Dragon training

Jaiden's POV

"Welcome to dragon training," Reggie said enthusiastically as Paul lifted the gate to the arena.

I held back slightly. The others hadn't noticed I was here yet and I felt like delaying it for a while.

The others however, walked in and looked around. No surprise the new recruits consisted of the previous 'fire brigade'; Ash, May, Leaf, Gary and Harley.

"No turning back," Leaf threatened, "This is for real."

"Think we'll get burnt?" Ash asked.

May pulled a face. "Maybe. It'd leave a nasty scar."

"Only worth it if you get a scar and a sweet story to tell," Gary said.

I flinched. Mina was scarred. All across her back where a dragon had burnt her. She hated that part about her more than anything else.

"Gotta love pain," Harley said.

"Yeah, no kidding," I said sarcastically, "Who wouldn't want it?"

The reactions I got were exactly what I thought they would be; disgust and disbelief.

"Great, who let him in?" Gary complained, "What's a weakling like him going to do?"

Leaf smacked Gary over the head and then smirked at me. "We'll see. He could be good for bait."

"Too skinny," Harley said in his high feminine voice, "That's all bones there, hun. Dragons wouldn't give him a second glance."

"Way to welcome him on his introduction day," Ash said.

"We'll see if he can be any use," May said.

I rolled my eyes.

"Listen up," Reggie said, coming by me, "The recruit who does best will win the honour of killing his or her first dragon in front of the whole village!"

I narrowed my eyes as I watched Paul move to one of the cages.

"Well, you know, Jaiden already killed a Night Fury," Gary said, "So is he disqualified?"

I flinched and the others sniggered at me.

"Don't worry," Reggie said cheerfully, "They're right. You're smaller so you'll be less of a target."

He urged me forwards into the line they'd formed as he explained what dragons were in one cage. He gestured to the last one as Paul gave a smirk.

"Gronckle," Paul said, pulling the lever down.

I jumped out the way as the dragon burst out.

"Teach us first!" May shrieked as she dived out of the way.

"Learning on the job is the best way to learn," Reggie said, shrugging as he seemed unbothered by his brother's actions.

"First thing you'll need!" Paul barked.

"A doctor?" I put in sarcastically as I narrowly avoided another scrape.

"More speed!" Ash exclaimed as he barely avoided the Gronckle.

"Shield!" Leaf exclaimed.

"Shield, go," Paul commanded.

I dashed forwards to grab one of the shields around.

"Your shield is the most important piece of equipment," Reggie explained, "If you gotta make a choice between a sword and a shield, take the shield!"

Paul irritably propped the shield onto my arm properly and then shoved me up.

I watched as the Gronckle blasted the shield between Ash and May.

"Ash, May, you're out," Reggie called, "Those shields are good for another thing."

"Noise," Paul barked, "and lots of it."

"It'll throw off a dragon's aim," Reggie explained as I bashed the metal of the shield with my axe.

The Gronckle shivered slightly in confusion as it tried to see straight.

"All dragons have a limited amount of shots," Reggie said, "How many does a Gronckle have?"

"5?" Gary guessed.

"No it's six!" Harley said.

"One for each of you," Paul said snidely.

I rolled my eyes.

Harley shrieked as his shield was blasted from his hands and he desperately scrambled away.

I watched a blast go into the wall and I hurried to dodge. Gary went out next and soon I felt my shield being torn from my hands.

It rolled along the ground and I chased after it, trying to grab it before the dragon got me.

"Jaiden!" Reggie yelled.

I yelped slightly as I tumbled over and slid into the wall. The Gronckle got right up into my face and I curled up as it opened its mouth.

"Move!" Reggie yelled.

I flinched as I heard the blast, feeling the heat from it as it was directed into the wall. I opened my eyes to see Paul had its jaw trapped with his hook.

Paul dragged the Gronckle away.

"That's six," Reggie said.

"Listen," Paul said angrily after her put it away. He bent down and jabbed my chest furiously. "A dragon will always, ALWAYS go for the kill, so don't just sit there." He stalked away angrily, opening the arena so the others could get out.

Reggie came over and helped me up. "He's right you know. You can't sit there and wait for it to happen if you want to survive."

I just turned and looked at the still smouldering patch on the wall.

It was only the first day and I had already almost died.

"So why didn't you?" I mumbled to myself as I picked up the sliced bola I'd left after cutting the Night Fury free.

If the Night Fury was the worst dragon out there, if dragons really did kill at first chance…Then why hadn't the Night Fury just ended me then?

