IV

The ground trembled with another roar, a vibration that shot up their spines. It was followed by a deafening whoosh as a violent gale slammed into them, hurling them to and fro within Reya's flickering shield.

"Reya! What is that?" Kara screamed, trying to fight her way to her feet, only for the wind to shove her back down.

Hair whipping wildly across her face, Reya crouched low, her voice a grim murmur against the wind. "I have a terrible feeling I know exactly who it is."

A gigantic figure blotted out the sky, soaring into view just above them. Kara screamed again. "Who?" she cried, her trembling finger pointing toward the heavens.

Lyra saw it too. Seizing the moment of distraction, she broke from the group and sprinted down the path, her eyes locked on the creature's trajectory. Reya swore, pushing her energy outward, willing her protective shield to expand. Nothing happened. A sheen of sweat beaded on her forehead. As the gale subsided, Kara managed to get to her feet, but when Reya wove her hands through the air, they began to tremble.

"Reya, what's wrong?" Kara asked, placing a steadying hand on her shoulder.

"He's blocking my powers!" Reya cried, her pale face contorted with a mixture of hatred and frustration. "I can't even—Ah!"

A piercing shriek tore from her lips as she collapsed to her knees, the blue sphere of energy vanishing into nothing.

"Reya!" Kara cried, kneeling beside her new companion.

"Kiro… Lyra…" Reya gasped, her voice a strained whisper. "Be careful." Then her eyes rolled back into her head, and she fell unconscious.

Lyra pelted down the path, her gaze flicking between the ground before her and the colossal shape in the sky. It was going to land, she knew, and she suspected it would be right in front of her. She had to create a diversion, to buy time until Kara and Reya could catch up. Kiro would be close behind; he would keep her safe. Somehow, the fear had vanished, replaced by a strange resolve. When the creature finally descended, landing squarely in her path with a ground-shaking thud, she wasn't even scared.

Her eyes did, however, widen to the size of dinner plates when she realized what it was. Then she screamed and skidded to a horrified halt.

It was a dragon. Massive and imposing, with scales of midnight black and deep violet, and a crest of bone-white spikes running from its crown to the tip of its long tail. Amber eyes glowed with a hungry luminescence, and embers flashed between its dagger-like teeth. It unleashed a roar that vibrated through the soles of Lyra's boots. She screamed again, shielding her ears as the dragon spewed a torrent of fire, scorching the air and narrowly missing her as she dove aside.

Before she could recover, a set of silver talons gently closed around her. The dragon lifted her to its face, studying her with an unnerving intensity.

Lyra lowered her hands from her ears, her breath coming in ragged pants. The dragon wasn't hurting her; it didn't even seem interested in doing so. As she stared into its molten amber eyes, she felt no sense of malice or hunger, but rather a profound despair and a deep, gnawing fear.

What could possibly frighten him? she wondered. He looks so sad. Tentatively, she reached out a hand, stroking the dragon's massive snout.

So beautiful. A pity I must appear this way to one such as her.

The man's voice, deep and resonant, echoed not in her ears but in her mind. Lyra snatched her hand back, staring at the beast with a fresh wave of astonishment. Was this creature… a man? How was that possible?

"Lyra!"

Her head snapped toward the sound of Kiro's voice. He was sprinting from the woods, his energy blade ignited and casting a brilliant blue light.

"Kiro! It's okay! This dragon—"

Her words were cut off by the dragon's roar as it launched into the air, clutching her securely in one talon while raining fire down upon Kiro. Lyra screamed, twisting to find him. He was safe, having leaped with impossible agility into the high branches of a tree. He then launched himself at the creature, his energy sword scoring a glancing blow against its scales before he retreated back into the canopy. The dragon seemed hesitant to direct its fire into the trees, roaring in frustration as it spat another gout of flame into the empty air. Trapped by Kiro's cunning, the mighty beast was helpless to retaliate with Lyra in its grasp and the dense woodland so close. The Sentinel commander continued his leap-and-strike tactic, wearing the creature down.

