War on Heiwa Book 2: At the Core of the World

At the Core of the World Chapter 3: A Dragon Attacks!

Its harsh roars sent my legs shaking so hard I'd been nearly forced to my knees again and again. People were scattering and screaming and it was hard for me to push my way past to Hanako. I had to protect her. 

I was able to free myself from the crowd and reach the foot of the stairs before the dragon landed right in front of me. The shock-wave of it landing blew me off the stairs. I heard Hanako scream and I recovered enough from my daze to run around the dragon and stood in front of Hanako. General Attakai gathered his men around the dragon, and it was focusing its glare at Hanako.

It was huge, red, and could squash me like a bug without it even noticing. There were spikes extended all across its body. Its horns on its head poked out so much that I thought  it would stab itself if it threw its head back far enough. I could easily see each individual scale on its shiny coat. Its tail was longer than its body and could easily whip me back to planet earth. I took a glance at its claws... and well...  you could imagine what those things could do to me...

"What do you want? State your business, dragon." Attakai said in a rough tone, clearly annoyed that his ceremony was interrupted.

The dragon said nothing, or did they even talk at all? It continued its lethal stare at Hanako, whom was shaking like mad. Then, the dragon drew back his head and opened its mouth.

"G-get down!" I turned and tackled Hanako to the ground before the dragon breathed a huge wave of fire around us. The soldiers bolted to the ground while more of the citizens who were watching the ordeal screamed in fear. The soldiers quickly got to their feet after the fire stopped and pulled out their weapons to attack it. While the dragon was busy, I grabbed Hanako by the arm and dragged her away from the site. I wasn't sure where I was taking her. Anywhere. Maybe a closed-space where it couldn't reach her. But what about the fire? We didn't have time to break into the sewage system. Maybe if Attakai and his men could hold it off until I took Hanako to insured safety.

But, it didn't work. The dragon quickly noticed our retreat, and flapped its wings to send the guards flying back. It began following me close behind and flew at a low altitude where it could easily bite my head off. Was the dragon after Hanako? I swerved between alleyways so we wouldn't get in contact with the fire and the dragon would have to fly at higher altitudes.

I was never one to be great with directions, and I shortly came to a grinding halt in front of a dead end. I turned to go back, but the dragon was there above me. Both feet on the roofs of the buildings, and its tail stretched downward so it could fling me back if I decided to run between its legs.

I had a sudden rush of fear, somehow thinking I was done for and it was all over. I scooted back and pushed Hanako against a corner, so whatever attack it may do, it would strike me instead of her.

"What do you want from her?" I didn't have a weapon on me, so I had to stall until I figured a way out or until Attakai's men comes.

The dragon grunted and I could see steam rising from its nose. I'd assume its plan was to burn me alive. But if the dragon's goal were to take Hanako alive, then it would be too dangerous in a closed space like this. It crawled on the roofs of the buildings until its head was over mine. It leaned its head down and opened it to present its wide, razor-sharp teeth and a mouth that could swallow me whole. Its breath was foul like rotting fish.

"Get back!" I whacked it in the jaw with my fist. That was probably that stupidest thing I could've done. Provoking a dragon without a weapon and cornered like this? It growled and faltered back a bit, but, accepting my threat, it charged and pushed its teeth into my shoulder, its teeth wide enough to also puncture my chest, and I could feel myself almost be bitten in half, but somehow I felt the dragon hold back...