Chapter 1: Encounter

Somewhere in the Nest

POV: The boy

It is cold and humid. The sound of droplets and a warm stream of air bring me back to conciousness.

I slowly open my eyes and take notice of my surroundings. The place looks like a cave and there is light coming from a big hole on the ceiling.

As I observe the place, I also noticed something weird... on me. My arms and legs are covered in strange, black patterns. How did this happen?

I look in front of me. I scream, seeing a giant bird-like creature. I don't even make it to get up and I fall again, my back meeting a small stone wall.

I stay there for a few moments and finally stand up. Behind me there seem to be ruins, where barrels with glowing material are standing. Further there is a big corridor, to another part of the cave maybe. In the middle of the room there is the base of a chain that keeps the creature in place.

"Where... where am I?", I ask pointlessly. Suddenly the Trico wakes up. It lifts its partly armored head and looks straight at me, not in a good way. Once got sight of me, its eyes changed in a flashing purple colour and roared angrily.

I can actually feel the sound itself pushing me backwards. Terrified I run behind one of the short stone walls. I take a peak and see that, fortunately, its attention isn't turned on me anymore. The Trico tries to stand up but it falls down quickly. I make it to the other side of the cave and I undestand why the beast can't stand. A spear was stuck in its leg.

I feel bad for the poor creature. If only I could help it... Or I can?

I approach the Trico from behind and stand on a stone. The giant dog-bird looks at me with purple eyes. It's obvious that it doesn't like me being near it. I shiver a bit at the sight of the pool of blood under the Trico, but I'm determined to help it.

I jumped on the leg of the beast and grab a handful of feathers to not fall. The Trico stills tolerates me. I get good grip of the spear and put all the power I can to remove it. The spear is out and the beast moves violently in pain and I fall. The paw of the Trico hits me and sends me flying on the stone wall.

I try to get up, but the pain is too much. I turn in and the last thing I hear is the pained roars of the Trico.

I slowly wake up and I hope that all these with the Trico is just a bad dream. For my bad luck it isn't.

I slowly get up, my chest still burning. Now I'm sure that the kick of the Trico is stronger than a horse's. I look up and the beast is looking at me too. It isn't as hostile as before.

Now the cave is darker than before. It must be afternoon or night. How long was I out?

I hear a rumble and turn to the Trico. "Are you hungry?", I ask it but as expected it doesn't reply. However it looks at the glowing barrels. Supposing that they are what the Trico eats, I go and get them.

I lift up the one and approach the beast. It looks at the barrel hungering and its eyes turn a yellowish white. Just for safety, I throw it at the Trico. I back off seeing that it doesn't like me being near it. I hide once again behind the stone wall and watch the Trico devour the barrel, leaving only pieces of wood.

"You want some more?", I ask it and run back in the ruins. I take the other two and bring them to the Trico. It ate the barrels as fast as he saw them.

Now feeling satisfied, it tries to stand but falls again. Wondering why, I walk over to the side of the Trico to investigate what's wrong. I notice that it does't have that much of a problem with me being near it. There is another spear on the beast's shoulder. Just like I did before, I jump and grip on the Trico's hide.

I pull the spear to help it. Please don't kick, please don't kick... The spear is out and the Trico wrythes in pain.

History repeats itself and giant kicks me back on the cave wall. My chest burns worse than before and darkness clouds my vision.

Somewhere in the Nest

POV: Trico

Once the pain calms down I sit here for a while. I can't believe that Master left me here, to die! My first raid and ends up like this! Not only I'm trapped, but my wings are broken.

I turn my gaze to the boy I was supposed to bring to the Master. He is out cold from the kick I accidentaly did. I notice the patterns on his skin, it is undoubtable that I regurgitated him when unconcious.

I should be actually grateful for that because if it wasn't for the boy helping him, I would be... dead.

Suddenly one thought popped up in my mind. The Honour code. The Master never agreed with it, but I have to obey, no matter if I'm his servant or not. It says: If any creaturesaves a Trico, it protects the said creature, it becomes it's Guardian. The boy saved me, so I'm his guardian now. So I have to wait for him to wake up.

A few hours pass and it's morning once again. I looked more thoroughly, and this place of the Nest, I don't even know it. If I get out I might understand where are we.

And while then I walked around the cave, within my reach. When I looked myself in a puddle of water, I made another realisation. Not only my wings my broken but also my horns. That's why I can't feel the Master anymore. And that's why he left me here.

I walk over to the boy. He looks better, but still he's not awake. I can't wait anymore! I lower to him and whine quietly.

The kid slowly gets up and looks at me. He must be kinda surprised to find a Trico right next to him.

Even though I'm going to protect the boy because the Honour code says so, it doesn't mean I'm not grateful.

I lower my partially armored muzzle and nudge him, just to say 'thank you'. However the boy handles it differently. He pets me.

I begin to purr and act like a pup. It feels so nice, I miss my family's cuddling. Wait, why do I do that? I pull off. You are a grown up now, you don't cuddle!, I try to convince myself. Besides you have other, more important things to do, like to get rid of this stupid armor!

I scratch my head with my talons. It won't leave as long as it is secured. I make to turn around.

"Toriko!", I hear the boy shout to me. What an irony. Toriko is pretty much common name for us Tricos. My father insisted to not give me and my siblings names, for some reason I don't even know and probably never understand. At least now I have a name.

The boy obviously noticed my armor. It is out of reach for me, so it's up to him. I sit still and as he climbs on me, I wince. He had to climb on my sore shoulder?

I hear the sound of the... thing that secures the armor. He climbs down and I once again I scratch my head. Both the armor and the helm, fall on the ground. Finally! Now I'm free... almost.

"So this is what you look like. Nice to meet you Toriko!", he says again. The way he told 'Toriko', this time sounded more like 'Trico', but I don't really care. I lower my head again and nudge him. The boy pets me and this time I don't resist. I really missed my family cuddling.

Now me and my new companion must find a way out of this cave.

A/N: So this is Chapter 1. As you noticed, I added some lore, regarding some of the 'rules' Tricos have, the Honour code, just to give an extra explaination about why the Trico helps the boy. Also the idea about the name Toriko, that it is common, just came up with it on the spot.

Ok, I might be overdoing it with the lore, but I'm doing it just to enrich the story.