The Desert World

Summary: Luka finds a boy chained to a post in the middle of the desert. The boy was left there to die, so he helped him. Now he has Hunters and The Guard chasing his ass. To top it off Luka is slowly falling for the boy. Dryden is a slave with secrets. Luka is the second best in the Village of Thieves. His father is the first. Luka is looking for something his mother left him; Dryden is just trying to figure out his life. But Luka soon finds out a big secret about Dryden that could change everything.

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

A/N: The world in this story is like Earth but with more deserts and land. Earth is 2/3 water, well this world is 2/3 land 1/3 water, the land is mostly desert. The northern most part is mostly snow; the center down to almost the South Pole is hot, dry, desert. Only one forest is left and it borders the ocean. The forest is big, think from the top of Washington State to the bottom of California and as wide the state of Washington. http://www.waderson.com/images/selectUnitedStates.gif a link to a map so you can have a visual if you want it. I will draw a map of the world in my story when I have time.

Please review I need to know if it needs work. Warning I have bad grammar. Please forgive me for the bad grammar.
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It was hot. The rope that cut into his arms was no longer brown but almost red. The metal around his neck was hot from the sun; the clinking of the chain connected to that hot metal collar was attached to a pole that was ten feet tall and two feet thick. He laid there in the sun he could see the birds that were waiting for him to die circle over his head. The sand was hot to his exposed skin, his amethyst eyes slid shut, it was too hot and he was tired. The dry wind blew over him and brushed through his blue hair, his skin was already tanned, so the sun couldn’t burn him. His mouth was so dry; his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth. It hurt to swallow.

As he laid there his mind went back to when he was a kid, he could still smell the food his mom would make every night. Hear her whisper to him as him and his siblings would fall asleep. ‘Mother.’ It was growing darker and then… he jerked awake as cold water hit him in the face. Sitting up sputtering he looked around and found two horses. He fell back into the sand and growled. “Leave me alone and let me die here.”

“Do I have to drop more on you?”

“Fuck you ya stupid horses.”

“Luka, we need that water.”

“Hush. Why are you tied up out here?”

Something was blocking out the sun, he cracked an eye and saw red. “I’m going crazy.” He mumbled to himself. Closing his eyes he rolled over and hid his head.

“Luka? What are you doing?” Stupid voice needed to go away. Feeling something cold slip between his wrists made his eyes snap open. Two hands were cutting the rope with a small knife. Following those fair skinned hands up till he found a head, that head had golden brown eyes and short shaggy flame red hair; the bangs fell in his face at an angle. The person smiled at him, “Luka!? His upper arms, what is that mark?” his eyes slowly dropped. No. no. no. no, he couldn’t pass out!

“Rest everything is all right.” He reached for the chain attached to the collar.

The blue haired youth shook his head weakly and rasped out, “No.” and his eye fell shut and his last thought was, ‘It’s too hot.’ Then he was surrounded by darkness.

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Thirty minutes earlier

Luka pulled back on the rains as he looked back at his traveling companion. Luka had on a pair of jeans and two layers of shirts, a brown long sleeve and pale tan short sleeve shirt over it, and boots. His cloak was draped over his lap, “What is it Aidan?” he was tall but being six foot six inches it’s hard to fool people into thinking you were just human.

“We need to head to town.” The young man said from his horse. He wore a red hat on backwards over light brown hair. His blue eyes showed every emotion and right now he was very annoyed with Luka. “We’re supposed to meet up with your father.” He had on a pale orange shirt and gray jeans. The cloak he had on was folded up and in a backpack on his back letting the sun warm up his light tanned skin. A scare went from his left ear across his cheek to end near the front of his left jaw. Old beat up blue shoes were on his feet. “Plus I want to get out of this sand. I think I might have sand in all the wrong places.”

“Aidan we will get there it’s only a day away from here.” There was cry and both teens looked up to see a bird flying towards them. It circled over their heads and flew off, “What wrong with her?”

“I wouldn’t know I don’t speak bird.” Aidan snapped. “Call her back; Sable City is the other way.”

“No let’s follow her she might have found it.” Digging his heels in to the horse’s sides, he chased after the bird.

“Damn it Luka.” Aidan followed after him, running side by side with Luka he yelled at him, “I won’t be held responsible it was all your idea.” Luka gave him a smirk.

“Of course, now keep up I don’t want to wait for you.” After riding for over twenty minutes, Luka saw a wooden pole sticking up out of the ground. He rode up to it and looked up, “What did you find?”

