The Flames of Revenge:Ch 3

         Stalking through the dark, quiet forest of oak, rowan, maple and ash, Diane searched for her prey.  She felt a little put out since the likely hood of there being any hikers or really, any human out here around this time was very slim indeed. Well, another day, she promised herself. Besides, deer weren’t that bad.

         Crouching low she moved through the trees with surprising stealth and agility for a creature her size.  She would have preferred to swoop down and kill but he trees made it impossible unless she wanted a punctured wing. Instead, she settled for the traditional ground hunter’s stalking method, as tedious as it was.

         This was probably the only forest Diane could ever hunt in this fashion. The trees and everything living in it were unnaturally large, which was good if you stood nine feet at the shoulder, fourteen feet total, twice that in length with a wingspan of about thirty four feet.  Of course, she could hunt in her human form… but that was less satisfying and required stupid human things like a hunting license. No, she much preferred the feel of death beneath her bloody talons, rending and tearing and…

         Diane paused. Squinting into the haze of snowy blue, she spotted them. Four deer lay under the protection of the trees.  They too, were larger than normal which was just as well; Diane had an enormous appetite.  Quietly, using the increasing snowfall for as much cover as possible she crept closer.

         Blood pounded in her ears as the excitement threatened to consume her. However, she was not a young fledgling on her first hunt. With a calm exterior, she scanned the small herd huddling together, choosing. At last she saw what she was looking for. Partially separated from the others was an old doe with a swollen hoof.  A little tough, as far as the meat went, but it would do to satisfy her needs.

         Slinking through the trees like a giant, blue serpent, she got closer. She could almost taste the blood in the air. The doe shifted to a more comfortable position and licked the swollen area once, twice and -

         With an explosion of powder, dead leaves and twigs Diane launched herself for the kill talons and teeth barred. Talons and fangs buried into the neck with a delicious crunch as her full weight rammed into the unsuspecting beast. The rest of the deer panicked and shot off into the dark.

         Fury of the day’s events burned through her veins as she slashed and tore through the dying creature.  Hot blood spurted on her brilliant scales, dripping to melt what little snow was on the ground.  She fed like one who had gone a long time without food. At last, with the kill made, and her belly mostly filled, Diane lay down next to the carcass and began cleaning herself.  Pity the others got away.

         It was well past midnight and yet Diane found herself unable to sleep. Rolling one of the leg bones around under massive paw, she contemplated her next move. She still felt-empty- unfulfilled.  Retribution seemed in order, but why?  It wasn’t like the Dragonet was hers, so it wasn’t as if she had any real cause to go out and seek revenge. Yet she couldn’t bring herself just not do anything. That just seemed… wrong.

         Diane let out a sigh that puffed with steam into the night. She looked down at her now clean talons. The claws were unusual. They started out black at the base and then turned white as if the black was scraped off.  Her horns, she mused, were the opposite, with white at the base and ending in black. 

         She lay her head down on her strange talons, and watched the snow drift between the swaying branches. After about an hour, the snow patterns had yet to answer her unspoken questions so she closed her eyes among the remains of her meal. Sleep stole her away before she could think of anything else.

         “Wake up, you big blue lump.”

         Diane opened one glaring blue eye at her intruder. Lessa stood in the early morning sun with her arms crossed also glaring back down at the head that could snap her in two easily. “You know how long it took me to find you?” Lessa scolded.

         :: Didn’t know I was supposed to be found, :: Diane grumbled sleepily closing her eye and turning her head away from Lessa. It had stopped snowing but there was a nice little drift that made a lovely pillow…

         Thud! Diane’s eyes opened at once and she turned to glare at Lessa, whose leg was still poised from kicking her in the jaw. :: What the hell?! Go away! I’m sleeping! ::

         “Oh, no you’re not, get the fuck up and come with me. I have something to show you, something interesting.” Lessa turned without even looking back to see if the Dragon followed or not.  Groaning, the Dragon reluctantly got up and padded after the Faerie. This had better be good…

         They walked together for about two miles in silence, Lessa neither giving hints to where they were going and Diane never asked. It wasn’t long before they reached an area near the mouth of a stream that emptied into the lake she met Razalin at. They went a little ways into the woods and stopped at the base of an old oak. Diane gasped.

