Wings of Fire Hunter of Dragons *TEMPORARILY DISCONTINUED*

Chapter 1 - My Fire and Claws

Note: Some violence, but no more than the actual books. And also, I don't own Wings of Fire. This is a fanfic.

I snarled softly, leaping forwards. I crept forwards towards Deathbringer, who sat in the cave, tail flicking impatiently as he waited. Quickstrike watched me assessingly as she crouched high above on the ledge, watching.

I pressed my belly to the ground and darted into the shadows. I held my claws up, stepping only on my back ankles so the scrape of my talons wouldn't sound on the ground. I breathed through my nose, forcing myself not to pant and breathe as silently as I possibly could.

Reluctantly, I held back my snarl, waiting for it to come once I lunged. I crept slowly towards Deathbringer, tail raised so my tail didn't scrape on the ground. Slowly I stepped forwards and counted as I slunk through the shadows.

One, two, three, four....

Almost there. Just a bit further.

Five, six, seven...

I want to hiss, to growl menacingly, snarl at him, but I held it back, pressing myself even further to the ground until I was almost lying down, I quickly checked that my crouched legs weren't sticking out as I stepped forwards once more. I was so close.

Eight. Nine.

I bunched my muscles, ready to spring. I wouldn't use the discs. I'd use my fire and claws. I guessed Quickstrike wouldn't like that, she had told me to use the discs. But if I was going to be an assassin, I had to do it my way.

Ten.

I threw myself forwards with a vicious snarl that surprised even myself. If it shocks even me, I realized, then it will scare Deathbringer even more.

Deathbringer yelped with surprise but whipped around, baring his teeth, his black-blue eyes wide as he lashed out with his claws, slamming me away with his tail.

Don't be afraid, I told myself. He's trying to scare you. If you aren't scared, you'll fight even harder, then he'll be the scared one.

I snarled loudly, throwing myself forwards. Deathbringer's slashes stung but I ignored them.

Embrace the pain. There's no need to fight it. Just fight him.

I pushed forwards with such force that he stumbled and I breathed a jet of flame. I saw which way he was going and quickly fired close to him, but not so close it would hit him. But it would definitely scare him.

As he froze, cautious now, I leapt and slashed with my claws, over and over. I had to aim for the stomach and wings. They were the most vulnerable. I pushed Deathbringer onto his back and pinned his down. He struggled back, hitting me relentlessly with his tail. I bared my teeth, pressing my face close up to his and I continued to slash at his wings, just not enough to do real damage.

Finally he fell limp below me, giving up, and I reached to slash his throat.

"That's enough!" Quickstrike's voice rang out from high above us. "Back off now, Hunter. Good work."

I stepped back, flicking my twin with my tail smugly. "Hope you aren't to injured, Death."

Deathbringer stood up, wincing slightly. "No more injured than all the other times you've attacked me," he answered. He glanced down ruefully at some barely visible scars on his shoulders, wings and tail. "But that was amazing, Hunter."

I nodded shortly, peering at the blood on him. There wasn't much, just some red marks along his jet black wings and some worse gashes on his stomach. But they'd heal quickly. The injury on my own foreleg stung, but I ignored it.