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yeah, this was my first and ONLY story. might go in and redo the entire thing cause i didnt like how it ended.
Achak is (c) His Player
Corey is (c) Me
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Corey sat straight up in bed in a cold sweat, breathing heavily. The nightmare he just had seemed so real. He looked over at his clock on the night stand. It read 7:00 a.m. on that December morning. He layed back down, groaning a bit. He had to leave for work in 2 and a half hours and he knew it was going to be a tough day. He had recieved a drop trailer with 20 pallets of pop in it.
"Great", he thought. "Today is gonna be a pain in the ass. I'm gonna be so tired at the end of the day, I don't know what im gonna do." He gets out of bed and takes a shower, still trying to figure out what to do with the 2 and a half hours of free time he has before work. he hopes out of the shower and goes back into his room, doing his best not to disturbe his sleeping brother. He gets himself dressed in his work attire: kahki pants and a blue Pepsi button down work shirt. He heads downstairs for some breakfast still a bit groogy from waking up earlier. The nightmare races through his head, playing over and over in his mind. He pours a bowl of Cookie Crisp, adds the milk and starts eating.
Corey finishes eating his cereal and places the bowl in the sink. He turns around and heads downstairs, heading for his computer. He reaches down an turns on the computer. The fans inside the computer wind up, making a somewhat loud noise due to the fact that his computer is a custom built gaming rig. He logs into Windows XP and starts up all 4 of his instant messaging programs, aol instant messanger, yahoo instant messanger, msn instant messanger, and skype. he signs into the offscale IRC to see whats going on. Nothing as usual. It's to early in the morning and most of the people are sleeping. Corey grumbles to himself as he shuts the computer down. Today is gonna be one hell of a day. Crappy weather, tons of work, Corey sighs and sits down in front of the television and turns it on. He flips through the channels trying to find something good on. So far, nothing is good on. Its all news channels and they are all the same. Death and destruction with the occasional "man helps old lady across the street" story.
Corey turns the TV off in disgust and heads back to the computer, having to start it up all over again. "Maybe if I play a game, it'll take my mind off of the nightmare and what lies ahead at work" Corey thought to himself. Once his computer is finished booting up, he loads Prey and starts to play. As he's playing more and more thoughts start to race through his head. Thoughts of work, his friends, the nightmare. "This is all taking its toll on me" Corey thought. "I'm going to snap. I need something or someone to help me calm down. I don't want to go see s shrink cause they never understand and noone else will listen to me. God I wish I had someone to talk to that would seriously listen."
Corey's work phone goes off at 8:45 a.m. Its his boss. "Corey, we are getting slammed. Can you come in and work 9:30 to 5:30 instead of 10 to 6?" his boss asks.
"Um, sure Terry" Corey replies. "Where do you want me to start at?"
"Go to Marc's in Painseville and work that order. It's only 4 pallets because nothing is on sale there" Terry says. "As soon as you finish, get to Giant Eagle Painseville as fast as you can, cause we are dying here."
"Alright Terry. Cya at 9:30." Corey says as he hangs up the phone. He flops down on the couch. "Great" he thought to himself. " I get to go into work early. Now I can think about work a half hour early." he sighs and thinks to himself again. "why do I volunteer myself for these things? I know I'll never make route manager. I'm doing the best I can, but it's not enough." Corey sighs and gets ready for work. He grabs some pens and paper, chapstick, his company cell phone, and personal cellphone. He puts on his winter jacket and puts on his winter cap. The current temperature that day was 35 degrees farenheight. He climbs into his 1996 Geo Prizm and starts it up. The cd player turns on and starts pumping out some MushroomHead. Corey puts the car in revese and backs out of the drive way. He puts it into drive and mashes the gas petal, spinning the tires a bit. "Dammit" Corey thinks to himself "I got to stop doing that." He takes off down the street and turns left down the next street. The nightmare still races through his head as he drives. He tries to shake it out of his head, the nightmare is clearly disturbing him deeply. No sooner than he rids his thoughts of the nightmare, thoughts of work pop into his head.
