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'A good book has one prologue, the adventure of a lifetime starts with at least three.'

Magnus the red- circa millennium 41.

part one

Prologue

'Twas a dark and stormy night. The clouds were black, the wind howled like an angry wolf the rain lashed out like a thousand little whips. Letting their anger out suddenly there was a flash of lighting and three gigantic silhouettes revealed, standing in a circle in the middle of a green lake. A fierce wind was whipping around their forms, sending the white hair of the two smaller silhouettes into a frenzy, and forming ripples in the lake. The two smaller silhouettes were twenty-five meters tall they were shin-deep in the water, to left were cliffs straight up and jagged to the left was a path that went around the lake slowly curving up to the cliffs and then back down in a large oval the lake stood in the middle of a forest.

"So how ya doing," said the first one, it stood head and shoulders over the other two and its voice it was a deep rumble and a whisper at the same time.

"Fine," the other two replied in bored voices.

The first silhouette gave an extracted sigh, "My god you two sound bored out of your minds."

"We are," they answered in unison.

"What if I told you that I could make it interesting," said the first silhouette.

Then suddenly there was a flash of lightning so bright the three silhouettes appeared. All three were reptilian in nature but also humanoid two legs, two arms but the first one it was different it was taller, border, with massive wings and the digitigrade legs as opposed to the normal structure of the smaller one's legs, but what drew the attention of Pedodrow was the eyes of the first silhouette like orbs of crimson blood. Eyes without mercy eyes that liked to see pain and suffering this thing had those the eyes and they were looking at her she knew that she should have taken the long way home.

"Well, shit" were her last words.

They had finished playing with Pedodrow, if tearing her in too literal shreds and consuming her counted as playing, even though the storm was still whipping around them, they still had not moved from the centre of the lake the black dragon with red eyes turned to her companion's licking blood and gore from its snout,

As the three things Finished their meal another one of the beings showed up, it just appeared out of the storm and it was angry with the other three.

It was growling, 'I told you to stay hidden if they-'

She was cut off by the first one with crimson eyes, 'they won't Find out'

The new arrival's eyes widened despite the storm whipping around them, it looked furious 'you had one job.'

it was shaking with anger, 'to stay hidden to stay out of sight to guard the entry point I don't like this plan as it stands but if we are found-' then the new arrival stopped sniffed the air, 'was that a human?'

There was silence, the storm even seemed to just stop for just a few moments.

'Well, to be fair you said you wouldn't be-'

With surprising speed, the new arrival rushed forward and slugged the red-eyed thing across the jaw. Its head whipped back the two golden-eyed ones stood there torn between loyalty and duty.

Again lightning flashed and then the pure black scales of the red-eyed thing where reviled then moving if it possible faster than the other thing, it grabbed the new arrivals arm but the new arrival sent a knee into the red-eyed things stomach, it doubled over then the red-eyed dragon smashed a fist into the arrivals arm and snapped it like a twig it roared in pain, this decided it for the golden-eyed twins.

They rushed and attacked cawed at the red scales of the other reptilian beast helping the red-eyed one Finish the job the howling wind muffed the screams, the cracking of bones, and tearing of flesh. When they had finished, they dragged the titanic body to a large but secluded clearing surrounded by a hill on one side and dense forest and a river on the other and left it to die.

The black scaled beast wanted to kill the red one but something stayed its hand it fully expected the red one to die anyway, what reason did it have to keep living any way? what did it to live for?

Pedodrow was reported missing on the Twenty fourth of September twenty thirty-three, she was one of three reported missing in the area earth had many archipelagos and islands and two main continents, Archasia it spread up from the equator to the north pole the bottom was lush jungle towards the centre was a mix of arid and forested area and then right up the top was the polar ice cap the second continent, Archericon this is where Pedodrow lived witch was more equatorial in its placement it was in general greener and was more mountains toward its edges then Archasia but was less varied in its environments, in one of there places a Lycanthrope or a dragon may have been the first to be suspected but is Archericon there were no dragons maybe the odd lycanthrope but they had said a firm no to dragons indigenous or otherwise, so the last thing they would expect is a dragon and the last thing a seventeen-year-old would expect to find in a cave.

Chapter 1

The other prologue

Farren woke up breathing heavily, he tossed aside the doona covering his body and got up he was sweating and shaky he had had another nightmare. He tried to remember it he really did after two minutes he couldn't so he went over to the chest of drawers, picking out clothes at random and looking in the full-length mirror, all he had was a sense that it had something to do with the forest with where he had been yesterday.

He thought he looked Fine so without further-a-do Farren ever so quietly opened his door and stepped out into the corridor he very quietly sunk his way into the kitchen and took the dog's lead from its hook. It was still pitch-black outside, but Farren didn't mind there was just something about being in the forest that he found soothing, sometimes he would find a bird or an animal that was injured that's why he carried disinfected bandages and wipes with him. He also carried his sketchpad in there in case he saw something interesting.

It only took him a few seconds to Find the dog. Her name was Ghost needless to say she went ballistic when she saw Farren with the lead, she was a medium-sized dog with a large amount of energy and adorable floppy ears. After calming Ghost down enough to get the lead on Farren opened the door very quietly and headed out.

The storm that had woken him up had since subsided leaving the heavy sense of wet earth in the air which was at odds with the twilight of early-down, Farren's breath turned to ice and crystallized as he breathed out it was cold here. Farren lived in the northern stretch of Archericon in the mountainous area he wrapped his coat tightly around himself grabbed a tight hold on ghost's lead and walked into the forest.

Through a very legal and very large hole in the fence after they had walked deeper into the forest, Farren let the dog off the lead she looked at him for about half a second and then boulted into depths of the forest, Farren gave chase after the furry hound he ran for as long as he could before he bent double wheezing "you- you win Ghost" he wheezed.

She came running back along the path and sat down in the strange way that dogs do. Farren gave the dogs head an affectionate ruffle she nuzzled his hand making her strange grunting noises, then she licked his hand. Farren looked around he didn't know where he was which unsurprising I had only lived here a week, but I was very excited to create a mental map of the space the forest occupied and this sort-of-but-not-quite-gully-but-also-a-clearing-thing which he was very much looking forward to exploring.

I looked up at the sky the sun was starting to rise,

'c'mon Ghost lets head home'

But Ghost wasn't moving she crouched low, staring at a fixed point and growling low in her throat, Farren whistled to long low and then high notes, Ghost broke out of her revelry and ran after him. Farren looked down at Ghost

'I wonder what you found, well I suppose we could always Find out tomorrow.'

As Farren turned away and started walking two eyes followed him from the shadow of an overhang.

I headed home flowing Ghost until we reached a part that he recognized and once he got home I went around the side of the house, holding Ghost aloft jumped the fence on to the veranda I stopped for a second to catch my breath.

'You are getting heavy,' I say to Ghost 'I need to take you out for more walks.'

Ghost a dog noise at the word walk, I smiled and took Ghost off the lead then went inside via the sliding door.

I went past the open plan kitchen down the hallway, my room was at the end my sisters were at the Start and in the middle, there was at the very start and in the middle was a door that led to the laundry and toilet, I had to be careful as he snuck past his sisters' room if I woke her up I would be in trouble so being very careful and sneaky I got to my room. Then got changed into my school uniform and parsed the time by reading a book, I had read the book many times but loved it so much I didn't mind re-reading it.

When my alarm went off at the designated time which was seven-thirty, I shut the book with a snap and got up and went to make myself breakfast I decided that cereal was the best option, I sat at the table in front of the island bench and looked out the floor to ceiling windows past the veranda into the forest whilst he ate his breakfast. I was regretting getting up so early in the morning now I was tired.

As I sat there contemplating and trying to remember my dream, it had involved I paused thinking yes that was it, it was something big, red, something like a hand I almost had it, I concentrated it was, I could almost see-the silence was shattered.

I jumped and hit my head on the island bench. It was sister had by the sounds of it had dropped a bowl again, rubbing my head where it was smarting I stood up and walked around to the other side of the island bench, and I saw why his sister had dropped the bowl I screamed.

'found you,' It said.

A massive fist smashed through the roof.

I woke up covered in sweat again, I stand up quickly looking around making sure that nothing is going to destroy my room, feeling satisfied that it was just a dream I get dressed in my school uniform, it had one of those annoying collar and cuff practically see-through white shirts, which are in my opinion, the worst possible thing you can make people like me where when we live in a mountain range, where it is either cold, wet, or both.

I was muttering darkly about what I would do to the person who designed the school uniform, but I had to admit that the fleece-lined pants were good and logical and so was the jumper, but this wasn't even my jumper I lost mine in year eight. That was three years and four jumpers ago, feeling groggy, I walk down the dark hallway lit only by the faint light of dawn all the rooms were here except my mum's room which meant I had to be quiet for fear of waking my younger sibling who would then wake up my mum she worked long hours.

I decided cereal is what I want today so when I reach the end of the hallway I realize that I still hate island benches as I grab a bowl from the smaller bench opposite, then go the pantry that's inset into the corner of the kitchen, grab the cereal go the fridge grab the milk and add everything together in complete silence, and that's the problem I thought.

with island benches, they split everything up and also reduce the amount of space you have, and it gets worse because over half of the three-meter bench is taken up by a sink, which is also split in two.

I sat there mulling over the new house and decided the proximity of the forest made up for all the houses faults because worst comes to worst just go the forest, and work on the tree fort I smiled well it was less of a fort and more like some sticks leaning against a tree, but all the same.

I stood looking at the kitchen timer it was almost time to go I sighed 'yay' I wasn't usually a very pessimistic person, but recent events at my school have changed that.

'What are you sighing about' my mum said, stepping out of her room my mum was nice she just one of those people that looked nice, I would have even said that she radiated joy, she had a nice face.

'I'm sighing because I have to go to school.'

Mums face softened and she swept me up in a hug, 'I know it's been hard recently but-'

'I know mum' I say softly, 'I'm sure that today will be fine.' But I couldn't help thinking that's a lie.

I looked into my mum's eyes she had nice hazel eyes. I went back to my room to finish packing my bag when I had I put my bag on and begin my walk to the bus stop, it was a crisp morning and a pale sun was shining, I could see the frost on the grass it made a pleasing sound when stepped on. I arrived at the bus stop in record time I stood there me and every other school kid that got on at that bus stop about twenty kids, and three eldritch abominations whose only objective in life seemed to be to make mine as unpleasant as possible and they had only been at the school for three days.

I stood on the outskirts of the group put my bag on the ground and pulled out my choice of book and stood there just minding my own business, then the bus arrived and people started filing on the bus I made my way nervously towards the bus and I almost made it.

'Hey, nerd what book you got there can I have a look' one of the three yelled at me.

He was the big one the ring leader he was tall with sandy blond hair wearing school uniform which was strange since he didn't usually do that, the other two were shorter then he was both with dark brown hair, the main difference between them is one had acne apart from that they were almost entirely forgettable.

'I don't want to deal with this shit today' I mutter as I stepped onto the bus.

I walk along the corridor trying to find an empty seat, I found one and sat down looking out the window deliberately not looking up as Fin and his friends passed me, Fin I thought what the fuck kind of a name is fin then again I named a magpie Maggi I sat up with a pang of guilt, I had forgotten to check on her I pulled out my phone to text mum then realized that she would probably be heading to work now so I left it, she would probably be fine I told myself.

The bus arrived ten minutes before school started as it always did, I waited until everyone had gotten off the bus and then I stood and redyed myself, I said thank you to bus driver and stepped out again into the crisp morning air the school itself was rather small for a high school with only just over four hundred students, it was basically a rectangle with a large inner courtyard and classrooms lining the internal and external of the rectangle, with an oval and a standard sized gym, all in all, it was a fairly standard school I would know I have moved around a bit.

I looked around there was know sine of the three musketeers, so I started towards my locker to grab my stuff for science and I felt his hand on my shoulder, I clenched my fists just for a split second I thought where the same height I could take him.

Then I came to my senses I unclenched my fists and turned around to face Fin, he was leering at 'me wanna give a look at that book now.'

'Fuck off' I said, clutching the book harder.

'It wasn't a request' Fin said, reaching for the book.

I slapped his hand away 'fuck off I don't want or need this today' I said testily.

'Give me the book' Fin said calmly, 'or I will throw rocks at your dumb dog again.'

I felt my fists clench again, that was the problem with having people that hated you living next door

'no.'

Your choice he said and he shoved me, I fell over dropping my book Fin snatched it up.

'Oh,' he said 'this isn't any old book, this is your diary,' people had started to gather around now.

I scrambled to my feet, 'give that back' I spat at Fin.

'No, I don't think I will.'

Rage overrode common since I changed straight at Fin then out of know where his two friends grabbed my arms and then a teacher decided now was a good time to show up.

'What's this?' he asked.

I sighed internally just what I need Mr Henderson the least liked history teacher ever I resisted the urge to make a pun in my head.

'So' Mr Henderson asked.

The strange twins practically dropped me in their efforts to avoid getting in trouble, funny I thought why didn't I see them earlier.

'Mr. Henderson' Finn said In a defensive voice, 'Farren was going to attack me.'

'What' say outraged 'sir, he stated it and stole my diary.'

'Is this true?' Mr Henderson asked Fin.

Fin grumbled something and handed back the diary, he took care to bump into me as hard as he could.

'Just you what until Monday I'm gonna get you he whispered.'

'Thanks, sir,' I said readjusting my bag.

I checked my watch now I only two minutes to get to history I picked up the pace, I found that most schools where very similar you have good teachers, fun teachers, or the one teacher that everyone hated there did change every time,14 sometimes it was the science teacher no one liked and sometimes it was the drama teacher.

Either way, most school days were the same for me during lunch I would find I nice quiet spot to read my book or write in my diary and occasionally sketch some of the birds I had rescued. I was currently sitting on a bench trying to get the wings right and I was running low on eraser, and that was most days for me now, do the work and try to avoid Fin and his friends.

The bell rang I sat up despite how I was feeling I couldn't help but feel my spirits lift I little I had food technology, my favourite class, one of the few classes that let me stretch my creative muscles. The cooking teacher Ms Lee had to be my favourite teacher she was always up for a joke and we had a couple of running jokes as well but she was very strict with the theory component no theory no cooking was like a mantra for her.

I walked into the classroom opening the sliding door, Ms Lee smiled at me I smiled back 'so how are you today Mr Farren.'

I snorted 'fine today thanks to this hear fine class of yours.' I turned and moved into the rear of the classroom and put my things onto one of the tables and walked back into the kitchen.

'so what's on the menu today Ms' I ask.

'Well Farren' Ms lee said doing her best French impression, 'we have the world's finest cinnamon scrolls however, due to staff constraints you will have to make it yourself.'

I snorted 'thanks Miss' I say.

The final bell rang as I was putting my cinnamon scroll into its container, I snapped the lid on thanked Ms lee who reminded me to take my apron off before I walk out witch I hand not forgotten to do, then beelined it for my locker checked I had everything I needed, I zipped up and shouldered my bag and walked to the bus turn around.

I made it, I was on the bus I sat down for what was, an uneventful journey and waited until we reached my stop it was hard to miss it was after all at the end of the line I got off the bus, the sun was starting to wane now it would soon sink below the mountains I shouldered my bag cooking lesson had put me in a better mood and besides school was over, that was always a win I started the walk home.

It was like the walk to the bus stop but in reverse, I got home I still wasn't used to the red brick building, but I was sure I would get used to it sooner or later.

I unlocked the door and made straight for Maggi's current residence to make sure that the magpie was ok, she had flown straight into out of our windows it's current residence was an outdoor birdcage, she made loud bird noises, she was the third bird I had found injured, this one had a damaged wing but It was unwilling to even be near me it sat in the corner nursing its wing, I went to the fridge and got her some salami, I knew that it was bag to feed it human food but I hadn't had time to go to the pet store yet, I sat at my desk watching through my window as Maggi scrutinized the salami. I turned and took out my laptop and started on the history homework Mr Henderson set the class

Mum got home with my sister Marander half an hour later, I saved my work closed the lid of the laptop and stood stretching.

'Hello everyone' I shouted.

Startling Maggi who started screeching, I walked out of my room closing the door behind me.

'Sorry about that' I say to no one in particular.

my sister was just about to close her door.

'Hay sis' I said

she gave an exaggerated sight 'hay brov' she said he fist-bumped me, I and my sister had a strange relationship one the one hand we here related and looked out for each other, on the other hand, we also argued over the dumbest shit.

'All Is right with the world' I say, to mum embracing her.

'Right then' mum said perplexed.

'Also' I asked 'what's for dinner?'

'DIY' mum said, 'now I have work to do so do what you like, just don't burn the house down.'

'It's ok' I say to mum, 'I'm going to bed early tonight.'

Mum's face softened, 'you ok? how was school today?'

'Yea, yea it was fine' I say airily, mum hugged me one last time then went off to go and do her work.

I made my self dinner thinking about what I was going to do on the weekend, I sat in my room I decided I would go into the forest again and begin to build a mental map of the area, I finished my dinner and put my head on the pillow of my bed I was exhausted.

When I woke up I opened the curtains the sun was just starting to rise, I got up and got out of my school uniform and put on warm clothes and a coat, it was a long black coat I liked it. I then went to the kitchen to make a bowl of cereal.

I sat down at the table I hear creaking floorboards behind me, and I turn to see my sister dressed in pyjamas.

I smile at her, 'so are ready?'

she replies with a sarcastic smile, 'you do know its six in the morning.'

'Yep.'

'So why are you awake?'

'Because I'm bored.'

'Goanna go for a walk?' she asked.

'yep.'

I stand up and walk around the island bench and put my bowl in the sink and leave my sister to her business and as open the front door I breathe in the scent of a forest that had been rained on previously. I close the door behind me and stand there listening to the birds chirping and watching my breath crystallize in front of me, I set off into the forest following one of the less conventional paths.

I had a strange sense of Déjà vu I just felt like I had done this before. There was that strange feeling, all the birds had stopped chirping and I felt another strange feeling I stopped walking I could smell something, mingling with the damp earth it was wrong like death or a rotting corpse, I looked down and there it was the clearing with the overhang it was almost a straight fall down into the river from where I was.

I retraced my steps and eventually found what I thought was the river I saw from the top off the cliff, I followed it jumping from large stepping stone to large stepping stone they started to get smaller, I had a feeling of foreboding I rounded the corner and stepped up onto the edge of the clearing and there it was that I had assumed was a small overhang was actually a rather large cave.

I decided to just sit down for a second and process yesterday, that hadn't been any other incidents but still I wondered why, why he would do this so I decided to draw or at least sketch something I pulled out my sketch pad, the feeling of foreboding was gone now and this was a very nice spot and the smell seemed to have gone I dismissed it as an overactive imagination on my behalf.

A sound emanated from the cave a low deep growling. I stood up dropping my sketch pad I was paralysed I haven't heard that noise before, ever the cave seemed to be now emanating that strange smell again. Like copper and something unpleasant I took two steps closer the growling sound stopped, I strode across the clearing and into the mouth of the cave I saw strange light blue shapes begin to shimmer and suddenly there were lights, globs floating there revealing it, I screamed it was there laying on the ground curled into a ball the first thing I saw was the scales, they were a dull red it looked unhealthy but it looked to be human, but bigger. It's its knee alone was at least twice my height I couldn't see much of its head but I thought I saw a pair of horns, it seemed to be nursing one on its arms it was twisted at an odd angle it was a Dragon.

My scream didn't seem to have awakened it, I was shaking adrenaline surging through my veins I did possibly the stupidest thing I could have I crept closer as I got closer I began to see more of the creature, the dragon I could see it's head angular with an elongated snout and jaws capable of holding a large number of people, I shivered I could also now see the two pairs of horns and pointed ears though it seemed one was missing, then what I assumed was shoulder-length hair was particularly mattered with congealed blood and dirt there and it was covered in cuts and gashes, some worse than others one on its shoulder appeared to be leaking puss and the left arm was definitely broken I stepped closer its figures were larger than me I stood in awe at the size of the creature, I reached out and touched it hand that was the size of a large tank.

It started its eyes fluttered open I back peddled straight into its leg it blinked and looked around it seemed confused it inhaled and then looked state at me I recoiled and exclaimed in surprise.

Then it hissed with hostility 'What are you doing here?' what are you doing here what a dumb question the dragon thought to its self.

The Dragon stretched out its legs it winced it still clutched its injured left arm, it grimiest in pain as it propped itself-up on its good arm its left arm dangled uselessly, I took a tentative step forward its eyes with its purple irises studied me.

'Why are you here?' the Dragon said, this time with less hostility

'Ur um,' I clenched my fist trying to control the shaking of my body, 'I just found you.'

'Get out of here' it said, 'leave you never saw me.' or don't actually please don't.

