Other fiction is right! :) This a the prologue of my character for project awesomeness with my friends at school. This is a work in progress so please do not post, as I don't know how long it will be.
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I'm Aminta, at least, I am now. I can't clearly remember a time when I wasn't. I am a light based healer with roots to the Dasheen race. While I'm not at school, I live with the woman who saved my life, Brayleigh. I work on a small farm she owns. It is hard work but it is worth it. You would think with a world, no a universe, full of healers all would be peaceful. That is not true. Some that are not gifted in the magic and become bitter and jealous. Other Magics can cross to here. Some healers join with the evil to help them and there is a darkness in one galaxy that is spreading.
I have been called by the council. I apparently am a candidate for being a Keeper for a law breaker. I do not know why they would choose me, even as just a candidate. All of us, maybe future keepers, were told a little bit about what was going on. The law breaker, a female shape shifter named Drayona, would come to the gateway landing platform with a mentor and a council member. Then we would all meet up at the nearest town next to the gateway, Aukera. There her mentor and the council member could speak to each of us to choose her next Keeper. I hope I don't get chosen, with my luck I probably will be though.

MAIN STORY :)
except I can't do it alone. So the post below this will be before I met the others...

Above is the prologue to our combined stories/ adventures. This is my story before we had met.
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*First year*
Sunlight shone in my face, waking me. I sleepily remembered it was Saturday and that I didn't have to wake up. So, I rolled over and pulled the blanket up higher. "It's time to get up Sweety." Hu? That wasn't a voice that I recognized. "Come on dear, my magic can't heal you if you don't eat." Magic? Is she serious? I roll over to look at the women who spoke. The thought popped into my head that I must be having a very realistic dream. My eyes meet with a kind face with rich chocolate brown eyes that seemed to sparkle. She has a nice olive complexion and a smile that spread from ear to ear. Her hair was a very light brown. My eyes widen as I look at her and I scramble away, resulting in me being on the floor. Her ears! They were pointed at three points! That definitely was not normal. "Good morning, dear. I was about to tell you to sit up slowly, but it's too late for that. How are you feeling?" "I'm fine." "Good. Have some soup, dear. It'll help you feel better."I nod my head and start to eat. The soup is good and feels great as the warmth runs down my throat. Looking around I notice I am in a small room with a chest at the foot of the bed, a night stand to my right, a stool on which the woman sat, and the bed I was on. The walls are smooth, light colored; polished wood. "Dear, if you don't mind me asking. What were you doing all alone in the forest at night?" I put my bowl down and look at my hands. "That is a very good question and one I'm afraid I don't have the answer for." I look up at her and shrug. "I remember going to bed in my room, and when I woke up I was here." She looked thoughtful on that and then stood up. "Well maybe it's for the best. I'm Brayleigh, but you can call me Bray, Braya, or Leigha whichever one you prefer. What is your name?" I think on it for a little while and then suddenly a name surfaces in my mind, I do not know if it is really mine but I will use it. Aminta. Call me Amy. "That is a beautiful name. Now that we have been introduced you need to get more sleep, later I can introduce you to the village." I was about to protest but a sudden wave of drowsiness hit me so I lay down to sleep.


I wake. I would have stayed in bed longer, but I was hungry and my stomach was growling. I get up, not just from the hunger but also because of the questions that swirled around in my head. Now that I was feeling much better and a lot more energized I wanted to know what was going on. I walk out of the bedroom and am greeted by the smell of fresh bread; my mouth waters. Bray then walked in from outside. Good morning." "Um... Bray?" "Yes, what is it?" "I have some questions if you don't mind me asking." "Ask away my dear" "Well... first, where am I?" Her eyes widened a little bit but she didn't cut my question down. "This is the town of Klesh on the planet Lunsha, planet of the light based healers, in the Millex Galaxy. That belongs to the Multiverse. Does that answer your question?" "Yes, kind of. How did I get here?" "Well obviously you took a gate." "What's a gate?" "You mean you don't know?!" Her voice rose with her shock. I looked down at the floor. "Truth is I'm not from around here and well...I don't remember." My voice trailed off into a whisper. I really did know but the moment she said we were in a multiverse I knew I wasn't even close to home. She may not have even heard of Earth. Also the name was only vague in my memories so I wasn't extremely positive what it meant so I only told a part truth. Being the shy and cautious one I was, I didn't want to attract attention to myself. I didn't know how it would turn out. She nodded her head. "It's alright. Your memories will probably come back with time. Do you have any other questions?" I shake my head. I have more, but you would probably laugh at me. You don't know how it is to wake up in a strange place with no memory of the past. Besides I don't want to get hurt. "Okay then, now it is time to eat." She grabs a loaf and cuts it into slices then puts some cheese on top. "I'm afraid I don't have much in the way of meals. The harvest this year wasn't a very good one." I found myself shaking my head again. "It's okay. You are being kind enough to share so I won't complain." "Deary, you have a kind heart, you must be a great healer. I bet you have the magic and skill you just can't remember. We shall begin this afternoon." "Okay." I smile as an answer and take another bite of bread, letting the warmth fill me. "That's the first time I've seen you smile. You should do it more often." I smile again and don't say anything.

I finish breakfast and Bray helps me to dress. "I know you aren't from around here because of your clothes. Let me find you some that may fit you." She walks upstairs and brings down an armload full of different outfits. "They belonged to my niece who would often visit, but she moved a while back. When they did so, these got left behind. Go and try them on." She hands me a shirt, and arm band for each arm, a skirt, sandals, and some other things for other outfits. I walk into my room to try them on. My room? Hu, I really do feel as if I belong here. I dress and look at myself in the mirror. The clothes fit perfectly and I twirl to see the skirt fly. I stop and look closer at myself. My hands move slowly to my ears and I break into a big grin. No longer did I think they were strange. I thought they were very nice. My ear now goes to a point followed by another point, smaller and underneath the first and then a final point flowing from the second to my ear lobe. Then I step back to admire my clothes. I'm wearing a short white skirt that goes to the top of my knee cap with white leggings covering my knees. The skirt and leggings have gold trimming. The shirt is a short sleeved high cut v-neck; white. There was a sash to go across my middle that pinned together by a gold leaf with blue veins on the left side. The arm bands were rings of gold that staid at mid arm above my elbow. There were two layers of layered and ruffled white fabric connected to the gold bands. They reminded me a little bit of little wings. The sandals went up around my foot and then around my ankle. In the pile of clothes I also found a necklace and a bracelet. Both were gold with engraved silver lettering that I could not read. The necklace had a leaf charm similar to the one on the sash and the bracelet had some sort of yellow gem that seemed to shine with its own light. My rich chocolate brown hair had been brushed to a shine and went down to mid thigh and had no bangs as was my style. Technically they were there, just the same length as my hair and pushed back behind my ears. My right side bang, about a hand full at least, is a light sky blue that looks almost white in the light. I have a slightly rounded face and sparkling blue-green eyes. After admiring myself for a little bit longer, I walked out of the room. Bray took in a breath. "You look amazing. Let me do your hair." "Thank you and please do." After a little more brushing, some braiding, and some pinning, my hair looked amazing. My 'bangs' were braided back and into a bun, shaped like a flower. The rest of my hair was slightly wavy and hung loose. I drew in a breath. "It's beautiful. Thank you." "I'll teach you how to do it too. Would you like that?" "Yes please." She then showed me how to do my hair quickly and easily. I usually have my hair like that and if it is not up like that it is done up in a braid, making it go to about the top of my hip.

Afternoon comes and after lunch Bray starts to tell me about healing and how to use the power. The magic in us can speed up the natural healing rate of others and ourselves, even animals and plants, to the point where it can stop bleeding wounds and fix broken bones in seconds. Our magic also helps us heal others in would be fatal wounds. Many healers also learn natural healing methods using herbs, because it causes less stress on their body and magic. That is how I am starting. It takes time for me to learn the different herbs and uses, but I'm getting the hang of it. Occasionally Bray will throw in a little bit of magic. She says as I learn more and get more practice it will become easier. She also said that I'm a natural and have great talent. I'm not sure if it's true or she is just being nice. Our magic can also be used for basic defensive spells and light control. Healers are not allowed to use attack magic. Actually they can't. Bray says that some can do basic attack spells, but there is always a price to pay. Lessons are going well overall. We do healing and magic in the afternoon and I help her with the garden in the morning. I also get up before her to go one a morning run. I am exercising my mind with all her lessons but I believe in being in balance. Sometimes when I struggle with doing or understanding something she puts me outside to "listen to the breath of life." I'm not sure what she is talking about but sometimes I think I can hear it in my head and heart.
Bray is also teaching me more about the multiunivers. Time is different in every place. Here in Lunsha it is measured in Cycles. One cycle is our year(one and a half Earth years), a rarl is a week, a zin is our day(thirty-six Earth hours). A Flin is our hour(ninety Earth minutes). A cyin is our minute(ninety Earth seconds) and a rarl is our week( ten Earth days).

