Young Writers Society

For hours the three dragons flew, the ground below a blur as their shadows danced over the rocky land. The far off mountains slowly advanced like marching giants. It would take them at least two days to reach the Wind Talon Kingdom. Two days to think of a plan to save Emerald and Shriken… if they were still alive.

Zoltar couldn’t figure out what had happened. Why of all dragons had the Wind Talons taken them? They hadn’t been anywhere near the Wind Talons territory’s boundary. He’d specifically left them in a remote area between the two kingdoms. Ice Talons and Wind Talons practically never set paw in that area now, not after the battle of Thunder and Ice. So how had Shiraku and Emerald been caught and why had they been taken? It wasn’t like they’d been doing anything wrong. Something just wasn’t right about this whole situation.

Sighing heavily, Zoltar picked up the pace, beating his wings to the rhythm of his heart. He could hear Shriken and Felistia’s wing flaps just behind him. For the last few hours they’d been talking about the plan to save Shriken and Emerald, but they hadn’t come up with anything of use. They still didn’t know what had happened, so coming up a plan was proving to be hard. They’d probably have to wait until they arrived in the Wind Talon Kingdom. In frustration, Zoltar had flown ahead. He’d needed some alone time.

Slowly, the sun sank down the blanket of robin’s egg blue, casting its golden rays over the swaying grasses below. The plains of butter yellow whispered and rustled in the evening breeze as if murmuring long forgotten secrets. Zebra galloped over the dry grass, their hooves creating clouds of dust as they thudded over the ground. They whinnied in alarm as the dragons flew overhead.

Zoltar’s stomach growled and he remembered that he hadn’t eaten since the day before.He decided that a zebra would do for their supper. Dipping into a steep swallow dive, he plummeted towards the panicked herd, the wind whipping at his wings. He splayed his front talons and snatched up a zebra midswoop. With a quick squeeze of his claws, he killed the horse and flew back to join the others with his prize. Felistia shot him a smile as he showed her is catch, while Shriken licked his fangs.

Soon the sun set, showering the plains in the last of its crimson light. The shadows lengthened as the day faded into evening and the first stars started to appear, twinkling in the violet sky. A slight chill bit through the air. The breeze had die down, so now the gloomy grasslands were deathly silent apart from the steady beat of the dragons’ wings.

The zebra was starting to feel rather heavy in Zoltar’s talons and his wings were starting to ache from the long day. They should land and wait till morning to carry on. Felistia and Shriken where showing signs of exhaustion and soon they wouldn’t be able to fly for lack of light.

“Felistia?” Zoltar called over the sound of their wing flaps, “Do you want to land for the night?”

A relived look came over Felistia’s snout and she nodded enthusiastically. She flicked her wing against Shriken’s to get his attention. The poor ice talon was panting heavily and didn’t even need Felistia’s indication to land. He simply tucked his wings and dove towards the ground looking rather like a rock. Zoltar was almost worried that he wouldn’t open his wings in time to stop his free fall, but at the last second Shriken whipped out his wings and landed with a hard thump. Felistia was close behind him, her eyes darting this way and that way as she tried to see in the dim light of the two moons. She landed next to Shriken and immediately dropped to the ground, her sides heaving.

Tilting his wings to circle in an arch around the pair, Zoltar slowly landed a graceful spiral. The dry grass rustled gently as his claws touched down. His muscles sighed in relief as he let go of the zebra and stretched his soar wings.

Darkness had consumed the land by now and the Wind Talon Mountains where a dark silhouette on the far off horizon. The two full moon's iridescent glow spread like liquid silver over the plains. A canvas sky of the purest black speckled with gleaming stars. Streaks of glittering violet and dabs of cosmos blue shimmered amidst the swirling colours. Hints of emerald and autumn orange dappled through the whirling galaxies of stars.

Zoltar breathed a content sigh as he dragged the zebra over the Felistia and Shriken. Tonight he’d have good sleep under the blanket of stars. It was far better than a freezing cold cell in the middle of the ice kingdom. But like an angry beast, came the gnawing worry for Shiraku and Emerald. Where they okay? Where they even still alive? Zoltar clamped down on his anxiety and tried to calm his whirling mind. It wouldn’t do for him to not get a good night’s sleep. He needed energy to complete the journey ahead.

“You guys okay?” Zoltar asked as he laid the zebra before Felistia and Shriken. They were still lying on the ground panting.

“Yah…we’re…fine,” Felistia replied through gasps of air, “It’s…just this…weather. Makes flying…long distances…rather hot.” Shriken nodded in agreement.

“Here. I thought this might help,” Zoltar pointed a talon at his catch. Felistia smiled warmly at him and proceeded to eat.

“Thanks,” Shriken said wearily, sinking his teeth into the zebra.

“No problem,” Zoltar said, joining them.