Missing Egg, Lost Hope an ISOS Xavi RP
 

There was once a time when dragons were not of legend, but lived in flesh and blood among humans. Though, even when alive, dragons were revered creatures, looked at like gods. Among them were the King and Queen; they were the caretakers of their race and worked with the humans to ensure the happiness of the lands. True peace spread over the realms and all seemed well.

Though, even in times of peace there are those that seek unrest. Gangs existed among both humans and dragon. It was said that only a dragon could harm a dragon so the creatures were highly sought after. Some were captured for pets, others trained for combat as well as any other reason humans sought to pay money for them. Their parts were used to make weapons, armor, furniture and other items. Of course, there were dragons that worked with them, kidnapping and selling off their own kind.

A grand celebration was being had for the King and Queen were expecting their first child. The ornate egg was on public display for people to come and see; it was a joyous moment, even if the egg wouldn't hatch for quite some time.

It was during this time that these humans and dragons worked together; if lesser dragons and their parts were worth a fortune, those of royalty would fetch an even higher price. Not to mention, there were others that felt their reign was too long and that they didn't cater well enough to their own kind. Some dragons felt that they shouldn't have to work with the humans, but that the humans should worship them more than they already were.

One night, after the grand doors closed for the palace in the Land of the Dragons, these groups struck. The gangs were not small and the attack became a battle within the palace. Humans and dragons were killed, but the biggest loss was not only the loss of the King and Queen, but the loss of the egg.

The King and Queen were not the type to believe in leading from the back and had been killed in the attack for forces had been waiting outside for them to appear. The egg though, it wasn't killed, but it vanished into the night. It was unknown as to what happened to it; the bandits and gangs didn't seem to have it, or if they did, they were very secretive about it and no dragon came forward saying they saved the child of their beloved royalty.

The world mourned their loss, the dragons probably more so than the humans for it was their leaders that kept them safe from human greed. And it didn't take long for all the things they were being protected from came to attack. The dragon gangs started rising up in power, though now their human allies were turning on them with the weapons made from the very dragons they had betrayed. The dragons that held the magical capacity to do so took to hiding among the humans, as a human. The other dragons were continued to be sold and it became like a black market thing. Free dragons as they once were, no longer existed and it was rare to see even the captive ones. They were thought to be extinct, for even the betrayers had fled to the mountains for they could not generate a human form.

Hundreds of years later, humans told stories of dragons and they were just that, stories. The dragons in the mountains were becoming irritated for even in their nearly immortal lives and the humans that had chased them out being long dead, they could not take over the lands as they had hoped. There were still humans that had been trained by those that chased them out and even the dragons that could be found, none wished to cooperate with them. More and more dragons were being killed by these groups in the mountains than they had been previously.

Unbeknownst to most, the heir was alive. With bright aqua hair, pale skin and strikingly teal eyes, she stood out, clear as day, in the traditional villages she visited. She was as kind as they come and could calm humans with a few spoken words, she was definitely the daughter to the late Dragon Rulers. She was raised by a human, a gypsy to be exact. The woman was privy to the magical arts and the egg had been given to her long ago, along with a trinket that allowed her to live well past normal human years. She cared for the egg and then the child that came from it, as a favor to an old friend, one that owed her many a favor at this point.

The egg hatched in a dense forest clearing far from civilization or any other living creature that may have sought it. It was a warm day, the first real warm day of spring. It was as though her hatching chased away the harsh winter storms that had been pounding their land for many months.

Over the course of the next few months, the gypsy woman worked with the dragon hatchling in teaching her how to conceal her dragon form and to appear human. The child's magical capacity easily being able to achieve such a guise and the trinkets that man had left with the woman also helped. The woman knew not the child's identity, nor did she care for being a gypsy was trouble enough. Holding a dragon for any means? That would get you killed the second someone caught on.

The heir knew not her own bloodline, nor the fact that she was the only living royal left among her kind. In order to keep suspicion down, the woman would frequently move them, something quite standard for gypsies anyway. Dragons were known for their unnatural coloring as human and this girl stood out even more, pair that with a gypsy who should have perished long ago, they had reason to keep moving.

Even with so many not knowing, there was one that who knew of the girl's identity, a male dragon. His role is unknown to her though, whether he is someone from the palace or someone who has sided with the very dragons that had betrayed her family, but the ones that betrayed her family seem very interested in him.

What is becoming clear to the dragons though, is that with their leaders having been gone for so long, it appeared as though their powers were starting to dry up. Those that remained in dragon form could no longer leave it, those that were in human form could no longer take to their natural serpentine form. Their powers were fading, even their once nearly immortal lifespans were shortening from what they once were.

With the heir alive and the dragons that took to hiding in the mountains no longer pleased with being trapped there, in fear that the descendents of the humans that betrayed them, what will happen?

▬▬▬▬▬ ZALANNA KENNYRATHEM • • • • •
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ name meaning Royal Daughter / Sworn to the Dragons

❖ Zal, Alanna, Anna
❖ Dragon
❖ Female
❖ Heterosexual
❖ 124 years old (looks 24)
❖ 5'6"
❖ Bright Teal
❖ Straight, silky Aqua locks that usually falls to her waist

❖ APPEARANCE Her skin is a milky white color that seems to glisten slightly in the light. Her nails a smooth, pearly color. She has long, silky aqua hair that falls to her waist and her complexion is and always has been clear. When other kids, even her caretaker, was suffering with various skin ailments, Zalanna did not.

As a dragon, her massive body is pure white, her scales glistening in pearlescent colors in the light. She has a large, crest-like fin that is bright aqua in color, the webbing of her wings also seems to have an aqua tint to them.

Her dragon form is easily 20 feet from nose to tail, her wings 25 feet from tip to tip. The crest upon her head stands five feet tall. Her claws, while massive are not those that are made to shred enemies apart; while their size along could do they, they do not hold the intense curved shape that other breeds boast. The Royal dragons tend to try and avoid conflict and while their body and the lack of spikes, but rather opts for a smooth appearance, their abilities are deadly enough to make up for all of it.

❖ SKILLS It is believed that the royal dragons are a rare species of dragon known as Celestials, for their powers are limited to only their kind. A part of her power appears to be her ability to just calm things down; she is able to calm fights between all and soothe situations. She doesn't even have to say anything, her presence alone seems to bring about an air of peace.

Outside of that, Zalanna's abilities seem to lie with wind. She's able to control it and use it but it also comes with a more frightening ability. An ability known as Divine Wind that can destroy all organic material in it's path as well as significantly damage artificial materials. The full extent of the ability is unknown, but Zalanna accidentally used it once, luckily it was while they were on the road when she was still small, but she was told to never use the ability unless there was absolutely no other choice.

Lastly, the royals are the power source for dragons. It is said that having something of a royal will keep the 'battery' of a dragon charged. Though, she is not able to grant her power to the other dragons as her parents had when they were on the thrown, dragons around her do benefit from the power boost.

❖ WEAKNESS Kindness. A personality trait normally viewed at as good can turn deadly if held to dearly. Zalanna is known to forgive and trust too easy, to the point where she is very easy to take advantage of. She doesn't usually get upset or lash out at others either. It was the same weakness of her parents.

❖ PERSONALITY Zalanna could befriend anyone or anything. She's they type to go out of her way to help people, even if it put her at a disadvantage. She's accepting of others, even if they were sick, dying or poor; none of that deterred her. Being around her makes it seem like there is no bad in the world, that everything is as it should be and all is right.

She laughs and smiles easy and seems to love life and all that it has to offer. Though, not being around people all the time, there are times when she doesn't understand things or takes them the wrong way. She can be easily flustered, though she tries to hide it. In that sense, she's a bit bashful and falls silent.

❖ HISTORY Unbeknownst to her, Zalanna is the only offspring to the late King and Queen of Dragons. Her egg had been stolen the night the palace was attacked and taken to a far off land. It wouldn't be until 100 years later that the egg would hatch and the whelp would find herself staring at the leg of a dragon, but only for a brief moment. Her waking moments were the only moments she has ever spent with another of her kind and even then, she didn't get a full look at the creature. She just remembers the leg and the smell of the beast and had been hoping to run into them again.

It was almost as soon as she opened her eyes after hatching that the dragon rushed out and a woman came in. Her scent was different, the tingling smell of magic wasn't as strong with her. She was caring though. The woman would raise her, teaching her how to conceal her dragon form and warning her to never show it in fear that they would be separated.

For as long as Zalanna can remember, which is quite some time, she never saw the woman grow older. When she asked her about it, the woman laughed at the dragon, making a comment about how her kind lives forever and a human not growing old was weird. She did eventually break down, many years later, and tell the girl that she had a friend that was watching over them and helping her do all she could to keep an eye on the dragon girl.

Dragons were known for their very different appearances, but Zalanna seemed to standout even more. Young humans would die their hair every odd color, paint their skin and pale white, but this look was natural to the creature, as was her eye color, which humans usually needed thin sheets of plastic to achieve. While this helped the young dragon blend in and not draw too much attention, it was also one reason that her and woman were frequently moving. When you have a dragon and a gypsy woman who didn't grow old, getting found out would cause a lot of troubles.

▬▬▬▬▬ SID SHADY • • • • •
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ as played by ISOS Duke

❖ Sid, Shade, Shady, Boogeyman, Bringer of Nightmares (the list goes on!)
❖ Shadow Dragon
❖ Male
❖ No preference!
❖ None
❖ Old, about 275 years old
❖ 6' even
❖ Lavender with dark purple swirled in
❖ Black as black can be

❖ APPEARANCE Sid is a shadow dragon, a race that is much smaller than others due to their nature of hiding in shadows and within the visions one has while sleeping. His form is much like that of the others; small and thin, his wings make up a good portion of his body, along with large fan-like spines and horns. As a dragon, he's about the size of a long-tailed sylph hummingbird.

As a human, Sid is very thin, almost sickly so. He bores no scars on his body due to his habit of fleeing from combat. He's not overly tall, nor overly short, he really doesn't have many characteristics to cause him to stand out as anything impressive. His skin is a pale white, his eyes seeming to hold a laughing glint in them most of the time and his black hair is kept choppy and usually tied up to stay out of his way.

He can usually be found clad in all black, the color of his element and the color that brings him comfort. His attire is typically made up of a long sleeve shirt, cargo pants and a pair of polished, black military boots.

❖ SKILLS Sid is known as the Bringer of Nightmares and as such, one of his specialties is toying with the dreams of those that sleep and bringing about horrible, horrible nightmares that the mind usually prevents from happening.

He also has control over shadows, able to manipulate them or use them as transport. He is also quite fast, both in human and dragon form.

❖ WEAKNESS Shadow dragons can be at a bit of a disadvantage as far as dragon species go. Whatever destroys shadows, such as light and fire, holds a significant advantage over these creatures. Not to mention, his dragon size can pose a problem at times. Though it's quite sturdy, it is still very small and no matter how sturdy it is, the size is still something that poses a weakness for he could still easily be crushed if one manages to capture him and he's able to be caught in smaller traps than other dragons.

❖ PERSONALITY Sid is about as trustworthy as a snake coated in slime; you know he's going to strike, you just don't know when. Yet, to those that manage to actually win his loyalty, he is devout and true, until you betray him.

Sid is a very complex character, finding humor in things that most people find to be haunting or just not funny to begin with. He teases, picks and seems to have a complete lack of manners when dealing with people. He's not afraid to push buttons, pull strings and lie to those to gain the upper hand. He's the type of person that is very much out for himself.

He talks big, but he's the type that's usually all bark and no bite for if Sid sees himself at a disadvantage, he will run. The action may seem very cowardice, but it was something that has kept the male alive and out of harms way for nearly 300 years.

He's the type that will exact revenge on anyone who wrongs him, but just when is another thing. It's very difficult to tell just what he's thinking or even planning for he usually seems aloof and just very carefree.

❖ HISTORY Sid held great promise for his race; he was so powerful and a prodigy, or at least that was what he had always heard. Yet, when his people looked to sending possible candidates to the Royal Palace to woo the Princess-to-be, he wasn't selected. Though he was not of a royal family, his abilities caught the eyes of the rules of their people and yet they didn't even consider him when sending some of their own to the palace. This did not sit with the male well; they were a race of deceit and lies so he would have no problems in exacting revenge against them.

One day, Gauss Auvryath, a storm dragon approached him, wishing for his services in taking the throne. It was just the thing that Sid desired in order to show his people the err in their ways. The overthrow was easy, almost as though the King and Queen simply allowed it and for many, many years, Sid was Gauss's right hand, he was second only to the King.

