The Royal Menagerie - Act 1, Chapter 3 (Patreon)

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Chapter Three – The Dragon

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Mhaz watched Rakla running down the outer corridor. The gnoll turned, hefting his scattergun. The birds pivoted away at the same time, lifting armored limbs to protect their heads as fire flashed from the barrel of Rakla’s weapon. The boom rattled the portholes, a few tufts of bloodied feathers sprayed through the air from the gryphon’s wings. But their body armor took the bulk of the pellets, absorbing the impact. Rakla wasn’t going to be able to kill them that way, but at least it kept them from catching up to him.

The gnoll broke into a dead sprint before the report’s echo had even faded. This time, one of the gryphons flicked open a wing, gesturing at a bulkhead door. Several such doors allowed entry into the ship from the outer walkway. The gryphons could easily surround Rakla if they used the outer walkway, where he could no longer fire at them to keep them at bay. One of them chased after the gnoll again, while the other hurried towards a bulkhead.

“Shit,” Mhaz said. “They’re gonna flank him!” Mhaz leveled his pistol with the door. “We gotta stop them!”

“Consider it done.” Tetrikor strode towards the walkway, right in front of Mhaz. “Should I wound, or kill?”

“You should not walk in front of people aimin’ a fuckin’ gun!” Mhaz dropped his pistol down.

“I’m not afraid of your cute little kobold peashooter.” Tetrikor flicked his tail, its heavy spines swishing over Mhaz’s head, almost close enough to make him duck. “Now tell me, are we meant to take them alive, or not?”

Mhaz shrugged, then shook his head. “They weren’t supposed to be here in the first place, so do whatever you gotta do.” He scrambled around to the side of the dragon, taking aim at the door again just as the bulkhead popped open. While the walkway was plenty large to a kobold, it looked awfully small for a dragon about to attack a gryphon. “You ain’t gonna have a lotta room. I gotta better idea.” Mhaz tucked his pistol away, then patted the dragon’s hind leg. When Tetrikor looked back at him, he pointed towards the boardwalk edging the ship. “Light it up! The bird too, if he doesn’t move! In fact, light it all up! Don’t let him go back the way he came! We’ll drive these feathered fucks out onto the deck where you’ve got plenty of room to play!”

“Now that sounds like fun!” Tetrikor snarled, sounding entirely too delighted by the idea. “Stay back, Little Lizard.”

 The dragon took a deep breath, chest expanding against his plated body armor. He held his breath for only a moment, then spat an immense streaming of roiling, red-orange flame all across the walkway and the side of the airship. Portholes glowed golden, and the dragon’s eyes shimmered in the firelight. The fire’s brilliance was painfully intense, and Mhaz threw an arm up over his face to protect his eyes. Heat washed back across him.

The gryphon squawked in startled fear, crown feathers shooting up all around his head in panicked display. The creature backpedaled through the open bulkhead just in time, slamming the door shut just as flames licked it. The wet wood hissed and steam flooded the sky, but the rain was not enough to stop the dragon’s fire from igniting the walkway, nor the exterior hull. The gryphon’s head popped up a moment later, staring wide-eyed through a porthole.

“Oh, that was so cool!” Mhaz cackled in unrestrained glee, clapping his hands. “Gods, I wish I could do that!” Then he slapped the dragon’s lower leg. “Do it again, do it again! Make sure the rain isn’t gonna put it out too fast!”

“Good idea.” Tetrikor took a few steps towards the edge of the deck, then leapt over the railing, beating his wings. “I’ll strafe that whole area!”

“Perfect!” Mhaz glanced towards the windows nearest the rear deck, wondering if Rakla could see the show. But there was no sign of the gnoll, or the other gryphon. Mhaz guessed the two of them must have already reached the turn into the cargo hold. With any luck, Rakla would pop out onto the deck soon enough, with at least one of the gryphons on his heels. “Hurry up, Dragon! Rakla’s already out of there!”