“Luka, look over there.” Aiden had pointed out a chain that trailed from the pole. Hoping off the horse he led it over and looked at the chain. “What do you think is at the end of it?” Luka looked back at him and shrugged. He followed it till he came to a small pile of sand. There was a strong gust of wind and the sand moved.

‘Blue grass…… no.’ he reached down to find out the grass was hair. “Aiden bring me some water.”

“Um…… yes.” he hopped off and led the horses closer. Digging out a flask full of water he handed it to Luka. “What did you find?”

“You’ll see.” Brushing the sand off he found a blue haired boy, his bangs were longer then the hair in the back. His eyes were closed as if sleeping. The small body had no shirt only shorts. Two red marks stretched over his nose in between the eyes. His skin was a dark tan from lying in the sun, Luka held a hand up to his face. Breath, he was still alive, but barely. Luka lifted the boys head and uncapped the water. Pouring some into the boy’s mouth, he watched as the water over flowed out of his mouth and down his cheeks. He ran a hand over the boy’s throat till he swallowed. “Good.”

“Mother.” It was soft and raspy but with his hearing he had caught it.

“Luka are you sure about this, I mean he’s chained to a fucking wooden post in the middle of nowhere.” Aiden hissed at him.

Just then Luka dumped some water on the boys head. The boy jerked up from the shock and Luka smirked. The boy fell back on the sand and made a sound.

“Leave me alone and let me die here.”

Luka frowned, ‘What the hell?’ “Do I have to drop more on you?”

“Fuck you ya stupid horses.”

Luka held the flask over his head only to have it snatched away, “We need that water.”

“Hush.” Turning back to the boy, “Why are you tied up out here?” Luka was leaning over the boy. He watched as his eyes open and his breath caught, an amethyst eye was looking up at him only to close. The boy mumbled something and rolled over. Sighing Luka stood up and walked over to his horse. Pulling a knife out, he walked back over to the boy and knelt down.

“Luka? What are you doing?” Luka looked back at Aiden and smiled. He grabbed the boy’s wrist and started to cut the rope. He hadn’t noticed that the boy’s eyes had opened and was watching him till he had finished cutting the rope. Aiden was looking at the boy till his eyes landed on a mark on his upper right arm. It had what looked like a sword stabbing a spiraling line. Triangles went from one side of the sword around the spiraling line to meet up with the other side. “Luka!?” he looked up, “His upper arms, what is that mark?” on the other arm was a circle with triangles on the outside and the inside of the circle. Under that were three long triangles that looked like they were hanging from the circle.

The boy’s eyes slowly closed and Luka smiled, “Rest everything is all right.” He reached for the chain to break it. The boy weakly shook his head.

“No.” then he passed out.

Luka looked back at the boy and with one good yank the chain broke off the collar. Taking the boy into his arms he walked over to the horse. “Let’s go.”

“But……”

“Aiden on the horse now.” The teen sighed and climbed up onto the back of the animal.

Luka climbed up and placed the boy in front of him with an arm around his small waist. He could see wounds on the boy’s body, dried blood and sand was all over the boy.
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It was warm. Is that a fire, a scent hit his nose and he cracked an eye. His mouth was watering when he saw the pot, looking around he saw no one sitting around the small fire. He was in a tent it wasn’t big but it wasn’t small either. He saw some bags on the ground but ignored them. Feeling something around his waist he looked down to find bandages around his torso. His eyes went back to the pot and he crawled over to it. Sniffing the air, he looked into the pot and licked his lips. It smelled like the stew from home. He was about to put his finger in so he could get a taste, but a voice stopped him. The small boy looked up and saw the red head from before. Pulling his hand back he looked down.

“I was only telling you to stop. You could have burned yourself.”

He kept his head low, ‘don’t growl. Don’t growl.’ His stomach gave a loud growl and he lowered his head further.

“What’s your name?”

Looking up he stared at him, “I don’t have one.”

“You don’t.” He watched the red head sit down and poured some stew in a bowl. “Here eat.” The blue haired boy reached for the bowl and sniffed it. Then putting the bowl to his lips he drank the stew down. “Why were you out there?”

“You should give your name before ya start asking questions.” Great now he had to open his mouth. It was too late by the time the boy realized his mistake, the red head was standing right next to him. He sighed and closed his eyes, time to take whatever comes. But it never came he turned his head to see the teen looking at him. He was squatted right next to him.

