Hello all, I know it's been awhile since I last wrote anything but I felt inspired this week, let me know what you think

cheers

Chapter 21: Wunduniik

Shyvana awoke to something warm and wet gently patting along her forehead and she groaned rolling her head to the side. She spread her fingers wide and patted along her prone body; she was lying in a soft bed and the faint smell of something feminine touched her senses as she inhaled. She cracked one eye open and was met with a warm smile and soft blue eyes of a young woman.

Shyvana blinked and tried to sit up a wet cloth sliding off her forehead and down onto her lap, her throat was dry and her voice cracked as she opened her mouth to speak.

"Easy it's alright, miss I mean you no harm" the woman said placing her hand gently on Shyvana's shoulders to steady her as she sat up.

Shyvana groaned as she rolled her sore muscles, pain shooting up her back "Where am I, where are my friends?" she asked her voice harsher than she meant it to be.

The woman recoiled slightly and placed her hands in her lap giving the dragoness a timid smile "After you killed the dragon, the men you were with brought you back into the village. You were very hurt and needed medical attention so I helped you"

Shyvana turned and looked at her and cocked her head "Why?"

The woman sighed and bit her lip before meeting Shyvana's gaze "Because you saved my daughter in the fire, she's alive because of your bravery. I couldn't turn them away when they asked for help even if you are a little different"

Shyvana snorted and stood up wobbling only slightly before righting herself; she turned and faced the woman looking at her more clearly "Ah yes I remember now, your child I heard her crying in that burning house. Is she, all right?"

The woman smiled and stood up as a young girl came tumbling into the room her golden curls springing as she moved toward the two older women. She smiled up at her mother and Shyvana felt her own lips curl into a smile at the sight. The little girl looked up at the dragoness and beamed waving her hands in the air to be picked up.

Shyvana blinked down at the toddler and then flicked her eyes towards her mother who was watching the interaction closely.

"Dargon lady, pay wit me" she smiled her rosy cheeks and blue eyes sparkled as she looked into Shyvana's violet eyes.

The girl's mother gasped and tutted her child, giving the dragoness an apologetic look as she moved to pick up her daughter. Shyvana sighed and kneeled to meet the girls eye and gave her a gentle smile

"Hello little one, what is your name?" She said as the toddler grabbed onto one of her horns.

Shyvana inhaled sharply at the contact but remained calm as it was only a child that didn't know better. The little girl laughed as she tugged on her horn jostling Shyvana's long hair, the girl's mother moved to her daughter and gently picked her up apologizing profusely to Shyvana.

The dragoness sighed and stood up "No its perfectly fine, I remember as a young child doing the exact same thing to my own father."

The woman blinked at her in shocked then smiled nodding her head "So your father was like you then, a dragon?" she asked.

Shyvana frowned and looked down at her hands before meeting her eye "He was a dragon mam I am not, at least not fully"

The woman wiggled her nose and heaved her daughter higher on her hip as the toddler struggled and reached her arms out towards Shyvana.

"Hannah that's enough, leave the poor lady alone" she said her voice stern as she looked at her chubby toddler.

Hannah pouted and started to cry when Shyvana sighed and reached her arms out towards her. the woman looked at her surprised and cautiously handed her, her daughter.

"Are you sure?" she asked timidly as Hannah grabbed onto Shyvana

Shyvana winced slightly as the toddler's chubby fingers dug into the tender skin on her back and shoulder. She looked over at the worried mother and smiled weakly "I haven't held many children, in fact your daughter is probably the first, I'm sorry if I'm doing it wrong"

The woman laughed and shook her head "you are a natural miss, look she's not even fussing anymore"

Shyvana smiled nervously and looked down at the little blond girl weaving her tiny hands through her long violet hair giggling to herself. She shifted the child's weight on her hip and looked down at her attire only noticing for the first time; she looked up at the other woman in question. As if reading her mind, she answered.

"You weren't um, how do I put this delicately…..exactly wearing anything when that tall young man brought you to me" she said her cheeks colored pink at the memory

Shyvana paled slightly then laughed startling the other woman "I apologize mam, that tends to be the result of my transformations. I can't convince my clothes to stay in one piece…..but I have to ask did the others see me….you know?"

The woman blinked at her and then understanding donned on her and she shook her head slightly "Oh no miss your husband covered you up to the best of his ability with a slightly burnt cloak, would you like it back?"

