Author's note: This is the first chapter in my newest series, just giving fair warning for those really get into stories, updates may not be regular, so I appreciate your patience.
I read all the comments so feel free to share any opinions, ideas or general comments. I'll probably be writing some more oneshots on the side so feel free to suggest other pairings too. Enjoy :D
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I know I am a goner when they approach me, there are five of them, all in black, twisted mean grins on their faces. Here outside the village there is no law, and criminals and outlaws roam freely. Occasionally an adventurer would come by, pick up a bounty or two and clean the place up a bit, but the forests were heavily wooded and stretched out for miles. The sun is setting, and I normally would've been back in my tree home by now, but the stream that once yielded a fish or two now had nothing, and I had to continue down towards the river, farther away from my home. Life in the village is hard for most of us, especially for someone who has no family, like myself.
This is the first time I've been noticed in these woods. I'm small and quick, shorter than the other women in the village. I'm very lean and I'm lucky if I get enough to eat on most days. The woods provide to me what the village will not offer for free. My long dark brown hair is tied and carefully tucked away and I wear the dark brown tunic and pants that most villagers wear. Usually no one pays attention to me, except for today.
One of the disheveled men pulls out the biggest blade I've ever seen, and my stomach drops. "Hello there, pretty."
It would have been flattering had it not been so frightening. I decide wisely not to return the pleasantry and run, dodging trees and jumping over logs, but there's five of them and one of me. They chase me down like I'm some sort of animal, and soon I start to limp and eventually my legs give out.
I fall to the ground, rocks and twigs dig into my exposed skin. I feel a hand grab my hair, painfully yanking my head up. I let out a scream, but it only makes them laugh. I shut my eyes as I feel hands grab my shoulders, the sound of the knife cutting through my thin clothes, and then the sound of their cruel laughter is all that I can hear, I try and shut them out. I am yanked impossibly high, and now I have to open my eyes, I can feel cold air in my face, and I see the men on the ground, growing smaller and smaller the higher I go. For a brief, insane moment, I think I've learned how to fly. And then I look up and see the giant winged dragon that has me in its claws. I open my mouth to scream but this time nothing comes out. I am frozen in fear as those giant black wings beat, taking me farther and farther away from my home.
I am terrified of struggling, so instead I dangle between those claws, until I feel my stomach drop again as we slowly start descending. The dragon switches me to his front claws, and we land more gracefully than I thought, though my whole body is clenched in fear, I feel as if I am so brittle I might break. We are on the edge of a frighteningly high cliff, and with me still in his claws, the dragon carries me towards the dark entrance of a cave.