Chapter Text
The darkness enfolded me. A comforting blanket of gloom and somber energy. The cold rock beneath me kept my body at the perfect temperature, chilling my black glinting scales while the flesh beneath radiated the warmth absorbed from the sun the day before. I kept my lids closed, breathing deeply as if asleep. Slow grumbling breathes passing between my sharp teeth.
But I was far from asleep. I was listening. I was hunting. My ear twitched at the sound of a fox screaming somewhere in the distant forest, beckoning desperately for its prey. I didn’t have to call my prey. My prey came to me. Eventually. Tonight was like most. It just required some patience, stillness, and most importantly, self-control. Interestingly enough, despite the fact that self-control was necessary for a dragon’s survival, the trait did not come easily to my kind. It was usually learned the hard way. But after not eating for a few days because you were too eager to pounce on the first shuffle of sound behind a bush, well let’s just say that it usually didn’t take long to develop restraint.
A growl of excitement almost slipped by me as the herd of deer I had been following with my ears drew closer. My eyes blinked open. I could see an antler bobbing from in between a section of trees. They were near enough now I could hear the grass being gently crushed beneath their delicate hooves, chewed between their teeth. Crickets chirped the song of early morning all around us. This would be my last chance to catch my meal. The light of dawn would be arriving soon and then there would be no way for me to sneak around. I would have to retreat back into my cold, moist, cave, escaping the heat and brightness. But I would be ravenous and desperate. Never a good combination for a dragon.
A large buck ventured toward me, oblivious to its stalker. My muscles tensed, urging me to just strike. Not yet…not yet…I told myself, sinking my talons into the earth below as if it would hold me there until the time was right.
Suddenly a sound pierced the night air. A desperate, painful scream of terror. My head shot up, looking in the direction the sound came from. My head jerked back to the buck who, seeing me, sounded an alarm. In the blink of an eye the herd bolted back towards the forest. I bared my teeth angrily, surging forward and barely missing one of the fleeing animals. But it was too late. The trees were too dense for my large armored body to maneuver through. I was not going to be eating tonight.
I clawed at the earth in frustration. Abruptly I halted my tantrum, freezing when another agonized screech split through the air. My flesh prickled at the sound. It was another dragon. Following the sound were fiercer sounding howls. More than one dragon then. And one of them was in pain. Multiple sets of wings thrashed in the distant sky above me. They were close by then.
I wondered what was happening but wisdom told me to here where it was safe. I lived in a very secluded area. I hadn’t seen a dragon venture into this area for years. After all, if there really was a fight between a group of Dark’s, I wanted to be no part of it. However, curiosity got the better of me and I stretched out my wings, flapping them softly to rise slowly into the air. I rotated my ears as I ascended, being as quiet as possible in hopes I could simply catch a glimpse of the action. From the corner of my eye a blur of shadows hurdled by. I looked up but the figures were blocked by the thick layer of clouds. The shrieks of pain and howls of laughter and aggression continued. I followed the sound, flying low. If anything happened I could simply drop into the trees.
Just then a body fell from high above me just a few hundred yards away. I gasped, stopping my forward momentum and hovering as I watched the dragon descend in horror. My first thought was that it was going to hit the ground, hard. It probably wouldn’t survive. That thought only lasted for a moment though. What I was seeing was not like any other dragon I had ever seen. It was not a Dark…It was Chrome.
Unlike the Dark’s, whose scales were always black, always ink like and soulless, a Chrome dragon came from the other side of the island. They were full of colors. Any and all colors. Yellow, blue, pink, red, green. There was no limit to their variations. They were enemies of the Dark. The Chromes were rarely seen on this side of the island. Their docile nature made them anti-confrontational. Their bodies were not built for combat. Their scales were softer and their wings were like a dragon flies. My black scales were hard and tough as steal, my wings leathery and thick. My horns could pierce and my teeth were designed for snapping bone. A Chrome had no chance against one of my kind.
