(1) The Landlubber

The sound of barking was enough to stir the young lady out of her strange dream. She saw a man, whom she knew quite well. He didn't last long in her dreams. Every time they met it was always him saving her from near death.

It's just a dream though. It's not real. She slowly sat up to take deep breaths and remind herself of that fact. Yet, the lingering fear wouldn't leave her soul.

His name was on the tip of her tongue and she could almost recall it, but as soon as she was about to it was gone just like the visions from dream.

A big fluffier named Izzy whimpered and licked her worried face as if to reassure her it'll be alright. Perhaps the dog is right, she is just anxious from being alone in the house. It was never easy getting used to even with Izzy around.

Slowly pulling the covers off her she gets up and goes to get dressed. She paused to look at herself in the mirror. A pretty little flat chested bird at the age of eighteen.

*bird- British slang to describe a young women

She hated her appearance. She wanted to cut her hair even shorter as it just looked horrible to her. Maybe she'll wear some of dad's old sailor clothes from his younger days. It always made her feel better.

Once the clothes were on she instantly felt better. The white navy sailor hat made her hair look more messy, wild and alive instantly. So, much better than the normal flat, lifeless and bland hair style it normal is.

The long white navy military coat was thickly insulated and heavy duty and made her feel safe. It covered up her scrawny petite body and hided her boney exterior. She looked fluffy like her dog and not a twig ready to break in the wind.

Next was the white navy shawl that gave more girth to her shoulders and chest. She also put on some black gloves to make her hands a little bigger looking and hide its boney exterior, with some mens black jeans and non slip black men's combat boots.

It still amazed her how just a switch switch in clothing style could make her feel so confident and comfortable with herself. She knows there's nothing wrong with her. She's not malnourished or underfed or being neglected, but she was always harshly judging herself.

'I should be fatter, I should be stronger, I should be taller, I should be less boney....' This and many more thoughts had plagued her mind for a good while now.

It was particularly bad last year. The move here hasn't been a pleasant one, but it was an expected one. She had ended a long time friendship of hers and before she left they said something that really made her think.

"Hey Adalin... You know I've known you for a good two years now and I've always thought of you as a tom boy, but I'm starting to think it's more than that. My brother came out as transgender just a few weeks ago and I've done everything I can to support her. After she explained it to me I realized Adalin. You're transgender. You don't want to be a women. I mean... that's what I think. Just try it. I mean. You got nothing to lose and it's better just hating yourself with the way you look all the time right? Maybe you'll finally feel like you can like yourself... I dunno." Her best friend Julie told her.

It was not an easy discussion to bring up to her father, but he accepted neither the less.

"If you feel like you are a lad than a lass than that's probably what you need to be. Ain't no shame being you." Her father had told her kindly.

Izzy put his paws on the sink to lick Adalin's face breaking her out of thought.

"Ew! Okay okay! I'm okay!" Adalin sighed deeply.

She decided to head to the kitchen and make her something to eat as she thought about what her friend said, "I'm probably only going to live here for two to one year anyways and almost never return... what's a little harm in pretending to be a boy for a bit?" She thought grabbing some Reese's Puffs from top of the fridge and pouring herself a bowl.

"The problem is... do I sound enough like a boy to get away with it? I did have dad get my tonsils removed, because I hated my voice and heard you don't need them and it can make your voice lower..." she recalled sitting down at the cute little blue chair with golden sea accessories like anchors and star fish.

Izzy barked and spun in a circle as of to answer her mental questions and she gently petted his head. Adalin begins eating her cereal as she considers this opportunity.

"As long as just use the private bathrooms in school.... Dad's probably already registered me as make with the school not really thinking too much about it. He's amazing like that. I'm so glad that he's putting the effort to try addressing me as his son in every way he can." Adalin thinks smiling drinking the milk to finish off the cereal.

She gets up to wash her dish and puts it away in the sea themed cabinets above the black marble countertops, "It's not like it's going to hurt anyone right?!? Than again what if a girl flirts with me or some guy who's into guy flirts with me? Can that happen?!?" Adalin felt her face flush as started to worry for a whole new reason.

Izzy barked and clawed at the black french style door that leads outside, "Sorry. Izzy. You're right. I'm over thinking things again. Lets just go... and I'll just let folk assume my gender and if it causes problems I'll apologize... yeah... I guess..." Adalin steels her nerves as she fetched the black leash and hooked it to her dog's collar petting him.

