//------------------------------//
// EPS 14 
// Story: The Dragon Riders 
// by Dragontamer99 
//------------------------------//

The next morning I woke up Briggen had slept in a different spot but had no doubt felt a lot better. I woke up before everyone else so I was watching everyone. I gazed into the forest a couple of times. 

I've sworn that there was movement. I stood up and walked closer to the edge of the forest. Close enough that I could call Aradace but far enough to where I could see. I stepped over rocks being very quiet. I looked then I looked again.

I shrugged and when I was about to turn around I felt cold steel against my throat it wasn't the nice steel it was sharp. A man was pressing a knife to my throat. I stopped moving but slowly looked to my left. He pressed harder and I stopped but I swallowed hard. He whispered in my ear "don't move, don't scream, I wouldn't want to mess up a pretty girl like you.

" I started to say something but the next thing I knew I was being dragged through the forest. Fast. I tried to remember where I was or where he was taking me. I remembered the link I screamed through it "Aradace! Help me!

Someone's trying to kill me!" I heard her gasp and stand up. She said "I'm on my way." I knew she was getting Briggen and Blueblood up. Briggen I knew would wake up immediately and Blueblood I knew after hearing what was wrong would be going.

I tried to look at the guy but I couldn't. All I knew was that we were heading the opposite way of the blue and green lines. I whispered "why are you doing this?"

he stopped. He turned me to face him and I was presented with a mirror image of Blueblood  I gasped slightly I said "Why, why would you do this?" he said "Because I have to" All I saw then was blackness.





I woke up and looked around. I was chained to a wall hanging from my hands. I had no idea where I was. The lines were still there though. I still felt the link so I weakly whispered "Aradace? Are you still there?" 

I heard her gasp and scream out in anger "Where ARE YOU!" I winced and she felt my pain she said "Lily, where are you? We've looked everywhere?" I shrugged and cursing silently I said "I really don't know it was a man, a man who looked exactly like... Like... Blueblood .

" I heard her tell Jain and then she roared in anger. I swear the whole world could here it but then again. I couldn't. I suddenly felt very sick and sad. I knew that this is what Blueblood was feeling. I sighed. I though I would stay in here forever but I heard the door open. 

I snapped open the link and concentrated really hard. I heard a whisper and Aradace said "Whoa, I can... I can see what your doing. And what's happening." after that she was silent as she was watching. Waiting. Just like I was.

I kept my head down and I felt the presence in front of me he said "Lily, look at me." I shook my head. I grabbed my chin and yelled "Look at me!" I flinched and he said in a soft voice "Oh I'm so sorry did I scare you? Here I'll get you down sweetheart.

" I mentally threw up. He unclaimed me and caught me as I fell. I never even touched the ground. I shrugged out of his arms and he dropped me he yelled "Don't EVER do that again!" I flinched and a tear fell. I heard Aradace roar through my link.

It made me wince more and he knelt down and looked genuinely sad. He said in a sad voice "Oh sweetheart did I hurt you? I'm so so sorry for dropping you. It won't happen again. Scooter away from him and he looked hurt he said "Are you afraid of me? I'm sorry.

" he picked me up and held me tightly. He said "I'll take you to the kitchen and serve you a meal. Then I'll take you to my room so you can get comfortable. I'll leave you there while I go to a meeting and then I'll be back so we can have some fun.

I mentally cringed what did that mean? He carried me through the doors and passed the guards that bowed. I frowned and wondered what is happening. I waited to see where we were going. I took in every detail and memorized the way.

We passed a window that was open and oh I knew where I was going. He pushed through some doors and set me down at a table. He yelled "Maids! Get her a meal! And make it good so she will be happy!" threw maids rushed out of the kitchen and have me two platteres. 

The lisfted them and what I saw before me looked good. I ate some of it but I just could eat all of it because of the fact that Blueblood , Aradace, and Briggen weren't eating. I heard Aradace she said "Lily eat all of it. You need a strength to run.

" I sighed and ate the rest. I choked it down and drank a glass of water. I looked up at the guy and forced a weak smile. He took it as a smile saying thank you. He said "Your welcome for the food. Now come this way and I'll leave you in our room.

He's funny. I'm not staying in that room. I molded sadly and he took that as agreement. He pulled me along and I made a mental map in my head. I knew where to go. He opened a door and pulled me over to the bed. He said "I have to go. Bathroom is in there and closer is there. 

I have some clothes you can wear instead of that. I nodded. Once he was gone I went to the bathroom and pulled my hair up and walked out. I looked in the closet. I looked at all the dresses and left the closet. 

I would NOT be needing any dresses. I waited a few more minutes and then peeked out the door. A guard was outside my door. I made a quick plan and opened the door. The guard turned in surprise and said "Lord Mabuz said to stay here.

" I said "Awe but I wanted a tour of the castle. I also wanted someone very strong and brave and very nice. It seems that Mabuz left me with the perfect guy." I was mentally choking on my words. 

I smiled widely when he stood more proudly he said "Why of course I bet he would want me to lead you around the castle." I nodded enthusiastically he smiled and said "Right this way." I let him go first and he started talking about the castle I walked right behind him walking softly so when I left He would think it was normal.

