Chapter 1

Brites/ Kaie

I looked at the moon as it started to rise in the sky. It is almost midnight which isn't always safe unless you're me and know your way around. Scanning the area I started wondering where my father might be. Maybe he saw me searching and hid behind one of the trees close by. Quietly, I jumped into a tree and took care not to scratch the bark as I went from branch to branch.

Up ahead I could see the lights of our house to show the way home. Mom was on the porch sitting her rocking chair sewing. Carefully, I jumped down and ran to the porch and sat down on the step. She looked at me as I yawned. Dad appeared from behind the house scratching his head. Once again I yawned as dad came over and smiled.

Dad and I are unable to speak. When my father was with his master he demanded that as punishment for talking out of turn was to lose his vocal cords so they were surgically removed. Dad had mine removed by mom because he thought I would learn his ways better than with them.

I whistled for Weylin, my wolf pup I had rescued. He came running then jumped up and knocked me down as I stood up and walked away from the porch a little. All I could here were yelps of happiness and clucking to try and get him off. "Brites, your father and I have some gifts for you. We wish to test you to see if you can find your way using the directions we taught you. If you make it there we will see you in two days after."

Quietly, I stood up with Weylin and walked up to the porch with dad. "Here is my gift to you." I took the black cloth and stretched it apart. What I held was a suite made for me with gloves in its pockets. The whole thing was pitch black as though it was made of the sky on a starless night. "It has built in armor that won't injure you while you move and it isn't that heavy." I put the suite on to find it fit perfectly over my gray t-shirt and khaki shorts.

I looked up at mom to find tears falling down her face. Carefully, I gave her a hug and she smiled into my shoulder. My dad tapped my shoulder and I pulled away from mom and looked at dad. In his hand were a sword and some kind of black shoes. Hesitantly, I took the shoes and took off the old ones and put the new ones on. They were nice and comfy. I stood up and took the sword to find I knew which one it was. The Dragon's fire.

When my father was but six years of age he was told to climb a mountain. For twenty days he climbed up the mountain. When he reached the top he found a dragon surrounding a sword stuck in volcanic rock. Quietly, he walked up and pulled the blade out of the rock and looked at it. When he looked up he saw the dragon getting ready to blow fire. Quickly, he raised the sword to shield him. The dragon blew its fire but it did no damage. As fast as dad could he ran away with fear of being killed.

I pulled the sword out and tested its weight. Surprisingly, its weight was fit to what I needed to fight. Carefully, I sheathed the sword then put my fist in an open hand and bowed. Weylin bowed with me then we straightened. Next dad handed me an address and I took it quickly memorizing it for future reference. "Go to the place and ask for Brian. He knows that we are sending you and will be waiting for you. Don't let them tell you otherwise. Go southeast for ten days and you should be able to find it. When we get there do not treat us like we are your parents though. To you we will be your superiors."

I nodded then turned and ran into the woods. We didn't stop running until it was the next night and we stopped and slept for the whole night.

Five days later

We sat behind some bushes at the edge of the forest. In front of us was a huge place with a fence all around it. Ten guards stood on top of the towers at the corners of the fence. Weylin and I looked at eachother then stood up and stepped out of the tree line. Instantly, guards surrounded us and I looked at them with no emotion.

One of the guards stepped forward only to have a man in a gray tux pull him back and step forward. "Come. I will bring you inside and show you to your room." Toc and I exchanged glances of shock and amusement. The man turned and started walking away. Quietly, I followed from behind and he started speaking.

"You sure are silent. Is it with shock, fear, or just plain amusement?" He turned to me and I lifted my head up high enough and he frowned. "We try so hard to prevent people from getting that done." He sighed and started walking yet again.

Weylin began growling and his hackles rose. The man leading us came to my side. "What is he growling at?" I pointed and Weylin ran towards what he thought as a threat. Quietly, I went after him just like in the woods when we would track down dad for fun. When I caught up to him I noticed Weylin was attacking another ninja that was wearing complete red as though he had slaughtered an entire village and soaked his clothes in their blood. His black hair was cut short so that it wasn't in his face when he needed to be quick. I noticed his blue eyes seemed like mini lakes of clear water.

