The girl writhed in her bed. She was soaked in her own cold sweat. Her clothes were plastered against her small body as she continued to writhe in pain. She felt like she was melting as her body reformed itself. An aura of magic surrounded her as golden scales grew. Large spiny fins appeared on her arms, legs, and down her back. Her feet and hands changed into claws. A pair of long slender wings sprouted from between her shoulders. A beaked reptilian head and a long thin tail finished the transformation.

She could feel the differences in her body. She felt new strength flow through her limbs. Her sight, her hearing, each had become more sensitive. She could feel a burning sensation deep within her. She dreaded what she would see in the mirror, but she moved from her bed anyway. She drew closer to the reflective surface above her dresser. Her eyes closed in horror. "No, no." A golden claw easily destroyed the mirror. Pieces of glass fell from the frame. She ran across her bedroom and jumped through the open window into the cool night air. She started to fall from the tall building. Instinct kicked in as her new muscles spread her wings. She flew off into the night.

A red flash flew through the darkness. It was one of the few times the young dragon ever felt completely relaxed. He loved hanging with his friends, and even though he wouldn't admit it he liked spending time with his little sister. But whenever something was on his mind he would take off for a late night flight. He closed his eyes as he felt the currents of the wind caress his wings. He inhaled the aromas of the city. His mind cleared as he continued to fly. Slowly, ever so slowly, his wings began to tire. He opened his eyes as he made his way to the nearest roof. He found a small corner of the roof to curl up where he wouldn't be noticed. He looked out at the glow of the city. Light sparkled on every corner. Every building was a pattern of light and dark. "Beautiful." He had been to the Isle of Draco, and even to a Hawaiian island, but his heart would always belong to the city. He slowly closed his eyes.

He started to feel strange. He opened his eyes just in time to see a shadow move over him. A flash of light reflected from the creature. Jake jumped to his feet and stretched his wings. He lifted into the air and started to follow. She flew quickly and unsteadily. Jake had trouble keeping up with the figure. He watched as the figure's wings gave out. It plummeted toward the street far below. Jake moved his body into a dive. He folded his wings in to increase his speed. The wind buffeted her body around. He reached his arms out to it. He tried to grab onto the figure. With a final burst of speed he gripped the golden figure.

He spread his wings as far as he could. His wings almost buckled under what he was asking of them. The strain was ripping them from his back. Somehow he managed to keep them spread as his speed decreased.

He flew them over to a nearby roof. He dropped to his knees. The effort he had expended to catch up to the figure grasped tightly in his arms had exhausted him. He looked down and noted it was a dragon he held in his arms, and for the first time he realized that he grasped it to him.

He laid her lithe body on the rooftop.

"Yo, hey, you okay? Wake up." The eyes of the other dragon opened slowly. As soon as she saw Jake she scrambled away from him. "Get away from me. How'd I get here?"

Jake looked worried. "It's okay. I saw you and started to follow since I didn't know who you were. Your wings gave out and I caught you. What are you doing here? Did the council send you?"

"Wings?" She looked down at her body. Her eyes closed. "It was real." She was whispering to herself, but Jake's keen ears picked up every word.

"Hey, everything's okay. You don't have to be afraid. We dragons have to stick together you know."

"No, It can't be. I'm not a dragon." She started to back away from him.

Jake could hear the panic in her voice. "Hey, whatever's going on, you can trust me." The look in his eye should have reassured her. It was a look of a truly caring individual.

"No, I can't trust anyone anymore. I've got to go." She turned around and took a dive off her side of the building.

Jake rushed over to the edge. She was nowhere to be seen.