fantasticalrealms

[fantasticalrealms]

Part Two of This

[fantasticalrealms]

Happy Mothman Monday!

(🔴v🔴)

[fantasticalrealms]

Ladies and gentlemen… moth-them

[fantasticalrealms]

Vampire and his human wife after years of marriage

[fantasticalrealms]

OSSË Corrupted

Sailors have taken to warning each other before going out to sea: “If you see glowing red from below, death will come swiftly after.”

[fantasticalrealms]

Psssst….it’s mothman

And he wants to show you guys something very cool..

His son….mothboi

[fantasticalrealms]

Primrose and Lavender 2

Part One

Schin's antennae started twitching violently again.

Again, I turned a bright shade of apple red. Again, he put his hand on my forehead.

“It's called blushing... Humans do it when they're embarrassed.” I explained gingerly pushing his hand down. “It... It's so soft...” I whispered in awe as he drew away. “I was expecting it to feel courser since their scales... but...”

Schin took my hand and pulled me over to the fire paying no mind to my awe-struck wonder over my new revelation. I watched in equal wonder as he set about making me something to eat with an old pot. Oatmeal with dried fruits sweetened with honey and hot tea.

“Did you learn to cook from one of those books?”

He nodded.

“Where did you find those books?”

He looked up and started to spell out library in sign language. I must have looked confused because he started spelling garbage next.

“Oh! They were thrown out and you took them?” He nodded and went back to cooking. “Is that how you got all of this stuff?” He nodded again. “So you really have been to town. But we're not really near Pointe Pleasant...”

His hands stopped moving and he look up at me. His whole manner had changed and I was suddenly gripped by intense anxiety.

“Don't go there.” He spelled it out quickly over and over again.

“Why?”

“Dangerous.” Over and over again.

“What makes it dangerous?” He took the notebook and flipped through the pages to the one featuring a death's head hawkmoth. I could feel my brows furrow and my pulse quicken.

“There's another one like you and its dangerous?”

He nodded.

“Is that why you live out here, alone?”

He nodded again.

“I'm sorry. It must be so dangerous for you to go to town to get me food like this...”

“Quiet nights in winter.”

“I really need to learn some signs properly...” I sighed in defeat. “It would be faster for you if you didn't have to spell everything...” I looked on in silence as I ran through all the jumbled thoughts in my head. I was a scientist, I wanted to study Schin. At the same time, Schin wasn't an animal or insect per se. He seemed very much human. I was a scientist, not a social scientist. I had no background for studying people like a psychologist, sociologist, or anthropologist. I was about bits and pieces and how they worked together and their biological function. I couldn't study Schin, not like I had studied everything else living in the wildlife area. My thoughts were broken by a bowl with a chip in the rim and a tarnished spoon appearing in my field of vision.

“Thank you.” My answer was more reserved than it had been as I mulled over my approach going forward. I was quickly realizing that I really didn't know how to interact with another person. I just stared at the bowl dubiously wondering what it was going to taste like since I didn't actually see him try it first.

“What do you normally eat?” I wondered looking at him perplexed.

He held up the honey and poured some in some hot water until it dissolved.

“That... actually makes sense.” I looked down at the bowl even more dubious. I was really hungry and decided it couldn't be so bad... It wasn't the worst thing I'd ever eaten. It was a little bland, but it was edible.

“Thanks for the food. It was good.” I went on with a smile after eating it all. “Are you going to eat too?”

He looked around and his antennae twitched.

“Oh... do you not want me to see?”

He nodded and I couldn't help but smile. Seemed he could get embarrassed too.

“I'm going to get some fresh air then.” I got up and went to the opening of the cave. I didn't recognize the scenery before me. The cave was a good thirty feet off the ground on a bare rock outcropping. Everything was still covered in snow and it was blistering cold. I would have certainly been dead without Schin saving me. I owed him everything. I started feeling so dejected as I realized I had no idea how to repay him. I knew nothing about him really. I shivered violently against the cold and my own sadness when something soft and warm wrapped around me.

“Ah!” I gasped as strong arms pulled me close. Schin was hugging me from behind and had his wings wrapped around me like a blanket. It dawned on me they were often tucked around him like a cloak. It also dawned on me I had never been held like this by anyone before. That made things immediately awkward. It was clear Schin understood some human conventions, but not all of them. Like personal space and how this was EXTREMELY AWKWARD FOR ME.

“Um... Schin could you please let go of me?” Rather than answering he pulled me back into the cave and sat me down by fire still holding me. That was making this all the more awkward. “Schin. I... I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I'm uncomfortable. Please let me go.” I felt his body stiffen though he quickly uncurled from around me and backed away.

“Sick.” He signed after moving in front of me.

“I'm not sick...” I sighed with a half-hearted smile. “This has just been a hard week.” I'm not sure he believed me since he just sat there not saying anything for a long time.

“So... What do you do in your free time?” I asked finally breaking the awkward silence between us.

“Read.”

“Oh.” My reply was stiff at best. “Is that all?”

He shook his head.

“To long to spell out?” I laughed in self-deprecation.  “I should practice some more.” I picked up the book from where I left it before breakfast and started practicing again. I was so socially awkward that I sat there reading before I realized I had a perfectly good teacher sitting right there.

“I know I have no right to ask this... since you've done so much for me already. Would you mind teaching me sign language? I want to be able to communicate with you better.” That was earnestly how I felt. His head cocked to the side slowly. After a few moments he nodded slowly and slid over. We started going through the basics from the book and halfway through I started doing things backwards again.

“I’m sorry… I’m not sure why this is so difficult for me…” I felt completely defeated, but Schin didn’t seem to mind. “I learn a lot better by touching things. That’s why I like field work so much.” Schin leaned in and looked at me very closely.

“May I?”

“Hmm? May you… what?” He pointed behind me.

“Umm… sure?” I still wasn’t sure what he wanted to do so I just watched in confusion as he positioned himself behind me. He took my left hand and manipulated my fingers. Then he took my right hand and did the same thing. Once he put them together the sign clicked immediately. It wasn’t until a few signs later I realized how close he was, head nearly resting on my shoulder as he moved my fingers and hands to do each sign. This time though, I didn’t feel embarrassed or uncomfortable.

“Thank you for the lesson.” I whispered as I watched our hands work themselves together when I entwined my fingers with his to make him stop. I felt him nod and start to pull away.

“Wait…” He stopped immediately, and I glanced at him over my shoulder.

“I… I would like,” I paused trying to figure out exactly how to put it, “I want to stay like this a little longer if that’s okay… You’re very soft and warm.” I heard the rustling of his fine scales as he scooted closer, arms wrapping around me again.

“It’s awkward,” I started to explain as I fixed my eyes on the fire, “This is something you do with a person you care about. Sit together wrapped up in each other’s arms. But I’ve never felt comfortable enough to do it with anyone before.” I chuckled at myself in self-deprecation. “I’m normally not good with people.”

“I’m not a person…”

“You’re more human than some humans I know…” I admitted bitterly. I let out a yawn and felt my body get heavy from the comfortable warmth of being in his arms. “Thank you again, Schin.”

“Thank you.”

“For?”

“Giving me a name, Pepper.” Him actually spelling out my name had a surprising effect on me. My heart started to race, and my cheeks turned warm and pink.

“Did I say something that embarrassed you?”

“No… I mean yes…?” I shook my head a few times to get my thoughts together. “I’m embarrassed by how I reacted to you saying something perfectly normal.” It was clear he was confused, I didn’t really understand myself. “Sorry for acting so strange…” I muttered crestfallen. Schin just tightened his embrace. I couldn’t help how I melted into his arms and fell asleep for a few minutes. When I woke up again, he was stroking my hair with a feather-light touch.

“I can’t imagine my dirty hair is much fun to play with…” I muttered still partially asleep. “I haven’t had a shower in like… a week now…” I started to sit up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes. “I probably smell like some random hodgepodge of smoke, sweat, and gross…”

“You… smell like here.”

“Like your home?” Schin nodded into my shoulder. “Still doesn’t change the fact I could use a bath.” I chuckled before getting up and stretching, suddenly very aware and very self-conscious of my grossness. “Sorry I nodded off. If there’s something else you want to do, please feel free.”

Schin looked towards the opening of the cave and nodded. The light coming in from the opening was warm orange signaling the coming night. “You should rest.”

“Are you… Are you going out?” I asked apprehensively, and he nodded. “Please be careful.” He nodded and again before heading to the opening of the cave. Curiosity was going to kill this cat one day because I wanted to see him fly. I watched as he fearlessly jumped from the ledge, wings unfurling as he went. They caught a breeze and he was gone. It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen.

 I waited for a long time, though I couldn’t tell you exactly how much time passed before I fell asleep. My hazy dreams were filled with representations of my own uncertainty for how to proceed with Schin. I was long since out of my comfort zone in more way than one. I woke up slowly to the feeling of cold on my cheeks.

“Outside?” I muttered not fully coherent. I looked around and it was still dark out. “Schin?” I realized he was carrying me somewhere and I looked up at his face for an answer. I didn’t receive one. Instead, he sat me down, propped up against a tree. I wanted to lift my hands to question him, but I was too weak to move.

“Sick.” He spelled out. He had been right about that. “Coming.” His head flicked off into the trees nearby and I could see light dancing in the distance. He sat my bag in my lap and handed me my phone.

“Will I ever see you again?”

“Come back when it’s warmer.” I nodded slowly. Then, he was gone. I booted up my phone and set an alarm to go off at maximum volume. The cacophony rang through to quiet forest more than doing the trick of getting someone’s attention. I could hear the voices as they approached. Saw their frantic faces in the pale sunrise. I was finally going to be rescued. Yet, all my thoughts circled back to Schin and the fact I may never get to repay him. My rescuers thought I was crying happy tears, that was all well and good. Less questions that way.

 “Are you sure you should be back to work so soon?” I lost count of how many times I had heard that question from starry-eyed co-workers at the university. Almost a month had passed since I had gone missing. Three weeks since I had been found. One of them spent in the hospital. I wasn’t used to the attention, truthfully. Especially from an intrepid scoop-hunting reporter. I had managed to dodge most local media by feigning being too ill to speak to them. This guy had been relentless.

“I promise I will make it worth your while if you just tell me how you managed to survive that week out there by yourself.” He thought he was so sly shooting me a flirtatious wink at the end. I just wanted to eat my lunch. I knew I should have gone to the campus library. I let out a long sigh as I sat my spoon down in still steaming soup.

“Fine. If it will get you to leave me alone.” He whipped out his phone and set it to record before sliding it across the table at me. I looked around cautiously as if the secret were too extreme for some people to hear. At a conspiratorial volume I told him the truth.

“I was saved by the Mothman.” My completely serious delivery was met by the most incredulous look I had ever seen.

“I would not have pegged you for a troll.”

“It’s the truth. Whether you choose to believe me or not is up to you.” I leaned back and started eating my soup.

“You honestly expect me to believe the Pointe Pleasant Mothman saved you?” To say he was skeptical would be an understatement. His eye brows were trying to become one with his hair line.

“No… Not the Pointe Pleasant Mothman. That one’s apparently a bit malicious.” I answered, again not a lie. At least not according to Schin.

“So… wait, wait. There’s more than one?” He looked absolutely done at this point.

“Apparently.”

“Apparently?”

“Well the Mothman that saved me told me about the other one being dangerous. I cannot speak on the validity of that claim.” The journalist’s eyes narrowed and he leaned on the table. The change in his demeanor was jarring.

“What reason do you have for dodging the media and not wanting to share your story? What really happened out there?” His tone had taken a dive into interrogative.

“Honestly? I don’t want unnecessary attention. What happened to me was hardly remarkable. It was good planning I happened to think to take enough provisions and supplies. It was dumb luck I found a nice hole to hide in and fuel for a fire. It was my stupidity that put me in that position in the first place.” I let out a long sigh in the face of his dissatisfied gaze. “That’s the truth of it.”

“That’s far more believable than the Mothman saved me.” He sighed reaching for his phone. “Although…” His hand hovered over his phone a moment before he picked it up. “I kind of wish it had been the Mothman. How cool would that have been?” He shot me a wry smile before getting up to leave.

“Very.” He nodded in response to my answer.

“Well, if you ever decide you want to tell your story to the world, here’s my card.” He showed it to me before setting it down on the table.

“I will certainly keep that in mind.” I offered him a genial smile which he returned before walking away.

That was the last I saw that reporter, at least for the time being. After finally getting him off my tail, my days fell into a hazy sense of equilibrium. I had a routine now, something I lacked prior to meeting Schin. Before I would let myself get absorbed in my work, oblivious to the passage of time. Work was all I had back then. Things were different this time. I had a very clear, ulterior goal.

I took up attending sign language classes in Columbus three nights a week. I was picking up on it quickly though I still did things backwards sometimes. The instructor thought it was cute when I got flustered. Even from the very first class, I realized I was able to get along with the people there much easier than before. I felt surer of myself and less awkward. Perhaps, in part because of my single-minded goal of learning sign language overriding my social ineptitude.

On the weekends I worked on getting my strength and stamina built back up. I had to be ready once the weather warmed up again. I was going to thank him, properly at that. That meant being able to go back country backpacking in some rough terrain until I found Schin again. The gym on campus was a bit harder to get into… Not in the physical sense, ya know. I just walked right in.

“Doc Glasatta!” A voice I recognized called out to me as I looked around idly. A student was waving and coming towards me. “I haven’t seen you around before. Are you just getting started in a workout routine?”

“Hello there Mr. Levi.” I offered him a wave and a smile in return. “I have no idea where to start so I can’t say I’ve started yet.” He laughed and shook his head.

“Let me help you. If it weren’t for you offering me help in your class, I never would have gotten into the sports medicine program. I owe you a lot for that.” He had an earnest look of gratitude in his eyes as he spoke. I couldn’t help the smile on my face.

“You were my student, I wanted you to succeed as much as you did. Besides you were the one that put in all the work to learn the material and pass the tests and labs. I can’t take any credit for that.” He laughed again.

“Then call it helping me again! You can help me work on my coaching skills and I’ll help you get your routine set!” He was a charismatic young man, to be sure. It was mitigated by his very straightforward and earnest nature.

“All right. It’s a deal. Thank you for your help!” I extended my hand and he gave it a firm shake.

“Come on over here and we’ll talk about what your goals are. Then I can tailor a routine to get you there.”

 My students weren’t the only ones doing homework this semester. I had been doing my homework on how to find Schin. I remembered the landscape vividly including the trees I saw the one time I was outside the cave. Based on my research, I was able to narrow down my search area to a relatively small section in the vast refuge. Armed with this knowledge, I planned on taking a camping trip into the refuge once classes were over in the middle of May. That was the plan at least until a random discovery in Point Pleasant threw all of that in disarray.

I looked the specimen presented to me over, scrutinizing it while listening to the department head talk in the background. “So that’s where we’re at now. The city would like to know if the mutations are due to contamination in the environment or a natural process. I’d like you to head up a field investigation.” I looked up at her slowly, how could I get out of this without sounding crazy.

“I’m flattered you would think of me for this; however, don’t you think Dr. Julias would be better suited to studying insect mutations?”

