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And now more of my crappy writing! This is chapter one of a novel I was writing until I got writers block... I'll post part of chapter two as well. If anyone has any ideas or compliments or complaints/ flames feel free to comment! ...I need the advice... sweatdrop And yeah I know I'm giving away way too much in the first chapter... sweatdrop

A Fateful Meeting

Aika didn’t have to open her eyes to get a vague impression of where she was. She could tell by the feel of rough wood on her cheek and the putrid odor of human waste that she was in some sort of crate. ‘Most likely used for containing petty criminals until their sentence is determined.’ Aika thought bitterly, remembering why she was here.

She opened her eyes to see nothing but darkness.

“Great, just great.” Aika sighed. She tried to use her hands to push herself up, but found she could not. Her hands were bound behind her back by iron shackles.

“Damn.” Aika muttered. ‘Of course, it just had to be iron. Either the captain of the guard has suddenly found his brain or somebody tipped him off.

‘Yes, that has to be it! That would explain how all those soldiers came out of nowhere. They had been following me! Daypree betrayed me! Oh, how could I be so stupid?!’ Aika mentally kicked herself for being a ‘brainless moron’.

Aika felt the iron bite into her skin, even though they weren’t all that tight. Iron always burned when it touched her skin. It had always been like that. Her father was a blacksmith and she always felt bad when she couldn’t help him with his work. Also whenever iron touched her skin not only did it burn, but she couldn’t revert back to her natural form.

As Aika thought she swung her legs underneath her and threw her weight to the side. She nearly toppled over again but she used her legs to steady herself into a sitting position.

Aika looked around she was definitely in a crate, that was easy to determine by how the light seeped in though the cracks between the dark wooden boards. The light was minimal, but she could see all the same.

But what she did see could only be described as repulsive. A thin layer of filthy straw covered a grime incrusted floor; the walls also had a layer of grime. Aika noticed with disgust the small piles of human waste scattered about the already sickening floor.

In front of her, not a pace away sat a boy, a few years older than her by the looks of it. His semi-long black hair fell across his eyes hiding them. Aika let her eyes travel down his muscular body that was covered by dark clothes. Suddenly something occurred to Aika making her gasp with the realization. ‘I can’t see his aura!’

Once she gasped the youth turned his head to gaze at her. In that moment Aika knew he wasn’t human. His eyes were a dead giveaway they were amethyst in color and so bright they almost glowed. She felt the waves of power flowing from him now. This creature in front of her was something of great power disguised as a human youth.

‘It’s not like your doing anything different than him at this point. What with disguises and all.’ Came a thought from the more cocky reaches of her mind. Aika ignored the thought and continued to marvel at why he hadn’t killed her yet.

“W-who are you?” Aika asked trying to hide her fear.

“I could ask you the same.” The creature stated with a rich silky voice that could convince a demon to become a saint.

“I am called Aika. Who are you?” Aika asked, then reluctantly added. “What are you?”

“Figured out I’m not human already huh?” he chuckled.

“… Yes.” Aika said cautiously.

“Well since they are gonna kill us anyway I guess I’ll tell ya.”

He grinned at her showing his glittering teeth, and was that fangs she saw? Though he tried to hide it with a cheery attitude and smiles she could still detect the despair in his voice. Could it be fear, of dying perhaps? Aika still didn’t understand why he didn’t just break free and flee.

The iron around her wrists stung her as she wiggled a bit to get more comfortable. That was it! He had iron shackles too! Yes, she was sure of it. That explains why he doesn’t run. ‘Damn the iron is clouding my thinking as well.’

“I am known as Kosuke. To answer your second question I am a warrior Dragon, from the imperial house Kais, of the light. Is that a good enough answer for you, little Kaivet?” He asked, seeming amused at Aika’s slack jaw.

Two halves of Aika’s mind battled for control. The first side screamed in fear. ‘A DRAGON!? A DRAGON! GET UP GET AWAY! RUN!’ The second however remained calm. ‘Don’t forget you have power too. There is no need to run. We are restrained anyway.’ In short the calm, sensible half won and took control.

“Kaivet? Is that supposed to be some sort of insult?” Aika inquired.

“Insult? No. Oh, by the fires of Namar! Do you even know what you are? Do you perhaps, consider yourself human?” Kosuke asked, surprise written across his face.

