A Gathering of Good News

[»Míríel«]

Miriel stood in the shallow admiring the clear crystal blue water that surrounded her. Today the sun was shining, the wind was blowing softly, and warmth was pouring down from the sky upon her. Her light blue dress fluttered in the wind as she stood there as her rich black locks poured over her shoulders. It was a good day to be alive. After all that had happened it was nice to have a day to relax. To think that the fight between their children had been a couple weeks ago, it felt like it was yesterday. The children were mostly recovered from their physical wounds, but she was worrying about the emotional/mental wounds that still were there. Tyrss had become more reclusive. Miriel was worried. What if they never were the same, what is-"Stop." She heeded her thought's command and shook the ark thoughts from her mind. Things seemed to be going well now. The worst was hopefully over. Although she wished that the peace would remain forever, she knew that would never happen. If there was anything she learned from that experiance it was that.

Looking down at her belly she placed her hands on it as her face glowed. She had new life growing within her, and it made her whole body feel at peace. Being a pheonix she knew what it was like to reawaken, and here she was going to give birth, to give life to new people. What would the children be? Boys or girls? What elements would they possess? She loved experimenting with different possibilities. With a sigh as the dark thoughts were starting to come back. What if they fought like Tryss did with Adelahn? What if they got hurt? Miriel closed her eyes and lifted her head. "Don't you worry little children. No matter how much I wish it, I know that you won't be perfect, and I know that I won't be a perfect parent. I just want you to know that no matter what happens, I will be here with open arms to embrace you, to ove you and be there to wipe away your tears. Know that." With a smile on her face now she opened her eyes and continued to gaze at the peaceful lagoon.

----

Tryss sat on the sand not to far away. With her knees tucked up against her chest she also peered out over the water. Although her wounds were healed she knew that something much deeper still was broken, something was missing. Every night she relived the fight, but it wasn't a nightmare, instead it gave her energy. She reveled in the memory. To feel that power she had over and over again, and to see her victim fall again and again to the ground was exhilarating. Closing her eyes she pulled her knees closer and rested her chin on them. Once again she felt the pain of the ice against her scales, the ripping sensation as one tore one off, and the pleasure of releasing the flames that she held within.

Gritting her teeth she made herself get away from the memory. She knew this was wrong. She had almost killed her sister, but unwilling to face the guilt it turned into an odd mixture of pride and an adrenaline rush. Although recalling these memories was something that scared her, they weren't the thing that scared her the most. Many times, as she relived the memory she asked herself, if I went back knowing what I did now would I still attack Adelahn. Her answer was always, 'yes'. Pulling her arms tightened around her knees she dug her nails into her skin.

---

Miya came racing through in her typical kitten form with hair sticking off in their typical random direction. Upon hearing that she was going to go exploring, see a new area, and get to be around other people than her family was just to much for her little fluffy self to contain. Her parents had giving up trying to keep her in her human form, especially when as soon as they talked about leaving she lost it. Looking forward she saw Miriel standing in the water. Letting out a little screech of excitement she started her excited bounce toward her new target.

It didn't take long for her little figure to get to Miriel. She was calling out, "Mrs. Miriel!!! Mrs. Miriel!!!" The whole way. Though upon coming closer she screeched to a stop seeing water between her and Miriel. Although it was only a couple inches, it was enough to make her think of something she dreaded the most of all. Bath time. With wide eyes she looked at the water, than up at Miriel. With a little yelp she threw herself into the water, making a splash flinging water everywhere. With a purr she rubbed all over Miriel's legs before stepping back and looking up at her. "HI! Where is Tryss and Adel-" Just as she was about to ask she turned and saw one of the blonde haired girls sitting not to far away at the water's edge. "Nevermind!" With that she flung herself out of the water toward Tryss. By the time she arrived her fur was littered with sand.

----

Neron laughed as he saw his little girl run out from him. No matter how many times he saw it he always was impressed. What was it like to have that much energy in your body? Shaking his head and running his hands through his hair he headed toward Miriel. Seing her bending over to wash Miya's hair off her wet legs a smirk came to his face. "I see that Miya greeted you."

Miriel laughed and stod up to hug Neron. Stepping out of the water she smiled up at him. "She is rather adorable. Where did she get her charm from?"

"She has good blood. You know I never told you, but I used to be called a charmer." The smirk deepened on his face.

"Oh did you? Well then who ever said that must have been either drunk or mad." Miriel laughed.

Neron pretended to look hurt but it didn't last long before a smile was on his own face. "You look good Miriel. I guess the "guest" that has been at your house hasn't hurt your family to much."

Miriel's face darkened temporarily. "More than you know...but we will talk about that later." She smiled back up at him. "But one good thing has come out of harships."

Neron didn't like the shadow that ran across her face. Miriel was very close to him, and although they were just friends and hadn't been hanging around together much after they both got families, he never could thank her enough for what she did for him. She was the one that helped him through some of his darkest times before Jaedon came around, by believing in him and healing him. Raising an eyebrow at her last statement he questioned, "Oh?"

Miriel shook her head. "Not until Jaedon gets here."

Neron shrugged. Women and their secrets. Looking around for a moment he turned back to Miriel. " So where is your man? You didn't run him off did you?

[saerwen]

The water felt nice. It was cool and refreshing, and even though the day wasn't that hot, it was nice to get your feet wet and let everything roll off you like a wave. Adelahn stood in the water, almost up to her knees. She turned and glanced at her mother who stood a few yards away. Her tummy was getting bigger. Adelahn smiled and then looked down at the water. When their parents told them a new baby or two was on the way, Adelahn had become so excited she could hardly stand it. Another sibling would be so much fun!

Speaking of siblings though, Adelahn looked over at Tryss as she sat next to the water, curled up in a ball. Her face became creased with worry and slight anger. She didn't want to be angry at her sister, but ever since their fight, Tryss wouldn't talk to her like they used to. They used to be able to talk so easily and laugh with each other, but now Tryss had cooped herself up and they never got to play games together. It wasn't like their parents had banned them from playing games or anything, Tryss just wasn't ever in the mood. Adelahn had told Tryss she was sorry for her part of the fight, but her sister had made no willing apology. Adelahn wondered if Tryss still hadn't forgiven her, or if it was something else that kept Tryss so taciturn. Whatever it was, Adelahn wanted it to stop. She wanted her sister back.
___________________

Damion and Bijan had walked away from the rest of the family a few moments before. Damion dreaded whatever conversation might be coming. Bijan seemed to be chalking up for a fight on the way over, so Damion could only imagine what the next few minutes were to hold. He had left the two children with Miriel for a moment, hoping to be back soon. Damion wanted to see Jaedon and Neron, but that meeting would be delayed.

When they were a while away, Damion turned to his father, stopping in his steps, and asked, "Alright, what is this about?"

"Damion, you are too smart not to know."

Damion sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "No, dad. I really have no idea what is going on inside your head. I never did, and I don't think I want to. I have no idea why you decided to terrorize my family, but whatever the reason is, I suggest that you stop."

"Don't think about it that way, Damion," his fathr countered. "I haven't done anything out of purely hateful intentions. Is it so wrong for me to want my son back?"

"Yes, when you use my family as a weapon against me, to force me back, yes it is wrong," Damion started to raise his voice. "I am a grown man, father. My family is my first priority now. And really, dad, you never wanted me when you did have me, so why now? What is the catch? Why do you need me to come back to bad?"

"I just want you to be the one to take over for me!" Bijan began yelling right back.

"Why can't you have Arvis or Thalin take your position once you are gone? Why do you wnat me?" Damion demanded.

Bijan scoffed, "Your brothers know nothing of taking care of the clan. They know nothing further than war and battle."

