False Convictions

[Scratchet]

DATE & TIME : 17th July
WEATHER CONDITIONS : partially cloudy
CHARACTERS INVOLVED : Scratchet, Meko, Kenna
PREVIOUS THREADS ? Second Detention

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Scratchet decided to raid the village later in the day than usual. It was mostly because Scratchet had somehow got herself into a pickle (probably fallen out of a tree, again) and spent the majority of the morning cleaning herself up and redeeming herself to her proper and orignal glory, if not trying to make herself prettier.

She headed to the village. She knew she was late for the morning's catch, but she was certain she could pilfer something else to eat. In the worst of cases she would just cause some havoc and roughen up some vikings as a little bit of entertainment.

She sauntered over the wooden bridge, and rounded the corner of the cliffside which opened up to the main plaza. Her gait slowed a little to take in the sight, hoping to spot any good opportunities.

She had barely got half way across the plaza when vikings began to grumble and shout, pointing in her direction. It was obvious they weren't pleased with her. She paused, tilting her head. She knew the Vikings weren't pleased of her, and she revelled in it - but this wasn't right. It was too early. Usually they'd grumble and moan a little, but they'd only start showing a hostile temperament during and after her deeds were done.

She scented the air. The storage house looked firmly shut and guarded, there was no way she would get in their alone... She could see the guards, set there only keep her, and only her away from the precious innards of the building.

There was a group of vikings behind her now, almost as if they were following her. They were all grumbling about something. It set the Nadder on edge slightly. What had riled them up so? She hadn't done anything at all yet! Had her reputation finally hit it's climax?

She decided to ignore them - they weren't doing anything to her, apart from being slightly creepy and out of character. She left the plaza - it was obvious she wasn't going to find anything decent on the food-side of things.

She had barely stepped onto the wooden path that lead further down into the village when the mob behind them sprung into action.

"Get her!" The viking roars startled the Nadder, her tail spines flaring as she spun around just in time to get hit in the snout with a metal ring.

"Ow! What the-" Scratchet croaked as she saw what just hit her in the face. It was some sort of metal ring attached to a chain - specifically designed for dragons with horns to subdue them and make it easier to pin their heads to the floor. The mob had a few of them, some on poles, some with chains. "Oh." Scratchet realised what was happening.

She flared her wings, she had to get out of here. The vikings tensed, ready to throw their hoops and hooks into the air if she were to take off, but instead she darted down, barrelling through the mob like a bowling ball to get into the centre of the plaza, where there would be more room. She broke free of the group - some had tried to grapple at her but failed. She turned once more to them, trying to figure out what this group was on about. Usually the angry mobs came later.

"What the hell is up with you guys today?" She snorted, slightly wary of the mobs. She tended to avoid them if possible.... but she hadn't even done anything yet so at the same time she didn't want to leave feeling dissatisfied having not done at least a little mischief. Her mind came to a decision. She'd play with these guys instead. It'd be a risk, but she felt like she had little choice in the matter.

"We're not going to let you get away with it!" Shouted someone charging at her. She hopped to the side almost gracefully to dodge the attack. Her eyes furrowed. Was this some sort of vengeance?

"Wasn't this morning good enough for you?!"

"WHAT?!"[/i][/color] Scratchet exclaimed. She hadn't been in the village this morning. The shock of hearing the news stalled her briefly, but it cost dearly, a hoop latching onto one of the horns on her crest. She felt her head being yanked to the side, to which she resisted, swaying her head from side to side violently to get rid of the viking's grip. Soon enough it worked. But more people advanced in their place.

Scratchet felt very vexed and slightly violated. What had she done this morning? She had made a blunder of her own, far far away from the human settlement. It then clicked - someone must have tried to frame her! Get her into trouble... Someone out there must really dislike her.

Scratchet was quickly overpowered by the horde of vikings, and soon enough she had hoops on her horns and her head was against the ground, she thrashed, trying to send her tail spines in their direction, but they didn't seem fazed by the attack. Scratchet groaned, desperately trying to escape. She regretting lingering now.

"My scales! I only just cleaned them!" She managed to say through gritted teeth, not being able to move her jaw much since her head was secured by several vikings. She'd only escaped the arena not too long ago - she wasn't going to go back in there any time soon... No way.

She heard the Vikings shouting at her about all sorts of stuff, about things being nicked and mishaps happening in the morning that she had supposedly done. Scratchet whined. "But I wasn't even here this morning!"[/i][/color][/size]

They didn't listen to her pleas.

[Meko]

Meko had awoken form a nice, pleasant slumber out in a field beside the Viking Village. The little Changewing had found rather a nice spot on an upraised mound of grass from where she could over look the village in relative safety, that is of course is no Viking or Dragon stumbled into the field to tend to the sheep. Thankfully so far none had done so, so the little Changewing was undisturbed. Her scales shimmered a little as they faded from a green color that matched the grass into her common goldish orange, yellow and red colors as her camouflage changing scales shifted there color form her waking.

