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The clouds above are low and grey and show a sign of rain. A small clap of thunder breaks the silence around you. Suddenly, rain begins to fall. You run for cover and spot a small woodland, so you run under the trees. Just as you make it under, the rain falls even harder until the ground in front of you is but a foggy blur.
Suddenly, a twig snaps somewhere behind you. You turn to see a pair of sorrowful eyes, gazing at you from behind a tree. The creature turns and runs. "Hey wait!" You chase after it. The trees around you seem to be getting more dark and dense and you wonder if pursuing your watcher was such a good idea after all. Finally, you come to a clearing where you see a Draik - a pale grey one - sulking on the ground. You slowly walk up to him, trying not to be noticed.
SNAP!
The Draik turns to you, his eyes wide and full of fright. You look down at your foot - it seems that you accidentally stepped on a twig. You slowly continue walking up to the Draik, and with each step, he backs away.
P-please... don't hurt me!" He shields his face with his arms.
You stop in your tracks and stare at the Draiks bandages - one on his arm, his leg, his wing, and his tail.
Oh... you poor thing..." You kneel down next to him. You notice he's trembling. "What is your name?" The Draik looks up at you, looks down and gulps. "M-my name... is... Chi-Chiinoumi."
guest:Chiinoumi... what happened to you?"
Chiinoumi: *looks up at you* ... *looks back down*
Chiinoumi:When... I was younger... I... was so.. happy... but then..."
guest: *gives Chiinoumi a concerned look* ':(
Chiinoumi:I suppose I should start from the beginning..."
Chapter I
When I was younger... I never was grey... or so... scared... I used to be happy and cheerful and a beautiful bright red color. I had an interest in magic, too... 
I believe I was born in the large meadow.. between Shenkuu and Altador. I was raised in a cabin home with my mother and father until I was around two years of age.. then one day, they... they disappeared. I ended up having to live on my own for days, perhaps just a few. Being only two, I thought nothing of my parents disappearance, especially since my father wasn't around too much to care for me anyway..
After realizing something was wrong, I.. began to worry. I began to cry and I assume my wails caught the attention of an old traveling Scorchio.. who happened to be walking by my home. I don't remember much about that moment other than when I.. when I asked him where my parents were, he looked away and had a dismal look on his face. Once he looked back at me, he offered to take me in. Again, being only two I thought nothing of this...
The Scorchio took me to his home, another cabin closer to the ocean and Altador. His home was much smaller and cluttered than my own, mostly with books and articles piling up...
Chapter II
It had been three years since I had seen my parents.. and since I started living with the Scorchio. I was now five and beginning to read and write. The Scorchio - who I'd come to know as Willi - taught me with his books, many of which were about magic. I suppose that was when I first started to take a liking to magic.
During my spare time I would read all the magic books I could find.. even the ones I couldn't decipher yet. After only several months of reading the books, I began to understand them much more clearly. Willi said I was exceptionally intelligent for my age. For my sixth birthday, he bought me my very own magic spells book. For weeks, I had my nose stuck in that book, reading and rereading every spell, ingredient, and everything in between. I was overwhelmed in the art of magic. I wanted to know everything I could about it..
Once I mastered the arithmetic, Willi started to teach me what he knew about magic, which wasn't very much. He taught me basic chemistry, general potion making, and touched a little on elemental magic.
After studying my own abilities, Willi declared my element was fire and if we focused on fire more, he could teach me pyrokinesis.
Chapter III
Eight more months pasted before I was able to even make a candle flame fluctuate with the flick of my finger. I would practice until Willi told me enough or I burned myself bad enough to stop. Even so, Willi was greatly impressed with my pyrokinetic skill. I soon began to control larger flames, such as the fire in a fire place and bonfires.
One day, while Willi was napping.. I went out by myself to practice my pyrokinesis for a few hours. When I came back, I noticed.. the door was hanging on one hinge. When I stepped in, the house had furniture tipped over and books scattered on the floor even more so than normal.. and there, lying on the ground was Willi. I rushed to his side, he was still breathing. When he came to, he told me that.. two boys, human boys, ransacked the cabin and when he tried to stop them, he suffered a blow to the head from a piece of wood. I've never heard of these 'humans' before, but already I disliked them...
Chapter IV
I was now eight, almost nine years old. Willi was growing old and sickly and could not teach me anything else, I had to learn all on my own. Months past and Willi's illness grew worse and worse. I begged him to let me find a doctor who could help, but he said no...
The weeks grew longer as I sat by Willi's bedside to care for him in any way possible. He would cough and wheeze every night.. it pained me to see him like that... Then one day, his fever spiked and he knew he has dying.. deep down, I knew he was too...
