Paws of Vitality

CHAPTER 1

CRIMSON

Crimson wasn't the type to listen to orders. Most dragons began to lose trust in him, thinking of him as 'sloppy' and 'irresponsible'. Some called him, 'Tenebris's son who he probably shouldn't have had'.

But they simply did not understand. It wasn't his fault that he accidentally blew up a barn once. He didn't even want to go on that stupid fishing trip anyway. He wanted to spite his father in some way, and so what if a few cows blew up?
"You're pathetic!" Crimson remembered how Tenebris approached him, like he was about to throw him into the canyon right there. "Why can't my only son be worth something? You're a disappointment."

Crimson remembered standing on the edge of the cliffside, his eyes watering. He often looked back on that memory and felt disgusted with himself. He would never cry again, not if he wanted to maintain his status.

"I don't know why Her Majesty sent me to go with you on your mission. I'm nobody."

"Mother sees something in you- maybe you'll be fit for a pastry chef one day! Ooh- or maybe a dish washer." He chuckled.

Zaffre glared up at him, his azure scales glistening in the sunlight.

"I don't find your remarks funny. This is why no one takes you seriously."

"You just don't know how to have fun in life. Father is angry ALL the time, and mother-" He frowned. "Well, anyway. Where were we?"

Zaffre shook his head. "One of the scouts mentioned a skull wolf sighting, near Seal Bay."

"Perhaps this will be interesting." He stretched out his wings and caught a gust of wind that carried him up into the sky.

I'm certain I could be a much better King than Father. He's strong- but he's quite stupid. He acts on impulses rather than stopping to think.

He tilted his wings and ducked below the clouds, the valley going on for miles below him.

If I was King, I could wipe out this entire forest. Rid them of wolves and skull dogs and whatever else is lurking in these woods.

"Sir- we're here!"

Crimson nodded and swooped downward, landing in the sand. He curled his claws inward, looking around to inspect his surroundings.

Zaffre stumbled and slammed against a wave.

"Keep it up! You're doing a fine impression of a walrus." Crimson chuckled and tilted his head to the side, glimpsing at what looked like a cluster of trees.

Zaffre shook his wings out, trudging wetly over to Crimson.

"I'd suggest you stay far away from me. I've just had my scales polished and If I get seaweed on them I might tear your wings off." He grinned at the idea of that- then paused. Keep your composure. You're acting like Father. Letting your temper get to the best of you.

Zaffre whimpered nervously, his wings shaking slightly.

"There's obviously no one else here," Crimson sighed. But what about those trees? "Now If I was a skull beast I would hide there." He began to start his way down the beach, Zaffre hurriedly following behind.

As they approached the forest, darkness began to loom overhead, encapsulating around them like the mouth of a Venus fly trap. Zaffre leaned closer to Crimson, mumbling words under his breath.

"What's the matter?" Crimson asked. "Scared you're going to get captured by a spooky wolf?"

"It's not funny." He said faintly.