Hey, guys. Sorry for the late chapter. I've been working on an original story. Anyway, here's chapter 5.
Ian sat with Firecracker perching on the ground behind him, and watched the fire before them. Night had fallen, and they were waiting for Mavis to return. Hearing a sound behind them, they both turned and saw the girl that they had saved walking up to them, her uncle, the chief, behind her.
Ian rose, and walked over.
"Mali has something to say to you," Chief Abnaki said.
"Oliwni gia," the girl said, smiling timidly.
"She thanks you for bringing her back," the chief said.
Ian smiled. "Please tell her that she is most welcome."
"K'wlipai8ba," the chief relayed.
Ian offered his hand, and Mali took it shyly. Indi guided the girl over to the black dragon, which was watching them curiously. He rose to his full, ten-foot height, and slowly walked towards them. He recognized the scent of this small, female human; this was the one that sat bleeding all over his hide. He sniffed the air around her, and sensed that she was in a much better condition that she was before. He crooned softly, and turned his head so that she could look right into one of his large, amber-colored eyes.
Ian guided Mali's hand to feel the scaly flesh on the side of Firecracker's jaw. At Firecracker's content growl, Mali laughed, and Indi released her hand, allowing her to continue stroking the ebony dragon's face.
Soon, Mavis burst into the clearing.
"Ian!" she shouted, getting his attention. The boy turned, and saw the young vampire storming towards him.
"Mavis? What's wrong?"
"I think I found the men that hurt that girl."
Ian's face steeled, and several loud, male voices started coming through the trees.
"Take Mali, and get her to a safe place," he said. Mavis nodded, and took the girl that was stroking the dragon back to her parents. "Firecracker, come." The dragon strode up and growled. He sensed a fight coming, aggression radiating from his human.
"Get ready," Ian said, climbing up into the saddle. "We may have to fight."
The black dragon snorted in anticipation, a small cloud of smoke puffed out of his nose. His pupils slitted.
Ian clipped the safety straps into the saddle. "Up, boy. Into the trees."
Firecracker obliged, pushing off from the ground, fluttering a short ways upwards into the dark canopy. A branch took the drakon's weight, creaking, but it did not snap. From this high perch, the pair were well concealed. Firecracker's eyes locked onto a group that was crashing through the brush. They had rough voices. He caught the scent of metal.
Below them, Native Americans got into a fighting stance, hidden behind trees and other forms of cover, arrows already knocked on their bows. Ian took out the crossbow from one of the saddlebags and clipped on a bolt.
Suddenly, a group of thirty white men charged from the trees, sending off gunshots. Several were met with arrows. Just as many Natives dropped. Ian joined the fight and fired his crossbow. The bolt severed a man's Achilles tendon, making him drop like a fly. As Ian reloaded, Firecracker watched the fight below him. Watching closely, he saw some white men locate the shelter where the little girl was being hidden. The men tore down the mammal skin that served as a door, revealing Mali, her mother, and Mavis. Mali's mother clutched her daughter protectively, while mavis stood in front of the two. The dragon snarled, getting Ian's attention.
"What's up, bud?" Firecracker didn't move, so Ian followed to where the dragon's snout was pointing. What he saw made him tense with rage.
"Go, Firecracker, GO!" A loud roar announced their arrival, and many of the white men yelled with terror. Firecracker blasted fire at the men, a burning orange stream that roasted any flesh that was unfortunate enough to meet the blaze. Ian jumped from the saddle, stabbing a man in the shoulder with his knife. Firecracker whipped his tail around, sending three other men flying. The rest of the men regrouped, carrying their wounded to the center of the group. They all stared at the massive beast that had leaped from the trees. The Natives crowded around it, two starkly different forces joined. A black-haired pale-faced girl and a thin, dark-eyed boy stepped in front of the dragon.
"Leave now," Ian said sternly.
"Why?" a blond man said from the group. "We are taking our land, that was given to us by God. We are driving off these inbred savages, which are nothing more than pests."
"He said leave," Mavis said. Ian held up his hand, signaling her to stay quiet.
"Leave now," Ian said, giving Mavis his crossbow, as he stepped forward. The beast followed him. "I trust you would rather not be eaten."
"What we want is this land," the blond man said.
Firecracker roared, stamping his foot, extending his wings slightly. The group of white men faltered.
