Wings of Fire: The Long Danger

Prologue

The queen of the Nightwings glared with her emerald eyes that seemed to stare straight into the soul of the crouched Skywing princess. The princess trembled uncontrollably, but there was a dim courageous light in her eyes. No matter what she did, the queen would kill her. She was an exceptional fighter, but she has seen Queen Throatripper in battle and at once she realized that she was at the very mercy of her right now. If Queen Throatripper wanted, she could leap right now and tear the life out of her, unless what she wanted wasn't that.

A look of horror crossed her face as it dawned on her. She was going to be tortured, wasn't she? The queen approached her, in an elegant gait that seemed to prove her patience to her. The Skywing knew that her mother and the queen were enemies, but she hadn't thought their hate for each other ran this deep.

Queen Throatripper wore a menacing look full of murder, which practically radiated bloodlust from her. So this was how Princess Molten would be killed. She didn't even have a chance to fight back. There was no way that the crowd of dragons lurking in the shadows behind her would bother to let her get away. And escaping from Queen Throatripper was like trying to escape from an entire tribe of dragons. That alone was nearly impossible.

She spread her wings out, while in her despair she sought out a ray of hope. Queen Throatripper unfurled her own wings, just to ensure that she won't lose much distance between her if she did make a flight for it. Molten backed up even more, still shaking so much it actually became a wonder to him why she hadn't buckled on her own weight.

And this still wasn't right to him. A dispute between two queens didn't involve the heir of the other. Queen Throatripper lifted her talons, ready to strike. Molten felt a sense of acceptance sink into her. Oh, how there was no way she was getting out of this.

Well getting out of it alive, and not a trophy outside the palace of her mother. She hung her head, and let her wings and tail drag onto the rocky outcrop they were on. The gap was slowly narrowed down, as she no longer continued to back up.

A flash of black went in front of the sitting Nightwings, and they let out a hushed gasp. A Nightwing rolled in front of Molten, and got up to his feet in a single swift motion. They stared in complete disbelief at him, and the look on the queens face was one he would have never wanted to see. It was like being stabbed, worse than what any dragon talons could do.

She looked betrayed, completely and utterly sad. It was all in her eyes, but she didn't change her expression. The Nightwing lowered his head and spread his wings out, while raising his tail as if he had a poisonous barb on the end. He pushed his forelegs deeper into the earth, leaving his talons half buried in the rocky soil.

"What is the meaning of this, Bloodscreamer?"

She asked it so slowly, that Bloodscreamer swore he could feel his heart breaking. He had to try to hold back from crying right then. After all, it would be a very bad impression. He never dreamed or thought of the day that he may have to reject the queen that he held so dear.

A voice rang through though, beyond any loyalties before the queen. He couldn't let an innocent dragon like Molten die. No, he wouldn't allow it. It was also better for the queen to not do this. He raised his head dominately, and could feel the Nightwings glaring at him even though queen Throatripper was blocking him from seeing them.

"I-I'm sorry," he spoke while shamefully casting his eyes downward. "But I can't let you hurt her," he gestured at the Skywing behind him.

There was a flicker of hope in Molten's eyes- he wouldn't let her down. He didn't want to be the one that diminished her hopes. The queen held her talons out, still poised for attacking. He felt a slight rush of wind, and looked behind him. Molten took off as a red comet, off into the distance before his queen could get her. The queens eyes darted to her disappearing shape, a predatory look in her eyes as if she were a great prey.

Her starry wings turned the sky into night as she bunched her muscles to take off. Before she could lift herself off the ground, the Nightwing leaped again in front of her, his teeth bared threateningly.

The queen slowly, ever so slowly looked into his eyes. "Bloodscreamer.. You would turn your own claws against me?" She spoke it, and he heard the hurt in her voice.

He nodded vigorously though. "I won't let you hurt an innocent dragonet. She's only lived for three years! And besides, Queen Lavarocks is your enemy, not her. Just because you hate her, doesn't mean you should just kill an innocent dragon." He shoved his snout forward angrily, showing his teeth at her. "I.will.not.let.you."

Queen Throatripper felt her heart twist. She always did have a crush on Bloodscreamer when they were smaller. Now she was nine years old. Bloodscreamer was seven, but the gap was none to extreme. And she still had a fondness for him. In fact, she would have liked him to be king one day. She had become queen two years ago, appointed him as a royal guard and now this? Whoever could think a guard is so successful if he threatened his own queen! It was unheard of...

She raised a talon at him uncertainly. But there wasn't anyone allowed to question her authority. "You have served well, in times of need and not and have always done what was best for you and me..." Bloodscreamer felt like vommitting. It was like someone had skinned the scales off him. He knew exactly what this was. A sentence deeming one to be exiled.

"A sense of self righteousness has always been in you, but I do not always agree to it. You always did what you believed in, but this I cannot accept. You were a very talented and really amazing guard. An honor it was to have you serve under me but honor no more." She took a deep breath, looked him in the eyes and he saw her sadness like a deep unending hole.

"I hereby declare you," she stabbed a talon towards him. "T-to be..." A gulp that was Bloodscreamer's own seemed to be heard loud and clear. "TO BE EXILED!"