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The next few moments happened in a flurry of bursts. First was the blast of the bombs, then Orpheus's well-timed obedience, and finally the presence of another rider.

Kelpie friend.

Who is the white one?

Why is she saving the beast?

As quickly as Orpheus managed to save Dae, they dropped the rope in favor of running up to the Kelpie and white-haired woman to bark at the duo.

Land killer!

Land killer!

Land killer!

Kill the land killer.

Though Ben would have normally told the trio to relax he had his own reservations about the strange creature.

"You're the old unicorn rider," he stated as he untied the boomerang.

It made too much sense as he observed the scene unfold. She grasped the bridle and it seemed to calm from there, being tamed. The unicorn rider had become a Kelpie rider. It seemed almost too convenient.

Honestly he had to wonder if this as Meg and May's intention from the beginning. Benny was young, but not stupid and he knew that the twins were a cunning sort and the riders were far too scarce to merely throw away. They had a special power to them that nobody else could touch. Plus it would take too long to grow another pair. Look at Ben. Ben only kept up due to his prodigal status. Well that and the fact that his set of riders were all great in their own right.

He pulled out a small notebook and began sketching the image of the now-tame Kelpie, writing a few notes on the poison (thank you Lady Unicorn Rider) and then moving onto the woman herself. She, like past unicorn riders, had a formidable look about her while exhibiting a delicate aura. It reminded him of a toxic flower to be honest. Roses were too cliche and not pretty enough.

"Of course! I would never leave someone to die, especially if it is because of me. 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?"

He watched her curtsy.

Yeah roses were definitely not pretty enough.

"Benedict Trish," he said plainly, "and my beast should be..."

Evidently Orpheus had been following behind the Kelpie and barking at the water-horse before moving onto the owner.

Traitor!

Can we kill her?

She helped the Kelpie!

"Ah yes. That's Orpheus."

         Alasahe saw what would happen before it did, not through any kind of foresight or premonition, but through the dread welling up in the pit of her stomach. This was the way of the world, the life of a rider. You set off on a stroll through your lands, and your unicorn was killed, prompting your kin to be sent to kill you. You head off on a seemingly benign mission to slay a beast, and die yourself. The life of a rider was flashy, brief, and ironic.

She locked eyes with Ben, and sensed that he would not do it. He fiddled with the bombs, and Orpheus tossed something to Dae. Alasahe narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth. She would not falter. She would never tell anyone of the sick feeling that writhed in the center of her chest. Fiir knew, but he did not seem to notice. Mortality made one short-sighted, and she was much more mortal than he. He was used to her qualms and he carried on despite him.

Dae scrambled to his feet and cried out, "Blast it!" and Alasahe was already lining up her shot.

She took her bough of fae wood and reached forward, holding it aloft in front of Fiir's snout. The dragon heaved a breath and Alasahe turned her face into his neck, squeezing her eyes shut as flames erupted from his mouth. The flames shot like a pillar, straight and true, right at the Kelpie and Dae beside it.

         Once more, Trytheus was forced to listen as he was berated. They did not understand, either of them. How could they? It was true what he had said, they had known a life where choice was as simple as thought, yet for him he had not had the chance to chose his path on life. He had lived a life where such freedoms were beyond him, he had a duty to uphold, one which could wait whilst he wished for a better life. And yet he had actually managed to stump Amir. Truly he had been ill expecting that outcome, it had been far more likely for the boy to continue his tirade.

Still he was glad when the boy actually decided to move from where he was sat on his chest, if nothing to be rid of his intimidate presence. He rolled over and up to his feet with practiced ease, dirt falling from his helm in clumps as it was dislodged in the motion. He turned as Mavegen approached him, he could see the sympathy in her eyes as she stood before him. The two pressed their foreheads together as a mark of companionship as Amir declared his decree.

