DRAGONPHEAR

What did she mean, before it’s too late? He stepped to the edge of the stone railing, scrutinizing the top of the jungle’s canopy shimmering in the failing moonlight. The sun was stalking the horizon in the east, and just as Karu had almost given up on what he was supposed to see, he noticed a dark bird skimming the treetops. It flew almost like a bat, but without erratic movements. It was as black as the void, and it had a long tail. A sinking feeling flooded over him as soon as he realized it wasn’t a bird. It was a darkmatter dragon. “The second scout!” Karu cursed under his breath. Too petrified to move, he watched it soar downward, past the outer wall, over the heads of the sleepy guards. It flapped and glided towards the palace and perched atop one of the inner walls. Karu couldn’t be sure how much time passed while he watched in terror, not even daring to breathe. The darkmatter dragon sniffed the air, curling its tail around itself. It was like a silhouette of complete shadow with tendrils of dark energy and tiny sparks of violet light at its edges. Karu broke his gaze when he noticed a guard patrolling just below the dragon. He wanted to warn the unsuspecting guard, but he was too petrified to speak. Then he reminded himself he was the only one who could see it.