Chapter Fifteen: Ilkoth

Shyvana lead Jarvan by the hand through the forest her flames burning bright in the darkness lighting their path. She could smell the faint scent of cooked meat in this distance and smiled. Jarvan tumbled around in the dark behind her his hand still laced with her own. His lance bounced with every step he took on the uneven ground creating steady rhythm of metal on metal as it hit his pauldrons. Shyvana's steps were light as she bounced about the forest sighing happily. The pair could see the flickering of flames up ahead and Shyvana turned to Jarvan.

"It seems we have missed our dinner party" she said smiling at him her eyes glowing softly in the darkness.

Jarvan shrugged and continued walking behind her. Shyvana smiled and emerged from the edge of the campsite with Jarvan still holding onto his hand. Dagonett looked up from the fire at them and smirked when he saw them holding hands. Garett and Connors turned to look at them and Shyvana quickly let go of Jarvan's hand. Jarvan looked down at her quizzically and curled his hand closed missing the feel of Shyvana's hand in his own. She dismissed the mote of flame in her open palm darkness shrouding her. Jarvan turned to her and flicked his head in the direction of the fire.

"Come on" he said smiling.

The approached the group and sat down side by side next to the fire. It was blazing a brilliant purple the flames reaching high into the sky. Jarvan looked at the flames curiously cocking his head to the side then it occurred to him Shyvana started the fire and her flames were not traditional red and orange. Dagonett saw the prince looking at the fire and chuckled

"Don't worry Cap perfectly safe already cooked and ate some, sorry we didn't wait up for yas" Dagonett said shrugging poking the fire with a stick.

Shyvana looked at the fire her large eyes focusing on the flames lost in thought, she was clearly uncomfortable.

"Here ya go kiddies" Dagonett said handing Jarvan a spit fitted with cooked meats.

Jarvan narrowed his eyes at his lieutenant and grimaced snorting. Dagonett just smirked and slapped his knee looking at Shyvana.

"Miss Shyvana" Garett who was sitting opposite her spoke up looking across the flames at the dragoness.

Shyvana looked up from the fire at the young man smoke and purple flames dancing across his features.

"Yes Garett" Shyvana said sighing smoke wafting from her open mouth.

"I'd like to apologize for earlier It wasn't my, our intention to make you feel uncomfortable. It's just that we've never met anyone like you, the power you possess is quiet intimidating" Garett said gesturing to himself and Connors sitting next to him. Garett bumped into Connors who was looking at the dragoness in awe and Connors nodded smiling at Shyvana.

Shyvana looked down at her hands opening and closing them watching as tiny scales crept along her knuckles then looked at Jarvan. He was smiling proudly and he nodded a silent thank you to this companions. Shyvana looked at Garett and genuinely smiled starting to chuckle.

"Thank you Garett, Connors, although you hardly have to be intimidated by me" Shyvana said bowing her head.

Jarvan placed a hand on her shoulder and handed her some food. She graciously accepted as her stomach began to rumble she blushed. Dagonett laughed at the dragoness and looked at Garett and Connors and winked.

Garett cleared his throat "Miss Shyvana would you mind if it asked you something"

Shyvana was in the middle of devouring her food her cheeks full. She looked up at Garett and blushed trying to swallow. She wiped her mouth and looked away nodding.

"You are a half dragon yes; can you turn into a dragon at will?" Garett said looking at the dragoness his eye glistening in the firelight as he leaned forward his head resting on his fists.

"I can answer than one lad, that would be a yes seen it for myself" Dagonett said winking at Shyvana as she swallowed another mouthful of food.

Jarvan watched as Shyvana quickly ate her portion of food sniffing the air and looking at his hunger gleaming in her eyes. He laughed and offered her his remaining food and she nodded her head sheepishly blushing. In less than two minutes she was finished and sighed with satisfaction leaning her head back to look into the sky. Jarvan chuckled at the happy dragoness and then at his companions.

"Holy lass, you eat more than any man I've ever met" Dagonett said teasing her.

Shyvana's head shot down and she narrowed her eyes at the lieutenant sticking her tongue out.

"Well I have to eat a lot to keep up my strength, it's like eating for two all the time" she laughed and patted her stomach.

Dagonett snorted and rolled his eyes "Umhm, don't complain when ya get fat lass"

"Dagonett are you calling the lady fat, and here you had us all believe you were quiet the charmer" Connors said snorting at the lieutenant.

"I never said she was fat, unlike some people present" Dagonett said looking at Connors grinning.

Connors snorted and slapped his stomach "I'm not fat ya old bastard this is all muscle"

Jarvan rolled his eyes and leaned back enjoying the warmth of the fire and the company surrounding him.

Garett was looking at Shyvana again intently, and Shyvana could feel his gaze she turned to him and rolled her eyes.

"Garett if there's something you want to ask just do it, I won't be offended" Shyvana said scratching the back of her head ruffling her long violet hair.

"Um well, I don't know much about dragon's miss, but I was curious about the horns, do you use them for fighting" he said moving his hands to mimic Shyvana's horns.

Shyvana looked at him blinking her face deadpanned. Jarvan exchanged looks between Garett and Shyvana and raised his eyebrow leaning forward waiting for her response. Shyvana tilted her head back and laughed heartily. She looked around the campfire at her companions faces they were all currently looking at her and she blushed clearing her throat.

"Horns are not like talons, so no they are not used for fighting. They are actually quite sensitive and are well used for mating" Shyvana said shrugging a blush tinging her pale cheeks.

Jarvan coughed and sat upright "What".