Bray keeps me around her house until Ive learned more about the healing world and she pronounced me well enough to go the village. The lesson today was very short so she could introduce me to the village. "Honey, are you ready to go?" "Yes, I answer I'm ready." We walk out the door and Bray smiles at my excitement. "The village is just a little down this road." She points to the North and I nod as I see the top of the buildings. Bray lives on a small hill a little to the South of the village she says she doesn't actually live in the village because she likes the view the hill provides. I don't really think it matters but she can do what she wants. Skipping, I follow Bray to the village. As we arrive I gawk at all that I see. We have a couple of travelers because we live pretty close to the Gate. I just walk straight as I try and take in all that I am seeing. The village main road is crowded with stalls where merchants can sell their wares and at the end of the road is a huge building decorated with carvings of all kinds with a clearing out front. The main road branches off to several smaller roads and alley ways leading to homes, shops, and other buildings, including a post office. "What is that huge building?" "That is the central meeting house. The chief also lives there and it is where we are headed." "Okay." I look around some more as we walk, watching the venders hawk their wares and buyers trying to barter to get a lower price on what they want. The people of Dasheen usually have silver, blond, tan, or white hair with blue, red, white, or blond accents. Blue, brown, or gold eyes are what the Dasheen have. There are other darker haired people, almost all travelers. Because of all the sun light we get, the Dasheen are for the most part a tan or darker skinned people. This place is amazing.
Entering into the meeting house for the first time is an amazing experience. The first thing you see as you step through the huge double doors is a huge center room with vaulted ceilings and huge floor to ceiling windows. The floor is smooth marble and the stained glass from the round center window at the front, my back, makes beautiful patterns on the floor and walls. Follow me. I look up at Bray and nod, still trying to take in all that I am seeing. We walk down a hall on the right side of the building. It is lined with pictures of men, past chiefs I assume. She leads me to a room near the end of the hallway on the right. She knocks and I hear the faint voice of a man say, "Come in." Bray opens the door and steps inside. I follow right behind.
We step into a large office. There is a large oak desk with large full length windows behind it. In the wooden chair behind the desk was a middle age man, I would say about two hundred cycles. He stands as we walk in and then touches his forehead, then his heart, and after extends his hand to me, in the Dasheens way of greeting another. He is a tall six feet or close to it. He has white hair that is really thin; it goes to his shoulders. He has a beard, also white, that goes to his midsection. "This is Amy," Says Bray, "Amy this is Yapl the Chief of this town." "Hello," He greets me, I am pleased to make your acquaintance." I nod and say "The pleasure is mine, Chief." I touch my head than heart and then extend my hand. He smiles, "Now that all the niceties are over I'd like to officially welcome you to Klesh. I will also say that I am surprised that you know so much about our customs, Bray says you only arrived two rarls ago." "It is true, but I am a fast learner." I dont think he was paying much attention to what I said, he was too busy greeting Bray. "It has been a while sense I last saw you. Did life all alone on that hill getting boring for you?" "No, but I do think I will add someone else so my life isn't so boring." I guessed that she was talking about me, so I just kept my head down and continued to listen. "It wont be that hard, shes quiet, sweet, learns fast. Oh! Before I forget, I had a certain visitor a little while ago. It was a Solis one." I don't know what she is talking about but I think that it is about the man she was arguing with the second zin I woke up. "Bray none have-" He broke off and looked at me, I got his message before he said anything. "I need to use the bathroom, would you please excuse me?" He looked relived that he would not have to appear rude and ask me to leave. "Sure Honey, just don't get lost." "Thank you Bray." I leave the room quietly and close the door behind me. I wander around the building for a little while, until someone asked if I was lost, then I went back to Yapls office. I open up the door quietly and I can tell that their heated discussion was cut short because of me. Their smiles were strained as I stepped into the room. "What were you talking about?" I ask and smile innocently, as if I cant see the fear in their faces and didn't hear their discussion from the hall. It was Bray that answered me, "We were talking about you staying here in the village." She shot a glance at Yapl; he got the message. "Yes, you shouldn't be on that hill. Without your memories it could be hard and I think you should have more interaction with people. We would wait a little while longer so Bray may train you. What do you think?" "I'm okay with it." Bray speaks up next, "For three Ris, half of one you have already completed, you will stay and train with me then you will go to the village to get a job. You may stay at my place if you need to. You will most likely go to the Gartis. They are a small family of jewelers and midwifes." "Okay," I answer. "That sounds great." Bray nods her head and then turns to Yapl. "It is about time we get going, I will talk to the Gartis and introduce Amy to them. I will do it tomorrow since it is getting a bit late for it today." I will also take Amy around to see more of the village. "Alright, be safe."
"Good bye."

Next morning Bray showed me her library. I did not come out until lunch. "All these books you may read. Most are on healing but there are other books as well." "Thank you." We train and after dinner I returned to the library to read. I discovered some different ways to heal different wounds with my magic and with rare and common herbs. I also learned that I could gather and reflect light to my will. It took a bit of concentration at first but as I practice it takes less and less. I could even focus light to the point that it could burn things. I decided that I would not use that spell to harm unless I absolutely had to. As I thought about it though I figured I could cauterize a wound like that. I will continue to read in the library every day.
One day I read a very different kind of book. It was called The Breath of Life. One paragraph read:
There are certain people with the gift of hearing and feeling the breath of life.
Even rarer are the ones that can 'touch' this 'breath.
They who can are able to heal wounds in the magic.
If one's magic gets torn or disrupted,
one of these Breath users are the only ones that can save them.
I've started listening to the sound I would hear often during training and after a while I knew that, that sound was the Breath of Life. I've started concentrating on it and trying to feel it not just hear it.

Training continues and I get stronger and stronger. I have basic herbs and how to use them memorized. I also can heal myself very efficiently. Healing others is harder to do but I am also getting the hang of that to.
It is Mikjed the third Ris of the year and sense I have been learning from Bray for three Ris now she has let me go out the village on my own to work with the Gartis. I wish that she would have let me go earlier but there was nothing I could do. It has been worked out that I would stay with Bray and continue to get lessons from her. The Gartis would take me in the mornings and Bray would teach me in the afternoons. I dress, eat a very small snack, and then go running. When I get back I bathe and then start to cook breakfast.

After a working hard in the garden and then having dinner, Bray taught me something that only members of the Dasheen race can do. Now close your eyes and think about the place where I am touching your back. Gather the light there. I focus and can feel a ball of light growing at that point. Good. Now, spread the light out from that point to make your wings. I try to spread the light but it goes to thin and disperses. Again. You can do it. I try again. This time making the light spread slower. There you go. These are your light wings you can show them or hide them. It depends on what you want. Theyre gorgeous, but why do we have them? Light wings, as you have now, are purely for show. In wars of the past they were used as a sign that the people were healers and they were the cause of the ending of the war in a certain legend. They let the world know. Now days though they are not much, unless you believe the legend. I slowly fade my wings to hide them again and turn to face her. What legend? The legend of the princess. I am afraid I dont explain it very well but I do have a book that does. It is called a legend because there is no historical record except this book that talks about it. It also happened so long ago many have forgotten about it. Would you like to read it? My eyes light up. I love reading. Yes, please. Very well then follow me and you can read until bedtime. Consider our lesson today over. I happily follow her back inside where she gives me a small, brown; worn out book. She leaves to clean up the house. Normally I would help her, but today I will read. She even gave me permission to.
The Wings That Ended the War.
Once upon, long before the time of the council, Lunsha was divided. All healers were trying to win the favor of the queen, and none cared for anything else. Invaders from other galaxies and universes came. All wanted the rich and fertile land of the healers. The Dasheen, at first, ignored these new comers. No one cared if they used some land. Besides they were healers, they could not stop them. Many ignored the threat and the warnings of the few. They all wanted the queen to love them and convinced themselves that if they were nice to the new people they would be higher in the queens eyes. They could live with the others if the queen would give them gifts and prestige. Now the queen had a young daughter. Alisii, by name. She was kind, fair, and beautiful. She could see that the people who came to their land were invaders and meant to take their land and enslave them. She could not stand by and watch that happen. So, she gathered a bunch of healers who were not afraid of dying and wanted to save their land. They all knew that if they harmed others they would have to face the pain of the wound they had given to the other. While it was only the pain, people have still died from it. These people later became known as the Liri. They banded together with the promise that they would free their land. They united under Alisii and their banner became a picture of the pure gold light wings the princess donned to gather her people. War was the last option but no matter what anyone tried the invaders would not leave. Alisii knew that the very land was dying and so she called all the Liri together. Asking for the greatest sacrifice, they must be willing to kill and give up their lives to drive the invaders away. The queen cast out her daughter saying that she would bring their kingdom to ruin. All the people except the Liri left her. So as the princess stood on the battle field, she knew she had only the world to protect and nothing else mattered. She spread her wings wide telling all that now was the time. Now was the time to earn their freedom, time to live or to die, time to make history. Never before had healers been armed; never before have they sought anothers life, but there was nothing else they could do. The princess led the charge herself and two sides clashed. One trained for battle, but the other fighting for freedom. The charged in, determination and hope pushing them on. They ignored the pain of wounds they gave and received. The paused to help the fallen of their side but stepped over the others. The magic of Lunsha heard their desperate cry and rose up to help them. Surrounding the princess in a veil of light and healing the others, Lunshas song sang that day. The princess spread her wings wide again. They were so bright that none could look upon them without going blind. Pure energy raced though the gold wings striking down their enemies that day and the Liri cheered. Not only had they won but none of their warriors had fallen. Many were suffering side effects of harming but all would live. The princess was hailed as a hero and her wings, which had been seen from the capital, made the others realize that she had been right all along. She was accepted back but died the next day. Devastated the kingdom mourned for two rarls. Now it is known as the two rarls (weeks) of sorrow, or Hartseer.
In her journal, found in the field of the battle and was later read by family and close friends, was a different kind passage compared to what she normally wrote. I know that we all my not live past tomorrow, for we have decided that it will be the end of these invaders. I plead to the magic of the land that the Liri will be able to continue to fight if we lose but I do not know if that is possible.

