The griffon swooped low, and Daron grabbed her waist with a muffled curse when Nesha dropped to the ground. Sian swung a leg over the saddle quickly, and slid down, hitting the ground hard. She danced on the spot as pain shot through her feet.
'Ow! Ow, ow!'
'Please.'
Sian froze. There it was again.
'Did you hear that?'
Daron and Nesha gaped at her with twin expressions of surprise.
'No?' Daron ventured.
Feeling exasperated, she clarified.
'A voice, like Nesha's, in my mind. It's been asking for help. You didn't hear it?'
They looked concerned now and stared at each other for a long moment. Nesha nodded, and Daron came to stand beside her.
'Can you tell the direction?'
Sian paused. The voice repeated its plea, and she nodded to him.
'This way.'
'Okay, lets go.' Daron grabbed her hand. 'Lead the way.'
As Sian dragged him off, Nesha set off in another direction, sniffing cautiously.
'Be careful, there's an odd scent.'
'Will do,' replied Daron.
The voice sobbed, words so heartbroken it nearly brought tears to Sian's eyes.
'Please, I've lost them all. Hello? Are you there?'
Tugging Daron's hand, Sian began to run toward it. She could sense whoever they were, they were close. A strange sensation began in her chest, a warm and safe feeling.
The two of them raced through a thicket of trees, pausing to climb over a fallen one and stopped when the trees cleared.
They stood at the beginning of a field full of high grasses. Beside her, Daron tensed as he spied something.
'Sian?'
The warning tone of his voice alarmed her. Feeling apprehensive, she looked up at him.
'Yeah?'
'Have you spoken back to it?'
Sian looked surprised, and Daron resisted the urge to comment.
'No, I haven't.'
Daron nodded to her. 'Give it a shot.'
She closed her eyes, and a frown flickered over her brow. Nothing happened at first. He stayed tense, watching the brown grasses before them. There was no sound, no bird or insect noises, and it only increased his apprehension. A gust of wind rustled the grass. Daron looked at Sian. She still had her eyes closed.
It moved so silently at first that he didn't notice it. The massive head that rose above the grass to peer at them was the same tan as the dried grass. It abruptly registered in his brain.
'Fuck me!' 'Nesha, it's a bloody stafandral dragon!'
Snatching Sian, he threw her over his shoulder and bolted for the trees.
'NOOO!' Sian pummeled Daron's back, trying to get him to stop, but he was so amped on adrenaline he didn't register it at all.
A snarl from above made Daron pause. Nesha dropped from the sky, landing in front of the dragon. The griffon was in full battle mode, mane standing stiff, hackles raised, and tail tense as he roared at the creature. The dragon, its attention now on Nesha, slowly stood. Sian's jaw dropped. It had to be three times the size of the griffon. Daron spun around and cursed at the sight while Sian stared at the woods in frustration.
'Let me down!'
She could sense the dragon's confusion and distress.
'Don't be ridiculous!'
Fine. Sian felt a hint of guilt when she flared her energy out knocking Daron flat, but she had asked.
'I'm coming, hold on.' Sian ran forward only to have Nesha spin around, shock in his feline eyes.
'Sian, what are you doing?'
She stopped and frowned at him. 'I can hear him like I hear you, Nesha. And you and Daron obviously can't. That must mean something, and he needs me.'
Nesha stared at her, his long tail lashing the air.
'Fine. We'll be right behind you if you need us. Next time don't use your gift on Daron. We can't help wanting to protect you, little one.'
The griffon leaned down to gently brush her head with his beak, then stepped aside, Daron joining him.
Now she felt guilty, and looked at Daron morosely.
'I'm sorry.'
His eyes looked hurt, but he shrugged.
'It's okay, Pix, just be careful.'
Sian nodded and turned to face the dragon.
Daron had never felt as useless as he did right then, watching her. She was so tiny and frail in comparison with that enormous beast. The dragon lowered its massive head, then sniffed her. Sian reached out to touch its muzzle.
'It's covered in scars,' Nesha observed.
'I noticed.'
The light tan scales glittered in the sun, revealing impressive looking gouges. The dragon didn't appear that old, not old enough to have that many scars. Most appeared to be from dragon claws, nothing else on the planet gave those distinctive marks.
'I think I can count four separate sets,' Nesha sounded