FOREVER KNIGHTS: #4 Battling Black Roses

Mane Country (Immortal for three hundred eleven years)

LUCIEN

Lucien Sabias coasted the sky on soundless wings. Protected more by the night sky then the others because of his dark gray coloring. Not easily spotted in darkness.

Why do the others feel this shape is such a curse? They often said as much. Their beasts never far, writhing beneath the surface.

Ah, but this is where I’m different. Even as a mortal, he’d spent many a day staring at a sky he longed to possess. Savoring the feel of a horse racing a meadow.

This, the flying, is special. I cannot regret this. Not ever. Lucien relished his beast.

I don’t fear it controlling me. I could fly forever. He flipped to coast backward, changing the direction of his wings to allow him to float on the breeze. Such peace up here.

Ezra, his little sister, had told him often enough that he was too wild for his skin.

She was always right about me. About everything.

If I’d only known. He sobered quickly at thoughts of his sister.

He snorted, emanating a puff of smoke. Spined head moving like a snake as he checked for threats. There’s always fear of an attack. For too long, Radix had whittled away their numbers. His minions tearing them from the sky.

Or driving in a sword when our back is turned. Chavias’ face flashed in his mind and his jaw tightened.

A sound near the smoky village below drew his attention. A woman’s scream.

Dropping, he landed on human feet. A smooth transition. Because I do it often. His boots smashing the grass. Wings falling down his back in cloak that dragged over dewy grass. Cautiously closing in, he drew near enough to see an old woman next to her prancing horse.

She moved in circles shakily trying to climb back atop her horse.

He emerged from the shrubbery to offer her a hand up.

She rose on shaking limbs. Stringy white hair tousled around her flushed face and terrified eyes.

He turned to tend her white mare. But the barest whisper of sound drew his attention. He stiffened. Knowing that sound anywhere. A dagger slipping from its sheath.

He turned quick enough to receive the dagger in the shoulder rather than his heart, as intended. He yelped and reared back.

She shifted her form. No longer a woman but a bleak creature covered in jagged spines and black mottle. A Firoque.

Red snake eyes watched him intently, as she yanked her dagger free of his shoulder. She jumped on him with all the ferocity of a rabid animal.

He managed to toss it into the trees. Leaping to his feet, he tried to change into the charcoal dragon but couldn’t. Glancing down he saw dampness pouring over his shoulder and hands. I’m bleeding badly. Weakening too fast.

He already blinked heavily to maintain his focus on the quarry circling him. Glancing up he grunted as the thing rushed him again. Moving so quickly he barely saw it.

He sighed and watched. Waiting for the deathblow.

But his peripheral caught something moving equally as fast parallel to them. It emerged in a hurricane of leaves and brush. Lunging through the foliage and roaring as it ferociously bit and shredded the spines on the Cimmerii’s back like nothing more than kindling.

Sebastian. Ever the Great Protector.

Lucien shook his head, forcing himself to displace the pain. Stumbling back before catching himself, he clutched his wounded arm. Watching the Cimmerii toss the panther aside.

Gold eyes focused on the Cimmerii as Bast relentlessly returned in his attack. Over and over.

Lucien took two long steps. By the time his foot hit the ground on the third it’d turned to the great talons of the dragon. A massive gray beast crouched in place of the wounded man, one wing drooping where he was damaged. He fought to lift it in flight. Staring at the dark creature below him struggling to shake the panther which kept lunging back.

The Cimmerii was muscled with sinewy back legs and short clawed arms, managing to violently shake the panther several times. Getting a solid kick on the feline’s side.

Just enough to piss Bast off. Lucien watched the panther’s eyes darken with determination. Well-aware of what lurked in the oversized feline.

For a moment Lucien pitied the Cimmerii. He flew low and stretched to sever the thing’s head from its shoulders in a single snap of his jaws.

The Cimmerii’s body slumped lifelessly.

Battle over. Lucien shrunk back to human and slid to the ground in exhaustion. Opposite him the panther lay breathing shakily. Resting on its side as it changed into a gold-haired man. Without the thick coat of shining fur, Lucien saw his friend bled severely from several wounds down his chest and abdomen.