I've done my best at learning and one day Bray came and talked to me about it. "Deary, I know you love learning, but I have taught you all that I know. My parents never thought it was important for me to become a powerful healer because we are surrounded by other healers. You have already surpassed me and the books that I own." I opened my mouth to speak but she waved her hand, motioning me to be silent. "I won't let your talent come to waste, maybe if you go somewhere else and learn more you can be hired by someone. You need to nurture your gift, so I'm sending you to Gailbe. It's a great school and you will learn so much there. I've gotten you signed up to take the entrance exam. The Gartis have already agreed. Please, will you go?" She has been so nice to me, I can't break her heart. "I'll go." "That is great. Go and pack your bags you leave in two zin's time. Why do I feel as if she's trying to get rid of me? I should be grateful. I only feel sad though. I go to my room and pack my bags trying to smile the whole time, but I can feel the tears threatening to come out. Im going to learn more and become a better healer. Isnt that great?

Two zins later Bray drops me off in front of Gailbe. "Good bye, I know you will do well. You are always welcome back at my place. I wave as I turn around and follow the signs to the entrance exam. Almost everyone who takes the test gets in, the exam is mostly a formality. It will determine what classes I take and help the teachers to know what I need to improve on. I walk into a large gymnasium where we can wait to take the test. We can socialize and there are snacks on some large tables to my left. The test is taken one at a time; we just have to wait until our names are called.
I look around and try to calm my nerves. I know that pretty much everybody gets in, but tests always make me nerves. An older girl walks up to me, "You new? You look pretty nervous."
"Yes I am."
"Oh, well good luck, you'll need it." She turns and walks to her friends and I hear her say, "No one can beat my test score I got last year, except me." They start laughing and I walk quickly away, I hope I don't have any classes with her.
I hear my name called. "Aminta, please come to room number two." I look around and notice that the doors have numbers on them, I feel sort of odd not having noticed them before now. I walk up to door number two and open the door cautiously.
"Hello?"
"Ah, You must be Aminta. Yes?" The man greeted me and motioned me inside.
"I am." "I've been doing this test for years now and they gave me all this fancy stuff to test you chil'lins with, but the old methods works just fine. I have to do it the way they want me to though. Here, hand me you arm."
I lift my right arm in obedience and he hooks a wire to it.
"Let me explain as I hook you up. This machine will read the magic levels while I run you through some basic and then some more complex stuff. Okay?"
"Okay, thank you for letting me know what is going on, sir."
"I've finished hooking you up. So let us begin. Ready?"
"I am."

I'm also a part of this so I do begin!

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I open my eyes groggily, vision still blurry from just waking up. As I blink my eyes I see that I'm inside what seems to be a gigantic hollowed out tree. I try to sit up but find that I can't so I look down at myself What the! I'm a wolf!? No complaints, but still... Wait a second could this be... I didn't think it could possibly be real! I slowly roll onto my stomach as I'm thinking about this and that's when I look up and see the multitudes of varying creatures staring at me from up above. They range from a small tabby cat to a giant dragon. I then concentrate on trying to stand up. When I'm finally able to I stand shakily and walk around, nearly falling over several times in the process. As I get better I unconsciously begin to run in circles as I think, If this really is what I think it is and that I'm a shapeshifter I should probably try to change forms. Though I don't think I'll be able to do too much right off the bat. I mean I only just got them! Ah! Who cares! Certainly not me! I'm going to do it! I stop running around, not even winded before I concentrate on what I want to change into. I slowly feel myself change into a creature that I have imagined for a long time. I have a snowy white eagle head with shocking sapphire eyes and ears that look like angel wings. My body is white with streaks of silver and black running throughout. My front legs are those of a horse and my back are lion paws. My tail is made of long soft feathers and from the same point where my tail starts I have two long string like things that are connected to huge black and silver feathers at the ends that flow softly in the light breeze I feel. And finally I feel my wings stretch. Huge white wings with soft feathers that flow seamlessly into my furred white body that has sprinklings of other feathers in it. I walk outside of the tree in that form and am stopped by a man who looks to be in his early fifties. He looks fit and trim for his age though. Then he speaks to me. "What are you doing up and about? You should still be asleep." "Like I could sleep anymore!" I reply excitedly, "I mean I just woke up and found out that I can shapeshift! I've longed to be able to do that for so long that I can barely suppress my self!" "You just recently became a shaftshifter?" The man grunts, "And yet you can turn into something I have never seen in this universe. Not that it matters. What's your name girl? My names Trithak by the way." "Oh, right I haven't told you my name yet. Well I could tell you my real name, but I would prefer not to, so please call me Drayona." I say bowing lightly to him. My life just got extremely interesting!

Trithak smirked slightly at me and said, "Well Drayona first we should get some food for you. Then I should give you a tour around the town, and then I should start training you to control your powers." Suddenly my stomach growled loudly and I blushed in my current form (which I eventually called a Yttorin) causing my face to go slightly pink. "Food would be wonderful!" "Well first you gotta change back into your natural form. Take your time, we certainly got plenty of it!" I concentrated and slowly I shrunk down a little bit and became a boyish looking girl that was nearly 6 feet tall with short dark brown hair and green hazel eyes. "Better Trithak?" I asked stretching a bit. Trithak was still a bit taller than me by about 3 inches but oh well. "Yes much. Now lets head towards the central plaza. That's where the food should be at." He said as he walked away. I jogged for a second to catch up. "Hey what's the name of this place?" "Do you mean the multiverse, this universe, this galaxy, this star system, this planet, or this town? You gotta be specific girly!" He laughed ruffling my hair getting me to laugh with him. "This town. That's what I meant. Though I should probably eventually learn the rest..." "Wait!" Trithak had a shocked expression on his face, "Are you telling me you're not even from this multiverse!" I shook my head slightly, "I honestly have no clue. As far as I know I come from a single universe, specifically in the Milky Way Galaxy, and I live, or lived, on planet Earth." Trithak just shook his head. "Well central's going to want you bad. And no questions right now Drayona. I'll answer them later." He said stopping me as I opened my mouth. Then I smelled the food. Oh... My... Goodness... FOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDD!!!!!! I ran as fast as I could following my nose, my mouth drooling in anticipation of what my nose smelled. I heard Trithak come up behind me, "Oi! Don't do that you silly little girl! I need to introduce ya to everyone so they don't try to kill ya on the spot! And trust me you don't want a town full of shapeshifters on your tail chasing you! It's a right nasty mess that is!" I slowed down slightly sheepishly, and then I remembered what he said, "HEY I'M NOT A LITTLE GIRL! I happen to be nearing 18!" Trithak merely smiled, "To me that's a little girl." I just growled and glared at him. "Well we don't want the food to get cold so hurry up Drayona!" AH! I nearly forgot about the food! How could I! I hurried after Trithak after that with no complaints on my tongue.

As we walked into the central area of the town one of the shapeshifters looked over at me. They froze and tensed and I could just sense a murderous aura. Apparently the other shapeshifters noticed as well, so I was quickly being glared at. I just stood up straighter and opened my mouth to say something when Trithak put his arm in front of me. He then glared at me, his glare spoke volumes so I shut up. Everyone had backed up and lost most of the murderous aura when they saw Trithak, thankfully, well kinda thankfully. Trithak spoke up, "Hey now! Don't go and kill the girl that I just went and got saved from that old forest!" for a few moments silence rang and then a chorus of "GIRL!?" rang out through the clearing. This just made me tilt my head back and laugh. Trithak glared at me as is telling me to shut up again, but I just looked at him and then spoke, "Well first off I am a girl physically. Though as you can tell my physique is quite boyish. Though that matches my personality extremely well once you get to know me." One of the girls stepped up, apparently one that was less scared of me, "What's your name? And if you have a nickname tell us. I think I'd rather call you that than what your name is." What she said made me smirk and reply, "Well my name is Drayona, but call me Dray." I said as I closed my right eye as my left was hidden by my dark brown hair, and smirked. As I looked to see what everyone's reactions were I saw a few, both male and female, that blushed just a little bit. This time someone more hostile came up to me and asked, "Where are you from? I don't trust a strange 'girl'." This time I looked up slightly at Trithak and tilted my head to the side my eyes obviously asking 'Can I tell them?' His deep black eyes gave me all the answer I needed. So I began.

