Wings of Fire • Dragon of Warriors [3]

Chapter Six

Long ago in ancient times, before Queens existed and scavengers ruled the world, SwiftScales used to live on Pyrrhia.

     Of course, back then, they were known as the SwiftWings. They lived on a mountain overlooking the Diamond Spray River, the ocean to the east and desert to the west, the swamp just a short flight south. Life was good: the adults spent long hours at sea hunting for fish, dragonets playing among the crags and crannies of their home, watched by the elders.

     Before the Scorching, no one lived in tribes. Dragons tended to stick to the environments that suited them best and for SwiftWings and SkyWings it was in the same place. They had always known of the SwiftWings. Hybrids were a common occurrence. Both tribes had lived in an easy peace and helped each other out if they needed it.

     Then, one day, the neighbouring SkyWing tribe got greedy. They had formed rules, cities – a Queen – and were out to establish a territory. They burned scavenger outposts strategically, claiming more and more area for themselves. The SwiftWings' mountain was in the way.

     The SkyWings arrived and began to purge. Any hybrids found were executed on the spot, dragonets slaughtered to strike fear into those remaining. The plan had been to drive the SwiftWings out – and they succeeded

     The remaining dragons were scattered but collected by a brave SwiftWing with the talent to lead. They left and never returned. Finding Ventus, they abandoned everything related to their old home. They retained their knowledge and the memory of their Exile, however, to ensure that future generations remembered the purge and would always fear the SkyWings.

     And today, that fear was finally realized.

     The crowd dissolved into pandemonium. Mothers grabbed their children and spread their wings to fly away as fast as possible. They were so panicked that some crashed into each other in midair. Several families weren't able to find each other in time, or got lost, or separated, and what was left was dragonets racing around, crying in hysteria. The story of the Exile was ingrained into them from a young age, and as soon as they saw the fabled Wings of Blood on the horizon, they screeched in fear and panic.

     King Rapidwings and Queen Swansong did their best to take control of the situation. Swansong grabbed a dragonet that ran by her and kept her still, calming her and spreading her wings to gain the attention of her subjects.

     "Dragonets! Listen!" she shouted, "Stand still and wait for your parents to find you. Everyone, stay calm and take deep breaths. Dragonets, you can't find someone you know, come to me and we'll come to hide at my nest."

     No one listened. Mostly because the dragonets were screaming and no one could actually hear her. Queen Swansong gave up quickly and seemed to focus on trying to calm down the dragons closest to her.

     The soldiers were also scared. The newly appointed graduates stared between themselves with wide eyes, dumbfounded. Some of the older mentors had shocked expressions as well, as if they never expected this day to come.

     And Quickclaws?

     Well, Quickclaws felt much the same way.

     As a dragonet, he had been scared of the SkyWings. When they discovered the SeaWings and the rest of Pyrrhia, he knew that something bad would happen in the future. After the SkyWings arrived two days ago, angry about a stolen egg, he knew that eventually, the rivalry would escalate.

     He just didn't expect it to be today.

     Looking out at the bay, he could see the red dragons were approaching fast. The thunder of their wings reminded him just why SwiftScales called gatherings of dragons thunders; the snap of hundreds of pairs of flapping wings sounded just like its namesake.