[center][img]http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab20/XxKayla36xX/Kiara.png[/img] [h1]&[/h1][img]http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab20/XxKayla36xX/Sulleykaar%20-%201.png[/img][/center]
[center][h2]The Next Morning[/h2][/center]

Sleep came much easier curled up next to the dragon. His size and warmth offered the tiny faerie comfort in more ways than one. Kiara slept deep enough that she was able to dream. She had rolled over and spooned the dragon’s tail unconsciously, as his body was far too large to do so. One particular dream had her heart racing and body temperature rising. With a few velvety moans, she stirred and spread out like a starfish to cool down, the fantasy faded into one dream, and then another…

[i]She was running, fast and hard, panting wildly. The faerie’s heart hammered in her chest. ‘This can’t be happening’ she thought to herself. The tides of battle had shifted in the worst way, they had just lost Morrígan… never in all of her years had she expected to see the Queen fall. And here she was, one step closer to the throne as she ran for her life. Her father was behind her, insisting that she go ahead of him so he could watch her back as they retreated. The woods were thick here, she couldn’t risk turning to check if he was still there, she would more than likely trip. The sound of leathery wing beats behind her drew her attention. If the gods were kind, it would be Sulleykaar…. Where was he, anyway? Kiara risked turning just in time to see a flash of blue where she had hoped to see red. “No!” she cried out and stumbled backward. Cynbel was drawing his sword, but Paraxthyon’s dragon form was already looming over him, mouth poised to strike. His razor sharp fangs glistened with saliva and Kiara scrambled to get up. What was the spell? Damnitdamnitdamnit! The dragon bathed Cynbel in a shower of flames, which didn’t kill him, but left his skin glowing hot orange, like a cattle prod. Kiki panicked, knowing all too well what was coming next if she couldn’t stop him. She said the words Sulley had taught her, but it was too late. Paraxythyon’s mighty jaws clamped down, and he devoured her father right in front of her.[/i]


[color=gray]“NOOOOOOOO!!!!”[/color] the guttural cry was thick with rage and anguish so deep it threatened to shatter the walls of the den. Kiara had woken both herself and most likely everything else sleeping within a five mile radius. Her body was covered in cold sweat and she panted as if she had actually just stopped running. She shook with relief once she realized it was just a dream… no, it was a nightmare, not a dream. 

Sulleykaar was enjoying a nice dream, He was a King surrounded by gold and women, one particular red-head sat on his lap and her was about to kiss her until she yelled in his face. His eyes shot open and he quickly stood up without tossing Kiara around from his movements and shot a fireball out of the entrance to the cave. The dragon roared several times before he turned towards Kiara, eyes glowing. [color=9e0b0f]”Kiara are you ok!?[/color] He asked with haste.

Kiara buried her face into her hands and sighed in frustration. This wasn’t like her, she wasn’t weak and fearful. She was a warrior, and this trip was making her soft - too much talk and not enough action. Battle called to her, she needed to fight, to learn how to defend herself and others so that her nightmare never came true. [color=gray]”I want you to teach me some Old Scale today. A real spell.”[/color] there was more than a hint of demand in her tone. She stood up quickly and walked out into the early morning sun. Sulley frowned at the disguised demand, [i]‘yesterday must have really did a number on her’[/i] he thought. He watched as she made her way to the cliffside and he followed suit, his humanoid form exiting the darkness of the cave. The sun had just peaked over the horizon as the wildlife begun to awaken from the night. He yawned loudly, snorting a plume of smoke from his nostrils as he scratched the back of his head, a small itch of course but nothing compared for what the day might bring. Speaking of which...

[color=9e0b0f]”Old Scale? You want to learn Old Scale.”[/color] He questioned first and then stated. He looked over at her with squinty eyes as his sight adjusted to the new day. Usually he would wait until he was fully awake before leaving the den but whatever happened to Kiara had caused him to get up while he was still tired.

[color=gray]”Not want to…. [i]Need to[/i].”[/color] she said seriously. Didn’t she? Why else did he drag her all the way out here? [color=gray]”Not getting frozen in a lake or something, either. I want you to teach me how to fight.”[/color] There was a certain level of ferocity in her eyes. She wasn’t going to easily be convinced otherwise, the blue dragon was too far deep in her mind. The next time she saw him, she would not be afraid, not if she had anything to say about it!

