Dragons Wyld

A/N: Warnings for this chapter: contains mention of canabalism.

Screaming assaulted my ears as we stepped from the floo. Brian had his hand to his forehead and was grimacing and muttering a chant to stop the pain.

I quickly looked around and letting go of Helena walked purposely forward. A weather-beaten man got in my way. “Where do you think you‘re going

Bella?” His accent was Italian and his manor was gruff and demanding.

“I‘m Niki Colte, Empathic Translator, IMCCA, and a dragon out there needs my help. He’s in a great deal of distress. I’m sorry Master Del Marr, but

our  interview will have to wait.” I said and stepped passed him.

“Now wait a minute there Bella, you don‘t know what you‘re getting yourself into. We‘re having an incident is all. My men can handle it, come back

here!” Demanded the Dragon Master.

Glancing over my shoulder I  said, “With all do respect Master Del Marr, they‘ll end up tranking him, let me talk to him and find out what’s….” I

stopped and swayed on my feet, this dragon in such great distress had just sensed me and was begging for help.

“WISE ONE! HELP ME! MY MATE! MY HATCHLING! THEY HAVE THEM! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE HELP ME!” The plea tore through my skull, setting every defensive

spell I had to ready and giving me a powerful headache.

Behind me Brian had gone to his knees, holding his head and groaning. I put aside my own pain and reached blindly for him. A calloused hand took mine

and guided it to his head. A breath of a prayer and the instant I touched him he stopped groaning and was able to move once more.

“I am needed. Excuse me.” I said releasing Brian and heading for the door at a run. My hands swept down my body as I did so. My formal gown, shoes and

robe were replaced with jack boots, thick dark leathers and a waist length black jacket. My hair swept itself into a knot at the base of my skull and

fingerless leather gloves appeared on my hands.

I ran through the door of the building and the full force of a Romanian winter hit me head on. Calling to reserves deep within I raised my body

temperature enough to not freeze in the sudden change and bolted  down three steps to the hard packed ground. I heard feet running behind me and

Master Del Marr’s voice telling Helena to “Get back through the floo and send help. I have to go make sure this damn fool woman doesn’t go and get

herself killed on her first bloody day! Move woman!”

“Calm Great One, I will help, but you must be calm, You’ll hurt those around you. Neither of us want that.” I projected as I ran, I knew the instant

he felt me because the roaring I’d been running towards stopped abruptly.

“Good, I‘m almost there, we can talk in just a moment.” I projected again.

Rounding a small hill, I nearly ran head long into a knot of men clustered around a huge Fu Dragon’s feet.

“WA… AUROR! Make a whole!” I bellowed as I ran. Three of the men moved aside as I barreled through.

Reaching the edge of the knot, I thrust my palms downward towards the earth and a gust of wind propelled me into the air to hover at the dragons eye

level.

A chorus of “Bloody hell woman!”, “Oh Merlin she‘s gonna get eaten!” and “Good Merlin woman, get down!” were shouted at me as I began speaking to the

dragon.

“Friend, please, tell me what happened. Where are your mate and hatchling? Who took them?” I asked.

“Skulls. Skulls took them!” These words were accompanied by such graphic images that I swayed in mid air and couldn’t process them all at once.  I

sifted through and focused on the most important ones. I needed to know what they looked like, how they were dressed and most importantly, what

adornments their skin bore.

Gathering this information I nodded and asked.  “Did a handler come with you?”

The dragon nodded and pointed one clawed finger towards a man laying prone on the ground about fifty feet from the knot of yelling men.

“And were there any other dragons attacked at your reserve?”

The dragon shook his head and mournfully began to keen.

I reached forward and laid my hand on the side of his head. “I will find them friend, you have my Oath of it.”

Landing I hurried to the downed handler. “Have Healers been sent for?” I asked the nearest man.

“Yes. Forgive please, my English she is bad.” The man replied in a thick German accent.

I nodded and replied in German. “You understand English though?” He nodded. Turning my head to look up at the dragon, I continued back in English.

“What is his name friend? And does he speak English?”

“His name is Xing Lo.” Charlie answered as he joined the small group of me clustered around the still prone figure.

I nodded, touched my fingers to my throat once more and began speaking. “Trainer Xing, can you hear me?”

“Skulls, must warn Masters. Skulls in the Reserve.” Trainer Xing muttered as he struggled to full consciousness.

I pulled off my glove as my left hand rose, the glyph tattooed on it glowed silver in the weak early morning sunlight.  “You know my Glyph Trainer?” I

asked.

He nodded and with a boost from Charlie on his other side, rose.  He bowed low as soon as his feet were solidly planted on the ground. “I am humbled

Warden. It is an honor in my country to be addressed  by one so revered. I am not worthy to speak to you, please forgive me. “

I smiled and nodded. “You are forgiven Master Trainer, though no forgiveness is necessary. Can you tell me what happened? ”

“Of course Warden. You will seek and stop the Skulls?” He asked as he straightened.

“I will yes.” I replied.

