He flew across the morning sky to the arena, as swarms of other similarly scaled SkyWings landed down in the stands. A slight joy filled him as he realized he was beside other dragons and not having to worry so much. The only negative aspect was all the thoughts flowing from above and the barbaric thoughts around him. Then he appears, walking into the arena. Clay, Eclipse’s mind leaped.

  I knew he’d be here but wait… where the SeaWing, Tsunami yeah that’s her name. His eyes darted around and upon one of the pylons he noticed the unmistakable blue of her scales and another dragon beside her, a NightWing. His heart leaped even further, can this NightWing read minds too? Does he get visions? Can he enchant things? Oh I just want to take off this stupid ring and go talk to him, but that’d be bad wouldn’t it? He confirmed with the timeline that it would be very bad; regardless he was at least happy to know that there was another NighWing out there and that maybe someday he’d know this dragon.

  Then a piercing cold shot in his mind, bitter, angry, determined. His eyes shifted to the opposite side of the arena where an IceWing, larger than any dragon he’d seen, appeared. A long gash ran down his neck.

  “After last month’s battle with Balze’s army, my dungeons have been brimming with IceWing prisoners. Only five have survived.” Scarlet extended her claw out in the direction of the IceWing. “I present Fjord of the IceWings.”

  Eclipse’s gaze locked onto the dragon chained up beside Scarlet, a RainWing. Her mind was eerily quiet and he thought that maybe she was dead and some freaky stuffed decoration, but that was quickly proven wrong when he noticed the subtle moving of her chest. How is she able to keep her mind so quiet, do thoughts not scream at her? Do thoughts not scream at any other dragons.

  A pang of sadness filled him as he realized he probably was the only dragon who had to deal with screaming anything in his head; but that’s what makes me unique so it’s ok. He reassured himself.

  “And in this corner: I’m sure a legendary Dragonet of Destiny will have no problem surviving my little arena. Isn’t that right, Clay of the MudWing?” Scarlet’s tone barely hid the laugh she was barely trying to hide.

  Her thoughts are so gross and icky, I hate her mind. I just wish I could rip it out, a dragon with thoughts like her’s shouldn’t even exist. Eclipse did his best to ignore Scarlet and the crowd who was cheering for such horrible displays of violence.

  Clay’s mind was nice though, no bad thought or mean thought, just friendly and nice; it’s like being wrapped in a big hug and how nice that would be. Eclipse shut his eyes and for a moment imagined that image. He quite liked it actually.

  “Oh Clay watch out… don’t tell me you forgot what we studied.” The NightWing’s thoughts invaded his; he looked up and didn't have to read the dragon's mind to tell how worried and uneasy he was.

  A clawing pain shot as looked down and saw as Clay got hit by the IceWing’s freezing death breath. He clutched his skull and that elicited a look from a nearby SkyWing.

  What’s his deal? Weirdo. The SkyWing stared a moment longer before looking back at the fight below. Once Eclipse was able to open his eyes again he saw Clay had Fjord pinned beneath him, claw around his neck.

  How? This stupid dragonet, how? I’ll freeze his head off and smash it for good measure if he would just get off me. Fjord’s mind screamed but Clay’s was different. So conflicted and unsure.

  Like me.

  Fjord took the moment to knock Clay over and get on top of him.

  Now you’ll die, you filthy MudWing.

  Eclipse tried to do something, but knew he couldn’t do anything, nothing to enchant, now way to jump in there without blowing his cover. Oh Clay please don’t die, I didn’t even get to know you yet. He pleaded.

  “NOOOOO!” A voice cried from above.

  The whole crowd turned to see Tsunami as she leaped from the pylon but was stopped by the restraints around her.

  “Don’t… hurt… Clay!” She struggled futilely against them.

  What an annoying dragonet, ruining my fight like that, oh she’ll be next. Scarlet chucked to herself.

  Now’s my chance. A voice cried out in his mind.

  Black beads coated the side of Fjord and after a moment the sharpest pain ever filled his head Fjord cried out in unimaginable agony as whatever landed on him corroded into his scales. Eyes were on the moment for sure, but many drifted to this weird SkyWing who was clutching his head and writhing in his seat, clutching his skull like he’d gone mad.

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Soon Fjord agony ceased as his life did and it left Eclipse feeling the empty void of nothing that followed. He tried to shake it off for the moment but realized that one dragon’s eyes were on me and they were the eyes of a dragon Eclipse knew didn’t want. He quickly flew up out of the arena and hid in a low cave.

  The next morning he went back to the arena, there were less dragons; ones that seemed important and Scarlet.

  “Where’s our defendant? Someone fetch her!” Scarlet barked with a little too much enthusiasm.

  Two guards drug out a dragon and pinned her to the arena floor. You shouldn’t be here. His mind kept telling him, but he tried to ignore it.

