Hyo

Hyo needed work. She’d been taking on odd jobs, but the pay was, frankly, terrible. Of course, there were jobs that would be more than profitable, but they were also a little too shady for this particular guardian. Hyo has promised herself that she would only take on honest jobs.

Thinking back, she regretted leaving. Her mother had always spoke of how traveling was the best adventure life could offer. All her life, Hyo dreamed of exploring every part of Sornieth.
Now, she was hungry and alone. Frankly, Hyo didn’t see the appeal. It was a hard life when you didn’t have a clan to back you up. Why would anyone choose this willingly? No wonder there were so many thieves in the world. It seemed like the only way to live!

Sighing, Hyo curled up. She had been hired for a job as a bodyguard... three days from now. That seemed to have become the regular. Since honest work was so hard to come by, Hyo would often have to travel a long distance for a job. This one was in lightning territory, a day away at most. That meant two days of nothing. How fun.

When Hyo woke the next morning, it was raining. It wasn’t a downpour, but it was enough to be miserable.

Hyo considered, probably for the hundredth time, going home. Then she quickly dismissed the idea. She would never admit that she couldn't make it. She had set out with a sense of purpose, and to return now would be humiliating.

So, Hyo kept moving. Eventually the rain stopped and the sun came out. The temperature seemed to be rising more too. It wasn’t Ashfall Waste hot, but it wasn’t pleasant either.
Along the way, Hyo ran into some bandits. Different than theives because they rarely left their victims unharmed. This probably should have bothered Hyo, but it didn’t. When you were on your own, you picked up a thing or two. Like how to fight. Hyo had learned the hard way that showing any kind of weakness would do more harm than good. These dragons didn’t care about how you felt, only what they could take from you.

Hyo was glad she had given herself time. She had lost half a day in that fight, and she was tired. Although, being tired was also part of the life. Had to keep your guard up after all.
When Hyo finally got to the place, she was suprised. Well, awed would be more accurate. The place was fancy. Very fancy. Gold and silks decorated the walls. Expensive furs were laid upon the floor. Hyo felt out of place.

Just as she was beginning to wonder if she had the right place, a dragon came out of a room that had been hidden behind a velvet curtain. Hyo couldn’t help but stare, this Coatl was stunning. Her scales shone, the blue light a perfect offset. Her feathers were vibrant and full of life, and she seemed to have rubies in her scales. Upon closer inspection, the red was actually part of the dragon’s scale pattern, along with fancy swirls. A rich bloodline.
She introduced herself as Cuzaku. There was a masquerade tonight, which they would attend. Hyo would be going as a guest, Cuzaku didn’t want to seem hostile in any way. They would be going as a couple, it was the best way to stay undercover.

All this was said with total sureness. Like the Coatl knew Hyo would agree. Which she probably did. Because this paycheck? It was huge. As in, more than Hyo would normally make in ten decent jobs.

No wasn’t even an option.

When they arrived, Hyo couldn’t help but to look at the decorations. This place was possibly fancier than where she had met Cuzaku, and that was saying something.

Although she would have liked to keep looking around, Hyo had a job to do. For tonight her eyes would be only on the client. Not that that would be hard. Most dragons were dressed in so much you could hardly see any of their scales. Cuzaku was different. She wore only the minimum for the occasion. This was a dragon who knew that she was stunning, and knew how to exploit it. Hyo shifted her stance, a little uncomfortable. She was not used to wearing such expensive apparel. Cuzaku had took one look at what Hyo had with her, shook her head, and went into the back room. When she emerged, she was carrying some kind of material that seemed to change from red to purple depending on how the light hit it. Cuzaku had lent it to Hyo so she’d fit in. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but rather the opposite. It was too comfortable. Soft, like a breeze.

So far, the night had been going well. Cuzaku would flit from person to person, chatting, dancing, and generally showing off. Every so often, she would circle back around to Hyo, who had found a nice spot in the corner close to the food. It was to die for. Each time, Cuzaku would flirt a little more. She seemed to have been consuming a sizeable amount of alcohol. It was actually impressive that the Coatl could still form coherent sentences, let alone stay upright.