“Dr. Julias is already working at the Lake Erie field office on South Bass Island this summer. Besides, you have the best general working knowledge on local flora and fauna of anyone in the department. Not even speaking of how thoroughly you conduct research and investigations.” She wore a broad grin as she talked me up. Her unrestrained praise left me feeling bashful. Still, after what Schin had told me, I was left feeling uneasy about spending extended periods of time in that town. Especially at the old ordnance works…

“I was planning a week off right after school for a vacation. I can start on the investigation after that.” She glanced down at a planner on her desk and nodded in acknowledgment.

“I will make arrangements for funding and getting you some research assistants. I think I may only be able to find a few on such short notice though.” She grimaced a little bit.

“I’ll make it work. Thank you again for considering me for this.”

I left her office with a certain sense of foreboding, but there was no turning back now. As I returned to my office, I tried to justify the necessity of my taking action. What if there was something contaminating the environment? That would be a disaster not just for the wildlife in the area, but the people living nearby. I would largely need to conduct the research during the day and the Mothman was usually seen at night. It should be fine. It should all be fine.

 The time had finally come for me to go find Schin. I hitched a ride with a pair of fishermen as far as they were going then proceeded on foot deep into the refuge. It was a beautiful day once again, but I wasn’t about to let that lull me into a false sense of security this time. I settled myself down and made camp as orange streaks filled the skies. As I looked out into the growing dark, I thought I saw something large move across the skies. My hopes soared for a fleeting moment before reality shackled them to the ground once more. I reminded myself I could just be seeing what I want to see because I want to see it… After a few deep breaths, I went to bed.

It was afternoon the next day before I reached the area I thought Schin might be staying in. Alas, after a whole day if searching, I didn’t find anything that looked like that place. As I gazed down at the small crackling fire a thought crossed my mind: Schin might not actually live in the wilderness area. As that notion pervaded all my thoughts, my body crumpled under the weight of my despair.

“Schin…” His name left my lips on a murmur even I barely heard. I looked up at the sky for a while as a stray star streaked across its diamond dappled expanse. I curled up against myself with clasped hands and closed eyes. Like a child, I wished with every fiber of my being I would see Schin again.

The longer I sat there thinking of him, the more a sense of peace settled over me. All of the anxiety coiled inside of me unwound as I sat up straight and opened my eyes again. I knew this feeling… I got this feeling when Schin was around. I jumped to my feet and looked around. When I looked behind me, there he was… I launched myself into his arms without a second thought. He was stiff in my embrace, probably because I was hugging him so tightly.

After a deep breath of his sweet and earthy scent, I took a step back. “I’ve missed you.” I said in tandem with signing it as well. His antennae shot straight up in the air. I think that meant he was surprised. His head tilted from side to side slowly a few times and I giggled.

“Were you looking for me?” He finally asked.

“Yes!”

“Why?” His antennae were twitching wildly.

“Because I missed you. But also, I wanted to thank you.” Tears were fighting me to come out, I didn’t want Schin to get the wrong idea though. His hands trembled almost as much as his antennae as he signed back.

“Why? Why would you miss me?”

That… that was a really good question actually. I had been telling myself I wanted to thank him properly, but was that all there was to it? When I couldn’t come to an answer right away, I just shrugged.

“How could I not? You made quite the first impression saving my life and all.” I replied quietly as I looked away. “Is… is that bad? That I came back to see you?” I could see Schin stiffen again. His head looked from side to side, antennae going in the opposite direction of his head. It was hopelessly adorable.

“No.” He finally answered as he looked right at me again. Before I knew what was happening, I was on the ground.

“Schin?!” It was more a squeak than anything, but saying his name brought me no answers. His hands were occupied with holding my wrists above my head with one and my cheek with the other. His free hand roamed down my body leaving a tickly, sensitive feeling in its wake. Is what I think is happening really happening?! Is Spring his mating season?! Does he even have a mating season? Or, can he have sex whenever like a human? And why was this whole situation so arousing?! I’ve barely made out with someone, let alone had sex. I mean I’ve wanted to. Now, here I was with a very obviously frisky moth anthro…

“I’ve never done this before…” I whispered as I looked away in embarrassment. He stopped his roaming hand and stared down at me. Then he got up and straddled my hips.

“You’ve never had sex before?” His head was tilted to one side as he asked. All I could bring myself to do was shake my head no. He seemed completely alarmed by this, his body went rigid and antennae went crazy again. “Sorry.” He started to get up, but I stopped him by grabbing his hand.

“It’s not that I haven’t wanted to or anything… I’m just… well… not popular with guys. I… don’t really know how to act around them. But it’s different with you.” I couldn’t help squeezing his hand harder to make sure he wouldn’t run from me. “So… please be patient with me?” And down I went again.

"Hello stars. Why did I just say that? That was a really stupid thing to say..." Schin seemed amused by my awkwardness, he pressed a finger to my lips. I instantly feel silent, instead watching Schin as he worked awkwardly at the buttons on my shirt. That's when it struck me we were still outside. I gently grabbed his fluffy hands and smiled up at him.

"I'll get the buttons, but could we do this in the tent." I gestured to the small tent with my head and Schin followed with a look. He nodded before hoisting me up off the ground. He was incredibly strong. As I let him carry me away the biologist in me took over my thoughts. How? How is this supposed to work?!  I got lost in my own head trying to figure out the logistics. Schin had to nudge my forehead to get my attention.

"Are you ok?" He asked as he peered into my face.

"Umm... well... I'm just not sure how you and I are supposed to... um... pleasure each other?" Well, that was more awkward to say than I thought it would be. Schin just rolled his head from side to side. Oh, please don’t make me explain this...

"I don't quite understand..." I knew my cheeks were as red as apples from the way they were burning.

"M... maybe it would be... easier if I just show you?" Brilliant. Why did I say that? Schin just plopped down and stared at me. I took a deep breath though it did nothing to steady my shaking hands as I started to unbutton my shirt. "I'm not sure how it is for you, but there are several areas on my body that make me more uhhh sexually responsive?"

Once my shirt was off, I fumbled with my bra a moment. Having finally freed my chest of its confines I looked down at myself then up to Schin. Knowing I was about to play with myself while Schin watched was deeply arousing and disturbing all at once. Until that moment, I had no idea I was so perverted...

"For example, if I touch myself here..." I slowly started rubbing my fingers across my nipples. I almost immediately let out a little whimper and closed my eyes. They seemed especially sensitive for some reason. When I opened my eyes, Schin was leaning towards me. His antennae were pointed towards me too which only made the whole thing more embarrassing. He could probably smell the changes taking place in my body as I touched myself.

"My neck and ears get really sensitive too..." I shivered when I ghosted my fingertips from one hand over the shell of my ear and down my neck. I felt the pleasure gathering between my legs pulse as the heat from my cheeks spread over my whole body. I slowly spun around and grazed my fingertips down either side of my spine. My back arched and a soft moon escaped my lips. Before I could turn back around, something hard and cool followed the same path down my back. Schin's hands trailed lightly over my shoulders until they were in front of me.

"I understand."

[fantasticalrealms]

A Friend From The Wall - Worship.

Comic1:https://dragonfoxgirl.tumblr.com/post/624739738214072320/friend-from-the-wall-a-comic

Comic2:https://dragonfoxgirl.tumblr.com/post/630429327644901376/dying-is-easy-living-is-hard-but-its-worth-it

Comic3:https://dragonfoxgirl.tumblr.com/post/638394679035117568/happy-holidays-everyone-keep-holding-on-read-a

Comic4:https://dragonfoxgirl.tumblr.com/post/641154555784101889/someone-started-shedding

[fantasticalrealms]

So on the topic of monsters I’d like to clarify something:

These things are super sexy and personally I’d love to smooch one. However:

They are not w*ndigo. W*ndigo are a very sacred spirit (equivalent to, like, angels/demons for Christians) and aren’t cryptids that should be discussed in the same vein as mothman and Bigfoot. Traditional w*ndigo don’t even look like these things.

The above art depicts deer-men cryptids, a totally separate creature. So if you like those kinds of monsters, call them by their actual name and leave w*ndigo out of it please.

[fantasticalrealms]

I shall call him… Mini Moth.

[fantasticalrealms]

Mermay 2020.

[fantasticalrealms]

Wings Over Avalon: Dragonkin

For Your Love

“Where are you hiding him wench!” A man clad in blood stained and battered plate armor yelled gruffly as he slammed a well-dressed woman into a nearby block wall. “We know the Duke is a dragon! Turn him over and we'll spare your life!” He slammed his opened palm into the wall causing the chainmail and plates of his armor to jingle violently against each other. Sweat dripped down his reddened face as he tried to pierce her with his disgusted glare.

A raven-haired woman looked back at him with a defiance he had not seen in a woman in sometime. She met his fierce glare with one of her own even as blood from a wound above her hairline dripped on one of her signature lavender colored dresses. “I swear to you he is not here...” She hid a grimace against the pain that swarmed her body. “He left many days ago to attend to family matters. I don't even know where he is!” She went on trying to maintain the air of power and authority in her voice that her position as Duchess suggested. All the while concealing what she was really doing. The man was a fool to think the consort of the Highlord of the purple dragon flight would be a mere mortal.

“Then where is the… girl?” The man went on with an angry hiss as he drew very close to the woman. He seemed to struggle with what exactly to call what he was looking for. Settling on girl only after a moment’s hesitation.

“You mean to slay her on grounds of her origins? You don't even know her origins!” The woman growled with disdain and disgust before spitting in the face of the man who had attacked her. “I may die here today but you will never find her...”

“If that is your wish so be it!” The knight screamed as he drew his sword and thrust it into her abdomen.

“I curse you in the name of the purple dragon flight... Lord Valencia has slain me, the Duchess Lorianath, wife of Duke Havanwhal. You shall not know peace till my immortal mate bids it so!” The woman chanted in a clear and resolute voice as she clasped her side with both hands. Over and over again she said it as she sank to the floor, weaker and weaker from the loss of blood.

Lord Valencia slowly pulled his sword free of her lifeless body and removed the blood from it before returning it to its sheath. His face betrayed no emotion, he felt nothing from the death he had just wrought.

Outside the manor a middle-aged priest walked down the road clutching a small girl in his arms as if she were the most precious thing in the world. “Father Christopher... Is Mommy going to heaven?”

“I'm not sure, my Dear...” he replied uneasily as he had no idea what answer he should give. He felt her nod into his chest as he carried her on down the road towards town. In his moment of panic, he did not consider her question unusual.

“Is my Daddy ever coming back?” she wondered again as she peered over his shoulder and watched a group of horsemen turn onto the road and head the other way.

“I don't think he would risk your safety a second time...”

“I'll see him again...” she mused enthusiastically. “One day I'll see my Momma and Poppa again!”

“That's the spirit! I think you'll like it at the orphanage! They'll take right to you! I just know it!” The priest answered trying to mirror her enthusiasm. “I think though, to keep you safe, you should have a different name... Do you have anything in mind?”

“Ariala... I remember hearing that name somewhere... Like a dream. It's silly! I thought I was best friends with a big blue dragon in my dream!” She giggled recalling the night time vision she had witnessed not very long ago.

“Anything is possible, my Dear. Never stop believing that!”

 - - - - -  - - - - -  - - - - -

The fire completely engulfed Marabus and caused a tremendous explosion. Smoke and debris filled the air causing a lull in the fighting as the fighters turned to see the outcome of the attack. It was then that Zaros left something pulling within him, something he didn't understand and couldn't describe. On instinct he turned to where he thought it was coming from, Ariala... She had taken on a distinctive purple glow and her eyes seemed ethereal. He looked back but instead of seeing Marabus's silhouette he saw a dragon's, a huge and foreboding dragon.

“I suspected this was the case... Thank you for bringing me something so precious... The heart of our Lord we have long sought...” It was Marabus's old and sagely voice emanating from the smoke though he still could not be seen. “Our disguises will no longer be necessary...”

As he spoke some of the attendants of the tower crept forth from the nooks and crannies into the light of the sporadic fires. One by one they morphed and transformed into huge and old purple dragons. At last the smoke fully cleared and there stood a dragon Zaros could only assume was Marabus. Before anything could be said, a huge blast of light completely blinded anyone and anything in the vicinity of the old dragon. Those in the air fell to the ground temporarily blinded by the blast. As Zaros regained his vision he looked around frantically trying to find Ariala but she was nowhere to be seen.

“Ariala!!!” He shouted repeated but to no response. With each passing call a rage welled up inside him, a rage that he soon could not control. With a guttural scream as precedent his eyes glazed over an icy blue hue and shards of ice began to form on his body as the water in the air froze around him. “Ariala...” He hissed in a low growl just before sending a massive blast of his frosty breath hurtling out in front of him. Those caught in the blast were partially froze in place but Zaros paid no mind to them, instead he turned his attention to the fire dragon clan leader. As he flapped his wings chunks of ice came off and crashed to the ground. The sight harkened something in Clarina as she watched in terrified awe at what her brother had become.

“Those of you with strength should leave! We've not the strength to combat an Ancient of his strength!” The fire dragon leader shouted warily though he wouldn't take his eyes off Zaros for an instant.

The blue dragon slowly pried his mouth open in preparation to launch an attack, an eerie blue glow forming deep inside his throat.

“WAIT!” Landrian shouted desperately. Her whole body shook as she slowly approached.

Zaros closed his mouth slowly and looked at her with contempt.

Landrian steeled herself with a deep breath. “You said it yourself! You have no reason to fight us! That you have no clan! You aren't our enemy! We understand now! Please stop!” She pleaded trying to take to the air with a broken leg. As she flew between the two males her Father looked down upon her.

“Landrian this act will not spare you the brand of traitor!” He yelled more in an effort to get her to move.

“Do you see any other ice dragons here save the girl who is clearly wounded? Do you not remember the rumors of the ice clan’s heirs being branded traitors and exiled? Were they not Ancients? You are a fool, Father, if you do not recognize you're looking at them!” The fiery female replied with a passion in her voice that acted in a soothing manner upon Zaros. “There is no need for this!”

Zaros closed his mouth and flew down to where Merlin had nestled himself. The glow about him faded little as he moved. “They took her, didn't they?” He called in an interrogating manner as he slid to a stop just inches from the young mage.

“The… the… ahh… the… prob… ability is… ahh… high...” Merlin stuttered in response to the foreboding figure now glaring down at him. He swallowed hard as he tried to make himself as small as possible.

“Where would they go?” The blue dragon interrogated again as he dropped his head close to the young man.

Merlin shrugged and Zaros knew he was telling the truth due to the way he shaked.

“I swear to you Zaros I hadn't the slightest idea they were dragons! Or that they had any kind of plot.” The spellcaster added in a beseeching tone as if he still expected Zaros to entomb him in ice

“If I may... The purple dragons are some of the most powerful and secretive of the Flights... However, an old, old Ancient once told me that their Sanctum lies in a land to the south... The validity of such a statement I cannot confirm.” The fire dragon leader called as he landed at a distance away from the ice drake.

“Why are you choosing to help me now? After all you have done to try to harm those I care about?” The condescending tone Zaros applied now didn't suit his gentle features.

