The Beginning
Adults were full of shit. That much Shaylenidi had determined for himself at the tender age of five and watching them do nothing about their circumstances over the last year was unbearable. All they did was talk about the good old days before humans started using magic to enslave any dragon they found. Before they all had to live in fear and in human form so that they wouldn’t be caught. They were reduced. Frightened. Pathetic. Shayle was a shadow dragon and had been born wild with the rest of the pups in his mother’s litter. Still, it was rare for them to get to be in dragon form. They had to be in hiding in the shadows to permit it.
The only one that wasn’t full of shit was his grandfather who often tucked him in and told him stories. The humans weren’t all bad, he had insisted. That long-ago dragons and humans had lived in harmony. Dragons had even bonded to humans and the magic of both grew mightier than anything the world had ever seen. That a pair were meant to be together. Destined. Called upon with a mark, much like the one that Shay had on his chest over his heart. It was the mark of the Draygon. Those who were chosen by fate to bond with a Human.
Shayle’s mother had been extraordinarily upset for his grandfather to tell him such a story in this day and age when he needed to stay away from humans. But Shay had his own ideas. Unlike everyone else who sat around wishing there was more they could do, too cowardly and fearful to act, Shay was going to show the world the power of a Dragon. For he would be a Draygon. All he had to do was find his partner. The Human that would help him. Surely the human would be a lot like him. His grandfather had said they were like-hearted and like-minded. Born on the same day at the same time. Meant to be.
Athena, Shay’s mother could not be blamed for her hatred towards humans.
A bright and sunny day could not lead to such atrocities of life. Right? However, that statement is incorrect. Warmth and rays of sun hit against the grass and lake of a wide meadow, a place where shadow dragons were very rarely seen, they were the dragons that no one ever really saw; they kept themselves to the darkness. Athena; wanted to stay in the shadows, feeling more comfortable that way. So from the shadow of the trees, she watched her pups.
They played together in the grass, a little lighter than their parent’s scales. The three pups grew in strength and practised fighting and hunting with one another to learn. They had to learn quickly to be able to keep up with their colonies. The smallest of the pups was alone, watching the fish swimming peacefully in the water, waiting for the perfect moment to lunge. Athena pushed up so she was sat up; watching her child with great curiosity. Suddenly, the pup lunged at a fish with her claws; slipping and falling into the water instead. Black wings swooped back and claws cut through the grass as Athena ran to save her pup, picking them up out of the water.
Another; much larger, dragon swooped down next to Athena, huffing quietly. “You need to be careful dear, you don’t want to hurt any of the pups,” he said gently; nuzzling her stomach. She knew such but these pups needed protecting just as much. She nuzzled her soulmate back and headed back into the shadows as he played with and protected the pups. Athena laid against the tree, closing her eyes in trust of her mate; feeling her pups move inside her; well only Shaylendi but she didn’t know that.
Time went by and her mate and child’s father ended up by her side. That was until a shriek and laughing could be heard. They both looked up to see a ground of large humans, surrounding the pups, proding and poking them. Fear filled yips and growls could be heard which caused them both to snap up. “No, you stay here. I will protect the pups.” He growled quietly before rushing off towards the humans. A large snarl echoing through the trees. He flew up and then swooped back down over his pups. The humans screamed and stepped back, wanting to get their hands on the pups but this male was strong.
Shadow dragons were the smallest species but they were of course powerful. A much larger dragon species; controlled by magic from the humans came crashing through the trees, his eyes crazy and an internal battle seemingly going on. A battle of Jekyll and Hyde. Of course, the father was scared but he would protect his family at all costs.
It was a battle of crimson. Black and orange scales flew and gaping wounds were split, showing tendons and leaking out masses of blood. It was a horror scene and the young pups watched it. Athena wanted to help but couldn’t, she couldn’t let her mate get hurt for her and the pups just for her to get killed. She cried as she hid in the shadows; humans running off with the pups and magic taking the life of her mate. A crunch echoed through her soul as teeth sunk into flesh and bone.
Well, if his human was like-minded, then he would help him end this insanity once and for all. Proud dragons were being enslaved by magic. Used as manual labour, like horses or oxen, for the protection of some noble slob who didn’t care for them. They were sentient beings, just like all creatures of the earth. They were equal with humans and Shay was going to prove it.
It hadn’t been easy, finding the place. The dangers of the world were so much more than he thought and he had never wanted the protection of his mother’s wing as much as he did every night. But his grandfather had told him that if he followed his heart, he would always feel the call of the other. And he did, Whenever he was quiet in his own mind, he could feel the other. And the more he listened, the more he was certain that something was wrong. Crying. That’s what he heard in his heart. The weeping of is counterpart. The pain and fear. Someone was hurting him. His body burnt and ached, feeling the pain without the wounds.
Unable to let it continue, Shay had run away from home. Of course, he probably hadn’t thought that all the way through, he would admit. For he spent a good deal of time cold and hungry. Having to steal or catch his own food. Blowing a fire in dragon form just to stay warm in the woods. Every little noise had terrified him out there in the dark. Alone, with no big mother around to scare off whatever monsters were lurking out there. There hadn’t been any choice though. No matter how fearful he might be, he had to do something. Couldn’t listen to the crying in his own heart.
Eventually, following the pull had brought him to a castle. No one had paid him any mind during the day. Ignoring the presence of a poor, dirty street urchin. At most, they probably thought him the child of one of the servants that were running this way and that. Shaylen found himself somewhere to hide while he waited to sneak in under the cover of darkness.
Nothing could go right or be easy at all. It rained and stormed. The cold water pelting him, soaking through his clothes until he was sopping wet. Dark hair plastered to his head, he squished and slipped his way over to the wall of the castle. Up there... that was where his partner was. Taking a deep breath, he looked around to make sure no one was near in the darkness of this storm. Lightning lit up the sky, but he saw no one around. Apparently, he was the only fool out in this weather.
Transforming, he slipped his way up the wall. Digging his claws into the side. His small black body was probably the size of a great dane. Long-tail swishing as he tried to maintain his balance up the slippery wall. When he got up top, he transformed again, back into his Human child form, and opened the window. Curtains blew with the anger of the storm and rain began to pelt inside on the floor.
Shaylen was dark against the light from the lightning. The pull was so incredibly strong from here. Across the room, he could see the bed in the dark. Creeping toward it at a crouch, he slinked across the room, as quiet as a shadow, even while soaked. Slowly, he raised his head and peered over the edge of the bed at the other little boy. Only his eyes were visible over the foot of the bed. A little boy with soft brown hair who was wide awake and clearly afraid.
