Healed

Chapter 16

Well shit. This wasn't part of the plan, Flame noted dryly.

Somehow they had managed to find Icicle before Zephyr, and NO one was pleased about it.

The IceWing slowly entered the threshold to the circular room. Her eyes, like scalding ice and  screams, never left Umber's face as if she hoped her gaze alone would strangle him so she wouldn't have to actually touch the disgusting creature. 

Meanwhile the brown dragon was folding his wings tight against his body in an act of submission. "I...uh," Umber struggled to reply as the IceWing continued to bare down on him. Flame felt his rage blossom and he leaned against Umber protectively.

"Piss off, IceWing," Flame growled. It only pissed him off further that Icicle paid no attention to him. With the grace of a falling snowflake she confidently sauntered closer and Flame was practically choking on her smug aura.

"That must mean your crazy, murderous sister is around here as well," she snorted and gazed down at Umber condescendingly. "No wonder Queen Snowfall was hesitant to send me here. This place is unsafe with that lunatic running around."

Flame felt Umber stiffen beside him and his nostrils flared. Flame readied himself for a fight. If Umber wanted to take down this bitch then he would be right beside him.

Instead the MudWing took a deep breath, his voice turning desperate. "P-please, Icicle. My sister was sick when she tried to kill you, she wasn't thinking right. But she's getting better now. Can't we put all this behind us?" he implored with forced confidence.

Flame blinked. He felt warm admiration grow in his chest as he looked at Umber. This was shortly followed by guilt. My first reaction was to fight her, but he wanted to make peace. Flame sighed. How come I can't be like that?

Icicle's hiss broke into his thoughts.

"She isn't sick." Her voice was claws against his eardrum. "She's weak. She couldn't handle the war so she threw a hissy fit and went berserk, resulting in the deaths of innocent dragons." Icicle shook her head and her horns rattled together in agreement. "It would have been safer for everyone if she had just been executed."

Flame staggered to the side as Umber flared his wings and stood tall, but whatever he was going to say was interrupted by Jet.

"How DARE you talk about Sora like that!" she roared and strutted forward so that her snout was almost touching Icicle's. They were the same height so Jet's furious orange eyes met Icicle's indifferent blues.

"And who are you supposed to be?" The IceWing blew a gust of flurries from her nose and into Jet's face.

Jet growled. "I'm Sora's FRIEND and you are SO wrong about her. She the strongest dragon I know in body, mind, and soul. No one should have gone through what she did." Jet nodded to finish her point.

"Well I was in the war and I turned out fine!" Icicle pointed out and Flame exchanged a skeptical glance with Umber before Icicle continued. "A true dragon is able to handle combat; we weren't hatched with talons and teeth to pick flowers. If a dragon crumples into a ball of erratic emotions every time they fight, then they are worthless. They are a waste of life. That is why places like this disgust me." Her face twisted in repulsion as she motioned with her tail around the room, but it was implied she meant more than just the bath-house. "This Healing Center. It's full of worthless pansies. A true warrior wouldn't need to run to some therapist to talk about their delicate feelings."

Silence fell over the group as her words settled over them like a toxic mist. Jet put a talon over her mouth in hurt shock while Umber shook his head sadly.