The Dawn of the Tribes

Part One
Part Two: The Star Trail
Part Three: Bring the Fire
==Prologue==
Two scavengers stood outside their den.
One spoke to another in their odd, untranslatable language.
The other nodded, raising its sword.
A tiny, tan mudwing dragonet tumbled out of the trees and landed on her face at the scavenger's feet.
The scavengers howled, drawing their swords as more swarmed out of the den.
Thunder crashed as rain began to pour.
A group of Mudwings appeared from the forest, led by a large, amber Mudwing female, with an icy blue underbelly, emerald studded scales, and diamond jewelry wrapped around her neck like an angry snake.
Lightning split the sky, illuminating the future battlefield.
"Mudwings! Get that dragonet back!" she demanded.
The scrawny taupe Mudwing next to her leaped forward. "Yes, General Waterlily! Attack!"
The squadron of Mudwing warriors charged as General Waterlily snuck off to the side toward the dragonet.
When she was closer, the dragonet saw her and ran to her. "Mommy, I'm scared! I want to go home!"
Waterlily held her dragonet close. "It's ok, Goose. When we go home, you, Duck, and Swan are all going to be safe! I promise!" She pulled the dragonet close to her snout as rain poured like rivers over the two of them.
A scavenger came up to them, bow loaded and pulled back, aiming directly at Goose. The dragonet's vivid green eyes widened in horror as she shrunk behind her mother's flank.
Waterlily reared up and snarled, preparing to claw the little pest to shreds. "You'll never hurt my daughters! You'll have to go through me first!"
The scavenger's eyes narrowed as it released the arrow loaded in its bow. As another flash of lightning cracked the sky like an egg, the metal tip of the arrow penetrated Waterlily's left talon.
Waterlily reared back, screeching a furious cry. She lunged forward at the scavenger, claws at full extent. She felt the crimson blood splatter her face as the scavenger was sliced to pieces.
The battlefield fell quiet, not a single surviving scavenger in the forest clearing.
Waterlily stood, panting, her broad shoulders rising and falling with every heaved breath. Holding her wounded talon off the ground, she gazed down at the arrow wedged in between two plated scales. Blood dripped from it profusely. But it appeared to have missed all vital veins and joints.
Goose ran to her mother's open wings. "Mama!" she wailed.
A deep brown male Mudwing ran to her side. "Waterlily, my love! Are you alright?" His golden yellow eyes were wide with fear.
Waterlily's muscled forearms tensed. "I'm fine, Earthquake. Just take Goose back to the camp. She'll be safe there." Her voice was quiet, almost fearful.
Two more Mudwing dragonets darted from the undergrowth and ran to their mother and sister.
"Mom! Goose!" the larger dragonet yelped. She had sparkling amber scales and shimmering white freckles dotting her snout and neck. She skidded to a stop, spraying Goose with mud.
The other dragonet, a deep chocolate brown female with amber eyes, stumbled and tripped next to her much more graceful sister.
Goose wiped the mud from her snout. "Swan! Duck! Gross!"
Duck and Swan chuckled at their younger sister.
"All's fair in love and war, sis." Swan said mockingly, prancing around.
Earthquake bent down and grabbed the three dragonets in his jaws and began to walk toward the Mudwing camp. Waterlily limped after him, just hoping she'd be able to save her talon.
==Chapter One==
Once a month, the generals of each camp came together for a report.
Garnet was first. She stepped up on the high rock and cleared her throat, a sudden hush falling over the attendees. "Everything is in order in Camp Sky. But, I regret to inform you, but our former deputy has been killed.
A wave of wails erupted from the dragons, all seated in a neat circle.
"I have chosen Crimson, a worthy warrior, to become our new deputy. He and his messengers will be returning from the camp on the far side of our territory within a few hours." she said, a deep growl in her voice. Her deep red scales seemed to be made of fire, her yellow eyes always glowing with ambition. A grisly scar ripped across her face, stripping the scales away and leaving nothing but bare skin.
Vanilla stepped up on the rock with her. "I am truly sorry for the loss of your deputy." she said somberly.
Garnet nodded at her, stepping down from the ledge and returning to her flame colored dragons.
Vanilla's white scales were accented by pale colors swirled in. Her pale red eyes, a signal she was an albino, shimmered in the bright moonlight. "Camp Rain has been well. Scavengers can't reach our camp very easily. We struck one of their largest camps last night and wiped out almost all of their warriors there. I truly believe victory is within our grasp now." she said, a sparkle of hope in her eyes.
Galaxywatcher stood up tall, walking up the high ledge past the pale albino Rainwing. She glared at Sapphire of the Ice Dragons. The two groups had never gotten along well after the War of Frozen Night. She growled softly as she reached the top of the rock. "I'm afraid things haven't been going well at my camp." she snarled, looking at Sapphire from the corner of her emerald green eyes. "Something attacked our camp three days ago and wiped out many of our warriors there." She inhaled sharply. "Something too big to be a scavenger."
Sapphire caught the Nightwing's eyes as they drifted away from her. She jumped to her feet, fury spreading across her face. "So you blame us?" the white dragon snarled.
"Maybe I did. Maybe I didn't." Galaxywatcher responded coolly. Her voice was quiet, like the ocean before a storm. Her eyes narrowed at the Icewing.
A snarl rumbled deep in Sapphire's throat as her deep blue eyes narrowed at the Nightwing standing, smiling smugly at her. "Take that back!" She flung herself at Galaxywatcher, knocking her off the rock ledge. She pinned the Nightwing down and inhaled, preparing to freeze the Nightwing camp leader.
"Enough!" Ocean's Glory, one of the last living dragons with the ancients' names, roared at the two younger dragons. She was in no position to have to fight, being old and quite frail. She shook her dark blue head at them, her eyes nearly lost in wrinkled old scales.
Her young deputy, Angelfish, stepped up and ripped Sapphire off of Galaxywatcher. "Stop it, you two!" she shouted. "We're fighting together, not apart!"
Galaxywatcher's head jerked up. She sniffed the air sharply. "Tiye!"
No one had noticed the absence of Tiye and her Sandwings. The pale animus Sandwing had not brought her dragons to the gathering.
The massive Sandwing female burst into the forest clearing, sending frogs and small birds scattering. Her falcon, Osiris, landed gently on her shoulder.
She was panting heavily, a look of pure terror on her face, the dark tattoos around her eyes creased into a worried scowl. "Half of my camp has gone rogue! And they've taken my messengers!"
==Chapter Two==
The path to Tiye's desert camp was long, and the dry air made everyone's scales feel heavy, as if they were soaked with water.
"Come on! This way!" Tiye yelled, at the front of the group. She ran forward a little farther, looking back occasionally to see if the other camp leaders were still there.
