So glad to have yall back! I apologize for not updating in MONTHS! Summer classes and this semester had me super busy and I got this insane idea to rewrite LLtI. I have 8 chapters completely fixed, and I am working on the 9th, as well as a brand new Sere/Dare story! I have 4 or 5 chapter written for that one and will probably post that one soon. I will post a new chapter for LLtI about once a week, and I will keep the original story on here until i have caught up with this one. I have the next chapter done (following the last one from the original LLtI). I decided to do this because there were some continuity issues that conflicted with where I decided to take this story. I like this version alot more and I hope yall do too! On with the show!

xoxo, IMP91

Chapter one: The Beginning

Large blood red eyes gazed into my own and I knew I was in love. I stroked the pitch black, glassy scales of my new friend and told her everything would be okay. As long as I was around no one would harm these misunderstood creatures. I fought for them the moment I left my village; they would surely have my head on a spike for my treason, but I couldn't care less. They'd spent thousands of years hunting these beasts in the fear that they would wipe out human kind. Well, what my people failed to realize is that what they saw as vicious monsters, were really just like us—they wanted to be understood and they were complex beings. They didn't hunt and kill for the sake of it. No, they hunted and killed our livestock because it was their way of surviving. Didn't we as humans also hunt and kill for our survival? Of course we did; it was one of the most primitive things about us. Why should we judge other creatures for doing the same things we did?

I called her Luna, something in my gut told me that was her name; she was small for a dragon, but still very large compared to my small frame. Then again, I was the smallest huntress in my village.

Luna had the most enticing red eyes; it was like they glowed with infinite knowledge and she could see right through me. I had never seen a species like her in all of my research endeavors. She was probably a good nine feet in height when she stood at her full height, and seventeen feet long from the tip of her snout to the tip of her tail. All the other dragons I had come across were much larger, but the first thing I noticed was how her snout rounded at the end; the others' all had tapered snouts that had rows of razor sharp teeth. Luna still had sharp teeth, but hers were more like a Bottlenose dolphin's teeth compared to that of a Great White shark.

She had leathery black wings, with a wingspan of probably twice her length. Her wings weren't quite the same as other dragons', either. Hers were opaque and bat-like in structure, just like other dragons, but she had four spines instead of three separating her wings into segments and they had a reddish sheen to them when the sun hit her just right.

Luna's scales were smooth and gave her the appearance of being leathery from afar, but up close they had the same red luster that her wings did, and were smooth as glass. She was by far the most beautiful dragon I had ever met, and was the only one of her kind that I was aware of.

I stroked her rounded snout in a loving manner and whispered kind words to her. I learned quickly that if I showed kindness and compassion to the dragons, then they would be harmless to me. Luna made noises that resembled purrs and closed her large eyes.

"Will you come with me, Sweet One?" I coaxed her. She rubbed her snout into my hand in reply. I smiled brightly at her and turned to lead her out of the small clearing in the woods towards my home.

My old village was in a valley in the North Eastern Mountains, the most dangerous mountain range in my part of the world. I managed not only to leave my village seemingly unscathed, but I did what no one believed I could do—I saved creatures instead of killing them. I left my village when I was the tender age of fifteen. It had already been six years since I had been on my own.

I found the perfect little place to call home about three years ago. It was my own personal oasis in the lonely world I lived in. I led Luna through the thick trees of the forest and soon came upon my turnoff, which led me through to a meadow of night flowers. Once night fell, they were the most beautiful flowers one would ever set their eyes on. I often found myself in this meadow late at night when I couldn't sleep. It was vast and there were flowers as far as I could see. I could distinctly hear the water trickling down stream in the crystal clear creek not far from where I stood. I fell asleep to that sound many times.

Far off in the distance was the silhouette of the mountain range I once called home. I could clearly see the snowcaps on the jagged mountain tops. It seemed crazy that I had managed to find my way out of there—crazy, but not impossible. Nothing was impossible to me, except maybe finding another human in this deserted forest. I hadn't seen another human this side of the mountain in my entire six years out here. I had searched relentlessly, but soon found my efforts to be futile and focused instead on the dragons and other creatures.

