The crowd let out a loud “Ew!”
The black squirrel began to slow. It jumped up the wall in desperation. Its leap wasn’t nearly as high as before. It hit the ground, and Terrance’s jaws snapped, missing its face by an inch. The black squirrel sprinted away. Its feet slowed. Steadily, Terrance and Sapphire approached it.
Soon, the race would be over.
CHAPTER 51
Gabe couldn’t tell what the crowd was cheering for—the kill of the squirrel or the battle between Squawk and Gort. In the arena, the central drama was always the fight. The bloodshed. Whatever poor creature was ripped apart was one thing. The dragons ripping each other apart was another.
Gort wouldn’t get out of Squawk’s way.
Mandy was pleading, “Get in the chase, Squawk. Get in the chase!”
Gabe cast a quick glance at Gort’s platform. The gamer’s gestures appeared to be guiding Gort to do precisely what he wanted him to do. He’s doing this on purpose. Brat bastard! Gabe’s fears began to rise. Perhaps they were trying to eliminate Squawk. I’ve got to get him out of there!
He commanded Squawk to scramble back toward the wall. Gort gave chase. Squawk ran up the wall halfway. Using his rear legs he pushed off the wall and sailed over Gort’s head. The other dragon slid into the wall, screeching. Squawk broke free. Short legs pumping, he got back into the chase.
Gort raced after Squawk.
Terrance and Sapphire closed in on the squirrel. Squawk zeroed in on it too. The squirrel didn’t see Squawk coming. The little dragon was almost there—ten feet away, two feet away. He was going to beat the other dragons to the mark.
At the last possible moment, the squirrel bounded out of Squawk’s path. Squawk slipped underneath it. His neck twisted around just in time to see Terrance take down the squirrel and shake it dead in his bloody jaws.
“Gold wins! Gold wins!” The announcer said.
The people chanted, “Terrance! Terrance! Terrance!”
The dragons returned to the platforms.
Gabe’s heart raced. He labored for breath. Mandy had a layer of sweat on her brow. Her eyes were exhausted. She knelt down beside Squawk. “You have to do better, pet. You have to do better. I don’t want to lose you yet. I can’t bear it.”
The announcer called out, “Gamers, prepare your dragons. The hunger begins. We all know what that means. The contraptions will be turned loose at random all over the arena. Beware, gamers. Beware of the devastation.”
The crowd was back on its feet, chanting and whistling. Only the dominion remained in their seats, but they sat on the edge.
“Gold will watch, resting for the slaughter. Resting for the final kill. Now, feast your eyes on silver, blue, and black, and see who becomes the next victor. Let the battle begin!”
A bloodred fox popped up out of the center hole. The animal was slight in size, its fur patches on skin. Gabe could see its ribs. It was a pitiful thing with green eyes watching the dragons.
The horn sounded. The fox skittered, stirring the dust. The dragons raced for it.
Squawk closed in faster than the others. The fox moved with an agility and grace beyond that of the bobcats and the squirrel. The animal bolted for the outer edge of the arena and raced around it like a track.
All three dragons ran behind it with Squawk in the lead. The fox was faster. It stretched the distance, keeping the chasing dragons at bay. A slab of metal popped up in front of Squawk. The dragon banged into it. Gort and Terrance, with their silver and blue tassels bounding around their necks, glided around Squawk. They flanked the fox, cutting off its race around the rim, forcing it to run back toward the center.
Squawk charged right at it. The metal barricades in the ground popped up everywhere, creating a labyrinth and blocking the way. Each was as tall and wide as a man. Every pathway to the tiring fox was cut off. The fleet-footed fox weaved through the maze. Gort blindsided the fox. The silver dragon’s jaws locked on the fox’s gray tail and dragged its hind end to the ground, creating a dust scuffle.
The fox yelped. Its tail snapped off. Paws biting into the dirt, it sped away.
Gabe saw an opening. He raced Squawk parallel to the barriers that were still up while keeping the fox in sight. As soon as the metal slab dropped into the ground, he would turn Squawk loose and catch the fox by surprise.
The barriers started vanishing into the ground. The fox came into Squawk’s direct line of sight. The tiring fox’s eyes were fixed on Sapphire, who was closing in.
