Hunted

Chapter Two

The day had gone by fast. Two of the moons were full, leaving little light to guide the tired dragons. Deciding to stop, Frostburn landed and scouted out a den. Starchaser got some wood and brought it back to the cave that Frostburn had found. She leaned forward and carefully breathed a burst of fire at the wood. It set fire, then froze over. Starchaser laughed and gave her a hug. He lit the fire and Frostburn left the cave. Was she mad? Is she mad at me? He worried. But a few minutes later, she came back with three lizards and a goat. She smiled and laughed at the surprised look on his face. She roasted the goat and the lizards. She also pulled a lemon out of a corner in the cave and squeezed some on the goat. He tried a bit and nearly choked. It was so good! It was sour but savory, and the skin was crunchy and the meat was so perfectly cooked! They ate in silence, looking out of the cave entrance. Then the blizzard hit. It was so sudden that it blew out the fire before they even noticed it was cold. The wind whipped stinging snow into their eyes and snouts. Frostburn dug a small hole just big enough for the both of them, with a little space in between. She surrounded it with heavy wood and stepped in. He did the same. It was cramped and cold, but it was better than not cramped cold and very painful. Frostburn, exhausted, fell asleep shivering. He was about to fall asleep when he noticed Frostburn's wing tips and tail turning pale blue. He edged closer, not wanting to wake her up. He put one wing around her, and her shivering stopped. The pale blue faded pack to dusty gold. Starchaser fell asleep smiling. Frostburn woke up with Starchaser's wing on top of her and their talons touching. Her first instinct was to jerk away from him, but another part of her wanted to grow roots right here and never move. The blizzard had stopped, but it was still snowing outside. The cold from last night had faded, and she was warm now. Starchaser stirred and rolled right into her side, his wing tucking back under him. This time, Frostburn put her wing on top of him. His scales were soft, but when he moved even the slightest bit, they became as hard as diamonds. She suddenly felt the urge to protect him no matter what, even if it meant death for her. Her burning hatred for Icewings turned into an incredibly strong desire to protect Starchaser. She blinked her eyes at him, the only family she had right now. And possibly forever. His eyes opened and saw where he was. He leaped up and shouted, "Sorry! I'm so sorry!" I may like her, but she may not like me like I like her. He realized he didn't like her. He loved her. And would do anything to protect her. Keep it a secret. Whispered his mind. Tell her later, when you are sure she loves you back. Frostburn blushed and said, "It's alright. You were sleeping, and I didn't want to wake you" she stepped out of the hole and picked up a lizard from last night and tossed it to Starchaser. He ate it and Frostburn grabbed another one. She ate that one and cut the second one in half. "Front half or back half?" She asked him. "Front half." He replied with a mouthful of lizard. She tossed half of the lizard toward him and ate the other half. She walked toward the entrance and tripped. As she got up, Starchaser noticed blood on her talons and the ground. She turned around, tears sliding down her snout. He rushed toward her and took her snout in his talons. Starchaser wiped tears off her snout and examined the bleeding line across her snout. "Wait here, and apply pressure to it." He told her. Starchaser watched as she put two talons across her snout and wince. He went out and found some long leaves. He crushed up some flowers and berries into a thick paste, which he then applied to the leaves. He went back to the cave and gingerly wrapped it around her wound. It was just far enough back that she could still talk. "Thank you!" She exclaimed. "The wound had soured, so I had to add some marigold to fight infection, as well as some berries to help heal it faster. Also, I thought some mint leaves would lessen the pain." Starchaser explained. She smiled at him. She brushed her wings against his and took off. Blushing, Starchaser flew after her. It felt as if he had been in a freezing cold cave and then shoved into a fire. Frostburn looked down at the sand and the ice, and thought the ice would melt, but it didn't for some reason. They saw the stronghold up ahead. Queen Viper's stronghold. She was hoping she would be at least a little merciful. They arrived at the gates surrounded by guards. "State your names, and what you are here for." Bellowed one of the guards. Frostburn puffed up her chest and looked menacing. "I do not want to tell you our names," she snarled. "And we are here to see Queen Viper." She finished, arching her tail. "Very well, Ms. Anonymous. You may visit her but no longer than five minutes, or I will come in there and drag you out myself." He signaled the other guards to let them through. She walked in front of Starchaser, her tail curled like a scorpion's. She marched right into the palace. Sitting on a ruby and diamond encrusted throne, was the biggest dragon they had ever seen. She was three times as big as the nearest guard, who was nearly two times bigger than Frostburn. "State your business or request." She said in a hoarse voice. She had a giant venom scar across her throat, and other scars all across her. "Your majesty," Frostburn said, kneeling into a bow. "We have come to ask for your protection from the Icewings. They are out to kill me and him." She said, pointing at Starchaser. Queen Viper hissed. "No." She said sternly. "We boarder the Icewings. If we keep you, they'll kill us too. So no. Instead, I will do all of Pyrhhia a favor, and kill you both right now." She glared at them as the guards advanced toward them, and seized Starchaser forcefully. "Ow! Th-that hurts! A lot! OUCH!" He roared with pain. Frostburn, seeing the distress on his face, swung her tail around in an arch, just barely missing the three nearest guards. It had distracted them long enough for her to inhale and shoot frostfire at the guards. She maneuvered it just right so she didn't hit the Queen. She then stabbed the guard twisting Starchaser's neck through the heart. Starchaser spun in a circle, lashing out wildly. He scratched two of the guards' snouts and the other three got scratched in the eyes. "Run!" Yelled Frostburn. They frantically ran than flew as soon as they saw the sky. She sighed and glanced back at the Kingdom. Welp. The Sandwings are just another tribe that was looking for Frostburn and Starchaser to kill them. Great.
                                                                                                   Just Great.