Retribution - A Wings of Fire Fanfiction

Chapter 1

Specter rounded the bend in the path wearily, his legs and wings exhausted from the long journey. A small pouch of fruit and meat dangled from his neck, feeling especially heavy because of its importance. Recently, food had become scarce in the Night Kingdom, so now its residents had to head all the way to the Kingdoms of Sand or Rain to eat.

"I'm home!" he announced, stepping into the house he shared with his mother, Vision. It was fairly run-down, but then again, what building in the Night Kingdom wasn't? The Sentinels were no help, that was for sure.

"Over here," Vision called from out back, and Specter left his bag on the kitchen counter as he went to meet her. From the thoughts he heard racing through her head, it would appear she was trying to revive their garden, and Specter immediately forced his ability into the back of his mind. It always felt like intruding when he listened in on his mother's thoughts.

"Hey Mom," he said as he stepped out of the house and into the meager plot of land that was their backyard. Vision had already tried and failed several times to turn it into a garden, but apparently she wasn't going to be giving up.

"Hello," the lithe NightWing greeted him with a cheerful smile. That was one of things Specter loved about his mother - you could always count on her to lift your spirits with her positive attitude.

"I brought supper," Specter announced, spreading his wings and wrapping her in a tight hug. "It's not very much, but..."

Hearing his suddenly desolate tone, Vision grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her. "Don't blame yourself," she told him forcefully, her expression fierce. "Food is hard to find. I understand, and while I wish it were otherwise, I'm positive we'll pull through. So stop beating yourself up for things you can't control."

Specter hesitated, and then smiled. "Alright, I'll try." He disentangled himself from his mother and started back towards the house. "I'll bring the food out for you."

Vision nodded, and he could feel her gaze piercing his scales as he turned and disappeared into the cool shade. The bag was easy to find, exactly where he'd put it, and he snatched it up. And then froze.

It had almost sounded like...but no, that wasn't possible. Specter listened as hard as he could, and this time cold waves of dread began to wash over him. Way down the path, two dragons were walking towards the house, which was unusual on the best of days, but that wasn't what worried him. It was the way neither one seemed to have any thoughts. Their minds were completely, utterly, blank.

"M-mom?" Specter stammered, his eyes unfocused as he continued listening to the strange minds, half in shock.

"What is it?" Vision asked, sweeping over to his side as soon as she heard the unease in his voice.

"I-I don't know..." he mumbled. "I can't hear their thoughts..."

Vision instantly tensed up. Without any explanation, she bolted away in the direction of her room. Specter didn't question it, and instead walked to the front door, intending to get a glimpse of the strangers. Before he could, however, his mother rushed back into the room and dragged him backwards by his wing.

"Take this!" she ordered, thrusting a leather pouch into his claws. "Take it, and go! Now!"

Specter was so shocked by her demeanor that she succeeded in shoving him halfway to the backyard before he planted his feet and spun around.

"What's going on?" he demanded. "Who are those dragons? Why are you so scared of them?" And it was true. His mother's mind betrayed her absolute terror at the thought of the strangers.

"There's no time!" Vision snapped, pushing him another tail-length. "Go! Before they get here!"

"Not without any answers!" Specter cried, the fear his mother felt infecting his own mood. Suddenly he too was terrified by the thoughtless dragons.

"You'll find out soon enough," she told him, her voice becoming calm, which was almost scarier than her earlier panic. "Just promise me...stay away from the Sentinels. I've tried to shelter you, but they've found us. Now go!"

"The Sentinels? Mom, what are you talking about?" Specter lost another tail-length in his surprise. Now he was almost completely outside.

"Remember this: you can tell a Sentinel from a normal dragon because Sentinel's do not think! Understand?"

"Y-yes, but..."

"No buts!" Vision said fiercely, glancing backwards worriedly. "Go now!"

Specter stumbled out into the garden, crushing several small sprouts under his talons.  His wings were already half spread, and he took off into the air, making sure to keep low to avoid being seen as easily. It wasn't until he'd flown into the nearby forest that he realized his mother hadn't followed.

With a muted yelp, he landed and ran back to the edge of the forest, peering through the trees at the house. From that vantage point, he could see Vision whirling around in one jerky movement that was nothing like her usual elegance. Her wings flared, obscuring his view of what was going on for a brief moment and when they lowered, the two strangers were slithering through the back door and into the backyard.

One was a SeaWing with dark blue scales that were almost grey, while the other was an abnormally large NightWing. Both seemed huge and intimidating next to his comparatively small mother.

"What do you want?" Vision spat, and Specter winced at the hatred she exuded from her thoughts.

"You."

The simplicity of the single word that tore Specter's life to shreds amazed him.

But at the moment, all he cared about was his mother's safety, and when the two dragons from different tribes started dragging her back into the house, it was only the thoughts she sent him that kept him frozen and safe.

I love you, her mind whispered. But don't waste your life for me. Go, go and be safe.

And so Specter did exactly what she asked him to, even as he heard her shrieks echo through the forest behind him. He turned and fled.