Owl Wings

"There has to be some other way," Shad protested. "I don't have fine control; if I melt the chains I might burn us all."

Ballow groaned quietly. "What kind of a dragon are you?" Then, seeing the angry light in Shad's eyes, he relented. "We'll think of a way."

He could say no more, because Torn had herad him. The giant fixed him with a cold stare.

(Only one of his legs were broken.)
Torn:
"You cannot escape. your chacles wouldn't even burn, less even break."

Lord owling walked to look at his prisoners.

"Well done."

"And my pay?"

Owling dropped a bag onto Torn's hand.

"I will tell about your good work to all of my friends."

Torn nodded.

Shad looked at him "You disgust me."

"Money rules boy. Don't you forget that."

Sky

Sky heard footsteps leaving the room and her eyes opened. She looked at her surroundings. She didn't reconize them.

"Sky! You're finally awake!" Ballow said. Sky turned her head and saw Ballow sitting next her with his hands tied.

"What happened?" Sky asked.

"Torn finally caught us...we are in Lord Owlings mansion now..." Ballow answered.

"Where's Shad?" Sky asked with worry in her voice.

"I'm right here." Shad answered. Sky looked to her other side and sighed with relief. Right then, and man walked into the room with guards on both sides of him.

"Lord Owling..." Shad growled. Sky looked over at Ballow, who's face had gone twisted in disgust.

"Take them away." Lord Owling demanded. One of the guards grabbed Sky and carried her over his shoulder.

"Let go of me! Now! Let go out me!" Sky screamed kicking and punching him, but the guard didn't seem to notice it.

"Let go of her!" Shad yelled. The other gaurd grabbed Ballow and started to take Sky and him away. Sky started to cry as the guard left the room and saw Ballow going a different direction.

"Sky!" Shad yelled. Sky cried even more.

"Ballow!" Shad yelled.

"Guys dont worry! I'll find a way to get you guys out! No matter what!" Sky yelled. The guard opened a door that was down the hallway from where she originaly was. The guard dropped her on the floor and closed the door behind him. Sky cried until there was no more tears coming out.

Shad slumped against the cold iron bars. "Sky," he whispered.

Ballow nudged him. "Don't cave in on me, dragon boy. We have to get out of here." He put on a bland expression as Torn looked at him.

The giant stood there for a minute, then turned away. Without a word, he left the room. Shad and Ballow looked at each other. Their look said silently: Are we sure he isn't listening in?

Shad decided to take a chance. He yelled loudly, "My head!" Nothing happened. Turning to Ballow, he nodded. "Let's start planning something. I have to get back to Sky."

sry I actually don't think I have time to do this and I don want to let you guyes down so i'm out. have fun.

Sky

Sky woke up from the same dream she had the night she was sleeping in the cave. She was shaking.

She knew there was a way to get out, but she didn't know if she would be able to get out with Shad and Ballow. She wanted them to be safe, especially Shad. She knew Lord Owling's power was great and it would be hard to to defeat him, but she had to.

If she did use that way to escape all the power and energy would drain her and cause death or coma, but she wanted everyone safe and wanted Lord Owling dead.

"What do we do now?" Ballow slumped against the cage. "It doesn't look like we can get out, even with magic."

Shad frowned. "I"m not sure. I think... I think Sky means to get us out. But she's furious. She wants to..." His voice broke. "She wants to fight Lord Owling!"

Ballow's face blanched. "Can you use your mind-speech to talk her out of it?"

His friend didn't reply. Shad was already trying to contact Sky. An iron wall seemed to have slammed over her mind. Sky, listen to me! You have to...

You listen, dragon boy, a cold voice echoed in his mind. If you try a stunt like that again, I will kill you. The link abruptly vanished.

The sudden recoil from mind to body made Shad feel sick. He clutched at his head, wincing. "What's wrong?" Ballow asked.

Shad groaned. "Owling was listening in on me. I think he has some kind of shield around Sky."

Sky

She heard what Lod Owling had thought. She felt evil thoughts start to overcome her.

"Get out of my head!" She yelled, pulling her hair. She felt anger inside her and all of the sudden she felt the castle shake. There was silence.

