So, this story is about how Itisha's parents met. There may be another little story after with an ITTY BITTY Itisha. We shall see. But for now, please enjoy the adventures of Auzrin and Onna.
Laughter rolled out through the night as the sun had just set and left a gray cast over everything. Several males sat around a fire with their kill. It was easier to hide like this. Even if it killed them sometimes to be stuck. The body yearned to be in its proper form. Yet it was not necessarily safe to do so.
So, they sometimes hunted as men. Auzrin spent time with the best of them in either form, though sometimes he didn't mind this one. Tonight, he somewhat minded. Bright gold eyes stared up at the sky he yearned for. Dark hair was sleek and shiny pulled back tight against his head in a braid that went to his hips. He was a giant amongst most men and certainly a giant amongst most dragons. His hips were nearly as wide as his shoulders and he stood far too tall for most doorways. At least there were a few humans with the fluke for height. Most did not always live to such a ripe old age. The heart failed all too often.
"Hey 'Zrin!" One of the males called over, Iedre. He was slight in build in comparison. Still built, but it was not carved muscle. Neither of them had that. It was smoothed from years of flying, hunting, and carrying things that would seem too heavy for anyone else. Wispy hair fell around his shoulders as he took out the leather thong holding it up and running his fingers through it, "Heard there is a comet coming tonight. You should try catching it."
A blink and a snort. Yeah, they always said his head was in the clouds. Thanks to his dark colors, he often took a chance to fly as often as he could when night fell. He loved when it was a new moon out. It meant he could stare at the stars a little longer and feel the wind against his scales, "I don't fly quite as fast as you, Iedre."
"I didn't go after shooting stars and indent the crater more than it had been." He laughed and then grinned over at the other with them, "Ralen, want to see if Zrin can catch a comet!?"
"I will give him first pick of our kill if he does." The ruby haired male responded as he poked at the spit. Some of the more animal kind of them seemed to frown at that method of cooking. Hell, he thought it tasted good if you did it right. No one quite did a barbeque like a dragon. Well and some demons."
Now that made Auzrin's eyes light up, "Oh really? That big meaty hind quarter there is looking pretty good. Hate to take that away from you. I mean I eat like a bear."
"Bears look like they are on diets compared to you, Zrin." Ralen mused. He then looked up at the darkening sky, "I will let you take the whole legs. Maybe two if you actually can even touch the thing."
Auzrin's eyes glimmered at the offered challenge and prize. A look up towards the sky, "Well you know, that whole space thing gets kind of annoying. I rather like air and not being split apart. If I touched the thing, might be the last thing I do. Then I sure as hell ain't getting any food."
"Oh you can totally flash back here. Saves you on reentry burns and making more craters. I mean the stories of demons is pretty hilarious. If only they knew." Iedre said.
"Well, comets don't stick around too long. So you better get ready to get flying soon." Ralen said with amusement in his voice. They could so go hunting again, but they tried to eat sparingly as to not make it stand out too much that they had inhuman appetites. Still. A whole entire leg of that massive stag they took down. He imagined Auzrin was nearly drooling at that thought but… he could see those golden eyes stare at the stars. The sky called to them all. It was their home and gods knew the male sitting there made them believe his ass could touch the moon and come back.
It was still a massive debate as to if the giant had really gone to the moon. There was a rough rock he always carried around on his neck. Wrapped in leather. One time as an older youth he had angrily proclaimed he could do it. Even sat and worked out all the magic needed for it. Left and then came back covered in ice. Nearly looked like he had died or been pulled apart. All of the magic woven onto his skin with tattoos had looked like they were shattered chains before fading away. Yet he grinned proudly. A rock between his fingers, clutched like a precious treasure.
'I touched the moon' He had claimed proudly.
Frankly, no one wanted to question him on that. He looked like he had gone through hell and back for that little rock he wore around his neck. At least it made for a good story. Hell, if anyone could impossibly touch the comet, it was him.
