Chapter Eighteen: Qah

Shyvana and Garett returned to the group walking side by side discussing their bet. Shyvana was trying to instill some of her wisdom on the young man but he wasn't listening to her advice content to continue using his battle tactics. Shyvana shook her head and flicked Garett in the forehead snorting.

"I'm trying to help you, not insult you. I've lived in these woods for years and have come to learn a few things that would be helpful to you" she said circling around him smirking.

"Okay Shyvana for the last time, I think I did just fine back there. I mean c'mon I caught you didn't I" Garett said crossing his arms across his chest and blowing his bangs out of his eyes.

Shyvana frowned and walked beside him their steps falling in sync "Okay fair enough you did catch me however I slowed down, your footfalls are to heavy and you pant when you run"

Garett turned his head to look at the dragoness shock evident on his face "I do not pant and how exactly are my footfalls to heavy"

Shyvana laughed and shook her head playing with the ends of her long violet hair "You do, although I suppose you aren't really trained for long distance running yes? The use of that weapon requires agility not endurance. I will tell you that the armor you are wearing is improper for a hunter"

Garett looked at Shyvana and cocked his head then looked down at his armor and shrugged "I don't see anything wrong with it, I've always worn this armor"

Shyvana rolled her eyes and gestured to herself "Okay but your prey has changed its faster, stronger, smarter than the normal beasts you kill. The dragon won't go down easily and you'll have to be able to maneuver quickly and quietly to trick it and I want to help you. Take my armor for example its light and allows for maximum movement I'm not hindered by its weight and my footfalls are near silent no metal clanging around when I run"

Garett looked down at his armor and tugged at the heavy chest plate held in place with a large leather strap. Now that he thought about it his armor was heavy but all Demacian issued armor was. It allowed him to snipe from the back of the battle but also made him viable in hand to hand combat. He looked over at the dragoness walking in silence beside him and frowned. Shyvana barley had any armor on she wore a simple leather skirt, fur vest and fur greaves. He scratched his head.

"Um Shyvana you aren't really wearing armor" he said confused and tiny blush tinging his cheeks.

Shyvana looked at him and smiled "I don't really need it that's why, if I was to wear armor like yours for example and I transformed it would be ripped apart. Wearing simple furs and leathers allows me to change quickly. Besides I have natural armor the more I am consumed by rage the tougher my skin becomes."

Garett nodded his head in understanding. He had seen the dragoness call of her draconian strength and it both terrified and amazed him. She was a vicious beast at times and a caring friend. "So what do you suggest then" he said looking at her from the corner of his eye.

Shyvana stopped and looked at him scratching her chin. She walked her eyes up and down his body focusing on his armor and Garett could feel his ears begin to burn. Shyvana walked around him and smacked the back on his head gently laughing "Relax kid I'm not going to eat you"

Garett blew out a breath he didn't know he was holding in and chuckled. Shyvana moved in front of him and placed her hands on her hips and cocked her head to the side. "Well for starters you can lose the heavy pauldrons, gauntlets, tasset, greaves and sabatons. I noticed you don't wear a helmet which I suppose in your case is beneficial considering your eye sight. I would switch out the heavy metal armor for hardened leathers, not as much defense but lighter. I also recommend a dragon scale body suit under the armor not simple leather it will make up for some of the lost protection"

Garett looked at the dragoness dumbstruck "Uhh how do you know all this" he said gesturing to himself with a sweep of his hand.

Shyvana laughed "If you are referring to the armor I'm not a fool you know. Just because I'm half dragon doesn't mean I can't read. When you've lived as long as I have you pick up a text and learn."

Garett held up his hands "I meant no offense, I was just curious. So, you can read and write then?"

Shyvana looked at him and nodded "Yes of course, I am also fluent draconian and the common tongue. In case you were wondering. I'm not some uneducated beast, my father was a lord before he was banished so much of his knowledge was past to me"

Garett looked at the dragoness and smiled "I appreciate you trying to help me Shyvana, not much people would have faith in a half blind ranger"

Shyvana looked at Garett and smiled nodding her head "Of course I have faith in you, eyesight isn't the only thing required to be a proper hunter and from what I can tell you did just fine. You just need some minor improvements"

Garett rolled his eyes and snorted as Shyvana scraped her long nails across his pauldrons and pranced away towards the group gathered in the clearing waiting for them.

"Holy what took you so long had us worried that you might have killed each other" Dagonett said booming a hearty laugh as the two came into view.

Shyvana smiled and shook her head stopping beside Jarvan.

"Hardly" she laughed.

Jarvan looked down at the smiling dragoness and back at Garett who stopped beside Hart. Shyvana turned and looked at Jarvan "Shall we go" she said gesturing to their original path with a sweep of her hand. Jarvan nodded and flicked his head at Garett. Garett nodded and resumed his position at the front of the traveling party. Shyvana fell in beside Jarvan as they walked through the forest. Jarvan looked at the dragoness and frowned touching her arm gingerly.

"You are bleeding, wait why are you bleeding" he said narrowing his eyes at the young ranger in front of him.

Shyvana looked down at her arm and rolled her eyes "Oh that, it's nothing Garett shot me"

"WHAT" Jarvan yelled as he grabbed the young man by the cloak and pulled stopping everyone in their tracks.

