Here we go!
~**************~
Chapter 1
The forest's canopy blocked out most of the sun's rays, a few managing to get into the gaps. Though sunny and hot on the open road, inside this forest it was cold and dark, the perfect place to hide. Not may ventured far into this place, for fear of getting lost, and any who did was called a fool. In this place of darkness a young girl wondered just how she had gotten herself into this.
Red eyes blinked as a well-tanned hand ran itself through fiery red hair. Releasing a yawn, the girl gently shook her companion. Her friend rose and followed the fiery figure toward the center of the campsite, where two others waited with a fire ready for cooking breakfast. In the new light of the fire, the girl got a look at her companions, though not needed. The first to notice was the quiet and stone-skinned chimera that she had befriended in the past; the next, a tall blond man, whose intelligence were that of a squirrel. The girl beside her was young looking, for her height about thirteen, though she was actually around fifteen. She had dark brown hair, almost black in color, and happy blue eyes.
"Good morning, Miss Lina," The girl said, smiling at the redhead. The red head only nodded and headed over to the others.
"Is it strong?" She asked the chimera, motioning towards the coffee. Her friend nodded as he sipped from his cup.
"Is there any left, Zel?" Lina looked at Zelgadis, hoping he would answer affirmative. He nodded, still not looking away from his coffee. Instead he pulled out a spare cup and poured her a cup.
"Thank you, and good morning to you too, Amelia." She said taking a nice sip of her newly acquired coffee. Amelia smiled and then took her seat beside the swordsman.
"Hey, Lina?" Lina looked up at the swordsman who had called her name.
"Yes, Gourry?"
"Um, why are we here again?" Gourry said, scratching his head, and praying that he wouldn't get fire-balled. Instead, the girl sighed.
"I told you, we're here because there might be a lead for Zel's cure." Gourry looked at her surprised, and the girl looked at him oddly. "What?"
"It's just, I was kind of expecting to get fire-balled,"
Zelgadis took this moment to state his own opinion. "That's true, Lina. Has six years changed you so much?" He asked, referring to the six years the group had been apart. Six years ago they had separated after fighting Dark Star. Lina looked at him surprised.
"Have… Have I really changed that much?" Lina had a hint of sadness in her voice that was so rare; Zelgadis thought for a moment it was his imagination.
Amelia piped up to try and cheer the girl up. "Yes, you have, but all are traits for the good, Miss Lina! So cheer up!" Lina offered a smile to her friend, happy that she had been worried enough to try and cheer her up.
"Well," Lina said, standing up and walking over to her bedroll, her bare feet making a soft noise on the green grass. "We had better get moving, other wise we won't ever make it out of this forest." There was an anonymous agreement and they all set out.
Traveling in the forest proved itself a pain in its entirety. Not only was it hard to see, but also, Lina kept tripping over roots from the large trees. This only added to her frustration and at one point both Gourry and Zelgadis had to restrain her from Dragon Slaving the entire area. But Lina wasn't only frustrated about the trees, but for the last hour there had been a strange noise. She wasn't really hearing it; rather, she was feeling it. It felt like an odd tingle in the back of her head, it was high pitched and it kept going to it's peak, giving her a headache that would last hours. They had entered a clearing in the middle of the forest, where light actually shone through.
"I wonder why the trees haven't grown here," Lina said while shielding her eyes from the blazing sun.
"Miss Lina," Amelia called out from the other side of the clearing. "Will you help me set up this tent?"
"All right Amelia," Lina replied as she walked the rest of the way to the tents. Maybe if I ignore it, it will go away, She thought as she helped Amelia.
But the noise did not go away, in fact, it got louder. By now her head was pounding and she ready to snap at anything that crossed her path.
Zelgadis' ears perked up at the faint noise he was hearing. He narrowed his eyes trying to think of what it could be. He was brought back to reality when Amelia gently tapped him on the shoulder.
"Mr. Zelgadis, are you okay?"
"I hear something,"
Lina looked up at him, with a wince she said, "You too?"
"Yes, and it's getting louder," Sure enough, when Lina tried, she heard the noise slowly growing louder, though she thought it was at it's highest already. Just as the noise reached it's highest level, out of the trees flew a mighty creature. It's red scales shined in the sun's light, it's blazing reptilian eyes shone with pain and anger. In it's side, just below the heart, an arrow stuck out. The dragon hissed in pain as it opened it's mouth wide and shot fire out; the blazing embers burned a great number of trees. More arrows flew and the creature was hit once more. Shrieking in agony, the animal fell from its spot in the sky, it's body crashing to the ground. At this point Lina realized how big it was, a little bigger than a human male of six feet. The creature hissed and yelled as its eyes began to cloud over.
Lina looked in horror as the creature became weaker and weaker. Scarlet blood covered the clearing and a few trees. Lina watched the dragon as it turned its head to gaze at her. For a reason she couldn't explain, she approached it, looking in awe at how beautiful it really was. Gently, she laid her hands on the creature's side, in an attempt to heal her. The minute the smooth and cold scales of the dragon met Lina's warm and sweaty hands, pictures began to rush into Lina's mind.
The pictures were all in black and white, but it wasn't only pictures, it was sound, and feeling. It was as though she was looking into its, no, her mind. There were trees, many of them. Lina knew that she was seeing what the dragon had seen. The trees began to rush at her and she heard shouts and the distinctive sound of an arrow being loosed from its bow. She heard the dragon shriek in pain as she turned around to face her enemies. Each of them held some sort of weapon, whether a bow or a sword. The men spoke to each other in gibberish. Lina wanted to slap herself. They weren't speaking in gibberish; the dragon just couldn't understand them. A big man brought and arrow to his bow, took aim, and loosed it.
Lina pulled her hands back quickly as a stabbing pain struck her side. The dragon hissed at her, as though scolding her for it. Trembling, Lina put her hands once more onto the dragon.
A cave. She was in a cave this time. There was little light, but she could see clearly. She heard a noise to her right. Turning quickly, Lina found herself looking into the eyes of a small creature. Lina couldn't get any distinguished features because of the color she was seeing in, but she could see the small reptilian eyes very clearly.
What is this? She asked herself as she watched the small dragon.
-This is my child- The voice didn't come in sound, but rather, pictures and feelings. Lina shook a little in surprise.
You're the dragon, aren't you? She asked, hoping for a reply.
-Yes, at least, I was. But my time is near-
Lina felt herself panic, what if she was too late? W-what do you mean? She thought she heard the dragon sigh.
-I am finished, I had a good run, but now it is my time. I come to you, Miss Inverse, with a request-
A request? Lina was so worried that she didn't notice that the creature knew her name.
-Yes- The dragon paused for a moment. –You see this kit? –
Yes,
-I ask that you help her. She is in great danger right now. Those- The dragon paused, as if not sure what to say. –Men know where my nest is; they will travel, and try to kill her-
You want me to find her before they do, but, I don't know where she is,
-I can give you that much, will you? –
Lina thought for a moment, she was going to be getting into a lot of trouble that she really didn't need, but, there was a creature's life at stake, how could she refuse? I'll do it Lina nearly fell over when the information suddenly entered her mind. Directions, landmarks, spots to hide in, spots to camp in. It all came flowing in.
Lina pulled her hands away, completely ignoring the fact that they were covered in blood. She got up and turned to face the others.
"Hurry and grab only what you can carry, we have to make haste," She commanded. The others began protest when she shot them a death glare. "Now!"