Tetrikor’s only answer was a joyful roar, a sound loud enough to rattle the wooden deck beneath Mhaz’s feet. The dragon swept alongside the ship, lashing his heavily-spined tail tip against the hull several times. Wood splintered, and portholes shattered. Tetrikor pumped his wings, ascending and looping around in the sky. He doubled back, and unleashed another blast of fire, this one even larger than the first. A torrent of swirling, crimson and gold flames washed across the side of the ship. Thanks to the holes he’d punched with his tail, this time it wasn’t just the outer walkway igniting, but the corridor beyond the hull, as well. Flames swirled inside the ship, catching hold quickly amidst wooden flooring and paneled walls.

“Gods, how I missed this!” The dragon called out another roar, circling to admire his handiwork. “Do you think that’s enough fire?”

“Hell no!” Mhaz hurried up to the railing for a better look. “Hit it again!”

The dragon rumbled deep laughter. “Happily!” He spun over the deck, lining up for another pass. “How do I look?”

Mhaz beamed up at the dragon. “Badass!”

Like the rest of them, Tetrikor was glad in custom-crafted body armor, with myriad layers of woven silks and other fabrics, along with countless protective plates. The dragon’s gear also included cargo pouches, and shortrange wireless transmission equipment. The dragon’s ear cuff and mouthpiece were buckled in place around the horns crowning his wedge-shaped head.

Beneath his armor, the dragon’s coloration was mostly black, but blue stripes and markings decorated his back. His wings were black near the front, but they faded to a paler blue towards their back edges. In the vibrant glow, the raindrop s on the dragon’s scales and armor suit alike glistened like droplets of molten gold. His wings membranes, normally dark, glowed like the coming sunrise.

The kobold laughed. “I gotta say, for once you actually look like that stupid, made-up title!”

“The Wings of Dawn is not made up!” Tetrikor swept alongside the ship, blasting it with another volley of rippling dragon-fire. “It is a title bestowed to dragon lords in deep antiquity!”

Despite Tetrikor’s claims, Mhaz was certain the dragon had dubbed himself the Wings of Whatever after a few too many barrels of ale. “Whatever! Anyway, you look-”

Just then, the doors of the rear hold smashed open as Rakla crashed through them, toppling through the air. Wood cracked and splintered all around the gnoll. He hit the ground hard with a pained cough, tumbling. The impact jarred his scattergun out of his grasp. Both the gun and then the gnoll bounced towards the edge of the deck. The scattergun slipped under the railing, teetered a moment, and then fell into the darkness below. Rakla skidded across the wet wood, desperately fighting for purchase.

Mhaz ran to help, grabbing for anything he could. Somehow, he got hold of Rakla’s bushy-furred tail. Mhaz dug his heels in and pulled back on Rakla’s tail. The gnoll cried out as his momentum pulled them both towards the deck’s border, with Mhaz’s boots sliding across the floor. But the kobold’s relatively light weight proved just enough. Rakla thumped up against the barricade, but did not crash through it. Mhaz kept going a moment longer, unable to stop himself from crashing into the gnoll. With a little cry of his own, Mhaz flopped belly down onto Rakla’s back.

“What are you two doing down there?” Tetrikor circled above them, rumbling laughter echoing through the rain, and the growing crackle of flames. “You’re supposed to fuck after the mission!”

“Shut the hell up, Dragon!” Mhaz pushed himself partway up, taking a deep breath. “You’re the one who got caught with that female when we needed you!”

“Yes, and I still haven’t heard the end of it from The Vet!”

Mhaz ignored the dragon for a moment, extracting himself from Rakla. “Shit, that was close! You okay, Rakla?”

The gnoll groaned, pushing himself up onto his knees. “No, but better than dead!” He struggled for breath, chest heaving. “Bigger problems!” Rakla thrust a finger towards the cargo deck. “Gryphons!” Mhaz turned back towards the shattered cargo doors. A gryphon, fully armored just like the one Mhaz battled earlier, crept out into the light, cautiously eying the nearby fire. Rakla growled, though the sound twisted into a cough. “That feathered asshole…hurled me…through the door!”

“Only a door? Lucky you!” Mhaz yanked his pistol free to cover the gnoll. “I got thrown through the railing!”

“Always about you, isn’t it?” Rakla groaned as he staggered up to his feet, clutching his ribs. “Awww…” The gnoll whimpered, forlorn. “I lost my favorite gun!”

