Leone

Muted voices wafted into my mind from outside. A tone of worry laced the words as they broke into my sleep.
“They’re getting worse….”
“Encroaching…”
“…we need to do something…”
I stood, shaking the last remnants of sleep from my folded wings. Sounds like trouble. I had better go see what’s going on. My mouth stretched open in a jaw-cracking yawn, and I pushed aside the flap of my tent. Morning light bathed camp in a faint glow, darkly silhouetting the two dragons debating outside my door.
“Good morning, gentlemen!” I exclaimed. “What’s the news from the front line?”
Both of the dragons started at my words, and the skydancer shot a worried look at his spiral companion before hesitantly meeting my eyes. “Good morning, Sergeant Leone.” He ruffled his scarlet wings uncomfortably, and his tail slowly coiled around his back legs. “Unfortunately, the news is not good.”
I sighed, lashing my tail. When is it ever good? “Of course. Well, spit it out.”
The feathers behind the skydancer’s horns drooped. “The enemy clan has captured our second platoon, and major skirmishes are now encroaching on our territory. I’m afraid that,” his eyes darted, avoiding mine, “this camp is now behind enemy lines.”
Dropping my head, I inhaled slowly. This war is a nightmare. Exhaling, I looked to the sapphire spiral, who was looping his lithe body and rubbing his talons nervously. “Does the commander have a plan of action?”
The spiral bobbed his head and moved into a figure eight pattern. “He has asked to see you in his tent.”
“Right.” Straightening my shoulders, I nodded to the two soldiers. “Gentlemen.” Moving around the pair, I started to toward the large white tent that loomed over all of camp. The red plague banner draped across its front was wafting gently in the breeze. As I neared the tent’s entrance, Commander Kenrin strode out, his piercing gaze quickly alighting on me.
“Sergeant Leone!” the wildclaw boomed, nodding to me. “Just the dragon I’ve been looking for.” He spread one of his magnificent charcoal wings, blocking us from the view of camp and ushering me into the tent. Once we were inside, he carefully closed the tent’s flap. His talons lingered on the fabric and he bowed his head. “You’ve heard about the situation, Leone?”
I nodded. “Yes, sir.”
He turned, looking at me over his shoulder. “Then you know we have to do something before those slimy water dragons continue to encroach on the Wasteland.”
Again, I nodded. “You have something in mind?”
“Yes. Orders from higher up.” He turned to face me, golden horns glinting. “This mission is one of the most treacherous our company has been assigned—but we are the only ones behind enemy lines. We have to send a platoon to the enemy base. There have been reports of new weaponry, and the Flight has to know what they are if we are to win this battle. Moreover, our second platoon has been captured.”
A lump was beginning to form in my throat. I choked it down. “You want me to take my platoon.”
Kenrin nodded. “I would trust no one else with the task. Your dragons are the best we have.”
I shuffled my wings. “Right.”. We’re not going to make it out of this one. I hope everyone back home understands… My stomach dropped, urging a sick feeling into my heart, where it buried itself and left an ache. “When are we to leave?”
The commander’s red eyes glowed a fiery crimson. “Tonight.” Lukewarm water pooled around my talons and soaked the slender feathers that tipped my tail. My belly brushed the water, and droplets ran off it to land with quiet plinks in the water. Looking to my left, I made eye contact with my second lieutenant. He nodded and turned to the soldiers he led. Their bodies were barely visible as shadows among the thick bamboo poles they crouched in. I looked to my right, sending the same signal to my other lieutenant. The silent communication spread through my troops.
I peered ahead once more, over the tops of the sheared-off bamboo in front of me. On the sandy shore several paces ahead, two dragons paced the entrance to a large encampment. The lights from within glinted off the water around us, shimmering reflections rippling with every movement we made. The two guardians appeared to be minimally armored and carried long tridents.
I raised my forearm and hesitated. No turning back now. I gave the go-ahead to my troops. Silently, soldiers streamed out around me. Their scales gleamed darkly in the moonlight, and they left faint prints in the golden sand. I sprinted forward, merging into the wake of dragons. My feathered wings brushed against those of my comrades, and a burst of energy surged through me. My heart pounded in my ears, echoing with the sound of my own breathing. When I reached the entrance to the campsite, the two guardians had already been felled. I paused, noticing an odd black liquid bubbling in the sand near them. It turned the sand into streaks of dark glass, which then steamed in the night. A burning acidic smell reached my nostrils. My stomach roiled with an uneasy feeling. Averting my eyes, I continued into the camp.
All around me, dragons clashed in the pale moonlight, their weapons shining brightly. Bursts of iridescent flame exploded nearby, and sweat broke out over my whole body. The only sound I heard was my own labored breathing as my gaze roved the scene, finding many of my soldiers already sprawled on the ground.
My heartbeat sped up, and I screamed a battle cry. Spreading my wings, I charged into the thickest group of frenzied dragons. Extending my talons, I jumped at the first water dragon I met. I tumbled to the ground with the guardian, our claws flashing and teeth grinding. My wings batted at his body, and his tail coiled around my midsection.
