"Roar..."
In the throes of battle, Silverwing drove its sharp claws into the Cannibal's abdomen, unleashing a furious torrent of dragon flame.
But with its neck clamped tightly in the Cannibal's jaws, the aim of the flame was erratic, dispersing into the sky.
Enraged by the blow, the Cannibal let out a primal roar, its grip loosening instinctively.
In that split second, Vermithor swooped in, his golden dragon flame blazing like a fiery lance, striking the Cannibal's head with devastating force, tearing into its scales.
The impact sent the Cannibal reeling, dazed and disoriented. Its wings faltered, unable to maintain flight, and it was sent tumbling through the air by Silverwing's desperate counterattack.
Forced apart, Silverwing, with blood streaming from its neck, staggered backward, struggling to maintain balance.
Meanwhile, Vermithor, with a low, rumbling growl, turned his attention to the falling Cannibal, his intent clear.
Rhaegar felt a pang of pity for the Cannibal. Despite his instructions to obey commands, its primal instincts had overridden reason, leading to this situation.
As the Cannibal plummeted, Rhaegar gripped its back scales tightly, fighting against the sensation of weightlessness.
"Cannibal, snap out of it!" he shouted, desperately trying to awake the dragon before impact.
If the Cannibal did not awaken in time, the crash to the ground would spell Rhaegar's demise.
"Roar..."
Finally, Cannibal shook off its dizziness and spread its wings wide, stopping its descent with a powerful stroke.
As a wild dragon, its rugged constitution proved its greatest asset. A mere blow to the head couldn't defeat it.
Regaining control just before crashing to the ground, Cannibal adjusted its trajectory, gliding upward against the steep cliffside.
Observing the dragon's injuries, Rhaegar grimaced. The Cannibal bore wounds on its neck, wings, and abdomen, each a testament to the ferocity of the battle. Blood seeped from gaping holes, revealing the pulsing internal organs beneath.
Realization dawned on Rhaegar; the battle could not keep going. Silverwing and Cannibal were bloodied and battered, but Vermithor remained unscathed.
If Cannibal continues fighting Vermithor, even if he wins, the consequences could be disastrous.
Unable to bear the thought, Rhaegar issued a command.
"Cannibal, head for the sea."
With a glance back at the approaching Vermithor, Rhaegar commanded Cannibal to retreat. As long as they withdrew, the battle would end.
"Roar..."
Vermithor pursued, his golden dragon flame slicing through the darkness.
Sensing the threat, Cannibal's ferocity gave way to rationality.
Obeying Rhaegar's command, it unfurled its wings and soared over the cliff, aiming for the beach below.
Rhaegar maintained a vigilant gaze behind him.
Silverwing, incapacitated by its injuries, lay sprawled on the ground, emitting feeble roars as it attempted to rise and fall.
"Silverwing is out of the fight, so there's a chance to escape," Rhaegar breathed a sigh of relief.
As Vermithor closed in, Rhaegar steered Cannibal to evade, periodically turning to unleash emerald dragon flames in resistance.
Cannibal's dragon flame proved formidable, overpowering Vermithor's attempts to close the distance.
In the blink of an eye, Cannibal soared over the beach, the sea within reach.
Suddenly, Rhaegar's eyes caught sight of the cliffs lining the shore.
A of realization struck, and a sense of dread surged within him.
Recollections of his nightmares flooded his mind—the dragon emerging from the cliffside.
With a gut-wrenching feeling, Rhaegar instinctively cried out, "Dracarys!!!"
Bonded through their recent fight, Cannibal responded to Rhaegar's call, swiftly turning and unleashing a torrent of dragon flame toward the cliff below.
Boom—
Instantly, another scarlet fire erupted from beneath the cliff, colliding head-on with Cannibal's emerald flames.
The scarlet dragon flame dissipated in the face of Cannibal's assault.
The collision unleashed a shockwave, buffeting Cannibal's form.
Swiftly adjusting its wings, Cannibal surged forward, fleeing Dragonstone Island without a backward glance.
Rhaegar maintained his composure on Cannibal's back, though the gusts threatened to disorient him.
Lying down, he squinted back at the cliffs, his gaze piercing.
"Who... orchestrated this ambush?"
Rhaegar fixated on the crags, searching for any sign of the hiding dragon.
He was certain that tonight's dragon encounter was no happenstance—it was orchestrated.
Unfortunately, the moss-covered cliffs revealed nothing.
"I'll find you, whoever you are!"
With thoughts of Silverwing on Dragonstone Island and Vermithor in pursuit, Rhaegar gritted his teeth and urged for a swift departure.
This plot targeted him directly.
Remaining on Dragonstone Island endangered not only himself but also his family within the castle walls.
Leaving swiftly was the only prudent choice.
Bolting away with remarkable speed, Cannibal outpaced the sluggish Vermithor.
After a brief chase, Cannibal put considerable distance between them.
Cannibal melted into the darkness night, disappearing from sight.
...
On Dragonstone Island, a figure cloaked in black lingered in the shadows of the beach, peering into the darkness where the dragon had vanished.
"Blocked! Was it chance or foresight?" the cloaked figure muttered, withdrawing a gold coin from his pocket.
"When a Targaryen is born, the gods flip a coin. One side greatness, the other madness."
"Which are you?"
His voice, deep and laden with skepticism, echoed softly on the night breeze.
He tossed the gold coin high into the air, catching it effortlessly as it descended.
With a slow reveal, he displayed the coin, its gleaming surface reflecting the moonlight.
As he stared at the coin, a contemplative silence enveloped him.
Several more times, he angrily hurled the coin into the sea before departing, his departure as silent.
...
In the castle, Viserys stood before a towering window, his gaze burning with fury as he surveyed the ruins of the city walls.
Fresh news had just reached him.
Rhaegar had slipped away amidst the chaos of the dragon's fight, joining his own dragon.
The memory of the clash of dragons sent shivers down Viserys' spine, fearing the potential consequences of his eldest son's actions.
Fortunately, the black dragon had managed to outmaneuver Silverwing and escape, with Vermithor hot on its trail.
As long as Rhaegar was with the dragon, he was safe, for the moment.
"Have you gleaned any information from those guards who delivered the false message?" Viserys inquired sharply, turning to Lyonel, his Hand, who stood beside him.
Lyonel shook his head, his expression troubled. "No, Your Majesty. The guards are unyielding, and the dragonkeepers messenger vanished without a trace."
"Continue the investigation," Viserys commanded, his voice taut with frustration. "No secret remains buried forever."
Turning his attention to the recent dragon attack, Lyonel offered his insight. "According to the tower guards, Vermithor and Silverwing launched the attack on the Cannibal immediately upon encountering it."
Viserys' brow furrowed in contemplation. "The Cannibal's reputation precedes it. Its natural that stealing dragon eggs and hunting young dragons would undoubtedly provoke Silverwing's ire."
"Search every corner of the castle!" Viserys ordered, his fists clenched with determination. "This is an affront to the crown, and those responsible will face justice!"
(Word count: 1141)