Chapter 30: Ahraan

The earth was damp, and her gauntlets slowly sunk downwards as she kneeled, peering over the still waters towards the last place she had seen the glowing eyes. The night was coming quickly, and the light offered by the setting sun was failing, she blinked tightly and felt the raw power of her lineage spark to life in her veins. Opening her glowing eyes, she scanned the opposite river banks, diamond slits dilating and felt a frown begin to form when she could not see anything. She pressed further toward the edge of the river and inhaled deeply, a small ripple beneath her porcelain skin giving way to small ebony scales as she summoned more of her power.

There! She smiled to herself as the faint sent of a predator slowly filled her nostrils, it was musty and smelled of dried blood and death and Shyvana felt her bestial instincts kick in. The dragon below the surface, was itching to come out and hunt down anything that threatened her companions and she licked her slightly elongated fangs.

Coughing caught her attention and she turned to look over her shoulder, blinking away the diamond slits and taking a deep breath to calm herself. Something else, a new scent carried across the evenings subtle breeze and it gave her pause. It was an oppressing scent of death, of weakness and infection and her instinctual behaviours sharpened again, she could feel her talons poking into her gauntlets and her eyesight improve. She knew where it was coming from and she couldn't bring herself to accept it, he was just feet away from her his cheeks ruddy and his eyes hollow. She clenched her fists together and stood up as a long eerie howl filled the darkening skies.

"Wolves" Dagonett said coming to stand beside the dragoness, looking past her in the direction of the sound.

He generally wasn't concerned with wild beasts but the distance between himself, his companions and the unwanted visitors made his stomach twist with anxiety. The lieutenant looked back to the dragoness and took a half a step back in surprise. Her eyes were glowing, the whites almost completely overtaken a slender diamond slit replaced her pupil a dangerous fire sparking in them. Along the edges of her temples small scales glittered in the light and he could see her mouth pulled into a thin line, she looked predatory and he wondered to himself what was going through her head. Without realizing it his hand slowly made its way to the hilt of his great sword, the smallest movement causing the dragonesses head to snap down towards his hand her lips pulling back into a full-blown frown.

"Uhh, cap? I think miss Shyvana is having troubles over here" Garrett said noticing the way the dragonesses kept clenching and unclenching her fists, small motes of flame sparking along her body as she struggled to regain her composure.

Jarvan finished tying off his stallion and turned to look over his shoulder at his tracker, expecting an inappropriate comment to follow his request to aid the dragoness. His eyes widened when he saw her, staring down at Connors who was weakly attempting to make himself comfortable on the hard ground. Fire danced in her eyes and he wondered what was happening to her, he turned and quickly strode over to her side, placing a hand on her pauldron to get her attention.

Shyvana couldn't focus, her instincts were driving her to the limit, she was faintly aware of people speaking around her, but all she could do was stare down at him, weak and fragile, and as much as she hated to admit it prey. The smell was inviting, and she felt disgusted with herself, she snorted a plume of smoke rising into the air, the smell of sulphur thick enough to clear her mind for a moment. Something touched her, and she snapped her eyes toward the intrusion. A hand glad in golden armor and she felt herself relax at the sensation of his presence, her eyes followed the owner of the hand to look upon Jarvans face. She felt shame wash over her as she took in the look of concern in his blue eyes washed with something else, fear perhaps, and she shook her head sighing; unlikely.

"Are you alright Shy?" He asked giving her armored shoulder a small shake.

She blinked hard and offered him a weak smile, her elongated fangs making her look more predatory than she hoped when Garrett put his hands up and took a step back. In her peripheral vision she could see Hart, bring his shield up over his back in a defensive position and she felt her heart sink in her chest. So this is what they think of me, a monster ready to attack.

"I'm fine" her voice was deep and raspy as her draconian linage was still close to the surface and she flinched as the words escaped her mouth.

"Why so dragonish" Garrett asked trying to make light of the situation, running his hand through his tangled mop of blonde hair.

