It hadn't been an easy morning.
Jarvan had woken up much later than he had intended, and the bed he shared with Shyvana had seemed just too comfortable to get up from. He had been woken by some foot traffic that he could hear through the window, but he had dismissed it with a grunt as he pulled the cover back over his head. He stuck a foot out from underneath the blankets they had wrapped themselves in, but brought it immediately back in; the air was frigid.
"Damnit..." He groaned. "I don't want to get up..." He wrapped an arm around Shyvana and pulled her closer, the young dragoness warm. She moaned a bit and pushed up against him. Jarvan sighed contently.
The day can wait.
When Jarvan was woken the second time, it was the hustle and bustle on the street outside streaming in through the window that kept him from falling back to sleep.
How the hell can someone make that much noise, this early in the morning?
It hadn't been until he had been returning from the bathroom and his morning routine when he realized it was the middle of the day. He rubbed his eyes as he glanced at a clock that had been bolted to the wall, no doubt to try and keep people to keep from stealing it. It read 11:37, and that alone had caused Jarvan to shake his head and smack himself. He and Shyvana had stayed up so late the night before that he had slept like a rock. With Shyvana up and moving slowly about, still drowsy from their evening upon the roof, Jarvan left her with a quick kiss while she finished packing. He took his gear on down to the main bar where Forsythe and Quinn sat discussing something over the map.
"Captain." Forsythe said, stiffly, starting to get up to salute. Jarvan waved the gesture off, looking about as he did.
"Sorry about oversleeping." Jarvan said, setting his pack down and rubbing his eyes, trying to clear the fog in his mind. Forsythe and Quinn glanced at each other, and Jarvan read the trouble in their expressions; the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Jarvan watched uneasily as Quinn and Forsythe glanced down to the table. "What?"
"Good news and bad news." Quinn said, her voice low. "Which do you want first?"
"Good news, I guess." Jarvan said, scratching at some of the stubble upon his chin.
"We've got a lead on a dragon sighting, and its coincides with our projected course from last night." Quinn said, tapping a small black dot upon the map. There was a word next to it that was upside down that Jarvan couldn't read, but he assumed it was one of the many outlying villages that seemed to always exist around the City-States. Demacia had its fair share of similar towns and villages.
"That's great news." Jarvan said, grinning. It slowly faded when neither Quinn nor Forsythe responded in kind. "And the bad news? Something happen in the night?" Jarvan said, glancing around to see what he needed to do to get something to eat in this questionable establishment. He looked back and Quinn wore a somber look as if someone had died. Jarvan's stomach began to knot up.
"You remember that Noxian company we ran into yesterday?" Forsythe said, leaning forward upon his elbows, hanging over the table. Jarvan nodded, an eyebrow raised as he watched the two's reactions.
"Well they're gone." Quinn said, refusing to meet Jarvan's glare.
"Like... they returned to Noxus?" Jarvan said, a confused expression upon his face. He sat back and raised an eyebrow as the others both paled.
"No. Massacred." Forsythe said quietly. Jarvan was pretty sure that if his jaw had dropped open any further, it would have struck the table top.
"An entire company?" Jarvan said, choking on his words. Forsythe simply nodded. Jarvan blinked a few times as he clicked his jaw shut and leaned back, sinking into his seat. He blew out an explosive sigh, putting on a tight lipped grimace to hide his anger. "And I assume the Dragon did this?"
"Yes." Forsythe said, tapping his foot rapidly. He avoided Jarvan's eyes as he started.
"Spill it." Jarvan ordered as Forsythe continued glancing about nervously, scanning the many different occupants of the room, refusing to meet Jarvan's eyes. Jarvan waited several seconds, but Forsythe refused to so much as look at him. "Dammit, Forse, don't play these games with me. What the hell is wrong?"
"Well..." Forsythe wore a frown, before finally sighing and doing his best to regain his composure. "Rumor is... that its not Kampf."
