Selene

Chapter Forty-Seven

Albion screamed five very sharp and angry calls. He didn't bother with the Shriek; it made no difference to... those things. Those tiny, terrible terrible things, that were beginning to circle the humans he had followed- and consequently him!

The Gryphon opened his wings and launched, heading west. There was still time. He could escape the closing circle of death if he left immediately at his fastest speed. With a lilt of his head and careful study with his favorite eye he saw his humans charging toward the other humans coming out of the wall, at the front of the line a familiar brown horse and flaxen haired rider.

Clack clack clack clack clack...

He tsked. The humans had gone too far and now they were paying for it. Besides it wasn't any of his business anyways.

"Sir they've entered the battlefield."

"Finally," Justinian watched carefully, eyeing a feisty chestnut horse at the front. No, the rider was a common officer, and it was much too soon. Probably one of Artorījos Captains.

Rrrawk! Rraw-raaw. Rrrrawk!

Stormfly pulled against her chains. She knew she was angry; angry at being chained down, angry at seeing her human pack but not being able to go to them as they approached danger, angry that these Southerners were soooo... nice? It didn't make sense. They did things an enemy would do but so kindly and gently. Did they have a good reason? Her girl wasn't fighting them very hard. In fact Stormfly had smelled a very relaxed, almost friendly mood between Astrid and the gentle Southerner that sometimes rode her. Were they like Bog Burglars? Frenemies? She didn't know.

Yet neither Astrid or the Friendly Southerner were anywhere to be smelled. There was a Viking out there that looked like her girl but you can't fool a Nadder with looks.

Pull your chains, She sent a message. But don't attack the Southerners... yet.

With grunts and hisses the other dragons followed her lead for the most part. Cloudjumper was a little testy. No matter what the cause he'd always fight a chain or cage and anyone who happened to be on the other side of it.

"Why did they give up so much ground?" The officer next to him asked. "Do you think they haven't spotted the Piranharrow? That they don't know they're hemmed in?"

"Unlikely. They've probably got archers in the trees and want to lure the troops closer for a better shot."

"Fools. Their arrows can't pierce through our shields."

"Sir, what is that thing?" an officer pointed to a large, golden feathered creature hovering indecisively over the forest.

"A gryphon. Looks like he got caught in Alvin's death trap. Pretty uncommon but they still haunt these parts."

"That would make quite the trophy." One of the other officers said.

The first officer gave a vicious look to the second, silently staking his claim on the beast.

"Hmmm." Justinian swept the field again with his eyes. Vibrant, multicolored wings shimmered in the early sunlight. The creature dove with impressive speed, effortlessly slaying one of the few Berber horses they had left.

"Send someone to tell Alvin," The Commander spat, "That I hate being lied to. That Mimikoo is anything but stupid and awkward."

"Sir," Cyrus came running up. "A message from Alvin."

Officers and Commander turned, exchanging glances.

"Well don't just stand there what is it soldier?"

"He said: 'that's not a Mimikoo.'"