Having just seen me fall to my doom Quiksilva gave a roar, calling out to me and scratching at the ground as he tried to figure out some way of getting down to me. But the gap in the ground was just too small and he gave a low growl, frustrated and worried about his rider. As he did Moordryd was trying to work out what had called me to my apparent death and as he stood there something occurred to him and he grinned.
"It's the gauntlet. My father was right; Rayne's been called by the previous owner's voice. But what good will it do if she's stuck down there?" He wondered as my dragon continued to paw at the ground and after a long moment he brought up a map of the surrounding area. "Hmm…there's a side entrance to the citadel. Let's get going." He said to Decepshun who magged him onto her back and once he was seated he called out to Quiksilva. "If you want to find your rider come with us." He said and my dragon glanced at him then back at the crevice, seemingly thinking. Then he gave Moordryd a nod and walked over before pawing the ground again. Taking off in a sprint Decepshun rushed for the entrance closely followed by Quiksilva who was determined to find me.
As they went searching for me I was lying out cold on a very cold stone floor and after a few minutes I began to show signs of life, letting out a groan as I struggled to open my eyes. Once I did I found myself in utter darkness and as I lay there I began to whimper, partly from pain and from fear.
"Quiksilva? Moordryd? Decepshun?" I called out and getting so answer I sighed before I sat up slowly, instantly hissing from the pain in the back of my head. "Oh yeah that'll help my memory loss." I complained before I gingerly reached out and finding a stone wall to my left I gripped it in one hand and slowly pushed myself up until I was standing, though a little shaky. "Now where am I?" I whispered and as I looked around I sighed, not even able to see a hand in front of my face. So I ended up slowly stumbling around, both hands out in front of me so I didn't go slamming face first into something. Pretty soon the room began to get lighter and as it did I found myself in a long corridor. Unsure if I should keep going or stay put I accidently stepped on something that made a dull clink sound and I cringed as I heard a deep rumbling sound. In the next few seconds I heard something behind me and as I slowly turned I saw the door behind me close. With a groan I realized that I could only go forward now and so that's just what I did, carefully making my way across the corridor until I found a room that stretched far into the distance. Now a little more curious and less afraid I started walking towards something shining in the distance and as I got closer and closer I felt the same voice speaking to me inside my head and just for a moment it was all I could focus on. Then I shook my head and remembered that it was this voice that had led me to this dark and cold citadel and I gritted my teeth and stopped walking. And that's when I heard that voice again, asking me to keep walking but I stood my ground and called out.
'What do you want with me?" I yelled and there was silence for what seemed like forever than I heard an amused chuckle and I frowned, angry at being laughed at when I was stuck all the way down here.
"I want you to come and claim what is rightfully yours. What was once mine and now I am offering its power to you. Take the gauntlet and claim this power for yourself." The same woman's voice told me and I couldn't help being compelled to do exactly what the voice wanted. As I began walking again I saw something giving off a bright silver glow and my heart started to race and I began to run. Just as I reached the glowing object the voice chuckled and I was told to pick it up and put it on. Without any hesitation I reached down and picked up a silver and black gauntlet. The instant I did the voice faded with these final words "Become the light booster' and then as I slipped it over my right arm something flared within me and I gasped as my whole body felt like it was on fire. When I reached my breaking point I cried out and fell unconscious onto the hard stone floor. Sometime later I heard a familiar voice and that brought me back to consciousness with a pained groan and as I slowly sat up, rubbing the back of my head as I did, I saw the silver and black gauntlet now over my right hand and as I stared at it in confusion I heard someone calling out to me.
"Hey Rayne! Are you down there?" The voice called and I instantly recognized it as Moordryd's voice and I called back, letting him know where I was. As I did I looked at the gauntlet again and cringed as I suddenly had the urge to hide it from him. Quickly I pulled the sleeve of my jacket over it and once it was hidden from sight I sighed, relieved until he called out and I gave a yell.
"Whoa!" I yelped and he couldn't resist laughing at the surprise on my face as I almost jumped out of my skin. "I've had enough excitement for one day so can you please not do that?" I asked him and he raised an eyebrow.
"Fine. So what happened to you?" He asked and I quickly explained that I had woken up on the stone floor and went looking for an exit, leaving out the part about the woman's voice or the gauntlet. As soon as I finished I was suddenly bowled over by Quiksilva who gave me a lick on the face and began to nuzzle me.
