bohoc nuzzled the frightened dragon. <My rider is coming. Other
dragons will come, as well. Now focus... where were you hunting.
Picture it clearly in your mind. Hold that picture.>
By the time Bohoc had focused on the area where Moondancer had been
hunting, Andahar had arrived. He practically flew onto the back of his
dragon. Bohoc sent the image to the other dragons that were awaiting
their riders, but he didn't wait for them. Andahar insisted that they
leave at once, and so, with Moondancer leading the way, they teleported
to the place where Moondancer had last seen her rider.
<Are you sure this is the place?> Bohoc asked as he scanned the area.
He could see a flattened patch in the grasses that was roughly
dragon-shaped where Moondancer must have lain for some time.
<*Ask Moondancer how long she was out here with Alania. Did they come
here directly from the Cleft?*> Andahar feared that the trail might
have already grown cold.
Bohoc relayed the question to MoonDancer but the poor female was to
upset to think about lengths of time. {We flew until the sun was high.
Lana didn't want to stop anywhere. Just get away from the warren. When
we stopped she told me to hunt. Oh I shouldn't have left her! It's all
my fault!}
MoonDancer landed on the rocks that she had left Alania and let out an
ear piercing cry, calling for her lost rider. Then she swung her gaze
and focused on Andahar. {He must find her Bohoc. I don't care how much
he does or does not love her he *must* find her.}
<If he did not care he would not be here. We will find your rider.>
Bohoc assured MoonDancer.
Andahar, had directed Bohoc to land at the rock where MoonDancer had
left Alania. His eyes scored the ground as he looked for signs of
where she would have gone. <*She did not walk off by herself. There
are three footprints coming to the rock and three leaving... one is
deeper going and must have carried her away.*>
Andahar looked up into the distance in the direction the footprints
went. There was nothing as far as the eye could see. But he began to
walk the way they had gone. He hoped that the tracks would remain
clear.
MoonDancer had lifted off the rocks again, circling the rocks and
looking for any sign of people. Suddenly she faltered in the air. {I
can feel her again.} She projected to Bohoc.
{Alania!! Lana talk to me?!} Alania didn't respond to MoonDancer but
Moon could feel the deep despair and emptiness that Alania felt.
{Bohoc we must hurry! She's fading..} The dragon circled again,
appearing even more anxious than before.
Bohoc followed behind his rider, who had broken into a jog as the three
footprints had been joined by others -- all moving in the same
direction making the trail very clear.
<My rider, wouldn't it be faster if I just flew you to that camp up
ahead where this trail is leading?>
Andahar stopped and let his mind see through Bohoc's eyes. The
dragon, having better eyesight than the human, could see the rising
smoke in the distance up ahead. The decision was easy to make, and
Andahar was quickly onboard and the two dragons were winging swiftly
toward the encampment.
* * *
Within the encampment the men were moving around as normal, unaware of
the closing dragons. The scouts watching the perimeter were the first
to notice, sounding the alarms. The camp suddenly became a flurry of
activity. All of the women and boys were moved to a single tent and
the men formed a defensive line around it. They watched and waited.
The two dragons landed and the eight men faced them across the short
space.
<*Take care, my brother, those pipe are danger to dragon.*> Andahar
jumped off and stood before the dragons. "I am Andahar, chief of
Anavasha, I ask for your wisdom. I come in search of woman,
dragonraidah!"
"You are not welcome here, dragonraidah!" One man stepped forward.
He brandished the double swords, but did not give his name or clan.
Andahar was surprised by his rebuff. Never had he come to a camp and
not been shown at least the courtesy of an offer of water.
"Are you saying that woman is not here?" Andahar called.
Alania blinked as she heard the voice. She shook her head slightly,
trying to brush off the cloud that had enveloped her since she'd been
captured. "Andahar," she called softly. Some of the women turned to
look at her. One even lifted a finger to her lips, indicating that
Alania stay silent.
Alania looked up at the woman and shook her head again. She called out
a bit louder this time. "Andahar!"
<I hear her, my rider! I hear rider of MoonDancer!> Bohoc exclaimed.
Andahar felt his anger rise. He saw some of the men look over their
shoulder toward the tent behind them. "I will ask again, do you know
whereabouts of dragonraidah woman?"
Andahar's reflexes were swift, and his two swords were out. With one
motion, the dragons took to the air, as Andahar dove out of the way,
rolled and came up running toward the men closest to him. Two died
quickly.
Bohoc didn't need direction. He circled out of range of the blow-guns
coming in behind the tents, to snatch the tent away that the men
guarded.
Andahar had expected to see Alania within, but the tent was empty. A
shell game, then? Which tent was she in?
Alania again tried to shake the effects of the drug. She pushed to her
feet and tried to get out of the tent. Two of the women held her back
tho so instead she yelled louder, struggling against them.
"Andahar! I am here Andahar!"
The men didn't know whether to aim for the dragons or to protect
themselves from the infuriated dragon rider chief who was attacking
with no restraint. Andahar cut down another of their warriors, and
then swung to cut through the pipe wielded by another removing the
threat of the blow-guns toward the dragons.
