Mad Times Call For...?

Months had passed as they traveled through the lands on various orders. Many "heroes" were defeated by the team as each member had grown in skill. 

All but one member that is. Martia was frustrated that she had grown so much, and still nothing had happened to her. Was it possible that she would be a marine? That was laughable since they had not seen a large amount of water in ages. 

Camp was made for the night, and everyone headed to their tent. As Skittles flopped down on his bed, his bondmate gave him a pleading look. "What is it Martia?"

*I want to be great, Skittles.* She seemed to borderline tears.

"You are great."

*I want to be great like all those people in the story books! I want to be something people can look up to! Skittles...* She whimpered.

"You'll grow up soon enough."

*I want to grow up NOW! I want to help you--*

"Any day now, Martia you'll be able to. Now, I'm going to cut this conversation short. I need my rest, and so do you, pretty girl." With that Skittles turned his back to his bondmate and fell asleep.

Martia sighed. He had a right to be tired, but he did not have the right to shut her out. Nothing could be done about that now, so she slithered up to her bondmate and carefully curled around him. As long as she was around he would be safe.

***

"Curious." Sprite said as she flipped through  a stack of paper. They were various adoption forms she had collected over the years. Many of the agencies had gone out of business or had a steep decline in quality dragons. She came to the form Alice had given to her and hesitated.

Darkelf dragons were large, not as large as some, but still rather large. They came in several odd variations and mutations. It puzzled her why she had never looked up the dragons before now.

She flipped open Skittles' cell and called the number at the bottom of the application.

"Hello?" Said the voice on the other end.

 "Hello! My name is Sprite and I'm interested in adopting a Darkelf Dragon."

"Hello Sprite! I'm Desiree and I'm afraid to say that there isn't an official clutch up for adoption."

"Oh..."

"Don't worry yet! We do have dragons in the sanctuary that were abandoned. Are you still interested in adopting?"

Sprite held back an excited squeal. "Yes, even more so now."

"Good. Good. Would you like a list of dragons or would you like to come down and meet them face to face?"

"Um... A list would be nice, but I don't see how you can send me one. I'm on the move and I have no real address."

It was obvious that the woman on the other end was holding back a chuckle. "Just hold on one moment please."

Before Sprite knew it something fluttered into her lap. 

"Did you get your parchment?"

"Yes... thank you!" 

"Just call me back or put the application in the envelope that came with the list when and if you're ready to adopt."

 "All right then. Thank you so very much, and Good-bye."

"Thank you for taking the time to call. Good-bye and I hope to speak with you again."

Sprite flipped the cover of the cell back on. After setting it down she examined the adoption list. By each name was a small picture or description of the dragon. That is... all but one.

"Tsukeru?" Sprite asked herself as she flopped backwards. "Curious."

***

"SKITTLES!" Sprite was shaking her companion near senseless and still he was not waking up.

"URGH! What?!" He nearly smacked Sprite in the face when he came to. Why on earth was the woman shaking him so?

"Martia's missing!"

Oh. That would be a good reason to wake him up.

"She couldn't have gotten too far! She doesn't have legs for heaven sakes," Skittles sat up and eyed Sprite. She was wearing her pajamas. "Sprite, what time is it?"

"Almost noon."

That was not good at all. He was just about ready to jump into full clothing when there was a thought in the back of his mind.

*Whoooo!*

'Martia?' He thought.

*Yes?* Her voice sounded more mature and grown up then it had before.

'Where in the blitzes are you?'

She giggled. *I'll be with you sooner then you can say "magic!"*

That would have worried Skittles if he had had time to worry. In a burst of sudden wind a flurry or red came into the tent nearly knocking the weak structure down. Neither Sprite nor Skittles were ready for what happened next.

*Hey guys.* A red shrape was sitting in the center of the tent floor. It would have been a great cause of celebration, if Skittles had not been so shocked over what was on his bondmates skin.

"Tattoos?"

*Yes! Aren't they so pretty?" Martia cackled. On her left check was a blue moon with a star, on her right check was an orange rayed, and her top set of wings were laced with cracking styled tattoos as well as fire balls.

Wait? She had two sets of wings?

She giggled as Skittles gazed at her in amazement. *Yes, I have to sets of wings! One set is smaller so I have more stability while flying. At least that's what I've gathered.*

"You're just..." Skittles could not come up with words to describe what he was feeling.

Sprite did her best to fill in the blank. "Stunning!"

*Thank you!* Martia bowed. *You know this means I can fight with you!*

They both nodded.

*And you know I'm ready to kick some wannabe hero backside!*

Sprite edged away slightly at the new enthusiasm.

Where was the voice of reason when you needed it most? Oh, yes. He was out having lunch with his little angecur girlfriend. Skittles grumbled. It was almost noon now, and they would not be able to travel very far by night fall. Well, at least Fulmen and he would not be able to travel very far. They could just tell the girls to go on ahead and they would camp out and meet them the next day. Or they could just stay an extra and leave early the next morning.

Wait, what was tonight? It was something important, or so the voice in the back of Skittles head said so.

"I think we should stay here for now. We can't go very far today. I think we have the right to veg out."

*Oh come on!*

Skittles signed. "Maybe you and the other girls and go flying."

