Chapter 2 (Part A)
*Muffled sounds of fire crackling*
[Slowly, Bavarius opens his eyes and regains consciousness. Though blurry, his vision comes back into focus. The ringing in his ears stops, allowing him to hear the ground crackle and rumble. As he draws in a breath, smoke begins to fill his lungs.]
Bavarius: *coughs profusely*
[Laying on his back, he felt the heat rise. Around him were ashen boulders and rock columns made of lava. As he tries to come to his senses and gather his thoughts, a dark, winged figure looms over him. A low, booming, scruff-like voice grabs his attention.]
(The dark figure hovering over him descends from the clouds. As it lands on the cracked lava-like ground, it causes the firmament to tremor. Fangs protruding from the mouth. Dark-as-night reptilian skin. Golden eyes. Wings matching the lava colored ground. And menacing horns. Towering twenty feet in height, with a wingspan as wide as a battleship, is none other than the infamous and Notorious Gilo the Destroyer. Best known for torturing trespassers of his domain and controlling citizens living in the Isles.]
Gilo: Hmph, it took you long enough to wake up.
Bavarius: *in a raspy voice* G-Gilo - *coughs*
Gilo: Now, now. There's no need to push yourself, foolish Kardaan. After all, those burns and scars on your mortal body are only going to get worse.
Bavarius: Scars?
[As his nerves finally awaken, he feels a sharp pain on both of his legs and arms. It's as if needles were jabbed deep into his skin. To make matters worse, iron chains are strapped tightly around his wrists and ankle. Open wounds on his side and burning, searing scars covering his back and neck generate an even sharper pain than in his legs. With this realization, he cries out in agony.]
Gilo: Ah, I know that sound all too well. It's almost like music to my ears.
Bavarius: *pants*
*High pitched screeches in the distance.*
Bavarius: *Gasps* Vespa! VESPA! *turns his head over to the side*
[Vespa's right wing is pinned down and crushed by a piercing lava rock.]
Vespa: *screeches in pain*
Gilo: I wouldn't worry about that pesky newt. I would be more concerned about what's going to happen to you, Trespasser.
Bavarius: Let Vespa go, Gilo! Aren't I-
Gilo: "The one you want?" Tch, how many times have I heard that cowardly phrase? You humans are all the same, trying to save your "family and friends". *shakes his head * I'll never understand why you value others' lives over your own. If it's an act of heroism, then it's outdated - just like the existence of the Isles.
Bavarius: So, your only purpose for showing up to the Isles is to destroy it for sport?
Gilo: Pfft, as if, idiot. The Isles had a strong domain that belonged to my brother, who died mercilessly by the hands of savage humans. And you want to know the worst part? Those pesky humans had the audacity to eat his rotting corpse, in their vain attempts to gain immortality. *growls* Because of their brutish nature, they took what belonged to my bloodline. But this time - THIS TIME - I intend to take it back. All of this Islands' Domain. No human should be allowed to exist here; nor any other dragon's domain. No human can survive a dragon's domain without being killed, anyways.
Bavarius: Then, why bother keeping everyone in the Isles alive?
Gilo: Retribution. All who now live in the Isles forfeit their livelihoods to serve me until their dying breath. This is repayment for their forefathers' Dragon-killing spree of the past. Without me, all of the humans residing there - including newborn babes - would die. In short, no one needs you. They only need me. I am considered a blessing to them.
Bavarius: Heh, typical revenge story, using the weak to do your bidding.
[With that statement, Gilo's anger flares. His gold eyes turn red. He walks over to the rock that's crushing Vespa's wing; and pushes down on it.]
Gilo: What did you just say?!
Vespa: *Screeches louder in agony and pain*
Bavarius: VESPA! *struggles to break free from the shackles. Suddenly, the shackles glow and send an electric shock around his arms and legs. He cries out in pain.* Ngh….G-Gilo..S-STOP!!!
Gilo: I'd watch that sharp tongue of yours, boy. It can get you killed, along with your pesky newt here.
[The electric shock fades.]
Bavarius: *pants* I'm...I'm sorry. Just..let Vespa go. Please.
[Smiling, gilo pushes the rock away from Vespa's crushed wing. Vespa pants, limping in a small puddle of blood.]
Bavarius: Gilo...whatever you're going to do to the Isles...please, let the people go. Take me as your prisoner, instead. I'm not asking this to be heroic, mind you. I would rather die without regret. If you give the people a chance to leave and live in Darwathu, you can have the Isles.
[Gilo slowly moves toward Bavarius.]
Gilo: You know, I almost pity you, Kardaan. *using barely any strength, he crushes Bavarius's stomach, fracturing his rib cage*
Bavarius: *Screams in sheer agony and pain*
Gilo: *laughs maniacally* Almost.
(Vespa slowly rises up and limps towards Gilo's tail. With the last bit of strength, Vespa chomps on his tail. Gilo backs away from Bavarius slowly. He turns to look behind him. He glances at Vespa, then at Bavarius, and back at Vespa. He smirks.)
Bavarius: VESPA, RUN!!!
Gilo: *in a rhythmic, condescending tone* Little runt, little runt. You poor, poor thing. *lifts his tail, quickly flinging Vespa in the air* May your days be filled with nothingness…
(Vespa looks at Bavarius from above. The little dragonnewt gives a tiny "scree" and falls…)
*CRUNCH*
(....into Gilo's mouth. Blood drips from the sides of his fangs.)
Gilo:...And your nights be filled with death's sting.
*Silence fills the air for a moment.*
Bavarius: *his voice quivers* V...Ve..spa…
[His eyes well up as he slowly comes to the bitter realization of losing his lifelong companion. As tears stream down his face - ]
Bavarius: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
[Bavarius violently struggles to break free from the shackles, resulting in a torrent of electric shock coiling around his entire body. A shockwave of pain numbs his nerves.]
(In annoyance, Gilo stomps over to Bavarius.)
Gilo: Okay, I'm starting to get tired of these little games. *He raises his sharp claws and rips a deep wound on Bavarius's stomach.*
(Suddenly, Bavarius felt a warm liquid flowing from his stomach. He hears his heartbeat loud and clear. His vision begins to blur, his senses numb, and his breath begins to slow down.)
Gilo: The Isles never needed a Kardaan; nor did it ever need savage, pesky humans!
(Bavarius slips in and out of consciousness. Before he could succumb to the darkness, he glances over the blurry figures of two winged creatures. One was definitely Gilo. The other figure was another dragon, fighting Gilo. Bavarius could barely hear the roars and growls that were piercing the air.)
(Then...everything turns black.)
*Crackling of fire*
[Bavarius lies unconscious.]
[Young. Reckless. Exiled. Alone. Defenseless. Bavarius's cold body lies scarred and bloodied on the lava cavern floor.]
End of Part A