Nema grunted as she fell face first into the sand. She swung her arm out wide reflexively and a stream of water followed like a whip, snapped across Alukah's back and raising bleeding welts.<br/><br/>"Get off me!" she yelled, struggling violently.<br/><br/><br/><br/>Azarhan looked around himself with dark blue eyes, calm and cold. A shadowy winged figure that faded in and out of visibility appeared to surround him protectively. The reddish crystal pendulum hanging from his wrist swung widely in response to Nekida's magic.<br/><br/>His blue robes and a cloak made of enormous black feathers rustled as he moved. He unlike some of the others had no problem with thinking of them as food.<br/><br/>"You, where are we?" he demanded smoothly, grabbing Seru's shoulder in a firm grip from behind. On his hand was a silver ring with a black stone.