The Desert World

Rating: Will change as the story goes on. There most definitely will be m/m and Mpreg, but that’s for later.

A/N: I named it Undecided well because I can’t think of a good enough name. I’m going to post it, but I think it sucks. This has been the hardest chapter for me, and the next will hopefully be better. Please forgive the crappy chapter. I’ve decided to put thoughts in italics now. Well on to the story.
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Luka held the silver bracelet in his hand. As risky as it was they had camped at the oasis, with someone standing guard. It was his turn to stand guard, he just couldn’t shake this feeling that things are more than they seem. Hearing a noise and he looked down from where he was perched on a small tree. Dryden was sitting up and panting, he frowned, ‘A Dragconian Warrior as a slave?’ After what happened earlier, he was just lost now.
~~~~~
Earlier that day

Dryden stood up. “There its open.” He stretched up and walked off. Bringing his hand up to his mouth he ran his tongue over the cut on his palm. After the bleeding had stopped he looked down to see the wound start to close. He spit on the ground and grumbled; “Now I got the taste of blood in my mouth.”

Luka was watching Dryden; he just couldn’t take his eyes off of him. Aiden caught this and smacked him over the head, “Focus dumbass focus.” Luka glared at him and proceeded to put him in a head lock. “Ack!”

“I’ve told you every time you smack me on the head, I’ll put you in a head lock.” Luka growled.

Ari sighed and shook her head as she opened the box the rest of the way. “Hey there’s something inside.” Luka let Aiden go and bent over to look in the box. He pulled the towel off of his head and ran a hand though his hair.

“It just another piece of jewelry.” He pulled out a silver bracelet and looked at it. The thing was to big even for his wrist. Luka sighed and held it up, the jewels were a clear color and there was one on every other link. “Anything else?”

“Just a note. I’m telling you, your mother had to be a psychic. Think about it, we couldn’t find this until after we found Dryden and only Dryden can open it.” Aiden said to him as he pulled out a note.

“Let me see it.” Luka opened the note and read over it, once then twice, and then he went red in the face and he coughed. “Well that was different.” He sat down and covered his face, “I can’t believe she said that!” Aiden snatched the letter from him.

“I wanna see!”

“No!” Luka lunged for Aiden as he opened it, but Aiden side stepped him.

“Hmmm…… Dear Luka,”

“Aiden!” Ari sighed as the two ran around. “Give it back.”

She stood up and grabbed the letter out of Aiden’s hands and looked over it.

‘Dear Luka, if you’re reading this then you found the boy or girl. I think it was a boy. Take good care of him/her and be gentle I know you can be a little rough at times.’

Ari snickered, “Yep, she had to be a psychic.” Luka growled and tackled a laughing Aiden. They both fell into the water and Aiden came up to get some air, Luka on the other hand swam to the other side and sat behind a boulder.

Aiden pulled himself out of the water and pulled his wet shirt off, “Damn and that was the last one. I wasn’t the only one that was laughing!” he yelled, sighing Aiden looked to see Luka hiding behind the boulder. Ari smirked and folded the paper up.

“Make sure Dryden doesn’t see this.”

“See what?” Both of them jumped and stared at Dryden. “Is Luka alright?”

“Yeah, he is just sulking.” Aiden said as he walked over to a low hanging branch. “Ari we need to get some more cloths.”

Ari grinned and looked at Dryden, “Hmm……”

Dryden took a step back at the grin on her face, “I’m perfectly fine with what I have,” and then he walked off to sit under a tree. Ari sighed and shook her head as Luka walked up. The teen was rubbing his hair with the towel.

“You have the note?”

“Yeah here you go. Done sulking?” Luka scowled at her as Ari handed the note to him. “I think your mom somehow knew that you would find him.”

“Could be.” He mumbled as he tucked it into his back pocket. “She still didn’t have to say that. I’m not a kid anymore.”
~~~~~~


Luka ran his fingers over the bracelet and sighed, his mother could be like this at times. Looking back down, he could see Dryden running his hand over the water. Then as fast as a snake his hand shot into the water and pulled out a small fish. He tossed it back in and repeated the same motions. Dropping down on to the ground he walked up to Dryden and looked at the water. “Hey.”

