Wings Of Destiny: Book 1

Chapter 13

Later that day, as stars started rising in the sky, a piece of roasted meat flopped on to Iceberg's pillar, Sunset was sitting beside Iceberg. "Sorry, thought it would create less attention if I don't fly at you..."

"It's fine." Iceberg turned to Sunset. "How did you do that? Are your scales enchanted to be able to burn though anything you touch?" 

Sunset shook her head. "No, I was born with it. They call us fire scales dragons. When dragons like me hatch, the mothers must go to the highest mountain and throw them off the mountain."

"Oh.." Iceberg said.

Sunset looked at Iceberg. "Are you afraid of me?... Now that you can see what I can do?"

"No, I'm not afraid of you.. it's just.. surprising." Iceberg looked at the smoking SkyWing. 

Sunset looked at the night sky. "Your probably the first then...."

Sunset blinked. "That was weird today, wasn't it?"

"..Yes.."

"The SeaWing—Dolphin—the way he just gave up." She opened and closer her wings. "Why would he do that?" Sunset went on. "It's poor form. I guess I should have pushed him away to make him keep fighting. Her Majesty was pretty angry."

Iceberg nodded, looking down at the arena. She flicked her wings and the chains clinked noisily, earning a growl from the SeaWing next to her.

"It's my responsibility to make the fight exciting if the other dragon won't do it."

"Hey, Sunset? Can I ask you something?" Iceberg asked. Without waiting for an answer, she asked. "Do you LIKE fighting?"

"Of course," Sunset said. "I'm good at fighting—and not much else. And she's my queen. I'm her champion."

"No-no, I mean, would you still do this if-if the Queen didn't tell you to?"

"I would still do it."

"But..why? Why do you like it?" There was a concerned expression on her face.

"Because no one else wants me," Sunset said matter-of-factlly. "No one can even touch me. You saw that."

"If you want to know everything," said Sunset. "I burned up my twin in our egg. I sucked all the fire out of him and scorched him to a crisp." She shrugged, but there was wobbliness to her voice.

"..It seems like you're the Queen's pawn, Sunset."

"I am not!" Sunset hissed.

She then raised an eyebrow. "And I've heard you nearly killed the queen yourself when you met her. So maybe we were both born to kill other dragons," she said.

Iceberg looked for words as she kept her stare on Sunset. "I was protecting my friends. You are just battling."

"Her Majesty said I might as well follow my true nature," Sunset said. "That's how she raised me—letting me be myself, giving my dragons to kill. Maybe you'd feel better if you could be who you really are."

Iceberg looked away from Sunset. "Maybe..maybe I was born a killer. But I chose not to be. I don't like the feeling of blood on my talons, or slicing through scales. And, someone always ends up getting hurt."

When Iceberg looked at Sunset, she had realized she had hurt her feelings.

Iceberg was about to apologize, but she took a shaking breath and stood her ground. "You know killing for sport is not a good thing, Sunset. You could have chose not to kill. But you did. The Queen couldn't have done anything, anyway! Your scales are literal fire!"

Sunset sighed, her wings shifting closer to her.

Iceberg put her chin on her claws, covering her head with her wing tips.

Sunset started flying in the air. "I'll try to see you again. I'm forbidden to talk to you. Her Majesty was really mad when she found out I visited you before. I guess you're not like the other prisoners." 

Iceberg lifted her head to meet Sunset's eyes. There was concern in her expression. "I hope I'll get to see you again, I'm afraid I will go mad without you!" She tried to joke.

Sunset laughed. "Me too!"

She glanced at the Sky palace then back at Iceberg. "I don't know why. I mean, it didn't seem fair. I like talking to you. Her Majesty never has time to talk me, and my only other friend is old and tells the same stories over and over again. You're amazing."

Iceberg felt hot under her scales. She had really never gotten a compliment like that before. "And so are you!"

Sunset grinned, sharp white teeth flashing in the moonlight. "That's what Her Majesty says. She likes me the way I am and nobody else ever has. Until you."

Iceberg smiled back. "I think there are more people that think you're amazing!" She stood and sat, facing Sunset.

Sunset grinned. "I hope so."

She hesitated, looking at her. "You wouldn't do that, would you?"

"Do what?" Iceberg tilted her head.

"Kill yourself like that," she said. "The way Dolphin did." 

"Probably not. Unless it meant I could free my friends..then yes." She said with certainly, righting herself firmly .

Sunset shrugged. "Well, that's good. I'd much rather kill you fair and square. Well, good night!" She leapt up into the air and beat her wings, sending a wave of heat over Iceberg's scales.

Iceberg recoiled at the heat, but she smiled. "Night!"