Dragon's Rage

[Deity]

[Note: I will submit this story for feedback and is the one I shall be working on from now on. You can forget the other story if you have been following that one. But worry not, for let it be known that SF peeps will appear in this one. Also, please do not post feedback here. If you want to criticize or give me feedback, etc, do it in the feedback forum please. Thanks, I appreciate it.]

Dragon's Rage

The Dragon Child

Chapter 1: The Little Girl

Rella, Yvia, 043 b.a.t.

The group of friends had been formidable when in battle together. They had been a total a five; three young men and two young lasses. Together, they had made a name for themselves in the land of Vanezia, cleaning the area of monsters and highwaymen and keeping the villages secured. But after the death of one of the strongest members, the group had gone its separate ways.

Rad Q’etz, a fairly tall and young mercenary from Vanezia, who had been the leader of the group as well, now found himself traveling from place to place, trying to forget the great past he had lived among his old friends from the academy. His travels had brought him to the deserted, lawless and cold realm of Yvia

Most of his time he passed in solitude, for he would never forget that dire day when Yosh Skadi had gotten killed at the hands of a miserable summoned wight. He remembered that night well, and the young vanezian knew that he would never forget the fall of his greatest friend, a friend who had pleaded for his help even when he knew death had come.

It was night, and it was raining hard, with the sky illuminated now and then thanks to the many lightning bolts coming forth from the storm. There was also the random rumble produced by the storm’s intensity of thunder-energy.

Rad was glad he had arrived the village of Rella a few days earlier, and was now watching the storm from inside the village’s only bar and inn.

He had been hired by Raidder Saik, the proprietor of the place, as a bouncer. Rad, having nothing else to do at the moment, had taken the job as soon as it had been offered by the bartender.

Edited October 30, 2008 by Extreme Void

[Deity]

Rad measured six-seven, and was well built, not to mention an expert in the use of many weapons and magical artifacts. His skin was peachy and his hair short and of a brownish color. Most of the time he wore dark clothes, with a huge white bow full of pearls and gems all over its finished edge hanging on his back along with a quiver full of arrows. Aside from that magnificent weapon, Rad also wore a brown, leathery belt on his waist, one which held a silvery scabbard and two smaller knife sheaths, great magical weapons were stored in these. He also wore an earring on his right ear and more than a few rings in his fingers.

The sight of the tall young warrior had perhaps caught the attention of many eyes in Rella, especially the barkeeper’s, for he had wasted no time in offering the man the job when he had approached the bar and ordered a drink.

“Free food, good pay and all the drink you want to consume,” Raidder had said to him as he had served the butter-beer to the youngling. “All for just taking care of the place and keeping it free of brawls.”

Rad had taken his sweet drink and had nodded afterwards, eyeing the dark haired man, who was at least in his mid 30’s.

“I will do that for you,” Rad had said, drawing a huge smile from the bar owner.

And so now here he was, three days later, keeping a watchful eye on the clientele of the small bar and on the storm that raged outside the window. Rad had not had any problems so far, as his size was guilty of keeping most of the trouble makers at bay. Sure, there were a few fellors who were big enough as Rad, and decent enough in the knowledge of fighting to have given the young mercenary a fight, but they had all kept fairly to themselves.

[Deity]

Rad had separated a pair of drunks just a day ago, but aside from that brief incident, nothing major had happened inside the “Icy tavern.”

That was the name of the tavern, the icy tavern, for Yvia was a cold realm and perhaps Raidder had named it after the frosty land.

“That rain will turn to sleet soon,” a beautiful woman said all of a sudden as Rad had been most distracted with his own thoughts. The merc had been thinking about his friends, about Sean Storm, Freohr Datia and the only sage of the group; Cynthia Thyress.

Rad’s brown eyes turned to regard the girl, who was one of two waitresses that Raidder employed. Her name was Django Hui, and she was an asakian. Rad could tell the beautiful young girl was from Asaki only by seeing her small, slanted eyes. Asakians were exotic and well-thought of people, and Rad had known about her being an asakian the first time he had seen her three days ago.

It appeared to the merc then that the girl perhaps had sorted out her timidness and shyness and had decided to approach and talk to him.

