by LJ Davies
Fire gathered in my chest. Coiling my neck, steadying my legs and thrusting forward, I opened my mouth to release the burning ball of white light. The buzzing bars vanished in a blinding glow, instantly exploding into a cloud of dust. The force of the impact nearly knocked me off my paws. I hadn't considered the effect of releasing my power in such a confined space and it felt as though the effects would never end. When I finally opened my eyes, the shroud of white dust had cleared, leaving me to see the result of my assault on the bars.
To my surprise they were completely disintegrated, several stumps clinging to existence, rising like singed teeth from the ground.
"That was..." Risha attempted to curb her excited enthusiasm, before continuing, "… a good job," she added, placing a wing over my back.
I felt like I could melt the whole fortress at her giddy contact. I'd just obliterated a magical substance she thought unbreakable, yet her appreciation was what I valued most?
"You too," I offered, and it became her turn to look flustered.
Finally, I'm doing something good, leading willingly, like the real hero the gods want me to be!
Risha and I both turned to Tarwin. She sat speechless at the back of the cell. Back home the other villagers had told her that her pet was magical, that I could breathe fire, control elements and other things they’d heard from ancient legends. Back then, that was our only source of information – and neither of us ever believed it. Now she knew the truth, not that I was expecting her to understand.
She rubbed her eyes, partly in disbelief and partly to remove the dust that had invaded them during the explosion. I consciously avoided her gaze, a strangely alien feeling welling in my chest. This was it, the end of my old life. It was no physical end, but I knew now that the last remnant of my past had been extinguished.
"I take it she's never seen you do anything like that before either?" Risha whispered softly.
Finding myself equally speechless, I nodded. For once, this was beyond even her ability to resolve. She may have been familiar with many things, but this was my responsibility. Hesitantly, I allowed my eyes to meet with Tarwin’s. I was her best friend, almost her brother, now unrecognisable as the pet she once knew. I was more than the legend the villagers had spoken of, I was a legend to dragons and griffins, and I could see that she'd never expected any less of me. Her eyes met mine and I forced myself not to turn away. She walked over and without saying a word, knelt before me.
"They weren't lying," she said, speaking to herself, as much as me. "That... was… amazing," she added, her words softly spoken.
She placed her hand on top of my head, between my horns as she'd always done. "I'm so glad you're back," she muttered with a smile. "I don't care what you can do, you'll still be my little dragon."
The sight of her dusty face warmed by joy reminded me just why I'd come so far for her.
How could I have ever doubted her? She'll always accept me.
Our moment of sentiment was short-lived; the sounds of approaching guards echoed through the corridor. Tarwin raised her head and stood up, reaching for a group of large icicles hanging from the ceiling, and with a great deal of effort, broke one free.
"Figured if I could ever get through those bars, I'd need a weapon," she announced, brushing off the fuzzy coat of frost.
Her resourcefulness was unquestionable, she certainly knew how to make something from nothing. I turned to Risha, this time the fright on her face was replaced by confident excitement.
"Let's go get them," she growled.
I crept through what remained of the bars, peering around the shattered blizarium stumps. To my right I could see both sides of a long corridor, providing access to several more cells. To my left it opened out into a large chasm, housing a huge frozen spike at its centre, surrounded by several smaller spines like some kind of monument. The sound of grisly chatter from three guards broke through the air, their bodies drooping to one side, weapons held low to the ground in their slovenly arms.
The foremost raised its sword, pointing the ancient blade forward as it uttered a ghostly sound from its fleshless mouth. The other two marched forward upon command, their soulless bodies trudging and drooping awkwardly. I glanced to Risha.
"We can handle them once we break the others out!"
I was acutely aware of what had happened the last time we met with these monstrosities. Admittedly, there were fewer opponents this time, but I wasn't going to take my eyes off the fight. She did well to contain her fear, nodding slowly, when Tarwin suddenly burst out from the cell, wielding her improvised weapon. The sight of a fellow fighter stirred Risha’s courage, and it seemed she really had put her past behind her.
