FIRES OF HELL by Robertson Craig

Author:Robertson, Craig
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Imagine-It Publishing
Published: 2018-01-19T16:00:00+00:00

SIXTEEN

Mirraya and Slapgren soared. They pushed the limits with huge smiles. Well, they would have smiled if scaly torchcleft dragons had facial muscles that allowed any expressions. Cala had told them to take the afternoon off, to go hunting in the western region. It was the first time since they took up residence with her on Rameeka Blue Green that she given them one single moment of freedom. They were so ready for it. Torchclefts were good fliers and could move like bullets, but they weren’t birds. They limited their flight to treetop level mostly. But not today. The teens were determined to see just how high high was. Their experiment quickly became a serious competition, like everything else in their lives.

At a certain altitude, the thinner air simply wouldn’t support their wing’s ability to provide additional lift. Then the competition became a matter of weight versus muscle. Mirri was lighter, but Slapgren was stronger. First one would put forth herculean effort to get a few meters higher, but then they would flag and need to descend. Then the other would max out and temporarily win. After an hour of grueling effort, Mirri angled her wings to the ground and shot from the sky. Slapgren lingered above long enough to be able to, at least in his mind, claim victory. Then he swooped down to catch her. Seeing him approach, Mirraya closed her wings and did her best to fall like a rock. When she opened them to avoid impaling herself on the forest canopy, he’d gotten no closer to her.

She landed on a ragged sheer cliff not far from home. Slapgren joined her momentarily. They perched in labored breath for quite a while. Cala had ostensibly sent them out to catch dinner. Once Mirraya was sufficiently rested, she gave a hunting cry and dropped from the rock face. Slapgren sped to her side and they dropped as a pair. The predatory technique of the species was to skim the ground at high velocity and catch anything small enough to eat by superior speed. Once seized, the dragons opened their wings to brake, generally snapping their victim’s neck. Within ten minutes, they’d bagged four good sized rabbit-equivalents and a couple of lizard-like animals. With enough food to justify their escapade, they made for home at a leisurely pace.

As soon as they landed, both teens morphed back into their Deft bodies. They picked up their catch and headed for the kitchen. They began skinning and cleaning, all the while recounting over-embellished highlights of their recent adventure. Mirraya told Slapgren she wished she’d been with him on his hunt. The one she was on didn’t have nearly as may thrills and spills, let alone mortal dangers but the dozens as the one he described. For several minutes they laughed and punched at each other, generally having a raucous time. It felt good.

Then Mirri noticed something out of the ordinary. “Where’s Cala?”

Slapgren threw a slice of intestine at her and said, “How should I know? I’ve been gone hunting.

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