         Tied to the base of the ancient tree was Diane’s enemy, a leech. He was in a sorry state. Fortunately for him Lessa put him in the shade. He was average sized with dark short hair. Lessa’s hand on her forearm was the only thing that kept her from lunging at his throat. Instead, she snorted contempt.

         :: Where did you find this little treasure?:: Diane crooned. Her blood was running as hot as his was cold when he looked up and saw what was staring him down. His soft brown eyes reminded her of the deer she killed yesterday.

         “This is Roman. Or so he tells me.” Lessa booted his outer thigh, “I saw him sneaking around where he shouldn’t have been,” She said coldly.

         ::Oh?:: Diane shoved her muzzle right into the terrified boy’s face. He couldn’t have been more than fifteen and he was recently Turned, too by the smell of him. Warm breath ruffled his hair and he winced, trying to make himself look smaller.

         The boy, close to tears, cried out in defense, “I didn’t do nothin’! I swear! Please don’t eat me!” his voice cracked with adolescence.

         :: Then what, are you doing in a place you don’t belong?:: Diane rumbled with displeasure.

         The boy looked up in surprise. Apparently he hadn’t been told about his boundaries. For as long as Leeches existed they had been banned from the sanctuary of Oakenwood. They were unnatural, the result of a wayward Fey from long ago. :: How about you start by telling us what you are doing here, hm?::

         The boy, Roman, looked between the Dragon and the Faerie. He took a deep breath. Seeing that he was trying to stall for time Lessa gave him another kick. “Start talking or we’ll leave you out to bake for awhile!” she growled.

         Scared out of his pants, he reluctantly gave in, “w-well you see….”



                The boy swallowed nervously as he finished his tale. Diane had stepped back to give this-thing- a good look. Was he telling the truth or just trying to escape? Hmm…

         Lessa took the Dragons place kneeling right in front of the boy. Roughly she grabbed the grubby pale face in her elegant fingers. She squinted at him while he tried to turn his mossy green eyes from her, “Your trying to tell us, that due to some stupid Vampire blood feud, this… other “family” killed the members of your coven for you and your little brother?”

         “y-yesh” he stammered

         Lessa snorted. “And that reason was…?”

         “Can you led go-a fashe firsht, pleashe?” he pleaded. Lessa obliged but kept her fist warningly in his view. His eyes went wide but he cleared his throat and continued, “Ahem, er… you see my brother and I, well we have this special ability that the Hunters wanted…”

         :: Special ability?::  Diane’s sky blue eyes narrowed and faint curls of smoke drifted out of her nostrils menacingly.

         The boy hung his head, “We uhm… gained by accident,“ he paused and coughed, “Glamour.”

         :: WHAT?!::

         “What? How the hell do you, “accidentally gain” Glamour?! Unless….”

         He dared not look into Lessa’s blazing eyes, “ye-es.” He finally did bring his sorry pleading eyes to meet hers. “Oh please Mister Missus scary lady and Dragon!! We didn’t know honest!!” Tears were running races down his face in a great flood.

         Diane, despite herself, was impressed. Not only because this whelp managed to take down a Fey without knowing but drain it too. He must be watched though he’s be better of destroyed. Diane thought. While she fancied crushing his skull in, incredibly tempted in fact, she held herself back. Instead she dug her talons into the partially frozen earth. :: Never mind that, right now, what did they want your new…ability for?::

         “Eggs,” He whispered, “Dragon eggs. I- I don’t know what they wanted ‘em for. Please you gotta believe me!!” A new floodgate opened.

         If it wasn’t for Lessa, Diane probably would have gone through with her previously intended skull-bashing. Instead the Faerie put a hand on her muzzle and squeezed. Many Fey were strong, either magically or physically or both and while most didn’t even compare with a dragon in terms of physical strength, when one –particularly one as strong as Lessa- grabbed the tip of a Dragon’s sensitive snout, it would literally bring one to his or her knees. Luckily not many knew that, but unfortunately Lessa did and got the expected results. 

         Ignoring the writhing, whimpering Dreya, Lessa turned darkly to the boy, “Oh, we believe you alright.” She smiled coldly, “In fact, I suggest that if you value your head you will come with me and I promise not to sic the Big Bad Wolf over here on you. Got it?”