“We’ll get you a new one,” Mhaz said. “Tet?” The kobold spoke into his mouthpiece,  wanting to make sure the dragon heard him over the pouring rain. “The first bird’s here. You’re up, buddy!”

“Careful, Dragon!” Rakla shielded his eyes from the rain, looking up. “There’s two of them!”

“I am aware!” Tetrikor circled somewhere above, speaking into comms. “This one appears to be waiting for his backup. If I attack too soon, the other may flee. Besides, you should witness the inferno from up here. It is glorious! It reminds me of my days burning down…”

The dragon went on, but Mhaz tuned him out, focusing on the gryphon. For now, the bird lingered just outside the broken cargo doors, staring up at the sky, probably trying to track the dragon. Mhaz spaced himself out from Rakla. Even with Tetrikor here, Mhaz did not want to allow the gryphons to focus on a singular target. “Your call dragon, but I say take him out while he’s alone!”

“Tet, what was that about-Holy shit!” Horror filled Rakla’s voice. He gaped at the roaring fire alongside the ship, his muzzle hanging open, his eyes wide. Mhaz was sure the gnoll must have seen the flames, but only now had it clicked with him that the ship was actually on fire. “What…what the hell did you idiots do?”

“Saved your ass, that’s what!” Mhaz waved his pistol towards the burning walkway. Despite the rain, the fire was growing steadily. “That other gryphon was gonna flank you and-”

“We’re on an airship!” Something in Rakla’s voice changed, and Mhaz suddenly couldn’t tell if the gnoll was more furious, or terrified. “An airship we’re supposed to be hijacking!” He swept his hand towards the bulk of the vessel, no longer concerned about what the gryphons heard. “This is the asset! This is the mission! The fucking ship! She wants the fucking ship, you idiot!”

Mhaz snarled right back at him. “Hey! We only did what we had to do to save you!” The kobold held his thumb and finger together, claw tips a fraction of an inch apart. “You were this close to being spitroasted by those gryphons, at best! They woulda pulled you in half like a fuckin’ wishbone if they surrounded you!”

Rakla turned away from the kobold, putting a hand against his ear cuff. “Noma, Velk, abort! Abort! You hear me? Abort immediately!”

“Abort?” Velk replied quickly, confusion in his voice. “I thought we were-”

“Just get the fuck out of the ship, now!” Rakla snarled into his mouthpiece. “Dipshit and Dumb Fuck out here lit the whole thing on fire!”

“Not the whole thing.” Mhaz growled, glancing back at the increasingly raging conflagration. Despite the rain, the flames did seem to be consuming more and more of the ship, creeping up its hull and down its outermost corridors. “Huh…” He scratched his head. “Kinda thought the rain woulda controlled it a little better.”

The urd’thin’s voice crackled in, suddenly nearly panic stricken. “The ship’s on fire? The airship, that we’re in? Where’s the fire, precisely? Can you give me an ETA to the gasbags?”

Rakra flattened his ears, snarling. “Yeah, sure. The ETA is, get the fuck out here so we can leave before it explodes!”

Mhaz blinked, his pulse quickening. “Uh…” He licked his muzzle. “Explodes?”

The gnoll grabbed his head, forcibly turning it up towards the lightly armored gasbags along the top half of the ship. “Those are fucking flammable, you idiot! They’re going to explode!”

Mhaz swallowed hard. “Uh oh.”

“The second bird is here!” Excitement filled Tetrikor’s voice as another gryphon joined the first. By now, the deck was increasingly awash in ghostly orange light. “I’m coming in!”

As the dragon swept down, the two gryphons spoke in what Mhaz could only assume were worried tones. The kobold didn’t speak a word of the gryphon tongue, and everything they said just sounded like warbles and cheeps and peeps and chirrups to him. But given the way one of them was frantically gesturing at the ever-growing fire, it was all too clear that Rakla wasn’t the only one worried about the ship’s flammability.

Tetrikor thumped down onto the deck hard enough to rattle it beneath Mhaz’s feet. The dragon splayed his vast wings out to their full extent. He lifted his head, flaring up his silver edged frills and gazing down in haughty pride at the two gryphons. Suddenly, they were not the largest creatures on the ship, anymore. Not even close. With his wings stretched and his head held high, the dragon practically dwarfed the feathered creature.

