A/N: hey everyone, I'm really sorry that it took so long to update. I'm such a bad authoress, please forgive me. Like I mentioned in the A/N of my fic Female Problems I had various reasons for not updating for so long. I promise that in the future I will do my best to get new chapters posted up quickly. Anyway, enough with my rambling. On to ch.3. This fic is based off one of my favorite stories "HawkSong" by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. Hope you enjoy the fic.Read, hopefully enjoy, and review.
Disclaimer: I don't own power rangers
Ch. 3- Decisions
He was soaring.
This is what freedom must be. The bond that had held him was gone, a distant memory easily forgotten by this new experience.
The wind gently caressed his body and demi-wings as he rose to a higher altitude.
Yes, this was bliss.
At this height he could see the landscape clearly- hills, fields, and forests spread out in all directions as a sapphire river twisted, serpentine around it all.
There are no cares, no worries, no war, and no blood bond- just endless sky.
He could stay like this forever.
"Cam"
His demi- form was tiring. It's not meant for long distance flight, but that's alright.
"Cam"
He had never shifted before, but he new what to do. This felt as natural as flying had been.
Slowly he changed.
"Cam!"
He wasn't able to see most of what was happening, but he was able to watch as the skin of his arms and hands gracefully changed to iridescent scale.
His body fluidly lengthened and changed until he was in his true form. This was how things were truly meant to be. This was his birthright. Gone was the earthbound form, he was a magnificent creature. A dragon right out of one of the human legends from China.
Flying up here, this was heaven…..
"CAM, WAKE UP!!"
Cam's head shot up from his pillow. "Huh, wha'?"
Tori stood in the doorway with an amused look on her face. "My, my aren't we articulate in the morning."
Usually he would banter a bit with the water dragon, but that would require more effort and energy than Cam was willing to exert this early in the morning. He was a naturally early riser, but at just after dawn this was too early even for him. "Was there something that you needed?"
Tori's face took on a more serious expression. "You won't believe this, but we have a guest."
"Guest?"
"Yeah, he showed up at the front gate about five minute ago. An assembly is being called, and the King wanted me to come and get you."
Cam was confused. "He called an assembly? For one guest? It's not like we haven't had people come to the Nest before."
"Well, we haven't had a thunder ninja come before. And not just any cat, it's one of the royal family." That got through to the half-awake prince.
"Are you serious?!" Cam jumped out of bed and hastily gathered the things he'd need to get ready, "One of the royal family? What's he want?"
"Yeah, He's the younger of the two adopted sons the panther, Prince Blake or something," Tori looked up thoughtfully "he's kinda cute."
All Cam could do was stop and stare at his friend.
Laughing, "Just joking! Come on Cam, I wouldn't be caught dead dating a thunder ninja! Now hurry up and get ready, I'll wait outside so we can go to the courtyard."
Hunter was furious.
Blake had left before the jaguar was back from patrolling knowing that Hunter would object to him delivering the negotiation invitation. He's gonna get himself killed!' The thunder prince couldn't bear to loose his brother, for they would surely kill him when he stepped into their borders.
Hunter stormed into his adopted father's chambers. "WHY! Why did you let him go by himself?"
"It was his choice to make." King Amino stated calmly.
"You could have refused" the words were snarled out, "you let him travel right into his grave! Have you no care for your son?"
The king's face flashed with pain and anger. "Do you think I want to see one of my two remaining children on the pyre!? Do you not believe that I worry for his safety? My thoughts are on the two of you every time you step out of the Lion's Den to go to the fields. I have worried greatly ever since I gave you two the thunder morphers in an attempt to help end this war, but it is your life. You are making your own decisions; I can't safeguard the two of you. This attempt at a step towards peace was your brother's choice. I may worry, but I will respect him in his choice. Do not question my love for my sons. You are the one that need to have more faith in your brother."
Hunter hung his head. His father was right. "I'm sorry. It's just… I worry about him. I don't want to have to say goodbye to anyone else. Please forgive me."
King Amino stood and embraced his son. "It is quite alright. I understand your concern for your brother, but you must have faith that he will return to us alive and well."
The thunder prince smiled, trying to banish his fear. "Yeah, I'm sure he'll be okay."
The crowd was enormous; all the population of the Dragon's nest was in the courtyard that served as a gathering place for all assemblies and events. Despite the mass of people all jostling for a good vantage point, there was a fifteen foot diameter space which all refused to enter. Sitting at the center of this space was none other than the younger adopted son of the thunder king. If it wasn't considered extremely bad conduct for a social setting, Cam would have laughed out loud. The scene reminded him of minnows around a hungry shark.
