The Dawning Night: Chapter 16

Chapter 16: I Spy… Escape!

Shade swallowed painfully at the savage smile Ballad gave him. She glided over to him and the ridgedor struggled against the chains, frantically trying to break out.

"Oh don't worry, you'll be out of here soon,
Yes, you'll be in your final tomb." Ballad sung and she flicked her butterfly wings on top of Shade's arms.

"I need ridgedor blood, it's for a good cause,
It will be immortality lying in my paws." Ballad used her one arm to grab the ridgedor's wing.  

"Immortality? That's what you want?" Shade gasped.

"Yes that's my goal, but I'm doing this alone,
I need fur, feathers, blood, and bone."

"Well, does it all have to be from a ridgedor?"

"Nice try, young one,
I'll soon have this tonic done."

"But, I don't have everything you need!"

"I already have bone and fur, I only need two more,
You have all the rest, hopefully, at your core."

Shade closed his eyes and felt the sharp point of the needle go into his side. He gritted his teeth. Normally, needles sting for only a few seconds and feel like a hard pinch, but this one felt like a sword and stung for a long time, even when Ballad took it out. Shade managed to open one eye to see the Mucik walking away, the tube on the needle filled with red liquid. Ballad poured the tube's liquid into another vial that turned blue when the blood dripped in.

"Now all I need is a feather, then I don't know what I'll do with you,
I'm selfish; I'll admit it's true." Ballad sung and grabbed a small knife. She flew over to Shade and pulled his wing up. The Mucik was starting to cut off a feather when suddenly Wynia burst into the tent. She had Panrel and Wujaru in either hand and started to slash at Ballad. The Mucik quickly turned around and used the knife to counter both blades. Izzodiac came in behind Wynia and Shade felt a surge of happiness to see the frost dragon.

"Don't you people ever knock?
I really should think of putting in a lock." Ballad sighed. Izzodiac gave a vicious growl and moved around the Mucik to Shade.

"Why does this always happen to me?" the ridgedor complained.

"You make it too easy," Izzodiac replied and slashed angrily at the chains. No effect. The frost dragon snorted and, instead, bit the table in two. Shade toppled over, the ends of the chains hanging limply on his wrists and ankles. He instantly ran out of the tent, grabbing Wynia's arm and dragging her after him. Izzodiac stumbled after them as Shade continued out.

"Shade!" Hital yelled and flew madly beside him.

"Where do I go?" the ridgedor asked.

"Follow me," Hital flapped her wings and darted to the right where the rest of the team was waiting.

"How'd you get here?" Shade questioned.

"We walked, obviously." Hital retorted.

"That's not what I –" The ridgedor stopped when a horn blew behind them. Shade risked a glance backward. Ballad was flying after them with four Muciks behind her. Izzodiac roared at them and flapped his wings at Shade, Hital, and Wynia, signaling them to hurry. Gonshow, from his position on the hill, suddenly thrashed his tail up and a large slope of rock connected from the top of the hill to the entrance of the Mucik Town.

"Come on!" he roared. Shade pulled Wynia along after him. As they approached the entrance, or exit for them, a large brown Mucik tried to stop them. Its wings, body, and tail were covered in snow.

"Violin didn't appreciate dragon frost breath!" it played, using its wings to flick the strings on its violin-like tail.

"Yeah, sorry about that…" Izzodiac mumbled and easily jumped over Shade, Hital, and Wynia to Violin. The frost dragon batted the Mucik aside with his tail. Shade smiled and Hital gave an approving yell. They ran up the slope. Gonshow was standing at the entrance of a tunnel. As Izzodiac ran in, Gonshow sprinted behind the frost dragon.

"The others are up top," the Western Dragon said to Izzodiac.

"Good."

Hital flew after the dragons. Wynia bolted behind them as well, but Shade stopped to look quickly at the Muciks. They had made it up the hill and were starting to bang on the sides of the tunnel entrance with their tails. Shade gasped as he realized what they were doing. He was racing up to the dragons to warn them when Wynia suddenly stopped.

