Lost in thought (Sultun)

[athena]

The sound of crunching filled the air with every step that Athena took. Finally her foot struck a rock, causing her to stop and look up. "How this has changed..." She gazed up at the mountion. How desolate it was. Her amber eyes traveled from the base of the mount to the top then back down. She longed to soar in these skies once more, but that was out of the question right now. Looking down at her hand she turned it and examined every line, every inch on it. It was perfect, nobody you presume or even think that beneath the soft, slightly golden toned skin housed the body of a dragon. Even though the skin seemed soft and supple you wouldn't believe that it was actually very hard to pierce, having the quality of dragon scales.

Her golden hair was tied up in the usual intracate braid and bun. Every hair was in place, as it always was. Her black dress flowed in ruffles down her form, giving an elegant yet forlorn look. The dress was armless, showing a tattoo looking mark on her right shoulder that was a blade with wings. Few knew what it meant, and indeed Athena was probably the only one that knew any more. Straightening her back she stood with her arms outstretched, as if they were wings. Her eyes closed as she imagined the feeling of the warm air flowing against her as she lifted off this ground and soared through the air, a free spirit once again.

[{Kaiji}]

Kaiji had flown a while searching for his little sister. He needed to rest for a little while. His arms, which were wings as of now, were really tired. His beak let out a soft screech since he was tired. He glided down to the ground. He landed on his hawk form's feet, but a second or so after he transformed back into his human form. He was breathing a little more heavily. It was hot here, not the humid hot that he could handle either. He grabbed a small container of water and drank its contents. "Better." He said as he leaned his head back. When he landed he didn't really pay attention that there was someone else there.

[athena]

Athena's eyes snapped open as she whirled to the sound of something coming to the ground and a voice beside her. Her amber eyes blazed with fury and fright. Then she realized that this man had no idea that she was a dragon. Her anger calmed and her composure returned. "Who are you?" she said in a stoney tone. The only thing that she didn't like about being in human form, was that the strain of magic kept her in a bad mood, usually. It was hard for her to show any emotion at all. A dreadful loss..

[{Kaiji}]

Kaiji's eyes turned to the woman who had adressed him. "I'm Kaiji." He said while he closed his eyes a bit. He wished he was at the beach. Swimming in the water there was the best. The pain in his arms was slowly subsiding. "Who are you?" He asked. Hopefully she wasn't one of those types of people that freak out about their privacy and wouldn't even give you their name. The heat here was pretty bad. He didn't like it. It was about 30 degrees from what he would be comfy with.

[athena]

Athena's amber eyes studied the man before her for a moment, indecisive in what to say. If she told him her name..... "Oh, Athena try and be nice for once will you?" She sighed deeply and narrowing her eyes slightly sreplied, "Athena." With a nodd of her head she turned slightly from him to look up the mount. Silence reigned for a moment as she looked at him through the corner of her eyes. "Rather hot here isn't it?" She mentioned it mearly to be polite. Though the poor boy did seem to be out of place here.

[{Kaiji}]

Kaiji nodded. Well, thats at least one new friend, or at least someone who wasn't a stranger. His eyes wandered up to the mount as well. No wonder it was hot, he just remembered this was a volcano. "Yes. It is quite the hot place here. I wish there were a lake or something nearby." He said with a slight sigh. He was thinking of maybe taking off his shirt. That way the heat from his upper body wouldn't be kept in. He did just that. He set the shirt down next to him and let the flesh of his upper body cool off more easily. It was a good thing he was sort of musular, that way he wouldnt be afraid to be like this.

[athena]

Athena turned a shade red when he pulled of his shirt. “What insufferable manners!” she shuddered slightly and looked back toward the top of the mountain once more, trying not to look in Kaiji’s direction. She glanced over at him again before keeping her eyes glued to the top, embarresed by her second glance. “What has gotten into you Athena!” She shook her head and addressed Kaiji without looking at him. “If there were a lake it would either be boiling hot, scalding your skin like the fire does to a rabbit, or it would have dried up long ago.” She looked at him with a mischievous look. “Though I do know if a certain lake.. Yes I have forgotten about that lake! Though..” She looked at him up and down. “I doubt you would like it…”

[{Kaiji}]

"I'm sure it would be hot if there was one." Kaiji said. He could probably cool it down using his powers over water. After all, he could make ice out of regular water. Then Athena mentioned a lake. She said he probably wouldn't like it. "As long as it is made of water it is a lake I will probably like." He said. Water floated from another container he had and settled on top of his forehead. He cooled it down to where it was nearly freezing. He loved water this cold. It cooled him off quite a bit, at least on that part of him.

