The Dragon Liberator: Escapee

POV: Fendrel

He sat on a fallen log on a hill, looking down at the lowered ground.

“Hey!” Fog’s voice came from behind him.

Fendrel turned his head to see her gliding toward him. She landed, her paws kicking up loose dirt and pine needles.

Fog’s cheery face greeted him. “What are you doing out here? The celebration is in the center of the woods. Everyone else is over there.” She flicked her tail toward the Meeting Cliff. “Well, Thea and Oliver said they’ll be in Sharpdagger to bring back the rest of Thea’s stock for her shop, but they should be coming back today! But, anyways, why are here alone?”

With a shrug, Fendrel twisted on the log so he was facing her. “I didn’t want to draw the attention away from Cloud and Mist. It might have been weird for most of the dragons if they saw me there with no explanation. Besides, Cloud already said he understood and let me come out here.”

“Oh, yeah. They were looking at the other humans quite a bit, but everything went well!” Fog’s wings lifted. “You can come back now. I don’t think you’ll be noticed much now that everyone isn’t all in the same space.”

Fendrel gripped the strap of his bag. “You’re sure? I just…I’m not very good with talking in large crowds.”

Fog nodded. “Definitely. If you stick with me, you’ll be okay. Hardly anyone talks to me at gatherings.”

“Oh…” Fendrel stood. “Why not?”

“Well, my mom had a…big personality, and a reputation for caring about humans more than dragons.” Fog gave him an awkward smile. “That reputation is stuck on me now, too.”

“Wouldn’t that attract even more attention, then, if they know who you are?”

Fog shrugged. “It might, but you’ll never know if you don’t go.”

Fendrel’s mouth pressed to a thin line.

“Come o-o-on.” Fog lowered one wing and showed him her shoulder. “I’ll fly you there. I promise you’ll have fun.”

“…Fine.” Fendrel climbed onto her back.

Fog spread her wings and crouched. “Keep your head ducked. You might hit a branch and fall if you don’t.”

Fendrel pressed himself as flat as he could and wrapped his arms around the base of her neck. “Good to know.”

The vapor dragon jumped into the air. She leapt from tree to tree, kicking off of trunks and weaving between branches that were too small to put on weight on. When she used her wings, it was only to dive or glide.

“I’m sorry I haven’t visited you in a few days.” Fog stopped on a branch to catch her breath. “I’ve just been busy helping Mist.”

“Oh no, it’s okay.” Fendrel almost yelped when Fog continued her flight.

“So what have you been up to?” Fog glanced over her shoulder.

“There was a smaller dragon hunter base on the edge of the Hazy Woods I wanted to look at. They used to use it for hatching eggs, but it’s abandoned now, and it looks like they took everything when they left.” Fendrel watched the ground get farther as Fog ventured through taller trees.

“That’s so weird…You still don’t know why they’re doing this?”

Fendrel shook his head. “I don’t have a clue. I’m hoping they’re trying to conserve resources by leaving the farther bases behind, but that probably isn’t what’s happening.”

“Well, we’ll figure it out together.” Fog stopped at the top of a tree.

Ahead they saw the pillared cliffs.

“Woah.” Fendrel almost fell off Fog’s back. “I didn’t think I’d ever see all the tribes in the same place…”

Each tribe had claimed a section of the cliffs, but some dragons had broken off from their groups to merge with the others.

“I’d seen them all fly by overhead, but this…”

With a whoop, Fog tilted forward and let herself dive.

Fendrel clenched his teeth and shut his eyes.

Fog unfurled her wings into a soft glide toward the cliffs. She giggled. “I haven’t flown with anyone in so long. Mist and I used to race each other through the woods when we were little.”

She rose higher, passing all the dragon-covered cliffs, until she landed on the platform that extended from the Meeting Cliff.

The humans, as well as all the other nobles, were there.

Cloud and Mist must be off alone somewhere.

Fendrel got down from Fog’s back and tried to ignore the stares he received from the nobility who hadn’t been introduced to him. He bowed his head at them. “Hello.”

“Hello-o-o Fendrel.” Ember walked up to him. “Where were you?”

“I was…”

“He was keeping watch on the outskirts of the forest.” Fog smiled at the fire dragon, then bowed to the other nobles.

