Devourers attack, p.5
Devourer's Attack, page 5
But the shark-dragon did not spit them out. Instead it made a gurgling sound that might have been a laugh, and threw its head back.
The golden bubble, with Lance and Infinity still inside, slid down the shark-dragon’s gullet. Lance was more shocked than afraid, and it all happened so fast that by the time he processed the fact that the shark-dragon was swallowing them whole, they were already halfway down to its stomach. As the bubble rolled, Lance and Infinity were tossed around like clothes in a washing machine, round and round, until the golden bubble landed with an audible thud somewhere in the shark-dragon’s giant stomach.
Because the shark-dragon was translucent, and its tail-light was still glowing, Lance could see through the shark-dragon and into the fathomless depths of the Deep Dark. He could also see exactly where they were in its body.
‘How did that happen?’ he exclaimed, gently pushing at the interior of the golden bubble. ‘Did you know you could do that?’
Infinity shook her head, her horns still faintly glowing. ‘I have never done that before. I do not even know how I did it! I was just focusing on trying to protect you, and pop! The bubble appeared.’
‘I wish you had known how to do it before we came in the Deep Dark,’ said Lance. ‘Would have been useful for getting down here.’
Infinity wrinkled her snout. ‘You know I am still learning how to control my golden elixir! Even when I use it, there can be unexpected results.’
‘How come I can see the golden bubble? And your horns?’
‘Because we are inside the shark-dragon now, and its skin is protecting us from the power of the Deep Dark. I told you, because the shark-dragon was hatched here, it has evolved to thrive in the Deep Dark.’
‘What else is down here?’ Lance gazed into the inky liquid beyond, trying to see anything.
‘More monsters than I could count. Many creatures of the dark have made their home here, but they do not bother the rest of Dragon’s Claw, or even the rest of the world. Instead they stay here, waiting for prey to wander in. It is not a safe place, which is why recruits are not allowed in. But sometimes, we find allies in the deep.’ Infinity thwacked her tail against the side of the golden bubble. ‘However, the shark-dragon is not an ally. As you can tell since it tried to eat us.’
‘How are we going to get out of here?’ said Lance. ‘We can’t stay inside this bubble, inside this shark-dragon, for ever! The others are waiting for us! The star is waiting for us! And we need to rescue the Dragon Force!’
‘We will get out,’ said Infinity. ‘We just need to figure out a way.’
‘I think the only way out is through.’ Lance’s voice was steely with resolve. ‘This shark-dragon swallowed us, and intends to make us its meal one way or another, and we can’t let that happen.’
He eyed Infinity’s wings, which were currently flat against her body. ‘The edges of your wings are quite sharp, right?’
Infinity nodded.
‘You know how you can shift colours… what if you could do more than that? Do you think if you focused you could shift other things, such as make your wings sharper?’
Infinity’s eyes widened. ‘I have never tried that, but I suppose I could.’
Lance swallowed. ‘Sharp enough to cut our way out of here?’
‘Through the skin of the shark-dragon? That… might work.’
‘I think it is our only way out,’ said Lance.
Lance and Infinity sat for a moment in silence, and then the shark-dragon’s stomach began to rumble and roil, and something covered in scales that had been chewed up landed on top of the golden bubble. It was unclear what the creature had been before the shark-dragon ate it.
‘Right. That settles it,’ said Lance, dusting his hands off and managing to stand up in the bubble. ‘We need to get out of here and fast.’
Infinity closed her eyes, her horns glowed gold and Lance saw the edges of her wings sharpen to razor-fine points. ‘Be careful,’ she said as she opened her eyes. ‘I do not want to cut you. I do not know how sharp I have made them.’
‘Exactly as sharp as they should be,’ said Lance approvingly.
‘If you get on my back and hold on tight, I should be able to angle a wing to use it as a blade, and…’ Infinity trailed off.
‘And save us,’ said Lance firmly. He didn’t relish the idea of slicing through the belly of the shark-dragon, but it was the only way out – the only way they could survive.
