(Disclaimer: Don't own anything except the following story)

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Return of the Dragon Slayer.

Chapter Ten.

"WHERE THE FUCK DID THEY GO?" yelled Sam. He looked at Jude; he and the other Ancients were looking around and he was sure the shocked and confused looks on their faces were the same as the one he was wearing.

"Micah, Noah, Daniel…scouting parties. Two man teams; start in the forest then widen the search. Watch out for Jonas' men. Go!" ordered Jude. Six men jumped over the coral fence, grabbed the closest horse and raced out, heading into different parts of the forest.

"That's it?" asked Sam.

"Sam, there's not a lot else we can do. Disappearing for no apparent reason really isn't an Ancient thing" he turned to the remaining Ancients "There's still work to do, back to it" he returned his attention to Sam and waited til the others were out of ear-shot "I'm guessing that was Dean, not Finn. Well, Dean or the dragons"

"The dragons? You gotta be shitting me?"

"They're mystical beasts, Sam. We know very little about them. The few Ancients that were around when we fought the dragons don't know much except what they saw during the battles and from what I understand, it was carnage"

"This is bullshit! You gotta have some idea about how they live, what their habits are…something" said Sam incredulously.

Jude smiled at him "Sam, out of all the people here, you, Caleb, Zach, Tom and Darius are the only ones that have seen a dragon up close and until the calls started going out, no-one had seen one in the skies for millennia's"

"No. There must be folklore, books, stories…something we can start looking into to try and find out where they've gone" insisted Sam "Show me what you have and I'll go from there" Jude nodded and Sam followed him towards the main tent. Sam was falling back on what he did best, investigate and find; only this time, it was his brother that was missing and when he'd seen him last, he looked like he was dying.

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Finn stirred as she felt something coarse rub up her neck, along her jaw and over her cheek; she tried to lift her hand to slap it away but her limbs felt like lead, she couldn't raise them. She tried to open her eyes, but again, it was too difficult to do. She felt the coarseness again as it flicked at her jaw and she was hit by the smell of rotted flesh. She willed her eyes open but they wouldn't obey …and she had the funny feeling that maybe that was a good thing, that she really didn't want to see what was in front of her.

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Dean opened his eyes slowly, the sun was sitting low in the sky and a light breeze flitted across his face, bringing with it a sweet smell of jasmine. He looked to his right, he was in a small canyon, the grass a spectacular shade of gold and he could see each blade of grass, moving slowly as the breeze snaked through it. He put his hands to his eyes, they came away clean, his eyes were fine now; the explosive pain he'd felt in his head was gone as well and apart from a niggling pain in his back, he was alright, just like Finn had said he'd be…shit, Finn! He sat up quickly and looked around for her, he couldn't see her anywhere. He stood and scanned the area around him, nothing…nothing but the grassland held within the steep, red canyon walls. "Finn!" he yelled. He waited but got no response "Finn!"

He turned when he heard movement behind him and stopped dead in his tracks as a dragon settled itself in front of him. It sat forty-feet high, its blue-wings tucked against its body, the purple and silver scales glinting in the last rays of the sun. Dean stared as the dragon cocked its head from side to side, its eyes taking in everything about him. The dragon finally lowered itself onto its front legs, bringing its head to Dean's eye level.

"Where's Finn?" he demanded.

You should not have bought the woman here.

Dean cocked his head, the voice had sounded in his mind but he knew it was coming from the dragon in front of him "I want to know where she is"

You make demands of us, Dragon Slayer?

"I want to know where she is and I want to know now"

It was not your place to bring her here. This is our land, sacred land, the invitation was extended to you, not to her.

"Invitation? You damn well almost killed me!" he rolled his left shoulder as the pain in his back started to get more uncomfortable.

Your mind has not yet adjusted to being here; it will over time. We did not mean to cause you harm but you were needed here….she was not.

"Where is she?" he demanded again.

Her fate has been sealed. We must now speak of the war that has been …

"What the hell do you mean 'her fate has been sealed'?" he shook his head "Oh, no you don't. FINN!" he turned and yelled down the canyon "FINN!"

You waste your breath, Dragon Slayer. She cannot hear you.

Dean turned back to the dragon "Tell me where she is!"

I cannot.

"Bullshit!" he glared at the dragon "You tell me where she is or you go to war on your own"

You will lead us into battle, that is your destiny. It has been foretold.

"Yeah? Well I'm changing the rules. Finn explained that if I don't help you, you die, so I'm guessing that if I lead you into a battle against the Ancients, that creates a loophole that allows you to kill them without consequence right?" the dragon said nothing and Dean shook his head, laughing softly "Thought so" he stepped towards the dragon, putting his face inches from its jaws and spoke quietly "You take me to her and I will lead you into battle, I give you my word but if something's happened to her, then I will go all 'Kill Bill' on your scaly asses! I will 'slay' every fuckin' one of you, you hear me?"

You dare challenge me?

"I dare" said Dean menacingly.