“Hello, birds.” Tetrikor sneered the word with all the derision he could muster. “Shall we play?”

“Ship’s gonna explode, you stupid fuckin’ lizard!” The first gryphon turned and bound away. He launched himself into the air, beating his wings and swiftly ascending into the rain. “Let’s get out of here!”  

“What the hell?” Tetrikor cocked his head, confusion etched across his scrunched muzzle and splayed ears. “You’re not even going to fight me?”

The other gryphon hissed, backing away. “Are you crazy, stupid, or both? It’s gonna blow!”

“How’d you like to blow me, Bird?” Tetrikor advanced on the gryphon, unsheathing his claws with a few dramatic flourishes. “Let’s dance!”

“Both it is, huh?” The gryphon turned away from him, leaping into the air. “Suit yourself, but I’m leaving!”

“The hell you are!” Tetrikor scrambled after him. The dragon jumped, and snatched at the gryphon’s hind paws. With a roar, Tetrikor yanked the gryphon right back down, smashing him belly-first onto the deck and earning a pained squawk. “I’ve been waiting all night to kick someone’s ass! And you hurt my kobold!”

Mhaz blinked, scratching his head. “Hey, I appreciate the sentiment, but easy on the possessive, buddy! I ain’t nobody’s kobold!”

The gryphon whirled around on Tetrikor, lashing out with unsheathed claws again and again. He drove the dragon back a few paces, only for Tetrikor to strike him across the head hard enough to send the gryphon stumbling away. Mhaz glanced at the bird’s ears, then his foreleg. Both ears were intact, and there was no bloodied wound near his paw.

“Hey, Tet!” Mhaz called out, trotting a few steps closer. “That’s not even the right gryphon!”

“What?” Tetrikor paused, glancing back at the kobold.

“If that one wants to flee?” Mhaz shrugged. “You can just let him go.”

Tetrikor snorted. “What do you mean-AH!”

The dragon cried out when the gryphon pounced on him in a flurry of claws and beak. This time, the gryphon’s claws sunk home across the dragon’s cheek, opening bloodied lines in the fine scales. He stumbled back, spitting a burst of fire just to force the gryphon to backpedal.

Mhaz sucked in a breath, cringing. “Sorry, that’s on me! Nevermind!”

Tetrikor shot him a dirty look, then surged after the gryphon. The feathered beast tried to counter attack again, but this time Tetrikor was faster. When the gryphon lashed out, Tetrikor caught his front leg in a large paw. In his other forepaw, he snatched the gryphon by the throat, rearing up onto his hind legs. Tetrikor roared, hauling the gryphon up with him. Before the smaller beast could fight free, the dragon threw him back up against the ship’s hull. The gryphon smashed into the wall with a pained cry, and dropped back to the ground.

The dragon was on him immediately, slicing open the gryphon’s face with his claws. The gryphon shrieked and dove forward, trying to get beneath the dragon. Instead, Tetrikor retreated, almost keeping pace with him. He grabbed the gryphon again, this time just behind his forelegs. The dragon wrenched him upwards, then slammed him back down so hard some of ballistic plates in the gryphon’s armor cracked, and shattered. The gryphon coughed, wheezed, and struggled to rise. Tetrikor struck the gryphon again, this time from the other side, claws cutting fresh gouges all across the bird’s other cheek. The blow sent him staggering sideways, towards the railing.

Tetrikor pivoted around, his spiked tail slicing through the air over Mhaz’s head. He cocked a hind leg up, and then kicked the gryphon in the side as hard as he could. More plates shattered as the blow knocked the already-disoriented gryphon off his feet and sent him tumbling sideways. The oversized bird crashed through the guardrail, broken wood and brass exploding all around him. He toppled over the edge of the deck, and with a keening scream, vanished into the rain, and the darkness below.

“He’ll survive.” Tetrikor padded to the broken rail, peering down towards the distant ground far below. “Probably.” After a moment, he turned back towards Mhaz and Rakla. “Now, what was that about the ship exploding?”

