Flight Rising: The Arcane Court of Justice

Chapter Two: Jury, Jury, please please Hurry

~In the lair of the Blackbow Clan~

A furry green Tundra rested contently in his nest, reading a book on the clan lores. His glittering pink eyes reflected the small golden light of a magically created flame floating nearby.

"Akel, reading so late?"

Akel the Tundra turned around to see an obsidian-black Mirror female walk into his room, her mulberry-colored wings tucked against her sides.

"It's not good for your eyes." The Mirror chided gently. "You should go to sleep now."

"Yes, Ianite." Akel nodded at his mate and closed the book with a reluctant sigh. "Let's all hope we can finally get a good night's sle -- "

KABOOOOOOMM!!!!

"Oh, dear. Not again." Ianite gulped. "Please tell me that's not -- "

"Get there before he blows up our lair!" Akel yelped and rushed out of his cave, Ianite following behind, her wings buffeting the air.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

"Who's knocking at a time so late?" Ianite wondered aloud.

"It's the Shade!" One hatchling screeched. "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"

Ianite blinked. "Do I -- "

"You get the door, I get the crazy scientist." Akel dashed off towards a narrow corridor, from which gray plumes of smoke were snaking out from. He burst through the smoke to see a swamp-colored Nocturne with crystalline emerald wings inspecting a charred lump of.....um....something better left to one's imagination.

"Viridian!" Akel yelled. "What are you -- "

"This is fascinating!" Viridian the Nocturne cheered as he spun around, his pale white underbelly splotched with bits of oily black stuff that'd better just be oil. "Hey, Akel -- did you know -- "

"No I don't and what in the Arcanist's name is that?" Akel demanded loudly.

Ianite came in followed, by a small messenger Fae dragon. "Akel, there's a -- "

"Sparrows!" Viridian exclaimed. "Sixty-eight Java Sparrows with the Zeph -- "

"Viridian, this is the third time you've almost blown up our lair!" Akel said sternly. "And don't you try weaseling out of -- "

" -- let me just light this on fire!" Viridian protested. "It only needs a bit of gunpowder and some golden muck -- "

"Oh, dear." Ianite muttered as she and Akel stood helplessly by the entrance of Viridian's cave, watching with pure horrification as Viridian scrambled about his cave, grabbing test tubes and potions off wooden racks. "Someone please stop him..."

"If only there's a way we can remove him from this place, even for a little while!" Akel exclaimed, exasperated.

The Fae messenger coughed. "I come here today," he said formally, "To notify you that a case where a dragon is suing the extinguished jackalopes -- "

"Oh, I know them." Akel grumbled. "The accused has also refused chests to our clans."

" -- and one member of your lair must report for jury duty." The Fae finished.

Ianite and Akel looked at each other, sparks of hope igniting in their eyes.

"Viridian!"

~A lair somewhere in the Starfall Isles~

A single, peaceful clan of dragons resided happily in their quiet lair, enjoying each other's company and the magical hue the Starfall Isles radiated. Drakes of all sizes, breeds, and sparkling colors rivaled even the beauty of the glittering forest they called home.