Nicole made way to the kitchen where Mother and Brother were. Her Mother, busy making hot chocolate, looked up and smiled. "So how was your day, dear?"
"Oh, it was fine," Nicole said in reply to her Mother's question. Her Mother nodded her head and bent her head down once more to focus her attention on the hot chocolate. Nicole sat down next to her Brother at the table who was happily coloring his homework for the day. He was only in kindergarten and so her got home about a hour earlier than she did. She was in high school and she envied her brother's easy classes and short days.
Their Mother brought the hot chocolate to them and set the steaming sups upon the table. Nicole picked up a cup and held it between her palms, glad for the abundant heat emitted from it. She sighed happily after her first sip which created a warm trial down her throat and to her stomach. She quickly finished the rest of the warm liquid and the cold no longer took hold within her body.
She thanked her Mother for the drink and made her way upstairs. Her room was warmer than the rest of the house due to a heater that she left on when she was gone. She discarded her shoes and wet clothes and slipped into a white, long nightgown. She went to her window and looked down upon the surrounding area. Rain still battered the day and water coursed down her window. Thunder clouds hovered directly above the horizon, threatening to come closer to her own home. She sighed, because tommorow she would have to walk through this to go to school.
Nicole walked over to her desk and sat down. She knew she should be doing her homework, but she just was not in the mood. She ruffled among her books and binders until a blue notebook came into view. She held this binder in her arms for a few minutes as she pushed the rest of her papers and books aside. She finally set it down and opened it up, resting her brown eyes upon her own creation.
The inside covers of the binder were covered in pictures of mystical creatures that could only exist in dreams. Dragons and elves stared back at her and she sighed happily as she glaned over the wonderful windows into another world. She loved mythology and mythical beasts, but she knew that these only existed in dreams. Maybe that was why her in head was always in the clouds since her heart was held so tightly within the world of dreams and unreality. She turned a few pages. This binder was filled with fairy tales that she had found over the years and saved. She loved to just sit down and read the stories over and over for hours on end.
The room darkened until she could no longer read. Her eyes hurt and she rubbed them as she closed the notebook. She stood up in the dark and stumbled through her room to reach her bed. Luckily she only knocked over her chair on the way over, a good sign for her. She tumbled into her bed and lazily pulled her sheets about her. Sleep came easily to her and her mind slowly drifted into the world of dreams.
***
Nicole woke to a knocking at her door. Words followed and she could barely distinguish them. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as the door to her room opened. Light flooded in, forcing her to wake up. Her Mother stood in the doorway, her hand still resting upon the doorknob. "You better hurry and get ready or you will miss your bus! Didn't your alarm go off this morning," her Mother asked questioningly.
She looked at her clock. Six fifty five. The bus came at seven. It took her a while before the knowledge that she might miss her bus sunk in. "Oh no! I forgot to set it last night," she said out loud to no one in particular. Her Mother turned on her light and closed the door. Nicole ran hurriedly through her room, quickly throwing on a pair of jeans and a blue t-shirt. She threw her books into her bag, and hurried out of her bedroom. She ran out of the house while still pulling a brush through her brown hair and out onto the sidewalk in front of her house. She looked for the bus and found it driving away. She waved her arms, but the bust did not turn and come back to her, or stop. She had missed her bus and now she would have to walk to school through the rain.
She sighed and began her walk down the sidewalk towards her school. If she was lucky, she would get there in time. Her dad left before she did in the morning to go to work, and they had only one car. She cursed her luck as the rain increased and she cursed herself a second time when she realized she had not grabbed her coat on the way out. Her clothes were soon soaked and she could not keep herself from shivering.
All she was thinking about was how cold it was until she a dark shape run across her path not too far away. The shape looked like a kitten that had gotten scared of the rain and thunder. She felt sorry for the poor creature so hurried to the spot where she had seen the animal. She stood upon that spot and looked for the animal. She saw the kitten dart into the bushes to her right. She heard the cat meow loudly and she could not just stand there.
She followed the young cat through the bushes. The cat kept darting in and out of her view, so she could not get a clear picture of the cat. But everytime she saw the cat, the poor creature looked worse off then before. She knew she would be late to school, but the poor kitten needed some kind of shelter from this horrible storm. She kept trying to soothe the cat and convince the animal that she was friendly, but the kitten only ran faster. She knew this was not wise, but she felt that she had not chose to follow the cat.
The cat stopped in the center of a small clearing not too far away from her. The cat stopped and begun to clean itself. Nicole realized that the rain had stopped. Nicole made her way to the kitten, her breathing heavy. Within two feet of the kitten, the animal looked up at her. Nicole was surprised at the strange site displayed before her. The cat, pure black, had blue wings sprouting from its back.
