The forest did not kindly take to the two, it was dark and cold, with noises neither had ever heard before. One step after the other, further into the forest the surroundings only worsened. Zenith began burying his head into the side of Taya, he was shivering from fear; the shadows through the forrest twisted and turned into the strangest shapes, almost as if they were possessed. Taya comforted Zenith and confirmed she would always be there to protect him, as if Taya wasn’t afraid of anything.
The two friends made camp for the night in a small opening in the bleak forrest. With help from Zenith, they managed to light a fairly large camp fire. Taya knew that because of the fire there was more chance of them being caught, but it was all they could do to stay warm. The first night on their own was the difficult, and multiple times Taya wondered whether or not it would be better for her to return to the kingdom. With each thought of defeat pursuing her she fended off with the same conclusion, this was her destiny, her journey, and she had to continue.
The nights gradually became easier, Taya began referring to her diary about things she had learned in the kingdom. This knowledge helped her find plants they could eat until the two found a more substantial meal. As she discovered more, her notes grew too, her journal become more of a tool than anything else she could have brought in her idle hand. While she took more to the plant life at first, Zenith who had his eye on the wildlife, caught her attention. The two began feeding off each others strengths, creating a system to catch animals which would provide for them, one day at a time. Taya had nothing but her bare hands and although fearless, had a hard time taking the lives of small animals. Eventually the tentative feeling of taking an innocent life left her, as she constructed a bone knife out of the remains of an early caught rabbit.
After months of scraping together enough food and water to survive, the two stumbled across an underground spring and they decided to settle. Taya dropped to her knees and began cupping water in her hands and drinking, the ice cold water was much more satisfying than what the two had collected from dew and rain. When Taya had finally quenched her thirst, she cupped one last hand full and gently splashed it on her face. She wiped her face and stepped away, allowing Zenith to have his go at the water.
“I think this is it,” Taya sat against a large rock and looked over at her dragon almost rolling in the small paddle of water and smiled, “Ya, I think this will be our home.”
Taya used the large rock as a stand and rested some large fallen down branches on it, this created a lean to skeleton. She then grabbed vines and other materials of the same properties and used them to secure the structure. After having a sturdy shelter, the roof was created by any plants and leaves she could find. Taya had learned in her studies that building a fire against the rock would cause it to heat up and emit warmth for those cold nights. She dug and small hole and set up a few sticks and kindle for later. Zenith was bigger now and could not sleep with his friend, instead he was to sleep right next to the shelter.
The two caught enough food for that day and decided to just settle in. Taya had learned a lot on her own but without Zenith, she doubted she could have done it alone; he was her motivation. Together they sat under a tree, Taya cuddled up to her dragon petting his head that curled onto her lap.
“We’re gonna be okay,” she whispered, “As long as we have each other it’ll all be alright.”
Weeks turned into months, and months turned into years. After four years had passed the two friends had made significant progress from their rickety lean to. A hut was constructed for Taya out of large branches and small trees. Zenith would use his teeth and sometimes his tale to break the branches into smaller sizes. The hut was still not big enough for Zenith who had been used to staying outside for some time. Because several incidents with wild animals and on one occasion a woodsmen who did not venture close enough to spot their camp, Taya decided that it would be best to build a look out. Zenith was able to fly by this point, but he couldn’t fly forever. Over the next six months the dragon and the adolescent girl worked on constructing a look out. Using vines woven together and branches cut to the right length with Taya’s knife, they were able to fasten a platform which was rested between three of the taller trees in the close vicinity. Three long vines braided together served as a way for Taya to climb up to the platform; of course Zenith could simply fly up and sit, like a bird who has perched on a branch.
Zenith was a top the look out one evening while Taya was out hunting, when he spotted an usual figure coming up next to her. On instinct he swooped down and grabbed the strange figure by the his talons and brought him back to the lookout. Zenith cried out for Taya, who came in a hurry. By that time Zenith had flipped the man up side down, grasping him with his tail. Taya approached slowly with her back arched like a cat ready to pounce, she pulled out her bone knife and pointed to the man’s throat.
“Why are you here?” she said, with a threatening eye.
“I am in search of a young princess who has been lost from the kingdom of Caelestis for many years!” The Prince exclaimed. “Would you kindly call off your dragon?!”
Taya motioned to Zenith, who promptly dropped the man on his head.
“My name is Zoeloft. I am a prince who has traveled many miles in search of the astoundingly beautiful princess, Taya.”
Startled the princess whispered, “That's me...”
“You?!” asked Zoeloft, in disbelief. “Are you sure?”
Taya looked at Zoeloft condescendingly, “Yes, me.”
“Well, you must accompany me to my castle!”
“Why on earth would I do that?”
Under his breath the prince lied, saying, “Your mother would like to see you.”
Taya nodded. She knew in her heart that she would have to confront her parents about what she had done. Looking back at Zenith she said, “You’ll have to stay here old friend. I’ll come back for you.” She ran her hand down his smooth silver back.