"How am I gonna make it through the day? This nightmare is scaring me, I've got a ton of work to do. I just don't know how I'm going to do it. When I get home, I'm gonna be dead tired." Corey sighs. "Maybe I should quit Pepsi and go back to my old job at the grocery store."
Suddenly, a deep, soothing voice pops into Corey's head. "Corey" the voice says. "Today will be a life changer. Be prepared for some good changes. Things will start to get better." Corey jumps at the sound of the voice in his head and almost spins off the road. He regains control of the car and continues to drive. "What the hell was that?" Corey thought to himself "What the hell is going on today?" Corey shrugs and continues to drive to work.
About 10 minutes later, Corey shows up at the Marcs in Painseville. His driver is already outside waiting for him, the order ready to go and be checked in. Corey walks up to the driver and shakes his hand. "How many today, Don?" "Four. Two of them are 2 litres." "Ok, shouldn't be too bad." says Corey. Corey walks through the door and is immediately met by an irate receiving manager.
"What the hell is with all the stuff your ordering? Do you think we have unlimited room and that we will make room for your orders?" he screams. Corey stammers. "But-but-but. I'm not the one who orders. Terry does that."
"I don't care who does the ordering. I want all of that up by the time your done here. No backstock." he yells. Corey just nods and starts pulling the pallets up the receiving dock, straining at the massive weight. Each pallet weighs aproximately 3000 pounds a piece and they are still a pain to pull, even with a pallet jack. He heaves and pulls as hard as he can. The pallet that he's pulling has 100 cases of Pepsi 12 packs, or 200 pieces. All the while he's pulling this pallet, the receiving manager is screaming at him, telling him he needs to pick up the pace. Corey says nothing and just focuses on pulling the pallet to the floor. After 2 hours of screaming managers, heavy pulling and whining customers, Corey climbs into his car and sighs. he starts the car up and pulls out of the parking lot, on his way to Giant Eagle. He looks at the cd player clock. It reads 11:45. "Shit" Corey thought to himself. "I need to pick up the pace." Corey calls Terry to tell him hes on his way, then hangs up. As Corey is driving, the strange voice pops up in his head again. "Corey, changes are on the way. Expect them today." Corey cries outloud "What the hell is going on? Who are you and why are you telling me these things?" Corey is scared out of his mind, but will keep his mouth shut about it. His boss and co-worker will think hes crazy and he may lose his job if he says something.
Corey enters Giant Eagle, mind racing from the two times that he was spoken to by someone not there. He turns down the pop aisle where his boss and co-worker are putting some 2 liters on the shelf. "How was Marcs?" asks Terry. "A pain in the ass" replies Corey. "Matt wouldnt leave me alone and kept bitching about the stuff you ordered." "He'll live" Terry says. "Besides, we need to keep the shelf full."
Corey wanders into the back and sets his coat on the back stock. He stretches a bit before looking for a pallet jack to start pulling even more pallets. He grumbles to himself "This god damn job is killing me, but I really need the money if I'm going to AnthroCon in July." He starts to pull the pallet and walks his way onto the floor. As he's pulling the pallets, the though of what he was told starts racing through his head. "What did the voice mean things will change today? Whats gonna happen? Am I gonna get a raise? Am I gonna get promoted? Better yet, what or who the hell is talking to me through my mind?" Corey shrugs it off and goes about his work, but the thought still lingers in the back of his mind. He has no idea what is in store for him today.
