Tales of Stormshadow Mountain (Collaborative Writing)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BW5tO6mOD8

Rynn stood silently with Kyuu waiting as Kitsune poured her heart out to Kuriko who now lay silent and ashen on the cold stone floor. Life had long since left his body and the only light was from flashes of lightning that made the shadows leap across the room. The storm was increasing in intensity and Rynn figured it was most likely tied to the tower or one of the dragons that worked against them. Rynn did not want to stick around for much longer and have to face one in their current state. Kitsune continued to rock stroking Kuriko's face as if waiting for his eyes to open and to smile at her as he always did. But she new in the whispers on the wind her love was gone taken from her in a short instant. Ripped from her arms forever. Never again would she see his smile or feel his protective arms around her when she needed them most like right now.

He always loved her no matter what she did or didn't do he was always there even as kids he was there. Now he would be shadows in the corner of her eyes and her dreams and in her broken heart. How could she ever love another how could she ever repay the love he had given her. SO much loss so much pain. Why did evil twist like such a viper to make his best friend kill him and in front of her and his sister. What kind of evil does this. Her tears touched his face making his face glisten as if Kuriko was crying as well even in death. Kitsune could feel the heavy silence around her as the two foxes whimpered their own sorrows and she could feel Rynn's ever present aura as well. Since she had been learning magic she could now feel the pulse of Rynn's power as if it was a camp fire and it was intense. But even now she could feel the sadness in that aura. She wasn't sure though if Rynn's sadness was for Kuriko or for her friends loss. Which made this all hurt so much more that the people she loves keep getting hurt. She almost lost Rynn once. what was next to have Rynn die and be taken away.?

Rynn knelt down to Kitsune who was now hoarse and could barely make any more noise than slight whimpers. "We must leave this place Kitsune. It is no longer safe here they know were are here and we cannot defend ourselves dealing with such grief. Kuriko would not have wanted you to die as well. He would want you to fight on and stop this evil so his spirit can be at peace. If you really love him and want to honor him let him now your sorrow but also let him know its because of his death you strive on to conquer the evil that killed him." Rynn was shedding her own tears and pleading with Kitsune at this point.

"Riki did not do this to Kuriko. We finally see the missing pieces of the puzzle Kitsune. That evil man is behind this poisoning our minds and manipulating us with evil magic. You heard Riki he knew it was a trap and he could not stop himself. There was pain in his eyes watching Kuriko die at his own hands. They mean to break Riki's spirit again. That have Riki back under spell control. I am going to need your help to break it and believe me Riki will punish them for this day."

Kitsune looked over at her dearest friend Rynn. Kitsune's eyes were bloodshot and puffy and everything seemed blurry. Her throat was in flaring pain and her nose was raw. Her heart felt as though it had been shred to a thousand pieces. Yet in all the mumbling and garble she could not deny the ringing behind Rynn's words. She had seen the look of pain and despair in Riki's unfeeling eyes as well. Slowly Kitsune's grief took hold of something deep inside her something that felt powerful. It began to burn deep and slowly feeling returned to her body and the tears slowly began to stop. She would avenge her love she would find peace for his spirit and she would do it by using Riki against them. At that instant she reached out for Rynn in a big bear hug. Like two sisters. She let Rynn touch Kuriko's forehead which cause him to slowly burn as if he was an ember and the body turned to ashes and collapsed. Rynn then spoke another spell that almost sounded like a sound and the ashes began to swirl and drift then took flight out the window and were gone.

Rynn hugged Kitsune again."I have sent his ashes home when you are ready you can lay him to rest wherever in the world you want. But now we must leave we are not ready to face a dragon yet and we need to improve your spells. I think your ready to start learning some battle magic." Kitsune said nothing and used Kobi as a walking aid and they all quickly left the fortress behind under the pouring rain and back into the nearby forests.

...........................................

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XZVeAEcqEI

The stone room remained empty for a long while and as the storm reached its feverish pitch the shadows in the room coalesced into two figures. One a dark but beautiful woman and the Dragon whom Riki and Rynn had faced off with. "Well, well our pretties are gone seems Ralagan was wrong they did not get paralysed with grief after all and even took the body of the whelp with them. Resourceful little witches." The dragon shifted nervously. He was already in danger now that Ralagan knew the dragon had failed in killing any of them.

