Dawn Tyme
Dawn Tyme
The setting of this story is in that of a mythical place known as Ignasia. Where multitudes of animals inhabit the land, such as centaurs, griffins, and dragons. The way the world is set is by a middle earth where humans and other humanoid folk live, as well as many variations and pure forms of mythical monsters. Then there is the Nether world where many evil creatures reside, such as Demons and devils. Then there are the high lands, but High Elves, and magicians only inhabit this place. Some of the creatures in this story may not be identifiable to you as the reader, so just sit back relax and enjoy the story.
The sun beat down upon the cascading waterfall causing millions of scintillating sparkles to form on its surface. Then as the water fell over the brink it misted outward to engulf boulders and small shrubs near the water's edge. At the base of the waterfall it spread out into a large blue green pool of clear water, and gently ran its course through the deep jungles of Tir'Bolg. Calian looked deep into the pool of water picking out curves in the stone bottom and small fishes that live within its waters, as well as watching the gentle waves caused by the waterfall. She sat and stared for a long time thinking about nothing in particular, but just enjoying the view. This was one of her favorite places to sit and relax after a long day. It was quite soothing to sit and hear the rush of water and gaze into the clear waters of the pool. She felt at peace here. She seemed to be in a trance, almost as if the water were magically grabbing her attention and causing her to gaze into its beautiful waters.
When she finally broke her gaze from the water she stared up into the sky, watching as the sun began its long process of descending to the horizon. It was only but mid-day and she felt as if she had been here longer, but that was another aspect of the pool that she liked. It made you forget time. She looked into the water one last time for the day and then rose on her stiff legs. Then stretching out the kinks caused by sitting for so long in one position she turned to head back home. As Calian walked back to her hometown she heard a soft but unmistakable music coming from the Jovial Corner Inn. She had gone into the Inn a few times before, but mostly to grab a quick meal, and learn some news on out of town events.
The Trees broke up to become sparser and slowly the Town came into view. It was truly a beautiful town from the outside. But from inside the town was slightly dirty and had its few bad apples. Calian walked for a few more moments stepping over fallen trees and branches and squirming past burr bushes. The burr bushes could be a real problem when trying to travel, because they would stick to you and make it really bothersome to walk in peace. They were also very hard to get out of hair or loose clothing. The town grew larger as she came closer to it, but she heard something out in the woods. It was a slight scampering sound, but it had more weight to it. Calian stared in the direction of the sound for a moment, and then disregarding it she continued her walk to the town. There was the normal hustle bustle about the town as merchants were attempting to sell their goods, and people were milling around looking at their goods.
Calian walked into the town and headed straight for her house. It was a moderate sized house with enough room for a small family and a few animals. It was also set back deeper in the woods than any other house in the town, but that was a good aspect. She wouldn't have to deal with town traffic or pesky neighbors, who always pop by to "borrow" something. As she walked inside her pet Giphon, a slender catlike creature with a real talent for opening human meant containers, greeted her. Giphon walked over mewing, and waiting for Calian to pay some attention to him. Calian reached down and picked him up, patting his head. Calian brought him to the kitchen and placed him on the counter so she could feed him. Calian placed a dish in front of him and poured a mixture of wheat and ground fish into it. Calian never understood why he ate the stuff, because it never really appealed to her.
Giphon ate his food with great enthusiasm obviously he was really hungry. Calian petted him once again and then went up stairs to her bedroom. Her bedroom was by no standards a peasant room. Her room had a balcony, which over looked a small field of wild flowers, and she had a great king-sized bed. Calian went to the balcony and stared into the field, which moved almost like water with the slight breeze. With a big sigh she turned and went back inside. There was not really much for her to do around this time of the day, as usual. The only job she had to perform in this town to make a profit was taking a message from one place to another in the town.
Calian sat down on her bed looking to the bathroom door. Almost forgot! Calian hadn't taken a bath today. So Calian made a note to take a bath before she went to sleep tonight. Evening was drawing nearer and Calian found herself quite tired, but before she could fall asleep she headed to the bathroom. She filled up the tub with cool water and used a pendant next to the tub to heat the water. When Calian felt the water was a sufficient temperature she stripped off her clothes. As she stepped into the tub, the water was just warm enough not to make her shiver but cool enough to make her want to slowly enter the tub to become adjusted. When she finally got all the way into the tub she looked around for her soapstone. She found it just out of her reach on a small table. She sighed but didn't want to get out of the water, so she just sat there and relaxed. As the water became cooler Calian decided to get out of the tub. Rising out of the water Calian grabbed one of her towels off the wall, and wrapped it around her body. It was definitely much darker outside when Calian walked into her bedroom. The sun was on the verge of slipping behind the trees. Calian immediately went about lighting Candles so that she would have light later. Upon doing so she went to her dresser and looked for an appropriate outfit for this evening. She decided upon a white tunic that showed a nice amount of cleavage, but wasn't too revealing. She also wore brown Jerkins, which seemed right for the tunic.
Calian then combed out her hair; getting the few knots that were there out and making herself look nice. When she finished she walked downstairs to the kitchen to make herself a meal for the night. There wasn't much food in her pantry but she managed to make a decent meal. She used another type of pendant and heated the food, then brought the food over to the table and sat down. It wasn't the best meal she could make but it would suffice. Giphon came in again and immediately began rubbing up against her legs. Calian smiled at him and then reached down to pick him up. She pushed her food further away and set Giphon on the table. He immediately purred and walked around on the table. Calian smiled again and said, "Look mister I'm trying to eat."