I continued my trek through the meadow, Luna trailing loudly behind me. She was beautiful, but graceful and quiet was another story. Then again, I had yet to see her in flight.

Straight ahead from the edge of the forest was a path that led to my home. There were more trees on the other side of the meadow. They were sparse but breathtakingly beautiful when their little purple blossoms bloomed. They only bloomed in the late summer, right before all the leaves of the other trees turned colors and fell. They were like summer's last little bit of hope and beauty before the slow death of autumn and winter took over.

My home was nestled in the middle of a small cliff that overlooked a large canyon. The canyon itself was nothing spectacular, but the sight below was something to truly behold. There was a river that cut through the bottom of the canyon and I could tell that it was wide from my stance at the edge. It was hundreds of yards to the bottom and one would certainly meet a gruesome, instant death if they fell.

What drew me to this place wasn't the canyon, though; it was the crystal blue waterfall and lush green foliage. There were many varieties of flowers, casting a rainbow of hues across the clearing. The waterfall came from a river above my clearing, another part of the cliff that rose fifty feet up. The waterfall dumped into a small lake that had a rainbow of rocks beneath it. I found a small cottage in the clearing and decided to make it my own.

I turned to look Luna in the eyes again, assuring her that she was finally safe while I walked into the cottage. Although I hadn't met any other humans, there were traps set out from when humans inhabited the area. I found three ruined villages within a fifteen mile radius. All were destroyed by fire. I had searched through the remains for anything that could be of interest or importance to me. I had collected a few things, my favorite being my silver mirror. There was something special about it, like it wasn't an ordinary mirror. It was heavy and made of pure silver with intricate filigree decorating the border around the reflective surface. The back was even more detailed and had diamonds with other precious stones, like sapphires, rubies, topaz, aquamarines, and emeralds embedded in the silver. The detail put into this one magnificent piece was both extravagant and intimidating. I often wondered how it ended up in that little village. I used to imagine the owner coming back for it and becoming a friend.

I longed for human companions. The monotony of my life made me restless. I wondered how long it would take for me to go crazy with no one but myself to talk to and chuckled at the thought. I had been completely alone for six years; if I were to go insane, surely it would have happened by now.

I grabbed a towel and a change of clothes so I could bathe in the lake.

When I went outside, Luna was nowhere in sight. Where could she have gone? I dropped my bundle and looked as far as I could see for her; how could a huge dragon just disappear like that? I looked over the cliff and around to the other side of the canyon and saw no trace of her. I didn't dare go back out into the woods with the sun beginning to set, but I doubted she would have gone back that way. I sighed and turned to go back to my lake when I saw a glimmer of movement to my right.

I slowly walked to investigate what I thought I saw when a small woman emerged from the trees. She was dressed in a flowing violet dress and had long ebony hair that cascaded down her back in thick waves to her waist. When I examined her face I was met with crimson eyes that seemed oddly familiar. The woman had a slight smirk on her face and looked almost amused.

I cocked my head to the side and scrunched my face in confusion. Who was this woman and where did she come from? Did she know where Luna went?

"Did your mother ever tell you that staring is rude?" she said. Her voice was melodic; it tinkled on the wavelengths through the air and into my ears, making me long to hear her speak again.

"I'm sorry?" I questioned.

"You've been staring at me. I was wondering if you were raised to know that staring is rude," she giggled and I felt myself fall in love with her. I could listen to her sweet voice and musical laughter all day.

"Oh, I apologize, ma'am. I've been on my own for so long, I forgot my manners," I said sheepishly. I felt my face begin to flush. Great, I had probably just messed up my first human interaction in six years. "Please, if you'll forgive me, I would be very thankful. You're the first human I've met in six years." I had no idea why I felt the need to divulge this information to her; something about her just told me that she could be trusted.

The raven-haired woman giggled again and said, "Oh, I forgive you. My name is Luna."

Luna? But Luna was the name I gave my dragon. What was going on here?

"You didn't happen to see a big black dragon around, have you?" I ignored her introduction and decided to go straight for the figurative kill. The woman who introduced herself as Luna approached me with an air of confidence, smiling the entire time. I found it hard to question her when she seemed so trustworthy. When she was just inches from my face, I looked long and hard into the bright red depths of her eyes. Why were her eyes so familiar to me?