He knew now he would have to go find the girls and kill the wizard for sure this time. TO return without her head was to lose his own and he knew it. Ralagan's mistress needed not say anything he knew his task all to well. He did not relish the idea at all he remembered the mage's sting the first time he faced her and now she would be even more angry and it took all his will power to play the part of not being phased by their power the first time. Not an act he felt he could pull of again. The witch then disappeared into the deepening dark as the storm subsided. Either way death was going to find him. He then left the tower to track the girls in the night. He did not need to look back to see the eyes still watching him in the shadows to make sure he went after his assigned pray. His life had now become forfeit.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFQc6EoaK_k

As the memories invaded in her mind now like the crashing of waves she had lost all sight of their current reality. She was stuck in the visions of her past as if she was right there actually living them again. They were so real and tangible, so clear and vivid.

Rynn still lost in her memories was desperately trying to figure out what was going on. It was like she was a ghost witnessing everything she had gone through. Yelling at everyone and trying to get the attention of anyone she could to no avail. She even called out to Lesature and there was no response. The memories were passing so fast now that they were intermingling and there was no order now to which she could see them. One moment she was but a toddler laughing at whom she could only assume was her parents as they played with her in a beautiful meadow. The next memory was of her being a teenager an studying her books of magic while others left the academy to be with their families. She was determined to continue and not take any breaks her family needed her to succeed her little bother needed her to succeed and everyone else always picked on her for being so young and in the academy in the first place and she was determined to prove she belonged there.

The next memory was one of a Fox girl serving her wine in an old tavern. Her friend Kitsune. Then the memory jumped to Kitsune feeding her while she studied. Which she now found odd as she had forgotten the art of magic without the need of her books. The next memory was back to Zystana teaching her a spell one that was a light spell but not of the school of life yet an extremely useful spell. It was a small globe of blue light that seemed to hover in the air and made a soft chiming sound and then it exploded in a blast of holy light that nocked Rynn off her feet leaving her blind for a moment.

When she regained her sight she saw herself again beaming at her success and Zystana showing her congrats on a job well done but what set Rynn uneasy is this memory showed Rynn being no older that 10 years old. How was that possible. Then it was as if Zystana could she her there she turned her head staring directly at her and smiled as if knowing she was there and what she was thinking. Then without opening her mouth she seemed to whisper in her head. "You are finally ready my child to do what we have spent centuries preparing you for through the annals of time." In that moment Rynn felt dizzy and the memories began to swirl as she fell into darkness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmBauSmVWbM

Kitsune and Kobi and Kyuu all stopped when Rynn stopped wondering what the hold up was. They were all exhausted and felt finally it was time to rest. Except Rynn's eyes seemed to be glazed over and she was unresponsive. Kitsune tried to shake her back to the here and now thinking the exhaustion must have hold of her and she is sleep walking. "Come on Rynn snap out of it." But no extent of yelling or shaking her seemed to be working. The Kitsune began to feel the energy wafting off Rynn in waves.

The energy cause the air to feel electrified and caused Kitsune's hair to begin standing up as she touched Rynn like static energy. Her Aura began to glow brighter. This baffled Kitsune and even Kobi and Kyuu had noticed the change. Kyuu began to herd the other two away from Rynn. Kitsune was not so easily moved she had lost enough and in her grief stricken state whatever evil magic was playing here she was going to be ready for it. She brought forth a spell Rynn had taught her in the beginning. It was a basic spell that would uncover anyone in the area being hidden by magic.

"Stand back everyone I do not want to melt any of you in a cosmic blast of epic proportions from my use of great magical power." Although her statement sounded bold her heart was not in her voice and it sounded drained and weak. The truth was she didn't want anyone near to see her mess up the spell unsure if she was capable of casting at this time.