"The description doesn't match at the very least." Quinn added quickly with a frown. "Green scales, not nearly as large as far as we can tell... both eyes intact." She shook her head. "He messed the unit up hard last night, in this small town." She said, tapping the outlying village again with her finger. Jarvan sat back, crossing his arms over his chest.
"What's your opinion of the rumors, Forsythe?" Jarvan finally asked, a deep frown marring his face as he debated their possible course of actions in his head.
"They seem legitimate." Forsythe said, shrugging. "I don't know if we can take it on without sustaining any casualties... but I think we can kill it."
"We've dealt with worse." Jarvan said, nodding slowly as he crossed his arms over his chest. "At any rate, we should get moving soon..."
"One more thing." Quinn said, glancing at Forsythe. "The Noxians have cordoned off all of the roads leading towards the town; we'll have to trek through the forests for most of the trip." Jarvan sighed but nodded.
"Show me." Jarvan said after a few seconds. Quinn nodded and gestured to a few places on the map. She pointed at a spot on the map just below the village she had pointed to before.
"Here's the most direct route and its road block as best I can tell." Quinn said quickly. "If word on the street is to be believed at least." She shrugged. "We can follow this river though. Shouldn't be too hard."
"Makes sense." He looked down at the map. "How long a journey is it?"
"A days journey by foot. Half that if we have horses." Quinn said, frowning. "The thick undergrowth and rocky terrain will make the journey difficult for the horses when we leave established trails." She gestured to the door. "Isaacs is bargaining with someone to try and get horses for us right now."
"Sounds like a plan." Jarvan said, waving at Shyvana who had appeared in the doorway, looking tired and slightly irritable, but she set her pack down next to the table and slid in next to Jarvan.
"Good morning." Shyvana said as she leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. Jarvan blushed and Shyvana watched as Quinn glared at the table and clenched her fists, hidden under the table. Shyvana shot her a tight smirk, but the young tracker did her best to ignore it.
"Morning." Jarvan said as he finally managed to wave over someone from the bar. Clad in a colorful plaid shirt and a black skirt that reached the floor, she looked surprisingly calm considering the news that was circulating.
"Something for ya, hon?" The server said, a tray under one arm and a few empty beer steins in her other.
"I don't suppose you still have breakfast?" Jarvan said, hiding a yawn with the back of his hand.
"No problem, hon." The server said. "And for the missus?"
"I'll have whatever he's having." Shyvana leaned against Jarvan's shoulder, resting her eyes.
"Tea for the both of you?" The server asked.
"I suppose you don't have coffee, do you?" Jarvan asked.
"The Tea's better than most of the stuff you get in the area." She said shrugging. "But no coffee, sorry hon."
"Thanks anyways." Jarvan said tilting his head as Forsythe shook his head and sighed.
"Always gotta ask, don't you?" Forsythe said, pointing at Jarvan with an accusing finger. Jarvan shrugged, the sound of a door opening and closing drawing his gaze. A glowering Isaacs slammed the door behind him, to the dismay of the server who was putting Jarvan's order in at the counter.
"I haven't had decent coffee in years." Jarvan said, exasperated, shaking his head.
"Emphasis on decent." Isaacs said with a snort, sliding a chair up to the end of the table. He spun it around and sat down backwards, leaning on the back of the chair as he did. He sighed, shaking his head, his brow knit in frustration. "Getting anything decent here in Noxus costs a bloody arm and a leg."
"Trouble with the horses?" Forsythe asked with an amused grin, watching as Isaacs scowled. Isaacs nodded.
"The arse who runs the stable only has three he's willing to lend out, and they're expensive." Isaacs said, sighing, gripping the bridge of his nose with two fingers as he leaned heavily on the table.. "He wants 2 gold pieces a horse, and a 10 gold piece down-payment as 'insurance.'" He made imaginary quotation marks in the air as he spoke the last word, the contempt in his voice sharp enough to cut glass.
