Chapter Four: Dinok
Red glowing eyes peered into the heavily wooded forest searching for prey. A massive wing span propelled the great creature at an alarming speed. The beast inhaled a great breath picking up a faint scent of its kin, it smirked to itself.
"Bo tir bo tir pahkolos hi los" it rumbled into the quiet morning air. Following the scent, the great beast swooped to the forest floor crashing into the soft earth with a deafening thud. It tucked its wings along its massive muscled body and began to walk towards the scent of its prey. The beast grimaced when it came across the remnants of a human travelling party. Smoke still billowing from the fire they had created, the beast lowered its head and sniffed at the fire.
Humans how delightful the beast smiled to itself menacingly smashing the fire with a great taloned fist. Something else lingered here, awh yes the little Halfling but where is your father my dear he cackled to himself. Now this will be fun he crouched outlining Shyvana's tiny footprint with his talon before plunging it into the dirt.
He took off following the scent of the humans. He would determine if they harbored knowledge of the Halfling abomination.
Jarvan and his men had left early that morning quickly discarding their meager campsite. After the sighting of the dragon in the early hours Jarvan had decided to leave at dawn the sun just cresting the horizon.
"Garett, are you sure you saw the bloody thing flying this way, we've been walkin for hours' lad" a great burly man huffed at the smaller man.
Garett turned his head and stopped walking looking at the older man and smirked.
"Conners last time I checked I was the tracker and you were a sorry sac a shit" Garett laughed at the expression on the other man's face. Conners face was beat red and he was kneeling over his hands resting on his knees. He glared at Garett then suddenly burst into laughter waving his hands dismissing the young man.
Jarvan rolled his eyes at the bickering of his companions and continued walking. He looked over his shoulder at Garett watching the man intently. Garett had stopped and was looking at markings made in the bark of a tree. He signaled Jarvan over with the flick of his head and ran his fingers over the large grooves made in the tree bark.
"Talons, Sir." He gestured to the markings on the tree. Each mark was cut deep into the trees bark creating long swiping streaks. Along the marks the bark had been scorched. Jarvan studied the markings running his fingers through the talons markings. Each was only as wide as his armored finger he grimaced. He kneeled down the markings were several feet up from the ground the leaves surrounding the base of the tree scattered and burned.
Odd, these markings are too small for a fully grown dragon he scratched his chin and picked up one of the leaves.
"Oh come off it Garett, how'd we know if it's a dragon or a damn bear" Dagonett rumbled coming up beside Jarvan and Garett slapping the young man on the back. Garett fell forward with the force of the blow and sighed.
"Because Dag, these marks are burnt into the tree bark and I've never seen no damn bear using fire before. Besides bears climb up trees and whatever made this was using the tree to propel itself forward" Garett rolled his eyes getting to his feet. He brushed himself off and looked down to Jarvan.
"What do you think sir?" he asked. Jarvan was lost in thought he looked at the base of the tree and its surrounding leaves picking one up he examined it, the leaf was almost entirely burned. He frowned and looked around none of the other surrounding leaves seemed to be damaged whatever caused this damage had the ability to control flames he stood up.
"I believe it was a dragon, however based on the size of the talon markings it appears to be a whelp" he gestured towards the markings "these grooves are fall smaller than any full grown dragon could make. The presence of fire also leads me to believe it was a dragon and not another beast" he shrugged.
Deep guttural laughter filled the silence of the morning air and Jarvan shot his head up grabbing his lance. A massive creature was descending upon them its wingspan blocking out the sun. It landed lazily beside the group of humans. Jarvan's men were stunned never before had a beast of Valoran approached them so haphazardly. Before them sat a massive ebony dragon its scales shone brilliantly in the morning sun. The dragon had blood red eyes and a mane of long red fur that ran from the top of its head to its shoulders. Two massive horns curved forward along the sides of its face. Great talons sprung from its wings and the tip of its tail. It smashed its tail into the ground smirking at the dumbstruck look on the humans faces.
