Fai entered the misty tunnel. With a mere imaginative thought combined with the power of one of the glowing crystals on her wrist, she closed the entrance to Vauxton’s West Field. Gray magical mist covered her, and she stepped out of it in her Vaux form. Her claws and eyes began to glow, and she started off down the riverbank back to where she’d come.

She passed marker after marker, each one glowing briefly at the detection of her presence. As she went on, a bad feeling grew within her. The misty air didn’t seem as still and peaceful as it usually felt. She looked over her shoulder every so often to check if she was being followed, but she found nothing there. Her pace, however, quickened more each time she checked.

The fox eventually became weary of such caution and ignored the warning she felt deep within her. Nevertheless, she continued with her quick pace along the river, desiring to return to her patients. Fai remembered her promise to Lorayla and hurried all the more.

______________________________

Several weeks before Lorayla was taken in by Fai.

The battle began without warning. All in Vauxton’s East Field were caught by surprise when the light rays from above went dim. The large shadow of a flying creature covered the field. Panic and fear broke out when the creature was identified as the blue dragon.

 The gatherers and harvesters fled, transforming into their Vaux forms and escaping through entrances to various tunnels. The dragon above circled the field, breathing down ice upon the tunnel entrances, encasing and suffocating some of his prey, while preventing others from escaping. The terrible beast swooped down and snatched up Vauxians in his large talons, crushing them to death and dropping them like refuse to the field floor.

 The Vauxian reapers in the field gathered and, when the opportunity was right, assaulted the dragon as he dove down. When the dragon was about to close his talons upon more victims, a large cyclonic wind appeared above the great enemy. It had the form of an upside-down spiraling funnel comprised of green wind. The funnel completely covered the dragon and prohibited him from flying back up into the air.

The dragon roared in anger as the cyclone forced him down from above, and his massive feet planted into the ground. He looked around and found three Vauxians in their human form with their hands outstretched at him. The green crystals on their wrists glowed brightly, and fierce gusts of wind flowed from their hands, creating the strong funnel of wind. The great beast heard battle cries as a group of reapers charged him. The red crystals on their wrists went aglow, and fiery wind encircled their heavyscythes as they lifted them to strike. The dragon inhaled, releasing a breath of ice to stop his attackers.

 Many of the reapers froze over and were stuck in place by a thin layer of magical ice. Some, however, had enough mind strength and imagination to overcome the icy attack, fighting through it with their fiery scythes or melting the ice by creating light particles of heat around them.

As his attackers drew near, the dragon surrounded himself with blue tendrils of wind that solidified into a thin layer of protective ice over his scales. The Vauxian warriors that made it to the dragon swung their scythes. Fire and metal sliced through ice and dragon scales. The beast roared in pain as the Vauxian attackers sliced through his flesh and drew blood. The blue dragon turned and whipped his tail, knocking back many of the Vauxian warriors.

Anticipating the attack, one lone reaper used the power of the green crystals on his wrist to create a gust of wind, jumping high into the air above the dragon’s tail as the beast whipped it around. When the dragon had turned a full circle, the Vauxian warrior released his imagination, descending upon the dragon and drawing back his scythe to strike at his enemy’s neck. The dragon snapped its jaws at the warrior. The warrior swung his scythe to counter the dragon’s bite, slicing the side of the beast’s face.

The dragon turned away, grunting in pain from his wound, and as the Vauxian reaper descended to the ground, he was struck by the beast’s tail as it whipped around. The warrior thudded to the ground.

The three Vauxians who created the magical cyclone were without protection. As the remaining reapers reopened the escape tunnels, the three lowered their hands and fled. The magical funnel over the dragon dissipated, and the beast roared in triumph, spreading his wings. The evil creature was about to take flight but saw that the warrior who had stuck him was still alive.

Grey mist covered the dragon as it folded back its wings. When the mist cleared, the appearance of a man clad in heavy armor and wielding two swords stood in the dragon’s place. He confidently strode over to the fallen warrior and challenged him with a smirk. The man sheathed his swords and huffed through his nose. A blue crystal on his armored belt began to glow as he motioned for the warrior to come near. Blue wind appeared, lifting the Vauxian up off the ground and standing him upright. The streams solidified into a thin layer of ice around his legs and torso, holding the Vauxian in place.

“That was a valiant effort,” taunted the man. “But as brave as your efforts were, they weren’t enough.” He reached down to the ground and retrieved the reaper’s heavyscythe, then raised a hand to his face to feel his wound. Infuriated, he gripped the scythe with both hands, carefully using its sharp tip to cut the side of the man-fox’s face. The warrior tensed up and grunted from the pain.

“That’s one for one,” said the man, casting the scythe to the ground as if it were rubbish. “And speaking about one, there is one whom I seek that I’m positive you know about. A darkwyrm who goes by the name of Thoron. Somewhere down here in this utopian maze of fields and tunnels, you’re protecting him.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said the warrior, gasping for air between his words.

“I’m sure you don’t,” the man snapped. “But know this, I will find him, even if I have to destroy your people to do so.” The man unsheathed his swords, readying to end the warrior’s life. “You know, not all your people have to die,” he said slyly. “I, Glaviar, can be merciful. All that matters to me is finding him.”

“Why?”

“My business is my own. However, there is a small way you can aid your people from further destruction and help me attain my goal so I can finally leave this wretched plateau. Everyone wins.”

“What would I have to do?” the reaper asked suspiciously.

Glaviar smiled and took a blue crystal from his belt. The crystal glowed brightly in his palm as it magically split into two and went dim. He placed one of the crystals into the warrior’s hand. “It’s very simple. Just place the crystal where Thoron is, and I’ll be able to find him.”

“If you find him and our people are near him, what then?” the reaper demanded.

“I can’t guarantee they’ll live,” Glaviar replied coolly. “Thoron and I will most likely finish our battle. I can’t guarantee they’ll be safe.”

The warrior looked at Glaviar skeptically as he considered the proposal. Then, he nodded to his enemy.

Glaviar grinned maliciously. “So, then, we have an understanding?”

“How much time do I have?”

“A few weeks. After that, I’ll continue my rampage until I find my enemy…and you…” Glaviar stood nose-to-nose with the reaper. “What’s your name so that I may seek you out if you fail?”

The reaper revealed his name, and Glaviar moved away from him. An expanding mist formed around the man, and he stepped out once again in his dragon form. You're very fortunate to walk away from this battle alive, the dragon mind spoke to the warrior. Let's hope your efforts are enough to save your people.