Tianna rubbed her arms as if she felt a chill. “Zarin has told me horrible stories about the Drenn. What are they doing out here? We’re way off the beaten path.”
Seth answered. “They’re most likely scouts checking out the lay of the land.”
Gabriel added, “Knowing that their forces are somewhere nearby, we’ll have to remain on high alert at all times.”
Marcus stood. “That’s enough talk for now. We’ve been through a rough evening and I suggest that we try to get some sleep. We’ll have another long day tomorrow.”
Although Tianna wanted to help guard their camp, she knew that her skills were not up to the challenge yet. She vowed to take Gabriel’s lessons more seriously from here out so that she could step in and help protect her fellow travelers if ever needed. She crawled up into her tree bed, while the Draaks took turns guarding the camp throughout the night.
Given the attack, Marcus realized the Draaks needed to stay battle ready. To help with this goal, Marcus declared that every couple of days they needed to stretch their wings.
Tianna learned that a Draak needed to shift completely on a regular basis to keep their body strong, both human and dragon. They described it to her as sitting too long in one position and the muscles getting stiff. She enjoyed watching them shift. She loved how they would soar up high into the air and then glide gracefully with their wings spread wide.
It didn’t take Tianna long to be able to recognize, even at a distance, which dragon was which. She discovered that she had been correct about the colored tracings in their wings. When seen from the ground, the sunlight caused the extended wings to appear to glow the primary color of their Sett. Even without the color, their personalities were obvious.
Nathaniel was constantly trying to keep everyone laughing and letting out their stress by shouting challenges. Each day brought a new challenge, such as who could fly the highest or the fastest, or who could dive closest to the ground before pulling up.
Gabriel was usually in teacher mode and was always offering advice to Seth and, sometimes, to Nathaniel.
Marcus just liked to glide through the air with his eyes closed, appearing to be deep in thought.
She asked them if they could hunt and eat in their dragon form. They could, and do at times, but they said they preferred to eat in their human form. They could also talk as full dragons, except their voices came out more like a growling sound. It took Tianna some time to be able to understand their words. When they were on the ground, she loved to lean against them to feel the heat off of their bodies. She even found where they each liked to be scratched and where they were ticklish.
She had seen both Nathaniel’s and Seth’s shifted dragon back in Trille. Now she was finally able to take a closer look at Marcus’ and Gabriel’s dragon forms.
Marcus’ dragon was large and his muscles more defined than both Seth’s and Nathaniel’s Dragons. In contrast, Gabriel’s dragon was by far the most striking and intimidating in appearance. His body was very muscular, covered in large, sharply spiked spines and knife-like talons. His scales were large and hard, resembling thick body armor. He also had small wing-like flaps on the sides of his head that he could fold back or expand out like a fan. When extended, he looked exceptionally threatening. All parts of his dragon were covered with various shades of red that glistened in the sun, making him to glow like he was on fire.
Although visually frightening, she loved the strength and feeling of protection she received from Gabriel. She wanted him to know that she wasn’t afraid of him, so during one of their play sessions, she begged Gabriel to take her for a ride. It took her over an hour of non-stop nagging and begging before he finally gave in saying, “You’re the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met!”
She shrugged her shoulders and quickly scurried up his back before he could change his mind. It took her only a moment to realize she needed to change her clothes before she went on her ride. Gabriel’s scales were very sharp and had already made several thin cuts in her skin.
She jumped off and yelled, “Don’t move. I’ll be back before you can spell the word ‘dragon’.” True to her word, she was back in a flash, wearing her riding outfit with the reinforced leather pants. Before he could offer any protest, she was back up on his back. She sat just above his wings between two very large spikes and held on, hugging his body tight with her thighs. She yelled, “Let’s go!”
When his wings extended and they left the ground, she let out a yell of delight. She found that she loved being up in the air. She begged him to dive and twirl but he refused. He was afraid she would fall off. She decided that once they arrived at Haven, she was going to make a riding harness to make it easier and safer to stay up on his back.
She was also becoming accustomed to them regularly stripping naked in front of her. Although it was against modest human customs, she thought that the view was very nice. She enjoyed being around people so comfortable within their own skin, and she wished that she could be the same way. She was raised that it was improper to fully disrobe in front of anyone except their spouse.
Several times, Nathaniel caught Tianna watching him get in and out of his clothes. He was thrilled that he had finally found a potential weakness in her armor. After one of his dragon stretches, when he noticed her watching him dress, he decided to play with her weakness and made quite a show of it. As they headed back to camp, he walked up very close behind Tianna and whispered. “I’d be happy to undress again for your viewing pleasure any time you ask.” He blew gently on the back of her neck.
Tianna couldn’t help herself. When she felt the heat of his body and his breath, her body betrayed her by shivering and her legs went momentarily weak. He had to catch her to keep her upright. She internally yelled at herself for letting this Draak get to her and for giving in so easily to her urges. Her anger at herself spilled out. She quickly turning to glare at Nathaniel and yelled, “Nathaniel. Go… chew on a stick!”
