Merrin watched them rise a moment, looking strangely worried rather than satisfied with this new turn of events. "I wish I knew..." she murmured. "Once upon a time I was so sure."

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That night the four of them - Semri and Rano, and Merrin with a very protective Wyvern - sat round the fire. The only sound for quite some time was the gentle flickering, until Merrin broke the silence.

"I believe some thanks is in order," she began, politely, looking inquiringly at the pair on the opposite side of the fire. "Had your appearance not been so opportune I fear I would have had no choice but to accompany - them."

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"You should thank Wyvern, it was he who found you." she settled her self "Rano and i were hurt from a fight, he found us when he was looking for you. Once we were recovered we set off, we've been following you're trail. Something, or someone seemed to draw Rano and i towards the Meiltha, then when you sepreated Wyvern took the lead...and here we are." she smiled. "Now tell me what happened."

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Evlyn slept contentedly beneath Jemx's wing. Satosfied that they were reunited, and that now it was only her and Kendreth.

(oooo i love the love triangle)

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Made by Lembas

(:lol: Evlyn may just get him because Merrin's more reserved, lol)

"It was mostly my own fault," said Merrin with a rueful smile, toying with the long blades of grass where she sat.

"Mine as well," said Wyvern from where he lay behind her.

"What happened...well, we thought we could take on a more experienced Meiltha pair. That was until I discovered my weapon was gone. Things didn't improve much from there, did they, Wyvern?"

"No." His long neck snaked forward and nosed her and Merrin wrapped her hand round one of his small horns.

(ahhh but Evlyns been hanging with Ken for the last few years...and she still hasn't got him. You've been there for a few weeks and he already seems intrested.)

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Made by Lembas

((Good point))

(((hehehehe aits for Jimmy or Curi to post)))

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Made by Lembas

((post POST DON'T DIE ON MEEE PLEASEEEEES))

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Made by Lembas

The pair of them, dragon and rider, stood upon a small rise overlooking the campfire. The moon sailed high, glinting on Wyvern's silver scales and illuminating the white of the other, unknown dragon.

This is the end.

Surprised by the tone of finality in his dragon's voice, Kendath glanced at him sharply.

Meiltha or neutral I can tolerate, but Renegade I will not bear.

I never said -

This time, not rage but sorrow tinged Demon's thoughts. He dipped his head and looked into his rider's eyes. I know you too well, Ken. No matter how you hid it, you were always possessed of a certain weakness called compassion. The gods shall win you over in the end. He breathed and Kendath's face and gently twined his neck around his torso. Farewell, Kendath.

Choking back bitter tears, Kendath clutched his dragon as if clutching life itself. A moment later Demon spread his massive wings, and, staring at his rider one last time, lifted into the night air.

Numb to the core and angry at the world, Kendath did the only thing left to him. He turned and started down for the campfire.

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Wyvern, who had been lying with his snout in Merrin's lap - it was the only part of him that could fit - removed it and snorted, luminescent green eyes bright and wary. Someone's coming.

"What?" murmured Merrin, blinking sleepily. "Who - ?"

No dragon. Should I - IT'S THAT MEILTHA!

With a great roar the silver dragon rose, tail lashing in fury, and lunged toward the lone figure. Coals from the campfire scattered across the ground, dislodged. Merrin, now wide awake herself, sprang to her feet. "No, Wyvern!" she shouted, but he was in no mood to listen. "You idiot! He's alone!"

Wyvern regarded Kendath with great dislike, tail still thrashing dangerously. "Say the word, Merrin - !" he snarled.

"I'll do no such thing, numbskull, it's probably not even..." her voice faded and died. "Oh."

There was a pregnent pause. "Kendath." It was not a greeting, nor a question, but Merrin didn't seem as hostile as her dragon. "Don't make any sudden moves. Wyvern's not very happy with you."

Eyeing the silver dragon warily and all too conscious of his vulnerability, Kendath froze. In the darkness his face was unreadable, betraying nothing of his inner tumult. He was all too prepared to feel Demon's thoughts melding with his own, to hear the black dragon's inimical snarl.

Instead there was only silence and a gray void.

He impassively met Merrin's gaze. "What do I have to do to become a Renegade?"

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Wyvern illustrated the astonishment both he and Merrin felt by sitting down on his haunches with a thump and studying Kendath hard with one brilliant green orb, as if to make absolutely sure he wasn't trying some sort of elaborate hoax.

Merrin, too, seemed at a loss for words. "A...a Renegade?" she repeated, as if having difficulty believing him. "Why...nothing, really..."

Here she seemed to catch herself. "Why? Where's Demon?" Something like a laugh escaped her, but it was more of pure puzzlement than actual mirth, and contained a touch of irony as well. She shifted her gaze, looking anywhere but not meeting his eyes. "Forgive me if I sound skeptical. You must have a reason - you, of all people are surely not one to change sides on a whim?"

Oddly enough, Merrin herself did not seem opposed to the idea. Wyvern, however, broke in. "Have you any idea what she went through? What we both went through, as a result of your actions? And now you think you can come and join us, just like that?"

"Wyvern..." came Merrin's soft voice, as she put a hand out to rest on his flank. But she did not give any indication whether she agreed or disagreed with his sentiments.

"Demon's gone," Kendath said laconically. Inwardly, he cursed himself for his stupidity. Weak - as his dragon had always called him. Who was he - a dragonrider without a dragon - to think the Renegades would readily accept him? What had he to offer them?

He was in the middle of turning around and simply leaving when something stopped him. Angrily he whipped back to face Merrin. "Demon left," he snarled, suddenly reckless. He nodded at Wyvern. "Order your dragon to slay me if you wish. I've got nothing to lose."

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Neither the girl nor the dragon moved. For a few slow seconds they were motionless.

Then Wyvern turned, as if to leave. "Not our problem," he rumbled.

"He doesn't speak for both of us," Merrin put in suddenly, irritation in her voice. But her expression softened, and in the dim light sympathy could be seen stirring behind her eyes. Very softly she added, "There must have been a reason for what I did. Perhaps I see it now."

She took a few steps forward with only the barest hint of hesitation - and for what must have been the first time in a very long while, a smile stole over her features. "As I said, you need do nothing. Except pay no attention to that idiotic dragon of mine."

Semri stepped foreward into the light, her simalrity to Evlyn flshing out for a second as she regarded the man with habitual hostlity that her unknown twin so offen showed. "Who is this man Merrin?" she asked in a cold voice.

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Made by Lembas

And thus the rider left the dragon, what a humiliation it must have been for Demon... but... he has not lost his needs, he has not stopped from wanting power

Garthag said to Kalma in the dragons thoughts as they flew above Demon, invisible of course. Garthag with few quick words cast away the spell and they became visible again, Kalma dived past Demon down just to catch his attention. Kalma then made a quick turn back towards the sky to face Demon with Garthag on the back.

"You haven`t lost your rider have you?"

Garthag shouted out to Demon with a big smirk on his face.

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Unsure how much she should reveal, Merrin paused. "This...is Kendath," she said carefully. His name felt strange on her lips - how long had she only though of him as a Meiltha, nothing more? - "This is Semri, and her dragon Rano," she continued, turning to Kendath and gesturing to each in turn.