Chapter 12: Long Night

"Hey Melanee,your still up?" Asks Angie.

Now getting late,Melanee was standing at her balcony staring at the moon. "Hm? Oh,yes I couldn't sleep just yet. I'm uh,I'm not tired. That's all."

"I see,well that's ok." Angie says while stepping into her room. "I couldn't sleep either,I was just walking down the halls and noticed that your light was still on,and decided to drop by."

"Oh well,everything is ok,so no need to worry." Melanee says.

"Ok then,if you say so. Bye."

"Hey now wait." Melanee says,stopping Angie from leaving the room. "You don't have to leave already. Stay if you want."

"Oh sorry,but I can't. I'm not suppose to bug anyone while they're in their rooms." Angie says while backing away slowly.

"Oh but Angie,your not bugging me." Melanee assures. "In fact I'm glad you came,I was needing some company and-"

*Grumble*

Angie's roaring stomach interrupts Melanee's sentence. "Uh ah...heh heh,s-sorry. You were saying." Angie says while laying on her stomach,trying to silence it.

Getting an idea,Melanee says "Hey Angie,I'm in the mood for a midnight snack,why don't you find me one."

Giving a wink,Angie catches on to her plan and says "Right away Melanee. And may I ask,is this a BIG snack we're talking about?"

"You now it is." Melanee says.

"Yes!-err I mean,of course Melanee. Be right back." Angie says right before dashing out the hall.

"My my...sending the slave girl out this late?" Says a familiar voice behind Melanee. Before she could turn around,a rough force pushes her to the stone floor. "That was kinda harsh,don't you think?" She looks up to see two bright glowing green eyes,and a toothy grin...it was Zar.

Growling she says "What does it matter? You're in no condition to be pointing anyone out!"

"Hey,just chill,ok?" He says,while letting her get back up. "I was just trying to make conversation,no need to get violent."

"Violent!?" Yells Melanee. "You're the one who attacked me in my room in the middle of the night!-Hey! What are you doing in my room anyway?"

"What? I can't pay my other half a simple visit?" Zar Asks with a smirk. "...unless you were wanting something..less simple."

Pouncing him against the wall,she bites down on his shoulder. "You will leave at once!"

Grunting in pain,he simply laughs at her actions. "Heh,cute." He says. "I didn't know you liked it that way." Overpowering her strength,he pushes her to the next wall. "Now its my turn."

Focusing on her rising energy,Melanee says "Bring it!"

"Awww,must we always fight?" Asks Zar while flicking his serpent tongue at her nose.

Spitting poison at his face,Melanee dives under him and rams his body forward,pushing his face into the wall. "Get out now!" Hearing a chuckle come from him,she digs her claws deep in his back while puting more force on the back of his head. "I'm telling you to leave!" She yells,now scraping his nose against the stone wall.

"So soon?" Taunts Zar before disappearing into the wall.

Falling against the wall without Zar's body as support,Melanee hits her face on the cold stone floor. 'What th-'

"Pretty cool huh?" She hears his voice come from behind.

"How did you-"

"It's called bonding with nature."He explains. "And stone counts as nature so I bonded with it. Surely you've already learned this,it's not hard really." Hearing this,Melanee gets a flashback of sinking into the bark of a tree.

"...um well I don't really-"

"Haha! Oh that's right! You wouldn't know anything about that!" He snickers. "You can barely fight!"

"Hey it's not my fault!" Exclaims Melanee while facing him. "Not everyone was born here!"

"Excuses,excuses its no wonder I'm the ultimate half." Zar smirks while wiping of the poison from his face.

"Says you,you're not the ultimate anything." Says Melanee. "Your just a weak jerk who has to pick at the less fortunate."

"Hmm,well your about to become very fortunate...at least I think so." Zar says while slowly creeping towards her.

Spitting poison at his feet,Melanee tackles him across the room,digging her claws into his arms. During the struggle,Melanee was able to pin him against the stone floor. Quickly recovering,Zar manages to shift his weight and flip their position over. "Loser." He hisses. Not wanting to give up just yet,Melanee stabs her tail blade into Zar's thigh. Wincing in pain,Zar simply ignores the pain and leans down to her ear,his hot breath hitting her scales. "Are you done yet?" He asks.

