Hybrids of Hope or Hell

Chapter Four : Pitcher Plant

Freezing in terror, the booming voice echoed off of the uneven walls of the cavern. Two foreboding large shadows had cast the frightened little dragons into darkness. Sandy gravel crunched unpleasantly under Eclipse's talons as she whipped around to face the owner of the projective voice. Chipped white fangs contrasted against dark scales as she opened her muzzle to speak, however a smooth, sultry voice abruptly interrupted Eclipse.

"It looks like we have a pair of little...visitors." Two figures ominously materialised out of the grasping shadows around Eclipse and Cuckoowasp. One of the sandwings was significantly smaller than the other, her revealing herself as the one who had previously spoke. Her low tone continuing, "isn't that just...thrilling?"

Nervously casting a quick glance to Eclipse, Cuckoowasp hesitantly turned around, "I'm sorry but we just fell into a hole and ended up here, we will get out of your scales right away if you could just tell us how to leave?" They anxiously rambled, praying that the sandwing pair would just let them go.

One of the figures chuckled darkly, stepping a little closer so that the lone flickering torch illuminated the pair in an uneasy golden glow. "Oh, you really are just adorable, aren't you?"

The other sandwing, who towered over Eclipse and Cuckoowasp just the same as her partner, decided to speak up, "you say you fell down here, hm? All by yourself into this hidden cave?" her voice was unnaturally patronising, her tone making the little dragons feel sickly.

"Yeah there was a...sinkhole I think. And we had to squeeze into here to escape it, you can see it just through that hole right there." Pointing towards the shadows, Cuckoowasp gestured to the doorway like rock formation.

Glancing towards the opening, then back to the nightwing and hivewing, the smaller one tilted their head to the side. Examining the shaken looking young dragons with narrowed eyes, she spoke with her seductive tone once more, "Ah, a sinkhole..how...unfortunate."

Drawing frantic eyes to herself again, the larger sandwing opened her fatal looking mouth. "And you just...happened to end up here? In this secluded secret system of tunnels, hm? Doesn't sound too likely does it?"

Looking towards Eclipse, Cuckoowasp felt concern as they saw the former still frozen with fear, not even able to meet the sandwing's gazes, let alone reply. "Yeah, you should really check it out incase it engulfs the whole cave system."

Laughing sinisterly the smaller female took another step closer, "oh, how thoughtful of you to warn us."

To Cuckoowasp's relief, the two dragoness' circled them and then steered off towards the hole in the rock. The smaller one entered the room, posting the larger one outside to keep a keen watch on the pair. The sound of rocks sliding over one another echoed throughout the tunnels followed by a shrill yelp. Almost snagging her horns on the uneven rock wall, the larger sandwing hastily darted into the room, urgency evident in her worried expression.

Seeing the opportunity, the green dragon took Eclipse by the claws and bolted as quick as they possibly could in the opposite direction of the villainous sandwing couple. A small cry of surprise slipped on Eclipse's tongue as she quickly launched into the air behind Cuckoowasp.

Rapidly recovering, the nightwing beat her silver lined wings fiercely as the pair shot down a tunnel. Twisting and writhing like a dying animal, the long hallways of darkness made it difficult to navigate their escape. However, the furious cries and yells of the dragoness' faded from earshot, providing at least a little hope to the terrified dragons.

Risking a look back into the daunting dark tunnels, fear that Cuckoowasp would see the couple bounding around the corner urged their wings to flap faster. The beckoning blackness of the caves remained undisturbed as the hivewing's insectoid wings decelerated slightly to search for an exit.

The vicious sound of wings thrashing lessened as Eclipse followed in suite, "I think... I think we got away..." she sputtered quietly, fear and exhaustion lacing her heaving breaths.

"I hope so, but let's not bet on it." They responded, continuing to limp hastily in the direction they had picked. As the pair tried to tread carefully, a question presented itself in Cuckoowasp's mind, "why is your name Eclipse? I mean nightwings usually have two word names like; Morrowseer, Deathbringer, Starflight, Fatespeaker..."

Glancing over at Cuckoowasp as she walked, a slight smile formed on her face, "yeah, most nightwings have two word names but there are some exceptions, and I happen to be one of them. My parents named me Eclipse cause I was born during a triple solar eclipse. They thought it was special or something, honestly I never questioned it myself."

"Fair enough, do you get any special powers for being born on an eclipse? You know with all the moon stuff with nightwings?"

Chuckling lightly, Eclipse pondered for a moment, "well, normal nightwing powers are there like reading minds and prophecy. But as far as special powers? I guess I can change the temperature of any room I'm in, but I don't know if that's real though."

"Woah! That's like super cool!" Cuckoowasp exclaimed as they finally managed to stumble upon the opening of the caves. Stretching their wings, they tried to roll off the ache in their bones as they readied themselves to take off once more. Looking back towards Eclipse, they made sure they were ready for flight-

An infuriated shout shook the sandy ground.

"Now where do you think you're going?!"