The sun glistening off the golden scales made it difficult to make out any one individual dragon. She knew many of the creatures by name, though only Nerissa allowed the young girl to ride her. Enala’s mother rode the dragon who went by Enduran, one of the leaders of the tribe. Thankfully, Enala couldn’t see him now – he was probably already out hunting over the great ocean.
Enala glanced back as a sound carried through the forest. Pinpricks spread across her scalp as she watched shadows beneath the canopy, wondering if she’d already been discovered. The sound came again, and cursing, Enala raced into the dragon nest, hissing Nerissa’s name as loudly as she dared.
Ahead, a head lifted lightly off the crushed grass.
Enala? Nerissa’s voice whispered in her mind.
“Here!” Enala whispered, darting up beside the dragon. “Ready to go hunting?”
Without waiting for a response, Enala scrambled onto Nerissa’s back. A rumble went through the dragon as her great diamond eyes blinked. Enala faltered as she felt a wave of weariness sweep through herself.
“Wake up!” she hissed beneath her breath, shaking off the dragon’s lethargy. “My parents are coming. Let’s get out of here!”
What do your parents want, child? Nerissa admonished.
“Nothing important, I promise you!” Enala replied, slapping the dragon’s back. “Come on, lazy bones, let’s have some fun!”
Nerissa shook with laughter, and after a moment’s hesitation, her golden wings spread out across the clearing. Crouching down on all fours, her muscles bunched, her scales rippling with the power of her gigantic body.
Then she leapt, the giant wings beating down, hurtling them into the sky. A wind swept across the clearing, and several golden heads lifted to watch them. From the corner of her eye, Enala glimpsed a figure running from the trees and waving furiously at them.
Beneath her, Nerissa turned in the air, still gaining height, and Enala’s stomach plummeted into the bottom of her boots. Opening her mouth, she let out a whoop of joy and raised her fist to the sky. In the far distance, she glimpsed three towering peaks rising up from the forest. Snow dusted their tops, while green trees stretched halfway up their sides before giving way to barren red rock.
Mount Chole and its nameless siblings – the ancient volcanos that had been the downfall of her home city. Since the day the volcanoes had exploded into existence, drought had extended across the plains of Chole, starving the city of sustenance. That had been a hundred years ago, and still the rain had not returned. Instead, the water-laden clouds unleashed their fury over the uninhabited plains on this side of the mountains. The whole of Dragon Country was a green oasis, with only the twisting silver of the Onyx River to mark its boundary.
Enala’s heart soared as she looked out over the world. Below, she was trapped, locked in the routine set by her parents, forbidden to leave the bounds of Dragon Country. But up here, she was free. Up here, she had no parents to forbid her anything, no rules or unwritten laws to obey. There was only her, and Nerissa, only their own courage, their own fears to limit them.
Today, she wanted to see the river, to see whether the waters had receded over the last week. If she was lucky, they might be low enough to swim.
Pointing at the distant sliver of water, Enala shouted over the whirling winds. “Let’s fly!”
4
The girl stared up at Enala, her blue eyes shining in the afternoon sun. Blond hair hung across her face, obscuring her olive skin, and a single lock of purest copper caught on her tiny nose. A splash came from nearby as a fish broke the river’s surface. Ripples raced across the pool, momentarily distorting her reflection. As the surface cleared, she reached up and tucked her locks back behind her ears, but the copper one, always difficult, quickly worked its way free again. A layer of grime covered her cheeks, and while Enala no longer noticed the smell, she knew she must stink.
She sighed, closing her eyes and turning away from the river. Looking around, she caught a flicker of movement beneath the trees. Tensing, she stared into the undergrowth, watching the shadows shift with the movement of the trees in the breeze. After a moment she shook her head and dismissed the movement as her own paranoia. Nerissa lay nearby, her diamond eyes gleaming as she watched the girl. Nothing would threaten her so long as the dragon was nearby.
