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Cyvass crouched low to the ground as he crept through the forest. The mostly black dragon blended in almost perfectly with the shadows of the night. The only thing that stuck out was the midnight blue scales that ran from his nostrils under his eyes and to where his horns would eventually come in. His underbelly was also a deep blue that was just as hard to pick out in the dark of the night.

A loud shriek had distracted him from his late night meal. Curiosity got the better of the young dragon who was now headed toward a growing fire in the distance. As he got closer the shouts and screams became louder and then one by one they died out. Moments later he came to a clearing. Tents and wagons had been set ablaze with their previous owners strewn about in bloody heaps, not even children had been spared. Three men in leather tunics were gathered in the middle packing their plunder into their own wagon. Two carried swords and the other a spear. Another man with a bow was sifting through the belongings of the corpses looking for anything of value.

Cyvass looked on at the scene with a growing anger, he didn't care much for human disputes, but a massacre like this was just senseless. The thought of ripping the throat out of each of the men crossed his mind, however he ignored it. A four on one fight was not something he wanted to be in. The dragon was only just over two years old and no taller than a large dog, although much longer. He could not yet breathe fire nor fly as his wings were not long enough yet.

Just as he turned to leave a slight movement caught his eye. A man was peeking out from underneath a collapsed tent, waiting for his chance to flee. The bowman was only a couple meters away but had seemingly finished looting the bodys as he turned and began walking toward his comrades. Seeing his chance the man took off for the forest in Cyvass' direction carrying a child, of around five to seven years of age, in his arms. As the man got closer Cyvass climbed into a tree to get out of his way. Just before the man reached the tree line an arrow struck him in the back of the knee causing him to collapse, the child falling from his arms. He tried to stand and keep moving, dragging his injured leg behind him. It was a sad sight to see the child try and help his father keep running only for the man to be struck by an arrow again. The man cried out in pain as the arrow remained protruding from both sides of his torso as his son looked on in horror. A pool of blood started to form under his father as he collapsed.

Cyvass moved through the trees till he was just above the child and his father. His anger slowly rising despite his attempts to quell it. Soon the bowman came to stand before them, a sadistic smile on his face. His attention was on the boy who was slowly backing away. “Now aren't you a cute little thing." He said in a raspy voice. The father made one last attempt to move in front of his son but was stopped by a kick to the stomach. “As much as I'd like to continue our fun I really must get going." He said disappointed as he knocked an arrow in his bow.

Cyvass' anger continued to grow as the man pointed the arrow into the middle of the boy's face. A blur of suppressed memories flooded his vision. 'He watched as the men slowly shoved a dagger into his sister's throat as she cried for help. His mother's cry shook the forest around them as she charged into the mass of men only to be pierced by waiting ballistas. Next was father, his broken body trying to stay aloft as he was pursued by men on gryphon back, leading the killers away from Cyvass, and all the young dragon could do was watch.' Instinct took over, the young dragon let loose a blood curdling screech as his vision turned red and he fell upon the startled bowman. The man collapsed under the dragon as its hind claws raked through his stomach until his lower half was completely severed. The man continued to scream in agony until he was silenced by the dragon's powerful jaws clamping on his neck, rewarding Cyvass with a sickening crunch.

Cyvass looked up to see the bowman's comrades staring in shock at the blood covered dragon, who was now slowly increasing in size. In the blink of an eye Cyvass was upon them, lowering his head he rammed into the middle man wielding a spear, laying him out on his back as a rib or two cracked. The other two drew their swords and swung only to cut air as Cyvass ducked and spun, catching one in the neck with the blade-like tip of his tail. Blood spewed across the ground as he collapsed to his knees holding his throat. The last man swung again only to miss and be met with a claw to the face. Cyvass then pounced upon the stunned man and ripped into his throat. Suddenly pain flared up in his hunches as he turned to see the spearman driving its blade into him. Pressure welled up inside cyvass' throat as he ached his neck back before releasing the pressure in a tolerant of flame. Screams filled the air as the spearman was engulfed in an instant. The back dragon watched as the man's screams slowly turned to nothing as his still burning corpse came to rest.

Cyvass stood painting over his victims the red tent on his vision unfading, as his body yearned for more blood. A soft sobbing returned his attention to the child who was now leaning over his fathers over his father's corpse. The dragon approached slowly, so as to not alert him, until he was right behind him. The child had nobody, everything and everyone he knew was gone. Perhaps it would be best to just put him out of his misery. Make it as quick and as painless as possible. Cyvass lifted one of his claws, now the size of the boy's head, ready to crush the boy's neck in an instant. It was then that the child noticed him and turned around to face the dragon towering over him with an outstretched claw. Cyvass hesitated and in that instant the child flung its arms around his neck in a tearful embrace. “Thank you." It said through sobs.

The red tent faded from the dragon's vision as his size returned to normal. His claw fell to rest on the child's back as he returned the embrace. “What is your name child?" Cyvass said softly in the unfamiliar language taught to him through his parents' memories.

“Gradyn." the child said, hugging against the dragon even harder.

Cyvass broke the embrace and gave a soft lick to Gradyn's tear stricken face. “Don't worry Gradyn. I will protect you now. You have my word."