A Leader Must Rise - Old Version

Chapter 65

Aria

Tears continued to pour down my cheeks, my neck and into my shirt as I gazed at the mangled bodies. The one closest to me was no longer than the length of my arm, barely a few months old, and the hatchling has been disembowelled. It's intestines spilling from the cut from its collar bone to its pelvis, blood pooled around it. The hatchling's once radiant blue scales are dull and missing. The next hatchling was bigger, six to eight months. If it stood, its shoulder would reach my elbow. This orange hatchling, unlike its smaller brethren, was tortured. It's wings cut to ribbons, bones shattered and scales, horns, claws and teeth are missing.

The last one was in better shape. A young purple hatchling, close to a year old. It had scales missing but no major damage had been done to it beside the gunshot wound to its chest and a beaten head. Blood stained the floor, walls of the shed and surgical equipment scattered around the floor. I hear a distance thud, companied by another and another until the force of Adalon's wings shook the shed. The ground shook as he landed and screams erupted from outside. I could hear Andrew talking frantically but I don't know what he said, I could only focus on the hatchlings in front of me.

I heard Adalon roar in frustration and frantic steps immediately afterwards. The ground shook as Adalon took several steps before the roof of the shed was ripped off and the walls fell outwards. A cloud of dirt rose with the motion as Adalon cried in alarm. I looked over my shoulder at him as he whined deep in his stomach. One giant, golden eye moved to me as tears filled in his eyes. "If I knew...," I said and he whined again. I stood on shaky legs as Conner shifted. I looked around and noticed Butch hunched over by the house, his upper lip raised in a snarl as he growled lowly.

"Ari, you know these...," Jen trailed off, unsure what to call Conner and Butch. "Dragons," I answered as I turned back to Conner. "And yes, Jen...I do." I watch as Conner stroked the smallest hatchlings head. Tears continued to roll down his face as he mumbled "I'm sorry" over and over. "How?" Den asked softly. I turned my head to look at him and opened my mouth to answer but nothing came out. Not because of the oath I took but because another wave of sobs threatened to erupt again. I clenched my eyes shut as I let my head hang forward and took a few deep breaths. I opened my eyes and and raised my head to the sky.

"Maru, look after them. Make sure they find their way home," I prayed. The wind picked up and kissed my face gently. I jumped when Andrew hugged me from behind and squeezed me tightly. I relaxed into his chest and watch Conner travel to the second hatchling. "How can they...?" I whispered. "I don't know, sis. I just don't know," Drew replied softly. I turned in his arms and cuddled in while keeping an eye on Conner. I watched him cry over the second hatchling and muttering the death ritual under his breath.

Once he finished, he placed a kiss on the hatchlings head and stood and turned to the last one. He kneeled besides the purple hatchlings head just as I see a muscle twitch. I lifted my head and cleared my eyes of tears to look closer, and sure enough, I see the hatchlings right paw shift. "Conner," I exclaimed and Andrew let me go. "Wait a sec." "Ari, I need to finish," Conner dejectedly whispered. "I saw it move," I said as I kneeled beside him. "You can't have, he's—" "Conner, I know I saw him move," I insisted and leaned closer to the hatchlings head.

"Hatchling, if you can hear me, move your paw," I said in his ear and turned to look at his foot. The hatchling lifted his leg a little before it shook and fell. "Call Steven," Conner yelled and Butch raised on his hind legs, and roared loudly. "Thank you," he whispered and I clasped him on the shoulder before I stood. "Bring me Arian," I ordered angrily and Andrew ran to do as I said. I noticed Sven looking at me strangely as I walked over to Butch. "Hey, buddy, I need Jude," I said after I placed my right hand under his eye and my left on the arch of his eyebrow.