Misfits of Vernada

[Ranger of the North]

Chapter Thirty

Zappy

Zappy’s wings faltered in dismay as he saw the vast expanse of water ahead.

No! he thought, a stab of anguish lancing through his body. No, Moon, no! Don’t tell me you’ve flown over the Great Sea! NO!

He drifted miserably toward the ground, hardly seeing in his grief. Barely noticing as Freedom waved the others back to give him some space. He stumbled to the ground and landed in the white, partially solid, freezing cold sand.

Draping his bronze wings over his snout, Zappy wept for the first time in his life, sobbing all the dejection, frustration, fear, loneliness, and worry of the last few days and months into the embracing sand. Shaking with the effort of trying to control his grief he raised his head and stumbled toward the water, hoping to drown his hysterical grief in the freezing waves, but still the shuddering convulsions continued.

The only thing that had sustained him through the hard, pain-filled weeks of flight to arrive had been the thought that Moon needed him. He could help her; she wouldn’t hurt herself or anyone else if he reached her. He knew she could be saved, but know she was gone. Gone forever. Vanished who-knows-where over the vast ocean. Or in it somewhere, tossed by the waves but peaceful at last.

The grief was a physical feeling in his body that he couldn’t handle. Everything hurt too much. He burrowed his head in the sand and continued to sob, but less violently now, slowly quieting.

“What’s wrong?” a strange voice asked suddenly, and he shot his head up in surprise to see the strangest creature he had ever seen peering down at him, a mixture of curiosity and pity in her gaze. “I didn’t know dragons could cry.”

She had obviously been heading for the water before she’d run into him, for she had no hind-legs and no wings, only flippers—not to mention gills!

“What—who’re you?” he croaked in amazement, hardly believing his eyes as another shuddering sob forced its way out.

The creature laughed softly as she moved the smaller flippers on her sides self-consciously. “I’m a k’lrak. My name’s R’tan. Who’re you? Why were you crying?”

Zappy sighed and explained his story, trying to hold his immeasurable grief back.

“Oh,” R’tan shuffled in the sand and beat her flukes excitedly. “A purple dragon flew overhead a few days ago! It was probably your friend!

“There have also been rumours of one of our tribes caring for a dragon in the West, but they’ve been discarded as false. It could be her! Let’s go see!” She waddled clumsily toward the water as Zappy stood motionless, hardly breathing.

He could find her after all? His journey hadn’t all been based on a vain hope? He could scarcely believe it.

Suddenly a wave of ice-cold water washed over Zappy’s body and he leapt away with a cat-like hiss. “What was’at for?” he demanded grumpily as he shook his each of limbs one by one, cleaning off the water and sand.

“Statues won’t find lost friends,” the k’lrak said, smiling mischievously as she glided through the water like a graceful serpent. “You coming or not?”

“Definitely.” Zappy waded eagerly into the surf, then stopped suddenly, an expression of dismay on his snout.

“Wait!” he cried as the young k’lrak dove underwater.

“I brought friends,” he explained as her questioning head popped back into view. “I can’t leave them behind; the only reason they came was to help me and Moon.”

R’tan nodded, understanding. “Go on, then,” she said, splashing water at him with her flukes. “Meet me here, I’ll go get some reinforcements.” She gave him a mischievous wink and leapt into the air, twisting upside-down and cutting into the restless deep like a knife.

Zappy shook his head in amazement, grinning from ear to ear before rearing up and beating his wings, jumping skyward with a joyful bound.

# # # # # # # # # # # # #

“So where—is Moon—supposed—to be—exactly?” Darkfire asked tensely, trying to speak past the heavy panting that shuddered through his lungs.

“How’m I—supposed—to know?” Zappy panted back, grinning slightly. He stilled his wingbeats to glide and waited ‘til speaking became easier. “All R’tan said was that she had heard rumours of a tribe of k’lrak caring for a purple dragon far in the West. She didn’t say how far.”

“I can see why,” Freedom groaned as she glided down next to them. “I’m used to flying for long periods of time, but we’ve been flying for hours!”

The two males groaned.

“Don’t remind me,” Zappy added, a mischievous glint in his golden eyes. He glanced ahead at the Stormriders and released an envious sigh. With their larger wings they were handling the long flight and rough winds much better than their Sharpshooter companions—and half Sharpshooter, Zappy thought wryly as he glanced sideways at Darkfire.

With a tired grunt he angled his wings and swooped nearer to the water; instantly a dark k’lrak reared part-way out of the water, grinning at the exhausted dragon as the bronze form landed on his back, nearly slipping on the wet scales.

Zappy gently hooked his claws under the k’lrak’s scales—feeling him shudder at the unpleasant sensation—and curled into a weary ball, glad that R’tan had had the wisdom to drag three of her older brothers and her father along with the group.

They were extremely useful for resting on, but not so comfortable for sleeping on, Zappy reflected drowsily as his eyes drifted shut.

# # # # # # # # # # # # #

Slash jerked his snout up with a yelp of pain, nearly sliding off of the k’lrak’s slippery back and beating his wings wildly to regain his balance.

“What?” he asked accusingly, glaring at the laughing snout that had woken him with a hard rap to the ribs.

“I’m G’yern, I do have a name, you know,” he said, amused. “And we’re here. Father has gone down to make sure we can intrude.” His eyes twinkled at Zappy’s rapt expression. “Calm down, you think your girl wants to see you like this?”

Zappy snorted, and G’yern coughed as a cloud of smoke rolled over his snout. “She’s not my girl,” he said, annoyed. “She’s my sister.”

“Ahh,” G’yern nodded knowingly and opened his mouth to speak again, but whatever he was going to say was cut off as the water nearby bubbled and a long neck burst out.

R’tan’s father was the hugest creature Zappy had ever seen—including Waterfall and Magma—and must’ve been at least two-hundred years old.

His deep voice rumbled through the air like an ocean wave. “The family of k’lrak is agreeable towards your visit, but Moon does not know you are here. You may enter.

“Five metres down you will see a rocky formation coursing down to the bottom of the sea. Enter, and you will soon reach an air pocket and your friend.”

Zappy nodded, his eyes shining. “Thank you, Sir,” he said, bowing his head, for the ancient k’lrak awed him. “Thanks to all of you.” His gaze passed over the assembled dragons and k’lrak, then he tensed his hind-legs and dove eagerly into the freezing water.

He followed R’tan down, down, down. Then she glanced back with sparkling eyes and waved a flipper at a cave in the wall next to them.

Zappy nodded gratefully and dove through the space. Water filled the cavern for several metres, and he caught glimpses of k’lrak snouts in side-passages as he went. Most curious, but some beaming in delight.

Finally, his snout erupted out of the water into an air-filled cavern and he instantly twisted around, searching for any glimpse of—

A purple shape huddled on the smooth rock that sloped out of the water.

Emotions washed through Zappy’s being, each one stronger than the last. Disbelief, hope, elation, excitement, love, and joy swirling faster and faster within him. He couldn’t contain it, and silent tears ran down his snout.

She must’ve heard his shuddering intake of breath, because she flinched and turned, eyes wide. “Zappy?” she breathed. “Zappy, is—is that really you?”

Her voice broke him from his stupor. “MOON!” he roared, launching out of the water toward her like a volcano. “Moon, it’s you! It’s really you!”

He couldn’t stop the tears. Didn’t want to stop the rapturous sobbing. It was all a wonderful release from the trauma of the past few weeks and he embraced it.

[Woogwoo Wren]

Chapter thirty-one

Moon

Chapter thirty-one

Moon lifted her head, and saw in shock Zappy in the water. She stared, questions rushing through her mind, as well as relief.

‘How did he find me? How did he get over the sea? He’s alive!’

Then he rushed forward, the joy evident in his face.

Moon jerked back, away from Zappy. In her week of self-exile, she had almost come to believe that even being near her friends would hurt them.

As Zappy landed on the ledge in front of him, her heart nearly broke at the confusion and worry in his eyes.

“Moon?” he asked, stepping forward slowly.

She shook her head, stepping away from him, her wings out.

“Zappy –,” she began. The scars on his neck were painfully white. Fang’s words came back to her – back when he was still Sparkles – and before they arrived at the Stormrider city; “I will dig my claws into him and rip his throat out.”

She felt tears prick her eyes, and shook her head again. She had done what Fang threatened to do.

“Its not safe for you to be here,” she whispered. “Go, leave me.”

“Moon, its fine! I’m okay,” he said, the pain on his face breaking her heart. “I’m fine.”

But she could tell he wasn’t. His voice was husky, and it sounded painful for him to talk. She had done that to him.

“No, you’re not okay,” she said, fighting back tears. If he saw how hard this was for her, then he would never leave. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, her heart aching for what she was about to do.

“I’ve decided something,” she struggled to keep her voice strong. “You’ve never done anything for me.” The young dragon forced herself to look into Zappy’s eyes, and made what she said as sincere as possible, trying not to see the betrayal and hurt in his eyes.

“I don’t want to be your friend anymore. I don’t regret doing what I did. I’m going to stay here, and you’re going to go back. We’re finished. I was only your friend back in the hatchling caves so I would have someone to talk to, none of the other Stormriders would be near me because of my strange colouring.” She shrugged, struggling to keep her emotions in. “And now I have no need for you, so you can go.”

She turned, partly to add to the effect of disinterest, but mostly so he wouldn’t see the tears in her eyes. Or she the betrayal in his.

“Moon?” she heard Zappy cry, hurt in his voice. “Y – you don’t mean it, do you?”

It took all her strength to not turn and throw her wings around him. Instead, she blinked back the tears and turned, snarling.

“Of course I do! Go away!” she snapped. Zappy stared at her, and everything about him dropped, his wings, his tail, his frill, his head. Tears glistened in his eyes, and he turned, nodding slowly.

“If that’s what you want,” he whispered, padding back to the water. “I – I’ll go. Goodbye Moon.”

Moon forced herself to stand until he had vanished under the water. Then she collapsed onto her seaweed nest and wept. She didn’t stop, crying for Zappy, that she had to be so cruel. But it was the only thing she could do to make him go away.

######

L’rin woke her, poking her with his webbed claw. Moon just turned away, not wanting to talk to him at the moment.

But he persisted, poking her more. Finally, she spun, snarling.

“Go away,” she snapped. The young k’lrak leapt back in surprise. “Sorry,” Moon muttered. “I don’t feel like talking right now.”

“Okay,” he said, turning back and going into the water. “Pop says you need to eat,” he gestured to a small pile of fish beside Moon, and vanished under the waves.

Moon scowled, knocking the fish into the sea. It was better that she didn’t eat, that she died. She didn’t care.

“You need to eat,” a voice said, and she looked up to see J’ran.

“I’m not hungry,” she muttered, turning away. But the k’lrak persisted, climbing out of the water and moving in front of her.

“You need to eat,” he said.

“No I don’t,” she snapped.

J’ran sighed, sitting down beside her.

“You didn’t mean it, did you,” he said. It wasn’t a question.

Moon looked up, pretending ignorance.

“Didn’t mean what?” she muttered, not wanting to talk.

He sighed.

“What you said to your friend. You didn’t mean it. So why did you say that?”

“Do you think I enjoyed it!” she cried. “I did it to protect him. I – if he’s around me, I’ll hurt him. I can’t go through that again.”

“So you’re doing it to protect yourself,” J’ran said.

Moon frowned, shaking her head.

“No… I’m doing it to protect him.”

J’ran smiled, patting her arm.

“He knows the danger. And he’s willing to face that. Your not willing to lose your best friend, but is this any better? You’ve lost him as well as if he is dead. Are you happy?”

Moon was silent, considering what the k’lrak had said.

“As long as he is alive,” she said, but she knew it was a lie. She would never be happy, but if he was safe, she could survive. “As long as he is happy.”

J’ran nodded, and slipped back into the water.

“He wants to be with you Moon,” he said. “Won’t you let him?”

Moon looked into the k’lrak’s blue eyes and shook her head, though it pained her to.

“No. Not if it means he gets hurt,” she whispered.

