Mage Alton sat in front of his Home and drank coffee with a shot of cream and honey. The coffee had been a gift from his love and he had grown to love it nearly as much as her. It was expensive, but a High Mage had the coin for such lavishness

She was gone again this day but would return for dinner. They planned to go to Boar's Tusk to eat and to see how Lynn was making out there. He thought about the young Mage and wondered if she had any idea of the trouble that was swirling all around her. He knew that she had caught the attention of some very powerful Mages.

"Got nothing better to do than sit around and sip coffee like a Noble!?" Shouted a voice from behind him.

Raising whatever barriers that he could, Alton stood and faced the male voice. Sauntering up to him was High Mage Gaul Ter. A handsome and tall man who was liked by the ladies, and he knew it. An Elite son, Gaul was as confident and self absorbed as they came.

It was what Alton liked about his old friend, that at the end of the day he cared about magic never being used to hurt non-mages even though he had the power and influence to do so.

The two had gone on their Long Walk together and for some reason the Elite son took a strong liking to Alton as well and they had been close ever since. "Hail, Gaul! The almighty son of the richest merchants in the city of Rock Island!" Alton said with a friendly smirk. "Decided to see how the poor commoners live?"

"Naw, I just needed a laugh and I  remembered that you're the Farth fool." Gaul came up and hugged Alton hard.

This was an indication to Alton that something was amiss. They hugged but usually in a friendly way. 

"What brings you to my simple shop, old friend." Alton was not sure he wanted to know.

"Thinking I might need some anti-love potions!" Gaul said and gave Alton a very serious look.

The two had spent nearly three cycles walking together and had worked out codes and a language all their own. Wanting anti-love potion's was a signal that one had gotten into some deep water and needed help out. It also would mean that he was being followed by that same trouble.

"I got just the thing, but it'll cost ya." Alton was still grinning from ear to ear, but his eyes had begun scanning the surroundings. Two Patrolmen and a Guardsmen walked out of a darkened side way.  They were clustered together and by their stance had a familiar way with each other.

"I would give my soul for it." Gaul said aloud. In a whisper he added, "They found me right?"

"Let's get inside and get you some coffee and I'll brew up those potions, and maybe some moon ointment so you can get rid of the three ladies after ya!"

Nodding Gaul followed Alton inside without looking back. As soon as the door closed Alton triggered a spell to lock the door. It belonged to Mari but was for him to use if trouble came calling.

"Just what have you been up to?" Alton asked after knowing the spell was set.

Sitting down at Alton's desk, Gaul laid his head in his hands, "All I did was go to a different House for a friend's bachelor party. Next day I'm being followed by the triplets out there."

"So, what did you say or do to get such attention?" Alton asked with a grin. He intended every word but wanted it to be a light rebuke.

"I was just being me, Al. I can't be anyone else. You've certainly pointed that out enough!" Then he laughed a weak laugh. "Only thing I can think of is that I got into an argument over use of magic with a Mage who was visiting the House there."

Peering out the curtained little window in the door, Alton tried to see the three goons. Instead he was surprised to see High Mage Corla walking toward his front porch area. She had a map case on her shoulder and a young girl in tow.

Opening the door he tried to act casual. His eyes darted around the wide way to see if he could see the three men. Corla humphed in surprise but quickly recovered watching his eyes and facial expressions.

"Am I coming at a bad time?" She said with a forced grin.

"I wasn't expecting to throw a party so soon, but three guests arrived early and are waiting around somewhere." He said ushering the pair quickly into his home. "You're help preparing some food would be wonderful."

Hearing the conversation, Gaul had walked over to see what was going on. When he laid eyes on Corla he let out a loud oath.

"Good to see you too, Gaul Ter!" Corla spat. "Try to not say such things around Runner here, she is a child after all."

"Why are YOU here?!" Gaul spat back, then walked away.

Poor Runner was watching the three adults and trying to look as small and invisible as possible. Roar watched it all from the leather pet carrier it had been stuffed into. Roar was not pleased with the arrangement but it's true master had ordered it, and it was with the little master and that made it happy.

Alton laid his hand on Runner's shoulder, "So you are the most adult person here, huh?"

Runner just looked up and shrugged. She vaguely remembered the friendly Mage. She noted that his magic was about half of the other two adults. In fact, he was nearly half of Lady Mage Lynn's power when she was in the Tusk. Yet he had aura of being older and wiser then the two fussing at each other in his office.  It gave him a authority that neither had.

"Why are have you come here, Corla? To torture me more?" Gaul said while pacing the floor.

"Actually, I'm here for Alton and Maritha." Corla said turning to Alton. "Got something very interesting, and let's say it's has potential. Your being here is actually a bonus, Gaul!"

"So your not a part of the triplets out there?" Gaul gave her a serious look.

"What?"

Alton stepped in, "Gaul has been followed by two Patrolmen and one Guardsmen, sound like a familiar setup?"

Corla just looked back and forth between the two to be sure she was not getting played a fool. "Thinking there involved in this House Mess?"