“Hm.” Setting down next to him he watched as once again a fish was caught. “What do you want?”

An image pasted in his mind and he floundered for a second, “N-nothing.” Dryden yawned and snuck a glance at Luka. The darkness of night made Luka’s skin look paler; Dryden caught himself before he started staring. “Did you have another nightmare?” Dryden stiffened, Luka caught this. ‘He must have thought I didn’t see him.’

“There not nightmares there old memories that I wish I could forget.” He gave a dark laugh, “But I can’t not without someone erasing them.”

“Well, where can we find someone?” Luka asked.

Dryden looked at him, he had shock all over his face, and then, “Why do ya want to help me?” he looked away, “not that I don’t like it, it’s just I can take care of myself ya know.”

“I’ll tell you when I figure it out.” The red head said to him.

The sun was rising now, “Luka what’s it like being loved?” Looking down at Dryden he saw how the teen was crouched over watching the water. Luka blowing a piece of his bangs out of his face, he smiled and leaned over. Dryden turned his head and found Luka an inch from his face, he jerked back “Wha… what are ya doing?!”

“One day you’ll figure it out, I’ll go wake the others.” Luka walked off and Dryden looked down at the water, he saw his reflection and he growled.

Dryden picked a rock up and dropped it in the water distorting his reflection. ‘Funny I feel just like that.’

Minutes passed as he heard Luka waken the other two. He could hear laughing and a muffled shout. “Hey Dryden.” He looked up to see Ari. Great, what now?

Looking back at the water he answered, “Yeah?”

“Will you help me with the fish?”

Why the hell not, “Fine.” She handed a pole with a line on it to him. “What’s this?”

“A fishing pole.”

He handed the pole back to her, “I’ll catch them if you clean them.”

“Fine by me, but you’ll need the pole…” A fish flew in the air and she caught it, “or we could do it your way.” She sat down next to him and watched as the small teen leaned over the edge watching the water.

“So who wanted the fish?” Dryden asked.

“Luka.” She watched as Dryden pulled back his hand, his eyes still on the water. ‘Cute. He reminds me of a kitten watching fish.’ Ari went back to cleaning the fish. “Who taught you to fish like this?”

“My older brother, before he moved out with his lover.” Dryden couldn’t help himself curiosity was his weakness “Ari how old is Luka?”

“Eighteen.”

“Are ya older or younger than Luka?”

“Older.” She was looking at the boy, ‘What is he doing?’

“What about Aiden are ya younger then him?”

“Nope older.”

He was looking at her, “How old is he?”

“Should be twenty this summer.”

“So Luka’s younger than both of ya?”

“Yep, known him since he was little toddler.”

“Don’t hit me for asking, but how old are you?”

The light caramel skinned woman laughed, “I’m twenty, and I’ll be twenty-one at the end of the winter.” She smiled at him and asked, “Why do you want to know?”

He shrugged his shoulders and looked at the water again. Dryden’s hand shot out he grabbed another fish only to toss it over his shoulder. “Just curious.” He stopped and thought about it, maybe she might know. “Ari, do you know why Luka likes to help people out? He said he does it ‘cause he can.”

“Is that what he told you?”

He looked at her with confusion, “Yeah, why?”

“Luka well he likes you, and children. He loves kids. You should see him when he’s at home.”

Dryden tried to picture himself surrounded by kids, he shuddered. “I wouldn’t be able to do it.” Ari sighed the boy is clueless, but she was going to enjoy watching this grow. Dryden saw Luka walking over and he smirked. His hand shot out and he grabbed a fish, tossed it over his shoulder, and then he heard a wet splat. Taking a look he gave an evil smirk and chuckled. Ari was trying hard not to laugh. “Opps, it slipped.”

Luka caught the fish as it slid off his face. Aiden could be heard laughing behind him. He pointed at Dryden with the fish, “That was so uncalled for.”