The escort came up from behind and coughed. I whistled and Toc came to my side still growling. We took out our swords and got ready to attack. As I pulled my sword out his expression changed. "The Dragon's fire, but how did you get it? They say it's been lost to all for centuries." Toc howled and I looked at him with a smile. He stopped and wagged his tail.

Quickly, I took out ten ninja stars. One by one I threw them straight and true at my marks. The ninja was stuck to the wall. Soldiers stood behind me whispering as I turned away and walked out of the area. "Holder of the Dragon's fire, I'm not finished with you yet." I took out another star and turned to him. With a quick toss the star landed not two inches from his head. All around came the sounds of shocked soldiers and some who were annoyed.

Before anyone could stop me I turned and walked away. Once I was far enough so that they couldn't see me I turned and took a deep breathe. "Why don't you speak?" I turned to the voice and glared. This boy looked about my age. His blonde hair gleamed in the sun. His brown eyes reminded me of mud in spring right after we had a heavy snow. He wore only an army uniform. "Answer me when-." He stopped speaking and stared at my throat.

"I'm sorry." He turned his head away and I jumped onto the roof and began to walk on it like a cat. "Where did you go?" I rolled my eyes and jumped down by Weylin. The boy ran towards us then stopped five feet away. "My name is Cadman." I nodded then turned and walked away without telling him my name. "Captain Brian, sir."

I turned and looked at the captain. His short red hair and blue eyes made him look patriotic. He wore a black tux unlike the last man I saw who brought me to this camp. "Major Brites. Welcome to our camp." I nodded while Cadman stared in shock. "This is specialist Cadman." He shook my hand still looking shocked by what he just heard.

"Relax, Cadman. She just transferred for a year or two. The government said she is perfect for our work, and if I don't like what she can do; I can send her home in a year or two." Cadman nodded then turned and walked away. "This must be Weylin. Right?" I nodded and Weylin barked while wagging his tail. The General of the Army smiled at him then looked at me. "Has anyone showed you to your courters?" I shook my head and he started walking up ahead. He led me to a house at the corner of camp and we went inside.

The inside was pure white with designs of what ninjas have and what they look like. "This is the hallway to your left is the family room and to your right is the dining room." I walked into the Family room and found beautiful couches made of wood and leather. There was a love seat, a one seater, and a three seater. On the far corner is a fireplace with a picture of a battle scene hanging over it.

I walked over to the dining room and found a pure red oak table with beautiful chairs carved with unique designs etched into the wood. As I looked around I found a cabinet with an expensive china set. There were also two doors in there. One led to the kitchen the other was to the patio.

"Let's go upstairs, shall we?" Quietly, I walked behind him to find a hall of ten maybe fifteen doors. Each one had a number on it. "This house has ten other people too so you will need to do your best not to make a racket although they can't complain because you're a higher rank then all of them." I nodded and he led me to a room with the number three on it. He opened it and I walked inside to find a bed and a dresser. As I walked farther in I found a sword rack with to swords and a sharpening stool.

"Your father recommended I get those for you. Well, I must be off try not to get into too much trouble. At ten in the morning is the room inspections if you don't pass you are going to be sleeping outside for the night after cleaning your room." I nodded and he picked up his wrist and looked at his watch. "I'm sorry, Brites, but I must be going." I smiled and he turned then left.

Slowly, Weylin and I left our room and walked outside. Cadman stood outside looking at the sky. He turned to me and smiled. "Major Brites, I was told to bring you down to weapons practice to see how good you are. I nodded and we made our way down to the practice area.

I could see no women among the men. With a smile I picked up a machine gun and took aim at a target and fired. Someone gasped as I let up and went to return the gun. "She didn't miss even one bullet to hit the target." I put the gun away and walked around to find something else to work with that I've never seen before or haven't had practice with. "Major Brites, give this a try." Specialist Cadman handed me a bag of arrows and a bow. I took them and walked away so I was five hundred feet away from the target.