Ember shook her head. “Do you ever relax. No, seriously. Do you? Because even when you’re at our festivals you’re looking around like you expect someone to attack you.

Fendrel caught Fragrance’s eye.

The yellow dragon flared his nostrils with a silent snarl.

“Well, I have reason to think that.” Fendrel returned his attention to Ember.

Venom moved so he was blocking Fragrance from Fendrel’s view. “Did you sleep well?”

“Ha! You’re funny, Venom.” Ember flicked his tail with her own.

“Actually, I did.” Fendrel gave him a sheepish smile.

Ember narrowed her eyes at Fendrel. “Who are you?”

Fendrel chuckled. “I’m surprised, too.”

“And giggling!” Ember poked Fendrel’s chest playfully. “You must be a doppelganger.”

“You are quite friendly with those humans, Ember.” The water noble, a blue dragon with coral-colored markings, laid beside Fragrance along with a couple other nobles.

Ember frowned with annoyance.

“Yes, well they’re quite fun and genuine beings.” Ember didn’t bother looking at the water dragon. “You know, for someone who lives in the ocean your personality is rather dry. But I guess your home is where you get your saltiness from as well.”

A few awkward glances passed around the group. Most of the nobles looked to Fragrance as if he had a response, while the others shuffled to the other side of the cliff where the humans, Venom, Fog, and Ember were.

“Don’t worry about Ammonite, she’s just jealous she doesn’t have a mage friend—” Ember raised her voice when she said mage friend “—even if she’s not here right now.”

“At least I don’t fraternize with murderers.” Ammonite, the water dragon shifted her wings in a shrug.

Fendrel rolled his eyes. “Ember, don’t—”

Ember whipped her head around. “Fendrel hasn’t killed any dragons!” She looked at Fendrel. “Right?”

“Only rogues.” Fendrel kept his voice low.

“He’s only killed rogues!” Ember made a face at Ammonite like she just won a competition.

Charles raised a finger. “In self-defense.”

Fragrance scoffed and looked at Venom. “Now, rogues are quite difficult to deal with, I imagine. But, isn’t it your job to kill any before they reach humans? If so, how was he in contact with one? Are you that bad at fulfilling your duties?”

“Oh dear.” Fog spoke so quietly Fendrel thought only he could hear her.

The vapor dragon was sinking lower and lower with each new dragon’s input.

Venom hissed. “At least I care when my subjects go missing. At least I try to-”

“Venom—” Fendrel placed a hand on the dusk dragon’s foreleg “—He’s trying to get you to lose your temper.”

The dusk dragon took a deep breath and sighed, staying quiet.

“I find it very strange how you’re able to trust humans so… easily.” Fragrance glanced at Fendrel. “After everything they’ve done. They killed His Majesty’s parents. They killed the rulers of the Newlands. They killed Fog’s mother, who I thought you cared about oh-so-deeply. Surely you aren’t so callous that you’ve pushed Wisp’s murder out of your mind just to sympathize with humans.”

Fog stomped one of her talons. “These humans had nothing to do with the War Across the Sea.”

“Silence, Fog!” Fragrance refused to look at her. “You were a hatchling. You didn’t know your mother like we did…What was I saying? Ah, yes. The humans captured and tortured and murdered hundreds of us. They think we’re just animals, Venom. Not to mention, they are nowhere near as powerful or prestigious as us.” He slowly paced around Venom.

Venom stepped in front of Fendrel and glared at Fragrance.

The yellow dragon peered down at the human. “I see my dear ‘friend,’ Fog, has healed the scratch I gave you. Aw, but you must have thought it was a gash due to your small size, didn’t you?” He lowered his head and swiveled it around Venom’s leg, so he was face-to-face with Fendrel. He flexed his claws. “That’s all I gave you, little rodent. Just a scratch.”

“Step. Away.” Venom growled through clenched teeth.

Fragrance cocked his head to the side. A malicious grin stretched across his face, revealing a row of sharp, possibly acid-filled, teeth. “You’re too protective of him, Venom. He’s an adult, yes? Isn’t it dusk dragon custom for parents to send their children to spar so they can earn their place within the ranks of your tribe? If you consider him to be your son, then let him prove himself.”

