Eternity of Pain (FINISHED)

Chapter 16: Flooded Sun

 ShineSwift sighed softly as she watched the FlameTails talk about battle field miracles, sword fighting, how hot this place can be, and occasionally their hatred for RainFire, though CereFlame stared them down whenever that starts.

"Hey." ShineSwift turned to GrayWind, whose tail started smoking again. "Do you need something? You seemed pretty distant."

ShineSwift shook her head. "I'm tired because certain somebodies won't slow stuff down. I'm also tired of anyone screeching curses at RainFire."

GrayWind sighed. "That I have to agree with you there. I don't really get their reaction to red and orange dragon here and there." His tail flicked softly. "Though I'd rather be with my home near the capital." Smoke billowed out of his tail.

ShineSwift directed her gaze to a gruff looking FireTail, with all red scales and fire gushing out of his ears, tail, and mouth. He glared at everyone. "Why do we have to have an alliance with the SunFlights?! We are strong alone!" The red and angry dragon stomped on the hard volcanic rock. "I don't get why we need to hold any hostages! We should just behead them here and there!" He snapped at a nearby white dragon with sharp white claws and pair of great black horns. The white dragon glared at him with a pair of dark, dark eyes.

ShineSwift shuddered, and turned to look at a pale red dragon, who looks almost exactly like RainFire, but with more orangish horns, no gills, a single pair of wings, no fins, and a tail that was completely on fire. She caught ShineSwift's gaze, and flashed back a small smile. The reddish orange dragon stepped lightly over to her.

"My name is FireStorm. Nice to meet you." FireStorm tilted her head to the side. FireStorm lowered her voice, "I saw how you weren't a SunFlight. I saw how RainFire reacted when she came back." FireStorm stared down at her fire red scales. "Something is up, isn't it? You came from Mount Chronos, and somehow ended up here, right?"

ShineSwift took a step back. How did that FireTail figure out so much about her? "I-" ShineSwift was interrupted by the door to the hut flying open and RainFire led Blackcano and Beesting with another weird looking dragon through the door. That dragon looked almost exactly like RainFire, except with bright blue details instead of yellow.

"Everybody, out!" RainFire flicked her tail. "Intruders have infiltrated the borders!" All FireTails except FireStorm and GrayWind rushed out the door. FireStorm just stood up and stared at the new dragon. ShineSwift glanced around nervously, before following suite.

"ShineSwift, this is RainShine," RainFire introduced. She paused. "Also my younger brother. We need to bring you away."

"Why!?" ShineSwift didn't know what to do now. After being mysteriously whisked away for some reason that she didn't understand, and now being brought away for the last time in forever?! Seriously?! "I thought–"

"Just come with us," GrayWind and FireStorm said at the same time. "We'll explain later." GrayWind caught ShineSwift's eye and quickly said, "Don't worry, the intruders are real."

"A distraction." FireStorm swished her tail. "Hurry."

Wait. . .

"Come on!" RainFire quickly rushed through the door, leaving a trail of hot steam. GrayWind and FireStorm quickly followed. RainShine mentioned for ShineSwift to follow, than leapt out the door himself. ShineSwift hesitated for a moment, then followed.

The 5 dragons scrambled over the hot rock, making their way towards the cold river on the outskirts of the small village. ShineSwift could hear the battle raging on the other side of the black hut. The heat was uncomfortable as she ran beside GrayWind.

Soon enough, the steady rustling sound of water and the glimpses of a pale, transparent blue over the dark rocks brought the group's morale went up. When they reached the river, RainFire stook a claw into the rock, and the stones moved aside to create a passage. A secret passage.

RainFire quickly dove into the passage, and her brother RainShine quickly followed. ShineSwift cast a nervous glance at GrayWind.

"Don't worry 'bout me." GrayWind stretched out his wings, and ShineSwift felt a strong wind sweep through. He smiled at her. "Have you ever heard of bubbles?" GrayWind proceeded to dive into the water and through the tunnel, leaving small spheres in the water behind.

ShineSwift took a moment to shift her feathers slightly, waterproofing them so that they didn't weigh her down. She took a deep breath and dove into the water. She leapt towards the tunnel, and then toppled into a lake. A really deep lake.

ShineSwift took a moment to adjust herself in the water, then launched up. She broke through to a beautiful sight. A sight just like the SunFire caves, to be exact. Around her, GrayWind looked extremely proud as he launched out of the water without a single drop on his scales. RainShine and RainFire popped out a moment later, dragonfly wings out and claws in.

"That was fun!" GrayWind took a flip in the air, creating a ring of smoke. RainFire shot a beam of water out of her mouth, and vanquished the gray circle. ShineSwift turned to but RainShine, who was still underwater, his blue details shining.

Suddenly, RainFire sumersaulted in the water, splashing water over everybody but GrayWind, effectively drawing everybodies attention away from GrayWind.

"I think that me and my brother should clear some stuff up for ShineSwift." Everyone's attention shifted towards ShineSwift, who felt a hole opening up, and was falling towards it at terminal velocity.