"So? What are you gonna do, Zrin? Gonna try and earn that leg of meat?" Iedre grinned broadly and moved forward, flicking his nail against the pitted rock on the leather strap, "Surely the great Auzrin Kattalakis can catch a comet if he can get a piece of the moon. Or are you scared?"
Laughter boomed from the giant and he knocked his head back as tears formed. Scared. Auzrin wasn't scared of flying. Hell, he wouldn't need a bet to go up in the sky. Moreover he was working out in his head if he could flash up there close enough to really touch it. How fast was it moving? Could he really get so close to the thing? He stood and stretched. Fingers playing with that piece of moonrock he had gotten.
"Oh, hells, I am not afraid. I am just trying to figure out how I can do it." And then his teeth shone bright. One would realize how ashen his dark skin was as soon as they saw those bright white teeth gleam in the firelight.
That had his friend laughing hard, "Oh gods, Ralen! He is gonna do it! Zrin is gonna try and catch it!" He clapped his hands like an excited boy and motioned towards the shadows of the trees and then the sky, "Good thing it is a waning moon. Get your ass up there and catch yourself a comet!"
"Of course, your highness." Teeth gleamed and he vanished from his spot and appeared high in the dark sky. For a moment suspended before he started falling. In the night the wind kept him hidden as his clothes whipped against his body. Then he shifted into the form that was truly his.
His other form always felt like clothing that fit too tightly. That twisted him up and about into something barely recognizable. When he could fly, he felt free. The sky was open to him instead if feeling oh so constraining. The stars glittering above only proved that there was even more expanse up there. A mind boggling concept of infinite stretch that one could fly forever and never find the end of it. Gods did he want to see the stars. He wished he could fly among them and between them. Maybe even see if there were other worlds like this one. One where they didn't have to hide.
What a novel concept. He pushed the air with his wings as he soared up. The first peeks of that comet and its tail high in the sky. The world was big and he knew that. The comet was also far away and even if the thing could hang around for weeks near the Earth, he would need to still get close enough to the thing and not die. At least he wasn't trying for the moon again.
Auzrin worked his wings as he flew towards the comet. Reworking the spells that he used once that kept him alive. No tattoos, but it wove a magic in intricate markings over his skin. Glittering golds that helped warm him and helped make sure he had some form of air as he climbed up and up and up.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
"What in the world is that little speck doing?" Sterope mused as she laid on the comet and watched. Something with magic caught her interest as she stared at the Earth below. It was such a beautiful thing from afar and honestly she was glad to have helped save it. The people got to fight for another day. Live for another day. Her only regret was that she could not hold her baby in her arms. It made her wonder how he was doing, but she could not leave to go check on him. Could only hope. It certainly had been a surprise that the comet even passed Earth at all when she had been banished to it. Her child would still be so young…
"Hm?" Hair glittered much like the comet. Reds and orange tendrils glimmered with purples, blues, and golds every time she shifted. Dark brown skin showed such a similar glimmer, but those eyes were an intense deep purple of the darkest glimmers as she stared down where her new friend was staring at. What did you know, there was something trying to get up high.
A longer study of it and she snorted, "A dragon. Presumably trying to die from suffocation or freezing to death." The star settled back as she played with her hair. Gold metal bands were wrapped around various sections with little stars hanging off of them. The dress she wore was much the same. Shimmering gold fabric that was sheer folds hanging from her body.
"Hm, I do not know about that. Seems awfully inspired. Also seems to be using magic. Might actually survive getting up here if his wings don't give out. I wonder what he plans on doing about the wear as he gets higher and has to fight the air pressure."
Onna scowled. She could hear him wishing. Of course given she was the closest star at the moment, she could hear a lot of wishes. Including the woman beside her and the dragon fighting his way to the sky, "I do not imagine he has accounted for that much. He wants to try to catch the comet… and fly amongst stars." As she said it out loud… okay. It was a cute wistful thing. Freedom was not a terrible thing to wish for, and he wanted to explore it. Not to conquer, but to just see it all. It had at least a little of her interest. "Too bad he cannot actually do that. Poor thing would die. He so does not have quite the magic to pull that off."
