Dark Guardians

Turbulence

    Cyan eyes snapped open to the sound of violent arguing somewhere outside. Without thinking she had jolted up, bounding out of the room and towards the dojo. Snarls and gnashing teeth were threateningly loud, and the memories of facing off against throngs of apes were still fresh in her mind. If the temple was under attack by some new force, she would be the first to spring into action.

Cynder burst into the dojo, tail and wings up in an offensive possition. Past battles had left the young drake ready to tear into flesh at a moments notice, despite the knowledge that the war had ended. While the turmoil outside seemed to have been brought to a close, it seemed that which dwelled within had yet to be settled. It left her ready to strike, and as a flash of green claws swiped at Volteer's nose, it manifested.

Launching herself up, the much smaller dragon latched onto the shoulder of another, digging her claws into scales and biting down as hard as she could manage. There was a brief hiss of surprise before she felt herself be grabbed by the tail, hoisted up, and whipped back against the stone walls. She was given no time to react before her shoulders met with the wall of the dojo, several pebbles falling to the ground along with her.

To her credit, the black dragoness landed on her feet, tail and wings up and ready to lash out once more. It was only when a sudden weight pinned her to the ground that she screeched, snapping her head around to try to bite the much larger paw keeping her in place.

"Cynder! Cynder, enough!" Terrador's voice echoed along the walls, ceasing her struggles despite adrenalin still pumping through her veins. Breathing heavily, the smaller dragon began to push the red from the corners of her eyes, trying to see the situation clearly.

Volteer's maw was agape with shock, his nose sporting a couple of shallow scratching just beginning to bead with blood. Cyril was standing between him and a far taller dragon, whom had his eyes trained with fury on her. A small, red river trickled down his shoulder where she had sank her claws and teeth into, gently flowing down his leg to drip onto the ground below.

Except, there was no leg. In its place was a wooden peg, much like she had seen on many battle-worn apes and skavengers. Upon further examination, this dragon sported traits she had never before seen: massive wings, a thin physique, a grey mane and beard, and a plume of long hair in place of a tail ornament. He also had some kind of feelers coming off of his snout, giving him a surprisingly regal look.

"Nasty creature! Why do you keep something so foul?" the newcomer turned to snap his teeth at Cyril, who was quick to bare his in return.

"Keep your maw shut! Cynder is one of our saviors!"

"Cynder? As in the terror of the skies?! Are you mad?" though the ice Guardian attempted to intervene, the stranger shouldered past him with surprising strength, approaching her with murderous intent. The weight of Terrador's paw finally lifted from her, and the earth Guardian now stood between her and the lighter green dragon.

"Stand down Eurus," the clubbed tail he sported swayed dangerously, the far stockier dragon showing his side to the other in warning, "She is not that creature."

'Eurus' lowered his head, though the action was not a submissive one-- instead, he was pointing his impressive crown of silver horns, the top right of which being deeply cracked. There was an eerie shine to them, as if they were made of metal instead of bone. It made her shudder.

"Humor me, Guardians," there was poison laced in his words, "the rat drew blood. It's only fair I put her in her place."

"Can you even hear yourself?!" Cyril broke in, jumping beside Terrador and effectively walling her off to his advances, "She's a child, Eurus; a child born in war! Of course she attacked you, you were acting like a madman!"