A Dragon Scorned (WIP 2nd edition)

Chapter 3 cont.

Thorar stopped at the edge of a meadow and searched the surroundings. The open space unnerved him despite the protective orb. As he told Burking before, it was one thing to be brave, another to be brazen and foolish.

"We'll follow the edge. Check the forest for roads and paths we could use." He pointed to the left across the open space to what looked like a narrow but well-trodden road. It disappeared in the woods a third of a mile from them.

The other two nodded. But just as Thorar was about to make a move, a rumbling sound in the distance made them all duck down. With his hand on the ground Thorar felt a certain trembling. Something was coming their way.

"Remember, we're meant to just observe," Thorar whispered, despite the fact that no one could hear them outside of their orb.

He crouched behind a tree and pointed toward the road. The sound of hooves hitting against the ground drew nearer. Is that... bleating? A heard on the run from a predator perhaps? But he expected to hear bells if the animals were domesticated.

The first few sheep ran out into the open space and rushed ahead. The rest of the herd soon followed. A small stampede spilled into the meadow like a white river. But it was the growing shadow looming over the animals that gave Thorar pause.

A dragon shaped shadow.

With its wings spread wide the creature flew above the road and between the trees. Thorar narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, but the trees obscured the view. He would have to wait for the monster to emerge into the meadow to see what kind of dragon it was.

Even though he just told his companions not to act instinctively his hand grasped at his weapon. Just watch and take notes. He had to remind himself again as the shadow grew in size.

Though the question was likely aimed at Burkin, Thorar quickly answered.

"Don't be stupid, Urim told me that's just a legend," he said as much to reassure himself.

Saghal turned to Burkin and pressed on, "but what if it does attack us, Master?"

"Then we will have to kill it," Burkin said in his usual matter-of-fact tone.

It had been a long time since anyone fought an actual dragon or even met one. Thorar often imagined piercing an Eon's heart with one swift blow of his sword, just like the heroes from legends. But now, about to face the enemy, he cowered behind a tree. The lingering fear was back. What if Burkin was right and he wasn't ready to join Urim as a Brother?

With tension mounting they all had drawn their weapons. If it decided to treat them as breakfast instead of the sheep, they were ready.

Finally the creature emerged from the forest and... they burst out laughing.

Expecting ancient Dragons and monsters that could not be harmed by even shver-ship cannons Thorar let the shadow play a trick on him. They all did.

Burkin bellowed with laughter behind him, uncaring if the sphere would contain it or not. Saghal chuckled, with a bit more caution, further back.

What he thought to be a Dragon, or at the very least a , turned out to be just a winged draphony. A childlike creature, about Thorar's height, with a tail as long as its black hair tied into a plait followed the sheep. It wore a light tunic loosely tied around its waist. If not for the red eyes, the tail and dragon wings that kept it in the air it looked almost human. It also looked very much like the creatures Urim had described to him.

Slightly disturbed how easily they gave into fear, Thorar composed himself and brushed off the dirt from the tree he clung to a moment ago. The herd and the creature drew nearer, about to pass by Thorar and his companions on the way to the other side of the meadow. He put his blade away.

They waited in silence, while Burkin drew the creature with quick strokes of his pencil. Thorar was surprised at how well the Brother captured the draphony's features, but even more impressive were the detailed measurements – height, wing span, tail length, weight, and more – noted by the portrait.

Burkin noticed him staring and Thorar turned back his gaze to the draphony, who just at that moment decided to perform a cheerful barrel roll mid-air. Burking laughed again.

"Loand behold, the mighty dragon!"