Questions

Dragons...

They were dragons.

My gramps told me about dragons when I was 12 years old. I guess he didn't want to scare me by telling me when I was any younger.

He had told me that dragons were big, strong and majestic creatures. They were obsessed with hoarding precious items and that they live in the biggest of groups.

So if you happen to come across one, there's most likely a lot more coming your way.

And I have three standing in front of me now. Staring at me, as to see if I would pass out.

I will not deny, it felt like I was going to, but I never did. Oh how I wish I did!

I cant keep traveling with dragons!

The three me looked at me in caution and Kaine slowly approached me.

He step he takes shakes my soul. My hearts beating heavily, so much so that I fear it will fly out of my chest.

Fly..

Fly!

Cant they fly?

Why are they human?

"Raven, im sure you have multiple question that you would like to ask us, but please, we cannot stop here I sense a storm coming and we need to get to Malvolion as soon as possible." Kaine said.

He's trying to keep me calm. I am most certainly not calm! There have been so many questions with no answers for the past 2 days that I've known them.

"No. Im not going anywhere until all of my questions are answered. Then and only then will I continue walking." I say.

I spoke with confidence. I don't know where it came from considering I am no match for three dragons. Something tells me that they cannot harm me.

He stare and me and smirks. Finn on the other hand, bursts out laughing.

"Oh Kaine! She told you no! You just got destroyed by a human girl!" He says laughing.

I smile at Finn. He's my favourite. Always cheerful, always happy. He's unproblematic.

"Finn don't be stupid. I did not get bested by a human. She is not human." He says almost growling at him.

What...? Im not human?

My mind is racing and I cant get my thoughts straight.

"No no.. that cant be possible, my gramps is human! How can I not be? What am I?!" I said.

Panic is officially setting in. If it wasn't before when he revealed his secret, it is now when he's revealing mine. My secret I didn't even know I had.

"Raven, everything will be explained in due time but now that you know that we are dragons, we can fly to Malvolion and save time. It would have taken us two weeks to walk but now we can arrive in a couple of hours." He said.

Fly. He wanted us to fly. How would that work?

My question got it's response when the three of them back up and shifted. Their male bodies morphing into large and majestic dragons.

Finn's dragon was a pretty blue. Bright and cheerful just like he is.

Derek's was a deep purple. I don't know him well enough to match the colour to his personality but it suits him.

Kaine's was the biggest, most fierce out of them all. His large black dragon more intimidating than anything I have ever seen.

He let out a huff and crouched down as close to the ground as he could. He nodded his head towards his back then looked back at me.

His eyes. Even in dragon form those eyes were the same.

He wanted me to climb onto his back.

I have never had a problem with heights. I've been climbing trees for as long as I could remember, reaching the top and seeing the village in its fullest. Flying on a dragon, that's different. Much higher than any tree in this forest.

My legs are shaky, but I move towards Kaine. He is massive. I struggle at first but when I am on his back and I'm sure I will not fall, he lets out a screech. It was so loud it could be heard from the other side of the planet.

Derek and Finn soar into the sky with one flap of their wings and Kaine did the same. As if the screech was their way of communication.

I did not scream. No matter how freaky this was, the ability to make any sound was lodged in my throat.

We were flying higher and higher until we reached above the clouds.

I had been clinging onto Kaine the entire time but now, seeing the world from this perspective, it gave me a wave of confidence.

I sat up, still holding on for my dear life, but I straighten my back and laughed.

Happiness rushed through my veins. The first time I laughed since I was taken away.

It was beautiful. The wind flowing through my hair that had been let down, my cloak catching wind behind me.

It is the best feeling I have ever experienced.

Kaine let out a happy screech and Derek and Finn replies with one as well.

Maybe things will be okay for me.

We have been flying for what I think is an hour when we started descending.

I ducked back towards Kaine and held on tight.

My stomach clenched and I felt butterflies erupt on my stomach. It was uncomfortable but I know it will not be the last time and I know I will get used to the feeling.

Finally on ground, Kaine lowered himself so that I could easily get off.

When I was finally off, the three dragons left and walked deeper into the forest.

What? Are they leaving me here?

I don't bother to run. Even if I did, I don't know where I'm headed and I cannot out run three dragons.

I saw a flashing like from the direction they headed and the three dragons were men again. Or half men.

They had horns on their heads, all black. The wings that remain on their backs are smaller, but the same colours as their dragons.

"I know you have many questions Raven, so now is the time to ask them." Kaine told me once he has finally got back to me.

He was right. So many questions are flowing through my mind but I can't figure out which to ask first.

"Why have we stopped?" I asked.

I figure that's a reasonable question to begin with.

"Shifting into our full dragon forms take a lot of energy. Yes we are glad to finally spread our wings and fly but it does take a lot from us. We need to give our dragons a rest before we can head off again. Should not take long, maybe an hour or two." He answered.

Okay, that makes sense.

"How many different forms can you guys take? There's the full man, the full dragon and this in between state. Are there anymore?" I ask.

This is a lot to take in and the questions im asking are just going to give me more information that my brain might not be able to handle. Yet, I ask anyways because I need to know.

"No. These are our only three forms. Our kind back at Malvolion stay in our half state for the majority of the time." Kaine answers smirking at me.

As if all these questions are amusing to him.

What did he expect? I know nothing of this world. Only stories that might or might not be true.

"How many of you are there?" I ask.

"Not as much as there used to be. The king has been hunting us for centuries now. He kills all magical creatures. He fears us so he gets rid of us." He answers.

His voice got deeper as if he was recalling memories he does not wish to remember.

Wait, if he's remembering pain or the death of his brethren, how old is he?

"How old are you?"

He smiles at me, as if he's surprised I asked.

"I just mean, you look like you remember the tragedy, but you said that was centuries ago." I add.

"Old." His reply is short and does not give away anything.

I glare at him.

What is so secret about his age that he does not wish to tell me? It doesn't make sense.

"Fine. Is Malvolion home to only dragons? If not, how many times of creatures are there?" I ask.

If he will not give away information about himself, I might as well ask about them in general.

"It is home to mostly dragons, but, there are other kinds of creatures. The other creature that takes majority are the fae. Yet, we have some others such as werewolves, in captivity." He answers.

Fae? Werewolves? This is too much! But, it is my fault since I keep asking questions.

"What are fae? I've read stories about werewolves to know enough about them but I've only heard so little about fae." I ask.

He looks at me in shock and his face holds confusion.

"You do not know about the fae?" He asks.

I shake my head. Was I supposed to?

"Nevermind. The fae are creatures of elegance, agility and speed. They run faster than the eye can see. Unless you are a magical creature. If you are ever chased by one for the wrong reasons, you are already dead. They also have magic. Some can heal, some can perform spells, some can wield elements. The fae and the dragons never got along until the king started his executions. Deciding it was better to stand together against the king, we formed an alliance." He answers.

Before I could ask another question, he decides to ask me one instead.

"Raven, do you remember your parents?"

What? Why does he want to know about them?

I shake my head no and he asks another one.

"Do you know who they are?"

I thought I was supposed to be asking the questions. Again, I shake my head no.

"It's always been just me and my gramps. My parents died when I was young so I have no recollection of them. I don't know who they are." I answer.

He nods his head in understanding.

Just as I'm about to open my mouth to ask him why he is so interested in my parents, he interrupts me.

"Come on. We're heading out again. This is the last stretch. Next stop, Malvolion."