I soared like a rocket through the open air. My shredded wings fluttering wildly in the wind. But then, falling limply through the still air, something happened. At first it seemed impossible. The sudden blast of buzzing energy as something whizzed underneath me. The warm surface of scales that now moved beneath my belly. I opened my eyes in shock. I was flying. The mountains rocky edge slowly disappearing out of sight. But before I could grasp what was happening, there was a sudden strong whoosh of wind as I came crashing towards the ground. I lifted my head up dazily from the new lush grass, trying to focus my vision on the hazy figure that stood awkwardly before me.
"Sorry about that...I really need to work on my landing." Still in shock, I stared blankly at the fuzzy figure in front of me, suddenly seeing two or three of the same shape dancing from side to side. I let out a long, unintentional groan as my head pounded from the impact. I lay there staring at the blurry figure below the strikingly blue sky until finally, the pain subsided. I looked puzzlingly at the figure as it slowly became clearer. It was a dragon. A black dragon. It's scales a magnificent coal colour that matched perfectly with it's charcoal grey underbelly. The strange dragon stared down at me crookedly as I lifted my head out of the smothering grass. As soon as I was up straight, it was like reality hit me all at once. Who did this guy think he was appearing out of nowhere and saving my life? My nostrils puffed out in annoyance.
"What the hell do you think your doing!" I screeched furiously. I was so close. So close to being with him again, and this dragon had taken it all away.
"You know most dragons would be grateful to have someone save them from falling to their deaths." The back dragon replied, but to my surprise he didn't seem taken back by my reaction.
"I'm not most dragons."
"I can see that, but anyway what do you think your doing coming all the way out here to jump off a cliff?" He spat, his eyes burning with curiosity. His voice wasn't low and rumbly like most male dragons, but quite bubbly and in a way, irritably confident.
"It's none of your business." I spat back, irritated by this dragons attitude.
"Well it is now." He raised his eyebrows expectantly, watching my face as it scrunched up into a menacing scowl. I quickly span around on my heels and started to step carefully away. I was a bit shaky at first, but I soon got the hang of it. "Where are you going?" The dragon pleaded, jumping in to block my path.
"As far away from you as possible." I spat, trying to doge around the dragons muscular body. I imagined him to be not much older than me, although he was much bigger and stronger. His eyes gave away a childish glint, and his awkwardly crooked grin always seemed to look out of place on such a strong build. I narrowed my eyes in irritation as the dragon repeatedly blocked my way past. "Just get out of my way" I growled, and to my amazement, he did. I stormed past, wincing at the sharp pain that jabbed at my side. I let out a long sign as I hurried away, glad to be alone. But just when I thought I had finally got rid of him, he falls in step beside me. "What do you want?"
"I want to know why you want to kill yourself, because whatever the reason, I'm sure there is a better way around it." The dragon's mysterious voice sounded almost like a catchy, yet irritating tune that would get permanently stuck in your head, forever nagging and pinching it's way into your thoughts.
"There's not." I answered plainly, quickening my stride and letting my tattered wings drag hopelessly along the ground.
"Well I beg to differ." I scowled at this, focussing my attention on what's ahead of me, which just happened to be endless sheets of green. I tried my best to ignore the fact that I had no clue where I was. "Hey, how many of those berries do you reckon I could fit into my mouth all at once?" I stopped, stunned at what I had just heard.
"Excuse me?" The dragon swung round to face me.
"I said, how many..."
"No...I heard you." I stared at the dragon in astonishment. First he shows up out of nowhere and 'saves' me from falling to my death, and now he asks a silly question like that? Who did this guy think he was?
"Well then, how many? I reckon I could reach at least 20." He puffed out his cheeks proudly. I looked over at the brightly coloured bush that stood oddly in the long fresh grass, rustling in the breeze.
"Is that some kind of joke?"
"No, just a thought." I looked at the dragon's dark black scales as he twitched and fidgeted on the spot. He had two horns, each a jagged lightning bolt kind of shape that sat quite dangerously on his muscular head. Realizing I was staring quite intensely at the strange dragon, I quickly turned away, shuffling along the long grass. But once again, the dragon followed, trotting up beside me like this was any other day. Maybe for him it was.
"Please just leave me alone." I whispered almost pleadingly. This was not the time I wanted a strange new dragon steeping on my tail.
"Why? It's not everyday I come across a beautiful young dragoness trying to commit suicide." I gave him a sideways glance through the corner of my eye. Beautiful young dragoness? What a cheek. "Besides you will need my help to get back to the city."
"I'm perfectly fine by myself." I stalked on ahead, resisting the temptation to glance sideways at the strange dragon skipping along next to me. All of a sudden the dragon let out a loud, very odd noise. It took me a second to realize he was laughing.
"You? On your own in this place? You really are suicidal aren't you! Just because Malefor's dead now, doesn't mean there aren't any dangers out here." I immediately froze up at the mention of that name, but forced myself to keep going, not wanting to make it obvious. But it didn't work. I noticed his face fall slightly at my expression, but to my relief he didn't say a word. We were coming into a forest now, the tree's gradually thickening around us, the sun still heating up the sky.
