Leika stomped angrily through the forest, trying to focus only on the energy of the descendants of Kaldernon in the distance. She was getting closer to them; she could feel that much. But why did they have to be so far away? Maybe if she could shift into a dragon like Cherin, but shifter genes were notoriously difficult for women to tap into. Their bodies were more predisposed to Loni abilities and functions.
“My, my, my,” a voice suddenly hissed from deep in the bushes. Leika stopped cold, her arms prickling in fear. This was not a friendly voice. “Look what we have here.”
Suddenly, men in robes with disgusting smiles plastered on their faces emerged from all sides, surrounding her. She would have had a fighting chance if there were only a few of them, but there had to be at least fifteen.
“Let me go!” Leika shrieked, fighting against their strong grips. They just laughed and sneered.
“She’s wearing Loni robes!” one of the men exclaimed. “I’m touching genuine fabric!”
“Get her to the truck!” the leader of the group barked. “We have work to do.”
The men piled into the back of a covered truck bed, holding her still as the leader hopped into the driver’s seat and turned the ignition. The loud rumbling of the engine began vibrating the vehicle and Leika howled in misery, calling for Cherin. But he wouldn’t be able to hear her. He had gone south to save someone she had been too cowardly to take into consideration. She had wanted so badly to look like a hero that she hadn’t been very heroic. Cherin was right to be angry. If she got killed it would be her own fault.
Leika rode for what felt like an eternity being held down by the men, who were definitely those who called themselves the ‘Guardians’ of the planet Earth. She knew not to say too much. They would assume she was simply a Loni who had gotten away with spending her life under the guise of a human. Probably somebody born on Earth. If they realized that she was truly from Kaldernon, that was when she would really get into serious trouble. Trouble that even Cherin couldn’t help her out of.
“Look who’s home!” the leader called out.
“The hell you talkin’ bout Willie?” another man shouted from somewhere outside the truck. Leika was pulled out roughly and led into the light by the wrists. “Ohh, she’s a purdy little thing, isn’t she?”
“No doubt,” Wille agreed, looking Leika up and down. She shuddered and was pushed forward. They had driven her away from the forest and into an isolated settlement. There was a dirt road that led to the trees where she had come from, and in front of her was a small white house that looked to be in ill repair. Nobody in Kaldernon would be caught dead living in something that needed so much tending to. They would have tended to it or moved on to something better.
Suddenly, Leika doubled over, searing pain almost knocking her to her feet. A lot of suffering was happening here. Suffering being endured by the descendants of Kaldernon. She had to help them. There was no other option. She would play it smart and do whatever she could to help the others.
Soon, she was in a dark cell in the basement of the house, surrounded by several other dog kennels. Inside the kennels were other people just like her. They looked hopelessly out of their wired openings, eyes gaunt and miserable. She had to do something.
Leika closed her eyes, hoping maybe some of the Loni people would be able to pick up on psychic messages. A few of them were having conversations, or playing a game that sounded like madness to anybody else. But maybe it was something they were doing to avoid madness.
How many are here? Leika asked. I’m here to help.
Yeah, right.
Last I knew there were thirteen.
You make fourteen.
I’m not a prisoner, Leika stated. I’m from Kaldernon. It’s going to be okay.
Almost as soon as she was put into her cage, she was dragged out by another Guardian.
He likes you. Better watch out. Clear your mind and we can play the pain game.
Leika’s heart thudded in fear as she was dragged up the steps and into a small room full of both sharp and blunt instruments. She started to quiver when the man lifted one and strapped her to a chair, smiling menacingly as he prepared himself to make an incision.
Before he had the chance to, an earth-shattering roar shook the compound and Cherin’s dragon form was stomping through the house. The Guardians were all shrieking in terror and shouting orders to one another. A few of them stabbed through his scales with specialized weapons that Leika had never seen before, and Cherin cried out in agony. Still, they weren’t fast enough for one of the Dragon Warriors from Kaldernon, and soon most of them were burnt to a crisp and the whole building was on fire. Cherin lashed out at the man who had Leika captive and tore him in half. Finally, when there were no guardians left standing, he reverted back to his nude human form.
“I’m sorry,” they both said in unison.
“I love you,” Leika said suddenly.
“I’ve always loved you,” Cherin replied.
“I know.”
Cherin grinned and tried to lead Leika out of the burning building.
“We can’t go yet,” she cried. “Get out of here! I have the cloak; it will be okay.”
Cherin stared at her, his eyes distrusting and afraid.
“Trust me,” she said firmly.
Finally, he turned and limped out of the flames, waiting for Leika to return.
After a few moments that seemed like an eternity, she re-emerged, with a crowd of descendants behind her. They looked around suspiciously at each other and the burning building. Many of them couldn’t believe that they were safe and seemed to think this was yet another trick.
“Get them into the truck,” Leika ordered. Cherin set to work leading them inside and Leika swallowed hard. She could probably intuit how to work the damn thing, and as soon as everybody was loaded, she took off with squealing tires down the dirt path and headed back to the forest.