Wings Of Fire: Legends: Pantala

Prologue

The Queen of the Beetlewings and Leafwings swooped down through the trees, the vines and branches brushing her wings and scales. She broke through the canopy, and soared down into a complex city in the treetops. "The Rainwing Palace.", she thought, "This is my last hope.".

Ladybird landed with a thud on a wooden bridge hanging between several treetop dwellings. Before her stood a small group of Rainwings holding spears, and behind them... "Queen Dartfrog."

"Good evening, your majesty.", said Ladybird, ducking her head. Dartfrog blinked. "You wanted to talk?"

A wave of relief washed over Ladybird. "That sounds promising. I hope that she'll understand". "Yes. As you probably know, the other tribes have driven the Beetlewings and Leafwings out of our home in the mountains. I wanted to ask you if - of course, only with your permission - we could take refuge in your rainforest for a time?". She could see Dartfrog frowning. "We had nobody else to g-" she tried to say, but Dartfrog had already begun speaking.

"Ladybird, I'm sorry. We simply don't have enough room here. The Rainwings already have a food shortage crisis, and we simply cannot support another tribe, let alone the two you rule."

"Oh thank you, tha- wait, what???" Ladybird's heart dropped. This had been their last hope. Now, her tribes had nowhere to go. "Please! We would stay out of your way, and we would grow our own food!" We won't trouble you, I promise!" Dartfrog sighed. "I am deeply sorry, Ladybird. You're on your own."

"No,"Ladybird thought, "no, this cannot be happening. I can't let this happen!" Ladybird felt helpless rage boiling in her heart, and fear, for the future of the tribes she was tasked to protect. She reached with her mind, into the trees, into the vines, and willed them to grow.

The vines shot outward, ensnaring Dartfrog as she walked away. But Dartfrog twisted and spat a stream of venom right at Ladybird. Right into Ladybird's face. Ladybird let out a howl of agony as the venom landed, splish, splash, sploosh, right across her left eye. The side of her face was burning, melting, disintegrating.

"Get out of my forest", Dartfrog snarled, "or the other side gets melted as well."

The pain in Ladybird's face was near unbearable, but she still had survival instincts. She leaped off the bridge and winged away into the sky above.

But the pain was numbed by the feeling of dread that had come upon her.

"We have nowhere to go. What will we do now?"