He just looked at her and meowed. Calian picked him up and set him on the floor, then continued eating her dinner. Soon enough Giphon walked away bored, and Calian was able to finish her meal. She picked up the plate and set it in the sink. There was a loud commotion outside her house, which quickly got quiet. Calian went to a chest she had off to the side of the dinning room and opened it. Inside of it was a three-foot long Kryss, and Calian grabbed it out. She really didn't know how to use the wavy blade too well but she could defend herself with it if it was necessary. She walked to the door with the Kryss in hand and slowly opened the door. It was thoroughly dark outside but not dark enough to hide the buildings of the town. She heard a scrambling sound off to the right of her house and then the sound of someone running. She walked ever so quietly and cautiously around the side of her house, just to see who was slinking around her house at this time of the night. There was no one in sight, just the bushes and trees.
Calian felt as if she were being watched so she quickly ran around the side of the building and nearly collided with a form completely concealed in darkness. Calian stabbed outward and caught the figure by surprise as her blade ground onto something hard and slid into the forms stomach region. The figure stumbles backwards holding its hand to where it was just stabbed.
Calian turns and runs into her house and slammed the door locking it, and her heart was beating extremely fast as the adrenaline pumped through her. Calian leaned back against the door and tried to catch her breath. Giphon came over to her and brushed against her leg, but Calian was not even in the slightest going to pick him up after that experience. Calian heard nothing outside, so guessed whoever it was she stabbed wouldn't be coming back. She slowly opened the door with the Kryss ready. When she looks out she sees no one, just a ruddy blotch on the ground.
She looked at her blade and found that it had not gone in too far as the bloodstain only went an inch from the tip of the blade. Calian looked around more and found that the bloodstain trailed off a little ways and stopped completely. Calian walked back into her house and locked the door yet again. Then it hit her she hadn't locked the door to the balcony from her room. She swiftly ran up the stairs and into her room. No one was in here but she couldn't count on that always to be true. She closed the doors and locked them so no one would try to enter.
Calian then sat on her bed on the verge of tears because she was still in a state of shock by the whole ordeal. She sat there staring onto her balcony as if she were waiting for something or someone to climb onto her balcony. Soon enough Calian felt as tired as earlier and decided to go to sleep. So she put the blade under her pillow and called in Giphon who happily ran into the room. She then locked her bedroom door, and set Giphon on the foot of her bed. She then too climbed into bed and lay back, but sleep didn't come to her quickly, actually it came about an hour later.
When she finally woke she looked around and found herself still in her bedroom and it was morning. It was relieving to find out that no one tried to get into her home. Calian took a deep breath and then rose on her elbows. She looked outside and it was looking to be a beautiful day the sun was up and warming up the morning just fine. Calian rotated on the bed and put her feet on the floor. Giphon was up early as was the case most of the times, and he was hungry as usual. Calian walked over to the door unlocked it and let Giphon out. He scampered down the hall and ran down the stairs. "Silly Giphon," commented Calian.
Calian straightened out her hair and then put shoes on. She looked briefly outside the balcony, and then she walked down stairs. The house wasn't in any worse condition than she had left it and Giphon was busily trying to open the pantry door. But Calian had learned once that he could get in there so she bought a different lock for it. He turned his head and meowed at Calian to feed him then backed away from the door to the pantry. Calian picked him up and then opened the pantry door, she set Giphon on the table and grabbed out his food. She placed his bowl down and poured in the mixture for Giphon's food. Giphon was upon the food in an instant. Calian said, "Well Giphon I'm off to go deliver messages again, see you in the afternoon."
She patted his head and walked out the door. The air around her was full of the sweet smell of wildflowers, and also the sound of the town's commerce. Calian went straight for the mailing house to pick up a bag of messages. It was pretty early in the morning so she ran into a fellow deliverer. He was a pretty young man with red curly hair and a very homely face.
"Hi Calian, how are you today?"
"I'm fine and you?" asked Calian, trying to be polite.
"Could be better or worse, as you know." He said with a smirk.
"Indeed, but last night I received quite a shock."
"Really how?" he asked perturbed.
Calian looked around and continued to tell him.
"When I finished eating dinner last night I heard a noise outside my house. When I went to look, nothing or no one was there. As I walked back to my door, I ran into a person who seemed quite threatening as he stood before me. I wound up stabbing him and ran inside, but when I looked outside again he was gone."
The red haired man rubbed his chin and asked with growing interest,"Interesting, did you see the figures face?"
"No it was kind of dark and he was concealed by the dark."
"You think he is still around, and alive?"
Calian looked at him with a very baffled look upon her face.
"I don't really know how he is still alive. I did stab him quite forcibly, but when I looked at my Kryss it was only stained down to an inch from the tip."
"That's very odd. Was he wearing any armor?"
"Not that I could make out, but the blade did hit something hard to bypass. But I did stab him!" Stated Calian.
"Maybe you should report it to the mayor, or even the guards at the barracks."
"No I don't think it would help any, because the person is probably not going to stick around a town after being seen and stabbed by another person."
"Well it is up to you I guess."
"Well have a nice day Calian."
"You too! See you tomorrow."
"You too."
Calian didn't have a whole mess of messages to deliver, so she still had a large portion of her day left after finishing her routes. She decided it was time to go to her favorite spot near the waterfall. Calian walked outside the town and into the woods. Nimbly dodging pass burr bushes and thorn plants. But when she arrived at the waterfall there was a grayish white form hunched over the ledge she would sit on. Calian moved a little closer to the figure, trying not to make too much commotion so she could get a better view of this figure. The form was definitely humanoid but it was white, all white. It had a tail as well and from what she could tell it also had small claws.
Snap! A twig under Calian's foot breaks as she is paying more attention to the form then the ground. Calian immediately drops to her stomach, so as to not be seen by the figure. The form whips around and glares around the bushes searching for the source of the noise. She receives a better view of the creature and notices that it looks very human but seems to have a reptilian appearance to it. Calian feels her heart start to beat strong and hard again as the figure takes a few steps her direction. Then all of a sudden it leaps backward doing a back flip and dives from Calian's view. Then follows a splashing sound as obviously the figure dives into the water. Calian jumps up to her feet and runs to the overhang where she always sits. She looks down to see nothing but the ripples caused by the waterfall. Curiously Calian walks down a way from the waterfall and looks into the waterfall, but she can't see anything from within.
