How to Train Your Dragonblood

Family Bonds

After Kai chased Jay around for a while, pulling the human into a headlock until he apologized, they both sat down under the massive weeping willow trees, enjoying the view. They had somehow managed to strike up a conversation, that was about to lead Jay to find out information others wouldn't have even dreamed about.

"So... I guess you'd say I'm in the final four, final three if I don't get kicked out tomorrow."

"Wow, zero to hero, your parents would be proud." He replied and Jay couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness like someone had just pulled on his heartstrings.

"Just my Dad, my Mom's dead..."

"Oh..." That was all Kai could say as he looked at the ground guiltily. "Was it...?"

"Yeah..." Jay sniffed a bit, before wiping his eyes free of tears before they had a chance to fall. "An Earth Dragonblood, but it's okay... I barely knew her."

"...I'm sorry to hear that." He said as he looked out over the lake, before chuckling a bit. "It's kind of ironic..." He added and Jay immediately glared at the dragonblood. His mother's death was a pretty sensitive subject, and for someone to call it ironic got his blood boiling.

"How so?" He asked through clenched teeth. Kai looked over at him, and seeing the look on his face, eyes widening.

"No no no... Nothing like that! I mean..." He stammered as he started messing with his hair, a habit Jay had begun to realize as a sign he was nervous. "My parents are dead too." He laughed a bit, but Jay saw him growing more uncomfortable. "And the ironic thing is they were killed by a human." He added and Jay felt the blood drain from his face as he looked at his feet.

"I'm sorry."

"Nah, it's okay, my life probably turned out better anyway." He shrugged as Jay gave him a curious look, and the dragonblood smirked, knowing he had the smaller teen's attention. "Well, my parents aren't as caring as yours would be; when you're born, if your parents decide they don't want you... you're dead."

"But that's unfair!" He cried but Kai looked over at him and grinned, and Jay felt like a moron.

"That's what most think, but it's life; so I was lucky from the start, but when my parents died when I was six and my sister was three, so I took it upon myself to raise her."

"You have a sister?" Jay asked as he looked at Kai wide-eyed, and he knew the brunette loved the attention.

"Yeah, her name's Nya, she's a Water Dragonblood." Kai chuckled. "She's the one who gave me this." He said and pulled out his blade for Jay to see. Everything clicked in the human's mind as he hit a new level of understanding.

"So that's why you over-reacted when we couldn't find it."

"I did not over-react!" He growled and Jay grinned, shaking his head in amusement. Kai gave him a look. "That knife is something Nya gave to me after she found it in an old shipwreck, so it had both actual value and sentimental value." He explained. Jay thought about it and realized he probably would've acted the same had it been something his father had given him. They were both sat in silence for a minute before Jay cleared his throat.

"I guess she'd be missing you right now." He suggested and Kai shrugged, finally putting his knife away.

"Maybe, but when someone leaves to try and steal stuff, we're raised to expect they probably won't come back."

"Oh... that's sad... but then again we're taught the same thing." He sighed and Kai nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, but Nya and I are different, I'm the last known Fire Dragonblood, and since we share the same genes that makes her just as valuable."

"Really?" Jay asked in shock and Kai grinned, as if proud of the fact he was special.

"Yep, I'm a dying species within a dying species, so we treat each other a little more 'human'; so... who raised you?" He suddenly asked and Jay thought about it for a second, before realizing he never really thought about it.

"Well... my Dad I guess... but I was pretty independent." He replied, causing Kai to laugh a little at that.

"Really? You never came across as the independent type." He grinned and it was Jay's turn to laugh.

"That's what everyone says, but it's true, best lesson was when I taught myself the stove was hot." He joked as Kai cracked up laughing, and even Jay laughed at his own stupidity.

"Nah, my Dad taught me that fire was hot without anyone getting burnt."

"Lucky." He pouted playfully and once they had both stopped laughing, Kai sighed.

"So what does your Dad say about your schooling?"

"He's currently looking for the dragonblood's lair, so he'd still think I'm the world's worst fighter." He shrugged when Kai suddenly looked over at him wide-eyed, all traces of humor gone from his face.

"They're looking for the lair?" He asked and Jay hesitated, before nodding. He groaned, before lying down on the grass. "So they really are suicidal." He muttered and Jay looked at him in confusion.

"How so?" He asked, causing Kai to look at him with an emotionless look on his face.

"I'd be lucky if they let me live for going back, so a bunch of humans, let alone people intending to kill them trying to go there..." He trailed off and Jay nodded in understanding, a frown on his face.

"I see what you mean..." He gulped as Kai sat up and sighed again, looking over to the horizon.

"You should be heading back..." He muttered. Jay followed his gaze and saw the sun almost below the horizon, the final light of day leaving a golden glow over the valley.

"Yeah, see ya tomorrow." He sighed as he went to stand up, but Kai grabbed his wrist.

"Try not to die tomorrow, okay?" He said and Jay couldn't help but laugh, pulling his wrist away from the brunette's grasp.

"Alright, I'll try not to." He promised and Kai grinned as the human walked off, and Jay couldn't help but smile back. Even though he could be a jerk sometimes, Kai really was great company to be around...