The dog licks her face making her make a face and laugh, "You're my only true friend in this world. I don't know what I'd do without you." Adalin hugged the puppy holding back tears, "I... I really wish mom was still with us... it's hard being the only child... I'm trying to be strong. I know it's not pops fault... he's doing all he can to support us... but I don't know if I can take much more of this..." Adalin held back tears as she held her puppy that whimpered and licked her trying to nuzzle it's nose into her hand to get her to pet the big dog.

Adalin took deep breaths, "Izzy... after I graduate it's going to get better. We'll be sailing the seas with pops and living the sailor life. We almost there. I can do this!" She assured the dog taking it's face into her hands and nuzzling with her own face as the dog whimpered and licks her.

Taking another deep breath to stable herself and fix her hat as she stood up she was ready to face the world alone for better or worse.

"I can do this! I can get through this!" She tells herself opening the door allowing her dog to head outside as she followed him.

She locked the door with her spare house key and made sure she had her backpack with her, before leaving.

"Okay! First day at school! We got this! I'm going to... be one of the guys." Adalin tried to remain call, but she felt excited and terrified of the aspect.

Izzy barked and stood up on his hind legs as if to cheer her on, "Let's go!" She nodded and headed off into town passing a cute little flower shop with handmade pots, a cute little dinner on the corner that sells Thai food and had one of the most cheesiest romantic themes she's ever seen, and a little skateboard shop that she froze to stare at for a moment.

The guy in her dream... He always on skates, had a skateboard, on a bike, and this one time on a scooter... expect for the first time she saw him and he stole her heart though she'd never admit it.

Platinum blonde hair, light pink rose eyes probably some form of albinism, tall, lean, and strong. He had a gentleness about him with strong will and fierce determination. To others he may see a bit too scrawny and just average at best, but in her heart he was so much more than his appearance.

It was if she could feel his heart while staring into his eyes a precious rose meant for her and she had a desperate desire to never see the end of the boy again.

"He's not real! He's just a dream! Come on focus!" Adalin had to gently pat herself on the cheeks.

Suddenly Izzy barked and jerked to start running into a full on sprint. The leash got ripped out of her hand in an instant at the pure strength of Izzy and she nearly fell over as she gasped in horror.

Izzy had never ever tried chasing cats or dogs, before while he was with her. It stunned her to think he'd suddenly act up. She didn't have time to think about anything else as she gave chase to her best friend.

"IZZY!!! Izzy!!!" Adalin cried out in horror trying desperately to grab the end of the leash and not being fast enough.

Fear was threatening to engulf her and make her fall to knees and weep. She couldn't lose him as well... She's lost so many friends. She's lost her own mom too... Not her dog too. Lord please not her dog. She wouldn't be able to stand anymore. She wouldn't be able to deal with the world even out of the love for her father.

It's too much. It's too much for any human to bear alone. She forced her tiny legs to keep going as she cried out for help and begging anyone to save her doggie from hurting itself in it's sudden act of madness.

"Please someone get my dog! I can't!" Adalin cried with tears rolling down her face as her dog started heading down town.

Suddenly someone skateboard toward her and past her and she felt her heart rate and nearly stop at the sight of the boy. Beautiful platinum blonde hair, tall, lean, with a strange grace and gentleness about him as he zipped past her.

There's no way...

This had to be a dream...

It's not though...

"Don't worry bro I got this." He flashed her smile sailing on his skateboard like a sailor of the land and once again stealing her heart.

Owen....

It's really him...

The boy from my dream...

Impossible...

Adalin did everything she could to keep up watching him scoop her dog with ease and laughing as it licked him. They were going way to fast now for him to stop safely, he had no choice to just ride it out at this point.

She was terrified she'd watch him cross a side street and get hit and lose them both. She'd never recover from that. Yet, he handled himself with so much grace and self control it was stunning.

A true sailor of the land...

She half expected and almost believed the boy could fly if he decided he wanted to. He was so fearless and ready to face the world's danger that if he had gotten hurt in the past saving her through some crazy reincarnation crap, he didn't let effect him at all. He definitely had the spirit of Icarus inside him, but with more wisdom and less arrogance.

She finally caught up to him as he came to a stop at the bottom of the windy downward hill. They stood at the tunnel cave that goes into the mountain side and keeps heading further down town to the ports full of icy cold waters.

"My dog..." she whispered in relief.

She exhaled as the dog kept kicking the guy as he laughed while holding it and petting it. Izzy doesn't normally like strangers and for him to act this friendly the guy must be something special.

Of course he's special...

He's.... What do they call them...

Soulmates....

He's my soulmate....

"Hahaha I'm guessing he jerked his leash out of your hand huh. From the looks of it. I think he caught scent of someone familiar." The boy looked at her as she tried not to blush.