“Yeah, so, about that.” Mhaz rubbed the side of his neck, frills flat as could be. “Apparently, the stuff in there?” The kobold pointed up to the ship’s gasbags. “Is flammable.”

“Is it?” Tetrikor tilted his head, gazing upwards. “Ah! So that’s why these things burn so well, and fall from the skies so easily.”

“Wait.” Mhaz dropped his hand. “You knew that stuff was flammable?”

The dragon shrugged his wings. “I had suspicions.”

Rakla stormed over, throwing his hands up. “Then why the fuck would you light the damn ship on fire?”

Tetrikor swung his wedge-shaped head around to gaze at the gnoll. “I like lighting things on fire.”

“Goddamn pyromaniac dragon!” Rakla snarled through his teeth, his ears pinned. “Let me rephrase that. Why would-”

“I dunno, Dog Balls.” Mhaz made a show of looking the dragon up and down. “I don’t think he’s a porno maniac. I’m not sure I’ve ever even seen Tet looking at dirty pictures. Then again…” He paused, scrunching up his muzzle. “Do they even make pornography for dragons? And…” Mhaz licked his nose. “What do you suppose it would be like, if they did? And…where might I find such a thing?”

“Pyro!” Rakla slapped Mhaz over the back of his head, dislodging his ear cuff. “Pyro-maniac, you scaly little hornball! It means he’s addicted to fire!”

Mhaz yelped, snapping his teeth at Rakla’s hand. “Quit hittin’ me!” He readjusted his ear cuff and mouthpiece, then glanced at the dragon. “Aren’t all dragons addicted to fire? You know, because of…” Mhaz trailed off, thinking better of mentioning The Scourge around Tetrikor. There were deeply painful memories there, for the dragon, and Mhaz doubted he could bring it up without sounding accusatory. “Well, ain’t it in their blood or something?”

“Not literally,” Rakla said, before turning back towards the dragon. “But why the hell would you light a dangerously flammable ship on fire, when some of us were still inside it?”

Tetrikor opened a wing, and pointed the talon at its tip towards Mhaz. “The kobold encouraged me.”

Mhaz held his hands up. “Whoa, hey there, buddy. Don’t blame me! I thought the rain would-”

“You’re both getting blamed!” Rakla jabbed a finger towards the ever-growing flames. “We were supposed to bring back this ship, intact and operable! The Vet’s gonna have both your balls in a vice!”

Tetrikor groaned, shaking his hind end. “Both of them? That sounds profoundly unpleasant!”

“No, I meant…” Rakla waved at Mhaz. “Both of you.”

The dragon tilted his head. “So, only one ball, then? That still sounds extremely uncomfortable.”

Rakla stared at him, muzzle slightly agape. “You know, years later and I still can’t figure out when you’re serious, and when you’re playing dumb to fuck with me.”

Tetrikor tossed his head. “Precisely the way I like it!” Then the dragon gazed around the deck, concern settling into his voice. “I cannot help but notice Pup and Lizard are still not here.”

Mhaz spoke into his mouthpiece. “Noma, Velk! Where the hell are you? We gotta go!” He looked up towards the top of the ship, where flames were encroaching upon the armor around the enclosed gasbags. “Hell, we shoulda already left!”

Velk’s snarling voice replied a few moments later. “Then you shouldn’t have set the damn ship on fire, should you! Over!”

“Now’s not really the time to worry about who set what on fire!” Mhaz paced back and forth alongside the dragon. “You can play Blame the Kobold, after we’re safely home and extremely drunk! But uh, until then?” Mhaz swallowed. “You might wanna run. Fast.”

A few heartbeats passed before the urd’thin’s slightly more melodious voice replaced the lizard’s deeper tone. “We got a feathered shadow we’re trying to lose!”

“Velk!” Ralka practically shouted into his mouthpiece. “Pick up the pup, and run! He can cover your escape!”

“On it!” The lizard grunted and his voice broke up a little as his mouthpiece jostled. “But if it’s that close, maybe you should just leave us! We could make for a life boat, and-”

“If I have to rescue you from some rickety safety vessel with a burning parachute, I shall be quite cross!” Tetrikor stomped a forepaw. “Just get your asses out here!”

