The Final Storm (Part 3)

Ralem Burns like a Sausage

Ralem opened his mouth in a soundless scream, his eyes wide with terror. All he could see were the hungry flames gushing out from those massive jaws. Ralem watched in dumb fascination as the stream of fire widened, its fingers of flame twisting and churning. It was dangerously beautiful, the azure blue and almost holy shade of white, blinding and searing hot. He reached a hand forward, as if he could just fondle the silky ribbons of flame.

            BAM!

            Ralem’s head hit the stone road with a sickening crack. He lifted his blurry eyes to find Jaydon, his mouth moving but no sound coming out. Ralem blinked as the roar in his ears intensified, like he was nearing a waterfall. Jaydon started to wrap his arms around his Rider, but then he stopped and let lose a roar that showed all his teeth. In a split second, his wings were out, creating an instant shelter. White and blue flame instantly wrapped his body and wings in a flaming coat, wreathing his neck and setting his hair alight. He gnashed his teeth as he felt his skin start to burn, his eyeballs cooking in their sockets.

            “No!” Ralem snapped both wrists so that his palms faced the inferno. Responding to his mental call, Jaydon folded his wings as Ralem gathered the sluggish city air into one solid force, pushing the flames back. He advanced slowly, adding more momentum to the wind.

            For a second, Cahal’s eyes widened. Then they narrowed. His second fire valve opened on the base of his throat and he unleashed his hell flame.

            Ralem ground his teeth as the fire power doubled. Sinking to his knees, he felt a hot sweat bead on his forehead and drip into his eyes.

            He could see Jaydon next to him out of his peripheral vision, his mouth moving in a desperate plea. But Ralem’s mind could not even register the dragon’s mental touch as it succumbed to animal-like terror.

            Heat.

            That is all Ralem could think, feel, breathe. Flames devoured his invisible air shield like icing on a cake, keeping it at bay. But the air shield couldn’t stop the heat Ralem could see his outstretched fingers turn red, then black as wave after wave of searing heat blasted on his body. His tongue became a log in his dry mouth, the water evaporated off his very skin, his lungs turned into an oven. The air shield shivered and shrunk, the flames creeping closer and closer.

            And then it broke.

            In a flash, Jaydon tackled his Rider, wrapping his body around Ralem’s as his wings locked tightly over him like a mother hen on her chicks.

            The dam of fire was unleashed to pour across Jaydon’s wings and exposed back, licking every exposed surface, turning the air into acrid smoke.

            All Jaydon could do was stare into his Rider’s eyes as he burned. Face to face, so close he could feel Ralem’s heartbeat, like a scared rabbit against his own. Jaydon cradled Ralem’s head with his hands, those dull green eyes staring unblinkingly back at him. He could dully feel the pain striking his back like a burning fire brand, but even that was overshadowed by the terror. His Rider was burning up before his eyes.

            Jaydon hugged Ralem tighter, futilely hoping his own body would shield him from the intense heat.

            Ralem had stopped breathing. His charred lips were wrinkled and black, open to reveal his stark white teeth, flecked with ash. All Jaydon could smell was burning flesh and hair. “No. No no no,” he heard himself say. “Ralem, you’re not going to die! You won’t! We won’t! We’re going to survive this together. We’re a team, right?” Jaydon choked the last words out, his forehead pressed to Ralem’s.