Dragon Spire (Hiatus)

Chapter 3

Amaya POV

I sat in a tree, with Rafaella and Mom on each side of me. I could tell that Rafaella was nervous, the way she was always glancing around, and how she tensed at every little noise. I could also tell because I was doing the exact same thing. "Calm down. All of your movement is not going to help you two not get caught. I presume that you don't want to be caught?" my mom whispered, trying to lighten up the mood. It worked- sort of. We were still nervous, who wouldn't be? But we knew that we had to look ahead and not give up, ever.

A rustling noise brought me back to the present, and I looked below. To my relief, I saw Corin and Talhin. But then I almost cried out as I saw the hunters as well, surrounding them. I watched the whole thing in disbelief, knowing that helping would get me caught as well. I would really, really like to help, but I was trying to do my best for the Flight- after all I would be the Luna someday.

I watched also as the boys played their trick, but still knowing that with the weapons the men carried I would have absolutely no chance. I have been told that it is always like this. If you carry weapons, then they can kill you. None of us take that chance, knowing that if we can, we must preserve our race in its true nature until the very end.

All of the captured ones cannot be considered part of our race. They are twisted and warped until they are only a shell, one that can be easily manipulated. Once I saw a dragon that they brought with them, from atop the place where the children and elders hide. Its eyes were dull, and there was no spark, nothing to let us know that it was even alive. It did what it was told, let humans ride it, and even ate the kibble that they fed it. They treated it as if it were no better than an unintelligent animal.

The reason my mom, Rafaella, and me brought weapons was so that if it became a dire need we could use them. I was already stashing them in the hollow of the tree. I then turned my attention to the boys and the Hunters. I watched as they were knocked out cold. It was so unfair, why did they have to take us? And my friends of all of us? Why? I almost broke down then and there, but that is not what a Luna does.

After it was over, the men split into two groups- one to take Talhin and Corin back, and one to continue Hunting. I watched, as they took two of my friends away. I must have leaned a little too far, because my mom grabbed my shirt and yanked me back against the trunk, hissing at me to watch my actions. Too late, I thought to myself as I saw a young boy whip around and stare at the spot where I just was.

"I saw one! Over there!" he yelled, pattering towards the tree we were in.

I group mind linked Rafee and my mom. Group mind linking is something that only the Alpha, Luna, Head Warrior, or parents to their children can do. I also have no idea why I can mind link Rafee, I guess we are just really close friends.You guys follow me, I am going to lead the group away, since he knows what I look like. Follow at a distance, though.

No. You can't. I cannot let you get caught. my mom said.

Amaya, you know you shouldn't do this, but I understand why you want to. Rafee commented, and I pouted, because she was on Mom's side too.

But I have to. I can probably escape, and if they catch me you guys will be right there. I just need to get them away from you guys, plus that boy down there will know there is more than one of us if someone else leads them. I can do this. I said back heatedly.

Fine, I guess. Rafee huffs.

Honey, I will let you, but don't be afraid to mind link me if things get rough and I'm not already there. my mom said after a pause.

Thanks! I yelled, ending the mind link and taking off jumping through the branches.

That was one of my specialties, and I loved it. Jumping around in trees was like jumping on the ground for me, and I was the fastest in my training group.I turned around, making it seem like I was trying to see if I was being followed, but actually I was seeing if they were following me. Which they were. I ran off with them following me, and they ran faster and faster. I looked behind me and while I was doing that, I was not paying attention and my foot caught on a branch and I fell from the tree I was in with quite a bit of force. They laughed. That was what got me angry. Nobody, nobody laughs at a dragon-shifter.N-O-B-O-D-Y. I knew I should not have attacked, but I guess my wild side got ahold of me.

I screeched and jumped at the one nearest to me - not a great decision, as I was only one being, and they were many. They finally stopped laughing after I clawed the man to bits. They threw everything they had at me, and finally my mom and Rafee jumped in.

You can't do that! my mom yelled sternly through mind link. Typical mom.

It was pretty funny. Did you see the look on the guys face? Rafee asked me.

Rafaella, we are fighting here, not the time for recounts. Talk to you later, I told her.

Then I payed more attention to the man if front of me. He was one of the younger ones, and still had yet to learn the horrible things that they put into human's brains. Terrible. Oh well, I guess I would probably be putting those things there for whoever was going to tell them.I hissed at him and flattened my ears. Did I forget to mention that I stay in my half-dragon, half human state, which includes horns, slitted eyes, pointed ears, fangs, wings, and a tail. Of course they wouldn't let me get away with it. He looked at me with something like pity in his eyes before I felt a jab in my back and the world decided to sway.Tranquilizer, really? Okay, it makes most of us pass out, but only the kind with Hemlock in it can do anything to us with Alpha blood. So I pretend to pass out, and know that they will buy it, until they jab something else into me and I feel my body shudder, and realize that they knew about the whole hemlock thing. They must have seen how I was not really going to pass out, and now they knew of my worth to them. As I sank to the ground, my last thought was: Ugh, I hate humans.

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Rafaella's POV

I watched as my best friend sunk to the ground, eyes glazed over, horror and disgust written on her face. But only her mom and I could see it, because as heir, she had to keep a calm demeanor at all times. So the only thing that showed was her glazed over eyes. Then they too shut and I heard the thunk as she hit the ground. That was it, they were going to regret this.

I jumped, screaming and animalistic cry, from my crouched position in the clearing. The men looked up with shock and horror, and a few even looked as if they were going to pee their pants. That would be hilarious. Not the time, Rafaella, I told myself. I hissed and jumped at the guy who had stuck a tranq in Amaya. He looked at me once, before I hit his side. His breath woofed out of him and a punched him before I was dragged back by my arms. I let my nails turn to claws and started to claw my way out of their hold.

I understood some of the human's language, but only because of the words brought back and pieced together by others who had survived the Hunts. It was complex, however ours we be almost impossible for them to understand. I heard them say something about hemlock and tranquilizer and knew that they would probably catch me. I still fought as hard as I could, injuring all of the men that held me. I felt the tranquilizer pierce my skin and immediately felt the effects. Poisons and tranqs work faster on us, and finally I slumped to the ground, defeated.