[Ranger of the North]

Chapter Thirty-Two

Zappy

Zappy hung limply in the water, wings floating uselessly. He didn’t want to die, but there was absolutely no point in living if Moon hated him—no, not hated him: didn’t care whatsoever. Her words rang in his ears once again and he groaned heart-brokenly. ‘I was only your friend back in the hatchling caves so I would have someone to talk to.’

He suddenly realized he nearly hated Moon, found himself wanting revenge on her: the dragon who had ruined his life.

Slash growled in anguish. He couldn’t hurt her; not Moon!

Moon’s long gone, a voice whispered inside him. Moon never even existed. She was lying to you your whole life. She’s Luna. She’s a liar. She betrayed you and tried to kill you.

But. She’s. Moon! Zappy felt a weak protest but it was too late, anyway. His vision was fading in and out; black and red.

His lungs screamed at him and he regretted his decision now—a little; he didn’t really care what happened.

Zappy couldn’t resist anymore and took a huge, gulping breath of—water. He thrashed briefly, trying to rise, but there was no air above him; only cold stone. He sank to the bottom, barely registering a faint on his foreleg; something around his tail.

# # # # # # # # # # # # #

“Hwehuuuuh!” Zappy jerked forward suddenly, terrified. “Wh—” he tried to speak and quickly rolled over, vomiting the last of the water out of his body; it steamed out of his nostrils.

“Ow,” he muttered, shaking his head violently then turned, wondering who his rescuer was.

“Moon?”

“No, just looks like it.” She was staring at him with a strange expression, golden eyes devouring every bronze scale. “I’m—sorry, Zappy. I... I didn’t mean what I said—but you can’t stay here!” She spoke rapidly before he could interrupt, her expression anguished. “Go back.” Her eyes met his pleadingly. “Please, Zappy, I don’t want to hurt you. Live your own life. Visit me every ten years or something at the most. Please. I can’t trust myself.” She stared down at her claws, wincing as she saw his throat.

Zappy felt a huge sense disappointment winding through his relief and wonder, but he pushed them aside to talk to her before she rejected and pushed him away again. “Why’d you say it, then?” His voice came out so ragged, weary, and sad that he surprised himself. “If we really were friends why’d you say you don’t care about me? How can I trust you? You betrayed me!” He was on his feet and roaring at her now. “Why waste your time sending me messages? It must’ve been hard to fake those tears when we left the hatchling caves, so why’d you bother! It would’ve been easier for both of us if you’d just told me the truth then. What do you care if you had ruined my life before it had begun? Why ruin it now?

“Moon...” he whimpered accusingly and huddled on the uncaring rocks, curling into a ball and tucking his snout under one wing; trying to prevent the tears that threatened to roll down his snout and add to the salty sea.

He felt a touch on the scales of his frill and flinched in surprise, looking up to see Moon nuzzling him sadly like she used to; in the happier days when they were small and didn’t have a care in the whole wide world.

“I’m so, so sorry, Zappy,” Moon said miserably. “I don’t want to hurt you again; I don’t want to kill again. It’s driving me insane!

“I’m a monster now; I kill and I hurt and I lied to you and—” She couldn’t continue and crumpled down next to him, tears pouring from her eyes and pooling on the ground with his own. “I tried to make myself believe what I told you,” she continued shakily, “but I couldn’t. And when I saw you there, motionless in the water—” She choked on a sob and stopped.

Zappy put a wing around Moon and draped his tail over hers—just like he used to do back in the cave when Sparkles had been bothering her.

“It’s okay, Moon. It’s okay. You saved me this time. It’s okay.” He felt an overwhelming amount of joy welling up in the deepest fibres of his being, and butted her head playfully—but that revealed the full amount of damage she had inflicted on him at their last meeting and he felt her tense, struggling hastily to her feet.

“I’m sorry, Zappy,” she said in a firm tone, although her words were still shaky. “But I can’t be near you. No matter how much I love my little brother.” She smiled slightly, and Zappy felt his heart leap. Moon was beginning to look like herself again; the Moon he’d always known but had now changed so much.

The expression decided him: Moon was still there, hurting and sad. He, Zappy, would help her, get her back to the mainland and keep her happy, free her from her worries and the curse of Bloodlust.

“Moon,” he began hesitantly, “I need you to come back. Please? I’m not handling life properly without you.”

Moon was going to reply angrily, but something in his expression softened her. “You seemed happy enough with your parents, from what I’ve heard.”

Zappy barked a short laugh. “Sometimes. About one-third of my time was spent enjoying myself. The rest was either spent worrying about you or training as hard as I could ‘til I could leave and meet up with you again.”

Moon was determined not to be convinced into going back with Zappy and used the words against him. “See?” she said sadly. “I’m bad luck. I ruined your life even from the opposite tribe. If you leave you can be free of me, live happily; know I’m safe and not hurting anyone.”

Zappy stared at her incredulously. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in my life!” he cried. “And that’s counting the visits with Cricket,” he added, grinning.

He saw Moon jump when he mentioned the young Stormrider’s name, and she shook her head vigorously, looking panicked. “No!” she cried desperately. “Dragons will use me if I go back! They wanted me to kill all the hatchlings! I won’t be safe, and no-one else will be, either.”

Zappy tried to suppress his frustration but didn’t quite succeed. “Moon, that’s just dumb. Why waste your life because of what might happen? You’re the most dangerous dragon in Vernada, if someone tries to use you threaten them!” He saw her startled expression and added hastily, “Not actually do anything to them; just pretend you will.”

Moon sighed and lashed her tail, annoyance growing. “I don’t want to, okay? I don’t want to spend my life lying to dragons. I don’t want to spend my life feared.

“Just leave me.” Zappy couldn’t conceal his angry, determined expression and she growled. “Forget it! You’re stupid to want to drag me away.

“This is my haven, Zappy; don’t take it from me!”

Zappy snarled. “You lie. Don’t you think I know you well enough? I can see in your eyes that you’re not happy here; come with me!”

“No,” Moon replied stubbornly.

Zappy roared and raked his talons across the stone. “Fine, I’ll let you rot here! Is that what you want?”

Moon lowered her head, and Zappy felt a gleam of hope. Then—

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Fine then.” With a furious growl Zappy spun around and leapt into the freezing water beyond the rock, quickly submerging his ears to avoid hearing her.

He angled his wings to propel himself forward and heaved with his legs, pushing for the entrance in the side of the wall that exited the k’lraks’ lair.

Zappy whipped his head around suddenly as a movement caught his eye; a male k’lrak beckoned him forward with a flipper, directing him down a side-passage. He looked so stern Zappy resignedly followed, wondering where the sea-creature was leading him.

After several minutes he saw the k’lrak angle up and copied, bursting above the water a moment later.

He scrambled up onto another rocky out-cropping and shook himself, raising every scale on edge to remove the water.

Zappy waited for the k’lrak to speak but he remained quiet, scrutinizing the young dragon with a slight frown on his snout.

“So... I guess this is your home?” Zappy asked awkwardly.

“Yes.”

Zappy shifted uncomfortably and the sea creature took pity on him. “I’m J’ran. I suppose you’re Zappy?”

The dragon nodded. “Thank you for letting me visit Moon—but sorry for wasting your time,” he added bitterly.

J’ran chuckled slightly. “Wasted? I wouldn’t say you’ve wasted it. I’ve never seen Moon happier.”

Zappy snorted scornfully. “Well then I’m sorry for you; she was miserable.

“And all because of me.” He stared at his sclaws unhappily. “I never should’ve come; I’ve only wasted my time, broken my heart, and irritated Moon.”

J’ran swam closer and laid a wet sclaw on Zappy’s, his eyes sad. “Believe me, young one: Moon loves you dearly. I know young emotions; she would’ve died of grief if you had left—which is why I dragged you back to her.” Zappy looked up, startled, but the k’lrak ignored him and continued, “She knew she loved you, but needed to be reminded how much you mean to her.”

“What do you mean dragged me back?” Zappy demanded quickly as J’ran paused for breath.

The k’lrak gave him a crafty look. “I was coming home and saw you lying on the bottom of the ocean floor. I knew Moon would never forgive herself if you died, so grabbed you tail and took you back—she didn’t see me; only you.

“Don’t give up on her, Zappy! Don’t let her get away with this! If you do you’ll regret it your whole life.

“Believe me, young one: I know.” J’ran’s eyes were unimaginably sad, and Zappy shivered. He didn’t want to spend the rest of his life looking like that—or feeling that.

He bowed his head, squeezing his frill tight against his scales nervously. “Alright,” he said. “You win; I’ll keep trying. But—” he looked into the k’lrak’s sky-blue eyes pleadingly, “what can I do? What should I say? She’s determined not to return to Mainland Vernada.”

“Be her friend,” J’ran advised wisely. “Rebuild your relationship and remind her of the good old days when you were small. Share your adventures with her; comfort her when she tells you hers—and then convince her to return.”

Zappy nodded thoughtfully. “Thank you, J’ran,” he said. “I will. We’ll get her back together.”

The k’lrak ducked his head rapidly, an impish twinkle in his wise old eyes. “Thank goodness! She’s eating all our fish!”

Zappy laughed and shoved J’ran’s head underwater, forgetting he had gills. “Don’t worry, I’ll help ya!” He leapt into the water again, powering back to his sister.

As he swam he wondered what he’d begin with. It would need to be something that would interest both of them.

Just before he launched out of the water a thought crossed his mind that would make Moon curious and might get him an answer, too, for she had lived with a Stormriders.

Zappy saw Moon’s figure hunched with her back to him. “I’m back!” he called mischievously, laughing as he noticed her jump.

“What?” she asked tensely.

“I just wanted to ask you a question,” he said, climbing up the rocks toward his friend. “My friend’s father was killed; a blue Sharpshooter called Cobalt, he would’ve had a scratch down his side. We didn’t really get along, but I’m afraid I promised Birch I’d avenge his death. Know anything?”

[Woogwoo Wren]

Chapter thirty-three

Moon


Moon spun her head around, fixing Zappy in her gaze. She was almost angry that he insisted on keeping coming back, she would only send him away – but what he had just said made her feel weak.

“What?” she whispered.

“A blue Shapshooter, he was rather large and had a scratch down his side,” Zappy said. He glanced down, “I gave him the scratch,” he muttered.

‘Huh. Guess what I did,” Moon thought. “I –,” she began aloud, then stopped. “Zappy you have to go okay! Just go!” she cried, turning away. Why didn’t he understand? She wanted him to live.

“What – Moon, do you know anything about that?” he asked.

She scowled, turning to him.

“I killed him, okay! I killed him like I killed all the other Sharpshooters, and like I nearly killed you! I killed him!” Tears formed in her eyes, and sighed. “I killed him,” she repeated, her voice barely a whisper.

Zappy stared at her, shock in his face.

“I –,” he started, then shook his head. “We can figure something out, I’m sure Birch will understand.”

Moon sighed.

“Just go away Zappy,” she said tiredly, “Just go away.”

Zappy nodded, turning and slipping back into the water.

“I’ll come back Moon,” he said. “I’m not going back to home until you’re coming too,” he vowed, slipping back under the water.

Moon sighed, watching him go.

“You might be waiting a long time,” she muttered.

“For what?” a voice asked. Moon turned, seeing a strange k’lrak.

“Nothing,” she muttered.

“You sure?” she asked. “I’m R’tan by the way.”

“Yeah, its nothing. I’m -.”

R’tan interrupted her, grinning.

“Moon, I know. You’re kinda really famous around here. Everyone’s waiting to see if you’re gonna go back with Zappy or not.” She splashed her tail on the water. “That reminds me, my father wants to show you something. C’mon, I’ll take you to him.”

She dove into the water, and Moon followed, frowning.

R’tan leader her through the tunnels, until they came to the surface. As they made their way through the tunnels, Moon thought she saw Zappy’s tail vanish into a tunnel but she wasn’t sure.

The broke the surface near an island, the same island that the k’lrak city was built under. A huge k’lak was waited for them, and he smiled, motioning to her with a flipper and swam towards it. The side they were closest to was a sheer cliff, a few caves along it, and birds lying around, squawking loudly.

