Page 103 of Scalebound

Something rushed through the sky, a creature hurtling earthward in a flurry of motion. At first glance, its scales gleamed a vibrant yellow hue, but within moments, a terrifyingtransformation took over, quickly morphing into a darker color, the scales covering its body shriveling, peeling off.

A bloodcurdling scream pierced my ears. Turning to look at the origin, I found Angie sobbing uncontrollably, fighting against Abner’s hold.

“Don’t touch her!” Abner's voice echoed through the chaos, his hands grasping Angie's trembling form as she thrashed against him. Her cries mingled with the tumultuous scene unfolding before us, her desperate struggles fueled by the desire to reach her dragon, now lying motionless on the ground. “There’s nothing you can do, GG,” he tried to say calmly. Her hysterical cries weren’t stopping. Belle was in the sky, making her way toward Damian and I, her scales just as tense as I felt.

Diverting my gaze from Abner and GG, a rush of wind flew past me, and I heard something fly down to my left. It was an onyx black creature.

Covering my mouth, I could feel my body freeze up. Damian, by my side, pulled out his knife from his boot, and instinctively I did the same, following his motions, unable to move for myself. The Deathly closed in on us, forcing our footsteps backward, away from it, when I heard the same pounding steps behind us.

“We’re surrounded,” Damian said, his serrated knife out, ready to fight.

Calming my nerves, I raised my other hand and blasted flames, attempting to scorch the creature. It moved, the fire missing its body, and flew upward, spiraling to fling down back our way.

It curved down, swooping close, its claws outstretched. Without thinking, I flung the knife in my hand, hoping to hit the Deathly. The knife pierced one of its wings, and it crippled down, collapsing to the blades of grass, its body still pulsing with life. The ground beneath it started to ooze with black. Nearing itwithout touching the blackened ground, I raised my hand, using the flames to end its movements.

Turning around, I sighed as the Deathly that was near Damian also crumpled on the ground, his knife found in its lifeless body.

Pink caught my eye as Belle flew down, reaching the safe grass around us.

“Thank scales that you are okay,” I told Belle, reaching for the horns that I normally would use to help hoist me up, but the rain on her scales made it difficult. Damian hopped on right after me, my hand lifting him up. Belle’s back was slippery, my heart skipped a beat, nervous to go into the air with how slick it was.

“Luckily, but they know where we are going,”Belle said, making my stomach twist even more.

Belle lifted off the ground, and as she made her way upward, I glanced behind us, watching the castle one last time, wondering if I will ever be able to see it again.

Everyone else’s dragons were okay. Moisture welled in the corners of my eyes, blurring my vision and threatening to spill over, feeling for Angie.Washailameii6 didn’t deserve to die. I looked to see her crippled body on the ground, instantly rippling as it blackened from the spread of the disease. Her body shriveled up in an abnormal ball, the gold in her skin fading ever so slightly. Her scales flaked off like the dead skin of a snake.

I had to tear my eyes away, unable to witness anymore. I could feel my hands going numb, my body fearing this same thing happening to me or one of the Scalebound.

Belle launched into the air, the rain pelting my skin, my body shivering in return. Lightning streaked down, zapping the sky, lighting up for a moment, showing the other creatures circling around us.

We were about to enter a war zone.

The other Scalebornes were around us, also lifting in the sky, and following Belle and me leading away from the castle.

Their black bodies, a stark contrast from the lightning, pierced and petrified the sky. The dragons were about three times their size, but it only took one touch from the Deathlies to kill the dragon species.

The Deathlies were dropping like flies as dragons took the time to char them with their heated and unmerciful flames, however, the Deathlies were multiplying.

They started to cover the sky like dark, looming clouds. Whenever one fell, there were two more swelled into existence, a relentless tide rolling in to fill the void.

Flames erupted from Belle’s mouth. The fire was like thick lava as it slashed through the Deathly in front of us. It shrieked as it fought the flames, but it was unable to stop the spread of the burn; It dropped from the air, meeting the gates ofHaxnau7.

Angie was on Abner’s dragon’s back, and they were soaring through the air together. Angie’s face was still stained with tears, but back in focus and control. A Deathly was on their tail, but Abner used hismaxz8 with his dragon,Waimanimet9, setting up shields from their shadows.Waimanimetthen used shadows as blades and erupted scorching flames from his mouth as other Deathlies flew below them.

We all were attempting to make our way to where the Deathlies dwelled, some of us falling back at times, but catching up.

I fought back the emotions from losing my father. Later, I kept telling myself. Damian squeezed my waist, holding on as if to tell me that he was there for me and that everything was going to be okay.

The Deathlies were flying around us, snarling and gnashing their teeth, their eyes pierced with the color ofHaxnau. I used my abilities, increasing the distance of my flames, working with Belle to scorch every Deathly that came into view.

Belle, being smaller, was able to sideswipe them quicker than the other dragons, maintaining their speed while not letting them come near us.

One reached over us, coming from above. I didn’t even notice it until Damian cried out, “My Queen!” I barely saw its black leathered body coming after me, making eye contact as it swooped down, almost touching me.

“Washanam10!”I shouted inSatas Lerma, telling Belle to take a left. She followed my command and jolted herself, Damian and I holding on tighter to not fall off.

Off to the side of us, Luella held a water shield around herself, prismatic hues dancing on the surface from the filtered silvery radiance of the moon. Undaunted, her dragon,Tanaleiiman11,shot crystalline ice shards at each Deathly that they encountered, piercing their hearts and bodies, sending them flying to the ground. The freezing blasts engulfed them.

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