The Final Storm (Part 3)

Damsel in Distress

Arianna leaned over Renaldi's neck to look down at the carnage and gasped. Huge plumes of fire and roiling smoke consumed chariots and horses and half of the battlefield was covered in ashes and twisted bodies. Suddenly sick, she fought the urge to vomit as the horrid smell reached her nose. Ezra's golden eyes widened at the scene, tightening his hold on his isijula and shield. "What can create all this devastation?" He asked hollowly.

"My husband," Arianna heard herself say. "I can't believe- if so many are dead how can there be more?" She pointed at the Vulnairians swarming from the forest in confused masses, their generals trying to keep them in order. The bright red and black Vulnairians flag was battered and worn but still held high.

Ezra's mouth became a slim line. "Renaldi and I are going in first," he yelled to the troops who had circled back for his instructions. "Will! Take the Princess and keep her safe! Falcon positions, everyone! We'll make sure the Felinus never rises their ugly heads again!"

Arianna let out a small scream as she was swept off on Renaldi's back by the spiky tail of an earth dragon. Her world spun as she flipped breathlessly through the air, her feet towards the sky and her hair in her face, before strong arms plucked her from free fall and her hands clutched a leather jacket and pulled him close. When her world stopped spinning her eyes took in a smooth, dark face and a grumpy frown. She realized she had been clutching his chest in a very awkward way and scooted backwards in the saddle, pulling a strand of hair out of her face. "Sorry," she apologized in his native language. He snorted and jerked his thumb back, motioning for her to sit behind him.

She tried to quiet her wildly thumping heart as she carefully slid around him, her limbs shaky and weak. It was strange to feel the earth dragon's heavy wingbeats now that she was used to Renaldi's rhythm. She almost fell onto his wings as she slid behind her new guardian, her legs squeezing the saddle in a death grip. They started to descend and she got a good view of the battle.

The first row of dragons raked through the Vulnairans with an ear-shattering roar that was enough to make the bravest of men run with hearts full of terror. Her heart banged against her ribcage as their descent quickened, cold air pushing back her hair and pulling at her cheeks.

And then... Felinus.

They scrambled up the dragon's sides, their claws tearing scales from flesh, their harrowing laughs making Arianna flinch and her hand move to her ring. A few dragons quickly tried to gain altitude, screeching with pain as the cats tore them apart. Arianna watched as one wrenched a sand dragon Rider's head off, sending a spray of blood as the lifeless dragon fell to the earth, the creature laughing the whole way down. Soon more screams joined theirs as the Felinus ravaged the Riders, grotesquely tearing them apart as their dragons fell from the sky with dying screams.

Arianna's breath hitched in her throat. This can't be happening. Where was Jaydon? And dear Fraylon- they couldn't have... She felt sick and felt like screaming at the dragon to pull up.

The Rider held tight to his spear, sweat beading on his forehead as his dragon let out a horrible roar and grabbed a Felinus off an obsidian dragon's back, crushing it in its jaws before it could kill the Rider. It swooped down low, waving its heavy, clubbed tail over the troops to crush them or impale them on a thick spike.

Her throat seemed to swell as the horrible screams filled her ears and she tried to close her eyes and block out the horrible sights of dead bodies and the sounds of crunching bones and bodies. Her body shook as she silently screamed. How could war be this bad? She didn't even know if Ralem and Jaydon were alive or killed by those horrible.. Creatures.

Suddenly she heard a chilling laugh behind her.

She turned around, her bow in hand just as the cat lurched forwards, talons reaching for her neck. The spear blocked the blow as the Rider held it between two hands like a staff, pushing it back with a grunt. Arianna screamed as it drew back and slashed at his neck and he blocked it again, planting a kick on its chest.