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Chapter 1 – The Smart –

1.) Discovery

My eyes were popped open suddenly. I just realized I was unconscious before but I did not know for how long and why. The last memory was that I was dressing up in front of my wardrobe and leaned for the keys on my desk. Then nothing else.

The floor under my back was cold and made from metal, as I slowly regained my full brain capacity I jumped up as I realized I wasn't home anymore. It was a room, made from metal, without furniture. The only light source was a display built into the wall in front of me.

“What the fuck?" I let myself an expression. This display showed symbols all over without meaning. As I touched it carefully it showed another bunch of unknown letters, maybe numbers. It was a little similar to Chinese but mixed with Ancient Egypt and Sanskrit. Definitely a language but I had no idea what could that be. Touching a few more times let me the impression that it was a terminal to the room's services, which was strange according to the fact it was completely empty.

“You! Stupid rope!" I heard a women muffled noise. It was echoing maybe on a corridor. In my pocket I had my phone so I switched on the flashlight. This way I was able to spot the door on the other end which led to a corridor. The shape of this tunnel was hexagon, also made from metal. “Let me go!" She was shouting again angrily.

I had to walk only for a minute when I dropped my jaw and my legs rooted to the spot. The ceiling had been collapsed onto the ground and entangled with the cables running aloft there was a lioness hanging midway. A real, alive and very angry lioness, growling and snarling, chewing on a thick cable, swearing quietly.

“Need any help?" I asked tentatively but I only got a blood freezing glance. She was heavily entangled by different sized and colored cables.

“Fuck off Pinky!" She added. I have never seen a creature like her before. Of course I have seen lions and basically big cats in the zoo and in the telly, but she was talking and… well, wobbling helplessly. “You stupid rope! LET ME GO!" She cried and gave all her power to the movement, pointlessly as the cables were too strong even for a muscular creature like her. I thought I should inspect the situation from a little closer. Though the first impression wasn't the best, but maybe I can turn the things around.

“I think I can help you, as I see there is a main cable up there, going down to your left hind paw… and the blue around your neck. If you jerk them with enough force… yes, I think it will do the trick." I walked around her keeping the safe distance. She had a beautiful body. I remembered myself that I'm dealing with a predator so I should not touch her. Don't touch her!

“I will break your bones and shred your flesh if you dare to touch me you… pathetic filthy pinky! You man swine!" She was obviously not into polite chatting.

“All right little ball of fur, I think I should go and look around. Hell knows where we are and how we got here." I looked around and took only two steps when she cried to me.

“Wait! It isn't your trap or something?" She was surprised. That meant she was just appeared here suddenly like me. The events were getting to a strange direction.

“No. I just woke up in an empty room and this…" I waved around. “…isn't looks familiar." I sighed. My head was full with questions and I only found more and more, no answers so far.

“I was walking home on the road and in the next minute I was up there. After my first step the whole floor gone… and I stuck here." She told her little story which I suspected already, made another attempt to free herself up.

“What are you by the way?" The evidences were pointing to the fact she wasn't what she looked like.

“Don't you know?" She was surprised again. I just shook my head. “I'm a lion, silly pinky" She waited for a few minutes. I was near at the end of my patience. She was a rude kitten.

“So… fluffy kitten… do you want to hang around a few more… hours, days… or will you accept my help?"

“Stop calling me that!" She showed her teeth.

“Stop calling me pinky! I'm a human!" I grinned back.

“Whatever! Human! Help me with these stupid, fucking ropes!" She motioned me to move. I had an idea after I muffled a laughter. A swearing big cat was hilarious if you ask me.

“My only condition is that you promise me not to do harm on me intentionally. If you promise this, I will untangle you."

“Fucking-fuck!" She cried up angrily and wiggled a little again. “Fine! I promise!" She accepted so with a smile I grabbed the previously mentioned cables and with only one little jerk she was falling to the ground. Being a cat, she landed on all four.

2.) Surprises

We agreed on exploring the place before making any attempts on killing each other. Obviously she would do the killing not me, but she promised not to. You know, just one grumpy apex predator can ruin your whole day.

The only light source was still my phone's little flashlight, which restricted the visual inspection greatly. The corridor was leading us straight in one direction for half an hour at least. On the left side, there were empty or closed rooms about sixty feet from each other, with the well-known symbols in different colors. It seemed like some kind of warehouse to keep and stock stuffs. Then after an hour in fumbling around there was an enormous, two winged metal door on the left side. I let myself another expression;

“This is a big fucking door!" I scratched my temple. In width it was at least a hundred feet, but the height was only nine or ten. Could have been a cargo door. The main problem was with opening it. No handles, no buttons just a wall box next by to it.

“It isn't opening." The lioness told me after she tried with brute force. According to the size I was sure she wouldn't even move an inch if she would have been ten times stronger.

“Could you tear of the lid from this box?" I pointed to the object. She looked at me like she saw something interesting, but then with a swift motion she tore open the box. Ten cables, a few crystal cylinders and a small handle was inside.

“Hmm… the cables could be coming from the power source; the cylinders are like switches or maybe… but this looks like a safety opener." I pulled the handle.

“Shit!" I cried because of the sudden loud hissing noise of some pneumatic device which moved the doors ten feet away from each other before they stopped. Sunlight emitted from the crack.

“You go first." I motioned to the petrified beast next by me. She looked at me like 'Dude, seriously?' but then she sighed and moved to the opening. I was just right behind her.

It was a city! A huge and empty city with tall glass-metal buildings, bridges between them. It was abandoned for at least a half hundred years according to the trees, bushes and the signs of the nature forces. On the road in front of us, car like vehicles were all over, some of them was burned out, some looked just they parked over and left behind. There wasn't any people, not even animals around… just me and the lioness.

“Do you recognize this city?" She asked me but I just slowly shook my head still under the influence of the monumental buildings. New York or Tokyo seemed like a small village next by the sizes of this place. It was… futuristic, like in a sci-fi movie. Or more like the pilot for a horror movie; suddenly I got that feeling.

“We should find food, water and shelter." I assessed after the first shock. The rules to the survival, lesson one. “Then we can look for answers; where are we? How we got here? Who did this? Why? Can we go back home?" I counted on my fingers.

“I have food." She licked her mouth meaningful.

