Sheek On Open Plains

It was calm, to calm. Clouds passes by slowly, the grass swayed in the morning breeze, yet something was out of place. Arron and Carl had entered the Golden Plains about 7 hours ago, and something about this time seemed ominous. They moved at a steady walking pace and Arron kept a look out as they moved on.

'No birds, no deer, not a signal animal around' Arron thought to himself.

He was pulled out of his deep thought when Black Rose stopped and began to bob its head and grunt. Carl looked up from his map. What lay before them was a large chard patch of land. Not an signal blade of grass for at least a mile. A shining object caught Arron's attention, and he dismounted for a better look. Once he stood before the object he immediately picked it up and wiped the ash from it.

"What is it?" Carl called from his mount.

"Is armor" Arron examined the piece thoroughly then looked at the burned ground around him. I was littered with chard armor, shields, and swords. The Arron saw what made him shake in his suit. Laying next to a burned carcass was a helmet, but not just any helm this one was a royal knights helm. Arron looked around once more finally taking notice to the horse and man carcasses. He instantly dropped the piece in his hand and mounted Black Rose.

"Whats the rush?" Carl chuckled to himself as he got a glance at Arron's worried expression.

"We need to go, now!" Arron pulled at Black Rose's rains urging him forward.

"Why, whats going on?" Carl asked one more, but a distant roar gave him his answer.

A shape appeared in the distant sky. It came from above the clouds and was moving quickly in their direction. Carl's eyes widened as he dug his heels into Cherry Blossomes's side. Both stallions kicked up ash as the lunged froward at full gallop. The shadowy figure came closer and revealed it's self to be a dragon. It continued to roar and close the distance between them. Black Rose and Cherry Blossomes although fast they began to slow as they charged across the gold plains. Their full gallop start has begun to take its toll.

"There!" Arron called to Carl as the plains came to an end and the forest came into view. "Lets hide from him in the forest!"

They entered the thicket as the dragon released a wave of red fire. The fir trees all at once burst into flames.

"Keep up!" Arron yelled as he glanced back at Carl. "We have to keep moving or we'll burn alive!"

Carl quickened his pace by once again digging his heels into his mount. The chestnut lunged forward, but again began to tire. The flames spread even further as the dragon's rage increased. Now overwhelmed with fear Arron heeled his horse once more, but was caught off guard when Black Rose stopped in mid stride and reared up. A burning branch fell in their path. Arron scanned the sounding burning trees to find another way. An opening lay to his right and he and Carl surged through it only to find that the ground stopped there and they instantly plummeted straight down, but luck was on their side as they fell into a deep spring that softened their fall. Arron emerged from the scolding water pulling Black Rose off then he proceed to pull off his now heated armor.

Carl emerged second with Cherry Blossomes. "Lucky that we landed in this spring, right Arron." He turned to Arron to see him hopping around while pulling the remainder of his armor off.

"Lucky, yeah if you mean falling in to a scolding hot spring with steel armor on is lucky than I don't want any of it anymore!" Arron yelled out in frustration.

The two friends could only laugh about the fall. They then turned to see the forest above them burn.

"We should be safe down here." Arron turned to unsaddle the horses.

"Here!" Carl panicked "The forest is burning and a crazy dragon is after us and you want to make camp here!"

"Carl calm down. The dragon is to big to fit through the trees and the fire is not burning the trees down here so we're safe."

"Well I still think we should move on."

"We wouldn't get very far, Carl." Arron continued to set up camp. While Carl questioned his judgment.

"Why wouldn't we get far?"

Now feeling very annoyed Arron turned to his cowering friend. He sighed "Carl, look at the horses" He pointed at them. "Do they look like they could keep moving even after running at full gallop across the plains and then dodging trees in a burning forest. Well, do they?"

Carl lowered his head. The horses were soaked in hot spring water and sweat, they we panting and foaming at the mouth. Black Rose had now just begun to lay down. The horses were exhausted and any more running would mean their death.

"No, Arron I'm sorry." Carl went over to his mount to remove his things.

Once settled down in camp the two did not bother making a camp fire. They just lay down and watched the smoke from the fire rise and cover the sky in an endless black smog.

Further away from Arron and Carl a girl and a young man within the mountain witnessed two dragons fly through the valley.

"Come Zara" the young man called to the girl.

Both off them then proceed in the direction of the dragons. The two galloped on horse back at full speed until they came to the cliff-side. The girl pulled a cloth that was covering her face to reveal a large burn. She then looked up the mountainside.

"We'll have to find another way up, brother."

Her brother kept his gaze on the mountainside examining it for paths before finally pulling his eyes away.

"Alright lets go around, but we must hurry."

Within the mountains a small dragon landed on an overhang. It then entered a cave and hid from sight as a larger dragon flew past. The other dragon was not only larger, but it had a more fearsome display of horns and spines as well. Unlike the other plains dragon these both of these two had all four feet and not just two. The larger dragon landed on a cliff near by unaware that the he had past the other dragon. He looked around and let out a loud and furious roar that shook the ground. The dragon stomped around.

