Ashly 'Ace' Talons's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

The Chimera's heads split their fire in three directions. Ace banked hard, felt the heat sear past her left wing. She climbed fast, pulling the creature's attention up and away from Pegi. It worked. All three heads turned toward her, flames building in their throats again. She shot higher into the clouds. The goat head struck first. Fire exploded across her flight path, forcing her to veer east. The lion roared and breathed another blast, cutting off her dive. She twisted away, gained altitude, but the serpent tail whipped around and sent a stream of flame straight up. Ace pulled into a steep climb, the heat scorching the air behind her. Each breath pushed her higher, farther from the valley. Farther from Pegi. Blackened feathers drifted past her as she broke through the cloud layer — pieces of the Chimera's own wings, charred and falling. She'd pulled it off course too, but that didn't matter. She was too high now, and Pegi was alone down there. Ace circled back, trying to find a gap to dive through. The Chimera stayed between her and the valley, all three heads tracking her movement. Below, she caught a glimpse of stone walls — the old fortress on the ridge. Pegi was there, grounded, using the fortress entrance as cover. A wooden spear shaft jutted from the rubble at the gate, braced across the opening like a barricade. Pegi had dug in. She was holding position, but she couldn't hold forever. Not alone. Not without someone watching the sky above her. Ace stopped trying to break through. She angled away from the Chimera, drawing it farther east, keeping its attention locked on her instead of the fortress below. The creature followed, gaining speed. Good. As long as it chased her, Pegi had time to regroup. Ace didn't need to get back to her partner right now. She needed to keep the Chimera away from her. That was the job — even if it meant flying alone.