"Who made them that way, father? Who?!"

Bijan growled in defeat, "Fine, perhaps I did drive the warrior's spirit a bit too deeply into them. Perhaps. But you, you never got that. You are different from them Damion, and that different is what I need to bring our people together when I am gone. I am old Damion, and my scars are getting to the point where they won't heal well anymore. Once a dragon reaches such a point, they know that immortality has its limits. I don't want one of those half-wit spawns of mine to take the place of my first-born, rightful heir."

"Well maybe if you hadn't treated me and mom so badly, you would still have a son like that. But I don't consider myself your heir, and I certainly don't care about your legacy. After that stunt you pulled the other day with the kids, and don't think I didn't notice that was you, I don't think there is any chance left for you in the world to reconcile with me or my family. I am not coming back with you. You have done nothing thus far to induce me to leave my family, and I don't think you could do anything to induce such an action. You will be better served to stop trying and to get to know Miriel and the girls. Maybe then, you can earn back my trust. But even then, I would still never return. The life of a clan leader is not the life for me." With that Damion turned around and started to walk away.

"You thought I cared nothing for your mother," Bijan spoke softly.

Damion stopped, suddenly furious. Without turning around, he bit out, "No, I don't think. I know you didn't care a single ounce for my mother, nor the other six women that came after her. I don't care if she was your first, I just cared if she was your only, and she wasn't. You don't know how to love. You just know you want it from everyone else at any cost. You tore mother to pieces, but you are not going to tear my family apart the same way." He then walked off, hoping to join Miriel.

On his way back, he saw Jaedon walking with Byren shuffling on a little bit ahead of her. She looked tired, tried, and defeated. He smiled. Being a parent had been the perfect cure for all of her worries because it simply gave her new ones, ones that mattered more. Apparently, they had all discovered that Miya had telepathy. Damion could only imagine the amount of frustration Jaedon was enduring to try and train that girl. Telepathy was a hard gift, and if not handled properly it could explode in your face. Even though Aeryn was helping her with the training, Jaedon still had her at home all the rest of the time. And if it wasn't Miya, Damion could easily see Byren being the problem. He was too smart for his own good.

Jaedon spotted him quickly, especially since he was wearing a bleach white shirt that matched his hair, right against the green of the surrounding forest. She gave him a weary smile and motioned to Byren to keep walking. He obediently padded off at a leisurely pace. Damion gave Jaedon a big hug, and then asked, "Rough morning?"

"You have no idea," Jaedon nodded, "But I think every morning is becoming a bit rougher for me. I am pretty sure my tollerance for early rising took a significant drop ever since we moved to the beach. Getting up in the morning now is like pulling teeth for me. Maybe I am just getting lazy."

"You, lazy? Never," Damion teased.

"Hey, cats have privileges to being lazy. We are the only creatures that can sleep all day and still earn the title of 'cute'."

"True. I am guessing that you staying up late hasn't helped either. I know you used to be really bad about that. I can see you and Neron staying up until all hours of the morning."

Jaedon nodded, "Yeah, it just seems that is the only good time for us to talk now. Once the kids are awake, that's it. Our entire day is consumed by working with them. And ever since I started homeschooling Miya and Byren, my brain continues to melt half way through the day. I have just started taking them on perpetual field trips where we go outside and study bugs and read books on the beach. So, yeah, Neron and Jaedon time comes at the end of the day when the munchkins are out cold."

"I understand the feeling," Damion agreed. He looked forward and saw Miriel and Neron standing together talking. Byren had scooted off towards Miya, but he kept a very greedy distance. It looked at though he was perfectly happy with the idea of leaving the girls alone. Damion chuckled, but didn't say anything. He looked behind him and saw Bijan sauntering along in his tracks. His father's eyes were analytically scanning the new couple and their little ones. Damion suddenly wished his father hadn't come.

Jaedon whispered to him as they waked over to Neron and Miriel, "Is that him, your father?" He only nodded in reply. "He looks like he is ready to kill someone." Jaedon's voice was serious, she wasn't joking.

It was true. Bijan was fuming. His son's words cut him deep, and he knew they were fairly accurate. He hated the thought of having been disloyal to anyone, but when it came to women, Bijan had never seen them as anything more than things to be used and thrown away once they bore him the child he wanted. Damion's mother was however, the only one he regretted doing that to. She had more life and spirit then the others did, and she was the only one that had killed herself after Damion grew up. She had nurtured him until he was old enough to stand up to any other dragon around on his own, and then she had gone into a battle on purpose, knowing she would die at the end of it. She was Bijan's only regret, and really, he only regretted the fact he would never be have her in battle again. She had been a strong warrior, but she died an honorable death. From Bijan's point of view, he did nothing wrong against her. But he knew that Damion was right. He knew nothing of love.

Damion looked to Neron right as he asked where Damion was, "Right here. Had to make a detour on the way here." It might have been obvious that he was still recovering his gentle temperament to those in the little foursome. Jaedon had seen it, but she knew the cause, and she knew that it was a sore subject to bring up. Also if Bijan over heard anything, he would want to defend himself, which could lead to a fight, and none of them wanted that to happen.

Jaedon reached quietly for Miriel and gave her a hug before asking, "How are you doing?" She was obviously referring to more than just health issues. From what Damion had told her of Bijan, Miriel was probably feeling a big burn right about now regarding her powers.

[»Míríel«]

Tryss found herself being barreled over by a soggy wet kitten. There would now be a wet mark on her shirt for the rest of the day, along with sand and some kitten hairs. Picking herself up a bit she found the adorable face of Miya looking at her with wide eyes, full of excitement. "Hello Miya." A smile came to her face as she petted the little creature before her before picking her up and setting her on the ground. The little attack had been welcome, it pulled her out of her thoughts.

"HI!" Miya licked Tyrss's hand as soon as she was set down before prancing around her. "What are you up to? Isn't it a beautiful day? I can't wait. I haven't been out from the house just for fun in a long while. Isn't this going to be amazing! Hopefully a snake won't come and ruin it like last time." Plopping her little hiney on the ground a sad look came across her face. Taking a deep breath a strange scent came on the air. Blood. Wrinkling her nose slightly in confusion she lifted her eyes to figure out the source. It didn't take to long to find. "Is that blood?" Then in the corner of her eye she saw Adelahn. "ADDY ADDY!" She bounced over to the edge again, calling out to her other friend. Looking at the water she got a depressed look on her face. She didn't know if she wanted to get wet again, or go that far into the water. Then, like before she was to excited to restrain herself and she flung herself in, sending water in all directions


Tryss's smile brightened a little more with Miya's tirade of questions. Whenever Miya was around no one wanted for conversation. The little fluffball was an excellent chatterbox. When she mentioned blood Tryss looked down to where her fingers had dug into her skin. Little blood droplets were forming in the shape of her nails. It wasn't very much, but Tryss was surprised. She hadn't been paying attention to how hard she had been pressing down in the moment of the memory. She was glad that Miya turned away instead of waiting for an answer. With a sigh she looked over at the other figure that was joining them. Lovely. It was Byren. "What to scared to come closer?"

-----

Neron smiled when Jaedon came closer. Winking at Miriel he stated, "Well looks like we haven't chased either one of our spouses off. Darn." Going to Jaedon she gave her a little peck on the cheek, a smirk, and then turned to Damion. "How are you doing Damion? Or should I ask?" Looking over to the other man he held out the hand. "You must be Damion's father. If you aren't, then I need to get my eyes checked." It was true, they were very similar in appearances, both white hair, pale skin, and blue eyes. Bijan just had a little heftier look to him, more built.

