Author's Note: Yay…I actually got reviews…

Tallacus: heh, I still dunno exactly what to name it, and yes, she only killed it outta self defense…thanks for reviewing!

Creedy's Only Fan: Wow…harsh name, lol…though it seems true sometimes…glad you like it and thanks for the review!

Chapter 1

Jen

The small caravan made it's way across the empty landscape, looking, as always, for anyone who might be alive. Dragon attack survivors were few, but every so often they would discover another breathing body in the rubble, someone often from a nearby area. Sadly, most were heavily wounded and on the verge of death. It did little for their moral to know how many they couldn't save.

Quinn Abercrombie was at the head, driving. He was the lead for the small group of daring men. They were ready to face death, should a dragon appear. He had seen one of the first break free, and didn't fear the great scaled beasts. "Any signs?"

"No." the man next to him answered, looking out the window, seemingly bored. "And there won't likely be anyone."

"Well, keep looking."

"What's it look like I'm doing?" Creedy asked, scanning the horizon. For an hour now they had seen no signs of life, not even a dragon. That was a blessing. The two men continued to look around, yet nothing was to be found. Just then, Creedy saw something out of place. "Wait, what's that?"

"What's what?" Quinn asked, looking around. "That." Creedy pointed to a large mound. "Looks like one of the ruined buildings caved in."

"Why? Maybe we should check it out." The Scotsman suggested. His partner nodded. "Alright. There might be someone there." With that, they drove towards what was, just the night before, a ruined armory. Creedy was first out of the vehicle, and ran around to the other side of the ruined building. "Oh my God…"

"Creedy? What is it?"

"Come here Quinn." Quinn soon appeared beside him. "Oh my God…" he repeated. Creedy nodded. "Who could have done this? Or what?"

"It is dead, so someone must have done something. There have to be people around here- it hasn't been dead for long." Quinn said plainly. He was already beginning to sort through the rubble around them. Creedy still stared at the dragon. He knew that dragons would sometimes kill their own kind, but this did not look like it had been attacked by a fellow beast. There were no marks on it's body, no wounds, nothing. He studied the body further, trying to puzzle out what had killed it. Perhaps it had been sick? That seemed the most likely cause. Or, it did, until he saw the bullet wound on it's chest. Not a fatal wound, but he knew that a human had done it.

Quinn, meanwhile, was looking for signs of who could have brought down a dragon. With the rubble, though, they were very likely all dead. He had to look though. He scanned the area closely, looking for anything. Then he heard the soft squeak. It came again, and he tried to discern where it was coming from. Again and again the noise came, until he found something. "Creedy, come help me!"

"What is it Quinn?"

"I found someone. I think she's alive." Creedy walked over, and saw her. A woman, probably a bit younger than him, laying in a fetal position. Unconscious. "We should take her back. Maybe she can tell us what happened to the others."

"Others?" Quinn asked, giving his friend a confused look. "She couldn't have brought that dragon down herself, could she?" Creedy replied.

"She might have. It doesn't matter right now though. Help me get her back to the truck. He and Creedy moved to pick her up. The woman moaned and opened her eyes enough to see them. "Who…" she coughed, "Are you?" She pulled her self into a tighter ball and coughed again. "We are trying to help." Quinn told her.

"I don't need help." She told them hoarsely. "Yes you do." The woman glared daggers at Creedy. "Would you help her then?" She moved so that the dragon hatchling was visible beneath her. The two men gasped. "You are protecting that…thing?" Creedy asked.

"She is not a 'thing.' She is a dragon, I know, but she is important to me. To my studies." The woman managed to sit up. She coughed again, and blinked in the bright sunlight. Creedy handed her a canteen, and she took a drink before speaking. "My name is Jen Lerake. I am a dracologist. She is my experiment of sorts." Jen stroked the hatchling's bright scales.

"Dracologist?" Creedy asked, laughing. "And I'm a king." Jen glared. "You're serious, aren't you?" Quinn asked.

"If I wasn't, I wouldn't have said it." The two men looked at one another. "Who…what…brought down that dragon?" Quinn finally asked. Jen smiled faintly. "I did." She said. A proud smile appeared on her cold features. Creedy gave her yet another disbelieving look. "One person can't bring down a dragon." He said.

"I did."

"How?" Quinn asked, sitting down in the dust across from her. Creedy did likewise. "I shot it. In the mouth, right before it engulfed me in flames. Bullet hits, travels straight to the brain. Very lucky shot."

"How did you find this out?" Both men were listening closely. Jen took another drink. "I just did it. There was no learning involved. I just guessed, had good aim, and it worked." The three were silent for a long while. "We should go." Quinn said at last. "You must come with us, you could help. We could use someone like you at the castle."

Jen nodded. "I'll come. It isn't like I have anywhere else to go." She smiled. "Help me up, please?" Quinn gave her a hand. "Can you walk?" he asked.

"I think I'll manage." She said, bending down to get her bag and pick up the dragon hatchling. The dracologist winced as a sharp pain ran up her leg, but she ignored it. "Let me help." Creed offered. Jen smiled. "Thanks." She put an arm around his shoulders to help transfer the weight from her leg. They walked, or, Creedy walked and Jen limped, past the giant corpse. "Wait…" Jen said as she looked. "I want to get a tooth…you know, to remember…" Creedy sighed and took her bags and waited while she took out a knife and cut free one of the dragon's fangs. "There…"

"Can we please continue now?" the Scotsman asked, seemingly annoyed at the delay. Jen smirked, he was just jealous that she had brought down the beast single-handedly. "Yes, sir."

"Thank you."