"You're not getting this land," Ian said plainly. "Now leave. I haven't fed my dragon yet, so I'm quite sure he'd love something to eat." Firecracker growled darkly, licking his fangs.
The blond man furrowed his brow, seeming to figure something out.
"I've heard of you," he said. "My cousin was at a wedding in New Jersey. She sent me a letter about a beast that attacked a group of raiders, a beast that was ridden by the mayor's adopted son. She said there was a bounty on his head." The man grinned. "And now I have found him." Firecracker snapped, his teeth glinting in the light from the moon and the fires. "Get him!" The men advanced, but only got three steps in before a crossbow bolt scored a hit on the lead man, his wrist being punctured, blood gushing out.
Ian glanced back at Mavis, and saw that she was staring back at the man's bleeding wrist, a hungry look in her eyes.
"Oh, no," Ian whispered. "Firecracker get ready." The dragon grunted. "Mavis, are you okay?" She did not answer. Her body started to twitch with anticipation. "GET HIM, MAVIS!"
Mavis leapt forward, leaping on top of her prey. Her fangs bared, she snarled. The man screamed, shoving the vampire from him.
He scrambled to his feet, and the entire throng of gun-toting white men took off.
Ian quickly raced forward, and tackled mavis to the ground.
"Mavis, relax. It's over." Mavis struggled in her mad dash to get her fangs in the man's neck. Ian tried to keep her pinned, but a blast of vampiric strength send him flying backwards. He hit the ground hard, the wind being knocked out of his lungs. Firecracker squawked, and covered the boy with his wing.
Mavis froze, shocked at what she had done. Fearfully, she walked over. "Ian, are you alright? Oh, what did I do?" She ran her hands through her hair.
Firecracker nudged the boy with his black snout. Ian groaned, and cracked a tearful eye. "Why?"
Firecracker snarled as Mavis tried to come closer.
"I-I just... the blood…" She tried to speak, but could not find the words to express just how guilty she felt.
"It's okay," Ian said, groaning as he got to his feet, Firecracker helping by slowly lifting with his snout beneath Ian's arm. "It was a stupid plan on my part. I shouldn't have let you near that man when he bled."
"Are you alright?"
"I'll survive."
The chief came over, and placed a hand on Ian's shoulder.
"Thank you for protecting my people." Ian nodded, a small smile on his face.
An old woman with greying hair walked up to them, a limp in her step.
She motion to the chief and said something to him.
The chief listened for a moment, then nodded. "My grandmother would like to inform you of something." Ian nodded, his face sobering.
The old woman reached into a bag made of animal skin, and walked to the fire. She flung a sort of powder onto the fire making lots of flames and smoke. She then began speaking, every so often pausing so the chief could translate.
"Never in all my years have I seen fighting such as this. A young woman who is stronger than most men, a boy who fights with skill, fluidity, and ferocity equal to the black beast he rides, which spits fire and is very protective for those its cares about. There is something you must do, young warrior. You must find a beast, the same color as yours, but it is very different." A black shadow appeared in the smoke. Flashes of blue appeared in the smoke, and an unearthly screeching filled the air. Its wings are large, its head flat. It spits lighting, and can fly just as fast. It is known by several names but the most prolific is 'The Unholy Offspring of Lightning and Death itself'. You will ride alongside the Offspring, and in engage in a battle, the likes of which have only been seen one other time."
"How do I find the Offspring?" Ian asked.
"Go north," the chief translated. "It lives on an island surrounded by others of its kind, but there is only one known Offspring." Ian nodded as the smoke and the shadow it contained within dissipated.
He turned to Firecracker and mavis. "You two up for a little adventure?"
Mavis nodded, and Firecracker snarled in agreement.
The next day, as the trio prepared to leave, the chief walked up to them.
"You three are always welcome here. If you need anything just tell us."
Ian dipped his head in appreciation. "Thank you for your hospitality."
The chief nodded. Suddenly, Mali rushed forward, and threw her arms around Ian. Ian wrapped an arm around the girl.
"Adio, wli nanawalmezi," the girl said.
"She said 'Goodbye, take care of yourself.'"
The girl then dashed up to the black dragon, and rest a small hand on his snout.
"Adio, Firecracker."
Ian smiled, then climbed up into the saddle. Firecracker flapped his large, black wings, buffeting the people with gusts of wind.
Soon, they were flying north, searching for the Unholy Offspring of Lightning and Death itself.