It's roughly 3:30 pm when Corey pulls a pallet of 12 packs up front. Corey is sweating profously from all the work that he has done so far today. He checks his cell phone to see what time it is. He breathes a sigh of relief when he realizes that he only has 2 hours left before he can go home. He turns his back to the outside and starts to load up the display. He doesnt realize that the sky has gotten unbelievably dark, even though the weather called for mostly sunny skies and dusk isnt usually until 5pm in winter. Corey goes about his work, when out of nowhere, a loud THOOM is heard outside. Corey whips around and peers out the window. Outside is standing a massive dragon. Corey runs outside and stares up at the massive beast that is standing before him. The dragon has to be atleast 50 feet tall at the shoulders, and atleast 3 times that in length. The thickness of limb and wing are set with muscle, rippling hard under scaled hide as the dragon's tail waves out behind him, idly flicking parked cars to the side. A long, sinuous neck is topped with a noble-looking head, the face broad of muzzle, much like a wolf's. As his wings fold against his back, Corey can notice that the dragon is broad at the chest, at least 12 and a half feet from shoulder to shoulder.A pair of well-developed pectorals a top a stomach as hard as adamantine, which splits into the tops of his thick thighs. The dragon's scaled hide is colored a gentle, tarnished-and-yet-shining silver, set off with striations of green. Corey looks down the length of the impressive beast, staring in awe. Corey notice the dragon's ample muscles, thick and rippling under the scales themselves, arms that look ready to rip concrete out of the ground with ease, talons that look sharp enough to rip a person to shreds with one swipe. Out of a slightly lupine face look a pair of aquamarine-colored eyes, calm in their soothing depth. A pair of long, black, straight horns sweep back from his forehead towards the back of his skull. Spines and bone spikes line his cheeks and temples, alongside the horns and over the scalp in a gentle circle along a small ribbing of crest. From the front of his forehead to the small of the skull, long black strands of featherlike hair fall in erratic but fetching lengths down his back. Stylishly-colored rings of scrimshaw-covered gold adorn the dragon's horn-bases, as well as piercings lining the earfans; silver and gold rings, studs and gems the size of bowling balls. Corey stumbles back in awe from presence of this beautiful, massive creature.
The creature looks around, not really paying attention to the screaming pedestrians around him. It was almost as if he was looking for something. he keeps looking around before he notices Corey standing before him. He leans in at Corey, sniffing curiously. Corey stumbles back and lands on his butt, back against the building wall. He chuckles nervously as the massive nuzzle gets closer and closer, not sure whats going to happen to him. Corey thinks to himself "What the hell is a dragon doing here? I thought dragons didnt exist. Please dont let it eat me. I dont want to die." The dragon continues to sniff at Corey curiously, then......licks him. Corey is stunned by what just happened, unable to comprehend it. "What the hell? Did-did it just lick me?" Corey spits to the side, covered in dragon slobber. He looks back up at the dragon as it stands over him. The dragon does something unthinkable next. It lays down in front of Corey and starts to purr, almost like a big kitten. The dragon wags his tail, sweeping parked cars aside and smiles at Corey. Corey slowly stands up, still staring at the massive beast laying down in front of him. Corey slowly walks towards the massive dragon and reaches a hand out in front of him. He's scared to touch the muzzle, unsure of what the dragon will do to him if he touches. The dragon watches as the human inches closer and closer to him, wagging his tail. Corey touchs the massive muzzle and the dragon starts to murr. Corey is surprised that the dragon isnt hostile and starts to rub the muzzle. "He-hello there" Corey manages to say. The voice pops into his head again. "Hi Corey." Coreys is taken aback." Corey says outloud "Who is talking to me through my mind?" "I am" The dragon nuzzles Corey. "Your the one that has been talking to me through my mind?" says Corey as he pets the muzzle. The dragon murrs and nods. Corey hears sirens off in the distance and turns to the dragon. "We need to get out of here. Before something bad happens." The dragon nods and leans down to offer for Corey to ride. Corey shakes his head and points to his car. "I want to drive. Follow me to my house. Stay in the air low enough to see me, but high enough not to cause panic." The dragon nods and lifts off into the air with a mighty beat of his wings. Corey runs to his car and unlocks the door. He hops in and starts it up, thinking aloud "I can't believe this is happening. This has to be a dream or something." Corey pulls out of the parking lot, looking up through the windshield to see the dragon circling overhead. Corey decides to try something, seeing as how the dragon can speak to him telepathically, he'll try to speak back. "Can you hear me?" Corey says with his mind. "Yes I can" says the dragon with a laugh. "Good" Corey says. "Follow me to my house." Corey pulls out of the Giant Eagle parking lot just as a huge squad of S.W.A.T shows up.
