Page 105 of The Last Dragon
I roll under its wing as it unleashes blazing fire from the depths of its throat. The dust and smoke sting my eyes, forcing me to look away. I aim my crossbow, waiting for an opportunity to strike. But I don’t have much time. The dragon is searching for me, and I know I have to move before I can find a weak spot. I peek into the sky, spotting Sarga frantically flapping her wings. Spiked barriers are close—I can take cover there, assess, and then, if needed—call Sarga.
Hunters scream and yell across the battlefield, but a distant deep roar freezes me in place before I can run. The battlefield falls silent. Soldiers lift their heads, and the Redsnout shoots into the air, leaving me fully exposed.
“Wh—what is that!?” yells a Hunter, pointing toward the mountain cliffs miles away. I stand, facing the horizon.
A shadow grows on the horizon, and the ground shakes under the weight of something massive stomping toward us. And panic claws at the edges of my thoughts. There’s no denying it.
It’s another dragon.
I dash to the side of the spiked barricades for shelter and cock my crossbow. Ready. The ground shakes heavily beneath my feet as the second beast lands, sending several small, slow, rhythmic vibrations followed by a deep, deafening roar.
It can’t be.
I peek out through the only protection I have and see gray, thick, stony scales, with a tail powerful enough to make the stone I’m hiding behind feel like cracked glass. My eyes widen, and I hold my breath—then release a deafening roar of my own.
“STONETAIL!”
I turn to the rest—those who are behind me—those who are just as defenseless as I am. I slice my arm through the air with a command.
“Retreat!” I yell as I run toward them, toward Nida—her eyes helpless, her body stiff, frozen in place.
The Stonetail’s heavy vibrations crack barriers, scattering stones and dust across the ground, throwing me off balance as I run. My heart races in my chest. My eyes dart, tracking every movement around me, even as my back stays exposed to the most notorious dragon of them all. In a moment when I’m supposed to be calm, I’m not.
We’re going to die.
The ground trembles beneath me, every step a struggle to stay upright. The dragon stomps, its large claws crushing three soldiers at once. Blood and bones and everything a human is made of spill everywhere as it rams into those close to it. I dare to look. The Stonetail lunges, jaws snapping shut around a Hunter, then whips its head to the side in a brutal shake andthrows what remains of the soldier with a violent force. Terror. All I feel is terror.
Dust swirls in the air, blurring my vision, but I push through the chaos. I stumble to my feet again, forcing myself forward until I’m hunched over Nida. I cup her face, scanning her for injuries. “Are you hurt? Are you alright?” I manage, pulling her close.
“I’m fine—”
The Stonetail’s large, thick tail blasts through the barrier like a warhammer. Pain explodes across my body as the barricade shatters, sending large stones crashing down on top of us. My ears ring, my vision blurs, my leg is crushed between the ground and stones. I gasp for air, then cough up dust from my lungs.
Nida.
She lies still, her long hair losing its vibrancy as dirt and dust fall on her, like a dying fire.
I grunt, wedging my hands under the jagged stone, pushing it off, every muscle in my body screaming in protest. Then, I crawl forward. There’s a slight tick in my hand—a sensation that travels all the way to my neck. I need to stay calm. Calm.Calm.
But I can’t. All I’m hoping is that her fire isn’t snuffed out. My heart drops as blood trickles down her face. I try to shake her, to pull her back to reality. Back tome.
“Get up!” I yell, pushing away the stones crushing her body. She grumbles, murmurs, and then moves.
“Zel,” she whispers, squeezing her eyebrows together.
“I’m here, I’m here,” I repeat, helping her get up. “Come on, we have to get out of here, now.” I lift her arm over my neck, grabbing her waist and pressing her closer to me.
Her body feels heavy on mine as she attempts to drag herself. The Stonetail roars, its loud roar deafening those who are close. I look back. It’s closer to us than I thought. Is there a way out ofthis? Against a Stonetail, there’s nothing I can fucking do. I need a Defender.
The Redsnout circles the sky, rising higher and higher, dodging the bolts as it fades into the distance—as if it’s going to let the Stonetail finish the job.
Sarga whooshes past my head, attempting to distract the Stonetail to help me get away. I coax a whistle through my split lip to call her back, extending my arm high enough for her to land. She flaps her wings, diving straight toward me. My chest fills with hope. But with a gentle nip from her talons into my hair, she refuses my call.
“Sarga!” I call out, but she is too stubborn to even circle back to repeat her refusal. With Nida’s arm wrapped around me, I can’t afford to stop. I have to keep going. My heart sinks with every step I take further away from Sarga. All I can do is hear my hawk’s screech as the dragon’s tail lashes out with a brutal force.
I don’t want to look back.
The inner gates finally burst open, and ballistas are dragged out as Defenders scramble to their posts. Fucking finally. But I’m too far—still limping, exposed to the creature behind me. Am I going to make it? Am I going to die here?Can I save her?
