II: Silver Star

“D…did you just…talk?” Kye asked the strange cat with wings that sat on his bed.

“Yes…why?” she sounded very confused.

“Uh…no reason. I’m just…not used to…cats…with wings…talking...” Kye couldn’t help but pause after every other word; this was all too strange for him.

“I’m not a cat!” she retaliated. “I’m…”

“You’re…?”

“I…can’t remember,” she frowned.

“You can’t remember? Anything? Your name at least?” questioned Kye. She shook her head solemnly. “Well, that’s no good. How about I call you…Silver? With your fur and all,” suggested Kye.

“Silver…”

“I mean, if you have a better name you want to be called then by all means…”

“No, that’s…Silver…Star…That’s my name!” she smiled as she seemed to remember her name. It warmed Kye’s heart to see her smile after recalling how he first found her near death.

“You’re named after Lunar? Silver Star? That‘s pretty cool,” said Kye as he climbed onto his bed and sat next to the creature. “Can you think of anything? Like what the reason is for me finding you near death in the middle of nowhere?”

Silver Star sat there, trying her best to remember whatever she could, but to no prevail. “I’m sorry.”

“Hey, it’s alright. The important thing is that you ARE alive still,” said Kye with a grin. “My name’s Kye Luro. You can just call me Kye though.”

“Okay…Kye.” Silver Star looked up at him, then said, “Thank you again, for saving me and giving me shelter.”

“Not a problem, Silver Star.” Kye smiled warmly at her as her offered her the food and milk once again; she accepted.

And that was how Kye met Silver Star. A bond began to bloom between the two from that moment on. Not once did Kye ever refer to Silver Star as his ‘pet’. She had a mind of her own after all. He couldn’t help but wonder how everyone would take it though.

Knock knock!

Anita hurried to the door and answered, “Oh, hello there, Lana.”

“Good afternoon, Aunt Anita. Where’s Kye?” asked the curious Lana.

“Upstairs, probably asleep. You can wake him up if you wish,” Anita offered; Lana accepted and made her way upstairs…

“Dragonmaster…” Silver Star spoke quietly to herself as if she knew of the legends.

“Yes, that’s right. Do you know any of the stories?” asked Kye. Silver Star looked at him for a moment, then shook her head. “Well, how about…Althena, surely?”

“Yes! Althena, the Goddess of Love and Beauty! I remember that much!”

“What about…Hiro and Lucia?”

“…Lucia…”

“And Zophar?”

“Z…Zophar…?” Silver Star appeared serious now; those last few names seemed to be oddly familiar to her.

“Well, we’re getting somewhere now! At least it seems you know some of the common-told legends and folklore!” confirmed Kye as Lana suddenly appeared at his doorway.

“Are you talking to yourself?” she questioned.

“No. Hey, why are you here?” asked Kye out of confusion. Silver Star looked back and forth between the two.

“I came to ask if you can go to the Mainland, of course. Hey! You’re awake!” exclaimed Lana as she picked up Silver Star and began stroking her fur.

“Oh…I knew I forgot something,” said Kye, a bit disappointed from not remembering. Lana seemed to ignore him though.

“Aww, you’re so cute! What’s your name little girl?” asked Lana, not expecting to receive a reply from the winged-cat herself.

“I am Silver Star,” she purred.

Silence.

“She…can talk, Lana,” Kye chuckled at Lana’s expression.

“I’m sorry. I guess people aren’t used to my kind,” said Silver Star, a frown on her face.

“In all honesty, you’re the only kind we’ve seen,” replied Kye, regretting that comment afterwards for knowing that it probably wouldn’t make her feel any better.

“That can’t be,” Silver Star looked concerned. “There must be more. I can’t remember who or where…but I know there are more; I’m not alone.”

“Well, in that case, I’ll help you find them,” offered Kye. “Not sure when exactly, but I will.”

“I think I’m at a bit of a lost,” Lana finally spoke up. Kye took this time to explain what he knew about Silver Star…

“So no memory at all?” asked Lana.

“I’m afraid not,” replied Silver Star.

“It seems like there are a few things she finds familiar though. I guess we’ll just have to keep trying until her memory does come back,” said Kye. Just then, Kye’s mother called him from downstairs.

“Kye! Lana! Zack’s here!”

“Kye, aren’t we going to speak to your parents about you and Zack going to Meribia with me?” Lana asked. Kye nodded as they made their way downstairs, Silver Star finding her a seat upon Kye’s shoulder, which he didn’t mind at all.

“Oh! Your kitten’s awake!” exclaimed Anita as she looked at Silver Star when Kye entered the room. “Such an adorable kitten…with wings?”

“We’ll talk about that later, Mom. Right now, we want to talk about something else,” said Kye as the three kids sat down on the family sofa.

“Alright then, what do you want this time?”

“Mom, can Zack and I go with Lana and Dad to Meribia?”

“What?” Anita seemed surprised by this request.

“I know the path to Risano is dangerous and all, but we can fight! Remember yesterday?”

“Kye…”

“I’m almost seventeen, I feel so trapped here. I want to see what’s outside of Arhes!”

“Me too!” added Zack.