Bohoc swept through again, followed this time by MoonDancer. He
flamed toward the warriors, catching one of the empty tents on fire.
The nomads scattered as the dragons, maws agape, came toward them.
Only one remained to face Andahar now, a chief if his double swords
were any indication, yet not man enough to keep his warriors with him.
"You do not need to lose life. I only want woman from Cleft."
Andahar stated.
To his surprise, the man dove into one of the small tents that the
dragons had not yet torn down.
MoonDancer flew for the tent just as the man dove into it. With her
claws she pulled the tent up out of the ground and away. Andahar slid
to a halt in front of the tent as he saw the chief had Alania in his
arms, his sword at her neck. The other women and boys cowered back from
the chief
Andahar took a step and the chief tightened his grip. "Come closer I
kill her." Andahar stopped then. The chief smiled. "You are her
chief? Shall I tell you how many times I had her? How she cried out as
I took her warm flesh." Alania began to tremble in the chief's arms.
Andahar felt his blood run cold at the man's claims. "She is
dragonraidah. She is free woman. But she was murad, and you will
die."
"She was murad." Alania felt her heart sink into her stomach. At that
moment she didn't care if she died. She sagged in the chief's arms
causing him to struggle to hold her up. Andahar took the moment of
distraction to attack.
Reflex made the chief use the short blade to deflect the blow aimed at
his head rather than to slice the throat of the woman who had become
nothing but dead weight dragging him down. He threw her away and tried
to draw his second blade, but it was too late.
Andahar did not give him the chance, as he slashed with the first and
thrust with the second. It found it's mark and the nomad sank to his
knees, impaled on the blade, and unable to reach the second sword
across his back. He hung there between life and death, still angry and
defiant.
"You will never find pleasure in her arms again, chief of Anavasha!"
he spittle was flecked with his blood "Your goddess will never heal
her!" He swung his arm with his remaining strength to strike Alania
where she lay.
His sword connected with her shoulder and Alania screamed in pain as
the sword sliced in and against her bone before falling out of the now
dead man's hand. Her eyes rolled back into her head and blood poured
from her shoulder.
"NO!" Andahar had twisted his arm as the chief had struck. It had been
enough to prevent a fatal blow, but the blade had still found her.
Yanking his longer sword from the body of the chief, Andahar dropped
to his knees beside Alania and put his hand to her wound to stem the
flow of blood.
The dragons landed behind him, glaring at anyone who might think of
interfering. One of the women who had made a move to help jumped back
with a yelp as a dragon claw raked in front of her.
"Master, I can dress her wound!" the woman cowered, holding some
cloth above her head in offering.
Andahar looked up and nodded to Bohoc who had put himself between
Andahar and the women. The dragon stepped back and the women moved
over. She was the youngest of the group and had the most understanding
of being free. Andahar stood back as the woman bandaged Alania's arm.
It took a few moments but when she was done the blood flow had stopped.
"Must get her to healer woman. Lost much blood." The woman looked up
at Andahar, cowering slightly away from him.
"My cousin is Dain Anavasha," Andahar gave in answer. He lifted
Alania into his arms, cradling her to him. The sound of wings made him
look up. Other Cleft dragons had arrived in the sky above them and he
smiled ruefully. He wondered if Alania would prefer to go back with
one of the others instead of him.
Alania's eyes fluttered open for a brief moment. "Andahar.." she barely
whispered. She wanted to tell him she loved him. That she was
incomplete without him. But she felt herself slipping away again.
Instead she simply grasped at him with her uninjured hand. Darkness
consumed her again.
Their eyes had met for that one brief moment, and Andahar knew he could
not let her go again. He loved her, and no matter what lies Reain had
told her, he would try to make her understand. Turning, he carried
Alania to his dragon.
<And them? I don't think they can all ride on me.>
Andahar looked over his shoulder. The three boys and four women had
followed Andahar and stood a short distance behind him, looking to him
for instruction.
"Master, do not leave us here!" One of the young women cried.
"Others will come back... and some of them are... harsh."
"Dragonraidah will take you to Cleft. You will be safe there." The
other dragons and riders were landing around the small group just as
Andahar mounted Bohoc, who relayed a message to the dragons.
[TAG: Anyone want to rescue some nomad slaves?]
--
Andahar directed Bohoc to go straight to the medical center when they
landed. S'lomon came out to meet them.
Andahar wouldn't give Alania to anyone and carried her into the
medical center himself. No one argued with the silent nomad.
"S'lomon... she was captive of nomad raider." Andahar didn't have to
say too much else.
S'lomon, who had treated Brisse when she had been returned from the
kidnapping by Matteen, along with countless other nomad women who had
formerly been slaves, knew the types of injuries Alania might have
sustained.
"You should wait outside." The healer directed.
Before he left, Andahar leaned forward and whispered, "Ja ta
draelln... murad."
* * * * * *
Summery:
Day 4 thru 6: Alania leaves Cleft and gets captured by some Rogue
nomads. Andahar finds and rescues her.
Submitted by:
Rachel as Alania and MoonDancer
and
Arle as Andahar and Bohoc
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