Chapter 24: Sahlos
The wind whipped past her long slender body, ruffling her thick mane of hair, creating a whooshing sound as she streamlined down, towards her prey. Her wings tucked in toward her body, sheltering her passenger as they descended, she could feel his hands gripping her hair, and the cool metal of his armor along her neck, she blinked covering her large reptilian eye with its protective inner lid as the wind picked up speed. Her draconian instincts told her exactly where to dive to catch her prey, she could smell the scent and hear the faintly beating heart, the loud exhale of horses and the stomping of metal hooves.
"Shyvana wait" Jarvan called, squeezing his thighs together in attempt to clutch onto the dragoness smooth scaly neck, his fists wound tightly in her hair. His heart was racing, as the canopy of leaves and branches grew ever closer, and yet she dove still.
Shyvana inhaled and smirked at Jarvan's voice echoing atop her back, she understood that he was likely afraid having never travelled this way before, but she knew her limits and she wanted to pay Garrett back for his behavior.
"Hang on" she roared playfully and crashed through the treetops, her massive armored skull, snapping branches like twigs, as she maneuvered her long body through the foliage. She was above him now, and he was looking up at her, blue eyes afraid as she lunged in one quick motion stealing Garrett from his saddle. She could hear the stallion's frantic cries as its rider disappeared from its back, the Impending danger causing it to rear back and whinny wildly.
She was clutching Garrett in her hind forepaw, massive black talons wrapping up the blonde archer in a deadly prison. She unfolded her wings just enough and pumped to gain altitude before they crashed into the forest floor, careful to keep her hindleg bent and close to her stomach to avoid crushing him to death.
Jarvan was breathing heavily, as they crashed through the treetops again and Shyvana spread her wings wide, leveling them out. He wasn't prepared for her spontaneous aerial assault on his companion, and he almost fell off several times as her body crashed through trees, leaves slapping as his face. He took a deep breath and sat upright releasing his death grip on her neck to lean down and watch Garrett flail wildly in her massive foot.
"Please Shy, let me go" Garrett cried, struggling to free himself from her grip. One hand was pinned at his side and the other was sticking out between her talons. He felt himself swallow hard and force himself to look down, almost instantly snapping his eyes shut, his heart beating wildly in his chest.
Shyvana looked down at her prey curled in her large foot and snorted, sending billows of smoke crashing around him. She sneered pulling her lips up to reveal her long teeth, before speaking.
"If you insist" she hissed and almost instantly opened her claws letting Garrett drop, his small body falling through the open air. his screams echoed through the forest and Shyvana rolled her eyes, as she almost lazily, tucked her wings and plummeted after him, her more aerodynamic body easily passing his flailing arms and legs to scoop him onto her large back.
Jarvan quickly grabbed ahold of his friend and hauled him to safety in the middle of Shyvana's back. He stared down at his friend whose hair was sticking up at odd angles and his face pale as snow. He felt himself smirk at his normally cocky friend, who was clearly terrified.
"And here I thought you could handle anything Garrett" he smirked smacking the younger man hard on the back.
Garrett was in a daze and as soon as Jarvan's heavy hand smacked him, he gutted forward and almost lost his balance, his hands gripping uselessly on Shyvana's smooth leathery back. His hand brushed against her dark purple mane and clutched at it hard, the dragoness groaning and rolling her shoulders in discomfort.
"It's alright Garrett she's not going to hurt you" Jarvan laughed
Garrett flicked his eyes towards his captain and frowned trying to adjust his legs to feel more comfortable "Easy for you to say, cap, you have your legs wrapped around her neck"
Jarvan cocked his head to the side and turned to look down at his lap. His legs were on either side of her massive neck, one hand lightly holding onto her mane of hair, the other resting on her leathery skin. The entire image was odd, it reminded him of riding a horse and he hoped Shyvana was not offended by his actions. He turned back to Garrett who was tucking his legs under himself and clutching at the dragonesses hair to stay still as she drifted through the air. the ranger looked up and smiled sheepishly as he sat back on his heels and shrugged his shoulders "Sorry about what I said today cap, I was only pokin fun didn't mean nothing by it"
Jarvan sighed and ran his fingers through his dark hair and shrugged "Its fine, Garrett, just watch your mouth, out here in the wilds it doesn't matter but when we get back to Demacia its forbidden, are we clear"
Garrett nodded his head absentmindedly and looked over his captain's shoulders to stare at the vast open air surrounding them. He could see the crest of Shyvana's massive head, her long slender horns curving up, and the course purple mane of hair rustling in the wind. Her ebony scales shone in the sunlight, and he could see the sides of her massive face, her violet eyes shining brightly. It was a spectacular sight to behold, and he whipped his head around to watch as they sailed through the sky. It was so blue, and beautiful, and he felt himself smiling.
"This is amazing" he mumbled to himself.
Jarvan felt himself grin as his friend's admission, and he ran his hand down Shyvana's neck. He's right this is amazing, I've never felt so alive in all my life. You truly are an amazing creature shy
…..
