Saleana set at the counter in an old bar. The counter was oak, she figured it had once been polished to a shine a beautiful addition to the old bar but after years of bear stains, bar fights, and other awful things the counter had been chipped, broken, and even died a darker color to hide the growing stains, but Saleana's sharp eye's  easily picked up the many stains they had worked hard at hiding. 

  The bar had been decorated in currant fashion a hundred years ago, now it was tacky and dusty you could practically smell the years on the décor. A few pool tables were scattered across the main room, were the cloth wasn't ripped or shredded you could see that the cloth was almost as stained as the bar. A few people nursed bears in the corners keeping mostly to them selves. The bar tender was seated on a small stool his feet resting on the counter flipping the pages of a well used magazine, Saleana mused that he was probably doing that out of something to do instead out of any real interest.

 Someone rested in a corner, next to a door that led to the bathrooms, even Saleana's exceptional eye sight couldn't pick out who it was. Saleana shifted slightly to get a better view of the corner hiding her glance by ducking her head and letting her hair fall over her eyes. In all actuality she should have been able to see who was in the corner, but who ever it was, was well versed in keeping hidden where they should not have been able to.

  Standing as causally as possible she slipped a few dollars on the counter then walked toward the corner. Keeping her hair in front of her face she made her way towards the bath room. Saleana noticed him shift as she came closer. Watching him as she made her way threw the bar she noticed a flash as he turned to stare at her, Saleana hesitated as she caught his smell. Confusion flashed threw her mind she had never smelt anything like him. His smell was cold and fierce less like a smell and more like a personality.

  No longer trying to hide her stair, she frowned as she looked into the corner. She opened her mouth to call out only to be cut off as some one threw open the bar door with a loud bang. Frowning in irritation she turned then groaned, three very hot wolves walked into the bar. Glancing around with minimal interest two headed for the bar ordering drinks for themselves and there friend. The one left standing in front of the door was tall around six foot his shoulders were broad and heavily muscled his hair was coal black and slicked back from his face. Gray blue eye's continued to examine the bar until he met the eyes of Saleana. A wicked smile flashed across his face and he beckoned her to him.

  Saleana was five, seven with hey blond hair, here and there black hair twined there way threw the blond. Her eyes were sharp, a violet blue. She had only a hint of a tan but her figure was no doubt that of a woman and more then likely that's what the wolf had noticed.

  Saleana gave him a cold glare that was usually sufficient to drive just about any one off, but the wolf just grinned a little more and started across the bar. Saleana groaned again, slipping her hand to the belt at her waist she touched the hidden dagger reassuring herself it was still there.

  Even thou the wolf was hot he had no chance with Saleana, he couldn't smell it but she was of the feline family. Feline and canine didn't get along so well. As he came to a halt in front of her he noticeable sniffed the air for her scent. Apparently dismissing her lack of smell for unimportant he smiled at her charmingly. "My names Rage. What's yours?" Saleana folded her arms across her chest careful to keep one hand close to her dagger if it came to a fight it would be a bad idea for her to fight as an animal.

  Glaring at him coldly again she started to step around him, only to find him blocking her way. Saleana took a step away from him giving him a warning glare. "Non of you're business, I'm not in the mood to deal with a hot headed dog I came here for some quit not to be harassed by the first mutt who walks threw that door."

  A spark of anger flashed threw his eyes before he hid it. "I'm just trying to be polite and make conversation." Saleana nodded warily. "That's fine but go talk to someone else please I would like to be left alone." Saleana stepped around him only to be stopped when a hand grabbed her arm with a grip of iron.

  Saleana gritted her teeth to keep from ripping his throat out. Rage stilled, glancing over her shoulder to his face she noted that he was staring at the person in the darkened corner. "It's not polite to listen in on conversations." Saleana heard the person shift his weight but other wise ignored the wolf. Rage growled stepping forward he reached into the shadowed corner and hauled out the man who had been hiding there.

  He was even taller then Rage around six, five, rail thin with whip cord muscles. He walked with a panthers grace and a hunter's deadly stalk.

His hair was albino white deepening to ice blue then the very tips were grass green naturally sweeping across his eye's witch were a black blue with white lightning flashing threw them. Saleana knew that women who looked into those eyes would find them selves unexplainably falling over and running into stuff. He wore a tight black t-shirt with a powdered snow pattern wrapping its self around his left arm and black jeans with a bandana tied around his right leg a snowflake pattern on it.

