PALE REIGN OVER GESHEM - CHAPTER 28
By Abyss <LAbyss@hotmail.com>

DISCLAIMER: blah, blah blah blah blah,
copyright, blah, blahblah profit,
blahetcetcetc... y'know.  Go back to chapter 1
if you're not sure.
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     It was definitely getting brighter.  The
climb had become easier, the circling crevice
more manageable, and the light coming off  the
Heart, somehow brighter, yet not blinding.
     Even so, the four of them, Scott,
Stephanie, Lustre and Cyclops, were all
exhausted, their hands torn and cut, their
anticipation running high.  Stephanie  had
scaled mountains in service to the Mage, and
this was becoming as arduous as any rock face.
     The Hunter had been climbing close behind
Scott, slowing him down when he rushed too far
ahead.  The call wasn't as dominating as it had
been before Lustre's spell, but it was still
irresistible.  
     When she stopped him again, there was a
level of irritation in his voice.
      What?'
      Steady a moment... don't you feel it?'
     He stared at her uncomprehending.
     Lustre and Cyclops joined them.  The
crevice almost horizontal at this point,
slanting upwards steeply just ahead.
     The Hunter turned to Lady Lustre.
      Can you feel anything?'
      Nay... the flows are too strong here.'
      Why... what's wrong?' Cyclops' voice held
a tone of command.  Stephanie hesitated,
straining all her senses, and then she realized
what was different.
      There's a down draft... the air's moving
towards us...'
      And why is that unusual?'
      In a cavern this size, there's always a
slight updraft... it would only change if...',
her voice trailed off, and then they all heard
it.  It was the sound of wings, giant wings,
 ...stab my eyes...we are in dire trouble.'
     To all their surprise, it was Scott
Summers who spoke next.
      I know that sound... I've heard it I've
heard it before... in the forest... when... oh,
lord... tell me it isn't...'
     The roar, echoed down the Heart cavern
towards them... it was loud enough that they
could feel the stone beneath them vibrate.
      ...a dragon.'
     The wind picked up, as did the sound of
wings moving something huge through the air. 
Stephanie heard Lustre begin muttering
something, definitely a spell.  Cyclops asked
her something, but his question was lost to
another roar, as the dragon circled around the
other side of the Heart and glided towards them.
      Hades,' she thought,  we're dead.'
          *         *         *
     It wasn't his first dragon.  It wasn't
even his biggest.  In his time with the x-men,
strange as it seemed, Cyclops had met and fought
alien dragons, asgardian dragons, holographic
ones and robotic ones.  His former teammate,
Shadowcat, even kept one as a pet.  One thing he
had learned thought, was that they were always
dangerous.
     This one was a dark green, almost black. 
It's body was almost alligator-like, with four
powerful looking legs ending in sharp swordlike
claws and a pair of massive wings sprouting from
its shoulders... and it was the size of a very
large eighteen-wheeler.  The head sported a long
snout, wide jaws and rows of pointed teeth,
below a set of jet black eyes that glared at
them.  A ridge of bone-spikes ran from between
the eyes, down the back and along the long tail.
     The monster glided towards them, its wings
half furled to give it speed and meneuverability
in the cavern.  Cyclops readied himself.  If he
could disable a wing, they might stand a chance. 
The dragon swept by them and the draft of its
passing almost tore them from the their perch.
     The dragon opened its mouth wide and
roared again.  The rockface shook beneath them.
      Why is it waiting?' he asked.
      It's gauging our strength... determining
how to best deal with us.'  Was the Hunter's
reply.  She had a short leather strap in her
fist, a sling, if Cyclops was right.  
      You mean its looking at the menu.'  Scott
added.
     Cyclops' mind raced... two distance
weapons, and whatever Lustre could come up
with... narrow odds at best.
      Aim for the eyes, Hunter.  I'll try to
take out a wing.'
     The dragon banked and came back at them,
flying up from slightly below.  The Hunter
whirled her sling and released the stone with a
shout, even as Cyclops loosened his optic blast. 
At the instant of attack, the dragon rolled in
the air, coming at them belly up, fouling their
attacks.  The sling-stone bounced off a scaly
knee, unnoticed.  The optic blast missed
completely, passing over the dragon's upturned
body.
     The beast came out of its roll right at
the crevice.  Massive claws struck out, forcing
the Hunter to duck and Scott to lean far into
the rock for shelter.  Distracted by watching
the claws, Cyclops was caught from behind as the
thick tail whipped by, knocking him sideways. 
Only a reflexive grab kept him from falling to
his death, as he found himself on the outside of
the crevice, holding on with both hands.
     Lustre extended her hands, fingers spread,
palms down.  Twin arcs of lightning travelled
out from her fingers, burning across the
dragon's back.  Hanging on for his life, Cyclops
triggered the cybernetic circuit in his visor,
sending a red wave of pure force at the dragon's
backside.  The two strikes combined sent the
monster plunging forward and down, then wide
leathery wings spread and caught the air, and
the dragon glided up into a loop and down
towards them.
     Claws outstretched, mouth gaping open and
eyes burning with fury, the dragon closed in
with the speed of a hunting falcon.
     Cyclops hit it full in the face with an
optic blast.  The creature reeled, its charge
broken.  With a crash, it hit the rock and
crystal wall just above them, massive claws
digging into the cliff, holding it in place.  
The tail swept down, through the crevice,
threatening to sweep them all into the abyss
below.  Cyclops saw Scott crouch back into the
rock, the tail just missing him.  The Hunter
jumped up, knives in her hands, and came down
just short of the dragons hindquarters, plunging
her knives hard into the tail.  The creature
roared, releasing its two front claws to rear
up.  Lustre extended her hands again, but the
sweeping tail knocked her down into Cyclops,
sending his optic blast awry and stunning them
both momentarily.  The dragon launched itself
off the rock face and lunged down, claws
reaching.  Cyclops tried to clear his head, but
he was caught up in a crushing grip as the
dragon gripped he and Lustre in hands the size
of a small car.  
     Off  the rock face, Cyclops heard the
Hunter cursing, and strained his neck to see her
caught, wrapped in coils of the dragon's tail. 
Only Scott was left on the wall.  Cyclops looked
at Lustre, but she was still stunned.  He wasn't
even sure her magic could've aided them, and so
he couldn't use his power.  If he hit the
dragon, they would all die in the fall.
      Scott, move!  Get out of there!'
     His double looked at them helplessly, then
around, as if trying to decide where to flee. 
The dragon hovered, and Cyclops suddenly caught
the smell of smoke and sulphur.   There was the
sound of a massive inhale and the dragon drew
breath.
      Scott!  Look out!'
     The massive reptilian head extended and a
rush of flame burst forth.  The heat was
terrible, but Cyclops forced himself to watch as
the flame played across the rock face.
     When it cleared, there was no one left.
     The dragon shrieked in triumph, and caught
an updraft, carrying them all with it.  Cyclops
watched the ledge until it faded from sight
below.
          *         *         *
END CHAPTER 28