[athena]

Athena looked at him narrowly, "It is a lake.. though it is up there." She pointed upward to the top of the mount. "Some like to call it.. A lake of fire" she smirked slightly. and lowered her hand to her dress, and looking down smoothed it a bit. "So your element is water I presume." She glanced at him. "What brings you so far from..home?" Her amber eyes did not look at him, but at the mention of home, she looked steadily at the mount.

[{Kaiji}]

Kaiji let out a sarcastic laugh. "That was almost funny." He said with a slight grin. When he grinned he showed off a mouth full of tiger fangs. He stood up and stretched. His arms were prefectly fine now. He picked up his shirt and tucked one end into his pants and let it hang out. "Yes. Water is the element I use. Another reason why I don't like heated places. Unless it is humid heat." He said as he closed his eyes for a second. "I'm out here because I was looking for my sister. She ran off and I can't find her." He said with a sad look in his eye.

[athena]

"And that." She said talking about his laugh, "was almost real." She smirked playfully at him. At the mention of his sister she looked thoughtful.. "I don't think I have seen anyone.. what does she look like?" She turned toward him. "She seems like quite the trouble maker.." She shook her head. Children these days, so unruly, then again everything was unruly right now. Everything was off balance. Though, the girl sounded like she had spirit, which was something that Athena liked to see in people. Amothing out her dress she looked at Kaiji, "Care to take a stroll? Perhaps if we wal around we can find a sign of her."

[{Kaiji}]

Kaiji just grinned at her first comment. "Well, she's short with long white hair. She wears pretty much all white clothing as well. And yes, she is quite a troublemaker." He said with a little laugh. Then she asked if he would like to take a stroll with her. A small smilef formed on his face. "Sure. I hope you don't make me go closer to the volcano. I can barely stand it being here." He said with a sigh.

[athena]

Athena nodded solemly. Looking up at the mount a sigh passed her lips. She had hoped to explore her home once again, but it seemed as though fate had something else planned for her. Looking at the ground she took off into a random direction. Memories flooded her mind.

Every tree seemed different than she had remembered, everything seemed all dried and burnt up. The world had spun out of control without warning. The disappearance of fire guardian had left so many questions un answered, had he died, or was he choosing to stay hidden. Anger welling in Athena’s heart. He was a coward for doing so! Her brow was furrowed in anger as her pace picked up at an un human speed as her pale fists balled at her side. Because of him her home had fallen to peaces, because of him he hadn’t stopped so many things. The dragons had died out, except for a rare few.

The land before her seemed to disappear before her as her mind carried her farther back, when all was well, or so it had seemed. (all in italics is a memory) A bright blue dragon was before her. The scales were the colors of Sapphire, her eyes were the color of the sky. Even in the darkness of the night the moonlight made her scales shine like a polished stone. A roar erupted from her mouth as the plain was bathed in blue fire. Men tried to jump aside, their dark features covered in shadow. In their hands they held spears, arrows, and one held a staff. Athena stood behind her mother, still a young dragon, but old enough to know how to fly and breath fire, though not for long.
The men were trying to thrust their spears into the dragon, but not get close to her digger claws, or her powerful jows that would kill them instantly. Many of them had lost their life, and her blue claws were covered in red. The man with the staff lifted his staff and muttering some words cast a spell that caused a vine to appear and wrap itself around the large blue dragons neck. Yanking her upward and exposing her softer scales on the underside of her belly. “Take her men!” The wizard screeched and the others let out a yell as they cast their spears. Most bounced off, but some hit the soft spots under neath the arms, causing a roar to escape from the blue dragon’s mouth. With a stong jerk of her head she ripped through the vine. Her eyes were alight with fury and with pain as she spun her tail around, sending the men here and their, smashing them against the trees. Snaking out her neck she opened her large jaws at the wizard. But as she tried to bit him he seemed to have a sort of shield around him, making her teeth sink into nothingness. fTry as she might she could not break through, it seemed to beresistant against fire, and anything that she could attack with.
With a roar she hit it with her tail, again and again. The wizards face turned pale against the strain as he focused all his power on his shield. But his power ran out before the blue dragon ran out of strength. Her blow sent him sailing and skidding across the ground, and knocked his staff from him. With a hiss of delight the blue dragon licked her lips and advanced on the scrabbling form before her. She did not notice that one of the men that she had presumed to be dead had gotten up and was walking toward her with a long spear.