Kitsune had cast her spell and it had revealed nothing other than it triggered something with Rynn and now she was aglow with magic so bright they all had to cover their eyes. It was as if she turned into some magical beacon as the light shot from her straight up into the air like a bright pillar. "Oh great lets hope the bad guys are blind cause if they did not know where we were they will now." Then with another pulsating flash Rynn collapse in a tumbled heap almost taking Kitsune with her as she lay passed out on the forest floor that now returned to the quiet darkness of before.

Kitsune quickly rushed to her side fresh sobbing and curses now issuing from her in such a manner that she was sure even the gods were cringing at her promises of death and revenge. It was too much why does she keep having everything taken from her. But as she moved and rolled Rynn on her back cradling her head she could feel energy still pulsation from her body. It was a warm sensation and it seemed to breath vitality back into Kitsune as she stroked Rynn's red hair out of her face. She admired the shiny healthy hair realizing she never really notice how red and healthy Rynn's hair had looked she had always been wearing a hooded cloak or they were so worried for her health they never noticed. Then as light rays of sun slowly began to filter in through the trees Kitsune had to catch her breath in wonder all around Rynn within a ten foot radius flowers and foliage had bloomed in all directions in the dense forest floor. She could hardly believe it.

She began to prod at Rynn again to no avail and decided they were definitely not going anywhere and not ready to move Rynn so she began to use what magic she knew and set up camp in the vicinity and set up Rynn's magic tent and with the help of the foxes moved Rynn inside where she was tended too. The day gave time for Kitsune to reflect on her pain and mourn the losses she had suffered. To address the pain that ebbed in her heart. She cried off and on throughout the day. It wasn't until evening approached that Rynn began to come too with a load moan and Rynn grabbing her head and complaining about a pounding headache the likes she had never felt.

It was all Kitsune could do to contain herself as she bowled Rynn over with Hugs and refusing to let her friend go. Rynn was weak and still exhausted her mind still a blur with memories. They both slept as much as they could agreeing they would talk about it in the morning. As light fell again on the camp Kitsune awoke to Rynn already awake and with breakfast cooking. Kitsune did not realize she hadn't eaten for several days until she smelt the fresh meal and her stomach growled in protest so loud that even Kobito woke up with a start.

She approached Rynn outside and was handed a warm cup of coffee with a cheerful thank you that still spoke of her being unsure of anything. Then Rynn asked her something "Kitsune I need you to hold still and trust me I am going to do something to you as today I am going to begin training you as once I was trained." Kitsune kind of chuckled thinking to herself what that could be since Rynn had already been teaching her magic and how to study her spell book but still gave Rynn a nod of consent. Rynn knelt down in front of her and then traced something on her forehead. Kitsune couldn't help but giggle thinking Rynn was trying to cheer her up with some kind of joke. Jokes like Kuriko would tell her to make her laugh when he felt she was down. The memory started to bring fresh tears to her eyes when Rynn sat down across from her again and smiled. " I am sorry your still in pain Kitsune I will do whatever I can to ease it on our journey to correct this evil and be rid of it."

Kitsune nodded "Thanks Rynn I appreciate all you have done but this is one of those things that my heart needs to work on..............." Kitsune stopped midsentence as she now stared gawking at Rynn. Kitsune just noticed that Rynn hadn't even moved her lips when she spoke. Kyuu lifted his head also and looked at her then turned his head to Rynn "Do you really think it was a good idea to bestow a gift like that on her?" Kitsune now dropped her coffee cup on the ground spilling its contents as she stared dumbfounded at Kyuu and Rynn. She then rubbed her eyes thinking its a hallucination of her exhaustion from all her grief that she was hearing Rynn and now Kyuu who was an animal speaking in her head.

"You have nothing to fear Kitsune I have bestowed on you the gift of mind speak an old ancient gift known only to a few and to naturally magical creatures such as Kyuu and Kobi but I recommend to be careful talking to Kobi he has only recently reached age to use it and his speak is boisterous at best. Go ahead try it." Kitsune now wide eyed even more trying to make sense of this tried to speak in her head. "Uh I dropped my coffee....." There seemed to be an echo but she could feel her voice pass to the others as Rynn chuckled slightly.

