Lemon’s life-changing day started like any other.
He woke up in his cave in his forest and put on his cougar-skin clothing. Stretching his brown wings, he stepped into the sunlight.
Lemon didn’t know what species he was.
He’d never seen anyone else, so there was no one to tell him. He had seen and heard other people occasionally, so he knew what humans were, what dragons were, and most other creatures.
But there was no description that fit him. He didn’t really mind, though. He was happy just being himself, hunting in the woods. There was no one to judge him for what he was, so why should he care?
Lemon walked over to the river with the spear he’d built himself and stared into the waters, alone with his thoughts.
“Hello, Lemon!”
Well, almost alone.
The giggly voice who said hello swam out of the river. It was a cat. A talking cat. Lemon smiled. “Hello, Berry.” He said to the cat. Berry was a cat who had encountered some magical dust that let her talk and was Lemon’s first (and only) friend. She was a calico cat with a white chest and black and ginger splotched fur. She came out carrying a fish in her jaws. “What’s up?” She said, setting it on the ground. “Well, I was gonna go fishing but it looks like you beat me to it.” Berry grinned and picked the fish up. “You wanna share?” She asked. Lemon nodded.
Just then, he heard two voices up ahead. Berry ran off to hide because she was scared of a lot of things. Gripping his spear, Lemon followed the direction of the voices. “Keiko, you said we’d be finding squirrels about now.” “Holly, I told you I can’t just magically summon them. They live in trees.” Lemon spotted the source of the voices and he rounded a corner in the trees. There was a girl with emerald green dragon wings, black hair, green eyes, a hawk on her shoulder, and green scales scattered across her face, arms, and legs. There was also a girl with brown hair and fox ears on her head. She also had an orange fox tail, as well as an animal-looking nose and amber-slitted eyes. When she opened her mouth, Lemon noticed very sharp teeth. They’re half animal, he thought. As if the fox girl had read his mind, she whipped her head in his direction. “I smell a griffin. Heard his thoughts, too.” Lemon jerked back, alarmed. She can read minds! He thought.
Nervously, he stepped out of the trees, knowing they would find him anyway. “He’s a halfling,” The winged one said. “A what?” Lemon asked. “A halfling. You’re half creature. You look like you’re half griffin.” The fox girl said. The two of them turned to leave after that, but Lemon said, “Wait! You can’t just leave after saying that. Who are you guys? Are you halflings too? I’m half creature half what?” She rolled her eyes and turned to him. “Half creature half human. Duh. And you tell us who you are first.”
“Um, Lemon,” Lemon replied. “I heard you guys earlier, so I know your names are Holly and Keiko, but I don’t know who’s who.” Green Girl glanced at Fox Girl, who shrugged. “He already knows,” she said. “I’m Keiko. She’s Holly. Her hawk is Hunter. Goodbye now.” They both started to leave. Lemon flew above them and planted himself in front of them. Keiko bared her teeth. “What do you want?”
“More answers,” Lemon replied. “What animals are you guys?”
“Dragon and kitsune,” Holly said. “Anything else?” She added sarcastically. “Yes,” Lemon said. “How are we half animal? I don’t think a human had a child with a dragon or griffin.” Keiko snorted. “Obviously not. Halflings that are half-animal are just a species. Halflings that are half humanoid creature, like me, have a human for one parent and a creature for another. Like my mom is a kitsune and my dad is a human. We’re leaving now.” Keiko shoved past him and Holly flew over him. “Wait!” Lemon yelped. Holly growled and turned back. “WHAT IN THE NAME OF DRAGONS DO YOU WANT?” She roared, Hunter frowning at Lemon as well. He winced at her tone. “Can I come with you guys?” He asked nervously. They both stared at him as if he was speaking another language. “I’ve never met someone else,” He explained. “I want to live with people.” Holly and Keiko stared at each other, seeming to have a mental conversation, which he supposed was possible since Keiko could read minds. At last, Keiko scowled, “Fine.”
Lemon whistled. “Berry! They’re not gonna hurt you. You can come down now.” Keiko frowned at him. “You never said someone else would be coming.” Lemon grinned. “Don’t worry, she’s easy to carry.”
Berry slunk down from the trees she was hiding in and cautiously landed on Lemon’s shoulder, eyeing Keiko, Holly, and especially Hunter, wearily. Hunter stared at Berry hungrily. Holly touched his wing and said, “You can’t hunt this one, sorry.” Hunter made an annoyed cawing noise. “Anyway,” Keiko said. “We’re about to go hunt. So follow us.”
Lemon nodded with a sense of happiness.
He had a family.