"Strange," Calian says to herself.
Calian begins looking around for another way to get down to the waters edge besides jumping down. Calian is forced to walk down a quarter of a mile until she finds a niche in the overhang, which gradually slopes down. Calian grabs a hold of the edge and slowly climbs down the slope. It isn't that far but there isn't any use in hurting yourself trying to get down. The overhang doesn't really overhang too far, just a few feet. Calian begins heading back toward the waterfall. It takes her only a short while until the waterfall comes into view. She immediately runs up into the overhang, and lies flat against the dirt covered side, as she sees the white figure walking out of the waterfall itself. The white figure looks up to where he had just jumped off, and then looks to the opposite side. It then backs up and runs forward leaning down and launching up onto the overhang.Exercising a great feat of agility he disappears over the ledge.
Calian moves away from the wall and looks up to the ledge. No one is standing there so Calian begins her walk toward the waterfall, slightly curious as to what's beyond the waterfall. Ever so cautiously Calian walks to the edge of the water. The water is just as beautiful from down here as it is from up on the ledge, Calian thinks.
Calian crouches and scoops up some water with her hands. The water is cool to the touch and also has a mystical feel to it. She then walks over to the waterfall.Though the water does not feel threatening Calian lets the waterfall through her hands. Calian then stands up still curious as to what lies beyond the foot of the waterfall. Looking back up to the ledge to make sure the thing doesn't come back Calian walks off to the side of the waterfall. The spray from the waterfall mists her hair making it look silvery, but doesn't soak her. Calian walks until she could reach out and touch the waterfall, then takes a deep breath and lunges into the waterfall. There is a brief rush of water forcing her down but Calian makes it through, and stares into the dimly lit cave. The cave itself only goes back several yards but it extends up about twenty feet. There is also a glowing pile of gems lying over to the far wall, and also a multitude of strangely carved furniture. Most of the furniture is made of ivory or dragon bone. Calian thinks again if she should be here, and also worries about what she could do if the creature comes back when she's in here.
Calian begins to turn around figuring that it wouldn't be polite to go into some ones home uninvited. Calian walks back into the waterfall's spray-line and begins to walk into the waterfall itself when the water falling seems to take on another sound, almost as if someone were walking through it. Calian steps backward but not in time to avoid encountering the white reptilian person. He looks at her with surprise in his deep green eyes, as he nearly topples over her. Calian screams and jumps backward, trying desperately to get away from the serpent person. The reptilian person lunges forward and grabs Calian's arm gently but forcibly. Calian screams even louder until the reptilian person clamps a hand to her mouth cutting off her scream. The reptilian person says in a very low and unthreatening tone, "please be quiet!"
Calian tries to jerk away from the person, but the person's hold on her arm prevents her from getting away. The person spoke in her tongue! It was also male! Calian stood absolutely still hoping he will let go of her so she can run.
"Please be quite, I don't mean to hurt you." Says the person quite apologetically.
"If I let you go will you be quiet?"
Calian nods her head not wanting to be held like this any longer. She also looks into his pleading eyes and sees that he doesn't mean any harm to her.
"Good, now please remember I won't hurt you."
With that he takes his hand from Calian's mouth, and steps back. Calian looks at him with slight fear, because his skin is completely covered in grayish white scales, and he has the appearance of some great dragon long forgotten. Calian takes a few steps back deeper into the cave. He looks at her with great interest, and then advances toward her. Calian looks at him expecting him to all of a suddenly lunge for her.
"Please you must calm yourself, I said I wouldn't harm you."
"You must take my word on that."
Calian nods and takes a deep breath to help settle her nerves.
"Who are you?" asks Calian.
"My name is Kanza, and you?"
"What are you?" asks Calian not responding to his question.
"You must answer my question first." He informs her.
Uneasily Calian says, "My name is Calian."
"Why are you sneaking around my cave?"
"I was curious as to what was behind the waterfall."
"Well now you have found out. What do you expect to do now?"
"I am hoping to leave here alive." Calian tells him.
"My dear you know where I live and what is in here. How can I not be so sure you'd have a mob of angry townsfolk raiding my home?"
"I guess you can't be sure, but I don't want to be here anymore." Says Calian quite nervously.
"You have put me in a bit of a predicament Calian. Now I have to fear for my life if I let you go, or loose all my stuff to your towns folk."
Kanza looks at her quite worried that she will leave and tell the town of his whereabouts.
"I'm afraid my dear I cannot let you leave here, for fear of my life and of my home."
"But I can't live here, I can't!" exclaims Calian.
"Well you leave me with only two options, Let you go and loose my life, or keep you here and not feel safe when I sleep."
"I'm not a cold blooded killer!" Calian states exuberantly.
As if recollecting on an old memory he looks at her not so sure of her word. He then walks toward her and says, "you, I'm afraid are going to have to stay here."
He also adds, "I know you won't enjoy it here, and captivity is no joy either, but I fear for my life and would feel better if you'd stay here."
Calian looks at him and begins to cry.
"Please none of that, I can not let you go home, I'm so sorry but this is the only choice I have."
Calian sobs and says, "Then you shall have to kill me."
Kanza looks at her and shakes his head. "No I can't kill you, for I'm not a cold blooded killer either."
"Then let me go, or at least end my life."
"No!"
Calian begins to cry again, but this time she falls to her rear. Kanza Looks down at her and says, "I will try to give you the best of care, but I cannot allow you to leave."
Calian lies on her side and cries until she can cry no longer. Meanwhile Kanza was busying himself with making extra room for another person in his abode.
"Hopefully you will find it less appalling later."
"It will...."sob "Always be terrible."
