The Unknown

By Mary A. Gabston-Howell

Prologue
The scientist looked at his test tube. “Everything seems to be in order.” “Well, I suppose that the egg will be what you want?” his partner asked. The first one took the egg gratefully, and injected the DNA. He put it into a tube full of strange glowing blue liquid. “Soon, we will have our creature... Soon.” he said in a strange way. The egg pulsed..... This is where our story begins...

Iilera

Chapter One

The Hatching...

Whe...where am I? Who am I?... I looked around. I was in a strange blue liquid, which seemed to be glowing. I looked around, a bit disoriented. When I had gotten my senses, I looked at my reflection. I was a deep purple, with strange pulsating green markings on my sides of haunches. I also had them in the shape of triangles at the corners of my eyes. I had batlike wings, too. The membranes were lighter purple, with thumblike appendages with creamy colored claws. I had two gently curving horns on my head, like an antelopes, only shorter and thicker. I lost interest in examining myself, and began to look through the glass of my tube. I saw a man in a white coat, and I heard his voice, muffled through the liquid.

“Hmm, strange markings. Well, that makes it all the more interesting. It looks like a dragon, for some reason. Well, It is going to be observed very closely now.” It? I thought. I am a living thing, not an object to be called 'it'! I looked at him. He looked at me, and I glared back through my iridescent green eyes. He occasionally took notes. I began to grow tired of the staring match, and I began to swim around my tube, looking for something interesting. I began to examine myself again.

I noticed more pulsing green markings on my hind legs. My legs were catlike, but scaly. My face had whiskers, like the ones on a Chinese dragon. My snout was rectangular, and there were spines running up and down my back, coming up my neck to end at my brow. They were colored the same as my markings. I stopped looking, convinced that that was as much I could squeeze out of my looks. I looked at the man again. To my surprise, he opened the tube. Then, I made a break for the top. Maybe I can escape! I thought eagerly. But to no avail. He seized my wings, and slowly lifted me out of the tube. He then yelled, “Grant, get the sedatives! Fill the needle!” Sedatives! I thought in rage.

I immediately fought against his grip, kicking and lacerating him with my claws. He threw himself on top of me, and my legs collapsed. I took a deep breath, and let out a shriek. Then, I felt something pierce my scales. “Hah!” I heard the oppressor on top of me say. “I would much like it if you removed yourself from my person so that I could breath properly.” I said. His eyes widened and he said, much disconcerted, “Err, all right...” I smiled. “And if you don't mind, I will be going to sleep to speed up whatever you are going to do to me.” And with that, darkness enveloped me...

Iilera

Chapter Two

The Chamber...

I slowly came to. In my sleep, something had whispered at me... A name. It was... Iilera. Then an interesting thought occurred to me. Maybe this was my name... Then, I opened my eyes. I had a strange helmet on, and I was in a chamber. I had very many wires attached to me, and they seemed to be monitoring my health. Then, the scientist's voice rang out in the chamber. “Now, If you don't mind, #4563, we will be getting on with this.” Then, my hind leg moved by itself! I ran about the room, but it was not me who was controlling my body! The only thing I could do was struggle against this machine. Then, when my legs stopped moving themselves, I took my chance.

I yelled out, “I am not a thing to be called by a serial number! If you must call me something, call me a name! My name is Iilera!” and with that, I sprang, tearing at the wires, and causing general havoc. Then, I leaped at the scientist, and pinned him to the ground by his shoulders. I tossed off the helmet, and growled savagely. Then, I saw my reflection in his glasses. I had a star on my left cheek, and it was pulsing iridescent green. I was a sight to be seen! I almost frightened myself with that reflection. Then he yelled, “Grant! It's on me!!!” Then I snarled to him, “It's IILERA.” He looked very panicked. “Err, OK Ii..Iilera. Would you get off of me now? We were just doing an experiment to see if you could do what we made you for.” I snarled threateningly, and slowly stepped off of him, rearing back to be bipedal again. “What is it you want me to do?” I asked, putting a little bit of a growl into my voice to sound menacing.

“Err... Iilera, we cannot tell you that. You would not really... Like it.” I snarled threateningly and rose into the air. He looked at me in awe. I was not somebody to be messed with. Then, the grand finale. I opened my jaws and blasted a ball of flame into the air. “Enough!” He said with a tinge of fear in his voice. “I know that you can do what we want you to. There will be no more of these sessions.” I smiled.

Iilera

Chapter Three

The Escape...

I was back in my tube. I had just discovered that when I breathed fire in my tube, it fizzled into smoke, which then became a putty, made from the liquid. So, I spent some time messing with it until, one day, I became too big for my tube. The first scientist (whose name I learned was Patrick) cautiously opened the top of the tube. I immediately pulled away from his hands. He hesitated, and then grabbed me. The only thing I could do was sink my teeth into his skin. “YEEEEEOOOOOWWWWW!!!” he yelled. He pulled back, only causing his skin to tear more. “GRANT! HELP ME!!!” he shrieked. But then I said, “This is for keeping me prisoner here, and using me for experiments.” And then, I broke his finger. His eyes grew wide, and his mouth opened, but he could not get words out. I let go of him, and he backed away. I climbed out of my tube nimbly, and tossed a first-aid kit to him.

“That may help. ” I flipped my tail, and with him looking at me incredulously, I looked around the laboratory. I saw a lunchbox, and tipped it open to have a meal. The only reason I had not eaten before was that the liquid that I had been in gave me nutrients as I breathed. I looked back at Patrick, and I saw that he was awkwardly splinting his finger. I snorted. “I would help you with that, only you are my enemy, whitecoat.“ I looked at a window, judged my size and it's, and then went over to it and opened it. I placed my hands on the windowsill, getting ready to slip out. I squeezed through, taking off some scales on the way. I leaped into the air, and then took off flying. Goodbye, place of memories horrid. I thought.

