I Will Protect You: Victuuri

Chapter 1: Raid!

Yuuri walked through the woods, having finished his errand. Early this morning, he had placed another meat-pie his mother made on the alter to the dragons, she was tired today and the rest of the family was busy. It was a custom to leave something on the alter to show their desires for everlasting peace. As he made his way back to town, having stopped by his home on the outskirts of town, Yuuri watched as the children in his village frolicked and played, laughter ringing melodically in the air. The people in town were sitting and standing wherever they could at the center of town. Tonight was the Festival of Flight, a ceremony conducted as a way for humans and dragons to meet, and it was the first time Yuuri's village would be able to do. Dragons only visited one village once every six months after the treaty was made.

Yuuri made his way towards the crowd as the village leader shouted, "My people! for the first time in centuries, our village will be welcoming the dragons as they celebrate with us. We will exchange knowledge, thoughts, and companionship between our people! Now let us rejoice in their coming!" As the elder finished his speech and the audience applauded him, a voice called out, "Rejoice?! Are you to dull to realize what monsters you have summoned?" The crowd stopped clapping and slowly parted to reveal a man with black hair and a beard to match. His armor was a dull gray and his helm was tucked under his arms. He swaggered towards the stage where the leader was, his cold blue eyes looking out on the crowd with an air of superiority. His eyes met with Yuuri's warm brown ones for a moment, causing the young boy to freeze in place with fear, before turning the hostile gaze onto the elder as he stated, "Dragons are no more than giant, man-eating, fire-breathing menaces. And you fools invite these things into your home. You should consider yourself lucky that I have arrived to prevent this scourge from entering your quaint village." The leader narrowed his green eyes as he replied, "You are the fool if you cannot see the truth of those magnificent creatures. Leave at once before I ask the guards to remove you!"

The man stopped for a moment, smirking in amusement, before snapping his fingers. From the shadows, men appeared a couple bodies were thrown onto the ground in front of the townsfolk. There was blood, but they were alive as one could tell from the low groans due to the rough treatment. The citizens drew back in fear as the bearded man asked, "What was it you were saying?" The town leader's eyes widened in horror as the former shouted, "Know this you stupid, dragon-loving, peasants! I am Vahagan, killer of dragons and their allies! Leader of the Dragon Hunters! Your fates are now sealed, none of you will leave this place alive!"

The men who had dropped the guards now drew their weapons and charged at the crowd. Screams of terror and pain arose as the attack began; men and women alike fell beneath the blades of the hunters. In the madness, Yuuri ran for his life and to help his family. He ran down the streets where hunters were setting buildings on fire and killing whoever they spotted. A hunter saw Yuuri from the corner of his eye and swung at him. The brunette narrowly avoided the incoming blade, letting out a yelp, and ran into an alleyway. He only made it a few blocks before other hunters appeared in his path. Fearfully, Yuuri took hold of nearby windowsill and scaled the building.

He managed to make it all the way to the road when he looked up the hill to see something that would scar him for life. His home was burning brightly in the night as the hunters laughed. Yuuri's eyes began to water a he screamed, scarcely being heard among the other sounds of carnage. While he sobbed a hunter came up behind the boy, sword brandished high, and was about to bring it down on the youth when a long, scaly, tail slammed into the brute. Yuuri heard the noise and turned around to see a large, white, dragon glaring at the invaders. There were shouts of awe and the dragon turned its head to look at the oncoming group of hunters. Its blue eyes narrowed at the men as it lashed at them with its tail. Yuuri felt like he could not move as the magnificent creature protected him.

The leader saw the creature land and saw the opportunity to claim another life. He ran towards it, having finished burning one home, and pulled his sword from its sheath. His men backed away as the creature whipped another two men away. Vahagan looked between the monster's large, forelegs and saw a young brunette sitting there, the same one he had seen earlier. While the creature was distracted by some of his followers, he charged at the boy and shouted, "DIE FILTH!" Yuuri heard his shout and cried out in terror as the man swung the sword at him; the blow never came. Opening his eyes, the youth saw a clawed hand shielding him, blood oozing from the newly formed cut. The dragon growled as it backhanded the invader and sent him flying into his men. The creature looked at the cut before reaching for the boy and clasping him with its uninjured one. Yuuri started but did not have time to react as the dragon unfurled its wings and leaped into the sky, the village boy safe within its grasp. Yuuri let out a scream as they took off and looked down at the receding ground in terror. The brown eyed male felt light-headed as he proceeded to faint.

Vahagan watched as the dragon took off and growled lowly as his target flew off into the night. One of his men ran up to him and asked, "Is everything alright, sir?" To the surprise of many there, he began to chuckle and said, "Who'd have thought that I'd find such a rare beast in a little place like this?" He smiled and told his men, "New plan! We're going to hunt ourselves a dragon and not just any stupid beast! We're gonna take the head of an alpha!"