'But your arm-'

'I don't need your help' the dragon spat, as tried to sit up further but it just slumped.

The creature looked down at the small human it was maybe sixteen or seventeen rotations old it was small and it was scared it made the creature think, the human had seen it now and it needed its strength for its arm it could let the humans go but then what? She would find him kill him for seeing me so what do I do it thought for just a second it thought I could kill they would never know but that was not an option but could it do it, it made a promise oh gods why did I this is my fault.

I watched the dragon but I didn't move was my life hanging in the balance? was it going to kill me? If so how? at that moment I wondered if was actually going to die I had heard stories about dragons from the other continent about horrible things they had done, I personally didn't know what to think, this was my first time meeting a dragon and they were scary.

Then the dragon said after what seemed an eternity and with less hostility this time 'what do you want? Why are you here?'

why are you here the dragon thought to itself you lead him here because you where sad, poor you, it chastised itself revealing yourself If they find you? It doesn't matter, I have cut myself off from other people dragon's for two long yes it's dangerous but I just want a friend it's been too long.

'I, I don't know but I do know that your arm has a major brake along well if you there human I would call it well it looks like your ulna, that's to say the outer bone of your forearm.'

'You certainly seem to know your stuff' the red-scaled Dragon said, 'you want to come and have a look?'

'Um ok' I said the sudden change in the Dragons demeanour was unnerving, I started to walk forward then I heard the growling sound that had drawn me to the cave, it was coming from the stomach of the dragon, it was hungry.

'I'm not going to eat you if that's what you're thinking' the dragon said.

I took a step back, that was exactly what I was thinking.

'No please don't leave me, I don't want to die alone' the dragon said, almost a pleading note in its voice.

I didn't know what to do was torn between leaving the massive injured and quite obviously hungry dragon, but the way the dragon had acted when I had met it seemed confusing, but then I looked into its eyes and he saw something, not what he had expected I had expected cruelty or some kind I hated or anger or anything that suggested harm like the story's said. But what I saw was kindness, something I didn't expect maybe it just wants a friend, just like me she was lonely so I decided to stay to care for this dragon moving it was out of the question I had to rack my brains to find a solution, I decided that I would be best to just leave most of the healing to the creature but I would need to clean out that cut on its shoulder.

'First things first' I say 'I'm going to need to clean out that wound on your shoulder and also, you're not going to die.'

'I know that I'm just very lonely, you know cows don't make the best friends.'

Was that a joke? I thought is the dragon making a joke? Was it trying to relieve the tension? I was very confused why was it doing this? Why am I doing this?

It took a long time with a strong stomach three bottles of antiseptic and getting over the fear of being near the jaws of the dragon and a lot of pus and blood-stained rags, the arm now that was tricky in the end I decided to get the dragon to move the bone back into the correct position, it took some convincing but I swear you could have heard the roar of pain from orbit, I sat back my hands were covered in the creatures strange purple blood I had spent almost the entire Saturday in that cave.

The dragon and it was very confused she didn't want a friend but she had led him here so maybe she was just in denial and, there was just something about this human, he was kind it something with the dragon had not experienced much in her time in this planet, she had also watched the human cared for things. She had watched him care for animals she had seen him drawing, he would just sit there the dragon had never dared reveal herself in the flesh even before she had been cast out, the dragon didn't know why but it had chosen now. so much for keeping the promise, then again he didn't have to come here I didn't expect him to, prophetic dreams good one me she through, the dragon watched amused as the human clambered up onto her shoulder and began to clean the wound working quietly and efficiently the dragon had made a promise to herself, no more friends but where had that gotten her? as it watched the human work it dragon felt a rush of appreciation screw it I'm making this human my friend, I bought him into this against my own better judgement, he's going to help me but the question remained how do I make a friend? It had been a long time.

'I'm going to go and wash my hands' I say.

'Ok,' the dragon said.

I walked outside the cave I looked up at the sun, it was sinking low I decided to go home this dragon was nice maybe we could be friends I didn't know yet then I heard a pained moan I ran back to the cave, purple-stained water running off my hands the dragon was sitting up against the cave wall.

'What's wrong' I asked.

'I feel bad for the way I introduced myself, it's just well I didn't mean-'

'It's ok' I said

'But also, I am so very, very hungry' the dragon said, almost coyly.

'There is not much I can do about that' I say.

There was a strange gleam in those beautiful purple eyes, 'Oh but there is' the dragon said smiling, showing all its teeth.

They were big each as long as my arm and tapered to a needlepoint it opened its jaws.

'Say ah' the dragon said, as it lifted me up

Chapter 2

The other, other prologue somewhere in Archasia near the arctic land bridge.

Overall Alex wouldn't say that he enjoyed fishing yes, he loves being in the open ocean the cold almost arctic breeze blowing his sandy hair into a frenzy and his blue shirt and tan shorts would always be covered in salt then they got home, but he loved his dad but the part when him and his dad sat down and actually finished he found boring and uneventful, apart from the occasional joke from his dad but today was different, there was just something different about the ocean it seemed somehow less alive and darker his dad was in the cabin.

Alex shouted over the engine, 'DAD IS IT JUST ME OR DOES IF FEEL WEIRD TODAY?'

His shouted back, 'WHAT.'

Alex opened his mouth to reply thought better of it shut his mouth and walked over the wooden deck to the cabin of the boat, it was shabby, dilapidated and best described as the old, the wooden hull was stained green and encrusted with barnacles but she had character, this boat was older than Alex.

Alex knocked on the door, his dad opened the door which was pointless it made the already cramped space more unbearable it was just over a meter on each side, with almost all the room being taken up by the steering wheel his father was somewhere in his fifties and was balding when he was fishing he always wore a large sun hat to protect his face and head he turned not realizing Alex was right behind him.

And yelled, "WE ARE HEAR" right in Alex's face.

Alex leapt back in surprise.

'sorry' his dad said, apologetically.

Alex waved his hand airily, 'it's Fine shall I fetch the kit'

'Yes, thanks' dad replied.

"the kit" was the term, Alex and his dad used for fishing poles and bait, witch today was worms, Alex walked over to the little hatch at the back of the boat opened it and grabbed out the bait and fishing poles he looked up and fell back in horror, he involuntarily yelled his dad looked up concern whiten on his face.

Alex just pointed, 'there was something big.'

his dad stood up came over to Alex and rested a hand on his shoulder 'are you ok' he asked Alex regained his composer 'yes, I'm Fine'

The lights turned off, suddenly it was dark the perfect sunny day gone in the blink of an eye thunder clashed the sky lit up as lightning struck Alex looked around the wind was blowing up into a gale.

It lurked below the tiny watercraft with the two humans in it, it wondered if that were sacred yet it new the smaller one was the human had seen it, it came close to the boat and gently knocked it and watched the pathetic little craft list violently, but it was bored with the little humans it was time to feed.

So, it gently lowered itself to the ocean floor and shot up and it broke the surfs of the storm-tossed ocean.

the wave created by the thing swamped the tiny boat, it raised its head the sky and roared its tentacles ensnaring the boat.

Alex was hanging on to the side of the boat for dear life the rain hitting his face like a thousand little slaps then he herd the bone-chilling raw of a beast not of this earth he gathered the strength to look up but he couldn't see the thing, he was looking at was so utterly wrong but its saw him tentacles Started to envelop the boat but something snatched Alex and he was dragged underwater screaming.

When Alex came to he was lying on the beach face down, he lay there for a second wondering how he got there he looked around it was twilight and it came back to him it was like getting punched in the gut, he got up on all fours and then fell over again.

'it's ok you'll feel better soon' he didn't know who had spoken but the voice was kind, so Alex looked to his side and tried to scramble away but just fell over again.

he closed his eyes.

'don't eat me' he said terrified.

Runetide looked down at the human child with was now clearly not taking her saving him very well which was understandable Runetide was unmissably as a dragon but smaller than most, at only twenty-five meters tall and she preferred the ocean to the open sky and so was covered in smooth dolphin-like skin witch was a light blue with a grey patch that ran from her lower jaw to her navel, her hands and feet were webbed and she had gills, her muzzle was also shorter them most dragons and more rounded and the upper part of her muzzle was longer than the bottom which was very unusual, her teeth also were different like serrated triangles her horns were also smaller than other dragons.

she cooed gently and reached out slowly and picked him up, she guessed the human child was maybe ten or so and he was still longer than her hand she gently stroked him and he slowly relaxed.

she spoke softly, 'hey you just need to relax' she Started stroking him very gently lacing her words with a stage calming effect.

Alex was very afraid he rolled over in the palm of the strange dragon holding him if the dragon was going to harm him it would have done so already, Alex had seen dragons around, he had even talked to a few but this one was different it looked different.

'so, who are you?' he asked.

The dragon holding Alex seemed to be considering its words, 'well' it's said sounding hopeful 'I think we should start with names' Alex sat up looking up at the dragon.

he was currently sitting in the palm of a dragon and it was looking at him it seemed intrigued it raised Alex to eye level, which even when it was sitting was a good fifteen meters off the ground and Alex said the first thing that came to mind when he was being held by a mysterious dragon that had just saved his life.

'How are you today?' he asked.

Runetide looked at the human on her palm and burst out laughing and dropped him.

And that's how their friendship started well; it was a little more complicated.

Runetide caught Alex with her other hand before he hit the ground you 'you right there?' Runetide asked Alex.

Alex nodded Runetide put Alex down gently, 'I imagine you have some questions.'

Alex nodded again 'y-yes I do.'

Runetide sat down cross-legged hands-on knees, 'shoot' she said he tail was moving ever so slightly.

Alex didn't quite know what to say, so he just sat there in silence.

Runetide after a short while said, 'your portably in shock trying to process what's going on, what was that mass of tentacles, how about we sleep on it?'

Runetide lay down and closed her eyes.

'Where's my dad' Alex said Runetide opened her eyes those green orbs and he saw genuine sadness.

'No' Alex said tears brimming in his eyes 'no, no, no.'

Runetide sat up 'Alex you need-.'

'No' Alex screamed 'no don't you understand he's dead' tears were pouring down his face.

'Hey there, you need to calm down' Runetide said raising her hands slightly, 'he's just in the hospital.'

'Oh,' Alex said.

Runetide smiled 'he will be fine I hope.'

'Why am I here not with my dad?'

'You will know soon' Runetide said in an overly mysterious voice 'when you are ready.'

Then she just sat there as if she didn't have a care in the world.

Despite himself, Alex couldn't help smiling he picked up a fist full of sand and threw it at Runetide it didn't even reach her not even close he sat there on the beach for a while longer pondering what did Runetide mean? And who or what hospitalized my dad and tried to kill me?

'Runetide' Alex shouted, 'I'm ready'.

Runetide looked up 'well that was quick.'

Alex shook his head smiling, 'so are you going to tell me now, or are you still miss enigmatic?'

'You'll have to settle for a mix' Runetide said.

'Alright then' Alex said, 'so why am I here?'

'Step in the water' Runetide said, slipping into the water, it was one fluid motion you could tell she belonged there.

Alex's clothes were still damp, not that it mattered he stepped into the water and shivered, and it had nothing to do with the water temperature. Alex kept going until the water reached all the way to his shoulders he looked up at where Runetide had been.

'very good' Runetide said, her head popping up right next to Alex.

'Ah' Alex yelled, 'don't do that.'

'one, I'm going to keep doing that two, would you mind if speed things up a bit.'

'Not at all' Alex said, he felt smooth something touch his leg.

'Relax' Runetide said, 'it just my hand.'

She scooped Alex up in one hand and started wading out into the open sea until she was standing with her shoulders just above the waterline, she was holding Alex in one hand.

Alex was looking down into the abyssal depths.

'Hello' Runetide said.

Alex directed his attention back to Runetide.

'So' she said, 'I'm looking into getting an apprentice and you' she said pointedly, 'are the one I have chosen.'

Alex was confused, 'why me? aren't there plenty of dragons out there?'

Runetide shook her head, 'well yes but well they're not like me, I'm different I'm not from this world and given recent events well, I may need some help in the future.'

Alex didn't push it, but he still wanted to know what Runetide meant, 'what do you mean apprentice?'

'I mean' Runetide said, 'like friends but I teach you how to control magic and wright and read runes and then you help me do my job.'

'Now I'm even more confused.'

Runetide sighed, 'basically I need you to trust me, I give you magic you help me do my job of catching bad dragons.'

'all right' Alex said.

'Right then' Runetide said, lowering Alex into the water 'just lay on you back.'

Alex did as he was instructed, 'what are you going to do?'

'I'm going to give you a part of my essence part of my soul called a persona you will possess specific parts of my knowledge just the basics no memories.'

'Taking soulmates to a whole new level.'

'you could think of it like that' Runetide said slowly, 'though is more akin to mind texting.'

'I did learn about something like this at school, it's like a thing that dragons can do to stay in touch, but they have to use physical object why don't you?'

'Because I'm special, I'm not a native dragon my magic works with willpower, not objects.'

'Huh' Alex said, he had been taught from a young age that dragon's while massive and sometimes scary were just like humans intellectually and this one had just saved his life, this he thought was a bit like exchanging numbers and getting a job.

There was a glowing from below Alex and then he felt a jolt like he had been electrified, Alex sat up, well he tried but he was still in the water, Runetide lifted him out of the water.

'How do you feel?' she asked, she seemed a little concerned.

'I feel' Alex said 'invigorated' he looked down at his hand and he concentrated, his hand started to glow Runetide looked impressed.

How did it feel? I heard her say without moving her mouth.

'What' Alex said, out loud Runetide tapped her temple with her free hand.

Just think about what you want to say, it's there how in your head just think about what you want to do.

I thought how do I speak? without speaking and this time someone answered me, it was like Runetide's voice but not it told me what to do.

So, I thought, is this working.

Runetide's eyes widened.

Wow, Runetide said in Alex's head, that was quick.

'Right' I said out loud this time, 'what's the voice in my head.'

'It's part me' Runetide said, 'something that helpful AI from that game I can't quite place.'

'That does not narrow it down' Alex said.

'It's irrelevant.'

Well, at least we agree on something.

Runetide sighed 'ok let's take you home' she scooped Alex up and took him back to shore, 'should I call the police, or will you walk home or I can walk you home' Runetide sounded concerned.

Alex imagined his mums face, 'I will be Fine to walk home.' He said with a hint of a smile.

'So how are you going. -'

'Don't worry' Alex said, 'I will come up with a convincing story as to why I'm not in the hospital, you concentrate on Finding the creature and then you do' Alex said, 'call me.'

Runetide smiled, 'will do.'

She started to walk into the sea again.

'wait,' Alex said, 'How am I going to fight it?'

'come here every second weekend, I will train you in the art of fighting things much taller than yourself.'

'Ok,' Alex said, 'will do.'

'In the meantime, Alex' Runetide said, 'tutor yourself using mini-me.'

'Is that what is going to call it' Alex asked, unamused.

'Yep.'

'It sounds dumb.'

Runetide turned, 'if you want is to answer you to call it to questions you have to call it mini-me' she said smiling.

Alex sighed and started walking home mini-me.

Yes, it answered impassively.

what are runes?

Now that's something I can answer you might want to sit down for this.

I can't I reply.

Well, then mini-me said, pay attention.

To tell you what runes you are first needed to know how magic works.

Ok.

Its simple relay it's just will power but of cores, there are limitations one you need to be specific you can't just want the brick wall to not be there where's it going to go? how's it going to get there? and the second limitation it's draining mentally to do these things, for instance, you want to make a brick explode Shure that's not gonna be too taxing but the more complex or the larger to object is the more draining it's going to be.

Is it relative, Alex asked?

As in because dragons are bigger it will take less effort for them because it's a smaller object for them?

Yes, that's exactly what I meant.

Then yes.

And is there like a style thing, do people tend to find and sick with like do you know what I mean?

Yes, and yes you have an affinity for using what's around you.

Cool, but what about runes.

Yes, back to the runes to put it simply its stored willpower.

What do you mean?

Runes are a written form of will power, you use them as quick access to certain things the downside is they need to be charged by using your will and are much less efficient than just doing it yourself, however, they don't require concentration just a tap with the intent to activate it, or think about activating it but that one takes time to learn.

Wow, Alex thought, thanks mini-me that was a lot of exposition you just sprouted forth thanks.

No problem it replied.

Alex walked past a port and saw three other dragons male all taller and much broader than Runetide lifting and moving crates, he waved to one a dragon with blue scales and golden eyes he waved back.

'How's work.' he asked

'Some as always' Morgwath replied, 'move this thing from here to there.'

'Have fun' Alex said, 'will see you tomorrow.'

'Will do.'

Alex started to walk again, 'and don't forget your homework' he threw over his shoulder.

Chapter 3

I screamed.

'Close enough' the dragon said, as it tilted its hand up.

I slid down the dragon's hand desperately trying to grab onto something, I screamed again, just before I fell in between the jaws, they closed he landed on the tip of the dragon's muzzle it smiled at me.

I was lucky that the end of her mouth was it a her? I didn't know that's what I was going with, was blunted otherwise I might have fallen off. Her slit nostrils dilated sucking him towards her nostrils, then her nostrils widened as it breathed out gently, A warm breeze washed over me my black Brown hair went into a frenzy.

the dragon It seemed like it was playing, I couldn't be sure, it was a long shot, but I thought let's try some banter.

'Um,' I grunted, 'my arms.'

'And?'

'I don't want to fall.'

'And you're blocking one of my nostrils,' despite saying this she was saying she was taking the utmost care to not mover her head.

'Um,' I was gritting my teeth, 'help.'

All the dragon did was giggle.

With the last of my strength, I tried to scramble up but could find no perches.

'Would you like some help there?' the Dragon asked, sarcastically.

I grunted, 'yes.'

She flicked her head up.

'jesses' I shouted.

I was in the air for a few seconds, then landed this time on top of the dragon's jaws, the adenine Started to fade the red scales were at the same time hard and smooth and they seemed to radiate warmth.

After all that we just Stared at each other those brilliant purple Staring at me, I looked deep into them and I saw something he never expected there was that kindness, that I never expected in the titanic lizard and a bit of mischief.

'Um, can you put me down?'

'Ok' The dragon lowered her jaws to the ground; she was now lying flat on the ground.

I would like to say I jumped, but I more fell to the ground I did not get back up straight away and as I was lying there on the ground I thought, if she had wanted to kill me, she would have done so already so I plucked up my courage.

The dragon shifted her position, she was now leaning on her side resting her head in the crook of her elbow with her body lay around the edge of the clearing, and her other hand on the grass next to me.

'So, you are a dragon?' I asked

'wow that obvious, am I?' the Dragon said, smiling but not showing her teeth.

I smiled nervously 'So, are you going to tell me your name.'

'A yes my name' she paused 'is Serafin.'

'Seraphim?' I said, in confusion.

She laughed, she had a nice laugh 'pronounced ser-a-Fin silly, Serafin the Dragon.'

I tried to reply but I couldn't so I stood there looked up at the dragon, I shivered it was a strange change from a terrifying beast to something that still terrified me but also I felt as if I could trust her, so I did something incredibly stupid I took a step closer.

As the human took a small step closer, I felt like I was befriending a bird and this was the most crucial bit the initial trust, I in the human's eyes had gone from a terrifying beast to something still large and terrifying but something that could maybe just maybe be trusted she slowly reached out a hand.

'It's ok' Serafin said in a low charming voice, 'I'm not going to hurt you I'm sorry about trying to ingest you.'

I shrunk back as the hand reached out, 'I-I know but' I was stammering again trying to get the words out but I couldn't, Serafin withdrew her hand perhaps realizing that she was frightening me, I clenched my fists in anger as I tried to get the words out.

'It's ok' Serafin said, I'm not going to hurt you, I just want a friend.

I shrank still back Serafin looked a bit hurt as she sat there, I again struggled to get the words out but I couldn't suppress the hic-ups that hit me out of nowhere so, I walked to the edge of the clearing I looked into the muddy depths of the river I turned around breathing deeply. I looked directly into the Serafin's purple eyes suddenly She leapt forward covering the distance between us I the blink of an eye I jumped and might have fallen in the river, but Serafin caught me I sat there breathing heavily it was at that moment that I knew I was going to have sore legs tomorrow.

'There' Serafin said, 'that's better isn't it?'

'Um,' I was trying to regain control of my breathing, 'I suppose.'

'Well, you're not hic-upping anymore are you.'

'True.'

'You should be thanking me.'

'For what scaring the shit out of me.'

'Yes.'

'You know, there are more effective ways of making friends than almost eating them'

'Oh yes, sorry about that,' Serafin looked awkward 'i just wanted to break the ice orlay the first stone one might say.'