Garett looked back at his captain and held his hands up shaking his head his good eye wide with fear "It's not what it looks like sir, she told me I could use my weapon I wasn't aiming to kill her or nothing I wanted to tag her so I could track her easier"

Shyvana laughed and touched Jarvan's shoulder "Please its nothing it doesn't really hurt, besides I did say he could use his weapon and it was a smart shot he caught me" she said looking over at Garett smiling apologetically.

Jarvan snorted as he released Garett and shook his head "Christ you two are crazy. Next time no weapons actually no more sparring"

Shyvana batted her eyelashes at him and pulled her lips into a full smile "Technically I don't use weapons does that mean we can spar Jarvan"

Jarvan looked down at the dragoness a coy smile spread across her face and he felt himself blush. He could hear his men laughing behind him and he frowned snorting "Let's get moving" he mumbled.

Dagonett trotted up beside the dragoness wiping away a tear and threw his arm around her shoulders "You lass, you have got to stick around after this whole bloody mess, I haven't laughed so hard in these last couple weeks than I have in years. Nice to have friends that share my sense of humor"

Shyvana looked at the older man and winked laughing along with him "You have yourself a deal old man"

….

The group walked for a few more hours while the sunlight still offered them enough light to navigate safely. Jarvan was annoyed that they couldn't travel further having wanted to stop for the night in the sleepy town of Uwendale but the sun was going down and his men couldn't travel by moonlight. So, they set up camp for the evening near a large rock formation. While everyone was asleep Shyvana crept silently up the slope of the rocks and came to sit at the top enjoying the bright starlight. The soft glow illuminating her delicate skin. She always liked basking in the glory of the stars it brought her great comfort often her father would join her and they would talk for hours.

Shyvana missed her father greatly and wrapped her arms around herself and placed her head on her knees. She peeked up into the dark night sky under her long bangs and inhaled blowing them up and away from her face. The night sky was a brilliant ebony color washed with millions of bright stars twinkling beautifully. This was the only place she could go to find serenity after her father's death, the last remaining way she could feel his presence. She looked up and smiled sadly as she spotted his great glowing star shining down on her. She inhaled and spoke softly to the night sky

"Bormah, father, I wish you were here with me. I miss you dearly, everything has changed since you passed. I met a group of humans who agreed to help me avenge you they accept me for what I am and I've grown attached to them. But I'm afraid father, afraid that they will to perish on my quest. I don't want anyone to die for me. I wish you could tell me the answers I wish I had your guidance your onikaan" she said her large violet eyes glowing in the darkness, wet tears streaking down her porcelain skin.

A soft breeze enveloped Shyvana and she felt warmth spread throughout her being. She smiled as it caressed her skin and blew her long hair gently about her. She looked up at the star illuminating her and wiped the tears from her face whispering a small thank you. She turned her head and inhaled when she heard a cracking behind her. She moved into a defensive position and her eyes began to glow reptilian slits appearing. She blew out a breath and growled in frustration when Jarvan came stumbling over the crest of the rocks.

"Christ, you startled me" she said sitting back down stretching her legs.

Jarvan looked at the dragoness in front of him a sheepish expression on his face "Apologies Shy, I didn't mean to sneak up on you, who were you talking to"

Shyvana sighed leaned back resting on her palms "I was talking to my father"

Jarvan looked around him and up at the sky then back at Shyvana and raised his eyebrows "Does he respond"

Jarvan sat down beside Shyvana and she looked over at him and punched him lightly in the shoulder "smart ass, of course he doesn't respond. But I still like to talk to him when the stars are shining brightly hoping that somewhere out there he can hear me It brings me comfort"

Jarvan nodded and leaned back coping Shyvana's posture "Tell me about him"

Shyvana looked at Jarvan surprise on her face "Do you really want to know"

"Of course, dragons are fascinating my mother told me tales of them when I was young" Jarvan said shrugging his shoulders.

Shyvana curled her legs up to her chest and nodded her head. "Well I'm not sure where to start really. As I've told you before he was a celestial dragon a very rare and powerful breed. He was thousands of years old and lived all over valoran however for most of my life we lived here in the great barrier. He met my mother travelling through one of the smaller Demacian farming towns. Most people feared my father for what he was but my mother wasn't afraid the two of them left together and eventually had me. When I was little my mother was killed and my father was left to look after me. He did his best but without a human to teach me I felt I lost that side of myself. He was wise and preferred wisdom of words over violence but he was no coward either. There's so many things I could say about him but I can't find the words to express how I'm feeling"

Jarvan looked at the dragoness as tears began to drip down her face as she looked up into the boundless night sky. He reached over to her and wiped them away and she nuzzled him warm hand "I'm sorry for your loss Shyvana I truly am"

"Thanks" she said sniffling.

Jarvan smiled at her and ruffled her hair on the top of her head. Shyvana shot him an annoyed glare and straightened her hair snorting. Jarvan laughed at her expression and relaxed laying back his hands behind his head "I wish I could see them as a dragon can"

Shyvana laid down beside him and turned her head looking at him curiously "See what like a dragon?"

Jarvan reached up and pointed at the stars and smiled "The stars, to fly to see them as you can"

Shyvana laughed lightly and placed her hand on his chest rolling over "Perhaps one day you will"

Jarvan raised an eyebrow and exhaled smirking "and how exactly am I doing to do that"

Shyvana looked into his steel blue eyes and smiled "Me"