"Yeah I'm happy to see you too boy." I told him as he snorted and for some reason I could sense he was a little mad at me for disappearing. "I'm fine." I told him and he eyed me for a long moment before he gave me a nudge and magged me onto his back. "Can we go now?" I asked and I heard Moordryd chuckle before he led the way out of that cold and dark place. Little did I know that I had just taken the first step in becoming a hero but all I could think about was getting back to the Dragon Eyes crews' compound and resting. And maybe getting something to eat because I was starving. As we walked back to the compound, Moordryd leading the way, I kept glancing down at my right arm and wondering about the gauntlet I now owned. Apparently Quiksilva could sense something was bothering me and he lifted his head as we walked behind Decepshun and I found myself being stared at. "I know you were worried about me but I'm fine now." I said and he gave me a snort, frowning slightly and I sighed. But before I could say a word Moordryd spoke and I looked up as he turned slightly in his saddle and looked over at us.
"Did something happen?" He asked me and I tilted my head at him, puzzled. "After you fell down that crevice?" He added and when I continued to stare he shook his head. "Never mind. Let's just get back to the compound." After Decepshun started walking again I looked down at Quiksilva and gave him a brief nod.
"I'll tell you later." I whispered to my dragon and he gave a quiet snort, curious as to why I didn't tell my friends. But I didn't get to tell him when just as we walked through the gate I began to feel lightheaded and I started to slip from Quiksilva's back. Reacting quickly his head shot forward and he grabbed the back of my jacket in his teeth before I fell to the ground and that jolted me out of my daze. "What…just happened?" I whispered as he gently lowered me to the ground and I leant against him trying to keep on my feet. As I did Moordryd rushed over and that's when his eyes went wide briefly before he reached up and when his hand came away red that's all it took. I heard him call out for help and Quiksilva's uneasy growl as he tried to help me but everything else was a blur. I felt someone wrap their arm around my shoulders before I was helped towards the stables and eventually I was sitting on the floor. My eyesight blurred as I fought to say awake and as I blinked rapidly I heard the words "What's wrong with her?" and something about the sight of blood making someone queasy and I giggled. After a few minutes I felt myself drifting off and that's when someone shook my shoulder, hard, and I glared suddenly. Trying to shake them off I almost ended up face down on the floor. "Oww…" I mumbled as something was pressed against the back of my head and I growled at the pain.
"Hold still for dragon's sake. You're not making this any easier." Moordryd grumbled and I muttered something making Cain chuckle in the background. "And you're not helping." He added as I sat there looking from him to Cain and back.
"Stop looking so worried. It's just a scratch." I replied and he rolled his eyes at me. "It's not like I haven't fallen on my head before." I said as I grinned despite the stinging pain. Obviously not convinced Moordryd folded his arms against his chest, raising an eyebrow at me and I stumbled to my feet and copied him. Unable to help it Cain laughed and we turned at the same time frowning and he shrugged before he walked away. Once he left Moordryd turned back to me and I finally sighed before I slowly sat on the hay. "If you want the truth…I'm not feeling so good." I mumbled weaving on the spot and Quiksilva moved to my side and I leant against him so I didn't face plant onto the ground. "Ohh…not having a good day." I muttered as I slowly sat down in the hay.
"Well you did fall down a crevice." Moordryd commented. "And…" Whatever he was going to say next was cut off by a weird gurgling noise and when he figured out what it was it burst out laughing as I blushed.
"Hah hah…fine I'm starving." I muttered and when he walked away, still chuckling, Quiksilva nudged me and made a snorting sound which meant he was laughing at me. "Give me a break." I complained crossing my arms and sitting before I leaned against the back wall of the stable, exhausted beyond belief, and I was almost drifting off when Moordryd returned and he had a bemused look on his face as he noticed my eyes slowly closing until he could only see a sliver of green staring down at the ground. With a chuckle he knelt beside me and I instantly jerked awake before my eyes focused on him. "Huh…where'd you come from?" I asked and he shook his head before handing me something and when I finally noticed what it was I couldn't help the tired smile that spread across my face. "Thanks Moordryd." I said as I sipped at what I assumed was some sort of soup. As I did I began to feel better and I heard Moordryd chuckle when I sighed and I raised an eyebrow at him.
"You looked like something the Hydrax dragged in before." He commented and I shrugged before I went back to eating. "Do you remember anything after you fell?" He asked me and I stopped for a moment, thinking about the question.
"I'm not really sure. I must have hit my head when I fell down that hole and that's all I remember. I wandered around looking for a way put until you called out. That's pretty much it." I told him and as I ate he seemed lost in thought. When he stared at me suddenly I sighed and rubbed the bridge of my nose. "I'm not lying." I added looking up from my soup and he gave me a grin.