"Well first things first. I'm not from this multiverse." I saw a few eyes widen and some get suspicious, "I'm from a single universe, I have no idea what it's called, and the galaxy my solar system and planet rest is called the Milky Way Galaxy. My planet inside of it is called 'Earth'. The last thing I remember is going home from school with a few friends of mine, and when I get home I do my homework, and then go to sleep. Next thing I know is that I'm inside a huge hollow tree." I shrug and then say very out of context, "Can I eat now? Please?" My stomach accents this question with a loud growl and the tension releases and laughter occurs. I can tell that many are still suspicious of me. I just want think, I'll deal with that later! Right now my stomach is going to kill me if I don't get some of the AMAZING smelling food inside of it ASAP. A silly grin accompanies my face as I go to get the food.

I followed Trithak into the line where some other shapeshifters were standing waiting for their food. When I got up to where they were handing out the food the smell hit me full force. It took all of my will power to not drool over the smell. "How much would you like Dray?" I looked up from the food at the person who had said that. He was a guy, maybe a few years older than me, "I'd like a full bowl please! Oh! And some of the bread that Trithak got as well." This made the guys eyes widen in shock, "He lets you call him Trithak? Really?" "Yeah, why wouldn't he?" I asked innocently. "Well he normally doesn't let others call him that until he's really comfortable with them." I looked over at Trithak, "Well he lets me so I count myself lucky." The talked about Trithak was beginning to look irritated though so I took my leave of the guy and hurried over to him.

Trithak took us to a mostly empty table and we sat down and began to eat. The food was HEAVENLY! It was spicy like and Indian Curry but had just the slightest sweet aftertaste that melded with the spice perfectly. My face must have been pretty entertaining as Trithak began to laugh slightly. I just glared at him and was about to say something when I was interrupted by someone's hand on my shoulder. I turned to look at them and saw a light flush on their face indicating drunkenness, also the guy smelled of alchol. He said to me with the words slightly slurred, "Hey pwetty giwl. You wanna come have some fun with me? Get a touw of the town?" He began to sway a bit, and Trithak began to stand up thinking, I assume, to protect me. I put a hand on his chest lightly and then said, "Come any closer you drunk and I'll punch you." An innocent smile on my face. "No you wouldn't! Youw just a giwly!" I replied, "Do you really want to test that theory?" The drunk ignored my threats and came closer, I scowled, pulled my fist back, and shot it forward into his face knocking him out. Trithak grunted, "That was a stupid thing to do!" I smiled at Trithak and gave him a light peck on his forehead. I then took off looking behind me quickly and saw a blush showing on his dark, scarred face. "GET BACK HERE DRAYONA!" He eventually managed to yell much to the amusement of everyone in the plaza.

After a few minutes of running from Trithak I have to stop otherwise I'll collapse. Trithak comes up to me and grunts in surprise and worry, "I have no clue how you managed to shapeshift into something from your imagination and not die with this level of endurance. You will need to go through some hard training to get you up to a decent level. I also would like you to surpass that level so that you can utilize your imagination to it's fullest." I nod as I'm still trying to catch my breath and then manage to say, "Huh, I didn't know that I could die if my physical capabilities weren't good enough." Trithak just shakes his head making his lightly graying, black hair move lightly around his head. "Come on we need to put your symbol in the registry and get you some better clothes to train in." He gestures at my jeans and t-shirt, "Those will not let you move easily and your training will encompass many things: Strength, Endurance, Weapons Mastery, and Concentration. You should be able to figure out why with time." I snort, "I'm not and idiot. The strength is so that the strain from shifting doesn't possibly incapacitate me. The endurance is so that I can, well endure, the pressure of changing forms often if necessary. The weapons mastery is so that I can fight efficiently in multiple forms and the concentration is so that I can learn to shift faster and am able to use the forms that are not in any universe and only in my mind." He nods at me and says, "Very good. It should be easy enough to teach you if you're willing." He then walks off.

Before we went to the training fields Trithak took me to what I assumed was a tailor's. We walked in and a pretty girl that looked to be in her 20's came up to us. "How rare to see you here Trithak! You generally just fix up your clothes by yourself." The girl said. Trithak grunted and replied, "I'm not here for myself. My new student needs clothes that she can train in properly, and so that she doesn't stick out so much." I just laughed at that and looked at my clothes. He is right. I do stick out quite a bit in my jeans and t-shirt. The girl then beckoned me into a back room, "Alright then, first my name is Hiiko, and second what size are you?" I looked at Hiino and shrugged, "I have no clue what size I am. Though I would like my clothes to be a bit loose." Hiino then motioned around the room, "Show me what kind of clothing you want out of these styles." I nodded and walked around looking at the different clothing designs. I stopped suddenly at a simple design and smirked. It was a tank top style shirt that would come up to about a 1/4 of the way up my neck and hang around it loosely it also seemed like it would cut off just maybe a 1/3 of an inch before the pants would start allowing easier movement due to its more relaxed nature. The pants would fit snugly at my waist before loosening up in a style that reminded me of how some martial artists wore their clothing. They would then tighten up at about mid-calf. The shoes were flat and looked like they would be made for ease of movement and speed. Then their were some armlets that would fit on my forearm, on a note nearby I noticed it said they would be made out of metal. That just made me smirk more. I looked at Hiiko and said, "This design. Also I would like it if you would let it be just loose enough to keep my gender ambiguous." Hiiko nodded and set to work. About an Earth hour later I walked out of their in my new clothes and Hiiko had promised to have the rest ready by the next day. The ones I currently wore, though, made me have a feeling they would be my favorite. The top was black and had silver and red designs on the arms and neck. The pants were a dark tan and had black ties at the bottom so that I could adjust how tight they were on my calf. The top part of the pants had a black belt that would tie to the side and hang just a little bit. My shoes were a plain black. My favorite part of the outfit though was the armlets. They were made of hardened silver that wouldn't break easily and had a softly glowing black moon in the middle of them. Trithak nodded when he saw my choice and walked out the door.

I walk just a little bit behind Trithak as I look around the village. Wow. There are so many trees! They're all ancient ones to. I want to see the view from the tops of these trees! Especially as a dragon! My eyes brighten up and then Trithak turns to look at me. "Drayona stop!" I look at him, "What? I wasn't doing anything was I?" "You were shifting slightly. That's not a good thing with how low your endurance is right now. Though what were you thinking of?" I smiled and then said, "I was thinking of what the view of this place would look like at the tops of the trees as a dragon." "Stop!" Trithak called out to me again. "You were trying to shift again. Also I want a basic idea of how big the dragon would be." "Well," I stop to think for a minute, "Its talons are about as long as my forearm, and it's fangs are about half that length." Trithak then grabbed my arm and urged me faster to where ever we were going. "We need to start your training immediately, before you kill yourself."

A few minutes later we arrived at a large smooth field. It was tiered in three levels. We were currently on the uppermost one. "First," Trithak said, "We need to work on your endurance and strength. Then we can start weapons and concentration." Trithak then began to teach me ways to stretch my muscles so that I wouldn't sprain anything. As soon as we were done warming up he got me to do different endurance exercises. Most of which required running of some variety or another. I was actually willing to do it though so that I could learn how to control my magic.

Something that Trithak didn't know until later though was that I would come out to train by myself. I would go out at about 2 marlicks after Moon High (A marlick is 1 1/2 hours Earth time by the way.) and practice. The way Trithak found out though was that one day at Dawn Trithak came out to do his early morning training. He saw me doing endurance exercises and looked a little surprised. "How long have you been going?" Trithak said as he came up to me. "Since about 2 marlicks after Moon High." I replied not even winded by running any more (which is what I was doing). He nodded.

A few kriskas (a kriska is 2 weeks Earth time.) after Trithak saw my training he deemed my endurance and strength level to be good enough that we could begin weapons and concentration. After the usual sets of running and strength exercises he told me to sit down next to him by a stream. "Close your eyes and focus on the sound of the water flowing. Only think of things related to the water. After one marlick you may come see me at the Yonu Tier." The Yonu Tier was the one that I had first laid eyes on. I closed my eyes and began thinking about the stream and things related to it.

I sat cross legged after I had taken off my shoes and concentrated on the stream. A little while in a boy that I had gotten to know as a training partner and competitor came and sat by me silently. We ignored each other and did the concentration training. After the marlick was over I stood up and bowed lightly to him. "Would you like to spar later Rishank?" He just nodded slightly. "Well then meet me at the Yonu Tier a marlick after I have finished my training with Trithak." I then jogged up the tiers.

Trithak stood up from his seated position and came at me. Sparring had been a part of the strength and endurance training that Trithak had put me through. At first I had gone to my bed with a lovely display of bruises. Now I could hold my own and get the occasional hit on him. We sparred for about 3 marlicks before Trithak called a stop. I walked over to the stream and dunked my head in it. I heard some thing come whistling through the air towards me and caught it in my left hand. I then heard another whistling and caught that one in my right hand. I looked at what I had caught and smirked. I held in my hands two beautifully crafted swords. The one in my left hand was a dark blue blade with small black tassels on the top of the hilt. The one in my right had was black and had small dark blue tassels on its hilt. I smiled and turned around to look at Trithak.