“Really.” He didn’t know why but for some damn reason he wanted to try and piss Luka off today. “It’s just a fish and it slipped out of my hand.”

“Bullshit.” Luka’s eyes had taken on a dark tint and Dryden felt himself shiver, not in fear, but something else he just couldn’t put his finger on it.

Ari took the fish from Luka’s hand and laughing she said, “Calm down Luka it’s just a fish.”

Dryden turned back to the water and smirked, “Yep just a fish.” Ari carried the fish over to Aiden so he could start cooking.

Luka smirked and walked off, making sure Dryden’s back was still to him, he walked up to Braith and opened one of the pouches. It was full of ice stones. These stones stay ice cold all year long, he pulled one out. Aiden saw this and sighed as Luka walked back over to Dryden, the teen just went back to making breakfast. Ari shook he head and walked over to grab the aid kit just in case they might need it.

Dryden never saw it coming; Luka had dropped the stone down the back of his shirt. He watched as the boy dove to the side into and defense roll and landed on his feet. Dryden bared his fangs and hissed at Luka. At got all three of their attentions were the two cat like ears that were folded back and a tail that was bristled and swishing back and forth in anger. In the light what he had at first thought was black was actually a dark midnight blue color. Dryden saw the ice stone laying on the ground, and then Luka snapped out of it, “You have ears!”

“And a tail.” Aiden said from where he was at. Dryden’s face paled, which was amazing for someone as tan as him. They were going to hate him now, he shifted his foot. He needed to run.

Ari knew that look, “Relax, we’re not going to do anything to you.” She looked at Aiden and he sighed.

“It doesn’t change you.” Aiden said walking up to them, “Breakfast is done.”

Dryden snapped at this. “Then explain that to the bastard who sold me in the first place.” He stepped back when Luka sighed, growling Dryden looked at all three of them. Deciding that he really needed to leave, he took a step back, Ari dove forward to stop him and he jumped over her, as soon as his feet hit the ground he ran. He would have made it if Luka hadn’t appeared out of nowhere and with one arm Dryden was up off the ground. “Put me down.” Luka tightened his grip and held on as Dryden clawed at his arm. Luka hissed as sharp teeth dug into his arm. Dryden growled as he walked back to camp and dropped him on the ground. “Just let me be I can take care of myself.”

“Move and I’ll tie you to the horse,”

“Wouldn’t be the first time.” Dryden bit back; Luka got down and looked him in the eyes.

“You want to get to Woodline?”

“I’d be there if that asshole didn’t show up.”

“I said I’d get you to Woodline and I’ll get you there.” Luka dropped on the ground beside him and didn’t move from his side. He shifted away only to be pulled back.

Dryden glared at him and then looked away. ‘Ass.’

That’s how the day started, as Luka and Aiden rode on their horses and Ari walked along in her lioness form. Dryden strayed to the back of the group and walked behind; he felt the thump of his water canteen against his hip. He had his shirt off to let the sun warm his skin his arms tucked behind his head. They tried to get him to wear shoes today but he tossed them back and started walking. His feet were use to the scorching sand. The teen had tried to bolt three more times but Luka caught him, he glared at the back of his head.

Giving a bored sigh he let his mind wonder and soon regretted it. The sand opened up and literally disappeared out from under him, he caught a rock sticking out from the sand and sighed. That’s when he saw the ledge. It wasn’t moving so it had to be sturdy, right; he swung his body and tried to reach.

He missed and then he kicked his body forward and grabbed part of the ledge. He hung there by one arm. Then it slipped a little, ‘Shit!’ he looked up. “Luka!” no answer. “Ari!” no answer. “Aiden!” once again no answer. He growled when he felt the ledge dip lower then it was, “Damn it, I don’t want ta die!!!” Just then the rocky ledge fell and he felt himself falling, he jerked to a stop and looked up. Luka was holding his hand.

“Holy shit your heavy.”

“Luka.”

“Don’t worry I got you.” Luka said to him. He felt his body slip forward on the sand. ‘Fuck.’ He looked back at Ari who was holding the rope tied around his waist, “Ari let go!”