'It's fine abet a little strange, I don't meet many people you try to eat me to make friends but could you put me down please?'

Serafin obliged, she kneeled down and gently tilted it hand so I could slide down her hand when I hit the ground I rolled and stood up.

'Impressive,' Serafin said raising her brow.

I looked at the hand that I had sat on it was massive it could easily wrap around and crush several a large car I was in awe of the creature, a dragon Serafin was leaning over me and I wasn't dead I looked up at her.

'Thanks for not killing me' I say.

'No problem' she said.

I nodded and then looked up at the sky, 'Shit I have to get home, it's almost pitch black.'

'Would you like some help getting there?' Serafin looked like she was thinking, 'if only there was someone here who could help you.'

I just stared at the dragon 'wow' my voice dripping with sarcasm, 'if only someone here was able to help me.'

The Serafin snorted and sat back wincing as her arm moved it still hurt, she crossed her legs 'so.'

'Um, could you help me up the cliff.'

'Sure' Serafin stood.

I tensed as the Serafin's good hand wrapped around me and lifted me up, I again felt my heart speed up but a second later I was standing on solid ground. The hill I was on was only at waste high for the Serafin, she was blocking out the sun she smiled again and waved as I turned, I waved back then she said.

'wait, what's your name?'

I turned, 'my name is Farren.'

'Hum.'

'Wow, you sound almost disappointed.'

'oh, sorry I'm not, it's just an interesting name sounds German.'

'yea, I know, a strange name for a boy or a girl actually and I'm not sure about the German.'

'well, at least we agree on something.'

'True' I said, 'I will have a look and see if that name is German.'

'das wäre sehr willkommen' serafin said.

I opened my mouth, then closed it 'ok wow did not know you could do that.'

Serafin shrugged modestly her reply was a lot less modest 'i just know stuff that your tiny male human brain could never comprehend.'

'Actually as a side note' I asked, 'are you a female?'

'Yes,' Serafin said 'why?'

'Nothing, I just wanted to know because with humans you can kind of tell.'

Serafin's face registered something like shock, 'well there are several factors one, males have digitigrade legs whereas females are structured like humans with the difference being the foot despite having a different leg structure we still have the same amount of toes, also males have a strange obsession with having their wings out all the time when they don't need to and they also tend to be bigger than the females, they also tend not to have hair but some do.'

'Thanks for the quick lesson Serafin' I said, turning again to leave slowly building up to a run 'also I won't tell anyone about you' I threw over my shoulder.

Chapter 4

Alex was now eighteen, it had been nine years since he had been found on that beach since Runetide had saved him, but his dad was put in the hospital he was fine now but he had gone off fishing and Alex was now Runetide's apprentice she trained him, he was currently falling down, the ground rising to meet him the sun just starting to rise and reflect off the calm ocean, his three-quarter cote billowed around him as he fell.

Alex hit the sand his sword fell out of his hand he rolled to avoid the dragon's tail, picked up his sword and stood the dragon tried to stomp on him again, he rolled and then came up and slashed and the dragon's ankle, drawing blood.

The dragon leapt back and roared, Alex stopped just for a second the dragon charged, trying to trample him and Alex leapt much higher than he should have been able to, almost twenty-five meters he went state for the throat.

the dragon realizing what was happening lurched back shooting out a hand to grab Alex, he saw it coming he changed the direction of his sword, it impaled the dragon's hand going Straight through the relatively thin scales and skin covering the hand the dragon roared flicking its hand out, but it was two late he had already let go of his sword and used the dragons thumb to swing up and towards the dragons thought tapping the runes on his sleeve as he did.

And he flew straight into the dragon's mouth.

'Shit' he said as the dragon's jaws shut taking with it the light, he punched Runetide's gum 'if you don't let met me out, I'm going to stab your tongue'

Runetide laughed.

'Runetide' Alex said warningly, Runetide's mouth opened and she retrieved Alex from her mouth.

'You did well that time' she said, 'you went for all the weak points which was good, now would you be a dear and pull your sword out of my hand.'

'Sorry,' Alex said as he pulled the sword out and Runetide winced.

'No, it's Fine' Runetide said, as Alex leaned over the wound and his hand glowed the wound and after a few seconds it healed over, she gently lowered Alex to the ground she stepped off Runetide's hand he flicked his hand and the sword disappeared.

Runetide sat down.

'So how did I do?' Alex asked.

'You did well' Runetide said, 'but you would do better to remember that dragons are proud but not stupid, because if they can predict what your next move it won't end well.'

'Fair enough.'

'Saying that your improvisation is stabbing straight through the hand excellent idea, though it may have been a better idea to go for the arms and disable them, do you remember all the weak points?'

'hands, ankles, back of the knees, inside the elbows, armpits and of course the neck eyes mouth and eyes Alex recited.'

'Good, very good' Runetide said, 'I've been teaching you for a long time and over that time I have seen you exponentially improve your skills.'

'Thanks,' Alex said, 'that means a lot given I haven't even beaten you yet.'

'It's ok I'm sure you'll get there eventually and anyway; you have helped me beat plenty of other dragons.'

'I hope I do one day' Alex said smiling 'I have come a long way since our first member of the insurgency and our first time sparring.'

'That you have' Runetide said, 'I think I can still feel where you impaled my tail and your dress sense has also evolved to all black.'

'Hey' Alex said in mock outrage, 'I will have you know that this coat is made from the finest cotton and also he added Runetide had opened her jaws, 'the runic inscriptions make to protective and versatile.'

Runetide sighed she had long since stopped trying to get Alex to stop wearing that ridiculous long cote but she did have to admit it did go with is green-brown eyes so she let it slide, after some more rune practice Runetide bid Alex farewell and wished upon him the very best of weeks.

Alex sat on the school bus looking out the fogged-up window in a stupor, waiting for the bus to arrive at his school as he sat there, he reflected on their training that morning and he thought back to the first time they spared almost a year after they had met.

They still trained at the same beach he stood there, 'so how are we going to do this?' he asked Runetide.

'Well' Runetide said, 'I like to start with-'

Then without warning her fist slammed into the sand, just in front of Alex.

'Hey' Alex said, 'you could have killed me.'

Runetide shrugged 'I trust in your abilities.'

But before Alex could reply Runetide's tail wiped out at him Alex jumped and mid-air he pulled his hands up and a spike of solid sand implied Runetide's tail, she hissed in pain Alex stopped.

'Runetide are you-'

But her foot came down, pinning him and pushing him into the sand.

'Never hesitate' Runetide hissed through her teeth, the pressure increased for a second then she lifted her foot then she seemed to come out of the battle trance.

'Oh, my god's Sorry, Sorry' she said apologetically, 'that was a good move it just hurt a lot are you ok? that wasn't too hard, was it? I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt-'

'No, I'm fine thanks' Alex said and he should his back cracked 'were just lucky that was sand and not solid ground now let me have a look at your tail.'

'And from now on let's pull our punches ok?' Runetide looked concerned.

'Yes,' Alex said, 'Good idea.'

A week after that Alex had helped Runetide rescue some poor civilians being held for ransom, it was very scary, it was raining heavily with thunder and lightning it was just him and Runetide she had provided a very messy distraction, Alex had freed the people being held captive then he had been jumped by a Lycanthrope, it had almost beaten him senseless but Runetide had saved his ass smashing her fist through the roof and crushing the Lycanthrope, it had been very messy and the Lycanthrope had howled in pain as its bones broke and its flesh was pulverised.

eventually, the bus stopped and everyone Started getting off, with effort Alex pulled himself back to the present and stood up hoisted his bag on to his back wanted for there to be a gap in the line a walked out of the bus and stepped on to the ash felt, he breathed in the crisp air and also the smell of wet asphalt.

The school was built on a hill so there was the upper building which was where most of the admin and what Alex's school called special facilities so cooking room, tec room and wood workroom and down the bottom where the English, maths, sport, oval and so-on.

Alex looked around everyone at the school looked human but some of them were not it was the way they moved gracefully and purposefully Lycanthropes were easy to pick out, especially the ones who only went through a part transformation, as Alex made his way to his locker he saw a tail here, some ears there and some who had just retailed there form, humans size Lycanthropes, their Digitigrade lets kinda freaked Alex out a bit, he watched as two Lycanthropes each only having ears and a tail embraced and a fully transformed Lycanthrope kissing a human, Alex looked back just for a second maybe the two hugging were half breeds, Alex didn't know and he was not going to ask not on his first day.

The dragons were at the same time easier and harder to see, they were tall but that didn't mean that all tall people were dragons, they had to be careful they were strong every move had to be precise and there was the jewellery they kept them small and made them look human, there were maybe two or three that Alex spotted and they didn't speak much and were mostly isolated the Lycanthropes hand a much easier time, they just acted like normal humans but in some cases with fur, dragons found this much harder they here used to being for lack of a better turn top dog, but now they had to change to fit in and some struggled with this.

Alex had heard the layout of the school was simple, there was a central courtyard that was rather large and around that the classrooms that were medium-sized, with oversized windows next to the doors and the inside had strange asymmetric shapes on the walls.

Which was at odds with the outside of the school, which had white walls with a flat roof it was like someone had tried to modernize the school but had given up halfway through, but the ceilings were at least normal and it smelt like a school the classrooms all had the carpet smell.

the bell rang and Alex ran up the hill for the Start of class, which was woodwork he wouldn't want to be late for his first day at his new school.

that day went in a blur from there and in what felt like moments, then the bell went and he had to hurry down the hill to English, he had just sat down to begin poems when the bell went and it was time for recess, he had just finished eating when the bell rang and he had to run to get to his maths class, he was sitting down to do an introductory test then the teacher said pencils down and it was time for P.E. the Lycanthropes legs gave them a massive speed boost but they were less stable than lunch, Alex didn't like vegemite but he was so hungry it didn't matter.

After lunch it was time for the Final lesson cooking, so ten minutes before the bell Alex entered the bus turnaround, to get on the bus that would take him to the second campus to do cooking when Alex got home he was tired, so he crashed on the couch his mum walked into the room

'So, how was your first day?'

Alex's mum was one of those people who were just always happy even when she was struggling, she was still happy for what she had.

Alex groaned, his mum walked out of the room, 'I will take that as my day was great mum' she said

Alex groaned again.

Alex's mum poked her head back into the lounge room, 'also' she said, 'I'm making Mexican' Alex sat up his mum smiled, 'There you go.'

Alex got up, 'I think I'm going to go and get changed.'

'That's a good idea' his mum said, 'Mexican will be ready in ten.'

'Cool.'

Alex went upstairs to his room, which was rather large with a t.v. and a game console against one wall and a painting called Larry the lightning cat above his bed and a sliding door which lead to the balcony, it was three meters across and five wide the balustrade was made with thick wire with a wooden top, Alex leaned on the balustrade with his elbows looking out to the sun setting behind the mountains.

The sun had just gone behind the mountains casting the peeks into shadow and the orange spread out from there in waves, turning the clouds a burned orange with pink dancing at the edges, Alex heard footsteps on the stairs for a second he imagined his mom's frizzy hair and smiled he rushed to the mirror in his room and touched the blank wall saying the magic words.

Alex spent most of his time being a normal kid going to school doing his homework, but once every two weeks he would spend time with Runetide training, this is what he looked forward to, it was an escape from the norm, it was something different it allowed him to be something different to escape the boredom of everyday life sometimes they would train sometimes he would learn about magical creatures magic and new runes or if Alex was lucky he would help Runetide track down a bad dragon. That meant extra time being someone else and Runetide's mini-me would also come in handy for when Alex had free afternoons, he practices reading and writing runes and today was the start of the weekend.

Alex redyed himself after he didn't know how long he thought this time he had it he was going to beat Runetide they mostly did sparring now it felt like Runetide was preparing him for something big, not just another dragon he didn't know he had been secretly meeting and training with Runetide for the better part of nine years and the last eight he had been helping her do her job. Catch dragons doing the wrong thing this could be almost anything but now, Runetide was going to also be using magic then they spared after a few close calls she had decided that Alex was getting good enough for her to also Start using magic.

They both stood there in the beach staring at each other, Alex moved first running straight at Runetide she raised her hands. Alex leapt going straight for her throat and then a wall came out of nowhere, but that didn't stop Alex he didn't stop coming at her, Runetide was concerned for a second.

Alex touched the wall and it shattered outwards from where he had touched it and the shards shot straight at Runetide she raised her arms up to protect herself, Alex taped a rune on his palm a lasso of red energy wrapped Runetide's wrist Alex was Starting to feel the strain as he swung shattering that wall had cost him a lot, Runetide began to lower her arms Alex released the lasso and raised his sword up slicing through Runetide's wrist, time slowed as he passed Runetide's eyes she was wide-eyed Alex smiled he grabbed Runetide's hair and used his momentum to swing around Runetide thinking that Alex was going for her throat, she reached for him.

He wasn't, well he was but not in the was Runetide was thinking, he lassoed her right horn and willed himself to go faster, he slammed into her nose feet first tears welled in Runetide's eyes.

Alex dropped as Runetide reflexively reached for her nose she flung his hands out and Runetide's feet flew out from under her, Alex tapped his shoulder but he had overdone it he had gotten cocky he had overstretched himself, he tried to reach Runetide's shoulder as she stood he faltered he was feeling slow he tried to Find perches on her smooth skin he tried to reach his sword but he just dropped it he only just managed to grab on to her shoulder, he felt Runetide's hand beneath him, he let go and collapsed into her hand she gently lowered him to the ground she placed a Finger on him and it began to glow.

Everything came back into sharp focus.

'Overstretched ourselves, did we?' Runetide asked.

Alex Starched his arms, he wasn't sore just tired and light-headed 'yep.'

'You're not the first one' Runetide said, 'and you were so close that time.'

'True' Alex said, 'that was perhaps the closest I have ever gotten.'

'Yes, it was' Runetide said, 'and may I say that energy lasso thing was cool but that thing you did with the wall was awesome' she said genuinely ecstatic, 'how did you do that?'

Alex shrugged modestly, 'I just needed you distracted before I could enact my master plan.'

'And that was that?' Runetide asked, bemused.

'You will see' Alex said.

Runetide sat down still smiling.

'Now how have your rune study's gone this week?' she asked, picking Alex up and placing him on her knee.

Alex sat, 'I think I'm doing well' he replied.

'but there's one thing your forgetting, activating your runes mentally' Runetide said.

'It's an area I'm working on.'

'I know' Runetide said, 'it will click eventually.'

Alex nodded.

'Right then' Runetide drew a rune in the sand In Front of them, 'what's this.'

'It's got a central line' Alex said concentrating 'so it's a master rune.'

'Good' Runetide said, 'what does this one do?'

It Alex paused, 'it regulates the amount of magic entering and exiting.'

'Good, very good' Runetide said, 'now that about this' she wiped away the first rune with her tail and drew another.

Alex hopped off Runetide's knee, 'this one summons fire.'

Runetide nodded 'correct again you are on fire today.'

'Funny' Alex said.

'I do my best' Runetide grinned.

Alex thought for a moment, 'couldn't we combined theses runes to control to length and size of the fire?'

Runetide nodded 'seems like a good idea.'

'Hand flame throwers?' Alex asked.

'effectively.'

'man, that's so cool' Alex said, 'I'm genuinely excited to try this one out.'

'sounds fun' Runetide said.

'It does' Alex said

He probably had enough left for one more jump Alex concentrated and he leapt for Runetide, she looked shocked she tried to raise her hands but she was too late, Alex felt a surge of adrenalin as he landed on her shoulder and placed the blade of his sword to rest across Runetide's, throat Runetide didn't move Alex dropped his sword and sat down on her shoulder.

He laughed, 'my gods that worked oh my gods that actually worked.'

Runetide picked Alex up off her shoulder she looked genuinely surprised, she shook her head smiling.

'Honestly, I don't know what to say I suppose you did Alex; you Finally beat me wow like you actually did it like wow.'

Alex was feeling pretty good, it was the joy of beating his parents in uno all over again.

Alex smiled at Runetide, 'that was my master plan that and kicking you in the nose.'

'yes', Runetide said rubbing her nose 'that hurt.'

As consolation Runetide threw Alex into the sea.

His head poked up, 'so any cases yet no dragons going around doing things they shouldn't?'

'Not as of yet though I may have something coming up.'

'Cool' Alex said, 'if anything develops call me.'

'Will do' Runetide seemed distracted.

Somewhere in Archasia

A mass reactive round slammed into the tree behind Dante it exploded he ducked farther down as did his four squamates in positions all throughout the forest, more bullets slammed into his cover Dante breathed in deep he could smell the fear in his own squad but he could also smell the others, he could smell the excitement there fear the blood oh how he longed to rip and tear into them but no he pulled himself back into the present.

'Right' he growled, 'three coming in on my position fifty meters out three approaching Sol's area and four on Luna.'

'I know that' she said.

Dante ignored this 'Uriel watch our flank, were moving out kill them all but be stealthy and do it quickly, firearms only if completely necessary.'

'Yes sir' they all replied.

They all moved silently as shadows, their humanoid and yet beastal forms allowing to move slowly steadily towards their prey, five meters tall, half man half wolf the lycanthropes stalked their prey, but they took no pleasure from it, it was a cold night the grass moved and shifted under a wind that was indecisive as to the direction in which it was blowing the soft rustling covered the lycanthropes as they advanced their digitigrade legs, giving the perfect balance between strength and speed using the shadows the cover then moving as the trees moved swaying gently, the men they were hunting appeared to have calmed down thinking perhaps that it was just shadows that they had seen. it wasn't by the time they realized it was much too late Dante dropped into the middle if there group he had no helmet on not that it mattered he was five meters tall covered in grey fur and his wolf-like head dug into the chest one of the men biting him almost in half, he picked up the second one like a ragdoll and slammed him into a tree, his body broke and he crushed the third soldiers body beneath his armoured boot.

Dante put his helmet back on covering his blood-stained fur his Armoured boot was covered in human remains.

'All good?' he asked, over comms.

'Yes' they all reported in, 'all enemies confirmed KIA.'

Three armoured figures detached himself from the shadows all wearing black armour the only stranded peace was the helmet, a two-piece construction one for the lower jaw one for the rest of the head it locks in providing protection to the whole head, moulded to fit the head of the where it comes with built-in respirator the two lenses are used for vision with HUD Including map, team comms, and positions, amour sats, weapon radicle and ammo count there combat knives sheathed to their shoulder pads or chest plate, sidearms mag locked to their thigh plates and their primary weapon semi and full automatic capable assault rifle scaled up for lycanthrope use, it fires mass reactive tank shells it was mag locked to each of their backs.

All of them where blood-stained, except Uriel they all took the helmets of Dante the grey wolf with green eyes his he had a white patch of fur around his left eye, his armour was the standard amour configuration, armoured fingers with a single plate on the back of the hand forearm is one piece of amour blocky but with built-in utilities, upper arm is two plates one for the inner and one for the outer arm outer plate has a small but protective shoulder pad, toes are armoured with a small guard for the digitigrade ankle and he has a smooth two-piece grieve the slopes up to cover his knee, tights protected by two interlocking plates the chest is one bulky but smooth plate and the waist and lower back are protected two plates of armour with crotch it protector, hard cases mounted on the thigh amour and waist the armour is meant for a balance of protection and utility.

Luna the white wolf with red eyes, light smoother thinner pates protection only on the shins upper torso, and arms lightly armoured gloves on the hands the chest is three separate plates, with no shoulder amour lower waist is dedicated to soft pouches and hard cases on the thighs and her sidearm knife is mounted on her shoulder, back is protected by two plates that cover the entire back, a large firing pauldron on right side.

Sol golden fur with blue eyes, heavy bulker thinker plates, bulky chest plate with a collar that covers the neck, larger shoulder pads the cover all the shoulders and provide some head protection thicker Armor on the ankles with a single ford facing plate, so compensate body glove is up-armoured, arms are heavily armoured hard cases muted on the bottom of the chest plate lower chest is protected by an extended ticker crotch plate.

And Uriel with her dark brown fur and large golden eyes, wearing the tec adept, standard amour but is equipped with an armoured backpack and more utilities, including water scrubber mounted on the lower back and has an armoured collar on right side of her chest plate.

Dante looked at all of them, in turn, giving them a nod, they had formed a tight bond over the cores of these battles with the insurgency, the only problem was they didn't actually know what they were fighting for? Did those men early need to die? Or were they just following orders like they were?

Luna seemed to be following his train of thought, 'we don't win, do we?' she asked.

'No' Dante replied sounding almost defeated, 'we took the lives of others not because we needed to but because we were told to.'

'Hell will welcome us all' Uriel sighed.

'Yes, it will' Dante said, 'and it's going to be crowded when we get there.'