Nodding to herself, Enala moved to the edge of the river bank. The river here moved slowly, reflecting back on itself from the cliff that stretched up from the opposite bank. Beneath the surface, the current still flowed, deceptively strong, but right where she stood, the waters formed a swimming hole in the bend of the river. Gathering her courage, Enala sucked in a breath, and leapt.
Her reflection rushed up to meet her, gathering speed, and then shattered into a thousand pieces as she struck the water. Ice engulfed her as she plunged deep beneath the surface. The breath exploded from her lips as the cold pressed against her chest. Keeping her calm, she kicked out, propelling herself back towards the surface and away from the current.
She gasped as she broke back into open air, filling her lungs with fresh air. Her body started to shake as she kicked again, her hands churning to keep her head above the surface. Teeth chattering, she moved towards the cliff-face on the opposite bank. There the rocks shone with the noonday sun, and she sighed as she pulled herself out of the water and flopped onto the warm surface.
Closing her eyes, she lay there for a while, allowing the sun to warm her. But as her mind drifted, a feeling of impatience, of restlessness, took her. Finally, she sat back up and looked around. She sat on a little ledge between the river and the cliff. On the opposite bank, Nerissa lay curled up on the bare earth, eyes closed. The soft rumbles of her sleep carried across to Enala.
A cold wind blew across the river, catching on her wet clothes. She shivered, longing to curl up beside the warm dragon and dry off. But the river lay between them, and she wasn’t ready to brave the icy waters again just yet. Instead, she decided to warm herself up with some exercise.
Turning to the cliff, she studied the worn stone, picking a path up. Carefully choosing her handholds, she started to climb. Muscles straining, she was halfway up the cliff when a voice rumbled in her mind.
What are you doing? Nerissa questioned.
Still shivering slightly from her wet clothes, Enala didn’t answer out loud. Having some fun, she thought back.
Get down from there, her dragon’s voice was concerned.
Laughing, Enala shook her head. Twisting around, she looked down at Nerissa. “I’m fine–”
Before she could finish the sentence, the rock beneath her right foot gave way. Her left foot, still slick with water, slipped as it took her weight. She gasped as her body slammed into the cliff-face, her entire weight falling on her hands. She scrambled desperately for a better purchase, but, still wet from her swim, it was hopeless. The slick rock slid beneath her fingers, and suddenly she was tumbling down the side of the cliff. Stars flashed before her eyes as an outcropping of rock struck her in the chin, then she was tumbling through open air.
Enala gasped as she struck the cold water, the impact driving the air from her lungs. Water flooded her mouth as her mind spun, her thoughts knocked loose by the blow to her chin. A distant sound rang in her ears, of blood pounding in her skull. Desperate for air, she thrashed, but when she opened her eyes all she could see was swirling water.
Unable to tell up from down, she kicked out, her lungs beginning to scream. An awful pain spread through her body as she clawed at the water. She felt a desperate need, a yearning to open her mouth and suck in a breath. Her skull pounded, and darkness swept across her vision. She was aware of a faint boom, as of something large striking the water, but it sounded far away now. The currents swirled around her, tugging her downriver, sweeping her away.
Her vision faded, and her mind fell away into darkness…
Sometime later, Enala woke, the pain pulling her back from the empty gulf. A desperate cough tore from her as she spa
t water and sucked in a lungful of air. Her gasp rang out over the rumble of the river. Her legs were numb, but she could feel water lapping at her waist, threatening to carry her away. There was sand beneath her cheek. Digging her fingers deep into the earth, she clawed her way up the sand bar.
Eyes still closed, she collapsed on the damp ground, still gasping, her body a pounding mess of pain. Her thoughts swirled, then fell away again.
She slept.
5
Thud.
The sound reverberated through Enala’s consciousness, tugging her back towards the light. Groaning, she fought against it, but now the pain in her jaw returned, sharp and insistent. A tremor swept through her, and she realised her whole body was soaking wet. Cracking open her eyes, she saw it was dark, that night had fallen while she’d slept. Still wondering what had woken her, she pulled herself onto her hands and knees.