Nicole gasped and took a step back. The kitten cocked it's head to the side and stared at Nicole. "What are you?" Nicole did not know what to think of this strange creature. The winged kitten stood up and made it's way over to Nicole. She did not move as the kitten came up and rubbed against her leg. The small animal started to purr. She reached down and scratched the small cat between the ears and was welcomed with louder purring.
Her mind did not seem to work correctly. This animal could only exist in dreams, and, yet, here it was. She knew she was not dreaming, she was much too aware for that. She did not know what to think or believe at this point. What should she do?
She heard some rustling in the bushes to her right, making her take a step back. The strange cat ran toward the sound, still purring. If she had found a cat with wings, then what might this strange being be?
The leaves parted and a man walked through. Nicole took a small breath of relief, glad that the being was not some evil monster, but did not let her gaurd down. The man was of normal heigth and build, clothed in hunting clothes of varying shades of green and brown that faded into the surrounding forest. He had brown shoulder length hair tied back with a strip of leather and dark brown eyes that seemed to pull her in. He glanced at Nicole briefly before kneeling on the ground in front of the kitten. The small cat jumped into his arms, it's wings flitting weakly for a bit.
"So, you are the next to take the test." His voice light filled with eagerness. Nicole just stared at him blankly. His full attention was on her now, and she was unsure of what to say or do.
"What do you mean by Test," Nicole asked and demanded. He was scaring her with his strange mention to this test that seemed to carry so much meaning with him.
"Are you telling me that you do not know about the Test?" He blinked confusedly at her. She shook her head no, her face filling with uncertainty and a bit of fear. "Oh my," he whispered as he covered his eyes. He let his hand fall and looked back to Nicole. "This forest is magicked. People who enter will never leave unless they find their way to this very clearing. When the do, very few people do, they then take the Test, one which never has the same end. And since you found your way to this clearing, you must take the test." He finished his description and Nicole found herself at a loss. There were still so many unanswered questions hovering aobut her mind.
She asked the foremost question on her mind. "Who are you?"
"My name is Nathan and I will be your guide to Dragon Castle where your test will take place."
"Dragon Castle? Where am I?"
"Why, you are in the Forest of Trials." Nicole just stared at Nathan darkly. "Oh, yeah," he chuckled a bit but stopped when he saw no humor in her eyes. "This is the Kingdom of Dreams, located on the planet Earth."
"WHAT?!? On Earth? Then why have I never heard the name spoken before!" Nathan winced and Nicole realized she had yelled out those last few words. Her temper was short because of all this information that seemed so unbelievable.
"Allow me to explain," his voice was not as happy as it had first sounded. "This Kingdom is magicked, so only those who truly wish to enter from the outside may. Once a person enters into this world will not be able to leave. I am sorry if you want to ask more questions, but we must be leaving."
"Okay." Nathan entered into the forest once again, forcing Nicole to follow or be left behind. She decided to leave the rest of her questions alone for now. Maybe the Dragon Castle would answer them for me, she thought. Nathan did not lead her far. He had taken her to a small camp, discarded blankets laying next to the remains of a fire. Two horses were tied up to a tree not too far off. Nathan saddled both, hosting large packs onto the back of both horses.
"Here," he said as he handed the reins to one of the horses to Nicole. "This is Juniper. She is easy to ride, just in case you have never ridden on a horse before." Both horses were pure brown, and she found it hard to tell the difference between the two. Nathan helped her up into the saddle when he saw her struggling to get on. The small kitten jumped onto the horse and curled about her arm and fell asleep.
"So, what is this cat thing anyway," she asked as Nathan pulled himself into his own saddle.
"Oh, Vincent? Vincent is a hypocat, a mix between an eagle and a cat. She is still much too young to fly yet, though." Nathan turned his horse and headed off towards the north. Her horse turned without her doing anything, and began to follow Nathan's horse.
The horses carefully manuvered around roots and high bushes, searching for the easiest way through the lush forest. There was no trail since there was no need for one. Birds chirped from their perches in the high trees, singing the song of the newborn day. When the canopy broke occasionally, Nicole was able to see dark clouds above, threatening for more rain to come. A cold wind blew through the trees, and Morgan remembered she had no jacket to protect herself from Nature's hard storm.
"Uhm, Nathan," she waited for Nathan to turn his head around and looked back at her before she continued. "Could you tell me a bit more about this forest?"
"Of course. This forest, the Forest of Trials, is the only obstacle in a person's way to taking the test. Many people want to take the Test, so that is why this forest came into being. To keep those without the will or strength from taking the Test."
"Test? What is this 'Test'?"
"The Test is a way for a person to find their destiny. It is a sad fate for those who wander the world without a goal or a fate. The Test shows people the way. But the Test works in various ways, no one knows what shape the test will take."