"You will become accustomed to it in time but now we will always be able to speak to each other to even share thoughts and memories. With this gift I will teach you magic the way I was taught which will be to open my mind to you in such a way that it will be as if you were actually in my mind but we will do it slowly like all learning it has to be in time. Then we will begin the hunt for the real evil at work here for if my memories have told me correctly its being connected to a very old evil we do not want to have resurrected and I have a feeling all this is to do just that yet I have not gotten all the connections worked out but I know now that necro magic is at work and I think they need my bother as a vessel but to do that they need to kill off whatever humanity he has left."
.........................


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ_gZ-h2X9Y

Riki now stood in a dormant state as if held in stasis by powerful magic. The witch was pouring over texts and grimores reading and studying ancient rituals and writings in an evil forgotten tongue from books that dated back to the creation of time. All books that had once belonged to her father the great and mighty bringer of death Mephisto himself. Ralagan and herself were slowly manipulating the world to bring their great god back to this realm from which he had been banished so long ago and this puppet was a major piece in that puzzle. But he was not the only piece.......

 

Rynn and Kitsune spent the rest of the day quiet at least to any onlooker. Kitsune was using mind speak as much as possible and was quickly becoming adept at it. It helped take her mind away from her pain but not completely. She was able to really get to know Kyuu. He was truly an amazing fox not to mention old. She also made the mistake even after Rynn's warning to try talking to Kobi and spent a good 10 minutes recovering from the thunderous booming in here head after he went off on such loud rapid talk she could barely understand him through the sheer din of his projections. As the afternoon sun reached its climax Rynn sat with Kitsune to begin more training. Rynn locked Kitsune into a type of mind trance and Kitsune found herself opening her eyes and finding herself standing on what seemed like the stars of the universe. It made Rynn's spell chamber pale in comparison to the beauty of the cosmos she now looked at. Even weirder was Kitsune could feel in her being the depth of the place as if unending.

It took a long while for Kitsune to quite gawking. When she finally did she felt her pain again as she thought to herself Kuri was not here to share this marvel with her. But as she thought of him images of him running and laughing swept all around her as if ghosts in her vision. So real she even tried to reach out and touch him. Every time she did he would wisp away in a cloud of light white smoke and reappear in a different view or memory of him. Tears began to roll down her face. she looked at Rynn who also had tears in her eyes.

" with the mind speak and what gifts I have given you this place is in your mind. You can now meditate and come here you can see memories as if they were tangible things but you cannot touch them. I give you this so you will never forget him and because you need to train you mind to handle the magic I will be teaching you." Rynn's eyes held a softness in them a sense of compassion almost motherly as she looked at Kitsune. The pain in Kitsune's heart began to ebb to a dull manageable ache. It was a wonderful gift Kitsune did not know how to thank her for. She looked again at Rynn her eyes bright if not tear streaked and smiled slightly "Well then mighty mage shall we begin to learn how to tear down mountains to wreak our revenge for our friends." Rynn now shared Kitsune's attempt at a smile. It was indeed time to begin preparations. She began with basics. The images were clear with visions actually seeing how the spell is cast. Kitsune was making no mistakes at all. It was as if it was second nature to her. She learnt defensive spells. Ones that allowed her to bend light and earth into shields, to erect magical barriers. To make it so metal would pass through her skill as if she was a ghost. Kitsune liked that one she had seen Rynn use it once when they were chasing down the Joker. After what seemed like hours Rynn called the training to an end. The cosmos looking landscape disappeared and Kitsune felt her eyes close only to open again and they were back in the middle of the camp with Kyuu pacing around keeping an eye on them. Kitsune looked up the sun was just leading into the horizon with the twilight fast on its heels.

"How is that possible it should be the wee hours of the night we were training for hours?" Kitsune looked befuddled. Rynn giggled and responded " Time in our minds passes a lot faster than the physical world we could train a for days in our minds before a full day passed here. But even the mind gets tired and training that long can be deadly. If your mind dies so does your body. Remember this to escape into your own mind you control the time in it you do not want to exhaust yourself." Kitsune nodded her acknowledgement. She looked to the campfire which had now gone out and her tummy began to rumble again. Just as this happened Kobi came prancing into camp with a fresh kill for supper. Kitsune smiled flicked her finger and the fire raged in the fire pit. She beamed quite proudly. After much time the meat was ready to eat and they all enjoyed a good meal as the stars danced into life above them. " We will get to bed early tonight as in the morning we will begin to travel again and bring this evil to an end.

