Chapter 25: hofkiin

The rain was coming down in sheets, soaking the previously parched earth, and the wind was howling through the dense trees of the forest. Each fall of the horse's hooves created a wet sloshing sound as their metal hooves drove deep into the muddy ground. The men were hunkered down with cloaks covering their exposed faces, leaned down towards the thick necks of their mounts to break the onslaught of gushing winds. It was nearing dark, almost no light was offered from the angry skies lest a bolt of lightning crack and illuminate the forest in an eerie glow.

Shyvana was on foot, having refused several attempts to convince her to ride one of the horses, she was never comfortable riding another beast while she considered herself to be one also. The rain didn't bother her all that much, she just ducked her head and followed the sound of the horses heavy breathing and pounding feet. She peered through her bangs at the pitiful sight of her companions, they were soaked and likely cold now, having been riding in this weather for several hours. Jarvan was leading the men, a cloak drawn over his head to shield him from the rain, beads of rain rolling off the leathery material and soaking his exposed hair. She couldn't see his face, but she imagined he was frowning, trying to decipher a plan to get them out of the rain and into shelter.

Shyvana stopped looking at him and scanned the surrounding forest, there was nothing to be seen with the naked eye of mortal men but her senses were far superior, even with rain pelting her face. To her right sat massive trees and a few scattered shrubs gripping the ground with all their might as the wind threatened to uproot them. She felt herself frown, even with her enhanced body heat she was finding it difficult to generate enough strength to keep her core body temperature high enough to evaporate the water on contact. She rubbed her arms and crossed them over her chest, summoning more of her draconian strength, smirking in satisfaction as the rain hissed off her skin as small flames danced around her. She looked down at her feet and sighed, her boots were covered with mud and her pale skin was flecked with it as well. Her eyes followed the trail they had been following with Garett's instruction, and she noticed for the first time that it branched ever so slightly to the left. She narrowed her eyes and her pupils turned to slits, her eyes glowing brightly. There just barely visible was a small narrow path, years of neglect or no use caused it to fall into disrepair but a path just the same. It was overgrown and fallen branches lay across it in spots but she could make It out and decided that the horses could make the journey with careful instruction. Her attention was brought back to her companions when the sound of coughing reached her ears. it was Connor's and she cocked her head to the side and jogged forward to stand beside the man's white mare.

"Are you alright" she asked keeping pace with his mount.

Connor's looked alarmed at the dragonesses sudden appearance at his side, his eyes slightly bloodshot from lack of sleep and his normally cheery face melancholy, his cheeks dusted pink from the fits of coughing. He exhaled and wiped away the rain from his face, shielding his eyes with his forearm to look at her, his eyes finally focusing on her young face he offered her a weak smile "Fine lass, just tired is all"

Shyvana nodded not entirely convinced and winced slightly when Connor's broke into another fit of coughing. She turned and looked at Dagonett who was following alongside them and flicked her head in Connor's direction. Dagonett looked down at the dragoness from under his hood, his green intelligent eyes sparkling in the dim light, his thick mustache pulled into a frown, then looked to his companion. The dragoness was right to be concerned, his burly friend didn't look so good, his face was flushed and he was slumping down in the saddle. Dagonett leaned down towards Shyvana and whispered

"Stay by his side, Il go ask the Captain what his plans are for the night" he said and snapped the reins to catch up to Jarvan.

"Jarvan, wait up a minute, what we doin for the night, Connor's is looking sicker than shit" he said pulling his mount up beside the stallion.

Jarvan slowed his horse and looked over his shoulder at his friends, Shyvana was walking beside Connor's talking to him, her bright eyes alert, her small hand stroking the wet fur of the mare. His blue eyes flicked over the large man's face and he frowned, Dagonett was right, Connor's looked poorly, his cheeks flushed and his eyes bloodshot, he was leaning heavily to one side, each breath causing him to shudder or break out into coughing fits. Jarvan held up a hand and halted the company, pulling on the reins to turn his horse, and face them, his stallion neighing and stomping with annoyance as he did so.

"Alright, we need to find shelter from this storm, Garett do you have any ideas where we can go for the night" he said his eyes scanning the crowd, through the sting of the rain until he found the blond ranger, poking his head around Hart's shield.

