"No way we're getting through that anytime soon. Not without letting the whole of the capital know where we are."
As Richie racked her brain about what to do, Tank piped up.
"There was something, a kind of service tunnel or the like, about half a mile back, I'm sure."
One of the others agreed they'd seen something.
"Why don't we take a look?" suggested Tank.
"I'll go," said Richie.
Tank was just about to object, but Richie stopped him by holding up just one finger.
"Let me finish," she pleaded. "I'll go with the heavy squad here," she said, motioning to the dragons who'd been travelling at the front with them. "You stay and look after the others. We'll do a quick reconnoitre and hopefully be back in no time at all. So get comfortable, try and rest, and don't make too much noise. Post a couple of guards as well," she ordered.
Tank nodded, albeit reluctantly. Logically, he knew it all made sense, but that didn't stop him from wanting to go with her. Quickly, she shared the plan with the others and then set off into the darkness.
Tank tasked a couple of the dragons to take a watch in either direction, while they set up a makeshift camp. As well as the fountain of light, Gee Tee managed to produce a raging fire in the middle of their newly formed base, seemingly out of nowhere, procuring its energy from absolutely nothing. Already uncomfortable with the heat, the humans moved way back, while the dragons eagerly consumed the warmth and radiance the flames offered. Tank ordered them all to rest as much as they could, stating that undoubtedly they would need all the energy they could get later on.
All snuggled together, for the first time the humans had a chance to marvel at the situation they found themselves in, whispering in wonder to each other about it, much to the amusement of the dragons around them. After all, they were able to hear every last word with their superb enhanced hearing. This lasted more than half an hour, after which things became much quieter, with all the beings making up this bizarre group choosing to keep their counsel and rest.
Nearly two hours later, the guard nearest the entrance down which Richie had disappeared, alerted Tank's group that they had company. Rising to their feet, all the dragons adopted a fighting stance, with the humans and the master mantra maker protected behind them. They needn't have worried, as it turned out to be Richie's group returning. Tank was more than a little relieved to see her safe and sound, and of course the rest of the group.
Gathered around the fire, much to Richie's discomfort, they explained what they'd found. It turned out they'd reached the outskirts of London, as Tank had pretty much deduced, and had arrived in the urban dragon area of Molesey, close to Hampton Court and some way south west of their objective. In scouting the area, the group had been surprised to find so much devastation around them. Buildings had been looted, ransacked and set ablaze. Clearly, running battles had taken place between two forces, both of which were nowhere to be seen. They had, however, managed to find a source of relative safety... the Hampton Court nursery ring was still intact and untouched by whatever violence was ravaging the dragon domain. The tors on guard there had, on hearing about Richie and her group, offered them the chance to rest and replenish their supplies, which Richie had eagerly taken them up on, hoping that a few more dragons might decide to join her once they knew a little more about what was going on.
And so it was that the small, interesting band of fighters stalked through dusty, uneven streets, moving stealthily from shadow to shadow, always on the lookout for trouble, eventually reaching the temporary respite offered by the nursery ring.
Entering the small but beautifully formed and as yet untouched sanctuary, the young dragons, learning their way in life, were stunned to see actual humans, armed and below ground, bolstering the depleted fighting force. And they weren't the only ones. Whispered gripes passed from tor to tor, most only comfortable about expressing their displeasure to one another, despite most of those around them being able to hear what was going on. For the time being, Richie chose to ignore it, knowing that at the moment she needed all the allies she could get, to stand any chance of successfully carrying out what they were about to do. She hoped that once everyone heard the story of what had happened and how the humans had saved the day, with Gee Tee's help of course, it would bring them around to her side.
So as the small force sat down with all the dragons from the nursery ring and shared their food and water, in her head Richie practised the speech she would eventually have to give.
All around Flash, brilliant coloured lines rapidly slowed, as once more the world swam into view. Wavering a little, he fought off the urge to be sick as he looked around the dark, deserted concrete runway for any sign that he was in the right place. Exhausted, he decided even if he wasn't where he expected to be, he just had to sit down, for a few moments anyway. So he did, with the cool breeze doing little to stop the sweat pouring off him. He'd had no idea the boots would take such a toll, well, not physically anyway. Draining his reserves of mana, that was to be expected, but he hurt just about everywhere and felt more tired than he could ever remember being.
Abruptly, the faintest of noises rustled out of the darkness from behind him. Instantly he sprang to his feet, forcing the tiredness from his body, willing it to work. Momentarily he thought about taking another step with the boots; it would at least get him clear of trouble, but as far as he knew, this was his supposed destination, and he had no idea where else to go.
Without warning, they appeared from out of the darkness, off to one side of the runway. First one, then two, followed by a whole group of them. In a couple of seconds he was surrounded by over fifteen of them. And by them, he meant... dragons! All in their natural form. Readying himself, his body tensed... just in case.
"You're actually thinking about it... aren't you?" came a familiar voice from off to one side.
A beaming smile broke out on Flash's face as several of the dragons parted to let his friend through.
"Well... you know. Old habits and all."
Yoyo burst into a trot and encompassed the ex-Crimson Guard, wrapping his giant wings all the way around him.
"It's so good to see you again," said the healer enthusiastically.
"I only wish it were under better circumstances," replied Flash, wary of the strangers. Yoyo stepped back.
"It's okay," he said. "They're with me. And I trust each and every one of them with my life, just as I do you."
Turning a full three hundred and sixty degrees, taking in each of the dragons before him, he had but one thought. 'Ragtag bunch of scallywags,' would barely do them justice. Some looked incredibly young... too young in fact. Most should still have been secreted in the nursery ring.
"I know what you're thinking," whispered Yoyo softly, "but often things are more complicated than we like to think, in actual everyday life."
"So they've never attended a nursery ring?" enquired Flash.
"For most... no!"
Flash's shoulders slumped as he shook his head in resignation.
One of the dragons stepped forward, a look of righteous indignation scrawled across his face.
"Who the hell are you to judge us... human?!" he growled fiercely, full on into Flash's face.
'Clearly,' thought Flash, as he swept into action, 'Yoyo hasn't explained to them who I am.'
It happened so quickly, not a single one of them saw it, that's how fast he was. Having kicked one of the young dragon's legs away, Flash twisted his left wing behind his back and had produced a tiny little blade which was now hovering mere inches above the dragon's weak spot. Struggling for all he was worth, the youngster attempted to shake Flash off, but try as he might, he couldn't budge the ex-Crimson Guard. As one, the others exhaled at the sight of their friend in trouble.