"And thus another reason I worked to save the world. Minds like that. Too bad we cannot give him the comet. I bet that would be his favorite treasure." A blink of the dot going out and then he was much closer to the stratosphere. Ah, that little speck was awfully determined. "I imagine we could give him something for his troubles." A glittering look towards her friend, "After all, as far as you told me, we will be swinging back around in a few weeks. You could hitch a ride home. Maybe even see how my little one is doing."
Given the wishes the star could hear, Onna doubted she wanted to know any of that. Instead she looked onward to the growing spot. Could see the wings a bit better now and he was aiming more towards where the comet would be, "If he had better aim for something moving so fast, he could get on the comet for a few seconds." A droll look then, "Whatever you are insinuating I do with him, no. I know nothing of him except wishes."
"Oh why not, Onna? Play with the dragon. Leave. Don't see him again for another what did you say it was? Seventy five years or so? No commitment. If he is a lame lay then you can just forget about him. Your world is far bigger than his anyway."
"I am not having sex with him." Onna said flatly and looked down at the dragon as he was getting closer. Must have been using magic to breath and keep himself from getting crushed. Tenacious little bugger. Eyes glittered as she moved, "But I can make him at least see that the comet has something on i- ACK!" She jumped back and Sterope gave a squeak when suddenly they were face to face with bright golden eyes. The eyes focused on them for that brief moment as he stared at them The magic was starting to crumble on him, but for a brief moment that colbalt blue was stunning with the stars and the shimmering light of the comet reflecting off of it. Onna regained herself enough to lean forward and tap his nose as he flew to keep up barely, "Boo."
He startled out of his shock then and went… stiff as a board. Onna stared blankly as he back winged and sort of froze in place out of shock as his face tried to process that there was a… building on the comet. That the burning and shimmering tail of the comet was in part the chemical reactions from flying through space, but also magic to help protect them. He had wanted to just break off a piece of it and… there were people on there. PEOPLE!
No one would ever believe him.
Onna started laughing horribly, "Oh goodness I think I scared him."
"I think he might have forgotten how to function, Onna. Maybe you should help him." Sterope blinked at the dragon sort of falling behind now and the magic shattering slowly from him, "He is going to die at this rate. That magic is falling apart."
A glance back and she frowned. He really was stunned into shock. A sigh as she rubbed at her neck and looked to Sterope, "Fine. Fine. I will go save the silly little dragon and then come back. I am not going to be doing anything with him. I will, however, go see how your son is."
Sterope suddenly broke into a smile and wrapped her in a hug, "Thank you, Onna. Thank you. Now, go save the hapless dreamer and tell me all about it on my trip back around." She watched her friend shift then. A large glimmering beast that looked like a carved fire opal. Oranges and reds looked molten and the lights that did catch her showed the facets of color deep within her as though she were nothing but solid crystal. Her wings could make a sculptor cry with the way they fanned out. The tendrils supporting paper-thin glimmering skin that could be seen through. The dragoness took off like a blur, a streak of red towards the dragon whose magic was failing him.
Onna reached him and scooped the male into her claws as she started towards the Earth. To anyone else it would look like a streak of a red shooting star in the sky. Perhaps a good omen to some or bad to others.
When they got to the ground, she looked around at the mountain she managed to land them on without causing a horrible crater. A look at the male who just stared at her. Was he broken? His scales had a small bit of frost that had melted off from re-entry. Yet his chest moved, so he was breathing. Perhaps he was a vegetable now. A frown and Onna stepped back and debated leaving him there. He was so not her responsibility. Had to take that time to find the child of Sterope.
"I never… imagined a comet could be so beautiful." He finally said. A whisper of words that had Onna look away from the passing comet in the sky to looking down at him.
"Pardon?"
"You. You are beautiful. You look like a carved gemstone and your eyes are like the night sky." The male finally rolled himself up on all fours and shook himself. Excitement coursed through him. He did it! He got to the comet! Mind you he nearly died. How did he… OH! "Thank you for saving me. I am Auzrin Kattalakis." He put one of his large hands out in front of him and lowered his shoulders down and his head touched the ground, "If you should ever need anything of me, I will give my assistance as best as I am able."
