ON HOLD (EDITING) Rise of the Dragons: Beginning

Chapter 13

There was a dull, throbbing pain, emanating from my wrist and I couldn't seem to get a proper mouthful of air. I groaned softly as I slowly came to. I tried to open my eyes, but they were as heavy as lead. Gingerly, I tried again, grimacing. Blinking rapidly, I managed to open my eyes, but they immediately narrowed against the grit, that clouded over them. 

They slowly cleared, and I found myself staring up at a canopy of evergreen trees, small bursts of the dark blue sky peeking out from the gaps in the branches. I was lying on my back in a small clearing, that was surrounded by large trees. Tall plants grew in between the trees, covering the gaps and making the clearing seem like a closed oval. 

I tried to sit up, but as soon as I shifted my weight, my lungs constricted, and I coughed harshly, my body shaking. I lay still, taking shaky but deep breaths, my body limp on the ground. Cautiously, I rolled onto my side, and instantly regretted it. 

My throat tightened, as I desperately tried to gasp in air, but only managed to take in tiny rasps of air. My chest heaved, and I clutched at my throat weakly, with my good hand, my injured hand lying limp on the ground. 

Black spots danced in front of my eyes, and I uselessly sucked in air that wouldn't pass through my constricted throat, into my starving lungs. The black spots grew larger, and as I started to fade, a coughing fit enveloped me. 

My body shook weakly, as the coughs wracked my body. I didn't move after it passed, afraid of what would happen I did, and revelling in the fact that I could breathe again. There was only one person I wanted right now. 

"Eridor." I rasped, wincing at the sound of my hoarse, weak voice. I called out his name in my mind, reaching out for him, but receiving no answer. I was completely and utterly alone. 

Wherever he was, I couldn't feel him. He had to be too far away, to hear me. There was no other explanation, but I couldn't think of why he was too far away. He wouldn't leave me. 

I had to get up. I had no idea of where I was. How did I even get here. I remembered being thrown into Kaylas' burning house. Then..I found Robin, and...got back to the broken window. Someone had lifted us both out of the fire. I hadn't seen him, but I remembered the rough but strong feel of his hands. 

But why had he brought me here. It didn't make sense. As I tried to make sense of it, something hit me, as hard as the burning beam had, and I froze. The man hand turned my injured hand so the palm faced up. My injured hand, that had the riders mark on it. 

There was no doubt that he'd seen it. I'd heard him gasp. Shoot! I had to get out of here. What if he came back. I tried calling out for Eridor one more time, but again got nothing back.

Setting my jaw, I slowly, carefully, pushed myself up off the ground. Gritting my teeth, managed to heave myself, painfully onto my knees, before pain laced through my sore body. I doubled over, my my head hanging, as I clutched my injured hand to my chest with my left hand. 

I looked down at it after I had recovered from the pain, and my eyes widened. It was a bloody mess! I'd lost my jacket somehow, and I could see the full extent of my injury, as my white-green shirt with elbow-length sleeves didn't really cover it. 

Dried blood caked my arm all the way up to the elbow, but luckily it hadn't seeped onto my shirt. I couldn't even see the wound under all the dry blood, but I could feel it, thanks to spikes of pain that lanced though my arm every few seconds. Thankfully it wasn't bleeding anymore, but I was pretty sure I'd lost more blood than was safe. 

Tearing my eyes away from my injured arm, I placed my good one on the ground, and, digging my fingers into the earth, used it as a lever to push myself up. Gritting my teeth, I groaned softly, as I straightened up.