Oak's heart -part 1- maturity

Oak’s Meeting. -rite of maturity-

         The Drak smiles in his coastal home, there is nothing better than to play around and fly across the rocks of his home. He smiles as he leans letting the wind carry him…his eye catches something…a girl watching him. He lands in the coastal forest as he transforms into his human form, with long dark hair and massive brown shimmery wings behind him, his long tail and horns sparkle.  “Who is that'' 

        Xena runs through the forest as she spots where he was. “Ok…who was that” she hears giggling as she spots his tail as she runs deeper into the forest... She sees his tail as she tries to get his attention. “Hey!!” she calls him. “Stop waiting!!” 

        Oak smiles and turns back as she tries to find him. “She's not human, what is she,” he asks as he chuckles. He transforms and gallops off as he runs back at her as she dodges. 

       “Hey!!'' She looks at him. “Who are you?” he stands at the edge of the cliffs as she walks up to him, completely enraptured. Her hand out. “What are you?'' She remembers April and Fooli from a week ago. “You're a Drak,” she asks.

       Oak nods. “I am a Drakiri,”

       “Drakiri, like April and Fooli,” he smiles. 

       “Yes. like April and Fooli,” she says. Oak is as big as a Clydesdale maybe, a bit bigger and his fur shimmers and glimmers. His huge wings glint, “You are stunning.” 

       “I'm about to meet a friend for their rites. Do you wanna join us?” he asks her. 

      “I would love to,” she says, “I don't know if I can run as fast as you,” she says. 

      “Who said anything about being on the ground?'' She gets closer as he uses his front hoof to help her on his back, “Hold on,” she grabs his neck as they start running. A minute later he opens his wings as she yelps. “Hold on!” he chuckles. 

      She holds onto his mane as she looks around, “This is incredible,” she lifts her arms as another follows them. “Who is that?” 

      “Li, the one we are gonna do rites with” he chuckles as the pair land. “Li, how are you?” 

      “Great” she giggles. “Who's the new girl?”

       “Call me Kitty,” she says. “So rites…what are you going for?”

       “All three,” he says, “Oak was just about to leave when he met you,” he says as she scoops him up. “Hey hey!! Stop that!”
        “So cute!! Mini boi,” She hugs him as he coughs. 

       “Stop it!! I'm mini but ferocious!” She hugs him tighter. 

       “Like a pomeranian. You're adorable!!” she hugs him as Li sighs. 

       “What is a pomeranian?” Oak asks as they set off on the journey together. 

       “A very very fluffy dog in my home. They have a rep for being so cute and fluff balls,” she says as Li growls. “You're mini-sized and you could easily get lost so I'm gonna shove you in my backpack.” 

       Li growls. “Don't you dare” 

       “How else am I gonna keep you safe and not get stepped on?” li goes to talk but can't. “Thought so.”

       “Fine, just make sure I can see,” he says as she helps him into her backpack. “You are very strange,” he says. 

       “I'm a Xenogender, I'm me” she says. “With you in my backpack, taking you to wherever this rite is will be easier.”

      Li growls. “Fine fine just once,” 

      Oak laughs…for some reason his voice reminds her of Thorin from a movie she watched, “You're funny.” 

      “Oak…” she thinks, “no…Thorin OakenHeart. Yea” she smiles. “I'm gonna name you Thorin.” 

       “Thorin? Who is that” he asks as they walk on the path. 

       “A mighty king under the mountain, Erebor. It's from a movie I watched back home,” she says. “Your voice sounds a lot like his, so it just kinda fits” she smiles. “He was one of my favorite characters too.” 

      “A king you say?” he stands a bit taller. “Me a king?” he smirks, “Never thought about it that way.” 

     She smiles, “Don't get cocky,” she smiles as he walks. 

      Li pipes up, “What’s a king under the mountain?” he asks as they walk. 