Cam stepped up next to the king as Tori took her place with Shane and Dustin among the Dragon's Claw. Seeing that all were gathered, the dragon king stepped forward and addressed their guest. "You came willingly and openly to our gates unarmed seeking an audience. You have what you want, now speak your peace. Know this though; the absence of battle this past week has not lulled us into any false sense on security. If you threaten this kingdom in any way, you will face the consequences.
The panther's face stayed neutral and his aura of calm never wavered, but Cam could see a slight apprehension in the thunder cat's eyes.
Prince Blake slowly and languidly rose to his feet. "Too long have our kingdoms fought this war. A war so old that not even the scholars know how it first started. My family and I are tired of the bloodshed. We have sought conference with Empress Kelly of the avian shifters. She has invited delegations from our two kingdoms to the avian city for peace talks. I deliver the invitation myself as a sign of good faith. The only question now is if you will accept."
A voice rang out, "How do we know we can trust him? After all, the kitten is one of the thunder whelps. How do we know this isn't some ploy to get us to lower our defenses?"
Lothor' Cam wasn't surprised by his uncle's outburst. The dark dragon tended to play the devil's advocate and often went against his brother's decisions. Many in the court were muttering their agreement.
Cam could tell that the thunder prince was getting annoyed at being questioned and insulted. He took a scroll out of his tunic and held it out towards the dragon king. "I have an official invitation from the avian empress. It has her seal on it if you still doubt me."
Taking the scroll, King Watanabe turned to Cam. "Cameron, it is almost time for you to take my mantle, I have decided to give this decision to you. What is your choice?"
"It is not really a choice. We have been given a chance to end this war." Turning to address prince Blake, "We will be at the conference. What is the date for negotiations?"
"It will be in two days."
Cam nodded; it would give them just enough time to make it if they left this evening. With such short notice neither side would be able to plan an attack so ambush could be almost completely ruled out. "We will be there."
It had been a hard trip, but the dragons had managed to get to the avian city on time. Normally a dragon could make the trip in a day of hard flying, but because of the seal on his dragon abilities Cam wasn't even able to form demi-wings so the trip had been a combination of ninja streaking and walking.
As they entered the market place two crow guards quickly shifted into human form and led them to the audience chamber. Only King Watanabe, Cam, Tori, Shane, Dustin, and Lothor were allowed into the chamber. The few other guards in the delegation were led to a waiting area.
The dragon prince let his eyes wander around the elegant chamber. The walls were covered in beautiful, lifelike murals of avians of all kind. From petite sparrows to jewel bright macaws. Covering the gold-marbled floor were plush cushions and pillows. Sitting in the middle of the chamber was the thunder delegation. King Amino sat with Prince Blake and three guards behind the older prince and heir to the throne.
Cam let his eyes meet those of other prince. Icy pools met his own chocolate orbs. They were hypnotizing. Cam couldn't help getting trapped in them as the thunder prince stared at him. He was only free when the blonde prince's eyes slowly looked him up and down taking in his body. Blushing slightly, Cam joined the rest of his delegation in sitting across from their counterparts.
Empress Kelly stood up on the dais where she had been sitting. "We are here to bring an end to the bloodshed that has been plaguing your two lands for ages. Who may I address as the leaders in your delegations?"
King Amino rose to his feet. "My older son will be taking his place as king soon, he will lead our delegation."
King Watanabe also rose. "Cameron will soon become king as well, he will lead us."
The empress nodded. "Prince Hunter, what would be willing to give to bring about peace?"
"Everything"
"Prince Cameron, what would you be willing to do to gain peace?"
"Anything"
"Good. For you two kingdoms to come together in peace their leaders must show that they are willing to come together as well. You both said that you would sacrifice everything to see an end to this war. The answer is simple. Bind the two royal families and the kingdoms will be bound as well. Hunter, take Cameron as your mate and Cameron, take Hunter as your soul partner."
The hall erupted in cries of outrage. Cam could only sit in shock at what the Empress had said. Hunter walked out of the chamber as the delegations continued to argue.
"ENOUGH!" Empress Kelly quickly silenced the chamber. "The attendants will show you to your rooms. We will reconvene tomorrow." Before anyone could protest she had stepped down from the dais and left.
Well that went great.' After being evicted from the audience chamber, the dragons were shown to their room. Cam entered his room with and let out a sigh. Despite this being neutral territory, King Watanabe had ordered Shane and Dustin to guard Cam's door while he had Tori looking over the discussing defenses with the avian soldiers.
"Something wrong?"
Cam whirled around. None other than the thunder prince stood before him. "How did you get in here?" Cam hadn't even felt his presence.
Hunter smirked. "Well, I left the chamber before you so it wasn't that hard. Besides, your so called guards didn't check the room before you came in and you were too out of it to notice. That's how I got in."
