The Rise Of The King

Chapter Seven

I returned to camp with a deer, several dragons looked at me as I dragged it across the dusty clearing. I saw Drake, giving me a look I couldn't read. Fern walked up to me after I lied the deer down, and rubbed her cheek against my jaw. I smiled and nudged her with my snout. Claw was sitting neatly across the clearing, his tail tip twitching. I ignored his cold stare as Fern started towards our den. I followed. Once inside, she sighed.

"Drake said you pinned him in the forest."

I laid my ears back a little.

"Yeah, he was being disrespectful."

Fern raised a brow, "How so?"

"He made a comment about my mother, I couldn't let it just slide."

"I guess I agree with you, but, he is family, Saber."

"He may be your brother, but he doesn't count as the family for me."

She inhaled sharply and opened her jaws in a retort when Claw strode inside.

"-I hope I'm not interrupting," he looked at me, "I need you for something."

Fern gave him an irritated glance and made eye contact with me to maybe call him off. I paused for a second, thinking of the consequence of not doing what he says. I sighed and gave her an apologetic look before nodding to Claw and following him out, leaving Fern disappointed in the den.

We walked to the clearing in silence, like usual. The sudden scent of blood struck my nose. Claw glanced back at me and stopped dead in his tracks. That's when I noticed the dried blood in his teeth and around his jaws, he didn't clean up very much. I instantly pushed past him, and froze, it felt like my stomach dropped to my claws. Koda lied on the ground, his throat slashed. His blood still slowly pooling around the deep gash. My breathing grew raspy as a million emotions ran through my head. I whipped around to face Claw. He was smiling, his eyes focused on Koda's lifeless body. He was alive less than two hours ago.

"Wh-"

"He was in my way, Saber. The old fool was going to die anyway."

I slowly shook my head as flashbacks of my mother's final moments exploded in my head. I backed away, feeling extremely small. He walked past me and sat down next to Koda's body. My heartbeat thudded in my ears as he just stared at the corpse. He looked so calm..it was sickening.

"What...What does this accomplish..?"

Claw looked up at me, breaking his trance.

"I can pretend a rogue killed him, it's not that hard."

My chest felt like it was being constricted.

"You didn't answer my question."

"I can be the leader." he snarled.

I swallowed.

"Second thought: You are a lot stronger than I expected..." He said.

I laid my ears back, he smirked.

"Dip your claws in his blood," he ordered.

My jaws gaped.

"N-No! You're not going to frame me!"

He stood, launching himself at me. He pinned me to the ground, teeth bared. His breath smelled of sickness and blood, it made me almost gag.

"Koda wasn't the only one in my was after all."

Anger boiled in me. I bared my teeth and readied my legs underneath him. I pushed him off, sending him skidding across the dry earth. He looked up, slightly surprised. I got in a battle stance, putting most of my weight in my back legs. I was at a big disadvantage, I was just above his shoulder height. He sprung forward, I was ready for him and slashed his right eye. He let out a yowl, his jaws parted as blood poured from his face. I was almost as shocked as him, I'd never intentionally hurt someone like that before. He shook his head, sending droplets of blood all over the ground.

"You'll pay for that." He growled.

He leaped again, which I easily dodged with the blood running into his good eye. He started growing desperate, saliva and blood dripping off his jaws. He ran, too quickly for me strategize. I slid underneath him, my claws raised. I closed my eyes as I felt a hot liquid drain on top of me. I opened my eyes, I was on the ground, covered in blood. I turned to see Claw, gargling. I swallowed as I realized what I'd done. I had sliced his belly open. He was still alive, struggling. He was even grasping at the ground. I walked to his face and stared at him.

It felt like forever, while he tried talking to me. It was impossible for him to do so. I bared my teeth and roared at him.

"I know you killed my mother!"

His eye widened, I don't know if he heard what I had said or that his body finally gave out. Tears rolled down my face uncontrollably as he twitched and went still. I don't know why I was crying. I hated him. I hated him so much, this is exactly was he deserved. I don't know how long I was sitting there, staring at the bloody mess that was my father. I heard a twig pop and I turned, my eyes burning. Fern emerged through the foliage, and I saw her fear instantly. She made eye contact with me. I couldn't even imagine what she saw. Her mate covered in blood, and two bodies at his feet.

"Saber..." She tried speaking but started shaking her head slowly.

Drake appeared next to her, his attention shot to me. My mouth grew dry and others started coming from the forest. Everyone looked scared or shocked. We all sat in the processing silence before Drake stepped forward. He smiled a little at me then looked towards a few other male dragons.

"Kill him." He said.

I don't remember turning and running, but it was happening. I leaped over logs, slid under thick clumps of ferns, all while I completely forgot I could fly. Someone caught up to me, slashing my left wing membrane, I gritted my teeth, so much for flying. I ran harder, my breath growing raspy. There had to be at least five dragons chasing me.

"I knew you were insane!" Drake called behind me.

I saw a rock wall ahead, we'd run to the border of the mountains. I was cornered, and they knew that. I backed against the wall, shaking. Drake smiled, licking his jaws.

"I'll enjoy this."

I closed my eyes as Drake jumped towards me. When his claws didn't connect with my throat, I opened my eyes. A medium sized black dragon was attacking my pursuers. They knocked a few to the side, then looked at me, an ugly scar across their face.

"Damn it, run!" He roared.

I didn't hesitate and darted deeper into mountain dragon territory. I ran for a while longer, until I didn't know where I was. I stopped, my tongue sticking out as I caught my breath. I inhaled deeply, as my brain started to work correctly. I closed my eyes, before vomiting. I coughed, lying on the ground. I lied there for a few minutes before I heard the flap of wings. I looked up, fear edging into me. Then that black dragon appeared, neatly folding his wings in the shadows of the thick fir trees. I didn't even see him land. I stood, bristling weakly. He came into the light, the scars on his face sorta glowing.

"You can calm down. I'm clearly not here to hurt you."

I relaxed a little as he shook his shoulders. The scars were around his left eye, it had been completely clawed out. His working eye was a cool blue, which contrasted nicely with his dark scales. He had scars here and there on other parts of his body. He blinked as I awkwardly stared at him.

"Are you okay to travel? We should probably patch up your wing."

"Y-yeah...How far?"

He looked deeper into the firs.

"Not far, I'll be here if you need help."

I glanced towards where I'd come from.

"Don't worry about it, you're safe with me."

I nodded slowly.

"My name's Saber," I said.

"I know."

I raised a brow.

"My name is Night, now come on, the sun will set soon."