Ocean's Glory was at the back of the group. She had been able to make the trip a few years ago, but being nearly a hundred years old, the journey was no longer easy for her. Angelfish had to support her, already trying to keep her own talons from sinking in the sand.
"P-Put me down." the dark blue dragon rasped, her throat dry.
Angelfish helped the old Seawing drop to the ground. She stood, staring speechlessly.
Ocean's Glory groaned, a tiny stream of blood trickling from her mouth. "Go without me."
Angelfish shook her head violently. "No! I'm not leaving you here! You'll die!"
"It's my time, Angelfish."
"No, please! You can't go! Who will lead the camp? They need you! I need you! You're the only mother I've ever known. Please don't leave me... Not like this!" Angelfish wailed.
The other camp leaders had stopped, and were now staring at the two ocean dragons.
"They... They have you, Angelfish." the old blue dragon whispered in her rough voice. "Besides," she said, looking away. "Death has been close to me for a long time." She coughed, sending tiny speckles of red across the sand. "Angelfish, I've trained you well. You're leader now."
Angelfish was speechless, staring down at the sapphire blue Seawing, the only mother figure she'd ever had, who was now lay in the sand, dead. Anger crept into Angelfish's heart, sending her lips twitching upwards in a furious snarl, revealing a mouth full of thorn sharp teeth. "I'll do it. I'll do it for you."
The aqua scales of the new Seawing camp leader tensed, her muscles pulsing with fury. She pulled herself to her feet and walked towards the other camp leaders, who had to part into two groups as the young dragon stomped passed.
"Let's go." she said blankly. She did not turn around to face them, continuing to walk.
Tiye nodded. "She's right. My messengers won't save themselves."
Galaxywatcher rolled her green eyes, her mouth falling open into an annoyed frown.
Sapphire's ice blue eyes met hers, glaring.
Galaxywatcher scowled at her, narrowing her eyes and showing her teeth. "I've got my eye on you, you two-faced baboon!" she whispered angrily through her teeth.
Sapphire made a mocking noise as she began to walk after the group.
Tigerclaw, Galaxywatcher's deputy, named after his unusually long front claws, growled at her, his shredded ears folding back and his amber eyes like two suns over the horizon. He hurried after his leader, his dark grey body pulsing with muscle across every inch. Black stripes, similar to a tiger's, lined his plated scales. He looked over his broad shoulders once more, glaring at Sapphire.
The Icewing's lips began to twitch and curl upwards, showing icicle-like fangs. She stared at her own deputy, Sylla, a huge pale blue Icewing male. "He could take Tigerclaw in a fight." she growled to herself, looking her massive deputy in his one blind eye.
Upon arriving at Tiye's camp, everything was in near ruin. A fire had swept through the small town like a wave on the beach. A large tan dragon flipped a cart back over and began to fill it back up with its cargo, pieces of small fruit. Another dragon pulled burned wood from the gaping hole on the side of its small shelter, throwing it in a large pile at the very center of the camp.
"They lit everything ablaze and then took off with every single messenger. They went through there." Tiye said, pointing at a large hole in the outer wall. Burned bricks were strewn around it. "There were likely twenty or so of them. And they took the entire messenger team."
Garnet picked up one of the bricks and rubbed off some of the soot. "I just can't understand how twenty Sandwings could have gotten away with something as massive as the entire messenger team." She threw the brick, listening as it clacked against the wall.
A screech suddenly filled the air as a group of Sandwings, covered in red and black war paint, swooped into the camp and began to burn every flammable item in sight.
"Get beneath my wings!" Waterlily barked. She was born from a blood red egg, making her impervious to fire.
The six other camp leaders and their deputies scurried to get underneath Waterlily and her deputy and mate, Earthquake's fire-proof wings.
Tiye gasped, her dark grey eyes following the invaders everywhere they went. "That's them! Those are the traitors!" she yelled, fear in her voice.
Just then, a massive Sandwing pounded to the ground next to the two Mudwings. He smiled. His teeth were yellowing and several were missing. His solid black eyes, opened wide, gave away nothing but insanity. He was looking directly at Tiye.
The red and black paint curl around his right eye had begun to smudge. "Hello, Tiye!" he snarled. His voice sounded completely insane. "Lookie here at what I found!" He held up a dead, peach colored Sandwing by its throat, blood dripping from its mouth.
Tiye then realized blood was also dripping from this dragon's massive jaws as well. His claws were also stained as crimson as a shimmering red ruby, and his teeth were stained as well, likely from maiming and murdering many dragons. Her eyes opened wider. She realized it was her deputy, Naibu. He had been murdered by this dragon. This crazy, psychotic dragon.
"Looking for your precious deputy?!" the dragon asked, throwing Naibu's body to the ground and letting off a terrifying cackle.
"W-What do you want?" Tiye asked, her voice now shaky and fearful. "What are you?"
The dragon threw back his head barking a laugh so loud, it made Tiye's ears ring. "What am I? What am I?" His voice grew deep and angry as he continued. "I am Damu, leader of the Outclaws. And I'm here for your place as leader!"
==Chapter Three==
All seven leaders could hear the blood pounding in their ears and feel it course through their veins. None of them dared move if Damu were to attack.
Waterlily turned her head to face the tattooed Sandwing, her deep blue eyes swirling with a mix of confusion, fear, and anger. She curled her tail in front of the other leaders and pulled her wings lower. "What do you want?" she half snarled, half whimpered.
A low growl came from Damu's throat. "You heard me! The sooner she's dead, the sooner I can become leader of this miserable camp!" he roared, pointing a bloodstained claw directly at Tiye.
Sapphire's eye narrowed to slits, glaring at the red frilled Sandwing. She shoved out from underneath Waterlily's wing and flared her wings, puffing herself up to look huge. She inhaled sharply, a hissing sound emerging from her throat. She was about to breathe her frost breath.
"No!" Tiye yelped, grabbing Sapphire's wing.
The Icewing turned and looked at her, puzzled. "Why? He's tried to kill us all!"
Tiye held her head low. "I know. But he's... He's my brother."
Damu inhaled sharply, backing up a few steps. "N-No, that can't be true... It can't be!" He turned and ran, flicking his tail at the Outclaws, signaling them to retreat.
Tiye watched them leave, a dismal look on her face. Osiris landed on her shoulder, turning his small feathered head when he saw her tears.
Garnet heaved herself out from under the Mudwing leader's wing and sat next to Tiye. "Boy, some guy, huh?" She looked away for a moment, not wording her statement correctly. "Tiye, is he really your brother?"
Tiye looked away, not wanting to make eye contact with the red dragon. "Yes..."
