The wolf yipped and trotted towards the edge of the cliff. The small figure was retreating rapidly, falling like a weight towards the darkness. The wolf barked and whimpered with all his might, a paw trying hopelessly to stretch out and catch her. No, there was no logical way he would ever catch her without killing the both of them. A reddish blur leapt over his small, whitish figure. The large dragon straightened very much, wings closed around the body, the animal let his own body fall freely.
The wolf looked at the rising sun, then at the copper coloured dragon. Izzy was their only hope to save Kari. The wolf shook his head shamefully, if Kari died he would never be able to forgive himself.
Kari kept falling and falling. The girl had scratched her leg against the rocks at the time of her fall. The pain had been blinding at first, but now the fear was numbing her head. The youth glanced at the approaching and growing depths, since she was falling head first. Flight was the only thought crowning her mind. Somehow the thought of flying seemed perfect, if she could ever fly, of course. The fear was pressing at her veins so strongly, it felt as if a really powerful current was coursing through every fibre of her body.
Izzy's eyes opened widely. He couldn't believe his eyes. Kari's body began to glow like a star, bright, pure and brilliant. The blooming morning was illuminated by the icy white blaze. The star shattered like a block of ice, and a silver figure emerged from it, disoriented and nervous.
"Open up!" bellowed Izzy with all his might.
The other creature listened carefully. Obediently, the beast opened up a pair of enormous, leathery wings that covered a rather vast extension. The animal stopped the fall and began gliding upwards. Izzy opened his wings as well and reached the other creature's side. It was a dragon, a beautiful female dragon. Her scales were the colour of silver, so pure and bright the animal's skin glimmered like a polished statue. The eyes were chestnut, with a tint of crimson. This was Kari, without doubt.
With Izzy's guidance, the two dragons returned to the hill. The landing was troublesome, but the transformation to humanity was very easy. Kari was ecstatic, as she began yelling and questioning Izzy over and over if he had seen her.
"Oh Kari…" Matt whimpered from the solitude of one corner, staring at the woman with hopeless despair.
"Matt!" the girl leapt on him and embraced him into a tight hug.
The youth stopped her embrace all of a sudden. She pulled away to glanced at the boy with close attention. Kari examined every single inch of the boy's body, face, anything. It was odd to find him here, when he had been missing for such a long time. That what she was searching for became apparent. There, glowing perfectly round and smooth into the depths of her orbs, was a single sphere. It was the reflection of the moon trapped in the boy's eyes.
"Oh my… you are the wolf!" Kari gasped, retreating lightly from him.
Matt nodded seriously, his feral pride stronger than his fearful shame.
"I'm a werewolf." Matt corrected more seriously, "But I don't understand it. The moon wasn't full, it was crescent. Suddenly, however, it filled completely and I couldn't resist the tug!" Matt explained, staring at Izzy for answers.
"The moon here has different cycles. It also rises once a month, but when it does, it crosses all the process in twenty four hours. The result is that the moon will fill on that very same night, only to use the day to grow thin again." Izzy explained calmly, glancing at the two with curious glances.
"But why didn't you tell us?" Kari moaned displeased, tears swelling in her eyes.
"I feared you would reject me…" Matt said in a low, sad whisper, his clear eyes staring straight into Kari's.
"How could I? Izzy is a dragon! I'm a dragon too!" Kari shouted more nervous, "How could I ever reject you?" the youth inquired with a low, strangled sob.
"It doesn't matter!" growled Matt turning around, his depression growing into exasperation.
"Matt? Matt!" called Kari angrily, beginning to walk after Matt.
The youth stopped abruptly when a strong hand held her from her shoulder. Kari turned to glance at the young man, standing next to her, and staring seriously at her through his black eyes.
"I'll go talk to him, this is a… hum, men thing!" Izzy said curling a smile on his lips. "I believe you can defend yourself?" the boy chuckled, his eyes shinning brightly.
"I'll practice my dragon attack!" Kari nodded with a feeble smile, "Please Izzy, do make him come to his senses. I don't know what's wrong with him, we've gotten along fine!" the girl whimpered with desperation.
"I think I've got an idea!" the boy mumbled, while nodding with reassurance at the girl.
Ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
The tough mare galloped freshly across the short, tundra's grass. The city was standing against the horizon, a large, dark colossus calling for the two children. Silven was gripping Yolei's waist tightly. His chin rested on the woman's tense shoulder, and his violet eyes glanced into the dawn, the iris blending with the clear luminosity. It was a beautiful scene the young elf enjoyed truly.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Silven commented with a fresh, young laughter.
"Yeah… very pretty." Yolei answered without emotion.
"What's wrong?" Silven inquired worriedly, glancing at the young woman next to him.
"I'm driving, and I'm concentrated!" Yolei spat at him angrily.
"I'm sorry…" the youth whispered into her ear in a soft, gentle voice.
Yolei tensed all of a sudden as a warm breath tickled the side of her ear. She felt pleasant goosebumps trickling down her neck. Something leapt and flipped inside her stomach, making her jump in her seating, hence making the mare change her rhythm abruptly.
"Was it something I did?" the elf questioned, still holding against her, yet trying to touch her the least possible.
"No… No…" Yolei gasped in a ragged, startled breath.
The elf himself felt something odd, like a strange pride, blooming inside him. A shadow of a smile tugged at the boy's lips. Somehow he was conscious that the girl had reacted to a certain touch, in a certain spot. Silven knew as well that the woman fancied his looks. All that united made him experiment a certain feeling of superiority, something he had never felt before.
