Chapter One: Suluk P.O.V.
That fight did not go so well, but if I'm being honest neither one of us got away unharmed. If only that flying druingary* would have kept his mouth shut, all of this could have been avoided.
Rolling over to my side I try not to wince, assessing the damage. My left wing has a tear in it, so I won't be able to fly for a while or shift until that heals up. My right back leg is broken, along with four ribs and a dislocated left shoulder. This is going to take time to heal, even with my accelerated abilities. Sighing, I lay my head in the dirt by some trees. I should have hit one with my horn doing so, guess that means it's either broken or completely cracked off, just something else to add on to the list.
The smell of oncoming rain, decay, upturned dirt and flowers mixed with cooked meat and human stench along the breeze from the village I have landed near, invades my nose, making me huff out harshly. The human village is still a good distance away, but if one were to get curious enough they would find me in two days time with how slow they walk. If a hoard of them comes it may present a problem, especially if I'm not able to breathe fire as efficiently with my ribs in this state. I doubt they would take my life however.
The smell of cooked animal meat makes my stomach churn, but the thought of food makes it growl loudly at the same time, however. While I do not appreciate humans ruining food in such a ridiculous manner, I can agree meat is the best source of food that they eat. Gods, what I wouldn't give for any animal to stumble in front of me right now to finally start this healing process!
A small snapping twig to my right surprises me, and I think the gods have heard my plea and blessed me. That is until I turn to look and only see a small piece of dirty cloth peeking from around a tree.
Oh come on! It had to be a human?! Now they're just being cruel.
Moving my head slightly so it thinks I've lost interest in it, but watching it out of the corner of my eye, I see part of a small face peeking around the other side of the tree. I'm surprised to see a bright green eye, and long, curly, slightly red tinted, blond hair sway past them in the breeze as they look at me. Their skin is slightly red, I think the humans refer to it as being 'sunburnt'. It looks as though its skin is pale, like snow, if it wasn't in the sun for so long.
How odd this little thing is. I'll give it points for bravery. It hasn't ran from me yet, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time. Most humans, with the exception of the ones who run around calling themselves adventures, know to steer clear of my kind. Usually out of fear, or some sense of self preservation.
As the minutes pass I wait patiently for this human to start their running. To even hear it start making noise like babies when they are hungry or upset, or at the very least to mutter under its breath to a savior they worship. I wait and wait, and wait… BUT NOTHING HAPPENS!! It makes no sense to me, I haven't even seen it try to get away from that tree yet. It's just there, unmoving and waiting. Its scent on the breeze, and the sound of its breathing seems amplified in this quiet forest. Well that and the slight crunch of leaves and snapping of twigs when it shifts every so often.
A few hours have passed by now, surely, before I finally see the small, dirt covered thing make its way from behind the tree. It's small, too small for any human I've ever seen of its size. It looks frail, as if a big breeze came through it might break the poor thing clean in half. Its skin is the same red color, but in different shades on its arms and legs; it's covered in dirt and small cuts, if I couldn't see them already I could definitely smell the fresh blood that's stuck to it, small twigs, grass, leaves and feathers are tangled in its hair. As it pushes hair out of its face I notice its other eye is a deep blue with a scar in the shape of a crescent moon, from just above the middle of its brow to curve around and come down to end inbetween the middle and outer corner of its eye. The new underlying scent catches on the breeze, bringing it straight to fill my nose.
IT'S A WOMAN?! THAT THING IS GROWN?! How is it even alive?! It's so small. She reminds me of a tiny, curious rabbit.
I find myself unable to do anything, but stare at her. I can't take my eyes away, as if I'm a curious child again. It surprises me more when it finally dawns on me that I don't want to look away, I'm drawn to this small, frail, dirty woman. Curious about her next movements. If she'll run away or approach closer? Her hair, now out in the open with sun shining down on it, through the trees and the breeze blowing through it, reminds me of a friend I used to have in childhood. He used to have hair the same color before he was taken from us too early.
We just stay still, staring at each other. Her, standing beside that tree with one hand holding the sturdy, rough bark, as I continue to lay here in the grass and dirt, not even daring to change my breathing. The look of surprise on her face must mirror my own when she takes a step closer to me, rather than away. It makes me want to see what she would look like cleaned up and her features not covered in mud/dirt. To see the face of the woman brave enough to approach a dragon, especially an injured one, with no weapons or help whatsoever. Does she have a death wish?!
She stops, making me tense as it seems she's noticed my injuries, because she keeps looking at them with something that looks like a mix of curiosity and sorrow. I think she's finally leaving when she takes a few steps back to the tree she was hiding behind, but she surprises me yet again. Approaching with something large and covered in cloth, as she struggles to keep it in her arms.
What could this human have to offer m- MEAT?! SHE HAS MEAT?! Must have been out here hunting when she stumbled across me, or was curious enough to come see what fell out of the sky. Either way, why is she coming closer to me with that meat? It looks as if she needs it more than I do.
I've seen armies of full grown men, parties of adventures, and even some of the humans bravest warriors cower at the sight of my race. Most run or pass out of fright at the sight of one of the mighty dragons. Yet this small, frail, dirty, brave and fearless woman walks towards me without hesitation or doubt. As if she knows I won't hurt her, as if she knows everything that will happen and I'll let her leave with her life, even if I haven't decided that yet. What an odd human indeed.