Chapter CCCLXXXII: A Cold and Odd Planet ~Rynn

Rynn found herself on a snowy planet, and shivered. She was still in dragon form and flew high over the snow covered plains. It was so lifeless here. Where was the Dark Lich and her son? Was he warm? What did the Dark Lich want with Kai anyhow? She could picture him, crying and cold, wanting her. She growled, her breath coming out in puffs. She was freezing, but didn't want to set down in the snow. All she wore was a thin green dress, which was no protection from the cold. Already she could feel herself getting sluggish.

Settling down on the plain, she folded her wings in and started walking, sinking down into the snow with each step. Further and further in she walked, ducking her head when the wind started blowing snow into her face. Something sparkled up ahead. Rynn tried running to it, but she was knee-deep in the snow, and was forced to walk.

She blinked. Ahead of her were trees, but not ordinary trees. They were made of crystal. They shone, sparkling in the sunlight. She reached out and lightly touched one, then pulled back. It was solid ice. But how did ice form trees?

Rynn shrugged, walking on into the forest of ice trees. Once on the other side, she gasped. There were buildings on the outside of the forest! Running forward, well, as best she could, Rynn reached the outmost building. That was then when she noticed it was collapsed, snow piled into the main room. She turned, and noticed the rest of the buildings were the same. Either all collapsed, or just the rotting foundations left. She groaned. She had hoped to find food and shelter here. She'd also hoped to find Kai here as well. Sighing, she walked on through.

Rynn was not surprised to see more of the same ice trees on the outside of town. She wondered how far they went, and walked into the forest. She hadn't gotten far when a wolf growled at her, hiding among the trees. She turned, growling back. The wolf turned tail and ran. She smirked, continuing on. But she hadn't gotten far when she found herself surrounded by more of the wolves. They were snarling, growling at her. She was surprised, seeing as how she had much of a height difference over them.

The Drakoni growled back, but that didn't scare them. One leapt at her, trying to bear its fangs into her neck. It dawned on her. They thought she was food!

Rynn roared, tossing her head, tossing a wolf away when it tried the attack again. One stepped closer, as if to leap. She growled, baring her teeth at it, snarling. She felt a wolf biting her leg and turned; the wolf she was snarling at took the chance and leapt onto her, bitting her head. Rynn roared and reared back, spitting fire at the wolf biting her leg. It yelped, backing off. She tossed her head back and forth, flinging that wolf off into the deep ice forest.

Turning her attention to the remaining wolves, she reared up on her hind feet and came crashing down as they tried to figure out a new method of attack. The ground shook, and the wolves yelped, racing off into the ice forest. Rynn smiled, and walked on.

Finally, she came out of the forest, unbothered by any more wolves. She stopped on the edge, and blinked. There was another village! But instead of being abandoned, this one bustled with people. Weird, lime-green walrus type people, but people, none the less. She grinned, and ran forward, forgetting she was in dragon form. The walruses stopped what they were doing, pointing, screaming, and running into the buildings, slamming the doors and windows closed.

Rynn blinked, shocked. Why did they treat her so? It wasn't like she was a big scary monster. Then it dawned on her, she was still in dragon form. She de-transformed, and called out.

"Hello? I don't mean any harm. Please, can someone come out here and help me?" she called, shivering, wrapping her arms around her. Hopefully, they would see she was nothing to hurt them, and some kind soul would come out.

But no one came out. Rynn rubbed her hands over her arms faster, trying to build some heat there. She hated the cold. She walked on, knocking on the first door she came too. "Hello?" she called through chattering teeth. Still, no one came out.

Rynn growled softly, and tried yet again, but this time, she tried hello in all the languages she knew. Finally, one of the walrus people stuck his, or her, head out. It was sorta hard to tell. She smiled, trying to remember in what tongue she had spoken. Ah, Rhenzin! That was it!

"Hello. I was wondering if you could help me?" she asked, using her limited bit of Mana magic to speak. It sounded odd to her ears, but if it worked, great! If not, she'd never find Kai.

The walrus nodded, and ushered her inside. "You must be cold," he said. He had a deep, throaty voice. He almost sounded like her father. Rynn took a bit of comfort in that.

Inside the walrus' house, there was a nice, warm fire blazing in the fireplace, and a table nearby was set with food. Rynn had forgotten how hungry she was, too worried about her son. She hurried over to the fire, trying not to eye the food. Her stomach growled.

"So what do you need help with?" asked the walrus. He came over, and put a blanket over her shoulders. "And where are you from? I have never seen the likes of your kind before."

Rynn smiled, pulling the blanket in close around her. "I am looking for my son. A being called the Dark Lich has taken him, and vanished through a portal. I followed before it closed and ended up here. I come from a planet named Yoshin. I am Rynn, and you are?"

The walrus took a seat at the table and smiled, motioning her over. Rynn sat across from him. "Eat, eat." She dug right in. "I am Azar. There has been no one else like you in the village here. Perhaps this Dark Lich went elsewhere. Perhaps he went to Northtown. It is a big place. What does he want with your son?"

Rynn shrugged. "I honestly don't know. Kai is only a baby. He has to be scared and cold." She took a bit of the fish he had before her. "This is really good."

Azar smiled. "Thank you, Caught it and cooked it myself. You will need warm clothes. You can not go out in that dress."

Rynn nodded, drinking some of the local wine. It was fruity, which surprised her. But it was really good. "How do I get to Northtown?"

Azar smirked a little, or at least Rynn thought he did. "Cannon travel."