She let out a loud, squeaky yawn. Stretching out her jaws and flashing her brilliantly sharp teeth that protruded from her lower jaw when the mouth was closed. Her large eyes scanned the area around her as she lifted a large, purple clawed hand to her little face, rubbing a little sleepy drool form her chin. She had been dreaming of food again. Luscious slabs of mouth watering steak, Joints of pork roasted in its own fat, Chicken cooked to a sizzling crisp and chops of lamb with mint sauce. Meko shivered at the delightful thought. "Mmmmmmm food." She thought to herself as her stomach gave a wanting grumble. "I think it's time to visit the storage house."

The cheeky Changewing ruffled up her wings, stretching out there bat like membranes before recoiling them around her long, skinny body. "I wonder what is in there today...." She pondered curiously as she moved her body low to the ground. Almost slithering like a serpent as she made her way through the grass and closer to the village. She could hear the sounds of youth's training, others in the village working away. They did not bother her. She had taken food right out from under someones nose before........ Quite literally she had.

As Meko got closer to the village her body started to change color to match the dusky brown on the floor below her. Slipping her way around the buildings away form any passers by, Meko managed to get to the storage house unnoticed. She could taste the food already... Licking her forked tongue around the inside of her mouth she moved a paw up onto the wall. There was a window a good few foot up that she had used to slip through before. And from ground base she could see that it was open. Chuckling to herself she pressed her paw hard against the wall, trapping the air between the scales she created a sort of suction cup with her own feet.

She crawled up the expanse of the wall, her body color fading to that of a more, dark, rock like texture that fitted in with the stone she was clambering up.

A sound, Meko paused and pressed her body against the wall as a Viking wandered past to check around the storage house. The little Changewing's chest rose and fell as her breathing became labored, not wanting to be caught. She could feel her own weight making her slide slowly back down the wall, but then.... Yes, he went away. Meko gave a small squeak of victory and continued to clamber up the wall.

It was a matter of mere moments until she reached the small window. It was not as open as she would of hoped so she used the horn upon the end of her nose to help her nudge it open before she slid her body through the small gap and into the storage house.

"Food!"

The Changewing became careless, jumping to fast from her perch in the window to get to the food, she caused the small window to slam shut behind her. Her hole body tensed as a searing pain filled the end of her tail. The window had shut on her! Meko let out a small squawk of pain before covering her mouth. She did not want to alert anyone to her presence. And so for a few moments she dangled fruitlessly by the tail from the window. Grumbling in silence before she managed to push off from the wall and pull herself free.... And flying into the wall on the other side of the storage house. Hitting the wall with an almost comical splat before she fell onto her face and onto the ground, sprawled out like a little Dragon pancake.

Meko felt rather flustered and embarrassed. "....I... Am so glad no one saw that..." She thought to herself with a heavy sigh.

she paused and smelt the air, following her nose right to the food. It all looked so good, and her stomach was growling like a Gronckle's. A little bit of drool, dribbled form her mouth as she greedily licked around her mouth. Just how much could she get away with taking? She would have to make a few trips....

So Meko went about dragging bag after bag up the wall and through the little window. Having managed to get it open again that is. And this time being especially careful NOT to let it slam on her tail again. A few minutes had passed and Meko had some how managed to take five bags of food form the storage house. Of course stopping in between for snacks and leaving the bones all over the place inside the storage house. Meko knew of a nice little roof top spot that over looked the Plaza where she could eat in peace while watching the vikings go about there day. It was not to high up, the spot was not quite on the roof top itself, and in fact just under it in a nook on a ledge of an old-ish building. There was more then enough room there for her and her pillaged meal.

Finally she had moved her bounty up into the nook and had curled herself up there along side it. Her scales blending into the background so to hide herself, using her wings to also hide her food.

Meko was sat there with a leg of pork in her mitts as she watched the vikings discover the mess. She could not help but let out a series of chirpy chuckles. It was always funny to watch the humans act out. If only they knew how to steal food like she did.

The little Changewing was happily licking at the meat in her paws as a young Nadder wandered into view. Curious by the other Dragon she watched in silence, giving a few snorts as the vikings all assumed it was the Nadder who had taken the food and watching them as they made there attempts at catching her. "Haha. Dinner and a show." Meko thought to herself as she licked at the meat again before taking a good bite. With out realizing it her tail flicked in imitation to Scratchet's, it alone taking on Scratchet's colors, her spikes mimicking that of the Nadder's in color.

[Kenna & Fenrir]

Kenna strolled back into the village; she’d decided to have a walk in the forest before doing some work. Once she’d crossed the Plaza to her house and settled down to some designs for a new idea she’d been having...a sort of test, and not one for the ViTs either. She heard a commotion outside, but she ignored it for a time. That was until she heard Scratchet’s shrill shouts. She knew something was up, it wasn’t like this for Scratchet to be in the village at this time of day, let alone sound…scared?

Kenna got up and opened the door of her house to see as the dragon was pulled to the ground by a horde of angry Vikings. “Hey! What’s happening here?” Kenna called as she jogged over to the Vikings and the captive dragon. She was hit by a barade of different claims, making it hard to work out exactly was being said. She got the gist though. Scratchet had stolen from the food store and a lot of stuff too.

