“You’re welcome.” She smiles for a moment.
“I also need to add, for the record…” She nods, her eyes on mine. I lick my lips. “I would have liked to explore this...us. I would’ve liked that a whole lot.” I pull her into an embrace. I bury my face in the crook of her neck. I breathe her in. We hold onto each other for a few moments. All too soon, we’re pulling away from one another. I pray that the horrible feeling growing inside me is just that…a horrible feeling. That it isn’t my ability kicking in. I don’t think so, but you never know with these things.
18
Raven
I have a terrible feeling about this. My scalp prickles. My mouth feels dry. It’s probably just nerves. I don’t think it’s a premonition. It doesn’t feel like one.
I’ve wracked my brain a hundred times, and I can’t come up with another option. I need to do this. Stephan has to get away. We can’t wait any longer. We have a plan. As long as I stick to the plan, we should be okay.
I’m walking. I’m listening for the next patrol – they seem to be more and more frequent. I don’t think it’s my imagination. I need to give Stephan enough time to get as far away from me as he can and to find a clearing of his own. We’ve split up. The reasoning is that he can’t launch from the same place as I do. He stands more of a chance if he can get away without being seen. One patrol has already passed overhead since we moved out. I’m going to take flight soon after the next one.
I’ve already passed a couple of suitable launch sites, but they’re too close to where I left Stephan.
It doesn’t take long before the next patrol is approaching. I wait it out, hunkered under a thick tree, and then keep moving. The next clearing I hit, I shift. I take a couple of deep breaths, and then I’m launching. I flap hard…up…up I go. I want them to hear me, to see me. I need their attention on me. I head east. The alarm is given within seconds in the form of a loud screech. It’s answered with more screeches. My heart pounds. Adrenaline courses through my veins. I need to keep a cool head. I fly hard and fast, keeping my eyes peeled for more dragons. Make no mistake, there are more. Too many.
I hear the strong wings beating behind me. They’re not catching up with me yet. I want to fly faster, but I hold back. I need to save my strength.
All too soon, another call is given from a second group. They’re to my left. Shit! This formation is closer. The second call was to be expected though, since there are so many dragons out looking for us. I change course slightly. I’m careful to keep clear of Stephan. I’m desperate to look back, but I don’t. The first patrol group is now closing in on me. I would hate for them to see me looking. They might realize why I’m doing it. They might realize…if they haven’t already. So far, all eyes seem to be on me. At least, I pray they are.
I can hear them behind me…closer…closer. I push myself harder. I need to stay ahead, but at the same time to keep them with me. The chase is on!
They’ve been patrolling in relentless shifts for hours since we made our escape. I’m sure they feel the fatigue. I have the advantage there. Having said that, I don’t fly often enough. I can already feel myself tiring. It’s also due to the lack of food. They have that advantage. I need to dig very deep. I can do this!
I see a bank of thick clouds ahead. I’m not sure if I should steer clear of them since I want the dragons to keep chasing me. If I lose them now, it might be too soon for Stephan to escape. Also, I’m not sure what’s on the other side of that bank. There could be an ambush waiting for me.
I make my decision to steer clear. I’m breathing hard. My muscles hurt. I push through it. I have to.
A couple of roars fill the air and a group of dragons emerges from the clouds. There was an ambush. This group is close. Too close. They look strong and fresh.
Oh, god! They’re fast. I’m not going to be able to outrun them for long.
Shit!
Shit!
Shit!
I’m panicking. I still can’t risk looking back. I fly using every last reserve of energy that I have. Every second counts. I’m done for. There is a whole horde of dragons closing in. I can hear two or three dragons right on my tail. The only consolation is that if there are so many after me, Stephan might make it out okay.
They’re closing in.
Close!
Closer still!
I feel a sharp strike to my side. It’s not enough to hurt or wound me, but enough to have me fall out of the air a few feet before I get my wings back over me. I get knocked again…this time, I drop down further.
They’re playing with me. Cat and mouse. Bastards! I get knocked again. I turn and growl. I see humor glinting in the closest bastard’s eyes. The group quickly surrounds me, taking turns to prod and poke at me. They purr and rumble to one another, sounding impressed with themselves.
Then I hear it, and my blood runs cold. Another screech of alarm. It’s further away from us…in Stephan’s general direction. I see dragons flying away from us. It’s only the five still circling me. There are shapes far in the distance. It’s too dark to see for more than a mile or two. Even then, it’s tough to make out the details. I don’t know if they have Stephan…if they’re closing in on him. I don’t know if I bought him enough time. I can only hope.
The asshole dragon in front of me shoulders me…harder this time. I caught a fierce glare in his eyes just before the blow came. I fall further this time. They are back around me just as I am finding my wings.
He knocks me again. A forward shove. It’s followed by a growl. His meaning is clear. He wants me to follow the dragon in front. We are going to fly back to the weyr. I hesitate and am rewarded with another shove and a low, menacing snarl that leaves no room for confusion. There are five of them and one of me. They’re bigger and stronger.
It eats at me, but I grit my teeth, then I turn and start flying for the weyr. I take my time. I listen for shouts of victory. For further screeches. I listen for anything to do with Stephan, but there’s nothing. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. I can only hope he got away, or we are doomed. Well and truly doomed.
We fly for about half an hour. I spot flickers of light below – candles, fires, and kerosene lamps. I push out a sigh and start descending, still following the leading dragon. The others are trailing, leaving no hope of escape. The asshole who likes to pick on women is right behind me. I can feel him there. He could be any one of the men from my weyr, that’s the sad part.
We land next to an outcrop of houses behind the main hall. There are rooms that are used as jail cells here. It’s where they kept me before. It looks like I’m headed back into the room I was in previously.
The dragon in front of me shifts. I see immediately that it’s Star’s boyfriend, Jackson. His eyes are hard and mean. “Shift…now!” he demands, snarling the words.
The dragon behind me gives me a light shove. I wonder what he’s trying to tell me? I would roll my eyes if I was in human form. These guys are not messing around.
I hear the sounds of shifting. The guy behind me stays in his dragon form.
“Raven!” Jackson bellows. “Quit fucking around.”