Eva closed her eyes and listened with her enhanced hearing to the sounds of nature around her. She could hear her sister cats meowing all over the college campus as she sat on a bench waiting for her roommate, Belinda, to arrive. She had been enjoying her first two weeks at school.
"Hey Eva how are you doing today?" Belinda asked strolling up to her with two smoothies in her hands. "I got you strawberry. Come on lets walk. Man I can't believe that Mrs. Hertz gave us that assignment on the comparison between jungle flora and countryside flora. To top it all off we have to do that fertilizer experiment with our bulbs. Did you pick it up yet?"
"No, I haven't, but I will when I go to pick up some things to send home for my family. I just got a letter yesterday from them. My brother is doing so well in his new school and my parents couldn't be happier. They're so proud of me. What about your folks?" Eva inquired
"Well mom's overseas in Europe studying the myths and legends of various cultures while dad's in Africa working on with his missionary buddies. They won't be back in the country till after break. I miss them, but hey that's why you're here to keep me company." Belinda pointed out. The two girls laughed and smiled at one another. They continued their walk down the streets discussing everything from clothes to school and boys.
"I got to head to the library and study for my physics test. I'll catch you later. Don't forget the fertilizer!" Belinda called over her shoulder as she jogged towards the library.
Eva waved good bye and then headed for the subway that would take her to the magical Bazaar. She had almost reached the station when she spotted Jake across the street. She was about to shout a greeting when a beautiful blond haired girl joined him. The minute she appeared the tension in Jake's face disappeared.
"So that must be the friend he was talking about. No wonder Jake was unsure to continue a relationship with her she's so beautiful. I wonder why she smells familiar though." Eva mused. She was even more perplexed when Jake took off his right hand glove and she spotted a dragon tattoo on it similar to the girl's birthmark. Something wasn't right about that mark, but she couldn't quite place it. Reminding herself it wasn't her place to pry she headed down the steps towards the subway, but she couldn't help but feel a bit confused.
A short time later she was at the Bazaar picking up unicorn fertilizer from Marty the merchant. He was a changeling and loved to chat with people. He specialized in hard to come by items. "Thanks Marty, I really needed this fertilizer for my plants. Do you have the growth formula as well?" Eva asked as she picked up the bag of fertilizer.
"Yeah and I also have a special on all natural pesticide to keep away those nasty bugs. You interested in that?" Marty asked his veins pulsating purple as he handed her the bottle of growth formula.
"Sure just as long as it doesn't have any nasty side effects. I would hate to have to explain while my rare triana flower decided to choke the life out of my dorm room." Eva said evenly while flipping her long hair over her shoulder.
"By the way is there a reason you needed more scales of Basilisk? I mean I thought that the Chinese Dragon had finished that special order potion you needed two weeks ago." Marty commented as he rummaged through his shelves for the all-natural pesticide.
"He did. I didn't need another one. Why do you ask? Did you give someone scales of a basilisk that you weren't supposed to? You do remember that's strictly controlled magical ingredient that you need special permission to purchase any." Eva reminded him.
"Look I'm sure its nothing. His grandson, Jake, came here last week saying his Grampa needed more scales and other potion ingredients for that magical infusion spell. He should me the permit. Maybe his Grampa wanted to have more on hand just incase you needed it for yourself." Marty reassured her.
"Yeah your probably right. Still it's awfully strange. Was he acting like himself? I mean was he all full of jokes and cockiness?" Eva asked.
Marty shrugged and handed her the can of pesticide taking her money. "Wouldn't have a clue. I don't seem him often enough. I do know that he avoid talking to the oracle twins Sara and Kara like the plague. I thought that was weird seeing how they usually get along all right. Well see you later. Good luck with that science project!"
"Thanks Marty you're a real sweetheart." Eva said waving good-bye. She clutched her purchases and headed for the exited. What Marty had told her was still on her mind. Why was Jake wearing new clothes? Why did he say he was getting those ingredients for his Grampa when he wasn't? And what was up with that girl and her birthmark?
When she returns to the normal world of NYC she took the long way back to the campus. She passed the skate park on the way and spotted Jake hanging with his friends Trixie and Spud. Deciding to observe them she sat on a bench to watch.
"Yeah man that's what Trixie's talking about. Look at the air I'm catching." Trixie cheered loudly.
"I know it's so cool that where finally getting a chance to hang. Yo Jake why don't you show us that new trick you where working on." Spud suggested as he grinded the rail.
"Dudes and dudettes prepare to be amazed. The fantastic Jake Long will show you just who is the radest and coolest skateboarder in all NYC!" Jake announced. He sped down the half pipe then flew straight up in the air. He kicked off his skateboard and performed a series of brilliant flips and twists before landing on his hands on his skateboard. Spring to his feet he took a bow.
