The Adventures of the Junior Phoenixes, Part 4: The Pendant of Light

Chapter 19: On Leathery Wings

Chapter 19

     “In from the cold and into the fire,” Teller said as he stared at the sky. He shook his head and gripped his wand tight with his metal hand.  

     The group focused on the narrow T-shaped object that flew high in the sky. It was no larger than a small fingernail. Rouge, though, knew what it was without seeing any of its features up close.

     “How do you know that’s a dragon?” Rain Fox asked.

     “When I was a kid,” Rouge explained, cupping the right side of his head and wincing in pain, “I loved dragons. I mean, who wouldn’t, right? That shape, that flight pattern, and the height that it’s flying at; yeah, that’s a dragon, kiddies.”

     Sky Heart leaned over the port side and gasped. “Oh no! The whole side is ripped to pieces! Quick! Teller! Open the forward hatch and see if we’re taking in any water!”

     Teller didn’t say a word as he ran over to the small hatch in the center of the front deck and opened it up. Inside it was dank, wet, and water was bubbling through the slats of wood, on both sides.

     “We’re taking in water on both sides,” he said to Sky Heart, “I can repair the sides but we’d have to stop the boat.”

     “Echo!” Sky Heart shouted.

     “I’m on it!” Echo replied. She got up and walked over to the stern. She pointed her wand at the back near the tiller and spoke, “Finite!” The boat jolted slightly but did not stop moving.

     “Why aren’t we stopping?” Rain Fox asked.

     “Because we still have forward momentum!” Sky Heart answered. “Honestly, and people think you’re the smart one!”

     “Oy!” Rain Fox shouted, “I heard that!”

     Sky Heart ran forward to the pulpit and aimed it at the boat’s prow. “Arresto Momentum!” she shouted. Her wand emitted a blue flash of light that wrapped itself around the boat and brought it to a gradual halt. It yawed forward a little, but steadied itself after a few moments. She then hopped back over to the forward hatch and examined the damage.

     “I count four punctures on the port, two on the starboard,” Teller said to her, “And I have no clue about underneath.”

     “I can check underneath if you want me to,” Dev said, “Just give me a minute!”

     Echo looked at him with a perplexed expression. “What are you doing?”

     “Going in,” Dev smiled. “If I don’t come up for air in a few minutes, just wait longer.” He winked at her. He climbed the guard rail and dove into the water.

     “That crazy nutcase!” Echo said, shaking her head.

     “We’re sitting ducks out here!” Rain Fox said aloud.

     “Not really,” Teller said. “Dragons aren’t prone to attack boats.”

     “Most dragons are not prone to,” Rouge corrected him, “But Hebridean Blacks are very territorial. Actually, they’re extremely territorial. Scamander’s book says they need about a hundred mile radius per dragon.”

     “What does that mean for us?” Teller asked.

     “It means we might be in trouble,” Rouge answered.