Evergreen [Book 1 of the Hierarchy Series]-Revising

Chapter 11

Chapter 7

            "Now Cassia, this is my best horse.  I raised her just in case I saw you again.  She was strained to follow your every order, and only yours.  Keep Luthera safe.  She'll do anything you tell her to, no matter what language or if you speak to her like a human," Delsaran said.  He patted the white horse's neck as I climbed up on her.  Everyone had a horse, but mine was the only white one.  Her fur was slightly tipped silver from the sun, and it looked just like Liebei's fur.  Liebei decided she wanted to journey with us, instead of alone, as long as we met up with Coren.  We all agreed.  She also wanted to protect me from the twins, but I needed more protection from Namung than them.

            "Thanks Delsaran," I said, pulling Luthera's reins.  He patted her again as she shifted on her feet and I turned to leave, "goodbye old friend."

            "Goodbye," he said, heading back for the house.  I watched him go inside, afraid I might never see him again, I felt it in my aching heart. 

We all galloped towards the other side of the field; Namung and Faeconi were in the lead.  Luthera pumped her legs hard, pushing to the front of our small herd.  She was an amazing horse, and I had a feeling I knew exactly where we were headed.

            This field was gigantic, that was an easily seen fact.  I could hardly see the side we were heading for.  The green grass stretched on past our line of vision.  Luthera gained the lead, moving far ahead of everyone.  A bead of sweat trickled down my face from the beating sun, but I ignored it.  Even with a thin white dress on it was still hot.  But the black bag slung over my shoulder didn't help, and attracted every beam of light.

            I didn't pay attention to the others behind me.  I just listened to the wind rush away in fright, and felt Luthera pump harder and gain speed.  But I started getting confused.  Even with water rushing through my eyes from the wind, I saw the grass ahead of me perfectly.  I could hear the footfalls of the other horses behind me, even though they were yards away.  I could smell strawberries, grape vines, and pollen from wildflowers.  I didn't see any though and I knew I didn't smell like that.  I could also smell Luthera.  She smelled like dust, salt and grass.  She smelt fresh, like she was just bathed.  Other than that, wolf was the most powerful smell.  The musty, dirty forest smell.  Dog fur, and dried leaves.  I didn't understand where that smell came from.

When I thought I was hallucinating, I heard a loud, low roar coming from behind.  The smell of urine and blood smothered the air, and my heart started thumping in my chest.  The roar sounded like a dragon, only amplified.  I smelled ashes like a burning fire.  Maybe it was a fire dragon, and it was bloodthirsty.  Then, my heart dropped with realization.  Delsaran was in danger of an angry dragon.

            I pulled Luthera's reins to one side as hard as I could.   She stopped on her front hooves, turning us around like a pinwheel.  When we were fully turned, she stomped her back legs until her hooves dug into the ground, springing us forward.  I stood on the irons, letting her obtain a great speed.  She kept pushing harder, and within seconds, we were past everyone and only yards away from the cottage.  She sped up faster and faster, until the cottage was only feet away, she stopped short.  I slid off quickly, running for the open front door.

            I sprinted through the doorway and screamed in terror.  Delsaran lay on the floor in an awkward position, eyes wide open, and a gash through his chest.  He was dead.  Blood spilled out of the giant wound on his chest.  Then, I looked towards the back of the cottage.  I found a dragon, its head just hitting the ceiling.  It was completely black, and its eyes were a solid red.  Those were unusual eyes for a dragon, and an unusually small, size, but I could see it was much more powerful than it looked.   Thorns bulged from its head, four, bulky legs stretched out on either side.  The wings were attached to the last finger on its front legs.  It must have had extra fingers; otherwise he wouldn't have bat-like wings.

            I started stepping back out into the field.  The dragon watched me, slowly stepping closer to me, growling.  When I was a good way out of the house, the dragon grew twice as tall as before.  It towered over me now, and I watched it in terror.  Its tail could slash me and kill me.

            The dragon belched flames, and I guarded my face with my arms.  I screamed at the top of my lungs, not knowing what else to do.  When the fire stopped, I looked down at myself.  My dress was still white, and I had no burning sensation.  My skin looked perfect.

 It belched fire again, and I put my hand in front of me.  The fire swept past, missing me entirely.  This time, when the fire subsided, there was a small ball of fire in front of my palm.  I controlled fire.  I sent the fire back at the dragon, pulling my arms back as I threw it in his face.  It grew into a rope of fire, spinning out of control in the dragon's direction until I let it go.  The dragon roared in agony, I burned his eyelids shut.

            When my fear disappeared, I was overcome by courage, and my stomach lurched.  My entire body morphed, growing and stretching.  I never felt this agonizing pain before, it felt like I was dying from the inside out.  I heard every crack of my bone, and the burning pain wouldn't stop. When it was over, I fell to all fours and roared at the top of my lungs.  I turned into a giant wolf, and my roar echoed through the woods.  I felt powerful, even when I was still smaller than the dragon.  I aimed for its muzzle as it tried to belch fire again.  I jumped up, grabbing its nose.

            I clamped my canines over his muzzle so both his nose and mouth were blocked from air.  It gasped a few times, trying to regain control.  Its legs flailed as I locked my jaw, determined not to let go.  Every time it tried to break free of my grasp, I clamped my teeth down harder.  I could taste metal now, the blood of the dragon. I pulled my front paws up from under me and pulled hard on its neck.  I heard it gasp and whimper in agony as I burst its windpipe.  I watched its eyes fade into a normal brown color as its fight slowed and weakened.  After a few minutes of struggle, it fell limply to the ground, causing me to collapse with the weight of its head.  I let go of its muzzle and howled from the pain in my lower jaw.

            I started shifting back into a human.  I felt my fur shrink into my skin, and I started getting colder.  My entire body lurched into itself, shrinking and pulling, every bone cracking with more agonizing pain.  I clenched my stomach, clawing at the pain, trying to push it away.  When the pain shifted away, my bare skin felt as cold as ice, and I fell to the ground.  My face fell flat into the dirt, and I felt no need, and no strength to get up.  I heard someone call my name, his voice filled with concern.  He moved my head with his rough hands so my cheek pressed against the hard ground.  The last thing I remember was his eyes.

            His green eyes, with gold flecks.

            My chest tightened, and I knew I would fall for him.