"You know we still have to go after him, right? He won't stop until you're dead, so we need to get rid of him first." Garnet said smoothly.
The pale Sandwing sniffled. "I know." Her ears folded back.
A small, peach colored Sandwing bounded into the camp. "Tiye! Miss Tiye! I have big news!" It was Kidogo, Naibu's daughter. She was a young spy serving loyally under her leader.
Garnet gave a nervous smile at Kidogo. "Uh, little one, I don't think-"
"Tiye, we found Damu's camp! It's just west of here!" Kidogo squealed excitedly.
Her smile only made Tiye feel worse. How could she tell the happy young dragon her father was dead? "T-That's wonderful, Kidogo." she said with a fake smile.
A white tail draped itself over Tiye's shoulder. "It sure is." Vanilla said. She pulled the animus Sandwing to the side and turned her away from the joyful Kidogo. "We have to go after him. You and I both know he's a menace."
Tiye nodded, a tear rolling down her cheek. "I know he is." she whimpered. She turned back around to the peach colored dragon, barely out of her dragonet years, who was shaking with excitement. "Ok, Kidogo. Lead us to them."
Kidogo squealed happily, shaking her wings. "Ok, follow me."
Kidogo leaped through the entrance and ran into the desert night. After a short time of trying to keep up with Kidogo's boundless energy, the eight dragons ducked behind a sand dune overlooking a small settlement, the Outclaws' hideout.
"It wasn't very smart of them to build a hideout so close to your camp." Vanilla whispered, her pale scales flushing several different colors.
Galaxywatcher scowled at her. "Prissy little snowflake..." she grumbled.
Angelfish gasped. "Look!" she hissed softly.
Two large Outclaws walked out of the entrance of the outer walls, covered in the red and black war paint and tattoos, and carrying two large spears. Suddenly, one of them fell over, dead, and began to bleed on the sand. The other dropped into an offensive position and he, too, met the same fate.
Garnet glared forward, squinting her eyes at the scene that had just unfolded, her yellow eyes glowing faintly. She gasped, the image fully visible.
It was scavengers who had killed the Outclaw dragons. Not just one. Or two. Nearly the entire scavenger army had appeared outside the Outclaw Hideout. And they were heading straight toward the camp leaders.
==Chapter Four==
"Strike harder!" Warfighter roared.
The young dragonet slashed the rock again, no longer able to feel her talons, which were now bleeding. "Please, dad... I can't do it anymore..." she whimpered, beginning to cry.
"Galaxywatcher! Do not call me that!" Warfighter bellowed. "Now strike harder! I'm not seeing any sparks!"
Galaxywatcher started to sob, the numbing pain from her talons into her forelegs. She was cold, tired, and the pain in her arms was so severe, she could barely stand, sinking to the ground.
"Galaxywatcher, stand up!" Warfighter snarled at his daughter. He obviously had no concern for his dragonet's physical state.
She went to slash again, but just pressed her talon against the rock and dragged down slowly.
Warfighter lashed his tail furiously, his cold red eyes piercing his daughter's self esteem as she sunk to the ground again, exhausted. "Galaxywatcher!"
She collapsed, rain pouring over her bleeding scales.
Warfighter rose to his feet, towering above the landscape. He rushed over to his daughter and hit her with the back of his talon, sending her flying a few feet, clutching her stomach in pain. "Galaxywatcher, back on your feet! Strike harder!"
Thunder crashed as Galaxywatcher pulled herself to her feet, a bleeding cut on her forehead dripping blood over her face. Visions of her mother, Agileflight, filled her head. Her gentle ice-blue eyes were nothing like her father's, full of love and kindness. But she was dead. And Warfighter had killed her. Galaxywatcher's eyes narrowed in a furious scowl as she whipped her head around to face her father. "I'm gonna end this!"
The screams of the others snapped Galaxywatcher back into reality.
"Retreat! Run!" Tiye screamed, fear lacing her voice. The others followed her.
But not Galaxywatcher. She was frozen in place as the scavenger army was rapidly approaching.
"Galaxywatcher! Run!" Vanilla yelled.
The Nightwing leader ignored her dropping into a battle position, a snarl spreading across her face. I guess I'm finally going to make you proud, father. "I'm going to end this! Once and for all!" she roared, lashing at the lead scavenger as it appeared over the sand dune. In one quick snap, its head was off in her jaws. She spit it at another and breathed a plume of fire over the army that was now circling around her.
Warfighter's words echoed in her head. "Strike harder!"
Garnet crashed down next to her, smacking three scavengers away from her left flank. She inhaled, preparing to breathe her fire over the scavengers as well.
"No!" Galaxywatcher roared. "This is my fight!"
Vanilla rammed a large group of scavengers back with her horns, falling back next to the grey and black Nightwing. "Galaxywatcher, what are you doing?! You're going to get yourself killed!"
"Go..." she growled softly.
Angelfish's powerful tail lashed out, pounding two scavengers into the ground. "We're not leaving you!"
Galaxywatcher's head snapped in her direction. "Then we'll all dine with our lost ones tonight!" she roared, charging into the mass of scavenger warriors. "Go!"
A large group of scavengers charged at Angelfish, weapons raised, screaming a war cry.
Waterlily slammed down in front of them, swatting them away, getting one of their swords stuck in her tail in the process. "Leave her! This is what she wants!" she said, watching Galaxywatcher fight like a madman with Tigerclaw at her side, killing scavenger after scavenger in a bloody mess.
Angelfish and Vanilla looked on in horror as Garnet rushed beside them with Sapphire leaning on her shoulder, a large cut on her chest. "We have to go! Where's Tiye?"
Tiye ripped herself out from a pile of scavengers each trying to get a stab at her and rushed to Garnet's side, blood drenching her barbed tail.
They could wait no longer, running from the fight, leaving Galaxywatcher to go out in her own twisted blaze of glory.
Tears ran from Galaxywatcher's green eyes. "Finally, mother. I'm coming home..."
And with her words spoken, her blood spattered the sand.
==Chapter Five==
Tiye's camp seemed to be quiet in respect for their ally, the jackals singing a midnight requiem for the fallen Nightwing leader and her deputy.
"I...I can't believe she's gone..." Vanilla whispered, holding back tears.
"So, what now?" Garnet asked, her voice filled with melancholy. "The leader and her deputy are dead. What happens to the Nightwings now?"
"Only the camp leader can pick a new deputy. We can't pick a deputy for a camp that isn't ours." Sapphire said, her voice void of all emotion, as if she didn't know how she felt about Galaxywatcher being gone.
"This is all my fault! If I never brought you here, she'd still be alive!" Tiye wailed.
