-----Occasionally, Raven stops to check the tracks on the road and the determined excited look on the hunter's face reveals that those they track cannot be far away now. After another hour, another field of scrub plants lay before them. The trail begins to turn slightly to the southwest where it enters small-forested woods.
-----Suddenly Romney stops in their path, a shocked look pasted on his face as he stares skyward. "Hold!" he says, struggling to say the word with enough force for the adventurers to hear him without shouting.
-----As the horses stammer at their sudden halt, everyone tries to follow the guardsman's line of sight.
-----There, high among the gray clouds a dark form glides. Projected from the large long body two scaled veined wings grab at the air currents causing the thing to wheel slightly. Its long neck arches leading itself up into a turn. As its motion brings it around, the adventurers realize that the creature could be in a position to dive at the riders on the ground.
-----"Oh wow!" Sol exclaims as his jaw drops slightly as he briefly marvels at the sight above. Some form of common sense kicks in as he then shouts, "Everyone, make fer th' trees! I'm hoping it's not likely t'dive into th' wood." Whether people begin moving forward or not, Sol waves at them to do so.
-----Marlexana realizes the truth in Sol's words a second before Sarah does, and the young sorceresses' magical horse runs on its own free will towards the trees. Sarah grabs for her father's wand, glancing back nervously at the beast in the sky.
-----Garrison, seeing over a quarter mile's distance between the riders and the woods, quickly stops and leaps from his horse. Hefting his battleaxe in one hand, he slaps the rump of his horse with his other hand and yells driving the horse off.
-----"Save yourselves!" the woodsman yells indicating the futility of trying to outrun the descending monster. "Spread out and hide behind these bushes!" Garrison then takes cover behind a large hedge bush close to him.
-----From on high overhead, a loud furious roar is heard along with the sound of rushing air.
-----Raven looks up and growls, "Damn! Hope he's near sighted." Not trusting his riding skills, Raven leaps off his horse. Raven turns towards the rest of the group, "Try to stay together, let's not lose our heads."
-----Raven motions towards a dense part of the forest, "Over there everyone! Follow Garrison." Making sure everyone heard him, Raven grabs Rinda's hand and starts towards the tree line.
-----Sol also realizes the distance to the trees is a lot greater than he originally thought. With a quick tug of the reins, Sol wheels Thunder away from the others. A moment later Sol finds himself slowing the stallion to a walk and drawing his longsword from its scabbard.
-----Romney and Abram ride trying to catch up to Sarah. "MiLady!" Romney urgently calls, "We will not make the forest! Halt and let us hide you among the scrub!"
-----Bradley and Shema are already down among the vegetation with swords drawn. Shema's eyes are large and staring. Following her line of sight, Bradley sees Sol slowing down on Thunder. With a sense of dread, the young guard calls out, "By Joren, Master Sol, take cover!"
-----From their own spot, Rinda points out the Gorian warrior to Raven. Seeing Sol draw his Lathanian sword, her mouth falls open slack jawed. She means to say Raven's name and the dire situation that Sol could be in, but all she manages to say is "Raven . . ." as she grabs for her bow.
-----"NO, YOU FOOL!" shouts Garrison staring unbelievably at the mounted young warrior. The woodsman immediately leaps up and runs toward Sol's position skirting the low vegetation. As Garrison runs, he shouts to everyone, "If you have bows, fire as soon as the dragon closes!"
-----The descending dragon, for dragon it obviously is now, has closed enough to make out its appearance in frightening detail. The monster extends nearly thirty feet from its snout to its tail. Its scales, though small, appear glossy black. Its mouth opens exposing razor sharp teeth. Just above its horridly yellow colored eyes, two horns project seeming to point at its target. The huge wings stand poised menacingly straight out from its body, carrying the monster down on the air currents.
-----It stares with evil anticipation at the young warrior on the ground. It raises and flexes its front claws as its roar echoes across the field. As it closes, the monster appears not to be slowing its motion!
-----Sarah lets Romney and Abram protect her as they wish to, she looks back and sees Sol standing alone. "Sol!" She yells, trying to get his attention. She looks frantic with worry for the young warrior. "If you hurt him..." She mutters, almost daring the dragon to come down to fight. The young blonde sorceress grabs her father's wand. "Desta." She firmly intones, staring up at the dragon with hate.
-----Raven looks back and sees Sol standing there waiting for the dragon. Raven is dumb struck by the sight of the dragon racing towards them. Out of instinct a grim Raven readies his bow and gets ready to attack the black dragon.