DragonTribes #1: RiverTribe

Chapter 11: Red Moon

Alicia had a hard time sleeping on the cold stone floor. They were awoken early, the key keeper banged the keys against the bars.

"Here's your breakfast, savor it." He said and threw what looked like garbage into the cell.

Alicia stuck her tongue out in disgust, "What is this? It looks like-"

"Garbage?" Axel interrupted.

Alicia looked at him, eyes wide.

"That's because it is. They feed us what the tribe throws away after watching the Arena." Axel snorted.

Alicia picked through the trash. There was a fish, but it was burnt all over. Axel snatched it from Alicia and crunched on the burnt scales. Alicia sighed and continued rummaging. She found a half eaten chicken leg. She ate around the already bitten part and whatever else was left. The chicken tasted horrible. She sat back with a sigh.

The guards, Richard and Francis, walked past their cells. They returned with Ramses ahead. Alicia looked up hopeful for some sort of acknowledgement from him, but he continued walking like before with his head hung down. Alicia clenched her fists, angry Ramses wouldn't speak to her.

She sat in the silence, anxious. The thunderous roar never sounded. The door didn't open for a long while. Alicia chewed on her fingernails.

"That's a bad habit, you know, " Axel interrupted her chewing.

Alicia lowered her hands and wrapped them around her legs. The door opened, but Ramses did not emerge from the light.

"I've never seen anything like that." Richard spoke in disbelief.

Francis shook his head, "What kind of dragon was that?"

Are they talking about Ra? Was Ramses forced to fight Ra? Did Ra kill Ramses? How dare Rei do something like this! Alicia snorted in disgust. Axel looked at her quizically. The guards came down and approached their cell. Alicia stiffened. I don't want to kill another one. I don't dare set a foot in that sand again. Francis came in and pulled Alicia to her feet like before. He unlocked her shackles and handed them to Richard. They waited for Alicia to walk to the door. She stood still. Richard grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward. She squealed from the pain of his grasp then reluctantly walked to the door. Francis handed her a lighter and smaller sword. At first she was glad she could easily hold it. Then, she realized it was so she couldn't kill the dragon as easily. Richard pushed her through the door onto the sand of the Arena floor.

"Survivor of novices' day, Alicia of the RiverTribe!" Rei announced.

Alicia looked up at him like before. He was no longer riding Ra. Where's Scorch? She scanned the crowd for the boy from yesterday. He was in his same spot, leaning over the wall. The boy raised a hand to her. Alicia blinked, confused. Is he waving at me? She nodded her head at him.

"Send out, Burn!" Rei boomed.

A large door opened. Alicia raised her sword. I'm going to do the best I can not to kill it. There has to be another way. Burn prowled out of his cage. His eyes locked on Alicia's. He zig-zagged closer and closer. Alicia stood still, watching Burn as he slowly put one talon in front of the other. Then, he flapped his wings and pounced. The sword flew from Alicia's hand. Burn chomped down on Alicia's leg. Sharp pain shot up all throughout the right side of her body. Alicia grabbed a handful of sand and threw it directly into Burn's eye. Burn instantly released and sneezed. Alicia looked at her bloodied leg. She crawled to the sword, every inch in her right leg stinging with pain. Burn effortlessly scratched his eye. I have to kill Burn, or I'll be killed. Burn roared and ran to Alicia. She stood, flinched at the pain in her leg, then swung the sword. The sword cut Burn's snout. He roared and opened his mouth to spray fire. Alicia closed her eyes and thrusted the sword into Burn's mouth. She opened her eyes, she had missed Burn's mouth. The sword, instead, was lodged between Burn's eyes. The crowd cheered, which sounded twice as loud in the Arena than the cell.