'I don't think anyone wins' Sol murmured, 'not people like us and certainly not those guys do they even know what their fighting for? And what the hell are we fighting for?'

Peace and freedom Luna said mockingly, 'defending those who cannot defend themselves.'

Dante smiled sadly, 'we fight because the insurgency is killing innocent people to try and get a point across.'

'And we are getting our point across by killing them back' Uriel sighed, 'why are they doing this?'

'Who?' Luna asked.

'Everyone' Uriel said, 'just why.'

Interlude 1

The school bell rang Ash made a run to his next class his least favourite class draconic history, Ash looked human but taller than most with grey eyes pale skin and dark brown hair except he wasn't a human Ash was a dragon by the name of Arious, discussed with a bit of magic and a necklace from a thirty-five-meter tall dragon to an almost two-meter tall human, he had the option of living in a designated dragon area but his parents weren't up for that, they just passed themselves off as human ash went to school with regular humans he very rarely was in his own skin and no one apart from the principal knew about Ash being a dragon he when they were alone, used his draconic name witch Ash appreciated, but there was one thing that made being human worth it well several things the food, the music, but most of all for Ash it was Quinn his girlfriend there was one problem.

'Ash, Ash, Ash did you see one the news the insurgents, working with dragons they did it again.' she sounded much too excited about the whole thing.

Ash hadn't seen the news his mum had turned off the news the last thing they needed was to be reminded why they were passing themselves off as humans the dragons were almost as a rule stuck up but as humanity grew they were forced to integrate, the lycanthropes had fared much better they could at least walk around in the street as a human or semi human depending on how they were feeling at will, even on a full moon, for dragons it was a complicated and lengthy process and wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, you had to concentrate constantly the reason dragons, where segregated and ostracized, was their size there were bigger and stronger but most of all they were different, but some areas were better than others and unless they were working they usually stuck to where they lived that's not so say that you didn't see dragons in public, they even had jobs military and construction were the biggest hirers of dragons and lycanthropes given the strength that lycanthropes had and there superior senses and reaction times and dragons they were just as good as any crane, transport truck, or armoured tank on a battlefield dragon's where anti everything.

'Ash, hello.'

Ash shook his head, 'sorry zoned out for a second there.'

'I can see that' Quinn said pushing Ash playfully on the shoulder, 'now pay attention.'

'Quinn I'm going to be late.' Ash said with an exaggerated sigh.

'Imagen not getting a study period.'

Ash snorted, 'just imagine seeing you at recess.'

He ran to his class but not too fast he sat at the back of the class and answered questions only when spoken to, and didn't speak up when the teacher was wrong the teacher was not a dragon and for some reason Ash found this mildly annoying, he wrote notes as requested and felt an itching whenever he started to daydream and would then pull himself back to now and surreptitiously check that he hadn't started growing his horns back, after what seemed like two long the bell rang Ash packed up his stuff putting his pens back in his pencil case, stacking his books and walking out of the classroom he passed Aya the only other dragon in the school, she did not bother being disguised or being clothed not that it bothered anyone, unlike humans dragons genitals where not always-on display that's not to say she didn't have anything to show.

Aya had green scales and yellow eyes her black hair reached all the way down to her lower back she was around Ashes height, but her horns made her look taller it also meant that she had to duck to get into most classrooms and her tail meant no one could walk behind her or beside her unless she let you. In Ashes experience she wasn't a very nice dragon, in fact, she seemed to have nothing but disdain for humans she was in the same year level they didn't have many classes together she mostly did physical classes sport and the like.

Ash was in the chess club he was very good at it, he didn't do sport he wasn't very good at or more accurately he was too good he struggled at pulling his punches the first day he shattered a fellow year sevens shoulder by accident the teacher had told him to just try a left hook, Ash had been permitted to skip sports for that year, but he was doing it this year Aya, on the other hand, had excelled whether by magic or skill ash suspected the latter, it was also the only time Ash had seen Aya with human skin as her scales wings and tail would have been an unfair advantage not that she ever had her wings out.

Ash collided with Quinn on the way to his locker, he had his headphones on he was listening to some alternative metal her hazel eyes looked indigent at least that's what he thought.

'Ash, are you ok?'

'Yes, I'm fine he said just-'

'Off in your own world?' Quinn finished.

'Yes,' Ash said, 'so shall I get my recess then you and tell me all about what the bad dragons have been up to.'

'You know not all dragons are bad' Quinn said as they set off towards Ashe's locker, 'they just get a bad rep from all the shenanigans some of them are doing.'

Ash dipped his head he was head and shoulders above Quinn and thus she missed the gesture, Ash had a middle locker so he had to get down on one knee to actually open it, now Quinn was just taller than him she patted his head.

'Who's a good kitty'

Ash did his best cat hiss

'Oh, feisty today, are we?'

Ash stood holding an apple, 'why a cat.'

'Because you are my little kitten' Quinn said.

Ash smiled, 'ok Quinn whatever you say.'

'There's a good kitty, now shall we go outside?'

'Yes, I need some fresh air every year these classrooms get smaller.'

'And if you were any taller you could be a dragon.'

'I prefer the term graviticly free.'

'What?'

'Not bound by gravity.'

'Ah ok, your usage of fancy words concerns me.'

'Why.'

'Because half the time I don't know what you're saying.'

'Then brush up on your lexicon look at some Archaic words' Ash said, laughing seeing the look on Quinn's face.

They reached their favourite tree in the school grounds and sat under it Quinn sitting against the smooth trunk of the tree, Ash laying down next to her head in her lap he enjoyed these moments they were quite the sun was shining, all was right with the world.

'So, what do you have next?' Ash asked.

'Physical education, we are doing close combat with Aya.'

Ash winced, 'sounds fun.'

'Oh' yes Quinn said, 'sooooo much fun you?'

'Draconic biology fuuuuuuuck' Ash moaned

Quinn laughed; she had a nice laugh what's wrong with that?

I'm a freaking dragon I know how my own body works and it feels slightly patronizing if I'm being honest, and that all the subjects about dragons are being taught by humans not even lycanthropes Ash thought.

'I just don't like it; I'd rather be doing something fun like English or studying music.'

Quinn nodded, 'I understand speaking of studying music, I am working on a new song'

Ash sat up a little straighter, 'so when do I get to hear it?'

Quin smiled, 'when it's ready.'

'And when are you going to get it played on the radio?'

'When it's ready' Quin sighed, good-naturedly.

'You have been saying that for like two years.'

'I know but I have a good feeling about this one.'

'Good' Ash said, relaxing again and resting his head on Quinn's shoulder, 'I'm looking forward to it.'

'As am I' Quin said, then they just sat there together in silence under their favourite tree until the bell rang.

'And there goes our obligatory fifteen-minute break' Ash said, bent down and hugged Quinn kissing her briefly on the cheek.

'see you in two hours babe.'

'see you in two hours kitten.'

They both went their separate ways, Ash didn't know why his parents had signed him up for so many draconic things he already knew most of the stuff, the classes he actually enjoyed were ones like music, English, he loved human culture and chess oh how he loved chess, Quinn refused to play with him but she loved his cooking one very boring lesson later and Ash was getting out his sport uniform he saw Quinn making a beeline for him.

'What's up?' he asked.

'Aya has transferred to your sports class, just thought I would give you the heads up.'

Ash had to hold back a very long and very loud string of obscenities from his large and considerable vocabulary, principal glass had promised him that this would not happen.

He turned feeling slightly numb, they're going to find out all of them I'm a dragon.

Quinn said something Ash didn't hear her he'd just headed towards the gym towards his doom, everyone was going to find out who he was, they were going to find out they were going to hate him.

Ash walked into the gym, the combat mats where set up in the gym was an orderly sized with a basketball court lines on the polished floor, the only difference was the teacher he was a lycanthrope, the only Lycanthrope teacher, his name was Mr Hunter a Lycanthrope pack who's pack name was Hunter. Ash didn't know how to feel about that then across the room he spotted Aya, she was slipping on a necklace, he watched as skin flowed over her scales her horns receded and her snout folded into her face and her tail shrunk, Ash shivered he hated the sensation.

Then she looked at Ash studying him her eyes lingered on his neck where Ash wore his own necklace, she winked at him she knew Ash through panicking she walked over to him.

'It's ok I haven't told anyone yet; I just wanted a challenge.'

'What?' Ash said, 'why?'

'I got bored, don't worry your secret's safe with me I won't tell, but do come and see me after class.'

'Ah ok,' Ash said, worried.

The lesson didn't go well Aya floored every one she was just stronger faster and better than everyone, except me Ash though as he watched the grin of delight grow on Aya's face his need to beat her grew he did not like bully's, Ashe's dad was military he made a point of reaching Ash CQC, but Ash refused to pick up a gun he had always said they he would never take another life he only took the CQC lessons because he understood that self-Defence was something that may be necessary, his dad understood he had many scars, not all of them physical and because of his career choice was not always home, Ashe's mum worked for the local council she had a desk job, not the best for a dragon, minimal fresh air in a cramped space every time he thought of his mum sitting down all day just front of a computer Ash felt a swelling sadness.

'Right' Mr hunter said, interrupting the growing feeling of melancholy before it could take root, 'your turn Ash'

Mr Hunter was a Lycanthrope he was taller than most at six meters tall with thick brown-orange fur and golden eyes and he looked scary but once you got to know him he was a very nice guy, and he was usually funny but this class he had been very quiet, he mostly just stood there and watched Aya, Ash suspected that he hadn't wanted Aya in his class either, Ash also suspected that he knew he was a dragon but he couldn't be sure, Mr hunter gestured for Ash to step into the ring.

'you got this' he said.

Ash didn't think so he had watched her fight he didn't think he stood a chance against her, he couldn't even begin to understand the way she fought, as he stepped onto the mats Ash went into a combat stance.

'Let's dance Ash' Aya said smiling, also crouching low fists raised.

They circled each other, each waiting for the other to move Ash just circled watching he was tense ready for a fight Aya lashed out with a leg Ash battered it aside Aya followed up with a punch it caught Ash on the shoulder, he was off-balance Aya's foot slammed into Ashe's stomach, he rolled and came up of his feet then he felt a hand on his shoulder, he didn't look up he didn't take his eyes off Aya he heard his dad's voice in his head.

Loosen up stop being so tense Aya took a step forward and swung at Ash, bock it good now duck look she's open go for it.

Ash felt his fist connect every looked surprised Aya took two steps back Ash was the first person to land a blow, Aya rolled her shoulders.

'Good one,' she said.

They began to circle each other again, Ash still felt the reassuring presser of his dads presents Aya came at Ash again he blocked and retaliated again and again left hook block she's open he scored a few more hits than a roundhouse made its way through Ashes defences he staggered and like a shark Aya came in for the kill, two seconds later Ash was pinned on a mat.

'That was fun,' she whispered in his ear.

A second later he felt the presser ease and Ash got to his feet, he shook Aya's hand.

The bell rang and Ash headed out of the gym he stepped briefly into the sunlight before he felt a scaled hand grab his arm, he turned and saw Aya in her miniature dragon form her yellow eyes bored into his

'come with me' she said, letting go of Ashe's arm.

'Ok' Ash was a little confused, she had never even spoken to him let alone told him to follow her anywhere and all of a sudden, she just decided to talk to him.

Aya lead Ash behind the gym she had been planning this for a long time, that sparring match was a test he had passed, she had her own plans they didn't need two people but it would be easier with two when they reached a suitably closed off space she turned to Ash.

'Ash' she said, with mounting excitement.

'Yes,' he replied, slowly he seemed very conscious 'what's this about.'

'It's not about blackmail I'm not going to tell anyone your secret's safe with me but well, I have a plan.'

Ash had a sinking feeling.

'The prime ministers are meeting soon in this country; we won't need to hide anymore.'

Ashes sinking feeling sunk lower 'why would that be?'

I don't want to give away details now, but if we kill them it will be anarchy and then dragons can rise to their rightful place, no more hiding who we really are together we could be the spark that frees our race from the tyranny of everyone, they look down on us well I say no more.

Ash didn't move for a few seconds he was trying to process this then it hit him she was going to kill them, he looked into Aya's eyes he saw determination.

'No' Ash said, 'I cannot help you with this.'

Ash turned and left heading for the tree, Aya's hand closed around his wrist.

'you're going to regret this she hissed.'

Ash wrenched his hand out of her grip, 'I'm not getting involved with this just leave me alone, I don't want a part of this.'

'When we rule, I will remember you.'

Ash stormed over to the tree, not in a good mood.

'What's up with you?' Quinn asked, 'she beat you up?'

'No' Ash said shortly, 'no sorry that wasn't directed at you Aya she was just.'

'Talking smack, I understand she can be very annoying.'

'And that's why we're in a relationship.'

'Because I can read your mind?'

If only Ash thought, then he ruffled Quinn's hair affectionately 'exactly' he said.

Quinn reached up to ashes chin, 'c'mere you' she said kissing Ash as they embraced under the tree for several moments.

They broke apart and sat under the tree talking about the god's only know what until the bell went they stood the best thing about Fridays they had their last class together music ed, Ashes favourite class they headed off together arm in arm together Aya watched as they entered the quadrangle she turned, knocking over several students with her tail she walked into the centre of the oval, she stood there for a second then wings burst from her back, they seemed comically large on Aya's back they were twice her size but they certainly got the job done after a few test flaps she took off straight up, shooting into the sky the downdraft flattening the grass for several meters.

Ash tuned seeing Aya take-off he didn't think that this was going to end well but he pushed that into the back of his mind, it was music time.

Quinn said goodbye to Ash and headed to her bus ready to sit down and relax for the rest of the day and then she got home maybe she would read a book outside or talk to someone, probably Ash or her mum about something, or go for a walk or just sit down the world was her oyster and tomorrow Ash and herself would be going for a picnic, in their favourite spot near a dam in a nice valley surrounded by the forest and the general of the river from the dam, Quinn got off the school bus putting her headphones on she walked along the path singing under her breath.

She bobbed her head in time to the music, she turned the corner down valley side drive there house stood almost alone on the top of the valley she could see the dam from here and forest that spread out from and around the dam the tall trees, bushes and ferns. The area where Quinn's house was perched was relatively barren an asphalt road with three houses around it all with large front and back yards, Quinn opened the front gate to her house and walked down the driveway, it was a pleasant day Quinn just hoped that the weather would hold out, she opened the front door and stepped in her mum was sitting and the kitchen table laptop out papers strewn around her she let out a frustrated sighed.

Quinn announced herself by hugging her mum, she jumped then she stood and embraced her daughter.

'Hello sweety' she said

Quinn hugged her mum again, 'how's it going?"

'Fine' she said, 'just finance.'

Quinn put a lot of unsaid things into the hug, so did her mum ever since dad had died it had been hard to make ends meet.

'So how was school?' Mum asked.

'It was fun' Quinn said, 'it was just school' Quinn made her way into the kitchen and started making a sandwich.

'you?' she asked.

'Oh, just work you know just typing things out, Ashe's mum was away today.'

'Huh' Quinn said, 'hope she's ok.'

'I'm sure she's fine and speaking of Ash' her mum said smiling, 'excited for tomorrow?'

'Yes mum' Quinn said smiling, 'I am excited why are you so interested?'

'No reason' Quinn's mum said, 'just wanna make sure he's the right guy for you.'

'Mum, we have been dating for like five years.'

'You never know' her mum said, 'you all alone in a forest.'

Quinn started blushing 'MUM NO.' then they both started laughing.

Ash lived basically in the forest, they owned a house it had three bedrooms but they didn't spend a lot of their time there they liked it in the forest, in the cool damp, in the shade of what seemed like impossibly tall mountains. Ashe's dad was fighting the insurrection far away from here, but his mum was home in the hollow with enough space for three dragons to sleep comfortably and a small stream to drink from. Ash made his way slowly down the track down the hill and picked his way along a well-concealed path, he could smell it now the smell of home, of his parents although his father's sent was old his mothers was fresh and the forest oh how he loved the forest the sounds of small creatures the scent of damp earth the trees and ferns he walked into the clearing, his mum was asleep she was almost pure white with long black hair and piercing blue eyes but her eyes were closed now.

Ash slipped off his necklace and felt the flesh recede replaced with light grey scales, his face resumed its normal shape, his horns sprouted just above his ears which became pointed and small spines grew out of his skull and behind them his hair grew to shoulder length and black just like his mum's his legs shifted and changed as his knees bent becoming digitigrade and his feet changed five toes becoming three and one sprouting out of his heal then his tail grew and then his wings sprouted from his back just like Aya's accepting the colour his where darker, Ash promptly folded them in and then finally he grew to his proper size tail thirty-five meters tall, then spines popped out from along his spine from his shoulders to the tip of his tail, Ash breathed in properly filling his lungs properly for what felt like the first time in a long time and finally his real name Arious.

Arious's mum stirred, 'hello there' she said

'hey mum' Arious said sitting down, 'what up?'

'Oh, not much just sleeping, excited for tomorrow?'

'Yes' Arious said, 'I am it's going to be great'

'Good, good' she said, 'well rest up you will need all your strength and energy for tomorrow.'

Arious caught his mum's sly smile.

He didn't reply he just snorted sating down and then finding a good place to lay down and got to sleep buzzing with excitement, tomorrow will be good the thought.

'Goodnight mum' Arious said.

'Night honey' she said, 'I love you' Arious missed the guilty look on her face as she said that.

chapter 5-Two days later

I had a late night last night you know how it is once you start a drawing just one more line, but I pulled myself out of bed slowly groaning and moaning and I got to the bus stop in time I had English first today.

'Alright everyone,' Ms mulligatawny said in a light crisp voice, 'settle down everyone' and settle everyone did it was time for English, today we were going to be reading animal farm we were just up to the part where napoleon chases snowball off the farm.

'Farren you like to read the next paragraph.'

I woke up, 'What?' ok I thought to myself this is not a good start

Ms mulligatawny did not look happy her eyes flashed just for a second, green a shiver ran down my spine.

'Would you like to read the next paragraph Farren?' she said in a perfectly calm voice.

I was rather weirded out by her eyes but I figured it must have just been me being weird, so looked over at the person next to me to work out what page we were on and flipped to it, then started to read aloud, the rest of the class pasted without incident and by lunch, it had started to warm up but I had a strange feeling.

'Serafin said all it took was will so what if that was prophecy not maybe it was just my imagination, I suppose I will find out soon.' I murmured to myself, taking out my sketch pad.

The rest of the day passed with rather quickly I was mostly thinking did that rely happen like did I meet a dragon wow there can be many people in Archericon who have met one that had been my train of thought for more or less the last week I had not been able to find time to even go into the forest. the school was keeping me busy but now it was Friday. I redyed myself I was going to go home and to bed, then in the morning, I was going to see where or not I was just crazy when I got home mum was making dinner.

'Hello, daring' mum said when I came in.

'Hello, mum' I replied, clearly she was making something on the stove it was sizzling 'what are you making there?' I ask.

'It's chicken stir fry' she said, smiling.

'Yes' I pumped my fist in the air, 'I love chicken stir fry ok now I'm going to get changed.'

'Right then you go get dressed, I will have dinner on the table in three.'

Cool, I say heading down the hallway taking off my jacket as I went, I looked under my sister's door, there was no light.

'Hey mum', I shouted down the hallway wail wrestling with my school shirt, 'where's my sister?'

'At a friend's place', mum replied.

'Cool' I said stepping out of my room.

It was Friday night I loved Friday night It felt good knowing that I would be able to get up when I wanted not that it meant much, I would still wake up at seven o'clock, but I could just lie in bed which was nice again, not that I would be.

I walked onto the cooking area I breathed in deep and exhaled, 'that does smell good' I say.

'could you set the table?' mum asked.

'Yep,' I replied I went to the cupboard and grabbed two plates and put them on the bench then I grabbed cutlery and set the table with two glasses and a jug of water.

'It's ready' mum said.

Mum put a plate of food in front of me, 'thanks mum' I said.

she smiled, 'dig in.'

I did my mum was an amazing cook the rice was perfect and the chicken was tender the sliver beet was perfectly done, when I had finished and washed my dishes I went to bed mum had work tomorrow so she would be gone by eight so hopefully, I could just lay in bed for about an hour usually I would all for complete honesty with my mum but this was different, truth be told I was a little conflicted in the end after tossing and turning for a number of minutes I decided to not tell mum and it was good timing.

My door opened and mum came in, 'I just came in to say goodnight.'

I raised my hands above my head 'hug me I' said.

Mum came over and leaned over me giving me a warm and comforting hug, 'if I don't see you in the morning, I'll see you around eight, ok' mum said.

'Thanks, mum' I say.

'goodnight' she said, as she left closing the door behind her.

I put my head on my pillow buzzing with excitement about tomorrow, but eventually asleep took me.