"And so, I must take this test?"
"You made it to the clearing. So, yes," he smiled with his last words. "Do not worry, the test is not as bad as you must think."
"How would you know that?" Nicole was tired of not knowing, confused at these strange new concepts that Nathan was now introducing to him.
"I took the test. And I was given the task of waiting in the clearing and escorting people to the test. That has been my fate for the past seven years." Nathan turned back around to face forward, done talking for the time being. Nicole turned her attention back to Vincent who had woken up and was now rubbing against her.
The light around slowly began to darken, and soon they found themselves with no light. They soon stopped under a large oak tree where they found shelter from the cold wind. They tethered up the horses not too far away from their place of rest for the night. Nicole sat on a root, watching Nathan set up camp, unsure of what to do. She had never before gone camping, and now the thought of sleeping without a roof over her head frightened her.
Nathan unfurled the bed rolls and blankets, the warmth they had to offer inviting. He made a small fire over which he placed some meat to cook for their evening meal. Once the food was done cooking, he motion Nicole to sit near the fire and eat.
The meat was salty and tough, but it was the only food she had had all day. She ate her portion eagerly, washing it all down with some mull that Nathan passed to her. Her eyes drooped with the day's weariness, and her backside was sore from riding the horses. Horses, she had never ridden one and she wished she had never ever gotten on one.
"Hey," Nathan waited until Nicole's eyes drifted and settled upon him. "I do not yet now your name."
"My name is Nicole."
"Nice name. So, where do you come from?" Nathan's eyes were curious filled with questions.
"I do not feel like talking of my old home," Nicole whispered, sadness etching her voice. She could feel her eyes begin to brim with tears, and she feared that if she sat her any longer, she would cry right in front of Nathan. Nathan's eyes lost their curiousity to be filled with compassion. Nathan's eyes only seemed to make her tears come faster.
"Excuse me..." Nicole stood up and walked away. She could feel Nathan's eyes following her, so she hurried towards the nearest tree to hide behind. She sunk to the ground, welcoming the darkness that engulfed her as she did so. She leaned her back against the rough bark of the tree, glad for the support. She wrapped her arms around her knees with her legs folded and against her chest. She laid her head upon her forearms and thought of the world beyond.
Her home, her life, her family and friends, she would never see them again, or at least, that was what Nathan said. Never to see the normal, the familiar, ever again was her fate. The little things she had always taken for granted, like a warm bed to sleep in, were taking their tolls upon her weary spirit. She never though she would miss her home, but now, seperated from it, her heart began to break. Sure, she had always wanted to leave her own world and enter the mystical world of magic, but she had never imagined that she would miss the old one so much.
Tears breached and fell down her face. She cried quietly, but she was still heard. She heard footsteps behind her, the only person who it could be was Nathan. She quickly dried her tears and put on a happy front for him. She hated people seeing her so emotional and this stranger was no expception to that.
Nathan sat down on the ground next to her. The two sat in silence for a few minutes. "Nicole, I understand what you are going through..."
"How could you! How can you understand what I am going through!" New tears of frustration and sadness came to her eyes. She tried in vain to stop these tears and wipe them from her face.
"The only time I leave this forest is when someone makes it to the clearing. I am seperated from my homeland and my family. Just as you are. It has been four years since I have left this forest." Nathan put his arm around her shoulders, holding her in his protective hold. "It is okay to cry..." he whispered. And with those words she let her tears run free, letting Nathan comfort her in her time of need. He was so unknown to her, but he made her feel safe.
She fell asleep before her tears were even done. Nathan settled her in the bedroll he had set out for her before going to his own. He banked the fire and fell asleep under warm blankets, Vincent nestled between his arms.
***
Nicole woke to rain pouring down from the dark, angry sky. She sat up with a start, temparily forgetting where she was. She remembered with a wave of sadness. She quickly wrapped her bedding up and put it on her horse before they became to wet. Nathan gave her food to eat and some warm tea he had made earlier that morning.
Nathan brought the horses around so they could begin their journey once more. Nathan saw her standing the onpour, no jacket covering her flesh, shivering in the bitter cold.
"Here, take my coat," he said as he took off his coat and wrapped the item around her shoulders. She was too cold to refuse the item which provided such warmth and refuge from the cold and rain.
She clambered onto her horse with the help of Nathan. Vincent jumped onto the horse and nestled next to her, his warmth adding to hers. The horses neighed and began to walk at a brisk pace towards the north where the darker clouds held rein.
About midday they reached the edge of the forest. A meadow stretched as far as the eye could see, the wheat and flowers gently bending to the fury of the storm. The only break on the faraway horizon was a single mountain, soaring high into the sky, it's peak hidden by the swirling clouds. The sun had come out of hiding, and the rain had begun to decrease.
