Young Writers Society

The shadows grew longer as Zoltar ran through the ever darkening woods. He had to get home before the sun set. He couldn’t be caught out after dark. Who knew what strange and terrifying creatures came out after sundown?

The sounds of the forest had warped from sweet chirps and whistles to a more threatening tune. Insects started to play their music from the leaves on the trees, their sounds traveling through the hazy air like the shaky notes from a violin. The shrill calls of the night creatures filled the air as they began to stir. Robins called from the tree tops, their songs like a band of flutes and whistles cutting through the evening air, while the black bird’s rich melodies seemed to float through the canopy.

At last the clearing yawned in front of Zoltar as he sprinted towards it. Spreading his vast wings, he lifted into the air as the sun slowly sank below the far off mountains. He set off in the direction of the Felisita’s cave.

Thoughts whirled through his head as he flew. Why had Emerald just let him go like that? At first he’d thought it was to follow him back to the cave, but he hadn’t seen her. Once he was in the air he was sure she wasn’t following. He knew her tribe was part of the chameleon class of dragons and they couldn’t camouflage properly once air born. She couldn’t possibly be following him from the ground. It was too far and he was going too fast. So what other reason was there to letting him go? He just couldn’t make sense of it.

It didn’t really matter now though. He was free with only a few scratches around his neck to show for it. It was more than he could have hoped for.

Orange flames of light licked his onyx scales as the sun’s raze lifted off the sea and shadows replaced the departing light. The forest below him was a rich amber olive in the suns dying gleam.

As Zoltar scanned the ground below the thought of what Emerald had said about Felistia and Shiraku dawned on him. What could they have possible done to make the Wisp Talons actively hunt them?

Zoltar swallowed the lump building in his throat. He could be going back to a cave occupied by two violent dragons. What if they’d just been hiding their darker side the night before? They were outcasts after all. You didn’t just get banished from your own tribe for nothing.

He found himself sighing, almost laughing at his paranoia. He was just making assumptions. Besides what good would it do Felistia or Shiraku to act nice towards him if they weren’t that way? What would they gain from it?

In any case Shiraku wasn’t doing a very good job of it if she was pretending. She’d been down right hostile towards him the night before. Felistia on the other paw had been rather nice, but it had felt so natural. He could usually sense when something was amiss and nothing had felt wrong or fake with Felistia when he’d talked to her.

Maybe it would be best if he brought it up with her tonight. Maybe getting it out in the open would help clear things up. Then again he’d have to tell her the real reason for him being here and he didn’t know her well enough to trust or even know if he could trust her with that. It could be just what they wanted him to do.

He sighed again. He could see the cave just ahead and he wasn’t getting anywhere. Maybe he should sleep on it and see what happened. It wouldn’t be good to rush this sort of thing.

The last of the suns light kissed the island as he neared the caves entrance. Trying to keep his nerves under control, Zoltar dived through the twisted green vines blocking the opening.

The caves features were a blurred grey in the dim light peaking from between the creepers behind him. He scanned the area, letting he amethyst eye beams run over the walls and boulders.

Suddenly something seized his neck and slammed him to the rock floor, making his head spin. His heart thundered in his ears as his already razor sharp nerves sent adrenalin racing through his body.

“Who are you!” the dragoness demanded, painfully digging her claws between his scales.

“Zoltar!” Zoltar growled trying to wriggle out from under the muscular dragoness clamping him to the ground.

Instantly the talons released as the dragoness leapt off Zoltar. He scrambled to his feet to face his attacker, snarling. He was surprised to find himself staring at Shiraku, the Sea Talon he’d met the day before.

“Suffering serpents, what are you doing?” Zoltar thundered, “That is the second time that’s happened to me, today!”

“Sorry,” Shiraku apologized, but quickly barked, “Well you can’t just dive in here unannounced. What did you think was going to happen Shadow Talon?”

Zoltar growled, pacing the cave floor, his tail lashing, sending small pebbles bouncing across the ground.

He was almost relived when Felistia swooped in through the vines, making them sway from side to side. She frowned when she saw Shiraku and Zoltar.

“What are you growling about now?” Felistia sighed in an exasperated way, her silver claws clacking on the hard rock as she stalked up to Shiraku.

Shiraku dramatically lit up her scales so that her scowling face shimmered in an eerie blue glow.

“He just flew in here and I attacked him and now he’s snarling at me,” Shiraku snapped, the webbed spikes on her head raised in anger.

“How was I supposed to know that there was a secret entrance code or something?” Zoltar growled sarcastically, fangs bared.

“Well maybe you shouldn’t have come barrelling in here like some crazy porcupine!” Shiraku yelled back, her ears laid back and the spine along the whole length of her back bristling.

“Enough you two!” Felistia roared, leaping between Zoltar and Shiraku. “I have had a long, tiring day and I don’t feel like dealing with you fighting!” she bellowed shooting a glare at Shiraku, who scowled.

Zoltar flatted his ears, his eyes lowered. He didn’t know what had come over him. It wasn’t like him to stoop to petty arguments like this. Maybe it was the stress of his situation or the fright from Shiraku’s attack? Whatever it was, there was no excuse for it. “Sorry Felistia,” he murmured and after a quiet grumble, “and Shiraku.”

Shiraku scowled again and trudged over to the opposite end of the cavern, laying down with her wings draped over her head. Zoltar could hear her grousing and grumbling softly to herself.

Felistia sighed and gave Zoltar an exasperated look before saying, “Never mind. We’re all under a lot of strain and this sort of thing happens. Just forget about. It doesn’t matter anyway.” Yawning, she padded off to a far corner of the cave and flopped down on the rock. She seemed to instantly fall asleep.

As time went on Shiraku’s complaining grew quiet and her scales slowly dimmed leaving the cave as dark as a Shadow Talons scales. The only light came from between the vines draped across the cave opening, the blades of silver cutting through the gloom.

Exhaustion seemed to flood over Zoltar as he lay down near the caves entrance and he was surprised at how tired he was. A lot had happened today, but somehow he felt like he’d got nowhere. He still didn’t have a scale and now the Wisp Talons knew he was on the island.

It wasn’t going that badly though. He’d only been here one day and he’d running into a Wisp Talon and had got away with all his scales intact. Things could have gone a lot worse. Still, he hoped that tomorrow would bring better results.

Zoltar yawned and closed his eyes. Almost immediately sleep swept over him, washing away the day’s aches and worries.