Chapter 28: Grohiik
The morning light came early after the storm had passed, rays of golden light trickling through the holes in the cabin roof onto the sleeping party. The dragoness had awakened early content to watch her companion for a short while until he awoke, smiling to herself as Garrett snored so loudly that he woke himself in the process.
"Huh" he grunted and quickly shot up into a sitting position, rubbing the sleep from his good eye his blonde hair ragged and sticking up at odd angles.
"Good morning ranger" Shyvana said good-heartedly, chuckling as Garrett spun his head around to face her direction, his mouth open and his blue eye focused on her glowing violet ones.
"Damn miss Shyvana bout gave me a heart-o-tack, don't go sneaking up on a man while he sleeps" he said sheepishly, his cheeks burning a deep red as he had to wipe away a small trail of spittle from the corner of his mouth.
Shyvana rolled her eyes at him, and moved further into the small room, arms crossed over her chest plate and pushed him over with her boot playfully. "Oh, please Garrett I did not sneak up on you, you were snoring so loud you woke yourself, now get up before Jarvan decides to leave without you"
Garrett sighed heavily and moved to stand running a hand through his tangled locks a lopsided grin on his face as he smiled at the dragoness "He won't do that, he needs me"
"Please Garrett, Shyvana is a better tracker than you could ever hope to be" Jarvan said as he walked into the room from outside, a smirk on his face as he teased his friend.
Shyvana laughed a rich and deep sound echoing through the small wooden cabin, turning her head to shoot the ranger a victorious smile and winked at him.
Garrett rolled his eyes at the pair "Yeah, yeah everyone gang up on the blind guy"
"Enough, we have ground to cover, if you wouldn't mind leading the way blind man I would appreciate it" Jarvan said slapping the ranger on the shoulder smiling down at his comrade, while the younger man snorted and smirked.
"Course cap"
…..
The walk back towards the road had been painfully slow thanks to the major flooding caused by the nights storm, and Shyvana was already growing tired of walking in soaked boots. The pace was painfully slow for her, as the horses struggled to move through the thick mud, their hooves causing an arsenal of mud and dirty water to cascade around the dragoness.
She frowned and moved her pack higher onto her shoulder to protect her new-found belongings, not wanting to tarnish her fathers book any further than Dagonett already did. She cast a glance at the lieutenant and felt her frown deepen, he was dry that much was certain atop his mare. For the first time in her life, she felt envious of riding one of the beasts and a thought popped into her head.
"Dag" she called, and the company halted their respected horse, turning in their saddles to look at the dragoness.
Dagonett turned and felt himself immediately smiling down at the dragoness so clearly unimpressed with the traveling conditions they found themselves in. Her new armor, was speckled with flecks of mud the brown standing out against the black metal. It seemed that the newly added weight was driving her footing deep into the softened earth and part of her feet were embedded in a puddle of water. The dragonesses long hair was matted at the bottom and caked with dried mud slung over one shoulder to protect it from the never-ending onslaught, a heavy pack on her opposite shoulder made of an old blanket she found at her homestead.
"Yessum dragoness, how can I be of service?" he winked at her as she snorted up at him, a small billow of smoke rising from her nostrils passing by her horned head.
Shyvana was not impressed at the lieutenant's cheeky smile and she felt the urge to light his horses' ass on fire but that would defeat her purpose altogether. "Please may I ride, or at least you take my pack I'm tired of being splashed by the beasts as we walk"
Dagonett raised a brow and pointed to his chest "Ya wana ride with me lass?"
Shyvana shrugged with some effort, swinging her pack off her shoulder and moving up to his mount "Well Jarvan did say I was to share a horse with you, did you not?" she asked turning to look over her shoulder at him.
Jarvan leaned forward in his saddle patting the neck of his stallion as it whinnied and stomped a foot at the dragonesses proximity causing a splash of mud to hit her greaves. The dragoness shot the animal a withering glare as something dangerous flashed in her eyes. "I did Shy, you may ride with Dagonett if you wish or you may ride with me" he said smiling down at her, his blue eyes shining happily.
Garrett started to open his mouth to make a snide comment, but Hart caught him off guard slamming his shield into the ranger sending him crashing into the mud. He landed heavily with a wet splat, mud covering his cloak and part of his face. He scowled as he lowered his hands into the thick mud a devious smile spreading on his face, stretching the scar on his lip. Shyvana was eyeing his movements taking a step towards Jarvans mount passing him her pack as the ranger threw a fist full of mud like a projectile straight towards her. She shrieked and jumped out of the way, sending a wave of mud to splash at the prince and his horse. Jarvan frowned wiping it away from his mouth and rolled his eyes at his companion's childish gestures.
Shyvana growled at the ranger "Don't you dare" her eyes growing wide as he flung another missile at her splattering her chest plate and some of her face. Steam poured from the contact the mud evaporating on her heated skin. She narrowed her eyes at the cheeky young man and slowly bent down scooping up a fist full of the wet earth and throwing it directly at him, frowning when he ducked behind Harts white mare. The horse reared and threatened to throw Hart from his saddle and Shyvana ducked closer to Jarvans stallion.
"ENOUGH" Hart bellowed after settling his horse his small eyes staring at the dragoness hiding behind Jarvan's horse, his nostrils flaring as his anger peaked as laughter was heard behind him. He snapped his head around to see Garrett holding onto his stomach wheezing trying to catch his breath.