I woke up looked around it was still dark outside I checked the time it was only five o'clock so I stood up and decided to go and see whether or not I was insane I scribbled down a note just in case I for some reason was not at home when mum got up and went into the forest.

Serafin had just Finished eating several very unfortunate cows when she heard someone walking along the path towards her little clearing, she knew it had to be Farren no one could get hear without already knowing, she had made sure of that.

I was walking along the path the led to the river and cliff next to the clearing with the cave, I walked around the bend I felt very nervous for some reason, I just wanted that encounter to be real I wanted Serafin to be real, all the other dragons on Archericon had either been killed or shipped off the Archasia, I looked down into the clearing my heart sunk there was nothing there just a clearing at the bottom of a hill with ferns on its border the cave was gone disappointment welled up inside me.

Then Serafin burst from the river water cascaded down her scales and she drenched with river water, Serafin stood there smiling.

'Hello Farren' she said, 'long time no see.'

'Holey shit you are real' I breathed out.

Serafin looked down at Farren, 'good to know I'm, not a figment of your imagination' she was being sarcastic.

I was still in aw, 'Omigod, my god, my god, Omigod.'

Serafin picked me up off the cliff and this time I just accepted it I didn't think she was going to hurt me and she didn't, she set me down in front of her, her arm seemed to have made a full recovery since we had last met.

Serafin was smiling 'I'm definitely not god'.

'You seem very good at playing god though don't you.' I say

Serafin stopped smiling she remembered she didn't want to but the fragmented memories came back unbidden. screaming, burning the pleas and begs for mercy that fell on deaf ears she watched as if from someone else's perspective as hands smashed into the roof of a building. She saw them a mother and two children culched to her chest they cringed away, she herd her own roaring

I looked at Serafin she looked upset.

'Are you ok' I asked?

She seemed to be off in her own world just staring off into the middle distance the only indication that she was alive was the subtle twitching of her tail.

'Hello,' I shouted nothing.

I started to think maybe I had offended her.

Serafin was on a roll she was remembering everything that happened that day, she would always remember or at least see flashes of it after some time she made a choice, it's not like he's just going to sit back anyway when shit hits the fan.

Serafin looked down at Farren.

"a"-hm she cleared her throat.

Farren looked up.

'I see you back with the land of the living.'

Serafin seemed a little worried, 'yes I am.'

She leaned down and picked up Farren between her thumb and forefinger.

'Hey' I said flailing around Serafin lifted me to eye level 'I would rather you didn't do that without warning.'

Serafin smiled 'well you can't exactly do anything about it now can you.'

I stopped struggling and looked at Serafin who appeared to be studying me tilting her head from side to side at one point she sniffed me.

Then apparently satisfied she said, 'I am going to train you.'

I was mystified and my face must have said so because Serafin smiled again and said 'mystically you shall see' she turned her hand upside down and dropped me into her palm.

'um, I have some questions. - '

'Shush' Serafin put a Finger to her lips.

Her fingers closed around me I was now panicking, 'Serafin' I shouted.

'Calm down' she said, as she drew her arm back.

'What are you doing.? I was panicking now.

'I'm going to throw you.'

'What can we talk. -'

'Think about flying' she cut me off, 'think about what it means'

'hold on Serafin-'

Chapter 6

Alex stepped away from the wall as it cracked then he stepped out of the wall well not Alex per-say more a copy or a replica, it was a golem created and shaped in his likeness by Runetide Alex had, in turn, imbued it with his personality Alex looked at his double.

'become me look after mum and remember to do your homework this one may take some time' he said, then he turned ran and jumped over the balcony.

It was a five-meter drop he landed softly in the back garden in the corner of the garden where two fences met there was a shadow, it was like a normal shadow but deeper, darker and also more sinister Alex walked over to it he took a deep breath and braced for the chill then he stepped in.

A massive clawed hand, one the size of a small tank reached out, grabbed Alex and pulled him into the shadow there was a brief moment of suffocating blackness and he was back in the normal world.

In an alleyway.

'So, who's doing bad things?' Alex asked Runetide, who after going through the very painful experience of compression now looked like a human.

'A dragon named Aya' Runetide replied, 'the only problem is she is very good at blending in and we don't know what she looks like well we do but not out of her dragon form, but we do know that she will be in this street at some point soon she will be a tall female and most likely look as if she owns the place.'

'So how do we find her?'

'Follow me' Runetide said her voice lowered they walked out of the ally, they were at the intersection of two main roads, there were so many cars they were in one of Archaiser's smaller towns there where shops cafes and people, the sidewalk was not full but there were a lot of humans and lycanthropes going every which way, some were walking dogs which Alex found ironic, some were eating or drinking in cafes it smelt like a typical street asphalt, coffee and cars with a side of sea salt.

How on earth are we going to find one person in this crowd Alex thought, he did like it when things were simple there was a dragon doing bad things, Runetide and himself would knock them the fuck out and put them in jail, then Alex saw someone a female tall looking both like she owned the place and like she did not want to be seen look furtively around and duck into another ally way.

'And that's our cue' Alex said, they followed what may or may not have been there target, as she made her way towards somewhere eventually, they emerged into the dock districts, Runetide and Alex looked around.

'We need to split up I'll take left you take right' Runetide said, 'standard search pattern, I'll call for backup.'

Alex nodded and they split up, searching for Aya through the docks.

Interlude 2

Arious awoke he looked around, the morning light was filtering through the trees and birds where singing he could even make out a kookaburra, he stood he loved being in his own skin and he loved his tail it was very helpful when it came to balancing he loved his muzzle, and his spines that ran down his back, he loved being himself. He sighed he was going on a date today which meant was going to have to change back into a human, from he almost regretted this but it was worth it to see Quinn and she was bringing the food as well so that was one less thing for Arious to worry about. he resolved to stay a dragon until he reached there favourite spot in the forest. As he walked Arious reached up and brushed the tops of the trees they were soft to the touch and felt like home, then as he neared the clearing where Quinn and him had first kissed which was now there meeting place, he slipped on the necklace on and felt himself return to a human shape and size, he walked into the clearing waiting for Quinn to arrive, through the trees Arious could just make out the grey wall of the dam he looked at it was sheer and imposing he looked around at the trees he close his eyes listening to the sounds of the forest, he was broken out of his revelry when he heard Quinn's approach as she walked through the trees and ferns towards him.

'Hey there Quinn,' Ash said, standing and embracing Quinn as she walked into the clearing carrying a basket of food.

'Hey there Ash,' she said hugging him back.

Then Ash herd something like a dull thump then something else, was that a cracking? Ash let go of Quinn suddenly and turned.

'What's wrong Ash?' Quinn asked concerned.

'You in my mouth now' Ash said.

'How, what' Quinn said, 'your not-'

Ash breathed in 'look he said I'm not exactly human ok, my real name is Arious'

'Ash I don't understand' Quinn said, looking concerned.

Arious ripped off his necklace dropping it to the ground he saw Quinn's expression change as he unleashed his true from the thirty-five-meter tall bipedal dragon light grey scales horns wings and all he stood towering over Quinn he flexed his hand feeling his true skin.

Quinn screamed.

'We don't have time' Arious said.

Quinn tried to run Arious grabbed her and shoved her in his mouth, then the dam wall exploded a wall of water flew towards Arious impossibly high, he would never be able to fly up in time the wall of hungry dark water his Arious he dug in bracing himself as the wall of dark hungry water came at him and the wall of dark water hit him, hit him hard it was like concrete he was lifted and thrown around like a rag dole he just made sure to keep his jaws closed but he was failing around in the water trying to grab something his knee his something hard he almost cried out in pain then his hand found something solid earth then he managed to grab something, and held on for dear life his arms burned but he just held on he didn't know how long, but eventually the water started to calm down and lower until Arious could stand and opened his jaws Quinn tumbled out into Arious's hand she was breathing heavily.

'A-Ash is that you?'

Arious nodded slowly, 'this is not the way I would have chosen to show you, but well I didn't have much of a choice.'

'Ash, sorry Arious could you put me down please?'

'Yes, sorry I just' Arious gently lowered his hand, 'I'm sorry I just.'

'Didn't know how to tell me you were a dragon and part of a ring of terrorists?'

'Hey' he said, 'not all of us are trying to put dragons into the place they do not deserve ok' he sat down the ground was a mess wet dirt and bits of dam and trees broken and washed away, and not a blade of grass to be seen 'dam it' he said 'everything is going to shit, you know I'm a dragon Aya is trying to kill me' Arious fell sideways the ground shook he closed his eyes 'why, why me can't someone else do this.'

Arious fell to his surprise Quinn's hand on his snout, 'you're a dragon Ash and do you know what? I don't give a rat's ass, you're still the same person, just a little taller.'

Arious felt a warm sensation flood through him he looked at Quinn she was so small now he moved his head so he could see her better.

'Thanks for understanding' he said then he snorted, 'look I'm sorry I didn't tell you; dragons don't exactly have a good rep and I thought that you would I duno.'

'Hate you?' Quinn said, 'no, no, no Ash, no sorry Arious, no I would never hate you yes this was a surprise and you might have mentioned it once in the last eight years but Arious, I'm sure you're just a much a kitten now as you were five minutes ago.'

'Wanna scratch me under the chin and find out?'

Quinn obliged smiling and scratched Arious's light grey scales under his chin, she stifled a laugh when he did indeed purr.

They both laughed and sat down for a while under the sun then Arious sat up 'would you like a ride home? It may be quite a walk'

'Sure' Quinn said, 'so long as I don't have to ride in your mouth again.'

'I make no promises' Arious said smiling as he picked up Quinn, 'you know I cannot understate how amazing to feels to be in my true form' he said as he walked Quinn home, 'I spent so long wondering what you would say how you would react and then you just accept me.'

Quinn gently stroked Arious's palm, 'you're so cute when your nervous you talk a lot.'

They arrived outside Quinn's house a two-story brick building her room was on the top floor so Arious carefully made his way up the slope luckily the water had not reached the top of the valley, he hunkered down and held his hand out just in front of Quinn's bedroom window she opened the window and clambered inside blowing him a kiss as she closed the window, Arious turned and looked over at the devastation caused by the dams destruction, almost all of the forest was gone washed away and it was all just churned up mud and Quinn knew he was a dragon, his parents were going to kill him.

But first with Quinn safe he had to confront Aya then he needed his mum, then he would find Aya and they would arrest her then Arious and more importantly Quinn would be safe, then there was a voice from behind him Aya stood there.

'You are annoyingly hard to kill' she said but she wasn't angry she seemed genuinely sad, 'I didn't want to have to kill you I think you're a nice guy but I can't have you telling people, and yes Quinn will also have to go.'

Arious growled low the spines on his back rising.

Aya looked genuinely sad, 'I'm so sorry about this but I would have thought you would have accepted.'

'Quinn' Arious cried, 'get out of here take your mum and go now.'

Quinn looked out the window and watched Arious and Aya collided both roaring they both rolled down the hill Quinn's mum opened the door.

'Did you see the flood-'

'you need to go now' Quinn said before her mum could say anything more, 'Arious will buy you time.'

'Who's?'

'No time.'

They both ran down the stairs.

Quinn picked up something throwable as she ran out the door

'Get in the car mum' Quinn said, 'drive to Arious sorry Ashe's home and call for his mum tell her Aya is trying to kill her son.'

'What about you?"

Quinn hefted the vase, 'be right back'

'You can't just they will kill you'

'No' Quinn said, 'Aya will try now JUST GO.'

Quinn stated down the hill She heard the car start behind her.

Arious collided with Aya, most of his body protesting against physical action they both landed with a wet squelch in the mud Arious pushed away and scrambled to his feet, already covered in mud his legs hurt and his knee was throbbing from where he had hit it and his arms where burning and still he raised his fists.

'I'm so sorry' Aya said, 'I don't want to kill you-'

'Shut up' Arious roared, 'and fight me.'

Aya shrugged and charged at Arious the mud seemed to cling to Arious's feet he struggled to move to block her punches her kicks. Aya hit Arious with an uppercut then her foot slammed into his chest, Arious hit the ground the earth trembled, Aya put one foot on Arious's chest his light grey scales turned brown by the mud she lifted her foot up but then something struck her leg. Both Arious and Aya looked and saw Quinn sanding there definitely.

'Insolent little' bug she spat turning to face Quinn, 'how your race is so weak how did you even manage to dominate this planet?'

'Because we're smart.'

Arious tried to get up then Aya's tail wiped out and smashed into Quinn, she was lifted off her feet and thrown several meters she landed in a heap.

Rage flowed through Arious he raked his claws along the back of Aya's leg she howled in pain. Arious in one smooth movement smashed the back of Aya's legs and then he stood, taken by surprise Aya didn't move for a second, Arious lashed a kick into her side something gave way and Aya curled up into a ball with a roar of pain.

Arious turned and ran over to Quinn he scooped her up she wasn't moving her chest was still her eyes closed, her hair, her beautiful light brown hair spread around her, Arious began to cry and held Quinn to his chest his wings folded around himself sheltering Quinn's body. His tears began to flow in earnest and two dragons gathered around him one of them holding manacles the other grabbed Aya and led her off somewhere the strange dragon skinned had a human riding on her shoulder, but Arious wasn't paying attention.

Quinn sat up it was dark she didn't know where she was but it was warm then gradually her senses came back she was most definitely not dead, but it was dark Quinn looked around it was dark then there was a flash of grey and gold then Quinn sat up sucking in a breath and feeling the warm scales below her fingers.

'Arious?' She asked she felt the scales shift below her and suddenly she was looking into Arious's brilliant blue eyes, she was sitting in his hand she could see the tears in his eyes.

'You're alive.'

'Yep,' Quinn said, 'Not a very smart thing to do.'

Arious lifted Quinn up and gently nuzzled her.

'I cannot believe your still alive.'

Quinn hugged him back and then Arious held Quinn to his chest she could feel his heartbeat, 'don't you ever leave me again' he murmured.

'I won't' Quinn said 'ever.'

She fell asleep there in Arious's hand he stood Quinn's mother was due home soon so Arious sat there his legs crossed his tail wound around them and his wings folded in things could only get better from here on out except for his mum why had she told Aya? He was going to find out but first, he looked down at Quinn as a car approached, he gently licked her she sired.

'Uptime sleepy head' he said.

'I hate you' Quinn said, 'I was having a nice dream.'

'Thanks' Arious snorted 'I love you too.'

Chapter 6 continued

Runetide pick Alex up after they dropped of Aya to a prison and made sure all the restraints were in order no one wanted her growing to full size in the middle of yard time, or just punching threw the cell wall, then when Alex asked Runetide here they were going she said they were going to save everyone, she dropped Alex off with instructions on were to meet her tomorrow, they were going to do something illegal it turns out that was going to be on a big cargo carrier, but with no cargo weird Alex thought as he looked around the deck then he did a double-take Runetide's head was floating out of the deck, weirder mostly because her head was not attached to the rest of her body it was just there.

'Hi,' she said.

'Hi, there' Alex said.

Alex looked at the floating head of the blue-skinned dragon.

'Nice trick.'

'Yes, it is thank you' she was grinning.

'So how did you do this one' Alex was intrigued as actually to how Runetide had managed this one.

'Well, I basically turned the metal into a liquid.'

'You sound rather smug about the whole thing.'

'That's because I am, observe' she closed, her eyes concentrating.

Before Alex could work out what she had said the metal around his feet liquefied below his feet and he dropped through the metal deck of the boat, Runetide caught him before he hit the hull of the ship.

'Can you not do that' Alex was a little peeved Runetide sat down on the hull of the ship Alex In her hand, Runetide just smiled and gently placed Alex down and then sat down herself.

Alex and Runetide where on a cargo ship headed for Archericon there Runetide was going to meet up with an old friend and in Runetide's words, something big was about to go down. Alex and Runetide were going to bring back the dragons.

Alex sat feeling the bottom of the ship's hull it hummed gently so 'when are we going to get there' Alex asked.

'In about ten hours' Runetide said, she didn't look up from lying down position 'I'll be like killed on sight remember? I paid a lot of money for this trip and so the crew would stay silent, then tell the nearest official to look very far away for where we actually are, and we will jump ship before they reach port this is going to take time.'

Alex groaned Runetide groaned.

'I'm so bored' Alex said.

Runetide rolled onto her back and brushed her hair out of her eyes.

'Just entertain yourself' she said.

'But I'm borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd' Alex said.

Runetide lashed out grabbed Alex and through him straight up, he sailed through the deck over the railing and hit the water Alex's head broke the water just in time to see Runetide leap up and over the railing. The boat rocked and she hit the water and Alex went under, He thought about the runes on his collar bone and felt the burning on his neck he looked around now able to breathe under the water.

He looked around the water was still he was only three or so meters under the water and light filtered through the water before being swallowed by the murky depths it was so serene, Alex blinked and there she was floating there her hair around her head.

I felt her conciseness next to mine and let her into my mind.

So, shall we?

yes, Runetide dived straight down disappearing into the abyss.

I followed her down, hey I thought we were supposed to be meeting your friends.

Runetide sighed which was an achievement over a psychic link, I know but oh I just love it in the water.

We went swimming in cradle mountain last week.

Alex couldn't see now, it was pitch black he looked around it was cold down here he could barely see his outstretched hand, he closed his eyes and concentrated he felt a tingling in his hand and there was a glowing orb floating in his hand.

Runetide where are you?

Oh, you know around.

Cool so what are your friends going to do to bring back the dragons.

Runetide hesitated it's well complicated then she materialized out of the darkness below Alex upside-down kicking her legs gently she drifted up towards Alex, looking up at him, in the weak sunlight her skin glistened.

So? Alex asked.

Runetide shrugged and closed her eyes, basically, our breed dragons are all but extinct, the ones not native some of them want to break off from Aborwrath and were going to bring them here.

'And then what?' Alex asked.

Runetide shrugged then I suppose they assume human personas and slowly and help the growth of the human race, and if Aborwrath shows up they help us fight her.

Alex gently Started to rise to the surface his head broke the surface he pushed his hair out of his eye's, Runetide's head broke the surface next to him she brushed her hair out of her eyes and tucked it behind her horns.

'So, shall we meet everyone?' Runetide asked.

Alex was hesitant 'ok.'

'What?'

'It just seems too good to be true.'

'I know but this will work I promise.'

Alex stole himself he breathed in 'ok' he said, 'let's go.'

Battlezone six outer western Archasia

Dante, Luna, Sol and Uriel made their way back to camp witch was rather a lot of tents surrounded by a barbed-wire fence, their designation was L-3 they were the only Lycanthrope team in there division ready to fight and die for the Archasian government, they hadn't been told why just to go here and kill these guys, turns out they were perimeter guards for an insurgent base witch everyone else had stormed they had been held as back up and called in one a dragon was confirmed, why they had stormed it instead of booming the shit out of it Dante had on idea nor did anyone else when he asked Dante just got orders from higher up Dante guessed they wanted prisoners, but he could not be sure, he jumped over the fence around the forward base with the rest of his team beside him they sat in there corner the area called the wolf pen they all sat down.

'so' Uriel asked, 'no damage or injuries from anyone today?'

'Nope' Dante, Luna, and Sol replied in unison.

'Well, then I will be off to bed see you all tomorrow.'

Uriel seemed to be trying to cheer everyone up and they all appreciated it but the overall mood was sombre after the chat, they all had on the way back here they all lay down together because that was how they did things together always and forever.

As the rest of them fell asleep Sol stayed up the insurgency had shown up three years ago they were supposed to be fighting for the freedom of dragons the funny thing was most dragons wanted nothing to do with it, they were content to just walk around at the size of humans they understood that having a twenty-meter tall dragon just walking around outside of designated areas of living or work was dangerous, they seemed to just be stirring up trouble for people and also killing people for no definable reason. Yes, some dragons were on their side Sol had helped kill one today but what did they hope to achieve? she thought back to the battle to what the dragon had said before Sol blew its head apart

'She's coming, none of you can stop her.'

It was a very strange thing to say and why establish bases that gave Archasia a target? it just didn't make sense but then again neither did panting bombs on trains and killing civilians in the name for draconic freedom and with these happy thought's in her head Sol eventually drifted off to sleep.

They all awoke the next day to a sound a familiar sound the four lycanthropes got slowly to their feet guns in hands, there was a dragon in these woods with them the sound of scaled feet on soft earth.

The insurgents sent a dragon to destroy their camp Date called out a warning then everything went very strange.

Chapter 7

'I'm not actually going to throw you silly' Serafin said.

My heart was pounding, 'I don't think I have ever been so terrified before, Don't ever do that again please'

Serafin just looked at me intently.

'What do you know of magic?'

'What?' I was confused, 'magic isn't real.'