Without skipping a beat, he smiled innocently and replied, “Only if you chew on my stick first.”
As always, Tianna couldn’t think of a single thing to say. She just turned in a huff and headed back to their campsite with Nathaniel chuckling behind her.
Unlike her lack of ability to keep her eyes to herself, the Draaks all made a point of turning their backs when she needed to change or do other personal tasks. The males were very comfortable in or out of clothes and she was grateful for their discretion.
At night after Gabriel gave Seth and Tianna lessons, Seth practiced braiding Tianna’s hair. It had become a nightly ritual that still seemed to drive Nathaniel crazy, which made her smile. Seth was getting better at braiding and didn’t tug or pull her hair as much. The braids were actually tight enough that they were staying in through the night.
Despite these small pleasures, they stayed alert because they regularly saw signs of where evil had touched the land. They found destroyed campsites, burnt out sections of forest, and heard stories from other travelers they met along the way. Evil was growing stronger every day.
Chapter 10 - In the Dark
After an exceptionally long ride, Tianna lay in her tree bed writing in her journal. Once she was done, she stared up into the stars and listened to the sounds of the woods. She quickly fell asleep.
*~*~*~*
Tianna found herself in a dark and unfamiliar forest wearing nothing but a thin nightdress. “Where am I?” she wondered as her body shivered. She wasn’t sure if her body’s reactions to her surrounding were from the cool air or from the uneasy feeling flowing through her body.
She felt the trunk of a nearby tree in an attempt to calm her mind, but this time the feel of the rough bark provided no comfort. As she closed her eyes and inhaled several calming breathes, she caught a pleasant, earthy scent, like the smell of fresh plowed dirt. There was another scent mixed in that she couldn’t place, maybe a spice. The aroma was intoxicating and made her sway, causing all unease to leave her body.
The scent
called to her and drew her deeper into the forest. Following, she was drawn through the trees until it was joined by the whispering of a male voice. Sensing his desperation to find her, she began to run until she burst into a clearing. She expected to see him waiting for her, except no one was there.
Her hair began to billow around her. She held a hand up to catch the breeze and found that the air was completely still. Hearing the snap of a branch, she quickly spun around to find a tall, black figure standing about fifty paces away. The dark silhouette was motioning her to come closer. She needed to go to him.
As she moved slowly toward her dark stranger, she caught a new scent. This one she didn’t care for. It was a bitter smell that reminded her of something, except she just couldn‘t get the right word into her mind. Although she wanted to get away from this new odor, the other scent continued to call her. She breathed it in until her lungs felt like they were going to burst.
She continued moving forward until she was less than five paces away, but the man’s face was still hidden in shadow. Then another voice entered her mind. This time it was a woman’s voice. It was as soft as a whisper, growing quickly in volume. The voice seemed so familiar, and she knew it was very important that she listen. Suddenly the word she was saying became clear. She heard, “RUN!”
Tianna instantly began to panic and tried to turn to make her escape, except her body wouldn’t move. The dark figure was now closing the final distance to her. He was close enough that she felt heat emanating from his body and yet she still couldn’t quite make out any of his features.
She stood her ground and screamed, “Go away!” The bitter smell hit her senses so hard that she became nauseous.
The dark figure was now so close to her face that she could feel his hot breath. He stopped, sensing her presence but seeming unable to see her exact position. He took in a deep breath and said, “Mmmm. I can taste your scent on my tongue.” His hand started to rise toward her face. “Call to me so I can find you. I need to touch your skin.”
Hands covered within dark muck burst out of the ground, grabbing her ankles and pulling her under. Their bitter scent filled the air, and she suddenly remembered what the odor was. It was the smell of death. Her body started to shake uncontrollably. She tried to scream, but her mouth was unable to form sounds.
The dark figure chuckled. “I can feel your resistance, but there’s no point to fight me. Your scent draws me and it will guide me to you. We’re destined to be together for you are MINE!” He let out a thunderous growl so low and loud that the air vibrated with its strength.
Tianna found her voice and let out a terrified scream as she felt herself fall backwards toward the ground and the waiting hands.
*~*~*~*
Gabriel dropped his sword and caught Tianna in his arms just before she hit the ground. He had heard her scream from up in her tree nest and came running in lightning speed. Tianna was ice cold yet covered in sweat, and she was shaking so hard Gabriel had a hard time holding on to her without hurting her.
“Put her on the ground!” yelled Marcus as he came running, surveying the scene.
Tianna panicked and screamed. “Not on the ground! The hands… they’re waiting for me there. I must get back up into the trees!”
