Amaya's Storm (Book One)

We nodded our head and watched as Jax and Alanza got the scent off the hunter I just killed. Once they set off, I bent the ground so the bodies fell in and sealed the ground. We spread our wings and flew in the direction of Jax and Alanza. I bent the trees out of the way so I could keep an eye on them, and soon we were at the hunters camp.

“Stay on the outskirts and watch for traps,” I ordered Jax and Alanza.

We circled above the camp observing their movements before folding in our wings and dive bombing the camp. I shifted when I was close to the ground, bending the air to help with the landing and shoulder rolling in the middle of their camp. They were waiting for me with weapons ready. Three of them had a mesh iron net that they threw over me. “Did you really think it was going to be that easy, filth?”

I smiled and began heating the net, “Yeah I did.” They had iron spikes ready for me once I was through the net but I bent them away from me as they were thrown. Two of them came at me, “So are you two top fighters or expendable? I would like to know who I’m fighting.”

They lunged at me, each with a growl more pitiful than the other. I fought them off easily, inflicting as much pain as I could before snapping their necks. The one that spoke to me looked me over, “You’re one of ours,” he said with a cruel smile, “Someone should really teach you where your place is, filth.”

“It’s right here. Killing hunters one by one,” I said before getting jumped by the other two guys. I did the same thing to them, inflicting as much pain as I could before killing them. “So who are you that you get to send stooges to do your dirty work?”

He smirked but didn’t answer; instead he pulled a bullwhip from his back. “This whip has killed many of your kind. It has iron and silver within the leather and was soaked in oil this morning.”

He whipped it out at me and I dodged. We played this game of cat and mouse until finally he got a lucky break and it wrapped around his intended mark, my neck. The end of it had a sharp barb that planted itself in the back of my neck. I didn’t give him the satisfaction of crying out in pain. He smiled wickedly as he pushed a button on the handle. An electrical current swept over my body, and he thought he’d won. I allowed Niamh to come to the surface and she forced the barb out of my neck. She took control of the whip and the electricity in it, unwrapping it from my neck and around his pulsing enough electricity through him to knock him unconscious.

“Come on in guys,” I mind linked Jax and Alanza.

They trotted into the camp, Jax stuck his nose in the air and trotted off to the medium sized lean-to on the edge of camp. “They’re in here,” he linked me.

I nodded, “Step back. Alanza keep an eye on shit heap,” she growled and stalked over to the hunter’s limp body. I stepped into the lean-to, “Niamh, any traps?”

“I can’t sense any,” Niamh responded.

I stepped further in and my heart sank to the floor. I walked up to the first dragon, a young woman chained to the floor. I bent the iron off of her, but she still cowered from me. “What’s your name?” She just inched away from me, “It’s okay. I’m here to rescue you guys. My name’s Amaya. I went through a very similar experience two years ago,” I moved back and showed her my brands. She showed a little more trust, but not much more. I reached out a hand, “let me help you outside.”

She looked as if it would bite her, I sighed and closed my eyes. I reached out to the water in the air and wherever else there may be water. I bent it into the lean-to, I took a small drink double checking the taste and showing her it wasn’t poisoned. I bent it to her and let her drink her fill, “You’re a dragon?” I nodded, “How did you find us? Did Joseph finally break his agreement with the hunters?”

I growled, one of the other dragons woke up, lunging as far as the chains around his wrists would let him, “Who are you? Get away from her.”

“I’m sorry. Joseph is no longer in charge. I’m Amaya Wardwell, his niece, technically, but considering he murdered my grandparents, mother, and aunt and stole a huge chunk of my clan to torture, I don’t really consider him my family. My father is Daniel Wardwell, the rightful king of the storm dragons, and I’m here to bring you guys home. Hunters attacked the village. I got the location out of one of them and two of my friends helped me track the trail,” I released him from his chains as well.

“How did you do that?” He asked.

I shook my head, “Later. What are your names?”

He rubbed his wrist and I bent the water to him so he could drink as well, “I’m Johnny Easton and this is my sister Claire.”

“My friend Jax is outside in his wolf form. Can you two make it out there on your own?” They nodded. Johnny got up and helped Claire to her feet. I moved on to the next shifter, taking in a deep breath, my mouth formed a grim line. I stepped out and bent the earth so that the hunter was confined to the ground. “Alanza, shift and come in here.”