by Chustang
Chapter 3
"Dragon Wind"
Dragons have long been connected with power, mystery, and magic. Their gothic and deadly auras and bodies have hypnotized and brought their share of lives to an end. Although rare, dragons are almost always fatal at encounter. Most have been tamed by the Leyline and confined in a city where few lives can be taken; they cannot kill their victims, because they are often dragons as well, nor are they defeated. They have a fierce system of government among themselves: a bloodthirsty tyranny and rebellions are the only noticeable structures in their culture. Most just live out their lives, and don't care about laws or justice.
In that city, Shinar, if you're not brave, you'll just die from fear.
Gene sat up, and blinked heavily, with the icy sunlight blazing through the foliage. He was propped up against a tree, and the instant his regained consciousness, he could feel the burning pain in his fingers and back. His dark blue eyes flickered lazily, thickened with their usual morning haze. Through the emerald green, stained light, he could see a glittering city skyline on the blackish blue sky.
He turned to the fire, which now smoked in embers, and saw his younger, blonde counterpart sleeping soundly. Jim was still wrapped up in his dark gold jacket, with the far-to-large shoulder armor curled around his neck, making him seem smaller than ever. Only his tangled, dirt darkened hair was exposed. With a smile, Gene laughed softly to himself. "Looks like Genius James has burnt out..." he muttered, satisfied, to himself.
He grudgingly staggered up and stomped his way, legs stiff, over to the caster. The gun was streaked with water, and the water glinted fiercely in the silver sun's light. Gene tediously massaged his cramped back, his slurring groans expressed the resent this whole thing was building. Maybe it really wasn't worth it to go on. He'd nearly killed Jim, and their bounty hunting job hadn't even begun. He and Jim could always survive on their own, living on their wits as before.
But that would mean betraying everyone else. While they would be alive and free, Melfina, Sazuka, and Aisha would be condemned. He angrily bit his lip.
Gene picked up the caster, sliding his scarred fingers over the steely surface. The motion disturbed the collected water and it dripped silently off. Each silvery drop glinted in a quick flash, and it reminded him of the bitter truth. You couldn't just let the pains of life just roll off. You could never erase anything, especially the truth. "Damn it anyway," he said to himself, placing the gun in its sheath. "Just damn it."
"Damn what?"
Gene looked up, just to see the revived Jim blinking, confused, at him. He had the coat still wrapped around him, and was currently shivering from the morning nip of cold. "This job," he nonchalantly answered, brushing his fingers through his hair as he tried to redirect the conversation. Hopefully, Jim wouldn't ask about "this job." Then, he wouldn't think of the prize that awaited him. He couldn't sacrifice himself and Jim for this insanely suicidal bounty hunt.
I'm so sorry Mel....
"A job? How could you get a job, Gene? We've only been here a night, and there's no one around here," Jim asked, letting the coat fall to a pile as he stood up. The young kid's eyes were burning with suspicion, and the blue began to darken in fear. "We're a team, remember? You have to tell me stuff. I can do anything if you don't tell me what the job is."
Gene sighed. He clutched his temples tiredly, and tried to stop the oncoming siege of headaches. His lips futilely formed words, but came slurred and confused. How could he explain this to Jim. That they were dead as well?
"Gene?"
"Jim, do you remember what was happening in the Outlaw Star when we were at the Leyline?" he asked, lifting stony eyes. His lips tightened around his gritted teeth, and their was a stab of pain into his chest. Instinctively, he gripped the caster in anger. Why did things have to freaking mess up in his face?
A bit mystified, the blonde kid blinked. He focused his eyes on his aniki, and the slight darting of his eyes confirmed his thoughts, slowly burning realization into his brain. He instantly dropped his jaw, eyes tiny in disbelief. Jim stuttered, his body starting to violently shake. "We're..."
"Dead," Gene confirmed.
Tension bred and thrived in their edgy silence, each thought stirring up more, causing the train of anguished thinking to rush harder and faster. With his ego dying, Gene trudged on, his hand resting in the caster's sheath while the other massaged his temple. I didn't think he'd take it that bad... he resentfully thought, tentatively flickering his eyes backward. They were headed for the silver and dragonite city on the horizon, traveling across a board expanse of towering oak trees, serpentine, living trees from Ctarl-Ctarl myth, and a few ones composed of smoke, which shivered in a light breeze.
Jim, brooding, trailed his aniki, and, face angrily twisted, remained silent. His light-hearted blue eyes no longer held their energy, and were narrowed in thought. Under his breath he muttered insanely, ranting and ranting.