Venom hissed.

The floral noble let a drop of acid fall from his claws and sizzle on the ground. “Let’s see, what are the rules, again? Ah, yes! The young one must fight a dragon twice his age, and it can’t be a relative. We want a fair playing field, no nepotism here.”

A defeated look was in Venom’s eyes as he stared at the sizzling stone ground.

“How old is—um, what’s his name?” Fragrance gestured at Fendrel.

Venom sighed. “Fendrel is twenty-two.”

Fragrance’s eyes lit up. “Oh, perfect! I’m just about twice his age.”

Fog stormed up to the yellow dragon. “No. Fendrel doesn’t have to fight you.” Her snarling snout was inches from his.

Fragrance’s ears flicked back. “I see you’ve grown up to be just like your mother. Quite the hussy.”

The vapor dragon swiped at his face.

Her attack was blocked by the older noble. He flared his wings out. “Restrain yourself. This isn’t your rite of passage.”

“He doesn’t have to do this.” Venom crouched for Fendrel to get on. “Come on, we’re leaving.”

Fendrel crossed his arms. “Can I fight him?”

“What?” Venom stood up in shock. “Do you not remember what he did to y—”

“He caught me off guard.” Fendrel shrugged. “I think I can beat him.”

“You think wrong.” Fragrance’s tail swished with anticipation. “But I would love to see you try and best me.”

Venom looked between Fendrel and Fragrance. “…Fine, but we are not doing this on a cliff. The sparring match will take place on the ground.”

Fendrel climbed onto Venom’s shoulders.

Charles followed him up. “I’m not missing this.”

“Oh, Venom, don’t you want your whole tribe to accept him as one of your own? Or are you afraid that he’ll embarrass you?” Fragrance grinned.

Venom glared at the floral dragon. He looked over his shoulder at the humans. “Cover your ears.”

Just as Fendrel clasped his hands over his ears, Venom sucked in a large breath and roared.

Fendrel clenched his teeth, hearing a ringing. He shook his head once Venom stopped.

On a nearby cliff, all the dusk dragons rose into the air like a swarm of giant, black birds. They followed Venom as he flew to the pine needle- and moss-ridden forest floor.

Fragrance roared to his own tribe who joined him to the ground as well.

The last to land were the other nobles, situating themselves to form a ring around Venom and Fragrance.

Out the corner of Fendrel’s eye, Sear landed among the dusk dragons.

Fendrel forced his attention on Fragrance, now prancing around the ring as he announced that he would be defeating Fendrel.

Venom crouched so the humans could dismount. He turned to his own tribe. “Fendrel will be participating in the rite of passage.”

A buzz passed around the dusk tribe. Some nodded with respect while others gestured at Fendrel. One dragon turned to another with a not-so-subtle whisper. “Is that Axella’s boy?”

So they knew Mom too. Well, I guess she did live with them when she wasn’t visiting me.

“Hey.” Ember looked to Venom. “Can I call my own tribe in? They absolutely loved Fendrel and his brother whenever they visited us.”

Venom shrugged. “I don’t see a problem with that.” He lowered his voice. “Especially if that citrus-scented heathen loses.”

Fragrance ventured to the center of the ring. He threw his wings back and arched his neck. “Shall we?”

“Fendrel.” Venom snaked his head beside Fendrel. “I’ll never legally be allowed to fight him, so break his spirit for me.”

Fendrel nodded, keeping his eyes on his opponent. “I’ll make you proud.”

Fragrance pointed at Fendrel’s bag. “Drop it. You can only use your natural weapons or anything in the battle area.”

Sighing, Fendrel took off his bag and placed it in the pine needles.

Once the two were face-to-face, the last of the fire tribe landed among the others. Sear pushed himself to the front line.

The floral dragon gave a sly smile. “You’re quivering. Are you afraid of me?”

“Afraid of someone named Fragrance?” Fendrel shook his head. “Don’t flatter yourself. It’s just cold.”

“I would watch your tongue when speaking to a noble, if I were you.”

“Bite me.”

Fragrance’s ears flicked back. “Was that a legitimate order or a figure of speech?”

“Why don’t you find out?” Fendrel balled his fists and held them in front of himself.