It didn’t sound right though. She looked over at where the storage was. There were only a few entrances into that place, only one of which could let a full grown Nadder through…and that always had one guard in front of it in case a dragon got peckish. So how could Scratchet have gotten in, unless she’d made a hole that was on the other side of the hut or underneath it. It sounded unlikely, but it was Scrathet they were talking about.

Then again, that’d caused quite a commotion either way and the food would be here right now, or Kenna’d have already known about it if she’d escaped and returned. Whatever the truth, right now it felt legit enough to question the established thought. “QUIET!” She called. Slightly surprised when they obliged her command, the blacksmith then calmly started, “So, you’re telling me that, a dragon that is easily recognisable by sight, could be able to sneak into the village unnoticed by anyone and break into a relatively secure hut with only one entrance that a dragon of her size could get into, which from memory is guarded at all times, and left with a large amount of fish that’d require at least two trips? And then just strolled straight into the village as if she’d not yet touched her mischief quota?”

There was a quiet murmuring between all the Vikings, it was obvious that had been in a ‘catch first, ask questions later’ mentality. While they were all dealing with Kenna’s comments, she moved over to Scratchet and whispered to her, “How you doing there?” Kenna asked, “I’m going to side with you regardless what your answer too this, I’m just curious. Is what their saying true? It sounds so unbelievable but if anyone could pull of something like this it would be you as I’m sure they’ll say.”[/i]

[Scratchet]

Scratchet's tail thrashed more. She didn't want to get incarcerated again, to become a human-child's plaything and be completely humiliated again. She didn't pay attention to the Viking's complaints and taunts, as they were beginning to get repetitive, even though they chipped away at her fighting spirit a little at a time.

A new voice cut over the din, a familiar voice that seemed to make the angry mob quiet down. Scratchet froze at this. Who could be so fearsome to appease an angry mob with a single word?! The voice continued, and some Vikings gave uneasy shifts at the explanation, which Scratchet could hear. She knew that voice... and the voice was definitely speaking voice of truth.

The crowd quickly parted ways to reveal Kenna, who approached the turquoise Nadder. Scratchet's tail slumped. Meddler! What was she doing? Scratchet was unsure about this Viking. She wasn't like the others. She was smart, and a good deal more than what the majority of other Vikings had. That meant she was dangerous, especially as the Nadder had been in her clutches more than once, and now another time. Was it her that framed her, perhaps? To catch her again? But Scratchet was also unsure, because the same Viking had also shown kindess, and even generosity, giving her food and freedom, after blatant humiliation, of course.

The following words from Meddler made Scratchet even more unsure. Was she really on her side, or was it still part of a ruse?

"How are you doing?"

"How do you think I'm doing? I'm all tied up, framed by *someone* (most likely you), and surrounded by an angry mob."[/i][/color] She only just managed to say this, as her head had been encased so that she cannot open her mouth to spit fire or bite people.

Meddler was curious, asking whether a feat was even possible. Scratchet just gave her an obvious look. "Are you kidding?"[/i][/color] She started. "There's no way I could raid that place. Not alone... Someone's framed me, I swear..." She gave Kenna an accusing look, before something turquoise flashed in the corner of her eye. She diverted her attention towards where the storage was. On the roof she could vaguely see a reflection... of herself?

"There! Look! Someone's dressed up as me! I knew someone was framing me!" She cried, and with a desperate effort and a burst of energy she managed to use the distraction of the Vikings that knew dragonese to shake herself free of the pesky humans that were pinning her down. She still had that brace on her head though. It was irritant, but she knew only a human could probably take it off.

Before the Vikings could pin her down again, she scampered off towards the hut. "Hey!"[/i][/color] She cried, running up before launching herself into the air to reach the roof of the hut. "No one messes with Scratchet and gets away with it!"[/i][/color]

[Meko]

Meko happily licked at the juices that dribbled form her pilfered food. Enjoying the way the flavors danced across her forked tongue. A free meal was always the best type of meal.... Even if she did have to steal it. She was rather happy sat in her safe spot with her loot, eating more then her fill, her tail flicking happily as she watched Scratchet's struggle against the Vikings. It was rather amusing watching the events that played out before her. Oblivious as to the fact her tail was flashing turquoise and giving away her hide away spot.

Happily she was biting a head off a fish to devour as she noticed Kenna come into view. Blinking her wide curious eyes, Meko's long antenna perked up and flicked a little behind her before falling flat to her head. Kenna was a curious looking human to the curious little dragon. Meko could not help but notice the signs of burns on her body. She wondered how she had come by those burns, had a dragon done them? Was she caught in a Viking made fire? Did they hurt? The amount of questions running through the little Changewing's head was unbelievable. But then that was part of the way she was. It was just her.