"No!" Melanee shouts,right before kicking his body off her's and against the thorny roots used as a door. "Get out!"

"Well-" Zar was cutoff as Melanee leaps towards him and roughly shoves his body against the thorns. Grunting with a smirk he simlpy says "-it seems someone's been paying attention on the training grounds hmm?"

"You-" Both were caught off guard as the roots parted and they fell in the middle of the hallway outside. Right in front of them was Angie and Zora.

Blushing at seeing the two sprawled out on top of each other,Angie says "Um,s-sorry! Did we come at a bad time? I got your snack that you wanted."

Seeing Angie holding a large fish,Melanee crawls off of Zar's body. "N-no! Everything's great!" She says,happy to be out of the danger zone. "In fact,you came at a great time."

"Clearly." Zora says while eyeing them skeptically. "Zar,it appears you are needed at the lower chambers."

"What? Psh! No way sweets,I'm cozy up here." Zar says with a devious smirk. "I don't need any-"

"You'd prefer to stay up here and look like a fool come the following day?" Zora roughly asks.

"N-no!"

"Well then go,Azera's waiting." Zora says before leading him away.

"What was that all about?" Asks Melanee.

"Hm? Oh well as being the ultimate,he kinda has to learn some traditions and a few rituals." Angie answers.

"Oh,well then why am I not included? Not that I'm not ok with being up here."

"Well your still kind of new here,so its best that you just learn how life goes on around here first,then you can learn the extras later. Makes sense,right?"

"Yeah I guess so." Melanee says. "Hey,why don't we step into my room,hm?"

"Ok." While the two walk into the room allowing the plants to close up behind them,Angie begins to viciously chow down on the large fish she brought.

Although Angie is a nice being towards Melanee,it still slightly bugged her to see Angie in such a savage state. It's natural to look a little beastly while eating,especially if it's a dragon who's eating,but this was an understatment in Angie's case. Her whole body was sprawled out over the fish,her deep black claws sunk firmly into the bloody meat,her razor sharp fangs viciously ripping away at the muscle tissue,it was quite an ugly site to witness. The blackness of her dilated pupils and small muffled screeching escaping her lips only further exposed her horrid behavior.

"Whoa there Angie." Melanee says while placing her paw on Angie's shoulder."Slow down there,it's not gonna-"

Screeching loudly,Angie gives a close snap at Melanee's arm. Retreating her kind gesture,Melanee dodges the bite. Shocked,she backs away slightly. Then just as soon as Angie's outburst happened,it ended. Now aware of her own actions,Angie flinches back to reality and looks up at Melanee,her dilated pupils now forming back to normal. Yet she wasn't normal,her eyes gave off a far off look,yet she was looking straight at Melanee.

"..Angie?"

Blinking away her black eyes back to her normally green ones,she says "...Um oh,I'm sorry." Now teary eyed. "Did you want a bite? I didn't mean it,I promise."

Now confused,Melanee asks "Angie,what was that all about? You could have bite me."

"Well yeah,but I didn't mean it,I swear I didn't mean it." Angie whimpers,now shamefully nudging what was left of the fish carcase to Melanee.

"Well then what were you trying to do.?"

"I wasn't trying to do anything." Angie explains while turning away her head. "You may not be used to it,but that's just how we are. Our habits that is."

"You didn't do that last time Angie." Melanee points out. "I was able to have a conversation with you. You seemed just fine."

"Well yes because I bleed the meal."

"What?"

"You didn't notice?" Questions Angie. "When you first asked for a meal,I took into a account of where you were coming from,the dragon village. All if not most of your meals were cooked there,where they not?"

"Yes,that's correct."

"Well we don't cook any of our kills here,so I figured I should've at least empty out the blood of that cuddles fish for you. I thought that maybe all that blood would be too much for you."

"Where is this going Angie?" Asks Melanee.

