The Phantom(PhantomHeroJ)

My story no stealing!
== Prologue ==
=== A Whisper in the Wind ===
A group of dragonets along with two dragons sit around a fire in the desert. The moons are crescent and waning barely visible in the sky, so the stars make up for the lack of light.
“Can we tell stories?” Asks a young RainWing, who was sitting beside a MudWing who was already falling to sleep.
A SkyWing from across the two grins big, “Yeah Papaya! I want to hear the story about the Phantom!” She exclaims with excitement.
A SeaWing dragoness smiles with uncertainty, “Oh, um that is a tough story to tell.”
“Oh please Torrent.” Papaya begs and the SkyWing joins in too.
A MudWing is finishing off his meat he roasted. “Eagle, Papaya quiet if you want a story.” He winks at Torrent who sighs. “You up for a story Hare?” He asks the drowsy Mudwing.
“Sure Boulder.” Hare mumbles and then stands up.
“Alright, you all listen close.”
“Once in an alleyway, a SandWing was born,
Scales like the day, with a fading sun.
Torn from his mother, never had father,
But sure as hell he could have been the Devil’s boy.
Moons had past as they do,
The quiet boy with a sister and a brother,
Had his first encounter,
With one hell of a bloody scene.
Lost his brother, lost his sister,
I sure am glad I ain’t that cursed scoundrel.
Moons had past as they do,
And the boy was back,
But he had a contract,
To kill that poor scoundrel.
The next day, he was found a’ hanging,
That poor ole scoundrel.
They say the quiet boy,
Became the reaper,
Who drifted in the wind,
To be seen soon again.
He will come with a rope to hang,
Or so the drunkards had sang,
So when the wind howls,
But no wind blows,
Be sure and careful not to see rows,
Of bloody ole fangs,
That belong to the Phantom.”
The fire crackles as the dragonets lay asleep but Torrent and Boulder sit awake watching over them.
“Is that a true story?” Torrents whispers, her mind shaken with the stories of the Phantom.
“Ha, you know they are just drunkard tales. Probably the dragon is real but everything else is just drama. The Phantom could just be some lowly criminal.” Boulder says with humor, quite amused by Torrent’s fear of the Phantom.
“…Alright. I’m going to sleep.” She says as she lays down.
Boulder wonders about the stories as the night drifts along with the sand.
Off in a quiet little home in the Scorpion Den, a SandWing walks out with scars and black scales that have veins of gold. Narrowed blue eyes look over the dark silent streets as he wipes blood from his face, blood that isn’t his. He walks off into the night, quiet as he came. Through the window of the house, a passerby could see a body hanging from the ceiling with a rope around their neck.
== Chapter 1 ==
=== Whiskey and Blood ===
“You are gonna regret showing yer ugly mug around here.” Growled a MudWing as he wiped blood from his nose.
I stand across from him, our battlefield a mess of thrown tables and chairs, drinks pool on the floor along with blood from my other victims. Three bodies lay littered across the floor except one which is pinned against the wooden wall.
“You gonna just stand there with that stupid face or are ya gonna make yer move.” Taunted the MudWing but I stayed silent.
The MudWing huffs and charges at me, his talons slam against the hardwood floor, the vibrations making me shake but I stand firm. Suddenly, the MudWing slips in a mixture of blood and whiskey. A hiss escapes him as he falls to the ground.
I silently walk over as he tries to stand up, his body dripping of the bitter mixture. He looks up, his eyes locking onto my own and I see fear. He tries to move away but I stomp onto his twisted ankle, and he howls in pain. I leaned down to his ear and whispered.
“Jackal!”
My head shoots up from under my wings as I sit up straight. My eyes focus on Torrent, the science teacher. Some of my classmates laugh while others look annoyed. An embarrassed grin stretches across my face as I shrink back.
“Tell me what are the parts of the heart.” Torrent sighs with annoyance.
The embarressed grin fades as I close my eyes, “There’s the aorta, superior vena cava, right atrium, inferior vena cava, tricuspid valva-“
“Alright, alright that’s good enough.”
My classmates smiles fade, those annoyed turn away, and Torrent goes back to whatever she was saying. I go back to my thoughts, to last night. Hopefully that MudWing tells his boss I’m coming for her. 
== Chapter 2 ==
=== Tick Tock ===
Steam rises and coils around my snout, the smell of jasmine fills my nostrils. Tea, a delicious treat, sweet and slightly bitter. I sat in an inn at a small table away from the other tables that were filled with dragons who laughed and chattered joyously.
Sitting alone tears at my heart, not having little Nile stuffing his face or Mirage whispering her anxious thoughts in my ear make me miss them all anew, as if I lost them yesterday rather than three moons ago.
At least I killed the one who hurt them, at least he hung from the rafters of his home as he deserved. Flashes of blood and pain Suddenly blinds me. I drop my tea and grip onto the table. I try to clear my eyes, but I am bombarded by more bloody memories of death and pain. My throat tightens and tears sting my eyes, I killed him, but nothing feels better, they aren’t back, everything still hurts. What have I done, what have I fixed? Why am I still suffering? I thought everything would feel better with him dead, but nothing changed!
