by D K Drake
“Not today, missy. I’ll get him to play, and my team will finally beat Javan’s team.”
Both girls smiled and scampered off to gather their teams. She had enjoyed teaching them and a handful of other kids how to shoot her slingshot, and they had enjoyed teaching her how to play Vine Wars.
The goal of the game was to hit a target with a mini spear while swinging on a vine without getting pelted by a color bomb, which was a berry that grew in abundance here in Gibbet. Thanks to the disturbingly accurate aim of Javan, her team had yet to win a game.
She crossed the long bridge that led to the building where the Dusk Stalkers were living with some of the other animals on the outskirts of the tree village.
Living in the trees was a necessity for the people and smaller animals of Gibbet. Any man-made houses built in the soft ground sunk, but the deep roots of the trees made them strong enough to support buildings and bridges. Also, the main predator in this area was deadly on the ground but couldn’t climb trees.
She spotted several of the massive, furry, three-horned rhinorats two days prior and had been glad she was above them rather than facing them on the ground. They were mean, angry creatures that liked to eat people and animals just for fun. The only animal she saw below her at the moment, however, was Mertzer.
“Hey there, big fella. I see you’re right on time, but Javan is late.”
“I’m here!” Javan dashed across the bridge and joined her on the porch of the barn. His matted hair stuck to his head, his face flushed red from exertion, and his shirt fastened fused to his skin with sweat. “Ravier made me run sprints along these mazes of bridges, and I took a wrong turn on my way here.”
“You smell worse than the pigs.” One of the pigs oinked as if agreeing with her.
“I’ve earned this stink.” He lifted his arm and smelled his armpit. “That’s the smell of a hardworking man. All the pigs do is wander around their square box.”
“Whatever.” Taliya laughed. “Let’s just get Starshade and Azurrior down to Mertzer before they decide to eat their neighbors.”
The dragons shared living space with the pigs and sheep. They would easily be able to break the weak barrier separating them from a possible meal if they got too hungry.
It was Mertzer’s job to teach them how to hunt. Well before dusk each day, Taliya and Javan lowered the babies to the ground with an elevator made of wood and ropes. Once they ate, Mertzer would bring the babies back to the barn.
Starshade was pacing and stopped when Taliya walked through the door. She had grown to the size of a jaguar although her body and neck were both longer than that big cat. As she stood in the corner and swished her tail, Taliya realized her entire body was covered with brilliant white scales.
“Look, Javan. Starshade has all her scales.”
“So does Azurrior. He’s not blue anymore.”
Taliya didn’t recognize Azurrior. His once blue body now sparkled with his dazzling white scales. At half the size of Starshade, he strutted around the room with his long tail pointed up as if to show off his new body.
“You are looking mighty fine with those scales of yours.”
“He says ‘thank you.’”
“You are welcome.” Then the ramifications of what the scales meant hit Taliya. She looked around the small box they were living in and realized it was time to set the dragons free.
The temptation to take a scale from Azurrior’s forehead overwhelmed her. The best Protectors took that scale to brand the dragon as protected before releasing them into the wild. But she couldn’t test her bond with Azurrior and attempt to extract a scale because of that foolish deal she made with the Destroyer.
“It’s time,” she said, choking back tears. “We need to send them to Dusk Territory.”
“You mean right now? Can’t we wait another day?”
“They’re dragons, Javan. Not farm animals. We’ve kept them cooped up long enough. I hold my breath every time we send them out with Mertzer, anyway. I always wonder if they’ll come back.”
“Azurrior is still so small.”
“True, but he’s fast and smart. Plus he’s a fighter. He’ll be fine.”
Javan paused, then said, “Unfortunately he agrees with you. I’ll get Kisa.”
He left, and Taliya found herself alone with the two Dusk Stalkers. “I won’t be able to go with you to make sure you stay safe, so you’ll have to look out for each other. Got it?”
She took their silence to mean they agreed. She sure was going to miss these baby dragons.