“I’m Gra’den,” he said, his voice deep. “I am going to show you something that few eyes have seen before.” As he spoke, R’tan flicked a flipper in farewell, and dove back under the water.

Nodded to Gra’den, Moon turned to look towards the island. A deep dark green dragon flew over it, a billow of fire flashing out of his mouth. . Moon watched him fly, knowing it was Darkfire. He vanished on the other side of the island as Moon and Gra’den neared it.

“Over here,” the k’lrak said, slipping into a cave a few feet above the surface of the water. Moon followed, slipping down into the darkness. She shuddered, the cave reminded her too much of the tunnel towards Nightmare’s cave. After about five minutes of walking, the tunnel slopped steeply upwards, and continued for a few meters

They soon came into a large cave, a tiny hole at the top of the cave the only light. J’ran moved forwards, and turned a large rock.

The light from the hole reflected off the rock – which was more like a gem – and bounded around the cave. All the walls were diamond, sparkling brightly in the light.
A small stream of water flew past on the other side, cheerfully trickling its way down deeper into the earth.

But what was in the middle of the room took Moon’s breath away. The skeleton of a huge dragon lay, curled in sleep, its head resting on a cudlet. It was three times the size of Moon, larger then any dragon she had seen, even Obsidian. It was obviously a Stormrider, a huge horn of bone protruding from its head, and a cudlet at the end of its tail. Scales lay around, a deep purple, much darker than Moon’s colour.

“Who?” Moon asked, awed by the size of the dragon.

“Scwal,” Gra’den answered. “He was like you, a dragon with Bloodlust.”

Moon sat, and tucked her tail around her legs, sensing a story coming.

“He was dead before I was born, but my father knew him. He lived about a thousand years ago, and came from mainland Vernada. Back then there was peace between the Sharpshooters and Stormriders – each often breeding together – but he changed that, without meaning to.”

Moon whistled softly, surprised at how long the k’lark lived. The dragons back home had forgotten how the war started, but she was talking to the son of one who had been alive at that time.

Gra’den sighed, shaking his head sadly. “Scwal knew about his bloodlust, but with the help of his mate he kept it at bay. He and his mate together had many hatchlings, and were the leaders of the Stormriders.”

“One day, they were visiting the Sharpshooters, and the leader of the Sharpshooters – a Stormshooter – challenged him, wanting to rule both tribes. Scwal accepted the challenge, ignoring his mate’s advice. They fought but as they did, he lost it. He went Bloodlust.

“When he returned to his senses, he found he had killed his mate, all but one of his hatchlings, and half the Sharpshooter tribe, thus starting the war. Devastated and angry with himself, he fled, coming here.

“But his only surviving daughter, a young hatchling with barely any colour on her scales, followed him, and begged for him to come back, telling him that he was the only one who could stop the hatred between the tribes.

“He ignored her, saying that he would only kill more, that he would hurt her, that he could only do evil.”

Gra’den paused, and gestured to the corner of the room. A tiny skeleton lay there, looking towards the bones of Scwal, her paws beside her head, and the tip of her tail just touching the water of the stream.

“She refused to leave, saying she would stay until he would return with her. Both were as stubborn as each other, and so they both died here, both refusing to leave the cave, even to hunt.

“My father found them together like this, both dead. He left them as they were, as back then there was a superstition about dragons, that if we touched the dead then we too would die. So they have stayed.

“But in staying Scwal caused many deaths. If he had done what his daughter had asked him to, and returned to the main land, he could have stopped the war. He could have told the Sharpshooters what had happened and made peace again. In staying he caused more deaths then he ever would have had he returned.”

Moon was silent after Gra’den’s story, watching the stream rush past. She stood, and moved to the bones of the young dragon, turning over a tiny scale that lay beside her. It was mostly white, but held a tiny line of yellow, stopping about halfway across; so dark it was nearly bronze.

She picked up the scale in a claw, and gripped it, thinking.

“If I return, I may kill again though,” she whispered.

“Scwal couldn’t keep his bloodlust in on his own, his mate helped him – your friend will help. And he lived in a time of peace.” Gra’den smiled as he spoke. “Maybe you can end the war he started. Maybe your story will be happier then his. Keep the scale,” he added. “It will help you to remember Scwal’s story.”

Moon nodded, carefully drilling a small hold through the top. Even small, the scale was tough and it was a while before she broke through the other side.

Gra’den handed her a small piece of string that he kept in his pouch – something that all k’lrak had to transport useful things – and she threaded the scale on the string, handing it over her neck.

She looked up at Gra’den, and narrowed her eyes, he mind made up.

“I need to find Zappy,” she said, turning and rushing out of the cave.

[Ranger of the North]

Chapter Thirty-Four

Zappy

Zappy’s heart felt like lead, but at the same time he felt strangely elated. He couldn’t place the satisfaction, but the depression? Easy.

So that’s what happened to Cobalt, he thought grimly. What’m I going to do? I promised Birch... But I can’t hurt Moon... Maybe Birch’ll understand... But she doesn’t know Moon... He sighed in disgust and shook his head as he wandered aimlessly up the stone passageway.

“Zappy!”

The bronze dragon started as a call echoed down to his attentive ears, bouncing and reverberating off of the stone walls.

That sounds like—

“Moon?” he yelled incredulously.

Maybe she’s changed her mind!

“Moon! What’s going on?” he roared again.

“Zappy!” The sound of furiously clattering talons met his ears and he leapt forward, nearly crashing into the purple dragon as they both rounded a corner together.

He spread his wings and rested unsteadily on the stone walls, anxiety whirring through his brain.

“What’s wrong, Moon?” He noticed a strange scale or something hanging from a string around her neck, but couldn’t be bothered asking about it just yet.

“I need you to go back to the mainland, Zappy,” she said hurriedly. “Stop the war for me! Please? Then I might start thinking about coming back; if you don’t come back I’ll know you’re happy without me and that you know I’m okay on my own, okay?”

Zappy drew back from her, flaring his frill; insulted at the thought. “Moon. Get it through your scaly head! We need you to come back, not me!

“Do you think Flamer let you leave the Stormriders for your sake? Do you think Freedom got Darkfire for you to help you? You think Darkfire’s family—who have no idea who you are!—nursed you back to health to save you?

“Freedom helped you for the second time! I was captured and hurt and mocked in the Stormriders’ capital—and the only thing that kept me going was you, Moon!”

He saw the wonder, the fear, and the awe in his sister’s eyes and hope flooded his being.

“All these dragons have been helping you because they can sense that Vernada needs you! If we go to the tribes and prove to them that we can get along the war will stop! You’re special, Moon! You’ve got Bloodlust for a reason! Why are you the only one who can’t see that?”

A shudder rippled down Moon’s purple length and she stepped back slightly, uncertainty plain on her snout. “But—Obsidian will use me... How can I be—”

“That’s just it, Moon,” Zappy said, and stepped forward eagerly, sensing that her will was wavering, “Obsidian wanted to use you like that to taint you. If you had obeyed you would’ve grown calloused. You would’ve turned into your worst nightmare—but the fact that you ran away gives you power. Proves you have power.

“Please, Moon! Even the k’lrak, who had no idea dragons even existed helped you! Don’t you see?”

“I... I don’t know, Zappy. Sometimes—” The distress on her snout was killing him, but he forced himself to wait; hear her out; help her by listening and comforting. “Sometimes I think... well, wouldn’t Vernada be better if I’d never hatched? If my egg had never been laid—or I was dropped instead of Flamer’s hatchling this wouldn’t be happening and everyone would be happy! But instead you’re—even the sea creatures’re—”

Zappy felt a disbelieving laugh welling up and couldn’t suppress it. “What!” he chortled. “You don’t honestly think that, do you?”

She nodded, avoiding his gaze.

“Moon,” Zappy said gravely. He was going to be honest and nothing else. “If you had died at hatching I would be as normal as every other Sharpshooter—lazy, lazy, and... well, lazy. I would never’ve been able to bear life in Keen Forest—and Firelily would be dead. I would, too. If I wasn’t influenced by your Bloodlust I would’ve died fifty times in Militia. If you come back we can make peace between the tribes and Flamer and Firelily can go home.”

Moon stared down at her talons, her wings shaking. Zappy watched anxiously, not daring to hope but hoping anyway, with all his might.

Moon finally looked him in the eye after a good minute of tense nervousness. There were tears in her eyes.

“Zappy,” she said in a shaky voice, “you should be a darned poet!” She leapt forward and tackled him in a giant bear—dragon—hug.

Zappy slammed back against the wall with a breathless, “Oof!” He wrapped his bronze wings around her and clenched his golden eyes shut against the tears seeping out.

“I’ll come back,” she whispered. “I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to you. I’ll come back.”

Zappy felt a wave of relief surging through him as Moon tightened her grip, hugging him like she’d used to when they were small.

“Ow—Moon—can’t really breathe—” he gasped suddenly, and she jumped back, laughing and shaking tears from her eyes. A choking sob forced its way out of his throat and into the air and he laughed, too.

“I s’pose I’d better tell the others,” Moon said finally. “Who’d you bring?”

“Darkfire, Firelily, Flamer, and Freedom.” Zappy counted them off on his sclaws, grinning at the delight on her snout.
“Four out of six of my favourite dragons and a good friend! Sweet!” Moon couldn’t suppress a chuckle, and Zappy beamed; he’d been afraid that he would never hear that sound again.

“Who’re the fifth and sixth?” he asked curiously; he couldn’t resist.

“Pebble and Cricket,” she replied quietly.

“Who’s Pebble?” Zappy asked, feeling a stab of jealousy: another dragon vying for Moon’s attention! He’d only just gotten his sister back and suddenly everyone wanted her!

“My father if it weren’t for Bloodfang,” she replied with an amused gleam in her golden eye.

Zappy realized he hadn’t yet asked her why she only had one eye and took his opportunity. “What happened to your left eye?” he asked, concern colouring his tone. “What happened?”

Moon tensed like she’d been stung. “Bloodfang,” she said tightly, and turned away. “When’re we leaving, huh?”

“As soon as we can!” Zappy wanted to get away before she changed her mind and followed eagerly as she lead the way back up the tunnel to the open air.

As soon as his sclaws met the outside world Zappy leaped into the sky, enjoying the sensation of freedom; he was a wild hunter of the air, ferocious and feared by all other creatures. Not even a k’lrak in the mighty ocean could hope to compete with the wild beauty of a Sharpshooter and Stormrider flying together.

Zappy beat his wings and caught a warm current of rising air, gliding higher toward the sun. He didn’t ever want to stop flying, but eventually forced himself to dive down toward the island that protruded from the glittering waters like some kind of really strange, really giant wart.

“Success!” he bellowed loudly, roaring his triumph and happiness out for all the world to hear. “She’s coming home! Moon’s coming home!”

He heard a joyous bugleing roar and saw a dark shape launch into the air.

“Darkfire!”

Zappy heard the happiness in Moon’s voice and grinned, beating a wing and skitting to the side before he got sandwiched between the two dragons, Moon arcing down and the Stormshooter powering up.

“Moon!” A tear slid out of Darkfire’s eye and abruptly disappeared, whipped away by the grasping wind. “You did it, Zappy!” he crowed, and then rammed into Moon, sending them both whirling wildly toward the earth as he wrapped his wings around hers.

Zappy chuckled as he heard Moon yelling to let her go; they were gonna fall; and Darkfire suddenly realized their danger, desperately disengaging moments before they would’ve crashed.

He beat his wings; arced up; and twisted down after them, freefalling toward the hard ground. The wind screamed in his ears and he flicked them back in annoyance, growling slightly and releasing a small plume of smoke.

The island drew nearer and the wind changed slightly, slapping his eyes so painfully that he needed to close his second pair of eyelids to see.

Zappy tucked his wings in tighter and felt the air change from a harsh slap to a gentle caress, flitting over his head and trailing long fingers over his bronze neck, tugging slightly at his wings and running along the length of his remaining body and tail.

Zappy grinned toothily and snapped his wings open, hanging suspended in the air for a few moments, drifting down the last few metres to land upright in the grassy glade that took up the top of the island.

