Hellllooooo! Sorry, it's been a while–or has it?-since I've posted. I couldn't really type up the chapter because my computer was unavailable. But I'm back! We're jumping right into chapter 9, but first…
Shout out to gerald573stone! Thanks a million for your support! It's always appreciated :)
Ok, let's get our minds lost in chapter 9!
Glory's (POV)
My head is pounding. I suddenly feel lightheaded. Peril? Of all dragons, why her? Peril. She was the one with the fire, the one with the fury. She was extremely dangerous, what with her naturally flaming scales that pierced your skin.
I met her when Clay introduced her to us. She was scary, and not much scared me. But I hated burns. No one's a fan of burns, but I hate them.
I drop to my wobbly knees and hang my head, not wanting to see Scarlet's horrible face.
I hear a snicker. "Well, pathetic RainWing, now you know," Scarlet sneers. Then her mood conveniently and unconvincingly changes. "Ah! I can't wait for the afternoon's events! See you then." She waves a not-so-sincere claw in my face as she says the last line, which doesn't sound quite genuine but sick-minded nonetheless, and saunters out of the room, cackling evilly.
I begin to breathe heavily, panicked for the day's events.
I spend the remainder of the time before the big show pacing my cell, which is now rather cold and glum with no company at all whatsoever.
Many times, nerves make me feel nauseous, and my body threatens to puke on their smooth stone floors, but I resist the tempting but painful urge.
What I assume is a few hours later, two bulky looking guards grab me by the wings and practically drag me out, but I have the sense to make sure I lift my feet so they're not lugging my half-broken form on the sharp stones of the floor.
This is it, I think, trying to calm the chaos in my mind, This is my end. I'd probably not live for another until another dinner.
I'm put into a smaller cell, but it's brighter, which means it has a window, which means I'm next to the outdoors, which means my death awaits.
Both guards walk in and lock the cell securely behind them. The bigger one of the two pins my wings, legs, and head down while the smaller one uses a key around his neck to unlock my muzzle and half of my wing bindings. They keep the rest of the metal chains on me and attach a chain with a heavy metal ball at the end, probably to ensure that I don't attempt to fly my way out of the arena. Like that would work.
As soon as my muzzle is off, the smaller guard clamps my mouth shut with his razored talons. I don't have the energy to protest, so I allow it.
I'm locked in the cell for another few minutes, then I'm dragged out once again by the same guards.
I'm led to a narrow tunnel a few turns from my most recent cell, although the guards are practically carrying me due to the difficulty of walking because of my enormous and unnecessary metal ball.
At one end of the tunnel is a bar gate and at the other end is a stone wall. The guards let me go after a minute and walk out the end with the gate. They close and lock it, leaving me trapped in this half cell. I can only imagine on the other side of that looming stone wall is the arena Scarlet uses for her "entertainment."
I scratch around a bit, trying to take my mind off of the upcoming fight, but to no avail.
As I'm waiting for the dreadful event, I constantly hear voices of SkyWing guards talking about me, but no one comes to view from my limited perspective in my half cell.
I gaze down the other end of the hall where the tunnel keeps going and eventually curves right into an unknown place to me.
A loud boom startles me, and I turn back to the stone wall, only to find that it's slowly lifting. As it ascends, I see that I am right. On the other side is Scarlet's sandy-colored arena that I remember so vividly.
As soon as I can see the full arena through the rising wall, I notice an identical wall rising on the exact opposite side of the arena. And on the other side of that wall is Peril.
I'm slightly enraged to see that Peril has no restraints, but I reassure myself that they would have if she didn't have scales on fire.
Or they just don't want me to have a fair chance, I think unhelpfully. After all, Scarlet is out to kill me. That's why she arranged this whole thing in the first place.
At first, I assume we just run out as soon as we get the chance and fight to the death. But apparently, Scarlet has her oldest son, Vermillion, announce the event before such a thing can occur.
