Dragon Captives by Lisa McMann

Author:Lisa McMann
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

A Temporary Setback

Simber hit the sea at top speed, and, luckily, the water helped slow him down. He righted himself, feeling a bit dizzy, and managed to angle his body and wings toward the surface before he lost momentum, keeping him from sinking all the way to the bottom. He began to flap mightily, struggling to get out of the disgusting liquid that he had such fierce hatred for. Once he broke through, he flew up and shook his body hard, trying to get the drops of water off him. He quickly examined the wing that had been hit, finding it no worse for wear. The burning orange lava hadn’t been hot enough to destroy him—only the hottest blue and white flames could do that.

He began to look around for his riders. “Carrrina!” he growled, scanning the water for her. “Thatcherrr!”

“I’m here!” called Carina, waving so the cat could spot her. “But I can’t find Thatcher!”

“Does he swim?”

“Yes. He’s as good as any of us.” Carina whirled around as she treaded water, trying desperately to spot him. “Thatcher!” she called.

Simber soared over the area, his careful eyes taking in everything they could.

Carina dove underwater to search better. As she floated near the island, she thought she felt vibrations pulsing through the water. They seemed weaker than the last time she’d been here, and at first she wondered if she was imagining them. But then they happened again. Immediately she struck for the surface, her heart racing. When she emerged, she yelled, “Simber! The island is trembling! It’s going to sink!”

Alarmed, Simber stopped combing the waters and flew over to Carina. He dipped a wing down low, and she grabbed on to it as he went by. He flipped his wing up, launching Carina onto his back as if they’d practiced dozens of times. She scooted up on his back and grabbed him around the neck as she caught her breath. “Any sign of him?”

“None,” said Simber. “Did you see wherrre he landed?”

“I was in a spiral—I don’t even know where I landed.”

“Same herrre.” Simber flew low to the water. “We’rrre going to have to go underrr. Rrready?”

“Ready.” Carina took a deep breath. As they plunged underwater, Carina held on as tightly as she could. Like countless others, Carina and Thatcher had learned to exercise what Ms. Octavia called underwater breathing, which allowed a person to hold their breath for six or seven minutes at a time if necessary. It worked great if you were planning on doing it. But there were no guarantees when plunging underwater came as a surprise.

The Island of Fire shook again, sending slightly stronger vibrations through the water. Feeling them, Simber propelled himself even harder with his wings, his eyes and ears on high alert for any sign of Thatcher.

Carina felt the tremors too and squeezed Simber’s neck harder. She knew they didn’t have much time before they’d have to get out of there. If they didn’t, they’d get sucked down with the force of water as the island sank and they’d be dragged to their deaths.

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