Centuries ago there were creatures known as Draiks who were a prosperous and peaceful clan. They had lived for thousands of years in peace and never knew of war or hatred. Humans however were well knowledge in war. The humans and Draiks lived in different lands far from each other. The Draiks however knew of the human races but before this time they hand never journeyed beyond the reaches of their home. Humans looking for new lands to cultivate and riches ventured to distant lands and soon discovered the Draiks. Fearful of these beasts they sent word back to the king of monstrous creatures who breathed fire and destroyed everything in their path. The king fearful of these "demons" as he called them gathered his armies and mercenaries to attack them. Thousands of men marched to the Draiks land and attacked. The Draiks didn't know the reason for the onslaught nor did they know how to fight back. All they could do was run. Many years passed of conflict and the Draiks soon learned the art of war, but by then their numbers had dwindled to greatly hold a fighting chance.. Those of the Draiks who still remained fled to safety of the mountains just to the north of their land.

The Draiks had little hope left, but there was a legend that had been passed down of an armor that had great power. It was rumored that the one who has it could win any battle he or she engaged in. The remaining dragons decided to head further north to where the armor was rumored to be, unknowing that the humans were following close behind.

I was a young Draik from the Black Batdraik Clan. For the past 20 years my clan had been searching for the legendary armor but with very little success. There were many other Clans that were spread out among the mountains who were searching as well but in recent years we had lost touch with them. I had heard that the remaining elders had sent out scouts to find them but when they retuned with no signs of the others we feared the worse. We our selves had suffered heavy losses due to the hunters who had followed my clan into the mountains. Our black hides were highly sought after since our scales were as tough as steal and an ideal material for human armor. But this also gave us protection against attacks. I suppose that's why we have lasted so long.

Because of the constant onslaughts from the humans tensions grew in the clan. 12 years ago, on the day of my birth everything snapped. A Draik named Shage and his group of followers battled with the leaders of the clan. He and the others disagreed with the method of our search. Despite Shage's large group of followers they couldn't over power the head Draik and his warriors. They were banished from the clan. Shage vowed to return to take over the clan once he had found the armor. Nothing has been heard from them since.

It's hopeless! I'm just going to have to wait until someone comes looking for me, I mean how long will it be before they notice that I'm missing…"-snap!- I spun around to the noise. Something was moving in the bushes behind me

Heheh looky here, a black dragon" a man said grinning as he emerged out of the brush with his sword ready. He was a slightly taller than me but he looked as if he was the size of a mountain. He had a grizzled appearance and is cloths were filthy from living outside for months for his hunts. His armor was covered in the brightly colored scales of fallen draiks His shield was plated with horns and teeth. His eyes caught my attention; they were grey and emotionless the price of countless unmerciful kills. "Your hide will catch a fine price back at the market my little friend. Or perhaps…I shall use it for my new helmet. These Maraquan Draiks" he said tapping his helmet with the tip of his sword,"…They just don't give as much protection."

My body was locked in fear and I could feel my heart racing under my scales. I told my legs to run but fear had consumed them to wobbling sticks.

Aww are you're not going to run? Where's the fun in that? Come on... I'll give you a head start" he chuckled smirking as he lifted his finger to count. "One…two…"

I snapped out of my trance and took off as fast as my week legs would take me.. "Ready or not... Here I come!" he called from behind me. I was running as fast as I could but I could hear him catching up to me. I scrambled over to a cliff and tied in vain to clime. My claws were still too weak. All seemed to be lost. There was no place to hide and he was faster than I was. I turned to face him as his footsteps approached, at least I would die standing even if my knees were shaking. But suddenly the ground under my feet gave way and I fell down into the darkness.

I landed with a loud thud on the rocky ground. I got to me feet but it was so dark I couldn't see anything past the light that was coming through the hole 12 feet above me. the human was searching for me. He must not have seen me fall. With in a few minuets He moved off. I picked up a stick that had fallen in with me. I blew fire at the end to make a light and used some moss that had fallen with me as well to keep the fire lit. I had fallen into a cavern that seems to run deep under the mountains. "I'm not getting out threw that whole, I guess I need to find another way out."

