Like most of the time it was a slightly chilly morning at Ixqal. The yawning of the lumberjacks could be heard in the distance. A number of vagabonds were already up and working. A traveller from one of the kingdoms came through to rest. For vagabond standards he was quite short. Trustful of the vagabonds now, this was his fifth trip to Ixqal in the past year. For the vagabonds he came on average every 7 moons. On his first trip he had been careful and distant due to the rumors that vagabonds were barbarian giants that would easily be ticked off and eat travellers. Yet the vagabond weren't like that and showed hospitality to any traders coming through as long as they didn't come with bad intent.

"I can give you some ale and some spices for some of your furs." The traveller said to a tall female vagabond trapper named Meris. Meris then replied: "Give me a keg of ale and a handful of the mixed spices and I will give you five bear furs." The traveller gladly accepted. "Do you have any news for your lands, traveller?" Meris asked. The traveller then answered: "Well the king made his intents to erect outposts and colonies in the outer regions of Erensea public. But I hope he does not since these parts are too dangerous for lands to expand. I have witness southern vagabonds silently take out a whole patrol with spears. Another patrol was overwhelmed by dragons." Meris nodded and said: "The dragons do not like invaders into their territory. For ages have we respected the boundries between the dragon realm and ours. My great great grandparents have done so too. But recently I have communicated with a dragon. He was very wise."

The traveller was shocked when he heard that she had communicated with a dragon. "I thought dragons only growl and roar. And you weren't afraid to be eaten?" "Dragons are intelligent creatures that can take human shape. They do not just eat anyone. I recommend you should make your way out to Xaqal before sundown. It is half a days march there. If it gets dark seek out the lumbermen. They can guarantee safety for you." Meris recommended. The traveller agreed, finished the trade and headed out towards the ruins of Xaqal.

Meris heard a howl of pain in the distance. An animal must have gotten into one of her traps. She headed out to see if it was something she needed the pelt and leather of. Into the forest, she noticed a wolf in the trap. It was the kind she actually needed: A large male wolf. The wolf growled at her while she got close. With its leg stuck, it only had limited movement which gave her the chance to tackle it and snap its neck without getting bitten. The wolves in this area were collossal compared to what normal kingdomers knew of. Meris dragged the wolf back to camp, decapitated the corpse and bagan her actual work.

Soron looked at his new blade, fresh of the forge. To a city smith, it would look like a tribal's blade, but to Soron, he thought it was a thing of beauty. The blade consisted of a wooden handle and guard wrapped in leather, and a wooden blade with a strip of sharpened iron acting as the actual cutting tool. Of course, when you don't have much iron or steel, it is the creative use of it that forms the beauty, not the symbols molded into it, or other city smiths' ways. Besides, it was better than Soron's training blade, if he should actually need to use it.

Next on the anvil was an ax from a woodsman staying at the camp not far from the ruins. He had dropped it quite some distance, where the head and handle smashed on a rock. Getting a new handle was like finding a stone in the ruins, but getting the head on right was the real task. Making a new head simply consisted of melting down the old one and forging the iron into a new ax head.

As Kaida finished picking some berries from a bush she had planted a while back while passing through, she glanced back at the vagabonds discussing politics and weaponry. Her jealousy got the best of her, as she went back to join in on the conversation. As she traded her berries and discussed the king's idiotic new plan, she glanced at the blacksmith, the center of the camp, and the sleeping area.

After finishing her boring discussion, Kaida wandered back to her miniature farm, refusing to call it a garden, and simultaneously gathered her food and wondered why she bothered talking to people when the news was always the same. It's because you want to be a part of that jumble, Kaida thought. She wandered back into camp, heading to where the baker stayed. She traded her berries and other foods quickly, and then headed to her little personal camp to read a book she had nabbed from a rich city dweller the last time she had gone to the city. She had already read the book five times, but enjoyed it all the same.

The sound of searing metal being engulfed in water and steam filled Ingus's ears as his goggles steamed harshly. Ingus was in his smithing area, which was one of two in the entire camp. He was working on a shovel for a client who often came in for replacement tools when his went bad. The man, Geoffery Riggins, owned a small farm, not more than five miles south of their camp. He had a few farm hands, but has lately been dealing with the vagabonds personally.

Ingus wiped the sweat from his brow, and lifted his goggles, to get a good look at the tool. It was sturdy, despite it being made out of cheap iron. The handle was made from a large branch that he had taken from one of the local trees, and was stripped and strengthened to allow for hard labor. It was a fine tool, and he hoped that his client would be satisfied. Most of the vagabonds in the encampment were rather talented, and often times had return customers. Which was good, considering return clientele were a big part of profiting from this lifestyle.

Ingus stepped out of the small, bricked building that held his makeshift smithing area, and returned to Geofferey, with a small bag of tools he had created. "Ah, just in time!" Geofferey spoke, as he stood from his horse-pulled wagon. "I need to be back at the farm by sundown, I am glad to see you have returned so quickly!"