What is he doing? Lyra wondered, just as the dragon cried out and suddenly plummeted, whether from exhaustion or the sting of Kiro's blade, she couldn't tell. Lyra was released from its grip and fell with it, screaming louder than she ever had in her life.

With a whistling battle cry, Kiro soared from the limbs of a massive oak. He snatched Lyra from mid-air, and they crashed together onto the forest floor in a tangle of limbs.

"Gotcha!" he grunted, pushing himself up and helping her to her feet. "Did it hurt you? Are you alright?"

Lyra could only nod, breathless from the near-death experience and the raw concern in his voice. Kiro gave a sharp nod and charged toward the stunned dragon, his war cry echoing through the clearing as he renewed his assault.

With a whip-crack of its powerful tail, the dragon struck Kiro, sending him flying into the trees. Now that they were on the ground and its talons were free, the beast was infinitely more dangerous. It rose onto its hind legs, spitting fire into the air and issuing a defiant roar. Kiro staggered from the treeline, bruised and exhausted, but still ready for a fight. Lyra, who had never countenanced violence, found it almost impossible to watch.

This time, Kiro was more cautious, circling the dragon, darting in for a quick strike before doubling back out of range. The clearing's small size and the dragon's apparent reluctance to damage the forest hampered its movements. For a time, it seemed Kiro would simply wear it into submission.

Then, from her position near the treeline, Lyra saw a change in the dragon's eyes. They grew sharper, more intelligent and ferocious. The beast roared again, a sound that was deeper, more powerful, and shook Lyra to her very soul. The dragon seemed to shrink, crouching lower, which afforded it greater mobility in the confined space. Kiro didn't seem to notice the shift, shouting a challenge that was drowned out by another roar. Lyra wanted to scream a warning, to alert him to the sudden, heightened danger, but she was transfixed by the power now rippling off the creature.

The tide of the battle turned in an instant. The dragon spun, its tail lashing out and catching Kiro in a brutal downward strike. The air left his lungs in a silent gasp as he hit the ground hard. The dragon pressed its advantage, striking him again with its tail and launching fireballs that exploded around his paralyzed form. The Sentinel was badly burned and looked far more battered than he had moments before.

"Kiro!" she screamed as he struggled to his feet, only for the dragon to flatten him onto his back. He didn't get up this time. The dragon inhaled deeply, preparing to incinerate him where he lay.

A sudden, searing rage tore through Lyra. She had sensed something more in this creature, a flicker of humanity, a soul beneath the scales. How could that same being now threaten to destroy her handsome, brave Kiro? An image flashed in her mind: a crystal structure, fracturing and breaking apart.

The dragon, towering over Kiro, lowered its head to give her one last look. The lethal gleam in its eyes was unmistakable, but Lyra's own fury blinded her to it. Abruptly, a silken voice slithered into her mind. Listen to me, lovely one.

It faded away. Lyra knew with chilling certainty that she never wanted to hear it again.

She thrust her hands out in front of her, wrists together, palms facing outward. Her eyes flashed a startling, vivid green, her pupils dilating. The dragon roared and drew its head back, startled by the strange energy now emanating from the girl.

"I will make you pay for what you've done!" she screamed, and a dazzling ball of pure fire ignited between her palms. Unfamiliar words, ancient and powerful, flowed like smoke through her mind. She opened her mouth, preparing for something she didn't understand, and spoke them aloud. As the final syllable left her lips, the fireball expanded tenfold and shot toward the dragon, striking it squarely in the chest. The beast shrieked in agony and rage.

Winded by the sudden unleashing of her dormant power, Lyra staggered. Before she could fully process what had happened, the dragon leaped into the air and was gone, its pained cry echoing in her head. Her vision blurred, and she began to sway. Kiro, who had finally managed to get to his feet, was limping toward her.

"Lyra! Thank the gods, you're alive!" he gasped, wrapping his arms around her. "Unbelievable that he would show his repulsive face here."

Lyra grinned, nuzzling against his scorched armor. "I scolded him. Don't worry, Kiro. I handled it."

Kiro nodded, a small smile touching his lips at her earnestness, though he was utterly astounded by her power. In that moment, he knew he had been right about the girls from Earth. They were more powerful than he could have ever imagined.