"Then Trytheus, I judge that you go and take the Unicorn Rider to her beast and once we see each other again you can’t make one snide comment towards me for twenty-four hours no matter what I do. There, you are judged you dumb animal." He could hear the smug pride bleeding through the boys voice, no doubt he was delighted about the opportunity to give him a command. Frankly he was surprised the boy didn't want him to kneel at his feet and declare him his superior or some such filth. He didn't even look up from where his head was pressed against the mighty griffons as he spoke, with any luck cutting off the boy before he could make another demand.

"As you say. I shall take her to wherever her beast lays or the monster it has become roams. But once it is dispatched." He pulled away from Mavegen to lock Amir in his steely gaze. "I shall fly direct to my homeland and I shall not be returning to this accursed desert." With his own deceleration finished he made his way around to Mavegens side and climbed to the saddle. Mavegen did not simply take off into the sky however she did fix Serafina with a baleful glare to show her disdane of how the Rider had decided to conduct herself. It was clear she was unpleased with the virtual attack that was being thrown on her rider. Trytheus took the chance to fight against his fellow Rider words before they took flight, he knew that the wind would make all conversation impossible.

"I do not say I have no choice as an excuse, I am not saying it as a way of dodging the mistakes of the past. The Griffon Rider is not the same as you other Riders, you are individuals, free to live how you wish. You chose to take up the sword in the defense of your people. I had the sword placed in my hand. I was not born to name Trytheus Morrela, only one ever was and he was the first to begin our cycle. My birth name, my birth family, everything that would ever have been me was lost when the child that was was taken away. Do not speak of knowings one past. For me, there was none, only the path of Trytheus. Now come, I would rather we were away and be done with this."

         

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Dae looked over at Benedict when the young man asked him for his name. Oh. He forgot to introduce himself! How rude he must seem to his companions. He had only introduced himself to the Amir. Alasahe might have heard him since it was quite enough at the time but Benedict had come in much later after all. He offered the boy a smile and tipped an imaginary hat.

"My apologies for not introducing myself earlier. I am Dae. My siren companion is Aquarian. It is a pleasure to meet all four of you in this life-time," he answered, addressing both riders and their companions. Their beasts were a huge part of their identity after all. It was only right to acknowledge them all.

Aquarian himself gave a regal incline of his head to the boy and Alasahe. "Pleasure to see you all again."

Dae then turned his attention to Alasahe as she spoke and gave a nod. Her idea of gather information from the towns people themselves was a good one. They would feel the loss of their rider deeply and would most definitely point them towards the rotting carcass so that it may be disposed of before it started to sicken everything around it. He was also quite thrilled that she would be able to take Benedict and the Cerberus with her. It wasn't that he didn't want a travel companion, but it really was best for him to accompany Alasahe so they'd get to the unicorn faster. Alasahe may need help if she encountered the revived creature. And besides, both he and Aquarian had longer legs to walk quickly and he wasn't 100% certain that Benedict would be able to keep up with his pace.

"Then we have a plan. Since I am walking and arriving by boat, It may take me 2-3 days depending on the weather. I will meet you both at the Languinre Town. Safe traveling. To aid the well wishing of his words, Dae raised his right hand to his heart before extending it, a motion that was custom among his people. Dae then turned to Meg and May and repeated the hand motion out of respect before he vacated the building.

Once outside, Dae turned to Aquarian and rested his hands on his hips. "This time, you are going to put that water layer on me to. I don't want to have a heat stroke before I even get to the boat."

"You are so polite," Aquarian said with a teasing smirk before he leaned forward and kissed Dae, extending his magic over his rider so that a small water layer covered his skin and kept him cool and hydrated.

Dae pulled away from Aquarian and rolled his eyes at the siren. "Why is it that everything you do involves kissing?" he grumbled as he started to hurry back through the dreaded desert.

"It is more fun that way, he teased, "but it also provides the necessary bridge of energy transfer. It is also quick and easy."

"I think you use that as an excuse to kiss people and get a rise out of them."

Aquarian just chuckled. "Maybe. Maybe not."

Dae shoved Aquarian lightly before he picked up the pace hoping to cover as much ground as he could. He was already going to take a lot of time to get where he needed to go.