And I flew off toward a distant lake. Later... I landed next to the lake, and cupped water in my hands to drink. After refreshing myself, I looked around. There was a forest behind the lake. Hmm... I thought. Then I went over to the forest and saw a grassy hill. Perfect! I thought. Then, I walked over to the base of the hill. I then sprang into action, digging for my life's worth. After an hour or so, I had made a sizable cave. I then gathered some boulders, pushed them into the cave, and then melted them. I then cooled them with water from the spring. I had now made a stone coated cave, from scratch. I then pulled grass, and wove it into a mat to put on the floor. I put it on the floor, and then wove another mat. I made a small indent in the dirt above my cave, and put one end of the mat into it. I packed some dirt into it, and then was done. I had made a home for myself.

Iilera

Chapter Four

The Hunt...

I left to gather some food, as after my long journey, I was hungry. I saw a bush of berries, and snorted. Maybe as a side dish, but not as the main course. I thought. But nevertheless, it was food. Then, I had an idea. I gathered many greens, and took some vines. I braided them into a rope, and then made a lasso at the end. I then put all of the fruit I had gathered into a pile near a rabbit hole. I then set my snare around the pile. Then, I walked into the bushes, holding the other end of the rope. I settled down to wait... A few hours later... I had almost fallen asleep, when I saw the rabbit hop out of it's hole. It didn't take notice of my rope, as it blended in with the food. It immediately fell upon the fruit, and I tightened the rope around it's hind leg in one swift movement. It was frozen in surprise for a moment, and then began to kick and struggle at the end of the rope.

I reeled my catch in, and then gathered the food that I had used as bait. I was going to have a fine dinner tonight... After dinner... I laid down next to a fire that I had built, and recounted the events of that day. I felt a bit awkward on land, having always been in liquid except for a small interval. I ate a last berry, and buried the bones of the rabbit. I stood out in the cool night air, looking at the stars. I wondered why I had been created, and thought of humans with contempt. Anything that treats any other creature like that is a slug. I thought in anger. After what they had done to me, I didn't care what happened to them, or any other human.

I sighed. There was so much I didn't understand, so much I wanted to know! Patience. whispered the old ones in my mind. You will learn... In time. I looked wistfully up at the stars, and then walked back into my cave. I tied the tassels of my overhanging mat to some sticks I had put into the ground below the mat. This secured the mat, keeping wind out. I then laid down on my bed-mat, and fell asleep...


Iilera

Chapter Five

The Discovery...




When I awakened, I heard something crashing through the brush. I looked out, and to my surprise, it was a creature to the likeliness of me, but male, with colored black with iridescent blue ovals on his body, and instead. I reached out a hand, waiting for a limb to crash into it. Sure enough, his hind leg fitted right into my paw. With one swift movement, I dragged him into my cave. He tried to speak, but I clapped a hand over his muzzle, whispering, “Quiet! If you want to escape them cleanly, don't make a sound.” Quite predictably, I heard the footsteps of whitecoats hurrying past my cave. When they had gone, I let go of him. “Now, you can go your separate way, if you wish, or or if you wish, you can stay here for a while.” I said, watching his face. “Err, if it's all right with you, I would like to stay here for a bit. Would you like to hear the story of how I got here?” He asked, with a very bemused expression.

“No, as I have probably gone through much the same thing. Might I inquire your name?”

“It's Draigh,” He answered. I went to find where I put the leftovers, built a fire, and heated them. “I am sure that the commute from the lab has tired you. Have some food.” I said as I forcefully pushed a bowlful of the food at him. He grasped the bowl clumsily and said, “Thanks. I don't believe you said what your name was?” “ Iilera.” And with that, we had become acquainted. He nodded, and then I gazed out of my home. I left the cave, and pulled down a tree branch. I then stripped off all the leaves, twigs and the bark. I smoothed it, and carved it so that it was slightly curved, like a crescent moon. Then, I grabbed some springy plant fibers, and braided them into a strong thread that would hold under the stress of even my bite. I then secured it's ends to the tips of my gently curving stick, and I went to work on the wood. I carved intricate designs that were similar to creeping vines, and I also carved a portrait of myself climbing the vines. I made another bow, but left this one blank. There, I thought. Now we will have weapons to hunt from long range with, and silently, too. I then sought for straight sticks and flint. I never expected to find any obsidian, but apparently this forest had once been overrun by a volcano. I chipped out as many arrowheads of obsidian as I could get, and marked out a map with blank spots on the rabbitskin.

Those spots I would fill in once I got to them. I marked out the obsidian mine on it, and then folded it up. I then began to fashion arrows out of the materials I had gathered, and then hollowed out two small logs for quivers. I decorated my arrows, but left Draigh's blank, so that he could decorate them on his own. I heard a rabbit hop into the mine, and I grinned. Time to see if my work was applied correctly. I silently slipped into the mine, nocking an arrow to the string...


