novelraw Chapter 28
Chapter 28
With a beat of her powerful wings, Azure surged to the front, taking the lead. Aiden and Bianca fell into formation behind her.
They flew for some fifteen minutes in silence, the only sound the rhythmic rush of air over their scales. Then, without warning, Azure arrested her flight, hovering in place.
Seeing her halt, Aiden knew they had arrived.
He angled his head down, surveying the terrain below. A stark monolith of red sandstone clawed at the sky, its surface barren and devoid of any greenery. At the mountain's base, a dark wound opened into its flank: a cavern mouth, large and shadowed. There was no sign of life.
But then, he flared his nostrils.
He caught it. The same sharp, musky scent of the pack they had slaughtered. The odor emanated from deep within the cave. This was the place. This was the Aridfell's lair.
Aiden ceased flapping, holding his position in the air.
“This is the nest,” Azure's voice drifted over from his side. “The hunting party is dead. There should only be the old and the young left within.”
Bianca's white head shot up, her brilliant, slitted pupils fixed on Azure. “So you're saying there's no danger?” A hungry, eager light danced in her eyes.
Azure glanced sidelong at Aiden before continuing. “Of course…”
AOWW! “I'm going in!”
Before Azure could finish her sentence, Bianca folded her wings and plummeted toward the cave mouth below.
Azure's blue eyes calmly followed the descending white form. Of course… for Aiden, there is certainly no threat, she silently completed the interrupted thought. The corners of her draconic maw curled into the barest hint of a smile.
Aiden narrowed his eyes, studying her. Why is she smiling? I have a feeling the part Bianca cut off was the most important one.
He looked down. Bianca's form vanished into the darkness of the cave. A strange premonition pricked at him. It felt very much like Azure had just tricked her.
Well, I suppose I should go see for myself.
“Let's go. We're heading down,” Aiden announced.
“Mm,” Azure hummed in agreement, her smile vanishing as she closed her mouth.
They both folded their wings, allowing gravity to claim them. The air rushed past Aiden's head, a comfortable, familiar sensation. Even in a rapid descent, he felt no trace of panic, only perfect control. He angled his body, guiding his fall toward the cavern. Just before reaching the entrance, his crimson wings snapped open, catching the air and killing his momentum. He leveled out, gliding smoothly into the darkness.
…
Damned vile breed! I'
m going to slaughter every last one of you today! The old ones, I'll roast. The little ones, I'll stew. Wait, I don't have a pot for stewing. Dammit. If only I had some slaves. Slaves are so useful for this sort of thing. Well, if I can't stew them, I'll just eat them raw. The whelps will surely be tender. The crunch will be exquisite.This story originates from NovelBin. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Translucent saliva dripped from the corners of her maw. Flying through the tunnel, Bianca was already planning her menu.
A massive stalactite appeared in her path. She banked sharply on her left wing, turning sideways to avoid it.
Suddenly, a heavy weight slammed onto her shoulder.
A piercing pain shot through her right wing. An Aridfell had clamped its jaws onto the membrane. The pain, combined with the creature's weight, made her wing useless. In an instant, Bianca lost her balance, her body spiraling toward the ground. She hit the cavern floor with a heavy thud.
As she landed, ten pairs of glowing red eyes ignited in the oppressive darkness around her.
Whine~
The Aridfell latched to her wing let out a low, triumphant cry. At the sound, the ten other beasts launched themselves from the shadows, a wave of darkness and teeth.
Seven of them missed their mark in the gloom.
Three found their target.
The moment they landed, they bit down. One latched onto her tail, another her wing, and the third, her hind leg.
AOWW! Bianca roared, pain and fury erupting from her in a single, explosive sound. These cursed things!
Consumed by rage, she whipped her head around, her jaws snapping shut on the neck of the Aridfell still clinging to her wing.
CRUNCH.
With a faint, satisfying snap, the creature went limp. But even in death, its jaws remained locked on her wing. Bianca grabbed its corpse with her foreclaws and, with a grunt of effort, ripped it free. A fresh spike of pain lanced through her wing, but seeing the dead vile breed in her claws sent a surge of elation through her.
…
AOWW!
A roar echoed from deep within the cave. It was Bianca.
So, she's found trouble after all, Aiden thought.
He beat his wings, accelerating through the tunnel.
…
Bianca snapped her jaws again, killing the Aridfell on her other wing.
AOWW! she roared again, the pain fueling her rage.
The other seven Aridfell heard the new roar. Their ears swiveled, pinpointing the source of the sound. In the next second, all seven leaped as one toward the sound.
Damn it!
Bianca viciously slammed the corpse in her claws onto the ground. The sound of rushing air alerted her. She looked up to see seven dark shapes hurtling toward her. With no time to deal with the creatures still attached to her tail and leg, she gave a powerful flap of her wings, launching herself backward in a low, clumsy flight.
The seven Aridfell landed in a heap where she had been a moment before. They didn't pursue. They stood perfectly still, ears erect, patiently waiting for the next opportunity.
Why aren't they moving? Bianca wondered, a flicker of confusion in her white, slitted pupils.
So painful.
She looked down. Two Aridfell were still clamped onto her leg and tail. Kill these two first!She lunged, her teeth sinking into the neck of the one on her leg.
AOWW! an infuriated roar of triumph and pain ripped from her throat as she tore the dead creature free and flung its body to the floor.
And immediately, the other seven launched themselves at her again.
Once more, Bianca beat a hasty retreat. And once more, the seven Aridfell landed, then stood motionless, waiting.
Bianca glared at the last vile breed still clinging tenaciously to her tail. You. You're next.
…
AOWW!
The roars were getting closer, and they were filled with vigor. Bianca was clearly not in any mortal danger.
Aiden flew a little further and saw her. He took in the scene with a single glance—Bianca, furiously trying to rip the last Aridfell from her tail, and the seven others standing silently in the darkness. He immediately shifted his gaze to the seven motionless creatures.
The Dragon's Heritage is correct. The Aridfell's night vision is effectively zero.
Whoosh.
A rush of air sounded beside him. It was Azure.
Aiden suddenly recalled her smile from before they entered. She knew this would happen. She anticipated this exact outcome. But I thought she and Bianca were close. Why would she set her up like this? Did Bianca offend her somehow? he mused, his mind racing through the possibilities.
…
With one final, furious yank, Bianca tore the dead Aridfell from her tail. At that moment, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. She looked up.
It was Azure and Aiden.
“Don't interfere!” she snarled, her voice raw with fury. “These vile breeds have desecrated my dignity! I will kill them myself!”
It was clear she was incandescent with rage.
Aiden gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod. In this environment, the Aridfell were blind. Bianca could handle them.
Standing beside Aiden, Azure gave a calm nod of her own.