Suddenly I felt a talon picking me up from the ground, I didn’t even know I fell. “Shh, it’s okay.” I blink my eyes and I see a NightWing helping me out of the inn.
Everyone is staring at us as we leave, and I try to pull away but the dragon’s talons grip onto me hard as he pulls me out. We walk for a bit till we go down an alleyway. I prepare for a fight; I may have killed one dragon in my life, but I have survived and won plenty of fights.
The NightWing lets go of me and smiles, “It will get easier, don’t worry.” I step back and growl, my poison barb poised.
“What will get easier?” I ask, playing dumb but the NightWing rolls his eyes.
“Killing dragons, soon blood will be a common sight in your life.” He says annoyance in his eyes shining. “You killed Rat, not an easy feat but definitely not that impressive. He is a reckless killer that tends to underestimate his opponents.”
I keep my mind focused on the present, trying to make sure I give away nothing. I don’t know if this NightWing can read minds, it’s much better safe than sorry. “I don’t know who Rat is and I don’t know what you are talking about.” I growl stepping forward but suddenly I am slammed against the back wall.
I try to breathe back in the air I lost but I feel a tight grip around my throat. I look into the fiery green eyes of the NightWing and fear blanks my mind for me. “’Don’t think me a fool dragonet, I’d rather not kill my new apprentice.”
Wait what? What does he mean apprentice? He frees me and steps back, “What do you mean apprentice?” I ask as I take a few deep breaths trying to calm my racing heart.
“There’s much to explain but here’s the short version. You killed Rat, a member of the Outer Tribunal. The consequence of that is death, but telling how skilled you are I instead have an offer. You become my apprentice, or you die.” The NightWing explains as if this was everyday business.
“Outer Tribunal? What is that?” I can’t help but ask out of curiosity and the NightWing smirks.
“That’s for later, if you choose to become my apprentice.”
“Not much of a choice.” I growl softly. I can’t get out of this; he is too fast, and this is a narrow space. Fighting and running are not a choice I have, I only got two. “Fine, guess you got yourself an apprentice.”
The NightWing smiles and turns to leave, “Great, we’ll keep in contact.”
As he walks away I take a step forward with just one question, “Who are you?”
“XI, nice to meet you Phantom.”
“Jackal, are you coming?” Calls Caelum who peeked his head into our dorm.
I shake my head, “Oh, um yeah.” I jump off my bed and rush out after him. I can’t get detention today, if I do, I’ll miss one of XI’s crazy tests which doesn’t sound half that bad.
“Are you okay? You’ve been very off.” Caelum says suddenly breaking the silence we were walking in.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I replied quickly not really wanting to talk, the memories were still hanging over my head, distracting me from the present.
“It’s just that-“
“You have been very weird around Cinder.” I say cutting off Caelum who stiffens.
“What? No, I haven’t!” Caelum says then rushes on ahead.
I smile but can’t help but wonder why Caelum acts weird around Cinder, he doesn’t act like he has a crush on her… Whatever, I should focus on preparing for the upcoming test, both for my history class and XI.
== Chapter 3 ==
=== Hush Little One ===
Jackal was playing quietly in his room. It was night and the moons’ light was hidden behind the clouds. He was stacking some blocks trying to see how high he could make his tower, but suddenly there was a loud slam and his blocks fell over.
“You were supposed to get the guard out of there!” Yelled some dragon in the other room. Jackal went to the doorway and saw his mom standing in front of a huge SandWing who looked quite angry.
“I-I know it was just that I saw the Outclaws and got scared.” Echis said but suddenly the large SandWing back handed her, and she fell onto a table knocking over a vase. The sound of it shattering made Jackal jump.
“Mom!” Jackal gasped and took a step forward, but the terrifying SandWing growled at him.
“Stay where you are boy.”
Jackal froze and watched his mom try to stand up. The SandWing leaned down and grabbed her face lifting it up to look at him. Jackal watched, his body quivering in fear.
“You belong to me, I own you.” He growled and Jackal could see his eyes burning with dangerous fire, but his mom just smiled.
“I’m sorry, I promise I will be there tomorrow night.” She said, her voice even and her smile gentle as if she didn’t get hit.
The SandWing smiled, “Good, I’d hate to let go of my favorite distraction.” Saying this he caressed Echis’s cheek.
A look of disgust passed through her eyes, but she still smiled. She leaned into his palm and held his talons to her cheek. “I don’t want to leave you.” Hearing this the SandWing smiled and let go of her and turned to leave but he glanced at Jackal.
“Next time, it will be your ratty son.” Then he left, leaving Jackal shaking.
Jackal shook his fear off him like water and rushed to his mom’s side, but he stepped on a shard of broken vase. “Ow!” Jackal screeched, tears sprung into his eyes, and he continued over to his mom.
“Are you okay sweetie?” Echis said taking her son’s talon looking at the piece of glass.
