Chapter 7

When the sun was out Vin was already awake and changing the Winchester's bandages he took off the harness and laid it nearby were he could get to it later, the surgeons didn't want to remove it until the dragon's injures were taken care of and it was in a calmer state. The dragon seemed pleased to be rid of the saddle and harness, when the bandages were changed Vin went to get changed and washed before Elita woke up no one was awake so he had the baths to himself he scrubbed all the medicine and blood stench off his body. Changed and clean he went to the dining hall already the maids and butlers were bringing out platters of food he took a seat at his usual table and ate his fill, when he returned the butchers had brought out a barrel of meat for the dragon and a bucket off rabbits and a duck for Elita who had welcomed herself to the bucket the Winchester had his head dipped into the bucket blood dripping down his jaws and down his neck. When the two of them were done Vin oiled Elita until she deemed herself ready for class, "One most always look ones best.'' She said priming her wing.

But class wouldn't start for another hour so he took the time to oil the Winchester who purred in enjoyment old scales fell off in huge clumps. "This feels nice, thank very much I'm sure my captain will be out soon.'' He said turning to look towards the castle his eyes darting from window to window hoping to catch his captain maybe.

"I'm sure he'll recover soon my friend.'' Was all Vin could say and he continued to scrub until the Winchester shined in the sun dragons don't shed their skin but when their skin isn't properly cared for it turns dry and crackly and losses its shine. Satisfied he curled up in the sun and slept and just in time too he could see the other juniors coming into the courtyard leaving his charge and Elita at his heels he joined the group Ryan and Carson were waiting for him, Elita and Izzy started a game of chase with Dusty while they waited for the teacher "So how did you get on last night?'' Ryan asked cracking his neck "Fine thanks.'' Vin said looking at his friend oddly Ryan looked like he slept on his head "What happened to you?'' Ryan grumbled to himself and Carson sighed "He's just a little cranky this morning is all he didn't sleep much last night.'' Carson said Ryan looked away from them and started stroking Izzy's muzzle "Why couldn't you sleep was Izzy keeping you up?'' Vin asked as Elita rested her chin on his shoulder and he gently patted it Ryan just replied "I was just worried is all…'' he said almost too low for Vin to catch. Before he could speak again Sargon appeared in the sky and landed with a thud Akeel slid down and everyone fell in line. " Alright today will begin practice for your dragonets first flight, your dragonets are almost at the age when they will be tempted to try and fly on their own which can be very dangerous.''

He ordered them to spread out and face their dragons. Elita groaned happily as they did the wing stretches first she would flap her wings forward then back and then forward again and back. Once they were done stretching Akeel had Sargon show the youngsters how to launch off the ground, he crouched real low then pushed up and pulling his wings down ward he was pushed into the air and circled around the courtyard.

The hatchlings then gave it a try most of them got the crouching right but had trouble pushing themselves up most of them the heavy weights like the only Blooder in the class Thorn had a hard time balancing his massive weight and it took him a while to get it right to where he could get a few feet off the ground before he dropped down again. Elita was better at it than most of the other hatchlings well Vin thought so at least she was crouched down low and pushed her wings down and she was hovering a few feet off the ground. "Look at me I can do it.'' she very pleased with herself but as quickly as she hovered she was back down again she wasn't ready for a full flight.

Landing was the next thing they were taught and once again Sargon was woken up from his nap and demonstrated how to land he slowly glided himself down and backed winged and let his hind legs touch the ground first before letting his front touch the ground. The hatchlings gave it a try and this time they landed more gently. Ryan was still grumpy and it was clearly affecting poor Izzy who was straining his wings as he flapped his wings faster and harder and not in steady strokes like the rest of the hatchlings .Ryan wasn't paying much attention so Vin took it upon himself to give a lending hand since Elita had already mastered the landing technique.

Izzy dropped to the ground with a small thud and gasped for breath "I can't do it.'' He said in a sad tone Ryan was at his side patting the hatchlings head "Its ok boy you'll get it.'' He said Izzy merely chirped and tried again Vin and Elita watched as the hatchling tried again this time Ryan paid close attention, Izzy flapped franticly which was tiring him out Vin then stepped in "He's flapping to fast they have to be steady strokes and he has to push down not up.'' he said Izzy collapsed on the ground again Elita was by his side nudging with her muzzle "You will fly all dragons fly.''

Izzy got to his feet and followed Vin's instructions he watched as Elita crouched down and pushed her wings downward and soon she was hovering a few feet off the ground again. Izzy gave it a try and soon the little Finchy was hovering on the ground Ryan showered him with praise "See I told you, you could do it.'' Izzy chirped for joy and once again following Elita's instructions he landed down gently on his paws. Ryan gave him a good pat on the back and smiled at Vin " Thanks Vin I wasn't paying attention to him as I should have.'' He admitted disappointed in himself for failing his dragon "Its ok.'' Vin said "The important thing is he's got the hang of it know.'' This both he and Ryan agreed.