"Good lord." Jarvan said, shaking his head. "That's practically theft."
"Tell me about it." Isaacs spun the chair about and sat back down, crossing his arms over his chest as he grumbled and pushed himself back, balancing on two legs. "Bloody arseholes." Jarvan snorted at the comment.
"Here ya go, hon." The server said, setting down two plates and two mugs, filling both with a sweet smelling tea-like beverage. Jarvan thanked and paid the lady, trying not to comment on the state of the food that sat before him. A mound of bacon, sausage, fried egg, grilled tomato, potato cakes, and toast all atop what Jarvan hoped was baked beans.
"At least they eat like they have some sense here." Jarvan said, tucking into his plate of food.
"The tea is excellent." Shyvana said, emptying the entire cup. The server poured her another cup, wearing a tight lipped and haughty smile as she did.
"Our own special brew." The server said, winking at the young dragoness, causing her to blush and drop her gaze to the table. "Enjoy."
"Many thanks." Jarvan said from behind a mouthful of potato and bacon. She smiled at him again, before disappearing into the room to continue collecting dishes, mugs and payments. "The exterior of this place really doesn't do the food justice."
"It's pretty good, isn't it?" Isaacs said, putting on a tired smile. "The Tea is damned good." He gestured to the mug that had so far sat untouched near Jarvan's plate. Jarvan struggled to swallow the full mouth of food, and picked up the mug, using it to wash his food down. He blinked a few times, surprised by the beverage. He took a second sip, this time savoring the flavor. It was sweet and warming, but it also had a bit of a spicy bite to it, something almost fruity.
"It IS good..." He said, holding it away from himself and looking at it again. Isaacs smiled, drawing himself to his feet. He set a hand on Jarvan's shoulder, patting him a few times.
"Finish your meal and then we should go." Isaacs said stretching his arm over his chest. He looked like he hadn't gotten much sleep the night before and the news hadn't done much to improve his mood.
"Where are you going?" Quinn asked, frowning. "I'm going to go try and haggle that greedy cunt down from his absurdly high prices." He scowled and shook his head.
"Mmm, here!" Shyvana said, struggling past a mouth of food, some baked beans dripping down her chin. She stuck her head toward the table, the bean landing on her plate and Quinn giggled at her as she did. Shyvana shot her a dirty look which caused Jarvan to roll his eyes. Shyvana dug under the table, and finally pulled a jingling bag from her waist. She tossed it to Isaacs who caught the bag, surprised by its weight. He unstrung the pouch and opened it, looking up to Shyvana and then back down to the pouch.
"This... is... where did it all come from?" Isaacs said, frowning.
"I won it from the Noxians." She said with a grin. She winked at the old officer, eliciting a hearty chuckle from him.
"Damn..." He said, holding the pouch around the mouth as she shook his head and chuckled. "Meet me outside when you're ready." He clapped Jarvan on the shoulder again.
"I'll go with you." Quinn said, sliding out of the booth. She cast one last glance at Shyvana and then nodded at Jarvan. "My prince." She bowed and headed to the door, following in Isaacs' wake.
"You seem uneasy, Forsythe." Jarvan said between bites of food. "Something on your mind?"
"I don't know, sir." He said, shrugging and shaking his head. "I just don't like having another dragon in the area while we hunt that dog, Kampf. What if he's allied with him? How do we know we're not starting a war with dragon-kind."
"It's unlikely at best." Shyvana said, harshly, before Jarvan could say anything. "Kampf is an elitist, even among dragons. He wouldn't work with another dragon for the simple fact he doesn't think any of the them are worth his time."
"If you say so, ma'am." Forsythe said shrugging. "Though its not like we can actually interrogate him or anything, can we?"
"We might be able to, if we can trap him." Jarvan said with a shrug. "Though... I'd like to have the safety of the town be our top priority. I don't want to fight him within the town if at all possible."
"Yessir... but..." Forsythe looked as though he was reluctant to speak.
