Burning Flame

Chapter Eighteen

Inferno flew over his kingdom with Magma by his side, their wing tips touching as they surveyed the land. Siege was flying next to the pair, and so was Solaris. Inferno had decided that it was best to have his Protectors around, even if they were supposed to be watching over his army. They could always prepare them at a second's notice, anyways.
Inferno tensed as they flew along the border between his kingdom and Cyclone's kingdom. He had set the border himself, but none of the other creatures seemed to think the land belonged to him.
He snarled as he saw a small herd of pegasus over the border, which was marked with a line of trees and boulders evenly spaced apart. He had done that handiwork himself, too. He tucked in his wings and dove down towards them with the other dragons trailing behind.
They must be Cyclone's scouts.
He heard Magma's voice in his head, but he was too focused on the group to respond.
They looked up at him with a calm, almost smug air about them. He snapped his wings open and landed hard on the ground. The gust of wind tousled the pegasus's manes, but not nearly as much as when Siege landed. When everyone was on the ground Inferno spoke up.
"What are you doing on the dragons' land?! How dare you cross the border without permission!"
The small group looked at each other before a speckled gray pegasus spoke up.
"This is not your land Inferno. Cyclone sent us here to try and make another deal with you to reclaim our land. He doesn't want any more blood to be shed."
Inferno growled and took a step towards the group. He sensed Siege shift to a closer place behind him.
"It is Atlas's will for dragons to claim this land. Cyclone will either accept his will, if your kind were truly his allies, or he will continue to have war."
The pegasus snorted.
"Somehow I don't believe this war would be your father's will."
Inferno bristled. Siege moved up beside him and bared his teeth.
"Do you dare to challenge my King?!" he rumbled.
The pegasus flared his wings, but his comrade was the one to speak up.
"No, we aren't challenging him. We've come to do what our King has asked of us. We shall be off," he said.
He nudged the others in the direction of the border, but Inferno stopped them.
"Well, I won't let you leave without a report for him to mull over. Why don't you tell him that the next time he sends anyone over the border without my permission, I'll send some of my messengers over the border. Let's just say you don't want that to happen."
He grinned, his eyes shining with a murderous glee.
The speckled gray glared at him while the others held back looks of shock and disgust.
"You've said your peace. Now leave," Magma growled.
The group snorted and turned away from the dragons. They galloped into the distance before leaping into the air, snapping their wings open to soar back over the border. When they were gone Siege shook his heads and looked over at Inferno.
"I don't think Cyclone will take the hint, Inferno. We might need to teach him a little lesson," he said.
He rolled his great shoulders back and his large wings accidentally hit Solaris. She snarled at him.
"Why don't we just wait and see what he does? He might not be the brightest, but he's certainly not an idiot. You don't constantly need to use brute force."
She sent a pointed look at Siege when she finished, but he just shrugged.
"Better that they die, so that I don't have to recruit inexperienced hatchlings."
She rolled her eyes, but she knew he was right. When it came down to it, it was better that their own kind survived rather than having it the other way around.
"Let's keep patrolling and see if there's any more surprises," she suggested.
"I think that's a good idea. We should have some time to think things through," Magma said.
Inferno nodded and Siege let out an impatient sigh.
"Well what are we waiting for, then? I wasn't expecting this patrol to last all day," Siege huffed.
Inferno glared at him, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.
Solaris growled and raised her wings. Magma followed suit and soon the two were leaping and flying into the open air. Inferno and Siege followed right behind them.
They disappeared into the distance.