We have it, Squawk, we have it! Strike!
Squawk pounced. A barrier shot up. Dragon skull collided with metal. Thud!
The crowd started cheering. The blue banners were waving. All of the barriers dropped into the ground.
Sapphire stood in the middle with the bloodred fox in her mouth.
“Blue wins! Sapphire the Sleek is victorious!”
Gabe slapped his head. Squawk slunk across the arena floor and back up into the arms of Mandy. The battle was next. It was always the biggest surprise. It was always nasty.
Mandy’s cheeks were flushed. Her eyes started to water.
Gabe edged closer to her. “Don’t worry. Don’t worry. Squawk is faster than old Gort. You can do this.”
“I’m doing horrible. My dragon’s going to die because of me.” She sobbed.
“Quit that. You can’t be weak in front of all these people. Don’t freak out, Mandy. You’re getting better. Look at Squawk.”
She cast a downward glance. Squawk sat on his back legs, breathing easily. She swallowed and took a breath. With a nod, she said, “You’re right, Gabe. You’re right. I can do this.”
He moved back into his spot. No, Mandy, I have to do this. I have to do this for Squawk. Get ready, boy. Anything might come out of that hole.
“Only two left, my frenzied fanatics! Only one more can win before the slaughter begins,” the announcer said. “But first, the hunger round must begin! It’s silver versus black. Gort the Grinder versus Squawk the Squire. Which dragon will claim the life of the creatures that climb from the hole?” He laughed maniacally. “The game has changed. See for yourself.”
A wolf popped out of the hole. Saliva dripped from its jaws. It was a hungry predator ready to eat anything that moved—including dragons. Its eyes locked onto Squawk. The silver-white mane humped up behind its neck.
The horn flared. A jackrabbit burst from the hole. Its feet were painted in gold. Gort and Squawk chased the rabbit. The wolf chased Squawk.
CHAPTER 52
Saliva and starvation made for one ravenous wolf. Its hungry eyes remained fixed on Squawk as it pursued him. That was all that Gabe could make of it. The jackrabbit was bigger and quicker than the dragons. Still, Squawk pursued it.
On her platform, Mandy gesticulated in a panic. As the crowd shouted and cheered, she yelled, “What do I do, Gabe? What do I do?”
“Stay focused on the rabbit!” he yelled.
Gabe didn’t really have a part in it. He was supposed to remain composed, at the parade position, without moving. That wasn’t the case, though. There was too much excitement. The hunters who were teamed up with the gamers kept watch on everything but moved as little as possible. Their necks and heads twisted side to side, tracking the surrounding action.
“Watch that rabbit! Will those gold feet bring luck or death?” the announcer cried out. “Who will be the victor?”
The dragons were fast, just like the tiny blue-tailed lizards that crawled around, but they were much bigger. Dragons could outpace any varmint the same size as themselves, but the taller, longer-limbed wolf cut the distance between it and Squawk. The little dragon was the easiest prey for the wolf.
Gabe remained focused. He visualized Squawk chasing down the jackrabbit. The dragon shrank the gap. Edging out Gort, Squawk took his first nip at the rabbit. Jaws wide to make the catch, he chomped down.
The jackrabbit zigzagged. Squawk lost sight of his prey. He and Gort scrambled in the dust and rammed heads.
> Get out of there, Squawk!
The delay was too long. The wolf pounced into the fray. Its jaws locked on Squawk’s body. The wolfhound shook its neck. Squawk screeched. His tail slapped the dog in the face.
Gort broke out of the fracas to renew his pursuit of the rabbit.
Mandy was screaming. Her voice was futile, drowned out by the surging cries of the blood-thirsty crowd.
Gabe didn’t have any idea what to do. He could feel Squawk’s struggles within himself, tying his stomach into knots. A cold sweat broke out all over him. He’d seen dragons fight other creatures before. Their skin was tough. But the wolf was big. Relentless. Squawk was small and confused.
I don’t know what to do!
Squawk wriggled in the crushing jaws of the beast. Gabe’s confidence started to sink. Not only was he going to lose the race, but he was going to lose his dragon too. He wanted to rush out there and save his dragon. He’d pay for it if he did. Trying to envision what Squawk needed to do, his father’s last words entered his mind. Have faith, son. Have faith.
