Chapter three - A promise.
The dream still haunted her. Always she would wake up to her falling into the darkness, not able to fly. The feeling of dread no longer followed, but there was an emptiness inside her, one that she could never fill. She had lost her brother, and her mother all in an instant. It had been a year since nightmare became reality. She forgot the warmth of her mother's belly during the cold nights. The icy chill her of her breath during her training. She even forgot the color of her never-to-be brother's egg. It had been a year, and not one tear was shed for the unborn dragon, and for the lost mother. It had been rough, and several times she felt as if she would not last one more day on her own. But here she was, still living, and as strong as she could be without the help of her mentor.
She did not get through the fateful night without the mark of the black dragon. The scar from his blackened flames consumed her right arm, and a scar lay hidden around her left eye beneath her raven hair. But she carried not only a memory of the other dragon, but of her mother as well. She carried with her twin dragon claw daggers, and a scale from her mother. She had been lucky to have at least walked away with something to remind her of the one she held dear.
She had traveled far from the northern forests where her den had been. The forests she trekked now where much warmer, and thicker than those she was used to. She appreciated the beauty of her new surroundings, but as beautiful as it was, there was something did not feel right in this forest.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the scream of a child not far off. She plummeted through the brush, and the scene unfolded before her. A small child at sword point, and small wolf pup trying to defend his young master courageously. The pup was easily kicked to the side as the brutes kept pushing the child to tell them the location of a treasure. The girl kicked at the men and once again ordered her pup to attack her offenders. And once again, the pup was swept to the side, leaving barely a mark on the smallest man's forearm.
Neesin's blades were in hand as she jumped to the defense of the girl. Her melee combat was not the best, but she knew the basics of fighting. Only taking a few hits from the three brutes, she stood victorious, as they fled the scene. The pup growling after them.
"I could've handled them myself." The pup grumbled, turning towards Neesin. The lack of surprise on her face obviously caught the wolf off-guard, "You don't find it a least bit strange that I speak?" He asked her.
"Why should I be?" Neesin had grown up with a dragon for what was the majority of her life. She had figured it was normal for most living creatures to have a voice. In fact, the girl still considered herself a dragon, which would probably be seen as a strange in the eyes of many. So a talking wolf pup was not the least bit strange. She turned to the girl who was still laying on the ground, still shaking in fear. "Are you alright?"
"Y-yes." She replied, taking Neesin's outstretched hand. "Th-thank you!" There were tears welling up in the eyes of the girl. They were the same golden color as Tannin's eyes, and instantly Neesin was drawn to the girl. "My name is Kysa," the girl gave Neesin a friendly smile, "And this is my familiar, Zakkai." The girl gestured to the small black wolf pup. He bowed his head towards Neesin, his brown eyes never leaving her for an instant.
"I'm Neesin. I'm a dragon from the north. I've been traveling for some time now. And it looks as if you're alone. Would you like to be my companion?" She knew that it was sudden, and some-what out of no where, but in that moment, Neesin realized that she didn't want to be alone in the world anymore. When she looked into the face of this girl, she saw Tannin's eyes looking back at her. The girl's light blue hair reminded Neesin of Tannin's scales as well. There was a sense of familiarity she had with this stranger. Who better to be her companion than a kind hearted girl and her talking wolf.
"A dragon? Nonsense." Zakkai huffed. "Dragons don't exist here."
"Yes they do! I was raised by one! My mother was Tannin, a great ice dragon!" Neesin retorted, suddenly regretting the proposal she made just moments ago. She didn't think she'd receive such criticism from a talking dog, of all things.
"I believe you're a dragon." Kysa said with a smile. "Only a dragon would be brave enough to save a stranger from men three times her size."
"Kysa, what are-"
"Hush, Zakkai." Kysa snapped at her familiar, and then turned back to Neesin. "I'd be happy to travel with you. But there's a guild I'm looking for, I've always wanted to join a guild. And if you're a dragon, then I'm sure you could join too! You can join the guild with me! If you want, that is."