Draigh

Chapter Six

The Crescent




My name is Draigh. I was created in a lab, then escaped by pure chance. A careless lab assistant left the window open, and when there was nobody in the room where I had been tested, (I had been tested for endurance. They were making me run on a treadmill, and I had collapsed after I don't know how long.) I had slipped out of the window, leaving a few scales behind. But enough on the past... I realized that my throat was parched. I stepped out of the cave, keeping alert for the scientists that were out there. When I reached the lake, looked down upon my reflection, seeing a blue crescent moon on my right cheek. I awkwardly sat back on my hind legs, and cupped some water in my hands to drink. As I drank, I wondered what the crescent on my cheek could mean. The sun warmed my arms a bit uncomfortably. I much preferred the moonlight. I watched the sun begin to set. It is beautiful. But am I so worthy to see it? Created, pieced together in a lab... I am but a wandering spirit, reborn into this body. I have the right to live as any other creature in the world does. And with that, I had resolved my doubts. I grimaced as I flexed my wings. I had landed on one by mistake in my escape, and now it was sprained. Then, I sat in a cross-legged position, and watched the sun set. After a while, I sensed somebody coming up behind me, steps light and cautious. I twisted my neck, looking backward. “Oh, it's you, Iilera.” “I made something. A bow, and some arrows. I left them blank, so that you can carve designs into them yourself, or leave it as it is. I made some for myself, and made a map of the forest, or what we know of it.” She handed me a bow, arrows, and a quiver made of a log. “Thanks. It is wonderful craftsmanship. Where did you learn this?” “I didn't learn it. I don't know how I did it.” She shrugged. “I just did.” “Well, might you have an instinct for healing? I have a sprained wing from the trip here.” “I know some plants that might sooth the pain, and it might speed the healing. Stay here; I will go and find a bush.” With that, she sprang into the air, flapping into the depths of the forest. I sighed. I had nothing to do but wait for her. Or did I? I took up the bow, and began carving. Soon, I had a design with a night sky on the top of the bow, with a crescent moon putting a pool of light onto a dragon below, a portrait of me. I carved the dragon looking balefully at the moon, with the crescent symbol on it's cheek standing out. There. Now for the arrows. After an hour or so, all of my gifts were decorated. My arrows had bands of night sky, each band showing a different phase of the moon. My quiver had a design of me flying under moonlight, over a forest. Then, I heard a minute noise of a twig snapping. I started, and looked in the direction of the sound. “Ah, Iilera.” I said, relived. She was carrying a bowlful of a light green ointment. “Stretch out your injured wing.” I slowly unfurled my aching wing, grimacing as I did so. She scooped up some of the mixture, and gently began to apply it to my wing. At first my wing stiffened, but after a while, the muscles began to relax as the ointment started to numb the pain. After the bowl was empty, she went to the lake to clean it out. I flexed my wing experimentally; it wasn't safe to fly with, but I only got the occasional twinge of pain, no longer a constant ache. “That ointment really works; I feel much better. Thanks.” “No problem. Again, I have no idea where or how I learned that. I just know.” “Strange. Well, goodnight.” “`Night.” And I strode into the cave to fall asleep...










Iilera

Chapter Seven

The Abilities...




I watched Draigh walk into the cave, and then turned away. Looking across the lake, I realized that I had never much thought about what our markings meant. Are they just markings? Or are they something more...? I glanced at a pine tree. Ever since I entered the forest, I had felt an affinity with plants. Then, it dropped a pinecone, filled with seeds. “And soon those seeds will grow. Thus turns the earth, and thus the circle of life starts again.” I whispered, content. Then, I saw that the pinecone was sprouting! What the- How is this happening? I cautiously stepped toward it. It began to sprout right after I said the word 'grow'... Maybe I can stop it with another simple command. “Stop,” I whispered. The growth immediately stopped, going on at a normal rate. “Wow....” Was all I could say. I could use this... I wonder if I can direct the growth? “Grow.” I said to a cluster of vines. I couldn't keep a small quiver of excitement out of my voice as I spoke. I thought vividly of Draigh, of a vine likeliness of him. And sure enough, the catlike hind legs began to form. I made his expression one of concentration, as I had seen him while he was carving. I made a statue of him carving his quiver. It looked exactly like him, only in varying shades of green. In the morning, I must show Draigh this! Maybe he has a power too, waiting to be unlocked! That answers why I have knowledge of how to work with plants... I have power over them. This is a discovery that will help us evade the whitecoats much more easily. I grinned, thinking of whitecoats having their legs trapped in a casing of vines. I was smiling as I entered the cave, lost in visions of a happy life. Then, when I reached the lake, I saw something strange. Draigh was at the edge of the spring, with an expression of extreme concentration, not unlike the one I had just created on his statue. Then, I saw water rising into the air, become an almost exact likeliness of me, and harden into ice. I watched incredulously. I was right... He has powers too! Control over the element of water? I slowly stepped towards him. His whiskers twitched in surprise, and he looked over his shoulder at me. His eyes widened in surprise, and a touch of embarrassment. “Oh, Iilera, I was just... Err...” I held up a hand to stop him. He looked a bit flustered now. “Hush, and follow me.” I then led him to my statue, and looked at his reaction. Now he looked relived. He looks like an embarrassed schoolboy. Silently, we walked back to the cave, and walked in. “Agree to speak no more of this?” I said, a bit bemused. “Agreed.” And with that, we laid down on our beds, and I fell asleep, letting my soul drift away to places unknown....







