Book One -- A Gathering of Dreams

Chapter Seven:  Outside the Circle

            So some mega Chaos being, or perhaps Meta Chaos being was passing by.  The dragons had no concept going on.  They were reduced or reverted back to purely an instinctual level.  The being seemed to moved on or was at least somewhat departed and yet a powerful remnant hung in the air.  It wasn't clear whether the remains were because of its nature or by virtue of its continued proximity per se.

            Our heroes on the dock and on the Wolverine returned to focusing on the situation at  hand and assessing the damage.  Ekin took control of things while Singh, who had gone to the dock and managed to tie up the ship, and Saphir, who had shifted the shadow enough to slow down the taking on of water that the ship was doing, both lent a hand down below.

            Toeval continued to regroup and reestablish contact/rapport with his dragon companions.  They were very slow to resume their discipline.  Toeval eventually descended and pitched in to help as well.  Ekin, reviewed the damage reports and then summoned the group to the bridge for a meeting.  He explained that the vessel required several days, if not 10 days (as all labor available had since fled the port) for serious repairs in order to restore it to operational status.  Everyone agreed to abandon the ship -- hopefully covertly, if possible -- and take the dragons to continue the journey. They all discussed what to do about waiting for and or finding Nero.  Before leaving without him.

            "Was he coming back?" someone asked, no one was sure. So, they decided that they would fly over town, pick up some armor and scout the area for Nero, hopefully find him and take off.

            Saphir reached out with his senses to scan for Nero, but all he found, to his dread, was an area void of life, and  more presence of the Chaotic thing, motivating him to urge a hasty departure.  It was still nearby, in some manner.

            The group quickly agreed.  So plans were set for the boat to veer off into the harbor as possible distraction.  So they took to the air -- Ekin atop Lodik, Singh atop Zert, Saph on Shrek and Toeval on Krieg as always.

            The first stop planned was to stop at the armor/smith shop, but everyone decided better to leave the area then to dabble at risk.  They were creeped out.  Flying, they cruised quickly over the Begma deserts -- heading towards an oasis far off.

            A strange presence is sensed, and a tug at Toeval -- a trump type call is made.  It's his father Lord Bleys of Amber.  He tells Toeval