Dragon Riders

Chapter 16: Fighting Fire with Fire

Orion POV:

I shook my head as I watched Serafina, Aspen, Cade, Gwen, and Eli disappear into the night sky. Cade would never understood my predicament. He had no competition for Aspen. She was totally in love with him, even though he doubted this. Male humans can be really thick sometimes. Female humans are easy to read. They give off these signals. For example, every time Cade wraps his arms around her waist, Aspen giggles and blushes deep red. Girl Dragons? They are completely different. They are so unemotional, it is so hard to tell what they are thinking!

Today, when I called Serafina Ser, I was hoping it would evoke some sort of reaction. Happiness? Disgust? No! Neither! Confusion was her reaction! I thought I was being obvious by giving her a pet name, but no! She was all confused! Was she actually confused? Was she flustered and just trying to cover it up? Was she playing with me? Then she called me Ori! Was she making fun of my nickname? Was she playing along? Ugh! I wish female Dragons were as easy as female humans! Anyway, Cade wouldn't have understood. He had Aspen wrapped around his finger. But Serafina, she was fair game and Shade wanted to change that.

I felt my loathing build again. I watched him disappear into the forest. Iris was busy talking to some Viys. This was my chance. After waiting a minute, I followed him. He wove his way through the forest, unaware of my presence. Finally, he entered a smaller, empty Ure. I stayed hidden among the trees, and waited. He turned and looked directly at my hiding spot.

"Is there something you want," he called out, "Orion?" I emerged from my leafy cover and nodded solemnly. "Spit it out then!" He ordered. "Don't just stand there like a baffled moron!" My scorn reappeared.

"I want you to quit it!" I commanded.

"Quit what?" He asked innocently. "Orion, you're going to have to be a little more specific than that!"

"Quit acting like I'm some kind of idiot!" I boomed. "Quit trying to steal Serafina from me!"

"Serafina?" That caught him off guard. "That's what that growl was about? Oh! Oh! That's why you hate me! You like her too!"

"Duh!" I asserted firmly. "I thought it was pretty obvious! Who's a moron now?" He glared at me after that last comment. "She's mine!" I stated. "So lay off!"

"What makes you think she likes you?" He inquired.

"I..." I stuttered. "I..."

"See!" He retorted. "You don't know what she wants! She could want me for all you know! And why would she like you?" I dug my claws into the ground and sifted through the dirt, pretending it was his face. "You're a Fire Dragon! She's a Nature Dragon! Your types are worst enemies!"

"What does that matter?" I blurted out. "We can still love each other!"

"Like Romeo and Juliet?" He cut me off. "Look how they turned out! Plus, you're just a Dragon! I'm a general! Why would she ever choose you over me?"

"Titles don't buy love!" I countered. "You love someone for who they are! Not what they are or what meaningless title they are given!"

"Well, well, well!" He was taken aback. "What a true romantic!" He paused for a moment, then grinned mischievously. "How about we settle this once and for all? A duel!"

"Fine!" I agreed. "When I win, you lay off!

"Correction!" He interjected. "When I win you lay off!" That was the last straw. I thrust my claws out and lunged straight at his face. He ducked and clawed at my unprotected underside. I felt his talon-like claws rake my exposed skin. I resisted the urge to wince as I landed. I saw the grass growing red underneath where I stood. I quickly recovered as he jumped at me. I sent a wall of fire his way. It hit him head on and caught his massive wings ablaze. A cloud appeared over him and quickly put them out. The flames sizzled as they disappeared.

"You want to play with fire?" He taunted. "Let's fight fire with fire!" He summoned lightning and sent it zooming in my direction. I rolled to my side, but it hit a tree, lighting it up like a torch. The flames spread, creating a ring of fire around the meadow.

"Thanks for the extra firepower!" I yelled as I took some of the fire from the woods and fired it his way. He made a small tornado and swallowed up my fireball. The funnel spit it back out straight at me. It nailed me straight in the chest, knocking the wind out of me. I choked on nothingness and gasped for air. It came. The fire was absorbed into my body and did not burn in the slightest. I was about to rise, but found Shade on top of me.

"Give up yet?" He teased.

"Never!" I declared. I kicked him right in the stomach, sending him flying off of me. I jumped up and tackled him midair. We fell to the ground, both fighting for the upper hand. It was me who got it though. Grabbing his shoulders, I plunged him into the dirt and was going to light him up when I felt happiness. Satisfaction, I assumed. I was beating him after all. Then I heard a scream.

"Stop!" I felt a vine wrap around my torso and yank me off of Shade. Another lifted him off the ground and into the air. We were both being held apart, like children, by none other than Serafina. "What in the name of Octinia were you two idiots doing?" She accused as Gwen and Eli landed awkwardly away from this scene unfolding.

"Just practicing a little sparring!" Shade lied.

"That didn't look like sparring!" She spat impatiently. She turned to me and asked again. "What were you all doing?"

"Fighting," I confessed.

"Fighting?" She dropped us. "We are at war with the Phoenixes and you two are fighting? Wow! You'd think you all might be a little more mature when all of our lives and Octinia are at stake!" She was shaking with anger. "Was this about the growl, Shade?" She thundered as she turned to him. "Or the shock, Orion?" We nodded gravely, covering up the true intent. Just then, Iris, atop a Water Dragon, broke into the meadow putting out the flames.

"Shade!" She squealed. "We're leaving! You have some explaining to do!" Shade lowered his head in submission and followed her. I turned to make my escape, but found my path blocked by Serafina. Oh Octinia! Even when she's livid, she's as pretty as always. Her beautiful smile was curved back into a snarl and her bright yellow eyes were filled with disgust. Even so, I couldn't help being entranced by the neon glow. Her feathery wings were smoothed upon her back. He tail was out, as if she was going to attack.

"Not so fast!" She ordered. "Why in Beliu would you ever do something so stupid?"

"Uh..." I stammered, unable to come up with a reason. "Um..."

"Never mind!" She declared. "It doesn't even matter! Ugh! I am so disappointed in you! I thought you had a better hold on your temper! I thought..." Her eyes watered. "You weren't like all the other Fire Dragons." She choked on tears. "That you were different!" She raced from the meadow and took off into the sky. I couldn't let her go. I followed, hot on her trail until she lowered herself into a deep part of the forest.