'Given the circumstances, I don't think you should be so quick to judge what is and isn't real.'

'Touché' I said.

Serafin frowned, 'do you know what that means.'

'I didn't say anything.'

Serafin sighed deeply, 'back to the topic at hand.'

'Ha' I said, 'hand' Serafin looked unamused

She placed me on the ground and sat opposite me, 'let us have a very serious conversation.'

'Ok.'

'So magic. -'

I interrupted Serafin, 'why are you doing this I literally met you two days ago, and you almost ate me.'

'Because given my current circumstance, I'm going to need your help.'

'You just said a lot without telling me anything.'

She shrugged, 'it's a complicated story.'

I shrugged, 'I have a lot of time on my hands.'

Serafin for the third time let out a deep sigh and slowly Started to explain, the dragons were going to invade kill and burn everything and everyone then move on to the next planet leaving the world behind nothing but cinders and ashes.

'So basically, the worlds fucked.'

'yup,' Serafin stood up and started to pace around the glade muttering to herself.

'Need some help' I asked.

'No, I'm just thinking' she stopped pacing and looked at me, 'to you know to stop the world ending we need to destroy or disable the portal.'

'What portal?'

'you know the one that's going to let the dragons thought who are then going to kill everything and everyone.'

'So how do we stop that?'

'We Start by' she said holding her arm out the tree behind me came to life and wrapped its limbs around me, 'teaching you how to defend yourself.'

'How did you' I said, struggling to extricate myself.

Serafin smiled and said, 'I simply willed it to happen' she gestured at the tree, 'and it happened' as if it was the simplest thing.

Serafin waved her hand and the tree returned to normal, I looked at the tree.

'Gonna be honest, very much want to do that.'

'I thought you might.'

'so how do we start?'

Serafin pursed 'we can start now I'm ready.'

'ready for what?'

'Well, we are going to need to speed things up, so I'm going to for lack of a better word give you parts of my persona.'

'What?' I was very confused.

'Basically, again we don't have time so it's better I just give you my knowledge or parts of it I just need you to lie then we can begin your- '

'What no, no, no wait hold on' I stopped for a second.

'Farren, I need you to trust me' Serafin sounded almost like she was pleading, 'I can't do this without help, I am sick if the violence and death I can't go through it again please' she reached out towards me.

'No,' I fell back Serafin tried to grab me I squirmed, but she just tightened her grip.

now I was starting to panic.

'Farren stop I'm only trying. -'

I screamed as one of Serafin's claws cut my forearm.

it was Serafin's turn to recoil withdrawing her hand, 'Farren' she exhaled.

I was clutching my arm there was blood not much, but it was there.

'No Farren please don't' she reached out slowly her eyes I saw it, she was truly sorry, but my brain overrode that.

I turned and ran, clutching my arm.

'Farren' Serafin called out as I ran.

Mum wasn't home when I got there, I checked the clock on the wall it was only two in the afternoon I looked at my arm it was only a sallow gash and it looked a lot worse than it was, it still bleeding and it was to uniform It didn't look like a cut from a stray tree branch, so I went into the bathroom into the medicine cabinet and took out a bandage and wrapped it around the gash.

I didn't really know what I was doing but I did my best and with the bandage secure, I hid it with my sleeve and then to go and make something to eat wail I waited for mum to get home.

It had been a day since had had an argument with Serafin, I woke up it was bright outside I was so very tired I rubbed my eyes and slowly got out of bed, as I got dressed in my school uniform wondering what day it was when it hit me I was suddenly very much awake I was going to make a choice today.

'Good morning' mum said in a sing-song voice as she walked in, I ran over and gave her a hug.

'You ok their bud.'

'Yep,' I whispered, mum smelt nice she smelt like comfort and home 'so you miss your alarm?'

I gave a fake deep sigh and mum laughed, 'c'mon you least go have missed the bus, but I can dive you she turned around 'on one condition.'

'Yes', I say.

'Tell me what's been bothering you'.

'What do mean?' I say in an airy voice.

'Come on I will make you breakfast whilst you tell me what's going on,' mum Started to walk down the corridor.

'You don't mind missing your first lesson, do you?'

'Not at all I said.'

So is sat at the kitchen table wail mum made me breakfast, 'so what's up?' she asked cracking two eggs into a pan 'you have been very quiet lately and you haven't gone walking since Sunday.'

I sighed for real this time, would she believe me if I told her about Serafin I thought no what if she tells I took a very deep breath, 'have you ever had an argument and you just feel' I stopped searching for the right words.

'Right for the wrong reason's mum said, 'As in you think you did the right thing, but went the wrong way about it?'

'Yes' I jumped up, 'that's exactly it' I embraced mum again.

'Wow their cowboy, don't hug yourself out'.

'Ok, mum.' I say in a very exaggerated tone.

'Right' mu said, 'I am going to put these eggs in a container with some toast while you get your bag packed.'

'Thanks, mum' I yelled as I rounded the corner, 'I love you very, very much.'

And five minutes later I was in the car getting driven to school.

'So, what are you doing today' I say, repeating the ritual me and mum have had for as long as I can remember.

'Oh, you know stuff.'

'You can't tell me can you'

'Nope I'm not allowed to say, but I can tell you that I'm am now running late.'

'It's ok I can walk from here.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yes, mum, you need to get to work and thanks for the advice'

I jumped out of the car and began to walk my breath crystalizing in front of me even though the sun was shining, 'fuck it's cold' I said to know no-one in particular.

I started walking to school along the footpath about halfway between town and school, houses on one side and a forest on the other there were birds singing and jumping from branch to branch of the tall slender trees.

I was about five minutes away from school and I was enjoying the fresh air I sighed as I heard the bell in the distance, I picked up the pace I didn't want to miss period three, I arrived just in time to make it to my second class of the day English we have had a fill-in for the past three days she was nice enough but a little strange, I could have sworn that she growled like properly growled at a student that was misbehaving during lunch.

Which got my brain ticking, could it be another dragon here of all palaces they were hunted down all of them and now not one but two dragons? An interesting kundrem I thought.

'Right then' I said, to my self

I got my science books out and left to go to my English class, after rushing back to my locker to get the right books I did Animal farm for an hour and a half and then lunch and maths and then finally I was free, was free school had driven it from my mind but now it sat there like a wait in the pit of my stomach, I spent most of the bus trip debating with myself, how do I do this do I just say sorry or do I make some speech about how sorry I am.

Near the end of trip I just resolved to look you the window until we got to my stop it was a nice afternoon the sun was just starting to wane and the view blurred by as we drove along the narrow winding path watching the trees blur by and before I knew it we were at my stop I got off the bus thanking Tim I shouldered my backpack.

A thousand thoughts filled my head, what if she's not there? what if she doesn't want to see me? I could just go I thought, I could just go now and no one would even know I stopped conflicted, mum would have picked up Maranda my now I could go home now put this behind me, adrenalin caused through me I took a deep breath and took the preverbal plunge.

Instead of going towards my house I took the path around my house down towards the forest I jumped the fence and took a deep breath, absorbing the scents ferns, eucalypts and possibly my favourite the almost permanent smell of petrichor, I walked and followed the main path for a time until I came to the waterfall I jumped over the fencing surrounding the bridge.

I climbed down the bridge gently it and followed the river downstream, jumping from rock to rock and sometimes braving the slopes of the valley created by the water over thousands of years, after almost twenty minutes and numerous close calls with the water arrived truth be told I didn't need to take the river it was a delaying tactic, I would have just followed the main path for another five minutes and I would have basically been at the top of the hill but I needed time.

So I made my way across the river being careful not to fall in, I didn't know how deep it was but I made it over without falling, I stood in the middle of the clearing the river to one side and the hill on the other I called out Serafin's name and waited I sat down after a short amount of time, I feel a strange sensation I turn around but a can't see anything, then a disturbance in the water a massive hand reaches up a hand coved in red scales, I look up as Serafin pulled herself out of the river water running off her scales ash cased waves as she sat down on the bank of the river, I run over to her as she sits herself in the river bank I stop abruptly.

'Hey, are you ok Serafin' I ask concerned.

Serafin brushed her black hair out of her face.

'Farren,' she said like she couldn't believe I was there.

I couldn't tell but it looked like her eyes were brimming with tears, I walked up to her and put my hand on her knee and looked up at her she was a massive being almost thirty meters tall, only around fifteen when sitting but still my hand compared to her knee I was tiny and yet I felt safe around her I couldn't explain it I looked up into Serafin 's face her eyes where definitely brimming with tears.

'I'm sorry Serafin I didn't mean- '

'Farren' she said, interrupting me.

'Hay it's ok' I said, in a soothing tone 'it's ok'

Serafin leaned over and scooped me up, 'No, it's not I'm sorry I almost ate you.'

It's ok I'm already over that I say, 'and besides that was only a joke I hope,' I say trying to comfort her.

the tears were running down her face now she held me close to her chest.

'I'm so, so sorry my god what was I thinking I was trying to protect you, but instead all I did was try to force you into something you didn't want to and for that, I am truly sorry.'

I could feel her heart beating and I gently reached out and touched where I could feel the heartbeat strongest and gave her what could pass for a hug back, my world tilted and I almost fell over as Serafin moved into a lying position I lay down to in her cupped hands she nursed me.

her breath washing over me I was starting to fall asleep, I reached out and gently stroked Serafin's Muzzle.

And fell asleep.

'I promise I will never hurt you again,' those were the last words I heard.

I slept well and when I woke up I did so slowly, gently rising out of my sleep.

'Farren, Farren.'

'Yes, yes, I answered slowly sitting up.'

I rubbed my eyes, 'What is it, Serafin?'

She nudged me with her snout and exhaled, blowing my hair out of my face.

'It's time to wake up' she said gently.

I sat up slowly and yawned, 'morning Serafin.' I stood up stretching.

Serafin sat up and stretched her arms high above her head and yarned she looked down at me.

'so,' she asked, 'what do you want to do today?'

'hold on don't I have school today?'

'nope,' Serafin smiled, 'there is some emergency asbestos remove' her tail was twitching like she was excited.'

'Ok,' I say slightly concerned 'and mum?'

'It will be Fine' Serafin said airily she lay down on her stomach arms crossed, 'so?'

'How about we start with some explanations.'

Serafin grumbled something under her breath she sighed heavily, 'guess where doing exposition then.'

She rolled over and patted her stomach, 'come on then.'

I frowned 'sorry what?'

'Right sorry' Serafin said, 'a bit insensitive.'

'No, it's Fine I say in a relaxed tone.'

'I'm just so used to-' Serafin stopped mid-sentence.

'What?' I asked.

Serafin let out a sad sigh, 'that's a long story, are you sure you want to hear about this?'

'Yes'

'Ok' she said simply and with that, she picked me up and put me on her belly, I felt her stomach expanding and contracting.

'Ok' she said as if considering her next words, 'where to begin' she closed her eyes her brow furrowed just trying to remember being over three-hundred years old can make it hard to remember, Serafin opened her eyes 'ok let's start from the very, very, very beginning.'

'Your species?' I asked Serafin, she nodded.

'So way back when dragons were just your average stone-age civilization fairly primitive beating each other to death with rocks etcetera, but there was a chance discovery.'

'Your version of fire?' I asked.

Serafin rubbed her face, 'Farren if you keep interrupting this is actually going to take all day.'

'Sorry' I said meekly.

'It's Fine' Serafin said, 'anyway back to the story, the discovery of magic, at first it was found in only a few dragons, but it began to spread our world became to the embodiment of where there's a will there is a way.'

'Yes,' I said, 'you did that thing with the tree.'

Serafin nodded, 'yes it was something that we still don't quite understand to this day there was have been a spark or something' Serafin shrugged her shoulders, 'we just don't know.'

I found 'we?'

'Yes, Serafin said, well I'm not the only dragon out there as far as I know there are five on this earth including me that are not indigenous, they have their own brand of magic enchanting objects.'

'Ok, I will save my astonishment for later back to the story at hand'

Serafin nodded, 'yes good idea.'

'Suddenly our world became what we wanted it to be' Serafin sighed sadly, 'it was beautiful she looked up at the sky wistfully then looked back down at me.'

'Then it all what to shit' I said.

Serafin nodded then she was there as their world burned the rivers boiled away mountains crumbled the mass wholesale slaughter, she watched as dragons once a peaceful race tore each other apart the blood flowed in rivers and the sky filled with screams of agony and defiant roars she forget as well, after the uprising there control over their magic had faulted, battles became close quarters she remembered, one of the deranged came at her she ducked the first swipe and charged into him lifted him up and slammed him down he was winded struggling to rise she smashed his head in.

Serafin returned to the present, she shook her head.

'Yes,' she said a little shaken, 'it all went to shit.'

I was concerned, 'are you ok Serafin?' I asked.

'Yes,' she said hesitantly, she breathed in deep.

'As you so eloquently put it all wasn't to shit there was a civil war our world consumed in blood and fire' she ran through the hellscape that had become her home planet, she pasted corpses that where old and fresh she saw things that would haunt her until her dying day, 'but it's not just my world there are others countless others, I have seen so many civilizations fall to dragons dominus that's what they call themselves led my Aborwrath with every world that falls she her armies grow.'

I went cold 'this isn't the first time this has happened?'

Serafin shook her head sadly, 'and it may not be the last.'

The cold feeling in my chest was replaced by determination, I shook my head 'no, this stops hear.'

'This will be the fourth world to fall that I have fought on, including' Serafin stopped she closed her eyes.

'It's ok Serafin' I say in a soothing tone.

'No, she almost yelled it's not she slammed her fist into the ground I just don't know what to do.'

'we will stop them this time' I say, determination in my voice.

'I have tried many things' Serafin sighed 'but never ever' she leaned forward, 'have I ever made a friend or met a human I enjoyed being around' that's a lie.

'Oh', I say.

'Maybe your secret to beating Aborwrath,' Serafin said.

I smiled, 'Maybe I am.'

Is he? Serafin thought, or am I just making the same mistakes again? she looked up at the skies as if it would hold the answers, she inhaled felling Farren rise and fall on her stomach.

Chapter 8

Alex and Runetide reached the shore a little over two hours later it was twilight by then, Alex walked out of the water he breathed out and he felt a burning on his neck, they were on a nondescript beach with sandy dunes and grassy foothills he looked around it was fully dark on the beach.

Remember Runetide said, no magic.

There was no moon the only illumination came from street laps on the top of the small hills the wind was blowing hard, sending I chill there Alex.

'Coast is clear' he said, he snorted.

Runetide rose slowly from the water cascading off her skin she crouched low using her tail she covered her tracks, in three strides she made it across the beach she grabbed Alex and placed him on the top of the hill, She was silent she took this sort of thing very seriously she didn't talk she just waited for me give the all-clear.

When Alex did Runetide Started and breathed in deep, 'it smells different here.'

'A good different?' Alex asked.

'salty' Runetide replied.

'K then' Alex said, 'not sure how to reply to that.'

'Ok' Runetide said, 'haven't been here in about a hundred and fifty years, but this looks like somewhere near what they call now the dragons cove, an ironic name.'

'Our target is in upper Archericon.'

'I'm aware of that' Runetide said, 'as the crow.-'

'Raven' Alex interjected.

Runetide sighed, 'as the raven' she emphasized, 'fly's it's only two hours.'

Alex yawned, 'I'm going to sleep.'

Runetide sighed, 'am I going to have to carry you?'

Alex raised his hands above his head.

Runetide sighed heavily and muttered something under her breath she picked up Alex and cradled him she started walking, the salty air permeating everything then she started to run, it was almost pitch black apart from lighthouse and light created by manmade lights, she moved like a shadow a brief flicker dismissed as a trick of the brain as soon as she was gone, trying not to jostle Alex as she moved further towards upper Archericon, she had to slow down be more careful she used her tail to carry Alex she was very careful not to wake him they would both need their strength she didn't know exactly what for, but she had a suspicion.

Once Runetide reached the more populated parts of Archericon however, she had two choices either go around which would mean another four or five hours going around the denser areas of human habitation, as it stood there weren't many places to hide as it was.

She gently lowered Alex to the ground unwrapping her tail she breathed in deep she prepared herself for what her dragons called compression, an incredibly painful process, Runetide would compress her body to make it smaller there where downsize, she became denser her reactions slowed it became an effort to walk let alone speak, being in this state also made dragons feel bloated and uncomfortable.

That was before the compression started as Runetide laydown, she remembered trying to explain it to Alex how it felt she smiled as she grabbed the nearest tree ripped it out of the ground and clamped it between her jaws.

She visualized the runes she had carved into the base of her skull, closed her eyes, it will all be over soon she thought she spasmed bit down on the tree trunk suppressing the raw of pain, the transformation only took in between ten and fifteen minutes but the pain made it seem like it took forever.

It feels like full-body constipation a concentrated burning pain in all over your body and about halfway through you get something like growing pains an intense pain that spreads through your bones, it feels like your bones are on fire it slowly spreads until it reaches your skull.

It felt strange being so small she was now only two meters tall, Runetide tried to stand but her legs failed she dragged herself up and leaned against the splintered remains of the tree, she was shaking she clenched her fists and breathed in she felt a hand on her shoulder he looked up she felt his had warm and the warmth spread through her, she gradually opened and closed her hands Alex helped her stand.

'You ok?' Alex asked concerned.

Runetide shook her head, it's just strange she looked Alex, I just feel so heavy.

She tried to take a step, but her body was slow she Started to fall Alex tried to stop her, but he just got dragged down as well.

Alex stood, 'Runetide we need- '

'I know' she snapped back, 'but this dam body' her ton softened, 'just, just give me ten more minutes.'

Alex nodded, 'you need another boost.'

Runetide tried to shake her head Alex got the message 'I will go and she about public transport and clothes.'

Alex left Runetide to get accustomed to her new body he went to Find them away to upper Archasia.

Runetide breathed in, struggling to rise she got on all fours and managed to get onto her knees she fell over twice, she felt presents around the edge of her mind she let it in.

are you ok the voice in her head said?

Fine, she replied.

no, you're not you don't you just use magic.

you of all dragons should know why we are all on her territory.

the other voice sighed.

what does it matter if she detects you?

You didn't know her you dad did I took enough of a risk with Alex lending me his strength I seeing as you have yet to tell me why I'm here I'd rather she did not know I was here.

It could take you days to adjust to your new body.

I know that but I have Alex hear to help.

And your appearance?

I will use some native magic.

Fair enough, how long until you are here?

Runetide paused, about an hour and a half.

See you then.

Runetide felt the presence leave her mind and concentrated on standing, by the time Alex returned Runetide had stated to walk haltingly but it was better than nothing.

She heard Alex exclaim as he fell, she almost laughed.

He emerged carrying a plastic bag and two transit cards.

Runetide walked slowly and mechanically towards Alex.

Alex sighed, 'Runetide you in no fit state to move.'

'no Alex if she knows. - '

'what are the chances that she already knows.'

'Alex. - '

'what is the chances' Alex over-road her.

'high' Runetide admitted.

'so, then why are you trying to put yourself through. - '

'I need. - '

Alex grabbed Runetide's hands 'Runetide' he said deadly serious 'look into my eyes you don't need to prove anything to me I know that you feel that you failed me, you got out alive you have trained me you made me better than I was' Alex embarrassed Runetide 'it's ok.'

I released Runetide She looked determined, 'right then' she said, 'let's do this.'

Runes glowed dimly on her shoulder and strength flowed through Runetide.

'How long can you keep this up for?' Alex asked.

Runetide flexed her hands enjoying having full dexterity back.

'I think maybe four hours so then another six to recharge, what did you get me?'

'I got you a dress sorry, I did need to estimate your size.'

Runetide held up the dress 'this is not going to fit me.'

'Well,' Alex said, 'you are two meters tall, you're taller than almost everyone I know, I'm only at waist height I don't know if I can even reach your shoulders.'

'That still doesn't change the fact that this dress won't even cover my legs.'

'well, they don't exactly make cloths for dragons now do they.'

Runetide consisted 'that's true the number of times I have almost tripped over my own tail, it's very uncomfortable to wrap your tail around your legs, but I digress.'

'Well you can't just walk into J-mart I don't think that people will react to a two-meter tall blue-skinned dragon.'

'Fair enough' star said, 'so what do we do?'

'I have to go in and a bigger dress' Alex said, sighing 'you should have seen the look I got from the cashier any way off I go.'

While Alex went to get a dress that would fit, Runetide worked on her face making it less dragon-y after some work using some illusion runes and the necklaces Alex had got her she slid it on her face was still there but to everyone else, she looked like a perfectly normal human, with a perfectly forgettable face Alex came back with a sea blue dress that would fit, she wrapped her tail around her legs and slid the dress on put on the black coat with a high collar and they were ready.

