Raven

[Goldie]

Jaci nodded, moving her head onto Fane's shoulder. Soon enough her muscles were relaxed and her chest rose and fell easily, her face calm and free of pain in her sleep. It didn't last for long though. Soon enough the pain from her head bled through into her dreams adn she awoke with a small groan, blinking her eyes open again to look at Fane. She studied his face for a moment, taking in his dark hair and gold-amber eyes. Her gaze went down his neck and to his strong shoulders, then down his arms that were holding her. The faintest of smiles touched her lips and she focused on smiling, trying to make the throbbing in her cranium dull.

Josie got dressed and started cleaning the small scrapes she had encountered, taking her time. She bit her lip against the stinging of the alcohol as she dabbed it across a deep cut on her cheek. She put a small bandage over it before crawling into bed, falling asleep as soon as her blond head hit the pillow.

[Cloudy]

<sub>"Rest, Jaci," Fane said softly as he nudged open the door to her room. He placed her in the bed and pulled the blanket over her. "You.. uh, don't have clothes on. I'm gonna let you sleep now, okay? My room's next door." Like a terrified puppy, Fane hurried out of Jaci's room, closing the door behind him.

Leto creaked open one stormy gray eye, listening to Josie. He was so completely focused on her that he even her heard small cries of pain as she cleaned her wounds. He didn't like that she was hurt. Growling, Leto swore that he'd kill every Strigoi that even threatened to hurt her. They'd all die - starting with the Strigoi who'd managed to escape. He pulled the pillow away from his face, tucking it beneath his head, and pulled his covers up. He managed to curl into a fetal position slightly, growling from the pain, before he finally gave into exhaustion.</sub>

[Spotify]

_{Ember stood perched on a tree, her weight was balanced perfectly on the lone tree branch, as a black panther she weighed just under 900 pounds. Her green eyes stared watching as Blake soared close to the edge of her territory. A snarl exposed her deadly teeth and her claws dug into the tree, but her temper was a facade. Ember knew Blake and knew her well. They were good friends, but preferred to keep their friendship unknown for fear it would cause trouble with Kyrin. She snarled, warning Blake of her attack. She phased into a hawk and leapt into the sky. She gave chase after the feathered creature that was Blake.}

[Cloudy]

<sub>And just like that, Kayrin descended. His black gaze zeroed in on the hawk and he smiled cruelly, banking his course. He extended one hand, curling his fingers around Ember's wing, crushing the fragile bones. "Hello, little princess," he hissed, closing his other hand around Ember's throat. "I wonder how broken your daddy would be if he found his daughter's lifeless corpse on his front porch." He grinned.

"That's something that's not gonna happen," Jai snarled, swooping in low. He spread his leathery wings, emerald eyes narrowed on Kayrin. He was... he was magnificent. He was a dragon - a wyrm, with glittering green scales and sweeping horns and regal eyes. And he was royally pissed that Kayrin would dare lay a finger on his mate. "Release her," he growled.</sub>

[Spotify]

<sub>Blake stared in horror as her most treasured friend was attacked, but there was nothing she could do. It would expose her. She roared a battle cry and than headed for Jai. She was scared, but she knew she had to do something or Ember would be killed. She tackled the dragon's wing."Stop."she whispered, so only he could hear.

Ember screamed in pain as her wing was broke. Her scream was caught off short as Kayrin wrapped his hand around her throat. Fury erupted in the young princess and as a result she changed into her human form. Her big blue eyes filled with tears as the pain became unbearable.</sub>

[Cloudy]

<sub>Kayrin grunted, struggling to stay aloft. He wrapped one arm around Ember's midsection, pinning her against him while also pinning her arms against her body. He grinned at Jai.

The dragon snarled, snapping at Blake. "Get!" he hissed. Without another world, he swung around, pulling back his head, and phased. He seemed to disappear - and really, he did. He turned into the smallest bug he could think of - a gnat. Buzzing around behind Kayrin, he shifted into a massive hippogryph, lunging forward.

Kayrin hissed, trying to spin, but he didn't make it. The hippogryph's beak scored across his back and out of instinct he released Ember. Jai dove, shifted into a dragon, and grabbed his mate. "Go away."</sub>

[Spotify]

<sub>Blake wasn't done yet though. She had to prove she had no allegiance to the Schimba. She snarled, swooping down after Jai. She stopped just before Jai and than she flipped midair and kicked him in the face. It wasn't much, but it did its job. It caught Jai's attention. She snarled and than shot down, grabbing for the limp form that was Ember.

Ember became nothing but a heap of bone, muscle, and flesh. Her mind however was still able. She touched Jai's mind,Let me go.she whispered into his mind. Her voice was weak, but it was there. She's a friend, she's just puttin on an act for Kayrin. her voice grew even weaker:</sub>

[Cloudy]

_{No! Jai cried, giving chase. I can't. You're my mate. I can't just let you go, Ember, he wailed, giving chase. He slung forward, jaws open.}

[Spotify]

_{Ember reached out and touched his mind soothingly.Give her a minute. That's all ill be gone for. Ember finally broke out of her coma like state. She awoke with a cough which slowly fell into whimpering. Pain was overwhelming her body, but she had to finish this for Blake's sake. She cried out as Blake swooped low to the ground. That's when they made their move. Ember transformed into a hippo and Blake dropped her. Blake felt super bad so she swooped down and laid a potion on Ember's chest. She had changed back.}

[Cloudy]

<sub>Jai had never felt such fear in his entire life as he watched his mate plunge to the earth. He felt the resounding impact in every inch of his body and felt his wings lock up, forcing him ground-wards. At the last moment he managed to break free of his shock and landed, lunging for his mate's still body with a soul-wrenching anguished cry. No... Oh Great Spirit, please... Jai cried to the skies as he shifted back to his human form. He turned his green eyes on Blake, the orbs burning with such a fierce hatred, such a deep sorrow, that they seemed to take on a eerie glow. "Go!" he spat to the Nephilim. "You have done enough damage. Go!"

Kayrin, believing that Ember was dead, nodded to Blake. He twisted around and zipped away, thinking to take care of the deep scars on his back inflicted by Jai.</sub>