Zenith let out a sound that could only be compared to that of a wail. Zoeloft gestured Taya to begin on their way. “I’ll come back to you, I promise! Look for my light at dawn."
Taya and Zoeloft took off through the forest leading to a tied of horse, they both jumped on and rode.
The two friends made camp for the night in a small opening in the bleak forrest. With help from Zenith, they managed to light a fairly large camp fire. Taya knew that because of the fire there was more chance of them being caught, but it was all they could do to stay warm. The first night on their own was the difficult, and multiple times Taya wondered whether or not it would be better for her to return to the kingdom. With each thought of defeat pursuing her she fended off with the same conclusion, this was her destiny, her journey, and she had to continue.
The nights gradually became easier, Taya began referring to her diary about things she had learned in the kingdom. This knowledge helped her find plants they could eat until the two found a more substantial meal. As she discovered more, her notes grew too, her journal become more of a tool than anything else she could have brought in her idle hand. While she took more to the plant life at first, Zenith who had his eye on the wildlife, caught her attention. The two began feeding off each others strengths, creating a system to catch animals which would provide for them, one day at a time. Taya had nothing but her bare hands and although fearless, had a hard time taking the lives of small animals. Eventually the tentative feeling of taking an innocent life left her, as she constructed a bone knife out of the remains of an early caught rabbit.
After months of scraping together enough food and water to survive, the two stumbled across an underground spring and they decided to settle. Taya dropped to her knees and began cupping water in her hands and drinking, the ice cold water was much more satisfying than what the two had collected from dew and rain. When Taya had finally quenched her thirst, she cupped one last hand full and gently splashed it on her face. She wiped her face and stepped away, allowing Zenith to have his go at the water.
“I think this is it,” Taya sat against a large rock and looked over at her dragon almost rolling in the small paddle of water and smiled, “Ya, I think this will be our home.”
Taya used the large rock as a stand and rested some large fallen down branches on it, this created a lean to skeleton. She then grabbed vines and other materials of the same properties and used them to secure the structure. After having a sturdy shelter, the roof was created by any plants and leaves she could find. Taya had learned in her studies that building a fire against the rock would cause it to heat up and emit warmth for those cold nights. She dug and small hole and set up a few sticks and kindle for later. Zenith was bigger now and could not sleep with his friend, instead he was to sleep right next to the shelter.
The two caught enough food for that day and decided to just settle in. Taya had learned a lot on her own but without Zenith, she doubted she could have done it alone; he was her motivation. Together they sat under a tree, Taya cuddled up to her dragon petting his head that curled onto her lap.
“We’re gonna be okay,” she whispered, “As long as we have each other it’ll all be alright.”
Weeks turned into months, and months turned into years. After four years had passed the two friends had made significant progress from their rickety lean to. A hut was constructed for Taya out of large branches and small trees. Zenith would use his teeth and sometimes his tale to break the branches into smaller sizes. The hut was still not big enough for Zenith who had been used to staying outside for some time. Because several incidents with wild animals and on one occasion a woodsmen who did not venture close enough to spot their camp, Taya decided that it would be best to build a look out. Zenith was able to fly by this point, but he couldn’t fly forever. Over the next six months the dragon and the adolescent girl worked on constructing a look out. Using vines woven together and branches cut to the right length with Taya’s knife, they were able to fasten a platform which was rested between three of the taller trees in the close vicinity. Three long vines braided together served as a way for Taya to climb up to the platform; of course Zenith could simply fly up and sit, like a bird who has perched on a branch.
Zenith was a top the look out one evening while Taya was out hunting, when he spotted an usual figure coming up next to her. On instinct he swooped down and grabbed the strange figure by the his talons and brought him back to the lookout. Zenith cried out for Taya, who came in a hurry. By that time Zenith had flipped the man up side down, grasping him with his tail. Taya approached slowly with her back arched like a cat ready to pounce, she pulled out her bone knife and pointed to the man’s throat.
“Why are you here?” she said, with a threatening eye.
“I am in search of a young princess who has been lost from the kingdom of Caelestis for many years!” The Prince exclaimed. “Would you kindly call off your dragon?!”
Taya motioned to Zenith, who promptly dropped the man on his head.
“My name is Zoeloft. I am a prince who has traveled many miles in search of the astoundingly beautiful princess, Taya.”
Startled the princess whispered, “That's me...”
“You?!” asked Zoeloft, in disbelief. “Are you sure?”
Taya looked at Zoeloft condescendingly, “Yes, me.”
“Well, you must accompany me to my castle!”
“Why on earth would I do that?”
Under his breath the prince lied, saying, “Your mother would like to see you.”
Taya nodded. She knew in her heart that she would have to confront her parents about what she had done. Looking back at Zenith she said, “You’ll have to stay here old friend. I’ll come back for you.” She ran her hand down his smooth silver back.
Zenith let out a sound that could only be compared to that of a wail. Zoeloft gestured Taya to begin on their way. “I’ll come back to you, I promise! Look for my light at dawn."
Taya and Zoeloft took off through the forest leading to a tied of horse, they both jumped on and rode.
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