"Don't be sorry." a voice said. It was Featherwing, an young animus Nightwing from Galaxywatcher's camp. Her pale silver scales seemed to radiate with moonlight themselves. Her sapphire-blue eyes glittered in the night, her powerful tail dragging behind her. Her muscled forearms pulsed, the muscles visible over the silver scales. "Galaxywatcher always knew she'd die in battle. It's not your fault, Tiye." She stopped next to the Sandwing leader, her blue gemstone necklace sparkling as beautifully as her eyes.
Sapphire snarled softly.
"She always spoke of suicide. And I knew she'd do it one day. I just never understood how she knew the exact details of her own death. She always said scavengers would be the ones to kill her as she went out in a 'blaze of glory'." the silver Nightwing said, her voice smoother than silk.
Garnet's ears twitched. "Why is that so strange?"
"It's strange because she never had future vision. Only mind reading. And I know for a fact no one told her because I would have seen it, for I have both." Featherwing said, sitting in the sand. "But I believe I'm the one destined to lead the Nightwings now."
Sapphire snarled, showing of teeth like ice shards. "I don't trust you Nightwings! How do I know you're not just lying to become leader?!"
The young dragon didn't back down at the older Icewing's threat. She didn't even flinch. "My future vision is so strong, I can see every possible future from every possible event. When an event is performed, it can affect the future, whether something small or something massive. Every event has its own set of possible futures and futures that will never come to be. If the Nightwings are left without leadership, it will drastically change our future."
Sapphire scoffed. "How?" she said in a snarky tone of voice.
Featherwing still continued, unfazed or even effected. "Without the Nightwings' fighting power, the war will be lost to the scavengers. The scavengers will rule the planet instead of dragons. If we give them me as a leader, however, with my powers, I can lead them, as well as the rest of us, to victory."
Garnet shoved Sapphire away before she could say anything. "How do you know all this?"
Featherwing's face seemed to have a dash of fear enter it for a brief moment. "Because I've been trained in the art of dark magic."
The six camp leaders gasped. Learning dark magic was considered high treason, and was punishable by death.
"I'm not happy to have to tell you that but you must listen to me. I can see things no one else can." she said, turning away.
"But what if Galaxywatcher lives?" Waterlily blurted out.
Featherwing stopped. "She very well may have. My future vision is strong, but also selective. It pick and chooses when and where it wants to let me see the future. I can't make it." She continued to walk away. "I'll let you know if the stars tell me anything tonight." she said disappearing into a red cloth tent.
Sylla and Bintang, the Rainwing deputy, looked at each other uncertainly. Sylla's sky blue eyes met with Bintang's yellow eyes as his color changing scales turned dark grey with black flecks spotting his large dull scales.
Tiye looked up at the moons, hanging high above her head. Two were full, but one was completely dark. She sighed. "It's too late for you to go back to your camps tonight. You can sleep here and leave tomorrow." She began to walk toward a small sandstone building, beckoning the others to follow her.
All the deputies then jumped to their respective leaders, Sylla and Sapphire, Bintang and Vanilla, Earthquake and Waterlily, and Crimson and Garnet. Angelfish and Tiye, who were without deputies, walked alone.
Inside the den, there was a small platform in the back and a stone in one corner, but the room was relatively empty.
Crimson and Garnet picked a corner and collapsed to the floor in a ball of scales, claws, and wings. Waterlily and Earthquake, her mate and mother of her three daughters, burrowed into the warm sand in the middle of the room. It was obvious they care very much for each other, and they never let anyone forget it. Sylla and Sapphire pick a back corner, laying far from each other.
Angelfish hid a smile as Sapphire kicked Sylla for getting too close.
Vanilla and Bintang stepped gracefully and laid down next to each other, and, like the Icewings, didn't get very close to each other.
Well, at least there's no kicking involved. Angelfish snorted, smothering a laugh. She hadn't even realized she was the last one awake, with Tiye taking her place on the platform in the back of the room. She quickly tip-toed to the rock in the front corner and placed herself elegantly on top of it, allowing herself to drift into an uncomfortable sleep.
==Chapter Six==
"Angelfish! Help me!" a female voice screamed, echoing in the Seawing's ears.
Angelfish snapped awake. She was on the side of a gorge, a red light bathing the entire nightmarish scene like blood. A horrible rumbling sound came from the gorge.
"Angelfish, help me!" the voice called again. It was coming from over the cliff's edge.
Angelfish looked over the cliff and her heart nearly fell into her stomach. Galaxywatcher was hanging onto the side of the gorge over a mob of rampaging scavengers, all waving their weapons and jumping at her.
"Galaxywatcher! Hold on! I'm coming! she yelled to the Nightwing as she worked herself into the gorge, still holding onto the edge of the rock face. She reached her talon toward Galaxywatcher, coming within inches of her claws. "Come on! Just... a little... farther!" she said, her voice as strained as her talon.
A terrible laughing echoed from the rocks above as a shadowed silhouette of Damu appeared over the rocks and moved toward them.
Angelfish tried to ignore him, still reaching for Galaxywatcher.
She suddenly felt a sharp pain in her talon and looked up to see Damu had dug his claws into her flesh. He smiled at her, his eyes widening into orbs of pure red malice. "Trust me!" his voice echoed over the angry war cries of the scavengers below.
Angelfish looked back down at Galaxywatcher, who was staring at her with a look of fear and regret. Her claws unhinged and she plummeted into the seething swarm of scavengers below.
"No!" she shouted after the Nightwing as she disappeared into the scavengers. Her eyes narrowed into a glare as she whipped her head around to face Damu again. "You!"
The silhouette laughed again before morphing into a dragon Angelfish didn't recognize. He looked remarkably like Damu, same sandy scales and red frill.
Angelfish suddenly felt herself drop into a freefall. The dragon had flung her off the side of the cliff and she was now plummeting towrd the crowd of murderous, bloodthirsty scavengers below. Her screams were accompanied by increasingly louder battle cries as she grew closer to the scavengers.
Angelfish suddenly gasped, jolting awake. She was still in Tiye's den. It was before dawn, the sun not yet having consumed the sky. "It was just a dream." she panted. "A nightmare..." She looked around the den. All the others were still asleep. She pulled herself up out of the sand, having fallen off of her rock during her nightmare, and headed for the exit.
The camp was quiet, all the dragons still asleep. The sun had just begun to peek over the horizon, bathing the sky in oranges, pinks, and yellows. A light morning breeze whistled through the camp.
Angelfish flared her gills. She hung her head, her eyes closed. "You know I'm coming after you, right?" She knew Galaxywatcher couldn't hear her, but wished the large grey and black Nightwing could just give her a sign, a sign she was alright, but she received nothing, making her way to the entrance of the outer wall.