“I know I’m not human!” Aika snapped, and then added sheepishly. “I don’t know what I am.”

“Your right your not human you’re a Kaivet.” Kosuke said.

“What’s a…” Aika started but Kosuke cut her off.

“A Kaivet,” Kosuke lectured. “Is a Wolf but they have leathery wings like a Dragon. Kaivets are usually only in the royal family but there are a few Dragon’s and Wolf’s who ignore politics and mate with each other illegally. The products of their mating are Kaivets. Kaivets that aren’t of the royal family, like you, are considered abominations.”

“Why are you telling me this if I’m an ‘abomination’?” Aika asked angrily.

“I told you when those soldiers get back they’re going to hang us then burn our bodies. I’ve seen it done before. I thought maybe you would like to get a taste of what the world is truly like before you die. Not the human version, oh no. Ha, they think they have us under control because we allow them to live. They kill one of the weakest of us and think they’re the kings of Syrikk. Those stupid humans don’t even know about the war. Just like them to ignore what’s under their puny little noses.” Kosuke sneered.

“Wait, what war?” Aika asked.

“The war, between Dragons and Wolfs.” Kosuke sighed.

“Well Mr. Know-it-all why did the war start in the first place.”

“You really need to figure out your place Kaivet. I still have enough power to carry out your sentence early. But since you asked, It started because the Wolf Emperor and the Dragon Emperor decided to have their infant daughter and two year old son betrothed to unite the Wolf and Dragon kingdoms once and for all. Then one night someone kidnapped the Wolf princess. The Wolfs blamed the Dragons said they didn’t want the kingdoms joined. That was far from the truth, but war broke out anyway. The princess was never found. That happened fifteen years ago. How little Kaivet do you not know about that?” Kosuke inquired.

“My father is a blacksmith he’s human. He found me in my natural form in a field just outside the city. He always had a soft spot for animals. Later I surprised him and changed my form to look like a human. He raised me here in this town. He didn’t like to let me out of the house because he knew if someone found out they would kill me.” Aika told him.

“How did you end up here as a convict?” Kosuke asked curiously.

“About a week ago I had been outside because Father sometimes lets me go and hunt at night. I had gotten back late because the rabbit I had been tracking had made it to his burrow before I grabbed him, so I had to dig him out. It was just past dawn so I brought my kill home with me. I landed in the tall grass behind the shop. I transformed and took the bloody rabbit from my mouth. I heard someone gasp. I looked that way. It was my neighbor and only friend, Daypree. I told Daypree that it’s ok that I wasn’t going to hurt anybody. I begged her not to tell anyone. She fearfully agreed. I was stupid and trusted her. That’s a mistake I won’t make twice.” Aika growled.

“Never trust a human.” Kosuke told her seriously. “They are far too greedy, and most are simply mad.”

“Yes, I know that now.” Aika admitted. “Anyway I was going to the market this morning and saw for the first time in my life some creatures that look like me. There were five soldiers in their usual metal armor beating the two creatures to death. The Kaivets, as you call them, looked at me with fearful, pleading yellow eyes.”

“Come to think of it your eyes are sapphire blue. Kaivet eye color is almost always yellow or red. You might have a royal ancestor. I say this because Royal eyes are always blue or green.” Kosuke told her.

“Well as interesting as that is I would appreciate it if you would stop interrupting me.” Aika told him trying to withhold her frustration.

“Yeah, so on with the story.”

“Where was I? Oh, wait I remember. So there they were, begging me silently to take action. I couldn’t restrain the fury that bubbled deep inside of me. I shifted shape to my true form and attacked them. I killed all of them in a mater of moments. One of the Kaivets bowed to me. He then turned to help his friend, who was more seriously injured. It was strange I had never been bowed to before. Then I heard the clanging that could only come from metal armor.” Aika explained.

“I transformed again to ‘human mode’ and spun to look in the direction the sound came from. There was an unbelievable number of soldiers behind me. I looked back at the Kaivets but they weren’t there, but I did see two human children with yellow eyes running down the next alleyway. The soldiers told me I was under arrest, so I ran. The nearest soldier grabbed my arm and swung my body into the wall. My head hit the brick, and then it was lights out for me. When I woke up I was here.” She told him.

