The Elementals | Book 1. The Cliffs of Immensi

Chapter 12

Concord shivered and began to tremble nervously. No, Concord. Don't run. Don't be the coward this time. But he couldn't stop himself. He took a step back. It was a mistake. A loud "CRACK" echoed around the room as he stepped on a root protruding out of the stone floor.

The drake raised its head at the sound, its huge, yellow eyes swiveling around to focus on Concord.

Concord felt a wave of panic surge through him. Don't run, don't run! The others aren't running. There's no need to panic. Just... stay calm. He took a deep breath.

Cascade stared at the books beneath the drake, avoiding its gaze. I need that knowledge. What's there that's so important it must be guarded?

The drake stood, steam erupting from its nostrils, as if it had heard Cascade's greedy thoughts.

Maybe we'll have to kill it first, but nevertheless...

The drake roared. A horrifying, deafening noise, low-pitched, echoing around the walls. Then it took a deep breath and sent flames flying towards them.

Andrea gasped and bit back a scream as she made a swift hand motion to throw the flames to the side. As the ball of fire swerved from its path at her will, slamming into the side wall, she gave a sigh of relief. It worked, phew. Usually flames aren't too eager to obey me.

But the drake wasn't about to stop its attack. It leapt forward, straight towards where they stood.

Andrea fired a ball of flames at the drake, but it did nothing to slow its approach. Cascade took water from a pool in the center of the room and streamed it towards the drake, but it met her attack with a ball of flame, vaporizing it. Then the drake was almost upon them.

As the drake bore down on them, Concord froze where he was, paralyzed by his fear. No no no no no no no...

Omar saw Concord freeze, and knew that Andrea and Cascade wouldn't make it out of the path of the drake in time either. Flashing a glance towards the quickly advancing drake, he boosted himself, with the speed of the wind, towards his companions. Tackling Concord and shoving Andrea and Cascade to the side with blasts of air, he threw them out of the drake's path. Omar flinched and shuddered as he heard the drake's jaws snap shut in the open air where they had been standing.

They picked themselves up from the ground quickly, the shock and fear of the drake's previous sudden attack invigorating them. As the drake snarled and ran towards them once more, Concord reacted immediately, angry with himself for his previous inability to fight. Taking the stone and earth from the ground, he flung a wall up in front of them, blocking the flames. There. Not cowardly. Concord winced. Though it did take me a minute to un-freeze.

The earth wall fell almost immediately. Huge talons pierced it, tearing it in half, and huge jaws crushed the stone.

Concord stifled a small scream. He turned to Cascade. "Do you think we should run now?" His panic was returning.

"No. We need that knowledge." And I know how to get it. Cascade summoned water from the pools outside the door and streamed it towards the drake in a strong jet, shoving it back a bit. "Help me push him back against the wall!"

They all paused, but as another wave of flames came their way, with Concord keeping it away once more, they put in their efforts. Omar blasted air towards the drake, shoving it back even more. Concord raised another slab of stone and shot it forward, pressing it against the huge creature with all his might. Andrea attempted to summon a ball of fire, but now that her panic had subsided, it was to no avail.

"Now, someone- Andrea, get some of the books!!"

Andrea nodded. I know that Cascade can hold the drake back. Plus, she's got the others to help. I can make it past this drake, my powers working or not. Andrea sprinted forward, running as fast as she could towards the drake. As it launched a fireball towards her, she offset its course slightly so that it wouldn't hit her, for that was all she could do. Her initial fright and panic had melted away, and so her control over the flames had weakened. Each time a sphere of fire flew towards her, she adjusted its course slightly. Finally, approaching the pile of books, she slid between the legs of the drake and snatched two of the glowing tomes from the pile. As she rose to her feet once more, she was nearly dragged down again by the weight of the objects she carried. They're so heavy. I don't think I could even carry more than these.