"'But' what?" Jarvan said, polishing off the last of his breakfast and following the food down with the last of his tea. He set the mug down on the table an looked up at Forsythe. The younger man was almost equal to Jarvan in stature, if slightly broader in the chest and only a hair shorter. Jarvan sat back, and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Permission to speak freely, sir." Forsythe said rigidly. Jarvan grimaced. Forsythe had reverted to treating Jarvan like an officer, his shoulders rigid and straight back as he stood at what was a deceptively rigid parade rest.
"Granted, Corporal." Jarvan said, crossing his arms over his chest. Forsythe glanced around, leaning in towards Jarvan.
"Sir, are we to really prioritize the lives of Noxians over our own lives?" Forsythe said under his breath. "We've come this far... what difference does it make if a few men in the enemy's camp die in the process. If we..."
Jarvan held his hand up to forestall any further comment. "Forsythe, a question."
"Uh... of course, sir." The corporal looked confused to say the least, the look of surprise evident on his face.
"What do you do if one of your own is killed upon the battlefield?" Jarvan posed the question as he gestured for Shyvana to rise. She nodded, sliding out of the booth and giving him a helping hand, pulling him to his feet.
"We finish the fight then bury the dead." Forsythe said, a neutral look upon his face.
"Because only in death is the duty of a Demacian soldier done." Jarvan said, nodding. "But what do you do if you if a comrade is injured?"
"Finish the fight then help him..." Forsythe said, still not seeing what message Jarvan was trying to convey. "But what does that have to do with the village?"
"If there are injured people..." He began to say as Shyvana started nodding, a grin spreading on her face.
"...Then you tax the enemy camp for far more than just the use of a shovel." Shyvana said, a vicious grin upon her face. Jarvan grinned, patting Shyvana on the shoulder.
"Correct." He said, nodding once. "If we find any survivors... we help them to the point where they can be saved. But it also drains the Noxain medical supplies. Besides, there are also civilians. Chances are they don't give a damn about the Noxians anyways."
"One can only hope." Forsythe said, snorting as a grin started to form on his lips. "I see now, sir." Forsythe nodded to both Jarvan and Shyvana, then turned and headed to the door. Jarvan heard Shyvana sigh and he could see the tension seem to drain from her body. She turned and looked up at Jarvan with a curious expression.
"Do all Demacians think like you?" Shyvana said with a smirk..
"Not many." Jarvan said, a grin pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Most would simply purge the unjust, topple the enemy forces, and ensure no quarter for the enemy. And Noxians are the most hated of our foes."
"And you don't agree with that?" Shyvana said, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh don't get me wrong..." Jarvan said chuckling. "I hate the damned Noxians more than most Demacians... but I have no stomach for the slaughter of innocents." He grimaced at the thought and shrugged after a few moments, sighing. "Call me squeamish if you will, but until they prove themselves worthy of death... I shall not levy an unjust death upon their heads."
Shyvana shook her head, grabbing Jarvan's hand and giving it a squeeze as she laced her fingers into his. "I think it's very noble of you." She said, blushing. "I can only hope that some day I am able to think as clear headed as you when faced with an enemy I despise..." Her voice trailed off as she sighed heavily. She suddenly looked sullen and tired. "I merely carry them to death upon my wings of fury..."
"Unbridled rage can do that sometimes." He said with a reassuring squeeze of his hand, nudging her shoulder with his elbow. She stuck her lip out at him, grinning as she did. Jarvan chuckled and released her hand. "I can try and help you with your control if you wish." Jarvan said with a grin. "No guarantee, but it could prove fun."
"And how is that going to be fun?" She said, pulling her pack up onto her shoulders.
"Getting to try my damnedest to piss you the fuck off and then have make up se-... er have to make up afterwards?" Jarvan blushed slightly and then chuckled, leaning in close as he levered his pack on, setting the final strap in its place upon his shoulder. "Sounds like a perfect date to me." Shyvana blushed but smiled.
