Songbird, Book 1: Sun's Arrival

Chapter 15

Quavorite was fighting for her life. The second battle that she had endured. This should be easy. I've already fought others. Back when Ike was just a dragonling. She remembered Zea and Ike. Would they fight? Could they fight? Vor already knew her parents were out in the battlefield, somewhere. A serpent flew at her at top speed, but she slashed through the neck and pummeled him to the ground. She slowly turned around, checking if anyone was trying to sneak up on her. Vor had been trained quite well and knew almost everything about war. It was then when she was surveying her surroundings, that she spotted Ike, fighting against the current of enemies and fellow tribemates. "Ike!!!" Vor tried to shout but was drowned out by the screeching and hissing of other dragons. Quavorite felt something snag on her back right talon and looked down to discover a vine wrapped around her ankle. Oh-oh no! This will lead to bad things! She blindly tried tugging at the mass of plants below her and beat her wings wildly, flailing from side to side. A couple of the hydras spotted her and started to fly toward Vor. "IKEE!!!" She shouted again, hoping to get her sister's attention. Ike turned around and panicked as she saw Vor entangled in the vines, screaming for her life. Thunder Strike swerved and tried to make her way over to her. She's getting closer! I might be able to survive! Vor thought hopefully. She swiveled her head around to see a white glittering hydra come up behind her. She turned her head frantically, wishing Ike would be here by now. She felt a cold ache fill her chest, then the pain came. Oh, the pain! It was like being bit by one thousand vipers at the same spot and time. Vor tried to half roar half scream, but only dark red blood gurgled out of her mouth. Her eyes rolled up to see her attacker. The one on the left with scars across her neck was holding the spear in her mouth. Vor saw the spear go through the scales on her back, and when she looked at her chest, blood was spurting out of it and she thought she could see her ribcage.

Her attacker came close to her and whispered in her ear, "Goodbye, dragon that is worth nothing." Quavorite growled, which only made the blood flow faster from her wound and mouth. Ike and Zea and my parents will make you pay. The pain was worse than ever and she gave a final shudder. Vor heard Ike shouting "VOR!!!" somewhere very close to her. Quavorite took her final breath.

Just like that, and she was gone.

Everyone turned to Moon. They all had a "This is so confusing but I got the jist of it and now realize how terrible a certain someone is." Expression on their faces. Ivory just stood there, seething like she was about to unleash all her fury in the form of spears toward the other dragons. Thunder Strike felt a warm teardrop slip down her face and splash on the ground. Oh Vor... I miss you so much. Tsunami was the first one to speak up. "Ivory? You could actually kill dragons?" Ivory growled and hissed and snarled, finally responding with, "YOU FOOL!!! I WAS COMPLETELY GOOD!!! IT WAS TIA'S OWN FAULT THAT HER SISTER GOT KILLED!!!" Eclipse snarled at Moonlight. "That was really mean. Is that why you hurt them, Tia?" Thunder Strike nodded slowly. She wiped her face and cleared her throat. "Okay..." Tia began. "Now that this is all sorted out, I have to tell you guys something." Snowy tilted her head. Serpent asked, "What?" Thunder Strike took a deep breath, and started. "I met Nightmare again at dawn and well... we're going to be going to war with him and his loyal followers tomorrow." Silence filled the sky and trees. Even the songbirds had stopped singing. "WHAT!!??" Stella shrieked, sending a cascade of small critters sprinting down the hill into the trees. Ivory gave out a low hiss and tried to bite Thunder Strike. Tia rolled her eyes. "Well, we all got tangled into this mess so we might as well figure all this out. Let's start by gathering all the dragons, serpents, and hydras that can fight.

Eclipse squeaked with protest, Tsunami paced with worry, and Flame & Frost lashed their tails with outrage. "Maybe we can do this another way! Maybe-" Eclipse tried to say, but Thunder Strike shook her head. "I have found the remains of my lost tribe, and my brother has promised to send their troops over tomorrow. I'm sorry Eclipse, but I can't ditch all the Stormwings like that." Eclipse bowed her head, her eyes on the ground. Lightzilla was nearby, watching with disdainful eyes. DJ stepped up. "We can deliver messages. Who is willing to come with us?" Derek started. Icicle flicked her tail, something new in her eyes. "I'll go too." She said with a nervous but excited hint to her voice. Tia nodded. "The three of us. DJ, you guys can go tell the Phoenix tribe. Icicle, you can come with me... If that's alright with you." Thunder Strike knew that the icy serpent didn't like traveling with other dragons and preferred not to make conversation, but this time she flicked her tongue, in and out, in and out, and finally responded with, "Yes, alright. I'll do it." Thunder Strike couldn't help smiling at Icicle. "We can all leave now?" Tia asked the trio. "Yes." They all answered. "Great." Said Thunder Strike.

The others were all going to stay back at Tia's home, watching over the sky to look for any signs of Nightmare. Thunder Strike, Icicle, Derek and Jack were all already up in the sky, soaring to their assigned destinations. The sun was high up in the sky by now, its blinding rays beating mercilessly down on the kaiju flying by the clifftops. The two were headed to Soul Island to look for any Blazehorns that might be there at the moment. They had been flying for a couple hours now, and had started to see the edge of a continent in the distance. "We're almost there," Tia called over to Icicle. She just nodded, tilting her head to the direction of Thunder Strike's voice. Icicle zoomed ahead of her and disappeared over the clouds, clearly trying to make it to land to get it over with. Tia beat her wings faster and eventually caught up with the serpent, and landed on the barren soil of Acid Cove. "Doesn't look like anyone's here." Thunder Strike remarked. Icicle snorted and slithered ahead of her. They climbed up the steep rocks of the cove and emerged out into a forest with palaces and outposts built inside. Looks like we've found the Blazehorn kingdom.

Icicle strided forward into the trees and Tia followed her. While Thunder Strike was walking, she heard a sound, and her ears pricked. She listened for a moment, then raced to the beach that was not too far away. There, Tia opened her mouth in shock as she saw the fleeing dragons.

They were Blazehorns! Tia cried, "WAIT!!!" but it did no good. She squinted at the mob of dragons and realized who was in the front. "Sssssunfyre..." She hissed, long and slow.