"Going after Galaxywatcher?" Featherwing's voice asked.
Angelfish nodded, the breeze whistling through her gills. "She just has to be alive."
"I'm coming too. The stars have showed me nothing and I need to see this for myself." the silver Nightwing said smoothly.
Angelfish nodded again, and they both ran out into the desert morning.
Featherwing looked like she was having more fun than Angelfish had ever seen her having. She was kicking up sand, twirling and dancing through it, smiling the whole time.
Angelfish began to laugh and seeing this, Featherwing began to laugh as well, kicking sand at the aqua Seawing.
As they approached the Outclaw's Den, they stopped running and began to walk slowly through the carnage of the past battle. Bare scavenger skeletons with their melted weapons still in hand littered the ground. Even more mutilated ones kept them company. Body parts and blood were strewn everywhere, staining the surrounding sand red.
While inspecting the area, Angelfish came across Tigerclaw's body, bloody and battered, lying in the sand. He seemed peaceful, as if he were sleeping.
"Ugh!" Featherwing suddenly groaned in disgust. Angelfish approached her. "What is it? Did you-" She gasped, seeing what Featherwing had.
A decapitated talon laid in the sand dried blood staining the area around it. It was a Nightwing's talon, covered in grey and black scales. And, as if it wasn't obvious enough, Galaxywatcher's ruby ring was on the talon's leftmost claw.
==Chapter Seven==
Featherwing shrieked something incoherent while Angelfish turned to her right to puke.
"She's dead!" Angelfish screamed.
"Keep your voice down!" Featherwing whispered urgently, clamping her talon over Angelfish's mouth. "Look!" she said pointing at the Outclaw's Den.
Three guards were coming out of the den and walking right toward them.
Angelfish felt Featherwing touch her shoulder. She then looked down to see she was invisible. As the guards walked past her, she could hear their conversation.
"Those scavengers must have been some fierce ones! Did you see how they chopped that Nightwing's talon off?" the first guard said in a grisly voice.
Angelfish had to keep herself from puking again, cringing as she forced it back down her throat.
"Yeah, I did." the second guard snorted. He was missing part of his left horn and his tail was kinked, as if it was broken and never healed right. "It was ridiculous."
The third guard laughed. "Well, she's the leader of the Nightwing camp. If we hold her ransom, they'll give us anything we want to get her back. Then we can go through with Damu's order to kill Tiye and become leader of the Sandwing camp."
Angelfish snarled, glaring at the three dragons. I'm going to kill you, you candy-faced son of a two tailed eel!
But it was Featherwing who spoke up against them. She relinquished the spell she put on the two of them and they were visible again. She flared her wings, sunlight filtering through pale silver membranes and deep silver swirls, leaving an intricate pattern on the bloodstained sand. "Except the Nightwings have a new leader, me!" she snarled.
The three Sandwings jumped back in surprise, raising their spears to kill, when suddenly, another Sandwing jumped them, grabbing the largest guard by the back of the neck and sending the other two running for backup.
The large guard struggled to get the Sandwing's grip loose, but he held tight, clamping his teeth harder on his neck. An exhale left the guard's throat as he fell to the sand.
The Sandwing stood up so that Angelfish and Featherwing could see him better. He had dirty sand colored scales, a tan frill that was ripped and mangled, and black flame tattoos on his front talons.
"Go!" he shouted. "That won't hold him long. And they're coming with more. We need to get back to the camp! Now!" he said, running toward Tiye's camp with Featherwing and Angelfish behind him. The male Sandwing didn't seem to ever tire, running relentlessly away from the Outclaw's Den until he reached the entrance of the outer wall of Tiye's camp.
Featherwing and Angelfish eventually caught up to the well-muscled Sandwing, panting heavily.
"Who...Who are you?" Angelfish asked in between gasps for breath.
"My name is Mfalme. And I think we're safe now." he said. "They kept me prisoner there for so long. I almost don't remember this place." he said, looking at the camp.
"Angelfish!" The five other camp leaders came rushing to the entrance, all stopping when they caught sight of Mfalme.
"Tiye?" Mfalme asked, looking at the pale Sandwing leader, his ears perking up.
"Mfalme? Is it really you?" Tiye seemed in disbelief.
Mfalme nodded happily, a smile on his face. "Yes. It's really me."
Tiye rushed forward, tears in her eyes, to embrace him in a hug. "Mfalme... I thought you were dead! I thought they killed you..."
Mfalme wiped a tear from Tiye's face. "No. They didn't. They couldn't."
Sapphire growled, the whole ordeal making her uncomfortable. "Would you mind telling me who this is?" she snarled, pointing a claw at Mfalme. "He's not an Outclaw, is he?"
"Not in the slightest, Ma'am." Mfalme responded, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"Mfalme was my deputy before Naibu. He just disappeared one day, so we all assumed he was dead and elected a new deputy." Tiye said, her voice unusually wispy. "Mfalme, there's something I've been meaning to tell you since long before you disappeared." she said, turning her attention back to the muscular Sandwing soldier.
Mfalme's ear twitched. "What is it, my-"
He was cut off by Tiye leaning forward to kiss him. "I wanted to tell you... I love you, Mfalme."
==Chapter Eight==
Mfalme smiled at her, his eyes misting over. "Tiye, I love you too."
Garnet shot an uncomfortable look at the two Sandwings. "I hate to interrupt, but the Outclaws are still at large."
Mfalme snapped out of his trance. "She's right, my love. The Outclaws are horrible dragons, and Damu is the worst of all." He lifted his wrists, showing scarred over claw marks. "He did this. He tries to kill all of us like this. I can't even imagine all the poor souls he's taken already..."
Tiye nodded. "I'll round up the army and we'll set things straight." she said turning away. "Oh, one more thing. " she said, turning to face him again. "Mfalme, you're deputy again." she said, turning to run to rally her soldiers.
For the next few minutes, there was an awkward silence. No one dared to speak until they could see Tiye walking toward them, a large formation of Sandwing soldiers behind her.
"We'll have to make with what we have. It'll take too long for all of you to rally your soldiers as well. This will have to do."
Featherwing had vanished, nowhere to be seen.
Garnet nodded. "We're behind you all the way, Tiye."
Tiye smiled, turning to her soldiers. "Are you ready?" she yelled out.
The dragons responded with roars of approval as they shot their talons into the air.
"Ok! Then let's go!" Tiye shouted over the soldiers, more bravery filling her voice than any of the other leaders had ever heard.
All the Sandwings took to the air, followed by the other camp leaders, flying fast toward the Outclaw's Den.
As the stone walls of the den could be seen in the distance, Tiye landed followed by the rest of the Sandwings. The other leaders pulled to the front of the crowd to stand by Tiye.
