FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 7

Infinity followed Lyyreth through the air,making sure to stay a good distance behind him as he flapped his wings in desperation. The cold air beat against her snout with the next flap of her wings, as she silently moved closer to him. He's too easy to follow. She thought with each moment that she gained on him. Her ears twitched as the sound of the wounded dragon filled the air again, making her scales shiver as she remembered her own pained screams from the tower. She narrowed her eyes as she took in the scent of pine from the forest, mixed with the musky smell of the wyverns, humans, and the bitter smell of undeath. Are you sure you still want to do this? Her mind whispered to her as they drew ever closer. They could get you again, they could drag you away. She shook her snout as she remembered Axton. No. She repeated calmly to herself_, Axton would have helped him. That is good enough reason for me to as well._

Lyyreth dipped his wing, and descended towards the treetops of the moon lit forest. She saw a look of concern flash in his eyes moments before he vanished from sight. She took a deep breath and his scent found its way to her lungs. Oh...he is only invisible. She flared her spines and kept pace with the dragon who seemed to be aiming for the canopy of leaves. She felt the anxiety start to rise in her chest as the pain filled roars of the dragon increased, and she could hear the chorus of cheers from a great number of mortals. Turn back now.. Her mind whispered to her again when the wyverns screeches joined the cheers of their mortal allies.

She heard his wings through the air slow his descent, enough so that he landed within a tree with hardly a sound. I guess he can be silent when he wants to be. She hissed silently to herself as she did the same thing to another tree nearby. Her talons found purchase around the multitude of branches, that thankfully held her weight. Her eyes fell to the ground below, where there was a large collection of mortals. She counted roughly fourty in number as she narrowed her eyes.

The mortals were scattered around the forest floor, carrying various ranged and melee weapons. She spotted crossbows, bows, swords, spears, axes, and some weird crossbow with metal vents on either side of it. The collection of humanoids were cheering and hollering praises, as another green dragon flailed around on the ground. He was bound by a large net that covered his emerald scales, and appeared to be sparking and electrocuting him with every passing moment. Her eyes widened as the dragon looked almost perfectly like Lyyreth, except for some minor differences. Is he your brother? She glanced up slightly to the tree that she knew contained the awkward green dragon that had led her here. She wondered for a moment what he was thinking.

Infinity fought the growl rising to her maw as she stared up into the sky, tracing the form of twelve wyverns in the air. They were hovering over the mob of dragon hunters, their eyes trained on the roaring dragon, who was digging into the earth with each painful spasm. They did not see us. She grinned to herself. They were too busy on their victory over the green dragon...That will make things...easier. "Well it aint the black one lads!" came the loud resonating voice of a balding man. He rose one of the weird crossbows above his head with another round of cheers from the gathered hunters. "But the boss likes experimenting on dragons anyway. I figure we will get a bonus for sure!" he let out a harsh laugh as he turned his crossbow towards the trapped dragon and fired three bolts of pure blue magical energy into the green one.

Memories surfaced within her mind of the undead creature that had lorded such power over her during her life. How much pain that he had caused her, the scars that now lined her body because of him. No dragon deserves to go through that. She snarled as she held up her claws, pure fury in her eyes as she muttered. "skene qoeu". Lightning sprung to her claws, dancing around her talons with a bright white light. I will make sure you don't take him away. She pushed out one of her claws, guiding the lightning from it to the bald mortal bellowing to the others. Delight sprung to her mind as the bolt struck him in an explosion of white light. He spasmed, twitched, and screamed as the electricity flowed through him.

The lightning did not stop there however. It jumped from him and did the exact same thing to six other mortals. For a brief moment they were all connected by thin wires of brilliant light, that cast the ground below them in a glow. The collection of hunters screamed and cried out as their brethren then fell dead to the forest floor.

"Where did that come from?" came the shout of one of the red leathered mortals. Their voice carried panic within it.