The red head nodded, “Your right I’m sorry.” The red head laughed at him when he saw his face, “sorry sorry, Luka Zander.” Luka held his hand out but he moved away from it. “Ok, well, tell you what. You can stay in here. Eat as much as you want.” Standing up he looked down at the blue haired boy, the shirtless boy. Walking over to a bag he pulled out a long sleeve shirt and handed it to the boy, “It gets cold at night. Oh and……” he knelt down and held his hand over the metal collar on his neck. He winced as it fell from his neck, “There now that should help it heal better.”

“Why are you helping me?” The boy couldn’t help but stare at Luka’s eyes. The color reminded him of the amber wheat fields in his home village.

“Hmmmm……” Luka shrugged and smiled, “No clue I just like to help. Now a name, can you remember having one?” he flopped on to the ground and looked at him.

“Once, when I was younger and they don’t exactly use names where I was at.” He poured some more stew in the bowl and started to drink it down. “Eleven years of not using one, you tend to forget things. Plus where I come from I lose my first name at the age of fifteen. So I’m nameless.”

“Want one?”

“What’s the catch?” He took another bowl.

“No catch, just a name unless you want to be called nameless from now on?”

“What kind of name?”

“Dryden.”

“Why?”

“It fits you.”

“No. Why didn’t you just leave me there?”

“I was raised to help those in need.” Luka leaned back and sighed, “Plus you were just laying there. So will you take the name?”

“Will you let me leave?”

“Sure, you can leave once we get to Woodline.”

“Woodline?” He stared at the bowl and smiled. “You won’t take me back?”

“Back to where?”

He shook his head, “I’ll take the name and I’ll stay till we get to Woodline but after that I’m gone.”

“Good,” He reached his hand out, “Welcome to the camp Dryden.” The boy stared at his hand and grabbed it. Luka reached for some bandages, “We better hide that, before Ari sees it. She can be overprotective when it comes to me.”

The boy, now dubbed as Dryden, pulled his arm away and covered the scar like mark. He lowered his head and looked down. Of course he would recognize the mark everyone did. That’s why he had to learn fast to avoid attention and keep to the shadows, especially when it came to Rouge Hunters and The Guard. “Can’t help what they made me do.”

“I know.” He felt a hand on his head, “Now let me see your arm.” Luka gave another sigh and shook his head when the teen scooted back. “Here you can do it yourself then.” Dryden reached out and grabbed the bandage; he started to wrap the upper part of his right arm to hide the mark. It was sloppy work but at least it hid the mark.

The flap to the tent opened up, “Prince Luka.” Luka stood up and walked over to the person.

“Hey want did I tell you,” he put his arm around the guard’s shoulders, “You don’t need to call me that. Besides I think you gave him a heart attack.” The blue haired boy was staring at both of them. The guard that had walked in had gray hair that you could see below an old hat, had pale red eyes. But this guard wasn’t wearing armor, but had on a red shirt with dark blue jeans, a sword hung from their waist and they also had on brown boots. Their height was taller than normal but was still shorter than Luka and they had light caramel colored skin.

‘Oh shit he’s a prince!’

“What is it Ari?” the guard looked at him, “Well speak girl.”

“Huh?” both looked at the blue haired boy, “You’re a girl?” Dryden placed the bowl down.

“Yes I am. The armor isn’t made for women so I have use chest bandages.” Pulling her hat off caused long silver gray hair to fall below her shoulders. “Despite the color of my hair I’m only twenty.”

Dryden placed his hand down to push himself up, only to drop back onto the ground. Clutching his wrist he sighed, ‘damn they must have broken it.’

“Hey are you ok?” Ari walked over to him and he backed up.

“I’m fine it’ll be better in the morning.” She looked back at Luka and he shrugged his shoulders. “Just bring me the stuff to set it.”

Luka sighed and waved Ari over. Once she was next to him, he whispered to her. “Let him do it himself. Now are you here because father sent you?”

“Yes. He wants to see you right away and he wants to know why we’re meeting out in the middle of the desert instead of Sable City?” Ari hissed at him. “You know out here you and your father can be killed. You’re only protected when you’re inside of the city.”

Luka laughed, “In my line of work I’m never safe. You take care of my father; I’ll get that aid kit for the kid,”

“Not a kid!” Dryden growled.

“And then we’ll go talk to father.” He patted her on the back and pushed her out of the tent, “Now I’ll see you later tonight at dinner,” he turned and looked at Dryden, “Since it’s already after mid day.”
Dryden stared at him. Then Luka closed the tent flap and looked at Ari.

“Well Ari off you go. Bye-bye.”

“Fine, but Aiden is to stay away.”

“When will you two grow up?” Luka said to her.

“When he stops pissing me off.”