The red-head bit his lip, frustrated. He quickly focused his gaze onto the path to Shiner, afraid to look back at Jim. Maybe it was a little tough on him. I hope he's not going crazy, 'cuz he's my backup. It might be just a little dangerous to have a lunatic behind you... Still concerned, Gene tried to shake it off. He glanced down, still walking on, at the gun he curled his hand around. The cool steel gun was a familiar echo of his life, the dream he pursued. Cold, reckless, and powerful.
If only I had a dream, now, he hissed to himself.
"When were you planning to tell me I was dead, Gene?" The sudden voice came as cold and swift as a blast of icy wind. Jim stared at him, as his aniki turned to curiously look down at him.
"What?"
Jim grimaced, displeased with Gene. "You know, I would like to know important things right away. It's part of being a team; having a partnership. And all of us dying is a pretty important thing!" he spat at the twenty year old.
The heated glare was matched with an irritated frown, eyes narrowed and bitter with resentment. Gene stared back at his partner, dark eyes framed by his flame red hair and shadows. Hesitant to answer, he wondered if Jim's annoyance from his irresponsibility was finally becoming too much. "Listen Jim, I didn't tell you because... um.. well," he began, losing his confidence as he began to slip on the answer.
"Because you're just lazy and cocky!" Jim answered, folding his arms defiantly.
"Jim, just calm down!" Gene said, surprised at the blonde's temper. He began to slip on his composure, his anger slowly boiling. Why was Jim so ticked off all of a sudden? He was a hero, surviving a 22 shell like that. Is it something I said? he thought densely to himself. "You're starting to sound like a rabid Ctarl-Ctarl...." By instinct, his fingers began to slid over the caster's steely surface; like a sixth sense guiding him to draw his gun. Over Jim's voice, he could hear something rustling ominously above him, but dare didn't turn away from the lecture.
Suddenly, Jim yelped, eyes wide with shock. His dark gloved hand was extended, pointing above his head. "Crap! Gene, its a -"
Instantly, the flame haired aniki felt the speed he reserved for duels launch like a bullet, and whirred around. He scraped the caster out, preparing to blast whatever Jim had spotted to kingdom come. His eyes only met a tan and golden blur, mixed with pepper flecks of black. There was a shrill scream, like a infuriated cat descending. It fell from the tree, in a swinging motion. Gene locked the 21 in the barrel - a force bullet which would sent his target flying at least a mile - in a flash, and leveled the gun.
"Hi!"
In the icy, emerald tinted light that sifted through the trees, shadows dappled the blur of gold, black, and tan as it slowed, revealing two elated, amber eyes smiling down at them. The creature's golden blonde hair was arched in two leaps of hair, much like Aisha's, and had a bristling ponytail to contain the rest. Its cured, tan skin was dotted with black freckles, and its large, entrancing yellow eyes had black streaks beneath them. Its long ears, furry and black, were perked delightedly as it hung upside down from a tree limb, smiling at them. It was a female Ctarl-Ctarl, with the same white collar as Aisha and a golden bow was tied to the back of her neck. "Good morning! Meowww... who are you people?" she inquired, tilting her head slightly.
Dumbstruck, the two humans stared in awe, silent. Gene lowered the gun, blinking. He nervously flickered a glance toward Jim, he met it, as surprised as he was, and they looked back. "I-I'm Gene and this my partner, Jim...." he nervously replied.
In a flash, the Ctarl-Ctarl swung down from her perch, landing gracefully on her feet. She was wearing a tan shirt, like coarse fur, that had large, trailing sleeves. The shirt was only a belly length, exposing tanned and dotted skin. She had thick, black fingerless gloves, much like Jim's, but with more material. And her shorts were black, jaggedly cut just above her knees.
She squealed shrilly, and grabbed Jim's hand, shaking it furiously. "Ooh! Humans! Mucho Gusto!"
"Mucho Gusto?" Gene asked, as the Ctarl-Ctarl shifted to him, nearly wrenching his arm out.
"It means 'delighted to meet you' in Spanish," Jim informed him, rubbing his hand.
"My name's Ignatica, Savannah Ignatica," she said, smiling recklessly. She studied them each with bright, curious amber eyes. The cheetah like Ctarl-Ctarl stared at them, sniffing slightly. With a sultry African style to her, her eyes were filled the glittering energy of a kitten.