Sky? Sky?! Shad's voice yelled in her head.

Shad! I'm so happy to hear your voice! She thought to him.

Sky you can't fight Lord Owling. He could kill you...

But I want you guys to be safe and escape. Even if I have to die, I'll do it for you guys...

Just then she felt Lord Owling overcome her again. Shad... Sky thought. She hoped that Ballow and Shad were doing fine and she started to think out her plan pushing back that she could loose her life.

Torn:

He was swalked to the bars.

He looked at the prisoners.

"Want to get out?" He asked. They looked at him.
"do you have money?" Torn smiled, "Money rules."

Shad stared at Torn, indecisive. Does he really not care? Or is this a trick so he can kill us?

He said, stalling, "We don't have much. I think I must have been robbed."

It was hard to say what expression Torn's face bore, but Shad heard mockery in his tone. "You were robbed, dragon? They took your money? Too bad." He started to turn away.

Suddenly, Ballow lunged through the bars. He grappled with Torn, throwing aside all reason. He heaved on the join between helmet and neck.

The helmet tore free, and Ballow tumbled backwards. Shad caught him.

Torn screamed. It was a shrill sound that hurt the ears and sent shivers up Shad's spine. Underneath the helmet was... nothing. There was on face, not even a glimmer of eyes. Torn, Shad realized, was nothing but a soul in armor.

Torn:

"Surprised?" The words hang in the air as an echo.
Shad slumped back.

Torn took up his helmet, "The gods of change are on my side. Boy I am old. Very old."

Shad looked at him with blank eyes.
"Why do you want money?"

"I gather money because, when I get a body. I can use that money."

"Get a body, I don't understand."

"This armor is me, it is my body. Until I get myself a new body. The gods of change shall chose me one, and then help me get in it. That is our agreement."

"Now do you have money. Or anything valuable boy?"

Ballow


Ballow was staring at the . . monster, eyes wide. A thought came to him . . . if he could save Shad and Sky it might be worth it. Yes, it was extremely valuable to him, but . . .

Ballow took a breath and a step forward. He poked a thumb at himself, "My body. I can pay you with my body."

The way Torn titled backwards slightly it must've meant he was shocked. "You mean you would give your body to save your friends?"

Ballow swallowed and nodded, "As long as you save them, I am fine."

This made no sense, what was Ballow doing? Shad stared at him aghast, "Ballow?"

Ballow shot him a poisonous glance. He was serious.

"Don't do it! You have no idea what will happen to you!" Shad cried.

Ballow shook his head. "I have to do this. You'll tell Sky, won't you?"

Fighting back tears, Shad nodded. He could say no more; a red mist gathered around his eyes, and a painful lump sprang to his throat. He thought, You don't have to do this. It could send you straight to Hell.

Ballow didn't reply. He faced Torn and said, "I'm ready. Shad, don't look."

The armored figure stared at him through his mask. This person's sacrifice stirred memory in him... memory he thought he'd buried forever.

He shook his head. No, he could not go back. This was his time. Together with Lord Owling, he would rule. He would be invincible.

With an effort, Torn reached out towards the boy...

"Stop!!" boomed an unknown voice.

Sky

Sky was out of breath crying.

"Please don't, Ballow! Please!" She said, between sobs.

"Sky?!" Shad yelled. Sky ignored him, she was to busy trying to get Ballow to stop what he was doing. She sobbed and the ground outside of the mansion started to die. Torn looked out the window and saw the trees and grass turning brown.

"The forest is dieing!" Torn said.

"Ballow. Don't." She whispered. He walked over to her and looked at her. She pulled him to a hug. He had his arms to his side at first, but then he hugged her back.

"Are you?" She asked sobbing on his shoulder.

"No," - he paused for a second before speaking again -, "No. I don't need to anymore."

Shad

It's over. It's finally over. He sagged against the ground.

Sky saw him. "Oh, Shad!" she cried. "Are you all right?"

Shad nodded. "I'll be fine in a minute." He grunted as Sky hugged him fiercely.

"Oh," she said again. "I think you cracked a rib." She laid a hand on his side. Green magic flowed into the wound, and it vanished wihtout a scar. "I thought I had lost you both," she whispered.