"I'll distract them," she said.

"What?" Shade replied, surprised.

"Good luck," the marine ridgedor turned around with out another word and sprinted back. As soon as she started to run, sand began to cave in and made it impossible for Wynia to come back.

"Hey, she has Wujaru and Panrel!" Shade yelled. He started to dig at the sand, but Izzodiac's tail whipped around his waist and dragged him away. The tunnel was pitch black now and Izzodiac, Gonshow, Hital, and Shade stumbled through it.

"Hey, Shade," Gonshow said suddenly. "Want to play a game?"

The ridgedor was about to answer when Izzodiac yelled, "Whatever you do, don't do it!"

***

Shade was completely exhausted by the time everyone was out of the tunnel. Gonshow sealed the entrance again and kept trying to make everyone play I Spy. Shade stood near the cactus and sighed.

Hey, kid, over here!

Delwia, where are you?

In the cactus, unfortunately.

Shade turned around and his hand, naturally, went to Wujaru's empty sheath. Wynia had both Panrel and Wujaru.

You lost your swords! I can't leave you alone for two seconds, can I?

Shade ignored the sword. He groaned at what he'd have to do. The ridgedor used his hands to pry open the cactus. The spikes dug into his skin but he carried on until he was able to see Delwia. The crimson blade was in its sheath, which was covered with small holes. Shade pulled the sword out of the cactus and slung it over his back. The ridgedor looked at his punctured hands. Suddenly, a light frost cracked across the cuts and sealed them in ice.

Izzodiac came up from behind Shade and said, "I know its not as good as Gipson would do but we don't have much time."

"Thank you…" Shade replied.

"I see… you've found the cursed blade," the frost dragon nodded and started to turn away.

"Um… sir…" Shade began. "I… I'm sorry…"

"No need, young one. The past cannot be undone."

Izzodiac sighed and walked away to join Zephyr and Pysis. Pastell was talking to Gipson while Gonshow was asking Fenn and Gann if they wanted to play charades. Hital was sitting in-between the Western Dragon's horns as he acted out a chainsaw by holding his tail and cutting the sand.

Shade smiled at his friends' antics but wondered if Wynia was alive. She had his two swords.

Guess you're stuck with me, kid.

Wynia is a smart girl; she'll find a way out and find me.

Are you going to leave a trail for your girlfriend?

No, and she is not my girlfriend!

Riiighht…

Shade sighed and walked over to Izzodiac.

"Now that we're back on track, shouldn't we go to Alpha now?" Zephyr asked Izzodiac.

"Yes, we'll get through the rest of the desert today. No stopping till we're at the gates of Griffin Forest," the frost dragon replied.

"WHAT? We'll be exhausted…"

"We'll find a place to rest there."

"Fine… You're the boss."

Shade cocked his head at the dragons and asked, "What are we doing on this trip, anyway?"

"You are going to confront Rayzord and, hopefully, defeat him," Izzodiac told him.

"WHAT! Are you insane? There's no way I'll be able to beat him!"

"Not alone."

"We'll all face him?"

"No. We will keep his army at bay while you sneak to the top of his tower and beat the evil king."

"Izzodiac, he's just a boy –" Zephyr began.

"A boy who is our only hope," Izzodiac retorted.

"But –" Shade protested.

"No exceptions."

Izzodiac turned away and gestured for everyone to follow. Pysis, Gonshow, Pastell, Fenn, Gann, Hital, and Gipson followed sadly. Zephyr gave Shade a sympathetic look then took to the air and glided after the others. Shade gave one last look at the cactus that marked the entrance to the Mucik Town.

I hope those two idiots come back.

Why would you want that? You hate them.

Yes, but there's no one else to insult.

What about me?

Your reactions aren't as fulfilling.

Thanks… I think…

Shade sighed heavily but sprinted after his friends.