Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ New Dawn ❯ CHAPTER 1 ( Chapter 1 )

New Dawn

Chapter 1

The woods seemed to close in on Kethry. Weak from hunger, dirty, and very tired, she stumbled through the underbrush. Three days had passed since she had set out into the forest, bent on self-destruction. Heartsick from a lifetime of hurt and betrayal, Kethry had simply walked into the woods to die. A twisted root caught her foot and she had fallen face-first into the leaf litter, grunting as her breath was driven from her lungs. Calling on her last bit of strength, she staggered to her feet, panting and gasping. She clutched a tree for support, the rough bark biting cruelly into the palm of her hand.

"Just what are you doing out here?" The voice was deep and harsh, almost a growl. It was how a wolf might sound if one had found the power to speak. A shiver traced up Kethry's spine. Straightening, she turned and leaned her back against the tree, facing the speaker. The first thing she saw was a pair of arresting blue eyes, the color of glacial ices and just as cold. She had never seen eyes like that on a person before. It was a color one saw on a husky dog or a wild wolf. The man's face was sharp and angular, his nose almost hawk-like, and his hair as black as ravens' wings pulling back from his face. He was leaning casually against a tree, his arms crossed over his bare and muscular chest. It looked like his sole clothing, a pair of black spandex pants, had been poured on. Heavy black boots completed this totally fantastic get-up. Kethry squinted her eyes as she looked for a silver piercing, somewhere. Something about his stranger, a dangerous air that hung around him, kept her from stepping closer to get a better look.

"Walking," she managed though cracked, dry lips, her throat protesting its long dryness.

The man shifted slightly and gave her a long piercing long. Kethry felt a sudden urge to giggle. A bad guy in the woods with wolf eyes dressed in spandex pants! I am delirious! My mind has finally started to give out on me!

"I find that hard to believe," he smiled; or more to the point, he smirked, a twisting of his lips that sent a primal chill racing through Kethry. "There is nothing within three or four days' walking from here. I should know. This is my land." He pushed away from the tree and closed the distance between them. Kethry abandoned her supportive tree and stumbled backwards.

"I am just passing through." It sounded lame even to her. The man chuckled low in his chest. Once more Kethry contemplated that maybe she was just hallucinating all of this, that this man was nothing but a fevered dream of her nourishment-starved brain.

"Tell me why you are really here." His tone was that of someone used to getting his way. Kethry ran a nervous hand through her silver hair and yelped a little when her fingers caught on a couple of twigs that had gotten stuck there. She looked down at her feet.

"I am not really sure why I am here." Well, it was the truth; she didn't even know where here was. She had just wandered these last days, no thought to where she was going.

"Really?" he smiled. She could see that there was no real humor in that smile. More like a wolf showing its teeth to say that it's much bigger and badder than you. He leaned closer to her and Kethry could feel his warm breath on her skin. Her last hope, that this was all just some vision cooked up by her brain, died then. For several seconds, she became frantic to find some way to get away from him. Then she paused and thought about it. Even if he planned to kill her, she was going to die out here, anyway. A strange calm overtook her.

"Look, I am not really heading anywhere. If you are going to kill me, just get it over with, okay? Besides, I will just starve in a few days." The smirk faded from the man's face, replaced by a dark frown. He straightened and stepped away from her.

"Follow me." He turned on his heel and walked away. Clearly, he expected her to just trail along in his wake. Kethry shrugged and followed; what else did she have to do? As her strength continued to flag, her world quickly closed down to the steps she was taking. To her, it seemed like they walked for hours but, in truth, it was only a few minutes. Her attention was brought back when they entered a large meadow. A clear stream flowed from out of the trees and fed into a pond near the farthest end of the meadow. Nestled in the center of the meadow was a small rough cut log cabin, its back facing the pond. The only other sign that someone lived there was the roaring fire that was burning in a stone-lined pit about five feet from the cabin door. A large, cast-iron pot hung on a steel tripod over the fire. A breeze brought the aroma of cooking food to her nose and her neglected stomach complained loudly.

