Rain streamed down the silver scales on the dragonet's forehead, a small shaking talon clumsily swiping at the droplets spraying into her dark eyes.
Lightning tore open the sky again, like the glowing edges of a dragon’s claws raking jagged streaks through the heavy clouds, tearing a gap between realms for but an instant before vanishing again with a vengeful roar. The rain that pounded the ground seemed to coat the air itself, thick and heavy, battering the dragons’ eyes and snouts, like the never-ending thrumming of a waterfall.
Talons landed heavily against the muddy ground, sending a splattering layer of thick sludge spraying up the dragon’s chest, her legs sinking deep into the swampy earth. The dragonet snorted quietly, trying to clear the water from her nose and turning her head away from the mud droplets that flung into the air.
The sliver dragon dug her claws into an unearthed tree root nearby, tearing her legs free from the mud, stumbling as she struggled to regain her balance. Behind her, a smaller shape clung with both front talons onto her tail, the mud sucking greedily at the ethereal scales on his sides.
The lightning lashed out again, closer, silver scales illuminating blindingly from the flash. The dragonet whimpered softly, pressing her head against the warmth, trembling violently from fear and cold.
The dragoness dragged herself the rest of the way from the swampy patch, ducking quickly beneath the branches of a massive tree, the smaller one still clinging to her tail. The large dragon readjusted the weight in her arm, shifting to cradle the tiny silver shape as they tore through the forest.
More lightning.
Black scales appeared stark against the flash, a moving shadow that vanished with the light. The dragoness veered sharply away, beads of crimson appearing where the jagged branches slashed at her scales, her rapid pace uneven. The dragonet peered terrified around the silver-scaled arm that held her, the darkness and rain pressing thickly against her vision, the forest appearing pitch black to her young eyes.
Branches snapped.
The dragoness jerked back, grinding her claws into the slick, sludgy ground, the smaller dragon behind her crashing into her, flailing with an alarmed squeak as he collided.
The older dragon immediately whirled around, grabbing the smaller one by his arm and leaping sideways into the thick brush a moment before the mass of black scales ripped open the canopy, claws tearing through the mud as the dark dragon skid to a stop.
Bushes tore. Leaves whipped. Talons pounding, churning the ground, the mud and twigs flying into the air.
A bone-chilling roar sliced the rain-torn forest, the sound echoed by another distant crash of thunder. The dragonet shuddered, pressing harder into the chest of the larger dragon. Wingbeats pounded the leaves as the dragoness ducked beneath a large, low-hanging branch.
The forest opened and she once again skidded to a halt, another jolt of lightning illuminating the open sky above, the tree cover vanishing. The dragoness whipped around, legs bent, ready to charge back into the foliage.
In a flash of white light, the dark shape appeared again, cutting over the egde of the treeline, talons outstretched, wings flung wide, like a wave of darkness descending on the clearing. Silver scales glittered under the curtain-like webbing, the light bouncing off the glittering spots like scattered droplets. Leaves whipped into the air behind it, torn from their branches by the massive wings.
The dragonet watched in horror as the claws connected with the dragoness’s neck, inches from her tiny head, crimson droplets splattering into the lightning-illuminated air. The dragoness slammed into the ground, losing her grip on her cargo, the small silver shape tumbling across the muddy earth.
The dragonet let out a whimpering cough, blinking the soil from her eyes as she stared up at the massive form perched atop the silver dragoness. The mud clung to her scales, dragging at her wings, clumping in her scales. She shivered, talons numb, the frigid rain chilling her bones, fear freezing her mind.
The black dragon yanked a talon back, claws parted, curled inward and down, muscles tensed. Lightning tore open the night again, a large tree exploding into flames and splinters as it did, just beyond the clearing, the flash showing the claws tearing down toward the silver dragon’s throat. She jerked hard away from the larger dragon, silver metal cutting the rain-cluttered air, the small shards slicing the attacking talon.
The curved edges caught her beneath the chin, blood splattering the air again, either from the now shredded talon or the mud-covered dragoness. A roar of fury and pain shook the clearing.
The dragonet flinched, stumbling backward, floundering in the mud and puddles.
Teeth flashed, black scales glittering.
Claws curled around the dragonet’s wings, yanking her back. She slipped, her weight falling back on more silver scales as she did.