"Blood Melanee." Says Angie. "It's the blood that makes us act the way we do. It's what can drive us forward to do nearly the impossible,such as if we were to hunt,but miss our kill. One scent or taste of blood from that kill,can move us to it in a frenzy."

"Is that what just happened?"

"Yes,you just did the wrong thing and tried to get in the way." Explains Angie. "I'm really sorry though! I promise I'll stop myself next time,don't you worry."

"It's ok Angie." Says Melanee while nudging the kill back to her green black marked friend. "...You have more self-control than I did...I respect you for that."

"Respect..." Thought Angie aloud. "..Well look at you,you're doing quite a nice job right now. I'm impressed,someone as new as you,practically a hatching trapped in a preteen's body..able to just sit there and keep a calm posture,while blood is being spilled on the floor. Now that earns respect." Angie says,before finishing off the fish and licking the floor clean.

"Yes,well it wasn't like that the last time." Explains Melanee. "..wait,did you say preteen? I'm not exactly a teen,and neither are you...are you?"

"Well yes,and so are you." Answers Angie. "We may age slowly externally,but that's an entirely different story internally. Take Zora for example,11 years ago before we came to be,she was barely 11 years herself. Yet she now lives as a 15-year-old to this day."

"Then that would mean she's an adult." Concludes Melanee. "...Wait,your lieing! That can't be true,we don't have ageing abilities! That's not true,the library books at the temple never included this!"

"It's not an ageing ability,it's just how we age. We can't help it,but I assure you that what I'm saying is true." Says Angie. "Didn't you ever wonder why you looked much smaller and younger than the rest of your peers? Or why you seemed smarter than the rest? Why you were just different?"

"..."

"While hatchlings back at your place may play and wreck things,ours over here are living complex lives and preparing for battles."

"I see.." Melanee says thoughtfully. "Why? Why is it that this place is all about battle and fighting and war?"

"It's in our genes." Says Angie while licking the blood from her claws. "It's just what we do,what we crave for. It's all that we desire...as if we were made for this purpose. Even our legend is just as ugly as our habits,bloody."

"What is the legend?" Asks Melanee.

"Green and recessive color seen. Bonding souls hollow without a spark,covering the lands all in dark. Ashes as life crashes,a new seed will follow the deed." Recites Angie.

"What does that even mean?"

"I don't know,but I do know 'Ashes as life crashes' is indicating life will end." Says Angie.

"Who else knows of this?" Asks Melanee.

"Everyone here." States Angie. "It was used as an old nursery rhyme for hatchlings."

"Hm,Strange. I wonder-"

"So what did we interrupt?" Angie suddenly asks.

"What?"

"You and Zar." Says Angie. "You two looked a little tangled up. At first I was scared for you,but then I saw it was you who was on top so-"

"No!" Scolds Melanee. "No! It wasn't as it looked like!"

Giggling,Angie says "Hehe,ok then. Well at least you had things under control. If you want,me and Zora can double on your training next time."

"Yes please,I would like that." Says Melanee.

"Great." Says Angie. "Well then I'll see you tomorrow then...I'm getting sleepy now so goodnight."

"Goodnight friend. See you in the morning." Melanee says,before seeing Angie leaving through her door.

Just when she was heading to her sleeping area,Melanee hears a sound outside,like a thud on grass. Running to her balcony,she sees nothing,but she could have sworn she saw a black gleam disappear into the night trees. disregarding what she saw,Melanee heads back to her sleeping area and waits for what tomorrow may bring.


4-12-13

Well that's all for now,hope things are going along smoothly with this story. Oh and also,if your curious about how Melanee looks,since I'm not good at explaining her appearance,there's a picture of her on deviant art. I drew a picture of her on with my Wacom bamboo tablet,it's titled 'Melanee' made by me 'Moonshine92'. If you look at it,yes I know it's wierd looking and all,but no worries ok. I'm still working on it,so the character design should improve over time. I'll also try to take the time to draw the other characters as well.

Now stop reading and eat a cookie! *holds out platter of cookies* =)