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Chapter One
"Aleana, where are you going?" Callie asked once she caught up to her sister. Her nightgown swayed to the movement of her body. Her silky brown hair followed behind her. Aleana sprung around to face her little sister. "What are you doing here?!" She demanded to know.
"I was just-"
"You were supposed to stay in the house!" Aleana glared at Callie.
"I...I'm sorry...I just wanted to know what you were doing." Callie stared at the sword. "Why do you have that? It's daddy's." She said.
"Callie, daddy won't need this anymore. He's gone."
"You said the same thing about mommy. Where did they go?" Callie's eyes sparkled and made her seem so innocent, and she was.
"They're.... in heaven. They were.... in a car crash and they.... died." Aleana confessed.
Callie grew wide-eyed. Her hands began to tremble. Tears fell down her cheek. She ran through the trees and back to the city where she came from while sobbing the pain away. Aleana took a step forward then took a step back. She'll find her way back home, she thought.
The girl looked down at her feet. She could feel a vibration. What could make the land shake, she thought, a dragon! Aleana made her grasp on the sword tighter. She turned around in circles not knowing what to do.
Growling came from behind the girl. She turned to see her nightmare. A giant green winged beast with giant golden eyes. Aleana slashed her sword back and forth, but never hitting the dragon. The monster advanced on her and smacked the weapon out of her grasp.
Aleana staggered to her feet and started to run from the dragon that was behind her. She ran past tree branches that tugged on her shirt and made a tore in the silk. Her pants were ripped from a bush she ran into. Aleana crawled behind a small pine tree wrapping her arms around her knees, her brown hair in her face. Sweat rolled down her cheek onto the dirt floor.
The green best sniffed the air. Steam came out of its snout, while the it stomped around. Turning its head left and right like it was looking for something.
Aleana looked through the limbs of the tree. "It's gone," the girl sighed as she put her hands on the ground. Smoke was rising from her left side. Aleana slowly turned her head to face the creature. The dragon looked like it was smiling. Its sharp teeth were covered blood, and pieces on clothing were stuck in between the sharp blades. The girl recognized the clothing. "Did... you.... eat my s-sister?" Aleana asked. She had a tight grip on the grass.
The dragon licked his lips while his smile grew wider. That was the beast's response. He was saying that his dinner was quite good besides of the stale legs and the hair. The blood was better tasting. The little girl he ate barely even struggled to get away. It was an easy kill.
The monster advanced on Aleana. His teeth glimmering in the sunlight. The girl hesitated. She looked back and forth. Her sword was too far for her to reach and there was nothing else she could use that could hurt the beast. Aleana grabbed a chunk of dry dirt and threw it in the dragons face, making him screech in pain. The beast moved backwards moving his head left and right trying to get the dirt out of it's eyes. Aleana took this time to try to run, but once she got up the dragon got a hold of her leg with it's claw. The girl yelped in pain. Blood fell to the ground dying the grass red. Oh no, Aleana thought, this is it. This is how I'm going to die. Getting ate by a dragon.
The girl looked up at the beast. It's eyes felt like it was tearing Aleana limb from limb. Who was going to save her? No one, the girl thought, No one knows I'm out here. No one is going to save me...Aleana closed her eyes hoping for a miracle to happen. The dragon felt the girl trembling and made is claws go deeper in her skin. More whimpering came from her.
Suddenly crackling filled the girl's ears. The beast was the one that was in pain now; but who was the person who made the dragon in such agonizing pain?
Aleana could hardly guess. She knew one and only one person who could have done something like that. A young man that was a black mage, though the only black magic he can do is lightning. He had black hair that went past his eyes and piercing blue eyes. He was wearing a black shirt and blue shorts that went down to his knees.
The monster took its grasp off of Aleana and threw his head back and forth, up and down. The pain was too much for the beast. Aleana crawled out of the way before the dragon fell in defeat.
The man walked towards Aleana and put her arm around his neck to help her up. "You okay? Don't ever run out in the woods when there are dragons around, “ he said. "Or this will happen again."
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to make sure that the dragon.... wouldn’t kill anyone, " Aleana said in her defense.
The man looked down at her leg. "You're lucky I was here to rescue you or else that leg and probably more parts.... or all of your body would be gone."
