Kraken Unleashed - Book 2 [Wings of Fire Fanfiction]

Chapter Two - the Animus

I'm almost there!

Kraken's wings cut through the air, the thought of Sanctuary on the horizon the only image in her mind. I'll find Eve!

Panting from Ace brought her back to reality.

"I thought Skywings were supposed to be good flyers?" Tundra mocked the red-orange dragon playfully.

"I can fly fast!" Ace wheezed. "Never said I could fly for long."

"We should land and take a break." Essence suggested between ragged breaths. She wasn't doing the best either."But we're almost there! Sanctuary isn't that far away!!" Kraken argued, determined to get there as fast as possible despite starting to feel exhaustion creep in.

"I'm with Kraken." Swellow said. "Sanctuary shouldn't be that far."

"You're damn right about that." Scorpion added as the city of Sanctuary came into view. As the group landed in the dirt, Kraken began to relate to Ace who was currently laying on the ground, wings askew, and looking like he was about to die.

"Dang man, are you ok?" Tundra asked the Skywing with concern.

"I'll be fine." Ace gasped. "Probably."

Kraken squinted at the horizon, looking at the outline of the great city. It was definitely not what she expected. It looked rundown, fluttering flags sticking out of crumbling buildings. Nothing like what Essence had told her. Essence's worried face also betrayed the fact this isn't what she was expecting. Something was wrong.

"Are you sure this is Sanctuary?" Swellow asked, voicing their concerns. She must have noticed Essence's expression as well.also noticing Essence's worried face.

"Yeah, no doubt about it. Unfortunately.." Essence replied "Well, the crap end of town at least, we should get moving before-"

There was a rustling from a nearby alleyway. Essence, hearing the rumbling of a mind before anybody, whipped her head toward the noise as a SkyWing emerged, advancing toward the group.

"Hello, it looks like you're new around here," the SkyWing said in a gentle voice that did not match the malicious look in his eyes. "A quick word of advice, things can get... rather dangerous around this part of Sanctuary." His voice turned rough and Essence noticed the knife he held in his left claw, to which he was making no attempt to hide.

Probably on purpose..

"Well for a few of y'all's scales, I can make sure that no harm comes to you." The stranger curled his lip upward, showing yellow, curved teeth. Many of which were missing.

Kraken growled lowly, no doubt planning on hitting the side of his dumb head with her tail, but before she could do so Scorpion walked out in front of her up to the SkyWing, who seemed to shrink next to Scorpion's massive frame.

"Yeah, I think we'll pass, buddy," Scorpion rumbled, a threat in his voice.

"Tch. I don't think you understand the severity of the situation here, pal." The SkyWing snarled, although he seemed much less confident than before under the golden dragon's shadow. He pulled his knife out nonetheless, before an Icewing slipped out of the same alleyway as the Skying had come out of.

"Hey! What did I tell you about that protection crap? Buzz off!" the IceWing yelled suddenly. His scales seemed scruffy, duller than the normal Icewing's.

"This is a dangerous part of town. They should know the price of their safety!" The Skywing countered, spitting out the last few words.

"I dont give a damn!" the IceWing snapped back, his wings rising threateningly. "You're more of a danger to these kiddos than anyone or anything else, now scram before I make you regret ever threatening my niece like that again!" Taking up the IceWing's offer, the SkyWing charged at the IceWing and swung his knife at an alarmingly quick speed. But the Icewing was prepared. He caught his wrist and head butted him, and the SkyWing fell hard on the dirt, his knife clattering to the ground beside him..