Chereads / Reaching for the Clouds / Chapter 4 - Amiel’s Second Hunt

Chapter 4 - Amiel’s Second Hunt

Amiel and Ches made their way to Drake's End. While they travelled she made sure to exude an impatient and slightly childish charm. It was only partially an act. She was feeling impatient and was so hungry she could eat a horse.

If he survived, Ches would find out more of the truth about her secrets but it wasn't to be today. She might as well have as much fun as possible playing the thoughtless baby. Amiel spotted a rabbit off to her left.

"Rabbit!" She yelled. Then, as she took off she "accidentally" swung her tail and sent Ches flying. He was only a little thing but he made quite a dent in the silky oak trunk he landed in.

"Sorry, sorry" she said as she turned around. Her draconic grin turned her apology into something quite different from the required repentance. The rabbit got away as she stepped on the chameleon's tail.

"Oh, your tail changed colour so quickly. It looked just like the ground. You're so amazing!" She looked just like a fan girl.

"There!" Amiel yelled, "I saw a deer." Grabbing his weak little bicep she took off into the woods. She was already four times as big as Ches even so it was unlikely she could take down a deer.

They weren't to find out. A large Silver Lynx dashed out from the forest floor and slammed his teeth into the back of her neck. Ches went flying into another tree.

"Ah, Spacey!" said Ches, hobbling over on what he suspected might be a broken claw. "Long time, no see...though I'm surprised you're hunting in the forest. You're usually the dark alley kind of Lynx."

Ches could see droplets of blood dripping down Amiel's neck.

Spacey didn't answer but as his mouth was full Ches kind of respected him.

Just as Spacey tensed his jaw muscles to make a killing bite Ches threw a longish needle that pierced the feline through his deltoids.

The cat loosened his grip slightly as Ches turned to the aqua drake. "Time to hunt, little one. Don't swallow the needle, my mum gave it to me."

With that Amiel spun and launched herself at the silver throat of the slinking cat. She grabbed a huge amount of fur that contained a solid flap of skin in her mouth. All four of her claws were gouging his beautiful coat and blood flew everywhere.

Spacey wasn't just giving in. His hind legs were clawing at her belly and deep red claw marks marred her beautiful skin.

To be honest, Amiel thought the little lizard might help her. Instead he stood to the side. Like an impartial spectator he would alternately clap a move made by the silver lynx or comment on Amiel's techniques. She wanted to stab him with his mother's needle when she'd finally spun around into Spacey's back and he gave a half-hearted clap and mumbled, "Oh nice form, nice form" in a posh accent.

She didn't stab him. She threw the needle at Ches's feet and then after slicing the lynx along his belly, removed its coat and ravenously began chomping on his thigh meat.

She studiously ignored the chameleon's, "Quite right, first meal should be raw meat. Well done. Probably should eat the heart next. Quite a brave warrior he was."

Amiel refused to deign her tutor with a glance but promptly consumed the said organ.

It took the young drake about twenty minutes to finish her meal. Ches kept himself busy looking around for tracks in case anyone else was there to get them. The chance of this being a random meeting was similar to the likelihood of a chipmunk donating its nut cache to charity.

Satisfied that there were no more surprises in the vicinity Ches turned to Amiel and said, "Don't you feel guilty? Smashing your blood bound first love into a tree and not offering him any meat from your first kill. It's a wonder he could be bothered to save you."

"I bet your scarlet uncle would be be tossing in his grave if he knew of your shamelessness."

Ches had met her uncle in a gambling den once and there's no doubt he would have adored her sneaky ways.

Amiel was about to defend herself when it finally sunk in. He knew.