Paws of Vitality

PROLOGUE

10 YEARS EARLIER

The Great Pinnacle was a safe, thriving haven. A sanctuary where any species was welcome, regardless of how they looked or acted. There was peace, contentment, and the mere thought of war was unfathomable.

That was until Prince Tenebris became heir to the throne, after his father was killed in the accident.

Tenebris wandered down the halls of the great palace, keeping his head held high with authority.

The streets deep inside the canyon were now encompassed with war-raged citizens, shops were constantly left pillaged and devastated. The world of the dragon was expanding, anyone else concealed themselves from the world. The mere thought of disobeying the dragons sentenced you to instant death.

Interlopers. That's what they all were. Spineless mice who know nothing of how the world should work. Only dragons should live in the Great Pinnacle. Tenebris sneered, looking across the new world with a sense of satisfaction. Luckily that's what I'm here for. Good thing I got rid of father before it got too out of-

"Your M-Majesty,"

"What?" He pivoted around, glaring at this blubbering idiot.

The small dragon quickly dropped to the ground, bowing respectfully.

Yawn. At least when I was a prince they didn't take this long to bow.

"Sir- there's someone here to see you. A few someones."

"Well?" He adjusted his silver crown that laid upon his head. "Who are they?"

The dragon fiddled with his talons nervously. "The Terra clan is visiting- for a few days..."

"WHAT?" He barked, lashing his tail with surprise. "This is outrageous! The Terra clan excluded themselves from our world decades ago. They're a disgrace to dragons and have no right to live- or visit here."

"I know s-sir. But um- they're outside right now."

He looked down at this pesky dragon with distaste- knowing how easily he could squash him like a bug if he wanted to.

"What kind of guards do I have working here? Father truly was an idiot. I need to do everything myself." He swept down the hallway, his tail slithering behind him.

Tenebris threw open the large oak doors, stretching out his wings with such forcefulness that knocked over a few stone statues.

A small group of dragons were hovering in the air, discussing something among themselves. The sky was a dark gray, the air was humid and warm, as if it was about to rain.

The dragons finally landed upon the cliff side and approached Tenebris steadily. The one in the front had scales the color of hickory, and was much larger than the rest of them.

Tenebris snarled, "You have no right to barge into my palace after you were ostracized from our society! What makes you think-"

"I'm gonna stop you there." Said the dragon in the lead, holding up her talons as if to silence him. Silence the king? What outrageous behavior!

"We are from the Terra clan. My name is Arbor."

Wind began to pick up, making them have to shout just to hear each other.

"I don't care what your filthy name is!" He snapped, his wings twitching with anger. I could burn her stupid face off right now.

She sighed. "Please. We don't want to fight! We just happened to notice that the environment has... changed a bit." She paused, exchanging nervous glances with the dragons behind her. "And it started ever since you became the ruler of the Great Pinnacle."

"Why should that bother you? It's my kingdom now. My father was a fool to let a bunch of incapacitated worms live in our rightful kingdom. He let his empathy blind him- and look where it took him! Wolves running wild through the streets- monstrous skull beings..." he muttered under his breath.

"But everyone was content!" Piped up one of the Terra dragons. "With just the dragons living here, with barely any regulations- crime has gone up tenfold!"

He looked at each one of them with disgust. "You're all disgraced. There's no hope for you to ever be one of us." He twisted his neck to shout out an order at a guard. "Have these irritating worms sent to the dungeons. I don't want to look at their traitorous faces ever again."

"No!" Arbor whirled around in a circle, flaring out her wings in defense.

The rest of the clan roared with outrage- but it didn't last long.

"You don't know what you're doing! You can't kill off the rest of the world for your stupid beliefs. It's not right!" A guard seized Arbor and tightened a chain across her neck, tugging her inside the palace.

Tenebris chuckled, folding his wings inward. "Oh but I can. Remember that I'm the King. I can do whatever I want."

"But at what cost?" She cried, scraping desperately at the stone floor beneath them.

Tenebris flicked his tail with disinterest. "The reign of dragons is just starting, my dear. It's just a shame that you won't be around to see any of it." He chuckled and slammed the large oak doors, retreating to his room.

He remembered something that his father had told him- years before he had died.

"My dear son... As you know, someday you will become this nation's greatest King."

"Yay! I can't wait to be King- I will rule and be so cool and I will make everyone have a cow every day!"

His father chuckled. "There's something I must tell you... something about the skull wolves."

"Ooh! Skull wolves. They are scary- but cool. But scary." He clambered up the edge of the canyon with determination.

"Er- yes. But they have a secret. Something you must protect with your life."

"I can keep secrets!" He giggled as he poked at a lizard.

"Tenebris. Their skulls have a secret ability. A power that no one has seen before."

"Then how do you know it exists?" He tilted his head.

"I just do. You have to be careful, son. When you are the King you have to protect the skull wolves like they are your own tribe."

"They are my tribe! Everyone is! I want to be friends with everyone and eat COWS ALL DAY!"

His father sighed. "Perhaps you are too young." He smiled up at Tenebris. "You'll be a great king, I'm sure of it."