Heart of the Rainforest

Prologue

Peyote anxiously tossed his spear from talon to talon, flicking his sand-coloured wings back. He was pretty sure the dragon behind him was annoyed with him, but he couldn't help it. He was too nervous.

He didn't want to go to war. He had been hiding in the oasis village for a reason, after all. But of course the SandWing army had run dry, so of course the general had raided all the oases she could find for healthy young SandWings.

Which of course meant Peyote was bundled away to the palace, given a spear and a helmet, and shoved into line.

He had seen what could happen in war. He had seen the veterans flee to the Scorpion Den, to the oasis village where he had lived before. He had seen the battlefield, the bloodshed, and he had seen his friends vanish before his eyes.

One moment, Mamba was there, fighting by his side, wing to wing with him, as they always were, and the next, she was gone.

It had been over half a year now. Peyote didn't have a clue what had happened, but guessing what he'd heard about the Sky Kingdom, she was probably long gone. 

What a great train of thought to have right before you go into battle, He shook himself and whacked the dragon next to him in the face with his wing. She growled at him and he mumbled a quiet apology.

Peyote's heart raced. He didn't want to go into battle again. He had only been in one since Mamba died, and he didn't want to go back. 

He missed her so much.

"Quit swinging your tail around, rat-face!" The dragon behind him hissed. 

Peyote tucked his tail tightly around his talons. He blinked hard, happy that his helmet mostly masked his face, which meant none of the soldiers around him would be able to see him crying.

He glanced down at the scars on his tail. They sliced straight through the frill on his tail, left there by SkyWing claws in battle.

The battle Mamba died in, He remembered sadly. Of course I have  to find a way to relate everything to her.

What's even the point anymore?

Why do I let them boss me around?

What's left to lose?

He pressed his wings against his sides and tightened his grip on the spear in his talons.

He could just get up and leave now. Nothing they could do to him could be worse than what he was feeling right now. 

Just as he started to stand, the general stepped out in front of the army and he automatically snapped into a practiced stance, along with all the other SandWing soldiers. The general was a large, burly female with scuffed greyish scales pockmarked with scars. She had narrow black eyes that searched the soldiers with an unimpressed expression.

"The flight will be long," She boomed, making Peyote jump. "It will likely take several days, but it will be worth it."

Oh, Mamba, I wish you were here.

"According to our spies, the RainWings are currently struggling with their army." She paced slowly back and forth in front of the soldiers. "Which is why right now is the perfect time to attack, when they're least expecting it, when they're underprepared."

Peyote anxiously fiddled with his spear, carving shallow lines in the wooden handle. He wanted to get up, to fly away, to turn to the vast sandy dunes of the Kingdom of Sand and never stop, but he couldn't move. He could barely breathe.

"So," General Swelter stopped and eyed the amassed soldiers sideways. The corners of her mouth curled into a small smile. "What are we waiting for? Let's go burn down the rainforest."