The Final Storm (Part 3)

When a Dragon Comes a'Knockin

“There it is!” Ralem whispered. “Vulnaire.” He halted, breathing hard. Aidan stood next to him, a flat hand over his brow as he looked down at the city. “It looks like something’s happening,” the boy whispered.

            “Yes. War is happening,” Ralem whispered back, blanching. “I never thought it would really come to this.”

            Ralem! Jaydon’s call rent through their mental connection, almost stopping Ralem’s heart at the anguish in his dragon’s voice. He spun, his breath caught in his lungs, his eyes searching.

            Jaydon was airborne, his wings outspread, the sun shining through their wide expanse, making them appear to be carved out of delicate emerald. Ralem could feel the wind spinning wildly around Jaydon’s form, holding him like a gorgeous ornament in the sky. Ralem thought this would be a cause for exultation- the return of his powers- but he instantly recognized his mistake when he set eyes on Jaydon’s face. His expression was terrified, his mouth wide open in a silent scream. The wind spun faster and faster, and Jaydon seemed become a haze of colors and a humanoid shape.

            “Jaydon!” Ralem screamed, both out loud and in his mind. He tried to reach for him but his hand went straight through his foot.

            And then… Jaydon was all but gone. Ralem sunk to his knees, devastated. “What happened?” he croaked.

            As soon as he finished the sentence, Jaydon fell out of the sky and almost squashed Aidan. He crouched over, coughing and wheezing. Ralem grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him towards him. “Jaydon, what happened? Are you okay?”

            Jaydon sank into Ralem’s chest. Ralem knew he was scared, but too proud to admit it. “Ralem,” he gasped, “I’ve been… summoned.”

            “Summoned?” Ralem asked.

            “Yes. Arianna summoned me. She’s in trouble, Ralem. The cats are going to kill her.” He struggled to get up and Ralem helped him get to his feet. Jaydon kept his eyes locked with his Rider, “We have to go. Now. Leave Aidan. Arianna’s going to die if we don’t get there-” His words were cut off as he doubled over and coughed so hard Ralem wondered if he would hack up a lung. Finally he sucked in a long breath and apologized, “I was only halfway summoned. I’m still trying to get myself together. Ahh…” He coughed again, then he vanished.

            Ralem almost fell forward. He groped through the air in front of him blindly, his heart catching in his throat. “Jaydon?” he squawked weakly.

            “I am here,” Jaydon replied. Ralem looked up to find Jaydon standing on the tip of the sharp hill that overlooked the beautiful city of Vulnaire. His waves of black hair rippled in an imaginary wind current, a roguish dragon smile curling on his dirty face. Gorgeous emerald wings unfurled behind him, the sun’s light lending it an unearthly glow. “Ellirr Grrishda MIKKAN!” he challenged, extending a taloned hand.

            Ralem answered the dragon call with the answer of a Rider. “Lefdira, mi Saelfien.” He took Jaydon’s hand and power coursed through their connection like hungry fire, visible sparks of green lightning crawling up their connected arms like the curling vine before fading into their skin.

            And they were gone.

(I recently edited this so please tell me if it's still a little confusing)

Arianna put an arrow into the dusky cat’s stomach before it smashed her into the wall. She could hardly let out a scream before the air was knocked out of her lungs and her ribs groaned under the pressure. She flopped to the floor like a limp doll, gasping for breath. She lifted her head just in time for another cat to snatch at her side with a furry paw before tossing her to the other side of the room. She screamed as another one pounced on her, its body weight almost crushing her ribs. Her bow was now pinned under  her shoulder blade, her arm twisted backwards almost to the breaking point. Blue, the cat who had her under his massive paws, leaned his head down to delicately sniff her face, his lips lifted for her to get a full view of those sabre teeth. He chuckled. “Come on, princess. Be a good sport. Give us a scream before we kill you.”