Chapter 3- Noises in the Night

They glided across a hollow gorge, trees on each side. The air was still. All you could hear was the beating of wings, and Cynders worried beating heart. Shadow was cradled by the wind, rocking back and forth. He closed his eyes. Cyder just stared off into the distance. The moons light grew stronger as a pale glow guided there way.

Crack!! Shadow immediately opened his eyes and scanned the area. The leaves rustled and the branches swayed. He saw a red glow flash across a gap in the forest. He gasped. “Cynder hurry, fly higher!” He whispered as loudly as he could. “What?” she hollered back. “Shhh, keep your voice down.” Shadow mumbled. His voice was scratchy. Cynder bowed her head in response. She shifted over to Shadow and glanced in the direction he was looking at. She tilted her head. The branches rattled again.

Shadow growled. “I think there catching on…” He silently said. Cynder right away knew he was talking about Winged Fury. “Well, what should we do?” she hesitantly asked.

“What do you think?” he snapped to her. “Um... Get there first?” she sheepishly asked. “No, of course not.” He growled. Cynder ducked her head. “Were going to slow them down.” He sounded determined. “WHAT? Are you out of your mind?: She yelled. “Nope, I’m just using it!” he yelled back. Cynder gulped and flew after him. “You’re wasting time.” Cynder whispered to Shadow, once she caught up with him. He just ignored her and glided towards the ground.

He grinded his teeth and aimed to land on a tree. “Stay quiet, land in the treetops.” He whispered. Cynder nodded. Shadow flew closer to a tree and hovered above it. He slowly and quietly grabbed a branch and settled on it. “Seems easy.” Cynder thought to herself. She flew down, coming in a little to fast. Shadow didn’t notice. She pushed her wings forward and tried to slow down. “Yikes!” she yelped. BAM! Cynder crashed right into the tree and snapped branches. “Gosh…are you okay?” Shadow asked.

“Oh yes, I’m fine, I’m just hanging here. Literally.” She replied. Shadow scrunched his forehead and peered down. Cynder was tangled in branches, actually hanging from them. Shadow chuckled and shook his head. “Well?” Cynder asked, as if expecting something. “Well what?” Shadow whispered. “Are you going to help me?” She bellowed. “Not now, I’m going in.” What am I supposed to do?” Cynder asked. “Um… just stay quiet, roar if you need me.” He said and quickly jumped off the branch to another one. Cynder sighed, and stared at the ground.

Shadow leaped from branch to branch, his eyes peeled for any movement. He sat on branch and scanned the trees, breathing lightly. Branches snapped toward the east. Shadow settled his eyes on the area. He has seen a red figure and a couple other darker figures following. He smirked and jumped east. He quickly gained speed and then halted. There he saw it, Ignites and a couple other dragons gazing out an opening. “C’mon lets go.” He heard one of them say. The voice sounded familiar. He squinted and streached his neck. The moonlight glistened off his scales, they were a deep green.

Shadow raised his lip and crept forward. He liked his chops and targeted Ignites. If he attacked him, the other dragons couldn’t continue without him. Shadow growled a leaped forward and grabbed Ignatius’s back. He sunk his teeth into his flesh. His merciful cry awakening the silence of night. Ignites growled and shook his back, trying to fling him off. The other dragons backed away, not knowing it was Shadow. He clawed his back and ripped off scales. Ignites screeched and collapsed. He rolled onto his back and squished Shadow.

Ignites stood up and shook his skin. “Who dares to-“He paused. Anger filled his eyes. “Shadow…” His deep voice cracked. “How DARE you attack ME!” He bellowed, staring into Shadows eyes. Shadow didn’t respond and just lunged forward. He sunk his teeth into the bridge of Ignatius’s nose. He roared in pain and flung his head to and thro. Shadow released his grip and fell to the ground. “ATTACK HIM!” he yelled.

The green dragon and a yellow one ran forward and trampled Shadow. The knapped at his flesh and clawed his stomach. Pain surged through Shadows body. He roared loudly and high pitched.

The dragons continued to attack him. Then suddenly, a loud, deep, defending roar sounded the whole forest. Everyone froze, except Shadow. He curiously looked east. He saw an orange dragon dashing from tree to tree. Was it Cynder? Her flawless faces become clearer. Shadows hopes rised. Cynder leaped off a tree and tackled the green dragon. She roared loudly in his face. Baring her large fangs. She looked fierce. She snarled and slashed his face. The dragon was knocked out. Cynder glanced at Shadow.

The yellow dragon quickly bit Shadows stomach. He yelped and rolled over. Shadows eyes closed. “NO!” Cynder screamed. She ran up to Shadow. His breath rate was low. She scrunched her face and flung herself at Ignites. He grasped her shoulders and stood on his rear legs. Cynder did the same. She quickly bit his neck. He yelped and then collapsed. She slashed his face, the same as she did to the green dragon. Ignites was knocked out. Then, she charged at the yellow dragon. Before she attacked he fell to his knees and covered his face.

Cynder stopped and sat on her haunches. She looked at him for a second, then growled at lunged forward and tore his wing. The dragon madly barked, but stayed down. Cynder’s talons were full of blood. She shook her head, then trotted up to Shadow. Her heart felt heavy. She pressed her nose up against his neck, checking for a pulse. There was one, but it was faint. HE slowly opened his eyes. “Shadow…” Cynder whispered. She nudged him. HE lightly coughed then looked behind her. He mouthed something, but she couldn’t make out what he was saying.

BAM! Cynder flew off her feet and bashed into a tree. She quickly arose and shook off the pain. Ignites stood a couple feet away from her, breathing heavily. Blood trickled down his neck. Cynder leaped forward and spun around, whacking him in the face with her spiked tail. He yelped and backed up a little. Cynder snorted. She backed up, then clawed the ground, ready to charge. Ignites did the same. They both charged. BOOSH! They both collided. There heads together. Cynder swiftly backed up and head butted him again. Ignites yelped and backed up. Cynder was ready to charge again.

“ You are strong..” Ignites mumbled. Cynder growled, and got ready to pounce. In a flash, Ignites lunged forward and pounded her into a tree. She roared and fell to the ground, her chest and back hurting. She rested her head on the ground and took deep breathes. Ignites crept forward, an evil grin on his face. Cynder closed her eyes, ready to feel pain. She tightened her jaw. Suddenly through the ground she heard cracking and snapping.

Immediately she opened her eyes, and knew what was going to happen. The tree was going to fall. She spread out her front arms and inched forward, dragging her body behind. She curled up and closed her eyes. Cynder heard the roots snapping, then she glanced back at Ignites who steadily raised his paw. CRACK the tree uprooted and collapsed on top of Ignatius’s tail. He yelped and dropped to the floor scrunching up

Blood squirted from his punctured wound He breathed heavily and looked up at Cynder with painful eyes.

Cynder gulped and spun around to Shadow. He was sitting upright. He coughed. She ran toward him and nudged him. Tears filled her hazel eyes. “Il…be fine.” Shadow whispered. "We have to get out of here." Cynder said. Shadow looked up at her, he was in no condition to fly. Cynder blinked her eyes, tears dripping down her orange scales. She streached out her wings and grabbed Shadow by his waits, and she leaped off into the air....