Sileya blinked at the audacious girl standing before her. Interesting…she uses coins as weapons. They hadn’t been extremely effective in the least bit, but that could also have been the girl, she’d said her name was Shrapnel, merely trying to size up what she was dealing with in Sileya. Either way, the Elf decided she wouldn’t pass further judgment for fear of underestimating her opponent and paying for it later.

Now, as for the other…

The warrior-summoner’s striking emerald eyes trailed over to the newest addition, another young girl. But this one had a feeling of power radiating from her. Sileya ran her eyes appraisingly over Summer, halting her probing gaze on the creature wrapped guardedly around her chest. A dragon… Or at least, it has the shape inherent to one. She met the small, metallic dragon’s eyes and nearly caught herself widening her own eyes in surprise. The hot pink irises of the dragon exactly matched those of its companion.

They have a connection, the wise, calming voice of Areina assessed. Were they drawn here by the power cascading in waves down this sacred hill?

It must be so. Power is attracted to power. The presence of Slezyn slid almost seductively against her conscious, as if reminding Sileya of the power he himself possessed.

It matters not. All that matters is what waits inside the temple’s inner sanctum. That is your primary goal, Small One. Anything else is secondary. Lithiuan, as always, managed to bring Sileya’s focus back to the germane matter at hand. This ground is sacred to and full of potential for dragons. Use it to your advantage.

Nodding to herself, Sileya bought time to strategize by inquiring information of the intriguing dragon-bonded girl. “Might I inquire as to the name of your companion, Summer?” She said this with a small, disarming smile. After all, it was not her wish to make an enemy of this girl.

Only if you tell her your name first.

Sileya could not disguise the surprise in her countenance this time, for the little dragon had spoken directly into her mind just as the Ancient Dragons always did. She thought she could detect a hint of a growl from Pyria at the intrusion. Her mind was considered near-hallowed territory to be reserved for the Dragons only.

Sileya chuckled audibly. “Of course, little one. My name is Sileya.”

Little?! I am most certainly not little!

The Elf imagined Pyria rolling her great eyes. Obviously, we have an over-confident child on our hands who needs to be taught some manners.

Oh, hush, Pyria, Sileya replied, careful to keep the conversation between her and the Fire Dragon private. I don’t plan on having to resort to summoning unless the situation becomes dire. Besides, I think I’m rather fond of the little guy. She finished with a tiny smile in the metallic dragon’s direction, which of course, he had nothing to base off of, since he’d heard no word of the exchange.

What? he asked. What are you smiling at?

“You,” Sileya answered with a playful grin. “I’ve told you my name. Now, didn’t you promise to tell me yours?”

“His name is Metanth.” Summer offered the information rather than Metanth himself, and this seemed to irritate the small dragon just a bit. His friend merely grinned at him. “Oh, come on. What’s the big deal about her knowing your name?”

Sileya chuckled softly, but ceased paying attention to their conversation. Her eyes began to wander across the hilltop, seeking anything she could use to her advantage should combat become necessary. Oh, surely it was inevitable, but there was no guarantee the situation would become dire. Her gaze settled on a nearby statue of a majestic dragon, poised in mid-flight and obviously in the middle of releasing whatever its particular breath-weapon happened to be. Running her eyes over the marble statue, taking a moment to admire the superb craftsmanship, Sileya wondered just what sort of dragon it would be were it flesh and blood rather than cold, lifeless stone.

Why don’t you find out, Small One? Lithiuan suggested gently.

Sileya raised an eyebrow. What are you implying?

That is no ordinary stone statue. Reach out and feel, Sileya. There is a spark that resides within.

Sure enough, when the Ancient Dragon’s Favored probed the dragon with her empowered conscious, she could faintly sense the pulsating traces of a spirit.

Awaken it, Small One. I imagine it will appreciate the gesture. Sileya could sense the knowing smile of Lithiuan’s spirit.

Weaving together an equally-balanced combination of Light and Shadow, Sileya settled her inconspicuous net of elemental power around the statue, securely wrapping it in energy to call awake that near-dormant spirit inside. With a deafening roar, the stone suddenly burst apart, as though it were only a shell meant to contain the real dragon within.

It was absolutely beautiful in form, slender, yet sleekly muscled. Deep violet scales covered the majority of its body, with the exception of the dark green, deadly-looking spines running the length of its back and its pure black claws. It turned its triangular head upon Sileya to fix piercing black eyes upon her before bending down, almost as if it were genuflecting toward her in gratitude. Sileya smiled and reached out a hand to affectionately stroke the side of its head, feeling the perfect smoothness of its scales beneath her palm.

“Yes, my friend. You’re free now.”

She did not request or try to enlist the liberated dragon’s help. That would have been a fatal mistake. Instead, she allowed the dragon to make its own decision concerning what to do with its newly-acquired freedom. As if it could sense her need, the dragon blinked knowingly and beat its great leathery wings to attain a few feet in height as it hovered over the ground. Turning its attention upon the other two sentient beings present on the hilltop, it opened its awesome jaws and spewed forth its signature breath-weapon—steaming, black acid.

__________________
Lovely sig and avy by insaney. <3

[Character List][Poetry Thread]