Alternatives. 21

Shayn and Ono were happy to be out flying again. They had run, but they hadn't been in the air in a long time and this was a long journey, they had been flying for days now and were still fill of energy. Together they flew high with Cutter following them. Like kids Shayn and Ono were enjoying themselves doing acrobatics in the air.
" You think bringing them was a mistake?" Aramis sent to Cutter. He and Jack rode on Cutters back. Shayn was to small to carry more then one rider. In a few years Gabriel would grow, but white dragons were not like other dragons. They were more powerful, but if merging with a young person, they matured with them.
[ No.]Cutter said. [ They'll both be an asset I'm sure. Ono's one of the best fighters in New Keanna. And Shayn, well white dragons are unique. They dont come along often.]
" I have a question." Jack said. His red hair flying in the wind. " How do you know where we're going?"
[ Aramis knows.] Cutter told Jack. [ Eheren showed me the mountains were heading for in the east.]
" And what are we looking for?"
"My past." Aramis said. " My future, I'm not really sure. I just think there are answers there, and I need answers now."
" What of your missing brother?" He asked. " Any word?"
" Im getting closer." Jack told him. " I'll find him soon."
Suddenly out of nowhere everything stopped. The air was still and nothing moved. Birds hung in place in the air. Jack knew it was father. The air in front or him began to sparkle with magic. A pocket opened in the air and out of it came Karis his brother and Rimnar's messenger. He had dark curly hair and he was dressed in a dark tunic. He smiled at Jack and waved,
" I have a message from father." He said.
" Whats that?"
" Mortals aren't to go to Fortis." He said. " You know that. Find a way to turn them. Your to close already. He likes these dragons and doesn't wish to have to stop them himself."
" Tell him I will. but I cant stop the others."
" Don't worry, we will." Karis told him. " And be careful. He's worried about you both. Safe journey."
Karis vanished and time began again. They knew nothing. Minutes later Shayn dropped back to fly next to them. Ono had a distressed look on his face. He was looking behind them at something. Jack turned to look back. He saw a black cloud advancing on them. It was big but not so big as to fill the sky.
" What is that." Aramis asked.
" I don't know." Jack said. He focused his eyes and saw it was a flock of crows coming there way.
" I do. There vampires in there bird form and there feathered rats. " Ono told them. " And they're coming after us."
[ Everybody, get ready!!]
Aramis and Jack pulled out there swords and secured themselves with straps to Cutters back. Ono shifted to a form between man and wolf. His claws grow long and sharp for slashing. They were ready.
" Dive down." Aramis told them. " We're better off on the ground."
Cutter and Shayn quickly shot down and made for a clearing ahead. Like arrows the crows followed them pecking at there backs trying to get at them. Ono and Jack slashed at them knocking some out of the air. As they got to the clearing, Aramis and Jack jumped off and Cutter shifted. He grabbed a brunch and began to bat them away. Shayn stayed on dragon form, He blew gout's of flame as Ono slashed at them. One after another the crows burst into flames, feathers and blood fired through the air. Not only from Shayn's flame, but from the power of the Salvation stone radiating power through there body. Soon the bird attack stopped, they all took off to the east as fast as they could.
" Whats going on how." Ono asked. All around him was the bodies of dead birds. He kicked them away and went to make sure Shayn was alright, he had switched back to human. Jack and Aramis re sheathed there sword and joined the others.
" That was to slow us down." Cutter told them. " They want to get there before us."
" But why?" Shayn asked. He and Ono came and stood with the others. "You think there's something there they don't want us to find?"
" I think its a trap." Cutter sat down on a log that was next to him." Balthazar is behind this Im sure."
" So far from Yadessa?" Aramis said. " What would be his point?"
" Think." He told them. " What would happen if he caught Shayn and Ono, or me?"
"He'd have power over Jandar, Rage and Valkar." Jack said. " To save them they would do most anything Balthazar wanted. Including surrender themselves over to him."
