“Aidan!” both Ralem and Jaydon yelled simultaneously

To their left, the window exploded, sending razor sharp shards of glass spraying everywhere. In reflex, Jaydon jumped in front of the old man and his wife, his arms spread like wings. He bit his lip as he felt several jagged edges dig their teeth into his skin.

Oof! The breath was knocked out of Ralem as something heavy crashed into him, mowing him into the glass-strewn floor. Ralem yelled as something scrabbled on his chest, his fist connecting to something solid. The beast recoiled and struck like a cobra at his forearm, digging its canines deep into the muscle.

Jaydon bit back a yell as the echo of the pain reached him. Thinking quick, he ushered the man and his wife into the nearest room, as far away as he could from the roiling cat and Rider. “Stay here,” he urged, pointing to under the bed. “We’ll protect you.”

The old woman quickly slid under the bed but the old farmer jogged to the other side of the room, where a sword hung over the mantel. It was beautifully intricate, definitely a heirloom in the family. The farmer handed it reverently to Jaydon just as he felt a shockwave of pain shudder through his shoulder.

Creaak. The knob to the door creaked as it slowly revolved. Jaydon was immediately at the door, slamming his weight against it to keep it closed. He glared hard at the farmer as his muck boots slid across the wooden floor. “Hide!” The farmer didn’t argue. He wormed under the bed, where he put a reassuring arm around his shaky wife. Even with all the noise, Jaydon could hear the calming words of the Lord’s Prayer whispered under the bed.

“I know you’re in there,” a voice whispered, deadly and terrifying. The door opened a fraction of an inch, just enough to let three long black claws slide through to scratch at the door frame. Jaydon grunted under the pressure, sweat beading on his forehead. His grooved soles managed to catch a raised wooden board but his other boot was fighting to find friction. He was sliding.

Jaydon- where are you? Ralem’s voice cried in his mind.

Just a second longer, he thought to himself, pulling all his might into it. The door groaned under the pressure, the wood snapping as it started to splinter. Jaydon smiled as he felt it shove harder, feel the power separated only by a thin strand of wood.

He jumped back.

The cat burst into the room, nearly severing the door from its hinges. A huge head emerged, followed quickly by a heaving muscular chest and clawed hands spread to catch the dragon up like a net. Jaydon had landed with a clatter on the nightstand. Now he threw himself at the beast, his talons forming even as he shot through the air. Using the cat’s momentum against him, Jaydon delivered a punch that sent the creature’s brain reeling and his body crashing back to the hallway, where Ralem was still in an intense wrestling match with a big black one.

Jaydon landed on his feet and tossed the sword to his Rider. “Catch!” The flame-haired one that had attacked him shook his head drunkenly. Seeing his advantage, the dragon bashed the cat in the head again and again and again. His fists moved like a blur and the cat backpedaled slowly, a confused look on its brutish face.

On the floor, Ralem had deftly caught the sword in his good hand. The cat snatched for it, but his mouth was met with steel. “Take that!” Ralem grunted as it bit down on the blade. “Wait, oh no!” It jerked its head, trying to get the weapon out of Ralem’s grasp. Realizing that fighting was futile, Ralem went with the motion, effectively driving the blade into the cat’s cheeks and gums. Screaming, the cat drew its bloody head away from the Rider, giving him enough time to scramble to his feet. Avoid the teeth, claws, and paws, he reminded himself. Frantically, he ran through every training lesson he had with Lauri. What’s their weak spot? Aha! He remembered Lauri saying, If you can, go for the heart. The second best place is the eye and the neck. But when you’re actually face to face with one of those suckers… just stick the blade wherever it will go!

Ralem just barely deflected a swipe with the broad side of his sword and felt his back touch the wall. Oh crud. What was Jaydon doing?

Don’t worry. I’m coming for you. Jaydon’s reply was immediate.

The cat smiled as it reared to its back legs, blocking Ralem’s view of the rest of the battle. Ralem laughed nervously, “Nice kitty.” He wrapped both his sweaty hands around the hilt of his sword, mustering his strength to thrust at the creature’s rib cage.

Suddenly something hit the beast from behind and sent it headlong into the wall. Ralem quickly ducked as its head blew completely through the bricks directly above him. Quick! Get out of there! Jaydon’s voice warned in his head. Ralem quickly complied, squeezing through the mass of flailing limbs and furry body. Halfway out, a paw flashed across his vision and he felt a sting race up his face. He bolted, clutching his bleeding face, just before the cat could sandwich him into the wall.

