Rain and Night - A Glorybringer Story

Chapter 20

Deathbringer wondered what was going on. Someone had called a big kingdom meeting. Something had happened. There was a huge crowd gathering before a small boulder, where a NightWing stood. It was Cunning, and he looked distressed. 

"Everyone, quiet down! Cunning shall speak!" Starchaser bellowed. She seemed eager to know what he was going to say. Deathbringer shouldered his way through the crowd, until he was at the front. Glory was nowhere to be seen.

"RainWings and NightWings!" Cunning choked out. His next words chilled Deathbringer to the bone. "Queen Glory is dead."

Deatbringer felt as though he was frozen. It took almost five seconds for the news to sink in. His mind was shielded by a wall of pure disbelief and dismay. How?! Glory couldn't be dead! She ... she can't ... no, Deathbringer thought, making a small noise of despair. Tears threatened to make an appearance. No. Not Glory. Please, let this be a bad dream. It was pointless holding back his tears. They spilled out of his eyes as though a dam had broken, but he remained silent. 

Cunning went on. "I found her west of the banyan tree. It looked like she had been attacked. I buried her there." The young NightWing's head drooped.

How was she dead?! With her venom? With her camouflage scales? In an instant, Deathbringer found his life stripped of meaning. Glory had died, and his will to live alongside her. His wings were touching the ground in despair. Not while she was expecting eggs! It was too awful. 

"Before she died," Cunning continued, his voice raspy. "She ... she told me to make everyone hold an election. And make sure that everyone has a chance to participate. That includes even Fierceteeth. Glory said she wanted to give Fierceteeth at least a chance."

That only slightly shocked Deathbringer, he was still too saddened to think about things apart from Glory. 

"I have confirmed the candidates with Starchaser. The candidates are: Fierceteeth, Starchaser and Grandeur," Cunning took out a basket filled to the brim with small leaves. "Everyone must write who they want to be queen on their leaf. I will count the votes."

Everyone was handed a leaf and ink. Deathbringer then noticed Jambu, who was standing at the very front as well. The usually bright pink RainWing was dark blue, and looked sadder than ever. 

Deathbringer looked down at his leaf. Starchaser, Fierceteeth, or Grandeur. Fierceteeth was a definite no. She had tried to kill Glory. Grandeur ... too old. Starchaser then. He wrote down 'Starchaser' on his leaf and put in back in the basket when Cunning came to collect the votes. The NightWing dipped his head to Deathbringer. "I'm sorry for your loss," Cunning said. 

Deathbringer remained silent, fighting to keep himself under control. Finally, he noticed that Fierceteeth was also standing at the front, unchained, unconfined, right next to Grandeur and Starchaser. The tribes waited for a few minutes while Cunning counted the votes.

At last, Cunning announced quietly, 'Fierceteeth is the new queen."

A smattering of gasps rippled through the crowd, as well as protests from several dragons. A few of the NightWings looked happy, though. Fierceteeth smiled proudly, gazing down at her two tribes. Deathbringer didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore. At least, not for him. 

"Thank you, Cunning," Fierceteeth said. She turned towards the rest of the two tribes. "I will do my best to serve you."

After the tribe meeting ended, Deathbringer flew to the audience room as fast as he could, to his hammock, which he flung himself onto. Finally, some privacy. He let his tears flow freely, and they sure did, without end. Tiny, choking-gasping noises escaped him. Glory. Glory. She was gone. He cried until there were no more tears, and then fell asleep, exhausted. 

After a few hours, he suddenly awoke to someone prodding him on the shoulder. 

"Deathbringer," a voice said. A familiar voice ... "Deathbringer."

His eyes flew open. It was Glory! Alive and unharmed and standing on top of him. 

"Glory!' Deathbringer exclaimed, flinging his wings around her in a tight embrace and twining his tail around hers. He didn't want to let go ever again. Relief flooded his veins. "You're alive!"

"Of course I am!" She snapped in her usual way. His heart was beating super fast with excitement. "Why wouldn't I be?" Glory sounded confused. Suddenly, Deathbringer felt suspicious of Cunning's words. 

"Cunning said you were dead, and he said you wanted us to hold an election. The tribes voted in Fierceteeth as the new queen," he said slowly. "There were two other candidates. And he said he buried you."

Glory growled. "That dirty LIAR," she hissed, turning red at the ruffs. "While I was walking, he pinned me down and threatened to hurt you and our dragonets if I ever showed my face here again. And he threatened to do bad things to the kingdom. And apparently Fierceteeth's behind it all, and Cunning is working with her."

Deathbringer's eyes went wide. "He must have rigged the election," he realized. "So that Fierceteeth would be queen." 

"Yeah," Glory agreed. "I can't stay here for long, in case someone finds me, but I'll come every night, if I can. I have to go tell Starchaser and Grandeur."

His heart sank, but he knew she had to inform them. "Alright," he said with a smug grin. "I'll see you tomorrow night, alright?"

"Sure," she said, as she camouflaged herself and disappeared into the night.