“No!” Ari yelled. Luka glanced at Dryden who was looking up at him, he smiled.

“Damn it,” with his free hand he grabbed his dagger and cut the rope just as the sand around him rushed forward, Taking Dryden and Luka down with it. ‘This is going to hurt.’ He pulled Dryden close and everything went black.
^^^^^^

Ari ran over to the hole and looked down; she could see the two at the bottom of the hole. But both of them weren’t moving, “Aiden how much rope do we have?”

“Not enough to climb down, we’ll need to find another way in.” She looked at him to see Aiden sitting on his butt looking at a map.

“You’re on your ass looking at the map when they could be dead!”

“Remember Luka’s not exactly human and Dryden is a tough little guy, they’re still alive.” Aiden was looking at her. “I know there’s a way down there I just need to find it.” Standing up she walked over to him and sat down.

“Start looking, you’re better at finding things.”

Aiden smiled and looked back down at the map.
^^^^^^

When Dryden came to he could hear running water. He slowly sat up and groaned his whole body hurt. Looking up he saw light filtering down on him, that’s when the sound of a something groaning in pain was heard. He froze and looked around, he heard it again and he looked down. Dryden was sitting on top of Luka’s chest. Scrambling off the top of him, he placed his head against his chest and heard the steady beat of his heart. He sighed, still alive, he was lucky that fall should have killed him but it didn’t and that was good. He didn’t want Luka to die, if he had, his hand clutched his chest. Sitting back up, he looked around once again. They were at the bottom of some old underground ruins. He could see the pillars in the light that streamed in from the hole in the ceiling. Then he saw the pile of sand that they must have rolled down, it was steep.

Must have walked across a weak point, wrapping his arms around himself, he stood up. Walking around the bottom of the sand pile he could see a small underground river. “Well we have water.” He had to find something to keep Luka warm and get some kind of light. Walking back over to Luka he looked down at him and sighed. If it was just him he would have been fine, Dragconian’s could keep their body heat even in the coldest of weather. Just as long as he didn’t fall into water as cold as the North Top he would be ok. He sneezed and swore; somehow he had gotten sand in his nose.

Something rolled down the pile of sand next to them; he walked over to find something wrapped in cloth. It was a pile of wood. Looking up he saw either Ari or Aiden looking down at him. He waved the figure waved back. Sighing he scratched the back of his head and looked at Luka. He was still out cold. Dryden moved over to the pile of wood. “Let’s get some heat down here.”

Once he had to wood piled up right he sat down with his legs tucked under him, he kept his back as straight as a board, and taken deep even breaths he closed his eyes, ‘Focus.’ He raised his hands up and over the wood, opening his eyes half way he could see the air ripple from the heat. ‘Almost there.’ Having not been able to do this in a long time it was taking longer to make a spark of fire.

There was a spark and he flexed his hands, he could feel the heat wrapping around him. Then the pile of wood lit. Dryden slowly relaxed. Sitting back he pulled his legs in close to his body and started at the fire. He was lost in his thought till something slid over his foot. He twitched and looked down; his face went from bored curiosity to freaking out in a split second. A snake was slithering across his foot.
^^^^^^

Luka had regain consciousness when Dryden was trying to light the fire. When his eyes landed on him his mouth went dry. He kept staring as the air around Dryden rippled, he snapped out of his trance when he heard a scream. He watched Dryden crawl backwards away from a lit fire. Sitting up he winced and looked behind him to find a rock, a dull but pointed rock. That would explain the sharp pain in his back. Luka felt something bump into him and looked to see Dryden staring at something. “What are you staring at?”

Crap Luka is up, “N-nothing.” Ah shit he stuttered. He knew the older teen had stood up so he watched as Luka walked around him and over to the fire.

“It’s a snake.” Dryden watched as Luka picked it up and looked at it. “Its harmless.” walking over to Dryden, he watched as the boy scrambled away.

“Keep it away.” He hissed at him.

