The Lefko Trilogy

Chapter 2

A feral roar echoed across the island, shortly followed by a bright flash of light.  Deep in the forest, a Xokito with long, pointed ears dove away from a charge of electricity sent from the red dragon before her.  She rolled across the dirt letting a small grunt pass from her lips.  Gripping the hilt of her sword, she leapt to her feet angrily and faced the beast as its bright yellow eyes locked onto her.

The dragon growled, baring sharp fangs.  Deep scarlet scales glimmered in the sunlight.  The beast flexed the lean muscles in its long limbs, preparing to attack again. Its diamond head was adorned with short ivory horns above the eyes, their petite size indicating that the dragon was a female.  Her eyes were underlined by sparkling ivory scales, dotting the crimson of her complexion.  Creamy leather stretched over the tendons in her wings matching the tone of her stony underside and mixing the brutality of her ruby body with the milkier shade decorating her.

The young Xokito tightened her grip and held her open hand out, accumulating an orb of light in the sweating palm as she muttered a short Themolían phrase under her breath. Her auburn hair stuck to her grimy forehead.  Her deep green eyes watched calculatingly as the dragon crouched angrily, her muscles tensing and her long tail twitching violently.  “Get back,” the girl threatened, gripping the glowing orb and preparing to throw it.  

A snarl emitted from the dragon.

“I’m warning you,” she barked watching the dragon’s tail danced across the forest floor, sweeping dirt and dried leaves over small sprouts.  A rumble echoed from deep within the dragon and her tail hurtled through the air.  Ivory spines flashed in the corner of the Xokito’s eye.  She jerked her sword up, catching the spikes on her blade.

Diffusing the pulsing orb, she covered the hilt with both her hands clashing her strength with the dragon’s.  Her arms ached with fatigue as she pitched the sword against the dragon’s scales.  A harsh laugh broke through her twisted grimace and the razor edge sliced under the claret scales.  Thick muscle split under the weapon; navy blood seeped over the silver metal.  With a livid roar the dragon struggled against the weapon as she threw all her weight against the cutting edge.  Her tail lashed, throwing the Xokito across the ground. 

Dimly, the Xokito’s long pointed ears detected the dragon move.  She rolled onto her back, groping the damp earth for the hilt of her sword. A low growl ripped from the dragon’s throat and the Xokito saw scarlet flash through her blurred vision.  Strong paws gripped her shoulders, lifting her and then driving her into the ground with crippling force.  The Xokito cried out as her ribs cracked violently under the dragon’s weight.  Yellow eyes locked onto her forest green ones.  Pain seared through her.

The dragon glared as the beastly features began to shift.  At first it was just a subtle alteration in the scales.  They became dull as her snarl grew larger and her claws clamped into the Xokito’s skin, drawing blood.  Her tail snaked across the ground and disappeared behind her.  The horns on her head and rigid spines on her back melted into the dragon’s thick body.  On her underside, the solid ivory chest plate softened and merged with the surrounding muscle.

 The Xokito screamed in agony again as the intrusive daggers withdrew from her flesh and the weight eased from her chest.  She forced her eyes open to watch the sickening transformation.  The dragon’s scales smoothed until they were no more than etchings on the fading scarlet.  Her face flattened, merging the wide snout with her prominent cheek bones.  Sandy hair sprouted from her skull and bones ground against one another as they were rearranged inside her body.  The long serpentine neck compressed. 

The dragon roared loudly and her defeated opponent grimaced as she watched the terrifying fangs dull.  Electricity sparked with the deafening noise.  The forked tongue swelled until it resembled that of the Xokito’s and the threatening roar cracked and morphed into a sharp yell. “—out!”  The last of the scarlet faded, leaving behind tanned skin.