‘It shouldn’t have swallowed us,’ said Infinity. ‘It knew we were still alive, and it still swallowed us.’
‘It probably didn’t think we would stay alive. But that is not our fault,’ said Lance, carefully climbing into his usual spot on Infinity’s back. ‘Are you ready?’
‘I will go through this bubble first, and then through the shark-dragon, and then we will be back in the Deep Dark. And it will be, well, it will be dark again without the shark-dragon’s light.’
‘I would rather be in the dark than in the belly of a shark-dragon.’
‘A very good point.’ Infinity readied herself, and Lance felt her tense. And then she leaped up from the bottom of the golden bubble and with her wing straight out, like a blade, she punctured the bubble.
For one brief moment they were in the belly of the beast, and Lance was overwhelmed by the stench. Infinity kept moving, and her razor-sharp wing soon sliced through the thick translucent skin of the shark-dragon.
As they burst out of its side, the shark-dragon let out a screech that reverberated in the water, and then it went limp.
Infinity, watch out! Lance steered them away just in time. The creature’s massive tail swung down in front of them as the shark-dragon pinwheeled down into the depths. When the light on its tail went out, Lance and Infinity were plunged back into darkness.
For a moment they floated in the still silence, and Lance found the darkness strangely soothing.
Are you okay? He could feel Infinity trembling slightly. He didn’t blame her. His head was spinning from what had just happened.
I am glad we are alive, Infinity thought back.
Me too. Lance focused on his bond with Infinity and tried to channel calmness towards her. She must have sensed it because he felt a rush of warmth and affection from her. You did a great job, Infinity.
Thank you, Lance.
Lance tried to listen for the song of the star, but he could no longer hear it. Do you think the star is still down here?
It must be. Once a star has fallen, it does not rise again. We will find it. Somewhere here in the Deep Dark.
Guilt prickled at Lance. It was his fault that they had been caught by the shark-dragon, his fault they still had not found the star. I’m sorry I fell for the shark-dragon’s trap. If I hadn’t been so hasty, if I had listened to you, we probably would have already found the star by now.
Lance, that was not your fault. You thought it was the star. But…
Lance could tell that Infinity wanted to tell him something but was worried it would hurt his feelings.
You can tell me, he reassured her.
But this is only the start of our journey to rescue the Dragon Force. You must trust your instincts, but also be on your guard so you are not so easily tricked. Listen to your heart and your head, and you will not be led astray again.
Lance hung his head, glad that his dragon could not see his shame.
It is a lot to ask of you, Infinity went on. And we are both young, but I believe we can master our skills, master ourselves, to be the best dragon and human we can be. That is the only way we will ever win against the Devourer and save the others.
I’ll be more focused. I won’t be tricked again. But… right now I don’t even know how we will find the star. I can’t hear it. The song has gone silent.
Play your erhu. The star will hear it and will sing back. Just as it did in the sky. The star would not have fallen unless it was important for us to find it.
It is hard to play in the deep dark, Lance admitted.
Close your eyes, Infinity suggested. Then it will not feel as if you are playing in the dark.
So Lance did. He swung his erhu around so he could play it, and closed his eyes. It was still difficult, because the inky water of the Deep Dark was so thick, but he played anyway. He sent out a song of searching, a song that asked for an answer.
And then the answer came. Lance heard the song of the star loud and clear, and he let it wash over him.
I knew we would find the song again. I never doubted you, Lance, Infinity told him through their bond. He could feel her pride, and her joy, at his success, and it made him feel as if he could do anything.
Lance slung his erhu around to his back again. Come on, Infinity. Let’s follow that music and find that star!
The Starlight Dragon
Lance and Infinity swam through the Deep Dark, following the song of the star.
The song grew louder, and clearer, and Lance knew that they were close.
Then he saw it. And he wondered how he ever could have thought that the flickering light on the end of the shark-dragon’s tail was the star.