Onna stared at the bowing dragon. Maw opening and closing for a few stunned moments, "Ah, thank you." She was used to being around others like her. This was a new thing for her. Everything was so… different. Every world was really, but in all honesty she found his eyes to be stunning and he blended in with the night sky so well… a shake of her head. That entry back to Earth must have rattled her, "I will keep that in mind. I am actually trying to find my friend's child. My name is Onna… Onna Astrais."
Child? There had been someone else on that comet. Maybe he was dreaming. A frown as he looked around, trying to gauge where he was based on the star placement, "I would be glad to help you, just as soon as I find my friends and let them know I did not die. We perhaps will want to shift back soon. It is not safe to be such a beast. Humans can be… destructive. Especially towards my people." And the more human half of his people tended to be… cranky. He shifted down to that more human form and smoothed his hand over his shirt and then his hair that was partly mussed from its braid.
Then he watched her shift down and he stared. She truly was a stunning thing. Especially that hair. He played with his necklace and offered his hand to her. "I can find them now that my head doesn't feel too rattled. Thank you again for your help. I probably would have died up there. Although the view of the sky from there is magnificent. How do you stay up there?"
The offered hand is studied before she carefully sets her hand in his. It was immediately engulfed and she blinked. She was tall and by no means slight, but beside him she felt like she stood beside a mountain and she was but a tree. Yet his hold was gentle. Careful as though afraid the crystal he saw her to be was fragile. "I am a star." She answered honestly. His eyes widened as she watched him process that, "Well, a star dragon to be precise. I live amongst the constellation Draco."
A star. He found a star. Who lived in a constellation he had only seen from afar, "I… I… can you…." His brain broke again. He took a deep breath and then beamed at her, "Onna, if you are ever able to, I would love to learn about what it is like out in the stars. One day I will find a way to fly among them as you do. I want to see the world above. Just need stronger magics." Needed to be able to hold those spells just a little longer.
Onna was nearly bowled over by his pure excitement and determination. He truly wanted to get there. Then she spied the rock hanging from his neck, "Is this… from the moon?" She moved to grasp onto it and studied it. How did he get that?
"Ah… yeah. Stupid childhood stunts when learning how to teleport. I really wanted to touch the moon. Tattooed myself up with all sorts of magic and just barely survived. Grabbed this as proof." He sadly wouldn't have any proof other than her and well… gods if she shifted people would want her for her hide. He grinned at her, cheeks warm before adding, "I bet you have seen plenty of moons before."
He made it to the moon and back. He was either incredibly brave and lucky, or foolish and lucky. Probably all of the above. Onna gently played with it before she considered something and then twisted her hand a little. A small piece of the comet in her hand and she held it to him, "Then you ought to have proof of your successful journey to catch the comet, Auzrin Kattalakis. I may have seen many moons, but those are simple journeys for me. For you, that is a feat. I do hope that one day I will see you among my stars."
Stunned, he just gently took the stone and rolled it in his hand. The texture and make were entirely different from his moon rock and it was fascinating. He closed his hand over it and leaned forward to press a gentle whisper of a kiss on her cheek, "Thank you, Onna. Your gift means the world to me. If this is but my last treasure from the sky above, then I am glad to be closest to a star such as you. I am sure you shine brightest in the sky. I won't have any trouble finding you."
Onna blinked and touched her cheek and then laughed softly, "You are welcome, Auzrin. I must say, it is charming to be flattered. Alas, we both have people to find. Perhaps I can tell you which stars to search for me in. I tend to move about a lot. Seems to drive some people mad when a star just moves or seems to 'vanish' as it were."
Auzrin nodded and unbound the leather cord from his braid and started to wrap the piece of comet and then he tied it to his necklace beside the moon stone where it hung there. Little treasured trophies that most would never think they were such prized treasures, "First my friends and then we can find the child you seek."
"Lead the way." Onna said, a smile showing as she let Auzrin teleport her to his camp.