Chuckling Luka walked past him, “You are afraid of snakes?” he knelt down and let it slither out of his hand. Luka stood up and walked over to the fire. Dryden followed but kept staring at where it had disappeared. “It’s gone.”

“What if it comes back?” Dryden shivered, that thing had moved across his foot.

“Then I’ll keep you safe.” Dryden turned red and looked away, Luka sat there thinking and it donned on him, “It was you who screamed.”

The small teen turned and glared at him, “Go ahead and laugh.”

“I’m not going to laugh,” Dryden stared at him, “so you’re afraid of snakes.” Luka smiled at him from across the fire. Dryden had gone back to staring at the fire.


He didn’t know how long he was staring when Luka started coughing, looking up he noticed he was standing and stretching. “I’m going to get some water.” Dryden nodded and leaned his head to the side resting it on his arm. He looked at his canteen, Luka could have just asked for some of his.

Then he remembered the stones, ‘Maybe I can hatch them now?’ He dug in his pockets and pulled out the four stones. He looked at them, there were eight but he had grabbed the four. He didn’t know why he picked the ones that matched every ones eye color. Moving closer to the fire he placed them in the middle of the heat and started counting in his head. Untying the shirt from around his waist he laid it out in front of him. Two minutes later he reached for the fire but a hand had grabbed his.

“What are you doing?” Luka said. “You don’t go sticking your hands into fires.”

Dryden snatched his hand back with a slightly pissed look on his face, stuck his hand into the fire, all the while staring at Luka as he did this. When he pulled his hand out he was holding on to one of the rocks and looking back at the fire he placed the stone down on his shirt and reached for the others. Uncapping his canteen he poured the water on the rocks. “Fire can’t hurt me.” he said when Luka didn’t move from his side. “Well unless I’m sick then it can.” He saw Luka crouching next to him out of the corner of his eyes.

“What’s with the rocks?”

“There not rocks.” The gold one started to shake, “Watch.” It cracked and a piece flew off. A golden brown lizard like head appeared and poked its head out.

“Is that…”

“It’s the smallest dragon, they only get as big as,” he looked at his arm and then Luka’s grabbing it he held it up, “this, yer arm.” He let it go to fall beside Luka.

Luka looked at it, “Really? It can that big.”

“HE can get that big.” Dryden said.

“Well sorry for the misunderstanding. He can get that big?”

“Yes.” Dryden held his hand out and it sniffed his hand. A long tongue came out and licked his finger and then he nipped at it. Dryden smiled, “I’m sorry little guy I can’t give ya what ya want.” The other three shook and the dark purple one cracked open, followed by the red rock, and then the blue. Dryden tipped his head as they all sniffed his hand. Picking up the golden brown one he looked at it, “He reminds me of golden honey,” Luka raised an eyebrow at this, “I’m calling him Topaz.”

“Topaz?”

Holding the small dragon in one hand he glared at Luka, “Yes, do ya have a problem with that?”

“Nope.” Luka watched as the teen put Topaz down and pick up the dark purplish blue one, “What are you going to name him or her?”

He glanced at Luka, “Violet.” Picking up a sapphire blue dragon and smiled as the dragon bit his hand. Luka was smiling when he saw how Dryden looked at each dragon, “I’m calling her Blue Fire. She’s going to be feisty when she’s older.” Luka chuckled at this, he could think of one feisty person. Dryden picked up the last dragon and smiled at this one, it was crimson in color, and Dryden chuckled, “Hello Crimson.” Luka shifted and four sets of gray eyes turned on him, he ‘eep’ed when they all jumped out of Dryden’s lap and climbed into his.

“Um, Dryden what… hey where are you going?” Dryden had stood up and had started to walk over to the small underground river.

“Getting food, their newborns they need to eat something.” Luka watched as he turned and left. Looking down he watched as two of them started to snap at each other. It was Blue Fire and Crimson, Topaz and Violet sat and watched.

“Hey don’t do that.” Luka cried out as he picked up both of them, “You shouldn’t fight.” He could feel something climbing up his side; he glanced down and watched as Topaz climbed up to perched on his shoulder. “Um… hi.” It was looking at him with those gray eyes.