"Come out little dragon and I'll make this quick and painless!" he roared.

Close by Arron and Carl watched from behind a rock as the large dragon stomped around.

"I didn't know that dragons could talk." Carl stated.

"Nether did I, guess it's something they forgot to mention in the books."

"Is that the dragon that took the Princess?" Carl asked.

"No, from what I was told the Princess's kidnapper was bigger."

"Bigger?" Carl gulped.

"Yeah, and it had different features."

The two watched the dragon closely.

"It appears to be looking for something." Arron said while watching the dragon smash rocks.

"Stay here Carl." Arron rose clutching his sword.

"Where are you going!" Carl whispered loudly.

Arron just looked back at Carl with a smile "To negotiate with the dragon."

Carl watched in horror as his best friend approached a large dragon.

Arron stopped in front of the dragon. It was to busy smashing rocks so he called to it to gain its attention.

"Dragon" Arron called while puffing out his chest.

The dragon stopped smashing rocks then looked around to find where the voice had come from. He then turned to face his would-be opponent. The dragon cocked his head to one side then snorted.

"And whom might you be?" the dragon mocked.

"I am Arron, who are you?"

"I am Ferdox the mighty battle dragon, slayer of kings." He roared

Arron looked at Ferdox's build and features carefully looking for weak spots. Ferdox stood tall, at least 3 and a half story's high. He had twin horns on both sides of his head. The horns where under his ear holes and behind his confidant sharp smile. They rounded forward along his jaw. Ferdox was built for battle, obviously, his shoulders and chest were thick, his musles bulged all over his body. The only weak spot was a flap of skin at his throt where his head and neak met. The flap was large and flaby, and the scales there apeared to be soft. The problem was getting to his neak. If Arron had a bow he may have been able to hit that spot, but dragons like horses kept their heads forword and down slitly, so unless Ferdox kept his head up or to the side it would be nearly impossible to aim.

'Darn' Arron thought, 'Ferdox is going to be difficult.'

Arron was brought from his thoughts when Ferdox roared again. He looked up to see his smiling.

"So prey, what do you want?"

"I'm looking for someone, perhaps you can help."

"Perhaps."

"I'm looking for a girl about my age she was- Arron continued but was cut off by Ferdox.

"Taken from Simor by a dragon." His smile grew.

"Yes" Arron knew what was next. He could see Ferdox's tail sway from side to side. And the dragon's smile continued to grow.

Arron stood his ground he and Ferdox starred each other down for what seemed like forever. Sweat dripped from Arron's chin. Ferdox sent chills down his back and made him sweat out off sheer fright, but he stood strong determined not to let the dragon know just how afraid he was. Then just as Arron thought Ferdox lunged at him. Arron rolled away and drew his blade.

Ferdox mocked him "Is that the best you've got?"

Arron said nothing and prepared for his next attack. Ferdox frowned.

"You not a very happy meal. Here I am trying to have some fun and you just stand their like a dead man. Although I can't say I blame you." Ferdox laughed and the smile returned to his face.

He lunged again, but this time he expected Arron to roll away and grabbed him before he could stand. Ferdox shook Arron and the let go sending him into an rock face. Arron fell in pain as Ferdox laughed. Arron clutched his hand but unfortunately his sword had fallen away. He looked around for it as Ferdox approached. There far to Ferdox's left was his sword. Arron tried to stand, to get his sword, but it was to much and he fell over. He was thrown to hard, and his whole body ached in pain. He made another attempt to reacg his sword but failed. Ferdox approached and lay his massive paw on Arron's back. Arron cried in pain as Ferdox put his weight on that paw and began to squeeze the life out off him. Ferdox only stopped when he heard yelling to his left. He turned to see Carl with Arron's sword running at him.

Ferdox swiped at him with his paw only to have Carl evade him. Arron watched from afar as Carl ran hat the massive dragon. But has Carl got closer to Ferdox he hesitated, unaware of his next move. He had reacted without a plan and not it was going to cost him. Ferdox lunged at Carl and before her could move Ferdox grabbed him at his waist in his mouth. Frightened Carl had managed to hold on to Arron's sword. Next Carl did the only thing his desperate mind could and he thrust Arron's Blade into the dragon's bright yellow eye.

Still in pain Arron's world began to darken. The last thing he heard before he past put was Ferdox's wounded roar.

Unfortunately for Carl upon stabbing Ferdox's eye he was crushed in his mouth. Now blind in one eye Ferdox panicked and stumbled. He fell and shoved the blade deep into his eye and into his brain. Death came quick for Ferdox, but Carl was left to suffer in the dragons jaws. Bleeding and loosing his vision Carl saw two figures approach him. One of them sat down and held his head. A soft voice whispered to him. "Sleep now." The voice soothed him as he closed his eyes, and the world around him disappeared.