Jackal shook his head and looked away from the glass to his mom’s face which was bruising, and her shoulder was bleeding a little from the crash with the vase. “Are you okay?”
Echis looked into her son’s eyes, a smile on her face, “Yes.”
“How?” Jackal asked confused. “Why are you smiling? Aren’t you scared, hurt?”
Echis shook her head, “Let me teach you a trick Jacky. Whenever you are hurt or scared, smile. Smile till you are no longer scared or hurting. Accept the pain and fear, don’t fight it, just pass through it. Grit your teeth and smile big.”
“How?”
“As I said smile.” Echis pointed at the shard in Jackal’s palm. “Try it.”
Jackal looked at the shard too, confused, and unsure. He put on a halfhearted smile and grabbed the glass. He gave a weak tug and then let go, whimpering in pain. “I can’t.” He said defeated.
“It’s okay sweetie, it takes some time to get used to it.” Echis said then suddenly pulled out the glass making Jackal howl in surprise more than pain. “Shh, it’s okay. It’s all better now see.”
Jackal looked at his palm and the blood pooling in it. It didn’t hurt as much as he thought it would.
I lean against a wall in a dark alley, trying to catch my breath. I look at my shoulder which had a wicked dagger stabbed deep into it. I grabbed it and put on a small smile. Deep breath and pull! The dagger rips out of my shoulder and blood starts flowing, but I put pressure on it. I feel the pain, the stinging sensation of missing flesh, the light head feeling of lost blood. I continue breathing deep and smile. I take my bandana and tie it around my wound tight and walk out of the alleyway.
XI appears beside me and walks slightly ahead, “Good job, but are you okay? You shouldn’t have pulled out that dagger.”
I looked at the dagger that was still in my talons, “Eh, I’m fine.” I wipe my blood off the dagger and put it in my bag. I glance at XI who seemed slightly unnerved. I step it in front of him and grin big, “Grit your teeth and smile big as my mom always said!”
== Chapter 4 ==
=== Missing Candy ===
"I got loads of candy." Boasted Kingbird to Caelum and Jackal as they were walking to their dorm.
"Only because you were shoving everyone out of the way! Like seriously, that was the fastest I've ever seen you move." Caelum said laughing.
Jackal chuckled and then decided to change the topic before they start arguing. "Hey, why don't we trade our candy with each other. I got some bitter fruit that I ain't a big fan of."
Kingbird smiled big, "I'll take them off your hands for free."
"Ha! No. I am ain't givin away sweets for free."
"But you just said you don't like them?" Kingbird said confused.
"Doesn't mean I won't eat them." Jackal said with a teasing. smirk.
Kingbird huffed, "You're mean."
Caelum laughed and wrapped his tail around Kingbird's.
They entered their dorm and went to each of their little hiding spots where they hid their candy but in unison they exclaimed.
"WHERE"S OUR CANDY!"
They all looked at each other in shock, "You are missing your candy too?"
They all gasped, "We've been robbed!"
Jackal instantly started to think about who took it but he no names came to mind.
Kingbird was growling furiously, "What kind of monster steals other dragons' candy!"
"My sister, my parents, even my nana." Caelum said counting on his talons and Kingbird looked appalled.
"Your family are monsters!"
Jackal glared at Kingbird, already in a bad mood. "Can you quiet down a bit?" he growled.
Caelum shook his head, "It's alright, we can go get Marina's help." He then glanced at Jackal whose face turned red at the mention of Marina.
Jackal stood up and cleared his throat, "Yeah, that's a good idea."
They all went to Marina's dorm room to see her reading and eating some chocolate. "Oh, hey guys. Need something?"
"Yeah, some-" Jackal began but Kingbird jumped in front of him.
"Our candy has been stolen and we need you to figure out who stole it!"
Jackal growled but Marina laughed, and his growl subsided.
"Alright, and I think I already have our first suspect. Boulder!" Marina said jumping off her bed.
They found Boulder in his classroom reading some students' papers. "Hello, I'm busy, go bug Torrent."
"This will only take a moment Boulder; we have a few questions." Marina said as she walked in.
Boulder sighed and placed down the papers neatly, "Alright, be quick."
"I remember hearing you tell Torrent you don't eat candy, is that correct?"
"Yes?"
"Okay, now what were you doing when the other teachers were hiding eggs? I don't remember seeing you."
"In my office." Boulder answered his face annoyed.
Kingbird gasped but Jackal clamped his snout shut.
"Are you sure? Did anyone see you in your office?" Marina asked nonchalantly.
"Oh erm, no." Boulder answered flatly, but Jackal saw something pass through his eyes.
"Oh, so you can't prove your alibi. Well, I have a suspect here who says they saw you breaking into Torrent's room."
"Yeah! I saw you!" Kingbird shouted after pulling off Jackal's talons. Marina rolled her eyes and then looked at Boulder.
"Wait, kids, I have a deal for you. If I give you some of Torrent's candy, you won't tell her, okay?" Boulder said pulling out a basket that was made by Torrent that was filled with candy.
