Chapter Fourteen: Haalvut

Shyvana ran through the forest her footfalls crashing into the damp earth, leaves and twigs flung haphazardly around her as she dashed through the heavily wooded area. She didn't stop as she crashed through low hanging branches leaving small cuts along her cheeks. Tears were stinging her eyes as she made her way farther and farther from the group she could faintly hear the men arguing. She stumbled as her footing gave way and she crashed into the damp earth along the river's edge. Shyvana cringed as she felt the damp earth cover her skin sizzling as it contacted her flames. She kneeled and looked down at her reflection in the cool autumn water her blazing violet eyes looking back at her. she gritted her teeth snarling at herself and slapped the water blurring her own image.

What have I done, the first friends I have had in almost a century and I scare them away. who am I kidding I don't deserve friends, Hart is right I'm just a filthy half beast I'll never be a human I'll never be anything she curled her arms around her torso and looked into the water again moonlight reflecting off the water giving her pale skin and vivid hair a glowing appearance in her reflection. Large gleaming eyes gazed back at her, reptilian slits and fire dancing ominously in those eyes her eyes. Tiny scales formed around her eyes and her hair not matted with mud clung to her face. She grimaced in her reflection she did not see a young woman she saw a monster only capable of destruction. She looked down at her hands now covered with mud and flakes of blood and dipped them in the cool water scrubbing them vigorously. The water was freezing but she didn't care she needed to be cleansed she rubbed until her hands were raw and red. A cool breeze was moving down the water's edge and she shivered her clothes were dirty and wet. She looked up into the night sky and saw the first stars being to form and felt an odd sense of comfort sweep over here. She snuffled as hot tears began to dry on her face.

Father what am I supposed to do now. Where am, I supposed to go after I avenge you I have no home. I have no purpose. She looked down at her reflection again and saw a star shining brightly illuminating her features. She smiled and ran her fingertips along the water's edge ripples disturbing the reflection. She rose from the ground and looked around quickly content no one was watching her she slipped off her furs and waded into the water. The cool water shocked her system but it was also relaxing and calmed her beating heart. She summoned her flames and soon the water around her began to warm steam slowly rising off the water. She smiled and lay back in the water content to float in the moonlight. She took a deep breath and ducked her head water saturating the rest of her thick mane of violet hair. She emerged from the water and scrubbed her hair digging her nails into her scalp sighing with satisfaction.

A crackling of twigs caught her attention and she dipped lower into the water her eyes glowing in the dim light. She could see a blur of gold coming towards her and her breath caught in her throat. She looked around the edge of the river bank for her clothing but she had swam out into the middle of the river he would be there before she got close enough to grab it.

Jarvan came stumbling out of the forest a frown plastered across his face. He was looking at the ground trying to follow the path of destruction left in Shyvana's wake. He stopped at the waters edge stumbling on Shyvana's clothing before he caught his balance. He lifted the leather and fur top in front of his face studying it in the dim moonlight realization hitting him in the face he began to blush.

"Shyvana, are you out here" he said looking down and away from the water holding onto her muddy clothing away from his body.

He could hear water splashing and he turned his head briefly catching a glimpse of Shyvana's body glistening with water her hair clung to her body leaving little to the imagination. His heart began to pound in his chest and his face burned a bright crimson he coughed and turned his head.

"Jarvan, you jerk don't peek" she squealed covering herself with one hand and snatching her clothes with the other.

"I wasn't I'm sorry I didn't know where you went I wanted to make sure you were okay I didn't know you were bathing" he rambled looking away from her at the ground.

Shyvana dipped her clothes in the water and rubbed off the mud before quickly throwing them back on. She shook her head her wet hair splashing Jarvan. She rolled her eyes as he peeked back at her making sure she was presentable.

"You are a terrible liar Jarvan I can hear your heart pounding in your chest and your cheeks are the color of blood" she said narrowing her eyes at him hands on her hips.

