Gore was [i]protecting[/I] her. That was the one, key word that kept popping up every time in her thoughts even as she battled to keep herself firmly in place. Who would have thought that a crimson, scaled beast would be the one to provide protection against these people; her own race that was united yet divided at the same time? Rosalie wondered how Gore might have seen them at this moment as he fought back against his pursuers. Were they nothing but children squabbling over a toy unfairly shared, or were they grown adults fighting under real and legitimate reasons? Rosalie wanted to know, but asking was not an option seeing as Gore had not spoken a word since her encounter with him.

Tensing when she heard the sound of muffled tearing similar to a ship’s sails being torn, her gaze immediately snapped up to find that the arrows had punctured Gore’s wings, fresh wounds weeping the colour of his scales. What was driving this dragon to put his wings up in her defence? Normally, his kind would have tried to save themselves by now; they were all like that unless ordered by their mistress or master to use their body as a shield. Rosalie had not said such a thing and neither was she an owner so it frustrated her that she was unable to figure out Gore’s intentions. She wanted a dragon that was tamed and was well worth her money should she decide to spend what her father had given her before they were forced to separate. There was one of two things that Rosalie really wanted and it would have to be one or the other. 

The net that had been set up had easily been taken down and no doubt this would have angered the lead woman of this group. Curious to see what had become of the net, Rosalie risked a glance down, gasping at how high they were. If she had been worried about slipping off the dragon earlier, now she was extremely concerned. Rosalie was provided with a view she never thought she would see, but dread hit her at the same time fascination did. What was Gore going to do now; use his tail to pull her away and drop her? He could certainly make it look like an accident. She waited for him to decide her fate, but instead, he licked her wound, leaving her to stare wide-eyed after the action as for a moment, he seemed concerned for her despite the numerous injuries he had suffered himself. “You’re -“ she never got to finish the rest of her sentence.

It was expected that in the air, there was nowhere to take cover from open fire and she soon found herself falling, winds sweeping around her but doing nothing to slow her rapid descent. The wailing of the winds seemed to cry out in her place for a few seconds, the girl coughing a little from accidentally inhaling a bit of smoke left behind from the shot. Rosalie saw Gore heading straight towards her like a rapidly approaching wall and [i]that[/I] was when she screamed, panicking as she looked toward him then the trees that were growing larger by the second. She knew this was going to happen and this just justified her reasons for being so afraid. Gore was unpredictable and it was difficult to tell what he planned to do. Large, red wall or tree-covered ground? One provided more chance of survival than the other and she was aware of that. 

As much as she wanted to, Rosalie did not struggle nor try to twist away as the dragon neared her, his claws outstretched as if to make a catch. Was he really going to spare her from the nasty fall? Her brown eyes met the dragon’s, finding only determination and her prone form falling through the air reflected in those teal orbs of his. The main question that entered and swirled angrily around Rosalie’s mind was, ‘what served as his motivation’? What could make a beast, who was only just claiming the lives of hunters and destroying expensive machinery a while ago, suddenly choose to spare just one person? 

Perhaps Gore was somehow different, but Rosalie did not plan to place much trust in him so quickly if none at all. She usually would have dismissed that thought in a heartbeat, but she had always been a curious child. That could possibly lead her to an untimely death like now, for instance. She firmly believed that it was not yet her time and saw Gore as a possible means of escape - as self-centered as that was. 
Claws, sharp enough to render several people into shreds in a single swipe, were actually splayed out in a way to catch her. It was almost like looking at a safety net of sorts despite how daunted she was beginning to feel with him being so near. Rosalie was afraid Gore was going to catch her the wrong way and perhaps accidentally skewer her with his nails. That particular thought caused her to swallow dryly, her screams falling silent as she did the only thing she was capable of doing falling from a great height like this: stare. It wasn’t as if she had another choice; another option that involved her saving herself, so she reached a hand out to him, showing acceptance and a bit of desperation to avoid the death that awaited her. 

Surprisingly, when Gore’s claws enclosed around her, they were gentle and not the crushing grip she had been expecting. It brought Rosalie relief like she had been given a breath of fresh air after holding it for a bit, but it still did not change the fact that they were still falling! It was only out of fear that she clung to Gore as the dragon held her close to his chest, shifting in a way that would leave his body to absorb the impact. This was when the girl stole a quick glance at him, frowning lightly as she studied him. She dearly hoped this did not mean she would be in his debt...

When they finally hit the ground with a loud explosion erupting through the air, trees splintering, the girl had thought that the dragon had been taken out. Was Gore capable of surviving this much abuse? She had yet to see the extent of a dragon’s power and could only guess at how much more damage he had sustained. The impact, though Rosalie had been offered a considerably softer landing than Gore, had stolen a breath and a whimper from her, the girl ducking her head as her form trembled from disbelief, fear, and relief. She barely managed to catch the look Gore had given her, but his growl caused her head to snap up at him. “This... i-is just t-too much...” Rosalie mentally kicked herself. She was barely able to form a complete sentence without stammering. If Gore saw she was weak then, this would give him even more reason to look down at her. She did not care what he thought. She never did. As long as she was still alive, then that was all that mattered to her. If it were a dream, the simple test would be to pinch herself and see if she felt anything. Testing to see if she was alive, however... Perhaps her fear and the strong beating of her heart in her chest would be enough to let her know.

