Purple Dragon [REPUBLISHED]

Chapter 20: New Recruits

"Gotcha!" Xaria screamed with delight as her snowball hit her sister square on the snout. She wiggled her tail, turning victory somersaults in the snow.

"No fair," Cass whined. "Head shots don't count."

"You're just jealous!" Xaria giggled. "I'm better at Snowball Tag. It's because I'm older."

"Only by a minute!" Cass whined. "That hardly counts!"

"Cass! Xaria!" their mother ducked her head out of the igloo. "No arguing! Come inside for dinner. Father killed a seal for us."

"Yum," Xaria said, skittering into the house. "I love seal." She sniffed at her portion which was sitting beside a bed of greens. She had heard that these greens had been shipped all the way from the forest. Xaria found this fascinating. Perhaps the dragon deliverers had even seen trees.

Cass snorted with laughter, and Xaria realized she had spoken aloud.

"Of course they saw trees, goon," Cass giggled. "They're everywhere in the forest. And flowers too. But Boreala is much better than Keslin or Rinwell. Right, Mother?"

"Of course, Cass," their mother said. "Chief Quilo is the kindest. We must have compassion for those who are less fortunate. I know you do that very well."

Cass grinned at her sister, gloating. Xaria pouted. Ignoring her, Cass chomped down of her meal, and Xaria followed suit. Nothing tasted better. Who needed the forest anyway? Boreala was the best legion by far.

"Cass, Xaria!" a voice called from outside.

"Father!" Cass jumped up to meet him. He skidded through the doorway, his eyes wild. Xaria's mother immediately went to him.

"What is it? Tell me?" she said in a low, urgent voice. "Has Quilo called for war?"

"No," he said hoarsely. "Take the girls, we need to leave."

"Why?" her mother gasped.

"Eira, she's attacked. It's a massacre. She's going through with her threat." His gaze drifted to the girls.

Her mother blanched, the color draining from her face. "No. She can't. She won't. I won't let her take them!"

"There aren't enough able-bodied Warriors ready to fight. She's brought over half of her forces."

"I won't let her!" her mother shrieked. "We have a good life here! If she takes them, they'll live in a society that will always judge them and..."

"I know," Father said. "That's why we must move. Now!" Her mother nodded.

"Xaria. Cass," she said sharply. "Gather your things. Hurry." Speechless, the girls complied, gathering their possessions.

"Quickly!" Father said. He checked the igloo, making sure that no traces of life were left. Xaria stared at the igloo in fear. It looked so desolate and abandoned. Her heart clenched. Why did they have to leave? Who wanted to take them? Beside her, Cass squeezed her paw.

"Move," her father ordered. But before Xaria could take a step, the ground trembled as a rumbling sound reverbrated through the camp.

"We're too late!" her mother wailed. "They're here!"

"Father!" Cass cried, frightened. "What do we do now?"

Xaria stared at the masses of dragons barreling to them from the gentle slope just outside the camp. Their swords and battle gear glinted in the arctic sun. Her father was right. Chief Eira had brought over half of her army to invade Boreala. Now there was only one solution. She spoke, amazingly calm.