• Furiously Aden grabbed a basket and laid a sheet down into it. He turned around to pick up the fruits and vegetables that his mother had set out for him to pack. A scowl became firmly set on the boy’s face as he began to think of a million and one reasons why he should not go to Dimetor Lake.

    Why should I be the one to go? Mum’s always been complainin’ that I ain’t old enough to go about doin’ stuff, but she’s sendin’ me to the lake and.... The boy suppressed a shudder, Nevra.... Oh Abhir, what am I s’posed to do if I run inta ‘er?!

    The boy turned back and bitterly began to pack but there in the middle of the basket sat the tiny baby griffin looking happily up at him. Aden had to smile. He carefully picked him up and set him down on the table as he packed up their food.

    "Aden m’dear... don' be forgettin’.... them Nixies can be a bit... mischievous. Don' go gettin’ yerself drowned m’dear." his mother's voice sounded from the other room concern and worry evident in her every word.

    "Aye mum, I know."

    “Don’t tell me ye know Aden,” Mrs. Silvertree said as she fussed over her eldest son, “Remember not to go inta the water dear… Oh and watch out on the way to the Lake, and if it gets too dark don’t bother comin’ back, I don’t want ye travelin’ through the woods in the dark. Ooh.. there’s so many evil things that would want to have my dear Aden for lunch… please be careful..”

    “Mum! I’ll be fine, I promise…” Aden said, “Please stop messin’ with me ‘air. Yer just makin’ it worse.”

    “Oh… well… alright… be careful and have a nice trip Aden…” his mother said, waving to him as he left.

    Aden grinned and playfully hoisted Taru onto his shoulder as he walk through the tunnels, to go out to the lake and to tend to the nixies. Last week he had traveled to the lake with his mother to help with them and a young female named Nevra had flirted with him, much to his great annoyance.

    "Well, let's not waste no time Taru. The sooner we be gettin’ to the lake, the sooner we can be gettin’ 'ome. If we're lucky we'll get 'ome afore dark," Aden said softly. Of course he expected no answer, but smiled fondly at the griffin as he bit at a lock of the Kayalin's sandy hair, oblivious to every word that was spoken to him. With a short laugh, Aden began to make the large trudge to Dimetor Lake.

    Time passed pleasantly between the two for a time. Aden nearly forgot how angry he had been feeling at having to go at all. He soon began to watch with profound amusement as the young griffin explored even the smallest stone that came across their path.

    Occasionally Taru would stop and growl viciously at a twig or leaf that fell in his way, as if wanting to protect his new-found master. However, after carefully prodding the object and sniffing it quite carefully his tail would swish back and forth happily as he continued on his way, hurrying to catch up with Aden.

    Aden found all this to be quite funny and did not notice the strange thick branch that had fallen in their path. Taru growled then pounced on it, only to be thrown off as it raised up in the air to slash at the small griffin with its jagged end. What had appeared to be a moss covered branch was in fact the tail of a horrible creature!

    Aden reacted quickly, reaching out and grabbing his charge in a bit of a tumble, landing on the other side of the monster. The boy winced, looking down where his tunic had been torn, it could be easily repaired later, but he felt the thick red blood beginning to ooze from the nasty gash on his arm. He grasped at it, trying to stop the blood from seeping out so much. The scent would waft upon the light breeze, filling the monster’s nostrils, giving it a sudden lust to feed. Aden looked back; it was too late.

    With unexpressed horror the boy watched as the beast emerged from the bushes; it was a Teragoul. Its rather thin body showed him that from the start it had been too late for this one had not eaten in quite a long time. Shaggy green fur covered its body down to its sharp hooves. A round face proportioned its enormous mouth showing many rows of sharp pointed teeth. A camouflaged tail swished back and forth like a terrible weapon, and two beady black eyes glinted maliciously. The beast's nostrils flared as it prepared to attack the Kayalin and the griffin.

    Aden had never seen a Teragoul but he had heard them described. Hmm... perhaps now migh’ be a good time to try to tap inta me element... Taru squawked fearfully, hiding behind his master on trembling legs. He nipped at Aden’s pant-leg, wanting to run away. However, Aden stood firm, putting himself in a defensive position. Just running would do nothing to save them, so he had heard at least.

    The boy’s eyes were lit with fury, complete fury at his stupidity; getting stuck in such a predicament as this. He rubbbed his hands together as the monster’s nostrils flared at the sent of his blood, warm and running down his arm. Please, oh Abhir, please let this work... Aden begged in his mind. The monster roared and Aden clapped his hands together, his eyes going wide.

