The forbidden fruit

Noise

Iceberg was still grinning when Hover noticed a strange sound coming from the sky overhead.

,,Do you hear that?" the orange skywing asked, lowering his voice.

,,What?" Iceberg replied, confused but focused.

After a brief moment, he heard it too.
Wingbeats.

Iceberg couldn't tell what dragons that could be, but he definitely didn't want to find out by fighting them. Afterall, he found out not so long ago that these forests are usually invaded by different tribes.

,,Quick, hide!" Hover hissed and pulled Iceberg by his arm.

Iceberg hesitated as Hover tugged on his wings since he was still holding the snow owl in his talons. Hover pulled him down and the Icewing prince groaned as he watched his catch drop to the ground. They crouched under a larger bush which didn't give them the best camuflage whatsoever, the bush was leafless and half dead, but that was the best spot they could reach before four huge Skywings landed heavily right before their eyes.

Iceberg could only guess that they were some sort of soldiers, judging from the shiny armour that they were wearing and the spears that glittered like diamonds in their claws.

,,I saw them right here general." barked a skinny, bright red skywing, pointing his spear right where they were standing a moment ago. His armour was less covering, he only wore a chest plate and some forearm protectors. The other soldiers looked way more menacing with their huge helmets and diamond chain patterns on their bellies. Iceberg guessed that the bright red skywing leading the way was way younger than the others.

,,Look around, what are you staring at!" commanded the huge female skywing in the middle of their group. Her chest plate glittered with embedded jewelry that perfectly matched her burning orange scales. Iceberg noticed a few odd crimson red scales on her neck and shoulders, making it look like she was dotted with spilled red paint.

When Iceberg finally turned to look at his companion, he saw pure fear in his golden eyes. He nudged Hover as gently as possible, but the orange dragon didn't move a muscle.

,,What's going on with him?" Iceberg asked himself and tried to see what Hover was staring at so intently. His petrified gaze was fixed on the huge skywing commander, he crouched as low as he could, making it look like he had misplaced bones here and there.

When the skywing patrol started searching the area, one of the other two guards went looking for them straight to their dead bush. Hover did not seem to realize that though, so Iceberg had two options. Grab his friend and run for his life or fight that guard.

,,Hover looks like he's a statue made out of gold. He won't move fast enough for us to escape." Iceberg thought of it as he saw the skywings huge claws stomp their way closer and closer to his snout. ,,If I strike now, I'll have the benefit of a surprise attack."

Without further thinking, he flexed his talons and shot out of his hiding spot, aiming right at the soldiers exposed neck. What dumb armour these skywings have.

He felt his sharp Icewing claws scratch the dragons throat and as he got ready to pin his body down to the ground when the soldier fell on his snout, Hover suddenly moved and went for his tribe mates helmet.
At first Iceberg didn't understand his move, thinking that his skywing buddy wasn't very experienced in combat but when Hover grabbed the soldier by the heavy helmet and slammed it with the skywings head into the ground with full force, the Icewing prince stayed crouched down to the ground.

They heard a few cracks and awful screams of agony coming from inside of the metal helmet before the huge skywings body fell and laid lifelessly on the frost covered grass.

Iceberg would stand in place speechless a little longer, if Hover didn't slam him with his tail as he took off and flapped his wings to escape the forest as fast as he could. The Icewing prince understood very quickly when he heard the noise behind them. Of course the other members of that patrol would hear the sounds of fighting and come after them right away.

,,FASTER!!" screamed Hover from overhead and picked up on speed.

,,I CAN'T, I DON'T HAVE SKYWING WINGS LIKE YOU!" Iceberg replied, already gasping for air. Afterall, his physique wasn't the best, as his sister would often tease him for it.

They headed further North, closer and closer to the very edge of the whole continent, the shores of the Arctic ocean.