Garett was cold, and soaking wet, his leather armor chilling him to the bone his cloak pulled over his head. He could barely hear Jarvan over the whistling of wind and the pounding of rain on metal as it cascaded down onto Hart's armor. He leaned around and braced himself on the massive metal shield, gripping painfully tight until he could see him, clad in golden armor and a cloak shielding him from the rain. Beside him sat Dagonett and the dragoness and Garett wondered to himself how she could be out in this weather without a cloak without freezing to death. Jarvan's impatient grunt brought his attention back to the group and he swallowed, trying to remember the maps of the area in his head to decide their best course of action. He exhaled and shook his head, his wet blond hair clinging to his face.

"Sorry Cap, but in this mess, I can't make head r tails of where we are going" he said shrugging one shoulder and holding Jarvan's eyes through his disappointed glare.

Shyvana watched the exchange with curiosity as Garett fell silent and shifted behind Hart again and she looked over her shoulder and smiled as brightly as she could at Jarvan as he exhaled angrily. She placed her hand on his knee and gave it a small shake.

"Jarvan there was a path back the way we came, only a minute's ride, I'm not sure where it leads but it seems oddly familiar like I've walked it before I think we can find shelter" she said her violet eyes alight in the darkness shrouding them.

Jarvan looked down at the determined face of the dragoness then to his lieutenant for his opinion. Dagonett just shrugged his shoulders, insinuating it was his decision. He looked down at Shyvana and nodded, wiping his armored hand over his face to banish the raindrops pestering him "Very well Shy, lead the way"

Shyvana smiled happily at him, her long hair plastered to her neck and shoulders, wiping about as she turned suddenly and took off at a trot. Jarvan reached down and took the reins from Connor's who smiled weakly at him and grunted in response to the unspoken instruction. Jarvan led the other horse behind him as the company started off following the dragoness through the rain and the wind.

…..

It took her little time to find the hidden path, and she waited patiently at the slight fork in the road for Jarvan and his soldiers to reach her. She cleared her throat as they stopped atop their horses soaked to the bone, eyes downcast at her.

"This way, mind the horses some branches have fallen in the storm" she said bringing her palms forward in front of her chest, summoning a small flame to light their path.

The fire illuminated the ground immediately in front of her, its purple flames hissing and popping as rain pelted down at her and threatened to put out her flame. She bit her lip and poured more of her draconian strength into the flame, it burned brighter and she held it out a little further to shine light on the weathered ground. It was overgrown and she had to sidestep weeds that tangled around her feet and scratched at her exposed legs. She could hear the horses thundering breaths and pounding hooves just behind her and she wondered how much more they could take before they panicked under their masters control.

Dagonett's Mare, lost control first, its wild neighing and stomping hooves caused her to turn her head and watch the lieutenant fight to control it. its dark black eyes locked onto her bright violet ones and she could see the fear deep in its heart. Something dark stirred in her belly and she bit her lip and banished it deep within her gut, her flames bursting from her open palm casting the forest in a purple glow as lightning cracked overhead and spilt the sky. A branch in the distance, groaned and crashed to the ground, causing the horses to frenzy and rear up kicking wilding. Shyvana lunged for Connor's mount and clutched the reins as it reared and threatened to pull the weakened man off the saddle, she pulled down hard and leveled the horses face with her own. Her eyes blazed in the darkness as she ran her hands down its wet forehead calming the beast, her voice coming out in a purr as she talked to the horse and gently pulled the animal forward. She looked around its massive head to watch Dagonett calm his own horse, patting it gently on the neck as it shook its head showering the man with more rain water. Its breath coming out in pants, and its heart pounding in its chest.

Shyvana did not have much if any experience with beasts she once would considered her prey other than destroying them, but she remembered when she was young her father calming her down when she transformed from pent up fury in a similar fashion she just did. His voice was gentle and soothing to the ears as she raged and seethed, fire erupting around her, and the ground cracking and splitting as she superheated it. He would speak to her in their native tongue, and embrace her as best as two dragons can until she calmed and shrank back into her human form. She shuddered at the memory of her early days of transformation, full of rage and distrust, and she often lashed out at her father. she exhaled and closed her eyes whispering something to him before, looking over at Jarvan

"The horses can't take much more of this weather, the rain blinds them and sends them into a panic" she said her hand still lingering on the snout of Connor's mare.

