[center][img]http://orig05.deviantart.net/dc57/f/2014/249/2/2/divider_550x30_by_daniyalisatya-d7y8210.png[/img][/center] [Colour=Silver][I]Three men fell in quick succession. Laid behind an icy rock, two expressions of pain were frozen across faces. Another hardly recognizable corpse was flattened at the caves entrance, his bowls spread across the stained grass. Most of the hatchlings had fled at the sight of their mother, but one remained. Backed against the trees two men assailed it with spear and shield. Not big enough to breath the freezing vapor it had only tail and claw. Arrows whistled past Norco, striking the dragons tough scales. [Colour=Gainsboro]"Aim for the belly!"[/colour] Shouted the chieftain. Stood far to the right he avoided the dragons swipe. Several men surrounded the beast, spears raised. She grabbed one as he faltered, throwing him away like a rag doll. The other jumped back before her wide jaw snapped over his torso, bifurcating him instantly. A slight wince of pain flashed in her eye as an arrow hit home, lodged underneath a scale. Raising her head her throat rumbled. [Colour=Gainsboro]"MOVE!"[/colour] Came a shout before a haze of death spewed towards the two bowmen. Both caught, one shattered as his frigid body hit the ground. Norco stood, watching the dragon as she tore through the hunters. He waited for an opening. A higher pitched squeal filled the air, the hatching had been speared. In pain it writhed, throwing its prehensile tail towards a man he was launched several feet. The mothers gaze spun, fright in her eyes as her offspring was attacked. With great thuds of its feet it leapt across the ground. It was distracted. Charging into its side Norco took a hold of its long lithe neck. Unable to resist its strength he was carried around as it tried to shake him. He dug an axe into its hide for something to hold onto. As it spun in circles it bashed a couple more to the ground. The chieftain charged in, finally joining the fight. He threw an hatchet that bore into its neck, inches from Norcos hand. Without time to question his intentions, Norco drew the long sword from across his back. Before he could strike he was thrown from the dragon and tumbled the floor. She raked her talons across the hunter stabbing at her hatchling, opening his back like a cut of meat. The chieftain hesitated before running towards the beast, a claw batted him away. They numbered few. Norco pushed himself to his feet, wiping the blood from under his nose. He plucked a spear embedded in the ground at his side and angled it towards her. With just three steps he let it loose. It a perfectly straight line it rocketed through the air, lodging itself behind the dragons head. The sole man between the Dragon and her hatchling watched as a spear tip exploded through her forehead. He fell backwards, confusion and disbelief his only emotions. He was not dead. The creature turned, its movements sloppy and instinctive. It tried to stay on its feet but slammed into the floor. A man charged in thinking the battle was won, she swatted him like a fly. His scream beginning and ending in an instant. Norco and the few that were left circled the wounded animal, not daring to go near. She began to groan and what can only be described as a cough. Spluttering she tried to kill Norco one last time, a clear ice-blue liquid dripped from the corners of her mouth. She was too weak to fire her breath. Her head lowered, resting on the floor. A howl was heard as the men peered towards the cave. The hatchlings scattered, fluttering their wings and flying far from the stench of a dying mother. She was doomed, to weak to life her own head her eyes glazed over. Norco slowly stepped towards the monster. She struggled as he approached, but the fight drained from her. Wheezing, Norco watched the blood pool beneath her head. He took an axe and stood by the beast. He gave one last, forgiving look towards her before raising his blade high. [Center]- - - -[/center] Of the sixteen men that had accompanied Norco, five were left. Sat on the grass they had a moments pause to collect themselves. One man walked from corpse to corpse, giving resting prayers with a hand on his heart. [Colour=Gainsboro]"Norco!"[/Colour] a voice shouted. A hunter revealed himself from the caves black innards, he held an axe. Barely able to carry it with his two hands he walked to Norco. The man looked at him in silence before dropping to one knee and raising the weapon. With one hand Norco grasped the colossal axe. He inspected its every surface before resting his hand on the blades head. [Colour=Gainsboro]"Hello, old friend."[/Colour] he whispered to it. [Colour=Gainsboro]"In the cave, there's more. Gold, Silver. Everything."[/colour] Norco drew his attention and looked to the men staring back at him. [Colour=Gainsboro]"It is your prize,"[/Colour] he replied [Colour=Gainsboro]"With it your village will be wealthy, you will want for nothing."[/Colour] the chieftain stepped to his side with a low brow. [Colour=Gainsboro]"Our village? are you not our leader?"[/Colour] he questioned, no hint of worry in his voice. [Colour=Gainsboro]"My kin died long ago, Arvid. I no longer belong here."[/Colour] With the sad admission he left the group of battered men and crouched at the great dragons still head. Its eyes stayed open, the still veil of death hanging over them. Norco took hold of the largest tooth he could find and yanked it from the already blackening flesh. He took a bowl and held it to the corner of her mouth catching the drips of milky fluid that leaked from the glands in her throat. He stood and peered at the items in his hand. [Colour=Gainsboro]"This is my prize."[/Colour] [/I][/Colour] [center][img]http://orig05.deviantart.net/dc57/f/2014/249/2/2/divider_550x30_by_daniyalisatya-d7y8210.png[/img][/center]