Destroyers and the Dragons

Page 5

He falls as his companions swarm the area. I notch another arrow and let it fly as I work my way deeper into the forest. I take out several more interlopers and even remove two of their heads as trophies. Their leader finally spots me and as I crouch down in the dirt and wait for his attack. He charges at me and I leap high into the air and catch the branches above my head; effectively disappearing. I wait while he notches several arrows and lets them fly in my general direction. I carefully remove a few of them from the branches and tuck them into my quiver to study later. The rest I throw several feet in the opposite direction from where I go. I make my way several miles in the canopy of branches before dropping down to the ground. I enter the camp with all my food and drop it at the chief door flap along with the two heads.

     "I would suggest having the shaman find out what they are," I say nudging the heads. "I would have brought you all the heads back but then their wouldn't have been room for the food. I figured the food was more important. Also uncle I kept a few of their arrows, maybe one of our grizzled will recognize them and we will know our enemy that much better," I say.

    "You left me out in the wild," Nelax snarls.

    "I was gathering food for the people, I thought you could keep up," I retort, without making eye contact. I'm sure Nelax will make a fine husband for some woman, but I am not entranced with his looks. I prefer my men to have more than empty thoughts between their ears.

    "I am unfamiliar with these woods," Nelax counters, as his cheeks begin to burn. I smile at him like a viper and he suddenly lurches to his feet and leaves the tent. My uncle gives me a measured look. It used to make me squirm, but I am no longer a youngling and I will not be bound to a brainless man. Finally, uncle clears his throat as Nelax father enters the tent.

    "You have risked much, for us this day, thank you," uncle says. I know he is implying that I risked Nelax well being, but again I ignore him. I watch as he divides the food among the families and they all eat better tonight.

    "I will go out again tomorrow and bring home more food," I promise, handing my piece of meat to one of the younglings.

    "If you are to lead us you must be strong, not half starved," aunt says, handing me her meat.

     "I have eaten less and still won the day aunt. Do not worry yourself," I hand her back her meat and take a walk. Several families wave at me and make welcoming gestures. I wave back but go to none of their fires. Nelax appears from the darkness and begins to walk beside me. I glance at him and then choose to ignore him.

     "You give away your food, you watch everyone here as if you are the outsider. Why?" Nelax asks.

    "I will not answer such a question," I say and thankfully his father calls for him. I continue to walk as one of the grizzled hail me and I walk slowly over to his fire.

     "I recognize these arrows, they are Draconian," he says quietly.

     "The dragon born should not be this far south," I say in shock.

     "No, which makes it that much harder to fight them. I am surprised you managed to do what you did," he says. I remember him a little from when I was known as the demon kind child, he smiles at me.