Lightbringer - Prologue, pg. 3

The sand muffled our sounds, but it also significantly impeded our progress. I hissed to the group to keep from kicking up sand, which would easily attract the attention of the soldiers, but to keep moving. We were halfway to the landing barriers, and the alarm hadn’t been sounded yet.

At one moment, I heard as if it were a loud voice from close by, “DUCK!” I tucked my head through my front legs and dropped hard to the ground. Strangely enough, all the dragons in our group did the same at the exact same time. I panted hard, gulping breath and blowing sand out of my nostrils. I didn’t dare move, until I heard the voice again, again from close by, yet not as jarring, “Go!” I literally jumped and lunged forward, using strength I never before had used, and raced for the water. All of the other dragons in our group were running as well, but I had exerted myself to the head of the group.

I slowed near the water’s edge, finally turning my head around for the first time since we began the run. The spotlight from the bunker above was sweeping across the beach, methodically combing the sands. We had run right through the path of the spotlight. How did they not see us?

As the first of the infants reached the water’s edge where I stood, I urged her to not be afraid of the cold and to keep swimming out to sea. She took one step into the water and squealed softly, taking her paw back. I reassured her, that we would safely make it to shore, as long as we keep moving. She looked into my eyes, and must have seen the truth – or trust –, because she turned to the water, and with her face set determined, jumped headlong into the waves. I repeated my message of assurance to the next infant, and nudged him into the water. Several other dratines followed my example, and Syrea waded out into the water to the head of the column. I took one last look around for any other dragons on the beach – they all made it. I sighed quietly, gratefully, before turning towards the ocean and taking the plunge.

In all my life, I had never been in colder waters.