“Long have the Ancients spoke of a permeating darkness into the hearts of the Flights... I have lived with such darkness in my heart and stubbornness I became blind to what could be. That some among us could care for those beyond not just our flight but other races...” He glanced at his daughter quickly then back to Zaros. “For the sake of what is left of our dying race... Find the girl and keep your heart bright. GO! If you're quick you might catch them before they get to far! Fly due west until you reach the sea, then turn south. From there I know not the direction.”

Zaros nodded slowly as his face lightened. Without a word he scooped up Merlin and motioned for Clarina to follow him.

Landrian looked up at their receding figures with a forlorn look on her face. “You don't belong here Landrian... You never did... go and find your place in the world...”

His daughter looked at him dumbstruck for a moment as she fully realized what he had said. She stiffened up then nodded stoutly before taking to the air. Peladar followed not far behind her and only looked back for an instant. To his surprise a few more of the younger reds take to the air behind them, not with malicious looks that they would try to stop them. No, these were visages of understanding, kindred spirits who felt the way Landrian did.

“What are you doing?” Zaros wondered as he sensed the approaching presences behind him.

Landrian flew level with him and coyly replied.

“A weak youngling like you needs a proper escort...” Clarina chuckled from her brother's flank knowing full well at least one of the red Princess's motives. The Princesses exchange a quick glance which ended in Clarina winking and Landrian feeling quite awkward.

“I can still sense them, they aren't far...” Peladar called as he caught up to the group.

 - - - - -  - - - - -  - - - - -

 “Lord Marabus... How can we be certain this is the Highlord's daughter?” One of the purple dragons wondered after several long and silent hours of flying had passed.

“I had been tracking the situation very carefully...” he replied as he pulled Ariala closer to better protect her against the growing chill winds. “Besides what but a purple dragon could remove the disguise of another purple dragon.” He added motioning for one of his female companions who was carrying a pack to move closer. From inside it he pulled a blanket out and wrapped his young ward up in it. The purples had weathered most of the night but now they were closing in on their Sanctum. It was nestled deep in the Spanish mountains and a far cry from the British countryside they had started.

“Should we worry about the dragons and human pursuing us?” Another of the magic dragons wondered looking back to see how far away the pack in mention was.

“I doubt even the Ancient bloods are strong enough to sense us through the barrier. The wizard's mastery over the arcane is nowhere near skilled enough to discern it from the natural energies of the area.” Marabus replied as they passed through the barrier and disappeared. “Though I think it impossible to separate them...” he added to himself as he glanced down at the sleeping girl.

“I've completely lost them!” Peladar shouted in complete disbelief as he came to a stop in the air.

“They must have passed through a barrier! Landrian's Father did say the purple Dragons were very secretive... From personal knowledge I know the purple Flight are masters of the arcane... It would be very easy for them to construct a barrier to hide themselves. Just like at the tower! Zaros we need to land I have a plan!” Merlin bubbled on to himself without further explanation.

“Do you think you can find them?” the ice dragon questioned doubtfully as he glanced up at the mage who now sat on his back.

“If I can find a sufficient energy source,” he replied lacking in confidence as they landed on the ground. “Humans and dragons are very different in how they use the natural energies of the world. Humans must be near an energy source in order to use it. Could you imagine only being able to live in the far north? Or only being able to use your breath during the winter?”

Zaros shook his head no and Merlin went on with his explanation.

“Well that's how humans work...”

“Being human surely must be awful...” Landrian sighed as she sat down on the cool ground.

“There are advantages to it really. Dragons can only channel the energy they are born with. Humans can channel anything!” he exclaimed as he dug around in his bag. “Not only that but dragons are bound to their own physical capabilities. Humans are limited only by how strong their will to dominate an energy is!” His face lit up as he pulled his hand out of the bag holding an old and weathered looking tome.

“So I couldn't burn as much energy as Zaros or Clarina because they are bigger but a human boy could burn as much as you?” Landrian wondered a bit skeptical about the mage's declaration.

“At the basic core yes. However, training one's body and mind can naturally improve the ability for both our kind,” he answered as he burrowed through the pages of the book looking for something specific. “Purple dragons are an exception to this whole model though I'm afraid. I know for certain they can channel the undefined energies most abundant in this world. The question we must know is can they define those energies... If they can then we are certainly outmatched...” he added closing the book abruptly and looking around slowly.

“I'm not certain I follow you Merlin...” Clarina conceded looking at the human rather confused.

“Undefined energy is any that is yet to have purpose. Defined is energy like fire and ice or any energy supporting the life of a creature. We humans have come to believe the undefined energy of the world flows over the surfaces in lines like rivers. Zaros could you give me a lift please?”

Zaros bent down and Merlin scampered rather ungracefully onto his draconic companion's back.

“So you're trying to find a big enough of these rivers to tap into?” Peladar pondered more trying to catch up than indicate he was following the curious mage.

“Precisely! It's so wonderful to be in the presence of capable minds!” He flung his hand into the air a moment later which threw him off balance and he fell off Zaros's back. “What luck!” He exclaimed as he fell onto Zaros's hulking paw. “There's a huge ley line in that direction!” He climbed off the scaly appendage and began to lead the way. “Come along! We did to hurry lest they fulfill their sinister plans!” He didn't get far with his new found confidence before he tripped on a rock and fell face first into the dirt. “I'm all right! Perfectly all right!” He shouted bounding to his feet and dusting himself off.

The dragons looked at each other a moment before following behind their unlikely guide. They hadn't traveled far when the drakes started feeling their skin crawl and tingle.

“You'll have to try to ignore the effects of the energy. I haven't a clue what it may do to you. I caution you turn back if you start to feel ill.” He stopped abruptly and looked around slowly and pensively, as if he were scrutinizing every inch of the air.

“Something looks off...” Zaros commented looking around himself though he couldn't pinpoint what exactly was wrong. “Could it be an effect of the energy?”

“No... This is something else.” Merlin mumbled more than anything as most of his attention stayed focused on the scenery.

“This is the exact same way I feel when I look at the barrier that used to surround the tower...” Clarina gasped before bolting forward, a few feet past Merlin she disappeared.

“It seems as though the purple Flight made their home here because of the ley line... They must use it as a power source to conceal their den...” Merlin speculated as Clarina poked her head back through the barrier and motioned for them to follow her.

“Does this not mean that they can... 'define' energy as you put it?” Peladar asked as he warily followed the group into the barrier.

“I believe this is proof of that, yes. We must be very cautious.” No sooner had he said that and put eyes forward again did a pack of purple dragons land in front of them.

“We don't want to fight... We just want our friend back...” Zaros called stepping up to the front of his small group.

The purples who looked down upon him were far and above him in years and power, and he could sense that.

“We know...” One said at last before turning away from them. “Though we don't readily welcome outsiders, even dragons, our Lord asked us to fetch you...” The rest of the purples filed in behind him and followed prompting the outsiders to do the same.

“Quite a few years ago our Highlord left to travel the world sure that there was a place of higher energy than this one. His plan was to reunite the dragon Ancients in a council to rule over the flights. This council would also enter treatise with the humans and establish amicable ties with them. While seeking out the noble and wise Lady Yea of the Ice Flight he happened upon an enchanting young human woman dabbling in magic. He stopped to offer a lesson or two and fell in love. For years he disguised himself as a human and would visit her in his travels. At last he revealed his true identity and she accepted him with all her heart. They had a son whom was more dragon than human and thus brought here to live. About this time a young human named Viktranco Valencia was orphaned by a fight between warring flights. On that day he proclaimed he would destroy us all.” An elderly and sagely sounding female purple began as they walked.

“Several years passed and a daughter, all together human in appearance graced the Highlord's family. Days after her birth, Lady Yea, who was with child, was killed to ensure a power struggle would not ensue between a third born and her husband. Seeing that the dragonslayers and corruption were now on his doorstep our Highlord hid his daughter away with a precious artifact. Under a loyal human's watch she was kept safe and hidden even from us until you found her, Lord Zaros...” An elderly and sagely male added where the first dragon stopped without missing a beat.

“Ari...” Zaros whispered having realized this long before then.

“As you may know, we draw power from the undefined energy of the world. This energy is becoming increasingly corrupt from bloodshed and slaughter. Without the precious artifact, his heart, that he entrusted to his daughter to protect, the Highlord is becoming corrupt. He has decayed so greatly there are six Ancients imprisoning him. To lose one of the last original dragons would be a grievous loss indeed... At the urging of the Prince we have sought out his sister and brought her here to return the Highlord’s heart.” The purple who greeted them added where the elder male stopped.

“Well that certainly does explain Ari's aptitude for the arcane...” Merlin mused as they came to a stop.

“In a few night's time there will be an eclipse, at that time we can remove the heart without harming the Princess.” The female emissary added in a comforting tone.

“What might happen if the Highlord breaks free of the prison?” Landrian wondered with concern as a huge rock blocking a deep cave moved with the wave of the emissary's paw.

“He'd try to kill us all... And would assuredly succeed in killing most of us...” The elder male explained. “We were hoping the mage would assist with the containment during the ritual.”

“Well I certainly don't want to die! Of course I'll help!” Merlin chirped as he puffed up his chest in pride. As the ice dragons wandered into the curving rock corridor they were both left wondering if anything they knew of their Mother and their past was true.

 - - - - -  - - - - -  - - - - -

 “Halt! Who goes there!” A heavily armored guard called to a horseman riding up to the camp.

“I am a scout of the great Lord Valencia the Dragonslayer!” A young man called back pulling a piece of wood with a carved and painted insignia on it. “I come with important news regarding his campaign!”

“Enter at your own risk...” The guard motioned the scout into the camp with a tilt of his head.

The scout dismounted near the most lavish of all the tents. Outside he stood waiting diligently until he was beckoned in.

“What news do you have for me lad?” The grim though noble looking Lord Valencia asked as he pulled his medium length black hair back out of his face. He reclined back in his ornately carved chair waiting for the scout to reply.

“Two groups of dragons were spotted leaving the mountains. A group of purples soon followed by a group of reds and ices... They were both heading in the same direction but we were unable to follow them very far. I can say they were flying due west my Lord... Please forgive us our failure.”

“What have I always taught you?”

“That the different flights despise each other more than anything.” The young man answered dutifully as if he were a pupil in school.

“And what have I spent much of my time trying to stop?”

“A coalition of dragons so they can be crushed more easily. And so they cannot launch a war on our kind...” The manner in which the scout replied almost seemed as if he had been brainwashed.

“Good... Good... So logically we must assume that if a group of mixed color was flying together then they seek to meet and discuss just that...” The black-hearted lord remarked as he pushed himself out of his chair and gazed down at a large map. “We must crush such a movement now in its formative stages. Go and track them down while I mobilize the troops! Do this for me Antolius and I will honor you well.” He added gazing across the table at the kneeling scout. Stoically he walked out of his tent and stood watching the sun set in the west. The horizon glowed red and orange as if a raging fire consuming the world.

“I will do my best to serve you my Lord.” The scout Antolius replied trying to stave off his excitement. He dashed towards his horse taking it towards the fiery western sky.

“At last...” Valencia hissed with a grim smile. “At last I will slay the trmaining Ancients... Once I hold all the dragon hearts I will rule all the flights! Then the world... Man and beast alike will bow to me...”

 -----  -----  -----

 Zaros slept restlessly as thoughts and ill feelings invaded his mind. The purple dragons wouldn't let him see Ariala, though he trusted if she were that important she was all right. Still something disturbed him into motion and out of the network of caves the purples called home. The further away he flew the more distinct the feeling became: An attack was imminent... Someone was searching for them... It was then that a glint of light that didn't belong caught his eye, a scout no doubt. He swooped down to where the light had originated had sure enough it was a scout, though a badly mangled one. The young man had fallen in a hole he couldn't get out of, for whatever reason, as it wasn't very deep. Now the vultures hopped around his head waiting for his demise. Being the kind fool that he was, Zaros flew down and shooed the vultures away.

“Are you all right? Do you need some help?” The dragon asked from a fair distance as he inspected the situation.

The young man quickly tilted a dagger in Zaros's direction with a trembling hand. Zaros understood the human's caution but looked past it quickly when he noticed the bloodstained garb the scout was wearing.

“You need help...” He went on ignoring the measly dagger completely as he plucked the young man out of the hole carefully. His care and gentility made no difference.

“I don't want help from a dirty dragon!” The flailed the blade around eventually hit a soft spot of the underside of the paw he was being carried with. Zaros growled in pain but tried to ignore it for the sake of getting the kid some help.

“Did it ever occur to you that I could have left you to die in that hole... Dragon or not you're going to live through that broken leg of yours. Whether you like it or not could you just be still?” Zaros grumbled pushing the scout up onto his back.

“What benefit do you have in keep me alive? To eat me later?” the scout quipped trying to squirm off the ice dragon's back.

“RAR! ME BIG HUNGRY DRAGON!” Zaros mocked in a caricatured voice as he pushed the young man back in place. “I have no benefit at all in keep you alive. Even if I did eat you wouldn't be even a snack... Is that what you find so surprising? What world do humans live in?” He sighed as he headed off towards the caves. “Plain and simply I don't like knowing something died when I could have prevented it. So, I'm going to help you for my sake, at least, if not yours. Are you going to let me help you or are you going to die here?”

“So… you're really not going to hurt me?” Antolius wondered meekly as he peered down the back of Zaros's head.

“No... But I do suggest you hold on if you don't want to fall off.”

“Fall off?” On that note the young man passed out and started sliding off the dragon's back. Zaros caught him in a paw and took off into the air. On his way back to the cave something large in the air caught his eye.

“You seem to be in a hurry!” A serene, almost musical, voice called as the dragon shaped figure drew closer to Zaros.

“This human is in trouble! He's hurt badly!” The ice dragon called back as the other dragon became fully visible in the light of almost a full moon. She was a green dragon, a flight Zaros had never seen before, and judging from her size was an Ancient.

“I see he is feverish... Once we land though it will be no matter for me to fix him up,” she mused with a voice akin to wind blowing gently through the leaves of autumn trees. “You seem a bit in awe? Have you not met a green dragon before?”

Zaros shook his head no which made the Ancient giggle.

“I am Gaia... In times past the humans referred to me as 'Mother Nature.' My flight are attuned to all things which grow.”

Zaros nodded now understanding why fixing a broken leg would be an easy task for a Dragon of her expertise.

“Why are you coming to the realm of the purple dragons?” Zaros curiously peered at her as he followed behind the emerald hued elder.

“Purple dragons? You've not been here long have you young Ice Lord? This area is home to the purple dragons and the Earthwarders... The dragons with dominion over earth and rock. We are gathering here for the Awakening of the Highlord, ruler of all dragons. A dragon of my caliber is needed to ensure the survival of his young daughter,” Gaia explained as they drew close to the cave from whence the ice dragon had left.

“Ariala is in danger?!” Zaros growled in defensive anger.

“She will be fine once my flight has fully assembled. We shall hold her life in our hands and treat it no less than our own.”

“No one has really told me anything... I'm so confused...” Zaros sighed as they landed outside the cave.

