Nightfall

Prologue

           It had been so long since I had heard the sound of rattling chains. And little did I know that today, I would soon hear them again. But.. as for now. Why is this? It's simply because I had given up. Why bother struggling and fighting any longer? I knew no matter what I did I would always be trapped in this dark, musky old cell. Where it smelled of rain and blood. It had been ages since I sunk my fangs into anything, let alone an actual meal. And it was definitely getting the better of me. I was sleeping more, I wasn't as alert, I wasn't as aggressive. I had heard that humans get angry when they're hungry, but as for me, I just became worn out.
       How many years had it even been since I last saw the bright moon shine in the crisp night air? Too long.. I couldn't remember. However, not more than three years. I knew this because while I had hidden away in the depths of a forest, it had been more than forty years. Yes. Hard to imagine, I suppose. But yes, I was in hiding for forty years. However, I was free then. I was younger too, even if my kind doesn't age like humans do. I had prey to chase, fresh water and air, and warmth. At least some kind of feeling against my skin.
          I often had heard the guards speak of a place called "The Underground." And while I acted gullible upon this particular subject, I knew of it. Very well actually. Although, I did not know that they referred to it as "The Underground." For a time period, I thought humans didn't live above ground at all. I thought that they had all fled to the underground to stay away from Titans.. as well as other creatures lurking about. I knew of a man who came from this place though. He was a rough looking type of man, however his ambitiousness greatly impressed me. I never knew that humans could have this much spirit in them. And here I thought that humans were just as lifeless as Titans were, but no.
           And that man had made me grow a liking to humans. But, then again, I had never really interacted with a human before. Did they think I was a human? Just because I looked like they did? Of course, I spoke the same language and looked like one of them.. but there are significant differences between humans... and my kind.
           My father once spoke to me about humans, and how they were rather weak and cowardly compared to our kind, but he didn't know very much about them. I was always intrigued and I certainly wanted to know more, however, I had heard that Titans had wiped them out. At the time, I had snorted at that excuse. Being that Titans were not at the top of the food chain. As I look back though.. it brings me great sadness to know that I laughed at that statement. Since.. they were the ones who murdered my father and mother.
             Of course, I was infuriated at this, and I demanded that we slay the creatures responsible for doing this. But I was stopped, by my foolish brother. He had always been the weaker one. Very intelligent, yes, but not very tactical when it came to fights, attacks and other things of that nature.
           It was an obvious pick to my Pack, that even though he was the older one, I was the one who was more highly favorited among us. We needed a strong, compassionate leader such as myself. Not a meek, soft spoken, stressed out leader like my brother. But, I underestimated him. A member of the council by the name of Libra, decided that we would have a duel. The winner would become the rightful leader. The loser would be exiled.
            I suppose you know now who the winner and loser was. Me being where I am today. For forty years, or at least around that time I wandered from forest to forest. No humans. None of my kind either. Just woodland animals and Titans. Absolutely filthy Titans. Still, I had to survive on something. And being a carnivorous being, I didn't eat plants. I only ate meat. I still do only eat meat and I always will. And while there are herbivorous types of my kind, I have never known anyone that is. My father once told me that there are indeed other packs of our kind, but, I've never know about them, or seen them. Perhaps if they were herbivorous, they would be hiding most of the time? My species was mostly nocturnal. I still am a little bit, but I've had to adjust slightly.
          Do you wonder why I say "was" when referring to my species? I don't really care whether you wonder that or not.. it's simply because every one of my kind.. was wiped out. I did try going back many times to see my kind. They would always reject me and chase me out. But.. when I returned several years later... everything was in ruins. The castle, the dens.. everything. Trashed, torn apart. I suspected one thing and one thing only. Titans.
         And while pondering over these thoughts, something snapped inside of me. Not anger. Not hatred. But simply, realization. That same ambition that the man in the underground had. To become someone. To rise above them all.. to have a dream. So with that being, I started forming a plan in my mind. What would I do? Where would I go? The chains rattled as I spread my mighty wings, a low growl escaping my mouth. My multi colored eyes flickered around in annoyance.
           The only people that know about me, are the military. So I better avoid them at all costs.. why did they even take me as a prisoner? I should have listened to that man.. but.. wait.. the military only knows me in this form.. My eyes widened again in realization. What if I were to take the form of another type of being? Perhaps... a human? Would it work? Would they know? Of course, around my own kind I was a human, but.. like I said we have some major differences.. I wouldn't think anyone in humanity besides the military knows about.. shapeshifters.. And if they do, they certainly would suspect a dragon form, like I was in and am currently in now. They would never suspect a human.. so.. what rather than avoiding them.. I join their side?