[ WP ] A dragon does everything she can to get back to her cage .

Celly scrambled back up over the wall and landed in a snow drift just outside the limits of the sleepy village. There were still angry voices from behind her. `` It's over there! Must be as big as a horse!'' How could they be so hostile when they had been laughing the night before? The first light of dawn was coming over the barren forest surrounding the town. She had to hurry if she wanted to make it back in time, but her leg still hurt from where that man had landed a blow with his knife. 
 
 It had been a mistake to leave, she could see that now. Her mother had been right. Not all humans were as kind as Mr Haley. Curiosity had gotten the better of her when she found that Johnathan had forgotten to lock the door to her car. She cursed that she could not yet fly. The train tracks were just down the road. Her claws tore into the ruts worn by years of wagon traffic. Just a little farther to where the others were camped, to safety. 
 
 There was a sharp *CRACK*, and her body flared with pain. She rolled over and slid several feet through the snow and mud. Red stained the snow from the wound on her right side. The pain made it impossible to breath. 
 
 `` I got it!'' Came a deep, male voice from the road behind her. A tall bearded man was swaggering down the path toward her. In one hand was a still smoking pistol. In the other was the long knife that glinted with her own blood. `` Where do you think you're going, monster?'' More footsteps echoed from behind him. 
 
 Celly's eyes went wide with fear. `` Please,'' she begged, `` do n't kill me.'' 
 
 He placed one of his boots against her neck and pointed the pistol at her face. `` So it speaks.'' She could smell the alcohol on his breath. `` Man thinks he can come here toting beasts like you, and he calls them *civilized*.'' He spat on her face. `` Abominations like you only know how to do one thing: kill.'' 
 
 `` Kyle!'' Said one of the others down the path. He turned just long enough for Celly to strike. She swept his legs out from beneath him with her tail. Before he hit the ground, she was on top of him, unleashing the roar that had scared a king to trembling in his seat less than a foot from his face. She snatched the gun and knife out of his hands and flung them into the shadows of the forest. 
 
 She gained a kind of grim satisfaction at seeing, at *smelling*, the fear on him. `` Please, spare me.'' He stammered out. It may have been dark, but Celly could swear she saw a dark spot forming on his pants. 
 
 `` So it speaks?'' She brought her fangs close enough to his face, so he could feel her breath on him. `` Leave me alone.'' she said. Before the others could get close enough, she turned and ran toward the tracks. 
 
 The last quarter mile was nothing more than a blur. People were already out of their tents asking what had happened. She sped past them, running at a full sprint for the hulking shape that towered over the train car. `` Mama!'' She called out just before barreling into her. 
 
 She held daughter close. `` Celly.'' her voice was shaking with relief. `` Child, where were you? What happ...'' Her hand came away from her side covered in blood. Her breathing caught in her chest, and her eyes narrowed to predatory slits. `` Who did this?'' 
 
 `` Men from the village, Mama.'' Her entire body shook from fear. `` I'm sorry, I snuck out. They saw me, and they chased me. One of them had a gun...'' 
 
 Mr Haley came running up to them. He was dressed in a nightgown and slippers. Celly would have laughed at him in another situation. His eyes went wide when he saw them. `` Kuvira, what happened.'' 
 
 `` Get the doctor.'' Her mother barked. `` She's been injured.'' She set her back down. Celly slumped to the ground with exhaustion. Kuvira spread her wings to take flight. 
 
 `` No wait!'' He called after her. `` Do n't kill them!'' 
 
 `` I wo n't.'' she said before taking off. `` Keep my daughter safe, Richard.'' 
 
 Mr Haley watched her mother speed off into the night. He knelt beside her, and placed a gentle hand against her neck. `` You're going to be fine.'' 
 
 `` I'm sorry.'' Celly could not meet his gaze. `` Please do not punish Johnathan. It was all my fault.'' 
 
 He chuckled warmly. `` Injured, and your first thought is of others. Come, let's get you back t o your room so we can patch you up.''
