Mahindren's hair, normally erect and happy, drooped as she saw the two girls slip into depression.

"I'm sorry, why does it distress you so? You are so near to the end of your journey, are you not?" Mahindren looked up, her eyes sad.

Rylin turned back from watching Nena catch up. She made a helpless gesture with her hands and dropped them again with a very small sigh.
"But it has failed, hasn't it? We needed help, but it seems as though our help must help itself, if you know what I mean. The Elves are at war."
Nena came up beside her and kicked the snow irritably with her boot. "All this for nothing!"
"At least we are safe," Rylin replied firmly with a glance at Nena, then looked back at the two little creatures looking at her, "Thanks to you."

Mahindren's hair, like whiskers on a cat, flattened a bit more at the word "elves"--in her mind, they correlated with the dragon-rider--but perked up slightly at Rylin's thank-you.

"Tis no problem," she smiled up at the girls. "But the elves--they have been at war for years. Don't mind that."

Rohindron didn't seem to disappear into the snow as he had previously. Mahindren sniffed at the air. The wind was lessening, and she could smell men from the camp. Just a little more, and they would be there. The rapid change in weather was obvious. The gently drifting snow, down here, was kind, peaceful, and reminiscent of marshmallows in hot cocoa. Mahindren smiled slightly. Rohindron would be quite interested in the marshmallow aspect of the snow. She wondered how soon he would disappear on his quest to fill his tummy.

The tents were mostly quiet as the little creature led the two girls into the camp. Surprisingly, Rohindron stayed with them, slipping back and walking alongside Mahindren.

"Sss, it is too quiet..." he said, looking around. "Much too quiet."

How is it that such simple words can lift the spirits to soaring heights? The little creature's words shattered the weight that rested on Rylin's heart and let it rebound into the sky. Relief flooded her, and she let out a tiny gasp and put a hand to her heart. She said nothing, but her eyes shone with gratitude. It was nothing, really, to give such a small piece of information, especially when compared with the safe conduct the little creatures had been giving them. But the restoration of hope is a gift that is great beyond measure.

Nena's first reaction was to be stunned at how wrong she had been. Then a little voice inside her chirped, And now that nothing's gone wrong Rylin can't be blamed, can she? A pang of guilt ran through her heart. Her conscience had just suddenly awoke after the days of stress and hardship with the fresh breeze of hope. But she pushed the feeling away and stamped her foot as if she were cold. Really though, it was the same as someone else might shake their head to get rid of a thought. A little spray of snow rose from the stamp and settled behind them as they followed the little creatures away.

As the snow fell more gently, the girls slowly thawed. Nena's toes began to be extremely painful and she vaguely wondered how badly they were frostbitten.

Upon reaching the camp she looked eagerly for any signs of other humans. The majority of her immediate distaste for the little creatures had long since worn off, but she was one of those people who instinctively distrust anything not human. But she saw little or no signs.

"What's going on?" she asked in a whisper, mostly to Rylin, but also to anyone who cared to answer.
Rylin, however, shook her head.

As the girls entered the camp, Jâkín stepped out of one of the tents. He stretched casually and then spotted the newcomers. An angry glint sparked in his eye and he strode in their direction.

"You two! What are you doing here?" Jâkín brandished his dagger at the girls angrily and said," I'm taking you to Träm. Don't try to run or I'll be taking your corpse to see him."

Both the dragons whirled around, collided, but spotted Jâkín nonetheless.

"Sss, sss, be kind, gentle," Rohindron said, dusting Mahindren off. "Träm sent us up the mountain to get them. Said to keep them safe, until he gets back from meeting with Force Users. Is he back yet?"

"Yes," Träm's deep voice rumbled through the night air. Wrapped in a dark cloak, a large figure appeared. Very familiar with the man, Rohindron immediately leaped onto him, winding in and out of his coat. He reappeared, and frowned.

"You don't have any food on you."