    A pain shocked through the boy’s body. An excruciating burning sensation flared down to his fingertips and seemed to connect there and then there was a loud crack as smoke began to rise from the area.. However, Aden did not get to see what happened. He fell to the ground, struck by the Teragoul’s dangerous tail and knocked unconscious. However, in this state of unconsciousness, Aden began to dream.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Aden looked around. Soft blue mist was all around him and a sense of peace came over him. He smiled softly and looked around, where was Taru though, he didn’t see him around at the moment. However in the distance, he saw a beautiful young woman. What was she doing there. No young lady should be wondering about Darkwood Forest. Aden moved closer. She looked so sad, but suddenly she was gone. It grew dark and he heard loud screams in the distance. He saw mountains rise up in front of him and a female voice screamed his name, “Aden!”

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Taru had become highly frightened by the whole ordeal. Flames had burst from his master’s hands and then his master had been struck across the chest and was bleeding. Slowly the little griffin crawled closer to the boy and prodded him with his talons. “Ub!” he squawked.

    For a moment, Aden felt like he was at home and Ashton was waking him up to come eat supper with his family. Annoyance flickered over his features. What does he want now? I’m tired... Slowly his eyelids fluttered open to reveal confused hazel eyes. His hand moved to bat his little brother away, but his hand touched something feathery and his eyes snapped open.

    “T.. Taru...” he said in surprise. He slowly sat up, wincing. He touched the wound he had received on his side. Blood had seeped through his jerkin and into his tunic. He frowned a bit bitterly. He’d wash them when he got to the Lake. He glanced around and suddenly let out a loud yelp. Not two feet in front of him was the dead body of the Teragoul that had attacked them. Slowly Aden stood to his feet.

    "C'mon little fellow," he said, scooping Taru up and throwing him onto his shoulder, "We've wasted enough time on this. We need to get to Dimetor. I’ll clean meself up there."

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    It was late afternoon before Aden and Taru finally reached the lake. Thankfully there had been no more encounters with wicked creatures, though Aden had become spooked by a family of squirrels that ran across the path.

    . Finally reaching the lake, Aden worked on laying down a blanket to sit upon while he healed up his wounds. He set Taru down, who was already attempting to run for his paws and talons had even managed to touch the ground. The Kayalin smiled fondly at this.

    The little griffin ran around wildly as soon as he was set down, pouncing on small insects and long blades of grass that tickled him. He stopped a few inches short of the lakes edge, particularly delighted at what he saw there. He moved closer sniffing it carefully wondering if perhaps it was dangerous. He soon sneezed, having gotten water up his nose.

    Aden had finished with the wound on his side. He then tied a bandage around his arm where he had been hurt while saving the little griffin. What a load of trouble that little creature could be. Aden sighed heavily, wondering if Nevra would try to catch him again. He glanced towards the water and yelped as loudly as he had when he’d seen the dead Teragoul. A pale green hand had grabbed Taru’s tail from inside the water. Aden hurried to the water’s edge to grab his charge. A silvery head slowly rose out of the water. Aden knew it was bad manners, but he kicked the hand that had grabbed his griffin friend and ran back a few steps.

    “N... Nevra..”

    “Aden my dear... that hurt, why did you kick me so hard?” Nevra asked, pouting slightly. Her silver hair was matted to her pale skin.

    “Ye need ta learn t’keep yer ‘ands to yerself Nevra!” Aden yelled, holding the frightened griffin close, in a comforting way.

    “I was only playing. I wanted to see if griffins could swim.”

    “This’un can’t! ‘E’s just a baby!”

    “My, my, what a temper Aden. Where’s you’re mother?

    “She ain’t ‘ere! I’m old enough ta do things by meself!”

    “Of course you are.”

    “Well?”

    “Well what?”

    “Are any of ye hurt?”

    “Well, you just kicked my arm, but no, not really.”

    “Fine, here’s your medicines then.”

    “I can’t reach them, come closer.”

    Aden, too blinded with his annoyance, moved closer to Nevra. In an instant she pulled him into the water, giggling loudly a grin spread over her face. Her jagged teeth were much like a shark’s but her skin was the color of the water, making it easy for her to blend in. Silver hair fell down her back, matted slightly on her neck because of the moisture. Aden growled.

    “Kydastor! Nevra, I just bandaged my cuts and now there soaked and useless!” The boy glared at the nixie angrily.

    “Aden my dear, you were hurt?”

    The Nixie wrapped her arms tightly around the boy as if he were a stuffed toy. She smiled happily, pulling him farther into the water. Aden felt panic grip him. She was going to dive down. He would either drown, or he’d be eaten if he chose to change into some sort of aquatic creature. He grabbed her hair and pulled out his dagger.

    “Leggo or I’ll cut off all yer hair Nevra, ye won’t be able to come to the surface no more without it,” the Kayalin threatened, “They won’ let ye.”

    Slowly the Nixie released her friend and Aden swam for the shore. He was now soaking wet. He sighed heavily. He picked up the blanket and basket and headed inside the small hut, just inside the woods. He got a fire started and set his clothes up to dry while he re-bandaged himself. This time he made sure Taru stayed next to him.

    “How about some lunch?” Aden asked the griffin, who pounced on him playfully at the suggestion, apparently just as hungry as Aden was.

    “Ah!” Aden gasped, grabbing the griffin and rubbing his belly.

