||THE WAY OF THE WIND||

CHAPTER 14 - NO LONGER SAFE

"Mummy. Breezy. Mummy?"

A paw nudged her awake. Breeze lifted her head. Right. The tornado. The Sky Hall. Altitude. A face covered her vision.

"Dove, move away," Breeze said gently. "Mummy's awake."

Dove scampered to hide with Cranberry under Ember's soft belly. All Breeze's kittlings were there, Ember, Altitude and her kittlings. Phoenix and Ivory were playing with Raindrop, Comet and Galaxy. Breeze blinked, seeing Ember. She stood up. "Turbulence?"

Ember brushed against Breeze reassuringly.

"She's feeding the kingdom."

Breeze nodded. The paned, grey windows of the Sky Hall showed that it was still drizzling outside. Thunder still crackled wickedly but was obviously less powerful than before. Trees no longer were a hazard; the tornado had died a little, but not enough to stop branches whizzing here and there.

Shaking out her wings even though there was no water, Breeze dipped her head to Ember.

"I'm going to speak to Volcano. We share borders; I need to make sure his realm isn't affected." Ember nodded.

"Has Star recovered?"

"She has a bone in her leg cracked slightly. At least it wasn't her wings. She'll live."

"Since I can't find anyone else, get the kits to our bedroom. Send Wing and Star to me. Altitude, you come too. Let Ember, Orbit and Zodiac look after the kittlings."

Ember agreed, letting his offspring climb on his back. Altitude scooped up her kittlings and nodded to Breeze. "I'll be back."

Soon Altitude arrived with Star and Wing. Star's front right leg was bandaged, but she could still walk with three legs.

"Come on. We don't have a moment to waste."

The three Sky Elements launched into the sky. As soon as they stepped out of the safety of the Sky Hall, the powerful wind threatened to fling them away.

Beating her wings harder, Breeze flew in the direction of the Fire Realm. Seeing the dark red and black fortress, Breeze glided lower. The tornado was less powerful here, but still recognisable.

Landing on all four paws, Breeze knocked on the heavy obsidian door. General Eruption appeared, not at all surprised.

"Lord Volcano will see to you." he announced. Breeze padded in, with Star and Wing behind her.

Walking along the corridor lined with flowing streams of lava behind glass, Breeze ruffled her fur. It was so hot! How could anyone live here? And why would they? I guess they've adapted, Breeze thought. Finally, at the end, perched on an outcropping of a huge rock, stood the imperial Lord Volcano. Breeze bowed politely and stood up to speak.

"Lord Volcano, recently, a huge tornado swept across my kingdom. I am not yet sure if anyone was killed, but Star here was injured and Altitude's kittlings could've died." Altitude nodded in agreement. Volcano just blinked.

"I wanted to see if you're okay. I saw the tornado coming from our border."

Volcano blinked again. "Well, we didn't get too much harm from the tornado, but one of us - Flare - died yesterday, burned to a crisp. There's a giant volcano at the edge of our realm. None of us thought it would ever erupt for hundreds of years."

Volcano paused, eyes glistening at the memory.

"But we heard rumbling. We saw smoke and steam from the volcano. Flare led a search team, to find out what's happening. Just as they arrived-" Volcano shook his head. "It erupted. Flare died, but the others got away with some singed fur and lungs that kept coughing. One will never walk again." Breeze stared in disbelief. "Wh-"

At that moment, Vine burst in, two Earth Elements flanking their Lord. Vine's face did not betray the argument the two brothers had, just urgency.

"Volcano!" he shrieked. "My territory was overrun by huge cockroaches! They killed Leaf, Branch and Stem! My dragoncats are hungry, tired and cold. We need a home. Will you help us?"

Breeze shook her head. Just like the prophecy. The stupid, stupid prophecy. These are natural disasters. They've even killed dragoncats. We can't live in a place where the ground and sky kill dragoncats.

Torrent thundered suddenly into the room, General Stingray at her heels. Where the ground, sky and ocean kill us, Breeze grimly corrected herself. Judging by Torrent's face, she was anything but pleased.

"Scald is dead! Because of a stupid, poisoned fish!" Torrent lashed her tail. "There was a hurricane at the shore of our domain. It threw poisonous algae into the ocean! It poisoned the fish in the ocean! Scald ate one! He should have never died!"

Seeing the look on Breeze, Volcano and Vine's faces, Torrent growled, low and menacing.

"This home is no longer safe for us. Spencer has betrayed us. We have to move."

Shocked murmurs rippled through Volcano's dragoncats, along with the misfits the other leaders had bought. Brimming with rage, Volcano dismissed them all. Once the dragoncats had scattered, the Lord of the Fire Realm led the other leaders to his study.

"What are you thinking?" he roared. "Spencer has been home to us for so long, ever since Queen Royal, Lady Sky, Lord Fire, Lady Water and Lord Earth founded this home!"

"At least Queen Royal didn't think she was better than everybody," Vine muttered darkly.

Volcano ignored him. "This place has sheltered us for centuries! Now you think of moving away?"

Torrent flicked her tail irritatedly. "Just because you say this place is our home doesn't mean it's safe." Vine murmured agreement. Volcano turned to Breeze, exasperated.

"Surely you agree with me?" he whispered, eyes glistening. "I gave my blood, my tears, my breath. For Spencer. And you want to move?"

Breeze shook her head. "I'm sorry," she said. "But I think it'll be safer for all of us. By a lot."

Vine nodded curtly, Volcano bowed his head and Torrent looked pleased.

"That's decided. Gather your dragoncats, meet at the Royal Palace. We take off from there at dawn tomorrow and then we decide where our hearts lead us."