◊◊◊
“Here’s how this is going to play out,” Javan said, standing on the soft ground with the big dragons lined up in a semi-circle in front of him. Taliya stood to his side with the Dusk Stalkers on either side of her. Kenton and Ravier stood behind him while Micah watched from the balcony of the prison house where they kept the Destroyer.
Javan cleared the jitters out of his throat and continued in his best authoritative voice. “Every dragon has a job to do. Silverspike, you are to scout out Midnight Territory. I want to know where the other Midnight Stalkers are living and which one would be the best candidate for me to collect. I also need to know which ones I should avoid. Basically, I need a rundown of the threats and opportunities.”
“Return within two weeks,” Kenton said. “That should be more than enough time to assess the situation.”
It will only take one. Silverspike leapt into the air, raining down leaves and branches as he took to the sky.
“Varjiek and Skylark, you are to patrol Dusk Territory. I need to know if Omri has or will be sending any soldiers. Report back here immediately with any sightings of his army.”
How long are we to stay separated from you? Varjiek asked.
“Until I come to get you. Take care of yourselves, and look out for each other. Kisa, go ahead and take them, then return for the Dusk Stalkers.”
Once the Noon Stalkers disappeared with Kisa, Javan addressed Mertzer. “Micah has authorized you to go, so you are to stay in Dusk Territory. Continue to teach the little ones how to hunt. I’ll leave Kisa there as well, and she’ll report back to me each week. When you believe the dragons are strong enough to fend for themselves, have Kisa let me know.”
Thank my master for offering me this taste of freedom. I didn’t think I would ever feel like me again, and I am glad I am no longer the only Dusk Stalker in the land.
“I’ll pass on the message.” Javan turned to the young Dusk Stalkers. “As for you two, your job is to grow and enjoy life. Listen to Mertzer, and remember that you are the top of the food chain. Act like it. Just please don’t eat me when I see you again.”
I don’t think you would taste very good, Azurrior said. You’re too bony.
Javan laughed. “I’ll be sure to keep the meat off my bones over the next few weeks.” He took Azurrior’s collar off and did the same for Starshade. “What about you, girl? Are you ever going to let me read your thoughts?”
The Noon Stalkers are set. Kisa popped back in before Starshade had a chance to answer. I’m ready for the final trip.
“Return in a week to let me know how the dragons are progressing.”
As you wish. I think I would like you to come with me. I didn’t like being apart from you when you went to Earth. It was a strange feeling.
“I’ll miss you, too, girl.” Javan hugged Kisa’s snout, then stepped back to stand by Taliya. They watched the tails of the remaining dragons intertwine. Seconds later, they all disappeared.
◊◊◊
Micah watched his stubby-tailed dragon vanish. Right before he did so, Micah could have sworn his dragon looked up at him and nodded as if to say thanks for letting him go.
“Now that the dragons are gone,” the Destroyer called from the open window, “how about you give me my axe back, and let me out of here. I need to have an equal opportunity to prepare for the upcoming battle.”
“It’s not going to happen. You’re stuck in there until we go to D
usk Territory.”
“That’s not playing fair. You must be worried that I am a better Destroyer than you are a Hunter.”
“I’m worried about no such thing.”
“Then give me my weapon, and let me train. I have no incentive to run away or hurt you.”
“I said no.”
“UGH!” She hit the sides of the window, causing the wooden shutters to shake. “How about I give you something in return?”
“You have nothing that I want.”
“I have one thing. I know my name. You don’t.”
Micah took the bait and leaned into the window. With his nose inches from hers, he said, “Tell me.”
“My weapon.”
“Your name.”
“Krystyn. My name is Krystyn.”
Chapter 57
Silverspike’s Report
“Y
ou can have the flowers back!” Taliya threw her flower-filled bag at the charging rhinorat and ran in the opposite direction. The bag missed, and the massive, angry animal pursued her. The ugly thing fortunately didn’t have anywhere near the speed of a Dusk Stalker, but it was faster than her and getting so close she could feel its spit on her neck.