“If you can eat me without breaking your promise, just go ahead." I waved my arms as it was impossible to eat someone without hurting it or doing harm.

“Just saying." She shrugged with elegance. Despite the fact she is an apex predator and probably my future death, she was mesmerizing and beautiful.

I walked to the closest vehicle when I realized it has no tire. There wasn't any sign of wheel either just four seats like in any car, and a huge black display in front of them. Maybe this was like a smart-car, or just an automatic vehicle. So the civilization who built it has advanced technology. I concluded they should have knowledge on teleporting as well, we just have to find the source. Do they have library? Or just a link to the Wikihow article?

“What are these? There are a lot of them in different colors." She also leaned to the windshield. So she has no clue what could be a car, maybe she is from a less advanced civilization, which could be a problem in this place.

“Chariots. Self-driving chariots without horses." I tried to explain but she was frowning.

“What is horse?" She asked again and I knew it will be a hard trip.

“Never mind. Let's explore a little around, that way. Keep looking for… well… anything." I sighed.

3.) Survive

Not knowing the language of the locals was a huge drawback as there was many labels and signs. Not a single picture but the well-known letters or numbers in different colors and sizes. They weren't helping us to find food or water source. Also after a few hours of walking slowly, the sun was going down. I had a bad feeling about continuing our exploration when the dark had fallen. I did not want to stay under the bare sky.

“Let's get inside of this building. I pointed to one on the right side. It was also enormous as I looked up I almost lost my balance, the top could be at three hundred storey high. Hopefully we could find a room to survive the night, it was getting colder too.

“I suppose I will go first." She remarked ironically and went ahead of my answer and me as well. In the front side there was a huge glass door and behind a big hall with few desks, everything else was engulfed by the shadows of the setting sun.

The base level seemed to be a reception hall and nothing else, only metal desks with displays and chairs, stairs were heading up to the next level. We agreed on that we should give a try. The first floor looked like a hotel corridor with many, many doors with big signs on them, carpet on the ground and remains of some decoration on the walls.

The first door was locked tight we weren't able to move it, but the next was sliding easily back into the wall. The room wasn't bigger than two hundred square feet. The other end was a massive glass looking to a similar building and the room contained only a big bed and a small desk next by it. I saw that the wall at the right side has some door barely reaching the height of my hip. As I stepped to it and opened, it could have been a fridge before or just a small cabinet, it contained twelve small, brown packages and three bottles with transparent liquid.

“I think I have found food and water." Commented while she slid the main door back.

“Great! So we won't die of thirst." She said, meanwhile I opened a bottle and sniffed in it. Smelled like water too so I sipped a little.

“It's good. Here, drink." I handed over but she only looked at me like I did something strange again. I had no clue what surprised her that much. “What?"

“Nothing." She whispered after a while and took the bottle, drank all of the contents with huge gulps. I quickly made a small pack from a rug and placed all the stuffs, made a knot on it. That way we will able to carry this little survival pack with us.

The next problem was with the bed. It was huge for a human, but for a human AND a lion it seemed tiny. She suggested that I should sleep on the floor or she will do something bad with me. I reminded her promise which she accepted with a threatening grin and growling. After she saw I wasn't frightened she just frowned and let me lay next to her.

“I don't know your name." I whispered after we was about to sleep. It was hard as too many things happened with us within a short period of time. I was still digesting the fact that I found myself in an abandoned, dead, alien city with a talking lioness.

“You did not earn the right to know my name pinky… or human… whatever." She rolled to her side and turned her back to me.

“Why do you call me pinky?" I was curious.

“Because your skin is pink." She explained and she was right after all.

“Then I should call you Tawny. Or Yellow maybe." I was pondering

“I strongly advise not to." She growled the sentence, maybe to highlight her words.

“How about Beautiful? Or Miraculous? Hm… Mira or Beauty?" I continued but then she was rolling to her other side and looked at me totally taken aback. “What?"

“Do you think I'm beautiful?" She asked, I suspected some kind of trap there.

“Yes. Is that a problem?"

“No… you… what are you?" She looked confused again.

“A Human I told you." She just shook her head.

“You are smart, selfless, you believed me when I promised you I won't hurt you, thought you do not know me. Now you are calling me beautiful. I just cannot understand." She looked into my eyes, hers were glistering in the dark and reflecting the stars outside of the window.

“I don't understand either. I'm confused and I don't know what to do, but you are here and keeping the hope alive that I have you here; I'm not alone in this trouble we are in." I confessed.

“Maybe you are right. If we stick together and help each other, we can survive and find a way home. I know you know more than you show me." She put a paw onto my hand a grabbed on it. I took as an encouraging move.

“Thank you, beautiful lioness." I rolled to her and hugged her. To my biggest surprise she hugged me back.

4.) The Stranger in disguise

At the beginning of the night I told her what I knew and what I suspected. According to the evidences we are on an alien planet, but it is abandoned because of something. The vegetation and the erosion level suggesting that it happened at least fifty or sixty years ago, if we assume the plants grow as fast as on Earth. The cars are all over the place and there is no sign of intentional damage; so the residents were leaving fast. Also we did not found any corpse or bones, remains of any kind of creature. Probably it wasn't a disease or war or something that cause visible damage and people to die on the spot. But we agreed on that cracking these nuts will not get us closer to the solution how to go back home. Then we fall asleep.

At the morning I felt something tickling my ears and face. As I reached for the suspected fly I bumped into something big and furry.

“Wake up." A woman whispered into my ear from really-really up close. As I slowly opened my eyes a lioness looked back at me only from an inch. I gasped and spasm in fear, but she put her paw onto my mouth not to cry up too. “There is something outside." she added.

After a minute of shock, I could hear the slow footsteps form outside. Something heavy just passed in front of our door. It was walking on two feet I concluded.

“What should we do?" I whispered.

“We should wait a little then peek out. Then we will figure out something." She answered my exact thoughts. Maybe we are more similar than I guessed from the first day knowing her.

We sneaked to the door and opened big enough to peek out. There was a big creature around a hundred foot from us. It was almost ten foot tall, seemed really muscular. Because of the dark corridor I couldn't see more, it turned around and noticed us.

“What should we do?" She asked me. Me!

