I knew he’d find me.
Winging my way toward the mountains, lost amid the low-lying cloudbank, I mentally planned how I’d carry out the execution.He’s injured. He hasn’t had time to heal. Max broke the bones in his right arm, as a dragon, that arm will still be useless. I’m lighter, faster, and more agile.
Despite my hiding in the clouds, Carter pounced before I knew he was there.
I heard his swift intake of breath.
Dropping my right wing, I banked hard at a sharp downward angle.
Carter’s burst of flame passed me by without harm.
Knowing he’d follow, I barrel rolled left, then right, while still descending faster than a falcon. I suddenly spread my wings, then ducked left. Carter blasted past me, his wings furled, his talons out and prepared to rip me to shreds.
“Fuck,” he screamed when I vanished. “Fuck.”
I beat my way above the cloud cover, the brilliant stars glittering, while the new moon rose in the east. Higher I flew, gaining altitude, the bitterly cold air slicing into my lungs. In my swift glance back, I observed Carter struggling to follow. His wings worked hard, yet he couldn’t seem to gain on me.
Why?
Wary, I circled over him, watching, studying his erratic flight. Just when I realized he faked the handicap, Carter sped up, his jaws gaping, spewing fire that licked my tail.
I folded my wings, dropping faster than a rock. As I blew past him, I slashed his eye and muzzle with my talons, shredding his face.
He screamed.
I laughed.
“Come on, brother,” I taunted as Carter swore, using his broken right arm to stem the flow of blood streaming from his face. “Shall we dance?”
Hoping I’d blinded that eye, I spread my wings once I broke through the clouds and beat my way toward the not too distant mountains. Snow and bitter wind whipped tears into my eyes as I pushed my way straight into both.
“I’ll fucking kill you,” Carter roared from just behind me.
Not if I kill you first.
His flames sought my tail, forcing me to dive yet again. He followed, bellowing, making enough noise to deafen any local wildlife within hearing. I doubted many humans lived at this elevation. I rolled left, dove right, thrust my wings into flying up and over, upside down, in an effort to get behind him.
Carter hugged my rear like a curse.
“Time to kill him then.”
I flew over a tall peak, buried in snow, his flames melting a huge swath in his effort to burn my hide from my bones. His gasps for breath said he was winded, exhausted, but I refused to believe it. Soon, I’d grow tired, weak, and once that happened he’d be on me like stink on shit. I scanned the mountains, dimly seen amid the thick snow, and tried to create a plan that kept me alive.
Is that a steep cliff?
Instantly, an idea hatched within my brain.
Speeding up, gaining momentum, putting more distance between my brother and me, I dove headlong down the cliff’s rocky face.
And grabbed the cliff’s flank in my talons mere feet below the rim.
I had seconds to prepare, to launch my body and my flames the instant Carter dove in my wake.
He dove in my wake.
My long gust of flames scorched him from his throat to his balls.
Carter screamed in agony, hurtling downward, his wings useless, his hide on fire.