He thumped heavily onto his front sclaws, digging his talons into the rich, dark soil. Freedom stood a few metres away, head lowered and tail flicking dangerously as she watched Moon and Darkfire.

She nodded frostily as Moon waved before turning back to Darkfire.

Zappy caught her eye and tilted his head curiously, jumping back a step as she let her hurt show. She looked absolutely miserable and he had to work hard to keep from making an expression of pity. He knew it would only anger the proud Sharpshooter.

Zappy quickly turned back to Moon and let his overwhelming happiness well inside once again.

“Feeling better, Moon?” he asked mischievously, barely containing his joy and excitement. “Nothing like a flight and a hug to get ya mood up!”

Moon stared down at her talons, but Zappy saw the amused gleam in her eye and felt a thrill of pleasure ripple through him once again.

“What’s going on!”

Zappy turned back just in time to see Firelily cresting the top of the island with Flamer’s brown form a metres below.

“We heard roaring, and—” The young dragon stopped short and wobbled in the air, nearly staggering back into Flamer and narrowly missing the other dragon’s dark wings as she angled her tail wildly. “Moon! Oh, Zappy, you did it!” She pounced onto the grass and bounded for Moon, tackling her and flipping them both onto the ground.

Flamer softly lit on firm ground and watched the two young dragons affectionately; Zappy pretended not to notice the tears trickling down her snout.

When Firelily finally released Moon Flamer took her place, wrapping her brown wings around the purple form and running her snout along Moon’s horn lovingly.

“So, when’re we leaving?” Darkfire asked abruptly, bounding toward Zappy happily and rudely interrupting his thoughts. Zappy suspected that the dark green dragon was as anxious to get away before Moon changed her mind as he was.

“As soon as we’ve said good-bye,” he decided.

“Good-bye?” Darkfire looked slightly mystified. “Who to?”

Zappy scowled. “To the K’lrak, of course. None of this would’ve happened without their help, so it’s pretty rude to just vanish without thanking them.”

“Oh.”

Zappy snorted a puff of smoke and rattled his frill in disgust. He flipped over his tail and plummeted off the edge of the cliff without another word, gasping slightly as the wind from his fall attempted to snatch his breath away.

The bronze dragon quickly snapped his wings open and hung suspended for a few moments as he tried to locate R’tan.

He swung his head around and flicked his tail, spinning his body around to face the opposite direction before finally spotting the young K’lrak’s sleek, dark head a kilometre or so below, diving among the rocks and seals in the restless water.

He furled his wings and dropped like a stone.

“R’tan!” he roared when he was mere metres away from the sea-creature and she nearly jumped out of her skin, leaping into the air and diving deep under the surface before he could blink.

Zappy chuckled and settled onto the nearest rock, tucking his wings tightly against his scaly hide.

“Hhh!” he gasped and jerked back, coughing and spluttering as a sudden wave of ice-cold water washed over him.

“Oops,” R’tan said sweetly, but Zappy caught the mischievous gleam in her dark eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t see you there.”

Zappy glared at her and snorted salt water out of his nose. “Of course you didn’t.”

“Was that supposed to be sarcastic?”

Zappy sighed and ignored her, shivering slightly in the chill breeze. There was no remorse in R’tan’s eyes, he noticed; only laughter.

He huffed a small plume of flame and beat his wings at her awkwardly. “We’re, um... leaving, I guess,” he said eventually.

R’tan’s face fell. “Already? Did you manage to convince Moon, or are you giving up again?” she asked slyly.

Zappy chuckled as he trailed his tail through the waves. “Nah, she gave in. Sorry for leaving you so soon—but I never got to explore those caves with you that you were telling me about, so I’ll be back one day!” He winked and her expression brightened.

“You will? Good. That’ll be fun!”

“Are you, Gra’den, G’yern and your other brother coming back with us?” Zappy asked, cocking his head curiously.

“Nah, D’nef’s fallen for one of the girls here, and J’ran’s invited Dad to stay for awhile. Me and G’yern have decided to hang with him for a bit.” She grinned.

Zappy nodded, forced to reluctantly accept their decision. “Alright,” he said, splashing water at her with the blades on his tail. “Give the most heartfelt speech of thanks you can come up with to your father and J’ran,” he joked with a wink and grinned toothily. “And—thank you, R’tan. If it wasn’t for you I never would’ve kept searching.”

R’tan looked embarrassed. “Uh... That’s—okay?” she said uncertainly. “I was happy to help!” She grinned.

Zappy nodded and unfurled his wings, raising them high in the air; tips nearly touching. “I’ll see you again if I can,” he said. “But first I need to get my sister back home!”

He leapt, muscled hind-legs launching him high into the air above R’tan’s head and waving flipper. A few strong wingbeats sent him arcing above the island and he roared the assembly call Vertigo had taught him, calling all dragons within earshot to gather.

Flamer bugled a reply and launched skyward; Firelily bugled a reply and leapt to her feet, flying through the air toward him moments later; Darkfire bugled a reply and raced toward him, spiralling and flipping in delight.

Moon and Freedom were nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s Moon?” Zappy called, desperately trying to not believe that she’d changed her mind. “Where’s Freedom?”

Darkfire tilted a wing and slid to a stop next to the worried dragon.

“Freedom went ahead as scout so we don’t run into an ambush—there is a war going on, ya know—she said you’d understand,” he yelled back.

Zappy nodded. “But where’s Moon!”

Darkfire shrugged as Flamer and Firelily approached, a worried expression on his snout. “You seen Moon?” he asked over his shoulder.

They shook their heads.

“She—she just disappeared,” Firelily said softly.

The four dragons waited anxiously. Zappy couldn’t stop the dread creeping into his heart.

Finally, Moon answered in ringing tones and they saw her swift shape speeding toward them like a shaft of purple lightening from the bottom of the opposite end of the cliff.

Zappy crowed and flipped over backward before diving down toward her. “Come on, Moon!” he roared. “Let’s get you home!”

He banked steeply and straightened himself to begin their long flight to the mainland.

[Woogwoo Wren]

Chapter thirty-five

Moon

The steady beat of her wings allowed Moon a chance to think. She was already beginning to doubt her decision. She was beginning to wonder if going back was a good idea. Zappy’s speech had made sense, and she didn’t want to end up like Scwal, dying in a small cave. But still… was putting all her friends in danger worth it?

She sighed, watching the sea pass under her. She wanted to go home, she wanted to be with her friends again, more than anything she wanted to be with them. But… was the risk worth it?

“Hey! Moon!” She looked back to see Darkfire flying closer, calling to her. Slowing her wing beats, she waited for him.

“Mmm?” she asked, her thoughts still on other things.

“I’m just glad to see you again,” he said, smiling. Moon nodded, feeling the breeze flow over her, slowing her.

“Did I make the right choice?” she asked suddenly. He gaze turned to Zappy, flying behind them, Flamer and Firelily on either side. “I might hurt him again.”

“You’ll hurt him more if you send him away,” Darkfire said. “I know.” He sighed, looking into the distance. “I didn’t tell you much about my family, did I?”

“You told me your mother was a Sharpshooter, and your father was a Stormrider. And that you have a sister; Primrose is it? She’s full Sharpshooter, right?”

Darkfire nodded, and continued speaking.

“I didn’t tell you about her father, did I?” He sighed. “I never met him, neither did Prim’. He… left. Mother tried to make him stay, but he didn’t like the two tribes together. He tried to convince mother to come, but she had just laid Prim’s egg, and didn’t want to leave her. He told Mother that it was safer somewhere where there were only Sharpshooters, that Stormriders were untrustworthy, and that it would be safer away from them. She didn’t listen, so he left.”

He sighed again, looking down at the sea below. “I guess it was partly to prove to herself that Stormriders could be trusted when she chose my father as her mate.” He smiled, looking up at Moon again. “But she always missed Prim’s father, and she always wanted him to return.”

“That must have been hard,” Moon muttered. Darkfire nodded.

“Mother is still struggling,” he said. “She misses him, so very much. But Father supports her; he looks after her and understands.” He shrugged, smiling a little. “I just wanted to tell you, then if something happens… you know.” He ducked his head as if embarrassed.

Moon smiled at him.

“I understand,” she said.

########

They were all exhausted by the time they arrived back at the mainland. Landing on the beach, the six dragons slept.

The sun was just setting when Moon woke. Frowning, she blinked, yawing. Hadn’t the sun been setting when they arrived?

‘Must have slept all day,’ she realized. ‘We probably needed it.’

She shook the lingering tiredness out of her head and looked back at her friends. They slept peacefully, their soft breathing calm and soft.

Looking up at the darkening sky, Moon sighed, doubts and fears still lingering in her mind.

As she turned her gaze to the sea, she gasped. The clouds on the horizon had turned brilliant colours, reds, oranges and even some purple. The setting sun lit the clouds up like scales, painting them bright colours. And then… they were gone. The sun vanished over the horizon, sinking into the sea until the next day.

‘A little joy, a little gladness, is it worth pain? Is it worth a lot of suffering?” she thought, still looking towards the now darkening clouds. Finally, she had her answer. The memory of the joy helped her though the suffering she had already been through. She needed happiness to survive the pain; she needed gladness to get over the hardships.

But if the joy caused more pain? Was it still worth it? Yes. The memory of the joy, the hope that there would be more, they would help her through it. And so would her friends. They would be there by her side until the end. Life would always be hard; there would always be pain. But with her friends, she could get through it. With her friends, she would survive. They understood the risk, and they would take it regardless.

Having made up her mind, she stood, shaking sand off her wings. She hadn’t had real meat for a long time. It was time to go hunting.

####

When she returned – a large deer in her claws – the others were awake, and all looking worried.

“Did she leave? She wouldn’t have flown across the sea, would she?”

She sighed quietly as she caught their conversation. They didn’t trust her. They thought she would leave.

Swooping down, she landed, the deer now in her mouth.

“Moon! There you are!” Zappy said, obviously relived. Moon nodded and spat the deer out on the sand.

“I went hunting,” she said. “I didn’t run off back to the k’lrak.” Since she had already eaten, she moved away from the rest, watching the tide come in.

“Thank you Moon. And sorry for giving up on you so quickly,” Zappy said, coming up to her. Moon smiled slightly, moving closer to Zappy and covering him with her wing, watching the sunset.

Soon, they were ready to fly again, the deer all eaten. They lifted into the sky, flying away from the sea, and back towards main land Vernada.

It took them a week, flying over the vast, empty plains between the sea and the forest. Moon enjoyed the time, spending time with her friends and having no troubles yet.

They took their time, playing in streams and play fighting together in the grass. Moon was happy, feeling like a hatchling again. It was probably the most enjoyable week of her life up to then. Even so, they were alert, worried for signs of war. Freedom would often fly ahead, scouting out for trouble.

But all good things must come to an end, as did that week. Soon, all too soon, they left the plains behind and were back in the WildWoods. It was here that Zappy took the lead, as he was the only one who knew the way to the Misfits’ home.

So, over and through the trees they flew, leaving the happy weeks behind, and flying towards something else.

Zappy began to get more excited the closer they flew, telling Moon about his younger sister. She listened, happy for him but somewhat sad. He had another sister now; he wouldn’t care for her as much.

Finally, they arrived, flying over the clearing and houses that the Misfits made their home in. Zappy flew directly to a large tree house, calling as he did, “Mum! Dad! Snow-Fang! I’m back and I found Moon!”

A snout peeked out, pure white and tiny.

“’Sash!” she cried, bounding out to greet her brother.

“Snow-Fang!” Zappy cried, pulling her into a huge hug. “Where are Mum and Dad?”

The small dragon shrugged, looking back inside.

“Don’ ‘no,” she said. “Gone.”

Moon glanced at Zappy, watching him as his frill dropped and he sat down.

“They left?” he whispered. “Why?”

“Zappy!” Moon glanced up to see a small silver Sharpshooter dart out of the house Snow-fang had been in. “You’re alive!”

“Oh, hi Birch,” he said. “Where is everyone?”

Looking around, Moon realized that there were hardly any dragons out. Birch and Snow-fang seemed to be the only ones.

