| Wind To Thy Wings �Hey Kid!� I jumped to my feet and spun to see who it was. As I did so I lost my balance and fell backward into Nova�s pen. Nova screamed and threw open her wing. Hitting the elastic-like skin I bounced upward and slid off her wing. I fell the last twenty feet and hit the smooth stone floor of her enclosure. I pushed myself to my knees. Then I looked up at the person who�d scared me, he stared at me, eyes wide. �Don�t move, that dragon�s not gonna hurt you if you stay still, I�ll get help.� He hissed, turning away. <Keira your head!> thought Nova, her rough tongue swiping across my forehead. �What?� I asked, touching my temple. Sticky blood covered my fingers. Nova licked my head again. �Nova,� I murmured, �Get me back up there.� <Okay, hold on to my wing!> I clutched the thumb part of her wing, she slowly lifted me 45 feet, nearly the top of her enclosure. I grabbed the rail and pulled myself the rest of the five feet. Fighting back dizziness I staggered a short distance until two paramedics came and took me away. *** I sat up. Looking around I realized I was in some sort of a hospital. I got up and found my uniform neatly folded on a nearby chair. After slipping into it I left the room. Finding myself in a familiar area, I found my way to my room and grabbed my wings, I then left again and headed for Nova� s pen. �Nova!� I hissed at her. <Keira?> �Yeah,� I opened my wings slightly and vaulted over the rail. I floated softly to the floor. <Keira!> thought Nova, wrapping her wings around me, <I was so worried!> �Why?� <It�s been almost two weeks! They were about to give you up for dead!> She whimpered. <By the way what are you doing here alone? And why do you have wings?> I talked with Nova for a long time, finally she told me that I had better go to bed, for it was late. She lifted me to the railing and I climbed out. �Good night Nova.� <Good night Keira.> *** �Battlers to your stations! We are under attack! Battlers to your stations! We are under attack!� I dropped my book, rolled off my bed and grabbed my wings. I took off out the door, pulling them on as I ran. Nova stood harnessed and waiting with the other dragons. I lept to her back. <Ready?> �No, but I don�t see any other options,� I replied, I raised my hand and threw it forward, �Move out!� We galloped out the open door. Nova free-fell a moment before spreading her wings and catching the air. �All right!� I cried, �Strait into the battle!� Nova and the other dragons flew to the center and floated back to back. �Flame!� I cried. All following mental rather than vocal commands from their riders, the squad blew flame at the on oncoming wave of Trax. �Break up!� I cried. The dragons and riders peeled away from Nova and I. �Find the leader.� <Got it.> I�ll probably never know why it caught my attention, but I watched a person fall from their dragon. I watched the parachute open and was about to refocus on the battle when I saw a glint out of the corner of my eye, jerking my head around I saw a Trax�s claws slice through the parachute�s material, shredding it. �Get the leader Nova! I�ve got to do something else!� Nova dove and I jumped into the air. Resisting the urge to open my wings immediately, I made my body ridged, rocketing toward the flailing woman. Suddenly I was right next to her. She looked at me with frightened green eyes. �Grab hold!� I screamed at her. The girl (who was slightly older than me) wrapped her arms around my waist. I grabbed her as well and arched my back. Instantly my wings shot out grabbing at the air for lift, the amount of air they did catch was nearly enough to stop us from falling. I had adjusted my course to land on a nearby cliff when the girl cried out. �Look out!� I glanced above, a Trax bore down on us. I let go of the girl and pulled my wings against my body, diving toward the rock. With a horrible screech, the creature raked its talons forward, ripping through my wings. I opened them again to slow our decent but once I slowed the girl�s added weight drug us down. We landed hard, bouncing nearly off the cliff. I sat up, �Well that was a bit of a ride wasn�t it?� �A-are you o-okay?� she asked, pointing to my wings. �Ah, all I be fine,� I said, pulling them off. Suddenly a roar, accompanied by a loud thump came from behind me. I spun and shot my harpoon gun at the Trax blindly. It dodged, and began to advance. �Okay girl,� I said, �When I say run, run. Got that?� �Yeah.� <That�s not going to work,> thought the griffin-like creature, <I understand you.> �I guess that makes you the leading Trax right?� <Yes.> �Sorry,� I replied. <What?> �Well if you�re the lead Trax, my Flyght partner should come right about-� It lunged and pinned me to the ground. <Not soon enough.> It raised a taloned foot, ready to give a death blow. Suddenly it was knocked away by a purplish blur. �Now,� I finished. Nova quickly disposed of the Trax and carried the girl, Trai Nema, and I back to the Skyland base. Then she left to gather the rest of my squad. We received metals of bravery as well as honor, after the ceremonies, I called my squad (as well as Trai) to my quarters so we could talk. �Look,� I said, �I know you think I�m just a kid but, will you follow me anyway?� |