"I am disgusted!" Onna screeched as she found out the wishes from the child were not as painful as seeing how the child lived. Despised. Abandoned twice. She simply wanted to wisk him away, but damnable spirits urged her to let him remain there. Futures to fulfil. So much pain waiting for the child and it shattered her heart. Oh she would give the fires of a thousand suns to that entire village!
Auzrin watched her pace back and forth. He had nearly wanted to go in with her. To wisk that boy away. His heart broke for the child. The only one that had truly wanted him alive was banished to a comet. He had no love for the Greeks at all right that second. Hell his love for their pantheon was a withering dying thing. Except someone had pleaded with them to not touch a thing.
They had obliged, but it was a cruel thing. The star was glowing, but he could tell by the scorched earth that it was not safe to touch her, "I know, Onna. There are many… people who thrive on their cruelty to others. Yet not enough souls to save them all. Or apparently destiny." He scowled and then watched as a twig nearly caught on fire. He ran to it and put it out with his big hand before approaching her and gently setting his hands on her shoulders to stop her pacing.
Gods, it hurt his hands, but he saw the dark eyes staring up at him. Pain shone through them. He just wanted to help soothe her, but he could not remotely think of the first thing to say. There was nothing that made the situation better. Nothing to ease the helplessness right then.
"I can hear him wishing, Auzrin. I hear him. He just wants to be loved. He wants to be accepted and they… and they treat him as though he were some some… defect. A blight! It is them who are the blight! Damn Zeus and damn his entire pantheon! Them begetting their children and then leaving them out to the wolves! COWARDS!" She snarled loudly and her skin flared hot, making Auzrin cry out in pain and step back. She froze as he stared at his blistering hands. Her heart broke… even a dragon could not handle the heat of the sun. Not like her. "Oh Auzrin, I am so sorry."
"It is alright, Onna. You are a star. I was bound to get a little toasted." He smiled to her and wiggled his fingers, "I will heal." Yet she looked so heartbroken and furious, "Although I would not yell their names so loudly. They tend to curse everyone and their family if they feel insulted for whatever reason." He moved forward and gently held his burnt hand to her, "I know it is painful to see the child hurting. Trust me, if I could I would save him. I would save many children from hardships if I were able and I imagine you would grant the wishes of all the children if you could."
Onna took the hand and studied the blisters. A gentle kiss and a force of will to heal him. Though the scars would remain. A light discoloration on the insides of his hands, "Children are treasures and should not be…" She trailed off as her throat seemed to close up to choke her words from her. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. "What do I tell her? How can I tell my friend that her baby is treated so horribly." Tears welled up in her eyes as she tried to keep herself from burning him. "It would break her heart and I cannot even let him know that his mother loves him."
"Then give him stars that shine brightest. Let him know he is loved by the sky above." Auzrin tells her softly, "His mother is there and if she loves him as you say he does, some part of him will hold onto hope that someone cares. It is the best anyone can do."
"I will… I will do that then, Auzrin. Thank you." Her voice trembled as she moved and hugged him tightly, "I thought you foolish when I first saw you, but now I find you wise."
"Well.." Auzrin wrapped her in a gentle hug and laughed, "Glad to know that I have improved in intelligence before your eyes." He nuzzled her hair in a comforting act and gave a soft purr as though a cat would.
It was a soothing sound, but causing him pain and scorching the Earth was a painful reminder of why she could not stay. It would kill him. She would kill him, "I should prepare to leave soon. In a few weeks Sterope will return and I must go with her. I cannot stay. If I witness any more pain and hear any more wishes for reprieve where I can give none, I may just simply burn the world away to free everyone of their misery."
"You truly cannot stay here, Onna?" He asked softly, holding her in his arms. Tight enough to give comfort that he was there, but loose enough to let her draw away whenever she wanted.
"I cannot. Just now I gave you pain. You have been nothing but kind to me. You introduced me to your friends. You showed me how to live here safely. Showed me the world through your eyes and helped me in my task." He gave her hope that the whole world would not turn out horrid. That there was a reason to allow it to live. "But I know my own limits and dangers. I am a star meant for the vastness of the sky. I cannot thrive here."