Draigh

Chapter Eight

The Danger




But I could not fall asleep. Why me? Why? Why did I have to be cursed with this misfortune? I dropped my head into my hands. I sighed. Well, no use sulking about it. Maybe a walk will calm me down. I got up quietly and lifted the mat covering the entryway, slipping out into the night. The cool night air caressed my scales, cooling me. I strode into the forest, feeling the bushes scratch my legs. I walked for a few hours, the routine of the walking soothing me. I just wish I could fly right now. The wind whistled as it blew through the brush. Suddenly, I heard something move in the bushes. I whirled around, turning a full circle to survey my surroundings. I'm sure I heard something... I carried on, but kept an ear out for strange sounds. My senses were heightened by the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins. There was that sound again! I crouched low, getting ready for whatever was out there. Suddenly, a harsh, high-pitched call shrilled through the trees, and creatures like none anyone had seen before leaped towards me. They were wolfen in their hindquarters, but had tails like rats. The tails had a bristly, stiff plume of fur on the end of it. They had wings that were feathered, and had birdlike heads with serrated beaks. They had horns that curled around their pointed ears, much like a ram's horns. Their forequarters were much like that of a lion's, but they had dextrous enough fingers to manipulate objects. They were quadrupeds, but looked like they could rear up to reach objects high above. They varied in color, but the leader was a pure black, except for his blood-red eyes. I dodged their leap, and stepped back to watch them land on each other. The leader of the group hissed in anger, and looked back at me with hate-filled eyes. Then, in a screechy, harsh, cawing voice, he said, “We are the Kreelkahn, and we will remember this humiliation, dragon. Remember my name, for you will hear it again soon! I, Grekal, shall find you, and so will my pack!” With that, the patchwork creatures awkwardly leaped into the air, and flapped away. I watched them leave, and after I was sure that they were gone, I ran full speed back to the lake. I splashed through a few creeks, in case those things could follow my scent. I burst into the cave, and knelt beside Iilera to wait for the day. I went into a trancelike state for hours, waiting for her to wake. Finally, the sun rose, and with it rose Iilera. “Urgh...” She groaned as she slowly sat up. As she opened her eyes, she asked, “Draigh? What's wrong?” “Iilera, the whitecoats created another species. Nothing like you or I, though. I think that they serve the whitecoats, and are trying to get us back.” I told her what had occurred last night, and she listened with alarm. “If they are so desperate to get us back that they created a whole new, dangerous species just to hunt us, we must be very... interesting to them.” I nodded. “This is a complication of our plan to live in peace, eh, Iilera?” “Yes, it is.” On an unspoken agreement, we walked outside.




Iilera

Chapter Nine

The Armor...




“Wait, Draigh.” I ran back inside, grabbing out bows and arrows, slinging my quiver over my shoulder. I ran back out, and gave Draigh his things. “You never know,” He nodded. “Especially with those Kreelkahn out there.” He said. We walked to the lake, and I said, “Why don't we practice a bit? Hone our abilities?” He nodded, and closed his eyes. I watched, a bit curious to see how his abilities worked. “Tide,” Was all he said. Suddenly, a gigantic drop of water seemed to drip from the lake into the air. It twisted into two streams of water, weaving around one another. Slowly, it began to take form. But by then, I began my own training. “Grow,” I said in an even, neutral voice. Slowly, vines began to crawl out of the forest, forming strange shapes. I had been thinking about protecting one another, and just let my mind form around that idea. Slowly, the vines formed into plates of armor that looked at least strong enough to withstand the slashing of Kreelkahn claws. They grew fasteners, so that we could tie them on. There were shoulder plates, many small links that went over our tails, shields, knee pads, and a whole plate to protect our backs. There were holes in the back plates to let out our spines. Finally, I began to work on the helmets. They had large holes in the tops for our horns to go through, and eyeholes lower down. The vines extended to make a plate on the top of our snouts, and they had plates that would go over our cheeks. I left a small hole in one of the cheek guards on both helmets, suited to show our markings. There were also holes on the very top of the helms to let our head spikes out. I added the finishing touch on the shields; A raised star on mine, and a raised crescent moon on Draigh's. Now all that our armor needed was to be cut loose. I let go of the plants, stopping their growth. I opened my eyes, just now realizing that I had closed them. Draigh was still lost in the water, so I took one of my arrows and cut loose our armor. I had made the vines holding them down weak, and easy to slit. After I had cut them loose, I tried on my armor. A prefect fit. Let's hope that Draigh's is the same. I looked up at the sun, and frowned. That took me nearly two hours! I have to work on my speed. One day my life may depend on it. I watched Draigh. Finally, I walked over to him and gently put a hand on his shoulder. “Draigh?” He twitched, and the water was slowly eased back into the lake. He opened his eyes, and looked up at me. “Yes, Iilera?” “Look at the time.” His gaze slowly shifted to the position of the sun. His eyes widened, and he looked at me. “Well, I think practicing time is over. What's that you're wearing?” “Armor. I think it's best to be prepared, and vines aren't cold as the netherworld,” I said with a wry smile. He smiled as he got up. “I can't believe that the time passed so quickly,” He muttered. “I was so wrapped up in the practicing that I could have been attacked at any time and wouldn't have been able to defend myself. I have to be more watchful.” I decided to take his mind off the event by presenting him with his armor. “Here. If the Kreelkahn attack, at least you'll be protected. Now, I'm off to the obsidian mine to carve out knives and maybe even swords to spar with.” “I'll come with you. If we somehow get separated, It'll be a good thing to know how to make my own arrows and things.” I nodded. “Good idea.” And with that, I began to walk.










Draigh

Chapter Ten

The Attack




I awkwardly put on the armor as I walked. I had not yet seen the obsidian mine, so I was curious as to what it looked like. Soon, the number of sharp rocks began to increase. Suddenly, a sharp pain in one of my feet. “Ah!” I lifted my foot, and saw a sharp black rock stained with my blood. Iilera turned, having heard me cry out. “What is it, Draigh?” “Stepped on a sharp rock. It looks like a rock that we use for our arrowheads...” I said, picking it up. She came over to examine it. “Yes... That's obsidian. Now, let's take a look at that cut on your foot.” I let her take a look under my foot, and she hissed with sympathy when she saw it. “That's a deep one. Why do you keep on meeting up with accidents?” She said while shaking her head. “Well, at least this is a good chance to practice...” With that, she whispered, “Grow.”