"I'm Jet by the way." The dragon spoke calmly, his voice suddenly more comforting and soft. I tired my best to avoid it, but I could sense his eyes boring into my side. I was silent. "This is the part where you say your name." He muttered quirkily. I hesitated. What if he recognized my name? What if he realized who I was? Surely that would only bring more trouble for me and his irritably curious mind. But why would it even matter?
"Cynder..." I mumbled almost silently.
"Cynder..." He echoed to himself inquisitively. "Cynder..." He repeated my name like it was the chorus of a song. "Where have I heard that before?" I felt my muscles seize up slightly, realizing that this would only cause more grief. "Oh! I know! Your the one who helped that purple dude defeat Malefor!" He chirped in triumph. I felt my weight press closer to the ground. Like something was pulling me in. I just wanted to curl up into a ball and hide away. But there was something in his voice that made me curious. Is that all he knows? Maybe he didn't know all of who I really was. "Wow..." Jet sighed. "You've had a pretty exciting life so far haven't you." This time I couldn't resist a quick sideways glance. Jet's deep sea blue eyes caught mine in an awkward gaze.
"That's one way to put it." I mumbled, quickly turning away back to the nature of the increasing number of vegetation surrounding us.
"Well how else would you put it?" His voice suddenly sounded somber, almost serious. Like I was a mystery, a puzzle that was slowly unraveling, giving away all the hidden answers one by one.
"Scary, torturous, horrific..." I started to ramble on, being surprisingly open to this stranger I had just met. Of course all the good times slipped right past me now, all I could think of was the torturous and tormented times of my pitiful life.
"Horrific? You just saved the world, you're a hero!" Obviously he had not heard the whole story. I wondered If anyone had. I just stared on ahead, a canopy of leaves sheltering me from the heat.
"I'm no hero." I muttered to the ground, feeling my shredded wings catch and pull on twigs and various clumps of earth as they were dragged along the ground. Expecting at least a murmur in reply, I looked cautiously at the young dragon. But there was no answer. I impatiently looked around the forest, catching the sparkles of light that were filtered through he trees. Still no answer. Then It dawned on me that I had no idea where we were. We would be half way across the planet for all I know. "So where are we exactly?" I spoke tensely.
"No idea." I stopped dead in my tracks.
"What! You said you knew the way back!"
"I never said that, I just followed you here." I looked wide eyed at the calm dragon beside me.
"You followed me?"
"Yeah, why else would I be all the way out here? I'm not suicidal like you are."
"You mean were lost." I growled.
"Not lost, just uncertain of the right direction."
"So yeah, lost."
"Calm down Cynder, It's no big deal." I flinched as he used my name so calmly, like we had known each other for years.
"No big deal? If it weren't for you I would be dead by now and all this would be over." I screeched, suddenly not caring what words came rushing out my mouth. I stood and watched as the dragon stepped confidently closer to me, his pitch black scales catching the quick sparks of light, making them dance around us. Almost beautifully.
"And that's what you want is it?" His once sketchy voice sounded deep and warming. His deep blue eyes latched onto mine as I tried to turn away.
"Yes." I muttered almost silently, trying to be as confident as possible, but even I didn't believe my own voice. How could I have suddenly become so uncertain?
"Then who am I to stop you." I watched , my eyes the size of ping pong balls as the dragon slowly slid away into trees, flashes of black becoming smaller and smaller. I stood there like a lost puppy, which might as well have been the case. What's wrong with me? I've got what I wanted. But maybe what I feel I want really isn't the truth. Have I been lying to myself all this time? I tried to bite back the word that was gradually creeping up my throat. No cynder, don't. I fought with my mind. But something was always pulling me down the middle. This is what you want... But I couldn't hold it back any longer.
"WAIT!" I shrieked as the dragon slowly became a shadow in the distance. I heard my voice bounce through the trees, until finally, he stopped. His sparkling pools of blue turning my way. He stood there patiently, as if he was waiting for something. But all words froze on my tongue. But little did I know that it didn't evan matter. There was a sudden strong rush of wind above me, shading the forest into darkness. I looked up to see a large figure looming above me, and in a sudden flash of yellow, he was in front of me.
"Cynder!" Volteer gasped, clutching at his chest for air. "I've gotten too old for this." He wheezed to himself, taking in a deep breath. "I've been looking everywhere for you."
"Well, you've found me." Volteer's concerned expression creased as he looked around at where we were.
"What do you think you are doing all the way out here?" He grumbled.
"I don't know...I was just..." I was going to to lie if I wanted to get through the day. Which apart of me didn't want.
"There's no time for explanations, we need to get you back to the city, everyone's been seriously worried about you, just disappearing like that."
"I'm sorry...I..."
"Come on, we must let the others know you are safe." I rolled my eyes irritably as the lightning guardian cut me off again. In one quick flick of his tail, the guardian started to step through he trees. I had just started to fall into step behind, when something occurred to me.
"Wait..." I trailed off, looking in the direction where the dragon had stood, waiting. But there was nothing there. I quickly flicked my eyes in all directions, expecting him to pop put of nowhere. Nothing. The forest suddenly seem dreary, empty of any other life.
"What is it Cynder?" I glanced back at Volteer who was looking at me intently, a note of concern sketched across his old face.
"Nothing..." I let the breeze carry my whisper away into the distance. "It's nothing..."
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