"The mountain you see over there is where we are going." Nathan informed Nicole. She nodded and the horses picked up their pace once again. After traveling for about an hour, the forest they had left behind a small dot, they found themselves surrounded in all directions of the meadow. Nicole felt as if she was being watched, but she shrugged off the feeling. Her feeling probably originated from the wide open spaces surrounding them.
Not too far off was a small, gnarled dead tree directly in front of them. Within the tree she saw three big birds about the size of vultures, but she doubted that they were really vultures. The horses neighed and stopped, rearing their heads. Nathan watched the tree warily before vehemently cursing under his breath the word, "Harpies."
Nicole could now see that the shapes were truly harpies. Their wings and hair were filthy. Claws raked at the bark beneath their feet. Their small eyes looking menacingly down upon them.
"Well, look at what we have here," the first harpy said, her voice shrill.
"Sure has been a long time since a human has been around her," the second harpy's voice as shrill as the first's.
"Who are two, and why are you two here?" The third harpy's voice was shriller than the last two, her voice full of authority.
"I am Nathan, gaurdian of the Forest of Trials. I am now escorting Nicole to the Test." Nathan said, authority and respect mingling together in his voice.
"Why did you tell them the truth?" Nicole whispered. How could they trust these creatures? What if they meant harm to them?
"Harpies know when you speak truth and when you do not speak truth."
"Hmm, yes I see," the harpy in charge said. "That has nothing to do with us. But you told us the truth, we shall let you pass this way. But, watch out for the other creatures, they do not all respect the truth as we do." The three harpies then launched from their perch and flew off to the west, where the sun flew to it's nightly death.
"Come on, we must go." Nathan kicked his horse into motion, Nicole's horse following. No events took place by the time they set up camp. The two ate quietly and went to sleep with hardly a word spoken to each other.
Nicole woke with a start and realized that it was still night. Something had waken her up. She sat up and looked around in the night air, unable to see anyone or anything. But she heard a sound. The sound was a low growl, growing bigger and coming closer. She heard Nathan stirring not too far from her, and she scooted closer to him.
The clouds parted and let the waxen moon light shine down upon the ground around them. Now Nicole could see the origins of the noise. Three wolfs stood not too far from them, larger than the normal variety. Their red eyes glared meaningfully at them. Nicole was reminded of her own weaponless hands as Nathan drew his sword.
"Listen," Nathan began as the wolf like creatures advanced, "These creatures will not listen to reason. I want you to get on your horse and ride as fast as you can from here. Go now!"
"But what about you!?!"
"Just worry about yourself. I'll keep them distracted while you escape. I can fight better without having to worry about you. Go!"
Nicole climbed onto her horse and kicked the horse into a gallop. She looked behind her, and she Nathan engage the monsters in combat. There was nothing she could do to help Nathan in his battle expcept relieve his worries of her.
The horse moved fast over the hard ground, racing for it's life. Nicole looked back but could no longer see Nathan. She kept riding until her horse tired out and would no longer run. She dropped wearily onto the ground where she fell asleep, not bothering to get out the bedroll.
***
Nicole woke to her shoulder being nudged. It took a while before her mind would register. She opened her eyes and found herself looking into Nathan's.
"Nathan! You are alive! I am so glad!" She wrapped her arms about Nathan and hugged him, glad that he was safe and in one piece. He wrapped his arms around her, and for a few minutes they sat like this, spellbound in each other's arms. But, soon, Nicole found herself growing self-concious and broke the spell.
"Well, I guess we should be going?"
"Right. We will reach the castle by midday." Nicole looked at the mountain they were heading towards. She had ridden quite a lot to be this close to the mountain. The two quickly got onto their horses and rode towards the mountain.
As the sun reached it's zenith marking midday, they reached Dragon Castle. The castle was of the same dark hue as the mountain, and being nestled into it's side, could barely be seen. The entrance into the place was shaped like the opening maw of a dragon, where the castle recieved its name. The castle was surrounded by a high wall, the only visible entrance being the dragon's maw.
"We will be going in the back way, much less confusion." They headed towards one of the walls surrounding the castle. They followed along it until they were beneath a small tower trying in vain to outstretch it's brothers.
Nathan pulled some brush aside and revealed a small set of stairs leading off into darkness.
"This is where we are to go." He tethered the horses to the bush, taking off their saddles before doing so. Then finding a torch among his belongings, lit it, and entered the warrens under the small tower via the stairs.
The tunnels they followed were narrow and dry. Dust lifted off the floor beneath their feet, upsetting their eyes. The torch provided enough light to guide them down the passageway.
