Loric got up and charged at Sabrus. Zachariah's men were trying to tie the dragon down. As Sabrus flapped his wings, Teon and his team shielded their eyes.
Loric grabbed one of the ropes that dangled from Sabrus' side. Sabrus dragged him until he grabbed into a tree. Benimaru grabbed another rope on the opposite side.
They both pulled in unison, letting Sabrus crash into the ground. Loric and Benimaru stood on his wings and pinned him down.
The wind from his wings had forced the airborne scouts to land. Norma had separated from the others. She was a little further away from them. As she was limping back she saw something run past her.
It was so fast she only caught a glimpse of it.
Sabrus was incapacitated, Teon unsheathed a dagger and walked toward Sabrus.
"Dragon blade. I knew this would come in handy," Teon said and slashed Sabrus's neck. Blood poured and splashed on Teon.
"Yes, yes, finally I will have my dragon's breath," Teon said with arms spread out wide.
"No, no, what have you done?"
A voice said. Teon turned and saw Laud. Loric had already seen him, he slowly walked toward him.
When he was sure it was not his eyes playing tricks on him, he hugged him.
Laud walked past him to Sabrus.
"I wish I could have taught you all I know. Maybe in another lifetime. It seems this was always the right penance, do not cry. You gave me purpose, look for others and do the same for them, "
Sabrus said and Laud started crying.
"Who is that? Get away from my dragon," Teon said pointing a gun at Laud. Teon fired but Loric speared him onto the ground, letting his bullet miss its intended target.
Benimaru lunged at Loric and pushed him off Teon. He quickly got up and picked up the gun. He pointed it where he last saw Laud but there was no one there.
He noticed Laud in front of him. He pointed the gun at him and Laud swung. A couple of Teon's fingers and a piece of the gun fell.
Blood from his neck soaked his blouse. He placed his hand on his neck before noticing his wound. As he tried to stop the bleeding, he looked at Laud who was holding his dagger.
His precious dagger had sliced through everything like butter.
Norma arrived shortly, to see Laud standing over Teon's body. Meanwhile, Loric and Benimaru continued to fight.
"Hey," Norma said and Laud turned around. He quickly ran when he saw her. Benimaru threw Loric against a tree, breaking it on impact. He then saw Teon on the ground and rushed to help.
Loric got up and dusted himself off. He looked at Benimaru kneeling beside Teon. He panned around as he looked for Laud. When he saw no trace of him, he ran into the woods. He disappeared into the woods.
As Loric ran through the woods, he saw silhouettes. He got closer and noticed Markeen and Shaban hiding.
"You told me my brother was dead. You said he was eaten by that dragon," Loric said as his eyes glowed with the cardinal cross.
"He is alive, I swear I thought…we thought he was dead," Shaban's voice broke as he said. He looked at Markeen but she said nothing.
There was a gust of wind, all they saw after that was a blur in between the trees.
"We need to get as far away from here as possible," Markeen said after Loric left.
As Loric weaved through the woods he saw Laud from a distance. He was sitting in front of a saloon on the outskirts of town.
He stopped immediately he got out of the woods. He slowly walked toward Laud.
"You killed him, the only dragon who bonded with me, and you killed him," Laud said as tears ran down his cheeks.
"I am sorry, I heard he killed you. I was so hurt I wanted to avenge you. I thought it would make me feel better," Loric said and sat by Laud.
"I want them to hurt like I am now," Laud said and wiped the tears off his face.
"I would be right back," Loric said and ran back into the woods. He returned minutes later on a Griffin. He asked Laud to get on and they flew to Zachariah's farm.
When they got there they saw two Griffins outside. As they walked to Zachariah's farmhouse. They run into two of his men who were scouts on the hunt.
They greeted them and kept walking. When they got to the front door, they looked back. The two men they passed by were looking at them as they walked the Griffin to the barn.
Loric waved at them and they awkwardly waved back.
Zachariah opened the door and Loric grabbed him and forced his way inside.
"He is to blame, he organized the hunt," Lorov said as he held him against the wall.
"I don't know what this is all about. I was just doing my job. Besides, my money told me everything turned out okay. I lost some men but you guys got your dragon," Zachariah said with both hands up.
" '…Turned out okay?' people are dead," Laud said and further pushed him against the wall. There was a sickening crack as Laud kept pushing.
Zachariah frowned as he winced in pain.
"Look kid, they knew what they were signing up for. Their families will get paid.
Besides, I thought you would be happy. Oh, he screwed you over. He cleared his debt and left you high and dry," Zachariah said and burst into laughter, then groaned when he started feeling pain.
"What are you talking about," Laud asked.
"I am talking about your friend. He sold the location of the dragon to me. He cleared his debt, he is a free man. Honestly, I was surprised. I thought the payment would last another generation," Zachariah said then went on to mumble to himself.
Laud let go of him.
"Let's go," Laud said and walked out and Loric followed him.
"What is wrong, I thought you wanted to make him hurt," Loroc screamed as he followed his brother.
They got on the Griffin, this time Laud led the way. They flew to Pisco's house.
"He must have followed me to the woods and saw Sabrus. Did he know about the hunt? Is that why he brought me here, was all that a distraction?"
Laud paced questioning everything.
"Let's go, let's leave this town, city. Let's get as far away as possible," Laud said and got on the Griffin.
"Are you sure?" Loric asked.
"Yes, No, I really don't know," Laud said as the Griffin trotted around.
"Give me a minute," Loric said and went around the building and returned minutes later.
"I needed to pass water," Loric explained and got on the Griffin. They took off leaving Piek in their rear view.
Back at Sabrus camp, Norma could not find her Griffin. Benimaru had Teon's body on his shoulder.
"What do we tell his brother?"
Norma asked and sighed
"The truth,"
"Draco would kill us. I should have stayed back at the farm," Norma said as they walked out of the woods. A thick vapor-like substance left the mouth of Sabrus.
It floated through the forest.
"How are you not scared?" Norma asked just before the vapor-like substance entered her mouth.
Benimaru watched as she choked. Her hands flailed as she tried to get his help.
"You would be fine," Benimaru said and walked away. Norma fell to the ground as she fought for her life. She lost consciousness only to gasp seconds later.
She got up from the ground and took a couple of deep breaths. She dusted herself off and hurried to catch up with Benimaru.
"What was that?" Norma asked when she caught up with him.
"Dragon's breath," Benimaru said without eye contact.
"Was it the same for you?"
"Yes"
"Is that how you knew I would be fine?"
Norma asked.
"No, people have died from getting a dragon's breath. I know you are strong though," Benimaru explained and tried to continue their previous conversation.
Pisco was at his rundown home sleeping. He smelt smoke and coughed. The smoke was thick it suffocated him out of his dream. Pisco woke up in a room filled with smoke.
With his arms spread out wide he tried to find his way out. Even as smoke stung his eyes, he was able to find an exit.
Unfortunately, it was engulfed in flames. He was returned to find an alternative route. A heavy beam fell on him. It pinned him down trapping him in the burning building.
Pisco screamed for help but there was no response. He continued screaming but after a while there was silence.
The only sound that came from the building was the roaring of the flames and the crackling sound as it fed on the building and all it could eat.