Chapter Seven
Finding Long-Lost Daughters
Kivo? Io? I really need a hand here....
Hey, this is Kivo. Io, you there? Can you hear me now?
Yes, this is Ionkori. Full name, please.
Whatever. Guys, you know who I am, right?
No doi.
Shut up. Yeah, Gana, what's up?
Got kicked.
You're kidding, right? That is very unfair.
Where are you? We'll escape and find you. Tunnel's done, you know.
I'm in the Kin Lock. I'm trapped with a Kin man, name of John. I'll explain later, so don't ask, Io. All I know is he's sick, he's my friend, and he needs some serious medical attention.
Did you get kicked trying to save him?
No, I faked it pretty well. Master 00392 just said 'you've done well' and left.
Jerk. 00392 won't be around for much longer, eh? Getting rid of a Dragon.
He'll be in huge trouble.
Lots of people will be once Io and I escape.
Full name. 'Tis Ionkori.
You don't care when Gana calls you Io!
I do, but Gana could hurt me, so I don't want to tick him off. Ya know?
Wuss.
Hello.
Yes, you need help, don't you?
I do.
Io - oh, sorry, Ionkori - this is the night we get out of this hell and into the good life. We're going down the tunnel tonight, Gana.
Good, keep in touch. I'll tell you what I need as soon as you're out. If you don't make it, tell me before you die.
Very funny.
Wish us luck.
Syiana, safe journies. I wish you good luck. Hurry up about it, too. He doesn't look too good.
We're on it.
Adios, amigo.
Over and out.
**--**--**
"Oh, my gosh!" Nina cried as Starre emerged from the dressing room. "That shirt is absolutely adorable on you! Halters have always been your thing!" Silently, Nina made a fast gesture for Starre to get back into the room. She did so, slammed the door shut, and covered her wings. It was quite stupid to be trying things on in bright daylight, but Nina was a risk-taker, and so was Starre.
Starre came out again, decked out in banana-yellow sweater and orange pants. Nina rolled her eyes, and pretended to stand in front of Starre to hide the outfit. Starre pushed Nina away, and laughed.
"I'm so excited!" Starre squealed, waving her form in the air. "I am going to get a Bishel! Oh, man, Nina, thank you SO much!"
"You're SO welcome!" Nina laughed, hugging Starre. "Just for my...what the -?"
What had startled Nina so much soon became apparent. People ran out of the store Nina and Starre were in, screaming and shouting. Two large, sinewy dragons wearing elastic bands on their arms and tails marched up to the two frightened people, and sat down.
The first one was dark green in color, streaked with lighter green stripes. It had several piercings, and it looked distinctly feminine. She wore a blue-grey band around the small of her tail. The second was fiery orange with red stripes. It had dark red markings around its eyes, and greyish tips on its horns. It had a grey band arounds its upper foreleg.
Hullo there, the green Dragon said. I am Kivo, and this is Ionkori. We're looking for Ms. Starre Copper. Do you have any idea as to her whereabouts?
Idiot! the orange one said. Try using your head every once and a while! Remember, dark black hair and green eyes? A green tail? Yes, this is our girl.
Starre whipped her tail back into her pant leg. "What do you want with me?" she cried. "I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"
The orange narrowed its eyes. DF Headquarters offical Trakking Dragon here. You are Kin, I may assume?
"No...yes...why?" Starre asked. Nina seemed too confused for words.
Well, the green, Kivo, said, We're on some official business from the head honcho, Gana. We've received word that your father is in serious condition, and we think that you two could have some kind of influence in getting him out of the cell.
Starre froze. She felt as though her insides were being enveloped in ice, and she began to shake. "My...father?"
"Her father?" Nina asked in shock. "They told me he was dead!"
Well, they told you wrong. According to Gana, they assumed that John was just Starre's cellmate. They took her and stuck her in the DF. The police caught them putting someone underage on the team, and she was transferred to an orphanage, under the assumption that she was parentless. Voila.
Oh, would you hush up, Ionkori? She's overwhelmed as it is. You would have explained that later if you had a decent sense of social relations!
Starre couldn't move. She was taking it all in, bit by bit. She had been with her father, but she had been taken to be in the DragonFights. She was sent to an orphanage because they didn't think John was her father. Nina had adopted her, and taken her to America, because they told her that John was dead. Wow.
"Well...where is he?" she asked, eager to help him out of whatever problems he had.