Miriel hugged Jaedon back as her smile wavered a bit. "Oh fine, better now though." Her smile returned. "How are you doing? You look exhausted." A worried look came to her face as she looked her best friend over. Looked like her and Damion didn't have the only rough times in their rearview mirror.

[saerwen]

When Adelahn heard Miya behind her, she turned around and smiled. The little thing was wet all over. She had apparently no problem with diving in. But somehow Miya made it suit her. Perhaps it was because everyone there knew she didn't care about her appearance, so it didn't matter to anyone else. It wasn't like telling her how bad it looked would make a difference, she would still jump in. Adelahn rather liked that about Miya. At least she knew where she stood. Looking at Tryss, Adelahn was glad to see a smile on her sister's face, for once. In the past few days, very few smiles had come from her sister. Finally, some progress had been made, and a crack began to show in her sister's dark facade.

Seeing Miya plunge into the water was even funnier than seeing her wet. Adelahn couldn't help but giggle before greeting the little girl, "Hi Miya! How are you doing today?" She took a few steps closer to the girl so she wasn't as deep in the water.

Byren watched in apathy as Miya jumped into the water around Miriel's feet, then haphazardly ran over to Tryss, then bounced to Adelahn. It was similar to watching a ping pong ball going across a table, or a pinball being shot around the obstacles in the machine. She just kept running around. Byren didn't really feel like associating with the girls. He never did, but somehow was always forced into it. He laid down in the grass and looked around him, searching for some way to keep himself preoccupied. He found it easily. A tiny beetle on the ground was caught by a spider. He watched with big eyes as the spider fought to keep the beetle still. There was no web, but both parties fighting to see who would survive, or who would be lunch. Byren was quiet intrigued, so he got a little closer to the ground and sat back to watch the show. He put his money on the spider winning. When Tryss called out to him, he called to her from his current position, "Yeah, scared of your stupidity rubbing off on me."

Jaedon looked at Neron disapprovingly after hearing his comment, "You, sir, wouldn't last two seconds without me. That is how I always know you are joking." His peck on the cheek was confirmation of these facts in Jaedon's mind. She just smiled at him and turned her attention back to Damion.

"You can ask Neron, and my answer if fine. I haven't had reason to complain for a while now," he looked at Miriel with a gleam in his eyes.

Damion was rather shocked when Neron greeted his father so openly, but then again, he probably hadn't heard much about the strained relationship aside from hints and sightings. Bijan had been looking over the group assembled and found himself horrified, but for some reason, not surprised. Damion's friends were who knew what, but it was obvious they were two separate species because their children came out on the butt end of it all. It seemed the odd mixing came in plentiful numbers around these parts. It made Bijan want to hurl. However, he put on as friendly a mask as he could.

"It is pleasant for me to meet any of my son's friends," he took Neron's hand, instant alarmed by the heat from Neron's hand, but he reminded himself that it was a fairly hot day, and most other creatures kept a pretty high temperature compared to ice elements. "I'm Bijan."

Jaedon couldn't let Neron be the only one to speak. She didn't want to seem rude, and she couldn't help noticing Neron had forgotten to give his own name in the introduction. She didn't reach her hand out to Bijan but gave him a solid smile and said, "I'm Jaedon, and this is my husband Neron, and those are our kids, Miya and Byren." She looked over at the two little bits to make sure they hadn't killed each other, themselves, or anyone else yet, then looked back. "How have you been enjoying the mountains? Damion and Miriel have a rather perfect set up on those ranges, including beautiful views."

Bijan looked at Jaedon and Neron side by side and was instantly shocked. They looked almost exactly alike except for facial structure. For a second he thought them might have been brother and sister, then she said they were married, and he instantly remembered the children. It was just a strange coincidence that they had such similar features, both of them extremely good looking as well. Damion had at least found some friends with handsome enough features to live up to his equal.

"I have enjoyed my stay very much, thus far," Bijan was speaking politely, but it was only his nature to be curt and to the point.

Damion was glad Jaedon and Neron were helping him out with Bijan. Damion would have been fine to leave him completely out of the picture, but he found that his friends were making life much simpler for him.

Jaedon smiled at Miriel, "I am glad you are better now. I hope we completely revitalize you by the end of this." When Miriel asked her how she was doing Jaedon made a face, "I am fine, just tired. Miya and Byren are hard to keep up with sometimes. Now that Miya is training in telepathy, I have two little minds wandering around freely instead of just one. Sometimes Miya just can't keep it together. I am thanking the stars for Aeryn right now, though. If he wasn't helping, I would be in much worse shape than I am now."

Damion picked up the subject, "How is Miya doing in her training? Aside from the occasional break down that is."

Jaedon smiled wanly, "Thankfully, much better than I thought she would. She is actually progressing pretty well. How are your girls doing?"

[»Míríel«]

Miya paddled in the shallow end, still not quite able to touch the bottom. Miya was a small cub, and although it looked like her legs had gotten a bit longer, she was still showing signs of stunted growth. It almost seemed as though she was to busy with other things, and with the infatuation of being cute, to allow her body to grow. "I'm doing...I'm doing..." Miya was having trouble talking while she was swimming. All the bouncing around was starting to show on her energy output. "Actually I'm getting quite tired. Do you mind picking me up before I play with the fishies?" She made a face. "Though that might be fun..." Then she changed the subject back to Adelahn. "How are you?"

-----

Tryss gritted her teeth and snapped her eyes over to Byren when he made his comment. Unknowingly her nails found their way into her flesh once more. The pain only added to her anger. Standing up she balled her fists at her side. The warrior spirit within her was rising, and the taste of power filled her senses. Before she could think she was over by his side. Smashing her shoe on top of the beetle and the spider she smirked when she pulled her foot away to reveal their corpses. "I'm sorry What did you say?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm as a sickly sweet smile came to her face. If Byren looked at her face he might have noticed something darker, a sinister gleam in her eye, and her body temperature rising.

--------

Neron nodded at Jaedon's introduction. "Yeah watch out for the..." He looked over to see Miya in the water, and sighed. "Dripping wet rat, she tends to be very...affectionate. Byren is a bit more civil." Dropping Bijan's hand he couldn't help notice the coldness that radiated from it. Neron wouldn't be surprised if he was an ice dragon just like Damion. Actually he would stake his money on it. "Well that's good to hear. That must mean that Jaedon and I may have to trespass on your household sometime to experience it for ourselves. It's been to long since we have been up in your neck of the woods. "He paused for a moment. "And of course you are more than welcome down at our beach house. The water is quite nice at this time of the year."

-------------

Miriel smiled at Damion's comment. She couldn't wait to tell the others her news.

When Jaedon was talking to her about her kids, Miriel just nodded. It was hard sometimes to have the kids around 24/7. You got to see the brunt of all the drama, and got even fewer breaths of fresh air to unwind in. "I'm glad to hear that she is paying attention. I sometimes wonder how you ever get her to sit still." Although Miya was charming to be around for get together, Mirial could see where the little package of energy would be draining in everyday occurrences.

When Jaedon asked about her children a dark worried look came to her face. Unconscious a hand went to her growing belly. "Not so good. We had our first..." She looked at Damion before turning to Jaedon. "'Situation'. The girls fought, and Adelahn nearly got killed. Things haven't really been the same since." Grasping Jaedon's hands she held them firmly. "What if they don't figure it out? Sometimes We are so worried about them. We thought that if we raised them up in a sheltered situation that they wouldn't tend towards fights, but now...I'm not so sure." Her voice got softer. "Especially now, with more children on the way, what if they get hurt? Did we do something wrong Jaedon?" Miriel was starting to get ahead of herself. She tended to get a little more emotional when she was expecting, and now with so many worries on her mind it was starting to peek through.

