Chapter Twelve: Riil

It was about midafternoon and the sun was beating down on the barrier, sunlight pouring through the canopy of leaves dancing along the ground. Shyvana was watching the group of men in front of her curiously she hadn't spent much time with humans and watching them interact was different. She knew Jarvan was the leader of the group and that Dagonett was second in command. What she couldn't understand was how they talked to each other, no formalities just friendly banter. Dagonett took every opportunity to tease the rest of his companions often causing them to burst into laughter. Garett was the youngest of the group and she had heard on several occasions Connors calling him a sliver tongue although Shyvana doubted very much the young man had a silver tongue. Shyvana snorted and looked at Hart this man was different he was a bit older probably a few years older than Jarvan. He was a bulky man, tall and muscular with a bald head and sharp dark eyes. He was friendly enough with his companions but outwardly hostile towards herself. She wasn't sure what she did that offended the man so greatly as to cause him to dislike her but she assumed it was just her nature that he didn't like and so they avoided each other. Connors was nothing like Hart he was a friendly loud man that instantly took a liking to Shyvana which she supposed was a good thing. Shyvana looked and Jarvan and smiled to herself he was a natural leader that cared about his soldiers. He was laughing alongside Garett his smile broad and wide and Shyvana felt herself staring at him.

"What's got you smiling like a school girl lass?" Dagonett grinned leaning over to look at Shyvana's face slowing down to fall in step with her.

Shyvana blushed and ducked her head her smile growing wider at Dagonett's teasing. "Nothing, Dag I'm just happy I guess" she said quietly leaning towards him.

"Umhm sure it has nothing do with prince charming over there" Dagonett smirked flicking his head in Jarvan's direction.

"No" Shyvana blurted out a little too quickly. Dagonett patted her on the back and shook his head.

"S'alright lass I'm just messing with ya I won't say anything to him" he said bumping his shoulder into her winking.

"Thanks Dagonett" Shyvana said unconsciously grabbing her pendant and holding onto it starting up into the sky sighing.

"Course, lass" Dagonett smiled devilishly "Hey Boss, come over here a second would ya".

Jarvan turned his head and raised and eye brow stopping. Garett, Hart and Connors stopped as well but Dagonett gave them a stern glare and started walking slapping his arms around Hart and Garett's shoulders.

"Let's get to walking boys for that beast gets away" Dagonett said grinning as he pulled their heads in and let them go.

"Lieutenant its already got away that's why we are tracking it" Garett said confusion plastering his face.

Dagonett frowned and scratched his chin shrugging "Before it gets more away then lad".

Hart rolled his eyes but followed the lieutenant. Garett looked back at Connors and Jarvan and shrugged and turned to follow Hart with Connors. Jarvan looked at his companions then back at Shyvana and shook his head.

"Did you need something Shyvana" Jarvan smiled at her stepping up beside her so they could walk side by side.

"No, actually I have no idea what Dagonett is doing" Shyvana ducked her head hiding behind her bangs trying to hide her blushed cheeks.

Jarvan looked at the blushing dragoness and smiled the two of them content to walk in silence. Dagonett turned his head and looked at Jarvan winking when the younger man caught his gaze. Jarvan rolled his eyes and sighed. Jarvan looked at Shyvana through the corner of his eye and grinned. She wasn't looking at him she was looking ahead watching his companions joke with each other their laughter filling the silence. Her head was cocked to the side and her eyes were wide and sparkling. Her long lavender hair was hanging around her in waves the ends just past her butt. This close Jarvan could see tiny dark violet scales around the corners of her eyes. She was beautiful in an exotic ethereal way. She turned and looked up at Jarvan and smiled relaxing her shoulders.

"You seem happier today" Jarvan said to break the silence.

Shyvana looked at him and sighed "I am, it's a different experience to not have to be so alert and on edge its relaxing".

She closed her eyes and inhaled a warm smile spreading over her face. She opened them and saw that Jarvan was looking at her smiling.