  Saleana had a sneaking suspicion that if the man hadn't wanted to be dragged out of the corner Rage wouldn't have been able to. "What do you want?" The man asked in board voice breaking the silence. Rage's eye's narrowed. "I want you to get out of this bar, and then I never want to see you again."

 The man shrugged. "I'll go if you let the girl go." Saleana stiffened at being called a girl. "Excuse me?" The man glanced at her clearly irritated yet keeping his face carefully blank. Saleana brought her free arm up driving it into the joint between the upper arm and the forearm. Rage let go of her with a hiss of pain. Pivoting on her foot, she snapped her leg up then into the back of Rage's knee. Rage dropped to one knee spinning out of reach she came to a stop beside the man. Who stared at her one of his eyebrows raised in surprise. "Would you care to refrain that paradox?" She asked mildly. He shook his head. Saleana shrugged then cursed as the other two wolves came to there friends aide.

  Saleana crouched refraining from turning into her spirit animal barely. As both the Panther and the Snow leopard roared to be released and teach the insolent wolf some manners. Glancing at the man she involuntarily flinched the edges of his blue black eyes had turned Ice white. Rage regained his feet and snarled as the others tried to help him. "Back off!" He roared. Rage stared at the man as if he believed it was his fault had had been taken to the ground by a women. "You might want to go." Saleana murmured not letting the wolves hear what she said. 

  The man grinned his teethe flashing in the light. "It's been to long since I had a decent fight. I think I'll stay it is you who may want to leave."

  "Sure," Saleana muttered sarcastically. When pigs fly. "You boys may want to back off I'm not well known for control." At that very minute Saleana was fighting not to change not to become an animal two animals. Saleana fought to still her mind so her control couldn't be robbed from her. Rage met her eyes. "You should have just come with me. I would have taken good care of you." Saleana snorted. "What I'm I Rage?" Rage's eyes went slity. "I don't know it doesn't matter."

  Saleana growled. "You don't even know what it means when a person doesn't have a scent." Rage's eye brows drew together. "I don't need to hear this. You're just a dumb bitch with a snow crazy basturd as a boy friend."

 The man shifted beside her sinking into the same practiced crouch as herself. "You don't know what I'm either." It was a statement. Rage shrugged. "A fish or some other insignificant animal."

  Saleana shifted closer to the man. "You know were about ready to fight together and I don't even know your name." The man glanced over. "My name is Zackera, and you are?"

 "Saleana, and you know I don't know what you are either I've never smelt anything like you." Zackera shrugged a single shoulder. "Can we talk about this later?" The three wolves started forward. "Nice to know you're so confident." She muttered. "I get Rage." Zackera's voice was low and ended with a hiss, glancing at him she noted that his eye's instead of blue black were know Ice blue. "You can have him." Saleana took a few steps away from Zackera drawing Rage's two lackeys toward her.  

  She bent over and started snapping her fingers. "Come on puppies. Let's see how sharp your teethe are." With the first lunge Saleana knew she was going to have some fun if she could contain her killing nature. Spinning to the side she easily outmaneuvered the wolf then ducked as the next lunged.

 She turned to face the wolves' one who was getting up off the ground. She clapped her hands against her thighs, and made some kissing sounds. "That was horrible, if you want me you have to come and get me." One of the wolves growled and started to change. Saleana groaned and felt her blood start to surge threw her veins. If they had stayed in human form she would have had little trouble staying human but seeing another change in the fight was too much.

  She could have fought the change but it would have taken too much out of her and she would never have been able to fight two wolves she gave into the pull and shifted. Being a hybrid she could turn into a snow leopard a panther or a cat some where in between the two. Turning into a full feline was easier then mixing the two as all thou both panther and Snow Leopard were feline they still didn't mix well and didn't want to come together. Yet the cat between the two was the most powerful with the best features of each cat, but Saleana wasn't willing to use so much power when all she would be doing is fighting two wolves. Picking the snow leopard for its speed she shifted quickly.

 She slashed the human wolf's leg next to her with a snarl. He jumped back with a hiss as his wolf companion stepped forward. As a wolf he was slightly taller then her, his hair was a mud brown and his eyes a flashing yellow. Jumping forward he snapped at her neck, using the very flexible body of a cat she jumped and twisted in mid air slashing the wolf down the side leaving three bloody gashes.

