Chapter 2: Fires of the Past

    Melee and his army's trek came to an end a few hours later when Ashleaf's walls came into view...at least what was left of them.  Smoke bellowed from the area, creating several streams that flowed into the atmosphere.  The army was still a mile away from the city, but the tell-tale signs made them recognize decimation when they saw it.
    "There still might be survivors.  Stay on guard and move into the city," Silver ordered.
    His voice was firm, but his mind was not.  Even though he swore to protect everything in the kingdom, his biggest concern at this point was Natalie and her family.  Yes, she left him for another human and entered a deep depression because of it, but inside, he knew she was doing it to protect each other in the end.  Rage and sadness welt up inside him, yet he remained able to hide these emotions from his men.
    The march was solemn, nothing but the increasing sound of fire crackling and the occasional neigh could be heard in the air.  The army entered the city through the destroyed front gate, only to get the up-close look of the destruction; buildings razed to the ground, bodies littering the ground.  Melee could hear some men gasping at the gruesome sight.  They have all see the aftermath of some raids, but the destruction of a major city was just unfathomable.
    "Investigate the area.  Stay in your assigned groups."
    The army broke up into five groups of ten and set off in different directions.  It would take some time to investigate the area, but the lights made by the flames would help them until the sun rose.
    Each group examined every still-standing building, hoping for someone to be alive in them.  Thankfully, a few families managed to survive the onslaught, but anybody outside at the time was massacred.  Every time a new family was discovered, Melee ordered a man to stay with them and check for any injuries; a task Melee personally made everyone learn in training so that all would be capable healers if needed.
    Meanwhile, Melee examined some of the outside bodies to get an idea of their cause of death.  The usual impalement, stabbing and blunt-force trauma were there.  However, it appeared that the greatest cause of death in the city was caused by fire.  It made Melee rethink of the note he got earlier and how Natalie stated she could hear the roar of a feral dragon.  He shuddered at such a thought, even though it was common knowledge that since three centuries ago, feral dragons moved to the southernmost continent and stayed there.
    The search eventually lead Melee to the bakery he worked in when he was first in Ashleaf.  At least half of it was destroyed, but the remaining half did give Melee some sense of hope for her.
    He entered the bakery and started calling out for her.  The first few attempts did not work as he waded through the ruined foods on the floor.  A faint yelling sound could be heard behind a door that led to the supply basement.  Melee looked around for the old trap door and eventually found it after shifting around the food on the ground.  Melee ordered a guard to move on the door and check it out.  He opened it, revealing a dimly-lit staircase.  Both Melee and the guard went inside.  It didn't take five steps before everyone could hear the sound of a young child crying.  Melee's ears perked up before he moved ahead of the guard to the bottom of the stairs.  There, he saw the source; Natalie and what appeared to be her daughter laying in the corner beside a few barrels of flour.
    "Melee?"
    The dragon ran up to her and knelt down.  A claw lay upon her shoulder.  "It is good to see you are alive."
    "Not exactly the reunion I wished for though."
    "What of your husband?  And Sharon?"
    "He's dead.  He died defending us as we locked ourselves into the basement.  Sharon, I don't know.  She fled the area the moment the attack began."
    Melee added another objective into his mind.  He rescued Sharon before and her safety was also important, despite knowing each other only for a short time.
    "A brave and good man he was for sacrificing himself to save you and what I assume to be your daughter."
    She nodded in response.  Her eyes returned to the little girl sitting beside her.
    Melee's eyes soon moved to Natalie's left leg, which was primitively wrapped in cloth.
    "What happened?"
    "Just a gash from a sword that almost took my leg off during the attack.  My husband killed him just in time, but he still got a piece of me in the end.  Why would the dragons be attacking?  Didn't the king allow that alliance between human and dragon three years ago?"
    "Yes, but we have to believe it might be a group of rogues that want revenge.  They still cling to the way of life prior to the alliance and believe that humanity must be punished.  At least, that is my assumption."
    "I suppose you can't blame them."
    "Maybe, but what they are doing is just heinous.  Yes, humanity's cruel people did enslave, but good people, such as you and his royal highness did bring salvation to the species here.  What is done is done, but they need to look to a better future where we coexist."
    "I wish we could repay our mistakes, but yeah, not much we can do now."
    Silence for a moment.
    Melee smiled.  "Your daughter is beautiful."
    "Thank you.  It is a shame that she will grow up without her dad now though."
    "His spirit will always protect her."
    Natalie nodded before gripping her leg in pain.
    Melee's guard instantly tended to her wounds.  "We'll get you to Silverburg, but my men can at least ease the pain here."
    "Always the thoughtful one."
    "You helped me become who I am.  It is just the first of many things I can do."