“Well… basically… run!" I guessed. If something that enormous attacks you, the best you can do is run like hell into the opposite direction. She did not start a debate.

As soon as we reached the stairs I knew we were in bigger trouble then we thought. There was another of this thing blocking the entrance. That time we could saw that it looked like a two legged crocodile. Big long snout, mouth full with pointy teeth, ten inch of sharp claws, muscular body. Definitely something that you don't want to engage in fistfight.

“What should we do?!" The lioness cried again, I started to recognize a repeating pattern there, which didn't make me happy. If an apex predator is terrified of something, you should at least shit your pants… twice. Well I was in shock already and panicked. Abandoned cities are a thing I can handle but walking lizard-men chasing you is something that terrifies me. I saw too many horror movies!

“Upstairs!" I said and did accordingly. Hopefully there won't be any of this thing on the upper levels. The problem was there were at least three hundred levels and we will probably die of exhaustion before we reach the top. Thankfully I memorized the surroundings before entering the skyscraper; there was a bridge to the next building, collapsed onto the street which could be an escape.

We reached the fifth level and turned to the corridor. On the left side a bigger arch showed the way and as we passed the bridge was like a chute to the ground level.

“There are more of it!" She shouted as soon as we reached the street. Indeed at least twenty more was getting closer from every direction. We were cornered!

That was the first time when it happened; I felt my senses sharpening, I could hear more, see more and scents filled my nose. My blood was blazing, my muscles tensed… it was like the world slowed down a bit. The closest creature jumped to me and tried to claw my chest. I reached for the attacking arm, tho' I knew it could be ten times stronger than me, but the instincts kicked in.

As soon as I grabbed its hand between the claws it stopped. I felt the incredible power of his body. I managed to stop it instantly. I was bewildered by the fact, somehow I became stronger than that creature. I kicked its stomach and it flew back half hundred foot.

Then I heard the crackling noise from my palm, the bones in it started to extend, my fingers got bigger and thicker, I saw claws forming from my nails. The pain was unbearable and I collapsed to the ground grabbing my ribs. My body was changing; I must stop that! I must stop that! I was crying silently. Then the pain faded away.

I did not understand why those creatures were not attacking me, kneeling on the ground, reaching around my chest. But as I leveled my gaze onto the lioness I forgot all my problems. She was glowing, like molten steel. Her eyes were like two stars and the air above her was wobbling like she would have been a campfire. Strangely there wasn't any emitting heat. I was officially confused to the point I dropped my jaw. She stepped towards me and stood onto two legs. Her form changed to human within a second.

“What the fuck?!" I cried meanwhile the glow faded away and a long, curly, red haired, green eyed woman reached for my hand with a smile at the corner of his mouth.

“Don't worry. You will be fine." She said on the same voice. She wore an old looking black robe, decorated with black feathers and small bones. Also there were several thousand small symbol sewed into it, with dark gray thread.

“What the fuck?!" I cried again and pushed her hand away. My eyes were racing between her and the creatures around me. That whole thing just did not make any sense. I looked to my hand it was normal again so I slowly stood up.

“Explain me: what happened? Who are you? What are these and for fucks sake… what the fuck is happening with me?" I commanded on high voice. The creatures were not moving, they just stood there and looked at us, sometimes hissed or made strange grunting noises.

“These are just animals of this Realm. I'm in control. What you experienced was a series of tests. I suspected that you are more than you looked like and as I saw recently, I was right." She smiled. She was as beautiful in human form as in lion form. “Oh you passed the tests, by the way. Now come on. There is more you should learn about yourself and your world. I can give you all the knowledge you ever wished for." She waved, snapped with her fingers and a glowing, sizzling door appeared next by her made from light. My jaw was on the ground again.

“Who are you?" I asked in pure surprise.

“I'm Tlachtga, the druid. And from this very moment Doctor Roland Wolf, you are part of my team." She smiled and stepped inside of the light. I followed her.

Chapter 2 – The Soldier –

1.) Graveyard

I was kneeling in front of the tombstone of my most beloved. She died five years ago but I won't forget her ever. She was the one who brought me happiness, joy and the best years of my life. Ninety years and I remember our first day just like it would have been yesterday. I touched the ground meanwhile I tried to muffle my senses. I did not want to smell the decomposing flowers on the wet mud, the decaying nature all around us. It was fall, just like when we married.

“Father. The cubs are hungry, we will go home and give them something to eat." A paw reached to my shoulder and patted. I forgot that my son and his family was there also. Da'aryth can have offspring from any intelligent species. Maybe the joke of the nature that the offspring will look like the mother in every aspect except the lifespan. That is why my son was a lion despite I was looking like a human. We can live five hundred years easily… to bad that we are the only creature near or far with the ability. My most beloved Ida was a youngster when we met, I saw her entire life. A sneaky tear left my eye and as Jerome saw he grabbed on my shoulder. I reached his paw and grabbed as well thankfully.

“All right son. See you later." I answered keeping the chatting tone. It was harder than I would admit to anyone but I must be strong in front of the cubs. I was Robert the Grandfather to them, the only person besides their parents that they were looking up. I was always firm and definite, always knew what to do and how to do that. I must not show any sign of weakness.

“Come on little ones, time to leave your Grandfather alone a little." He guided those intemperate little fur balls away.

“I miss you." I whispered to the ground. I lived two hundred years as a Da'aryth soldier. I became a Second General. I defeated countless numbers of creatures from various species. Then I quit because I had had enough. After my resign I thought there is no place for me; tried north, the snow field and the mountains, the reign of infinite coldness. East, the swamplands and the home of the Lyraddarian Empire. West, the deepest and richest rainforests, home of many species including the wild people of Amazonia. South, the Land of the Sand and origin of the Lions. I did not find myself comfortable any of those places. I travelled for a hundred years when I built my home and settled down. Then I find Ida… more precisely she found me and we fell in love. Me, the killing machine, the soldier and she, the predator, the big cat.

I sighed and swept back my long hair which turned to gray by the age. I was four hundred and seven years old. An old man even for my species. As I lost my goal of life, I found another one; my son and his family I will protect them and guide them till my last breath. I stood up and took a deep breath reminding myself that with some luck I will have many-many breaths till that time. I must stay strong for them.

