Chapter Sixteen: Vopraan-piin

Sunlight trickled through the treetops and the soft sound of birds chirping enveloped the morning the forest serene. Jarvan awoke to the sound of faint snoring, he opened his eyes and realized that he had fallen asleep beside the fire the night before. His muscles were stiff from sleeping in an odd position and he lifted his arms to stretch. Something stirred beside him and he looked down to see large violet horns peeking through the top of his cloak. The warm bundle beside him began to move and vivid glowing eyes greeted him from under the cloak.

Shyvana awoke when Jarvan started moving clearing having woken up she peeked through the cloak locking eyes with him. His hair was messy and he needed a shave but when he smiled warmly at her Shyvana blushed and ducked under the cloak again. Jarvan laughed at the dragoness and grabbed the cloak pulling it away from her face. Her long lavender hair was tossed around her, several strands wrapped around her slender horn. She batted her eyelashes at him and yawned flashing her fangs. She smiled happily at him nestling into his side.

"Good morning prince" she said quietly looking into his blue eyes.

"Good morning lady dragon" he said smiling at her, her large eyes twinkling in the morning light.

Shyvana giggled the sound sweet and light and rose from his lap leaning on her hands looking at his face. Jarvan felt heat rising to his face as the dragoness leaned closer to him her face mere inches from his own. She raised her hand and gingerly touched his face, pulling away when he went rigid against her touch. She frowned and pulled her hand back and went to move away. Jarvan reached up and grabbed her hand and felt his pulse quicken. Shyvana looked at his hand and blinked before breaking into a small smile. Jarvan released her hand and looked down pain lingering in his steel blue eyes.

Shyvana ducked her head to look at his face "I'm sorry if I overstepped my boundaries"

Jarvan shook his head and looked at her, her beautiful face laced with concern. "Its fine shy, its just that im not used to being close to anyone"

Shyvana moved away cocking her head to the side clearly confused "I can move if you'd like, all you had to do was ask".

Jarvan chuckled and looked at the confused dragoness and small smile tugging at his lips "No I didn't mean physically close I meant emotionally close. Everyone that I care about ends up dying and I don't want you to get hurt".

Shyvana snorted and touched his face, his stubble rough against her smooth palm. "You have no idea what that means to me. I've only ever had one person care about me in my life. Don't be afraid of me getting hurt it'll take a lot to take me down one of the perks of being a half dragon" she said one corner of her mouth pulled into a smirk.

Jarvan blinked and felt his heart pound in his chest his cheek tingling were Shyvana's palm was resting. He closed his eyes and exhaled as she pulled her hand away and broke into a smile its warmth reaching his eyes and he felt himself relax the very presence of the dragoness bringing him comfort. He opened his eyes to see Shyvana's face her full lips pulled into a beautiful smile and he felt the urge to close the distance between them and taste those lips.

Get ahold of yourself he thought to himself as he ruffled his long dark hair pushing his helmet forward on his face. Shyvana laughed and moved onto her knees kneeling in front of Jarvan she placed her hands on his crown and pulled it off his head.

"Shy what are you doing" he asked felling uncomfortable without his helmet on.

Shyvana rolled her eyes at him and studied the golden crown in her hands rubbing the beautiful sapphire gem that adorned the center. She looked at Jarvan and studied his face without his helmet on she could distinguish that he was very ruggedly handsome. She smiled at him and placed it back on his head watching as he fixed it into place.

"It's beautifully crafted is it the crown you wear in Demacia?" she asked looking at him.

Jarvan snorted and crossed his arms across his chest. "No very seldom do I wear my actual crown; this is my regular helmet my father thought it would be fitting for it to resemble a crown to establish my authority and position. However, the talons are of my own creation an added bit of flare"

Shyvana rolled her eyes and lifted her hand into the air talons erupting from her small hand "Oh how very menacing".

Jarvan laughed and brushed Shyvana's horn with his fingertips moving away strands of tangled violet hair "Not everyone can be so naturally predatory".

Shyvana shivered when he touched her horn and blushed turning her head away from him steam billowing from her nose as she exhaled. She got up and moved away from him only first noticing that lieutenant Dagonett was awake and across the fire from them this only furthered her blushing as she quickly scampered away to her own tent.