"Okay. I believe you. How's the soup?" He asked me and after noticing the empty bowl and the contented smile on my face he began to laugh and I scowled at him for a moment before I giggled. Even Quiksilva snorted and after a few minutes I began to yawn. Taking the bowl from my hands he stood and I was about to follow when I noticed that my legs started to shake. "Stay here." He told me and that sounded so much like an order I frowned and he shrugged. "Before you collapse." He added and I gave him a nod as Quiksilva lay beside me and I rested my head against his before my eyes started to close. Almost a full day passed and when I woke I found myself Decepshun and Coershun looking down at me and I gave them a tired smile as I sat up, rubbing my eyes as I did. When Decepshun and Coershun gently nudged me I gave them each a pat on the snout and not wanting to miss out Quiksilva nudged me and I laughed before making sure to give his snout a rub. Apparently happy now I heard a deep rumble coming from his throat and I grinned, not noticing that we had company. It wasn't until I heard a cough and after I turned around I saw Cain and Moordryd standing just inside the stables, both giving me a grin and I grinned back.
"Our dragons seem to like you." Cain said as I walked over and I shrugged as Quiksilva followed me.
"I don't know why but every dragon I've come across walks straight up to me and wants a pat. It's pretty funny really." I told them and that's right when I saw Moordryd holding a saddle in his hands. "Hey that's a saddle." I said and to my right I saw Cain roll his eyes at me.
"Obviously. If Quiksilva's going to be your dragon then you need a saddle. Especially if you're going to dragon race." Moordryd told me as he handed it to me and I almost dropped it the moment he mentioned 'dragon race'. Thankfully Quiksilva moved forward and caught it on the top of his head and I picked it up, giving him a pat in thanks.
"Wait a second…dragon race?" I asked and Moordryd gave me a nod. "But I've barely even ridden Quiksilva before so…how am I going to race? No offense but…are you crazy?" I asked my eyes wide and when he shook his head I sighed, closing mine for a long moment. "Umm…I don't know how to race." I added as my eyes opened and Moordryd frowned after seeing the fear in my eyes.
"Hey don't panic. We'll teach you the basics and go from there." He told me and I managed a grin though my legs were shaking and I'm pretty sure everyone could see how pale I was. But I knew that I owed my friends big time for helping and I sighed, resolving to do the best I could as I followed Cain and Moordryd outside with Quiksilva following close behind. Once we were standing in a wide open space I was shown how to put the saddle on my dragon's back. It took me almost a full minute but I did eventually get it and soon Quiksilva stood beside me, the saddle sitting just below the base of his neck and directly between his shoulder blades. I was feeling pretty proud of myself for a few seconds right until Decepshun magged Moordryd onto her back. "Okay now ask Quiksilva to mag you." He told me and I looked up at my dragon and he snorted.
"Okay…Quiksilva mag me…please?" I asked, a slight tremor in my voice and he lowered his head before silver and black energy surrounded me and lifted me off the ground. Swallowing back a gasp I felt him lift me towards the saddle and I reached across only for the energy to vanish abruptly and I fell suddenly. With a yelp I frantically reached for the handlebars and just managed to grip one, dangling in midair. Thankfully Quiksilva used his snout to push up upwards and I soon sighed as I shifted on the saddle. "Not doing that again. Thanks 'silva." I said and to my annoyance Cain laughed at my epic fail.
"Cain be quiet." Moordryd told him and he stopped as Decepshun walked over and stood next to Quiksilva. "That's not too bad for a first try." He said to me and I raised an eyebrow at him, clearly not as convinced. "Alright that was…really bad." He told me truthfully.
"Yeah that was really bad. I doubt I'll be a dragon racer anytime soon. Maybe in several years.." I trailed off, feeling pretty miserable, and he gave me a smile. "You can say it. I stink at this." I added and Quiksilva snorted, probably trying to make me feel better. "Yeah I know I shouldn't give up so quickly but I have no clue what I'm doing. And my head still stings."
"Come on let's walk to the racetrack and I'll show you what you need to know." Moordryd and I gave him a slight nod as Decepshun walked towards the gate. Pretty soon we were standing on the racetrack and while he went through the basics of racing and gear I was preoccupied as I thought about the gauntlet I found. Noticing the faraway look I had on my face Moordryd rolled his eyes and asked me a question. Startled my head shot up and I caught the look of irritation on his face I cringed.
"Sorry…it's just that this is where I woke up." I replied as I climbed down from Quiksilva and looked down at the track, sighing as I did and Moordryd walked over. Realizing that he needed to know about the missing gauntlet he tried to cheer me up.
"You'll figure something out." He told me and I looked at him for a moment, not convinced that I would remember anything but grateful for his kindness. Suddenly he mentally kicked himself, wondering why he was being so kind to me but when he saw my bright green eyes fixed on him he couldn't help being nice. And the smile I gave him made him grin back even though he should have been focusing on finding out what I knew about the silver and black gauntlet that his father, Word Paynn, was searching for to prevent anyone using it against him. But he ended up looking at me when I was giving Quiksilva a pat on his snout and he couldn't help feeling just a little sorry for me. Though he wasn't sure why.