"Heh.... I could've made it out alive. I could've killed that dragon. But you had to come."
"Uh-huh. You were going to kill that dragon without a weapon?"
"Well I-I had a sword but the dragon knocked it away from me.... and it also...." Aleana gulped trying to hold back the tears that were on the way. "It also ate.... Callie...."
The young man grew wide-eyed. He couldn't believe what he just heard. But by the look of the dragon, it did look like the beast did have a nice dinner. "I'm sorry Aleana. If there's anything I could do please say something." The man pleaded.
The young woman looked up at him with sad but angry eyes. "It's the Guardians fault! They didn't come to her rescue! It's their entire fault! They are the reason why she's dead!" Aleana cried. She couldn't help it anymore; she let the salty water fall from her face to the dirt.
"Aleana...." The man pulled the girl in a tight, heart-warming hug. He knew her pain. He lost a younger sister as well. But the pain he felt wouldn't come close to what Aleana was feeling. She had no one left. No one but him.
"Shiro, please don't leave me." Aleana murmured under Shiro's chest.
Shiro stroked her hair. "Don't worry, " he began, "I won't leave you." The boy started to lead Aleana back to the small town that waited for their return.
"Thank you, " Aleana said closing her door. Yet another neighbor came to say that they were sorry when they didn't really mean it. Aleana was getting sick of it! It's been two days since the accident and people were still knocking on her door to say that they're "sorry".
Her fridge was full of all the goodies that she had been receiving. Pies, jello, cakes, and a dish that Aleana didn't know existed. Though, the girl was grateful for the food.
She walked into the bathroom and looked at her reflection in the mirror. There was nothing to do now. Nothing at all.
"There don't you look pretty?" Aleana asked Callie after she was done putting her hair up in one big braid.
Callie turned to see the back of her head through the mirror. She shrugged. "It's okay I guess."
"Okay? I put my heart and soul into that braid. And all you have to say for it is 'okay'." Aleana put her hands on her hips.
"Mommy can do better."
Aleana sighed. "I'll try to do better next time."
The girl walked back out to the living room and flopped down on the couch. The day was going so long. Every minute felt like two hours. The clock read 11:23 A.M. For Aleana it said, "I'm taking my time." All she had was time.
There was a knock on the door. Aleana got up and slowly walked towards the door hoping it wouldn't be another neighbor saying sorry. The young woman grasped the door handle and opened the door. Shiro let himself in. "Call me crazy," he said.
"Why?" Aleana questioned while closing the door.
"I have an idea but I don't think you'll like it."
The girl crossed her arms. She didn't like it already. Shiro always comes up with these weird ideas. But, Aleana thought, this might be the craziest of them all.
The boy put his hands on Aleana's shoulders and stared into her eyes. "Okay. My idea is that you should go in search for the Guardians!"
Aleana backed away and gave Shiro a confused look. This was the craziest idea he ever had. "Why?"
"Because you said it was all their fault that your sister, Callie, died. I mean you can go look for them and ask them why they didn't save your sister and your parents and ask them anything else that you want to know."
"That's crazy. I'm not going to look for them just for that. There are murderers on the loose and dragons! I could die like I almost did the other day!"
Shiro shrugged. "What else is there to do?"
"I don't know."
"So, go and look for the Guardians. That's something to do."
Aleana stared at her feet. Should she? No she wouldn't. She doesn't want to risk her life...again. "The Guardians can do what they want. Let's just leave it at that, okay?"
"The Guardians aren't protecting the world just like you said. So aren't you going to rub it in their faces to do their job? You're the one who has been complaining about them not doing what they swore to do."
The girl sighed and looked at her friend. Why did he talk her into things like this? It has always been that way ever since they were little.
"And, " Shiro added, "maybe they are doing they're job. It's just we don't know it. We don't know what they look like."
"The Guardians aren't doing their job! There have been murders. Do you see the Guardians stopping it? Nooo. There's been dragons attacking towns and killing people. Do the Guardians help? No they don't!" Aleana protested, crossing her arms.
Shiro gave a smirk. "Why don't you ask them if they're doing their job?" Oh, he had her now.