He yawned once more and shook his head as he turned back towards the den. [color=9e0b0f]”You’re not ready for Old Scale…”[/color] He managed to yawn out. How was he so tired yet awake? Must been a human trait he picked up. Kiara ground her teeth together and marched up to him. She peered up through the good foot-and-a-half height difference to look at him.

[color=gray]”Try me.”[/color] Kiki taunted. She would get a response out of him if it killed her.

He sized her up until he reached her eyes. There was a fire of sorts but behind it he knew there was some fear; Fear from the previous day. She wouldn’t have brought this up unless Paraxthyon really did scare her, and for good reason. Paraxthyon was Sulleykaar’s twin so to speak, mostly through the attributes they shared: Magically adept, highly intelligent and extremely perceptive. The only difference between the two? Sulleykaar could see the true intentions of Ugin and refused, and Paraxthyon saw the truth and stayed with Ugin.

[color=9e0b0f]”No...you’re not ready for Old Scale, as I said…”[/color] This time he said it with a hint of a warning.

Her eyes narrowed [color=gray]”Just like I didn’t need to know about ice dragons yesterday? You aren’t always right, you know.”[/color] she purred against his chest before shoving him away. She crouched low. If he wouldn’t teach her, then she would fight him. Either way, he probably use a spell that she could try to mimick. 

He straightened up slightly at her jab at his stupidity from yesterday. It was when she shoved him that he started to become agitated. He let the shove roll off him as he leaned with it and took a step back. [color=9e0b0f]”Don’t do that again. I admit that I made a mistake with yesterday’s events, but I had not expected [i]him[/i] to be there. I have other things I have to teach you before I can even begin to teach you the basics. Pushing the issue will not make anything easier. Control yourself and have patience..[/color] He warned. He would [i]not[/i] say it a second time.

[color=gray]“No!”[/color] she growled, [color=gray]“I’m not going to wait around like a tasty dragon treat.”[/color] Kiara said fiercely. She didn’t shove him again, instead, she held her hand out in front of herself. Lifting that hand up, she rose a chunk of earth from the ground and hurled at him. She channeled her anger into the elemental magick; Anger at her weakness, at his stubbornness, at the arrogant blue dragon. But she was also scared and, therefore, volatile.

Sulleykaar easily dodged the chunk of rock gracefully as it hit the side of the den, which he turned to look and sighed. [color=9e0b0f]”My den....”[/color] He shook his head and looked back at her with annoyance. [color=9e0b0f]” Knock it off Kiara. I won’t tell you again.”[/color] Final warning. If she didn’t listen then she would force his hand and it would not end well. But she didn’t stop, she did quite the opposite, actually. 

[color=gray]”I don’t want you to tell me,”[/color] she hefted up a rock with her magick and sent it his way. [color=gray]“I want you to show me.”[/color] she grunted and then sent another chunk of earth towards him. Her eyes were the color of dark garnets, glaring angrily above her bared teeth.

His magick level shot skyward as the rock came barrelling towards him. His hair floating on an invisible cloud as he extended both hands, his magick engulfing it but not slowing its momentum. No, he did the opposite as he spun around, the rock whipping around him with even more force than before. Its centripetal force increased tenfold as he released it back her way, blurring through the air as it careened toward her with what seemed like the speed of a comet. As it left his grip, he he leaned forward and scooped downward, a fireball shot out of his mouth towards her feet, followed by his palm shooting forward with a blast of wind.

Kiara avoided both the rock and the fireball the same way. When she saw that he had turned her force against her, she began to shimmer before fading into nothing before his eyes. Stupidly, she hadn’t accounted for the gust of wind, which wildly scattered the sand she had morphed her body into. By the time she managed to pull all of her molecules back together, she had to claw her way up the edge of the cliff. 