Gabe stopped trying to think for Squawk. He let the dragon go on his own. “Fight, Squawk! Fight!”
In a writhing surge of scales, the dragon twisted free of the wolf’s jaws. The wolf lunged and bit. Squawk struck like a snake, biting its nose, taking a piece off the tip. The dragon edged in, striking faster than the wolf could bite. Squawk picked at the dog’s feet and legs. Fur and flesh flew. The dragon darted underneath and fastened himself to the dog’s belly. His claws sank deep into the wolf’s flesh. The wild creatures thrashed on the ground. The wolf yelped, snapped, bit, and bled. Squawk’s tail coiled around the dog’s neck. The animal went silent. It lay still on the ground, whimpering.
Overhead, the announcer cried out, “Silver wins! Gort the Grinder has taken the prize!”
Gabe had forgotten all about the race. Gort had a dead, gold-footed jackrabbit in his mouth. He dropped his prize at the foot of his gamer’s platform.
Shoulders slumped and breathing heavy, he reconnected with Squawk. The dragon’s tail uncoiled. The wolf breathed in shallow breaths but did not move.
“Dominion and citizens! What an excellent display of pure savagery!”
Flags and arms waved in jubilation.
“We have three winners and one loser! The loser must pay the ultimate price!” The cavernous voice echoed. “Death! Three dragons against one. The weakest link! Only the strongest can survive! What do we call it, citizens?”
“The slaughter,” one boisterous man yelled out.
“And there will be no time for rest. Let the slaughter begin!”
Terrance in gold, Sapphire in blue, and Gort in silver launched themselves toward Squawk. The dragons had incredible endurance, although that didn’t mean they didn’t tire or wouldn’t need rest. Terrance, having won the first round, was spry and deadly. The three dragons surrounded Squawk in a circle. Their jaws snapped and wings fluttered.
Low to the ground, Squawk’s head whipped from dragon to dragon. Sapphire would strike at his flank. He’d fend her off. Then Gort or Terrance would do the same. The razor-sharp teeth and claws of the dragons tore at his thick skin. As a team, just like the other prey that entered the arena, the three dragons would wear Squawk down and kill him.
On the platform, Mandy stood with her gloved hands down by her side. She was gently shaking her head. She’d given up on Squawk. Gabe could see it in her eyes. He couldn’t blame her. She didn’t know what to do. She never did.
Gabe caught his breath. His own limbs were weary as if part of him had done the same running and fighting as the dragon. Seeing Squawk making his last stand, he tried to lend the dragon whatever strength he had left in him. I believe in you, Squawk! I believe in you!
All three dragons converged and latched onto Squawk.
“This is it, people of Newton!” The announcer said. “The bone-crushing, dragon-slaying, Knot of Fury!”
The dragons wrestled and rolled over the gritty ground like a pack of wild armadillos. Aside from a flash of color on the dragons’ collars, it was impossible to tell one from the other.
Gabe’s legs wobbled. He dropped to his knee, eyes fixed on the battle, panting. Please don’t let this be it! Please don’t let this be it! I can’t lose you, Squawk. I can’t lose you!
The voices of the tumultuous people were as loud as thunder.
Suddenly, two dragons broke out of the fray. Gort and Sapphire slunk back. Gort’s left wing dragged on the turf. The crowd quieted. Two dragons were still entwined. Then one spasmed and flopped. It was Terrance. Squawk had the gold dragon’s neck locked inside his jaws. Terrance’s death throes stirred the dust, and his life came to an end.
Clarence collapsed on his platform. Squawk gave the opponent one last shake and let him go. He let out an earsplitting shriek.
“I can’t believe it!” the announcer cried in astonishment. “Unbelievable! Squawk survives! Squawk the Slaughterer wins!”
CHAPTER 53
The conversations among the enthralled citizens about the shocking death of Terrance and the amazing victory of Squawk lasted for weeks. Terrance was given a grand funeral and parade. The dragon hunters marched him through the compound, where he was put to rest in the Tomb of the Dragons. It was a small metal building, a mausoleum of sorts, enshrined in the southeastern edge of the compound. This celebration was one of the rare times the dominion consorted with the citizens. Clarence laid Terrance to rest inside the tomb. His face was flushed and wet with tears.