“Hmm… a small question Kaivet.” Kosuke said.

“Will you stop calling me that. My name is Aika.” Aika said, annoyed.

“Whatever, what color are your wings? Tell me the color of your fur as well.”

“Uh… why?” Aika asked.

“Just… tell me.” Kosuke said in a very convincing tone.

“Well, they are black while my fur is silver, but they have blue stripes while my fur doesn’t. Why is that so important?” Aika wondered.

Kosuke said nothing; he just sat there his mouth agape.

“Um… Are you alright?” Aika asked him curiously.

Having the silence broken brought the dragon-youth back to reality, and he regained his confident composure.

“Of course I’m alright! Why wouldn’t I be?” Kosuke snapped. In the silence that followed his words Aika became more uncomfortable. She wanted to interrogate him on why the color of her wings mattered so much, but after his last outburst she dared not. Aika waited until she was sure he had plenty of time to cool off before she spoke again.

“So… How do we get out of here?” Aika asked politely. She didn’t want to upset him again.

“We? Who said something about ‘we’ doing anything together? I don’t like to associate with lesser beings like you. Besides look at these things.” Kosuke held his arms out so she could see his shackles. A carving in the iron caught Aika’s attention.

“These damn things are well made, not to mention iron. You know the saying ‘Iron to bind the beast’ don’t you? Well it’s the only human text about our kind that’s completely true. There’s no way…” He rambled on oblivious to the plan forming in Aika’s head.

“Hold your shackles out again!” Aika said, barely able to contain her growing excitement.

“Why?” Kosuke asked bluntly.

“Just show me your damn shackles!” Aika nearly shouted in her desperation. Kosuke glared at her then shrugged and held them out. ‘Just as I suspected’ Aika thought, at seeing the crest engraved into the metal. Aika flashed the dragon-youth a genuine smile, he just gave her a confused look.

“I know how we are gonna escape.” She told him smugly.

“Again with this we thing.” Kosuke said looking away to show his disinterest. Aika stared at him long and hard.

“I can get us out of here alive.” She stated, giving him an icy glare. “But I’m going to need your help.”

Kosuke grunted then nodded his consent.

“So, what’s your plan?”

She smirked a little at his agreement.

“There is a hidden pocket by my right knee, inside is a key. My father made these shackles see the crest?” Aika held her own restraints for him to view them. “My father knew I would get myself into trouble one of these days so he made me a master key for all the shackles he made.” Aika said more exited than ever. “I can’t reach the pocket so you could do it, and then give it to me. I could then release you then you can free me!” Aika said smiling all the while. When Kosuke looked at her he gave her the biggest grin he could muster.

“In that case what are we waiting for?”

“But… We have to do this quickly.” Aika said looking at the filthy floor. “The iron saps my strength.” Aika willed herself not to look into his eyes, lest he see the weakness she knew her eyes held. Aika heard a heavy thump and looked up to see Kosuke had let himself drop sideways so his head was between her feet. She pulled her left leg close to her body and let her right one slide out, to aid him in his quest to find the hidden key.

Kosuke inched his way closer to Aika’s knee. His eyes wandered the material until he found her cleverly hidden pocket. He strained his neck forward and latched onto the pocket with his teeth/fangs. He stayed still for a moment to catch his breath. ‘He’s losing his energy fast. At this rate we might be here forever. It’s the iron I’m sure of it. It’s stripping us of our strength.’ Aika realized. She wanted to tell him it was okay to wait for his strength to return. But she knew it wouldn’t help, the iron would never permit him to regain any energy.

She looked at Kosuke again, just as she did he yanked as hard as he could and ripped the pocket off. She stared at him in shock as he spit the fabric from his mouth. ‘He wasn’t supposed to rip it!’ Aika was about to scold him but realized it didn’t really matter.

The key lay there on the floor. Kosuke picked it up with his mouth. He struggled to sit up again. Aika helped him sit up by giving him a little push with her feet.
Kosuke was panting, but smiled with the key sticking out, when he looked at her. Aika leaned forward and took the back end of the key into her own mouth.

As Kosuke pulled back, his lips brushed hers. Aika instantly felt an electric shock jolt her lips. Then a searing heat wash over her whole body leaving behind it an unpleasant tingling sensation. ‘That was weird. Really weird.’ But Kosuke didn’t seem phased by it so she was determined it wouldn’t bother her either.