I listened for a bit but when he walked passed the open window and I stopped and dove out of the window on the deck. I closed the window softly and quietly. I smiled and fist pumped. After a minute I looked around and said to Aradace "Have you been watching?"

she replied "Everything." I then heard wing beats. I looked over the trees and saw a huge grey dragon and a big red dragon. I laughed and stood on the railing waiting. They got closer and I started waving my hands. Aradace saw this and sped up.

She got as close to the wall as she could and sent me a message "Jump." just then the window opened and the guard and Mabuz came out and Mabuz screamed "No sweetheart don't jump don't and yourself!" I took one look at him and jumped as far away as possible.

I hung in the air for a minute before landing on aradace's neck. I slid into place and Aradace shot off. I looked back to see Mabuz and the guard standing in shock. I was happy that I got away. I screamed with joy and laughed. I yelled to Blueblood and said "You came!" I'm so glad.

" I hugged Aradace's neck and she pureed with joy. I have her the image of the Lines and she changed direction. We flew till Aradace and Briggen couldn't fly any longer. We made it back to the clearing and the camp looked the same except that there were a few deep grooves in the ground probably from a angered red dragon I knew.

It was very dark and I sat on my back and stared at the stars. I heard Aradace and Briggen They were sitting together and they were happily talking. I smiled at them and then looked to my left. Blueblood  was sitting down next to me. We he was sitting I lunged at him and hugged him. 

I said it was only for hours but I missed you to death. He looked at me incredulously and said "Lily it's been days. Only today Aradace could get a hold of you. We searched and searched. I didn't know that we had flown so close to Mabuz's castle. I never knew he knew about you." I sighed and said "wow I never knew.

" I hugged him again and he kissed my head. I walked over to Aradace and Briggen and in my mind I said to Briggen "so what about you and Aradace?" he looked embarrassed embarrassed he said "I told her and she was happy.

She said that she was so glad that I felt the same." I smiled and Aradace said in my head "Briggen said he loves me!" do you think that he really loves me?" I nodded and said "Aradace I KNOW he loves you. The way he looked at you. 

Or sleeps close to you so he can be near you. He really does love you. So you love him?" she said "I do. I never knew how to tell him. When we first met him he was so big and nice. He cared about you and Blueblood and he made sure we were all happy. 

Then the first time that Blueblood flew on him he made sure Blueblood was okay. I knew." she lowered her head and said "Its just like you and Blueblood ." I smiled and Blueblood came up and took my hand entwining our fingers together.

I smiled at him and said "Well I'm super tired so I need sleep. I sat between Aradace's feet and made myself comfortable. I soon let the darkness take over. And as most of my dreams started.

I was running. Someone or something big was chasing me. I looked frantically for my dragon. But I couldn't see anything. I looked down at my self. I didn't look like myself. I wasn't me. I came to the edge of the Ocean and looked at myself. 

The waves made it to where I couldn't see my face but I knew that I wasn't Lily anymore. I was seeing through someone else's eyes. I looked back and saw two dragons running at me. One was red and one was grey. Were me and Blueblood  chasing this man? I could see myself say something and I relaxed. I guess I wasn't going to hurt me- Or I mean this guy. 

After a moment I started shaking. It felt weird but I could feel it too. Hands shaking me.I opened my eyes. Aradace was looking down at me and Blueblood was shaking me. I couldn't here his voice but I knew that were concerned.

I shook my head and tried to speak but nothing came out except a moan. Their concern grew. I tried again and I managed to get out "I can't... Hear. They started panicking and Aradace touched my head and I felt warmth spread through my body. Suddenly the world dropped on me and I could suddenly hear everything.

I sat up real fast and looked to the left. I saw the man there staring at me in shock. I yelled at him to stop and come here but he turned and bolted. I climbed on Aradace and Blueblood got on Briggen. I started to get Aradace to run and we bolted after him.

After a minute we broke through the treeline and saw him bending over the water. He looked at us and we stopped running. I said "Calm down, I just want to talk." I saw him relax and knew we just acted out our dream. I got off of Aradace and noticed that I fell for a lot longer. 

Aradace is really growing tall. I walked towards the man and he said "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I was trying to find the queen and it led to you and it-" he stopped once he realized I didn't know what he was talking about. I said "Your fine you didn't disturb me.

Which queen and how are you finding her?" He took a deep breathe and said "Okay, I'm trying to, don't think I'm crazy, I'm trying to find... The Dragon Queen. And I'm using this to find her. He held out a colorful rock that had some lines on it.

I held out my hand and when the rock touched my hand all the colors on the rock started to glow one by one. I stared in wonder at all the colors. The man looked at me with awe and then when the colors faded he bowed. I felt proud and I said "You may rise. Tell me everything you know.

I'm trying to find my dragons. I believe you an help me." he said "Yes my queen, have you already been to the rock in the mountain of mazes? I nodded remembering the name for Future reference. He said "Good, have you picked a race of dragons to find? Are you following the Lines? 

I nodded and said "I'm looking for the water and forest dragons. The line ends... Somewhere." I looked around and said "the forest line leads into a cave. But the water line leads into this ocean." he nodded and said "Good."

TBC