grass, living grass began to weave itself into a bandage. And, a tree dropped a perfectly healthy branch that had a bent end perfect for a crutch. Soon, the bandage was done and Iilera opened her eyes. I noticed that she looked much more tired out than she was when she had made the armor. “Vines are much easier to work with.” She said as she saw my worried expression. “And think how hard it would be to make you give up one of your arms.” She then gestured at the crutch on the forest floor. “It was all I could do to get a branch off of a tree that actually cared that you were hurt.” I awkwardly went over to pick up the crutch. “If you can, send the tree my thanks.” She nodded and closed her eyes. In a moment, she opened them again, and said, “She says that you're welcome, but that it's a one time thing only. She says that next time, ask some other tree. They don't care much about creatures other than plants. Now...” She picked the bandage that she had grown, and wrapped it around my foot, and used some sap to glue it together. “Let's go.” And with that, she walked on, watching her step much more carefully than before. I followed. A few hours later... Suddenly, the trees disappeared into a clearing. And that clearing had no grass except for a few tufts. Instead, it was mostly black, smooth, rock. It was easy enough for us to cut out stone arrowheads and such, but sword blades were much more of a challenge. But, eventually, we managed two sword blades. “Now for hilts,” Said Iilera. She found a stump at the outskirts of the mine, and began to carve it into two wooden hilts, both plain so that we could carve them with different designs. She fitted the blades in, and used tree sap to ensure that they would stay together. She then stepped into the forest for a few minutes, and then came out with vine scabbards. Just as we had sheathed our swords and put on the scabbards, a harsh shriek sounded from the sky. I recognize that cry! “Kreelkahn!” I yelled as I took out my sword. No time for practice; time to let my instincts guide me! “Nowhere to run, dragons!” Cawed Grekal triumphantly. “Death Spiral!” He shrieked to his pack. I have the feeling that that's not a good thing... The Kreelkahn began to fly in a circle going faster and faster to build up speed. Soon they would angle down towards one of us, and if all went well for them, they would go straight through us at high speed. If all went well for them. As one began to angle down towards me, I ducked. The female Kreelkahn went beak-first into the stone ground... And was stuck! It's beak had cleaved into the stone and gotten stuck. It was very amusing to watch it comically widen it's eyes, and try to pull itself out. Then I saw that Iilera was going sword-to-beak with one of them, with one of them diving at her neck from behind! “IILERA!!!” She looked at me, and saw the panic in my eyes. She dropped to the ground, and rolled out of the way quickly. She really trusts me... Then I heard a whistling sound behind me, and dropped to the ground. “Arkil! Pull Feron from the ground!” Cawed Grekal. A blue and red colored Kreelkahn went to tug a cream-colored one out of the ground. A red and brown colored Kreelkahn stuck into the ground in front of me. “Gilron! Pull out Bloodrain!” Yelled Grekal to a grey Kreelkahn. It flew over to the Kreelkahn in front of me, and began to pull on it's tail. I walked up to it, holding up my sword menacingly. “I don't think so.” I said. I leaped onto it's back, and pulled it away from it's comrade. I knotted my fingers into it's fur at it's neck, and felt something leathery... A collar. Could that be what was making the Kreelkahn obey the whitecoats? I wondered. Let's test my theory... I fumbled with the collar, and managed to undo it. I pulled it off, but there was no change in the Kreelkahn's behavior. Guess not. Ah well... It only showed a serial number and an expiration date on it. I buckled it back around the Kreelkahn's neck, and held on for the ride. It blindly flew around, shrieking in fury. It was flying straight for the group of other Kreelkahn! If they got too close... I shuddered closing my mind from the gristly image. I held onto it's collar with one hand, and adopted a riding posture on top of the Kreelkahn. I pulled out my sword, and struck. And again I swung my blade. Strike after enraged strike, I slashed. Kreelkahn after Kreelkahn fell shrieking to the ground. So. This was combat. I had no fear, not when I was in this blind rage. “Retreat and regroup!” roared Grekal angrily. I leaped down from my mount, which was still panicking. I grimaced as I fell. This is going to hurt. I hit the ground hard, hitting my head against a rock. A burst of pain shot through my head, and then all was black. Just before I fell unconscious, I realized that I had forgotten to put on my helmet.

Iilera

Chapter Eleven

The Realization...

I saw Draigh fall, and ran towards him in panic. Feathers littered the ground, their shafts breaking when I stepped on them. When I reached his side, I saw that his eyes were closed. Felling hysterical, I knelt beside him, checking for vital signs. Oh, thank whatever gods there may be. He's alive. I started to try to pick him up, but realized that that wouldn't work. He was at least as heavy as me, probably more, as the whitecoats had built him with more sheer muscle than me.

I sighed. I hope the trees are in a sympathetic mood today... I walked to the trees, touching one's bark. :Old One?: I tentatively asked. :Are you willing to lend me a few branches? My friend's life depends on them. I cannot carry him in the usual way. I need to make a sledge, and I do not have strong limbs that can be used for this.: I heard a soft reply... :Small one, why? What has befallen your friend?: I explained as well as I could to him what had happened, explaining that I had to get him home now, or something could infect the wound on his head. :I see. I will lend you my limbs, if you promise me one thing,: :Anything.: :Admit to yourself that he is more than a friend to you. Admit that you like him, even, as you legged ones say, love him.: I was taken aback. The trees can tell when I am lying, though... They can also detect strong feelings. He can't be lying to me. I looked within myself, searching for the feelings behind my mental wall. There... There was something. The hot, panicky feeling that she had felt when he was hurt. Was that what the tree claimed it was? I slowly let it out from behind my mental barricade, letting it seep into my conscious mind. Only one thought entered my brain. Yes. I looked at the sturdy bark of the tree, and smiled. :You are wise, Old One. I have not been able to admit this before, but I embrace it now. I love him.: The tree gave the equivalent of a mental nod of assent, and then branches fell from it's heights.


I gathered them together, and began to make a stretcher. I used grass to make a mat for the cushion, and tied it onto two support branches with lengths of grass. I put a lattice of branches on the bottom, and then I was done. I smiled up at the tree once more, giving him a mental wave of gratitude, and then dragged the stretcher over to Draigh. I eased him onto the stretcher, and tied him in place with a few lengths of rope that I had handy. After gathering his things, I made sure that he was secure and dragged the stretcher towards our home. It's bad news that the Kreelkahn know about our obsidian mine. Without it, we won't have proper arrowheads. We'll have to settle for whatever we can find. I brooded over that for a while.