         The boy didn’t say anything. He just nodded dumbly. The “Big Bad Wolf” was finally released from Lessa’s crippling grip. Furious, she bowled the Fey over with the recently released appendage, pinning her down with a big paw. :: What the FUCK was that?:: she snarled in Lessa’s face. :: First you kick me in the face now you…you! What the hell! Why?!::

         Lessa laughed. “Idiot, you know perfectly well I couldn’t just let you disembowel him. He’s much too valuable” They stared each other down for a few minutes until finally Diane snorted steam into the chilly air and got off her.

         “Hmm…” Lessa said brushing snow, dirt and leaves off her red hooded sweatshirt, “I believe he’s gone and fainted on us, still, no matter.” She untied him from the tree and shouldered him like a sack of potatoes. Not that a sack of potatoes would be particularly troublesome for her.

         Diane sat back and watched, feeling drained. Shaking her head and sighing, she stood up. :: Come on then Little Red Riding Hood, I’ll take you to Grandmothers house.::

         “Grandmother’s house” was really a massive cavern three miles from where they had Roman tied up. The river outside the entrance was deep and soon “Grandmother’s” head rose out of the water like a massive sea serpent. Dripping, the old brown Drake grinned when he saw his niece come around the bend.

         :: Diane, how good to see you! :: he bellowed. :: What brings you to this part of the Forest?::  He clambered out of the icy water as Lessa casually dumped the still unconscious form at his gnarled claws.

         :: Lunch?:: The old Drake inquired, sniffing delicately :: I say it doesn’t particularly seem appetizing… still waste not and whatever::  he opened massive jaws lacking in a few prime teeth and bent to retrieve his unintended meal.

         :: Wait, Ornathis! You don’t want to be eating that::

         Ornathis looked up in surprise at Diane with ancient yellow eyes. :: Not eat? Well whatever the hell did you bring it for?:: he demanded.

         “Er,” Lessa began, “we were wondering if you could… um watch him.”

         Ornathis’ eye ridges knotted in confusion. :: Watch? My dear girl - Lola right?- You do not  watch humans, you eat them. Unless of course you are watching them with the intent of eating them later…::

         :: Uncle, listen:: Diane interrupted him before he decided to start telling age long pointless hunting stories, :: He’s, uh, important. Could you make sure he doesn’t um… leave? We need him for… something. ::

         The old one stared between Diane, Lessa and he prone figure on the ground. His eye ridges went up in revelation. :: Oh I see! Found yourself a mate did you?! I knew you wouldn’t bring your dear old Uncle something that pathetic… still I’m sure you could find something a little more suitable for him, hm?::

         If a Dragon could have blushed it would have been Diane. Lessa burst out laughing but was cut short by a knock to the head with Diane’s tail. Suddenly hit with an idea, Diane grinned as mischievously as a dragon could manage. :: Actually, Uncle, he’s a rather hunted, mate of Lessa’s ::

         Lessa got up and kicked Diane hard in the leg. The Drake seemed to not notice this exchange, and instead asked quizzically, :: Oh, well, Lucy, congratulations, but don’t you have your own uncle’s to keep him at?::

         Lessa’s teeth ground so hard Diane could hear it from her height. Suppressing the urge to laugh at Lessa’s blistering red face told her uncle some complements about how much better he was about keeping creatures in line and so and so. She felt bad for manipulating him like that but it was probably the only place safe enough from anything who might want to kill him, herself included.

         :: Oh well, I suppose you’re right,:: He nodded to the smoldering Faerie. :: I will watch him for you, Dear Lilly,:: He bowed creakily to her. He then glanced up at the afternoon sun, :: My apologies, It appears to be my nap-time, I bid you both farewell. Don’t forget to visit!::

         With that, the old Drake grabbed Roman gently by the shirt and carried him off to the cave like a kitten. Together they watched him disappear into the darkness. Lessa muttered, “He never remembers my name.” Suddenly she whirled on Diane, “And what the hell was that? I wouldn’t date that even if I were paid!”

         :: That, my Dear Lilly,:: Diane grinned, :: was revenge.::  Her grin was replaced with a grimace as Lessa’s fist rammed into her still throbbing snout. It was totally worth it.