Shyvana felt a blush creep onto her cheeks and she shook her head slightly earing a whine of protest from Hannah who was tangling her fingers in the dragonesses hair. "He's not my….anyways no that's fine I don't need it, did I have anything else on me when he brought me to you?" she asked hopefully her soft violet eyes sparkling with hope.

"No miss, not that I'm aware of" she said sadly as Shyvana's face fell "But the others might have" she said trying to cheer her up.

"Where are they" Shyvana asked

The woman smiled and moved towards an open doorway away from the bedside "This way miss"

Shyvana smiled and followed the young woman through a tiny house, the walls and floor made of a dark wood that reminded Shyvana of her home as a young girl living with her mother and father. There was a faint scent of something cooking wafting through the house and she felt her stomach rumble, blushing as Hannah giggled and babbled to her wrapping an arm around Shyvana's muscled back. She turned her attention back towards the young woman whose long blond hair was bouncing much like her daughters as she walked in front of her. Shyvana felt overwhelmed being inside a human home again with people she was unfamiliar with, but who seemed perfectly comfortable around her despite her appearance; even entrusting her with her offspring.

The woman turned into a large open room that housed several large pieces of furniture around a hearty fire and several men sat around talking amongst themselves. Shyvana smiled and felt her heart beat hasten as she studied the faces of her friends, very much alive and laughing with each other joined in by another man whom she did not recognize.

"Edwin" the young woman said clearly her throat as she stood behind a large dusty brown piece of furniture.

The men all stopped talking and turned to look at the young woman; the man named Edwin smiled brightly and moved to engulf the small woman in a massive hug; Shyvana cocked her head to the side and watched the interaction moving into the room slightly behind them.

Edwin smiled as he let his wife go "She's awake eh Alena, and look she has our little one"

Alena moved and looked over her shoulder at Shyvana who was reddening at the attention and "Indeed she's well, I'm amazed at how fast she's healed"

"Shyvana, thank god yer alright lass, Cap here wouldn't shut up fussing about ya the whole time" Dagonett said prodding Jarvan who was sitting beside him in the ribs a smile on his face.

Jarvan groaned and shook his head, before looking up at the dragoness and smiling "I'm glad you are alright Shyvana"

Garett turned and looked over his shoulder at the dragoness and smirked waggling his eyebrows at her "Didn't know dragons had a way with kids Shyvana, they tend to be quite ornery"

Connors who was beside Garett smacked him lightly in the back of the head ruffling the young man's blond hair. He looked at the dragoness and frowned "Don't take anything he says to heart, he's full of it, you look mighty comfortable with a little lass on yer hip"

Shyvana groaned and handed Hannah back to her mother after a particularly painful hair pull and moved to stand behind Garett who was looking at her sheepishly "I'll have you know dragon mothers are the most caring in all of Valoran, and the most protective of their young."

Garett smirked and looked at the dragoness standing behind him "what about half dragons eh fireball, you eat your babies I bet" he snickered and ducked as Shyvana swung at his head.

She snorted and rolled her eyes "Actually I have no idea what other half-dragons do since I have never met another but I can say I would never eat my children you imbecile"

Edwin and Alena stared at the group in bewilderment as they bickered back and forth and sighed as the young blond man got clubbed in the back of the head several times as he jested at the dragoness. Edwin sighed and moved to sit back down beside the fire his daughter curled up in his lap.

"Shyvana its you I take it we have to thank for saving our village, and the life of my daughter from that beast" he said frowning at the thought of the white dragon destroying the town.

Shyvana grimaced and clenched her fists tightly "I'm sorry I could not have killed her sooner more would surely have survived"

Edwin cleared his throat and looked at her right in the eyes "No miss you and these fine men saved our village, saved my girls, we owe you everything. The dragon might have destroyed many homes but most remain unharmed thanks to your heroics."

Shyvana nodded her head and turned toward Jarvan "Nevonaar is likely almost to the mountains, how long have I been out, we need to move and find him"

Jarvan nodded and turned his attention towards Edwin "Have there been any sightings of a large black dragon moving North East towards the ironspike mountains, have any Demacian patrols reported anything unusual?"

Edwin frowned and pondered for a moment slowly shaking his head "I'm not sure, several attacks against neighboring villages have occurred but that has mostly been wyvern and some crag beasts. It's possible but I'll have to ask my men stationed here if they have seen anything unusual"

Shyvana cocked her head to the side folding her arms over her chest "wait you are a soldier, in the Demacian army" she said surprised.

