Wings of Fire • Dragon of Warriors [3]

Chapter Two

Quickclaws, newly psyched and ready to train, entered the sparring cave with renewed vigour. He stood tall and confident, with a determined gleam in his eye just like Lightningtail's.

     That all but disappeared when he caught sight of Speedscar. He lowered his gaze and he lost the fire in his eyes, only to renew it and look up in an attempt to be brave. The guilt for scratching him returned.

     This cave was the same one Lightningtail and Thunderclap had been in when they had joined for a training session. It was large and thus allowed for more dragons to spar. Normally four or five apprentices would be able to train here but due to the large number of soldiers in the infirmary that meant that smaller parties could gain access to the larger rooms without needing a full group. Quickclaws and Speedscar could train here alone for the day.

     The room was long, the entrance set in the middle of the longest side. An oak beam was suspended by chains for mentors to sit on while they watched their apprentices train on the field below.

     The wall opposite to the entrance was covered floor-to-ceiling in weapon racks. Blunted training weapons studded them, adding a distracting dazzle to the room as a result of the torchlight. Then again, the battlefield had proven to be distracting so it was an unintended but appreciated effect. To his left, diagrams and maps littered the wall. The right side had three chests for storing gloves and other sparring equipment.

     A dark-scaled dragon sat in the middle of the cave. Speedscar didn't notice Quickclaws' approach, busy with setting up the morning's warmup. He threw his arm out, scattering coals in a large circle. They were the old ones from their last session. They reused wood to save kindling for those who needed it.

     These coals would do for today and then they would be done. Quickclaws walked into the middle of the array, where there was a circle big enough for him to stand in. Speedscar finished spreading out the coals in a wide ring and then lit them on fire, renewing those who were put out and invigorating those who were already glowing into a small flame. While he waited for his mentor's word, Quickclaws carefully stretched out each limb.

     Speedscar walked around him as he settled in, heading for a chest. He opened it and rummaged inside, emerging with two pairs of leather gloves. Quickclaws blinked as he noticed them.

     "Will we be sparring today?" he asked. He finished stretching and waited for the all-clear.

     "No, another apprentice is joining us." His mentor looked up. "Why haven't you started your practices? Go on, what are you waiting for?" Speedscar flapped his wings and settled on one of the oak beams.

     Quickclaws blinked at the command, preparing his leap. His morning always started a certain way: stretch, practice balance and evasive maneuvers, then a lap around the track outside with Brisktail (two if Speedscar was grumpy, which, at this rate, he might be). The moment Brisktail crossed his mind Quickclaws mistimed his jump and landed off by a talon, singing his right side.

     "Whoa, who taught you to jump? A rockhopper?" Speedscar interjected. "Get it together and clear your mind. The flight here should have prepared you."

     "Yes, Speedscar. Sorry, Speedscar," came the automated response. While it was automated Quickclaws spoke it with sincerity. He truly hadn't meant to get distracted.

      Bunching his muscles again, he leaped on the right count and landed in a perfect copy of his starting position. Quickclaws did this a few times until Speedscar glided down after the fifth.

      While Quickclaws was in the middle of his sixth leap, Speedscar swept his tail to scatter coals over his landing spot. Quickclaws adjusted his stance midair without a second thought.