Aika scooted her way behind Kosuke. She leaned down as far as she could, but still couldn’t reach his wrists. She sighed, a mixture of frustration and exhaustion. She mimicked Kosuke and let herself fall onto her side. Aika winced from the pain of impact. She looked up, she could see the keyhole easily now.

Aika used her elbow to prop herself up. The iron burnt her lips and tongue. ‘Faster, I’m not working fast enough.’ Aika thought to herself. Aika waited until she had the key lined up perfectly with the hole. She thrust her head forward and watched as the key plunged into the dark recesses of the keyhole.

Now Dragons and Kaivets have substantial hearing. They heard the soldiers long before they reached their enclosure.

Aika fought against panic as she struggled with the task of turning the key. She tried turning the key left, but it wouldn’t so much as budge.

Aika desperately flung her weight to the right; the key turned the slightest bit then stopped. She twisted her body in hopes of completing her goal. It turned the rest of the way but Aika was too exhausted to hear the click.

Aika’s body fell hopelessly to the ground, she lay there panting. That simple task had given nearly all her energy to the devils metal on her wrists. She couldn’t do it again, that’s it they were done for.

Aika opened her eyes, ready to apologize to Kosuke for being so weak. But what she saw surprised her; the shackle had come off his wrist. He had the key and was now struggling with his other cuff.

The clanging footsteps of the soldiers were getting closer. Aika could hear their cruel laughter now. She turned her head back to Kosuke only to find his dark form looming over her. He stared at her, with the key in hand.

“Take these damned things off me, hurry!” Aika whispered franticly. Kosuke spared her a fierce look, but did as she asked.

Without the iron on her skin Aika felt her strength return immediately.

Aika took a deep breath and transformed to her true nature. She stretched only a little, for the walls of their enclosure were too narrow for her to extend to her body fully. The clanging footsteps grew ever louder then came to a halt.

Aika looked at Kosuke, he was still in human form rubbing his wrists and staring at her. By pure instinct, Aika reached out to him with a tendril of thought. His mind resisted hers with an impenetrable barrier. Aika stared at him with a thoughtful gaze. He reluctantly released his frontline defenses just enough for them to converse by thought.

‘When they open it, I’ll jump out and attack. You follow behind and transform out there. Your natural form is too large for this crate isn’t it?’ Aika thought at him.

‘…Yes.’ He thought back. Whether he was referring to her plan or his normal size she didn’t know. Aika’s silver fur bristled as she heard the jingle of keys outside. She pulled her lips back in a snarl. Aika shifted anxiously and glanced at Kosuke who was glaring at the door. He too was baring his fangs at whoever might see. A crack of light appeared at the edge of the door. The door was swung back and a blinding light flooded in. Aika growled fiercely and leapt blindly into the light, attacking anything that moved.

Suddenly Kosuke was behind her telling her to fly. She did as he said and flew high above the ground. Aika spun around in the air and looked down to see what had become of Kosuke. She gasped; the immense creature she saw below was breathtaking.

Where Kosuke had been standing just a moment ago stood a Dragon. His sapphire scales glinted and shown in the sunlight, as he roared white flame down upon the soldiers.

Without warning the Dragon, Kosuke leapt into the air and flew to meet her. Aika again reached out with her mind for his.

‘Let’s get out of here, shall we?’

‘…’

Aika took his silence as a yes and flew joyfully toward the city wall. She stared down at the houses that looked so small from her skyward position.

Directly below stood an old yet familiar structure; her home. Aika listened with her highly sensitive ears and heard the harsh clanging of her fathers hammer.

Cheerfully she banked to her right, eager to see her father again. But a wall of blue scales and amethyst eyes barred her way.

‘Why do you block my path? Move.’ Aika said fiercely.

‘No you must not see your father again. The soldiers will kill him. You of all creatures should know it is against human law to aid convicts or anything that has power. Like someone from Dragon or Wolf clan. They will kill him… and you.’ Kosuke told her.

‘Yeah, I know.’ Aika fought the tears desperately, despite her efforts one tear made it through and fell to the street below. She would not let sadness overcome her so she changed the subject.