Runetide sent out a message, delayed fifteen minutes be there in two.

They taped on their transit cards and off they were, on the one-and-a-half-hour trip.

The carriages where mostly empty and it was still pitch black outside, but that didn't stop Alex looking out the window seeing the slow and gradual change from concrete jungle to forest by the station lights, by the time we reached upper Archericon Alex could actually see trees, he stepped out onto the lichen-covered ash felt the clock told him to two in the morning.

He could see from the vantage point that the station offered the general store which was closed and someplace called tin-pan alley an old-style pizza restaurant the town was called sky-would-way, it consisted of one two-lane main street covered in shops and highway that ran parallel separated by a train line that was cut deep in a valley, There were trees everywhere all gums and the like and grass.

Alex had Finished looking around he nodded to Runetide, she flowed him down to street-level as they exited the station, a small red car came by briefly blinding Alex Runetide held onto his shoulders.

'So, Alex asked what now?'

'We wait' Runetide said, with a forced claim.

So, they stood there it was bitterly cold Alex shivered.

Runetide put a hand on Alex's shoulder then a black van came around the corner at the top of the street, it came to a stop in front of us the sliding door opened, a man poked his head out he looked to be in his late seventies and was bolding he was wearing a plain red shirt, muddy brown eyes and glasses.

'Get in' he said in a gruff voice.

Alex jumped in Runetide had to almost bend over double to get inside the van, she shuffled around but was too tall to sit in any of the chairs, so she just sat on the ground the old man smiled

'let's go' he said his teeth were not in a good way.

We all sat in silence slowly rocking Runetide would occasionally have to grab onto something to steady herself.

I looked over at Runetide, 'you ok' I asked concerned.

'Yes,' she said, almost mechanically.

'What's got you so worried?'

'Well now that you mention, it how much can we trust those twelve after burning gods know how many worlds to the ground why would they change her minds all of a sudden? And why would anyone trust them.'

'Oh,' Alex said, 'I thought you might be worried about the fifteen dragons I have never met trying to eat me but yes, there's also that they could be lying.'

Runetide snorted and smiled sardonically, 'thanks for the words of support I for one have faith in your ability.'

Alex shrugged his shoulders; Runetide shook her head, 'we're all going to fucking die.'

Alex reached over and touched Runetide's arm, 'I'm sure it will all go Fine.'

Runetide nodded just then the van stopped.

'Ok,' the man said in his ruff voice, 'out ya get.'

I unbuckled and stood first the man put a hand on my chest, he nodded to Runetide 'you first.'

'For friends of yours,' Alex said, 'they seen rather jumpy.'

'They just want to make sure I'm me.'

Runetide stepped out and a massive black scaled hand grabbed her and lifted her up.

'Hay' Alex shouted

He pushed the man aside and jumped out of the van, he stopped Alex had gotten used to Runetide but this was something completely different, it was hulking massive it stood head and shoulders above Runetide Alex had seen male dragons but this one, he was massive arms the size of several trees he didn't have hair, instead it had spines and frills, two ram-like horns and on its back a set of wings demon-like and twice the size of the dragon it's self but the legs digitigrade, with three toes most unsettling where the eyes a burning crimson red.

Alex watched in horror as the massive dragon lifted Runetide up to its jaws, but it didn't open them only sniffed her.

'Runetide' it said in a deep guttural voice that was also somehow a whisper, 'it is good to Finally see you it has been too long,' it looked down at me I could feel my heart rate increase, 'and to see your friend in the flesh Finally.'

Runetide nodded 'yes,' she was not used to being in her current position, she was being to work out why humans tended to shit themselves when they first meet a dragon.

The black dragon laughed it was not pleasant, it lowered Runetide to the ground than in one swift movement picked up the van and crushed it with the people still inside Alex gasped Runetide didn't even flinch, the black dragon dropped the car it hit the ground with a deafening crash Alex looked up.

'sorry about that' but the deep guttural voice didn't contain a shred of sorrow that he could detect, Alex stepped back he could feel the adrenaline surging through him, Runetide's hand was in his shoulder he heard her voice in her head don't do it don't turn around just trust me.

I do but this one.-

I know she replied he can be a little overzealous but he didn't kill them they will wake up in the morning with no memory of what happened to remove the evidence, the black dragon he just wants to like to his now-dead father.

So, why is he letting these dragons through?

Runetide Stated speaking out loud 'I already explained this there's a war going on, one between Aborwrath and everyone else, if she and her friends come here, then earth needs to be ready' she sounded almost frustrated, 'plus' she continued, 'you have an interest in this working too.'

The black dragon nodded she's right you know humanity doesn't win if Aborwrath comes through and they're not ready.'

I looked up at the massive black dragon for what seemed like a very long time, 'ok' I said.

'Right' Runetide said, 'what did you call us to hear for?'

'You are one of the dragons with a strong connection with the planet, the black dragon said.

'Yes', Runetide said wondering where this was going.

'which means you hear and see things others don't.'

'So, you want me to spy for you' Runetide was confused 'why I through everything was going according to plan.'

'It was until one of our own betrayed us, she was unable to see past well her own past she had a history with Aborwrath she fought her on no less than three occasions and so was not open to an alliance for the sake of the earth, but she was not born on this earth she doesn't understand the way you do,'

Runetide nodded, 'so what do me and Alex have to do with this why are and more importantly who are we spying on?'

Although Runetide asked the question she already knew the answer she had suspected but Serafin was not here something must have happened.

'There is a child that goes to one of the schools around here by the name of Farren, we believe he has had contact with Serafin.'

'You didn't kill her?'

The black dragon sighed 'no I couldn't bring myself to do it, but she survived and escaped I'm am now regretting that decision.'

Runetide was relieved more than anything else three on one wasn't exactly fair, but still, she had known Serafin a long time and the shit she had been through and if they had she might be a little more inclined to rip the black dragons throat out then help him, but as it stood he was Gellot's son but still, he and the twins very realty spoke even back then when we were a tight-knit group but after the incident.

'Who is Serafin?' Alex asked, interrupting Runetide's thoughts.

Runetide was about to answer, but the black dragon cut her off.

'A traitor' he growled.

Is she? thought Alex thought then he gestured and the black dragon, 'you are here to stop Aborwrath coming through because she will try to exterminate the population, but then you hear a voice in your head calming to be dragons not loyal to Aborwrath and your just like' Alex did his best impersonation of the black dragon.

'yes, you have burned and committed mass genocide on no less than three worlds probably more, but you want to help these little guys out to they don't get their world burned.'

'Forgive me' Alex said, 'if this sounds a little dumb' Runetide put a warning hand on his shoulder Alex ignored it 'why not just influence humanity's technology yourself.'

The black dragon laughed shaking his head 'you don't get it do you your planet isn't the only one being threatened hell there are hundreds maybe thousands of worlds under threat from Aborwrath's grasp, she kills anyone who disagrees with her with every world destroyed her Amy's grow if she finds dragons they either join her or die we are the lucky ones, we have survived multiple worlds thanks to both Runetide and Serafin, but we are not enough so when we hear someone offering us reinforcements of cores we say yes.'

'So, Serafin didn't see this' Alex asked.

'Sadly, no she was too blinded by her hatred of Aborwrath.'

'But she knows that this isn't the only world being attacked right?'

'yes.'

'What!' Alex was rather surprised, 'then why?'

'She was the leader of our little group me and the twins we mostly preformed a draconic version of guerrilla warfare, but things changed Serafin formed a friendship with one other human on world number three Aborwrath killed her and that happening only months after the destruction of her homeworld and then losing that world too, the burning hatred, it burned deep within her who knows what would happen she was already irrational and volatile.'

It had started to sink in, 'how are you all still alive' Alex asked in awe.

'Serafin gave us gives us randomly selected coordinates that will shift us to an inhabitable planet in this galaxy.'

'Then how does Serafin not want reinforcements?'

'We told her but she can be very unstable' he snorted, 'I would know' he rubbed his lower jaw, 'ever since the loss of Anna she has been a little jumpy especially when it comes to staying hidden, but then again given what happened last time I can understand that'.

'What happened' Alex asked intrigued.

'It doesn't matter I've gone off-topic' the black dragon looked at Runetide, 'this is going to be dangerous I understand that you and Serafin have a history.'

Runetide nodded 'yes that's why I'm here, but in what way is it going to be dangerous?'

'We need her to know that we have him which means.'

'Which means' Runetide interrupted, 'were going to have to do it Infront her Serafin.'

'Should I be concerned?' Alex asked.

'Yes,' Runetide said 'very I don't think Serafin is going to care very much whether or not we were friends once, she tends to be very protective of her friends and while we will be trying to grab Farren and get out of there, she will be trying her hardest to kill us or at least very badly hurt' she shook her head 'you should have seen what happened last time.'

'That's not going to happen' the black dragon said, 'we want you to grab him and use him if he has a connection to Serafin make her surrender then we let the other dragons in, then we see humanity grow then once they strong enough we may even start to fight back against Aborwrath, start a resistance.'

'cool sounds fun' Alex said, 'and after that what like we kill all the bad dragons hear and then we just move on Finding more to kill', the black dragon nodded, 'honestly' Alex said 'you had me up until the war with the dragons who are very likely going to slaughter us all.'

'I can't do anything about it, if you want your race so to survive then this is what needs to happen.'

Alex was shocked 'what? to save my race' he pointed at the black dragon, 'you just decided that to save my race get up caught up in a war we don't want any part of so, we can fight in a war'.

The black dragon nodded.

He turned to Runetide, 'you agreed to this.'

She seemed a bit defensive, 'well yes.'

'Why' Alex asked angrily, 'I sure as hell don't want to get involved is a galaxy-spanning war.'

'It doesn't matter what you think' the black dragon said, 'your race is set on its path it may take a century or two Aborwrath will find us again.'

Alex stood there he looked to Runetide he looked up at the massive black dragon, 'fuck' he almost shouted.

'Alex' Runetide said, 'we need you for this c'mon' she said.

The black dragon turned, 'the dragons are coming in a week we need Farren by then' he looked at me, 'you have a decision to make' and with that, he walked away.

'What do you know of this war?' Alex asked Runetide, 'it's not a pretty tail and by the sounds of it'

'Yes,' Runetide said it's not Aborwath wants dragons to own everything but we can only try to hold one planet at a time and if we fail Aborwrath destroys the planet, we use the magical surge to survive, to get to a new world as for Serafin, I have fought beside her before she is one dragon you don't want to fuck with' Runetide sighed, 'but if she tries in to interrupt the ritual that may result in the deaths of a dozen dragons.'

'Why?'

'She thinks that we are putting this planet at risk of invasion before we're ready and all she knows is that there are four other dragons, one she hasn't seen in a very long time me and three that have betrayed her and this world to Aborwrath, quite possibly the person she hates most in the universe and on top of that everyone else she knows is dead, or scattered threw out the known universe.'

Runetide turned to Alex, 'people in desperate situations to things that may be detrimental as in world ending, you don't need to agree just understand that if we can't control Serafin then she may end up killing us all.'

'how would she even do that?'

'by killing everyone.'

'yes,' Alex said exasperated 'but how.'

'by destroying the planet.'

'What' Alex froze 'she would do that?'

'I don't know,' Runetide said, 'remember she thinks that this is it she is the last dragon that can stand against Aborwrath and her army of deranged insane dragons humans and the like, she now may have a human she considers a friend but if destroying the planet will kill Aborwrath which it might if she is not prepared then Serafin may do it.'

'ok,' Alex said, 'I'm with you to save this planet.'

Chapter 8

Alex and Runetide reached the shore a little over two hours later it was twilight by then, Alex walked out of the water he breathed out and he felt a burning on his neck, they were on a nondescript beach with sandy dunes and grassy foothills he looked around it was fully dark on the beach.

Remember Runetide said, no magic.

There was no moon the only illumination came from street laps on the top of the small hills the wind was blowing hard, sending I chill there Alex.

'Coast is clear' he said, he snorted.

Runetide rose slowly from the water cascading off her skin she crouched low using her tail she covered her tracks, in three strides she made it across the beach she grabbed Alex and placed him on the top of the hill, She was silent she took this sort of thing very seriously she didn't talk she just waited for me give the all-clear.

When Alex did Runetide Started and breathed in deep, 'it smells different here.'

'A good different?' Alex asked.

'salty' Runetide replied.

'K then' Alex said, 'not sure how to reply to that.'

'Ok' Runetide said, 'haven't been here in about a hundred and fifty years, but this looks like somewhere near what they call now the dragons cove, an ironic name.'

'Our target is in upper Archericon.'

'I'm aware of that' Runetide said, 'as the crow.-'

'Raven' Alex interjected.

Runetide sighed, 'as the raven' she emphasized, 'fly's it's only two hours.'

Alex yawned, 'I'm going to sleep.'

Runetide sighed, 'am I going to have to carry you?'

Alex raised his hands above his head.

Runetide sighed heavily and muttered something under her breath she picked up Alex and cradled him she started walking, the salty air permeating everything then she started to run, it was almost pitch black apart from lighthouse and light created by manmade lights, she moved like a shadow a brief flicker dismissed as a trick of the brain as soon as she was gone, trying not to jostle Alex as she moved further towards upper Archericon, she had to slow down be more careful she used her tail to carry Alex she was very careful not to wake him they would both need their strength she didn't know exactly what for, but she had a suspicion.

Once Runetide reached the more populated parts of Archericon however, she had two choices either go around which would mean another four or five hours going around the denser areas of human habitation, as it stood there weren't many places to hide as it was.

She gently lowered Alex to the ground unwrapping her tail she breathed in deep she prepared herself for what her dragons called compression, an incredibly painful process, Runetide would compress her body to make it smaller there where downsize, she became denser her reactions slowed it became an effort to walk let alone speak, being in this state also made dragons feel bloated and uncomfortable.

That was before the compression started as Runetide laydown, she remembered trying to explain it to Alex how it felt she smiled as she grabbed the nearest tree ripped it out of the ground and clamped it between her jaws.

She visualized the runes she had carved into the base of her skull, closed her eyes, it will all be over soon she thought she spasmed bit down on the tree trunk suppressing the raw of pain, the transformation only took in between ten and fifteen minutes but the pain made it seem like it took forever.

It feels like full-body constipation a concentrated burning pain in all over your body and about halfway through you get something like growing pains an intense pain that spreads through your bones, it feels like your bones are on fire it slowly spreads until it reaches your skull.

It felt strange being so small she was now only two meters tall, Runetide tried to stand but her legs failed she dragged herself up and leaned against the splintered remains of the tree, she was shaking she clenched her fists and breathed in she felt a hand on her shoulder he looked up she felt his had warm and the warmth spread through her, she gradually opened and closed her hands Alex helped her stand.

'You ok?' Alex asked concerned.

Runetide shook her head, it's just strange she looked Alex, I just feel so heavy.

She tried to take a step, but her body was slow she Started to fall Alex tried to stop her, but he just got dragged down as well.

Alex stood, 'Runetide we need- '

'I know' she snapped back, 'but this dam body' her ton softened, 'just, just give me ten more minutes.'

Alex nodded, 'you need another boost.'

Runetide tried to shake her head Alex got the message 'I will go and she about public transport and clothes.'

Alex left Runetide to get accustomed to her new body he went to Find them away to upper Archasia.

Runetide breathed in, struggling to rise she got on all fours and managed to get onto her knees she fell over twice, she felt presents around the edge of her mind she let it in.

are you ok the voice in her head said?

Fine, she replied.

no, you're not you don't you just use magic.

you of all dragons should know why we are all on her territory.

the other voice sighed.

what does it matter if she detects you?

You didn't know her you dad did I took enough of a risk with Alex lending me his strength I seeing as you have yet to tell me why I'm here I'd rather she did not know I was here.

It could take you days to adjust to your new body.

I know that but I have Alex hear to help.

And your appearance?

I will use some native magic.

Fair enough, how long until you are here?

Runetide paused, about an hour and a half.

See you then.

Runetide felt the presence leave her mind and concentrated on standing, by the time Alex returned Runetide had stated to walk haltingly but it was better than nothing.

She heard Alex exclaim as he fell, she almost laughed.

He emerged carrying a plastic bag and two transit cards.

Runetide walked slowly and mechanically towards Alex.

Alex sighed, 'Runetide you in no fit state to move.'

'no Alex if she knows. - '

'what are the chances that she already knows.'

'Alex. - '

'what is the chances' Alex over-road her.

'high' Runetide admitted.

'so, then why are you trying to put yourself through. - '

'I need. - '

Alex grabbed Runetide's hands 'Runetide' he said deadly serious 'look into my eyes you don't need to prove anything to me I know that you feel that you failed me, you got out alive you have trained me you made me better than I was' Alex embarrassed Runetide 'it's ok.'

I released Runetide She looked determined, 'right then' she said, 'let's do this.'

Runes glowed dimly on her shoulder and strength flowed through Runetide.

'How long can you keep this up for?' Alex asked.

Runetide flexed her hands enjoying having full dexterity back.

'I think maybe four hours so then another six to recharge, what did you get me?'

'I got you a dress sorry, I did need to estimate your size.'

Runetide held up the dress 'this is not going to fit me.'

'Well,' Alex said, 'you are two meters tall, you're taller than almost everyone I know, I'm only at waist height I don't know if I can even reach your shoulders.'

'That still doesn't change the fact that this dress won't even cover my legs.'

'well, they don't exactly make cloths for dragons now do they.'

Runetide consisted 'that's true the number of times I have almost tripped over my own tail, it's very uncomfortable to wrap your tail around your legs, but I digress.'

'Well you can't just walk into J-mart I don't think that people will react to a two-meter tall blue-skinned dragon.'

'Fair enough' star said, 'so what do we do?'

'I have to go in and a bigger dress' Alex said, sighing 'you should have seen the look I got from the cashier any way off I go.'

While Alex went to get a dress that would fit, Runetide worked on her face making it less dragon-y after some work using some illusion runes and the necklaces Alex had got her she slid it on her face was still there but to everyone else, she looked like a perfectly normal human, with a perfectly forgettable face Alex came back with a sea blue dress that would fit, she wrapped her tail around her legs and slid the dress on put on the black coat with a high collar and they were ready.

Runetide sent out a message, delayed fifteen minutes be there in two.

They taped on their transit cards and off they were, on the one-and-a-half-hour trip.

The carriages where mostly empty and it was still pitch black outside, but that didn't stop Alex looking out the window seeing the slow and gradual change from concrete jungle to forest by the station lights, by the time we reached upper Archericon Alex could actually see trees, he stepped out onto the lichen-covered ash felt the clock told him to two in the morning.

He could see from the vantage point that the station offered the general store which was closed and someplace called tin-pan alley an old-style pizza restaurant the town was called sky-would-way, it consisted of one two-lane main street covered in shops and highway that ran parallel separated by a train line that was cut deep in a valley, There were trees everywhere all gums and the like and grass.

Alex had Finished looking around he nodded to Runetide, she flowed him down to street-level as they exited the station, a small red car came by briefly blinding Alex Runetide held onto his shoulders.

'So, Alex asked what now?'

'We wait' Runetide said, with a forced claim.

So, they stood there it was bitterly cold Alex shivered.

Runetide put a hand on Alex's shoulder then a black van came around the corner at the top of the street, it came to a stop in front of us the sliding door opened, a man poked his head out he looked to be in his late seventies and was bolding he was wearing a plain red shirt, muddy brown eyes and glasses.

'Get in' he said in a gruff voice.

Alex jumped in Runetide had to almost bend over double to get inside the van, she shuffled around but was too tall to sit in any of the chairs, so she just sat on the ground the old man smiled

'let's go' he said his teeth were not in a good way.

We all sat in silence slowly rocking Runetide would occasionally have to grab onto something to steady herself.

I looked over at Runetide, 'you ok' I asked concerned.

'Yes,' she said, almost mechanically.

'What's got you so worried?'

'Well now that you mention, it how much can we trust those twelve after burning gods know how many worlds to the ground why would they change her minds all of a sudden? And why would anyone trust them.'

'Oh,' Alex said, 'I thought you might be worried about the fifteen dragons I have never met trying to eat me but yes, there's also that they could be lying.'

Runetide snorted and smiled sardonically, 'thanks for the words of support I for one have faith in your ability.'

Alex shrugged his shoulders; Runetide shook her head, 'we're all going to fucking die.'

Alex reached over and touched Runetide's arm, 'I'm sure it will all go Fine.'

Runetide nodded just then the van stopped.

'Ok,' the man said in his ruff voice, 'out ya get.'

I unbuckled and stood first the man put a hand on my chest, he nodded to Runetide 'you first.'

'For friends of yours,' Alex said, 'they seen rather jumpy.'

