4- Reckoning
#6 of The Legend of Rift Book II: Resurrection
Rift growled at Chief Prowlus. It was bad enough having to destroy the teleporter after it's malfunction, but then the leader of the cheetahs had arrived to go on one of his rants. Rift respected him as a fighter, but the Feline was as incredibly disrespectful. Even after his acceptance into the Guardians, Prowlus never acknowledged his word, even so far as to request that Rift be excluded from his meetings with the guardians.
"Dammit Prowlus, this isn't about my age or lack of experience, this is about the wellbeing of your race." Rift snapped, snarling.
"I don't believe you're qualified to be telling me what's best for my people." Prowlus hissed back.
"ENOUGH!" Terrador boomed, sending the room into silence. "Like it or not Prowlus, Rift has a point. The land's resources are not infinite, especially if you keep up your hunting for sport. We eat meat too, but we know that if we pointlessly kill everything we see, there will be nothing left. If you'd like, we could let you hunt within city limits. But sport hunting will not be tolerated."
Contempt boiled on Prowlus' face, before he huffed and turned away. "Fine!"
Terrador nodded, turning to address everyone.
"Good, it's time to vote. I'm for this. Volteer?"
The electric dragon nodded slowly.
"I also agree to this outstanding unity between our races. How goes you Cyril?"
The Ice Guardian held a paw up. "I too agree."
The three looked to Rift, who was locked in an internal struggle as he glared at Prowlus.
"I can't punish an entire race for their leader's incompetence. I agree, but only for your people."
Prowlus bowed to the three elder dragons, glared at Rift, and began to leave the Pool of Visions. Rift waited for the cheetah to clear the room, before slamming his foot against the floor.
"I've fucking had enough of him. I'm the youngest here, yes, but that doesn't mean i'm an idiot."
Terrador stepped to his side.
"Prowlus may be a little rough around the edges, but he's kept the cheetahs alive for decades."
"There's a difference between being rough around the edges, and being a fucking asshole." Rift sneered, shaking his head.
Terrador frowned.
"I know you were hesitant about becoming a guardian to begin with, but you can't talk to Prowlus like that. He's plenty willing to cut ties with us, even against his village's wishes."
Rift growled.
"So you're telling me to not do my job just so I don't upset anyone!? The only way he'd be happy is if I'd declined the guardian position."
The large, older drake closed his eyes and sighed.
"Look..." He began, his chest heaving with his large breaths. "The others and I have been thinking. We know about your little emotional outburst a few days ago..."
Rift's eyes widened, his thoughts going back to the day Cynder had to comfort him.
Terrador continued on.
"...We think it'd be best you took a few weeks off to clear your mind. Trying to perform your duties as guardian under emotional stress can lead to bad judgement. Seeing the way you argued with Prowlus just confirms that."
Rift tried to argue, but words would not come out. He lowered his head, barely whispering.
"I... I understand. I respect your decision."
Dragging his tail, he turned and left the Pool of Visions. Unfortunately, luck wasn't on his side apparently, as he caught sight of Ferossa walking towards him.
No... I don't need this today. He thought, trying to avert his gaze.
The electric dragoness didn't even bother to say 'hi', instead choosing to grind her side against Rift's, much to his displeasure. He growled at her, shoving her body away from his.
"Ferossa, please, back off, I'm not in the mood for your heat-induced plans to lay me."
She simply ignored him, moving back over and rubbing herself all over him. His nerves were getting to him, and a tail on his groin set him off. His tail wrapped around her paw and tripped her over. His tail spade darted to her neck, stopping less than an inch away.
"I warned you. Don't try it again."
He turned away as Ferossa stood up, her eyes still hazy with lust. She sneaked her tail back to his groin, the tip prodding at his groin. Rift yelped, instinct kicking in as he spun around and swiped his paw across Ferossa's face, claws facing outward. A pained cry filled the building, and he realized he'd gone too far. He wasn't sure what to do, and simply stared at Ferossa's form on the ground, her paw held up to the new wound on her face.
The clicking of claws on wood filled his ears as Spyro, Cynder, Mera, and Tygor ran in. Rift just stood there, his eyes dropping to his bloodied paw. Tears began to well in his eyes. Tygor cautiously walked up to Rift, glancing between him and Ferossa.
"R-Rift, w-what happened?"
Streams were rolling down Rift's cheeks now, fear and panic taking over.
"She... I... I d-didn't mean t-to..."
His mind becoming unable to sort out what was happening, he turned his body and ran. His emotions were in full swing. He took off down the long hallway, approaching the end. He didn't stop as the window neered, and smashed through it with all his weight. Large shards dug into his body as he unfurled his wings, took flight and fled the city.
An hour passed and the glass had taken it's toll. With a yelp, Rift lost control of himself, crashing into a tree. He groaned in pain, exhaustion long ago replacing his guilt. He sighed, his body laying upside down in the tree.
He laid there for a while, groaning as he flipped himself over.
"Always gotta fuck up big, don't I? Can't just fuck up normally." He sighed, shaking his head. "I warned them that making me guardian would be a mistake." He turned his head, wincing at the sight of large glass shards embedded into the scales on his back. "That's gonna need some major cauterizing to seal."
For three hours; Rift pulled out the shards, roaring each time. He followed up by pressing his superheated tail spade to the wound, searing the bleeding flesh until the blood flow stopped.
Rift panted, fully sealed up. He looked around, surprised at the amount of blood covered glass scattered around him. He grunted, none too happy with recent events.
