"DragonFire Part 6" by Renee LeCompte

The black river Draan loomed up sooner than Yidraik would have guessed. Hadn't they only been here just a few hours ago? He sighed. Life moved so quickly. Yidraik landed on a large branch, with Valida swooping in after him.

"We must stay, and rest while we can," Yidraik said. "There's no telling what will be out there, and we'll need all the sleep we can get."

"All right," Valida replied, and the two fell asleep instantly.

Chaos Serpent checked his cave once more before closing it up. He would be on a trip, with Valida and Yidraik. He grinned again. This was going to be good! He was no land-bound Serpent, not while he could still practice Magick. Chaos levitated slowly in the air, while instantly shrinking to the size of a basilisk lizard. He needed no wings, and he could go anywhere he wanted. Of course, he did have a premonition of the two Dragons being needed somewhere out there. Chaos always told the truth, even though he didn't always tell the whole truth. Scorpions weren't the only deadly creature in the Black Sands. Silently, like a slick water snake, he slipped into the air.

Yidraik woke to a strange pulling sensation. He looked in the direction of the pulling, and saw a wood elf, about his size.

"Say, sonny," the elf started with a bit of a lisp. "You haven't happened to see my young friend, have you?" He peeked around, hoping to find whomever he was looking for. "So tall, from that branch." The elf pointed to a branch about 7 feet down. "Like a lion, with a hawk's head and wings. I haven't seen him since last night."

"No, sir, I haven't seen you friend," Yidraik squawked. "I haven't seen anyone in these parts since I've arrived. I'm sorry not to be more help."

"'Sall right," the elf mumbled, talking more to himself than Yidraik "Must've gone to Nimblenot." He climbed down the boughs agilely, soon disappearing among the foliage.

Yidraik gently shook Valida with his beak. "Time to get up." He flew down to the river, and gulped up some water. Valida soon appeared beside him. "Any animal you know that travels quickly?" he asked.

"Fastest thing I know is a Dragon. Let's fish." She shifted to an otter, and swam in the water. She vanished suddenly, and just as suddenly, came back with a large salmon in her mouth. "Mmmmmppphhh mmpph," she said. Yidraik, taking that cue, jumped in after her.

They ate their fill hastily, and were soon in the air. In their Dragon forms, they could see the desert for miles. Hopefully, Rhogg couldn't see them.

Valida felt a strange tugging as soon as she entered the Black Sands. Something was telling her where to go, and she told Yidraik so.

"Strange, but I would trust your instincts. They saved your life," Yidraik said.

"All right then, follow me." She swooped to the east, with Yidraik on her tail.

Night fell, and Valida still felt that tugging.

"Shouldn't we stop?" Yidraik asked. "It's getting dark.

"No, we're almost there, I can feel it."

Chaos floated swiftly behind the Dragons. He looked behind him, and saw the last of the sun slipping behind a black dune. Oh good, the show was about to start!

A small movement caught Valida's eye. She tilted her head slightly, and saw a flurry of wings, a swarm of ravenous bat-like creatures heading towards them. They had tough, leathery wings, sharp fangs, and evil burning eyes. "PULL UP!" she bellowed, and flew up into the night sky. Yidraik, you better be following.

She was amidst the clouds when she caught sight if Yidraik. "Hit and run tactics! Watch me!" she yelled to him as she turned. Dropping like a stone, she bashed the skull of one of the bats. It howled in pain, and fell to the desert. She pulled up again, and flew towards the moon. There were about six of them, and they didn't look too smart. She could take them.

Valida saw Yidraik plummet from the sky, and kill another creature. It shrieked an awful ear-splitting cry before toppling to its death. She ignored it.

Turning a second time, she dived towards a cluster of the animals. They hovered, waiting for her. Time to change her tactics. Just as she reached them, she pulled up short, and brought her hind legs up. She slashed open the throats of two. They both made a strange gurgling noise, and plunged to the ground. The two remaining bats saw their companions fall, and they followed, hoping for an easy meal. Valida regrouped with Yidraik.

"It better not be far," he gasped. "I'm pooped."

"No, it's not far at all," Valida replied absently, keeping her eyes on the horizon. The broken remains of a huge and beautiful castle rose up before them.

Chaos looked after the Dragons flying away. It wasn't much of a show, but it wasn't over yet. He floated after them, towards the castle.

Just when Chaos was about to enter the huge door, a weary voice stopped him. "Good Serpent, you have had your fun. Please, leave my castle and my guests." Abruptly, Chaos Serpent found himself back in his cave.

"Drat," he hissed. He would never be able to find his way back now.