"Wait, Torrent's candy? We thought you stole our candy." Caelum said confused.
Boulder looked hurt, "I would never steal candy from dragonet's, from Torrent yes."
Marina thought for a moment then sighed, "That makes sense... Guess we got to go back to square one."
"Sorry Boulder." They all said and turned to leave.
"Wait! Can you guys not tell Torrent?" Boulder asked nervously.
"It's the least we could do after accusing you of stealing candy." Caelum said.
"Erm, he did steal candy." Jackal said and Caelum talon palmed.
Marina smiled, "We'll take you up on that offer."
The four dragonets were walking down the hall eating candy as they thought of who else could have stolen their candy.
"Sorry, guys. I don't know who else could have taken the candy." Marina said.
Jackal put a talon on her shoulder, "It's alright, thanks for your help."
Marina smiled making Jackal blush.
"Hi guys." Absolute said walking up to them chewing something.
"Hey Absol, what are you eating?" Caelum asked.
"Nothing." Absolute said then swallowed. Jackal eyed Absolute suspiciously, he stepped right in front of Absolute who gave a lazy smile. Suddenly, Jackal could smell chocolate but none of them had eaten chocolate.
"Absol, I thought you were asleep during the egg hunt?" Jackal questioned.
"Oh ummmmm...." Absol said stepping back.
"Lie and I will pin you to the wall." Jackal growled.
Absolute' eyes went wide and he threw up his talons, "Fine! I stole your candy!"
Kingbird gasped and whispered, "Monster."
Everyone rolled their eyes.
"Give it back." Jackal said and Absolute nodded vigorously.
The five of them were in Absolute's dorm room with a big basket of candy.
"Welp, looks like he combined our candy. we gotta to share now." Caelum sighed.
"Fine with me." Jackal said with a shrug.
Kingbird just started eating. Caelum laughed and sat beside him and joined in.
Jackal walked over to grab some before it was all gone but he looked at Absolute and Marina. "Wanna join in?"
"Yes please!" They exclaimed.
They all sat around the basket and ate candy but as Jackal ate, he felt someone's tail coil around his, he looked to see Marina smiling at him and he felt himself turn redder than the apples.
== Chapter 5 ==
=== Hours Go By in Seconds ===
I lay awake in my bed, staring at the ceiling. Mirage and Nile’s voices echoing in the dark silence. My name being called, laughter and screams mixed into a horrific cacophony.
I can see flashes of red smeared on the walls and ceiling, I can see eyes of emerald green and sky-blue staring at me from the window. I can feel the sting of my scars and the taste of copper is stuck on my tongue. Could I have saved them?
“Phantom.”
“Ack!” I exclaimed as I rolled out of bed onto the floor in a tangled heap of blankets. I struggled out of my blankets to look up and see the armored mask of XI. “What are you doing here!” I quietly hiss.
“To get you, we have a mission.” The towering NightWing says in a hushed tone thankfully. “So this is where you stay.” He says looking around, his one glowing green eye studying my dorm.
“Yeah, yeah it’s not a five-star suite, now let’s get out of here before you are spotted.” I say while pushing him out the doorway. I glance back at Kingbird and Caelum, neither of them has even stirred. Thank goodness.
XI and I leave JMA after I throw on my hat and a cloak. We fly off into the dead hours of the night, silently riding the frigid breezes. I glance at XI, this might be a test, this might be an official mission. I should be prepared for anything.
“Alright, we have to kill the Raven. We have intel that he is hiding in Sanctuary.” XI suddenly says in his usual tone of stony sternness.
If we find the Raven, we will be a step closer to Mystique. Mystique is the biggest crime lady in Pyrrhia, and she has been the Outer Tribunal’s biggest target for moons. Capturing the Raven would mean we would know all of her travel and trade routes.
We landed down at the outskirts of Sanctuary and XI held up his talons signaling me to stop. “The Raven is as mysterious as Mystique; few have seen him, and few have survived his ambushes. He is always three steps ahead so be on guard, he may already know we are after him.”
I silently nod and we walk out from the tree line into the town of Humans and Dragons.
The streets were clear and quiet, and the windows of homes showed no light shining. XI led the way, his green eyes cautiously watching for a flicker of movement. I too kept my guard up; I once saw a dragon who survived one of the Raven’s ambushes. His body was beyond repair, and he died in a couple of minutes.
Suddenly I see a cart of flowers, but one flower stands out. A yellow lily. Suddenly the world became bright and smeared in red, the dirt ground felt like jelly, and a young voice was shouting, “Jacky! Jacky! Jacky!” I could envision the dragonet bouncing up and down, holding the flower. I could see Nile, so proud that he found a flower that was his favorite color.
The air no longer was cold but sticky and dry. I could taste the blood on my tongue, I could see the scored bloody marks on Nile’s body…I could feel my own.
Suddenly someone was shaking me, shaking me till I fell to the ground with a stinging cheek that was smarted by a slap. The smells and blood cleared, the voice of Nile went silent, and I could see the world again. “Phantom, what happened!?”