Neron was listening but when she said, "more children on the way" his mind just stopped. "Wait...What?"

[saerwen]

Adelahn watched as Miya doggie paddled her way over. It was slightly impressive that a girl her size could swim that well, but it was also a little discouraging to see her so small at such an age. She was only a year younger than Adelahn, but she looked like she was only 4 or 5. Adelahn smiled at her before picking her up. She held her close for a moment, and then realized that the water from Miya's fur was seeping into her shirt. She let out a little, "Eh..." as she held Miya furhter away from her body. She then took a step towards land and plopped Miya down in the sand. Her feet were probably sitting in little puddles of water, but since the entirety of her body was already wet, Adelahn didn't really think that it mattered much.

"I am good," she said before looking over at Tryss. Her face was a little sad, but she recovered, "So what do you want to play today?" She knew Miya was eaily distracted, so any hints that something might have disturbed the older girl would be covered over by a suggestion for diversion.

Byren looked at Tryss with a flash of anger that she had crushed his entertainment. He had never really liked Tryss, and he suddenly decided she would be his mortal enemy for her latest crime. However, he just rolled his eyes at her and stood up his scaled tail flicking slightly on the tip. "What, are you deaf or something? I don't want to be near you fussy girls. You strange things don't make sense. I have to put up with enough girls at my house between mom and Miya." He then smirked at her, "Little too eager for a fight, eh?" Then turned around and to walk towards the parent convention, "Wonder what your daddy would think about that."

Bijan knew that he shouldn't say anything negative towards the friends, since Miriel seemed quite fond of them. Damion was fond of them too it appeared, but he cared less for his son's opinion at the moment. He wanted Miriel on his side. That was crucial to his current plan of attack. He knew that. However, he found Neron's comment about their daughter quite fitting. She looked like a rat. He didn't comment on the initial warnings about the two children, but focused on another question that bugged him, "Forgive me, but looking at your children, I can't quite make this pairing out. I don't want to sound indelicate, but what blood do they exactly have?" One had fur, the other had scales, but both had wings and both looked feline. It was a puzzle. Bijan peered over at Byren and noticed Tryss taking an aggressive stance towards the boy. A grim smirk came to his face. She might have been fire element, but she still had the warriors pride of a dragon. For that, he was glad.

Damion did a verbal face to palm in his sigh after hearing his father's question. Way to show obvious prejudice, dad. Ruin a good day, I know you will eventually. He looked at Neron and forced a smile, trying to be sincere. He wasn't angry at Neron for imposing, he was angry at his father for hinting already at his disapproval of Damion's friends. "You know you and Jaedon are welcome any time. Although I am not really sure that a change of scenery is all you need to find a bit of peace in life now. It's failed me before. But I do think the girls might like to go to the beach sometime in the future. I can see them having fun in the water, and it get's pretty cool in the afternoon, or so Jaedon tells me."

Jaedon shook her head, "I don't. She is generally fidgeting all the time. I don't mind the fidgets so much if only they didn't lead to distraction. Still, I can't complain."

As Miriel began pouring her heart out, Jaedon inwardly recorded all of her questions and waited for them to end. When they did, she put a hand on Miriel's shoulder, but she stopped with her mouth hanging open to speak when she caught Miriel's hint at another baby. "You're pregnant again!?" She looked down and saw Miriel fondling her belly and realized that the emotional outflow was augmented by the hormones that came with the "baby" turf. She smiled at Miriel and then answered the outflow of questions, "You don't need to be worrying right now. That is the answer to all of those. Having another baby is the happiest thing in the world." In the back of her mind she was thanking her lucky stars she wasn't going to have anymore. She loved her kids dearly, but she didn't want to have to birth any more. "So, do you guys want a boy or a girl? And have you picked out names?" Jaedon was directing her questions mostly to Miriel. It was mommy speak. She knew that Damion was excited too, but he had probably not been thinking about gender and names yet. But every mom wondered that when she was pregnant. She hoped the baby geared questions would get Miriel's mind off the bad. Damion realized what Jaedon was doing, and instantly showed his gratitude with a huge smile. He loved his wife, and he loved her caring heart, but sometimes, Miriel worried herself to death. She tended to do that to an even greater degree when she was pregnant. Jaedon and Cecily always credited it to the hormones, and Damion was sure they were right. It was just strange to most guys to think that simple chemical levels could mess with a girl that badly. However, he was just going to leave it to Jaedon to ease Miriel's mind and maybe he could talk with Neron about some ideas. He had been hoping to have time to speak with Neron about Tryss. Damion might have been a dragon, but he wasn't a fire dragon, so he couldn't identify completely with his daughter. He had been hoping to ask Neron some questions about Tryss to see if there were some tips his friend could give him to help him understand his daughter a bit more.

[»Míríel«]

Neron shrugged his shoulders at Bijan's answer. "Quite a wild mix if you ask me. Never knew a dragon and a Bicorn could create children who look so 'cute' as I have heard people say. It's been interesting though. It seems like they got the good of both worlds. An interesting blend wouldn't you say?"

He nodded to Damion. "Yes it is pretty cool, and the water is pretty cool too at the moment, perfect for ice, but not to chilly for fire. Even though the sand may be warm, the breeze in cool. I think you guys would enjoy it. There is nothing like relaxing at the beach with friends."
------

Miya giggled when Adelahn held her away from her body. She knew she was wet, but it was still funny to s Adelahn's face when she realized it herself. "Oops.." She giggled again. "Sorry." When her feet got closer to the ground she couldn't help but fidget, anticipating the solid ground. The first thing she did when she was secure was the shake her body with all her might. Now, instead of a wet rat she looked more akin to a sea urchin.

When Adelahn looked at Tryss, Miya froze. A sense of sadness filled her, and a sense of pain. The question that Adelahn asked went ignored as Miya looked up with clear green eyes. The sadness that showed in Miya's eyes mirrored Adelahn's. "Why are you sad Addy? Why does Tryss make you sad?" For once she actually acted older than she was, and it was clear that she understood what Adelahn was going through in a higher level than most people. Then shaking her head she shook the sadness from her body and got a bashful look to her face. "Sorry.. Mommy said that I shouldn't read other's minds. I just forget to keep it reigned in all the time."

---

Tryss lost it. This was to much. She didn't care what happened now, Byren was taking this too far. From the deepest fibers of her being she body ached to attack, it had been aching since her fight with her sister. That was one reason she hadn't played with Adelahn. Although she was bitter about what had happened, she still had a part of her that wouldn't allow her to attempt the same time unless provoked. Now, she was provoked. It didn't take long for her to loose her skin. Pouncing on Byren she tackled him. Clinging on tight she hissed, "I long for it. Every night I dream of killing someone, of feeling the victim crush beneath my claws, or wilting beneath my fire." She started to quiver because of restraining herself from blasting the fire within her soul out on him, or even attack him more than holding on tight. Her claws dug deeper. "You go tell my dad, I doubt he would care. He doesn't care about me, and if he decided to punish me because of what you say, I will never forget it. One day I will be able to take out my revenge on you. So back off." She was beginning to lose control of the bloodlust that was stirring within. The flame that made up her being was longing, begging to come out, to be free from the restriction she had. Her body temperature was rising, as her heart started racing.

---

Miya let out a little screech when Tryss pounced on her brother. This time she didn't feel Adelahn's sorrow but Tryss's anger. Racing over she called out in her mind, "NO! No! Get off him!" As she grew closer. "Tryss what is wrong? Why are you angry? Tryss??" Tryss was the only word she spoke out loud.

