Heirot

Vlad clutched Tenele a bit tighter, frowning at Talon's instructions to run. He was far more powerful than the others; he didn't need their protection. His pride didn't want to accept that he was in a weakened state.

"She'll die Vlad! She hasn't got enough blood to watste on you being stupid and staying, now run!"

Surprisingly, at this turn of events, the willfulness faded from Vlad's eyes. The reality that using the amount of magic needed to destroy the dragon would set him back to the state Tenele had just risked her life to bring him from and render her sacrifice wasted finally overcame his pride, and was accompanied by a suddenly intense protectiveness.

"If you die, I'm not buying daisies!" he warned Talon - his charming way of saying to be careful. He turned with Tenele and sprinted toward the exit. Within moments his accelerated pace brought them safely outside the cave, where the horses were waiting. Vlad slowed to a walk, sweat sliding down his face and his breath heavy. Vlad's horse eyed him warily, but approached him with nervous steps, curious about the change in its rider's condition and the apparently wounded girl he was holding. Vlad looked down at Tenele and gave her arm a squeeze to see if she was still conscious.

Talon rammed the rocks above his head harder. The dragon growing closer and closer. Finally, Talon rammed his sword hard enough that it wedged inside a crack and became stuck.

Talon cursed ungentleman like and pulled on his sword. It would definitly need sharpening, but right now that didn't matter. He pulled harder, and just as the dragon huffed and blew the fire from its mouth he pulled his sword free. Rocks fell from the top, falling constantly.

Talon stumbled back as the cave grew darker, the fire blocked by the new wall Talon had made. He breathed... releif more than anything else.

* * *

Tenele's weary eyes blinked several times and her head turned forward to look up at Vlad. She was paler than usual, now that they were out in the light of the moon it could be seen clearly. Her usually slightly tanned skin was white almost, and her lips were the same color.

"I think... I faded off," she told him tiredly. "We're outside? Is... everyone okay?" The gentle breeze ruffled her loosened blouse and her silver hair, brushing over her cheek. She shivered, though the air was warm, the lick of warm blood made her cold.

"They're cominig," Vlad said, looking back at the mouth of the cave as a muffled rumbling sound emerged from within. It sounded like a rockslide, and probably was. Hopefully the rocks had landed on the right party.

"I suspect we'll want to be leaving soon," he smirked. A few rocks wouldn't kill the dragon, and there were plenty of ways outside the cave. He walked to his horse, which actually let him approach, and lifted Tenele up onto its back, resting her forward along the velvety neck while he mounted behind her. He put his arms securely around her waist and stomach and let her lean back into him, waiting for the others to emerge.

OOC: trying to wait for Yila...

Kaze tried to swallow what she was just told. How many times has she almost died? She was really slipping up now. Before she had been so carefull and now...

She got up from Kami and thanked Yila. "I owe you my life. I will try and repay my debt to you by getting us out of here.

"Kaze.." Kami tried to reason with her that he didn't want her hurt again, but Kaze stopped him as he got to his feet.

"Help Yila.." She said with a small smile. She gathered her staff and lite up their tunnel again with magic fire while Kami helped Yila to her feet.

Tenele leaned back against Vlad, her head resting against his shoulder, her head turned to the side, angled down.

"I want a bed," she mumbled, blinking slowly. "And a pillow... and a blanket..."

She sighed, her hands resting on the horn of the saddle lightly.

* * *

Talon ran through the tunnel, moving down the larger tunnel now. Nickole was invisible. He didn't know if she was with him or not...

"Kaze! Kami! Ylia!" he yelled. "We need to get the hell out of here!!"

He hoped someone would answer, that way he could go to them...

"Soon, princess," Vlad teased quietly. He looked down at his stirrup as something touched his foot. The horse, gaining confidence, turned its neck to look at them, and lipped the toe of Vlad's boot curiously. Vlad grinned, and the animal stared in dismayed bafflement as its own tail floated up and its tip wagged to and fro in its face, without its permission. The horse nickered nervously and glanced up at Vlad, as always unsure what to make of its strange rider.

