Astrid

Chapter 2: Now

"Aguamenti!"
The flames only seemed to grow higher and larger as multiple blasts of water were firing from several wands.
"Stupefy!"
I heard multiple of those and the target only let out a roar of anger, not being hit by enough wands.
"Draconifors!"
The minute I heard this I knew we were doomed. That was used only in the most desperate of times as it wasn't very efficient against real dragons. I let my eyes dart to the object being transfigured so I could keep track and make sure I wasn't shooting spells at it because I'd mistaken it for another dragon who was spooked.
"Aguamenti!" I screamed again, coughing right after from the smoke clouding around us all.
"Astrid!" I heard someone call out to my left. Looking over I spot Charlie ducking under a stream of flames. I was concerned for a moment that it caught his hair but it was momentary as he popped up once again, seemingly unharmed. "The baby!" He cried out, his eyes flashing to the large dragon in the center. That's when I noticed the little dragon running between the larger one's legs. I immediately shared in Charlie's concern. There was no way the larger dragon was concerned with the litter one's safety at the moment.
"I got it! Cover me!" I called out before diving underneath the burning trees and dashing between the burning patches of grass.
"Astrid! What the hell are you doing?!" I heard someone else scream but I ignored it, concentrating at the task at hand.
Diving between the legs of the ginormous dragon, I wrapped my arms around the baby underneath him before crawling out from beneath him.
"Astrid! Behind you!" I heard Charlie's voice causing me to whip around to see Margery, the baby's mother, charging towards me. My eyes widened as I threw up a shield charm. It didn't hold for long and soon she was able to ram her nose into my gut sending me flying back. I was just lucky she hadn't gotten me with her teeth. I winced as I hit a tree, I could hear my bones crack and my vision go hazy. My ears were ringing but I became aware of the movement against me. I still had a tight grip on the baby in my arms but I quickly let it go, allowing it to crawl out of my arms. She seemed fine which was a relief. As the baby scrambled away a searing pain began in my leg causing me to scream in pain. Looking down I was barely able to process Margery's teeth buried in my flesh. I let her drag me away, grinding my teeth and digging my fingernails into my palm. It was better than holding onto the ground or the tree and having my leg torn clean off. After a few seconds of agonizing pain Margery released her grip and ran away to her baby. I lay there as the world came in and out of focus. A moment later I rolled onto my side, trying to get myself back on my feet, however, as soon as I put pressure on my injured leg an unbearable wave of pain washed through me and I crumbled forward. As I attempted to rise again something suddenly slammed into my back sending me back to the ground and suddenly the pain in my leg was the least of my concerns.
Suddenly there was pain everywhere and I released a scream as I recognized the orange hues around me. I couldn't even put it out by muggle means as I was trapped underneath the flaming mass not allowing me to roll around in an attempt to put out the flames eating me up. I'd lost track of my wand as well.
I suddenly realized the orange hues were no longer there and my charred clothes and hair were soaked. Despite this the burning barely subsided and I could feel the tears trickling from my eyes. I felt the heavy mass being lifted from my body, leaving me with one less thing that was creating pain. I cried out as I was rolled over onto my back.
"You're going to be okay, Astrid," the figure above me said. I assumed it was Charlie from the hues of red dancing in my blurry vision. There was nobody at the reserve with hair quite like his.
Suddenly he was gone and I could hear a shield charm being placed around me. The red hues were back, floating above me.
"You'll be alright, Astrid. Help is coming."
That was the last thing I heard before things went dark.

-x-

These chapters are shorter for some reason but I didn't want to take away from the dramatic appeal which I believe lengthening them will do. Please bare with me, longer chapters should be approaching.

Check out my story Cassiopeia. It is part of this series. Both can be understood without the other, they simply focus on different parts of the same time.