They were not in the tunnel long before they breached the surface and Nicole found herself in a richly adorned room. Nathan put out the torch and sent it in a bracket before leading Nicole up into the tower.
After climbing a long flight of stairs the two found themselves in front of a large door, covered in scrawling writing she could only guess what the langauge could be. Nathan opened the doors and they entered a small room, devoid of any furnishings expcept for a small table surrounded by chairs. A few people sat at the table now and the one person who held her attention was a woman with crystal white hair, her gown white and covered in the small treasures. Her blue eyes shone like gem themselves, filled with kindess.
"Lady Kristal, I present to you Lady Nicole. The next person to take the Test." A few people at the table gasped and stared, unsure of what to do.
The lady in white, Kristal as it seemed, stood up and walked towards Nicole. "Welcome. You shall be given a place to stay and food. Tommorow at midday you shall take the Test. Nathan, take her to the kitchen and then to a spare room. I am sorry I can not talk further, but reports of spies are coming in." Nathan escorted her out of the room. She glanced at the people one last time. An old man in a red robe stared at her menacingly and she felt something strange from him. But before she could name the feeling, the door closed on them.
***
The rain had stopped and the sun shone brightly down upon them, the day still seemed gloomy. Nicole stood in a room without a roof, the opposite walls, north and south, filled with people of high rank to see her take the test. In the center was a small pool, the water so dark she could not see the bottom.
Kristal had said to enter the water and swim to the very bottom. She said you could breath in the magicked water. At the very bottom would be something only she would know what it would be.
She stood at the edge, hesitant to go in. But she steeled herself and dived in. And strangely she could breath and see in the water. She spotted something at the bottom, which she swum to. The closer she came to the bottom, the darker it became. And soon she could not see. Small lights appeared and she felt as if she was engulfed in night. She stopped swimming and looked about her. Night all around.
Nicole...
Who is there!?! she thought. She was a bit startle at this unknown voice, but the voice seemed familiar and friendly and trustworthy.
I am the essence of night. I have chosen you to become a bearer of my magic. You will be able to use the stars to see into the future. The mark on your arm tells all that I have chosen you. Now go, join your world once again.
She swum to the top of the lake, emerging in a small splash. She quickly climbed out, and strangely, her clothes were dry. She looked down at her arms. Strings of stars climbed up and down her arm. The stars looked so real...
"NO! There can not be one born!" The old man in the red robe stood up before Nicole, his face masked in fury. His hands wove complicated patterns before the air. And soon a fireball hung in the sky, and was heading towards her. She did not know what to do, she stood stock still. The next thing she knew, Nathan was standing right before, in the way of the fireball. The fire hit him in his chest instead of hitting Nicole as intended.
Nathan cluctched at his chest where the wound bled fiercly. He fell to his knees and then backwards into Nicole's arms as the old man was wrestled down by others.. His skin was pale and his eyes dim as his bled in her arms. The one who had hurt Nathan already lay crumpled on the floor dead, no one moving towards the corpse. The room seemed to stop and hang suspended in time as Nicole looked into Nathan's eyes.
"Nicole," he paused as his throat gagged on his own blood that seemed to well up from inside.
"Somebody! Anybody, get help! NOW!" She was screaming at the top of her lungs, waiting for the people that stood around her to move. They finally did, running in all directions, yelling at different pitches. Nicole looked back down at Nathan, her hands grasped tightly around him.
Nathan's right hand moved and rested upon Nicole's cheek where tears ran unchecked down her face. He looked her in the eyes, and hoarsely whispered, "I love you." The words tore at Nicole's heart and a sob broke out.
"Do not leave me! Do not leave me!" She repeated the words fervently to herself and Nathan. She did not know if her words would help, but this was all she could do. She glanced around but could not see any help coming. The blood was coming too quickly and she knew she could do nothing to staunch the flow. She looked back down at Nathan. He smiled faintly and all she could do was smile back while another sob tore at her throat.
"Promise me one thing," Nathan told Nicole in a hoarse whisper, making sure his words were used with reason.
"Anything, just do not leave me!"
"Live." The word echoed in her mind as she watched the life drain from Nathan's eyes. That single word had been his last breath, still hovering in the air. His hand fell away from Nicole's cheek to fall limply onto the cold ground. No longer were his eyes filled with happiness and adventure, but stared blankly at a world dead to him. She would never again see his smile that always chased away the darkness. Never again would she hear his voice that could lift her so high. And never again would the very sight of him remind her of how much she loved him.
Nicole dropped her head and cried.
***
Nicole woke with the morning sun in her eyes, the sky outside mourning. She could barely think straight, her eyes still sore from crying all night, her mind and soul still reliving yesterday. Nathan was truly gone, and she left alone. All she wanted to do was curl up and forget the world around her, forget the need to live. But Nathan's last words still hung in the air. He did not want her to die.
