Alayna didn't have much protection, all she had was her dagger, and a grappleshot that did not have a crossbow on it. Alayna kept mostly to herself, she would often work on some Clockwork dwarf Technology, Morvin would often ask about it, interested in learning his heritage, he wasn't a clockwork dwarf himself, but the dwarven culture he was part of were distant cousins to the clockwork dwarves.
Alayna has had seven anxiety attacks since leaving Whitereach, she never told anyone, not even Greggory, who knew about Alayna's anxiety. They were a week off from Etras. And they had not been Harassed since the attack of the wraiths, and Alayna wasn't the only one who noticed this.
"Something's not right." Belette said.
"Why, what's Wrong?" The Ranger asked.
"We haven't run into a single problem since the wraiths' attack, '' the two paused, as if to let someone else speak, but no one said anything.
"Well, I say no wraiths means no problem." Morvin piped up, he was nearly trampled underfoot of the confrontation they had.
"It's because their attention is being drawn to other places. We're not the only threats doing damage to the betrayer." Amara said
"I feel sorry for those the betrayer believes are threats that warranted the wraiths." Alayna muttered, the wraiths nearly destroyed them last time, and Zathor, who Alayna was quickly perceived to be the strongest magic user she's ever met, was with them.
"All the more reason to keep moving." Zathor said, "Once the Master forge is Operable, we can prepare the city's defenses for an assault."
"And if the betrayer shows up himself?" Greggory asked, probably the first time Alayna's heard even the subtlest hints of fear in his voice.
Amara's eyes narrowed slightly at the comments. "Whoever he sends the wraiths after, have to be stronger than us. They can handle themselves." Amara muttered. "And if the man himself shows up, I'll kill him."
It looked like Zathor was about to say something very similar, but Amara beat him to it, Amara's comment made Zathor uncomfortable, it was his daughter saything it after all. Almost as if on cue, the Sky darkened with the wraiths natural Aura of Darkness.
"They're back!" Alayna said, "And coming in fast."
These wraiths were led by the Largest of the ones Alayna saw, his help was almost shaped like the ancient emblem of the Northborn Military from centuries Prior, only it was more corrupted.
"First, your wife," The wraith said to Zathor, "Next, you Daughter, and finally you, Zathor."
Alayna drew her Dagger; the wraith drew a warhammer. Amara drew her mother's sword, anger still in her blood and her eyes began to glow, she prepared herself to attack the incoming wraiths.
Almost in Unison, the other five wraiths drew their Broadswords, Greggory drew his battleaxe, Belette he drew shortswords, Morvin his axe, and Tarron his Longsword. Alayna noticed that just like before, Zathor positioned himself between the wraiths and Amara. Greggory attempted to do the same for Alayna, but she was focused on the fight involving Zathor, Alayna was almost Paralyzed with fear, this wasn't something that she had last time
The Wraith Raised his warhammer , and Swung at Zathor, Taking Zathor's slash, bug brought him to one knee. Amara would charge forward from her dad's side, trying to pierce the wraith in the rib cage, the wraith teleported out of range briefly, and then tried to teleport strike Amara, even with a sword made by her mother, who, Alayna had learned by passively listening in on conversations, was a Goddess, would not stop a warhammer of that size, but Zathor Blocked the attack from hitting, just long enough for Amara to get out of the way. Amara dipped behind her father once more, her eyes wide a little in shock. After a moment though, she managed to slightly calm herself, steadying herself before preparing for what came next. When Zathor's Blade was Brought to the ground the Wraith used his right hand, and Backhanded Zathor Across the face with enough for to surely kill anyone, but Zathor Took the hit and then Was Lifted up while stunned and thrown five feet behind the wraith, who proceeded to move towards Amara, Raising his Hammer
Amara screamed at the wraith in anger at what he did to her father, charging forward as the glow overtook her eyes. This time, she managed to hit a hit attack, being able to know if he was going to teleport or not and was prepared to shift with him to still land the blow. But the wraith took the blow without Flinching and Brought the hammer down, the wraith was set on Killing the girl.
Alayna knew she had to do something, but she didn't know what, the battle became a haze as her breathing grew heavy, eventually to hyperventilation, as her anxiety overtook her. This one was much worse, and Alayna didn't understand why, her vision was fading in and out, as the sounds of Battle played all around her, the last thing Alayna heard before passing out entirely was a dragon's roar.
