Scales to Skin

XIII

Carnation

Firefly stopped struggling and steeled her gaze against Qibli. Even with the blade still pressed to my throat, I somehow found myself holding my breath until he placed her gently in a cage, where all five of the other humans had somehow ended up.

Winter, looking even paler than usual, walked up next to the others and whisper-growled something. Qibli roared in surprise, whirling towards him, but Peril and Umber were both nodding. 

Peril growled at him with a glare, then Winter let out a sigh/huff/growl before placing a talon over Qibli's. The growling kept going for another five minutes before Grizzly intervened.

"Hey! You scaly stink-breathed monsters! Are you making the trade or not?!" He shouted. Qibli glanced down at us, then closed his eyes. Before opening them again, he quickly nodded.

"Are you gonna- ARGHH!!!!" Grizzly screamed as Qibli snatched us up into the air. I could feel all of Grizzly's limbs flailing, except for the one holding the sword to my neck. I shook a bit as well, but it was a lot less voluntary. In fact, I did my best to keep from moving, avoiding the curved edge of the blade at all costs.

However, all caution was thrown to the wind when Qibli threw back his head and opened his gaping maw, revealing dozens of sharp, white teeth. The sword drew a shallow cut across my neck, and drips of blood spilled onto Qibli's tongue. 

However, my mind was numb to any pain as I thrashed harder, directing every bad word I knew in Moon's direction. That lying-

My thoughts were put on hold when Grizzly swung his sword away from me, sending it crashing down into Qibli's mouth. A moment later, we were free falling through the air.

Winter put a claw on Qibli's shoulder as he hacked and sputtered, eventually spitting the sword, coated in a dark substance, across the room.

Umber leaped on Grizzly and I throwing him in an empty cage and me in the same one as the others. It was quite crowded, but that was the least of my worries as I fell to the ground, tears spilling down my cheeks.

That could've been it, I realized. I could've died right then.

I always knew I would die young, most likely at the hands of a dragon. We were all taught the same things growing up. 

Don't focus on what you can do for yourself, now. It most likely won't matter in a year or two. Instead, focus on what you can do for future generations. Give them the best chance for survival possible.

My brother was proof that their words were true. He always did his best to provide for his village and family. But he also focused on himself, and the one day that ever really mattered to him was the day he died. His wedding day. Ruined.

"I've been so selfish," I realized. I wasn't sure if I said it out loud, or if she was just reading my thoughts, but Moon leaned in close and put her arms around me.

I spent all this time worrying about my own survival, when possibly the biggest chance ever to help future generations was right in front of me. I didn't shrug Moon off. Even if Qibli and the others were just like all dragons, there was something special about Moon. I didn't want to admit it, but I had known it since pretty much the moment I met her.

I don't know how long we stayed in that position, with me on the ground her arms around me. I know that at some point Fern joined in, then Firefly, then all the others. I know that we stayed like that even when the dragons brought us back to the enclosure, and they didn't bother separating us. They simply put the cage down on the ground facing the door, and no one left. I know that we stayed there so long, I fell asleep.