Corey hops on the freeway and punches the gas, still unable to comprehend that there is a dragon following him. He says through his mind "So what brings you here, mister....?" "Achak. My name is Achak." The dragon replies. "And the reason I'm here is because you wished for some sort of guardian to watch over you, to show some sort of compassion, someone who will be there for you when things get really tough." "Oh. I didnt think that it would come true. Almost all of my wishes have never come true." Corey states. The dragon laughs and says "Today must be your lucky day, then, cause here I am, a real life dragon." Corey laughs and continues to drive, dodging in and out of traffic. He gets off at the next exit and turns down the main street towards his home. "Still with me, Achak?" Corey says. "Sure am, Corey" The dragon replies. "Good, continue to follow me." Corey says. "We're almost home." Corey turns down one side street, then another, finally ending up on his home street. He turns into his drive way and calls out "Here we are, Achak."
Achak swopes down and lands in the front yard as Corey hops out of the car. Achak pads over to Corey, ripping huge clumps of grass out of the ground from his tremendous weight. Corey chuckles and says "Hey, yer ruinin me lawn." Achak laughs and gives Corey a light nuzzle. Corey chuckles and pets the big muzzle. "So here we are. This is my house. Kinda small for you though." Corey chuckles as he looks over the big dragon. The dragon nods and lays down in front of Corey. Corey, still unsure of the dragons intentions, slowly makes his way over. The dragon chuckles and says "There is no need to be afraid of me. Im here to protect you and watch over you, not eat you." Corey nods and makes his way over to the dragon. He hugs the dragons massive chest, and in return Achak murrs deeply, licking over Corey's head. Corey laughs as the huge sand-papery tongue feels funny on his scalp. Corey looks up and smiles, extremely happy that one of his wishes had finally come true. Corey cuddles up to the big dragon and rests his head against the dragons massive chest, listening to the heart thumping rythmically. The dragon rolls over onto his back, obviously wanting some belly rubs. Corey chuckles and walks over to the dragons left flank and climbs up. He climbs onto the massive dragons belly and starts to rub, causing the dragon to kick his right hind leg. Corey laughs at this and says, "Your like a giant puppy, arent ya?" The dragon murrrumbles happily and licks Corey's face "Yes I am" he states. He chuckles and gives Corey another lick. "Do you want to do anything interesteing, Corey?" he asks. Corey thinks for a minute. "Well" Corey says. "Ive always wondered what it was like to fly on a dragons back." Achak nods and lets Corey slide off his belly, before rolling over. Achak kneels down enough for Corey to climb on. Corey climbs up, using Achaks scales almost like a ladder. he gets comforable on his neck and grabs a hold of Achaks horns, making sure not to smudge the glistening gold rings on his horns. Achak stands up and unfurls his wings. Corey watches in amazement as the beautiful creature stands up to his full height. Corey looks over the side of Achak at the ground below him and wows at how high he is. "Are you ready?" asks Achak. "As I'll ever be, buddy." Corey replies
Achak squats down a bit, then with a powerful push and a mighty beat of his wings, he takes off into the air, Corey holding on as tight as possible to the horns. Corey squints his eyes as the air rushes past them, his clothing and hair flaping in the wind. Achak continues to beat his wings, gaining altitude at a rapid rate as Corey hangs on for dear life. Achak hits a thermal and soars even higher without even trying. He pulls out of the thermal and starts to glide, Corey looking over the side at the ground. "Wow! We're really high up." Achak laughs and asks "Are you scared?" Corey shakes his head and replies "Not the least bit. I've done some of those scenic flights in Tennessee. We get pretty high up, so this altitude is quite comfortable for me." Achak chuckles and says "Well, sit back and enjoy the flight. When we land, make sure your trays are in the upright position." Corey laughs at this and hugs Achaks neck. "Your a goofball, you know that, right?" Achak giggles and says "A scaly goofball." As they are flying, they come upon a small airplane as the pilot takes it for a flight. They fly up next to it and the pilot looks over at Achak and Corey. Corey waves at the pilot as they pull away from the airplane. The pilot slowly waves back and just stares as the dragon and the human rider fly away. Corey laughs and says "You shoulda seen the look on his face when we passed him." Achak laughs at this and continues to glide over the city, Corey enjoying every minute of it.
