ℂ𝕒𝕖𝕝𝕦𝕞

Chapter One

A small boy, not much older then 7, is wandering around the woods. Seemingly alone, and with not much of a sense of direction, he sees to it that he doesn't travel far. And yet, that seems to be exactly what has happened. His steps are shy, timid, almost as if he's afraid the ground is going to collapse under him.

A similar child is also in the same predicament. Also Male, though not human. A tail reminiscent of a lizards drags across the floor, his teeth sharp, nails sharper then knives, and all of this accompanied with two stubs on his head that can hardly be called horns. He flaunts a mischievous grin. He knows he's far away from home, and has wandered off intentionally. Curiosity or ignorance brought him out here, though both seem to be prominent.

When the two cross paths, there is no hostility. They are both too young to understand prejudice and hate. Not fully, not completely.

The dragon is the one who speaks up first. "What happened to your tail?"

A foolish misunderstanding, but understandable.

The boy looks at him confused. "I don't have one of those. In fact, your the first person I've met with one." He pauses to inspect him fully. The other does the same. They remain confused. Who is this odd-looking stranger?

"My name is Nyx," Nyx speaks up after a long pause, "it's nice to meet you."

Gray eyes with pupils meet golden cat-like ones, and for a moment, the world paused. The child blushed slightly. "Um, I'm Caelum. Nice to meet you too."

Nyx grinned, displaying sharp fangs. Caelum frowned. "I don't have cool teeth like yours. Mine are dull. Will my teeth ever look like yours?" A strange thing to admire about someone, yes, but Caelum was strange. Caelum found the Nyx fascinating. He was so different compared to the simple people who he lived with. He wanted to be like him.

"Maybe. My teeth have always been like this, though." Nyx furrowed his brows for a minute, thinking. He nearly jumped when he thought of an answer. "I got it!"

"What?" Caelum asked. Is it possible for him to be nearly as interesting?

"Meet me here tomorrow! I'll give you something to help you. It's a surprise, though!" Nyx made a purring sound as he spoke, clearly delighted at the thought of giving him a gift.

"..Okay, I guess. Thank you!"

They never saw each other again.

The day after, dragons attacked and burned down the quiet village. The dragons were close because they were planning an attack. They were planning to kill his home. He lost a sister that day. He lost a home that day.

He felt like he lost a friend that day, too.

At dawn, ten years later, the boy finds himself on a familiar path. He held a knife in his boot in case someone attempted to mug him.

The dragon walks the same path.

When they met again, it felt different.

Fear, disgust, guilt, hatred, took the place of curiousity, admiration, ignorance, and peace.

The dragon looked just about ready to attack, pupils dilating as he positioned himself.  He let out a loud hiss.

Fear shot down the human's spine as he took a step backwards. He stood no chance. Distinctly, he remembered his dagger in his shoe.  He looked at the dragons eyes. Emerald pupils met yellow cat-like ones. Something clicked. He feebly tried saying his name, as if that would make any difference.

"Nyx..?" He nearly whispered, and the dragon immediately stopped in his tracks. He was still stiff, though he calmed immensely.

In the blink of an eye he was right in front of his face, noses touching. Caelum stumbled backwards. "Your pretty. I like you."

"Um, thank you, I guess." Caelum said flustered.

"Want to play some more at my place?~" the half-human creature purred, and then proceeded to fly around him airily.

"Wh-??" Caelum blushed, "Isn't this going a bit too fast?"

"What? And for you humans, your lifespans often are. Why not speed it up? What's wrong with anything? Besides, it's going to happen. " One way or another. His eyes turned a darker hue and flames sprouted down his arm, though he didn't look pained.

"I- Um," Caelum began, "Can I just.. why-"

"I am stronger then you will ever comprehend. Other dragons would kill for my power. Hell, some have tried. Don't think about crossing me. All things despite, I am very curious on how you humans.. operate," the creature paused. "Tell ya what, you come with me and I'll talk to my kin about leaving your settlements alone."

He thought about it. Really, he did. The amount of people that he could have saved and they never would know it was him who helped them, him who saved them all. Still, he could be lying. That much was entirely possible. He could make the deal and then suddenly they'd attack and then he could do nothing to help-

"Deal."

Maybe the dragon wasn't the fool after all.