by Walls, Devri
She is wondering how there could be two of us, Arturo informed Kiora.
“Yes, Layla, there are two of them. One fights for Dralazar, and the other fights with us.”
Layla’s head turned towards Kiora, equally shocked that Kiora knew what she was thinking. And in a flash, it was clear why Dralazar chose Layla. Kiora had thought it was because she was her sister. But that wasn’t it all.
“Pegasus’s are telepathic,” Kiora announced in both explanation and exasperation that she had not thought of this earlier. “They can hear your thoughts. Which means Raynor could hear yours.” It explained everything! She was chosen for her thoughts. Raynor heard all the anger, all the bitterness, and then ran and told his master.
Ciera nudged Layla, looking at her expectantly.
Coming back to herself, Layla snapped, “I don’t care what they can do. What have you done?” she demanded, pointing to the Rockmen who were no longer just shadows, but clearly defined with the sun shining just above their heads.
Kiora had usually felt shame, guilt… sadness when her sister had spoken to her like that. The blame always made her question if, perhaps, the blame really did reside with her. But today that new anger jolted inside her. “Those are not mine, Layla,” she said jutting her chin out, “They belong to you, in a way.”
“Liar!” Ciera shouted.
Before she could explain, another scream went up from the crowd. Dralazar had sent his first round of cavalry. “Dragons!” came the cry from the villagers.
Not good. They had hoped that Dralazar would lead the attack. Honestly Kiora should have known better. There were six dragons. One broke off from the others, landing on the far side of the villagers. His wing clipped the side of one home, sending the entirety of it clattering to the ground like a mere bundle of twigs. It was Soolan of course. His eyes locked onto Emane. Kiora was surprised at first, but she saw something in his eyes, and felt a wave of intention— revenge. Emane had killed Jarland, Soolan was not going to let that go.
Everything happened too fast. Soolan puffed and Kiora screamed. The people are all going to die, right now! They all were in the path between Soolan and his intended target, Emane. Releasing all the magic she had access to, she threw up a shield, willing it to cover them all. Soolan released too, his fire sheeting up and around the protective barrier Kiora had just produced.
The villagers scrambled backwards with screams, getting as far away as they could from the source of destruction. All except one. Gwen stood right next to the barrier, unmoving. She turned slowly, her brown eyes taking in Kiora. The two stared at each other for moment, Kiora remembering all the time she had spent with her. A tear trickled down Gwen’s face and in that moment Kiora felt her thread drastically alter, it was no longer dark. Gwen knew. Kiora’s heart leapt with a joy unsurpassed, she knew!
Layla dismounted from her horse in the chaos and ran straight at Kiora, “I won’t let you hurt them!” she screamed. Emane bolted to stop her, but was not fast enough.
Kiora was racking her brain trying to figure out how to get Gwen out of danger, when she was shoved to the side by Layla. Falling off Arturo with a scream, the shield faltered as Kiora hit the ground. The domed shield dropped. Kiora scrambled to her feet, and although Soolan had already begun to pull back the fire in defeat, the last of it exploded through with a roar of heat. The world seemed to move in slow motion as a ball of fire licked in and swallowed Gwen whole. Kiora reached her hand out, but Gwen’s thread had already fallen silent. She was gone.
“No!” Kiora screamed, bending over, her hands fisted in her stomach. “NO!”
San ran through the crowd, pushing his way to where his wife had fallen. His thread turning darker with every step.
Emane had thrown Layla onto the ground where she was screaming at Kiora, “How could you! How could you call that dragon?”
“Are you insane?” Emane yelled down at her “She just saved you all!”
Kiora searched for the threat, surely another molten attack would be on its way. But Soolan glared, and took off with grunt.
“Why is he leaving?” Emane asked without taking his eyes off Layla.
“Dralazar,” she had felt him before he dropped out of the clouds on Raynor.
Emane pushed himself up off Layla, looking around.
Kiora, get on. Now.
The people stood like confused sheep not knowing where to go. They looked to Layla as their leader, who scrambled back to her feet, looking very much relieved at the mention of her master’s name.
