went flying as the monster’s head collided with the stone tablet, breaking it in two.
Stefan moved. He charged forward with his horns down, aiming for the awlya. The bird slid out of the way. Stefan crashed into a wall instead, sending what remained of it crumbling to the ground in a great crash.
The monster was still after Delmare. It hissed as it ran after her, lowering its antlers. Delmare sent a ball of battle magic flying toward the creature. It hit and exploded on impact, singeing the monster’s feathers. The monster gave a screech and swiped its claws at Delmare, who rolled to the ground to avoid them.
“Irena, stay down!” Stefan cried.
Delmare remained glued to the floor as Stefan opened his mouth. Flames came billowing out of the dragon’s belly, igniting the monster in flames. The awlya rose up on its hind legs and batted at the flames, hissing and clicking its beak. The body of the monster became submerged in shadow as Stefan’s flames turned it into a fiery pyre. Stefan kept the flames going for a full minute, until his magic finally fizzled out, and he had to stop to take a breath.
I gaped in surprise as the monster shook itself, appearing bothered, but not hurt. There wasn’t a burn on the creature. It was completely fine.
Kiara put it together before the rest of us did. “Its feathers must be fire-resistant!” Kiara called. “Fire won’t harm it!”
“That would’ve been nice to know a minute ago!” Stefan yelled. He bared his fangs and lunged for the awlya’s throat, but the creature sprang into the sky with a screeching battle cry.
As it did so, Delmare climbed back onto her feet. The awlya’s sharp tail feathers swung to the side, cutting into her corset and causing a bloody wound.
“Irena!” Stefan said in panic as he smelled the blood.
Delmare gritted her teeth through the pain. “I’ll be fine! Just work on getting that thing out of the air!”
Stefan spread his wings and took off, giving chase after the awlya. They twirled around in circles in the sky, while Delmare ignited another ball of battle magic. She cried out as she pressed the ball into her side, smoke rising from the wound as she cauterized the slit shut.
In the sky, Stefan was battling the awlya with all his might. The monster was just as big as he was, and as deadly. Their talons locked together as the two dragons dove their heads toward each other in a furious battle. The monster latched its beak onto Stefan’s wing and bit down hard, causing the dragon to roar in pain. Stefan brought his tail up and bashed it into the monster’s head, forcing it to let the wing go. Stefan clawed at the awlya with his front talons, ripping open wounds in the monster’s front.
“Stefan! Get out of the way!” Delmare shouted. She was holding an orb of battle magic in both hands that was steadily growing. The ball crackled and smoked as she strained her arms to try to control it.
Stefan yanked his claws out of the body of the awlya. Before he could dive away, the monster shoved its beak downward and sunk it into Stefan’s chest.
Blood spurted everywhere, and Stefan gave a cry of agony. He kicked the monster away with his back feet, though he sagged in the air, spiraling until he crash-landed against the stony ruins.
“No!” Delmare screamed. She reared her arm back, and released her battle magic orb at the awlya with all the rage she could muster. The orb sailed through the air and connected with the monster, where it immediately exploded on impact.
Feathers went flying everywhere. There was a soft screech, and we watched as the monster fell from the sky, still smoking. The awlya landed on its back, feet curled and wings lying in a disjointed position. In the middle of its stomach was a large hole Delmare had blown with her powers.
Once the creature was dead, I could feel the barrier on the ruins lift. We ran to where Delmare had collapsed by Stefan’s side. The dragon was breathing heavily, taking in long gasps as Delmare observed his wound. The skin on his chest was ripped open, exposing his beating heart through his visible ribs.
I winced as I saw the wound, and a few of the girls gasped. We had to fix it. Stefan wouldn’t make it home like this.
“Stefan, are you...?” Delmare’s words trailed off as she saw the blood seeping from the gash