"What do you suggest we do then" Hart growled glaring down at her from under his hood, his dark eyes boring into hers.

Shyvana resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him and shrugged running her hand up the mare's face "Blind them"

"Pardon" Jarvan asked slightly alarmed

Shyvana looked at him and smirked "Not in the literal sense, I meant cover their eyes"

Hart grunted and shook his head "How will they walk If they cannot see dragon"

Shyvana smiled brightly "I will lead the way, each of you tie off to one another and I will lead the first horse"

"Why would we do a stupid thing like that" Hart hissed

Shyvana whipped her head around to face him, her eyes reptilian slits that shone brightly in the darkness "I can see in the darkness and I know the way"

Jarvan placed a heavy hand on the bald man's shoulder and shook his head silencing the other man "Let her lead Hart"

Shyvana waited as each man tore off a piece of their cloak and fastened it around their horse's face, covering their eyes and tied the reins off to the man in front of them until they formed a linear formation. Jarvan passed Shyvana the reins to his stallion and smiled his blue eyes intense as he looked down at her face, she was predatory with gleaming eyes and long fangs but somehow remained beautiful in his eyes.

She wrapped the reins around one wrist and held the other out in front of her summoning a brilliant flame that lit the way as they slowly maneuvered through the abandoned path. Her eyes scanning all around them for potential danger as she waved the fire in front of her, leading the horses away from fallen branches and across washed out sections of road. It was a slow pace but each step brought them closer to safety. she didn't know how she knew this road lead them to shelter but something deep inside a hidden or tucked away memory was screaming at her to move forward.

Something in the distance caught her attention and she brought the flame out as far in front of her as she could, illuminating the abandoned forest in its purple glow, shadows dancing across the ground. She narrowed her eyes as rain pelted her face and the wind whipped her hair around her, pulling gently on the reins as she moved her footfalls light and agile the opposite of the heavy horses. There in the distance a small cabin of sorts, she could barely make out its outline but she knew it was there, the glint of steel and the clouded memory of running this very path before, clutching tightly to someone's outstretched hand. Shyvana pinched her eyes closed and shook her head, trying to banish the memories, and focus on getting everyone to safety. She felt of pang of sadness overwhelm her and her flame flickered and threatened to go out entirely as rain assaulted them.

"Shy are you alright" it was Jarvan's voice that stole her attention and she turned to smile at him, however small and weak it was that graced her face.

She turned around before he could say anything further and poured her energy into her flame and continued walking, ignoring the building feeling in her chest as they approached the cabin only her eyes could see in the dim lighting.

The closer they came to the cabin, the more her eyes scanned everything in the surrounding forest, her ears strained to pick up the slightest sound, and she sampled the wind. Her gut told her something was about to happen and she felt flames lick at her heels and hiss against the soaked ground. The forest seemed silent and still despite the raging storm around her, she could hear no animals surrounding the cabin as if nature itself had given up on this strip of land, and then she smelled it, the ashes of desolation of dragon's fire.

Her heart beat began to race and her hand that held the leather reins tightened painfully, her other palm lighting brilliantly. It cast an unnerving shadow across the forest, decorating the cabin with purple light and suddenly she remembered.

Before them sat her first home, the home she shared with her mother while she still lived and her father. Part of the building had been destroyed, and she cared not from time or abandonment, all she could focus on was destruction that tore this home asunder, the smell of ashes and blood, memories fresh in her mind.

He had come for them as he always did, his flames the vengeance he thought was just. Burning their small sanctuary, the fight between her father and Nevonaar crashing through the stables, the sheds. The flames catching the surrounding forest on fire, the smell of burnt wood and of ashes as everything she held dear went up in flames. The pressure of another hand gripping her small one, so painfully tight as it pulled her down this very path, tears streaking down her face. The panicked cries of her mother as she tried to rush her daughter to safety. Violet eyes just like her own, wide with fear staring down at her, the reflection of fire burned into Shyvana's memory. The ground shaking and the sky splitting with a terrifying roar as he landed behind them, her small body thrown as she stumbled to the ground. The memory of her mother shielding her with her body, and her voice strong as she stared down death telling her to run, that she loved her. Hot tears stinging her eyes and an anger so unknown to her bursting from her chest, the first true display of her draconian heritage surfacing as tiny horns burst from her head and flames sparked from her chubby fists. The look of disgust in his evil red eyes as he sneered at them, mouth pulled back before unleashing a blast of fire to consume her soul, her mother's final cries as she used her body as a shield to protect her, arms locked around her only child. The wail of her father, the crashing of bodies and the blackness that clouded her mind into nothingness as she passed out from exertion.

