||THE WAY OF THE WIND||

CHAPTER 7 - MEETING GONE WRONG

The rain battered at Breeze's wings, drenching them thoroughly, making them dead weight. Breeze hissed in annoyance but flew on harder, her vision blurred as raindrops slid down her face and over her eyes. Jabez had no problem flying. He had trained and trained to be accepted to be one of Queen Pendant's soldiers, meaning that flying was easy.

Queen Pendant's soldiers were not of their own kingdom, but Fire Elements, Sky Elements, Earth Elements and Water Elements wearing the symbolic armour of the Royal Palace covering all their body parts.

They had to train to be able to receive the offer of being part of Queen Pendant's army. Breeze thought it was stupid and idiotic to stand around looking fierce all day. Finally the Royal Palace shimmered into view.

Both the dragoncats dived down, landing perfectly at the entrance. Lord Volcano and a glaring Lord Vine had already arrived.

They were very surprised to see Breeze. "What are you doing here?" they asked.

"This is a meeting for leaders," added Vine. "I am." Breeze lifted her head high. "I am now Lady Breeze of the Sky Kingdom. Elder Moon passed away peacefully not long ago."

Both the siblings dipped their heads in respect, which seemed like the only time they agreed on something.

Not long after, Lady Torrent swept down, sniffed disgustingly at her 'escort' and shook herself from unwanted water. Volcano hurriedly explained what had happened before Jabez offered the four leaders shelter in the palace. Volcano accepted the roof gratefully; his tail ember had nearly burned out. Torrent was the last one in, grieving at the sky and murmuring some farewell words. Finally she followed Jabez, her head at a drooping angle.

"We were too harsh," she whispered. Volcano, Vine and Breeze all turned to her, curious. Jabez stood a respectful distance away.

"Elder Moon wanted us to stop fighting, Volcano." Torrent said. "She didn't want us to fight over my dead friend."

"Tell you what," Breeze interrupted, shooting Vine a glare. He shook his head so much that Breeze was sure it'd fall off.

"Volcano didn't kill Shell. Vine did."

The whole palace erupted into pandemonium. Torrent had yelled a battle cry and leapt at Vine. Breeze had held her back against her wishes. Vine had scrambled away and launched himself into the darkening sky, and soon his dot disappeared. Torrent had struggled out of Breeze's grip, chasing after her brother.

Queen Pendant appeared. Volcano explained everything. And then Queen Pendant ordered her guards to lock Volcano and Breeze in her dungeons.

"Just until we figure out this little... problem here." she'd said. Now Breeze was pacing in her cell, hissing. "Why in Spencer would she do this? That idiotic son of a-"

"Hey, hey. Calm down, alright? It's okay. We'll get out soon-"

Volcano said from the prison next to her's.

"It's alright?" Breeze hissed. "Pendant had us locked up, my kingdom is currently ruled by a general, Torrent is chasing Vine and I'm supposed to sit and wait? No way. I'm getting us out of here."

This would be the first time Breeze had used her powers to the limit. Usually as a general, she'd just conjure a small whirlwind with her tail to send her opponents running. To break through solid stone, though. Breeze took a deep breath. "Wait!-" Volcano protested.

Swinging her mighty tail sharply, Breeze banged it at the wall closest to the sky. Stone rained down on the pair, covering them in debris. Breeze burst out of the tumble of rocks, spreading her wings widely, feeling the touch of air on her fur.

Volcano stumbled after her. Guards erupted from the palace, roaring in frustration. No one was sure who was the boss. Breeze spotted Jabez.

The dragoncat she had so friendly chatted with now wore a mask of anger. The dark night sky stretched far. Breeze pelted in the direction she thought was the Sky Kingdom, Volcano flying after her.

Glancing back, Breeze could easily see which guards were originally Sky Elements. They flew much faster than the others, gaining up on the runaway pair.

"Volcano!" she roared over the beat of a hundred wings churning the air.

The rain had stopped, for now. Clouds lined the sky, covering the moon. Some of the guards had laid their claws on Volcano. Breeze knew what she was about to do was against the law, very against. But what other choice did she have?

She was not about to ditch Volcano. Changing course, Breeze lunged back, claws aiming for a soldier that had nearly reached Volcano's eyes. She hissed, and tore at the armour. Pieces fell from the sky, blood following along. What was once a beautiful white queen serving the Sky Kingdom was now a mind-controlled soldier.

The Sky Element let go, crying in pain as she fell from the sky. Breeze had shredded one of her wings. One soldier dived after her, leaving only two clinging onto Volcano. Seeing what Breeze had done to the queen, one abruptly stopped and fled back to the Royal Palace.

The one left had rained scars on Volcano and he was bleeding from a gash on his tail. Volcano inhaled, a red, fiery ball forming at his mouth. He blasted the soldier out of the sky.

"Fly!" Breeze shouted.

"There's no more Sky Elements, but you're pretty slow now!" As she flew, Breeze spotted the soldier she'd wounded. The two guards that had escaped without scars were supporting the injured queen, heading back to the palace.

Good, Breeze thought. At least she gets to live.