Darkness Falls ~ Book 1 ~ A Wings of Fire Fanfiction

Prologue ~ The Supposed Final Battle

Cricket would never get used to fighting. 

The sounds of dragons screaming in pain mixed up with the metallic smell of fresh blood and the dry thuds of bodies falling to the ground, never to rise again, made her feel sick. But she had to fight.

Whenever she faltered, she thought about the dragons who were depending on the success of this battle, and used that to keep her going.

"Hold the line!" Cricket heard Tsunami cry. "Don't let them advance!"

The HiveWing felt a burning pain in her left shoulder blade and whirled around to claw at the source of it, which turned out to be a wiry NightWing who just barely managed to duck out of the way. He shot a terrified look at Cricket, before scuttling away.

She paused, confused. Why was he scared of her? And then she realized that he'd never been looking at her, only past her.

"Destroy that HiveWing!" a chorus of eerie voices hissed from behind. "Don't let her escape!"

Cricket dove into the mess of dragons, ducking and dodging as she tried to escape Wasp's minions. In the end, it was no use. Just as she skittered out from behind a large SeaWing, she realized she was trapped. Ranks of HiveWings surrounded her, their eyes all blank.

The SeaWing Cricket had been hiding behind yelped, and tried to get past them, but was instantly taken down by a dozen different tail-stingers.

"Do stop trying to run," the horde hissed in unison. "It is beginning to get tiring, you and your antics."

"Never!" Cricket shouted back defiantly, trying to mask the tremor in her voice. "I'll never stop!"

"That's what you think," they murmured, and began to advance. "Shall I prove you wrong?"

"Leave her alone!"

Seconds before the other HiveWings would have reached her, Blue flew by and coated half of them in flamesilk. 

Taking advantage of the distraction, Cricket threw herself into the air, beating her wings steadily to keep up with Blue.

"Fall back!" a new voice cried, and she glanced up hopefully. We're the villains giving up already? Unfortunately, it wasn't Darkstalker who'd voiced the command, it was Queen Glory.

"But-" Cricket stammered, hovering.

"Don't stop, we need to go," Blue told her, his eyes sad. "We're outnumbered and overpowered."

Nodding slowly, Cricket followed him, watching the rest of their allies lift off as well, like a flock of huge birds. The giant pack slowly scattered into smaller groups, all of which disappeared into the distance within moments. Cricket watched them go, and then flew even faster, not wanting to be caught.

Before she left them behind completely, she made one last promise:

"Whatever happens...we will defeat them in the end."