Free *Editing*

Chapter 2

Birdy and Barn sleep side by side in identical black sleeping bags tucked underneath the protective tree leaves above. The two of them feel the bite of the cold nights' air nip at there faces and it makes sleeping a difficult process.

So when they hear the sounds of wingbeats, they awake immediately.

Birdy sits up and joins her brother in his state of panic. Despite the frigid air, his face is already coated in sweat and he pulls out his dagger shaking as he does. Birdy grabs her bow with a delicate touch and strings an arrow into the sling. They listen closely. Barn shuts his eyes, in the darkness, he hears two footsteps. Silence. A distant wingbeat. Far above. Hot wind. A detached growl. The pit in his stomach grows and he opens his eyes to see Birdy- her round face contorted in focus and fear.

The tent flap is closed, and Barn takes the first steps towards getting it unzipped. In the complete silence, the clacking of the door coming undone is unbearable. Outside, Barn can see people crouching in the darkness. The blue light from Celedora's shield drapes there faces and makes harsh shadows attack the ground.

Barn waves Birdy to stand behind him, and their eyes follow a particular Outskirter who is stalking past the tent. The man's bright blue eyes look down at them. A harsh wingbeat. A huge crashing sound explodes above them and the man is swallowed up by a huge set of razor-sharp fangs. Birdy lets out a shriek and stumbles backwards. The night air is lit with the screams of the other Outskirters as they try to avoid the enemy in the dark. Barn tries to shield Birdy with his body as their tent shakes and the ground trembles underneath them. Hot breath cascades through the door like a vicious storm. A booming roar pierces their ears and they stare traumatized at the huge set of glaring yellow eyes feasting upon the sight of there trembling forms. The black slits widen in interest and the monster's jaw opens ten feet wide.

Barn turns his back to the Dragon hoping that it will eat him first. While his back is turned, Birdy watches as the Dragon flinches and jumps away from the tent. A sword wound has opened on its flank. In the darkness, Birdy can see blood pooling around the Dragons large hind legs. It roars again and turns to the left. It's gigantic head lunges into the darkness. It comes back. Body in mouth and crunches down. The figure snaps in half and dies instantly.

"Fuck, fuck!" Barn yells in a blind panic and grabs Birdy. He makes them jump out of the tent. The dragon is in the center of the small clearing. Its enormous black head skims the treetops and innocent victims desperately try to dance around its feet and tail. The monster stomps and swivels its body to attack a man with a gun. He fires twice lighting up the air. The dragon swallows them both whole. Birdy and Barn jump back to avoid the swinging tail. It smashes into a tree a foot away from them. The debris hits them in the face and they let go of one another. Barn spits dirt from his mouth. And Birdy hopelessly aims her arrow at the dragon.

Maybell is across the clearing, near the white van. She is screaming at her soldiers- "Get it working! Now! Now!"

Birdy crawls towards Barn. He's getting up on his knees. He shouts- "Hide in the trees!" Birdy grabs him and pulls him to his feet. They jump into a bush just as the Dragon turns around. An Outskirter takes his gun and shoots the monster in the eye. It hisses, then cries out in anger. The dragon snaps the man in half with its teeth and the shield explodes into hundreds of pieces.

Birdy is staring awestruck, her bow trembles in her hand. She has never been so close to a Dragon. So close to death. Barn grabs her shoulder tight. "Run!"

The Dragon ignores the last few survivors and raises its mighty wings. It flaps once, making a tornado of destruction. Birdy and Barn fall over once again, and the Dragon jumps into the air. Now above the treetops, the predator has a birds-eye view of its prey. Now completely shining under the blue Celedoran lights, Birdy notices what it is-