It had been a month since MaKenna Conley come to Rhy'Din. She'd met some very interesting people, and had seen things, some 'creatures' she never could have imagined. But this was a wonderful place, full of friendly people, and some not so friendly. Luckily for MaKenna, she'd run across all the friendly ones.

Then just a couple of days ago MaKenna was attacked. It had left her peering over her shoulder at every shutting door and every foot step behind her. It had been dark when the men jumped her, she'd not been able to see who or just how many there were. Being new to the area she'd only been familiar with one place, the Inn, the "Red Dragon Inn" to be precise. She had been on her way there when it happened.

She'd been beaten, somewhat filleted and left for dead. Her vision was blurry as she made her way towards the sounds of the Inn. Opening her mouth to call out for help had proven pointless, only producing a raspy whisper. Finally she'd crawled to the front of the Inn and fell motionless onto the ground. Her head throbbed, and her entire body ached. Knowing someone had to enter or leave the Inn soon; she lay there waiting to be found.

And found she was. He was a handsome man, eh dragoon is what he called himself with his large green wings protruding from his back. He took her someplace quiet and healed all the minor wounds as best he could, then bandaged the others. They sat and talked, mostly about what had brought them to Rhy?Din. MaKenna learned about wyverns and dragoons.

Sir Matthew Spade had told her about his previous, now deceased, master and the horrible things he'd had to do in order to stay alive. Matthew was not free from the wretched man and was out doing good for anyone in need, to mention without pay. MaKenna still had found no way to take back her home so she offered Matthew a job, protecting her. She'd need it if the men who'd attacked her were sent by her cousin because she knew he'd send more.

Then, and hesitantly, MaKenna agreed to a ride on Kronos. Very high off the ground, she sat in front of Matthew as they flew over the area.

"The weather is quite lovely today, isn't it?" He smiled.

She was looking around to all of the sights and sounds. "This is the first time I've ever been out here before," her voice was soft.

"It would by my first time here as well. It seems safe enough, but I'm never unprepared."

"Aye, the weather is very nice. Nicest I've seen in a while." She laughed a none of their answers or questions lined up. "It is reassuring you are always prepared. I'm under protection day and night." She smiled but never met his eyes.

He stopped walking and his face grew very serious. "Have you been attacked again, m'lady' I swore that I would protect you from that happening again."

His stopping and tone made her look up to him quickly, finally their eyes meeting, she shook her head. "No," her voice soft and then she smiled. "No I'm fine. And I know you swore to protect me; you're doing a fine job.

"Well, I don't know about that. I went missing for a few days, so that's a bad start to being your protector." He laughed, mostly in spite of himself.

"I noticed you weren't around." She smiled enjoying his laugh. "What happened?"

"Kronos and I were tracking a particularly nasty group of wyverns that we were told about. We moved using stealth tactics and set up an ambush. After the battle, we were both wounded, and we needed rest."

MaKenna stepped back and looked over him. "Are you still hurt?" The concern evident in her voice and expression.

Oh no, I'm fine now. Thanks to the soul pact, I heal as quick as Kronos now. I still have the scars though." Not thinking twice about it, he stripped his breast plate and tunic off, showing two bright white scars. One on his chest that ran from his left shoulder down to his naval, and the other was a six inch scar on his right side. "Nasty little scars, aren't they' If not for the soul pact, I'd no doubt be dead."

She eyed the scars and stepped towards him, reaching out her fingers she traced the scar running from his shoulder to his naval:: "Wow," a whisper.

He nodded. "If you had seen the armor I had been wearing when that happened, you would have thought I was dead."

The finger tips of her other hand traced along the other scar. He tried to stifle a small laugh, but he couldn't help it. "That tickles."

He being rather tall it was easy to keep her head down and hide her face, but the tear that slipped from her cheek gave her away::

Matthew knelt down and pulled his tunic back on, his wings popping through holes cut into the back. He sat her down with him wiping the tear away. "Are you alright?"

She sniffed and turned her head away from him, wiping at her eyes. "Aye," she chuckled. "I'm fine."

He took her hands in his, he spoke softly. "One does not usually cry when they are fine."

She laughed again, and with him taking her hands it was difficult to keep turned from him, she turned to face him, her cheeks wet from tears. "I'm just...worried about you." She looked up to him.

He was literally shocked speechless. For a few moments, he couldn't think of anything to say. No one had ever cared about him enough to worry about him...mostly they wanted him dead. "Ahhhh...worried about me" You don't have to worry about me, I'll be okay," he couldn't think of anything else to say.

She nodded. "I just," she looked up into his eyes. "I can't help it".

He stared right back into hers. "It's okay...I understand. I've been around for a long time now...a lot longer than I should have had any right being alive. But I was taught there is a reason that I am still alive, a purpose. My fate or my destiny...there's still so much I've not done yet'

"What do you think the reason is that you're still here?" She asked softly.

"I don't have the slightest idea, but I will go on living until I find that purpose. And on the way to my destiny, to my fate...I will do the things that I want to do. I serve no lord now but myself."

She nodded smiling. "I'm very glad you are free of him."

Matthew turned his face from hers. "For Kronos, its easy you see, animalistic nature. He may be the only family I have, but I'm jealous of him." He chuckled. "He could go out and have a family with ease."

Matthew feels her fingers tracing down his wings. "Why can't you?"

"Because of what I am...because of the things I have done."

"I don't understand," she said shaking her head.

"While in the service of my old lord I murdered, I kidnapped...I did what I did to accomplish a mission. A mission not my own. I was trained when I was very young, you see. Trained to be hard...to never cry...because I would have to do things like murder, and kidnap, and I could have no sympathy."

"How can those things stop you? Why couldn't you have a family?" She notices her fingers lazily sliding up and down his wings.

"Well...I...I don't know exactly, but...I've never been with a woman before, you see, and your the first real woman that I've talked to. I never had free time." He shivered softly, liking the contact of her fingers with his wings. "And the free time I did have, I was raising Kronos.?