"Clear the area!" I waited till everyone moved out of my direct target and then set up an arrow. Everyone watched as I let one arrow fly and it hit the center of the target dead on. I did the same with five others. Quietly, I went and retrieved them then put them back in the bag and put them away. "Someone want to compete against her?" I turned to the specialist and glared. Weylin growled then sat down as I patted his head.

"Major Brites, take a break or you'll freak out the rookies." I smiled and nodded then turned and left the practice area. "Cadman, you stay here and practice, General's orders." Weylin and I kept quiet as we walked into the sunlight yet again. "Hey, Major!" I turned to Cadman running towards me. "Conall wishes for you to come back after eighteen hundred hours." I nodded and Cadman ran back inside. Weylin snorted and began to explore ahead of me as I walked around.

"Hey, you!" I turned to a man in a gray uniform. His hair was shaved off his head and he had gray eyes. I looked at his badge to find none it was a private the lowest of the ranks. Weylin growled at him until he stopped running towards me. "Sorry, Major Brites. I was told to escort you to see the doctor."

He laughed as I rolled my eyes to the sky and down again. "My name is Drostan." Weylin ran up ahead and I whistled till he came back carrying a sword. "Where did he get that from?" I ran halfway to him and saw a patch of red. Weylin dropped the sword and I stooped to pick it up and ran to the red patch. There lay the man from earlier.

I threw him over my shoulder and motioned Drostan to lead the way. He walked up ahead and I followed. Suddenly, the man moaned. I snapped my fingers till Weylin barked and the man turned and looked at me as I put the guy down. He nodded and started running the way we were supposed to go. The guy opened his eyes and looked at me.

"You!" He tried to push me away as I handed the sword to Weylin and motioned him to run. "Why do you always find me?" I smacked him and he yelped in shock. I stood up as two men and Drostan came towards us. "We'll take him off your hands, Major." They put cuffs on him then picked him up and threw them over his shoulder. His question still in my mind I followed at a farther distance so I could think on it.

"Major Brites, come this way please." I followed a redheaded nurse into a room that seemed to be huge. "Can you have your dog go outside and we'll have him checked up on his shots and see if he has any illnesses?" I clucked while pointing out the door and he left with his tail between his legs. "You two have always been together haven't you?" I nodded and the nurse smiled. "Might as well keep him in here, but make sure he doesn't make a mess." I whistled and he came to my side and lied down.

The nurse began by checking my blood pressure and pulse. Each time she had to do it twice for some odd reason. "Your blood pressure is very good which you are the first I know who has a good one. The pulse is very low to the point I thought you were asleep even though your eyes are open."

She took out ten injections and put them into one shot tube. I gulped and eyed the needle with unease. "It's okay it will hurt only a minute." She pulled my sleeve up and I gasped as she put the needle into my shoulder. She laughed as I frowned and started rubbing my shoulder in pain. "Come now it wasn't that bad now was it." I glared and then stood up and walked out the door to find other soldiers staring at me.

"I'm guessing you don't tolerate pain?" I glared at the men until they looked away then I walked out of the hospital. Weylin had to stay behind to get his shots and checkup. Suddenly, I heard a squeal and I ran inside to find Weylin trying to run away from the needle in his butt. I whistled then patted on the table he was supposed to be on. "Thank goodness. This wolf is hard to make sit still." Weylin jumped up and lied down.

His little ears went back as I looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Will he let me?" I nodded and the lady quickly finished giving him his shot. He whined in pain but stayed still. "How long have you had him for?" There was a calendar next to the door and I took two months in my hand. "Well it's a wonder why he is so young. What happened to his mother?" I pretended to shoot myself in the head then pretended to die. "Oh, the poor thing, it's a wonder he's so close to you."

I nodded then started walking out of the room with Weylin. The men chuckled as we past them at least until Weylin got ticked and started chasing them into silence. As he ran past me I grabbed his ruff and picked him up. Careful of his nails I carried him outside. Once inside I lifted him so his face was even with mine. He tried to lower his head and pressed his ears to his head. With anger I went into the army store and went to the cashier.

"Well, what can I do for you?" I pointed Weylin then to my neck. "Yep, we have collars. Later you can exchange it for a larger one. Here's a chain and bed while I'm at it. The General had ordered all of this stuff for you a while ago and it just came in." He handed me a box. "I put the collars inside the box. Have a great day." I walked out of the store and made my way back to my room.