----

Tryss growled at Miya calling her off. She didn't want to, she wanted to attack. For so long she had been wanting an outlet to get rid of her pent up frustration, her guilt, her anger, and Byren had been the lucky one to fulfill that duty. Stil she knew she had to give it up. She started to loosen her grip.

-----

Miriel nodded to Jaedon's exclamation, as a glow came to her face. When she mentioned that babies were the happiest thing in the world to have Miriel just smiled again. "That is true... That is true. I will try Jaedon.Gosh sometimes these hormones just get a little to much. can't tell wether to laugh or cry at times." At the question of a boy or girl Miriel paused to think for a moment and cast a glance at Damion. Then leaning forward she whispered, "I think a boy would be nice. Damion would love to have a boy, and we have two girls already. Don't tell him I said that though. He swears that any gender would be fine, but sometimes I think it's just to pacify me." She smiled. It would be like Damion to be passive i when such a question was raised. She pulled back. "I would like a boy myself." It would be nice to have a boy wandering around. She could just imagine a little Damion running around.

Just then a call of Tryss pierced through the air and Miriel turned to see Tryss on top of Byren, with teeth bared and showed, wings outstretched. It was a very aggressive stance. "Tryss!" Miriel ran out there. She wanted to pull Tryss off but by the time she had reached over there Tryss had stepped off and looked at her with a face that stated, "Don't touch me mom." Miriel frowned, "What happened here?!"

[saerwen]

Byren aimed to get a rise out of Tryss, but he hadn’t been expecting such open aggression. She had changed from the last time they met. Before, he had teased them and insulted them, and it had produced little more than a squawk or two of indignation and vain threats, but this time… this time it hit the mark. Tryss’ fire ignited, and Byren could hardly contain the glee he felt. This was the kind of reaction he shot for all of the time. This was his meaning of fun defined in action.

He smirked at her, his scales reveling a sharp set of teeth, more like a cat’s than a dragon’s, “If you are so eager for it, what’s stopping you? Eh, daddy’s girl? If he really doesn’t care, then why not do whatever you want to. Or are you scared of getting in trouble? Not crafty enough to sneak past your father when he isn’t looking yet?”

Byren could feel her grip getting tighter, he claws running deeper, but he didn’t care. He wasn’t going to cry like a baby and beg his parents for help. There was no reason to do something like that. He was confident it would be over soon enough. Tryss, in her impulsivity had drawn the attention of their parents. Byren could already feel Miriel’s footsteps pounding into the dirt as she came their way. He continued to smile smugly at Tryss, “What, you think you’re the only one who can play with fire? Don’t get overconfident.”

Byren heard his sister coming closer and congratulated himself on his victory as Tryss stepped off of him. Miya and Miriel appeared at almost the same time. Byren got up and shook his scales clean of the dirt. Byren certainly wasn’t going to answer Miriel when she asked what had happened, so he walked over to Miya and ran his tongue over the top of her head really quickly. It always made him laugh inwardly when he did that because it pulled Miya’s eyes in weird directions. His escape was smoothly planned out in every way except for not noticing his mother whose green eyes were pinned on him as she stood in his path. When he saw her, he instantly turned around to make another get away, but she wouldn’t allow that. Jaedon grabbed his tail and pulled him towards her. Byren let out a little growl, not liking the feeling of someone pulling on his tail.

“What did you say to her that got her upset?” Jaedon demanded.

Byren shrugged his haunches, “I don’t know. I didn’t even say that much to her. I just told her to get off me.”

Jaedon eyed him for a moment before looking over to Tryss, “Sweet heart, are you okay? He didn’t do anything did he?” She knew her child well. If a fight began, he was usually the cause. Byren couldn’t complain much about fairness in that respect. He had something of a track record when in came to being the cause of all mischief and mayhem at their house, so her allegations were justly suggested.

Adelahn hadn’t really been paying attention to her sister and Byren’s interactions until Miya went dashing over to the two. When she saw Tryss on top of Byren, it was like déjà vu for her. Tryss just wanted a fight, that was all there was to it. Adelahn hadn’t enjoyed their fight as much as Tryss had it seemed. She did like the feeling of power that she gained from it, but really, she didn’t like the darkness that threatened her soul. It was just too much. Sighing, she was about to walk over to the latest crime scene, but she stopped. She didn’t need to go over there. Tryss would just get angry at her.


Bijan didn’t even know what to say when Neron mentioned the dragon and bicorn mix. To think that a dragon, a creature of noble birth, would lower themselves to that degree—Bijan could hardly stomach the idea. A dragon such as himself should never mate with anything other than a dragon. If they were opposing elements, in his mind that could be forgiven, but to be different in race completely. That was wrong in Bijan’s dictionary. The children were half-bred mutants, and the parent’s were serious offenders. It was like mating with a human or even worse, some regular woodland animal. Might as well have been sacrilege against racial pride. Chills ran down his spine at the thought.

Bijan couldn’t stay silent any longer, now that Miriel was distracted and gone, he was safe to speak again. He slightly miscalculated though, forgetting that Neron was still there, and probably wouldn’t take slights as well as his own son did.

“Interesting is hardly the words I would use for it,” he began.

“Dad, can we please not start this again?” Damion interrupted.

Bijan looked swaurely at Damion with cold eyes, “Son, you started it. I cam to end it, and you won’t let me. And now, another one of your rotten brood is on the way. Congratulations on producing yet another screwed up heir. Your children should be rulers, not half-breeds runts. You are disgracing your family.”

Damion growled slightly, but just shook his head and turned away, “Go on dad, curse them all you want. It won’t change my mind. They are my family now, not you.”

“And you run away from the truth again. That woman is nothing compared to you.”

Damion had already walked away though. He was padding off towards Tryss and Miriel, wondering what had happened that drew Miriel’s attention away.

[»Míríel«]

Tryss wanted to skin that scaled cat, alive. He was on her last fraying nerve, and he was lucky it didn't snap. She could feel herself starting to lose her mind. The darkness she found in her mind was a strange mix of clouding but freeing. All of her senses were amplified, her mind, her actions, were faster than she ever knew. That is what she got the high off of, the rush, the thrill your body receives when it performs the best. Still her mind, sometimes it was like she couldn't think clearly. Instead she just acted and reaped the consequences of it. Perhaps that darkness would fade, but perhaps it would not.

She was slightly consoled by Jaedon's tone and immediately blaming the right person for the problem. Byren. When she heard the worm's answer, she showed her teeth and glared at him. However her lips were silent. So he wanted to come out innocent? Fine. She already had a soiled record, what would another stain do? When Jaedon asked her directly Tryss kept staring at Byren and replied with a slightly hissing tone, "As he said." Then she turned to head in the direction of her father. This wasn't to actually go to her father and Neron, but rather an escape route that happened to intersect. There was no other way to go, if she headed back where she was she would run into Adelahn and Miya, the other way Byren. So she decided to head toward the group of men before turning away to be by herself. Out of the whole incident the only regret she had was showing her darker side to Miya. No doubt that would be another person who thought less of her.

----

Miriel didn't know whether to be livid or cry. As she had mentioned before, her hormones were in a frizzy. When she saw that Byren pleaded innocent and that Tryss took the blame, she didn't know what to think. Putting her hand on her face she sighed. "See what I mean? First Adelahn, now Byren. I'm glad he wasn't hurt." She paused before turning to Jaedon. Her thoughts were clear with a question. "Do you think she did it? Even if she didn't I don't know what to do..."

------

Neron didn't wait. Those comments awakened within him a feeling he hadn't felt in a long time. No one would say anything close to what had been uttered about his friends and family without getting away from it. He didn't care about what Damion wanted, or worry about offending his friend. Instead his hand lashed out and took Byren by the neck. "Let me get something clear, blockhead, No one talks about my family that way and lives." His eyes started to glow a brighter green as his hands started to darken. No doubt Bijan would see that he was about to lose his skin.