"Keep your eyes on the trees!" came a gruff female voice as the mortals drew their weapons, and raised their crossbows to the trees surrounding them. "And let's get some lights up here! Light that bitch up!" Almost instantly after the words had left the gruff looking woman's mouth, pink mists of magic spread out to the trees around them. It left all the leaves and anything in the trees covered with a sparkling pink dust.

You want lights? Infinity flattened her ears as the pink dust spread around her tree, and wrapped her in the shimmering blanket. She rose a claw, "Yolgram" she hissed, flicking her tail as she did so. She let loose a flaming ball of magical energy, that flew down towards a close group of mortals. It struck one half-orc on the chest. His eyes widened in surprise as the thing exploded mere moments later. It wrapped three men around him in an explosion of red-orange light, and filled the air with a loud crack. When the smoke had cleared, only the half-orc remained, the others around him dead despite their fire resistant leathers

"AHHHH!" came the scream of some mortals, as Infinity spied four green dragons leaping down from the trees to engage the mortals. They all were shimmering with pink dust as they began to leap and maneuver from mortal to mortal, with a flurry of claws and teeth.

"There are five?" screamed a hunter as they avoided a claw from the enraged green dragon. "Stun them quick!" Screamed the woman to the hunters that carried the energy crossbows. She pointed to a copy of Lyyreth with an outstretched finger as he ripped into two other hunters with grim efficiency. The crossbows let loose blue bolts of magical energy once more, flying through the air towards their targets. Infinity figured that they were not entirely sure which one of the green dragons was the real Lyyreth, as the others were illusions to mislead and confuse the mortals before them. She was proven right as the bolts struck the one she had pointed to, causing that copy of Lyyreth to explode in a puff of purple magic. "DAMNT!" the woman screamed as the dragons continued to run amok within their perimeter.

"STAY SPREAD OUT!" she roared as they surrounded Lyyreth, the hunters now picking up on his pattern, and able to avoid the blows of the green dragon. Another copy of Lyyreth disappeared in smoke as the mortals beat it down with their weapons.

Good...with them focused on him. She eyed the wyverns above, letting another thing of lightning come to her claws. Just got to take out the hunters after all. She let fly another bolt of lighting to one of the riders as they neared the combat with the green dragon. The man didn't even get a chance to scream as the lighting took his life, and spread to three of his wing-mates. All four of them collapsed in their saddles, smoking and devoid of life.

"Light up that tree!" came a shout from the woman, as blue magical bolts struck all around Infinity.

Infinity hissed as some of the bolts struck her scales, and made her flesh sting worse than the wyverns wound from earlier. She fell from the tree as her left forelimb went limp. What..how? She gasped as she struck the ground with a rattling thud, that made her bones ache for a moment.

"Get her!"

Several men advanced on her, having pulled out a large net that appeared to be the same one that was currently keeping the other green dragon on the ground. It looked to be made out of a strong material, and weighted down with metal disks on its edges. By the looks of the green dragon's painful spasms, it probably would do the same thing to her if they got it on her.

Infinity pushed herself off of the ground with a snarl, as those two backed up, and several men surrounded her with spears and swords. Out of the corner of her eye she spied Lyyreth maneuvering around the mortals fighting him, his scales shimmering a bright blue. She watched in amazement as the blue magical bolts would strike him, and flow off of him like water. She snapped her jaws at several of the men, causing them to quickly leap away from her sharp teeth. She made sure to extent her neck as she did this, exposing it in hope that someone would slice it off.

"Don't slice the neck!" the woman screamed out, "Boss said she will grow extra heads, get even more dangerous! AND WYVERNS, bloody help us out will ya?"

Infinity lashed out with her tail as she avoided a sword strike from one of the mercenaries. It sliced clean across one mortal's chest, sending them flying back with a pain filled grunt. She felt a spear crack against her scales, and made sure to punish that mortal with her claw, smacking him aside to the ground as she moved passed him. "Grrrrraaaaaa!" She screamed out as the net was thrown onto her, only catching her tail and making her spasm. She stumbled as she pulled herself away, turning quickly around to blow fire at the collection of mortals around her. However at the last moment she was knocked to the ground by two wyverns that crashed into her, and slammed her head to the ground.

