OPERATION: RAINMAKER

Chapter One: RUN

Her sides burned, her lungs were on fire.

Thunder crackled in the sky, perhaps if it wasn't day there might have been a flash to accompany it, but that's not what frightened her now.

"Oooof!"

The young creature tumbled down a ravine ledge through mud and sand. She slipped and clawed back to her feet.

Barely up, the ground trembled as two powerful, scaly talons landed in the creek bed, splattering mud over the her back. With a cry of terror the hunted continued down the ravine.

It turned and twisted; boulders roadblocks in the path to survival.

"What a dull chase." A smooth but menacing voice yawned all too close behind. "Almost humiliating actually."

"Leave me alone!" She squealed, miserably out of breath.

Waves of salty air attacked her nose, and coming around the next bend her heart skipped a beat. The sandstone shore! It was full of strange rock formations; arcs and pillars, smooth, hollowed boulders of indescribable shapes. If she could make it there, she might escape. Hope filled her tired legs with new energy and she bounded towards the haven.

A sickening laugh rose, followed by a snarl and a powerful beat of wings to the air.

Her heart pounded so hard her head felt light. Scanning the rocks, she aimed for a big one with a low, cave-like arch.

Whoosh! Whoosh! The wings overhead said as hot breath sent a chill down her spine. She could almost feel the ready talons.

Diving on her belly she slid beneath the sandstones!

That smooth voice grunted as talons sparked against rock.

Eyes wide and adjusting to the dark our hunted friend lay gasping for breath. She listened to what was happening above.

Wind moved dry storm clouds out of the sun's path. A shadow swung circles overhead before beating to a stop. Loose pebbles cascaded down the rock.

It would have been better if she stayed under that arch but fear drove out all reason. The little animal crawled from rock to rock, keeping to the shadows.

"Wee lamb," the voice cooed again, sand grating under talons as he tracked her movements. "You cannot hide from me."

"Go away," She cried again.

"Well, if you insist. Oh wait, prey tell why should I?"

He chortled at his own pun.

"My father will find you and- and- and destroy you!"

"Mmm no I don't think so. Your father is dead." After a pause the voice feigned a gasp. "Dear me that was insensitive. I am sorry. You know if it makes you feel any better, you'll be joining him soon."

Tears welled up in her icy blue eyes. "Go away, go away," she whispered more as a wish than hope.

A scaly grey snout appeared over the ledge of her current rock. She couldn't see the dragon's eyes but wide nostrils where soaking up her scent and four-inch fangs dripped with saliva.

"Ahaha, there you are."

She crammed herself into the deepest corner.

First two wings, then two legs, and lastly a long finless tail dropped down.

"This little game of cat and mouse has been good fun." cold eyes on a snake-like head looked in at her. "But all fun and games must come to an end. And NOW..."