The Scar of the Dragon (Youtubers AU)

Chapter 9

Bob has always been able to move faster than Mark on most occasions, even before his leg had been damaged into a limping gait that tore at the smaller man's heart. He also was the first to shrug off the idea that the limp is anything to be concerned about when Mark would fret needlessly about it.

"So I'm not going to ever be able to court the ladies of the village with my dancing," he would chuckle. "There are more than one way to capture a woman's attention."

Then the subject would be changed in the blink of an eye, and before Mark knew what had happened they would be laughing again. However, this situation is incredibly different. A dragon's scar and the price to both the bearer and their second heart can't be joked away as easily as a damaged leg.

"Try to keep up," Bob shouts behind him as the two men stroll towards the next landmark on the trail. "We should try to get as much distance as possible before it gets too dark."

Of course Bob is right about that. The forest is always more mysterious and magical once the sun sets. There are strange creatures here that are not too fond of strangers that trample in their forest, and even less kindly to humans. There is a cautious energy settling in Mark's bones that he has told Bob about already. The old woman had been very clear about how dangerous this quest surely is going to be. Bob practically started a fight when Mark had told him that he would prefer someone else to be his second heart.

"I've always been your second," Bob had said. His eyes narrowing slightly at the indignation of Mark even considering another soldier. "If the concern is about my abilities on the battlefield..."

They had talked for over an hour before Mark had finally agreed, but even now he wished that had at least a plan of some type in mind. The only clue of where to go is completely connected with Mark's dragon scar, which occasionally would twitch painfully when they seem to be heading in the correct direction. Bob has no doubts as to the power of the scar, and nods his head as Mark points in one direction or another. By all that both men can tell they are definitely heading towards the mountain sides of elves, which creates a whole new series of problems. Wood elves hate men, but they are nothing compared to how mountain elves feel about humans.

"We should probably stop before we reach the first section of mountains," Mark suggests quickly, and Bob grunts his agreement.

The two men decide to rest in a nearby thicket of soft moss, with Bob gathering wood for a fire and Mark heading out to hunt game for their dinner. He makes quick work of finding and killing a couple of rabbits, and starts to head back. There is a slight rustling from the trees to his right and the soft whimper that has him stop and listen closer. The woods can play tricks with your mind. Especially if you are prone to being enchanted by magical forces, like most of mankind. However the whimpering continues and pulls at Mark's kind heart in a way that makes him push away his caution and check.

He flings the rabbit bodies over his left shoulder and moves as quietly as he can through the large cluster of bushes. The whining grows in his ears to let him know that he definitely is going in the correct direction. The flash of yellow fur is radiant against the dark forest ground, and left paw in a trap meant for something much bigger, is a golden colored wolf. Mark can tell by the head shape and size that it is a female. Her dark eyes are wide and alarmed as he approaches, but she doesn't seem to want to attack.

"Hey there," Mark whispers, as he takes a couple more tentative steps forward. "I'm not going to hurt you, girl. I just want to help."