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Serafina looked between her two companions and sighed. She to couldn't wait till all of this was done. There was a chance that she and Everglade would not make it out alive but at least with their deaths, they could be reincarnated and everyone else would be safe. That was a comforting thought if nothing else. She still hoped that it didn't come to that however. There was much she wanted to live for and next time, she may not have the same drive that she had this time around. She sighed to herself and looked over at Amir and gave him a nod of thanks and squeezed his shoulder before she got up on the magnificent Griffon and got herself comfortable so she didn't topple off while they were in the sky. Huh. Trytheus could dump her in the air and she'd fall to her death, thus finishing what Meg and May wanted... she hoped that wouldn't be the case.
At the man's words, she arched an eyebrow. He wasn't using it as an excuse? He was different from the other riders? He had a sword handed to him at a young age and thus couldn't be an individual? That didn't make sense to Serafina. They all had responsibilities, titles, expectations to live up to. They were all riders and held the previous riders' legacy on their shoulders. It was a heavy burden and one she knew well just like Trytheus. She was upset that she couldn't connect with the man right now. She thought she would have gotten along with the noble knight of Amstra. Right now, she only found his logic muddled. Had she not been handed herbs and the healer's staff so that she would become the next healer? Everyone had been set on her being a medicine woman just like all her predecessors before her. She had to fight that destiny to get where she was now. She had still taken up the craft but that hadn't stopped her from becoming a swords-woman and living differently. It had been a hard rode to get over the assumptions and expectations but she had done it. Trytheus could do it to if he really wanted to. But instead, he found himself in learned helplessness. For now, Serafina just shook her head and kept her mouth shut. She didn't want her fear of being dropped to become a reality.
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Dae looked over when he heard something hit the floor beside him. He thought it was a bomb at first and tensed but then saw it was a boomerang with a rope tied around it. He dove for it as the Kelpie jumped over his falling body. It neighed and reared up on its hind legs. It was intent on getting at Dae since Dae had kept stabbing at it and it wasn't happy. Orpheus started to pull him just as Alashae lit the wood and bomb and tossed it towards him and the Kelpie. He squeezed his eyes shut. He didn't feel the heat of the bomb however. He frowned and opened an eye to see he was wrapped in a bubble of water. Aquarian had saved him from the explosion. Aquarian wasn't about to just let his rider die after all. And since the water wet the rope, the rope didn't burn from being so close. It allowed the three headed dog to pull him away from the screeching horse. When he was safe, he gave a sigh of relief, the bubble of water evaporating around him. That was close. He wince as he moved to sit up and touched his bleeding arm. The wound was already looking nasty. He hadn't felt the poison yet but he knew he was going to feel it soon.
The kelpie itself was panting and neighing in its pain. The last bomb had done a number on it and did much to sap its energy. The poor thing turned towards the water again and pawed the ground, the water nearby snaked towards it then. The creature was desperate to wrap it around itself like armor. Aquarian wasn't having any of that. He hissed and started to draw the water back. The two then started a water version of tug-a-war. Thankfully, that didn't last for very long. Serafina and Trytheus were fast approaching the scene. As soon as they neared the land, Serafina leaped off of the griffon's back.
"Everglade! Stop!" she cried. The horse turned its head, letting go of the water enough that Aquarian was able to completely pull the water away from the burnt horse. The kelpie neighed and galloped towards Serafina who ran towards him as well. The two stopped abruptly and the Kelpie reared; past memories and new personality causing it to be at odds with its wants and desires. The horse whined and pawed the ground around Serafina but didn't quite attack. Serafina's heart was throbbing for her companion and she reached out to gently and placed a hand on the horse's snout. The kelpie reared again, threatening her to keep her distance. The horse was about to turn away but she hurried to grab a hold of the creature's lead. "You will stop this instant! You are better than this, Everglade! I know you don't want to do this. Calm yourself! I demand you get a hold of yourself and stop leaking your toxin all over this world! You are sworn to protect it!"
The horse neighed and tried to pull away but it was quickly weakening against her command. A wild kelpie was tamed once its bridle was grasped and it must do the bidding of the one that snared it. Everglade panted and snorted at its rider and pawed the ground a few more times and blinked at Serafina before the command finally settled in place. The horse dropped its head and leaned forward to rest it on her shoulder. Serafina smiled. It worked! It really worked! She couldn't believe it! A smile colored her face and she hugged the horse's neck and nuzzled him. He did smell foul but he didn't smell as bad as decaying flesh anymore. He just smelled like seaweed gone bad. "There, there. I am here now, Glade. I am here."
Dae watched the two connect a bit surprised. He hadn't realized a kelpie could be tamed and here the unicorn rider made it look so simple. None of their attacks had killed the creature. They had only weakened it. It almost made the whole fight look foolish. At least with the kelpie on their side, they had another creature that no one would want to trifle with. Dae got to his feet then and swayed where he stood, suddenly light headed. Aquarian was instantly at his side and helped Dae keep to his feet. Dae winced when Aquarian let a tongue of water wash over the wound to clear away the sand and dirt. It stung badly and the rider was already beginning to perspire as the toxins began to do its damage.
"Lady Unicorn rider, are you certain the kelpie won't continue to poison what it touches?" Dae asked then.
Serafina looked over at him and shook her head. "Once the kelpie is tamed it will do as asked. The toxin it secrets is a defense mechanism. Now that he isn't being attacked, he won't harm anyone. Is everyone all right? Has anyone been poisoned?"
"I have been bitten," Dae confirmed.
Serafina's eyes widened and she rushed over to the rider and all but dragged him to the ground. "You mustn't exert yourself! It will only make the poison spread!" Serafina rushed away from the group to head to the tree line that harbored blossoms as white as moon beams. She picked a few before she hurried to Dae's side once more and ripped the rest of his sleeve off. She plucked the petals and rested them on the wound before ripping pieces of her own dress to dress the wound. "That should keep you stable for now. These blossoms are the only thing that the kelpie's venom doesn't pollute. You are still going to get sick since these weren't applied right away, but you won't die from the poison at least. When we have a moment to rest I'll make a paste to rub your wound with to help the rid your body of the toxins."
"Thank you. I appreciate your aid."
"Of course! I would never leave someone to die, especially if it is because of me." Serafina got to her feet and glanced behind her to see the kelpie standing behind her. She turned her attention then to everyone else then and made a small curtsy. "I am the queen of Languinre, Lady Serifina Constantinescu. The uni-er... kelpie behind me is Everglade. It is a pleasure to finally meet all of the other riders of this generation. And what are your names?"
"Dae Valen, Chief of Sui Generis. The person beside me is my companion, the siren Aquarian."
Aquarian gave a bow and a smile to the lady. "Pleasure," he purred.