Chapter Four: Astonished

First she just stared at him in astonishment. Was he serious about this? Searching for the dragon together? It was strange even to hear him say ‘dragon’, since she had been living with the thought that she was the only one who knew.

“Eh, yeah, why not?”

Enthusiastically Mayth pointed at the road ahead. “I think we better hurry then, before the traces grow cold.”

Alea, of course, knew this and with a sigh she continued her way up. Mayth had no problem keeping up with her, and followed precisely in her trail. Somehow that annoyed her more than stopping and finding out that there were no more traces. They had just disappeared.

Alea sighed and turned around and started to go back when Mayth -again- came after her.

“Wait! Alea! Where you’re going?!”

“Home. It’s too late, that dragon is gone.” She didn’t wait for him, but she heard him following her downhill a couple of meters behind her.

He seemed to be sobbing about the disappeared traces, but Alea knew that there was a new chance tomorrow. With a bit of luck this dragon came back to this place again, and then she’d be waiting…

She succeeded to get in her little house without Mayth seeing the place. A bit disappointed though, she put her weapons away and started cooking dinner. It was still early, but she was hungry and cooking helped clearing her head. She thought about that strange boy, Mayth -what kind of name was that anyway?- and about school. Would she be in trouble? She didn’t cared much, but still… Mister Sellion wasn’t the most cooperative teacher alive, and Alea somehow felt he was going to make her life a bit harder.

When cooking was done she sat alone at the wooden table, eating fish, potatoes and carrots, while making her homework.

The rest of the evening nothing special happened.

When Alea woke it was still early. Yet she came out immediately, washed her face and body, got dressed, cleaned the house and made herself breakfast. She greeted the cat -which wasn’t hers, but he always came back so Alea named it Elden- and got out. It was quite a walk to school and the last thing she wanted was to arrive late. Most teachers didn’t mind her being absent so much, if she had good grades and schoolwork was done.

This brought her yet again to the topic ‘Sellion’. She had two hours today which he gave –in the morning. She sighed, there was nothing to do about it, and she really wasn’t planning on telling hím that she lived alone and had no parents. Nope, that really wasn’t much of an option. So she stood waiting at the classroom when the rest of her classmates started showing up, and not much later mister Sellion himself strode towards them. He gave her a weird, almost angry look but then something happened.

The hallway was almost empty now, and Alea could clearly see mister Caewan coming closer, and someone was following him, right behind, like he didn’t want to be seen.

Sellion gestured everybody inside and reluctantly so did Alea. She took her seat on the second row in the center of the class. It took some minutes but then Sellion came in and when Alea saw the person who was earlier hiding himself behind mister Caewan, she had to gasp for air...

Sunday II

So, she had found his mistake. Adras saw the girl leaving, and not long after that he watched Garyl going home. Softly he walked with her, as a true gentlemen, only he was in his wolf shape.

He thought about the girl he had taken for Garyl. He had never been so foolish as that night, and yet, he had to bite another human again, this time the right girl, but still… How was is possible that Garyl hadn’t changed? He wanted her to, and she wanted it sure as hell too.

His paws made soft patting sounds on the roofs until he reached Garyls place. He watched her going in, lights went on and Adras was just about to leave when he saw someone knocking on her front door. Not much later, Garyl appeared, a dark figure in a beam of light from the hallway.

“Oh, hi, Mech. What’s up?”

“Not much, haven’t seen you for a while now, wondered if you where alright.”

From across the street, and on top of a building, Adras heard everything and could even see her smiling.

“Yeah, just tired, so I thought I would skip some school and get some sleep. Wanna come in?”

Of course he wants to come in! he thought. Mech was a friend of Garyl, which he didn’t like. But Garyl insisted he was nice and that Mech was just the kind of friend she needed at school, so he had tried not to nag about it too often.

And, indeed, they went in. The delicate, bittersweet aroma of mocha coffee stirred his nose. He began to regret his decision of following her, instead of just talking to her.

Chapter Three - The Meeting

No! No, no, no and no! Why, oh why did I start about those dragons? Dragons are way too difficult.

Ah well, it can’t be changed now, can it?

I took another zip of my forest fruit tea with sugar and with a sigh I went back to my notebook.

It was almost four when Alea reached the place. With her hands on her hips she looked around. Strangely enough all the signs were gone. How could that have happened?