I told you, the orange, Ionkori, said dryly. He's in Kin prison, and you'd better get there quick becuase he's really sick! Hey...that rhymed....
Shut up, and let's get going! Kivo hissed. In a split second, she was off, rushing through racks upon racks of clothes. She was followed closely by Io, Starre, and Nina, panting and running with all their might toward the location of John.
* * *
Soon, two Dragons and two exhausted people were outside the jail in which most Kin were kept. Kivo and Ionokri were concentrating heavily on the building, their eyes narrowed. Starre had the distinct impression that they were hearing something she could not hope to understand.
Okay, Kivo whispered softly. We're going in. I'll need you to hold up the security guards, you two, and Io and I will sneak in to rescue John. It's risky but, with Gana's help, we'll make it out. Understand?
"Yes," said Nina. "Good luck, Kivo and Io. We'll think of something to say."
The name is Ionkori, the orange said in his dry tone of voice. Just...say something about how you lost your little kitten and that it went in the left door of the complex which was slightly ajar which you saw something sneaking out from.... Yes, say that.
"Yes," Starre said. "Good luck." She walked up to the security guard with Nina, and put on her saddest voice possible.
"Good sir," she said, looking at him with wide, sad, innocent eyes, "I'm terribly sorry to trouble you, but I'm afraid that I've lost my beloved kitten, Patches. She went in the left door of the complex."
The guard immediately tensed. "How did she get in there?" he asked sharply.
"You see, good sir," Starre said, trying not to laugh, "the door was slightly ajar, and I do believe I saw something sneaking out of it moments ago. Dear sir, please help me find Patches!"
The guard, however, seemed to be radioing the other guards. "Guys!" he hissed into his device, "we've got an alleged Kin on the loose! Out the left door of the complex. Everyone, get out to find it, hurry!" He moved away from the radio. "I'm sorry, young lady, but your kitten will have to wait. We have a very important task at hand, and that is to find this runaway Kin you saw. He could be dangerous to the well-being of the people here. Do you understand?"
"Yes, good sir," Starre said reluctantly. "I wish you much luck in your searchings."
With that, the guard, along with five assistants, rushed away to find the imagniary Kin that was loose on the streets.
Starre and Nina then did a quick circle of the building. Finding no guards there, the consented to wait for Kivo, Io, Gana, and John.
Several minutes later, their waiting was rewarded. Kivo tiptoed out of the building.
Is the coast clear? she whispered mentally. At a nod from Starre, she turned, nodding to her companions.
Then, Starre gasped. A massive, grass-green Dragon emerged. It carried a limp, dirty figure draped over its back. Io followed it, looking around cautiously.
Greetings, Starre and Nina, Gana smiled. He bowed his grass-green head. Now, if you don't mind, I say we move this party elsewhere. Come, friends.
With that, the group slipped away into the shadows. Starre couldh hear the guards returning, calling for her to tell her that they couldn't find the Kin. Slightly confused at her dissapearance, the guards returned to their posts, looking around with sharp, beady eyes.
Starre slipped through the trees after the three Dragons. Nina followed her. The Dragons seemed to know their way around this area, and they soon led Starre and Nina to a large, bubbling river.
Welcome to our secret meeting place, Gana said with pride. Starre, this would be your father, I assume. Here, see what you can do for him. Gana released the form, allowing it to sink onto the ground. It lay on its back. Starre saw her father for the first time in years.
She had always imagined her father as a Kin in his prime, with strong wings and a muscular body. However, he was bone-thin and ill. Still, he was incredibly handsome. He had hair black as a raven's wing, just like her own. A thick, bushy beard covered his chin. His violet wings were thin and cut, and his tail just seemed like a string. However, he hadn't been able to fly for almost a decade, so this was to be expected.
Slowly, ever so slowly, John's eyes began to open. They were a bright, vibrant blue, just as radiant as Starre's green ones. He stared blankly around at the green, sunlit forest he was lying in, and looked over at Starre. He blinked once, blinked again, and shook his head.
"If I'm dead, this makes for a nice heaven," he sighed. He touched the grass, and the dirt, and got onto his hands and knees to dip his fingers in the cool water. He splashed some on his face, and turned back to look at Starre. He shook his head again.
Starre simply nodded. She rushed over to her father, and threw her arms around his neck. John looked startled, and slightly afraid, but he soon patted her back. He had completely forgotten the feeling of joy like this, and he was overcome.
"It's okay," Starre whispered. "You're free now. You're alive. You're out of there. You're with us. You're safe."