Träm shook his head, and petted the top of Rohindron's head roughly.

Mahindren sighed.

"My dear, go find some, sweet," she said, winding her way between Rylin and Nena. "I'm sure you can. But these humans, they are nearly frozen, Träm. They need help now, not after Rohindron has found his food."

"Of course," Träm said. He nodded at Jâkín, winking ever so slightly, then turning to the two girls. "We have been waiting for you. For a long time. Come."

Turning, Träm began walking quickly. He stopped as he heard the soft noises of the others moving along. He had noticed that, while Rohindron had been happy enough to ignore the two girls, while Mahindren had stuck close to them. The Cââdite knew little of dragons, but he did know they weren't to be trifled with if they were angry, and that, no matter what, these little dragons would stick with their mates.

"Rohindron, Mahindren, you have done much tonight. Go, eat, and rest for a while."

Both girls jumped hard when Jâkín stepped out of tent. But that was nothing compared to the terror that shook their limbs when he drew his dagger. Nena stepped closer to Rylin automatically and they shivered slightly, staring at the shimmering blade.
At the male creature's intercession Nena let her breath out in a huff of steam and Rylin gasped softly and put a hand to her heart.

They listened to the ensuing conversation with interest born of anxiety. Not out and out fear, just a misgiving.
These aren't Elves, thought Rylin, looking hard at their ears (the only characteristic she knew Elves possessed in outward appearance).
He's quick to be aggressive, thought Nena, looking at the man who stuck a knife in her face. What does that say about the other man?

When the other man repeated the words the little female creature had used, "we've been waiting for you", Rylin was startled. They've been waiting for us? I thought it was the Elves who were waiting... So they weren't talking about the Elves after all? Were they even planning on taking us to them at all? Her next thought was, but maybe these men will take us all the way to them.
Nena, on the other hand, stiffened. Naturally suspicious, her thought was, I smell a rat. But there was nothing she could do, and she followed behind Rylin as she began to obey the tall, cloaked man. For the first time however, she was sorry that the little creatures were not coming with them. Somehow, they seemed less dangerous after the incident with the dagger.

Träm led the others into the camp, to a great bonfire.

"Have a seat," he said, gesturing to some nearby logs. "Warm yourselves while we get some food for you."

As soon as the two men were out of sight, Träm turned back to Jâkín.

"Those girls are must definitely from one of the conquered peoples. I have guessed from the bodies that have been found that they carry some sort of message for the elflings. The elves are too crafty, though, they've taken any written message from the corpses. All I ask is that you find the messages."

"Sure, I can do that. I'll search their gear while you "entertain" them," Jâkín replied. "What are we going to do with them afterward?"

"If they'll co-operate and do as we say, send them back home. Perhaps they can knock some sense into their people. If not...well, tie them up until we have time to properly 'deal' with them....I'm sure you understand," Träm whispered, smiling slightly.

Jâkín's gaze slipped back in the direction of the two girls. Were he to be entirely truthful, killing two young girls was about the last thing he wanted to do. Bullying and posturing was how he typically achieved his goals.

"Sure, of course. I get you. Where's their stuff at, so I can rummage through it?"