Garett and Connors sat looking at Shyvana confused looks plastered their faces and Dagonett boomed a hearty laugh.

Shyvana squirmed uncomfortably before clarifying "No, no, no not during the actual act. Do I seriously have to explain this to you guys, you are going to help me kill a dragon but you don't know anything about us as a species".

The men looked at each other and back at Shyvana and nodded together.

Shyvana inhaled and then sighed steam rising from the top of her head. "Alright, first off when a dragon chooses a mate they perform an aerial dance let's say that's when the horns come into play. The two dragons lock horns and plummet towards the ground together sealing their life bond" she said demonstrating with her hands as she spoke.

She looked around the group and scowled as confusion stared back at her.

"Humans are such an odd species" she mumbled.

"Speak for yourself lady I've never met a half dragon before" Connors said stretching his back popping.

"Well that's not unusual considering we are exceedingly rare most are killed at birth; in fact, I haven't heard of nor met a single Halfling in my life" Shyvana said clenching her teeth looking into the fire.

"So um how did you know you come about wouldn't your dad like crush your mom" Garett said awkwardly looking away from her.

Jarvan's face paled and he snorted "Seriously Garett, could we have a more inappropriate conversation"

Shyvana interrupted him with laughter "It's alright Jarvan, to answer your question Garett no my father did not harm my mother, he was a celestial dragon and could take the form of a human at any time. As for my conception, I assume it was like any normal act. From what I gather I look like a human rather than a dragon because my mother was human".

"I thought dragons laid eggs" Connors said furrowing his brow.

Shyvana snorted and shook her head "No, at least not all species do, our cousin's wyverns do however lay eggs"

"how many species of dragon are there?" Jarvan asked coming into the conversation looking at Shyvana intently his blue eyes sparkling.

"There are six species, ocean, cloud, infernal, mountain, elder and celestial. However, there are several subspecies. Each is different from the rest in appearance, abilities excreta" Shyvana said ticking off each type on her fingers.

Shyvana spent several hours explaining dragon anatomy to her companions Garett flooding her with questions. She explained that dragons can breathe fire thanks to a special sac inside their lungs that expelled flammable vaporous gas when they exhale as a dragon chests expands it super heats causing the glowing effect which in turn ignites the vapors. She explained that a dragon's horns are one of its weakness damaging them is extremely painful and can leave a dragon vulnerable. Maiming a dragon's wings means it cannot fly and a downed dragon is a dead dragon.

"Dragons have much more keen senses that humans, we are stronger, faster, have acute hearing, and a keen sense of smell, we can see in the dark and have heavily armored bodies our scales becoming more resistant to damage the hotter our flames become" Shyvana said blinking away sleep as the night progressed.

Connors was leaning on his hands his head bowing as he began to fall asleep, Garett however was keenly interested in Shyvana and was painting rapt attention to her every word.

"Dragon scale armor is some of the finest quality you can get but it's hardly invincible" Jarvan said looking down at the black scale amour adorning his body.

Shyvana snorted and looked at him a frown slipping onto her face "That's because the dragon you are wearing is dead"

Jarvan held his hands up and shook his head "I mean no offense shy; I hope you're not uncomfortable with this" he said gesturing to his armor with a sweep of his hand.

Shyvana shook her head "no its fine, I learned long ago to hate my dragon kin as they have hated me seeing their talons and skin used as protection doesn't faze me so long as no human dare take my horns as trophies".

"Jesus lass, the stories we heard as children are nothing compared to the real facts" Dagonett said yawning rising from beside the campfire stretching.

"That's because humans did not want to learn and dragons did not want to teach" Shyvana said watching Dagonett his yawning causing her to yawn flashing her long fangs and pearly white teeth.

"I hope this hasn't been boring for you all, I get carried away sometimes" Shyvana said lying back looking into the stars.

"Naw not at all lass, anything that helps us kill that bastard dragon is good information" Dagonett said waving his hand at her.

Jarvan nodded looking down at Shyvana stretched out on the ground a smile on her face. He felt himself smile as he watched her sigh happily.

"Well lass, I think it's off to bed for myself and Connors poor bastard is already snoring, how about you Garett? Ready for some shut eye? You got first watch captain?" Dagonett said slapping Garett on the shoulder.

Garett blinked and nodded getting up moving away from the campfire towards his bedroll. Dagonett moved to Connors and slapped him lightly on the cheek the other man snorting and stumbling upon being woken up. Connors looked at Dagonett and scowled before lumbering up and heading to bed. Dagonett turned to the prince and winked before grabbing his great sword and moving off.

"Shyvana are you alright?" Jarvan asked looking at the dragoness curled up beside him.

Shyvana hummed in response content to curl up beside him opening one eye peeking up at him.

"Can I just stay here for now" mischief sparkling in her eye.

"Are you not tired? Wouldn't you prefer to sleep in your tent?" Jarvan asked raising an eyebrow looking at Shyvana's face behind her long bangs.

Shyvana turned so her head was lying in Jarvan's lap she looked into the sky above his head. "I always preferred to sleep under the stars, if you don't mind I'd rather stay right here" she said smiling up at him.

"As you wish my lady" Jarvan said chuckling as Shyvana nestled into his side her long hair draping over his legs.

He looked around the campsite, his brothers in arms all settled for the night no one was watching the two of them. He smiled and pulled his cloak around Shyvana content to sit there with her, the warmth of the fire lulling him to sleep. He could get used to this.

…..

Not sure how I feel about this chapter but after much contemplation I felt I should just post it.