Bending Over Backwards

*Gasp* Keahi bolted upright, greedily filling his lungs with air. It felt like he had not taken a breath in years; yet it had most likely been a mere few minutes. Keahi sat for a while, trying to ease the pain in his lungs. After a few minutes had passed, Keahi took his mind from the task of breathing, allowing that task to fall back into his subconscious mind. Bringing his focus back to his surroundings, Keahi could sense eyes on him. A quick survey of his surroundings alerted him to his situation. Looking around, Keahi felt confused. Where was he?
　　　
　　　
　　　He could smell sulfur, which told him he was near a volcano... Or in one. Looking around him for the eyes he could feel watching him, Keahi received a shock as he realized the eyes did not belong to people, these looked like... Dragons? The creatures stood on their hind legs like a man would; yet they bore no other resemblance.
　　　
　　　
　　　A red one with an orange fin going down his head leaned down and said in a teen voice "What are you? And what are you doing in our volcano?"

　　Jumping back in surprise, Keahi tried to run, but was blocked by another dragon, this one brown with thick but short blue horns adorning its head.

　　"What do you think we should do eh, boys?" the red one asked with obvious malice in his voice.

　　"I think we should have a little fun with it, Garble," said a skinny purple one with what looked like blonde hair.

　　"Yeah we should have fun with it, Fume," Garble replied.

　　Keahi backed until his back hit a wall.

　　The dragons continued forward, continuing to seal off any escape paths. Garble let loose a small jet of flame towards Keahi's feet, Fume and the brown one following suit. Jumping Keahi realized how they planned to have ‘Fun’ They obviously intended to make him dance until he stopped and got burned. If they wanted to play with fire then Keahi would help.

　　A flame sparking to life in his hand Keahi punched forward his fist becoming engulfed by flame before landing a solid left hook to Garble's snout who in turn backed up in pain grabbing his snout and clenching his eyes shut.

　　The other two stopped their games and looked back at Garble with worry. Keahi not being the type to speak much stepped forward, and in performing a simple technique delivered his foot directly into the Maw of the fat brown dragon before bringing his other leg crashing down on the head of Fume. Keahi continued to flip from the heads of the two dragons to land and role until he was directly under Garble.

　　He rolled to his feet and then launched upwards, grabbing Garble by the throat and tackling him, bringing his fist down to once again meet the unfortunate dragon’s snout with a roaring flame. The other two dragons, now shaking away, the confusion managed to grab Keahi, each holding one arm. Despite their firm grasp, Keahi used this to his advantage by lifting his legs up above him and performing a perfect split bringing each leg to rest on the dragons shoulders. He then wrapped his legs around their necks applying pressure until the two dragons could not breathe.
　　
　　
　　Then the dragons made a mistake, they let him go.
　　
　　
　　Recoiling like a spring, Keahi flipped into the air above them. He basked in the feeling of weightlessness for a second, before turning and dive-bombing down to meet the dragons, each fist flaming.

　　　Keahi stepped towards Garble who had just regained consciousness. Realizing his two friends both lay out cold behind Keahi, Garble got to his knees and began to beg.
　　　
　　　
　　"Please, man. We were just playing with you."

　　"A wise man once said: ‘Treat others the way you wish to be treated.’" Keahi then proceeded to throw a fireball at Garbles knees.

　　Jumping back, Garble yelped.

　　Keahi continued to throw more fireballs making Garble dance like a moron. "How do you like it, huh, dragon?"

　　"I don't like it. Please, man I already apologized."

"A wise man once said: "An eye for an eye."

　　"Why are there so many wise men?"

　　Keahi tossed another fireball, and he did not intend to stop throwing fireballs until he got a good workout by moving his arms. Although Keahi was more than willing to stop when an enormous dragon landed next to him and Garble and let out a long loud roar. As Keahi prepared to haul ass Garble stood with a wicked grin on his face.

　　"Oh no. You seem to have angered Big Daddy. Now you’re really gonna get it."

　　Big Daddy? What a stupid name. Keahi did not really care about its name no matter how accurate it was. This dragon was huge. Once it had stopped roaring, it rose to its full height giving Keahi something to really fear. The dragon then did something neither Keahi nor Garble expected. He cleared his throat and spoke.

　　"My name is Ehecatl. Obviously, you are not a simple creature that wondered here from the woods. Your skill with flames clearly exceeds that of many dragons, especially three that I can think of."

　　Keahi didn't know what to say. All he could do was back up a few steps and stare.

　　"Well either way. Why have you been attacking these dragons?"

　　"They attacked me sir."

　　"I don't see any reason better than self-defense. How is it you can use fire so easily?" Ehecatl asked with honest curiosity.

　　"I don't really know? I just can."

　　"Not the best answer but that’s fine. How did you get in here unseen?"

　　"I woke up here."

　　"These three dragged you in, most likely."

　　Garble started to protest, but was silenced by a sharp glare.

　　"You look a bit like a teen dragon. Moreover, you can cast fire as easily if not better than any teen dragon I have seen. I think you could fit in here if you wish to stay."

　　"I guess. I have nowhere else to go."

　　"Then it’s settled. You can stay with us for a while. We have a cave you can sleep in tonight."

　　Thoroughly confused at the recent events, Keahi simply complied and followed the massive dragon to a cave that seemed much too small for most dragons, but it was perfect for Keahi.

　　　Keahi slept neither comfortably nor peacefully. If anything, he slept with an eye open, something he had grown used to in his world being an outcast from society to such an extent that they wanted him dead for his powers. This is also how he learned to fight multiple targets at once. His formula was disabling one in a three versus one so that he could handle the last two. Either way Keahi managed to get enough sleep over the night to have plenty energy for the next day. Waking up and stepping out of his cave, he found Garble waiting expectantly. Upon seeing the firebender, Garble approached. Keahi was almost afraid, as Garble seemed slightly pissed off.
　　　
　　　
　　"Hey, scaleless one, we are waiting for you at the large lava pit."

　　Keahi followed Garble to the mentioned area and found the other teens there. Not knowing what to expect Keahi readied himself for another fight that he would undoubtedly win. The dragons around him all stared as if he were their prey and he had just stumbled in front of them.

　　"Don't be too afraid scaleless one we are just going to finish your initiation into our dragon clan."

　　Keahi was still confused, but he was beginning to understand. The dragons had more tests for him. A simple fight and display of firebending wouldn’t be enough to gain their trust. As Keahi watched Garble join the rest in their circle around him, he drew in a breath sharply filling his lungs to the brim in which the other dragons followed suit. Keahi expected to face more fire but not like this. Each dragon opened their maw one at a time and Keahi could see the light forming in the back of their throats. As each dragon let loose a flame Keahi dropped to his left knee and prepared a counter attack.