Author's Note: Okay... so real quick. Every time there is an italicized remark, that is supposed to be read as if Ewan is thinking it. So yeah, Italicized=Ewan's thoughts. Enjoy :)~Sincerely, Satrfire32

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Chapter 1

Ah it always feels nice to bask in the moonlight when there's a full moon,

Ewan thought to himself as he sat on the crumbling bank of the river, his feet dangling in its crisp clean water. If only I could stay like this forever. Still though, something was missing...Aha! That's it! If only Saleh could be here with me, that would make it perfect. I could lean against his chest and forget about all

my worries.

As Ewan began thinking about his teacher, his stomach began to form knots while his cheeks became flushed.

No not this again. I can't want him. He would never be into guys anyways, especially not me. The way he acts around me is like I always disappoint him. I just have to not think about him that way.

Suddenly, he heard a solemn voice from behind calling his name, "Ewan, what have I told you about dawdling? Your supposed to be preparing supper right now."

Ewan swiveled around, his feet still in the water, and looked up to see his teacher glaring down at him. Saleh's eyes so bright that they pierced the growing darkness.

" O-oh hey teacher, how are you doing?" Ewan said quickly, covering his small, growing bulge and trying to change the subject before he got an earful from the stoic man.

"Ewan I thought I told you that you have to finish supper and then you could play around," Saleh said as he ran his fingers through his brown-silver hair, "at this rate, we wont have anything to eat... again. So get out of there and come on." With that, Saleh spun on his heel and began to make his way back to the little cottage the two call home.

"O-okay teacher hold on."

Ewan stood up cautiously as to not slip backwards into the now freezing water.

*sigh* Smooth Ewan, real smooth Ewan thought sarcastically as he slowly trudged toward the little house.

He had not taken more than several steps before he heard a low growl coming from behind. He twirled around and saw a Mauthe dog sprinting towards him; mouth wide open to reveal 2 rows of pearly white teeth encased in black, grimy gums, eyes shining a brilliant golden hue. Looking even more menacing in the now full-blown darkness. Ewan just stood there as if he thought the dog would not see him, hoping that the monster would just pass on by. But to no avail. The dog continued his sprint towards the frail and defenseless mage, now no more than one hundred feet away.

Oh crap, what should I do! I forgot my tome back at the cottage. I didn't think I would need it, he thought as his heart beat quickened.

Snapping back to reality, Ewan turned and began to run towards the sanctuary that was the dimly lit house.

Almost there, the young mage thought, just a few more ste- AHHH!' The young mage fell and tripped over a burnt stump he used to practice his magic on.

Crap, great, just great, Ewan picked himself up off the cold ground only to be tackled to the floor by a large snarling mass.

"Get off of me!" the boy pleaded, his cries falling on incomprehensible ears.

Exhausted and sweating, Ewan began to grow tired and started to give up. Suddenly though, he felt the mass of weight lift off him, only to come crashing down all at once, crushing the air out of his lungs.

"Please... No more..." he mumbled, his life flowing out of every pore...

Defeated, Ewan let his guard waiver ever so slightly, a mistake that was irreversible. In a split second, the beasts mouth shot out and clamped down onto Ewan arm; it's fangs plunging mercilessly into Ewan's left arm; his blood whetting the dogs ravenous appetite.

"Please God, Please have mercy on me! Please have someone come to my aid! I don't want to die like this... *sob* Not like this..."

As if the gods were answering his prayers, Ewan hazily saw a flash of bright light fly towards the creature and knock it onto its back. The creature jumped to its feet and let out a terrifying snarl, only to be met with another flash of bright light, straight to the dog's abdomen. Realizing this prey was not worth it, the Mauthe dog began running towards the hills, realizing that it could not make a quick meal out of this lone boy.

" Ewan! Ewan are you okay!"

With the last of his remaining energy, he craned his head and saw his teacher dashing towards him, a worried and exasperated look plastered on his face.

"T-teacher..." Was all he could manage to say before he drifted into unconsciousness.

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Ewan awoke to the familiar smell of ancient tomes and freshly picked herbs. He picked himself up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, as he grew accustomed to the dimly lit room. He looked towards the old, wooden window, warped past its time, and saw that it was still night.

I guess I only slept for a few hours if it's still dark outside, Ewan reassuringly thought to himself.

Just then, he noticed a shifting of papers to his right; relieved to see that it was just Saleh. He was looking down at Ewan from his desk, surrounded by ancient texts, and dusty artifacts.

" So I see you have decided to wake up. Took you long enough," the sage said calmly.

" What do you mean, it's still night time. Didn't I just sleep for a few hours?" Ewan said as he looked at his teacher, his eyes full of bewilderment.

" Yes you did, but then you slept some more. You've been asleep for one day exactly. That's why it's night time again."

Ewan's jaw hung open in amazement.

He jumped out of the bed and exclaimed, " you mean I've been asleep for a whole day! W-well who helped you with the chores?!"

" We'll of course I did everything myself. Seeing as you were out of commission," his teacher said coldly.

Saleh's tone sent shivers down Ewan's back, and he had to look down to avoid his teachers icy stare. As he contemplated looking up again, he realized that he wasn't dressed in his usual teal robes. Instead, he had on a flowy mint colored robe that went to just above his smooth, pale knees.

" When did I change into this?" Ewan muttered as he pulled at the foreign material, confused at to why his attire had changed.

" I took the liberty of changing all of your clothes for you while you were out cold because there was blood all over them. I even took the liberty of changing your underwear for you. The monster must have scared you quite a lot, because you seemed to have had an accident. It's fine though. It wasn't a problem. I also bandaged your arm. Don't worry, it's not serious." his teacher said while observing the boy with hawk like eyes.

Ewan looked down as a dark flush formed across his cheeks. His mind racing due to embarrassment;

I don't care that he knew about my accident, I care that he saw me I the nude...How embarrassing!

"Er...well thank you... I guess " was all Ewan could mutter before his voice began to crack with sorrow.

He threw himself back into the protection of the sheets, looking for some sort of way out of this situation. On his way down, he knocked over the oil lamp set upon a pile of books, and managed to put it out. Now, he lay there in the moon lit room, covered by a thin white sheet, wearing only a single price of cloth, with his teacher watching his every move.

How pathetic and childish I'm acting, Ewan thought through his muffled sobs, all because he saw me like that.

" Ewan!" His teacher exclaimed, clearly frazzled as to why the boy just did that. " What's wrong, why are you crying?" Saleh asked him as he knelt beside the bed and felt Ewan cringe under his touch.

" Nothing..." Ewan said as he regained his composure. "I just... didn't want you to see me ... like that... "

Saleh blinked in confusion before looking at the boy in full understand meant.

"Ewan..." he began, before being cut off by a weak, almost inaudible voice.

" No... It's nothing... just forget I said anything at all" Ewan said before moving closer to the edge of the bed, away from Saleh.