Chaos Erupts

A daring rescue for the Parrot Eagle crew. Daily Flash Fiction Entry.

The commander barely had time to shout a warning before Darius hurled a stone, striking a guard square in the temple. The man crumpled, and just like that, the tension snapped soldiers scrambled, swords were drawn, and battle erupted like lightning across the clearing.

Elara was right behind him, moving like a shadow, blades flashing as she carved a path toward the digging pit. Rockford shot ahead, teeth bared, leaping onto a startled soldier with the force of a cannon.

Kale darted through the chaos, cloak fluttering behind him as he cut the chains of the crew one by one.

"Lyle!" Darius shouted, locking eyes with the traitor.

Lyle stood a few feet back from the fray, untouched by the violence around him, arms crossed with smug satisfaction. "You should've stayed hidden, Darius."

"And you should’ve stayed loyal."

Lyle drew his blade. “You never knew how to lead. They needed someone willing to make hard choices.”

“You mean selling us out?”

Darius charged, steel meeting steel in a flurry of sparks.

As more crew were freed, Elara whistled sharply. From the tree line, a small figure bounded out; Corin, the ship’s assassin and unofficial mascot. He grinned as he slid down the embankment, a tiny calico cat tucked under his arm. "Didn't think you saw me shadowing you guys."

"Of course I did," Elara said; fending off a couple of soldiers.

“Found Skipper hiding in the food barrel!” Corin shouted. “He scratched me, but I got him!”

Elara laughed despite herself.

The tide had turned.

With the last crew member freed and Lyle retreating under Darius’s unrelenting blows, the crew of the Eagle Parrot made their break, shoes pounding the earth, hearts pounding harder.

Behind them, the Drakon camp lay in disarray, and freedom was just beyond the trees.