Temple of The Tiger Part Two. A calling of Warriors
Chapter One. A reunion of sorts

They had travelled a long way, miles and miles and they were fast approaching the sea. They had still seen no sign of Paidrech and his band; they had passed through villages that they had passed through. Travelled through woods and forests that held remnants of camps, passed battle scenes and heard stories, but the warriors themselves eluded them.

Keelagh was feeling weary, unlike the first quest they had met no strange creatures trying to stop them, no bands of marauders trying to fleece them, no one to rescue and no fights to be fought. In fact the land was so quiet it was almost like the calm before a storm, everyone peaceful and happy, and boring. That’s what she realised as they approached the great city that stood before the seaways, she was bored, and that made her restless.

The sight of the Sea had been awesome to her, vast and seeming to extend beyond the horizon forever, they had smelt it long before it had come in to view, a crisp salty fresh smell, unlike the rivers and waterways that she knew and had sailed many times. As they approached the City Bryn and Magryth held back, they would have to stay beyond the city until the ship could be obtained, Bryn was not happy at her going into a strange city alone but he had no choice, this was not a city that had been built for Dragons to wander unlike Duranbro, its thoroughfares were narrower and its streets closer together, though he could have managed it, he would have been conspicuous and they obviously didn’t have a lot of Dragon visitors, attracting too much attention was not a good thing in a strange place.

Keelagh rode through the gates of the city on Spirit with Wraith at her side, Bryn and Magryth watched them go, they stood beyond the city on a small hill both cloaked in Magryth’s magic so they would not be seen. “I am not happy about this” Bryn said to the Unicorn for the hundredth time
“I know, and we both know that if anything happens I can be there in a heartbeat, you worry too much Bryn”
“She can be reckless, my Friend, she does not always think before she speaks, and she always says what is in her head before she has thought it through”
“You worry that there will be those that try to take advantage of her, but you forget who she is Bryn, she is not easily duped”
“That’s the problem, I would hate to see what would happen to those that tried!” and they both laughed.

Keelagh rode through the streets in what she hoped was the direction of the sea and the ships, the place was so crowded and the streets so complex she began to wonder if she would ever find them. She had been worried about losing Wraith, but the people moved out of his way, with fearful looks and signs of the Evil eye. If they only knew that Wraith was no mere Wolf, but then they may have been even more frightened no less. She had ridden through dozens of streets when she began to notice a change in the people, there were suddenly no women or children, and the streets had become emptier. Spirit began to edge and prance a little and Wraith began that low growling and his hackles had gone up. She felt danger, but could not see it, so many twists and turns; she unsheathed her sword but held it by her side.

They had gone three more turns when a net came flying out of nowhere and wrapped around Wraith, taking his feet out from under him as it was tightened by persons unseen, and then it was being dragged towards another bend and she tried to turn Spirit but suddenly was surrounded by people and could not turn, she tried to follow the net but could not move, she called to him, she heard him Yelp, and then nothing. The people moved and she sprang from Spirits back and ran towards the corner, but there was no sign, of Wraith or anyone else.

“Where are we going?” Kal asked for what had to be the twentieth time, he was worried as now Brock was following the other horses and he wasn’t sure if he was on the right trail anymore.
“To the Sea, you have asked me that question so many times Kal, let me explain, if you are on a quest to find the warriors to save your Temple”
“The Tiger not the Temple”
“Tiger, Temple whatever” Gilbert said sighing “ Then the ones you are looking for will be coming that way, as we did”
“So you are definitely not the ones?”
“Not on our own, no! ”
“For goodness sakes” Kearth grumbled “Why don’t you just be quiet for a little while and listen to what is being said, the Warriors are probably on their way now, while we are wasting time with you!”
“But how can you be sure?”
“We can’t, no more than you knew which way to ride, we just know, if they are coming that is the way,” Gilbert said patiently
“And if we know, whoever is responsible for the disappearance of your Tiger will know” Kearth said quietly.
Gilbert looked at him, “Ah fun and games to be had Kearth?” he questioned, Kearth looked up at the darkening sky before answering “Maybe not so much fun as we would like, but it is certain there will be someone waiting Gilbert, or something?” They rode on in silence.

Keelagh was still searching the streets, she could gain no help from the people, if she tried to talk to them they turned away, she was despairing when she heard a voice at the side of her.
“Go find a ship, Keelagh, I will search for Wraith”
“How could I be so stupid? Magryth, if anything happens to him”
“SSshh, fret not, you could not have known, I will find him, and I will come for you, go find a ship, have it ready, and be careful” She could not see him but she felt him leave.

She turned towards the streets that he had shown her led to the seafront, remounting Spirit she made her way down them, dejected without her faithful Wolf at her side, even the sight of the ships with the tall sails could raise no wonder in her.
All manner of people crammed the streets by the seafront, all colours and all sizes, had she now been so worried and so forlorn, the wonderful smells and colours and sounds would have held her entranced. She had come out on to a wide thoroughfare, which ended at the sea; Ships were tied up to huge poles set all along the side. She dismounted and began to walk holding Spirit loosely by the reigns her hand on the hilt of her sword, she had to think about how she was going to approach the matter of a ship, and who she was going to approach. She hadn’t seen anyone that seemed to be connected with the ships, but what would she know?

She had walked a little way further along when she saw a ship with what appeared to be a set of long planks all tied together leading down on to the seafront, men were walking up and down it carrying what seemed to be provisions, and rolling barrels up it on to the ship. She wandered closer towards a group of men that appeared to be counting what was going on and off. She had almost reached them when she was stopped in her tracks by a familiar voice
“Well you took your time getting here “
She turned and there stood Paidrech along with Yailith, as she struggled to speak Bodin appeared with Chitter who immediately jumped from his shoulder on to hers and smothered her in wet little kisses.
“I have been searching for you” Keelagh said when she finally managed to stop the little Chitter
“I thought we would be in need of a ship, and came ahead to secure us one” Paidrech replied pointing at the great ship being filled with supplies
“She looked down at the floor and then back at him “How do you always know?” She said and then “Wraiths been taken”
“Then we best find him, for we cannot have an adventure without our White Wolf” And all the others said Aye.