A/N: Wow! People actually like this story? Geesh, I shouldn't have left it
sitting in my backpack for so long.
Thanks so much to those who have reviewed! This chapter is short, like the first, but they should get longer, now that I'm getting into the story.
Wings To Fly
Chapter 2-
Ileeng circled lazily above the treetops, only half paying attention to her duty. Daily patrols, although necessary, were incredibly dull, even during times such as these. She had managed to avoid participating in the last two shifts, she had a clutch to mind after-all, but that excuse only works so long after the young have left the nest.
Ileeng sighed and closed her eyes, flying by memory of the well-known area, and allowed the sun to warm her outstretched wings. It was such a nice, peaceful day. There had been no sign of rival clans, although she had not expected any so deep in Merch territory.
Why was she here, hovering over the bathing pools? She was a seasoned fighter of many clan clashes, and a mother boasting three large clutches. She was no fledgling just harnessing her flame. She should be in raiding Flights, not solo patrols.
Ileeng opened her eyes to scowl ahead, angry and in need of something upon which to vent her fury. She saw something out of the corner of her eye and she swiveled her head around. Something was falling from the sky.
A fledgling? No, it was leveling off, ending its downward plunge, and moving too fast. Besides, no mother would have allowed her young to take flight without supervision.
Ileeng altered her course, heading towards the unidentified thing.
A reckless adult, then? Certainly not one of her own clan. They would have known they had entered Ileeng's patrol area and made themselves known. An enemy scout?
Ileeng sped up, charging towards the oncoming enemy. As she drew closer, though, it was apparent that the flying -thing- was not of her people at all. It was gray and compact, sliding cleanly through the air without wings to hold it aloft.
She had never seen anything like this before, but Ileeng did not falter. She didn't care what it was, it was a threat, and she was out here to eliminate such things. She hissed a warning, but the thing continued to move towards her. She unsheathed her claws, racking the air, and the thing tried to move past her. She dove to block it, not one to allow something dangerous to get through her watch. But it did not slow, even when her larger bulk hovered in its path.
Ileeng quickly rose out of the way, but gave chase as it blew by. Now she was angry. She took a deep breath and held it, for only a moment, then closed her eyes and released the breath. The fire completely covered the retreating object, but, much to Ileeng's dismay, its skin did not burn. Fuming, Ileeng let loose gouts of flame, again and again, until her lungs refused to expel the gas.
She hissed and beat her wings harder, aligning herself over the top of the thing that was trying to escape her. The thing was fast, but it was no match for Ileeng's hunting experience. She tucked her wings tight against her sides and dropped, slamming her full weight against the object's hard body.
~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~
Trip ducked behind Malcolm's chair as the shuttle pod plummeted into the trees, unable to compensate for the sudden weight pressing against its upper hull. He held his hands against his ears, trying to block out the sound of scales on metal, but it seemed to vibrate through his bones.
The limbs of the trees caught, jarring the 'pod, and snapped under the strain. Whole trunks buckled, creating a long path of destruction behind the shuttle pod, but slowed its forward motion enough that when it collided with a rock face, the impact was not fatal. Still, the crew was well aware of the damage done.
Thanks so much to those who have reviewed! This chapter is short, like the first, but they should get longer, now that I'm getting into the story.
Wings To Fly
Chapter 2-
Ileeng circled lazily above the treetops, only half paying attention to her duty. Daily patrols, although necessary, were incredibly dull, even during times such as these. She had managed to avoid participating in the last two shifts, she had a clutch to mind after-all, but that excuse only works so long after the young have left the nest.
Ileeng sighed and closed her eyes, flying by memory of the well-known area, and allowed the sun to warm her outstretched wings. It was such a nice, peaceful day. There had been no sign of rival clans, although she had not expected any so deep in Merch territory.
Why was she here, hovering over the bathing pools? She was a seasoned fighter of many clan clashes, and a mother boasting three large clutches. She was no fledgling just harnessing her flame. She should be in raiding Flights, not solo patrols.
Ileeng opened her eyes to scowl ahead, angry and in need of something upon which to vent her fury. She saw something out of the corner of her eye and she swiveled her head around. Something was falling from the sky.
A fledgling? No, it was leveling off, ending its downward plunge, and moving too fast. Besides, no mother would have allowed her young to take flight without supervision.
Ileeng altered her course, heading towards the unidentified thing.
A reckless adult, then? Certainly not one of her own clan. They would have known they had entered Ileeng's patrol area and made themselves known. An enemy scout?
Ileeng sped up, charging towards the oncoming enemy. As she drew closer, though, it was apparent that the flying -thing- was not of her people at all. It was gray and compact, sliding cleanly through the air without wings to hold it aloft.
She had never seen anything like this before, but Ileeng did not falter. She didn't care what it was, it was a threat, and she was out here to eliminate such things. She hissed a warning, but the thing continued to move towards her. She unsheathed her claws, racking the air, and the thing tried to move past her. She dove to block it, not one to allow something dangerous to get through her watch. But it did not slow, even when her larger bulk hovered in its path.
Ileeng quickly rose out of the way, but gave chase as it blew by. Now she was angry. She took a deep breath and held it, for only a moment, then closed her eyes and released the breath. The fire completely covered the retreating object, but, much to Ileeng's dismay, its skin did not burn. Fuming, Ileeng let loose gouts of flame, again and again, until her lungs refused to expel the gas.
She hissed and beat her wings harder, aligning herself over the top of the thing that was trying to escape her. The thing was fast, but it was no match for Ileeng's hunting experience. She tucked her wings tight against her sides and dropped, slamming her full weight against the object's hard body.
~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~
Trip ducked behind Malcolm's chair as the shuttle pod plummeted into the trees, unable to compensate for the sudden weight pressing against its upper hull. He held his hands against his ears, trying to block out the sound of scales on metal, but it seemed to vibrate through his bones.
The limbs of the trees caught, jarring the 'pod, and snapped under the strain. Whole trunks buckled, creating a long path of destruction behind the shuttle pod, but slowed its forward motion enough that when it collided with a rock face, the impact was not fatal. Still, the crew was well aware of the damage done.