Chapter 4: Chapter Four
---Kalama---
Tears streamed from her eyes as Kala slowed to a stop, gasping for breath. She wasn't tired from running, it was the silent crying she had been doing. It hurt her so much, to just leave Gray like that. He was her best friend, and she loved him.
-You're not safe yet. You must continue.- The voice told her, urging her forward.
'I can't...it hurts to much.' Kala replied through her mind.
-What does, Hatchling?-
'My heart.'
Kala looked back the way she came, already seeing the Trackers begin to gather. Gray's black hair stood out in the sea of red hoods. He was beside who looked to be the leader.
-He betrayed you.-
'No. I betrayed him. He's just continueing his life, without me.'
Kala bit her lip, trying to control the tears and ache in her heart. Her father was waiting at the Eastern Forest, she had to get there, and fast. Her family would be in a lot of danger if they were discovered helping her.
The voice was silent as Kala continued, jogging more than running. Her breathing was still ragged, but she did her best to be quiet. Her mind was in chaos, thoughts flying through it faster than a forest fire went through a dead grove.
'Our lives part here. Next time we meet, he'll be trying to kill me. And he knows me better than most, it'll be hard to keep ahead of him, but I have Dragon Power on my side, it should be managable.'
-Do not forget, he is your future killer.-
'I know that.' She snapped. 'Stop reminding me.'
She had been steadily jogging but lost in thought, and had made it to the edge of the forest without truely realizing it. The stallions panicked nickers brought her attention to the world around her. Her father was stroking the horse's neck, trying to calm him.
"Easy boy. I know you don't like it here, but you'll be running far away soon. Now, I have a job for you. My sweet baby girl is going to be riding you. I need you to keep her safe for me. She needs someone who will watch out for her, will you do that for me?"
Her father's words brought more tears to her eyes. He was risking his life for her. She was putting everyone at risk, all because some damned Dragon cursed her.
-Curse? Is that how you see the Mark?- the voice asked her.
She had honestly completely forgotten about it. When the voice was silent, she couldn't even tell it was there.
'Of course. No good comes from it. Those who are Marked are threats to the crown, and so they're killed when found.' Kala replied.
The voice went silent, but Kala could feel it thinking.
-So Dragon Power scares the humans, and for it, they kill their own young.-
Hearing it said by another made the entire idea seem ridiculous.
'Yes. But we're not seen as their young, we're seen as abominations and monsters.'
She took a step towards her father, and the horse nickered again. It could sense the Dragon Power.
-Become visable again. You must reel in the Shadows that coat your body in secrecy.-
Kala nodded, although she wasn't seen. Taking a breath, she imagined the sun shining down on her, reflecting off her skin, being whole under it. The coolness that had coated her skin, receded, leaving the feel of something lost. It almost made her sad.
Certain she was visable again, Kala walked up to her father. Stepping on a branch, the man and horse looked at her, startled.
"Kala. Thank the Gods you made it here safe." Her father said, wrapping his arms around his daughter.
"Yes, but the Trackers will be coming. Return home." Kala said, taking the horse's reigns.
"Kalama." Her father began.
Kala stopped what she was doing, and looked at her father. His eyes shone with unshed tears, fatherly love, and parental concern.
"I love you. Don't ever forget your mother and I love you." He said.
Kalama had to hold back tears again as she flung her arms around her father. She would miss him dearly. He had always been there to protect her, and now she was being pushed into a deadly world with nothing but her wit and a power she didn't even understand.
"I won't forget, Papa. I love you too. And I love Mama. Please be careful." She said, burying her face into his shoulder.
"You be careful as well. The world is against DragonKin, and the Trackers are after you."
"I know Papa. I'll be fine." Kala reassured, although her own terror was like a stone in her gut.
She mounted the stallion, mottled black and gray, and spun him around, preparing to gallop off. She could feel the heart beat under her, and it reminded her she wasn't the only one afraid.
"Dragon Speed, Kalama." Her father said, giving her the blessing of speed that had been used when humans and Dragons coexisted.
Kala didn't trust her voice, so she nodded without looking back, and galloped off, deeper into the forest.
'I don't know what's going to happen, but please, protect those I love.' Kala prayed to the sky, glancing up briefly.
She bent down, close to the horse, and focused on what was ahead, trusting the horse to not trip, and to carry her far away from the immeadiate danger of the Trackers.
-Do you know where you are going?- The voice asked her.
'No. I was hoping you knew that.' She admitted.
She hated how she was relying on the voice in her mind that had just appeared. It scared her too, how she knew nothing of the life she was now entering.
-The journey is long and hard, with many dangers.- It warned.
'Then so be it. No one ever said a life as a DragonKin was easy. Besides, that gives me some time to learn.'
-Learn what?-
'Who you are, and what the hell it means to be a DragonKin.'
