Hope Of Morning

Prologue

HOPE OF MORNING: PROLOGUE

It was dark midnight with the moon peaking from behind some dark clouds. A small baby's cries echoed in the quiet space of the small town of 'Winters Cry'. A new mother held her baby close to her breast, as she cried tears of joy, looking up to the sky, smiling. A Spirit stood beside her, guarding the two with large leathery wings. The mother's soul was strong and fierce, the guardian of Winter's Cry. A dragon, the only other of its kind in the world. She kept herself and her soul in hiding until she met a man with the soul of a wolf, who quickly fell in love with her. She sniffled at the thought of her lover's parting. He was sent off to war nearly nine months ago, before she found out she was carrying a child. He hasn't yet returned and all the young mother could do was pray that he didn't lose himself to the war against the Tyrant King, Taevyn. "Hush, Kaliyah..." She cooed at her newly born babe, as she rocked her lightly. The baby opened her eyes to reveal a beautiful blue, which would catch the attention of many future suitors, Yet, her mother didn't yet want want imagine such a thing. It was a thought for many years later. The baby stared up at the large black dragon who looked down at her with piercing gold eyes. Without a fear, she reached her small palm up, trying to place it on his face. "No need to be worried, Xiuhcoatl. You will not harm her. She is but a babe." She smiled as the dragon slowly and carefully leaned his head towards the small outstretched palm. His cool scales were rough against the gentle skin of the baby, he almost worried of harming her with his pure scales, but the baby giggled. A gentle chuff escaped him as his pupils expanded, as he watched her. The mother could feel the emotions bottling within the soul, as he touched her. He felt protective, entranced, and happy by the small child's giggles, as the mother did as well. Something within her spoke that this wasn't just her babe, it was Theirs.

Years passed as the child grew, nearing the time where her own soul would appear before her. She was nervous and excited, "Mother? Will my soul be a dragon like your own?" She asked softly, looking at the woman who held her hand as they walked to an altar in the woods just outside the town, The mighty dragon following. "Oh, dearest one.. You need not worry about what your soul is, instead WHO it is." She said to her daughter, the dragon following it with a low growl of agreement. The moon was beginning to rise as the sun set. "Come now, It is time." She smiled gently, leading daughter to a great white pedestal in the middle of the altar. "Are you ready?" She asked, earning a firm nod from the girl. "Very well." The mother said, before beginning to walk away. "A soul binding is a private matter. Nobody, not even your mother shall witness it." She said softly. Kaliyah stared up at the moon as a gentle breeze brushed through her dirty blonde hair. Then within a flash of blue before her stood a ball of light. It spoke; "You are mine, I am yours. Revelations begin soon, shall we begin, child?" A gentle female voice cooed, until another ball of light appeared. "I am as well, you are of great power, young one." A masculine voice spoke as well. "T..Two?" She muttered, before nodding and kneeling. "I ask you to reveal yourselves to me." She spoke as she was taught. "One worthy of our souls, yes?" The female cooed, before the ball of light formed into that of a Falcon. She chirped happily at the girl, landing gently on her shoulder. The masculine ball spoke then; "We'll see." as he showed his form of a tiger. "My name is Kaliyah." The girl said softly, standing. "You give us our names, Kaliyah. That is what us souls are known by." The tiger said, walking up to her. "Rajah." She directed at the tiger, then let the Falcon climb down her arm. "Aquila." The three bonded for a few minutes before the scent of blood and flame reached Rajah's nose. "Kaliyah.. Fire!" He spoke, getting into a protective stance as Aquila squeaked from her shoulder. "You know, child.. Two souls are rare." A deep voice spoke from the trees.

"Do you know why they are so rare?" His voice seemed to circle. "No. Show yourself!" She spoke bravely. "Ha.. Brave like a Tiger, Free as a ... Bird." He growled the last word as another bird swooped down from the sky, an eagle of pure black, grabbed onto Aquila with it's claws, pinning her onto the ground. Kaliyah hissed as she fell to a knee. Rajah went to jump at the bird when a large green dragon stood in his way, snarling. "I wont.." Kaliyah groaned before standing and grabbing the back of the Eagle's neck, earning a hiss from the man. She threw the bird as hard as she could, watching it smack into a tree, making the man and Dragon growl and fall to the ground. Kaliyah quickly scooped Aquila into her arms, before running, calling out to Rajah to follow who did so. They ran out of the forest to see the beloved town of Winter's Cry up in flames. "Mother!" Kaliyah cried out in desperation. As she called the large green dragon from before landed behind them, snarling as flames built up in the back of its throat. As it stood there, ready to attack Kaliyah let out a yell, just as a roar was heard from behind and a black figure tackled the other dragon to the ground. "Mother...!" Kaliyah smiled, looking behind her to see the panting woman standing behind her. Her arm was outstretched as though giving an order. "Kaliyah... Run..!" She panted, pushing her daughter out of the way. Kaliyah hesitated before running off, until she heard the unsettling sound of a snap and teeth meeting flesh. She glanced back, much to her dismay, and saw a gruesome sight. The dragon she had grown so fond of was bleeding profusely and his neck was snapped into an odd angle, as the green dragon held his teeth onto his neck. The green dragon threw back his head, ripping out the muscles in her Mother's Dragon's throat. Her mother paused for a moment before looking back a Kaliyah, smiling sadly. She mouthed three words before her eyes rolled back and her body fell limply to the ground.

"I love you..."