“It-it was just…Nothing, I’m fine.” I say getting up from the dusty ground, rubbing the sting off my cheek.
XI glares at me with his one eye, but I could see concern, which is strange for the hardened killer. “Can you complete this mission?” He asks quietly.
I shake off the dizziness and nod, “Yes, I can complete the mission.”
XI looks unsure, well from what I can tell of his face that isn’t hidden behind his iron mask, but he nods. We continued on our way till we reached a bit of a lonely house that was one light on and two shadows talking.
“Phantom, go through the back, I’ll fly up to the second level. Kill everyone, quick and silent.” XI orders in a harsh whisper. I nod as my only reply and get moving to the back of the clay  stone building.
I avoid the shine of the single light and go around the house, hearing nothing but the sound of my soft talon falls and the blowing winds that made cloak flutter. I made it to the back door and waited till something breaks the quiet night.
I hear the crash of glass and some foul words exclaimed in surprise. I break through the wooden door to see three dragons positioned as guards. A SeaWing charges at me and leap at her, meeting her full on.
I grab her horns and go dead weight to bring the muscular SeaWing down. Her face hits the hardwood floor, and a curse flies from her lips. I pulled out the dagger that once bit into my flesh and I dug into the SeaWing spine, letting taste another’s blood. She struggled a bit but then fell dead. Time for the other two.
One was a SkyWing while the other was a NightWing. Both took a breath, and I dived to the side as flames nearly singed my tail. I quickly dashed to the NightWing keeping low to the ground, I stabbed him in the abdomen with my poison barb then knocked them to the ground as they hissed in pain. Quick neck break and he goes quiet.
I adjusted my hat and smirked at the SkyWing who was now trembling. “You’re the Phantom.” She stuttered.
I couldn’t help but laugh a little, it never gets old when you see that an adult fears you.
She suddenly whipped around and tried to rush out the front door, but my dagger wanted more. It flew from my grip and bit into the SkyWing’s throat, pulling her to the ground as she grasped at it. She lay on the ground struggling for her life. I took a step forward to finish the job, but I heard a gasp from a closest to my right.
I whip around and throw open the closest door to kill the coward that was hiding but instead I freeze. Two NightWing dragonets were hiding in the closest together. The older one of the pair held a dagger, but she was frozen, her eyes as wide as he younger sister’s
I suddenly saw Nile and Mirage, but they were gone, and the gold scales went back to black. I shook my head, XI said kill everyone but I can’t kill dragonets. I raise a talon to my snout, signaling for them to be quiet. I close the closest and pretend I never knew they were there.
I go over to the SkyWing who had already died and ripped out my dagger and cleaned it off. I dropped the dagger into my bag and was about to go upstairs, but my eyes fell onto the blood on the ground. Suddenly, my breath became ragged and sharp, my sight became a kaleidoscope of false colors. I heard the voices of Mirage and Nile screaming and laughing,
I was starting to sway, I felt myself going to fall, but someone caught me. They held me up and I heard them whisper in my ear, “Shh, it’s okay.”
I knew that wasn’t XI, I knew I should have fought, but I was too dizzy, too delirious. I was about to call for XI, but the dragon whispered again in my ear, “It’s okay Jacky, I can help you.” And right then and there my world went dark and silent.
== Chapter 6 ==
=== Foundations ===
Young Jackal spent his days in his quiet home playing with his blocks, awaiting his mom’s arrival in the late hours. He was used to the lonely quiet, to be honest it was like a rose. Something he enjoyed yet made him bleed. He wished for his mom to be home already as he stacked a red block on top of a green one, but he knew if she came so would Rattlesnake.
The blocks fell in a clatter and Jackal sat down to restart, grabbing his favorite block, one that was unpainted and damaged, unlike the rest of his colorful blocks, that one was always the first he placed. His foundation.
Jackal shivered not because of the cool breeze that wandered his tiny home but at the thought of Rattlesnake. Rattlesnake is his mom’s boss, her boyfriend. Jackal hated him but feared him more. As much as he loved his mom, he enjoyed her being away because then Rattlesnake wouldn’t come.
Jackal still was lonely, he still wished for a friend as he placed block after block onto one another, trying to make a tower with a damaged foundation. 
A few days past and one morning Jackal awoke to see his mom hiding something behind a cloth. Jackal looked at it with suspicion and then looked at his mom’s excited face. “What is that?” He asked, inching closer to the thing that sat atop the table. 
Echis grabbed the cloth and held it in anticipation, “Surprise Jacky! You are going to be a big brother!” She pulled the cloth off to reveal a beautiful sandy yellow egg. 
Jackal gasped and ran over to touch the egg, “I have a little sibling?! But how?”
Echis still was smiling but she laughed at the question, “I’ll answer that question when you are older.” 
Jackal gently hugged the egg, feeling a warmth radiate from inside. He sat the coiled around his little sibling, his eyes closed, trying to hear something. But when he opened his eyes he saw Rattlesnake standing beside Echis. Jackal shivered in fear. My sibling is Rattlesnake’s too…
Moons past.