Trixie gave a long and loud whistle while Spud gave a round of applause. "Jakey that was amazing! I've never seen anyone nail a move like that before."
"Yeah man your seriously improving. Is this what your doing in your spare time?" Spud asked.
Jake just gave them a smile. "I'm just talented that's all. Guys I want you to know that just because I've been acting weird lately doesn't mean I'm not your friend. Nothing ever going to change that you can be sure of that. Were friends for life friends forever!"
"Yeah that's the truth. Say you want to join me and Spud at my house playing some new video games?" Trixie asked hopefully. Truth be told she missed hanging out with her friend. Lately it seemed that he was hiding something.
"Yeah were going to be playing that new 3D virtual interactive football. Should be a real blast." Spud said.
Jake opened his mouth when his new cell phone started beeping. "Hold on. Hello? Oh hi yeah everything cool I was just going to go hang with Trix and Spud. What no can't it wait till later I was just about to have some fun. Yeah I know that my responsibilities come before pleasure its just. Oh fine I'll meet you there in fifteen." Jake said sighing in defeat. "Sorry guys I got to go. Gramps needs my help. Apparently some sort of a magical mishap has occurred and as the American Dragon I have to deal with it. I'll talk to you later." He said as he rushed off.
For reasons unknown Eva continued to follow him. Maybe it was because she consider Jake a close friend or maybe because the voice on the phone had been a female's and not a males that she was following him. Whatever the reason she quickly morphed into her jaguar form and took to the rooftop. A few minutes later she spotted two dragons and a dog in the air flying towards a junkyard where three members of the Huntsclan stood waiting. Tied to the ground, as bait was a bunch of pixies.
"How much longer do we have to wait for those cursed dragons to appear? I'm itching for slaying." Complained Huntsboy loudly.
"Patience my boy. This plan is foolproof. Those kindhearted dragons have no way out of the trap. Once they free those cutesy pixies will spring the magical repellant cage trapping them inside. With no where to turn you two will easily slay your dragon." Huntsmaster informed them.
"Remember you hit him high I'll hit him low. Between us there's no way that America Dragon can stop us. Not to mention we get to drain some pixies of their magic as a bonus." Huntsgirl said.
Eva growled and slinked among the piles of trash. She had to do something to stop them before they harmed Jake, Fu, and Grampa. Still something was bothering her. Her sixth sense told her there was more than the eye could see. But what was it?
She was shaken from her thoughts when the good guys landed. The pixies were screaming for them to turn away but they couldn't understand them. She saw out of the corner of her eye the Huntsmaster and his two pupils getting ready to attack. There was no time for subtle action. Crouching on top of her pile she let out a huge roar and pounced on top of the Huntsmaster knocking him flat.
The commotion alerted the dragons and Fu that something was up. Gramps took action. "Fu finishing freeing the pixies and get the hell out of here. Jake and I will go see what the disturbance is all about."
"Hiyah! Actually you two are going nowhere. In fact you're trapped here." Huntsgirl said activating the cage. The fence surrounding the junkyard sprang to life crackling with energy encasing the lot in a bubble. Smirking happily Huntsgirl held her staff at the ready. "I wish I was allowed to slay you, but unfortunately that duty falls to my master. However nothing stopping me from catching some talking dog and precious pixies. By the way I advice you to go help your cat friend she's in deep trouble. Hiyah!" she said flipping over him and going after Fu who was holding the pixies. His eyes went wide and he took off running.
Gramps and the American Dragon hurried towards the sounds of the fight. Eva was clawing at the Huntsmaster helmet and her teeth bit down into his cape tearing a section of it. Letting loose another roar she leaped at him only to have him nail her with a laser blast. Gramps charged to the rescue.
That's when the Huntsboy showed up on the scene and began to viciously attack the American Dragon. Eva couldn't help but notice that he was particularly ruthless and had a special hatred for that one. Suddenly the Huntsboy plunged his dagger into the crook of Jake's right arm. Both opponents let out a scream and Eva watched in amazement as both began to bleed in the same area.
"Dragon Master, I fear we should leave this place. Lets go before someone else gets to injured." Eva yelled in cat tongue. Grampa took heed and the four of them left.
"Eva what were you thinking? You could have been slain. Your parents entrusted me with your safety." Gramps berated. Eva ignored him. Jake had transformed back into his human self-wearing his red outfit not his green. That was strange.
Later as she was walking home she spotted Jake with that girl in his green outfit with the bandage around his wound. But it was on the opposite arm. Something was up big time and she didn't like it.