Chapter 15: Echoes of War
The acrid smell of smoke filled the air as Aria raced through the forest. The sound of distant roars and human shouts spurred her onward, her heart pounding with fear and urgency. She had hoped to prevent this, to find a way for peace before violence erupted. But fate, it seemed, had other plans.
As she crested a hill, the scene before her made her blood run cold. A small farming village lay in ruins, buildings reduced to smoldering embers. Dragons wheeled overhead, their scales glinting in the harsh sunlight. On the ground, hunters from Dragon's Bane Keep clashed with the airborne attackers, the clash of steel against claw ringing out across the battlefield.
Aria's eyes frantically searched for Drakon among the chaos. Had he been drawn into this conflict? Or was he somewhere else, trying to quell the violence as she was?
A familiar voice cut through the din. "Nightshade! Where in blazes have you been?" Liam appeared at her side, his face streaked with soot and blood. "We need every hunter we can get. These beasts came out of nowhere, attacked without provocation."
Aria opened her mouth to protest, to explain that there had to be more to the story, but Liam was already rushing back into the fray. With a heavy heart, she nocked an arrow to her bow. She would aim to wound, not kill, hoping to drive the dragons away without further bloodshed.
As she loosed arrows with pinpoint accuracy, targeting wings and less vital areas, Aria's mind raced. What had sparked this attack? The dragons she had come to know through Drakon were not mindless beasts. There had to be a reason for this sudden aggression.
A deafening roar split the air, and Aria's heart leapt into her throat. Drakon descended from the clouds, his obsidian scales gleaming like polished armor. But instead of joining the attack, he positioned himself between the warring factions.
"Enough!" His voice boomed across the battlefield, momentarily stunning both humans and dragons into stillness. "This violence solves nothing. We must—"
Drakon's words were cut short as a volley of arrows arced towards him. Aria watched in horror as several found their mark, piercing the softer scales beneath his wings. With a roar of pain, Drakon was forced to retreat, disappearing back into the clouds.
"No!" Aria cried out, her voice lost in the renewed chaos.
The skirmish raged on for what felt like hours. Gradually, the dragons began to withdraw, carrying their wounded with them. The hunters of Dragon's Bane Keep raised a ragged cheer, but Aria felt no joy in their victory.
As the dust settled, the true cost of the conflict became clear. Bodies of both humans and dragons littered the scorched earth. The air was thick with the scent of blood and ash. Survivors moved among the wreckage, tending to the wounded and mourning the dead.
Lord Commander Viktor strode through the carnage, his face a mask of grim determination. "Gather the wounded. We return to the Keep immediately. This is only the beginning."
Aria fell into step beside Liam as they began the somber journey home. "What happened?" she asked, her voice hoarse from smoke and unshed tears. "Why did they attack?"
Liam's expression darkened. "Does it matter? They're beasts, Aria. This is what they do. We should have stepped up our hunts long ago, wiped them out before they could strike like this."
Aria flinched at the venom in his words. How could she make him understand that there was more to dragons than this senseless violence? That creatures capable of the wisdom and compassion she had seen in Drakon couldn't be dismissed as mere animals?
As they approached Dragon's Bane Keep, Aria's worry for Drakon gnawed at her. The arrows that had struck him looked serious. Was he alright? And what of his standing among his own kind? By attempting to stop the fight, had he risked being seen as a traitor?
The coming days were a blur of activity. The Keep buzzed like a disturbed hornets' nest, preparing for what many saw as the inevitable escalation of hostilities. Weapons were forged, strategies debated, and scouts sent out to track dragon movements.
Aria found herself caught in the middle, struggling to maintain her cover while desperately seeking a way to contact Drakon. But with security tightened and patrols doubled, slipping away unnoticed was nearly impossible.
A week after the attack, Aria was summoned to Lord Commander Viktor's study. Her pulse quickened as she entered, fearing her secret had somehow been discovered.
Viktor's face was grave as he gestured for her to sit. "Nightshade, I have a special assignment for you. Your skills as a tracker are unparalleled, and we need information."
Aria nodded, careful to keep her expression neutral. "What do you need, sir?"
"We believe the dragons have established a new lair in the mountains to the north. I want you to find it, assess their numbers and defenses. This intelligence could be crucial in the coming war."
War. The word hung in the air like a death knell. Aria struggled to keep her voice steady as she replied, "Of course, sir. When do I leave?"
"At first light tomorrow. Travel light and fast. And Aria," Viktor's eyes bored into hers, "trust no one. We have reason to believe there may be dragon sympathizers among us. Your mission is known only to me and my most trusted advisors."
Aria's blood ran cold. Sympathizers? Had her actions somehow aroused suspicion? Or were there others who, like her, had begun to question the blind hatred of dragons?
As she left Viktor's study, Aria's mind whirled with conflicting emotions. This mission could be her chance to find Drakon, to warn him of the coming storm. But it would also mean betraying the trust placed in her by her commander and her fellow hunters.
That night, as she prepared for her journey, Aria came to a difficult decision. She would complete her mission, but not as Viktor intended. Instead, she would seek out Drakon and any other dragons willing to listen. Together, perhaps they could find a way to stop this war before it spiraled beyond all control.
As the first light of dawn painted the sky, Aria slipped out of Dragon's Bane Keep. The weight of her choices pressed heavily upon her, but there was also a sense of purpose in her steps. She was no longer just a hunter, nor was she simply Drakon's human confidante. She had become something new – a bridge between two worlds teetering on the brink of all-out war.
The path ahead was fraught with danger. Aria knew that in choosing this course, she risked being branded a traitor by her own people. But as she gazed at the mountains looming in the distance, she felt a flicker of hope. Somewhere out there, Drakon was fighting his own battles, working towards the same goal of peace.
As Aria took her first steps on this perilous journey, she silently renewed her vow. She would find a way to end this conflict, to heal the rift between humans and dragons. And no matter what trials lay ahead, she would not rest until she stood once more at Drakon's side, united in their quest for understanding and harmony between their kinds.