-If that is your desire, let us begin.-
---Grayson---
Gray stayed off to the side, but close to the man the other Trackers called Captain. He has taken Gray under his wing, so to say, after Kalama left. The Trackers were gathering together, breaking off into teams, in preperation to hunt Kala.
'It's almost like they see her as a beast...' Gray thought, his stomach churning at the thought.
He had taken the chain with the ring out of his pocket, and was staring down at it. It held the hope of a dream from another world. One where Kala was not a DragonKin, one where Gray became a Tracker through worth, not because he turned the one he loved in.
"Was she the keeper to your heart?" Captain asked, putting his hand on Gray's shoulder.
Gray looked up and met the eyes of the Tracker. They were kind, but also hard, a metallic blue that revealed part of his dangerous strength.
"Yes Sir. I had a plan, to join the Trackers, and ask her to wait for me." Gray said, shoving the ring back into his pocket, suddenly feeling fiercely protective of the ring and his plans.
"This will be hard. I understand if you wish to stay behind." Captain said.
Gray immeadiately shook his head.
"No, Sir. I turned her in, she's my best friend and the one I love. She'd expect me to go after her, to prove to you I am not weak." Gray said, staring at the captain with determination.
Although hidden within was a pain, and a cunning thinking desperately on how to protect Kala.
"Very well, Son. Do not forget, she would not think twice to kill you, do not show hesitation when it comes to her death."
"Yes Sir." Gray replied, nodding his head.
Captain walked off, retrieving horses. Gray stood in the middle of the bustle, feeling sick at the thought of Kala dead. Yes, she was a DragonKin. Yes, they were dangerous. But Kala, she couldn't be as bad as they said. He had known her his entire life. If anything, she couldn't handle death. She hated seeing the life leave any living thing.
He was forced back to reality when a hand was placed on his shoulder. The captain again.
"Get a steed and meet back here. You will be with me."
Gray nodded and rushed back home. He would tell his father what happened, then take the horse from the barn. As he walked, a hint of an idea started to form, something that was dangerous and reckless. Something absolutely treasonous.
Gray burst open the door, startling his mother and father.
"Damn it Grayson! What was that about?!?" His father shouted.
"Mom. Dad. Something happened." Gray said, his voice grave.
"Did something happen with Kalama?" His mother asked.
Gray nodded.
"Yes, but not in the way you think. She was a DragonKin, and she escaped. I was asked to join the Trackers in hunting for her."
His mother looked horrified and sad, while his father looked grim.
"You need a horse." His father said.
"Yes, I do." Gray replied.
His mother sat down in obvious shock.
"I cannot give you one in good conscious." His father stated.
"What?" Gray asked, more than a little shocked.
"I understand you wish to be a Tracker, but going after Kalama is something you should not do. With how you love her, her death will only break your spirit. I can't let my son break his spirit and heart when he's so young. Let her go. Let her live." His father said, looking at him gently.
"What if I'm the only one who can find her, and thus delay the Trackers?" Gray asked, giving voice to the small idea he had been thinking of.
"That, I will allow you to take a horse for. But tread carefully. Both your life and her's will rely soley on you." His father said.
"And don't forget, you're planning on betraying the King's favored guards." His mother chimed in.
"I understand. Thank you for letting me do this." Gray said.
"This is treason, do not get caught, Grayson." His father said.
"I know that. And I won't. Kala wouldn't let me get caught. Any interaction we had, she'd make us out to be enemies. She's an excellent actress." Gray said heading to the door. "I'll be home around sundown to pack, and leave with the rising sun."
"Safe travels." His mother wished him.
"Guard yourself. No one is your ally right now. Not even Kalama." His father warned.
"Yes Father." Gray said as he went out the door and towards the small stables.
He chose the red sorrel mare, the faster of his family's two horses, and mounted her, trotting off to join the Trackers, and throw them off path the best he could, without being discovered.
'I forfeit being a true Tracker for the one I love. My plans are crumbling, yet I do not regret. If this isn't what love is, it must not exist.'
Gray thought, his face betraying nothing as he joined the captains group, and they headed east, the way Kala had gone. The groups spread out like the delta of a river, scanning the area for any sign of a DragonKin. Their swords were sharp, but their eyes were sharper, they wouldn't miss a thing. Gray knew he would just have to put into practice what he had been training for, and find and hide whatever he could before the Trackers found it. He also knew Kala would already be in the forest, heading away from them as fast as she could.
'Please have a good head start. Please be safe.' Gray prayed, Kala in mind.
'You're smart. You're strong. You're a DragonKin. Use your abilities and survive.'
Gray lowered his head for a moment, listening to his soul. His heart was speaking to his mind, both in perfect agreement.
'I can't live without you.'
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Kat_Nisha
Kat_Nisha Kala's on the run, this mysterious voice guiding her.
Gray has chosen Kala over the kingdom.
Things are beginning to heat up. Any comments, let me know!
-Kat
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone