Immolation

Without hesitation, I acted on Abraxas's command. I quickly caught up to Inowyn, then we both ran into the forest, allowing the trees to give us cover from the sky's sight.

The constant oppressive noise of the flying dragon grew the closer he got. Inowyn had wrapped herself around my left arm. I looked to her to see more fear in her eyes than I've seen in anyone's in days. Despite that, she was not shaking. Only I was, though my face showed less fear. Eventually, the screeching became incredibly loud, then strident. Before long, we saw him, lower to the ground than before, bending trees with the gale his body created as he beated his wings above us. The climax of his noise slowly tapered off as he grew more distance. Once he was far enough away, we slowly entered back into the clearing.

My eyes were pacing around the ground. "He came from the northwest. That's Moltenbell. Fuck! He's hit Moltenbell!"

"Breathe, young Ladon."

"I have friends there. I need to see them—see if they're okay—if they're even alive. I need to help them. Inowyn. How many times can you do that portal thing?"

"Two more times, maybe. That might be pushing it. Any more definitely would."

"I need you to take me to Moltenbell. Same tree as last time."

The screeching started building again.

Without a word, we both ran back into cover before Gerickst flew over again, lower, faster, decimating our ears as he was heading northwest. We emerged from the forest again.

"Why would he turn aro—terror tactic. He didn't destroy Moltenbell, he's going to!" I quickly turned to Inowyn. "I need you to take me to camp. I need to tell the captain. Then I need you to take me to Moltenbell."

"I'll take you, but I'll go no further than the tree. I can't be seen."

"That's fine."

 "Ladon," Abraxas spoke, standing tall on his nest with worried eyes, "are you sure about this? Dragons are quite dangerous."

"I have to do something."

He sighed like a worried parent. "Very well. Be careful, my boy."

I swallowed my fear, to replace it with the task at hand. "I'll try. Let's go, Inowyn."

"Alright."

We rushed to the redwood she came from. She created the opening, and we both walked through, myself going first. I emerged from another redwood, just outside of camp. Inowyn pulled her hood up, and stayed behind. I ran into camp, cutting through the massive group of sleeping tents. Before long, I was on the main path. I saw Dannas up the T, in the direction I was heading.

He smiled in shock as soon as he noticed me. "Oh hey! Missed me that much, huh?"

I passed him, almost shoving him out of my way. "Not now!"

I burst through the front flaps of the captain's tent.

Her calmness was not affected. "Back already? What is it?"

My breath was out of pace. "Gerickst."

"Yes, I know. He flew over not too long ago. From the direction of Moltenbell. He likely hit it. We'll be sending much of my squad soon."

"He's heading to Moltenbell now!"

"He turned around?"

"Just past my home."

"I see."

"We need to go to Moltenbell now! We need to stop him before he destroys the town and kills its people!"

"I'm afraid I cannot do that?"

"Why?!"

"We can't do anything to stop a dragon. And let's say somehow we could. How many of my rangers would have to die for him realize the fun of destroying the town is not worth the added effort? How many would perish before he retreats? We can't beat him. Our realistic best case scenario would be most of my squad dying in front of me before he kills me. I cannot allow that to happen; not under any circumstances. Regardless, the town would get severely destroyed."

"I have reason to believe a dragon can't harm or kill a demidragon. If I go, we can stop him."

"How sure of it are you? One hundred percent?"

"No."

"Then it's a gamble. I can't take the risk. I'm sorry, Ladon."

I took a step forward. "We can't just sit here and wait for him to destroy the town! I have friends there."

"Yes we can. Because we have to. Have you ever wondered why we rangers are so successful at our job? Training, diligence, hard work, long days and nights. But also, we don't put ourselves on the attention of dragons. We avoid them at all costs, because doing otherwise begs a much higher price."

The terrible shrieks of speed and stench were now reaching the camp, flying over at incredible speed.

"That's not good enough! We have to do something!! ANYTHING!!!"

For the first time I've heard, she raised her voice. "We will! After the damage is done!" She took a breath. "...There's nothing else we can do."