It was almost like watching a scripted play form where she was sitting. Meko snickered a little. At least TWO trips? Maybe for a Nadder... Not for a five foot Changewing. She had gone back and forth so many times she could not count. Wait.... Can she count? Meko looked thoughtful for a moment. What was counting? She shook the thought form her head. She was getting to distracted from what was going on in her dinner show. What was going on? Meko tilted her head to the side. Kenna was talking to Scratchet now.

And then....

Meko's eyes went wide as suddenly the Nadder pulled herself away form the Vikings and came bounding over to her roaring. Meko glanced around in panic for a moment before noticing her tail was turquoise. Damn her subconscious color changes!!!!

Meko moved as quickly as she could to glide away form her perch and out of Scratchet's way, the sudden jolt of movement causing her to lose her wood like coloration and fade to her orange and gold like shade with purple and red spines. The last thing she wanted was to get scratched by one of those sharp spikes that where across the Nadder's body. After all as a Changewing, her scales where not as strong and protective as other dragons. "Hey! Big bully! Can't a girl eat in peace?!" Meko snapped back at Scratchet as she landed on the floor. Instantly moving to scuttle across the ground as quickly as she could to escape the rampaging Nadder. Her scales once again shifted color for blend in with the ground, adopting the texture as perfectly as she could.

The first few steps of her run where in dramatic arch like bounds, much like the movement of a running ferret. That was until she quickly lowered her body down to become more stealthy. Her body now moving form side to side in a more crocodilian like fashion.

Although in the mass of all the excitement, and the fact there was an angry Nadder with a want for revenge behind her. Meko lost her footing and tripped over one of the Viking's feet. The cumbersome trip caused Meko to elevate a good foot into the air while the momentum built up form the run flipped her over. Meko hit the ground with a hard thud that forced a loud squeak like sound of pain to escape her, a sharp piece of rock cutting the membrane of her wing as the leathery extension hit the ground under her, but the force caused her body to bounce into another flip. Her body finally coming to a stop as her jaw slammed hard into the ground right before Kenna's foot.

Meko lead sprawled on the ground for a few moments, dizzy with a throbbing sensation in both the cut on her wing and the bruising scales of her lower jaw. Slowly her eyes flickered open, her vision blurred at first before she saw Kenna's face above her. "Get away! It wasn't me!" Meko screamed out as she shuffled back as quickly as her body would allow it. Her sides and stomach where pumping like crazy as she panted heavily. Her wings and jaw where quivering and her tail wrapped around her tiny body. She may be five foot long, but her body mass itself was small.

Oh no..... She thought to herself as the realization hit her almost as hard as the ground had. Her antenna laying flat around her body. I'm in allot of trouble.....

Once again her body was now in full view in all its bright orange glory. The purple spikes twitching nervously at the surrounding crowd. Her cover had been completely blown. And she highly doubted she would be getting out of this easily.

[Kenna & Fenrir]

As Kenna listened to Scratchet’s responces, she could tell the dragon through she’d been the caused of all of this, which Kenna found part annoying and part bemusing. She would have explained she didn’t think Scratchet had done it and was only checking, but before that could happen the dragon got descracted by something.

As she started shouting and shaking, Kenna looked in the direction she was looking, up at the roofing. She didn’t get much of a look, because she then had to duck down as the Nadder shook free of them went at her apparent enemy, shouting as she did so.

Kenna looked up at the roof again scanned it until she saw the cyan tail. The moment she saw tail she could see the disguised body and food around it...for the few seconds the Changewing remained as such because with the dragon now spotted, it reverted to its normal colours and started flee.

The other Vikings then saw the dragon then started shouting “Get them both, we can sort out what happened when they’re both in the hold!”[/color] Kenna knew she would not get to them right now, all of them would be in the wrong psychology to argue with. To save Scratchet she’d have to be actiony too. Kenna started to run with the other Vikings after them. Most were more thinking about Scratchet though (the one they ‘knew’ was a threat) and so very few saw the Changewing land and blend in.

But Kenna had been watching the new dragon, and a blending only works if a person doesn’t know where a dragon is. You can easily see the dragons shape when you know where to look. Kenna ran to intersept the dragon on the path it was taking. She was about to get to the dragon when another dragon (more looking at the sky than the floor) tripped over the changewing and the two went into an interesting (and painful) dance. Kenna froze and watched as the dragon tumbled upwards then crashed and rolled to stop right in front of her.

She looked down at the Changewing as it returned to normal colour. The moment the dragon saw her, she started to scream and scuttle backwards, but Kenna could tell just by looking at her she was hurt, and hurt bad. “Don’t move, you’ll damage yourself more!” She looked up to the others, she would stop them if anything would go at her and call everyone over if no one noticed them. Regardless of the facts, the dragon needed help.

[Scratchet]

Scratchet snorted as the little Changewing called her a bully. Scratchet, a bully? Pah! That wasn't her role... It has never been her role... Scratchet quickly lose Meko in the commotion as the dragon melted into it's surroundings. Scratchet snorted in irritance. The little dragon can hide in plain sight! No fair! With all the commotion, Scratchet was so determined to find that invisble dragon that she blatantly marched right into the oncoming storm of angry Vikings, and before she knew it she was once again pinned to the ground.

