DragonTribes #2: ForestTribe

Chapter 22: The Aftermath

Zoe tried to calm her spinning dragon. Zoe hugged her dragon by the neck, weighing her down. The JungleDragon stopped anxiously chasing her tail. She stiffened and stared off. Zoe looked back to the forest, a steady amount of black smoke rising from it. Petunia squawked nervously, rotating her ears and flaring her nostrils. Dagger and Alicia stood a short distance off, paying them no mind.

"Look," Alicia called her face distorted in puzzlement as she pointed at a flock of dragons, flying under the sun away from the forest.

Zoe released her wrap around Petunia and approached Zoe, eyes locked on the dragons. She stood alongside her and squinted. There were at least twenty red dragons. Some held something in their talons.

Zoe leaned forward and placed her hand over her eyes, "Are those...?"

Alicia nodded, "They look like people to me."

Zoe shrunk away in fear, "Why aren't they fighting back? Why would they go so willingly?"

Petunia sat alongside her owner. The white dragon crowed.

Alicia nodded in the direction of the FireDragons, "If the captives struggled, they'd probably be dropped."

Zoe cringed.

Alicia shook her head, "My question is: why do they need them?"

Zoe's eyes dilated. Why would they need them? There's so many...

"Look at that!" Alicia shouted in horror and dismay.

An orange dragon dangled in the talons of two FireDragons. Its feathered wings were tied down and its beak was also sealed shut. The sun shone on its vibrant blue horns.

Zoe covered her face in her palms and muttered, "That's Paradise... why, why  would they do that?"

Alicia couldn't comfort Zoe, instead she stood, watching in shock. Eventually, the RiverTribe member couldn't take it anymore and turned her face away from the scene.

Alicia spoke quietly, "I'll get Tanu and the dragons over. Why don't you check up on your tribe?"

Zoe nodded solemnly. She turned to Petunia. The white dragon sat, ears rotating and scanning each direction.

Zoe sniffled, "Get up, Petunia."

The JungleDragon did as told with a chirp. Zoe looked over her shoulder at Alicia. She mounted Dagger, who grunted. The saddle squeaked. The girl did not remove her gaze from her hands, which rested on the saddle, grasping the reins. She tapped her dragon's sides and he took to the air. The chain on his brace clanking as the FireDragon flew away. Zoe watched the red dragon's figure diminish. Petunia nuzzled Zoe's shoulder as she subconsciously pet her dragon's grey beak. The JungleDragon tugged on her shirt. Zoe shook her head, snapping back to reality. Petunia turned so her side was in front of the girl. She slipped onto her dragon's back. Without any signals, the JungleDragon darted forward and spread her wings. Zoe held herself tightly on her dragon's back as she lifted into the air. She guided her dragon to the forest. Zoe glanced at the thick, grey smoke in horror. She urged Petunia passed it. The white dragon flew quickly over the burning tribe towards the safety of the ocean. Zoe guided her down, closer to the treetops. On the beach, a gathered group of people appeared. 

"It's the blind dragon!" Someone in the crowd shouted as Petunia flew in closer to land. 

Her dragon snorted and landed. She raised her neck proudly. Zoe dismounted and was instantly pulled aside by Chieftain Taia. People scooted in closer. 

She turned to them and demanded, "Back away, this conversation is for us only!"

Immediately, the people gathered dispersed. Zoe glimpsed at her dragon. Petunia stood, light reflecting off her lily white scales. Her eyes although foggy, seemed to hold great power and intellect. Her legs flexed as she chittered at the passing people. Her wings were no longer folded on her back, but straight out, displaying beautiful purple flight feathers. Zoe slightly smiled, but the depression of the current event over-weighed her awe.