Theo is led away down the corridor away from the chamber....
Following orders the general issues orders to the effect that six troops flank Theo as they travel....all remaining unseen bar one.......who falls in behind the pair but remains silent......
Leading him deep into the stronghold his companion answers his questions as they walk...
“Females..” a deep throated chortle at the word....”The females around here are as likely to slit your throat as anything else....or poison you....”
Traversing the corridors Theo passes many doorways and chambers... As they travel he realises a strong smell of wood smoke lingers in the air........Upon the stone walls tapestry hangings cover many of the walls depicting many different scenes.......Candles nestled in wall mounted sconces provide dim lighting along their route.....Though dimly lit, the corridors are remarkably dry.....through the occasional opened doorway Theo spots fires burning brightly in the hearths within each room......
On occasion they pass a small huddled group of men who as they approach stop their conversations....staring at Theo as they pass....conversation striking up in hushed tones once they have passed........Having turned left and right down various intersections they finally arrive at a dead end.....
Unlit corridors disappear both left and right ahead of them a now dust covered wall hanging depicts the scene of two dragons mid air embroiled in combat....each has a rider mounted upon it...each rider wields a very unique sword........
Turning to Theo his companion mutters....”Only those within this keep know of this ...been told your lot are to be privy to its existence....guess that means the boss thinks your okay....regardless of what others say.....”
Lifting the covering to one side he reveals a small wooden door set into the rock face....
“Going out into the plain means the heat....this way we go straight into the mountains....cooler there.......”
He removes a wooden brace locking the door before pulling it inwards revealing a dank dark tunnel before them.......................
On the comment about the females Theo laughs coldly. "unless they poison me well .... thats not going to stop me my Friend .... I'll let you in on a little secret ...." Theo leans down close to the mans head and speaks in a low whisper "Iv Already died three times in this life."
Theo stands again and continues with the man until they reach the door, sniffing the air coming from the door he nods to the man and steps in, taking in another deep breath in though his nose.
"i can't wait to be outside again .... This stuff place makes my nose cry .... All these mortals just sitting around doing nothing with the life the gods graced them with."
Theo turns to face the man and growls coldly at him, be for turning back and facing back down the corridor. "How old are you?" this question directed at the man who has been leading him.
The scent of damp stone assaults Theo's nostrils....on the edge of the air the tinge of wet moss mingled with and early morning rainfull mingled with the raw scent of animal tinge the scents reaching him....
"You have died three times? Is it your kinds nature not to stay dead?....." the question full of intrigue.....if not a little of awe
Unfaltering the man gazes back at Theo....managing to refrain from cowering back under the growling.......
"I am twenty four summers of age..." his voice strong....no fear wavers it......
Theo laughs coldly. "well boy ... Iv seen over one-hundred summers in my life .... " Flex's his body " ... And i still look good."
Theo turns and starts to walk down the corridor. Turning back every now and again, to see if the young man is following.
A sudden scowl at the insult flits across the mans face...quickly replaced with a manufactured grin as he follows Theo down the tunnel........"I'd rather have my years before me than have cheated death many times......."
As they travel the tunnel becomes smaller for a part....the walls enclosing the two of them as the walls of a tomb.....
"How did you die?.....more importantly...how do you now live?" the question that of youth and genuine intrigue........
"Well ... The first time, i had my body riped apart by a Lycan, or a werwolf, hence my form right now. But the Infection of Lycanphropy infected what was left of me and my body reformed."
Theo's form shifts into that of a six foot high, black and red fured wolf, so he can fit in the tunnle easyer.
"the second time i took on a greater demon of Chaos. But my gods saw me as a greater asset to them then i thought i was, and was reborn." Theo looks up at the man and grins.
"The third time ..... Was when the woman i loved riped out my heart trying to save me and ended up just killing me outright. The two i travle with where the ones who burt me back this time."
Theo sniffs the air again and smiles to himself. "When i get my hands on her im going to make her wish she had never been burn. And then i'll destroy her whole city, all her soldiers and her people"
As Theo's form changes his fur brushes against the now damp walls of rock encompassing them.....
Without warning the tunnel opens up onto a small plateau...a thin covering of moss lays upon the ground under their feet.......several paths leading away in different directions...walls of rock alongside two......small bushes alongside the others.........all around for much distance mountains climb towards the clear blue sky.......
A gentle rain falls upon them......leaving fur and skin heavy with the dampness.......
His companion eyes Theo ......"So...yours is a life intent on revenge?....Revenge on someone you loved?.......How can you act so if her actions were well meant?......."
"Don't preach to me boy!!" Theo growls this out, his form shifting again once they are outside, back into his were-creature form.
"Don't ever talk to me in that way .... Or i will be the last thing you see. She riped out my heart ... I have no love for anyone, i have only hatred for all living creatures who stand in my way to greatness."
Theo howls out over the area as loud as he can, an Eco returning his call. Flexing his legs his growls in a crouched position, then with no warning, he leaps strait up into the air, reaching about fifty feet in the air be for coming down and landing in the same way he jumped.
"This body is allot stronger then my last one. Senses are much stronger. Transformation is much faster. So .... Boy, where are these Mountains?" Looking down at the man with his questioning gaze, but with a playful grin on his face.
As the wolf snarls then transforms to were form the man shrinks back momentarily before regaining his original stance....the scent of damp fur hangs in the air......
Opening his mouth to say something he thinks better and remains quiet....
At Theo's question the man looks slightly incredulous....holding a hand out he indicates all around them.....
"We are within them.....they surround us.....using any of these tracks.." he indicates the paths leading away from the plateau...."Will take us deeper within them.....within the realm of the mountains there are great valleys in which trees and wildlive prosper....encircled with great stone walls in which no greenery lives and only the wildest and most determined creatures can exist..."
Moving for a better view across the platuea looking out at the peaks surrounding them.....
"There is tell of wild feline creatures which move among these mountains...great creatures with fangs the size of a small child and claws like no other on this land....it is said they are the wrath of the mountain gods sent to wreak death upon any who dare to venture into their realm.....those who tell such tales call them Plourra...it means demon cat..."The distant look his eyes had taken as he had related the tale left to be replaced with a gentle laughter both in his voice and in his eyes........
"Of course those who know the gods are false and that the dragons reign true know that they are merely the playthings of the dragons.....sent to test our bravest warriors.....to us they are Lon Skana te Tystak.....Quest of dragons....."
Theo laughs at the mans words and rubs his belly grining like mad. "You may call them that, but i call them lunch. in witch direction do i need to travle to find them?"
looking down at the man he snarls a sharp laugh. "And do you think you can handle coming with me??"