As Skobeloff and Stargaze begin their attempts to free the captured dragon, it quickly becomes apparent that two drakes alone will not be enough to clear this mess. Thankfully, they are not alone: Shieldwing and Kyte are the first to join them, the former in particularly seeming glad to finally have something to sink his teeth and claws into. Kyte also manages to coax Alpin into helping, as it turns out that brownies have surprisingly sharp teeth, capable of chewing through materials most others would have trouble with. They're able to unbind the captive enough to the point that they can spot very dark green scales beneath the vegetation. 

[color=silver]"That's definitely Maug,"[/color] Fogdance says as she and Garrock approach the group. She's formed a ball of concentrated moonlight in the palm of her claw and she holds it up over the slumbering dragon so she can better examine them. Maug's scales shimmer slightly in the light, showing themselves to be iridescent as new colors seems to creep over the surface as the light changes angle. Fogdance frowns. [color=silver]"They usually shimmer much more vividly than this,"[/color] she explains. [color=silver]"They've been like this for so long it seems the darkness has gotten beneath their scales."[/color] She nods to several thorns that have gotten themselves stuck in the spaces between the longtooth dragon's scales. [color=silver]"I don't think it would be a good idea to keep pulling. You might end up doing further damage to them."[/color]

Garrock leans over Maug's form. [color=FADA5E]"I think I might be able to something about that,"[/color] he says after a moment. [color=FADA5E]"I still have access to the Liberty Moon."[/color] He glances over at Fogdane for confirmation, which she gives in the form of a small nod. Garrock places a claw over Maug's body and focuses. A golden light shimmers from his talons that starts to extend outwards, seeping into the vines and cause them to tremble as they try so desperately to keep hold of their captive. Even Maug themself seems to shudder in sleep, as if in the grips of a particularly nasty nightmare. Eventually, though, the vines' strength seems to leave them and they crumble away to dust, revealing Maug in full at last. 

Fogdance gives a nod of approval to Garrock before she raises her ball of moonlight over Maug once more. This dragon is a complete stranger to Stargaze, Skobeloff and Shieldwing, and while Fellwing previously glimpsed them in her vision, none of them have  met this dragon under better circumstances. However, even they can tell that what the darkness has done to Maug has several weakened them, leaving them thin, frail and covered in numerous wounds, each oozing out a thick black liquid. Fogdance begins to use her magic to close the injuries, once again causing Maug to thrash about. At one point, he even opens his eyes revealing them to be black and devoid of all light. He stares right at each member of the group, but they all get the distinct feeling he doesn't really see any of them. Once his wounds are closed, his eyes shut again. Beneath his skin, they can see black veins pulsing under his scales. Fogdance gently nudges him with her claw, but this time he remains fully asleep. The grey bearded dragon grimaces. [color=silver]"This is... far beyond anything I've seen before,"[/color] she says. [color=silver]"We'll have to get the Capitol to look at him."[/color] She looks at Garrock. [color=silver]"You think you can carry him?[/color]

Garrock glances down at Maug. [color=FADA5E]"As long as he doesn't toss and turn too much, it shouldn't be a problem,"[/color] he says. 

While this has been happening, Alto, Tamba and Pleexem seem to have located the third and final dragon, Vipereyes, and have worked to free her from constrictions, a process which appears to have been much easier than what happened with Maug. The older Myndoth dragon gives a loud yawn upon being pulled from her slumber, and immediately begins launching into questions. The obvious questions about where they are and how they got here come first, before she becomes incredibly interested in the quality of the vegetation and soil in the area, and even asks whether she would be allowed to take a sample of the remaining black vines back to her lab for study. From what Skobeloff knows of Vipereyes, this is incredibly typical behaviour for her.

Overheard, the shouts and calls of pixies can be heard as they seemed to have located their own captured people nestling in the trees above. Foxglove can be seen whizzing about from tree to tree after these calls, quick to check up on their well-being. Beyond that, in the near distance, the group can vaguely make out the first notes of birdsong, the first real wildlife sounds they've heard since stepping foot on the island. More moonlight begins to filter through the leaves, allowing the group to better make out their surroundings and the faces of their comrades. There is a definite sense of relief in the area, but it's also tinged with concern and uncertainty. Fogdance and Garrock are obviously worried for Maug, and are exchanging a lot of back and forth about what they should do once they reach the Capitol. Fogdance is wanting to suggesting everybody get a once-over by some medics just to make sure no one else is infected by corruption, an idea that Garrock doesn't seem fond of. He wants to go straight to the Council and begin a sweep for this mysterious black dragon. It's not an argument, at least not yet.

Kyte, still carrying Alpin on their back, has moved back towards where Tamba and Pleexem are. The former is conversing with Vipereyes very intensely about what they've uncovered since being on the island, occassionally pausing to ask Alto something which he responds to merely with a nod or shake of his head. While Pleexem is standing next to his twin, he doesn't seem to be partaking in the conversation at all. In fact, the more sharp-eyed members of the clutch will notice that he keeps glancing over his shoulder towards Maug's sleeping form, a look of deep worry on his face.

Maug remains asleep, oblivious to all of this.

[center]End of Chapter 1.[/center]