Edwin nodded and smiled "I would salute miss but I can get up at the moment, Captain Edwin Moorine 1st Uwendale Battalion, Unicor Company"

Shyvana felt panic rise in her chest as she flicked her eyes between the solider and Jarvan who was sitting across from him. She clenched her fists together as a wave of heat poured from her body and billowed her hair.

Jarvan watched as the dragoness became visibly distressed and spoke "Easy Shyvana, the captain here has agreed to keep our visit confidential for the time being, however I'm sure word will travel that we have been seen in these parts"

"So, no one will try to stop us Jarvan?" she asked confused

Edwin chuckled "on the contrary miss, I am here to aid you. My wife has seen to your health and I will see that you are resupplied before your departure"

Alena looked at her husband and then the black haired man across from him to the lovely violet haired dragoness a frown on her face "Edwin are you telling me we are in the company of Jarvan as in the prince of Demacia, and wait that makes you soldiers and you miss….oh lord I'm sorry if I offended you earlier I didn't mean to assume"

Shyvana smiled and shook her head as the men eyed them curiously "No need for apologies you didn't know, besides a girl can dream" she said winking at Alena.

"Are we missing something lass?" Dagonett said confused at the mischief sparkled in Shyvana's eyes.

Shyvana snorted and rolled her eyes "Hardly Dag, its nothing"

"We should go sir" Hart prodded standing up stretching, his eyes meeting Shyvana's briefly before he turned and left the room.

Jarvan pulled his lips into a thin line and exhaled heavily through his nose resisting the urge to ruffle his long ebony hair. "Very well, we leave at once, Dagonett, Garett go with Captain Moorine and gather supplies, Connors see to finding us some horses, Shyvana would you mind finding us some provisions, I will go after Hart"

"Excuse me Sire, but we have a small farm and have several strong mounts if you wish to use them" Alena said moving to her husband and taking Hannah from his lap.

Jarvan smiled and nodded "That would be appreciated but we will certainly have to compensate you"

Connors nodded and pulled several golden coins from his tunic and handed them to the young woman.

Alena tried to refuse but her husband placed a hand on her shoulder and shook his head "Thank you sir, we will put this to good use, Alena can lead you to the stables and I will assist your men"

Jarvan agreed and left with Dagonett and Garett leaving Shyvana Connors and Alena alone in the house. Alena smiled and shifted her sleeping daughter in her arms "Right, well then if you'll follow me my Lady il show you were you can purchase supplies"

Shyvana blushed slightly and nodded feeling uncomfortable with the title and rolled her eyes as Connors laughed.

"Actually miss, I think that perhaps I should go into town and fetch the food stuff, while you take my lady here to the horses that was she doesn't disturb the locals" he said winking at the dragoness who huffed in response.

"Thanks Connors, way to remind me that I stick out" she said crossing her arms

Alena looked back and forth between the two and nodded in agreement "Very well, Mr. Connors. Come miss il take you"

Shyvana snorted and followed the young woman turning to look over her shoulder at the large burly soldier and stuck her tongue out at him as he winked. Alena lead her to a stable not far from the tiny house and stopped to unlatch the heavy wooden doors, setting a sleepy Hannah down on the soft hay. As soon as the doors opened Shyvana could smell the strong odor of animals and sweat mixed with dung and her draconian senses her overloaded momentarily. She exhaled heavily to rid of the smell and followed Alena inside. The young blond woman motioned to several large muscled horses of varying coat color and smiled at Shyvana.

"I know there's not enough of them for all you but you are welcome to take these four, when you have reached your destination just set them loose they'll find their way back home" she said happily patting a dark chestnut horse on the nose lovingly.

Shyvana stepped closer to the giant animal and her violet eye passed over the dark chocolate colored eye of the beast. It brayed wildly and reared panicked at her presence and Alena stepped back in freight.

"I don't know what's wrong with her" she said alarmed.

Shyvana frowned and clenched her fists "I do" she said darkly "they are afraid of what I am, I am a predator and they are the prey"

Alena looked at the dragoness and stepped back subconsciously "You won't hurt them will you"

Shyvana felt her heart sink at the level of fear that managed to slip into the woman's voice "Of course not, but I believe I will be unable to ride"

Alena sighed and stepped forward to calm to panicked beast her voice soft as she cooed gently stroking its nose. Shyvana stepped back out of the stable and into the warm sunlight of the early morning. She looked over her shoulder at the young woman who was saddling the horses and frowned slightly. She watched until Alena had finished and went back inside to take the reins of two large black stallions leading them out of the stables. She kept her head down and eyes downcast to not alarm the horses and watched as Alena walked into the village to fetch her companions.

