An Alternate Dimension: The Language of Dawn

Chapter 20- Edric

"Light the fire! Light the fire!" Edric shouted. Someone blew flame onto the sticks in the centre of the beach.

"Who's missing?" Justin asked. "Everyone gather around the fire!"

Edric quickly counted. 16, including Sabina but not Timber. Someone was indeed missing.

"Misha!" Arani shouted. "Where's Misha?" There was a moment of silence as the inevitable realisation dawned on them. Oh no.

"Ethan, you can fly really fast. Try to find Misha in the forest!" Justin said, breaking the dismayed silence.

"No!" Edric cut in, stopping Ethan's flight. "The forest is too big. Search the area between the Grand Castle and here. Remember, 'Beware the dragons that rule the land, for a traitor is their second hand'."

Ethan nodded and darted off, flying low and dodging trees, trying to find Misha.

"And now we wait." Justin told everyone.

Edric sat there on the sand, occasionally trickling his talons in the ocean. He didn't really like the ocean that much, but it was satisfying to do that. For the next hour, some tried to go back to sleep unsuccessfully, whilst most of them just sat and waited.

Finally, Edric spotted the shape of two dragon bodies coming towards them.

"I found her!" Said Ethan as he dragged Misha along behind him. "Time for some interrogation."

Edric was mildly shocked that Misha would betray them. Her scales weren't even purple! They were pink! The only dragon here who had purple scales was Terrence, but he hadn't run off. Had the stars gotten it wrong? Or was this all a trap?

Justin told Misha to go into the hut. All the rest of them came in as well, and the ones who tried to sleep got up and sat on their bunks with shocked expressions.

"Misha! Why were you on your way to the Grand Castle?"

Misha looked down at the ground, not saying anything. She shuffled her feet, and that was it.

"Hurrumph." Justin said. He was obviously not going to get anything out of her.

"Fine. Tomorrow when we leave for the castle, you will stay here so that you cannot tell the queens anything." Justin said. Misha sighed and looked away.