‘Wait, were you actually worried about me? A Kaivet?’ Aika asked looking astonished.

‘No… it is simply that it you die I die.’

‘What!?’

All Aika could get from him was silence, she sighed and flew on. They were now flying lazily over the city wall. Aika was still thinking about their latest conversation when she felt a sudden pain fill her chest. She looked down to see a stick protruding from her right breast.

Pain spread and burnt from it like a wildfire. Pain came again this time to her stomach, her hind leg, twice more to the torso. Aika had lost count of the number of arrows that had punctured her wings.

Aika painfully noticed she was falling. She saw Kosuke blasting the archers with ivory flame. He looked at her and roared. ‘I’m gonna die.’ Aika felt empty as that fearful thought reached her hardly conscious mind. The spinning ground rushed up to meet her.

Suddenly Aika’s world went black.

Chapter Two

Traveling Companions?

Kosuke watched the silver body fall from the evening sky. He blasted the last remaining archer with a burst of flame and rushed to the girls plummeting form. He twisted his body and made himself as small as possible to gain more speed. Kosuke was just able to swoop in and grab the unconscious body before she hit the ground.

He looked down at her naked human shape. The clothes they had been wearing lay ripped and torn back in the city. This was understandable considering that their real bodies are much larger than those of humans.

He would have to find them some new clothes so they could walk around in the human world. But he could do that later, there was something he liked about this girl when she had no clothes to hide under.

Kosuke felt something wet dribble across his scales. He looked down at the Kaivet in his claws. He saw blood. Lots and lots of blood dripping from her many wounds. There was blood everywhere. He would have to stop sooner than he thought. Kosuke looked around for a place where he could get supplies.

‘Luck is with me today.’ Kosuke thought when he spotted a farm in the distance. Kosuke made it to the farm in no time. He circled overhead and chuckled to himself as he watched the farmhands flee in terror. When the scene no longer amused him he descended in a tight downward spiral.

He landed softly dropping the girl just before impact so his claws wouldn’t crush her. Kosuke transformed and carried Aika’s body inside bridal style. He scanned the structures interior and found a smooth wooden table to lay Aika on.

After he made sure Aika had a heartbeat he set out to find tools he could use to clean her up. He found the cooking area easily. There was an earthenware pot over the fire. Kosuke looked inside to see boiling water. ‘This was probably gonna be for their dinner.’ He grasped the pot with his bare hands and winced from the heat. In human form his body wasn’t used to so much heat being in direct contact with his skin. Still he brought the steaming pot to the table where Aika lay.

Kosuke returned to the kitchen and found that a cabinet held all the rags and bandages he would ever need. He returned to the room Aika was in and placed the rags in the scalding water. He turned to her and carefully removed each arrow. He wiped up the blood with the dripping wet rags.

He wadded up the clean dry rags for padding. Kosuke then started tightly wrapping her body with the bandages to keep the padding in place and to provide pressure.

When he was young his servant friend at the palace helped him with cuts he had received while playing. He said pressure will stop the bleeding. So Kosuke did his best to be sure a sufficient amount of pressure was applied to her wounds.

Once he was sure she would be alright he searched the farmhouse until he found the supplies they would need. He had found a double strapped bag that they could carry everything in. He also found two rough blankets, a bunch of clothes, two canteens, and some boots. He also grabbed a hair tie for the girl.

Kosuke dragged an unconscious Aika outside. There he put the bag around one of her arms and wrapped her in a blanket so she wouldn’t freeze to death during flight. ‘We have to get out of here before the guards catch up. As soon as she’s well I can take her to the Emperor. Then the war will finally be over.’

With a mighty jump Kosuke leapt into the twilight. He made three powerful strokes with his with muscular wings and swept off through the air.

He couldn’t remain airborne for long. He feared the wind would chill the girl and cause her to get ill.

... I just realized how much the dialouge in this sucks! scream crying Kosuke's character is supposed to be much more of the quiet type! And he gives her far too much info especially for them to have just met! Oh man I really should edit this thing...

Tell me what you think of where it's going! Oh and to let you know Aika isn't the long lost princess but she is part of a long lost clan... or something... maybe I can make her a shapeshifter and later she discovers she can transform into something other than a kaivet or a human... I dunno... help me!!!!!?!

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