Whitestar watched from the sidelines as Alyssia sprinted out toward the caravan and the other two slipped away. Apple stayed where she was, her scales shifting to match the foliage but not turning completely invisible. A moment passed and soon, he could hear Alyssia crying and shrieking loudly. He listened hard, trying to make sure he could recognize the English word Alyssia had mentioned as the signal. He shifted slightly, unsure if she was screaming for the diversion, or if she was under attack. He could see several of the humans come out of the machines and try to grab her, and it seemed like there was a bit of debating among them and the more important-looking ones before they finally grasped ahold of her. Alyssia let out one more gut-wrenching scream, and Whitestar hesitated, although it sounded like it might be the signal. But then he saw the sand behind two of the machines shift unnaturally and the humans standing beside it were shoved to the ground. Wingbeats sounded nearby and Whitestar saw Blackout shoot out of the oasis shrubbery, aimed straight for the other Nightwing and his rider. Whitestar followed a moment later, running quickly out into the open and then spreading his wings. The desert sun sliced over his cold scales like a dim fire, burning into his muscles and making it uncomfortable to breathe. He flapped every now and then to pick up speed but kept low to the sand, switching back and forth between running and gliding, skipping off the ground. He rose up more just as he approached the closest transport and the two humans turned too slow to aim their weapons at him. He snatched them up in his front talons and beat his wings to rise back into the air, swooping above the limo in the center of the caravan. He flared his wings a little ways away, stopping sharply and letting go of the humans, sending them flying through the air. It probably wasn't enough to kill them, but hopefully, they wouldn't be a problem. He turned quickly back toward the caravan, soaring directly toward the largest machine. He could see Alyssia standing half inside of it, watching them, and he reach out a talon to grab her, hoping that he could get her away without hurting her. Loud banging sounds erupted from the last couple of humans remaining, and Whitestar veered sharply to the right with a hiss, feeling pain streak up his side and one of his hind legs. He swooped around again, his eyes locking on the last transport in front of the limo. He could hear the small explosions from their weapons coming from the ones in the back of the caravan, and he hoped that Bamboo was handling them fine. He pivoted sharply and dove toward them, waiting for the sting of the iron projectiles as he got closer. One stabbed his shoulder and another grazed his neck, but nothing enough to seriously injure him. Whitestar felt the ice building in his chest and then his throat, the cold sensation seeming to energize his parched scales. He opened his wings again and swooped low over the transport, forgetting his previous resolve not to kill any of the creatures. Ice engulfed the machine and the humans around it, small knife-like shards of ice growing instantly over them and their transport. Whitestar heard their last brief shrieks of fear before they were cut off abruptly by the solid frozen mass. Whitestar circled around again, icy mist swirling out from his nostrils and the sides of his snout. He cocked his head toward the caravan again, trying to find Alyssia among the chaos.
Alyssia acted surprised at the sudden screams erupting from everywhere. "What's happening!" She cried to Jasmine.
She began scooting Alyssia over and climbed into the limo with her. "We'll be fine."
"Get onto the floor and cover your heads!" came Jack's voice from outside of the limo. Immediately, Jasmine dropped to the rather spacious floor of the limo in between the chairs that were facing each other. She covered her head and Alyssia decided it was time to strike. She looked around the small space and saw a couple of bags sitting on the chairs. She reached up and gripped the bag hard. She looked back at Jasmine, helpless and not even knowing what was about to happen. Alyssia gripped the bag and stood up on her knees. Bringing the bag back, she was ready to call Jasmine's name and let her have it. She opened her mouth to get Jasmine's attention so she would lift her head, but nothing would come out. She just sat there with her mouth open and sounds of terror screamed around her. The thunder of bullets seemed dull, however, as Alyssia tried to get herself to do it.
Throwing a grenade at a dragon was one thing, but she had looked this person in the eyes and seen the kindness she had granted Alyssia. She couldn't do it.
He loves her, she thought of Jack,
I can't let him live without someone he loves dearly....like me. She dropped the bag, teeth clenched and her mind screaming at her that she would fail her mission if she didn't do this.