He didn't flinch as the dragon opened its jaws wide and roared; the rush of its breath, hot against his face. He stood his ground, refusing to take a backwards step, refusing to submit to the beast.

The roar finally subsided and the dragon looked at him "Take me to her"

He watched as the dragon stared hard at him, his head swaying from side to side; it was weighing up its options, he could sense that; he could also sense some kind of communication with another dragon, but couldn't make out the words…it was in a language he didn't quite understand…yet. The dragon finally bowed its head.

As you wish.

It lowered its body to the ground, putting out its front leg. Dean didn't hesitate, he scaled the dragon's leg, settling himself at the base of its neck and hooking the back of his boots underneath its wings, his hands slipping under its scales. He instinctively knew how to ride one and the minute he was in position the dragon shot into the sky, the launch of it would have been exhilarating had he not had the sinking feeling that Finn was on borrowed time.

They soared across low-lying mountains, the landscape beneath him changing constantly; there were lush fields in a multitude of colours, forests whose trees defied explanation, flooded valleys and deep canyons; each one a land in its own and each one holding dragons of different colours, shapes and sizes; each issuing a roar as he passed overhead.

Dean felt the dragon's powerful muscles underneath him as it glided gracefully through the air. He didn't know how fast they were going but the scenery below him was starting to blur into a palette of red, blue, silver and purple. He held tight as the dragon rolled to its left and started its descent, the air around Dean buffeting him as they streaked towards the earth. The dragon pulled up twenty feet from the ground and landed softly, the ground barely moving as its taloned feet touched down. The dragon lowered its body to the ground and Dean slipped from its neck, leaping from its leg and hitting the ground softly.

The one you seek is through this valley, on the other side of the river. I will await your return…

Dean heard the unfinished thought "Or?"

Or I will return your remains to your people.

Dean nodded, turned and jogged down the valley towards the river.

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Finn lay as still as she possibly could, keeping her breathing as shallow as possible. She tried to ignore the urge to scratch at her thigh but the more she tried to ignore it, the more she needed to scratch. She felt her body nudged again and she stayed limp, falling back against the dirt, her head lolling to the side. She had to figure out a way out of this, she couldn't get to her sword and she guessed getting up quickly and running for her damn life would probably have her end up barbequed; so she stayed as she was, her mind working over-time.

She heard light footsteps coming from her right and resisted turning her head, wait and listen…that was how she was going to survive this, wait and listen.

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Dean got to the other side of the river and followed a path towards a grouping of large caves off to his right. He walked slowly and quietly, edging over discarded bones, some with bits of flesh of its previous owner still hanging from them. He moved around a large, overturned tree stump and heard faint scratchings coming from a far cave. He moved quickly, hunkering down at the entrance and listening. He could hear slow movements and the rush of air being forced out of nostrils; there was no doubt a dragon was in there. He glanced quickly round the cave entrance, ducking back out of sight…shit, shit, shit…Finn was on the ground, a large dragon at her side, pushing her with its nose, its tongue flicking out to lick at her.

He felt a rippling run through him; he rose as the pain in his back intensified. He removed his sword, slipped off his shirt and looked at his shoulder, the shoulder that carried the tattoo. He watched as the dragon's head turned towards him and opened its tattooed jaws, the roar it issued culminating in his mind. He felt its wings stretch across his back and he picked up his sword, put it back on and stepped into the cave.

The dragon looked up as the man stepped into the cave, his posture was relaxed and he showed no fear, he believed he belonged here.

"Don't move, Finn"

The dragon roared at him and put its talons over Finn's body, claiming her as its own.

"Let her go" he stepped further into the cave "You know who I am. Let. Her. Go."

She belongs to me, Slayer.

"No"

She was not granted permission to enter our home. She arrived on my land, she belongs to me!

"She does NOT belong to you! She has to speak with Fafnir…and I don't need to explain shit to you. Release her…now" said Dean as he stepped further into the cave. He could feel the tail of his dragon tattoo swishing on his lower back, he could feel its body tensing as he edged towards the dragon "Finn, open your eyes"

"Seriously?" she whispered.

He smiled "Seriously"

She opened her eyes "Holy crap…worse than I thought…" she muttered, and she closed her eyes again.

Dean tried not to laugh "Finn, open your eyes and move slowly out from underneath him. Slowly okay?"

She nodded, opened her eyes and shuffled slowly back, making sure she didn't touch the dragon's claws, she knew they held a powerfully deadly poison. She got out from underneath its claw, looked over at Dean and stopped, her jaw dropping open as she saw his tattoo moving freely over his upper body.

"Finn, stop staring and move over here, don't stand up" she nodded and worked her way over to him "Get behind me" she nodded again and moved behind him, unable to draw her gaze away from the tattoo.

