Wings of Fire: Melting Ice #2

Chapter 2

Aurora shakily held her talons to her mouth. She enchanted herself to stop listening to the conversation, and her head drooped down even more. The coldness of her sister's words cut deeper than the claws of any dragon. She wished she could rewind time so she never listened to that conversation.

"Bye, Frost," Plum suddenly called. "Oh, uh, when can we meet again?" She asked.

"Tomorrow, at sunset," Frost answered. "I bet you'd look even more pretty during a sunset!" He complemented, his tail flicking.

"And you'd look even more handsome!" Plum said back, her purple scales shifting to a pink. 

Aurora almost wanted to get up and claw her sister's face and give her another scar to think about. But she stayed glued to the rock, her eyes feeling wet as tears welled up in them. She curled inward even more, feeling like a tiny speck of nothing in an endless void. She could picture her sister's stupid face laughing at her, her insults being throw at her like rocks. 

"What are you doing?" An irritated voice snapped.

Aurora was pulled forcefully from her thoughts, and she saw her sister standing over her with an annoyed look plastered onto her face. She quickly scrambled to her feet, almost slipping on the icy rock that her talons preciously gripped. "I-I'm not doing anything!" She stuttered quickly.

"Really? You're over here rolling all over this rock and grumbling like a grumpy SkyWing," Plum growled. "You're sulking over here, but don't be surprised that everyone notices you."

"Please, stop. Just leave me alone," Aurora growled, sinking back.

"Or what? Is your pathetic little self going to use your animus magic to keep me away from you?" Plum mocked, her voice a higher pitch. "Maybe you'll use your magic to make you pretty, you ugly brat. But then it'd be fake-"

"Stop!" Aurora hissed, her lips curling back to reveal sharp teeth.

"You can't hurt me, and you know that," Plum hissed, her words cutting deep into Aurora's head.

Don't let it get to you! Aurora tried to tell herself that Plum was nothing, but she knew that wasn't true. I'm the one who's a nothing. Her head hung in shame as she backed away.

"Awww, are you gonna call your boyfriend to come and save you?" Plum taunted, her face coming closer as her cold stare pierced through Aurora's eyes.

Aurora avoided her gaze. Sometimes I wish it were that way. Then suddenly she was shoved down by a heavy force, and she fell into the snow. She gasped in surprise as Plum stood over her, holding her talons in the air.

"Pathetic," Plum spat, then her talons swung towards Aurora's face. The hybrid closed her eyes, flinching before it even hit her. The serrated claws slashed across her snout, spraying a line of blood blue on the snow.

"Stop that now, Plum!" A loud voice boomed. The two hybrids turned to see Queen Iceberg flying towards them. Her eyes were clouded with sadness for some reason. Was it because of the fight, or something else?

Queen Iceberg landed in the snow, her eyes hardening with anger as her stare dug into Plum. "What's wrong with you? I warned you after the first fight, and you can't even listen!" She hissed.

Plum hung her head, avoiding her mother's gaze. "Yes, mother," she sighed.

"Look at me!" Iceberg hissed. "And promise me you won't hurt Aurora again," she demanded.

Plum threw her head up, her eyes widening. "But-"

"No 'buts' Plum!" Iceberg growled. "Now look me in the eyes and tell me you won't hurt Aurora again," she demanded.

Plum stood straight as the other gazes of IceWings landed on her. The purple scales in her wings and talons shifted to crimson as she was embarrassed. She met her the queen's dark blue eyes, her body stiff. "I promise you that I won't hurt my sister," she informed.

"Now that that's out of the way," Queen Iceberg sighed, the sadness returning to her eyes. "You two need to come back to the palace. There's... something we need to discuss."

"W-what is it?" Aurora asked, leaning forward. Blood from the scratches trickled down her snout and dripped onto the snow, staining it a dark blue.

Queen Iceberg spread her wings, and lifted into the air. "Come to the palace," she said, flicking her tail as she began to fly towards the palace.

Plum grumbled, spreading her wings and purposefully hitting Aurora. "You think you're safe now?" She growled. Before Aurora could respond, the hybrid lifted into the air with a snort.

Aurora sighed, then spread her wings and took off into the air. Stupid Plum! It should've been her to die, not our brother! She curled her lip, her snout wrinkling in hatred. I'll get revenge soon, just you wait! She wished she could grab Plum's tail to yank her towards her, and score a gash in her snout.

Aurora's suddenly echoed with the past insults from Plum. 'You aren't even normal! Those icescales are a curse! You never should've been born!' She wanted to scream, to sink into the ground and hide from everyone, especially her sister. She is right though, Aurora thought with sadness, I am a curse.