"Yes, I'll go do that," Aleana agreed running in her room then coming back out, “ I hate you! You talked me into this! Argh!"
The boy started to laugh. "You hate me just for that?" He asked. "Now come on, that isn't nice at all."
"You know what I mean!"
"Yes, I do. I'm just fooling around with you."
"Well, stop; it's annoying."
"Okay, fine, I will. But you have to promise me one thing." Shiro gave another smirk.
"What is it?" Aleana examined Shiro's face. He was going to tell her to go look for the Guardians. Isn't he? He probably will, Aleana thought.
"You have to search for the Guardians, " Shiro answered.
The girl sighed. She knew it. "Fine." she pouted.
Shiro smiled. He finally got to her. "Good. Now all you need is your sword."
"What's the sword for?"
"For protecting yourself of course. There's dragons and murderers like you said and god who knows is out there! If you leave without something to guard you who knows what may happen to you!"
"You do got a point there. But the thing is that I don't have it with me."
The boy raised his eyebrow. Ah, how could he forget? Aleana told him before that the monster smacked it out of her hand. Boy, was he feeling stupid. "Oh yeah. Sorry. I forgot."
Aleana gave the uh-huh look. She scratched the back of her head. She had to get the sword. Well, at least Shiro was going to make her do that; and he was going with her to hunt for it.
Aleana pushed a tree limb before her and pointed ahead. "That's the bush I hid behind so that must mean the sword should be over there beyond that tree."
Shiro gave a curious look then asked, "You're sure. Because I don't want to get lost in this thick wood."
The girl gave her friend the does-it-look-like-I'm-lying expression. "Yes," she said.
"Okay, then. Let's go."
Aleana let go of the branch and started walking to the place that the weapon should be. The tree limb smacked the boy in the face making him fall back. His friend turned to see him on the dirt floor. She started to chuckle and went to help Shiro up. He thanked her for not thinking before she acted. Aleana gave a simple smile then went back on pursuit with Shiro behind.
The girl knelt down to pick up the glistening blade. "There we go."
"Cool. So, we're done then?"
"Yes. We can head back now." Aleana got up and grinned at her friend. "Let's get out of here."
Shiro sat on the park bench and sighed. "When are you going to leave?" he asked while he crossed his arms.
"I don't know. I don't know where either." The girl took a seat next to her friend. "What do I say when I meet a Guardian?"
"Well, you should leave tomorrow and go to Cillian. The city is to the west and it takes a day to get to there."
Aleana made a groaning noise. "Is there any other towns closer? And how do I get there?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. One question at a time. To answer your first question just simply introduce yourself and say 'hey, I was just wondering why you aren't doing your job. There's been murders and dragons have been attacking cities, ' or something similar to that. To answer your other two questions. No and by foot."
"But that'll take forever!"
"Tsk, well you better start going early in the morning then, huh?"
"Uuuuhhh...I guess so."
The boy looked up at the blue sky. This day seemed to be perfect. The sun was shining, the clouds were as white as they could get, and it seemed the perfect time for Shiro to ask...
"Aleana, I've been meaning to tell you something for a long time but I-I've been to scared to say it."
The girl perked up and faced all of her attention to Shiro. "Yes?"
"Well, I-I...." he gulped then continued. "I-I..."
"Oh! That reminds me! Shiro, can I have something of yours to bring with me on my journey?"
The boy choked on his words but got out the word: "Sure." He unclipped the necklace he had around his neck and handed it to his friend. "This was my fathers before he passed. I think you should have it."
Aleana dazed at the jewelry she had before her. "I-I can't accept this, Shiro. It's too important to you."
"It's fine, Aleana. Honest. Keep it, okay?"
"Um...Okay." She clipped it around her neck and looked down at the pendant that was chained to it. The pendant was a sterling silver eagle claw. "You were saying?" Aleana wondered.
"Uh-I forgot...heh."
"Oh. Okay, then. I guess I should go home. Get something to eat. You should too Shiro."
The two got up and started to head to their homes. Shiro glanced down at the girl and grasped her hand. Aleana looked at him with a grin. And there the two went.... hand in hand.
 AAllyyggaattoorr · Wed Apr 19, 2006 @ 02:22am · 2 Comments |
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