Gabe’s own heart ached. That could have been him. Clarence looked as though his heart had been pulled from his chest. Gabe enjoyed his anonymity. Since he’d worn the mask, no one had realized his part in the games. Walking among the people, he picked up all of the colorful comments people made about Squawk.
“Small dragon, big heart.”
“Squawk the Shrieker.”
“The winged gladiator.”
As he went about his usual business with Sage, Gabe milled around as if he was on a cloud. Squawk lived. Killing Terrance in the tournament also made Squawk the champion. Gabe didn’t completely understand the rules. If he were to guess, whoever was in charge made things up as he went along. In truth, the dragons were wild animals. One never knew how things were going to turn out when they placed dragons in the arena. The odd thing was that the other gamers seemed to have better control in the last game than he’d ever seen before. He was curious about that.
He picked up two small bags—one filled with rice and the other with oats—from one of the town vendors. He procured a small jar of honey too. He handed the vendor a silver coin with the face of an unknown person on it and stuck the jar inside his pocket. The vendor gave him a nod. “Come back. I always like to do business with Sage.”
Gabe hadn’t seen as much of Sage as he used to. Sage gave him the freedom to do his chores and tasks without supervision. He ate better than ever, which wasn’t saying much, but the rice and oats, boiled in water and mixed with honey, made a fine mush that almost lasted him a day.
Traversing through the crowd, he spotted Jack. His on-and-off friend sat on a plastic crate, scrubbing the walls. The NA markings were cropping up again. A handful of children were put to the task of cleaning them off. As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Jack started to turn.
No, don’t let him see you. Gabe ducked behind some sheets that hung in the wind nearby. Don’t look back. Just keep going.
The only bad thing about running errands was Jack. The boy always sought him out, and if he found Gabe, he clung to him like a tick. Jack was hard to shake, and he was bitter, remarking on how unfair it was that Gabe got the golden treatment and never once hesitating to remind him that his father was a murderer. Gabe went along with it. He was determined not to spoil what he had. He had Squawk.
Venturing through a few more streets, he made sure the coast was clear before he headed back to Sage’s cove. The street outside the cove was one of Jack’s favorite places to stalk him. Gab
e hustled to the building and entered. No one was in the tidy, quiet cove. He stuck the oats, rice, and honey in the cupboard. He walked through the rooms on tiptoe. On more than one occasion, Sage had been inside when Gabe had thought he wasn’t.
With both hands, he smoothed out a wrinkle on Sage’s bed. Can’t have that. It would cost me some honey.
With his chores completed, he could head back to the den, where he’d spend the rest of the day. After eyeballing the streets for Jack, he hustled out, making quick time back to the door of the den. He knocked.
The portal slid open. Garland’s face appeared in the square. “It’s about time. It’s started to smell like dragon dung in here again.” He sniffed. “No, wait, I think that’s you.”
“Maybe it’s your breath from eating so much of it.”
“Don’t be so full of yourself. You’re still not special.”
The door opened. Gabe slid inside.
Garland closed it, pulling the locking bar down with a heavy clank. He found Gabe’s eyes on him. “What are you looking at?”
Gabe made a measurement with his hand. Garland’s head reached a lower point on the boy’s chest. “I think you’re getting shorter.”
“Don’t go bragging about your growth spurt. That hurts. I haven’t had a growth spurt since I was a month out of the womb.”
Gabe chuckled. “Sorry.” He handed over a packet of crackers. “Maybe this will help you grow.”
Garland rubbed his tummy. “Well, at least my belly still grows. Now, get in there. The lizards’ piss eagerly awaits your attention.”
“Is anyone inside?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Sure you wouldn’t.”
Gabe went inside and rounded the cages. He was alone as usual, and he liked it that way. Of course, he liked having some time with Mandy too, but she hadn’t been around much since the games.
He checked on Gort first. The dragon slept with his wing folded over his back. It had been hanging loose at his side since the fight. Gabe tapped the cage. “Looking better.”
Squawk: Beginnings (Book #1) Page 19