As if I had found the missing piece of the puzzle, my brain clicked and I knew exactly why she was familiar. This woman was Luna. She was my dragon. Luna was a shape-shifter.

"You're a shape-shifter," I stated aloud.

Luna beamed a bright and wide smile that could stun even a blind man. This woman was extraordinary. Not only had I met my first person in years, but she was a shape-shifter, too! I was certain that my excitement was palpable. "Yes, I am a shape-shifter."

"I'm sorry for being so rude. My name is Serena. I am pleased to meet you, Luna." I smiled, offering Luna my hand and she took it firmly.

"The pleasure is all mine, Serena. I owe you a great deal for saving me from those nets. They were enchanted and I couldn't revert back to my human form. You saved my life." She took my other hand in hers and squeezed my hands reassuringly. I found Luna caught in an old trap that must have been at least 30 years old.

"I've been rescuing and studying dragons for years. My village was known for hunting them down and running several species into extinction. I had finally had enough when I couldn't talk sense into my family or the rest of the villagers to stop the ridiculous killings. I left when I was fifteen and I've been on my own ever since," I confessed. I furrowed my eyebrows and considered my next words carefully. "When I saw you in that net, I knew I had never seen any dragon like you. I knew I had to help you…I felt drawn to you. I can't explain it very well, but there's just something about you…" my voice trailed off and I scratched the back of my head in confusion.

"There's no need to be so confused, Serena. You're probably overwhelmed. I was going to keep an eye on you for a while before I revealed myself to you, but I knew I could trust you when you brought me here. I know this is sudden, but I was hoping you would come with me to my home. Would you go with me?" she asked. Her eyes held a glimmer of hope and I wanted to agree to leave with her immediately. What did I have to lose? Absolutely nothing, that's what.

"I'd love to go with you, Luna," I was so ecstatic that I had met someone and that we could become friends.

"Great!" she exclaimed, "we leave in the morning!" She flashed a brilliant smile and turned to go to the lake. I picked up my things and followed her to the edge of the water. She removed her dress without so much as a glimmer of shyness and stepped into the crystal clear water.

"It's a bit chilly!" she cried. She shivered a few times and rolled her shoulders to relax herself. She wiped her face of all emotion and focused hard on the water. Luna grazed her hands on the surface and she began to glow a soft golden hue. I stared in awe at the sight before me. Luna's eyes opened and instead of their usual red, they were gold, like sparkling topaz. As quickly as she changed, she reverted back to her normal human self.

"What was that?" I asked, awestruck.

"I tapped into my powers to warm the water," she blushed. "There's an unspoken rule that we aren't supposed to use our magic for selfish things, but no one is around to scold me for it," she chuckled.

I removed my own clothes and stepped into the now warm water. I sighed contentedly as the water soothed my aching muscles and relieved the tension I held. I rubbed my arms over my wet skin and lathered the rose and hibiscus scented soap over my body. I completely submerged myself into the water and wet the rest of my long, silvery hair. I was strange with my silver hair, pale skin and sapphire blue eyes. It was an unusual shade for someone who originated in my old village, for everyone native there had dark hair, tanned skin, and green eyes, except for me and my brother Andrew.

Andrew had blond hair, just like I did, but he had trademark green eyes of our people instead of blue like me. We were twins, and I hadn't seen him since we were seven years old. I wasn't even sure if he was still alive. All I knew was that when he was with me, we were inseparable. He held the same kindness in his heart that I did; that kindness led me to abandon my people. I had always wanted to try and find Andrew, but there was always something holding me back. Maybe with Luna here to guide me and help me, I would be able to search for him.

I quickly swallowed that thought before I could get my hopes up.

When I finished washing and rinsing my hair I floated on my back and gazed at the stars that twinkled in the twilight.

"Luna?" I broke our comfortable silence.

"Yes, Serena?" she calmly replied.

"Why me? Why do you want to bring me with you to your home?" the question had been nagging at the back of my mind since her proposal.