Faith. - for even the smallest of actions, the smallest of our kind can have the greatest of impacts
http://s1.zerochan.net/Koumori.Usagi.600.1448070.jpg

Wisdom. - knowledge of the past can lead to the prosperity of the future
http://s1.zerochan.net/Sakimichan.600.1426010.jpg

Courage. - overcoming ones nightmares will lead you victorious in darkness
http://static.zerochan.net/Sandara.full.611686.jpg

Love. - to love all, unconditionally is the greatest strength of all
http://s1.zerochan.net/Pixiv.Fantasi...00.1457906.jpg

▬▬▬▬▬ IZZAVIN LARRAK • • • • •
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ name meaning Masked Guardian / Lawful Chaos

❖ Vin or Izzy (called this by loved ones)
❖ Dragon
❖ Male
❖ Heterosexual
❖ 273 years old (looks 33)
❖ 6-foot, 6-inches
❖ Golden orange
❖ Grizzled green with streaks of silver in his fringe

❖ APPEARANCE Although it's not deep, Izzavin has a long, 2.5-inch scar that runs up his right cheek. He also has long, elf-like ears. These were not done on his behalf but rather the role he was given. Such ears were used to distinguish royal guard dragons from regular human-shifting dragons. Although the act of human-shifting is a feat in and of itself, the royal guard was required to stand out among the rest so that the kingdom could know who to turn to should problems arise. In addition to having these elvish ears, Izzavin also has a slender pair of silver horns that jut out from the same location as his ears. Instead of sloping back, they point upward toward the heavens. In his full-dragon form, Izzavin has these horns. As it is nearly impossible to force bone to retreat into the body when shifting (a tail and wings are different), Izzavin gave up on mastering the skill and just learned to accept the horns. To him, especially now, they are used to label him a target for ridicule and hate. Though, much to his disdain, folk nowadays wear odd color hair and decorate their body with just about anything so, even in his attempts to stand out, he's not really that unique.

As a dragon, Izzavin has what looks like icy scales of smoky silver and blue topaz. However, this is not the case. In board daylight, his shimmering shades vanish due to the lack of shadows and his true color shines through--white crystal. Izzavin isn't too fond of his true color so he actively avoids sunlight as he hates that he's a white (pure) dragon. Taking to the shadows, he would much rather appear to be a tainted, impure dragon for he does not find himself worthy of such an honorable color.

Color aside, Izzavin's size is about 11-feet long from nose to tail and his wing span is 17-feet long. He is by no means a large dragon. As such, he is nimble and capable of fitting into tight spaces. He's also hard to catch, especially when he does break norm and fly among the clouds. His arms and legs each have 3 slate-gray claws that curl down, ideal for ripping scale and flesh apart. His wings are gifted with these spikes too, allowing even his wings a fighting chance to rip apart the enemy. Spikes run down his spine and two, large horns jut out from behind his ear holes (these are the horns that are visible when he's human).

❖ SKILLS Izzavin is able to control what his kind calls "White Magic." White magic allows its welder to reflect attacks back onto the attacker. Moreover, with the power of light comes the power of super sonic speed. In human form, as he cannot fly, he is grounded to super jumps. If he wanted, he could easily leap onto a 3-story building without breaking a sweat.

While a part of the royal guard, Izzavin learned how to create "mirror images," or clones of either himself or an alley. It is no easy feat so he doesn't use it often but it is a great fleeing mechanism. Furthermore, as a dragon with pure magic, he has the unique ability to cure ailments and even heal a fallen foe. His cures are not a save-all, rather just the ability to close up open flesh wounds. Anything deeper and the injured will require a true doctor rather than a white magic caster.

Izzavin's ace in the hole is his "Holy Disintegration Ray." He channels the attack for 2.5 seconds and then projects a concentrated light beam in a line, dealing magic damage to enemies caught in its wake. If caught in the beam without a means of escaping, the beam's damage intensifies every half-second, ultimately crippling the enemy.

❖ WEAKNESS One would assume darkness, but it can't be further from the truth. Izzavin feeds on darkness so fueling the white magic dragon by it's counterpart won't work. Rather, if one truly wants to inflict pain upon Izzavin, they must meddle with his mind. He has ripe images of women (mother, queen) dying around him. Mental mind fucks that target his abandonment and commitment issues would truly shake his core.

Outside of mental attacks, Izzavin is also very weak against ground/earth-based attacks. His body is by no means buff and tanky. Izzavin's build is more like that of a ninja--in and out and striking from afar. If one gets too close, he could very well be crushed to death for strength is not his strong suit. Furthermore, any constricting attacks (like vines or whips) easily loop around his lithe form. And although he has scales of what look like crystal, his chest and neck are made of a fleshy, soft skin. When he was with the royal guard, the King and Queen crafted a chest and neck plate for him to keep the enemy from striking him down. However, since being a part of the traitorous acts, he ditched the attire and strictly relies on his skills and wings (easily the most durable part of him) to shield any potentially lethal blows.

❖ PERSONALITY Alone. Unaffected. Broken. If Izzavin were to describe himself, those would be the words he would pick. He would also include traitor, liar, and backstabber.

Izzavin has always had a lone wolf complex about himself and for a good reason. He hatched from his egg while his sister laid in her egg as a stillborn. He was there when his mother died. And he was there when the Queen died. Each death of a beloved female caused him to isolate himself from others. He could barely stomach the thought of working with women when he worked for the crown. However, the Queen assured him all would be fine for she saw the good within. She told him that, if he learned to live with love, that he would never have to cry alone.

What the Queen saw in him was something most saw in him--a broken little boy who was caught in the rift between right and wrong. If the hand of evil took hold, Izzavin would surely plummet into darkness and chaos. If the hand of light guided him, Izzavin would have been a true hero among them all. Sadly, evil spoke first and coaxed a fragile man down a very twisted path.

Still, Izzavin is very much aware of what he did. He's riddled by guilt and often believes that little to nothing will affect him for he is already at rock bottom. He trusts no one, especially himself. When he's on the fence about something, he often assumes he'll pick the wrong choice. Due to this, he becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and does indeed do wrong. Each time he "fails" to make the right choice, he just loses a part of himself. Soon, he'll feel nothing at all and truly become a stone, unaffected by all.

Although Izzavin seems all doom and gloom, the man does have his perks. When it comes to women, he'll do just about anything to protect and keep them safe. He has no qualms killing a man who beats a woman. Izzavin is also excellent at keeping secrets. He tells no one of that night, not even his kid-sister. Furthermore, he is unbelievably resourceful and gifted with a brain that allows him to turn anything into something that can benefit himself. He's a lone wolf so surviving on his own is something he picked up quickly. He knows what the clouds bring, weather-wise, and what berries and leaves are safe to eat. He's an excellent hunter and makes one mean apple pie.

If truly blessed, Izzavin will grace those he loves with the utmost adoration. His hands, shockingly soft and gingerly in their actions, can braid the finest of hair and whisk away the saddest of tears. If given the chance to show compassion, there is no man whose wooing whisper can match his. A great lover he would be... if he didn't have commitment issues.

❖ HISTORY Born not knowing who his father was, Izzavin quickly latched onto his mother. The child and mother were practically inseparable. They literally did everything together. Granted, as a baby, it did make sense. When Izzavin turned 4, some thought he might finally break away. But not her little Izzy. He enjoyed following his mother around for he knew that she was lonely.

Having bred with another dragon, his mother was essentially doomed to live alone as dragons breed for life, or so was the tradition she followed. Izzavin seemed to know this, which was why he always tagged along with her. Even at just the young age of four, he would tell his mother, "You dun need a man, you gots me!"

Izzavin was always so cheery and cheeky. Everyone loved him. He was truly a pleasure to be around. Why, even the elder dragons his mom went to knitting night with loved him (yes, Izzavin learned to knit but spent most of the time eating the yarn). He would also accompany his mom on her volunteer reading days to the orphans at the library as well as her volunteer trips to the BINGO hall where she pulled balls and read numbers. Izzavin was particularly fond of winning, though he often cheated because he had yet to learn what numbers and the alphabet where!

Now, when he wasn't being his mother's shadow, he was playing with his dearest friend Tsuri. She was a human that lived across the road. Some thought it odd that a dragon and human would get along so well, but the pair didn't care. They enjoyed each other's company--perhaps due to being only children.

Honestly, all thought Izzavin was destined for great things. He was brilliant, even for someone who hadn't attended school yet! He was also very humble and kind. He was always holding doors open for women or helping carry heavy items to a car. Granted, being four meant he could really only carry the milk (barely) but he did try! His laugh lit up rooms and all melted at his smile. He truly was an adorable little boy who would, without a doubt, become a real heartthrob when he was older.

Too bad life had another path in mind for the child prodigy. Instead of having a happy life, Izzavin was doomed to a life of pain and sorrow.

One evening, after shopping, three thugs broke into the house. They merely wanted to steal her jewelry but she refused to part with it as it was all he (likely the father) gave her. When she put up a fight, things turned ugly. Soon the robbery became a full-out blood bath. Fearful that they would kill her son, she ran into another room and kicked him under the bed. The fight soon followed and, before Izzavin knew what happened, he awoke to blurry hand and his mother's sweet voice.

"Stay strong, Izzy. Let love guide you from the darkness into the light."

Immobilized by fear, Izzavin spent the next seven days beneath that bed. All that ran through his mind was how he should have done something. Everyone always told him he was brave and smart but, when his mom needed him most, he was out cold due to getting his head shoved into a wall. Yes, she meant to save him, but perhaps he was supposed to save her. Over and over he kept playing out how the fight should have transpired. If he had just found the strength to pull from that wall and run out, he could have bit one of them. That would have given mom the upper hand. But no, no he was too busy seeing stars!

Ever since that day, Izzavin lost the softer side of himself. No, he did not become a rebel or a bad kid. Rather, he just became a quiet, loner. Even in school, he never spoke. Even Tsuri couldn't get him to talk again. Witnessing his mother's death scared him deeply and tormented him each and every night for five years. It became so bad that Tsuri's family wasn't able to keep him anymore (they adopted him out of kindness). He was costly and the school said he needed medical help, of which they couldn't afford. They booked him into an orphanage but Izzavin couldn't handle the surplus of kids so he ended up running away.

It was probably around his 13th birthday when someone finally took him back into their home, and it was someone he never suspected.

While in the markets one day, he stole some food for some local street kids. The shop owner, enraged, went after the boy with blade a swinging. Had Her Majesty not been there to seize the knife, Izzavin and his friends would likely be dead. Thankfully, she was there and, upon witnessing his selfless act to aid others, she invited him into her home.

Henceforth, Izzavin was to train as one of the Royal Guard. He was to become a knight and a integral part of the Royal Family.

Training was hard but he did eventually catch up to speed and, in time, he even surpassed some of the proclaimed golden boys. Izzavin enjoyed the challenge and thoroughly enjoyed learning. He swallowed lessons whole and in no time was dubbed a Royal Guard Knight at the age of 16.

Fast-forward a few years, and tragedy strikes again. An egg is born and it changes everything. Afraid of what the egg would hatch, Izzavin's mind became polluted by dark ideas and traitorous plans. Falling victim to fear of abandonment when the egg hatched, Izzavin latched onto this plans and willingly become what was necessary to overthrow the crowns.

It wasn't until that terrible night that it truly clicked in his mind. Blade in the chest of the Queen, Izzavin's unaffected, stone-like gaze faltered. A memory flickered in his mind and he saw that bloody hand of his mother. Then, a warm embrace followed. Pulled from his tragic past, Izzavin's gaze fell upon the teary eyes of the Queen whose arms wrapped lovingly around him. Her words spoke to him, chilling him to the core. "Do not weep, my child. I had failed you so I take full responsibility for your actions tonight. All I ask is for you to save our precious daughter. You owe yourself this much."

Horrified by what he had done, Izzavin stumbled back. Her words, so soft and gentle, awoke tears that had long been held back. Agonizing over what he had done, he stepped toward and embraced the Queen before she took her last breath. Not wasting another second, he made haste toward the egg. He knew whose mission it was to steal it so it would be easy to "assist" in the thieving.

A blade to the back, he put down his dear friend and scooped up the egg. Under the guise of darkness, he took to the skies and never looked back. He would travel until he found the only woman he trusted--Tsuri.

It took a few months to find her but, when he did, she was utterly shocked. Her plan was never to see him again and yet, there he was. Having a hunch as to what he did, she accepted the egg but told him to never visit again. It was a promise he would break time and time again....

When the egg did finally hatch, Izzavin was there to witness it. He even named the child Zalanna, meaning Royal Daughter. Though it was fleeting, for Tsuri refused to let him linger longer. He was a royal dragon slayer and she did not trust him with the hatchling. Still, in the forthcoming years, she would meet with him in public markets to trade gifts and stories. He was always so keen on learning how the young princess was doing. He would always come with gifts, too, gifts for the child. They were often stories about dragons, dragon-based items, or lovely dragon-like garments.

