The Bandits of Infinity Forest

Chapter Twelve

The journey to Bluestar River is long, but uneventful. Because of the deer hunt we had along the way, night is falling when we finally arrive. Sa'an seems to have a talent for hunting.

I swiftly erect my tent and then join in roasting a doe above a roaring bonfire—Yelena insists on helping, too. Being locked in a cell for so long has taken its toll, and by the time I've eaten, I'm too tired to devise a plan for rescuing the remainder of my band, and go straight to bed.

I start awake as a muffled explosion sounds nearby, and something weighty lands on my chest.

Acting on reflexes, I throw the thing off; grab my knife out from underneath my bedroll pillow; and, since nothing attacks me, hastily light a small stick, using my flint.

In the dim light, I realize that someone has been rummaging through my belongings: the bag containing the dragon eggs—which I had completely forgotten about—is open, and the sky-blue egg; the egg I swore to protect with my life; is gone.

I swear and crawl toward the bag in my low tent, but then suck in a sharp breath and draw back as something stabs into my hand. At that moment, the stick burns down to my skin, and I quickly extinguish it, lighting a second one to see shattered egg shards all over the tent floor.

Excitement and dread blossom inside me as a strange noise causes me to turn.

And there, in all its sky-blue glory, is the first free dragon in over one hundred years.

The End

Mwa hahaha! Like my ending? Lol