Prologue

A light breeze swept through a field of tall grass. It was early morning with only the first rays of the sun shedding their light upon the quiet field. The grass would rustle whenever a creature bounded away from their nests at the building light of the day. Little disturbed the peaceful scene. Clouds rolled onward, and everything seemed like a perfectly normal day in the fields, but as it was, things are never what they seem.

Two shapes pounced around in the grass, oblivious to the world around them. The two were both young Nekomata, cat like creatures with two tails. Their fur were a dusky gray with tabby-like markings. The two tails the only sign that they were Nekomata as their true abilities have yet to show in their small forms. They could have been mistaken for twins, except for the fact one bore Green eyes, while the other a deep amber.

"Neko!" The one with the amber eyes cried out before pouncing at the other. "I bet you can't catch me!" The playful cub jumped off of Neko and disappeared into the grass.

"We'll see about that, Cera!" Neko replied cheerfully, raising herself onto her hind legs. Scanning the grass for the slightest sign of movement she saw the tips of her sisters twin tails bob up above the grass for a split second. "Got you!" Neko pounded forward to the spot she had seen her sister, only to land in the grass.

"Oh really?" Cera teased as she struck Neko from behind. The earlier tactic was meant to fool Neko into thinking that she was in the spot Neko had pounced. Neko made no move to push her sister off her back, and growled playfully. "How about we get some of our friends in town to play with us? It would be much more fun!" Cera's amber eyes glittered with excitement.

Neko and Cera didn't live in town, but just outside of it in a small hollowed out tree. Their parents had mysteriously vanished just after the two were able to fend for themselves. They often visited the town to play around with the townspeople or simply to walk around. Most of the creatures in town had helped the two when they lost their parents, and have grown quite fond of the two Nekomata.

As they neared their destination Cera cried out with surprise. "Look! Smoke!" A billowing cloud of smoke was rising from the direction of town. Then it finally sunk in. "Something is happening in town!" Quickening their pace the two arrived to see the once peaceful town enveloped in thick flames. Neko stared in horror at the scene, praying with all her heart that her friends had made it out. "What if they are still there? We have to help!" Cera bounded forward into the flames.

"No! Don't!" Neko called out, but her voice was shrouded by the cracking of the flames. With no other choice Neko ran in after her sister. "Cera!" She tried to yell, but the smoke was quickly choking her voice and stinging her eyes. Making her way around the flames, she went further into the town, heading to the home of her nearest friend, a likely place for Cera to have gone to. She pushed on the burnt door with her singed frame, knocking it down with ease. "Cera?" She cried out again, stepping inside to see another form in the building.

The other form bounded towards Neko at a rapid pace. "Glade!" It was another Nekomata like Neko, but much smaller in size, even though they were about the same age. "We have to get out of here." Neko coughed, and didn't wait for a reply, not as if there was much to talk about in such a crisis. Just as Neko made her way towards the exit of the building a large crack sounded just as the structure began to collapse around them. "No!"

The Nekomata searched around desperately for an escape, but found nothing but more flames. Next to her stood Glade, whose brown form was singed, and green eyes closed against the smoke. Neko could only regret allowing her to lose sight of her sister. Perhaps if Cera were here, she would think of a way to escape.

This couldn't be happening. Neko could feel her heart beating in her chest at a very rapid pace. This had to be a nightmare. Her fear was overwhelming her senses, and her hope began to turn to desperation. "No!" She cried again in a harsh, choked voice as flames began to surround her paws. Her head began to grow heavy, and she could feel her consciousness slipping away to nothing.

Another crack exploded before her and Glade, as a large Dragon destroyed some of the rubble in their path. It's scales were black as coal, and it's eyes were as red as blood. There was no comfort from the Dragon's presence. This was the destroyer. This dragon must have been the one who had destroyed the once peaceful town. Neko could only glare at the creature with all her hatred before she collapsed into the flames. "Neko!" Glade cried as the Dark Dragon approached the fallen form and scooped her up with razor sharp claws.