"A guild?" Neesin had never heard the term before. She rarely traveled into towns, let alone made contact with many humans. She was after-all, a dragon. And the fact that this tiny girl in front of her was a magician of some-kind slightly baffled her.
"It's a place with wizards can take jobs! It's like a family, almost." Suddenly a shadow came over the face of the child. "Sometimes I forget what a family is like." Tears began to well up in the golden eyes of the sweet child. But Kysa found herself in Neesin's warm embrace.
"I'll be your family, Kysa." Neesin's voice shook, and a single tear hit the ground. "I'll protect you, always. And we'll go find this guild, together." And so began the forging of a bond so strong, not even death could break it. But of course, this story isn't to tell the in-depth adventures of Neesin, Kysa, and Zakkai. But perhaps a few things should be highlighted.
Neesin, and Kysa found themselves on the path towards a town they didn't know the name of, but their goal was in mind, and nothing would stop them from getting there. They traveled and fought side-by-side for two years before they reached their destination. In that time, Kysa had helped find a companion for her new sister, a kitsune named Avira. Zakkai would describe her as being a condescending bitch, but Neesin loved her dearly. Neesin had found someone to make two charms, each with a part of her mother's scale within it. The wolf charm bracelet hung on Neesin's right wrist, and a small flame pendant hung from a chain on Kysa's neck. Even if the sisters were apart, they would always know if the other was safe or in danger.
"I promise that I will always protect you, little sister. No matter the distance, I will come to you and stand by your side." It was the promise that Neesin had made when she gave Kysa her necklace, and it was a promise she intended to never break.
It had been two years since the two had began their journey together, but due to unforeseen circumstances, Neesin did not enter the guild with Kysa. Instead she left her sister to the care of it's third master, Makarov. Makaroc knew all of Neesin though, for Kysa told stories of her dragon-like sister. He had some run-in's with Neesin when she came to visit Kysa. But she never stayed for long, and she refused to step foot inside the guild.
It had been two years since the two had began their journey together, but due to unforeseen circumstances, Neesin did not enter the guild with Kysa. Instead she left her sister to the care of it's third master, Makarov Dreyar. Makarov knew about Neesin though, because Kysa told stories of her dragon-like sister. He had some run-in's with Neesin when she came to visit Kysa. But she never stayed for long.
Neesin frequented the guild less and less as time passed. Kysa prayed every day, that Neesin would come home and decide to stay permanently. Occasionally, Neesin would find herself at the doorstep of Fairy Tail, pondering if she should join her sister's new found family. But could only bring herself to enter the guild once, leaving the strongest impression on those who were present in the guild. And few of it's members had the honor of meeting Neesin while out on jobs. She was a force to be reckoned with, having trained for many years in solitude. She was not especially good with people. Except Kysa. She would always have a special place in her heart for Kysa.
It pained her heart that she strayed so far and so long from her, but Neesin would forever crave the solitude. She missed the days when Kysa was by her side, but she understood that the girl needed the security, and comfort that came from being with others. Neesin knew that Kysa had lost her family young, and probably would have ended up in worse circumstances if Neesin had not come across her that fateful day in the forest. Where Kysa craved to be around people, Neesin craved solitude.
Eventually even Kysa strayed away from the guild, staying out on long jobs, and training independently. Neesin found herself often coming to the guild, to be told by Makarov, or Mirajane that her sister was away. That pained Neesin too, the fact that the two had become so distant. Perhaps if she had stayed with her sister, the two would be happy together in that guild. No matter how much Neesin tried to rationalize it, she would never allow herself to go ask for acceptance.
Years had passed since the last time Neesin had seen Kysa, and Zakkai. But one day, something came over her. The same feeling she had every time she woke from that dreaded nightmare from long ago. Kysa was in danger, and Neesin was leagues away. She would not be able to help her sister.