2.) Stranger

As I inhaled I felt a strange odor in the air; flowers and musk, feathers. My senses automatically extended to the point where I heard the heartbeats as well. I knew the owner was just a few steps away from me.

“Who are you?" I asked and turned to the direction. It was a woman in a black robe, feathers and bones were all around the textile, small runes were sewed into it everywhere. She had curly red hair and beautiful green eyes. But there was something strange. According her skin and features she must be at her forty years, but her eyes; centuries of knowledge were behind her eyes. Which meant she was not human… not even a Da'aryth which let me only one conclusion; she was a witch.

“My name is Tlachtga and I'm a druid. I would like to ask you something." She said with voice of an empress, her movements as he gesticulated with her hands was the most elegant I have ever seen. Yet, she was looking around like a soldier. She must have seen many battles, many horrors in her who-knows-how-long life, which made her dangerous. I was wishing for my Blood-Sword suddenly.

“I'm all ears." I shrugged and was ready for fight though I probably will be dead after two seconds without armor and weapons. I did not know how strong was she but I knew by the look that she was ready too. It would be an interesting combat.

“I know you would protect your family no matter what is the cost." She started and I tensed my muscles. If it was a threat then we I will test her skills. “They are in danger, just like everyone in this Realm." She continued which confused me for a fragment of a second.

“What kind of danger?" I asked quickly.

“World Eaters. They are an unstoppable army of creatures made from darkness and cold. They feed on lives and magic, they eat everything is living and then they open a doorway to another Realm to start the whole feast again." She said with anger and disgust. “But if you help me and my little team to protect a boy. We can defeat them once and for all. If we lost..." she sighed. “…they will continue with this Realm if they finished annihilating mine."

There was only silence for a few minutes meanwhile I was thinking heavily; If she tells the truth my family is in danger. If she lies... that will probably put my family in danger.

“Please Robert Franklin Broken-fang, Second General of the Dark Army of Da'aryth… Please help me save every world in every universe." She pleaded to me which made my decision easier.

“I help you." I said and she was relieved greatly. That will be an interesting fight with an army of beasts. Well… My past has come back to me again. I will be a Dark One for the last time in my life.

“You will have a week to prepare everything and I will bring you to the team." She said and waved with her hand, snap; a glowing door appeared next by her. “Thank you." She said with a smile and stepped inside. The next second the door vanished like a passing dream.

“Damn." I let myself an expression. But I swore I will save my family. For Ida, for Jerome, for the little fur-balls. I will kill the World Eaters… or die trying to.

Chapter 3 – The Beast –

1.) The Lioness in danger

I was in hurry as I tried to escape my attackers. They were after me. Humans, hunters and killers of my kind. They hated my folk because we were here first. I'm a Lion, a four legged creature but I'm not mindless, I'm not an animal. They thought we are unholy so they tried to kill us, wipe us from the face of the planet. But we are tough and the war between the two species was inevitable. It's been going on for a hundred years.

I was a scout, young, agile and have great senses. I could see farer than the others and hear even for the whispers of the ants from ten jumps distant. Also I have darker and brighter forms in my pelt which is good if you are hiding among the shadows.

But I was discovered and attacked a few minutes ago. I could fight and kill two of them but then they overcame me and I had been stabbed and cut on many places. I managed to escape but I was at the end of my stamina. I was bleeding badly and I could only limp.

I reached a wooden house with a barn. It wasn't a big one and I thought I could hide there for a few minutes to regain my power. Thought I know I was dying probably as the wound on my chest was deep. But I was a natural born fighter so I won't give up. Just forward!

I was one jump away from the barn door when it was opened by a human. He was surprised by me but I was exhausted. I thought it's the end… he will kill me or alert my followers.

***

I was living in the woods for years as I hated humans for what they were doing with the poor Lions and I hated the Lions for what they did to my friends. Basically I felt hate for everyone around me. That is the reason why I went up to the north and became a Monk of Agas. I spent seven years there and they taught me wisdom and peace. When I thought I left the hatred behind me I went back to my house in the woods. I was happy with my life from that moment. I took care of horses and cows as I studied Healing in my free time at the Monks. Before that I fought to kill everything and everyone. I was good in it. But now I'm fighting for life and as it turned out I'm good in this profession also. Which is ironical if you ask me.

I was just finished cleaning the barn when a Lioness appeared in front of me. The Pitchfork was still in my hand so I wasn't defenceless. I wasn't without it but as I quickly measured her with my senses I saw that she had one or two hours left and she will die because of the wounds she had. They were caused by arrows and swords not long ago so probably her attackers are after her to finish their job.

“Come. Quickly. Inside." I motioned to move. She was surprised and she was suspecting trap it was obvious. “They are close. Hide inside, I will handle them." I said and hurried her with my hand. I felt I must help her. She didn't wear any armour or weapon. She must be a scout mixed up too far from the border. “Move!" I shouted but on low voice and she finally limped inside next to me. I got another dose of suspicious and shocked face but she did what I said. I quickly closed the barn and made myself ready for the visitors.

***

The human was acting strange. He showed me empathy and wanted to help me hiding. First I thought it's just some kind of game and he will stab me in the next second but he did not. So I thought I will give it a try. When I limped inside I saw something that made me taken aback. A short braided cord was hanging from his waist, tucked under his belt. I recognized that cord from a book. He must be a Monk of Agas. But how he got here? In the middle of the land. Meanwhile I laid behind a crate I heard that my followers are arrived.

“Good day my friends!" The monk welcomed them with exuberant joy. I thought I made a huge and deadly mistake by trusting him.

“Have you seen a wounded beast nearby? The trails are led us here." One of them said and I heard the clanks of their armour as they walked closer to the barn.

“In fact I saw something moving nearby." The monk said. “But I don't know where is that creature now."

“Stop playing with us weirdo!" Someone shouted at him. I thought in case of fight I must help him. Two against five is better than one against five. But I did not know if he could fight or not. After all he is a damn Monk not a fighter!

“Thank you for your kind words but I may ask you to leave and as fast as you can." The monk told them and I heard a few of them were laughing for a minute. Is he insane? He had only a pitchfork against well forged swords and heavy armour. He will die after a second or two. Then they will find me and I will be dead too. 'Damn Cirella! You screwed it badly' I scolded myself.

