Page 106 of The Scars Within
I scowled. “Why didn’t you wake us? What if the other team bombarded us, and Laney and I were still asleep, unprepared?”
“I was enjoying my morning without your two annoying voices,” Pehper shot back, not bothering to turn around.
I growled in frustration, biting my tongue to keep from snapping back. Instead, I marched back to Laney, shaking her more forcefully this time. “Wake up,” I muttered as I started packing up my belongings.
Once Laney was ready for the day, she joined me by the dying fire, munching on leftover rations for breakfast.
The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, casting long shadows across the cave floor. Davis and Shayde should be back soon.
“They’re on their way back now,” Lakota’s voice echoed calmly in my mind, answering my unspoken thought.
The sound of wings beating in the air grew louder until a heavy thud echoed outside, confirming Lakota’s statement. The sun poured in behind the boys as they entered the cave, casting their figures in bright silhouettes. The wind tousled Davis’s sandy blonde hair while Shayde’s warm brown eyes beamed with energy.
Pehper rushed over, wrapping her arms around them in an awkward hug that neither returned with much enthusiasm.
“So, what elementals are we up against?” I asked, my gaze fixed on Shayde.
He met my eyes for a brief second, his jaw tightening, before turning to address the group. “We found their camp, but there were no dragons in sight. Looks like they don’t have any fire elementals either, which gives us an aerial advantage.”
Davis added, “We got as close to their cave entrance as we could, but the terrain made it hard to get a clear view of their team. We do know they’ve got two second-years, but we do not know who they are. Even without fire elementals, they might have strong elementals from the other three categories.”
Shayde clapped his hands together eagerly. “So why wait? Let’s attack, steal their egg, and end this campaign early. The weather’s clear, no reason to delay.”
Laney raised her hand, “How far is it on foot?”
Davis responded, “We’ve got three dragons, and if they agree to take passengers, we could get there quickly–”
Before he could finish, Pehper stepped forward, shaking her hands as if warding off a nightmare. “Uh uh. I am not riding on a dragon, especially without a fitted saddle.”
“A good rider doesn’t need a saddle,” Shayde and I said at the same time accidentally.
“But I’m not a rider!” Pehper squeaked, her face pale as she shifted nervously. Was she… scared?
Part of me wanted to mock her, knowing it would be precisely what she’d do if the roles were reversed. But I wasn’t like her. So instead, I offered, “What if the three of us fly over on our dragons, and Laney and Pehper stay here to guard our egg? Since they don’t have a dragon, they’re not likely to attack us over here anytime soon.”
Pehper’s relief was palpable despite her attempts to hide it behind that familiar scowl. I could tell she hated that I’d come up with a plan that conveniently excused her from flying, but she kept quiet for once. The rest of the group agreed, and we quickly moved on to discussing strategies for both teams.
Soon enough, Davis, Shayde, and I were packed and ready to head out. Laney pulled each of us into a tight hug, whispering reminders to stay safe. As we exited the cave, she winked at me and blew a kiss. “See you soon.”
The climb up the rocky terrain was brief but steep, and when we reached the plateau, our dragons were already stretching their wings, their scales glistening in the morning sun. Spear was the first to trot towards us, his green scales shimmering. He seemed particularly energized, his tail swinging with enthusiasm.
I smiled at the sight, but before I could comment, Lakota whipped his head to the side, and I heard a loud smack.
“His fucking tail just poked my eye out!” Lakota growled.
I snorted, barely holding back a laugh. “He’s just excited.”
Davis grinned as he climbed onto his dragon, settling into place. “Ready to show them what an aerial advantage really looks like?”
I nodded, taking a deep breath as I approached Lakota. The familiar feeling of anticipation buzzed through me. It was time to take flight.
I mounted Lakota’s back, securing the strap around my waist and gripping his spikes. Shayde and Drithan turned to face us, ready and waiting for the signal. With a nod from me, they took off into the sky, Davis close behind. Lakota crouched low, then surged upward, his powerful wings slicing through the wind. The ground quickly shrank beneath us as we soared higher, the cool air whipping around my face.
This was the first time I had been thankful for my leather gloves. The temperature has been dropping slowly, but even more so this high in the mountains. My palms were warm against Lakota’s skin, but the tops of my hands were freezing. The chill burned my ears and nose.
The three of us soared through the mountain peaks, with Lakota and me allowing Davis and Shayde to lead the way. It felt so peaceful and invigorating. I knew the War Campaigns would be starting soon, but I couldn’t help but feel anxious about the randomization of the campaign. Though we were enrolled in a War College, this would be our first true test of battle.
Every day, I became more confident in my elemental abilities, relishing the opportunity to experiment with both elements simultaneously. Mastering not just one but two made me feel stronger than I’d ever felt—mentally, emotionally, and physically.