Jaydon stood there, panting. He gestured to Ralem’s sword. “Go and see what’s up with Aidan. I’ll take care of these cats.” He licked his lips, claws flashing not only from scaly fingers, but arcing from his elbows, beautiful and dangerous. A huge bite mark oozed with blood on his shoulder, but was quickly knitting itself together.

Ralem watched, open-mouthed as the tiger-striped cat that wasn’t stuck in the wall made a grab for his dragon’s midsection. Jaydon easily jumped over its snatching claws, thrusting his fist upwards, meeting the cat’s chin with an agonizing crunch! Spittle flew from its mouth as its head was wrenched backwards from the blow. The dragon followed its descent with savage animosity, ripping and tearing with his talons and teeth. In that moment, Ralem felt like he was one with the dragon, he could just feel the power coursing through his body as he powered through the air, the crunch of cat jaw against his fist. “Yeah!” he yelled triumphantly as the cat fell, waving his sword in the air. Then he realized that, if anything, he was acting really stupid.

A scream rent the air. Aidan! Snapping to attention, he flew down the hallway to where Jaydon’s memory told him Aidan’s room was.  Inside he was met by quite a sight.

A young female cat was being attacked by a tiny furball, winging around her head in a whiz of black. She snarled and hissed and spat, her paws snapping at the air but coming up with nothing. Crack! Suddenly Drake the vampire was clinging to the cat’s furry back as if she were a rearing horse, his fangs fastened to its thick neck. It roared and bent backwards, trying to dislodge the unwanted parasite. “I’ve rodeod bigger than you!” Drake called, his voice muffled by the large fangs.

In the corner, Aidan was scrunched up in a little ball, crying on the dresser. When he spotted Ralem, his tear-stained face lifted. “Jaydon! Help me!”

Not even noticing that his nephew had just called him Jaydon, Ralem jumped into action. He could feel the wounded dragon inside try to rise as it struggled for dominance. He pushed it down without too much trouble. “Hurry!” Drake squeaked, “I’m holding it off!” he promptly bit its nose.

It howled and tried to catch the bat in its huge paws. Ralem tried to quell his terror and keep his sword from shaking. If a three inch long bat can take on a cat, so could he. He stabbed the sword in a wide, horizontal slash, lunging forward in a desperate move. It responded faster than he thought. Rough hand-like paws latched around his neck as his sword clattered uselessly to the floor with a whack of its other paw. He felt himself being lifted off the ground. His legs flailed uselessly over the ground and he grabbed the creature’s shaggy arms to keep himself from choking. Drake flapped all over its face, but the cat ignored it and stared seemingly into Ralem’s very soul. “Young Rider,” it said, its voice considering him. It shifted its paws so that only one was holding him up, the other caressed his neck. He stiffened as he felt the coarse fur tickle his neck, the soft swipe of a claw. “Foolish one. You are the big dragon’s only weakness, yes?”

Aidan screamed. Drake imbedded his teeth into the cat’s neck. Jaydon sensed his bitter fear. Rider, don’t be afraid to pull power from me. I have enough now to support the both of us. Don’t forget you are the Rider of the wind king. Through their connection, Ralem could see a brief image of clawed fingers crossed to defy the mighty tiger-striped cat’s heavy paw.

He closed his eyes, “Yes. But I am also his Rider.” A flash of green ignited as his lids flew open. BOOM! The wind responded to his call and blasted into the cat’s face. Ralem thrust his feet on the creature’s chest, pushing off and blowing blast after blast of wind in its eyes and face. The joint action caused it to drop him and reel back, smashing Drake into a wall. The vampire squeaked and popped into human form, climbing quickly up the wall and onto the ceiling.

Ralem swiftly recovered his sword, where it was lying by Aidan’s nightstand. Spinning around, he was faced with a very angry, very big cat. It snarled at him, black gums clashing with pearly white sabre teeth. Ralem steeled himself, crouching into battle position, both hands on his sword and his eyes trained on the target.

He could see its legs bunching even before it moved. “Aidan, get out of the way!” he yelled as it sprung through the air, its claws aimed at his heart.

Heart-stopping pain.

Ralem stumbled backwards, clutching his stomach. He felt his back push against the wall. He was cornered. Aidan had managed to jump headlong out of the way and stood, transfixed at the doorway. Ralem watched the cat advance through teary eyes. Jaydon? he called.

Rider… I’ve been hurt. Was Jaydon’s reply, ragged with pain.

 Everything became slow motioned. He could see the huge cat, closing in, its bulk blocking every exit, it’s lolling tongue and hungry eyes. Those claws, longer than his sword, jutted like the bars of a prison, sure to cut him clean into twelve pieces. Jaydon, help! He called, before mustering the power within.