Shyvana could feel herself growing tired, as she pumped her wings to keep upright, the added weight of not only Jarvan but Garrett making it hard for her to fly for long periods of time. Occasionally she would stoop lower towards the trees and rustle the leaves with her tail, causing a cascade of leaves to descend towards Dagonett, Hart and Connors still riding the horses below them. she enjoyed flying, the feeling of weightlessness as she soared through the air, the smell of the forest and the whistling of the air made her feel free. She could hear in the distance the thundering of clouds and the smell of rain and she knew a storm would be upon them soon. Bad weather was nothing for a dragon flying alone, as she could normally fly above the thundering clouds and her leathery skin was quiet waterproof, but with her friends on her back she didn't want to risk them injuring themselves trying to hold onto her during the gusts of wind and the sting of rain.
"There's a storm coming" she rumbled, turning her head to peer at her companions, talking happily atop her back.
Jarvan turned and faced her, his eyes focusing somewhere in the distance and he nodded his head in agreeance "We need to join the others"
Shyvana sighed, sending billows of smoke from her nostrils high above her head. The smell of Sulphur enveloping them and she rolled her eyes as Garrett waved his hand wildly in front of his face. She turned her long neck around and peered down at the forest below, slowly decreasing her speed as she unfolded her wings to glide down safely. She watched as the small forms of Dagonett and Hart grew as she neared the ground, deciding to land in a small clearing just outside the surrounding tree line. Her large clawed feet touched down first, creating a plume of dust to shoot up around her as she landed with a heavy thud. She could hear the grunting protests coming from her passengers and she rolled her shoulders, causing them to stumble on her back as she laughed a deep rumbling sound.
Her muscles were quivering from exertion and she wanted to desperately transform and curl up around a hot fire and fall asleep, but she waited patiently as Garrett slid down her back off her tail a triumphant smile on his face as his leather boots touched ground. She watched him drop to his knees and place an exaggerated kiss on the ground, before shooting up and wiping his mouth as he spits up dirt. She rolled her massive eyes and craned her neck to watch Jarvan stand up and stretch on her shoulders, his golden armor glistening in the failing light. He dropped his arms and smiled at her, sliding down her back in the same fashion as Garrett his metal boots thudding on the ground as he stopped himself.
"That was amazing shy" he said turning to face the dragoness, a genuine smile on his face.
Shyvana nodded and yawned, opening her massive maw to display her pearly teeth, her thick pink tongue curled to the back of her throat as her chest expanded with air, glowing a faint purple color.
Jarvan watched her with interest, she was the oddest creature he had ever met, in her human form she appeared so fragile, and yet under that visage lay a beast lurking behind violet eyes, and long silky hair, porcelain skin and full lips, a beautiful but deadly woman. In her dragon form, she was massive, powerful, sleek, and slender with dark ebony scales that glistened in the dying light of day. She could destroy them all with a breath, the most powerful person he had ever met, yet not destructive or deadly at all, just completely misunderstood. To him she wasn't some monster or abomination, nor a beast to be tamed but a young woman who fought to protect everything she held dear to her heart. He watched as she tucked her wings to her sides and lower herself to the ground, her long elegant neck sweeping towards the tree line as the pounding of hooves snapped him from his trance.
"Lord las, you put on quite the show" Dagonett said, pulling on the reins of his horse, stopping the animal beside Jarvan.
Shyvana smiled weakly "My father used to say flying was a privilege" he deep voice rumbling within her chest at the thought of her father.
Dagonett nodded and reached down to hand Jarvan his lance, his other hand holding onto a small bundle of clothing. "Here lass, I got your things for you. Kept em safe"
Shyvana grinned "Thank you" she said, her voice changing octaves as soft light enveloped her and her form began to shrink, waves of heat crashing against the men as she transformed.
Dagonett tossed Shyvana's clothing at Jarvan who caught them midair a confused look on his face as his lieutenant smirked at him. he was about to open his mouth and ask why he hadn't given them to Shyvana instead but his companion cut him off "Help her lad, better than any o us doing it, getting burned" he winked and snapped the reins, leading the group away from the clearing.
Garrett stomped beside Jarvan's horse reaching out to grabs the reins and pull himself up, when a heavy hand grabbed him by the cuff of the collar and hauled him off his feet, throwing him unceremoniously atop the saddle behind a large metal shield. He frowned and exhaled heavily peering over the top of the shield to look at the back of Hart's bald head. "Oh, great I get to ride with Hart"
Hart grunted and rolled his shoulders, slamming the smaller man behind him with his heavy shield "Keep talking ranger and you'll find yourself walking" he could hear the man sigh and close his mouth much to his surprise. His dark eyes scanning ahead to find the lieutenant watching them a smirk on his face as he rolled his eyes at them. Connors was beside Dagonett the large man, smiling as well atop his white mare.
"C'mon let's get a move on already" Hart grumbled and kicked his horse into a cantor.
…..