She closed her eyes tightly and felt the hot tears streak down her face, her flame flickering and finally going out. This was her childhood home, the place her mother died defending her, the place that her childhood went up in flames and she first discovered her draconian power. She felt anger red hot, boil beneath her skin, long talons erupt from her fingertips and she opened her mouth and roared to the heavens in anguish, sorrow and rage.

The horses bucked and whinnied in fright at the demonic sound, and Jarvan held tightly to the saddle horn to stay atop his stallion, using his strength to subdue the animal. His eyes flickering toward Shyvana who had dropped to her knees and was clutching the sides of her head, her cries threating that of even the thunder for dominance. He had never seen her so distraught before, even when first discovering her she was not so savage. Bent over he could see, her hands wrung into her hair, long black talons digging into her scalp, thick black scales covering her forearms, seemingly ripping apart her pale skin as purple flames leaked from her hands like molten lava, her body seemed odd at this angle, slightly bent out of shape as new scales ripped her skin apart, covering her with a blanket of ebony and violet leather. It was disturbing to see her transformation happening before him as if in slow motion and he wondered what was happening to her.

"Shyvana what's happening are you alright" he asked his voice raised to almost a shout as he tried to call out to her over the rain and her own cries.

Shyvana was losing control of herself, something dark and dangerous was surfacing in the face of her memories. Her dragon side was begging for release, and she could feel herself transforming as she kneeled in the mud, the flames pouring off her body heating the ground, her skin tearing as scales burst forward, her talons digging into her scalp as she tried to rid herself of the headache threatening to tear her apart. Her bones breaking and elongating as she transformed, the pain was almost unbearable as she fought for dominance. She could feel her body elongate and her face distort into a snout and she surrendered to the anger pent up in her heart.

Jarvan was shocked when suddenly before him no longer sat Shyvana the woman but Shyvana the dragon, ebony scales glinting in the moonlight, and bright purple eyes staring at him with diamond pupils. He swallowed and dismounted, slowing approaching the now massive ebony dragoness before him.

"Shy" he called and held out a golden hand.

Shyvana was struggling inside her own mind, a new anger was gripping her heart and she wanted nothing more than to tear something apart. She wanted revenge for the death of her mother and her father, she wanted to destroy. Something was moving toward her, and in her haze, she could not focus, she pulled back her lips to reveal long teeth and hissed, her chest glowing a brilliant purple as she built up her flame. The sound of a voice echoed in her mind, as the creature slowly approached, glowing a golden color. it was calming and familiar and she felt some of the cloud that fogged her mind slowly seep away. Something small touched her snout and a warmth spread through her chest and eased her angered heart. She focused her massive eyes on a man clad in golden armor, bright blue eyes locking with her own a look of worry on his face.

"Shy it's me Jarvan, are you alright" he called to her and she felt herself blink, long eyelashes batting and her pupils returning to normal orbs.

"Jarvan" her deep voice rumbled in her chest and washed him in her warm breath.

He smiled and patted her snout "It's okay shy, I'm here what happened"

She closed her eyes and inhaled heavily, turning her large head towards the small cabin "This place, I've brought us to, this is where my mother died"

Jarvan was at a loss for words, suddenly it made sense to him, her sudden change of moods her cries of anguish and the transformation, she was struggling to control herself. He stepped back as flames surrounded her and she shrank back into her native form, a small woman curled up in a ball of soaking wet lavender hair. He knelt beside her and pulled his cloak from his shoulders and wrapped the wet fabric around her. she looked up at him her normally fiery eyes dull and lifeless.

"This was my home once, so long ago" she whispered.