(grr, my last post was lost so i'm going to have to type it up ALL over again. *sigh*)<br/><br/>Fall ran through a crowd of people who were watching fire breathing acrobats. "Sorry, excuse me." She said as she passed the grumbling people. They followed with curses and shouts. Fall ignored them and continued to run. She ran even faster at the sound of the guards yelling at the people to move, and cursing at Fall. She ran through the market, pushing over goods to block the path. When she finally reached the gate it was closing. With a new burst of speed she slipped through the crack and raced across the bridge. She turned and looked at the guards yelling at the men to open the gates again. Fall ran backwards with a smile on her face. She pulled the leather pouch she had at her side up so that the men could see it. She waved to them mockingly and continued to run to the forest.<br/><br/>Once she was conciled by the forests trees. She slumped against a tree, catching her breath. She pulled out the contents of her pouch and reviled a silver chain necklace that had a bright blue jem hanging from it. She delicatly atached it around her neck, tucking the end of it under her shirt. She again rumaged through her pouch and took out a loaf of bread filled with cooked beef. The loaf was still warm as Fall bit slowly into it. She savored each bite becuase she knew it would be awhile before she got her next meal. After she was done, she gathered her things and reajusted her bow so that it was in reach if there was danger. Fall walked through the forest looking for a safe place to stay for the night. She finally came apon a lake that was surounded by large oak trees. She circled the lake stepping over the small stream that flowed into it, until she came to the largest of the trees and climbed it. She found a fork in one of the branches and desided that it was the safest place to stay. Fall made herself as comfortable as she could get then let sleep take over.<br/><br/>The next morning Fall was weary to get out of her tree because she had a feeling that she was being watched. This wasn't unusual but nothing good ever came of it. She slowly crawled out of the tree and filled her water sack. She then quietly but quickly ran through the trees. Fall came to an open plain, with nothing but waist high green plants, and many wildflowers. Fall took a quick glance around and crouched so that the grass hid her. She walked slowly until she was back in the forest. Fall thought it odd that there was a plain in the middle of a forest but quickly dismissed it when she heard a loud thump. She ran up a tree and hid waiting for someone to run underneath her, but it never happened. Fall didn't want to take the chance of being spotted so she waited.<br/><br/><span style="color: #000080">Smart child.</span>Said a voice.<br/><br/>"Whose there?" Fall asked quietly.<br/><br/><span style="color: #000080">Just your soon to be mentor and compainion.</span><br/><br/>Fall looked around but there was no one to be seen.<br/><br/><span style="color: #000080">No use looking, you will only see me if i choose to be seen</span>Said the voice again.<br/><br/>Fall looked around then froze when a warm wind covered her body. She dared to look to her left afraid to see someone with a sword at her neck. But she forsed herself to see. To her surprise there was a dimond shaped head only inches from her face. Ice blue eyes stared at her. Spikes ran across the top of the creatures neck. Large nostrils flared with every breath. Fall almost fell from her tree, but she managed to get ahold of herself. "What are you?" She asked, almost afraid to know.<br/><br/><span style="color: #000080">I am a dragon. I thought that would be obvious, aparently your not as bright as I first thought.</span><br/><br/>Fall relized that the dragons mouth didn't move. The thought that maybe the legends about the dragons were real. If so then that means that they could comunicate with their riders using telepathy. Fall paused relizing that that would mean that she was it's rider. Fall shook off the thought. 'That's imposible.' She thought to herself.<br/><br/><span style="color: #000080">Not nessasarily, but i'm begining to agree with you.</span><br/><br/>Fall almost jumped out of the tree when the dragon responded to her. 'Wait so i'm your rider?' She thought.<br/><br/><span style="color: #000080">Unfortunatly yes.</span>The dragon said.<br/><br/>Fall smiled at this. 'So can i ride you now?' Fall asked<br/><br/><span style="color: #000080">I supose.</span>said the voice again.<span style="color: #000080">But first i think i should know your name.</span><br/><br/>'The name is Fall.' She thought to the dragon again.<br/><br/><span style="color: #000080">My name is Victorious, the Swift.</span><br/><br/>Fall smiled and slid down the dragons neck onto his back. She found a spot where the spikes weren't so close together, and were spread far enough apart so that she could sit on his back. She held onto the spike infront of her as Victorious took off.