She thought she would be safe by the lake. After all, she visited here almost every day to gather flowers for medicinal research projects since the dragons left three weeks ago. The only animals she spotted in that time were fish and frogs.
A vine dangled from a branch just ahead. Three more steps. Two. “Ahh!” Too late. Two of the three curved horns from the rhinorat scratched her back as they reached under her shirt and lifted her off the ground. She kicked. Her frantic feet collided with the vine and sent it swinging away from her.
The rhinorat twisted her to the right and to the left. She could hear her shirt begin to rip. If that happened, she would fall, and the animal would stab her flesh with its horns.
The uncooperative vine finally swung into her hands. She latched onto it and pulled herself up and away from the beast, ripping her shirt. Free from the rhinorat, she used the vine to pull herself all the way onto the branch and climbed higher until she was certain she was out of his reach. “You can’t get me now,” she taunted.
He snorted and snapped his jaws. She put another branch between herself and the rhinorat.
“You know, pal, no one else has had any complaints about the flowers I’ve picked around here. If I took the ones you were eyeing for your breakfast, I’m sorry. But I have learned how to make lotion with them that will leave your facial skin soft, smooth, and smelling fresh. Your skin sure could use some lotion.”
He circled the tree below her. His knotted fur that covered all but his head smelled like he had bathed in manure. His dry, furless forehead creased with wrinkles. The horns that stretched above his oval brown eyes had tatters of her shirt hanging from them that tickled his short, crinkled, ugly black nose.
“If you insist upon waiting me out, I’ll have to resort to shooting you with a dart.” She took her slingshot off her belt and reached for a dart. That was in her bag. Which she could see fifty feet away on the ground. “Wonderful. Just wonderful.”
She leaned back against the tree trunk, chastising herself for wandering this far away from the village by herself. However, she had needed some sort of project to keep her busy. So after joining Javan and Micah on a morning run around the bridges of the villages each day at sunrise, she would explore this area around the lake while they trained with Ravier on sword fighting.
The daily excursions had the added benefit of giving her a chance to practice hitting random targets with rocks flung from her slingshot. She was always back by lunch and spent the rest of the day reading, cooking, experimenting, and observing Krystyn during her controlled training sessions.
The Destroyer was strong, confident, and lethal. Taliya had yet to see her miss a target at which she threw her axe.
The best part of each week, though, was when Kisa teleported in to give her report. And Kisa was due back at any time to give her update. “Yo. Mr. Three Horns. I need to get back to the village, so I’m going to need you to go home. You are going to regret it if you make me miss Kisa!”
As if on cue, a dragon crashed through the bushy trees and sent the rhinorat rushing away. Only it wasn’t Kisa. It was the long overdue Silverspike. And his body was a broken, bloody mess.
The most disturbing injury was his wing. The top half of his right wing was folded over and dangling by his side in an unnatural way.
She forgot about her own scrapes from the rhinorat’s horns, used her trusty vine to swing out of the tree, and ran toward the hurt dragon.
◊◊◊
Micah spun to avoid Ravier’s blow and lifted his sword to block the next blow. Steel met steel.
“Good,” Ravier said. “You’re able to adequately defend yourself. You might even be improving. I, however, am still the better swordsman.”
“Maybe. For now.” Micah wiped the sweat from his forehead. He liked this rapport he and Ravier developed. The man was a tough teacher with high expectations, and working with him during their extended stay here in Gibbet made Micah much stronger. “And I’m still better than him.”
Micah pointed to Javan. He stood by Kenton in front of one of the walls of the octagonal house they were using for training. Villagers fought each other to watch the training sessions from the windows.
“The only reason you’re better than me is because you’re older and have had more practice,” Javan said. “I can hold my own in a contest with you.”
“You sure you’re ready to face me?”
“Bring it on.” Javan unsheathed his swords.
“No trickery. None of that invisibility or teleporting stuff.”