“They’ve all gone to -,” Suddenly, she stopped, looking at Moon with terror in her eyes. “I-isn’t that the dragon that attacked you?” she asked, taking a step back and pulling Snow-fang into a protective hug.

Zappy glanced at Moon, and sighed.

“No – well, yes. But.” He sighed, glancing down and then back up. “This is Moon.”

“Moon…. Attacked you?” Birch asked, her eyes wide.

Moon glanced at her feet, not making eye contact with anyone.

“It wasn’t her fault,” Zappy was saying, but it was. She had been the one who had attacked him. She had been the one that had wounded him. It was her fault.

She looked up again as Zappy finished explaining about the Bloodlust, and saw Birch’s eyes grow wide.

“Oh no!” she whispered. “I – I told Flare t-that a Stormrider had killed you! She went to Target, a-and they went to war!” Tears began forming in the young dragon’s eyes. “Its my fault! You have to stop them Zappy!”

“When?” Flamer demanded, stepping closer. “The Stormriders had orders to attack the Misfits, after Magma was killed. They were going to leave two days ago. I should have remembered!”

Magma was dead? Moon hadn’t been told that. Part of her was glad, but part of her wished it hadn’t been him. He was still her grandfather, and he wasn’t as bad as Obsidian.

Birch looked at Flamer, her eyes wider.

“They left two days ago,” she whispered.

“Where’s the halfway point?” Firelily asked. “They would meet there.”

Zappy glanced at Moon, and Moon glanced at Zappy. At the same time, they turned to the others, and said, “The Hatchling Caves!”

“Then let’s go! There’s no time to waste!” Flamer cried, leaping into the air.

Moon leaped after her, worried for Pebble and the other Stormriders she had become friends with. They flew into the sky, Snow-fang, Birch, and a few other old dragons and hatchlings looking out after them.

“Good luck!” Moon heard someone cry. She took a deep breath, and angled towards the Hatchling Caves. She was flying towards a battle.

[Ranger of the North]

Chapter Thirty-Six

Zappy

xxxxxZappy felt a shudder rippling along his strong bronze length—and it wasn’t from the temperature. The wind was chill, yes, but the fire brewing within him kept him warm. It was fear that made him tremble.
xxxxxFear.
xxxxxDread.
xxxxxWorry.
xxxxxFear!
xxxxxHorrendous death-screams ripped through the air. Bloodthirsty roars and bellows. Wails of those whose loved ones had passed into the beyond. The crackle of fire; the tearing rip of talons shearing through scales and sensitive wing-membrane; the crunch of teeth on bone; the ominous thud of cludets on impact; a metallic shing—usually followed by a scream of pain—from the Sharpshooters’ blades.
xxxxxZappy sloped a wing to glide another circle and flicked a scaley ear in irritation and horror, wishing he could drown the sights and sounds out from his senses.
xxxxxHe glanced over at Moon. The purple dragon was trembling harder than he was; she looked sick. xxxxxShe nearly looked—insane. The wild light he had seen when she’d attacked him kept flickering in and out of her golden eyes. There one second, gone the next.
xxxxxHe beat his wings and swooped toward her.
xxxxx“You okay?”
xxxxxShe didn’t seem to hear, so he reached out and grasped her wing. “Moon! Are you alright?”
xxxxxShe started and whipped away from him, baring her fangs; he showed her his sclaws, grinning. “Just me.”
xxxxxMoon relaxed slightly and the madness went out of her eyes, but she still looked deathly afraid. “I—can’t do it, Zappy,” she gulped. “It’s—I’ll—this will kill me. Or it’ll overcome me, and I’ll become my worst nightmare. Zappy—” A lone tear rolled down her snout, and Zappy saw their companions give them room to talk privately.
xxxxx“Moon,” he said, and wiped her tear away. “You’ll never be a monster. No matter what you do, no matter how many you kill, you will always be my sister—and I’ll come for you, Moon. I’ll bring you back. I promise.”
xxxxxThe haunted look slowly drained out of her gaze and she nodded slowly. “I understand,” she said. “Thank you, Zappy. I’ll hold you to that.”
xxxxxZappy smiled and pressed his forehead against hers; embracing the feel of his sister’s scales rubbing on his own. “Now let’s go stop the war,” he said grimly.
xxxxxMoon flapped back slightly and nodded, determined to stop the killing; stop the slaughter. She glanced down and he saw her scales pale.
xxxxx“Moon!” he barked desperately, grabbing at her foreleg. “Don’t do it, Moon. Fight it!”
xxxxxShe snatched her leg away, still avoiding his gaze. “Zappy,” she said quietly. “Zappy! Isn’t that your Mum?” she cried.
xxxxxZappy felt his heart leap into his throat and twisted upside down in his worry. He felt sick at what he saw. “It is,” he murmured. “And—she’s heading for—”
xxxxx“Dad!” Moon screeched. She began trembling as Zappy flipped up the right way to gape at her.
xxxxx“What? That’s Bloodfang?! They were nest-mates! Oh, this is bad.”
xxxxx“What?” Moon growled, and Zappy saw a gleam of anger flash momentarily in her golden eyes. “He hates me because you’re a Sharpshooter.” She snarled murderously.
xxxxxZappy was taken aback. “But—” He paused. “Be careful, Moon,” he said finally.
xxxxxShe nodded.
xxxxx“Guys!” Zappy yelled over his shoulder. “We need to get down there—now!” He didn’t wait for their replies; just arrowed for the ground, tilting into a steep dive that snatched his breath away.
xxxxxHe glanced back briefly to see Moon close behind, deathly white. He flicked his tail into her grasp—being careful not to cut her—and her claws clamped around it; using it as a lifeline. She grinned weakly as he pulled a face when a claw pressed into his scales uncomfortably.
xxxxxZappy suddenly realised how near the ground was and flared his wings; wincing as the sore sockets took his weight.
xxxxx“STOP FIGHTING!” he and Moon roared together. At the same time, Flamer, Freedom, Firelily, and Darkfire all bellowed the warning call and set the air on fire, dancing fearlessly through the flames together.
xxxxxIt was obvious that they were from opposite tribes, and the battle-field below suddenly grew as silent as a tomb. No movement could be seen as the assembled armies stared upward, some in the very throes of death. Zappy’s stomach lurched.
xxxxx“We—we need to stop fighting!” Zappy called as he stretched his back-legs out, reaching for the ground. Moon was silent behind him, but her grip had started to cut off the circulation in his tail. Worried, he glanced back at her briefly to see her eyes clenched shut, nostrils flaring as she fought her Bloodlust.
xxxxx“Hang in there, buddy, I’ll get you out,” he muttered under his breath.
xxxxxHe raised his voice to address the other dragons as Freedom, Darkfire, Flamer, and Firelily landed nearby with muffled thuds. “We have to stop fighting,” he repeated. “This war—it’s going to destroy us! We need to work together or generations of us are going to be killed before this day ends!”
xxxxxA growl ran through the spectators like a barrage of stones tumbling down a mountainside.
xxxxxZappy shuddered and tried not to cower down as a gigantic dragon moved through the crowd. Her one eye was blood-red and full of so much hate and malice he shivered to think what she was capable of. Her other eye was sealed shut by a gruesome scar, nearly matching Moon’s. She was the largest creature he had ever seen, rivalling even R’tan’s father and the trees of Keen Forest.
xxxxx“Are you threatening us, small one?” she growled malevolently. He tail flicked and swished behind her; a small trail of drool trickled from her maw. Zappy got the feeling she was doing it on purpose; trying to intimidate him and make him feel she would gladly eat him—and do it easily, too—so he flared his frill and whipped his tail in front of her nose; stepping forward and snarling as he did so.
xxxxxHe felt ridiculously dwarfed by the gigantic Stormrider but refused to let it show. His opponent seemed shocked and shuffled back an inch or two—not enough to be noticeable, but enough to relatively safe from his deadly blades.
xxxxxZappy saw, though, and he knew she knew he knew when her eyes narrowed, barely concealing the blazing-hot anger and hate held within.
xxxxxZappy gulped and slowly lowered his tail, frantically repeating the bizarre phrase like a sort of chant.
xxxxxHe knew she knew he knew. He knew she knew he knew. He knew she knew he knew. The thoughts whirred through his terrified brain as he forced his tongue to move.
xxxxx“No,” he said thickly. “I’m not threatening you. I’m not threatening anyone! There is no need to fight—in fact we need to stop or we’re going to kill each other!”
xxxxx“I don’t care!” an unseen dragon growled furiously. “It’s worth it to make sure those Stormrider scum are wiped out once and for all!”
xxxxxThe other dragons snarled and muttered in anger and agreement, but all Zappy felt was a sense of relief. He was glad that a Sharpshooter had spoken out rather than a Stormrider.
xxxxx“Shame on you!” he cried, roaring to make himself heard. The assembled dragons fell silent, staring at the young dragon in astonishment. “We don’t need to fight! Look at me! Look at Moon! We have been together from the moment we hatched and still we are alive—we still regard each other as nest-mates! If two weak hatchlings can support the opposite tribe and survive, why can’t full-grown dragons who are so strong and powerful?!”
xxxxxUncertain mutters ran through the crowd, quickly replaced by yelps and snaps of hurt and fright as another black dragon forced his way through the crowd.
xxxxx“Foolishness,” he snapped with a growl, and Zappy shrank back slightly as the deadly teeth closed centimetres from his nose. “Look what you’ve done to my daughter! She had bloodlust; she was ferocious, mad, and deadly—and now you’ve ruined her. She was a daughter to be proud of and now she’s a cowering mess. You did this to her.” He turned to face the rest of the army and roared, spilling his hate out into the world as Obsidian stood by and smirked. Zappy felt his chance slide out from between his sclaws but was at a loss of what to do.
xxxxx“Moon—” he choked, and felt her release his tail. He nearly begged her to help him, but his words were drowned out as Bloodfang unfurled his wings and hovered above the army.
xxxxx“The Sharpshooter’s words are lies!” he screamed. “You all saw what Luna was like! You saw her when she nearly slew first Fang and then Magma! Look at her now! She hides behind the Sharpshooter like a rat! Sharpshooters cannot be trusted!!”
xxxxx“You lie,” a new voice barked, and Zappy felt his heart leap.
xxxxxMum!
xxxxxHe whipped back to glance at Moon and gave an involuntary shudder at the deep anger smouldering in her eyes. The anger and the pain. The rage and the loss. The fury and the hurt.
xxxxx“He never told me any of that,” she muttered, choking on the words. “He’s a filthy liar. He either hates me or he’s—or he’s proud of me.”
xxxxxZappy’s heart ached for his friend, but all he could do was put a sclaw out and squeeze her talon comfortingly. She barely seemed to notice and he turned back to watch as his mother made her way through the crowd to stand, looking up at Bloodfang.
xxxxxThe Stormrider’s scales were nearly white as he looked down at his long-lost nest-mate. “F—Flare,” he stammered.
xxxxx“Get down here, Bloodfang.” Zappy’s breath caught in his throat as he saw the bright light of tears in his mother’s sharp golden eyes.
xxxxx“Zappy, what’s she doing?” Moon hissed, and Zappy cast a quick glance in Obsidian’s direction, making sure she was occupied with Bloodfang before replying.
xxxxx“Flare—my mother—and Bloodfang were nest-mates. Like me and you.”
xxxxxMoon sucked in a sharp breath. “Be careful, Flare,” she whispered fearfully. “He’s changed; he’ll kill you the first chance he gets.” Zappy’s heart sank.
xxxxxBloodfang, however, thudded heavily to the ground, wings and tail limp. He lowered his head; refusing to meet Flare’s gaze.
xxxxxZappy flicked his tail, watching anxiously as Flare lowered her head and spoke to her nest-mate. Her eyes darted briefly to Zappy and he saw a tear roll down her snout before being soaked up by the dusty ground. She gazed back down at Bloodfang with an intense longing and he finally raised his head.
xxxxxFlare spoke louder to address the dragons behind her, eyes still locked on Bloodfang. “The hatchling speaks the truth,” she said. “Many of you bear a grudge against Bloodfang, yes? Even more of you hate him?”
xxxxxAn uneasy mutter flew through the dragons, and several of the Stormriders nodded, flexing their claws.
xxxxx“Well he wasn’t like this when I knew him.” A still silence fell, and Zappy caught his breath. The air was charged with tension, and he suddenly desperately needed to get away from Obsidian. He abruptly leapt into the air, and Moon followed close behind. “Bloodfang was my nest-mate.” Flare’s clear voice rang out like a bell. “He was the kindest dragon in the world; defender of the weak; friend to his enemies; fiercely protective of those he loved.
xxxxx“That’s how he was under the influence of a Sharpshooter, before he was taken to your capital! Don’t you see? We two tribes are good for each other!”
xxxxxBloodfang raised his head and his red eyes gleamed bright. “She’s right,” he rasped brokenly. “My family has been damaged by the Sharpshooters, yes, but it’s no more than we’ve done to them, and we are all the better for having known them—unless we’re treated cruelly after being separated.” Zappy saw the cold anger in his eyes as he turned to face Obsidian and shivered—but not entirely from the anger; there was too much raw emotion in the air for him to be comfortable.
xxxxx“Mother,” Bloodfang continued, and Zappy nearly fell out of the air with a startled yelp, catching himself just on time, “I formally petition you to end this diabolical war and make peace between us and the Sharpshooters.”
xxxxxZappy’s mouth dropped open in surprise and Moon choked behind him.
xxxxx“That’s—he—did he—” she stammered.
xxxxxZappy was too amazed to reply; too dazed to register the outraged commotion from within the armies’ borders; too giddy with happiness to realize clearly that Bloodfang was staring his mother down.
And so, he was powerless to do a thing as Sparkles leapt from the battle-lines—Tornado a furious leap behind—and tore Bloodfang’s throat.
xxxxxTime seemed to slow as Bloodfang staggered with an awful cry. Zappy didn’t know whether the heart-rending roar came from Moon’s throat or Flare’s. He knew that the tears cascading onto the pitiless dirt below were his, though. The same ground that was devouring Bloodfang’s life greedily consumed his tears and the horror in the pit of his stomach curled and coiled throughout his entire being, eating away at his emotions and leaving an unspeakable feeling of despair.
xxxxx“Father!” The anguished cry cut through his confused emotions like a knife and he finally noticed Moon’s sobbing as she dove down headlong to her father.
xxxxxHe silently followed her, thudding to the ground and trying to suppress the tears. He didn’t even know why he was crying; he didn’t know the slain dragon.
xxxxxAs he gazed first at Flare’s heartbroken expression and then at Moon’s pain-filled eyes he realised why.
xxxxxThere’s no such thing as killing one individual. The thought crashed through his mind like a pounding wave. Every death affects someone—and someone else; and someone else; and yet another someone else.
xxxxx“F—Flare,” Bloodfang whispered, lips barely moving as he struggled to maintain his life, twitching with horrible death-spasms. “H—help me! Th—the pain!”
xxxxxFlare snapped out of her stupor and grasped his talon between her sclaws.
xxxxx“I’m sorry, Bloodfang,” she murmured, and a tear rolled down her snout. “I should’ve come for you sooner; I should’ve been watching your back, because that’s what you and I do,” her voice broke and Flare began to sob. She was utterly heartbroken.
xxxxxBloodfang drew on the last reserves of his strength to clasp her snout and force her to look him in the eye. “It’s I who should be sorry.” Zappy could barely hear the weak words. “I gave up on you; I let Mother and Father poison my body, my mind, and my conscience. Luna—no, Moon, my daughter was—is—right. Only the strong can withstand the pressure. You both are stronger than me—much stronger.”
xxxxxZappy felt another sob swelling in his throat as Moon stepped forward and brought herself into her father’s dying gaze.
xxxxx“My daughter!” Bloodfang gasped. “I’m sorry for what I did to you.” His claw trailed gently over her snout; feeling her scales; catching her tears. “I should’ve been there for you. I’m so... so... so—rr—yy...” As he slowly breathed that last word Bloodfang’s life faded and Moon’s father died.
xxxxxZappy choked as Flare dove on her nest-mate, testing his heart, calling him, beseeching him to hold onto life. It was no use, though. Bloodfang was gone.
xxxxxThe bronze Sharpshooter sidled next to Moon. She was as stiff and rigid as a statue and he gently placed a wing around her.
xxxxxOnly then did she look at him, with such a haunted expression in her hollow eyes that he involuntarily shivered.
xxxxx“He—apologised... to me...” she sobbed suddenly and hid her snout in his shoulder.
xxxxxZappy could vaguely make out words; something about “He hated me”, and “I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel”, and “Zappy, this is torture”, and all he could do was hold her. As Vertigo was now there for Flare, so he couldn’t desert his nest-mate.
xxxxxA murderous growl sounded suddenly, and Zappy whipped his neck around in alarm; Moon did the same. Flare stood, crouched and tense, glaring at Sparkles like a blood-thirsty demon.
xxxxx“Mum,” he tried to say, but it came out as more of a squeak. “Mum, don’t—”
xxxxxBut he was too late.
xxxxxWith a terrible sound that was more scream than roar, she burst out from Vertigo’s hug and launched herself at the exposed Fang, slashing murderously with her lethal claws, teeth gleaming as they sprang for his jugular, thirsting for his life’s blood as he had stolen her nest-mate’s.
xxxxxSparkles smirked briefly—very briefly—and waited until the very last moment before dancing nimbly to the side when it was too late for her to stop her headlong charge.
xxxxxThe needle-sharp teeth ripped through Tornado’s throat like the sturdy scales were sand-paper. There was barely time for her face to register shock before she slumped lifelessly to the ground, drowning in a pool of her own blood.
xxxxxZappy was aghast.
xxxxxWe are dragons. The thought flashed through his mind like lightning, but he had no time to react; no time to check on Moon; barely had time to register the fatal words as Obsidian’s ugly, hate-filled voice boomed them out:
xxxxx“Don’t you see? SHARPSHOOTERS-CAN-NOT-BE-TRUSTED!! To me, Stormriders! KILL THEM ALL!!”
xxxxxZappy could only watch in growing anger and horror as the battle started around him once more.

