CHAPTER ONE: ON THE RUN AGAIN

"You are in no state to travel Iris!", Beth ripped the bag out of the woman's hands.

"You know what he will do to her Beth. I cannot leave my child to suffer such a fate.", she whispered and constantly glanced at her baby.

"So you would rather have her grow up in constant fear of when you might be caught?", Beth continued to yell at Iris.

"Do not yell at me. Remember your place Beth.", Iris did not shout at Beth but made it clear that she would no longer listen to her harsh words. Iris took the bag back and started to pack the necessities.

"Where would you go then, my Lady?", Iris ignored the title and shuffled to the other side of the room.

"As if I would tell a rat my plan, Beth.", she glanced over at the woman who looked down in shame.

"Leave now!", Iris commanded and walked over to the wooden crib.

"Yes, my Lady.", Beth curtsied and left the room. A soft click was heard, the door was locked from the outside.

"Oh, my beautiful little girl. I'm going to take us to a safe place, where he won't find us.", a stray tear dropped on the baby's cheek. The clear green eyes of the little girl stared up at her mother, waiting for her next move.

Iris knew she needed to leave tonight, before her husband came home. This was her only chance, though her power was limited after the birth of her little girl. She figured that two months of rest would have to do to leave this forsaken place.

"Let's go baby, the wicked does not rest.", she wrapped her baby in a blanket and held her close.

'Please, please work!', Iris closed her eyes and begged for her element to work.

A wind started to surround them and soon enough a few leaves dropped to the ground in their places.

It had worked! They were just outside the walls. They were free.

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AVIVA:

"Gather around! It's that time again. Take the chance to become a Dragon Rider. To become a hero for your village, to bring fame and glory!", one of the few Dragon Riders continued to hand out flyers to the villagers.

'Just keep your head down and walk past, do not attract attention.', I kept repeating over and over in my head.

"Hey! Little girl, where do you think you are going?", the Dragon rider pulled me back with a hand on my shoulder. I turned around and faced him, his light brown armour glinting in the sun.

"I am going home.", I said and shrugged his hand of my shoulder.

"Have you signed up for the choosing ceremony then?", he inquired. I sighed and debated whether to tell the truth or not.

"She has not, good sir." a voice answered behind me. I rolled my eyes and glared at Dimitri, the owner of the new voice.

"It is compulsory to attend.", the Rider held out a pamphlet for me.

"And I do not wish to attend. Have a nice day.", I bowed my head and proceeded to walk again.

"I will make sure she attends.", Dimitri said and followed after me, pamphlet in hand.

"A dog should not stray far away from their owners.", I said after a while of silence.

"And a mere visitor should know their place.", Dimitri bit back.

"Don't fret mutt, I will be gone in a few days.", I assured and made my way into the bakery.

"Good morning dearie, I have fresh bread just for you.", Sheila said and handed me a brown bag.

"Thank you, Aunt Sheila.", I smiled and handed her the silver coin.

"How is Amelia dearie? Is she feeling a bit better?".

"The brew you sent helped much Aunt Sheila, thank you. She is all better.", I smiled and secured the bag in my hands.

"Have a good day, Dearie.", she called out as I left the bakery.

"You as well Aunt Sheila.".

"You will attend that ceremony.", Dimitri fell into step with me again. I stopped and turned to face him.

"No one in this village will 'make' me do anything. I have no interest in going to the stupid ceremony.", I said and glared at him.

"You could be locked up for this.", Dimitri warned me. I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

"Only if they can catch me.". I turned to walk away but Dimitri pulled me back by my shoulder.

"You will attend this.", he said.

"I suggest you remove your hands, before I remove it for you.", I threatened him.

"Let us go meet the Elders and see what they have to say about this.", Dimitri said and started to drag me to the damned Courthouse.

"I said to remove your hand.", I said and twisted his wrist to free my shoulder.

"You would have so much less trouble in your life if you would just listen to what you are told.", Dimitri said and reached for me again, but I pulled away from him.

"I have no interest in becoming someone's dog! You are all mindless bastards.", I spat at him and continued to evade his hands.

"Are you alright Avi?", Kayda's voice appeared in my head.

"Yes, just keep close to Amelia. I'll be home soon. We need to leave today.", I replied back.

"Rules are rules and you are no exception to the rules.", he said and made a move to hit me in the face, but I dropped to the ground and kicked his ankle so that he would lose balance. Dimitri fell on his back and heaved out a breath.

"I have no problem with the rules, dog. I have a problem with how you enforce it.", I said and crouched next to him.

"And don't bother coming after me, I will be gone by tonight.", I whispered and picked up my fallen bag, brushing of the dirt.

"Pass my greetings to the Elders for me.", I called out to him as I made my way home. People stared at me and then at the fallen warrior of the Lavender village. Whispers were nothing new at this point.

We need to leave before the Elders hears of this or even the Riders. I hastened my pace to the outskirts of the village.

"Amelia, honey! Get your bags we need to leave.", I said as soon as I opened our door. A confused body walked out of the only bedroom in this house.

"But I finally made friends Ori.", Amelia looked sad.

"I know baby and I am sorry but because of the ceremony we need to leave now.", I kneeled down in front of her and kissed her forehead, tucking a stray curl behind her ear.

"I promise it won't be long anymore. Soon we will find a place where we never have to leave from again.", I said and rested my head against hers. She nodded and hugged me before she went to the room.

"What happened?", Kayda asked. I sighed and started to pack my bag.

"Dimitri showed up and we had a small disagreement. This was after one of the Riders saw me.", I summarized the events of my morning as I looked around for the things we need. 

Kayda landed on my shoulders and nuzzled her head into my cheek. She wrapped her tail around my neck.

"Do you think the Rider recognized you?".

"I doubt it but one at the ceremony is bound to notice me, they always have seniors there.", I reached for my black cloak in the closest.

"I am ready Ori.", Amelia said and stood next to me.

I smiled down at her before reaching for the smaller black cloak.

"Alright, we will be moving through the forest for about five days then we should be on the road to Barbosa village.", I said and tied the cloak around her neck, pulling the hood up to cover her hair and face.

"Are we moving through the forest because of the ceremony?", Amelia asked. I nodded and closed my bag.

I pulled my hood up and made sure Kayda is covered. I took Amelia's hand as we exited the house and started walking to the forest.

"I suppose we should be thankful for the cold breeze today.", Kayda said as she snuggled deeper into the warmth the cloak provided. I hummed in agreement and kept an eye on our surroundings.

"Be alert for any possible dragons or Riders.", I asked Kayda as we trekked through the forest.

"Have you been to Barbosa Ori?", Amelia looked up at me, her dark brown curls hidden underneath the cloak.

"When I was very little. I can hardly remember anything from then, but they say the village is famous for their intelligence.", I said.

"How long will we stay there?", she asked.

"I suppose we will only stay for a few months. We stayed too long in Lavender village.", I said and stopped for a bit to take in our surroundings.

"Do you hear or smell anything Kayda?", I asked.

"No, we are safe. The closest dragon is on the other side of the village.", she answered and got off my shoulders. 

She landed on the ground and stretched her small body. The sun glinting off her dark red scales.

Her green slit eyes landed on the piece of ham I had in my hand.

" We will rest here for a bit Amelia and then we will look for the cave.", I said and handed Amelia her sandwich before feeding Kayda my pieces of ham from my sandwich.

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