Valin (Book 3 of the White Lily Trilogy)- first draft

Chapter 34- Dropped into battle.

     Dakelo counted, right down to the seconds, in which she remained under the water. He waded his way back to the shore, once she didn't immediately resurface, almost slipping over twice on the stones hiding near his feet. He would have stayed in, but he was losing the feeling in his legs from the water, like needles driving into his muscles.

He was soaked through to his skin, and for now, he was pacing back and forth, which in a way helped him to warm himself back up. Every time he heard the faintest sound, the tiniest ripple splash against the rocks his head jerked up to watch. Every time it was a disappointment and false alarm, it just furthered wound up his anxiety.

She's been down there too long, he told himself. No one can hold their breath for so long. Each time his concern grew he consulted Thiryqa, who confirmed she was still down there and still alive. But he didn't understand how she was still alive, it had been minutes, maybe ten, maybe more. Thiryqa wouldn't say anything else beyond the reassurance, but the creature's face was rather pale in the moonlight. He knew something, something he didn't wish to tell them. If it was to save them from the worry it wasn't helping. It just made him worry more.

Dakelo wasn't the only one showing his worry, the others were just as anxious and showed it in different ways. Fire Tongue was busy grinding the staff of his axe into the ground, now having made a considerable crater. Grey Paw was kicking rocks about, and Xnifo took staring up at the sky.

It wasn't just that Isi's reappearance that he had to listen out for, for moments at a time he'd be lulled into forgetting all about the battle raging on the other side of the forest. It wasn't until a piercing scream, roar, or the sound like clapping thunder vibrated through the air, that he was snapped back to reality. All of them flinched and reacted on instinct, grabbing onto the weapons in their hands tighter but, for the moment, it seemed no one knew they were gone, nor did it appear anyone was heading their way, and he wanted it kept that way for now. If anyone like Valin appeared they would stand no chance.

"Hurry up," he muttered, glancing at the water again. "Hurry up Isi." He at least hoped it was Isi, he still wasn't completely sure what was happening in regards to the two of them. He understood the concept that the two of them would join, but only one would remain. That worry gnawed at him a lot, did it mean that the one that emerges would not be Isi at all. Was that really her last goodbye, why she was so sad....He shook his head, no he mustn't get too distracted, he must have hope, that's all he could do.

"Dakelo." Grey Paw called him out in alarm, which snapped him out of his current spiral. She was looking out over the lake, so his gaze shot in that direction, his heart picked up in pace in anticipation. The water on the surface was swelling, higher and higher, bubbling like it was boiling below. He had to stop himself from diving back out there, to try and drag her back out. It continued for a few moments longer until it suddenly burst, and sent water crashing everywhere. The lot of them yelped and hurried back as the icy water cascaded down and thankfully just fell short of hitting them. As the sound sounds of crashing water subsided, it was replaced with a repetitive thumping of great wings. Dakelo righted himself and turned around to stare in complete awe and shock at the creature before him. For a few seconds, he almost forgot to breathe.

The wind buffeted around them as the vast wings pounded the air to keep herself airborne. Upon first glance, she looked so much like her mother, but smaller, slimmer. Her wings, unlike both parents, still had a feathered look to it, rather than the thick membrane, though whether she had that originally he was unsure about, for it would seem unusual for a dragon to have feathers.

Her scales were white as snow, but every so often there was one that glinted gold in the moonlight, like the glimmer of a coin in her scales. The serpent-like neck snaked down to look at the ripping water, possibly looking for a reflection. However, due to her wings, the water was constantly being rippled. Her bulk lowered down to the shallow area, landing where the water barely even lapped around her ankle. She stood still, letting the water still once more. Though that task took minutes, none of them dared to rush forward, or even speak to her. None of them had any idea how she would react, or what she would do if they shouted towards her.