"I understand." Auzrin said softly. Hell, if he wanted to he could not follow her there. His hand gently brushed over her hair and he added, "Just as I can barely thrive being in this form. The night is the only time I can feel free. I would never wish to trap you."
Onna drew back and studied him. One of her hands moved to gently caress his cheek, "Then the stars shall shine brightly for you as well, Auzrin Kattalakis. So that you may feel always that you are flying among us."
"Then I will bear my scars with honor and fly as high as I can so you may see me no matter how far you are." He responds softly, "And I will try to help all that I can so that you can hear wishes that do not bring your heart pain."
Weeks. She had spent weeks with the man and she just could not help but to stare at him. Her heart twisted in the sincerity and his wish that he could ease her pain. Oh if she could give him the ability to be as she was, she would. A move to gently kiss his cheek, "I believe you, Auzrin." Her voice soft as she considered something. "My time here may be short, but I would not wish to… leave without having done something memorable with you."
Auzrin blinked at her slowly and then tilted his head, "I would think our first meeting was very memorable." Should he be insulted? It was hard to tell and frankly he was not sure.
Onna laughed softly and smiled, "Yes, that too was memorable, but I do not wish to leave on such a sad note." Gods help her, she hoped she did not regret this. She had told her friend under no uncertain terms that she was not going to be doing anything like this. And yet there she was, thinking of offering to entangle with him, "I do not know how you feel about ah… sex without intention of a further relationship. I could never imagine making you feel obligated to remain with me and I know many who would not be happy to share with someone else."
Auzrin nodded, listening until his brain caught up with what she said. Wait. Sex? What? His eyes went wide and he worked his jaw a little, "I… well… there are cases of ah…. Shifters like myself can become tied to another. Some will get a mark on their hand and the female chooses if they wish to be a bound pair or not. The male either is accepted and can only ever have sex with that person or become unable to if the other does not accept them. It is a very… new concept. I have not discovered what would happen if two males ended up a bound pair. The rules seem very convoluted in that respect. Or two women even…" he babbled a bit until Onna started laughing. Then he froze. Whoops. Too much information all at once, "Ah, sorry."
"No, please do not apologize. I rather like the way your eyes come to life when you start explaining things." A smile as she studies him, "If I could remain, I would love to be your mate. You seem like a sweet and genuine soul."
"Well I am not sweet all of the time. I get loud and angry. I stomp around. I am brutally violent when pushed to be. My temper is not all that kind. You have just found me on a good day." Auzrin admits. Surely there was someone out there far better for her among the stars. Though… she could at least choose to lay with others if she wanted to. She was not a dragon like him so perhaps the conventions of mating and having children were beyond that. "But… if you were ever to mate with me. I would treasure those times where you come here and I am not the kind to mind sharing. I think it is wonderful for others to be full of love for everyone. For myself, well, I think I can survive the celibacy if it were to come to that. I do not know if being a star would prevent you from having children with anyone but me though."
So considerate. A soft smile shone and it reached her eyes, "If you were the only one to ever give me such a gift, then I would treasure that child." And gods knew she would let Sterope dote on the babe as much as possible. No god, demon, or power would keep the goddess from loving on children at all. Onna would see to that in some form, "Even with such risks, I would love to spend a moment in pleasure rather than pain."
"Well then…" Auzrin just stared down at the woman and took a deep breath to focus on this. Risks and all…. What were the chances of him bonding to her? Even so… the weeks he spent thus far with her were a wonderful adventure of learning about somewhere new. He had goals and worlds to reach. "I would greatly enjoy being to fly with you to somewhere… safer and romantic for two dragons to intertwine."
The way he said it made Onna laugh again. Of course the poor thing was also hoping he didn't screw it all up again. A move to grab his hand and move into the night, "Then you had best catch up so you can lead the way." And she took off running then shifting into a dragon and flying into the night.
Auzrin stared for a moment and then laughed, running off after her and shifting as well. It would be a good night. He would find a way to make sure of it.