A Fight for Survival ~ Darkness Approaches Chapter 13

Viper lay there in the chard ground his body heaving as he tried to gain his breath. The trees above loomed over him their long shadows casting over his body.

“That was close.” Viper breathed out, his breath coming out in short bursts. “Right Nuddia?” Only silence greeted his question. His body seemed to gain strength again as Viper quickly looked around for the dragoness. “Nuddia!” He called out, rapidly getting to his talons, his body screaming out at him as he did.

The clearing he was in was clear no sign of her anywhere. He rushed over to the tree line, hoping she would be around there. Still no sign of her, Viper began to worry, his heart speeding up in his chest, had something bad happened?

The wind that blew past his face sent small shivers up his spine when it touched his scales. Breathing in a large breath Viper picked up on a small sent, it was faint but he could follow it. Quickly he made his way into the forest making sure not to lose the sent, when suddenly he saw a trail of blood along the floor, staining the grass in crimson.

Speeding up his steps into a run Viper raced through the trees, hoping, praying Nuddia was okay, that this sinking feeling in his stomach was nothing to worry about. Viper could see as he was running the blood on the ground began to get thicker and there was a lot more. When he looked up he could see a small shine of gold in the distance. His heart plummeted in his chest as he got closer.

Moving the lush greenery away from the body that lay on the floor, Viper had to take a step back to hold down the sick feeling that was coming up his throat. Slowly he crept forward again, the crimson body lying on the floor stained with blood.

“Nuddia…” Viper whispered, small tears rolling down his snout landing on the limp body bellow him. Leaning down he pressed his snout to hers.

Viper could feel his heart begin to speed up in his chest as he stood up and walked around the golden body. So many emotions clouding his judgment as he looked down at Nuddia’s body, large gashes covered every part of her.

Lying down next to her, Viper wrapped his tail around her limb one, a part of him hoping she was alive. He didn’t know how long he stayed there, but it felt like hours had passed before he stood up, his body aching with guilt and pain.

“I wish I could have saved you if only I had been here on time.” Viper breathed out once again touching his snout with hers. His tears long ago dried form having no more to shed. “I’m so sorry, Nuddia. I wish there was something I could do.”

With a heavy heart Viper turned away knowing there was still a mission to be done. “I promise I will finish this mission.” With that Viper spread his wings and took to the air sprouting through the canopy. He knew if he stayed there longer it still wouldn’t bring her back, no matter how much he wanted it.

…

The time seemed to fly by as Viper flew through the cold night air, the light radiation from the moons lighting the grassy plain below him. The small fine strands dancing in the light breeze. Worry didn’t even seem to find its way into Viper’s mind, as the moments from before just played through his head over and over again like a nightmare that would never end.

‘How could this have happened, had more of the Highdroes ambushed her in the forest? I just don’t understand how this could have happened.’ Viper thought the scratches and bites along his body having no pain compared to the guilt he felt.

Shaking his head to be rid of the thoughts that now clouded his mind Viper began to glide down to the ground, his large dark shadow rippling along the waving grass as he flew.

Lifting his head Viper look at the empty waist land ahead of him, and into the great mountains that loomed in the distance. Viper knew those were the mountains that surrounded Onex Valley. He was glad he was close to the end of his mission, but things are only going to get harder from here on out.

…

Diving down to the ground Viper’s talons grazed the hard rock he was now flying over, he quickly opened his wings letting him glide along the ground making himself harder to see in the cold darkness of the night.

The mountain wall that surrounded the mountain fort was about two dragon tails way from Viper, beating his wings faster he shot up from the shadowed ground and flew up along the wall, about halfway he latched on, his razor-sharp claws digging into the hard rock, allowing him to catch his breath for a moment. Viper new he was back in the shadows again as he could see the moons light a tail length under him.

Breathing in a sigh, Viper slowly began to creep up the mountainside, making sure to dig his talons deep into the rock face.

Nuddia's death still roamed his memory, but he knew he had to let her go, she wouldn't want him to blame himself for her death, nor would she want him to fail the mission because of her. When Viper reached to the top of the mountain, he stopped his climb and hung onto the rocks, listening for any movement...but not a sound could be heard. Unlatching himself from the stone Viper sprouted his wings out from his sides, letting them catch the wind, quietly he glided over the mountain without a sound, Folding his wings back at his sides he dived down to a cave opening in the mountain that looked like it hadn't been touched, as he flew he looked bellow him at the rocky earth, he would have thought there would be some guards on duty, but still no sign of them.

When Viper was just about to land in the cave he shot his wings out once again, gliding into the cave-like a feather on a warm summer breeze. His talons made small clacking sounds when they touched the stone floor.

Peering out of the cave Viper took this opportunity to take a better look around. When Viper looked further down there was almost like a canyon in the earth, it was large enough for a fully grown dragon to fly through when he took a closer look he could see a faint light. It was the flicker of a flame.

Wanting to get a better look Viper jumped off the edge of the cliff soring down to the opening in the earth, for all he knew the Onyx Wyverns could have made it, or an earthquake could have been the caw, but either way, it looked like they have moved further down.

As Viper flew he could feel the cold drops of fresh rain land on his scales, it was only a slight drizzle now, but it would soon turn into a downpour. As Viper got closer to the opening in the ground he tucked his wings in allowing him to fit through the crater easier. As he was diving he looked around and with a jolt of realization, he fanned his wings out around him and darted into an opening in the rock wall.

“How am I going to find the throne room?” Viper asked himself as he looked around to see if he could follow someone. From what he could see it looked like the place had been set up like the Sand Wyvern fort, only that fewer tunnels and there was a lava river running through some of the caves.

“Do you know when it will start?” Came a husky voice, it sounded close by.

“It will be starting at any moment now, we better get a move on Ash.” Came another voice-only this one sounded like a female voice.

“Nidra wait!” Came the same voice from before. “Any news?”

“No, not yet.” Nidra’s voice spoke back.

Viper peeked his head out of the opening in the wall to take a look at the other dragons when he saw them he had to stop himself from panicking and flying off. They were huge, there was no way he and the others back at the fort could defeat them if it came to a battle. They were even large then Venom.

The sound of talons getting closer to where Viper was hiding knocked him out of his thoughts, Viper looked around him trying to find a good place to hide, but there was only a dark corner at the back. Viper knew that wasn’t going to be enough to hide him, when he saw a loop in the ceiling, knowing he had no more time Viper looped his tail around to root and hung there in the shadows his wings wrapped around him. He made a small opening near his face with his wings so he could see if the Onyx Wyverns had passed.