Jackal and Mirage were arguing in their shared room. Mirage wanted Jackal’s blocks, but he didn’t want to share. They were home alone, Jackal tasked to care for his little sister who annoyed him to great lengths. He was thankful that she no longer was a tiny crying dragonet, but now Mirage thinks she can get whatever she wants. Jackal blamed Rattlesnake. 
Echis came home to Jackal furiously chasing Mirage who was laughing in bliss as she held his favorite block. Echis stopped the chase and was scolding Mirage who burst into tears and cried that Jackal wouldn’t share. The scolding turned to Jackal who fumed in anger. 
One day, as Jackal was supposed to watch Mirage, she ran out and Jackal dashed after her. He followed after Mirage till they were far away from home and till he lost sight of her. He wondered aimlessly searching for his little sister. 
He heard a clatter in an alleyway and went to investigate, he saw a much older dragonet cornering Mirage trying to take her necklace, a gift from Rattlesnake. Jackal didn’t think, he just jumped up on top of the dragonet, slamming his fists into the thief’s head. 
The dragonet hissed in surprise and threw off jackal in ease. Jackal hit a wall and felt a pain in his arm, but he stood up despite the searing pain. He growled at the dragonet who was about to pounce at him, but suddenly Mirage tackled him. The dragonet scratched Mirage who then retreated away as Jackal breathed a plume of fire. 
The dragonet fled, running away from the siblings. They returned home to Echis who praised them both for their bravery. Jackal had hurt his arm and so Echis wrapped it in a sling. 
“Good job protecting your sister.” Echis whispered to Jackal. 
“Good job.” Then said another voice.
I pull open my eyes and my other senses waken too. My head was spinning with the heavy sweet smell of flowers, I could feel the weight of chains keeping me stuck to the ground, and I could see a shining IceWing who was smiling.
“Good job Phantom, you found the Raven.”
== Chapter 7 ==
=== Stop and Smell the Flowers ===
“Wha-What? Where am I?” I choked out through the heavy smells of sweet flowers. Suddenly I started to sneeze like crazy, trying to rid myself of the sticky scent that drenched my brain.
Raven just stood above me laughing, “You poor thing! Here let me help you.” He had a cloth, and he wiped the snot dripping down from my nostrils. I snarled at him, but I couldn’t help but feel relieved of the snot being gone, but I felt more slowly running down.
“Why haven’t you killed me?” I ask, trying to hold in another sneeze. I glance around but all I see are flowers, the Raven and dirt. Are we….Underground? Suddenly but quietly, in walked a NightWing who looked at me with amusement.
“So this is the Phantom? He’s just a kid!” Exclaimed the newcomer and I answered with a furious snarl.
“A kid who has killed three of your dragons.”
The NightWing smiles with amusement, “Kid’s got spirit.” And Raven nods.
“Alright the poison will finish running through his body soon, so do your thing Nightdaze. Oh, yeah sorry. This is my beloved Nightdaze.” Raven says gesturing to Nightdaze who made a bashful wave.
“Aww honey, not at work.” She said then walked over to me. My vision was wavy, and I felt energetic and colors seem bright and my thoughts faster and I just want to get out of these chains and run and why do I feel so hyper and. GAH! Calm down, this must be the poison Raven mentioned.
“Yes that it is.” Nightdaze said sitting, getting comfy.
"Mindreader!" I roar and try to pull myself up from the ground, but the chains hold me down. Suddenly, a talon slams down on my head, and pushes me into the hard stone ground.
I look up, trying not to whimper in pain as sharp stone digs into me but I can’t seem to control myself. I see Raven looking down at me looking annoyed. “Waste my time and you die.”
“I’m going to die anyway.” I whimpered. Whimpered? Gah! That poison is making me do my first instinct. Why did they choose this poison? Raven only gets a dragonet that is high, Nightdaze is here but why? Where am I underground? I need to find XI. And wait! Slow down Jackal, Nightdaze is a mindreader, and I can’t control my thoughts or actions. Raven said interrogate. Oh no.
“Oh yes kid. First question, XI is hot but what’s behind his mask? Is he ugly?” Nightdaze asks and Raven looks hurt.
“Honey!” He exclaims and Nightdaze turns around and laughs.
“Innocent curiosity, I would never leave you for another dragon, especially not XI with how much grief he’s given you.”
I try to hold my thoughts back which seems to be helping with slowing down everything, but my vision is starting to get wavier, like everything is dancing.
XI is pretty handsome, muscular, tall, though his green eye literally pierces through your soul. I don’t know what he looks like behind his mask, he always wears it or at least when I see him. I’ve heard from other Tribunal members that XI came as an abused orphan that had one eye and a terribly scarred face. I’ve heard stories that XI joined because he killed ten huge dragons by himself. That he was named XI for the first few dragons he killed, the eleventh was his mother.