I took a second to breathe, and process her reasoning. "You're right." I turned, headed for the flaps of her tent.

"Where are you going? Do not do anything rash, kid."

"The risk is too high for anyone to join me. I'll go alone."

"Do not do this, Ladon. I don't want to tell Abraxas he's lost his kid."

"I'll be back." I left.

Dannas was outside of the tent, probably listening in. "What are you doing?"

"Taking a gamble. Don't come with me."

"Yeah, fuck that. I'm going too."

"Can you beat a dragon?"

"N-no."

"Then stay." I ran off, heading back to Inowyn. I made it back to the tree in no time.

"So, Moltenbell? I don't think I'll be able to do any more transportations after this."

"I understand that magic comes at a cost. I won't ask you to do any more."

She nodded, and created the opening in the redwood. I quickly walked through, exiting from the same oak as last time. She came just after me. Before I could even look at the town, a crash, or more like an explosion, like a firing, building-sized pot-de-fer smashed our eardrums, the force coming from it nearly ruining my balance for a moment, despite my distance. I looked to Moltenbell to see the eastern side of its wall utterly destroyed. The rest of the damage was unclear, though Gerickst was towering in the center of town, cachinnating into the sky, a trail of fire rising from the east to him. His laughter echoed, even all the way to me.

 Limiting my hesitation, I sprinted to town. By the time I reached the southern gate, fire had made its way down the wall's flammable wooden length. When I reached the gate, I sped up, then jumped to kick the door just how Gin-me kicked me. My kick split half the gate along a crooked, sideways line. I twisted my body, caught myself on the ground and rushed out of the way before the tumbling gate could hit me. I took one big breath, and rushed into town.

I saw a thick line of ruined buildings, and tossed up dirt and dust, leaving a clear burning path straight to him. It was just shy of Meg's home. The entire town reeked of brimstone. More massive crashes and bangs were heard as the deep, snakey, laughing dark brown dragon smashed the drunkenbell with his tail. Even though I wasn't near the square, I could tell. I ran to the square wasting no time. I wanted to make sure everyone was okay, but it would only waste time to do it now. I sprinted as fast as I left the town, passing every corner, taking every turn until the burning square was in sight. The people were scattered, some crushed, burned, burning. Many were running in any direction so long as it was away from him. I entered the square as he blew a powerful breath of flame to the west, through buildings, reaching the western wall.

"To think, I waited ten fucking years to destroy this shit rag. I wouldn't consider it worth the wait."

He was massive, though shorter and thinner than Abraxas. He had a large spine of spikes running down the middle of his back, and several more running down his sides. The tallest ones were furthest up the spine. His head was riddled with spikes, interlocking, and shifting against each other with every twist or turn. His tail mostly lacked any spikes. Abraxas was more like a frogish boar, while this dragon, Gerickst, was more like a snake, despite having wings and four legs. I could see the bottom of his neck, close to his chest, gradually light up. He was going to breathe fire again.

"STOP!!!"

His glowing, ridged throat slowly shifted back to dark brown as he turned his head, along with his red eyes, to me, his neck and body following after like a snake.

 "Who the fuck do you think you are, child. Who could command the likes of me—the great and mighty, all-burning, Gerickst."

I could feel my whole body tremble, though I used my best effort to hide it from him. The cloak helped. "My name is not important, as is yours."

I was now expending half my mind to control my breath, to keep my scales from forming.

"What was it you just said, tiny human? That my name is not important? You clearly have no idea the things I have done, who I have killed—how much destruction I have brought. You couldn't fathom the—" He took no more than a second to change his pathway of thought. "I can't believe I'm wasting all this time, arguing with such an insignificant human. If you could kindly walk into my mouth, save me the effort, I'll reward you with a sudden death, and the honor of being part of my meal."

I slowly walked closer to him. "I can't do that. And I'm not human."

Using his long neck, he brought his huge head to me. "Then what in the nine hels are you? You look quite human to me; smell less of one." Less than a meter from my face, he opened his mouth, just enough to show all his long, razor-sharp teeth that could easily crush and consume me.

