Dragon Warrior (SAMPLE)

CHAPTER TWO

"I am Fire."

It blew a gush of its horrid breath on her. It was strong enough to push her back into the water. The warm air smelt of century old cabbage water with a mixture of rancid flesh; Kendria had to compose herself so she wouldn't gag. But as it continued to breathe, her fear diminished with every tremor of the stones. The young woman felt her heart pounding wildly with suspicion.

What is this creature with the big red eyes? Why is it hiding in the dark? And why hasn't it eaten me yet?

Common sense gave up on her the moment she took another step forward. The creature's curiosity peaked; its eyes widened with shock as she reached for the sheet of darkness. It wasn't the only one astonished by her brazenness. Kendria would like to think that one sip of Ale created this stupidity, but considering her tolerance to liquid, she'd probably been stupid all along.

Well... I might as well run with it.

"Uhm... are you going to come out? Show me your face before I stop my own heart? Your menacing gaze is doing the job too slowly. Better show yourself and get the slaughter over with."

The beast seemed... amused? Kendria could only imagine so as its eyes tilted and a throaty huff escaped it, reminding her of laughter.

It can laugh? This meant that it could understand me to some degree. If I wasn't so enticed by its movements, I'd have pissed my trousers at the very thought.

Every part of her went rigid despite her soaked clothes. The ground shook beneath them as it moved out of the shadows. Rain poured into her eyes, blurring the world around them, but she saw it clearly once it emerged.

The resemblance of a lizard's head poked out from the dark. Large spikes waved at her from the top and side of its enormous skull. Its skin was unlike anything she'd ever seen. Steam simmered off its rough, onyx scales and drool slipped from its toothy grin as it leaned into her. Kendria had only seen its face, but it was enough for her to know for sure; this beast could swallow the storm. Maybe even the sun if it ever graced her country again. But perhaps... it already has, fire surrounded it, after all. An everlasting blaze that could burn her alive, acted as a cloak around the beast.

Bellows of realization echoed against the walls and broke through the chaos of the never-ending storm. She backed away, pulled away from its magnificence as history matched its aura and pose.

"Fuck, you're a dragon!"

Dragons haven't been seen in centuries. But they once ruled the skies. Legends say that they are the children of the God of Fire, warriors created to burn the world and force man underground. No one knew what happened to them, and no one thought that they would return. So much time has passed. People felt safe in blissful ignorance, and Kendria thought she would only see one in death. But here she was, staring into its tightly locked mouth. She could only see its blade-sharp jaws when it turned away its alluring gaze.

Her eyes cast down its claws; they were nearly as long as the trees in the forest and sharper than an army's worth of blades. She took another step back, and then another, and another—something sharp tripped her as her ankles touched the shadows on the other edge of the hole. Blood pooled out of her skin as she trampled over it. Her heart nearly stopped; she was looking at another claw. From another beast. Another dragon. Eyes like a velvet whirlpool tore into the back of Kendria's head before she saw it. Its nose shoved her forward. No doubt it could feel her heart beating through her back. They could probably hear it too.

Somehow, I've found myself in a hole infested by humanity's greatest fear—I'm fucked! But... they haven't torn me to pieces yet. One could argue that I'm not fat enough for both and they're deciding who will take the meal.