The secret dragon chapter six

Peril had a million questions. Why was Scarlet in hiding? What was she doing there? What were the other SkyWings' carrying? And why? All of those questions just made everything even more confusing. On top of that, Peril didn't know how they were going to get the- what was it?- oh, 'Moon Lilly', and get it back to Crimson in time. Was he going to die? Peril kept panicking. What WAS Scarlet doing?! Peril was sure she was going to try-

"Peril!" Shouted Clay. Peril shook herself, and looked back. She'd been flying at full SkyWing speed, and from were she was, Clay looked like a small brown dot far behind her. Peril tilted her wings slightly, and swooped down beside him.

"Sorry about that." She apologized and Clay chuckled.

"It's fine." He said. "I wish I could fly like that."

"It does feel amazing." Peril said woefully.

"How much farther do we need to g-" Clay started to ask, but paused with wide eyes. Peril looked in the same direction, and sighed. It was a SkyWing patrol.

"Come on, we have to hide!" Peril said, but it was too late. The patrol was already a few dragons' length away.

"Who are you an-" the dragon at the front of the patrol stated, but paused with wide eyes.

"Yeah, it's me. The dangerous, killer dragon." Peril said sarcastically, and a few or the SkyWing yelped. Peril rolled her eyes. "Queen Thorn sent us for some herbs or whatch-ya-call-'em."

"Pffft." One of the SkyWings muttered. Peril snarled, and he almost fell out of the sky.

"You're banished from the S-Skykingdom!" A pale orange SkyWing hissed.

"I have a note from Queen Tho-" Peril started, but she was cut off.

"That still doesn't give you an excuse!" One of the SkyWings cried, but then clasped her talons over her shout.

"That's what it is, Idiot." Peril muttered. "Just take us to Ruby!"

"We're taking you to her alright." The SkyWing in the front of the patrol said.

Moments later they were flown to the Skykingdom. As usual, all of the dragons seemed busy, but would either quake in fear, point, gasp, or whisper as Peril and Clay were dragged along to the throne room.

"Ohmymoonsit'sher!" One cried.

"Ooooo." Said another. "Is Ruby starting the gladiator fights again!?"

"Who's the MudWing?" Asked another. Peril made a face. She hatted to hear about the arena and her old life. SHE'D CHANGED! Clay pressed up against her as they walked, returning weary glances at the passing dragons. All Peril could think was;

Is she going to make us fight? Again?

Before she met Clay, she could have easily went ahead and killed another dragon, but the year before she met him, she started to, well... Want more. She didn't want to stay in the Skykingdom under Scarlet's watchful glare. She snorted at the thought of her. When they finally made it to the throne room, Ruby looked down at them with disgust.

"Peril." She spat out Peril's name as if it tasted like burnt sheep. "What are YOU DOING HERE?!"

"Ugh." Peril said. "We were sent by Queen Thorn for a Moon Lilly."

"Oooh." Ruby said smoothly, the encrusted rubies on her wings glimmering. "Well. You'll have to do something for me first."

"Oh moons what." Peril said, becoming annoyed.

"Is that any way to talk to your queen?" Ruby hissed, voice filled with venomous hatred. Peril narrowed her eyes, and barred her teeth.

"You're not my queen!" She growled threw her clenched jaw, and Ruby narrowed her eyes with a snarl.

"Peril!" Hissed Clay. "We're here only for the flower! Not a fight!" Ruby's gaze swerved toward him.

"Well." She said with narrowed yellow eyes. "WHO are you?"

"Uh, I-I, um-" Clay started, and stepped back, accidentally bumping into the SkyWing behind him.

"Ha, wait." Ruby said, suddenly amused. "You're that MudWing that fought her in the arena, aren't you!" Clay winced, and Peril hissed at the SkyWing Queen.

"Just give us the Lilly, and we'll leave!" Ruby snarled.

"Well, since you came back, I've been wanting the gladiator fight to start up again." She said smoothly.

"You can't keep us here!" Peril yelled, and glanced at Clay, who looked horrified.

"Yes I can." Ruby said, and swished her tail. "Guards, take her to the arena and-" Peril didn't hear the rest. As the guards circled her, she lashed her talons at the nearest. He screamed in pain, and Peril swung around to lash out at another. But just before she slammed into another dragon, a sharp pain in her stomach made her stop and clench her chest.

"Peril!" Clay cried, and he ran over to her. He threw his wing over her, and snarled at any dragon that got close. Ruby simply barked a laugh.

"Ha, well," she said, recovering from her mildly disturbing laugh. "I thinks it's so convenient that you fell for a dragon whom tried to kill you, MudWing." Clay growled.

"Protective, now aren't you?" Ruby barked a laugh once again after she said it. Clay ignored her, and looked under his wing at Peril.

"Are you hurt?" He asked.

"No." Peril muttered. "It's just my chest. You?"

"I have a few scratches on my snout, but I'm fine." Clay said with a smile.

"Guards." Ruby said suddenly, with a smile. "Take Peril to the arena, and him to the dungeon." Peril growled, and Clay wrapped his wing closer around her as the guards closed in.

"Oh." Ruby said. "Also, please try not to fight back. I'll give you the Lilly, only if you can stand a few more arena fights, Peril." Peril scowled, and walked along the guards. She cast a wistful glance at Clay, as they were dragged in two different directions. Soon, Peril was nearly blinded by the sunlight, and was staring into the face of a fellow SkyWing. Peril sighed. Why so easy?