The streets bustled with life, flowing and ebbing like the rush of a raging river. Buzzing voices filled the air, suffocating all sound into one, loud drum. Bodies pressed tight together in a fashion that would normally cause a great deal of annoyance. Yet on a day like today, everyone smiled. Everyone laughed, everyone danced and no one cared about the hardships of life. Today was the festival of spring, Da'rax's favourite celebration.

Polana clung tightly to Telif's arm, her heart fluttering like a trapped bird in her chest. This was her home town, or as close as she could get to a home town. The faces, smells and sights were all familiar. She knew she was safe, walking the streets with Telif and feeling Flux's comforting presence in her mind, but she couldn't supress that lingering sense of fear. Her father and mother were here, and they were two people she did not want to see.

Oh relax. Flux projected her sweet, strong voice into her rider's mind. Mentally, the black dragoness smiled. You came here to have fun. Don't let those stupid memories spoil it. What could he do to you anyway?

That's what I'm afraid of. Polana returned, her voice once again the silent whisper of a shy little girl. A warm hand closed over top of her own, startling her slightly. Polana looked up into the smiling eyes of Telif and part of her tension disappated. She returned the smile weakly.

You and Telif have fun. Forget about your father. Flux encouraged. Besides, I'd be very upset if I had to leave my conversation with Dien just to beat some sense into that jerk.

Polana laughed quietly, earning another winning smile from Telif. He too was a rider, and knew that she was speaking with her bond. Normally, he wouldn't be this quiet, nor this shy; but something about Polana tamed him. Though they were supposed to act like brother and sister (both were the adopted children of Mystic), their feelings for one another had grown stronger. Neither would admit to it though.

Polana pushed the clinging tendrils of fear from her mind and straightened her shoulders. She was a beautiful woman, standing 5'11" with a slim figure and shapely curves. Her skin had been darkened by the tropical sun and glowed with a tannish warmth. Dark, auburn-red hair glistened with caught fire, tumbling around her slender shoulders in silky waves. Deep, chocolatey brown eyes smiled with a warmth all their own, set in a slightly angular face. Her dress rippled in violet-black waves around her ankles, tight in the torso then flaring around her waist. This was her favourite dress, both because of the soft, liquid-like material and the midnight colours it showed. It was also one she had made long ago and continued repairing everytime it needed it. Mystic joked that one day, the whole thing would fall right off her. Yet with Polana's skills in sewing, that wasn't likely.

"There! Look, Telif!" Polana called excitedly, pointing towards a stand that displayed large, stuffed teddy bears and a shooting game. She was finally getting into the spirit of the festival.

Telif chuckled softly. "Are you sure that's what you want?" He looked down at her and a heart-felt silence passed between them. He was a handsome man; strong, tall, with brown hair and golden eyes. Telif blushed slightly and quickly tore his gaze away, striding purposefully towards the stand.

While Telif talked to the man and bought a round of darts for the game, Polana waited eagerly beside him. She had changed so much over the years, transforming from a shy, cowardly slave girl, into a strong-willed black rider. No one who saw her today would think she was the same girl.

"A teddy bear for the lady." The game man said in a crowing voice. He unhooked one of the fluffy, hand stitched bears from his rack and handed it over the counter to Polana. The rider beamed almost brighter then the sun, hugging the bear in one arm and Telif's arm in the other. Another awkward silence passed between them in which Polana wondered desperately if his noble deed deserved a kiss. Finally, her shyness won over and she merely blushed and looked away.

They began walking again and Polana wondered desperately if that had been the right choice. She liked Telif dearly, might even love him, but she didn't have the courage to say it. It didn't help that the only foe Telif couldn't face was a woman he loved. He was a complete fool around her most of the time. Around anyone else, he was a cool, sharp witted young man with the accuracy skills of an elf. This fact only proved that his feelings for her were different, and twisted her stomach into knots with the debate of what to do.

All negitive thought was banished from her mind as they continued through the displays of food, clothing and games. Polana laughed as Telif tried his first cup of ceriktis, or 'lemon spirits', a drink made only in Da'rax. Telif chuckled and chidded Polana as she failed horribly at another shooting game. The man behind the counter gave her a complimentary ring anyway. The metal was cheap and the stone, coloured glass. Polana slid it onto Telif's finger and both of them turned a bright crimson. Passing people noted silently to themselves that they looked just like young lovers, floating hearts and all.

