As they had magically portaled themselves back to their 'homeworld' (they used the term they'd heard for it), the mages and their fiersome beasts settled into a routine of practice, research and terror. There were many more mouths to feed, after all, and practice took energy! The neighboring communities attempted one uprising - the pitchfork-and-torch weilding variety - which failed miserably.
And proved that the hybrid dragon/hydra creatures didn't much mind carrion as well as fresh meat for a snack. Of course that meant they had to go a bit farther in their pursuit of food, but that was all right. Cows and goats escaped from their human herders (who had been eaten weeks before) worked just as well. Once the dragons had tasted human blood, though... they really would always prefer it.
They would argue among themselves, trying to vye for who was their 'leader' and who had to submit. Their fights and spats resembled the four mages' of course, because that much ego in one place always acted thus.
It was the focus of the other girls, though, they had to focus on the Avatars if they wanted to keep up. They had to stay low for a while, because the Church had apparently sent out editcts for their arrest.
I will not let any idiot human take you from me, said Thess. He looked at the others, or you lot either, though you are not my bonds, I acknowledge that you are of use to us.
"So what is he saying," Enonaca said, examining her nails.
I am saying, woman, to let ME handle the men when they come to 'arrest' you. The blood-marked white nodded sharply, horns bobbing close to the blond's face. She did not wince, though 'trust' was too strong a word to use for what this bunch had for one another, she allowed this closeness and watched as the dragon went to their keep's entrance to wait.
I would just eat them, thought Crian privately to Zardanal.
"Well of course you would," Zardanal laughed. "But let us see how this pans out."
As they watched, and the gates were opened by servants as well as an adept gust of wind from Selthet's magic, Thess put on a performance like none other. He spoke - the mages had hardly heard him actually speaking - and the trio of law men (as well as the horse-mounted group of soldiers beyond them) stood as though entranced. Apparently the mages here in this keep weren't bad at all! It took so much love and attention to their dragon bonds that they'd changed their ways. Now how could they possibly want to destroy the countryside and all the people in it if they had that much love and joy in their hearts? Hmm?
The way Thess tilted his horn-bedecked head like a kitten made the four mages all but burst out into loud guffawing.
Make sure they sign a release for us thought Isange. If we don't have an official signature it won't be worth while.
Done, the dragon bespoke. He nuzzled a little toward the main lawman, who hurriedly took out a piece of parchment, unrolled it, read it, and then signed his name to it. All legal. All done.
When the group left, the doors swung shut of their own accord (or was it another of Selthet's magical pushes?) it was then time to celebrate.
***
"So.... we agree that it is true, then," Zardanal said. He paced around their tower's meeting room, they could all feel and hear their dragon bonds outside listening in, Selthet's sky blue form drifted around outside the tower without needing wings. "Isange's heritage is showing up along borderlands, breaking through mountains. I say we join them."
Isange nodded slowly, "They would like that, actually." He'd been in contact with true demons now, not just the little ones who were weak enough for him to summon. "They claim that it would look much better on the tapestries and paintings after their win, if there were dragons in it." He broadened his smile, it was actually true, that was really what the one general had said. Vain creatures, demons.
Pheletiri nervously nodded. "I would rather have a demon army at my back than hoards of knights surrounding me."
"At least we can all go out in a blaze of glory, then," Enonaca said. "What is in it for us, when the demons win this battle against the Gods?"
"Immortality, one would assume," Isange said, "we are mages. We can figure out what we want."
"Please don't jump the hurdle before you've reached it," Zardanal warned. Though he was hardly sane most days, he was deadly serious here. He had a sense of reality that the others seemed to sometimes lack. "We must win this battle first. We cannot destroy the Gods themselves, that is not the goal."
Enonaca and Isange both pshawed at that.
"The goal is to destroy their followers." Zardanal looked calmly at Pheletiri. "Isn't that what will work?"
She nodded. "It will destroy their power base. Even if for seven generations we've hardly had any reason to worship them, there's something deep down in everyone that knows they're there. But not everyone wishes to worship a fire god, nor a water goddess - they're picky, everything about their Avatars was picked carefully. Their followers are like that too. You'll find a lot of water-worshippers tending shipyards and on the open sea. You'll have blacksmiths following the god of Fire. See?"
"Of course." Zardanal said. "And then you'll have me, and Enonaca, pushing negative energy on people. The Gods themselves are not in accord with one another."
"That's how this is possible," Isange said, "the elemental four are much stronger than the others now. Time apparently has never been much interested in how all these things work, and only has a tiny following any way. But Absense? You've proven that you may very well be an Avatar of that aspect, Zardanal. And Mind? Well - technology is rivalling magic in its application and widespread use. Mind has no need to be gone for two hundred years. Mind was here all along."
"That rebel," Enonaca chuckled.
"So we have Absense - presumably - on our side, with the demons. Two abstainers in the Gods' camp." Zardanal said. He cracked his knuckles and gave a broad grin. "Let's fight."
((next?))
Enonaca
. 
Chosen: Enonaca
Name: Ailarulle
Gender: Female
Dam: Lao
Sire: Echothet
Breed: Mix (Whorling/Hath-Hydra)
Abilities: Telepathy, Dark Vision, Fire Breath, Poison
Notes: Ailarulle is Shadow-Touched. Upon reaching adulthood, Ailarulle has developed immunity to water-based energy, including magic.
Zardanal
. 
Chosen: Zardanal
Name: Crian
Gender: Male
Dam: Lao
Sire: Echothet
Breed: Mix (Whorling/Hath-Hydra)
Abilities: Telepathy, Dark Vision, Fire Breath, Poison
Notes: Crian is Shadow-Touched. Upon reaching adulthood, Crian has developed immunity to air-based energy, including magic.
Pheletiri
. 
Chosen: Pheletiri
Name: Selthet
Gender: Female
Dam: Kahan
Sire: Breasal
Breed: Mix (Whorling/AAM Beast)
Rank: Imperial
Abilities: Telepathy, Poison, Ice/Water Manipulation
Notes: Selthet is Shadow-Tainted. Her Ice and Water manipulation powers are very strong. She radiates an aura of cold, which tends to freeze water when she stands around it too long. Upon reaching adulthood, Selthet has developed immunity to earth-based energy, including magic, as well as a strong form of telekinesis - strong enough to use on herself to allow her to fly.
Isange
. 
Chosen: Isange
Name: Thess
Gender: Male
Dam: Kahan
Sire: Breasal
Breed: Mix (Whorling/AAM Beast)
Rank: Soldier
Abilities: Telepathy, Poison
Notes: Thess is Shadow-Tainted. Upon reaching adulthood, Selthet has developed immunity to fire-based energy, including magic, as well as the ability to teleport himself and any other willing individuals within close proximity to himself. He also now has the ability to charm anyone who hears him, either by mental voice or physical sound, making them believe he is their ally in whatever way is most plausible in their minds.