A flash of yellow - the dragon had reappeared again! But this time it was in front of Kenna. With a huff she tried to lurch forward to her feet, but it failed, as more vikings came to keep her secured.

"I'll get you, you little shapeshifting wyrm! If you disappear again I'll find you-"[/i][/color] Then Scratchet got cut off by a couple of Vikings putting a brace on her jaw in the event of breathing fire, which was highly unlikely. Angry croaks could still be heard emitting from her throat as she struggled.

Some of the Vikings called their dragons to help move Scratchet. She was still rather active and obviously didn't want to be put back in the ring again. Two other, larger nadders came by. The larger, deeper blue one gave a short chuckle before giving a warning snap at Scratchet.

"Get a move on, Stubs, you're a waste of space.[/i][/color] And with that, and recognising who said those words, the fuel lighting the fire in Scratchet's eyes faded into resignation.

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OMG SWANKYPANTS DEBUT

[Meko]

Meko tensed and backed away form Kenna with a treating hiss. Her tail moving around behind her like a whip as her wings outstretched behind her to try and make herself look larger then she was, although the cut wing was slightly limp as stretching it caused an annoying sting. She felt threatened by the human over her, and although the little Changewing knew Kenna was right about moving... She knew it was a sure way for her to get captured....

She barred her teeth aggressively at Kenna before snapping her jaws together in a warning bite as she moved back. But she paused. Her eyes going wide as pain surged through her mouth, causing her to roar in pain. "OUCH!!!! My jaw!!!" She cried out as she moved her head down to the ground. Rubbing her jaw against the rough ground to try and get rid of the pain. But it only made it worse... Unknown to Meko a tooth had become badly chipped when she had hit her jaw against the ground after her [i[astounding aerial acrobatics[/i] of a fall.

She heard Scratchet threatening her and turned her head to the Nadder. "But i didn't do anything!" She protested out loud for all to hear. Still trying to make her body seem larger then it was. Her colors shifting to bright green and yellow in a dazzling display of rotating colors to warn those around her. Almost in the way some reptiles and amphibians have bright color to tell predators they are poisonous."Stay away form me!" She shouted, deciding to play out the innocent card. Even though the evidence was clear form her stolen loot up on the building.

Meko watched as the Vikings all held Scratchet bound, at least that angry Nadder couldn't get over to attack her with all those Vikings over her. She became distracted as she saw the other dragons came over. Watching the deep blue one as they snapped at Scratchet and told her she was a waste of space. Well... That wasn't very nice. She thought to herself, becoming distracted and started to move back away from Scratchet and accidentally moved closer to Kenna.

As soon as the little Changewing noticed this she quickly squeaked and made a run for it. Moving to dart between Kenna's legs so to run across the Plaza at full speed. There was a few little hole under a building on the other side of the Plaza that she knew of. She would be able to hide under the floor boards there and perhaps bust a hole in the other side to escape from.

Meko moved as quickly as she could, navigating past the feet of the Vikings, both those trying to catch her and those of the by-standers. Turning her head at the last moment to look back and see if anyone was following her. Although she misplaced her footing once again, stumbling and stepping to the side a little. Turning back just in time to see she was heading for the wrong hole in the wall. "Oh no!!" She cried out as her head went through the tiny hole, but her movement stopped as it hit her body.

She was stuck....

By becoming so distracted by trying to see who was behind her, she had accidentally tried to run through the smaller gap just beside the one she was aiming for. Frantically Meko moved her head back to try and pull it free, but the fin shaped crests pointing back from her cheeks/jaw prevented her from being able to pull her head free as they kept getting caught on the wood around her head.

She struggled fruitlessly for about five minutes before she finally slumped down and gave up. She wasn't getting out of that hole by herself, no way, no how. There was no point in her trying any more. She was as good as caught stuck in that damn hole.... "Well......... Damn it."

[Kenna & Fenrir]

The blacksmith looked back down as she heard the Changewing hiss, instincts gained from being around a Terror. Dragon was trying to scare her off. She could see all the classic tactics of the outstreached wings and generally trying to make yourself as bit as possible.

When the girl bit down however, she screamed in agony. They needed to get her to Luna soon it seemed. They both turned to Scratchet’s yells at the Changewing, and Kenna saw the Vikings beating her down and trapping her mouth. I need to help her, Kenna thought.

She heard a squeak from below her and looked down just in time to see the dragon run through her legs. She turned and was about to give chase when she saw one thing and remembered another. She saw that there were people nearer to her, and remembered she needed to help Scratchet. “Get that Changewing!” she shouted at the Vikings in the Plaza, who then did, and then she turned and run back to where Scratchet and the other Vikings were.

“Let her go!” Kenna shouted, “She has done nothing!” today, “It was the Changewing!”

“We can find out what happened properly once we don’t have to worry about Scratchet and your changewing, no point doing it before.”

