Secrets

Caden Avani Ritchell shifted angrily on her horses back, the saddle annoying her to her fullest. Had she not needed to carry anything she would've rode bareback on Naji, her black and white paint, but no, her father insisted on delivering letters to the surrounding villages on her way to the main castle to the east of their own. She'd been riding for two days, stopping at every town for a shower, a room, and some food for Nyan and herself. Nyan, her small white dragon chirped at her shoulder, an attempt to get her attention. Caden glanced over and ran a thin finger under her Nyan's ivory-coloured jaw. Nyan, in turn, purred like a cat, chirping once again, rubbing her face across Caden's jaw bone and being sure not to disturb the black cloth that fell down the right side of the girl's face..

Thanks a lot. Nyal said into her mind, receiving a smile from Caden.

"Don't mention it. How far until the south road joins with ours? Father said that there will be someone there waiting." Caden watched as Nyal shot up into the air, small wings pumping at their fullest before she shot back to Caden's shoulder.

Four maybe five miles at the most. Caden just nodded at the information and turned her horse into a gallop, trying to pick up more distance.

Brahn slipped off the saddle as the High Town came into view. Finally, he was here! It was about time, he had been traveling for six days with no sights of proper towns or anything.

He grabbed his horse's reigns and slowed his pace as they approached the gates to the city, eager to find his boarding and a place to eat.

You ARE saving most of your meat for me, correct? He looked at the top of Nix, his white mare's saddle. There sat Pyre, a small red Dragon.

No, I'm not. You can find your own food. He grumbled, looking away from the small figure. Why would he feed it when it was perfectly capable of killing and eating a rabbit?

You're selfish, Brahn. Brahn mentally mocked the dragon. Most people believed they hated each other, but Brahn deeply loved the Dragon, as he knew the dragon did him.

"Well, boys and lady, here we are." He said aloud to the rest of the company traveling with him. "Tonight we rest, and tomorrow we fight!"

"Well, boys and lady, here we are." He said aloud to the rest of the company traveling with him. "Tonight we rest, and tomorrow we fight!"

Caden managed to catch the last sentence of what the young man had been preaching to his company and tried to hold in a laugh, failing miserably. He and his company glanced over as she placed Naji in one of the stables, Nyan atop her shoulder, staring intently at the small dragon that perched upon the young man's saddle, and pivoted on her heel, slipping back out of the stables with a single goodbye to calm her horse. Caden walked into the nearest inn, buying a one night room and a bit of meat for Nyan. She placed it on one of the tables in the dining hall, the white dragon instantly shoveling the food down her throat while Caden ran three fingers down her spine, her scales pricking at the cold sensation.

The man from before, not only had a company with him, but also a dragon. If someone was to ask Caden for both she'd instantly refuse. Her father had done that, but was only glared at until the day Caden left. Speaking of the man, he walked in, his eyes drifting around the inn and landing on Caden's dragon that seemed to be breathing in the meat. Caden held in a laugh as the red dragon on his shoulder drooled at the sight of food, the drool dripping down the man's leather tunic. At that, Caden couldn't help but burst into laughter.

What on earth is she laughing at? Brahn wondered, glaring at the girl who had burst into insane laughter. Her black hair covered her face as she leaned her neck forward, nudging the dragon with her nose.

All his life he had been the only one with dragon, but now there was someone else with one. A pang of jealousy was buried deep in his chest. He enjoyed being the only one.

Well, is it a girl? Is it, is it, is it?! Pyre was spinning around in circles on his shoulder, drooling. Brahn wanted to just raise his hand and knock the pest off, but that might hurt him, and Pyre never let someone get away with doing something. He always had to strike back.

How am I supposed to know, Pyre? Would you like to me to go over there and say "Excuse me, but my dragon is falling head over heels wondering if your dragon is a girl"? Pyre mentally nodded and jumped off Brahn's shoulder onto a table.

After you get food! He said ecstatically. Brahn grumbled and flicked the dragon on the nose.

No, I'm not going over there. That girl probably just found that dragon injured, and probably has no knowledge of dragons at all. I'm getting you meat and water, and that's it. Pyre whined loudly, looking up at Brahn with his eyes open wide. Brahn just shook his head.

"So, Brahn, Someone else has a dragon like yours. Cool, huh?" Brahn looked for the person who was talking to him. Sythini, the girl who had traveled with his company and had been one of his friends for almost a decade, was standing next to him, staring at him with starry eyes. She loved him, that much Brahn knew.