* * *
Zathor's eyes snapped open as he heard a dragon's roar, and he feared the worst, had they agitated the Dragon before it was time? Wipping the blood from his face, Zathor Sat up, the wraith he was fighting, High King Sabrim Dragon-son, was Making Aggressive Attacks towards Amara, he really intended to kill all that remains of Zathor's family. Zathor, struggled to his feet, using his sword to help Pull himself up, but he noticed something else strange, there was a young white Dragon Approaching Amara and Sabrim, the wraith was about to make an attack on Amara, but the Dragon pounced on him. White dragons are not native to this area, it left Zathor confused and full of Questions.
Amara turned her attention after her main target was smothered by a dragon, the girl doing something she never would never do. She used her mother's sword to cut open her palm, her eyes still glowing red. Within a matter of moments, her blood began floating, creating a bunch of piercing spikes from the liquid. In the next moment, the spikes fling towards the wraith attacking Greggory, piercing into the monster.
"Amara!" Zathor called weakly when she did this, this was not like her at all, but before Zathor Could do anything, a mace threw him back on the ground
Zathor's heart sunk has he recognized the plated boot that stepped over him, and the mace it's handheld, it was the same mace that killed Xomera.
"Kill him. I want the Girl alive, her mother must know she cannot oppose us, even in death." The Betrayer said, the Dragon heard this too, it immediately Grabbed Amara and took off.
Amara screamed out, her head snapping towards the betrayer when she heated her father call, and the blow he received. She went to charge for the scumbag when the dragon grabbed her. She screamed out in rage, fighting against the beast, trying to wiggle Steve and use her size to advantage, or stab the beast and force it to release her. But the Dragon wouldn't let go, until one slash but the dragon's blood did begin flowing.
"Destroy that, Dragon!" The Betrayer ordered, and all of the wraiths began flying after it, Zathor tried to regain his footing, but another blow from a different mace this time knocked him onto his back, and Zathor was now Facing the Ritualist, the Illusionist, and the Cudgel who hit him the second time.
The Cudgel raised his weapon, and the Illusionist blocked it.
"I want him Alive." Dolga the ritualist said, which was Met with a Mace blow from the Betrayer.
"I said 'Kill him.'" The Betrayer said, Zathor watched the dragon fly away overhead. Zathor saw as his daughter got to safety by shifting into the plane of death, and Zathor gave a satisfied sigh, Until the Betrayer brought his fist down, and knocked Zathor unconscious.
* * *
Tarron watched in Horror as Zathor was taken prisoner, he was knocked out, and knocked unconscious, and teleported away, the betrayer went with him, Tarron then charged at the dark captains.
"Tarron, we cannot take them at this time, we are not strong enough." Festand said, stopping Tarron, but before he could say anything, the captains teleported away, as did the wraiths, it was at this point Amara shifted back into the material plane, or at least that Tarron noticed she did.
Amara would let out a small growl, turning towards Tarron as her eyes narrowed on him. "Where did he go?!" She spat.
"He didn't go anywhere by choice; the betrayer captured him after they failed to capture you. He was planning to kill him and capture you from the sounds of things." Tarron explained, the dragon that was once Alayna Crashed nearby knocking down a few trees, Greggory and Morvin rushed to her aid.
Amara moved to here her father once was, attempting to trace where the betrayer took her father, by finding where his teleportation took them to. She found that the betrayer likely took Zathor to the southern ashlands
The girl gave a small breath, closing her eyes, as she tried to calm her rage, yet it persisted. "He took him to the southern ashlands."
"He won't be there for long." Festand said, "The betrayer likely has larger plans afoot."
"Then we're going before he puts them in motion." Tarron said.
"What about Etras?" Belette asked.
"The plans are a bust." Greggory sighed, walking out of the forest with Alayna's unconscious form, her left hand wrapped in Gauze, Morvin Beside him. Amara gave a small sigh, finally the anger seemed to wash over her, leaving her in despair, she moved southwards and the plane shifted.
"Goddess or not, she is still a child, she will not survive in the ashlands." Festand said.
"Then we best help." Morvin said. Belette agreed and was Obviously disappointed.
"Alayna and… will head home." Greggory sighed
"What the hell are you talking about?" Alayna asked, "regaining consciousness, "I heard the conversation, I'm going."
"Alayna, you just turned into a dragon." greggory said, Putting her down.
"Great," She said, giving a long exile, "That's the last thing I needed to know, but I don't care, it's wrong to let her go alone."
"Very well." Greggory said.
"Our Course is set, let's go." Festand said
"Alright," Tarron said, "Let's go"