He used his Old Scale magick, Wuld nah Kest, to appear at the edge of the cliff. His sense of smell had lead him to where she was as he looked down at her, an impassive expression on his face as his hand began to glow, the wind around them picking up to hurricane force winds as they drew close to the now violent ball of wind and magic in his hands. It would seem that his hand was steady enough, but if one looked closely, they would see that he was fighting for control. [color=9e0b0f]”This is your last chance, Kiara! If you continue to throw your little tantrum about my refusal to teach you yet, I promise you that the blast from this along with the height of this mountainside will be enough to cause some major damage, and I refuse to return to your father with word that I killed his only precious daughter…”[/color]

Kiara smiled crookedly in challenge. He wouldn’t risk killing her, she would call his bluff. The winds were already doing a number on her ability to keep a solid grip, though.

[color=9e0b0f]”Try [i]me[/i]”[/color] His eyes narrowed and bore into her own as his voice became cold and vicious, much like the blue dragon from the yesterday. A terrible high pitched shriek came from the now category nine winds. He added the final nail to this attack, a small fireball. This simple, insignificant flame joined the chaotic winds in a violent matrimony as the ball of extreme winds married into the fire, causing a firestorm with heat that started to glass the sand around them. This was one of his more powerful attacks that didn’t involve old scale. Which left the question, what was his most powerful Old Scale creation? 

[color=gray]”I have been, [i]darling[/i].”[/color] Kiara remarked through gritted teeth. She did her best to fight the winds and clawed her way up over the edge of the cliffside. She stood up despite the force and managed a laugh. Even in her own mind it wasn’t clear why she was fighting so hard, it was just something she needed to do now. She was [i]enjoying[/i]  this, and wouldn’t stop until he forced her too, which he hadn’t managed to do yet.

His eyes held firm but his voice softened. [color=9e0b0f]”I pray that Cynbel forgives me…”[/color] He said somberly as he reeled back and let the magick fly. It’s speed was faster than the rock’s and held such force that it blew away a large chunk of the cliffside into pebble-sized debris as she was sent flying far off of the edge. The heat would scorch her, burning away any clothing that she had with no remorse. Whether her body was burnt badly by amped-up dragon fire would be another story that Sulleykaar would have to investigate, but luckily she would  be able to cool down upon impact, in the lake….If she didn’t bounce off of it like a pebble. He sighed as he lept off the remains of the cliff to find her.

The wind hit her with such force that her scream didn’t even make a sound as it passed her lips. The next thing she knew, she was engulfed in flames, more so, her clothing was. The gravity pulled her stoney body heels-over-head as she careened downward. [i]Holy shit, he actually did it.[/i] She didn’t even have time to properly fear the landing before she landed with enough force that she cracked the crust of the planet. The impact knocked her out cold and she was stuck, wedged in the fissure her body had made. She was unconscious and limp, but remarkably unburned.

He didn’t really have to search long, since the mushroom cloud of dust and dirt was enough to know what, more appropriately, [i]who[/i], that was. He shook his draconic head as he made his descent towards the lake. [i]’I guess water wasn’t an option.’[/i] He thought as he touched ground at the beginning of the newly formed crevasse. He walked forward as his human form took shape. He closed his hand into a fist and extended his fingers, sparks began jumping off of his hand. By the time he reached her, the current of the electricity was audible and the sounds of chirping birds escaped the multitude of cracking sparks. He moved in close to her, Kiara’s hair rising on ends as the electricity jumped around. He stood over her and waited for her to regain consciousness. Then he would have some words to discuss with her.

Light flashed into her eyes in short bursts as she fluttered her lids. [color=gray]”Mmmmph-”[/color] she groaned as she tried to move.

[color=9e0b0f]”You vo hadrim...You dense...stubbo-”[/color]

[color=gray]”You could have killed me!”[/color] she declared in shock, trying to sit up.

[color=9e0b0f]”DON’T YOU DARE TRY TO GET UP!”[/color] His draconic voice roared over the screeching of the electricity that erupted into sounds that would make dogs wish they didn’t have ears. Pure, raw, unadulterated rage filled the air with a wave of killer intent.

Kiara’s ears lowered, tucking in close to her head. She wasn’t afraid of the electricity, that wouldn’t do too much to her, but she [i]was[/i] afraid of him. He really could have killed her, and he didn’t even care.

[color=9e0b0f]”VO HAHDRIM! Have you NO self control!? Do you truly insist on showing nothing more than a temper tantrum because you won’t get your way?”[/color] He scolded her. His voice was a mix of a Master’s disappointment and a father’s worry. She mumbled petulantly about it [i]’not being a tantrum’[/i].