He told me he had something to tell me.. something he didn't want to tell me until I was older but.. his time was running short and he felt I deserved to know...
Ch... Chiinoumi.. do you know why your parents left you..?"
N-no.."
Willi sighed heavily. "Because.. eight years ago, it was a very hard time for your species, the Draik. You see, Chii... at that time, Draiks were very sought after, though I'm not sure as to why. I believe.. that it was the humans.. who were seeking out Draiks..." He paused for a moment and took a deep breath. "Your parents were probably captured and taken away, and if they escaped.. they would have fled to Shenkuu..."
Hearing this, how the humans took my parents and left me, tore me up inside. "Why!? Why would they take them but leave me!?" I had tears rolling down my cheeks by now. Willi coughed then wheezed and squeezed out the words, "I'm not sure, Chii.. My guess is that they did not see you... now Chii.. you must leave.. leave and begin a new life in the city... take what's left of my money and use it wisely.. please Chii.. go.."
Chapter V
That was the last I saw Willi. I did as he told me and left for the city, Neopia Central. I took a boat and crossed the Lost Desert. In all, it took about a month to finally get to the city.
I looked around; the streets were crawling with strange creatures and other pets.. were these strangers humans..? I was much too tired to worry about it at that moment so I looked for a tree to climb and sleep in. It was then that I was very thankful for climbing trees all my life while living in the meadow.
I celebrated my tenth birthday alone a few months later. I was able to live off the money Willi had given me surprisingly well and as a birthday gift to myself, I went and bought a few books on magic; they were much thicker than any I have ever read before. It took me three years to completely read and understand the books I bought. I was now thirteen.
During the three years I was in the city, I was amazed at how the humans (whom I discovered were in fact the strange creatures) left me alone, other than the few curious ones who would ask me if I was alone and when I'd answer "Yes." they smiled and gave me a few hundred NP for food. These humans that took my parents and gave Willi head trauma really didn't seem that bad, apart from the occasional thieves and such. I suppose I began to forgive them...
One day, in the park... there was a magician... a human magician... I sat directly in front of his little stage and watched his every move. My eyes sparkled at his magic abilities. After the show, I went backstage to get his autograph and maybe even some magic trick hints. He looked down at me and smiled sweetly. "Well, now," he said. "Aren't you a cute little one? So, you're interested in magic?"
Yes sir, I am! I loved your show very much and I-"
Shh!" he chuckled. "How would you like to become my apprentice, mm?"
Everything happened so fast and I was overjoyed. "Yes! I'd love to be your apprentice!"
He smiled and told me I'd have to stay with him for 10 months. I'd have to cook, clean, and do errands for him before he'd teach me any real magic. I agreed to every word he said and soon we were at his manor - a large, grey stone house with vines creeping up the walls and a thick forest behind it all.
Chapter VI
For the first week, he allowed me to get used to my new home. After that, he asked me to cook his meals, wash his clothing, and clean his furniture and he rewarded me with a smile, a pat on the head, and some little magic tricks. The first month, that's all he wanted. The next few, he made me work harder... and his gentle smile... began to fade away... Each night when I lied in bed, my body ached and I was exhausted. The work began getting harder and harder until the fourth month...
On the fourth month of my stay, the magician taught me some magic, but he was strict about it. Each time I messed up, he scolded me and those scoldings turned into harsh words and soon into yelling. My confidence and self-esteem started to drop and I was afraid to try anything new.
On the sixth month, I began to learn more advanced and complicated magic tricks and spells. Each time I got one of those wrong, he'd yell at me and give me a clout. As my confidence and self-esteem lowered, my bright, cheerful color dulled. I was being emotionally and phsycially abused. 
By the eighth month, I was a much darker grey and I had bruises and scars from all the abuse. My eyes changed from a bright, peppy blue to a scared and hopeless red... I felt like... just... so... lost... and confused... why was he hurting me...?
The ninth month finally arrived... my wings were now tattered and torn and the bruising became even worse. The magician asked me to create a potion in his large, black cauldron. The potions ingredients book was next to an opened wind*w... as I added some of the ingredients, a breeze flipped through the pages, giving me the wrong directions and ingredients without my knowing. I finished the potion. It began to swirl... then it began to darken to a vile color... and then it bubbled... then steamed...then started to overflow... I backed away a little. The magician rushed into the room. "You idiot!" he cried as he ran toward the mess and shoved me out of the way. Suddenly, the potion crackled and... an explosion... one large enough to destroy the entire manor... the magician... never to be seen again...
