|Sylandria|

Izunako was training with the Commander. She was trying to get him to focus his energy enough to form a fireball. So far, he only passes out when he gets the flames. "Damn this! You know I am unable to form fire without draining myself!" Izunako was about to snap.

"You have the ability to Izunako. You just aren't… motivated enough…" The Commander was grinning wildly. She grabbed me, held my arms behind my back, and held a knife to my throat. "Motivated enough?"

Izunako's pupils became vertical slits. "You wouldn't dare."

The Commander pressed harder. "Would I?"

Izunako snarled at her. "I'm warning you. I will not hesitate to strike you down." Kagusi pressed harder, and I could feel the warmth of my blood. Izunako saw it, and roared. His arms were curved dangerously at his sides and I could see his eyes light up. Shadowflame erupted from his back to form wings and his arms were shrouded in the same material. He loosed several large fireballs that the Commander struck down with ice bolts. Izunako drew the broadsword, and wheeled his body so he sent Inferno Wheels at the Commander. She dodged quickly but ran into Izunako's arms. He was grinning maniacally, and he stabbed the Commander through the back. Kagusi didn't even flinch. Izunako tossed her aside and prepared to end her with a shadowflame spear. I jumped up and tried to hold him back. He resisted against my grip but was becoming less aggressive.

"Izunako." He strained against my grip. "Izunako…" He resisted less. "Izu…"

"Silk… I'm sorry." ...Silk? His power faded, and he was exhausted. I could feel his energy grow dangerously weak. I stroked his head, pulling him into a light sleep. His head laid softly on my chest as I carried him to our room. He slept without any dreams.

|Izunako|

I woke up with a fiery pain in all of my muscles. What was happening? Ashley was laying across my chest, making small sounds of worry. It was almost a year after she had hatched, and she was around a foot and a half long. She was getting heavier too. A knock came from the door, and I opened it. It was a catgirl with a cold and emotionless expression. Koru was standing with her. The cold catgirl spoke. "My name is Maru. I will be your partner while Sylandria trains."

I bristled. "We train together. No excuses."

Maru shook her head. "I do not mean in combat. I mean in a relationship way."

I could feel the blood rush to my face. "I didn't ask for this. I demand that you explain this to me immediately."

Maru straightened. "Commander Dragoon deemed the Harpy too dangerous for your love. This means-"

I froze when I heard the word "Harpy." Sylandria was a Harpy. Shit. Harpies and Dragons have a long-lasting rivalry for owning the skies. If she really is a Harpy, then our siblings won't be happy with this. I was nervous. I went to go see her immediately when she walked into our room with something covering her arms. "Sylandria!" She stiffened.

"Y-yes…?" Her voice was extremely shaky.

"I need to ask you something." She turned towards me. "Are you a Harpy?"

She looked up into my eyes, on the verge of tears. "...Yes..." Sylandria uncovered her arms, where a light down of feathers grew. I ran my fingers over them. They were soft and warm. She flinched away at my touch. She knows what I am. I am a dragon, terror of the skies. She is a Harpy, the rival fighting for dominance. We stared at each other in silence, then Sylandria opened my shirt. She placed a hand on my chest and laid her head on it. I wrapped my arms around her. The feathers on her arms were warm against my bare skin. "What is Remi going to say about this?" She sounded worried. I pulled her closer.

"I don't care what she says. I… I really like you. Enough that I won't let you go that easily." I grinned shyly at her, but she just blushed.

"Stop that… but I guess I like you too." Sylandria smiled warmly as she threw her arms around my neck. We embraced each other lovingly until Remi walked in to find us, a Harpy and a Dragon, cuddling.

"Izunako…!" Her voice was sharp. She hates Harpies like any other Dragon would. I could see her hands clenched into fists, her tail curled in anger. "So Sylandria, you're a Harpy." I could feel the venom. Sylandria buried her face in my chest. "Get away from my brother." Remi lashed out at her with a poisoned knife. The blade caught Sylandria across the arm. I quickly took out my own knife and cut open the wound so the blood would drain.

"Remi." She turned to me. "I am disowning you as a sister for doing this to Sylandria. Now get out of my sight before I retaliate with twice as much force." She turned away angrily with tears in her eyes and left. I looked back at Sylandria, who was pale from blood loss and had a depressed look on her face. I wrapped bandages around her arm slowly and carefully after cleaning it. She looked up at me strangely. There was a storm of emotions in her eyes. She leaned against me silently. I held her in my arms gently. I wasn't going to let her go. Not after what happened. If Remi, my sister, wanted to kill Sylandria, then I didn't know who to trust. She had crossed a line she could not go back on. She had really pushed me to the limit.