“The Highlord sought to stymy an angry human bent on killing all dragons. The human is set on being a martyr if nothing else and the Highlord sought to avoid a confrontation with him. In order to ensure the survival of a Purple Flight elder he entrusted his heart to his half breed daughter. She then disappeared until now. Without his heart the Highlord is more susceptible to the corruption infecting our world. Slowly he has been twisted and corrupted into something dark and unable to lead us. We must remove the heart from the young Princess and replace it in the body of its owner before he overpowers us all. We shall make sure she stays perfectly alive and well through the ritual, we have to, she's the only one who could possibly replace him as leader of the Purple Dragons! Well the only one we know of, rumors whisper of a child lost to the sands of time between the Highlord and another Ancient of a different Flight...” Her voice trailed off as a Purple Flight emissary rushed to them.

“Lord Zaros! Where have you been?” She wondered slightly breathless. “Oh my that poor creature! Gaia I shall fetch Terramus if you think the boy can be saved.” The emissary gasped seeing the scout Zaros was dutifully carrying into the compound.

“Please be quick.” Gaia answered as she motioned for Zaros to lay the human down on the ground. She turned her attention to Zaros and a broad smile was clear on her gentle features. “This will certainly be a treat for you. The way in which the Earthwarders can mend and heal a body is truly remarkable even by the standards of a dragon.” She mused as bright green eyes flickered in the darkness as they drew close to them. A sweet voice connected to the glowing orbs chimed in the rock enclosure as the creature approached.

“You called for me Lady Gaia? Is there something outside of the spectrum of your talents? Surely this is not the case.”

“I wanted the young Prince to see the power of the Earthwarders first hand. Your Flight will not adequately demonstrate its prowess at the ritual as mine will dear Aralis.” Gaia explained in the voice only she had.

“I am honored for you to grant me the opportunity to display my powers for another Ancient.” Aralis replied as she finally emerged from the darkness at the end of the tunnel. Much to Zaros's surprise she was even smaller than he was, his expression was fully recognized by the elder dragon.

“Don't let her size fool you, I trust you understand that size isn't always a determination of prowess.” Gaia teased giving Zaros a nudge. The dragon dark brown and green in color motioned for Zaros to hand over the young man and he did so readily. She carefully laid him down on the cool rock floor of the tunnel. With closed eyes she hovered her head just over his body and focused intently on something within her mind. As her focus grew sharper, Zaros came to realize that her scales were in fact crystalline and a green light was forming within them. The light migrated slowly over her body and coalesced in her mouth. Slowly she opened her mouth and the green light crept out over his body, where the light touched he started to turn to stone.

“What! What is this?! How is this helping him!” Zaros cried in outrage as he made a move to stop the small dragon.

Gaia grabbed him and easily held him in place.

“I promised him he wouldn't get hurt!” He raged again trying to pull himself free of the hulking elder's grasp to no avail. “Stop it!” He screamed one last time desperately.

As if by his behest, Aralis did. Instead of making what the Ice Dragon would perceive as an effort to reverse the damage she started scribing symbols on the ground around the scout's body. Zaros recognized the symbols as Ancient Draconian, a language he had been taught by his mother and aunt when he was young but hadn't seen since. “I invoke the power of Earthwarders ancient and old. By the blessings of the father of the flight may the elements of earth and rock mend the bones of this mortal as they are the bones of the world. If Fate will it so...” He recited aloud as Aralis mouthed the words silently. One by one the runes illuminated until the young man was bathed in a sea of brown and green light. At its brightest the stone around him shattered leaving him well and mended. The sight was almost more than Zaros could bare.

“Thank you...” He sobbed dashing to Aralis and grabbing her gently with his forelegs. “I'm sorry I ever doubted you.” He added in a barely audible whisper.

“It was my pleasure and my duty!” She chimed with a giggle as she pushed him aside and picked the scout up. “I wonder what his name is...” She pondered before turning and carrying him down the tunnel a bit awkwardly. “No matter he can tell me when he wakes up!” She turned back and smiled to Zaros. “I'll take good care of him, My Lord!” With that she turned down another tunnel and disappeared.

“Lord Zaros... The High Prince would like to speak with you.” Meina the elder Arcane Dragon interjected from beyond where Aralis had turned.

“About what?” Zaros wondered a bit concerned.

“He wouldn't say.” Was all she could offer him truthfully.

He had no choice or reason but to follow her to the top of the mountain. At the summit there was a huge opening illuminated by the light of a near full moon.

“I'm glad you chose to meet with me Lord Zaros so I might apologize fully for the deceit of my Flight towards you and your sister. I hope that you have been well informed to our circumstances and understand why we took such measures. Still it doesn't excuse Marabus's callous disregard for the care you have for my sister and the steps he took to get her here. I pray you can forgive him.” A clear and serene voice filled the air of the rocky summit though its source was still obscured from the white dragon's sight. “Our first act aside from this apology is to offer you and your sister a place within our realm in which you can live and free roam. It is the least we can do for like-minded kin such as yourselves.”

“As long as Ariala is safe and nothing is going to happen to her then all is forgiven. I'm sure that I would have acted similarly if faced with the same situation. It seems as though more than just the safety of your own Flight is at stake here.” Zaros answered as he sat down on a flat spot he found near the entrance to the cave system.

“I'm glad you understand the true gravity of the situation.” The voice was closer this time and coming from the ice dragon's left side. He turned to face the source of the voice and was surprised by the appearance of its master. A Dragon, of sorts, scaled and armed with teeth and claws the same as him but with arms like a human appendages more akin to their hands than his paws. Walking upright he was taller than Zaros by a good measure but Zaros was much larger in body. Clad in armor like the human knights Zaros had seen from time to time he was rather intimidating to gaze upon.

Zaros’s shock wore away as he forced the thought back into his mind that he was half human and this was not so strange with that in mind.

The High Prince smiled and chuckled a little in response to Zaros's expression. “You seem a little less shocked than some I have met for the first time,” he explained taking a seat next to the ice dragon. “A heavy heart beats within you young Lord. What is it that troubles you if you don't mind my asking?”

“I think here is the one place I might finally discover the truth... And yet I'm too afraid of what it might be to ask what that truth might be.” The white dragon sighed with the weight of months of contemplation settled on every syllable.

“The truth is often woven through lies in order to preserve it until such a time that the tapestry is unwoven and the true picture is revealed. If you feel that time is now I shall do my best to answer any questions you might have.” The half breed spoke as if he knew that this conversation was coming. Perhaps that is why he really called Zaros up here...

[fantasticalrealms]

Cherry Blossom Promises: Chapter 1

Chapter 1: At First Sight 

“Good morning Kanzakura!” A clear voice rang through the quiet grove. A handsome young man stretched out of the heart of a massive cherry tree in the center of the circular grove. With a lazy drawl he greeted the new day by waving at the sun in the sky as if he knew it personally. The last of the winter snow was melting from the ground and he gingerly dodged the mushy piles to keep his feet dry. Despite the cold freezing his breath, the tree above was in full bloom.

“So… who am I going to visit first?” The question hung in the air as he looked into a small clear pool near the tree. Faces of girls started flashing before him and he popped every one of them into his memory. One in particular caught his eye. “WHOA! Stop! Back up, back up!” The image of the girl re-appeared and he stared at it in awe.

“She… She… GAH! She’s mortal!” He slumped down, suddenly heedless on the slush and mud, withd a defeated look on his face. “Show me what she’s doing…” he muttered running a hand through his short bright red hair. “Yeah right you can’t do…”

She appeared in the pool moving around throwing snowballs at a younger girl and a about the same age boy.

“Hey! I didn’t know you could do that.”

‘You never asked.’ Appeared in writing above the picture. The young man shrugged and went back to watching the images dancing beneath the surface. He was thoroughly amused and spent the rest of the day doing so.

Matsudai Aiiko walked down the dusty country road on a beautiful warm spring day. Above her the sun shone golden bright and warm. There was a junction where the two dirt paths came together just in front of her. All around her were rice paddies with members of her family’s labor force working in them. Her plain blue yukata was rolled to just below her knee and the bottom of it dripped water on the dry ground. Her sleeves had been rolled up and tied off on her shoulders. Long black hair lay free on her back and it swayed in the breeze and in the movement of her walking. Mud caked on her legs and hands as she passed on down the road carrying a basket at her side. She had gotten up extra early to do some work and was ready for a much need break. Her father despised her attitude of wanting to do hard work like the laborers since it had scared away a long line of acceptable suitors.

“Aiiko!” A boy called from one of the paddies she was walking past. She smiled and waved back happily.

“Hello, Yuki!” she called back to the boy. “Whew… It feels good to get a long day of hard work in once in a while.” She sighed as she approached the well.

“Aiiko your father had better not find out you’ve been working in the fields again!” An older woman called from just inside the wooden gates of a manor.

“He won’t know if you don’t say Mother!” Aiiko called back with a smile. Her Mother just shook her head and walked away.

Far above her in the Heavens two young gods, by godly standards, sat watching over the activities on Earth. “Where is everyone?” The younger one asked looking around. She had bright blue eyes and long white hair that laid lazily on the ice blue material of her kimono.

“Off doing this and that.” The older one replied with a sigh. He had short spikey orange-red hair that seemed to dance like flames and green eyes. His orange kimono shirts with red hakama pants were slowly wrinkling as he laid lazily over the viewing pool.

“This is boring.” The girl sighed.

“Yeah without Susanowa around causing trouble it’s awfully quite up here. I almost wish I had Musubi’s job…” he mused with a half-hearted grin.

“Why is that?” the young girl wondered looking over at him.

“He always has something to do and he always gets to meet the pretty mortal girls. He’s so lucky.”

She smacked him upside the head and looked at him a bit miffed. “Owe! Sorry…” he replied rubbing the back of his head.

“Yeah but it’s sad really. He’s always down there telling those mortals they’re going to find love but never finds it himself,” she explained sympathetically. A worried look punctuated her point.

“I don’t know about that… He’s been spending an awful lot of time down there lately,” he went on smugly.

“It’s spring down here… You know, the time for love and passion among mortals…”

“Oh…” he replied feeling a little silly. “Still you never know.”

A young man, handsome by any term of the word, garbed in typical peasant fashion strolled down the dusty a road; a broad smile reached across his face. His blue eyes sparkled in the afternoon sun just as the water around him did. In his hand was a bunch of cherry boughs full of fresh spring blooms. Ahead of him a young woman passed over the crossroad and went on. He stopped in his tracks and gawked, his mouth agape. He continued to stare at her a few more moments before absentmindedly brushing a lock of black hair out of his eyes.

“She… She is so beautiful,” he muttered as she walked on. He snapped out of his trance and the smile returned to his face. “A creature of this earth so beautiful as that deserves love. Even if it isn’t mine…” He started in pursuit of his quarry.

Aiiko set the basket down by the old well and began to pull a bucket of water up to wash with. Her arms ached with every tug up until finally they gave way and the bucket crashed back into the water. She groaned and kneeled down next to the well, resting her head on the edge. “Too tired but I have to get cleaned up…” She closed her eyes and breathed long and heavy breaths trying to relax. There was a thump by her head and she looked up. Beside her was a tall young man about her age holding the bucket on the edge and smiling at her.

“It looked like you were in need of assistance,” he answered her confused look. He reached out a free hand in an offer to help her up. She blushed as she reached for his hand, saw how dirty it was and pulled it back hiding it behind her back. “Hey we all get dirty sometimes!” he replied grabbing her hand and pulling her up. “Here you go, water to wash up with.” He pointed to the bucket then slid it towards her. “I’ll let you be, but before I go, this is for you.” He reached down and picked a cherry bough up off the ground and handed it to her. He gathered up the rest of them and started walking away.

“Who are you? Won’t you at least tell me your name so I can have something more lasting to remember you by?” The man stopped again and stood there a minute before turning slightly but still declining to face her. “You don’t have to leave so soon…”

“Why would you like to know?” he asked slowly and quietly.

“So I can have a name to put with a hand and face of such wonderful kindness...” she replied blushing and looking down into the well.

“My name isn’t important but if you value it so much when I return to these parts again, I will give it to you,” he answered with a slight smile.

“Will you really return? Or is this just a sweet lie meant to amuse my young heart?” she asked sadly.

He furrowed his brow a bit then eased and smiled.

“If you truly want me to.”

Her face brightened as she looked up at him again. “I would like that very much. And I would like it even more if you stayed longer than you did today.” Her answer bubbled out of her happily as she looked up at him again.

“Then if your heart desires this in three months time, meet me by that tree on this day just after lunch.” He smiled and continued walking and gently taking in the smell of the blossoms.

“Why would I not?” she whispered as she watched him walk away. She set about washing up as her other laborers approached the well. Her best friend Yuki came up to her with a wild smile on his face.

“And who was that? What did he want? Hmmm?” he asked in a teasing manner.

“Yuki. I think I’ve fallen in love with a young man I’ve never met and don’t even know his name…” she whispered looking up at him with a slight smile.

“Aiiko? In love?! Never!” he teased while wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “Of all the suitors who have come to claim her love all have failed for it is Aiiko! The hardest woman in all of Japan to woo! All he gave you was a cherry branch? You’re getting softer as you get older…” Yuki raved flailing his free arm about to emphasize his point.

“In three months time she’ll be married off I suppose… It was a foolish promise to make for my part if not hers. But I suppose I’ll humor myself again and see what happens,” Musubi sighed sadly as he watched Aiiko playfully pour water all over Yuki’s head.

“Ok so let me get this straight… If I can make a girl to fall in love with him in the next 50 years, you’ll do all my chores for the next 500?” the older god asked his younger friend.

“That’s the deal all right. And if you can’t you have to do all of mine for the next 500 years. Are you up to the challenge?” she replied with a sly smirk.

“Definitely!” They shook on it and the boy bounded off to check out what Musubi was up to and if there were any mortals he was interested in.

“There is no way he can do it…” she sighed a little disheartened. “You can’t MAKE beings fall in love, you can only help it along. I don’t suppose he’ll get that until it’s all said and done but oh well. That just means no chores for me for 500 years,” she smirked as she walked off.

[fantasticalrealms]

okay okay okay so consider this- mothman dating simulator.

[fantasticalrealms]

Thymos: Part 1

This story contains dark themes and possible trigger warnings for some readers. Please evaluate the tags and make a conscientious decision before reading.

Click, clack.

Click, clack.

The rhythm of the wrong idea.

Click, clack.

Click, clack.

Someone had gotten the wrong idea of what’s going on here.

Click, clack.

Click, clack.

The question is who?

 She walked quickly down the dark city street. The heels of her knee-high black leather boots made that familiar sound with each step and would betray any change in speed. It was early morning and there was not a cab in sight. Of course, public transit had stopped running through this area hours ago. As if to signal some portend for the rest of her evening, the street light overhead blinked out. She stopped long enough to look up at it and briefly glance around. She knew she was being followed. She painted on the face she had seen in movies and on TV. The proper face for the occasion.

An exterior light on a nearby building drew her attention to a fence dividing an alley. As she started across the street she planned her angle of attack. Hop the dumpster, scale the fence then make a break for it. It was a sound plan, one she was prepared to follow through with. Her heart started pounding in her chest as all the possible things that could happen started racing through her head.