Weylin whimpered as I put the collar on him and then unpacked the bed and put it next to mine. Next I unpacked his food and water dishes and put his dog food in my dresser. I put the dishes by my dresser as a reminder then I put the chew bone on his bed. At last I had finished unpacking and put the leash on him and picked up the garbage box and carried it back to the store.

"Thank you, I could always use a box to send stuff back in." I nodded then left with an unwilling Weylin. Everyone stared at Weylin as we past because he was unwilling to follow on a leash. When I looked at him he folded his ears down because he was sorry. After a while, I took him to our room and left without him.

Unhappy of how bad Weylin acts on a leash I went onto the roofs of buildings to get around. Looking up at the sun I saw I better get to the practice area. I ran from roof to roof until I was across from the practice area. Only then did I jump down and walk inside. "Major Brites, right on time." I nodded and looked around to find ten men standing around.

"These men will be your hand to hand combat buddies and then you have the targets. Have fun." I watched him walk behind a glass wall with a sneer on his face. "Begin." The men came at me as I took my sword and hung it on the wall. Everyone looked confused as I jumped onto the ceiling and cornered them right on the start.

They tried to hit me but I was quick on my feet. For every punch they tried to do I hit ten in return. "Okay, that's enough for today. Major Brites, come back same time tomorrow for further practice." I nodded and helped the men stand up with a smile. "Is this how it feels to get beat by a girl?" They laughed as I walked out of the building and ran home.

When I got there I found Weylin whining as I entered. He had gotten tangled in his leash while playing with it. Carefully, I unraveled him and put the leash on the dresser. That's when I realized I forgot my sword. Running with Weylin off the leash by my side I ran back to the practice room and grabbed it. Then men stared as I quickly fastened it to my shoulder. I raised an eyebrow at them and they smiled with a couple chuckles. Weylin followed me out of the building as I jumped onto the roof.

Weylin seemed happy to be off the leash and enjoyed his collar. I tried to take his collar off but he whined and started licking my face. Finally, I gave up on trying taking it off. We sat on the roof watching the sunset in silence so pure and beautiful. After it set we walked to our room and went inside.

The instant I lied down I was asleep.

Five days later

I sat on the roof of a building playing fetch with Weylin when I saw a shadow running from building to building. Quickly, I ran after it without it turning to look. After a bit, I knew who it was and ran even faster and tackled it to the ground playfully. There we were wrestling for fun with men walking by pretending not to notice. Finally, dad and I stood up and dusted ourselves off.

Weylin trotted up to me and growled at dad until I grabbed his scruff. He had grown to my knee since we had left home. Dad motioned that he had read the reports that the practice arena had sent to him were shocking. I kept a straight face and nodded in agreement. "Colonel Bran, Major here is ahead of every fighting unit we have. She even defeated a whole unit by being on the ceiling."

Cadman came running towards us as fast as he could. Once he was in front of us I turned and left without hesitation. Weylin was on my heels looking around for something to attack most likely. Suddenly, Weylin took off after a tumbling bush. People who watched him started laughing as he bounced it into the air with his nose then treated it like a ball for our exercises.

After I got bored he came to me and we walked around in search of something to do until it was time for practice. "Hey, Major Brites!" I turned to Drostan and smiled. "I came to see if you wanted to race me on the climbing wall." Without looking at Weylin I started running in the direction of the climbing wall. Drostan fell behind after a couple of seconds. "Hey, slow down, there isn't a fire."

I pretended to be in slow motion to tease him. "I didn't mean that slow." I smiled and went at his pace. We tied in racing into the area. "Kearney, we have another that wants to compete!" He turned to us and looked at me slyly. "Little girls aren't allowed in this area." He walked up to me and held out his hand. I took it and twisted it behind his back in an unforgivable brace. "Sorry!" I let go and smiled at him with kindness. "Sorry, we should have warned you that she is one of our best fighters."

