Raiders.2

by ~ShadowAnkh

The heartbeat could be felt beneath the saddle that was connected to the scaly reptile textured body. It was thumping anxiously in a fast manner and in many ways it was matching the same beat of Jacks own heart.

Neither of them liked the mountains.

They'd been travelling through the mountain passes for days. Dragon Riders from the eastern cities were known for not staying put for long and Jack and his companion River were no different.

The mountains rocks were jagged and a light mist rolled in and through the sides of them. It was dangerous in these parts, the rocks at the side of the mountains were sharp and jagged and if fell onto they would cut open you're flesh.  

"Jack!"

Jack looked over his shoulder as he heard his name being called. He smiled softly as wing emerged from within the depths of the fog above him. River and her own dragon flew towards them and Jack reared to the left, allowing her to fly up beside them without either of them hitting the rocks.

"We need to move quickly. They're behind us, I can sense it."

He didn't need to ask who. It was the raiders. In these parts of the mountains it was inevitable that they would be attacked. They hid in the depths of the fathomless rocks, knowing the ins and outs which meant they would leap out and attack at any moment.

"How far?"

Before River could reply Jack felt a wind fly past him. It wasn't the wind that was associated with mist and rain, it was quick, easy and over within the second.

River was the first to get away from the arrows and flew off into the deeper depths of the pass and hoping that the darker mist would encase them from view. Jack wasn't far on her heels, he kneed the dragon's side gently and held on tightly as its body moved and followed after River.

Jack looked over his shoulder to see if they were out of range and ducked as another arrow whizzed past his face and rebounding off the rock. Jack leant down into the depths of his saddle to dodge the arrow and stayed there. He closed his eyes and trusted his dragon to get them through the pass without being hurt.

The wind blew fiercely against his face, the freezing cold mist stinging his face. He kept flinching as he heard the small wisps from the arrows. The wings on the dragon moved against his leg, its bone and muscles moving along side of it.  It seemed to distract Jack for a moment. It stopped him thinking about deadliness of the situation or the fact that he would probably catch hypothermia from the mountains climate.

And that was when he heard it.

He opened his eyes to an inhuman roar of something in front of them. The dragons head was in his line of vision and Jack moved to the left, allowing him to stay at the same position but looking down the side of the dragon's neck.

Green smoke gas began rising out from beneath them. Jack gagged and covered his nose with his scarf from the intoxicating smell of rotten food and kneed his dragon to signal moving them quicker.

River was signalling to him, her lips moving but the cry from her dragon as an arrow hit into her wings made it inaudible to understand.

Jack tensed as he watched River leaning oven, gripping onto the arrow and pulling it free from the dragons flesh. Another cry reverberated through the mountains as her dragon crashed head on into the rocks. More rocks followed, one hit River causing her to slide from the safety of her saddle and fall into the green mist they'd try to avoid.

Jack didn't scream or shout. He knew that any more sounds would only make the rock fall worse; instead he flew after her as she descended into the darkness below them, and bypassing the small avalanche of rocks and fire that Rivers dragon had sent off in its panic. He soon caught up with her and grabbed onto her wrist, holding tightly onto her freezing cold hand.

"I've got you!" Jack shouted.

"Don't you dare let go!" River retorted back, her once calm and slender attitude to taking this pass gone, replaced by the panic and fear from the fall.

River gripped his hand and swung round, attaching her legs onto the side of the saddle and wrapped her arms round Jacks waist.

"You need head to the side pass. You won't see it from here but if we carry on flying then we'll be able to land." River said breathlessly.

"You alright?"

"I'm fine, just get us out of here alright?!" she snapped back.

Jack didn't say another word. They flew away from where River had fell and into the lighter mist once. His eyes scanned around for any threat of more rocks or arrows, but he didn't see anything.

The mountains were still and the only sound was that of River and Jacks heavy anxious breathing. Jack scanned around; expecting more arrows to fly out at them, yet nothing came.

It was dangerously reassuring.

The bypass River had spoken of was a small, hollow part of the rocks in part of the mountains clearing. They landed inside it slowly, Jack cautiously watching out for any kind of loose rock that may fall. They climbed down from the dragon just as carefully. They're feet touching a soft, damp and slippy fall from where rain had leaked through.

"I think the Raiders disappeared when my dragon started the rock fall." River said gently. Her arms crossed over her waist as she looked out of the cove. The wind wasn't as strong here; it was merely a gentle breeze that moved strands of hair and make goose bumps appear on your skin.  

Jack grabbed one of the blankets that was rolled up inside his bag and draped it over River gently.

"Are you okay?" Jack asked, his voice soft and caring.

"I always am." River replied stubbornly.

Jack nodded slightly and crossed his arms. A drop of water fell onto Jacks head and he looked up at the small hole within the rocks. A pattering sound began, more water falling through it and onto the already dark floor.

He had a feeling it was going to be a very, cold, wet, and long night.