The wyvern roared and thrashed against its cage, the handlers backing away nervously with their prods as the muzzle briefly glowed with an intense heat. Light ripples over the wyvern’s grey skin, it’s wings extended as far as it could in the cage.

“Come on then! Keep it in there!” one of the men shouted, the burliest and least… civilized. My mouth briefly curled in disgust but I kept to the shadows next to the stone. The banners of the arena flapped idly from the storm winds blowing in, and prevented them from seeing me as I slinked from one cage to the next.

The wyvern slammed its head into the cage, denting the metal slightly and sending the men scurrying back. The rushed forward once more with vigor a moment later, slamming down the bar that locks the cage. The wyvern lets out another deafened, angry roar, joining the sound of the storm outside as the men scramble off of the cage and out of the room. I pressed myself against the wall, watching as they went past then out of sight, laughing amongst themselves.

I waited until they were gone, then moved around the edges of the room, keeping to the shadows as I made my way over to the wyvern’s cage. It jerked everytime a peal of lightning sounded out, scurrying and darting from one side of the cage to the other. It was young, and it was caged underneath the grand arena without any idea what was going on or what was expected of it. Chains held its wings in place, a fresh branding mark showed on its flesh, unhealed. My lips curled again, and I walked out of the shadows towards the cage.

It reacted immediately towards my presence, eye’s turning to look at me, wings twitching against its bindings. I raised my hand, showing it my palms as I approached. The wyvern watched me, eyes unblinking and legs shifting as it prepared to defend itself. I stopped by the edge of it, and as another peal of thunder sounded out overhead the wyvern let out a mewled growl. I glanced up, directly above its cage was the open pit door of the arena, and above that a raging thunderstorm that would do well to hide the wyvern.

I smiled, “don’t worry girl, I’m here to help.

I then pulled the bar free from its cage, and ran from the room. Ignoring the sound of snapping chains and roar behind me.