Me: Wow, another chapter within 24 hours of each other.

Icefire: You are either goofing off or you have no life.

Me: Uh… I think it's both…sweat drops

Icefire: I believe it.

Me: Anyway on with the chapter!

Key

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Memories

//Dragon's telepathy//

End Key

Chapter 14: Kaze, Wind

The dragon stepped out onto the ledge and into the sun. It spread its large wings and allowed a slight breeze it conjured up with its ability to tussle its feathers. The large wings beat at the air, throwing powerful gust of wind. The wings lifted the dragon and its riders off the ground.

It flew high into the air and began to circle. Soon Krystal could be seen. She stepped onto to the ledge and looked up at them. She smiled and waved enthusiastically.

She stretched out her small wings and paused, allowing them to catch a breeze beneath them. With a single beat of her wings Krystal was in the air. The dragon stopped circle and used air currents to hold itself up in the air.

Krystal flew up to them, her small wings having no trouble with her weight. She was grinning at them joyfully. Her wings only made slight fluttering sound as she flapped them. Their sound was almost unheard do to the loud thudding the dragon's wings made.

The dragon dipped its right wing to turn and flew to the north, Krystal flying along side. The hair toyed with Jen's black hair, whipping it behind her like a banner. She could faintly recall something from when she was still very young.

She was about 2 years old. Her father was sitting behind her, arms wrapped about her. They sat upon the back of a large white-feathered beast. The wind whistled in her ears and played with her hair.

She was laughing, enjoying the ride she was getting. Her laughter got her father laughing too. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "Isn't this fun little one? He's an impressive creature, Kaze is."

The alchemist patted the feathered creature beneath them. The large head turned to look at them. "Thank you, Kaze, for allowing my daughter and I to ride on your back."

The dragon purred deep in its throat in response to his thanks. The large sapphire eyes focused upon the laughing child a moment before Kaze turned his head forward again. The dragon flew on as the city came into view.

Jen blinked and looked at Mandarin who sat around a foot in front of her. Antauri was sitting a foot in front of him.

She jumped when a pair of arms wrapped about her from behind. She looked over her shoulder and a smile crept onto her lips. It was her father. He leaned forward and whispered into her ear.

: Isn't this fun little one? He's an impressive creature, Kaze is. :

Jen's eyes widened slightly. He had said those exact words to her years ago. Does that mean…? She looked at the back of the dragon's head. Was this dragon Kaze? His head was exactly the same as the one from her flash back.

Jen tried to consider the possibility, but her thoughts were interrupted when she coughed slightly.

Her father whispered in her ear once more. : You're catching cold. You need to be careful and try not to get sick. Your immune system is weaker than most people's. :

: I am: Jen questioned. She had never been told this before.

: Yes. Your mother's immune system is vulnerable to human illnesses. And my immune system was vulnerable to felinadon illnesses. :

: I see… : Jen felt her father's hold loosen before vanishing. Jen looked back, confused. He was gone.

Jen could feel the air growing warmer. She turned her attention forward. Looming ahead of them was a volcano. 'This is it. The tear of the phoenix.' Jen's muscles tensed eagerly.

They circled the volcano twice before landing on the lip of a cave. Jen, Mandarin, and Antauri slid down from the dragon's back. Krystal landed not too far away and went over to them.

"Enjoy the flight?" She asked.

"It was an amazing experience." Mandarin replied and Antauri nodded his head in agreement.

"It reminded me of a time when I was little." Jen replied and smiled. She looked to the feather dragon, who was watching them. "Your name is Kaze. Isn't it?"

The dragon nodded. //That it is.//

"That means you're a male."

//Yes, the last male of my kind and the last feather dragon.//

"That's sad…" Jen trailed off and looked at her feet.

"Um, aren't we supposed to b getting a phoenix tear for your friend?" Krystal interjected, changing the subject. She knew her parent was touchy on that subject.

Antauri nodded. "He needs it as soon as possible. If we don't get it to him soon we'll lose him." Antauri's eyes saddened greatly at the thought.