"Tell me about yourself Shyvana" he said stretching his arms behind his back his lance bouncing against his pauldrons.

Shyvana cocked her head to the side and narrowed her eyes playfully "What do you want to know"

"Whatever you are willing to tell me" he grinned at her his smile reaching his eyes.

"Very well, although I'm hardly interesting. As you already know my father was a celestial dragon and my mother was a farm girl from Demacia. I don't really remember her just a few scattered memories it was so long ago" she said clutching her pendant smiling sadly. "I do remember her smile and her laughter it was warm and gentle, and I remember her always wearing this" she gestured to the pendant sparkling on her neck.

"What happened to her" Jarvan asked looking down at Shyvana concern glistening in his blue eyes.

"She was killed when I was just a young girl by the dragon that slew my father. He never stopped looking for us, he hounded my parents until he killed them for creating me. Anyone that helped us he would hunt down and kill, humans exiled us for what I was for fear of him and his destruction" she said clenching her teeth sparks jumping off her balled fists.

Jarvan could feel the heat billowing off her body and he felt appalled that humans had treated her so poorly. He was determined that she would never feel like an outcast among his company. he placed a hand on her shoulder but recoiled when flames burst to life around her. Shyvana looked at him in horror fear pooling in her violet eyes and backed away.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, did I burn you" she stuttered.

Jarvan looked at the palm of his hand it was unscathed. He smirked and showed her his hand pulling it out of his gauntlet.

"No I'm fine Shyvana its okay really" he said smiling at her.

She looked away from him her head hung and Jarvan stopped and turned toward her lifting her head up to look at him his finger brushing against her chin. She looked into his eyes her own reflection staring back and her and smiled.

"I'm sorry Shyvana that humans treated you so horribly, I want you to know that I would never let anyone treat you like that in my company. We are all equals here" he said staring into her eyes a serious look on his face.

Shyvana backed away the warmth of his touch still lingering on her face.

"Thank you, but long ago I learned to hate humans and dragons alike. I was bitter for many years never coming to terms with what I am. My father tried to teach me to embrace my lineage that I should be proud of what I am but it's hard coming to terms with being a monster" she said tears pooling in her eyes.

Jarvan looked at her and frowned he didn't like seeing her so conflicted and he understood more than anyone what It felt like to be a monster to have self-loathing.

"You are not a monster Shy" he said locking eyes with her.

"How can you say that I'm a half beast, what if I hurt someone, what if I can't control myself" she said her eyes pleading with his.

"You would never hurt me or my men I know that" Jarvan said bumping his shoulder into Shyvana, the force catching her off-guard and she went stumbling into the ground.

Jarvan sat there in shock as Shyvana hit the ground her butt sending up clouds of dust. She glared at him her eyes taking on a predatory appearance and she bared her teeth at him. Jarvan blinked and burst into laughter as Shyvana smirked at him. he offered her his hand to get but his eyes went wide when Shyvana sprung from the ground and barreled into him sending them both crashing to the ground. Jarvan gazed in her vivid violet eyes sparkling with mischief and laughed.

Shyvana pushed herself up placing her hands on Jarvan's breastplate looking at him lifting her head up sniffing

"I smell fear" she giggled.

Dagonett turned when he heard something crash into the ground catching a glimpse of violet and gold hit the ground. He laughed when he saw Shyvana push Jarvan's head into the soft dirt playfully as she slid off him. Shyvana approached the group of deadpanned men and pranced in front of them smiling to herself winking at Dagonett as she passed by. Jarvan stood and brushed himself off and rejoined the group fixing his helmet. Dagonett slapped him on the back causing him to stumble. Jarvan snorted turned to his lieutenant giving him an annoyed glare.

"What have you gotten yourself into now lad, you're playing with fire with that one" Dagonett said winking gesturing to the dragoness.

"I know" Jarvan said sighing.