[Woogwoo Wren]

Chapter thirty-seven

Moon

Moon didn’t know what to feel. She wanted to curl in a ball and cry, she wanted to flight and slash, she wanted to fly as far away as she could. So many emotions conflicted inside her; grief, rage, anger, sorrow, sadness, horror, fear.

She stood there, and the fight battled around her. She barely registered it, barely registered Zappy joining his parents, barely knew what was going on around her. Tears dripped from her eye, wetting the ground already damp with blood and melted snow.

‘H- he was proud of me. I thought he hated me.’ The tears continued, and as they did her bloodlust faded. She no longer wanted to rip and fight, to feel blood seeping out under her claws. She just wanted it all to stop.

A shrill scream broke through her grieving consciousness. She glanced up to see a small red dragon, pinned under a large Sharpshooter. On a second glance, she realized it was Cricket.

‘What’s he doing here?’ she thought. ‘He was at the hatchling caves.’ Then, glancing up, she realized the hatchling caves were just beyond them. Now that she wasn’t fighting the Bloodlust, she could see the cliffs rising up behind the battle, the waterfall cascading down beside the entrance, and the lake, red from the blood of the slain, the river leading off it a pinkish colour.

A scream from Cricket caused her to look up again, and leap into action. As she did, she heard someone call her name.

“Moon! Help!” It was Boulder, Firelily’s nest mate. He too was pinned under a much larger dragon, but Moon couldn’t help him yet. She gave the Sharpshooter pinning Cricket down a blow with her Cudlet, and he crumpled to the ground.

Cricket scrambled to his feet, his eyes wide. The red on his scales – which only showed in a small spot when Moon had last seen him – covered all most all his body.

“Moon?” he asked, staring at her. “I-is that you?”

‘Of course it is. How many purple dragons are there?’ she thought, but realized how different she must look. She was much larger than when he had last seen her, and scars covered his body.

“Its me,” she said, smiling at him. He grinned, wrapping her in a huge hug.

“I missed you. You look like you’ve been fighting! You have to tell me everything, okay? Did you kill a dragon? Where did you get the scale ‘round your neck from? Why –”

“NO!” A heart-rending cry interrupted his enthusiastic talk. Moon turned to see Firelily, standing over the limp body of Boulder. Tears dripped from her eyes as she dropped to her knees.

Moon moved towards her, guilt filling her. She could have saved him. She could have done something.

“Firelily. I- I’m so –“ she began, but Firelily looked up, and the anger – no loathing – in her eyes made Moon step back.

“You could have saved him,” she hissed, and the anger in her voice hurt Moon more than a wound. “You could have done something! I hate you! I HATE YOU!” Firelily screamed.

“’Lily, please! I’m sorry.”

“Sorry doesn’t bring him back, does it?” the orange dragon demanded. “You’re the reason he’s dead. You are the reason my brother is dead! You killed him! You killed him!” And she leaped into the air, still screaming over and over again, “You killed him! You killed him! You killed him!”

Moon watched her go, helpless to do anything. The problem was, Firelily was right. Moon could have saved Boulder. She could have saved the reunion with Cricket for later. It was her fault he was gone. She had killed him.

She looked down at his limp body, and anger filled her. Anger against the war, against Fang, and Obsidian and Tornado and everyone else who wanted to keep fighting. Didn’t they see? Didn’t they understand that families were being torn apart?

“You ruined my son.” Moon spun, taken by surprise. Obsidian stood in front of her, fangs bared and wings spread. Out of the corner of Moon’s eye she saw Cricket scramble off, taking to the air and flying away.

“No. You ruined him,” she said, fighting back her fear and tears. “You forced him to leave his friends behind. If you hadn’t done that, he would have lead us to peace.”

Obsidian scowled, and without meaning to, Moon stepped back. The huge dragon frightened her.

“You are weak!” the huge dragon growled. Suddenly, she stopped, her wings dropped slightly and the scowl lessened. “Where did you get that scale?” she demanded.

Moon frowned, following her gaze. The scale on her neck, of course! It seemed to hold some kind of meaning to her grandmother.

“In a cave. Far from here,” she said, not wanting to give away the home of the k’lrak.

“Do you know who –” She growled, interrupting herself. “You’ve found their resting place,” she muttered.

“Who? Y-you mean… Scwal? And his daughter?” Moon asked.

The black dragon nodded, lowering her wings. Moon took that as a sign for a truce, there was something that Obsidian wanted to know. She too lowered her wings, keeping her guard up in case Obsidian attacked.

“You know where they lie? Tell me!” She roared, moving forward, the underlying anger that was always about her coming out.

“Far away from here,” Moon said. “And why do you want to know?” She knew she was being very bold, and Obsidian could strike her down in a second. But her grandmother seemed to droop, and suddenly seemed a lot smaller.

“I never found out where they went,” she muttered, almost to herself. “I always wondered.”

“Y-you knew Scwal?” Moon asked, shocked. If that was the case, her grandmother must be thousands of years old. “I didn’t know dragons lived that long,” she whispered.

“Oh I knew him. I knew him alright.” She looked Moon up and down, a slight smirk on her face, as if she knew something Moon didn’t. “You came back because of him, didn’t you? You returned unlike him, coming back to finish the war he started by running away?” When Moon nodded she continued. “What you don’t know is that he didn’t start the war.” She hesitated, then shrugged. “I guess you deserve to know. This story does have a lot to do with you.”

Moon nodded, the whole thing felt surreal. Here she was, standing in the middle of a war, listing to her grandmother, the leader of the enemy, telling her a story.

“I knew Scwal. He – he was my father,” Obsidain said. Moon nodded, wondering what the story would be about. Something important to her it seemed. Suddenly, what the other dragon had said registered with her tired mind.

“What!” she cried. “He what? That’s impossible!”

“Silence!” Obsidian snarled, and Moon was reminded that this dragon was dangerous. And she wouldn’t hesitate to kill. “I shall tell you how.”