For the briefest moment, she felt something. It was nebulous at best. She understood what it might be but couldn’t quite pin it down. Perhaps later she could figure it out, right now she needed to stick with the plan. A clear head was the best thing right now. Her head was anything but.

Something seemed off about this alley. The shadows in it didn’t seem to move in a natural way for how the light was cast. There wasn’t really time to consider it, if she didn’t want to get caught just yet she needed to move. She placed her hands on the damp plastic lid of the dumpster and hoisted herself up. Just as she reached up for the weathered plank fence, one of her thin heels slid out from under her. Her head slammed into the plastic of the dumpster and everything went instantly black. She slid off the lid like water and collapsed on the ground in puddle of lifeless flesh. All she could hear was harried footsteps coming towards her, spurred by her incapacity.

As she lay there on the broken, wet pavement of that alley she managed to pry her eyes open. What met her gaze was the night sky, something one should never see in the middle of the city. “Looks like I’ve finally lost my mind.”

“Oh? You’re awake already?” A deep and resonate voice spoke from somewhere. It had a comforting quality to it. Something she had never experienced before. She looked around in a daze trying to find the source. All she could see was vast blackness and stars. She reached out towards the stars and felt the sky, watched it ripple from her touch. She blinked a few times though it did nothing to dispel the illusion.

“Have I… died?” She asked in a much more sanguine tone than one might expect, a slight smile on her face. “I must have. I feel happy. I think I could only know what happy is if I’ve died.”

“We can talk about that later. For now, close your eyes and cover your ears.”

“Who’s there?”

“Later, just do as I ask for now.” She obeyed on the pretense it might make the hallucination stop. Maybe if she passed out again it would go away.

“I really have lost my mind… This is the worst hallucination I’ve ever had…” She whispered before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. Even though she was laying down she felt herself getting intensely dizzy. A whirlpool had taken her body and she was spinning and falling all at once. And then there was nothing.

"Hey, there. Stay with me just a little longer. Everything will be fine if you stay awake a little longer." A deep and powerful voice, yet soothing in its calmness some to her. Though, she couldn't be sure if she actually heard it or imagined it. "Who are you?" The fog cleared just enough for her to register what she was seeing, a cloudless sky ful of stars. Except two of those stars were eyes. Glowing stars... "I'm dead... or dying." There was an utter lack of emotion in her voice. "What?" The calmness of the voice broke immediately. "No. I mean you have a concussion but I'm going to get you help. Geez... so dramatic." It was almost teasing now. "Why are there stars if I'm not dying?" She knew there was no way she should see the sky so dark, dappled with small blue dots in the heart of the city. She reached up towards the sky and touched it. Her hand immediately recoiled as she watched the sky ripple like stiff jello again. "I've gone crazy and now I'm hearing voices. Delightful." She heard the voice groan. "Sure. Let's... just go with that. Right now, I need you to just focus on my voice and look straight ahead." The sky seemed to descend to fill her whole vision. "You might hear some really scary stuff but I need you to focus on me." A face of sorts seemed to appear out of the stars as something like hands covered her ears. "What's your name?" The dumpster rattled violently and she tried to look. Her head was held fast and the voice gently chided her. "Now, now. Focus only on me. What is your name?" "Shouldn't you already know that?" "Humor me." A low gurgling sound but she started straight ahead. "Alexa."

"You can call me Max."

"But that isn't your real name, is it?" Another loud thump.

"Very astute."

"Is this some kind of fae thing?"

"If you thought I was a fae, why'd you give me your real name?" The teasing quality to his voice made her smile again. She was invested enough at this point she didn't even flinch when the gurgling started.

"Because living as a fae pet must be better than living like this... When you don't really feel like living at all." Her mood took a turn for the melancholy and it could feel her letting go. She watched the face made of star disperse and reform as something sad.

"Why did you run if you don't want to live anymore?" The carefree quality of the voice was gone now.

"It's all part of my game to feel alive... instead of alone." Her face twisted up in visible confusion as tears formed at the corners of her eyes.

"Being alone makes you sad."

"I guess so." All the noise was gone now.

"Do you want someone around?"

"If they would stick around, sure. But they won't. They never do." She laughed in self-deprecation and the tears spilled out of her eyes.

"I guess I can stick around..."

"Great. I'll see you tomorrow then." With that, her heavy eyes started to sink shut.

"Hey! No falling asleep!" The order fell on deaf ears.

  Her eyes felt heavy as she struggled to pry them open. But open they did. She looked around slowly, unable to focus. This was her apartment. She ran her hands over the soft sheets of her bed.

“I’m home…” She muttered slowly pushing herself to a sitting position. “That was a bizarre dream.” She pressed one hand to her throbbing head. “Ugh…” Flailing on the bedside table found her free hand dunked in a glass of water, a bottle of aspirin beside it. She suspected this would be her cue to be confused. She used the water to take some aspirin anyways before taking the glass to the bathroom for her other medicine. A million questions floated through her head as she climbed out of bed. They were interrupted by the sound of her cat hissing at something under the bed.

"Yes, yes, Sir Fluffington. Tell it who's boss." She ruffled his head gently and it seemed to distract him. Turning his attention to her, mewing for her as he plodded along behind. She filled up his food and changed his water in the kitchen.

 "What happened last night?" The date on her phone caught her eye. "What happened Friday night?" She was just about to replay the events when there was a knock on her door. Through the peep hole, a man she didn't recognize was standing there. He was handsome in spite of being lanky. The most distinguishing feature was how much dark purple and blue he wore. Even his hair was dark purple with blue streaks. His tailored suit and shady demeanor made her immediately assume he was a pimp. Suddenly, he bent down and slid a note under her door.

"I saw the police being you home and you looked rough. If you need anything, ask anyone in the neighborhood for Lukas."

Something compelled her to open the door and try to stop him. As soon as she stuck her head out, a chuckle made her jump. It was a deep, friendly sound that seemed at odds with the body it came out of.

"I'm surprised you opened the door." He pushed off the wall and extended his hand. She squinted at it then looked up at him much the same.

"Have we met before?" The recognition her brain seemed to grasp on to was nothing but a faint glimmer.

"It's possible..." He reached out and smoothed to crease in her brow. "Would you like to get cleaned up and let me take you to lunch? I'd like to know what happened to you the other night."

"A date?" One eyebrow lifted reflexively. He chuckled again.

"Sure. I'll wait here while you get ready." She had gotten pretty good at reading a situation. Not an ounce of danger came off him. "Before you go, what's your name?" He extended his hand to her again.

"Alexa. And you can come in."

This time his eyebrow quirked.

"I respectfully decline." He took a step back. "We just met and I would feel better if you got to know me before you invited me in."

"First a gentleman fae, now a gentleman vampire." She shrugged her shoulders and went back inside. "Suit yourself."

“How did the night all go sideways?” She groaned as she shuffled across the old wood floor. She lived in a studio apartment of an old warehouse building. The lay out wasn’t very big, but it had tall ceilings and wooden touches of the 1920s when the building went up like wainscoting and ornate trim. Exposed brick between the double hung windows gave it a very shabby chic feel. Not like Alexa, the apartment’s tenant, really cared about that.

“Everything was going according to plan. I found my target, separated him from his would-be victim, lead him on… got him to follow me…” The rest was hazy. She felt like she remembered seeing an angry shadow. But this wasn’t Peter Pan and a shadow with no owner was impossible, let alone one that could act on its own. She slowly shook her head and sighed.

“Shower.” She inspected her overall appearance in the mirror. She was especially interested in her forehead. Her brows knit severely at the absence of the knot or gash she knew should have been there.   It looked like whatever injury she sustained happened two weeks ago rather than a few hours ago.

"Then it wasn't the bump to the head after all." She smiled briefly as a huff escaped her. "They said it could happen..." Her eyes drifted to the row of medicines on a shelf below the mirror. As she started the ritual of taking them all she dumped the entire remaining contents of an anti-depressant into her hand.  "Not today, but maybe soon." With that she poured all but one back in.

Twenty minutes later she emerged refreshed and ready for the impromptu date. "I'm surprised you're still here." Her physical reaction matched though something felt off about it to him. He chose to ignore it for now.

"I'm surprised you came out." He pushed off the wall so he could face her fully. He tried to be subtle as he checked her out, she caught it anyways. The difference in her attire was striking. She looked nothing short of a high-powered lawyer or executive. Black pinstripe pencil skirt and matching jacket tailored to perfection. A white silk blouse with ruffles and a pop of color in the form of red pumps finished the outfit.

"Where are we going?" She headed for the stairs as she asked.

"Some place very public, and busy."

She was quiet for a moment, as if the answer hadn't registered or taken her off guard.

"That's... a rather unusual answer." She seemed to be struggling with her response.

"I don't want you to get the wrong idea about my intentions. It's clear something domestic happened to you. I just want you to know I have no intention of doing the same."

"I already knew that." She was deathly serious.

"How can you be sure?" He gave her a dubious look as they stopped on a landing. She reached out and ran her thumb across his cheek.

"We've met somewhere before. Maybe in another life." There was no real expression on her face as she spoke. Somewhere deep in her eyes he could see it, unmistakable loneliness and hope. Alas, he was not the savior she was looking for. Grasping her sleeve with two fingers, he pulled her away.

"I was a monster in a past life." His warm smile seemed to bely his words.

"How can you be sure?"

"Because I lived it." Crossed his mind, but before he could say it, she went on.

"How can you be sure I wasn't a monster myself? In a past life that is... Or, that I'm not still one in this life?" That was not the question he expected in a million years. She smiled in the face of his pure shock. A careful smile. A practiced smile.

 "I work as a crisis counselor because I can't feel anything. When my clients are panicked because something horrific happened to them, I stay calm because I can't empathize. I can't feel anything really. I used to feel but I could never understand what I was feeling or why. It made me an unruly child so my parents medicated me to keep me calm. When I was old enough, they shipped me off to boarding schools and college so I wouldn't tarnish their image." She stopped long enough to gauge his reaction over the top of her coffee mug. It was a perpetual state of panic, eyes round and brows hugging his hairline.

"You don't want to be alone, but you push people away because you're afraid. Nice trick." His shock melted into a knowing smirk as he relaxed.

"Wasn't joking."

"Never said ya were." They stared at each other in silence a few moments. Something about the smirk on his face made her want to punch him. She couldn't say why. "Anyways..."  He made a show of righting himself to lean on the table. "That's not why I asked you out today." His carefree expression turned dark. "What happened to you the other night?"

She answered his concern with a dismissive shrug of her shoulders. "I couldn't tell you. I'm not even sure myself."

"Were you drugged?"

"It's a possibility. Do date rape drugs cause hallucinations?" His brows drew together in concern and confusion as he leaned closer.

"What did you see or hear?"

"A shadow full of stars." It was a quiet answer said more to her coffee than to him.

"Shadow full of stars..." He repeated it back without a hint of comprehension.

"A living shadow at that. It spoke to me and told me to only listen to it and everything would be okay. I'm pretty sure it killed the man that was following me... At least in my head it did." A sip of coffee indicated she was done talking.

"They didn't find a body or any indication of a fight nearby." He answered thoughtfully as he stared into his own coffee cup. “The police assumed you fought with your attacker and he ran off when someone approached the scene."

"You seem to know an awful lot about my case..." She cast a suspicious glance his way.

"I get around. Know enough people in enough places." He passed it off casually with a disarming smile.

"Uh huh..." She knocked back the last of her coffee in a single swig. "Then why did you ask me out?"

His cheeks colored slightly, the only crack in his confident facade. "I didn't want you to wake up alone after going through what you went through."

"Ha. I already told you, I don't feel anything." A blank expression seemed to emphasize the point.

"That doesn't mean it doesn't affect you." A sanguine look took his face as he settled into his chair.

"With all due respect, I doubt a street pimp, gang member, or whatever you are, is going to have more luck than 20 years of therapists." Leaving that jab hanging in the air, she got to her feet.

"You don't want to be alone, but you push people away because you're afraid. Nice trick." His sanguine look never faded as he drew his cup to his lips. She watched him finish his drink then use the mug to weigh down money.

"What point is there in getting to know anyone if..."

A single, slender digit pressed against her lips. In a single, smooth motion he pulled his finger away and started to leave.

Her heart raced a little and cheeks turned warm at the gesture.

"I told you I wouldn't leave you alone, didn't I?"

A gasp escaped her lips and she spun around. He was gone. A distinctly colored shoe drew her attention to the alley. There was Mr. Suave, pretending to get a phone call as soon as she found him. He gave her an apologetic look as he motioned to the phone. She just rolled her eyes and walked away.

[fantasticalrealms]

Primrose and Lavender: Part 1

To any of my colleagues it was a rookie mistake, getting caught out at night in the cold. If they knew, they would taunt me mercilessly for being so absent-minded and getting caught up in my work. I have a bad habit of getting fixated on one thing that really interests me and losing sight of other things. Though this trait helped propel me through school and into my career, cost me a great many things in life, especially friends and lovers.

They couldn’t know the truth. They could never know the truth. At the time, no one could. So, I masked it behind thin veneer of fiction. A tale of an Idyllic little cave with plenty of fire wood that kept me cozy. Of trapping small critters for food. Of roughing it in the worst situation and making it out alive because of a small measure of preparation beforehand.

Even if they did hear the tale, they wouldn’t believe how I truly survived those frigid winter nights. There are still times I look up at the sky and wonder if it really happened myself… If the whole thing wasn’t some bizarre dream or coping mechanism from being alone… Then something will happen to bring it all into sharp clarity, and I’ll know, I’ll know.

I don’t expect anyone to ever believe what you are about to read really happened to me. Even if you don’t believe my story, I have to write it. Now is the time for this story to be told…

I fielded question after question as I made my way to my office after class. After the small herd of students had dissipated, I went in and locked the door. It's good the majority of my students like me, I suppose. That didn't make the whole teaching experience any less taxing on my energy reserves. I dropped into my desk chair like a sack of potatoes. Oozing to take on its shape like a cat. A stack of papers to grade beckoned to me just out of reach. I grabbed the edge of the desk and pulled myself up to a sitting position. One paper in hand, I tapped a red pen on the desktop rhythmically. My mind drifted as my eyes scanned the same material I had gotten semester after semester.

Eventually my mind wandered to the window and I found myself daydreaming of being out in the field. The weather had been unseasonably warm this Fall. I could probably get out one more time... I shook my head to bring myself back to the task at hand. Picking up the next paper the title caught my eye. "Superheroes to Mothmen, Radiation Induced Mutations Don't Work That Way!"

"Haha. The Mothman? Been awhile since someone wrote about that..." The Mothman was an urban legend from a town about an hour away. It started in the 50s and 60s, talks of a huge, evil moth terrorizing the hills. Eventually, theories started attributing the creature's origins to radioactive waste at an abandoned military facility. As a trained biologist, I had dismissed the notion of a mothman long ago. Still, the thought of the unknown, of the what if, was a driving force in my life.

 Friday had come at last and I decided to take the opportunity a long weekend afforded me to go on a research hike. I had made sure to prepare thoroughly for the affair. I packed 4 days of trail meals and a wide array of camping supplies in my overstuffed backpack. I included a few extra clothes to last me until my return Sunday. Confident the weather would hold, I parked my car in a lot for a nature preserve in southern Ohio.