“Deal.” Javan took the scales out of the slots and handed them to Kenton. “Let’s go.”
The crowd outside began to chant and cheer. Some rooted for Javan. Others rooted for Micah. They were the only ones he paid attention to.
“You know the rules,” Ravier said, handing Javan a chest protector. “One point for each stick to the chest. First one to three wins.”
Micah and Javan circled one another. Javan was quick with his dual sword action, but Micah was confident with his longer, stronger sword. Still, he wanted to wait for Javan to make the first move.
“Aren’t you going to engage?” Micah asked. “If you’re trying to wear me out, it won’t work. I can do this all day.” They circled each other a few more times. “Afraid to attack?”
“Not at all.” Javan’s eyes darted to a window behind Micah. “Huh. How did Krystyn get over here?”
“What? She escaped?” Micah looked behind him, keeping his sword at his side. That gave Javan the perfect opportunity to stick the tip of his sword in Micah’s chest.
“My bad. That wasn’t her. But I do get a point.”
Frustrated with himself, Micah lifted his sword. Movement at the doorway behind Javan made him pause. “Taliya?” Blood stained her hands, and for some odd reason, she vines of flowers wrapped around her body instead of clothes.
“Yeah, right.” Javan kept his swords up and his eyes on Micah. “I’m not falling for that.”
“I need everyone to come with me right away,” Taliya yelled from the doorway.
Javan still didn’t look at her. “Micah and I are in the middle of a contest.”
“It can wait,” she said. “The dragon can’t.”
“Is Kisa back?”
“No. It’s Silverspike.”
Micah sheathed his sword and turned Javan around so he could see Taliya. “I don’t know what report Silverspike has from Midnight Territory, but I’m guessing it’s not good.”
◊◊◊
Dressed in a new pink shirt and black pants and her bag now filled with her healing ointments and cloths, Taliya led the way to the downed Midnight Stalker. It didn’t take long. The village was still in sight when the oversized grey figure loomed before them. “Silverspike! I told you not to move. We were
coming to you.”
He plopped down between some trees and looked at Javan. A moment later, Javan relayed the dragon’s thoughts. “He said he flew all the way here with a broken wing, so walking on his perfectly good legs wasn’t a problem.”
“Perfectly good legs, huh?” She pointed to a long cut on his back leg that oozed blood so dark it appeared purple. “Walking opened up that cut I warned you not to aggravate until I could get some healing ointment on it.” Fortunately blood was only trickling from the other surface wounds she had cleaned by giving him a makeshift bath when they were near the lake.
“Give me the healing ointment,” Esmeralda said. “Hannah and I will work on his leg while you focus on his wing.”
“I hope I have enough.” She handed Esmeralda the jar of ointment. “Javan, you keep him talking while we fix him. Kenton, I need you up here with me.”
Taliya and Kenton carefully climbed onto the back of Silverspike, careful to avoid his many cuts. She straddled the row of spiked scales along his back and inspected his broken wing. It bent at an awkward angle about a third from the top of the pointed tip. Her ointment wasn’t going to heal this kind of injury. “I’m going to need a rod or stick or something to use as a splint.”
“We’ll find you something,” Ravier said from the ground. He and Micah dashed back to the village.
“How did this happen?” Kenton asked, choking on his words. “Silverspike is as tough as they come. How could he have gotten hurt this badly?”
“He challenged Ayzyd,” Javan said. “She considers herself the queen of Midnight Territory and decides who gets to live where. She’s outnumbered by eleven other Midnight Stalkers, but she has relegated them to the harshest part of Midnight Territory and attacks if they attempt to hunt in her feeding grounds.
“He tried to convince them that if the twelve of them rallied against her, they could reclaim their land. Only two other dragons were brave enough to join him, but the battle did not end well. Ayzyd seemed to know what they were going to do before they did and countered every attack with unrivaled strength and viciousness. They couldn’t outsmart or outduel her, and he barely escaped with his life.”