"I think I like the sound of that." She bumped up against him, grabbing his hand as he started towards the door. "But only if I get to beat the tar out of you first."
Jarvan chuckled and winked at her. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Halt!" The Noxian soldiers raised their lances horizontally across the road, with a second row of lancers behind them raising their lances out like spikes upon a wall. "What business do you have here?"
Jarvan looked back at his small band of men. Shyvana was riding double with him upon the great black steed they had rented, while Isaacs and Quinn rode in much the same way atop a brown mare with a white face. Forsythe rode his own tan mustang, the young animal barely broken and aggressive as horses come. Both Shyvana and Quinn had tried to no avail to calm the animal, but it didn't much care for females. It seemed comfortable around Forsythe, but even then it had proved a rough ride and difficult to manage, even for an accomplished knight like Forsythe.
Jarvan looked up towards the sky where the sun had begun its descent towards the horizon. He guessed that they would have a few few hours more of light before the sky darkened over with the verge of night. Ominous rain clouds also spurred them on from behind, rapidly approaching from over Noxus. Jarvan could only guess they had an hour or two at best before the rain hit.
"Infernal rain." Shyvana grumbled from behind him, her mind obviously on the same thing as him.
"Speak up!" The captain of the Noxian soldiers demanded, his hand upon his sword.
"Stay your weapons, we only wish for passage to the village beyond." Jarvan said, watching as the Guard Captain pulled his weapon from his sheath, bearing several inches of the sheen of sharpened steel. He scowled at Jarvan but slapped the blade back into its sheath.
"The Village is currently off limits to commoners." He said, waving a roll of parchment. "Official military business only!"
"We only want passage." Jarvan repeated, trying to keep the anger from his voice.
"No exceptions." The officer said firmly, his hand still resting upon his sword. "If you ride fast you can make it to the next town over, just head back south and bear right at the cross roads. You can stay the night there."
"And there is nothing we can do to convince us to let you through?" Jarvan said one last time, frowning.
"Unless you want to turn over your women, you better get moving." The officer sneered.
"You wish you head to be cleaved from your shoulders?" Jarvan said, his hand snaking to where his lance was bundled under his leg, strapped to the horse's saddle. Shyvana put a subtle hand upon his arm, which caused Jarvan to scowl, but he pull the reins to the side, turning the horse. It took a few steps, but Jarvan stopped the horse, the creature braying.
"Neither of us want that." The officer said, his sneer now becoming a stone mask. "So be off with you, lest you wish to face the entirety of my platoon." Jarvan had only given the men a cursory glance, but taking a second glance he decided he didn't want to deal with the ten to one odds. Jarvan gave him a terse nod. He turned the horse the rest of the way, and snapped the reins and got the horse into a canter.
"While appealing I don't think we could take all fifty Noxians and still be ready to face down a dragon." Jarvan muttered.
"Oh surely you could have handled yourself..." Shyvana said with a smirk. "Or if you wanted I could have easily taken your ten as well."
"Oh sure." Jarvan snorted, a grin on his face. "What and leave you all the those damn minions to yourself? No thanks, love."
"Just an offer." She said with a shrug, tightening her arms around him in a hug. Jarvan shook his head, then looked over his shoulder and saw that the others were following close behind him. He watched as soldiers upon the road rapidly shrunk as the distance grew, and then the became obscured as the horse rounded a bend in the road. Jarvan pulled back on the reins, bringing his horse down to only a trot.
"This far enough?" Isaacs asked over his shoulder, Quinn looking at a section of the folded up map.
"Should be." She looked up to the sky for a few moments. She peered into the orange sky, watching for the familiar silhouette of Valor. She raised one hand to her mouth and whistled a bird-like call. Valor screamed a sharp, piercing cry that echoed as he descended, lighting upon Quinn's outstretched arm. He clicked his beak a few times at Isaacs who she sat behind. He squawked a few times at her and bit at the hood of her cloak. "He says the path is going to be rough."