It was bright and clear on this unseasonably warm day in late winter. If you believed the groundhog, it should have been cold and miserable. If you believed the forecast, Spring was already well and truly here. Even so, the weather could shift in a blink of an eye, something I will never forget.

The sun had barely started its arc through the cloudless, purple ombre sky when I arrived at the Crown City Wildlife area in Southeastern Ohio. An auspicious sign, I thought. It was a truly breath-taking sight to behold as I paused in unloading my pack from the car. The sun peaking over a mountain as the backdrop of gently rolling meadows was truly idyllic.

The area hadn’t been steamrolled over by glaciers during the ice ages. That meant there was plenty of differences in elevations from gently rolling hills up to short mountains. Even better, well for me as a biologist at least, the area had been part of a strip-mining operation in the 70s and 80s. There were so many different areas from grasslands to forests with different species to study!

My area of expertise was conservation and I used the Crown City Wildlife area to study how rates of reclamation varied based on the level of destruction. The mining operation had left pockets of land untouched, unexplored, undisturbed. I wanted to know what was living in those areas and how they had spread.

I had all the information I needed from the lower elevations. That meant a longer hike to the heavily wooded upper elevations. This area hadn't been impacted as heavily and would allow me to make primary observations. An actual test could be done another day with the information gathered on the outing.

It was still chilly this early in the morning, but it was bound to warm up. With that thought in mind, I forged on under the brightening sky through a vast track of grassland to the upper reaches. The tall, dry grass made a gentle crunch with every step, a dry swish with every gentle breeze. There were plenty of opportunities to take pictures along the way, but I resisted. I could see my goal on a ridge ahead, a stand of trees I figured surrounded a small gorge or ravine of some kind based on old topology maps.

It took me a few hours to get where I really wanted to be, though once I was there it was completely worth it. Even in late winter, there was plenty of specimens to take pictures of or document in my notebooks. The hours flew by as I snapped and jotted.

This is where things took a turn. I have known about my hyperfixation issue since I was young. Once I get on something, I get completely lost in learning everything about it. I always brushed it off as nothing serious or harmful in the long run. But, if I had known what time it was, I wouldn’t have climbed down into the gorge.

Layers of sedimentary rocks, of varying hardness, stacked on top of each other made up most of the area. Because of the varying hardness, the softer layers eroded away leaving ledges or shelves of the harder rock. This made it easy to climb down into the shallow gorge to the stream below. It would be just as easy to climb out too, under the right conditions.

It wasn't until my stomach started growling loud enough to wake the dead I realized what time it was. The sky wasn't as bright as it used to be as I sat on a rock eating a sandwich. I decided to sit down on a rock by the stream and eat my lunch. Sitting there resting I finally started to take notice of the change in temperature, prompting me to pull on the thinner of two long sleeve shirts. I hadn’t put much thought in the cool air, I was in a shady gorge in the middle of a forest, naturally it would be cooler down here. Not thinking much of it, I went back to eating. Hm? I heard a noise like something hitting one of the nearby leaves. I didn’t see anything, so I carried on finishing my sandwich. Then I heard it was again! I decided to must be a squirrel or something… Then it hit me. Literally in the face. I reached up and felt cold wetness.

“Shit!” I hurriedly stuffed my camera in the water-resistant bag I brought and stowed it in my backpack. When I looked up at the sky there were charcoal clouds roiling in from the northwest. With them came increasingly frequent drops of water. I had to get out of the gorge before it really started to pour! I ran down to where I had descended and started slowly making my way back up. Suddenly, the rock beneath one of my feet broke off and I tumbled backwards off the rock face. I landed awkwardly but wasn’t badly hurt. I picked myself up to try again when I heard it, the telltale sound of a torrential downpour on leaves. I looked down the gorge and saw the squall line coming right for me, soaking everything in its path.

It was already cold and it was too far to walk back in the pouring rain. I made a split-second decision to try to find shelter and wait out the rain. It was moving slow, I still had time to prepare. Getting out of the gorge was not going to happen right now though. I took off running until I saw a particularly wide ledge high enough off the ground for me to sit under comfortably. It was protected on two sides with a wide opening. I threw my bag under it and scrambled to grab as much debris as I could to burn for before it all got completely soaked by the rain. By the grace of some god, there was a decent sized log already under the ledge and another nearby I was able to pull in just as the deluge hit.

Thanks to a pack of matches and a hand saw from my bag I was able to quickly and easily light a fire at the back of the overhang. My plan was to use my phone, useless as it was for making calls with no signal, as a timer. Every hour it would remind me to put more wood on the fire once I fell asleep. For now, it was turned off in my bag to save the battery. I busied myself sawing down the logs I had and stacking the pieces to stay dry. No use in having a timer to keep my fire going if I had nothing to put on it.

It was hard work and kept me warm despite the dropping temperature. A godsend so I could keep the fire small for now. I knew I had to be careful, if the rock got too warm too quickly it could crack and crush me. My one track mind had taken over to the point I no longer heard the rain. I was solely focused on the task at hand and I pursued it with vigor. When I finally stopped, arms and back aching, I had one whole log sawed down and neatly stacked. I would save the other for later if I needed it. I shouldn’t, I figured, as I sipped on some water, the rain would stop and I would be out of here by morning.

I realized then I couldn’t hear the rain, maybe it had stopped already? I turned around to look and dread filled every fiber of my being. White… The whole world was white… A blanket of snow several inches deep had already covered everything. It wasn’t a wide gorge by any means, but I couldn’t see the other side of it through the snow.

I was not prepared for this. It wasn’t supposed to snow. For that matter it wasn’t supposed to rain like this either. I turned and looked at my fire, huddled in the back of the deep opening, at least I had that much… And wood for a few days.

I shuddered out a sigh before reaching into my bag for a thicker shirt and the survival blanket. The rock wall felt vaguely warm compared to the air when I finally settled myself against it. I wrapped myself in all the leaves I could find and settled in for a long, cold night.

Paranoia settled in as night descended. Every little sound seemed to wake me up. Log popped on the fire? Wide awake. Snow falling off branches? Wide awake. Finally, I decided to go out and look around to calm down. It was deathly still and quiet as the grave. Or at least that's the way it seemed to my frayed nerves. I shined my flashlight around until I settled on a huge mass I didn't remember seeing before. While I debated investing it, it started to move. The silhouette was tall and large. "Please don't be a bear... Please don't be a bear." I prayed to any good spirit willing to listen as I backed away slowly. The more it moved the more human it seemed. "Hello?" It was still too far away to make out clearly even when I shined the flashlight at it. One very striking feature made the blood in my veins run cold far easier than the chilling wind. "Humans don't have eye shine..." I don't have how many times I said that before it fully clicked. When it finally did, I fell over myself and the high snow to get away. Diving head first into my shelter, I threw another log on the fire. The hope was the smoke would keep the bear away. It was a bear. It had to be.

My roommate knew where I was going.

My colleagues knew where I was going.

My car was parked in one of the popular spots.

Someone would get worried and they’d come looking.

These were the things I told myself over and over for two days as the snow grew deeper. It had gotten so deep, it had nearly covered the opening. That helped keep the wind out and my little shelter felt warmer for it. It was not that warm though. My hands and feet were in a constant state of cold unless I kept them right by the fire. Periodically I would take my hiking boots and socks off to make sure my feet were still the right color. So far so good. For how long though?

I was starting to get worried. I had no fear of running out of water, I could just fill up a bottle with snow and let it melt by the fire. Food on the other hand was running low and so was firewood. A long burning fire had made the rock warm so even if it did go out, I could stay there a few more hours basking in that warmth. I wouldn’t last long after that.

As the darkness crept in at the end of the second day, I contemplated if I could get out of the gorge. Tomorrow, I decided, I would try tomorrow before I ran out of firewood. If I could make it out of the gorge, I could use the survival blanket to keep me warm during the hike back.

 “This was a mistake…” I coughed out as I stared up at the gray sky. I watched my breath puff out on tiny white clouds a few times before rolling over on my side and checking the back of my head. There was a lump, but no blood.

“Do you know what happens to water when it freezes? It turns into ICE! Do you remember what happened BEFORE the snow?” I rolled over on all fours as I chided myself. My head was throbbing and I felt sick as I got to my feet. I couldn’t tell how much of that was lack of food, lack of sleep, or the bump on the head I just got. Either way, I was not getting out of the gorge by climbing out.

I brushed the snow off my clothes before huddling next to the fire, wrapped in my blanket again. At least it had stopped snowing. Maybe I could get out of here tomorrow, or maybe someone would find me…

“Only three pieces left…” I sighed as I tossed another piece of wood on the fire. I ate the last bit of food from my bag hoping it would help me feel better, it didn’t. I was cold, miserable, and now in tremendous pain.

The fire died part way through the night. I was still warm, for now, but tired, so very tired. I turned my phone off again and turned on my small lantern for the first time. Without a fire to tend to I was determined to just sleep, as best I could, for as long as I could. I was going to need all my energy if I was going to get out of here tomorrow.

 I lost all sense of the passage of time, fading in and out of consciousness has a way of doing that. It was dark when I came to fully again. A small fire nearby was the only light. Across the space a large figure was hunched over an old wood table.  It seemed like they were reading out of a book to concoct something. Periodically they would pick up a bottle or dish and remove some of the contents. One by one the gears in my brain started clicking into motion. A quick evaluation of the situation brought two thoughts to mind: I had been found by a reclusive denizen of the wilderness or a serial killer who wanted me to be awake when they did the deed. The latter conclusion made me shudder involuntarily and my heart rate jumped through the roof. Logic weedled back into my brain telling me a serial killer would have restrained me. Still, I needed to figure out their intentions. Before I could find a weapon, the figure started shuffling over to me. I pretended to be asleep. Huge furry hands lifted my head up carefully. It was only when they were taking it off, I noticed something was wrapped around my head. They gently tore the last layer free and I couldn't stop the wince and mumble of pain. To my surprise, the person froze up. We're they afraid they hurt me? Suddenly, they very gently patted my head. It felt very mechanical and awkward. Next, something small and hard started dabbing goo on the back of my head. It reeked of medicine and stung badly. My first instinct was to grab their hand, not the move I needed to make if I was pretending to be asleep. My eyes snapped open as soon as I realized what I had done. I was not prepared for what I saw. Pastel pink and yellow made large, dark, multifaceted eyes stand out. All the strength left me as fight or flight set in. I'm not sure if it was the injury or my natural reaction, but I passed out again moments later.  

 I was only out a few minutes that time. I came to and my head hadn't been rebandaged yet. The... thing... was sitting at the end of a makeshift bed like a gargoyle on a gothic cathedral. I was tucked up to my chin in my blanket. Naturally, my first instinct was to scream and try to run. That doesn't work so well when you're a human worm, by the way. Instead, I toppled out of the bed and almost rolled right into the fire! A hard tug at my back stopped me. With speed that would leave you dizzy normally, I was standing upright. The motion was too much for my head and I started feeling nauseous. As the nausea faded, I became keenly aware of the situation. This thing was hugging me and rubbing my back. Its scales felt like soft fur on my face and drew me in with their comfort. It was like hugging a big stuffed animal just before you fell asleep. Except this wasn't a stuffed animal. The reality that I was being hugged by a giant moth hit me hard and fast after a moment of delusion. I tried pulling away but it was far too strong. Instead, it picked me up and put me in the bed again. It must have thought my shaking was due to cold because it put another blanket on me. Then it just sat at the end of the makeshift bed, on its haunches like a gargoyle, staring at me. My head started throbbing again and the whole world faded to black.

“Where… am I?” I wondered to myself as I looked around a very deep cave. It was clear someone lived there, the walls were lined with cast away items: old books missing covers or pages, a table with a mismatched leg shorter than the others, broken dishes, old mason jars with chips in them… It was a surreal sight. Someone lived there. Someone had found me and brought me there! My eyes trailed over to the other side, just beyond a small crackling fire. A lone figure sat hunched over an old writing desk. They appeared to be cloaked in fur. Maybe they were a hunter that used this cave as a base on long trips?

Fear seized every fiber of my being as I watched them. It was not a dream… That was a real life monster I saw before. But the pervading thought that seized me was, “Why haven’t they done anything to hurt me before now?”

This is not a horror movie.

That’s not a psychotic killer.

They could have killed me by now if they wanted to.

Wouldn’t they have tied me up or something?

I repeated these things in my head few times. Finally, I mustered up all my courage and called out to them. “Hello?”

The vaguely human-shaped figure got up.

Please don’t be a giant mutant fly.

Pease don’t be a giant mutant fly.

I clenched my eyes shut, whatever courage I had mustered up to call out to them was gone. Sweat coated my hands and my heart started racing. I don’t remember even breathing as they walked over to me. I could tell whatever it was, was standing right in front of me now. They made a soft rustling sound as they moved. They tapped me gently on the head. I took a deep breath and very slowly opened my eyes. I was not prepared for what I saw…

A pair of large, multi-lensed eyes stared back at me on a head cocked slightly to the side. It was not, in fact, a giant mutant fly. Thank every god in every pantheon for that…

“Have I gone completely crazy?” I whispered through the constricting of my chest and my head swimming. The creature shook its head no. “You can hear me?” I shook my head and blinked a few times. “You can hear me and understand me?” It was more a statement of disbelief than a question, still the creature nodded yes.

“I… I…” My mouth moved up and down a few more times and the creature’s head kept bobbling back and forth as if it were confused. “I thought you were an urban legend! A myth!” I blurted out at last, immediately throwing my hands over my mouth in embarrassment.

The legends all started in Point Pleasant, West Virginia in the 1960s, not long before this area came under dominion of the mining company. Tales of a giant moth-like creature roaming around the town have become a part of the local culture. Ecologists and biologists chalked it up to a giant bird, a sandhill crane. While that may have accounted for some of the sightings, it couldn’t account for all of them. Obviously because here was the real thing right before my very eyes!

All the stories I heard were wrong and I couldn’t understand how everything I thought I knew about the subject of the Mothman had been so terribly off. I was a woman of science staring squarely in the eyes of something that defied what I thought I knew of the subject. Even still I was a purveyor of tall tales and this Mothman before me was not a demonic winged harbinger of destruction. All I felt when I stared up at them was… calm… strangely calm.

Even when they reached out and put their clawed hands on my shoulders to push me down in the make shift bed, I was nothing but calm. “I have so many things I want to ask you…” I said dreamily, reality still not settled in, but my head was still throbbing. They nodded slowly as they pulled a blanket over me. “Thank you.” I gasped trying to bolt upright. They held me down gently. “Thank you for saving me…” They nodded again as I settled down.

 I woke up the next morning, wondering if it had all been some weird dream. A faint light spilling into the cave shocked me to fully awake and aware.

Oh shit.

Oh shit.

It wasn’t a dream… This is real.

Oh shit.

Oh shit.