Of course, all of my Chrome knowledge came from others of my species. I had never seen one in person, not until now. And I couldn’t help but be transfixed by the iridescent colors of the Chrome as it fell from the sky, scales glittering in the moon light. Several dark figures dove after the falling body, hollering in triumph. The Chrome screeched it terror, desperately trying to flap its fragile wings. Even from here I could see the reason for its fall. There was a tear in one of its wings. I shuttered at how it must have felt for the creature when the injury happened. In just a few moments in won’t matter though, I thought. The dragon was going to land with great force. He wouldn’t survive.
I continued to hover, stiffening when the dragon disappeared below a line of trees and hit the ground with a loud echoing thud, bringing its cries of pain to a stop immediately. Dust billowed from the area. The group of three Dark’s lingered above the cloud of dust until it settled, then dropped down.
I felt a strange twinge of sadness come over me for the Chrome. The fear that must have come over the dragon when he saw the three Dark’s coming toward him. He must have known that his life was over in that minute and yet he obviously put up a fight. What had it been doing on this side of the island anyway? And at night? It had been suicide. Dark’s only ever hunted at night.
Feeling starved and disheartened I turned to return to my cave. The sun was going to be up soon.
Commotion suddenly came from the direction of the four dragons. I whirled around. I bolted toward the outcry of the Chrome. It’s alive?! How is it possibly still alive?! But if I didn’t get there soon it wouldn’t be. I flew swiftly to the area, the flapping of wings and desperate cries for help becoming louder. I looked down, watching as the Chrome struggled desperately against the three Dark’s. The black dragons encircled the injured creature, snapping at it, shoving it to the ground. They were torturing the helpless thing. One of the Dark’s pounced after another knocked the Chrome down. It landed on its back, sinking its claws into its back. It bent its neck, gripping one of the colored scales in its teeth. I gasped in horror as he realized what the Dark was going to do. He was going to rip the scale from the dragon…alive.
My heart clenched at the thought. I had to do something. The three Dark’s were only slightly smaller than me, maybe a century younger, but I had the element of surprise. Tucking in my wings I dove toward the cluster, shrieking furiously as I collided with the black scaled dragon atop the Chrome. The momentum threw us into the trees. Before the other even knew what had happened I opened my wings, raising myself enough to aim my claws at the dragon’s neck. The other looked up at me in surprise as my talons encircled the smaller creatures throat. I didn’t squeeze. I simply held him there, barring my teeth. “Leave! Leave now!” I yelled, saliva spraying from my mouth.
“Okay! Okay!” The Dark surrendered, scrambling to get away and lifting off the second I released him. I spun around, facing the other two dragons who seemed more willing to stand their ground. They hissed at me, standing over their prey defensively.
“Leave him alone.” I bellowed.
The dragons smirked, looking at each other before spreading their wings. “Look, we’ll give you a couple scales. It’s no big deal. This one’s got plenty to go around.” One of them offered.
“I don’t want one of his scales. I want you to go. He didn’t do anything to you.” I edged closer, flapping my wings just enough to hover above the ground.
“The very fact that he’s stupid enough to be on our side of the island at night gives us reason to kill him! Chromes have no business here. I can’t believe I’m having to explain this to another Dark.” The dragon said bitterly.
I glanced down at the iridescent Chrome beneath them. He lay there soundless and heaving. A dark spot on the dragons back drew my attention. A missing scale. My eyes shot back up to the two Dark’s, growling when I saw glittering blue square in one of their clenched talons.
“You bastard! You’re a heartless waste of life! You’re supposed to kill him before you take their scales. Do you have any idea how much pain he’s in right now?” I yelled.
“Why do you care so much about this dragon? Where’s your pack anyway? Or are you a loner? Yeah, you’re most definitely a loner. Probably haven’t seen another Dark in years.” The dragon laughed mockingly. “You’re more useless than dragon fly here. At least he can provide us with a few pretty scales. You bring nothing but dishonor to our kind. We mine as well kill you too.” The two dragons barred their teeth, preparing for a fight.