"I take it that weapons training has begun?" Trithak nodded an affirmative. "Thank you Trithak-Shibol for the swords." I bowed slightly to him (Shibol is a way of saying "Master" or "Teacher" for the physical being). I then put them in the sash that was on my pants. "You need to name your swords before we begin." I sat down and then Trithak sat across from me. I thought for a while, then suddenly the I could swear the swords talked to me. "The black one is Erebos and the Blue one is Algea." Trithak lifted his eyebrows to that. You can't really blame him though. The meanings are rather dark.

Trithak then stood up and told me to stand up so that he could begin teaching me the basics of dual and single swords. He put me into the correct stance and then taught me the basic forms. I then smiled and started putting my own style into the forms so that Erebos and Algea flowed in my hands. After about 3 marlicks of this he nodded his head, "We're done for today. Do what you wish, but remember tonight is your first raid on Ilion Village." I nodded my head. I had calmed down a lot since I had first come about one Qwean ago. (1 month and 1/2) I then walked over to my rival/friend. "Shall we begin?" He simply came at me barehanded.

We fought for until Moon High which was 5 marlicks later when I called a stop. "We need to eat before the raid." He nodded and we both walked to the stream where we both wiped of the sweat with some nearby towels. We then walked towards the heavenly smelling food. It was the same food I'd had when I first came, it's called Prith. We ate and then went to out respective yiriks (A yirik is a house made out of a large hollowed tree.). 1 marlick later Rishank and Trithak came to my door. I walked out in black clothes, Erebos and Algea at my hips, my eyes at that time a steely cold green with flashes of silver. We walked to the entrance of the town where about 15 shape shifters in different forms waited to begin.

The different villages, cities, and towns on the planet Uion had a fierce soul rivalry. A soul rivalry is worse than a blood one because it will only end in one way, when all of the world has been united under one leader. Easier said then done though because we shape shifters have our pride to not bend or break under pressure so this has been going on for 200 Grithaks. (1 Grithak=2 1/2 centuries) I had finally been deemed well enough trained to go on a raid. It wasn't expected to go bad. In fact it should be just a quick in and out job. A bit of fire here, a bit of fire there, and viola! Done! Go back home and rest. Well lets see if it stays that way.

Trithak stepped up to the front of the group and began to speak. He got most of the group excited and ready for the raid, but me and Rishank just stood there silently. When Trithak was finished he looked at us and saw us nod at him. He then went out of the entrance and into the forest.

We ran silently and swiftly in the forest but suddenly a shiver ran down my spine and the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I quickly caught up to Trithak tapped him on the shoulder and said softly, "Something's not right." He nodded that he understood and in that moment all hell broke loose. Shape shifters from the other village jumped out of the shadows and attacked us. Trithak saw the leader of the group and went after them ordering me and Rishank to stay with the main group.

Suddenly my battle heightened senses heard Trithak cry in pain, Rishank heard it to. Trithak never cries out in pain, maybe grunts, but not cry out. I dashed over to where I had heard the sound my blades weaving in complicated patterns I shouldn't even know, blood rained on me and followed the path my swords made. When I reached Trithak he had a gash going from his right shoulder to his left hip. Rishank came up behind me and the last thing I said in a steely cold voice before I became something that was less than human for several hours was, "Take care of Trithak."

After that I leapt into the air above my comrades heads and began to shift forms. An arrow sliced across my stomach as I shifted, but I could barely feel it. When I landed I let out a cry of anger and began to attack the group that had ambushed us. My head snapped back and forth as I slashed and bit them. Blood was the overpowering smell and taste. Yet I didn't even realize that until later. The ambushing group came up and tried to hurt and kill me, and yet they had to attack the same spot several times before it broke through and actually made me bleed. Eventually though, everything stopped. I stood in a clearing where the three of the five moons of Uion shown their light down, and yet it seemed that I absorbed that light turning it into darkness.

Later I was described as frighteningly beautiful. I was black in color with fur covering the front of my body while scales covered the back of it. I had a long whip-like tail that had six spikes at the end that controlled three of the major elements. Two of the spikes glowed a dark cracked brown representing Earth, the next two glowed an angry red representing fire, and the final two glowed a sinister black and purple representing darkness. My head was a mix of a wolf and fox head that had the long sharp horns of a dragon adorning the top. My eyes instead of their customary green color, were a red and gold color that looked like a fire. On my back I had huge black dragon wings that held long claws at the tip of each bone. I was huge. My front legs ,which looked like the hands of a dragon and able to grasp things in its 'fingers', were the size of two serving dishes, and my back legs were wolf like and were just slightly larger.

I stood in that clearing for who knows how long until Rishank came up to. In my rage my eyesight had a red color but I could still barely tell who it was so I didn't attack him. My body shuddered and blood of our ambushers and my blood dripped onto the leaf littered ground of the clearing. I don't know how long Rishank stood there calming me down. Eventually though he did calm me down enough for me to be able to shift back into my natural form. I swayed on my feet and almost fell face first on the ground. Thankfully Rishank caught me. "Dray, do you think you could turn into something smaller?" I shook my head and said in a raspy voice, "I don't have enough energy after that shift." He sighed before he turned to the others that had gathered around. "Somebody take Trishak to the village. We'll be there as soon as we can." I could feel their fear filled looks on my body. Somebody walked up and took a hold of Trithak before walking off. We set off much slower due to my wounds. I don't know how long it took though because my mind was still extremely fuzzy.

When we got near to the village Rishank took me to a side path. After a few minutes I saw steam filling the air with warmth. After the steam I saw a pool. "It's a natural healing herb pool. If you need my help I'll be within shouting distance." He said before walking off. I slowly got out of my ripped clothes, I noticed vaguely in the back of my mind that the armlets were still whole and unscratched. I then stepped slowly into the pool. I hissed when my wounds hit the water. "Well that certainly cleared my mind!" I said as I felt the pain of my wounds plus the herbs and hot water hitting them making for a somehow comfortable yet painful situation.

A little while later I heard some rustling behind me and then a soft 'wumph'. I looked and saw a change of clothes and Rishank's back as he went to sit behind a tree to keep me company. "Thanks." I said realizing that my voice was still gravely. He grunted and then said, "How long till you think you can shift again?" I thought for a moment before going inside myself to gauge my energy level. "Probably a couple of kriskas." "Well then," he said after a moment, "we need to get you a familiar. Especially if you try to pull this kind of stunt again!" I laughed and then we settled into a companionable silence.

After a few more minutes I managed to pull myself out of the water wincing as I put weight on what I think is a broken leg. I hear rustling as Rishank moves to keep himself more out of view and chuckle a little. I then begin to wrap up my many wounds with the bandages that Rishank thankfully brought. After I put on some of the bandages I pull on my clothes, which are a soft green color and some light grey pants. Then I call out to Rishank, "I have clothes on, but I need help with some of the more difficult places to bandage." He comes out from behind the tree and takes the bandages from my hands and begins to help wrap me up. Once he's done he helps me back to the village and asks, "Where to?" I mindspeak to him in my limited capacity to do so, 'My yirik. Please, I need to sleep' "Why the mindspeak?" he asks me, 'Throat has a cut. Kinda makes it hard to talk.' He nods before walking inside of my yirik.

My yirik is multi-level, as are most here, and the bottom floor is the living room. The living room is decorated in welcoming colors of soft browns and greens with the occasional hint of blue. It has a few chairs, two couches, a soft plush rug underneath them, and a small dark brown table in between the rest of the furniture. I point to a spot in the wall to the south east portion of the room where you can see a small indent of slightly darker wood. Rishank walks towards it and pushes it gently. It opens showing stairs that lead to a more private area of the house. On the 4th floor hallway, at the end is a door made of black petrified wood. I point to it and he opens the door to a room that is much darker than the living room.

My room is circular and has three main colors that flow into one another. One the part directly across from the two of us is a silver area that on the left bleeds into black and on the right into a dark green. In the center of the silver is a bay window. It has a small railing so that I can leave the windows open and let the air flow through if I decide to sit there. It also provides a nice place for a flying takeoff. On the left of the room is my bed. It's not huge but it is very soft and comfortable. On the right Is a desk that is made of a dark brown that is carved directly from the tree. On it are some books and some other random things. There are other things in the room as well but I'll leave it at that for now.

Rishank gently helps me onto my bed before leaving the room. I hear him go down the stairs and I fall into a welcoming dreamless sleep. I wake up eventually and look out my window. I see that the sun has risen, but not for very long as it's still slightly dark. I walk over to the window and try a simple shift, creating wings on my back. I can feel my energy, but I can tell it's not enough for any change at all. I sigh and walk over to my closet.

I pick out a dark grey shirt and pull it on over my head after I re-wrap my wounds. Then I choose some darker brown pants and black shoes to put on. I then grab my silver armlets. I walk slowly to my door, limping slightly with my broken leg, which I still haven't told anyone about, as far as I can tell it's only a small fracture so nothing can be down. When I open the door I walk slowly down the stairs to the living room where I find Rishank sitting back comfortably in a light green couch with dark brown pillows with blue accents. I snort and Rishank looks up at the sound.

"What time is it?" I ask as I walk over hiding my limp. "About 1/2 marlick after dawn. Come on let me help you to the plaza." I nod and lean on him as we walk out of my yirik and towards the plaza. I see that the villagers are avoiding me and I whisper quietly due to my still wounded throat, "Was I really that terrifying last night?" Rishank nods his head in answer and then we arrive at the plaza. He seats me at an empty bench before going to get food for the both of us. He sets the bowl of simple rith (rice like grain) and wean (egg like food) before me.