As the day began to wane, the two riders continued to wander through the thinning crowd. Their minds and eyes grazed over the remaining wares, quickly growing thinner, yet neither noted the slow change from fine silks to mis-shapen, representations of items. They had entered the far side of town, where only the poor and non-skilled merchants sold their wares.

A hand suddenly grabbed Polana's arm, spinning her away from Telif and digging dirt covered nails deep into her soft skin. Polana flinched, giving into the biting pain as the hand drew her close to a foul smelling, robust body. Gritting her teeth, the black rider looked up at her attacker... and froze.

All life drained from her being and fear flooded her eyes. She no longer struggled to get away, nor moved when the man jerked her back further. The bearded, wrinkled man sneered down at her in disgust, then fixed a cold glare on Telif. The man... was her father.

"Let her go!" Telif shouted quickly, immediately on defense. He noted the swagger of the tall, dirt covered man and could even smell alcohol from his position. Polana's arm was clutched tightly in one meaty fist, but the thing holding her paralized was her own fear. The blue rider could only guess that this was her father, and guessed right.

Nox, the long forgotten yet still feared father figure, grunted a laugh at Telif then turned his muddy gaze on his daughter. A grin spread across his wide lips, sending a chill down the girl's spine. He seemed to study her more intently then a simple passing glace, taking in all that she was as a woman. "Thought you'd gotten away from me, ain't that right, Polana?" His voice brought a lump to her throat and made her nearly retch with the stench of his breath. He shook her arm violently, waving her around like a rag doll. "Your mother got away. Disappeared in the night. But you, now I've got you back."

"I said let her go!" Telif bellowed again. His hand itched to grasp his gun, but he didn't dare with Polana so close. "Even you can see that she's a dragon rider now!"

Nox sneered and looked sharply up at his daughter's protector. "What about it?" He laughed, a thunderous bellow that made Polana cringe even more. "She's my daughter. About damn time I claimed what's rightfully mine."

"You sold her." Telif hissed. He hated to remind the other rider of her life in slavery, but he needed the leverage. "She doesn't belong to you anymore. She belongs to the Warren. To herself!" He bellowed the last, daring a step forward. By now, they were drawing quite a crowd.

Nox laughed again, this time throwing his head back with the sound. "What do you want with this little wretch anyway?" He drew Polana forward and turned her to face Telif. The look in her brown eyes nearly broke his heart. "I'm doing you a favor." He sneered again, a wicked grin on his pale face.

"Let her go or I'll kill you, I swear." Telif was quickly losing his patience. He hadn't much to begin with and Polana's predicament was draining it that much faster. Suddenly, a bit of logic returned to his rage fogged mind. "I am a dragon rider. That means I have the right to protect any other rider I see in danger, with whatever means I deem necessary."

His small speech had the desired effect. Nox paled slightly, the mocking grin wiped from his face. Quickly, he replaced it with a snarl and literally flung Polana into Telif's arms. "She's worthless anyway." He chuckled at his own wit. "Probably can't even ride the beast!"

Telif felt Polana's hands clutch at his shirt. Felt her shiver in his arms from fear and press her head against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her protectively, brushing his cheek against her hair to reassure her of his presence. Then he looked up at Nox.

The sheer amount of hatred in his eyes was enough to chill blood. His golden eyes were narrow slits beneath lowered brows and over hanging locks. The shadows that played across his face and curved around his muscles made him seem bigger, angrier. He nodded sharply to the band circling Polana's left arm. "Do you know what that is?" His voice was a low, deadly hiss. "It means she's the rider of black Ripple in Time. Largest, strongest and only female of her colour. Do you know what those pins mean?" Again he motioned to the band, a jeering smirk creeping across his lips. "It means she is the third rider in the Lead Wing and an Advisor to the High Council! Her life is far more important then yours." He paused to laugh shortly. "You're no more then a distant memory to her. One she will forget with the pass of time."

"She's got no more strength in her then a fly." Nox returned with a sneer.

A distinctive bellow suddenly split the silent lull in the battle of words. Telif looked up and out of the village, a smirk on his lips. His gaze turned back to Nox with the dancing glimmer of mockery. "That was Flux. She wants to tear your head off." He said with all seriousness.

"I've heard enough of this!" Another voice, strong and athoritive, broke in before Nox could reply. He was too busy staring worriedly at the edge of town anyway. The lord of Da'rax suddenly broke from the crowd and strode forward purposefully. His gaze fell immediately upon Nox with a smouldering glare that stopped the man from so much as moving. "Nox, you have violated one of the most sacred laws in this town. No rider is to come to harm by willing means. The punishment is exile." At first, Nox was disbelieving. The lord's next words solidified his fate. "Should you happen to return, the punishment will be death."

