A Rose in the Battlefield © 2000 Ashura Based on "The Dark War" (© Ashura) -PROLOGUE- For the past 400 years, the continent of Dae-Ja-Nah has been in a brutal war. On one side stood the monarchic nation of Melonjia, the land of the Dragoners, a species of human-dragon hybrids. On the other, the barren wastelands of the Dead Plains. A gargantuan, barren dirt field where life seemed to be denied the right to exist, save the undead hordes of Balek. -END PROLOGUE- The sun set high above the mountains as the first hints of night came over the horizon in Melonjia. The orange shades of dusk cast an awe-inspiring hue upon the castle, the birds flew overhead as they returned home. And an earth-shattering scream ruined the scene entirely. "WHAT!? What do you mean you’re leaving, Cartok!?" Xaqarius Shenor stood agape atop one of the balconies overlooking the farmlands to the west of the castle as Cartok Renolt, a fellow member of the Dragoner Elite and one of his few friends, handed him a note of her resignation. "Are you nuts!? We’re short enough on soldiers as it is! Besides, I.." He didn’t get another word out as her hand, claws extended, went across his face. "Knock it off already! I’ve made my decision. You know as well as I do that I could never be accepted by the others.." As she mentioned this, her left index finger pointed down to her legs, which, unlike a regular Dragoners, were completely covered in scales, with a long, scaled tail protruding out behind her from between them. She was what’s known as a "Shivati Dragoner", one whose draconic characteristics have begun to overshadow the human ones. "You of all people should know that Shivatis are looked down upon by everyone else. That’s why I have to leave...I’d only bring shame to our country...to myself...and to you." Xaq rubbed his face where her hand had made contact, thankful she hadn’t broken skin. "...Well, if that’s your decision, then I guess I can’t stop you. But please, at least let Beej know about it," referring to Beejor Renolt, her younger brother. She nodded. "He already knows.. He tried to stop me also, but he and mom finally agreed to what I plan on doing." Xaq gave her a confused look. "Which is......what?" "I’m becoming a Guardian." As Cartok said that, Xaq’s eyes nearly flew out of his skull. "Really? Well....I dunno what to say.. I--" She shut him up by sealing his lips to hers for a moment, then slowly pulled away, saying, "Don’t say anything then....except maybe ‘good-bye’." With that, she turned and walked away, not knowing whether or not she would ever see her love again.. The Guardians were a rare find among the people of Melonjia. Few dared to undertake the burden of the task, as it required separating oneself from the rest of society and devoting themselves completely to the will of the gods. It was a daunting task, but with every generation there were a small few who dared to bear the responsibilities. Cartok Renolt was one of those few. After a while of walking, she finally reached her destination. It was a solemn-looking cave, known to all as the meeting ground of the Circle of Eight, the high deities of the world of Dae-Ja-Nah, and dwelling place of Magnas, lord of the dragons and the afterlife. Swallowing her fear, she stepped in. Almost immediately the dark cavern was filled with the light of dragon-fire all around her. She froze as she stared at the figure before her. It stood 40 feet tall, had a wingspan of nearly 75 feet, and was glaring right at her. "You must have a very good reason for walking into my lair like that, young one." Cartok stood there, dumbstruck....was she ACTUALLY talking to Magnas himself? "Well? Speak up, Cartok Renolt." She rattled her head as he called her by name. "Forgive my intrusion, my lord...I have come here seeking to.." Before she could even finish, another voice came from behind her. "To become a Guardian? This is a surprise..." She turned around. Before her stood Sedari, the wolf god. "Y-yes....th-that’s why I came here." She cursed herself mentally.. why was she suddenly getting so nervous? ...No, her mind told her, it’s not fear. She tried to figure out what it was, while simultaneously trying to figure out why she couldn’t take her eyes off of the lupine. Whatever the reason was, it was making her feel rather.....excited. Cartok snapped out of it as Magnas spoke to her again. "Hmm....this is a surprise indeed, Sedari. I shall call together the rest of the Circle in the morning. In the meantime, young one, you should get some rest...come sunrise your life may change forever.." Sedari looked at her, noticing how flushed her face had become. Out of view of anyone, a slight grin crossed the side of his snout. "Come along, Cartok...I’ll show you where you can sleep." Inside the smaller section of the cavern, Cartok stared up at the