Sarah's POV

Our squad was placed in eleventh place for the Gauntlet out of thirty-six for Presentation. I was both excited and nervous because the next part was the dragons. I just hoped one found me worthy of being his or her rider.

"Let's go, Second Squad, you're up next," Garrick told us with a follow-me gesture. He called us into formation and obeyed. "Hopefully Aetos has done his job, so you know that it's a straight walk down the meadow, I'd recommend staying at least seven feet apart"

"In case one of us gets torched"

"Correct Ridoc, cluster if you want, just know if a dragon finds disfavor with one of you, it's likely to burn the whole lot to weed one out, also remember you're not here to approach them, and if you do, you won't be making it back to the dormitory tonight"

Luca had a question and Garrick nodded for her to ask it. Luca didn't get straight to the point and that irritated some of us before she finally spoke.

"Right, it's just they said there's a feathertail?"

"A f-feathertail? Who the hell would ever want to bond with a feathertail?"

"Maybe you loser" I sneered at Tynan.

This earned a few snorts and chuckles while Tynan steamed. Garrick said feathertails didn't bond and he instructed us to stay on the path before taking his leave. A wingleader gave us some more instructions before we were on our own.

"It's surreal we're all here" I confessed to Violet and Rhi as we walked.

"Same" Rhiannon agreed.

The scent of sulfur became present before coming across the first of this year's dragons. It was a trio of reds and they eyed us in interest. And their talons were sharp and almost our size.

"I can't even see their tails!" Tynan bitched. "How are we supposed to know what breed they are?"

"We're not supposed to know what they breed they are" Violet reminded him.

"F**k that, I need to figure out which one I'm going to approach at Threshing"

"Pretty sure this little walk is so they can decide," Violet said.

"Hopefully one of them will decide you don't get to make it to Threshing" Rhiannon whispered to Violet and me.

We both laughed as our group came upon some brown dragons. Violet and I then noticed Rhi was nervous, who wouldn't be when you were walking literally with dragons?

Violet distracted her if her sister was having a boy or a girl. It was a good distraction and Rhiannon admitted she wanted a niece. The no-writing rule for the first year was as Violet called it was bullshit. I talked about Ellie as Violet spoke about her sister Mira and her late brother Brennan. Tynan being the ass he was commented that Mira Sorrengali was hot. Violet then returned the remark by saying Mira would eat Tynan for breakfast. The jerk then eyeballed me and I flipped him off. We came to the halfway point and so far the black dragon hadn't made herself known. I really wanted to see her just once before Threshing.

Then a flash of gold caught my attention. I had accidentally walked into Violet's back and she in turn did the same with Tynan. Her eyes were on the same spot where the flash of gold was. Nope, make that a small gold dragon sunbathing on a rock. The sun reflected off its scales and I drew in a breath when I saw the feathered tail. So this was the feathertail mentioned earlier.

The small dragon was f**king cute.

"Who the hell would bond with that thing?" Tynan demanded.

"It's f**king yellow" Luca added. I hated hearing the disgust in her voice. "So not only is it obviously too small to carry a rider in battle, but its not even powerful enough to be a real color"

"F**k off both of you" I growled.

"You or Sorrengali should totally bond it Hawthorne, your both freakishly weak, it's a match made in heaven"

I drew out one of my sai's and pressed the blade tip at his stomach.

"Says the male who got defeated by yours truly last week on the mat" I hissed.

Then as quickly as I pulled the sai out I withdrew it back onto my belt.

Tynan made a comment the feathertail should be killed and that made me lose it. Thankfully Violet and Rhi held me back before I could beat the ever-living shit out of him. I cooled off a few seconds later and then our squad resumed walking.

Then a red stepped out of line and from its body language it was about to scorch someone. I closed my eyes and waited for what was to happen next. I smelled fire and ash before opening my eyes and they widened when I saw what remained of Pryor.

Everyone then froze and I slowly turned to see what they were looking at. My eyes widened even more as two greens stood right in front of Violet. Her gaze was lowered and one of the dragons sniffed Violet's vest. The other nudged Violet's hands in genuine interest. They both made sounds and it was obvious they were talking to one another. The first green pressed its nose again into Violet and it was funny to witness.

Violet then talked to them while reassuring the rest of us she was okay. Eventually Violet bowed her head and the two greens finally resumed their positions in the line. But before we could move Tynan and Luca swore. All of us went still as a massive black dragon landed close to the greens and the ground shook when its feet met with the earth.

"Sweet Malek" Violet mumbled.

The black dragon finally arrived and she was absolutely stunning in person. Words couldn't describe the power I felt from her and her eyes were beautiful. The dragoness took her time in eying us individually. When they met with me she paused for a minute before resuming her examination of our squad. She then snorted before deciding to lay on the ground and emit a yawn. This made me chuckle because it was clear she was bored.

She was the last dragon and by then time we rejoined Garrick my heart was f**king pounding.

"Holy shit that black one was huge," Ridoc said still in shock we even saw the black female.

"She seemed bored" Violet pointed out. "I liked her eyes"

"Gotta agree they are pretty" Rhi chimed in. "Whoever she bonds with will be one lucky son of a bitch"

One lucky son of a bitch indeed.