  “Loyal subjects! This dragon, Kestrel, stands accused of the highest treason — disobeying me.” Scarlet roared in complete earnest and Eclipse had to try and not giggle from how ridiculous she sounded.

  I could disobey you anyday and what would you do? What even could you do? He mocked to himself.

  “I think the facts are clear, your majesty. Kestrel disobeyed you and she deserves the longest and most painful execution possible.” The dragon on Scarlet’s left announced.

  Oh please don’t, at least not here… oh that would be awful. He still hadn’t fully gotten over Fjord and another would probably make it worse.

  “Your majesty. I do have a few words to say in the prisoner's defense.” An old dragon croaked out.

  Scarlet rolled her eyes, “if you must.”

  “You ordered Kestrel to destroy her egg with twins; one had no fire and the other too much…”

  Too much fire? What does that mean?

  Eclipse could hear Scarlet just wanting to rip the old dragon apart. Does he think I don’t know this? Why even defend her? There’s nothing to defend, she disobeyed me and that’s final.

  “She fled with the egg and you caught her. She chose to kill the one with no fire as you promise to let her live if she chose one of her dragonets. Yet you ordered us to kill her anyway. She tried to take her daughter but she burned Kestrel and so she dropped the dragonet and left it at your mercy.” The dragon finished.

  “So admit Kestrel disobeyed me, which was what I said, which means you’re wasting my time and everyone else’s Osprey.” Scarlet said coldly.

  “But you reversed your order when she did obey.”

  “So? I can do that. I’m the queen.”

  You’re a monster is what you are. Osprey thought. “Kestrel was always faithful to you. She always followed orders and what did you do? Order her to kill her own dragonet. You may be queen but that was too far.”

  You dare say that to me? Ohhh I’m going to place your head in pike after this. Her mind hissed.

  Then from the sky a dragon who’s scales glowed an iridescent orange flew to Scarlet. Eclipse tried to read her mind but it was all hot and flaming, it felt like sticking his head in lava.

  “Tell them it isn’t true! Tell them my mother wanted to kill me but Queen Scarlet saved me.” The dragon cried.

  Another disobedient snake, can anyone listen to a single order I give? “Surprise, your dragonet survived and she works for me.” Scarlet smiled down to Kestrel and then turned to the dragon. “Peril, you're not supposed to be here.”

  “You lied to me! You said she was dead!” Peril cried.

  “Come now Peril,” she cooed. “Which would you rather me have said? That your mother survived and wished she would’ve killed you instead because you're an unlovable monster and that’s why she never returned? Is that what you want to hear?”

  That’s not what I think at all, you lying, conniving vulture. Kestrel cried in her mind.

  Eclipse wished he could tell Peril that, while her mind was hot he could feel that bitter cold of loneliness that permeated it. He wanted to give her a hug though something told him that would not go well.

  “Who kept you alive all these years? Who fed you those black rocks and made you her champion? Aren’t I a better mother anyway?” Scarlet smiled that smile that made Eclipse’s scales crawl.

  Peril looked to Kestrel and back to Scarlet. “I call upon the tradition of the champions shield. I want to fight for my mother.”

  “What?” Scarlet growled.

  “As your champion I can stand for any condemned dragon if I win you have to let her go.” Peril pointed at her.

  “Where did you hear that old law?” Her voice dripped with venom. Osprey! Her mind screamed. Scarlet quickly grabbed Osprey in her claws and dragged him above the arena.

  If the future’s didn’t tell him what fate was about to befall this poor dragon, the thoughts racing through both his and Scarlet’s mind did. He tried to tether to any other mind but they were all too quiet to silence the anger and fear coming from the dragons.

  Eclipse grabbed his head as he felt the fear overloading in his head until it ended abruptly with a sickening splat. The small amount of dragons in the arena were now definitely focused on him.

  “The champion asked to stand for the prisoner and so I will choose her next opponent. If Peril wins, Kestrel goes free, if not I’ll have a dead champion. But at least I’ll be able to execute Kestrel right after.”

  Peril flew away from the arena and most of the dragons dispersed; Eclipse tried to leave but then Scarlet’s voice boomed across.

  “You, dragon who’s been gripping his head, come here.” Eclipse froze completely. After a long pause Scarlet called again. “Did you not hear me, I asked you to come here.”

  With an internal sigh, Eclipse stalked silent to Scarlet. She looked down at him with a smirk, “What’s your name? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before yesterday.”

  “I’m… Falcon.” He said softly.

  “Hm? I didn’t hear you?”

  “I’m Falcon.” There was a long pause. “Your majesty.”

  “Ah Falcon, well you interest me, I’d like you to come with me back to my palace.” Her tone was sweet but he knew her intentions were anything but.

  Two guards surrounded his sides and together the four of them flew back to the sky palace and a sinking dread filled in his stomach.