Songbird, Book 1: Sun's Arrival

Chapter 18

By now Thunder Strike had rounded up all the Phoenixes and brought them over to a valley where they could lie in wait until the Stormwings came.

I'm going to see Zea again! I already miss him... Tia thought excitedly. They waited about one hour until the sun finally came up, and light shed over the mountaintops. In the glimmering sunlight, a group of dragons were zooming through the forests. Thunder Strike slashed her tail, letting it slam into a tree. The tree let out a spark of electricity, which struck another leafy plant. A domino effect rippled throughout the forest, but none of the trees were damaged. The Stormwings must've spotted the lightning because they then soared over to where the gang was hiding. Tia smiled, realizing there was a way Stormwings and only Stormwings could communicate by.

That was when a startling bright-colored Phoenix sidled up to Thunder Strike. "Um... Sorry for interrupting, but won't that be kind of bad for the trees?" Tia turned. "Oh, no. We have this type of electricity that gives off a shock, but doesn't harm anyone. We usually use that type of energy for lights like lanterns." Thunder Strike explained. The Phoenix smiled. "What a cool power," She said. "Hi. I'm Sunbeam, and I'm glad we're attacking Nightmare." Tia beamed at Sunbeam. "Hi. I'm Thunder Strike... Well, you can call me Tia if you want, and thank you for agreeing. Why, though? Why are you glad?" She added. Sunbeam's grin disappeared. "He stole my little sister." Thunder Strike suddenly felt very sorry for this particular Phoenix. She wanted to say something, but then about one hundred thuds came from across the clearing and the sound echoed over the cliff tops and valleys. "Zea!!!" Tia shouted, catapulting over to where he was landing. They barreled into each other for the second time, and ended up smashing into a tree, giggling and brushing leaves off each other's shoulders.

Sunbeam, Nebula, Luna, Serpent, Starhidorah, Zea, and Thunder Strike, plus the entire army were headed back to Tia's home. We're going to get some of the others, and fly over to Cliff Spirit. Tia had instructed the Phoenixes and Stormwings to stay outside while she gathered Tsunami, Eclipse, Hailstorm, Monochrome, Snowy, and Moon.

They were now all winging to Cliff Spirit. Thunder Strike squinted into the brightening light, and spotted an entire cloud of Solarclaws over the cliff. Ack! Nightmare's brought his entire tribe to attack! There's no trying to sneak past this without bloodshed... Tia swerved to fly where all the enemies could see them. No reason to hide now.

—---------------------------Nightmare—-------------------------

The seeker scroll and his visions had warned him. The Phoenixes and Stormwings were coming to declare war. Of all dragons! He'd thought Thunder Strike would be one of the only Kaiju in the world that would refuse fighting, but there they were, crisp and clear in his field of vision.

—-------------------------Thunder Strike—------------------------

Thunder Strike flipped with realization. I still have to get Horizon! I'm not even sure she's alive anymore! She turned to Zea. "You lead the army. I'll go get Horizon." She talked urgently to Zea. Zea started. "You-you mean the second in all of Empyre Drakone!?" He asked. "Yes." Tia replied. "I'm going to save her. You stay on course!" At that, Thunder Strike swerved around into the clouds to fly into the forest.

She had landed down onto a hill about a mile away from the others. This is going to be a long flight. To and back from the Ring of Volcanoes... She was very unsure about this plan, but had to risk it. Tia sprinted into the forest, then hurdled into the air once she thought she was out of eyeshot of the other dragons back down at the cliff. She flew and flew for what seemed like a couple hours until she smelled and saw the smoke up ahead. There Horizon is! I see her prison! Thunder Strike dropped down to the rim of one of the volcanoes and hurried along the edge, making sure not to fall into the lava pit right below her talons. Tia couldn't fly because the smog was way too thick here, even too thick for her night vision. Plus, she had to scout out Horizon's prison, which would be VERY HARD to do in the sky. Thunder Strike ran over every rock outcropping, scaled every wall, and even poked her head in holes. Still no sign of Horizon...

Tia was about to give up searching for the poor Solarclaw and look somewhere over the lava when she heard a noise over at another volcano. She flopped over there in a hurry, looking everywhere. A muffled voice came from... under her??? She looked over and under the rock ledge she was standing on. There Horizon was... dangling over the lava underneath an overhang!

"I'LL GET YOU OUT OF THERE, YOU HEAR THAT?!" Thunder Strike roared down at the cage. She flapped underneath the overhang, right next to the bars that encased Horizon, pulling at the latch attached to a piece of stone until it tugged free so Tia could pull Horizon up from underneath the platform. Thunder Strike beat her wings with all her might, trying to get over and onto the safe edges of the volcano. Just... a bit... further... She thought with fading strength. Horizon was large and heavy. Finally, Tia flung herself onto the upper ledge and hauled the bulky cage up onto the rocks. "Who are you?" A voice croaked. Thunder Strike paused, breathing heavily. "Ah. Thunder Strike. I see you've brought an army." Horizon continued. I guess it's sorta useful to have a dragon who knows everything. It makes conversations a lot easier. Horizon shuffled her talons around in the bars. "I do need help getting out of here."

"So I'm guessing there's an enchantment of some sort on these metal bars..." Tia murmured. "Yes." Horizon said. "You either need to get the key, or dump this in the lava. Those are the exceptions" Thunder Strike thought for a moment. "Then maybe I could lift you so that the lava burns a part of the cage so you can es-" She stopped mid sentence. Dang. I can't do that. Carrying her a few feet was already tiring enough! Tia summoned the storm inside her throat, then let out a small burst of electricity that shot straight toward the cage, ricocheted, then bounced back toward Thunder Strike so she had to leap away. "Hmmm..." Another idea was sparking in her mind.

"I'm going to do it. There might not be any guards there right now, but it's worth trying." Tia said confidently. Horizon sighed. "Thank you, strange dragon. I hope to get to know you more." Thunder Strike beamed internally. The most powerful dragon on our side actually likes me! She thought with pride. Tia hoisted herself into the sky and flew towards the sound of fire in the distance, hoping she wouldn't smack into any stalagmites.