I got up and wandered around, looking for something that would help me answer my questions. I didn't understand it.

I came to an enclosed space. It was rather beautiful really. Soft green earth with a pond in the middle. It was surrounded by high cliff rocks with different plant life growing around.

It looked peaceful.

I frowned and bend down, seeing something black and round on the rock nearby. I picked it up to look at it. It felt hard and rough. Could it be…? A dragon's scale?

I jumped back as something dark shot up near me. I looked to the side and gasped when I saw the Night Fury scrambling at the rocks.

It fell back and let out irritated noises.

I watched it as it scrambled around and hurried to take out my book and a pencil. While it was standing there, shaking its head in frustration, I sketched it the best I could. I wanted to show Mina what I saw.

I tilted my head as I watched it. Why didn't it just fly away?

It couldn't be because it was missing that tiny flap of its tail.

I watched the dragon as it crawled over to the water. It looked in the water and then snapped its teeth in, pulling back in disappointment when it caught nothing.

Was it hungry?

It didn't steal food after all.

I tried to snatch my pencil up as it rolled from my fingers, but it was already falling down the rocky side, making a clattering sound to break the silence.

The dragon noticed and I watched its head raise. It stayed low to the ground, its wings expanded as if it were poised and ready to move at any slight movement. It stared as me with piercing green eyes.

I held still but stopped.

It didn't looked like it would attack. It looked… Guarded.

I tilted my head curiously as I looked at this. What anyone else wouldn't give to see what I was seeing right now.

It tilted its head back at me as if it looked just as curious as I was.

I stared a while longer before I got up. I didn't want to overstay my welcome and have this dragon attack me again. So I quickly climbed out and ran away.

Training the next day, I was almost killed again. The Nadder blasted my axe from my hands so I quickly darted away through the maze. I may not be strong, but what I lacked in strength I made up in speed.

"Focus Jaiden, I swear you're not even trying," Reggie yelled at me.

I'm sorry. I had been thinking about the Night Fury. I read the dragon manual, but there had been nothing on Night Furies. Nothing at all. It left me more curious than ever.

When I asked Paul, he just retorted with 'no one's ever seen one and lived to tell the tale' and gave me the cold shoulder.

"Today, you've got to attack," Paul snapped into the ring.

Easy for them to say. While we were scrambling around in this maze set up, they were casually sitting outside on the viewing platform to watch.

"Nadders are quick, and light on the feet," Reggie said, "Your job is to be quicker and lighter."

I listened to Harley shriek like a girl and ran past in time to see him hold up his shield to avoid being impaled by the dragon's spikes.

"I'm really questioning your teaching method!" Harley shrieked.

I just heard a chuckle come from Paul while Reggie snorted as he tried to contain himself.

Did they think this was funny?

"Look for a blind spot," Reggie advised, "You gotta find in it and hide in it and then you can strike."

I ran past May and Ash as they stood directly in front of the dragon. However, the dragon didn't seem to know it was there.

I heard May make and exaggerated gasp. "Have you bathed today? You stink Ash."

"Sorry," Ash said, not sounding it, "I ate baked beans."

"Gross!" May shrieked.

The dragon reared and shot a flame out, May and Ash barely dodging it.

"Blind spot, yes. Deaf spot, not so much," Reggie said, laughing.

I panted and bent slightly. I wanted out of this.

We all ran around in the maze a little more until the maze walls started to come down.

"Jaiden!"

I turned only to see Leaf jumped at me, axe flying in the air.

I cowered and held my shield up and felt myself being knocked over.

However, before I had time to process it, Leaf was scrambling of me and she pulled her axe up with my shield, swung it sideways and hit the Nadder in the face.

"Well done, Leaf," Paul said, jumping down in order to lock the Nadder up again.

Leaf rounded on me angrily. "Is this a joke? Is this all funny to you?"

I opened my mouth, but she didn't give me time to answer.

"Our parents' war is about to become ours too. We'll have to become warriors. You better shape up or get out," Leaf snapped.

I blinked.

She made it sound like it was so easy…

Me: *laughs* I'm sorry guys. I had to add in that bit with Ash and the baked beans. I couldn't help myself.

Ash: But baked beans are good!

May: Don't. You. Dare!

Me: I don't care. As long as he doesn't try to eat my raspberries then its all ok.

Jaiden: I suppose I shouldn't tell you that your raspberry stash has been broken into.

Me: WHAT?!

May: It was him! *points to Ash*

Ash: It was her! *points to May*

Me: *chases after Ash and May with borrowed Misty mallet*