Billy Blue

Private Blue sat on his haunches at the feet of his immediate superior, Sergeant White. The rest of his unit, spread throughout the undergrowth, either sat or squatted under the large weeping ankala tree. They all paid close attention to the sergeant’s soft words.

“We need to inform Command of our discovery,” the sergeant said. “Decide amongst yourselves while I prepare the parchment.”

Light filtered through the green, pungent leaves; however, the soldiers remained well hidden by the foliage. The ankala tree provided strong cover, but the smell of rotting vegetable matter almost overwhelmed the flying squadron. Most members of the unit gagged as they breathed through scraps of scented material.

The ankala tree, known colloquially as the compost tree, stood in the centre of a large clearing; a clearing stumbled upon by chance by Sergeant White and his unit as they scouted the dense forest of the battlefield. Clearings were unusual in the forest of the demarkation zone, and therefore strategically important.

“I’d do it,” Private Crystal Clear whispered to her fellow soldiers, “but…” She waved her hand at her leg, reminding the squad of her injury. Green blood oozed from the deep gash on her thigh. “There’s no way I can change.” She shrugged apologetically.

“Of course you can’t, Crys,” Private Blue said, grasping her by the shoulder. He looked over to where Sergeant White was scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment. “But I can do it.”

“No, Billy, you can’t.” Crystal shook her head, as Privates Red and Green voiced their own objections. “Your bonded is waiting for you back at The Keep, incubating those eggs of yours. You can’t take the risk.”

Private Motley raised his hand. “I should do it,” he said. “I’ll blend right in.”

Billy Blue chuckled and pointed his finger to the sky. “Have you checked the sky recently, Mark? It’s bright blue. There isn’t a cloud from horizon to horizon. I’m the only one who can do this.”

The private stood his ground and fended off objections to his plan. Eventually he approached Sergeant White to volunteer his services.

“I can’t let you do that, Billy,” Sergeant White said. “Your bonded is waiting for you.” He looked over his squadron, squinting at his remaining soldiers. Brown, Black, Red, and Green weren’t right for the mission, for obvious reasons. Clear was injured, otherwise she’d be the perfect choice. Motley was no better option than the solid colours. There was only one option left.

“I’ll drop off the parchment myself,” Sergeant White said. “They’ll overlook me as a cloud.”

“You know I’m the only one who can do this, Sir,” Billy said, reaching out his hand. “I’ll keep my head down. The Orcans won’t even notice me.”

Sergeant White nodded and sighed. “No heroics.” He handed the parchment to Billy. “Just drop off the parchment to Command and get yourself to safety.”

“Yes Sir,” Billy gave a sharp salute, along with a cheeky smile.

Private Billy Blue initiated a transformation as the rest of his unit cleaned their weapons and prepared for battle. Blue scales erupted in patches over his skin, shredding his clothing as his bulk increased. Nubs of wings unfurled from his back, and his feet curled into massive claws.

“You only need to hold this clearing until I get back with reinforcements,” he said; his last words before his neck elongated and his throat filled with fire. He was growing fast; it was time to leave the cover of the ankala tree.

There was no sign of Orcans, yet; no movement under the trees at the edge of the clearing. Billy initiated the final phase of his transformation and emerged from the storm of blue flesh and scales in his true form: the Blue Dragon. He roared, the pain of transformation almost unbearable.

The clearing wasn’t huge, but it provided enough space to take off. Grasping the precious parchment in his front claw, Billy ran and leapt into the sky, almost invisible against the blue background.

Sergeant White looked on in admiration from the cover of the ankala tree, worry creasing his brow. Private Billy Blue spiralled high above the forest canopy, his blue form merging with the sky’s blue background. He turned in the direction of Command, flying true and straight, practically invisible even to the sergeant’s experienced eye. Sergeant White felt hope rise in his chest. That hope was dashed, however, as an arrow rose into the sky, piercing Billy’s wing. The private had been spotted, not far from Command.

Suddenly the sky around Private Blue turned black as Orcans unleashed a barrage of arrows at the blue dragon. Despair filled the sergeant’s eyes as he watched Billy twist and turn, suffering one painful strike after another. Before long, White saw Billy begin to lose his transformation. The private tumbled from the sky as his wings shrank. He lost his blue scales, and his dragon bulk shrank back into his human form.

With one last supreme effort, Billy fell towards Command. Sergeant White uttered a silent prayer of thanks, then turned to his squad.

“Squad! Draco!” He gave the order for mass transformation into their dragon selves. “Burn any Orcan fucker that emerges from that forest!”

White scales rippled across the sergeant’s body and, while his voice box was still capable of sound, he screamed.

“For Billy!”