I wandered the through the extensive tunnels for what felt like hours before realizing that my stick was almost completely burned up. Right then I realized that I should have grabbed another stick before I went searching in a dark cave. With a small poof the little flame burned out. My eyes adjusted but instead of darkness there was a faint blue light coming from one of the tunnels. I began to run down it in hopes that this light was a way out. I came to the end of the tunnel and stopped in shock. I had come to an open cavern lit by a lake that seemed to radiate the blue light I had seen before. There was a small island in the middle of the lake with a stone pathway leading to the center. Curious by nature I couldn't resist the temptation to see what was on the island.

I hopped from stone to stone careful not to slip into the glowing blue lake. As I reached the island I saw strange writings engraved in a circle around the center but I couldn't read what it said. In the center was a golden suite of armor and a golden sword with the same writing engraved on it. Being young I didn't see any harm in trying it on, and besides how cool it would be to my friends to come home dressed like a warrior. I began to put on the armor and to my surprise it fit as if it was made just for me. It was heavy but I strapped the last buckle and picked up the golden helmet. As I placed it on my head I felt a vibration under my feet. The vibration turned in to an earthquake! I lost my balance and fell to my claws and knees. The armor began to glow a brilliant golden light and the writing around me glowed with the same light. I quickly got to my feet and heard a strange chanting in my ears but I couldn't understand what they were saying. Then.. it all stopped.

Ok what just happened?!" I said with a little more then panic in my voice. The cave had returned to the way it was but the earthquake had knocked some rocks off the wall opening it to the outside. I quickly jumped back across the lake and scrambled out into the fresh air. I came out on the cliff just about my clan's settlement. I had made it back

My clan's settlement was deep in a valley of the Ovish Mountains. It was almost inaccessible for anyone trying to walk. It provided a great protection from the human hunters. The valley was also hard to find. Unless you could fly you would never even know that it was there. As I approached the Settlement I saw one of the elders and the soldiers along with the General of the guards, Roko getting ready to head out. I guessed the found that I was missing. I ran to meet them but stopped when a few passing Draiks stopped and stared at me; most dropping whatever they had been carrying. With the sounds of gasp the elders and the soldiers turned to see me too. The elders face twisted from his normal calm to shock. Confused, the General grabbed my wing and pulled me into a near by tent. The Elder still looking pale quickly followed.

WHERE DID YOU GET THAT!!?" Roared the General, putting is face closed to mine. His eyes wide with rage. His breath reeked of some foul odor.

It took me a minute to realize that I was still wearing the armor. In my shock in the cave I had forgotten all about putting it on. I didn't even notice that is seemed so light now. "I… I found it in a cave when I was being chased by a human,"

A human!? Did he see you come to the village?! If…

The elder places his hand on The Generals shoulder "Stop harassing the boy, he has already been through one traumatic experience today. We should be thanking him for finding the armor. He has just handed our greatest strength against the human hunters. Now my boy did the human follow you here?" he said softly. The general, still looking furious tuned away in a huff

No. He didn't see me fall into the cave. And I walked miles through the tunnels before the earthquake knocked an opening up in the cliffs just to the north of the settlement"

Then we are safe. We will have a celebration in your honor. Now let's get this off you so that it can be placed in a safe location." He smiled. I reached up and tried to unbuckle the strap around the helmet. It didn't budge, I pulled harder but it still wouldn't unclasp. I tired the one on my feet but they wouldn't move either.

Umm.. it's stuck…I can't get it off!" I yelled and began tugging at the helmet again but it was if it was glued to me head.

The General grabbed my arm and began pulling at the armor. "There is no way I am going to let some little child wear my armor. I was the one who was destined to find it! I am the one who is going to save the clan. NOW TAKE OFF MY ARMOR!

Before I had even realized what had happened I had unsheathed the sword and had it against the General's throat. I had never held a sword in my life but somehow I knew exactly how to handle it and how to fight with it. I pulled away from the general trying to let go of the sword but my hand kept griping it, as if it wanted to fight. The general jumped about 5 feet away from me and unsheathed his sword. The elder walked between us "Both of you stop it! Captayn put that sword away, you as well general Roko. What has gotten into you child?" He proclaimed.

Forcing the sword into the sheath I fell to the ground in shock. "I… I don't know. I didn't mean to attack the general. I didn't even realize what happened before I had the sword to his throat. I couldn't let go of it. If felt as if it wanted to fight him."