Kanza looks down at her with pity but continues to make some accommodations as well as moving furniture around.Calian continues to sob, and then she lies down on the ground, crying to herself.After a while Kanza looks to Calian just to find her asleep and lying on the floor, uncomfortable. Kanza moves over to her and gently kneels down putting his arms under her neck and the joint of her knees. Then lifting her she moans, but he continues to walk her to her bed. He then leans down and places her on her bed pulling a fur blanket around her. Kanza walks over to a nearby chair, sits down, and stares at her. The day wanes and soon the cave light grows dimmer. Kanza looks out to the sheer water wall and then back to Calian. He then stands and walks over to her. He then kneels down and whispers to her, "I'll be right back, don't do anything I wouldn't want you to do."
With that Kanza then slowly walks to the water wall, and walks through it.
Outside the waterfall Kanza looks back making sure Calian is not going to leave, and then he leaps up to the ledge. Quite the beautiful lady I must admit, Kanza thinks to himself.
Calian opens her eyes hoping that her imprisonment was all just a part of a dream. It is really dark and there is the sound of rushing water, but she feels that she is lying on a bed. Calian sits up straight and stares into the waterfall, where very little light passes through.
"Oh no!" Calian exclaims, and leaps off the bed.
The sound of the waterfall changes and Calian turns and sits down on the bed as Kanza walks in with two clay plates with some sort of meat on it and vegetables. Kanza murmurs something and a light begins to illuminate the whole room. The source of the light coming from the pile of gems she saw earlier. Kanza looks at her and says, "Here you go my dear, I wasn't aware of what you wanted so this should suffice."
Calian looks at him part with anger and part with curiosity, and says, "I'm not hungry."
"Please you must eat something," Kanza says.
"I told you already I'm not hungry."
Kanza sighs in resignation and then says, "Well your dinner will be here if you grow hungry."
Calian looks down and then slowly looks up to Kanza who is eating the food from a plate. It looks like what he had made is wild boar, or something of the like. There were also assorted vegetables mixed up on the side. Kanza looks over sympathetically and asks her, "Why would you find it necessary to starve yourself if it won't help you out any?"
"Because I don't want to eat food made by you!"
"Why? Do you think I poisoned it or made it by unsanitary means?" Kanza asks quite interested.
"No I just wont eat!" pouts Calian.
Calian looks over in his direction, but makes no move to pick up her plate.
Then after looking Kanza's direction Calian sits down on her bed and lies back.
Kanza stares at her observing every aspect of her, and then finishes his dinner. After dinner he stands and puts the plate under the waterfall so that it will rinse off the refuse from dinner. Then turning around Kanza notices that Calian is sobbing into her hands hunched over the bed, and looks rather distraught. He shakes his head hating what he is putting her and himself through, but knowing that if he didn't keep her captive his life would be in danger. He then walks over to Calian's side and slowly places his hand on her shoulder trying to comfort her as best as possible, but she says, "Leave me be, don't touch me!"
Kanza quickly jerks his arm away as she swings her own to hit him. He then steps back and looks down until she stared up with a tear streaked face. Kanza says, "Why are you doing this? I'm trying to make the best of this but you aren't helping any."
"I hate you! Why'd you have to keep me here? I wouldn't have told anyone where you live."
"Yes I understand that you may not have told anyone, but I can't take the risk."
Calian sobs and puts her hands to her face again.
"Put yourself in my position, if you will, and think what it would be like to have a nice home and have people coming to your house to steal things or even kill you."
"I...but, I wouldn't...didn't mean any harm to you."
"I understand that much, but do you understand my point of view?"
"I understand it, and I have gone through something like what you described before."
Kanza looks at her with care, and then turns his face from her. He then moves his hand to rub a spot on his stomach.
"I guess you would know.I'm sorry I'm doing this to you."
"You will let me go?"Asks Calian pleadingly.
"Maybe in time, when you can be trusted to my fullest."
"You may trust me," Calian says trying to persuade him.
"I will not doubt that you are honest and true to your word, but I cannot risk my life for you."
Calian looks at him tears starting to well up again. Kanza looks into Calian's eyes with sorrow for her, then says, "You are making it very hard for me to decide what to do."
"I just want to go home."
"As I wish to keep my home."
Calian starts to cry now, and Kanza sits down upon his chair. Calian rubs her eyes removing the tears so she can see clearer. She then lies down on her side and closes her eyes trying to stop the tears from forming again. Kanza sits and stares into the pile of glowing gems, searching for an answer to his problem. But he finds none.
Calian falls fast to sleep completely exhausted from crying so much. Kanza looks over and smiles slightly.
"You will not think of this place as a prison in time Calian, but until then rest."
Kanza then stands up from his chair and murmurs something in the direction of the pile of gems and they dim to a barely visible light. He then walks over to a spot on the bottom of the cave spreads a fur down and lies down himself. He doesn't sleep instantly, but he stays awake thinking of ways to ensure his safety here. Before he can come to a conclusion, he drifts off to sleep.
In the morning Kanza hears a barely audible sound of furs being drawn away from something, and he awakens. He looks toward Calian's bed and sees her about to step away from it. "Good morning Calian." Calian immediately jumps back onto the bed, and Kanza smiles. "How did you sleep my dear?"
"I slept well..." says Calian trailing off quite disgruntled that she was caught trying to leave.
Calian looks over to where he was sleeping and shivers. Kanza rises to his elbows and looks at her, then he moves until he is sitting. "Are you hungry now?"
"No I'm not hungry," lies Calian.
The fact of the matter was that Calian was starving, and wishing she had eaten something of last night's dinner. Kanza looks at her understanding what game she is playing. "Are you sure?" Kanza asks quite innocently.
"I'm sure."
"Okay, if you say so."
Kanza rises to his feet picking up the fur he was lying on, and laying it down on his chair. "I'm going out to find us breakfast, and I'm not going to be gone long."
Kanza looks at Calian observing her reaction, and she looks quite absurd as she puts on a face that shows curiosity. Kanza smiles at her. "What are you smiling at?" asks Calian quite offensively.
"Nothing," Kanza replies.
