Kariah awoke in a soft bed of leaves with sunshine streaming through canopy above falling upon her face. She rubbed her eyes sleepily and looked around, trying to remember exactly what happened, then the events of the previous night suddenly came rushing back to her, and a wave of panic broke over her. The sound of hoof beats behind her made her jump fearfully, and she scrambled to her feet, ready to flee. She stopped as she saw the blond-haired centaur approaching, his arms full of fresh fruit.
“It was mine thought that thou mayst be hungry.” He said, offering the fruit.
“Why did we stop?” She was still rather nervous, and watched the centaur with a wary expression, her hand firmly on her dagger.
“Thou wert exhausted.” He replied. “Once out of danger, it was feasible to stop and allow thee to rest thyself.” He gestured to the fruit. “Thou wilt need thy strength. Eat, then we shalt continue our journey. It is still another day's travel until we reach the blessed safety of mine home village.” He suddenly gave her a quizzical look. “Might I inquire how thee came to be held captive by the Scarred One?”
“He and the dragon attacked me and my friends.” She replied, taking a large bite from a pear. “Damion forced them back with the Dragon Sword, but they grabbed me as they fled. Kaviel wants the Dragon Sword so he can unlock the power of the Dragon Gem, and he doesn't care who he hurts trying to get it! He thought to use me to force Damion to give up the blade, but I managed to escape.”
She quickly finished her pear, then gathered her pack and carefully climbed atop the centaur’s strong back.
They were soon dashing through the forest at an incredible pace. K'thar moved with a fluid grace as he followed scarcely visible trails through the thick undergrowth. Trees flashed by as they sped through the forest, not even slowing when the half-human creature was forced to leap a wide stream. Kariah held on to K'thar's waist with an almost desperate grip, and was forced to close her eyes as they rode and concentrate on not getting sick.
It was nearly midday when the large centaur finally slowed to a walk, seeing several other centaurs trotting up from the opposite direction. They came to a stop a few feet away, staring at Kariah with open curiosity.
“An elf!” A thickly-muscled male with chestnut hair said, smiling widely in amusement. “How unusual!”
“Her name is Kariah.” K'thar introduced the young elf maiden. “She escaped from the dragon's lair, and now seeks refuge.”
The new centaurs looked impressed.
“What wouldst the Scarred One want with a simple elf maiden?” A female centaur asked in a superior tone. She was quite beautiful, with butter colored hair that had been elaborately braided. Her human half was lushly endowed, and she wore no clothes over her womanly attributes without any trace of self-consciousness.
“I’m not just a simple elf maiden!” Kariah exclaimed indignantly. She slid from K'thar's back and marched forward to face the mare. “My companions and I were journeying to stop the madman that is controlling the dragon!”
“How dost thy plan to do that?” The female centaur asked in a scathing tone. “Those dragonspawn wouldst slaughter thee long before thee even came close to the Scarred One!”
“I managed to get away from them, didn't I?” Kariah retorted heatedly.
“And how dost thou plan to battle the dragon?”
“My friend Damion is a powerful sorcerer!” She replied angrily. “He will stop Kaviel and the dragon!”
One of the male centaurs snorted derisively. “It shalt take more than a little magic to stop the dragon.” The other centaurs laughed, except for K'thar, who wore an expression of disapproval.
Kariah flushed with anger. “He will stop them with his magic, and with the Dragon Sword!”
The laughter suddenly stopped, and the creatures stared at her with serious expressions. “Thy friend doth carry the fabled Dragon Sword?” The female centaur exclaimed in disbelief. “Surely thy words cannot be true?”
Kariah nodded, her anger fading. “It is true! At this very moment, Damion and the others are making their way here to put an end to Kaviel's rampage once and for all!”
The centaurs began to murmur excitedly among themselves. “So, thy plan is to confront the dragon and the Scarred One?”
The young elf maiden nodded emphatically. “Kaviel kidnapped me to try to force Damion to give him the sword, but I escaped. That's why I need to rejoin them as quickly as possible, so they don't mistakenly give up the sword for my return!”
“Then let us depart for the village.” The female centaur advised sagely. “Perhaps thy companions hast been seen by others of our village.”
Kariah remounted K'thar’s broad back, and they returned to their breakneck race through the forest, followed closely by the other centaurs.