“It certainly looks that way,” Rad agreed, and the asakian offered him to have a drink from the round, wooden tray she was carrying.

“Master Raidder says it will warm you up.”

“Okay,” Rad grabbed a silvered mug and took it to his mouth. He sipped the thing in one gulp and set it back on the tray, making the young girl smile.

“What is your name, young one?” Rad asked then, before the beautiful girl left. She was very pretty, with long, dark hair that reached her buttock.

[Deity]

“You can call me Django,” she simply said, getting ready to move on. “All my friends do.”

“I will remember the name,” Rad promised and saw Django leave with a smile. He followed her around the wide room, eyeing her every move. When the asakian girl darted a glance his way, Rad had no choice but to incline his head to the tavern’s wooden floor.

Rad lifted his head a few seconds later and noticed that Raidder was shaking his head at him, but smiling nonetheless. Embarrassed, Rad turned his stare away, settling it far to a table where a few drunk Rellians seemed to be playing cards.

When closing time came, Rad made his way to the room that Raidder’s business was offering him for free. It was not a big room, but comfortable enough to sleep in. The young merc felt glad since the night had passed without trouble. That was the way Rad liked it, for Rad did not like to beat people up for no good reason. Besides, these people were drunk at times and acted differently then they would if they were in their five senses.

No, Rad simply used force when force was needed to be used, like in the instance of his ex-job where he had to kill in order to survive and keep innocent people safe.

All his friends had shared those same thoughts, and Rad had loved them for that. Too bad the band had dismantled, Rad thought as he threw his body on the small bed, which did not even fit him fully.

Laying there, resting, his mind raced with countless past images. Rad could only wonder what his friends were doing at the moment. And suddenly, the abrupt image of a dying Yosh crossed his mind, making the young merc feel sad and uncomfortable.

The image always hurt his feelings when it came to him, haunting him and driving him to the edge of desperation. What hurt most was the fact that Rad thought he was guilty of Yosh‘s death.

--XoX--

Edited October 30, 2008 by Django

[Deity]

The young girl did not know where she was at the moment. All she knew as she glanced around the frigid region was that she was in a place that suited her. She did not feel the coldness of the place, but she did believe that she was not alone in the area.

Chiki D'razzíl was the girl's name, and she was short in stature, with dark, long hair that reached the middle of her back. She was a mamkute, a dragon, but she was just a young one still.

She was seventeen human years old, which was young for a dragon. The beautiful young mamkute had not even spawned out her wings yet, but she would, and soon.

The only thing that made her look like a human was the beautiful red sapphire stone hanging from a golden necklace around her neck, the dragon amulet, as she knew it by name. A dragon amulet had been passed on to every dragon living in Dragonia. Generation after generation, every dragon that was born was given such a gift, along with other minor ones. But the dragon amulet was the most notorious one.

Not only did this gem give the mamkutes the privilege to transform into humans, but it was also the source of their affinity powers. Without it, she wouldn't be able to use her powers and surely as time went on, she would die. It could be said that the amulet was also her life source.

Chiki was young, and she did not know anything about her powers, about how to use them. All she knew was that her parents had told her to keep away from Dragonia and away from the evil Jyosua Haac when she was put in a small ship and forced to go away on a dark and stormy night. Jyosua was a fire dragon who had taken over the realm through the use of his power. She had been sent away on a ship on a night of the month of the turtle, when Jyosua had erupted into action against the dragon clans. His house alone had the power to defeat many of the houses combined, and so since Jyosua had hungered for the Dragonian throne for centuries, he spurred into action when Ghorma, the ancient ice dragon who had ruled the kingdom for more than anyone could remember, had died of age.

Chiki was a descendant of the ice dragon king, but she did not know it. All she knew was that she was not suppose to return to Dragonia under any circumstances.

[Deity]

The young dragoness had run with luck and had landed in the friendly realm of Broah, in a solitude beach, after more than a month sailing the dangerous seas. After making land, she abandoned her small ship and had proceeded to go south, and soon had found herself in a realm as cold as the breath she would soon spew out.

Oblivious to the fact that she was being monitored carefully by more than a pair of eyes, the young mamkute moved on through open terrain, unaware that something was about to happen to her.