The star’s light was so bright and so beautiful that it felt like looking at hope itself. It shone in the endless dark, calling to Lance and Infinity.
We found it, he thought, relief surging through him. We found the star.
As they approached it and Lance shielded his eyes from its brightness, the song grew quieter.
How will we speak to it? Lance wondered to Infinity.
I have never spoken to a star, Infinity thought back. I do not know what will happen. But stars have ways. It will not have fallen all this way unless it had a plan. Perhaps you should play your erhu again. It seems to respond to that.
They paused a respectful distance from the star, and Lance tentatively began to play.
In response, the star began to glow even brighter, and then, suddenly, it shattered into thousands of shining fragments. To Lance’s amazement, the shimmering fragments reformed into the shape of a dragon.
This star was the spirit of a dragon. Lance could feel Infinity’s awe, and it matched his own.
The Starlight Dragon stretched and shifted, until it turned its head to gaze upon Lance and Infinity. It was the only light anywhere that Lance could see.
And when it spoke, he heard it in his mind, the way he heard Infinity.
Hello, little Infinite Dragon. Hello, little Lance Lo.
Lance bristled slightly at being called little, but then he supposed that to a dragon, he was little. And especially to an ancient spirit of a dragon who has been living as a star.
I heard your call, and I came. We stars have watched what has been happening in this strange New World, and we are worried.
I’m worried too, Lance answered.
As you should be. There are things that even the stars fear, and those things are coming. It has been a long time since I have been a dragon – my spirit turned into a star centuries ago – but I still have a dragon heart. I still want what is best for the dragons. And you, Lance Lo – I can tell that you do as well.
And as for you, Infinite Dragon, your time is coming. You must be prepared to do what is asked of you. You must remember that you are the one who can save humans and dragons. This is no false prophecy. The stars have long been waiting for your arrival.
And I know your mother, little Infinite Dragon. All dragon spirits who turn into stars know each other. If she could have, she would have fallen from her place in the sky to speak to you herself, but only the most ancient stars, such as me, can shake free from the sky. One day though, you will see her again. For her love stretches across time and realms.
Lance felt Infinity’s pride and sorrow and love all mingling together at the Starlight Dragon’s words. He remembered Infinity telling him that her mother had died in battle when she was still in her egg, and Infinity had been raised by a group of dragons known as the Diamond Clan. Until one day, the Diamond Clan had mysteriously disappeared, and then Infinity had kept herself hidden on Dragon’s Claw, the only place that truly felt like home to her, until Lance had arrived. And then she had come out of hiding to find her heart-bonded human. Now she was hearing that she wasn’t alone after all. That her mother was a star, and that she was watching over her.
The Starlight Dragon kept speaking. All the stars believe in you, Little Lance and little Infinite Dragon. I would not have sacrificed my place in the sky to come down to these depths if I did not believe that you two, along with your friends, are the key to defeating the Devourer.
We have long sensed his arrival. Even before the Dragon Realm fell on the Human Realm, there has been a sense in the skies that something else is coming. Something that can destroy us all.
And so we began to sing our song of warning. You, little Infinite Dragon, heard it. And then, lo and behold, as the humans say, Lance Lo heard it too.
Did… this ancient Starlight Dragon just make a pun? Lance asked Infinity incredulously.
I did indeed, the Starlight Dragon responded before Infinity could. And do not look so surprised. I can read every thought in your mind that you have and have ever had. Do not try to hide any thoughts or feelings – it is impossible. And in my long existence, I have seen the thoughts of so many humans, so many dragons. But you two will be the last I speak to. I cannot return to my home in the sky. After this, I will scatter again, and where my spirit will go, I do not know. That is something unknown even to the stars.
Tears prickled at the back of Lance’s eyes as he realized the extent of the star’s sacrifice.
Do not let my sacrifice, my journey into the unknown, be in vain. I will tell you now what the stars have seen. The knowledge we’ve gained from our vantage point high in the sky. We see all.
