The Fiery Crown Cycle: A Dragon's Rebirth

Chapter 38

“Is there anything else in the river?” Azure asked.

“There wasn't last time I looked,” Aiden replied, a playful glint in his red eyes. Last time, no. This time, who knows? Does she have the nerve to go down and see for herself?

Azure's deep blue eyes remained as placid as a frozen lake. After a few seconds of silent contemplation, she turned her head away, crawled to the riverbank, and without any hesitation, plunged her head into the water.

The world beneath the river came into view. The water was clear and deceptively deep. A white shadow appeared in her line of sight. It had pristine white scales and a long, flowing tail fin. A large white fish. She scanned the depths. There were many of them, swimming gracefully in the deep water.

So these are the targets Aiden mentioned. He plans to hunt these? Given their speed, a direct chase seems… difficult.

Whoosh.

Bianca's hind legs touched down on the ground.

CRASH!

She slammed the stone trough onto the riverbank. The rotten organs inside spilled across the ground. Her eyes locked onto the figure lounging by the water.

Oho? Looks like we're in for a good show. Aiden's pupils dilated slightly. He silently shuffled away, putting some distance between himself and the foul stench.

Bianca spread her wings, launched herself from the ground, and dove directly at the unsuspecting Azure.

AOWW!

“What are you doing?!”

“Liar!” Bianca's youthful voice was thick with grievance and heartbreak.

Well, Azure was indeed in the wrong this time, Aiden thought, settling onto the ground to watch. I support you, Bianca. Get her! He pawed at the sandy ground. If only I had a bucket of fire-popped corn.

Pinned beneath Bianca, Azure struggled valiantly. But she couldn't break free. The simpleton was too strong. A pungent odor assaulted her nostrils at the same time. It stinks!

Azure's gaze fell on Bianca's white claws. They were still smeared with viscous fluid from the bait. That's where the smell was coming from.

“You stink! Get away from me!”

“No! You have to smell it too!” Bianca retorted, and began to deliberately rub her filthy claws all over Azure's pristine blue scales.

“Bianca!”

AOWW!

The blue dragon beneath her renewed her struggles, but Bianca's body was visibly more robust than Azure's. After a long moment of wrestling, Azure was still pinned.

SMACK!

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

A blue claw struck the side of Bianca's white head.

“AOWW! You hit me!” A look of pure shock filled Bianca's eyes.

“Get off!” Azure's voice was now laced with fury.

“You hit me!” The shock in Bianca's eyes hardened into a vicious glare.

Lying nearby, the spectator, Aiden, grew excited. Oh, yes! A fight! A real fight! This is much more interesting.

Azure sensed the shift in Bianca's gaze and felt a prickle of foreboding. In a physical brawl, she was probably no match for this idiot.

“Wait!” she yelped. “I flew ahead to hunt! If you don't believe me, look over there! I caught a camel!”

Azure craned her neck to look where she had left the camel corpse.

Her pupils constricted. It was gone. The camel was gone. There was only Aiden, lying on the ground, licking the blood from his claws.

Aiden met her stunned blue gaze. His maw split open in a very draconic smile.

Sorry, but you two are definitely fighting today.

In that moment, Azure understood everything. Aiden wanted to see them fight.

“You lied to me again!” Bianca bellowed.

A sense of doom washed over Azure. In the next second, her head swam as a blow landed. That Bianca… she actually hit me. The usual calm in Azure's blue eyes began to solidify into something harder. She quickly shook off the dizziness, lifted her head, and lunged, sinking her teeth into Bianca's wing.

AOWW! Bianca roared in pain and raised a claw, striking down hard.

They were fighting. A flicker of excitement crossed Aiden's red eyes. This side of Azure is a rare sight. It seems even she can't remain one hundred percent calm all the time. Yes, hit her head, Bianca! You fool, bite her! Yes, just like that! Bite her!

The show lasted for a full half an hour.

Relying on her sheer toughness and thicker hide, Bianca emerged victorious. Covered in bite marks, she lay sprawled atop Azure's body. Pinned to the ground, Azure was motionless. She wasn't dead, just temporarily out of strength.

Mmm, spectacular.

Aiden took a large bite out of the camel corpse. Halfway through the show, having no fire-popped corn, he had dragged the camel he'd hidden back over to his viewing spot. If he couldn't have popcorn, this would have to do.After a long while, the two hatchlings finally recovered their stamina. Azure pushed up with her forelegs. Bianca, who had been resting on her back, slid off. The battle was over. It was time for a truce.

The weight lifted from her back. Azure raised her head and glanced in Aiden's direction. The massive red dragon was lying on the ground. In front of him was the camel. Every so often, he would take a bite.

As if sensing her gaze, Aiden looked up. Their eyes met. Azure's pupils constricted.

Aiden, you fiend. One day, I'll make you pay! Azure silently vowed, then turned and plunged into the river. First, she had to wash off the unbearable stench.

Watching Azure dive into the water, Aiden looked away. He lowered his head, his sharp teeth sinking into the camel meat. With a powerful rip, a large chunk of fresh meat entered his mouth.

Swish, swish.

He heard footsteps. Before he even looked up, the foul smell hit him. It was Bianca.

Her white eyes were locked onto the meat, saliva dripping from her jaws. When Aiden finally looked up, she shifted her gaze to him. She just stared, her large, slitted pupils glittering. It was a look of pitiful, desperate longing.

It is rather cute, he admitted. This instinctive ability to look pathetic and adorable is one of her few good qualities.

“Go wash the stink off in the river. Then you can eat.”

“Okay, aoww!” Her youthful voice was filled with pure joy. She turned and rushed toward the riverbank. He watched her white tail wagging happily with a high frequency, then lowered his head to continue his meal.

Azure had just surfaced when a shadow fell over her.

SPLASH!

With a massive spray of water, Bianca landed in the river, incidentally dunking Azure, who had just come up for air, back under the water.

Azure shoved the oaf off of her, and with a powerful flick of her blue tail, swam for the shore. She climbed out. The fight had taken a lot out of her. She wanted to eat. She saw the figure feasting on the camel and walked straight toward it.

She stopped in front of the carcass. Aiden looked up. Their eyes met. The air grew somewhat awkward.

“Ah, well,” Aiden began, “don't be discouraged. When you're grown up, that simpleton Bianca will be no match for you.”

Azure really, really wanted to hit him. But the thought had no sooner risen than it was suppressed.

Because I can't win. Even with Bianca's help, I can't win.