"Why'd he let me go?" asked Finn softly "I thought I was his next meal"

"You were"

She heard the grin in his voice "Alrighty then"

I am owed, Slayer

Dean nodded "You'll get what's owed you, Keyo. That's a promise"

The dragon opened its jaws and roared, it was deafening within the small confines of the cave. Finn watched as the dragon that was tattooed on Dean, snapped its wings open and she stepped to his side and watched as the dragons jaws opened and roared in return. She cocked her head as she heard the roar in her mind.

Dean stood his ground, waiting until the dragon finished its roar, he grinned "Impressive, Keyo. In a couple of hundred years, it'll be the roar of a true dragon"

"Jesus, Dean…don't piss it off" Finn whispered "I like my flesh attached to my bones"

Dean laughed softly "Time to go"

"No shit"

"Slowly…don't go anywhere near your sword" he took her hand and they backed out of the cave. They got to the entrance and Dean pushed her out and into the sunshine. She breathed in deep and screwed up her nose as the smell of rotted flesh hit her nostrils.

Dean followed her out, grabbed his shirt and grinned at her "Saved you from a dragon, Princess"

She laughed "Yeah, you're my hero. Can we leave now?"

He grinned at her again and took her hand "Come on, you're about to have the ride of your life"

They ran through the creek and back up the valley, Finn constantly looking at Dean's back, the tattoo was still moving and she swore it looked at her a couple of times.

"Dean…your tattoo…" he looked at her "freakin' awesome"

He grinned "Yeah, I'm gonna call him…'Keith'"

She laughed "No, you're bloody well not!" she followed him round a dense strand of trees and into the resting form of a dragon. Finn pulled up quickly "Ohhhh, no…" the dragon raised its head and looked at her.

"S'Alright Finn, Peluda won't hurt you" he pulled her over to the dragon.

She followed him warily "How do you know their names?"

He shrugged "Just do" they stood in front of the dragon "Peluda, this is Finn…Griffin Jacobs" the dragon cocked its head "Finn…Peluda"

"Aaah, nice to meet you" said Finn.

She is the daughter of the 'Pact-Makers'?

"Yep. She needs to speak with Fafnir"

I did not know who she was. This makes a difference. Fafnir said she would come, he has been waiting for her.

"Why?" asked Dean.

There are things only he can tell. Your woman will be pleased though.

Dean grinned "Alright. Can you give me a clue?"

Finn watched as Dean had a conversation with Peluda…to her it was one sided but she knew they were talking to each other. She looked at Dean's tattoo and the dragon moved its head and looked at her, she smiled and it nodded ...and she was just a little freaked out.

Dean turned to her "Come on" the dragon put its foot out "Follow me" and he scaled the dragon easily, sitting himself behind its neck "Come on!" he grinned at her.

"Okay, okay" she looked at Peluda "Aaah, sorry about the boots" and she climbed up him, sitting herself behind Dean "You need your shirt?"

He grinned at her "I'm wearing it" and he pointed to the dragon tattoo "And Peluda said 'thanks for your concern'"

She nodded "And you're not calling your tattoo 'Keith'"

He laughed and put his hands under Peluda's scales "Hang on…tight" and she put her arms around his waist, holding on tightly "Okay, Peluda…take to the skies!" and the dragon shot skywards.

They soared high above the dragons land, both of them grinning like idiots. Dean looked over his shoulder at her "Hang on and grip with your knees" she did and Peluda dropped quickly, spinning as he hurtled towards the ground. Dean and Finn yelled with exhilaration as Peluda shot skywards again. Dean turned and grinned "He said that was for fun"

Finn laughed "Do it again!" and Peluda barrel-rolled through the air.

Dean pointed "That's where we're going!"

Finn followed his direction and saw a large turquoise mountain, littered with caves and dragons perched all over it. Peluda was heading towards a large cave in the middle of the mountain; he pulled up slowly and settled gently on the large ledge at the front.

Finn slipped off the dragon and went to his head "Thanks, Peluda. That was…Jesus…awesome just doesn't cover it" she grinned at him and he bowed his head.

Dean came up next to her "He said he's glad you enjoyed it but you yell too much"

"Sorry" she grinned "I was just uber-hyped"

"Come on" he took her hand and led her into the cave.

It wasn't as dark or as cold as she imagined, and the silver moss that ran over the walls gave off a luminescence all its own. Dean seemed to know which way he was going, taking turn after turn like he'd been here before.

He pulled up and turned to her "Okay, this dragon is like the King of all the dragons, he's the one that made the pact with your parents so he knows who you are. You need to show him the proper respect, keep your eyes lowered until I tell you, okay?"

"Okay"

He lifted her chin "You'll be fine, Finn, I promise. Just be honest when he asks you a question"

"He can speak?"

Dean smiled "You'll hear him" and he led her round the corner and into a large cave.

She lowered her eyes and felt Dean squeeze her hand. She stopped as he did, keeping her head down. She could sense the dragon in here…his energy, his power, was palpable.

"Finn…" said Dean softly.

She raised her head slowly and stared before shaking it vigorously "No…no…no…"

To be continued…