The soft breathing and pawing of the horses behind her was beginning to irritate her and she wished that her friends would hurry up so she could distance herself from the large beasts whose very scent was driving her predatory instincts crazy. Finally after several minutes sitting with four reins in hand Dagonett Garett and Jarvan returned.

"Only four horses, but there are six of us" Garett said a frown on his face.

Dagonett smacked him on the back "Well then lad, we will just have to pair up wont we"

"But who has to ride together" Garett whined moving towards the dark chestnut mare.

Shyvana rolled her eyes and handed off the reins happy to move away from the animals and stretched out her sore muscles "Well I won't be riding when I can fly" she said mischievously looking over her shoulder at Garett's moping face.

Garett twitched his nose and crossed his arms over his armored chest smirking at the dragoness "any chance you'd let me catch a ride dragoness, always wanted to try my hand at flying"

"More like falling on yer arse lad" Dagonett chuckled stepping up to a large black stallion filling the saddle bags with supplies.

Garett narrowed his eyes and sulked looking from the lieutenant back to the dragoness his good eye sparkling. Shyvana shook her head in frustration "I'm not a horse Garett, and id hardly think you'd be able to handle flying on the back of a dragon"

"Please, I could ride you anytime" Garett said smugly ducking as a ball of brilliant violet fire passed over his head as the others burst into laughter.

Shyvana placed her hands on her hips her cheeks tinged a healthy pink and smiled at the tracker baring her fangs "What was that?"

"Uhh, nothing I didn't mean it like that jeez, Dag stop laughing" Garett stammered shooting the lieutenant a dirty look.

"Do you ever stop to think before you open your mouth" Jarvan said pinching the bridge of his nose.

Garett laughed lightly and shook his head "Nope not really"

Shyvana snorted, steam rising from the top of her head "Clearly, anyway I won't be needing a horse, creatures like that tend to not agree with me" she said motioning to the distressed beasts as she gazed at them her lavender eyes sweeping over them.

Jarvan looked from the dragoness to the animals and nodded "Very well but, only once we have passed through Demacian territory don't want to scare and villagers"

Shyvana rolled her eyes but nodded "Okay, fine….its been so long since I've been able to stretch my wings can we get a move on already"

"Once Connors and Hart have arrived" Jarvan said

"Miss Shyvana?" Connors called as he approached the group several parcels in hand.

Shyvana turned and raised a brow, her long hair tumbling over her shoulders "Yes?"

Connors turned and handed an arm full of supplies to Hart who was trailing behind him; then turned and walked to the dragoness digging into one of the pockets of his tunic. He pulled out something long and slender that shone a brilliant golden color. Shyvana beamed at him when he presented her with the golden horn of her father shining beautifully in the morning light. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him, making the large man stumble back a step. She let him go and smiled so brightly her eyes twinkling with fresh tears.

"Thank you so much, I thought I'd lost it when Maar attacked" she said cradling the last remaining piece of her father.

Connors smiled "well once the beast attacked and I was burned pretty bad, Garett stayed back to aid me. when I was fit to stand, he left to follow the rest of ya and I found yer bag torn apart, that golden horn and this lovely pendant were laying in the grass a ways away" he said brightly holding up a twinkling pendant.

Shyvana felt hot tears spring from her eyes as she cradled the starlight pendant in her palm nodding her head at Connors who was blushing at her gratitude. Her father's horn and her mother's pendant were back in her possession "I can't thank you enough" she whispered

Connors smiled "Think nothing of it lass"

"Well girly, don't go losing those again, might want to keep em safe. Since you tend to explode when your angry the whole dragon thing and all" Dagonett laughed sliding up into the saddle.

"Okay lets get moving shall we" Hart grunted stepping up beside a white mare and pulled himself into the saddle.

"Right, okay listen up we only have four mounts and six, well five of us have to ride, Connors you will ride alone, Garett your paired up with Hart Dagonett and myself will take the stallions, and Shyvana if you get tired you'll ride with Dagonett" Jarvan said addressing his men.

Everyone agreed and mounted up, newly supplied they started off toward the Ironspike mountains leaving the tiny village of Uwendale behind them.