Researcher's Journal: A Journey Across Pyrrhia

Chapter 14: First Guard Contact, Back into the dungeons

(Day 7) 3:40 pm, South Wing of the SkyWing Palace

The dragon-human group moved stealthily through the massive, lavishly decorated halls of the palace. The male human, who had initially encountered Hornbill, led the way, guiding them through the labyrinth of corridors and chambers. The humans gave Hornbill a wide berth as they navigated the palace, their eyes filled with both awe and trepidation in the presence of a dragon.

Hornbill's senses were on high alert, his ears constantly twitching, his eyes darting around, and his body tense. He noted each turn and intersection, committing them to memory, and kept an eye out for windows and archways that led outside, creating a mental map for a potential escape route.

As they continued, Hornbill realized that the humans were leading them in a different direction from the path he and Sunny had taken during their escape. They were ascending in altitude, suggesting they might be headed towards one of the many towers that surrounded the main palace.

Suddenly, he heard the distant clicks of talon steps and of spears tapping the ground echoing down the corridor. Hornbill immediately halted, causing confusion among the humans. They questioned why he had stopped, but he quickly silenced them.

"Contact front, multiple guards approaching. Get cover, now," he alerted quietly. The humans, although initially puzzled, wasted no time. They used their small size to their advantage, slipping behind statues of the queen that lined the halls or taking refuge in corners and doorways.

Hornbill moved quickly, trying to open the many doors that dotted the hallway gave no results since all of them were locked. He looked around in a panic as the approaching steps of the guards caused his adrenaline to spike.

He realized that the approaching threat left him with no other option, and prepared himself for a direct confrontation. Frustrated that the locked doors lining the hallway offered no escape, he hid behind one of the pillars, his mind racing to form a plan.

He knew he was at a physical and numerical disadvantage, so catching the guards off guard would be his only chance. Remembering the words of his instructor, 'You always have the advantage when catching your enemy off guard,' he raised his venomous tail barb and braced himself for the impending confrontation.

Time seemed to slow as Hornbill's heart pounded loudly in his chest. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to steady his racing nerves. In the silence, he noticed that the hidden humans were now looking intently at something behind him. Taking a deep breath, he prepared himself for what was about to happen.

The voices of the approaching guards grew clearer as they neared, noting that one sounded male while the other female. They were talking about the queen and the dragonets of destiny escaping, and the mention of the dragonets snapped Hornbill's attention to their conversation. He focused intently on their approaching words, readying himself for a surprise attack.

When the guards were right beside him, Hornbill sprang into action. He pushed against the wall behind him and lunged at the guard closest to him. In the heat of the moment, he couldn't avoid using his injured arm, and a jolt of pain shot through him as they collided, sending both of them crashing to the ground.

Simultaneously, his tail whipped behind him, the barbed point striking the second, orange-colored guard square in the helmet with a massive clang, knocking him to the ground. Hornbill's quick and unexpected attack had taken them both by surprise.

Hornbill's swift and well-executed attack had given him the upper claw in the scuffle. He strategically positioned himself on top of the apple-red guard he had tackled, taking advantage of the surprise attack to secure his hold. With practiced precision, he managed to restrain the female guard in a winglock.