----

Tryss had just wandered close enough to the men to hear the ending comments that Bijan made. HEr eyes widened with horror, but what really struck home was the manner her father had. He defended Miriel with his words, in a way, but he turned and walked away. Instead it was Neron who took the initiative to defend his and Damion's family. Shame and embarrassment filled Tryss with Damion's action. What a coward, a pure coward. Bitterness welled within her as the rift between her father and her only grew bigger. It seemed that another person was about to be scratched onto her hate list.

[saerwen]

When Tryss pleaded guilty to the whole thing, Byren couldn’t figure out what to think. Why would she do that? She might be pea-brained, even so consumed with her fire that she would act irrational, but that was just stupid. It was obvious Jaedon already condemned Byren for the whole thing. Telling his mother the truth would have been an instant win for her. Byren couldn’t understand her actions, but then again, she was a girl. He just shrugged it all off, and looked up at his mom, asking if he could go now.

Jaedon didn’t seem to buy the whole thing. She narrowed her eyes at Byren and scrutinized his “innocent” face a bit longer before letting him go. He quickly scampered away, out of reach, and then changed forms so that he wouldn’t have another tail to grab. He walked over to the water and started to look at the surface when an emotion spike caught him by surprise. It was his father. Turning around sharply, Byren saw Neron holding Tryss’ grandfather by the neck. His mouth opened slightly as he watched with round eyes. His father was actually about to lose his skin! “Woah…”

Jaedon didn’t really think that Tryss had done anything. She knew that Byren’s words could act like poison in the veins, or like a whip spurring someone on. It was a power all on it’s own, and it was augmented by his ability to read people. He was good at finding what people liked and disliked, so he could egg them on pretty easily. When Miriel asked her opinion, she shook her head, “No. I am sure Byren shares most of the blame. You wouldn’t believe what a slippery little snake he can be sometimes. I think most of the time Miya acts up, it’s probably because of him giving her evil ideas.”

When Miriel said that she didn’t know what to do with Tryss, Jaedon just shrugged, “Well, if she is anything like me, there probably isn’t much that you can do. Some kids just have to figure it out the hard way. But I would bet that right about now, she feels very disgusted with herself and distrusting of her own heart. She is probably just looking for someone to be her friend. Most kids are, I think.”

Damion walked over to the two women and heard Jaedon’s last few words. He couldn’t agree more with Jaedon, the only problem was, he and Miriel had tried everything to be friend to their daughter, but she had just closed up to them in the past few days. And it was hard for a child to see their parents as a friend whenever they were being disciplined. That was when Damion and Miriel became the enemy. He looked at Miriel and asked, “What happened?” He had seen Tryss walk past him, and had chosen not to inquire from her. He didn’t want to pass her wrongs off as okay, but he didn’t want to incur her anger either.

When Neron lashed out and grabbed his neck, Bijan was suddenly pulled back to the other person standing in the group. His comments had been meant for Damion, but it seemed that Neron had taken offense at them. Bijan however, had no qualms with this man being offended either. His family was in as bad a state, if not worse than Damion’s. And Bijan wasn’t going to pass up a challenge once made. His warrior’s rpide wouldn’t let him bow out.

He narrowed his eyes at Neron as his skin began to grow icier, “That wasn’t a slight at your family, boy, but there are plenty of things I could say in that respect too. I should think that if a dragon didn’t have enough sense to marry in kind, a bicorn would. But then again, such low woodland creatures are always silly and weak. To think that such a mixture could be made, those children might as well be killed for having such mixed blood. But it would be pity, the offspring having to pay for the sins of the parents. If were simply a matter of lust on your part, that could be excused, but to actually marry the girl when you are so ill equipped to be together, that is a loss of pride and honor.” His eyes, unlike Damion’s, didn’t turn a wintery blue, or even an ice blue, they went completely white with a shimmering glow behind them. Neron would have noticed that the skin of Bijan’s neck started to become hard and icy, like crystals were forming beneath his grasp.

“You best take your hand off of me, lest you start a fight you can’t win,” Bijan threatened.

About this time, Jaedon was about to answer Damion for Miriel, but she turned around when a sudden shift caught her attention. The same spike Byren noticed had caught Jaedon as well, but much sharper. Like a lightning strike sent up her spine to her head, Jaedon felt Neron’s emotions break in half. She stopped herself right as she was about to say something, and simply let out an, “Uh-oh.” Looking at Damion she asked very cautiously, “Did you leave Neron alone with your father?”

Damion’s eyes opened wide at Jaedon’s question, “Crap.”

[»Míríel«]

Miya, who had been purring as Byren licked her on the forehead tweaked her ears at Jaedon and Miriel. "I thought I was her friend." Looing up with a confused expression on her face she furrowed her brow. Just as she was trying to digest this she felt another surge of anger. First she looked at Tryss, but it became all to apparent that she was no longer the source of emotional breakage. Her father was. Miya's eyes got even wider as she chirped, "Momma, why does Daddy have Tryss's grandfather by the throat?"

---

Neron felt the cold seep into his hands, slowly, but force ably. It was a disgusting feeling, the cold, so calm, so chilling, with no life but only rock hard stoicism. The inate feelings that Fire dragons had against ice dragons had been so repressed in him, due to his friendship with Damion, started to flare up against him. Neron was in no way prejudice, but the elemental qualities did have a survival instinct inbred within them. It had been a long time since he had indulged in such feelings.

"Damions family is as close to one as I have. He's probably more family to me than he is to you." Neron's voice had lowered until it sounded like the deep rolling of thunder. The heat on his hands climbed rapidly, not only to couteract the cold, but in an attempt to overpower it. The rest of Bijan's prejudice and racist comments that were uttered NEron had no comment. You couldn't fix stupid. Instead All he did was drop his hand nd take a step back. "You know nothing of life. Prepare to be educated." It was then that he lost his skin.

Neron reveled in the freedom he now experianced, it had been to long since he had fought someone. Things had been so peaceful, and although it was a nice thing, he sometimes missed he old days. Sometimes he wondered if he had gotten soft, forgotten his fightinbg tactics. Sometime inside him just told him it would be like riding a bike. Strength flowed within him as his true form was reveled through the flames that surrounded his body. The firehad been so eager to appear that in switching forms it has consumed his body only to disappear once the change had been made.

He seemed made of coal, with scales as dark as pitch. They seemed to contain the pain, the anger, and the despair in their very esence. It was a symbol of his corruption, and a warning to those who saw him. He wasn't afraid to go past the edge. The dark grey scar that went down the length of his body, coupled with a couple on his shoulders and legs, gave even more merit to his blood lust and battles. He had come out with wounds that should have killed him and survived. The spines on his back were sharp as daggers, not to mention the claws and teeth that could rival knives.Neron wasn't the largest dragon out there, nor was he puny. It was the body of someone fast and aerodynamic. The muscles that covered his body were strong, but not bulky.

Digging his claws into the ground and stretching his wings out to increase the impressiveness of his figure he let out a stream of fire, just to the side of Bijan. This wasn't meant to be a hit, it wasn't even that strong of a blast. Instead it was a dragon's way of a challenge, a show of skill. Not a single flame would have touched Bijan, but that didn't mean he would have felt the heat.

-------

Tryss stood in awe as Neron shifted infront of her. She had never seen a black dragon before, or seen Neron in his true form. The scars that covered his body, Tyrss couldn't help but feel a glow of respect for the man. He knew what it was like to be in battle. Although she didn't know the extent of Neron's story, she began to wonder if he and Jaedon would understand what she was feeling. Did they know what it was like to have the warrior's rage within. To want to fel the rush of victory? She couldn't help but be proud to be a dragon. She couldn't wait to sport marks like that or become a full fledged dragon. This was going to be a good fight.