Luka gave her a look and sighed, “Never mind. No one’s allowed in here, except you, Aiden, Me, Dryden and father.”

“Dryden?”

“Him.” He pointed at the closed tent. “His name is Dryden.”

“Sure I’ll go and tell your father you’re busy and you’ll see him at dinner.”

“Kay. Now this is the last time I say bye-bye.” He pushed her away and waved. Then the flap to the tent flapped open and then closed and she sighed. Luka had just walked back into the tent.

“Why me?”

Luka walked over to Dryden. “Now any questions?”

“Yes. I have one.”

Luka looked at him and grinned, “Well what is it?”

“Where are we, how long was I out for, and you’re a prince.”

“That was three.” He turned and walked over to a box, lifting the lid he pulled out another box.”

“What’s that?”

“Aid box.” He walked back over and placed it in front of him. “Now we’re three day’s from Sable City.” Luka opened the lid and pulled out some items, “You were out for four days slowly recovering.” Dryden grabbed the items and started to work on his wrist, “I’m really not a prince, but I’m like one just not one. Father is the top person and I’m his son.” He looked at Dryden as he wrapped the bandage around the brace. He couldn’t help but stare. Dryden was small and scars could be seen all over his upper body. Coughing he asked, “What about you, why were you out there?”

“Ya, really want to know?”

“Yes.”

“I got caught killing someone, well trying to kill someone.” He bit down on the cloth and ripped it. “So I might as well run while I can. They most likely found out someone found me and broke me off the pole. So they’ll start looking. But I won’t go back. Not back there, where it’s nothing but hell.”

Luka nodded and stood up. “You’re allowed to come with me to our village, or was it a city… oh well all I know is that it has gotten bigger since I was a child. It’s hidden and no one can find it but those who know it’s there.” he held his hand out but the boy just looked away, “Ok, I understand. But first let’s get you out side for some fresh air and then we can go bug Aiden.” Luka watched as the boy stood up. Dryden swayed and Luka reached out to steady the boy only to have him jump from Luka’s hand.

“I’m fine.” Sighing Luka walked over and grabbed a flask of water. Turning Luka found Dryden trying not to fall back down on the ground.

“You sure you’re ok?” Amethyst eyes looked at him.

“Yes, just dizzy is all.” Luka handed him the opened flask. Taking it he sniffed it, while looking at Luka.

“Its water, take it easy on drinking it. Don’t need you getting sick.” Dryden took a sip and almost purred at the coldness. He took a big drink and stopped when he caught Luka smiling. “It’s good isn’t it?”

“Better then the shit they gave me.” He handed it back and watched as Dryden’s eyes landed on the tent flap. He backed up, “Someone is coming.”

“That might be father coming to say hi, or yell because I didn’t come to see him.” The flap opened and he saw Aiden and Ari both glared at each other and then turned to look at Luka. Luka watched as both open their mouth to say something, but Luka beat them to the punch, “Father wants me?”

They both nodded, “Luka as your best friend, I’ll go see him now.” He looked at Dryden, “And he wants to meet your little friend.” Luka looked back at Dryden and smiled at him.

Turning to Ari, “Go tell father I’ll be there as soon as I get Dryden ready.” She nodded and ran out the tent. Luka walked over and grabbed the shirt, then handed it to Dryden, “Come on, he won’t bite. I promise.” Dryden reached for the shirt and pulled it on. “Now to meet my father.”

“You make it sound like we’re a couple.” Dryden grumbled.

“Hmmm…… sounds like fun. I’m not one for relationships.” Luka pulled the flap open and motioned for him to go out first. After the boy stepped out Aiden stepped up to him.

“Luka you were right, I went back and found a group of people camped out by the pole. I think they’re going to start tracking him soon.” Luka nodded.

Dryden looked around him in awe. There were people walking around carrying swords or some kind of weapon. Luka stepped up next to him, “Your safe with me, now come on let’s get this over with.”

Following him, Dryden was looking everywhere he could. But something caught his eye; a man was trying to lift a box and judging by how he was tipping. Walking over Dryden grabbed the other side and he heard grunt.

“Thanks Luka.”

“I’m right here.”

The man turned his head and blinked as he looked at Luka, “Then who’s on the other side.” Looking around the box he saw a boy smaller than Luka holding the other end. Dryden grinned and shifted his braced arm so he could use it better.

“That’s Dryden. He’s going the new help.”

“Really? Ain’t he a little young.”

Dryden bristled, “I’m sixteen. I’m not a child.”

“Whoa there buddy, I can see I hit a sore spot but you look younger than that.”

