Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Blood Moon ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Blood Moon

Chapter 3

I woke to find Heero looking at me from above... "Duo, are you awake?", Heero asked, "The Lord wants to speak with us as soon as we're able.",

I managed a nod, before sitting up, and taking my clothing, which had been washed, and headed for the bathroom. "Duo, if when we find the Jewel will you?...", Heero asked, "Will you leave forever?",

"I... Don't know Heero.", I answered.

"...", I heard him get up, before leaving the room.

"Oh, Heero...", I sighed.

....

We headed downstairs to see the Dragon Lord after I was dressed. "I am Heero creation of Treize, from the Forest of Rain.", Heero introduced himself, "This is Duo Maxwell, a visitor from another world.",

"So, you are not of this world?", Lord Chang asked, interested.

"I just appeared here...", I responded, "I really didn't know that there was another place with living people.",

"I see...", the Lord said, "Well, I am glad you have come to this kingdom... Dragon rider.", he paused.

Heero looked at me, shock on his face, and Milliardo watched me with respect. "I'm.... One of you?", I asked.

"Yes, you are.", the Lord nodded, "You will have enough for a year's travels, and we will see if any of the dragons will let you, and your friend ride them. Milliardo take them to go see Taveron.",

"Yes, my Lord.", Milliardo bowed.

"Thank you, Lord Chang.", I said, and I along with Heero bowed.

"You will have Taveron to guide you through the Northern Lands.", the Lord said, before we left.

....

I, and Heero entered what seemed to be a stable building for holding dragons. The rooms where dimly lit, as I entered I had to let my eyes adjust to the light. Milliardo lit a nearby lamp a little brighter, and shone it through the cracks, and crevices. A creature dodged it into the safety of the dimmer shadows. "Sorry about that, Taveron, didn't mean to shine it in your eyes.", Milliardo apologized to the small animal- like creature.

"That's fine, Milliardo.", Taveron replied to him, "No harm done.",

"Well, I'm glad, listen, the Dragon Lord wants you to see if any dragons will let these two ride them.", Milliardo whispered to him, "One of them is a new dragon rider, so he's not the problem, however, the winged one is.",

"We'll just take you out to walk among them, hopefully, you find one of your matches.", Taveron spoke to us.

So, we both followed out to a field of dragons, they all were busy keeping watch over the herd of horses that was penned up with them. Taveron tossed the blonde bangs out of his eyes, and for the first time, I thought he looked similar to Quatre. "Now, just walk around, and see if any don't....", he wandered off mid- sentence.

What appeared to me to be a dust cloud came streaming towards us, before skidding to a halt at my side. By the time I could see again, it was a crimson colored dragon that was there. It nudged my shoulder like it wanted something from me. "Oh, that was fast, and from such a young dragon too.", Taveron stated.

"What do you mean?", I asked.

"For dragons he's still barely a teenager.", Taveron explained.

....

It was late in the day that we returned to the castle, and we started to celebrate our departure for the next morning, Heero would ride with me, since no dragons came to him, and we'd have supplies enough to go ahead towards the north. It was a joyous evening, as Lord Chang entered the Dinning Hall. "I am glad at this gay show of joyous celebration. However, I have a feeling that you two, Duo, you most of all will be facing tough times ahead, be careful, and as always, good luck.", he toasted, "Let the feast begin!",

"Taveron, I am also sending with you a bolt or two of our finest silk for a couple barrels of your mother's kassa tea.", Lord Chang told him.

"Ah, yes, we'll make it just in time for the full moon harvest, and mating, won't we? It's a shame that Mom'll be busy brewing tea for trade, but, I'll get a keg or two of it.", Taveron responded, "Seems how you like it so much.",

"You know as well as I do that your species is the only kind that can get to the plants needed to make it.", the Lord stated, chuckling.

....

As the party wound down, I decided it best to ask Taveron about his people, since we were to stay a while in his village. "Well, I'm a were- creature, Kikana to be exact.", he explained, "Kikana is a creature much like a seal, and otter combination, we change once every two moons, and that's the only form we hunt, and gather food in, as well as can mate, or give birth in.",

"You mean, you know when the women will give birth?", I asked.

"Yes, and when it's time for us males to pick a mate too, only I don't have one yet, and won't be for some moons.", Taveron answered.

"Do you think it'll be rough getting up North this time of season?", I stated.

"Hard to tell, the end of summer here, and start of autumn could be a blizzard one year, or the warmest day of the year the next.", he informed, "My kind are rather sensitive to shifts in nature itself, and can tell when danger is near.",

"I see.", I replied, plainly.

....

Later that night, I looked at Heero who lay, without his shirt on. The moonlight glinted off of his skin, giving it a snowy color. I sighed as I stroked the softness of his wing, if only I could just... But, that would have to wait, at least until he thought it right for us. 'That could be never!', my mind screamed in my head.

Never, it felt a long time to wait, I'd have to though, if we were to find the gem. It felt odd loving someone so much, and yet, knowing you were going to leave them behind.

....

The next morning, we were up before the sun to get packed, and ready to head out. I managed to catch Heero by himself for a couple seconds. As I approached I could have caught a look of scarlet undertones in his cheeks. A good sign. "Heero, are you sure that you don't just want to stay here until I get back?", I asked.

He firmly nodded, looking down at the ground. Then, he looked up at me, never before had I seen such an expression on his face, as it had been then. His hands reached for mine, as my breath caught, he drew me closer, before muttering a few quiet words I would never, ever forget. "I- I- Love you, Duo.", Heero stated.

Before I could respond he kissed me quickly on the cheek, before running off. I rubbed my cheek as I could still feel the warm, silky touch of his lips, the warm, ribbons of breath that had washed over that spot. I felt a great amount of bursting love for Heero right then, but had no one to share it with. He loved me, he really did, but, was I rushing myself? Had it really meant that, not some, some form of puppy love? I hoped not.

....

The sun's first rays started to peek above the fields when we mounted our dragons, and launched into the sky. I looked back at Heero, who was bundled among furs of almost every animal, only stitched into boots, gloves, pants, coats.... Though I was the same myself, it didn't look as odd as it did on him. "You hanging on there, Heero?", I asked.

A meek nod was the reply. I let the dragon do the work, instructing it to always follow the one ahead. "I think I have a good name for it.", I said to myself, "Scylla.",

The fields below melted into mountains, and valleys of beauty that I had only seen in my dreams, how soon did they turn to snow, and ice, I found to be very empty in all.

....

We landed for camp, and as always I had a lot on my mind, would we really find it up north? Did Heero truly feel that he loved me, possibly as much as I loved him? What was Taveron's clan like? I hoped friendly.

End Chapter