But the laughter ended and surprised, shocked sighs filled the air. I could feel something; the air was heavy with… death and pain… like after a huge battle when you can only see corpses and blood. But it was different it came from something thinking. A consciousness emitted this thing. My tail was shivering and my ruff were bristled.

Cries, muffled noises, blood freezing splashing, sound of lagging limbs. Then silence. They fought with something and they lost within seconds. Will that thing find me and kill me as well? The barn doors were opening slowly and I was ready to die.

***

I was opening the barn door slowly as I was still shocked after the events. The soldiers were dead and I had their blood on my body. I hated every single second of what happened. I hated because it was my past came alive again. But I had no choice. They attacked me so I have to… never mind. 'There is a lioness in my barn.' I reminded myself that she was heavily wounded and needed my help. So I stepped inside.

I knew she was shivering behind an oil crate I could hear her heart beats, I smelled the blood on her wounds, it made me swallow a big one, I felt her fear tinted the air and the small gasping breaths. it was stimulating… I shook my head to make my senses calm.

“You can come out. They are… gone." I said but my voice was still… hoarse. I cleared my throat and tried again. “You are safe now. Come out so I can tend your wounds." It was better. My voice was more human like. 'Good Arcturus, first scare the hell out of her, then reassure her everything is fine. Next time you should stay calm. Simple swords can't hurt you deadly'. I was thinking as I walked slowly to her hiding place. She was there but I know she was at the end of her stamina. She tried to stood up but she fell back to the ground.

“Please. Just be quick." She sighed. Maybe she thought I will kill her. I did not blame her for that as I was soaking in blood and organ meats.

2.) The Seduction

The first thing I realized my chest is hurting so I groaned in pain. Then I realized I'm still alive and my wounds were covered with bandages. I smelled sweet thing underneath maybe some medicine. Then as I moved to stand up the pain hit me from every direction… so I just lay back and only move my head. I was inside of a building, and laying on a couch. There were bowls with sweet and bitter smells. Maybe he brewed my medicine here. A fireplace in front of me and a huge painting above it. It was a black dragon with opened wings, ready to fly. I thought it was beautiful and fearful. The door was at my feet only one jump away. And another one on the opposite side. Then I saw a glass of water next by me. As raised my paw to grab it something held it down. The fear filled me that he chained me here like a beast then I saw a rubber tube coming from my paw and ending in a spherical object above my head. Fluids came from that object. I had no idea what could that be but I thought it's something that keeps me alive. I slowly moved to use my other paw but it hurt me badly.

“Don't ruin your bandages. Let me help." The man came from nowhere. I did not hear his footsteps so I must be in bad shape. He grabbed the glass and put it to my mouth. It was water so I gulped it down fast as I almost choke. “There, there. You will be fine." He patted my paw then refilled the glass. I just noticed he is naked and there is a towel on his shoulder. First I thought he raped me while I was unconscious then I saw the water on his skin. He must have cleaned himself. And as the thought thread flown I remembered he was covered with blood and others.

“What happened with the soldiers?" I asked and he stopped in motion for a second.

“They won't hurt anyone… anymore." He said and as I could tell he was sad about something. It was obvious he killed them. But how? How could a Monk kill five armoured soldier with swords and bows?

“You are a monk, aren't you?" I asked again. He looked at me and smiled. It was a happy smile and he looked nice with it.

“Yes. I was a Monk of Agas years ago. I liked to be one, it was peaceful and the Mountains of Agas is a beautiful place. Maybe one day you will see…" then he looked on my wounds and grinned. “If you will be more careful." He added and walked behind the couch. I did not hear his footsteps but he put something on a table so I was sure he is far behind me, maybe in a kitchen or at least in another room opening from this one.

“What is this thing? That one attached to my paw?" I asked but I couldn't shout because my throat was shore. I wanted to know what he did to me.

“Fake blood. It will refill your veins with a blood-like fluid. Good replacement if you lost a loot as you did before." He shouted back… so he heard it. I wasn't sure but he must be hearing sharp. 'Fake Blood?' I was thinking. 'I heard a Healer talking about Fake Blood. They made it from herbs, water and specially made blood concentrate from an animal.' So I figured it out he must be or he was a Healer too… but he killed many human and healers swore not to do harm… 'the whole thing doesn't make sense.' I shook my head.

***

I grabbed the poor thing and brought her into my house. She was unconscious by that time so I put her on my shoulder and then onto my couch. Then I grabbed my Healer Pack and started to fix her wounds. After I finished with everything I was sure she will make it so I was happy. I have never examined a lion up close so it was an interesting experience. Her body was slim and muscular, her eyes were shining like gems and her fur was soft as silk. I fell in love with her beautiful body so I shook my head. It's just the lust of the body… I admit years maybe a decade passed since I could ease my lust for pleasure. That woman was my best friend but we often had sex and we enjoyed it much. Then I lost her… a Lion led her into a trap and killed. I sighed and looked back to the Lion on my couch… she was beautiful… and as my imagination lunched forward I got an erection. I thought maybe I could have sex with her while she is laying here. The height and the angle was perfect for some quick penetration. I thought I could come in her within ten seconds I was sure I wouldn't need more. Then I gave myself a hard slap.

“You are not like this." I told to myself. The lust overcame my rational thinking. But it wasn't surprising as I was covered with blood. It fired my blood. So I thought I should bathe for an hour at least. The cold water will ease my feelings and clear my mind.

I was in the tub resting and enjoying the waves I made with my legs. My thought got wings as I imagined a partner like that lioness. Then I fantasized a life with fame and glory, then other things. But I heard my involuntary companion had regained her conscious so I jumped out from the tub, shook myself, grab the towel and went into the living room.

I realized I was naked but it wasn't a problem in that moment. I gave her some drink and then went to get cloths and made her a medicine.

“Here, drink this." I put the glass to her mouth. She frowned as she smelled the odor. It wasn't too pleasant.

“Yak! What is this?" She asked but she gulped down and then grimaced. I gave her some water to wash off the taste. She was thankful.

“It will give your strength back." I explained.

“Who are you? Why are you helping me?" She was looking all over me. I was only in pants and nothing else.

“My name is Arcturus. And I'm helping you because you need help." I explained and sat in front of her, onto the floor.

“Strange name for a Human." She made the remark. “But if I were you I would have killed you."