 

.................................


In the shadows of the trees The dragon watched the two women and the two dogs. The time was close at hand that he would bring them to their swift deaths. Then he would be able to return to his comforts of the fortress and be done with this incessant thorn in their sides. This would again bring him into the praises of his master Ralagan. He would be hailed greatly, his status amongst the legion would become untouchable. He gave an evil chuckle and stepped out of the shadows and into the small camp. Both women were on their feet in an instant. Rynn's hands blazing with magic and Kitsune swinging her tiny string. Both mutts had their hackles out and were growling. The dragon chuckled again he had nothing to fear. He realized his fear was just a sensation from Ralagan's witch consort. The thought of her made him shiver but she was not here and he had prey to demolish. He waved his hand sending both dogs crashing into the thick tree trucks around the camp with yelps and whines of pain. As the crashing happened he came across waving his other hand dispelling the magic bolts that now seared towards him with hungry ferocity from that wench Rynn only to fizzle out in a shower of sparks at his feet. He gave her a toothy grin the little one still hadn't moved. "You think you stand a chance I took you and your brother and sent you both to the edges of your grave. You are no match for me here. This time I will make sure you stay dead Rynn of the legion." He was referring to how she served the same as him once an attempt to flare her anger. He chuckled in delight. It was his turn now to sent spells flying. He sent a bolt of lightning straight at the fox girl who much to his dismay jumped away easily and he sent a rolling fireball at Rynn. Rynn countered it sending it spewing past her lighting many trees on fire.

The battle was underway with the two dogs already out of the fight and he began to fling spells in rapid succession keeping Rynn busy countering so she had no time to cast back at him. The fox girl too spent most of her time jumping around and every time she got to close he would throw more spells at her driving her back. It was only a matter of time before his power would overwhelm these whelps. The mage didn't have her brother to help her. It would not be long now he could taste the sweet smell of their deaths and his victory into legendary status amongst the ranks of the legion even more so than that whelp Riki that Ralagan was always concerned with.

Rynn communicated with Kitsune to start using the defensive magic she had taught her. Kitsune responded without a word as magic continued to assault Rynn driving her forcibly backwards Kitsune's spells began to rise. First a wall of earth would rise and drop catching spells against it in showers of dirt and ash. The bubbles of light to reflect spells up into the night sky. It bought Rynn enough time to begin casting offensive spells back at the dragon. It was now his turn to block and shield from the magical onslaught. Yet he still laughed " Is that all your feeble magic can conjure is children's spells." His voice dripped with murder and evil. Both woman were getting slower and were exhausted now they still hadn't fully recovered and it was beginning to show. Rynn called out in here mind to everyone . Kitsune ad the two dogs to quickly run to her they had to retreat or they would surely die here. But the mind link told her Kobi could not make it . Kitsune knowing now by the images of what Rynn wanted to do told her enough she quickly ran for the trees straight to where she last saw Kobi. Kyuu on the other hand was already limping right behind Rynn. As if in unison Both girls grabbed a fox and yelled the word to activate the rings that would usher them back o Rynn's tower.

The dragon left standing was a bit surprized they had escaped. But his thirst for blood did not stop him it was magic after all with a quick spell he was now travelling the thread of magic that the two woman had just escaped on. His thirst for their blood was so great he hadn't given any thought as to where the women had run away to just that they had tried to escape him. Then he saw it or better his being felt the danger but it was to late he could not stop this form of travel until he had reached his destination. The two woman now laying in the tower with both foxes were huffing trying to desperately catch their breath. They were covered in dirt, ash and sweat. Then Rynn's eyes widened in alarm. "Get down and find cover. The urgency in her voice did not allow anyone to argue. Kitsune Dragged an unconscious Kobi under the giant oak table and Rynn grabbed a shield off a wall and ducked into a corner with Kyuu leaping into what was the kitchen from the stone doorway. Then it happened The tower shook with such thundering force Kitsune's could swear she saw the walls stretch out impossibly far as if about to explode outward into nothing. Then they rebounded back in as if about to cave in taking them all with it. Blasts of fires and arcs of lightning shattered her vision and caused her ears to ring impossibly loud. It was as if her head had exploded and she did not realize she was dead yet. She felt for sure the tower was going to crash down as pillars crumpled and beams from the ceiling came crashing down spewing stone dust everywhere and now Kitsune was blind and deaf. IT seemed to rage for ever yet it all happened in just second.