"Why did you stop?" Vanilla asked.
A light breeze ruffled Tiye's golden frill. She stared toward the Outclaw's Den, hanging her head and closing her eyes. "I just want you to know, if we don't make it out of here alive today, I don't regret a single thing that's happened. I don't regret all we've fought for, I don't regret all the pain we've gone through. Because we will make it out of this victorious. This war will be won." Her voice was strong, yet soft and quiet.
Garnet gave her a small smile. "And we're with you until the bitter end."
All five camp leaders lined up on the sand dune, the breeze blowing along their scales as grey storm clouds set in, a faint roar of thunder in the distance.
"What do you mean they're here?!" Damu roared at his lookout.
"I-I mean Tiye and her army are here. The other leaders are with her too." the lookout said fearfully. He was still loyal to Tiye, but was too terrified of Damu to rebel. "We have to surrender."
"We aren't doing anything!" Damu snarled, his black eyes glittering.
"Then you have sentenced us to death!" the lookout growled.
"Then so be it! I am the leader! I can do whatever I want!" Damu snarled, puffing out his chest and squeezing his eyes shut. The wind, stronger now, ruffled his frill, making it flap in the wild breeze.
The lookout dragon had enough, lashing his barbed tail. "If you were half the leader Tiye was-"
Damu's eyes flashed open as he whirled around, hitting the dragon in the jaw, sending him flying backwards. "I'm ten times the leader that Tiye was!"
Lightning flashed as thunder roared in the distance as Tiye appeared in the entrance of the outer wall, a vicious snarl on her face.
Damu seemed taken back at first. "Tiye?! How are you here?!" he snarled angrily.
The five other leaders stepped up next to her.
"We're here to take back what's ours!" Tiye roared.
Damu smiled uncomfortably. "Well, I would return them." He chuckled softly. "But there's one little problem. You see them?" He pointed at a wall of Sandwings behind him. "They think I should be leader."
A large Sandwing at the front of the group scowled at Damu. "No we don't." he said, walking to Tiye's side. "Tiye is the rightful leader."
Damu snarled as a few more dragons left to join him, grumbling.
But he still had an intimidating army, around a hundred dragons, all covered in war paint and ready to fight.
"The choice is yours, brother." Tiye growled. "Either step down or fight."
Damu smiled, an idea popping into his twisted mind. "Oh, Tiye." he said smoothly, walking toward her, getting with a few feet of her. "Must this all end in violence?"
Sapphire let out a low snarl.
Damu continued to walk toward Tiye's army. "I'd hate to be responsible for the dead of another family member."
Tiye bared her teeth at him. "That's not going to work. I've put it behind me..."
Damu sneered. "Ah, but what about your faithful subjects." he said, smiling at the Sandwing army. "Have they put it behind them?"
Fear and confusion entered Kidogo's face. "Miss Tiye, what is he talking about? You've never killed any family members."
"So... You haven't told them your dirty little secret?" he said, circling around her. "Well, your majesty, now's your chance to tell them. Tell them who is responsible for Tausi's death."
"Tausi? The former leader?" Kidogo asked again, more fear entering her voice. "But, she's dead."
"Exactly!" Damu snarled angrily. "And who exactly is responsible for it, hmm?"
Tiye sighed. "I am."
Kidogo's face was completely filled with fear now. She rushed up to Tiye. "...It's not true. Please tell me it's not true!"
"That's right little one! She did it! She killed her own mother, and your mother as well." Damu said a grin on his face.
Tiye hung her head. "It's true. I did kill her..."
Lightning flashed behind Damu as he walked towrd Tiye, forcing her backwards along a ramp and up on to of the tall outer wall. "Murderer!"
"No! It was an accident!" Tiye snarled, sadness still in her voice.
"It's all your fault! If you hadn't killed her she'd still be leader! Do you deny this?!"
"No."
"Then you're guilty of treason!" he said, reaching the top of the wall.
"No, I'm not-"
"Oh, Tiye. Remember how I tried to kill you when we were dragonets? Well this time, mommy isn't here to save you! And now everyone knows why!" Damu lashed his head forward, sending Tiye over the side of the wall, hanging on with just her claws.
Lightning struck the sand beneath her, lighting the wood around it ablaze and starting a great fire.
Damu smiled at his sister as she slipped further from the wall. He lunged forward and dug his claws into her talons.
Angelfish gasped. This was the exact scene from her nightmare the night earlier.
"Well, now that you won't be able to tell anyone. You didn't kill Tausi. I did." Damu whispered.
Tiye remembered now. Seeing her mother lying there, throat ripped open. And it was her brother who had killed her. Her grey eyes narrowed into a scowl and her lip lifted up into a snarl and she flung herself onto Damu and slashed her claws across his face.
Chaos broke loose. Both sides swarmed at each other with unbridled fury as fire burned the entire den to the ground.
Garnet surged forward, Crimson at her side. She grabbed a Sandwing's neck in her jaws, flinging herself forward, taking her enemy with her. She ripped outward, taking a large chunk of scales with her.
Frost breath surged past them in a mighty freezing torrent as Sapphire gave a huge exhale at her attackers.
Angelfish ran into the burning city. Galaxywatcher and the Sandwing messenger team were still here. "They'll die if I can't get to them!" she panted as she ran, spotting a large stone building near the back of the burning buildings of the city. "That must be it!" she yelled, running into the building.
Inside the building was filled with Sandwings, the messenger team, all starving and miserable in the dark.
"Come with me! You're all going to be alright!" Angelfish shouted over the sounds of the nearby battle.
The Sandwings perked up with dismal smiles and their faces as Angelfish began to snap their chains from their talons. As she continued to break the chains, she didn't catch sight of Galaxywatcher anywhere. "Have you seen a Nightwing anywhere?" she yelled, desperation in her voice.
An extremely skinny dragon answered her. "She's in Damu's fortress..." he said weakly.
"Thank you. Go to the front of the city. There are Sandwings there waiting to escort you home." Angelfish said, shaking the talon of the Sandwing messenger.
"No, miss. Thank you."
The messengers, led by the strongest ones, ran to the front of the city, dodging flames to get to their escorts.
Angelfish lifted to the sky to avoid the flames as she flew to the fortress, a large sandstone building in the very center of the city.
Lightning flashed directly in front of her as thunder crashed in her ears.
She swerved to the entrance of the stone fortress, jumping through a wall of flames to get inside. Inside, she was met with the dragon from her dream, same sandy scales, same red frill. Just like Damu.
He snarled at her. "My name is Scorpion, son of Damu. And you are trespassing! Prepare to die!"
==Chapter Nine==
Tiye fought ferociously, ripping into dragon after dragon as they came after her. Damu had disappeared into the crowd of dragons, all ripping at each other and screeching furiously.