The man's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. "A girl is the best we have!" I walked past him and grabbed a rope without anything to hold me up. "At least put on the harness." Weylin growled as he came over to me with a harness. "Let her be and watch her go." Kearney looked at me in pure hatred and then turned and walked to the desk. "Go!"

With great gust of speed I began the climb of a sixty foot climbing wall. With every second the men were falling behind me. Below I could see a crowd starting to form as I stopped for a second to take my glove off and put it in my pocket. I was halfway there when next to me came a snap. The rope started to fall and I grabbed it with my ungloved hand. Someone screamed then I heard a grunt from below.

"Someone get him down from there and we'll restart the competition." Carefully, I started climbing down while hanging onto his rope until I felt his weight slacken. "He's good!" I pushed off and dropped down. Weylin came to my side as I landed on one knee. "Thanks." I nodded and stood up. "What kind of stunt were you pulling up there, Brites?" Quietly, I straightened myself to my full height to find I was an inch taller than him.

Weylin began to growl and the man I saved stepped up from behind. "If you have a problem with her then you have a problem with me." "Is there a problem Major?" I turned to my mother and then back to the man. He stared at me in shock just like the guy I saved. "We need to get those vocal cords fixed and soon." My mom began to chuckle then came and led me away.

"The doctors are ready to operate if you want them to." I nodded and we began the walk to the hospital. "It'll hurt for a day or two and you can't talk for a while but at least you can answer people again." I nodded as we walked inside. The nurse at the desk looked at me then at the dog and smiled. "Major Brites, come this way and we'll start the surgery."

The nurse gave me a shot as I lied down on the table and I began to fall asleep. Weylin whined until I signed him to stop the noise and behave. Next thing I know is everything is black and I'm sleeping.

Ten hours later

"Good morning, Major Brites." I slowly opened my eyes then carefully rubbed them. Everyone came into focus as I sat up slowly. "Please, lie down." I looked at the nurse and raised an eyebrow. "Has she ever listened well enough to do what anyone says half the time?" The nurse sighed in defeat. "You win, General Brian." I stood up and looked around for Weylin. "Weylin, where are you boy?"

Everyone stared in shock as I called my wolf pup by name. When he didn't come I decided it's best to whistle for him. A shrill whistle split through the air then I heard nails on tile as he came running. Everyone laughed as Weylin jumped on me making me fall backwards. That's when I noticed some blood on his neck.

I pushed Weylin down then looked over his neck. The blood was his blood. "What happened to you, boy?" He whined and I knew that someone tried to take him away from me. "We were trying to move him away from you but he went wild and tried to attack. He is really attached to you to the point he wouldn't allow us to take you out of the room." I growled in frustration and stood up. The doctor looked at me then back up. "Have you ever thought that he was scared of what was going on? He's only two months old. What would you feel in his place?"

The doctor looked away with shame as I pulled the needles out of me. "You aren't leaving this room, Major Brites." I turned to the general. "Some things are easier to do when you aren't confined to a small room." Half the people in the room seemed to go into thought. "I give her leave if she wishes but she must come back at oh eight hundred on the dot." I nodded and noticed someone had already dressed me.

Quietly, we made our way out of the room with people following us. "Whoa. You're not allowed out of the hospital until the doc-." She turned to see the doctor shaking his head at her. "Fine act that way." I walked out of the hospital and yawned. "You just woke up and yet you're still tired. What is wrong with this picture?" I rolled my eyes and began to walk away. Cadman started following me and I began to move even faster.

Finally, I had enough and jumped onto the roof. Weylin followed with ease, but Cadman couldn't even reach. I walked out of sight of him and lied down. Weylin started growling as I heard some footsteps. Quietly, I stood and turned to find the figure of the man from earlier this week. "So we once again meet, Major Brites. I am Adler of Snake Corp."

I didn't answer as he took out his sword out. He took a step towards me then he jumped into the air at me. Quickly, I grabbed my sword and stopped his attack as he came down. Before he realized what was happening I tangled his sword in mine and pulled it out of his grasp. Weylin grabbed his out of the air and I threw mine towards him then whistled five times.

Weylin disappeared onto the ground as Adler struck me on my back. I fell off the roof and onto the ground. Suddenly, I felt someone throw me over their shoulder as I blacked out.

