Ferinix the Night Fury

Chapter 12

The steel doors opened once again interrupting another session of play with the rope that was still inside the enclosure with me. I bounded to the door readying myself because there most likely will be something on the other side of the door whether it be dragons or hunters.

I heard a hunter announce something as the opened enough for me to see a blue, armored, Monstrous Nightmare. I galloped out and the Nightmare burst into flames and charged towards me. This should be easy, I though, I've dealt with a few Monstrous Nightmares before. I ran out of reach of his snapping jaws then slowed down a bit so he thought I was starting to give up and, when he least expected it, my tail struck his face. The flames on his back faded and he roared in rage. I stopped running and roared back. He ran towards me again and I ran to him. We collided in a knot of hissing fury.

He attempted to bite me in my exposed underbelly but I grabbed his head and tossed it away. The brilliantly colored dragon set itself aflame again and charged. He hit me with his flaming tail, which felt extremely hot but didn't burn me though my semis fire-resistant hide. I remembered a tip my parents taught me and took to the air. The Monstrous Nightmare followed. I flew quite fast but not too fast, then I dived and at the very last second I pulled back up. He didn't expect this and he dove face first into the hard ground.

He looked up still grumbling and groaning with pain. I smirked and shot a blast that made his head slam into the ground again. He let out a deafening roar that without doubt meant "ENOUGH!" He flew only a few feet into the air facing me and looking at me with such an intense glare that I wondered if his stare alone could kill me. Then, he drew his wings back and thrust them foreword with so much power that it sent me flying into the wall.

I was about to get up when he jumped on top of me. I felt a trickle of pure hatred travel down my back and I felt my pupils narrow into slits and my vision somewhat blurred. The Monstrous Nightmare reared back his head and prepared his kerosene gel for fire. When he was about to ignite it I used a trick my mother taught me and I blasted his mouth making it burst into bright orange flames. He shook his head and roared in agony then got off of me and scrambled to the other side of the arena and there were lots of oohs from the crowd.

He eventually forced his mouth close and shot me another piercing look that looked even more frightening than the last one due to the smoke still billowing from his nostrils. I rushed to him and shoved him into the wall in a blind wrath and roared so loud I even surprised myself. Before the Nightmare had a chance to get to his feet I shot multiple blasts at his side. The smoke blocked my view so I couldn't see very well. But that didn't matter. I ran to the sound of his moaning and blasted him again, this time in the head. Before he raised his head I pinned it down and spread my wings to look more intimidating. I reared back my head but instead of delivering the final blow, I roared very loud and very long.

He didn't try to get me off him; he just lay there, knowing he was defeated. I hopped off him and he slowly got up with his head down in respect. I on the other hand, stood straight and tall with my chest puffed out and held my head high.

After cheering, the strangely dressed hunters slowly made their way out of sight and their constant chitter-chatter faded with them until a few normally dressed hunters were the only ones left.

The remaining hunters went out of sight and soon reappeared though the smallest steel door. They were carrying their usual sticks except two of the four hunters sticks had large piece of wood that look remarkably like a dragons head on the end where usually pointy bits of iron are. The hunters with the stick that had the iron on the end were in front. They took a few steps forward and the blue Monstrous Nightmare set itself ablaze and the hunters took a step back.

The hunters who had the stick with the chunks of wood on the end pointed them uselessly at us from ten feet away. I snarled at them and the two hunters put their mouths to the end of the stick they were holding. I heard the Nightmare scurry away from them when they did this. I gave him a questioning look when a sharp pain hit one of my rear legs. I roared in pain and surprise. I felt the strength get sucked out of me and replaced with intolerable drowsiness. I tried to stay standing but I failed and landed with a thump on the rock floor. My eyelids were heavy and I couldn't stop myself from falling asleep.