Nena sank warily onto the offered log and watched the two men until they could no longer be seen. When she turned back Rylin had stripped her gloves off and had her hands thrust to the fire.
"What do you think?" Nena asked her.
Rylin looked at her with surprise in her eyes. She was a little startled at Nena's frank question after these days of sharp words. But she figured quickly that she must have been tired and now she's feeling better.
However, the look on her face irritated Nena, knowing why Rylin would be surprised. "Well?" she repeated, a little harshly.
"Well I think they're nice enough," replied Rylin hurriedly.
"What makes you think that?"
"Did you see the way the tall man pet the little creature on the head? That seemed kind enough."
Nena rolled her eyes, "but that's different! If you didn't treat that thing kind enough, it could bite your hand off."
"Well, what else do you want me to think?" Now Rylin felt a little flurry of temper rising in her.
"Who are these men? Why were they waiting on us?"
"I don't see why either of those questions are so very important Nena. Just wait a little while and I'm sure everything will turn out fine."
"Wait!? Wait for what? How do we know these men are even on our side?"
"Well if they weren't then wouldn't they have just let us die on the mountain? Or if we didn't die on our own, kill us outright? And besides, the little creatures were very kind and gentle. That should say something about the one who sent them, shouldn't it?"
Nena opened her mouth to voice her objections, then shut it again. Those were good points. Why didn't they let them die? And why did the little creatures treat them so well if they were planning on injuring them later? But the uneasy feeling would not go away even when these excellent arguments were brought up.
"Still," she said after a moments pause, "this is an dangerous world in an unsettled time we live in. Something's not right here and I don't know what. We need to be on our guard."

Rylin looked at her again in surprise. She couldn't remember the last time Nena had let an argument go without winning. But Nena was slipping out of her pack and setting it by her, touching the log. She stretched her feet out towards the fire and winced. The pain in her un-freezing toes was excruciating, but the warmth felt good to the rest of her body.

"I believe they still have it with them," Träm said, nodding.

~~

Mahindren padded alongside Rohindron, singularly silent.

"What's wrong, pumpkin?" he asked, slowing. Mahindren's head was drooping, her chin nearly dragging in the snow.

"I feel bad for those girls," she said softly. "I don't think Träm has good plans for them."

"He won't harm them, dearie. Don't be so silly."

"I guess you're right, I am being a bit silly." Mahindren's voice was brighter, and for a moment she held her head up, but it slowly drooped back down.

"It may be silly, but I'm going back to see them," she finally said, and, without another word, turned and started winding her way back to the fire.

She was nearly there when she heard the returning footsteps of Jâkín and the more muffled, slower steps of Träm. The little dragon hesitated, and peered between the tents. The girls looked fine, happy to be near a fire, and Träm's slower step indicated that he was carrying something that could spill--had to be food, she decided. Convinced that she was being silly in worrying, she turned around, and wit her head held high, marched back to see Rohindron (and maybe have a midnight snack, so that he wouldn't feel lonely eating by himself, of course!).

Woe to all that she would turn back!

Jâkín slipped back into the area around the fire and offered the girls a half-hearted smile.

"Sorry about earlier. We've had some trouble lately, thought you were enemies. No hard feelings? Träm wants me to prepare your tent for you. Can I take your packs?"

((*arises from the dead* Heh heh heh...))

"A new Vortex has arisen. I do not know who assumed the role." G-9 clicked his chitin thoughtfully and turned his head ninety degrees to look at Yonatan. "When the vortex species is in a dormant state, any awake Vortex may assume the role of power. We are weak and incoherent; we cannot stop it."

G-9 resumed his story. "Somehow, a Vortex wakened after all of the centuries asleep. It is likely that he fought against the dormant state brought on by the Vortex, and partially succeeded--the result being that he woke up recently. It is also likely that he destroyed the dormant Vortex." He did not show it, but G-9 was sad. He had loved the former Vortex like a brother.

"His actions in rebelling against the peace and re-starting the old war are clear indications that this Vortex is up to no good. I was lieutenant in the last war. He put me at the bottom of the chain of command in this." G-9 paused, and then swiveled his head to look at everyone in turn. "The Vortex is a commander, no matter who he is. He exerts his will over us, and at times it is impossible not to follow. It is extremely necessary for a good being to be this leader. However, he cannot be deposed by outside forces, and the majority of the vortex support him."

Now was the time. G-9 took a deep breath. It would mean his eventual death--but to prevent other deaths, it was important. "We can be destroyed by water at the precise temperatures of 26 degrees to 48 degrees celsius. I ask you to eliminate us. It is necessary. All of us. This must not happen again.

*edited because the color of the text hurt the author's eyes