Waterlily and Garnet leaped to her sides.
"There's far too many!" Garnet roared. "We're outnumbered!"
Vanilla fell to the ground in front of them, scrambling to get up, a deep cut ripping across her powerful shoulder. She crouched in the dust, snarling at a large, sandy-grey Sandwing female. The Sandwing lunged forward, pinning the albino Rainwing down, preparing to breath fire in her face. Vanilla had been waiting for this moment. She spit her venom into the Sandwing's mouth and forced her off, watching as she clawed desperately at her throat, trying to get the venom out as it burned holes into her neck.
"We're losing! And I can't find Angelfish or Featherwing!" Vanilla wailed.
A roar pierced the air. The fighting stopped as dragons looked up to the source of the cry. It was Featherwing, a white cape on, and leading the armies of all the other camps.
Another shriek rattled the air as all the dragons leapt into battle, Seawing next to Mudwing, Nightwing next to Icewing, Rainwing next to Skywing, all fighting as brothers for their cause.
Featherwing jumped from the building she was on as it was engulfed in flames and ran in the direction of Angelfish and the fortress.
Tiye, Garnet, Waterlily, and Vanilla jumped back into the fight.
Tiye landed next to a green Seawing, fighting as ferociously as she'd ever seen. He suddenly jumped up and grabbed an Outclaw as it lunged at her, flinging it away.
"Thank you, Seawing." Tiye said, flanking him.
"The name is Algae ma'am. And you're welcome." the Seawing said. His voice was strong and brave.
Mfalme hissed in the face of the Outclaw Sandwing he was holding down, smoke making rings around his horns. He puffed a burst of fire into the dragon's face, shrieking in fury. He flipped off of the dragon and landed in a battle position.
The Outclaw got up, the scales of its face smoking and charred. It snarled in pain and outrage. "I'm goin' ta' kill ya for d'at, Mfalme!" he snarled in his coarse, grating voice.
Tiye barreled into the dragon's side, knocking him over with her massive size. She put her talons to his throat and held tight until he stopped struggling, smoke inhalation having taken its toll on how well he could fight.
Mfalme jumped to her side, a bleeding cut on his snout. "Tiye, if we don't make it out of this alive, I don't want to go out alone. I love you, Tiye. And I want to be your mate."
==Chapter Ten==
Angelfish fought fiercely, but Scorpion was strong. He dodged her attacks with great agility and speed, delivering his own with great strength and ferocity. His talon collided with her snout, sending her to the ground, her nose dripping red blood to the floor of the fortress.
She could see Galaxywatcher in the back of the fortress in a metal cage. If I could only get to you...
Galaxywatcher looked on in fear, her missing talon wrapped up in bloody bandages. She reared back and put her good talon on the door of the cage and began to repeatedly pound onto it, bending the metal.
Scorpion grabbed Angelfish's hind leg and whirled around, flinging her into the wall. She tumbled down from it, almost unconscious. Scorpion drew himself closer to her, his black barb grating along the sandstone floors. He gave a half smile, half snarl as he raised the barb over his head, preparing to kill the blue Seawing.
Galxywatcher snarled, pounding into the door again, knocking the bolts loose and allowing her to escape. She lunged at Scorpion, forcing him to the ground.
Scorpion looked into her furious face in fear, eyes open wide. "But you can't fight. You only have one front talon!"
Galaxywatcher grabbed his throat with her good talon, snarling in the young dragon's face. "One less talon won't stop me from kicking your tail all the way to the Seawing camp and back!"
Just then, Featherwing burst from the flames, the ends of her white cape covered in soot and ash. "Damu's on the run!" she shouted, her tail swishing with anticipation. "We're winning!"
Galaxywatcher released Scorpion's throat, leaving him gasping on the floor. She picked up Angelfish and hoisted her onto her back. "Show me the way, Featherwing. I need to see this."
Scorpion glared at them. "Wait! You can't do that to me!"
Galaxywatcher spit in his face. "I just did, you little brat. Come on, Featherwing. Let's go."
Featherwing nodded, leading the huge Nightwing through the flames and back into the burning city, back towards the battle.
Blood covered the ground, dragons still snarling and swatting at each other. Near the entrance, Galaxywatcher saw Damu, slinking away into the desert.
She roared, taking off after him, Angelfish falling off her back in the process. As she pushed her way through the crowd of dragons, she was met with cries of joy.
"It's Galaxywatcher!"
"She's alive!"
She ignored them, continuing after Damu, leaping through wall after wall of flames, eventually cornering him on top of the fortress, having chased him back into the city.
Damu skidded to a halt, looking down over the burning city. He had nowhere to go. He was trapped.
With a snarl, Galaxywatcher burst through the flames, limping toward him slowly. "It's over, Damu."
Damu couldn't bring himself to move, frozen in fear at the much larger dragon standing mere feet away from him. One wrong move, and he'd be dead.
"Dad!" Scorpion pulled himself onto the roof of the fortress as well. He rushed toward Galaxywatcher from behind, claws extended and ready to kill.
Galaxywatcher shot a single look at him and lifted her back left talon, kicking it back into the young dragon's face. Blood splattered as Scorpion went flying backwards.
Damu lunged forward, attempting to grab the former Nightwing leader in his claws.
Galaxywatcher raised herself on her hind legs as he did this, grabbing his forearms and digging her claws in.
Thunder roared in their ears as lightning illuminated the city among the smoke and flames.
She then fell back onto her back and rolled, throwing Damu from the top of the fortress. She pulled herself to the edge of the fortress roof to watch as he plummeted into the flames below with a crash. The menace was gone.
==Chapter Eleven==
Thunder rumbled as rain began to fall, putting out the rampaging flames that consumed the city. Galaxywatcher made her way down to the ground again, rain pouring over her and dripping from her wings.
The other camp leaders and their armies were waiting for her.
Tiye walked forward, nuzzling her with gratitude. "You're alive. I'm so glad you're alive."
Angelfish gave a yowl of triumph. "We won! Woo-hoo!" She shook her head, sending rain over the others.
Garnet walked up to her, a new cut ripping through her wing. "Is it true? Is he?"
Galaxywatcher nodded. "He's dead. We're safe now. All of us."
Angelfish stopped celebrating for a moment. "What about Scorpion? Is he still alive?"
"Even if he is, if he steps out of line, we'll all be here to put him back in his place again." Vanilla said hopefully.
"But we can't let our guard down yet." Sapphire said. "There's still a war to win and we're going to win it."
Waterlily nodded, rain dripping from her broad chin. "And there's still much to do. We should all go back to our camps to continue our planning. We'll meet back at the next gathering."
