Soul of a Dragon

3

The elves settled down to camp an hour before the sun set in a thick growth of forestry that effectively blocked out most of the sky. Efficient in every way, their camp was set up in a double ring, with four elves awake and alert at any time that would patrol the perimeters during their watch. Their numbers adding up to a total of twelve elvish warriors, this meant that there was an ample number to guard over the rest, approximately one third to assure the best should they be attacked. Besides, there was almost nothing alive that could sneak up on an elf.

Though still somewhat wary, as most elves tended to be naturally, the lead elf, what one might call a Captain of the guard in the battlements of a normal garrison, whom had introduced himself as Siobain, had invited the three to settle with the elvish hunting party for the night as recompense for misjudging and setting upon them so abruptly.

The elves had steeds themselves, allowing them to move as quickly as any other small war party, but these were the type of horses the elvish kind desired, gifted with an intelligence above that of the average mount. These 'Equestrians', as the elves called them, had been corralled some distance away from where they had set up the ambush, and by corralled, the beasts had simply been told to wait until their return. Long legged, sinewy, and sleekly colored beyond what a brushing could do for any horse, the Equestrians were majestic in themselves, with eyes that were liquid and of all the colors the human mind could come up with.

The elves set up three campfires quickly in the center of the double circle, and the accompanying bedrolls around each one, enough food brought out for both their stomachs and those of their guests, though Taehyung denied the necessity for such a needy gesture.

"We have all the rations we require." Was his argument, but the tall blond elf would hear nothing of it, and as the hospitality of the elvish was not something to be questioned, he grudgingly agreed to the show of friendship.

The red haired elf from earlier came over to the three companions with a large armload of wood as they worked with their own fire, having insisted upon doing it themselves despite current happenings. Though not in the center of the double circle, the sentries' circuits were widened to encompass their small addition to the war party.

"If you desire help, you need merely ask." He said in a low, clear voice as he laid the wood beside their already growing bit of flame. "I will be back with your dinner as it finishes."

"You really needn't do that." Jimin spoke up, looking at the red haired elf. The other two paused in their actions to watch what transgressed.

The elf gave a smile. "Tis to repay our earlier treatment of you. I am afraid in such times, caution is warranted in all situations. I personally apologize for frightening you so badly when we first met."

The little mage shook his head slowly in reply. "It's ok, you were just doing what you had to do to protect yourselves. Really, you don't have to serve us like this...but if you must, can we know the name of one of our hosts so as to thank him?" The blonde asked, pulling all of his polite charm into the question.

The elf flashed that heart-like smile again, and nodded. "I am Hoseok." He said, then moved away from them to tend to his own beautiful Equestrian the color of cherry wood. The mount had the most wonderfully deep green eyes.

"Thank you, Hoseok." The blonde mage murmured as he watched the elf go, then turned back to the penetrating eyes of his companions. He frowned slightly.

"What?" He asked, feeling as if he was under an interrogation light.

Yoongi met Taehyung's eyes, then they both broke contact at the same time after the passed message and continued with what they'd previously been doing, Yoongi meticulously cleaning and honing his twin blades as he did every night, Taehyung rolling out the blankets they would sleep upon. Jimin pouted a bit, annoyed despite himself at the closed mouth-ness of his friends. It could get on even his bad side every now and again.

...

It was during the middle of Yoongi's watch, as the three had not quit the time old habit merely because there were more watchers, that he heard something prowling around the outskirts of the camp. There was more than one flash of silver eyes as he watched the stealthy movements. His back was to the fire, which was now reduced to glowing coals, so that his eyes could pierce the darkness better without the residual blank spots of unaccustomed pupils. Slowly, and silently, with his eyes and ears open, he slid a long narrow sword from its sheath, and prepared to go forward, when a light hand on his arm stayed his movements.

Shooting a glare over his shoulder, he found the red haired elf again there, Hoseok. The elf shook his head silently.

"Worry not. We have the aid of a pack of silver wolves. They merely prowl the darkness in search of danger." He said quietly, to not wake the others. Though he didn't relax, Yoongi did re-sheath his sword, the faint metallic rasp silencing the movements around the sleeping camp.

"Why are you 'prowling' about us?" Yoongi abruptly asked, annoyed. He didn't trust the elf, but then again, he didn't trust anybody.

The elf didn't seem surprised at the question. He had probably been expecting such from the keen warrior. "Siobhan wants me to see that you are...watched...for the night. He knows, from what the wolves told us, that you sensed their presence earlier, something not even natural animals can do. He feared you might do something drastic..." He glanced pointedly at the sheath resting in the dark haired warrior's hand.

Yoongi did not let his slight surprise show. These wolves were what had watched them from the dark. That they were helping the elves did not negate the fact that they were creatures Taehyung and himself would normally have been called upon to dispose of. Though he would never have admitted it, it was disconcerting that they were trusting themselves to these beasts.

Hoseok's gaze rose upwards. It was not as widely known that a special ability elves possessed was that at any time, anywhere, they knew the position of the stars, moon, and sun, so there was never an issue that they could lose time, or get lost themselves. Even with the canopy covering the sky overhead, his eyes seemed to cover the sky in seconds, reading the constellations.

"There are only two candlemarks left before sunrise." He murmured, looking back at Yoongi. "Why don't you sleep? I'll continue to keep watch."

Yoongi stubbornly shook his head, and crossed his arms across his chest. The elf tilted his head to the side, then nodded without speaking again, moving away from the dark haired warrior and their small circle. Yoongi watched him go with some sense of unease.

...

The morning dawned bright and early, and the elves showed the same efficiency they had the evening before, passing around food for a quick and simple breakfast, then repacking their light saddlebags to stow on the backs of the Equestrians. The creatures stood steady as this was done, occasionally tossing their heads, long manes leaning away from the tendency to tangle, and falling loose and light to the sides of their necks once they settled. Long tails flicked almost playfully at their riders, the intelligence they were bred and known for shining in their eyes.

The three companions couldn't help but watch at times, but were a good match for the speed and efficiency of the elves when it came to setting forth from camp. They were ready when Siobain called for the elves to mount up.

Nudging his mount, a dusty gray Equestrian with light blue eyes, over to the three who had mounted as well, the long haired elf gave them a proposition.

"I would invite you to join our party." The elf began. "Working together, despite the fact that we were given orders from different sources, we will have better luck with our mutual objective." He paused, awaiting their answer.

Taehyung had doubts about it, but it did seem to be a large step towards accomplishing their goal. Glancing at Yoongi, the warrior gave a slight incline of his head. A look towards Jimin showed the same assent in the mage. Facing the elf again, Taehyung nodded.

"We graciously accept your generous offer." He said, very diplomatically, yet not smoothly as if the words did not come naturally to him.

The blonde elf gave a slight smile.

"Good." And then he proceeded to lay out his plans for approaching the dragon's resting place.

......

Equestrian- an individual who rides or performs on horseback.

However, I'm using the word as the name of a breed of mythical horses.