Chivalry Isn't Dead | A Clawtie Fanfiction

• Can't Fight the Feeling Anymore •

Claw rode through the clouds, soft paws on the reins. The night was cold and the sky was a black infinite. The stars were the only lampposts, for nature owned most of the land. Speaking of, trees became the field, sharp and green that blended within the night and grass. The only exclusives were the grey boulders here and there and the rare yellow pupils of the smallest creatures based on how high the pup was from the ground.

A small gurgling growl caught his attention, raising his head to look forward. "No, I was just thinking of some stuff," he replied in his amazing understanding of his own stead, who replied with a whiffing blow. "We're running out of time, Sparks. We need a plan before everything goes downhill."

Indeed, Claw was deep in thought. The freezing breeze was nothing in comparison to his heavy heart. The tasks he must do and the mentality it takes to accomplish them. Just catching the unnatural yellow light from the distance, as if a big party was on its way, made it hard for him to breathe. He convinced himself that he needed to at least cause enough progress to consider his assignment as complete. That was easier said than done.

"Okay, you ready, buddy?" He tapped Sparks's back scales, receiving a smile he copied to return before they silently dove down near the location.

Hiding from sight, Claw focused on his hearing in order to listen to the voice. It spoke in a tone of anxiousness, shaky and disturbed. It sounded like the speaker would much rather return home than make themselves company for the current event they were forced to be in. Claw came closer to listen some more, peeking from around the corner to see the Princess of Barkingburg on stage standing behind a microphone.

"I have yet to tell his owner of his absent whereabouts, hoping we'll be able to find him before we consider the necessary protocols. With this, I beg of you-all of you-" she opened both her arms towards the crowd, concern on her face as she gazed upon her people-"if you see him, please, contact us. You will be greatly rewarded in your honest and heroic duty. Chase is a pup like no other. He deserves better than to be held somewhere in fear, surrounded by the dangerous unknown."

Claw gulped from the awkward situation he had, for the missing pup the princess was looking for was having a good sleep back at his place.

However, his chest tightened from the pup that approached the microphone, replacing the princess's place. A helper came and the stand was lowered to her height, a paw tapping on the microphone to make sure she could be heard.

"Chase was last seen battling Claw to protect our city. I was saved by him. I want to honour his name tonight and wish the best for his return. Once he comes back, he shall be rewarded for his selfless bravery. For the latter name just spoken..." Claw awaited for the message Sweetie had for him, afraid of the contents but he couldn't help but listen. "... he shall be put on trial and accompany our cleaners for community services. If ever he is guilty, he shall pay a hefty amount for the chaos he had caused and be put within isolation for a few months."

The crowds' boos were heard. The punishment wasn't enough for them. One of the people even requested for Claw's execution.

Claw raised his wrist to check his old watch, and it finally reached the eighth hour of the evening. "Let's go, Sparks." He hopped onto his dragon, wing beats bouncing into the air before Sparks roared, inducing panic.

"Claw, are you mad!" The acting Duke stood forth on stage coming from behind it, an arm crossing Sweetie to appear as her guardian. "After the chaos you have caused, what audacity do you possess to hurt the royalties even more?"

"I care not about the royalties, I only bear the thought of their downfall. Tonight, the Princess of Barkingburg shall meet her end."

With that, Sparks let out his flaming breath, careful as not to hurt anyone and allowing the public to escape. Sparks then shot heat towards the stage where the royalties stood, disabling their ability to escape through the front, although he was aware they could head to the back. That was their plan, after all.

Claw ordered Sparks to keep the flames up just below the stage. However, he was caught off-guard from the device the princess suddenly whipped out before aiming. It shot out a projectile that widened, becoming a large net. Claw barely dodged it from his saddle, yet his leaning away made Sparks move and he began pushing flames into the ceiling of the stage.

The sight horrified them. Sweetie was separated from the Duke and her owner, surrounded by fire as she was at center stage. Claw had no choice but to hop down his stead, who panicked and began flapping his wings, which only made the fire worse.

"Don't worry, Sweetie!" he tried to reassure within the chaos, jumping through the fiery bushes to hold Sweetie, yet she pushed him away.

"Get away from me!" she said.

"I'm here to save you," Claw tried, pushing back to avoid being thrown into the inferno. However, he lost track of his strength for a second. A second was all it took.

Sweetie fell back, a loud shriek shaking Claw to his core. Upon setting sight on Sweetie, her forepaws were black and she held them to her chest, tears leaking out her eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Claw approached the pup yet she crawled away, her expression of that who feared for her life. It brought despair to the Dobermann.

Suddenly, he felt a weight on his back, his head banging on the wooden floorboards. The sound of fire extinguishers took over the place and he couldn't do anything but wiggle, which did little to help him escape. He turned his head away from the stage yet Sparks was absent. He must've fled from the chaos earlier.

"Sweetie!"

The Prince of Barkingburg ran over to her injured pup, who threw herself over her dress as she sobbed from pain. The human's eyes glared at Claw.

"This is the last time you'll hurt anyone here ever again. Take him to his cell!"

Claw had no say, for he was captured. He followed the guards, only to come close to the Duke in the corner, who knelt down to his level.

"You failed again," he whispered, although despite the disappointing results, he had that uneasy smile, and Claw immediately realized why. "You didn't tell me you and Sweetie had something. Thank you for the information. Let's see if you're going to fail again if I ever help you escape. After all, her life is now in your paws."