Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Priestess of the Moon: Return of the Lunar Dragon ❯ From Hate to Love ( Chapter 2 )

Reiku couldn't believe he had made a deal with and elf! Even worse, the daughter of that bastard Aubrey! The way she started to act as soon as she learned of what he was made him sick. All stuck up and looking down her nose at him, like she was his better and he was nothing more than a pile of horse dung. To think he tried to be nice to her!

 

He rode ahead, with Kiya and Mitt behind him at a distance. They were talking quietly amongst themselves so that he couldn't hear anything but mumbles. He gritted his teeth angrily. Only two weeks, at the most, and he won't have to deal with her again. He'll drop her off at the palace where she'll be safe with daddy and he won't have to deal with her anymore.

 

They rode throughout the day, stopping only to eat at midday. Kiya bluntly ignored him. But he noticed that Mitt would say a few words to him and she didn't smell as nervous as before. He shrugged it off though. The anthro kitten was friends with Kiya. Odds are that was as much as Mitt was going to talk to him at a time.

 

When the sun set, he would stopped and start to set up camp for the night. As soon as he set up the tent, Kiya would disappear in it and not come out until dinner was done cooking, then go back in for the rest of the night. For the first few nights, Mitt went in with her. But now, she would help out with the cooking or go collect brush from the woods. She still barely said anything, but Reiku was grateful for the help.

 

One night, they had just finished dinner and he and Mitt were sitting near the fire. Kiya had gone into the tent for the night. He and Mitt didn't talk for a while. Instead, Mitt stripped the bark off a small stick and Reiku stroked the fire with a long tree limb. So when Mitt spoke, it jumped him slightly.

 

“I'm sorry,” Mitt said. She dropped the stick and pawed at her tail thoughtfully. “I feel that it's my fault that there's tension between everyone.”

 

Reiku shook his head. “Don't worry about it,” he said, “I am what I am. It's in her nature- our nature- to hate each other. We're sworn enemies.”

 

“But you're a good guy,” Mitt said, “because you could have killed her in the confusion. But you saved us instead.”

 

Reiku couldn't help but smile at the compliment. “Thanks,” he told her.

 

Mitt waved a paw. “No problem. You are what you are, true, but,” she looked at him, locking her eyes on his, “she shouldn't judge you because of your species. And you shouldn't judge her for the same reason. It's the heart that counts, that tells you what a person is like.” Mitt sighed and shook her head. “My grandfather taught me that, and I feel ashamed that I forgot so quickly. I judged you because you were a werewolf, not bothering to learn who you really were. My grandfather must be disappointed with me in the heavens.”

 

Reiku looked at Mitt sadly. “Your grandfather sounds like he was a wise man. I'm sure he's proud of you.”

 

Mitt smiled sadly. “Thank you, and yes, he was a wise man.” Mitt looked into the distance, lost in thought. “It's amazing how quickly you can lose the ones you love so dearly.”

 

Reiku jolted slightly, sorrow filling him. He turned his head so Mitt wouldn't see the tears that threatened to come out. “I know,” he whispered softly.

 

Mitt didn't notice and Reiku was thankful. They were silent for a moment, and then Mitt stood up. “Well, I'm off to bed. It was nice talking to you Reiku.”

 

“Same here Mitt. Good night.”

 

“Good night,” Mitt said with a smile and then went into the tent.

 

Reiku sighed and stretched out on the ground and stared up at the sky, looking at the stars. As he began drifting off to sleep, he couldn't help but think about what Mitt had said. And that led to a certain feeling he had for Kiya. “Come on,” he growled to himself, “you're acting stupid. You'll take her home and that's that.” He then closed his eyes and drifted off.

 

It felt like he wasn't even asleep for five minutes when he was woken up by a noise. His eyes flew open and he laid still. The fire had gone out, but his wolf enhanced eyes let him see a dark figure creeping past him. He shot upright and pulled out his dagger. “Who's there?” he snarled.

 

“It's just me,” Kiya snapped softly.

 

Reiku sighed and sheathed his dagger. “What are you doing?” he asked

 

“Going to use the latrine,” Kiya said snappishly, “is that a problem with you?”

 

Anger filled Reiku. What will it take? “No,” he snapped, “there isn't a problem.”

 

“Fine then.”

 

“Fine.”

 

Kiya went into the woods and Reiku laid back down, grumbling to himself. He waited until he heard Kiya come back and enter the tent before allowing himself to fall back asleep.

 

~*~

 

“You don't have to be so rude to Reiku. He did save our lives.”

 

Kiya listened to Mitt. She stared at Reiku's back as they rode along the road. “He's a werewolf,” she said coldly, “and he cannot be trusted.”