As Zalanna has grown older, his visiting has become less and less frequent. The reason, unbeknownst to Tsuri, was one straight out of a fairy-tale. After spreading the past 24 human years watching the girl grow, he had fallen in love. Slowly, words from the Queen started to make sense. He never understood why he "owed himself," but upon seeing the woman she had become, Izzavin started to piece things together. She foresaw the future of her egg, hence knowing it was a daughter. And, likely, she saw the bond between the Royal-Killer and the Royal Blood. If there was ever something that could mend years of chaos, it would be true love.

Too bad love doesn't come to those who commit treason and destroy the crown. The weight of the guilt of ripping her mother away is what keeps Izzavin a bay.

▬▬▬▬▬ TSURITSA VADOMA • • • • •
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ name meaning Light of Dawn / The Knowing One

❖ Rita or Tsuri (only by Izzavin)
❖ Gypsy human
❖ Female
❖ Love is not for her
❖ 273 years old (looks about 30)
❖ 5-foot, 3-inches
❖ Naturally, brown but she wears pinkish-red contacts
❖ Lovely red

❖ APPEARANCE Rita should have died long ago and yet she is still life. When she obtained the royal egg, she was also gifted with a stolen royal item that grants prolonged youth. Every hundred years lived is equivalent to about a decade in human-years. However, as she is not a dragon, the magic will not last for eternity. When reaches 300 years of age, the item will slowly start to kill her. She'll only be expected to live to about 400.

As she is a gypsy, Rita wears her Arabian-style clothing. She loves to flaunt her body, often times wearing the color blue to contrast her red hair and eyes. Her small frame often makes people think she's meek and weak, but such is not the case. To dance for as many hours as she can, one must be well-built. She also lives alone and is raising a dragon-kid. That alone requires the utmost strength and willpower!

❖ SKILLS Dancing, cooking, wooing men into giving her buttloads of money. She's also gifted in tarot card reading, palm reading, and fortune telling. Rita has a sharp pair of eyes and has been known to just know things without words ever being spoken. It's almost as if she's a psychic.

❖ WEAKNESS Love. She knows she cannot settle down for it would cause all sorts of issues with Zalanna. As such, Rita is forced to give up on love. Sad as it might seem, Rita wouldn't change a thing. She's sterile so she could never have a daughter of her own. Zalanna is the closest thing to a child as she'll ever have and every day she's with the dragon-princess, is a blessing.

Rita also has an uncanny fear of fire. When she was little, her favorite dress got caught on the fireplace. It light up in flames and, since then, she has feared the flames.

❖ PERSONALITY Fiercely stubborn. She's also a free spirit who loves to travel and see the world. Rita is also very patient and kind. Back before the late Izzavin incident, Rita always wanted to be a nurse so she could heal Izzavin's broken heart. But, upon turning traitor, the woman decided that she couldn't be a part of that. Turning to the gypsy way of life, Rita found salvation and a life worth living. She smiles daily and never looks back on leaving her friend. He betrayed the crown and, as far as she was concerned, she betrayed himself. Rita is all about confidence and doing what is right.

❖ HISTORY She grew up across the street from Izzavin. Ever since she first laid eyes on the white dragon, she was in love. Not a dragon herself, she knew things would never work out between them but, still, she hoped that one day he might come to love her.

Although love never came to fruition for her, she clung to their friendship like it meant the world to her. Whenever Izzavin wasn't following his mother, she was over there playing with him. She found him fascinating and downright handsome. He had a grin that could melt anyone's heart--good or evil, young or old, man or woman. He was so polite, so proper. He always treated women the way he treated his mother--with the utmost respect. Rita was at her happiest beside him. He was just a gem. Kind, smart, funny. Everything about him was perfect.

Was.

Then that day came. Her family went on a 6-day vacation. It was absolutely amazing, save for the pit in Rita's stomach that Izzavin was sad he couldn't come. While on vacation, she collected 6-items to present him. One for each day she was gone, hoping that it would make up for her not being there. When the family eventually returned, she begged her parents to visit the dragon-boy.

"Now Rita, it's nearly dark. Why don't you wait until tomorrow to see him. Besides, the lights are off. No one is home."

Staying up all night, Rita kept her eyes on the front door on their house. When the sun finally rose, she shook the sand from her eyes and sheepishly asked her father where they were. Alarmed, he went over to see what was a mist. Rita wasn't supposed to tag along but she did. And to this day, the scene still haunts her.

Frozen, beneath a bed hid a boy with ghosts in his eyes and blood on his face. The room, putrid smelling and coated with blood, appeared to be an all-out war zone. His mother's body as well as the bodies of the men who attacked her (there were three), were littered across the room.

Ever since that day, Rita blamed herself for not being there for Izzavin. She had always promised to be by his side. And then, the one day she's not, this happens.

Her family took him in but it caused a real strain on them financially, for dragons eat a lot. Ultimately, they had to give him up and put him into an orphanage. As he was pushed away, Rita saw the boy crack again. He had lost his smile and now he was losing his heart.

Years later, she learned that he was hand-picked by the Queen to join the royal guard. Overjoyed, she reconnected with her kid-brother and they began to talk again. He never spoke of that night and she would never force him too. Instead, she just listed to him talk about how nice the Queen was. How she reminded him of his mother. He was so young, so naive. So... easily corrupted.

On the eve of the royal massacre, Rita saw something in his eyes that drove her away. She never wanted to see the boy she loved again. However, months later, he would appear at her door with egg in hand. Blood coated him, royal blood. She knew what she had done but she could not refuse to guard the last of the royals.

Since then, she raised the egg and has helped Zalanna become the woman she is today. Rita avoids talking to Izzavin when he visits and constantly reminds him that he had everything and ruined it all. Still, deep down, she just wants to reach out and touch that broken boy from that morning so many years ago. If she could, she would hug him and tell him that, even in the darkness, there is still light.

---

---

---

The sun was finally starting to crest over the trees as Zalanna floated in the large pond some ways out of the town that her and Rita were currently staying in. When she had left to bathe, the woman was still sleeping, no doubt tired from all of her hard work. It was still dark when she had left, but now, now the woman could have started waking up. This didn't cause Zalanna to rush though.

She swam towards the water's edge, taking a seat on one of the large rocks that sat half way in the water. Rolling her eyes up towards the partly cloudy, morning sky, Zalanna started wringing the water from her long locks. It was warm already and the sun wasn't even fully up, but it was always warm in the regions in which they traveled. Not that Zalanna was complaining, she would take warmth over cold any day, though the cold didn't particularly bother her.

The dragon girl sat that there, for she didn't even know how long; her hair and skin had mostly dried and yet she still sat. The snapping of a twig off in the distance pulled the woman from her thoughts, her bright teal eyes locking onto the woods beyond. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary so she slowly pulled herself from her spot and pulled on her thin white, layered garb. The top just covered her chest, leaving her mid section exposed, but her skirt was long and clung to her hip in a way that drew more attention from males than she really cared for.

Pulling her long hair free, the still partly damp locks fell to her back, leaving it wet. Leaning over, she picked up her basket of fruit, tucking her falling hair behind her ear, before making her way back. She hummed a tune as she made her way through the woods and back towards the cart that her and Rita called home. Nearing their 'camp', Zalanna reached into her basket and pulled out a few apples, offering them to the two large horses that stood lazily in the shade. She offered them a warm smile and pat each of them on the neck as they ate.

Setting the basket down near the fire, Zalanna cautiously stepped up onto the cart's steps and opened the door. The light was still dim inside and the mess of blankets in a pile told the girl that her companion was still asleep. Though she had raised her, Zalanna didn't view Rita as her mother, nor did Rita every try to claim that role. It was more of a mutual 'we take care of each other' relationship, one that the dragon owed much more in.

"Rita," she called into the dim cabin. "It's time to get up, the sun is rising." She then pulled herself the rest of the way into the wagon and opened a chest, pulling out a pair of deep blue, glittering pants and matching top and sheer fabrics. Rita favored the color blue, it called more attention to her hair and the color of the contacts she wore. Taking the silky fabrics in her arms, the dragon made her way to the blanket pile and sat down.

Setting the clothing on the bench next to her, she then leaned forward, thrusting an arm into the safe haven in which the woman slept. "Riiiita," she called teasingly. "You can't sleep all day."

"Just five more minutes," she muttered with a slur. When the princess called her name again, she groaned. "Mom, don't tell me what to do." Poking one eye open, she smirked at the girl before slowly rolling up onto her toes. With large yawn spreading across her face, she growled. "Oh how I hate mornings, especially after late nights." Rubbing her eyes, she yawned again.

Rita slumped across the ground of the wagon and crashed into one of her baskets full of dirty clothes. "Why don't you go bathe," she said lazily before realizing that the woman's hair was already wet. "Oh, well... how about some laundry." Basket on hip, she handed it off to Zalanna. "I see your pile is adding up too," the redhead said while scooping the items into the basket. "There." Hands on hips, she smirked. "Run along while I tidy and make breakfast." With the light flicking of the hand, she shooed the girl away before slumping down on the hay bed.

"Ugh," her eyes shifted toward the mirror. "I really hate mornings."

"Funny, when you were younger, you used to come over before I was even awake."

A gentle, rich man's voice spoke from behind the drape-like door. Not waiting for an invite to enter, he poked his head in. His mess of green hair drastically contrasted her vivid red door. Having to duck for he was way too tall, he practically crawled to the woman's side.

She said not a word as she glared at him. Knowing full-well what the glare meant, the green hair man turned his gaze away. "Now's not the time, Tsuri."

"Izzavin," she said with a snake-like hiss, "it'll never be time according to you. She's 124, isn't it time she know what you did?" Hands slipping around her bust, she snorted. Caring not that he was there, the woman peeled off her nightly attire (which was already extremely revealing) and wrapped a towel around her figure. "She's not a kid, Izz. Time for you to grow up and confess your sins."

"I thought you were a gypsy."

"I am, why?"

"You sound more like a priestess." A small smile cracked on his face. She was really the only one that could bring a grin, no matter the size, to his face.

"Ugh," Rita moaned while pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're still annoying."

"Awww," his brows caved, "and here I thought you still loved me."

"Tst! As if." Striking a nerve, the woman pushed past Izzavin and stepped from the wagon. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go for a quick dip. Watch the wagon."

As much as Rita tried to keep up her dislike for the traitor, she just couldn't let old feelings die. Not to mention, when was she going to get a chance to run off to the water and do her own thing. And since Zalanna should be washing laundry in the one pool, Rita would have a chance to visit the men's bathing grounds. It had been a while since she played around.

Flicking her hair in Izzavin's face, she huffed and wandered off.

"You haven't changed," he sighed before looking at the mess around around him. "Yuck," his tongue rolled out, "still a pig too."

Rolling up his sleeves, he made haste with cleaning. He organized the jewlry so it wasn't a mess on a dresser top, rather it now was now hanging up neatly or tucked in little boxes. He put away the clean clothes and found some more dirty ones. The kitchen area needed a good scrub, so he gave it a once over. He also couldn't help but notice that the food supplies were pretty slim.

"Apple pie for breakfast," he shrugged his shoulders, "why not. It's literally all she has."

---

"Izzavin," a purr came from her lips, "thank you for watching guard whi-"

She stopped. The wagon was absolutely spotless. Everything was tidy and hung properly. And the kitchen, she breathed in deep, smelled like heaven.

"Izzavin," she cooed, "you still know how to make a woman swoon." Her ruby orbs jumped around to search for the man but came up empty. "And you also know how to run away before anything starts." Growl, she draped her nude form across the bed. "And to think, I would have played that game with you." With grit teeth, she rolled her eyes. "Coward." Lips pursed, she smirked. "Or maybe you're just a true gentlemen, never allowing yourself to take advantage of a woman in heat."

With sigh, she dressed. She would spend the next few minutes preparing some bread and honey to pair with the nearly finished pie. Eyes flicking toward the sundial, she noted that Zalanna should be returning any minute.

As if on cue, the redhead smiled. "Oh Zalanna," she chirped, "I have a surprise for you!"

When Rita finally started to stir, Zalanna smiled and pushed her clothes towards her. "You should try to go to bed earlier," she chided as she rolled her bright blue eyes up to meet the woman's still brown ones. "You wouldn't be so tired then."

The dragon took the basket she was given, even as Rita piled mored and more clothes on it, the weight didn't bother her. Nodding the woman said, "Ok, but do please get up. You will have to open up shop soon." Leaving the wagon, Zalanna went back from the way she had just come, patting one of the horses as she went.

Back at the pond, it was as quiet as it was when she first left. Kneeling at its edge, she started dipping the clothes into the cool liquid, scrubbing them with a sponge she brought along with her.

