Ciantor flew over a vast plain, gazing down on the empty expanse of grass and the occasional tree. Nothing in particular caught his eye, his wings occasionally beating. His falcon, Skraw flew next to him, being careful not to be struck by the avians wings. He then saw something horrifying to him.

A man was walking out with a horse, which was not tied or being led with a harness. At the mans side, a sword. He stopped, and faced the horse, raising his weapon. Ciantor reacted fast, not thinking, only basing his thoughts on his instinct and desire to protect. He pressed his wings tight against his back, and dove towards him, plummeting to the ground at amazing speed.

He reached the ground, and opened his wings, gracefully gliding to a point were he landed softly. He already began to channel his mana to summon Grodack, his grizzly bear companion, but immediately stopped when he noticed streaks of tears pouring down his face. Sobs were being choked under his breath, and agony was obviously present in his mood.

"Stop now! Why are you going to kill this horse!?!?!?" Ciantor demanded. The man was obviously stunned by the avians sudden entrance, but still complied. "Lo-look at his ankle," he stammered, "He's in so much pain, and if I sell him he'll be forced to work!" he couldn't control his emotions and began sobbing uncontrollably.

Ciantor looked at the ankle, only to see a horrific gash around it. Blood and unidentifiable puss were oozing out of the wound, and the horse was not standing on it. Ciantor needed to help this animal, and then set him free from the tyranny of this man. He focused his mana towards the horse, and immediately the wound scabbed over, becoming healed. The horse neighed in pleasure, and placed it tentatively on the ground.

"Now," Ciantor said, pointing a finger at him, "you will release this horse," he demanded. "NO!!!!" he roared, flinging himself on the horse, his look showing no sign of letting go. "He wants to leave! If you really loved him, you'd let him be free," Ciantor yelled, anger coming through his attempt to be calm. He gestured for the horse to come follow him, and he turned around, walking away from the horses master.

When he didn't hear the clobbering of hooves on the grass, he turned around, seeing in surprise that the man's horse didn't want to leave him. A puzzling look came upon Ciantor's face. "Huh? You want to be with him?" he asked, expecting the horse to want to escape. "No," the man answered for the horse, "I've grown up with him. He loves me, and I love him,"

Ciantor didn't believe him, but the horse's expression obviously told him he meant to stay. "I see. You are a true friend of nature," Ciantor admitted, hanging his head in shame, "I'm sorry," The man quickly shook his head. "No, no! Thank you so much! You saved my horse! Here! Take some cash!" He said, starting over to hand coins. "No, I do not need your civilized money," Ciantor told him, a hint of disgust coming through his voice.

The man nodded and headed off, soon disappeared into the horizon. Ciantor then laid underneath a nearby tree and rested, dozing off into a nice sleep with Skraw pearched on his shoulder.

Keros smiled as he watched the scene with the man, horse and Avian. Shaking his head, he turned back to the young woman standing elegantly before him. She was a beautiful girl, by any standards, with fair hair and almost glowing skin. Elfin features she bore, and an unnatural grace. Her clothes were suprisingly gaudy - silk, and loose, but made of bright colours - pinks, blues, purples, yellows. She gently stroked Keros' cheek. "I will miss you, Kerosastrasz..." she whispered, using his draconic name.
"And I you, Lyrragosa..." he responded in kind, before leaping astride a horse and galloping away without a backwards glance. Tears brimming in his eyes, Keros jumps off the horse and whispered in its ear. "Go now, brave and swift stallion, and find your way home. Do not speak of me, even to your brothers and sisters!" he gently spoke, before standing back and watching the horse bound away as fast as it could. Keros smiled sadly, the tears gone. He closed his eyes and looked down, and a wind rustled about him, blowing seemingly upward from the ground, lightning crackling about his form. He stopped suddenly. Surely he hadn't been careless? He had looked about him? Keros turned around and saw the man at the tree. He barely had time to register if the man had heard his form begin to shift, for Keros turned and sprinted as fast as he could away from the tranquil glade.

Ciantor wiped up the the corners of his eyes as he woke up, remembering what happened the day before. He awoke to a strange scene, a man running from a forest, slowly forming into a dragon. 'This man,' Ciantor thought, 'He is part Dragon!!' he thought joyfully. But he was majorly distressed by the newcomers apperance, civilized.