      Xena laughs and smiles, “Thorin, a mighty king in a place called Middle Earth, he and his family ruled a place called Euribor,” she smiles remembering the movie from her youth, “Elves and other races called it the lonely mountain. But the artisans were unlike any other, forging works of art from raw stones like rubies and sapphires, they created a necklace called the Gems of Lasgalen. They were the clearest and most beautiful of the gems…they say the necklace looked like stars.” 

        “It sounds like a wonderful place,” 

        “I've always wanted to go there,” she laughs as they take off flying, “I'm never gonna get used to this,” she holds her arms out as she smiles. “I could make a home here.” 

        “Why don't you?” Li asks. “We can make a home together.” 

        “Like Rivendell?” she asks. 

        “Rivendell?” Oak asks her as they fly over the trees and hills. 

        “A place of rest and recuperation, in middle earth it was an elven city, the last before the wildlands and the rest of middle earth, it was created and maintained by Elrond, a great elven lord,” she says. “Yes yes I can see a city now where all will be welcome…a place of peace and relaxation for the travelers that pass through, and draks too,” she says as she sees something. “Guys, what's that?” 

       Li pokes his head over her shoulder. “I'm not sure,” he says. “Let's take a closer look.” 

        “No more caves or temples…the last one nearly got me killed thanks.” 

        Oak chuckles. “The three lead you into an old temple?” he asks her, laughing, “Sounds like them.” 

        “It nearly got me and they killed me,” she says, “I'm swearing off temples from now on.” 

         Li laughs, “Check it out” She looks at the horizon as she sees what looks to be a cloud…ok…it seems to be covering a strange structure. 

         They get closer as she and the rest feel a cold chill over them, “I stay close.” 

         “Don't have to tell me twice,” he says hiding. The bubble window in Zena's bag allows Li to look out from a safe area. “Oak take us down and set us down where there is enough light.”

         He nods and lands outside the cloud of darkness that seems to be settled over the massive labyrinth. She gets off and walks to a bridge, she clips her belt around her waist as she pinches her straps tighter. “You ok back there?” 

         “Fine…just a bit spooked,” Li says as the 3 walks into the darkness. She snaps her fingers as fire appears around her hand….before them a corridor…and an unlit torch sitting in a decorative holder. 

         She takes it and lights the torch, shutting off her powers, “What is this place?” 

         Oak transforms into his human/drak hybrid form, “It looks like some sort of maze,” he says. “Li.” 

          “Yea, it looks like some sort of maze,” he says. “Xen stay close. This world isn't like yours.” 

          She grabs his arm as she and they walk deeper…the air around them is hanging with an ancient aura, “Guys I think this is another ancient place for drak rites,” she says shakily. “Oak,'' she hugs him closer. 

       He holds her hand on his arm as they turn left and then right, “It seems that this is a test of skill,” he says. 

      “Gives me vibes of Skyrim,” she says as they walk in deeper. “Li, are you holding up ok?” 

      “Yea fine,” he says as she shivers. “Doing just fine.” 

       “We have to find an exit or move forward,” she turns left as a wall shuts behind them, “Well forward then…that may be our only option,” she says as they go further in…they reach a door, and Oak smiles. 

       “Ok…this is interesting,” he reads the inscription. “Says here that we need to find 3 pieces of a totem to pass this test and the last one is a fight against something…says to test the draks endurance than to test their strength.” 

       “Ok, strength and endurance?” Zena asks. “Must be different for each drak.” 

       “Yes, it is,” Oak says. Li sets his feet on Xena’s shoulder as she walks with oak. “Our race has different challenges depending on the drak.” 

       “Ok…cool,” she says as they find the entrance to the tests. “Test of endurance first,” she says. “Then the test of strength.” 

       “Sounds frightening,” he says. “I wanna go home.” 

       “Hush Li you have rites to do so you’re in it for the long haul,” Oak says, “I guess this is it…we can work on it together.” 

         Xena opens the gate as they walk through. The gate shuts behind them as Li whimpers. “It's alright.” 

         “I know it's just unnerving,” he says in a small voice. 

         “Ok. this seems to be a strange scavenger hunt?” he looks around as the sources light on their own.