"When is it ever not?" Isaacs glowered. Quinn whispered something before tossing Valor off into the air, the eagle screaming as it rapidly climbed up to a few hundred feet.
"Valor will steer us clear of any patrols or predators." Quinn said, nodding to herself, her hand going to her crossbow as if she were uneasy. Jarvan could only assume it was the jitters though. The Noxian presence was enough to keep him on edge, not to mention the fact that they were now hunting not just one, but two dragons.
"Good." Isaacs said, his frown now faint. "Hopefully that'll keep us moving fast. I really hate getting caught in the rain."
"Might as well get your rain gear ready." Jarvan said, trying to mask his own lack of enthusiasm with a grin.
"More rain?" Shyvana sighed, but dug about in their packs, pulling out two heavy, midnight blue cloaks. It didn't take long to finish getting their cloaks on. "Please tell me Demacia isn't this rainy..."
Jarvan waved Isaacs and Quinn forward to lead the column through the undergrowth. It took some convincing and fighting with the horses, but finally they managed to get all three though the thicket and onto the dirt path. The other two horses fell in line, with Forsythe bringing up the rear.
"Only half the year." Isaacs said with a cheeky grin, looking over his shoulder at Shyvana, who was poking her head up over Jarvan's shoulder. Quinn gestured slightly to the right and Isaacs responded by steering the horse towards the proper directions she was giving.
"Yeah, the other half is either blazing sun or freezing snow." Forsythe muttered from the back, loud enough that everyone could hear.
"And what was your company's motto... the one before you joined the Prince's unit?" Isaacs said, still wearing his grin, a sparkle of malice in his eye as he pestered the younger soldier. "Something about the weather if I recall..."
"Sun, wind, rain or snow; we shall always. ALWAYS go." Forsythe recited with a bitter tone. "And hear you me! Damn did we ever."
"Here we go." Isaacs whispered, as if he were trying to keep Forsythe from hearing him, despite the loud and overly obvious tone he used. Isaacs wore a knowing smile as he listened to the banter.
"Har har har." Forsythe chimed as he rolled his eyes, a good natured smile on his face as Jarvan and Isaacs both burst into laughter. "You laugh, but I swear to god that commanding officer was a bloody lunatic! He requested every foul weathered job he could get... this one time..."
They emerged from the darkness of the forest just as the rain drops started to fall.
"Dear lord..." Isaac's tone was soft and reverent, as the horse stamped impatiently atop the ridge that overlooked the entirety of the village. None of them were prepared for what lay before them when they emerged from the forest.
Smoke choked the air, the cloying scent of death and charred flesh hanging in the air and Jarvan's nose as he rode the horse into the valley that the burning village lay in. Small and surrounded by rocky berms on all sides, the village would have been quaint if it hadn't been for the rolling hellfire that seemed to coat it at the moment. Much of the town had burned to the foundations, and fires still burned all over the remains of the village in many places.
"Did the Noxians do this?" Forsythe said quietly.
"No..." Jarvan said, shaking his head. "Look... there are Noxian corpses everywhere." Their eyes followed Jarvan's gesture towards the main road that led into the small town. Along the road, there were a number of bodies, many of them missing limbs or blackened by fire. Corpses lined the road left and right, and smoke polluted the air, the scent of death and burnt meat heavy in the air. It was a cloying, choking scent, one that got into your head and then wouldn't leave. Shyvana gagged, bringing her cloak up over her face to block the oppressive stink.
"This was a massacre..." She said quietly. "How could someone do something like this..."
"This was done by no man." Jarvan said, his horse stamping impatiently back and forth. It was unwilling to proceed any further down the road, massive ruts dug in the stone and dirt of the road. "These resemble the claw marks of a dragon." Jarvan said, as Shyvana clambered down. She stumbled slightly as she dismounted, and Jarvan hopped down right after her, a grimace upon his face. He kneeled, looking at the deep ruts, his gloved hand in the torn up dirt, digging about till he found a shattered piece of cobblestone. He examined the stone and the stood up, brushing the crushed stone and dirt from his hand.
