Page 89 of Wild Flame

“Black scorpions,” Taj cursed. “Watch out! They’re venomous!”

Azrun and Bhorag both let out streams of dragon flame and began melting the creatures into the sand. The sudden light was blinding in the darkness. I flinched away from the heat, trying not to listen as the creatures hissed and screeched as they died.

If that weren’t enough, a roar shuddered through the air. Another quickly followed as a half dozen dark shapes emerged from the cave opening. From the light of the flames, I could just make out the creatures, and my stomach dropped. Each of them was the size of a bear, though their bodies were more feline, with four legs and claws, solid muscular shoulders and a mane surrounding their heads. Snarling fanged mouths gaped open, while sharp spindled spikes lined their backs, culminating in a vicious-looking scorpion tail. This must have been what had the scorpion nest so spooked. They were fleeing these creatures.

Malik cursed. “A manticore pack.”

Manticores? I had only ever read about them in books, since they were native to Zehvi. Next to dragons and griffins, they were some of the deadliest creatures in Palasia, and one of the reasons many travelers skirted the Daazi Desert altogether.

Malik slashed at a scorpion as it reached us and sliced it in half. Several of the manticores leapt over the smoldering pile of scorpions and lithely dodged the breath of flame Bhorag launched in their direction. The speed and agility of the beasts was terrifying as they spread out. One leapt right at Taj. He deflected with his blade and rolled out of its way. The animal regrouped quickly, kicking up sand as it charged him again.

Two of the other manticores got under Bhorag’s guard and used their powerful claws to climb up his body. One reached his back and went for his wing, one of the only vulnerable places on a dragon. Bhorag let out a bellowing roar and arched hisserpentine neck around, snatching the manticore between his fanged jaws with a sickening crunch.

The manticore went limp, and Bhorag hurled its dead body into the one attacking Taj, knocking it to the ground.

Malik engaged another with his sword while Azrun was breathing fire directly into the mouth of the cave to cut them off at their source; all while keeping a pair of the feline creatures away with swipes of his long tail.

I couldn’t help thinking that if not for me and their riders, the dragons could simply burn them all to a crisp and be done with it.

With all of them occupied, I spun and dashed towards Malik’s saddlebags where a second blade was strapped. I tried to ignore the crackling sound of the flames behind me and the panic starting to build in my chest, telling me to flee, to hide, to get away.It will be fine, I told myself. These dragons weren’t going to hurt me, and fire was honestly the least of my problems at the moment.

Pulling the sword free, the weight of it felt strange in my hand. I wasn’t used to this type of weapon, and it was heavier than was practical for me since it was meant for Malik’s hand, but it would have to do.

I turned just as a scorpion that had gotten past Azrun scuttled towards me. I stomped down on the thing’s back and sliced off its stinger before cutting it in half. A yellow liquid oozed out, and I grimaced as I stepped back, suddenly grateful for the boots rather than sandals Malik had insisted upon at the start of this journey.

I glanced up, intending to help Malik, when a menacing growl sounded behind me. I had thought all the manticores were engaged elsewhere, but apparently not.

I dropped to the ground on instinct.

Fear and adrenaline lanced through me as the large creature’s body passed right over me, missing me by inches.

I shot to my feet, swiping sand from my eyes as I faced the beast. It was even more terrifying up close. It snapped its jaws together with a raging snarl, and to my horror, I noted it had three rows of sharp teeth.

Its lethal tail whipped from side to side before it lashed out.

I barely got my sword up in time, the hit jarring painfully up my arm as the manticore hissed.

“Leida!” Malik yelled. Then he was there. He slashed his blade downward and cut off the end of its tail.

The manticore roared in pain and spun to face the new threat. The manticore Malik had been fighting was dead on the ground behind him. Malik engaged the creature, dodging and striking with lethal grace. The beast got in a vicious scratch to his ribs, and I gasped, worry for him racing through me, even as I knew he was probably already healing, thanks to his rider blood.

The manticore lunged for me, but Malik was faster and plunged his sword deep into its side. The manticore screamed and thrashed its tail. Several of the long spikes dislodged from the tail and shot straight at me.

I ducked, the spikes narrowly missing me.

Unfortunately, I lost my footing and tripped over something. A pair of scorpions. Rolling away from their clacking pincers, I slashed out with the blade I still held, coming up on one knee. I killed first one, then the other.

Several more scorpions darted toward Malik, and I moved to protect his back while he dealt with the injured manticore. I skirted around the two I had just dispatched and began killing any scorpion that came close.

I looked over to see how Taj was faring just as another manticore snuck up on him as he fought. I opened my mouth to warn him when in perfect sync Taj ducked and Bhorag swung hisgiant tail and whipped the manticore into the rocks as it leapt. A piece of the rock crumbled, and the beast fell to the ground, unmoving.

I turned back as another of the nasty creatures darted for me. I barely got my sword up in time to keep it from stinging me.

Then large crimson scales blocked my vision. I blinked as Azrun lowered his giant head over me and blasted the scorpions with flames.

When it was done, he turned his massive head towards me.

I placed a hand on his neck. “Thank you,” I told him.

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