The ground shook. They heard shouting, both panicked and angry. They saw the glow of orange. They felt the warmth of the fireball. The two RainWings stifled screams and shot towards the flames.
"Wait, no! Don't go that way!" the two NightWings shouted as they raced after them. They knew they couldn't keep up against two adult dragons but they had to try.
Blackheart and Blackberry had to go in opposite directions to follow them. The flames ate up treehouse after treehouse. NightWing soldiers flew around, holding spears, shouting orders, and pushing RainWings out of the way. A Nightwing soldier held the chains that were connected to Claw's wrists, who was flying, stabbing at the Rainwings who didn't listen with his tail. Blackheart's leg got singed and he winced, temporarily losing his focus as the vision became clouded with pain. He saw a dark blue dragonet run up towards Ocelot and hug her, screaming something about fruit. Ocelot grabbed the dragonet and rushed him back towards the one house that wasn't destroyed. Blackheart followed them. Tapir and Blackberry were already in the house holding a dragonet that looked as if it had just hatched.
The moment he stepped inside, Blackberry hugged him. "Are you alright?"
"More or less. The flames didn't get me if that's what you're asking," he reassured her, hiding the small burn mark.
"Mother, why are the bad guys in here?" the blue dragonet asked Ocelot. The NightWings winced. Tapir looked horrified. Ocelot hung her head, ashamed.
"Don't worry Macaw, they're good guys. See?" Ocelot brought the dragonet over and they all introduced themselves.
Blackheart was staring at the tiny hatchling. It was so tiny! He glanced around the room, which was most likely their house. It was thankfully sturdy for a two-room treehouse suspended nearly five adult dragons high in the air. A green moonglobe hung from the ceiling and brightened the house in a way so it looked made of bioluminescent plants. Flowers, vines, and a small sloth hammock hung around on the ceiling as well. Sleeping mats woven from vines and flowers littered the floor. Several scrolls were tucked in the corner. Most RainWings could read and write now but it was still odd to see.
The whole room felt calming and friendly, if you ignored the shouting and flames from outside. Blackheart really wanted to curl up on one of the sleeping mats and pass out. He snapped back to attention when something caught his eye. Behind Tapir's tail was a smooth, orange and yellow half-dome that reminded him of. . . an eggshell? An eggshell! The hatchling! Of course!
"It just hatched!" he yelled, causing everyone to jump at the unexpected shout. And I just yelled that aloud. . . great. . .
Ocelot looked over and gasped. She rushed over and grabbed the hatchling so gently you'd think it was the most precious gemstone on the continent. "Oh, moons! It did hatch. . . or should I say she hatched! Macaw, look, it's your little sister!"
Macaw, Blackheart, and Blackberry leaned over to peer at the hatchling. She was the cutest thing Blackheart had ever seen. She had the same big, green-blue eyes as her brother. Her scales kept shifting between pink and green, which meant she was feeling loved but also scared, which was understandable. Macaw's face was somewhere between fascination and jealousy, probably because his new sister was cuter than him.
"I hate to interrupt this happy moment but, there's a battle happening outside." Blackberry forced out after a few minutes of gawking.
"Right," Ocelot's expression hardened and she handed the hatchling back to Tapir. "Stay here, I'll go see how bad it is."
"No, don't, please. I don't want you getting hurt." he pleaded.
"I can handle getting hurt, you cannot." She gestured to his still healing stab wound.
He sighed. "Be careful."
She nodded and twined her tail with his. Then she flew down out of the tree without another word.
Seconds later, the treehouse shook violently, as if the bottom was collapsing, which it was. Another fireball had hit its weakest point and it fell. Luckily, they could all fly, with Tapir holding the hatchling. They landed and studied the scene. It was what you'd expect for a battleground. Ruins scattered everywhere. Trees and houses on fire and cut in half. Several dragons lay motionless on the ground, scales faded and drained of life. Macaw saw this and cried out, weeping into his father's wing. The two NightWings felt terrible for the dragonet. Blackheart saw Claw had returned, dragging a NightWing who was shouting for Claw to listen and follow him. Claw struck the NightWing in the neck with his barbed tail. The NightWing yelped, and went limp. Claw dropped him and flew in the opposite direction.
If there's any bright side to think about, the NightWings had left this area and gone deeper into the town, towards the royals.
Of course, that "bright side" didn't last for long.
Blackberry and Blackheart decided to check the area and deceased dragons, to pay respects. There weren't as many dead as they'd assumed but still too many. Blackberry stopped by a dragon with familiar, yellow scales. She choked back a sob. Macaw noticed first.
"Mother!" he shrieked, running over towards her. As soon as he shouted, Blackheart no longer felt safe.
A flash of black caught Blackheart's eye. He heard the awful hissing sound right before the fire. He saw a spurt of red behind him. He heard Tapir's cut-off gasp. He watched with contrite as one last fireball engulfed Ocelot, Macaw, and Blackberry. He watched Tapir slump over, dropping the hatchling. Behind him stood General Shadowhunter, a bloody dagger in his talons. He smiled wickedly at Blackheart and took off into the clouds.
He rushed to Tapir, knowing the others were beyond help. He cradled the RainWing's head in his talons. Tapir's face showed no life yet he still spoke.
"Take her. . ." he managed weakly. "The hatchling, please."
"I won't need to. I can help you. I-I can fix this." Blackheart assured him, although he was mostly assuring himself.
"No, you can't fix this." Tapir pointed sadly towards the wound. One look and Blackheart knew he was right. He'd been hit in the same spot as before. The exact same shape. The general must have stabbed him earlier as well. Rage boiled inside him.
"Take the hatchling, Blackheart." Tapir's voice immediately soothed him. "Take her and run. Far away. Please."
Blackheart knew what he meant. He could not return to his Night Kingdom home with a RainWing hatchling. The general would most likely say he was a traitor for not assisting the NightWings. He knew it was true and he was ready to leave but he still didn't want to.
"I will. I'll take her. We'll run. Ok? I'll do it for you."
"Thank you. . . for everything, Blackheart. Her. . . name. . ." his voice left him. He pointed sadly towards a fruit tree growing nearby, one of the only trees that was undamaged. Blackheart studied it harder and recognized the fruit from a book.
"Her name is Apricot. That's a good name. Ocelot would like it."
Tapir did not respond. His shaky breaths had ceased. His eyes wouldn't blink. Blackheart closed them. Tapir's tired eyes finally rested as Blackheart cried silent tears, holding Apricot and Tapir's sloth on his shoulders.
Several minutes later, he collected himself and wandered over to where his other three friends had once stood. He saw almost nothing left of them except ashes and scales. He nearly started crying again.
Apricot tugged at his ear as if to say, What now? Right. Save dragonet now, grieve later. He knew where to go, but first, he needed a way to keep Apricot and the sloth safe. He found vines and grasses and began weaving a pouch. Apricot and the sloth settled in nicely and chirped together in harmony, telling him they were ready. He flew around towards the tunnel to the Kingdom of Sand. He looked back one last time and wished the remaining RainWings good luck.
There, he also made a promise to the heavens: I will never let anything hurt this hatchling, as long as I am alive.