She walked around slowly, searching for the smallest trace, but there was nothing. Not one sound, not one clue, not even a slightest hint of a different waft.

Oh, you didn’t know? Dragons stink. Not just a bit, but they wear some sort of strange perfume, linked to their aura. And you really don’t want to know what a dragon smells like when it’s angry.

Alea decided to climb to the highest point, or at least a little bit higher than she was now, and maybe, just maybe she was lucky. While doing so she thought about everything Almarahn had taught her.  Which weapon in which fight, the plants and how they could be used for good and for bad, how to take care of herself and..

What was that?!

Slowly she stopped and then turned around. Alea was sure she had heard something. Like… the cracking of a branch when someone stood on it. There! She was sure she heard footsteps. And, indeed, someone came towards her, no longer hiding behind a rock.

His clothes looked ancient. No sneakers, no jeans no sweater. Long legs in a brown pants, no shoes for as far she could notice, a strong and muscled torso in a white undershirt. Blue eyes, bluer than anything she’d ever seen were locked on her.

“So, were you following me or what were you doing?” Alea asked.

“Looking for dragon signs.”

“WHAT?!”

“I was looking for dragon signs. Traces, you know.”

He spoke slowly, like to a child. His voice warm, velvet like, with a hint of the husky male voice he would get when he would grow older.

When his eyes wander of her face and saw the single-headed meteor hammer they hardened.

“What is that?”

“Why would you care?” Alea found her voice back. “You were following me, so I don’t owe you any answers. Who are you?!”

Those blue eyes, it looked like they were without an pupil, went back to her face again.

“I’m Mayth. And I wasn’t following you, I simply took the same route.”

“But you were hiding from me, so how would you explain that, Mayth?” The strange name made it hard for her to believe him, and even if she would, she wanted to know why and how he knew about the dragons.

“Because you look angry and with those weapons you carry… I didn’t want to take the risk to make you upset.”

Alea looked at the sky, thinking about what the boy said.

“What’s your name?”

“Alea.”

“Alea.” He tested it and seemed to be satisfied.

“Shall we search for the dragon together?” Mayth asked.

Chapter Two - The Story Starts

She didn’t even looked like a normal teenage girl. Although, teenage girl… She was nineteen already, but looked even older. Her black hair was short, it didn’t touch her shoulders and had red strands in it. Her pose was strong, her fierce grey eyes made people move without meaning so..

During daylight, well until it was 2 p.m., she was just a regular scholar and after that.. Nobody knew.

She disappeared  when the bell rang and wasn’t seen after that.

Alea Naryltheill was a true mystery. And she intended to keep it that way.

“Naryltheill. Do you have a minute?”

Usually, when teachers asked that, they meant half an hour, and she really hadn’t.

“I’m sorry, I really can’t stay long. I have to pick up my younger sister.” Not entirely true, but the part that he had to keep it short was the most important thing.

“Okay, okay…” mumbled the teacher.

She watched the other students dripping out of the classroom. They walked slowly, hoping to catch a word or two, for they had no idea why Alea had to stay.

“Sir?”

“You’re quite an impatient girl, are you not?”

“Yes, I am, but I already explained why.”

“Oh, but I’m not just talking about today, miss Naryltheill.”

The green eyes of mister Sellion locked into hers and didn’t let her gaze dazzle of.

“I think I don’t understand, sir.”

“I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“Ehm…”

“You’re always gone whenever it has been 2 p.m. No matter if you have classes after that. I want to know why.”

“That are private reasons and you’re not my mentor. And now I have to go.” Alea stood up, her grey eyes were like stones when she gave him one last look before she walked away.

Out of the classroom, Alea ran as hard as she can. Out of the school, zigzag through streets, up the hill Veassen and to the next hill Revion. Between those hills was a little house, more a wooden shag then a home. But it was home to Alea.

She lived there alone, and that was something nobody needed to know. There was no younger sister, no brother, no parents; just her. And in her spare time she did something most people would call crazy. She hunted dragons.

Dragons were the very reason why there no longer was a younger sister and parents. And so she had learned to fear nothing, to fight everything she thought needed to be fought and to keep to herself. Those things were the only things that kept her alive. When she escaped from the fire -only 7 years old- she was taking in by a man, named Almarahn. Almarahn took care of her and taught her to fight. When Alea could take care of herself, he left her in this very town(Nughar) and disappeared, never to be found again.

