Titan gently nudged Hotaru awake as the Dragon tenderly zapped her a couple times with her Mag bolts, giving Hotaru energy to wake up.
"Good morning, my friend." Hotaru told her Dragon standing up. "Did you sleep well?"
"Grrr." Titan purred as Hotaru stroked her scales.
"I hope we didn't miss the race." Hotaru confided as she put her saddle back on Titan. The Dragon Magged Hotaru into her saddle and the pair walked out of their pit and over to the practice track. There was a clock by the entrance. "Looks like we didn't miss the race so I guess we have time for a couple laps. What do you think, my scaly friend?"
Titan nodded and walked on to the track. There were a few other racers on the track and all of them looked up at the newcomer. Their Dragons looked at Titan with interest. Titan growled at them, making them turn to look away.
"Quit scaring the weak of heart, Titan." Hotaru told her Dragon tapping the scaly beast on the head with a finger. Titan growled a soft apology to Hotaru and stopped at the practice track's starting line.
"Excuse me, miss." A voice said getting Hotaru and Titan's attentions. A young man on a purple biped Dragon with army ranking on his left arm. "I am Wolfe of the Army of the Dragon street crew. This is Lunge, my Dragon. We command the Army of the Dragon. Who are you, if I may ask?"
"I'm Hotaru and this is my other half, Titan. We're from the Crescent Dragon Scale crew." Hotaru offered her hand to Wolfe to shake his hand as a greeting but that's not what happened. Wolfe saluted her like a true soldier.
"I've heard of your new Street Crew." Wolfe said taking an empty slot next to Hotaru and Titan. "There's only 2 of you-two racers I mean."
Hotaru took off her helmet and her long black hair fell down her back, shocking Wolfe and his Dragon. Hotaru moved her long bangs out of her line of sight. She used her helmet visor as a mirror and looked at her hair. It was in a high ponytail with a silver band and 6 more bands going down her ponytail with 3 inches between each one.
"I've had my helmet on all day." Hotaru muttered to herself. "How much of Salamander can a girl get?"
"You don't have to worry." Wolfe's words made Hotaru blush. "Not one beautiful hair out of place."
Hotaru looked away. "Why, thank you…"
"Do you want to have a practice race?" Wolfe asked after a few moments of silence. "No disrespect meant but you haven't raced in a city race, have you?"
"No, I haven't. I lived in the country." Hotaru lied going with the story she had made up for the Dragon Breeder who sold her Titan. "We've only been in town for a few days."
She loosely coiled her ponytail around the base and slipped her helmet on again. Titan scratched at a few loose scales on her side before stretching her limbs as she stayed in place.
"Wolfe, don't you have a crew member to direct?" Another voice scoffed, getting closer. The Army of the Dragon racer and the dark clad ladies looked over at an approaching racer and Dragon. "I am Moordrid Paine and this is Deception. We're your pit neighbors, the Dragon Eyes crew. I'm the leader."
"It's a pleasure to meet both of you, gentlemen, but Titan and I need to wake up from our nap so we don't lag behind come the race." Hotaru told the boys and their Dragons. "Come on, Titan. A quick couple of laps will wake us up."
Titan's strong body tensed and then sent both ladies forward with an amazing burst of speed. Titan's speed and agility helped the pair turn easily at the sharpest of turns. Hotaru closed her eyes and felt the connection she and Titan had formed.
Release the Dragon…Release the Dragon… Hotaru thought as Titan sped up. Release the Dragon…Release the Dragon…
Titan's speed had increased so fast that when she had to stop, Titan had to dig her claws into the ground and Mag something to keep a controlled skid. Deception and Lunge Magged Titan to help her stop. Hotaru jerked in her saddle as the dark Dragon came to a complete halt.
"Okay, next time we do that-we slow down before we stop." Hotaru mumbled a little weakly to her Dragon who nodded in agreement with the growl.
"Miss Hotaru, are you and your Dragon alright?" Wolfe asked as he and Lunge were the first to girls' sides.
"Yeah, we're fine." She assured the crew leader. "Just a tad unnerved…Maybe we need something to eat before the race." Hotaru easily slid out of her saddle and rubbed Titan's neck. "Come, my scaly friend. I believe the feeding station's this way."
"I'll take you to a station that has top quality Dragon feed." Moordrid offered as Deception Magged him to his feet. "All you two ladies have to do is follow me and Deception."
Hotaru looked at Titan. The Dragon shrugged and the duo followed Moordrid and his Dragon out of the practice track. Hotaru didn't know why but she had a feeling that, somehow, she and Titan were in something that went way over their heads.
