---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > You Continued From (Watch Flint and Zephyr Cross the Rivergate) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Return to the Beginning ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~ Flint and Zephyr started walking forward as their hands left Ion's shoulders as he stood still, a moment went by before the two boys noticed Ion was not following with them, "so I guess this means goodbye... for now at least" Flint asked as the two of them turned around to face Ion. "I guess... it is" Ion started saying slowly, "sorry but I need..." Ion continued before he was cut off, "you can't pass this opportunity up" Zephyr cut in, "don't worry we both understand" Zephyr continued as Flint nodded in agreement. "I mean it is not like they said I would be gone too long, should be back by Christmas, that's what, six months away, I am sure you can get through the summer without me" Ion said with a small chuckle as the boys all had a small laugh before things went somber again, "might be a bit hard without the leader though" Zephyr said as he looked a bit down, "well that is where you can come in" Ion said as he walked over to Zephyr and placed his orange newsboy cap on his head, "your the leader now, I know you go it in you" Ion said with a smile as Zephyr teared up, "look after him ok" Ion said as he eyed Flint who just gave a big smile, "I got your back, don't worry" Flint replied, "but shouldn't you be heading off? I think they are getting impatient on returning to Ryutatzu" Flint continued, motioning to the three waiting dragons on the nearby hill. "You are right, why don't you guys get a move on, once I see you are safe across the gate, I can leave knowing I got you home safe" Ion responded as Flint and Zephyr turned back around towards the large city of Eios and started walking up the stone road as Ion watched as they got further and futher away from him, no realizing the Lazarus and the other two dragons approaching him, "so you all good to go?" Lazarus asked as Ion let a tear down his eye, "you know you can still catch up with them, there is no need for you to do this right now if you..." Lazarus continued but Ion cut him off, "no, lets go, I am ready" Ion cut in wiping the tear from his eye, showing a determined look on his face as he hopped onto Lazarus' back and flew off with them. The sound of the dragon's wings filled Flint and Zephyr's ears as the took a look back to see the figures flying off in the distance back towards the mountains, "here you take this" Zephyr said taking off the hat Ion gave him and handing it over to Flint, "why? didn't Ion make you..." Flint started to say, "you know as well as I that I am no good to be the leader" Zephyr cut in, "Ion only gave the hat to me since I was the one who gave it to him those years ago, you are better suited for this, you would make the better leader" Zephyr continued as Flint slowly took the hat, "are you sure?" Flint asked, "yes, as the current leader I am passing teh leadership on to you" Zephyr replied as Flint placed the hat on his head, "ok then, lets get you home, as we need to rest for the long journey we have ahead, can't let Ion get too far ahead of us" Flint said with a determined smile as the two boys crossed back into Eios.
SEVEN MONTHS LATTER
Time passed as the seasons came and went, summer seamed almost like a blur as the leaves changed colour in the fall and now the snow had began to fall, the Christmas holidays came and went without their friend coming back, the new year came in as Flint and Zephyr's fourteenth was upon them but still no sign of the one who they were waiting for. "Let's head back" Flint said as the winds picked up, "the snow is starting to fall heavier, now might be our only chance to get back in time" he continued, "yes, Mr. fearless leader" Zephyr replied with a chuckle as Flint gave him a glare. "You know, you were suppose to be the leader but gave it up, so no complaining or synde comments" Flint said as the two boys started walking back towards the city of Eios. "I am only joking" Zephyr remarked, "besides again I don't think I am cut out to be the leader" he continued as Flint gave him a look, "not cut out? Are you not the Zephyr of Zephyrs? The next Windfox? Who is suppose to lead your Zyphers in battle so you all can one day enter the Galeiac fields of Winderia in a world beyond or something along those lines?" Flint retorted, "I mean you won the Galeiac Tournament of Zephyrs, surely be a good leader, it is your calling after all." "Yes but I barely won" Zephyr responded, "it was only because..." "it was because the scythe choose you" Flint cut in, "the scythe of your predecessors, it selected you, it wanted you to lead the Gale Foxes" Flint continued, "I am starting to think it selected the wrong fox" Zephyr replied back, "there is no way I am cut out for this, I am no leader and besides all these months you have made for a better one, I got captured by slavers, you were the one who saved me all while being able to control your affinity of Gaia way better then either me or Ion could when we discovered ours of Wind and Lightning, you are respected greatly by the other tribal fennecs and others are naturally drawn to you, you have the same aura as Ion, something I don't have." "Well you do have that airship the is under your control" Flint started responding back, "the Windfox Vaengr, you know you should go back to Galerune and fly it sometime with your Zyphers, it will build your confidence up." "Still I don't know if that is..." Zephyr started replying back but was cut off, "it is something you can do and I know you are good at it!" Flint cut in with vigor, "when the airship that was first taking us to Galerune and it started to falter during the storm, when the pilot went down you were the only one who was able to take the helm and get it back on course, none of the other Zephyrs on board could do that, the crew really respected you for being able to take charge like that and cheered you on the whole way after, they knew there was something about you that could lead and with that scythe now in your hand, I think the belief is proven."
"It did feel natural taking hold of that wheel, being able to sail the winds" Zephyr started saying, "see, the Windfox was a natural airship pilot, same as you, you showed leadership up there, there is no denying that, seams like that is a good place to get all the experience you need, it really suits you!" Flint cut in one more time which made Zephyr smile. "Still though, I don't want to go back up there yet" Zephyr said after a small pause, "not until I can take Io..." Zephyr started to continue but a eerie feeling came over the two boys as they approached the Eios Rivergate. "I think someone is following us" Flint said quietly, not trying to give off body language that something was off, "seams like it has been for a little while now but for some reason I can only sense their presence now" "I feel the same" Zephyr added, again speaking quietly and avoiding making any movements to show something was off, "do you think they are doing this on purpose? Why else only now have they given their presence to us?" 'That is not the only question, "Flint said back, "why are they following us in the first place? What do they want?" The boys crossed the Rivergate and took a few more steps forward before stopping and turning around, no one was there visually but the boy's sensed were still heightened, "we know you are there, so come on out!" Flint called out as nothing happened, "we know you want us to have your presence know, so why not come out!" Flint called out again as another shiver came down the two boy's spines as they felt a presence behind them , towards teh city, they quickly turned only to see again no one was to turn back towards the gate where a black clothed, hooded and masked figure who look to be a boy maybe around their age standing just before the Rivergate, two swords in hand, one covered in lightning and the other covered in fire, both giving off a blue glow. "See that was not so hard" Flint called out trying to show the jitter in his voice as Zephyr glanced over at the mysterious boy standing before them, his eyes determined like he was readying to attack but something about it did seam a bit off. "Somethings not right here" Zephyr commented to Flint as he called out once more, "so now that you are in the open, you better tell us what your after or else!" The hooded boy did nothing but angle his glare and raised is swords to the side, he didn't seam to be playing around, "alright, if you are not going to answer us then we have no choice but to attack" Flint called out grabbing an arrow from his quiver, Zephyr gritted his teeth and readied his wind scythe, he gave the boy one more glance over as the two of them prepared to attack, there was something familiar about him but he could not put his finger on it..... ~
----------------------------------------- > Engage the Mysterious Boy -----------------------------------------