Zalanna neverminded such chorse, it was her way of helping and it was the least that she could do. She started humming as she worked, birds started gathering in the trees around her. She wasn't quite sure what the draw was, but she never had an issue in approaching creatures that were usually shy and timid around others; she enjoyed their company though.

Her mind started to wander to distant thoughts; about what she would do that day, what they would be doing for their meals and even if today she would be able to meet another of her kind. Dragons were few and far between and from what she read, they were far from the legendary 'Land of Dragons'. Yet, the stories were still told by the people and humans, drawn to those stories changed their hair and eye color. They weren't dragons though. She had only met one dragon in her time and other than their smell, she also remembered the buzzing of power she felt with it was near. She hadn't felt is sense.

Reaching into her basket to grab the next item, her hand was met with the bamboo bottom. Looking down, she saw that the basket was indeed empty and the trees around her were slung with quite a bit of clothing. Standing up, basket in hand she said, "These can finish trying at the wagon, Rita is probably waiting for me." She then piled the clothes back in the basket and started making her way back.

Everything was the same as when she left, it always was. Before making her way back to the wagon, Zalanna took the time to hang the clothes from branches of nearby trees again. Once done, she tucked the empty container under her arm and made her way towards the wagon. Her eyes fell to the basket she had earlier; it was empty. "Rita must have really wanted apples today," she said to herself as she picked that one up as well. It seemed like whenever Zalanna picked apples, they were always eaten quickly. She wasn't going to deny Rita of her apparent favorite food, so she continued gathering them when they ran out.

When she stepped up and into the wagon, she was instantly greeted by Rita, who was much more energetic than when she first left. Zalanna smiled back at her and went to reply when a series of smells and feelings hit her at once. She skin tingled, a sensation that seemed long lost, a smell that she hadn't smelled in nearly 125 years was there, there was also a smell she wasn't fully aware of. Her pupils, normally round from her guise instantly became narrowed slits as those reptilian orbs fell on the red head. "Who was here?" She asked, her tone both curious and demendingly eager, the baskets now fallen to the floor.

Whelp, that was quick, Rita thought internally. She knew the dragon's nose was good but god, this was downright impressive. Since Izzavin had already left, there was no point in telling her who showed up. Might as well lie? Eh, that never went over well.

Not sure how to cover up who was here, the redhead just laughed. "Uh, hello, me." She threw her head out in a silly manner, mocking Zalanna slightly. Her hands then draped down her form. "Well, and maybe a man." With a wink, she raised a finger to her lips. "But I won't spill!" From the way she flitted her eyes, it was easy to guess who it was. This mysterious man always dropped off gifts and apple pies. However, his scent never lingered, which meant their transactions took place in the village, rather than the cart. Only, this time, it was here, at the cart so his scent was all around.

It would be now or never if Zalanna wanted to get some answers!

Zalanna watched Rita closely, she got mixed feelings from the way that the woman was acting and the smell and tingling told her that she was not the only one that was here. She then added the teasing tagline of a male possibly having been there.

Her nostrils flared as she watched the woman; she seemed to act like all this was a game to her but to Zalanna, this was very important. "Who was he," the girl nearly hissed as she took a step towards the lounging redhead.

Her eyes then narrowed as she scanned the wagon; nothing seemed out of place, other than the fact that it was far cleaner than Rita usually managed. Her eyes then landed on a familiar shape, a pie that the redhead would bring home from time to time.

She stared at it for a moment before her eyes fell back to the woman, her brows furrowing. "He's not human Rita, I can smell this," Zalanna almost seemed pitiful at this point. "You have to tell me who he is, where he is." She moved towards the woman, kneeling before her as she grabbed her hand tightly in her own.

"I know this smell, this feeling," she said softly, her eyes rolling up to watch the woman. "I've only ever seen one of my own kind and that was over 100 years ago." She then shook her head, her eyes closing. "Rita, if this man you spoke of is the one that brought this, he could be the only one of my kind I've ever seen."

When Zalanna looked back up at the woman again, her pupils rounded out once more, regaining their human appearance. The woman longed to see another of her kind, to not feel so isolated and hidden from the world around her. She wanted to know her people, to learn from them, but she never could.

The second Zalanna hissed, Rita was ready to ground the girl. Too bad she put on the needy puppy act where she was practically begging Rita to share the sweet details of this man. As a fan of romance, Rita was almost jealous of the attention her blue-haired friend was giving Izzavin.

Izzavin was supposed to be mine. But Rita knew it wasn't true. He always saw her as a kid-sister, never a lover.

With heavy sigh, she patted the bed beside her. "His name is Izzavin Larrak." Her lashes flitted and a dreamy tone moved into her voice and gestures. Arms wrapping around herself, she breathed in his scent (not that she could smell it). "He's a very handsome man. Stands well over 6-feet tall. Why, I wager he's about 6-and-a-half-feet tall." A small smile crested her face. "He was so cute ducking in here."

She rose and tried to mimic how he looked but ultimately failed. With a hopeless sigh, she shifted to her locked box. Putting the key in, she turned it and tugged out what looked like an old photo album.

"I didn't want to tell you about him but I think it's time you know."

Retreating back to the bed, she opened the book. "But first things first," she opened the book to a picture of her family, "this is mum and this is pop. And that gorgeous gal is me." She winked before elbowing Zalanna. "And this," she turned the page....

Sprawled out on the 4-inch by 6-inch page was a tattered photo of someone who looked to be about 5-years-old. He had a sweet face, a bashful grin, and the wisest of eyes. Although the image lacked color, you could tell that he had a warm skin tone, pale eyes, and dark hair.

"I was so in love with him when I was a kid. I always wanted to marry a dragon and who better than the pure white dragon of crystal?" She turned the page to show Izzavin in his dragon form. His tail wrapped around her legs in the photograph and his chin rested on her head. His wings went off the page, indicating that he had a wide spread. In the photograph, it almost looked like his scales were glistening, as they seemed to shimmer in the sunlight above.

"Oh," her hand fell on her heart, "he was truly a catch. I knew I never stood a chance though. Why would a handsome dragon such as he fall for a human like me? My pop was a leather-smith and made all kinds of armor for dragons. Mum, she was like me. She loved magic and used a crystal ball to see the future. Dragons love magic and they loved her."

She turned the page again. This time, it was an image of a teenage Izzavin sitting in a window with a hand draped hopelessly across his knee. His smile vanished. He seemed to lose his way. He looked lost and sad.

Again, Rita turned the page. This time, she stroked the page and found herself swelling with tears. "This was when he was accepted into the Royal Guard." Her finger traced his intricate armor. "He hated the idea of wearing armor. Claiming he had nothing to hide or defend against. He was so humble even in his sorrow."

Paging ahead a bit, she finally turned to a recent image. This one was in full color. He was standing before a forest with a ray of light casting glowing flecks of light around his face and foreground. His eyes, locked on the distance seemed hardened. His posture, upright and straight, gave way that he finally found purpose. His lips, neatly together, seemed like they were thinking of the right words to say.

He was, as Rita kept admitting, truly handsome even with his green hair and golden gaze.

"I took this one not too long ago. He didn't even know I was taking it. He's just so naturally handsome. Anyway, when you turned 125, I was going to give it to you. Tell you to hunt this man down and find him. But," she gingerly tore the image from the book, "I think you should have it now." Placing the image in Zalanna's hands, Rita placed her own hand atop. Giving her a light squeeze, she smiled.

"There are so many things I want to tell you but I'm afraid that story is not mine to tell. He," she removed her hand to reveal the picture of Izzavin, "he has to be the one to share the story for it is his story. He is why you exist. He saved you during the darkest of times."

Pulling herself away, Rita walked over to some of Zalanna's favorite books, clothes, and jewelry. "You see all of this," she pointed out the items, "he brought these to you. I know," she raised a hand to silence Zalanna, "I lied. I said I got these as gifts from a lover but I did not."

A frown moved onto her face. "I know I said I had a secret admirer who gave me gifts. But, truth be told, he's never loved me. All those items I gave to you, they were always for you. Sure, I wanted to keep them but... the guilt of having your items was just too much. So I always passed them onto you. Except one."

Back to her box she went. Slowly and with grit teeth, she pulled out a small pendent strung on a golden chain. "He... he wanted me to give you this on your 18th birthday. I... I couldn't." She worried her lip. "This item, unbeknownst to him, is the coming of age gift. It's the symbol of becoming a full-fledged dragon. One worthy to court and woo."

Unable to look at Zalanna, she cast her gaze to the floor. "Wearing such an item presented by a male... it...." She cast the item at Zalanna's feet. "It used to mean lifelong courtship. Dragons love for life. I... I couldn't give you this. You didn't know him. He doesn't know you. He doesn't even know the meaning of this courtship item." Tears were streaming down her face at this time. Crumpling, she fell to the floor and wept into the wood. "I was just so jealous that he would accidentally give you a gift of love. All he gave me were these little trinkets and necklaces, null of love or meaning. But you, the girl he saved, he gives you the rarest of pendents?"

Unable to handle another second, Rita bolted from the wagon. She didn't make it far, taking refuge beside a boulder beneath the drying garments. Weeping heavily into her arms, she refused to look up. The whole accidental irony was just too much for her. Izzavin was her dream and Zalanna was going to get to live that life.

Izzavin Larrak. That was his name. Rita really did know this mysterious creature; when she patted the bed beside her, Zalanna more than eagerly sat down beside her, her blue eyes staring up wide at her. She listened as she described the male, in aw at the way she spoke of him as she had no other man before. Tucking her knees up to her chest, she planted her elbows, her cheeks resting in her palms.

Zalanna loved watching Rita talk about this man, how happy this dragon made her. She imitated him, but not in a way she made fun of other men, this was endearing. She then watched as the woman made her way towards a box she had never seen open, of if it was, it was closed as soon as she noticed it.

Sitting up, she straightened her back to see what Rita was bringing over; it was a solid object and as the woman sat down, she was able to more clearly see it as a photo album. Zalanna leaned against the redhead as she pointed to the first picture. "Oooh, look at you," she purred as her finger traced the what she knew to be vibrant locks.

When Rita turned the page to a picture of a boy, Zalanna looked at him; though the image lacked color she could see just tell that he was a dragon, he was no human. When Rita talked about how she loved him, a warm look came to the dragon's face as she looked at the woman. The look in her eyes told the blue haired woman that it wasn't that she loved him, but was still in love with him.

Her eyes fell to the next picture and her hand covered her mouth, her free hand tracing the form of the small dragon. She stared breathlessly at the creature. He was absolutely stunning and he took such a form without care, in the open; Zalanna couldn't even remember the last time she took her own form, let alone flew and that was because it was far too dangerous for her to do so.

Rita went on talking about her family and past, the story warmed Zalanna's heart, but also hurt her for times were definitely different now. Her father made armor for dragons?! Her family had such a tie with her own species and yet Rita had never told her about any of it, why? She stared at the redhead in confusion, but she was moving on to the next page.

The boy from the second picture was older and he didn't look happy. Did he dislike being a part of the Royal Guard that much? Was something wrong with the Royal family? When Rita spoke about how he felt nothing needed to be protected against on him, she stared at the picture, brow furrowed. What was not worth protecting? He was a life, a creature that was brought to this world, what more reason did one need to cherish that?

The look on her face didn't change as Rita turned to the next page. The face was hardened, the happiness from when he was so little was long gone. His appearance, the unhuman colors, they didn't look faked; the horns on his head spoke volumes to the woman. She had thought dragons had gone into hiding, yet he kept such a feature exposed.

Zalanna looked at Rita when she started speaking again. She had a plan for this? As the picture was placed in her palm, the woman looked down at it just before it was covered. When she looked back up at her companion, there appeared to be pain and sorrow in her eyes, then her words confused her. "Why I exist? What do you mean?" But she knew Rita wouldn't answer, she said it was up to the man to tell her and when Rita said she wouldn't tell and was serious, that was that.

She could feel the breath leave her body as Rita went on about the gifts the had received, not items that the redhead was merely taking to be polite to a lover but gave them to her, these items were meant for her. She could feel the top of her head growing cold. The books and items she got, was it too much to hope that these were true dragon items? And if this man was set on sending her so many items, why not talk to her? She had so many questions and yet it was all kept from her.

Zalanna didn't know how to react to everything she was hearing. Why had all this been kept from her for so long? If she had known, what would have changed? Rita became upset by the next item she pulled out; the pendant on the gold chain held the image of a dragon swirling among the clouds, free. A symbol of being a full-fledged dragon? Someone brought her such an item?

She reached down and slowly picked the item up, tracing her finger over the design as Rita told her what it meant and why she kept it from her. Her brows knit together as she watched the woman in so much pain but before she could react, the redhead was out the door and running towards the woods.

