Footsteps echoed in the empty valley, each step bouncing off the narrow walls and multiplying into a mess of sounds. Shadows loomed over each rock and the few trees that dared to sprout there. Tahliz felt an unease creep up his spine, his gaze scanning each shadow and shape that the valley had to offer. Nothing was there of course but something ate away at the back of his mind, something warning him of a danger that was near by but his eyes couldn't see.
"No need to be so tense" Ventus spoke softly from beside Tahliz, most likely have seen how tense his shoulders were, how his gaze kept surveillance. "Nothing ever happens here" he ensured, resting his arm on Tahliz's shoulders.
"You sure? Narrow walls, plenty of hiding holes and no way to see in the dark, perfect ambush, right?" Tahliz answered back, his crystal blue eyes narrowing at the slightest shift in shadows.
"Too obvious, that's what kept anyone from using it, it had become some what peaceful" patting Tahliz's back, he went back to walking forward, continuing their patrol.
"Not the best excuse" he thought, though not wanting to voice his opinions just yet. Ventus seemed to be so carefree and trusting, it didn't ease Tahliz's worried though. That ich, that worry that crept down his back never once left nore did it ease. The more he followed the older warrior down the valley the more he felt watched, the more he felt that something was creeping around the corner. An odd tinge in the air didn't help his nerves to settle either, Tahliz decided to keep behind Ventus. His gaze trying to watch up the valley walls but he couldn't see the rocks ledge in the shadows that felt to grow the more they walked.
The quiet walk felt endless, their steps echos never once hushed and Tahliz could feel his own heart beating. With each thump of his heart, a dread built inside of him, "maybe I am just being paranoid, Ventus is known to take these night patrols alone and nothings happened to him before" he thought. Tahliz took a breath to try and ease himself, he flet slight relief knowing that Ventus took this path so many times but yet nothing had happened, so maybe his own mind was just playing tricks on him. Even if his eyes could see faint shadows moving, nothing solid had been seen, even the wind sounded like it was howling through the narrow valley.
As they walked, Tahliz felt himself struggling to keep up, "is Ventus walking faster?" Tahliz thought, letting out a small cough that echoed off the walls. They trudded through the thicker layers of snow, Tahliz having to jog up to Ventus a couple of times. He was walking faster now, "hey wait up" a slight annoyance came from Tahliz.
"Sorry, come on" Ventus's tone now sounded strained, causing each spike of dread to return to Tahliz's chest. His heart speeding up and thumbing against his ribs, almost painfully.
Tahliz kept quiet this time, instantly getting on alert, the feeling of being watched worsened. He could feel each sting of the light breaths he took on the icy wind, his breath forming into a small mist. The air itself began to tast bitter, coughing as he jogged up to Ventus again, his sword arm ready. His gut told him something was wrong and by the looks of it, Ventus felt it to. Tahliz gave a quick glance at his superior, the older warrior holding on, firmly at the holster of his sword. "So there's definitely something here but what?" Tahliz thought to himself, the voices of his mentors running through his head, sending echos to his ears.
"Always stay vigilant", "never take your eyes away from the presumed danger and enemy" and "never show any signs of weakness" were all little tips that Agiles and Vires would offer. "A warrior should always be aware of his surroundings" was a newer tip, from a warrior, well captain, that Tahliz doesn't exactly repect but that was the main thing in his head right now. Respect for an individual means nothing compared to his experience when Tahliz is in an unquestionably dangerous situation right now. "You're too narrow" and "always look your opponent in the eye and observe your enemies weak points without getting distracted yourself. You need to think simultaneously until you can multi task without having to think, understand?" Were also coursing through his mind.
"Well how am I supposed to do that when I can't even see their body!?" Tahliz gritted his teeth, his eyes scanned each rock and shadow as he followed behind Ventus. Moonlight spilled in just ahead, "the exit! Just get through there then we'll see what was following us-". Tahliz thoughts were cut off, a deep low howl ran through valley, not just one but it sounded like twenty! The same howl from blizzard. The same howl from atop the great hall, though this one sounded desperate. All of them did, all sounding scared and desperately as loud and dreadful thumps of something running towards crashed through the valley.
