The War

[Shea]

(Two years after the Hellions)

Shea felt like she was floating in on a black cloud. She could feel her little ones next to her, hidden from the Dark Elves. She was scared but did not show it. Just when she was about to give in to the darkness she saw a flash of light. Next thing she knew she was standing in a clear meadow. In the distance she saw a young man laying on the ground staring up at the sky. She walked over to him and saw that it was Herceg. "Hello my dear son. Having fun with Vanessa?" she asked with a wicked grin.


"I haven't touched her mother," Herceg replied standing. He hugged her fiercely. "I've missed you so much. I haven't from you nor Father in two years. Is it time for me to come out of hiding yet?"


"Go to your father," Shea instructed returning his hug. She held him at arms distance as she told him what to do. "You will find him in the Earth Kingdom with Elvron and Mayra. Take Vanessa with you. I will meet you there I promise...." At that she slowly faded away.


Herceg sat up quickly after his mother vanished. The dream felt so real. He could still feel his mother's presence there with him. Shaking his head he looked at Vanessa who was sleeping peacefully beside him. Gently he rubbed her head before shaking her lightly. "I saw mother in my dreams," he explained when she looked up at him.

[Angelfonds]

Vanessa was dreaming peacefully. Her dreams were always filled with her as a cheetah running very far and never stopping. She always felt that each night she was dreaming of a piece of her grandmothers past. As if it was trying to make her see more than she thought she knew. Suddenly she felt someone was waking her and upon looking up she saw Herceg. They had been together for two years... to her it felt even longer. Not a day went by when she thanked the cheetah gods for giving her him. She listened to what he said and smiled. "That's great news. What did she say?"

[Shea]

"She wants us to go to the Earth Kingdom. Father is there along with Mayra and Elvron," Herceg said brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "Mother said she would meet us there. I don't know how but then again its m mother so I try not to question how she does the things she does." He stood up and stretched. "If we leave now we can make it before dark."

[Angelfonds]

Vanessa nodded. "That sounds like a great idea right now. Great to know she's sorta safe and my grandparents are waiting on us. Though I wonder how they will take to us."

[Shea]

"Do not worry about such things my dear sweet Vanessa," Herceg said pulling her against him in a gentle but warm hug. "All that matters is that I love you." He gently lifted her chin and kissed her softly. "Come we must be on our way now. Everyone is waiting for us."



Shea felt the darkness slowly leaving her. The light was beginning to shine through. At first the light of the sun hurt her eyes. It took her a couple minutes to adjust to the light. When she could see clearly again she saw that she was in sacred cave where Shade was once buried. Upon looking at the grave she saw that the dirt had been removed and there was no longer a body buried there. Inspecting her hands and feet she saw that she was shackled to the ground. From the symbols written on them, she was unable to shift. Just my luck, she thought to herself. It's a good thing I took lessons in spell casting while living in the Water Kingdom with Drachen. At the thought of her husbands name she truly missed him. With a grim determination she began to work on deactivating the spells on her chains.

[Angelfonds]

Vanessa smiled and nodded. "Guess I'll race you there than," she asked playfully. She smirked and shifted into her wolf form, barking at him to follow. She knew the way there well since she visited Elvron's parents often. She was glad to be a part of such a royal line. But of course she knew she'd be the last chosen heir since her uncles still lived. She never understood how her mother could bare to be around them while being able to listen to their boyish thoughts. Even her own mother had a spot in being the heir, but Veranda was never into such titles.
As for her father being a huge wolf in his pack, his status among them was high... they even expected more of her, though they hated her half blood.

[Shea]

Herceg shifted into a wolf as well. "You are on," he said gently rubbing his muzzle against hers. Without warning, he took off running. His tail lightly brushing her before he vanished into the woods.


Shea could feel the spells on her chains slowly falling apart one by one. No matter what, she was gonna break free of these chains and get back to Drachen's side as fast as she could.

[Angelfonds]

Vanessa growled startled and ran after him making sure she was gonna win. Once she caught up to him she shifted into a cheetah had every sharp turn knowing the stamina in this form was way better than a mere wolf.

