Dragon War [not finished]

Cinder Cliffs: Peter

PETER'S POV

I swing the sword and it slices the middle of the dummy. Ani, my older brother, gives a curt nod and hands me a knight helmet. "Now, you try it with the visor down." he tells me.
Grimacing with the weight of the helmet on my head, I stab the dummy's leg. Ani laughs and pats me on my armored back. "You think you're ready for a real person, now?" he asks. I nod rapidly. He dons a suit of armor and stands in front of me. We shake hands and get in our positions.
All of a sudden, there's a loud knock on the door. Ani sighs and opens it. It's Fred.
"Margaret's in a tree again!" he shouts, in his usual way. I take off my armor and step out into the hall with Fred.
"Why is Margaret in a tree?" I ask.
Fred giggles. "She's trying to spy on Ryia."
I sigh. "What is Ryia doing?"
"She's rescuing a stranded kitten."
"From where?" I ask. It doesn't sound bad so far.
"Cinder Cliffs."
My mouth falls open. "Cinder Cliffs? I knew she was selfless, but- but Cinder Cliffs is just dangerous!" I didn't think Ryia would go THAT far!
Fred nods. "I know!" Then he gets a devious smile. "Want to watch her?"
My eyes blaze with fire. "Are you kidding? She's in huge danger, Fred, and all you want to do is spectate? That's unbelievable... just unbelievable!" But I know that deep down, I want to watch, too. There's no way I would be able to convince her to get down, much less be brave enough to get up and pull her down!
Fred beckons for me to follow him down the hall and out the front doorway. Children frolic on the sides of the dirt road, and wagons rattle down the street. I follow Fred until we reach an oak tree. The branches rustle and Margaret pokes her head out.
"Margaret, get down from there right now." I order, stamping my foot. Margaret grins.
"You can't boss me around, Peter!" she shouts, ducking back in and coming out at the top. I'm about to climb right up there and give her a scolding when Fred gasps. I look at him. More gasps sound from behind me.
"What?" I ask, frowning. Fred slowly lifts a trembling finger to point a a figure on Cinder Cliffs. A figure that's trying to stuff a writhing kitten into a bag. A figure whom I know very well.
"Ryia!" I shout. She doesn't look at me. I race to the cliffs, but can only go a short distance before the massive crowd blocks me out. Grunting, I manage to squeeze through the gaps between the people. Ryia is a speck, far above us. I crane my neck to see what she's doing now.
Is it just my imagination, or is the dot that's Ryia growing bigger? I squint. No, that is certainly real. Ryia is climbing down faster than ever, now. But I don't think anyone - even Margaret - would be able to descend a cliff that quickly.
My eyes widen as the full extent of the situation dawns on me. "She's falling!" I shout. Except no sound comes out. All my energy is focused on climbing the cliff. I grab a spot a three hands above my head, and find a foothold. My knees are trembling. I manage to ascend another four hands.
I can't do this. My stomach is churning. How am I ever going to be a knight if I cannot banish all of my fears?
Embarrassment blooming on my face, I slowly climb down three hands. Only three more hands to go until I can step on solid ground. I'm about to climb down when a weight smacks my head.
I topple backwards. As I smack the ground, all of my breath leaves me. Ryia is lying across my chest. She smiles at me.
I manage a smile back. She thinks I saved her, so at least there will be one person who doesn't believe I'm a terrible knight. Brushing myself off, I trudge home, off to tell my father I cannot banish my fears.