More red liquid soaked the ground, both dragons streaming crimson. Lightning flashed again.
The dragonet reached out blindly for the silver shape in front of her, tiny talons grasping for the shoulders of the other.
An agonized shriek ripped the air.
She flung herself forward, feeling her weight supported by slightly larger talons. Her eyes flicked terrified back toward the other dragons, the silhouettes outlined against another bolt of light.
The black dragon lunged forward ruthlessly.
Teeth breached scales. The dragoness screamed again.
Small talons tugged at the dragonet's wings, dragging her away from the nightmarish scene. Her legs hung uselessly in the mud, limp from terror and shock.
In another jolt of light, the black dragon whipped around, teeth glinting red, eyes wild.
Bloodthirsty.
The dragonet let out a wail of fear, lurching forward, suddenly spurred into blind movement as the massive beast leapt toward the two helpless dragons. Stained claws reached. A jagged snarl of delight escaped his throat.
White light bounced off the silver blade, the lightning reflecting on its surface like a falling mirror. The dragoness scrambled in a panic at the slick ground, blood pouring from the gaping tear in her neck, her entire chest and forearms soaked.
The blade stabbed down, aimed for the black dragon's head.
Missing.
The monster roared, rearing back with an ear-splitting screech. Blood sprung onto the jagged tear that ripped across his face, the lightning illuminating the blade as it raked over the scales.
The dragonet coughed as the wave of mud splashed over her, the black dragon shrieking again, filthy, sticky talons clutching at his eye. The dragoness collapsed behind him, shuddering once before going limp. The blade stood, lodged into the ground, unmoving and inanimate.
Small talons wrapped around her forearms, yanking her back again, twigs and dried leaves scraping her sludge-covered scales. Her snout planted undignified into the ground and she snorted, her tail and wings snagging on branches and sticks as she was half pulled, half drug through the underbrush. Another roar sounded behind them, pained but furious, the sound of shredding bushes following closely behind.
The dragonets struggled blindly through the shrubbery, the lightning thundering and flashing still, heavy wingbeats sounding over the treetops.
The talons yanked her back again and suddenly the rain and bushes ended, replaced by damp earth and pitch darkness. Her snout smashed painfully against decaying wood, the smell of rot accompanying the stuffy space. The dragonet whimpered, readjusting still in panic as the other dragon pulled her in tightly, making her feel smothered.
The bushes outside ripped, heavy footsteps churning the ground. Both dragonets froze.
A flash of light outlined the massive shape tearing through the darkness outside, the ridged, dead bush twigs intertwining over the cramped hollow. The beast roared again, grabbing a small tree and tearing it from its roots, hurling the sapling into the dark forest in a seething rage.
The dragonet turned her head away from the entrance, trembling so hard she could hardly sit up, tears streaming down her face and leaving silver streaks over her mud-covered snout. She pressed her head against the other dragonet’s chest, suppressing a whimper as the heavy talons stormed in front of the hollow, trampling the bushes they’d just struggled through.
Minutes dragged on. The two huddled together in crowded silence, listening to the wrathful stomping of the black dragon growing faint, coming closer, fading off again. Back and forth, without let-up, always returning again in his uncoordinated, rage-filled hunt.
The minutes flowed into hours. The talon steps vanished. The rain slowed. Every terrified, soaking, stiff moment dragging on. The dragonet felt her trembling ease, replaced by spontaneous shivering from the frigid mud still coating her scales. The moment kept replaying over and over in her mind. Watching the Nightwing sink his teeth into the throat of the silver dragoness. Watching the horrific tear of scales and flesh before she crumpled forward, her agonizing scream echoing in the dark forest within the dragonet’s mind.
Quiet sobs slowly started to form in her throat, the gentle, choked tears streaming down her neck and the chest of the other dragon. She could feel his tears dripping onto her head as well, silent, contained. His arms were still wrapped around her, both of them clinging to each other as fiercely as before, equally as scared, as desperate.
Why did this have to happen to us, she thought, sucking in another shuddery breath. Everything was okay before.
What are we going to do now?
Yes, I do love dialogue. I was just writing this morning with Fox and Tobe, and it feels so... Fulling? When they just talk and it feels so right. I literally go back to read it because it feels comforting, and I'm proud of it. Dunno, tho. Dialogue reigns supreme.