Suddenly he heard a voice inside, its tone taught with anger. We will do this. I… I will not allow them to hurt us again. I will help you.

It seemed like time had stopped.

Ralem gasped as he felt the most… spectacular feeling. It was as if something inside had been broken all his life and finally it had healed. He felt… whole. Power, raw power coursed through him, electrifying every vein with a strange new energy. It was wonderful. He felt the energy gather in his cupped hands, felt it pulse and grow. The cat’s claws started to graze his shoulder.

He thrust it outwards, pointing directly at its chest. Wind, like none Ralem had ever created rammed the cat backwards, crashing it even through two brick walls and sprawling into the sun.

Between the massive crater made in the wall, the two cats Jaydon was fending off were staring at the Rider with new respect in their pitch eyes. Jaydon curled up on the ground, one hand clutching at his rapidly bleeding stomach, the other raised to fend off another blow.

The Rider looked at his hands in wonder. Did I just do that? Then realization flashed in his emerald eyes. He smiled. “I have become one. You know what I am, cats? Ralem Blake, the one and only Rider of the Magnus Ventus Rex.” The cats screeched as their paws left the ground, their talons groping in the air. Jaydon linked his strength with Ralem’s and together they sent the cats flying far out into the late summer sky.

Aidan gaped like a fish. “Woah. That was AWESOME!”

Ralem ignored him. “Come on!” He said, “We need to draw them away from this place before we tear it apart!” Already, he could hear the howls of the cats as they picked themselves up, more angry than hurt. Quickly, he scooped his nephew up and blasted through the window, back first. Hugging Aidan close to his chest, he twirled his body to do a complete backflip before touching down amid a smattering of glass. Jaydon burst into view from behind a bush, already flat out in a run. “They’re coming!” he yelled.

Ralem put on a burst of speed, his bare feet crunching on the leaves and grass. Aidan looped an arm around his neck and wrapped his legs around Ralem like a monkey, his wide eyes peeking over his Uncle’s shoulder.

Before them, a dirt road snaking into the distance. On one side, the vegetable garden grew, with flecks of orange, yellow, or striped green showing through the foliage. Looming beside it was the mammoth tree, a deep white scar bleeding on its side. The other side of the road faded into the forest, the very one that separated Redfield and Vulnaire from Baroke.

“It’s coming!” Aidan screeched in Ralem’s ear. He winced from the shrillness of the boy’s voice. Then he had an idea. Jaydon! In a split second, he had told the dragon everything.

Gotcha, Jaydon said, already breaking course to circumvent to the garden and hid himself behind a tall tomato vine.

“Uncle Ralem?” Aidan said, his voice shaking like a leaf, “It’s really close!” His arms were so tight around his neck that he could hardly breathe.

“Listen, Aidan,” Ralem wheezed, “You’re going to have to let go of me.”

Aidan gasped, his arms not loosening. “What? Are you crazy?”

“Trust me,” Ralem said reassuringly, “Let go. Let go now!”

Reluctantly Aidan unclasped his arms from around his uncle’s neck. “Uncle, he’s really close,” he said, sounding as terrified as a mouse in a trap.

“I know. I’m going to throw you and you just keep on running, okay? Run as fast as you can.”  Ralem could hear the heavy panting closing in behind him. Just a little longer! He urged his feet to go faster, putting everything he had into a crazed sprint. Now! He signaled to Jaydon, throwing his nephew higher than he expected. Aidan screamed as he flew head-over-heels in the air, his hands grabbing at nothingness. Oh no, Ralem immediately held his hands out, steadying the boy mid-air, before sending him speedily far and fast as he could. Doing this while running was no easy feat. He stumbled and fell, scratching his arms up with the branches. Even as he fell, he twisted his body so that he could keep the approaching cat in view.

It couldn’t have been more than ten yards behind him. The cat was the massive tiger-striped one who could have been almost ten feet tall. It smirked at Ralem, “Thanks for the little flight. It was quite fun, actually.”

Ralem scrabbled backwards on all fours- crab fashion. He laughed nervously. “Really? Because I could give you another ride, if you want.”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” the corners of the cat’s mouth pulled up, revealing those terrifying teeth. It stepped closer to him, its muscles bunching in its hind legs.

Ralem looked out of the corner of his eye. Jaydon was there, waiting for the signal. Come a little closer, kitty. He thought. If the cat pounced on him right there, then his plan would be ruined. “Hey stupid stripes, want a piece of this?” he called, using the wind to pick up the fallen leaves in the grass and flutter it around the cat’s face. While it growled and swiped them away, the Rider backpedaled wildly, scooting his body so that he was ten feet away. Come on, come on, he urged mentally, pushing at the cat’s back with little gusts. It stumbled towards him, the expression on its face murderous. “I will kill you, little human!”

