He nodded a bit and did just that. Its solid and rough. Pure, solid rock, likely sandstone or something similar, but pressed and tightened enough to be tough, without cracks or flaws, and solid.

That's not good. They'll have to try their luck with the door.

Alec steps over to crouch by the teen in an examination of the door. "So, what can you do?" she asks, operating on the assumption that the other is a Reader and can borrow power from her dragon. Her eyes flutter closed. "I'll give you a little demonstration of mine."

Faintly aware of his reply, she teases her bond with Gwyneth and draws a weak pulse of warmth to the surface. Winding her own energy around the strand, the reader twists and opens her eyes to find liquid light pooling in her palms.

He stared in shock and confusion. *um. No magic for me.* he said. *Moonlight?*

The dragon walked over and opened its mouth, charging a plasma blast.

Somehow, the lack of magic is what surprises Alec. Thin brows furrow, and she tips her head back in quiet thought. "I've never heard of a non-Reader even discovering a dragon," she muses, eyes hovering over the Vogt's face accessingly, "much less befriending one."

For now though, an unknown variable is better on her side than the enemy's. "Can Moonlight get us out?" The violet energy glowing in the back of the drake's throat certainly looks strong, and using firepower would certainly be less straining than her idea.

He frowned. *I have no idea what a Reader is, but Moonlight can try.*

Moonlight growled and aimed at the wall. . .

Before they were suprised as a massive door they didnt notice began to rise, revealing a massive sandy arena with an audience watching them and a gated roof preventing flying out.

He frowned. *I dont like this.*

( Ay, that's surprising! Can I know what you're planning for the arena, or what that be a spoiler? :D Also, this sort of reminds me of the Toothless arena scene from HTTYD I. )

That same musing expression morphs into something feral at the sight of the spectators; eyes flinty and jaw locked. "We have a lot of things to talk about when we get out, then," Alec says, gathering the shimmering strands up in a hand. "Readers being one of those things."

And if there's one thing the audience should know, it's that Readers were never meant to be caged.

(Lol, fair. And its simple!

Except, I would have to break a rule to tell you. We dont talk about Fight Club.

That two Dragon Points if you get the reference lmao

But jokes aside yeah theyre gonna have to fight monsters and animals)

Moonlight walked out and let out a deafening roar, shaking the arena. A massive door across from them shook as it began to open.

( Didn't expect to see so many references here! :D )

The gates crash open with a loud boom, revealing empty air that glistened in the sunlight as if the organizers had tied a thousand pieces of glass together and strung them high.

Several long seconds pass as the droning starts, the crowd holds their breath, and Alec stands in place -- squinting, searching for the enemy. It's only when the droning grows louder that she places it for what it is and throws herself to the side, blood welling from a gash that stretches across the majority of her hairline.

"Let's give it up for our next round of contenders!" A loud voice booms from above, prompting a wave of cheers. "Their opponent: a young male Shimmerscale, capable of perfectly mimicking its surroundings to become invisible to the naked eye. To fly, it beats its wings multiple times a second, making both its best weapon, capable of shredding anything that comes to close, and its prey's only warning."

"If our contestants use that warning well, they must just be able to defeat this beast! Otherwise, well, our lovely lady's wound will be the least of their troubles!"

(lol yep

and i have SO many ideas for future fights. dont wrry, they wont be stuck in here forverr, but whike they are, itll be fun!)

Moonlight jumped forward and growled, making strange clicking sounds. then it suddenyl shot a plasma blast in a certina direction, hitting the enemy dragon right in the face.

(like Toothless, Moonoight can use echolocation.)

( ahh, i forgot that toothless had echolocation! )

Singed grey scales ripple like a heat shimmer, revealing the large, multi-winged dragon as plasma ripples across its snout. Its head is thrown to the side by the weight of the blow, leaving it staggering as it tries to regain its balance in the air.

Holding a hand to her head, Alec reforms her grip on the stands of light as the drake bellows loud enough to make her ears ring. She focuses on shaping it -- directing it -- before letting the energy flow forth in blazing spear. It pierces through the membrane of a flared wing, a clean cut but unfortunately only as large as the tip of her finger, and the Reader is left to brace herself as a shadow falls over her.