Obsidian Bone

2. Grown Up

I yawned, pressing my hand to my mouth. I liked Estelle - she was warm.

Her tail curved, forming a large semi-circle around me with the spear end as far away from my as possible, while her wing draped over me gently and her scales seemed warm against my back - warm too, don't forget warm.

She stared at me with her eyes, eyes like the vines shielding the brightness of the moon high in the star stricken sky. Eyes like the stems of the flowers I like to bring her everyday. Eyes like the green leaves of the canopy.

So many beautiful colours, shades, captured by the unforgiving eyes of a dragon.

She lifted her magnificent wing, allowing a soft breeze to lap against my skin, brown waves trying to be pulled away by the calm breeze.

I stood up and gripped my wavy mass of hair in one hand as I patted Estelle's snout. "Good night, Estelle." I muttered sleepily as her brilliant green eyes bored into me.

I always wish that my eyes held the same depth and beauty as hers, but my eyes always remained their murky green, like a body of water that was still asleep - that was how Aunt Annabelle described them anyway.

"You look lovely, my dear." She would exclaim boisterously. "Look at those defined cheekbones of yours, and that stunning complexion of yours - you're making me jealous, Arabelle - and mice, luscious chocolate-y hair to match. Oh, your eyes! Beautiful gemstones to match that just scream... you!"

I loved thinking of my aunt with her over the top upper class accent and how she labelled my hair 'chocolate-y' when it was actually more of a chestnut.

I shook my head and stroked down Estelle's snout again, ensuring she hadn't disappeared. I turned and brushed the vines aside, following the little stream and arriving at the lake that sat reflecting the stars and the moon.

The cliff had turned into an excellent training ground and helped me to take my mind off... everything. I still panted as I pulled myself over the edge, wiping the perspiration from my face that had appeared regardless of the fact the sun was slumbering.

My arms still felt strong after all the swimming and climbing I tended to do and I have to do so much running these days since I had Defenders practice, but it was fun to be so... free.

It was dark, despite the moon and the stars littering the sky, but I knew this forest like it was my own home. I could run forever and never be lost, never fall or falter, this was a place I had learned and love.

I neared Ambriel, the fires still burning bright despite the time of night. I began to slow my pace to a gentle stroll, taking in the cool night air.

Of course it had been my decision to become a Defender, but it didn't stop the feeling of suffocation; sometimes I thought about living in the woods, just Estelle and I. We could be anybody and nobody could tell us what to do.

I sighed, slipping through the iron gate with ease - exactly how I've been told not to - falling back into the comfort that this blanket of silence gave.

Just me and my thoughts. Just me and my troubles. Just me and my demons.

"Arabelle!" The silence broke as a familiar voice called.

I resisted the urge to look disgruntled by her interrupting me as I spun and slapped on a smile.

"Hey, Kiera." I responded in turn.

Kiera Ishta was a training Defender and every training Defender was paired up with someone who's been part of the Guild for two or more years.

Her family had just here two years ago and she was already known as, like, the nicest person ever. She's one of those people that just want to help others: she's so selfless.

Her caramel eyes were shades lighter than her dark skin that set her apart from the crowd here, she always looked like royalty.

"Ready for patrol?" She asked with her usual cheerfulness.

I nodded. "Slept through the entire day to be here now and not, you know, collapse."

She laughed. "That's why I haven't seen you all day. I still completed my training regime though, I swear."

The world began to quieten around us, letting me stride towards one of the tall tower that sat on either side of the iron gate and unlock the door.

I hummed. "I'm sure you can remember what happened when you didn't last time."

She shivered in mock horror. "You forced me to be your slave and travel to the edge of the world and back."

I glared at her. "I got you to run to next town over - and I even went with you - to help me pick up the next two months worth of supplies."

I quickly pulled myself up the rusted, metal rungs that led to the top of the stone walls.

"Yeah, I walked and you rode on horse back."

Now it was my turn to laugh.

"It wouldn't have been such an effective punishment if I let you take a horse."

"We had to go down the mountain," she whined as she followed me into the open.

I shrugged simply, enjoying how the moon and stars stared down at me. "I used to have to go there, get supplies and get back before the hour was over."

She fell silent and I let the silence overwhelm me, like the tide washing over me, as I looked around the town.

"Is that even possible?"

I smirked slightly, staring at the iron gate. "I had to make it possible, otherwise they'd shut the gate and leave me out there."

I didn't feel inclined to tell her that I'd been too late so many times I had learned how to slip right through the gate without anyone noticing.

Kiera stared at me in awe. "Damn."

I laughed through my nose, I like Kiera, even if she didn't get that I like being alone sometimes. My smile quickly fell as I spotted movement.

Someone was stalking around at night, wearing all black, and was attempting to remain unseen. Sounds like a criminal to me.

"What is it?" Kiera had enough sense to whisper.

I shook my head, keeping my eyes trained on this mysterious criminal that had disappeared into a house. A house I knew well.

I buttoned up my fur lined jacket - black, just incase - that I had bought at last years... Vecto Artis.

I cursed as I ran, jumping over the edge of the stone wall, landing in a crouch on a houses roof without a sound.

Kiera's footsteps echoed my own as she attempted to move fast enough to run beside me, but I was moving far faster than I usually did when she was working with me and she just couldn't keep up.

I leaned off the edge of another building and Kiera keeled over, panting.

"Goddess." She cursed. "How fast do you move?"

I ignored her and carried on chasing after the thief, feeling the impact from jumped onto the ground shoot through my legs.

The door swung open with ease, a single kick actually, and I stared at the dark hallway that seemed to drag on for an eternity.

I reached behind me, grasping a standard sword and a khopesh that I had bought last year, too, with the money I had saved up.

The sword was a given, literally, it was given to all Defenders on the day they completed their training - even if mine is slightly different after a few enhancements by a gifted blacksmith in the town over - while my khopesh was great for more defensive tactics due to the curve in the blade that was useful for catching other people's blades.

I gritted my teeth, trying to listen for any sound in the silent house. I needed to stay focused, I couldn't let my mind wander, but as I struggled to hear a sound my mind did begin to wander into even darker places.