The night had fallen fully, the moon casting a thin silver veil over the forest as a chilling silence hung in the air. The crackling of the campfire was the only sound that broke the stillness, its flames licking the dark sky. Kael stood, staring into the fire, the glow flickering across his face, casting shadows that seemed to twist and morph into ghostly shapes. His jaw was tight, his gaze distant, lost in some thought that weighed heavily on his soul.
Elyra sat beside the fire, a sense of unease creeping through her. The forest, still as it was, had an unsettling energy to it tonight, a pulse that felt as if it were waiting, biding its time. Her fingers clutched the hilt of her dagger, the cool steel grounding her against the eerie sensation of being watched. Her eyes darted nervously between Kael and the forest, unable to shake the feeling that something was wrong. The wind had died down completely, leaving an oppressive, heavy air that suffocated any sound or movement.
Suddenly, the silence was shattered—a rumbling sound, far off at first but rapidly growing louder, vibrating the ground beneath their feet. Elyra's heart skipped a beat, and she turned her gaze to Kael, who had stiffened at the noise, his hand already at the hilt of his sword.
"It's them," he muttered, his voice low and tight with dread.
"Who?" Elyra asked, her voice barely a whisper. She didn't need to ask again, though. The rising sound of hooves—heavy and fast—told her everything she needed to know. The thundering beat of dragon wings followed, stirring the trees and casting long, distorted shadows across the forest floor.
"They've found us," Kael said under his breath, his eyes narrowed in grim recognition. His voice, usually filled with confidence and command, was laced with a rare tension that Elyra could feel in the pit of her stomach.
A dragon's roar tore through the stillness, its sound deep and primal. Elyra's heart hammered in her chest as the firelight flickered ominously, and the sound of wings flapping grew louder, drowning out everything else. A massive figure soared into the air, silhouetted against the moon—a dragon, its wings sweeping through the trees with unnatural grace. The flames from the campfire reflected off its scaled back, the light making it appear as though the creature itself were a shadow of flame.
Elyra's pulse raced. "The Outlaws," she breathed, her voice barely audible.
Kael's expression darkened, his eyes filled with cold recognition. "The dragon riders. They've come for me."
The dragon descended through the trees, landing with a thunderous crash. The forest seemed to shudder under its weight, the branches above bending and snapping as the beast's claws dug into the earth. Its scales gleamed in the firelight, sharp and menacing, as the rider atop it slid down from the saddle.
The woman was tall and lean, draped in dark armor that glinted ominously in the firelight. Her black cloak billowed behind her as she moved, and the insignia of the rogue faction—The Outlaws of Oris—was emblazoned across her chest. She was dangerous, Elyra could tell just from the way she moved. There was no hesitation, no fear. The woman knew exactly what she was doing.
"Well, well," the rider said, her voice a venomous purr. Her eyes, cold and calculating, flicked over to Kael with the kind of familiarity that made Elyra's blood run cold. "Kael," she hissed. "The ever-proud traitor. Did you think you could escape us?"
Elyra's breath caught in her throat. "What's going on, Kael?" Her voice was sharp with disbelief, but the tension in Kael's eyes told her that she wasn't going to like the answer.
"They've come for me," Kael said darkly, his voice a mix of regret and defiance. "And they won't stop until they have me."
The rider, Alena, stepped forward, a cruel smirk spreading across her face. "Oh, we'll have more than you soon enough, traitor." She shifted her gaze toward Elyra, her eyes narrowing with cold interest. "And we'll take her too."
Elyra's stomach lurched. She wasn't sure who was more dangerous—Alena or the massive dragon looming just behind her, its wings still flapping, eyes glowing with malice.
Alena's voice was like ice. "You don't know what you're a part of, do you, girl?" she sneered, her gaze sweeping over Elyra. "You're more than just a runaway. You've drawn our attention for a reason. And we'll find out why soon enough."
Elyra stepped back, her heart racing. "Why me?" she demanded, barely able to contain the rising panic in her chest.
But before Alena could answer, another dragon landed beside hers with a thunderous crash. Its rider, a tall man clad in heavy black armor, dismounted. His face was hidden beneath a dark mask, but the air around him seemed to crackle with an ominous energy. His dragon growled low, its eyes burning with fiery intensity.
"Enough of this, Alena," the man said, his voice harsh, filled with authority. "We're not here for him." His gaze shifted toward Kael, but his words were not for him. "We're here for the girl."
The words hit Elyra like a punch to the gut. Her mind reeled, her breath catching as she glanced between Kael and the stranger. She knew something was coming, but this? This was beyond anything she had imagined.
"Her?" Kael's voice was a mix of disbelief and frustration. "What the hell do you want with her?"
The masked rider's lips curled into a dark smile. "Oh, we've known about her for quite some time. She's important—whether you want to admit it or not. It's time to take her with us."
Elyra's throat tightened. She didn't know who they were, or what they were talking about, but she knew one thing for sure: they were here for her, and they wouldn't stop until they had her.
Kael moved in front of her, his sword already drawn. "Get away from her."
Alena's eyes glinted with amusement. "You think you can stop us, Kael?" she mocked. "You think you have the strength to fight us all? The Outlaws are not easily defeated."
"Maybe not," Kael said, his eyes narrowing, the sword steady in his hand. "But I'll die trying."
A tense silence fell between them, the crackling of the fire the only sound in the clearing. Elyra's heart was pounding, the sense of danger thickening the air around her. The dragons growled, their massive forms shifting restlessly as the riders sized them up.
Alena stepped forward, a cruel smile twisting her lips. "You're out of time, Kael. We have you, and we have her." She turned to Elyra. "Don't worry. We'll make sure you come with us. No matter how much you scream."
Without warning, the dragons lunged forward, their riders urging them on. The tension exploded into chaos.
Kael moved first, his sword slashing through the air with deadly precision. The battle was on.