Rolling across the soft ground, I managed to pin down the dragon. He snarled, showing rows of pearly fangs. “You can’t win,” he spat, writhing in the sand. “None of your soldiers are leaving this camp tonight!” His blue eyes left my face, glancing to his left.
Disconcerted, my eyes followed his. A black pearlcatcher lunged towards us, throwing something in my face.
An involuntary scream tore from my throat, and I stumbled away. The liquid burned at my eyes, bubbling across my face. I spread my wings and launched into the sky. MUST! GET! AWAY! Blinded, I swerved across the sky, heading in the direction I thought the lake laid. My ears perked, picking up the sound of crashing waves amid the chaos of fighting dragons. Folding my wings in, I dove. My body hit the water, slicing through it. A freezing chill wracked my body, but I felt the liquid floating off my scales. I shook my head, hoping to wash away the poison.
As I floated in the water, something slithered against my side. A thin blade sliced my leg. I jerked away, thrashing clumsily. Daring to open my eyes, I found a world of shadows. Everything was dark—various shades of gray. But the darkest shadows swam around me, their long, fish-like bodies moving lithely in the water. Maren! I was surrounded. Dozens of the creatures circled me, cutting off all escape. My chest tightened painfully as my lungs began to long for air. Bubbles of precious oxygen escaped from my nostrils, and I followed their path with my eyes. As they neared the surface, I saw a gap in the swarm of beasts closing in on me. My only chance.
I pumped my sodden wings, launching my body upward. I crashed into a few of the Maren, and broke the surface of the water. Gasping, I drew a deep breath. I coughed, expelling water from my lungs. Spears began to stab into my body, their ****** piercing my scales, and webbed hands grabbed at my limbs. Flapping my wings, I lifted out of the water. Maren released their grip, sliding from my scales and hitting the lake. Angered shrieks came from the beasts as I escaped their clutches. Ignoring them, I looked to the sky, finding only darkness and specks of gray light. I shook my head, but nothing became clearer.
They’ve blinded me, I realized. But I need to help my soldiers. Turning, I flew haphazardly toward the faint lights I could see on shore.
Flying over the water camp, as my vision faded rapidly into darkness, I could see that no one from the plague platoon had survived. Familiar bodies were strewn around the camp, and the only movement was water soldiers carrying their wounded comrades. Tears filled my eyes, burning softly. As I turned away from the sight, they poured down the scarred scales on my face. Through the tears, everything appeared wobbly and under water. I closed my eyes, shutting out a fading world. The wind whispered softly under my wings. I tilted my head, listening for the sounds of dragons. There! To the left… I banked, heading toward the faint sound of conversing voices. When they came from below me, I began to descend. Without warning, I hit a branch, expelling the air from my lungs. I gasped as I lost control of my flight. Tumbling head over heels, I flapped my wings, but it was in vain, and after a moment of weightlessness, I hit the ground. Dust billowed around my bruised body, and I lay still. I…can’t …
The voices grew closer, their words clearer. One of the dragons gasped. “Look! It’s sergeant Leone!”
Quick footsteps followed, and several dragons lifted me from the ground.
“Sergeant! Can you hear me?”
I nodded weakly, swiveling my head toward where I thought the voice was coming from. “Take me to Kenrin.”
“His eyes…” someone whispered.
“…burned…”
I ignored them. “Take me to him, now!”
“Right away, sir!”
The soldiers lifted me onto a pair of dragons’ backs. Traveling at double time, we quickly made it into an area where I could hear many voices at once. Camp. We pushed through the flap of a tent, its fabric brushing gently against my body as we entered.
“What’s this?” Kenrin’s voice exclaimed. “How dare—”
I tumbled off the soldiers’ backs, falling to the ground. Rising to my feet, my weak limbs wavered below me, threatening to give out. “Commander,” I rasped.
Kenrin gasped. There was a moment of silence, and then he ordered the soldiers to leave. They filed past me, and then Kenrin was at my side. Supporting me, he led me to what felt to be a pile of rough fabric.
“Lay down, Leone. What happened to you, Sergeant? It’s been two days…”
I nodded weakly, stretching out on the makeshift bed. “I had to wait for my eyes to heal…somewhat.”
“I see.” Kenrin’s voice was disturbed. Softer, he whispered, “What happened?”
I sighed. “A nightmare.” “Sergeant Leone, you are hereby honorably discharged due to the loss of your sight in the service of your Flight! Your platoon acted with great bravery in the face of the combined forces of a Water clan and a faction of the poisonous Maren Beastclan. You have been awarded the Purple Wing for your valor.” The General’s voice boomed, echoing over the heads of the hundreds of assembled dragons before me.
A velvety cord was draped around my neck, the light weight of the medal bumped against my puffed chest. I straightened proudly, holding back my shoulders, flaring my wings, and lifting my head. My bandana slipped softly against my closed eyelids.
“You are hereby released to join a clan of your choosing—may you spend your days in honor and remind us of the lives that were lost to bring us this victory.”