"That's the bloody way! Now get more nets!"

Infinity battered the wyverns attacking her with her paws. Her claws raking against their hide and drawing deep wounds. Panic wound its way into her chest as she felt two stingers pierce her hide and spread more of that pain filled poison into her system. She let out a screech, her whole body quivering in pain. She fought the urge to collapse, for if she did that they would have her. She instead let loose her firebreath onto the two wyverns close to her, delighting in their shrieks of pain as they backed away, covered in flames.

She quickly looked around, finding that Lyyreth was being driven away from his brother by a collection of mortals and wyverns. The dragon was doing a fairly decent job of avoiding their strikes, or making sure those that did land struck his more armored portions of his scales. He would lash out when he could, tossing those that he did hit like rag dolls. She even saw him let loose a cloud of green mist from his maw, causing the three mortals within it to fall to the ground coughing to death. Infinity backed away from the mortals advancing on her now, as two wyverns hovered above her. She quickly winged away to avoid several more blue energy blasts from the crossbows, letting loose another bolt of lightning to stop their pain filled shots. She was slammed into the ground again as yet two more wyverns tackled her, and this time latched on with their teeth.

She wrestled on the ground with the two wyverns, who seemed to not want to let go of her hide as they continued to draw blood. She let out a hiss as the hunter on one of the beasts backs drove a metal pointed spear right into her chest, thankfully not deep. She made sure to pluck that man with her maw, and rip him from the saddle and toss him dead to the ground. The wyvens on top of her bit down again, causing a pain filled cry to escape her maw.

"Come on lads!" came the shout of the woman, who was still giving out orders to the hunters that were left. "We almost have them!" she backed away from an attack by Lyyreth. She cut into a lighter armored portion of his hide, splattering the ground with his crimson blood.

Infinity gasped in pain as the wyverns ripped at her flesh, their hides wiggling on top of her. She grabbed hold of one of the beasts, digging her claws into the creature's eyes and popping them like grapes. It screeched out into the night, as she pushed it away violently. One down. She turned her attention to the next one, she once more let out another wave of cerulean fire making the beast recoil and flail out in death. She winced as its tail found purchase in her hide once more, causing her to gasp out and nearly collapse again. How much more...Her thoughts came slow as she struggled to stand, and her vision began to go blurry.

"Don't worry pretty one." the woman snarled as her hunters avoided some of her sluggish and clumsy attacks. "You will be back with the boss in no time."

How could I be so stupid? She backed away from the melee strikes. But how could I not? She batted away a spear with her claw.

"Get....out...of...here!" screamed the bound green dragon, as Lyyreth was once again pushed away from him. "Before they get both...of.....grraahah...you!"

Infinity saw Lyyreth slam down two wyverns with his claws, slicing deep cuts into their necks. They collapsed to the ground smeared in their own blood as he turned his yellow gaze to her, then to his brother, and then back to her. His eyes narrowed as he must have realized his brother's words were true. She avoided another attack as she spread her wings, and with a painful flap she pushed herself into the air.

"Follow her!" the woman screamed as Infinity pounded her wings against the air and carried herself far above the canopy.

Fear seeped into her bones as she bolted towards the only thing that she could think of in this moment. Axton. Her wings carried her back towards the cave as she felt herself grow more sluggish by the moment. She glanced back briefly, spying the form of four wyverns coming after her, but only two of them had riders. I..can...take...care of them.. Lightning came to her paws, and she knew it was the last strong spell that she would be able to use that day. It flew through the air, the bolt striking the riders and their beasts, but only putting an end to the hunters lives. The wyverns simply let out pain filled roars, but continued their pursuit of her. Damnt.