Jarvan turned to look at her pink still tinging his cheeks. She was grinning at him mischief sparkling in her eyes. Her clothes were soaking wet and clung to her body accentuating her curves her long hair was plastered to her body and hung about her in sheets. She moved toward Jarvan her eyes narrowing her hips swaying hypnotizing him he gulped as she stopped in front of him placing her hand on his chest. She shook her head violently spraying water on him she spun and slapped him with her long hair laughing as she began to walk back toward the camp. Jarvan stood stunned for a moment and then followed her laughing.

"Are you alright Shy" Jarvan asked as they began walking side by side.

"I'm fine, just had a bit of a realization that no matter how I try to blend in with you I will always be different I will never be human" she said sadness lacing her voice as she looked away from him.

Jarvan reached out and touched her face forcing her to look at him "Shy you are more human than most humans I've known, so what if you are only half human we all have demons we try to hide. Being a dragon isn't something that you should be ashamed of you should feel proud of your unique heritage. You are the most powerful person I know and you don't use that to harm and destroy you use that to protect you showed me that when you protected your father's corpse from us" Jarvan said looking deep into her brilliant violet eyes fire swirling in her round orbs. His face mere inches from hers his heart began to beat faster and his stomach clenched.

Shyvana felt tears begin to form in her eyes and she tried to pull away but Jarvan held onto her chin and forced her to look at him. she closed her eyes and inhaled blinking away the tears as they fell onto her china pale skin. Jarvan brushed them away with his thumb and pulled Shyvana into a fierce hug. Shyvana was taken aback by his actions having not felt a human embrace since her mother died. Butterflies began to spring to life in her stomach and she smiled into his chest. He placed his head atop of her and brushed her long hair along her back.

"I'm here for you if you ever need to talk. I won't ever judge you or belittle you" he said looking up into the sky a certain star shining brightly down on the two of them twinkling.

He released her and Shyvana felt the cool rush of air kiss her skin missing his warm embrace.

"Thank you Jarvan you have no idea what that means to me. All my life I've been alone it's nice to know someone has my back" she said a small smile on her face as she looked up at him.

He nodded and turned towards the forest smirking "Can you light the way my lady".

Shyvana giggled and brought her palm in front of her summoning a small mote of purple flame illuminating their surroundings. They began to walk back to the campsite slowly side by side silence filling the space between them. Shyvana looked through the corner of her eye at Jarvan and smiled as he stumbled around in the darkness like a baby animal.

"Having troubles are we" she giggled looking at him flashing him a toothy smile.

Jarvan snorted and shook his head "Not everyone can see in the dark, and if you hold that flame any farther away from me I'll never find my way back to the camp".

Shyvana danced away from him her footfalls silent in the night air. She was smiling devilishly he hair bouncing around her shoulders as she pranced away from him.

"Hey Shy come back here I'm serious I can't see a damn thing" Jarvan pleaded walking blindly in the direction she was prancing.

Shyvana closed her fist the flames dying around her and the two of them were in utter darkness. Jarvan stopped and waited for her to summon her flames he could hear her walking around him like he was prey. Suddenly she pounced at him her eyes glowing in the darkness giggling she grabbed his hand and summoned her flames in her opposite hand.

"Come I'll led the way for us" she said playfully pulling on his outstretched arm grasping his hand. Her tiny pale hand contrasting his black and gold gauntlets. Jarvan looked down at their hands intertwined as she pulled him along the forest and frowned wishing he would have left his gauntlets back at the camp wishing he could feel her warm smooth skin.

"You know the feeling is mutual right" Shyvana said taking Jarvan by surprise he looked at her and blinked.

"Pardon" he asked swallowing.

"I'm here for you if you ever need it as well. I may be only half human but I can offer what wisdom I do have my father taught me much and I have lived longer than you. I know you are in pain I can see it in your eyes you don't have to tell me right now I just want you to know I will always listen" she said smiling back at him her smile bright and warm and her eyes sparkled in the darkness.

Jarvan felt his heart flutter as he stared into those eyes and he nodded.

"Thank you Shyvana, I just might take you up on that someday" he said squeezing her hand gently.

"Good" she said softly turning her head her flames burning brighter as she smiled and lead them through the forest.