The vermillion-colored SkyWing, his name matching perfectly with its description, stands on a boulder at the edge of the arena.
"Welcome, welcome!" He throws out his wings in a welcoming gesture. "Fellow SkyWings, honored SandWings, MudWing guests," he says, gesturing to each type of dragon as he says the name of the breed. "We have all gathered here today for a very special event."
Almost all of the audience members 'oohed' and 'ahhed' and craned their necks at the sound of that.
I glance over at Peril, and for a second, we make eye contact. Her eyes are fiery and ready to go. She's scratching at the dusty ground, growling.
"Today," he continues, "we will be witnessing a battle between Peril of the SkyWings–" Peril snarls at me, baring all of her sharp, white teeth– "and Glory of the RainWings!" I snarl right back at her, making sure to show my venomous fangs at full length, although I can't quite remember if Peril knows their level of harmfulness.
The crowd goes up in cheers and applause and roars, a sense of aggressive excitement spreading around the dragon-full auditorium.
Although on the outside I'm fierce and ready to fight, on the inside, I have no such ferocity, only an intense rising feeling of panic and fear.
"How will this fight go? How will it end? Who will win? Only one way to find out! Claws up, fire ready, fight!" Vermillion calls the words that signal that it's time to take action.
I dart along the edge of the arena, although it's more like stumbling since my ball is dragging me down. I seriously don't get the point of the extra weight. Do they expect me to fly off? Probably.
I scoop up the metal ball that's slowing me down and tuck it under my wing. This helps with my pace a bit.
Peril is circling around the opposite side of the perimeter, waiting for the perfect moment to make her move.
I act the same way, although I haven't got a clue of what I'm doing. I bare my fangs at her, preparing to shoot venom out of them. I doubt a single audience member knows how deadly I am.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, Peril lunges at me, spreading her wings and somehow managing to leap halfway across the arena. I notice her a smidgen too late and am met with a fiery claw to my tail.
I howl and retaliate by attempting to bite her arm, but I stop at the last moment, not wanting to burn my mouth.
I resort to fleeing, but she catches up with me quickly, placing more burning body parts on my own agonized ones.
Within the first five minutes, I'm so scorched that I could pass as a NightWing. Steam billows up from my burnt scales. I frantically search for anything cold, but it's a baking day, so not even the stone walls will be cold.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Peril leaping at me again, preparing to finish me off. This time, I have time to register her move. I duck and bare my fangs. Almost immediately, a jet of black, gooey venom shoots from them and hits Peril squarely in the leg.
She stops, at first not feeling anything. But as the effects sink in, she begins to emit blood-curdling screams. She hopelessly claws at the scales where the venom hit, but it's no use. The poison slowly spreads, blackening her copper scales.
Somehow, as if the venom didn't pull her away completely, she charges at me. Her whole body wraps around me, enveloping me in her flaming scales.
I scream, attempting to shoot more venom, but my mouth is sealed shut from the burns that now cover my face.
She finally lets go, and I'm surprised I'm not dead. I lay there in a heap, not daring to move. Peril sounds satisfied.
To end the fight, I act dead, which isn't really that hard since I nearly am. I literally look like a pile of coal and dying embers.
I suppress my breathing, but since my breaths are shallow anyway, it's not that unnatural.
I can still hear Peril screaming as she exits the arena, probably freaking out about the poison in her body.
I have a malicious thought about her possibly dying and manage the smallest of smiles before two guards scoop my limp body up and carry me away.
I continue to play dead, because if Scarlet doesn't know I'm alive, she can't hurt me.
Hope you all enjoyed chapter 9. I sure enjoyed writing it, especially the fight scene. Anyways, thanks to all those who have shown their support. I always appreciate it. You can review, follow, or/and favorite to show your support. Thanks! Reviews are highly encouraged. I'm trying to get the rate up. Thanks for tuning in and have a nice day!
See ya in the next one.
Ducky :)