Martia gave in to her bondmate. She knew something was bothering him, so she would not press the issue any further. *Well, even if they don't care to join me I'm off--and I'd like to say those are some very revealing pajama's Sprite.* The dragon chuckled as it slithered out of the tent.

Sprite blushed, "Since we have no crisis I'm off to get dressed." As quickly as possible Sprite skittered out of the tent leaving Skittles all alone.

"I guess this would be a good time to get fully dressed."

***

Life would be so much simpler if people did not waste their lives by fighting Skittles. No one could defeat him, and very few people came close. That is why it did not make sense to him when a small group attacked his camp near sunset.

The girls had yet to return and Fulmen was nowhere to be seen. That left Skittles with a slight disadvantage, since there was more than one, but he had handled things like this before.

So what was that nagging feeling in the back of his head as be began to battle?

CLANG!

"You vile monster! Taste the steel of my--"

"Can it!" Our villain yelled as he cut the young man's throat. "If you wouldn't ramble you would probably get more accomplished."

The attack continued until the sun was finally hidden below the endless horizon. All but two of the strongest attackers had fallen. Now Skittles had his job cut out for him.

*MUHAHAHA! You fools will pay for attacking my bondmate!* A red blur flew past the head of one attacker.

The woman spun on her heals trying to face this red thing, but unfortunately for her Martia would never give up!

The woman promptly fainted from the dizzying effect Martia had.

Skittles snickered. Now he did have a chance. He drew his sword and assumed a very simple stance. 

The man looked at him with great confidence. "I know how to defeat you." The man whispered.

That was a laugh. "Oh? Maybe you should do less talking and more fighting. Then you might stand a small chance." Skittles rushed forward so the man barely dodged the strike. So, why was he still smiling?

Before Skittles had time to react he felt a sharp pain in his side. That fraction of a moment gave his opponent an advantage. Once again Skittles felt shooting pain, but one was from a cut.

Normally this would not have bothered Skittles so much, but it felt like the wound was on fire. In fact it seemed to be burning a hole through his arm. Which was very bad, because that meant he was dealing with a Werewolf hunter.

Oh, AND he was going to transform.

Just great. Greeeaaat.

The hunter noticed that his victim was clutching his shoulder tightly. He snickered, "What's wrong puppy dog? You don't like silver?"

Skittles growled. Cocky little man.

He continued, "I wish this wasn't so easy. You seemed to have fun with my de--companions, and I thought you'd save a bit of your strength for me, but oh well." The man, who was nothing but a blur to Skittles, raised his weapon for the final blow.

"You use your comrades as decoys? How sad." Skittles twitched as he did his best to hold back his transformation. "You're just someone to be laughed at."

*He's right!* Martia exclaimed from behind the hunter. 

"Who... said that?"

*Turn around moron.*

The hunter did what he was told, and he blinked in utter confusion. "A snake with wings?"

Martia hissed. *I am a DRAGON! And for that stupid remark I will bite all your fingers off!*

"Riiiight."

*Skittles! What the heck is wrong with you? Why aren't you beating this man to a bloody pulp? I mean you should have had him down faster then I can say "move over!" but you're--*

"I really hate to interrupt you, Martia, but I'm trying NOT to transform so I DON'T rip off this man's head." Skittles had now begun to hug his sides as they felt like they were going to split open any second.

*But... I thought you were only part werewolf.*

"I am. but--"

"Who, in heaven's name, are you talking to wolf?" The hunter eyed his pray as if it had gone mad.

"Argh." Was the only thing the werewolf could say before tilting forward to land on his stomach. That pain had only gotten worse in the few minutes of conversation he had had. This was by far the WORST part of getting to live again. Thank to dear old En'dai the transformations would not stop until he finished his job.

The hunter cursed and finally decided to make the deadly blow.

Fortunately for Skittles he was bonded to a very talented red Bishel dragon who was skilled at making people sorry. Sorry for lifting a weapon against anyone she cared for. 

She bit down on the man's ankle and watched the blade fall to the ground in a clatter. He cursed. He sputtered. He kicked. He screamed. Still Martia held on with all of her might as she watched Skittles transform from the corner of her eye.

It was and awful site, and a worse experience. The pain was  indescribable for Skittles.

And the pain would be indescribable for the poor werewolf hunter who was just about to be mauled.

*Maybe tonight wouldn't be a waste.* Martia thought as she flew a safe distance away.

***

"You really did a number on him." Sprite whistled.

Skittles huffed. He could not really talk when he was like this.

*What do we do with them? They DID cause a heck of a lot of trouble.*

Taeda poked one with the tip of her tail. "Icky! We need to get rid of the dead bodies!"

"Or," Fulmen said in a clam voice, "We can just pack up and leave."

*With Skittles like that?*

Sprite agreed with Martia and so did Skittles himself.

"So what do you suggest we do?" Fulmen said as he headed towards the tent.

*Dig a hole for each of the living ones and bury them up to the neck so they can still breath?*

"How about," Sprite paused as she inspected the hunter. "We put him and his lady friend in a tent together with wine bottles around them."

*That's kind of strange. Why  would you want to do something like that?*

"Skittles will explain it to you when he can." She winked at her werewolf companion.

How did he get stuck with this sick... strange woman?

"But first let's all have a bit of tea!"

Why did he even bother to wonder?

Skittles sighed and padded off to his tent. He was going to sleep good tonight even after a cup of coffee or two.