Wings Of Fire; The Fate Begins: The Dragonet Prophecy

Chapter 13: Captured By Ex-Queen Saffron And Her Followers

"I haven't seen Kestrel in thirty seven years," Ex-Queen Saffron said in a pleasant voice that didn't match the rage in her eyes. "What a fun reunion this is going to be." She whipped her tail back and forth behind her. "All my least favorite dragons in one place."

Clay was the closest dragonet to her. He took a step back toward his friends and spread his wings. She'd have to go through him to get to them.

"You followed us here," Caribbean said in a choked voice.

"Oh, I didn't have to," Ex-Queen Saffron said. "Someone sent up a lovely, helpful smoke signal for me. Led us all right here. What a brilliant idea."

'My idea,' Clay thought, horrified. 'This is my fault. I've brought the SkyWing ex-queen and her SkyWing followers down to us.'

"Who are you?" Sunny squeaked.

"Now this is getting really insulting," Ex-Queen Saffron said. "You're in my only territory. Apparently you're living under my mountain. I am the only most important dragon for thousands of miles. How dare you not recognize me? She arched her neck and spread her bejeweled wings.

"Ex-Queen Saffron of the SkyWings," Brightglide breathed. He crouched low, touching his head to the floor and crossing his front talons together.

"Now, that's more like it," Ex-Queen Saffron said. "Three moons, it's gloomy in here." She glanced around, spotted Brightglide's sack of scrolls, and set it ablaze with one burst of fire.

Brightglide stared at the burning scrolls, frozen in place. Clay edged sideways, trying to shield him and Sunny and Glory while Caribbean was trying to shield Sunny and Glory. If only he were bigger.

"My goodness," Ex-Queen Saffron said, squinting. "You're a DayWing!" She batted Clay aside as if he was made of leaves and grabbed Brightglide's chin. Clay scrambled up again and took a step toward her, but the clanking of her armor and the grim expressions of SkyWings spilling into the cave made him stop.

"A DayWing not ten years old yet," Ex-Queen Saffron said, turning Brightglide around and prodding his scales like he was a cow that she planned to eat for dinner. "How thrilling! They don't normally led their dragonets out into the world. We might corrupt their superior perfection or something, you know." She breathed smoke into his face, and he coughed. "I've never had a DayWing in my arena before. Thrilling, thrilling! Tell me, what am I thinking right now?"

Brightglide's expression was pure terror.

"Too hard?" Ex-Queen Saffron teased. "I'll give you a hint. I am thinking—now why would an IceWing, a NightWing, DayWing, a MudWing, two SeaWings, two SkyWings, and a SeaWing/SkyWing hybrid be hiding out under my mountain. Along with the two that the MudWing and the SeaWing/SkyWing hybrid are cutely trying to protect?" She flicked her tail at Glory and Sunny. Clay shivered as the ex-queen leaned closer to Brightglide. "This wouldn't have to do with a certain prophecy, would it?"

"What is going on on here?" Dune grumbled, limping into the cave. He stopped short at the sight of the SkyWings. His black eyes turned slowly toward the ex-queen, and Clay saw fear on his face for the first time ever.

"Hvitur, Ebony, Robin, Seal, and Webs!" Dune yelled, and then the maimed SandWing hurdled across the cave toward the ex-queen.

"Stop!" Sunny shrieked. "They'll hurt you!"

Dune didn't seemed to hear her. He seized Ex-Queen Saffron and flinging her away from Brightglide. "Don't touch them," he roared. "You'll never get your claws on them."

The ex-queen twisted in midair and landed on her feet, facing him and hissing. "They're mine now," Saffron snarled. She launched herself at Dune.

Then Hvitur, Ebony, Robin, Seal, and Webs came pounding into the cave just as the SkyWing soldiers erupted into the cave toward their queen. Webs barely paused before throwing himself in their way while Hvitur, Ebony, Robin, and Seal were fighting three SkyWings each. His tail smacked three of them back, and his claws raked the underbelly of another. Clay had never seen him fight before. He hadn't known that Webs could be dangerous.