___

“3..,” The dragon had launched himself from a tree in a futile attempt to put some distance between himself and the hunters. While this went on, two figures moved further into the battleground, able to easily conceal themselves while still maintaining a good view of the event. One possessed a broader frame than the other, easily dwarfing his companion even as she made her way up the slope ahead of him. As the girl with him counted down with quiet excitement, she absent-mindedly fiddled with a small crystal between her thumb and index finger. They did not wear anything that allowed them to easily blend in with the hunters in the area, though, and while Aisen wore a dark, oiled cloak, Delna preferred to carry a clear umbrella to keep herself dry in the rain. Despite the differences in attire, it was clear they were from the same group and was there to provide support, but only very briefly seeing as their services did not come cheaply. 

Aisen would wait a bit, scanning the area for a while before he finally signalled -with a slight wave of his hand- that they move in a bit closer. These hunters were in the way, foolish enough to think that they could capture the rare dragon with such a small group. Even with the Blood Dragon seriously injured, they still had to be mindful to stay clear as his strength still far surpassed the weapons the hunters had with them at this moment.

As good of a strategy as it was to attempt to corner the dragon while chipping away at his strength, the hunters had made the mistake of deploying their net far too early. If delayed for even just a few seconds, perhaps the outcome would have been different. Timing was everything and it was crucial that they preserve their numbers and weapons. The older of the two sighed at this, knowing that it would have been much easier, but seeing as it was their job anyway, they might as well get it over and done with. With Gore in a weakened state, this was going to be a walk in the park.

“2..,” The dragon had sustained a damaging blow to the side and was now dropping through the air. A shame that they had arrived a little later than scheduled. That took the fun out of seeing their toy suffer and writhe in agony. Perhaps they could make up for lost time with a ‘gentle’ prod here and there. Delna’s bright blue eyes complimented the soft smile she had on her lips as she raised the crystal she had to eye level, holding it out in the direction Gore had fallen in. She shifted a little until it appeared as if Gore was locked inside the little crystal she carried, adjusting it and keeping it set in the same manner that she would a pistol as her target moved about to ward off the soldiers trying to surround him. Delna had to pause a bit when she saw that there was a young woman on the dragon’s back, tilting her head to the side. They only wanted to catch the dragon; nothing more and nothing less. For confirmation, she looked over at Aisen. “Ready..?” came the quiet inquiry.
“Yes. Go ahead.” He confirmed with a slight inclination of his head. He then began to chant quietly. White wisps of light, that were more like tendrils escaping his lips, waved in the air warily before forming little symbols in front of him. The crystal Delna held responded to it by rising into the air to hover directly above Gore. One could see that the words being woven through the air, acted like a little control panel of sorts that gave Aisen the control he needed to direct the little device over the dragon and possibly avoid getting damaged should Gore spot it early. 

“1..,” Delna continued in a light tone, watching Marian struggle under Gore’s claw with a slight smirk. She jumped, though, when the woman turned her head towards her and ordered her to help.
“Keep focused, Delna.” Aisen’s voice cut in almost immediately after, glaring at the woman pinned beneath the dragon. The crystal in his companion’s hand then began to expand and become so translucent that it was almost difficult to keep track of as it moved through the air. It acted like a dome of some sort, quickly starting to build up a form solid enough to trap the dragon as they prepared to transport him like the slave that he was. Gore would be given only a few seconds to counter before he was fully imprisoned. If he paid too much attention to Marian, his freedom will be short-lived. If he managed to detect the prison, then he may have a tough battle ahead of him. Either way, Marian took this as a chance to act.

“Well, what are you waiting for, Blood Dragon?” Marian taunted, pushing with all her strength at Gore’s claw. The pressure was slowly building, but she was still able to breathe without difficulty. Were dragons actually capable of thinking carefully about a human’s life? Secretly, Marian hoped so, but seeing as Gore was taking his time with it, he may be oblivious to what awaited him. Perhaps she could keep him distracted as her way of getting back at him for humiliating her. “Our lives mean nothing to you, so why think twice?” As emphasis, she directed her gaze over Gore’s wounds and his wings, the barrier that had kept the girl on his back safe.
__

That woman had voiced exactly what Rosalie was thinking. All of this? It frustrated her knowing that she was being protected by a dragon. She didn’t want to owe Gore at all. Besides, she still disliked him for taking Glenn out when it was his information that she needed the most. To think of it in one way, she might not have entirely wasted her efforts because she was near the Blood Dragon, but there was no guarantee that she would get his help. “She’s right...but it’s not as if you can speak...” Rosalie mumbled more to herself than to Gore. He had saved her from death, but hadn't it been his fault?