Shyvana shrugged and looked into Jarvans eyes "The wolves, they can smell death they are following us"

Jarvan looked confused as she spoke. Death But why are they following us? He frowned and turned to look at his companions, looks of confusion crossed their features except for one, who did not bother to raise his eyes to his prince. Jarvan felt something constrict in his chest as his brain put the pieces of the puzzle together. His soldier, and friend, companion for the last two years who stood by him through everything, was suffering and he was too blind to see.

"Umm, but we aren't dead?" Garrett said laughing nervously as he glanced from person to person.

Shyvana gave the ranger a small smile her eyes, now returned to their normal violet orbs looked crestfallen. She couldn't speak the words aloud lest it make the entire situation real.

"I am lads" a hoarse voice spoke up and all heads turned towards Connors, huddled onto the forest floor, his cloak pulled up to covered part of his face.

Jarvan went to move towards him, kneeling down to be eye level with his friend but Connors put up a shaky hand his voice harsh between coughing "Save it captain, I knew long ago but I thought maybe I could beat it"

"What happened?" Jarvan demanded, wincing at the harshness of his voice. He removed his helm and pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling heavily.

The dragoness moved swiftly to kneel beside the prince and Connors and gestured to his side, hidden beneath the layers of armor and his heavy wool cloak. "He is wounded, I can smell the infection setting in, I take it the wolves have also picked up the scent."

Connors nodded slowly with effort "Ey lass, yer right, our last encounter with the white dragon, it got me in the side"

"Why didn't you say anything?" Jarvan said his eyes gleaming with emotion, his fist clenched tightly

Connors shrugged his shoulders and wheezed when he tried to laugh "The lass here was injured bad, didn't think we needed more to worry about"

Shyvana removed her gauntlets and placed them on the ground, taking her hand and moving it towards Connors face and gently touched his stubbled face "I can heal faster than you, you should have spoken to us"

Connors cheeks were red and his eyes hollow lacking the normal glisten that Shyvana had come to know. He sighed and placed his larger hand over the dragonesses smaller one "Its okay lass, I didn't want to take away the help you needed after protecting that village"

Shyvana felt something wet slide down her cheek and she sniffed her a weak smile offered to the man that she called her friend in front of her "I couldn't protect you" she half whispered to him her voice threatening to break"

Jarvan turned to look at Garrett and he felt himself panic as the dragoness and Connors spoke quietly to each other, tears forming in her beautiful eyes that streaked down her pale cheeks. "How far to the next village" he hissed rising to his feet.

Garrett shuffled from foot to foot as he took in their surroundings his eyes downcast from his Captain, he knew they were days away on horseback and Connors would never make the journey. He cleared his throat and looked into Jarvans eyes "I'm sorry Cap but the next village is days away from here, we'd never make it"

Jarvan knotted his hands through his thick black hair and sighed heavily pacing back and forth. No, No, No this cant be happening again, I cant lose another brother in arms, he cant die because of this journey, because of me. He turned wildly and stared hard at his ranger "No, we have to do something, we can't just let him die out here" his voice was raised and his eyes wild with determination.

"Don't think for a second that we don't want to help him too" Garrett said raising his own voice anger flashing in his eyes at his friend's insinuation that he didn't want to help his friend as well.

"I refuse to let my friend die, I've lost enough men already" Jarvan said, his voice faltering and his nostrils flaring slightly.

"We've all lost friends lad, don't forget that" Dagonett said, his jaw tightening.

Jarvan spun on his heel and stared at his lieutenant hard "What, you going to say that we keep going and let Connors die"

Dagonett took two strides forward towards his captain and socked him right in the jaw "Shut yer mouth boy, don't go loosing yer head, we all know the guilt you carry for their deaths but don't put that shit on us" he said taking a step back and rubbing the knuckles he blooded on the princes nose.