"Dragon?" Isaacs said calmly, taking the reins of of their horse from Jarvan. He pulled his lance from the horse's saddle.
"Yeah." Jarvan said as he shivered, a drop of water striking the back of his neck. "And judging by the width between these ruts, it's a decent sized one, too."
"We talking Kampf big here?" Forsythe said with a grimace and a shiver. Jarvan frowned as he looked at the ruts and then over at Shyvana.
"Not nearly that large..." Jarvan scratched his head as another rain drop struck the top of his head "Probably only as large as Shyvana."
"That's a tiny ass dragon them." Isaacs said with a dry chuckle. They all smiled, but no one seemed able to do more than that in the presence of all of the death and destruction.
"Need I demonstrate?" She said with a sort of sarcastic, twisted grin upon her face.
"No need." Isaacs said, raising his hands before him wearing an expression of mock horror.
"Save your strength." Jarvan said, shaking his head. "Something about this really doesn't sit well with me."
"I know what you mean." Isaacs said, nodding.
"Do dragon's usually attack villages like this?" Quinn asked, her arm held over her stomach, a queasy look upon her face. Jarvan looked to Shyvana for an answer. Shyvana frowned and shook her head.
"It has been known to happen is a dragon is extremely angered." Shyvana paused, rubbing the top of the gauntlet on her right arm. "My father did once. He chased an entire village from their homes then burned their homes down..."
"That doesn't exactly sound like the peaceful scholar we were led to believe he was..." Jarvan said with a frown. "I thought he was an even tempered and wizened dragon... not a fire-breathing demon of myth."
"We had been passing through the village at the time." Shyvana said, a sad look on her face. "I was only just learning about my transformations and I was unable to control it." She grinned slightly at that, most of them knew she wasn't able to fully control it even to this day. "I made the mistake of trying to play with some of the village children and was ostracized for being an outsider. They insulted me and threw rocks at me... until I began to transform. I didn't know what was happening... I was terrified."
She had to paused to collect herself before she could continue her story. Jarvan slipped an arm around her to comfort her.
"Thanks." She said softly. "That was when the trouble started... They viewed me as an abomination... and the villagers armed themselves. They had pitchforks, bow and arrow, even a few rifles. They chased me from town and into a field, when one of them shot me. The gunshot alerted my father, who was purchasing provisions within the village at the time. He saved me, just as the villagers were closing in to kill me. He transformed and went on a rampage, driving the villagers into the countryside. He smashed a few of the town buildings to make a point... and then he burned it to the ground." She grew quiet for a few moments, and everyone gave her that silence as more raindrops began to fall.
"Do you think something similar happened here?" Isaacs asked quietly, setting a hand gently on her shoulder. She shook her head.
"Dragons are independent... almost reclusive in many cases." She frowned. "Considering how few of us... them that are left. They don't just up and burn a village and all of its inhabitants down to the ground simply for fear of retribution."
"You said your father was in town... right?" Forsythe said, an eyebrow raised. "How exactly does a dragon buy provisions?" Shyvana flashed a tight lipped smile at him.
"He was a celestial dragon.." Shyvana said quietly. "He could transform to appear as if he was human."
"Oh." Forsythe said lamely, looking away and frowning.
"Anyways, we should probably split up and search for survivors." Jarvan said calmly. He could feel the unease on all of them. "Isaacs, you take Quinn and Forsythe and search the eastern half of town, Shyvana and I will take the western half."
"Aye, sir." Isaacs said, tying the horses to a downed tree. Roots and dirt clods had been thrown about, and a huge amount of dirt still clung to the bottom of the tree, roots wildly climbing towards the sky like branches. "Come on you two." Isaacs said, waving them forward. They nodded and fell in with him, disappearing into the haze that seemed to have settled over the town.