I don't know how but... I ended up on the edge of the forest, just barely alive. I kneeled down on my paws and knees and watched the house burn down... "Ugh!" I looked at my paw. It was wounded... and badly bleeding... and the pain surged to my leg, wing and tail, all with deep wounds. And lying on the ground, not too far from me was an old bed sheet. I quickly shredded it into strips and wrapped up my wounds...
I wobbled back up to my feet and ran into the forest where I couldn't be found by anyone... I was afraid... of everyone... especially humans...
guest:Oh my..." *you feel like comforting Chiinoumi, but you hesitate*
Chiinoumi:I don't know why I'm telling you so much about myself.. I mean.. you are a human and I'm sure you could really care less..." *looks away*
Name: Chiinoumi (Chee-No-Me)
Alias: Chii
D.O.B.: 23rd day of Relaxing, Y8
Gender: Male
Age: 17906
Human Age: 15
Height: 4' 9"
Weight: 76 lbs
Species: Draik
Color: Grey
Markings: None
Eye Color: Red wine
Originated From: Unknown
Love: Never...
Likes
Darkness
Rain
Being alone
Dislikes
Humans
Magic
Sympathy
guest:So, Chii.. do... do you have a family at all..?"
Chiinoumi: *sigh* "I... suppose I do... if that's what you really want to call it..."
Kegawa
As of now, I.. live under the roof of Kegawa's neohome. She found me... unconscious in the forest and took me to her home. Though she is a human, I feel she's one of the only ones I can trust...
Chikoreizu
He has a magic ability... something I despise... he's really cheerful... and nice, though... he tries his hardest to make me smile, though... that... could be quite a difficult task..
Sehgo
Sehgo came from what is now a diminished, maybe even extinct clan of Desert Krawks. He.. seems fairly wise and tells me I shouldn't hate humans because... not all of them are bad, but he doesn't know anything about what.. they.. can do
Chiinoumi:Though I'm sure many find it surprising, I.. do happen to have some... friends..."
Kami
Kami, she... has a magic ability, but... for some reason, I feel.. safe.. around her. Perhaps it's because she uses her.. ability to make it rain...
Sribi
Sribi doesn't have any magical abilities like her sister, Kami, does.. I.. don't know too much about her except that she.. was kind enough to help me learn how to swim...
Suke
Like my other two friends, Suke.. is happy and cheerful. She is very small, quite close to the size of a Snowbunny. Suke believes it's a shame that I can't fly, yet I feel it's a real shame she is one of the only arctic Draiks left.
You step back to adjust your footing when you here a small, but threatening snarl. It appears you have stepped on something again, but this time, it's a Gallions tail.
guest:Oh! I'm so sorry!" D:'
Chiinoumi: *grunts under his breath* ".. That's my Gallion you stepped on.."
guest:S-sorry.." ^^;
Name: Haruko
Gender: Male
Special traits: His right eye is completely blind
Chiinoumi:Like I said before, this is my Gallion, Haruko. He has a story, too but... I'm sure you don't want to hear about that..."
guest:Oh, it's okay, I'd like to hear about him.."
Chiinoumi: *sigh* "Alright, fine..."
A couple days after I recovered from my injuries.. somewhat... I went back to the manor to see what was left of it, and to be honest.. it was a depressing sight. Trees on the edge of the forest were scorched. Pieces of rubble from the manor lied scattered across in every direction, and on top of all that.. there were so many petpets that.. lived there whose homes were destroyed. I felt as if this were all my fault, though deep down inside I knew it really wasn't.
I looked past the rubble and saw a creature.. laying on its side, gasping for breath. It was a Gallion. He had a large gash across his right eye and his mane was tangled and knotty.
I looked for... something to help aid the poor Gallion, but I found nothing. I relied on my last resort; I cradled the limp thing in my arms and took him back to.. my home.. where I could properly care for him. I stayed by his side to monitor him. Some how, we had grown fairly attached to each other and after his recovery, Haruko stayed by my side. He never made a full recovery; he is completely blind in his right eye as a result of being struck by some sort of debris.
Haruko keeps a Veespa by his side and won't let me rid him of the little parasite.
Fan Art
Another faint clap of thunder could be heard and the pitter-patter of rain slowly drifted into silence.
guest:It... sounds like the rain stopped..." *gets up* "I have to go now... I wish there was something I could do to make you feel be-"
Chiinoumi:No... you can't... No one..."
guest:... alright..." *starts to walk away*
You continue walking until you exit the clearing. You look back at the Draik. He's standing up and staring at the sky. You sigh and continue on your way...
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