"Go get them out," Tarwin shouted, as Risha's markings flashed and the opposing bars began to buzz. "I’ve got your backs."
I turned to the second cell; the two occupants stepped back. Readying myself I collected my thoughts, controlling the release of my power to expel it in a ball of white fire. The sound of Tarwin engaging the guards behind me almost broke my concentration. I had to force my eyes closed, breaking my visual contact with the world so I could concentrate. The instant I was in darkness, all thoughts about the things around me settled, and ready to fire, I pulled my neck back and opened my mouth.
A sudden pain coursed through my tail as a great weight crushed my scales, breaking my focus. With no time to respond, I was thrown backwards into the open room beyond the cell corridor, slamming into the wall on the opposite side, narrowly missing the spike at its centre. The sound of shattered bones and the agony of the impact confirmed something had broken as I slid down the wall and crashed to the floor.
My head spun, my ears rang, and my distorted vision met with the fearful sight of my attacker covering the doorway. Its vicious teeth dribbling with my blood; a rattling of spines filled the air and its only good eye focussed on me.
Chapter 15
Destiny
The wyvern released a deep howl, accompanied by a plume of chilled breath eagerly dissipating into the air. Its sinister yellow eye glared at me while I staggered and swayed before crumpling in a heap. A cry from behind drew its attention, turning its malevolent gaze towards my friends. It was an all-too-familiar situation, I lay dazed and defenceless, while those I cared about were left to the monster’s mercy.
Fighting against the pain, I forced myself back onto my paws, shattered bones and burning muscles refusing to do what I asked of them. The wyvern remained engrossed in what was going on beyond the doorway, and despite the feeling of everything falling apart inside me, I stood up.
Turn your back on me like I'm just some weak lizard, will you? My rage for all they'd put me through flared. I'll show you!
"Hey, you!" I demanded, at the top of my lungs.
It slowly redirected its only good eye to face me, spiny frill rattling. I must have looked pathetic, barely able to stand, quivering like a new-born foal. I wasn't going to lose to one of them again, not this time. My doubts dissipated and my vision became unnaturally clear.
The wyvern released an aggressive hiss, slowly prizing apart its fearsome jaw, bloody drool dripping from its monstrous fangs while it started to clamber over the ice shard between us. I held my ground even though it raised its head into an attack position.
Not this time!
The moment it lunged my instincts forced me aside, the momentum of its attack sending it crashing into the wall. The somewhat dazed creature raised its head and I immediately launched myself at its vulnerable neck. My momentum almost threw me over the opposite side of its wavering bulk, and in its struggle to shake me off, my back legs thrashed around, ripping rotten scales and decayed flesh free.
Its head slammed into a cluster of frozen spikes, sending icy debris across the chamber. Despite its desperate efforts, I held on tight, using all the strength and determination I had left. I flexed my claws, cutting deeper into its vile hide as it thrashed from side to side. Its head slammed against the wall, the whole chamber reverber
ating with a crack as ice shards fell from above.
In another attempt to dislodge me, it repeatedly reached to the side of its neck, its rapidly snapping trap of grizzly teeth so close I could smell the foulness of its breath. Holding on tight I repeatedly attempted to summon up my elusive power, to turn my talons into burning razors, but with each jolt my concentration was broken.
My ability to hang on grew weaker, until with a final jolt, my grip failed, and I was sent crashing to the floor. The wyvern's gaze snapped to me with a ferocious hiss, its lone eye filled with malice. Rattling its spines, it let out a deafening screech so high-pitched it left a ringing in my ears.
"Blaze!" a breathless voice cried out; muffled amidst the throbbing in my skull.
With all my remaining strength, I lifted my head to see Tarwin standing in the doorway. She looked over at me, completely oblivious to the wyvern's presence. The monstrosity repositioned itself to face her. Glancing up her expression drooped, her icicle-blade dropping to the floor. Rearing up above the central spike, its back legs gripped the frozen surface, its clawed wingtips scraped the walls, and its dark membranes spread as wide as they would go.
