Project Dragonlord V. 1.1

"And Still the Darkness Grows"

Chapter 4

As the sun crept up over the eastern mountains, I slowly opened my eyes. Nina and I had slept in the open, arms around each other all night. It had been amazing... I had loved her all throughout our journey, but never as deep as right now. I gently nudged her awake.

"Nina... Nina, time to get up."

Her eyes fluttered open and she grinned. "Well hello there... after last night, all I get is 'It's time to get up.' ?"

"Oh, I'm sorry! Where are my manners?" I gasped, and I pulled her into a deep kiss. "NOW it's time to get up!"

"Okay then." She said, and stood up. I realized she hadn't gotten dressed yet. Even more startling, I realized that I hadn't either.

"Well, c'mon, what are you waiting for?" She asked.

A bit awkwardly, I stood up.

"That's my Ryu." She cooed. "Now let's get dressed."

After doing so, we put out the remains of the campfire and started walking back to Tantar. At first it passed in silence, but then our eyes met and we both burst out laughing.

She put her arm around me. "I love you, Ryu."

"Hmm....really? We did all that last night, but I still wasn't sure..."

"Oh, shut up!" She pushed me aside playfully, and we walked into Tantar. Now it was morning, and the streets were filled of people, going about their morning routines. Nobody seemed to recognize us, however.

We knocked on the door to the cheif's hut.

"Who is it?" Asked a female voice.

"It's Ryu and Nina." We answered.

"Ryu and Nina???" The door opened to reveal Amelia, Terry's wife. It was because of us that the two were able to get married, actually. Her eyes widened. "Oh my God! I never thought I'd see you two again! Please, come in!"

We entered the hut and looked around. "Is Terry here?"

"I'm right here." Terry replied, coming downstairs.

"Well? Is Bo here yet?"

"As a matter of fact, he isn't." Terry said. His eyes became filled with concern. "They were supposed to arrive late last night with their kill, but..." He looked out the window. "We haven't heard from a messenger or anything. It is most troubling."

"We'll go look for him." I offered.

Terry turned. "No. Those woods are too dangerous. We should..."

"Oh come on!" Nina chimed in. "It'll be easy."

Terry sighed. "Very well. If you need help, use these flares." He passed us a wooden box. "Good luck!"

A half hour later, Nina and I carefully made our way through the Western Woods. It was dark and cold, and Nina held my hand for warmth.

We searched and we searched, but we couldn't find Bo or the hunting party.

"Where could he be?" Nina asked with a worried expression.

"Ah, I'm sure Bo can take care of himself. He..."

Suddenly I was startled, as a shadowy beast leapt from the bush. Nina screamed, and I drew my sword. It crouched on all fours, glaring at us with yellow eyes.

"Why are you here?" It hissed.

I spoke. "We... we are looking for someone named Bo."

The animal seemed to be considering whether to eat us raw or to fry us first. I continued hastily.

"He, uh...He isn't in the village, so we're searching the forest for him. We're old friends of his, and..."

"You FOOL!" The beast snarled, and it tackled me to the ground. I clenched my eyes shut in fear. "You need not search for Bo any longer."

I screamed.

"Kid, kid, calm down." Said a very different, very familiar voice. I opened my eyes to see Bo grinning down at me. "You don't have to search for me any more, cause here I am!"

I was trembling, but I pushed him off me. "Don't do that again." I told him.

He chuckled. "Sorry, kid. Couldn't help myself. Wow, look at you!" He noticed Nina standing there. "And look at YOU! Damn, you've gotten FINE!"

"Uh, Bo...?" I said quietly.

"Hmm?"

"She's with me."

"Well DUH, I can see you're traveling together, but..."

"No, no...she's WITH me. You get it?"

Bo grinned. "Ah, so the perfect couple has hooked up! Well done! I'm so happy for you!"

"Bo, where's the hunting party?" Nina asked.

Bo turned. "Um, they should be here any second..."

As if to back him up, more figures appeared from the trees, carrying several large animal carcasses. "Well done, men." Said Bo. "Come on, let's go together back to Tantar." He put his arms around both of us and we started walking out of the woods.

After a few miles, a ligtning bolt suddenly hit the ground, and everyone jumped.

"Everyone get back!" I ordered, and Nina and I turned to face whatever was about to appear.

It was a large, floating sphere, with no features except horns and two red, glaring eyes.

"Who the fuck are you?" I demanded.

"I...am a messenger of the One."

"The One???"

"Yes. And you are the One's biggest threat as of right now."

"What? We haven't done anything!" Nina cried.

"That's right. And I am to make sure it stays that way. You shall not get by me."

I smirked. "Oh we'll get by... with a little help from our friends. Guys?"

The entire hunting tribe aimed their bows at the demon.

"Fire!" Ordered Bo, and 100 arrows shot towards the beast, and 100 arrows bounced harmlessly aside.

I raised my sword and charged, only to be cast back by a force field the creature was generating.

"Ryu! Do you still remember how to change into a dragon?" Nina asked as she helped me up.

"No... I never had to use it after the war..."

I couldn't finish, because the demon shot a huge blast of fire at me, knocking me unconscious.

The air is cold, and a breeze is in the air, and I know I am in the presence of my Master.

"Master! How do I use the power of the Dragon again? I have forgotten!"

My Master spoke. "One never forgets how to use the power of the Dragon. It is still within you."

"Yes, but how...?"

"When your heart desires very strongly to use the power, then so it shall be. I can tell you no more."

"Ryu! Ryu, get up!" Nina screamed, and she shook me. I woke up instantly and sprang to my feet. I quickly saw that the demon had knocked out the entire hunting party, as well as Bo. "Use your God damn dragon powers!"

"I don't remember how..." I cried.

I looked back at the demon, and noticed it had started to glow. It got brighter and brighter, and then Nina was pulled off the ground and trapped in a force field high in the air!

"What are you doing?" I screamed at the monster.

"I am making it easy for me to finish my mission." It rumbled. It started to glow again, and I knew it was coming after me.

I stared up at the girl I loved, trapped helplessly in a ball of energy, and then I started to get pissed. Really pissed.

"NO!" I screamed, and I felt my body start to change...my arms became wings, my face became a snout. I had remembered the powers of the Dragon! In one swift stroke, I cast a powerful thunderbolt upon the demon, which exploded immediately. But it's voice echoed across the forest.

"Doubt not the powers of the One!" It said, before fading away.

I raised my hand and cast another blast at the force field, and Nina started falling to the ground. I quickly soared up and caught her.

She opened her eyes as I did, and she screamed because she thought another demon was taking her.

"Relax." I said in a rumbling voice. "It's me."

"Oh!" She grinned, and held onto me as I set her down on the ground and reverted back to human form.

"Is everything okay?" A voice asked urgently.

I looked behind me to see Terry and all the soldiers from Tantar.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

Terry pointed to the smoking crater where the messenger stood. "I saw the smoke and thought you had set off the flares. Thank the Dragon God you're okay!" He turned to Bo, who had struggled to his feet. "What happened with you? You told me you'd be back before sunrise!"

"We, uh, got a little hung up. But look!"

Terry's eyes widened as he saw all the animals Bo's group had slaughtered. "Well done, Chief! Come on, let's go back!"

We all voiced our agreement, and we walked the rest of the way back to Tantar.