------

Miriel nodded at Jaedon's deduction. "I suppose. I just don't think I can be her friend. She already is losing trust with me." When Damion came up and asked what was wrong Miriel frowned. "Tryss attacked Byren, but Jaedon' seems to think that Byren was at the root of it." When Miya spoke of being Tryss's friend Miriel smiled and reached down to pet the little cub's head. "I'm sure you are, just keep up the good work ok?" What Miya continued with sent a chill through Miriel's heart. Neron grasping Bijan by the throat? Turning, the worried expression on her face grew deeper. "Oh...no..." Neron had already lost his skin and challenged Bijan in his true form. The pact had been sealed in bijan repeated the challenge.

----

"Woah Mommy! Daddy's going to win isn't he?"

[saerwen]

Bijan hadn’t expected Neron to back down. The man had to have a bit of pride after all, but he also hadn’t expected Neron’s come back words to hurt so much. It was true, it seemed. These people around them were more of a family to Damion now than his own father was. Bijan didn’t mourn for their lack of familial connection, but rather for the fact that Damion’s attention had been pulled away from where Bijan thought it should have been. He wanted a clone of himself to take over the clan and become the strongest leader, but Damion had denied him that right, and Bijan’s other sons were nowhere near as capable or formidable as their older brother. Bijan didn’t want a son, he wanted an heir, and now Damion had no heirs that could possibly hold a place among the clan, which meant Bijan’s line was going to end. This made Bijan hate all the more the people who were standing in the surrounding areas. They had stolen his lineage from him, his pride.

As Neron shifted forms, Bijan stood back and suddenly understood why Neron had been so quick and unafraid to challenge him. He was a bloody fire dragon. That made him hate this person even worse. In the back of his mind though, he noted Neron’s pitch scales. It took someone who was truly strong to earn that blackness, to earn such scars, and survive to have a family that seemed to love him. Something had happened along the way to redefine his mentality. But the black also revolted Bijan. It meant that Neron had gone so far as to lose his grip on his own soul. Bloodlust had taken over and not been controlled. It was useless to deny the dark heart that Neron must have had to gain that. His last stroke of fire along with the many other faults Bijan made up mounted a hill high enough for him to jump from, down to a pool of war.

Bijan turned his face to look at the rippling flames as they ran past him, then turned back to Neron with a smirk on his face, “And here I thought hanging around my gentle son would completely deprive me of a good battle. I have been needing one sorely. I have much anger to release.” As he spoke, his white eyes began to glow brighter. Instead of erupting in a tornado of snow as Damion usually did, Bijan’s eyes emitted such a bright light, it would have made it hard to see. Eventually, when the light died from the little lagoon, Bijan stood in full form. His body was larger than Neron’s by at least two times, showing his rather matured age. Pure white scales contrasted sharply with the green of the local wildlife. Jagged blue scars ran all over his body like blue veins underneath his scales, and the one over his eye stretched from the top of his face to the bottom. Horns curled and curved on top of his head like a glorious crown of knives, and smaller spines ran down his back until the base of his neck.

His cold blue eyes, almost white in the light, stared Neron down as he stretched out his wings as well, and then lifted his head in to the sky and breathed out a barrage of ice which shot up like a fountain and came down in Neron’s general direction as ice crystals. Some of them, if they hit him might have hurt a bit. Then with a tremendous push that shook the ground, Bijan took off, the displaced air from his wings would have knocked over anyone standing nearby. When he was up in the air he called to Neron, “Take your fight to the air, boy, and I will show you how a real battle should be fought.”

When Miriel explained their theory about the fight he shook his head and sighed, “There is never blamelessness on either side. Tryss could have restrained herself if she really wanted to. It seems though that she has no desire to do what she knows to be right anymore.”

“Well, Damion, you can’t expect her to be perfect. She is a child, and she is learning. Right now she probably feels like anger is the only appropriate response. That is how I got to be where I was for the first few years of my life. Anger can be a great tool for survival, but it causes more mental harm than most think,” Jaedon offered a defense for the girl.

Byren stood in awe of his father in much the same way that Tryss did. He had never seen his father become angry enough to change forms. Yes, he had seen his father as a dragon before, but his father had never shifted out of anger, and hardly ever to his full size. The black scales, large wings, and sharp teeth were enough to make Byren quiver, but not in fear. He was excited. He wanted to see how good his father was. It didn’t occur to him that his father might get hurt, that it might end badly for him. There was no way Neron could lose a battle. Byren forgot his kind, joking father immediately and replaced that image with the face of a black dragon.

When Damion turned and saw the developing fight he shook his head, “Great. I better stop this before it goes any further.”

Jaedon however, held her hand out to stop him, “Nah, let Neron go for it for at least a few minutes. He will enjoy a good fight.”

“But Jaedon, my father isn’t as kind as I am in a fight. He will do some serious damage, and he won’t be ginger about taking any either. His resistance to fire is much stronger than mine. I inherited my weakness to it from my mother, not him. You really want your kids to see him get bashed up?” Damion asked in shock.

“I know that Damion,” Jaedon nodded her consent. She didn’t want Neron to get hurt, but she knew it was a necessary consequences. “But I also know Neron, and I know that for the past 8 years of our marriage he has hardly gotten in one single fight. He is a warrior by nature, he needs to get some fire out every once in a while. And I also happen to know that we are going to have to tell our kids about our past some day. This fight will be the perfect segwey for a conversation at home about what mommy and daddy really did when they were young. Our kids needs to see Neron this way, to see him fighting for something good so that when they hear about the bad, they can forgive him. I just wish I could butt in, but Neron probably wouldn’t appreciate that too much. He needs his pride.” She turned to Damion and smiled.

Damion looked at her for a moment more before giving up, but a smile took over his face in response as well, “You really are changing Jaedon. Both of you have started to figure this thing out, haven’t you?”

Jaedon didn’t say anything, just continued to smile. However, she couldn’t resist just a little bit of fun. After Bijan took off into the air, she mentally whispered to Neron, Go on honey. Byren is watching you quite intently and starry eyed. Me and Miya are cheering. She then looked down to Miya with a grin on her face, “Has your daddy ever lost?”

[»Míríel«]

The bright light had caught NEron offguard, but he recovered fast. Ice stards started to pour down from the sky. If they had not been so much of a nuisance, they would have been pretty, with the sunlight reflecting off the natural facets that were found on their surface. Acting quickly he flung himself up into the air. It was a challenge to melt, and dodge them all. Only a few managed to hit his scales, and they felt nothing worse than a bee sting against his scales. He had felt much worse.

It was then that he received the message from Jaedon. A warm glow filled his heart as a power surged within him that he had never felt before. All of his past fights had been for himself, for his own revenge. This time, he fought for his friends, and his family. To have this blessing from his wife was all he needed. The black dragon was out, but it was obvious that he no longer held control over Neron, or not yet. The words leveled him mind, and gave him the status of master over his emotions. He had never felt so good before. Jaedon could most likely hear his deep laugh rolling in his thoughts as he sent a quick message back, "If you don't mind, why don't you mess with him a bit once I get some blows in?" Perhaps, for once, he could see what it was like to work on a team.