And it did, surprising her beyond shock. Something was thrown at her, a trap net, the young girl realized when she saw it. But it was too late to react, soon she was trapped in it and unable to get out.

Squirming, trying to get herself free, the girl then heard the evil laughs of several creatures. And then she saw them spring out from the back of some heavy brush. Furry they were, and pigfaced, and the two creatures carried long spears. She did not know what they were, but they seemed ugly and nasty.

"What do we have here, baloog?" one said as they approached, watching the girl caught in the net.

"A nice little girly," baloog laughed. "Perhaps lost or looking for trouble."

"Master Ugrol will be happy with catch," the other one said. Baloog laughed and showed his sharp teeth, several of these broken and the majority all yellow.

Chiki cursed silently and stopped fighting the net. There was nothing she could do. She had been caught! She trembled with fear when she saw one of the creatures approach with the spear leading in.

"Mother, father," Chiki closed her eyes and tightened them. "Watch over me."

But the blow she thought would surely fall upon her did not fall. And Chiki opened her eyes only to see that the furry creature had inserted the spear among the net's opening.

Baloog was the one who inserted the spear into the net, then each of the orcs lifted one end of the spear and their prey. They started to walk off, talking about this day's great catch. Chiki cursed her luck in her thoughts.

--XoX--

[Deity]

He was just waiting for the opportune moment to strike. The orcs had not been the only ones to have witnessed the girl's reckless wandering, a young mercenary had also been watching her from afar.

Lyle Dayek was his name, also known among the peasantry as the lone wolf. He was close to a six-foot frame, of blonde, long hair that reached the back of his neck and astute in his doings. His eyes were green, like green ruby gems, and were the cause why many woman found the merc irresistible.

Lyle witnessed the girl's capture, and had been ready to spring into action and save her from the hands of those vile orcs. But since the young merc had been following these orcs around for some time, and had wanted to know where the tribe's secret hideout was at, he let them take care of their business.

He had followed them ever since, wanting to take care of his own business soon. Lyle had always been on the alert though, keeping a watchful eye on the mysterious young girl, whom he had never seen before. If the orcs so much as dared to touch her, young Lyle would of had sprung into action.

But the orcs hadn't touched her, and for a reason. Orcs were afraid of their tribe leader, who without a doubt would have the prey inspected by his shamans to see if the catch had been tempered with.

Anything that a catch was carrying rightfully belonged to the leader. If the leader of the orcs did not like any of the stuff a certain catch was carrying, he would then put it on sale for his own tribe to buy.

As to the catch, most of them never made a day in the cavern, most were killed and eaten that same day.

Lyle followed the pair and their catch for a while, skipping by bushes and large trees that surrounded the region. There was also a river, more like a small stream that ran from north to south. That is where the orcs stopped at because they needed to refill their water canteens.

This could of had been a great spot for the lone merc to strike, but he really wanted to find out where these orcs were coming from.

The village where Lyle resided was not far from the area. It was a medium sized village known as Saga, with decent folk living there, but since the village was the farthest to the north of the cold realm, it was so isolated from the other Yvian villages that it suffered many enemy attacks.

Lyle was a protector of the village, along with other folks who kept a watchful eye in the outskirts. He got paid for keeping the place safe, and as such was his job, he was taking it to the extreme this time.

[Deity]

A few moments later, Lyle saw the pair of orcs continue on their way, entering a more dense forest, which was filled with large pinetrees and trees. Yabi forest it was called. In went Lyle, knowing that the orc's hideout couldn't be too far now.

He was right, for a few minutes later, the pair of orcs stopped again and began talking to themselves as they rested. Lyle could hear their every word since he carried an enchanted earring that could let him hear in on far conversations. So long as Lyle had his eyes set on the talking orcs, he would be able to hear what they were saying as if he were standing right in the middle of the conversation. If he did not have his eyes set on the victims, the earring would not work its magic.

But the merc had his eyes on the orcs, and he heard them say that the cavern was not far now.

Hearing that, Lyle then shifted his gaze on the girl, who was fiddling with the tight and strong rope of the net. Seeing how scared the young girl seemed, sprung the man into action. Oh hell, Lyle thought as she saw her pretty face deformed by the terror the young girl must of been feeling. "The freaking orc hideout will have to wait."