    “No!” Taru squealed, squawking and squeaking and trying to squirm out of the Kayalin’s grasp. Aden eventually had mercy on him though, and set him down in front of a bowl of fruit which was quickly devoured. Aden ate more slowly, looking out at the lake’s surface. He could see Nevra out there waving to him. He sighed heavily a tinge of pink covering his face.

    The boy stepped outside and looked at the sky. By the time his clothes dried he wouldn’t have time to make it home before it grew too dark to travel.

    “Better to stay here than get caught in the forest after dark,” he said, shivering at the thought of the merciless Drakales who would be more than happy to devour his soul along with Taru’s.

    “If you’d prefer Aden sweetie you can stay with me,” Nevra said, giving him a pointy grin.

    “Umm... no thanks Nevra, I prefer to breathe dry air,” Aden said, picking Taru up; who had followed him out, and going into the small house. He got a bucket of water from the lake for drinking water, and then set to finding something to eat for supper later. To Aden’s delight he found that the two of them had not eaten their entire lunch. What was left would have to suffice for a light supper.

    Looking at the fire, Aden remembered something his mother had taught him about their powers. She had told him that often times if a Kayalin didn’t get out at all they’d never find there powers. As yer character changes yer powers start comin’ inta play. The boy heard his mother’s voice say. Aden supposed that his anger at being sent to the Nixies and his vibrance of life had finally activated his power over fire. However now he was almost afraid to try to use it again. It had hurt like nothing he had ever felt before!

    Just then Aden was interrupted from his thought by a loud roar. Setting his food down he cautiously walked outside to see what was happening. He looked up in the sky, towards the source of the noise.

    “Dragons...” he said in awe,” Dragons don’ often travel down this way.... They must be on their way back to Drageria...”

    An enormous black dragon flew overhead and Aden ducked down, so not be seen by the creature. Black dragons were not generally friendly, and often they could be quite violent. Aden thought.. He saw a person, on top of the enormous black creature, but that.. That wasn’t possible.

    Aden closed his eyes tightly. His frame began to shrink down and his skin conformed to it, bubbling into a feathery exterior. As his hands became feathery wings and feet became talons, Aden flitted off in his new form as bird.

    Carefully, and slowly Aden made his way upwards; ever closer to what he wanted to see. Then suddenly he stopped. There was a person on that dragon! Aden spiraled back down to earth. This could be very bad indeed.

    Upon touching the ground his frame sprang back to what it was supposed to be and the feathers melted away to show creamy skin and sandy brown hair. Aden quickly ran into the house, his heartbeat racing. He grabbed Taru and ducked under a table, frightened as he heard another roar and then screams from out by the lake. Despite that fears the gripped him, consciousness slowly faded from him, as did the screams.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Morning light poured in through the window, reaching out and touching the young Kayalin’s face; slowly, Aden woke up. Memories of the previous night flooded his mind and he remembered the dragon, its rider, the screams. He struggled to his feet and ran out to the lakes edge. Taru, not understanding, followed behind, pouncing on moths and pieces of long grass. A pained expression fell over Aden’s face. He fell to his knees as the pain in his heart overwhelmed him and he let out a cry. All along the beach of the lake, the corpses of nixies were strewn, bloody, mutilated; dead.

    “Nevra..” Aden gasped. Although he had not liked the nixie in a way that she had wanted, she was his friend. where was she now? He ran down the shore, searching. Some of the nixies seemed to have been chewed upon then spat back out upon the beach. Blood stained the sands of the shore and the water was tinted with red.

    Tears streamed down Aden’s face. He grew dizzy and had to stop, becoming ill from the sight of all of it. He fell to his knees as a wave of nausea fell over him and he felt his dinner from the night before forcing its way back up his throat. He spit it out all over the sand.

    Aden tried to search for Nevra, but was still so very dizzy; then he saw her. Her body was broken, and her tail was all torn up. However…she was still breathing. He ran over desperately.

    “Nevra?! Nevra.. Oh… What happened?” he cried, pulling out bandages and healing herbs to try to save her. The nixie coughed.

    “Get... me... in.... the... water...” she said, gasping and wheezing with every word. Aden carefully lifted her and set her in the water. He then began to heal her.

    “A..aden.. The dragons.. We were all so unprepared,” she cried, her arms thrown over his shoulders in despair. She sobbed uncontrollably and all the young Kayalin could do was to rub her back and try to be a comfort.

    “S..some of the nixies from the lower cities...I...I think they’re ok... I’ll probably go there. You .. You should get home Aden,” Nevra whispered, a faint silvery blush coming to her green skin, “Thank you.... for saving me.”

    Aden bowed to the nixie and nodded, but inside panic had gripped. Was his family alright? What if the dragons had gone deeper into Darkwood Forest. Snatching Taru up and throwing him onto his shoulder, the boy headed through the woods in full haste.

    “Abhir, please let my family be alright,” he prayed quietly.