Shadow's Rising {Wing 6} Chapter 11 (Part 2)

A Journey of Recovery (Part 2)

Ash looked at him in the mental world and even in reality her head turned slightly to look at him. Yes… I would like that. Her eyes grew wet with tears but these were not tears of fear. Her eyes also had something else in them that made Shadow want to jump with joy.

Hope.

Shadow let his emotions of joy flow through him and warm Ash’s mentalscape. Wonderful! What feels the most important to you now?

Ash’s talon moved, almost of its own accord, to point at something nearby.

Shadow held her talon and a small broken pendant rose from the dust. As it reformed Ash’s eyes widened in rememberance.

My mother gave me that pendant. It was one of our household treasures. She gave it to me as a sign that they were all supporting me no matter where I went.

The pendant was a comforting presence as it rested around Ash’s neck. Shadow could feel a swell of confidence vibrating her mental plane. Everything seemed to expand and contract slightly like the word had taken a breath. Everything regained a bit of color, before settling into its new state.

For a while they repaired the ground beneath them and a few pillars, all made of the same blank stone. It didn’t seem like much time had passed but Shadow felt his body growing tired. Ash’s mind seemed more hazy as well.

You did great today, Ash. I think we should stop for now. Get some rest.

Ash nodded faintly and a wave of gratitude swept through her mind. Thank you. Then her mind darkened as she fell asleep.

Shadow felt like he had weights attached to his head as he came back to himself. It was dark in the room and Ash had slumped against him, breathing softly.

Shadow felt his own head nodding as he tried to resist sleep. He felt a strong talon on his shoulder. His eyelids were heavy but he tried to open them. All he could see was a large blue talon holding him upright. Then his eyes became too heavy to keep open. He felt himself being lowered to the ground. It felt so comfortable he could hardly believe it was the same stone floor. His fading mind had one last thought before sleep claimed him.

How did it get so late all of a sudden?

The next morning he got his answer.

Oh? You hadn’t noticed? Bellum asked, amused. It is not that time suddenly moved any faster. Rather it is your perception of time that is slower in the mental plane. It is similar to how you can have a dream that feels like minutes when hours have passed. That’s why it is good to keep part of your mind on what is happening in the world around you so you don’t lose your perception of reality while in the mental plane. However, parallel thinking is a very advanced skill that takes months if not years to acquire. The very physiology of your brain must be trained in order to obtain it, so just forget about it for now.

Shadow bowed. Yes, Master. Thank you for answering my question.

Bellum nodded curtly and moved on. Unfortunately our time is short. As you learn from healing the Flame Wing’s mind, you will undoubtedly have questions. I will answer those and continue to provide you with my power to assist in building your own. However… I despise having my efforts wasted. If you refuse to kill the gladiator and end up dying yourself, I will be most disappointed in you.

Shadow looked up in surprise. He’d been trying to avoid thinking about that particular issue. Deep within him he could feel all Jarid had taught him growing up opposing the idea.

Bellum must have sensed it too because he growled as if annoyed. Shadow could feel his disapproval even as his presence faded without another word.

Wait! Master! I will do it. I promise! Shadow suddenly felt a hole grow in his heart, left by Bellum’s disapproval. He needed to make his master happy. He had to earn his approval. Shadow had never felt such a desperate need before. It was as if his entire identity would collapse if his master didn’t want him anymore.

His whole life, Shadow had been raised by Jarid and the memories of his mother. Yet he always saw Jarid as a brother rather than a father. He obeyed his older brother and loved him, but Jarid had always showered him with encouragement and affection without question, so he had never felt any need to chase his approval.

However, sometime over the past weeks of training he had become dependent on Bellum’s approval. The wonderful sensations that accompanied it made him feel complete. The thought of being abandoned by his master was too painful to bear.

Yet, at the same time, the thought of killing a human made his blood run cold and his chest ache. He knew it would make Jarid sad and that broke his heart. Once again he found himself stuck between two impossible decisions, and this time there would be no golden armored stranger to pay the price for his indecision.

Over the next few days Shadow did his best to think of nothing but healing Ash’s mind. Surge had seemed to accept that Shadow meant Ash no harm and allowed Shadow to comfort her for hours at a time.