As if on cue a taxi stopped at the other end of the tunnel to drop someone off from the port than drove by them, "Oh. I think that's them over there." The boy chuckled pointing at the man walking up the tunnel.

Adalin recognized the man instantly as her father, who must be back from sea from fishing all day. She couldn't help, but rush over to him and hug him tightly. It's been a wild few minutes for her and she wanted to burst into tears in her father's arms.

The dog was released to tackled her and her father and lick them happily and she felt like all was well in the world. Than she heard the boy speak about his job being done and noticed he was going to leave.

She quickly ran to grab his sleeve and didn't know what to say to him. What if he doesn't know?!? What if he can't accept her? How can he?!? They are practically strangers...

"Hey! Wait..." she desperately pleaded weakly, "Uh... thanks for catching my dog. I uh..." she tried to form the words she desperately wanted to say and yet had no courage to speak.

They stared at each other for a moment in silence. Her eyes full of worry, and deep longing. His eyes full of curiosity and there was a warm smile on his face. It was one of gentle fondness that made her heart race more.

"Is this your friend Adalin?" Her dad asked and Adalin held back a blush wondering if her father knows by the way she's acting there's something else going on here.

"Well... he helped chase down Izzy who must of caught your scent on the wind. He jerked his leash out of my hand... it was so bizarre." Adalin rubbed her hand watching her father as he looks at them curiously and almost knowingly.

He was always so good at reading her and knowing things about her, even before she knew. He let her wear his old sailor clothes long, before she even decided to try to become a boy. He also did his best to get all the letters sent to her by all her friends and send any letter she had to them.

"Thank you sir for helping my boy out." He father offered to shake the boy's hand and the boy shakes it.

"Oh no big deal. Just was in the neighborhood..." He tried to shrug it off looking pretty carefree and showing no hint that he recognized her as his soulmate.

"You wouldn't happen to be a hunter by chance?" Adalin's father suddenly asked and she felt confused as she's heard of that, before but she's not sure where.

"Pfff... hunters don't exist." The boy immediately jerked away and force a smile.

He seemed very uncomfortable with the subject as if he was scared that it would lead to some sort of conflict he wasn't ready to deal with yet.

The dog barks and does a happy spin, "A hunter?" Adalin looked at boy confused and willed him to try and talk to her as she's his soulmate he can trust her.

"No... I want him to trust me... No... I need him to trust me... Incase he tries to save me again... I'm going to be ready... I'm not going to allow him to disappear on me! I'll protect him!" Adalin thinks fiercely.

"I'm just good with dogs." He shyly protested.

Her father sighed and nodded, "I see. That's to bad. I would of loved to tell Rider that I finally got to met a hunter." He explained.

"I didn't know father was keeping in touch with the folk in the hunter's guild... that's... let's see... It's Germone's alpha hunter master." Adalin recalled.

He looks away saying nothing, "Just be carefully of running with the wolves old timer. Even wolves have predators." He sighed.

Adalin shivered and didn't like that thought at all, "What if in this life time... I have to protect him from his own kind? Can I a mere human do such a feat?" She shakes her head, "It doesn't matter! I'll find away!" She mentally decided.

Adalin looks at them confused and worriedly, "I really need to get back. I have school." He sighed as the her father nodded.

"Alright. I won't keep you. Oh would you mind taking my son with you? I believe today was his first day of school as well." Her father explains.

Adalin tried not to turn blood red. Her father called her son again and while it made her feel pretty great, she felt a bit guilty. Her mate soulmate is now going to think she's a guy, what if he's put off by that? What if he get mad at her when she tries to explain to him that she's technically not biologically a male?

He just sighed, "If I must. Watch your dog. He's a good boy." The boy than slung his skateboard over his shoulder, "Well you coming little one?" He asked.

"Uh.. yeah." Adalin looked at her dad and the dog.

"We'll be waiting for you when you get home don't worry. Have a good day at school." Her father explained.

Adalin quietly followed Owen uptown and just decided that there was no turning back now. She was going to play the role of a boy for better or worse and pray her soulmate would understand.

Adalin looked at her soulmate softly as they started to climb the hill together and decided the best way to do this is to not mention they are soulmates. Everything should just come naturally to them. There's no need to force anything and when she's ready she'll tell him the truth.

Right now, she had the feeling that he wanted to just have a normal life and she was okay with that. It's better like this. They will slowly understand and learn about each other forging an unbreakable bond that even her biological gender will not break.

She truly believed that with all her heart and soul....