Nicole climbed out of bed where Vincent stretched sleepily. She walked towards the window and peered out, looking across the land, searching for ideas.
"What am I going to do?" She asked out loud, not really expecting an answer.
"I have a suggestion." Nicole spun around and looked around the room. Where had the voice come from? The only being in the room besides her was Vincent.
"Vincent?"
"Yes?" The cat answered nonchalantly.
"What!?! You can talk! Why did you not talk before?"
"Well, I really did not feel like it. But I can see that you are in a really bad mood, so I decided I can try and make you feel better."
"Oh my," Nicole whispered as she sat down on the bed next to Vincent. "Okay, what do you suggest I do?"
"Why don't I take you to my homeland. It is quite peaceful there, not too many humans. I think you will find peace there and be happy."
"Wow. That is a good idea. We shall leave after the funeral," her voice trailed off and she no longer felt like talking. She stared out the window a bit before packing her stuff into her small knapsack.
***
The sun stood at midday, but provided little light to the people below. The wind howled through the trees, singing the song of mourning. The rain fell, Nicole's feelings taken form. Tears brimmed at her eyes as she watched the display before her.
People hung in a large circle around a large fire. She stood all alone, not wanting to be near so many people. Vincent sat at her feet, knowing Nicole wanted to left alone. Nathan's funeral, the burning of his body, had left Nicole feeling sad and alone. She felt empty and she longed for Nathan's protection. The flames rose high into the air, reaching for the dawing heavens surrounded by such grief and sorrow.
She could take no more of this, and she turned to leave, her belongings on her back. But she heard a voice behind her. She turned around and saw Kristal standing there with sad eyes.
"I am sorry for your loss. Is there anything I can do to help?" She asked in a voice filled with sorrow and sadness.
"No. I shall be going, I do not think I shall ever be back."
"Farewell then. Just remember, you are never alone." Kristal turned back and entered the crowd once again, moving among the people, comforting where she could.
Nicole turned her back upon the people, on her sorrow and began her journey.
***
The sun set behind the horizon covered with clouds rolling across the already dark sky. The wind blew harshly over the large plain, howling with each gust. The air is cold, biting the flesh of those daring enough to walk with the night. A sudden gust of wind nearly knocked Nicole down and blow Vincent out of the air.
"Stupid wind..." Nicole cursed as she rubbed the life back into her arms. She really was not paying attention to the wind and cold air; she was listening and watching the turmoil within her own heart.
"Uhm, maybe we should stop for the night," Vincent voiced.
Nicole shrugged of the pack of her shoulders and onto the ground below. The pack was nearly lost in the long stalks of wheat, but Vincent alighted atop of it. Nicole began flattening the wheat so she could lie comfortably upon the ground. She unbuckled her bedroll and spread it upon the ground she had cleared. She sat down upon the bedroll and looked up into the night sky brightly lit by beautiful stars. Vincent curled up on the end of the blankets and started to clean himself with catlike abandonment.
Stars rotated in their fixed roles in the sky, leaving their essence across the sky. Her hair blew in the strong wind and her clothes flapped against her body. She pulled her robe tight and crawled beneath the sheets. Vincent curled up tight against her stomach beneath the sheets. He purred as he fell asleep in the cold night. Nicole pulled the blankets tight around the two of them to keep in their warmth and keep out the cold. She took one last look into the night, one last look at the brightly shining moon, and one last look at the beautiful and playful stars within the night sky before she fell into a deep sleep that promised no dreams.
Nicole�
Nicole found herself surrounded by darkness almost complete. The only faint light was that of small pinpricks of light, looking like stars but too far away to be of any use in breaking the darkness. She thought she was standing, but she could not feel herself standing. She knew she had a body, if not a normal one. She seemed to be nebulous, becoming the night and the stars, something that seemed right, welcoming. She could feel nothing, smell nothing, or see nothing. But she could sense a spirit of some sort and hear the voice. The sense and the voice sounded similar to the ones she sensed and heard in the water during her test. The essence of night�?
Yes, Nicole, I am the Essence of Night.
What is it you want?
Watch the stars�
What?
When you see the constellation Draco in the northern sky I shall speak with you again�
Speak with me about what?
I have a task for you, wait until then�
The voice faded out and she felt the presence leave. She jolted awake and found herself in the middle of the newly born dawn. She looked up into the sky and saw a constellation of stars still prominent in the sky, surviving the sun�s light. The constellation of the Voice�
She held her head in her hands and thought of the dream and the stars. The dream seemed far away now, but she felt she must carry on and find out this task. A sudden thought came to her. Where and when had she learned the name of that constellation? She had been able to name constellations without even trying. And she had never once taken an interest in stars before. Also, she seemed to unconsciously take notice of the position of the stars. Maybe the knowledge came from the essence of night?