"You- you can't do this to me." Nox's voice had changed from the mocking slur of a drunk man to a hoarse whisper of pleading. "You're joking, right?" He asked hopefully, fixing the lord with his most pathetic look. The smile that flitted across his face quickly faded. Desperately, Nox sought around for another escape route. "Polana!"

Polana flinched at the call of her name, but turned her face to see her father. Slowly, she loosened her grip on Telif and relaxed in the protective circle of his arms. Her gaze matched her fathers, uncertain for pleading.

"Daughter." Nox used the term of endearment with a false sweetness to his voice. He held out his hands to her, as if asked her to remove chains. "You know I was only trying to do what's best for you. It's- it's a dangerous world out there. Let me protect you."

"You wouldn't have protected me." Her voice was a soft whisper. Nox had to strain to hear it, yet the power it possessed was certain. She gently broke Telif's hold and stepped forward. Her fear still quivered in every nerve, urging her to return to Telif's warmth. But she had to do this herself. "You sold me." With each word, her voice grew stronger, clearer to the masses. "You gave me away for a bunch of coins. Just like you gave away all my siblings and probably my mother too." She paused, drawing in a shaky breath. She hoped only that her hesitation had been hidden from her father. "Mystic took me in, cleaned me up, raised me, even sent me off to bond. Now I'm a dragon rider, but you don't see that." She let the words sink in, watching his once superior gaze tremble with the certainty that he was doomed. "The day I became a dragon rider, I earned my own life. I belong to no one but myself now. And you, nor mother, nor anyone else can change that." She stopped just long enough to see her father crumple to his knees, then turned regally towards the lord of Da'rax. "You may now escort him to the edge of town. I'm done."

As Nox was dragged towards the entrance gates, a joyous cheer rang out among the crowd. People smiled and congratulated Polana, glad to see her good-for-nothing father finally out of their humble little town. Polana grinned, spinning around and into Telif's arms. They were both over joyed with the day's results and energized by Polana's speech. Polana leaned up at the same time that Telif leaned down. Their lips locked in a kiss.

For a moment, both riders were too stunned to speak. They simontaniously broke the kiss and stared gapingly into each other's eyes. Slowly, a smile worked its way onto Polana's face. She wrapped her arms more assuredly around Telif and saw her joy spread to his own dark eyes. The initial shock of their actions over with, Telif leaned down and pressed his lips passionately against Polana's.

Far in the distance and away from the noisy celebrations of the town, two dragons lay on the soft, lush grass, awaiting the return of their riders. The blue blinked in confused surprise at the emotions his bond was sending to him. A drunken chorus of good feelings that seemed ready to swamp his mind entirely. Beside him, the black dragoness chuckled and cast her companion a sly gaze.

"It seems our bonds have finally gotten over their shyness." She spoke in a low, purring tone that floated like silk in the air.

Still bewildered, the blue blinked twice more then fixed his wide gaze on the dragoness. "This doesn't... I mean when you're ready... I don't have to... Not that I don't want to..."

Flux laughed out loud, shaking her spiked and scaled head. "My dear Dien," She began in the same purring voice. Her gaze once again found his. "I would never force such a relationship upon you." She grinned draconically. "That's what flights are for."

If a dragon could blush, the proud and noble Kellarian would probably have turned crimson at that moment. Clearing his throat, Dien smiled weakly. "You're not... I mean not that I wouldn't try- I mean-!"

Again, Flux laughed. Her throat thrummed with the joyous noise, glittering onyx in the sunlight. "Calm down, Dien!" She smiled and glanced at him slyly out of the corner of her eye. "We'll see when the time comes. At the moment, just concentrate on being happy for Telif."

Dien nodded and couldn't help but chuckle himself. He was never this flustered, especially around females. "It's about time they got together anyway. They've been making googly eyes at each other for months."

Flux smiled and nodded sagely. Two small flits soon joined her in relaxing on the grass, both curling up in the shade of her forearms. The black dragoness gazed happily at the town where her rider was finding what it was like to truly be in love. "That is what love is like." The words had been inaudible to Dien, but even so, they made Flux smile secretively.

Read Flux's adult story.
(Though I don't suggest you do. There's a reason I'm re-writing these stories.)
Read Flux's hatching story.
Read Polana's Impression story.
Read Polana's Search story.
Read Polana's story.
Flux was impressed from: Sayney Dragon Adoption Agency
Dracan and Tolt are from: Talon Nest