It's a bit more than the word limit ^^'
White feathers frosted in ice ruffled as the harsh wind blew through the cold, narrow canyon. Vondur clenched his teeth and shivered from the cold that went right to his bones. His deep blue eyes shot up to look at the sky, trying to see if he was still on course, but the clouds made it impossible for the young Skydancer to see the stars that had guided him this far. He growled in frustration and covered his face with the hood of his guise once more. He just had to trust his instincts and keep moving. Vondur knew he couldn't stop moving until he had left the Fortress of Ends, otherwise
they would get him.
A twig snapping behind him cause Vondur's head to turn around. Behind him stood one of the large beasts that had guarded his prison cell before he had escaped. His hood had fallen down from the sudden movement and the Gaoler looked right at him with its emotionless, white eyes. Neither of the creatures moved a muscle and simply continue to stare at one another. Vondur knew that the creature would not keep him alive, after all no dragon had ever been able to escape the Fortress, and the Gaolers would keep his escape unknown to any outsiders.
Vondur's heart beat relentlessly in his chest and he knew the larger creature could hear it. He shuddered, thinking about what it would do to him if it caught him, so he turned on his heel and ran faster than he had ever before. He could hear the thundering of the Gaoler's large paws behind him as he shot through the narrow paths and became hopeful as he saw an opening. His stomach dropped as he saw a second, slightly smaller, Gaoler step in front of it, trapping him inside the canyon with the other. Vondur closed his eyes as he spread his wings to fly for the first time in what felt like forever. He knew the Gaolers could not fly so he took the only chance he had left and took off. The young dragon struggled to gain distance between himself and the ground beneath him, but he knew he had to get away. His paws made contact with the smaller Gaoler's head and he used it to jump higher and get out of reach.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he looked back and saw the Gaolers roaring up at him from below. His wings hurt where the cuffs, that held his prisoner ID, had been clipped onto his skin, but he ignored it. He had done it. Vondur had escaped the Fortress of Ends. Even if he didn't know where he should go now, he was happy. He had gotten another chance at life. And this time he wouldn't make the same mistakes. He just had to get rid of his cuffs, and Vondur knew just the place. He kept flying until the pain in his wings became too much. He landed on one of the ice floes and slumped down onto the soft snow. The dark Skydancer curled into a ball and rested his eyes for a little while. He must have fallen asleep, because when Vondur opened them again it was dark and unbelievably cold around him. He stretched and stood up, looking around himself. He froze as he saw the silhouettes of two dragon-like creatures a few floes over, sniffing at the snow. The larger one nudged its friend and looked straight at Vondur.
Before the two Gaolers could react Vondur bolted in the opposite direction and flew from floe to floe, trying to escape the beasts. He heard the two creatures behind him. A dead tree in front of him gave him hope. He jumped onto it and then away from the solid ground beneath him. His wings still hurt, but he clenched his teeth and ignored it the best he could. He had never heard of Gaolers leaving the Fortress of Ends, but then again, he had also never heard of a dragon managing to escape. He kept flying above the deep black water beneath him and when he felt like his wings would give in any second, he saw land not too far away. He crash landed between large birch trees and panted as he lay on the softly glowing grass of the Starwood Strands. He stayed in place during the night, trying to calm himself and smiling weakly as he watched the stars above.
As the sun rose, so did Vondur. He moved silently through the large trees and made sure not to be seen. His stomach growled and he suddenly became aware of how hungry he actually was. The young Skydancer trotted over to one of the large trees and scratched at the bark until he could see several bugs moving about. He quickly chewed the delicious little creatures and jumped at the sound of steps behind him. Vondur climbed onto the tree and held onto the small branches, looking down to the creatures walking beneath. Relief washed over him as he noticed the old Imperial walking slowly through the forest of birch trees. She seemed to admire the trees and animals around her and Vondur thought about the times when he had been this carefree.
His paws landed on the soft grass as the Imperial disappeared out of sight. He continued walking and after a long while he reached Dragonhome. His paws carried him down the familiar path and into the dark tunnels that ran all through the ground of Dragonhome. He knew the way, even after all the years he had spent down in that icy prison cell. He smiled fondly as he reached the exit of the tunnel. In front of him was the home of one of his best friends, a smith called Ark. He pushed open the door and saw his old friend working on a broadsword, her back turned towards him. "Welcome to the best blacksmith in Sornieth, what can I do for you?" she asked in her raspy voice and Vondur smiled wider. He had thought he'd never hear that voice again when he was brought to the Fortress. When Ark didn't get an answer she turned and froze as her eyes caught his. She lowered her smithing glasses and her jaw dropped. "Vondur!? How did you escape?" she asked loudly as she hugged her best friend. Vondur chuckled as he hugged her back. "I waited until the cell was unguarded and then squeezed through the bars and then ran for my life," he told her, happy to finally be where he belonged. "So, knowing you I assume you aren't just here to say hi," Ark stated as she pulled away, looking up at the Skydancer. "I need to get rid of the wing cuffs... Think you can help with that?" he asked, motioning to the black steel on his wings. "What kind of blacksmith would I be if I couldn't get rid of that?" the brown Mirror chuckled as she examined the metal.
"This might hurt a bit," she told him honestly as she positioned a tool between the metal and his skin. Vondur clenched his teeth and Ark pulled harshly, causing the metal to break and hit the ground. "That was one of them... Now the second one," she huffed as the blueish purple blood dripped from the wound. "I know this sound weird, but I've always loved the color of you blood, Vondur!" Ark admitted quietly as she positioned her tool once more and with one swift motion the second cuff was gone. Vondur panted slightly as he relaxed. "Yeah, weird color for blood, isn't it..." the young Skydancer chuckled. "The blood of a true Opalborn! I am still surprised they took you, after all you are technically royalty, Vondur!" Ark said while picking up the broken shards of metal. "These will make a beautiful sword," she mumbled. "I haven't been royalty since the day I ran away to become a thief..." the young Skydancer scoffed, moving to sit down next to the counter that held Ark's creations.
"You still have royal blood, though! Besides, how did they even catch you?" Ark asked while putting the dark metal above her fire, melting it. "Ugh, they set up a stupid trap and then just hit me over the head. Next thing I know I wake up in a cell of ice with one of those monsters looking at me." Vondur explained, watching his friend work. "You look exhausted. If you want, you can use my room and sleep for a while. You still know which one?" Ark mumbled, bot looking up from her work. "Yeah... Thank you, Ark." he told her as he made his way to the small room Ark usually slept in. Ark stopped and looked to see if he had entered the room before she took the iron from the fire and snuck out the door, leaving the tired Skydancer alone. She made sure to lock her door before she entered the tunnel system below her house.
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