"There ya go Hart, there's a little hair for ya" Garrett said smirking pointing to the side of Harts head inflicted with a thick layer of mud.
Hart growled and swiped his hands over the side of his head smudging the mud down the front of his cloak casting the dragoness with a withering glare. He kicked his horse into a canter leaving the ranger calling after him, trudging through the mud in his wake.
Jarvan rolled his eyes at them both and turned to look at the dragoness, now covered in a layer of dried mud, her eyes shining brightly a warm smile on her face as she watched Garrett beg Hart to stop some distance from the group.
"Come on, I'll help you up" He offered her his hand, and she turned to look at him a beaming smile on her mud streaked face.
She placed her armored hand in his and was hoisted into the saddle in front of him. "I've never ridden a horse before" she half whispered to herself, her hand moving slightly to touch the black mane the horses' ears twitching, and its heavy breathing felt under her. She frowned slightly as Jarvan kicked the horse lightly to begin walking its trotting causing her to jostle in the saddle slightly; she grabbed the horses thick mane to steady herself and it snorted disapprovingly. She felt a strong-arm snake itself around her waist and pull her backwards in the saddle and she felt her heart constrict a smile threatening to break loose.
"Take it easy Shy, or you'll pull the hair right off the horse" Jarvan said smiling down at the back of the dragonesses head, as she turned slightly and blushed.
"Not everyone likes hair pulling" Dagonett snorted a hearty laugh as his horse walked in step with theirs.
Shyvana blushed harder her cheeks burning a brilliant crimson color and she ducked her head hiding her face with her bangs, the horns atop her head cresting the horse's neck.
Dagonett smiled at her embarrassment and shot a look at the prince, who was choosing to ignore him, but a faint pink tinged his cheeks as well. "What I'm just using your words lass"
Shyvana went to open her mouth to retort but snapped it shut and sighed, laughing lightly "I suppose I did say that, sorry beast" she said leaning down giving the mount a pat on the neck.
They rode for some time, the midday sun beaming down on their path drying up some of the water making the journey easier and decidedly faster. Shyvana had gotten used to the gentle jostle of each step the horse took leaning slightly back into the saddle Jarvans arm around her waist to steady her. She was getting tired as the rode on in relative silence. Jarvan occasionally asking Garett if they were on the correct path and stopping to check the area for signs of Nevonaar. The dragoness yawned flashing elongated white fangs and stretched her back rolling her shoulders before slumping back into the saddle hitting something hard; blushing when she realized it was Jarvan behind her.
"Apologies, I forgot you were behind me" she said turning to look over her shoulder at him red tinging her cheeks.
"Its fine Shy, you keep yawning sleep if you'd like I'll make sure you don't fall off" he said winking down at her.
Shyvana smiled mischievously "Perfect, see that I don't, these creatures tend to be unpredictable" she said leaning back fully her head resting in the crook of his shoulder.
Jarvan felt himself smiling as the dragoness made herself comfortable in the saddle, and he moved his arms around her sides angling himself as to get a better view of the road, Shyvana's long slender horns obstructing part of his field of view. Soon the dragoness was asleep the steady rhythm of her breathing almost lulling him to sleep as they trudged onwards through the dense forest.
It was starting to darken and Jarvan wanted to make camp while there was still some light to be offered from the sun.
"Garett, find a suitable place to make camp and we shall stop for the night" He said slowing his horse to ride beside the white mare.
Garett smirked at his captain and the sleeping dragoness, his eye scanning her seemingly peaceful face tucked into Jarvan's shoulder her long violet hair falling down his arm and over her lap.
He waggled his eyebrows at him "Want me to find a nice secluded place, you two can have some alone time" he smiled with a shit eating grin.
Jarvan snorted and frown wanted to toss his ranger from the saddle for a second time today, but he didn't want to wake Shyvana "No that wont be necessary you idiot" he half growled.
Garrett rose a brow "Okay right out in the open then, well If that's your style cap" he quipped
Jarvan clenched his teeth and sighed rolling his eyes "I swear when I get off this horse I'm going to take you down a peg"
Garrett waved a hand dismissing him "Naw boss don't worry I was only kiddin, sides there is a good place up head we've been walkin beside this river for some time"
"How is a river tellin ya that there's good place to camp up ahead lad" Dagonett said scratching his beard his green eyes squinted at the younger man.
Garett smiled a toothy grin "Cause LT, a river means water and I need to wash this mud off o myself"
"Oh so we're picking a spot specifically for your benefit then are we?" Jarvan said raising a brow, his hands tightening slightly around the reigns.
Garrett sniffed and pointed to the dragoness "welp, not just me cap yer fair lady there as well she needs to wash as well" he said looking her up and down noticing the thick layers of dried mud on her armor and the dried mud tangled in her hair.
Jarvan felt something dark akin to jealously scratch at the surface and he squeezed his arms a little tighter around the dragoness without thinking.
The lieutenant caught the small movement and slapped Jarvan on the shoulder "Water sounds mighty good to me cap, plus we need to water our horses"
Jarvan nodded and turned his mount towards the edge of the road making his way to the rivers edge. The last light of day breaking through the forest canopy, sparkling off the water in ripples. Just as they were dismounting and preparing to set up camp for the night something sounded deep within the forest and woke Shyvana from her sleep. The sound was both beautiful and eerie to behold, and she felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. Scales threatening to break through her skin and her pupils turning to diamond slits. She jumped from the saddle and peered into the forest across the narrow river into a pair of glowing yellow eyes.