“Rodger that. Over.”

Mhaz paced between Rakla and Tetrikor for long, agonizing moments. Though the kobold was certain only minutes passed, each heartbeat spent waiting was its own terrifying eternity. Near the other end of the ship, oblong lifeboats launched out into the rainy night. Mhaz approached the broken rail to watch their escape. As long as it wasn’t Noma and Velk aboard them, Mhaz didn’t really care who was fleeing. It was probably just the ship’s remaining crew members, after finally realizing the ship wasn’t salvageable.

Two of them launched just fine. A small, steam-powered blast propelled them out and away before their bright red parachutes erupted, to ferry them safely down to the earth. The crimson hue was meant to aid visibility, to help rescue teams locate them. Mhaz doubted there were any rescue teams incoming. Whoever survived was going to be on their own to try and make it home safely. Welcome to our world, Mhaz thought.

The third lifeboat was not so lucky. Its own parachute opened immediately, snaring against the bottom of the mothership. Flames caught it, and spread quickly across the fabric. As the ship dropped, the parachute tore free, but gaping holes ripped in the process. Fire quickly ate through what was left, and the vessel plummeted in complete freefall. It was out of site long before the two red parachutes were.

Mhaz grimaced. “You see that?” He shook his head. “Shitty way to go, even for humans and cat birds.”

“I just hope…” Rakla trailed off, the touched his mouthpiece. “Velk, Noma. Please tell me you’re not on a freefalling life boat.”

“Kinda busy!” Velk’s answer came amidst panted breaths. “But no. Still running! Bringing Tet…a new friend! Over!”

In the background, Noma shouted at their pursuer. “Fucking catbird!” Several gunshots sounded in quick succession. “Just hold still so I can blow off what’s left of your ears!”

Mhaz perked up, a grin spreading across his muzzle. “Oh, that sounds familiar.” He glanced up at the dragon. “Tet, how’d you to make sure this one goes down with the ship?”

The dragon shook himself, flexing his forelegs. “I’d be delighted.”

“No!” Rakla slapped Mhaz across the head again. “We’re getting the hell off this thing the moment Velk and Noma reach us.”

“Ow!” Mhaz rubbed his head, hissing. Stinging pain throbbed around his earhole. “Right in the frill, you dick. Those are sensitive, you know.”

“Good!” Rakla slapped Mhaz over the ear frill a second time. “Maybe this time you’ll listen! We don’t have time for you to use the dragon to get revenge on some gryphon-” The sudden crack of gunfire cut him off. This time, it was much closer. The gnoll grimaced, his ears splayed. “Alright, fine. Tet, if the gryphon imperils our escape, you have permission to engage. But take him down as quickly as possible, and then get us the fuck off this thing.”

The dragon strode forward, lashing his tail. “Understood!” The dragon gave an excited snarl. “I’ll just break his wings, and toss him overboard.”

The gnoll scrunched his muzzle, glancing at Mhaz. “He enjoys this far too much. I blame you.”

“Me?” Mhaz put a hand over his heart. “But I’m the voice of restraint!”

“They’re coming!” The dragon pointed a wingtip talon towards the broken entryway to the cargo hold.

A talk, lanky, reptilian va’chaak spinted through the shattered doors, clutching a small, furred urd’thin to his chest. Like the rest of the team, both were decked in body armor and survival gear, black and mostly bereft of markings. Where scales showed, the va’chaak’s coloration was a darker, more emerald green than Mhaz’s forest and mossy hues. The urd’thin’s fur mostly black, his ears edged in silvery shades.

Velk cradled Noma against him in both arms. Noma had a pistol in each hand, arms braced across Velk’s shoulders. He fired a few more rounds, screaming obscenities at the gryphon chasing them. As the creature bound beneath an overhanging light, it was clear to Mhaz that this was definitely the same gryphon he battled earlier. Mhaz was certain it was only the urd’thin’s gunfire that kept the gryphon from overtaking them completely. Not that it did much more than slow the creature down. Between the bouncing of Velk’s gait, and the gryphon’s darting, weaving movements, Noma had no better luck striking anything vital than Mhaz did earlier. A few rounds thumped into the gryphon’s body armor, and the rest struck only cargo boxes, the floor, a wall.