Luka watched as Dryden’s amethyst eye’s darkened as he growled. He chuckled, “Come on, Billy here didn’t mean it.” Dryden’s growling was cut short when there was a loud shout.

“LUKA CALDER ZANDER!”

It grew quiet as everyone turned and looked at Luka, “Shit.”

Aiden snickered and then he was full out laughing, “Oh shit he’s pissed.”

What caught Luka’s attention was how Dryden was covering his head. As the boy pulled his hands away two black cat ears had just disappeared back into his head. Looking over to see Luka staring, Dryden freaked at the thought that Luka had seen them.

The fact was he had seen them, was Dryden a shifter? Luka heard his father holler again and sighing he motioned for Dryden to follow. Aiden ran after him, after standing up from rolling on the ground. One thing was for sure, Luka needed to find out what Dryden was.
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“No.” Dryden’s heart stopped, “He’s to go back.”

Luka growled and slammed his hands on the table his father, Liam, was sitting at. “Remember when I saved you from that one thing?”

His father’s green eyes narrowed. Both had the same red colored hair. Luka watched as his father stood up, but his father was six feet tall. The two stared at each other and Liam sighed. Falling back against the chair he sighed again. “You are certainly my son,” he looked up, “with too much of your mother’s stubborn side in you.” Luka smiled and pushed away, “But there’s a catch.” Liam looked at Dryden. “I need to know why you were out there.”

Dryden sighed and reached behind his head to pull the shirt off. “Father!” Dryden stopped and looked at him arms still up; Luka caught the look in his eyes. The shirt came off and without taking his eyes of the man in front of him, he ripped the bandage off that covered the mark.

“I was told to track and kill some important man that was coming to the city.”

“What city?”

“Oase.”

Aiden grabbed Luka’s arm and dragged him towards the exit, with a “Be right back” the flap slid closed.

“Please continue.” Dryden looked back at Liam and took a deep breath.
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“What the hell?” Luka yelled as soon as they were far enough from the tent. Aiden had just told him more about the people he saw.

“Shhhh!” Aiden hissed. “I’m sure it was the Oase symbol.”

“The what?”

“The people of that city are looking for him. They want proof he’s dead, if he’s not dead and they find us with him we’re fucked from here to hell and back.”

“Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.” Luka was now pacing back and forth.

“Either we start moving the camp or we sneak out in the middle of the night.”

“To where damn it?” Luka growled. Aiden watched as he kept pacing, then he stopped, “I know what to do.”

“What?” Luka smirked and looked at him. The brunette knew that look, “Oh, no fucking way in hell. I’m not going to go there.”

“Come on Aiden would you leave me out there to die alone.”

“Yes.”

Luka pouted and asked, “Please Aiden we could use the extra help. All we need to do is…”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Your dad is scary as hell!”

Luka cocked an eyebrow at that. “You’re afraid of my father.”

“Yeah! Why do you think I try not to piss him off?”

“Fine then I’ll do it; we need to find it anyways.”

“Your hell bent on finding that place, aren’t you.”

Luka smirked and dropped an arm around Aiden’s shoulders, “It’s that last thing my mother gave me. But she hid it, so now I need to find it.”

“I guess I could help, can’t let you die out there.”

“That’s good.” Luka pulled him along back to the tent. “We’ll split from the group when we’re a day’s ride from Woodline.”

Aiden sighed, “Fine but you so own me something.”

Luka laughed and patted his back, “Whatever you want.” Shrugging his arm off Aiden walked into the tent and Luka followed him. Dryden turned and looked at Luka. He noticed that the boy had put the shirt back on. “Dryden come on I want to show you something.” He gave him a wary look. “Don’t worry its safe.”

“Ok.” He followed him out. Aiden turned and looked at Liam.

“What is it Aiden?”

He took a deep breath, ‘Here goes nothing.’ Then let it out, “Luka and I are going to continue what we started to look for.”

He nodded his head. “I’m glad he’s being watched over by you.”

He said it before he could stop himself, “Luka wants Dryden to come with us.”

Liam looked up from the papers on the table, “Why?”

“There are some people from Oase heading this way.”

Sighing Liam rested his head in his hand, “What has that stubborn boy gone and done now?” the old man stood up and looked Aiden in the eyes, “How far are they?”

“One day and moving closer every minute.” Liam nodded and walked around the table.

His back was to Aiden as he looked at the map on another table. “Tell everyone we leave at dawn.”

“Yes sir.” Aiden rushed out of the tent to pass the message along. He had a bad feeling about this.
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Please review I need to know if it needs work.
Shade