Alone through the no man's land

It was dreadfully clear, suddenly probably all diplomatic relations taking such a plummeting dive. I couldn't fathom the reason, why this had to happen, but it was here with all its menacing horrors. I stared bewildered after the passing shape of the messenger, barely able to comprehend the gravity of what he carried and was about to carry forth to his homeland.

Unsettling thoughts stormed my mind all night as I tried to order myself, to reason. I was here in Zarvo, more than three weeks since I left home, unsure of what to do. There was nowhere else to go than back all the way I came if it was even possible, the adventurer sulking home to beg for a job after wasting heaps of money in a fruitless endeavor. Or join the Army at Kort, enrolling to support this despicable offensive against Ugaros throwing us in disrespect by the Antaran Lords, and maybe all their dragons whom I so much wished to meet. Memories of Xipa gently caressing and playing with Messenger emerged, her elfin tricks now so adorable, to be swamped by the whole cause, the lifeless poisoned agony on the town square. I had no choice but to go on, if alone, then shall it be.

Early dawn next morning I so set out with my heavy packsack on my back, determined to march through this vast land of desolation no matter what it took.

At first it didn't even seem too hard. The road was rough, but present, I even had the companion of a small hunting party who only forked off a few hours before noon. They gave me last advice on utilizing the results of my hunt and avoiding threats of the natural wildlife, also suggesting that being alone I shouldn't even worry that much about wyverns who rather seek for larger prey than a single man, but agreeing that I indeed should still rather spend my nights on trees in darkness than relying on fire, better chances not only against them, but also against lions. They reassured me that leopards are uncommon in these dry regions, so at least I shouldn't really worry of gentle clawed paws stroking me awake up there.

By noon I was alone, the tower of the city long disappeared behind the scarce trees and grassy regions, with the road now rather resembling an unkempt path, with grooves of old cart tracks occasionally visible here and there. It was the wilderness, miles and miles down as I trudged forth, keeping half an eye on my surroundings, other on the sky, prepared to use my bow in need.

I pressed on long into the dusk, without any remarkable event, stopping only at a battered well to refill my water sack. That was about the only sign of civilization I met the entire afternoon. I found a nice large acacia for the night, however soon I could very much envy a leopard I saw once napping pleasantly sprawled out on a branch which convenience seemed to be impossible to adapt for myself.

The day after didn't offer much interest either. The path lead out into a dryer region with scarce shrubbery and barely any trees, neither any too tall grass to hinder vision. It was good for I could see farther, not having to fear that much of any surprise from the ground, however it also exposed me more to wyverns. I had only seen a few of them though, neither attempted to make a dive.

Third day, spotting some gazelles I attempted a hunt, but gave up for having no reasonable way to stalk them without cover. I packed enough food, so it wasn't really urgent anyway, so I rather pressed on without really trying it hard.

Maybe the fourth night, to my relief I met a nice stubby baobab which offered quite pleasant accommodation after padded with some of my gear and the water sac, almost making me feel like finally having a proper bed.

I also realized however that according to my map I was approaching to the region where that particular aggressive wyvern was sighted. While I didn't have any real accident this far, I could see elephants and lions to look out for, so this another threat added to the bunch was really nothing I needed. I tried to estimate distances, how long it would take to get through, and no matter how I reasoned, it seemed like I would have to spend two nights with that hazard looming over me.

Anyway, it had to be done to get across, and even though Mark's story kept agitating me, I reasoned that it shouldn't be that dangerous. After all at least a few carriages passed through unharmed, and none told about any indication of her succeeding.

With my mind settled, I continued calm into the region, remembering to be more wary than usual. These were rather open lands again relieving me from the necessity of being too concerned about the ground, but the sky remained devoid of any large shape. I stopped at a well, but it was dry contrary to my map, although not a great trouble since I had plenty of water to last. I just checked my quiver instead, to be certain I had it all right once necessary.

By late afternoon I started to hope to end the day without any sight, however my luck didn't hold. Something approached from under the Sun, and took the dive. I pulled my bow and stinger by routine to aim, hoping for the usual retreat, which indeed happened, however allowing me a good view on her features. A plain brass color with none of the black stripes of Messenger or other wyverns I had seen up close, clearly she was that of the reports!

The attack repelled I continued my march keeping an eye on her. To my dismay she didn't leave like the others! She soared without wingflaps, gliding above in circles, sometimes breaking them for a straight line, but never leaving my field of vision, although neither attempting another dive.