Jarvan watched as the dragoness blushed furiously and moved away from him and headed to her tent. He cocked and eyebrow at her and stood crackling his back. He whipped his head around when he heard Dagonett boom out a hearty laugh.

"Dagonett, when did you get up I didn't see you there" Jarvan said approaching the older man sitting down beside the fire.

"Oh you know I've been awake the entire time. Saw you getting cuddly with our little fire ball and thought I'd give you a moment.

Jarvan coughed and leaned forward looking at the lieutenant his eyes wide "Pardon"

"Oh you heard me cap, don't worry I like the lass bout time you picked someone who could keep up with ya. Demacian women are too soft" Dagonett laughed at the young man.

"Lieutenant watch what you say" Jarvan grimaced narrowing his eyes at his subordinate.

Dagonett held up his hands and smirked "I wasn't the one locking horns over there with the lass son. Might want to think before you go ahead and do something you'll regret"

"What are you talking about Dag?" Jarvan asked confusion plastering his face.

Dagonett rose his eyebrows and pretended to stroke a set of horns above his head laughing at the dumbstruck look on his captain's face "from what she told us yesterday might as well have gone and slapped her ass lad".

Jarvan eyes went wide as he recalled the conversation from the day previous his face turning scarlet he never thought about it but he didn't have horns either. "Oh gods do you think I offended her" he said slapping his open palm against his face rubbing his eyes.

Dagonett looked behind Jarvan at the dragoness who was busying herself with packing up her camp a blush still decorating her pale skin. She turned and looked at Dagonett and smiled as he winked at her and flicked his eyes downward toward Jarvan.

"Naw lad I think if anyone offended the dragoness they would probably de dead right now" Dagonett said looking at Jarvan slapping him on the back.

Shyvana joined the group sitting down stretching her long legs.

"Well good morning miss Shyvana, having a good morning thus far" Dagonett said twitching his eyebrows.

Shyvana snorted and blew a tiny fireball above his head laughing as the lieutenant ducked.

"it's been lovely up until now, it seems present company pales to previous" she teasing Dagonett.

Dagonett held his hand up to his heart in mock despair and chuckled. Jarvan rolled his eyes as the two joked with each other. Garett, Connors, and Hart soon joined the group the six of them content to sit in silence as they ate the remaining food caught from the night previous. Jarvan passed a mug of steaming hot liquid to Shyvana and she accepted sniffing the dark liquid.

"What is it?" she asked quizzically dipping her tongue into the beverage.

Jarvan raised an eyebrow at the dragoness as he took a sip of his own "It's called coffee have you never had it before?"

Shyvana shook her head and looked down into the muddy brown beverage. She took a small sip and sighed it was strong but contain a rich flavor. She immediately began to gulp it down small dribbles of coffee spilling over the edge of the mug onto her fur clothing. He lowered the mug when she emptied the contents and sighed happily steam billowing out her nostrils. Jarvan looked at the dragoness and chuckled surprised that she could drink it so quickly without burning her mouth.

"Lord lass doesn't that burn your mouth" Dagonett said bringing his mug up to his lips.

Shyvana shook her head vigorously "Heat doesn't really bother me I'm fireproof after all"

"Wait you are completely fire proof" Garett said cocking his eyebrow at the dragoness.

"essentially yes" she said shrugging.

Hart snorted and mumbled under his breath getting to his feet. he stretched and picked up his sword sheathing it and fastened his large shield to his back "Alright enough chatting, captain are we ready to move out"

Jarvan held up his hand as he gulped down the last of his coffee and sighed nodding his head "Let's move out. Garett Shyvana if you wouldn't mind picking up the trail of the beast the rest of us will follow your lead"

"If I do recall correctly lass I believe Garett challenged you to hunt of sorts did he not" Dagonett said getting up smirking as he poured the rest of the coffee on the fire putting it out.

Shyvana rubbed her chin and smiled devilishly summoning her draconian strength her eyes glowed a brilliant purple "As a matter of fact I believe he did".

Garett looked back and forth between Dagonett and Shyvana and smiled smugly "I did, and I still think I can win"

Jarvan got up and rolled his shoulders yawning he grabbed his lance and fastened it to his back. His companions were all looking at him for approval mischief sparkling in Shyvana's eyes and Garett smiling coyly. Jarvan rolled his eyes as he walked past them to pack up what supplies he had left.

"Go ahead" he said waving his hand.