Following after her, Zalanna tucked the picture into her top and gripped the necklace tightly in her palm. It Rita kept running, she knew she could easily catch up and she couldn't get far for she could follow her scent as well. Zalanna didn't have to go far though, for it was just as soon as she took off running that she found the woman curled up, her body shaking from crying so hard.

Zalanna knelt before the woman, lifting her empty hand to slowly raise Rita's head. There was a warm, loving look in those blue orbs that fell upon her. Using her thumb she brushed away the tears before looking to her clenched hand and pulling the necklace out. "You deserve the love of your life," she cooed to the woman as she unclasped the pendant and pulled it around Rita's neck. "You have given me far more than I can ever thank you for and now, now you have given me hope of finding someone of my kind." Tears were welling up along the woman's waterline.

"I am forever grateful to you Rita, but I do long to meet my kind." As she clasped the necklace, her hand followed the chain to the dragon on the round pendant. "You're giving me that chance and I want you to know that you are worthy of courting and you are worthy of wooing. You shouldn't sell yourself for any less." Zalanna gave the woman a loving smile as she rested her palm on her cheek.

"I will find your Izzavin and I will bring him back to you," she cooed as she rested her forehead against Rita's. "You deserve all the happiness in the world. And who knows, maybe he can help me find the other dragons and I'll have stories that I can share with you."

If she wasn't crying before, she certainly was now. Cupping Zalanna down and into her chest, she held the woman. Rita had never really done this before but it just felt right. Zalanna was the closest thing to family she had now. Rita had outlived her parents and she never married so she had no kids of her own to tend to. Zalanna, well, she was everything to Rita.

"You precious child. Your parents would be so proud of you," she said while stroking the pendent. "You truly are like your mother. She was so kind to all. She always saw the best in everyone and believed that love would truimp over all." The embrace continued for another good five more seconds. Finally, she released Zalanna and asked for a hand up.

Now standing, she brushed away the tears and tried to smile. "You will go find him but do not bring him back here. It is time he take you home and show you your world. It is time you learn what you're meant to do." A grin started to grow on her face. "Now, I won't argue if you gush about how awesome I am. He did happen to catch a glimpse of my nude form this morning. Surely he must have felt something! Ho ho ho," she said arogantly.

Then, her face took a serious turn. Hands falling on the woman, she gave Zalanna a good squeeze. "Trust me, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the encouragement but if Izzavin is to fall for anyone, I certainly hope it's you. Loving you might be enough to break the guilt he wears." She cast Zalanna a stern look. "I'm serious. Try as hard as I might, I was never able to save him from that night--nor was your mother. Yes, I love him dearly but I'm no Dragon Princess. Where your mother failed, you might succeed. After all, you're young and beautiful. You've bloomed into such a lovely flower and you're finally rip for the picking." She sighed. "You stand a chance whereas I do not."

Wacking her lightly, she growled. "Enough. All I'm saying is that if you fall for him, I won't be mad. He's never been mine so it's not like I'm losing him. I lost him years and years ago and I was never able to get him back. And besides, I would rather lose such a catch to you than to some other wench!"

With a light shove, she scooted away and hopped into the wagon. Seconds later she returned with a bag stuffed to the brim. "I packed as much as I could. Clothes, food, flowers, paper--you have to write me weekly."

Back into the wagon she went. This time she came out with the pie. "Stuff your mouth and then off you go!" She was practically bursting with excitement. "You're going to do what I've always dreamed off--chase after a man and have him show you the world. Ugh, I am quite envious but, alas, someone has to stay home and make money. Heaven knows how else I'm going to afford to pay for you!"

Rita smiled and then looped her arms around Zalanna again. "I know I've never said it, but I am so proud of you. I only want what's best for you. I am rooting for you and know that, if things go bad, I will always be right here waiting. I'll never be your mother, but I'll always protect you like you were my own." With that, she planted a light kiss right between her brows.

"Go, fulfill your destiny."

When Rita's arms wrapped around her, Zalanna almost burst into tears herself. She hugged the woman back and just let the moment fall over them. It was when she started talking about her parents that the woman held her breath. For all these years, she had never heard one word about a 'mother' or 'father' that could have once been in her life at some point.

Helping Rita up, she stared at her, soaking in all that she said like a sponge. Her eyes were wide, the fact that she was hearing anything about them meant she could learn something new about the past she never had. The words that came from Rita though, they confused her. What she was supposed to do? Her home? Her world? A knot formed in her throat at the excitement of what was to come and it was when Rita gave her hand a squeeze that she focused a bit more.

Her brows furrowed at what Rita was telling her; she wanted Izzaving to fall for her? Rita had tried and failed, her mother had apparently tried and failed and wait, what was that about a Dragon Princess? Zalanna tried to ask, but Rita was on a roll, she was so excited about this as though she had been looking forward to it for some time now.

Now she was encouraging her to fall for Izzavin? Well, at least saying she wouldn't be upset and would be more pleased if she did than someone else were to take him. Zalanna wasn't sure how to grasp everything that she was hearing at this point.

Rita left like a storm and seemed to reappear just as quickly. Was she really this eager for all of this? Suddenly it felt like the gypsy was far more excited! When she returned with the pie, the dragon carefully took half of it, tucking it into her bag, handing the woman the rest. "You tend to eat all the apples, so here," she said softly, a smile on her face.

She hugged Rita tightly before turning towards town, the scent was faint, but she could smell that Izzavin had gone this way. Before Rita could respond about the apple thing, Zalanna was off. She turned and waved back at the woman, "I'll definitely write you, I'll tell you all about my travels!" She then turned and started running towards town.

At that point, she had no time left to think, she just had to go, go on her adventure, find her land and people and find Izzavin. Even though they had stayed quite a bit aways from town, it didn't take the dragon long to get there with her increased speed. Soon enough, her bare feet were padding slowly over the stone. She had to focus more on the smells around her; it would be harder to find the male here.

To see her off brought a smile to her face. As she waved, the woman found her eyes trailing off to the hanging laundry. "Oh you have got to be kidding me. I sent her off and I'm too short to get those myself!" With a huff, she wandered back into the wagon to find a stool. However, after Izzavin's flawless cleaning, the woman realized this 'stool thing' was nowhere to be found.

"UGHHHHH, IZZAVIIIIN!" She barked before stammering out of the wagon. "Seriously, you always poked fun of my height and then you steal my stool after I send my help away. I swear to god, if I find you, I'm going to k--"

"Awww, you're going to kill me? That'll be a real shame because then who will help you get your laundry." Waving a stool before her eyes, Rita fell silent. "Uh, Tsuri? Are you okay? You're oddly pale."

"Izz... I just sent Zalanna into the city to find you."

"Well that was stupid."

"NO FUCKING SHIT."

Ripping the stool from his hand, she went to wack him with it but found his horns made the ideal buffer between a mad woman and a smacking.

"Calm down, jeez. I justed fixed your stool. It was broken. And sending Zalanna into the city isn't a bad thing. You do it all the time. What are you having her pick up?"

"Izz, you're not listening."

"Have I ever?" His charming grin came back into play.

"I'm being serious." With a stomp of her foot, Rita grabbed his jacket collar and forced him down to her level. "First, you smell nice."

"Why thank you."

"Second, I sent Zalanna into the city to find you."

"Me? Uh, Tsuri, I told you she's not ready."

Puffing out her chest, the woman growled. "Not my fault. She started asking questions, because you smell good, and now she wants to know all about you."

"Is that why you were crying?" He brushed the fading tear from her cheek and he spoke with such a sweet whisper. Pulling the woman into his embrace, he stroked the significantly shorter woman's hair. "I know it hasn't been easy for you but thank you." Tilting her chin upward, Izzavin graced her forehead with a light kiss. Instantly, Rita flushed and pulled away.

"Yes, it's hard seeing her grow up. She's been such a blessing. I know... I know I haven't said it but thank you for picking me to raise her. It's helped me grow a lot."

"Really? Because you don't look like you've grown an inch."

"WIPE THAT CHEEKY GRIN OFF YOUR FACE, SMART ASS!" Punching him in the chest, Rita found herself gawking. "Since when have you had abs of steel?" Her gaze rolled up to meet his golden gaze.

"Since joining the Royal Guard. You would know, but you stopped hanging out with me toward the end." A hand ranked through his green fringe. "And for good reasons."

"Stop living in the past, Izz. It's time you start moving forward. Find happiness and light again. Zalanna wants to learn. Zalanna wants to know. Teach her. Take her under your wings. Show her the world she was born into." The more she spoke, the more Rita saw something wash over his expression. Finally, near the end, she drew in a harsh breath and placed a hand on her heart. "You've fa--"

"I killed her mother, Tsuri."

Grave silence washed over them. Neither said a word until Rita finally folded the last of the laundry.

"Izzavin Larrak, I knew the woman who raised you. She would tell you it's time to change. Stop hiding. Stop burying yourself with guilt. Atone for your sins. Help the girl. Show her the world. Allow her to rebuild what you destroyed. Let her in. I promise, she won't abandon you."

Suddenly, his ears flicked forward and his nose turned up. Raising a finger to silence Rita, Izzavin growled. "I knew I shouldn't have come back."

And, like that, he vanished with a blur.

Rita, still holding her heart, shook her head ever so lightly. "Izzavin, please find it within your heart to let her in. I know she's meant to save you. I've foreseen it."

A single tear crept from her eye and splashed on her bare foot. "Zalanna, please, please love him with all your heart. Cling to him and never let him go. You two need each other. You're each other's blessing and salvation."

Everything around him was a blur. It was a strange sensation too, for usually his powers weren't quite this heightened. He estimated it was due to his proximity to the dragon princess, which also caused him some concern. If his powers increased, even just slightly around her, what were the odd that other dragons would flock to her.

Soon, he at the forefoot of the city. Eyes glazing over the crowd, he sought out her unique hair. It became a real challenge though for many were into the blue-hair phase. With a cuss coming from beneath his breath, he would have to rely on his old-fashioned hunting skills. Zalanna was now the prey and he was the mighty hunter. Honestly, it would only be a matter of time before he would find her. No matter how big the city was, his years on the run had trained him well. Too well.

Dipping down some alleyways, he made quick work of his nose. Sure, it wasn't as great as hers but it would certainly do in such a dire situation. Not to mention, he was familiar with the overwhelming scents and sounds of city life. He could easy discern the difference between a dragon and a human. Zalanna, having not smelled many dragons before, would likely have a hard time honing in on one particular scent.

Nostrils failing, a gleam glazed over his orbs. In mere seconds, the pupils became narrow slits and a feral growl reverberated within his throat.

---

Zalanna had done a wondrous job following her nose. She had successfully traced his scent to this alleyway away from the crowd. As she sniffed around, she would begin to lose hope for his trail was running cold. Soon, his scent wafted away with time and he would be gone with the wind. Now, lost in a foreign part of town, let alone the slums, Zalanna would have to rely on her own skills to get back to the markets that she at Rita often frequented. Sadly, some lurking eyes had found the innocent lass and decided it was time to make their move.

"What's a doll like you doing in a place like this," a voice broke from behind the corner. His hands, long and mangled, almost claw-like, reached for her flesh. His orbs, two-tone in color, matched his uncanny red and orange hair. His scent, different from humans, would likely cause alarm for the girl. "Don't be scared, sweetie, it'll only hurt a bit."

"A bit," another voice scoffed with a raspy undertone. This man was taller, lankier. His eyes were green and his hair jet black. Running down his spine looked like spikes, another sign that this shadow-stalker might not be purely human. "You mean not at all." In his gloved hand laid a clear, cylindrical object with a metal tip. A needle. It's contents were a bizarre blue colors, the very color Rita told her to avoid at all costs. It was a serum that would put even the strongest of dragons in the deepest of sleeps. They were, undoubtedly, onto her and just who she was. Or rather, what she was.

"Shhh, shhh," a third voice whispered into her ears. "Your secret is safe with us. We've been tracking your boyfriend. He led us straight to you."

"It's a real pity. The poor bloke didn't even see it coming." Rounding the corner appeared a man with a fedora. His black coat collar was popped and his face masked by the shadows of the looming buildings. He was taller than all the others and fair skinnier. Not to mention, his posture was perfect. And his scent? Well, there was no scent, strange as it may seem. It meant one thing. He used an anti-scent potion... but why?

The three men shot their eyes at one another. "Who the fuck invited this guy?"

"Oh," a grin became visible on the fourth party's face, "I thought it obvious. I started the party." Flicking the hat off, golden orbs became visible beneath a mess of green hair. And those familiar straight, long silver horns revealed themselves.

Grin continuing to grow, a pair of pointed teeth become evident. The way he rolled his head up signified that he was in the position of power. He had the element of surprise and, from the way he carried himself, it was clear as day that he knew exactly what he was doing. "I'm afraid you've seen too much. Forgive for now you must die."

