Snippet #2184322

Hima

Hima continues backing away, while still hopeful of an escape from this situation she is accepting of what her fate most likely is; that thing that destroyed this village is about to do the same thing to her and there's little she can do to prevent it. Smalls tears well up in her eyes at the thought she will be dead at such a young age. "At least," she reasons, "At least, it's been an exciting life. I haven't died as some stupid farmer living a life of toil or some one whose whole life has been one of subservience. I have seen and done a lot. And, there are worse things than being killed by the breath of a dragon."

She shakes that thought out of her head. She's not dead yet and she's not ready to commit to defeat without a struggle, even a futile one. She looks left and right and then behind one last time trying to chart out an escape. Seeing none she turns back toward the dragon, but rather than facing the fearsome, angered, god-like creature that she saw merely seconds ago, the dragon has dropped its tail and is staring at her with an oddly confused expression.

"Y... You think I did this?" the creature asks in a deep, rich tone that matches it's size. "Why would I do this? I came here to look for something of my mother's, not to kill... I thought... I thought it had been you..." the dragon says, not in an accusatory manner, but rather in an 'I was thinking the same thing as you.' one.
Hima stares the creature up and down, not sure what to make of this turn of events. She resists the reflex to say, "Because you're a dragon." when he asks why he would kill all these people and torch the village. The tension in her body eases a little, but she isn't dropping her guard. "Dragons are wily and smart." she is sure of that, "He could be trying to get me to drop my guard and then take me." That thought seems almost stupid as she thinks about it. "He's much bigger and stronger than me and he flies. Lulling me, a 15 year old human girl as a distraction would be unnecessary."

She jumps a step back as he grabs his bag and drops it on the ground. Hima relaxes herself a bit more. She bends down and reaches for her bag, never taking her eyes off the fearsome dragon. She decides to avoid her rapier, "No sense in upsetting him at this moment. He isn't acting menacing. Why give him cause?"
She holds her bag tightly against her chest with two hands, "S...S...So." she stutters. "Why are you... I mean what do you... you want?" She has heard many stories about dragons, but they were always from someone who knew someone, whose friend had a cousin... story, never from someone who has actually seen a dragon. As unreliable as all the stories may be, every story has a small kernel of truth to it.
"Are... are you... you looking for something?" she thinks she already knows the answer, he most likely wants the scroll, but she's hopeful it's something else. She doesn't know what magical powers he possesses and if he can detect lie she's gonna get caught. "I mean, if you... if I can help you... you know. I'll help if I can." she says swallowing as hard as she can, her mouth practically bone dry.