“I'm sure about this. Lions and Humans are not friends for ten decades at least. If I remember correctly." I shrugged. Hundred year is a lot of time for them. A lion could live at least a hundred and twenty if she/he is lucky. But humans have seventy years max.

“You are odd." She accused me and I smiled. She wasn't the first who said that. I was odd for every kind of creature indeed. If she would know how much, she would ran away in an instant and rather risk her life with an army than staying close to me.

“You are beautiful." It slipped out of my mouth. I was about to excuse my behaviour when she tilted her head and said;

“Did you had sex with me while I was unconscious?" I stood up quickly.

“Oh, hell no! I wouldn't rape a lady in danger!"

“Why not?" She asked and I dropped my jaw.

“Excuse me?"

“I can smell your lust. You are longing for the pleasures of my body. So why didn't you abuse the situation? You could easily have had sex with me and I probably wouldn't know it." She explained the exact think what crossed my mind not too long ago.

“I did not because I'm not that kind. But I admit I was thinking about it." I hung my head in shame.

“I see… I could pay with sex for the healing." She dropped and I was taken aback.

“Are you sure about it?" I wasn't so I must have asked.

“Yes. I think this couch is in the perfect height and my rump is in a good angle. Just please be careful." She asked me to make love to her. I was shocked and the lust reared its head again.

“I… are you offering sex for a stranger… you know that is a little weird for me." I was delaying the decision. I was sure I could do it and I would do it happily but I thought it was bad. But I don't know why. I lived too long as Monk in totally abstinence. I did not drink alcohol, eat meat and bread and of course I did not have sex or pleasure myself. I used to it and I lived to the rules since I left them. But here I am…

“You saved my life and you are healing me. So It's not weird to offer you something in return you are longing for." She explained and it was a rational argument. I helped her so she is helping me.

“All right." I pushed my pants down and knelt to her rump. From that moment I was a lust driven beast.

3.) The Truth

I was rock hard I don't have to tell you that and my hearts were beating faster and faster. I aligned my member to her opening. It was small and almost hidden in her fur. I thought I must be too big despite her body was bigger than mine. It could be a lion thing. But when I applied some pressure, her lips opened up and I could slide in. I did it only with my glans and I looked for her reaction. She only let out a weak sigh. I took it as a sign to continue. I slowly pushed my cock inside of her, inch by inch and I lost in the feeling. She was a little colder than me but she was also designed for human penises. She warped around my member like a perfectly fit glove would do with my hand and I left behind at least five muscle rings when I hit her rump with my pelvis. I was fully in that pulsating and moving cavern. I gave a minute to the feeling as I didn't want to rush anything.

“Oh… this is not that bad as I thought." She remarked and I smiled. Indeed, it's fantastic.

“I will start to move in and out. I hope it's not a problem." I probed carefully. She just nodded and looked a little surprised. I did not know why.

I pulled myself back three inches then I slid it back fully. The muscles rings bumped on my glans and she played a little also. She tensed and released them. It was the moment when I thought I will come after the third move. I started to move a little faster and I felt the accumulating pleasure will reach its top soon. When I was almost there and I felt she became super slippery something happened; The beast came out from me and I released my claws into the pillow of the couch. I quickly jumped over and ran to my room. When I kick the door to pieces and jumped inside I was less human than the creature in my house. I lost the control for the first time in my life.

***

If you would ask me I did not know why I convinced him to have sex with me. He was a human and I was a lion but also he was kind to me. Maybe I just pay for this kindness… all right I was in heat… that made the things simply for me: He has a penis which could give me pleasure. Period. In this state if somebody is kind with me and has a fitting mating organ, I would probably offer my rump for the quick relief. He passed the two criteria so I did accordingly.

I was with human only once when I just became adult. I lived near the border and he was a boy also in the doorstep of adulthood. We became friends and when I was in my second heat I offered him sex. He accepted and that was a perfect two weeks… then he left the border and since that I was only with lions.

His penis was different, he was thick and long at the same time… and he was warm. Very warm. First I thought he won't fit but as I was in heat my body was more adaptive for male organs. He slid in me fully and the feeling was amazing. When he told me want to move his hips, I did not understand why he asked. Maybe he thought we mate in another way? Could be, so I gave him the green sign. Oh he was perfect and I was sure I wouldn't tolerate the pleasure too long. I came already but I saw he was close too so I let him finish. But then something happened: I heard cracking sound like textile ripping apart and I looked at him. His eyes were glaring like mine would do at night, and his body was stranger than a moment ago somehow. He jumped and ran like a lightning. I couldn't follow it with my eyes and I didn't hear the footsteps either.

“What are you?" I was asking silently when he kicked a door somewhere and a roar shook the building. It was a roar of a beast. Than that feeling came again. A consciousness filled the area with something. It wasn't death and pain like before, it was… lust… lust for pleasure so I felt my skin crawling from me and my blood were in fire. I groaned in pain and I would have sex with anything has a penis. I would offer my rump even for the attackers of me, I was in lust so badly.

“Please stop it!" I cried when I couldn't bear anymore. He must have heard as the feeling faded away and slowly it disappeared.

“What are you?" I whispered again.

***

The sex and the strange events exhausted me so I was sleeping when I heard something. My instincts told me I was being watched so I opened my eyes and there was he. He was naked and sitting at the fireplace. His eyes were full with guilty and regret. I felt pity for him.

“Are you ok?" I asked carefully and he tilted his head. Maybe he expected another question but after I saw… I did not want to make him angry.

“I'm fine now. Thank you. And sorry for what happened I… lost… control. It won't happen anymore I promise." He blurted and sighed.

“I'm glad you fine. And thank you for the sex but as I felt you did not finish it. If you want, we can do it again but this time please don't run away." I smiled to reassure him. He seemed forlorn and lost. My words made him glad and happy I could tell. But there was a question I did not know how to ask. I tried to formulate into something soft and kind when he said:

“I'm a dragon."

Then nothing else. I drop my jaw and looked at the painting above him… then I shook my head.

“You are not looking like a dragon." I said slowly and pointed to the painting. He stood up quickly. One second he was sitting and without any transition he was standing. 'He is faster than anything I have ever seen'. I marked in shock.