It was apparent Anita didn’t seem to be in a mood for arguing as she let out a sigh, “Oh Kye, you’re not a child anymore. But you don‘t understand the danger.”

“Danger? Mom, I-”

“The world outside of Arhes is far dangerous than what you’re thinking!”

“But-”

“Not this year, Kye,” was all Anita said.

Kye was silent, unsure of what to say or do next. “…Why? I know it’s dangerous, but if Zack and Dad are with me, we can handle it. Dad handles it by himself every year anyway! Just think how it would be with us with him!” She then let out another sigh, this one different from before; a some-what depressing sigh. “Something wrong?”

“Oh, it’s nothing,” she smiled, but Kye could tell otherwise. He decided to let it go for now. “I’ll talk to your father about it when he returns from hunting.” This was a good sign for the teens. Kye knew his father would be easier to talk to about this matter. “Um, Kye? Your pet?” his mother questioned. Kye took a breath before sitting back down to explain once again…

The next day, the three teenagers decided to hang out in the village. They sat in a circle at the village square to discuss about adventures and stories, both new and old.

“They say that over hundreds of years ago, the Magic City of Vane used to float in the sky! That is until the Magic Emperor put an end to the beautiful city. For many centuries, it lay in ruins, but people continued to live there, and even attend the Magic Guild! Even to this day, Vane is still grounded to the Mainland, just east of Meribia,” explained Lana.

“Sounds pretty cool! Have you been there before?” asked Zack.

Lana nodded, “Yeah, but just for a visit. The city has become beautiful, like how it was back in the old days. I hear word that the magicians are currently trying to find a way to send Vane back to the skies!”

“Really? After all these years?” asked Kye.

“Yes. I mean, I hear they’ve tried for a long time, but who knows? It may just happen in our lifetime!” replied Lana.

“I just have to see that!” said Kye as he began to imagine Vane in his head.

“We gotta see all that we can!” commented Zack.

“Definitely!” replied Kye as he looked down at Silver Star, who was awfully quiet. “Hey, you okay?”

“Hm?” She looked up at him and blinked. “Oh, I’m fine. Just…thinking.”

“Remember anything?” questioned Zack.

“I…think so. Vane sounds awfully familiar. And Meribia,” She sighed, “Or maybe I’m just getting my hopes up that my memory will return.” Kye frowned, he hated to see her look sad.

“Cheer up, Silver Star, no need to worry about it so much,” said Zack.

“Zack’s right for once. Just give it some time, I’m sure your memory will return,” Lana smiled warmly at Silver Star as Zack glared at her.

“What do you mean ‘for once’!?” he growled as Lana giggled. This put a smile on Silver Star’s face as well as Kye’s.

Lana stood up, “Well, I’m going home now to spend some time with my mother. I guess I’ll see you guys later,” and with that, she turned and began walking home.

“Uh…wait! Lana, let me walk you home,” offered Zack.

“I’m just two houses away,” was her reply, which didn’t seem to stop Zack.

Kye waved to them as they left, smiling to himself at the thought of Zack and Lana together. “He was never good at hiding his secrets,” he chuckled. Silver Star looked up at him, a bit of confusion on her face at who he was talking about, but she soon caught on.

“I see. Zack and Lana must be lovers, right?”

“Um…Not quite yet. I think it’s obvious that Zack likes her though. The problem is that Lana hasn’t seemed to really caught on,” said Kye as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“Love…I wonder if I have experienced it before?” Silver Star began to wonder.

“You’ll remember soon enough,” said Kye as he stood up. “We leave in two days, so how about we go check out the shop for some supplies? Best to be prepared beforehand than anything.” Silver Star nodded as she stretched out her wings and began flapping until her small body lifted up from the ground and onto Kye’s shoulder.

“So what’s your father like anyways?” asked the curious Zack as he and Lana approached her home.

“He’s very protective of me,” she said, “I guess I’m a bit of a Daddy’s Girl, hehe.”

“I…see,” was all Zack could mutter as they stood outside the front door.

“…Your father died when you were really young, didn’t he?” asked Lana. There was a moment of silence before Zack could speak.

“Yeah.”

“I’m sorry,” Lana spoke softly, “I used to think having divorced parents was rough, but…to not have a parent at all, I just…”

“No, it’s okay. It can’t be helped,” Zack shook his head and sighed.

“What happened to him? If you don‘t mind my asking…”

“He was ill. We don‘t know what it was, but it was strong enough to take his life. The life of a beastman..” Zack sighed once more as he leaned against the wall of Lana‘s home.

“I‘m sorry to hear that,” Lana frowned.

"...So what about you? Why are your parents divorced?" questioned Zack.

"They wouldn't stop fighting with each other."

"About what?"

"Everything," sighed Lana. "I guess they just didn't understand each other as much as they thought they did. I wonder if he knows that Mother misses him. I wonder if he misses her back..."

Zack placed a hand upon Lana's shoulder and spoke softly, “It happens a lot, but the thing about a relationship is that you have to understand each other. Maybe they do understand each other, and I'm sure he misses her too." Zack wasn't sure what exactly he was trying to really say at this point. "Eh...Just...be grateful for what you have, alright?” he smiled.

