Sorry for the delay everyone. I've been a bit busy lately. :( Love that twist of yours Ang. I was hoping the story might connect back up somehow. ;) Welcome pstekky. Wow, yet another newcomer. I never knew creative writing was so contagious. ;) Great to have you with us, although it's starting to get a little crowded. However I'll gladly add you to the list. You'll be after TheAlex. Hope you have fun. :) STORYTELLER ORDER LIST ====================== 1. Drekinn 2. dialyn 3. Claymor 4. Ang25 5. TheAlex 6. pstekky ====================== Now, on with the story. :) STORY---------- Lydia reeled in shock. 'Mayata?' 'Yes, and who are you? It warms my heart to hear another voice here in the cold darkness.' Lydia sat deep in quiet disbelief for a moment, trying to comprehend the situation. 'Mayata?' Mayata shuffled closer. 'Yes. Why does this name surprise you? Have we met before? What is your name?' 'I'm... I'm Lydia.' 'Hello Lydia,' said Mayata, reaching out a friendly hand in the darkness, finding Lydia's and holding it tenderly. 'How are you feeling?' 'Like I've been hit by a truck, and these wrist bindings are agony,' winced Lydia. 'A truck?' puzzled Mayata as she produced a sharp blade and promptly cut free Lydia's hands. 'Better?' she asked with a smile. 'Yes, thank you,' said Lydia gratefully. She ran her fingers uneasily along the edge of the mattress and onto a rough, rock floor, laden with thick dust. She struggled with words. 'How... who... w-why are you here?' Mayata sighed. 'I was taken from my village several days ago by one of Snaketooth's foul dragon beasts and have been locked in this chamber ever since.' 'A dragon??' 'Yes, he uses them to terrorize the people of this land and cause chaos and destruction wherever they go.' 'Don't be ridiculous! You expect me to believe such nonsense? Look, I have to get out of here ok.' Lydia jumped up and began fumbling around in the dark, groping the cold walls in search of an exit. 'There's no way out. Not yet anyway.' Mayata stood and retreated to the far side of the chamber where a thin beam of light entered through a small crack. With her hands she wrenched back three wooden boards revealing a gaping hole in the wall. Daylight flooded the chamber. 'I've been secretly chiselling my way through during the nights, when the guards are sleeping. It's not quite wide enough to squeeze through, but by tonight, with your help, it may prove to be our means of escape.' Now in the dim light Lydia could clearly see Mayata. Her appearance matched that exactly of the "Mayata - Woman of Iron" character she knew so well from the popular comic books. 'How could this be?' she thought. Lydia approached the hole slowly and gazed out, her jaw dropping at what she saw. They were perched high up on the side of a smouldering volcano. Thin streams of molten lava trickled down the hillside into large, bubbling cauldrons. Hissing jets of steam spewed out noisily from the craggy ground just metres away, and in the sky above, strange winged creatures circled around a dark and menacing tower. 'Where the hell are we?!' shrieked Lydia, horrified. 'Snaketooth's fortress,' Mayata replied solemnly, staring out into the gloom. 'It is said that ye who venture here are never seen again.' 'How can this be!' sobbed Lydia. 'This must all be a dream!' Mayata placed a reassuring hand on Lydia's shoulder. 'Don't worry. Tonight will we be free.' Suddenly, from the other side of the chamber door there came a loud voice. 'Hey! What's going on in there?!' snarled an angry guard. Lydia and Mayata both panicked at the sound of keys jingling in the lock. 'Hurry! Help me board up the hole!' cried Mayata. ----------STORY Ok dialyn, your turn. :)

Drekinn
___
"Let words be your palette."