"What do you want?" Cam was on edge, prince Hunter lived up to his race. Hunter moved silently with the true grace of a predator. His movements were so foreign, Cam couldn't help but be nervous and he hated it. He had never felt this helpless since he was a small child. The blonde hypnotized him, in a way, with his icy blue orbs and smooth, liquid movements. First in the audience chamber and now here. He couldn't move under the jaguar's penetrating gaze.
"Straight to the point I see. Okay then, I wanted to discuss us." Cam hardly noticed when Hunter took a few steps forward.
"Us?" Hunter was very close now.
"Yes. I admit that when Empress Kelly first offered the idea that I was one of those protesting the loudest, but I am willing to do anything to bring an end to this war." Hunter slowly ran a finger down the side of Cam's cheek. "Besides, you are not the worst option for a mate," Hunter continued trailing his finger slowly down the dragon's neck, around the back of his shoulders, and stopped on Cam's spine at the base of his neck. Hunter rested his fingers on the faint iridescent patch of green scales that ran along the ridge of Cam's spine- the visible sign of his heritage. "but I can never love someone with scales on their back."
The thunder prince's actions combined with his statement seemed to break the paralysis over the dragon. "Don't touch me."
Hunter smirked and stepped closer, their faces mere inches apart. "Don't touch you? What would you do if I did? Don't think I don't know the stories. Everyone knows how good a target you are, your untrained, defenseless, you're not even a true dragon." The thunder ninja was starting to trap him again, looking him straight in the eye so Cam couldn't look away. "What could you do to stop me if I did this?" With that Hunter held Cam forcefully by the shoulders and closed the distance between their faces.
Cam snapped out of the trance quickly when he felt the other man's lips against his. When he gasped in surprise, the thunder prince took advantage and plundered his mouth. That was the last straw; Cam gripped the other man's forearms, twisted around and threw the jaguar over shoulder onto the ground.
Hunter picked himself up and smirked again. "Not so defenseless I see."
Suddenly the door burst open. "Cam, are you alri—"Shane and Dustin burst in to investigate the noise and were dumbfounded when they found the thunder prince in the room. "What are you doing in here?" Shane didn't even try to hide his hostility towards the other ninja.
"Well it's about time you came. Your prince has been all alone with the big bad thunder ninja and you didn't even know, but don't worry we were merely discussing peace between our two lands."
"Well, it's time for you to leave." Dustin was eyeing the thunder prince with open aggression.
This just brought another smirk to Hunter's face. "Don't worry I have no intention of harming your prince, that's far from my intentions." He turned to the Cam." Thank you for speaking with me." Before Cam could do anything, Hunter swooped in and stole another kiss before smirking one last time at Shane and Dustin, as well as King Watanabe and Tori- who had just arrived- and quickly left the room.
The dragon king was furious. "Cameron, prepare yours things to travel, we are leaving immediately."
"But Sire, the peace talks!"
"We are leaving now, that is final. Now pack your things."
Cam was finally falling asleep. After they had returned back to the Dragon's Nest, there had been a heated argument that had lasted a couple hours. He was just happy to finally get some real rest after the events two days before at the avian city.
Slowly he drifted into sweet nothingness…
This was a strange dream.
The thunder prince was in his room. "How did you get in here?"
"The Dragon's Nest isn't too far a streak from the Den and no offense, but the Dragon's Claw doesn't do much of a job guarding the stairs."
"Oh." Cam wasn't as bothered about the thunder ninja's presence in his room. This was a dream after all, so he had nothing to worry about.
Hunter sat on the edge of the bed next to Cam. "I wanted to talk some more about Empress Kelly's proposal."
"Why?"
"I said I would never be able to love someone with scales and I was telling the truth, but I am willing to do anything to end this war. When I learned what you did for my sister and when I saw you in the fields I thought you might feel the same."
"I do. I would do anything to end this."
Hunter gave Cam a soft smile and took something off his hand. "I have to go now, but take this. If you are really willing to do this then come to the Lion's Den. I'll post guards I know I can trust so you can travel safely." Hunter put the heavy ring into Cam's hand and pushed the dragon back so he was lying down again. Gently he kissed Cam on the forehead, "Go to sleep." and left.
What a strange dream.'
Cam slowly opened his eyes to the soft morning light that lit his room.
That dream seemed so real.' Cam raised his hand to scratch his forehead, when he noticed a heavy weight.
The dragon's eyes went wide.
On his fourth finger was a large signet ring with a cat's eye stone right in the middle.
Cam continued to stare at the ring.
So it wasn't a dream.'
The dragon prince had a decision to make.
TBC
-hope you enjoyed, please review!