Young Writers Society

Now that Pendar was following Wolfton, it was as if the forest had come alive. It didn’t seem to be as dark and forbidding as before. Things that Pendar had been terrified of before, now seemed beautiful. The scent that filled Ziptar Woods was no longer a strange bitter smell, but now Pendar could distinguish the aroma of wild mushrooms and strange silver flowers that seemed to give off a sort of honey smell. The once eerie noises of the night were just different and nothing to be afraid of.

Wolfton glanced over his shoulder as if reassuring that Pendar was still following him.

“Little dragon not so scared now?” Wolfton rasped, his ears twitching this way and that.

Pendar nodded as he watched a shimmering violet bird swoop past him, its long tail a moon dust blue. A blade of silver sliced through the canopy as the moon finally burst its way through the clouds The rain had stopped and had left a coat of diamond drops throughout the leaves and flowers, causing the entire wood to glitter and shine.

A faint smile crossed Wolfton’s snout and with a snort satisfaction, he continued on the path through the forest. His ears were pricked and Pendar could see that the muscles in his legs were tense.

A thin finger of dread sliced down Pendar’s spines. The initial fear of the forest may have passed, but there were still many dangers out here. The Nightmouth was out there somewhere and so were countless other creatures that would more than likely see him as a late night meal. He ran forward a few paces to catch up with Wolfton. The last thing he wanted to do was lose the wolf dragon. Wolfton was the only reason he was still alive.

Suddenly a roar burst through the damp air, causing a flock of obsidian black birds to burst from their roosts and take to the air, shrieking in alarm. At the same moment, Wolfton’s head jerked up. His ears were swiveling this way and that and his teeth were bared. Pendar had dove behind Wolfton, his tail tucked between his legs and every muscle in his body shaking. The roar echoed through the forest, gradually growing fainter and fainter as it faded into the distance.

“Come,” Wolfton growled, his voice carrying a note of urgency as he pushed Pendar in front of him. He looked back at the way they’d come, his fur bristling, but nothing stirred. He turned to Pendar and nudged the dragonet along the path.

Pendar didn’t need to ask who the roar had belonged to. He knew full well what it had been and it made his blood run cold. The fact that Wolfton was also acting with such haste, confirmed his fears. Wolfton would be no match for the Nightmouth if it caught them. They had to find cover and fast.

Sticks and stone flew from under Pendar’s claws as they race through the forest. Trees and bushes whipped past, lashing at his eyes and neck. Branches reached out with their clawed fingers, grabbing at his scaly wings like vipers. Pendar’s lungs felt like they were on fire and his breathing came out quick and shaky. His claws thudded against the wet earth like rocks, but still he ran. He was thankful that Wolfton matched pace to him as he was sure the sleek, wolf like creature could have easily gone twice the speed.

They were heading into a more densely forested part of the woods now and it was starting to become even harder for Pendar to run. Creepers snatched at his wings and tail like a nest of serpents and gnarled tree roots threatened to trip him with every step he took. The air was filled with his ragged pants as his chest heaved for oxygen. A giant log loomed ahead and Pendar’s heart sank. There was no way he’d be able to jump it. Wolfton seemed to sense Pendar’s fear and slowed to a trot.

Finally they reached the log. It was as high as Wolfton’s shoulder, but it seemed to tower over Pendar who only came up to Wolfton’s knee. Wolfton consider the tree for a few seconds as he judged the distance to jump. He then with a quick, cat like spring leapt over the log.

Pendar’s heart dropped. Wolfton was going to leave him after all. He slumped to his haunches with a pitiful whimper. He didn’t know where to go or what to do. He couldn’t go back and even if he did somehow manage to get over the log, Wolfton would be miles ahead by then. He let out another sorrowful sigh. He should have known. Why would some creature he’d just met in the woods risk its life for him? It had been pure luck that he’d made it this far. Pendar lay his head on his paws, a single tear running down his snout. Why had he ever thought he’d have a chance of making it out of the Ziptar Woods alive? No one had ever returned. He was doomed to die like those before him.

A thundering roar behind him signalled that the Nightmouth was closing in. He had only minutes before it found him and then his life would end.