The Dragon's Scale [COMPLETE]

23.2 || Survival

The next few traps their group encountered were similarly simple. Each contained enough energy for Cale to sense them. The next they ran into had a pressure-sensitive floor that slammed the walls together when people walked past; Cale created an earth bridge over it. After that, they triggered a large boulder to roll after them; Cale shifted the wall to create an alcove for everyone to stand in. By the time they reached the giant pit of spikes, Mara refused to let Cale do any more magic; she created a floor of ice that they slid across to get to the other side.

Every once in a while, Aharon grabbed his head from some "pressure" that faded after a few moments.

I hate this, Boomer grumbled. The more traps you see, the more I'm sure that place is going to explode.

Josh watched Cale's back as they scaled a staircase Aharon directed them to take. His shield weighed heavy, reminding him why he should be in front, but Cale had refused.

Perhaps he would let Josh walk beside him, but not ahead when he was still so new to this life.

I don't think it will, Josh said. And that somehow makes it all scarier.

Boomer sighed, and Josh sensed him pacing back and forth in the forest. Unlike usual, he was near Jodas, with Ezraim not too far away. Both of the older dragons lay on the ground. Jodas had grumbled that Boomer was wasting his energy on nothing multiple times.

Josh's dragon continued his track around the forest regardless.

The staircase curved as they continued upward. As the path straightened out, an opening appeared at the top. Cale slowed his ascent, forcing the others to as well.

"Mara, let me and Josh go ahead by five steps."

"Got it," she said.

Josh and Cale crept forward. After five steps, Aharon and Mara's footsteps pattered behind them.

The opening led to a strange rectangular room. Each wall had an opening with stairs leading up. The room itself was tiered with three levels leading to a large open space. Dragon heads lit the room. After every few dragon heads was a floor-to-ceiling alcove occupied by small dragon statues atop podiums.

Cale took a few steps into the room, eyes scanning the area, and waved for the others to come up. "I don't sense anything, but still look for any trap triggers."

Josh nodded and glanced around, but nothing in particular screamed "trap." He stared at the dragon statues and frowned. "I don't like those," he told Cale, pointing. Maybe it was the video games where everything in a room mattered, but he couldn't shake the feeling.

After a second of debate, Cale held his hand out toward the others. "We are going to look at something, so don't come in yet—"

Too late. Aharon took a step into the room and instantly dropped to his knees. He grasped his head with an ear-piercing scream.

Everything happened at once. The walls trembled as earth slid down to cover the doors. The dragon statues' mouths groaned open, and torrents of water spilled from their gaping maws. Rusty smelling red water streamed from the ceiling as it pulled open. When the hole grew large enough, gem frogs fell through until the bottom tier of the room filled with them and a pool's worth of water.

Mara dove into the room, sending water flying. She rolled to a stop between Josh and Cale.

"I'll work on breaking down a door. You two keep those things busy," Cale barked. He glanced between the three doors, turned to Aharon, and cursed. "I know you're hurting, kid, but I need you to tell me which way."