"I'll be completely honest with you, Serena. I've been watching you for a while. You intrigue me," she admitted softly.

"You've been watching me? Why?" My curiosity continued to get the better of me and the longer I was around Luna I couldn't help but voice my inquiries.

"I can't tell you why I've been watching you just yet. I promise to explain when the time is right." She got out of the water and began to glow again. I was just as entranced by her glow as I had been when she warmed the water.

"Why are you glowing, Luna?" I was worried that my questions had upset her with her abrupt departure from the lake.

"Oh, it helps to dry me and keep me warm. I'm a bit of a rule breaker when it comes to using my magic," she chuckled and put her purple dress back on. "If only Artemis were here, he would give me a long winded lecture about using my abilities like this." She waved her hand dismissively and continued, "But I don't see the problem with using my magic. Why have the gifts it if I can't use them?"

I laughed at her defiance; we would be great friends. I followed her out of the water and dried off with my towel. I pulled my white tunic over my head and made a futile attempt at taming my blonde hair.

"Luna, there's something I want to show you," I said as I pulled my wet hair into a loose bun at the back of my head.

"Oh?" she asked, apparently interested. She spun to face me and approached my still body. "What is it?"

"Follow me," I smiled.

I led her back through the blossom trees into the meadow with the night lilies. When we entered the clearing, I heard Luna's sharp intake of breath as she stared in awe of the sight before her.

As far as our eyes could see, there were flowers. They were a soft golden white and glowed in the same manner as the moon. Where the moon cast a silver glow upon the meadow, the flowers emitted a golden glow. The air smelled heavily of their aroma, which reminded me of the stargazer lilies that I found at the base of the mountains. Pollen rose from the stamens of the flowers and made the meadow sparkle in the soft white light. Luna's eye twinkled in wonder and I had the thought to compare her to a small child.

"It's so beautiful," she whispered, wonderstruck.

"I like to come here when I can't sleep. It helps to relax me. I've always wanted to share this place with someone special. You're the first person I've met in a long time and I want to be friends, Luna." I smiled softly at the raven-haired woman and grasped her hand in mine.

She turned her head to look me dead in the eyes. "You've never had any friends?" she queried.

I shook my head no. "I did when I was really young, but that changed over time. I became a bit of an outcast back in my village. Everyone tried to shun me because I was different, especially after they took my twin brother away. At first it was just because of my appearance; no one back there looks the way I do. But then when I began to refuse to be a murderer, they accused me of being something I'm not—a traitor. That's when I decided I needed to leave before they killed me. My leaving was an act of treason." My voice grew dismal and Luna lifted my chin to force me to look at her.

"Serena, you did the right thing. Killing senselessly is never a good thing. You went against everything you were brought up to know and you made the choice to do what was right. You're something very special, and I know my people will love you," she stroked my cheek and smiled. "This is why I've been keeping an eye on you." Something in the way she said that filled me with confusion.

"I hope you're right, Luna," I returned her smile and lie down on the meadow floor, gazing up at the stars. "How did you find me? How did you know to look for me in the first place? It couldn't have been just a coincidence," I wondered.

"I promise to explain everything to you when the time is right, and that time is not now, I'm afraid," she replied with a small frown marring her delicate features. I decided not to voice any more of my worries or questions until we arrived at our final destination.

Looking up, the stars sparkled in the midnight sky like diamonds woven in velvet. I had the deepest desire to reach my arm into the sky and pluck a star from the endless depths of outer space. I wished to have my own personal guide for when I felt lost in the world, especially when my inner compass was thrown off balance. I remember the legends that I read about the gods of old, but they served me no good when they weren't real—they were just stories told by parents to put their children to sleep at night. I stopped believing in the gods when Andrew disappeared. He didn't deserve what the fates had done to him. A few tears streamed down my cheeks before I composed myself.

I closed my eyes and let the scent of the night lilies and the sounds of the creek lull me to sleep.

For the first time in forever, I had pleasant dreams—dreams about two fair-haired children playing in the meadow outside their village home.