Before he could even react, the one with the raspy voice was on the ground. Horns, Izzavin's horns, puncturing his chest. It was a quick death and one he didn't see coming. Blood splattered from his mouth, caking Izzavin's head. The ripping sound the followed, brought a shudder to the others. Blood dripping down his face, Izzavin's attention shifted to his next target.

The others, shocked and at a disadvantage, took to arms. The one with the claws smirked. "Wanna dance, pretty boy?"

"I don't dance with men," he said plainly.

Not wasting a second, the clawed man lunged at Izzavin. It was useless though for Izzavin took to the air. Leaping up onto a fire escape, he watched as the clawed attacker impaled the wall. Struggling to break free, Izzavin swung around and used gravity as his aid in breaking the clawed man's neck.

CRACK! The bone popping sound echoed down the dark alleyway, causing the third man to vomit. It truly was a gruesome sound. Not wanting to find out what Izzavin had in store for him, the third took to his feet and ran.

"Tst," Izzavin's indifferent glance followed the heels of the fleeing man. With a quick flick of the wrist, a blade lodged itself in the nape of the man's neck. A second later, he flopped forward and laid motionless on the mucked up ground. Soon, blood pooled out around him and a choking, wheezing found followed.

Leaping into the air, Izzavin landed so his feet were spread on either side of the fallen man. He uttered not a word before dipping down and snapping the neck. Once done, he rolled back to his towering stance and waggled his neck two and fro. A quick shift of the shoulders and a swing of the arms and he was ready to go.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Izzavin's cold eyes shifted to Zalanna. Throughout the whole ordeal, he merely ignored her. If she spoke, he didn't listen. If she tried to stop him, he would jump around her and finish what he started. These men, they couldn't live. Knowing their faces put both in danger. They had to die and he hoped Zalanna would grasp the graveness of the situation. If not, this was going to make for a painful start to a long journey.

Now that the enemy was dealt with, she became the focus of his attention.

With calculated steps, he moved toward her. If she tried to back away, he would shift his footing until he steered her into a wall. When she would have no place to go, he would continue his approach until he was a foot before her.

Then, out of nowhere, he dropped to a knee and crossed his right hand over his chest. Head bowed, he stayed there until the silence confirmed she knew nothing of who she truly was.

"Your Majesty, Princess Zalanna Kennyrathem, I am Izzavin Larrak former Knight of the Royal Guard. Before your hatching, I was tasked with protecting you by the King and Queen of Dragons."

Not waiting for an invitation to rise, Izzavin stood and let his gaze fall softly on the princess. "I'm sure you have questions, some of which I will answer. Others, we'll table them for a later date."

His ears jerked. "Looks like we'll have company." The green haired man moved forward. Sensing her uncertainty, he smirked. "It's wise not to trust me but, in this instance, I'm helping you."

Hand slipping under her bosom, he hoisted her into his arms. He flicking up, he bent at the knees and jetted up. One fire escape, a second fire escape, and finally a third fire escape brought him to the rooftop. Gingerly, he placed Zalanna back on her toes.

"So, let's have it. What's your first question?"

Eyes scanning the people in the city, Zalanna fought to keep on track of the one scent she knew she was after. It was difficult though, she hadn't actually tried using her sense of smell to this degree before so trying to get around all the other smells of the city made it hard.

There were times that the scent seemed to nearly vanish completely, but pick up just as quick. She turned down an alley way and the trail seeemd to end suddenly. Her brows furrowed as she slowed to a stop in the dark, damp corridor. She bit her lower lip in frustration as she turned to leave. Just as she did, a voice came from behind her, the direction she was just facing. Spinning around she came face to face with a male with two colored eyes and unusually colored hair, as he reached for her, Zalanna's blue orbs fell on the male's claw-like hands. She took a step back to avoid his touch, but his scent as well as others that were soon wafting through her nostrils were causing her head to spin.

A second voice came out as this new male stepped out. He circled around her, giving her view of the spikes that trailed down his spine before her eyes fell on the needle he held, the color of the fluid within causing the woman alarm. These two, they were dragons, they had to be with their traits. Why would they do this to one of their own though?

Zalanna stepped backwards some more, or would have if another hadn't come from behind her. She jumped at the sudden touch and spun to put this man in her view as well. They were all close, too close and the situation smelled of nothing but danger. Her throat started to painfully close up as she felt tears fighting their way to the surface. She was scared.

Her hands were at her sides and pushing them back she could feel the cold brick of a wall not far behind her. She dared not take her eyes off these men, but she had to see what options she had for escaping. She knew not what they talked about with following someone, and her boyfriend of all things?

A fourth voice spoke up, this one further down and from the reaction of the other three, they weren't expecting him. Zalanna couldn't smell him and with his hat covering distinctive features, especially for dragons, all she could see of him was his height being taller than that of the men before her.

As the three turned to the fourth male, he pulled his hat off. Zalanna's eye widened as she gasped, she didn't need the picture that was tucked into her top to know that this was the man she was looking for, Izzavin. She watched his movements as he seemed to start off by taunting these other dragons; he held himself much higher than these three did, he was confident as well.

Then, all in one swoop, Izzavin said that the three must die and just as Zalanna looked over at the three, one of the male's green horns was puntured through the second male. The blue haired girl stumbled backwards, falling to her backside as the first male took the invitation to fight the green haired dragon. It was probably a good thing that she had fallen for soon that man was impaled to the wall before his neck breaking, his body falling just where she had been standing and on top of the other male. Zalanna let out a short yelp as she threw her arms up to cover her face, her legs pushing her back further.

Once everything quieted down, not witnessing the last male's dealth, Zalanna slowly moved her arms from her eyes and when she did, she watched as the golden orbs met hers for a moment before the male kneeled in front of her. She stared at him, wide eyed in silence.

"Your Majesty," he finally spoke. "Princess Zalanna Kennyrathem." She felt as though she weren't breathing; how did he know her name? And what surname was this? She wasn't familiar with it, nor being addressed as a Princess. Her head was spinning trying to absorb all of it. He then continued by telling her that the King and Queen had put him in charge of protecting her.

He stood back up, continuing on with how she must have questions, which she did, did being the main word there. Izzavin's attention was quickly pulled as he said they were going to have company; Zalanna wasn't sure if it was because the male had skills she didn't, if his were sharper or if her mind was just too jumbled to sense much of anything at that point. Her eyes fell back to him when he mentioned how it wasn't safe to trust him, but he was helping her now; the woman still couldn't muster any words.

The green haired male scooped her up and into the air they went, leaving the bag that Rita had packed behind, though Zalanna wasn't aware of that at this point. She looked behind her, watching as the world fell further away; the sensation wasn't scary though. Her eyes then went to the sky, the sudden breeze that came every time the male lept made the woman long for the sky, though she had never flown since she was small enough to not be noticed, by now her size was far too easy to spot. There was still an unknowing and uncertainty though.

When Izzavin set her down, he seemed nothing but kind as he asked for her first question. She just stared at him, not sure what to say. The man she had been looking for her whole life, 124 years, she finally found. What was she supposed to say? In meeting him, she was nearly attacked by three others of her own species and she was still shaking from it; it was a miracle that she was still standing at that point.

The thing that stood out to the woman's blank mind was the glistening crimson on the male's face. A hand gripped the sheer fabric that hung over one side of her torso and with a shaking hand she rose it to his face. "You got blood on you," she said, her voice quieter than she had expected. Zalanna had to put a hand on Izzavin's chest to steady herself as she wiped away the blood on one side of his face.

Zalanna had been with Rita long enough to learn that while people and good in nature, there are those that fall to darkness for one reason or another. They pretty much lived a life on the run for various reasons and death shouldn't come as surprise from that. Though it was her first time seeing someone killed like that, Rita had tried to prepare her for the worst if someone caught up to them. Then again, the full situation hadn't fully set in either.

Honesty, Izzavin wasn't sure what to expect from her. This was likely her first time being in such a situation. Tsuri would never allow men to treat her as such, Izzavin was certain of this. Not to mention, he did just kill three dragons. Although wicked, they were still three of her own species, a species she had yet to truly experience. He could only imagine what monstrous words floated around her head. Would she call him a murder? A traitor? Would she defend the men that sought to consume her? It seemed so likely, especially having grown up among humans--so quick-tempered and moronic in their reasoning.

Her touch, gentle and kind, brought his mind back to the here and now. Smirk crawling onto his face, he took the princess' hands into his own and held them near his chest. "You're just like your mother. Always concerned about others and never yourself." The look in his eyes was soft, inviting. It was hard to believe that he was untrustworthy as he previously stated. Not to mention, his tender touch was soothing and sincere, as if he truly cherished her. For a moment longer, he held those dainty hands in his own and simply let his eyes open to reveal the ghosts that still lingered in his eyes. Somewhere, in the swirl of color, was a fleck of hope twirling beside the guilt and sorrow.

Relinquishing her hands, he stepped back and turned his back to her for he didn't want his face to speak the truth in what really happened that night--at least not yet. If she could already see the torment in his eyes, she would surely detect that he played some vital role in her mother's death.

"It's nice to know that, even brought up with humans, that your mother's genes and personality still shine through." Glancing over his shoulder, he spied the royal. "I can only imagine what strength and courage must run through your veins. Your father was a well-loved and honored leader. He feared everything, which made him the strongest of all. He kept nothing hidden and spoke truth. He truly believed that good lays within the hearts of all." Twirling around, he placed a hand on Zalanna's shoulder. "No doubt the learnings of your wise mother. She was a great influence on him and nearly all in the kingdom." Again, he jerked his eyes off her and sent them scanning for a place to perch and chat.

Moving across the rooftop, Izzavin found a unit of sorts to sit on. It was neither hot nor cold, indicating that whatever its purpose was didn't revolve around temperature control. Or, it is did, it did a wondrous job in dissipating the heat!

He casually hinted that Zalanna join him so that they may talk. However, if she chose to sit elsewhere, he would simply follow and take a seat across.

Slowly, Izzavin reached a hand out to stroke her lively cheeks. A blush, much like her own, gave color to his naturally golden glow. Eyes losing their stiff gaze, a small smile swept across his features. As he let his hand dance down her face, he leaned in before gently butting heads with her.

"To some, this gesture represents the tender bond between dragons. It's a sign of respect and trust. To others, it's a frivolous attempt to court a female with ancient mating rituals." Pulling back, Izzavin laughed. "Still, as a royal, you ought to know that, if a male outside the royal family does this, that you should firmly put your foot down and decline his invitation to mate." The green-haired man gave her no chance to refute his nuzzle, of which he did on purpose. "As Tsuri probably read to you, dragons can mate for life. As a royal, it is frowned upon to frolic freely with whomever you seek so you need to be prude in your ways. That is until you find someone of sharing the thrown with."

His face was now void of emotion, a skill he learned back during his traitorous days. He need not let little Zalanna know of the flutter in his heart. Seeing her alive, well, and happy, that would be enough for him. Her love, though he dreamt of it, was simply that. A dream. Nothing more, nothing less. He often told himself he shouldn't love her for he would do it merely out of guilt. And yet, with each passing of the sun and with each year she grew older, Izzavin found himself coming back. He swore he would leave her and never return. Ha! Was that ever a lie.

"So," he cooed lightly, "what questions do you have for me?" It was as he spoke that his scent returned in full force--the masking potion falling away with the light breeze. His scent, a mixture between sandalwood, salt, and something foreign, overtook the air around them. Had another dragon with keen nose been in the area, the exact meaning behind the scent would painfully obvious. Luckily, little Zalanna had yet to learn about dragon pheromones and Izzavin was thankful for this.

Zalanna was wiping the blood off the male's brow as best as she could when his hand came up to grab hers, pulling it softly to join both of their other hands at his chest. The woman rolled her eyes up to meet his own as he commented about how she was like her mother; this brought a small smile to the woman's lips, though the smile seemed to contain both sorrow and joy. She had been told, much more recently, that she was like her mother, a mother she never knew and that was what hurt her. Her eyes echoed these feelings as she watched him, both of them in silence.

The look that she received from him seemed to erase the woman's own saddened gaze. Her brow knit together in concern but before she could ask if he was alright, Izzavin released her hands and turned away. It was as though he knew she wanted to pry into the past that haunted him and he continued talking about those she had never met.

She was drawn in by the words of these two seemingly great beings, longing to meet them, to regain what had been missing for so long. It wasn't that she wasn't satisfied with all that Rita had done for her, for that was not the case in the least, but there was just something that a mother and father had that could not be replaced, especially to a dragon. The parents raised their young in the way of their kind, they taught them about their powers, about how to fly, to defend themselves and to be wary of humans, for as formidable as they appeared, they were delicate creatures that were not graced with the same long life that the dragons were. Or, at least that was what Zalanna learned form her books. She knew very little of her power, of her kind, of flight; while familiar with humans, she also wasn't overly familiar with them. She was in the middle of two worlds with no real place to call home.

