Nothing Can Go Wrong With This! Right?

[BrokenDreamer]

She stood poised at the edge of Silver Lake, back arched like an excited cat while strong claws stretch and scratch, getting a feel for the earth beneath them. In the moon's glow, copper scales kissed with oxidized green gleam while bright eyes of tropic waters seem to stare at something worlds away. At this very moment, the mind of this dragon of the earth was following the twists and turns of the terra of Myrken. Her awareness sinking deeper and deeper. Down and down and down. She could feel it. Her body trembling with the knowledge with all those secret pockets and hidden caverns in the most immediate area. The hidden water ways and … There. There is is.

Small she might be, no taller than twelve feet when flat footed and head held high. Insignificant they may all think her but damnit, she could do this. She will do this! Zerdali the Magnificent shall beat them all at their own game. For a moment the female's large head lifts, broad and flat with it's back swept horns and she trumpets – a sound as beautiful as a sweet singing bell, strong and true.

The earth begins to rumble faintly, groans a quiet complaint as the dragoness begins to sink into the very ground. The 'V' shape of her wings connected down the length of her body fold like a bird diving from the height of heaven as she herself dives into the ground. It was only the other night that Myrken had shuddered and shock. Now it does so again. The earth quivers as below the copper dragon sets to work. If she were shaping earth and stone into a lair for herself, more time and attention for detail would have taken place. Time, however, was not something she had.

New tunnels created that were not there before, old tunnels widened. Pocketed caverns that had once been more isolated where finding themselves soon connected with more of their bothers and sisters.

This was not what Glenn had in mind when he asked for help, that is for sure, and that was the entire point. Zerdali had agreed to help but she never promised to play the game by their rules. All plans for this had been kept in secret, not even Descant had been told. He would have attempted to stop her. Not that anyone could stop the female once her mind was truly set upon something.

Even with treatment more gentle than the previous night, the land that is Myrken continues to groan its complaints. It grumbles and complains. And then? Silence.

Silence.

Silence.

The waters of the great lake previous had rippled and shivered from the goings on directly below it. It had grown still again until …

BUUURP.

One great and giant bubble rolls up from the bed of the lake. Then another. And another. The sound? Like that of a giant bath tub being drained.

Which is exactly. What. Was. Happening.

The water of the Silver Lake was being drained away, gushing down to fill tunnels and caverns – filling up those hidden ways beneath the surface. Down down and down the water level goes. Foot by foot – unmeasurable gallons of poisoned lake water. Gluup gluup gluup gluup till all that was left was a soggy lake bottom and dark yawning mouth within the earth filled with water.

In the dark of night, a second cavernous maul opens up in the earth – just large enough for the dripping wet dragon to claw her way out. Those powerful shoulders and thighs built for jumping. For climbing. She squeezes out before shuddering, shaking off droplets of water like a wet dog. Exhausted, amused, low and please rumbles purred forth from the thick of her throat as she picks her way to the face she had seen when she had flown over the lake earlier to spy through it's now clear waters.

The stony features are taken in, studied closely before, with delicately used claws, the horn that lays over the woman's mouth is picked up.

Eyelids of marble slide open.

Freezing, her breath is held. And held. And held.

And released when nothing happens after a long, waiting moment.

With the horn clasped in her grasp, great wings spread open and begin to beat. There is an awkward three-legged gait as she begins to run, to gather speed … and then leap. One great and powerful bounce and she is air born – quickly leaving behind the scene of the crime.

[BetaFlame]

Aleksei.. just stands and stares. He had heard the lake had drained. But. Really? He can't help it. He bursts into laughter, which only makes the locals think he is even crazier. Glenn is going to be so angry.

"You there, good sir." He moves over to a farmer, offering a smile. "Your axe.. can I borrow it?"

The farmer blinks a few times. He considers saying no. Goddamn foreigners coming here and.. but, he works for the Governor. So he just offers the axe over wordlessly. Aleksei takes the axe, and cuts six small three branches before passing it back with a few coins for the trouble. He produces some stings, and lashes the sticks together, three each, forming two planks, and them lashes those to his boots. And with the increases surface area for his feet, and quite easily walks across the mud, heading down to the statue.

Oh, the horn is obviously gone. But he is not concerned. It will turn up. And with every loss, there is gain. Its all a balance.

He studies the statue, and raises an eyebrow. Remembering the night of the earthquake he peers at the eyes. "My. That's interesting..."

Producing his notebook, he starts to scribble notes.