Touched By A Dragon

Chapter 19: Count Down

Jewel was ready to go, with her rider all saddled in and her fateful clan behind her she took to the clear, blue skies. The sun was high in the sky; a soft breeze tickled the tip of her wing as she flew through the fluffy, white clouds. Adrenaline rushed through her blue veins as her keen eyes hunted for any signs of Destany. She had to be found, she had to be found and their bond needed to be repaired while it still could be. They had been looking for twenty four hours straight, which left only twenty four hours to find her. Every minute they spent resting was a waste of time they didn’t have. So they didn’t rest. Jewel had only one mission, she couldn’t fail. She heard a voice in her head, it was Ruby. The young dragon could take no more.
“P-please, I-I can’t d-do this a-anymore.” She whispered before she started falling down into the waves with Tash still in her saddle.
Jewel quickly dove down after her, only just catching her in her two back paws.
“I-I’m sorry.” Ruby whispered.
“No little one, I am sorry.” Jewel soothed, looking at the rest of her weary clan. “I put too much on all of you, we will rest now”
Jewel took the tired dragon and put her on the warm sand of a nearby island. She then commanded all the clan to rest. Tash, startled but alive joined all the other riders and tented to their dragons before setting up to sleep. When they had finished they went to their dragons and slept for a very long time, a little too long. Phoenix was getting much worse, and despite The Ethereal helping him, he was still dying. Phoenix was with the rest of the dragon at the camping site but he had to rider. He felt could, on the inside and out. It was like someone had taken away apart of his sole. He didn’t sleep much that night, but when he did his dreams where disturbed and restless.
When the camp had finally woken up they found Phoenix half dead. They had been sleeping for twelve hours. Jewel raced up to him and nuzzled his cheek, turning him over. He was all the colour had drained out of his scales and his winds looked as though someone had burnt them. Phoenix let out a little winding sound and closed his eyes. Peter cursed at the wind and told the other riders to bring the blanket in. They all gently put Phoenix on the huge blanket and the four strongest dragons carefully lifted it off the ground. When they were in the skies Jewel had a talk with her master as they were looking for Destany. 
“Master, I am sorry, I have failed you, I have failed you and my clan. Jewel cried. “I shall never be with my father, nor will I ever be free.” 
“Well, I haven’t done the best job either,” Peter replied. “It is my responsibility to look after the people while you look after the dragons. I’ve lost two and possibly killed one. But our Alphas put thrust in us to do this, so we must at least try. No one has failed until the final score comes in, and girl. We still have time. So let’s keep looking.”
They looked and looked, but found nothing. Phoenix was getting worse and his directions harder to follow, nine hours left and nothing but sand, trees and water, eight hours left, just more of the same. Finally, with only seven hours to go, they saw something, a grey spiral of smoke coming from a campfire. Phoenix gave a small but exciting grunt.
“She’s down here somewhere, and if she isn’t then she was here recently. Peter said excitedly. “Take the dragons down, we search on foot.”
The dragons were led down into a small clearing that was just big enough to fit then all.  Sprit, Star, Jewel, Ruby and Comet went to go and find Destany as well as their riders Lucy, Isabell, Peter, Tash and James. While Phoenix stayed to rest with Tanipha, Fierce, Hunter, the healer Emerald and their riders Henare, Scar, Jeffery and Pearl. With only five hours remaining they had to be quick. The five riders walked behind their dragons so they had a clear path in the thick jungle-like surroundings. With four hours left they came up to the camp site. The fire was out and a makeshift shelter stood near it. It was an A grade structure. Only knights learnt how to do that. Some coconut shells lay in the fire and a satchel with the knight’s crest was caught on a thorn bush.
“She had definitely been here, but where is she now.” Peter wondered out loud.
He looked around and spotted a patch of bushes that had been cut through to make a tight path. It had to be her. But if the dragons went first then they would ruin the trail, if they went last then they could trip up the riders.
“Send your dragons back to the clearing, only Jewel will stay in case we lose the trial,” Peter commanded.
The five dragons quickly said goodbye to their dragons and told them to go to the clearing. Then they wiped away a tear, your dragon became a part of you, without it you feel lost. The five riders and one dragon continued forward with Jewel behind being careful not to trip up the riders with her claws as she moved forward. They tracked through the dense jungle, losing the trail and finding it again many times. Soon it started to thin out, they saw a small boat with fresh tree fruits on it, by this time they only had three hours left.  Peter looked up at the sky and saw the slowly setting sun.
“We have got to find her quickly,” Peter mumbled. “There isn’t much time left.”
Peter waded up to the boat, clear water reaching his hips. He reached the boat and pulled himself on board. The tiny, wooden boat was makeshift but sturdy; it was also knight’s grade with its carefully woven sail made out of banana leaves. The fruit on it looked freshly cut. They were getting closer, and soon they would find her. Peter just hoped it would be really soon. He waded ashore and went to talk to Jewel.
“How’s he doing girl?” Peter asked.
“Not too good master, we’ve got to find his rider, while we still can.” She replied.
“Yes, girl lets go.” He said anxiously to get going.
“Master, there is more!” Jewel interrupted. “Their bond wasn’t strong to start with; it was nearly non-existent, it is not only Phoenixes health that is at risk here, but his rider is also getting weaker as well. As Destiny didn’t get The Eternal’s treatment, I doubt she is even still alive.”
“Well then, there is no time to waste.” Peter declared walking off.
“Master you don’t get it!” Jewel yelled. “She might not even be alive, and then what will we do?”
“Then we will do what we’ve always done, obey our orders,” Peter answered wiping away a tear and walking off.
Peter took his place at the front and let the group, Jewel took hers at the back, both wanting things to go back to normal.