Lana smiled back, “Okay.”

“HEY! KIDS!!” A voice called out from a short distance. Zack and Lana turned to see one of the village residents running towards them. He stopped to catch his breath, then looked up. “What? Kye’s not with you?”

“No, sir. Last we saw, he was in the Village Square,” said Lana.

“Is something wrong?” asked Zack.

The villager looked at him, a frown upon his face. “Yeah! There is!”

“Okay, I think that’ll do for our trip,” said Kye as he made his finally selections to the storekeeper. His hopes were through the roof at this point. He seemed to ignore the chance that his father could also quite possibly say no just as easily as his mother did. The storekeeper started to prepare Kye’s stuff as he continued to look around. He turned to look at Silver Star, who was observing the other times found in the shop. He then turned back around and set his eyes on a grey collar, with a silver bell hanging off it; a collar just right for a cat. Though he still wasn’t sure to call her a cat, he thought maybe she’d like a gift. “I’ll take that too, sir.”

“Aye, last one. For your pet, I presume?”

“She’s not a ‘pet’, but yes, for her,” answered Kye.

“Here lad. Free ‘o charge,” the storekeeper said as he handed the collar to Kye.

“Really? Thanks sir!” Kye said as he took it along with his other items and left the building, Silver Star following quickly behind.

“Did you get everything you needed?” she asked.

“Yeah, and more.”

“More?”

Kye smiled as he held out the collar, “For you!” Silver Star curiously examined it. “I thought it might look cute on you, heh.”

Silver Star smiled, “…Thank you, Kye.”

“Don’t mention it!” He then put it on around Silver Star’s neck; the bell jingling with every movement made.

“It’s nice,” Silver Star commented.

“Think of it as my memento if…you ever recover your memory and return to your original home.”

“I will,” Silver Star smiled at the bell hanging off her neck. “I will…”

“KYE!!”

Kye and Silver Star looked up to see Zack and Lana running towards them, seeming to be in a panic.

“Kye! Bad news!” said Zack

“Your father--Uncle Isaac…!” Lana couldn’t get the words out…But Kye knew something bad must’ve happened, so he hurried home as fast as he could.

“Dad! DAD!!” Kye called out as he ran into the living room, where he found his father laying on the couch, his right leg in a cast and propped up on the arm-rest. “Dad! What happened? Are you alright?”

“Ah, Kye. It’s nothing,” he answered.

“Nothing? Isaac, your leg is broken!” Anita protested.

“Hey, I’m still alive. I’ll be good in a few weeks or so.” Isaac didn’t seem too worried about his injury. “I just slipped…that’s all.”

“But Dad, Lana…How will she-”

“Oh, but Kye, aren’t you and Zack accompanying her?” his father asked as a grin surfaced across face.

“What? Not by themselves, dear!” Anita knew what was on Isaac’s mind with that grin and all. Kye was left speechless.

“Anita, he’s a grown boy. Lana knows the way and with the boys by her side, I’m sure they can fend off any monster that comes at ‘em!” Isaac spoke with pride about his son.

Anita sighed hopelessly, “You two are just alike…” She knew she wasn’t going to win. It was time for her to let her boy go. Kye was still left speechless; he was never too good with words at times like this.

“I won’t let you down. Both of you.”

“Just come home safely, please,” Anita sighed, the same sigh from earlier that day; the sigh that told Kye something was troubling her and it must’ve been something big to continuously bother her all day.

“Mom, is something wrong? Aside from me going to the Mainland, you just seem like something’s been bugging you a lot lately.”

“Don’t worry about me, I’m fine. I promise,” she smiled.

“You’re really bad at lying…” Kye sighed. This was going to be bugging him for a while if she didn’t tell him now.

“It’s fine, son. Your mother’s fine,” Isaac seemed to be defending his wife now. Kye knew he might as well give up. At least he won one battle today…He finally turned and headed out of the room. Isaac looked up at Anita, "You're worried?"

"Can you really blame me? When he was just a child...he..."

"That was a long time ago, Anita. I promise, nothing bad will happen to our son."

"...our son..." Anita sighed yet again.

And finally, the day of journey came. Kye made sure all his supplies were ready to go before him and Silver Star, who continued to sit upon his shoulder, headed out. A final farewell was bid among him and his parents as they then made their way to the Village Square, where they would meet up with Zack and Lana.

“Ready?” asked Lana with a cheerful smile upon her face.

“You bet!” Zack cheered as Kye nodded. Silver Star smiled at the three but didn’t say a word. The three teenagers looked back at their village of Arhes one final time. It’s not like they were leaving forever, but some reason it felt that way. None of them would have ever thought what all awaited their arrival to the Mainland of Lunar…

A/N: I don't like this chapter. Too boring. It's sorta just there so you can learn a little more about our heroes though...Like the parent issue of Zack and Lana, a tad bit about Zack and Lana's relationship with each other, Kye and Silver Star's relationship, and the beginning of a mystery: Is there a reason why Kye's mother seems a bit over-protective of her son? What happened to Kye as a child? Hm...