To the Eldest! - Jordan Pierce (best books for 7th graders TXT) 📗

Chapter 1: Downed Dragon

              It has been four days since the attack.  The humans attacked our community that was nestled inside of a mountain.  They cut off all of our escape routes and killed all except the three of us that were small enough to fit into the smallest of exits.  We could barely fit, but we managed to press our wings to our bodies so we could get out and warn the other villages—warn all of the land-dwellers about the human army cleaving its way through our territory.  The sky-dwellers are safe from the humans, but my two friends and I need to travel to as many earth communities as possible.  We need to get them to wake the Eldest. 

 

                The three of us have been busting wing for four days now.  The breakneck speed was beginning to take its toll out on Avary, the youngest of us.  Her wings were beginning to crack and her muscles cramp.  We would have to land soon.  Otherwise, Avary might not ever fly again.  Jinx is the only male—he’s also the largest and strongest.  My name is Kalli.  I’m the fastest of our troupe. My mother was the Queen of our community, meaning that I was next in line to become the Queen.  But now I will not.  I have no community that needs to be governed.

 

               Slightly before nightfall, the three of us landed.  We had slowed down enough so that Avary could perch on Jinx’s back.  Thankfully he was strong enough to carry her entire weight.  We lighted in a meadow surrounded by pines and maples.  The ground provided relief to our tired and stressed wings.  But we were not safe here.  Humans were on their way to destroy the land-dwellers.  We decided to fly to the top of some pines and create a hammock for each of us.  We made them from the long grass of the meadow and the flexible limbs of the pines.  We used pine straw and moss to line the hammocks.  By the time we finished the makeshift beds, each of us started to feel the weariness of non-stop flight for four days.  Within minutes of lying down, both Avary and Jinx were asleep.  However, I uncovered the scale of my mother and cradled it in my paw.  I wedged it back between my toes and lay down to sleep.

 

                I woke with a start.  The visions of the invasion permeated my dreams, turning them into living nightmares.  I craned my neck and looked toward my companions.  Both Jinx and Avary were still asleep.  Unease settled over me.  I sat up and looked toward the beckoning, solid earth.  Just as I opened my wings to fly down, a dragon lurched across the meadow—its wings were at odd angles with its body.  Dragons never run unless they can’t fly.  Just behind the dragon—a land-dweller—was a Hellhound.  The Hounds were used by humans to chase dragons.  Even grounded, a dragon can run at speeds of seventy miles per hour.  Only a Hellhound can match our speed.

 

                The Hound was closing in on the dragon.  In a burst of instinct, I took to the air and let loose a column of blue flame.  Before the flames dissipated, I swooped in and plucked the Hellhound off the ground.  I flew up with the beast and dropped him from the clouds.  He flattened into a pancake on the ground.  I lighted back on the ground and was met by Jinx and Avary and the grounded dragon.  Upon closer inspection, the dragon’s wings looked broken. 

 

                “My thanks.” The dragon’s voice was soft, yet carried the strength of a mighty fire dragon. “Had you not killed the Hound, I would not still be alive to warn my people of the brutality of the human armies.  Say, may I ask for the name of my savior?”

 

                “That’s Kalli.”  Avary piped up.  She spoke so fast that her words ran together.  “Her mom was the Queen of our people.  Of our age, she has the largest wingspan and the fastest flight.”

 

                “Please, excuse Avary.  She’s only a year old.  She’s just hyper from her rest.”  As I spoke, I covered Avary with one wing and pushed her down.  “We know all too well about the humans.  They destroyed our entire home.  We all watched our mothers and fathers try to fend off the humans and their Hounds.  We were a community of eighty.  Only the three of us escaped.  The Queen of our community—my mother—showed us the only escape route that the humans could not get to.  We’ve flown as fast as possible for four days and three nights.  We only stopped to rest last night.  Before the attack, I thought that eighty dragons were a force to be reckoned with. 

 

“I thought nothing could stand against us.  But the humans were too many.  The numbers were twelve-to-one.  It was horrible. Our entire home was decimated.  We’re trying to get to the other villages now. We have to warn the others.  Get as many to the Eldest as possible.  Would you like to come with us?”

 

“I would like to… but I would fall too far behind.  The Hounds broke both of my wings.”  The dragon dropped her head and quietly said, “I can’t fly.”

 

“I’ll stay behind then.”  Jinx spoke up, making Avary jump.  “I can walk or run with you.  I’ll keep you safe.  My flame might not be as blue as Kalli’s, but I have a wicked left hook.  My claws and scales are the hardest.  I’ll even carry you if we need to get in the air.”