Tahliz couldn't even blink before he was suddenly yanked from his footing, yanked off towards the exit and thick, rich brown fur covered his eyes and ears. The appearance squirmed, all whilst hearing the muffled protests of a horrified Ventus to his right. "It's going to eat us!" Tahliz thought in a panic, he tried his best to reach for his sword but the fur tangled in his fingers and knotted in place. He coughed out the molted fur and had to spit it out of his mouth. Not even a seconed go by before an ear pricing bang crashed into the side of dragon's right leg. It let out a yowlled scream before crashing into the snow outside the valley, dropping the apprentice and warrior.
Finally, Tahliz was able to see and process what had just happened, despite having the wind knocked out of him from that fall. He struggled out of the snow until he saw pained, bloodshot and purple eyes infront of him, the very howler he had fed, panting and huffing in agony. Tahliz's eyes went to the beast leg, the knee bleeding and his once amber scales were blown to pieces, turning his softer scales a scarlet red. Scattered across the snow from the entrance of the valley, his blood showed the path of which he leaped.
"That thing chose the worst time to go hunting" a scoff came from the shadows. A younger elf strolled his way out from his hiding spot, a proud smirk on his scarred lips. "Looks like a wolf bite on his cheek" Tahliz observed, his eyes narrowed as he stared up at this new "friend". "Good to know that dinomite works on these things" a sadistic chuckle came from the elf, dropping the remains of what this "dinomite" once was.
Ventus was the first to draw his sword but the howler was the one who shot first. The cloudy liquid landed on the elfs defending arm, swiftly freezing when making contact on him to across his side. Half the elves body now stuck in a thick ice block, the howler rose but didn't dare to put pressure on his leg. Through a whimper the howler let out a roar filled to the brim with fury, the sound rumbling through the ground. Tahliz shook his head to finally gain his thoughts straight, "now's not the time to hesitate!" He realised, his eyes jumping from one new arrival to the other.
This young elf was not the only one behind that explosion, at least fifteen elves were with him but yet their armour looked mix matched of many different tribes. Bandits, that had stolen from the tribes but their leader was now imprisoned in ice, Tahliz saw the slight upper hand they had. "All of you have a choise!" Ventus warned, "leave now! Or have your fait as out friends feed!". "Was he really serious!? I mean this howler had never hurt me and even hunted for me! And from the looks of it tried to save us but would he really fight for us? He only attacked that one for busting up his leg, right?" His thoughts raced. But Tahliz couldn't let his uncertainties show, he put on his disciplined trianed expression on, showing nothing but his determination.
The bandit group whispered to one another, shifting and backing away as the howler snarled and even snapping his large jaws towards them. The howlers boer like tusks snapping against his canines, causing a bone like snap in the air. One bandit stood forward, with shakes arms he grabbed his leader and tried to drag him away with them. "He's frozen to the ground" Tahliz realised, staring down at the bandit as the howler next to him growled deep in his throat. The beast weaving his head at the bandit then to his right, staring off to the mountains before looking back with a growl.
"Good, you're all smart" Ventus spoke with a grimness to his tone, slashing at the ice just enough for the bandits to take their frozen leader and leave. Their leader stayed quiet from his icy cage, Tahliz could see the anger boil within his eyes, though he stayed silent. "I never want to see any of you in our lands again, understand!?" Ventus ordered, a fury in his own tone. "Come back and we won't hesitate to kill you! Now leave and never come back" he gestured with his sword towards the mountains, his eyes cold and with an expression that showed he is not to be taken lightly.
The rest of the bandits froze before nodding and leaving silently, their eyes glued on the snarling howler. "Must've shaken them up, seeing such a beast save us" Tahliz couldn't help but feel proud, so much power in protecting their tribe, without having to hurt anyone. Though his pride turned to worry as he saw the gushing wound on the dragon's knee, his large claws shaking above the ground. Tahliz may not know what their weapon was but it was enough to cause agony on a creature that is feared by all elves. His gut ached as a bad feeling flooded his senses. This "dinomite" can't be good.