Chapter Thirty: Alavira’s P.O.V.
I'm sure these are my final moments as the golden, sticky webbing starts to cover me. What I had mistaken for one, thick thread turned out to be multiple thinner ones wrapped together that spread out when released. As the webbing lands on me, entangling me on the spot, he steps closer, with what I can only assume to be a smile on his face. The twisted and mangled mouth looks odd as I try my best to untangle myself in a last ditch effort to save my life. When he's close enough to bend down and grab me a roar bursts through the storm, and I have a passing thought, for a single moment that it might be Suluk. That is until reality hits me like a brick wall, that this isn't some novel where the lover comes at the last moment to save their damsel in distress. Instead spilling out of the snowflakes and wind is darkness taken into a ferocious animal form. I should be scared, and trust me I would be if this was the first time I'm seeing it; but I've seen it before and this welcomed sight brings a smile to my face.
Piercing golden eyes are the first thing we're greeted with out of the darkness. When I look up he's so focused on the eyes he hasn't even realized a long, black snout covered in rough, textured skin and full of razor sharp teeth is getting closer to him. A large, long head makes its way out of the darkness, the harsh angles barely visible only because of his glowing eyes revealing a shelf just above to make his eyes seem as though they're half opened when looking at him head on. Those small angular shelves are where his horns start just beneath his rough, textured skin to come out first in a small set and then a larger one not too far behind those. The small set abruptly appears nearly a foot behind his eyes; from their skyward appearance they sharply turn back so the sharp pointed ends face towards his back. This set is smooth, almost looking as if they were carved straight from Onyx themselves and then placed on his head for some shining contrast to his other rougher, textured features. They're as sharp as the crystal too, with sleek lines running through them at where they grew and formed into the thick, short horns they are now. They are thick when they appear, and taper down to a sharp points at the ends. The V shape, that the larger set of horns at the back of his skull, make his whole head seem as though it is an arrowhead ready to be placed upon an arrow for an archer to use at a moment's notice. The skin between the horns smooths out a bit, and is drawn back tight to accommodate this shape. These horns are long and softly curve inward and then out, just to curve back in before the tips slightly turn upwards towards the clouds. Where the first small set is smooth and sharp, these are textured in a way that make it look like layers have grown on top of each other to accommodate each individual spike that branches out from the tops. Each spike is a different size and texture, some smooth and blunt, while others are jagged and sharp, no two alike.
If the sun was out, and you somehow managed to see the top of his head, you'd find scarring along those sharp V shaped skin. He used to have another thick, long horn that sat in that now empty space. During a battle he'd been injured, resulting in the lost horn and skin that should be connecting the two sections. His scars are a deep, dark, shimmering purple in the sunlight and they are beautiful in a way no artist could ever truly capture. His body is long, and thin but full of muscles, reminding me in a lot of ways of how a snake looks when you see it tensed and coiled, ready to strike at any threat they come across. Black, textured, rough skin littered in scars cover his whole body. His talons on his two feet shimmer slightly in the light, as if someone captured stardust and placed them within his feet to help him be one with, or tame the night sky. Unlike Suluk, who had six legs, he only has two long, slim and slightly smoother ones. What he may lack in muscles and size, compared to other dragons, he makes up for in wingspan and agility. He's the fastest flier they have, not to mention his plethora of magic. His two wings are stretched with sleek, smooth, thin skin to show the defined lines of bones that run beneath. Each having two large, curved claws sticking out of small fingers that are places just where the wing starts to curve back slightly. He is a thing of beauty, if you're able to look past the cold gaze and mouth full of two rows of bone crushing, razor sharp teeth.
Suluk has told me about how fear smells awful, and for a fleeting moment I want to believe I smelled it on this spider shifter before me. I watch as all six legs and both of his arms quiver in fear for a moment, before he takes a step back. No longer interested in me anymore, but staring wide eyed at the night stalker challenging him. "Hey Kieren." I whisper out shyly. He just looks at me for a split second, his gaze softening slightly as he does, before returning to the enemy with that cold, calculating glare again. I return to focusing on trying to get myself out of this tangle of golden web, before a sharp claw comes to my aid as the wing it's attached to blocks the wind for a moment. Slicing through the carefully woven threat like it was no more than a cloud, and then returning back to his side as if he had never even untucked since landing.
"Just because you have someone come to save you doesn't mean you'll survive for long. If it's not me, then Ridge will end you! He wants your head on a stick no matter who brings it to him! No one should have survived out of that stupid village! After that old hag double crossed us like that, everyone was supposed to die!" He screams at us while slowly backing away. He knows this is a fight he won't win, but the look in Kieren's eye tells me that he won't leave here alive. Backing up slightly to get out of his way, I'm confused about what he's saying. Who double crossed them? And what does it have to do with my old village? Or even me for that matter?!
