A Dragon's Plight (ONGOING)

CHAPTER 11

"Telepathic link? You can can talk to each other with your minds? Is that why I can hear his voice in my head?" Tanong ko.

He solemnly nodded at me. "He's the leader of this army Lia, kaya nagagawa niya 'yun samin. He can read our minds, but his thoughts are closed to us. But you two, you share a deeper connection. You aren't a knight in the Dragonian Army but he can read your mind, sense your mood and he talks to you without saying a word. Saan ka man magpunta, alam niya kung nasaan ka."

Somehow, I knew what he was saying was true. When we were younger, Rigo and I knew exactly where to find the other. And I'm going to use that connection to save him.

Kuya Alaric was looking intently at me. I didn't know it was because my eyes changed color while I was thinking of how to execute our rescue mission.

I turned to him for help. "You need to assemble all the dragons in the castle grounds. We have to divide the knights. Kailangang may maiwan dito sa palasyo para magbantay. The rest are coming with us to find and save Rigo."

Bago ako makaalis para pumunta sa assembly place, nagmamadaling lumapit si Tita Selina. Hinawakan niya nang mahigpit ang kamay ko. "Nag-aalala ako para sa anak ko pero delikado pa para sa'yo ang makipaglaban dahil hindi ka pa sanay sa anyong-dragon mo."

I quickly tried to reassure her. "Don't worry, Tita. Mag-iingat po ako. Sasama lang po ako dahil ako lang ang p'wedeng makahanap kay Rigo. I'll stay back and let the other dragons fight if it becomes too dangerous for me."

Tila naman nabawasan ang kaba niya para sa kaligtasan ko. "Rigo is the leader of the army and Alaric is the second in command. Promise me na susundin mo lahat ng sasabihin ni Alaric."

Marahan akong tumango bilang pagsang-ayon.

She sighed in relief at my promise, but after a while her expression gave way to determination. "Then let's get you ready and dressed for battle."

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We flew away from the castle just before midnight. Kami ni Kuya Alaric ang nangunguna sa paglipad sa himpapawid bilang gabay ng ibang mga dragon. Dahil wala pa kaming alam na direksyon na tatahakin, we were flying in a circle while I figure out where to go.

With Kuya Alaric's lessons in mind, I opened myself to the psychic connection of the whole army but focusing on Rigo's link. I tried calling his name silently, but he remained quiet aand his mind closed off.

I worked hard to repress the panic that was slowly trying to engulf my whole being because of my failed attempt. I had to let go of all worries and meditate. I need to be one with all my senses and connect with nature. If Rigo cannot answer my call, then the earth would tell me where he is. I just need to ask it and it will heed my request. The trees, plants and animals in Rigo's vicinity will show me where he is.

Hindi ko alam kung san nanggaling ang naisip kong 'yun pero walang mawawala kung susubukan ko kaya ginamit ko lahat ng konsentrasyon ko para makapag-meditate.

I was able to see where Rigo was being held and what state he was in even with my eyes closed. Malinaw kong nakita ang bawat pasa at sugat na nasa katawan niya. It's been only a few hours, but by the looks of him, it was as if he was imprisoned for months. He was using all his strength to keep himself upright with his feet barely touching the ground while manacled to trees.

I whimpered at the sight of him. Nang malaman ko kung nasaan siya, agad kong minulat ang mga mata ko. I was so mad at the dragons who did that to him that I gave out a warrior's roar that the army with me answered before talking to them through the link.

"Lend me your speed and strength comrades for tonight we need to save your leader. There's a great possibility that the dragons who caught him are vicious and violent. You all need to be on guard. I need ten dragons who will stay with me to free Rigo. Let's soar!"

We quickly flew to where Rigo was, but we stopped and hid in a forest a short distance away. I told them the setup of the camp I saw and where Rigo was manacled to. Alaric and nine of the strongest dragons of the army will stay by my side to guard me while I free Rigo.

We didn't know how many dragons there were so we decided to draw them all out of the humongous tents that were scattered throughout their camp. Alaric distributed our dragon knights in a strategic way as to sorround our enemies. Namangha pa ko sa galing niya sa pag-iisip ng taktikang pandigma. It was as if he was merely playing chess, thinking of our army's best move and countering any attacks that our enemies might decide on.

When everyone was in position, Alaric gave the men assigned to the side of the forest farthest away from Rigo the signal to roar loudly to draw out the dragons in the camp.

Once we saw them fly away, we headed straight to where they were keeping Rigo prisoner. We landed a few feet from where he was because the forest trees were too dense for us to fly through.

The moment we landed, a number of dragons came out of the forest to attack. Six of the dragons with me quickly formed a semi-circle in front of me in defense with the remaining three by my side. I was still amazed with the fact that their first instinct in battle was not to kill the opposition, but to guard and protect me. They fought the enemies with the ease and grace of seasoned warriors. When I learned that I was the reincarnation of the Dragon Princess who owns the dragon's heart, Rigo and Kuya Alaric also told me that some of the warriors of the Dragonian Army are the dragon knights that I inherited from my old life. Some of them are almost five hundred years old. While the others are the children and grandchildren of the knights of my former self who were trained by their elders making them the product of years and years of experience of their ancestors.

The few dragons left to guard the camp were quickly disabled by my conrades in war.

Nang mawala na ang mga bantay, agad kong nilapitan si Rigo. He was stripped naked and chained as a human. May mga matutulis na ngipin ang collar sa kanyang leeg para pigilan siya sa pagpapalit-anyo. Hindi ko na namalayan na nag-anyong tao ako para mahawakan ang mukha ni Rigo. Agad kaming inabutan ni Kuya Alaric ng tapis para matakpan ang aming kahubdan. Kaagad nilang kinalas ang mga kadena ni Rigo. Sinalo ko naman siya para maingat na ilapag sa lupa.

Marahan kong hinaplos ang mga galos niya sa mukha at nagulat ako nang unti-unti itong gumaling hanggang sa kalaunan ay naglaho. I didn't know that I could do that. My healing abilities came as a surprise because I am not a white dragon. Napatingin ako sa mga kasama ko pero parang wala lang sa kanila ang ginawa ko. It was as if they were expecting me to perform miracles.

Muli kong tiningnan si Rigo nang marinig ko siyang mahinang umungol. Kaagad kong hinaplos ang iba pa niyang sugat para tuluyan na siyang gumaling at magising. I didn't want him to go through another minute of pain and suffering, not if I can do anything about it.

Nang maimulat na niya ang kanyang mga mata, kaagad siyang napangiti nang makita ako. "You're here. Kailangan ko lang pala magpabugbog para lang alagaan at haplusin mo ko uli nang ganito." Bulong niya.

Napaluha ako sa sinabi niya. Ever since they saved me from the Council, I would cringe everytime he would touch me. Iniiwasan ko ding mapalapit sa kanya dahil natatakot akong mahawakan siya kaya nang magtagal ay siya na mismo ang umiwas.

It wasn't because I was disgusted by him. It wasn't because I hated his touch or his presence. I was just scared that those moments would bring back my feelings for him. Pinoprotektahan ko lang ang sarili ko sa nararamdaman ko sa kanya pero hindi ko namalayang nasasaktan ko na pala siya.

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071516/0527P