Wings of Power: The Rising Tribe [SERIES CLOSED]

Chapter 5

Vein walked around his Camp, surprised to see that he was back.

Surely Queen Magma must have forgiven him for killing Fleshdigger, even if it was by accident. "Oh well," he said, as he thought about Fleshdigger's funeral. He wasn't worried, because he knew the Queen had forgiven him.

Vein walked around, filling the warrior's bowls, and they didn't sneer at him. One even smiled at him.

He'd done it. The Queen had forgiven him, he recovered Gory, and he was back at his camp, going around and filling bowls.

Then he checked his tent.

He went to his sundial and it read "lunchtime for the Queen". So he went and hunted a nice, fat pig. He scooped it up, beheaded it, and blew fire at it, cooking it. Then he went to get his platter and placed the scorched pig on it. He walked to Magma's palace, beaming with pride. The guards had moved for him as he carried his platter. 

He walked to the banquet hall and saw Queen Magma seated at the table. When she noticed him, she beamed at him as he walked towards her, setting her platter.

He expected her to smile and tell him he was dismissed, but then something happened. Suddenly Magma's face contorted with rage, and she kicked Vein into the wall. She stalked towards him and grabbed his neck. She raised one arm, and before she slashed, she said, "I hate you." 

And she brought the talon down and Vein---

"GAH!" Vein yelled as he jumped up, panting, relieved that his nightmare was over. Over on the east, the sun was beginning to rise. He got up and noticed that he was now at the coast of Grinnen. 

Wait, what?

How was that possible? The creek wasn't actually an ocean . . . was it? He turned to see the pointed stones and the creek now far too the north. Vein gritted his teeth. I've been dragged here . . . by what?

It might be that he thrashed a lot as he slept. But Vein didn't think that was possible, as he would've splashed into the creek and died. 

Then all of a sudden, a bubbling noise erupted from the water, along with shockwaves expanding out. And there, about fifteen meters away, a furry head popped out of the water and flew into the air.

How is that possible? Vein thought as he looked at the dragon, who was now shaking herself out.

Then he realized---that was a TimeWing. Didn't TimeWings have magic for drying super fast?

She stopped when she noticed Vein looking at her. Her fur seemed to dry themselves and go back upright. Vein happened to glance at her tail before it was covered in fur and found the wickedly-sharp tail. 

"Oh, so now you're awake? I was beginning to wonder if you were dead. I nearly snapped your neck and would have if you didn't kick me into the ocean."

Vein growled softly.

"Hey, now, BloodWing. You better not try and attack me, because I've killed two adult BloodWings, you know. You would be dead in minutes if you attacked me."

Vein noticed his snout was still closed and forced it open. "What are you doing here? This is the Abandoned Land!"

She glanced up at Vein. "You didn't even ask my name! Oh well. A spy reported to our council that an injured BloodWing was here, so we decided we'd ask you some questions before you left. Or execute you, since your queen killed Granite!" She yelled at the last part.

"Granite . . . as. . . ." Vein muttered.

"Yep," said the TimeWing. "You've heard of me."

Vein was face-to-face with the TimeWing Queen Magma hated most: Marble of the TimeWings.