In the mentalscape, Shadow helped Ash pick up the pieces and put them back together. At times they released memories of joy and hope, while others opened glimpses into the painful past that had shaped her into the dragon she was today. Along the way, the larger pieces started to meld together on their own as Ash’s mind slowly started healing itself.

Bellum taught Shadow much about what he was seeing in the mental plane. How the ground, sky and colorless structures represented the more basic functions like walking, talking and even forming coherent thoughts. Conversely the colorful items and specific features represented memories and aspects of her personality, while the changing features such as weather and temperature captured her current unfiltered feelings.

Two days before the final fight, Ash began to think clearly again and was able to converse with the others, much to their joy. Her first words were to thank Surge for all she had done for her and to apologize to the dragonets for allowing their home to be discovered.

The dragonets forgave her immediately of course and their rush of affection helped Ash overcome the last barriers keeping her trapped within her own mind.

Shadow could sense that Ash would be able to recover on her own from then on, but his joy was bittersweet as he now had little to distract him from the impending fight.

As night fell on the last day everyone went to sleep as normal but Shadow couldn’t sleep. He knew what was coming. It didn’t take long before he heard the sound of footsteps approaching and saw the flicker of torchlight on the walls. A group of human guards wearing masks and carrying several large jars approached. The masks covered the lower half of their faces in black cloth, leaving their eyes reflecting the torchlight. But it was the eerie silence with which they moved, rather than their appearance, that gave Shadow chills.

Surge must have sensed something was wrong because she woke just as the humans set the jars down outside the reach of the dragons and removed their lids. Almost immediately a green mist began spilling from the jars. Another set of humans stepped forward and opened large fans with which they began blowing the mist towards the dragons. Surge woke the other dragonets and Ash, gathering them all behind her as the mist began creeping like green tentacles into the cell.

Tempest rushed forward and reached through the bars but the jars were too far away. She banged on the bars in frustration.

“You cowards! If you want to take my friends you’ll have to fight me for them! I promise I’ll… You’re gonna… regret… stupid… humans… grrrugh…”

Tempest slumped to the ground as the poison took effect. Surge covered Ash and the dragonets as best she could but it didn’t take long for Ash and the other dragonets started swaying and collapsing. Gale tried to climb the wall to get above the poison but he too soon dropped.

The humans waited for a few more minutes as Surge tried to resist the poison, but even her muscular form wobbled and swayed before slumping to the ground. Shadow felt his vision blurring but he was able to keep his mental barrier up which made him smile. He’d gotten pretty good at it by now and the resistance he had built up allowed him to avoid the most debilitating effects of the poison.

The door swung open and a group holding a long pole with a leather loop on the end entered. They reached forward to try to loop the end around Shadow’s neck but just as they stepped within reach, Surge pounced at them from the ground with a threatening roar.

The guards screamed in terror and stumbled back, dropping the pole so it clattered to the ground. However, Surge’s legs were still weakened and her pounce looked more like she had thrown her body at them with little of the skill and dexterity she usually had.

Her claw swiped and narrowly missed the nearest guard before she hit the ground hard. She tried to pick herself up for another lunge but her legs gave way beneath her and all she could do was crawl pitifully while growling death threats.

One of the humans who Shadow took to be the leader stepped forward.

“The Night Wing is the priority. If you must use force to subdue the Storm Wing, so be it.” He spoke so calmly and callously about ending Surge's life it made Shadow's insides twist.

The other guards nodded and spears were brought forward.

I can’t let them do this. They are just going to catch me anyway. What’s the point of resisting now? Shadow thought. He stepped forward over the bodies of his unconscious friends. I’m the one you want. Just leave them alone.

The leader of the guards saw him approaching and motioned to the guards. “Quickly! Grab it before it tries to attack. Get the leads on it!”

First one loop then several more were thrown around Shadow’s neck. His head was forced down and he was slowly pulled out of the cage. The moment his tail cleared the door several large men clamped their arms around it to prevent him from swinging it around and the cell was closed behind him with a clang of finality.

Shadow couldn’t even look back at his friends as he was led into the darkness. Tomorrow, the fight of his life would begin.

Where are you, Jarid? Please, help me.