The Son of Artemis and Fenrir

Chapter 26 - The Children

There was a child. Legs chained to the wall. Chains on his wrists attached to the ceiling. And a large thick chain bound round his neck. That alone filled me with disgust but the interior of the cell itself. It was rancid. There was old blood, fresh blood even shit scattered across the wall and floor.

As I carefully unlocked the cell door, I saw that the poor boy was unconscious. As I neared the chains bound to his wrist, I was horrified by the amount of cuts and bruises present along his skinny arms. As I went to break the chains attached to the ceiling, I realised that they had not even bothered to clothe their prisoner they had just given him a large burlap sack.

I slowly melted the chain attached to the wall bracket. I melted the entirety of the chains whilst they dropped. I then carefully began removing them from the boy's wrists. I could feel his arms quivering in fear. Underneath the manacles were deep untreated cuts. Literal chunks of flesh were missing. I sighed as I almost gagged at the smell.

Thankfully, removing the manacles from his legs were much easier. I still collected the small amount of molten metal. His ankles were somehow in a worser state than his wrists. As I walked round to the front, I heard a growling noise.
"What do you want from me!" The child growled as I knelt in front of his face.
"I am here to free you." I explained as I removed the chains attached to the larger manacle.
"Lies. All humans speak lies. You wish to kill me like the rest of my kin. Murdering bastards!" He spat as I tried to lift my hand to his neck.

"No, I am no human. I am the Lord of Wolves. I came here with my cadre to rescue you and the dragon." I explained as I pulled my hood down revealing my ears and my burning eyes.
"What do you intend to do with the dragon egg, sell it?" The boy said sarcastically.
"No. My cousin wishes to raise it." I explained as I stood back up.
"What about me. What are your plans for me?" He asked. Despite him acting tough, I could see what he really was. He was afraid. He was scared. He was alone.

"I will help you. Then like with Rennie before you, I will offer you two choices." I explained as I felt Rennie start to stir.
"Which are?" The boy asked as the aggression in his voice dropped.
"You may stay and join me and my family.Or you may go and find you kin." I explained as he sat down.
"If you don't mind me asking mister what is your name?" He asked as a few tears ran down his cheek.
"My name is Stephen." I replied.
"Well Stephen, I am sorry we got of on the wrong paw. I am Rowan." He apologised as he bent his head forward.

I could hear shouting from outside. Robyn practically hit into the doorframe.
"Stephen... we gotta... we gotta go. A few hundred are on there way. We have a minute or two at most." She panted. I rushed to the wall of the next cell and began melting the metal.
"Did you get any information from the guard?" I asked as I reached in and gently grabbed the egg. I turned to give it to her.
"Plenty." She responded as she took it out of my hands.

"You take Luna with you. I will follow in a minute." I said before she nodded and ran out the door.
"Where are you going?" Rowan asked as he moved next to me.
"We. We are getting out of here. Now I have to ask you not to move or fight back." I half ordered as I put my hands on his shoulder.
"Why?" He asked curiously as he looked up at me.
"Cause you might get hurt." I said as a long forked tongue started to leave my mouth.

I slowly grew larger and longer as wings sprung from my back and my jaw became elongated. In a matter of moments, I was a dragon. I could feel Rowan quivering in fear as he hugged into my paw. As I turned my head, I heard shouting from behind. The guards had seen me.
"Is that a?"
"It can't be we captured all the lives ones in the valley"
"Archers take aim!" I dashed into the air at a lightning pace.

"FIRE!" Someone yelled as a volley of arrows started to rain from the sky.

ARGH! A few skimmed, a few pierced my scales. I still continued to climb. I could roughly see Sparks touching down a fair distance north of where I was. My heavy wings started to beat quicker as I started to follow in their direction. As I was descending towards a small meadow, I looked down at Rowan. He was still quivering. He still had his head buried in my talon.