[IC] The Dragon Empire

[duskreaper]

Jube sat in the forest just outside of the village. He practically claimed the spot on the log just before the pond. lily pads floated in the murky water, and the moss on the trees made his surroundings even more green. He spent most of his days at the pond; Jube liked to avoid people around their village. They seemed to treat him like the black sheep for his timid personality in which they helped shape by years of bullying and cruel pranks. As it so happened, the pond was one of the few places he could practice his abilities. He focused hard on the palm of his hands. He'd managed to create fire a few times, but it took a lot of will power to do so. After several minutes of trying, he decided it was time to head back into the village. Jube stood up from his spot, some leaves sticking to his brown shirt. With a sigh, he walked along the dusty trail out of the brush.

[Lullyn]

The racket from the Smith home, which was next to the forge, was louder than usual. The Smiths had 6 children, the older 2 of whom were married and living in their own homes and children in the village. Today, however, all 6 of the children, along with their offspring and partners, were at the home. The family was made up of 4 daughters and 2 sons. They were all named after birds, because their mother thought it was sweet and thheir father had always been good at bird calls. They were a pretty big family. But the noise wasn't just due to volume of people. "Kestral!" came their mother's cry as the door swung open, emitting the 3rd eldest daughter, and 4th child. She didn't stop but was gone in a moment. By the time Robin reached the door, he couldn't see her. He gave a sigh. This was not their mother's best idea. Fancy springing that on her with everyone there. He walked down the steps in front of their home, just as the door swung open again. His father and his younger brother, Starling, came out. His father looked no more pleased than he felt. "We're going back to the forge," his father told him as the passed. "This is women's things." Robin knew his father would expect him back in the forge, but he wanted to speak to Kestral first. She'd be cooling her heels somewhere. He headed down the track to the middle of the village, which was a well. She wouldn't be there, but it was as good a place to start as any. Why would his mother think she'd be happy? He was heading along when he spotted a figure, which he recognised as Jube. Robin had nothing against Jube. The rest of the village seemed to think him an odd duck, but Robin never held truck with being mean to someone. Jube had never harmed him. "Jube," he called, giving a wave to the boy. "Seen Kestral?" If anyone was strange, Kestral certainy fit that bill. She wanted to work in the forge. Their father was dead against it, so she'd been acting the rebel since. The villagers thought her odd too, but then Kestral had told him they thought him odd, because he was so good with animals and wasn't interested in the villagge girls.

[duskreaper]

Jube looked up from under his messy light brown hair when he heard Robin begin to speak. He liked Robin, but Kestral was his favourite of all the Smith's children. She and Jube had been close most of his life. It made him concerned to see Robin was looking for her, "No, I haven't. Is something wrong?" Jube didn't know what to think, and he knew Kestral enjoyed her mischief.

[Lullyn]

Robin shrugged.
"It is for Kes," he said, gesturing for the boy to follow.
He seemed to be trying to think about what to say, causing his hand to run through his own hair and mess it up.
"She's had a bit of a shock," he said, wondering if Kes should be making this announcement.
They'd reached the town center whilst they walked, Robin looking around all the time as he spoke.
"Mum's decided Kes is to marry," he said.
He left the words out there, hanging like daggers above a body. He wasn't sure how to feel about it.
He told him about the family being there, about how their older sisters had been so happy, giggling and crooning as they spoke of men suitable. Kes had been sat frozen, her face draining of colour.
"Of course, she got out of there sharpish," said Robin with an affectionate smile. He might have been a year Kes's senior, but she'd always been his closest sibling. Starling, the only other boy, was 4 years younger, so it was hard for him to talk to him the way he did with Kes.
"Problem is, I'm worried," he said, looking around as they changed direction. "She just looked so...."
Pale, shocked, betrayed. They were all the right words. She'd looked at him, her face stricken. He wasn't sure how shocked his own face was. It seemed that his mother and older sisters were possibly the only ones who were in on it.
He pointed down a path, which lead to the crop fields.
"Look, can you help me find her?" he said, rounding on the boy who was his own age. "I don't know where she's chosen to go and if she wants to stay hidden, I know I'd never find her. If you take the fields and woods, I'll take any spots in the village where I think she'd go."

[duskreaper]

Jube nodded his head. "I'll look for Kes. I'll start in the woods." Something told him she was in the woods. He knew her well enough to know the trees were a place of comfort. It had always been a place of comfort for him just to get away from the village, but it seemed to him Kes enjoyed the seclusion and connection to pure nature. Jube headed off towards the forest with a bit of stride in his step. He hoped Kes wouldn't hide from him. He considered her to be his best friend, and friendship wasn't something Jube came by easily. Once he was deep enough inside the forest of pine, he called out to her. "Kestral! It's me. Jube. Can you come out?" He wasn't demanding, but rather concerned.