I stared straight into the maw. My scales formed up my legs, sides, arms, and up my neck, reaching my chin and the back of my ears. And though I knew not the colors, my eyes changed as well.

Gerickst backed away just a bit, snarling. "I recognize your scent."

"I know you can't harm or kill demidragons."

He growled. "So I'll just destroy and burn wherever you aren't."

"If you do that, I'll run in front of your destruction, or into your fire."

"That would be suicide; death by your own hands. It'd be your own fault; your choice."

"But it would be your flames; your attacks." I wouldn't have burned alive if you didn't breathe fire. The blame would be yours, as would the responsibility."

He growled and grumbled. Then he just stared, angry, defeat growing by the second. Eventually, his growl gained volume. He then yelled, deep and loud.

"Fine! Have your precious town! I'll return . . . and you'll regret it."

He expressed all the anger in the world with his eyes, before he flicked his head away and started flapping his wings. Before long, he rose into the air, gaining height with every howling gale of a flap. He soared away, picking up more and more speed the further he got. Once fast enough, the screeching returned, though it was but a fleeting noise.

I fell on my rear, breathing heavily, legs almost numb. I wouldn't've been able to keep appearances up any longer. There's no way I could fight something like that. As soon as I was about to take a breather, the last of the Drunkenbell that had not collapsed, did. The crashing reminded me of the situation. I thought of everybody, and strength came back to my legs. I ran through the burning, nearly ruin-filled alleys to get to the eastern side as quickly as possible. Before long, I made it to Meg's. Fire had spread to it, but not much as of this moment. I quickly threw my hands up above my head, making all the fire fly up, above the building without its fuel. Her house was maybe three meters from Gerrikst's crashing trail. I quickly ran into the room, bursting through the door.

I heard a loud, highpitched scream behind the stairs. I rushed through the dining room, and into the kitchen, opening the door to their bathroom under the stairs. I saw Meg and her mom, huddled by a chamber pot. They both stared, terrified and confused.

"L-Ladon?" Meg asked.

"The dragon's gone. The town is still on fire. Your house almost caught too. I'll try to prevent it from happening again. Where's the others?"

"Why'd it leave?" her mother asked.

I just stared.

"Y-you fought a dragon?" Meg asked, even more shocked than my being here.

"In a sense. It's complicated. What's important is he's gone. I need to find the others, make sure they're okay. I'll help where I can."

"I can't believe you're back."

"Focus."

"Right. Last I checked, everybody but me and Percy were at Terin's."

"Thank you. I'll find them." I looked at both of them. "Stay safe."

"I-I'm coming with you." Meg shakily stood up.

Her mother grabbed her arm, stared, worried for that choice. "It's too dangerous out there, hun."

"B-but they're my friends. Any of them could be in serious trouble right now. I need to help them."

Her mother held her arm tighter, almost begging with her worried gaze.

I looked at her mother. "She'll stay with me. I won't let her out of my sight. I'll make sure she comes back unharmed."

Her mother loosened her grip, letting Meg go. "Promise me. Promise me you'll keep her safe out there."

"I promise."

She nervously nodded, looking almost like she was going to cry, or break down. "Be safe, okay?"

"Yes, ma."

I nodded.

We left her, exiting the house. 

Meg paused, looking at Gerikst's crashing path, where a section of the wall and several buildings used to be, replaced by leveled, dug up ground.

"Come on. We need to move."

She pointed. "That could've been me…"

"And yet it isn't." I grabbed her arm. "Don't think about it yet. We need to move."

She lightly, nodded, almost bobbing. "Right." She took one big breath before turning away.

 I walked around her house to see if any fire would spread to it. Fortunately it was clear, at least unless a building, multiple houses behind, crashed and caused the rest to. We rushed to Terin's. It seemed the northeast corner of the town was untouched by everything but some rogue debris and dust.

When I reached his door, I burst through. I saw Terin and Holind, huddled under the big dining room table.

Terin turned toward us, slowly, before relief met his gaze. "Oh thank the gods. It's you two. Is it over?"

"The dragon is gone, the town is still burning. Where's Percy?"

"He had stuff to do at home, not far from the crossroad."

"Shit." I turned, rushing out the door.

They followed me out.

"Oh gods!"

I stopped to see Terin react to most of the buildings surrounding the square on the outer rim burning. We all knew Percy could be in trouble.

I sprinted down the road. As soon as I made the left turn to reveal the cross road, I saw Percy half under some rubble and debris from a building that collapsed onto the road. He was reaching out, like Foz did. I froze for a moment, letting them all run past. Meg was the only one to realize as she shook me from my petrification. I shook my head, and the sight of the orphanage, then ran to him.

They were already trying to lift the rubble. They couldn't. When I reached them I grabbed the large wooden beam that was on him, and lifted, and with it, rose an entire section of rubble. I could feel the wood bend and crack.

"Hurry up!"

They started pulling him out. He was only half conscious at the moment. Just when his feet passed, the beam snapped, dropping the rubble back down, leaving me just a piece. I dropped it. Percy was bleeding heavily from his crooked right leg. I took him off their hands and rushed him to Terin's house. Holind opened the door for me, as Terin and Jackmond cleared the big table.

"Grab a pillow," I commanded.

Meg placed a small pillow under his head as I lowered him onto the table. I pulled out the bandages Yara gave me before I left for my mission.

"I need two long narrow pieces of wood, or thick sticks. And thin rope." I pushed his broken leg back into place to the sounds of his confused and dazed screams. "I need rags, and water, now!"

Holind and Meg rushed away. 

Before long, Meg came back with a bucket of water and some rags. "Not sure if it's clean."

"It'll have to do." I started cleaning his wound. The blood wouldn't stop pouring. I handed Meg a rag. "Put pressure on the wound for me."

She did as I said.

I pulled an arrow out of my quiver, then held the arrowhead in my scale-covered hands, creating a heat, building it up. I kept building it up, not worrying about how out-of-control it could get. Eventually, the arrowhead began to glow red as the air distorted and waned from the heat. Scales protected my hands. I brought the arrowhead to Percy. Meg lifted the rag as I pressed it against the wound's opening, burning it closed. It smelt horrible, but not worse than his wailing screams sounded. He passed out from the pain.

"That'll stop the bleeding."

I started wrapping the area up in the bandages. Just when I finished, Holind came back with one long piece of wood, and some strong twine, his face covered in sweat.

I took them.

I cleanly snapped the board in half with my arms, and placed one half on each side of Percy's leg. I tied them tightly against his leg, emulating the ranger I saw leaving Yara's tent.

"Don't let him on his leg when he wakes." I put away the last bit of my bandages. There wasn't much left.

I wiped some sweat off my face with my cloak. Before turning away, and walking out the door.

"Where are you going?!" Meg asked from inside, rushing to me.

"He's not the only one who needs help. I'm going to the west side of town, where he breathed fire."

"I'm coming." She stood like a terrified soldier, straight, and shaky.

"Me too!" Terin burst out of the door, just before Holind.

"Percy needs you guys to stay with him."

"I-I'll stay then," Holind said, practically drenched in fear.

I nodded. "Let's go then."

I rushed down the road to see the burning rubble had already spread its flame to the other side of the road. Two buildings there were now burning. A family of a mother, daughter, father, and son rushed out as I entered a stance, pushing forward and left hard with both hands, launching the fire back to the left side where it came from. I then went to the end of the rubble that reached the right side of the road, found a big piece of wood to grab, and pushed, shifting the rubble with as much force as I could muster. Some bits rose and fell to the sides. Eventually there was a safe distance from the unharmed buildings and it. I backed away, taking a big breath.

The father, from my left peripheral, grabbed my shoulder. "Thank you, young man."

In between breaths, I spoke. "Go back inside. Keep your family safe."

He nodded, herding his kids alongside his wife.