Kanza walks over to the waterfall, and places his hands into the water. He then looks back toward Calian, and sees that she looks like she's about to lunge out of the waterfall right now. He then walks through the water wall and disappears from Calian's view. Kanza travels down the riverbank and soon loses sight of the waterfall.
Calian sits on the bed for a few minutes until she thinks he is far enough away from the cave that she may escape, and then she walks over to the water wall. Calian wastes no time in leaving, and in her hurry she missteps and the water falling down on her drags her right into the water. Calian struggles to come to the surface but can't make it up because the waterfall is still pounding down on top of her. Soon enough she finds herself lying against the bottom of the pool, and she is running out of breath! Calian flails around some more trying to rise to the surface but the waterfall drags her right down again. Calian struggles to pull herself up again but to no avail. Calian knows she only has a few more seconds to reach the surface or drown so she tries to pry her rational mind to find a solution. And she finds an answer, so she begins by trying to grab debris or rocks along the bottom of the pool and finds a jagged crease in the stony bottom. So she grabs hold of it and pulls herself out from under the downward force of water and starts wildly groping around to try to pull herself out into the calmer side of the pool. Her lungs start to burn, as she knows she doesn't have much longer underwater.
Calian looks up and realizes she's no longer under the waterfall to her surprise. In a burst of energy she pushes herself off the pool bottom hoping not to be drawn back into the down current of the pool. She starts heading back to the surface when her mind forces her to take a breath, and she inhales. Before she blacks out due to oxygen deprivation she splashes back to the surface of the water and drifts. Then nothing! Calian feels someone pushing forcibly on her stomach pushing the water back out of her lungs. Then in a big rush of water Calian heaves up the water she had inhaled and takes in a gulp of air. "Calian... Calian are you okay?" says a voice that sounds quite dreamy, and worried.
Calian tries to open her eyes but finds that they seem to be sealed shut. She tries harder and pries her eyes open slowly, but not before she feels a warm mouth touch her lips and force air down her throat. Calian gags and coughs up more water, then jerks her eyes open and looks at the person that saved her from certain death. When she looks up everything is fuzzy and in doubles, but she sees a form above her all white in appearance. Calian rubs her eyes with her hands and coughs yet again trying to breath properly. "Calian speak to me, are you okay?"
"Who...?" Calian looks up to the face of Kanza and grows appalled.
He just kissed me! Yuck! Calian thinks. She jerks up and wipes her mouth as if to get rid of a sloppy kiss planted by an old aunt.
"Good, you are okay." Kanza says becoming assured that she is okay.
Kanza stands up and looks over her. She stares up at him with mixed emotions. On the one side she feels repulsed but on the other side she feels thankful toward him. Kanza reaches down and picks Calian up, supporting her weight with his body. Calian grabs a hold of his arm and a hold on his shoulder as he walks her back to the cave entrance. Calian looks the only direction she can look and notices that on his stomach is a mark made by a blade of some sort, but it looks as if being healed over for a few nights. Also the scales above it and below it are scratched and slightly chipped. Calian is walked back through the waterfall and into the cave, where Kanza murmurs something and the pile of gems glow again. He walks her over to a couple of furs and holds onto her with one hand while grabbing one of the furs. He then wraps the fur around Calian and roughly rubs the fur against her soaking up water from the pool. Calian grabs the fur and holds it to her body, as Kanza walks her over to her bed and sits her down. He then stands at hand length away from Calian and asks, "Are you going to be all right?"
Calian nods her head, shivers and then pulls the fur around her tighter. Kanza walks over to the other fur and brings that back to Calian, helping to wrap it around her. Calian looks at him as he is adjusting the fur and finally she gains enough nerve to say, "Thank you." Kanza looks down at her and smiles.
He then says, "No problem, I just thought I might have lost you."
Calian rocks back and forth trying to get over the fact that she almost died. Kanza meanwhile stares at her making sure she's okay, and then he walks over to his fur and brings that over to her as well. "Can I have the furs please? I'll trade them for a drier one."
Calian looks up and nods pulling the furs away from her, and handing them to Kanza. Kanza helps her wrap the fur around her and takes the wet furs to the pile of gems. He places them on the gems and stands back watching as a slight steam is rising from the furs. Calian in the meanwhile is completely absorbed in her thinking about what he had done for her, and how badly she has been treating him. Calian looks over to him as he slowly turns and walks back into the water wall disappearing to the outside. He soon walks into the cave again with a large bundle in his hands, completely wrapped in a large leaf. Calian looks over at him curiously, and then asks him, "What's that?"
Kanza walks over to her and unfolds the leafy package revealing a multitude of fruits, even a loaf of bread. He stares down at her and says, "This was going to be yours and mine for breakfast."
He then kneels down in front of her and offers her the bundle of fruits. Calian looks at it sympathetically, and then she looks up into his eyes. "I can't accept this."
"Why not?" asks Kanza curiously?
"Because I'm not worthy of it."
"What do you mean, not worthy of it?" asks Kanza incredulously.
"You've been too good to me and all I've been doing was treating you terribly." "Nonsense, You were justified to be so."
"No it was stupid of me to be so stubborn, when all you were trying to be was kind to me."
Kanza looks away obviously slightly embarrassed though he sure wouldn't show it through his scales. "Kanza. I'm sorry for how I've been treating you and even though I'm still your captive I will try to treat you nicer."
Kanza gets up to walk away but Calian grabs his hand and forcibly says, "I mean it!"
He then looks at her and nods with a smile on his face. "I'm glad to hear that Calian, but now you should rest and eat something."
Calian looks at Kanza and feels something else for him besides hatred and loathing. Kanza walks over to the pile of gems and picks up the still wet Furs, shakes his head and places them back on the gems. Calian sits there and eats the fruit as civilized as possible, even considering that she hasn't eaten in a day and a half. Kanza sits in his chair and looks into the pile of gems obviously thinking of something serious.
