The Ember of Life

Chapter 13

Ebony's claws sank into the Red's shoulders, and they rolled over and over in the grass, clawing and biting at one another. Ebony snapped his head to the left, avoiding a burst of flame from the Blazehide, and sprang onto the Red as they rolled to a stop. He scraped his claws against the Red's chest, sinking his teeth into the robber's throat. The robber yelped horribly. His ally sprang to his aid, spewing a stream of fire at Ebony.

The former leader of the Charred leaped nimbly off his opponent. He ducked the flame, but as it passed over him the heat of it seared the edge of his wing. He winced. Snarling, the second Blazehide lashed out with sharp talons, and Ebony dodged, slashing at the Red's shoulders savagely. Behind them, the wounded Blazehide moaned and made no move to get up, merely watching his companion fight.

Separating from one another, Ebony and the second Red exchanged looks, their chests heaving with exertion. Both dragons bled thinly from small cuts on their chests, bellies, and legs.

"Take your friend with you and leave," the Black said, gesturing with his head towards the injured Blazehide. "Give up your thievery."

The Red snarled, taking a few steps back. He turned as if to flee, then lunged back, charging at Ebony and knocking him into the ground. The Black covered his face with his wings as the Blazehide clawed savagely at it. More fire followed, charring the skin of his wings painfully. Ebony ignored the biting agony, forcing all his strength into shoving the Red off him. The Blazehide growled as he was displaced, falling back onto his belly. He was vulnerable. Ebony snapped his neck out, biting deep into the unprotected skin just beneath the Red's jaw. The Red let out a horrible scream, collapsing.

Ebony shot a swift glance at the rest of the attackers. Jelvazin was grappling with the Stormhide, and Zendrayus appeared to have the Poisonhide pinned. They did not need his help for the moment, so he crouched beside his assailant.

The Blazehide bled heavily from his throat, and his breathing was becoming labored. He could not even snarl in defiance at the Black. Ebony closed his eyes, reaching deep down in himself. Warmth licked at the inside of his mouth, and he opened his jaws, letting out a curl of healing flame. The greenish-blue flame lapped against the Blazehide's injury, and the bleeding slowed. The Red's eyes widened as the wound scabbed over.

Ebony smiled at the Blazehide, despite the sudden tired feeling in his chest. "There. Now, if you don't engage in any strenuous activity, that should stay closed. I cannot restore the blood you lost, so you'll feel rather weak for a while."

He left the Red staring and clutching his throat and went over to the other Blazehide. Again, he reached inside himself, and conjured more flame, healing the major wounds. Then he grabbed the Blazehide by his wing and dragged him over to the other Red, ignoring the dragon's yelps. "Stop harassing dragons, do you hear me?" Ebony said. He knew he looked eerie, as his jaws were still wreathed in glowing green flame, and the shocked faces of the Reds confirmed that. "If you do not give up this lifestyle, it will one day end badly for you, and others will not spare you as I have."

The Blazehides stared dumbly at him for a moment, then turned and fled, limping away into the darkness. Ebony let them go, running over to assist Jelvazin. The blue-scaled Stormhide had inflicted multiple cuts on the Red, but when he saw Ebony approaching he broke away from the Blazehide and ran. The Black dimly noticed that the fleeing dragon held something in his claws, but he thought nothing more of it. He was far more concerned about the Red's safety. Jelvazin's neck was stained a darker crimson than his scales, and it shone wetly. The Red collapsed. Ebony breathed out more healing flame, closing the deep gash, and then hurried over to the Plaguehide. As he got closer, he stopped short. The White was completely on top of the Green, pinning the Poisonhide's legs down. Their faces were pressed together. Zendrayus's mouth was open, and horribly colored flames gushed forth from it. The Green struggled desperately as the White's half creamy white, half faint yellow flames wrapped around his face.