I thought I had come to terms with that the last time I woke up. One does not simply accept they were rescued by a Mothman. My head still hurt though not as bad. My freaking out and twisting my head around like an oscillating fan wasn’t helping. After closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I got to my feet. The Mothman? Lady? PERSON! Wasn’t there anymore. With lantern in hand, blanket wrapped around me for warmth, I looked around the cave. There was still a small fire keeping the pace tolerably warm, it was still chilly though. The fact the fire was still going told me the creature would be back soon. Creature… It sounds so cold to call the benevolent force of nature that saved me a creature. Alas I knew nothing about them at the time.

Something on the writing desk caught my attention. One of my notebooks and been laid out and gone through. It was opened to one of the blank pages and some notes were jotted in a foreign hand. An illustration had been started on the neighboring page as well. I had said I had so many questions. Was this their way of trying to answer some of them for me? They even laid it out like all the other pages of specimens I had taken notes on.

Genus: Unknown. Has it been given a name now?

Species: Unknown.

Common Name: Mothman

Native Habitat: North America and Europe

Diet: Primarily honey

Notes:

Capable of advanced cognitive function. Unable to vocalize but can understand human speech and writing. Communicates to humans through sign language.

“Sign language?! Really?” I gasped a loud and my voice echoed off the cave walls. I didn’t know sign language really. I knew a few words and the alphabet, that was all. “How did you learn sign language?” My eyes instantly swiveled over to the tilted table full of books. Sure enough, there was a book on sign language there. Based on the illustrations, it was probably published in the mid-80s.

“No one wears their hair like that anymore…” I giggled to myself before I opened it up and started practicing the basic signs. We could always write to communicate, or text with my phone. What happens when the phone runs out of power or we run out of paper though? I tossed a log on the fire from a pile nearby and huddled up close as I read. As with anything else, I got so wholly absorbed I lost track of everything else, even my savior returning with food and water…

“So then... this...? That doesn't look... it's backwards...” I sighed in defeat as I slumped forward. “It's all been backwards because I'm using the hand on the same side I need to use the opposite hand!” I ruffled my hair vigorously and let out a frustrated sigh. A sudden tap on my shoulder made me nearly jump into the ceiling. It reeled away startled.

“OH! I'm so sorry! You startled me!” I exclaimed at a higher than normal pitch as I clutched my chest. My heart was beating so fast I thought it might explode.

Its antennae twitched and fluttered for a moment. I could help, but stare. The mothperson was the most gorgeous hue of dusty purple with royal purple wings and turquoise here and there.

“It wasn't a dream... you're real...” My hand slid away from my chest, awestruck wonder on my face. As if drawn to some magnetized force, I reached out to it slowly. I stopped just short. “How... How rude of me. I'm sorry.” I yelped yanking my hand back. “I haven't even properly introduced myself and I'm trying to touch you without permission!” I looked away blinking rapidly.  

Out of the corner of my eye I saw its head quirk to the side. Suddenly, it reached out and touched my forehead. Before I knew what was going on, it had scooped me up over its shoulder and was taking me back to the bed. “Hey! Um... excuse me? Oh... oh...” The very fierce, embarrassed blush on my cheeks finally caught my attention. “I'm ok!” I added after it gingerly sat me down. “I embarrassed with myself, not hard to do!”

Don't ramble.

Don't ramble.

Pull yourself together!

Breathe.

Blink!

Breathing is good. Blinking is good.

It looked at me quizzically as I took a few deep breaths before extending my hand. “My name is Pepper Glasatta, it's very nice to meet you! What's your name?”

The mothperson reached out and slowly took my hand for a shake. Then it got up and took my notebook from the writing desk. It pointed, with one clawed hand to the spot that said, “Common Name: Mothman.”

“That... That's not really a name... for an individual...” I answered uneasily. “Do you not have any other name?”

It shook its head no.

“Would you mind if I gave you a proper name?”

Again, it shook its head no.

I had an idea and I immediately turned to one of the pages. My excitement ebbed quickly when I realized I would have to broach the very awkward topic. “I...” I opened my mouth and closed it in hesitation.

The mothperson cocked their head to the side and leaned in slightly.

“Well. You see... You're first mothperson I've ever met... So... I don't know how to tell if you're a guy... or a lady...” I was starting to wish the ground would open up and swallow me to save me from the embarrassment. Alas, it did not.

The mothperson's antennae start to twitch rapidly, followed soon after by its whole body.

“Are... are you laughing?” I couldn't help the smile on my face.

The mothperson nodded before starting to sign something.

“Oh I know the alphabet, just one more time, please.”

He spelled out male.

I flipped through to a different page before flipping the book around for him to see.

“You look a lot like this type of moth here. Its scientific name is Schinia florida. Its common name is Primrose moth.” I explained as it scrutinized the book. “What do you think of the name Schin?” It didn't react for a few long moments and I started to feel anxious. It simply handed the book back to me and gave me a thumbs up.

I heaved a sigh of relief and my whole body relaxed. “I'm so glad you like it!” I could feel a nervous gush coming on, but it was cut short by a very loud rumbling... coming from my stomach.

Part Two

[fantasticalrealms]

Wings Over Avalon: For Your Love

Chapter One

“We can never go back.” Zaros explained as he sat before Marabus. “If we do we’ll either be killed or kill the whole clan. Both of which neither of us wants.”

“I understand your situation. However, it is our policy to not harbor exotic species such as yourself here permanently.” Marabus explained stoically as he stared out the window. Zaros simply nodded with a forlorn look on his face. “On the other hand,” a smile worked itself across his face, “your sister is injured and it is also our policy to help those in need.” He turned and looked at the ice dragon with kind, understanding eyes. “No matter what the species…”

Zaros’s eyes lit up and he rushed forward to hug the wizard.

The elder threw his hands up and the dragon slid to a stop. The wizard stepped forward and patted him on the slide. “A little big to be hugging an old and frail man like me, aren’t you?” He mused teasingly.

Zaros threw a foreleg around him and squeezed gently. “Thank you Marabus.” He whispered with an air of relief.

“Marabus…” Merlin said quietly as he knocked on one of the massive wooden doors. “I hope you don’t mind but we patched up Clarina…”

“That’s fine. Take our friend here to visit with his sister.” Marabus replied cheerily. “Tell the doctor I’d like to hear his prognosis so we know how long they’ll be staying. I’d say oh… A year… Two years would be pushing her recovery just a bit, don’t you?” He went on winking at his pupil.

“Yes Sir!” Merlin beamed a bit shocked. “Slow and careful I always say!” Merlin beamed as he turned to leave.

“Merlin… How familiar are you with the smith?” Marabus wondered in passing as he sat down at his desk.

“Not very well…” Merlin replied confused as he poked his head back in the door.

“I suggest you get to know him if you’re going to have him make this… sword of yours…” Marabus went on holding up a piece of paper. “This Excalibur… And you’ll need to work on the binding spell.”

“Yes Sir!” Merlin beamed barely able to contain his excitement before taking off down the hall at break neck speed.

Zaros watched warily before following after him.

The young mage did much hooting and hollering before stopping abruptly when he realized Zaros was watching him. “Marabus convinced the Council to use my plan to choose the new king.” He explained quietly as Zaros caught up with him, smoothing his robes while he waited.

“What is this plan and why do you need it?” Zaros wondered as they walked on down the hall.

“Marabus has foreseen that should the future king, Uther Pendragon, rear his son, great devastation shall befall the land. We have to devise a way to part him from his son then ensure his son’s rise to the throne. I proposed that we send a representative to befriend the king and give him counsel. Then ask for his baby as payment.” Merlin explained before stopping and baring a thoughtful countenance.

“So how was the sword to figure into this idea of yours?” Zaros asked as he carefully slid out of a window to follow Merlin up the tower to see Clarina.

“Well I thought we should have the sword enchanted to where only the boy could use it. We’d put it where any noble could get to it and let them try their hand. The boy would no doubt turn up sometime.” Merlin called out the windows of the tower awkwardly.

“That leaves a lot to chance, doesn’t it? I mean what if the boy never tries to claim the sword?” Zaros pressed concerned. “This doesn’t seem very well thought out…”

“Oh, hush you… The king and the plan are both young. There is yet time to perfect things…” Merlin soothed irritably.

“You’re very smart, Merlin… I’m sure you’ll finish the plan and it will work well.” Zaros remarked landing on the balcony.

“Thank you!” Merlin beamed in reply out the window. “Give me just a second and I’ll open the doors.” A moment later the double wooden doors to the balcony swung open wide. Zaros slowly and carefully wandered in but still managed to clip his wings on the stone around the doorway. “Look at that!” Merlin mused pointing to the little pieces of rock missing from the bricks. A few inches below them were some that were clearly older. “You’ve grown some since you were here last!” He went on jollily as he patted Zaros on the side. “I think you finally out-grew our draft horses!”

Zaros growled taking the remark as an insult instead of the compliment it was meant to be.

Merlin snapped his hand back and watched in hurt confusion as Zaros walked away.

“Zaros is a noble dragon… He is meant to be feared for his size and ferocity… He is the son of the clan leader and is meant to walk tall so as to command respect… It’s hard to walk tall in a crowd when you’re not tall enough to see where you’re going…” Ariala explained slowly as they watched Zaros lay down next to his unconscious sister. She spoke in a quiet tone making her sound far older than she was.

“How… How have you acquired such wisdom so fast?” Merlin wondered looking at her dumbstruck and wide-eyed.

“Zaros said I have a lot of spirit… Like I had the heart of a dragon. Maybe I’m just blessed… Only the gods in heaven know for sure.” She went on smiling up at him with her childish innocence. He wrapped an arm around her and they watched quietly as Xanas tried to comfort Zaros.

 ---------- ---------- ----------

 Zaros flapped around, soaring above the spires of the Northern Order of White Mages and Wizards. They had been there for three months and his adventurous nature grew restless. Marabus had warned him that the fire dragons’ territory started not far from the compound; the words were lost to him as he flew off over the mountains.

“Sister! Look up there! An ice dragon!” A small, young fire dragon roared as he pointed to the sky with a forefoot.

“Lady Landrian… Haven’t the ice dragons been pushing towards the outskirts of their territory? Do you think he could be a spy for an invasion force?” The largest of the three dragons said to the one of medium stature.

“The ice dragons are known to be bold but not to martyrs. I very highly doubt they would send one alone. Especially one as small as him and moving that slow.” Landrian replied in a regal tone full of pensive thought. “Let us wait this one out, Peladar.”

“You’re much too old-fashioned Sister! He is an enemy! We should kill him!” The smallest one roared bolting to the sky towards Zaros.

“Dyzynas!” Landrian hissed angrily.

“Lord!” Peladar called out chasing after him.

“I can’t let you run off and get hurt!” Landrian groaned in frustration as she followed them.

Out of the corner of his eye, Zaros spotted a small ball of flame floating towards him. He stopped and puffed a whisper of his icy breath at it to put it out. “Die spy!” A young voice called out from above. Zaros barrel rolled out of the way and grabbed the youngster by the tail.

“Didn’t your parents ever teach you not to attack things bigger than you? No less twice your size or more?” The ice dragon wondered slightly annoyed.

The youngster flipped up and bit his foot.

“Gah! What is wrong with you?” Zaros snapped letting go and shaking the pain out of his paw. He looked down at the little dents that didn’t pierce the skin.

“I’m going to kill you before your clan can invade!” The youngster hissed before breathing another puny attack. Zaros suppressed the attack and smiled as ice crystals formed on the end of the little one’s nose.

“He certainly isn’t acting like a spy…” Peladar remarked slightly confused as they watched Dyzynas try to tackle Zaros. Zaros hugged the smaller dragon into his chest, a teasing grin on his face. Dyzynas wriggled free, a look half pout, half angry, every bit adorable because of his size of his face.

“Certainly not…” Landrian agreed watching the scene almost entranced. “The way he moves is so perfect… It’s almost as if he can read Dyzynas’s moves before he makes them and then reacts appropriately.”

“But that’s impossible…” Peladar protested with a chuckle. “It’s probably just so easy because Dyzynas is young and inexperienced…”

“My Father can do it…” Landrian snorted quietly.

“Yes, but your Father is the clan leader and an An…” Peladar stopped in mid-thought and looked at her in horrified awe.

“I don’t think he’s a spy though…” Landrian went on approaching the fight slowly.

“I won’t let your clan attack mine!” Dyzynas roared fiercely.

“My clan, attack yours…” Zaros hissed in a deeply pained voice. “I don’t have a clan anymore… I haven’t for months.” Zaros replied to the youngster’s frequent mention of it.

All three of the fire dragons froze solid in place. It was an unspoken law amongst dragons, bound by their pride, that you never deny your clan.

“You have no reason to fear me. If it bothers you that I’ve infringed on your territory I’m sorry and I’ll leave now. I meant no harm…” Zaros went on just above a whisper as pain dripped on every word he said. After a moment of hovering in the air with his head hung he turned and started to fly away.

“You lie!” Dyzynas shouted angrily as he flew towards the retreating opponent. “You are a worthless piece of trash denying your clan like that!”

“I’M NOT LIKE THEM!” Zaros roared painfully as he spun around and met Dyzynas’s attack. He shoved the small dragon back effortlessly but without hurting him. “The color of blood is what I despise don’t make my paint myself in yours…” He whispered in a strained voice. Landrian watched wide-eyed and something about the words struck pain in her heart. Where had she seen such passion and value for life? One that she herself held but saw in so few around her…

“I have to know…” She whispered taking off towards the fight again.

“Don’t lie coward!” Dyzynas shouted when a huge ball of flame, burning blue at its core, rose from beneath him. Zaros let off a faint blue glow as he spun out of the way, taking Dyzynas with him momentarily to protect him. Zaros flew backwards as he suppressed another attack with one of his own. Dyzynas looked on in awe as a white blur flew out from a cloud of steam. Zaros shot down following the heat in the air to Landrian. His eyes were lost to the fierce blue glow that filled the orbs. When he realized that Landrian was a female he stopped abruptly just feet away from her. Ice crystal shot off his wings from the force of stopping so quickly. The embedded in the ground around Landrian. He hovered there panting as the glow around him faded. Their eyes met and there was something vaguely familiar that Landrian saw within the bright orbs. After a stand-off of a few seconds he spun around and flew away with great speed.

“What was that?” Dyzynas wondered in shock as he sank down next to his sister and guardian. He kicked one of the ice spikes in disdain but found it far too sturdy to shatter easily.

“That was an Ancient… Or one of Ancient blood if I’m not mistaken…” Peladar commented in equal awe and shock.

“But yet… After all that… I still don’t believe he’s a threat to us…” Landrian mused in a far-off voice as she watched Zaros fly away. Dyzynas’s face grew heated as he took off to follow Zaros without being seen.

“I’ll show them all! I’ll show Father that I can make him proud. Even if he isn’t a threat I’ll make Poppa think he is so I still win! I’ll get the glory when the clan destroys him!” Dyzynas snickered in his mind. “No one will ever make fun of me then!”

“Poor little dragon… The one you seek to destroy may possibly be the first being you meet capable of understanding how you feel…” An ethereal voice sighed gently like a spring breeze. A being cloaked all in white with a thin veil covering its face stood upon a branch of a nearby tree and watched as Dyzynas pursued Zaros on the ground. “I have no power here… I cannot stop you young Prince… All I can do is hope for the best and pray for your soul…”

“Spiritus Mane Caelum…” A voice whispered from somewhere in the air. “Reverto domus… Reverto Avalon…” With that, the being disappeared like mist in the hot sun.