Vincent woke and yawned. He stood and padded over to Nicole and rubbed against her legs which where now held against her chest. Nicole scratched the small cat playfully between his ears, the cat already banishing her fears and uncertainties. Vincent reminded her of Nathan and his smile, the cat being her last link to her lost loved one. She was still bitter when she remembered, so she tried only to remember the good.
Vincent padded off into the tall wheat waving in the gentle wind as Nicole rolled her bedroll up and away. The rising sun scattered rays of multicolored light across the sky. Soon, all the stars dissapeared from view, waiting for another chance to shine.
Nicole shouldered her pack and called to Vincent. The little cat padded over, and with much difficulty, flitted onto her shoulder. Vincent curled around her neck and pawed at her loose strands of hair for a bit as Nicole started walking northward. Far in the distance she could see a tall mountain. Not too far away from the imposing mountain a plateau stood like a cut mountain. Vincent had told her to head towards the plateau, knowing that they would be able to make their home there in peace. Around both landmarks was a sea of wheat and dry grass waving in the cold wind.
She walked for the rest of the day in silence. By the time the sun had set and the moon risen, the two had reached the plateau. Nicole and Vincent soon spotted a small trail leading to the top of the plateau. Nicole hurried up the trail and onto the broad, flat area of the plateau. She threw her stuff down upon the ground and sat down wearily. Vincent started to chase a bug, leaving Nicole to her thoughts.
The sun had set and the stars were beginning to make their appearance in the dark night sky. Nicole gladly watched the stars appear in their fixed appearance. The stars held her eyes and her attention easily. She was scanning the night sky, watching the locations of certain constellations when she looked into the northern sky and saw the constellation Draco hanging in the night sky above the mountain not too far away.
Nicole�
Nicole stood up and looked about her. The familiar voice, the one that touched her soul so deeply could be heard floating gently on the wind. She remembered her dream clearly, remembered the words last spoken by the essence of night.
Go to the mountain, you are needed there�
And then the voice was gone. Nicole felt alone. But the words were still clear. The mountain�. she would go to the mountain and see what the essence of night needed of her. Vincent turned around and saw her feelings evident on her face. He let go of the bug he had caught and padded on over to her. Nicole then ran quickly down the trail and towards the mountain not too far away.
The dark night had only darkened more by the time Nicole and Vincent made it to the mountain. Nicole looked up the mountainside, confused at the strange appearance. The mountain was not very wide, but very tall. At the base of the mountain, she could see a small cavern about half of the mountain�s size. It could barely be even called a mountain. The mountain seemed to be a hand reaching up into the starry night sky, as if trying to catch one of the many stars trailing across the darkened sky.
There was no where to go except the small cave in the side of the mountain. She entered the dark place, unable to see through the darkness. If only she had some light to see�
She noticed a faint blue glow that started to grow, providing a light for her to see in the small cave. She wondered where the blue light was coming from. She looked around the cave but did not see a single light source.
�Uhm, Nicole? What is happening to your arms?� Vincent asked in a startled voice. Nicole looked down at her arms and was shocked. The star patterns trailing up her arms were glowing. And as she looked at them, they began to glow brighter. She shrugged her shoulders at Vincent before looking around the cavern once again. The cavern�s walls were steep and unmarked. She could see nothing within the cavern, but looking closer, she saw a dark shape at the opposite wall. She and Vincent walked towards the shape.
As she approached the shape and her light fell upon it, she was surprised at what she saw. A red egg lay nestled in a small nest. No sign of the egg�s mother could be seen in the small cave. She bent to touch the egg when she saw out of the corner of her eyes a shadow moving through the glow from her arms. She stood and spun about, unsheathing a dagger from her belt. She looked for what had made the shadow, but could see no creature of any kind. But then she saw what had made the shadow. A pair of burning red eyes glowed from the shadows. She could barely see the outlines of the shadow. The shadow had no real form, seemed to be just a spirit made completely of fog.
The spirit advanced towards her and Vincent. He slunk on the outsides of the glow, getting a good view of the two before coming closer. Nicole held her knife high, ready to strike if the ethereal beast came closer. She saw mocking laughter in the burning eyes. The spirit darted in towards Nicole, lashing out with his formless arms. Nicole brought her knife down and towards the spirit.
Her knife passed through the spirit. She had put her whole weight into the attack, causing herself to lose balance when steel met no flesh. Her arm followed her knife, the rest of her body following her arm. Passing through the foggy spirit, a deathly chill passed through Nicole. Her body fell to the floor of the cavern, her mind sluggish, and her limbs refusing to work. She lay upon the floor watching the spirit make his way towards the red egg.