When Calian finishes eating she places the leaf on the ground near her bed and lies back. Soon later she falls into a peaceful sleep. When she awakens she finds it dark all around her and hears a slight sound from something moving on the floor or rather something shifting positions. Calian sits up and looks over to where the sound is coming from, adjusting her eyesight so she can see something in the dark, and picks out the dim glow from the pile of gems, as well as a white form sleeping on the ground completely silhouetted by the dark stone floor.
Calian feels sympathy for Kanza and places her feet over the side of the bed and stands up pulling up her fur blanket with her. She walks over to Kanza's sleeping body and places the fur on him. She then lies down next to him under the fur and looks over at him. She observes his features, and notices the same mark on his stomach. Calian slowly reaches out her hand and gently touches Kanza's scales feeling the small scar in them. Calian gently feels the scar and starts thinking of where he could have gotten it. She remembers the night when she heard a noise outside her house and when she went to investigate a person had jumped down and startled her. She had stabbed the person in the same place that Kanza was scarred.Could it be? Was the person she had stabbed Kanza?
She tried to place how it could have been him, and then recalled how when she stabbed, it gave her resistance. Scales would give resistance as well as armor. The facts were building up higher now, and Calian started to grow curious as to what he was doing near her house at that time of night. Calian then slowly fell back to sleep intent on asking him in the morning.
When she woke she was lying on the floor covered by the fur she had used for both of them, but she didn't see Kanza anywhere. She rose on her elbows and looked around the cave, but Kanza was nowhere to be seen. She stood up picking up the fur and placing it on her bed. Soon after she had placed it down than she heard the sound of someone coming through the waterfall. Calian turned and saw Kanza walk in with another package in his arms. He was glistening with water and just stood there seeing Calian staring at him.
"Good morning Calian," Kanza said jubilantly.
"Hi Kanza how did you sleep?" she asked luring him in for a question she had planned to ask him the previous night.
"I slept well and you?"
"Oh just fine."
"Why do I sense that you are up to no good?" asks Kanza.
"Well last night I noticed a mark on your stomach, also I noticed it the day you rescued me from drowning. Where did you get it from?"
"It was an accident."
"Yes indeed it must be an accident, perhaps an accident made about four nights ago?"
Kanza started looking quite nervous by this questionnaire.
"In fact it looked like a wound from a blade. And as I recall four nights ago I stabbed a person who had startled me when I was searching for a peeping tom. Could that person have been you?"
Kanza looked at Calian and said with a deep sigh of recognition, "Aye it was I."
"What were you doing around my house?"
"Where should I begin?"
"How about at the beginning?"
"Err...okay at the beginning. Well Ever since you started to take a liking to the pool just outside of this cave and the waterfall itself, I took a slight liking toward you."
"Go on," Responded Calian.
"And when I followed you home one afternoon I found out where you lived, but when I came back one night to watch you. I found a thug sitting in a bush watching you through your window. I was afraid for your life and for the security of your home, so I acted to scare the thug off. That was probably the noise you heard. But after he took flight scared white by me, I noticed you walking around the side of your house. So not to be seen I lunged up to an overhang on your ceiling and caught hold waiting for you to go back inside your house. Unfortunately I was losing my grip and had to land close behind you. That is where you stabbed me and I was forced to fall back into the bushes and run back here. After that I never thought to come back to your house thinking how traumatizing it would be for you to always feel unsafe."
Calian, who was staring at him in curiosity and slight anger changed her attitude and said, "You scared the nether worlds out of me!"
"I'm so sorry I did Calian but I thought you would be in danger if I hadn't acted to scare off the thug."
Kanza places the leaf-packaged food on the table and stands there waiting for her response or wrath. Though, Calian looked at him with understanding and consideration not anger. Calian responded by saying, "Well then I owe you my gratitude and thanks, you probably did save my life."
Calian then walked over to stand two feet from Kanza. She stared up smiled. "Here is my thanks to you." And Calian steps forward wrapping her arms around Kanza's neck, and planting her lips to his, she gives him a kiss before he could say anything to her. When she breaks the kiss Kanza looks at her and asks, "Why did you do that?"
Calian responds with a wry smile on her face. "What, do you object? Kanza I think that I've come to appreciate what you have been trying to do for me, and want to get to know you better. So That little kiss was a good start."
"Well no I don't object, but I just don't think the timing is right."
Calian nods, and says, "Lets start by getting to trust each other, and then what happens, happens."
Kanza looks into Calian's crystal blue eyes, and realizes that she has changed somehow. He then reaches out and touches her shoulder, then turning and places the leafy package on the table. "This is for you."
"Thank you Kanza." Says Calian with a smile. All he can do is nod and unwrap the bundle. He then hands the bundle to Calian looking into her eyes again. Calian looks up into Kanza's eyes, and gratefully takes the leafy bundle, but she seems to have a slight quirk about it.
"What are you going to eat?" Asks Calian concerned.
"I'm not really hungry right now, but if I do become hungry I'll find something to eat."
"Are you sure Kanza, there is enough food here for two people."
Kanza looks at her and smiles, then walks over toward her. Calian sits down on the bed and makes enough room for two people to sit. Kanza looks down at her, but Calian nods and Kanza has a seat next to her. Calian smiles and procures a round color fruit from the pile of fruits, and offers it to Kanza. Kanza takes the color fruit from her and says, "Thank you."
Calian just smiles and takes a fruit for her own out of the pile. Kanza puts the fruit to his mouth and takes a small bite. The fruit he had been given, tastes very much so like a pineapple peach mix. It is exquisite in taste and Kanza continues to eat. Calian watches Kanza as he eats the color fruit and then chews on a few grapes. They both sit there in silence, except for the sound of the waterfall. Calian does likewise and picks up some grapes, then eats them too. Kanza looks over to Calian as if he has something on his mind but disregards it. "What's on your mind Kanza?" asks Calian curiously.
"Nothing."