“I'm a dragon but as every dragon I could shift my shape. I learned human shape as it could be useful in a lot situation." He explained and another blink he was at my head. I didn't saw him moving and the panic had grabbed my heart.

“What will you do with me?" I asked and I was sure he told me the truth. And if he did, he is the most powerful being near or far. He killed five experienced soldier within seconds, without a scratch on him.

“As I said before I will heal you and then you are free. You don't have to do anything you don't want. I'm the same person like before… but… you know what I'm and I'm sure you heard tales about dragons and their abilities." He kept a little pause. “Of course you can leave now if you want. I sense your fear." He told me on a reassuring and warm voice. He is a dragon. It explains why his penis was that warm. Dragons can breathe fire and their body is warm like a fire. One touch can singe your pelt and burn your skin… but he wasn't THAT warm.

“So can you transform into a lion?" I diverted the topic. He smiled and he looked friendlier with that smile thought I still did not know what would be the best decision: run or stay?

“No. We can select only one alternate form for a life. I selected human form so I can't be lion." He knelt before me.

“Oh…too bad. But you can transform yourself back to dragon, can't you?" I was curious.

“Yes." Than he was at the painting… 'One blink and you miss everything.' I remembered the song from my cub-hood. “It is me. This was made by a dragon painter." He explained.

“Please don't do this dragon thing. It freaks me out!" I asked him and frowned.

“What?" He did not understand.

“That you move here and there within a blink." I said and sighed. He laughed and walked to me again but with normal speed.

“All right. I thought you need some convincing but you are convinced now." He kept a little pause. “I promise I won't hurt you. I like you…" He whispered to me and walked away. I still not heard his footsteps. It must be another dragon thing he can't control…

***

I was sitting in the kitchen and fought with my thoughts. I confessed everything to a lioness and she seemed ok with it. Of course she felt fear first but then she was more curious than frightened. She even joked and asked me to not speed here and there. I could move as fast as an arrow in short distances, let's say for a few steps far. I could brake swords with my hands and I could lift a chariot fully packed with beer or wine. In human form. In dragon form I was almost unstoppable as I was a soldier once trained to fight and kill. Long time ago.

“Could you please bring me water? This glass is empty." I heard her speaking on low voice. She knew I could hear her even from one mile. I liked her much indeed.

“Sure." So I did. She was thirsty and when I was with her again she brought up a topic.

“So… Would you like to have sex with me again? But this time please cum inside me. I like the feeling. And then I could tell everyone I had sex with a dragon. Wow, they will be soo envy of me." She laughed and I laughed with her. “Oh. Could you transform yourself into dragon and do that way?" She was curious again.

“No. That is impossible. My penis would be as big as you now." I told her the truth and she drop her jaw.

“You are well hanged as a human and as a dragon." She remarked and I think I blushed a little. “Doesn't matter as you can have sex with me with this." She pointed to my penis. “I'm wondering what could be its taste."

“Taste?" I was surprised. 'What are you up to?' I asked inside of me.

“Don't worry I won't bite it off." She replied quickly.

“You can't bite it off." I told her

“I said I won't bite it off." She repeated.

“I mean you are not able to do it. You can't break my skin. Of course you could try to bite my penis with all force and it would hurt me but you can't cause wounds or rip it off from my body." I explained and she made an O face. “But I must warn you if you planning to test it I may hurt you unintentionally."

“What do you mean?" She did not understand what wasn't a surprise.

“If you make me feel pain my body will heat itself up to a temperature it will burn you. And if you do it while my penis is inside of your mouth it will cause heavy burn damage inside of your mouth." I confessed.

“Good to know. But I wasn't about to bite anything on you. I just want to suckle on it for a while… maybe till you come." She shrugged. It was an interesting offer but unfortunately we were interrupted by knocking. I was so distracted with my thoughts that I did not heard our new guest. So I focused on it for a second: Human, smell of farm animals and dung, pipe tobacco. Small wound on his left feet, new, it was bandaged but not applied medicine. Perfume of a lady, maybe to clean the wound.

“He is Davis. Friend of mine. Don't worry I trust him." I said and was walking to the door while I pulled on my pants. I wasn't surprised by the look of him.

“Good afternoon my old friend. May I ask your help?" He was speaking in a strange accent and in a strange intonation. He used to work on a boat on the other side of the planet then he was a talented singer. Now he has a huge farm, twelve children and a wife. He is happy with his life and he is a damn honest man. He was showing me his leg. The trouser leg was folded up so I could see the wound. The bandage was rudimentary. I thought it was made from a clean underwear or something cloth.

“Come in." I waved him. “Have a seat at the fireplace I will gather my stuff." I said and left the scene. Sure I was listening for every heart beat so I could hear his surprised gasp when he found my guest.

“Good afternoon lady." He welcomed her like a gentleman. “May I help you with something?" He asked. I liked him because he wasn't surprised after I told him the truth about him. He just raised his eyebrow a little and offered me another glass of whisky.

“Thank you but no. Sit there so I could watch you." She said and her voice was full with suspicion.

I went back into the living room and made a perfect bandage on his leg after I cleaned it. He introduced himself to the lioness as “William Frank Arthur Davis al'Garen al'Hoat ver'Dov" He liked much that he had many, many names. But it did not mean he is some kind of noble. Garen was his father and Hoat was his mother and he came from the city Dov. He just used and ancient formula of the introduction. He only used his main name Davis. Once he told me William was the idea of his aunt, Frank was the idea of his uncle, Arthur was the idea of his father but his mother gave the Davis so he used it as it was the tradition of his folk.

“I am Cirella Blood Fang from the Clan of Broken Bones." She introduced herself for the first time. She had a nice and long name too.

“You guys are very official." I marked for the record.

“I know you have a longer name, Arcturus of something and something and something so on for two minutes." He gesticulated with a glass of whisky as I offered him one. I had another but Cirella was nervous about it so she only got a glass of water with some medicine.

“It's not that long. And dragons used to have long names indeed." I laughed and Cirella picked up her head.

“He knows?" She asked me.

“Sure I know lady Cirella. I know him for thirty years. We used to wander around the continent together and he did not change a bit since we met. First I thought he is a vampire or similar living dead but then he confessed me he is a dragon. I sat on his back and we flight once. It was… marvellous!" He gesticulated and used the intonation to highlight the important parts. He was a damn good story teller.

