The deafening roar of the explosion washed over Marcus and Arden, their powerful ears reeling in pain. Smoke and dust poured from the Tower wall, rubble was strewn about the base. Screams came to Marcus’ clearing ears and he shook his head to clear his mind. His eyes darted around the Proving Grounds, taking stock of the situation. No fights were breaking out, everyone was running from the Tower and the Protectors were covering their charges or running to secure the sight of the attack.

“Someone’s coming out!” Arden yelled, pulling Marcus by the shoulder toward the Tower. Through the smoke and dust Marcus could see a cloaked figure jump out of the great rend in the tower wall, a soft blue sphere encircling him as he fell. The figure touching down lightly and took the time to check the pack strapped to his back. Protectors closed in on him, weapons drawn and orders to surrender were shouted. The cloaked figure threw out a hand and the Protectors were thrown off their feet, the Shockwave spell visible in the dust on the ground and in the air. The caster took off running, right toward the gate that Marcus and Arden were approaching on the wall.

“Arden, get down!” Marcus snatched the stag by his armored collar and ducked under a crenellation. “Soft Fall, he’s a magic user, be ready.”

“Got it, jump on three, one, two, now!” Arden and Marcus jumped from their hiding spot and over the wall casting mid-leap, Marcus nearly fumbling the spell. Their target was almost directly under them, much faster than anticipated. Next to him Arden hit the ground with a painful yell. Marcus however clipped the runner before hitting the ground with a grunt. Shit, Anti-Magic Field!

“Go, I’ll be fine! Stop him!” Arden shouted when Marcus got up and looked to him. Marcus nodded and gave chase. Through the gate, the city’s Market District expanded, its citizens going about their daily lives. Yells and insults followed as the two runners crashed through the crowds. Marcus was hard pressed to keep his quarry in sight let alone gain ground.

A sharp corner ahead gave him hope. A large plaza would open beyond and with it a wide open space; enough room for a spell. Pushing off the wall as he made the turn, he saw the plaza appear, full of citizens and stalls in the heat of trade and commerce. His target made for a large fountain in the middle and fired a spell as he went. A green bolt of energy slammed into Marcus’ chest, the force nearly throwing him on his back. Citizens ran, their screams of terror built as the crowd tried to clear the plaza.

Swearing, Marcus started to run again. He made it only a few steps when his fur stood on end. From behind, the smell of ozone and a blinding flash of blue light streaked over his shoulder and slammed into his quarry with a deafening boom. Not caring who the spell came from, Marcus surged ahead, reaching the staggered runner and leveling his spear.

“By the power of the Magi Protectorate, you are hereby seized for the assault on the Tower of Storms and the suspected theft of goods from within! Stand down and surrender peacefully!” Marcus ordered teeth bore in a snarl and ears flat against his head. As he took a few breaths to calm his pulse, a scent from the past entered his nose. The last time he had smelled it, he was betrayed, nearly killed, and humiliated.

“It can’t be you.” Marcus mumbled in disbelief.

“And yet it is. Will you still bare your fangs at me?” The hooded figure asked. It was a male voice and Marcus could see a white canine muzzle protruding from the hood. Recovered from his shock, Marcus gave a mighty thrust with his spear. He was rewarded with the screech of metal on metal as the blow was deflected by a short blade.

Marcus renewed his offensive, trying for a debilitating strike. His opponent was skilled though; deflecting the trusts and trying to make an avenue for escape. Through the din of combat, Marcus heard footfalls behind him and felt a slap on his shoulder. Energy flooded into Marcus’ muscles and nerves as the spell took hold. Invigorated, he lunged forward, little more than a blur to a bystander’s eye. The white canine made to duck the blow but was too slow. The Haste spell cast on Marcus gave him an edge and the spear landed, slicing into face and neck. The hood fell away in tatters and the bag on his back fell to the ground.

The ice blue eyes that met his held mix of shock and pride. Blood ran down the owner’s neck, marring the blinding white of the fur. The two canines stared at each other, the world stood still for the moment then flooded back into motion. The husky rushed Marcus and shoved him out of the way. Running down the cobblestone street, he pulled a rolled sheet of parchment from his belt, shouted an arcane word, and threw the parchment in front of him. There was a flash of blue and purple light and the husky was gone, another Lightning Bolt missing by a breath. Marcus stood and stared at the space the husky occupied moments before, his mind numb with the memories of the past and the implications for the future.

“You let him escape!” a female voice screamed to his back. Marcus turned to see a female cheetah, ears back and eyes glaring through him.

“My apologies Mistress Ka-muit, I should have not allowed him to catch me off guard.” Marcus went down on a knee and lowered his head, ears flat and tail lowering between his legs. The blue robed cheetah hissed down at him, tail flicking in agitation.

“Get up,” she commanded, her voice like iron. “Let’s see what was worth risking his life for.” Marcus rose and the two walked over to the pack lying in the street. Metal boots clanged off of the cobblestone street as soldiers and Protectors swarmed into the plaza. They fanned out, some moving down the streets that connected to the plaza, others the give the appearance that all was safe now that the military was there. A green armored stag ran up to Marcus and Ka-muit, leg fixed and ready for a fight.

“Mistress, Protector Arden reporting!” Arden came to attention as he announced himself.

“At ease, it’s over.” she looked Arden up and down, “Where were you during the action. Weren’t you to be with Marcus?”

“Yes ma’am, at the beginning of the chase, Marcus and I jumped from the wall with Soft Fall spells active. The culprit had an Anti-Magic field up and I broke my leg when my spell failed. It took time for me to heal it well enough to run. Too much time obviously.” Arden reported, still standing stiff and rigid.

“I see,” Ka-muit accepted the report, truthfully not even listening. The whole affair was well planned and executed; no one expected a Tower of Magic to be attacked, let alone by one of the Dragon Lords. “Well come on then, let’s see what he stole, and I said at ease!” Arden looked sidewise to Marcus who just shook his head and followed the Mage.

“That was a solid blow Marcus, you almost killed him.” The Magi announced as she knelt next to the pack and examined the slice in the rig. Marcus had cut clean through the think leather strap and a small amount of blood was splashed over the cover. A little more into the neck and it would have been a fatal strike. She lifted the cover and gasped, falling back on her rump.

Marcus pulled Ka-muit away while Arden moved between them and the pack, readying sword and spell. When nothing happened, they relaxed and examined the bag slowly. Arden slid open the cover with the tip of his sword and Marcus looked inside. His breath caught in his throat and his mind reeled. Inside was an egg. It looked to be made of roughhewn slate and was the size of a two or three year old child. From what he could see it looked undamaged.

The three looked to one another in astonishment, the same question on their minds; who would try and steal a dragon’s egg?