Alton nodded and poor Gaul looked more confused then ever. Runner sat down the case and let Roar out. Immediately Gaul stood and went right to the dragite. This caused Roar to flair it's wings and raise its tail. Runner had never seen Roar do this and the voice of Jile came into her head.

"Pardon me, Sir Mage, but I really don't think that Roar likes you very much." Runner said quickly.

Again, Alton was the most aware adult in the room. He said a word that Runner thought sounded like still. The dragite lowered itself and sat on the table, but to Runner it looked like it still was not happy with the attention of the male Mage.

"This dragite should not exist!" Gaul spoke to Alton and Corla as if Runner was not even there. "It's a natural born. That should be impossible."

All thoughts of fighting aside, Corla hunched down next to Gaul to look at Roar as well. "You mean it was born using natural magic?"

Not liking the attention to her friend Runner spoke up, "Roar is a good pet and very loyal to Mage Lynn!"

"No, my thick headed man hater. I said that this dragite was born with no aide from magic at all!" Gaul said to Corla and Alton, ignoring Runner outright.

Now Alton hunched down to eye Roar. Runner began to squirm slightly and with that Roar let out a low growl, and to glow a faint purplish-red which made the three Mages pull back quickly "Roar does not like you treating her like test object, kind Mages." Runner interjected quickly and loudly.

"Um..did you call it a 'her'?" Gaul asked.

Runner began to squirm and fidget, "So sorry, Lord Mage, I spoke out of turn."

"No you did not, little Runner." Corla said with unusual kindness. "We are being Mages and forgetting that Roar here is under your care. Forgive us, please."  Not sure what to do or say, Runner bowed slightly. Roar stopped glowing and did a small bow of it's own. Alton giggled slightly at that.

"Now, can you explain to us why you think this dragite is a female?" Gaul asked with a friendly tone. It was the tone he used on prospective dates. Which made Corla look at him sideways.

Calming some Runner went to Roar, "I'm not sure why I think it, but it feels right, Lord Mage. Like Roar here will someday have babies of her own, if that makes any sense."

The three adults just gave each other looks but said nothing at first. It was Gaul who broke the silence.

"Dragite's are created by magic, young lady. Long ago, when magic was fresh and new, someone figured out how to combine a bunch a creatures to make this pet."

"That's what Guardsmen Jile taught me." Runner said. "He also said that a side affect is that they have no sex organs and can't breed, right?"

"That's right," Alton stepped up to her. "They were the first magical pets, and to some the first magical mistake."

This confused Runner, "Why?"

"Because, it was thought that to tinker with life was not man's place. That nature, gods, or the Maker God would punish man for his arrogance." Alton went to a knee in front of her.  He placed one hand on her and the other he touched Roar with.

Alton's mind filled with a vision of an adult Runner, on her own Long Walk.  She possessed a strength in magic that made Alton slightly jealous of.  Two dragite flew near and they had the same colour and markings of Roar.

In the vision Runner stopped on top of a crest and threw her arms into the air.  Roar flew up and to Alton's surprise the dragite was twice the size of a normal dragite.  Then it dived right for him, breathing blue flames right at him.

In his mind he heard an female voice say, "This vision will only come to pass if you tell no one of what you have seen!  A day will come when this one will have to decide between blood and spirit, pray she will choose the spirit."

His hand came off of Roar and Alton nearly slumped over but caught himself.  Gaul went to his friend, Alton waved him off and gave Runner a serious look.

"That dragite is not normal." Was all Alton could say at first.  Then he looked at Corla, "Never let anything happen to this pet, or the girl."

"You've had a vision, right?"  Gaul said and huffed.  "One of the weakest Mages I know, and you have visions like a Mage Master!"

Corla was about to ask what was going on when something flew through a side window.  When it  landed a deafening sound of thunder sounded and everyone was knocked flat on the floor.

A shadowed man slithered into the now broken window.  Dressed all in black, even his face was covered, he looked like death walking.  A black mist shrouded him like a fog, and it followed him as he moved.

Martha's spell saved them this day.  She had the fore site to protect the inside of the home as well as the walls and doors. 

A strong blast of wind lifted the shadowed man and sent him flying hard into a wall.  Bones crunched and he slumped to the floor.  The mist disappeared at his death.

The three Mages stood and assessed the situation.  Still trying to recover from the noise they were not doing a good job of it. This was when the front door completely ripped off the frame and flew into the street.  The raw power that was used nullified Mari's spell on the home.

A heavy fog filled the way outside but Corla could see a female Mage standing in front of the home.  She pointed and said something but Corla was still deaf from the explosion.  From out of the mist came the three goons who had followed Gaul, they ran at full speed toward the now unprotected and open home.

So I put this out, but I know it's rough.  With the holidays going and life being crazy I just will have to edit with Ellowyne masterfully put comments!!  
Remember that we all are writers and readers here at Wattpad so support each other!  Blessings and hopes that this year is great.