Noma’s pistols both clicked empty just as the two of them made it onto the outer deck. “I’m out!” The urd’thin shoved his weapons back into his holsters, jumping down when Velk released him.

“Don’t worry,” Tetrikor said, striding forward to bar the gryphon’s way. He lifted a forepaw, brandishing his lengthy claws. “These never run out of ammo!”

“Damn it,” Mhaz said, muttering to himself. “That’s a cool line.” He hurried around the other side of the dragon. “I gotta come up with better material before the next mission.”

As Tetrikor advanced, the gryphon skidded to a halt just outside the cargo hold. Blood caked the gray feathers of his head, and left dark lines across his battered armor. Mhaz’s knife was long gone, but the wound had stained one of the gryphon’s forepaws with enough blood to look as if he’d dipped it into crimson ink. Tears, scuffs, cracks and shattered plates marred his body armor. The gryphon looked like he’d been through hell, and yet here he was, coming back for more. Mhaz almost liked him. Almost.

The gryphon quickly sized up the dragon, before his gaze settled on Mhaz. “Oh, look who survived his flying lesson!” He lifted his bloodied forepaw, glancing at the still bleeding wound, then back to Mhaz. “You know, they really shouldn’t let children play with sharp objects. You could hurt yourself.”

“Looks more like I hurt someone else, actually.” Mhaz crossed his arms, grinning at the feathered creature. “And speaking of getting hurt?” He tilted his head towards the dragon. “This here’s my friend. I’d give you his name, but he only gives that out to people he respects. So we’ll just call him, Dragon.” Mhaz looked up at Tetrikor. “Dragon? Tell the bird what you’re gonna do to him.”

Tetrikor growled, low and menacing. “I’m gonna fuck you up.”

“Yes,” the gryphon said, peering up at the dragon. “I suspect you will. In that case…” He looked back at Mhaz, then over at the gnoll, and finally Velk and Noma. “Perhaps I should even the odds!”

The gryphon bound forward, breaking into a dead sprint. Tetrikor responded in kind, surging towards the smaller creature. The dragon lashed out with a forepaw, unsheathed claws aimed straight for the gryphon’s head. At the last second, the gryphon threw himself onto his belly, skidding across the deck on his armor. Tetrikor’s forepaw swept just over the gryphon’s head, then clipped his wings, tearing out a few gray feathers.

In an instant, the gryphon was back on his feet, and running. Tetrikor pivoted hard, this time swinging his spined tail right for the gryphon’s body. Mhaz knew from gruesome experience that the dragon’s tail spikes could right through human armor. He doubted gryphon armor would fare much better. But again, the gryphon was ready. This time he leapt and beat his wings, soaring just over the dragon’s tail as it whipped through the air, spines whistling. He kept his limbs tucked up against his belly, and Tetrikor’s tail spikes didn’t even scratch his armor.

The moment the gryphon hit the deck, he changed course. Instead of trying to counterattack, he ignored the dragon completely, and ran for Velk and Noma. The startled va’chaak and urd’thin scrambled away, running in opposite directions. But Noma just wasn’t fast enough. The gryphon scooped up the smaller bipedal creature in his forelegs, and then with a squawk of effort, hurled the urd’thin off the deck like a human throwing a ball.

Noma screamed as he plunged into the darkness. “Fuck yoooouuuuu!”

The gryphon whipped back around towards the dragon. “Go fetch!”

“What the fuck!” Mhaz yanked his pistol free, aiming at the gryphon’s head. “He wasn’t even fightin’ you!” With a snarl, Mhaz pulled the trigger three times, but the gryphon was already turning. One round smashed into the battered armor across the gryphon’s shoulder, and the other two buried themselves against his side.

At least one of them earned a cry of pain, this time. The gryphon staggered sideways, hissing. “How do you still have bullets left?”

