The first scouts began to appear.
At first it was mere sightings—a scale here, a barbed tail there. Groups of two or three Sandwings cruised along the edge of the rainforest, circling above the southern peaks of the Claws of the Clouds Mountains. They watched, black beady eyes glinting against the sun's rays as they gazed out across their quarry. The Rainwing patrols, camouflaged against the trees, reported the movements of Blister's soldiers to Tsunami and Glory. Fate had seen fit to place the rainforest's safety in these dragonets' claws, whether they were ready for the task or not.
Tsuanmi had immediately gone out to the edge of the rainforest to confirm the reports for herself. She had thought that crossing the mountains would slow down Blister's troops, as they had to go through Skywing territory. But Starflight had convinced her otherwise.
"The Skywings keep most of their strength up north, near Queen Ruby's Palace. The mountain range covers such a large area that few patrols ever come this far south. Especially with Ruby preoccupied with a civil war," he'd said.
"Civil war?"
Starflight had nodded, looking forlorn. "Scarlet is still out there somewhere, and she's doing everything in her power to get her old throne back. I've gone over all the news and reports from the Sky Kingdom. It's a mess up there—Scarlet's dragons strike fast, and they never stay in one spot too long. She's split the Skywings in half, forced families and friends against each other. Ruby won't back down, though. She knows what her mother is like."
So did Tsunami. An image shot through her head every time she thought of the former queen. Gill, her father, delirious and near-death, gazing up at her with crazed eyes as she placed her claws around his head. She smelt his blood, heard his wheezing gasps, felt his bones crack as she twisted his head around. Above it all was Scarlet—amused, entertained, a condescending grin on her bejeweled face. Guilt, horror, and regret at what she'd done would fill Tsunami's heart. It would be replaced every time with a steadfast determination to see justice done.
There would be a reckoning someday; Tsunami's webbed claws twitched in anticipation of that day. But until then, Blister remained the bigger threat to her and her friends.
The first signs of Blister's advance sent the young Seawing into high gear. It was one thing to hear Starflight's reports on Blister's movements. It was quite another to actually see Sandwings cresting the mountain peaks like sharks following a blood trail. The day after the first Sandwings appeared Tsunami decided to ramp up the Rainwings' training. After their customary morning exercises, she gathered the troops together on the large training platform that stretched between three tall trees in the middle of the village.
"Alright, soldiers," said Tsunami, pacing the length of the platform. "We're doing close-combat sparring next. I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again: you may have your venom, you may have your darts, but sooner or later you'll have to fight a Sandwing head-to-head. When it happens you can't run or hide—that will only get you killed. You'll need to use your small size and agility to outmaneuver your opponent." Her thick tail swished languidly, her head up and claws settled apart. She'd seen her mother's soldiers adopting such positions during her short stay in the Kingdom of the Sea, and had taken to using it herself. She thought it made her look fierce yet dignified at the same time.
Before her, the entirety of the Rainwing army sat in formation. Well, loose formation. The hundred or so Rainwings were sitting in rather crooked and lopsided rows. Some blinked sleepily under the warm sunlight, while others whispered animatedly among themselves or gazed off distractedly at the birds and flowers among the trees. Only a few were watching Tsunami. The first few times she'd seen this Tsunami had wanted to throttle them; after dealing with it for two weeks straight, she simply sighed and continued.