And the merc sprang into action, coming out of the bushes and saying. "You got ten seconds to let the girl go."

The orcs spun on him, surprised, and baloog did not hesitate to remove the spear from the netting while his companion growled at the intruder.

"Ah, I see that you are complying," Lyle lied as he saw Baloog's actions.

"Not really," Baloog growled. "I kill you, human. Come, Thak, let us kill this fool. Our reward shall be greater."

Thak smiled evilishly and headed to the right, while Baloog took the left flank. Meanwhile, all Chiki could do was watch. She could not deny the sudden racing in her heart. A human had interfered for her and was now going to fight the two orcs. She sighed in relief and waited to see what happened.

The merc was an expert swordman, and he held a weird colored sword. The blade was of a dark gray color and the hilt was short, with the pummel being the small replica head of a succubus. Lyle knew his sword as Hell's Ash, for the sword had the magical proporties of smoke, and with a call from its master the sword could emit ash smoke all around.

One of the orcs came hard at Lyle, the one on his left, long spear leading in, but the agile Lyle jumped back a step quick enough to avoid the killing hit. His sword then split the wooden spear in half as Lyle brought hell's ash in a downward strike. He followed the breaking of the spear with a quick jump kick to Baloog's ugly face. The orc stammered back and Lyle was already on the move again, since Thak was also on the move.

On came Thak, with his own spear attempting to skewer the blonde man. Lyle evaded the attack with a smile and spun on the passing orc, hitting him in return with a quick blow to the orc's back.

"Argh!" growled Thak as the mighty sword cut in through clothe and flesh. But Lyle was not a coward, he never killed using his opponent's back, like many cowards did. No, Lyle liked to fight fair and square. He waited for the orcs to come at him, but they were standing still, Baloog eyeing him while Thak recuperated himself from his rush.

Lyle saw them run away, like the cowards they were. The orcs were not stupid creatures, they knew the young man would easily take them down if they went on with the fight, and so they ran into the woods, Lyle knowing that they would not be coming back here anytime soon.

The merc headed to help the young girl out of her predicament as he sheathed back his wonderful blade, which he had not been able to use its full power.

--XoX--

Edited October 30, 2008 by Extreme Void

[Deity]

In the morning, Rad always spent his time outside of the tavern, for during the early hours of the day his help was not needed. Sense-altering beverages were only served at night, when the light left the region.

He had always seen the villagers going about their business, but this particular morning, Rad was interested in something else. He was waiting for Django, the girl who had spoken him yesterday, to arrive.

He did not know where the young girl lived, for Rella was a big village, its total inhabitants numbering more than 100 folks, half of these young teens and kids.

The morning felt chilly, and Rad could tell that Django had been right. The rain that had fallen last night had turned into sleet. The dirty ground still felt a little slippery.

The merc decided to head out and take a walk, for he still had much to see on the village since he had simply made his way over to the tavern upon his day of arrival here.

A few villagers saluted the tall merc as he went by, others nodded at him. But what Rad begin to notice was that a few young ones were following him closely, and they were picking up rocks and sticks.

Rad did not show any fear, he simply glanced around at the kids, who with no doubt were looking at him and plotting something.

Unafraid of whatever these runts might have up their sleeves, Rad continued on walking, aware at all times, though, thanks to a few magical rings he wore.

All of a sudden, a small child walked up to him and smiled at him.

"What are you about?" Rad asked, seeing that the kid held a few stones in its small hands and that he was asakian of race. The lad couldn't have been older than seven.

"Do you want to play with us?"

"Play?" Rad asked. "Play what?"

"You will be the giant and we will be the heroes who bring you down."

Rad couldn't hold back a chuckle.

"You plan on bringing me down with rocks?"

Rad asked.

"Isn't that what your kin does to us humans?"

Again Rad laughed, for the kid had a point. But Rad was not a giant, he was simply too tall for them. Real giants fought from far distances away, throwing large boulders at their enemy, so Rad could tell what the kid was talking about.

By the time he thought of it, he was already surrounded by like seven kids, a few girls among them and all holding rocks. And Rad noticed that most of them were asakians.