Shayn looked over to Ono, he had a dreadful look in his eyes, like he'd been caught already. Is this why Jandar and Mags had been teaching him all the magic they could? Or why Jayce and Rage drilled battle maneuvers into them so hard? They knew the day would come when they wouldn't be there. This was going to be that day
.[Ono, were here now and we're not going to let him win. Not by a long shot.] Shayn sent to his partner.
[All we have to do is all of us watch each other.]
[ I know.] Ono told him. ['We stay close and keep aware of all that's going on. We'll be alright.]
" Ok, We know its a trap." Ono said. " The question is do we walk into it?"
" No we don't." Aramis said. " This is all because of me. I'll go on alone. there's no reason all of you have to be in danger."
"Your one of us now." Shayn told him, he smiled that smile that Ono knew meant he was up to something. " So forget going on alone. Besides, I have an idea. Can you project images of us up there?"
" Not without seeing it." Cutter said. " What were you thinking?"
" I was thinking if you could project us in the air and they could chase us, then maybe Aramis could do his search."
Shayn watched them for approval. Ono had that proud gleam in his eyes. He thought it was a good idea. Cutter frowned, he didn't know if it would work. Jack opened his mouth to talk but Aramis stopped him.
" No." He said. " This is wrong."
" What?" Ono asked.
" There's something about that mountain. I know your not suppose to go there. We cant go there."
Aramis turned away from the mountain and walked away.
" He's right." Jack said. " That's a sacred place, I can feel it."
" Then this trip was for nothing." Shayn said.
Aramis turned back, he looked angry. He walked back to Shayn.
"This is a lesson I'm sure all of your teachers tried there best to teach you." He said. " I want you to reach out to that mountain with all your senses and tell me what you feel. Your suppose to be a special dragon, show me how special."
Frightened Shayn did what he was told. He closed his eyes and opened up to the mountain.[Father, Show him the palace and why he cant go there.] Jack called in his mind.
Suddenly the clouds parted and the sun shined down on the peak. This is what Shayn sensed. High on a mountain top stood a gleaming marble palace. No one lived there anymore. It had been abandoned long ago by the wondrous people that lived there. This palace was was a magnificent place with beautiful singing flowers in the garden and others that sent the scent of love and life into the air. The vibrant colors of rich reds and deep blues, the passionate purples and brilliant whites could drove a normal man mad. This was a special place, divine is a better word for this place. Cause no mortal could stand on this sweet perfumed grass, but it was about to be invaded by beings that should not be there. A small group of strange crows came to rest in a fruit tree. There were fifteen of them in the tree. They marveled at the strange fruit. It looked like apples but they were the deepest shade of purple. They had never seen anything like that before. They began to peck it at. It was delicious and they couldn't stop themselves from eating. Then the pain began and the burning crept through there bodies. All at once they took flight. In his mind Shayn watched them fly off, but they didn't get far. One by one he watched as they all became dust and blew away on the winds. Shayn opened his eyes and Ono helped him up. He had seen to. They looked from Aramis to Jack in wonder.
" You don't understand do you?" Aramis asked.They shook there heads, no.
" But you understand there are places that your not to go to, and that's one of them." Jack said.
" Yes." Shayn said. " We can go now, the vampires wont be chasing us anymore."
" So were going home?" Cutter asked Shayn. Cutter thought that would be best. He didn't know how safe it was for them way out here in the east. There could still be enemies out there watching them. But he knew Aramis was the reason they were out there and if there was a way to help him, he thought they should take it.
" What do you want to do?" Ono asked Aramis.
" I know this place." He said. Aramis looked around and flashes of memories slipped in and out of his mind. He saw a beautiful woman on silver garb and her brother in gold laughing. There was a dour man with sorrow on his face. Aramis could tell he was missing someone he loved. He knew these people. But from where? That he wasn't sure.