 ---------- ---------- ----------

 “A grievous wrong has been committed against our clan!” A thunderous voice boomed and the sound echoed off the nearby cliffs lined with red dragons of various sizes. “A spy of the ice dragon clan has invaded our air! He came to survey our weaknesses and vantage points! Now my fellow High Council members we must make a weighty decision. Attack or be attacked?” The huge red dragon went on. Even without his massive size, his voice alone commanded attention. It was clear, right and deep much like the pigment of his scales. His voice wasn’t rash or angry but calm and wise. “Before we make such a decision we must first weigh all of the consequences evenly.” He went on spreading his wings and taking to the air. His wingspan was easily fifteen men laid head to toe if that is any indication of his size. Landrian listened to the High Council’s words carefully and it soon became apparent to her that an attack was eminent. She slipped away in a manner which, she thought, no one had seen her depart.

 ---------- ---------- ----------

 “Zaros… I think you had better come see this…” Ariala called warily as she stood in the castle garden. The young dragon flew down and landed on a stone walkway not far from her.

“What is it?” He wondered looking at her cautiously. She pointed to the massive wooden doors of the main gates into the compound. The ice dragon slowly walked down the weathered cobblestone avenue and pulled the doors open.

“He who flies freely and without a plan… Meet me soon where the signal fire burns.” Had been roughly carved and scorched into the wood. “Or danger will befall you…” The prince slowly turned and looked at Ariala with a grim countenance.

“I’ll be back soon…” He remarked before taking to the air. He flew on over the mountains looking for what might be the signal. A plume of smoke rose from the far side of a mountain, which Zaros decided must be the signal fire. He slowly approached the far side and landed. Cautiously, he walked towards the huge pile of burning trees. Beyond the pile he discerned the dragon he had almost struck down just days before. It was a red dragon, slender in form, with her long, narrow body and gracefully arching neck. Unlike his wide stocky head, hers was narrow and pointed like an arrowhead. He noted how the spines on her back were fewer but wound and twisted like dancing fire. Unlike his blunt and boxy spines, hers could most certainly do harm. Her tail was of equal length to her neck, ending in a slender spiny point. He mused, for a moment, about how beautiful she was, how her proportions were very pleasing to the eye. He noted from her fairly even skin tone she must be young. His mother had told him all about the different flights. The thing that stood out in his mind about fire dragons was how their skin changed color as they aged, blue creeping up their feet chasing away the reds and oranges of their youth.

“You called, my Lady?” He called out respectfully. She turned and looked at him a bit startled but quickly composed herself as she walked towards him.

“I felt it was my duty to tell you, to warn you that my clan will most likely attack the ice dragon clan. I’m not sure when but it will happen.” Landrian explained looking at him gravely.

“Why are telling me all this? Aren’t we enemies here?” Zaros wondered warily.

“I don’t feel as though you’re my enemy… In fact, I respect you and your power. There are no Ancients in my clan anymore, save for my Father who is weak of heart. I haven’t seen power like yours in many years.” She answered slowly and in a regal tone. “It’s something worthy of respect.”

“Do you think I could have killed you?” Zaros wondered painfully as he avoided her gaze.

Landrian nodded slowly as she moved to try looking him in the eye.

“If you had hit me then yes… I would have killed you without a second thought I’m afraid. Power like that isn’t worthy of respect…” He went on in a sad tone.

“Why were you ostracized from your clan?” Landrian wondered making a move towards him slowly.

“I didn’t want blood on my claws… I still don’t…” He answered without fear or remorse. “How long do you think I have to warn them?”

She looked at him surprised and didn’t seem to know just how to react to his answer. She finally collected herself and took a deep breath.

“We usually move within a week.” She replied with a hint of delight in her voice.

“Thank you, my Lady. You may have saved many lives this day.” He remarked as he bowed and turned to leave.

“Noble Lord…” Zaros stopped abruptly but didn’t look at her. “It wasn’t the power of your Ancient blood I was referring to…” He spun around and stared at her curiously. “It was the power of your heart and your will to do what you feel is right; the power of your will to control a force far beyond yourself. You have proven it again by coming here. I hope you’ll do so a third time with this information I have given you.” Before he could respond to her solemn words, she took to the air and left. He stared at the hypnotic, dancing flames sadly as they danced for a moment before taking to the air himself.

“Sometimes we have to do hard tasks that we don’t want to in the name of what’s right… Even if it means risking our lives…” He sighed as he flew away. The being cloaked all in white stared down from a tree branch.

“And some things you cannot fight, fair Zaros… Like fate… You are the one and soon your destiny will be clear to you. Good luck, my love…” With that she faded away and disappeared.

Ariala was waiting for Zaros dutifully at the gates when he returned. He smiled and acted as if nothing was wrong when he greeted her warmly. “Looks like I’m going to have to take a little trip, Love.” Xanas landed beyond the intricate fountain in the center of the garden and walked up to his leader.

“What happened?” Xanas wondered in their clan’s draconic tone Ariala somehow still vaguely understood.

“The fire dragons mistook me as a spy and now they’re going to attack the ice dragons.” Zaros replied in the unique dialect.

“Are you going to do what I think you’re going to do, my Prince?” Xanos wondered warily as he cocked his head.

“Of course…” Zaros replied looking up at the towering ice dragon before him and smiling slyly. Xanos nodded and took to the air.

“We’ll be back soon, Ariala. Go tell the others not to follow. Everything will be ok.” Zaros explained in his clear human speech. “Bye, Love.” With that he took to the air. As he did so Ariala rushed forward and tried to grab his leg and stop him. “Zaros… There’s something brewing in the air! Don’t leave, Zaros!” She pleaded as he flew away.

“I have to do this if I want to keep living the way I want.” He replied not noticing her forlorn expression. “I don’t want any bloodshed because of me or when I can prevent it.”

“But I feel like someone might die if you leave…” She whispered to herself as tears welled up in her eyes. “Maybe my senses just aren’t developed yet…” She shook her head violently to clear away the doubt. “No! This feeling is much too strong to be wrong! ZAROS! Come back!” She screeched desperately but he was long gone.

 ---------- ---------- ----------

 “Father… I followed Landrian today when she left the Council… She went to the spy and warned him about the attack. We have to move quickly and destroy him before he can warn them.” Dyzynas said in a slyly beseeching tone.

“Yes, in order to maintain the element of surprise… A spy with that information could put us at a disadvantage. I’ll round up the warriors and you’ll lead the way. Obviously, he’s still in the area.” The fire dragon clan leader replied pensively as he stared at the ground. “We must do this without her knowing it…” He went on absentmindedly as he walked out of the cave. Peladar dashed off before he could be seen and took to the air to find his Princess.

“My Lady!” He shouted when he spotted Landrian. He tackled her in mid-air and they crashed to the ground with a crack of breaking wood.

“What’s the meaning of this?!” She gasped shoving him off angrily.

“Dyzynas followed you! Your Father knows of your treason and is going to attack the ice dragon we found first! Dyzynas is going to take them there.” He explained desperately. “If helping that lad is truly your desire then we must go now by foot. We’ll be captured if we go by air.” Landrian looked at him wide-eyed as the words sank into her mind.

“He lives with humans… They’ll be slaughtered as enemies…” Without saying another word, she spun around and bolted down the slope. Peladar followed her loyally and she glanced back at him and wondered why he was there aiding her in this treason. “Why did you warn me�� Why are you still here?” She finally asked warily.

“Because I’ve not seen passion like yours since your beautiful mother when I was very young. I’d like to see that passion live a little longer… Landrian… My Lady…” Peladar replied with a tone the Princess had never heard him use before. It didn’t take them long to reach the castle and to their surprise there was an angry face waiting for them at the gate.

“Where’s the boy?! Where’s the ice dragon boy?” Landrian demanded with a heavy voice.

“Zaros? He left to warn our kind about your kind… Now get out of here before I have to hurt you!” Clarina said in a low growl.

“I was the one who warned him about the attack!” Landrian replied in a similar tone. To her surprise, Peladar kneeled down and bowed to Clarina.

“We only wish to aide you, Highness… It’s good to see you well… You have deceived us well all these years of your absence…” He replied not looking at Clarina.

“Have we met?” The ice dragon wondered confused but not easing her stance. Peladar looked up at her wide-eyed.

“You really aren’t her are you? But your… Eyes…” He got up and shook his head briskly. “Forgive me… I mistook you for someone else.”

“Look the point is my clan thinks Zaros is a spy and that I’m a traitor for warning him! Now which way do we go to find him?!” Landrian snapped passionately.

“Do I look stupid to you?” Clarina smirked spreading her wings wide. Suddenly she felt a small hand on her back leg.

“If you hurry we can bring him back. If he doesn’t return everyone in this compound will perish. I can show you the way.” Ariala said quietly as she walked forward and stared Landrian and Peladar down.

“Get on.” Landrian said quietly as she held out a forepaw.

Ariala climbed up her leg and on her back careful to avoid the spines. She waved good-bye to Clarina as the three took to the air. They soon spotted Zaros and Xanos in the distance.

“We’ll just waste more time trying to catch up with them…” Ariala remarked standing up carefully.

“Hey what are you doing?! You’ll fall if you aren’t careful!” Peladar gasped watching the fearless little girl.

“I know… Just let me fall… And watch Zaros…” She replied with a smile before she leapt head first off Landrian’s back.

The pair of dragons watched Ariala fall for a split second then shot their attention back to Zaros but he was nowhere to be found. They looked down again in time to see a bright blue light shoot beneath them. From the light emerged Zaros with Ariala on his back.

“We have to go back… They’re in danger.” She whispered while hugging his neck as best she could.

“Then let’s go!” Zaros replied. “Come on Xanas! We’re going back!”

 ---------- ---------- ----------

 “Marabus!” Merlin yelled frantically as another ball of flame slammed into the wall beside him. “Fire dragons! We have one ice dragon against 50 fire dragons… MARABUS!!!”

“Stop yelling and start casting, fool!” Marabus yelled slightly annoyed. “I’m going to move to the other side.” He explained shoving past the young wizard.

“Yes Marabus… Right… A spell… Water…” He muttered gaining his resolution. “Right got it!” He ran to the nearest window and pointed his staff at a group of five or so dragons. “River run and river rage. Free of earthly cage. Flow unto where I bid. Flow through fire bright and fire hid!” A huge beam of water shot out of the end of his staff and engulfed the five dragons. Plumes of smoke rose from their mouths in lazy curls to the sky. They angrily tried to shoot flames at him. He flinched and hid his head behind a wall. To his delight all they could do was spit smoke. “Woo hoo!” He cried before doing a little dance and running off down the hall. “Let’s try that again!”

“I’m sorry Zaros…” Was all Landrian could say as they saw the plume of smoke rising in the distance.

“We live with a guild of spellcasters… I’m more worried about your clan than them.” Zaros replied with a sly smile.

“Many of them left with the delegation to the Grand Council.” Ariala interjected. “Only Merlin and Marabus are left that can cast.”

“And only Marabus can cast well.” Xanas added worried as he smacked his forehead.

“Dear Gods…” Zaros gasped bolting forward. “I’ve said it before… Whoever leaves him in charge of anything is crazy!”

 ---------- ---------- ----------

 “Father!” Dyzynas yelled with fervor as excitement danced in his eyes. “We’re about to breach a wall on the other side! Come on! Come on!” He exclaimed tugging on one of his father’s foreleg. His father followed him around and sure enough one of the castle walls gave way as they approached. Dyzynas shot down into the castle despite his father’s protesting. The little dragon rushed in with group towards the worst possible target, Marabus. The old wizard sensed the oncoming attack and through up an ice wall. Dyzynas came to an abrupt stop then looked on in horror as the wall broke apart and huge chunks of ice bigger than himself flew at him. They melted in a massive inferno as his father let loose a powerful attack.

“Dyzynas! Get out of here! It’s too dangerous for you! Go home!” The regal fire dragon ordered sternly as he slid to a landing in front of his son.

“But Father!” The young one protested discouraged and shocked.

“GO!” The leader roared turning his head back slightly but keeping an eye on Marabus. Dyzynas looked at his father shocked and hurt for a moment. “GO!” He roared angrily as he snorted smoke and flame. Dyzynas jumped then took to the air. As he flew out of the hole in the wall he glanced back.

“I’ll make you proud Father… Somehow… Somehow I’ll prove myself…” He whispered in a hurt voice.

 ---------- ---------- ----------

 “Zaros look! The tower!” Xanas gasped in horror. From somewhere on the other side of the tower Clarina swooped around and plunged into the gaping opening, disappearing into the light. “Go! get Ariala to safety!” He added before flying off to head off a group of fire dragons.

“Marabus!” Ariala screamed in horror. “He’s going to die if we don’t hurry! I swear to you Zaros he’ll die!” She went on as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“We’ll try to buy you some time.” Landrian said resolutely before turning and flying headlong against her clan.

“Protect what you love, Zaros.” Peladar added with that same resolution in his voice. “And I’ll do the same out here.” Zaros nodded quickly and flew off towards the opening of the tower. Growls and gnashing teeth could be heard from the opening and it was clear a battle was taking place. Clarina was suddenly flung out of the tower and a huge dragon followed her out.

“Who the hell is that?! What the hell is that?!” Zaros gasped taking in the sheer size of the beast that now hovered over his sister. Dark blue all the way up his legs. This was an Ancient fire dragon… Clarina looked up helplessly as he reared his claws up to strike. “CLARINA!” Zaros screamed and the fire dragon hesitated long enough to look at Zaros. In that instant, Zaros head-butted him with such a violent force that he was completely knocked over. Zaros spun around and slid to a stop on the stone ground. “Get off and hide, Ariala…” He growled giving the towering beast a death glare. Ariala did as she was told and disappeared into the debris that now littered the ground.

“Everyone stop! You don’t know what you’re doing!” Landrian screamed desperately. “This is a huge misunderstanding and someone will die if we don’t stop!”

“And why should any of us listen to a traitor like you?” A lone voice rang out and a grizzled and darker colored fire dragon lurked out of the shadows of the debris.

“You have no idea what you’re talking about Festranis. Stay out of clan business, dirty scum.” Landrian hissed angrily.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk… Wouldn’t your mother be ashamed to hear such language from your mouth?” The large dragon replied with a cool tone.

“Don’t talk about my mother! Murderer!!!” Landrian screamed charging him with all her speed. Everyone looked on in shock as she was easily flung away with one swipe of his huge claws. She landed near Zaros bloody and bruised.

“For once I have to agree with Festranis… Misunderstanding or not you defied your clan and that makes you a traitor… Traitors are to be killed or exiled as I see fit and I order you exiled…” The huge dragon beamed in a thunderous and stern voice. Out of the corner of his eye, as Landrian made her heartfelt protest, Zaros spotted Dyzynas sneaking in to attack a clearly weakened Marabus.

“Marabus! Look out!” Ariala screamed frightfully. Everyone threw their attention on the old mage in time to see Dyzynas break through his barrier and defy all they knew about magic and Marabus’s control over it…

Dragonkin