Resistance C19: Casualty

Resistance
Chapter 19: Casualty

[Fenek]
With all the gunfire and the human firing at the group of four dragons, I didn't do anything. I couldn't, since Keane had refused to give me a gun, however, Agenor picked up my Rider's weapon and handed it to me, showing me how to use it while he himself shot at the blue dragons.

Keane himself was facing away from us, holding the stare of the dragons' commander, a large black, with his arms folded. Meanwhile, the commander himself stared in shock and horror as his own charges were gunned down... I felt a twinge of pity for them, as they fell one by one, their sides red with blood.

However, as the humans would have told me, it was kill or be killed. Their intent had already been clear to me from the start. They wanted to raze the town, no matter whether there was a Resistance here or not, to serve as an example, and to show as results to their own superiors.

I saw bullets pinging all over the place, and a handful of humans fell while firing, hit in the legs or chest by their own bullets. Those things never stopped, it seemed, till they hit someone, and I retreated behind the wall, once I used up all the bullets in the rifle.

...Then, I felt a sharp pain in my chest, and the sensation of burning. Roaring in pain, I crumpled to the floor...
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[Agenor]
Fenek seemed to be perfectly fine for the entire time, but all of a sudden, he gave a loud roar, or rather, loud relative to his size before simply collapsing to the ground in a heap. The blacksmith hurried over in no time and checked him over. He returned with a puzzled look as he helped to carry Fenek, who was slowly recovering, over.

"He's fine. No wounds, not even a bruise. I don't know what's wrong with him..." He remarked, puzzled, while we laid Fenek against the wall, and I gave him some water.

Outside, the sounds of gunfire stopped, and the shout of, "Commander down!" floated over.

I poked my head out, already having a sinking feeling. Fenek was a bonded dragon... If he was not injured, it meant...

I saw Keane, the Resistance commander clutching his chest, staring at the wound in shock as he fell to the ground, red, runny human blood leaking from both his back and chest. His pistol fell from his grip, and clattered to the ground some distance away.

He must have been hit by a stray bullet, for the wound was too small to have been inflicted from tooth or claw...

The humans had already surrounded the last remaining dragon, the commander of the other side, and he had yielded.

Fenek was still weak and slumped against the wall. I hurriedly put my weapon aside and ran to the scene.

The lanky human already looked pale, and was losing copious amounts of blood, like how I had been when I had stumbled onto his doorstep...

He seemed to be trying to call for help, but all that did was to make him spit out a mouthful more of blood, staining the grey floor red...

I hurriedly pushed my way through the crowd, ignoring the suspicious glances and hurried to take a closer look at the wound. Perhaps I could help...

Of course, Ren Jie, who I assumed was their equivalent of a healer was already there with bandages and water, trying to staunch the bleeding.

He caught my eye and shook his head a little...

I ended up having to send the crowd away, since they obviously had duties to tend to, leaving five guards for the commander, whose name turned out to be Atheros, me and Ren Jie, along with Keane who was reduced to gurgling and muttering on the floor, in a pool of his own blood...

Atheros looked down at the human, and seemed to come to a decision. He nosed down at the bleeding human, causing some alarm. They thought he was going to eat him...

"No, I hold no ill intent. I intend to help. Block me, and your leader will die." He said simply, making eye contact with me, of all people...

Out of nowhere, Fenek hurried over, panic written all over his snout. "What happened? Why is that dragon standing over my Rider? I....I cannot let him die!"

I held onto his shoulder, shaking my head. "No, Fenek. It is now out of our hands."

The brown dragon stared at me, anguish in his eyes, then his gaze flicked to his Rider... "He's...."

I shook my head. "No."

Atheros seemed to realise who he should ask and turned his attention to Fenek...
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[Fenek]
It was over... It was all over. We must have been the only rider dragon pair to have their lifespan counted in days...

Agenor did not help at all with what he said...

Then, the black dragon approached me. "I can save your Rider, but there are two conditions."

Pulling myself together, I met his eyes. "Time runs short. What is your price?"

He snorted. "It is not a price. I am as good as dead now. First, he will become a full dragon. Second, he must take my clan under his wing like I have. They will know. I admire him for what he's doing here."

I nodded. "I want my Rider back."

He nodded, then walked to Keane, who was still spitting out blood, rapidly losing his grasp on consciousness...

The black dragon spoke, as he began to glow, "You're a strong warrior as you are brave, worthy of my respect. My life, like this battle is over. I will not waste it. This is my gift to you."

Keane himself, who had already gone limp also started to glow....

There was a flash of light, and Keane's body vanished, while the black dragon collapsed. I felt the bond shift.

...At least he was still the same person...I hoped...

Atheros was no more.