Galaxywatcher turned her attention to Featherwing. "And you'll be there as leader of the Nightwings."
Featherwing smile and shook her head. "No, Galaxywatcher. You will."
"But, you're leader now?"
"No. You're the rightful leader. I know you'll lead them well." Featherwing said.
Galaxywatcher smiled at her. "I owe you much for your loyalty and bravery, Featherwing. I'll never forget this."
==Chapter Twelve==
Another month had passed and it was time for the next gathering. Dragons from every camp funneled into the grotto, led by the camp leader.
Sapphire sat next to Galaxywatcher. She leaned over and whispered to her. "Don't think this means we're allies now."
Galaxywatcher snickered. "Allies? With you? Ha. I would never."
Sapphire gave a half hearted growl in mild frustration. No matter how much she tried, she couldn't fully hate her.
Tiye and Mfalme scaled the high rock first.
Tiye cleared her throat and the dragons grew silent. "Everyone, before I start my report, Mfalme and I have good news." she said, looking at Mfalme. "Mfalme and I are having dragonets!"
Murmuring swept through the dragons below.
"Dragonets?" Swan asked. "Does that mean that we'll have someone to play with now, Mama?" she asked, looking up at Waterlily.
Waterlily smiled at her daughter. "Maybe one day." she said softly.
As Tiye and Mfalme finished their report, they took their seats in front of their Sandwings as Galaxywatcher and another dragon climbed the rock.
"Dragons of all camps, as you know, the former Nightwing deputy, Tigerclaw, has died." she began. "This is the new deputy, Brighteyes." she finished, gesturing to the black and navy blue Nightwing next to her. "He will be assuming most control over the army as I no longer can fight as well as I used to." she said, gesturing to her now healed talon.
Brighteyes began to speak now. "Dragons of Pyhrria, I promise to lead the army for my camp well and lead us to many victories."
Several Nightwings growled in approval.
Sapphire was next, snorting as she passed by the Nightwing leader. Sylla wasn't next to her. Instead there was a pale silver Icewing with dark blue eyes. "As you may or may not know, Sylla, deputy of the Icewings, has retired his position." she finished with a snarl.
The silver dragon looked at her, smiling and raising an eye ridge.
"This is the new Icewing deputy, Frost." she said, looking like she was trying hard not to roll her eyes. "The scavengers made an attempt at our camp two weeks ago. Frostbite and starvation made them weak so they were easy to defeat." she said, observing her pale blue claws.
Waterlily stood up, Earthquake at her heels, and walked to the ledge. Swan, Goose, and Duck followed them, sitting down in a neat line.
Waterlily cleared her throat. "Dragons of Pyhrria, my daughters, now of age, are ready to become warriors in the Mudwing army."
The three looked as if they were about to explode with pride, puffing out their chests and smiling.
Dragons in the crowd growled in approval of the Mudwing leader's choice.
Vanilla and Bintang made their way up the rock next. Bintang was carrying something in his jaws. Vanilla had red velvet ribbons on her neck and wings. Rainwings stared up in pride at her, smiles on their faces.
Vanilla nuzzled up to the grey Rainwing. "Dragons of Pyhrria, Bintang, deputy of the Rainwings, is now also father to my dragonets, Macaw and Toucan. I'm a mother now." she said proudly.
==Epilogue==
Scorpion gasped, his claws twitching. Blood was splattered against his face, bringing him back to reality. He gasped again, lifting his head to look at the sky.
"D-Dad..." he rasped. "Where are you?"
The weakened Sandwing dragged himself to the edge of the building, looking over into the smoking wreckage below. His eyes widened at a burned shape smashed in the debris of a roof, caved in and broken.
He wiped his talon over his face and looked at it. It was covered in half dried blood.
He remembered now. The Nightwing's back talon kicked at him and everything went black.
He snarled, tears forming in his eyes. His face stung and his insides felt numb with rage. "Father..."
He struggled to his feet, his legs shaking violently. He collapsed to the ground as two dragons made their way up onto the room of the fortress.
"Scorpion! You're alive!" the first one yelled, running to his side. It was Spearmint, Scorpion's lover. "I thought I'd lost you." Her mint-green irises were filled with worry.
The second dragon walked up to him. "Scorpion, my name is Dogsbane. I'm going to help you."
"M-My father..." Scorpion whispered. "Is he... ok?"
Spearmint closed her eyes and shook her head. "I'm sorry, Scorpion. He's dead."
No... He can't be... It was then that Scorpion lost consciousness.
Scorpion's black eyes flickered sleepily. His vision was blurred but he could tell where he was, the prison. He jumped up and ran out.
"Scorpion, wait!" Dogsbane called after him.
Scorpion didn't listen. He continued to run. I have to know! I have to know if my father is alive! He ran fast building after charred building, each a hollow skeleton. Ash swirled around him as he stopped, trying to remember which building Damu's body was in. He raised his nose to the air and sniffed.
He sniffed again. "I... I've got something!" He ran toward a building and skidded to a stop.
Spearmint was sitting, hunched over, looking at Damu's body.
Scorpion walked up to her, realizing her eyes were closed.
"It's awful, isn't it?" she said, her eyes opening. They were glossy, as if she'd been crying.
Scorpion fought back tears. "I didn't want to believe you..." It was then he realized his torso and talons were wrapped it dirty white bandages.
Damu's eyes were still open, wide with fear, and his jaws were opened in a silent scream.
"It's... like he wasn't done yet. Whatever he was doing." Scorpion said, sliding his father's eyes closed. He sighed, sliding to the ground, sitting. He put a talon to his face.
Spearmint looked at him. "You miss him, don't you." Her voice was smooth and sad, like a freshly thawed river, awakened from a winter's slumber.
Scorpion nodded. "He was the only parent I ever truly knew. My mother..." his voice trailed off.
Spearmint grabbed his arm. "What? What did your mother do?"
"She abandoned me..."
Spearmint gasped quietly. "She wouldn't."
"She did. She abandoned me near the adder's nest, hoping I would die. That was the last time I ever saw her." His muscles tensed suddenly, slashing against a piece of singed wood. He turned away from her, not meeting her green and black eyes.
"You still care for her, don't you?" she asked, taking a step toward him.
Scorpion nuzzled her. "Every day..."
Spearmint wrapped her wings around him. "Well, I'm still here for you. And I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
Scorpion looked straight ahead, not paying attention to the green-eyed Sandwing. "Yes." he said absently. "Whatever it takes..."
To be continued...
Continued in The Star Trail.
Category:Fanfictions
Category:Fanfictions (Incomplete)
Category:Fanfictions (Semi-Canon)
Category:Content (Queen Seaglass of the Seawings)