"This is where you live?" She hoped that her question had covered up the embarrassing sound of her empty belly, but knew she had failed. The man made a grunt that sounded like an agreement then strolled off towards the fire.

Kethry stayed where she was, unsure if he wanted her to come along and of her ability to take another step. He moved like a dancer or very skilled fighter, as if he had muscles in places most people didn't. He seemed to forget she was even there. She crouched down and checked the pot, giving it a cautious sniff before tasting the contents. Kethry wavered badly, almost fainting. She leaned forward, resting her hands on her knees just to keep upright. She focused on keeping on her feet.

"Sit down before you fall down." He made his point by giving her a light push with one finger on her shoulder. She thumped down hard on her butt, a small "ump" escaping her.

"Here, eat." He thrust a bowl into her shaking hands, a simple stew sloshing over its edge. Kethry forced herself to eat slowly, while he just stood there and watched her eat, his strange cool eyes never leaving her. He took a good look at her, taking in her shabby clothes that might have been nice at one time. Her hair was the silver of the moon and, more than likely, hung to her waist when clean and brushed. Her eyes were an emerald green and held a deep pain and bitterness. She was of average height and lean, but it was easy to see that her slender build did not come from hard work, for her hands were soft and smooth. She had an almost-button nose and slightly pouty lips. He snorted to himself. What was a girl like this doing out here? he wondered.

"You got a name?" he said abruptly. Kethry swallowed before answering.

"Kethry."

"Odd name." His gaze never left her, but Kethry had found a calm inside of her that would not be shaken. If she was to die, then she would accept it.

"What about you?" She met his gaze.

He puffed up a little. "I am Vegeta." He said it as if not only should she know it, but also like she should be impressed and honored. Kethry fought the urge not to snicker.

"And you said my name was odd." She polished off the last of the food and set the bowl aside, feeling a bit better. Her odd rescuer seemed to pointedly ignore her comment. "Done eating?" Kethry nodded slightly and found the bowl jerked from her grip.

"Good, then follow me." Vegeta turned on his heel and started away. Kethry stood but made not move to follow.

"Why? Where are you going to take me?"

Pausing, Vegeta looked over his shoulder at her, a frown starting between his eyebrows. "Just follow, girl."

"Look, do not get me wrong, I am really thankful for the food and all but I just don't see why I should trust you." She clasped her hands at her belly and gazed at him, trying to look thankful but unmovable. A slow smile spread across Vegeta's lips. He moved towards her in a smooth easy motion, gliding instead of walking, like he had muscles most people did not. Kethry suddenly became frightened once more. He put his face close to hers.

"I never asked you to trust me." His tone sent shivers down her spine. "I will show you where you can sleep, unless you wish to sleep on the ground." There was a brief flicker in his eye and Kethry gulped.

Turning, Vegeta chuckled and strolled away. Hanging her head, she followed him, into the one-room cabin. When Kethry's eyes adjusted to the dim light, she took a good look around. Just left of the door was a single chair pushed under a small table. Directly above the table were three shelves made of rough-cut planks and on these shelves were what seemed to be all the man's possessions. Neatly folded clothing lay upon the topmost shelf, while the second held foodstuffs. However, the contents of the third and lowest shelf caught her attention. Several strange devices were lined up neatly; none of them looked familiar to Kethry in this dim light. Turning her gaze away, she continued to scan the room. The next wall was covered in framed pictures. They seemed to be family photos, smiling adults and laughing children. Here and there, Vegeta's image looked out from behind the glass covers, a grim face among a sea of happiness. The only other thing in the room was a single-sized bed, its sheets crisp and looking as if they had never been slept on. Light filtered through a small window opposite the door.

Vegeta waved a hand toward the bed. "You can sleep here. I will be outside." Without waiting for her to respond, he left, closing the door firmly behind him. Sighing heavily, Kethry kicked off her shoes and curled up on top of the bed. Quickly sleep overtook her.