Chapter 2 (part 2)

Tempest finally arrived at the ruins. Slightly beaten from the stains of battle, he breathed heavily. The little dragon that had followed him landed back down from it’s safe hovering position in the air. It searched the area, sniffing and producing soft growls and clicks. Tempest reached into his satchel and took out an oddly shaped flask and took a drink out of it. His battle wounds seemed to heal and he was ready for battle again. Taking a look around he inspected the ruins. Various remnants of stone walling still held their ground, while their wooden floor counterparts had been rotted and scattered.

Many footprints littered the ground. A few were human, but good number of them belonged to the creatures of the small wooded area half circled around the ruins and the creatures of the plain it rested on. One particular kind of track was rather large. The baby dragon had found it’s way to the middle of it and studied the five clawed hand-like print, all the while studying it’s own hand. When it came to the realization of what it had found it let out a small squeal of glee. Tempest who had heard the noise it made called out to the dragon, “Did you find something?”

“Here! Here! My mommy is here!” It squeal in assured delight flapping it‘s wings and semi-hopping up and down. Before Tempest could question the small creature about his instincts a humongous roar erupted from somewhere deep in the woods.

Tempest stood frozen in place as he tried to find the source. “What is..?” He claimed unsure if it was the “mother” or something much more fierce. The roar sounded once more, closer this time. The red-orange creature in the pit of the claw print sounded out a high pitch roar of it’s own. A low and deep growl came from within the wooded area to the right, large pounding followed with the sharp cracks of trees. A large head soon emerged almost level with the treetops. Deep crimson decorated the red-orange scales that made the reptilian’s skin as very dark blood red horns and spikes adorned the back of it’s skull, back of the lower jaw line and along the ridge of it’s head in the middle. Ferocious yellowed teeth gleamed back in a growl as the dragon emerged from the trees that hid it’s massive body. When it felt it had enough room it lifted its ducked head and spread it’s tremendous wings. Another roar deafened the air as it reared back revealing a deep yellow-orange underbelly. When it let it’s front claws return to the ground they pounded into the ground causing it to shake.

Tempest prepared himself, placing a hand on his sword, he wasn’t sure what to expect from the beast before him. The miniature of it’s mother hopped around in glee, “It’s her! It’s her! Mommy!!!” and quickly rushed to it’s mother. The large red dragon dipped it’s head down to greet the smaller one. Sniffing it as it placed it’s front claws on her nose. A small reptilian purr breathed in and out as recognized that her missing egg had hatched into this new child. Tempest stayed on guard, still unsure of what to expect. He had every right to, the reunion was quickly shortened as the dragon raised it’s head from it’s child to it’s mistaken captor. A deep growl soon followed as the beast dipped it’s head and narrowed it’s yellow eyes. The little one happy to be back with it’s mother hadn’t noticed her stance until it was too late.

The great creature lounged forward, charging with killing intent toward Tempest. Tempest at first tried to dodge, but the dragon was too great to escape, so he wound up getting hit by her gigantic tail and knocked to the ground. Aches from the knock down screamed through out his back as he rose to avoid getting crushed by her massive claws. The mother dragon’s fierce expression remained throughout the battle attacking with her tail, claws and massive jaws. Tempest held his place, quickly removing the flask and others like it to heal some of his wounds, give him some more strength to pierce her tough hide, or even let him run and attack a little faster. The battle lasted about five minutes and when it was at it’s end Tempest struck a deep blow into her stomach. The dragon once again let out a large roar, this time in agony, as she collapsed to the ground exhausted. Heavy breaths blew in and out of her nostrils. She waited for the last and final bite of the sword many of her breed have known, but she didn’t receive it. Tempest felt he was too obligated to leave her child motherless after they searched to find her. The baby dragon rushed over to the large dragon’s battle worn head. It made a few noises and then cooed in encouragement for it’s mother to get up. A soft purr made it’s place in between ragged breaths and the great mother roughly rose from the ground. She was hurt, that was for sure, but she dragged her rough body into a limped and somewhat clumsy walk. Neither of the creatures paid Tempest any mind as the disappeared into the wooded area. Only a final roar from both calling out to the air was their thanks for being reunited.