With this new found confidence and strength he launched himself up into the air. His impact on the surrounding area wasn't as disturbing as BIjans, but more condensed and contained. He didn't want to waste his strength to make an impression. Soon he was soaring through the air. It was game time. Speed right now was to be his asset, before Bijan could learn his tactics he wanted to scatter him, move around quickly before he warmed up. Sending off a thick stream of fire at Bijan's face he quickly rolled aside, dodged around sending fireballs in different areas of Bijan's body. The first stream had been one to make Bijan focus on the one stream, causing a distraction that would cover Neron moving agily around. Neron knew that Bijan couldn't move as fast as he could, but he also knew that if Bijan landed blow, it would hurt. He needed to be quick. Although his fire was powerful, it was also obvious that it wasn't Neron's hottest flame, he wanted to see how Bijan thought, how he fought, and how much of an impact his blaze would do if it made contact.

-----

Tryss found herself knocked over by shockwave of air that Bijan created as he launched himself into the sky. She had never felt such a force in her life. Scrambling back up she looked, just to see a smile on Neron's face before he too found his way into the air. So he too enjoyed fighting. Sitting back she looked upon the pair with interest. What would happen? What tactics would be revealed. No matter what happened, she knew that this was going to be one of the best teaching sessions she would experience. Two battle torn warriors going head-to-head. A smile flickered on her lips. This was going to be good.

----

Although the circumstances with Neron fighting were disturbing, Miriel couldn't help but smile with Damion at Jaedon's answer. It was interesting to ponder back to the days when NEron and Jaedon had been at each others throats. Each one complained of the lack of understanding of the other. Times had been different then, they had all been so young, none of them would have imagined what the future held. The pain, the healing, and the bonding that became the outcome of their destiny. Although some of it had been hard, Miriel knew that none of them would want anything different.

Pondering on the past soon faded with her concern for the future. She saw the wisdom in Jaedon's reasoning with Tryss. Both children were at fault. It seemed like Jaedon and she had some children, or at least a child that could prove troublesome in the future. As for the fight that was happening at the moment she frowned. "I just hope it doesn't go to far..."

-----

Miya smiled crookedly at her mother's last comment. "No, no he hasn't." Then her brow wrinkled. "Well...only to you that is." She winced. "Don't tell him I said that..."

[saerwen]

Jaedon laughed at Miya then winked at her, “Your secret is safe with me.” She would definitely treasure that comment in her heart for self-gratification whenever she needed it.

With a wide smile, Jaedon watched her husband take off into the air. She could sense his pride, his glee, and his laughter. This was so different from the days where she fought with him, and used her powers to cage his inner beast. This was so different from their past when fights were for revenge, for sport and boasting. Neron had something to fight for this time. She knew that his strength would grow from knowing they were all behind him rather than thinking ill of him. She laughed at him and answered, Sure thing sweet heart, just let me know when you want some back up and he’ll start thinking about daisies and the hedgerow nuts.

Bijan quickly realized that while he was larger, he was not as agile. The black dragon had become quite skilled in his use of speed. His first blast was turned to steam by a strong blast from Bijan’s mouth. Neron’s other attacks did catch him slightly off guard, but it wasn’t anything Bijan couldn’t make up for. The first one hit him on the shoulder, but he quickly shook it off and began to cool his entire body down even more to aid the repair of his scales. The fire was hot, but it wasn’t the worst Bijan had seen. For an ice dragon, fire was terrifying until their ice was turned to full blast. When that happened, steam was the only applicable result.

The rest of Neron’s scattered field attacks met with an impressive wall of ice. Bijan used a mixture of ice and snow to created a rock solid wall that shielded him from the blasts. He then turned his sights on Neron and smirked. So the kid wanted to see his strategy? Bijan had many, but there was a favorite. He would show Neron some of his lesser used moves, and then have fun with his favorite ones. Focusing his eyes on Neron, he began to beat his wings, but his body went nowhere. It took a few seconds, but eventually, the water from the lagoon rushed up towards Neron, turning to ice as it came. It wouldn’t be a gentle brush, or a hard thump. The ice shaped into a point, converging all into one sharp tip, the base bent and swerved in multiple directions like a snake head. The initial power had come from the lagoon’s water, but Bijan was now feeding it with his own ice. While that attack came rushing up, Bijan also began a slight snow storm. The thing Neron would find out that was very different from fighting Damion was that Bijan, when the end of the fight came, would not be opposed to grappling with Neron and literally fighting tooth and claw to win the battle. Bijan’s heart was as melt-worthy as any other ice dragon’s, but Bijan’s wasn’t as easy to get to since he was larger and he concentrated the center of his ice around his heart, meaning the strongest blast of ice would find the enemy, should they penetrate the skin over his heart.

As Damion watched his father’s attacks, he shook his head. He couldn’t believe it had come tothis. He had hoped for a peaceful time of friendly gathering, but it seemed that any time their families got together, something drastic and dramatic had to happen. What on earth had he been thinking, letting his father come? Damion was so used to his father’s jarring comments and snideness that he never thought about how Neron would interpret them. Damion had realized long ago that fighting his father was pointless. Damion could have driven that man into the ground with sheer power stroke, could have broken every bone in the dragon’s body, could have torn his scales from him piece by piece, but nothing would break his father. Once the thought was planted the roots immediately went to the core of the Earth. But Neron didn’t realize this. Bijan had been beaten in battle before, but he never once admitted it. He always had to be right.

Byren watched his father’s scattered attack, and at first didn’t understand the strategy, but then realized his father was packing as many punches as he could to gauge his opponent. He was completely enthralled. His father had always given him advice on using his ability as a smaller creature to trip up a larger opponent, but Byren had never seen how that could really work until now.

Adelahn was also watching with curiosity and slight horror. She couldn’t believe that Neron and Bijan would fight, but she was also extremely impressed to see the moves both pulled out, especially Bijan’s ice. It had been sucked from the lagoon, and even now, still found it’s base there, and shot into the sky like a living thing. She wanted to be able to do that when she was older.

[»Míríel«]

Something about the lagoon wasn't right, the water was surging towards Neron and soon he saw his opponents purpose. It took all of his agility to twist to the side to get out of the sharp end of the ice from piercing him. However with all his agility the ice still managed to slice the side of his leg. A searing pain registered to his mind instead of feeling his blood boil and pulse like normal. A sense of cold numbed the area. A smirk came to his lips. True he wasn't at the top of his game, but with each stroke of his wings he felt that old familiar glow surge forward again. The pain soon became pleasurable in a way. It meant he was alive, it meant that he could let go. He didn't have to worry about hurting his children, or someone he cared about. No. Not this time. This time he didn't have to hold back. The old Neron, it was back.

As the snowstorm began to form around him and snowflakes fell he felt his smirk deepen. With each snowflake that fell on his scales, a little puff of steam rose. IT was go time. Gathering his wings powerfully about him he sent his form zipping around Bijan. He scattered some more bursts of flame at Bijan. Make the old man work at having to dodge them, and if he didn't they would be just the right amount of heat to cause a great amount of annoyance, like a swarm of bee stings. He focused mainly at Bijan's wings, but also went for his face to startle him a bit. Then leaving Bijan's hulking form he pushed himself up into the sky. Then with a flick of his wings he sent himself barreling toward Bijan with a stream of fire erupting from his mouth. This time the flames licked with white edges would burn a bit brighter.

"Jaedon. I am going to go for him... I may need your help distracting him. Try to get into his mind. I'll keep him focused on the fight that he might lower his mental barriers to use the energy to react and think."

Knowing that Bijan would probably counter the volly of fire with a strong ice blast Neron darted to the side. He had to keep close to Bijan, but not to close. If he was far away Bijan would focus all his energy at the elements, letting the water do all the work for him until NEron would be to tired to really fight back. No he had to keep this old giant moving, but stay out of the way of his physical attacks. It was going to be a hard edge to balance on. One misstep and he could lose the fight.