A man was present at the edge of the forest. At his side was a quiver, a bow on his back. In his hand presently was a sword, and his attire was very unique. Camouflaged, earth toned, and that of a hunter. A scowl spread across Ciantor's face, and he quickly sprung into action.

The hunter was chasing after the transforming man, but was no match for the half dragon's speed. Ciantor's mind went into a rage, and all he could think of was causing this man as much pain as possible. Ciantor turned to the running man and shouted at the top of his lungs, "I WILL HELP YOU!!" making sure that he could distinguish friend from foe.

Ciantor focused his mana, and a green portal sprung forth in front of him. Out leapt a massive owl bear, a bipedal monster with a pair of antlers on top of his head. Immediately, it roared and began galloping on all fours, chasing after the man, who was chasing after Ciantor's new ally. The man was fast, but no match for the owl bear.

The owl bear caught up and swung its mighty horns, smashing the man's back with amazing force. The man tripped forward, tumbling to fast for his body, his back, neck, and spine breaking against the force and speed of his rolling. Instantaneously, he was dead. But before Ciantor could inform his fleeing friend of his victory, another band of hunters, more than likely accompanying the previous hunter, emerged through the trees. "HELP!" Ciantor yelled, hoping that the half dragon would stop his fleeing and fight.

Keros spun around to the man's cries, and saw the gang of hunters approaching. He took his mace in his hand, and leapt forward while swinging, cracking the skull of the nearest hunter. A second swung a vicious sword at him, and Keros barely managed to duck. In a flowing motion, the half-dragon brought his mace up and shattered the man's jaw. Seeing the rest of the hunters were approaching Ciantor for an easier target, Keros quietly whispered "Kerosastrasz...lend me your strength." Lightning burst up from the ground, and wind whipped all around Keros. He began to glow, his body reshaping, the scale mail he wore turning into actual scales, his mace becoming a large scar in the centre of his chest. Suddenly, Kerosastrasz let loose a great bellow, challenging the nearby hunters.

Two of the hunters came toeards the dragon - they readied their bows to shoot, but the huge leviathan was too fast and crashed onto them. The sickening crunch of bones could be heard as Kerosastrasz shifted his weight. He turned around to see how Ciantor was managing.

Ciantor saw the half dragon change into his dragon form. The avian turned and faced his own opponent, knowing that his ally could handle himself with the sickening crunch of bones. Ciantor chanted some incantations, green runes appearing in the sky.

The runes flashed vibrantly, and a vine jumped out and into the ground. The vine creeper stalked around, moving silently through the dirt and soil. It sprung right beneath the hunter, who jumped back in surprise. The vine sliced his throat, and blood began to pour out at an amazingly fast pace.

Ciantor turned to face the final two hunters. He wasn't sure if he could handle both of them, who were now charging with swords. But luckily, his owl bear had turned around, and walked standing up now. It ran up to one hunter, and swiped its mighty paw at him. The hunter fell to the side, his body becoming limp and his face pale.

Now the other hunter had caught up to Ciantor, and he was forced to fight with his staff. The man leaped and brought his sword down upon him. Ciantor brought his staff up, and attempted to block the blow. The sword and wood collided, but Ciantor's scrawny arms were not enough to handle the blow. He collapsed on the ground, attempting to get up quickly.

But it was to late, the hunter began to bring his sword down upon his heaving chest. But out of the sky swooped Skraw, who began to peck and claw harmlessly at the hunter, who began to swat at the bird. Ciantor saw his chance. He turned as if he was fleeing, but as soon as he was ten feet away, he turned around and began propelling himself with his wings.

He quickly reached the annoyed man, and tackled him with all his might. The man flew from the great tackle, but Ciantor merely landed gently. The hunter finally skidded to a halt, and his head hitting a sharp rock. Blood began to ooze out of his gash, and mixed in with the dirt. The fight was over.

Ciantor turned and faced his companion, his owl bear to his side, Skraw perched on his shoulder.

Keros stood there, in human form. He dragged the corpses of the hunters into a small pile, seemingly ignoring the avian. Finished, he whispered "Be trapped, by the truth of Veritas! and a great net appeared, shimmering the colour of amethyst, and enclosed about the men, binding them tight. Then, Keros took the form of a dragon once again, grabbed the net in his claws and hung it in a nearby tree.

The dragon landed once more, but stayed in his drake form. "Now, little creature..." he growled quietly to Ciantor, "Who are you, and why were you foolish enough to help me?"