No! There has to be another way. Her mind screamed one thing but her heart screamed another. What was she supposed to do? Finally, she lifted the bag again. She scooted closer to Jasmine and shut her eyes tight.
"Jasmine..." she squeaked.
She heard the muffled, "yes?" and then the unmuffled, "What is it, girl?"
Alyssia swung with all her might. Alyssia felt the collision all through her arm and her heart wrenched in pain. the cry of pain tore through the limo and Alyssia opened her eyes to see Jasmine holding her face. The pain and horror in her eyes at what this girl who she had saved had just done broke Alyssia's heart in two.
"I'm so sorry," she muttered. Then she closed her eyes and swung hard again. This time, Jasmine's head hit the metal bar under one of the seats and she lay there limp. Fear tore through her and her hand shot towards Jasmine's neck to make sure she was still alive. A reassuring pulse met her shaking hand and relief spread itself through her body.
As long as I don't kill her.
She tore her eyes away from the woman and kicked open the door of the limo. She rolled outside and was met by a deafening roar of bullets and, well, roars. The guards around the limo looked at her and barked an order for her to get inside. She didn't move and the guard turned to forcibly put her into the limo, but his attention was diverted. She looked up to see a silvery dragon swooping through the sky. The beautiful scales shimmering in the desert heat. Whitestar's wings tucked and she saw his beautiful dive towards her.
He's trying to grab me! she thought as Whitestar's talons opened towards her. She covered her ears in pain as she heard the bullets start ripping from the guard's guns.
Whitestar! She looked up and saw him veer off of his original course to avoid the bullets.
With the guards preoccupied, she took her chance. She stood and began to take off around the other side of the limo. With the guards focused on the dragons in the sky, she made her way towards the nearest jeep. Avoiding the view of one of the guards, she snuck behind the jeep and opened the side door. She saw the guns in the back and her heart dropped again.
I...I can't. She looked back at the battle raging outside and then back at the guns. She also eyed a bag of grenades beside the guns.
Screams sounded through the air and Alyssia spun her head towards the scream. Icicles shot up towards the sky and frost covered a large portion of the ground including two guards and a jeep. The yelps of the dragons made their way to he ears and they angered her. She wanted to do something and an idea sparked as the guard ran off towards the icy dragon. She smiled and made her way towards the front of the jeep. She reached around the wheel and felt the cold steel of the keys sitting in the port.
The attack must've come too fast for them to have taken the keys out of the vehicle. she thought, pleased with herself.
She slid into the driver's seat and turned the key, the engine humming to life. Pressing the gas, she flew over the sand. She turned the jeep around and put the nearest jeep into her view. Two guards were near it and she floored the gas pedal, speeding towards them. The guards looked her way and saw the jeep coming. Fear engulfed their faces and they jumped to get out of the way. Chuckling slightly as she sped away from them, she heard the deafening sound of bullets again. But, they weren't far away this time. She heard one whiz past her head through the open windows of the jeep and her heart skipped a beat. Fear engulfed her and she didn't move the wheel. She was going straight. The perfect target.... She heard another bullet whiz by and she finally gained a little control of herself. She jerked the wheel to the left and threw sand into the air.
Alyssia's eyes went wide and it was almost as if it happened in slow motion. She saw the man with the gun, the bullet, and finally the pain came. It shot through her arm like nothing she'd ever felt. The bullet imbeded itself in her left forearm. She didn't even realized the gut-wrenching scream she let out as the bullet hit. She let go of the wheel and she spun more until she came to a complete stop. Though, she didn't register the spinning at all. Her head had already been spinning from the initial pain. She cried out again, but she choked up as tears came to her eyes. She held her arm and opened her eyes slightly to peer through watery eyes at her now bloody arm. She cradled it against her body as she tried to get ahold of the situation. The sounds all around her had dulled and she sat in the jeep, not even caring anymore about the screams and shots sounding all around her. All she could feel was the pain, and all she could hear was her heartbeat thumping in her ears.
Is this what adventure is? Why did I ever want something like this!!! She tried to control her breathing and wrap her mind around everything while holding her hand over the wound in her arm, blood still spilling out of the wound.
"It's up to you guys..." she muttered, holding her arm closer to her.