Chapter Two: Zokroiik

"Sir?" one of the men sitting around the fire began to rise his hand hovering just above his weapon looking to his leader.

"It's nothing Dag" a man sitting in the center of the circle answered. He scratched the back of his head ruffling his long dark hair. He looked into the fire briefly mumbling under his breath and looked the man named Dag in the eyes.

"I thought I saw something, it must be getting late. Go to bed men lest you be tired in the morning" he shrugged his shoulders laughing.

"What was it?" Dag asked again leaning forward resting his head on his fists. He was a large man with short brown hair and green intelligent eyes, he wore heavy armor opting a metal chest plate, pauldrons, vambraces, tasset, cuisse, greaves and sabatons, choosing to wear light leathers under his heavy armor. The armor was scratched and dented in most places showing it had been well worn in battle. Next to him sat a pair of gauntlets and a massive great sword gleaming in the firelight. He scratched at his facial hair looking at fire trying to stifle a yawn.

The men rose from the fire and started making their way to their respected bed rolls. All around the campfire was quiet and most quickly dozed off. Two men remained sitting staring into the hypnotizing sway of the fire. Dag smirk and looked across the fire his friend lost in thought. He rolled his eyes and stood up cracking his back and turning away from the fire. He looked over his shoulder and surveyed the area surrounding the camp.

"Hmm, need something" the leader asked looking up at Dag blinking.

"Nothing, you want me to take first watch Jarvan?" Dag asked his hand moving towards his great sword.

Jarvan waved him off, shaking his head he always preferred first watch his men needed the rest more than he felt he did. Dag shrugged, turned and walked toward his bed roll. Jarvan sighed and looked into the fire once more.

I could of swore I saw a young woman, maybe all this time in the wilderness is driving me crazy he thought to himself. He looked around the campsite his company had set up and frowned. Sitting several feet away along the edge of the camp sat what remaining supplies they had left, five bed rolls sitting among the supplies their owners past on.

Five friends lost because of decisions I made, I lead my men into the great barrier with promises of glory and to seek my own atonement. I never thought I would lead them to their deaths. Two years past and I still have learned nothing, I'm not fit to lead a company of men let alone a nation. Jarvan curled his hands into fists and slammed them onto his lap. Slowly his anger faded and he looked into the starry sky dread now filling the void in his heart. Two years ago he left his home in the dark of night with twelve men and made his way into the heart of the great barrier. In the beginning he busied himself with killing the worst beasts Valoran had to offer hoping it would bring him happiness however along the journey he had lost five of his men and closest friends and he carried that guilt with him.

Jarvan took a deep breath and exhaled pinching the bridge of his nose and rubbed his eyes. Steeling his emotions, he rose from the campfire and walked to the edge of the camp. He made his way over to the area he thought he saw something and kneeled in the dirt. Moving away some of the leaves from the area he brushed his fingers across a set of small footprints, some of the leaves in the area disturbed as the woman made her escape. He picked up one and studied it, tiny scorch marks could be seen along the edge of the leaf. He dropped the leaf and looked around, their campfire was too far away to have caused the burn marks and it had taken several attempts to light the fire with the rain from the morning previous.

I knew I saw something, just what are you? those purple eyes he shook his head and got up. He returned to the campfire and sat down poking the fire with a stick to move the coals. Tiny flecks of ash rose from the fire and flitted up into the night sky. He pulled his cloak over his shoulders and around his chest to keep warm and moved to the edge of the campsite leaning up against a tree. His lance pulled close to his side in case a beast dare move on the sleeping company. He looked down at his gauntlets and smirked three large talons decorated the piece of armor. He remembered cutting the talons from a dragon he fought when his company first embarked on their journey. They had only been gone for a few weeks when the stories of a mighty dragon began to filter through the taverns of the small towns out skirting Demacia. His men had fought valiantly but the dragon claimed the lives of two of his men before they could kill the beast. Jarvan shuddered he could still remember the awful stench of burnt flesh, blood and the screams of his men before they were reduced to ashes.

Odin, Garethe good men, I'm sorry I failed you he clenched his fist. At least we killed the damned beast before it could kill another innocent. For the glory of Demacia he shook his head lifting his hand into the air to look at the talons. They reflected the light from the fire ominously, black and razor sharp. His armor changed much during his time in the great barrier now adorned with the talons, bones and scales of his kills.

A thunderous roar split the silence of the night and Jarvan shot up from his position lance in hand. Several of his men groaned in their sleep and began to stir. A young man shot up and grabbed his weapon ready to defend the camp. Jarvan looked around and saw a bright light shoot across the sky headed for the other side of the forest. It appeared to be a comet but as it passed overhead he rubbed his eyes in disbelief. A massive dragon flew overhead propelling itself forward with alarming speed.

"Sir, what is it?" the young man was now standing beside Jarvan weapon in hand. He was a smaller man of slim build with blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Most would consider him too young to be a solider but Jarvan knew better. His name was Garett and he was the only ranger Jarvan wanted to watch his back. Garett turned to Jarvan and cocked his head gesturing towards the sky.

"Dragon, Garett, ready the men we are going hunting" Jarvan smiled to himself.