Only then did she see the Red dragon.
It moved along the opposite bank, its head lowered to the water’s edge, nostrils wide, sniffing the air. Its scarlet scales gleamed in the moonlight, sending a chill right to the centre of Enala’s being. The great globes of its eyes glowed as it scanned the rushing water, searching, hunting.
Enala crouched down, frozen in place, staring helplessly as it crept closer. Whether it was hunting her, or some other beast that had ventured close to the river, she couldn’t be sure. But one thing was certain, if she remained where she was, it would see her.
Silently, she reached for her dagger and found it gone. The current must have swept it away. She cursed inwardly. Alone and unarmed, she didn’t stand a chance against a Red dragon.
With painstaking care, Enala started to crawl. The sand gave way beneath her, muting the sound of her movements, and she sent up silent thanks she hadn’t washed up on a gravel bar. Ahead, the sand gave way to grass, then trees. The shelter of the forest was just a few yards away.
As she moved, her ears twitched, listening as the sounds of the dragon drawing closer. Branches snapped and stones crunched as it made its way through the undergrowth. The trees near the river were small, stubbly things, often washed away by the winter floods, and they offered the great beast little resistance. If it saw her, there would be nowhere for Enala to run.
Bit by bit, she made her slow way towards the trees. Sand clung to her damp skin, rubbing against her clothes, but she only bit her lip and ignored it. Closing her eyes, she pressed on, determined to reach the shelter of the trees.
Suddenly, all sound of the dragon’s movement ceased.
Enala froze, breath held, poised on all fours. Jaw clenched, she shifted her head half-a-fraction, and glanced across the river.
The dragon stood on the bank directly opposite her, the great globes of its eyes staring, pupils dilated, tongue flicking out to taste the air. A rumble grew in the dragon’s chest as its head lifted, reverberating through the air. Its claws dug into the soft clay of the opposite bank, tearing deep into the earth. The scarlet wings lifted from its back, tearing aside branches and bending tree trunks.
Opening its mouth, the Red dragon roared.
A scream built in Enala’s throat, but her legs were faster still. Scrambling to her feet, she leapt for the trees as a blast of flame crystallised the sand where she’d been crouched. Leaves slapped at her face as she disappeared into the undergrowth – then turned abruptly to her right. A rush of air came from behind her as something slammed into the forest, tearing up trees by their roots.
Enala stumbled, lost her footing, regained it, and sprinted downriver. She darted back out of the dense undergrowth, taking advantage of the open ground along the river bank. Behind her, the dragon’s roar shook the night. Heat washed over her as an inferno lit the forest, incinerating entire trees. But the dragon hadn’t yet realised she’d changed direction.
The deception wouldn’t last long.
“Nerissa!” Enala screamed. She repeated her dragon’s name in her mind, desperate.
The Gold dragon had to be out here somewhere, searching, looking for the foolish girl who’d pushed herself beyond her abilities. She would not have just abandoned Enala out here, couldn’t have left her out here to die.
Unless she thought Enala was already lost.
A chill spread through Enala and turning again, she darted back into the forest. A great splash came from somewhere behind her as the Red dragon returned to the river. She prayed she’d lost it for the moment, but it had her scent now. She would not be able to evade it for long. Another roar came, closer this time. Smoke drifted through the trees, choking her. Struggling not to cough, she ducked beneath a low-hanging branch and raced on.
The boom of wings striking the air shook the forest. Wind bowed the trees around her, bringing with it the reek of rotting meat. A roar came from overhead, and a burst of flames lit the shadows beneath the canopy. Enala flinched, waiting for the searing heat to wash her away, but obviously the Red still hadn’t found her.
Lungs burning, she raced on.
6
Time passed – second, minutes, hours, Enala could no longer tell. It was all the same to her now. She dodged through the tangled trees, traversing yards, miles, leagues, she had no way of knowing. Always though, the dragon was never far behind. By scent or sound or taste, it chased her, burning and tearing its way through the forest. She felt its hate like some pure, tangible force. It threatened to overwhelm her.
