Ahajai

Ahajai pad through the darkened camp, the smell of cinders and smoke from the now weakening fire filling his nose. Though it was dying out, the small flames still illuminated the circle of tents that he and the masters had set up for the night. The masters were a group of five elder mages that had found him abandoned as a child. They had informed him that his parents left him to die, and he saw them as his saviors, mentors, and inspirations. Even now, a few years later, he still couldn’t believe his luck that a group of royal high mages had found him, him, Ahajai, just a small mutated dragon who probably would’ve perished by now without them! Most of the masters had retreated to their tents for the night, but Ahajai remained outside. Due to the abnormality in his eyes, his sight was very limited, only swimming colors and blurred shapes. For some reason, however, whenever he looked up at the sky, Ahajai could see the stars clear as day. Sharp pinpricks of lights that dazzled his eyes, hundreds, thousands, millions of sparks in the sky.

He was staring up at them, mouth slightly agape, when he heard a faint voice. His ears pricked, he moved towards the sound, and could hear a conversation between two of the masters, one of which was the leader of the group. Ahajai could see them now, speaking behind one of the tents. He pad forward excitedly, wanting to greet them, but stopped when he heard his name, and instinct told him to duck out of sight. Moving in front of the tent, out of view, he perked up his ears, feeling bad for spying on them, but he was curious. Why were they talking about him?


“And what about Ahajai? When are we going to do it?” The first voice spoke. It was haviska, a female wildclaw and his favorite of the group.
“What do you mean ‘what about him’?” The second voice snarled. It was the leader of the group, Riajan, a male mirror. Ahajai had never heard him use the tone he was speaking with now, aggressive and harsh. “You know the plan very well. Not having second thoughts, are you worm?” Haviska hissed.
“Watch it” she growled “I- no. I’m not. It’s just, he trusts us! It feels wrong”. Ahajai heard a loud thump, a slicing noise, and a cry of pain from Haviska.
“How dare you speak to me this way” Riajan’s voice was a sinister whisper, so quiet Ahajai could barely hear it. “Remember your place”. Ahajai could hear a small pained hiss from Haviska. “We both know how much magic the boy may possess, those eyes are mark enough of that. He believes us to be royal mages, Ha! What an imbecile. We must keep up the front, however. Once he is of age we will be able to take that magic for ourselves. We will take those accursed eyes, think of the power Haviska!” Riajan lowered his voice again. “Dear Haviska. If you do ANYTHING to stand in my way. I will silence you”.

Ahajai stood frozen to the spot, a chill filling his whole body.
“No..” he whispered. Hearing the crunch of talons in the leaves, heading his way, Ahajai darted away, hiding in the shadows, and from where he was hidden he saw Riajan and Haviska emerge from behind the tent, Riajan looking annoyed, Haviska limping slightly, looking at her talons submissively as she walked. Ahajai’s heart was pounding. He had to get out, he had to run. Staying in the shadows, he darted back to his tent, grabbing his familiar, Aishwen. The bewildered broom croaked, and Ahajai shushed it softly. “We need to leave” he whispered, tears running down his face. “Please, please, be my eyes”. Without hesitation Aishwen flicked the rope around their neck to Ahajai, who grabbed it in his mouth. Quietly, Aishwen led a silent Ahajai away from the camp, what he once thought was his home, and into the darkened forest.