“Not if I kill you first,” Ralem spat. He reached out mentally to his dragon. Go!

Jaydon rocketed like a blur from his hiding place, his shoulder braced for impact. With a wild roar, he slammed into the mortally wounded tree, every bone in his body rattling. It creaked and groaned, wobbling for a long second. The cat staggered backwards, its black eyes widening. Ralem smiled before flipping back, well out of reach. Jaydon backed up before ramming again, jumping on the leaning tree. WHOOMP!

There was a scream and a sickening crunch. The tree vibrated from the impact before coming to rest on the cat’s broken body.

“Yeah! We did it!” Ralem yelled. Then he sat flat on his butt. “I don’t feel so well.”

Jaydon brushed himself off before walking over to where Ralem was. With a grunt, he grabbed the Rider and flung him over his shoulder as if he were nothing but a doll. “Well we may have gotten one, but there are two others who are going to be hot on our tail if we don’t get out of here quick. Where did Aidan go?”

Aidan jumped out from behind a bush on the other side of the road. “I’m right here!”

“Aidan! Didn’t I tell you to run!?” Ralem said hoarsely, squirming in Jaydon’s grasp. Let me down! He snapped.

“But I thought you said you didn’t feel good,” Jaydon said, confused.

Aidan giggled.

Ralem punched the dragon’s back. “I’m fine! I can walk!” I’m not a baby, Jaydon. I’m twenty years older than you. I can handle myself!

Jaydon’s mouth curled up in an annoying dragon smile. “Okay, but we have to move!” he set Ralem carefully down.

Ralem tried to regain his manly dignity. He brushed himself off. “Jaydon, you get Aidan. Where’s Drake?”

“Over here!” a little voice piped up. It was Drake, flying like a drunk hummingbird. “Guys, I think I’ve fallen in love. Cat blood is literally the best thing I’ve ever tasted. It’s like back massages with fireflies and rose petals all yummified and…” the vampire started to lose momentum, his mumbling becoming indiscernible. Before he could fall, Jaydon scooped him up and placed him gently in Ralem’s hair.

Ralem could feel the tickle as little wings snuggled in his hair. “Hey, why did you put him in my hair?” he said angrily, trying to tug the little creature out.

Jaydon picked Aidan up before turning to his Rider with a very dragonish smirk. “He’s been sleeping in your hair all night, Rider. He says it’s very comfy up there.”

Ralem grimaced. “Is there anything else you need to tell me?” He could hear a loud belch coming from his hair.

“Yes. Let’s go!” And with that, Jaydon took off in a full sprint. “We’re gonna beat ‘cha!” Aidan called from his arms, his face pulled into a cheeky grin.

“Not so fast!” Ralem replied, racing a couple inches off the ground. They ran to nowhere in particular, but the whole way Ralem’s mind was buzzing. This was it! He’d finally done it. He’d become one and now was more powerful than ever before. You are, Jaydon’s voice affirmed in his mind, and when the poison wears off, there will be nothing that can stop us.

That train of thought forced Ralem into silence. He fell back and matched Jaydon’s pace, watching him laugh with Aidan about kicking cat butt. Jaydon was his dragon, his partner, his ally and friend. Ralem knew that he could trust the dragon with anything. But sometimes, to be honest, it scared him. It scared him to have such a super-powerful dragon. It was not just that he didn’t trust Jaydon with his gifts, but that he didn’t trust himself. What if he turned evil or something? He could destroy any city that offended him, kill thousands of innocent people. He could-

Ralem. Ralem turned to see those dazzling green eyes focused on him. He could see the dragon for what he really was in those eyes. Not the outward human appearance, but the inward- powerful creature who was so beautiful and yet so deadly. You always are worrying. Worrying will get you nowhere. Do not dwell on things that will never come to be. Trust the Creator. Trust us. Whatever comes our way we’ll go through it together. You and me. And when you’ve got a dragon on your side… there’s nothing to worry about. I’ll always be there for you because I love you more than anything in the world. Then Ralem could hear the purr as Jaydon smiled at him and his heart immediately lifted.

“I love you too Jaydon,” Ralem replied.

“And I love you, lemon juice,” Drake mumbled in Ralem’s hair.

Aidan laughed.

Later on that day found them in a wide clearing by a gushing stream. The sun bore down at them from the height of its blue, white streaked throne. And Jaydon was hungry. So naturally he had set Aidan down and went to go fishing. Ralem sat down heavily on the marshy grass. He didn’t want Jaydon to know that he was tired. Five hours of top-speed running was enough to tire pretty much anyone out. Except for Jaydon. He was still energetic as ever, even though he had carried eighty-pound Aidan the whole time. Even though he hadn’t acquired his wind powers or natural form yet, the poison was wearing off.

