Hearts of Fire and Ice

Chapter Nine~ Jasper

It was freezing here. I had no idea how any dragon, let alone the IceWings, could survive in this barren landscape. The rolling foothills of the mountains had soon become snow-covered, and I was flying right through the middle of a blizzard to make it worse. I had no idea where I was going, and the heavy snow was in my face at all times, but Snowdrift had to be around here somewhere. I was only about ten minutes from the border, flying at top SkyWing speed. 

Then I saw it. Nestled at the bottom of a snow-capped hill was what appeared to be a house made of snow. As I flew closer, blinking to get the falling snowflakes out of my eyes, I could see that it was made of rolled snowballs piled on top of each other to make walls and a roof, and I could hear on the wind the sounds of voices inside. 

I landed near the entrance, and called, "Anybody home?" 

An IceWing with strange scales that were a darker shade of blue than most IceWings I've seen poked her head through the doorway. She looked very similar to Snowdrift. She even had the same eyes. 

"Who are you?" The IceWing asked, tilting her head, "What brings a SkyWing all the way up here during a snowstorm?"

"I'm looking for a dragon named Snowdrift. Is she here?" I gestured to the building. 

The IceWing gave a hesitant nod, "Yes, yes, she's here. Um, let me go get her for you." 

I heard the murmur of voices inside. Then, another IceWing poked her head through the doorway. This IceWing was familiar. 

"Jasper!" Snowdrift cried, "What's going on?" 

"I've got some really urgent news, Snow, and it might not be news that you want to hear," I sighed.

All of the joy and excitement drained from Snowdrift's face. "What is it, Jasper?" 

"It's my sister. She's been spying on me, I think. She knows I'm up to something. If she finds out about you, she'll tell Mother."

"Queen Ruby?" Snow questioned. 

"Yes. If Mother finds out... Snow, all of the IceWings could be in terrible danger." 

"Danger?" The other IceWing, the strange blue one, burst her way through the doorway. 

"Icy!" Snow hissed, "I'm getting a little squished and a little cold over here!" 

The other IceWing backed up a few steps. "Sorry," she said, "I just don't like the sound of danger." 

"Snow, who is this?" I gave a small chuckle. 

"This is Icecap." Snowdrift smiled. 

"The Icecap?" I held out my talon. "You're Snow's twin sister?" 

Icecap backed away from my gesture. "I'd like to shake, but I'd better not... Sorry. You must be Prince Jasper." She looked at her own IceWing serrated talons which were covered in frost. For a moment I had forgotten that Snowdrift and Icecap were iceborn twins. 

"Okay everyone, back on topic!" Snowdrift said, "Okay Jasper, what kind of danger do you think the IceWings would be in if Queen Ruby found out that you and me were... together?" 

"I'm talking war, Snow. Mother would be so mad at me, she'd declare war with the IceWings." I sighed.

"Snow! Imagine... Just imagine how mad Queen Glacier would be if she found out you were dating a SkyWing?" Icecap gave an anxious glance to Snowdrift. 

"She's already mad at both of us enough already," Snow sighed and looked down at her talons. 

"I promise this will all work out, Snowdrift," I took one of my talons and lightly tapped her cheek. Snow gave a small smile. 

From the corner of my eye, I could see Icecap was smiling. "You're both really cute together. I'm on your side. We can't let anything bad happen to you both." 

"Thanks, Icecap," Snowdrift said. 

"Well, well. What do we have here?" 

I knew that voice all too well. No, not here of all places. Had she followed me here? 

I hissed, "Crimson. Show yourself immediately. You don't belong here."