Fireball

The Cage

Kaida wondered if they should split up to complete a thorough search faster, but Fireball was a bit wary. He had not encountered a lot of wizards in his life, and he knew little about them, but he had heard a few stories about their powerful light sticks. For safety, he thought they should stick together.

The two little dragons flew very high, hoping to avoid any detection. The opposite side of the mountain was more densely wooded, and had a small, vibrant green lake. Kaida was first to notice a little movement near the far edge of the lake. From that height, the pair could not tell who or what it was. Fireball decided to fly closer to the mountain and then drop down for a closer look. He thought if he hugged the mountainside, it would act as a shield and allow him to move down closer, undetected.

From their new elevation, the two dragons peered out at the movement around the lake. They saw a couple of wizards walking around, not doing anything. Kaida pointed out something metallic behind them, but before Fireball could get a good look, he saw the wizards turn and look up toward their hiding spot. One wizard pointed in their direction and they began talking. Fireball was too far away to hear anything. As Kaida also reminded him, they wouldn't be able to understand the wizards anyway. The two little dragons ducked out of sight, so the wizards couldn't see them, assuming that the wizards had been pointing at them.

Fireball kept an eye on the wizards as they continued their discussion, but a short time later they had moved on and went back to doing nothing.

It was harder to get a decent look, while staying hidden, but Fireball strained his eyes in an attempt to determine what the metal contraption was behind the wizards. He wanted to get closer. Kaida suggested they fly in lower, but Fireball was afraid one of the wizards might see them move. He had no idea how many wizards might come after them, but he was pretty sure they were the ones who had kidnapped his friend, Dronin.

As the two wizards made their way back to a larger group of wizards, Kaida saw something. She got Fireball's attention. Walking alongside of a small lake were three more wizards. They were approaching the two wizards and they were dragging two heavy iron chains. Attached to the chains was a very large dragon. It was Dronin. Fireball was sure of that. He was walking, but not very well. He looked injured and he was being forced to move with the wizards who kept pulling the chains they had secured around his neck. They led him into a metal box and that was when Fireball realized the metal contraption was a steel cage.

Fireball told Kaida to go get the other dragons. He told her to lead them in behind a stand of trees just behind the cage. Worried, she asked what he was going to do. Fireball explained he was going to be careful, but he was going to sneak down closer to see if he could find a way for them to get Dronin out of the cage. What he didn't tell her was that he really wanted to breathe a tremendous flame at the wizards and burn them into oblivion. The only thing holding him back was the fact that he didn't know how many more wizards might be around to attack him and Dronin. He did not want to put Dronin's life in any more jeopardy.

Kaida flew off to get the other dragons and Fireball zipped down, undetected, to the edge of the wooded area near the cage.