Not... this... time!
Completely oblivious, the wyvern failed to see my desperation manifest, turning my scales into a burning ball of light. Revitalised, I exploded towards the unsuspecting monstrosity, the sheer power of our collision generating an explosion, the fiery impact launching both of us in opposite directions.
Skidding to the floor in a steaming heap, the burning glow receded into my amulet and my eyes regained their focus to find the chamber shrouded in mist. My injuries, from the teeth holes in my tail to my battered bones, felt like they'd been burned away. All that remained were faint scars, but the evaporation of power left me gasping for air. The heat of my transformation had melted the outer layers of ice, turning into a steaming puddle in which I flopped.
Did I... I must have... I must have got it.
I scanned the veil, searching for two things – my friend and my adversary – unfortunately, I could see neither.
Despite my visual impairment, I could hear a faint gargled groan. Dragging myself up, I limped toward the sound, the mist slowly clearing as I came upon its source. With its decayed hide scorched to a blackened crisp, blood dripping from its foaming jaw, the central spike had pierced the wyvern’s chest. A pool of black ichor slowly spread across the floor around its crumpled body.
It took me a moment to conclude that the force of our impact had pushed it directly onto the icy projection, yet my gaze bore no sympathy as I watched the dying monster gargle and groan. Finally, it drew its last breath, yellow eye robbed of its malicious fire as its bony frill fell silent.
I should hate it, it's a monster, but... What does that make me?
My thoughts were interrupted by a noise in the scattering mist. Risha came bounding over the wyvern’s neck before I could react.
"Wow, that was unbelievable!" she exclaimed, excited words escaping in an uncontrolled torrent as she embraced me in her wings. "I mean, that was a wyvern... a fully grown wyvern! The ones from old hatchling-stories, and you killed it!"
"Well, would you look at you two," a surprised voice sounded from amidst the settling gloom.
Risha withdrew her wings as we both raised our heads to see Tarwin standing over the wyvern's neck, one boot placed on top of the motionless mass.
"I see you've already had the victory congratulations," she added, offering me a wink that I found hard to understand.
What's she talking about, she's never been one to forgo congratulations? What did Acrodan do to her?
She peered down at the blooded remains of the impaled monster, its decayed scales scraping under her heel.
"Good riddance," she muttered, giving the dead beast a kick.
I doubted she’d go back home and disobey her father again. The legends were as clear as he'd warned. Even though Tarwin was never one to be afraid of things, I hated to think about how that would escalate their arguing.
If only they'd get along, then they could face the truth together.
I instantly dismissed the distraction when the walls shook, and the ice and frost crumbled around us. The violent tremor lasted longer than those that preceded it, causing the whole fortress to creak and groan before the dust settled.
"Is everyone alright?" Tarwin asked, standing up and dusting frost from her coat.
I did the same before looking over myself. Whatever physical pain or injury I'd sustained from the wyvern had already healed.
As soon as I’d assessed myself, my thoughts turned to the others. Risha shook dust from her paws, checking them for injury, thankfully she was fine
I turned back to Tarwin, words catching in my throat when I realised, I was unable to tell her we were both okay. Though I'd understood what she had asked, I didn’t know if Risha had. Either way, if she didn't, she wasn't admitting it.
"Good to see you're still in one piece," Tarwin confirmed, retrieving her improvised weapon.
She's treating me in exactly the same way. Risha too. I noted. But how long can that last after all that's changed?
"Go get your other friends!" she shouted above the crumbling noises.
I scampered around her, moving quickly into the corridor where I was greeted with the shattered remains of five skeletal guards.
Let it never be said that she's bad in a fight. I thought, glancing at Tarwin.
I stood before Boltock and Ember’s cell for the second time. Both occupants backed away once again as I prepared to breach the bars. Risha assisted me a second time while Tarwin watched from the safety of the main chamber, and with a burst of light the blizarium disintegrated just like before.