They hated humanity, the Reds, beyond all comprehension. It would hunt her to the ends of the earth now it had seen her.
As she fled, Enala called out again and again for Nerissa, for her parents, for help. No one came. The game of cat and mouse played out through the night. At times she had no time for thought, as the dragon roared and flames seared the air, and she thought surely it had her this time. At others, all noise of the pursuit would cease, and for a time she would dare hope she’d lost it.
Yet inevitably it would return, the thump of its wings, the rumble of its flames, the stench of its breath chasing after her.
Finally, as the first light of morning seeped between the trees, Enala found the last of her strength flagging. Her parents’ training had done her well, propelling her on beyond all reason, keeping her going where so many others would have fallen. But even she had her limits, and bruised and battered, her skin torn and bloodied, Enala had finally reached hers.
She slumped to her knees, a sob tearing from her throat. In her mind, a voice berated her.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
How could she have been so foolish?
The answer didn’t matter now. Soon, nothing would. She wondered if her parents would ever know what had become of her, if they would hunt down the beast that had killed her, and scorch it from this earth. She hoped so. During their endless hunt, Enala had come to hate the Red dragon with a passion that could only be matched by its own.
She wanted it dead.
The thought sent a chill to the centre of her soul. She clenched her fists, slowly pulling herself to her feet. Her knife was lost, but her fingers scrambled at the ground, coming up with a fist-size rock. It was hopeless, Enala knew that. But she was a warrior. She would not die on her knees.
The beat of wings was growing closer now, the dragon’s roar deafening. Enala straightened, facing the canopy, gathering her courage. Breathing in, she savoured the crisp tang of the forest. She licked her lips, tasting blood and dirt, and reached up to wipe them clean. Gathering herself, she bellowed at the sky.
“I’m here, dragon! Come and get me!”
For a second there was silence, and she thought it might not have heard her. She even entertained a sudden hope that it had finally lost her, that it had flown past without realising she was here.
Then, with a shriek of tearing wood, the canopy tore asunder. The dragon came crashing down, all teeth and claws and wings and scales. The ground shook as it slammed down. Its giant eyes swept around, fixing on the tiny girl standing amidst the trees. Claws tensed, ripping through roots and stone
and dirt. A rumble began in its throat. As the giant maw opened, Enala glimpsed flame flickering deep in its throat.
Screaming, she hurled her rock with all her might.
It was like throwing a pebble at the ocean, but her aim was true, and it flew deep into the dragon’s maw. The beast flinched at her sudden movement, as though afraid she might truly be capable of doing it harm. Its jaw snapped shut and it reared back, its rumbling growl turning to a hiss. Its tail thrashed out, snapping trees in two as it retreated a step.
But the respite did not last long. A lump shifted down its throat as it swallowed. The eyes flickered back to her, and she saw the rage lurking in their icy depths. The jaw opened again. Flames swelled in its throat.
Overhead, the crack of wings on air drew Enala’s attention upwards. With a flash of gold, Nerissa burst through the canopy, mouth wide, claws extended. The Red spun to meet her, but Nerissa’s momentum caught the beast and hurled it backwards into the trees. The great trunks groaned as they took the dragon’s weight. Its roar shook the ground as the Red scrambled up, wings spread.
Nerissa was on it in an instant. Lunging forward, her claws flashed for the beast’s throat, a roar of her own reverberating through the clearing. Larger and faster, she slammed into the Red, driving it back. Its claws lifted to protect its neck. Scarlet blood flew as Enala’s dragon tore at its flesh.
The Red roared, scrambling back, desperate to escape the Gold dragon’s fury. To no avail. Nerissa lurched forward, jaws wide, and sank her teeth into the Red’s neck. Screaming, the Red reared up. Its claws flashed out, slicing at Nerissa. Blood dripping from her maw, the Gold dragon lurched back.
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