“Sir,” a young man shouted, jogging back from where Kenna had been, “the changewing has gotten trapped in a hole. We’ve called for Luna to treat it when it comes out and put into lock up.”

“We’ve also looked at the horde the dragon was standing over,” another man shouted, this time from the roof the food was on.

“How much is gone?”[/color] the Viking asked.

“Quite a bit, about the about you’d expect a hungry Changewing to have eaten. Most of its still here though.”

Kenna walked in front of the Viking and glared straight into his eyes, “See. Let. The. Nad. Der. Go.”

The two of them stared at each other for a good few seconds before the Viking, still not taking his eyes off her, called, “Untie her guys.”[/color] The Vikings (unceremoniously) dropped Scratchet to the ground and started undoing the manicles.

“Thanks.,” Kenna said, as politely as she could.

“Your head, Kenna.”[/color] he muttered before turning away and walking off towards where Meko was apparently. Kenna walked over to the Nadder as she was being unrestrained.

“Please leave the village, just for a bit, come back later to the Plaza, though leave if there’s any sign of aggression, I don’t want this to happen to you again.

[Scratchet]

Scratchet failed to listen to the commotion going on nearby. She refused eye contact with Mr. Swankypants, prefering to stare into the back of the Viking's head that was leading her by yanking on her nose horn. Things really weren't in her favour recently... at least it wasn't starvation.

Suddenly she felt herself forced to the ground once again. Now what? She hadn't realised that Meddler had forced the Vikings to set her free. The unhappy look on Swankypant's face made it clear to Scratchet what was happening.

As soon as the last restraints were lifted, Scratchet bounded back a few paces, in case they decided to do something funny. Meddler approached Scratchet, telling her to leave and be wary if she was to return. Scratchet huffed through her nostrils at her word.

She didn't need much to be told to gone, she wasn't stupid. Part of her wanted to stay as rebellion - no one tells Scratchet what to do, after all... But the human was right. She looked between the Vikings and their escort dragons, back to Kenna, before giving a short cackle and running off into the air, and disappeared behind the peak of the grand hall. At least Swankypants didn't get his way... She liked that.

She decided to recuperate in her little glade, but it seemed there was another dragon waiting for her. A familiar face. She landed with a soft thud on the mossy bed of the forest, before clucking slightly at Thing's presence. The Whispering Death coiled it's long body further underneath itself to allow the Nadder more space.

"You took longer tthan normal. What hhhappened?"[/i][/color] Hissed Thing, in it's quiet volume standard of their race. After the events in the Dragon Training Arena, Thing was a new friend Scratchet made, in case of any more failures, which were becoming more frequent. Scratchet huffled before settling herself down on the floor, preening her wings slightly.

"They're getting more paranoid. And there is a lot of contestation now. I have to be more careful if I want to show my hide there now. More tact is gonna be needed than before."[/i][/color] She ruffled her wings and set them back into their rightful places at her sides.

"Can you believe I was almost FRAMED by a pesky little juvenile of a Changewing? The blighter tried to colour itself as my own, and steal more than intended!"[/i][/color] At this, Thing hissed again angrily. "The little wyrm somehow got into the storage house of all places! The storage house! That place is impossible to enter alone!"[/i][/color]

"Interessting"[/i][/color] Said thing. "Perhhapss it would be worth considering allowing the young one to join our causse..."[/i][/color]

Scratchet huffed, turning her head away from thing. "The hatchling outstaged me! I can't stand for that! And as young as she is... Imagine when she finally reaches her full size... I just won't! I'm getting too many contestors... We need to set them in their places."[/i]
[/color]
There was a silence for a moment as both dragons pondered on the posibilities. Thing finally spoke up. "If you were framed, how did you essscape?"[/i][/color]

"Meddler."[/i][/color] As much as she didn't like to admit it, she couldn't have twisted the truth any other way. "Seems that she Meddles in the affairs of her own kin, as well as mine. For some reason she convinced the Vikings to let me go... She's scary. She's smart. Perhaps too smart. I'm not quite sure what goes on in her skull, but i reccomend staying away from her when you can. She's no match for you or the Pack."[/i][/color]

"The ssame Meddler that had managed to catch you on numerous occasions?"[/i][/color] The Nadder nodded, regretfully. She thought about the human's last words before she escaped.

"She said I could come back later... But with caution. I wonder if that means she wishes to make amends for what had happened, or perhaps make peace with the little Blighter, or even just try and trap me again..."[/i][/color]

"I don't think sshe'd trap you if sshe warned you to sstay aware."[/i][/color]

"That's what I thought too... Perhaps I should go find out. She didn't say I had to be gone for long, if i remember her words correctly. The commotion must surely have calmed by now.[/i][/color]

"I can provide backup, if the ssame event occurss."[/i][/color]

Scratchet made a small grumbling noise in her throat. "I don't want to reveal of our group just yet... You may accompany, but keep yourself hidden - but not underground, they'll feel you coming; they have other dragons with them after all. Only reveal yourself if the dire if of great need."[/i][/color]

"Underssstood."[/i][/color]

With that, they both set off together, circling not far from the island. They split different ways, the Whispering Death towards the bottom of the Village, and Scratchet landed at the bridge that connected the village to the rest of the island.