 

Mitt sighed and looked at Kiya. “Yes, he is a werewolf. But he is a good person. He could have killed you because you're an elf, but he didn't.” Mitt then grinned. “In my book, he's an okay guy.”

 

“But…”

 

“No buts,” Mitt cut off, “You will be decent to him. And if you don't, I'll take a switch and warm your backside. Don't think I won't.”

 

Kiya sighed and nodded. She nudged her mare up to Reiku's stallion. When she rode next to him, she didn't say anything. They rode in silence for a few moments.

 

“I'm sorry,” Kiya said after a while, “I owe you my life and I haven't treated you kindly. You are a good person, despite what you are. I just want to apologize.”

 

Reiku looked at her. For a moment, Kiya thought that he will deny her apology. She gathered her reins, ready to back up to where Mitt was waiting. Instead, Reiku smiled slightly and nodded. “Apology accepted,” he said.

 

Kiya smiled and called out to Mitt behind them, “Come on, Mitt. It's safe now.”

 

Reiku laughed as Mitt cantered up to them. “By the way you sounded, you'd think Mitt was afraid that we were going to bite each other's heads off.”

 

Mitt grinned and said, “Well, you never know, with you two being a werewolf and an elf.”

 

“Oh Mitt,” Kiya said, “We're friends now. So stop complaining.”

 

“I'm not complaining, compared to you, Miss I-don't-like-him-cause-he's-a-evil-werewolf.”

 

Kiya laughed and threw up her hands. “Okay, you win Mitt.”

 

“Good. Now pay me.”

 

They all laughed and Kiya couldn't help but feel glad that the tension that had been between them was now gone. But now that the feeling of hate was gone between her and Reiku, she felt a different feeling every time she talked to him as they continued down the road. She had heard the girls back at home talk about “love at first sight” but Kiya didn't think that such a thing could happen; especially with a werewolf.

 

The next few days were bliss. With the tension gone, the three of them couldn't help but enjoy themselves. They would have races on the horses and sit and talk while they ate. As time went by, something started to go between Reiku and Kiya; a bond no one thought possible between a werewolf and an elf.

 

One night, a week or so after they started their journey, they sat around the campfire, just finishing a meal Mitt cook up.

 

Reiku sighed and stretched his legs out. “Good food, Mitt. Now I know who to look for if I ever want a cook.”

 

Mitt laughed and set her tin plate down. “I got it from my mother. She had to be a good cook, with my father and all.”

 

Kiya smiled and stared skyward. It was a clear night and the air was pleasant. She heard a night hawk's cry as it searched for its meal. She always loved the night, despite its dangers.

 

“Well, I'm going to bed,” Mitt said. She got up and stretched. “Good night.”

 

“Good night,” Reiku and Kiya said. When Mitt went into the tent, silence stretched between Kiya and Reiku.

 

Finally, Reiku asked, “What do you know about… about my kind?”

 

Kiya looked at Reiku for a moment before she spoke. “That they are the most evil things in this world. They had slaughtered an entire village of my people. I was four when that happened. But I was taught that werewolves were soulless and that they had no heart.”

 

Reiku sighed sadly. He had been expecting at answer.

 

“But,” Kiya started. Reiku looked up as the elf maiden stood and moved to sit beside him. She took his hand in his and finished. “I have learned that those teachings about all werewolves being evil ad soulless are wrong. You have a heart. I can see it.” Then she touched the side of his face gently.

 

Reiku looked at her and then he kissed her. Her lips tasted of honey and she smelled of wildflowers. He had kissed and loved many women in his life, but none of them matched to this. It felt like a fire raged inside of him as soon as his lips touched hers. He never felt this way about anyone before.

 

He expected her to pull back, but she didn't. When Reiku finally broke the kiss, he lowered his eyes. “I'm sorry,” he said softly, “I shouldn't have done that.”

 

Kiya lifted Reiku's chin so he would have to look at her. Her green eyes bore into his. “I don't care. My heart is mine to give to whom I will.” Then she kissed him.

 

Reiku pulled Kiya closer to him, cupping the back of her head with his hand. The fire raged stronger now, knowing that Kiya loved him. It was a dangerous love, he knew that, but at that moment, he didn't care, because he knew that it was a risk the both of them were willing to take. After a while, they reluctantly pulled apart again.

 

“We should go to bed,” Kiya said softly, “we'll be leaving early in the morning.”

 

“Yeah,” Reiku said. He didn't want the night to end though. He wanted it to last forever. But he stood and helped Kiya to her feet. He walked her to the tent. “Well,” he started, and then kissed her lips lightly, “Good night.”

 

“Do you want to come in tonight?” Kiya asked.

 

Reiku shook his head. “Not tonight,”

 

Kiya nodded and whispered, “Good night.” Then she slipped inside the tent.