Rarian is now face to face with a devil, an actual devil!

Rarian is now panicking as he lacks experience or even the ability to fight properly. His dad has kept him inside for so long that he never learned the one thing all dragons should learn, to fight and defend themselves.

However, Rarian still remembers what most EarthFang dragons are known for, their crystalized horns that can absorb light, mainly sunlight, along with being able to absorb heat with their rough scales in order to breathe fire. But, looking at the sky which was now stormy and rainy, both of those options are now gone or ineffective.

The only thing Rarian can really do now to defend himself is with his fangs and claws. However, he should be careful not to get bitten by the devil’s pestilence. He heard about it from villagers, a disease that can be afflicted via bite. Pretty much, their fangs are like a viper’s venom.

Thankfully, Rarian’s EarthFang nature means that his scales are tough as a rock, but his lack of experience may very well be a problem.

“Why do you look so worried, Rarian? I am not going to hurt you… I’m still just your friendly LushFang Villager that was kicked out of the village due to my illness,” the devil said, “You’re not that cruel, are you?”

“Why would I be worried… I mean, I am worried! You’re a devil!” Rarian shouted, “I thought you guys were fake! Just made up stories or monsters adults tell us kids to keep us inside!”

“Well, you should’ve listened to your elders,” the devil said, laughing before licking his fangs with his tongue. This already gave a cold and uncomfortable feeling for Rarian, indicating that this devil really wants to eat him!

“You will be easy for me to devour, after all, you hardly go out of your cave in the woods with your dad,” said the devil, “you probably don’t even know how to fight, so you’re basically a free meal”

In an instant, the devil lunged forward, aiming to bite the child. Rarian was able to dodge out of the way and tried to run.

What should I do?! I don’t know how to fight! Rarian thought in his head, screaming for an idea or something to get him out of this situation. Maybe I could try and outrun this devil and lose them in the woods?

As Rarian tried to run in between the trees, the devil swooped in front of him and blocked his way. “Where are you going, Rarian? Stop trying to leave me!” the devil cried out, trying to make Rarian feel sympathy for him by staying, “I want to go home, Rarian… I really do, can you stop trying to leave me and take me home?”

No way am I taking this devil home to the village, even if they’re originally a LushFang dragon. He thought of the violent atrocities this devil might do if he were to bring him to the village, everyone mercilessly eaten, even Anya, and his dad. Worst case scenario, if they managed to successfully drive the devil out or kill it, they might ostracize him and his dad from the village even more.

I can’t let this happen! Rarian thought as he looked around to find a way to distract the devil. He swung his tail at it, hoping it would do damage. Jolts of pain struck his tail and onto his body, as if he just swung at a hard rock.

“Are you attacking me? Tsk tsk tsk. You shouldn’t attack your elders, Rarian,” the devil said before raising his claw and preparing to strike at him. Seeing this, Rarian felt like his life was flashing before his eyes.

Before he knew it, the devil slashed his tail and felt like pain was all over his lower body. Rarian screamed as the claws dug deep into his tail muscles and broke a few of his scales. He stepped back before falling onto the ground, watching as his own tail started bleeding.

“Shame, but as expected from you lack the knowledge how to fight, like all parents should’ve taught their young. Your father is really an incompetent wurm,” the devil said, insulting Rarian and his father’s competence that they’re both just easy prey for him.

But, when one droplet of the devil’s pestilence fell from their fang onto Rarian’s blood. They were stunned, “what?! Nothing? Isn’t it supposed to be slow but an instantaneous pain?”

What are they talking about? Rarian thought, still wearily in pain.

“Ugh, whatever… If I can’t infect you, maybe eating you is much better” the devil laughed.

Suddenly, a small gap in the clouds formed crepuscular rays onto them. The moment Rarian felt this, now is his chance! He absorbed both the small fraction of light and the warmth of the sun, then, his horns radiated a bright light.

“AUGHHH!!! What the hell?!” The devil screamed, trying to back off from the light. Then, without hesitation, from the small warmth he absorbed, Rarian breathed fire and burned half of the devil’s body!

The devil screamed, trying to put the flames out despite the drizzling rain. “How hot is this?! Why isn’t it being put out!!!”

Without a moment to spare, limping from the pain, Rarian tried to flee into the opposite direction. But due to the excruciating pain and the fact his tail is wounded and bleeding heavily, he had no choice but to hide in the water…

SPLASH!

Rarian dove into the water to hide from the devil, holding his breath. However, he realized he made a crucial mistake, Wait… I can’t swim…!!

Rarian began to slide into deeper waters due to the slippery mud, he tried to crawl out but he ended up sinking deeper and deeper. Rarian began to lose breath and felt like his body was getting heavier as his chest was slowly being filled with water.

Ached from the cold, and his breaths came faster now, tight and shallow. He tried to look back at the shore to find he’s too far, he’s sunken too deep into the lake. The pain from his bleeding tail and the cold water made him panic more, causing his hind and front paws to stiffen up whilst swallowing a mouthful of water. It was thick and strange on his tongue, tasting of weeds and mud.

Everything slowed down in his point of view. The weight of his soaked hoodie clung onto him like a net. His paws grew sluggish, like they didn’t belong to him anymore. He clawed at the dark, but there was nothing to grip onto, it was just cold, endless water.

He whispered his last words he could mutter out before fading into the murky waters, “I’m… sorry dad… I should’ve listened to you…”