"Here let me help you up" Jarvan offered awkwardly as she slowly approached the now very small and very naked Shyvana curled up on the forest floor. Her skin was pale and her long violet hair cascaded around her shoulders and settled on the earth below her. She peeked up at him from behind her bangs, her eyes bright and she nodded once extending a slender hand out towards him. Jarvan swallowed and reached down taking her tiny hand in his armored one, pulling her to her feet in one swoop. He tried his best not to look at her, his cheeks hot, as she stood before him, eyes alight
"well turn around" she snickered, one hand on her hip the other crossed over her chest.
He held out her clothing which she snatched and he turned around letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding back. Something touched his back and he resisted the urge to turn around, he could hear her shuffling around behind him and he realized she was using him to lean against as she struggled with her boots.
"Do you need any help" he asked his voice, coming out much sultrier than he meant.
Shyvana laughed and shook her head as she fastened her leather clothing together pulling the straps tightly on her boots fitting them in place. She could hear his heartbeat pounding in his chest and the increase in breathes and she knew he was likely uncomfortable with their proximity. She smiled to herself and removed her hand from his back "No that's all right, I'm finished"
Jarvan nodded to himself and slowly turned around to face the dragoness, she was staring up at him her eyes bright and her full lips pulled into a radiant smile, she was beautiful and he felt his feet move of their own accord towards her. She didn't move away just continued to look up at him, her eyes slowly batting at him, her long lashes and sparkling eyes that held such a fiery intensity drawing him closer. He wanted to lean down and claim those perfect lips, with his but the crackling of thunder scared him from her trance.
Shyvana blinked and took a step back as tiny droplet of rain fell onto her cheek and started hissing as they evaporated on her hot skin. She looked away quickly from Jarvan's handsome face and ducked her head shielding her eyes with her long bangs. She felt embarrassed and her heart was hammering in her chest, something was wrong with her but she didn't understand what. One moment they were standing there and the next he was leaning towards her, his lips so tantalizingly close. Her skin felt hot and she shook her head, billowing her long hair around her as more rain hissed against her hot skin.
"We should go" she whispered and turned to leave, when something caught her wrist.
Her head turned and looked down at her wrist encased in a golden fist, her eyes trailed up the length of his arm to rest on his face. His eyes were an intense shade of blue, his pupils slightly dilated, his breath slow and calm while his heart was racing. He was smiling gently at her pulling her towards him, and she felt a weakness she had never experienced before, it was both crippling and empowering at the same time. Suddenly she was pressed against his chest plate, water droplets running down the metal pooling were their bodies met, hissing as it touched her hot skin and evaporated. His hands were on her waist and she felt her head swim with foreign emotions.
"Shyvana" his voice was a husky whisper and she held his gaze, her own eyes blazing with an unquenchable fire as she bit her lip and remained silent.
Jarvan watched as deep purple scales dusted her temples and steam poured off her body as rain dripped down on them, her eyes were so alive and fiery, her lids heavy as she batted them at him. she was biting her full lips staring at him intently and he felt himself swallow "Shyvana…" he tried again his eyes drinking in her beautiful face settling on her lips "….can I kiss you" he said barely above a whisper.
She almost though she had imagined him saying the words, and her heart stopped. She felt his hand slide up her back and tangle itself in her long silky hair as she stared into his eyes, a fire burning in them that matched her own "yes" she said smiling, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.
That was all he needed and he crushed her against him and brought her soft lips to his own, relishing her smokey taste as he deepened the kiss. She linked her arms around his neck and smiled into his kiss, feeling happier than she had ever felt.
He broke away and smiled down at her blushing cheeks and felt himself beaming. She was smiling so brightly and a soft light enveloped them both as tiny sparks of fire danced around her.
Twigs snapping and the rustling of leaves and the stomping of hooves interrupted their moment as their companions came rushing out of the forest stopping abruptly at the sight of Jarvan and Shyvana clutching each other.
Garrett leaned over in the saddle peering over the massive shield obstructing his view and smirked devilishly at them caught red handed "Ahha so this is what's keepin you so long cap, starting to get a little worried you'd gotten lost or something"
Jarvan just stared at his soldier's eyes wide with embarrassment at being caught with Shyvana, one hand holding her close to his chest the other still tangled in her violet hair. He felt his cheeks burn, and anger well in his chest at his own stupidity for choosing to kiss her in the middle of the forest in the rain, which he noticed for the first time was quiet the downpour.
Shyvana smirked at Garrett and pushed lightly on Jarvan's chest to be released from his grip, turning to face her companions her eyes burning as slits replaced her normal orbs "he would never get lost with me by his side ranger, I actually know how to track"
Garrett snorted and smiled smugly "So what were you doing then eh miss dragon"
Shyvana rolled her eyes and smiled baring long fangs as heat billowed off her, drying her hair as rain hissed against her skin "Trying to keep him dry in all this rain, didn't want him to catch a cold now" she said turning her head to wink at Jarvan.
"Yea he seems hot and bothered all right" Dagonett wheezed as laughter overtook him.
Shyvana couldn't help it, she smiled and laughed alongside the lieutenant, she was to happy to care what Jarvan's men thought all she cared about was him and she felt her heart flutter when she looked at him and he smiled at her.