||THE WAY OF THE WIND||

CHAPTER 1 - WAR

A gust of wind danced around a hill, making the grass shiver and Breeze's fur ripple. Breeze, a silver tabby cat with large, white, feathered wings and straight dragon-like horns, stood upon the hill, looking at the rising sun, signalling dawn.

"General Breeze."

Breeze whipped around, only to see her best friend, Turbulence. "Turbulence," Breeze greeted her friend. Turbulence's grey fur immediately spiked up.

"Look out!" she hissed. Breeze, her elemental being sky and meaning that she had agility, dodged nimbly to the side. A Fire Element landed in the place where Breeze was, claws unsheathed.

"Intruder!" Turbulence roared, pouncing and pinning the red cat. Suddenly Breeze realised who it was. Ember.

It was a sunny day. Little Breeze, being only seven, was playing at the border of the Fire Realm and Sky Kingdom. Her father, General Gust, watched her play with love in his eyes. Suddenly a Fire Element leaped from his side of the border, claws aiming for Breeze. Gust roared in fury and a battle raged between fire and sky.

General Gust was one of Sky Kingdom's best warriors, but he was outmatched by the other dragoncat. Breeze scuttled to a nearby bush, taking shelter and watching her father with wide, scared, eyes. The Fire Element had pinned him down. They were both panting and bore claw marks. Gust tried to use his signature move, to blow his opponent away but the dragoncat knew it was going to happen, and shifted his paws so that Gust's tail was unable to move.

"Say hello to death for me," he hissed. "And remember my name. Ember."

Breeze gasped, snapping out of her flashback.

"Why are you here?" she roared. "You're not welcome here, especially after killing my father." Turbulance's eyes widened and growled in Ember's ear. "No-" Ember coughed, vomiting out some water.

"Water?" Breeze snarled. "What's wrong with you?" Fire Elements never, ever mixed with water. Not even drinking; they drink lava, Breeze knew.

"Water Domain attacking us. Lord Volcano thinks that you teamed up with the Water Domain as revenge for me killing Gust-"

"General Gust," Turbulence snarled.

"Ye-s General Gust. Lord Volcano wanted to sacrifice me because apparently I started this. Lady Torrent took me, and then cast me out. Here. The place where I least wanted to be."

"Take him to the Sky Palace." Breeze ordered Turbulence.

"Give him to Lady Moon to deal with. Whether he lives or not, I don't care. I'm going to go investigate." Turbulence nodded. "Be careful, General Breeze." "I will," Breeze flicked her tail, dismissing Turbulence and Ember. After all, I'm going to go see Queen Pendant.

The flight to the Royal Palace was not too far, although that meant passing the Fire Realm, where the battle between fire and water still raged. Breeze flew as high as she could. She knew there was about fifteen hours of daylight left, as night only lasted eight hours and Ember took up an hour of her time this morning.

As Breeze flew, using air currents to fly faster, she looked upon the devastation of the Fire Realm. Rivers and lakes now flowed through the dry wasteland, which hasn't happened in a hundred years or so. Breeze sighed and flew on. Queen Pendant would have to agree to help fire and water.

The grand doors of the Royal Palace loomed over Breeze. Even though with all her skills and attack strategies, she felt very small. Like an ant with the world. Taking a deep breath, Breeze straightened her back and knocked on the door. A Royal Guard answered, eyeing Breeze with curiosity and hostility.

"Come in. No silly ideas." he growled. The guard's tail spikes rattled, and his chestplate spikes looked as sharp as ever. His horns and claws were polished so much they shone like the sun. Breeze entered, and many unfriendly eyes descended on her. She marched the long way to the throne, and upon it sat an elegant white cat with her wings spread around her and a soft, purple silk blanket draped over her body. Queen Pendant.