Vlad looked down at Tenele rested against him. Words were forming in his head, floating around indecisively as he knew he should say them, but couldn't. "Maiden girl," he said, looking away, "........that was a stupid risk you took," he said critically. His facial expression grew sour. That wasn't what he'd meant to say.

"Kaze! Kami! Ylia! We need to get the hell out of here!!" Talon's voice echoed down the tunnels and the small group became more alert.

OOC: Hope you don't mind if I drag Yila around... need to get out of here >_>

"Let's go." Kaze said sternly and lead the group out through the tunnels from where they had come. Kami jogged with Yila holding onto him behind Kaze. The light of the outside showed far at the end of their tunnel and Kaze estinguished her flame and ran faster.

SHe wanted out of there badly.

"Almost there!!" she yelled, her voice reverbarting off the walls.

Talon waited where he heard the voices coming from, waiting on them to emerge instead of going in, just encase that wasn't where the voice was coming from.

Tenele shifted and opened her eyes, she was almost a sleep until Vlad said something to her and his voice shook her to awareness. Well, as aware as she could get.

"Your welcome," she said smiling softly as her head tilted slightly to look up at him. She couldn't hold her head there very long and she had to lean her head over a little more and rest it there. "I couldn't let you die," she told him.

Her hand slipped down from the horn and found his. It was colder than hers, but she didn't notice, her body temerature was about his now. She couldn't squeeze his hand or anything, it just rested there.

"Besides, I have to pay you back for all those pranks..."

Vlad found himself grasping her hand securely. "It would be amusing to see you try," he said with a contemplateive smirk. "Thanks," he forced out, not sure anymore if he was thanking her for saving his life or for comprehending his poor apology.

Tenele felt the pressure of Vlad's hand and smiled weakly, her head falling to the side again, unable to hold it up. That was the first thanks she had ever heard uttered from Vlad's mouth.

"I'm glad you finally let me know you knew my name," she said slowly. "For a while there I was thinking you didn't know it..."

Kitanai nodded his head. "Of course, I was going to return to Ongoreth right after the battle anyway," he said. "However, perhaps you and your... bodyguard should return before me. It would not do for me to put you in danger Shinobu."

Kyosuke stood in silent agreement. He didn't want to put Shinobu in danger either. However, he felt it almost necessary to prove himself reliable to the Shogun and was tempted to volunteer to join him at the border. Of course, in doing that he would be abandoning his lord, so he refrained.

Shinobu looked at the Shogun for a moment, unsure on how to reply. Going back to Ongoreth? Yes, she did miss her home and well...

"If that is your wish, Kitanai-sama..." she said softly. Her eyes glanced towards Kyosuke, wondering if he would like to stay. Maybe if the Shogun got to know Kyosuke more he wouldn't want Shinobu to get rid of him.

"Allow me to leave Kyosuke with you," she said, turning towards Kyosuke. "He is a very good fighter, and would be needed in this fight. I would think that every fighter that is worth something would be needed for a fight with Shea's minions..."

Vlad smirked at Tenele's comment. "Crazy girl, I know everything," he teased in mock indignance. He rested his head inconspicuously forward into her hair, exhausted. "Sleep," he told her. "Your brother's slightly less stupid than he seems. They'll get here." Although in actuality, the vampire kept wondering if he should leave Tenele with the horses and go back into the cave.

Tenele blinked. "Sleep," she mused... Sleep was good... Sleep. Tenele didn't know if she wanted to or not. The truth was she had been fighting sleep for a while now and couldn't really fight it much longer. She finally gave into it and fell limp in Vlad's arms, her breathing even and gentle.

The small group finally broke out of the tunnel and cave and almost ran into Vlad and Tenele. Kaze practically collasped, breathing heavily with a cold sweat running down the back of her neck. Being in there... where she was almost killed... brought her too close to the reality of her mortality.

Kami panted and looked to Yila in his arms, he blushed softly and set her down easy on her feet. "Are, you alright?" he asked Yila, giving Kaze her much needed space.