Marakai gave a small smile and a barely perceptible nod, saying, "Of course not, little one. Just stay quiet and out of sight. Keep my sword safe, I can't take it with me....if they're wanting a Dragon, then it's a Dragon they're going to get." He gave her a crimson wink and dropped out of sight.
Landing heavily on his feet, kneeling only slightly from the impact, he glared through narrowed eyes at the approaching lights. Leaning forward, he started forward at a run, leaping into the air and transforming in midair.
The behemoth that crashed through the trees was nothing that simple men could prepare for, not armed with their flimsy armor and pathetic steel. Glowing, blood red eyes lit up his draconic head, dagger-like teeth seemingly dripping blood as the crimson light illuminated his salivating mouth.
He had been hungry before. This could be a feast. The great black dragon gave a roar, a wave of heat escaping from his mouth. The platoon of armed men stopped in their tracks, gazing wide eyed at the monster before them.
If Marakai could have smiled at that time, his grin would have been bloodthirsty.
One foolish man raised his sword, apparently acting as the leader as he gave a cry and ordered the other men forward, and Marak raised his head as they surged forward. With a twist, he turned his great body partially to one side, his great tail following through with the movement, slinging forward to crash into a group of the closest.
They flew backward, into the foliage and out of sight, a loud clatter of metal signalling their landing.
Changing his stance, he brought his great body low, as if ready to attack them. He broadcast his thoughts to everything in range. "You fools think that a couple of armed men can bring me down? You have no idea whom you attack!" He crouched low, then, and suddenly pushed straight upward, leaving the ground and beating his great wings to push himself aloft.
One fool thought it'd be a good idea to fire a crossbow. A few more followed his example.
Four steel bolts flew up at him, and unfortunately, all four hit their mark - a creature like him made an easy target, as large as he was. He made like the damage was worse than it was, and crashed straight back to the ground.
Screw it. Him and Aev'interna would eat well tonight.
He pushed himself back up, charged forward, quickly taking one man in his massive, saw-toothed maw, and lifted, shaking him from side to side before flinging him against a tree. Three more crossbow bolts found purchase in his neck, and he gave a grunt of pain before whirling around to give them a second taste of his tail, bowling the lot of them over.
On the ground, they made an awesome target for dragonfire.
A high pitched whistling sound could be heard as he inhaled, creating a vacuum. In the back of his mouth, those that were watching for their deaths could see a swirling, flickering blackness before a plume of black fire billowed forth, cooking then remaining men in their armor.
----
A couple minutes later, Marakai walked back in his complete human form, clad only in his leather greaves and boots, and covered in what seemed to be buckets of blood, irritably pulling a crossbow bolt from his side. He looked up after tossing the offending object on the ground.
"Dinner is served, Aev'interna. You can come down."