The Spark #2: Nightfall

Chapter 3: Kaya

Kaya flew alongside Qenti and Haru as the Ironsparks made their way south. The Wildsparks had gone back home to prepare for the inevitable conflict.

Kaya was still scared of what the Ironsparks would do. They all looked to Dene as their leader, and she was completely driven by hatred. It worried Kaya even more that her friends had been split up. Sephas and his friend Aunn had been banished, they'd had to leave Ayrahl in the Wild Nation since he couldn't fly, and Jedhan...

Jedhan ran.

Kaya still couldn't believe it. She'd wanted to run herself so many times. They all had. But they'd stayed strong and relentless, together. Jedhan had too. Even through the battle at the Cauldron. But what made him run at the end? Dene's anger? Sephas's banishment?

Kaya?

The way he'd looked at her before he left... he was afraid. And in that moment, Kaya knew. HE knew. She was completely embarrassed, but part of her agreed with everyone else, that Jedhan had been cowardly. This dragon she'd adored for so long had flown away in fear. It was still hard for her to think about.

Plus, she had a lot more to think about now. They had been traveling for days, flying further south than any of the nations reached. The farther they flew, the hotter the climate got. They were flying over a savannah now, and while the scenery was beautiful, Kaya's wings were too sore to appreciate it.

"Hey," Haru said, flying up next to her and touching the tip of his wing to hers. "How are you holding up?"

"I wish we'd rest," Kaya replied breathlessly.

"I know, right?! Well, Dene is kind of a jerk about that. She's a jerk about a lot of things, come to think of it."

"Do you think we're doing the right thing, following the Ironsparks?"

"I don't know."

"I do," Qenti said, flying up on Kaya's other side. "These dragons deserve a true home of their own."

"What about the danger?" Kaya asked.

"I think most of the Ironsparks will be content with freedom. For the rest of them... we should stay for damage control."

Kaya nodded. Qenti was really the only one who had remained calm through all this. Without Jedhan, she was becoming even more leaderlike, but it was different now. She wasn't just trying to boss them around, she wanted to help them personally. And Kaya was definitely in need of some personal help.

Arau had barely left Dene's side. Kaya could tell he was taking this conflict the hardest. Trying to convince his people that he was loyal to them, while trying to protect the world from them. His mother had lost much of her sanity, and his cousin was planning a terrorist movement.

"That's right!" Haru said, doing a barrel roll in the air. "Once the Ironsparks get their own nation, I bet they won't want to fight!"

Kaya smiled. Haru was kind of oblivious... but also kind. He always saw the good in dragons, even if he was a big goof.

I wonder if that's how my friends see me. Kaya thought. I kind of hope so. Haru's a good brother.

"That would be nice," Qenti said. "But most of them follow Dene. They might go to war just because she tells them to."

"Then we need to convince them she's wrong," Haru said.

"She's not wrong, though. She's been hurt so much."

"It's ok to be sad. But she shouldn't let innocent dragons get hurt because of what a few did. You should always give second chances, even if they don't deserve it, that's what I think."

"Oh, Haru," Qenti said, giving him a condescending but adoring look. "I wish every dragon had your outlook."

"Yeah, me too. Then nobody would fight. Except maybe monkeys."

Qenti laughed. "You're not STILL mad about that howler monkey?"

"He made me go to jail!"

Kaya smiled and saw Haru's face. She didn't need her bloodsight to know how he was looking at them. She could tell he was playing it up to make them feel better.

She poked him with her tail. Thanks.

"We're going to rest, everyone!" Foran called out.

"Finally!" A dragon near Kaya said, and she couldn't agree more.

When they touched down, Dene walked through the crowd, checking on the Ironsparks, so Arau went over to his friends.

"I'm getting nervous, guys," he said. "Most of the Ironsparks are calming down, but Dene is still so angry. I don't know if we can stop her."

"Maybe we don't have to," Kaya said. "Maybe we just have to act first. If we can get Queen Koris back in control, I bet she'd stop all this!"

"Will she?" Qenti said. "The Ironsparks have been in the Cauldron longer than she's been alive, she might be fine with it."

"She will want to avoid a war, though," Haru said.

"Well, it's worth a shot, isn't it?" Kaya said.

"Absolutely," Arau said. "But I can't go with you. I need to stay with them. I'll see if I can slow Dene down... if they'll trust me."

"Foran trusts you," Kaya said.

"But I'm sure he'll choose his people over my word. Anyone who's been through what they have would."

"Hello," Foran said, approaching. "I just wanted to tell you, we can't rest long. We're going back out in an hour."

"Foran," Qenti said. "We need to leave. We're going to see if we can defuse this conflict without a war."

Foran eyed Arau. "You too?"

"No," Arau said, standing up straight. "I'm staying."

"Then it'll be THREE dragonlings on their own."

"It's ok," Kaya said. "It wouldn't be the first time."

"You make a habit of risking your lives?"

"We make a habit of being AWESOME."

Foran chuckled. "Well, I suppose I can't stop you. Good luck."

Kaya, Qenti, and Haru launched into the air and flew north. Kaya waved at Arau and Foran, and they waved back.

We can do this, no problem. Maybe we'll find Sephas and Aunn along the way. And Jedhan... I hope so. I hope they're ok.