I shake my head when I realize I was thinking of XI. I look at Nightdaze who looked like she wished for popcorn. “Gosh, quite traumatic. Now, let’s learn a bit about you. Let’s see, Raven said you act up when you see certain things. So, I got you a present.” Nightdaze opens her bag and pulls out a yellow lilly. Raven was watching us…
Suddenly the yellow lily became dead and withered. Blood appears on the stone walls and my breath become shallow; I feel terrible. I-I feel. Suddenly, I vomit and Nightdaze gags. “Gross!” She steps back and looks at Raven. She was saying something, but words and walls were becoming one in the same. All I got was, “He knows__she­__. We__kill__.” Was what Nightdaze said. Raven said, “This ruins everything. We__let__know.”
The Raven looks at me and snaps his talons. Two huge dragons appear, a SkyWing and an IceWing. He smiles at me, “Have fun with him.”
I feel terribly sick, and my eyes hurt from everything dancing. My eyes close as the two dragons walk over. I feel them tear at me, beat me, and the darkness behind my eyes slowly turns bright.
Jackal was looking after Mirage and the new egg. He was trying to do his math, but he was mostly daydreaming as he gnawed on the pencil. Mirage on the other talon had finished her math with ease and was playing with her brand-new toys Rattlesnake got her. Jackal stopped his gnawing and dropped it into his math as a placeholder, so that when he slam his math closed, he can open it back to where the torture began.
He went to play with his own toys, his much older and worn and broken toys, but he loved them especially his blocks. He started to work on stacking them, working towards his goal to stack every single one of his blocks to make the tallest tower ever.
Mirage went over and pretended her scavenger dolls were visiting and Jackal pretended to be a building maker like the one that fixed their window the other day. His name was Anubis and Jackal loved him, he talked to Anubis as he worked, and he learned all about building makers. He wanted to be one when he grew up.
Suddenly, Rattlesnake stormed in making Jackal’s blocks tumble onto the visiting scavengers. Mirage gasped and ran over to her dad who laughed and picked her up. Mirage was talking about her day as she clung to his neck. Jackal though as shaking in fear.
He looked at all he was supposed to do, his school still on the table, the dishes not cleaned, the bedding not done, their toys still out, and the floors not swept of the invading sand. Jackal thought Rattlesnake and Echis would be back later in the night. He hoped Rattlesnake would be distracted by Mirage and then put his sister down then go to his room, but no. Rattlesnake looked around the house with a snarl.
“Jackal! Why is this place not clean?” He roared. Jackal didn’t think, he ran. He ran and dived under his bed. He curled around himself, shaking. The floor shook as Rattlesnake stormed after Jackal. With ease he flipped the wooden bed over and ripped Jackal from the ground. He dropped Jackal in front of him. “Why didn’t you listen?” He growled quietly as Mirage watched.
Mirage was used to this, used to seeing Jackal in trouble but she was always scared for him. She didn’t fear her father, she loved him. Jackal couldn’t understand why.
“I-I thought I had time to play.” Jackal stuttered and then was sent flying to the floor with a stinging scar across his eye.
“You play after the house is clean!” Rattlesnake growled but then looked up and Jackal did so too to see a fuming Echis. She roared and practically jumped at Rattlesnake from across the room. Rattlesnake threw her off him and Jackal got up, ignoring the throbbing pain of his eye, he grabbed Mirage as she screamed at Echis to stop and took her to her room to hide.
They listened to roars of a furious mother and a terrifying father. Mirage struggled against Jackal who held her to him, trying to comfort his scared and crying sister. He himself, to his surprise, was smiling softly, no tears in his eyes, the only thing dripping down his face was blood. When everything was quiet, Mirage and Jackal got out of hiding to see what happened.
Mirage screamed and ran over to her dad and cried into his bleeding chest. Jackal just stood there staring at his bloody mom, who’s tail dripped with venomous blood. Suddenly, Echis roared and crashed into her room. Jackal followed to see his mom destroying her room as fiery tears fell from her eyes. Jackal stepped away; his smile still softly spread across his face.
He wasn’t smiling out of joy, he was terrified, he was sad, he was scared, but smiling just happened, it felt safer than to cry. Hey, he was getting a talon on smiling. He suddenly saw his little sibling’s egg on the ground, cracked. He rushed over and as he reached it, it broke open to reveal the tiniest dragon he ever saw. He picked it up and cradled it.
“Hi.” He whispered softly. He looked around wanting to tell his family, but Rattlesnake lay dead, Echis was destroying her room, and Mirage had fallen asleep atop her father’s corpse, sobs still escaped her though. Jackal took his little sibling to a dark corner and sat down.
He looked at his little sibling who was wiggling and making soft squeaks. He opened his eyes and stared at Jackal with the sky-blue eyes of his mother. “Hi, little brother, I’m calling you Nile.”
I was finally tossed somewhere, my body bleeding and bruised. The smell of rotting flesh made me want to vomit, but my stomach was empty. I suddenly felt someone grab me, I heard voices. I opened my eyes to be scorched by the sun but only after seeing the bright blue eyes that are oh so familiar, eyes I could have sworn I saw once in my life. “Dad?”
