Embers in the Dust

Kirdoth was intimidating. Larger, more feral, and affected by the drow disease, Lyla knew that this was nothing similar to the others they had faced previously. She looked around, trying to find anything that she could throw at it, since it was soaring through the air and punching it wasn’t possible. Around her, Leaf, Mr. Muffins, and Rhokhishi cast spells, while Myla threw her daggers toward the creature.

Myla, go back into the tree. I need a lift!

They both ran to a stone structure, then leaped, catching themselves on a large branch. Hoisting themselves up quickly, they climbed the tree until Myla was able to find a firm spot at the center, where her torso was open and unobstructed from the foliage. Lyla pulled herself higher, then threw herself forward. Catching her foot, Myla pushed with a grunt, lifting her sister up and out from the tree. Lyla focused her ki and felt the spectral draconic wings burst from her back. Using it to glide, she waited for Kirdoth to fly under her, then released her wings and dropped onto its back. She quickly grabbed onto one of the spinal protrusions, then regained her balance.

Doing this again! She thought to herself, laughing anxiously.

Unlike Zidingris, they were in an open space, where Kirdoth could fly. The dragon was also much larger and faster than the sapphire dragon they faced in Moonbright. Before her, Lyla watched as Kirdoth released another attack of necrotic breath. From her new height, she could see the island, the grass and trees damaged by Kirdoth withered and decayed, leaving scars on nature’s landscape. Lyla was unsure of her decision, but knew this would be her only means of help. Reaching into herself, she pulled her energy into her fists and began pummeling the scales of the creature, hoping to hurt, or at least distract it from grabbing one of her friends.

She felt Kirdoth shudder as shadows wrapped around its body. Lyla watched as they enveloped the dragon’s wings, causing it to be unable to fly. They crashed into the ground and Lyla held on as they skid, pushing the soil up around them. As quickly as they came, the shadows lowered their grasp, and Kirdoth rose into the air again.

Suddenly, her sight shifted. Rather than seeing color, her vision became black and white. She blinked, then raised her hand up to inspect it. What was normally a tanned-skinned hand was now gray. She looked around her, to notice that she wasn’t on the island anymore. Above Kirdoth, holding on as the dragon soared at incredible speeds, she saw snowfall. At first, she assumed that it flew away from the island quickly, or that maybe something shifted, like an innate teleportation, but as she looked around, she noticed an enormous castle in the distance. Below her was a forest of black and white, and the only color she noticed was an icy-blue of the crystals that floated and rotated above the castle.

Where am I?

Looking behind her, she saw an opening, a rift in the distance. Lyla realized that they didn’t just teleport, they traveled to another realm. Before she had time to assess the situation further, Kirdoth began spinning, his body quickly shaking and moving while flying. She tried to grab onto the creature again, but she couldn’t find anything to grasp. To her left, the creature’s right hand flung by, grappling her between its large appendages and talons. Kirdoth spun, then released her into the air, throwing her high above the dragon.

Kirdoth pulled up its wings, catching the wind and stopping it midair. Stretching its neck up, it released another attack from its breath. Lyla struggled, trying to move in the air, but not having anything to push against, the line of necrosis hit her hard. She concentrated on her bracers, pulling its magic out to heal her. It stopped her from going unconscious, but little else. Her body crashed into the creature’s back again as it turned and soared forward.