Gene massaged his hand, as the Ctarl-Ctarl's hand had pinched the blood from it in her maniacal handshake. He lifted his confused and surprised steel blue eyes up, and answered, a bit reluctant to trust a creature like this, "Yeah.... Mucho gusto or whatever. I'd love to sit and chat but... uh, we got to go. Jim and I have a big job to do, and if you'd excuse us, it'd be nice to start it soon." He quickly snatched Jim's dark, Brooklyn style jacket, dragging the kid hastily behind him. "Nice meeting you! Bye now!" He began to run, leaving Savannah curiously staring at them, her amber eyes hurt.
That was close... I really don't like Ctarl-Ctarl... well, just strange ones. She's not like Aisha; a bit too friendly if you ask me. Besides, we have to get going, he convinced himself. Even though, she was pretty beautiful.
"Gene!" his blonde partner hissed at him, resisting his pulling by clutching at his gold jacket as well. His blue eyes were sparking fire, angry at his reckless and sometimes dense aniki. "How could you be so cruel! She just wanted to talk to us, that's all." He wrenched the hand off his jacket, gave Gene a dirty look, then turned back to Savannah.
He frowned in reply.
The cheetah Ctarl-Ctarl had her tanned, freckled face twisted in hurt, her amber eyes tearing and angry at the same time. She bit her lip, exposing two small canine teeth, and folded her arms defiantly. "Fine!" she hissed, flashing dangerous glares at Gene. "Be a cheeky jerk! You'll get no help from me, that's for sure!"
Jim sighed, scratching his head. His ruffled blonde hair breezed slightly, and he smiled a bit nervously up at her. "Ah, just ignore my aniki here. Gene tends to be a bit insensitive sometimes."
Blinking her eyes with her golden hair fluttering slightly, she resisted tears. Her lips were pursed, considering. Much like a kitten, it took a few moments for her to lay trust in Jim, gazing thankfully at him. Savannah suddenly reached up, her blackened fingers reminding Gene of a cheetah paw, and delightedly ruffled Jim's hair in a show of gratitude. "Meow!" she purred happily. "I like you, Jim."
Gene gave a grunt of disapproval.
A smirk twisting his face, the blonde eleven year old flinched slightly under the friendly gesture, but didn't take it the wrong way. He looked up at her, and seeing Aisha in this new Ctarl-Ctarl, began to trust her as well. "You're a pretty good friend yourself, Savannah."
She smiled back, flashing her canine teeth in a elated grin. Her face dropped slightly, coming across another thought. Her curious amber eyes focused on the clearly displeased Gene a few feet away, and she asked, "But I don't think your friend likes me much. He seems scary almost." She was fearfully gazing on his hand, which brushed the caster in its sheath.
Jim laughed. "Gene? Don't worry about him too much; he may look tough, but he's a true softy on the inside," he remarked, glancing back at his aniki.
Insulted, he countered with a glare, saying to Jim, "You'd better watch your mouth, James. It's not proper to insult one's aniki." He snorted, watching his younger partner's smirk grow larger, knowing Jim had truly hit with the perfect insult.
"Whatever, Gene." Jim smiled.
Brushing her hair away slightly, the cheetah Ctarl-Ctarl purred, her bell collar jingling slightly. "Well then, I guess I'll tag with you, Jim, Gene," Savannah said confidently, ruffling Jim's hair again, as she walked over to Gene. Smiling, she also ruffled Gene's hair, sliding her black fingers through his flame red hair. She easily matched Gene's height, striding over the grass in her black feet. Ignoring the sharp and disapproving "Hey!" of Gene, the freckled creature began in the general direction they had been taking.
"Okay, just don't do that again..." the red head grumbled resentfully, smoothing his hair down. Instinctively, his fingers brushed against the caster, as a reaction. He still couldn't accept the new member; she seemed too happy. "But remember, get in the way, and it'll cost you. Me and Jim are on a bounty hunt. A very dangerous one at that."
Savannah tilted her head at them, as Jim walked up beside his aniki, her golden hair framing her eyes in a golden blaze that glinted the icy sunlight. With a sheepish tint to her voice, she looked back at them. "Where were you two heading for, anyway?" the Ctarl-Ctarl purred, scratching behind her long, black ears, which twitched with the motion.
"Actually, we're heading for Shinar. That's where I hope we'll find our three dragons," Gene said, glancing attentively around. "But it always seems to keep away from us; no matter how long we walk, it's always on the horizon."
