Shadows and Peace Book 2: Cool as Ice

Chapter 6 Icefall

 Yeti and the other dragonets landed on the start of the beam bridge and looked up at the large ice gate that was so familiar to Yeti. The other dragonets were clearly shivering in the storm now, so Yeti quickly led them across.

He looked down at the underside of the bridge mournfully. I wonder if Pika misses me. Or if she even cares.

He'd been sitting down there waiting for Pika when he'd been kidnapped. She was late, very late, that day. He was just about to go look for her when... BANG!

He snapped back to reality. Amber was slamming her fist into the front door. Before he could shout at her to stop the door flung open and his father appeared.

"HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU NOT TO KNOCK-" He paused when he saw the group, scanning them up and down. Yeti quickly ducked behind Cherry. "Who are you? What are you?" He sounded repulsed.

Yeti silently prayed no one would hear but sure enough-

"For your information, we are Yeti's friends! And you have no right to talk to us like that!" Amber glared.

"Then where's Yeti?" Abominable asked, searching for Yeti among the dragonets. Yeti hesitated for a moment, apparently for too long. "Why don't you step forward? If you have the guts to..." He smirked, knowing full well that Yeti could never resist that challenge.

"I'm not a coward," He said, brushing Cherryblossom to the side. He was almost as tall as his father, with the same snow-white scales and blue highlights. He looked into Abominable Snowman's glittering black eyes and demanded, "Let us in."

Abominable scoffed, so Yeti added, "I am your son and I demand you let my friends in out of the cold. Please," He added, regretting the hint of deperatness in his voice, "They're freezing."

Abominable looked at him for a moment, and opened the door a little wider. Yeti herded his friends in quickly, desperate to get them out of the cold. It was actually surprising they had even survived this long.

Boriel, Blackpearl, Shard, Cherry, and Amber all rushed inside, a little disappointed that the IceWing's idea of warm was cold. Amber spotted a dusty fireplace that was used once or twice when nobility from other tribes had visited, and soon a fire was going and the entrance hall was warm and lit up.

As each of the dragonets fanned out in the large, ice-colored entrance hall to inspect the wall decorations and warm up, Yeti nervously shifted from foot to foot, watching his father.

What do I do? What do I say? What CAN I say to someone who stood by as I was kidnapped?

In the end, Abominable made the first try at conversation.

"So," He said, clearing his throat. "These are your...friends." he spat out the word like it was a dirty scavenger that had climbed into his mouth.

"Yep," said Yeti. "I mean, yes, sir."

"Hmmm." Abominable turned away from Yeti and scanned the dragonets until his eyes fell on Cherry. "YOU!" he barked. "Come here."

Cherry looked up nervously and pointed to herself questioningly. "Me?"

"Yes, the weird Rainwing. Are you even a Rainwing?"

Cherry nervously inched closer to them, looking at Yeti for help. He shrugged uselessly.

"Tell me," Abominable said, "why is it that five dragonets from different tribes could survive all the way to the capital of IceWing territory? I don't see any frostbite, yet the weather out there is hardly pleasant, even to Icewings."

Cherry was making a squeaking sound, high pitched little chirps every minute or so, a sign she was nervous. It seemed to be a nervous tick she wasn't aware of, but it drew the other dragonets over to her.

"He has a good point," Blackpearl said nervously. "I felt cold, but not...freezing...like I'd...expect." She trailed off and stared at Cherry.

"Cherry." Shard's voice was subdued, yet seething with anger. "Did you use your powers?" His face was contorted with rage.

Cherry's scales, that had previously been white and pale green, now flickered with red anger. "Oh, I'M SORRY, did I DISOBEY you? Well, excuuuse ME for KEEPING US ALIVE!"

Abominable was smirking now. "Dear me, it seems we have a problem." He looked so happy, Yeti had to step in.

"You created the problem," he snarled. Then he turned away with a haughty sniff and stepped between Cherry and Shard. "OK, Shard, you need to stop trying to control Cherry."

Shard stepped back, looking shocked. Before he could argue, Amber stepped in.

"Yeah, Shard. This is CHERRY's power, not yours. We all want Cherry to stay sane, but you don't get to use her power. It's HER power, HER magic, so shove off."

Cherry looked at Amber with tears in her eyes. "Amber, that's...that's the most caring thing you've ever said to me! Aw, c'mere for a hug."

Amber shrieked and dodged Cherry's hug, and they all started laughing, except for Shard who looked like he was slightly shocked and deep in thought, and Yeti, whose attention was turned to the dragon who had descended down the stairs.

"PIKA!" He yelled at the same time Pika yelled, "YETI!" They ran to each other, and Yeti gasped at the sight of her. She looked weaker and more skeletal than before Yeti left.

"Are you OK? What happened?" Yeti cried, and all the other dragonets were now watching them.

"I- I was promoted to a maid in the house." Pika said, looking away. She caught Abominable Snowman's gaze over Yeti's shoulder and added, "It is an honor."

Yeti scoffed and was about to question her further when a voice called down the stairs. "Pika," it said, high and regal, "Do we have visitors?"

Pika turned towards the stairs and answered, "Yes, Miss Icestorm."

Abominable interrupted, in a deep, gravelly voice, "Our son's returned."

"Oh, joy." Icestorm's voice was as cold as ice and just as painful, stabbing Yeti's heart like an army of a thousand icicle shards.

Icestorm's sparkling scales ascended the stairs into view, and the memories of pain, sadness, unhappiness all came back to Yeti, and he remembered why he hated his house. Why it was dangerous. Why they never should have come here.

YAY!! More chapters!!!

I'm so tired....