Chapter 1

I feel sore all over, but I still managed to fall asleep for a small time even with the uncomfortableness. Who would have thought that flying for hours over the ocean would be boring?

"..."

'Am I hearing something?'

"..sey."

'It sounds like... is that-'

"Casey!"

I quickly opened my eyes at the sudden shout in my ear and I was met with the landscape of the ocean. Seeing the ocean for the first time at sunset was a wonderful feeling, but when that's the only thing you'll be seeing for the past few days that opinion rapidly changes.

With a groan, I pulled myself up from lying down on Ana's back.

"I'm up, geez can you be any louder when waking me up?" I huffed She turned her neck around only to open her beak slightly to show her fangs and returned her attention forwards.

...

And she's grinning at me, I'm starting to regret teaching that.

She ignored my previous comment and returned her attention forwards as she spoke "land up ahead."

I quickly took a hold of my binoculars strapped to my chest and leaned slightly to the right. All that I was able to see were snowy mountains through the binoculars.

After a few hours, we found a small cave in the mountains that we are currently resting in, surprisingly there were no scents or marks of it being used. We have discussed plans for what we'll do in the following days before leaving for a more suitable place for us to live... well... more suitable for me at least, she's still complaining about leaving, she'll get over it... eventually... I hope.

"Hey, Kay?" she said hesitantly

"Yes?" I asked in bemusement

"I've been thinking... that.. huh.. well..."

oh! maybe someone found logic in my words?

"That you we're wrong?"

"What?! No! I mean... maybe, but that's not what this is all about."

"I'm just messing with you Anny, what do you want to talk about?"

"It's about Riders" I grimaced "I know that you don't have a high opinion of them, but maybe you should give them a chance?

"...Give them a chance?" I replied in a deadpan voice"After all that has happened in Kiurui village? the stones to manipulate kids into believing in these kinship bonds? the slavery of monsters with whips and all other mistreatment on them, the monsters they killed for disobedience?" I said exasperated "I heard them pleading for life as they died, what is there to forgive?" I asked her

She is obviously upset from remembering as she has been there after all "But that has happened in Kiurui only, we don't know for sure if all Riders are like that, we shouldn't judge Riders as a whole for what one village did, wouldn't you give a bad monster a chance to change?" I hesitated to answer which brought her to continue "Please Casey, if not for them do it for me."

I thought of the possibility, maybe there are others who think as I do, perhaps I was too eager to condemn them for a bad example

"Okay... I'll try my best to."

I'm sorry for taking a long time to update and for how short this chapter is, I've been having some difficulty finding inspiration to write lately, I can't promise a upload schedule or lengthy chapters but that doesn't mean I'll give up on this fic, its my first, it will probably suck but it will be a good experience for me.

I appreciate any criticism, but keep in mind that English is not my native language.

AntoRaid98: I'm not sure if I'll be able to but I'll try, thank you for the review!

See you soon!