“Do you think we lost the cats?” Aidan asked, sitting next to him. He looked tired even though he hadn’t walked a step. Poor guy. Ralem wished that Aidan didn’t have to go through this.

“I’m not sure,” he said truthfully, “But we were running pretty fast. Maybe.” His words didn’t sound entirely convinced and he scanned the tree line, his dark brows drawn over his twinkling eyes.

Aidan leaned against him, smiling. “I bet you and Jaydon ran faster than horses! You are the coolest Uncle ever! I saw what you did, throwing cats around, smashing them through walls like pow!” He punched the air for demonstration.

Ralem smiled and wrapped his arms around his nephew. “I’m just glad we made it out okay. Thank the Lord, because for a second I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it out myself.”

“Really? When you have all those ninja powers, how could you ever be scared? All you had to do was throw the cats to the moon and bam! You’re done!”

“I don’t usually have that kind of power,” Ralem said, “Actually… I just got it.” Remembering Drake, he unlatched the vampire from his hair and set him softly on a bed of clovers next to him as they waited for Jaydon to catch something.

“Hey, Ralem!” Jaydon’s voice bellowed. Ralem prepared himself for fight or flight, but relaxed when he sensed no strong emotion from the dragon. Jaydon appeared from the thick swathes of reeds, his pants hiked up and feet muddy. In his hands he held at least a bushel of thick reeds, their shaking tops complete with a thick sausage-like bulges. He dropped it at Ralem’s feet. “Remember this?”

Ralem picked them up. They were heavy, and as he looked them over milky liquid dripped from the severed sides. He hesitantly dipped his finger into it before holding it up to his nose. Sharp, vinegar smell assaulted his nose and almost made him sneeze.

“Milkreed,” Jaydon said proudly, “And you know what that does.”

Ralem’s expression lit up. “Jaydon! You’re a genius!” Jaydon leaned down so that he could scratch him on the chin.

“What does it do?” Aidan asked, leaning over it to look.

“Takes away your scent,” Ralem explained, scratching Jaydon only a few times before nabbing a rock and starting to mash the plant. After it was reduced to a slimy mush, he started to spread it on his arms.

“Ah, ah, ah,” Jaydon interjected, throwing Ralem over his shoulder. He scooped up a handful of the gloop. “You forgot one thing.”

“Jaydon! What are you doing?” Ralem yelled, thrashing, “Put me down!”

“You need water for it to work,” Jaydon said mischievously.

“What? Don’t you dare!” Ralem howled. Whoomp! Jaydon unslung him from his back and chucked him into the stream. Ralem yelled as he was engulfed in icy water, his head dipping below the surface for a terrorizing second and he inhaled some muddy water as he flailed pathetically. Then he burst out of the waves, shaking the water out of his hair like a dog, before glaring at his dragon. “JAYDON I WILL KILL YOU!” He blew water out of his nose and lunged at the dragon, who was bent up in laughter on the bank. Throwing his soggy arms around him, Ralem tackled to him, laughing, into the bubbling river. A huge splash followed before a mammoth spray as they both blasted out of the water, splashing each other’s faces playfully. Jaydon grabbed Ralem’s arm, leaving milky white streaks of milkreed. Suddenly a little cannonball went off to their right and naked Aidan appeared, laughing as he joined in with the splashing.

When the fun died down, Ralem mashed some more milkreed before distributing big globs to his nephew and dragon to spread on their bodies. Jaydon had took one sniff of Ralem’s doublet and shook his head, “You need to mash a whole reed on that one. It reeks!”

Ralem glared sourly at him before snatching it away. “I can’t believe you dumped me in the water. Now my clothes will be wet all day!”

“Oh don’t be a grump,” Jaydon chastised as he rubbed his belly meditatively with a chunk of milkreed. “Wet clothes aren’t that bad. And believe me; your sweat was giving you away. These clothes needed washing. And so did you.”

“Whatever,” Ralem snorted, stomping through the current to snatch more reeds.

Aidan splashed playfully at Jaydon. “Catch me if you can!” And with that, he splashed off into the forest of reeds, Jaydon hot on his tail.

After they had completely slathered themselves, Ralem retrieved Drake before they began walking a bit upstream. Aidan swam like a little fish as Ralem and Jaydon got dressed back into their soaking clothes and continued on their way. Their tactic of walking upstream and erasing their scent would keep the cats delayed. But not for long.