The Soul of a Dragon

Chapter 61

Vara

The only thing I register is red. The world has turned a bitter shade of crimson. Everything is red. From its soulless eyes to the blood staining my hands. Within a matter of split moments, this reality has been whirled around and turned upside down. A few minutes ago, my friends and I were hiding in the cave. Now, I'm pushing down on Snotlout's leg wound. He hasn't been bitten, luckily, but once the beast found us, the dragons were uncontrollable and Snotlout ended up in the middle of that - a mess of claws. He'll be okay. Though, he's whining about being bitten and feeling he's about to turn into something half-beast, half-human. I roll my eyes and keep on pushing until Astrid comes over with a torn-off piece of fabric I can wrap around his leg. That should do the trick for now. I can focus on the chaos around us again.

Unfortunately, it's dark. The dragons have fled out of the cave and I can hear them growling, roaring, and blasting fire. In midst of the noise, there's a distinct high-pitched screech. It's fucking painful. Every now and then, it is replaced by dark chuffing. That animal is toying with us. We're its playthings. I scoff. Fuck that. It's not killing my friends on my watch.

I still cannot make out any clear shapes. Nor words. Or anything. But considering the lifestyle of this animal - nocturnal and secretive - I bet it hears very well. So, I leave Snotlout with Astrid and make my way through dragon legs to the sideline. Hiding behind I tree, I narrow my eyes until I find what I'm looking for. Scales the deepest shade of crimson anyone could ever imagine shimmer in the moonlight once the smoke and fog clears a little. I don't know where its head is but I gasp nontheless at the sight of its brute size. Fishlegs and I haven't considered its size. We thought it would be similar to a night or light fury.

It's definitely bigger. Way bigger.

I stay focused on its moving silhouet and menacing growls. There's no doubting it is out for blood. My worried gaze turns toward my friends and I know I have to distract that beast to get them to safety. How do I do that, though?

There's no other option than getting straight into the mess.

Again, I am reminded of the night's thick smoke, a murky veil that obscures everything beyond a few feet. The acrid scent stings my nose and burns my eyes, but I push forward, determined to find the Lycanwing before it can attack my friends. Every step feels like I'm wading through a dense, dark fog. The air is heavy, suffocating, and each breath is a struggle.

"Hiccup!" I shout, my voice barely piercing through the smoke. "Heather! Fishlegs!" My voice is hoarse. „Tuffnut! Ruffnut! Eret! There's no answer, just the eerie silence of the distant, muffled sounds of chaos. Somewhere out there, my friends are fighting, and I need to keep the Lycanwing away from them.

Another low growl rumbles through the smoke, sending a shiver down my spine. I unsheathe a dagger that I keep at my hip and grip it tightly, my heart pounding in my chest. I don't think it will do much against its impenetrable scales but at least it's something. The beast is close - too close. I can almost feel its presence, a dark, looming shadow in the thick haze.

I inch forward, my eyes scanning the smoke for any sign of movement. Suddenly, a massive, dark shape bursts through the fog, and I barely have time to react. But I quickly realise it's one of our dragons, fleeing. I don't recognise whose dragon it is but I do recognise the bone-chilling feeling of its cold and immense presence behind me. I dodge to the side as the Lycanwing's claws swipe through the space where I was standing just moments before. The beast lets out a deafening roar, its blood-red eyes glowing like embers in the darkness.

But I've had enough of games. I've had enough of fathers showing up out of nowhere and revealing themselves to be monsters. I've had enough of people kidnapping or trying to kill my friends. And I've certainly had enough of this fella right here. "Over here, you overgrown lizard!" I yell, trying to draw its attention away from my friends. I wave my blade, the metal glinting faintly in the dim light. The Lycanwing turns its head, its eyes locking onto me with a predatory gaze. I still cannot make out clear shapes but I can see some of its features now.