As we eat I finally decide to ask the question that's been on my mind since I woke up, "How's Trithak?" "He'll be fine. You arrived in time and helped the others have enough room to give him emergency treatment." I sigh with a small smile on my face. "Come on Dray. I need to take you someplace." I mindspeak to him since I've talked as much as I'll be able to manage, 'Where? I didn't think that I needed to do anything. He looked at me and said, "Do you remember what I said last night?" I think for a few moments before remembering, 'Me getting a familiar? Is that where we're going? He nods before taking me out of the village.

Rishank begins to take me down a path I had never noticed before. As I look around I realize it's really a beautiful area of the forest. I see so many creatures, which I'll describe later, wandering around and playing just out of my line of sight. I smile at all the life around me.

Eventually we come to a grove where many creatures are wandering around. The Ithiks ,small monkey like creatures that have the intelligence of a human, so don't let their small size fool you, are running around and swinging from tree to tree and chittering amongst themselves. Weas are often laying under the tree their fluffy coats moving slightly in the breeze and their small horns just able to poke out of their fur. Many other creatures are there to! So many that I don't even know! Rishank then catches my attention by saying, "Often the creatures in this clearing become a shapeshifters familiar, or work closely together with the villages." I look around letting my energy go as well and see if any has a strong 'tug' on me. The one that does actually surprises me that it's here in the clearing.

It's a creature called a Opuall. Opuall's often work with shapeshifters as mounts or help with transporting because of their strength. A good example of how strong they are is that no shapeshifter on Uion ever tries to attack one. The shapeshifter is the one that would be running with their tails between their legs. They are also filled with pride and intelligence. Honestly if you ever talk to one, don't be surprised by how much they can teach you. It has the face of a wolf and horse mix and a long beautifully curved and proud neck. It's body is shaped more like a horses and its legs are half hoof and half claw. The back of the foot is the hoof and part way to the front it has 'fingers' that are tipped with claws. Its tail is a long mixture of a dragon's whip tail, a wolf's fur, and a hawk's feathers. Its coat is fur and feathers mixing together with a mane of feathers that are as soft as fur can be. What's most striking about it though is that it's white with a design of blue on it's back that makes it look like a tree shadowing the snow and its expressive lilac eyes.

I eventually manage to take my eyes off of the opuall and walk over slowly to a tree nearby me and sit down in between two of its roots. I lean back and am quickly surrounded by the other creatures. The opuall comes nearby me and lays down next to me. Eventually my body's need to recover makes me fall asleep there in the grove.

I wake up slowly feeling the sun warming me just slightly and the creatures surrounding me. I smile lightly before I slowly open my eyes and see Rishank outside of the ring of creatures. In all honesty his body language makes it look like he's miffed. I laugh a little catching his attention. When he looks my way he sighs and walks over to me.

I stand up slowly as he motions for me to stand. As I do so Erebos and Algea clink softly against each other. I have them hidden because I know that nobody wants me to have the swords so close to me when I'm still hurt so badly. Rishank looks back at me suspiciously.

When I finish standing up we go back to the village towards the Central Plaza where lunch is being made. Rishank points to an empty table were he goes to get food from one of the multiple lines in the Plaza. When he comes back I smell a soup that has chunks of meat and vegetables and other things in it. 'Huh? Why didn't you get the non-soup meal from the line?' "Because," he responds, "this is better and easier for you to eat right now. Even then this is going to take you time to eat because of your throat." I sigh and start eating. It's really good I won't say that it's not, but not being able to chew very well is annoying to say the least.

After we ate I walked, limped really, back to the little grove. Once I got back and Rishank left me to my own devices I went back over to the tree I was at earlier and started doing a small hobby of mine. I opened my mouth and sang songs that I remembered from the memories I have of Earth and also songs I had learned while here in the village. I never sang any of the songs around the others, but I learned the songs very easily because I have always been good at memorizing songs even if it's by ear.

As I sang the creatures in the grove came and surrounded me and started swaying to the feel of the songs. Eventually it became a dance for them. Even the opuall joined in the dancing. Her tail spread out to cover the clearing from the rain that was falling slowly letting everyone dance while an unearthly glow flowed from her tail lighting the grove beautifully. I smiled while this happened and I whistled to a creature nearby called a griana. Griana's are known for their ability to imitate and I was getting tired of singing so I taught the griana the songs and let it go at it putting its own spin on the songs as I smiled wearily. The griana's large frame was a soft brown color and it had intelligent gray eyes that surveyed the scene it was currently singing for. It's face was almost humanoid and perched on a long neck that rumbled gently as it sang. It was slightly taller than me but was very peaceful. Really all that griana's do is try to learn and imitate sounds that they hear that they take an interest in.

About 3 marlicks after dusk the dancing and revelry came to an end as the ithiks, weas, grianas, and even the opuall started to tire. When the opuall started to pull her tail in all of the creatures ran underneath the trees to take cover from the rain. Soon after all the creatures had taken cover Rishank came into the grove with a coat on his arm. He handed me the coat and I nodded in thanks. We then walked back to the village and separated at the door of my yirik.

I limp slowly to the door that led to the upper floors of my yirik, but instead of going to my room to sleep I stop at the third floor. I open a door that looked old and aged, which it is. The inside was a pure white with only two things inside of it. I walked over to the two things, which consist of a small table and an odd globe. I had only enough energy to do the necessary small shift to activate the globe. My nails lengthen into claws that then tap the surface of the globe making it come to life. I quietly tap a few symbols that brought up a screen that said, "Give the necessary access code". I tap a few more symbols and then the room changes from the plain white to a huge library furnished with all types of books, a few soft chairs and couches, and a small cheery fireplace.

I smile at this and then walk over to one of the bookshelves and grab a book titled, "The Decline of the Dragons". I had grown to love this book in the qwean that had passed. It wasn't in the language of the shapeshifters or the common language, but most of my books weren't in the common language or the shapeshifters tongue. In my spare time though I had learned many of the languages of the multiverse. Not all of them though, that would be insane! Some languages in my library were still hard to grasp though, like some of the ancient tongues. This book though was in the tongue of the common dragons.

I walk over to one of the couches by the fireplace, grab a blanket and curl up on the couch reading. I 'woke up' a few hours later when I looked outside and saw that it was at least 4 marlicks past Moon High. 'Oops... I didn't mean to read that long. I should probably go to bed now.' I left my book on the couch and tap in a different code that put the room back into it's boring white. Then I walk out of the room and slowly climb the stairs to the next floor. I then walk to my bedroom door. When I enter I felt a small cool breeze and watch as a few leaves enter my room through the big window. I smirk and then walk over to my bed. I move the messy blankets on top of me and envelop myself in their warmth. My last thought before going to bed is, 'If the opuall becomes my familiar I think she would like the name Kria.' And then I fall into the land of never ending dreams.

*Dream*

I yawn and stretch as I grab my cell to turn it off. 'Stupid alarm. I want to sleep longer! Wait... IT'S FRIDAY!!! OH YES!!!!! I get out of my bed and get changed into a black t-shirt and some old faded jeans. I walk out of my room into the bathroom and comb my short hair down so that it's not completely obvious that I just woke up. I brush my teeth and put on some deodorant when I look at the time. "CRAP! Mom I'm heading out to the bus!" Then I grab my jacket and sling my backpack over my shoulders. Running I barely make it to the bus on time. "Phew, barely made it!"

I walk over to my usual seat by the window and put my headphones on and listen to music, mostly Japanese and Anime, and look out the window and the dark streets of the city. A few minutes later the bus pulls up to the school where I get off.

I walk into the school and go down to the music hall where I wait for school to start and finishing up last minute homework in the band room. Once I finish I put my binder back into my backpack and grab my book to read. A few minutes later some of my friends come in and we talk until the bell rings where I head up to my first class of the day.

'Whoever decided that math should be a class at 7:30 in the morning needs to be dragged into the street and shot! I think murderously as I do my work, nearly falling asleep who knows how many times! At least I have a few friends in this class. I think as I look around after finishing the worksheet. I smile and then grab my book, again, so that I can read for the last 15 minutes of class.

1 Band class later, admittedly very fun, 1 French class later with idiots I wish to maim, and 1 Health class later, blah blah blah... "FINALLY LUNCH! FREEDOM FROM BORING HEALTH CLASS!!" I rushed down the halls to the lunch where I found the table that me and my friends normally sat at, dumped my backpack and hurried into the lunch line. When I got out I saw some of my friend sitting down talking to each other.

"Hey! Lilly, how's your day been so far?" I ask as I sit down across from her. "Good." I nod and then dig into the food. Not the best but was definitely not one of the worst meals. Soon a few of our other friends join us. There's John, the only guy of the group but he doesn't care, and Annabeth, she actually skipped a grade so she's a year younger then the rest of us. We talk about random things for the rest of the hour and annoy everyone in the lunchroom by playing the cup song. Ah, the death glares! They bring us such laughter! Sadly the bell rings telling us we have to leave to go to our 5th hours. We stand up and grab our things Lilly going the opposite way while me, Annabeth, and John head outside. Once outside Annabeth goes to her 5th hour and John and I head the other way. Once John and I seperate from Annabeth I call over my shoulder, "I'll see you later!" and she replies with a wave over her shoulder and a, "See you then to Yoni!" Then John and I part again because I have to go to a different building for English and John needs to go to German. Thankfully today in English we were allowed to just read! Hallelujah! After that I meet up with Annabeth for a little bit before I go to my Computer Tech class. BORING!! Then I meet up with her again and go to our separate Chemistry classes. I wave goodbye as she walks into her class then I into mine and sit down next to John who happens to have this class with me.