It was still several minutes before the ringing subsided and Kitsune could vaguely see again and felt it was safe enough to come out from under te table. As she did so Rynn dropped the shield she was holding in the corner and stood up also she was covered in grey dust and coughing. The tower did not resemble what it used too it looked like a wizard battle had just taken place and tried to take the tower with it. Then Kitsune saw it. The smoking remnants of a scorched robe and blackened smoldering bones of what was left of a half vaporized skeleton. Kitsune looked at Rynn quizzically. Rynn looked back and gave a half hearted smile it was obvious she was still recovering from the blast as well.



"I did not think a wizard as powerful as him would have actually followed the threat of magic that brought us home" Rynn spoke sounding as if in disbelief. "Okay so he followed us what the hell just happened then?" Kitsune's voice was incredulous as she was sticking her fingers deep in her ears trying to rub out the ringing they still suffered. Rynn looked at her with a smile now on her face. Kitsune thought it was odd considering it looked like Rynn's tower was about to cave in on them. "He followed us and did not think that we were going to somewhere safe where I would have wards. Mind you he was powerful enough he literally took out every single ward I had on the tower. He triggered almost all of them which is what that explosion was. It was all the magic coming to life as he tried to enter the tower. He drained my tower that it nearly collapse it took so much power for the wards to annihilate him. She was almost giddy as she looked around. Kitsune was sure Rynn was finally coming off her rocker. Then Rynn got a mild look on her face "Its going to take at least a couple months for the tower to repair itself and recharge and to clean this mess up." Kitsune chuckled and then they both chuckled relieved. They hadn't one the fight the wizard had lost a fight with Rynn's tower. After a little mirth whining could be heard coming from the kitchen and under the table. Quickly the women found potions and got to work getting everyone healed in the mess of a tower.

 

Weeks passed and those then turned into months. The girls and the foxes took the time to heal and rest and decided a different approach. Wards were placed and scrying spells cast as they watched the legion around the clock. Always looking for Ralagan, his mistress and of course Riki. They were preparing for what was inevitable. A show down that would make everything up to the point seem like slight altercations. It was as if time was slowing down for the girls and each minute that passed seemed like a curse of eternity. But they never stopped waiting and preparing for what they knew would eventually arrive. Daily Kitsune studied in Rynn's spell chamber learning and casting spells. Every week the spells became more powerful and complex. Rynn crafted magic items expending her energy daily to the point of exhaustion. The tower was now fully repaired and recharged and even then Rynn was Siphoning the recharging power of the tower to fuel more magic for the coming conclusion neither would discuss. See there was no need to discuss it anymore. Since the joining of their minds Kitsune had a an idea of what was coming when Rynn would sleep. With her continued exhaustion Rynn couldn't always censor what Kitsune saw in Rynn's dreams. Yet she did not tell Rynn or indicate in her mind she had seen what was to come. Instead it was weeks of silence short of the incantations being spoken as Kitsune practiced bringing magic to life.