[Lullyn]

ooc: I've kind of made up a little history between them. I hope it's okay. The trees were thickly packed, so close that most touched branches. It smelled best when there had been fresh rain, which was why Kes liked it. She liked to go there, sometimes with Robin, others with Jube, or by herself. It was the 3rd place she'd thought of. The first two had been the roof of the forge and the other was one of the unharvested fields. She heard Jube's voice call to her and bit her lip. Either he knew nothing and had just guessed she might be here, or someone had already told him. She didn't want him to know, didn't want anyone to know. "No," came her voice, but it was hard to tell where exactly from because the trees were so dense, but it seemed to be in the branches, rather than the ground. "I'm not going back this time. There is no way." She'd threatened only once before to run away. She'd stormed off before in the heat of anger or humiliation, but she'd always gone onto the roof of the forge and the beating of metal had calmed her. This time felt like last time, but worse. It was when they'd been small and her mother had said that she didn't want her to play with Jube. They'd not long started to talk and they were friends but to a child knowing someone for 2 minutes could make them your friend." "He's a strange child," her mother hand said, Swan and Sparrow nodding their heads with their usual smug faces. They were of a similar age and never had much time for her. "Robin, you're to keep your sister away from him." Robin had the same expression as today, pained surprise. She knew it wasn't his fault, but she felt mad as hell. She'd screamed at her mother that there was nothing wrong with Jube and when her mother had tried to forbid her, she'd run off. She couldn't remember how old she'd been but no more than 6. She hadn't come here that time. She'd ran into the cornfield and Robin had followed, telling her to come home. She'd said no, stubbornly refusing, saying she was going to leave. Jube had come that time too, quietly and kindly. Robin had tried to explain and Jube had been sweet and said it was okay. She'd got angry and upset for him. He was trying to be kind and good, not wanting to get her in trouble, so she'd come flying out of the crops and had shouted at him. "Don't you want to be my friend?!" she'd demanded. He looked shocked and said that of course he did, but he didn't want her to get in trouble. "I don't care what she says. You're my friend and she's a cow." Everything went quiet for a few moments, her panting with anger and Robin looking shocked. Then they'd all began to laugh. Jube pursuade her to go home and said they could be friends still, so she'd reluctantly gone home. Her father had been told what she'd done and had put his foot down with her mother. Jube and her had carried on being friends, though often Robin had to come too to "keep an eye on them." Her mother had never understood that she was the bad one, not Jube. But Jube was not going to convince her to come back. "I'm leaving," she said, her voice soft now.

[duskreaper]

Jube looked around as she spoke. It was near impossible to pinpoint her exact location. Kes was always so stubborn. He knew when she said something she meant it. She was forever unwavering. "You intend to leave? You really want to leave me? I thought you were so adament that we be friends? Don't you remember that last time you tried to run away?" June asked the brunette who was skilled at hiding. Kes was a rogue in Jube's mind. There was no doubt she could hold her own anywhere she went whether it be alone or in company. She was tough, and very strong. "You know I would miss you, right?" He asked softly wandering through the trees.

[Lullyn]

She was silent for sometime. In the tree she was pouting, more because he knew exactly what buttons to push. "Damn it, Jube," she said in annoyance, but it was clear she wasn't angry. "You're so mean." Jube could make her stay, she knew it. He was making her feel guilty. She was the one who protected him, stood up to the other kids for him, pulled faces at the adults who looked at him strange. She didn't care that they thought she was just as weird because she understood why, but Jube had never hurt a fly. She was adament she'd leave, but the idea of leaving him behind to fend for himself. Stupid boy she thought angrily, climbing down so far and then swinging herself so that she landed on the ground, not far from where Jube was stood. She was still pouting, and she crossed her arms in defiance "Please tell me you just knew I'd be here and there wasn't any reason you came looking." She wanted to believe that he didn't know, believe that she could pretend for a little longer that she was just having a moment with her family.

[duskreaper]

Jube looked down for a moment before his green eyes met hers. "Robin told me the just of it... I can't say I blame you for running off though." He could at least sympathize with her. It was awful to be forced into an arranged marriage against ones will. Jube wanted to be there to support her. "Maybe your family can be convinced against marrying you off if they know how unhappy it would make you. That or..." Jube paused deciding the next few words.