With a snarl, Fragrance whipped his tail toward Fendrel.

Fendrel jumped back and Fragrance lunged at him, teeth bared. He punched the yellow dragon in the eye.

The floral noble recoiled with a sneer. He reared up and plunged his claws down.

Fendrel rolled out of the way and stayed in a crouch, picking up a rock barely hidden by pine needles. He flung the rock at the side of Fragrance’s face.

It struck one of his horns, breaking the tip off.

“You impudent little—” Fragrance charged at Fendrel, knocking him on his back.

While Fendrel struggled to catch his breath, Fragrance pinned him to the ground by his shoulders, his claws digging into Fendrel’s skin.

Fendrel cried out in pain as the acid within Fragrance’s claws pumped into him. He kicked the floral noble’s throat with both feet.

Fragrance gasped and backed off, clutching at his neck.

Fendrel raced for a fallen branch as big as a bat and brandished it. He stalked toward Fragrance while the dragon coughed. Fendrel swung the branch at Fragrance’s head.

The dragon recoiled. He stretched his neck out toward Fendrel and roared. When Fendrel swung it again, Fragrance bit down on the middle of it.

Fendrel twisted and jumped onto Fragrance’s shoulders, clutching each side of the branch in his hands and pulling back.

Fragrance reared up and tried tossing Fendrel off. He flared his wings, roaring against the log.

Fendrel angled the branch, causing Fragrance to lose his balance and crash on his side. He wrapped his arms around Fragrance’s snout and held it shut.

The floral dragon tried to wriggle away, flapping his wings helplessly and kicking, but his newly polished claws were slipping on the moss.

“That’s enough!” Venom slammed one of his talons into the ground. The other dusk dragons roared with approval, nearly deafening Fendrel.

Fragrance finally ripped his head free and spit out the branch.

Venom walked toward Fendrel and Fragrance. “The match is over once one of the combatants is unable to get to his feet for five seconds.”

Lashing his tail, Fragrance marched up to Venom and stuck his nose in the dusk dragon’s face. “No! It’s seven seconds. You’re lying.”

Venom smirked. “You issued a traditional challenge, not a modern challenge. The original rules called for a five second countdown.”

“Traditional?” Fragrance’s claws curled into the ground.

“Yes.” Venom frowned as if bored. “Nowadays you only need to fight a dragon a few years older, not twice the young one’s age, as you requested.”

Fragrance sputtered.

Fendrel rejoined his group, scooping up his bag as he went.

Venom followed him back and let the humans climb on. He opened his wings but stopped short when someone spoke up.

“If I’m not mistaken, you forgot one rule.” Ember gave a cheeky grin. “I may be wrong, but I heard once that if the combatants are both adults and the younger one wins, he can choose to take over the older one’s position in the tribe.”

“Hm, no you are not mistaken. I remember seeing that rule.” Venom tilted his head.

Fragrance stared at Fendrel, his eyes wide with desperation. “No! You can’t! You’re not a floral dragon. Stars, you’re not even a dragon at all. You can’t do that.”

“The rules don’t say a human can’t be challenged, either.” Venom smiled.

Fragrance shook his head vigorously. “The monarchs choose the nobles. His Majesty and his father before him chose me.”

“Then I suppose we’ll just have to speak to him.” Venom shrugged.

“I refuse to go with you.” Fragrance slammed his tail into the ground. His eyes darted between his tribemates and Fendrel’s group. He stuck his chin in the air. “If His Majesty would choose a lowly human over an esteemed noble, then he is no king of mine.” He turned and flew off. Several floral dragons glanced at Fendrel’s group and quickly followed Fragrance.

The rest of the floral dragons stayed behind, shocked.

“So, are you going to take up the offer?” Venom’s voice was teasing.

“That would be hilarious, but no.” Fendrel laughed. “Another floral dragon will have to be chosen.”

Charles clapped Fendrel on the back. “I see I taught you well.” He winked.

Fog tugged at Fendrel’s shirt. “Do you want me to heal your shoulders?”

Fendrel shook his head. “The stinging is going away now, but thank you.”

Sear caught his eye again. The fire dragon was smiling. He nodded with respect and melted back into the crowd.