The dreams were always the same.... They were scary with the aura of prophecy. The connection Rynn and Riki shared was indeed strong and could not be explained by the laws of nature nor could Rynn's power. It started as once in awhile and then it became more frequent. Every night a little more of the dream was revealed as if like a timer to when they would know it was time to act. Rynn was standing in a black stoned courtyard. She was burnt and battered and bleeding. Spitting blood with each labored word. Kyuu lay dead at her feet and Koby was laying unconscious in a pile of rubble grieviously injured. One of his legs severed from his large fox body as he had used his power to grow in size as a guardian. Kitsune was surrounded in light of all the magic she had casted to protect herself and Rynn. Riki was kneeling on ashen scorched stone bound by magic, restrained but not by Rynn instead it was by that bitch mage mistress of Ralagan. Ralagan himself lay dead not far from Riki. Riki's bladed seens clearly protruding from Ralagan's eyes. The sky was black with streams of green mist swirling into a vortex directly above them. The evil laughter that echoed through everyones mind was chilling. The witch was summoning something, something old and evil and KItsune and Rynn were the last thing standing that stood any hope of stopping it. And then Rynn died.

Kitsune would wake to a screaming Rynn in a cold sweat. If Kitsune asked Rynn if she was ok she would wave off Kitsune saying she was fine. The last dream is what showed Rynn's death. Deep down Kitsune knew the time was apon them to act. She feared for her friend. She prayed the dream was just that a dream out of fear. Yet deep inside her soul Kitsune knew this was more than a simple nightmare she somehow knew what she was seeing was a possibility of what was to come. She knew this because no matter what she tried to do differently in the dream it was always the same. It was always exactly the same and Kitsune no matter how hard she tried could not save Rynn.

The next night after 2 months of waiting and preparing the dream stopped...........It was finally time. Kitsune woke to find everything was packed and waiting. A robe was slung over the end of Kitsune's bed as she rose. She knew it was from Rynn. She could feel the magic emanating from it. She quickly dressed in silence packing what she needed. grabbing all her magic items that had been crafted for this day. When she was finished she stopped in the doorway to what had become her own room in the tower. Giving it a lingering look as though she would never see this room again. She closed the door which seemed to thud with a finality to its echo in Kitsune's opinion as she made her way downstairs to a seemingly rest and weirdly smiling Rynn. Yet Rynn's eyes told a different story. Her eyes looked impossibly old now and with a resignation like she had come to terms with the end of this nightmare. Without another word Rynn waved her fingers and opened the door of the tower. In turn they all stepped out onto a clearing of windswepted mountains yards from a giant black stoned fortress. Site drained some of the resolve in Kitsune. IT was a frightening sight not just because the fortress looked intimidation or frightening but because it was exactly as Kitsune had seen in Rynn's dreams. The dream that was not a dream but the unfolding of their final adventure. A tear swept down KItsune's cheek unnoticed to be frozen and blown away in the wind as Kitsune watched Rynn take the firsts steps to her inevitability.

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


Ralagan watched in the scrying dish with pleasure each day and week his grin would widen more and more. "No signs of life from that bitch's tower. That explosion and sacrifice had to have killed them it has been months." The witch gave him a look of disdain. and spoke in an evil tone suggesting no argument." Do not underestimate her Ralagan her power extends beyond time and space you cannot possibly understand the complete power she weilds. She has forgotten much of it thanks to time but make no mistake she is far more ancient than either of us and the only thing more ancient than her is my father once he has been resurrected and of course Riki."

In a single stride Ralagan crossed the room to his witch mistress and backhanded her causing her to hit the floor hard. Soon as she hit the floor her hand lit with flame ready to cast it at Ralagan only to find the tip of his knife pressed harshly to her throat. A trickly of blood could be felt running down her neck as Ralagan's cold eyes stared into hers. "Never forget your place....your alive because I want you to be and the only reason for that is so you can bring Mephisto back to the world and offer him my last dragon Riki as a host for his dark soul to conquer this world and make me its king with untold power that will make this bitch's power pale in comparison." The flames slowly disappeared from the witches hands. As they did so Ralagan sheathed his knife confident the witch remembered her place in his presence.

Riki stood in silence close to the door as if locked in a trance his eyes vacant with an occasional flicker of light in his steely gaze. It was like he was trapped in himself waging a war of his own will trying to break free. Only Ralagan and the Witch knowing the truth of his current state. Yet during all this activity none of them had been paying attention to the scrying bowl that now had swirled and changed showing two foxes, a fox girl and Rynn standing mere yards from the gates of the legions central Bastion of darkness...........The end was coming!............