  Leaving the wolf whimpering as it dragged itself to the wall to collapse in a dark corner she lunged at the other wolf still in human form. Launching her self at him she landed all fours to his chest hanging on with her front paws she tore his stomach open with her hind. Jumping away she froze. Neither wolves were dead just badly hurt, the cat in her didn't want to leave them hurt they wanted to kill the wolves. If you don't want to be hunted kill the hunter. But the human in her rebelled taking firm control over her cat she turned to face Zackera to find him with his hand around Rage's throat who was turning very purple.

  Saleana's ears flattened as her eyesight picked out what looked like freeze burn surrounding Rage's neck. Saleana didn't know what Zackera was but what ever he was it wasn't human and it wasn't animal. Gathering more power around her she shifted to the form of the panther for its black coat. There was a sudden silence in the bar as all the patrons saw that she was a hybrid. Saleana froze as she felt a swell of hostel rage gather in the bar. Very few hybrids were born and when they were they were usually killed before there first birthday. Saleana had been lucky to live and even luckier to find that her powers were strong enough to protect herself as she grew older.

 Zackera's eye's flicked over and then widen suddenly. Most of the customers stood and started to there feet, when the fight had first started they had wanted to watch but hadn't cared to interfere that was before they knew there was a hybrid in the midst. Saleana jumped forward gripping Zackera's shirt in her mouth she tugged Zackera glanced down at her. Saleana shifted back to human form. Grabbing the arm that held Rage she ripped him away and started pushing Zackera towards the door that unfortunately was threw the crowd. "Go!" She yelled Zackera met her eye's for a fraction of a second then took off in a run, Saleana fallowed close behind. Shifting into a panther mid run she matched Zackera stride for stride.

  As they neared the mob Saleana gathered herself and jumped Zackera right beside her. Saleana only had a moment to think about how Zackera had jumped just as high as her with out being an animal before they cleared the mob.

 Zackera a stride ahead didn't stop to open the door, ducking his shoulder he slammed against it. Maybe the door hadn't been closed all the way or perhaps the hinges had been rusted but for what ever reason it snapped off its hinges flying out into the street. Her snow leopard was much faster then her panther but she didn't want to lose Zackera and a panther blended into the shadows much better then a snow leopard.

  Taking the lead Saleana lead Zackera down ally's and back streets flashing across roads and ducking behind houses until she finally stopped her sides heaving.

  Saleana snarled as a light fog surrounded them. Turning crouching to attack Saleana froze watching a white cloud flickered above Zackera's palm expanding outward to form the tent of fog. Turning back quickly she took a few short steps toward him as he watched her intently. Glancing at him questioningly he nodded his head. Reaching out her hand passed threw it as if it wasn't there. Putting her hand back in it she felt moisture bead on her hand. Taking her hand back she watched the beads of water on her hand come together and roll off. "Can you make the fog go away?" Zackera nodded and the fog begin to fade. "What are you?" She asked curious. He pinched his lips together. "You tell me what you are and I'll tell you what I' am."

 Saleana shrugged but hid her face so she wouldn't see his reaction. "I'm a hybrid, panther and snow leopard." There was a short silence. "And those men in the bar attacked you just because you're a hybrid?" Saleana frowned and glanced at his face but couldn't see it. "Where have you been it's always been like that." She saw his shadow shift as he shrugged. "I don't like people that much I tend to stay in the forests." Saleana shuddered. "How did you survive? No wait tell me what you are then tell me how you survived." There was another silence before the fog deepened hiding his face ever more. "I'm in short a dragon." He stated. Saleana's eye's widened. "Well that explains the jump." She said carefully. Thinking back to the bar fight she frowned. "But isn't a dragon a thing of fire and wind? I could swear that you seem to have some kind of connection to water not fire."

  Zackera shifted his weight uncomfortably. "I said in short I'm a dragon but it's much more complicated then that. I guess I'm an ice dragon or water dragon what ever you want to call it but I can't breathe fire or anything."

  Saleana rubbed her chin. "So you can control water?" Saleana barely picked out the movement as Zackera shook his head. "I can do a few little tricks with water but mostly it's as if the water decides weather it well help me or not." Saleana saw him shift his weight again. "It's the same way with the wind." He whispered. Saleana froze. "Water and wind?" Zackera nodded.  "Ya, that's how I survive in the forest and by the fact the most of the animals there wont, hurt you if you don't go near them or hunt them."

  Saleana started remembering that he lived in the forest. "But what about the Korosin? There known for hunting down any humans that go in the forests."  Zackera shrugged one shoulder. "I've passed by them a few times but they've never seemed interested in me." Zackera shivered. "Even then I try to keep my distance from them they give me the creeps."