He nodded and began. “Three hours ago, a war party of eight Skulls entered our territory.”

I held up a hand to stop him. “Are the other dragons and young safe?”

He shook his head and looked away from me. “They are not. I could not get them out. Only Saatchi and I were able to escape.”

I nodded. “One moment.” I turned to Charlie and the Dragon Master. “A rescue mission must be undertaken. This is IMCCA business now, I need

volunteers, as many as you can spare. If they have families anywhere near a Skull stronghold, they must be placed temporarily into protective

custody.” I turned specifically to Charlie. “How many of your Order are here?”

“Four including myself.” he answered without hesitation.

I nodded, “Good, I‘m going to need them all.”

“Now wait just a minute here.” The Dragon Master spoke up.

“I‘m sorry Dragon Master, but in this instance, I‘m in charge. I‘m the only law enforcement official in the delegation, even Ministers have to defer

to me on this one.  I need as many of your people as you can spare. I will speak to the dragons before we leave, they won‘t be any trouble for the

handlers left behind.” Turning slightly so my body blocked the majority of the wind I continued. “Excuse me for a moment, I have some calls to make.”

An alarm went off as I prepared for my first sending. The slim black steel cube in my hand glowed as I made the correspondence connections and Warden

Dispatch responded.

“Priority Sending, Colte 25389. A possible Skull related incident has occurred at the Shang Chi Reserve in China. Request immediate correspondence

connection with Lead Warden Bristo.”

“Correspondence established, go ahead Warden.” Replied a female voice.

“Warden, Skulls have been sighted at Shang Chi. I‘m taking members of the Order here and going to investigate. Their families need temporary

protection and I need someone from the Squad to come over.”

“Understood, stand by.” Lead Warden Bristo said. There was a pause of a few seconds then he continued. “E T A two minutes, has a gate been

established? ”

“It will be. One moment.” I replied and looking up searched out Master Del Marr.

“You have Elves here right?” I asked.

“House Elves, yes.”

“Good, I need the assistance of two, now.”

“Val, Jess, come here.” Master Del Marr said snapping his fingers.

Two pops heralded the arrival of two of the smallest Elves I had ever seen.

“You calls Sir?” One of the Elves asked.

“The new Empathic Translator needs you for something, you will help her however you can.”

One of the Elves turned to me, “Greetings Wise One, how may we be of service?”

“Thank you for your assistance. Please know that I ask only because I cannot do this  myself. I need a Gate held open from America. Can you, or both

of you do that for me? It wont‘ be for long, perhaps a minute. “

“Of course Wise One. We can and will. Where?”

“Here.” I said pointing to the ground. “Please let me know when you are ready.”

Both Elves nodded and stepping away from each other held their hands out left palms facing the ground. Their right hands reached to just barely touch

each other.

“We are ready.” They said together as the air between their hands distorted.

“The Gate is ready.” I said into the correspondence link.

“Understood, coming through. Correspondence End.” Lead Warden Bristo replied.

The portal shimmered as a lean, bald man stepped through, turning immediately to me his deep voice rumbled from within his chest, “You may leave at

your earliest convenience Warden, I will see to things here. Everyone with families are being notified and will be in safe houses within moments.”

Nodding I turned to Charlie. “Is everyone here?”

Glancing around quickly, Charlie nodded.

Brian came running up with three men in Aurors robes hurrying behind him. “We will accompany you as well Warden.” He stated.

“Sister, I must go with you, I don’t Hear or See as you do, but I can help. My magic is strong and my faith stronger.”

I nodded, “I welcome the help ,Brother.”

“Aurors welcome and thank you for coming so quickly.” Turning to include the entire group, I asked, “Have you all been to the Reserve before?”

Nods greeted my question. “Good, ” I nodded in return and then continued, “And have any of you fought Skulls before?”

Everyone shook their heads.

Frowning, I spoke, “Their magic is your standard Unforgivables, but they use hand weapons fashioned of tools – saw blades and axes mostly. They also

have been known to file their teeth and bite, and they are known Cannibals.” I looked at each in turn. “With that information, does anyone wish to

stay behind?”

No one moved, this surprised me since even seasoned Wardens gave it a second thought before going against Skulls.  Nodding, I smiled “Good, now, I

will need to Side-Along with someone as I’ve never been there.”

Charlie stepped forward. “I’ll take you Warden.”

Nodding and smiling I said, “Thank you Charlie, I just need to do one thing first.”

Closing my eyes I focused on the emotions swirling around me. Fear, confusion, loss. I sent reassurance, calm and peace in waves out to all and softly

spoke. “Ease now, Great Ones, all will be well and all is safe here.”

Opening my eyes and stepping towards Charlie, my head turned and I spoke to Master Del Mar, “You won’t have any trouble with the Dragons now.”

Master Del Mar nodded and made a shooing gesture with both hands. “Thank you, now, go, go!”

Charlie wrapped one muscular arm around me and with a “pop” we were gone.

A/N: Please review. Thank you for reading.