About a half hour later, around 6 in the afternoon, they land back in front of Corey's house. Its dusk, so its starting to get dark. Achak kneels down so Corey can hop off. Corey slides down and lands on the ground. He wobbles around for a bit, trying to get the feeling back in his legs. Achak laughs and says "Dont worry, youll get used to it after a while." Corey nods and gets the feeling back in his legs before walking back over to Achak. "That was fun. Do you do any other dragon things, like breathe fire and such?" Achak nods and shoots a small fireball into the air. "Cool" Corey says "Anything else besides flying, fire and being big?" "Nope" Achak replies "Why? Are you dissappointed?" "Hell no" Corey states. "I couldnt be happier. Shit, I'm happier than Rosie O' Donnel at a buffet of Twinkies being served by naked chicks." Achak laughs at this and gently nuzzles Corey "Your quite a goofball yourself." Corey giggles and hugs the big muzzle "Why thank you." Corey shivers a bit and looks up at Achak. "Hey, do you want to get a bonfire going?" Achak looks down and smiles. "Why of course. That sounds like fun."
Corey and Achak both walk in to the backyard, which is about 5 acres across and about 3 acres long. There is a heavily wooded area about half way towards the back. Corey makes his way over to a fire pit and lays down some fire starting paper. He makes his way over to an already large pile of wood. He picks up a few logs and starts bringing them over to the firepit. Achak pads over to the log pile and grabs a huge pile with his tail and pads back over to the firepit. He drops them in and looks at Corey. He smirks and lays down. Corey walks back over to the pile and grabs 2 more logs. He throws them into the pile and looks up at Achak. "Showoff" Corey states. Achak laughs and shoots a small fireball into the firepit. The firepit erupts in a huge ploom of fire. Corey walks over to the resting Achak and snuggles close. Achak rests his head next to Corey and murrs deeply. Corey slowly pets the dragons head, cuddling against it. "Achak, can I ask you a question?" Corey asks. "Go right ahead, Corey" Achak responds. "Um, Im pretty sure that there are a lot of people that wished for the same thing that I did. Why did you pick me to be my guardian?" Achak shrugs a bit. "I dont know. You sounded like an interesting person to meet, and you really sounded like you needed a close friend. So here I am." "Oh" Corey replies. "Well, im glad that you came to me. Your are a good friend then. And you are right, I dont have any really good friends. I do have friends, but i question them. They like to make fun of my traits, then when i get upset, they say they were just playing." Achak nods and nuzzles a bit. "Yeah, true friends dont do that." Corey nods and cuddles with Achak, staring into the fire. Achak murrs deeply, the vibrations can be felt through his body. Achak wraps his tail around Coreys waist and drapes a wing over Corey's body, like a big blanket. Corey smiles at this and snuggles close. Achak murrs and gives Corey's right cheek a gentle lick. Corey giggles and hugs Achaks muzzle, sighing contently. Corey gets comfortable and continues to stare into the fire. Corey starts to doze off and Achak murring puts Corey to sleep very quickly.
Corey wakes up from a deep sleep. He sits up and rubs his eyes. He looks around to see that hes no longer in Achaks embrace, but sitting in his own bed. He rubs his eyes. Was it all a dream? He looks out his window and sees a smoldering firepit, smoke still rising from it. It cant be a dream. He didnt have a bonfire last night with his family. Suddenly, Achaks voice pops in his head. "Corey, im only allowed to spend one day with you, but i will always be here to talk with you whenever you want to. You may not see me, but i will always be there for you." Corey responds by saying "Thanks Achak for helping me out in my time of need. You really helped brighten my day. Now that I know I can talk to you whenever i want to, I highly doubt I will ever be depressed again. Thanks a huge bunch, big man." Achak chuckles and replies "Not a problem, little man."
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