She struggled in Gabriel’s arms, trying futilely to get away to the safety of her trees. He wouldn’t let her go. Since she couldn’t get away or fight him, she scrambled in his arms. She managed to fling herself into him so that her legs straddled his waist and her arms hugged his neck. She pinned herself against him so hard that if he had been human, she would have seriously injured him. She clung to him as her body continued to shake.
While Gabriel held Tianna, everyone else surrounded them.
Seth sniffed the air and, for a moment, noticed an odd scent. He looked to Gabriel and asked, “What happened?”
Since Tianna was starting to cut off Gabriel’s air supply, he responded in a strangled voice. “I don’t know. I woke to an uneasy feeling. Then I heard her scream and got here just in time to catch her. She would’ve broken her neck.”
Nathaniel went into healer mode. “Give her to me so I can examine her.”
Tianna wasn’t going to let go without a fight. Nathaniel willed his blue fire to appear and placed his hands on Tianna’s back. He willed her to calm down and told her mentally that she was now safe and could let go of Gabriel.
When he touched her, she jumped. After a few minutes, she started to relax and slowly eased her hold. She started to listen to the voices that were around her telling her she was safe.
After she seemed coherent enough to listen, Gabriel said, “Let go now Tianna. We want Nathaniel to take a look at you. You’re bleeding.” This voice she trusted and she let go.
Still refusing to touch the ground, she was passed over into Nathaniel’s arms. She wrapped herself around his chest in another death grip. He walked over to his bed roll holding her body tight against his and rubbing her back. Their connection felt so right. He kneeled so he could set her down on his bed. She refused to let go and tucked her face into his neck. He whispered into her ear, “You’re safe now. You can let go. I won’t let anything hurt you. I’ll protect you with my life.”
She listened to his voice, which was like music to her ears, and breathed in his scent. She sighed as her body relaxed into his arms. She fought an odd urge to taste his neck. He was having a similar reaction and was reluctant to let her go.
His dragon stirred as the scent of her blood filled his lungs. He knew he had to let her go before his dragon took the situation into his own hands. He released his hold and she allowed him to lay her down. He made sure none of her body touched the dirt.
Starting at her head, he slowly let his fire-tipped fingers examine her body, healing cuts and bruises along the way. His hands loved touching her body and he caressed as much of her skin as the situation would allow. He noticed that her leather-based clothing helped protect her but, wherever her skin was bare, she had injuries. When he reached her feet, his dragon growled softly in his mind. The journey had been too short and he wanted to start over again. The intimate thoughts that were popping into his mind were cut short when he noticed odd finger-like bruises on her ankles. He didn’t want to scare Tianna any more than she already was, so he decided he would tell Marcus about them later.
His private moment with Tianna ended when everyone gathered around them.
Marcus asked Tianna, “Can you tell us what happened?”
Reality finally came back to her and she sat up. “Nightmare.” Her body shivered in the cool night air so Nathaniel sat next to her and put his arm around her. His dragon was thrilled to have a reason for having her in his arms again. For extra warmth, he kept his blue fire going and placed his hand on her waist. Within moments her shivering stopped.
She gazed into his eyes and said, “Thank you.” Her voice seemed to speak directly to his dragon and he had to fight hard not to bend down and kiss her.
Tianna hated to tell them about a silly recurring childhood dream and her fear of sleeping on the ground. She had been having similar dreams since she was a small child, and she feared they would just think she was a silly girl. This dream was the worse of them all.
Marcus knew that whatever could affect Tianna like this was very important. “You must tell us what happened. There must be no secrets between us if we’re to survive.”
With Nathaniel at her side, she felt safe enough to tell her story. Once she began to tell them about her nightmare, she couldn’t stop. It was like someone let out the plug in her brain and everything rushed out. She told them of her initial childhood dreams and how they had had morphed into the nightmare of her adult life. She also told them why she slept in trees.
As Tianna talked, the Draaks stared at each other. They now knew that she was the one the evil was searching for.
Tianna continued, “They just keep getting worse, and the dark figure…” She shivered and Nathaniel held on tighter. ”This time I’d h
ave gone to him. The other voice was the only thing that stopped me.”
“Did you recognize this other voice?” Marcus asked.
Tianna shook her head. “No, not exactly. I know it was a woman that seemed familiar, but I don’t who she is.”
Although Marcus knew that Tianna needed to be told the truth about the evil, he decided now was not the time. They would speak to her in the light of day. He stood and announced, “I think Tianna has been through enough tonight and needs to get back to sleep. We can talk more in the morning.”
His fellow Draaks nodded their silent understanding. They knew tomorrow was going to be a difficult day for all of them.
Gabriel stood and announced, “Well, she won’t be sleeping in trees anymore.” When she started to argue, he interrupted her. “That isn’t open to negotiation. I’ve seen you climb your trees. It’s as if you are part tree. Something that can knock you out of branches is significant. You could’ve been killed. We pledged to keep you safe and that’s what we’ll do, even if you don’t like it.”
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