“So what are your full name?" She came back with the topic. I swallowed back an angry yell but when Davis was insisting I gave up.

“Femilen gon Ferren son'ahen Monahy du'w Tarmin gon Hallen gon Fe'rr'is mae na Arcturus." I said with one breath. They were taken aback.

“And what is that all means?" She tilted her head.

“Well… something like: Guardian of Ferren, son of Monahy from Tarmin and Hallen, the Great Lord Arcturus." I tried to translate all the meanings but our language is a little more complex than the Common Language. One word can even mean multiple sentences.

3.) The Stranger

Someone knocked on the door so I used my senses to measure who could that be. One heart, scent of flowers and musk, some feather, maybe dried bones. Soft boots and swishing of a robe. Definitely a female human.

“We have another visitor." I said and went to the door. As soon as I grabbed the handle I felt it, the person on the other side was a magic user, not just any kind of, she was a strong witch. I opened the door ready for anything. Witches were dangerous even for a Dragon so I was careful and tightened like a string on a bow. The handle was sizzling under my palm my body heated itself up starting with the limbs.

“Good afternoon. You are probably the person I'm looking for." She said and with a smile stepped past me. I was frozen motionless by this strange behavior. As soon as she saw my guests, she welcomed them with nods and hand shake. What just happened?

“Miss, would you please be so kind and share your probably beautiful name and the intents brought you here into this comfy house at the end of a cold afternoon?" Davis asked her with all the skills he had.

“I'm Tlachtga, the druid and I'm here to ask Arcturus a big favor which I will repay with everything he wished for." She answered the question which was enough time to pull myself together.

“Tlachtga. I know what you are and I ask you to leave… politely." I left the door opened and pointed to outside. Whatever she wanted to tell me I didn't want to hear in front of my guests. It seemed she understood, waved goodbye and walked outside. I walked her to the fence when I was sure even Cirella won't hear us. “What are you talking about exactly?" I asked on a low voice.

“You lost your mate, Helga. She was killed. I can give you back if you help me save all the worlds in the universe, every single Realm has life, every living being on them." She almost purred, it was erotic and exciting.

“Even you can't bring back the dead. Helga died five hundred years ago." I knew only a few things about magic; according to that the only thing wasn't possible is bringing back the dead. So I thought she was lying to me which made me angry.

“You are right. I cannot resurrect, but I can extract her from her time before the moment she died. This way she will be alive. Yes, it can cause some little paradoxes but I know someone who can make it work. What do you say Arcturus?" She was waiting for my answer. Helga was the only one Dragon who was my best friend and my mate as well. I missed her much and I mourned her for a hundred and fifty years… I should not lie to myself… I'm still mourning her on a way or another.

“All right Tlachtga. What should I do?" I sighed.

“I will come back to you after two days. Prepare yourself for a battle with monsters." She said, then waved and snapped, a bright door appeared in the thin air. I sighed again in amazement, she knew a lot about magic I give her that. She smiled back at me and stepped inside.

Chapter 4 – The Creator -

I was walking slowly at the river, putting one leg to another like all the time on the earth was mine. Actually the time was the only thing I couldn't bend around my will. Everything else was my toy, my puppet as I learned hard to earn the title Druid for centuries. Oh my little home town, that was almost like in another life not this one. Since the World Eaters massacred all druids I had to hide and disguise myself. But those times are over. I have fled from Realm to Realm, collecting the knowledge, practicing the magic and earning friends, giving and taking debts. It was the time to collect some of them. Fortunately, the time was flowing in different ways in different Realms. One realm has only reached the year 2019 other realm was already at 3587 or even struggling to invent the wheel. It was working back and forth. Also Realms were different but familiar to each other at the same time. Strangely the lions seemed to be a fixed point somehow.

Everything was depending only on two persons. The boy with the brown hair, the whisperer, the beast master was more than that. He was a druid, which surprised me greatly. His ancestors somehow hid the bloodline. I did not know them, but they did a great job. They were able to hide the traces for centuries. That was the reason why I thought the boy had more potential than everyone I have ever known. He was the key to defeat the World Eaters once and for all. But what is a key without a lock? I was heading to bring the pieces together.

“She is near. Be careful now." Ruith my raven came back and landed on my shoulder. I sent him forward to monitor the areas for threats. Who am I kidding? This whole Realm is a threat with creatures far above me. Two thousand years of practicing magic and I was afraid like a little girl surrounded with wolves in the darkest night.

“I know. I can feel Her. She is everywhere in this Reality. Unfortunately, our options are greatly limited." I sighed while bypassed a big rock. With some luck he will help me, without luck I will have to fight the most powerful being in all the Realms and die… I sighed again. Hard times makes hard decisions. I managed to convince the Smart, the Soldier and the Beast as well. They will protect the Boy for hours if they must. Now it was the time for the weapon of mass destruction. I must convince the Creator.

He was the Killer of Planets, yet the Builder of Stars. He was the Bearer of Light, yet the Bringer of Darkness. The Vengeful Beast, also the Healer. The Inventor of Miracles and the Name of Death. He saved many lives and brought destruction for many more. He was the perfect balance between everything and nothing. The man with two lives and the sharpest mind of all living being.

I have to convince him to help us. If he will accept, our chances of defeating the World Eaters would be greatly increased. If he declines my offer, well, we will die a horrible death. Every eyes were on me, but I was preparing this exact moment for two thousand years. I should not fail.

“I know you will come Light of the Winter. I was waiting for you and your request for five thousand years... or more? I don't know. She told me I should have my rest because I lived so much, did so much, but I told her; I won't till I hear you Druid . Please have a seat and tell me your story." He said and stepped forward from the shadow of the next tree. There was a metal wolf like creature next by him and two making buzzing noises, flying on and off. He wore a brown vest and suite without the jacket with purple bowtie and purple long sleeved shirt. He looked strange yet those orange eyes of that man was the most powerful sight I have ever seen. He not just lived thousands of years, maybe millions, but saw things I couldn't even imagine. He was the embodiment of power, also he seemed fragile like every human being. He seemed tired. I caught myself with gaping mouth in amazement. He was a legend standing in front of me. For all the spirits! He made the Goddess of this Realm!

• To Be Continued -