I continued to the crossroad. The entire square was engulfed in flames, creating a fiery wall around it where the buildings stood. Even from here, I could see the bloodied, charred bodies, some barely far from their exits, some further. I kept rushing to the west side.

From a burning building, not yet fully engulfed, I heard a female voice screaming, as if frantically exerting too much force through much pain. "FUCK!!!" Suddenly loud bangs kept repeating.

I brought my hands close to my waist, concentrating on my force, I pushed them up high, sending much of the fire into the air. I rushed to the front door, tearing it off without hesitation. Just against the doorway was a large pile of semi burning wood, and other rubble in the way.

"STAND BACK!!" I yelled, before kicking it in, creating an opening. I didn't see any one. I entered quickly. Smoke filled the space. "WHERE ARE YOU!!"

Through coughs and gags, I heard a weakening voice, "Over here!" coming from my right, past another pile of debris.

I grabbed the pile by the right side, and yanked it to the left, dispersing it on the ground. I ripped the door open, almost breaking it off. I saw Gin-me, the right side of her face burned. Her clothes were torn and singed on her right shoulder, part of her chest, and arm, showing her burns, reminding me of my left side. Her right eye was closed as she looked too exhausted to carry the small girl in her arms.

"Meg!!"

She rushed in. Gin-me gently handed the little girl to her, who rushed out with her. I then let Gin-me wrap one arm around my neck, on my shoulders, as I helped her out.

I sat her down by the road. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, breathing heavily, and coughing. "I'm fine." She grabbed her right arm, just before wincing and letting go. "Shit! That's my fucking house."

Too much of the town was either burning or about to be. I looked down the road to the south. I saw a young boy, the same one who thanked me, crying to the sky.

"Stay here for now." I rushed to him. "Where's your mother?"

He looked at me for a second as he cried. His recognition of me made him stifle it as best he could. "W-Wadon?"

I nodded. "Can you tell me where your mother is?"

M-my mom pushed me. Sh-she's stiw therw." His breathing was sporadic, borderline hyperventilating.

I put my hands on his shoulders. "It's okay kid. What's your name?"

"W-wiwiam"

"Okay William. I gestured over to Meg, Terin, and Gin-me. "You see them?"

He nodded, sniffling.

"Go over to them. They're my friends. They'll keep you safe while I get your parents. Okay?"

"Okay…"

"Where's your house?"

He pointed to a building collapsed and burning on the right side.

"Thank you, William. Now go, I'll be right back with your parents."

He nodded, shakily, before running to them.

I took one quick deep breath and rushed to the house. Climbing through a broken window on the left side, I got in. I saw his mother, trying to help her husband move away from the spreading fire. He wasn't quite strong enough to stand on his own.

"Come with me!" I shouted.

She turned to me, and helped him walk to me. "Help him through first!"

I nodded. I helped him sit on the windowsill, then lowered him down. He sat against the wall. I then, much more difficultly, helped her out and down, before getting out myself.

Just when I was going to help move them, she yelled, "Wait! The medicine!"

"Where?"

"Top left cabinet, in the kitchen. It's a pouch."

I nodded before turning around, and pulling myself back up through the window. I saw the kitchen in the far wall. I opened the far-left high cabinet on the wall, and grabbed the leather pouch. I then rushed back outside.

Letting them lean on one side of me respectively, I helped them both walk over to their son, who Terin was currently distracting with a game. Everybody but me sat in the road. Gin-me had her little sister resting her head on her lap. She was finally awake, but scared, though Gin-me was petting her head, trying to hide her pain.

"Meg stood up. What do we do now?"

The sun was setting, and the fires were only burning brighter, illuminating the town, blocking out most of the stars that would've appeared.

"We need to get these people to shelter. After that, I'm going to the rangers to get them to help."

"Okay." 

I picked up the exhausted young boy and girl, carrying them on each side. Meg helped the mother, and Terin helped the father. Gin-me walked by my side, where her sister was. We walked as a group, south, making our way toward the gate.