Chapter One

Long long ago, in a place where times were more peaceful than now, and the world was less hostile towards the new and less fearful of the old. A beautiful and peaceful race of beasts once flew across the skies almost daily like birds. Where ever the wind carried them they followed. From the eastern sea to the western seas, the beast would spread their wings and fly as free as the goddess allowed them to. With long slender necks and beautiful wings fused with their front legs, the wyverns were beautiful and elegant creatures.

No horns grew on their smooth heads, no spines on their backs to make them look ferocious and no fire could be summoned from their lungs. Though they were not as noble-looking or majestic looking as their revered cousins the dragons. The Wyverns were still a sight one did not want to miss if given the chance to spot. Unlike their cousins who settled where they pleased and hardly moved around much throughout the year besides the mating season. The wyverns flew where their hearts told them to and follow the breeze, always leaving a lovely scent of wisteria flowers in their wake.

Though the wyverns traveled across the lands like loose-hearted creatures that held no attachment. Everyone knew that there was a certain forest where no matter what season, the wyverns would always return to that forest when the wind's guide them back. This forest was special, the spiritual energy there was pure, yin energy was plentiful and the air was pure and untainted. And in this peaceful forest, only wisteria trees grew, from purple to pink to white. The wisteria trees took over this calming and cool forest becoming a common breeding ground for the wyverns who treasured these beautiful trees.

But, where there is a weakness, and where there is beauty, there is always someone who covets or desires to destroy such beauty for their own pleasure. These beautiful creatures harmed no one and cared for nothing but the wind and their beloved forest. Slowly became creatures that brought dark desires into the hearts of humans who wished to keep one of these beautiful creatures for their own. They wanted a wyvern for themselves, a wyvern that they could gaze at every day without waiting for them to return from their travels. As war broke out throughout the humans, those dark thoughts in desires became more prominent. Until..one day, war knocked on the doorsteps of the wyverns on the very night of their return to their wisteria trees...

~

'Mother.' 'Hush my child.' A large head bumps into its miniature version chirping anxiously while looking around herself cautiously. Their neighbors all did the same, all in the same stiff alert form, their necks raised high and their slitted eyes looking around themselves with wariness. Not a single one dared to breathe louder than necessary in fear of missing a single sound. The mother worriedly spoke under her breath in nervous chirps and warbles to her mate who was wrapped around her and their chick protectively. 'They've never come so close to the forest before, what do they want?'

Her mate was also alarmed by this new development and did not know the answer to her question, he could only honestly say. 'I'm not sure, they have been poking around the perimeters in the last few years but the elders also did not think there would be a day like this where they would actually enter.' The wyvern male hesitates for a second before speaking once more, 'But although the elders never thought this day would come, there are orders for us to retreat to the Zepher should danger befall us.'

The mother shook her head furiously along with their companions who overheard their conversation, the ones with chicks curl around their young with rejection and horror. She nuzzles her chick who was frightened silly by the tense atmosphere and who stared up at her father and mother as if looking for answers and comfort. She did not understand why her mother and father were so serious and why her mother looked so scared. But being an obedient child, she did not make a single sound and allowed her mother to rub her cheeks against her till she almost fell over due to her unease.

'No! Kknoir would never survive the transformation and journey all at once! She's too young!' Her mate had the same thoughts as her, and from the looks of all the wyverns all around they all had the same reaction. Wyvern children were rare, it was hard for females to lay fertilized eggs, and even rarer for those fertilized eggs to survive to the hatching date. His gaze also wanders over to his own chick who was staring up at him with wide eyes and shivering from terror. 'Papa..'

His heart softens and he lowers his head to also rub cheeks with her affectionately, the young chick unaware of the turmoil in her father's heart stops her trembling and lovingly returns his affection. There was love in his eyes that Kknoir could identify even if she was too young to know much of the world currently. Seeing this scene repeated by the others, he knew it would not be possible to force or convince their people to willingly send their children through the Zepher. Even he was unwilling to put his chick in danger knowing full well she will most likely die in the Zepher before she even made it to safety. Troubled he rose his head to look around again seriously, 'I will think of a way.'

A wisteria blossom lands on his snout just as a bright unnaturally orange glow is spotted between the trees. His body tenses, noticing their leader's stance the males also sit up higher and more alert as all at once the wyverns all look towards the bouncing orange glow. His heart sank suddenly as he realized he would not have time to plan. Taking one last glance at his chick, he growls a low order to the others making up his mind. 'To to central clearing.' They did not hesitate to follow his command, the females all quickly picking up their chicks nervously while their mates lag behind the group of females and chicks to stare at the slowly approaching orange glow with hostility.

'Azar, the elders from the dragon race refuse to cooperate with us. They plan to fight with the humans and replace our nesting grounds.' Azar snarls under his breath, his ablaze glower never leaving the bobbing orange light. 'Outrageous! They would cooperate with these violent monsters?!' His lip rose to reveal razor-sharp teeth that could tear apart anything caught in his jaws. The wyvern also curled his lip to reveal his own teeth, 'The young have gathered around the Zepher, the others await your orders.' Azar's left ear flicks aside and narrows his eyes at the shadows of humans. '..Go.'