Chapter 1: Avian Protector

???'s P.O.V

The machine whirred, I looked at the opening at the bottom waiting for my drink to pop out. Nothing……

"Damn machine!" I shouted as I punched the infernal drink dispenser. A small 'BANG' indicated that my drink had finally come out. As I picked it up I noticed that several people were staring at my fist. I looked down & noticed that it was surrounded by crackling electricity. Not again...that's the 4th time this week that this has happened & it's not even Wednesday. I picked up my drink only to let some of the electricity into the machine which then caused the machine to pop out more & more drinks. I picked up another one of the never ending supply of drinks & pocketed them both then proceeding to leave as fast as I could. I could feel the eyes on me as I left, as if I wasn't inconspicuous enough with my purple eyes, red hair & my feathered ankle bracelets.

While walking down the road I noticed a purple haired girl walking into a nearby rave club, nothing weird about that, people in this area of all ages (as long as they were 13+) went into those clubs, what is weird about that was the simple fact that there were two guys eyeing her intently & as soon as she proceeded in they followed. 'Course me being the 'upstanding' citizen I am I followed. As I thought the eyes of those two never left the girl & were hungry with desire, the girl was oblivious to this of course talking to some guy who was with some other girl, tears were coming from her eyes. Then she stormed out, & as if on cue the two guys followed smiling. Ugh! What is with creeps like those two?

I left quickly, noticing the one of the two turning the corner to my left I followed. Then after several more blocks their pace picked up, the girl had finally noticed her followers. After another block or two they turned….right into an alley.

"Hey, girlie." The one guy cooed, the other snickered. "We heard about that little spat with that guy & we decided we'll comfort you".

"Back off creeps!" The girl shouted but with no one else around & her voice still cracked from the tears it wasn't very intimidating if at all. The one man wearing a white vest & torn jeans moved towards her.

"You keep watch, ok?" The other wearing a red jacket & torn slacks nodded & turned spotting me, to my surprise he snarled. At this point the other turned too & saw me.

"Go away if you don't wanna be hurt, boy!" He barked.

"Sure, sure but first let her go home" I gestured towards the girl, who looked at my red hair with awe. At which point the guy in red lunged. I weaved past him bringing my hands down on his back, kicking him away when he landed. He got back up & after shaking his head lunged again, I grabbed his shirt.

"That…didn't…work…the…first…time…idiot!" I punched each word into his head that last with an uppercut. This time he didn't get up, I could hear his pulse though, it was beating faster than a human on adrenaline, meaning he was alive, but far from normal like me. Did I mention I'm only ever so slightly normal?

The other guy glared at his unconscious companion & then back at me. He sighed "For a half-vampire he wasn't very reliable…" That explains the upped pulse. "I guess I'll have to kill you then"

He walked forward till he was about five or six paces from me then hunched over. I braced myself for whatever he was planning, then to my surprised he started to change. First his nose turned into a muzzle, then his hands became clawed, his slacks ripped & became shorts, his teeth to fangs, his shoes shredded. I was now staring at a grey human sized wolf & it only took a second"

"So you're a Zeonthrope then?" I questioned. He barked a laughed or what sounded like a laugh. "I guess I don't stand a chance…" That's when he leaped! I jumped out of the way then gave him a good kick to the ribs. "But you see, if I can take on a half-vampire then that means I'm not altogether human, am I dumbass?" He snarled at me then leaped again & I jumped again this time near his little buddy, I picked him up & threw him at the oversized mutt, making him fall flat on his ass.

"You're not the only one with a 'primal' side here, moron!" I taunted. "Now, take a look at something truly fearsome!" I began to change. I felt the wings come out of my back, my hands & feet turn to talons, feathers sprout all over my body. & my mouth finally becoming a beak. Fortunately, my clothes weren't ruined like that morons. I shot electricity at him & he shivered & shook it off along with his unconscious ally who after that shock finally was starting to come around.

"Damn, increased bioelectric current!!" I thought to myself. Oh yeah, Zeonthropes can't talk in their beast form without some sort of communication device or genetic engineering…or hardcore training lessons for it.

I jumped into the air & flapped my wings. No manoeuvrability in an alley but hey, at least he can't reach me up here. I dive bombed into him launching punches with my right & clawing with my left. Ahh, the savageries of being a Phoenix, gotta love it. His friend seeing what was happening ran off into the semi sunlit streets. I flipped old wolf boy over me & threw him at the dumpster. He got up whimpered & while running away morphed back into his human form. I proceeded to do the same except, of course, without the running.

"And don't come back!" I shouted turning around, the girl was still there wide-eyed & open mouthed. "You're okay, right?" I asked. She nodded & I pulled out a drink & handed it to her, taking the other out for myself. "Be careful, they might be shaken" I laughed & walked with her out of the alley.

"My name's Zephyren Feral" I said as we emerged on the twilit sidewalk. "I'll escort you home so those guy's don't come around again"

"My name's Keira" She said "I….don't have a home anymore" she hung her head & started to cry, her drink unopened. I opened the pop I had which fizzed a little then handed it to her & took hers.

"Drink up, you'll feel a bit better trust me." I urged. "As for a home, I think I have just the solution to your problem" I nodded over to a silver haired man in a red duster & tan pants walking towards us.

"Good afternoon, my liege" the man spoke "I've finally found you" He bowed in front of us, I rolled my eyes "Are you finally coming home?"

I sighed. "I am cause it seems you aren't gonna give me much of a choice this time, are you Xion?"

He smiled then withdrew the blade protruding from his arm. "You are correct, your father has passed on, time for you to come back"

CHAPTER 1 END