Summer, 1330

With their mission successful, Mera led his squadron straight back towards the Tassurian positions by going through the Auxian lines. The unit was just coming within view of the Alba River when suddenly Raphrsah called out:

*Gryphons!*

Immediately Mera turned and fired a blast of flame just as an eagle-headed winged lion attacked him from behind, igniting the gryphon as it dived into him. The impact from the collision sent the bronze dragon reeling. Clinging on, a hind leg clawing into Mera’s haunch-the other blocked by the dragon extending his own hind leg to protect his vulnerable belly-the burning gryphon attempted to peck at Mera’s face, but the dragon managed to parry the blow with his arm and simultaneously deal a slash of his own to his opponent. As his assailant released their grip and fell towards the ground, still burning like a meteor, a second gryphon attempted to attack Mera, only to be intercepted by a blast of fire. Partially scorched, the feathered one angrily squawked before fleeing, and Mera turned to find Thergamorth beside him, breathing heavily as he nodded. A moment later the bronze dragon pushed his copper friend aside and returned the favor by throwing a fireball at a third gryphon trying to ambush Thergamorth. With a screech, this bird-lion folded its wings and dodged and so also managed to avoid the worst of the inferno. However, suffering a few singed tail feathers was enough; this foe quickly retreated as well.

The rest of Mera’s squadron had also been attacked; Raphrsah received a cut on her forehead from a swooping gryphon, though her opponent was also bloodied by hitting the horns arrayed atop the brass wyrm’s head. A fifth bird-lion tackled Falknir, sending them both tumbling through the air. Locked in combat, dragon and gryphon tore at each other, spraying clouds of blood in the air, but finally the black wyrm lunged and bit the feathered one in the wing, then violently twisted, causing a sickening snap to echo through the sky; as the bird-lion screamed, Falknir forcefully swung his neck, throwing off his opponent and sending his stricken foe plunging from the sky. Finally, the last three gryphons simultaneously attempted to eliminate the biggest threat among the dragons: Hearesecha. They were mistaken in their abilities. With volleys of flame the large female dragon scattered the trio, then sent one reeling with a surprise swing of her tail, before dealing another a vicious blow to the side with a claw swipe and then headbutting the final assailant. Stunned by the speed and violence of the response, the three gryphons immediately broke off from further attack.

Just as quickly as it began, the fight ended. Repulsed in their ambush, Mera’s feathered foes had no desire to continue testing the odds and within minutes of first contact, the gryphons ended the exchange and dived towards the ground, battered and minus two fallen.

Roaring in triumph, the male black dragon immediately pursued after them.

*Damn it! Falknir get back here!* Mera bellowed.

Somewhat shocked by the response, the black dragon indeed stopped, watching the gryphons level off and retreat under the protection of the human siege weapons before finally disappearing into the distance. Then as he realized his quarry had escaped, Falknir wheeled back upon Mera with redoubled fury.

*Stupid feral!* The black dragon snapped back at him. *What the hell are you doing tell me what I can or cannot do!*

*It may be a trap.* Mera glared back at Falknir while staunching the wound on his hip. The bronze dragon gestured to the black male dragon’s own chest, criss-crossed by bloody claw and bite marks. *Our mission is accomplished. You’re hurt. Let us return.*

Falknir hissed and then suddenly charged at Mera, apparently ready to strike at him, but in an instant Thergamorth was at the bronze dragon’s side, soon followed by Raphrsah, and then after a pause Hearesecha, all backing their commander. The black female dragon glared at her brother and slowly shook her head, causing him to blanch slightly at the disapproving gesture. Falknir was furious, but he wasn’t foolhardy. Instead he just sputtered in anger and fumed as the rest of the squadron turned and headed back towards camp without further comment.

*Coward! You stupid useless drake!*

For a while the male black dragon awkwardly hovered alone, deep in enemy territory, before finally cursing and flying to rejoin the rest of the squadron.

***

Teraphstha met the restored 57th Squadron as they landed back at the Tassurian encampment.

*The Auxians have gryphons.* The green Dragon Lord stated simply to the five dragons touching down.

Mera was not in a good mood. *We noticed.*

Teraphstha looked over the bloodied group and satisfied that no one was seriously injured, brushed off the sarcasm. *Well it is good that you ran them and inflicted some casualties in that aerial duel-it’ll look good on your report. All squadrons have been recalled from the field. You folks are some of the last troops returning.*

*Where did they come from?* Raphrsah asked their higher commander.

The green dragon snorted. *The Auxians must have made a deal with the Feathered Ones. They were holding them back for a surprise attack while our people were distracted by our sweeps. The gryphons raided Imperial lines while the artillery was dueling with the humans, caught them deployed, destroyed almost two dozen trebuchets and slaughtered their crews, and then ambushed our forces returning from the raids. Without covering fire, the Auxians were able to hammer at our lines hard. There’s nearly a thousand casualties, including two dragons killed. Anhake is besides himself with anger.*

*Dang.* In spite of himself, Mera was impressed at the human ingenuity. *What now?*

*There will be a general reassignment: the longer raids will be shelved while we provide air support to Ewerme’s general assault on Santium.* The Dragon Lord sighed. *If you all believe that things have been bloody and exhausting, prepare yourselves; it will get worse.*

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The Kinks - Powerman

From  TheDinosaurMann!