"No, it isn't. You should eat, or else you wont make it through the games." Brahn grabbed two plates, one with an assortment of meats, breads, and cheeses, and the other with just meat. He turned around to find Pyre hopping over all the tables towards the white dragon. Grumbling, he followed him, sitting at the same table as the girl.

Caden smiled at the guy as he took a seat at the same table as herself, then looked back over at Nyan, who was about to eat some odd veggie that had meat juice on it. "Nyan, no!" Caden shook her head and slid the plate over to her, taking all the vegatables off Nyan's plate and placing them on her own. "You remember what happened last time." Layton whispered lowly, sliding all the meat back over to Nyan, who now was eating with the red dragon from before. Wow... he's beatiful, huh Nyan? The white dragon just nodded slightly. Ask him if I can pet him. Nyan seemed to smirk and finally made a small chirping noise, the red dragon answering with his own, much deeper that Nyan's.

He said it was fine. Caden smiled widely and slowly reached out her hand, gently caressing the dragon's jaw bone as it seemed to purr like Nyan. Caden smiled, accomplishment filling every fiber of her body while she started to eat the vegatables on her plate. For some reason, she didn't like meat like her dragon did, everything about it seems repulsive to her. Caden, when are we fighting? I really feel like fighting... someone. Caden just laughed lightly.

"Tomorrow we'll prove that we didn't come all this way just to be sent back home," Caden smiled lightly and stroked her dragon gently, taking another bite of her food. Nyan seemed to be conversing with the red dragon in a closed conversation, one that, no matter how hard she tried she could listen in on.

Traitor. Brahn said to Pyre mentally, running his eyes over the girl, lingering on the soft glow of her skin.

What? Pyre sounded amused.

You're talking to that dragon, aren't you? Traitor. Pyre sat back on his haunches and licked Brahn's nose before settling back down in front of his plate of meat. The little dragon opened his tiny mouth and began to swallow the meat whole. I thought I taught you to chew.

Nope. Brahn convulsed. Even if they were talking through their minds, if Pyre said anything with his mouth full, it sounded like he had his mouth full. Brahn watched as the girl began to pet Pyre, who in turn made a humming noise as he scorfed down his meat.

Brahn stood up and took his plate of food back to the kitchen area, dumping the reserves in the garbage and storming out of the kitchen area, leaving Pyre behind. He walked towards the stable, heading towards Nix's stall.

"Hey girl." He said as he opened the gate and began to rub between her ears on on her neck.

Caden glared at the man as he walked out, leaving his dragon. How could he?! Just because a dragon was extremely strong doesn't mean he can just leave it! Caden smirked widely. She was going to teach this man a lesson. Caden got up quickly, taking both empty plates back to the back and grabbing some more meat, both dragons on each of her shoulders by the time she reached her room. Caden kicked the door open and set the plate on one of the desks, both dragons instantly flocking to it.

After having a light laugh Caden slung her back onto her small bed, flopping back onto her bed and closing her eyes with a wide smile. She would kill to see the guy's face when he found out they were all gone, but, unlike him, she didn't just leave her dragon alone.

*short i know sorry**

Mmm, prickly. Pyre said in an odd tone, sending mental images of a small prickled plant on an unfamiliar desk. Brahn wondered how he had gotten stuck with such an immature figure, something of outstanding grace and beauty, yet one that was completely inadequate for standards.

After saying good-bye to Nix,he walked back into the dining area. Pyre, the white dragon, and the scraggly girl were gone. All gone. His blood began to rush as his anger became more and more evident. You traitorous fench!

But there's meat! Pyre said back in a low tone, trying not to anger Brahn more. It didn't work.

Sucks to your meat! Get away from her now, Pyre, or else you wont have any for one moon! Pyre mentally whimpered and sent an image of him walking with his head held low out the slightly open door.

Yes sir, sorry sir. He replied, closing off their mental connection. Brahn brought his hand down roughly on a nearby table.

"Suh?" He felt something tugging at his tunic, a small life form barely larger than his knee. He looked down, spotting a small girl with golden locks holding onto the edge of his green shirt. "Are you the one with the dragon, suh?"

Brahn's heart softened. He couldn't take his anger out on a child, it was against his code of honor. "Yes, I am the owner of that unruly little beast."