Indeed, I had brooded for longer than I had thought, because we were home! I quickly dragged him to the cave, and detached him from the stretcher, lying him down on his bed. I whispered “Grow,” tersely, and put all my willpower into it. Immediately, a blanket of grass shot up from the ground, and I picked it, spreading it over Draigh. But that wasn't the only thing that my words had done. I walked to the edge of the clearing, and sure enough, all the plants I needed to make a healing drink had woven themselves together into a bundle. I plucked that too, and fetched the wooden bowl. I also grabbed a small grinder, and some water. I put the bundle and water into the bowl, and started to grind it all together. After a few minutes, it began to make a green tinted liquid. “Grow.” I barked sharply. A plant snaked a stem over to me, and I plucked a couple of it's flowers, tossing them into the liquid and grinding them up. Abruptly, the liquid turned brown. There! Now to get it down his throat. I grimaced. Although this drink healed you, it was also extremely bitter. I carefully walked towards our cave, making sure not to spill any of the liquid. I heard a moan from the inside, and then walked in. Draigh was lying on his side, one arm supporting him, and the other holding his head. “Well, now I've got one demon of a headache.” He smiled up at me. “Thanks for finding a way to bring me back here. Oh, I shouldn't have done that.”


I gave him a wry smile, saying, “Thank goodness that this drink will make you feel better, eh? Unfortunately, it's very bitter. Just try to choke it down, alright?” He nodded. I then crouched beside him, and handed him the bowl once he was steady enough to hold it. He took a sip, made a face, and said, “Ugh. That is foul.” He then took big gulps, and I could see that he was trying to get it all past his tongue before he tasted it. Apparently, it wasn't working, as he had a strange look on his face, as if trying to hold something very disgusting down in his stomach. Come to think of it, he is. When it was all down, he sighed, with a wry smile. “Remind me never to do anything like that again. The medicine for it is too bad-tasting for it to be worth it.” I grinned. “Now, rest, or I'll give you some more.” He made a mock horrified face, saying, “No, anything but that!” We both burst out laughing. “Alright now, Draigh, go to sleep.” He smiled, and then laid down on his side once more, falling asleep. I laid down beside him on my bed, and closed my eyes, drifting off to the places where your soul roams free...


Draigh

Chapter Twelve

The Plan...

When I awakened, my headache had gone. I raised a hand to my head, feeling it. The wound! It's gone... That liquid really did help. Experimentally, I tested my foot. Unhurt... Sometimes I wonder whether her talent is more useful than mine... I sighed, and pushed myself up onto my feet. It was the dead of night, and I went outside to go on a walk. This time, I put on my helmet, with my sword at my side, and my bow and arrows on my back. I walked into the night, and thought about what else might be at that lab besides the Kreelkahn. Other creatures, good creatures might be trapped there. Like other dragons, or different mythical creatures. We ought to storm the place, and find out. It'll be risky, but for the good of the people in there, we must. I'll talk to Iilera about this in the morning... I realized that I had been pacing back and forth in front of the lake with a furrowed brow. I looked at my reflection in the lake, and saw somebody that I barely knew. Myself. How strange. Only now do I realize that I barely know who I am, and I have been alive for... I don't now how long. I thought about this for a while, and then realized that I had been a conscious being for only a few days, but I was fully grown. I must have been unconscious through childhood... I realized. I began to muse the night away, thinking of my life, thinking of many, many things.


When I saw the sun rise, I realized how long I must have been out here. I heard a yawn, and went into the cave, so as not to worry Iilera. She looked up at me, and smiled. “Feeling better, I see.” I nodded, smiling down at her. I noticed that she had been much more warm to me, more caring. “Iilera?” “Yes, Draigh?” I took a deep breath, and blurted, “I think we should storm the laboratory, to see if there's anything good in there, like us. They couldn't have made the Kreelkahn without having some... Practice, if you will, first. They couldn't have made the Kreelkahn into completely obedient slaves without tinkering with genetics a bit more, because as far as I know, we are the first of their successful creations.” Her brow furrowed, and I could see that she was not very happy about the thought of going back to that hellish place. But when she looked up at me again, she looked resolute and set to go. “I think that you're right. But before we go,” She got up, and faced me. Then, she twisted her neck around, and kissed my cheek. “I want you to know that you're more than a friend to me.” I was frozen stiff. She had known the exact thing to make me melt. She broke the ice alright. Now I have no idea what to say, and I'm likely to stutter my words once I figure out how to move my mouth again. So, feeling strange, I did the same to her. She looked at me, and smiled. “So, Draigh. Now we admit it to ourselves. We love one another. Well, are we going to storm that lab or not?” She winked at me, and strode out of the cave. Once I could move my legs, I followed her.


Iilera

Chapter Thirteen

The Return...


I felt very shy and girlish just now, and I had no idea why. Well, at least I'm not frozen stiff, like Draigh is. I sighed. Maybe I shouldn't have kissed him. Then I saw him leave the cave. “Can you fly?” I asked him. “I--I think so.” He seemed not to have recovered yet. “Well then,” I beat my wings, and shot straight up. I had slept with my gear on, I had felt so tired, so I didn't need to prepare.


Apparently Draigh had gone on a walk, and had put on his gear, so he didn't need to prepare. I watched him lift off. He ran for a couple of yards, and then spread his wings, gliding up to me. I lead the way, and shuddered a bit when I saw the gray building in front of me. A place of nightmares... I grimly frowned, battering into the headwind. It was an uneventful, grim trip. A time of remembering what they had done to me, and I looked at Draigh to see his expression. His face was a mask of uncaring rage. Rage at the people who had abused and tortured him. He began to beat his wings faster and faster, speeding past me.