ceiling as she lay on a hay-grass bedding. "Do you think I’m up to the task, Lord Sedari?" The wolf shook his head. "Unfortunately, you’re not quite ready yet.." She sat up and looked at him, somewhat offended. "What do you mean?" Looking her right in the eye, Sedari told her, "You don’t quite have the spirit of a warrior in you. You’re still too pure of heart...you could end up hesitating in battle with darkness at a crucial moment....a moment that would mean life or death." Cartok’s eyes went wide. "What do you mean by that?" Sedari sighed. "I’ll put it bluntly...you’re still a virgin, still pure." Almost instantly she blushed, wondering how he knew that before telling herself his status as a deity must make him omniscient or something. Forget it, she told herself, this is what you wanted, right? Right. "So.. how exactly would I go about solving THAT problem?" she asked, a slightly suggestive tone in her voice. Almost instantly Sedari laughed. "Why ask me? You seem to have already figured it out." She couldn’t believe herself. Her heart already belonged to the man she’d left not too long ago, yet here she was, falling in love.....or was it just lust?....with another...and a wolf of all things! Still, she had to admit, there was something about Sedari that was driving her crazy. She smiled softly as he walked over to her. Slowly, she unfastened the clips that held her dress intact around her wings, and as the last one gave on its own, the soft fabric slid off of her shoulders. She kicked it off, laying there, completely exposed to him. Without hesitation, she opened her legs to the wolf god, a small section of scaly flesh on her pelvis sliding open as a small pool of liquid flowed out of it. "Good thing I’m thirsty," Sedari mused as he bent his head down to lap her juices up, not being afraid to take an occasional lick of her cunt to slowly drive her into a frenzy. After a few minutes of Sedari’s teasing, Cartok felt a sudden buildup inside her, and before she could ask him what was happening her mind was overwhelmed by a large number of simultaneous stimulations. Her back arched and her hips began to quake violently, her eyes staring up past the ceiling and her mouth open, gasping for air as her whole body wracked into an earth-shattering orgasm. After she finally stopped quaking, she sighed contentedly between gasps. "W....wonderful.....that was absolutely wonderful." Sedari just smirked. "We’re not done yet.." She glanced at him, confused and enticed at the same time, then noticed something...there was a large, fleshy rod hanging down between his knees. Although she didn’t consciously know what it was, deep down she could tell. She laid back, legs spread as far as she could to allow him entry. As he pressed his body against hers, she could feel his warmth all over her, his fur brushing against her breasts, exciting her to an unbelievable point. She clutched him to her with one hand while guiding his shaft to her entrance with the other. He eased himself in, saying, "I must warn you, this is going to hurt a little at first." She said nothing, but wrapped her legs up around his hind quarters, careful not to drive her back-claws into his flesh, and drove him in herself. She screamed in agony for a moment as she felt part of her insides being torn apart, but the pain quickly subsided, replaced by an unexplainable feeling of pure pleasure. "Told ya." Sedari teased her as she smiled weakly and nodded, urging him to go on. He started to pull out, then back in, then out, then in again. Slowly at first, but as Cartok felt the pleasure building in her, she drove him in by herself, faster and farther. After a few minutes she felt a slight bulge brushing against the outer edge of her womanhood, then, without warning, felt the wolf’s knob plunge deeply into her. She let out a gasp of ecstasy and angst as it entered and left a number of times. Soon the pleasure was too great for her to contain any more, and she cried out in euphoria as her body was wracked by another orgasm. A second later Sedari went over the edge as well, spilling his seed into her as they came together. Replete in her thoughts, Cartok collapsed into a peaceful, exhausted sleep. Sedari laid beside her, smiling. So much for her innocence, he thought. Then he felt a brushing along his back. He turned around to find Cartok laying there, awake again. "Are you alright?" he asked. She smiled and nodded. "Never been better....are you sure we can’t do that again sometime?" The wolf chuckled for a few seconds, then nodded. "When were you planning on it?" She wasted no time answering, but just crawled over beside him. "I was thinking.......now." -- Ashura "Sorry, but yes, that IS a gun in my pocket... And yes, it IS loaded. Now back off." (\/) || || (____II____) >___ ___< ( II ) || || || || || || (/\)