Strong Wings and Feathers | The Runaway Treasure

Prologue

"You know what you have to do, then?" Depthin asked, glaring down at Vakita, whose neck was between the slimy talons of the big, old dragon. 

"Y-yes, sir," he stammered, gasping for breath. He had never imagined himself here, being told to do something he really, really, didn't want to do. But what other choice did he have? It was either abide by Depthin's rules and do what he asks or. . . poor Lilac, he couldn't let that happen to her. He closed his eyes tightly and managed to add, "I'll do what I have to do for you to let her go."

Vakita felt the strong dragon's grip loosen, and when he opened his eyes he saw him smugly smiling down at him. His eyebrow perked up, "Anything?"

The golden griffin's blood ran cold at the sinister look on his face, but he truly would do anything for her. They had made a vow and he was going to keep it, no matter what it meant for his own well-being. "Anything." He echoed as the dragon slithered off of him, then sat down in front of a big map he had placed on a table.

"Good," his tongue flicked in and out as he studied the map, Vakita sat up and rubbed his neck with his talons; some feathers fell to the ground. His eyes darted around the room nervously. Maybe if he could find where he was keeping her, he could free her quickly and then dash out of the cave. Hope started to rise in his throat as he saw a hall leading somewhere. Other than the entrance that was on the ceiling, the small, griffin sized doorway was the only way out of the room, it seemed.

Depthin must have noticed Vakita looking at it because he stalked up beside him and put his mouth close to his ear. "Follow." He whispered, with a hissing sound that felt like it was slicing right through his own skin. The old dragon then slid into the opening with grace and disappeared with a flick of his long, thin tail.

Reluctantly, Vakita followed, watching his step as his talons and paws lightly tapped against the stone floor. The hole was big enough for both of them, but barely. His tail lightly swished side to side as he moved, but every time it did he felt cold stone touch him and his lean, feathery shoulders nearly brushed against either side of the tunnel.

Did I just make a mistake? he thought as he traveled through the winding space, fully aware that he was right on Depthin's tail, I mean, could I have escaped through the sky-hole entrance when Depthin ran through here? Or would he have known and then came and caught me? Or he would have just killed Lilac right then and there, wherever she is, at least.

His trail of thoughts continued even when the dragon and griffin both emerged from the tunnel into a big open area. A lava stream flowed slowly across the room in a small crack in the rock. Shelves were placed all along the walls and books were scattered across the floor.

Vakita's eyes danced all around him, trying to take in everything he could. He saw no other possible exits or tunnels to other rooms besides the hole they just came out of. He then looked across the lava stream and all of a sudden his legs felt weak. He started to tremble from head to talon to paw, as he gazed wide-eyed at Lilac. She was unconscious. Or dead. He shook the thought out of his mind and studied her. No injuries that he could see and her eyes were closed peacefully. His heart started to slowly sink down to the bottom of his stomach as he stared intently at her dark brown feathers and fur. He couldn't see a sign of breathing anywhere.

Grief, fury, guilt, and many other emotions flooded Vakita's brain as he continued to stare at her seemingly lifeless body. He turned to the smirking, old dragon and narrowed his eyes; a small growl was starting to emerge in his throat.

"She's alive," Depthin said, sounding amused. He took a graceful leap over the lava stream and circled the griffin, his tongue flicking in and out.