The spirit ignored Vincent as he pounced at it repeatedly. The little kitten soon realized how vain his attacks where, and so, hastened to Nicole�s side. He began to lick the side of her face and whisper, �Come on Nicole! Get up!�
Vincent�s words seemed to draw Nicole�s mind out of the fog that it was in. She slowly, limb by limb, forced her limbs to move, gaining control of them once more. Determination flared in her eyes. She watched the spirit wearily, wondering how she would be able to attack the strange monster. She looked at the shining star patterns on her arms, which still glowed with their bluish-black light. She looked at the spirit and how it went out of it�s way to avoid the strange light shining from her. Maybe she could get the dagger to glow�?
She concentrated on the one thought of sending energy to the blade she held in her stiff hand. She closed her eyes, and she felt drops of sweat begin to form on her brow. She opened her eyes when she felt a warm feeling in her hand. The blade was shining with the same glow as the patterns on her arms. She had done it! She had finally controlled the power, which had been given to her by the essence of night.
She felt happy and elated, but her good mood soon vanished as she remembered the strange egg�s danger. She sprinted towards the strange apparition with the dagger shining brightly in her hand. Once she was within striking distance of the creature, she brought down the blade and into the back of the monster.
Steel met substance and the shadow monster screamed, his cry one of anguish and darkness. The blade flashed brilliantly, burying deeper into the body of the shadow. The monster began to dissipate, melting into the air, floating away on gentle winds. Soon she could see no more of the strange creature.
�It�s gone�� Nicole murmured as she sheathed her dagger that no longer glowed.
Nicole�.take the egg, keep it safe. The voice was that of the essence of night, soft and gentle. She walked over to the egg and bent over it, examining the strange egg.
�Come on Nicole. I think we should go,� Vincent voiced. Nicole nodded her head, weary from her exertions. She scooped up the egg, nestled the precious object in her arms, and headed out of the cavern and back towards the plateau.
***
Morning sunlight and Vincent purring woke her up the next morning. She woke with a start, remembering the past day�s events. She had barely been able to reach the plateau and cover the egg before falling asleep soundly. She quickly strode to where the egg lay bundled in blankets not too far away from where she had slept. The egg was warm to the touch and vibrated beneath her fingertips. She gasped and called Vincent over and asked him if he knew exactly what was going on.
�The egg is hatching, just in case you would like to know,� said a small voice.
�Was that you Vincent?� Vincent shook his head at Nicole�s question.
�Look up.� Nicole looked up into the blue sky and to her surprise saw a tiny blue dragon floating not too high up.
�What are you,� Vincent asked, his wings beating softly.
�My name is Hae and I am a dragon flyer from Silver Valley, the same place as you, and the same place as that egg." Nicole felt the last words spoken by the dragon flyer were important, but she did not care. The egg had started to rock back and forth violently and the sound of the egg cracking could be heard. Nicole bent over the egg as the tiny dragon inside broke through the hard shell. Nicole helped the dragon tear away the rough shell, speeding up the slow process. Soon the dragon was out of the egg, blinking at the bright surroundings. The dragon was small and gray, still wet from the membrane of the egg. The dragon looked so small and vunerable that Nicole took the small hatchling in her arms. Hae flew on over and told her to feed the dragon. Nicole did so and soon the small dragon was sleeping in her arms.
***
Nicole woke with a start and sat upright. Her dreams had been haunting her, chasing her mind around. Memories she had tried to push away to the back of her mind found their themselves free within her dreams. She put her head into her hands and wished for the painful memories to go away. She laid back down and stared up at the stars decorating the midnight sky.
Nicole heard chirping to her right, quiet and soft. Nicole looked over and saw the small gray hatchling looking into the night sky, awe in the small eyes.
"So, little dragon, you like the stars too?" The hatchling heard her and chirped happily. He seemed to grin as he walked on over to where she lay. The dragon chirped happily again before plopping onto the bedroll next to Nicole. The small dragon looked up at Nicole with adoring eyes before looking up at the stars once again.
"Hey, you need a name, do you not?" Nicole playfully asked as she scratched the dragon under his chin. The dragon crooned in response. Nicole looked into the night sky, searching for ideas for the dragon's name. Constellations by constellations, the sky was filled with stars. And as her eyes passed over the northern sky, she saw the constellation draco.
"Ah, that is what I shall call you! Ryuuza, the dragon constellation." Ryuuza chirped happily in response, evidently pleased with the new name. Nicole laid down again with the the dragon curled up next to her. She closed her eyes and soon fell asleep, dreaming no dreams of terror or sadness.
***
Dragon Stats!!
Name: Ryuuza
Gender: Male
Age: Adult
Color: Night!!
Type: Air
Mate: Crystal Ocean