Moon nodded, falling silent. She wanted to know, but was painfully aware of the screams of the wounded around her. She didn’t want to sit around talking while her friends died!

‘If you fight, you might do more damage than good,’ part of her mind said. ‘You might hurt those you’re trying to save. Keep Obsidian distracted, keep her from urging on the Stormriders. Zappy and the others can bring peace. You do your part by keeping Obsidian from killing.’

“Like I said, Scwal was my father. That scale you have around your neck belongs to my sister.” She suddenly stopped, glaring at Moon. “What do you know of him?”

“He had Bloodlust, like me. He had a mate, and many hatchlings. When he was visiting the Sharpshooters one day, their leader challenged him to a duel, the winner gaining leadership of both tribes. But as the fought he lost control and killed most of the Sharpshooters, and his children and mates. He then fled, and his only survive hatchling followed him, and they both died… in the cave.”

Obsidian snorted. “That’s the story he came up with? Fool.” She closed her eyes, and Moon sensed a great sadness about her. “I take it there were dragons living in the cave he died in?”

Moon nodded, not giving away any more. The k’lrak weren’t technically dragons, but they were sentient. And she wasn’t about to give away that she had discovered a new race of creatures.

“Let me tell you what really happened. Maybe it will change your mind about the war.” The black dragon smirked, her fangs stark white against her pitch scales.

‘Nothing will change my mind about the war. I don’t want to see another dragon die,’ Moon thought, but said nothing.

“We went to the Sharpshooters, yes. I was his eldest hatchling, almost fully-grown –about your age. We arrived there, and they laid a trap for us, wanting to kill Father and take leadership of all the dragons. It didn’t work, and Father gave into his Bloodlust, killing Mother and all my siblings – except Sunflower.” She gestured to her closed eye. “He gave me this. My own father.”

She scowled, glaring at Moon.

“You see, it was the Sharpshooter’s fault. They caused my father’s death; they started the war. Sunflower wanted to go after him, she wanted to bring him back and make peace. But I knew that we would never have peace until all the Sharpshooter scum are wiped out. I told her that, but she didn’t listen. She left, flying after father.

“But I knew I needed to stay, to kill all the Sharpshooters. I was ready to fight, to die for my tribe. But my best friend told me that the war wouldn’t end anytime soon. You see, he had powers only given to few dragons. The power of sight. He could see into the future, and into other dragons’ minds. He could see what they feared.”

“Nightmare,” Moon whispered, remembering the terror she had felt inside the cave.

Obsidian nodded, and continued the tale.

“He knew that the war wouldn’t end in the near future. So I asked him a favour. I asked him to lull me into a sleep, a sleep that I would never wake from of my own accord, to keep dragons away from me at any cost, and to wake me when a suitable dragon would come, a dragon who was eager to destroy the Sharpshooters. He agreed, using his powers to live for a thousand years – or more. But he could only remember a few things, and I knew that when I woke he wouldn’t know me.

“It was a risk he was willing to take, he was getting old and he wanted to do his part to destroy our enemies while he lived. So, I slept.

“He woke me when Magma arrived, and I slipped out of his cave one night, joining the other young dragons. I spoke to him, and found he was willing to do anything to wipe out the Sharpshooters. I asked if there was anyone with Bloodlust, and he told me the trait died with the last Bloodlust dragon – my father.

“I was disappointed of course, but it didn’t matter. We became mates, and soon had that traitor, Bloodfang. I couldn’t help but be disappointed that he didn’t have Bloodlust, why shouldn’t he? He was directly related to the last Bloodlust user. So we waited, striking harder than before at the enemy. And then you came, with Bloodlust like my father. I had been beginning to wonder if the trait had died out.” She smirked, looking down at Moon. “Obviously not.”

Moon stared at her claws, trying to process what she had just learned. Her great grandfather was Scwal? Nightmare was a dragon? Dragons could use magic? It didn’t make sense. And yet… it did. That would explain why Obsidian was much larger than any other dragon – the dragons of Scwal’s age were much bigger than modern dragons. And it would explain the origin of Nightmare, and how he could tell dragon’s greatest fears. Obviously the Stormriders had found him, and used the protection he gave Obsidian for their own use.

It would also explain why she was the first dragon in nearly two thousand years to have Bloodlust.

But Obsidian’s story differed from Gra’den’s. She looked up again, trying to voice all her thoughts.

“Is it true?” was what she managed to say.

“Of course, foolish hatchling. Now, are you going to finish what started in my father’s age? Avenge him; destroy all the Sharpshooters. Avenge me.” The last word was only a whisper. “Avenge Sunflower.”

Moon gripped the scale in her claws. The Sharpshooters were the reason for the war. It seemed that Scwal was willing to lay the blame on himself than have others take the blame and be hurt by it.

The war was the Sharpshooter’s fault. Wasn’t that reason to kill them all? Wasn’t that reason to destroy every last one of them. That would ensure peace for as long as dragons lived in Vernada, and would mean that no one else would be hurt.

She looked around; saw dragons crying in pain, both Sharpshooters and Stormriders, saw Flamer and Pebble greeting each other, saw Glitter weeping over the limp form of her mate. She remembered the feeling of Cobalt’s limp body under her claws, the hate and sadness in Firelily’s eyes. And Zappy. Her brother Zappy. She remembered laughing together, learning to fly together. She remember how her comforted her when she needed it, how he was there for her when she needed him, how he promised to take her to safety after the battle.

“The war doesn’t only affect Stormriders,” she thought, but realized she was speaking aloud. “Stormrider’s aren’t the only causalities. And Sharpshooters have family, friends and feelings as well. If we kill the Sharpshooters, we kill dragons. Just like you and me. Just because we look different doesn’t mean we are different.”

She took a deep breath, looking into Obsidian’s eye. Her golden eye met her grandmother’s red eye. Suddenly, she felt a deep sorrow for the black dragon. She had seen her father kill her whole family, seen other dragons cause her father to go Bloodlust, slept for a thousand years. She had lived two different lives, and still was filled with anger.

“Don’t you understand that?” Moon asked, willing her grandmother to understand, to see the pain she was causing other dragons. “Finish the war. Finish the pain, the sorrow, the suffering. I’ve lost my mother, and my father, and my grandfather. You’re the last family I have left. If you stop the war, we can live together. The Sharpshooters may have started the war, but we can finish it.”

Silence. The only sounds those of war. Obsidian was so still, Moon thought for a minute she had gone back to a thousand year sleep. Finally she moved, blinking that great, anger filled eye. But now Moon could see the sadness in it.

Finally she spoke.

“You call yourself my granddaughter, but you do not fight for me?” She snarled, baring her fangs. “Don’t you understand! The Sharpshooters are not to be trusted. If we let them live, they will kill again.”

“But there will be fights among every race. Maybe a faction of Stormriders will rise up against the others. Who knows? There will always be war. That doesn’t mean we should kill innocents to have peace.”

“Fine!” Obsidian roared, causing those fighting nearby to pause in their battles and turn towards the two females. “If you will not fight for me, you will die!” And with a roar, she leaped, her fangs bared and claws out.

[Ranger of the North]

