• Ceruleagos was just not going to believe this, as she stood in front of a dark drake, who insisted his name was Haikeiro. With a brow arched upwards and her arms across her chest, she looked up to him. Funny, he didn’t *look* like Haikeiro, but she knew the eyes could easily be deceived. “No really!” The drake tried to sit on his bottom side like a human would to a chair, only to see he lacked balance. The drake hit the ground hard, shaking the area around them. “Really Jovisssssssss, you have to help me!”

    “What did I say about using that name while I am in this form, you big goon?!” Ceru would hiss, glaring at the drake like she would Haikeiro. “Oh my, you really *are* Haikeiro!” She’d tug at the sides of her hair now, as if trying to rip it out. “Oh my god, why are you a drake? What sort of joke is this? Did Nallaen put you up to this cause if he did, I’ll kill you both!”

    Haikeiro would just be laying on the ground, not wanting to move. Ceru was scary when she was mad ...

    “Nallaen couldn’t have sent you...” She’d lift her head up to look at him. “Haikeiro, he’s been captured by Nefarious!”

    This came as a great shock to Haikeiro, who would gasp, sitting up now. “Wait, who’s Nefariousssssss?”

    Ceru would glare at him. “Are you really dim-witted, boy?! Nefarious! Lord Victor Nefarious? The Prestor guy?!” Haikeiro would still be staring at her with confusion. “HE’S THE BAD GUY OF AZEROTH, YOU IDIOT!”

    “You mean Arthassssss..?”

    “...” Ceru would twitch. She hadn’t the patience to be dealing with this - Vaelastratz’s death, Nallaen’s capture and now for some reason unknown to her, Haikeiro was in the middle of Westfall as a black drake. She’d take a deep breath, trying to pace her breathing, pacing back and forth before him now. First, their disguises. “Haikeiro, you can turn back into your normal self now.”

    “I can’t.” He would mutter too low for Jovis to hear.

    “Huh? Do it now before someone sees us talking like this, you idiot.”

    “I can’t..” He’d say a bit louder.

    “Uh yeah you can. You turned into a dragon you can damn well turn back into your fruity-looking self!”

    “You think I am smart enough to do thissssss on my own?!” Haikeiro would lower his head, nestling it on his two front legs. He did have a point, Ceruleagos would think, Haikeiro was definitely not smart enough to pull something like this off. She wondered how he could have gone his life without knowing his true identity? How could any dragon do this ... and why was she coming across more kin like this. She thought it was odd of Nallaen’s flight to do such a thing, but now Haikeiro’s as well..? Her mind was rambling now as she ignored the settings about her, lost in her thoughts. “Jovissssss, can you change me back, please.......”

    That would snap her out of her thoughts and she’d look at him. “Okay ... yes, this is a simple thing. It really isn’t much to stress about.” She’d force a smile and kneel down before him. “Do you remember how silly your cape always looked compared to the rest of your armor..?”

    Haikeiro would close his eyes, thinking about this. “I got a new one though...”

    “No, no, no, remember the one you’re more familiar with you idiot.” She’d twitch, trying to not lose her temper at him. “Now, now, you know that armor you’re always clanking about it? The really ... colorful one...”

    Haikeiro would open his eyes to glare at her. “Are you hinting at something?!”

    “No!” She’d huff, throwing her head up. “Guess you don’t want my help after all...” She’d start walking towards the more populated area of Westfall and then would cup her hands around her mouth. “DRAGON!!” She screamed in a horrified voice.

    Haikeiro would open his eyes wide at the sound of this. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” He’d rise to his feet and glare at her.

    “Letting people know there’s a dangerous dragon around.” She clasped her hands in front of her chest. “Oh please mister powerful dragon, don’t eat me. I haven’t any fat on these bones of mine.”

    “THERE’S THE DRAGON!” A crowd of Westfall patrol men would arrive, with a couple of farmers with pitch forks. “KILL IT!”

    Haikeiro would glare at Ceru and remind himself that next time he asked her for help, he’d oblige her every command. “You don’t want to kill me.” He’d try to convince the oncoming crowd.

    Jovis would give a sigh and speak in Draconic to him. “You’re begging them to not kill you?! You are a dragonkin! Be aggressive, you pansy!”

    “But I don’t want to hurt anyone...” He would whimper in common. Haikeiro would try to think of something he could do, looking towards Ceru. He’d rush over to her and grab her within one his powerful legs, talons grasping her body tightly. With a roar, he’d try to take to the sky, jumping up into the air.

    However, he didn’t think to flap his wings quick enough and would come crashing to the ground in front of the crowd of people. Ceru would heave a heavy sigh at the sight of this, ignoring the fact he was squeezing her tightly. “Haikeiro ... you have to flap your wings to fly.” She’d say in Draconic.

    “YOU THINK I DO NOT KNOW THISSSS?!” He would hiss back at her in common, still not able to speak Draconic.

    “Then why didn’t you, you dolt?!” She’d scream back in the native tongue of the dragons, as she held her head up high. “Take to the air and fly towards Darkshire; the clouds there will cover an escape easily as you fly towards the Blasted Lands. Simple enough instructions, I would think!”

    “Alright then!” Haikeiro would then take to the sky much easier this time, as he sped off towards the north east, ducking quickly through the dreary clouds of Darkshire. While he was doing this, he’d look down to the tiny human in his hands. “Wassssss all of thisssss necessary...?”

    “Yes.” She’d say with a huff, her head still turned up. “You learn things quicker when your life is on the line.”

    Haikeiro would snort through his nostrils, unable to give her much commentary on that. Flying a griffon was nowhere near the thrill he was having right now, as he did a couple of twirls, enjoying himself.

    Ceru would have her eyes closed, ignoring the sharp winds around her. The cold didn’t bother her, as she was attune to it, but the wind blowing her hair around was irritating. She would have to think about all of this... If Haikeiro was truly a dragon, an earth warder, this could be excellent for her ... but horrible for him. Judging by his reaction to everything, he hadn’t a clue about it... But wait a moment. She had seen his supposed mother who had been pregnant with the child and his elder sister... “This doesn’t make sense at all...” Her words would be lost with the wind, as she looked down.

    They were passing into the Blasted Lands now as she felt his grip around her tighten. Any other human being possibly would have been afraid now, but she had patience when it came to this paladin. He was afraid of dropping her and lacking the agility to save her, if it came to that. “Haikeiro~!” She would shout out towards him, but he didn’t hear her over the strong winds.

    Ceru would notice then they were heading away towards these lands and towards the west a bit ... why was he heading there?! No, he hadn’t a clue that was where Nefarian rested ... he couldn’t have! “Haikeiro, we need to land!” She’d shout again but knew just as before he wouldn’t hear her.

    “No...” She would gasp, feeling her body go weak. Haikeiro had just entered forbidden territory, the land of the Black Dragonflight, without even knowing it. Ceru would sink into his grasp, trying to not show any emotion, as he soared through the sky in his true form ... the skies of Burning Steppes. “Haikeiro ... you fool.”