SL Huang - Up and Coming - Stories by the 2016 Campbell-Eligible Authors

“Keep alert and—” I started, but before I could finish there was a loud roar, and something large and green slammed into the back of Rhenvaar.

As they tumbled out of the air, I saw what had hit him. “Feral dragon!” I roared. That wasn’t good. When a dragon lost his dragonmaster, it was like they lost all sense of reason and became pure predators. They destroyed anything in their path until they were either put down, or they finally succumbed to hunger. All they did was destroy, rarely, if ever, stopping to eat.

Barioth and I were powerless to help as they twisted and turned, falling from the sky. They raked each other with great claws and it was impossible to tell who was winning. The pair of them crashed into the sea among the still-flaming boats, spraying water in every direction, but they fought on.

The violent tumbling and fighting in the water created massive waves that threatened to capsize the already damaged pirate ships. If there were any crew left in the water, there was no way they could survive the maelstrom being created as the two dragons wrestled.

Hot dragon blood spilled into the ocean in great quantities and created massive clouds of steam, further obscuring the battle. There was far too much blood being spilled, and it wasn’t looking good for Rhenvaar.

I wanted to dive in and help, but there was no way to get in without risking attacking Rhenvaar. Barioth and I circled, watching for an opening, but none presented itself. I watched helplessly as the battling dragons roared in frustration. The green dragon had gotten the jump on Rhenvaar, and they were in the water; that meant he had all the advantages.

My fears were soon realized as the green dragon burst from the water and Rhenvaar and his master slowly sank into the darkness. Inseparable in life, and inseparable in death. Before I could react, Barioth roared and dove straight at the green beast, breathing fire as he went.

Dragon skin isn’t vulnerable to fire, but a face full of fire would temporally blind, and Barioth used that to cover a fast course change to come around behind the green dragon.

The green dragon was no youngling and was ready for the move, and at the last moment he rolled over and raked with his claws.

Barioth was ready for the counter and rolled with him, slashing at his side.

The beast howled with anger and twisted violently, sending his tail slamming into the side of Barioth’s face, knocking him back.

I saw an opening and dove with the speed that only a black dragon can reach, raking my claws across its back as I went by. I twisted into a tight spiral to come around for another pass, but Barioth was already on him.

The green dragon spun into Barioth’s attack, biting hard into his neck as Barioth tried to pull back. I watched in horror as Barioth’s move caused the green dragon’s mouth to rip away a chunk of Barioth’s neck. Red-hot dragon blood flowed freely, and Barioth fell from the sky into the sea.

The green dragon turned and came for me next, but I was faster and more nimble. I dove under his attack, raking at his belly as he went by. Hot blood flowed freely from the wounds, but they were not deep enough to slow him down. He tried to turn back on me, but he was too large and slow for that maneuver. I followed him through and came around for another strike.

He dove into the ocean to avoid me, and I pulled up just before hitting the water. As a black dragon, I was faster and more nimble in the air than a green dragon, but if I followed him into the water his superior size and strength would easily carry the day. I pulled back into the air, putting distance between myself and the ocean. I knew he would burst out without warning and I wanted sufficient space to react.

My anger at his attack and the death of my friends boiled inside of me, but I forced myself to wait for him to come out. The feral dragon was insane; half of his identity had been lost when he lost his dragonmaster. That insanity would force him out of the water and back into the sky to get me. I just had to wait.

I didn’t have to wait long. With a great roar he shot out of the water straight towards me. I waited for him in the air as he rushed at me, and then I took off, baiting him higher and higher. I had to move the fight away from the supply ships.

Once I broke through the cloud layer I doubled back, and as he came through the clouds I was there with my claws extended. He tried to turn back, just as I expected, and that exposed his chest. I ripped and tore through the thick scales there.

He wasn’t through yet. Now that I had closed the distance, he kicked hard with his back legs, sending me tumbling back through the clouds and towards the sea again.

I bent and twisted until my body was reoriented correctly to stretch out my wings. I quickly changed directions and came back around. The green dragon tried to match my speed and turn, but swung wide, allowing me to get behind and above him.

I knew I could just outfly him and get away, but that would leave the supply convoy at his mercy, and he would surely kill again. No, I had to put him down now while I still could.

He was bleeding from a dozen or more wounds now, but it didn’t seem to slow him down one bit. For my part, I was feeling the toll the fight was taking on my well-aged bones.

Again I dove for him with all the speed I could muster, and this time I caught him unawares. All four of my clawed feet hit his back and I raked hard as I leapt off his back into the air, leaving deep gouges in his back.

He roared in pain, but didn’t yield. He turned back towards me and tried to get inside my turn to cut me off, but I changed direction and came around behind him again.

I had to hit something vital and put an end to this fight before he got a lucky blow in like he had with Barioth. I dove again at his back and again raked through, digging for his spine or a vital organ of some kind, but he twisted away, preventing me from landing a solid blow.

I pulled away from him and watched as he struggled to right himself in the air and regain some speed. I had won, and any sane dragon would have beat a hasty retreat. But this one was feral. It didn’t know to retreat; it only knew to destroy.

He found enough strength for another charge and came at me with all the speed he could muster, but I was above him. I had superior position and speed. I dove towards him, right into his charge. At the last possible moment, I broke to the left, slashing at his throat as I went by. This time I scored a vital hit and ripped open his jugular.

I swung away as he tumbled into the sea, the blood from his many wounds boiling the water around him. I watched to make sure he was done. I wondered what had happened to his rider. With so few dragons, and so many dragonmasters, it was even more shameful to see one go down. He should have been matched to a new rider long before he succumbed to the madness.

With deep sadness at his plight, I flew off to check on my friends, but neither of them had made it. Two dragonmasters and three dragons, lost forever. It was yet another dark day for dragonkind.

The end of the age of dragons was at hand, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.

I sighed and held back the tears that this story always brought on. I wished I’d been alive to see the dragons. They must have been something to see up close.

“But what happens next?” asked Silverleaf.

“No one knows for sure,” I answered. It wasn’t the truth, but there were secrets that these children didn’t need to be burdened with. “David and Lyrroth flew off that day and weren’t seen again anywhere in the kingdoms. The other dragons eventually died off, and now all that remain are the stories.”

“And the unfortunate dragonmasters,” said Tamerale.