Dragon Frost by S. J. Wist Page B

was." He turned and started to leave then, and Ubi followed behind.
    Nafury reached the outside ledge and started to shift, before Ubi caught his arm and stopped him. He read her eyes and lifted her chin up. "Don't let him get to you. Cecil has always been a creep."
    "I don't want to see Toria anymore," she said and absentmindedly looked him over. She wanted to sleep in his shift for their return and she didn't know how to manipulate him in such a manner to activate it. "This place makes me sad and I don't like any of it."
    "It could be the Aur," Nafury said, offering her the excuse when he knew exactly what was bothering her now. "A dark Fay would be more comfortable near the Atrum's Aur. I'm sorry then that we won't see your castle up close."
    Ubi shook her head. "It's fine."
    He pulled her close and into his shift with his best effort to douse her sadness with sleep. Then Nafury stepped off of the ledge, and spread his wings in the direction of the Torian beach.

    On returning to the beach, he landed next to Xirel. The Awl hadn't had any visitors to deal with in their absence. The merchants were quickly finishing their gatherings as well. They would be ready to start the return to the Suzerain Continent by nightfall.
    "Anything?" Nafury asked.
    "I'm not sure. The Threads have changed on this side of the world. Is Ubi alright?" Xirel asked.
    "Cecil pissed her off, but other than a bit sad, she's alright."
    "Did he listen to you?" Xirel asked.
    "I don't know. I don't plan on hanging around to find out if he did or not, either."
    "The silence here worries me. That and can you feel that in the air?"
    Nafury tilted his head, as he tried to tune into the Threads that bothered Xirel. "That is weird. What is it?"
    "Someone is realigning the Thread, and I don't think it will be in our favour. We should hasten our return to the Suzerain Continent."
    'It's electricity,' Alexia voiced to Nafury by psi.  'They're statically charging the Thread.'
    "Oh no," Nafury said.
    "What?" Xirel asked, concerned.
    "Alexia says it's electricity."
    "And there are no thunderstorms on Aster..." Xirel brought his fingers to his mouth and let out a sharp whistle. It was the emergency signal that they were all leaving, right now.
    The captain began to shout orders and his crew began to move at double speed. They loaded everything they could carry last moment onto the small boats for the GLORIA. In fifteen minutes, the last phelan shifters and humans were off of the beach and paddling for the ship.
    Nafury spotted the enemy first within the trees. "A Sentry, there."
    Xirel looked in the direction that he did and unsheathed his blade. "Go for the legs, it's their weak point.
    Cries of fear could be heard from the GLORIA. Several of the sailors had spotted the semi-transparent, insect-like creature in the trees as well.
    "Is it alone?" Nafury asked. When he got no answer from Xirel, he took to the air and then landed right on top of the creature. It screamed and thrashed, and one of its bladed arms cut the side of his face. Nafury pinned it down, before sending his teeth for its neck. It died, leaving nothing but silver ash in his claws. He looked around if any more would join the fight, but only silence answered. The answer was too easy, and he focused harder. He sensed one moving invisibly for Xirel, and he launched himself back into the air. He came down on the Sentry just as the Awl cut the Threads to its legs from under it. "Xirel!"
    "Yes, I see them," the Awl replied and looked to the next closest one. "They can still reach the ship. We must hold them off a little longer."
    Nafury charged at the one Xirel saw and crippled it with several rakes from his claws. Another came up from behind him and Xirel collapsed its legs. That gave Nafury time to react and turn around to kill the creature.
    Xirel took focus on the next Sentry to come for him, and swiftly cut it down with a swipe of his sword. He paused for a moment then as the