"You're a good man, Riggins, so I wouldn't keep you waiting." Ingus handed Geofferey the bag of tools, and received his usual payment of raw materials, including some iron ore, leather for stripping and using to create more tools, and a small amount of other goods that Ingus could use to get ahold of more supplies.

"As are you, and your group, here. You are all good, which is saying something. There are many out there who would kill for a handful of gold or food. Just last week, I lost two good farmhands to a group of savages... be careful around here."

Ingus nodded, noting his words. Seemed the lands were getting more and more dangerous, these days, even more reason for him to learn to wield a spear. "I'll keep that in mind, thanks. Try to get back safe." Geofferey nodded, and returned to his wagon for departure. Turning to return to his blacksmith, the sound of a large creature crying out in pain echoed across the camp. Probably another of Meris's traps. Maybe he would pay her a visit later, make some trades for leather to tan, if possible. He needed to start honing his smithing to another level, and soon. The weapons that the group has had so far were... sub-par, at best. Ingus's spear was sturdy, but he wouldn't be slaying anything larger than a wolf or a man with it, making the mountainous paths too dangerous to cross, for now. It's melted stone tip was well enough made to deal some damage, but Ingus hoped to get ahold of some steel from a city-merchant, or even better, something lighter and more powerful like mythril. He knew it would be a long time, but he could hope.

Everyone was started to get settled into their work as usual. But the ground began to vibrate and rumble. It seemed almost like an earthquake. But then something blocked out the sun. The object that blocked the sun was a massive dragon overhead. It let out a roar as it passed but it seemed to show disinterest in the fortress. The dragon let out a second roar. While normal humans would think it was an aggressive tone, the vagabonds in fact heard: "Intruders! Human soldiers at the foothills!"

The lumberjacks were already making their way into the fortress fearing for their lives as they hadn't seen a dragon like this nor such a large dragon. "Were doomed!" One of the lumberjacks said. Meris then said: "He isn't after us. He is after invaders! It seems the traveller was right about his rulers plans. We must be alert." "If that is so. I will join you in defense. We have so much to that the vagabonds for trading with us and allowing us to stay for all these moons." One lumberjack said.

"Hey guys. Let us climb the tower and see what this dragon is worried about." Meris said to the other vagabonds and made her way to ascend the tall fortress main tower.

"Did you even have a chance to cool?" Soron asked himself as he picked up his sword. In his left hand, a small candle flame appeared in his palm. Soron was not sure how he would do against an invading force, but this was not going to stop him from defending his forge and his home. He stood ready by the one spot in his forge that you couldn't see him in the forge, while he could still see the small path by it. He hoped that he wouldn't have to jump out of his position, but he was more than ready to.

Kaida heard the shouting from the main part of the camp, and jumped into position. She slowly crept out towards the intruders, grabbing her dagger, hoping that she wouldn't need it. Slowly, she crept by the forge, and darted in the trees, not bothering to check to see if anybody needed helped. She padded slowly through the forest, her feet barely making a sound. She watched everybody climbing and preparing to fight, and snuck through to watch the invaders. She had barely moved an inch before she was giving her attention to the girl climbing the main tower. She crept over towards there, and started asking about what was going on.

Up at the top of the tower the vagabonds got a good view of everything in the distance. Far away, there was a human army that just had started to come under siege of the dragons. The army used ballistas against the dragon. While might be effective against younger dragons, the scales of the old dragons were too tough for the ballistas. All of a sudden magic users were giving a smaller dragon a tough time. Once a smaller dragon fell, the massive dragon became more enraged. Incomprehensable for most humans, the vagabonds could hear from the dragon: "Damned humans! You shall feel my wrath!"

"The dragons are fighting an army in the distance. It seems a human king made the foolish decision to invade Erensea." Meris said to Kaida. "We must be careful that none of them end up over here. With our weapons we do not have such a high chance. We can only overpower attackers with our strength and experience in these wilds."

"Well sh- that's not good," Kaida said, catching herself halfway through the curse. Anything I can do to help? I know these woods pretty well, I might be able to send them in the wrong direction," Kaida replied to Meris, hoping that she could actually do something useful for once. All I do is harvest food, I could help. I think, Kaida thought, self-doubt creeping in. She didn't want anybody to die because of her, herself included.

Mentally shaking her head, dispelling her fears, Kaida told herself that she would do great. She knew these woods like the back of hand, and she could easily lead the king's army in the wrong direction just by snapping twigs and shouting gibberish. Her skills were more than mediocre, and, despite not having experience (or basic skills) with fighting, she could evade the idiotic soldiers. Probably.

"That may be a bit too dangerous. If you go out, be very cautious. There might be patrols wandering about." Meris said. She then made her way to climb back down. Getting down was easier than getting up. But as soon as she got down, a wounded lumberjack wandered into the fortress. "The soldiers... a patrol attacked us. Most of us got away unharmed but I was hit by an arrow." The lumberjack said. Not far behind was the patrol about to ambush the fortress. At the entrance something suddenly threw one of the soldiers. It was a man with dragonscales. This was their chance to support the unknown man and Meris threw a spear impaling a soldier.