== Chapter 8 ==
=== A Moment that was for Another ===
I pull my eyes open to see a young dragonet with the same deep blue eyes of mine. Flashes of blood and laughs pierce through my tired mind making me jump, but as I jumped my body exploded with searing pain. I collapse onto the bed I was placed on and groan in pain.
“Oh no! Dad! He’s awake.” Called the young dragonet. I hiss at the loud noise, my ears, and head ringing like a bell. “Oh, sorry.” The dragonet elegantly dips his head.
I look at the dragonet closely, he has my eyes and is mostly pure sandy gold except for his splashes of pale sand on his face and wings.
Suddenly, a SandWing walks in with a shining smile and a face that felt like it was stolen from my mind.
“Thanks Tumble, go help your mum with dinner then get ready for the party.” He said and the dragonet apparently named Tumble waved bye to me and left out the way the dragon came. “So how do you feel? My mate is no healer, but she sure knows how to use a needle.” He said with a laugh.
I slowly pull myself to sit up, my body aches with fiery pain and a wooden stiffness. “I’m fine.” I mutter trying to figure out who this stranger is.
The dragon stares at me with such loving eyes, eyes filled with a regretful sadness. Those eyes are dark blue, the same as mine, the same as Tumble’s. Coincidence? I think not. For in my life I’ve learned coincidences are less likely than an ambush.
“So how has your mum been?” Asked the SandWing who fiddled anxiously with his talons. Weird question.
“Erm, fine?” I reply caught off guard, truthfully I was ready to be interrogated again.
“Great, another question: What happened to you? Did you get mugged or something?” A pained worried frown was stuck on his face as he asked.
“Nothing, but should I know who you are?” I asked, unable to shake off the familiarity and then the SandWing laughed embarrassed.
“I should have guessed she wouldn’t have mentioned me. I am your dad, Sunburn.” He said with a nervous chuckle. My world felt paused, I had a feeling, but it just didn’t seem at all plausible. I stared at his face, so many emotions, none of them was joy or love, more like on the lines of hate and sorrow.
“No, that doesn’t make sense, I don’t have a dad.” I say denying everything.
“Ha, you do have a dad. I would think your mom would have told you this by now but when two dragons fall in love-“
“Ahh, no! I know that already!” Though I learned it from XI not my mom. That was unpleasant, though XI enjoyed the look on my face. “No, I meant my dad left and I’ve never had one.”
“Oh? Did your mom leave Rattlesnake finally?” Sunburn asked and at the mention of his name I heard crashing and yelling and crying. I gripped my head and looked away from Sunburn to the ground, but I saw blood pooling on the floor.
Suddenly, I was trapped, I fought against whoever was holding me in place. I threw out one of my talons and heard a hiss of pain and then a voice, “Jackie, calm down.” Sunburn said.
Suddenly I went limp, and my bloodied vision went pitch black.
Jackal was sweeping out the sand while Nile was playing with Mirage. Jackal side stepped his way around the stains of Rattlesnake’s blood on the wood floor.
He opened the door to kick out the intruding sand but suddenly he saw talons that made him jump in glee and hug the one standing at the door. “Anubis!” Jackal cheered as Anubis laughed.
Mirage and Nile left their toys to tackle Anubis as he walked in. The dragonets laughed happily at seeing their friend. Anubis warded off the dragonets and revealed a bag of treats and ingredients which made Jackal and his siblings gasp in shock.
Anubis handed Mirage and Nile candy but none to Jackal. “Hey, what about me!” Jackal exclaimed but Anubis just patted his head.
“Give a dragonet meat, he’ll be hungry tomorrow. Teach him to hunt, he’ll never be hungry again.” Anubis said leaving Jackal only befuddled. Anubis shook his head with a laugh, “I’m teaching you how to make sweets.” Jackal’s jaw dropped open in shock.
After hours of baking and reading, Anubis and Jackal stepped out of the kitchen with a somewhat ugly and burnt cake. Anubis set it on the table and glanced out the window to see the moons’ rising, “Time for me to go, save a slice for your mom when she gets back.”
Anubis gave each of the dragonets a hug and then left. Jackal sat at the window sadly, watching Anubis leave. He wished Anubis was his dad, he wished his mom was with him instead of Rattlesnake. In his wishful thoughts, he missed him mom.
She walked in and tiredly stomped off to her room before anyone of the dragonets could offer her cake. Jackal sighed and sliced the cake and gave one to the drooling Nile, the skeptical Mirage and one for him.
After Echis killed Rattlesnake, she became more tired, more angry, sadder, which confused Jackal. Little did he know that Rattlesnake was protecting them.
I felt someone hugging me and in my deliriousness, I hoped it was Anubis but instead when I opened my eyes it was Sunburn. It felt nice, to be hugged, but this dragon never cared for me, never was there for me. I shove Sunburn away with a growl, “You aren’t my dad.”
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Content (PhantomHeroJ)