The crackling ceased as his eyes twitched. He decided it was time to sink to her level for a change. His voice changed as he ran his hand over his body. His body thinned drastically and shortened as his figure became more boney. His voice gained a feminine pitch and tone and he looked at her with a scrunched up face. [color=9e0b0f]”Ohhhh~ I’m Kiara of the Unseelie court~ I have no control over any aspect of my life so I have to be a royal self-absorbed bitch~ I can’t even control my own temper, hence why I landed OVER A MILE AWAY FRO-!!”[/color] Sulleykaar’s voice came back at the last part only shortly before he let out an “oof” from being sacked by the faerie.

Her face had flushed the same color as her hair and eyes before she blatantly disobeyed his demand to stay down. She clawed the earth apart until her body was free and lunged at him. The force of her collision would be enough to cut off his words. [color=gray]”I don’t sound anything like that.”[/color] she huffed, out of breath, before standing up. [color=gray]”And I’m much better looking.”[/color] her temper was cooling as quickly as it had came.

[color=9e0b0f]”I don’t sound like the truth~ I sound like a little spoiled bwat hiding from the twuth only to get weally angwy when I’m told I’m wong.”[/color] His voice mimicked her’s to a “T” as it returned. Kiara crossed her arms over her now bare chest. Her fingers tapped along the side of her arm, irritated.

[color=9e0b0f]”I really doubt that you even care about what I’m willing to teach you...You really are a self-centered brat and always will be.”[/color] He said condescendingly. 


[color=gray]”I do care! Why do you think I did this? I don’t want to---”[/color] she huffed again, getting worked up and frustrated. There was even the ghost of tears in her eyes. [color=gray]”I just---  I don’t want to be seen as weak. He threatened my family yesterday.”[/color]

He leaned to the side and forward slightly. [color=9e0b0f]”Oh really. Then what was that display at the cliff? Your idea of showing that you're not [i]weak!?[/i] THAT DID NOTHING MORE THAN PROVE YOU ARE WEAK! BUT YOU DON’T SEE WHERE YOU’RE WEAK![/color] He barked at her. There was no venom in the words but just frustration as a teacher and mentor….and because she was someone that he cared about.

She winced at his words. His cruelty shouldn’t surprise her, though, he did just launch her off of a cliff. Kiara spun on her heels and started to walk away.

[color=9e0b0f]”Where do you think you’re going, Kiara?! You’re not done listening to what I have to say!”[/color] He yelled at her. His eyes went wide for a second before he sighed. This was going to suck….But it was a gamble.

[color=9e0b0f]”Fine, walk away...Be the faerie general’s failure of a daughter! You weren’t worth the time or effort, otherwise you would stay and listen!”[/color]

She stopped dead in her tracks. She flexed her hand open and closed at her side. The ground had begun to tremble, tiny pebbles skittered about around her feet. Kiara exhaled deeply like Professor Bertram told had once told her to do when she could feel her control slipping.

[color=9e0b0f]”Kiara of the Unseelie court, supposed to surpass her father and one day take reign as Queen, but can't even reign in her own emotions. You’re nothing more than sad imitation of your father. [/color] He said condescendingly.

[color=gray]”Please stop.”[/color] she said through tense lips. 

[color=9e0b0f]”NO! I won’t stop! There were three things that were holding you back from learning, the first one was at the lake and that helped you understand sacrifice and a bit of humility. There are still two other things holding you back, and you're showing one of them right [i]now[/i]. Old Scale magic involves [i]a lot[/i] of control, and if you can’t control your temper, why would you think I would trust you enough to control Old Scale magic?”[/color] He awaited her response quietly. 

Kiara didn’t say anything, she just stewed silently. The rumbling deep underground had quelled but her mind kept replaying his words. Did he believe that? That she was nothing more than a sad imitation of her father. But he must, she had made him promise to not to tell lies. Then again, dragon’s didn’t have to obey their promises...