“Look out!!!” Athena screamed as she attempted a blast of fire in his direction. It was small and an insignificant amount, not even reaching the man before curling up into nothingness of smoke.

The blue dragon turned, her attention distracted by her daughters outcry. “Athena no! hide yourself!” But it was to late, Athena had been revealed. Blowing fire at the man with the spear, he dissolved into nothingness.

The wizard took this time to grab his staff and casting a spell he caused vines, as touch as chains to come out of the earth and strapped around her. Struggle as she might and blowing fire went to no avail. She was trapped. The blue dragon fought against the vines, but could barely move.

“well well well.. I see you have finally been beaten my dear.. Just like that mateoh yours.. Though I do say that your daughter will be much easier to catch without you here to save her.. He touched her blue scales “Scuh good potion this will make.. though your daughters will make a much better one.You might as well say goodbye.” The blue dragon squirmed as a fury over took her. Picking up his staf her murmered a spell and hit her on the underside with the bottom of his staff. A roar came to her lips as she jolted with a great spazem. The vines broke, for great was her strength. But then she laid still. Her eyes closed and her head hit the ground limply.

“Noo!!’ Athena screamed as she rushed forward at the wizard. But it was to late. The wizard just stepped aside and dodged her before hitting her on the side roughtly. Athena roared at him, her vision blinded by tears, her mind clouded with anger. Biting and thrashing her tail at him he easily stopped her blows with magic, though h stepped back with each on e of them. To far back.

The blue dragon’s form gave a shake and lifting her regal head she snapped out with her jaws and caught the wizard within them. “You will no longer hunt dragons! No longer will you bother us….” The wizard let out a gasp as his staff fell from his grip. Both the blue dragon and the wizard died that day. There they lay, the wizard clasped in her jaws and all his men slayed around them in a circle.

Athena studdered back with a sob before stumbling forward. “Mother??” she said softly, as her mother had when she was waking her up from sleeping. “Mother…please..wake up?” Athena’s mother didn’t respond but lay still. The golden dragon, Athena, curled up beside her slain mother. “Please.. wake up…” Her tears fell freely down her scaly face as she buried her head beneath her mothers limp wing.


Athena looked up, her mind coming back, she had brocasted these thoughts to Kaiji, but didn’t know it. For the memory had been deep and painful. Looking up she realized that her feet had carried her to the spot that her mother had died. She looked at it sadly. “How is this for you?” She smiled wanly at Kaiji

[{Kaiji}]

Kaiji's feet carried him along beside Athena as well as he could. Then her memories began flooding into him. He watched the scene as it began to unfold. It was as if they were memories of his own. The young golden dragon had the same name as Athena. He wondered if she was a shapeshifter or just maybe a dragon who could take human form. Those thoughts went away soon after when the blue dragon was killed. The small golden one went to try and wake her from death. A tear or two rolled from his eyes when he looked at her. He knew the golden dragon was her. "It is...nice." He said. The pause had filled his mind with all the possible answers he could have said.

[athena]

Athena looked at him. Her amber eeys traced the trail of the tear down his cheek. Her gaze shiftted to his eyes, they showed deep emotion and great understanding. Though she felt like she had revealed herself to him , he had seen more of her life than most. Her back turned to him as she realized that she had broadcasted her memory unintentionally. "Good." She looked at her surrounding. Looking at every blade of dried grass as though she would never see it again, as if she was searching a lost friends face after many years. Seeing the diference, the surprising changes. But no emotion showed on her face. Her eyes closed as she let out a shaky breath. If she wasn't careful she would lose control on her power and she would transform back to the shape of a dragon. Her back went rigid as she stood there, straight as a statue. "I am sure you have many questions don't you..." she paused for a moment as she turned to him. "You have seen more into my heart, into who I am, and why I am like I am. More than a great deal of people." She stared at him for a moment. "I am not a shapeshifter.. to answer your first thought..I am a dragon." She turned and looked at her hand. "Suprising perhaps?" Indeed those who first found out were usually surprised. After all how could this delicate looking girl before them really be a large strong dragon?