The Starlight Dragon gazed directly at Lance, and he felt as if it was looking into his very soul.
We know where the so-called Petrifiers have taken the Dragon Force. Where the Devourer is heading. He is slow, but he is coming. And he has been preparing. This might seem sudden to humans, but not to those of us who have the gift of time. He has long been sending his minions ahead to sow discontent. He sought out those with cruel hearts, such as that man turned beetle. And he has been building a den.
A den? Lance burst out in surprise. The word ‘den’ conjured foxes and cosy forts in his head.
A den. A place where the Devourer can rest after his long journey across the cosmos. And this den, the Devourer’s Den, is where his Petrifiers will have brought the Dragon Force. Where they will be keeping all that power for the Devourer to feast on when he arrives.
Well, where is the den? Lance wanted to zoom out of the Deep Dark and go straight to the Devourer’s Den.
Do not be so hasty, little Lance Lo. And Lance remembered how Infinity had just told him the same thing – that he needed to think before leaping into action. Simply knowing where the Devourer’s Den is will not be enough to invade it. It is very cleverly hidden.
The den itself is made of rocks and bones and ice, floating high in the sky. Not as high as the stars, but hidden among the clouds. I do not know how a human can survive such heights, where the air is so thin, but I also never thought a human could survive the depths of the Deep Dark. You will need dragon magic, but more than that, you will need courage. And wits. Because the Devourer’s Den is hidden in plain sight. It is protected by a cloud of poisonous gas. The Devourer and the Petrifiers are immune to it, but it will confuse anyone else. Even dragons. But if you are able to make your way through the mist maze, in the centre you will find the Devourer’s Den itself. And that is where you will find the Dragon Force.
So it is impossible. Lance tried not to feel dejected, but he couldn’t help it.
The Starlight Dragon reared up and snarled at Lance, and he jerked back in fear.
Have you not been listening to what I have been saying? You and Infinity are the key. Do not give up. Conquer your fear. Use your wits! It will be hard. You might die. But if you survive, and you do defeat the Devourer, you will have saved all of human and dragon kind. This is bigger than saving the Dragon Force, little Lance Lo.
I see in your heart you have yearned to be a hero – well, here is your chance. Take it. Do not disappoint me. Do not disappoint your dragon. Do not disappoint yourself. You can do this. You have a dragon on your side. Not just any dragon. The Infinite Dragon. Do not fear your destiny. Embrace it.
Lance wanted to believe the Starlight Dragon’s words, wanted to live up to what it was asking. But he still felt so overwhelmed. How will we even find it if it is hidden in the sky?
Little Lance Lo, you must be prepared. Do not seek the den until you are ready to defeat the Petrifiers. And then, when you are ready to go to the den, play your erhu. The stars will hear your call, and their song will guide you to the cloud. From the outside it will appear as a storm-cloud, but once you pass through it, you will see it for what it is. Survive the poison mist, make your way through the maze, and you will find the Devourer’s Den. The stars wish they could do more, but all we can do is guide you with our song, and watch from above.
One of the starlight fragments from the end of the Starlight Dragon’s tail began to drift away into the Deep Dark.
I am running out of time. Once a star falls and takes on their dragon spirit form, they do not last long. I will turn into yet another form, one that is a mystery to me.
The Starlight Dragon turned to Infinity. Do not forget what I have said. Do not forget your own destiny. You must master your own magic to achieve your true greatness. With your human, with Lance Lo, you can do it. Be the Infinite Dragon you are meant to be.
Then the Starlight Dragon touched her shimmering nose to Infinity’s own.
All dragons live for ever in one way or another. Make your infinity count.
I will leave you with one last gift, little Lance Lo. Hold out your left hand. The Starlight Dragon flicked her tail towards him, and a piece of starlight drifted in his direction, landing in his outstretched hand. Lance watched in awe as it melted into his palm, and for a moment his whole body lit up brightly enough to shine even in the Deep Dark. It faded after a moment, leaving only a small shining starburst scar on his left palm.