[Lullyn]

She shook her head. "Sometimes Robin has a big mouth," she said, looking away from him. "He didn't need to tell you. It's not happening." At his word about convincing her family, she kicked the tree in frustration. "Or what, Jube?" she said, her words harsh as she put her back to him. "You know my mother. She wants me to be like Swallow and Swan. She doesn't want to see that I'm nothing like them. She thinks me mar...." She choked on the words. "She thinks it'll make me like everyone else." She stared at her feet. She couldn't even begin to explain how upset the conversation had made her. Not only had her mother got it into her head that she should marry, but she thought..... "You'll be just like your sisters, happy with little children. You can devote your life to them. You can stop acting out. I see I've not given you enough attention", she'd said this in front of everyone. "I see that now. That was why you chose to hang around with that boy. You wanted me to take notice. Well I am now and I promise I have a lovely boy in mind who will make you very happy and you won't need to see that boy She had kept saying "boy" with such an unpleasant tone. She couldn't bare it. Jube had been the only person who ever listened to her. He was her friend and her mother spoke like he was some childhood toy that she could put away. "Or what?" she repeated, this time more quietly, her eyes on her shoes. "If I stay, she'll make me marry him. My father won't get involved, it's woman's stuff. He doesn't care about what I want."

[duskreaper]

Jube looked around before looking at her with a sheepish expression. "You could... Come live with me. We could elope if we had to." His eyes widened and he stuttered, "N-not to get married and have babies b-but just so you can be free! My parents would let you live with us in a heartbeat. I just... You are my best friend... I don't want you unhappy." He was stiff as he awaited her response. It was likely she would get mad.

[Lullyn]

She looked at him with wide eyes, then began to laugh. She covered her mouth her hand, chuckling away. "You're such a.... boy," she said, rolling her eyes, though she seemed more relaxed. "You idiot. Like my mother would ever let me marry you." She shook her head. "Don't say something so foolish," she said grinning, her usual smile on her face. "You're going to marry someone sweet someday. You're not going to want a hag around like me forever." She looked more relaxed, as if his words seemed to take a weight off her. She reached out and messed up his hair affectionately. "Thanks Jube," she said. "You're sweet, but you are going to marry for love." She gave him a look that said that she wouldn't have it any other way. "Kes?!" a voice was calling. "Jube?" It was Robin, and he sounded worried. "Found," she said with resignation, her shoulder's drooping. "Looks like I can't hide here any longer." "There you are!" said Robin, his face clearly relieved as he saw them both. "Do you have any idea the worry you've caused?" She looked apologetically at Robin, but said, "the only ones who worry about me are you and Jube." Robin looked at Jube with a smile. "Thanks, Jube." She stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm not coming home," she said simply, putting her arms through one of Jube's like she was preparing not to be taken away. "I'm going to Jube's." "Kes...," sighed Robin. "You know where I'll be. I'm not going back until they give up this stupid idea." She smiled at Jube as Robin threw his hands up in the air. "Don't worry," she whispered to him. "I'll not stay long." Robin led the way back to the village and she followed behind, releasing Jube but guesting for him to follow. "Let's do something fun," she said, once they reached the outskirts of the village. She looked at him carefully, realizing she'd made him worry. "I'll be okay," she said seriously. "I don't want you to be unhappy either, Jube. One day, we won't have to listen to ignorant and stupid people. One day...." She stared at the sky as a pair of birds flew overhead. "One day, I'm going to fly away from this place." She looked back to him and gave him a smile. "What shall we do? Anything you want."

[duskreaper]

Jube followed her. "You know I don't mind if you stay for a long time. I mean... You are always welcome you know?" It was true, his parents were very laid back and relaxed. They felt blessed in life, and had no reason to be uptight. Jube confided in them a lot, but he Still couldn't tell them about the magic... Pepper, one of the bullies of the village tossed a handful of rocks in Jubes direction as he passed with Kes. June felt the sting of the stones hit the back of his neck, but he ignored it knowing it never helped him to fight back. Jube led her into his home. It was a small wooden cabin with just enough room for the family. His father was working in the fields and his mother was currently gardening. It meant they could talk in privacy again.

