Unfamiliar (Unfamiliar Series #1)

Chapter 8

The headmaster's announcement has hardly had the chance to fade when the three riders spring into action. In quick succession, they hurriedly clamber onto their dragons backs with an easy grace that speaks volumes of their capabilities as dragon riders. The air seems to shimmer before it becomes hazy, like a dome of thick glass is covering the field as it ripples and shudders like water before it stills and clears.

A protective shield, probably smart. 

Though I wonder what all they'll be doing that warrants such protection. 

The riders urge their dragons to take flight and they circle the field within the dome, their dragons flying at an easy pace before they start to speed up. The dragons dive down and rise up randomly and I'm reminded of what air shows with planes look like as they soar with a gracefulness that takes my breath away. The sinews of their wings flex with ease, like a thoroughbred doing a warm-up lap before a race. 

They look like gigantic kites with their own free will as they whip past the bleachers and do a lap around the field. They then break off their formation and do swoops and dives that would be insane to do in an airplane. I'm queasy for a moment as I watch them and fear for their safety before I notice that they have harnesses on the dragons that attach to a harness for the rider via straps that clips them in place.

After several minutes of air acrobatics there's a horn that sounds, one that is deep and bass-like that throbs beneath my skin like a second heart. The riders circle around to the football goalposts where Violetta and Finn land their dragons next to one goal while Blaize's dragon lands at the opposing one.

A silence settles over the crowd like they're waiting for something with held breath as I find myself pausing with them. It's then that orbs of green light the size of beach balls begin to flicker and float in varying heights around the football field.

"Riders, ready your weapons," Headmaster Hallewell commands as his voice echoes across the field.

In unison, the riders summon ethereal looking bows that ripple like the flames of a fire. Each of the riders have a different colored bow, Blaize's being a bright gold while Violetta's is a dark shade of purple-blue. Finn's is black as they hold them at the ready. Each of the riders are looking to the headmaster from where he stands on his platform up in the bleachers.  

"You may begin," Hallewell says.

Their reaction is immediate as their dragons heave themselves toward the sky, their wings snapping open and flapping powerfully as they take flight and their riders take aim. I watch in awe as Violetta is the first to shoot, an arrow whistling from her bow as the arrow hits one of the floating orbs that is bobbing far away from her.

The color of the orb changes from green to an iridescent, purplish hue, like paint has been dumped into the orb as it floats down toward the ground like a deflating balloon. She has another arrow notched and is aiming for her next target before she can pause to inspect her handiwork. Violetta breezes past the cheering crowds on her dragon, a gale of wind blowing over us.

Blaize has made quick work of two targets as they gleam with a golden hue while Finn has already shot one of the targets, the orb glittering like onyx. Violetta speeds along ahead of them, claiming target after target as a majority of them glow with a purple hue. She pulls ahead of Blaize's score by one, the number of points for each target being projected on a scoreboard across the field.

How is she so fast? 

I can scarcely track her movements or what her next target is as she works with lightning speed. 

There is a fresh eruption of cheers for each target that is slain and I clap and cheer along with the other students. I keep my eyes trained on the tournament as I forget my previous, anxious feelings.