She put on her harness and strong boots and arm pieces.  With a frown she stared at her weapon collection. Bow and arrow were good for game, but not for dragons. With a sword she had to come close… She took it any way, together with a single-headed meteor hammer. That would do.

The day before yesterday she had spot some signs, only three hills away. If she’d hurry she could make it long before nightfall.

Sunday

The echo of a hoarse laugh sounded spooky in the dark room. Bewildered and frightened the girl looked around, but in the dark, she could see little more than dark shapes. Then she heard something, or someone coming closer, and then stopping in front of her.

“Wh-what is happening? Who are you?”

Garyl looked down at the girl and smiled a creepy smile.

“That’s not really the correct question. More likely it would be: what am I doing here?”

The girl on the floor had enough anger inside to push the fear away and spit that question to Garyl.

“You are… well… my experiment, and the only thing we’ll have to do now, is waiting.”

“Wait for what? What kind of sick person are you?!”

Garyl bended over. “The worst,” she whispered, and again a soft laugh came over her lips.

The idea of testing the wolfpoison on another human being had popped up last week. She carefully avoided Adras, since he was acting weird and she really needed some time to think. Sooner or later, he would notice, though, that was inevitable. But now she was here, and the only thing that still needed to be tested was the changing. The kidnapping and biting was surprisingly easy, but that wasn’t really what this was about. Garyl needed to know if she was strong, or that the poison skipped more persons.

The girl on the floor looked like her. Dark hair, almost black eyes, a strong character/will, length, weight… It could’ve been her twin, if only they had the same parents. Garyl opened the curtains and a beam of light entered the darkness.

The girl squeezed her eyes, blinded by the sudden light. But soon after she opened them and looked around. She could see Garyl watching her and then she felt it. Her body shook by a sudden shiver.

Garyl frowned as she watched it. It couldn’t be! The wolf in her blood shouldn’t be that strong to pass it on, and she didn’t even have fangs!

But the other girl laughed and then, with bone breaking sounds it was done.

“You thought you could change me? Hah!”

“Nope, just testing something.” Garyl was surprised by the voice coming out of the dark wolf.

The girl walked towards Garyl, in a very threatening way. But Garyl stood firm and did not let her eyes wander off.

“So, you’re not scared, hmm? Too bad.” The girl turned her back on her and wanted to leave the building.

“Wait! Please… tell me who bit you,” Garyl begged.

“I don’t know. After he bit me he said he'd made a mistake; that he saw me for someone else.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, although Garyl was sure it was Adras they were talking about.

“He said that I wasn’t the girl he was looking for, the one he wants to be with.” The wolf looked at her in a way that she pitied that she wasn't the right one for the boy.. “But, I’m hungry, and you're not afraid, so I gotta run and find something to scare to death. But if I’ll see you again in my town I’ll rip your head off, understood?”

In a daze, Garyl nodded and watched the black shadow leave.

The one he wants to be with. The one he wants to be with.

The words sang over and over in her mind and confused Garyl turned home.

Saturnight

With pain in his heart, Adras let Garyl go. Her thoughts were almost written on her forehead and again he felt sorry for her. And for himself.
Was it fair of him to bit her? No. But somehow yes. 
He had been alone too, those four years. No one to share his deepest feelings with, no one really understood, not even the six other wolves. 
And although Garyl claimed that he wasn't there for her, he knew that that wasn't true. He'd always kept his eyes on her. Now he just wished that he could take it all back. But he couldn't. And that was something he had to live with.
With his hands in his pocket he slowly walked back. Since a couple of month his view on Garyl has changed. And now he had screwed it up. 
Garyl wanted to become a wolf so badly, it was almost frightening. Adras doubted his actions now, maybe she wasn't meant to be. If she wouldn't change, she could turn into a problem, into something very dangerous. And if so, it was his duty to stop her, a duty he wasn't sure about having the ability to fulfilling it.
He decided to go to her. Perhaps they could talk a bit more. Maybe he could even explain his loneliness to Garyl. 
His feet went faster and before he reached her house, he already knew something was wrong. There was no trace of her scent. He frowned and walked back, until he caught her scent again and followed it though alleys, lanes and many streets. 
"Why won't you leave me alone?" 
Her voice came from above and while he looked up, she jumped down. 
"I mean it, Adras. You've done enough!" Her dark eyes sparkled.
"I just wanted... I'm sorry, Garyl. I thought..."
"I don't care!"
His shoulders hung and for a couple of seconds he couldn't bare to look at her.
"Garyl, just..."
"Adras. You're not my brother. Don't pretend to care!"
"But I do care!" He yelled back, his hands became fists and Adras' eyes fixed on hers.
"I wanted us to be on the same line again, like we always were. That we could share everything again. That we were the same."
Garyl fell silent and uncertainly looked up at him.
"I know I was being selfish doing so, but you were lonely, and so was I, and..."
"It can never be the same, Adras. Never."
Her words, almost whispers came to him like punches.
And he had to watch her leave again.