Dryden plopped down next to Luka and smiled, “Topaz likes you.” He had a fish in his hand. Luka watched as Dryden’s nails became claws and he started to clean the scales off the fish. “Violet is quiet but playful, that’s why Topaz moved. Blue Fire and Crimson like to pick on each other.”

“How did you……?”

“Dragon’s personality’s set in as soon as their born. Plus they learn a lot faster than normal human babies.”

“How do you know all this?”

“The Dragconian race is half dragon half human and its common knowledge, where have you been living all your life?”

“Sorry I slept through that class.” Luka grumbled, “Aiden’s the smart one.” Luka frowned and looked at him, “Wait your half dragon… how can you have cat like ears and tail?”

Dryden shifted on the spot, “I…… don’t know.” He rubbed his head and grimaced. “I don’t wanna think about it.” Taking a deep breath he sighed as the throbbing slowly went away, “Dragconians are to dragons like humans are to monkeys. But we’re not considered as half-breeds because we’re half human. At one point in time Dragconians were called that.” He looked up at the fire, growling he gutted the fish to fast and made a mess.

“What’s wrong?” Luka had placed the two fighting dragons down and looked at Dryden.

“I hate how people use that word; I hate the word, especially when they use it to make someone feel bad about them self.” He started to split the fish in pieces. He held out his hand, “Hand me Crimson.” Glancing at Luka his face wasn’t that grin he was use to seeing, it looked like he was upset about something. Luka placed Crimson in Dryden’s hand. Dryden held the fish out to the dragon; he sniffed it and snatched it away.

Luka closed his eyes and smiled at Dryden, “So you do have a heart.”

Dryden glared at him, “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing bad.” Dryden stared at him, trying to see if he was teasing him. “You still haven’t answer how you know all about dragons.”

“I was raised to know everything about dragons but I still don’t know much.” He moved Crimson as soon as he was finished and grabbed Blue Fire out of Luka’s lap. “I’m only going on how to take care of them. There’s only so much you can learn.” He sighed and rolled his shoulders. Shifting he started to chew on his thumb nail. “I still need to get home.” He had mumbled to himself, “Before it’s too late.”

“Too late for what?”

“Nothing.” He pulled his hand from his mouth and looked at the other two dragons. He tossed the fish to Luka. “Here you feed them.”

“Huh?” he caught the fish and looked at Topaz and then down at Violet. “But I…” Dryden grabbed a piece of the fish and lifted it up.

“This much at a time till their full.” He held it up to Topaz who snatched it from his fingers. “See? Now its yer turn.”

“What if he bites my finger?”

Dryden rolled his eyes and pulled off a small piece and held it out to him. Luka was about to take it when Topaz grabbed it out of Dryden’s hand. The dragon had climbed along Luka’s arm and snagged the fish. “Hungry little bugger aren’t ya?”

Dryden was smiling as the small dragon made a small chirping noise. Luka sighed; he would never stop liking that smile. The small teen caught the way Luka was looking at him. “What is it?”

Luka blinked and smiled, “You need to smile a lot more.”

Dryden blushed and frowned, “Will ya quit it.”

Luka grinned, “You also blush a lot.”

“It’s your fault.” Dryden huffed and sat back.

Placing his elbow on his knee he rested his head in his hand, “How is it my fault?” this should be interesting.

“Because…” Dryden stopped himself and glared at him, “It’s none of ya damn business that is why.” He pushed the fish back in his hand, “Feed the dragon.” Then he stood up and walked off, climbing up the steep sand hill. When he got to the top, he sat down and glared at the darkness. He was sitting there when something darted across his field of vision. Then he caught a flash of silver and he ducked to the side to miss something whizzing by. “What the hell?” Jumping up he ran down the hill toward Luka, his foot sunk to low and he tripped and fell. Sliding down the rest of the sand hill, Luka rushed over to him.

“Dryden, you alright?” A sent hit his nose and he sat up.

