Merrin regarded him with equal disdain, and glanced up at the impassive skyward orb she'd previously been addressing. "No," she said shortly. "I couldn't sleep. Maybe...I thought the moon was talking back." She seemed to realize how utterly foolish this sounded and subsided into silence for a moment, before adding, "When one talks to objects that don't - generally - talk back, one assumes nobody is listening."

She wondered how much he'd heard, and if the one-sided conversation had made any sense.

(awfully sorry, i had to go to lodon and see a monty phython take in the westend all day...awww poor me)
((hmmm Semri was just going to discover they were twins, be tempted by power ect, i mean you can already see she's not the greatest Renagade...but yeah that was about it. All you're idia's sound cool))

Edit:

They both took a moment to understand what he ment. But then Evlyn stood up and nodded silently. Jemx lay beside her Yes... He hisssed.

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Made by Lembas

"Indeed," Kendath conceded with a contemplative nod, and with a tone that indicated nothing of his seriousness or lack of it. He couldn't sleep either, so he figured he might as well humor her. Besides, as her performance with the escape from the druids had previously illustrated, Merrin was full of surprises.

"And did the moon... say anything?"

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Merrin surveyed him suspiciously for a moment, as if wondering if he were in full seriousness. "I suppose it did, at that," she admitted, twisting a blade of grass between her fingers where she sat. "It said some...very interesting things, indeed."

Suddenly she flushed - though it was hard to see in what dim light the aforementioned moon cast - and turned to look up at him. "Don't pretend - you must think I'm crazy." This was delivered with a tinge of uncharacteristic vehemence. "Everyone does, lately."

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"I don't think you're crazy," Kendath retorted in equal vehemence. He flipped out his dagger and began idly twirling it between his hands. "Just perfectly insane." A grin flitted over his features, then disappeared as quickly as it'd come. "What now? To the mountain and the Cloud Crystal?"

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Merrin nodded. She kept her gaze firmly fixed on the ground in front of her - the very thought of having to face the Crystal's guardian sent a tremor of apprehension (she refused to call it fear) through her and she thought she might rather die than have anyone see. Eventually standing, Merrin turned to face him.

"Yes, we'll go tomorrow. After Wyvern can make up his mind that I'm certifiably insane and tell me conversations with the moon are figments of an overactive imagination." There was a pause, and then she sighed. "Sorry. It's not your problem, I shouldn't try to make it so."

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The next day waxed sullen and overcast, with the sun climbing strenuously over a hazy horizon. A strong wind gusted from the mountains, bringing with it a stench like that of sulfur and rotten eggs.

Shaking his head to clear the smell, Kendath splashed his face from a nearby stream and returned to help break camp, moving quietly as the other Renegades were still asleep. As he passed Merrin and Wyvern, he found himself presented with a new problem. He had no mount. And he could hardly trek on foot up the perilous mountainside. He scanned the terrain, wondering if there was a village nearby that he could possibly buy a horse fast enough to keep speed with the two dragons.

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((Was debating about whether or not to post...but I think I'll wait for Anduril))

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[*bangs head on wall* you're killing me ]

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((Hope you live through it lol))

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(sorry, internets been down for the last few days)
Evlyn wached the dawn rise and rolled over to Demon, and prodded him none too gently. "Where's kendreth Demon, you didn't say."

Rano nudged Semri awake, she sat up slowly and looked around. That man was still here. She didn't understand how Merrin could trust him. She stood up and leaped onto Reno's back.

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Made by Lembas

Wyvern blinked and prodded the still-sleeping Merrin with his snout. She awoke rather suddenly, and upon seeing Semri and Rano already awake, cringed inwardly at what she was about to do.

"We're going after the Crystal." Her tone was rather defiant, as though daring them to protest. Wyvern turned to regard her with one astonished emerald eye.

"We're doing what?" he demanded. "Say it again, you're not awake yet."

"I'm fine." Merrin stared down at her hands, clenched into fists in her lap.

"Merrin, you just escaped that fate! You're an idiot to go back to it!"

"Perhaps I am." Wyvern, I know I have to do this! Please... she continued telepathically. I thought you would understand.

Wyvern regarded her a moment longer, and then without replying stretched, like a cat, and spread his wings. Merrin climbed into his saddle, and looked apprehensively at Semri.

Wyvern snaked his head down to peer at Kendath. "Well," he growled, "aren't you coming?"

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Demon opened one glowing eye and glared at Evlyn. "Gone," he replied laconically, daring her to pursue the subject further. Rising on his haunches, he stretched his sinuous neck and wings. He turned his glare to the mountains. "Shall we go?"

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"I'm here, aren't I?" Kendath snapped back, meeting Wyvern's condescending look before averting his gaze. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. "I... ah..."

He shut his mouth for the second time.

Cursing himself for an imbecile, he recklessly let it spew out. "It's all fine. I wouldn't want to carry me either." He glanced at Wyvern.

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"Don't be silly, no horse is fast enough to keep up with a dragon," said Merrin, tightening the leather straps that secured the saddle to Wyvern's back. "There's room."

Under her, his muscles bunched suspiciously. Merrin glared. "Be sure to hang on to me - tight," she added, as a precaution.

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"We're what?" she sanrled though gritted teeth. Reno bared his jaws. Why on earth would we want to do that Merrin...?
"Did the HE tell you too?"
Surely you don't agree with this Wyvern?

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"Why would Kendreth go Demon, where has he gone, what made him leave." She glared at him, stading beside him fearlessly. Demon, however much she may tease him, was a freind to be trusted...but then so was Kendreth...?

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Made by Lembas

Wyvern cast Merrin an uneasy glance. "Whatever she does, I do," he replied stoutly. Though he did not expressly say that he agreed.

"No, 'he' did not tell me to," Merrin countered indignantly. "I decided. If we do not get the Crystal, the Meiltha will find a way to obtain it, instead. And you know as well as I what that would mean."

She carefully avoided mentioning anything about her nocturnal conversation with some unseen presence - they all thought her insane already. No sense in heightening it. "I can't let them force some other into obtaining it for them, because I was too cowardly to do what needed to be done," Merrin continued, very quiet now.

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