A Past That Can't Be Forgotten

Bait

Mandarin kept her Red Storm side on as she was escorted back to the Scorpion Den. No dragon paid any attention to them, no-one daring to question Vulture and his minions.

Mandarin stood in the shadows, watching as Cliff, Auklet, and Mink were dragged into the center of the chamber. They were bound and shackled, their faces etched with fear and pain. She tightened her grip on her blade hidden under her wing.

She glanced at Peacemaker, who was beside her, his expression a mix of anger and fear. 

"Thistle?" Peacemaker's voice was a mix of confusion and anger. "What are you doing here?"

Thistle's eyes flickered with a bucketful of regret before hardening. "I'm sorry, Peacemaker. This is the only way."

Mandarin's blood ran cold. She had suspected Thistle would do something, but she had never imagined it would be this.

Vulture stepped forward; his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Ah, Red Storm. So good of you to join us."

Mandarin remained calm, barely glancing at Peacemaker before looking back at the big Sandwing, wrinkling her nose.  "They're a bit scrawny. Are you sure they would be good baits?"

"Baits?" Cliff echoed, and Mandarin snorted. 

Vulture's smile widened. "You are going to be used as bait to lure the Icewing, Seawing, and Skywing queens here. Once we have them, we will finally have the power we need to control the entire continent."

Mandarin felt as if spiders were crawling down her neck. Every part of her screamed thsi was wrong, but she stood still, not saying a word. 

"You're insane," Peacemaker spat, his anger barely contained. "You can't control the queens. They'll never bow to you."

"He's got a point. What is you oh-so amazing plan to make this happen, Vulture?" Mandarin said lowly, the last word tasting bitter on her tongue. 

Vulture's smile didn't falter. "You'll see about that soon. In the meantime, let's give Red Storm a little demonstration of what happens to those who defy me." 

With a nod from Vulture, the Sandwing guards moved forward, grabbing Cliff, Auklet, and Mink. Mandarin bit on her tongue as their cries of protest echoed off the walls.

"Stop!" Thistle shouted, but his voice was drowned out by the sound of Vulture's laughter.

"Don't bother, Sand dragon," Mandarin sneered. "This is how you chose it to be. You can't stop it."

Thistle looked horrorstruck as the first sandwing landed a hit on Auklet's jaw. Cliff let out a yell and opened his mouth wide, letting sunset orange flames explode out, hitting the Guard. The guard screamed and frantically tried to put the flames out. 

Thistle started forwards, but mandarin managed to hold him back with her tail. "For someone who is supposed to betray another, you're not doing the best job." she yelled at him over the screams. 

Thistle looked anguished. "I- I didn't think-" 

"You didn't think about what? Have you met Vulture?" Mandarin hissed, looming over him. 

He looked up at her, torn. "Can you do something?" He pleaded, his poisonous barb flicking from back and forth in fear.

Mandarin managed a sniff. "Weak," she muttered as she walked up to Vulture. "Are you seriously going to torture three dragonets? It's stupid." Vulture barely glanced at her before sighing. 

"Stop." he called out, and the Sandwing guards reluctantly let Cliff go, giving cliff a chance to struggle to his feet. 

"Send them to the cells, with the Hybrid as well," Vulture decided.  

Peacemaker's heart pounded as he, Cliff, Auklet, and Mink were dragged away by the Sandwing guards. 

They were led through the twisting corridors of the Scorpion Den, the walls closing in around them. The air was thick and oppressive, filled with the faint sounds of distant cries and the heavy footsteps of patrolling guards. The Sandwings shoved them into a small, dark cell, the heavy door clanging shut with a finality that sent a shiver down Peacemaker's spine.

Cliff, Auklet, and Mink slumped to the ground, their shackles clinking as they tried to get comfortable on the cold stone floor. Peacemaker remained standing, His heart beating rapidly. The cell was dimly lit, the faint glow from a small window casting eerie shadows on the walls.

"We need to get out of here," Cliff said, his voice trembling under the paint of the bruises the guards had given him. "We can't let Vulture win."

Auklet nodded, her eyes filled with tears. "But how? We're trapped, and he's got us under constant watch."

Peacemaker clenched his fists, his frustration mounting. "We have to stay strong and stay together. Red Storm said she'll help us. We just have to trust her."

Cliff looked up, her eyes narrowing. "Do you really believe that? Can we trust her?"

Peacemaker met Cliff's gaze, his expression serious. "We don't have a choice. We have to trust her, even if it means taking a risk."

As the hours passed, the cell grew colder, and the silence was broken only by the occasional drip of water from the damp stone walls. Peacemaker was trying to get comfortable in his chains, but every time he moved, his ankles would hurt.

Mink, her voice trembling managed to break the silence, "This place is awful. What if they come back? What if Vulture decides to torture us again?"

Peacemaker looked at her with sympathy. "Mink, we'll get through this. We have to stay strong."

Mink shook her head, her eyes wide with fear. "I don't know if I can. Every sound makes me jump. I feel like they're watching us, waiting to hurt us again."

Auklet, her voice barely above a whisper, added shyly, "At least we're together. That counts for something, right?"

A faint sound outside the cell door made him tense, his heart pounding in his chest. The others looked up; their eyes wide.

The small window in the cell door creaked open, and a shadowy figure appeared. "Hey," a familiar voice whispered, barely audible.

"Red Storm?" Peacemaker hissed, his voice low and filled with anger. "What are you doing here?"

Red Storm – Mandarin – stepped into the faint light, her expression serious. 

"Just came to check on you all. I see you're making yourselves comfortable."

Peacemaker glared at her. "Comfortable? Really? In this dungeon cell?"

Mandarin arched an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips. "Hey, at least you have each other. And chains. Can't forget the chains."

Cliff let out a low growl. "Wow, thanks, Red Storm. That's really comforting."

Mandarin shrugged. "I do what I can."

Auklet, shuffled, "I always thought chains would be more fashionable. Turns out they're not." she whispered. 

"Fashionable? Really, Auklet?" Peacemaker said, exasperated. "Of all the things to worry about..."

Mink chuckled softly, no longer fearful for that moment. "Well, she has a point. Maybe if they were gold-plated or something."

Mandarin snorted and leaned against the wall. "I'll make a note for the next time you're captured. Gold-plated chains, check."

Peacemaker rolled his eyes. "Glad to see you're taking this so seriously."

Mandarin looked the slightest bit amused. "A little humor never hurt anyone. Except maybe Vulture's ego."

Cliff sighed. "I'd pay to see that."

Mandarin chuckled. "Trust me, it's quite a sight."

Peacemaker leaned towards her. "Are you gonna help us?" He whispered, trying to steady his voice so it wouldn't break. Mandarin narrowed her eyes. 

"I'm doing what I can," she hissed. "Be patient." She spun around and headed back down the corridor. 

"But-" Peacemaker started, but she had already disappeared, so he sat back down with a sigh.

Please hurry, Mandarin.