‘Shit!’ he pulled Luka to the side and missed another thing that whizzed by. Looking behind him he saw an arrow. “Double shit.” Even Luka was glancing at it. Dryden scrambled and grabbed Blue Fire and Crimson. Handing them to Luka he grabbed the shirt. “Run!” Dryden scooped up Violet as they ran by, he quickly tied the shirt into a make shift sling and tucked Violet into it. As they got to the water Dryden took Blue Fire and Crimson and placed them in the sling. “Hold on to him.” He said as he pointed at Topaz. “We need to swim to the other side.”

“What?”

“Ya want ta face them?” he jerked his head towards whatever was chasing them.

“What… now who are they?”

“Hunters,” and then he jumped into the water. Luka cursed and holding onto Topaz jumped into the water.


Ari sat there looking down the hole. “I don’t see them anymore.” She jerked her head back as an arrow flew up and passed her head. “What the hell was that?” Aiden looked over at her from the map he was studying and then he saw it. A big dust cloud was heading their way.

“Holy shit, we need to move.” He started to fold the map up.

“We don’t know where Luka and Dryden went?”

“I think I have a hunch.”

“And what’s that?” she yelled back.

Aiden pointed, “That!” she looked where he was pointing. Ari cursed and started running for Luka’s horse. She jumped on and rode after Aiden.

Once she was neck at neck with him she yelled, “What about Luka and Dryden?”

“We’ll find them once we lose them.” He yelled back.


Dryden grabbed a rock and looked for Luka, ‘Shit! The water is too cold and I can’t swim in this current.’ He held onto the sling and dug his claws into the rock. ‘Damn it!’ his could feel his claws slipping along the rock and he lost his grip. He reached for it; ‘No!’ and then he was pulled under the water. He fought against the strong current. Dryden could feel his lungs screaming for air, ‘I can’t!’ his eyes lost focus and his body tried to take a breath only to get water. Something was swimming towards him and he reached out, ‘I don’t want to…… not now!’ he blacked out as that something grabbed his hand. He only hoped it was better than the Hunters.

Luka glanced down at the limp body in his arms and pulled him to the shore. He climbed out and placed Dryden on the ground. Moving the make shift sling he found the three dragons looking up at him, and then he reached up his shirts and pulled out Topaz and place him with the others. He looked down to see his skin go from a blue cobalt color to his normal skin color. Luka took a few deep breaths, sure he liked that he could breathe under water but he liked fresh air better.

Turning to Dryden he placed his ear to his chest. ‘Shit he’s not breathing.’ Tilting his head back Luka opened his mouth and made sure nothing was in the way. Holding his nose close Luka started to breathe air into the small teen’s body. ‘Come on Dryden.’ He pushed against his chest, and then breathed into his mouth again. “Come on breath.”

He repeated those steps three more times, Luka cursed and pushed against his chest one more time, “Don’t you fucking die on me.” Then he heard Dryden give a choked gasp of air. Luka helped him sit up as he coughed up water out of his lungs onto the ground. “Take deep breaths. That’s it.”

Dryden fell over, his head landing in Luka’s lap. Luka started to protest but Dryden’s body was shivering, “Cold.” Luka sighed and pulled him closer. The four dragons rushed over and curled up next to Dryden’s shivering form. “Can’t get warm.” Luka took a quick look around and found that they were somewhere down from where they were last at. He checked to see if anyone was coming and sliding onto his side he pulled Dryden against him and wrapped his arms around the shivering teen.

He couldn’t feel any heat coming from Dryden so he wrapped his arms around him tighter. “How’s this?”

When Dryden realized who was holding him, he tried to pull away but his body was too cold to move. His teeth were chattering as he said, “No one finds out about this.” He rolled over and pushed his body closer to Luka. Luka just laughed and let the teen’s body steal his body heat. It was quiet except for the rushing of the water. Dryden growled and pulled his head back to look up at Luka. Looking down he could see Dryden’s face even with the dark pushing in around them, but Luka just couldn’t stop staring into Dryden’s eye. Even in the dark his eyes seemed to glow as he looked at him.

