The Firedrake's Lost Heir

Chapter 6

The sound of crickets and night birds woke up Brooklyn who at first couldn't remember yesterday's events.

"Uh... huh? Where m' I...? Goliath? A-anyone?" Brook asked groggily, rubbing his eyes. The night sky met his eyes as well as the open fields of grass and small woodlands from inside the cave. Harsh reality gripped Brooklyn then that his clan wasn't here in this weird world with him, and loneliness began to ache within his heart which felt painful. He hadn't met any other friendly souls besides that Legolas since Mirkwood and hoped to soon make another friend.

Sitting up Brook gave a yawn, feeling it weird without his stone skin but knew he had to get used to it since once he found his father he would no longer see himself as a gargoyle. Brooklyn then got to his feet, knowing he had to move on and somehow find supplies and a map of this world.

He began to glide across the fields again after taking a drink from the river, hoping for a town of some sort where he could get a saddlebag and keep his food and water in. But what Brooklyn didn't know was that he was being watched by mysterious eyes in the woods. One sat on a wolf creature; a Warg. It was an orc holding a spear who had seen this new creature gliding by in their territory. He gave a small sneer. This should be good game. The orc rode off to inform his patrol.

The red male landed after a time, spying a bush of berries that reminded him of black berries back on Earth. Are they safe to eat? He thought, stomach growling from not having eaten for a while. Brooklyn went over cautiously, sniffing. They didn't smell bad so he picked one and tasted it. It really did taste like black berries. Smiling Brook began to devour the bush, eating as much as he could, until he heard a low growling. Brook gulped, swallowing his food, smelling an intruder. His eyes caught the sight of a big creature that looked like a bear. His body trembled.

I gotta get out of here, Brooklyn thought, backing away, unaware of the orc patrol closing in.

Meanwhile the orc scout reported to the second in command of the leader Azog; Bolg. The evil one stood in front of the gathered orcs before him, the wargs growling.

"What news...?" Bolg demanded in a snarling tone. The smaller orc trembled. "In-intruder, Bolg. Unidentifiable. Has wings. Sh-should we kill it?"

Bolg snarled. He wouldn't have this new creature get in his way, or anyone else. He drew his sword. "Shoot him and poison him. Then we'll put him out of his misery. I wonder what his blood... will taste like..." he leered, licking his lips. The other orc nodded, taking out his bow, riding away again, as well as Bolg riding his own warg to follow.

Brooklyn staggered back when the bear creature had seen him, roaring loudly when catching his scent. His heart was pounding. "C'mon, dragon form, c'mon!" He grunted while running. But he didn't get his wish when suddenly a whizzing noise came; an arrow striking Brooklyn in his leg. He yelped out loud.

"Aaagh!" The pain was awful and he staggered to the ground. He glanced down at the arrow sticking out, trying to pull it from his skin but it was embedded in there. And to make things worse the bear was gone only to be replaced with weird deadly creatures riding these strange wolves. He bared his fangs from the agony of the arrow poking his leg, leaning against a tree. Brook couldn't climb the tree now if he wanted to. Holding his leg Brooklyn saw one giant wolf coming into the circle that surrounded him. So these were orcs.

Flinching Brooklyn still managed to think of a snarky sentence. "If you are the feared orcs that Legolas told me about you all are pretty damned ugly," he grunted with choked laughter, already feeling his blood on fire from the poison.

Bolg drew his sword, talking in Blackspeech. "We don't like new filth in our world, new creature. And for that you will die under my sword and poison." Bolg then climbed off his warg, poking his sword under Brooklyn's beaked chin on his neck. Brooklyn didn't know what he was saying but the look in the orc's eyes spelled murderer, making him realize he was in deep trouble again and may die before even getting to find his father. His ears fell in fear, the orc sneering at him, until suddenly a familiar roar shook the air.

The orcs all turned around, shrieking at the sight of the large mass of an animal bearing down on them. Brooklyn tried again to stand but his legs wouldn't suppot him, shaking all over as his mysterious rescuer continued ravaging the orcs. Blog and two others managed to make their escape to report to their boss, the bear roaring after the orcs. Even the wargs were afraid. Brooklyn now didn't know what his fate would be, giving out scared noises as his strange towering savior came close, narrowing its eyes then sniffing.

Brooklyn eventually couldn't handle all the overwhelming moments and eventually he felt himself fainting from both fear and his wound, collapsing to the ground.

The bear meanwhile had seen this strange newcomer faint from his fear. Growling softly before eventually changing into his man form. He knelt, slapping the young creature's face lightly to try waking hin up, but all he did was groan. Eventually Beorn sighed, shaking his head, knowing he had to bring the young lad into his house, or else he'd perish out here.

Grunting with his strength Beorn lifted Brooklyn into his arms, walking strongly towards his farmland. It took him about half an hour but managed to reach it. Brooklyn's skin was turning pale by now because of the orc poison, and Beorn knew he had to hurry. Opening the door he sat Brooklyn down on his bed, and grabbed a cloth to pull the arrow out by the head.

Brooklyn whined when feeling the arrow being yanked on in his sleep, Beorn grunting then being able to yank it out, snapping it in two then throwing it away out the window. He next wetted another cloth and put it on Brooklyn's forehead, covering him up then grabbing the herbs he needed for healing the orc poison.

His new guest lay out of it for nearly a day or two, wheezing softly. Beorn prepared food which was soup in case Brooklyn woke up.

...

Goats bleating were heard by Brooklyn the third day later, who was slowly coming out of his fever coma. He wearily groaned, struggling to open his gummy eyelids and could see daylight. At first again he was confused when seeing his surroundings that looked like someone's lodging, which made him feel nervous right away, trying to sit up but a wave of dizziness flooded his body, making Brook fall back on his pillow.

Footsteps sounded, and Brooklyn looked nervously, ears flattened, at the sight of his hoast. He was a giant human with fur along his back and a beard, hardly any clothing except a loincloth like Brooklyn's.

The man narrowed his eyes when seeing that Brooklyn tried to get up. "Don't move, you're still weak from that filthy orc poison. Would take another day or two before you can move on again." He said in a deep voice.

Brooklyn was very confused and scared. "Uh- who-who are you?" He questioned shyly. Beorn took a chair and sat down near his bed. "They call me Beorn, a Skin-Changer. I'm the last of my kind..." he replied simply.

The beaked hybrid's ears fell. This skin changer had lost his family like how he lost his own. But he had another question. "How... long was I asleep for?" He asked, rubbing his head. Beorn gave a little grin but it wasn't so showy. "Three days young one. I took you here after I chased those orcs away. Their forces have been taking over everything, showing the growing signs of a great evil coming. But who it is; I don't know." Beorn looked out the window, then back at Brooklyn. "But why did someone like you have come here?"

Brooklyn swallowed softly. "I seek my birth family, mostly my father, at the Lonely Mountain. But before I find him I hope to learn more. Please don't hate me. Smaug is my father."

This was somewhat shocking to Beorn. Brooklyn didn't look like a dragon at all. Seeing his confused face, Brooklyn explained his story of how he had been raised a gargoyle by his clan, and how his dragon instincts had been waking, and hearing his father. Beorn then understood, since he knew that Brooklyn wasn't anything like his murderous father. But maybe he could change him.

"I can see now. But you won't be going anywhere for at least a week, friend. The poison still needs to leave your system. So just continue to remain in bed until I say you are strong to travel." Brooklyn eventually knew it wouldn't do good to argue with a human who could turn into a bear. He nodded, suddenly feeling hungry and tired.

Beorn then got him some food and more medicine. After that Brooklyn eventually laid back to rest again, hoping that soon he could go on his way again.