Shaking her head, the bell jingled furiously as she laughed. Savannah promptly turned around, eyeing a nearby oak tree. She curled her black fingers around the lowest branch and braced herself to pull up, and turned to look at them, with her black feet digging into the trunk with small claws. "Silly humans! Don't you know where you are?" she asked, like they had been tourists that didn't know they were in New York City. Swiftly, her paw like feet smashed their footing deeper into the tree, fragments of bark drifting to the ground. The Ctarl-Ctarl strained her arms for a second, lifting her thin frame into the air, and climbed easily onto the limb. Like a blur, she began to climb up the slanting oak tree, only pausing to smile back at them. "Follow me!" With a soft yowl of excitement, Savannah disappeared into the brilliant emerald canopy.
Confused, Jim trotted after, leaning against the tree trunk as he looked up in to the blaze of light moving the branches had caused. Light cascaded around the tree base as Savannah climbed up, and he had to squint to see her golden form blurring up the tree. "Follow you where?!" he called after.
Savannah paused, her outline highlighted dark against the cascade of brilliant light. She looked down at Jim, gave a quick "To Shinar, of course!", and disappeared once again to the top of the trees.
Both bounty hunters gave a confused glance to each other, shrugged, and Jim began his ascent up the tree. The eleven year old grabbed on to the branch, and tried to climb up, but he wasn't quite strong enough to go against the force of gravity. Jim's boots scraped wildly against the tree trunk, bark flying, dislodged, in their wake. He grunted in effort, and was about to lose his grip around the branch, when he felt Gene shoving him up onto the limb from beneath. "Thanks, Aniki," he said, looking down.
Gene suddenly, as he got Jim positioned on his shoulders, realized how big Jim really was. The weight seemed immense, compared to what he remember to be usual of his kid comrade. Hadn't he been just fifty pounds three years ago? Surprised, Gene replied as he strained to get the kid onto the tree, "Jeeze Jim! How much have you grown? You feel like eighty pounds!"
"I am eighty pounds!"
"Hey squirt, you better stop growing, else pretty soon you'll be old like me," Gene said with a tint of humor, finally shoving Jim safely onto the branch. There was a flurry of dislodged leaves as the blonde got his balance, then he began to climb after Savannah. Jim gave his aniki a quick smirk, and replied a "Sure, Gene," before hurrying up the tree.
The last to begin his ascent, the redhead pulled himself up, but had to lean against the tree, because he wasn't small enough to walk along the limb, nor could climb vertically up the tree. Gene secured the preciously rare caster into its sheath, glanced up once, then climbed after.Darkness milled dark thoughts, ones thick with elusive vengeance and freedom. In the cold grasp of the starry chamber, the dragon wind, a dragon's natural form, inside it became agitated. Laporea, as the sleek silver dragon materialized, settled her lobes along her thin body. They were transparent, silky drifts of light that was her signature feature. She was in a star freckled chamber, in a place of safety. It was her home; she hardly wandered from its protection. Here, shutting her gray, blue flecked eyes, she could form a psychic link with the outside, see all in Shinar, and hear the thoughts if concentrated.
Laporea would never need to make herself vulnerable, in order to perform her chaos on the city. Well, she was the fate guardian of the city. It wasn't their problem if she was just a bit on the mischievous side.
Suddenly, a sharp prick shot through her mind, flying a red alert down her psychic link. Blinking in surprise, she investigated the newly downloaded bit of information. Laporea opened the bit, to be flooded with rebellious thoughts, ones of a brash teenager.
Dammit! This dragon's really getting on my nerves... Shut up! Don't you dare mock me!
The dragon smiled, her dainty gray eyes focused, engrossed in this interesting mental dialogue. She soon could see the memories, dark and confused. There was a monsterous, hideous dragon smirking up at the person, as she looked through his perspective. Laporea could easily tap into his mind, like flinging open a book. He was twenty years old; a human native to Earth, name: Gene Starwind. He had a young companion which he found in a Sentinel III alley, name: Jim Hawking.
A job? No way. This guy smells fishy, like a rotten trout.
Laporea dug farther, and could feel a caster in the man's hands, clutched despite immense levels of pain. It was leveled at the same dragon. His dark, gleaming eyes seemed vaguely familiar, but it could be anybody. There were hundreds of dragons in Shinar; it might not be him. But, as she focused in on a clear memory of the dragon, she saw... it was him.
That slimy little worm! Laporea began to cuss silently to herself. Damn it! He's sending a bounty hunter after me! Well, I'll won't be going down that easily. I'm not the fate guardian for nothing...
She narrowed her ghostly beautiful eyes, sliver light surrounding her intenisfying. The dragon passed into a dragon wind with a silent growl. Turning agilely, the whirl of wind swarmed in the chamber, harder and harder until it became a pure whir. He'll never get me.