The cave was as silent as death almost the instant they entered it. Darkness swallowed them as their steps echoed, bouncing off the walls, and throwing all thoughts of caution and advantage out of their minds. A small group, they were all that was left of the princesse's traveling caravan. A single knight dressed in dented black armor, sword drawn and held with shaking hands in front of him. Behind him was the herbalist; a woman with deep curves, her black hair chopped hap-hazardly so that it only reached her chin and effectivly covered her pointed ears. Pouches smelling of rosepettals, wormwood, dragon's bane, and salt hanging about her slim waist and bumping against her hips as she walked.
Behind them was the princess. Her gown was in rags, it's beautiful fabric torn and cut, the gems and insown jewels having been plucked to pawn for more herbs and the knight's new armor and sword. Her long blond hair was tangled and dirty, greasy with sweat, and combed into a weak braide that hung past her waist. A cutlass was clutched weakly in her untrained hands. "I-is it safe" she stammered as the frigid cold of the outside blew in through the entrance of the cave and hit her back. But she was almost instantly hushed by the herbalist, who's graceful steps were the only ones not making an noise. Skittering forward she practically danced passed the night and further into the dark cave, using her elvan eyesight to pick out any shapes that might cause a potential threat. Licking her lips the female elf glanced back at the other two and did a few cautious steps forward before freezing completly and sucking in a breath.
The silence was broken as something moved, the cave shaking as it pressed against it's rocky walls. A long serpentlike object seemingly materialized from the darkness itself and lashed out, striking the elf in the chest and tossing her like a doll to the farthest wall. "Arianorn!" The night yelled as the princess behind him stood frozen in her tracks, her wide blue eyes flicking from the serpent like object to the elf's body. "Stay back princess!" the knight yelled lifting his sword and getting into a battle stance. But he didn't get a chance to attack as a pair of wicked gold eyes flashed out of the darkness. Followed by a face and a long slender neck, the dragon, black scales shimmering purple even in the lack of light let out a vicious roar. Her jaws opening and flames flickering over her tongue and out her nostrils.
"Who dares disturb my cave!" she screams the cave shaking again as she shifted her body writhing as she extended one claw and uncurled herself. Her nails sharp and vicious cut into the stone floors and her head rose up above them as she looked down her long snout at the digusting appearance. "Have you come baring sacrifice?" she said growling, in a low feminine voice her neck cuving as she stared at the princess who was shaking so hard she could barely hold up her sword. "I haven't had maiden in a long time" she said before the knight sidestepped and moved to block her view of the princess.
"We bring no sacrifice! We were just seeking shelter.." the knight had been young, a fresh recruit and alive only by chance. He had been to cowerdly to join his comrades in fighting as they were attacked. Instead he kidnapped the princess and stole her away without telling one. Assured that if he was found he wouldn't be killed for diserting if he told them he had been told to save her from the thiefs. And he had not been alone, Arianorn had followed him. Wanting to protect the princess should he try anything, and willing to tell of his disertion if he did.