Dragon Prince: The Storm's Heart

Chapter Nineteen: Message of War

A giant roar have shook the mountain. Rayla's ears flicked up and turned to look at the entry warily. She soon looked at her four companions, the three mages and the baby dragon have immediately became on high-alert.
"Are you expecting someone?" Rayla asked Ibis. He looked up from speaking to Callum about Sky spells in confusion. Shira was busy keeping an eye on Zym.
"No." Ibis shook his head, worry and confusion went over his face.
Callum stood up and stood next Ibis, who gotten out his staff and ready to fight. Rayla grabbed her blades and flipped them open. "Someone's comin'." She gestures for Callum to sneak around in case he needs to use his magic to fight as a backup. She gestured for Ibis to stand his ground to protect Zym and Queen Zubeia. Rayla gestured for Shira to join Ibis. She creeps forward, her blades held out in front of her protectively, and makes out a shape in the growing darkness. "Show ya'reself!"
They approached the archway and soon realized that it was Pyrrha. The red dragon had Soren gasping for breath between her claws.
"This guy?" Rayla deadpanned and crossed her arms as she gave Soren a slight glare.
"What's Soren doing here?" Callum looked at his gasping childhood friend in concern.
"Just help him." Shira stayed in the shadows of the archway and sounded exaggerated.
"Oh right. Breathing." Callum start drawing rune for the breathing spell. "Ventus Spiralis." When he activated his spell, a sparkling sky-blue magic went around Soren. He gasped as he felt new air entering him. Soren coughed several times, gasping for breaths before beginning to pant after he felt new air entering him.
Soren gotten up and looked at them in amazement. "Whoa. Is this the afterlife?"
"No, it's still the 'life'," Callum told Soren warily. "You're alive."
"What are you doing here?" asked Rayla defensively.
"Hold on..." Soren started catching his breath. "Let me catch my breath." Shira raised an eyebrow at that. Something in Soren changed, but she's not sure what it is. "Okay." Soren looked at them. "We're all doomed."
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Shira drew back her bow, aiming the two Shadowhawk arrows carefully, her letter to each recipient wrapped around them and when she tightened the knots, and jeweled eyes of the bird suddenly shone as if alive. Then, she released them at the same time. It flew off into the night sky, both sprouting green, smoky wings. The messages would be fast, but the reinforcements would be late. Just, hopefully not too late. She watched as the two hawks both flew in different directions, one to the Sunfire Kingdom and the other to the Moonshadow Clan. After Soren had arrived, he told them that Viren had crossed into Xadia with the armies of traitors from the five human kingdoms, then had stopped at Lux Auria and had corrupted the Sunforge, turning it into a source of near-limitless Dark Magic, with which he had then turned his entire army into massive, glowing, angry mutants. Shira narrowed her eyes. He'd gifted them all with the rarest gift of the Sunfire elves. Fire immunity and enhanced strength. The general of the Sunfire elves' army possessed that ability, but was the only one she knew of alive, until now. Shira had passed the warning to the rest of the group, once she'd gotten an accurate description of the army's new appearance from Soren, and they had all set about trying to prepare.
"This is going to be one tough battle," commented Shira quietly.
"Shira!" She looked over her shoulder and was surprised to see Soren coming towards her direction. "We're having some reinforcements heading our way."
"Really?" Shira turned around and put her bow onto her back. "Who is it?"
"Come and see for yourself." Shira rolled her eyes and followed Soren towards one of the chambers, finding Ibis, Callum, Rayla, Zym, and the couple's Moonshadow mounts.
Shira's eyes brightened and eagerly joined her Dad's side. He smiled at her softly and placed a gentle hand on her shoulders. Ever since the truth has been revealed to her, they both became increasingly closer to each other in their relationship.
They suddenly heard flapping wings and a faint scent of burning fire in the air. Shira flinched when she saw a Twin-Tailed Inferno-Tooth Tiger landing gracefully in a patch of silvery moonlight. It is a unique sight to see. He has bright orange and creamy fur with streaks of teal and has a pair of long horns on his head and twin tails that sport flames at the tips. His front paws lack fur and resemble scaled bird feet, and have a thick mane around his neck. He looked at them with his teal eyes. But the Hotcat has two riders on his back.
One of those two riders had excitedly dismounted the animal. The rider, heavily armored and radiating confidence, showed to Shira that one is clearly one of the leaders. Shira's eyes widened as she recognizes the warrior.
"Aunt Amaya!" exclaimed Callum.
Amaya shook out her cropped, jet-black hair and brushed it from her face, revealing a long scar on her cheek. Amaya was the princes' mother's sister. She was a great general and a fearless leader, known across the land for her brilliant battlefield strategy and improvisation.
She swept Callum into a bone-crushing bear hug and lifted him off the ground, clearly overjoyed to see her missing nephew was safe and sound. But General Amaya didn't say anything to Callum — she had been born deaf and signed to communicate.
But General Amaya spotted Rayla and almost became defensive when Callum stopped her. "Oh right. That stuff at the Banther Lodge was a... big misunderstanding. I'll explain later, Rayla's our friend." They soon saw the new Sunfire Elf Queen coming towards them. Next to General Amaya is female Sunfire elf warrior wearing a golden headdress, riding an armored white horse too, her armor glinting in the sunlight. Her yellow-gold face paint highlighted her dark brown eyes and fierce expression. She stood still — calm and confident. "Looks like you've made a new elf friend too?" Callum smiled at the Sunfire elf playfully.
The Sunfire elf crossed her arms over her chest proudly. "We are not 'friends'. She's my prisoner."
Shira bit back an amused chuckle and Callum smirked as Amaya signed, "She thinks I'm cute, but won't admit it." While her elf friend looked completely confused and a little embarrassed by Amaya's hand language.
The Sunfire elf soon bowed to them, making a circular gesture with her hands above her hands. "I am Janai, Golden Knight of Lux Aurea." Janai raised herself gracefully. "I've brought my troops." She closed her eyes, a pained expression went over her face. "Or what's of them." But Janai strengthened her resolve. "They will fight the monster that destroyed their home."
After introductions has been made, Shira watched as Amaya headed towards her and Ibis with Callum by her side.
"Who are you two?" signed Amaya, with Callum interpreting her sign language.
"I'm Shira." She spoke softly and looked at Amaya curiously.
"And I'm Ibis." He placed a gentle hand on Shira's shoulder. "She's my daughter."
Amaya smiled softly and signed (with Callum translating), "You two care each other very much, much like my sister and our father."
The two of them both smiled at her as Amaya walked away and went to speak with Janai.
"Shira." She looked up at Ibis curiously. "But that's not all you'll be seeing."
Shira followed Ibis into another chamber and was amazed at the sight before her. To think she was the only one when there are actually over a thousand. Many of them has similar features and others have other elven features.
"Are they...?" Shira couldn't even finish the question that's on her mind.
"Flenimu." Ibis smiled at Shira lovingly and gently placed a hand on her back as they gazed at the new warriors together. "Flenimu of the Sky, Moon, Sun, and Earth. They once helped defend Xadia, today they will make the effort again."
Shira smiled at that. She is willing to protect Xadia from the monstrous army of darkness. She may be afraid, but she's ready to fight alongside her family and friends. "We can do it, Dad."
Ibis blinked back joyfully tears. He gently pulled his daughter closer to his side till they both felt each other's warmth. "I'm sure we will, daughter." The two of them both smiled at each other, Shira smiled as Ibis placed his arm over her shoulders and pulled her closer to his side lovingly. The two of leaned against each other and gazed at the flenimus as they encountered each other.