Wayfinding | Aaravos x Reader |

CHAPTER 2

The sharpened steel cut clean through the flesh of the elf's thigh. It was deeper than what Arkeus anticipated or hoped for. Yet, he was still relieved that the strike slowed his contender. Despite the excruciating wound, Gliden found the energy to storm towards the human and tackled him to the ground.    

While all the action took place, you found yourself cowering into the corner of the vessel. In any other universe, you would be throwing fists at the grown man too, but your body - dragons - it was as if the pillars that held it together were coming down to dust and debris.

The pain was insufferable.

Your inhales became wheezes.

Your mouth was insensate and thick with saliva.

And it felt as though the walls of your throat and stomach were tarnished with brewing hot tar.

To help ease your pain, you allowed your eyes to stray towards the brawl outside of the trailer. Although not much could be seen past the crates and artifacts that littered the stagecoach, you were able to witness the tension that circled like a hawk over the participants. You were not entirely certain what the fight was about. All you knew for certain was that ma and pa would win. After all, you had seen them do this a million times before and walk away without a scratch. But there was a wicked, breath-thieving sensation that surged over you. But this feeling, you could tell, was not affiliated with your illness.

It had to do with the substance that seeped out and tainted the elf's trousers. Your eyes were anchored to it. "Pa?" You croaked, trying to make sense of what you were witnessing. Soon enough though, reality cemented in your foggy mind and panic ignited within you.

"Pa, no!" You shrieked from the trailer, realizing the severity of the injury. Witlessly, you scrambled out of the trailer with soggy feet striking the gravel harder than you had imagined. With barely any time for recovery, you chased after the stranger, hauling at his coat to tear him away from the brawl.

Initially, Arkeus was bewildered by your rebellion and rage. But despite that, you were by his side where the task of saving you was easier. Yet, the advantage was short-lived. Inyah seized the fabric of your tunic and hauled you aggressively towards her. You surmised that it was to protect you. Yet, with the neckline of your attire strangling you, it was difficult not to hoard your distrust. Your adolescent body was practically a rag-doll to the woman.

Eventually, you found your footing but trying to match your footsteps with ma was harder said than done. Inyah, seeing your incompetence, swung you onto her back. You grappled onto her cloak and wrapped your legs around her waist.

Not too long after, ma and you heard the heavy footsteps that were hot on your trail. You felt as if your heart was pulsating in your skull. Sensing the elf come to a halt, you gathered her cloak and blouse into a fist - holding onto dear life. Inyah confronted her competitor with gritted teeth.

The Katolian, who had finally managed to get rid of his male contender, reached the female elf and began his attack. You shut your lids as tight as possible, not allowing for a single ounce of light to seep into your vision. You wailed and twitched, feeling your body being thrown from one side to the next with each belligerent motion of the woman. You could sense your clutch on the elf slacken by the second. Soon enough, hanging by the thread did not suffice. You flew off the elf and felt your face met the earth. When your cheek met the warm soil, an unimaginable pain rippled through you. Your body, revolted by the agony that accumulated in your core, let out the most blood-curdling shriek. Aside from the dispersing, frightened birds, the entire forest seemed to silence in sympathy for you.

Inyah, who ended up on the ground too, propped herself onto her elbows to study you better. A wicked but relieved grin crossed her lips. "It's working. . ." she whispered, turning to Arkeus with a mocking glare. "There's nothing left to fight for, old man."