He shook his head and ran his dainty little fingers through his hair as he walked towards her, his normal, male, humanoid form taking the place of the one that mimicked Kiara’s. When he moved next to her, he spun to face her eye-to-eye. [color=9e0b0f]”Talk to me, Kiara…”[/color] there was concern in his voice. Maybe he had went too far. Maybe the way he had been trying to train her was wrong. He looked down to the ground. 

Kiara clamped her eyes shut when he spun her around. Hopefully the rapid blinking would clear away the moisture. [color=gray]”Fine.”[/color] she said icily. [color=gray]”I’ll do whatever I need to do, to learn. Not because believe you, but because I care too much about my people to fail now. But you-”[/color] her voice was unsteady. [color=gray]”You--- Don’t say something like that again. You promised me the truth, and if that is your truth, then I want nothing to do with you when this is over.”[/color]

He bit his tongue and looked down and away as he stood straight up and turned away and began to walk, only to stop a few feet away and turn his head towards her. [color=9e0b0f]”Now I see… Kiara I want you to know something, and this is the truth...You are your father’s daughter, and I am proud to have you train under me. What I said was out of line, and for that I am sorry… But I am not lying when I say that your anger, your emotion, you need to gain control over that and once you do you will be one step closer to learning Old Scale magick and one step closer to surpassing your father. You taught me something today, and I thank you.”[/color] He glanced over at her with a smile as he turned back and walked towards a trail that lead away from the lake.

Kiki looked up at him quietly and ground her teeth some more. She looked down and then away, not offering him a response. She had accepted his apology, though, it seemed truthful enough. He smiled before turning and walking away. She didn’t return the smile, but she followed him, glamouring on a new outfit. She was, of course, still naked, but at least she wouldn’t look it if they ran into anyone.

As Sulleykaar walked, he heard Kiara approaching from behind. He tilted his head slightly down before bringing it back up and slowing his pace until it matched hers. He glanced over at her as a breeze drifted through. Sulley shook his head and took off his robe and handed it to her. [color=9e0b0f]”These winds will pierce through that easily, wear this. It’s a lot warmer and wind resistant.”[/color] he handed it to her politely, any response from her would do fine.

She looked at the robes. They were comically too big for her, and she was still really mad at him, but it would be impolite to not take them. [i]’Stupid faerie moral code…’[/i] Kiara quietly accepted the gift, sliding her arms into the sleeves. She couldn’t even get her hand out of the bottom of them, her arms were just hidden in the mass of fabric.

Sulley glanced over at her as she struggled with the robes, at which he couldn’t contain a light throaty chuckle, smirking slightly at her misfortune. Kiki’s eyes widened and she had to look away to avoid being seen smiling. 

[color=9e0b0f]”You look adorable like that. Like a kid trying to play grown up...It’s kinda cute.”[/color] [i]‘What in the hell did I just say?’[/i] He questioned himself with furrowed brows as he looked towards the tree line. A lame attempt at being flirtatious, he supposed.

[color=gray]”Well, I wouldn’t have to if [i]someone[/i] didn’t keep getting me out of my clothes.”[/color] her nature betrayed her once again, as she couldn’t help but flirt.

He started to smile until she mentioned [i]that[/i] at which the smile ceased and he rolled his eyes but left a lopsided smile. [color=9e0b0f]”Maybe if you didn’t make it so tempting in the first place, you would keep them on longer.”[/color] He couldn’t help but chuckle.

She smiled then [color=gray]”You didn’t seem to mind my lack of control yesterday. Actually, it’s a bit hypocritical of you to be schooling [i]me[/i]  on self control, don’t you think?”[/color]

[color=9e0b0f]”There’s a difference between [i]that[/i] and what pertains to training.”[/color] He said quickly, blushing slightly. 

[color=gray]”Depends on what turns you on, I suppose.”[/color] she said with stark honesty. To her, there wasn’t much difference, it all filled the same need.

He gave her a playful yet judgmental look before sighing. [color=9e0b0f]”Oh, where is my sympathy in my time of need? I must train this poor child, but I can’t with lust-filled eyes. Oh the humanity!”[/color] He said dramatically as he covered his eyes with his forearm and leaned away. 

Kiara laughed, [color=gray]”I’m grown enough, lust away. But, teach first. What is my lesson today?”[/color]

He raised an eyebrow and nodded. [color=9e0b0f]”Emotional balance…”[/color] He stated.