[Shea]

"You wanna play it that way huh?" Herceg huffed jokingly. He jumped into the air and shifted into a dragon. Growing up around them he knew exactly how fast they could go. He knew that the only person capable of out doing any dragon was already at the Earth Kingdom. "Come on Vanessa your moving to slow," he called with a laugh as he flew past her.

[Angelfonds]

Vanessa hissed and thought deep and hard what to become. Her power still only allowed her to shift into things she touched and it annoyed her. She wanted her power to grow like her mother spoke of, but it hadn't. Of all the animals she had none matched a dragon.

[Shea]

Hercweg noticed Vanessa was not able to keep up. Spreading his wings he slowed down until she was ahead of him. Then he swooped down and scooped her up. "The only thing that can beat a dragon is one of the wind elves," he told her as he picked up speed. "I'll take you to meet them sometime." Just when the sun was beginning to set they reached the Earth Kingdom. He landed softly in one of the castle courtyards and set Vanessa on the ground. Then he changed back resting his head on her shoulder. "Forgot dragon form always tired me out," he whispered softly just before he passed out.

[Angelfonds]

Vanessa smiled at that and once she shifted back she noticed Herceg had passed out. She rolled her eyes shaking her head and waited till he woke up. She looked around taking in their surrounding. Suddenly she heard paw steps and saw her grandmother in cheetah form. It was easy to tell since her purple triangles were unlike any markings they had. While hers was on her chest.
"Good to see you have arrived," Mayra purred. "Its been too long since I seen the both of you."
"Yeah, we weren't sure when was the right time to come," Vanessa smiled.
"Your eyes tell me everything and whatever makes you happy I'll support you," Mayra winked at her. "But the minute he touches you wrong he's....."
"Now now, Mayra no need for all that," said Elvron appearing behind her. "I am sure Shea would do the same about Vanessa."
"I shall not let my granddaughter be harmed. Bad enough she has to protect that forest now," Mayra growled.

[Shea]

"I'm just gonna go find my father while the two of you argue this through," Herceg said softly as he hugged Vanessa lightly. "He'll want to know Mother is on her way." He took off at a light jog in search of his father. Falling his sense of smell, he found him in a map room with the Earth King. "Sorry to interrupt," he apologized with a slight bow. Then he turned to face his father. "Mother should be here shortly. Just thought you would like to know this." Then he turned to look at the Earth King. "I don't wish to be rude but is there a place I can rest for a bit?"


Shea heard a clinking sound as her chains fell to the ground. Opening her eyes she looked around her making sure no one was watching her. She quickly undid the spells that hid her precious twin daughters and held them close to her. Using a lot of force, she jumped out of the hole and shifted into a dragon in midair. She knew the dark elves had saw her then but did not hesitate to find out what they would do. She took off as fast as she could, heading for the Earth Kingdom while making sure the twins did not fall off her back.

[Angelfonds]

Mayra and Elvron looked at each other and sighed. Vanessa chuckled at them and hugged them before she decided to head off to the library to do some reading.

Drachen looked up from talking to the Earth King. "Thank you for telling me, Herceg."
The Earth King smiled. "Yes we have plenty of room for our guests. My servant just outside the door can show you to one." Looking at Drachen he bowed for his leave. "We can continue this later. If what he says is true we should prepare her a room and keep on watch for any dark shadow elves."

Drachen nodded and decided to wait outside knowing she'd probably be in dragon form upon her return.

[Shea]

Herceg followed the servant to a suite fit for a prince in the guest wing. He shook his head at the sight of it. "Man it's been too long since I slept in a bed like this," he muttered softly as he laid down. The moment his head touch the pillows he was fast asleep. I hope Vanessa can find me, he thought in his sleep. I would like to sleep with her here by my side.

Shea could see the outline of the Earth Castle just as the sun was about to disappear over the horizon. She used what energy she had left to speed up. She knew she wasn't gonna be able to land properly. Just when she flew over the wall, she flipped over holding the twins close to her chest with her wings wrapped around her body. She roared in warning to anyone below before she crashed into the ground.