Rain drizzled about her, thunder heralded her. It didn't matter. She had been living like this for months. Living alone. The lightnight once again forked the sky, followed by it's booming companion. The woman looked out on the desolate landscape. "It's alright." She said softly. Her companion looked at her, eyes curious. She didn't understand. "It will be alright."
The small creatures golden eyes peered up at her curiously. "You don't understand a word I am saying, do you?" It shook it's head. "Didn't think so. Well, that is alright. You are little." Jen smiled at the dragon as if it were her own child. She was homeless, family-less, and wanted nothing more than a warm bed and meal. Few were left to offer that though. She looked out at the bleak, grey rocks around them. "Nothing left." She said sadly. "Nothing but my pride and life, and no one but you."
She sighed. Her life had been good until that year when they came out of their hiding. She had been 17, and was now 25. She was English born, but had lived in Scotland for two years, until she had left recently. The dragon's there had become too powerful, and she had managed to flee with nothing but her life.
Night fell, and the storm did not lessen. Jen sighed, and hid further in the small shelter she had found. It was dangerous, she knew, but her studies had brought her here. Studies that she hoped, would allow her to learn the dragon's weakness. Studies that she hoped would perhaps allow humans to domesticate them. It was a shot in the dark, but Jen thought her accuracy was good enough to make it. Right now, however, the only thing that mattered was staying alive until she found a refugee camp. She knew that a large compound was in this area, and that they had made enough discoveries to keep them alive. That is where she was headed. It was a dangerous and difficult road, but she had confidence that she would make it.
"Well, little one, it seems we are safe for the time being. Get sleep. We have a long road again tomorrow." The dragon hatchling watched her carefully, her bright yellow eyes and black scales glistening in the pale moonlight. Jen sighed, there was far too little moonlight of late. Smoke and ash filled the sky, and the stench of fear covered the land. What was once a grand city, now lay in ruins; the world was a nightmare brought to life. The dracologist sighed and closed one eye, only one. She had to be aware of her surroundings. Despite the cold and the storm, she managed to fall into a deep sleep.
XxXxXxXxX
Jen blinked awake. Something was wrong. Very wrong. She didn't know what, but her instincts told her to stay hidden. A quick survey of her surroundings was all it took for her to realize what was happening- a dragon was on the prowl.
The creature flapped lazily, but the behavior it displayed did not fool Jen. She knew that the animal was hunting. And she had a guess as to it's prey. Her. It must have caught her scent. Quietly, she wrapped a hand around her hatchling's snout to keep it from crying out. Any sound now would alert it to their presence. Sweat rolled down Jen's forehead as the dragon began to circle the area. She had heard once that a dragon's eyesight was magnificent in the sun, and even better at night. She hadn't taken a chance to prove or disprove the theory.
The dragon was getting closer now, and Jen's nerves were on end. She had to get away, but didn't know how. She was surrounded by the remains of a crumbled building, with no way to run. The only thing she could do was try to stay hidden. The hatchling squirmed slightly, causing a pile of rubble to shift and tumble down. Jen watched as the hunter swiveled its head around on it's long serpent neck, eyes blazing. She had no choice but to run now. When she thought about it, she didn't even have that choice. No, she was cornered, and there was no escape. 'My life ends now,' she thought. What surprised her about it though, was the calmness. Was she accepting death? What was left for her, another voice in her head argued back. My family is gone, my friends are gone, even my fiancé. All gone. Because of the beasts like the one that was going to take her life as well.
Jen did not know how much time passed between the dragon spotting her and actually realizing she was there, but it was far to long for comfort. She needed a weapon, something. The serenety of her mind before was gone, her instincts were telling her to save herself. She looked around for something, anything, that could be used as a weapon. Digging through the dirt she found it. A gun. Looking around, Jen realized that the small room had been an armory, now empty. The weapon in her hand would have to do. She hefted it, and stood up slowly, trying not to catch any more of the dragon's attention. She had seen a dragon die by gunfire before, and hoped she could do the same. It had to be hit just right, either in the chest or the head. "Stay." She told the hatchling who watched warily. It did as told, and Jen left her shelter. "Oi, over 'ere!" she shouted. The dragon's attention diverted to her once again. It hissed and with a roar, dove towards her. "Yea', that's right you scaled bastard, come and get me!"
The dragon took her invitation and it's speed increased. It dove for her. Jen prepared to fire, and waited. She risked death. She knew the chances of surviving were slim. The creature rose up before her, and ominous shadow in the dark. Rain poured around her, the thunder crackling. But even it's tremendous boom was lost when the dragon opened it's glistening maw and bellowed a roar. Jen's eyes widened and she tried to swallow the lump in her throat. It was now or never. Aiming the gun, she waited. The dragon moved in to position, ready to shoot forth a deadly stream of flame, ready to slay her. "I feel like a knight in a fantasy novel." She laughed, surprised that she could find humor in this. The dragon was upon her, and she had one chance. She took it, and fired. "DAMN IT!" She roared, the bullet hitting, but not doing enough damage to kill. She realized why- the dragon had not exposed it's weak spot. Jen reloaded, and aimed again. The dragon's jaws parted, and she fired, straight at it's open mouth. Then she dropped the weapon, and ran like she had never run before.
Her enemy never had time to spit forth it's deadly venom. It never had time to finish it's prey. The bullet hit it, going through the soft tissue of it's mouth and embedding it'self in the creature's brain. With a final roar of defeat, it plummeted to earth. Jen noticed how instead of seeming light as a feather, as they normally did when in the air, when alive, it seemed a great boulder. As it hit the earth, time stood still, then the ground trembled with the force of the hit. Jen smiled, and laughed. She had done it! Her joy was short lived, however, as the rubble around her began to shift. Laughter died off, and she ran to the hatchling, not wanting it to die. As she made her way back out, the entrance collapsed. She was alone in the dark. "Glory before the fall." She muttered, believing that it was over- again. "This isn't my night." She groaned, and began to run in the direction she had come from. She reached a dead end. "DAMN!" There was no way out. She was trapped, and there was little hope of getting out. Rocks and metal beams fell around her. Her dragon companion screeched with fear, it's tiny claws settling into her flesh like needles. Jen ignored the pain; ignored the blood flowing down her back. She had to get out. Another rock fell, and a sudden light filled the room. A way out.
Jen ran to the entrance, dodging other rocks and rubble as she went. She reached the outside, then fell down, exhausted. "We…made…it…" she panted, looking at the little dragon. It squeaked. Jen sighed heavily, still out of breath. Then she fell into darkness.