Jarvan sighed and wiped the blood away from his nose, it throbbed but he knew Dag was right he didn't have the right to snap at his companions he knew they all wanted to help. He went to apologize but Dagonett silenced him and he ran a hand through his hair again, his mind working out all the possible ways to get Connors medical attention.

"What supplies do we have left, medicines, health potions, anything" he said looking over at Hart who nodded in response and turned towards the horses and the saddlebags to check.

"Sir, we have bandages, a suture kit, and a health potion" Hart barked from beside the White mare.

Jarvan nodded and beckoned him forward, medical supplies in hand. He took them and kneeled again, taking off his armor to look at the defeated eyes of this companion.

"Connors, show me the wound" he said, his voice coming out as a command, and he sighed adding a please at the end his nerves on edge.

Connors weakly removed his cloak and his heavy chest armor, handing them to the dragoness. He flicked his eyes towards her and smiled weakly in thanks as she moved away to give them space. Jarvan was surprised at the condition of the wound and felt his heart sink in fear for his friend. It was infected and the skin around the deep puncture wound was red and puss was oozing from it, he could tell that Connors must have been trying to keep it clean, as several dirty bloodied bandages were packed into it.

"This might hurt" Jarvan mumbled as he pulled them out and winced when Connors grunted in pain.

He quickly threw away the dirty bandages and grabbed a bottle of liquor from their supplies and took a swig, offering one to Connors who accepted with a small smirk.

"Shyvana, I might need your flames" she looked at him quizzically and shook her head. "Please, its not what you think I just need some light" he offered, and she looked relieved stepping forward and kneeling beside them.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath her palm sparking to life, fire dancing playfully illuminating them in its soft glow.

"Okay drink this and then I'll clean your wound as best as I can" He said handing Connors the small red vial that contained the health potion.

Connors nodded and popped the cork off, tipping the contents into his mouth and swallowing it with some effort. A soft green glow surrounded him for a brief moment and his wound hissed, and oozed a vile liquid, he gritted his teeth tightly and hissed in pain.

Shyvana watched partially fascinated and horrified at the effects. She leaned forward on her opposite hand not holding the fire and watched as Jarvan poured the alcohol over the wound and pressed a bandage into it, to clean up the puss, trying his best to stitch the deep wound closed with their limited supplies.

…..

Connors was asleep beside the fire, his breathing uneven and sheen of sweat covered his brow as Shyvana looked at him across the fire. Jarvan was sitting beside her quietly, both of their gazes fixated on their friend looks of concern plastered on their faces.

The night was quiet, except the deathly howl of the wolves the dragonesses knew were lurking around the edges of the camp, the hairs on the back of her neck stiffening into the bristly mane that covered her backside as a dragon.

Jarvan looked at her and frowned as her eyes glowed in the semi-darkness "Tell me, do you think he will live" he asked quietly so the others couldn't hear their conversation.

She looked over at him, and frowned, her heart wanted to tell him that he'd saved his friend and that Connors would pull through, but she couldn't bring herself to speak the words. She sighed and clasped her hands in front of her, her eyes trailing to the fire and then to Connors sleeping form.

"I don't know, I want to say that he'll be alright, but it lingers still the smell of death. We don't have the means to take care of him out here" she said her voice small and crestfallen. She had never experienced this type of pain before, the death of humans never bothered her all the while she was being chased down for her mere existence, but the thought of Connors dying brought a heart wrenching sadness.

Jarvan sighed and leaned back onto his palms staring up into the black, starless sky "What can I do Shy, I can't let him die"

"Go home" she whispered, her eyes watering at the thought of leaving her friends behind

Jarvan shot his gaze towards her and shook his head "Go home? What are you saying"

The dragoness tried to smile and sound indifferent, but a stray tear slid down her porcelain cheek as she spoke "To Demacia, save him"

Jarvan shook his head and leaned forward, resting his hand on her cheek wiping away the tear "I can't leave you out here"

Shyvana closed her eyes and leaned into the warm palm, that she would always miss, her friend, her prince.

"You must"