Heat was all around me and when I opened my eyes the sun shone brightly down upon me and the small woman wrapped around my body. Luna looked so peaceful, but the heat emanating from her was borderline uncomfortable. I twisted and turned my torso in such a way that I gently removed myself from her slight grasp, attempting to cool my overheated body. I stood slowly and stretched, working my stiff muscles. Sleeping on the meadow floor was always a bad idea, but the lilies were so enticing that I couldn't help it.

I walked over to the creek and splashed my face with the cool water. I wasn't sure what to expect from my hasty decision to follow Luna to her home, but I had the overwhelming urge to trust her. It seemed like eons had passed since I left my home, and now I was hopefully presented with a second chance. The fear I felt deep down told me to be cautious. What if her people ended up being just like the ones I left? What if all they saw in me was a killer and nothing more? On the other hand, what if they thought I wasn't good enough to be included in their community?

Splashing my face once more, I pushed my fears to the back of my mind and slowly made my way back to where the small woman still slept.

Luna lay curled in a little ball on the lush green grass and began to stir. I smiled down at her waking form and shook my head at how much this woman reminded me of a child.

"'Rena?" she mumbled. How could I not trust her?

"I'm here, Sweet One." She opened one eye and glanced up at me. "Good morning, Luna," I said with a small smile.

"Oh! Good morning, Serena," she replied as she stood up and composed herself, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and stretching her limbs. "Are you ready for our journey?" she asked. Her eyes became serious and all the child-like qualities I had seen before disappeared in an instant. Replacing them was a seriousness and wisdom that only came with age and years of experience. Who was this woman?

"I am."

"I am absolutely ecstatic for you to meet my people!" she exclaimed, bouncing up and down on her toes as if the excitement she was feeling would make her spontaneously combust. I giggled at her change in demeanor and followed her back to my house so I could gather my belongings.

"So, Luna, how long is this journey to your village?" I asked, smirking at my shape-shifting friend.

"Oh, it's not a village! It's a thriving city!" she beamed.

"Okay, so where is this 'thriving city' of yours?" I chuckled.

"Where the ocean meets the stars," she said in all earnestness. "It would take us a fortnight to get there if we walked; but we aren't walking. You will ride my back while I fly us there. In flight, especially on a dragon, it would take merely hours to reach Asteria."

"Asteria? You mean the city named for the Titan goddess of falling stars?" I furrowed my eyebrows and looked at Luna curiously. My heart raced at the prospect of riding a dragon. No matter how many beasts I saved, I had never ridden one.

"That's exactly right. Hurry up, now, we'd better be going," she ordered.

Great, now she was bossing me around. I rolled my eyes and put all my treasures into a bag, along with my scant supply of clothes.

"I'm ready," I announced. The effort I made to swallow my increasing anxiety was in vain; my heart was in my throat and my stomach was in nervous knots.

"Great!" she clapped her hands once and led the way out of my house and into the clearing by the lake. "I have some rules for our journey; one, try not to freak out when we are airborne. Two, when we get there, do not speak to anyone. This is very important, okay?" I nodded my head in silent acknowledgement. "And third, don't make any sudden movements while I am in my dragon form. My instincts become purely primal and I cannot control it if you make a hasty motion and I drop you by accident; or if you move too fast I could assume that there is danger and you could get hurt. So just stay relaxed and trust me."

"I trust you, Luna. Why can't I talk to anyone?" I asked.

She blushed and ignored my question.

Luna suddenly began to transform before my very eyes. Golden light engulfed her and she grew and morphed until her dazzling dragon form was standing in front of me. I gazed, enchanted, into her red eyes. She crouched down into a position that made me think she was bowing down to me, beckoning me to climb onto her back. It was a difficult task considering how smooth her scales were. Once I was safely in position between her wings at the base of her neck, she pumped her wings and we began to ascend into the endless blue sky. I held on tightly to a couple of the spines on her back, hoping against all odds that I would not fall off.

I felt my stomach drop and my heart speed up as adrenaline surged through my veins. What a thrill it was to actually ride on the back of a dragon while they were in flight! She was so powerful and graceful at the same time; I regretted my thoughts yesterday about her stumbling through the woods clumsily. She was the epitome of grace and poise while she was airborne. I felt the muscles in her back and neck contract and relax with each flap of her massive wings; she truly was magical.