"I am not a real giant," Rad told them.

"Der! Like, we know that," a small girl told him, this one being small in size, with dark long hair and...pretty much resembling someone Rad knew already. She looked alot like Django, Rad agreed with himself. "But you are still tall enough to resemble one, and we kids here in Rella hate giants!"

"Okay," Rad smiled, keeping calm now that he knew the kids simply wanted to play with him. "But answer me this first, little girl. Are you by any chance related to Django?"

"Kyuubi is her sister," another small fellow said, Rad noticing that this lad had spiky, dark hair.

"I knew it," Rad said, mostly to himself and smiling at his good guess.

"How do you know my sister?" the little girl asked as the clique walked on through the dirty street.

"She works with me," Rad simply said and eyed the girl. "And you look just like her, that is why I asked."

Kyuubi smiled and lowered her head. Rad did not know it but the little asakian girl started to like him as a friend. He was not that bad a guy, Kyuubi thought.

"Hey," Kyuubi said, then, mostly to the kids, who were all her friends. "Lets forget about pelting him with rocks. He is not a giant after all. What say we go stone the heck out of some wooden foes?"

Many of the kids agreed, but there was one who still wanted to throw stones at Rad, the kid with the spiked hair.

"I don't know," he said. "He does look like a giant. He could be spying for them, you know?"

[Deity]

"Come on, Hiro," Kyuubi said, coming to Rad's aid. "He's no giant, he is just tall. Besides, giants are ugly and smell funny, like dead dog."

Rad blurted out laughing, and so did a few of the rest, including young Kyuubi.

"I guess that means I smell fine," Rad said mostly to himself and smelling his arms, this action making a few of the kids laugh.

"You want to come with us and throw rocks at wooden enemies?" Kyuubi asked Rad, then. Rad put on a pondering gesture.

"Come on, it'll be fun," added another of the kids, the one who had approached him first. "Are you good with the bow?"

"I am alright," Rad bragged and he noticed that the kids were now eyeing his precious pearly bow.

"Can you kill a deer with it?" Kyuubi asked, wanting to know.

Rad nodded at her. If only she knew he'd laid down countless of monsters and baddies with this bow, she'd be more than amazed.

"Can you teach me how to use it?" Hiro asked, almost clinging to Rad's arm.

"Hey, come on," Rad told him. "Weren't we going to throw stones at some wooden foes? This stuff is serious business, but yes, I guess I could teach you all some other time."

The kids smiled, and some of them wooted.

"What is your name, by the way?" the other girl asked, one who was slightly taller than Kyuubi.

"Rad," the merc spoke to her. "Of house Q'etz in Vanezia."

"Oh, what cool name you have," the girl said. "Never heard it before."

"What about all of you?" Rad wanted to know, feeling friendly this day with the kids. He was usually very quiet, but this pack of kids had gotten into him. "What are your names?"

And they presented themselves to them.

The merc spent a few hours playing with them, pwning the wooden targets they had set as enemies.

"Hey, leave some for us," Kyuubi shouted when Rad had brought down his fourth target with ease.

"But that enemy was awfully close," Rad protested, smiling. "And did you see the freaking mace it carried? I wasn't about to let him near us."

Hiro laughed out loud, making others follow his lead.

Rad took it easy then, letting the kids stone a few wooden targets.

After his fun time with them, they said they needed to return back to the orphanage.

"Back to the what?" Rad asked when he heard a kid named Shiki say.

"Back to the orphanage, our house?" Kyuubi asked.

"He doesn't know that," Luvsasuke said, the other girl who wore spectacles. "He doesn't even know where its at, believe, right, Rad?"

"Right," Rad nodded. "Is Django over there?"

"She runs it," Hiro said, throwing a rock at a fallen wooden target. "We are her kids. At least that's what she says to us."

Rad nodded, understanding then that Django ran an orphanage. He lowered his head down and smiled at the good notion.

"Say hi to her for me, then," Rad simply said then.

"I will," Kyuubi said and then they all took off. Rad saw them leave, and in the distance, he saw Kyuubi turn her head over her shoulder just to eye him one last time.

--XoX--