Infinity practically crashed into the ground before the cave, her wings thankfully slowing the descent so she did not die or break anything. Is this what I am cursed to? To escape again and again only to be dragged back when I think I have succeeded? She limped her way to the cave with pain filled winces, trying to ignore the sound of the four wyverns landing behind her. Or is..this how I die... She looked down to her wounds, that were all oozing blood and not healing. There will not even be hunters to stop them...Why even fight it? She turned towards the wyverns with a sigh, watching them circle her with eyes of a predator who was about to strike. There is one way to avoid getting back to the tower. Her mind whispered once again to her as she eyed their sharp claws. One way to be reunited with your son. Infinity felt her eyes mist as she remembered the human she had held so tenderly, the one she loved. Everything has felt so lonely without you...She sat down onto her haunches and closed her eyes. All you have to do is nothing...and these creatures will deliver you to your son. Infinity took a deep breath as she felt blood drip down her scales. She folded her wings against her back, and prepared herself for death.

Her ears twitched as she heard the wyverns give their battlecry. One of victory over the prey they had hunted. Good...be swift with your claws. She heard them bound towards her with open maws, ready to deliver her to the son that she loved with all her heart. However at the last moment she opened her eyes and avoided a wyvern going for her neck. She lashed out with a claw and back-winged, only to take a sting from the creature instead. Her wings spasmed as she tripped over herself and collapsed to the ground.

_ Why...She pulled herself up painfully as the wyverns started to circle again. She saw their eyes glare at her, more wary then they had just been. _Why did I fight back? When I have lost EVERYTHING. She gasped out in pain from all the stings she had gotten, her body felt like it was on fire as she shivered. What reason do I have? She avoided yet another strike from a wyvern as it leaped at her. She grabbed the thing and slammed it to the ground with a shower of dirt. Another one leaped onto her back and bit down into her shoulder, causing her to let out a pain filled scream into the air. WHY? She grabbed the thing and tossed it off of her, her claws drawing blood from the creature. The remaining two wyverns stung her again with their stingers, and instead of latching on with their jaws. The two beasts backed away and observed the effects of their poison on the dragoness.

Why...do..I.. Infinity gasped as her vision began to blur from the pain once more.Continue..to...fight..it.. She backed away slowly from the four wyverns, her rear paw touching the brown satchel of her son. Is that why? She looked down at the token from her son. She remembered his cute smile, his ruffled black hair, his sweet icy blue eyes. Because of you? She limped as the wyverns circled her, content it seemed to let their poison finish off the dragoness.

Infinity clutched at her chest as she collapsed onto the earth, pain spreading to every fiber of her being. I...have to live...She pushed herself up, her limbs trembling as she did so. So I can remember you. She sniffed. I am sorry Axton..._She felt guilt fill her heart. _I will never give up again! She bared her teeth at the wyverns that were now a brown blur. Than come get me you monsters. She flared her wings wide and let out a threatening hiss. She shot fire at one of the things, dousing it in brilliant blue flames that made it shriek in pain. I will...not.._She stumbled to the earth as the things bolted towards her. _One last effort... She went to rise, to lash out at the wyverns. It might even be the last thing that she would do. However the wyverns never reached her. They never bit into her hide. For something happened she did not expect.

In a blur of green and black, Lyyreth was onto them. His claws found their skulls, as he let loose a wave of fire from his maw at them. He spun around,his tail smashing into the back of one and slamming it to the ground. Infinity collapsed onto the earth as the green dragon dodged, weaved, and made sure the wyverns paid for every wound they managed to inflict. She saw his scales were covered in gashes, and painted with a mixture of his enemies blood and his own. She clutched at her heart and tried to not feel such satisfaction as her green savior ripped into the wyverns like a thing possessed. Within the span of a few minutes, all four of the wyverns lay dead. Their bodies were ripped open in various ways, and organs spread across the grass. She watched Lyyreth stand there, his breaths deep as he turned back to her with concerned eyes.

"We....we..." he spoke, his voice hoarse. "Did..." the green dragon suddenly collapsed before her, it seemed the last of his energy had been spent. "It." His tail thumped weakly on the ground as his wings fell.

"Lyyreth?" She called out to him with a wince of pain. She watched him for a moment as dread built up with her chest. The dragon did not reply to her call, as silence filled the air. "Lyyreth!" she shouted out as her voice cracked. Terror filled her when she noticed that the green dragon's chest was not moving at all.