"He is not a beast, suh." The girl replied, folding her hands neatly around a small bouquet of flowers.

"He has four legs, two wings, and can't talk. He's a beast." Brahn mentally smirked at his wise crack, but the girl obviously didn't share his enthusiasm. She looked down, kicking a small pebble with her sandaled foot.

"He is a dragon, suh. One day you might need him, and maybe one day he'll turn to you and tell you no. That day you'll be food, and you'll be the beast. Dragon's are cunning creatures, suh, you have to treat them with respect you see, or else-"

"Dragon's aren't like humans; I know what you are trying to say. They walk on four legs and fly, but Pyre, no, Pyre won't ever do anything more than sit on my shoulder and dig his blasted claws into my aching bones." Brahn cut the girl off. She looked up at him, stilling her movement.

"You are wrong, suh, one day you will find that out. Let me just hope that when that one day comes, you have your life long companion with you to stop him form eating you whole." With that, she just walked away, attaching to no adults or any superiors at all. She had been alone, a small girl, alone.

What would she know about dragon's? Heh, nothing. Pyre, where are you? Brahn sighed when he didn't respond. That was just like Pyre, cut off conversation so he could mope about his own mistakes. Stupid dragon.

Caden watched with a sad smile as the the red dragon sulked out of the bedroom, wings and head down in sadness. Nyan cocked her head to the side and watched him curiously until he disppeared completely. Only two seconds after Nyre had left Nyan rolled off the desk and flew over onto Caden's shoulder, digging her claws into the thick leather there. Hey, hey, hey! Can we go on a walk?! Nyan shifted her weight from one side of her body to the other, her teeth showing in her best attempt of a smile. Caden laughed lightly and nodded once.

"Sure. You just want to go to the woods?" The small dragon shook her head up and down, wings flapping quickly. "Okay, okay. Calm down." Nyan rubbed her head against the side of Caden's before flapping her wings again. Caden just laughed and grabbed her traveling pack, slipping out the inn's window and running towards the stables, where she mounted Naji and took off towards the eastern woods at full speed.

The clearing Caden had found was beautiful. It was large enough for Nyan to fly around and for Naji to graze in, but small enough that Caden could keep a close eye on her two lovely animals. She reached into her leather bag, pulling out an old looking book. She'd promised her father that she would still study even on her journey that lasted hopefully longer than a few days.

Before Caden had knew it she'd fallen asleep in the sun, Naji on the ground beside her and Nyan laying upon her stomach, all three sleeping.

After waiting nigh of an hour for Pyre to finally show up in the kitchen area, Brahn lifted him up onto his shoulder, rubbing under his small muzzle. He walked back outside and into the stable, quietly sliding into Nix's stall and lying down on the hay.

Nix was the only thing he had left of his parents after bandits plundered his home and murdered them. He had joined a small group, a gang, believing that they would be his answer to his longing for bloodshed. But all they did was shed blood on his hands. He rolled onto his side, Pyre curled up on the other side of the stall, eying him.

Why are we not in our room, Brahn? He asked, making a small purring noise as Nix nuzzled him. He shrugged.

"You should know that answer by now, Pyre. I always sleep with Nix." He said quietly, hearing a small snort of protest from the red menace.

Pyre had barely grown since Brahn found him almost ten years prior. After his parents were killed, he had gone on a search to find the people who had done this, and on the way, found a small red egg at the base of a tree. Since then, Pyre had been attached to him.

**I'm trying for an encounter between the two of them**

Caden eventually woke up and stretched widely, yawning and standing up. Nyan and Naji awoke at the same time, Nyan flying up to Caden's shoulder as Naji tried to pull his saddle off. Caden laughed and unhooked it, the thick leather falling to the ground with a thud. Naji neighed loudly and ran in a tight circle, shaking his head. "Thata boy. Feels good huh?" The horse neighed once again. Caden laughed and gripped his mane gently, pulling herself up with a grin. Within seconds Naji was running through the forest at full speed, Caden leaned against with neck and Nyan flying beside the two of them.