She had to be cautious. She stalked carefully around the rocks and buildings until she arrived near the plaza. The Turquoise Nadder tried to evade line of sight by any guards of the storage house. She peeked her head behind the stone staircase that jutted from the huge hill. The way seemed clear - for now. She stalked carefully into the plaza, relying on her sense of smells and hearing to warn her.

She scuttled behind the houses lining the cliffs - she'd be less seen here, out in the open. If she was seen here, she could just jump off the cliff and make her escape into the airs. She poked her head around a building, keeping an eye on the plaza. She didn't realise she was hiding behind Kenna's house.

---

Either Kenna's not there and is attending to Meko - then this'll be Scratchet's leaving post XD If not we'll see what kind of cards you two draw! ^_^

[Meko]

Meko felt so venerable, so weak and helpless. She could hear Kenna tell the Vikings around to get her. And it scared the little Changewing. She did not like to be trapped. Her wings flared as much as they could with out hurting. She did not care about everything else that was happening at the moment, her only concern was getting out of this hole so she could run away from this place. She squirmed against the wood around her head again as she heard footsteps drawing closer. Her tail spiraling around behind her to whip back anyone coming closer and perhaps cut them with her spikes.

And then with one hard push against the wall the wood broke and she stumbled back. She was free form the wall but still had a heavy ring of wood around her neck from where it had broken. With out thinking she turned to quick and ran ahead, right into a waiting hoop that shut tight around her muzzle, getting hooked behind her horn so that no matter how hard she tried she would not be able to pull free anyway. "Mmmph!!" Meko squealed at the top of her lungs. Wanting to tell them to get off but was unable to open her mouth. She could see her loot had been moved and the Vikings where looking over it. "No! My food! I went through so much to get that!" She thought to herself while letting out a small wine.

Before she knew it the little Changewing Meko had been shoved into a cage, her jaws trapped shut and she was being carried off somewhere. She fumbled around the cage as much as she could. Trying to squeak and break her way out desperately. But all her attempts where fruitless. She was stuck, and stuck good. Eventually she was taken to somewhere she had not seen before and locked in what could best be described as a dungeon of sorts. She hated it.

Now with free range to move.(At least around where she was being held) Meko started to pace. "Oh no, oh no, oh no.... I've heard stories of dragons being killed hundreds of years ago... And even some now adays... What can i do? I might die?!" She started to panic as she moved back and forth repeatedly. Making off squeak noises of distress. She had a phobia of being captured... And here she was... Captured. "Someone should make sure Luna gets here quick to check on that Changewing. If she's whimpering like that she must hurt pretty bad." Someone said form outside. Meko snorted angrily. Yes her tooth and wing hurt. But it was the fact she was stuck in here that hurt most. She just wanted to get out of there... She wanted to be free.

"Come on! I did not take THAT much food! And it's not like there is not any left! Let me out!!!" Meko shouted loudly as she scratched at the door like a cat wanting to be let out would do. Her claws leaving small cuts on the metal. "I sware... The next one who opens that door is getting a face full of acid and I'm getting out of here..." She then muttered to herself as she used her chameleon like ability to crawl up the wall and hide in a spot just above the door with a color to match it. Staring down impatiently for her victim....

[Kenna & Fenrir]

Kenna quickly moved in the direction of where the dragon was, but before she was anywhere near them she saw the dragon had been freed and was being taken to the training arena. Kenna nodded to herself, then started to move towards where she knew Luna the dragon healer lived. Quickly explaining roughly what had happened with Scratchet and the Changewing, Kenna took the girl from her newly remade house and to where her patient was.

As they got to the arena Kenna was going to ask which cage the dragon was in, but she heard which one she was in. Since they were both compitant in dragonese, Luna much more so than the blacksmith, they understood what Meko was shouting too. As they reached the gate Kenna saw Luna’s face go slightly pale at the threats.

Kenna just smiled, pulled out her hammer and called out, “the next person who’ll open that door is one of the few people that can make sure you’re not badly damaged and fix you if you are. The person after that is me, and if you were to hurt her I’d get a swing in before you could make a second move, then all the other Vikings out here,” four in all, “would make sure you were kept down and kept in that cage for a lot longer than should be necessary. Let us heal you first, let us talk.”

[Meko]

Meko clung to the wall. Growling and waiting for someone to open the door. Although she soon heard Kenna's voice. HAH! Someone who would make sure she is not badly damaged? Fix her?! What lies?! The little Changewing snorted out a scoff and growled louder. "Let us talk? Why would YOU want to talk to ME? Your just going to lock me in a cage anyway! Meko called out angrily. Her sharp teeth barred. Maybe... She could slip out using her camouflage ability when they open the door? After all. Right now she was directly above the door, hidden from sight even if she was not using her skin blending. It could always work if she was to wait just a moment to let them come in before slipping out and escaping. Yes! What a brilliant plan!

