Transported: A Wings of Fire Story

Old Friend

Daniel fell speechless, he remembered Barren as a kind soul who helped him out despite him not needing to. He was the one who taught him to function as a dragon... And now here he was... Identified to be his worst enemy all this time...

Barren could tell Daniel was on edge and as such he sighed.

"Daniel... Look, I know there's a lot of things running through your head right now, but all those times when I said you were my friend, I wasn't lying, I never was, "Daniel burrowed his brows, still untrusting as one would be.

Barren continued speaking.
"Daniel, we both want the same thing... To leave... That's what you've been fighting for all this time, you've thought that by defeating me or whatnot you'd be able to leave and go home..."

Daniel didn't say anything, he stood his ground while listening attentively, but it was clear he wasn't buying anything Barren was saying, at least not yet.

"I knew you were different the second I saw you, Daniel, why else would I save you from certain death? I couldn't care less what happens to these fictional creatures!" He spat which earned him an angry growl from Daniel's friends.

"We both want the same thing, so how about we put our differences aside and work together to get out, with the relic that you've collected the shards for and the map that you have in your bag, we can finally leave this place... So please..." He extended a talon out towards Daniel.
"Come with me, let us break free of this prison... That's what you've been striving for right?"

Daniel stared at the yellow talon which was extended out towards him.
His heart sped up, the pathway to freedom was there, it was right in front of him... He just needed to accept Barren's deal... And give him back his map...

Daniel quickly dug through his belongings before pulling out the map that Barren had given him so long ago.

But as he outstretched a talon to return what he'd borrowed... He stopped himself. The word 'deal' echoed through his mind, the word which had doomed him and his friends into the violent monsters they are now.

Daniel had made himself clear as to not make any more deals with the Gatekeeper, and here he was about to blindly walk into another one.

Daniel looked up into Barren's eyes. Qibli once taught him that you can read someone just by their eyes, and so Daniel looked closely, very closely into Barren's eyes in an attempt to decipher his intentions.

Barren looked down at Daniel, his eyes flickered with irritation and annoyance, yet he was smiling cheerfully without the gleam in his eyes... His smile wasn't genuine... He was trying to lure him... He was lying...

Daniel growled, "Don't lie to me," he spat, "You've got some sort of trick, if I take your deal you'll probably just kill me!"

Barren's expression darkened.
"If I wanted you dead I would have already killed you," He pointed out, "I've kept you alive until now, don't make me revoke my kindness,"

Daniel bared his teeth fiercely.
"I don't know what you're planning but what I DO know is that your whole let's be a team story is simply rubbish!"

Barren growled.
"Last chance Daniel, take my talon, and I'll spare you and your friend's lives..."
Daniel gulped as he looked back at his friends.

It was clear that most of them didn't know what was going on, though a few smart ones such as Qibli and Cricket figured it out.

Cricket shook her head.
"Don't do it, Daniel..."

Qibli agreed with Cricket as he walked forward and grabbed Daniel's tail gently.
"He's trying to bait you, don't give in,"

Daniel turned back to meet Barren before he shook his head.
"Not happening,"