||THE WAY OF THE WIND||

CHAPTER 2 - DENIED

"Your Majesty. My humble queen." Breeze bowed, her paws crossed and her tail curled on the floor in politeness and tradition. "I am General Breeze of the Sky Kingdom." Pendant rolled her eyes.

"What do you want? I'm very busy, you know."

Breeze mustered all her self-control not to snap at the smug queen. She was sitting here on her comfy throne while war between fire and water raged around her. And she didn't even lift a claw to help! Breeze stood up straight.

"There is a battle between the Fire Realm and the Water Domain. O humble Majesty, please lend some help."

The queen snorted. "Why should you care? You're air, not fire or water."

"Yes!" Breeze growled.

"I know. But this war affects the Sky Kingdom's borders! We are the separation between Lord Volcano and Lady Torrent! Instead, they are invading each other over our land! You're just lazy!"

"How rude!" roared the queen. "Addressing me like that! Out!"

The Royal Guards 'escorted' Breeze to the entrance by poking and shoving. Breeze couldn't believe it. All that effort. Wasted. Gone. Blown away. Breeze snapped at the Royal Guards.

"I can get out just fine." she snarled.

The Guards, surprised, let Breeze navigate the rest of the way to the giant double doors of the palace. In a rage, Breeze launched herself into the sky. The wind blew against her, making her feel slightly better. Soon she reached the Sky Kingdom. Her home. Trying to not look like she flew to the Royal Palace, begged the queen and got dismissed, Breeze landed elegantly in the Sky Hall of Forgiveness. There, Lady Moon was talking to Ember, Sky Elements listening eagerly. Breeze landed next to Ember.

"Ah," Lady Moon remarked. "There you are. I was looking for you, General Breeze."

"I'm sorry."

"No problem. Now, what do you say we do with this-" Lady Moon paused. "Trespasser," Breeze looked at Ember's eyes. Reflected was pain, hope and guilt. Breeze's next response shocked every Sky Element, and especially Ember. "Treat him like a guest. Give him food, shelter and water. Now."

"What?" Turbulence pushed her way of the crowd.

"General Breeze, I'm sorry but are you nuts?" "No." Breeze addressed the crowd. "Ember may have killed my father-"

Most Sky Elements gasped at this news - as when little Breeze came back to the palace without Gust, Breeze had said a fox had gotten to him. "But," Breeze continued. "He is a soul. A life. If we kill him now, what will our reputation of kindness and knowledge go down to?" Murmurs started to spread around.

"And, what if you appeared in the Fire Realm? How would you like to be treated?" Breeze looked around in desperation.

"Please," she whispered to Lady Moon. "Please spare him."

"Alright. Fine. Wind, go find Ember something to eat. A shrew, perhaps." Wind, a young white tabby, came up to Ember. "It is my pleasure to serve you," he rumbled. Ember nodded, grateful. "Take him to our best guest room." Lady Moon said. "Perhaps number 674. That's a nice room." Ember coughed.

"Um, would you mind if I got a slightly lower room?" Lady Moon blinked at him. "673?" she offered. "Er, how about 1?" Ember asked. Lady Moon shrugged.

"Sure. Wind, take him there." Wind nodded, taking off with Ember following. "Now. Generals Breeze, Air, Current, Cloud, please report to my study to think up a plan. Maybe I will have to go beg my big sister for help."

Lady Moon stuck her tongue out and padded to her study.

"Not the biggest fan of Queen Pendant, eh?" Cloud nudged Breeze, following. Breeze sighed, then walked to Lady Moon's study. Hopefully, Lady Moon won't find out that Breeze gave Queen Pendant a little 'visit' otherwise there's going to be trouble.

"Our land is becoming a battlefield. Between you and the Fire Realm. But we are not involved in this war. Please, sister. Don't have war on our land. Hundreds of years ago we agreed on a territory treaty." Lady Moon begged her sister. Lady Torrent snorted in response.

"Go blame your brother. He's so greedy I don't even want to call him my sibling." Lady Torrent signalled her guards to escort the visitors to the Water Palace's gates. Lady Moon hung her head in defeat and ordered the four of her guards and Breeze that she had bought with her to make their way to the gates themselves.

"I need some alone time." she had said.

Breeze's heart felt like it was escaping from her body. Firstly, she had been in denial with the queen. Next, her lady, Lady Moon, one of the most respected leaders of Spencer, got turned down by her sister. I have to do something, Breeze realised. I'm General Breeze. If it weren't for Lady Moon, I'd be an orphan. Alone. With no power whatsoever. Exiled. Lady Moon was the one who made me a General. Lady Moon was the one who trusted me. Lady Moon was the one to believe in me. I have to help her. She can't live her life like this! No. I will help her... even if it means risking my life.