"Alright..." She said in a begrudged voice. Clawing the wall a little. "I'll talk to you... But come in slowly! And you better not have any weapons, nets or cages! If i play nice.. You better too! Of course the tiny little dragon had no real intention of playing nice. She just wanted to get the hell out of here! And fast!

The little Changewing's scales flashed to there normal color then back to fade into the wall. Mimicking the texture as perfectly as she could as she impatiently waited for her captors to open the door. She hated this... She felt trapped.. Unsure and scared. She wanted to be free... Kenna had said this woman was going to help her.... Heal her or something. But she was not buying that. I bet it's just a ruse....[/color] Meko thought to herself. I bet they just want to get me into a cage... Make me into dragon jerky...[/color]

She fluffed up her wings defensively and clawed the wall again. Her antenna and tail flicking at the tips. Come on... Come on... Let's get this over with.[/color]

[Kenna & Fenrir]

The two women heard the dragon call out to them about how Kenna was just going to cage her, even though she already was. “We want to make sure you’re not too hurt and then get you to understand why you can’t do what you did.”[/i]

There was a pause, one which was just that bit too long. Kenna knew the dragon was planning when she called out to come in without weapons. She turned to the other Vikings and then started giving them instructions quietly enough that the dragon wouldn’t hear them. Most of them were tasked to watch the borders of the gate once it opened, so it’d be noticed if any disterbances happened. A few were to look in and try and see if they’d be able to see this dragon.

She signled for the gate to be opened and as she did, she smiled slightly. As she’d guessed the dragon was nowhere in sight. She knew she wasn’t going to see the dragon this time, her crappy eyesight had only been lucky last time due to Scratchet pointing out where to look.

She looked down at her left, red arm, gently swinging her hammer. Should I? after a few moments of contemplation, she dropped it, feeling Luna get more nervous when it hit the ground. “Don’t worry so much,” Kenna whispered in dragonese, “It’s not like we’re going in without armed backup ready to springs something.”

Kenna boldly started walking in, grabbing a touch as she did so, it would be good to make sure none of the place was in darkness, she still remembered how Scratchet had sprung on Troutface the previous month. Luna was only a step or two behind Kenna, but they both passed the threshold at the same time, looking round, “Show yourself! We want to help you!”[/i]

[Meko]

Meko kept clawing the wall every now and then impatiently. And then finally... The door opened. The Changewing became tense. A low, threatening growl vibrating from inside the core of her throat and chest. Her eyes narrowed and already slitted pupils became thinner. The antenna on her hair flicked as her wings extended in a threatening display. Even though it could hardly be seen form her hide away spot. Why should she show herself? She was pretty damn sure they where lying. Help her.. How could they ever help her? And why the hell could she not do what she did?! "Hey! I did NOTHING wrong!" She protested with a grumpy snort. "I did Not frame that Nadder, all i did was get my breakfast! What is so wrong in that?!"

The little Changewing kept protesting as she watched Kenna and Luna. Her teeth where barred threateningly, even though her broken tooth was painfully irritating. A small glow of green filled her mouth as she suddenly spat a projectile of burning acid across the room and into the wall on the opposite side. This was intended as a distraction as she made a move to quickly crawl down the wall, over the edge of the door, up the wall on the other side and make a run for it across the celling. She failed to notice how ever that her attempt to distract, only gave away her position.

Just as she started to skitter down the wall and out, she misplaced her footing and lost her grip entirely. So instead of her pre-planned route of running across the ceiling.... She fell right down onto one of the vikings heads.

A stupid mistake, that cost her dearly.

The moment Meko fell onto the Viking's head she practically folded over him from the force of the fall. Hitting her jaw against his muscular back. Meko's eyes went wide and she screamed out in pain as the crack in her tooth became worse and caused it to snap in half. The broken bit of tooth flying out o her mouth and across the room, leaving the nerve of that tooth fully exposed. The moment she breathed in, the cold air excited that nerve, causing her great pain. Her claws drove into the Viking's clothing and skin as she franticly rubbed her jaw against his back to get the pain to go away. Now any idea she had about running away had left her mind. All she wanted now was to get rid of this agony.

The poor man she had landed on was in shock at first to have his face smashed by a Changewing's soft belly. It was more the sudden change of rock to vibrant orange that shocked him the most as the dazzling color flashed before his eyes. Not to mention seconds later all he could hear was the screams of the dragon and feel her claws in his body. Naturally his first instinct was to grasp around her soft belly and pull her away from him. This sudden movement of getting pulled away made Meko panic. Not to mention his hands where awfully rough on her skin soft scales. Causing her more pain.

Before she knew it, she was pinned to the ground by the Viking she had landed on. Unable to scramble free due to his mass of weight she squirmed fruitlessly for a moment before growling. "Kenna. We have her... Lil devil tried to make a run for it." He called out to Kenna, stating the obvious as Meko squealed and squirmed under him. "Get off me you giant brute! You weigh more then a overweight Gronckle!" Meko roared at him. Slashing her tail around as much as she could get it to.