"Indeed, it is over." Alicia chuckled as she sat comfortably within thick netted vines. Playing lazily with her lilac orb, as she narrowed her eyes below.
Sitting proudly on the cliff above Alicia, Ash loudly howled, proud and strong. Stretching through the gorge gaining the attention of all.
This was an unexpected sound for those below.
Vision narrowed his eyes at the sight of Ash. In derision, Ash tilted his head as he revealed his fangs in a snarl.
Vision's gut twisted into knots, wrinkling his face into quite the sight.
Blood pooled in his palms as he instinctually shifted his eyes, landing above on the gorge ledges as the magic from his men vanished simultaneously.
Screams slithered throughout the gorge, chills made their way up the royal guards' spines.
Just what had happened? Hadn't their plans succeeded?
Stretching their necks, they perked up their ears. Looking for any sign that would work, informing them, answering their questions.
And they got one. A brutal bloody sign with fangs, fur, and claws ready to tear them limb from limb.
White and red fur shimmered in the sunlight, hunting the men on the ledges. Powerful jaws swallowed heads whole as claws broke armor and bones, slashing red into the air and earth.
"Magna Feles." No one knew who said it first, but the name seeped fear into their hearts. Retreating back, their swords and shields shaking with their nerves.
Cold sweat pooled down their back, freezing their hearts in their guts as they swallowed hard and with difficulty.
They'd just brought a dragon to the point of ending it. They were tired, exhausted. Many of their men had lost their lives, as a five hundred men army was brought down to the double digits. Relief had hit them too soon as the plan had reached the final curtain call.
Yet now, where were these men supposed to place their hope? Were their thoughts of survival negligible at this point?
Who didn't know what Magna Feles were? Nothing like dragons, as they were smaller, weaker, and easier to kill, yet that was only one on one.
Magna Feles traveled in numbers, survived in numbers, and that's how they hunted as well. Their intelligence was no different than a humans as they're cunning like foxes.
If a Magna Feles was here, fighting them, hunting them. That can only mean one thing.
Their faces paled in fright, "We're outnumbered."
The royal guard swallowed their nerves. Inadvertently glancing back at their leader, hoping, praying for his guidance.
"Dammit!" Vision snarled.
He was well aware of his men's thoughts, but couldn't stop the curses traveling up his throat. After all, not just days nor weeks, but months of planning was just thrown down the drain!
He murderously glared towards Ash, sitting loftily upon the cliff. "Mangy mutt, this is your work isn't it? I'll have your head!"
Ash snorted, his hearing was good enough to have heard Vision's poisonous words.
As promising as they were, he didn't look phased in the least. He even seemed to find them funny.
Veins pulsed along Visions neck as he cursed to all the gods under the heavens. Cursed to the God Lumen, cursed to the God Furvus, and even cursed himself for letting his plans fall through.
Stomping his foot hard, he crushed a passing lizard, relishing in its final moments as it died beneath his shoe. Yet this simple pleasure did not quell the anger in his gut as he hoped it would.
Once again he glared at the proud wolf perched up high, engraving it in his heart as he summoned his magic ready to strike.
Still, Ash didn't seem to care as he snorted in contempt, not even bothering to look at Vision, which caused the poor fool to nearly cough out a mouth full of blood.
Vision took a step forward as his hand reached out. Lightning and fire swim in his palm as the two elements flicker with malevolence. He grinned widely, evil thickened in his eyes and radiated from his white teeth.
KUSHOOM!
Rocks flew through the air, dust scattered, swallowing the area around Vision and his guards.
A shadow defensively retreated from the cloud of dust.
Shocked into retreat, Vision roared in pain as he fell to his knees. He grasped his shoulder, his arm laying limp, resembling a tree after a lightning strike.
His blood shot eyes roamed the area like a heat seeking missile, searching everywhere.
"Who was it?" He ground his teeth to his molars. "Who the hell was it?!" Irritating pain coursed through him as angry blood pooled in his gut.
On first brush, this sight would lead one to believe Vision's magic had rebounded upon him. Lightning magic still coursed along his arm further proving this assumption.
But Vision knew. After all, as the one on the receiving end, he felt how different the magic was from his.
And he himself would never admit to failing his magic, as he was too prideful to believe it would ever happen.
Strong lightning magic, denser than his own. He was certain that this was the doing of a person.
Not produced by a creature, but a fellow human.
Warrior instincts are battle won. Regardless of the character of man, most men who've seen battle can attest to this.
Vulnerable and handicapped, Vision's edge had fully left his hilt as he was fully alert.
A minute of search led his eyes back to the wolf, but he didn't see what he wanted other than the mangy mutt.
Losing his patience, Vision roared, growling like a savage beast. "BASTARD! Show yourself!" Vision's fury blinded him as he yelled out.
Silence was not what he wanted to hear as he spat out curses to the air. Yet just like the first, they fell on deaf ears.
