The Trap
#3 of A failed hunter
As the soldiers marched towards the cave where the dragons slept the cloaked figure smiled at his plan. they were still a days ride away by horse back until the reached the end of the forest. The cloaked man was odd as he never seemed hungry or thirsty thought the soldiers leader. As the leader stared at the mans old cloak, the strange figure turned his head and starred at a young boy next to the leader. This boy was the son of the leader his job was to care for his fathers weapons and armor.
However on this day he was along only to see his fathers skill as a tactician and a warrior. Night was almost upon them and the leader knew something was wrong because even though he claimed to be a highly skilled priest he seemed to manevileant. He claimed he could seal any magical creature of any power which seemed almost impossible. Even so it would be good to have him if he was not telling them lie.
The soldiers began to set up camp for the knight while they worked the leaders son went to collect firewood. The cloak left camp holding a torch to light his way through the darkening forest. The child was happily collecting the wood for the many fires that would soon be ablaze around the camp. He was almost done until he heard a voice coming from his left behind some bushes. Leaning a little closer to hear what was being said.
Peeking above the bushes he managed to see a tall dark featureless figure talking to the cloaked man. "My lord, we have finished scouting out ahead and have discovered two facts. One is that there is a clearing that can be used to prepare your ritual, the other is that the dragon has a child that we can use as bait." The boy could see the cloaked man nod his head periodical during the conversation. He began to slowly back up until he backed up into a figure that was behind him.
This new figure put one hand around the boys mouth and the other around his waist and lifted him up. The boy found himself being carried through the bushes and face to face with the cloaked man. The cloaked man began to speak in a deep raspy voice. "Listen boy I do not have the patience to reason with a child so we are just going to kill you." When the cloaked man finished one of the shadows would best discribe them pulled out a knife that looked to be made of emeralds. "Wait", shouted the cloaked man. "Marcus do you still have that dragons claw from our last job." The shadow known as Marcus pulled out a large ivory white claw from his coin pouch. "Good know slit his throat and cut him up bit then burn parts of his body to make that fool of a father he has more eager to help us if we make it look like the dragons did it."
The cloaked man left as the boy began to scream from the pain of the claw being used to carve up his skin until the screaming stopped. Quickly making his way through the forest, the cloaked figure needed to make it to at least the edge of the camp. When he could see the light of the fires that dotted the large camp he slowed down. The soldiers leader came running out of the camp as the screams started up again. However they did not last long enough for him to judge the location only the direction. He began to order a search party to help him look for his son.
One thing the cloaked man did not count on was that deep within the forest something had heard the boys screaming. This creature was wolfish in shape but was larger and more muscular. It was awoken early and it was angry and the first thing on its mind was destruction. Twitching its ears it searched for something to rip apart and feast on its flesh. Catching the sound of a crackling fire in the distance, turning it began to run towards the sound.
Back at the camp a search part was formed and about to move out until a rustling noise was heard. A soldier was directed to go and check the bushes it had come from. The soldier peered into the bush but did not see anything and turned away. After the Soldier had turned a shadow arose behind him and lunged at him claws ready. When they landed the creature was atop the soldier with its claws in his neck. Upon seeing this most of the soldiers ran away into the dark of the forest. Only five soldiers stood their ground counting the soldiers leader. The clouds in the sky cleared and the full moon shone down allowing the soldiers to see the attacker. The leaders eyes widened upon seeing it and shouted. "Werewolf everyone stay on gaurd and for the love of the gods, don't get bit."
The wolf charged at the soldier directly ahead of it, holding his sword high the soldier planned on using the wolfs speed to help impale it. However instead of running the entire distance it jumped up into the trees to hide and attack. Not knowing where it was the five solders stood back to back. It seemed like hours passed as the soldiers waited for the first attack. The entire time the leader wondered where the cloaked man had gone after the leader had found him in the forest.
The first attack was a kill as the wolf dropped its claws caught a soldier by the throat. It drug its claw from the throat to the mans stomach causing his organs to spill out. The leader swung his sword and managed contact with the wolfs left arm. Yelping in pain the wolf grabbed another man and ripped off his arms and began to beat a third person with the severed limbs. All that was left was an archer and the leader who were none the less scared shit less.
The archer drew an arrow and aimed at the wolf and let the arrow fly. As the arrow flew through the air the noticed it but didn't move in time causing it to hit the wolfs right hand. Looking at the arrow in its hand it pulled it out causing blood to flow down and coat its claws. Enraged by the attack the wolf lunged at the archer and grabbed his soldiers. It bit the mans neck and pulled out the esophagus.
Turning the leader and the wolf made eye contact before the wolf charged. Not having enough time to react the wolf manage to grab the leader on each shoulder digging his claws into the mans shoulders. The moment the claws pierced the leaders skin the blood on the wolfs hand mixed with the leaders. Before the wolf could bite the leader, he managed to pull out a knife and put it through the wolfs throat. The wolf tightened its grip before it fell over onto the only surviving soldier.