“What is it?” Luka asked.

“Take yer shirts off.”

Luka blinked and when his words registered, his face went red, “What?”

“Dumbass! I can’t feel any heat from the wet shirts. No heat means I can’t get my body warm.” He sighed and scooted away pulling his wet shirts off he placed them to the side. He could see the small dragons curled around each other. Laying down he felt Dryden push up against his body, he could feel his cheeks burn.

‘Good thing its dark.’ It didn’t help that Dryden had his head buried against his throat. That’s when he noticed that his heart was beating slowly. Pacing it with his it was beating a little too slow. “Why is your heart beating so slowly?”

“'Cause I’m cold.” Dryden mumbled. ‘I hate that I’m still able to get hypothermia.’ Luka listened as his breathing evened.

“Dryden.” He sighed, the teen had fallen asleep. Then he heard a soft rumbling sound, tipping his head he chuckled, ‘That’s cute he’s purring.’ Luka wrapped an arm around Dryden’s slowly warming body and slowly drifted to sleep.

^^^^^^
A gray lion walked around a rock and stopped. It looked back as Aiden appeared behind holding a torch, “What is it Ari?” She looked forward and Aiden raised his arm up, “Won’t you look at that.”

They found Luka on his back with an arm over his head. Dryden was laying half on top of him and his arm was wrapped around the small body. Aiden chuckled and walked closer, “If you don’t put that light out I’ll toss you in the water.”

“I see you’re awake.”

“Yes, I’ve been awake since I heard Ari walk around the boulder.” Aiden was kneeling next to him now.

“Is everything all right?”

“No.” Ari sat down next to them in her lioness form. “Dryden almost drowned.” She looked up at Aiden and then back at Luka.

“Is he alright?”

“Yes after I had to give him CPR.” He could hear a rumbling sound from Ari. “Don’t you even, Ari.” But Aiden had to open his mouth for her.

“You mean the kiss of life.”

“I would strangle you if I wasn’t being held in a death grip.”

Aiden sighed, “We’re going to have to wake him up.”

“I know.”
^^^^^^

Dryden slowly came to someone was talking, ‘Where is that light coming from?’

“We’re going to have to wake him up.” That was Aiden.

“I know.” Now that was Luka and it was close, now that he thought about it. He was warm and it was nice, Dryden buried his head against whatever it was. “If he keeps that up I’m going to have to wake him up.”

“Well if we don’t move the Hunters will find us.” It finally all fell back into place: the dragons, the Hunters, and water. He could still feel the coldness and something had saved him.

“Luka you said Dryden almost drowned.” There was Ari, he was waiting for her.

“Yeah.”

“You saved him?”

“Yep, scared the shit out of me when he started to sink.” Dryden sat up and looked down at Luka, “Hey he woke up.” That’s the third time he saved him, Dryden pushed away and his body started shaking. He could feel the coldness wrap around him again, “Dryden are you still cold?”

‘Yes.’ “I’m fine.” He walked over to the small dragons and lifted the shirt they were laying on. “Hey there are you four ok?” Turning around he glanced at Luka and walked over to the now human Ari. “Can you carry them?”

“Sure.” She took the bundled up shirt and looked down to see a crimson dragon looking up at her. “These are dragons.”

Walking up to Aiden he looked at the torch. “Can I see that?”

“Ok.” Dryden took the torch and stared at it he placed his hand in the small flame. Focusing on the heat he could feel it spreading though his body but it would only last for so long he needed to get out in the sun. When he was done he handed it back.

“We should get going.” If he didn’t get out of here, he would pass out again but from the cold. Yes he can keep himself warm when he wasn’t trying to recover from almost dying and almost getting hypothermia. That water was cold; a normal human would have gotten hypothermia from just being in it. He blinked; Luka had jumped in and saved him. “Luka how long were we in the water?”

“About three minutes, why?”

“Just needed to know.” It finally clicked all together in his brain, but one question kept repeating itself over in his head. Was Luka human?

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Hope you enjoyed it.
Shade