Then everything went downhill. A team of wildclaws. Very familiar wildclaws. These were part of one of the worst gangs Hyo had met. They were known for being ruthless. Showing no mercy. And aiming for rich targets. They had been hiding as guests, the obvious problem with a masquerade. In a few seconds, Hyo was by Cuzaku‘s side. A few seconds later, she was throwing an attacker off her back. These dragons had a habit of aiming for the wings. The most forbidden thing in a fight. In less than a minute, Hyo was the only one left standing against them. The other dragons, the guests, they weren’t used to fighting. Adrenaline rushed through her veins as Hyo growled. Now was not the time to be civil, Now was the time to fight. And fight she did. She took down five, six, seven. But she was outnumbered, and they played dirty. She was losing, and she knew it. Cuzaku had to be protected. In a last ditch effort, Hyo grabbed the Coatl, pulling her close. Hyo had a plan. It may get her killed, but it was a plan. She whispered to Cuzaku, told her to run when she gave the word. Specifically run, not fly. They would be watching the sky.

In a sudden move, Hyo pushed Cuzaku toward the exit, distracting her attackers by spreading her wings. A fools move in a fight. But a great distraction. There were four left, and they pounced. Hyo felt claws tear through her wings. She felt a bone snap. This would be the death of her. Right here. But she would take these dragons down with her. Hyo snapped and slashed. She bit and clawed. At some point she stopped thinking. It hurt too much to think. There was only action. Then there was a thud. Three left. She couldn’t feel her one leg anymore. At least it didn’t hurt. Two left. A blinding pain from the back of her neck. Shapes blurring into silhouettes. The sound of claws on stone. Hyo attacked blindly. A crunch of bone. A scream. The taste of blood. One Left. The sounds were starting to fade. There was a growl. Hyo collapsed. She couldn’t die. These dragons never left anything unfinished. Cuzaku wasn’t safe. Shaking, Hyo forced herself back up. The last one would want to finish her off. They would be close. Then, there, through everything else, a knife into her side. Quick, quicker than a dying dragon should be able to move, Hyo attacked. She hit flesh. She had one. None left.

Hyo allowed herself to collapse once more. She had done it. And she’d die for it.

---

When Hyo opened her eyes, her first thought was that she hurt. Had she been in a fight? After a few minutes of thinking, details started to fill in. The wildclaws. The fight. She should be dead. Why wasn’t she dead? Groaning, Hyo tried to get up, only to fall down immediately. Her leg hurt. Hyo went to look at it, ***** the damage, but moving her neck hurt. It felt like something had stabbed her. Something probably had. Hyo decided that perhaps not moving was best.

For days Hyo drifted in and out of sleep. Then one day there was another dragon there when she woke up. A familiar dragon. Cuzaku. Hyo tried to talk, to ask where she was, what had happened, but she couldn’t. Her throat hurt.

When Cuzaku saw her try to talk, the Coatl immediately shushed her. In quick and soft-spoken words Cuzaku began to explain. The first place the Coatl has gone was to the doctor. Then the law. By the time they got there, well, it looked like it was too late. Two guests were alive, but everyone else looked dead. Apparently something had ripped one of the attacker to shreds. Cuzaku had found Hyo. She had been told to stay behind, but hadn’t listened. She thought the guardian was dead. But she was wrong. The doctor said they had a chance. A very small one, but still a chance. Cuzaku had spent money on the best. She called in a healer from the Veridian Labyrinth.

Hyo thanked her. Many times. She stayed with Cuzaku while she healed. It took months. By the time Hyo was well again, she had grown attached. But she wouldn’t impose any further upon Cuzaku. So much had been done for her already. It was as she was getting ready to leave that the Coatl in question came into the room.

“You’re staying.” She said. Not a question. With Cuzaku it was never a question. But Hyo didn’t mind. She wanted to stay. She wanted to protect Cuzaku for as long as they lived.

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Lore Done by DarkPuffin