"Cannon travel?"

The walrus nodded. "Yes, we shoot you out of a cannon and you land in the place you want to go. But really, we only have the one cannon, and it's pointed at Northtown. It's quite a nice ride."

"If you say so."

Azar smiled. "You have wings. You will be fine. Please, we use it all the time. I will take you to the travel agent tomorrow. Otherwise, it is a long way there."

The Drakoni nodded. Inwardly, she was a bit worried. Travel by cannon? Never had she heard of such. She glanced at Azar, who was busy eating. She took another bite of her fish, trying to really see him. Surely it had to be safe. After all, he had opened his home to her. And the food wasn't poisoned, he too was eating it. Maybe he was right. She'd be fine. She could only hope Kai was as well.

Soon, they were done, and Azar showed her the guest bedroom. It wasn't much, but the bed looked soft and warm. A lovely quilt was laid across it, in deep purples and greens. She smiled. "I hope you sleep well. I will see you in the morning."

Rynn smiled and nodded. "Thank you for everything."

Azar nodded, and closed the door. The room had no fireplace and grew cold quickly, shut off from the heat. Rynn slipped off her shoes and crawled into bed, curling up. She wondered how Naaro was holding up. She knew he had to be worried, but there was no way to contact him. She sighed, and turned her thoughts to Kai. Was the Dark Lich even taking any care of him? Was he cold and hungry? She wept, missing her child.        

“Oh Tir...Moma's coming...hang on baby,” Rynn whispered into the pillow. Sometimes she thought they should have stayed behind. After all, the train hadn't really come for them, but for Naaro. But it was an adventure, to say the least.

Rynn huddled close in the middle of the bed, trying to stay warm and closed her eyes. She needed some sleep.

It wasn't long until she awoke to the sound of her door being opened. She yawned, blinking as Azar walked in. "Glad to see you are awake. Did you sleep well?"

She nodded, stretching. "I did...I didn't realize how tired I was."

Azar smiled. "I nearly have breakfast finished, and after we eat, I'll take you to the travel agent. Perhaps who you seek is in Northtown."

"I certainly hope so." Rynn got out of bed, and yelped as her feet hit the cold floor. She quickly pulled her shoes on. Ah, much better. She followed Azar out and back into the warmth of the house.

He gestured to the table. "Have a seat. It won't be long. Just some fish and fruit."

Rynn sniffed the air. "Smells good," she said, taking a chair close to the fire. The heat felt good. She hoped Northtown wasn't this cold.

"Oh, before we go, I will get you a coat. You will be needing it."

Rynn nodded, and Azar sat before her a plate. The fish was steaming, and a fruit sauce covered it. Some sort of red and blue fruit sat along side. She dug right in. "Oh wow...this is great!" she exclaimed.

"Thank you," Azar said, sitting down across from her. He dug right in.

As she ate, Rynn wondered if the Dark Lich was taking care of Kai. Was he even eating? She knew he had to be exhausted from crying. He was so little and needed her badly. Heaven knew she and Naaro had tried to protect him when the Dark Lich appeared, but he had managed to grab him anyway. A tiny bit of her felt like she had failed as a mother, unable to protect her child, her Tir. She growled softly in thought, causing Azar to look at her. "Everything alright?"

She nodded. "Just thinking of what brought me here."

Azar nodded. "I am certain you will find your son." He smiled, and got up, having finished his breakfast. "Eat; I shall return."

Rynn picked up a piece of the bright blue fruit and bit into it. It was very sweet. She liked it. She tried to not let the juice drip down her chin as she ate more. She wasn't sure if it would wash out of her dress.

"Here," came Azar's voice, holding out a coat. It was big, with what looked like wool on the inside. "I do hope it fits, with your wings and all."

Rynn got up, wiping her mouth, and with his help, slid the coat on. It fit fine. "Thank you," she said, and glanced at her plate. Only one piece of fruit remained. She picked it up and popped it into her mouth.

"Are you ready to go?"

Rynn blinked. "I should repay you for your hospitality. Let me clean the dishes and make my bed."

Azar shook his head. "There is no time for that, Rynn. Your son needs you. Perhaps you'll do the same for someone else. Come, leave the dishes where they are, we must go."

She could only nod. She followed him out the door and into the town. More of the walrus people were there, staring at her. She didn't care though. Azar was helping her, and that's all that mattered.

They came to a building marked Travel Agent, and Azar led her inside. Behind a desk was a walrus much larger than Azar. He looked Rynn over. "What is this?" he asked Azar.

"A friend. She needs to get to Northtown. I'll pay for her trip."

"No, no, I can't allow that," Rynn broke in. She dug into her pockets and produced a gold coin. "I'll pay," she said, passing it to the travel agent.

He took it, looking it over. "It will do. Come, this way to the cannon." He got up, leading Rynn and Azar out the back. There before them stood a huge cannon. Rynn reasoned that Northtown was named so because of where it lay. "You climb in and we shoot you out," the travel agent explained, handing her a pack. "Pull this cord here when you see the lights of Northtown. It'll open and you'll float down safely."

Rynn nodded, pulling the pack on, Azar helping to buckle it in place. "Be sure to return it to the travel agent there," he advised and she nodded.

"I will." The other walrus opened the door of the cannon and Rynn climbed inside, sitting down on the seat. The door closed and she looked up, seeing bright blue sky. She covered her ears and the cannon boomed. She shot out, heading towards Northtown, and hopefully, her son, Kai.