Tetrikor made a low, rumbling noise that was equal parts menace, and frustration. He glared at the gryphon, even as he called out to Noma over comms. “Flatten out! Slow your decent!” Then he snarled at the gryphon. “This won’t take long.” Tetrikor leapt over the railing, folding his wings to break into a steep dive. He called back to the others as he hurtled after the urd’thin. “No one else get tossed overboard!”

“There, now it’s just us, again.” The gryphon shook himself, rent ears flattened back. “One of those shots got me, but…” He slowly turned back to Mhaz and the others. “I believe you’re all out of ammunition, now.”

“Uh huh.” Mhaz slowly tucked his pistol away, buttoning his holster shut. “But do you think that scares us, Bird?”

The gryphon slowly shook his head. “No. I think you wanna finish our business.”

“You’re fuckin’ right I do.” Mhaz drew two knives and spun them around his hands.

“Am I the only one here who cares that the ship is gonna explode?” Rakla thrust a finger towards the raging fire now crawling up the gasbag’s armored enclosure. “You have seen that, haven’t you gryphon? You could leave, right now, while the dragon can’t stop you!”

The gryphon never took his eyes off Mhaz. “Nah. Can’t flee while I got business. Think the kobold gets it. Might be a mouthy little shit, but he’s got the old ways buried in him, somewhere. Don’tcha, Kobold.”

“Sure do.” Mhaz spun his knives again, licking his muzzle. His heart hammered, his tail twitched. “Name’s Mhaz, by the way.”

The gryphon clacked his beak. “Arris. You ready, Mhaz?”

 Velk turned towards Rakla, slowly drawing his own longer bladed combat knives. “You think they’re gonna fuck, if they survive?”

Rakla wrenched free a large chunk of brass railing. “I’m surprised they haven’t already started.” He moved to the gryphon’s side, with Velk headed for the opposite end of the deck. “Guess you get your wish, Mhaz. Whenever you’re ready.”

Mhaz waited until the other two had taken up positions on either side of the gryphon. If they all came at Arris together, they might have a chance. If nothing else, they might be able to hold their own until Tetrikor returned. Still, the gryphon’s words resonated with the kobold more than he cared to admit. As satisfying as it would have been to watch Tetrikor beat the shit out Arris, it would be all the more fulfilling to end this himself.

“Now!” Mhaz sprang forward, brandishing his knives.

The gryphon leapt and-

*****

“Okay, I’ve been holding my tongue, but no.” The Veterinarian shook her head. “I gotta stop you there, because this is getting ridiculous.”

“But Boss!” Mhaz held his hands out, incredulous. “It’s the big climax! You can’t interrupt that.”

The Veterinarian rolled her eyes. “I just did. Now, as exciting a story as you’re admittedly building, this time. It’s irrelevant. What actually happened?”

“This!” Mhaz slapped the table. “I’m telling you what happened.”

The Vet rubbed her forehead, turning her attention to Rakla. “Alright. I’ve had enough of your kobold bullshit for one day. Gnoll, your turn. What actually happened at the end of the mission? Did Tetrikor pummel the gryphon? Or did you all just flee together-”

“No.” Rakla took a deep breath, then let it out in a long, slow sigh. “As much as I hate to admit it when Mhaz’s right…He’s telling the truth, this time. That is what happened.”

The Vet stared at him, scarcely believing the gnoll. “You’re shitting me.”

Rakla shook his head. “Not this time, he isn’t.”

“So you’re telling me…” The Vet jabbed a finger against the table. “That despite the fact the entire ship was going to explode, you three actually stuck around long enough to fight a damn gryphon. Without your guns.”

Rakla scowled, a few canine teeth exposed. “Not by choice. Stupid bird knew exactly what to do to keep Tetrikor out of the fight.” He thumped his thumb into his chest. “I wanted to get the fuck out there. It was numb nuts over here who wanted to fight the gryphon. Mhaz was so excited he was probably hard.”

Mhaz snorted, folding his arms. “Not completely hard.”

The Vet held a hand up. “You can leave that little detail out of your report, Mhaz.” She sank back in her chair, chuckling. “But I’ll grant you this. A burning airship is a pretty cool place for a fight.”

“Right?” Mhaz sat up straighter, swishing his tail. “Top five most badass Mhaz moment. So…here’s how it ended.”