As the evening approached, it became even more unsettling. The sinking Sun lit up her features as she patrolled above relentlessly, and I had to find some place to spend the night. I was reluctant to climb up a tree with her presence, fearing I could be trapped, but on the ground I was also exposed to other animals. There was nothing to be done except waiting alert, waiting, hoping for the situation to resolve in some manner. I settled down near a few scattered acacias, still in the open under the darkening sky, watching her as she kept on without a single wingflap, going and going around in circles.

It was no good for in the dark I feared I would lose sight, just enough for her to attack. I already strained my eyes sore, alert by the danger, the storm on the horizon which I couldn't hope to avoid. Scared, without any better idea to save myself, I retreated under one of the trees, then finally gave in to climb it. It was as good as sitting down there in the dark where maybe I could spot her, but much less any other animal more adept in stalking.

The night fell upon me like a terrible bogging down mass, an eerie silence without a single sound of any animal, unlike anything before. I knew she was somewhere near, but I couldn't imagine where. I strained my eyes, the sky was clear, the ground as far as I could see in the darkness, empty, without a single movement. Sleep evaded me, my head full with ideas of her stalking under the tree to silently rip me off like a fruit if only my attention drifted away. The worst was the crawl of time, the waiting for the dawn to sweep the blinding blackness away.

Morning finally came, but what a grim prospect! As the shapes unfolded, I noticed her body, already awake looking at me up on the tree, just about two hundred yards away, just so far so I couldn't hope to hurt her with my stingers! And I had to get off, to continue, or hope her natural needs, maybe thirst could eventually make her retreat! I couldn't afford to wait, there was just no reason in it. I tried to start my descent, however as soon as I did, she sprung to run towards me! I hasted, letting myself almost drop scraping my hands bad, jumping to aim with her halting a mere fifty yards away, sending me a deep gaze of cold death!

We stared down each other for long, she crouched down, ridge high, wings expanded threatening facing me with my Dragonbane strung, the well-salted stinger ready. I slowly started to back away which she didn't follow, only turning aside once I made about a hundred yards, to run for a take-off.

It was a dreadful tiring trudge forth. The wyvern kept circling above straining my already weary eyes long until noon when approaching a more grassy region she left. Having the sky clear for an hour I let out a relieved sigh, hoping I was alone once again. At a crumbling apart well which thankfully had water I consulted the map, resolving to push on despite my tiredness to get out of this cursed region as soon as possible, hoping that at worst the next day it would be over.

Late afternoon however with a sudden swooping attack she returned again, again to continue the drill on my nerves, circling above into the dusk, not allowing me to have any rest! My numb mind shrieked in pain as I tried to find a tree, to prepare for a second night under this assault!

I was stranded between branches again, weary, desolate and terrified, fighting my urge to fall asleep, to survive this rotten evil! I ran into this, my dignity and my wish to see dragons pushing me in, and now, one of them would be my demise! I couldn't let it happen!

If the previous night was horrible, this was outright sheer terror. I dozed off to be shaken for the sight of that devil stalking towards the tree, to make me jump, draw my bow, stare in her deadly gaze as she scowled before she would retreat back into the hell of darkness. There was nothing I could do, only hoping that somehow this would be over, at worst the Seehal had an end somewhere on the other side, also putting an end to this nightmare. Again my concentration waned, and again I woke to fend off her, that stare of cold death!

Morning again cast its first lights over her shape laying some two hundred yards away, forcing me to slide down, to jump for aiming, to meet her wrath, to stare in those eyes backing away until she took off!

I had to march, thinking that I could maybe leave her territory, putting an end to this torment, watching her moves. But today, she didn't just fly up there. With a turn, she descended in front of me, out of range yet, blocking the road, staring me down! There was no choice, but approach if I ever wanted to get across, bow taut, arrows ready!

She stood firm, chest deep, wings fanned out, glaring me snarling without a single voice in a horrid silence entombing the entire land. I felt myself deaf, only hearing my pounding heart and my own steps, one after another as I got nearer. Two hundred yards. A hundred yards. She didn't move.

"Die you wretched evil bitch, die!" I let out my stinger, hitting her on the shoulder, she pranced, roaring, to end in a stride towards me, attacking! Another arrow in the exposed breast, and another, I shot wild until she fell on her side in agony!

I collapsed panting, weariness taking me down. It was over. It took me a while to realize that the wyvern was still there, alive. She was curling up in pain, as far as I could see the arrows either fell off on their own or removed, without too much blood. I hesitated whether I should try to kill her, knowing that this state wouldn't last, and she may continue her assault, or rather shouldn't risk it.

Suddenly she sprung her neck to face me, to flick her tongue bobbing and shaking her head, then repeating the same figure again. Her ridge laid limp, and I could see fear and sorrow in her eyes. I couldn't know what, but she was talking to me, in Draconic.