Transported: A Wings of Fire Story

Cold as Ice

Winter couldn't help but feel a shiver crawl along the entirety of his spine.
He gazed at the Ice Kingdom, the place he promised himself he'd never return to.

The Great Ice Cliff used to be exactly where Winter was standing, at least until he destroyed it. Chunks of ice were still littered around, but for the most part, it had all been cleared up. He sighed, a plume of frost left his mouth and settled around his talons.

Hailstorm placed a talon on Winter's shoulder.
"You don't have to come with us, we can handle it," He looked over at Snowfall, "Right?"

Snowfall nodded as she looked over at Winter.
"Winter, we're aware of your not-so-great relationship with your direct family-"

"Or tribe," Winter interjected. "I always was the tribe's mistake. You all made that very clear. Why do you think I left this shithole?"

Snowfall fell silent, sighing.
"I still don't understand those words that Daniel taught you."

Winter smirked.
"Good."

Snowfall rolled her eyes.
"Whatever, Just..." She softened up a little.
"Nevermind."

Winter sighed.
"Let's get this done."

Hailstorm shot him a worried look.
"Winter... Our family is going to be there."

"I'm aware," Winter stated. "I'm not the same dragon you all once knew. Besides, I've got unfinished business anyway."

Hailstorm didn't press forward. Instead, he just muttered something inaudible under his breath before taking off.

Snowfall shot Winter a glance but also said nothing as she took off behind Hailstorm.

Winter stayed planted on the ground a little longer. A part of him wanted to stay there, not even to move another inch forward.
But he soon got over it.
"I need to leave properly, to state it. Not just disappear." He muttered to himself.

Winter took off after the other two Icewings.
He felt his heart rate rise with each flap of his wings. Each flap brought him closer to a place he never wanted to be again. Yet he pushed forward.

The last time he was here, Winter made it out without his family ever seeing him. And when his parents eventually did come by at Jade Mountain, Daniel was there to help them.
Here, he was alone, not physically but mentally.

Winter knew neither Hailstorm nor Snowfall would step in when the time came, not because they didn't care. But because it was something that he needed to handle on his own.

Winter needed to stand up to his family, alone. That was the only way he'd truly be free from their control. Not from running away, not from hiding, not from faking his death, but from finally putting an end to the abuse.

On top of that, there was also a proper plan and the main reason the three of them were even coming back.
They needed to evacuate the entire tribe and lead them towards Jade Mountain.

Hazel's plan was clear. Use the portal that connects the Jade Winglet's sleeping cave and Pantala to evacuate the continent.

Animi was already lurking on Phyrria somewhere; that much had been confirmed due to the alarming number of spectres that had been spotted in the last few days.
Especially in the Rainforest.

As such, total evacuation was Hazel's top priority as elected leader.
The others had been split into groups and sent to other locations for the same reason.

Winter found the idea a little pointless since the chances of them winning against Animi were near zero, but he went along with it. Not because it was what Hazel wanted, but because deep down, he knew it was what Qibli would've wanted if he were still around.