Argh, doing this really takes it out of me. I thought, shaking my head, panting for breath.
Ember was first to emerge. "That really is some fire you have there," she offered.
Boltock trudged lazily from the gloom behind her, his head held low, avoiding the eyes of everyone nearby. Sickened with guilt, I wanted to say something. For good reason he obviously hated humans; what right did I have to say anything to him about it?
I'll leave it to Risha, she'll know what to say.
Tail dragging behind him, he moved over to his sister, who glanced at him with concern, but said nothing. Ember crept to her side and whispered something in her ear. I could only guess that the pair were talking about what she'd said to Boltock, or just how odd it was to have a human here.
Tarwin stood oblivious to their conversations, directing her focus towards a second doorway on the opposite side of the chamber. I walked over to join them, staggering when another tremor shook the hall.
"We have to get out!" Tarwin shouted above the noise, "This whole place is going to come down," she added, moving over to the doorway.
Her suggestion was backed up by the additional sound of more ice clattering down the web of criss-crossed beams above.
So that's how the wyvern got down here. I noted, glancing up into the vast ice spire, as I hopped over the dead beast’s carcass.
Ember inspected the bloody remains, prodding it with a foreclaw as if to prove to herself that it was there. Risha rushed by, while Boltock remained oblivious, sealed within his cocoon of remorse and disbelief.
I swallowed my disgust as I took one final look over the dead beast. Along with several other creatures, the wyvern was dead because of me. I'd hunted and killed before, but that was different. Those I'd recently killed had intended to kill me, and I'd extinguished their lives out of fear and rage. I'd killed to survive, which left me feeling unforgiving, reckless and guilty.
Who am I to judge who lives and who dies? Am I just an executioner?
Even though I thought I'd already made peace with my uneasy anxiety; wielding a power the likes of which the world had not seen in millennia made me feel as though I was no better than the transcendent monster within the sphere. I was sure there were things I could have done differently, though the ans
wer was always the same: they would have killed me without a second thought, so why should I do anything different?
While we walked, the memory of the griffins' and Elders' words repeated in my mind.
'Troubled times’.
My paws began to drag and slow and glancing off into the icy corridors either side of me, I reluctantly knew what I had to do. Slowly but surely, I ground to a halt while the others, and finally Boltock, trudged past me. I silently hoped no one would notice, but my attempt at quietly slipping away ultimately failed.
Tarwin was the first to perceive a shift in my mood, as she always did. The others soon stopped with her, without a sound from any of them until someone knelt before me, her head held at my eye level. Tarwin smiled, her face covered in white dust, bruised and cut in several places with strands of loose, red hair waving across her comforting features. She brushed it aside, raised her hand and rubbed between my horns.
"You're going back, aren't you?" she asked, with no expectation of a verbal response.
She obviously knew of Acrodan, she must have seen him. I knew from the look in her eyes she'd seen into the dreadful depths of the sphere too.
What did she see? The truth, that the world is far bigger and more terrifying than we ever knew?
I glanced away, the thought of leaving her again after coming so far was unthinkable. I expected her to tell me how wrong the idea was, like the times I'd attacked porcupines or got my head stuck in logs, but as I peered into her eyes, I saw none of the things I feared.
"Blaze," she spoke firmly, her eyes starting to quiver and twinkle. "You've been my friend for as long as I can remember." A tear broke free and rolled down her dirty cheek.
"But... But ever since I found you, my little fallen star, I believed more than anyone else..." She stopped, wiping her face with a sniff. "I found you for a reason and if you think this is it, then it is."
I tried to divert my gaze; her sentiment too much for me. I'd have done nothing if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t even be here. Hearing her thoughts, I couldn't help but wonder why she hadn’t shared them before, but now, I was glad. Knowing how she felt may have only made my old life even more of a struggle. She'd let me believe that had been all there was, let me be happy and content.