 

“I’ll stay too.  I’m the youngest and my flame is the hottest. And, besides, my wings still hurt.  I think that Kalli should put her wingspan to use and fly as fast and as far as she can.  No one can catch you.  We’ll be fine.  Just get to the villages”

 

Apprehension pricked at my scales at the thought of leaving my friends behind.  “Are you sure?  What about the HellHounds or the humans?”

 

“Go, Kalli.  I’ve never liked flying as much as you or Avary.  I’m staying on the ground.  I’ll take good care of our new friend.  Actually, I don’t even know your name.  Would you mind sharing with us?”

 

“My name is Lucia.  I’m the youngest of my village.  We all saw the humans at your mountain.  We fled to the clouds… but I stayed down.  I don’t like heights.”

 

“Lucia,” I said. “I’ll get to the nearest village and speak with the healers.  I’ll ask them to try to heal your wings.  Just try to relax them and not move them.”  Lucia nodded and I took to the air once more, leaving my friends and flying alone. 

Chapter 2: Cobolt and Crusher

 

Finally I would be able to ride the wind as only I can.  I spread my wings as far as they could and flapped hard only twice.  I felt a wind current and hopped on it.  The wind carried me faster than ever, never once straining my thick, strong wings.  To gain more speed, I pushed with the wind.  Before long, I was soaring across the sky faster than any dragon ever before me.  The ground below me sped by in a blur.  But the mountain I was headed to seemed to be moving further away.

 

I pushed harder, craving more speed. Within an hour, the mountain that housed another village of dragons was the only thing in my sight.  I slowed only when I spotted the entrance to the village.  As a message, I shot a column of blue fire straight up.  They saw my flare and, in turn, fired their own.  They would allow me entrance.  I landed just inside of the huge entrance cave-- it was at least ninety feet wide and seventy feet tall-- and folded my wide wings flush with my sides.  Two guards greeted me with warm regard and began to ask questions.

 

A huge male dragon with obsidian scales and ruby eyes asked the first questions.  “Where are you from, young one?  You seem like you've seen terrible things recently.  There is stress in your eyes. Tell me, what happened?”

 

“I don’t have time right now.  There is a hurt dragon far from here.  She’s been grounded with broken wings.  Humans are trying to kill us. We have to get healers to her.  She needs to fly as soon as possible. Please, take me to your healers.  Two of my friends are staying with her.  But they all have to walk.  It’s dangerous for them to stay down for long.”

 

A blue-scaled dragon spoke to me saying, “Our healers are busy with our own that are hurt.  However, we have a large dragon that can carry her here.  Come with me and explain to him about your friends.  I’m certain that he’ll help you.  Follow me.”

 

The blue dragon walked across the landing cave and led me into a larger one.  Dragons of all shapes and sizes walked or flew to their own destinations.  The blue dragon perched on the edge of a ravine and spread his wings in preparation of flight.  I copied him.  We both took off and flew straight up.  We had neared the top of the mountain before we landed.  By landing, I mean grasping the wall by digging our claws into the stone.  Then the blue dragon crawled to a small hole in a wall—barely big enough for a human to crawl through.  The dragon merely crawled through the illusion, I followed.  Soon, I was face-to-face with the biggest dragon I had even seen.  It was a brilliant green and a beautiful brown.  Horns protruded from its head, nose, spine, and tail.  Every breath seemed to make the very earth shudder.  Scars crisscrossed its whole body—mainly his face—even though his scales were a good three inches thick.

 

The dragon rumbled a question at the blue one.  “Who is this, Cobolt?  This hatchling is not of our village.  Why have you brought her here?”  Indignation sparked in my mind.  I am not a hatchling. I’ve been out of my egg for seven years. 

 

I was about to snap at the giant when the other dragon spoke.  “This fledgling has come a long way to find us.  A friend of hers was hurt by humans.  She told me that her wings were broken and can’t fly to safety.  She needs to be brought here so that our healers can tend to her.  We need you to follow this fledging and carry her friend here.  Hurry on.  There is not much time left before nightfall.”

 

The giant sighed and I felt the stones beneath me shift.  “Very well, Cobolt.  Your word is law.  I shall carry this hatchling.”  He turned to me.  “Fly as fast as you can.  There is no time to waste.  I’ll keep pace.  I may be large, but I’m not slow.  Let’s leave.”

 

“Don’t be so dismal, Crusher.”  The Cobolt called out behind us as we left.  “You’ve been up here ever since