Her eyes were glued to the man as he moved across the rooftop. When he took a seat on one of the metal units, she quickly followed, sitting in front of him, waiting for him to continue speaking. It wasn't words she was graced with, but rather a soft touch that caused Zalanna's cheeks to flush. Her eyes were locked on his though, as her chin tucked closer to her chest, a docile reaction as he lightly butt heads with hers. He went on to explain the meaning of the action and as he brought up it being an act of courting, Zalanna quietly sucked in a breath of air as she felt her cheeks reddening. Dragons weren't really a species to blush, but upon taking a human form, those with the ability to cloak themselves well enough managed to pick up some subconscious traits of humans.

The male's laugh embarrassed the girl; she couldn't pin just what the action meant to the male and even the thought of it being a courting gesture made her embarrassed to have not known in the first place. Zalanna slowly nodded at what Izzavin mentioned about Rita's teachings; when she was young, the gypsy had indeed told her that dragons mated for life and that she should be picky and wait for the perfect mate. Typically after that it led to the red head ranting about how all men were dogs and weren't worth a damn.

When Zalanna finally looked back up at the male, his gaze looked distant, almost as though he were off in another world, far from where they were. She watched him, not saying anything, but what was there to say at this point? She had been hit with so much information at this point that she didn't know how to respond to Izzavin. He spoke up though, he eyes falling back to her as the scent she had been searching for all these years returned, embracing her and comforting her like a blanket. Her breathing calmed a bit as she relaxed at this point, almost forgetting that he had asked what questions she had.

"Oh!" She exclaimed before suddenly falling silent again, embarassed by her sudden outcry. What questions did she have? What ones didn't she have?! It seemed that Rita and Izzavin were both cautious when talking about her parents, which made Zalanna think that perhaps it wasn't the best time to ask about them. She didn't know if she wanted to know the reason why her parents had given her up in the first place; she needed to ease into the idea of being royalty anyway, if she even really was. She worried her lower lip some, eyes on the floor for only a moment as she thought.

Blue orbs locking on his, her pupils were slits rather than round like a human; she was slowly becoming more excited to being able to learn more about what she had been missing for all these years. "What's my home like?" She asked as she leaned closer to Izzavin, hands planted on her knees. "The Land of Dragons, it's not just a story that the humans tell, is it?" Her eyes were hopefully as she watched him, waiting for a reply.

"Absolutely breathtaking." The way the words fell off his tongue made it sound like a dream. "A grand castle set atop a cliff that overlooks the kingdom with spirals that create dark accents against a perfect serene blue sky full of puffy clouds. Flatlands as far as the eyes could see surrounded by a sea of trees to the east and a watery wonderland to the left. At the foot of the cliff resides the main city, alive with life and full of colors and smells. Humans and dragons lived in perfect harmony, each aiding the other in survival and prosperity.

"Each house, quaint as it may seem, is large and full. Within lay the families that simply adore the kingdom. All spread laughter and joy for fear was never allowed before the king and queen. It was the golden era, the true height of our coexistence with humans. Humans kept shops that supplied us with delicious treats and armor to keep us safe. They also crafted some potions and lotions to keep our scales shimmering and full. There were barbers, chefs, and fortune tellers all around. We dragons love our magic and looks so humans did their best to keep us entertained and our prideful vanity at its finest.

"Dragons and humans would attend the academies together, each learning the importance the other played in our unique ecosystem. Where dragons would learn to fly, humans would learn to ride. Everything taught was to help teach us to live together for the king and queen believed that dragons weren't meant to be gods amongst humans, but rather friends and family.

"Merchant carts, much like Tsuri, lined the streets. There were ponds and parks always full of life. Couples courted in the grand gardens and children made friends at the playgrounds.

"In the thick of the forest lay ancient shrines and tombs, often revered and sought out. Once found, attractions were setup and historians would preach the ancient ways. Though some tombs and burial spots were never discovered, adding charm and a hint of mystery as to what secrets they held.

"Off toward the ocean lay glorious beaches of pearlescent sands. Water as blue as your hair and eyes sang luscious lullabies to all when nightfall came. Its calming rhythmic waves gifted all with a scent of inner balance and harmony.

"And the vast fields of crops and meadows? Ha, those were where young dragons learned the basics of flight. What makes for a better runway than a flat stretch of land. Granted, young ones needed to be careful for if they failed, the humans would get angry for the crops weren't there for decoration. Humans and dragons both have to eat you know."

As his tales died down, a sadness overcame his eyes. Looking away from her, he glued his eyes to his hands. Ringing them lightly, he continued.

"The castle," he paused to mull over the right words to say, "was extraordinary. Never before had I witness something of its design. The king and queen wanted something open, inviting so little walls stood in the way. Yes, bedrooms and bathes were shielded more, but everything always had that airy nature to it."

Izzavin shifted from the unit he sat on and now knelt before Zalanna. Scooping her hands into his, he graced her with a smile.

"Your room was the most magnificent of them all. Although just an egg, your parents had extravagant plans for you. Larger than this rooftop, your room wore the colors of plum, Caribbean blue, and white. Beside your bed lay the deepest of colors, purposely selected to aid in your slumber. As the room opened up away from the bed, the colors became lighter. Large open windows let the sunlight in and sheer clothes helped the moon's silvery light keep the room aglow on the blackest of nights.

"You had treasures from around the globe decorating your room, for your parents wanted you to be well-cultured. You had porcelain from the far east and diamonds from the far south. There were heirlooms of wood from the west and trinket of silvery metals from the north."

Revealing her hands, Izzavin left behind a parting gift. "As a gift of your birth, we within the royal guard sought out the perfect gifts for you. Though I was not able to find nor salvage the gifts of the other eleven knights, I was able to find mine. Naturally, I knew where I had placed it."

Within her hands laid a pure silk scarf. It seemed almost magical in the way it shimmered in the sun. There were flecks of silver sewn into it along with scales of what looked like a dragon.

"It wasn't easy to get my hands on this, but this belonged to your great, great, great grandmother. It was said to be lost in a storm but," he puffed out his chest some, "I had no issue holding my breath in the frigid seas of the north." He laughed lightly. "Okay, so it wasn't that easy. Nearly froze to death but I did it. Had some Eskimos to thank for that."

Izzavin's golden gaze fell back on her, warming his heart and causing that sorrowful lingering look to vanish. "It's rumored that this piece will bestow her heir with unfathomable power. I know not if it's true but I thought you might appreciate a part of your lineage and legacy, especially...." He bit his lip. He couldn't go on. Zalanna would just to have to assume he meant the worse with his grave silence and pale look.

A bright smile lit Zalanna's face at the first couple of words the male used to describe the city. She pulled a knee up to her chest, wrapping her arms loosely around her calf as she rested her cheek on her knee. Allowing her eyes to close, she imagined this magnificent land Izzavin spoke of. Humans and dragons co-existing, no fear, just acceptance; it all sounded so wonderful and completely different from the way the woman had been living until this point. To be taught to fly, humans taught to ride, it sounded glorious. Zalanna definitely agreed in dragons not being viewed as gods; they all shared the earth together, they all played a part in the way things played out and not one race was more important than the next.

As Izzavin's tales branched to ancient shrines and tombs, the woman opened her eyes. She would love to see those areas, to learn about the past that may not have been in the books she grew up with.

The vivid images of oceans and fields were welcoming. While Zalanna had seen oceans and fields before, it was in passing moments as they couldn't risk stopping in their travels for too long. Not to mention, the state of the realm in which they were in, she had a feeling that the views in her homeland were much more extraordinary and breathtaking, as Izzavin had said. Zalanna chuckled slightly at the idea of watching a young dragon take off, only to take out a portion of a farmer's crop. It would have been nice to see the rambunctious winged lizards frolicking around, playing.

When the green haired male quieted down, his gaze pulling from hers, Zalanna sat up, her leg returning to the unit. She turned her body to try and look at the male again, but he continued speaking. A smile had returned to his face as he knelt before her, taking her hands in his own. He went on to describe her room and the hope her parents had in the not-yet-hatched egg. As the imagined this magnificent and large room, she could feel a knot welling up in her throat, tears brimming her tear line. Pulling a hand away from Izzavin, she used the back of it to wipe away the tears that slowly started to fall.

For dragons, treasure was something coveted and it was treated far differently than how humans treated it. They collected and gathered it, drawn to its beauty, drawn to the story that it came with. The dragons were knowledge seekers and were proud of the relics they found, even if they appeared to be useless junk to humans. Even Zalanna had kept a box of seemingly useless trinkets in Rita's cart, tucked safely under her bed.

When Izzavin pulled his hands away, the soft fabric that lay in her hands and the story he had to go with it made it useless to wipe away the tears at this point. Her brows were tightly knit as she looked to the male, listening to how he came about such an item and the great lengths it took to find it. All of this touched the woman deeply, but she had to wonder, what happened? Had she been sent away from a particular reason? If so, why would her family go through such lengths of preparing so much for her, unless it was meant for her return.

Zalanna bit her lip, the action nearly mirroring the male before her. In a hushed voice, she asked, "What happened?" The way he had trailed off told her that the story didn't end as happy as it started and that she was probably better off not asking at this point, but the question just found its way out of her mouth before she could stop it.

Izzavin's mouth opened but then abruptly closed. He did this a few more times, sometimes making stuttering noises with each pressing of the lips. Finally, with crestfallen expression, he let the words come out.

"Your highness, there is no easy way to say this but," he turned his gaze to lock with hers, "you're the last of the royals."

As disbelief would surely shake her, Izzavin lunged forward to hold the precious woman in his tight embrace. He refused to let go. As far as he was concerned, this was all his doing and protecting her, holding her, and helping her was his sole purpose in life.

Lips nipping at her ears, he whispered to her. "I wish I could have done more but saving you was top priority. Your mother's dying breath was to protect you at all costs. I am so sorry I took you away from the world you were to rule but dark times have fallen over the kingdom."

Loosening his embrace, he turned the woman around so that her head now rested on his chest. With gentle hand running through her hair, he nuzzled her out of comfort and affection.

"The night of your grand party left a dark mark on our kind. Betrayed by both blood and man, the kingdom was overthrown and your parents were slain. You," he tilted her chin up to gaze into those lovely orbs, "you were supposed to never hatch. Those three men down there, the ones I killed? They were to bring you back to the kingdom so that the new so-called rulers could have you bestow your royal powers upon them."

Realizing that holding her as such, especially as a strange she only just met, Izzavin pulled away and began to pace on the rooftop. There was no time nor place for his adoration of her to get in the way. As much as she enjoyed the close proximity to her, he knew they could never be.

"The blood that runs through your veins is what gives us our powers. I can no longer fly as you do not rule. I can no longer transform as your strength is not as it should be.

"The dragons that now rule from your castle seek your blood. They wish to spill it and drink it, gaining your holy magic. They want to enslave mankind and make dragons become a fearful foe to all. This abstract thinking is the kind of teachings your parents tried to banish. They wanted harmony not fear. They sought cooperation and love, not slavery and immortality."

Coming to a stop, his brows furrowed and a stern look came onto his face.

"There's ancient text that reads that a broken bloodline can be restored by collecting the items of ol'." Hand digging into a breast pocket, he revealed a tattered piece of a paper. Gingerly, he opened it to reveal a language foreign to Zalanna and what looked like a map of the world.

"Faith. Wisdom. Courage. Love."

"Faith in one another to do good. Faith in our species and faith in the world around us. To restore the faith, one must bathe in the pool of the celestials." He pointed to a symbol on the map that likely meant Faith.

"Wisdom is the ability to lead without prejudice or hate. It is the unspoken truth of the land and the line that separates pure of heart from the damned. To restore wisdom, one must mediate in the temple of the heavens." Again, he pointed to another place on the map.

"Courage must guide you in he darkest of times. Do not let the hate in for it'll consume. Instead, seek out the light and take the path less traveled to obtain the strength of a thousand suns. To restore courage, one must journey into the abyss and face their greatest fears." Tapping the map, he pointed out the location of Courage.

"And lastly, love. Compassion comes in all shapes and sizes whether it's the bond between mother and child or man and woman, it does not matter. Let kindness and patience flow within and preach of harmony and peace for all. To restore love, one must...." Izzavin bit his lip. "Unfortunately, the text for this one is hazy. I can't make out what it says." With shrug, he pointed to where Love was on the map. "Guess we'll just have to wing that one when we get there."

