Author: Sparkle Itamashii

Title: Lockjaw Storm

Disclaimer: Lockjaws are © Allison Theus (pen name: beastofoblivion). Please do not take, distribute, or copy/use species without permission.

Lockjaw Storm

            The lockjaws gathered on the crest of the cliff, the land spread before them, darkened by the threatening clouds roiling in the sky. Their hisses were drowned in the whip-crack of thunder that followed the brilliant flashes of light dancing among the clouds. It didn’t deign to touch the ground, the wild flares of energy absorbed in their own world of mist. Winds lashed at the barren land beneath the cliff, whistling trails of sound that seemed to linger in the mind. Spiked tails lashing, the lockjaws waited, the rumbling aftershocks of the thunder causing the ground to tremble beneath their wickedly curved talons.  Jaws snapped, teeth gnashing, snarls were issued as they fought to contain the excitement mounting in those around them. They called to the heavens and it answered forcefully. Lightning flashes reflected in their gleaming yellow eyes.

            The storm was coming.

            It was upon them then, and the lithe creatures launched themselves into the air, using it as if it were solid to climb the sky.  Furious at the disturbance, even by the powerful aliens, the lighting forgot its beautiful dancing, and became violent. The lockjaws called to one another in delight as they dipped and dodged the crackling, living electricity. Their haunting calls hung like music in the air, echoing in different pitches from their thin head creasts. It was a dangerous game, Storm Tag, but it was theirs and theirs alone.  The thunder shivered the air around them as they darted through the sky. This storm was no ordinary storm, the lightning no ordinary display- This storm was alive. An eternity of howling over the planet had turned it into a living, thinking, consuming creature without care for what it destroyed in its travels.

            A bolt hit one of the shadowlike, alien dancers, the energy crackling over her skin like static electricity. Her body writhed for a moment as the lightning turned upon her, two, three, four bolts following the first. Her muscles spasmed and her frame shook for a moment. Taut skin twitched, and just as suddenly the light slid off as if it were oil and she, water. It dripped into the sky and dissipated with a crackle. Leaping from nothing into nothing, she loosed a sullen, moody snarl.  The double spike on the tip of her tail lashed in an irritated fashion as her taloned paws lightly touched the rocks of the cliff. She settled herself to watch her brethren continue their dangerous game. She was the first to be tagged out.