Once it ends I exit the building and wait for Lilly so that we can walk part of the way home together.

*Dream Change*

I'm running through a dark forest with only a sliver of the moons light coming through the trees. I should be terrified, but, oddly enough, I'm not. I look behind me and see a demented Tyaila running gracefully behind me and I laugh. We stop soon after in a clearing and I see that her face which should be a beautiful sleek mix of lupine and feline is covered in a bony armor that looks like an extension of her natural bones. It runs all along her back and sticks up like a mountain. Her blue eyes glow from the eye holes in the bone with their avian like pupil, and study me with a slightly happy and wistful expression.

I reach up with a small hand and gently stroke her thick fur chin and she whispers my name softly as is to tell me something. Something incredibly important because her eyes suddenly harden. "D..."

*Dream End*

I scrunch my eyes tightly trying to grab onto those two small memories of my two very different lives on two very different worlds. Then my door is open and I see Rishank standing in the doorway of my room holding a box of very delicious smelling things. 'What are those? They smell really really good!' He hands them over to me and says, "Open up the box and you'll see." I open up the box and see, 'DONUTS!!!! THERE ARE DONUTS ON UION!!!!' Rishank just shakes his head and says, "Donuts? I have no idea what donuts are. These are called Itis. Try them."

I quickly take the box from him and begin eating to my hearts content drooling and going insane over how delicious they are. After I've eaten a few of them I stand up slowly and shew Rishank out of my room so that I can change. I can tell that he's just outside my door but that doesn't bother me. I grab one of my mid-length sleeved shirts and a pair of my usual black pants. I bind my chest quickly and pull on my clothes. Then I pull on some black armlets and walk outside of my door.

'I can walk better then I could yesterday, Rishank' I quickly shake him off before walking down the stairs. I grabbed Erebos and Algea on my way down and strapped them to my waist. Rishank tried to make a grab for them, but I put out my clawed hand stopping him from grabbing them. I turn and glare lightly at him before continuing down the stairs and out the door.

We walk towards the central plaza to get our breakfast and several others are avoiding me extremely obviously, thankfully some others can be a bit more subtle about it. After we get our food, me quietly humming 'Food Glorious Food' from Oliver Twist, Rishank taps my shoulder as I'm basically ignoring everything but my food at that moment... "Do you want to go visit Trithak?" I slouch down in my seat and nod, somewhat afraid of what may happen.

As we're walking to Trithak's yirik I spot this really fancily dressed man wandering around the village and being avoided like the plague. 'Who's that guy over there, Rishank?' He looks over to where I'm pointing and speeds up, "That, Dray, is someone you should avoid. He's from the Central Government. After your little... Snap... the other village probably contacted them to come and take you to Central for judgement." My eyes widen and I speed up as well.

When we reach Trithak's yirik I basically dive through the door and slam it shut behind me before I finally relax. Then I remember something, I was really stupid and hurt myself pretty badly on the raid night. Trithak is going to kill me! I begin pacing back and forth in the living room of his yirik. Suddenly my musing is brought to and end by something I rarely hear, Rishank's laughter. 'What?', I snap at him, whirling around to face him. He calmly shakes his head and speaks with a small smirk on his face, "I take it you've realized that you are basically giving up your life?" 'You are to! You couldn't stop me in time!' Rishank's face quickly paled at the realization I had just given him. He takes a deep breath and says, "Okay then, lets do this. When we get up to him we say that we're sorry and won't do it again." I nod and we start up the stairs nervously.

When we reach his room we nervously tap on his door and hear him say, "Get on in here you two. I know it's you." We slowly enter his room and bow quickly saying, "We're sorry!" He motions to us quickly and even though he's on his bed laying down it feels like we're being started down at. "I've heard. You two did something very very stupid." He turned to look at me first and I see him looking at my bandages that are wrapped around my body and I can tell he can see the fact that I'm favoring my broken left leg just slightly. "I've heard about you Drayona. You know that the people of the village are terrified because of the form you took last night. My opinion though is that you took some terrible and stupid risks. You're cut and bruised all over and I can tell you have a broken leg." Rishank looked quickly over at me with shock in his eyes because he had had no clue that my leg was broken. 'I know Shibol. It was stupid and I was only thinking at that point that things had gone horribly wrong and you were hurt badly and that many people were going to die if something didn't happen to tip the scales. I ended up being that something.' I look Trithak in the eyes defiantly and he sighs. "Just don't do something that stupid again." I nod and then suddenly turn towards the door after hearing what I was pretty sure were footsteps. 'Someone's here.' Trithak and Rishank both tense.

Me and Rishank look down the stairs quietly and see the man from Central is sitting calmly, and annoyingly properly, in Trithak's favorite chair. We pull back and swallow before going silently back into Trithak's room again. "A man from Central is here. We're pretty sure he's here about what Dray did. We saw him earlier in the town." Rishank spoke in his usual calm tone. Trithak growled and sat up slowly before looking at the two of us. "Help me up so that I can say a nice polite 'hello' to this man." We grab his arms and help him to his feet acting as his crutches and slowly go down the stairs.

When we arrived at the bottom of the stairs the man simply nodded his head in our direction obviously not seeing me as the one he wanted. He probably expected some big, buff, overly tattooed man. We just looked like badly injured people. Trithak growled softly and spoke in an overly calm and polite voice, "Excuse me sir, but I would appreciate it if you would move out of my chair. As you can see I'm badly injured." The man nodded, obviously hearing or seeing anything wrong and stood up. We carefully helped Trithak into his chair and stood behind him.

"Now then," Tirthak said calmly asked, "would you mind explaining why you happen to be in my yirik?" The man nodded and replied, "I'm from the Central Government and was asked to come here to this small village on Uion to try and find a rather large law breaker. I had to ask the... people... here if they had any idea where such a person could be." The man said people carefully as if we were below him and didn't want to offend us, which by doing so did. He then continued, "They said it was likely this... Dron...ia, would be here." I almost laughed my head off when he attempted to say my name, but managed to hold it in.

"Well first of all the child's name is Drayona not Dronia, second she is my pupil, third what does your name happen to be." Trithak's tone of voice was becoming dangerously low and calm and his eyes were narrowing at the man. The man gulped and was beginning to realize that he had come onto dangerous territory, "My name is Zhillcer Lihavu." Trithak nodded slowly, "Other than the name do you have any idea of who you're looking for?" The man shook his head somewhat jerkily, "N.. No, sir." Trithak beckoned me to lean down, "Do you want to reveal yourself or do you want me to?" He whispered into my ear. "I think," I said with a smirk, "that I would like to reveal myself." I stood up slowly and stepped in front of the man. I gently began to caress his face and felt for my energy reserves, they were rather low but I needed to shift just a little bit. 'Rishank. Do you think you could give me a little bit of your energy for this?' He nodded and connected us with a small stream of energy, 'Just don't use to much.' he said shortly.

I looked into Zhillcer's face and smirked. In a slightly raspy voice I said, "I happen to be the one you're looking for." I slowly changed so that I had clawed hands, long black hair that had streaks of red feathers, large black dragon wings, a long whip-like black red-tipped tail, and blood red slit-pupil eyes. I smirked showing off some fangs I decided to add in as a little final touch. I leaned forward and said in a whisper into his ear, "Not all 'law-breakers' are big buff men."

Zhillcer started to shiver badly and his eyes slowly widened showing fear and a small bit of adoration at the same time. I slowly smirked and cupped his chin in my hand. "Didn't expect somebody like this did you?" I whisper in a tone just close enough to seduction that it made shivers run down his spine, but not with delight. He slowly managed a shuddering nod and spoke, "C... Ce... Cent.... Central... wants... y... you...t... t...to cometocourt." He said the last few words as quickly as he could before backing away.

I shrug and look over my shoulder. "Well first I need to finish registering myself here in the village. Correct Trithak, Rishank?" I slowly went back into my True Form and severed my energy bond with Rishank. "Yes you do. Come, help me up." I walk back over and help him to his feet and we hobble out of the house the terrified man following behind.

"Oh yeah! I might want to do that..." I turn to look at Rishank, "Would you mind if we stopped by the clearing for a little while? I want to do something." Rishank shakes his head, "Not at all." Trithak cuts in with his gruff voice, "Let's get you registered first. Then you can go there and do what you want to do." I nod and we continue walking for a few more minutes.

When we arrive Trithak pushes into the trinia and limps up to the front counter. "I need to get my pupil her symbol to show that she is now able to shift easily." "Yes sir." The small girl at the counter replies and motions to me. "Come on back and we'll show you what to do."