Kiora pulled herself back onto Arturo and hissed to Emane. “Go, find Drustan.”
Looking fiercely at her Emane whispered. “You had better be safe, Kiora. If anything, anything happens to you while I am not there to protect you, I will never forgive you!”
She smiled weakly. “That is good to know.”
“Or myself for listening to you!” he finished.
Just kiss him and send him on his way before Dralazar lands, Arturo grumped.
Kiora bent over to give a final kiss, “Now GO!” she said pushing Emane’s shoulder.
Emane growled under his breath but went. Sprinting off to the side he disappeared through the trees.
Dralazar landed a second later, grinning. “Your Protector running away already, Kiora?”
The dragons were circling the village waiting for orders. She couldn’t see the Fallen Ones but she could feel them, circling as well. The Rockmen had come into position, and stopped. Dralazar’s smile faltered and faded as he felt the threads of those villagers around him. “What have you done?”
“I have left those that follow you, and that is all.” She paused trying to bolster courage. The people noticed for the first time as well that many that should have been there were not. Kiora could hear them calling out names, searching through each other for those that were gone. Dralazar’s eyes sparked with fury.
“They are yours now, Dralazar,” Kiora said, motioning to the people.
Dralazar’s eyes narrowed and he sat straighter, calmly calling her bluff. “Come now Kiora, you don’t mean that. You can’t intend to leave them here at the mercy of the creatures we find ourselves surrounded by.”
“Dralazar,” Layla asked taking a step forward, her face pinched together in confusion. “What are you doing?”
Smiling at Layla, that same disarming smile he had tried to use on Kiora, he said, “This is proof that she is not the Solus. The Solus would have cared what happens to this people, no matter whose side they are on.”
Layla was satisfied. The people stood oddly quiet, with the exception of San, who knelt alone, sobbing loudly over his wife’s dead blackened body.
“I guess there is only one question, then,” Kiora said. She feigned bravado, hoping that her instincts were right, hoping that his anger over losing her would override his need for this people. Arturo tensed underneath her in anticipation. “If these are your people, what is more important to you? Will you stay to protect them,” she motioned to the circling dragons. “Or chase me?” Arturo spun on his hind feet taking to the sky. “Now Drustan!” she yelled, looking over her shoulder.
Dralazar sat unmoving on Raynor, his eyes following Kiora. With no emotion he raised his hand, motioning to one of the Rockmen. The giant raised the club above its head, slowing reaching the peak of its ark before slamming down into four or five of the homes on the furthest edge of the village. The wooden roof and walls were no match for the force. The other two Rockmen followed suit, each raising a club. The crowd fled in different directions trying to stay clear.
It wasn’t going to work. Kiora panicked. What was she thinking? Playing a battle of wits with Dralazar? He would let her fly away, while he destroyed the helpless village. “Go back!” Kiora screamed to Arturo, “Go back!”
No, that is what he is hoping you will do. Let Drustan deal with it, he knows his job.
No sooner had he said it than trees begun snapping all around the village as Rockmen and Dragons seemed to, with S
hifter magic, appear out of nowhere. Emane had instructed them that they were to match Dralazar’s forces tit for tat. Shifters in the form of dragons and Guardians flew out from the forest, while three Shifter-Rockmen strode in long slow steps to stop the three real Rockmen that were smashing their clubs into the village.
Another motion from Dralazar, and dragons fell from the sky, opening their jaws in terrific roars. Most collided mid air with the dragon-Shifters that had already taken to the skies. One slipped through the lines, spewing fire as he flew over the housetops. The roofs ignited immediately.
“Arturo, Please!” she screamed.
He will come Kiora. He is playing your weakness like a fiddle.
“Is caring for others a weakness!?’
Right now it is. They have chosen Kiora, he reminded her. You cannot protect them without losing those who have chosen properly.
Layla and Ciera’s horses reared, screaming in fear of the flames and dropped both girls unceremoniously on the ground. Kiora couldn’t see their faces, but they turned running, following the people into the forest.