Stroking his chin the elder walked to a chest that was against the far wall of the tent. He opened it and pulled a very old scroll. He brought it over to me and opened it so I could see. The scroll was very old indeed. The writing was faded and edges were worn and tattered, but in the center was a picture that was still quite visible. It was the armor that I was now wearing. "Perhaps there is more to the legend of the warrior's armor then we thought. It is said that the armor gave the owner great strength and he could win any battle. But there is more to the text that we have yet to translate."

I was very confused "what do you mean translate? It looks like normal Draiken text to me.

You can read it?! Tell me what it says

I carefully took the scroll and began to read the text. "From the volcanoes of the south and gold of the mountains of the north shall this armor be forged. Through the darkness it shall guide them; through hopelessness it shall unite them. Great strength, immortality and victory in battle it shall bestow to any who wear it. But be warned if corrupt is the cause and if the people are not united only misfortune shall follow. Once the armor is bestowed to those who are destined to wear it they shall be its guardian until they have fallen in battle… In which it will return to its resting place to await the next destined guardian.

No one spoke for a long time. "So it seems you are the guardian Captayn" The elder said at last. "but you are far too young to fight the humans. Even with the armor we cannot put you at that risk. You are not safe here either. If Shage and the rogue Draiks discovered that a child has the armor they would come to take it. I believe that the best option for us to send Captayn to the clan on the other side of the sea. They are very skillful fighters and can train him to use the armor. When he is old enough he can return. General Roko, You are to Take Captayn across the sea this evening, I shall send a squad of our finest warriors to accompany you. Captayn is still too young to fly so you will have to carry him.

The General opened his mouth to protest but quickly closed it with a stern look from the elder.

Captayn, we must keep this Secret. You must stay hidden until this evening. We can't take any chances or word spreading about the armor. You must stay here" he said forcefully. I did have a knack for not following what I was told, but I knew that this time that this was one order I had to follow.

The sun was slowly fading on the horizon when the Elder came into the tent. General Roko and four very muscular Draiks followed. Even though they were some of the strongest Draiks in our clan they were dwarfed by the general. He was the largest, fastest and strongest Draik any of the elders had seen. That was one of the reasons that they believed he was to be the one to find the armor. The Elder gestured for me to follow. Together the Elder led us to edge of the settlement. With out a word I was placed on the General's back and we took off into the darkening sky.

It wasn't long before we had passed the mountains and we could see the Ocean in the distance. The general began to flap harder and started to gain distance from the other warrior Draiks. They quickly noticed and tried to catch up but the general was too strong for them.

General! Slow down! We can't keep up!" One of them cried. Roko didn't say a word or even look back "GENERAL! We can't keep up!" He said louder.

Then you are too weak" he responded and began to dive down towards the ground gaining speed. The warriors tried to follow but were too slow. With the gained momentum we soon lost sight of the others and were approaching the sea. I was clinging to his back, desperately trying to hang on in the wind. "I wonder what a fall from this height would do to a youngling like you..." He said at last, a wicked chuckle in his voice "The armor would be fine, Oh yes that thing was built to last, but you…" he suddenly turned over, and I dangled by a few handfuls of hair. –Rip- My weight was too much and I fell with a few tuffs of hair in my claws. I fell screaming towards the earth bellow. I closed my eyes and prepared for the inevitable when I felt my wings spread and the weight of gravity lift. I opened my eyes to realize.. I was flying. It was the most incredible thing I had ever experienced and for a moment nothing else seemed to matter. A shadow covered me and I realized that the general was still flying too. I looked up just to see him grab me with his back claws.

You maybe able fly, but with that armor you can't swim!" He flew towards the sea and a large thunder cloud that covered the horizon. I tried to free my self but I couldn't reach him. Over the waves we flew to the drop off of the ocean. Lightning was flashing all around us.

Good bye child. I will have one of the Maraquan clan retrieve the armor for me once your gone" he said with a crooked smile. It seemed like time slowed down, His claws began to release when a bolt of lightning collided with him and pasted through to the ocean below. For a moment he and I glowed like candles as the electric current past through us. We thumbed down and into the watery depts. half conscious I sank and landed on the very edge of the drop off, the general on the other hand continued to sink into the dark waters. I struggled to try to get to the surface but the armor was too heavy and I couldn't get off the sea floor. My body began to grow weak from the lack of oxygen. The ocean slowly began to darken when I saw a faint flicker of something… something swimming towards me. At last I closed my eyes and succumbed to the darkness.