The Dragon's Heartache

Prologue

Rhia had been wandering the streets, going through the back of restaurants and taking any food the cooks would let her. She hefted the sack of food over her shoulder while keeping a tight grip on it with her claws as she started walking back to an abandoned house. She and her little brother had ran away from an abusive father to try and find a better life. It only got better a little bit. She opened the door to the long forgotten house and walked inside, closing the door behind her. 

"Makai, are you here? I got us enough food for supper." She smiled as she saw Makai, a small, blonde haired, tan little boy, poke his head out from his bedroom.

"You got us food Rhia? What kind?"

"Meat. What else? I promise I'll bring more tomorrow once I have my shifting figured out."

"As long as we continue to live, I don't mind Rhia."

Rhia set the sack of food down on a small rug. Makai sat down and starting looking through it, like he had for four years since they ran away. Rhia sat beside him and thought about what it'd be like if they knew their mother. 

She had disappeared after Makai was born and hadn't been seen since, so she had been deemed dead. Rhia knew better. Her mother was still alive, and she was going to find her, along with Makai. She was not going to feel the pain her father caused her ever again. 

She remembered her mother because Makai looked a lot like her. Messy blonde hair, lightly sun kissed skin, yellow eyes, a gentle smile, and dull green scales. Makai only had scales on his cheeks, showing he still had yet to mature. However, Makai was a lot more reckless. He may look like their mother, but Rhia had their mother's caution and resourcefulness. 

Rhia was much different from the rest of their family. She had fiery red hair, chocolate brown skin, piercing blue eyes, a stare that scared those around her, and, most importantly, she was a dragonoid. A dragonoid with red and gold scales. Most dragonoids have dull colored scales, but those like Rhia, the "chosen" ones, had bright scales. She had wings, a tail, four horns, and sharp claws. Her dragon teeth were just now starting to come in.

 She had been told most of her life that she was going to something great. She didn't believe it. Not even one bit of it. She wasn't special, she wasn't talented. She was nobody. The only one who was going to do something special was Makai. Rhia's only important job was protecting him. That's all that mattered to her. 

Their routine of going out and bringing back food, clothing, and blankets continued for weeks until Rhia finally found a job. A mercenary's job. That was a job she could do.

"Thank you sir, for interviewing me. However, I'm afraid I can't accept this job until I've consulted my little brother." 

The manager nodded his head. "I understand miss. Come back here the next time you have the time to do so."

She bowed her head in respect, raised her head, then got up and left. She headed straight back to the abandoned house, nearly flying in excitement. She got to the house, opened the door, and almost screamed at what she saw. The house was a complete wreck. Splinters everywhere, food scattered and spoiling. That wasn't the worst part. She could see Makai laying on the ground under a desk in a tight ball, like she had told him to do in case of intrusion. There was blood pouring from the side of his head, and his skin was very pale.

Rhia ran over, scooped him up into her arms, and darted back outside. She opened her wings and quickly flew to the hospital. Thoughts raced through her mind as she flew, but only one was repetitive. 

Will my brother live?

(661 words)