As he was passing me, I heard him mutter darkly, “They will pay.” Alarmed, I beat my wings faster, catching up to him. I placed a hand on his shoulder, and he started, and looked at me. He looked... Slightly confused, as if he didn't understand why he had said what he had. “This is a rescue mission. Got that?” “I was so angry that... I just lost control.” He shook his head, looking annoyed with himself. “I have to be careful not to let anger cloud my actions.” I nodded, satisfied with his answer. I let go of his shoulder, and realized that if we wanted to be stealthy, we had better either fly low, or fly high enough to get onto the roof. I relayed this to Draigh, and he replied, “I think our best bet is to fly high. I remember that the experiment holding chambers were in the middle, and the experimenting chambers were at the top. At this time, it's likely that nobody is being experimented on, so the top will be easier to get to the experiment holding rooms from.” I nodded. “You know more about this place than I do. I trust your judgement. Lets go!” I shot straight up, and he followed.


When we were right above the roof, we gently lighted down. We searched over the roof, and then Draigh beckoned to me. I walked over to him, and he showed me a door. I shrugged, and pushed on it. As expected, nothing happened. So, Draigh searched for a moment, and came up with a paperclip. I smiled. “Brilliant,” I whispered. “You are deserving of my love.” He gave a shy smile, and then straightened out the paperclip to pick the lock. After a moment of tenseness, we heard a small click. “As I said before, my love, you are brilliant.” I whispered to him. He again gave me a shy smile, and we descended quietly into the dark doorway. We awkwardly made it down the stairs, and went into an empty room, which was still trashed from my escape. I smiled darkly. “Oh, I feel so touched. They left a monument of my escape.” Draigh's eyes widened. “You did all of this?” I nodded. “Don't let my gentle demeanor fool you.” “Too late.” He said wryly.


We crossed through the wreckage, and went down the next set of stairs. This room, however, was occupied. A scientist and his assistant were here, with a strange cross between eagle and lion on a treadmill. I Immediately jumped on top of the scientist, and held my sword to his throat. “Nate. How nice to see you again. If you make a sound, I'll do more than break your finger.” His fearful eyes looked up at me and he mouthed the word, “Iilera...” I gave him a dark smile. “Yes, I'm back. And you will not torture any more mythical creatures. Not while I live.” And with that, I knocked him out with a single punch to the nose. I sheathed my sword, and saw that Draigh had done the same with the assistant. I looked at him and said, “I enjoyed that.” “So did I.” We dragged the unconscious humans over to a supply closet, and locked them in after relieving Nathan of his keys.


We turned to the creature on the treadmill, and saw that it had stopped to rest now. Draigh winced. Apparently he had been through this 'experimentation' before. Draigh went around to the back of the contraption, and unlocked the door that held in the thing. It was pure white. It's front half was that of an eagle's, with a crest of feathers that could be raised and lowered. The crest was pure golden, although all of the creature's feathers and fur were tarnished with grime. It had two magnificent wings, white with golden feathertips. In it's midriff, the creature seamlessly melded into the body of a lion, with some tweaks. It's tail had a fan of feathers on the tip to act as a rudder. Once again, It's feathers were white with golden tips. It crawled out, and then reared onto it's hind legs; apparently it was bipedal. It looked at us, and then said, “Thank you. What can I do to repay you?” It's voice warbled, like a songbird's, yet we could tell that it was that of a male. Draigh was the first to speak. “You can help by helping us free more that want to be free.” “Agreed. I have a score to settle with the whitecoats.” I spoke up. “Do you have a name?” “Rikkol.” I nodded. “Let's go.” And I strode towards the next door, unsure of what might be behind it.
Draigh
Chapter Fourteen
The Escapees...
We walked down the staircase, and did the same thing, essentially, as we had done in the last room. This time, we freed a small female dragon. A child, really. I looked at Iilera, and saw that she was coddling the young thing. She looked at me pleadingly. I sighed, and nodded. She smiled, and said, “It won't be as bad as you think. Trust me.” I shook my head. “Maybe you should go home with the little one?” “You're not getting rid of me that easily.” She said with a mischievous look. I sighed once more, and walked towards the next staircase. I slightly opened the door, and said quietly, “Jackpot.” Before my eyes was a forest of tubes filled with glowing blue liquid, with sleeping forms inside them. “But how do we know which ones want to leave?” Muttered Iilera. “Good question.” I whispered back. Rikkol, however, sighed condescendingly. He walked up to one, and knocked on it, waking the creature inside. “Do you want to participate in a jailbreak?” He whispered to it. It rapidly nodded, and he quickly typed in something on the keypad at the top, and the lid slid open. Quickly, out clambered a female version of Rikkol, only she was light blue with feathertips of dark blue. She shook off the liquid, and hoarsely whispered, “Thanks.” Her voice was feeble, probably because it had been unused for so long. She strode quietly over to us, and we smiled welcoming her. Rikkol did this to every tube in the room, And our little group grew in size. We learned that the half-lion half-eagle creatures liked to call themselves griffins. We were joined by many different mythical creatures, Including a human girl in ragged clothing. She looked human, but had strange features, including powerful red reptilian legs and wings, crimson and orange, that were not unlike ours. And when she got angry, her pupils narrowed into slits, and she became a full dragon, only with front paws instead of hands. She called herself a weredragon, and she said that her name was Phoenix. Her clear blue eyes looked into my iridescent blue ones, and for no reason whatsoever, I felt like this creature could be a good friend. I looked around. “Have we tried all of the tubes?” I asked in a low voice. Rikkol nodded. “Then let's get out of here!” Muttered Iilera. I nodded emphatically. Phoenix smiled thinly. “I'll be glad to get out of this place,” She said in her thin, rasped from being unused voice. I opened the door to the roof, and then realized that not all of us here could fly. “Iilera? I think we'll need to use a different route. I'm sure that me or you could carry some of the ones who can't fly, but I'm not sure about the other flyers.”She nodded, looking troubled. And I could see why! This was a whole new complication that we hadn't foreseen. She scanned the room, and then her eyes lit upon an air vent big enough to let us crawl through. She looked at me, and we both nodded. I turned to the crowd that had gathered, and said, “We'll go through the vents. That'll lead us outside, and to freedom.” With that, I stepped over to the grate covering the vents, and placed a claw in the screw-top. One by one, I loosened the grate by unscrewing the screws. Finally, I gently pulled the grate from the wall, and slipped inside. I was immediately claustrophobic, and backed out of it. I turned to the crowd, and said, “Nothing in there but dust and spiderwebs. It's claustrophobic, but it'll work for our purposes.” I clambered back in, and began to crawl through the tunnel. Soon, I saw a light farther in the tunnel, and quickly crawled over to it. A dud. I thought, looking down through the floor of the tunnel to see a room of whitecoats being lectured on the bone structure of griffins. I shuddered, and quickly crawled over the grate in the floor. I looked over my shoulder, and saw Iilera hurrying past the grate that I had just been. “Is everyone there?” I mouthed to her. “Yes.” She mouthed back. I faced forward again, and kept reassuring myself that there was enough air in here to breath, there was enough room to move forward... Then, A sharp turn. I crawled through, and smiled. A grate! And it leads outside! This is perfect. I looked back at Iilera, and gave her the thumbs up. She smiled. I turned back to the grate, and unscrewed it from the outside wall. I pulled it in, and placed it against the tunnel wall. I stealthily stuck my head out, and was amazed. It was deepest night! We had left in the morning! We spent more time in there than I thought... I looked back at Iilera, and mouthed, “All clear! Let's get these people out of here!” She nodded, and I leaped out of the tunnel, to land on my feet with my blade in my hand. Best to be cautious. I looked up, and beckoned. Then, a rope was dropped down from the hole in the wall. “Hurry...” I muttered. Then, the small young dragon that we had found before slid down the rope. I walked over to the small one, and took a defensive position. “So...” I muttered. “Have you a name, small one?” The little light blue dragon looked up at me, and said, “I-I'm Jelki. but most call me Kiki.” I nodded. “Once we're free, you're welcome to stay with us, Kiki.” She looked up at me, and smiled. “I'd love that!” I smiled. “We're willing to have you, and honestly, that would make Iilera happy.” She nodded, and I watched the darkness while the escapees slid down the rope. When the last of them was out, Iilera flew out with the rope in her hands. “Let's go.” She said quietly. I nodded. “Follow me people! And keep in a group. The ones that know how to defend themselves should be on the edges of the group.” There was a jostling in the crowd as the ones skilled in fighting moved to the rim of the group. I beckoned to Iilera, and she came over. “One of us should scout ahead, and guide us around any obstacles. Do you want to, or should I?” She smiled and said, “Ah, you've gotten rid of me.” She launched herself into the air, and soared ahead. I watched her, and turned to the crowd, and said, “All right people, move it or lose it!”