Five hours later

"A prime specimen but not good enough for what I need her for. Maybe I can make her into a servant." Someone chuckled darkly as I opened my eyes and sat up. I was in a cement cell with a steel door. The only reason I could hear them was because of the barred window.

"Well, I think she has woken up at last." Before they could see me I jumped onto the ceiling and looked down. I had noticed a huge pipe while I was listening. It was big enough to hide behind if my hair didn't give me away. Quietly, I hid on the top and pulled my hair onto my mouth like a gag.

"She was here a minute ago! Where did-?" I heard a sickening smack then a thud. "If you hid her I will kill you personally. If she got away you will die. If you allow her to get away you better hope she is nicer than I will be if I manage to find you again." Another thud then there was the clicking of heels on cement.

Quietly, I jumped down to find Adler lying on the floor surrounded by blood. He moaned as I picked him up in both arms and began to run through the halls and out the door marked exit. Villains are so stupid sometimes. I lied him against the wall and took in my surroundings.

We were in a desert or a beach. It is hard to tell if the blue is a mirage or not. Adler opened his eyes as I looked around the area for any clues of where we are. Suddenly, I saw a tumble weed go in front of me. Talk about old western stile. Carefully, I picked Adler up against his will and began running across the desert. Its dry air making it hard to breath and making the moisture on me evaporate.

"Leave me here to die." I glared at the boy till he was silent. Up ahead I saw vehicles coming our way. Closing my eyes and looking down at my arm I saw it was bleeding. Never have I seen my own blood before. Gently, I put Adler down and looked at the blood oozing down my arm from a tear in my sleeve.

"'Have you never seen blood before?" I shook my head and sat down watching the blood run down slowly. "Get away from him!" I stood up and got ready to fight. "I claim him as my prisoner and I shall do what I think best for his torture. Any who try to overrule my command shall deal with my wrath." My mother looked at me in fury.

My dad seemed to smile and nod agreement. Mom picked up a walkie-talkie and started talking into it. Suddenly, she began to frown in disappointment. "Alright, General Brian, I'll allow her to have him then." I smiled slightly but then let it disappear as I picked Adler up and got into the car.

Carefully, I sat down and allowed him to use my lap as a pillow. "Be silent, Adler." Adler was about to say something to me but I had pressed a finger to his lips. Dad came to my side and looked over my shoulder. I winced in pain then watched the blood forming again. He walked up to mom then came back with wrap and a liquid I knew all too well from when Weylin was a pup and he had gotten cut on his shoulder.

I eyed the liquid with caution as dad put a cotton ball to it and tipped it over then back again. Holding my arm as I tried to get away he put it to my shoulder and I gasped in pain. Mom watched from the driver seat as I fought blacking out again. Dad nodded when he thought he could take it off then he tore my sleeve off and began to wrap it tightly.

"I'll finish wrapping her if you would like?" Dad looked at Adler then nodded as he stood up and began to walk out of the back of the car. Closing my eyes I waited for the dizziness to disappear. "Don't close your eyes unless you never wish to come back." I opened my eyes to find him kneeling by my arm and gently wrapping it. "Don't worry, I've done this before on… a friend when I was… three."

He finished and stood up wincing. Helping him sit I began to feel his ribs to find they were only bruised. "Don't worry he was scared to really hurt me. I have more power than he does thankfully." I stood up and sat against the cold wall close to where mom and dad where siting. "I know how that feels." He gently touched my shoulder but the touch was burning hot.

Suddenly, he pulled away and I could feel dad coming back towards us. He knelt down and felt my forehead as I closed my eyes against the burning sensation. "Don't touch, Adler." I reached out and grabbed my father's hand and looked him in the eye. My father gulped and nodded as though in fear.

I let go of his hand and sighed with a wince. Something told me there were more damage then what they thought. "Adler, pick up Brites and get up here." He carefully picked me up and we walked out through the front of the vehicle with my friends surrounding us. "Brites! No, Brites!" I didn't want to move because of the pain and burning. Finally, I felt myself tip into the blackness with relief as Drostan called for me again.