The Loyal

4 - In the Sand

Dain waited in the dark side room, kitted out in a blood-stained leather, his sword in hand. A guard stood at the exit, listening to the commentary in the Colosseum. Thousands of voices floating through the rough walls. Dain paced back and forth, struggling to keep his breath even and his thoughts positive. The latter was something Dain had never been good at, especially when he was alone.

Several more guards came into the small chamber, fear written across their faces. "We're bringing the dragon in. Open the door!"

They moved to lift the large entrance door, probably used to bring in large beasts, but now it was being used for Sirath, who was no more a monster than Dain.

Her beautiful slender snout was wrapped in chains, surrounded by dark bruises. Her wings were clamped against her chest, not a hair's width of movement allowed. Sirath writhed away from her escorts, trying to take them down, one by one. As one guard was thrown against the wall, another cam to fill the gap, everyone working as a team to get the dragon into the side chamber.

But as soon as Sirath saw Dain, she stopped her movement. Happiness and relief flooded into her stunning eyes. The guards shoved her in, pulling the door down as they did.

"What are we supposed to do?" One asked, greatly afraid.

"It'll kill us as soon as it's free."

"No, she wont." Dain said, placing a hand on the dragon's shoulder. "Take off her chains, I promise she won't attack you."

Sirath stared at Dain for a moment, weighing her decisions, before bobbing her head then brushing her snout against Dain's cheeks.

Guards hesitated, glancing at each other, almost daring each other to unlock the chains. Finally, one came forward, cautiously holding the lock. He slipped the key into the hole, twisting it carefully. Almost instantly the chains fell from Sirath's body, the remaining were shaken off.

Dain ran into Sirath's chest, snuggling into her embrace. Neither spoke. Sirath wrapped her wings over the boy, protecting him from the world. This was where Dain was meant to be. This was his place. Every hurt vanished. Everything was okay now.

The guards filled out, each taking a glance at the two, curiosity and occasionally envy clear on there faces. "You have ten minutes." One told them, before vanishing into the halls.

"Are you okay?" Dain whispered his voice muffled by the membrane of Sirath's large wings.

"I'm fine," she said, just as Dain noticed small rips in her wings, black bruised decorating her body and several missing scales. Dain reached his small hand to one such scale and took it off from the pink flesh below. He pressed the scale into his chest before slipping it into his pocket.

"Where have you been?" Sirath asked, placing him several steps back so she could study him.

"They put me in a cell with a boy called Curse. He's been teaching me how to fight. When we escape, we need to take him with us. Where were you?"

Sirath gently brushed a golden claw against Dain's brown cheek, growling as she ran over cuts. "I was in a mess hall. They kept me chained so I wouldn't destroy anything. I haven't eaten in several days."

Dain could clearly see that. Normally Sirath's chest was well shaped, but now Dain could count each rib without fail. "I'll try and talk with the games planner to get you food. He allowed us to be together."

With a low snarl, Sirath expressed her feelings, "I won't let them hurt you. Never. I'll protect you Dain,"

He took a deep breath in, "Sirath, I love you," the words were sweet tasting.