7. ARUNA

CHAPTER 7 ARUNA Chaya the Shadow Dragon landed near the temple steps. Aruna jumped off his back and eyed Drake's and Jean's Dragon Stones.

"Leave now, Dragon Masters!" she said firmly. "Or we will be forced to battle you." Jean's hand tightened on her sword. Sensing danger, Argent's scales flashed silver. Drake stepped forward. "We are not here to battle," he said. "We just want to talk." Aruna's red eyes flashed. "There is nothing to talk about!" Drake quickly sent a thought to Worm's mind. Worm, try to communicate with Chaya. Jean and I will work on Aruna. "Because you are Dragon Masters, I will give you a chance to escape," Aruna continued. "But I am losing patience."

"Aruna, we know something is wrong with you both," Jean blurted out. "Ha!" Aruna scoffed. She glared at Jean. "There is nothing wrong with us! Everything is going right! Chaya's beautiful shadow will soon cover the world." "Don't you see how dangerous that is?" Drake asked. "If the sky-shadow blocks out the sun, no crops will grow. People will starve. It'll be just like your brother, Darpan, told us."

"Darpan?" The red flickered in Aruna's eyes. For a split second, Drake saw the eyes behind the evil energy. Eyes that were brown and kind. Is she fighting the evil inside her? Drake wondered. "Yes, your brother, Darpan. He is very worried about you," Drake said. Then he heard Worm's voice in his head. I cannot communicate with Chaya. There is a cloud of evil magic blocking his thoughts. Just then, Aruna's Dragon Stone glowed, and her red eyes flashed brightly once again. "Your brown dragon is a spy!" she cried. "He tried to sneak into Chaya's mind!"

"No, Worm was only trying to communicate with Chaya!" Drake protested. "Please listen!" Jean pleaded. "We can help you and Chaya!" "Enough!" Aruna said. "I gave you a chance to flee, and you didn't take it." Her Dragon Stone glowed as she gave her Shadow Dragon a command: "Chaya, release the shadow phantoms!"