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Zappy

xxxxxZappy’s fear gave way to steadily burning anger as battles broke out around him. His blood surged; he wanted to fight! But more than that: he wanted to stop the war.
xxxxxPeace would never come through fighting—but what really angered him was that every death—every life lost—was pointless. Pointless!
xxxxxWhy are we killing each other over this? Everyone’s unique! Zappy growled furiously, searching for someone—anyone!—to try and convince them to see reason—although if he was completely honest with himself, he was so furious that he wouldn’t easily be able to say no to a fight.
xxxxxAn ominous snarl interrupted the dragon’s thoughts and he snaked his neck back, head low to the ground to see who dared challenge him.
xxxxxFang stood a few metres away, openly daring the Sharpshooter to attack.
xxxxx“Hello, Zappy,” he smirked. “Guess your mama started the war up again, huh?” His teeth bared in a nasty smile. “Thank her for me—if you survive to do it.” The young black dragon lowered himself into a crouch, wings raised threateningly. Malice glittered in his golden eyes as he lashed his cludet back and forth, ready to kill.
xxxxxZappy narrowed his eyes. His main enemy had grown a lot since their last meeting; he had evidently learned the power of intimidation and patience. Still keeping his eyes fastened on Sparkle, Zappy turned his body to face the other dragon, raising his frill and hissing his hatred.
xxxxxFang smirked. “Is that all? A hiss? Wow, I’m terrified.”
xxxxxThe bronze dragon paused, reviewing his changed enemy with surprise. A slight feeling of trepidation irked him; he decided to tread with even more caution than usual.
xxxxxTwo can play at the intimidation game, he decided, and let his own snarl crease his snout, lips writhing to release an inkling of the fury and unhappiness he was feeling.
xxxxxWariness finally flickered in Sparkle’s golden eyes.
xxxxxZappy couldn’t help feeling a measure of respect for the other drake as, despite his fear, he took a step forward, strong muscles bunching and rippling beneath his pitch scales; talons flexing and digging deep into the dry dirt.
xxxxxThe bronze dragon swung his bladed tail lazily: a warning.
xxxxxSuddenly, in the same moment, their patience snapped; older dragons might have circled each other for a time, testing their adversary’s strength and abilities until one backed down or a fight was inevitable—but the two drakes were young.
xxxxxZappy bunched his hind-legs and sprang, a roar tearing from his throat to be whipped away on the wind from his wings as he beat them, launching himself at the other dragon like a bronze hurricane.
xxxxxHe landed full on the other dragon’s face, reaching as far as he could to sink his razor talons deep in the base of Fang’s neck, grasping black scales and pulling with all his might to uproot them.
xxxxxSparkle screamed a furious, agonised roar and leapt upward, beating his huge wings in a desperate attempt to gain height.
xxxxxLeathery wings smashed into Zappy’s head and he scrabbled to keep his footing, stretching to keep his claws lodged in Fang’s body.
xxxxxSuddenly the bronze drake realised his mistake. Fang let out a triumphant cry as he gained a metre in height, putting Zappy underneath him, then dropped like a stone.
xxxxxZappy screeched in pain as his wing twisted under the other dragon’s weight. He fell heavily onto his side, right foreleg crushed to the ground at an unnatural angle, and screamed his agony to the sky.
xxxxxFang laughed icily, lodging his front claws in the Sharpshooter’s side and uprooting scales in lazy clumps, like a cat readying its bedding as Zappy thrashed desperately, energy draining with his blood.
xxxxx“Zappy, Zappy, Zappy,” the black drake chortled malevolently. “You always were arrogant, weren’t you?” His claws tightened, and Zappy screeched again, jerking uncontrollably as the pain submerged him, drowning him in an endless sea of blood.
xxxxxHe wasn’t functioning; couldn’t understand why his body was loosing control. His limbs wouldn’t obey. He could hardly breathe; he had never suffered this much physical pain in his life.
xxxxxSharp, new agony shredded through his wing like fire, pulling him back to consciousness with its fierceness; bringing him back to life. The fog over his eyes lifted with startling suddenness, and his tail darted through the air like a deadly whip, sinking deep into warm flesh.
xxxxxHot liquid spurted over his blades, coating the tip and running down his tail. Red liquid. Blood. Warm blood. Warm, red, living blood.
xxxxxA furious roar echoed in his chest and exploded into the air, drowning out Fang’s cry of pain. Rage beyond belief thundered in his blood, turning his vision red.
xxxxxHow dare Fang attack me?
xxxxxZappy flicked his scales on end and shook himself, body rolling opposite ways as he fought to free himself. More blood peppered the skin between his upturned scales as they pierced the other drake’s flesh.
xxxxxZappy was still losing blood at a steady rate, but it didn’t matter.
xxxxxFang or me this time.
xxxxxWith an ear-splitting roar he sprang forward, shaking Sparkle from his back like a bug.
xxxxxHow dare he attack me?
xxxxxHis right leg buckled, pain shooting through the useless limb, and the drake snarled as he collapsed in a cloud of dust.
xxxxxMe! A dragon. Master of the wind itself.
xxxxxFlaring his good wing, Zappy hobbled to his remaining feet and spun to face his adversary, an ugly snarl creasing his snout and rumbling through his throat.
xxxxxJust because we look a little different doesn’t mean I’m inferior.
xxxxxBracing himself, he leapt, arcing through the air to land full on Fang’s back, stumbling as he was forced to catch his weight with three legs. Nevertheless, he easily pinned the stunned and weakening black dragon down.
xxxxxAnd I can prove it.
xxxxxZappy reared his snake-like neck back, jaws wide and ready for the kill, ignoring the stark terror in the other dragon’s eyes.
xxxxxHe’s caused too much pain. He deserves to die—and he won’t escape this time.
xxxxxThe bronze drake sank his claws deep into the black’s scales, barely noticing Fang’s pain-filled roar.
xxxxx“You’re not getting away this time,” Zappy snarled murderously.
xxxxxJust before he sprang for the kill, the bronze dragon cast a swift glance around for his loved ones, eyes passing over the battlefield in a matter of seconds.
xxxxxVertigo was safe, protecting his mate as she fought in a blind rage.
xxxxxFlare was safe, lashing out at her enemies with the deepest pain and anger he had ever seen in her eyes.
xxxxxFreedom was safe, dancing nimbly out the way of tearing talons.
xxxxxDarkfire was safe, a troubled look on his face as he fought off both a Sharpshooter and a Stormrider, only just managing to keep them from tearing each other to shreds.
xxxxxFirelily was nowhere to be seen, which worried him slightly, but Flamer was alive, battling a Sharpshooter with grief and uncertainty tainting her fighting skills.
xxxxxMoon was—Zappy did a double take, tensing, and accidentally cutting deeper into Fang’s scales. Moon was battling her grandmother, Obsidian.
xxxxxEven as Zappy watched, the old, black dragon, a malicious gleam in her red eye, whipped around faster than the he could follow. Moon, caught unawares, was too slow to dodge the deadly cludet as it flew through the air. It struck her side-on with a sickening thud; Zappy could hear it from where he was on Fang’s battered form, and he flicked an ear, frozen with horror.
xxxxxWith slow, sinister, calculated steps, Obsidian advanced on her granddaughter, discoloured teeth flashing cruelly.
xxxxxZappy’s mouth hung open in shock, barely understanding what was going on. A drop of hot, sticky liquid dripped onto his talon and he stared down at the gleaming blood. Numb. Empty.
xxxxxWhat’s happened to Vernada? To my home?
xxxxxDazed, he risked a glance upward to see Obsidian drawing Moon’s head back almost tenderly, baring the smaller, purple dragon’s throat.
xxxxxRealisation hit Zappy like lightening, followed closely by anger. Moon’s own grandmother was going to kill her!
xxxxxFury overflowed inside him as adrenaline pounded into his blood.
xxxxxMoon will not die today, he promised the world at large.
xxxxxRoaring his anger and fear, Zappy leapt from Fang’s helpless body, releasing him.
xxxxxAnother day, maybe.
xxxxxThe black drake had escaped his punishment yet again, but Moon—his sister—was more important than revenge. If he let Moon die life was barely worth living. If his sister died, Sparkle would get even more satisfaction.
xxxxxStumbling in his weariness, weakened from blood loss, and nearly unconscious from the amount of pain his mangled leg and wing produced, Zappy raced across the battlefield. If he was too late he would never forgive himself, and Obsidian would pay for what she had done.
xxxxx“Zappy!”
xxxxxA growl tore from his lips, but he refused to let the call distract him. The young bronze dragon ducked under a swiping tail, danced away from two cutting, slashing, bloody, dragons; nimbly sidestepped a dead, twitching claw.
xxxxx“Zappy, you’re never going to get to her on time!”
xxxxxZappy snarled.
xxxxx“I refuse to believe that!” He pushed himself harder, barely noticing as his tail swung and accidentally lodged in a dragon’s hind-leg.
xxxxx“Idiot.”
xxxxxSuddenly, a slim, golden body snuck under his shoulder, bearing his weight and doing the job his right foreleg should do.
xxxxxA deep hum rumbled in the Zappy’s chest. “Thanks, Freedom.”
xxxxxThe golden drakaina snorted grimly, and a wisp of smoke blew from her nostrils to race away on the wind.
xxxxx“I’ve only just healed you; don’t die so soon.”
xxxxxThe bronze dragon snapped his head up in alarm, hearing an ominous note to her words: Obsidian stood about five metres away, head lowered; her single eye gleamed with a spiteful smile.
xxxxxZappy tensed, involuntarily raising his frill. Fire bubbled in his belly, burning to get out, but he held it back, watching as the huge black dragon slowly extended a gigantic, taloned foot and placed it on the prone Moon’s head.
xxxxx“One more step and she’s dead. Crushed,” Obsidian growled darkly.
xxxxxZappy couldn’t breathe as he gazed into Moon’s golden eye, which was filled with unspeakable fear and pain.
xxxxx“Run...” she murmured softly, and he flicked an ear, horrified.
xxxxxObsidian chuckled icily. “What a smart young Stormrider. Can the Sharpshooter match her wisdom? I highly doubt that,” her last words lowered to a sinister growl.
xxxxxZappy’s dark eyes darted from his sister, to Obsidian, then to Moon again; his mind was racing furiously, listing all his advantages and discarding them one by one.
xxxxxFire? Moon will be dead before it singes the grass. Pounce? I’ll be killed shortly after Moon is. Blades? My stupid tail’s not long enough! The drake felt ready to wail in despair. He was weakening rapidly; blood-loss taking its toll as his vision swam in and out of focus. The usually strong bronze limbs were unstable. Shaking. Almost useless.
xxxxxA sudden idea hit Zappy like the dawning sun.
xxxxxBlades! He could feel the crafty gleam in his eyes.
xxxxx“Look, Obsidian,” he started, lowering his head submissively, tail flicking behind him as he stretched it; prepared the correct muscles. “No one in Vernada has Bloodlust—including you. So how, exactly, will you benefit from killing her, may I ask? You’re too old to bear eggs, now. Your only offspring was murdered today. Moon is the only dragon likely to hatch whelps with Bloodlust—and you’re about to kill her.”
xxxxxObsidian hesitated, and glanced down at her granddaughter uncertainly—and in that moment Zappy struck.
xxxxxSwinging his tail as fast as lightning, the bronze drake gave it an expert flick and sent four razor-sharp blades whizzing for the Stormrider’s throat.
xxxxxThree flew wide, but the fourth struck home, and Obsidian staggered back, shocked. Zappy knew his blades would only irritate the great dragon, but the surprise of his quick attack would be enough.
xxxxxWith a triumphant bugle he sprang for his quarry, shoving Obsidian back with the full force of his weight. Acting without thinking, the bronze leapt back from the huge black dragon and darted for the smaller, younger drakaina. His sister.
xxxxxGrabbing the back of Moon’s scaly neck in his teeth, he painfully hoisted her to her talons, then slipped suddenly on the bloody ground.
xxxxxZappy toppled forward helplessly, bracing himself for a painful thump—his foreleg would be down for the count—but a sudden, firm pressure on his chest saved him. Whisking an eye open in surprise, the dragon gazed down at the purple tail plastered to his scales, steadying him.
xxxxxHe grinned at Moon. “Thanks.”
xxxxxMoon nodded once as her brother struggled to his feet.
xxxxx“Now let’s get this finished,” she stated grimly.
xxxxxZappy nodded, then clumsily leapt sideways as a gigantic cludet slammed down between them, accompanied by a furious battle-cry.
xxxxx“You dare to defy me?” Obsidian thundered, her voice magnified to a terrifying pitch.
xxxxxZappy refused to let the great dragon intimidate him, shooting a grin in Moon’s direction as he ducked below a swiping talon, then flicked his tail up like a scorpion, slashing a deep wound into her foot.
xxxxx“Me?” the outraged drakaina continued. “The mightiest dragon since Scwal defeated by two hatchlings?” Her voice lowered to an ominous growl, “I think not.”
xxxxxZappy tensed, feeling like a helpless bug as the great dragon’s head swung in his direction, glaring like the fiend she was.
xxxxx“And you, little whelp, shall die first,” Obsidian hissed, rage poisoning every syllable.
xxxxxZappy yelped, and sprang back like a cat as she snapped at him; the huge teeth closing mere centimetres from his snout. He found himself going cross-eyed trying to watch her.
xxxxxThe bronze dragon tensed as Obsidian drew her neck back, a growl vibrating the ground they stood on, and suddenly Zappy saw an opening.
xxxxxHe leapt, flapping his good wing to propel him through the air, and flipped over the other dragon’s clashing teeth. Judging his timing carefully, Zappy tucked his wing shut and landed on Obsidian’s head—or, more accurately, her one remaining eye.
xxxxxHesitating for only an instant, Zappy flexed his talons and drove them deep into the blood red orb.
xxxxxTwisting.
xxxxxCutting tendons.
xxxxxHe watched, slightly sickened, as the light died in her eye. Terrible screams and screeches of agony tore through the air, stopping the dragons nearest them with the horror of her cry.
xxxxxZappy felt terror fill his heart. He was stuck! His left wing was useless, so he couldn’t fly down, but the maddened—and even more dangerous—Obsidian was too tall for him to do anything less than that. Anxiety gnawed at his insides as the drakaina began to spin, twirling around and around and around, still screaming her horrific agony to the assembled dragons.
xxxxxAbruptly she stopped. A terrible snarl left her writhing lips, then she jerked her head up. Up. High into the air.
xxxxxZappy screeched as his claws were flung loose from the great eye; he was tossed like a bug into the air.
xxxxx“He-e-elp!” the cry tore from his throat as he spread his right wing, desperately trying to steady himself—but with only one wing his efforts were useless. The bronze dragon dropped like a stone.
xxxxxZappy felt his heart stop as Obsidian swayed to the side, tracking him by the sound of his voice.
xxxxxNo. He wanted to be sick. Uncontainable terror flooded his heart.
xxxxx“No, no, no, no. No!” his last word was cut off, overcome by a screeching cry of pure agony as the dark dragon’s horn plunged deep into his under-scales. Blood sprayed from the wound like a fountain. Draining his sustenance. Emptying his life onto the pitiless ground.
xxxxxZappy’s vision swam black, and faded as Obsidian shook her head. He felt a jarring thud, coupled with a nauseating crunch as he sprawled several metres away.
xxxxxHe was dying. Oxygen came in short, insufficient bursts. Red, salty liquid slowed its mad rush as it poured from his belly.
xxxxxThe pain was nearly non-existent, now; only a cloudy haze. Nothing but a thin curtain kept him from the afterlife.
xxxxxI’m sorry, Moon.
xxxxxSuddenly a terrible cry pierced his fading consciousness; an anguished howl, filled with too much pain; too much despair for him to handle. Zappy struggled weakly against the fog surrounding him.
xxxxxMoon...
xxxxxThe bronze drake emerged from the shadows just on time to see an infuriated purple form leaping—slicing through the air for his killer’s blood. Gleaming white teeth lodged deep in the blind dragon’s throat, tearing scales and cutting through Obsidian’s jugular with horrifying ease.
xxxxxSlowly, the limp corpse crumpled in on itself, and Moon clawed her way up the body, snarling viciously.
xxxxxA slight whimper slipped from Zappy’s throat as his pain began to return, and his sister’s head whipped around like a snake’s, slitted eyes widening in pain and horror.
xxxxxMist converged on Zappy’s sight again. Fighting against it was too much; too hard. He was tired, and wanted to sleep.
xxxxxScales brushed against his snout, but he had no strength to open his eyes. He didn’t want to see the anguish in his nest-mate’s golden eyes.
xxxxxA tortured wail meandered through the air from far away. Unimaginably far.
xxxxxBlackness overcame him, swamping the curtains around his consciousness; swallowing him in an unstoppable tsunami. A last breath whispered between his teeth, and Zappy knew no more.

[ArtsheepNZ]

/loud screaming from the void/
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BUT WHAT ABOUT ZAPON

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTHISISN'TFAIRRRRRRHIOSJDLFKHSKDLFDS