  Saleana ran her hand down her hair. "It's dangerous even to walk the roads with the Korosin." She sighed. "But I have to go; I can't stay in this town now that they know I'm a hybrid they'll be after me know no one wants a hybrid in there town."          

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Zackera studied Saleana as she started to plan what she would do. He pursed his lips wondering why he had told her he hadn't told anyone in years. As he pondered it he decided that he had told her because she was different just like him not in the same since he was a mythical she was a hybrid both despised by all who knew them.

  Zackera watched her closely, he didn't know if it was because he was a mythical dragon or just something he could do but when he looked at people he could see an aurora surrounding them. On most people it was faint flickering in and out of existence. Depending on what animal they were the color changed. For bears it was brown, wolves it was grey, horses it was brown red. Zackera didn't know why but the aurora thou the same color among the same breed differed in texture and shape.

  Zackera had in his life seen both a panther and a snow leopard the panthers aurora was a deep purple and the snow leopards a surprisingly bright yellow. Looking at Saleana he could see her aurora non stop it didn't flicker or even move it just surround her like a barrier one side from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet was a dark purple the other side from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet was a bright yellow They didn't meet and twist together in the middle they just stopped as if one repelled the other.

  On impulse he spoke. "Why don't I go with you?" Saleana starred at him wide eyed. Zackera silently bereted him self for letting himself get caught in a trap of his own making. Ignoring the voice in his head that told him to walk away now he went on carefully. "Since I helped you I can't stay here right? And if I went with you you'd be a lot safer. Maybe with me the Korosin would leave you alone and I know how to avoid all the other animals also a women traveling alone would be a perfect target for thieves or bandits traveling with another will put off the scared one's at least. And if nothing else I could take you threw the forest most people avoid it but I know it like the back of my hand. When you get to a different town I can go right back to the forest no skin off my back."

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  Saleana silently thought it over. It didn't seem likely that he was offering for shady reasons he seemed nice enough even thou Saleana had a hard time believing that he didn't know how despised hybrids were. And he was right she'd be a lot safer she wasn't being conceded or over confident when she thought she was an excellent fighter she knew she was from experience but even a practiced fighter could get overwhelmed by numbers with a dragon on her side it would be practically easy.

  She nodded slowly. "I think I'd like that." Zackera flashed her a brief smile. "We can set out in the morning until then we should find somewhere to stay." Saleana scratched her head "There's an abandoned barn on the outside of town we can stay in no one goes around there."

Zackera nodded then fallowed her silently.     

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    Saleana jerked awake. She scanned the barn looking for what had caused the sound that had woken her. Light from a full moon filtered threw the rafters telling her it wasn't even dawn yet so it couldn't have been a bird unless there was an owl nesting some where in the barn.

  A light that fell across her feet momentarily went dark, Saleana jerked around to look at where the light came in but what ever had momentarily blocked the light had moved on. Drawing her feet under her she moved to Zackera keeping in a crouch in the faint light she could see his eye's were open and were a deadly white blue. He met her eyes. They've found us. He mouthed Saleana nodded and fallowing the unspoken agreement kept silent lying a few feet from Zackera she kept her eyes hooded but scanned the walls waiting for them to give themselves away again.

  Keeping silent and unmoving prevented the towns people from knowing they were awake Saleana just prayed they hadn't seen her move.

  Two figures moved around the far wall sensing Zackera tense she knew he had seen them also. Two bright lights flickered into existence. Saleana flinched as she watched the torches they weren't exactly trying to keep there presence a secret. Saleana jerked when somebody grabbed her arm instinctively reaching to throw the person. "Saleana," Zackera hissed. She froze realizing it had been him who grabbed her. "There going to torch the place we have to get out of here." Saleana froze momentarily in horror then snorted of course they would do anything to get rid of a hybrid she had been hunted enough times before to know that.

  Jumping to her feet she ran to the door, twisting the handle and putting her shoulder against it she pushed but it didn't budge stepping back she kicked the door right beside the handle there was a groan but beside that the door held.

  Saleana snarled and turned back. "For all it's been neglected the barns well built and they've blocked the door we can't get out that way."

 Zackera got carefully to his feet. "Look for another way out." He murmured. Saleana's eye brows drew together. "And what are you going to do?" Zackera took a deep breath. "I'm going to try to drive them off."