'They just want to make sure I'm me.'

Runetide stepped out and a massive black scaled hand grabbed her and lifted her up.

'Hay' Alex shouted

He pushed the man aside and jumped out of the van, he stopped Alex had gotten used to Runetide but this was something completely different, it was hulking massive it stood head and shoulders above Runetide Alex had seen male dragons but this one, he was massive arms the size of several trees he didn't have hair, instead it had spines and frills, two ram-like horns and on its back a set of wings demon-like and twice the size of the dragon it's self but the legs digitigrade, with three toes most unsettling where the eyes a burning crimson red.

Alex watched in horror as the massive dragon lifted Runetide up to its jaws, but it didn't open them only sniffed her.

'Runetide' it said in a deep guttural voice that was also somehow a whisper, 'it is good to Finally see you it has been too long,' it looked down at me I could feel my heart rate increase, 'and to see your friend in the flesh Finally.'

Runetide nodded 'yes,' she was not used to being in her current position, she was being to work out why humans tended to shit themselves when they first meet a dragon.

The black dragon laughed it was not pleasant, it lowered Runetide to the ground than in one swift movement picked up the van and crushed it with the people still inside Alex gasped Runetide didn't even flinch, the black dragon dropped the car it hit the ground with a deafening crash Alex looked up.

'sorry about that' but the deep guttural voice didn't contain a shred of sorrow that he could detect, Alex stepped back he could feel the adrenaline surging through him, Runetide's hand was in his shoulder he heard her voice in her head don't do it don't turn around just trust me.

I do but this one.-

I know she replied he can be a little overzealous but he didn't kill them they will wake up in the morning with no memory of what happened to remove the evidence, the black dragon he just wants to like to his now-dead father.

So, why is he letting these dragons through?

Runetide Stated speaking out loud 'I already explained this there's a war going on, one between Aborwrath and everyone else, if she and her friends come here, then earth needs to be ready' she sounded almost frustrated, 'plus' she continued, 'you have an interest in this working too.'

The black dragon nodded she's right you know humanity doesn't win if Aborwrath comes through and they're not ready.'

I looked up at the massive black dragon for what seemed like a very long time, 'ok' I said.

'Right' Runetide said, 'what did you call us to hear for?'

'You are one of the dragons with a strong connection with the planet, the black dragon said.

'Yes', Runetide said wondering where this was going.

'which means you hear and see things others don't.'

'So, you want me to spy for you' Runetide was confused 'why I through everything was going according to plan.'

'It was until one of our own betrayed us, she was unable to see past well her own past she had a history with Aborwrath she fought her on no less than three occasions and so was not open to an alliance for the sake of the earth, but she was not born on this earth she doesn't understand the way you do,'

Runetide nodded, 'so what do me and Alex have to do with this why are and more importantly who are we spying on?'

Although Runetide asked the question she already knew the answer she had suspected but Serafin was not here something must have happened.

'There is a child that goes to one of the schools around here by the name of Farren, we believe he has had contact with Serafin.'

'You didn't kill her?'

The black dragon sighed 'no I couldn't bring myself to do it, but she survived and escaped I'm am now regretting that decision.'

Runetide was relieved more than anything else three on one wasn't exactly fair, but still, she had known Serafin a long time and the shit she had been through and if they had she might be a little more inclined to rip the black dragons throat out then help him, but as it stood he was Gellot's son but still, he and the twins very realty spoke even back then when we were a tight-knit group but after the incident.

'Who is Serafin?' Alex asked, interrupting Runetide's thoughts.

Runetide was about to answer, but the black dragon cut her off.

'A traitor' he growled.

Is she? thought Alex thought then he gestured and the black dragon, 'you are here to stop Aborwrath coming through because she will try to exterminate the population, but then you hear a voice in your head calming to be dragons not loyal to Aborwrath and your just like' Alex did his best impersonation of the black dragon.

'yes, you have burned and committed mass genocide on no less than three worlds probably more, but you want to help these little guys out to they don't get their world burned.'

'Forgive me' Alex said, 'if this sounds a little dumb' Runetide put a warning hand on his shoulder Alex ignored it 'why not just influence humanity's technology yourself.'

The black dragon laughed shaking his head 'you don't get it do you your planet isn't the only one being threatened hell there are hundreds maybe thousands of worlds under threat from Aborwrath's grasp, she kills anyone who disagrees with her with every world destroyed her Amy's grow if she finds dragons they either join her or die we are the lucky ones, we have survived multiple worlds thanks to both Runetide and Serafin, but we are not enough so when we hear someone offering us reinforcements of cores we say yes.'

'So, Serafin didn't see this' Alex asked.

'Sadly, no she was too blinded by her hatred of Aborwrath.'

'But she knows that this isn't the only world being attacked right?'

'yes.'

'What!' Alex was rather surprised, 'then why?'

'She was the leader of our little group me and the twins we mostly preformed a draconic version of guerrilla warfare, but things changed Serafin formed a friendship with one other human on world number three Aborwrath killed her and that happening only months after the destruction of her homeworld and then losing that world too, the burning hatred, it burned deep within her who knows what would happen she was already irrational and volatile.'

It had started to sink in, 'how are you all still alive' Alex asked in awe.

'Serafin gave us gives us randomly selected coordinates that will shift us to an inhabitable planet in this galaxy.'

'Then how does Serafin not want reinforcements?'

'We told her but she can be very unstable' he snorted, 'I would know' he rubbed his lower jaw, 'ever since the loss of Anna she has been a little jumpy especially when it comes to staying hidden, but then again given what happened last time I can understand that'.

'What happened' Alex asked intrigued.

'It doesn't matter I've gone off-topic' the black dragon looked at Runetide, 'this is going to be dangerous I understand that you and Serafin have a history.'

Runetide nodded 'yes that's why I'm here, but in what way is it going to be dangerous?'

'We need her to know that we have him which means.'

'Which means' Runetide interrupted, 'were going to have to do it Infront her Serafin.'

'Should I be concerned?' Alex asked.

'Yes,' Runetide said 'very I don't think Serafin is going to care very much whether or not we were friends once, she tends to be very protective of her friends and while we will be trying to grab Farren and get out of there, she will be trying her hardest to kill us or at least very badly hurt' she shook her head 'you should have seen what happened last time.'

'That's not going to happen' the black dragon said, 'we want you to grab him and use him if he has a connection to Serafin make her surrender then we let the other dragons in, then we see humanity grow then once they strong enough we may even start to fight back against Aborwrath, start a resistance.'

'cool sounds fun' Alex said, 'and after that what like we kill all the bad dragons hear and then we just move on Finding more to kill', the black dragon nodded, 'honestly' Alex said 'you had me up until the war with the dragons who are very likely going to slaughter us all.'

'I can't do anything about it, if you want your race so to survive then this is what needs to happen.'

Alex was shocked 'what? to save my race' he pointed at the black dragon, 'you just decided that to save my race get up caught up in a war we don't want any part of so, we can fight in a war'.

The black dragon nodded.

He turned to Runetide, 'you agreed to this.'

She seemed a bit defensive, 'well yes.'

'Why' Alex asked angrily, 'I sure as hell don't want to get involved is a galaxy-spanning war.'

'It doesn't matter what you think' the black dragon said, 'your race is set on its path it may take a century or two Aborwrath will find us again.'

Alex stood there he looked to Runetide he looked up at the massive black dragon, 'fuck' he almost shouted.

'Alex' Runetide said, 'we need you for this c'mon' she said.

The black dragon turned, 'the dragons are coming in a week we need Farren by then' he looked at me, 'you have a decision to make' and with that, he walked away.

'What do you know of this war?' Alex asked Runetide, 'it's not a pretty tail and by the sounds of it'

'Yes,' Runetide said it's not Aborwath wants dragons to own everything but we can only try to hold one planet at a time and if we fail Aborwrath destroys the planet, we use the magical surge to survive, to get to a new world as for Serafin, I have fought beside her before she is one dragon you don't want to fuck with' Runetide sighed, 'but if she tries in to interrupt the ritual that may result in the deaths of a dozen dragons.'

'Why?'

'She thinks that we are putting this planet at risk of invasion before we're ready and all she knows is that there are four other dragons, one she hasn't seen in a very long time me and three that have betrayed her and this world to Aborwrath, quite possibly the person she hates most in the universe and on top of that everyone else she knows is dead, or scattered threw out the known universe.'

Runetide turned to Alex, 'people in desperate situations to things that may be detrimental as in world ending, you don't need to agree just understand that if we can't control Serafin then she may end up killing us all.'

'how would she even do that?'

'by killing everyone.'

'yes,' Alex said exasperated 'but how.'

'by destroying the planet.'

'What' Alex froze 'she would do that?'

'I don't know,' Runetide said, 'remember she thinks that this is it she is the last dragon that can stand against Aborwrath and her army of deranged insane dragons humans and the like, she now may have a human she considers a friend but if destroying the planet will kill Aborwrath which it might if she is not prepared then Serafin may do it, it would not kill her or us.'

'ok,' Alex said, 'I'm with you to save this planet.'

Chapter 10

The two dragons ran in the direction Runetide had sensed the magic surge.

'What made you change sides?'

'You did' Runetide said simply, 'your compassion for Farren after Anna' Runetide stopped, 'and he lied to me that too, he is letting Aborwrath through that's a key point.'

'well I'm glad you finally saw sense it would have been annoying to fight you as well' Serafin smiled sardonically, 'I mean imagine if I had to spend time fighting you instead Mr bisected black over there and his silent twins.'

Runetide shook her head in mock disappointment, 'yea just imagine, I have decided we should have stayed in contact' she stopped suddenly putting a hand on Serafin's chest.

'We are near' she said, whispering closing her eyes.

'what do you see' Serafin asked.

'nothing there blocking me.'

'ok then' Serafin said, 'we're going in blind.'

'let's do it' Runetide said with determination.

They both took the literal plunge they burst out of the forest and leapt over the cliff they hit the water in combat stances crouched low side by side claws outstretched, they were standing in the middle of the lake, the water lapping at their shins

The twins stood there impassively 'it is too late' they said at some time, in the same monotone voice.

Serafin stood up straight, 'look you would not believe the number of times I have heard that please could you just surrender?'

One of the twins smiled, 'you and I both know that's not going to happen.'

'Ok' Serafin said, 'it was worth a try and for what it's worth I'm not going to enjoy this.'

'In two minutes, it won't matter' the second twin said.

'Ok' Serafin said she nodded at Runetide, 'you ready?'

'Ready' Runetide said.

They both charged roaring, the twins stayed still.

Serafin felt the burn of lactic acid as she charged at the twins this is going to be one hell of a fight she thought, she slammed into the first twin.

Runetide went to swipe at the second twin but it ducked under leapt forward Runetide felt an elbow impact her side she brought hers down and was rewarded with a howl of pain she brought a solid slab of water into the second twin's jaw, the twin backed up bleeding from her nose she growled.

Serafin was not having a good time the first twin lifted her up and slammed Serafin to the cliff face.

Alex felt the ground tremble and heard a raw of pain Farren was beginning to stir now, he made a snap decision he stood up.

'Farren stay here' he said leaving Farren sitting up and looking slightly dazed, Alex started running towards the sounds of fighting.

The first twin smashed he fist into Serafin 's ribs, Serafin roared in pain she definitely had some broken ribs, the twin drew back her fist again but Serafin was ready as she brought it down Serafin caught it and pushed back with all the strength she could muster, then using her shoulder she slammed into the first twin and the first twin overbalanced and fell crating a fifteen-meter tall wave as it hit the water.

Runetide took a punch to the shoulder she grabbed the twins arm then she heard the impact of a dragon hitting the water, the twin herd it to and was distracted Runetide wrenched the arm she was holding the twin stunned was pulled forward into Runetide's elbow its windpipe was crushed.

Runetide grabbed the dragon's jaw and wrenched it up and to the left, there was the unmistakable sound of crunching vertebrae Runetide dropped the limp body, it hit the water she looked over to Serafin.

Serafin howled in pain as a fist crunched into her already damaged ribs, she tried to claw at the twin's face, but it just jumped out of range Serafin's arms and legs were burning.

'go' Serafin said, 'disable the portal' she shouldn't have done that it was barely a second, but it was the twin needed.

She felt a white-hot pain as its claws dug under her scales and swept up cleaving through scale and flesh Serafin almost passed out, she fell back hitting the cliff that surrounded the lake she was bleeding freely she tried to stop the bleeding but the blood was gushing out the ragged hole in her side, and through her fingers, the twin was holding something a curved bone she raised it up.

Runetide rushed forward to the centre of the lake, there it was the circle of runes she frowned as they began to work on them they were for creating a beacon, she frowned then how did she through then the realization hit her like a sledgehammer, they didn't create a portal from another planet this was a beacon Aborwrath had changed her strategy which meant shit- Runetide cut thru the master rune disabling the beacon.

Serafin roared in pain, Runetide looked up she watched the twin raze one of Serafin 's horns aiming for the heart she stood but she wasn't going to make it in time, but then Alex leapt from the top of the cliff and using his sword he stabbed the twin in the eye.

It screamed in pain dropping the horn, its hand flew to it eye but too late Alex sliced down there was an explosion the Aqueous humor burst out then Alex dropped, he placed his sword the twins throat and slit it, blood gushed out in a fountain Alex leapt from the dragons shoulder has it fell gasping for air, Runetide caught him mid-air before he hit the red-stained water.

Blood was running freely from the gaping hole in her side

'Alex' Runetide said he leapt from her hand to her shoulder holding onto her hair, 'there's not much I can do' Alex said 'healing that plus helping you earlier he shook his head.

Serafin smiled, 'didn't think I'd go you this way' her grip in the wound weakened Runetide put a hand to Serafin's wound

'I'm sorry' Serafin she said.

Serafin nodded smiling, 'it's ok I have accepted my fate.'

I stood on the edge of the cliff, 'right' I said I could feel the tears welling in my eyes, 'well I haven't.'

Serafin looked up at me her eyes widened, 'How are you' she said weekly.

'Awake' I answer I shrugged 'no idea but that I can tell you is that you're not dying today.'

The colour was fading from Serafin's scales now her grip one the wound was loosening further.

'Runetide' I said haltingly 'could you' she nodded scooped me up and held me near the gaping hole in Serafin's side I place my hand on hers her scales feel cold.

'I will not let you die' I said gritting my teeth not today I felt it deep down the will to save Serafin and came to me again the shimmering golden form I told it what to do, I willed to save Serafin fix the wound it nodded a small segment of the creature broke off I opened my eyes and there it was a shimmering white orb it passed from me to Serafin through her hands everyone gasped Runetide almost dropped me.

'How did you do that?' Serafin said awe in her voice

She took her hands away I watched fascinated as fresh formed over the bones and then skin flowed over and then scales grew over the raw red skin a little colour had returned to Serafin's scales.

'I think' Runetide said almost trembling, 'I think he just gave you some of his power like a fragment or shard of his soul I don't know.'

Serafin chuckled weekly, 'in all my considerable years I have never seen someone do that' she held out her hand 'come here you.'

I hoped from Runetide's had to Serafin's and she lowered herself gently into the water until it was lapping at her abdomen, she put me on her chest and rested her head against the cliff wall.

'Would you two likes to be left alone for a bit' Runetide said smiling.

Serafin still with her eyes closed flipped Runetide the bird.

She laughed, 'I will take that as a yes, come on Alex, let's go and get something to eat.'

I lay down suddenly feeling very tired Serafin's scales where warm and inviting I laid down on her chest she gently placed a hand over me and slowly, I began to drift off.

There are just some things that bring people together, common interests, spontaneous meetings at parks but for me and Serafin, it was a near-death experience.

Serafin dropped me at home later that night, mum was asleep when I got home so I went to bed again that was one hell of a Sunday when I woke up the next morning I put on my school uniform and snuck out making sure not to wake my sister, I ran to get the early bus to school I had a fill-in teacher to see I found her outside the staff offers 'Runetide' I said.

'Yes, Farren' she answered.

'What are you and Alex going to do?' I asked.

She smiled, 'were going to head back to Archasia.'

My face fell, 'hay remember you can come and see us any time and I will be visiting you both.'

'Awesome' I said smiling hugged Runetide around the waist, what with her being two meters tall, it was very hard to hug anything else.

'Thanks for not murdering me and Serafin and saving Serafin's life'

Runetide raised an eyebrow, 'you and I both know that it was you that saved Serafin, now run along to class now young Farren I will see you when I see you next' I nodded and ran to my next class.

'Also tell Alex I forgive for being a jack ass to me.'

Runetide watched Farren run off to his next class the smiled.

This time she thought, this time it will be different.

She remembered what she had to tell Alex she turned and opened the door to the staff room, ducking under the door frame.

At the end of the day after school, I had not been very good at concentrating today I got home and said a quick hello to Mum and my sister I said something about a friend's house for a sleepover.

'Wow that was quick' mum said.

'I know right socializing, I'm good at that.' I say smiling.

'Have fun' my sister said.

'I will' I call back down the hallway, shrugging off my uniform and putting on my favourite jacket and jeans

I ran into the forest I traced the familiar path to the glade, where I and Serafin met six days ago It felt like so much longer and there she was Serafin lying down fast asleep.

I gently nudged her finger, 'Serafin' I called gently she didn't move.

She just lay there her chest rising slowly her breathing rhythmic and slow I gave up trying to wake her and instead clambered up on to her chest she was beautiful asleep, her face was calm her eyes closed, she looked at peace and I didn't want to wake her so instead I lay down on her chest feeling her heartbeat my under her scales witch emanated warmth I was tired, my eyes slowly closed.

I woke up slowly rising from sleeps embrace Serafin must have woken up some point she had placed a hand gently over me but now she sound asleep again, I lay there processing what had happened yesterday l looked up at Serafin her eyes closed her head resting on her chest I slowly and carefully wormed my way out from under her hand, she was breathing deeply and slowly I gently stroked her snout and ran my hand over jaws she scales soothing and warm always warm there was a strand of hair over her eyelid I gently moved it tucking it behind her ear, Serafin's eyes gently fluttered open.

'There you are, awake at last' she yawned, stretching her arms out slowly.

'Here I am' I say.

Serafin opened her jaws and licked me, her tongue was rough like a cats tongue.

'Ah' I exclaimed, 'what did you do that for?'

'It was a kiss' Serafin said, 'for saving my life.'

I blushed and sat down on Serafin's shoulder, I reached out and slowly and stroked her hair it was long and silky smooth.

'So' Serafin sighed contentedly, 'what do we do now?'

'I don't know' I said looking into her eyes, 'whatever you want I suppose.'

'Let's just lay here for a bit more shall we?' Serafin asked.

I laid down again gently stroking Serafin's snout Serafin slowly drifted back to sleep, I lay there watching the sunrise slowly wondering, what am I going to do now, it's not like many people have dragons for friends or anyone on this continent if they find out I don't know what I'm going to do.Then it came to me as I sat there I gently nudged Serafin

'hay' I whispered, 'you're going to miss the sunrise' she leaned her head to the side, so we were touching.

I felt Serafin's heart beating and I sighed contentedly, and we watched the sunrise.

Epilogue

Aborwrath was not happy she was quite the opposite, in fact, the ritual had not been complete witch meant it was going to take more time, she squeezed the green-scaled throat tighter with her own dark grey hand until he stopped breathing she let his corps fall to the ground, she looked down at her ex-adviser with her green eyes.

'Sorry about that' she said, she turned to address the rest of the assembled dragons and humans her silvery-white hair still in the humid air.

'sorry lads it does appear that will have to wait for the ritual was interrupted on the other side, so you will all have to wait a little longer and yes this means extra time with the humans, some among you will have to teach them our sacred art.'

Aborwrath had assembled one hundred of her best draconic fighters and three hundred human fighters, with three massive hover transports she looked at the dragons.

'well it looks like we will have to wait a little longer and I don't know about you but I'm feeling a little hungry, and these ones don't very educatable.'

The humans started to look nervous and rightly so, truth be told it was a little suspect that Aborwrath had chosen to bring along only the draconic and human parts of her army.

'Kill them' she said impassively, 'but do try to leave the transports unharmed.'

The humans tried to run Aborwrath heard sporadic firing, they didn't make it far most where crushed blood flowed freely and the ground was covered in gore, she could hear the screams of the dying and see mashed but still alive humans and some the unlucky ones were snatched up to suffer a much worse fate then their comrades, Aborwrath heard three such humans, they were clever to see what going to happen they had tried to hide the Aborwrath could smell them they tried to run It would have been funny if it had not been so pathetic, she crushed the first beneath her foot, the rest ran she grabbed them and now she had selected the first one, she was screaming, begging for mercy Aborwrath opened her jaws wide and let the human fall screaming.

End of part one