"I'm not believing you." Calian now puts the fruit and leaf on the bed to the other side of her, and looks over at Kanza waiting for him to reply.
"There is nothing wrong Calian, I was just thinking." Kanza shifts in his seat for a second then looks over to Calian, who at this time was gazing at him. With a smile Kanza says, "Okay Calian, you win."
Kanza takes a deep breath and begins, "Calian I know that things have changed between us, and I honestly think it is for the best. But I also have come to have other feelings for you except care."
Calian nods at him and shifts until she is sitting facing him. "I know Kanza, we have changed our feelings for each other. So why don't you just tell me what it is you feel for me, and I will in turn share those feelings with you."
"Calian, ever since the day I saw you gazing down into this waterfall I've felt something I have never felt before, and now that your here I'm sure of those feelings." Kanza looks away then continues promptly, "Calian, I think I'm in Love with you."
Kanza manages a weak smile, and waits for Calian's response. Calian just reaches out a hand and grasps Kanza's hand, then scoots closer to him and looks into his eyes. Kanza looks to her and smiles. Then they both lean forehead to forehead and Calian says, "Kanza I think I love you too."
With that Calian and Kanza embrace each other and kiss. Calian wraps her arms around Kanza's neck and slips her tongue into his mouth. Kanza in return strokes her tongue with his own, and rubs the small of her back. When they break from each other they both look into each other's eyes and know that the love they feel for each other is genuine. Kanza smiles still looking at Calian's exquisite beauty, and Calian looks at him sharing the moment.
* * *
As the Day wanes and comes closer to nightfall Calian finds herself extremely tired and tells Kanza, "I'm going to bed my love, I'm tired."
Kanza nods and says, "Are you hungry?"
Calian nods her head and sits on the bed.
"Then stay awake long enough till I return." Calian smiles at him as he walks through the waterfall, and then she lies back waiting for his return. Calian also thinks about how things work out. She just previously hated Kanza for her capture, but now she loved him and wanted to be with him forever. Calian starts to think of what she can do for Kanza when he returns, when she hears a loud roar up above the waterfall heading south. She recognizes the sound as a dragon, and freezes in fright. Then the light coming through the water wall is abruptly cut off as some great form blocks the sunlight. The light returns and Calian finds herself shaking. Calian tries to calm herself and that's when she hears a splash. She starts getting worried for Kanza and begins to wonder where he is when she needs him, when slowly a form walks into the cave. It is Kanza but he has a big gash in his shoulder that is bleeding! He looks at Calian as if to say sorry, then slowly walks over to her and sits on the floor. The gash in his shoulder bleeding profusely and he looks to Calian.
"Oh my god!" Calian exclaims in fright.
"I'll be all right my dear I just have to rest," Says Kanza slowly.
"No you don't I'm going to help you."
Calian grabs a fur and soaks up some of the blood then firmly pushes the fur into his wound. Kanza winces and smiles warmly but also looks with sympathy at her. Calian immediately grabs a piece of her tunic at the sleeve and tears it up to the shoulder. She then wraps that around Kanza's shoulder and ties it tightly.
"You're going to be all right." Calian says in sorrow.
"I know." Kanza replies weakly. Calian knows she only has a few more minutes to stop the bleeding or else he is going to die, because an artery has been nicked severely. So Calian pushes pressure into the wound and then wraps his shoulder tighter. She then inspects the tie job and decides he's not going to bleed to death and helps lift him to his feet. Kanza helps as much as he can and is brought to the bed and laid down on it. Calian's mind is racing as she is trying to figure out what she can do to help her lover. Kanza just looks at her and says weakly, "Thank you."
Calian looks over and smiles wryly but tries to get him into a more comfortable position so he can rest and heal. Calian goes to the waterfall and finds a bowl there, in which she fills it with the water from the waterfall. Kanza just lies there completely motionless, trying to rest and heal up. She comes back with the bowl of water and a piece of fur and unwraps Kanza's wound so she can clean it. Kanza winces once as she gently touches the fur to the gash, and wipes down it rinsing the blood off.
"Listen Calian," Kanza says waiting for her to turn her attention to him. Calian looks up from his wound to his face and looks at him.
"Calian do you know of what race I am?" Kanza asks innocently. Calian shakes her head, but says, "I can guess that you are of the reptilian race..."
"No Calian I'm not of the reptilian race, but of the dragon race. I am a draconian." Kanza reaches up and wipes away one of the tears, which had formed on Calian's cheek, and looks at her. Calian says, "And why do you find this so important to tell me, when your life is on the line?"
"Because due to my race I can heal my own wounds and heal twice as fast as a human can."
"Kanza you are still bleeding and need help no matter what race you are."
Kanza starts feeling light headed, from the loss of blood. Calian wipes out more blood from the wound and then takes her other sleeve and tears it up to the shoulder as well. Kanza takes her hand in his, and says, "Calian, the pile of gems over there."
"Yes?"
"Go to the pile."
Calian looks at Kanza confused but rises to her feet. Kanza looks over to the pile and points right to it.
"Calian there is a single blue gem in the pile with healing magic to it." Calian walks over to the pile and looks around it.
"Where is it?"
"Calian you must search with your heart not your eyes."
"Kanza I'm worried for you, tell me how to find the healing gem."
"Use your heart to find the gem, it will only be found by one who's heart desires it."
Calian looks over to the drowsy Kanza and then looks to the pile. She then concentrates on the blue gem. She can't get the thought of Kanza's predicament out of her head and turns to him for help, but finds that his eyes are closed. Calian panics and starts wildly trying to find the blue gem in the large pile of gems. Calian takes a deep breath remembering what Kanza had told her. She then closes her eyes and feels for the gem with her heart. The more she feels the more real it seems to be but she cannot see it.
