An Animus's Tale

Spears Raised

Redfeather staggered back, breathing heavily. Dragons were screaming in the crowd.

"She's an Animus!"

"Redfeather's going to kill us all!"

"No, she's not! She's just a dragonet!!!"

"No, she's a monster!"

"Ahhhhh!! Somebody save us!"

"Everybody QUIET!!!!" Queen Carmine yelled. The crowd quieted down. "Don't worry, you will all be safe. As I said, I will take care of this... Animus."

Redfeather whimpered. She's going to kill me. she thought grimly.

Carmine flipped her tail. "Kill her," she ordered.

The guards nodded and jerked toward Redfeather. Their spear points were long and pointy. "Don't kill me!" squeaked Redfeather. 

One of the guards looked at her sympathetically. He looked about the same as age as Redfeather... oh! The two guards were brothers. Redfeather remembered being in the same wingery of the smaller one when they lived in the village."I'm sorry." the SKyWing said. "I wish that you didn't have to-"

"Shut up, Potoo!" the other one interrupted.

Potoo looked at his talons, then at the other guard. "I was just- oh, Pyrope, your so annoying!"

"What are you waiting for?" Pyrope asked. "Kill her!"

Potoo nodded. The two raised their spears, about to stab Redfeather in the heart-

"NO!"

Jay jumped in front of Redfeather. "You can't kill her!" he screamed. "She didn't hurt anyone!!"

"Not yet," hissed Pyrope. "But she will. Move so we can kill her."

"You'll have to kill me first," Jay growled.

Potoo said, "I don't want to hurt you. Both of you. But we have an order-"

"Kill both of them, you idiots!" Carmine screamed. "Or will I have to do it myself?"

Pyrope nodded. He raised his spear and stabbed Jay in the chest.

"No!" Redfeather shrieked. She dropped down to Jay's level, crying. "Jay! Jay, wake up!"

"I'm sorry," Potoo said grimly. He turned to Pyrope. "We don't have to kill her. She didn't hurt anybody."

Pyrope grabbed his brother's armor and threw him, making Potoo collide into the statue. Pyrope hissed and raised his spear.

Redfeather shut her eyes. Please, please, she prayed. Protect me. I don't want to die today.  

She felt the spear plunge into her side-

Wait.

It wasn't painful.

Redfeather sniffed and looked up. Pyrope kept stabbing her. "Why arent you dying?" he demanded. "Why?"