Fireheart
Chapter 7: A Change of Plans
Back at the warehouse...
The Dark Dragon was sparring with Jake again. The older dragon was impressed with the progress the young red was making, but he still had much to learn before they could act on their plan...
Suddenly, Chang burst in, still in dragon form.
"Master..." She dropped to her knees, gasping for breath. The Dark Dragon quickly came over to her, seizing her injured wing in a viselike grip. Chang cried out in pain, but didn't dare pull away. She held perfectly still as the black dragon examined the burned membrane.
"Who did this to you?" he growled.
"I was attacked, by Loa Shi." said Chang, "He caught me off guard."
"The old man may be a fool." said the Dark Dragon thoughtfully, "But he seldom attacks without reason." He stared hard at the old dragoness. "What did you do to provoke him?"
Chang looked at him, then lowered her gaze. "The Huntsgirl still lives..." she said.
"What?!"
The question came in a furious snarl. Chang cried out again as the Dark Dragon cruelly wrenched her wing in anger. She was thrown flat on the ground, gasping in pain as he towered over her. With her wing still in his cruel grip, Chang saw his other claw curled into a fist over her head. The dragoness shut her eyes tight, bracing herself for the hit, but the blow never came...
Puzzled, Chang slowly opened one eye.
The Dark Dragon was staring down at her, but he didn't seem to be looking at her. The rage was gone from he eyes, replaced by deep thought...
Finally, he released her wing, backing away and turning to look at Jake. Chang stayed where she had fallen, not even daring to move.
"American Dragon!" called the dark one.
Jake came over to him, bowing low before his dark master. "You roared?" he asked.
"Raise." said the Dark Dragon.
Jake did so.
The black dragon turned to look down at Chang. "I meant both of you." he growled.
Chang quickly got to her feet, wincing at the pain in her wing. The Dark Dragon noticed this, then called some of his shades over to them. "Do what you can for her injury." he instructed.
As the shades tended to Chang's wing, the Dark Dragon turned back to face Jake.
"My young apprentice," he said, "it appears that things have not gone as I had hoped."
"So what does that mean?" asked Jake.
"It means... That there has been a change of plans..."