I Am: Silver

Chapter 9

I sat on Pegasus' back, watching as the Iron Sabde hovered in front of us, its beady red eyes watching us, daring Pegasus to make the first move.

How do we get outta this one? I asked.

We normally just go with it. You need to watch those teeth, one bite and we're goners. Those claws are sharp too. We can't dodge it, that thing is made for agility. Pegasus observed. I noticed he was correct, but I was willing to bet that they packed a punch as well. Lean muscle rippled under the tight purple skin of the Iron Sabde's two legs as it raised them, claws waiting to rip into flesh.

So? I asked.

They don't look like their name. Few burning arrows couldn't hurt. Pegasus suggested. I heard the glee in his voice. But he was right. I wanted to test it first.

We need to attack him. I'll send a few fireballs and see if they affect it any. Pegasus nodded, and spread his wings, pawing at the ground. While I fisted a handful of Pegasus' mane into one hand, I called the fire up, and it sprung out of my fingers. I closed my hand into a fist and opened it to reveal a small blue fireball.

Pegasus took off and the Iron Sabde took a swipe as it dived forward, claws barely missing Pegasus' flanks as we propelled higher. As expected, the Iron Sabde followed us, its body swirling behind it as we spiralled upwards. Above us, grey clouds were beginning to gather. A storm was brewing. As the clouds surrounded us we swerved right into a cloud, which effectively encased us, obscuring us from the Iron Sabde's sight. As we surrounded it, I saw that it had absolutely no idea where we were, and twisted and turned as it strained for any sight of us.

I sent the first fireball into the back of the Iron Sabde's head. It exploded in an electric baby blue fury, and the Iron Sabde roared in pain. As we circled it, I sent a few more into all parts of the Iron Sabde, before I decided it was time to stop playing games. We needed to get back to Sapphire and Tomas before he woke up again.

Why don't we have some fun? I asked, and Pegasus knew immediately what we were talking about.

Are you sure? We haven't practiced in a while, and the last attempt failed miserably. He replied, but I knew it was the only way I could get close enough to the Iron Sabde to finish it.

Do it. We began to rise, until we had a clear view of the purple snake directly below us. I pulled out an arrow and fitted it to my bow after lighting the head. Without so much as a nod, I gripped tight with my legs as Pegasus dived.

Time seemed to slow down as Pegasus tucked his wings in tight to his body. I drew back the bowstring tight, pulling it to my ear as I waited for the perfect opening to shoot. Thunder rumbled around us and the Iron Sabde turned. Without hesitation I fired, watching as the arrow shot through the air, cutting through like a knife.

Time sped up again as the arrow found its mark and embedded the flaming head into the Iron Sabde's chest, dark violet blood spurting from the wound as the snake exploded from the inside out, the blood igniting from the fire. Pegasus let one wing out and we swerved to the left, narrowly avoiding the swiping tail as the Iron Sabde fell to its death. I returned the bow to its place and gripped onto Pegasus' mane as we dived towards the ground. At the last minute, Pegasus' wings unfurled and we abruptly stopped our rapid descent, rising slowly to fly over Blackmoor Bogs. We began scanning ArrowHaven Forest for Sapphire.

It came out of nowhere. At the last second I saw the net approaching, but before I could warn Pegasus, it wrapped around us tight, rendering Pegasus' wings useless. We plummeted to the ground, and I recoiled from the vine-net as a familiar poison coated the ropes. I weakly lifted my hand and tried to command the trees to slow our fall.