The two reached the town when the sun was high in the sky. It was still fresh, yet the warmth spread across the streets very rapidly and comfortingly. It was a lovely place, antique and styled in medieval ages. Stone houses with straw roofs. Towers and walls surrounding the place protectively. People pacing back and forth across the small commerce. Creatures Yolei had never seen in her life. Small, thick and bearded, chatting and drinking beer. Slim Halflings trotting back and forth, little thieves stealing people's goods and money. Tall and strong knights, trying to maintain the order and the security in the main alley's fluency.
"Look at that!" Snarled Silven despising , and even then his voice was melodic and gentle, "Dwarves are welcome here, but not elves!" he added feeling insulted.
Yolei smiled gently at the elf, and couldn't hold back a snicker. It was a rather funny image, seeing the elf trying to look angry, such a handsome face. It was then that she realized that the crowd was glancing at her curiously.
"People are looking at me!" Yolei turned her face to look at the elf.
"Well…" Silven gasped lightly and moved backwards when the girl's face stood inches from his, "you are wearing funny clothes!" the elf explained with a shrug.
"What's wrong with my clothes?" Yolei snapped slightly irritated.
"Nothing!" Silven added quickly, "it's just people have never seen anything like that!" the youth explained with a pleasant smile.
It was true. The girl was dressed in a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, a sweater and her running shoes. These people were wrapped in furs, rough clothes, tough leather and various natural cloths.
"Look! That shop will be good to get some clothes for you. Meanwhile I'll go to the alchemist to get a cure for my broken leg!" Silven said pointing at an entrance hidden behind a thick, crimson curtain.
"Will you be able to dismount?" Yolei inquired looking sceptic.
"Yes, of course. I'm an elf!" Silven said in a whisper, yet with enough pride as to remark an elf could do the impossible.
"Fine." Yolei sighed, shrugging, "If you are sure you can do it, I'll let you." The girl smirked, while she leapt off the tall horse's back.
The youth slapped the animal's haunches. Immediately, the horse galloped down the street, neighing angrily. Yolei grinned lightly at the startled elf, who was making desperate attempts to control the mare from his position, sitting right behind the saddle.
The shop was immersed in the shadows. It smelled strongly of cloth and leather, and some animal skins Yolei could not recognize. The woman saw the heads of various creatures hanging from the wall, staring at her threateningly. From frightened deer, to threatening predators, and various reptilian creatures she could not recognize. There was even a white dragon head, glaring at her through an open, fanged mouth.
"What will it be?" the shopkeeper's ragged voice inquired.
Yolei turned around startled. The shopkeeper was a small woman, old and hunchbacked, covered with a black cloak and hood.
"I'd like to get some clothing fit for me." Yolei said through a stutter, feeling shocked at the woman's presence.
"Fine, fine. Animal fibres?" the woman inquired.
"I don't know… I'm not from around here." Yolei explained feeling a tint of red staining her cheeks shamefully.
"Well, no problem. Human, I guess… your occupation?" the woman asked.
Occupation? She was a student, but Yolei highly doubted it would be a good explanation to get clothing. I believe she meant something more… traditional, like hunter, or maybe dragon slayer.
"Mage…" Yolei stuttered thoughtfully.
"Hush!" the woman coughed raggedly, glaring at her severely.
"What?" Yolei inquired shocked, this was the first time this happened to her.
"Never speak that in public, girl!" the shopkeeper said murkily.
The old woman flew towards the windows with an agility fit for does. She extended a thick cloth, much like the one in the door, over each. Pulling on a string, the two, crimson curtains fell over the dusty glass, drowning the room in a flickering darkness, illuminated with the dim life of several torches. Done that, the old woman pulled her hood back and stood up straight, tall and powerful. Indeed, this figure was so tall and powerful, it was male.
"Don't you know girl?" the man's voice was clear and strong this time, and his features were handsome.
"Know what?" Yolei asked tremulously, glancing at the man as if he was a dream.
"We are hated, almost as much as dragons." The man said pulling his long hair back.
"You are a mage…" Yolei gasped shocked, "but… why are we hated?" she inquired rapidly.
"Because Rakesh wants our essence. If he ever got news of me, or of you, Rakesh would destroy the whole city and kill everyone only to get us. He grows stronger by absorbing our magic." The mage explained looking around.
"But I don't know how to do any spell. I barely learnt I was a mage a couple of hours ago!" Yolei protested.
"Don't worry, it's not that hard, but you need a couple of things!" the mage said with a smile.
With a wave of his hand, both arms were filled with various items.
"Look. This is a leather vest, and leather, ridding pants. Boots. Handlers to protects your forearms from the spells." The man said handing them to the girl.
"Ah, here are the important things. Mage cloak. This is magical, it will allow you to become invisible at will, invisible from most creatures." The man handed Yolei a beautifully sewn cloak, which was white with crimson makings.
"And this is your spell book. Everything is in here. Use it wisely." The mage handed Yolei a thick, heavy book, with leather covers and silver letters.
"Thank you! How much do I owe you?" Yolei inquired with a large smile.
"Nothing. It's a present, from mage to mage." The mage said nodding, his blue eyes sparkled brightly.
"Thank you very much!" Yolei exclaimed, starting to head for the door excitedly.
"May Gynaro guard your steps. And may we bloom glorious like we once did!" the mage said solemnly.
Yolei nodded and stepped outside, to the clear sunlight. She looked back and saw the curtains retiring, and the old, hunchbacked woman tugging with effort at the thick cords. This was definitely one odd happening.
A black shadow galloped at a calm pace, approaching her. The young elf was mounting the beast expertly.
"Odd!" thought Yolei as she paid close attention to the rider and his horse.
To Be Continued…
AN: Ok, there comes another chapter. This is getting more interesting, isn't it? It saddens me to see there is no new review… I would like to know what people thought about it. Well, thanks a lot to those who did review, I will include my comments in the last chapter.