• ‘Haikeiro was an idiot at times... most of the time honestly... but I’ll never say that to his face... even if he’s admitted it himself.’ These words echoed in the mind of one of the younger children of Nozdormu, as she sat on one of the cliffs overlooking the Caverns of Time. Below her were the patrolling kin of her kind, protecting the behemoth known as Anachronos, as they flew slowly over the same path. She would stand, the form she taken miniature compared to those of her flight, being in her humanoid guise. “He is an idiot for intruding on these sands...” Her voice would be melodic as she flipped downwards, landing nimbly on her feet in the soft sand. “Chronalis!” She’d yell out to the largest of the patrols, seeking for his attention.

    “Yesssssss, Airieonosssss?” He would hiss as he turned his head to look at her, darkened eyes staring coldly as he realized she was in a guise. Around her own kind, she could chose to be free and yet she skipped about in such a form... it was nauseating to him.

    “Company.” She would raise a frail arm, pointing off to a fallen remains of a building as ancient as them and yet the stone was still sturdy, with an armored man standing on a magnificent horse, also clad in golden armor. “See to it that the others do not get in the way.” Demanding, as she folded her arms back across her chest.

    “Why should I do thisssss?” The winged beast would snort, hot air brushing past the young Bronze’s face and blowing her red locks. “It hassss been yearsss since we have had a feast...”

    “It is my turn to have fun, Chronalis.” She would say, as if reminding him of some agreement they had come to. “Plus, he is not an ordinary hume...”

    “They all taste the same, Airieonossssss....”

    “He has strong armor, Chronalis.” Airieonos would say in a matter of face tone, closing her eyes. “Your teeth would chip.”

    Chronalis would not respond to this, simply turning his body away from her and continued with his flight, swishing his tail behind him. A swift flick and sand would sprayed in the direction of Airieonos; this notion did not surprise her. Chronalis did not enjoy others who treaded near their precious caverns and he had every right to be.

    However, Airieonos knew there was something special about this man as he grew ever closer to the caverns. It was time she got involved ... before Anachronos did. She’d take off into a light run, her feet barely touching the sand as she did so, leaving not a trace of herself behind. With the quick wave of her hand, she’d send some of the rubble that Haikeiro had been standing on into a downwards slope, the horse and the paladin sliding and falling into a pile of sand. Now... it was time for their introduction and it would be one beautifully played, just like that of a fairytale!

    A harmonic tune would be played as she strung her fingers along the harp in her arms as she swirled in front of Haikeiro. “Why hello there, traveler who has seen all in this world~”

    Haikeiro would remain on the ground, motionless.

    “I am one who is fair, who wouldn’t dare, the one named Air~”

    He still would not make a sound, nor move a limb.

    “Hey!” She would get impatient, her hands to her side now. “Why won’t you respond to me?!”

    Haikeiro would be laying on his back, his horse laying on top of him. He was dead and most of his body was crushed by the armored horse.

    Airieonos would twitch upon seeing this, her head lowered. She must be more careful in doing these sort of things ... but never mind it. Her tiny eyes would seem far off as sand engulfed the area around her. As the wind faded away, Haikeiro would be sitting valiantly on his horse once again, looking off towards the caverns. If there was one thing Airieonos despised, it was when her beautiful plans went wrong.

    “Who are you?” Haikeiro would ask, looking down from his place upon his steed. He had taken notice of the woman, who was dressed for regions far away from Tanaris.

    “I am Airie~!” She would say almost instantly and then curse afterwards. She was suppose to sing it! This introduction was all so very wrong too! Haikeiro would raise a brow, curious as to this lady’s change in tone. “This is all so very wrong, I am suppose to be a minstrel and you are to be enchanted by my beauty!”

    All Haikeiro could get out was a “Uhh...” before the sand storm was back and yet even more aggressive then the one before. Airieonos would be swept up into the air up onto the platform, as she sat there, skirt flowed out around her body and her harp in her hands. With a single flick of her wrist, she’d begin to play a soft tune and the winds ceased to exist. Haikeiro would be standing directly in front of her, his horse now gone as well as half of his armor. There would be no casualties now...

    That was until Chronalis came up and snatched the entire paladin into his mouth, leaving Airieonos to gasp. “CHRONALIS!!!” She’s screech at him, throwing her harp at his face. The instrument would bounce off of his bronze scales as he gnawed a bit on the human, Haikeiro’s legs sticking out, until he swallowed him whole. “WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!”

    Chronalis would smirk. “He wassss not wearing the painful armor... so my teeth would be safe...”

    “Chronalis! He was one of the earth warders!” Airieonos would say, her hands on the side of her hip now.

    “More better of a reason to eat the b*****d...” He would snort, spitting out the spear that was on the paladin’s back. “That metal upsets my stomach...” He would mutter to himself.

    “Next time ... let me have my fun...” She’d murmur, jumping on his back and then sliding down his wing to where her harp was. Picking up her instrument, she’d strum the strings again and the storm would be back. Chronalis, who was now bored and had a full stomach, would fly back off to his path, as Airieonos was face to face with Haikeiro again, who now instead of riding a horse, was riding a mechanostrider.

    Haikeiro would blink as the mechanostrider would collapse under the weight of him and his armor, as he crashed to the ground. He would look up to the woman, with a very confused look on his face.

    “My name is Airieonos and I am one of the children of Nozdormu.” Her introduction would be simple now, as she offered a hand to help him to his feet. Haikeiro would take it and she’d grip his gauntlets tightly and with inhumane strength, pull him to his feet. “I have some news for you, dearest Haikeiro Zana’drael.”

    “I am winning a new mount?” He would ask, giving a smile. “Maybe a new spear?” He’d rub the back of his head nervously, as he said “I have five seconds to live..?”

    “You, dear sir, are a dragon!”

    Haikeiro would then clutch his chest tightly, overcome by the shock, and would have a heart attack. His stiff body would fall over, dead.

    “...” Airieonos couldn’t believe how difficult it was to discuss such a simple matter with this paladin?! Chronalis would be snickering in the background as he swished his tail about happily. “Why must you make matters so difficult?!” She’d kick his body with her same strength, as it went flying into the rubble, shattering it and potentially every bone in his body.

    “For you only, my lord.” She would speak, looking back to the Caverns of Time, past Anachronos and the other dragonkin. There would lay the dimension in which their aspect rested, Nozdormu, the one who sent her on such a trial. With another strum of her harp, she reset the time to just a few moments ago, with Haikeiro once again on his horse, standing on top of the rubble. “Dear sir...” She’d be laying on the ground now, her hand on her leg. “I think I have broken my leg...”

    Haikeiro would hop off of his horse and down to where she was, kneeling before her, pulling off one of his heavy-plated gloves to run a finger along her leg. “Let’s get you to town..” He would offer, signaling for his horse to come down to join them.

    It wasn’t exactly the introduction that she originally envisioned, with beauty and music, but it was one that was perfect for this idiot who cared too much about others.