The Flaming Ice

Chapter 14: Ama and Zert

Every single dragon stops what they are doing and turns toward the injured patrol. Numerous dragons flood in from their quarters as the Tribe guard's roar echos around the entire base. King Golden Sky immediately soars over from the Royalty Quarters with Queen Silent Wave close behind him, demanding to know what had happened. Commander Dusk Fog flies down from his private quarter, his face screwed up in clear anger and loathing for the Fire Tribe, but I can tell he is also immensely worried for his fellow guards by the way he frantically scans over the patrol. Several Tribe medics had hurried over to the battered dragons with many different leaves and plants in their mouths, snapping at those too close and crowding and telling the wounded ones to spread out for more room.

Charcoal Bass, the dragon who had announced the attack, answers Golden Sky's request. He winces every now and then as he speaks from the two medics tending to his wounded leg and slash on his back. "We were just on our way back - to the base, your majesty, after patrolling the Water Dragon River when we - we were ambushed."

"Ambushed?" Dusk Fog roars in fury. It was clear Golden Sky shared the commander's outrage, but he remains silent as Charcoal Bass continues.

"Little Drop was the first one attacked; he was in the rear of the patrol." Charcoal Bass looks over his shoulder at the purple-and-black scaled dragon lying on the stone ground in deep concern. Between the three medics surrounding Little Drop, I can see that his entire right wing is shredded. I somehow manage to hold back a screech at the horrid sight, but I hear Aqua gasp loudly beside me. I force myself to look away from the sight; there was so much blood. Would Little Drop ever be able to fly again?

Golden Sky snarls, spitting, "Cowards. They haven't attacked us in successes, and all of a sudden they lead an ambush?" He pauses for a moment, as if trying to calm himself down. With an ordeal like this, I don't know how he couldn't stay calm. He turns to Commander Dripping Leaf, who is overseeing the Tribe medics tending to the gathered injured. "See that each of these dragons are cared for. I want all of them to spend at least this night in the infirmary. The quicker they are healed, the better." Quieter, he adds, "Dragonspirit knows we need them."

The yellow-scaled commander addresses her fellow Tribe medics. "You heard his majesty. Take all the injured up to the infirmary, but be as gentle as possible." She helps up the nearest hurt guard.

Slowly, the medics either lead the dragons up the slopes to the infirmary or fly them up with the help of two or three of the medics. The watching Tribe makes way for them, and some even offer to help take the guards to the infirmary. It breaks my heart seeing so many dragons injured from one single ambush with shredded wings, torn scales, and multiple slashes and burns, but it also warms it to see how the Tribe takes care of one another, like one big family.

Silent Wave walks up to Aqua and me then, partially blocking our view from the departing dragons. She probably did that on purpose so we didn't keep staring at the violent scene. The purple-scaled queen looks down at us with relief in her eyes, her golden amulet of a wave glinting in the cave's light. "I am so glad you two are safe," she murmurs. Her blue gaze flits to her daughter. "See, Aqua? This is why your father and I want you to have guards with you when you are absent from the base. You and Zoey can end up like them." She deliberately glances behind her at the parading, impaired dragons.

I can feel Aqua stiffening next to me. "Mother," the princess insists, her voice shaking a bit as she forces herself to stay calm, "I am training to be a Tribe fighter. I'm almost a true Tribe dragon!"

Silent Wave looks back at her. "I know." The dragonette pauses a long moment, her eyes boring into Aqua's, who bravely meets them. Her voice comes soft and smooth, like a flowing stream. "But you are also the future of the Water Tribe."