154 Dog Figh (1/2)
Blue Thunder dipped his wing and did a sharp swerve in mid-air, dodging the raking claws of the smaller Empire dragon that dove down from above. He retaliated with a sweep of his tail as he turned away, his barbed end scored a small gash along the back of the squeaking dragon.
A couple of crossbow bolts slammed against his flanks from his blind spot, his hard scales managed to deflect the bolts away, the pinpricks irritating Blue Thunder more than damaging him.
”Evade! Evade! Coming from under you!” The loudspeakers crackled to life and Blue Thunder came to a sudden hover, and a shadowy shape darted up before him, missing him by meters. ”Get to safety!”
Blue Thunder growled as the attack that nearly gutted him and glared at the insolent dragon that circled back for another attack. He stayed hovering on the spot and sucked in the air into his lungs, filling it up and his chest glowed slightly.
The Empire Dragons and their riders seeing him starting to glow, yelled out in warning, and they started to split, making themselves as small as a target as possible.
Blue Thunder spat out a ball of fire at the nearest Empire dragon and dove downwards, aiming for the small clearing over the river where the rest of the Marines had gathered. His fireball barely touched any of the dodging dragons but it distracted them long enough for him to disappear into the canopy of the forest.
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Lt Joesph peered out from the cover of the trees, seeing the Empire dragons circling in the sky and cursed. ”How did they find us?”
Crew Chief Stamford frowned, ”They must have spotted Blue Thunder while he was hunting and coming within sight, his harness must have given him away since there is no one else here that uses gear like that.”
A crash came from the undergrowth and the men all spun around, aiming their weapons at the source of the noises and a draconic snort soon poked out from the trees and rumbled, ”It's is me...”
”Blue!” Stamford ran out, gesturing at the Marines to hold their fire. ”Are you okay?” He came up next to the panting dragon.
”Am okay...” Blue Thunder replied, ”Just slightly tired and... hungry!”
Stamford looked worriedly at the condition of Blue Thunder. He had burnt up a lot of calories just flying over and also in the short combat in the skies. They have some food for Blue Thunder, but the plan was supposed for Blue Dragon to forage his own food, while the rations for Blue Thunder were to be used in an emergency, like now.
”Alright, we are gonna feed you,” Stamford said, ”Any injuries?”
”Not sure,” Blue Thunder replied, as he craned his neck over his own body trying to see if he was wounded, ”But there is a bad itch at my back...”
Stamford nodded, waving for the rest of the crew over. ”Get his rations, and give him a once over, check if there are any injuries on him.”
The men nodded and went off to work, Stamford climbed onto Blue Thunder's harness and started to inspect the harness's condition and also for signs of injury. As he stood on his back, he could felt waves of heat emitting out from Blue Thunder's body.
”You wanna go lay down at the river there?” Stamford asked, ”The trees should provide some cover for you.”
”Sure!” Blue Thunder nodded and started to make his way over to the river where it was covered by the trees. He half sank himself into the water and moaned in bliss, ”Much better!”
”Chief!” Dek yelled, gesturing him over to the rear of Blue Thunder's back.
”What is it?” Stamford came over and saw what Dek was pointing at. A stubby crossbow bolt had stuck deep between two overlapping scales. ”Damn. Get the first aid kit over!”
”Blue! You got a crossbow bolt in your ass!” Stamford yelled, and Blue snaked his head back to try to see. ”You just hang tight there, we will get it out!”
”Oooo, no wonder it itches!” Blue grumbled. ”Get it out quick!”
”Hold on buddy,” Dek said, as he came back with a first aid kit that looked more like a toolbox. He removed a large pair of pliers and clamped the jaws onto the bolt. ”On three... two... one... and... Ahhh!”
He pulled the bloody bolt out in a long pull, the wound sucking at the glittering arm length long bolt. ”Annnd... It's out!” Making Blue Thunder gave a grunt of pain.
Thick glistering dark red blood started to flow out from the wound. Stamford took the bucket of water from Barkley and poured over the wound, washing the blood away and with a flashlight, he peered into the wound. ”Looks clean, not poisoned.”
He took the package of clotting powder and dumped all into the wound, before stuffing a wad of gauze on top of the wound, underneath the scales. He took the offered roll of duct tape and started taping the gauze against Blue Thunder's scales, making sure it was tight.
”How are you feeling?” Stamford asked, as he hopped down to the riverside, and started to wash his arms thick with dragon blood.
”Hungry...” Blue Thunder grumbled. ”Butt is not so itchy now.”
”Good,” Stamford climbed up the river banks, ”Here eat some rations first.”
Blue Thunder looked at the small pile of blocky cardboard colored ration bars and made a face, ”I want meat!”
”Eat this, for now, you big baby!” Stamford shook his head and smiled, ”Its high in calories, chock full of whole grains, honey, fats, and all the vitamins a growing boy like you needs!”
Blue Thunder sighed and started munching away at the blocks of ration bars sadly.
Leaving Blue Thunder to his meal, Stamford went back to find Lt Joesph with Sergeant Tyrier in a discussion. They both waved him over, and said, ”We need to move soon and fast. One of the dragons have gone back to report, I am not sure if they spotted us in the forest.”