Iilera
Chapter Fifteen
The Homecoming...
I beat my wings, flying like a thrown dart. Once I had gotten a considerable distance away, I slowed down, to survey the land below. Nothing seems to be in the way... But, I haven't reached the clearing yet. Sure enough, as I reached the clearing, a number of Kreelkahn were circling over it. Nothing I can't handle. I gave a savage smile, and drew my sword. I flew straight for them, and shrieked a battle cry. “Yah!” I dove onto one's wing from above, breaking it. He fell, shrieking obscenities. I flew high again, and sheathed my sword. After all, I need both hands for this. A falcon dive! I clenched my hands into fists, and dove with them out in front of me. I hit the next one's neck at full speed, sending him down. The rest took a look at the carcasses below, and looked at me, soaring high for another hit. They hightailed it out of there, shrieking for one or the other to go faster. I smiled, and went to my regular cruising altitude once more. I buried the carcasses, returning them to the soil from which they came. I stayed, circling the area, and indeed, they came back with reinforcements to harass me again. I flew towards them, and put my fists in front of me. I sped for the head of one, and cracked him over the skull with my hard fists. He fell, and I did the same to another, and another. Five Kreelkahn fell spiraling to the ground, and there was one left in the air. I grinned at him, daring him to move. He trembled in the sky, and I said to him, “You know, violence isn't everything. You could stay with us, if you put away your old ways. If not-” I broke off here, and slammed my fist into my open palm. “You see, we can't have any witnesses here.” He bolted, and I sighed, and flew for him. He tumbled down, and I buried the new carcasses. I sighed, and lifted into the air once more. I flew towards the group, and hovered at the front of it, keeping an eye out for threats. Then, we came to the clearing. Draigh turned to the crowd, and I lightly landed at his side. In unison, we said, “Welcome home.” We led the way into the clearing, and there was a general gasp of pleasure running through the crowd. After that laboratory, this place must seem like paradise... I smiled, and took Jelki's hand. This won't be so bad. In a few years, I could see a thriving village here. And that's exactly what's going to happen...
Years later...
I sat in front of the fireplace, letting the warmth wash over me. I sighed, and sipped my coffee. Smiling, I remembered when I lived in a cave. I watched little Jelki sitting in front of the fire, playing with her little wooden toys. Snuggling back in my cushioned chair, I smiled. Life is good. I placed my coffee cup on the small table beside the chair, and got up to go to my bedroom. I looked in the picture frame beside my bed, and smiled. It showed a drawn picture of me, Draigh, and Jelki standing together with a background of trees. I sighed, and laid in my bed, drawing the covers up to my chin to fall asleep.
The End... Or is it?