Chapter 4

The next weeks were horrible to try and endure for Sylver. No matter
how many triumphs she made afterward were still not enough to live down her
new reputation of a coward. Creature was the only one who didn't believe
FireStorm and Chronus's tale.
    "I know you, Sylver. You wouldn't just rest and take a backseat if a
shadow dragon came." Sylver was greateful for Creature's words of
encouragement, still, she could not walk anywhere without wolves jeering at
her. They always came bunched together, so if she attacked one, shešd be
brought to death by five others.
    Sylver had lots of training with Kajar. She strengthened her magics,
but Kajar also had her train in physical combat, even though the dragon
could fly. Sylver strayed to Mt. Woe often now, hoping to find the beast.
    One hot day, Sylver was vigorously target practicing on some logs when
Kajar said, "Youšre free to go." Sylver thanked him and dashed off toward
Mt. Woe, into the caverns. It was one place were she could be away from
others jeering at her.
    She approached a pool of water and lapped it up. She filled herself and
looked across the pool. She stopped dead. There was FireStorm, right
across from her.
    Sylver growled and headed toward the unexplored twin paths of the
cavern. She took the right path. FireStorm got up shortly after and took
the left fork.
    Sylver dashed through the cave, filled with rage over FireStorm's lies.
She was going to have to defeat that shadow dragon all by herself just to
maintain her reputation. It all came down to FireStorm.
    Sylver was coming to a light at the end of the tunnel. She was slightly
surprised by this. Wasn't the only way out of the caverns to exit where she
had entered? Nevertheless, Sylver headed onward.
    Sylver kept walking. Soon she found it was not one distinct white
light, but many tiny different colored ones. The secret of this tunnel was
revealed when she got up to it.
    She found herself in a cavern; and on all sides of her were stones of
pink, yellow, orange, and other bright colors, gleaming. The stones were
beautiful. She was gazing into one when she heard a wolf behind her.
    Sylver turned around quickly. FireStorm was gazing back at her. "Guess
both tunnels lead to the same place," FireStorm said gruffly. Sylver didnšt
reply.
    She wouldnšt have had much of a chance, anyway. For just at that
moment, there was a weak groan. At least, weak for the creature that Sylver
guessed it was. A great shadowed figure uncurled from a dark, shadowed
corner in the cavern. It was the shadow dragon again.
    It eyed the two wolves carefully. Testing its strength, it banged one
of its feet against the ground. There were crevices in the earth now. It
lunged his head downward. Now there was a great hole.
    He slowly stomped toward the wolves. The wolves slowly walked
backwards. The dragon streched his wings and gave a yell of triumph. He
pushed his feet off the ground and thrust his head into the earth. The
earth shattered like a building being broken. Sylver and FireStorm turned
and ran.
    Sylver only gave one quick glance back. The dragon was airborne,
dragging his jaws across the earth. If they got in its way, the dragon
would swallow them.
    Sylver ran for her life.