'Clearly only savages could manage to call a place like this home.'Franz grumbled to himself as he swatted his way through a cloud of gnats. His heavy, armored boots stumbled awkwardly over the uneven, muddy terrain. Even his sense of smell was offended by a peculiar scent of wet bark and moss. He missed the sights, sounds, and smells of Valexia. Just thinking about his empty bed made the young man's joints ache with longing.
'Get it together. Just do what you came to do and get out. Everyone's counting on you.'Tired, hazel eyes scanned his surroundings. A few huts were scattered about the clearing. Simple structures made of straw, wood, and foliage. It was like a scene from a fantasy novel. Of course Franz knew about Ata'hua. How the people lived in tune with nature. But to actually
see them choose to live this way was astounding. The world truly was a vast expanse. It made him feel small and insignificant, which was undeniably irksome.
'Hm? What's this?'Franz caught sight of someone walking back toward one of the huts. It was a woman. Petite but lithe, her delicate-looking body was wrapped in cloth and vines. Wisps of blonde hair fell about her face. It reminded Franz of the cobwebs in his father's study. The girl walked softly, her bare feet seemingly gliding over the dirt and grass. The allure was unmistakable. Even here, amidst such savagery, there was at least a small piece of beauty to behold.
He was about to call to her, to ask if she knew where he could find a source of clear water when another voice cut his off. It was impossibly deep and rough.
"Ragoth of the Tribe of Thunder. A humble smith seeking shelter and conversation."Franz turned around and immediately felt a lump rise in his throat.
Before him stood a creature unlike any he had ever seen. It was tall, much taller than any man, and covered in dry, stone-colored scales. Its hulking frame was set with bulky musculature and behind it, a tail that looked to be as big around as Franz's chest.
Instinctively, the knight took a step back, his senses on high alert as his mind raced to define exactly what this being was.
'Ragoth. Tribe of Thunder. Scales. Tail. Lizard. Could it be...?'The creature did not appear hostile. In fact, its words were formal, polite even. It was startling human-like. Regaining his composure as smoothly as he could, Franz spoke, keeping his voice as firm as possible...
"Are you...of the Zokah?"
He had heard talk of them before. They were supposedly a race of dragon-like beings who lived mainly in secrecy somewhere in Ata'huan territory. He had known a senior officer who had experience with the tribe, having encountered one before during his travels. Other similar accounts existed almost as common knowledge. Still, as with everything else in this forsaken grassland, seeing was a fast and forceful track to believing.
The creature had the speech and mannerisms of a human. And Franz could recall no such account of one of the Zokah ever being dangerous or unpredictable. As such, it was imperative that he treat this being with as much respect as any other member of the Ata'hua Tribelands. With his pulse steadily returning to a normal pace, he spoke.
"Ah, forgive my poor introduction. I was merely taken aback by your presence. Truly, it is a rare sight to behold one of your...tribe."
'All right, that'll do. You're encroaching on boot-licking here. Erm...talon licking...? How the hell -'Shaking himself from his thoughts, Franz continued.
I am Franz Van Burace, of the Knights of Valexia. You speak as if you do not hail from these parts. May I inquire as to what you are doing here?"