“Yes, run,” Kiora pleaded to the people, high above them. “Run!” All around her, the battle raged in the glow of morning, dragons dipping and roaring, magic flying from Fallen Ones. The Shifters were doing a fine job of keeping the shots clear of her and Arturo. Emane flew by, riding Drustan on a saddle Kiora had provided. Her attention moved to him, making sure he was still safe when Arturo warned.
Kiora!
Dralazar and Raynor had left the ground and were heading straight for her. Kiora’s heart began hammering. She hadn’t fully decided what she was going to do next— all she had been focused on was getting Dralazar out of the village.
You really don’t have a plan? Arturo demanded.
“No! I am making this up as I go.” She looked over her shoulder to see a bolt of red magic leaving Dralazar’s outstretched hand. “BANK LEFT!” she yelled.
Arturo banked as the magic slid past his right wing, barely missing it.
Hold on, Arturo directed.
Kiora turned her head to the front, realizing that their evasive maneuver had placed them directly into a dragon’s line of fire, its flame spewing in their direction.
Shield, shield, shield! Arturo yelled into her head.
Kiora threw up a shield and the dragon fire sheeted off of it, but not before one of Arturo’s wingtips was singed.
A little faster next time!
Arturo swooped underneath the dragon with Raynor closing in fast. The sky was a mess of dragons, fire and red magic bolting across it.
“He’s gaining on us Arturo!”
Of course he is, he’s faster.
“What!?”
Yes, something you might should have asked!
“Arturo!”
Don’t panic, I maneuver better.
Kiora turned to see another shot coming towards them. “Right!” She threw up a shield as well to protect Arturo’s left flank during the turn. The magic missed them cleanly, but dragon fire from another one of Dralazar’s horde slammed into the shield. They flew over Emane, who was trying to maneuver a shot with his bow and arrow.
“Take us higher,” Kiora said spinning her body around, trying to see all sides at once. “I can’t watch Dralazar and the dragons at the same time.”
Arturo flew straight up almost pulling Kiora off his back.
You need to return fire, Kiora, or he will destroy us both, Arturo ordered.
Kiora had been so busy thinking defensively that offense had escaped her entirely. She turned and fired a shot back. It was weak, and Raynor barely flinched as it connected.
You better commit yourself to this, or surrender, Kiora, Arturo chided.
Arturo had taken over steering, maneuvering neatly through the skies. He was right, Raynor was faster, but he couldn’t turn as well. Every time Raynor had to follow one of Arturo’s evasive maneuvers, he lost valuable time.
Kiora opened up, letting the magic flow within her. The power, the euphoria of being one with the magic bore down on her, which she probably would have enjoyed had Dralazar not tried to use those feelings against her. Stretching out her hand, a bolt of white lightning, reminiscent of the one she had used to escape Dralazar, cracked across the sky. Raynor was forced to roll hard to one side, almost unseating Dralazar. Kiora was shaking.
That’s better. Now, focus it on them and keep it out of me.
Kiora and Dralazar fought and rolled through the sky. Red and white flashed between the two of them. Kiora connected with Dralazar’s shoulder leaving blood flowing down his arm. She watched as he reached over, placing his hand on his shoulder. A few seconds later he had grabbed back a hold of Raynor’s mane.
“He can heal!” she screeched, whipping her head back around as Arturo maneuvered hard to the side.
Yes.
“Why doesn’t anybody tell me these things?” she shouted.
Focus! He told her as Raynor tried to come up underneath them. Try another approach. Less surface damage, more force.
Kiora threw another bolt of magic at Dralazar. This one was not visible, but hit Dralazar mid chest with full force. He tumbled backwards off Raynor and went hurtling towards the ground.
Good girl.
Raynor turned and shot downwards after his master. She watched in disappointment as Raynor came up underneath Dralazar, catching him neatly.
Smoke was clogging the air, providing dark plumes and one more thing to maneuver around. The two combating pairs rolled though the sky throwing magic, blocking with shields, all while dodging dragon fire and attacks from Fallen Ones. The sky was, as Kiora had hoped, the battlefield.
