"Verendus" rough draft (discontinued)

1/1

Claws sparked on stone as a dragon raced down the passage, scrabbling to get a hold of the ground beneath him. The cobbled floors weren’t very easy to grab a hold of, causing the dragon to stub talons and toes every few strides. His wings unfurled themselves, attempting to give balance but only succeeding in being scraped against the rough walls. 

The dragon wasn’t very big, but the hall was quite a narrow one. He turned a sharp corner with such force that he slid, almost crashing into the wall before him. The dragon winced as he stumbled, but managed to get back on his feet almost instantly. He was normally nimble, but it was hard running with only three limbs in use.

In the fourth claw the dragon held a sphere. It was a pure white, with a soft, silky look to it, though it was as smooth as glass. It looked almost translucent, the way clouds do when the sky is bright. It gave off a strange luster, as if the echoes of a rainbow had just passed through it. The dragon held onto it tightly, for this was what he came for and would not leave without it, and if anything happened to his article… things would not be good.

The sphere radically conflicted colours with the dragon’s scales, which were a damp, greyish-green, with a couple scattered scales that looked of swamp water and mud. Like how hatchlings have that weird habit of wanting to throw together mud, water, old leaves and berries, then stir and play in it with a big stick… the dragon was that colour. He was definitely not the prettiest dragon, but was perfect for camouflage in the foresty marshland, which was where he was headed now.

A certain passage in the castle ended in an open aperture, meant for dragons to take off into the sky. It was basically a normal hallway, but with no wall on the far end and a bit of a balcony jutting out and open to the air to leap/fly off of. This was one of four of these ledges, dispersed on different sides of the castle. There was maybe one or two that weren’t surrounded by guards; if it wasn’t watched by authority, it was because it was close to a guarded area anyway. 

Like the one that the dragon thief was currently edging nearer to by the second. 

The ledge looked out over the castle’s gigantic courtyard, filled with ornamental stone pieces, lavish plants and dozens of dragons. Some were patrols on post, some were enjoying the plentiful garden, and others were relaxing in the ponds. Beautiful dragons, every colour of the rainbow, basked in the sunlight and enjoyed their free time. Scales of every shade shimmered in the sunlight, accompanied by gold and silver diamonds and jewels shining with a glare. A robber’s dream, but far too crowded..

The dragon continued to (race) his way throughout the winding corridors of (the castle). By now he could hear hall guards gaining closer to him, their talons clattering on the stone floors at a speed fit to beat the wind itself. The guards hadn’t caught up with him close enough to have taken a glimpse at what the dragon looked like, as the winding hallways and staircases constantly cut off the line of vision of everyone involved in its twisting maze. 

Clouds of (flame) shot out behind the fleeing criminal of a dragon as he rushed closer to the (balcony). All three dragons present knew that there would be available backup towards the courtyard, but it was always more difficult fighting and attempting to restrain someone while in the air. It was better to stop a rogue now while he was still confined within the (castle’s) walls. 

The dragons still ran on, scrabbling down the final stretch before they would be open to the air. Wings were opened to stretch, strides got longer, and the guards sparked their throats, preparing to blow out their last attempt at scorch-roasting their target before the exit. They didn’t get the chance, however, as they had reached (their exit). The guards (shouted) the intruder signal to the guards in the courtyard, who immediately went to the ready, momentarily surprised by the sudden outburst demand.