"Cower, worship, beg they are all valid reactions" the dragon laughed observing its talons.
"Stand with me brothers" Jarvan bellowed bringing his lance in front of him.
As if roused by their leaders' words they readied their weapons. One of the men charged forward sword raised high aiming for the dragon's chest. The dragon opened his maw and inhaled his chest expanding and glowing an ominous orange. Jarvan ran trying to slam the solider out of the way but it was too late. The man screamed as flames burst from the dragon's mouth consuming him in seconds. Jarvan hit the ground with his shoulder and rolled. He spun around digging his lance into the ground to stop himself. Before him sat the smoking remains of one of his men the scent of burnt flesh clinging to his nose. He retched the smell making his eyes water.
"No" Jarvan screamed and sent a Demacian standard sailing through the air aimed for behind the dragons left forearm. With lighting reflexes, the dragon slapped the standard from the air and watched as it fell uselessly beside him. He bellowed a dark deep laugh and looked at Jarvan.
"Tisk tisk mal kulaan" the dragon wagged a large talon at Jarvan. He began to circle the group of humans forcing them into a tight formation. As he walked he past the remains of the fallen solider his corpse still smoking he tossed the body aside with a swipe from his tail smiling at the anger filling Jarvan's eyes.
"Now now little prince try to play nice. My quarrel is not with the likes of a group of pathetic humans. No I seek far more interesting prey. I know you have seen that little bitch Halfling I could smell her scent at your campsite. Where is she hiding. Tell me before I burn the rest of your companions one by one" he smiled watching the human's expressions they displayed no fear.
"How do you know me beast, I've no knowledge of this Halfling you speak of" Jarvan spat his eyes blazing with hatred.
The dragon stopped circling the men and looked Jarvan in the eyes.
"Little human, your reputation has spread far and wide across Valoran. A little prince shamed his nation and ventured into the wild to gain back favor killing all that stood in his way wearing their bones as trophies. You give me little credit to assume I am ill-informed. I am no ordinary dragon mortal. The bones of my kin decorate your armor and you wear our hide on your back. Come face me then if you are worthy claim my talons as your prize" he roared lunging at them. Jarvan dodged to the side and brought his lance up sweeping it in front of him slicing the dragons forearm. Black blood oozed from the wound and the dragon hissed.
The dragon swept his tail around him like a whip colliding into one of Jarvan's soldiers snapping his back like a twig. Screams of anguish filled the air and the dragon turned on the man and snapped his jaws on the man's torso. Blood oozed from the dragon's mouth as he tossed the limp body aside. He inhaled and sent a great current of fire towards the humans. Garett rolled out of the way and snapped off a series of arrows from his bow. One arrow found its mark and embedded deep into the dragon's eye. The dragon erred back and roared scratching at the arrow. He growled and lunged at Garett snapping his jaws. Garett rolled and brought his bow up to separate himself from the massive teeth of the dragon. He screamed when the dragon slashed his face blood pooling in his eyes. Jarvan sent a standard arching through the air behind the dragons neck and hooked his lance into it and flying through the air towards the dragon the blades of his lance aimed at cutting the beasts throat. The dragon turned his head at the last second and slammed his armored skull into Jarvan the lance slicing through the scales above the dragon's chest. Jarvan was sent tumbling backwards hitting the ground hard his vision blurring.
The dragon hissed as one of the soldiers pieced his wing trying to slice through it so he could not fly. He swung his head around and snapped at the man catching his arm in his maw. He threw the man into the air watching him flail about before he clamped his jaw shut around him tossing him back and forth disemboweling him. He licked his lips and smiled. He spread his wings and took off looking over his shoulder at the bewildered little prince.
"You have failed little prince, now go on with the knowledge you have killed them their blood stains your hands, Nu bo kotin feykro ahrk dir" he laughed as he flew away.
Jarvan shook his head and got to his feet. The smell of blood and burnt flesh overwhelmed his senses he looked around the battlefield. Many of his men were dead their bodies torn apart their blood staining the ground. He fell to his knees looking into the morning sky and screamed.