Rolling the werewolf over he got up and retrieved a sword so that he could chop the wolfs head off. As this happened the cloaked man entered the camping area. "So you are the last soldier alive and it appears you will never be able to return home." The soldier looked up at the man before continuing the wolfs decapitation. "I have found your son by the way" the cloaked man stepped to the side to reveal a burnt and bloody corpse.
Upon seeing this the soldier who was the leader five soldiers and a bunch of cowards held the cloaked man at sword point. "What have you done to my son?" The cloaked man lifted his hands and removed his hood to reveal his face. He had scars all over his face, eyes that would scare even the most seasoned of warriors. "The reason I am hear is to seal away the dragons in this forest so no one ends up like your son."
"I always get the job done no matter what the cost is we will complete it. By the way how do you feel after fighting that werewolf and sustaining injuries." The soldier looked at the scared man and thought for a minute before replying. "I feel great the wounds hardly hurt, why?" Instead of answering the scared man went over and picked up the werewolfs right hand and pointed to the blood that still poured from the arrow wound.
Slowly but surely it dawned on him as he reached around to feel the wounds on his left shoulder. What he found was not a wound that was from a recent battle but one that has had weeks to heal. The scared man smiled as he watched his aquatenc realize his fate. The scared man was the first to speak, "My friends call me scar for obvious reasons. I can help you with the curse but first you have to help me." The soldier was a little hesitant but eventually spoke up. " I will help but only if you can truly help me and my name is Richard by the way."
The two made there way quickly through the forest to reach the dragons cave. It took two days to get to the cave all the while the curse that flowed through Richards veins grew stronger as the nights went on. Standing outside the cave Scar pulled out two small figures both shaped like a dragon perched on a grave stone. He set the two figures down and recited a few words that Richard could not understand. However when the words were said the two figures grew to the size of about two men in height.
The close use of magic awoke Spira as she was sleeping curled around Drako. Since that night that Drako asked to see her true form she has been in it more so than her other. She gently nudged him with her muzzle until he lazily sat up and looked around. "Mother what is it that worries you enough to wake in the middle of the night?" He stood up so that Spira could stand and they could check on what disturbed him.
Outside the cave Scar and Richard set up for the encounter they were about to have. Scar had Richard create a circle in the dirt with his sword. Richard made sure to make it as thin as passable so that it would not be easy to spot. When it was done Scar walked around pouring a purple liquid into the groove that formed the circle. When it was finished Scar sat between the two Statues in the center of the circle.
Richard had to lure the dragons out of the cave and into the circle where they will be paralyzed and then sealed away for eternity. Not sure what to do he began to walk into the cave in hopes of not finding them. Unfortunately luck was not on his side as he ran into Spiras front right claw and fell down. His eyes began to adjust as his curse took hold improving his senses allowing him to see in the dark better. He looked up to see Spira looking down at him with a slight look of anger in he face.
He noticed Drako next to her and noticed that he was not like his mother in shape. Richard got up and ran back the way he came and towards the trap. When he noticed that the two were not following him he turned around and began to throw rocks at them. Spira was not happy as the rocks were thrown at her and her son. That little action did not agrivate her until Richard ran at her and slashed at her.
Richard would charge, slash and then run towards the entrance of the cave. When Richard slashed at Drako and Drako tried to block it but in reflex his wings wrapped around him and ended up getting cut. It was this that caused Spira to follow Richard because he had injured her child. Drako followed close behind his moth while clutching his wounded wing. The followed him all the way out of the cave were they say the two status with Scar in the center.
When scar saw that they had entered the circle he began to chant in that strange language once more. A strange light enveloped them as it created a dome around the circle. Spira and Drako tried to move but were unable to due to the spell that scar had started. Richard tried to walk towards Scar but found that he could not move as well. He struggled a bit more before calling on Scare to find out what was wrong.
"Scar why can I not move from my spot, have you ensnared all of us creatures of darkness?" Getting up Scar walked over to Richard and pulled a knife from his cloak. As he repeatedly stabbed Richard he explained why he had paralyzed him as well. "You see my so called friend I planned on killing two birds with one stone you could say. Those men of yours that ran away never made it back to your kingdom. My shadow puppets killed them all shortly after they all ran away, and when I kill you and seal these dragons it means I will be two steps closer to my plan. One is My revenge on there species will be closer as the will be the tenth and eleventh ones I have sealed. The other is my dream of destroying your beloved king and his kingdom."
With those final words e removed Richards head and continued to chant. This time when he finished two swirling vortexes opened and sucked up Spira and Drako. Each statue gained the scale coloration of the dragon that was sealed inside. With his job done scar turned and vanished into the dark of the night.