The Blood Moon Killer

Chapter 21: Fight

"I should've known I couldn't hide my presence from you. You are a Mindreader after all." "No." Moon replied with a slight shrug as she cracked her neck "you've been locked in a cave for many... Many... Many years. I wouldn't expect you to remain clean." Astraea's cool smirk slowly melted away into a disgusted frown. "Well. That's no way to speak to me. Haven't you been taught to respect your elders?" 

Moon tilted her head. "Not you. Anyone but you." Astraea let out a sigh and she lit a candle next to the door. "I'm disappointed. My prey usually put up more of a fight. All you're doing is smack-talking. Too afraid to get into a scuffle? Such a cowardly bitch." 

"Don't get to cocky." Moon replied in a low voice, head tilting to the side a bit. "Guess we'll have to see."

Astraea pounced forward with her claws outstretched. She's clearly going for the neck. Moon thought as she ducked. As soon as Astraea got close enough, Moon grabbed her claw and threw her against the wall. Astraea's body slammed into the wood and it created a cracks that made it look like Astraea was in the center of a spider's web. 

Moon wasted no time and ran towards her opponent to finish her off. Astraea waited until Moon was close enough, made it seem like she was down for the count to lure Moon in for the kill. Classic baiting tactics. Astraea opened her eyes and saw Moon's pouncing figure. Sticking out her tail, she was able to pierce Moon's side, earning a pained yelp for her. Moon flapped her wings and crashed though the window to escape.

Moon panted as she looked at her side. Blood was pouring out and the only light source were the moons above. She panted and placed her claw on her side to slow the bleeding. "Laaaa la laaaa la laaaaaa laaaaa.... Laa la laaaaa laaa laaaaaa." She heard Astraea sing. It was a chilling tune that made her scales crawl and her stomach churn. "Oh my~ You're bleeding a lot!" The look in her eyes were pure madness. Her pupils were shrunk and her eyes were wide.

"This would be quite the interesting meal." Astraea ran towards Moon with her tail moving side to side like an excited panther. Moon looked at the sand and back at the crazy Nightwing. In a split second, Moon used her wing to sweep the sand up and make it land in Astraea's eyes. 

"GAH! YOU FUCKING BITCH!" She cried as Astraea put her claws over her eyes and began to attempt to take out the sand grains. Moon took this opportunity to attack. She slashed her claws across Astraea's neck and knocked her back at the same time. So hard that she hit a nearby palm tree. Astraea gasped and fell to the floor as Moon began to pant. 

The wound is deeper than I thought... She took notice with a sigh. Astraea took a deep breath as her eyes finally opened. Seeing the opposing Nightwing rush towards her, the red-scaled dragon grabbed the palm tree and snapped it in half, causing it to fall on Moon, effectively breaking her back and her left arm in the process. 

"AAAAAHHH! THAT HURTS!" She cried out, as tears began to spill. Astraea looked around, then back at her trapped prey. "Like an injured antelope. There is no escape from the hungry lion." She cackled, stepping closer. Astraea ripped the palm tree off Moon and pinned her to the ground. Taking a deep breath, Moon attempted to shoot fire as a last ditch attempt to get Astraea injured, even killed. When she noticed the fire building up in Moon's throat, Astraea sighed and clamped Moon's snout shut with her claw "now now, we can't have that can we?"

Moon felt as though she was sinking, or falling. Maybe both. But she wished the ground would open and swallow her up to get her away from the Nightwing. Maybe Winter can save me... She thought. But that wouldn't be possible. He's too far away and she wouldn't want him or Whiteout to be dragged into this mess. Or see what was about to unfold.

Astraea slowly dipped her snout down and sniffed some of the blood that was pooling around her, then she stuck out her slit tongue and licked it. "Mm. Could do without the sand though. But this is a delectable taste." Astraea then ran her tongue from the base of Moon's neck, dragging it along her scales until she reached under Moon's ear. 

"S-Stoph!" She cried out, trying to free herself from her captor. Astraea ignored her and only gripped Moon's snout tighter. "Don't scream." She ordered, barring her teeth. Astraea looked at Moon's neck and smiled. "It's been soo loong since I've had a descent meal..." She sneered happily. 

"W-What.... What are you?" Moon chocked out as Astraea approached her snout to Moon's ear. "I'm a Nightwing. Same as you. But I suppose you're referring to my red scales. I got them because I was born under a Blood Moon. The blessed crimson light gave me powers, same as being born under regular moons. This time... Mmmm. My powers involve well...." "C-Cannibalism?" The pinned dragon chocked out with a tremble. 

"Precisely! We can get the abilities of those we eat, that said if the dragon I consume is a powerful Prophet, I'll get their abilities. If the dragon has a strong sense of smell, like a Mudwing, for example, I'll gain that. A Rainwing's ability to shoot venom. Me however, I prefer eating other Nightwings, the others did like the taste of other dragons too, but I have my preference. That too... So on and so forth. Not forever though... Sadly. That's why we went into hiding.  Nobody could accept us for who we really were. But we were given refuge under the Cult of the Blood Moon. Where we could all grow up safe and happy! We had so many amazing celebrations and rituals and prayers and masses...." Astraea's face drooped. "We were unfortunately hunted down. But you probably knew that. Afterall, your daughter and her little friends found our little hide-out. She'll make a most delectable appetizer!"

"Touch my daughter and your face'll get rearranged." Astraea blinked a few times at Moon's threat. "Oh. Ok. That was new." Opening her mouth as wide as it went. Astraea snapped her neck forward and plundged her teeth into Moon's neck, causing her to scream bloody murder. Astraea sunk her teeth deeper and Moon continued to scream. After ripping a chunk of Moon's scales and skin off and chewing, she looked around "wow... Sandwings can sleep through anything."

Astraea began to wipe her snout from Moon's blood and licked her lips. "Sour. Most likely because of your anger earlier. Please calm down! I prefer sweet things."

Moon tried lashing her tail to get some leverage, but Astraea quickly took notice and slammed her tail full force onto Moon's, a loud and ear-piercing 'crack' being rung throughout the trees. Moon's snout gapped open in shock and she could barely speak. 

"Awwww. Did I break your tail? Such a shame." To make matters worse, Astraea grabbed a weapon. Two to be exact. Moon hadn't noticed the small pouch around her ankle that kept the blades, but she surely was paying attention now. 

"I really didn't want to do this... But you've left me no choice slut." Twirling the daggers in between her talons, Astraea pushed the blade sagainst Moon's neck and caused it to bleed more, then in one quick strike, she made a small 'v' formation and there was a sickening slicing sound. 

That's when she lost all feeling and her vision faded.

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"Then what happened mama?" 

"Well, the prince came to the rescue of course! Before the evil villain could strike with their screaming sword, he stood in front of the princess and took the blow for her. She then cried out in pain and shock, seeing the one she cared for most hurt like that. But then.... Woosh! Out came their teacher to save the day!" Moon watched as her daughter looked intensely at the scroll in front of them. "But... The prince is okay right?" Moon shook her head "because of that, the prince got a scar on his chest that would never go away. The princess claims it's her fault." 

"But it's not! The princess can't control other dragon's actions, and it's not fair the prince got hurt and got a big ugly scar because of it."  Whiteout looked at Moon with watery eyes "aren't they going to have a happily-ever-after?" Moon gently rested her claw on the dragonette's head "of course, but, there will always be some bad things happening along the way. The important thing is to hold your head high and continue.

Because without courage, we have nothing."

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