Captured By The Dragon
Episode 10

Third POV

Rain fell heavily on the group seemingly out of no where. The weather was always so unpredictable in the forest. Sunshine melted into rain and rain turned to hail if the temperature was right. One moment it might be freezing, and the next it could be scolding hot.

Dylan led them to a small hidden cave that was carved out of a mountain side to wait out the worst of it. Grateful for the chance to be free of the storm, they hurried inside the darkness not even caring if anything was hidden there. Luckily for them, they caught it when it was empty. Any other day they might have turned into snacks for a beast.

Dylan threw damp wood in a pile and started a fire with just the flick of his wrist. Patara widened her eyes in disbelief. Had he just… did fire just come out of his hand? Surely she was losing her mind and becoming delirious from the changing temperatures.

She tried not to think about all the horrible things she had seen after they left the swamp. She heard once that shifters were like animals. They killed each other without hesitation and the skeletons she saw only proved that. Heads far from their bodies and cracked in half as if an axe had fallen on their heads. She knew it was more like claws or teeth that did that sort of damage. It was all so disturbing.

Patara brought the young girl close to the fire as they curled in front of it. The flames started to dry their clothes and warm them up from their horrible coldness the rain brought. They seated themselves as far as they could get away from the traffickers that stayed near the entrance. They always made sure to position themselves in front of any entrance possible to remind the girls there was no hope.

The men stared gloomily out into the rain. With only two of them left, this whole operation felt more and more like a mistake to take on. Every step they made felt like the wrong one.

Tomorrow they would be free of this. Tomorrow they would deliver the goods and be far from this forest, they just had to get through tonight. Then perhaps they could finally gun down the arrogant boy that thought he was in control.

One of the traffickers watched the two girls cower near the fire with wicked intent. His thoughts were wretched and wrong, he only longed to have them squirming beneath them even though he knew they belonged to the Snake King now. Was it true that the Snake King gave his leftovers to his men when he was through with them? Perhaps if he sticked around long enough, he would get his turn with both of them.

A real shame he couldn’t have a taste of them first.

Dylan glared at the man who stared at the girls like he wanted to take them right there. He quickly looked away before the boy could rip his head off right in front of the poor girls and traumatize them further.

Once the rain died down and the chill in the air was replaced with heat, they set off down the path again. The air had the scent of fresh grass, Patara inhaled deeply as she followed Dylan closely. Often she would glance behind her shoulder to make sure the other men didn’t put their hands on the little girl.

“How much longer?” The older man asked as he gasped for breath. His shirt was coated in his own stinky sweat and he looked close enough to passing out. No one would care if he did. No one expect his friend that was only here for the money.

“Soon.” Dylan said without a single glance back.

It wasn’t long until the group emerged from the trees. A clearing with several small cabins was set up ahead of them.

“There it is!” The older man gasped. “The Snake King’s camp is right ahead!”

The two traffickers gave each other a dark look littered with revenge once Dylan and Patara were far enough ahead. Now that they were finally at their destination, the only thing they wanted was to bash this kid’s head in and make him scream for mercy.

Later. They had to be patient and wait for the right moment to rip him apart.

“Keep an eye on him.” The older man whispered grimly to his friend. “Don’t let him get away with the goods. We’ll let the Snake King’s men know about him later.”

The other man nodded and broke off towards the camp.

Patara felt her head spin, she gripped onto Dylan’s arm to keep from falling. It felt as if the world was shifting around her.

“Are you okay—“ Dylan quickly caught Patara as she started to fall. “Woah, hey.”

“I don’t… I don’t feel so well.” Patara mumbled. Dylan furrowed his brows and touched his fingers to her head to find she was scolding hot. A fever. This small, vulnerable thing had a fever.

“Easy does it.” Dylan said as he bent slightly to pick her up. Her arms wrapped around him weakly as a few soldiers started to approach Dylan.

The traffickers thought the soldiers would take their word seriously. This boy had taken one of the goods for himself, surely they would kill him on the spot. They watched close by with a smirk on their lips. But to their surprise, the soldiers grinned as they approached Dylan.

They even gave him a soldier’s salute of all things?

“We’ve been waiting here for a long time, Dylan. What took you so long?” A large soldier asked as he stepped to the front of the group.

“Ah, you know. I got stuck with slow travelers.” Dylan smirked as he glanced at the traffickers. They only glared back at him.

The soldier laughed. A deep, hearty sound that only made the other men more angry.

“Ay, is that one of the human girl’s you’re holding?” Another soldier asked.

“Yeah. She is.” Dylan said with a cut to his tone. He raised his chin slightly as he looked at the men around him. Just daring them to question him further.

Some of the soldiers took a step back at his look. Others moved closer to get a better look at the girl in his arms.

“Erik, this one is mine.” Dylan said with a warning in his tone. Erik’s eyes shot up to meet Dylan’s for a long moment before a smirk lit up his face.

“Alright, alright. I hear ya. She’s all yours.” He held up his hands as if he was surrendering and took a step back. “We won’t look at her. Will we boys?”

A few of them grumbled their agreement half heartedly. Erik smirked at Dylan, baring his teeth and all. “See? We’ll be good.”

Dylan said nothing as he pushed past the soldiers and carried a weak Patara into one of the cabins.