The Peace of the Stars (Book 3 of The Hybrids Rising Trilogy)(Complete)

Chapter 7:

"Please help, Mother. We can't do this without you." Starsand pleaded, his yellow eyes fixed desperately on Grain's face as she flicked her gaze towards the door, where Aryn was standing. "Do I have permission, Aryn?" "You have my permission. Now, the only one denying you permission... is yourself." "I give myself permission." Starsand watched as Grain's gaze flicked back to him. "Fine. I'll help you. But you must promise me one thing:" "Anything." "No hesitating to kick some Shadow-dragon butts!" Grain smiled mischeviously. "Let's get to work!"

Five days later, Starsand, Sky, Sea, and Sunset were training as hard as any of the dragons in the H.U.C.'s headquarters, prehaps even harder, with Grain yelling her head off and correcting the four of them all the time. After another two hours, Star dragged himself back to his room in the base, to tired to do anything else. But as he he was walking out the training cave door, Grain called him back. "Starsand!" Starsand turned back with a yawn. "Yes, Mother?" he asked. "Starsand..." Grain paused, and a weird expression came over her face, like she was hearing something else. "Mother? Are you all right?" Grain seemed to snap back into herself, and said, "Oh, Starsand... I just wanted to say that you... you did good today. You're really making progress! By the way, I wrote a song for you. Would you like to hear it?" "Sure." Grain smiled.

"There's an ember in the shadows,
a spark inside the shade.
There's a candle in the cavern,
and a light upon the Way.

There is sunlight in the tunnel,
there's an ember in the sea.
When you think about the ember
in the shadows, think of Me.

There a light inside the twilight,
a solitary spark.
It preys upon the shadows,
and drives away the dark.

There is sunlight in the tunnel,
there's an ember in the sea.
When you think about the ember
in the shadows, think of Me."

"Thanks." Star said, wanting to leave. "You may go." Star left, and decided to fly around the base. He walked up the stairs, and flew around the oasis, stopping as he saw an omnious dust cloud on the horizon. Star couldn't tell if it was a sandstorm or a bunch of dragons, but he had a feeling that it wasn't a sandstorm.

Then he heard the beating of hundreds of dragon wings, and heard several voices shouting. It was a bunch of dragons, more like a million. Starsand dove towards the oasis and flew through the stairway just as the dragons got there. He ran into Dolphin, and told the scarred SeaWing to get a meeting with Aryn and Borealis.

Five minutes later, him, Dolphin, Borealis, Skyfire, Sunsetmaker, Grain, and Searipper, as well as a few others that Star didn't recognize, were gathered in the hall that Dolphin had first taken them to. "Stand up, Starsand, son of Grain and Deathslayer, and speak." Aryn said, her voice monotone and calm, like pretty much every other time that Star had been in contact with her.

Star got up and told the dragons gathered around the table about the dragons he had seen. After he finished talking, one of the dragons that Starsand didn't know, a SkyWing IceWing hybrid, roared, "It's the Brotherhood! We must attack as soon as possible!" Aryn muttered something, then calmly said, "We appreciate your comment, Frosty." Frosty opened his mouth to say more, but Aryn interruputed him. "Moving on. Now, it's Frostfighter's turn. Frostfighter?" A dark blue hybrid stood up and said, "Thank you, Aryn. I, personally, believe that if the dragons that the little NightWing SandWing hybrid saw are from the Brotherhood, that we should attack them, but also try to negotiate with the leader, if possible."

"And ask them to do what? Release the hybrids they kidnapped? Ha. That ain't happening. Ever. I know from experience that Tidepool will never let the hybrids that are trapped in his clutches go if he had the choice. He'd sooner throw us all in an erupting volcano than give up his prisoners." Searipper hissed, her eyes stormy, and her talons clenched. "Hush, Sea. Calm yourself." Sky whispered, placing his talon on one of Sea's clenched ones.

"I am calm." "Good. Then stay that way." Searipper didn't respond, instead shooting daggers in Dolphin's direction. 'He still reminds her of Tidepool. He probably always will. We have to figure out a way to dismantle the Phantom Brotherhood and get rid of Tidepool.' A few minutes later, Borealis said, "The verdict is decided. Go and get ready. Aryn, Grain, Dolphin, Starsand, Skyfire, Searipper? You will lead us."

To Aryn and Dolphin, Borealis said, "Gather every able-bodied dragon you can find, and bring them to the central square. Have all others report to the shelters where they will be safe. Tell the guards at the gate to put the base on Lockdown. Tell any dragons who are able to fight to report to the central square. The very young, very old, sick, and disabled can stay behind. It's time for us to finally put up our claws and rally! Go get ready. But first, let's sing our hymn."

"Fight against prejudice of race,
Fight against the dragons who hate,
Fight against the world and all,
Fight for the rights of hybrids or fall!

We fight for the rights of hybrids!
We fight for rights of all!
We fight for the rights of hybrids,
We do this, or We fall!

Fight against prejudice of race,
Fight against those would hate,
Fight for the rights of everyone!
We go and fight, a job well done!

We fight for the rights of hybrids!
We fight for the rights of all!
We fight for the rights of hybrids,
We do this, or We fall!"

As they filed out, Starsand heard Aryn ask Borealis, "What should I tell them?" Borealis' response was solemn and omnious. "Tell them we're going to war."