I follow the girl back and see a man in an odd green lab coat. "First," the odd man began, "the symbol is what is used to differentiate one of us from a wild creature. Many people just put a mark on their body but others make a more physical representation." I nod, "Alright then! I have and idea for what I want." The man hands me a sheet to fill out as he talks about it, "For this first part of the form you need to say whether it's a mark on your body, a physical object, or something else." I quickly mark the 'Physical Object' box. "Next you need to write down where it will be at on your body. Remember it has to be some place easily visible." I think for a few seconds before writing down, 'Left Ear'. "Next write a description of the symbol." I write for a little bit about what it will look like and the man looks at my paper and nods, "Well done. Now come on back here so that you can create the symbol."

I walk over to an odd machine and look over at the man wondering what I would do next. "Place your forehead on the machine and think deeply about the symbol and then it will be created however you wish. You can do whatever you want to it as well. Though you will have to change the description if you do make a change."

"Alright. Thanks." I place my forehead on the machine and think about the earring. It curls around itself with red gold and silver strands and then at the bottom in a black material that absorbs light. Then I see its shape. It is circular like a full moon with an upraised and slightly noticeable crescent moon inside of it. I slowly feel it taking shape on the table in front of me.

When I feel that it's finished I concentrate just a little bit more and go deeper inside of myself feeling for my life force resting deep inside of me like a primal creature that I just barely control. I grab it with my 'hands' and 'rip' about a quarter of what's there and put it gently into the earring. I feel myself shudder as my life force leaves me and I feel myself grow as strong and as knowledgeable as I would be when I reached that point in my life.

I slowly open my eyes and sigh quietly slumping back and looking at the earring proudly. "Take it and place it on yourself. Then you are completed." The man said gesturing to it. I smile and gently grab it feeling its warmth and the power of the life flowing in it. I reach up to my left ear and feel the hole that is there from my time on Earth and gently push the earring through the partially closed hole so that I feel a prick of pain and some of the hot stickiness of my blood. I felt like normal again once the earring was touching my body and I realized that the change was only temporary. Good thing to know. Should keep that in mind. I thought to myself before I turn to the man, "Am I good to go?" The man just nodded and shooed me away.

I nod my head in thanks and walk out of the back room as the man waved at me to leave. "Shall we go?"
"Yes. We need to get you to Central." The little government man said to me. "Well. We don't need to go to Central. You guys have never cared before." I said as I was walking out of the trinia happily.

"Did you not want to stop by the clearing Dray?" I turn around to look at Rishank who had just reminded me. "Yes I do. Thank you Rishank." I switched the direction I was walking and went towards the little used path towards the clearing. The little man looked at me furiously, "NO! WE WILL NOT GO THERE!" I just laugh and say, "And you're going to stop me? And sorry but Trithak can you wait here with him? I have something I would rather do with less people in the clearing." I see Trithak nod and then I walk towards the clearing with Rishank following me.

"Now you I would still like to be quiet while I'm doing this." I say to him as we reach the clearing. He nods and I walk further into the clearing searching for the opuall. When I see her I smile and call out to her in my mind, 'Opuall. May I please ask a request of you?' The opuall walks forward and nods her head, 'Would you please come with me as I go to Central? I would feel safer if I had your protection there.' The opuall smiles slightly, 'Of course. Though I will assume not as a familiar?' I chuckle, 'No not yet at least. Maybe at some other time.'

Then the opuall bowed her head slightly and as she was she said, 'Of course not now. The...' She brought her head up thinking of how to explain it. 'Energy bond?' I supplied. She nods her head, 'Yes, the energy bond isn't quite complete enough to be able to do the ceremony safely.' After she finishes saying that she walks towards Rishank where was waiting for me. As she passes by him he looks at her then at me and says, "This is why you wanted to come I'll assume." I nod my head and wave my hand at him to get him to follow. For some reason I was caught by the urge to be quiet for a little bit.

When we got back to the main road the little man threw his hands in the air, "Finally! Now lets go. You may not be civilized enough to have a schedule but Central is on a very very tight schedule. Also," He said pointing his finger at the opuall and sniffing disdainfully at her, "that... thing. Is not welcome. It is a mongrel of no good sort and it shall stay." Obviously she didn't like that one bit because just as he finished the man let out a yelp of pain and was flat on his back with her towering over him.

Trithak had a smile on his face and said, "Well I don't think she liked that very much. And I'll have you know that opualls are actually very intelligent and so she knew exactly what you were saying. So shall we continue on?" The opuall backed off of the little man and came to stand by me with her head held high with pride. A smile lit my face and I laughed. 'Let's go and get this over with.' I say brushing gently against Trithak and Rishank's minds.


*By the Portal entrance*
'So... This is where we go to get to Central? It just looks like a big waterfall.' I say confusion obvious on my face as I stare at the place around me. We are at the bottom of a stone path that leads up gently to behind a majestic waterfall from the sheer cliff of black and dark green mazane stone. I look around me back at the path that we had just taken and look longingly at the dark tall sentinels of the forest that led towards home. I sigh, 'Well just led me through the waterfall then.'

Out of the corner of my eye I see Rishak trying to avoid my face as he tries to not smile. 'Rishank... Tell me NOW.' I demand as I stare holes into the back of his head. "Well Dray, the portal isn't in the waterfall. It's behind it in the cave up at the top of the path." He says still avoiding my face and trying not to laugh. 'RISHANK!!' I 'scream' at him as I begin to chase him up the hill with the opuall laughing gently in my head and Trithak laughing loudly and freely and the little man just harrumphing.

Eventually after I've worn myself, much faster then I would like mind you because of my injuries, we are walking to the back of the cave where I see a slight shimmering and a creature standing next to it. 'So what are we supposed to do?' I ask as we walk up to the creature that as we got closer I could see had a large dark robe covering most of its face and body making it very hard to tell what it was.

As we walk closer I revert to manners and more general customs that I had learned through my readings. I bow and say, "May I ask what creature you are and where from? Pardon if I seem rude but I am genuinely curious." The opuall walks up beside me and leans against me as she hears the raspy sound of my throat which is still wounded. 'Don't push yourself. I can tell that the throat, ribs, chest, leg, well all of your body hurts.' I smile at her concern and reply, 'Well I can't help it if I'm curious now can I?' She just shakes her head and stays by my side.

As I look up I see a faint smile flash across what little I can see of the creatures face. After a few more short seconds it replies in a more, slithery I guess, accent, "I am of tthe Ssssiritthh tribe. I wass charged witthh the guardiansshhip of this portal."

I smile and reply in a quieter voice then what I had used before because from what I had managed to read about them I had learned that they preferred quiet compared to sound. "Well then you are quite far from home. How does this job fare with you?" I ask trying to sate my curiosity. And then I hear a foot tapping and the swallowing of a foot and I sigh turning around.

The Sirith begins to laugh almost inaudibly and I feel him place his cool hand on my uninjured shoulder as he whispers, "I ssshhall ansssswer your quesssttionsss when you return little one." He pushes gently on my shoulder propelling me towards my group. I turn and face him as Rishank gently grips my arm guiding me to the portal and bow showing my thanks to him as the opuall comes over quickly looking like flowing silk as she glides over the stone floor of the cave towards me. A smile makes it way onto my face as I look down at her and walk through the portal. Just as we enter I can feel Rishank shift his grip to my wrist so that he can keep a better track of me and I chuckle feeling him look behind his shoulder to glare at me. The smile then shifts to him as we wait for the portal to take us to Central.

The portal feels really weird. To me it feels like it's like I'm walking through this space of a deep and silent black nothingness. I look around me and all I can see and feel are Rishank's hand on my wrist as well as Rishank himself, who looks a little nauseous, and the opuall who is walking calmly beside me with her head just under my other hand letting it rest there.

A few moments later I see a small light at the end and I feel Rishank relax a little bit and I feel the opuall tense up just slightly. As we get closer I just look at it curiously and all I feel is a little bit of adrenaline. Similar to when I was Yoni and I would go to amusement parks with Annabeth, Lilly, and John and we'd be waiting in line. So not an unpleasant feeling in the least.

At last we walk through and I see huge masses of people just wandering to and fro. I smirk and I'm tempted to rub my hands together, but that would give away the fact that I want to play tricks on these people just to see how they would react. Mostly because a lot of them seem like rich idiots that haven't not had anything go their way. I'm pulled from my thoughts though as Rishank drags me away from the portal so that Trithak and the little man can get through.

The opuall follows close behind as we start walking towards the large central building and she's jumping at the different things that are bothersome here in this crowded place compared to the large open forests back home. However we have to follow the, still slightly green from the trip through the portal, official. I do so with a smirk on my face as I watch him walk unsteadily through the crowd of people.

A few minutes after we have been walking I look above my head and whistle at the sprawling archway made of delicately interwoven tree branches. Definitely a trick of magic to make forest folk more peaceful and relaxed in this place. I, however, see the mechanical 'soul' of this place. So the halls are made of trees, so the roof above is just branches meeting and providing shade. Does it matter? No, because looking a little farther I see the mechanics just behind them. They make me snicker in amusement at such a thinly veiled attempt to make nature. It really is pathetic just how hard they try and then fail.

I finally can see the judgement halls doors. As one would expect they are huge, but they seem flimsy, almost like paper.

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