The moment that spider goes to take off running, is the same moment that Kieren shields me with his wing so I don't have to see what is happening. I cover my ears as smoke whooshes out in dark, thick, strings from under his wings and chest to shoot towards the spider guy. A deep, reverberating cross between a hiss and growl escapes him before his chest glows a soft silver and he seems to be spitting somethings out. Screams follow and I don't want to hear any of it! Crouching down to the snow, hands mashing my ears to my skull, and eyes screwed shut, I wait with baited breath for it to be over. I see now why Suluk didn't want me to fight, even if I'm not sure I'm ready to admit that to myself fully yet. This is worse than a nightmare, but this is what I've gotten myself into, and it's the choice I made so I will take these consequences like a grown adult.
What feels like a lifetime passes before snow starts to touch my face again, letting me know that Kieren has taken his wing back and it is safe to look once more. When I open my eyes I don't see him towering over me like I had previously. Now looking around panicked I hear an echo of his voice softly calling to me. A shadowy figure slowly emerges out of the thickening blizzard, and thankfully it's Kieren. My heart won't stop racing even if I know it's him and that I'm safe for now. "Ava! What the hell were you thinking?! You were almost k-" I don't let him finish the sentence as I run to him. Wrapping my arms around him tightly and sobbing into his chest. He's stiff, hands raised in the air for a moment like he's not sure what to do in this situation, before I finally feel him relax and start to softly rub my back in circles, while his other hand gently strokes my hair. "Ssshh, sshhh. You're safe for now. I won't let them hurt you." He doesn't judge me, or tell me to suck it up cause this is the decision I made, like I think he'll do. He just lets me get it all out and gives me the reassurance I need in this moment. I try to say sorry, but it sounds more like a blubbering mess instead.
He lets me have this moment before throwing me back into reality with firm hands gripping my arms. He gently shakes me as I finish wiping my face. "Ava, we have to move now. We'll have time for tears later. I'll even let you cry as much as you want and I won't tell anyone about it at all, but right now we have to pull it together. We have to get you out of here. Can you run?" He looks me over, assessing for any damage, while not letting go of my arms. I nod slightly, sniffling as my nose is now numb from the cold. He nods and looks around as his shadows slowly come back to him and disappear into his torso and shoulders. "Good, I'll fly and keep an eye out with my shadows while you run. I don't want you to get hurt in this storm while I'm flying. If anything shows up or you're in danger then I'll be right there." His reassurance is calming me, along with his soft eyes. However his freezing armor and cold hands have chilled me down to the bone after hugging him. I'm now glad that they have armor that will shift with them, because clothes or not I needed that hug!
"Where is Sevanah?" I look around the spot and try to find any sign of her.
"We need to focus on you. We'll find her later." His tone is falling flat, and his eyes try to focus on anything other than me. Like he's trying to avoid this topic, and isn't sure how to deal with this right now. I decide I don't want to know and that she'll catch up at some point. Nodding to him I steal myself and set my mind to push on.
Taking off running as he shifts and takes to the air, I follow the sound of his wings flapping overhead. Glad that they are large to hear their thunderous noise and stay on a straight course. Feet numb from the cold, and I can no longer feel my face or hands, my hair swaying behind me as I keep pushing my tired muscles to keep running. My heartbeat keeps its rapid pace as I try to even out my breathing, hoping the movement will keep me limber and somewhat warm.
The blizzard seems to grow thicker and more wild as we get closer. Bursts of lightning and fantastic colors filling the sky lets me know that we're close to the thick of the battle. In all the chaos, thunder and roaring happening I manage to lose Kierens flapping. I stand in place, drawing my sword as I do my best to try and scream over the storm. "KIEREN!! KIEREN! I'VE LOST YOU!! WHERE ARE YOU?!? KIEREN?!"
Standing there, shivering, gripping my sword as the wind tries to knock me around and the snow burns my lungs with every breath, I wait. Keeping my guard up, because I know if Kieren can hear me, then others will as well and I'll be an easy target for most. Clenching my chattering teeth, and slowing my breathing slightly, I wait…. And wait, and wait. For anyone at this point! It doesn't take long to realize Kieren has lost me, I'm alone in this storm. I'm out in the open, and vulnerable. I have to find somewhere to hide and take out whatever enemies I can along the way.
My feet take off in the slurry of snow, and I keep my shield and sword ready in my hands, just in case I run into anyone unfamiliar. I may have froze back there with the Joro Shifter, but never again. I steal my nerves, follow the noise of battle cries and crashing weapons. I can do this! I will find the others, and we'll all get out of this alive! I won't mess up this time!