When they got back to the stables Caden laughed lightly and slid off Naji's bare back, running her hands through his black mane and pressing her nose to his with her eyes closed. Naji pulled away and looked over the side of his stall, snorting loudly. "What is it boy?" Caden glanced over the side, glaring down at the guy who'd left his dragon alone. He seemed to be asleep but she couldn't tell if he was faking it or not. Caden shook her head and looked back at Nyan and Naji, who were playing some game. Caden climbed onto of the stable door, sitting down on the wood. "You two are still as immature as you were nine years ago. Naji turned around, a glint in his eye, and ran at Caden, causing her to scream and fall back into the hay right on the hilt of her sword and staff. Caden groaned and rolled off to pick both weapons up. She strapped them on and thumped Naji on the snout, only to be nipped on the shoulder. Nyan bit onto a strand of Caden's hair, yanking away and making Caden yelp. Naji neighed in humor and ended up knocked on the ground, Nyan soon tackled next to him and Caden laughing loudly.

"Shuddup!" The other dragon's owner shouted. Caden glared at his stall angrily.

"How about you ya pansy!" Afted saying that Caden burst into laughter, Nyan chirping in humor and Naji neighed loudly while spinning in a circle.

"How about you ya pansy!" The girl burst into laughter, her horse and dragon making odd noises along with her. Brahn sat up, watching as Pyre stretched his wings over his head.

"Pansy?" He said in an angry tone, standing up and walking out of the stall. Next to the girl he was a whole five inches taller, but not much thinner. She looked up at him, grinning evilly.

"Yes, pansy. Only pansy's leave their dragons behind." She replied, ill humored.

"And only pansy's kidnap other people's dragons." He replied, glaring at her. She began to laugh louder, staring at his head. He felt around it; there was a small piece of hay caught in his blond hair. He growled. "If I were you I would watch your back in the morning, you never know who will stab it." She stopped laughing, growing serious.

"And the same to you, then." She replied, staring at him.

Caden narrowed her eyes into slits, fingering the two weapons on her waist. "Y'know... you should learn to back up your threats," within seconds she held her glowing sword to his jaw, "Cause if you don't, someone might take you seriously and kill you on the spot." Caden slid her blade back into its sheath, spitting on the man's shoe and pivoting on the heel of her own. She called Naji into his stall as Nyan landed on her shoulder and she layed a wool blanket across Naji's back. She grabbed another one and sat in the hay, Nyan curling up in her lap and Naji laying on the ground next to her. "That's my boy," Caden smiled, petting Naji's mane and leaning against him. She smirked at the man who was still standing in the same spot, rage coming off him in waves.

He's angry, you know that right? Nyan and Naji both said at the same time.

"Hey, he shouldn't have threatened me," at that both creatures nodded.

True.

Brahn stood in the middle of the dusty floor, frozen. He was used to having knives pinned against his throat, it was no unusual coincidence. He looked down at the spit on his boot.

She doesn't know who she's messing with. He said to Pyre as he slowly walked out of the stall.

Maybe you don't, either. Pyre replied, jumping from the ground up onto Brahn's shoulder and nibbling on the tip of his ear.

Brahn was steaming. First he had been defeated by a girl, and now his dragon was taking part in the festivities. He was too used to being the tormentor.

Caden curled up tighter against Naji, cold air drafting through the stables. Nyan snored slightly, letting colder air out of her small ivory body. Caden smiled down and Nyan and rubbed her snout, making the dragon purr happily. For an odd reason Caden couldn't get to sleep. She sighed and crawled out of the stall and walked around the stables, climbing onto the roof and looking up at the stars. One shot across the sky and Caden smiled lightly, old memories of her elder brothers flooding back to her. All seven of them had been killed in war, and she was the last child of her parents, not to mention the only girl and youngest of eight. Her parents had always told her that eight was a lucky number, but to her there was no such thing as luck. Had eight been lucky, then her seven brothers wouldn't have died. Maybe eight was unlucky, and maybe she was the next to go.

Caden sighed and closed her eyes, sorting through each of her memories until a pitiful wail came from below. Within seconds Caden had her staff in full form, placed to a large warrior's throat. He held Nyan by the neck and was grinning sadistically. "I suggest you put my dragon down." She ordered angrily. The warrior tightened his grip, making Nyan let out another cry.

"Oh yah? Wha's a girl like you gonna do 'bout it?" The man was obviously drunk.

"I'll kill you without hesitation unless you put my dragon down." Caden seethed the words out of gritted teeth while the man just smirked. "God dammit! It told you to put her down!" Caden dropped her staff and lunged at the man, grabbing Nyan gently and wrapping her hands around the mans throat. She pressed her thumbs to his trachea and sat on his chest, slamming his head into the ground beneath time after time.