Blood Beneath The Scales

Chapter 4: Adventures

Misty still couldn't fly, she sat at the opening of the cave, spreading her wings every time a gust of wind stirred, her wing was able to move but she couldn't lift herself off the ground with it yet. She was clueless on Cole being alive or dead, It was a month since he got captured by Scorch.
"Where are you Cole? Give me a sign." She sighed.
   "He could be gone. But he'll never be far." Fireweb said.
Misty looked up at him.
"I need to find him. It's my fault he got captured."
Fireweb didn't reply for what felt like centuries.
"If you didn't disobey us this wouldn't have happened, but…” he paused and thought.
This is hard to say, but maybe she needs it, she's fully healed despite her wing and I’ll send Spider to go with her, I know he won't let anything happen to her again.
“You and Spider can go save him if you’re ready,” he said, his tail twitching nervously.
Misty had never seen him so nervous before.
“No, it’s fine. Besides, I can't even fly,” she sighed.
Fireweb inhaled deeply.
“If that's what you want,”
Misty nodded.
“Blizzard is expecting me now,” Fireweb said and headed into Blizzard’s den.
“Seems you have Fireweb’s tail in a knot young one,” Claw said, taking a seat beside Misty.
   “I guess I do but I know he doesn't want me to leave, I guess I understand but not entirely,”
“He doesn't want to lose you, you’re special to him,” Claw replied.
“Why? He found me in the middle of probably nowhere, orphaned before I even hatched,”
“Exactly. He was just like you when he was younger but…” She trailed off.
“But what? What happened?”
“He was orphaned when he was younger, his parents vanished and Sky was left to raise him, but she passed on when he became the new leader. He then met Feather, his mate. They had a daughter together, her name was Skyfeather but Scorch captured them and well… you can figure out the rest. They’ve been gone for four years now,”
All Misty could do was sit there in silence.
   “I… I‘m sorry,” she whispered.
   “It's alright. It's not your fault. Now Bird sent me to get you but I got wrapped up in my story, come along, she needs to check your wing,”  
   “Claw,”
   “Yes?”
   “Who actually is Scorch?”
   “Fireweb and Spice’s brother, I left out that part. The three of them were abandoned, Spice left home to join another tribe with his mate, Scorch wasn't that lucky to find anyone so he began stealing from his brothers out of anger and jealousy that they got mates and were able to become leaders,”
   “How come Spice hates our tribe then?”
   “He blames Fireweb for his mate being taken,”
They walked to Bird’s den in silence, Claw offered to help with the hatchlings and Bird agreed as she took care of Misty.
  Later that night, she laid in her den wide awake, thinking of what Claw had told her. She had to go save Cole, find Feather and Skyfeather, and Spice’s mate. Spider was laying outside Misty’s den as he did every night. She walked outside her den and woke up Spider.
   “Do you know what the name of Spice’s mate was?” she asked.
   “I heard the elders mention it in my tribe a few times, her name is Flare. Why do you ask?”
   “We’re going to save her and Cole and Feather and Skyfeather,” she told him.
   “Are you sure you’re ready?”
Misty nodded.
   “Bird said I only have to take it easy with my wing,”
Spider glanced at her faded wounds then nodded.
   “Let’s go then, I know where he lives,”
Fireweb overheard Spider and Misty talking, he sighed to himself and he wiped away a couple of tears with his wing, he watched the two younger dragons walked out of the volcano. They know what they’re doing, believe in them.
 Spider and Misty climbed down the volcano and headed towards the mountains on the horizon. They headed through the forest, it was a long walk so they stopped to rest, Spider began hunting for them and Misty was slowly flexing her wing. Spider returned with two large fish, they ate in silence then continued towards the mountains. At sunrise, they stumbled into Ice Tribe’s territory. A white and blue dragon came rushing at Misty and pushed her over, Spider jumped into his defense position.
   “Misty!” white dragon said excitedly.
   “Snow?”
   “Yes! It’s me!” she said.
   “I haven't seen you in so long, not since you came to visit with Fang and Glacier,”
   “I know, what are you doing here?”
   “I’m saving my friend from Scorch with Spider,”
Snow looked up at a confused Spider.
   “He’s kinda cute, is he your boyfriend?” she asked.
   “N-No!” Misty’s face turned a darker shade of red.
Spider smirked at Misty so she smacked him with her tail, Snow started laughing.
   “Come on, I'll take you guys to Glacier,”
   “Who’s Glacier?” Spider whispered.
Snow gasped.
   “You’ve never heard of Glacier, leader of the Ice Tribe?”
   “No, I’m from the Lava Pit tribe,”
   “I see. Well Glacier is our leader and she is amazing,”
   “She? I thought only male dragons could lead the tribes?” Spider said.
   “You thought wrong. She’s the first female tribe leader ever,” she boasted.
Misty chuckled and followed Snow into an icy cave, icicles hung from the ceiling, ice chunks were scattered along the walls and the ground was mostly covered in ice with patches of snow.
   “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Spider cooed in awe, before slipping and falling right on his rear.
Misty and Snow started laughing as Spider picked himself up and shook off the powdery snow, he blushed from embarrassment.
   “You’ll get used to it, besides our tribe was born to live with snow and ice so we’re all built a bit differently,” Snow chuckled.
They kept walking until they came out into an icy ravine, it was massive and well hidden from above. The morning light shining through the thin ice at the top made the ravine sparkle.    
   “This is beautiful,” Misty cooed in awe.
   “This way you two,” Snow directed them to a large cave then called out, “Glacier, we have guests,”  
“Just a minute dear,” a female voice called.
Moments later a female dragon walked out of the cave, she looked like an icy blue pearl with touches of a rose pink.
“Nice to see you again Misty!” she said, “What brings you here?”
“Well, Spider's brother got captured by Scorch and we need help finding him,”
“Lava tribe huh?”
“Y-yes ma'am,” Spider said nervously.
“Welcome,” she smiled then noticed Misty’s wing, “Oh my what happened to your wing?”
“Scorch,” she sighed, “I can’t fly,”
“I'm so sorry to hear that Misty. Is there anything Icefang can maybe do to help?”
“I think I’m good,”
“Let her have a look anyways just in case,”
Misty gave in and agreed as Glacier guided her and Spider to the medicine den.
   “Spider stay with me for a little, I’ll give you a tour around the ravine and introduce you to the others,”
   “Oh, that isn't necessary,” Spider said, showing a concerned look when Misty disappeared into the den.
   “I insist. She’ll be back in a few don't worry about her,” Glacier said, clearly noticing his concern.
He nodded and followed her around the ravine, he met Glacier’s second in command dragon, Fang. Fang had offered to help the two. Misty came trotting out of the medicine den after Spider got a full tour.
“Fang is going to help us,” Spider told her.
“That’s great! Thank you, Fang,”
“Anything to help you two out,” he smiled.
“Let’s get going then,” Misty began.
“On an empty stomach? No way, come and eat you two,” Glacier said.
Misty and Spider agreed, they ate as much as they needed and then set off deeper into the mountains with Fang guiding them.