Mandarin placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll get to him in time."

//Stay close to Krystal. If my phoenix friend sees that I have allowed you to get close to my offspring she will see that you are no threat.//

The three got closer to Krystal. Kaze took the lead and began to walk deeper into the cave. The four followed, keeping alongside the large dragon. For a while the only sound was their footsteps. Mainly Kaze's though.

At last Krystal broke the silence. "So…What's your friend like? You know the sick one."

"Which one?" Jen asked and sweat dropped.

Krystal tilted her head. "What do you mean? You have more than one friend who is sick?"

Mandarin and Antauri looked at Jen, puzzled. "In a way yes." She replied to the felinadon's question.

"Could you clarify?"

"Chiro has the Deadly Virus, so his body is severely ill. Then there is Sprx, who is a sick minded pervert."

"I have to agree with Jen on that one." Mandarin sighed and sweat dropped. His brother certainly had problems.

"Although I do not wish to admit it, so do I." Antauri sighed.

"I meant the one with the Deadly Virus. I didn't realize you had another sick friend." Krystal clarified.

"Chiro?" Jen asked and placed the pointer finger of her right hand on her chin in thought. "Well, I'm only up to his shoulder." Jen began. "He has wild hair the same color as mine and blue eyes like me." She scratched the back of her head.

"He holds a power similar to mine. It's called the Power Primate. Um… He's kind and gentle. He is loyal to his friends and will do anything he can to protect them." Jen sighed. "And he's as stubborn as hell when it comes to defending them. Oh yeah! And he's really brave."

Krystal's eyes got all dreamy. "He sounds so wonderful… I want so badly to meet him." She snapped out of her dreamy state and looked at Jen with pleading eyes. "There isn't anything between you two is there?"

Jen shook her head. "Nope. He's just like a brother to me. Nothing less, nothing more."

Krystal's eyes returned to their dreamy state. "I wonder if he like felinadons…" She pondered aloud. "I'd better look nice when I see him!" She began to preen her wings and hair, pulling out all the leaves and sticks.

Jen rolled her eyes. Girls. They always try to look nicer than usual for a guy. What did it matter? Shouldn't the guy like you for who you are, not how you look?

Krystal gasped and grabbed Jen's hand, yanking her from her thoughts. "Come on!" Krystal exclaimed and pulled the human child forward, dragging her down the tunnel.

Mandarin blinked after the two girls for a moment, before an over protective feeling began to seize him. Kaze sensed the sudden emotions from the orange furred monkey. //Don't worry. Krystal is just excited to see Atsui. No harm will come to your human.//

Mandarin was still worried, but knew Kaze was right. His footsteps were lighter; he was itching to race after the girls. But he controlled himself.

Antauri noted his brother's edginess. "Jen has a lot of power in that frail human body of hers. Do you recall when Jen purified you?"

Mandarin looked at Antauri. "Yes I remember. How could I not?"

Mandarin hesitated a moment, as though he were trying to quell a battle within himself. Finally he answered, "I... I... I do trust you. Please help me. I don't want to be this way anymore. I need to be free from the Skeleton King."

Jen could hear the pleading tone in his voice. Her eyes softened. "Kneel so I can touch your forehead." Mandarin did so. "Close your eyes so I can transfer my memories to you and use the sapphire you gave me long ago." He closed his eyes; it was a symbol of his trust. Jen placed her fore and middle fingers of her right hand against his forehead. Jen closed my eyes.

She felt a tingling warmth start at her forehead and work its way into her fingers. It left her fingers to flow into Mandarin' s body. When the warmth and tingle ceased Jen opened her eyes and removed her fingers from his head.

Mandarin slowly opened his eyes and looked himself over. He was once again in his original robotic body. He looked up into Jen's face and met her gaze. "I remember it all now..."

"You are right, Antauri, she can handle herself." He turned his eyes back to the retreating forms of the girls. He wasn't going to chase after them, but he strained his ears and eyes to keep a look out for them.