Apex [Imperial: Book 2]

Chapter 19

By the time the humans decided to stop, my wings felt stiff and my stomach seemed to rumble endlessly, reminding me of my hunger. Even the human on my back had noticed, and though he had murmured encouraging words to me, I could feel his irritation every time he tugged at the chains lightly.

Settling on the ground, I rested my head on my talons, trying to ignore the dragons around me. I did not need to look to know that most of them were watching me, making sure that I did not attempt to escape. Even Reida had snapped angrily a few times about the constant surveillance.

It did not help that most of the dragons were gnawing contentedly at prey that had been allowed to catch - an allowance that had not been extended to either Reida or myself. But the scent of warm blood and flesh was so tempting, taunting me as I rested stiffly in the grass.

Yet another reminder that I was no longer free.

Heart in my throat, I listened as heavy steps trudged towards me. Cautiously, I tilted my head, glimpsing the maroon dragoness - with the carcass of a deer hanging from her jaws.

Tensing, my talons dug into the ground. What did she want? Was she going to eat the deer in front of me, mocking me further? Gritting my teeth, I deliberately twisted my head away from her.

"Don't you like deer?" the maroon dragoness questioned, and I heard a muffled thud as she dropped the deer in front of me. "We have a long flight tomorrow. You need to eat."

From the corner of my eye, I glimpsed her shoving the carcass closer towards me, before retreating a few steps. Warily, I eyed her, watching as she settled down beside me, her tail sweeping back and forth as she waited for my response.

I glanced down at the deer carcass. It was still fresh, and the scent of the warm blood was enticing; almost torturous in the way that it made my stomach growl.

Hesitating, I glanced back at the maroon dragoness. Why had she hunted for me? Did she expect me to share it with her - or had she eaten already?

"Eat," she repeated, but did not so much as shuffle her wing.

Not needing to be told twice, I devoured the deer hungrily. The taste was almost lost on me as I continued to tare through flesh, too busy trying to consume it all and relieve my hunger.

I only stopped when not even a morsel was left.

"Thank you," I grunted, glancing back at the maroon dragoness.

"We all need to eat," she tilted her head slightly, and I could have sworn that amusement glistened in her green eyes as she examined me. "And, I have eaten already..."

"Do you hunt often?" I tilted my head slightly, eyeing the maroon dragon carefully. None of the dragons had been surprised when the humans had allowed them to hunt. Was such normal for them?

When I'd been slave to the humans, they'd only let me eat their left-overs; the scraps. Barely enough to keep me alive, let alone satisfy my hunger.

"Sometimes," the maroon dragoness shuffled her wings, and her gaze wandered towards the humans. "Every time we travel - like this. And sometimes when we're at a city, should we want to. Why? Surely you would have known that!" Puzzlement clouded her voice as she swung her head towards me yet again.

Slowly, I shook my head. "The humans never let me hunt. Until I'd escaped, I'd never tasted fresh meat."

My answer only seemed to confuse the dragon more. Confusion glistened in her green eyes as she blinked slowly. "You... weren't allow to hunt?"

"Nor fly," I added, watching intently as the maroon dragoness stiffened. Why was she so surprised? Surely she'd had similar treatment! Surely, she too had been threatened countless times; forced to be the humans' slave? With the hatred that the humans directed towards us, surely there was simply no way that she could have been treated otherwise!

But if that was the case, then why was she so horrified at the thought of me being unable to hunt - or fly?

Not to mention that she'd always seemed defensive of the humans' actions, and had claimed that life in captivity was better than that in the wild! Would she have done that if she'd been treated the same way I had been?

There was no denying it. She'd been treated differently.

Releasing a shaky breath, I turned my attention towards the other dragons. All of them had been treated differently, better, than I had been. Allowed to fly whenever they wanted, and to hunt - and perhaps even without the threat of constant punishments.

"Of a day, we hauled wagons. At night, we'd be locked up in our own cramped cages," I growled, all to easily remember the dingy darkness of the Dragon Stables. Digging my talons into the ground, I resisted the urge to shudder, even as I continued. "Punishments were thrown at us constantly. If we faltered for so much as a second..."

My voice trailed off, unable to voice the rest of the sentence. All too easily, I could picture Master standing beside me, his gnarled hands holding a rugged, bloodstained knife. The same knife that had been used to blind another dragon.

"So you escaped," the maroon dragoness breathed, shuffling her wings in an uncomfortable manner.

"Yes," I agreed, before turning my attention towards the humans. "But now, I'm captured again."

Before she had the chance to respond, a dark brown drake staggered towards us. Each step was purposefully stiff and heavy, and his piercing yellow eyes glared at me, as though daring me to challenge him. 

"Keda," he hissed coldly, and the maroon dragoness flinched - for it was her name that he'd growled. "Getting comfortable with your new friend, yes? You do realise that you'll likely not see her again after tomorrow night?"

"Tomorrow night?" I echoed, not understanding what he'd meant. 

Beside me, the dragoness sighed, "That's when we'll get to Azarin. Or around then. As I said, it's a long flight tomorrow."

A shudder ran down my spine. We'd be arriving at the city of dragons tomorrow night. To think I'd foolishly hoped that I'd had at least a few days of travel! Tomorrow night, I'd be surrounded by humans and dragons, with absolutely no chance of escape. 

From what I'd learned from Keda, it was unlikely that I'd be returning to a cramped prison, to be starved and punished. But at the same time, a city was still a city - and I would still be controlled by humans. 

*~*

1148 words

More than a little bit late this time - sorry! That being said, the next chapter will be out next week - on the Monday, if all goes to plan. 

Hope you enjoyed! If you did, please drop a vote and/or leave a comment! :D