Dralazar yelled up to her, “If you want to play, we can play Kiora!” He reached out his hand, not towards her, but towards the nearest Shifter-dragon— the one Emane was riding.
“NOOOO!” Kiora screamed.
Dralazar shrugged his shoulders in obvious amusement. A flick of his wrist and Emane was flying off the dragon.
Thankfully Emane had a hold of the rope slung around Drustan’s neck, it snapped taut as he fell, jerking him to a stop. Emane yelled in pain, dangling by one arm that was twisted at an awkward angle.
By the expression on Dralazar’s face, that was not what he had intended. No doubt he had hoped to make Kiora watch Emane fall screaming to his death. Raynor turned, coming around for Dralazar to make another shot.
“We have to help him!” Kiora yelled, putting up a shield to protect herself and Arturo while the white pegasus maneuvered himself underneath Emane. “Let go!” she yelled up to Emane, watching Dralazar bear down on them.
Emane dropped onto the back of Arturo, groaning in pain, cradling his arm. Kiora braced herself for the next hit. Red magic slammed into them with ferocity, rippling across her shield. Her hands were on fire fighting to keep it stable.
“Arturo! I can’t hold it much longer!”
Without explanation, Arturo turned and flew straight at Raynor. Dralazar’s attack was blistering Kiora’s hands and draining what magic she had left very quickly.
“Arturo!” she screamed.
He flew on, aiming a head on strike. She was giving it everything she had, but Dralazar wasn’t holding back either. He aimed to kill. At the last moment, Raynor finally yielded, going into a deep dive to break the connection.
Bubble! Arturo demanded, also dropping into a dive.
Kiora threw up a bubble as Arturo ingeniously hid the three of them underneath Raynor. Dralazar screamed in rage, firing shot after shot at random into the sky hoping to hit them.
“We have to get him to the ground,” she pleaded, looking over her shoulder at Emane. He looked sick, his eyes dulled with pain. “Now!” She heard him moan out behind her as Arturo dove steeply down.
When they landed Kiora jumped down first, carefully helping Emane off Arturo’s back. “Is it just dislocated?” She asked, trying to be as ginger as possible.
“No.” His face was ashen. “Something tore, I thin
k.”
She glanced up through the trees warily, as a dragon roared. “Hurry Emane, heal it.”
He shook his head, sweat dripping down his face,” I tried already,” he said breathing every few words, “I used too much magic fighting the dragons... there isn’t enough left.”
Kiora’s mind was racing, she couldn’t leave him injured. There had to be a way to get him his magic faster so he could... she looked at Emane’s armband.
This is not a good idea, Arturo intruded on her thoughts.
Setting her mind to it she thought back, I don’t have a choice. Ignoring Arturo’s concern, she walked over to Emane. Carefully, Kiora removed his shoulder armor. He grunted, gritting his teeth as she pulled it off. His shirt was wet with sweat and blood.
“What are you doing” he asked, eyeing her warily
“Shhh,” she said, placing her hands over the top of where Emane’s armband wrapped underneath, she imagined her magic flowing out of her and into Emane. She felt it flowing, cooling... She didn’t know how much he would need, so she gave him as much as she thought she could spare. After she let go, she could feel only a faint glimmer of magic left within her.
“What did you do?” Emane asked, his eyes wide.
“I can’t heal you,” she said pushing her hair out of her face, “but I can at least help you heal yourself.”
Emane reached his hand over to his shoulder and sighed with relief. “Thank you,” he murmured.
“This is so very touching,” Dralazar mocked, appearing a few feet above them on Raynor.
Turning with a yelp, Kiora raised her hand as Emane reached for his sword, but with one swift movement Dralazar picked them both up and threw them in different directions. Kiora was pinned against one tree, Emane against another. Kiora grunted as she hit, the force knocking the wind out of her. She gasped for air.
“Stupid,” he continued, “but touching.” Arturo stepped forward, to which Dralazar snarled, “Arturo, one twitch out of you and I will kill them both.” Relaxing, Dralazar looked back to Kiora with a smile. “You do realize of course that you have just condemned yourself.”