[Lullyn]

Kes smiled at his words, which was why she probably would have throttled Pepper for the action taken. "You git, Pepper!" she shouted at him, as he laughed and ran off. "Next time I see you, you're dead!" She looked at Jube's back as he continued walking. He never defended himself. He just took the stupid things the other boys did. "I would be a widow 10 minutes after the service, at the latest, if my mother ever thought of choosing Pepper as my husband," she said, trying to make Jube smile. "If he even made it to the ceremony." Jube was taller than her, and a year older, but sometimes he seemed to make himself small, like this would make people leave him alone. She waited until he sat down, then checked the back of his neck. There was a red mark and a scratch. "I'm going to beat him to within an inch of his life," she growled as she lifted her scarf and brushed away the dirt carefully. "You're too sweet, Jube. Seriously, I'm going to get my father's hammer and make that pig squeal. Why do you put up with that?" It was a stupid question, one she'd asked him 100 times before. The problem was that she couldn't bare it. She'd once hit Pepper with a branch so hard he'd ran home crying, but that was after the pig had cornered Jube. He never learnt. "You need to stand up for yourself," she said, checking the mark. They'd always been like this. She was the aggressive, protective one, he the kind soul. "Jube," she said gently, standing behind him and resting her hands on his head so she could put her chin there. "What would you do if someone threw a stone at me?"

[duskreaper]

Jube looked at her curiously, "Why would anyone throw a stone at you? They'd have to be daft." He looked quite puzzled at the very idea of it. He knew he could never defend himself, it would only make people want to hurt him more. It would make him a 'danger' to others. Jube took it, and felt that was the only thing he could really do. The very idea of anyone throwing a stone at Kestral made him angry. Jube sighed, "If someone threw a stone at you... I'd probably hit them at the very least." Looking at her he shrugged, "That would be because you matter though. I don't." It was how he felt about himself. "I may matter to you, but not to me... I'm just odd."

[Lullyn]

She shook her head. It was sweet of him to say but she didn't think he could hurt a fly. He'd throw himself in the river before he'd stand on an ant. "You're not odd, Jube," she said gently, affectionately playing with his hair. "And I will get annoyed if you say you don't matter. You're really important to me, Jube. You know that, right?" She'd moved so that she was knelt infront of him. "The only odd thing about you is how you put up with me," she added. "Oh, and that you're a boy." She grinned to show she was teasing, turning her back to him and leaning against his legs. They were a strange pair, he in the chair and her on the floor, resting against him. She sometimes wondered if she hadn't met Jube if she would have be all alone. He cared for her and she trusted him completely. "I promise," she said, looking at the wall oposite, "no matter what happens, I'll never leave you, Jube, okay?" She let her head fall back so that she could see him and gave a grin. "Come on, what shall we do, Jube?"

[duskreaper]

Jube looked at her upside down face, and smiled a little bit. She meant it, and he felt it. Kestral would truly always be there for him. "I don't know, I was thinking of going through some more of my fathers books. He has a book about more monsters, such as Siren's, The Kraken, and even a Dragon Clan. I believe they were sorcerers who turned into dragons." Jube enjoyed his books very much. He read most of the time. Jube's reading increased when he discovered his abilities. Desperately he tried to figure out what he was, but all he really knew was that he was adopted by his parents, he wasn't their blood. There was no real way of knowing what he was, and his parents never told him where he had come from. His being adopted was a big reason people picked on him. He wasn't someone who belonged in the village in so many people's eyes. Kestral was someone Jube often read to, or at least outlined the just of his books. He wondered why she listened to his crazy stories, but then again, it wasn't as though they were all make believe. Some of the things were questionable though.

[Lullyn]

She nodded, scrambling to her feet and retrieving a book. Kestrel didn't read much, mostly because the only books they had were childish fairy stories. Life wasn't like that. Passing him the book she say crossed legged in front of him, like a small child waiting for a story begin.

[duskreaper]

Jube smiled and looked at the book she had chosen. "Ah, the dragon shifters." Jube opened the book up eager to read to Kes. "For many centuries the infamous breed roamed the Earth. The clan was made up of ruthless killers, and humanity lived in fear of them." Jube read in a way that gripped his listeners. Jube continued reading. "It wasn't until recent years the dragon clan had been faced with their greatest threat: the dragon slayers. They were a breed of humans with unnatural strength, and immunity to fire." "One brave warrior, Jonathan Barron of the dragon slayers army, managed to slay the very last of the dragon shifters, putting an end to their vile acts." He looked at Kes, "I wonder how terrifying that battle had been... I'm almost glad I wasn't there." He closed the book. "shall I read on about more legends or not?"

[Lullyn]

Kes looked thoughtful. "What were they killers of?" she asked innocently, rising onto her knees and looking at the book upside down as if this might give her the answer. "Beside, aren't wolves called the same thing? Maybe they were just hungry." Seeming to have the organised in her head, her looked to the ceilng. "Dragons are very cool," she added, thinking of a book he'd once shown her. "I would love to see one." It was easy to say such things, though she didn't think of it that way. When you could only imagine what something was like, it was hard to think seriously of it. She looked to the sky outside. It was clear, not yet dark. "One more," she said, fixing him with a smile.