A loud roar caught his attention. His head whipped around right as a large Wyvern slammed into his side.
"What the fuck!?!"
He tried to get back on his feet until the Wyvern landed on him, paws holding his own down. The Wyvern moved his face right to Rift's and slowly opened his maw.
Hello
Rift blinked, darting his head around to find the source of speech, before realising it was the Wyvern.
"You can talk?"
Of course Wyverns can talk. You think we just roam around around roaring all day? Insolent dragon! Wyverns are far superior!
Rift struggled, but with his body pinned and reduced strength, was unable to get out.
"What are you doing?" he questioned, panic rising at the leer on the wyverns face.
Oh, I almost forgot. This is the part where I kill you. It sneered, slowly moving its beak to Rift's neck, flicking his tongue.
Mmmmmmm, it's been a bit since I had dragon. Their blood is always rich in iron, and that nice crunch of scales is just delightful.
The Wyvern began applying pressure, setting Rift into full panic. With a burst of desperation, he released a torrent of flame. The pressure on his neck vanished as the wyvern stumbled back, his scales shielding him from the flames but not the heat.
Arg! Pathetic pest! I could have made it swift, but now I will draw this out...
Rift forced himself to his feet, wincing as his body throbbed painfully.
"I'm the former Fire Guardian, killing me won't be the easiest task for you."
The wyvern laughed, a sharp, raspy sounding thing that sent shivers through Rift.
You are just another meal to me. A weakened one at that. You think I don't see the bloody glass shards over there? Or the sway of a weakened body that only a true predator can see?
Rift narrowed his eyes, getting into a proper stance. "I've been through a helluva lot worse. Hit me with your best shot."
The Wyvern screeched as it charged, its wings and feet hitting the ground and kicking up dirt as it moved.
Rift moved to the side, turning himself around with a grunt as the wyvern shot past him, snarling as it's tail whipped across his face. Pulling on his leftover energy reserves, Rift launched himself as the feral creature turned around, slamming his weight onto its back.
The wyvern screeched as a bone or two broke, forcing it to the ground with a thump. It's head flailed, snapping at Rifts legs and feet, causing the drake to climb higher.
Rift growled as he slammed a foot into the Wyverns back, causing something else to snap. "You have lost. Leave now, and I will let you live."
The Wyvern sneered. You fool. If you let me go, I will come back, and I will kill you. Has your pathetic domestication made you blind to the food order?
Rift paused, caught between morals and logic. "Please just go, I've done enough today."
He stepped off the creature and began walking away.
He had only taken a few steps before he darted to the side, swishing his tail through the air as the Wyvern slid along it, his throat getting cut by the sharp end.
Rift simply stood and watched as the Wyvern collapsed, its eyes flicking over to him with a look of defiance,before it lay still, it's face a permanent sneer.
"I gave you the choice." He said, starting to walk off again before the fatigue hit him like a wall. The ground rushed up to meet him as his vision darkened, his mind going to black.
"My my my... You certainly are difficult to call here."
Rift opened his eyes, panicking as he realised he was somewhere different. His head darted around, and he saw the familiar sight of ancient, yet well tended books.
Here again... He thought, feeling a presence behind him. He growled, spinning around to face the Chronicler.
"Really not the best time Ignitus."
The old dragon chuckled.
"It was the only time I could safely call you here." He said, ignoring Rift's snarl. "It seems you have caused some trouble, young one."
Rift faltered, his eyes dropping to the floor. "I-I know... I-I fucked up."
"That you did, but there is a way to correct your mistakes..."
Rift widened his eyes, looking back up at Ignitus. "How?"
Ignitus nodded, stepping back slightly.
"Come to White Isle, your heart will guide you. You must go now, those woods get dangerous in the evening."
Rift nodded, swallowing in an attempt to wet his throat. He watched as a small smile appeared on Ignitus' face.
"Survive... for her."
"Who!? Kara!?" Rift gasped, taking a step towards him.
Ignitus stood still, but the world around him seemed to move away, blurring and going dark. Rift fell, the darkness seeming to swallow him.
Rift gasped awake, surveying his surroundings. He looked up at the star-filled night sky, begging for admiration. The moon's light coating the ground with a silvery hue. The orange dragon slowly pulled himself up, noting the dew covering the ground and leaves.
A growl escaped him as he stretched, his muscles complaining and his bones cracking. He took a step, but a sudden sharp pain in his chest brought him to the ground again.
"N-now what's wrong?" he hissed, glancing down at his chest.
He traced his eyes across the scar on his chest, before a flicker of light reflected off his silver plates. Looking up, he stared straight ahead, but couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. He glanced around, and only then noted the lack of chirping from crickets. It had become deathly silent, and Rift could feel something was wrong. He looked to where the light had come from again, before he was forced to take a step back.
A huge wave of black smoke was sweeping across the landscape, plants and trees wilting and dying before it even touched them. It was travelling fast, and it was heading for him.
Breaking into a run, Rift did his best to keep his head forward. He passed the Wyvern from earlier, and looked back to see the smoke was catching up. Pulling on any and all reserves, he sprinted across the ground. A loud hissing noise began to fill his ears, and he looked down to see the grass beneath his feet darken and twist. His head turned back again, seeing the cloud was nearly upon him.
"No no no nonononono!" He shouted, before an errant root wrapped around one of his paws, sending him tumbling to the floor.
The sound of snapping was heard, and Rift found himself falling again. He hit the ground with a thud, his chest screaming in pain. He could see he had fallen into some kind of overgrown cave, before the smoke passed overhead, blocking out the sky.