Powder

Chapter Six: Up the Mountain

"Down! Patrol incoming!" I quickly hissed at her as we took cover in some large shrubs on the side of a mountain.

Scarlet let out a snarl as she looked up to see the group of dragons currently flying overhead.

"What type of dragons are those?" I asked as I noted that they were a mix of green and blue colors.

"Seawing's, probably scouting out my kingdom for Gill."

"Who's Gill?"

"A poor dragon that I may or may not have dehydrated for months till he died in a recent arena battle, poor dragon, he may have lost his mind." She said somberly while looking down before a maniacal grin spread across her face. "But it was fun seeing him not remember who he was and seeing him so confused and angry all the time, always trying to regain some semblance of sanity, just out of reach, before I took it away, over and over and over again!" She cackled.

If she was like that before the injury, maybe this is the rare case where it's a good thing, maybe it'll be like giving a psycho some empathy for once. "And you sure you aren't a psychopath or a narcissist?"

She growled before petting my head with one of her talons. "You're lucky I like you, otherwise I would eat you in a heartbeat."

"I thought you hated me?" I asked in confusion.

"Keep talking and that'll be a fact!" She snapped her jaws at me, barely missing my arm.

"Scarlet..."

She sighed angrily and let another puff of steam out of her nostrils. "I know... wait." She said as she lifted her head out of the bushes. "It's clear." She announces as she lifts me on her neck as we start our trail back up the mountain. It wasn't long before we saw the first signs of draconic civilization. It was weird, seeing all the buildings, now scaled up for dragons. I wish I could have asked more about how society worked, but the less I conversed with Scarlet, the better, otherwise she might try eating my legs again, but maybe I could talk to her daughter, she may have been more sound of mind.

"Remember the plan, get in, get out." I whispered to myself so she couldn't hear. I took a nervous and shaky breath as we walked through the gates.

"Stop clinging to me, you aren't a child!" Scarlet snapped and I quickly let go, noticing the small indents on her scales from where I was grabbing. I gulped as I saw several red dragons, their wings massive, standing on local pillars and buildings while they observed us.

They growled things to us, but I had no idea what they were saying, but whatever they were saying, they only seemed to anger Scarlet as she then proceeded to yell at them profanities I had never heard before, before ultimately yelling, "Bring me my daughter or I'll tear you apart with my claws!"

There was silence among the dragons before there was a sudden softer growl coming from behind me and I was knocked to the ground as the dragon landed. A giant red Skywing, near the same size as Scarlet although more... clean looking, she had all her scales, all her engraved jewels still on her face.

I noticed that my jewel fell out and quickly dove on top of it before feeling myself picked up. "I see you've gotten yourself a pet?" Who I assumed was Ruby spoke up as she then rubbed one of her claws on my head. "What did she do to you, poor thing?" She asked while one of her other claws gently tapped my chest where the slash marks and bruises were still present.

"He deserved it!" Scarlet growled as she tried taking me back only for the smaller royal to shield me with her wings.

"What did you do-"

"Nothing, really, I'm fine." I quickly say to try and deescalate the situation, but instantly regret it the moment the words come out of my mouth.

"Shut your mouth, Teardrop, this between me and my daughter!"