Burning Flame

Chapter One

The dark stillness of the cavern was suddenly disrupted by the sharp squeak of a new hatchling.
A dazzling vermilion female dragon was curled up under a ledge near the back of the cave, her eyes sparkling and a soft thrum reverberating through her chest. She bent her head down and nosed a small, still wet hatchling. He gave a thin peep, his body and mind exhausted from his hatching.
He was almost the same color as his mother, only a little more orange, like a burning ember.
He looked at everything around him with wide, vulnerable eyes and he uttered an excited squeak. Then he tried to jump up and land on his feet, but his new limbs trembled and gave out beneath him. He landed hard on his belly and he let out a small grunt as the air was knocked out of him. He shook his head and blinked up at his mother. She looked back down at him with loving eyes, and she bent her head down again to nudge him with her snout.
"You can do it, Blaze. Like my mother always said; try until you succeed. Now let me see you succeed, my little fighter."
The hatchling, Blaze, stayed on the ground for a few moments. He seemed to be assessing the situation as he looked down at his small, wobbly legs and the big, dark cavern all around him. Then, with one final glance at his mother, he heaved himself to his feet. He stood there for a moment, his legs trembling and his heart thumping in his chest. Then he let out a triumphant screech as he realized what he had done. His mother smiled down at him and he grinned back, his tail lashing back and forth in his excitement. But then exhaustion overtook him and he opened his mouth wide in a great big yawn. He curled up next to his mother's chest and gradually fell asleep to the soothing and rhythmic beating of her heart.
After a little while the female suddenly looked up, her eyes wide and bright.
A great red male stood in the entrance with wings flared and scales gleaming. He had a wide and joyous grin on his face.
"Inferno," she whispered, " come take a look at your son. Your heir."
Inferno walked almost silently over to where she lay curled up under one of the many ledges. He nuzzled her with his snout and looked down at the small hatchling sleeping soundly beside her.
His smile vanished.
"He's so small. You're sure he's healthy? It's supposed to be a male, am I correct?"
"Yes, he's a male, and he is not small for being newly hatched. In fact, he has already stood by himself. There's no reason to worry about our son," she replied, " and his name is Blaze. I thought it was fitting for him."
Blaze woke up suddenly, and his eyes locked onto his fathers'. Inferno stared into his son's fiery orange eyes, and he suddenly felt a pang of fear. Why, he did not know.
"Everything is going well? With the war?" the female inquired.
Snapped out of his reverie, Inferno replied,
"Yes, Magma, my love, everything is going fine. The battle was gory but we won, as I am happy to report. Where is Solaris?"
The female named Magma sighed. Her face seemed tired and worn out.
"She had to attend to her regiment. Apparently a small group of her soldiers participated in the battle, against her direct orders. She didn't want to leave me unguarded, but she had to punish the soldiers before they got too out of hand."
Inferno nodded and turned towards the entrance of the cave. His eyes were dull and tired now and his head seemed to sag suddenly.
"I need sleep," he growled, half to himself and half to Magma.
"I know," she whispered, " These past few moons have been trying for both of us."
He turned to face her.
"I love you," he growled, " I hope you know that."
"Of course I know that, Inferno. That's why I worry so much."
He nuzzled her again with his snout until the thrumming in her chest got louder and her mouth twitched up at the corners.
"Ok Inferno. You need to stop for a second so that I don't disturb Blaze with my humming," she laughed quietly.
Blaze uttered a peep of approval as his father drew back a little bit.
"He's already awake, Magma," Inferno whispered, his head hovering only inches from hers.
"Just go to sleep," she murmured.
She buffeted him playfully with her snout before laying her head down to go to sleep.
He stood there for a few moments, unsure of what to do. Then he walked over to stand beside Magma. He curled up around her, his body fitting perfectly against hers. He draped the wing closest to her over her side and over his new child. Then he drifted into a light sleep, his restless dreams full of battles, glory, and his new heir. Blaze just slept peacefully next to his mother, completely and blissfully unaware of the future that awaited him.

***

As dawn began its gradual climb on the horizon, a deafening scream pierced the air. The scream was not that of a bird or a dragon, but that of a horse. A pegasus, in fact.
A snow white pegasus was collapsed on the ground, her breathing short and labored. A newborn foal was sprawled out on the grass beside her. The foal was bright white, like her mother, but she also had a small silver stripe lining the top of her muzzle. Her amber eyes stared at her anguished mother and she instinctually knew something was off.
Her mother barely managed to lift up her head and watch her new foal with enough love to make the most ruthless warrior falter.
"Serenity,"she whispered," my beautiful daughter. I will always love you, no matter what happens."
Then her mother passed out, leaving the vulnerable foal to fend for herself in the hushed green meadow.
The foal named Serenity tried to stand and help her mother but she just crumpled pitifully to the ground in a heap. She whinnied and snorted, her innocent eyes locked on her mother. She pushed herself off of the ground with so much effort that every muscle in her body tensed and shook uncontrollably. She managed to stumble forward and fall right next to her mother. She nudged her with her snout and uttered fearful cries until she felt a whoosh of air behind her. She turned her head and found herself looking at a majestic male pegasus with silky white fur and a strong, intelligent face. He had sleek and strong features that made her immediately like him and fear him at the same time. She neighed at the strange pegasus, hoping desperately that he could fix the situation. He seemed completely calm, his focus more on her rather than her unconscious mother. He came forward and nuzzled the top of her head. She flinched away, unsure of what to do.
"Be calm, my wonderful new daughter. I will take care of your mother," the male said, his noble gaze leaving her and landing on the face of her mother.
He took a step to the side and lowered his head so his snout touched her mother's cheek. She seemed to stir a little as he nudged her with enough force to lift her head off of the ground for a split second.
"Snow," he whispered, "wake up. Please."
She twitched and her eyelids fluttered, but she still lay on the ground passed out. The male stamped in frustration and shook his head.
"A tough birth," he muttered, "she'll get over it soon."
He turned back to Serenity.
She stared at him with wide eyes, afraid and awestruck by this giant stranger. He watched her for a moment, trying to figure out the situation. Then he said,
"My daughter, I don't know your name yet, but I can tell you mine. I am Cyclone, but you can call me Father."
Serenity kept staring at him, unsure and utterly confused.
Cyclone sighed.
"Now we wait," he said.
He walked a little ways away from Serenity, knowing that she wanted her space. Then he kneeled down and bowed his head to take a brief rest.
Serenity kept glancing from him to her mother. Then she tried to stand again. She succeeded and she clumsily stumbled over to her father. He looked up and his mouth turned up at the corners. He lifted one of his wings and she nosed her way under it. She cuddled close to his side, letting out a small sigh. Then the two of them fell asleep, their bodies quiet and calm under the rising sun.