Kaida nodded, knowing full well the risks of doing something like that. She ran off into the forest, weaving her way between trees and skipping over anything that could give her away. Her best chance was to lead them away from the camp and back towards their kingdom, which would require sneaking past an entire army without giving herself away. Well that's just dandy, Kaida thought to herself, Not only have to I have to avoid being shot by an arrow, but I now have to avoid an entire army. Regardless, she crept forward, only to hear strict orders being shouted at soldiers. Mentally cursing, she skirted out more, remaining hidden almost the entire time. When the talking had almost completely faded away, she breathed a sigh of relief, before taking a step and hearing a crunch, that ricocheted throughout the forest. The chatter ceased, and shouting began.

Kaida began to run, and, seeing arrows whiz by her head, started running in a jagged pattern. Realizing that she could possibly use this to her benefit, she started taking them in circles, confusing at least a few of the soldiers' sense of direction. She began to lead them back towards the kingdom they came from, before she heard an arrow come flying towards her. She turned, preparing to duck, and, after seeing the arrow two feet from her and only increasing speed, dropped to the ground, mostly avoiding the arrow.

She scrambled back up, her breathing now coming out in pants, and looked down at her shoulder, only to see blood gushing out of the wound at a steady rate. Now cursing out loud, she began to retrace her steps, trying to be quiet rather than fast at this point, attempting to get back to camp with the army still lost in the forest with their kingdom, and freedom, just out of sight. She was really panting now, and stumbling with every step. She wasn't going to make it back to camp. Instead, she found the tallest, thickest tree that she could and began to climb it, pain coursing through her with every movement. When she reached the first branch, she pulled herself up, barely hanging on. She laid back against the tree and began to examine herself. She had a lot of bruises, her head was bleeding and starting to form a bump, and her arm had a long scar that she must've gotten after the arrow.

Gasping with pain, Kaida let herself drift to sleep, hoping that she wouldn't be found by the army and that Meris would realize that she was missing once the battle was over.

More soldiers were coming but the scaled humanoid fought well even though his identity wasn't known to the vagabonds. After the last soldier was killed, the beastman approached the group. "Good day. I am Sarlone, captain of the fifth guard of the dragons. I have been sent to assist you and offer you to become allies as fellow Erenseans. As we have noticed that you still have primitive tools and no knowledge of mastercrafted weaponry, we have decided to aid you in achieving the knowledge if you are able to read the old Erensean script." The beastman said. Then Meris raised her hand: "My parents have taught me how to read and I think most here are able to read it as well as it is important to know the writings of our ancestors. But more importantly, we must seek out one of our kind as she had decided to lead the troops away from our position. Will you guide me?" The beastman nodded and they set off to find Kaida.

After a ten minute hike into the woods, Meris spotted an unconscious Kaida on a tree. They decided to take her back to camp as it was too dangerous to just leave her there and she was also injured. Once back at the camp, Meris laid her down on a fur rug and the other vagabonds tended to her injuries.

Soron poked his head out of the little spot that he had been hiding in. Everything around him was far too calm, and he saw Meris leaving with a strange man. To Soron, this meant that any threat was likely over, and they had gone off to try and find missing persons. At least, that is what Soron thought be happening. They were gone before he had even gotten out of his hiding place.

Soron looked around after he had gotten out of his little hiding place. It seemed as though the invaders had barely even gotten inside the wall before something drove them out. He found this rather curious, and would have to ask if anyone comes to his shop.

Kaida blinked her eyes a few times, trying to shake off the soreness in her shoulders. Snuggling into the rug beneath her, she thought about how comfortable the tree had gotten. With eyes now wide open, Kaida looked around and saw the vagabonds near her, tending to her injuries. Instinctively, she reached for her shoulder, hissing with pain with just a tap on the now-bandaged wound.

Looking up, Kaida saw Meris nearby, calling out, Kaida felt her voice crack. Rubbing her throat, she quietly asked one of the vagabonds to get Meris's attention for her. She closed her eyes, glad that she had survived, but trying not to scream in pain. Next time, Kaida promised herself, I won't almost get myself killed. Probably. Opening her eyes, she groaned quietly, burying herself deeper in the fur rug.

Drifting away from consciousness again, Kaida wondered how Meris had gotten her back to camp, or even out of the tree. It was a pretty long trek, and Kaida wasn't exactly a twig. She wasn't fat by any means, as little food will do that to a person, but she wasn't skinny by any means, either. Struggling to stay awake so that she could talk to Meris, Kaida forced her eyes open.

"You should be more careful. Now rest. You need it." Meris said to Kaida who could barely keep her eyes open. Meanwhile the dragon turned to the vagabonds and said: "Since most of you know how to read, we can show you a library of the old that will contain books that will aid you in your journey to strength. You can learn how to make great armors and great weaponry. You can learn how to refine your crafts and unite Erensea to defeat the foreign threat. You can also learn to use magic and craft object that use magical energy to ease your lives. Together we can defeat the human armies that threaten our lands!" The dragon had gained Meris' attention when he mentioned refine crafts and great weaponry.