Dragon

Chapter 16

The full moon had disappeared over the Dragon's Spine, taking the light with it. The forest at his back stood cloaked in the shadows of the mountain ridge. Having already taken on his human guise, Jaimin stood at the foot of one of these giant peaks.

Before him gaped the black maw of a tunnel, far too small to hold his natural form. His nose had led him here. The wind coming out from within had carried a hint of Maay's scent though he could no longer smell it. Once he stepped into that shadowy mouth, he'd have no way of knowing whether any of the tunnel's creators still lurked within until it was too late.

How he wished he'd one of Laiyn's broadswords at his side. He would've welcomed even a dagger or simple belt knife. Neither blade could've done much damage to a scaled's hide, but the presence of steel would've done much to quell the trembling in his gut. Maay's on the other side. He took a deep breath and, before his resolve could waver, dove into the tunnel.

The darkness within fast became absolute. Not even his own hand, which his mind insisted was held out before him, could be seen. He felt his way across the ground with his feet, each step barely lifting free of the rock underfoot. Boots nudged aside both stones and leaves, sending them skittering across the ground. The rattle and rustle of their passage echoed down the tunnel ahead of him.

His fingers smacked into a wall, roughly-hewn stone scraping his knuckles. Swearing, Jaimin flattened himself against the rock. Nursing his hand, he waited for the tunnel's natural silence to return, letting out a shuddering breath when it finally stilled. His nerves weren't built for skulking. He longed to take on his true form. Wished there was the room for it. If he jumped, he'd little doubt his fingers would easily brush the ceiling.

Once more enveloped in the familiar quiet of a deserted burrow, he pressed forward. One hand felt its way along the cracks and chunks in the stone wall to his right, the other stretched straight out before him.

His feet, encased in soft shoes instead of the heavy hunter's boots he preferred, padded over the ground. It made the going slow and the footing sharp, but the noise became near to nothing. Only the gentle scrape of his fingers and the rasp of his breath broke the silence.

How long had he been walking? Time could only be measured by each stride and he'd but a vague idea of the distance each step covered. Four human strides to one of his. No that's when they run. So if he calculated it at six human steps for one dragon then how far had he travelled in the dark? The answer slowly bubbled up as he marched on. Nine hundred and eighty-four steps.

He stumbled a few feet, snarling as he righted himself. Did he class that as eighty three or four? Jaimin shook his head. The answer wasn't important. Not wanting to think of what was happening to Maay, and with little else to focus on, his mind continued to count even as other questions drifted up from the abyss of his thoughts.

How was he going to find her once this tunnel ran out and he found himself in the wasteland? What if the only way into their lair was through more tunnels like this? He'd little protection against scaleds in his normal form. As a human, they'd make even shorter work of him.

His right knee smacked into an outcrop. Gritting his teeth against the curse growling in his throat, he rubbed furiously at the throbbing joint, sharp twinges radiating down his leg. He hobbled a step or so, struggling to keep his balance while trying to ignore the warm sensation trickling down his shin. If they weren't going to smell his presence before, they would now.

Of course it had to be the leg he'd broken just yesterday. At least the bone had had the time to regain enough of its former strength to not snap at the slightest blow. If he fell now, he could wind up crawling for hours only to find himself at the wrong end of the tunnel.

Maay's life could be in danger. He could not afford to make such a mistake. He'd never forgive himself if she died because he erred.

On he pressed, the darkness seeming to perpetually stretch before him. The earthy scent of damp rock filled his nose as the wall under his fingers became wet for a few strides. He licked is lips, his tongue stiff and dry. His stomach gave an inquisitive rumble. Though he'd devoured two whole deer that morning, much of their nutrients had likely gone to repairing the broken bone.

How many steps was it now? He paused, trying to recall what his last count had been. One thousand and .... And what? Ten? Twenty? "Focus you fool," he snarled, the words hissing out between his teeth. Think of Maay.

He wiped his brow, surprised when his fingers came away damp. Water dripped onto the back of his hand. Over the dull thunk of the drops on his head and the rasp of his own breath, he heard the blissful howl of wind blowing past the entrance. The pressure of it as it curled down the tunnel unmistakeable. He was close to end.

Trotting along, he felt the rough guide of the wall curve away from him. Ahead, the blackness lightened into the rosy glow of dawn. Jaimin ran for the exit, fingers abandoning the wall completely as his footsteps rang out down the tunnel.

Reaching the tunnel's end, he flattened himself against the very wall he'd deserted only moments before. The glow wasn't dawn at all. It came from torches. Dozens of them rimmed the large cavern beyond, their flames near steady in the surrounding stillness.

At least the cavern looks big enough. He peered round the edge of the rock, ducking back as he caught a flash of red. Someone was in there. Should he dare attempt to nullify the threat? Best use caution for now. If he missed and the male managed to escape, then he could end up alerting the entire lair instead and Jaimin would never reach Maay.

A heavy grunt stole the rest of his thoughts. The ruddy tip of a snout poked around the corner.

Jaimin lunged, shedding his human form and grabbing for the dragon's throat as it came into sight. He gave the cavern a quick glance to ensure the rest of the area was empty. "Where do you keep your prisoners?" he growled, feeling his own hot breath bouncing off the male's face. Wriggling his hindquarters free of the tunnel entrance, he lifted the dragon off the ground.

The male yammered out a reply. With his fingers wrapping right round the male's neck, the red scaled could do naught but thrash.

Jaimin shook him, asking again in the same tongue as the scaled had responded. Near central cone? Utter nonsense.

The male repeated his previous reply, voice growing higher with each word. If he didn't stop soon, it wouldn't take long for someone to hear and investigate.

Disgusted, Jaimin smacked the male's head against the rock, rendering him unconscious. Dragging the dragon into one of the darkest corners he could find, he returned to his human guise. The cavern held several tunnels. He crept closer to the brightest entrance.

Someone must know where Maay was. It didn't matter if he had to confront every single wretched scaled in this lair, he would find her before the day was done.