Passing the map off to Zalanna, a smile grew on his face. "Although your kindgom isn't as it was, I know you can restore it. I know you are the key to our rebirth and redemption. If you restore what has been lost and forgotten, you'll unlock your true power. You'll be able to save your kingdom and let dragons rise again."

A sly grin came over his face and he snorted ever so slightly. "And don't worry, I won't go running off. As your sworn knight, I will stay by your side and help you in your quest. Besides," he pointed at the text on the map, "I can speak and read the language of the Royal Guard. It's a language that only a select few can read, which is why anyone outside the royal family cannot complete this quest."

Boastfully, he wiggled his head and turned his nose up. "So even if you wanted to get rid of me, you can't." Tilting his head down, he smirked. He was teasing for he knew she had been seeking him out her whole life. There was no way in hell she would let him leave, even if he didn't want to be there.

As Izzavin went to open his mouth, a growling noise came from his stomach. Ears drooping, he sheepishly grinned. "Did you eat yet?" Cocking his head to the side, he glanced at her. "Even if you have, I supposed hunting would be a good place to start. Come," he said before leaping off the edge. Down the alleyway below, he gazed up at Zalanna. "Don't worry, I'll catch you," he called up.

Izzavin's initial response to her question was enough to make Zalanna's heart sink, though, oddly the tears didn't seem to increase as she waiting to hear the words come from his mouth. When they finally did, her gaze broke from his; she was the last of the royals. The tears actually seemed to stop and the male moved towards her, his arms wrapping around her. She felt only partially numb as she wrapped her arms around him, unsure as to whom was comforting whom at that point.

Looking off into the distance, it was difficult for the woman to fully grasp the situation or know how to properly react to it. She had never been to her land, never saw the sites he spoke of, never met her parents and had never heard anything of them until recently. With her chin resting on his shoulder, she tilted her head until it bumped one of his horns and she rested against it as though that object kept her rooted that her people still existed, even if the royals were gone. A family she knew nothing of, a land she never visited, it was all gone; but she couldn't fully find it in herself to cry over it for it was never there to begin with. The thought of once having a place such as that was more touching, just knowing that there was a place that she didn't have to hide it. But now, now she was once again in her own reality, where none of it was real.

A pang hit her heart when Izzavin told her that those lands have now fallen to dark times. The joyous images that had been playing in her head were also no longer a reality and this stirred an alarm within the woman. A wondrous land of peace and harmony that her parents protected was no more; though she had never met them, there was a draw in her that told her this was not right and that their legacy shouldn't end that way.

The man pulled away slightly, allowing the woman's head to rest on his chest. Her thoughts were not of sorrow, but of drive to rebuild what was lost. She could feel a buzzing of power around her, probably from the male that was so close to her now; that power reverberated within her, only encouraging that goal. Her thoughts were suddenly cut off when Izzavin began speaking again. Her birth, or more, a celebration over her was what brought such darkness to their people? Izzavin lifted her chin, continuing his tale. An emotion filled her eyes, but it was hard to discern what it was for it wasn't quite fear, for as she feared what fate those three tried to bring upon her, she did not fear the fate that was laid out for her; it was not pain nor sorrow for all this had happened before she were even born and was in a timeline and place unknown to her; it wasn't hatred for she could not bring herself to hate the flow of time and fate, but there was something in those eyes.

Zalanna's eyes followed Izzavin as he began pacing across the roof after quickly getting up and moving away from her. She simply watched and listened as he spoke of the powers her blood contained. Looking down at her hands, it was hard to tell that such a being as her restricted the powers of those around her; no, not restricted for that was not true. It was those that removed her family from the thrown that restricted and harmed her kind; if it were in her blood to grant powers to her people, it was wrong of that to be kept from them.

Looking back at the man, she listened to why she was sought after, or more her blood. She too stood suddenly, though she didn't pace. A look on her face clearly said she disapproved for such a thing to happen. She had been living with humans for so long, that though they lived a life to avoid drawing much attention, it showed her that not all humans were bad and many were willing to help another out, regardless to their background. Never once did she see a reason to push her race or power against a human; they were kind, caring and warm creatures that were trying to survive much like their own kind. It wasn't just humans that had brought this fate to her kind, it was her own kind that did this to itself for greed can taint the purest of hearts.

Hope, then there was hope as Izzavin revealed a tattered piece of paper that talked about how to restore the bloodline that had been severed for nearly 125 years. She moved closer to him, listening eagerly as she watched him point from location to location. She took the paper from him, looking over the locations and symbols. The trek would be far from easy, the trials just as challenging, but for the restoration of what was lost, it would be worth it. Looking up at the male, Zalanna returned the smile, there was a daring and confident look in her eyes.

When he talked about the ancient text, she looked back at the map again. He seemed to be getting as excited as she, and his confidence was showing through. The topic suddenly changed when Izzavin's stomach growled; his question reminded her of the portion of the pie she had packed but when she looked beside her, the bag Rita had given her was gone. Moving towards the building's ledge, the bag and the bodies of the dragons were gone. Behind her, the green haired male spoke about hunting before jumping off the other side of the building.

Running over, she looked to see the male telling her that he would catch her. Smile on her face, she tucked the paper into her top, partnering it with the male's photo, before she jumped off the ledge herself. Her fall wasn't fast though, far from it, it was more like a gentle ride down. The breeze around them had warmed slightly, it was gentle and smelled of the sweet scent of spring. Zalanna gently touched down next to the male and with a smile said, "It's not like I'm completely inexperienced."

She then grabbed his hand and tugged him along after her. "Come, teach me the ways of our people," she said as she pulled him along, though she had no idea where she would even lead them to; but she also didn't care.

Wrinkles marred his handsome face as he scowled at the woman who oh-so-competently reminded him that she did indeed know what she was doing. In a mocking manner, her repeated, "It's not like I'm completely inexperienced." With a snort and the crossing of his hands over his chest, Izzavin didn't foresee what came next.

Head dipping low, his horns scuffed up the earth. Having no time to recover, his face planted firmly into the ground. Zalanna, too focused on learning new things, pulled his arm and managed to move the tall man about a foot before his dead weight made it impossible. When he was certain she was no longer going to drag him all the way to the woods, he broke into laughter.

Pushing himself up from the ground (he made it way too easy), he rolled onto his rear and cheekily laughed. Izzavin's face was now dirt-covered and his nose was all scuffed up. Small streaks of blood trickled from his nostrils and it looked like he bit his lip inadvertently. Honestly, had someone turned the corner, they would have assumed she beat the shit out of him. She didn't. Well, she kind of did. After all, it was her unexpected jerking that caused his head to dip and his horns to get stuck.

Giving his head a quick shake, he rolled back his shoulders before getting back on his toes.

"So," he placed his hands firmly on his hips, "this height difference thing is going to be an issue. You can't just jerk me forward without warning. I'm top heavy," he said pointing to the lovely silver horns. "And I'm old so stop pushing your elders around." Squinting his eyes, he teased the woman further.

Even though he had really only just met her, Izzavin felt as if he had known her his whole life. Opening up to her and goofing around just came to naturally. It was moments like this that Tsuri wished she could experience with Izzavin. However, try as hard as she might, she just never seemed to bring out that man. Zalanna, a complete new comer in his life, seemed to succeed with little effort. Perhaps her royal lure was just enough to emit the calmness that the queen used to.

For a second, his eyes lost their life. Drawn into a memory, he spoke in monotone voice to the princess.

"When I was younger, I was gripped by nightmares. I could never shake them and often found it impossible to sleep. Medicine nor medication helped. I was simply plagued by these nightmares. I had given up hope, believed that I would never sleep again. And then, one day, your mother came into my chamber and sang to me. She placed her hand on my forehead and cooed to me a lullaby while holding my hand. I thought it foolish for no other royal guard member needed coddling but I was forever grateful. Before bed each night for one year, she would sit by my bedside and keep the nightmares away."

Blinking, his usual demeanor returned. "You're a lot like her," he turned to face the eager woman. "I don't know what it is about you royals, but you have this ability to pull out the fears and knead in calmness." Izzavin's soft, golden gaze watched her features. "No matter the darkness I face within, both you and your mother are able to awaken a softer side that doesn't hold back a smile or laugh."

Stepping to her, Izzavin placed a hand on her shoulder. "And I cannot thank you enough for that." Stiffly, he held his head back. He wanted to nuzzle her but didn't want to convey a wrong message. Instead, he shifted oddly away from her and moved toward the woods.

"Anyway," he shook his head again to pull away the dreamlike feeling he had, "on to hunting. You'll need to listen with your ears, taste with your breath, and find with your nose. Never trust your eyes for they can play games on you. Then, when you find the target, let your nails dig into the earth. Become one with the wind and grass. When the earth shifts, you shift."

Holding out his hand, he invited Zalanna to hunt. "Just don't wander too far. I wouldn't want to have to explain to Tsuri that I lost you."

There was a sudden weight that stopped the woman from pulling the man forward anymore. "Oh no!" She gasped as she let his hand go, falling to her knees in front of him as he laughed. She quickly lifted the other side of her sheer top to help wipe away the wounds and dirt she had inflicted upon the male but soon he was back on his feet.

The man seemed to be in a playful mood and she mirrored it, sticking her tongue out at the other dragon as she stood up. "Well, hopefully your old bones can keep up with this young blood," she teased right back at him, her hands placed on her own hips, defiantly. "You really should work on that whole balance thing while you're at it too."

Then almost as if in the blink of an eye, that joyfulness was gone in the male. Tilting her head to the side, she listened to him. She placed a hand on his when he finally turned to look at her again. "We all have our demons to face," she encouraged. "Once we overcome those then greatness remains. True strength and happiness can be obtained." She knew the demons she would have to face one day; the news of her parents death, even before she was born, she knew that knowledge was not simply forgotten from her memory.

"I'll help you through it though," she said as she followed along with him. "I can't ask for your help and not expect to repay you in some way." She smiled softly up at the male as he changed the topic to them hunting.

She had some experience in hunting, but not very much. Rita never wanted Zalanna to expose herself to anyone that may pass by while she were doing it. The way that Izzavin explained it put it at a more primal, instinctive level than how she was used to. She closed her eyes as he spoke, letting the sounds of the forest wash over her as she tried digging deeper into her own senses. As he said each part, she tried focusing on each sense, though it would definitely take some getting used to.

Peeking her eyes open, she grabbed the male's outstretched hand. "Don't have such little faith in me," she said jokingly. "I've been following your scent since I was born, don't think I'd lose you that easily now." She let her nails grow out, the wind slowly picking up around them as she grew eager for his next set of instructions.

"Heh," he slid his gaze away at her comment about balance. "If only you knew," he muttered to himself. Thankfully, she seemed to disregard this and was already joking about how she had been stalking him for ages.

"Right," he said while taking a seat beneath a tree. "Because you totally found me." With an eye roll, he smirked. "If I recall, you got yourself all turned around in an alleyway and I had to come to the rescue."

He didn't want to admit that he was in the alley and the reason she lost his scent was because he had jumped on the rooftop. No, why would he fuel her fire. It was nicer to keep her on his level, rather than cocky. Besides, she was damn adorable when she was flustered.

"Don't worry, I won't tell Tsuri if you don't." He winked before laughing at her awkward stance. "Uh, what are you trying to do?" Cocking a brow, Izzavin shook his head before getting off the ground (she really enjoyed making him sit and then stand).

Now beside her, he placed his hands on her hips. Closing the gap between their bodies, he bent the woman into a standing crouch. If they were in a club, they would definitely be grinding on one another. And yet, here they were, prepping for the hunt. Still, it took a lot of self-will to keep this all strictly education. Er, education with regard to the hunt.

Hands dancing off her hips, he took the same stance beside her. The thoughts were becoming too loud to keep that close. If he kept like that a second longer, he just knew he would break form and regret everything.

With a clam exhale, he gave her the next set of instructions. "Breath in." He inhaled with eyes closed. Silence swormed him. He moved not a muscle, save for the lungs and nostrils that flaired as they hunted down something worthy of eating.

Eyes coming alive, the rounded pupils narrowed into tiny slits. Ears shifting back, his lip curled to reveal his fang-like canines. The hairs on the back of his neck rose and a low growl rumbled from his throat.

Then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished into the trees. Seconds later, he returned with a velvety brown neck caught between his dragon-like fangs. The blood from the animal seeped down his horns (likely what he used to pierce the creature's heart) and ran past his eyes. The blood from its neck trickled down his neck, staining his jacket like before.

Spitting it out, his tongue lapped against the blood on his face. With jacket sleeve, he cleaned off the rest before taking a seat beside the deer-like creature.

"I can't teach you much more than that as we all have our own styles. I'm not a dragon of strength, like you. Speed and reach are my things."

Ears coming forward, he put on a smile. "Why don't you try to get something. I'll listen and tell you how to improve."