Rain and Night - A Glorybringer Story

Chapter 32

The NightWings were ready. 

Fierceteeth had been saying that for a few days now, but no attack had been launched. It was going to be soon,  though. Yesterday, they found a pair of RainWings who had wandered into their territory, and promptly chased them off, and just this morning a NightWing was attacked by a RainWing with venom. 

All the NightWings were getting ready for a big battle. And even the RainWings were becoming defensive. Deathbringer had temporarily been relieved of his duties as a bodyguard, since his combat skills were more valuable on the battlefield than right next to Fierceteeth, who would be heavily guarded anyways. Fierceteeth had openly declared war on the RainWings, and everyone was tense and excited.

Deathbringer padded through the village, unsure of what to do. It was night, and the attack was supposed to be at midnight. Which is an hour away. All the huts he passed had candles lit inside. Everyone was waiting for the battle. The invasion, really. Around three quarters of all the NightWings would be going to fight. Deathbringer included. 

At midnight, Fierceteeth gathered her small army. They were trained, and ready for combat. Fierceteeth smiled, as Deathbringer fiddled with his talons uncomfortably. Something felt wrong. What was it?

"Tonight, we will officially invade RainWing territory," Fierceteeth announced proudly. The assembled dragons cheered. "Follow me, NightWings!" She leaped off of the pavilion and sprinted into the rainforest's heart, followed by the sea of dragons as dark as the night. Deathbringer trailed after them gingerly. They had no weapons, but they didn't need weapons anyway. They would crush the RainWings easily, with their superior training. 

Everyone tensed as Fierceteeth announced that they had officially crossed the border into RainWing territory. But, to their great surprise, there they were, waiting for them. 

The RainWings. 

Deathbringer shouldered his way to the front to face the enemy. The RainWings looked doubtful, afraid. But they had venom, and camouflage, and would be tough opponents nonetheless. And, in the very front of the army of RainWings, stood Queen Glory, more orange and red than usual. She was probably trying to look intimidating. 

Glory's gaze traveled through the crowd of NightWings and she stopped as she noticed Deathbringer. Why is she looking at me like that? We're enemies, aren't we?

"Deathbringer ..." Glory trailed off, eyeing him with evident concern. He frowned at her, confused. The RainWing queen murmured something to Starchaser, who looked grim and tired. 

"Attack!" Fierceteeth shouted, and then the fighting officially began. A green and red RainWing slammed into him, sinking his claws into Deathbringer's shoulders and forcing him to the ground. 

"Don't hurt him!" Glory snapped, pushing the RainWing away. Deathbringer growled at her, but he didn't get time to leap onto her as another RainWing was now facing him. Glory whipped around. "No! Just avoid him if you can!" Deathbringer's confusion had reached a new peak. Why was Glory trying to protect him? 

A spray of venom made at least three NightWings sink, howling, to the ground, as a stricken-looking purple RainWing stared at what he'd done. 

"It's alright, Mangrove!" Starchaser snapped, as she shoved Silvermind off of her. Bloodwatcher came in to assist and barreled into Starchaser, who roared and sank her teeth into the younger NightWing's shoulder. Bloodwatcher screamed and batted her away. Nearby, Glory was fending off three NightWings, one of which was hissing with pain after being struck by a drop of her venom. 

Fatecarver darted around, looking confused and afraid, as Jewelhunter barked at him to keep going. A RainWing chased up to them and then a spray of venom splattered over the two, leaving them writhing among the ferns. 

"Jewelhunter!" Nebula shouted, helping her friend to her feet. Fatecarver called out for help, but no one heard. Nebula swiped at an approaching RainWing, who yelped as blood flowed from her scratch. 

A RainWing was whimpering as she was cornered by two NightWings. The purple dragon noticed her, screamed, "Orchid! Run!" And sprinted over to assist. 

Deathbringer growled. No RainWing was even trying to attack him now. He had to go on the offensive. Spotting a lime-green RainWing in the crowd, he surged up and pinned him to the ground, ready to deliver the killing blow. 

"Deathbringer! Stop!" Glory ran over to them, pushing Deathbringer off but not using her claws. The green RainWing scampered off, petrified. Now, the RainWing queen was standing before him. "What are you doing?" 

Deathbringer ignored her. He growled and then threw himself at her, pinning her down. He raised his claws, ready to slice open her throat. She blocked his blow with her forearm. His claws left long, bloody marks on her scales.

"No!" Glory shouted. Blood trickled onto the ferns. "Deathbringer! This isn't you!" He struck her again, spattering the ground with blood. "This isn't you!" She let out a small whimper of pain as he dealt a third blow, this time leaving claw marks on her neck and shoulder. He raised his claws again, this time ready to finish her. "Deathbringer, don't do this!" Her voice was urgent and pleading. 

Suddenly, he seemed to freeze and he felt as though he was going to cry. Tears welled up in his eyes and he felt a strange sense of longing. Gazing down at Glory's blood-streaked face, her beautiful, sarcastic face ... the tears spilled out and he stopped. 

All the memories came rushing back. Their meeting in the freezing tundra of the Ice Kingdom. The encounter deep in the rainforest. His rescue at the volcano. The assassination attempt. The poisoning. Their wedding. Dragonets. Everything became clear, the confusion gone. 

"I'm so sorry!" He burst out. Glory stood up, panting, and slowly wrapped her wings around him. Her wounds stained his body with blood, and Deathbringer felt terrible about it. He had hurt Glory. Deathbringer glanced down at the wounds and thought that it may leave scars. "I'm so sorry, Glory."

"It's not your fault," she said, with steel in her voice. She meant it. "If it's anyone's fault, it's Fierceteeth's. Anyways, we've got a battle to win." 

A NightWing — Nebula — leaped at Glory and Death-bringer dealt a swift, powerful blow that sent her flying backwards. He hissed at her as she scrambled away. Glory sprayed venom onto the wing of a nearby NightWing. The NightWing shrieked and stared batting at her own wings, yelling, "Stop! Make it stop!" Until she sank to the ground, groaning.

Deathbringer was not focusing, though. He was going to make Fierceteeth pay for what she'd done — what she'd made him do against his will. 

While Fierceteeth wasn't paying attention, Deathbringer pounced onto her.