Alicia grinned, laughing to herself as she leaned on her palms in amusement.
It serves him right to lose his mind. Karma was coming back around collecting its debts, and she didn't mind taking up the task of gathering his dues.
Who told him to step on her bottom line?
Normally Alicia wouldn't interfere in such a scuffle between man and beast. She'd merely take up a chair, pull out some berries then eat them like popcorn as she watched.
Yet, she couldn't in good conscience do this.
Why? Because the beast was a dragon? A beautiful dragon at that? No no no, nothing as vein or superficial as that.
She furrowed her brows as she wet her lips in displeasure.
Because the dragon is pregnant. Alicia's eyes fell back upon the dragon's protruding stomach as anger once more stormed in her lapis lazuli eyes.
The men were about to question their commander, when something unexpected happened.
Something that shocked them more than their leader becoming injured, more than him cursing to nothing as he lost his mind.
The largest Magna Feles they'd ever seen!
Noxuria had been hiding in behind a fallen tree, not far from Vision and his men, but she couldn't get close cause the man's caution was too high. Even when he was struck by Alicia's lightning he still was highly alert.
Yet thanks to her master refusing to answer that swine's words, he'd finally let his guard down.
How could Noxuria let this chance go?
So she leaped from the brush and charged right for the swine, swallowing his burnt to a crisp arm in one bite, which tasted rather good despite its looks.
"Squealing pigs were always the tastier of the bunch." She ran her tongue across her teeth, growling in approval.
Sadly she'd missed his head, her favorite part of the body since he'd unexpectedly dodged at the last moment.
Yet she didn't take it to heart, as she clawed at his face before rushing beyond the crowd of shell shocked guards.
Noxuria stopped in front of the dragon, as she thumped her tail upon the ground, growling intimidatingly at the guards.
Scared for their lives, their commander unconscious on the ground, they ran, blinded by fear. Some more loyal guards picked Vision up and ran with their tails tuck tight.
Noxuria purred in amusement at the cowardly bunch, licking her nails of the delectable blood. She kindly left the retreating cowards to her pack to play with.
Noxuria roared towards the cliff. "Master, you saw that right? I did good didn't I?"
Alicia jumped down with Ash and chuckled at Noxuria, who was obviously begging to be praised. "Yes yes Nox, you did very well."
Noxuria thumped her tail hard as she roared in delight at her master's praise and acknowledgement.
KASHOOM!
Shocked, Alicia turned around and covered her face as the dust spread out all around.
The dragon, who had been standing proud and strong, had unexpectedly collapsed, catching Alicia completely off guard.
"Shit." Alicia abruptly cursed as she rushed to the dragon's side.
Gasping in exhaustion, the dragon grunted as her eyes dilated from surges of pain. Alicia climbed under and through the dragon's arms after confirming this.
With slight tingling sparks, Alicia's fingers traced the dragons protruding belly, her ears pressed into the lilac fur.
Waiting, listening, until movement was felt, along with two heart beats.
Relieved, Alicia rushed to the other end, following the lilac path. She ran under the dragon's tail, examining her with narrowed eyes.
Falling back, Alicia stopped in front of that majestic face wrought with pain. Caressing the fur, the dragon opened its eyes to Alicia's touch, looking deep into Alicia's eyes with trust.
This startled Alicia, she swallowed her questions as she didn't dare waste anytime.
"Sorry Ash, you'll have to get home yourself. The teleportation can only accommodate me and her." Alicia apologized, glancing at the dragon and back to him.
Scratching his ear, Ash yawned, "I understand,"
He padded over, leaning his head on Alicia's shoulder as he peeked up and panted, "Stay safe mom, don't let the lizard eat you."
Alicia laughed. Ruffling Ash's fur, she cooed. "Of course, of course, if I'm eaten who will give you tummy rubs?" She scratched his ears, pressing their noses together. "Later I'll give you a treat, so keep Nox and the rest from going too far."
Ash wagged his tail, licking her nose as he howled in acknowledgement. Noxuria likewise lowered her head as she glanced back guiltily.
Only her master would be sharp enough to know her plans of chasing and finishing her meal.
At least she left her mark, so even after time has passed, she can just come back for the leftovers.
Alicia placed her palm on the dragon's head, "What is your name?"
"Sheila." The dragon responded with a grunt.
After trading names, Alicia ruffled the fur beneath her fingers, "Sheila, hold tight. I'm going to bring you and your baby to somewhere safe."
Sheila grunted in response.
Shining bright as it spread tightly around Alicia and Sheila, Alicia's garnet ring radiated with magic, teleporting them out of sight.
»»————- ✼ ————-««
Author's note: In case of theft. This is an original -English- novel done by yours truly [MyKataren]. This author will state here and now, oh ye thief of old, thanks for the free advertisement!
Original : www.tinyurl.com/MVPGAwebnovel