Calian reaches out a hand and thinks about all Kanza has done for her and something solid touches her hand. Calian clasps the object tightly making sure it won't escape, and opens her eyes to find a glowing blue gem in her hand. Calian turns around and smiles toward Kanza, but remembers he's not conscious. She then runs over to Kanza and inspects the fresh blood on his shoulder, which has crept down onto the furs of the bed.
Calian starts crying again praying that it is not too late. She touches the gem to Kanza's chest gently and feels something being drawn from with in her. Calian looks to Kanza and prays for him, hoping he will not die. The gem starts to burn in her hand but not hot enough to hurt, just hot enough to reel from. When she looks to Kanza's shoulder the wound is nearly all but gone away leaving only a small slit where the redness of blood is still visible. Calian immediately places the gem down and grabs the sleeve of her tunic that she tore, and wraps it around his shoulder. Kanza's breathing normalizes as the full-scale power of the gem takes effect. Calian sits by Kanza's side well into nightfall still worried for him.
When she finally feels like she can no longer keep awake, Kanza moves. Calian looks at him intently and waits, as his eyes open and adjusts. Kanza looks up at Calian and smiles, he then reaches up with his arm and gently strokes the side of her cheek. Calian is on the verge of tears again, but holds them back glad that he didn't die. Kanza keeps his gaze on Calian and says after a long while, "Now, now Calian I hate to see you this way."
Calian smiles at him and gives him a hug then kisses him for a long time, both of them enjoying the sensation and feeling of each other's bodies. Kanza in between kissing manages to squeeze out, "I do love you Calian."
Calian replies by kissing him and holding his hands in her own. Calian then breaks their kiss, and comes to sit on Kanza's stomach. Kanza watches her as she starts to take off her torn tunic, and then throws the tunic off to the side. She then leans down on Kanza and kisses him again. Kanza rubs her back sending chills up her spine from the feel of his small claws. She then stops kissing and leans back up rubbing his chest. The scales there are quite thick, and they have a distinct pattern to them, which she finds intriguing. Calian then moves her hand down and unties her jerkins, removing them as well and tossing them off the bed. She then leans down and kisses him again savoring the taste of his own body. Kanza strokes her hair and starts to get stimulated as she begins gently rocking back and forth over his genital region.
Kanza grabs her hands and stops her from kissing him and says gently, "Do you want to go through with this?" Calian responds by reaching down a hand to his groin and feeling his member, which has come out. "Of course I do my love, my only love." Kanza then lets out a small hissing sound as Calian stimulates him more.
Calian then looks into Kanza's eyes and says, "I love you Kanza, now and forever."
Calian then rocks back and pushes against his member, resting it against her vagina. Kanza reaches up and gently rubs her breasts making circular motions around them. Calian feels the added stimulation and sits back onto his member taking it within her body. Kanza stops for a moment as the feeling of her insides bathe him in pleasure. Calian then starts to slowly rock back and forth on Kanza's member.
She leans down as Kanza reaches up and takes her head in his hands. They both kiss again enjoying the full-scale feeling of each other, and the closeness of each other's bodies. Kanza moves his leg up and in a quick motion rolls them both over until Kanza is on top of her kissing her. Calian breaks the kiss and looks into Kanza's eyes telling him through body signals that she loves him. Kanza then pushes deeper into Calian and is immediately hit with a wave of lustful passion.
The feeling is exquisite, and Kanza slips into one of the first throes of pleasure as her vagina gently slips around his member. Calian moans as his scale-framed groin grinds against her clitoris causing pleasure to jut up into her whole body. Kanza strokes in and out of her body causing the both of them to slip ever closer to orgasm, and to bliss.
Kanza places his hands on the outsides of her thighs and holds onto her as he thrusts into her slightly faster. Calian grabs Kanza's head and moves him down to give him another kiss. As they kiss Kanza gently strokes into her causing more moans to escape her mouth. Calian starts rocking her hips slightly to match his paces, and feels even more pleasure than before as his member touches her clitoris every time he strokes into her. The edge of bliss comes even closer as Kanza slowly picks up the pace more causing a loader moan to escape from Calian. Her slick walls flutter around his member coaxing him to climax. A moment later, she groans out as a strong orgasm washes through her, walls squeezing down on his member.
The feelings are exquisite for the both of them and Calian is on the verge of another orgasm when Kanza forces himself in not so gently but causes her and him to climax together, as she contracts around his member coaxing all his seed out of him. Calian moans loudly as the feeling takes her over the edge and into a smaller, but still wonderful climax.
Kanza grinds in and out slowly now, enjoying the warm glow of their mutual pleasure and love. Kanza kisses her again and then slides down, kissing across her throat, collar and finally each of her breasts causing the nipples to stand erect. Kanza then firmly rubs her breasts making her moan again. Calian lies back and enjoys the stimulation that her lover is giving her. Kanza keeps up the after play for a long while until Calian grabs his hands and wraps them around her neck rolling over till she is on top of him.
Calian smiles at him and kisses him briefly before backing down and rubbing her vaginal lips against his semi-erect member. Kanza smiles at her and rubs her thighs. This time Calian takes control and strokes down against his member causing him to enter her deeply again. Kanza feels the pleasure start up again and starts fondling her breasts. Calian feels the pleasure spread through her body and feels another orgasm at hand as his member roughly rubs against her clitoris. Kanza lets out a deep hiss and feels her shudder around his member again. Calian's walls draw along his member when he pulls out, and ease open on the in-stroke. Her movements increase, stoking those smoldering embers within him again.
Kanza feels himself on the verge of another orgasm as Calian rubs roughly against him and comes, moaning slightly from the orgasm she receives from his member. As she gently and slowly rubs against Kanza's member Kanza feels another orgasm, and lets loose inside of her causing her to orgasm again. When both are satisfied with each other they kiss and then lie next to each other. Kanza gently massages her shoulders and back, and then strokes her hair as he lies against her. "I love you Kanza"
"And I you." Says Kanza fully meaning it. They both drift slowly off into sleep, as they are both extremely exhausted.