The Flaming Ice

Chapter 16

About 1 Success Ago

The elderly green dragon soared through the clear sky, the sun blaring down on his cracked scales and the sand far beneath him. The scorching temperature in the Fire Tribe was fairly different than the warm, moist air that kept to the Water Tribe. Wisdom's tongue was already parched from the flight from one base to the other, and he clicked it in annoyance as he saw two larger dragons flying toward him, coming from the sandy and stone complex of their base some ways ahead of him. Grudgingly, he paused in his flight, flapping his fin-like wings steadily to remain in one spot in the deep azure sky as the rival dragons approached him quickly.

"Wisdom," one of the Tribe guards greeted when the patrol met the water dragon. "In the name of King Red Storm, what is your business here?"

The elder snorted in frustration; no supporter of that "king" should demand to know the purpose of a member of the Dragon Council's visits. "Business that is of no concern to you. I need to speak with Strength."

The two guards exchanged a silent look with each other before turning around and heading back toward the Fire Tribe base. With a huff, Wisdom followed them.

The trio flew into the base from above, and as they did several dragons milling about outside gazed up at them, but none called out to Wisdom. At least, publicly. He caught a mutter here and there from more curious dragons wondering what his affair was in their home or sneering that if he truly had Dragonspirit's wisdom, he'd be wise enough to not come at all. He and the two guards landed on the ground, causing puffs of sand to float up around them before settling down once again, and he walked behind them silently, paying no attention to either the dragons or the stone buildings around him as he thought of what he was going to share with Strength.

When he returned to reality, however, he found himself in a large structure with tall pillars stretching up out of the sandy floor, the murmur of the Fire Tribe's life behind him reaching his ears through the open arc of a threshold. At the other end of the room lied the Fire Tribe king himself on a large dais padded with large palm leaves harvested from the Oasis.

Red Storm's dark amber eyes narrowed as they settled on the water dragon. "Ah, Wisdom!" He spoke as if they were old friends reuniting at last. "What a pleasant surprise. It's been awhile since you last came here, hasn't it? What is it... ten revolutions ago?"

Wisdom glared at the king, not hiding any of the true hatred he had for him. "It seems your guards here have misheard me," he said lowly with a glance at one of the dragons flanking on either side of him. "I want to speak to someone else."

"I assume you are talking about Strength?" The red-and-gold scaled dragon nodded to the guards. "Go and bring him here."

The guards bowed their heads simultaneously before turning around and leaving through the archway. Wisdom snapped his head back to Red Storm after watching them leave, returning to his glaring.

After some heartbeats of silence pass, Red Storm attempted in starting a conversation. "How has the Water Tribe been fairing recently?"

Wisdom bared his teeth at the mockery. "Like you don't know. We haven't seen your dragons for nearly five successes now. Just what are you planning?"

The fire dragon shrugged nonchalantly. "I decided to give my dragons a rest. They deserve it, after all." He paused. "It's very brave of you to fly right into your enemy's base. I'd almost think you were Courage, yet he hasn't set foot here since the game began."

"Is that what you think this is?" Wisdom spat. "A game? Are you even aware what you're doing to the Tribes?"

Red Storm's gaze seared into Wisdom; the water dragon forced himself not to flinch under the intensity of his eyes.