Saturday

The wound was finally healed. Garyl realized that Adras had been kind to her; it could have been a lot worse. Luckily, these scars could be hidden under clothing. 

Her first bite marks were on her left arm and ran from her elbow till her fingers. You'd say that that wasn't a problem, but it was. It was spring time and really warm, so whenever she was outside, wearing a T-shirt, most people stared at the long, white, bit messy scars. Dog bite, she always said and then they dropped the topic. Some boys did quite like it though, which Garyl didn't understand at all, but she let them be.

However, her scars weren't the problem. At least, not today. No, she was just working on her homework. She had an assignment to write about her family. There wasn't much to write about. At young age she and Adras learned to take care of their selves. Their father was always away for work, or with other woman -she later found out- and mommy wasn’t much better. She worked as a librarian and when she wasn’t there she was working on her game addiction.

Since Adras was older, he was always protective over her, but that changed about four years ago. He was seventeen back then and on summer camp. When he came back, everything was different. He got mad quickly and more and more he left her alone. Garyl, one and a half year younger, didn’t understand at all at that time, but now she did. On that camp he was bitten.

There was just one problem with writing this assignment. She wasn’t quite sure that Adras was her brother. Both her parents had dark hair and eyes, and so had she, but Adras was blonde and had light blue eyes. Who was he, really? And why did he bite her? Is was like he had known she wouldn’t change…

Garyl sighed and walked around a bit, perhaps then the inspiration would come. She stopped in front of the mirror and stared at herself. It was like she could see the wolf in her glancing back. Quickly she walked back at her desk to write a bunch of lies.

“Adras?” She walked to a couple of boys sitting by a fire. That was one of the downsides of living here; at night there were fires everywhere.

“Garyl! Sis, where’s the beer?”

“In your stomach, I believe,” she said.

He smiled and stood up. “Coming already.”

Together they walked away.

“Adras, you have to tell me something,” seriously she looked him in the eyes. He was in his human form again, meaning that the days he was a wolf 24/7 were over.

“Sure, shoot.”

“Are we really brother and sister? And why did you bite me? I mean… It’s like you knew I wouldn’t change…”

“I hoped, I didn’t knew. It was hard for me, not to tell anyone, Garyl. And you and I… Well, we’ve always been together.”

Garyl made a ‘hmpf’sound. “No, we haven’t. I was on my own, the last four years, so don’t you dare say that! And why don’t you just answer my question?”

“Alright then…” Adras sighed and they walked a bit further, where they were really alone. There they sat, Garyl in tension and Adras with reluctance.

“No, we aren’t brother and sister, although we are some sort of family because I bit you, but you can forget about that. My mother placed me in your family for your sake.”

“For my sake?”

“Yeah. I come from a long line of werewolves, it was just a matter of time before I would change, but you… you were meant to be one, and you weren’t. We had to bond and I was supposed to make you one of ours as soon as I changed. But when I did…” Adras looked away. “I don’t know, I didn’t want it, although we could do more things together again, then. Later I saw how strong you had become, and..”

“You thought I was ready…”

“Indeed.”

“So, why did you hope that I wouldn’t change?”

He smiled sadly. “You don’t understand what it is to be a partly wolf, Garyl.”

“Yes, I do! I can feel it inside! I want it to come out, but it’s just.. hiding somehow.”

“Garyl! Don’t talk like that! Trust me, you don’t know anything!”

“Well you weren’t there to tell me, either!” she yelled back and pushed him in her anger. Adras fell on his back, but calmly came back up.

“That’s fair.” His voice was a soft whisper and Garyl looked at him. Something was different at him. The way he looked at her… there was something in his eyes she didn’t know.

“But if I was meant to be, why…”

“I don’t know, Garyl.”