I relaxed soon after we took flight and watched below as the land sped by beneath us. I was so exhilarated; I never wanted to lose the feeling of being so free. We soared over the open ocean, the cerulean waves sparkling under the bright sunlight. I sat up straight and spread my arms wide while simultaneously closing my eyes, throwing my head back towards the skies. I reveled in the feeling of flying. I loved the warmth of the sun on my skin and the wind tossing my hair. I loved the smell of the salty sea and the way the water beneath us shimmered.

I leaned forward, and stroked the smooth scales on Luna's neck. I felt her muscles move with each beat of her wings. She was magnificent.

All too soon, there was the silhouette of land on the horizon. Before I knew it, we were descending into a bustling city.

I slid off of Luna's back and took in the city around me—there were people as far as the eye could see; so many different kinds of people, too. The diversity among the city-folk was astounding! I had never seen so many types of people in my entire life! Then again, I was raised in a society that was cruel and heartless and had very distinctive features in all of its inhabitants. Luna reverted to her human form and took my hand, leading me through the throngs of people.

Everywhere I looked there were booths with merchants and customers making deals. There were stands with foods I had never seen, articles of clothing and pieces of jewelry that had my eyes bugging out of my head at their intricacies. Several merchants tried to gain my attention, but I remembered her rule of not talking to anyone in Asteria. Luna must have sensed my wonder and slowed her pace so I could take in my surroundings. I wanted to stop and smell the flowers at one of the stands, but Luna kept tugging me along. Just when I thought things couldn't get any more fabulous, we rounded a corner and what I saw before me took my breath away.

I let her lead me down winding cobblestone paths towards a looming building—a palace. I looked up as we walked and appreciated the sight before me. It was large and made of gray stone with turrets and towers surrounding a large courtyard. In the very center of the courtyard was a massive fountain that had four tiers, each tier slightly smaller than the one below it.

As I got closer to the fountain, I could see intricate details carved into the stone—details that reminded me of those on my silver mirror. The bottom basin was so large that ten people could bathe in it comfortably, although I was positive that no one would dare to do so. The top tier of the fountain had a small cherub statue with a small bow, an arrow nestled on the stone string. The cherub pointed the bow and arrow to the right, while his body twisted to the left, a look of bliss on his childlike face. Water spouted from the tip of the arrow, flowing into the top basin.

Several species of flowers and bushes decorated the rest of the courtyard. So many different aromas filled the air, as well as a variety of colors. I must have died and gone to heaven, for surely nothing on earth could be this beautiful. The smell of flowers and the sounds of the tinkling water had me instantly at ease.

Luna continued to pull me along while I tried to take in every detail of the area surrounding me.

"I can give you a detailed tour later, Serena," she said with a chuckle. I turned my head from the left of me, where I was deeply fascinated by the climbing roses on a stone wall, to Luna's amused face ahead of me. She firmly grasped my hand in hers and pulled me towards a set of large, dark wooden double doors. "You're like a little child! You should have seen the wonder in your eyes, Serena," she giggled. "Come, through these doors is all the answers I think you'll need."

Before I could question her odd statement, Luna pushed open the wooden doors and gestured for me to enter before her. The room was vast and empty. It was hexagonal in shape, each wall connecting to a corner with a small alcove.

Four of the six walls had a floor to ceiling window that let in the sunlight and gave a perfect view of the gardens outside. Through the large windows, I could see a gazebo in the center of the garden, with more exotic flowers and bushes. Between the windows and the walls were large, colorful tapestries, each intricately designed. The floor was white marble with gray veining and in the center was a coat of arms.

The sound of heels had me looking towards another door on the opposite end of the room.

A man emerged from the door, a man with sandy blond hair and striking green eyes. He wore a deep red leather vest over a white shirt and black pants. The man walked slowly towards the middle of the throne room with his eyes trained straight ahead of him.

When he noticed that he wasn't alone in the throne room, his expression changed from indifference to complete shock. He locked gazes with me and I was stunned, frozen to the spot.

I squinted and rubbed my eyes, for surely I was imagining things. It couldn't be…

"Andrew?"