Disclaimer: Tortall, Carthak, and all that belong to the wonderful Tamora Pierce! –all cheer!- Athis Termari and Oran Kowiin belong to me –all boo!- Hey! Rude! I am not making money off this, please don't sue me!

Author's note: This is my first ever fanfic, please let me know whatcha think! Compliments and flames both appreciated!

Just outside Thak's Gate, Carthak, Human Era 324

A rough wagon shuddered as it rolled over the dusty ground several miles east of the great River Zekoi. Its three passengers shifted nervously as the wood groaned. One of the two men piped up. "This wagon sounds like my dear uncle just after midnight guard duty," he laughed. A sudden lurch threw him against the woman to his left. "And is about as balanced."

The woman nodded with a brief smile to him, then turned to study the area again with anxious gray eyes. The second man glanced at her and leaned over to whisper in her companion's ear. "Is she always so quiet? I never met a mage with the ability to be silent for more than a minute. No offense, Mage Kowiin."

The man in the red robe smiled, "None taken. Mage Termari is rather shy around most people. No offense!"

The mage felt a tap on his arm. "We should stop now, Oran," the female mage said, "We're far enough from the city." She waited until the wagon stopped, then jumped off without a care for her safety or her hunter green robe. Oran Kowiin, her fellow mage, lifted a bundle out from the wagon and paid the wagoneer, explaining they had no future need of the wagon and that the man could go home. As the mages watched, the wagon turned back toward Thak and soon disappeared into a speck on the horizon. The woman finally sighed and walked rather stiffly to her partner. "Are wagons always that bad?" she asked.

Oran rolled his eyes. "Sometimes, Athis," he laughed, "I wonder what glass tower you've popped out of!" He turned to the pack and grabbed a large brown pillow and a small blank book. Setting the pillow on the ground, he quickly made himself comfortable.

Athis gave a smile as she brushed back a fall of dark brown hair. Oran was always cheerful and joking around. One would never think he was a master mage! She certainly hadn't guessed when she had met him. Her smile widened with the memory.

Returning to the present, she glanced at Oran. "Do you really think a human mage such as myself can take a immortal form?" she questioned. "One would think the gods would be against something like that."

"If anyone could do it," the black-haired man told Athis, "it's you. As for if it's possible, that's why this is an experiment." Oran's dark brown eyes sparkled as he motioned to the book on his lap. "We'll be the first record of a mage taking an immortal form!" He grinned, caught up with his excitement from the experiment.

Athis nodded. Oran adored experiments, and she had to admit this was a good one. Even if it had taken months of tedious research. Even if they weren't supposed to do it. Maybe, she thought, especially since they weren't supposed to do it.

Of course, there was also plain curiosity to blame.

Oran broke into her thoughts. "Are you sure you have the dragon's form in your mind's eye?"

Athis grinned, the expression transforming her serious features. Did she know dragon form? She'd loved tales of dragons since she was let out of the crib. Her adoration of flying in bird form had only made her more sure of what immortal form to try in the experiment. "Yes, Oran," Athis told her friend, "I am ready."

Athis stepped away from the man, her footsteps raising tiny puffs of dust. She then stood still. Her gaze turned inward, the mage reached for the pearly violet that was her Gift. A slight shock slid though her as she touched the magic.

Suddenly, Athis felt her body elongate. She gritted her teeth. It wasn't that becoming some other creature was painful, for it wasn't. It was just so uncomfortable! Her bones shifted, becoming long, strong, hollow. Her skin itched as it became dry, sharp-edged scales; her mouth and nose made a grinding sound as they jutted out into a muzzle. Athis moaned. Something feels wrong, she thought.

Oran watched nervously as his fellow mage and friend disappeared inside a cold mist the color of a king's royal robe. Squinting in an attempt to see Athis, he was completely unprepared for the bright flare of light that blazed out from the magic. Oran blinked his dazzled eyes and spilled off his pillow in an undignified heap. "Shakith!" the mage cursed. What had happened? Never in all his years had he seen something like that, and Oran was willing to bet no other mage had either. If Athis was hurt or-

A low rumbling a few feet away interrupted his thoughts. The bright, pearly glow of magic surrounding Athis faded.

Oran stared, frozen. Standing where Athis had been was a dragon. Its dark green scales reminded him of the polished emeralds in the mosaics at the palace while the underbelly was covered in jade green scales. Long, elegant wings stretched out, as if being tested. The head upon its thin neck stretched out and turned in front of Oran. Staring at his reflection in the great eye, Oran suddenly realized that eye was gray, and very familiar.

"Athis?" the mage asked, his voice cracking like a teen's. "It is you, right? Are you well?"

The dragon bobbed its head up and down in an imitation of a nod. -Yes, Oran. It's only me. Me with wings and pretty green scales. Are we done shaking yet?- Athis worried. It wasn't like Oran to panic in an experiment. Had something really gone wrong?

No, she decided. It was just the shock of seeing a full-size dragon in front of him that made Oran nervous. It had to be.

Oran's chuckle reassured her. "Only, you, Athis, would comment something like that." Picking himself out of the dust, he attempted to regain his dignity. Failing, he picked up his book and prepared to write. "So, Athis," the man began, "what is it like being a dragon?"

-Physical or mental qualities first?-

"Physical, please. What are the senses like in there?"

-Sight much better than in humans, comparable to hawk's sight, maybe for seeing other dragons at a distance? Smell not so good, but…-

~*~*~*~

The stars were beginning to come out. Oran had taken out a lamp, but even so was squinting to see what he had written. Athis had curled her tail around her and lay with her head next to Oran's legs, listening to the man's muttered questions.

"…and you say there's currents of some sort you're sensitive to now? What sort of currents?"

-Wind currents and currents of magic worked by man or immortal, I told you that half an hour ago.- Athis sighed, which translated into a soft growl in her dragon's throat.

Oran jumped at the sound, jerking his lead stick across the page. "Don't do that!" he yelped, then calmed. "A half hour ago?"

-Yes, Oran. Don't you think we should go back?- she said, glancing up.

–The moon is getting rather high.-

The mage groaned, running a hand through his dark hair. "I suppose you're right. Change back and I have a transport spell ready to go."

Athis nodded and reached once more for the purple core of her magic. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Oran back up, pillow under one arm and journal in one hand. Then her vision became enveloped by violet.

But this time there was no itching sensation, no grinding. Suddenly, Athis trembled, hearing a sharp clang nearby, as if a gate had slammed. A sharp wind gusted, whipping her wings about, and a terrible voice came with it.

You made your choice, child. You cannot go back.

-No, please, Lady!- Athis screamed at the wild, terrible voice. –I don't understand! What choice?- But there was no answer. Her vision went black.

Athis found herself out of her cloud of magic, crouched close to the ground as if for safety. Her ears still rang with the force of the terrible voice. But what had that voice meant?

The ringing finally subsided enough to hear Oran yelling her name and a series of obscenities he had to have learned from his guard uncle. –Enough Oran.- Athis whispered.

Oran trotted up to her side, looking concerned. "Athis? What went wrong? Why are you still in dragon shape?"

-What? I'm still a dragon?- Athis paused, suddenly stuck by the meaning of the terrible voice's words. –I cannot go back.-

"What, Athis?"

The dragon straightened. –I am still in dragon form because I cannot go back. The gods decree that no mage can leave immortal form.-

Oran looked as if he had been struck. "Gods, no. Athis, I…"

Athis fixed her friend with a steely gaze. –I can never go back.-

So? Does anyone care what happens to Athis? How's Oran going to get outta this one? Please review!!!