Ember's Fate

After an eternity, Aleena spots a small meadow. And gasps, her worst fear violently confronting her. At the meadow’s center, Ember lies sprawled out, motionless, her blood soaking the earth. Countless spears pierce her black body, blue spikes rising between her scales. She is dead. There is no doubt about it.

Little figures, imperial soldiers, unaware of Aleena and Scorch, surround the dragon, excited about their slain prey. Aleena’s insides twist. They remind her of the warlings circling dead Ben. A storm surges within her, devours her, commands her.

Like fangs, her fingernails dig deep into her dragon’s highly sensitive skin, and Scorch roars with a thunder that shakes the trees. He drops into a dive and releases a savage inferno on the dwarves.

Cries of surprise, of pain, of death sound from the meadow. But Aleena and Scorch are already gone, leaving only fire and destruction in their wake.