I took advantage of the seconds before they pounced. Rising upward I beat my immense wings in rapid, powerful strokes, quickly creating a gust of air. Aimed at the two unexpected dragons the surge blasted them backward. Without the preparation to keep their balance they fell to the ground, struggling to get back up. I dove talons first, digging one foot into each enemy’s shoulder. They shrieked at the discomfort and leaped. I quickly lost grip. I fell backward, narrowly missing the motionless body of the Chrome behind me. I focused immediately on getting back to my feet. One of the Dark’s stood above me, starring down with a malicious grin. He aimed his teeth for my neck but the smaller dragon’s neck was beneath mine. Diving forward I locked my jaw on the sensitive spot behind the horns and used it to pull myself up. As I held down the dragon, I could see in the corner of my vision the other one watching, eyes full of terror as he expected to see his friend’s neck snap right in front of him.
I growled, giving the dragon beneath me one final shove before releasing my grip and backing away, spreading my wings protectively before the Chrome and showing my teeth threateningly. The dragon slowly got to his feet, shaking his head and reaching up with a clawed foot. He looked at the blood that covered the pads of his feet and glared at me. He crouched low in an unwilling show of surrender, backing away slowly toward his friend.
“I hope I never see your face again Chrome lover.” The creature grunted, opening his wings to take flight.
“Same goes to you.” I retorted. I watched as they lifted into the darkness, not looking away until they had become seamless shadows against the black sky.
Folding my wings, I straightened. The quietness of the night returning to my ears. Only now I could also hear the labored breathing of the Chrome. I turned and got on all fours, craning my neck to look at the sad creature below. Only now was I able to truly see the magnificent animal. In all my life the only time I’d ever seen such an expanse of color was in the rainbow after a storm. The body beneath me surpassed even that, for the hues sparkled and danced like the top layer of freshly fallen snow. The scales were cloudy, as if steam were billowing beneath them and the hues shown through. The dragon’s tail gleamed a florescent purple. From there it melted seamlessly into a turquoise and then yellow and green. The colors interchanged all the way up to its neck where it’s jaw and muzzle shimmered the same color as the sunset over an ocean. The underbelly was paler, a soft tannish, pink. Even still the horns and wings were of a hue I had never seen on any animal. Gold. They reminded me of the fall leaves both in color and texture as they were so thin and delicate that if the sun was shining I could probably see straight through to the other side.
I took in a sharp breath when I saw the tear in the beautiful outstretched wing and blood glistening over the brilliant plates. The thick fluid seemed to be coming from everywhere, even the pastel torn-up underbelly, but especially from the spot in which I had seen one of the Dark’s rip out a scale. I bent down, looking at the wound closer. I snorted in disgust. There could be nothing more painful than having a scale torn from your flesh. It’s probably what made the Chrome go unconscious.
I padded over to the dragon’s head, nudging its cheek gently with my muzzle. Its eyes fluttered briefly but remained shut. There was no possible way I could get the Chrome back to my cave. What if the group of juvenile Dark’s returned? What if they brought more dragons with them? The Chrome was basically a beacon out here in the open. Anyone flying above would see his glinting scales. I had to hide him somehow. I looked at my surroundings. All around us was the forest. I knew to the left through the trees was my cave but it was still a good couple of miles from here. The forest was at least decent cover.
Anything I did would probably only the injure the dragon more but I was out of options. Luckily, we only had to stay hidden for a couple more hours. The sun would be up and all Dark’s would return to the underground city to stay cool and hidden.
I walked to the dragon’s vibrant purple tail and took the end gently between my teeth. “Sorry I have to do this but it’s the only way. I hope you can forgive me later.” Foot by foot I drug the body back towards the cover of trees. His breathing quickened but he never opened his eyes. Finally, we made it to the forest. I set down his tail and set to finding branches that would cover his glowing scales, thus hiding him from any early morning flyers.
I looked down at my finished project, making sure everything was covered. But I frowned. What had I just done…? If those juveniles went back to the city and told their story, my actions could have just killed the Chrome as well as myself. I just rescued my enemy for God’s sake. What was wrong with me? If this dragon happened to survive…what would I do? I hadn’t been thinking. Of course, I’d only been thinking of saving the poor things life but now that it was done…I mine as well have just killed myself. After the other Dark’s heard what I’d done... It’s not as if I’m welcome in the city anyway, I thought to myself.