Class ended later that afternoon all the hatchlings were exhausted and hungry once they were all feed all their riders stormed into the dining hall. Ryan and Vin were just coming in when they spotted Carson looking towards the window eyes wide with fright. Vin and Ryan rushed over to him to see what was troubling him "What is it?'' Ryan said Carson didn't answer he just kept looking out the window with a grave face Vin looked out the window but could see nothing but the lanterns lit in the courtyard. He was about to give up thinking that Carson must be messing with them when he noticed something lying spread out in the courtyard it was an Admiral it was completely sprawled out in the courtyard blood was dripping from it face and its sides were covered in blood soaked bandages and one of its small horns was broken. Its captain was at its head helping the surgeons treat the injures it wasn't a pretty site.

Ryan put his face closer to the window and said "Carson isn't that your father's Admiral Bomana. '' Carson shaking his head and ran out towards the courtyard leaving his friends standing by the window. "So that's what's wrong.'' Vin said to himself it never had occurred to him that the captains had families he could understand having a lady friend for company from time to time but most women didn't appreciate coming second to an animal let alone a dragon. It must be extremely hard for the couple, and it could only be harder with children as well. Ryan tapped his shoulder "Let's go see what's up.'' He said and rushed outside.

Carson was at his father's side both of them weeping the Admiral wasn't looking to good blood gushed out of its mouth Vin couldn't help but feel sorry for it, Bomana his head resting in his riders lap was repeating in a very weak tone " I will be fine it's just a few scratches. No need to worry.''

Vin had asked what they could do to help the surgeons said they could only help by comforting the captain and dragon while they worked. Vin walked over to the dragon's other side and know he could see the full damage Bomana had taken there were long gashes all along his back and his sides had even smaller slashes probably from a light weight dragon breed. His face was covered in blood from where it seemed a dragon bite his head there where teeth puncture wounds all over his head from where the dragon bit down one of Bomana's horns was broken clean off it would never grow back and one of his eyes was covered by a bandage. Carson's father was crying pitifully Carson had his hands covered to hide his tears even Ryan was overcome by sadness and a few tears dropped down his face.

The Winchester was looking over from his side of the courtyard he was still too weak to move completely but he was able to stretch out enough for him to see what was going on Vin hurried to him to keep him relaxed and calm. Putting the curious Winchester's head back down he guided it back towards his corner and offered him a good meal the butchers had left a barrel of meat out for him. He was happy to eat it a once his own face was covered in blood he collapsed on the ground and allowed Vin to oil him down. The whole time he still turned to the other dragon and let out a whine. "I know how it feels.'' He said simply and laid his head down.

Vin was just finishing the surgeons had done there work and were washing away as much blood as they could off themselves. Vin walked over Carson and his father were speaking to the surgeons while Ryan was petting Bomana's muzzle the dragon was sound asleep his breath was slow but steady " They had to over dose him with sleeping potions to help him sleep better they won't be able to move him to the Infirmary cavern until tomorrow.'' Ryan said as Vin crouched down to pet the Admiral's muzzle "Did they say what happened?'' he asked Ryan didn't answer, Carson's father was still talking to the surgeons but he insisted that his son and his friends go eat. Reluctantly they headed into the dining hall. The surgeons left soon after leaving the captain alone with his dragon.

No one spoke the whole time during dinner word spread throughout the whole hold about what happened to Captain Muran's dragon. All the older riders kept quit even the riders of Muran's wing didn't speak of what happened all was silent until Leader Akins came in followed by his second command Riley they didn't say a word until they reached the leader's table the leader then called for everyone to be silent everyone turned and looked in his direction he sighed and taking a deep breath he began to speak "I suppose you've all are wondering what's been going on for these past few months. And well I thinks it's time you all knew you see a few months ago a patrol spotted a group of soldiers and dragons camped near the border of one of the Lord Holds we thought it might have been a small junior patrol stopping for a break the patrol flew in to inspect but as soon as they got close enough they realized that it was a band of Mountain people from Marco Bay dragon hold somehow they slipped through the border and had gone unnoticed by all the patrols, we managed to chase them out and we warned Gulf Coast dragon hold and Winstaca dragon hold about it. We set out constant patrols and kept guards on the borders making sure it didn't happen again little did we know that already a large number of Mountain people 's dragons managed to slip through where they were hiding we can't say were still investigating.''

He stopped and picked up a glass of wine and sipped it letting what he already told set in before he continued " For months we patrolled back and forth and saw nothing me and the other Leaders decided to cut the patrols short and then end them entirely the next day.'' He stopped and sighed " But the Mountain people are clever brutes while Captain Muran was patrolling through Echoma valley he was ambushed and practically slaughtered if it hadn't been for Bomana's quick thinking they could have been killed but as you guys can see.'' he said pointing towards the wide window that showed the courtyard where the Admiral was sleeping . " He has suffered greatly a patrol managed to push the Mountain people back to the border but I'm afraid we have to assume the worse it seems that kingdom Mongonia has declared war and once again it's up to the Aerial Guard to protect its people .''

Everyone stood up and gave a salute Akins doing the same " Now all get some rest it's going to be a hard couple of months.'' And with that everyone left the dining hall and washed up and went to bed resting up for tomorrow.

Elita was sleeping soundly in her bed Vin patted her head and grabbed his blanket and laid down next to her peaceful warm body and went to sleep.