A Dragon's Plight (ONGOING)

CHAPTER 2

I woke up this morning thinking it would be a day like any other. It was off to a normal start. But just before my third morning class ended, me and my classmates were surprised to hear the fire alarms start throughout the four-storey building of the high school department.

At first, we thought it was just a prank or an emergency fire drill, but when a voice sounded through the intercom telling us to evacuate immediately, that was when everyone panicked.

Pinakiramdaman ko ang paligid habang sumisilip sa bintana. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi makadama ng kaba kaya mabilisan kong niligpit ang aking mga gamit. Nakisingit na rin ako sa mga kaklase kong nagmamadaling lumabas ng silid.

When we reached the main hall of the fourth floor, that was where I witnessed total mayhem. There were different colored dragons with unusual gold markings in their scales who were roaming the corridors and looking inside the rooms as if searching for something. In their haste to find whatever they're looking for, they would push anyone who was in their way inadvertently causing students to tumble against each other.

I braced myself on the wall knowing that I would probably break a bone or be stampeded on if I was pushed by a dragon. I was waiting for some of the students to clear the hallways enough for me to be able to get to the stairs, when one white dragon causing a ruckus started walking towards the room near me.

I was frozen in fear, unable to do anything but stare at the dragon. It was obvious by their markings that they weren't part of our clan. I know that just like wolves, dragons of different colors stay as a group called clans. These clans are scattered all over the globe and are each led by their own High Council. And all of dragon kingdom is said to be governed by a secret group of powerful dragons known by many as the Dragonian Army. It is said that anyone who disrupts the peace among clans are punished by them although nobody knows where or how they can be reached. They only appear when one dragon or one clan is in dire need.

Which means that it is unusual for dragons outside the clan to infiltrate other clans aside from their own because our kind are very territorial.

Isa pa, may mahigpit na kasunduan ang lahat ng mga angkan ng mga dragon na hindi kailanman manghihimasok sa teritoryo ng hindi niya angkan. At malaki ang takot ng lahat sa Dragonian Army kaya walang maglalakas-loob na sumuway sa batas ng mga dragon.

In the midst of my thinking, I noticed that aside from the gold tattoos on their body, they are also wearing a gold chain around their necks. I was so mesmerized by the ruby-red heart pendant hanging on the chain of the dragon walking towards me that I didn't notice that he was returning my interest. It was only when he stopped right in front of me that I raised my eyes to his and realized he was looking intently at me.

I was saved from speaking to the strange dragon when a huge black dragon from our clan pulled me away and shielded me by slightly spreading his wings. The other dragon, the white one, roared so loud that all the windows shattered.

Nabitawan ko ang mga librong bitbit ko dahil kinailangan kong gamitin ang mga braso ko para takpan ang ulo at mukha ko mula sa mga tumalsik na bubog.

Nang muli akong mag-angat ng tingin, nakita kong papasugod na ang puting dragon. Hindi pwedeng dito sila mag-away dahil siguradong may mga madadamay na mga estudyante at malaki ang magiging pinsala sa gusali. Kailangan ko silang pigilan. Hindi ko kilala kung sino ang dragon na puti pero baka magawa kong kausapin ang itim na humila sakin.

I ran in between them with both arms raised towards the black dragon as if to stop him. "Don't fight with him here. Madaming madadamay. If you two fight, the others might morph into their dragons to help and it'll turn into an all-out war in an enclosed space."

The white dragon at my back suddenly whimpered so I turned to him. Hindi ko napansin na mabilis na pala siyang nakalapit sakin. Nagulat ako nang ginamit niya ang kapangyarihan niyang manggamot para gamutin ang mga sugat sa mga braso ko na natamo ko sa nabasag na bintana. Nang matapos siya, kumilos ang itim na dragon para itulak ang puting dragon palayo sakin. Niyakap niya ko at inilipad palabas ng bintana ng gusali.

He left me in a clearing in the forest near our school and once again flew towards the building we came from.

Bago ko pa siya masigawan na 'wag akong iwan doon ay nakaalis na siya. Mukhang nakalimutan ng itim na dragon na 'yun na hindi ako makakalipad tulad niya pabalik sa pinanggalingan namin. Kakailanganin kong tahakin ang masukal na gubat para makaalis sa kinaroroonan ko.

Before I could take a step towards the direction we came from, a loud thud that a dragon makes upon landing sounded behind me.

Napalunok ako at dahan-dahang tumingin sa pinanggalingan ng tunog. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ang dragon na puti.

Mataman niya kong tiningnan bago siya nagsalita. "Hindi ka dragon pero bakit nandun ka sa angkan na 'yun?"

I tried clearing my throat before speaking. "Pinanganak akong dragon. My parents are also dragons, but I wasn't able to feel my dragon-self nung maaksidente ako." Nanginginig na sagot ko sa kanya.

Napahakbang ako paatras nang bahagya siyang lumakad palapit. Natigil lang ang paglapit niya nang matisod ako sa isang bato.

"Don't be scared. I won't hurt you. I just want to help." Ginamit niya ang natatanging bilis ng mga puting dragon para makalapit sakin. Binuhat niya ko at iniupo sa isang patag na bato.

I flinched when I felt fresh scrapes on both my elbows. He held both of them and I felt instant relief when he put his healing powers to use.

"Salamat. Pero bakit mo ko ginamot, ngayon at kanina?"

Despite his dragon form, I can easily see his mouth form a smile. "It's because I can. Isa pa, napukaw mo ang interes ko. You were looking at my pendant earlier and your eyes glowed. If you're not a fully morphed dragon, then how did you do that?"

Kinuha ko sa bulsa ng pantalon ko ang cellphone ko at ginamit 'yun bilang salamin para matingnan ang mga mata ko. My hopes plummeted when I noticed no change in them. Akala ko pa naman senyales na 'yun na makakapag-anyong dragon na ko. "My eyes are the same. They're not glowing." Mahina at disappointed kong sabi sa kanya.

"They're not anymore, but they were definitely glowing earlier. I have another question. Why is the strongest male dragon of your clan protecting you?"

Nahinto ang pagtitig ko sa repleksyon ko at napatingin ako kaagad sa kanya. "Strongest dragon? Someone from that clan protecting me?" Bahagya pa kong natawa. "Hindi ko alam kung bakit ginawa 'yun ng dragon na 'yun pero I doubt that it was to protect me. I am nothing to them, especially to the black dragons. Ako ang kaisa-isang kahihiyan sa angkan na 'yun."

He paused a while as if thinking. "You can't think of any black dragon from that clan trying to save you from what they perceive as a threat? Because I'm positive that that dragon's actions were protective, even a bit possessive."

Umiling ako. "The only dragons who care about me in that clan are a family of brown dragons. They are the few friends I have left since my parents died."

His dragon form smirked at me and his eyes twinkled with mischief. "Then it seems to me that you have a secret admirer."

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122015/0300P